The International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management is proud to present the 4th Annual Indigenous Film & Arts Festival in Denver, Colorado from October 9-14, 2007. Our theme this year is Celebrating Identity through Art, Dance, Music & Sports. The Festival will open on October 9th with an art exhibit. Our opening film, “Teachings of the Tree People” will be presented as a free screening at the Denver Indian Center, and will include audience Q&A with producer Tracy Rector. Other film screenings and live performances will be presented at the University of Denver (in partnership with the Native Student Alliance), at Starz FilmCenter on the Auraria campus, and various other venues in Denver.

This is that time of the year when we ask our friends and supporters for their help in putting on the Denver Indigenous Film & Arts Festival.  As you know, the festival has expanded considerably since 2003 when we raised a trial balloon with the screening of Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner).  That one-off screening has grown into a 5-day film & arts festival. These days we're also doing much more with the Denver area Indian education programs, involving community-based organizations, and in promoting Indian arts and artists.

Less than ten percent of our annual budget comes from ticket sales: About two-thirds of our support is in the form of in-kind or trade donations from our sponsors. Every available penny we have goes to the myriad expenses involved, including theatre rentals, shipping films around the globe, phone and gas bills, and filmmaker travel expenses.

We hope you will make a generous donation to Indigenous Film & Arts Festival. Your gift will enhance the quality and quantity of future programming. Your donation of any size will be greatly appreciated. You can donate by:

• Donating online by clicking here.
• Mailing your check to: IIIRM, 444 South Emerson Street, Denver, CO 80209
• Becoming a sponsor of the Indigenous Film & Arts Festival. Call Jeanne Rubin, Festival Director, at +1 303-733-0481, for information about sponsorship levels and benefits.

You can also support the Denver Indigenous Film & Arts Festival in several relatively painless ways. We receive about a penny a search when you use goodsearch.com as one of your internet search engines. Clicking on the goodsearch.com link below lets you register to support the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management.

If you're not already a subscriber to NetFlix, subscribing via the NetFlix link below helps the Institute.

And using iGive.com as your gateway to vendors ranging from United Airlines to Cabelas results in a percentage of your purchase price being donated to the Institute.

The Nordic countries have been active for many years in the bioprospecting activities. Today's rather liberal attitude should be tightened up in the future, particularly if the abuse, known as biopiracy, increases. Bioprospecting is an activity whereby pharmaceutical companies, for example, collect natural resources, perhaps in fungal form, from another country. The company then produces a new medicine and patents the product. If the patent is granted the country of origin may lose the right to its own genetic natural resource.

The issue is essentially about access and rights to the natural resources and who actually owns the world's biodiversity. There are many perceptions of bioprospecting and international legislation in the area varies also.

The liberal Nordic approach to natural resources is documented today, for example, in the Calmar Declaration. This unique Nordic agreement from 2003 addresses access and rights to genetic resources in the Nordic countries.

This very topical question will be the focus of a seminar in the Nordic Council of Ministers in Copenhagen on 25 April. The internationally recognized scientist David Leary from Australia will present his view on bioprospecting in areas with no national jurisdiction such as the Arctic and the Antarctic.

The conservation and utilization of genetic resources is an integrated and important part of the Strategy for a Sustainable Nordic Region. As a follow-up to this overarching, crosscutting strategy, the Strategy for Conservation of Genetic Resources in the Nordic Region 2001–2004 elaborates and specifies the goals and measures in the field of genetic resources. It recognizes a need for development of a common attitude at Nordic level regarding how the Convention on Biological Diversity is to be interpreted in relation to the resources stored in the joint gene bank and networks. The strategy suggests an ad hoc working group instructed to submit proposals on how the Nordic region is to interpret the provisions in international legal instruments within the framework of cooperation on genetic resources. On this background, the ad hoc working group has delivered this Report to the Nordic Genetic Resources Council.

The Report addresses various aspects related to rights and access to genetic resources in the Nordic countries. The report examines all genetic resources, while pointing out relevant differences between types of resources. The report studies the rights and access to the genetic resources managed by the Nordic Gene Bank. It also provides recommendations and alternatives for rights and access to genetic resources within the Nordic countries. It gives an overview of the need for and means of implementing the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (IT-PGRFA) and other international agreements in the Nordic countries. The report further analyses how rights and access to genetic resources relate to international law on intellectual property rights applied to genes and living organisms.

Report on genetic resources: http://www.norden.org/pub/ebook/2003-016.pdf

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Slow Food Brings a Thousand European Winegrowers to Montpellier

Vignerons d'Europe was held on April 14 and 15, at the Montpellier congress center, in conjunction with Salon du Goût et des Saveurs d'Origine, organized by Slow Food France (April 13-16, Parc des Expositions de Montpellier).

Vignerons d'Europe brought together 1,000 winegrowers from all over Europe for an important meeting motivated in large part by the urgent challenges imposed by an increasingly globalized market and by proposed European Community viticultural reforms. The event was integral to the philosophy and history of the Slow Food association, which identifies issues and trends in the world of food and wine production and aims to catalyze ideas in a search for concrete solutions and proposals.

Last year as part of the second edition of Terra Madre, Slow Food brought 5,000 food producers from 150 countries together in Turin. The objective of Terra Madre was to create a network of information between food communities, helping them protect their rights: to an ecologically balanced environment, to food sovereignty and to decent living conditions.

Based on the experience it has earned over 20 years of activities in the world of international food and wine culture, Slow Food decided to bring together the vignerons of Europe. These are not the owners of large-scale wineries, but the winegrowers themselves, people with a strong connection to the earth, the vines and the terroir. They have a common history and have chosen to follow the same geography-based, culturally-based model of wine making.

Bringing together 1,000 winegrowers in Montpellier, during the centenary of the 1907 winemakers' revolt in Languedoc and Roussillon, means opening up the debate about the current viticultural crisis, a crisis not just of economics but also of identity.

The image of wine varies from the iconic status of a few big labels produced by the enological elite to the generic, almost industrial view of wine as a grape-based alcoholic beverage. Slow Food and the winegrowers believe the proposed viticultural reforms are based on the latter.

We, at the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management, have consistently encouraged Indian tribes and other indigenous peoples to adopt the twin and mutually supportive principles of geographic indications and terroir as an ideal way to protect their rights in their agricultural products in a culturally-appropriate way. We think the current economic crisis of the European wine industry and the proposed legislative fixes are instructive to any Indian tribe that may be considering geographic indications.

Today even advocate organizations like Slow Food view the concept of terroir as an often empty marketing ploy. However, the organization is concerned that applying industrial agricultural techniques to wine will leads to a debasement of quality and value. Much of the economic problem lies in the rigidity of the European, national, and regional procedures for adopting and adapting wine making procedures.EU regulations are too complex, notably on definitions and classification. Furthermore, in recent decades, there has been a proliferation in the number of Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region and table wines with geographic indications which leads to customer confusion about geographic indications and contributes to the decline of the EU's market share.

Lessons for Indian Tribes

Against the backdrop, the tribe should develop and adopt a system of geographic indications that will:

• increase the competitiveness of the tribe's agricultural products by strengthening the connection between the geographic indication and quality;
• operate through clear, simple rules; and,
• preserve cultural traditions of tribal food production, reinforce the social fabric of the tribe, and ensures that all agricultural production respects the environment.

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CEQ Publishes NEPA-EMS Guide

James L. Connaughton, CEQ Chairman announced that The Council on Environmental Quality has published Aligning NEPA Processes with Environmental Management Systems – A Guide for NEPA and EMS Practitioner.   This guide provides practitioners with a tool to improve NEPA implementation and achieve the environmental sustainability goals laid out in NEPA and Executive Order 13423: "to create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.”

• CEQ's goal is to continue developing tools to improve and modernize NEPA.  This Guide was developed help practitioners make NEPA implementation more effective and efficient.  The guide was developed by an interagency work group following up on recommendations from "The NEPA Task Force Report to the Council on Environmental Quality - Modernizing NEPA Implementation."
• Combining NEPA's tried and tested framework for assessing the environmental consequences of proposed federal agency actions with the practical tool for managing the environmental aspects of agency actions provides a powerful approach to realize the goals of both NEPA and Executive Order 13423.
• The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to study the environmental effects of their actions through an interdisciplinary environmental planning process.
• An EMS is a structure of procedures and policies used to systematically identify, evaluate, and manage environmental impacts of ongoing activities, products, and services.
• The guide provides examples of how NEPA and EMS together can help federal agencies more effectively manage their environmental responsibilities.  For example, identifying environmental aspects in the development of an EMS can build on aspects identified in previous NEPA analyses.  Conversely, a new NEPA analysis can consider the identified environmental aspects in an EMS when assessing potential environmental impacts of a proposed future action. 

For more information and for copies of the guide, go to http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/ntf .

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Northwest SEED Tribal Energy Intern

Organization: Founded in early 2001, Northwest SEED works to establish a clean, diverse, and affordable Northwest energy system, based on efficient use of renewable resources, with maximum local control and ownership of energy assets. Northwest SEED has emerged as a regional leader in developing and supporting creative programs, policies, and financing models to meet the region's power needs with home-grown clean energy. To learn more about Northwest SEED please visit: www.nwseed.org.

Projects: The intern will help create an Energy Planning Guidebook for Northwest Tribes.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Research the current energy situation of Northwest Tribes and the potential for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy development
• Investigate energy projects and planning done by tribes and other communities across the country
• Research technical assistance opportunities and funding opportunities available for energy planning and implementation by tribes
• Develop content on the above topics for a guidebook

Qualifications:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Self-directed, detail oriented and able to prioritize multiple tasks
• Experience working with Northwest Tribes, local and state government agencies, project stakeholders and funders
• Proven interpersonal skills to work within non-profit team environment
• Solid knowledge of Word, MS Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong interest in sustainable energy issues

This is a part-time internship with a stipend based in our office in downtown Seattle, WA. The position begins June 1, 2007 and requires a 3 month commitment of 20 hours a week. Hours and schedule are flexible.

Please email cover letter and resume by May 11 to info@nwseed.org or mail to:

Northwest SEED
Re: Tribal Energy Internship
1402 3rd Ave. Suite 901
Seattle, WA 98101

No phone calls please.

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IIIRM Workshop on the Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Protecting and Managing Tribal Cultural and Natural Resources

Workshop participants include Betsy L. Chapoose, Cultural Rights & Protection Director and Sonja Elaine Willie, Environmental Coordinator of the Ute Indian Tribe.

Jeanne Rubin, IIIRM general counsel; Joe Chythlook from Bristol Bay, Alaska; and Karen Suyama, Environmental Planning Manager, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe discuss the tribal basket makers scenario.

Back row: Russel L. Barsh, Kwiaht; Joshua Sutterfield, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Steve Becker, ASCG. Front row: Mark Calamia, University of North Texas, Madrona Murphy, Friday Harbor Labs; Karen Suyama, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe; Jeanne Rubin, IIIRM; and Julia Bennett, Western Washington University.

The April 19-20, 2007 workshop on the Role of Traditional Knowledge in Protecting and Managing Tribal Cultural and Natural Resources sponsored by the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management and Kwiaht (Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea ) brought tribal cultural resources management, environmental protection, and natural resources management staff to Friday Harbor, Washington from all over the United States to hear the latest on recent developments in traditional ecological knowledge.

Mervyn L. Tano and Jeanne M. Rubin of IIIRM, Russel L. Barsh of Kwiaht, and Mark Calamia, assistant professor at the University of North Texas were the "official" workshop faculty but as is typical of IIIRM workshops, there was plenty of sharing of expertise and experience by all workshop participants.

The workshop started off with Merv Tano's "The Longue Durée: A Braudelian Framework for Protecting the Cultural Property and Heritage of Native Peoples. Merv suggested that the workshop participants look behind the "artifact" or cultural property at the long-lived religious, legal, social, educational, and other tribal institutions that enable the creation, transmission, use, adoption, and adaptation of cultural practices and property. For example, Merv suggested that what is interesting about a parakeet feather in Montana is not so much the feather, but, among others things, the:

• systems and institutions that regulated international trade between peoples in Central and North America;
• social and economic systems that created, trained, and maintained a trading-merchant class; and,
• public works institutions that built, mapped, and maintained trails, roads, bridges, and other trade infrastructure.

According to Russel L. Barsh, director of Kwiaht, much of the American landscape had been shaped by indigenous peoples. They established large urban centers and constructed sophisticated hydraulic systems. They were practiced plant and animal breeders. Russel emphasized that native Americans were scientists--that what is now called traditional ecological knowledge is and was traditional science.

Jeanne Rubin, IIIRM's general counsel led the discussion on intangible heritage. She pointed out that most tribal cultural resources management programs address tangible heritage such as archaeological sites, traditional plants, and cultural property. Aspects of the tribe's intangible heritage such as language, storytelling, dance, and song have been used historically to teach, warn, and celebrate and have played an important role in the protection and management of "natural" resources. Jeanne suggested that we think of these cultural resources as taonga, the Maori term for treasure, instead of property or resources.

Mark Calamia, assistant professor at the University of North Texas, shared the results of his studies of the successful and sometimes unsuccessful integration of traditional ecological knowledge to protect sacred reefs. He pointed out that indigenous communities not only have local knowledge systems, but local laws governing the appropriate acquisition, use and transfer of knowledge and expertise. Although local laws are generally unwritten, they can be essential principles for anyone seeking or sharing knowledge in the community.

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EERC Biomass '07: Power, Fuels, and Chemicals Workshop

(Grand Forks, North Dakota). The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota has released the preliminary program for the upcoming Biomass '07: Power, Fuels, and Chemicals Workshop, which includes an exciting lineup of speakers from across the United States and Canada.

The Biomass '07 Workshop is slated for May 15–16, 2007, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Organizing sponsors include the EERC, BBI International, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the North Dakota Department of Commerce Division of Community Services.

This year's preliminary program features four main sessions and will cover topics including trends and opportunities in biomass utilization, fuels and chemicals from biomass, biomass for heat and electricity, and new innovations for biodiesel production.

Key presenters include Gerson Santos-Leon, Director of R&D, Abengoa Bioenergy, Chesterfield, Missouri; Kevin Kephart, Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota; and Spencer Swayze, Manager of Business Development for Ceres, Inc., Thousand Oaks, California. BBI International President and CEO Mike Bryan will also present a luncheon keynote address.

Representatives from other companies such as Xcel Energy; ICM, Inc.; Cargill Emissions Reduction Services; the National Biodiesel Board; and Archer Daniels Midland will also be presenting.

“North Dakota and biomass are like the perfect match—they simply belong together,” said Biomass '07 Technical Director Chris Zygarlicke. “The EERC has been working hard to develop technologies for affordable biofuels, green chemicals, jet fuel, and distributed energy from biomass. We will be joined by experts from around the country in discussing the state of biomass.”

EERC Director Gerald Groenewold said, “These are the people involved in all aspects of renewable fuel development, from growing it to utilizing it. I don't know of a better venue related to cutting-edge research and renewable fuels,” he said. “The response to this event is proof of the relevance of the EERC's world-class renewable energy programs, business relationships, and EERC-derived technologies.”

The Biomass '07 Workshop is open to the public. For up-to-date program information, to register, or to reserve exhibit space, log on to www.undeerc.org/biomass07 or contact the workshop registrar at (701) 777-5246.

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Montecristi Hats Are First Protected Geographic Indication in Ecuador

Are you interested in film? Filmmaking? Does the idea of hanging out and talking shop with indigenous filmmakers from all over the world sound like your idea of an evening well-spent? Well then, you might want to consider signing up for an internship with the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management, the organizer of the Indigenous Film & Arts Festival.

Volunteering as an Institute intern will offer you a great opportunity to experience a broad perspective on all aspects of the film festival by working closely with the festival staff. These internships afford you an excellent opportunity to acquire the necessary organizational, communication, management, and other skills required to organize and put on an international film festival. The internships require a commitment of 10 to 15 hours per week and a set working schedule for you to be in the Institute offices.