SAN PEDRO, CA., OCTOBER 8, 2021 – For the wellbeing of the elders, families, and community, the Many Winters Gathering Of Elders (MWGOE) Committee, in partnership with Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC), announces the cancelation of the 2021 MWGOE. This decision was made with the best interest of the people, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold.
This past year encompassed many challenges for our Mother Earth and communities – continued, unprecedented fires burning across lands and devastating oil spills into sacred waters. Additional perils involve the appalling discoveries of Native children in unmarked, mass graves at residential boarding schools; continued epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women; ongoing land and water theft, environmental racism and desecration of sacred sites; invisibility and dehumanization.
In accordance with the seventh generation philosophy, the decisions made and events of today will impact future generations. MWGOE acknowledges that with the rapid destruction and deterioration of the Earth through global warming, the contamination of water and air, and consequential imbalance in the people and the world – connection to the land and Native teachings is necessary for the survival and healing of all living beings. The elders and ancestors prophesized and forewarned about these current events, understood as widespread repercussions of colonization and collective trauma, across Turtle Island and the world.
The MWGOE was created on October 12, 1992 on traditional Gabrielino-Tongva territories, in opposition to the quincentennial celebrations of Columbus Day – to reclaim traditional spaces, dismantle the myth of Manifest Destiny, and to facilitate collective healing from historical and intergenerational trauma. The annual MWGOE plays a vital role in the Native community, with the participation and support of the original peoples of the land. The vision of the Gathering is to host a sacred space for people to come together, with the intention to learn, pray, support Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and to inspire a healthier future for Native people. The Gathering hosts and welcomes Indigenous elders from across Turtle Island to share oral traditions and teachings. Indigenous elders were central in sharing their living knowledge, daily and generational struggles while participating at the annual Gatherings over the years.
The MWGOE looks forward to celebrating the upcoming Indigenous People’s Day on Monday, October 11. The Committee is also excited to share news of an upcoming presentation of MWGOE highlights, including excerpts of speakers, video, and photos – scheduled for October 20, 2021, in partnership with the Traditions And Connections for Urban Native Americans (TACUNA) Project.
The 16th MWGOE is planned for October 2022, to fulfill the initial four year commitment by the second generation organizing group. The Committee is comprised of community members representing various tribes including the local Gabrielino-Tongva, Chumash, Acjachemen, as well as organizations: Red Earth Defense, Cornelius Projects, Xican@ Records & Film, and AGCC.
For more information regarding the Many Winters Gathering Of Elders and the TACUNA Wellness Gathering, please visit mwgoe.org and angelsgateart.org, or email gatheringofelders92@gmail.com.
