International Prospective Furthers Native American Revival
Denver, CO – July 19, 2010 - Emerging from a long history of settler oppression, many 21st century American Indians and Alaska Natives still live on reservations without running water. But the indigenous of Denver, Colorado have looked as far as the Philippines for the progression of their people and the preservation of their tribal cultures.
The Denver Indian Center is partnering with 20 participants from seven countries to evaluate and improve its operations. The participants, of CISV, an international peace organization, have reached out to local businesses, including Sprint, Best Buy and Microsoft for volunteers to help revamp the Center as part of a sustainable “International People’s Project.” The project focuses on three areas—an oral history documentation, a youth camp and the creation of an early education center.
“I think we’re going to start seeing that we’re a lot closer as global citizens than we think we are,” Jay Grimm, executive director of the Denver Indian Center said, adding that both the Swedish participants and the Navajo, or “Diné”, practiced folk dances in the direction of the sun.
Nearly seventy percent of American Indians live off reservation, Grimm said. But often many Americans know as little about indigenous culture as the international volunteers, he added.
