~From: Peter Fraterdeus ~Subject: Thanksgiving Council 1993 N Attn: alt.gathering.rainbow Thanksgiving Council 1993 Notes Thanksgiving Council 1993 in Montana Despite the frigid temperatures, Thanksgiving Council met among the breathtaking mountains surrounding Missoula, and managed to keep warm and enjoy sharing our ideas about the upcoming gathering, as well as some discussion about Legaliaison issues. Scouts attended, and were advised to keep in mind the following wishes of council when scouting the vast Juentas Mountain range in Wyoming which extends into Northeastern Utah; they were encouraged to make water testing a priority, to take the environmental impact of our gathering into account and avoid delicate ecosystems, to keep roads to a minimum, to keep a medicine-wheel layout in mind, to find a sacred spot for main circle (to be marked by a sacred fire), and to avoid grizzly bear habitat zones. Scout Council will be held April 29-May l in Pinedale, Wyoming. A meteorologist/environmental activist named Storm knows some folks in Wyoming as well as Native American Shoshone and Arapahoe tribal members. He may be able to provide storage for resources as well as locating friendly folks in Jackson Hold. Questions, or information for him regarding scouting, resource storage, or Wyoming contacts, can he sent to: STORM, 1527 Defoe,. Missoula, Mt. 59802 The temporary national office will be at Rainbow 1994, PO Box 2249, Lewiston, ID, 835OI until a place in Wyoming can be found. This office will serve as a resource coordination base as well as an information clearinghouse. The bank funds will be held here until Scout council ends May l. The banking council consists of Michael Crater/2-trails. Marken McCracken, Marian Rainbow Woman, and Sue Blue Sky. Donations for scouting should be specifically earmarked for scouting. Spring Council will he Easter weekend, April 13-15. somewhere in Wyoming. There was a general feeling that we want to reaffirm the spiritual nature at the gatherings. and we consensed to get back to Our roots and refer to this gathering in Wyoming/Utah as The Gathering of The Tribes. It was also agreed that it would he a good idea to set up the gathering in a Medicine Wheel layout, with public functions centrally located. and to separate heartsong circle from Main council circle in time if not in space. so as to keep both circles strong and separate. Everybody liked the idea of keeping a sacred spot for main circle and marking it with a sacred fire, separated from dinner circle, where council can come together and meet without distractions. We decided that those who wanted to would meet July l at noon at this spot for a main council to last all day. A Co-operations lodge for Shanti-Sena activities is also hoped for. Non-violence workshops will he held at seed camp and at the gathering by David Schlesinger and others who want to help train in these important skills. we may soon need. Health and Safety discussion led to many new ideas; to get all of the family neighborhoods more involved in CALM healing work. to have roving health and sanitation crews, to have handwashing systems like the Rainbow footpedal (as shown in the 1990 and 1993 AWF) more available, for people to bring plywood for latrines, to make more use of the Rainbow maxi-manual. and to arrange in advance for the arrival of/transport for the water pipe. Fixtures, T's, elbows and faucets will be needed to connect the pipe that NERF and Colorado Families are presently caretaking. It is hoped that families in all regions will hold benefits for the scouts, as well as gathering needs. Much area will need to be covered. and few family members are available in Wyoming to help support our scouts. A tipi circle site should be located, a Magic Hat should be made that is large and pretty, and water pipe arrival should he ensured before the gathering. There is need for Wyoming scout support, resource storage, an office and a bank. A breakfast kitchen should be built early for seed camp to ensure work councils. etc. And a co-operations lodge is important. Legaliaison issues were discussed in depth and can be found on the Legaliaison Strategies page of the mailing. It was consensed that: Legaliaison consists of individuals and affinity groups that work, communicate, and council together for purposes of information on legal issues, but which cannot speak for RFTC, for the Rainbow Family Tribal Council speaks only for itself, July 1-7 (on the land). We were advised by a Family lawyer that. concerning Legaliaison work, strategies. etc. the following points should be kept in mind: 1) There is no reason/way to exclude any strategy because there's no way to know which is right until it wins. 2) There's no reason to do anything in the Rainbow name (acting as a representative of Rainbow, rather than just an individual who attends gatherings); this will avoid any cross representation of each other, and will keep Rainbow immune from suit- 3) The more done >pro se< (without a lawyer), the better. Much more was discussed. and strategies too, but we focused on the necessity of having nobody claim to represent the Rainbow Family Tribal Council and so all actions taken must be made as individuals or affinity groups. The ALL WAYS FREE will be putting out a winter issue soon, so send your input to the new address. Also the Rainbow Guide is collecting names for the 1994 issue through April l, 1994. And. if you want a copy of the unabridged Thanksgiving Council minutes, write the national office in Lewiston, ID. ************ Please forgive any typos! Posted by Petros