“Joanelle Romero was acknowledged by Ellen Snortland, former President of United Nations Association, Pasadena Chapter in the Pasadena Weekly, 2006: “American Indians have every right to despise white folks and curse us, rather than bless us. And yet, there are leaders like Romero who boggle the typical pedestrian mind. Like Nelson Mandela, she is a prime example of forgiveness in action. Mandela had every right to call for a bloodbath when he was finally released from prison in South Africa. Mandela-like, Romero stands on his mighty global shoulders and calls for oneness, love and what she describes as female energy.” –partial quote.
In 2000 Red Nation Celebration Institute and its founder Joanelle Romero, Apache/Cheyenne/Spanish-Jew, began a 5 year long initiative to have the city of Los Angeles recognize “American Indian Heritage Month” which Los Angeles has largest American Indian Urban population in the country, is the Entertainment capital of the world, and is the second largest city in the United States.
In 2005, Red Nation founder created and launched American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles. Then went on to ask Mayor Villaraigosa and the City of Los Angeles to officially recognize American Indian Heritage Month and was accepted in 2006.
Joanelle Romero is a humanitarian, actor, singer/songwriter, award-winning director/producer and the founder of Red Nation Celebration Institute and American Indian Heritage Month in the city of Los Angeles. In 2006, Red Nation was recognized by the State of California “for their tireless efforts to establish the First Annual American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles.” Joanelle, who is of Cheyenne/Apache/Spanish-Jew and was given her Indian name Oyate Wayanka Po Win – People See This Woman by Chief Leonard Crow Dog from Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. Red Nation Celebration Institute, a nonprofit that premieres American Indian performing arts to communities and the mainstream media as well as provides program initiatives to empower women on reservations.
By 2007, when environmental consciousness came more clearly into the hearts and minds of Americans, Romero was already breaking new ground by dedicating the City’s second annual Heritage Month to “Honoring American Indians as our Nation’s First Environmentalists.” Each of the ten Red Nation Native cultural events and ceremonies held throughout Los Angeles annually in November evoked connection to Mother Earth and gives Angelinos a view into the sacred relationship our nation’s first peoples carry for the environment.
Local Tongva Spiritual Leader Jimi Castillo traditionally and officially recognized Joanelle Romero as “The First Lady of American Indian Heritage Month for all Red Nations,” on October 27, 2006 in City Hall during the Mayor’s Reception for the inaugural celebration of American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles 2006. Romero organization also produced the Mayor’s Reception at City Hall and brought together in one location all 19 tribal leaders within the State of California, this was the only time in history at city hall that all 19 tribal leaders were present.
In 2008 – Red Nation Celebration Institute partnered with Governor Bill Richardson and Department Indian Affairs in initiating the first American Indian Heritage Month in the State of New Mexico.
For more information visit this link:
www.rednationcele.org/american-indian-heritage-month-2006/
American Indian Heritage Month in the City/County of Los Angeles™ is the Intellectual Property and Project Rights of Red Nation™, The Red Nation Celebration™, Red Nation Celebration Institute™.
