Evon Peter is Neetsaii Gwich’in (Alaska Native) from a small mountain village in Northeast Alaska called Vashraii K’oo. 

Peter is a very spirited speaker and writer. He is also the executive director of the Native Movement. 

"From a young age I chose to follow a path that has challenged me to look within myself and into history, so that we can build something healthier for the future generations" Peter's expressed and from this came the vision of Native Movement of "Young leaders motivating the world's peoples toward balanced relations with each other and Mother Earth".

Among Indigenous people there is a long history of speech making. They refer to it as an oral tradition. In certain ceremony, cultural events, and meetings there is often time for those inspired to stand and have their voice heard. Stories, songs, and traditional knowledge is passed on to younger generations in this way. For most of his life Peter has been dedicated to carry on this tradition, sharing what comes to his heart.

Peter's Past Speaking Engagements:

• PowerShift Keynote:
  College Park, Maryland
  (November 3rd, 2007) 15 Minutes
  Speech offered to six thousand people at national youth summit to address the climate crisis. Focus is on the depth of our inhumanity which enables oppression, exploitation, and impacts on the environment and people to be perpetuated.

• Bioneers Plenary:
  San Rafael, California
  (October 20th, 2007) 40 Minutes
  “An Indigenous Perspective on How to Survive the Next Hundred Years” was offered to a crowd of several thousand people with onstage accompaniment of thirty young Indigenous leaders. Focus is on addressing historic and contemporary injustice, with emphasis on the responsibility of each one of us to intentionally confront our own ignorance, ego, and pain.
  Available on DVD for $10. Send an e-mail (here) to request a copy.

• Sustainable Campuses Conference Keynote:
  London, Ontario (Canada)
  (September 29th, 2007) 1 hour
  A dive into traditional knowledge, spiritual understanding, and common sense as tools for helping to heal and transform humanity. The importance of young people as agents of healing and change in a world with tremendous need. Living a life of balance within oneself and in our relations with one another and our natural environment.

• Environmental Grantmakers Association Fall Retreat
  Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico
  (September 25th, 2007) 45 Minutes
  Panel presentation on “The Cultural Roots of Environmentalism”. Emphasis was on Indigenous youth engaged in local cultural and environmental revitalization.

• Roots of Peacemaking: Indigenous Values, Global Crisis
  Onondaga Lake, New York
  (September 20th, 2007) 15 Minutes
  Speech with Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) leaders and friends at Onondaga Lake, the birthplace of democracy. Emphasis was on how important it is to focus on the internal dysfunction we are carrying within us and that until we clean ourselves up and become peaceful within, we will most likely fail to clean up our environment and find peace among one another.

• Spiritual Activation Series: The Evolution of Yoga and Social Change
  San Francisco, California
  (May 27th, 2007) 45 Minutes
  A talk shared at Yoga Sangha in collaboration with Katchie Ananda. Focus was on my path to self-consciousness, leadership, and social change.

• Humboldt State University
  Arcata, California
  (October 10th, 2006) 2 Hours
  Speech offered to five hundred people on Indigenous Peoples rights and Environmental Justice.
  Audio excerpt may become available later this year.

Peter's Links to Past Essay's:

Undermining Alaska Native Nations.pdf: The systemic stripping of lands, resources, and rights of Alaska Native Nations.  

The Colonization of Alaska Natives.pdf: This is a short look into the history of the colonization of Alaska Native peoples by Russia and the United States. 

The Dilemma of Fossil Fuels in Alaska.pdf; Traditional knowledge as a framework for discussing the challenges and practical solutions to fossil fuels in Alaska. 

We must Stop the Violence.pdf; A call to end the violence against women.

Contact Evon: evonpeter@mac.com

Websites: www.evonpeter.net 

                www.nativemovement.org