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Melting Ice in Vermont

Press Release

Angaangaq, whose name means "The Man Who Looks Like His Uncle is an Internationally respected Eskimo-Kalaallit Elder from Greenland who currently resides in Canada. He will be in Central Vermont, from September 2 to through 6, 2008, and will be available for interviews at that time, and, by special arrangement, before then. On Tuesday evening, September 2, at 7:00 p.m., he will address the public at a location TBA in Montpelier. There is no charge for this event. On Wednesday he will work with the children at EarthWalk Vermont and do anservice training for staff and board members. On Thursday and Friday, September 4-5, he will conduct an Intensive Workshop, "Melting the Ice in the Heart of Man, on the campus of Goddard College in Plainfield.. Saturday morning at sunrise he will lead an outdoor sunrise fire and water cereemony at a Central Vermont location TBA, followed by a potluck breakfast. This ceremony is free and open to the public. Details on these events will be posted at meltingiceinvt.com in the near future.

It is not often that we have a person of Angaangaq,s knowledge, skills, background, wisdom and diversity regarding the environment, climatic changes, global warming, spirituality and indigenous people,s issues visiting within our community. He has traveled all over the world, spoken before governments, politicians and United Nations councils.

He is an internationally respected Elder for the Native Communities of the Circumpolar Arctic, North and South America and Europe. In May 2004 he was a Speaker for the Sierra Club of Canada's "People and the Planet" conference and sat on the panel to discuss Climate Change and the North Country cosponsored by the United Nations. The event successfully combined traditional knowledge and wisdom with western scientific studies to show the impact of climate change on the environment and its profound effect in the North and the urgent need for reconciliation of people, nation states and corporations with the natural world. His family belongs to the Traditional Healers and Wisdomkeepers of the Far North from Kalaallit Nunaat, Greenland. "Uncle, as he is frequently called, bridges the boundaries of cultures and faiths in people young and old.

He is a keynote speaker at international conferences and symposia on environmental and indigenous issues. He participates in peace and spiritual vigils with the United Nations, speaking on panels for the United Nation Environmental Protection Agency, the Panel on Religion and Spirituality, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as well as the Panel for UNESCO,s Oceans, Fishers and Hunters. His work is acclaimed in promoting interracial and intercultural harmony.

At the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations in New York City, September 2003, with 65 indigenous Elders from all over the globe in attendance, Angaangaq was one of the presenters who spoke about the melting of the ice, the environmental condition of the planet and its, connection to man,s inner nature.

Joining Jane Goodall in September 2002 as her guest and speaking on the same agenda as Kofi Annan, Angaangaq performed at the Opening Ceremonies for the South African World Summit on Sustainable Development for Indigenous and Environmental Issues held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Angaangaq is a member of the World Wisdom Council and World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality and an Elder of the Tribal Link Foundation, Inc., acting as liaison to indigenous tribes. He is associated with the United Religions Initiative in alliance with the United Nations, the Club of Budapest International, The Masters Group, the Earth Restorations Corps., and Jane Goodall Institute. He is an Elder in association with West Virginia University and speaks frequently at Universities and colleges in North America and Europe.

Contact: Oona 011 49 8178 998673 or email icewisdom@googlemail.com

For further information or to schedule an interview with Angaangaq (Uncle) while he is in our community, contact Kristina Bielenberg, - email info@meltingiceinvt.com or visit his website at www.icewisdom.com.

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EarthWalk Vermont

ARCUS: National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs through the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States - www.arcus.org

Montpelier Community Justice Center

Vermont Peace Academy's Peace Education Fund

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