This is a follow-up to the unprecedented international historic event taking place on August 17-20, 2023 in Providence, Rhode Island. The Meshanticut Cultural Placemaking Confestival (MCPC) will be held at different venues.
I will use the MCPC’s own words to explain what the Confestival is: “…The MCPC is an annual multi-day confestival featuring a living culture festival highlighting and demonstrating concepts and initiatives articulated and explored at an accompanying cultural placemaking conference. The mission of the MCPC is "To advance the cultural placemaking sector and stimulate interest and investment in cultural placemaking as a premier strategy for promoting tourism and equitable economic development.
The 2023 MCPC is produced by the Providence Cultural Equity Initiative and NACTIP and sponsored by Cox Charities Northeast Region, the Federation of Aboriginal Nations of the Americas, the Global Cultural Districts Network, Grupos Ondoas, the Mount Hope Community Center, the Office of the General Treasurer of Rhode Island, the Providence Public Library, the Providence Revolving Fund, the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, Roger Williams University, the State of the African Diaspora, Unidoc Health Corp/Hewlett-Packard, and United Way of Rhode Island…”
The Confestival will have representatives from five Continents: Africa (State of African Diaspora, Ambassador Sima), Europe (H. E. Judge Lord Sir Robert Orville Thomas), South America (Suriname Nation), North America (FANA Tribal Member Nations; Omaha Mayan Ambassador Luis Marcos and the Chieftains of the Kinakwii Nation, and from Central America, (Belize Mayan Ambassador Narciso Eusebio Torres, and Garifuna Ambassador at Large: Cynthia Ellis Lubafu Isieni, and Representatives from The Garifuna Tribes of Belize); and Oceania (The Māori of New Zealand).
(Just a side note: Central America is actually part of the North American Continent, though some people tend to think of it as a separate Continent, it is not).
There will be signings and/or announcements of Treaties and Contracts between FANA and The State of African Diaspora; FANA and Suriname; FANA and Garifuna; FANA and UNIDOC; FANA and Hewlett Packard.
It will be an exciting weekend with many events planned from rum tasting, and a fashion show to drum competitions and native torch runners.
The Meshanticut Cultural Placemaking Confestival will not only be an enjoyable and educational experience, but a very historical event.
If you are interested in attending, there is no admission cost.
For more information, please go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-annual-meshanticut-cultural-placemaking-confestival-tickets-689602608967?aff=erelexpmlt.
(I will be part of the FANA delegation and I am looking forward to sharing this unprecedented historical event with all of you.)
