Tribal Council Week

Tribal Feast at the Conspiracy!

Tribal Council Week

Ann Arbor Tribal Council Week.which took place Jan. 16-20, raised both funds for the Artist Workshop Committee and the People's Ballroom at the Community Center on Washington Street as well as interest in the Tribal Council and the People's Committees.

The week started out with a killer Poetry Reading at Hill Aud on Sun. night. Attendance was small due to sub-zero temperatures, but those who did bear the cold witnessed a great exhibition of the people's poetry with presentations from local poets like Ellen Zweig who incorporated music and taped sound effects as well as an interesting stage set to look at along with her poetry. We also heard poems from original Detroit hippy Jerry Younkins and John Sinclair, Chairman of the RPP, Ann Arbor poet Glen Davis, other Ann Arbor poets and a guest appearance from former Fug still poet Ed Sanders, recent author of The Family, a book about Charles Manson, etc. It was really a lot of fun, and the poems for the most part were good, relevant, and like music to listen to. Many of the people had never witnessed a poetry reading before and got turned on to the idea after being at one. One of the goals of the Artists Workshop Committee is to have regular Community Poetry Readings. If you are interested in poetry or crafts or if you are any sort of artist you should get involved with the Artists Workshop Committee.

On Tuesday night people saw a number of films made by local film makers at the Conspiracy (330 Maynard). It was a killer night at the movies knowing that the profit was going to the Washington Street Community Center, and that some community film makers were getting a chance to show their films to the people. This was really a successful night and fun for a lot of people.

Wednesday night there was rockin & rollin at the Union Ballroom to the Guardian Angel, the Up, and finally Detroit featuring Mitch Ryder. John Sinclair spoke for the first time in Ann Arbor since his release from prison. The place was packed and everyone seemed to be really high from the music, tokes, and the good feeling of knowing that along with a lot of your brothers and sisters you were contributing to the Community Center and having good time at the same time. The Tribal Council will continue to have benefits as often as possible to raise funds for various community projects.

The week culminated in a community dinner/meeting held at the Conspiracy Thursday night. After a killer pot luck dinner, reports were given about the Community Center, the Tribal Council in general, and from each of the various People's Committees. The meeting then broke up into smaller groups for the different committees to meet and make further plans. There was great response from people who wanted to work on the committees, and people continued talking as the rest of us cleaned up entirely after ourselves. Also, the next day 30 people showed up at the Community Center to work on the People's Ballroom. Many of them had never been associated with the Community Center or Tribal Council before and had just come to check out the dinner and people.

The Tribal Council plans to have community meetings with pot luck dinners on a monthly basis (hopefully in the community center as soon as possible) in order to report progress of the Committees, and also to hear questions, comments and criticism from the community. The best way however to relate your ideas is to work on one or more of the People's Committees. Only with the work of a lot of people in an organized manner can we deal with the problems we face as we build our alternative community. JOIN THE TRIBAL COUNCIL! BUILD THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES. ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE.

-Mike Minnich
People's Communications Committee