Press Release September 1, 2015

Indigenous Peoples Days Fundraiser with Peter Coyote

Actor, director, activist and writer Peter Coyote returns to his old stomping grounds in Nevada City, CA on Friday October 9th at 7:30 pm, in a public performance and fundraiser to kick off the 18th annual Indigenous Peoples Days, a four day event sponsored by the Tsi Akim Maidu.

At the invitation of his old friend, Fred 'Coyote' Downey, spiritual elder and counselor to the tribe, Peter Coyote will engage us with antics and excerpts from his new book, "The Rainman's Third Cure", and answer questions about his years of public activism. His books will be available for sale and personally signed after the show.

The fundraiser follows a public round dance in the streets of Nevada City on the corner of Union and Broad, the 6 pm Opening Ceremony for Indigenous Peoples Days. People are invited to walk two blocks up to the Yuba River Charter School Auditorium at 505 Main St. Doors open at 6:45 pm, with warm food and drinks available. A raffle and silent auction offer ways to support the tribe.

Opening the evening at 7:30 pm are Neena McNair and the Family singers, a women's drum collective dedicated to strengthening and healing the connection to all life, through the Mother drum. Also onstage will be Chairman Don Ryberg of the Tsi Akim Maidu, spiritual elder Fred 'Coyote' Downey, and local singer/songwriter Anni McCann.

For decades, Peter Coyote has combined acting and direct political action to bring attention to many humanitarian causes. He supports Native American land rights and environmental issues. He is friend and advisor to political prisoner .

In the 1960's Coyote joined the San Francisco Mime Troupe, then became a founding member of the , an anarchistic group who supplied free food, housing and medical aid to the homeless during the San Francisco "". Stories of this period are part of his memoir, "Sleeping Where I Fall", and one story received the Pushcart prize, a national prize for excellence in non-fiction writing.

Peter Coyote's effectiveness was clear in his time as member and Chairman of the CA Arts Council ('1975 - '83), when CA expenditures on the arts rose from 1 to 16 million dollars annually. An Emmy winning TV and film actor, Coyote has worked for some of the world's most distinguished filmmakers and narrated well over 120 documentary films. He recently won his second Emmy nomination for the acclaimed 2015 "The Roosevelts". His new book, "The Rainman's Third Cure: An Irregular Education," a look at mentors and the search for wisdom, was released this year by Counterpoint Press.

Coyote is an ordained Buddhist priest. During his 40 years of spiritual practice, he befriended local resident, poet laureate and Buddhist .

Tickets for the fundraising event are $15 advance/$20 at the door, and can be purchased at The Book Seller in GV, Yabobo in NC, both SPD markets (NC & GV), and at Mother Truckers in N San Juan, CA. For more info call 530.274. 7497, or email [email protected].