According to the press release:

On Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 2:15 p.m., Chaske Spencer, star of the Twilight Saga film series: New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn will testify before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs at an oversight hearing on “Stolen Identities: The Impact of Racist Stereotypes on Indigenous People” in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Research shows that Native American mascots had negative effects on Native students’ self-esteem and sense of worth and that exposure to Native American team mascots increases a person’s negative stereotyping of other races. The United States Commission on Civil Rights, NAACP, National Congress of American Indians, American Psychological Association and countless tribes and organizations have passed resolutions calling for an end to Indigenous-themed mascots. Spencer has been asked to join the hearing due to the fact that the emergence of Indigenous actors and directors has given Native people the opportunity to define how their culture is portrayed. Native actors and directors have the unique opportunity to make strides towards overturning decades of harmful stereotypes. Seeing Native people in positive roles brings a sense of pride to Native youth and boosts their self-esteem. Spencer shares, “I am honored to have been given the incredible opportunity to contribute in whatever way possible to the positive shift in the portrayal of native people in the media.”

The hearing will be webcast at http://indian.senate.gov/.

Spencer is passionate about making a difference with all people in the area of reducing poverty and creating sustainable communities. He is engaged in several projects to that end through the non-profit UNITED GLOBAL SHIFT and his personal project SHIFT THE POWER TO THE PEOPLE. This leads to Spencer, who is a Native American from the Lakota Sioux tribe in Idaho and Montana, speaking on behalf of the native community.

This is not the first time Chaske has spoken out regarding Native American concerns. He has also been very active in regaining water rights for the Sioux Nation, speaking to Native youth on substance abuse, and raising awareness on what you as an individual can do to make an impact in your community through the United Global Shift organization.

According to the Topeka Capital Journal, Chaske Spencer has been helping a local tribe leading workshops on for local youth and their families on several areas of need.

“Chiefs of police for the Kickapoo, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Iowa Tribe, and the Sax and Fox joined forces to bring Spencer to Kansas.

“I went to a conference in Palm Springs last December,” said Kickapoo Police Chief Gordon Smith. “Chaske Spencer was a speaker.”

Smith said he came back to Kansas and spoke to the other police chiefs about bringing the actor to the area.

“The guy has been phenomenal,” Smith said. “He is not your typical actor. He goes out and sits with the kids, poses for photos. He is a totally different person, as far as actors go.”

See more on CJ Online

This Press release just in!

On Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 Chaske Spencer, star of The Twilight Saga film series: New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn pt. 1 & 2 is set to host Earth Day Festival San Francisco at the San Francisco Civic Center Plaza. He will be the headline speaker at the EcoSpeaker’s Stage along with Amanda Cryer and the United Global Shift/Be the Shift Campaign.

The Earth Day Festival in San Francisco features a sustainable living roadshow with international keynote speakers, eco-zones with leading activists, workshops, non-profit organizations, green business, indigenous community leaders, civic agencies, and youth groups along with great multicultural music, food and drinks. The focus is to empower the public to pursue green solutions to their everyday lives and address local and global environmental challenges.

Spencer is a co-founder of the Be the Shift Campaign and spokesperson for United Global Shift, which is an organization dedicated to fighting poverty and creating sustainable communities. United Global Shift’s mission is to cause a shift in what is possible for humanity, focusing on the environment, employment, entrepreneurship, health and education by using media outlets to promote entertainment projects in film, television, fashion, sports, advertising, and internet. By promoting these projects the goal is to cause a shift in the way people think and live their lives.

To learn more or sponsor Earth Day Festival San Francisco please visit their website at www.earthdaysf.com.

For some reason this was only just put up even though Sundance was almost a month ago. Julia Jones spoke of really looking forward to the project Winter in the Blood after filming Breaking Dawn.

EDITED: got another video, not sure why but they only just appeared in the YouTube search and it was put up awhile ago.

Looks like Chaske is going back to the vampire side. One of Chaske’s first acting gigs in New York City was as the lead in Dracula. There are also a bunch of great stills over on The Black Pack

Chaske Spencer, Twilight Saga Films, Social Media Lodge
Uploaded by RealTVfilms. – Full seasons and entire episodes online.

Via Lovin Chaske

Sadly the panel (at least with Freddie) didn’t last too long.