O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! If you wish an to have an item of current Native American interest included in this newsletter, please send it to me by GEnie e-mail. I can not promise I will include every forwarded item, but I can promise I will seriously consider any and all, and when in doubt, will seek counsel with the sender and Chief Distant Eagle! My GEnie email address for submissions and for request to be added to the subscribers' list is GARS. Please understand that all requests to receive this newsletter must come from the interested party. I also ask that any of you who are ASCII artists help me design a banner for the NANEWS. My first thought was to feature a small medicine wheel, but then I thought this should be something that all have an opportunity to contribute to. The rules are simple. It must be small, it must be ASCII (typewriter characters) so that it is readable on ANY computer that can read text, and it MUST reflect the charter of this newsletter. That charter is to make available to any interested persons current items of news interest to the Natuve American peoples in general and the Invisible Band in particular. Mitaquye Oyasin! Night Owl ------------------ clip here for news features -- 8< --------- ---------- "Re: Gathering of Tribes, Alasca" ---------- Subject: Re: Gathering of Tribes, Alasca From: nyxfer!nyt (NY Transfer News) Sixth Spiritual Unity of the Tribes Gathering --------------------------------------------- "The Gathering Newsletter," of January, 1993, announces another gathering to be held in Tanacross, Alaska this August. The force behind bringing the elders and youth of every race together was a century-old vision of Ogala Sioux medicine man Black Elk. Black Elk's vision was a time of peace and unity among all people. His was a vision shared by spiritual leaders from many different religions and traditions. The gatherings began in 1989 as an attempt by a group of Native elders and spiritual leaders from Alaska, Canada and the lower 48 to help the Native Peoples restore their traditional spiritual and cultural values. It is a gathering for all people, no matter what color they may be. The gathering is similar to traditional Native spiritual gatherings. Elders and youth, parents and children, camp together in an isolated area for a week to nine days. They are asked to leave the trappings of the world behind them. A sacred fire is lit in the center of the camp. Participants pass on their knowledge and wisdom. At the same time, around the grounds, some play drums and sing sacred songs, some learn to make baskets or clay bowls, Others take children into the woods, showing them how to find animal tracks. Women and men's talking circles form, each with an elder present to ensure that there will be healing. Sweat-lodges are built. Seemingly from nowhere, salmon, moose berries, breads and other traditional foods arrive to feed the people. Throughout it all, no one is asked to pay for anything. This is, the elders say, above all, a spiritual gathering. For more information on the Spiritual Unity of Tribes Gatherings, write to Jim Walton, P.O. Box 349, Nenana, Alaska 99760, or call (907) 832-5832. ---------- "Re: WANTED: Tsalagi font for MS Wi" ---------- Original Sender: yale.edu!locicero-joe (Joe LoCicero) yale.edu (Joe LoCicero) [ This article relayed from the Usenet "soc.culture.native" newsgroup ] cscns.com (Agvnige Wohali) writes: > Osiyo! > > Anyone out there know where I can get a Tsalagi character > set/font/whatever you call them for Windows 3.1? > > Any help in this regard would be greatly appreciated. > > Wa?do in advance, > > Wohali > cscns.com serf.uccs.edu I didn't want to post this until the project was complete, but here goes: ANNOUNCING: The public domain release of the Tsalagi (Cherokee) alphabet as a font for IBM, MAC, and NeXT computers. This font was developed on Fontographer 3.5 and contains the full set of the 85 characters of the syllabary. The file tsalagi.zip contains: - a TrueType version of the font for use with Windows 3.1; - an Adobe Type 1 font for use with ATM under Windows, OS/2, and DOS; - an Adobe Type 3 font for use as a bitmapped font; - a TrueType version for use with System 7 for Macintosh, - a font version for use with Systems 6.0 and previous. This font was developed in part with a grant from the Mellon Fund at Yale University, Fall 1992. This file will be available at a number of ftp sites in the future. -------------- The font is not completely finished; however, because of deadlines, it WILL be finished by May 1. Please be patient; I'm trying to make this as accurate as possible to Sequoyah's original vision. If anyone is interested in helping me develop it (i.e., looking at it and recommending changes in the way it looks before the first true version yale.edu and I'll get back to you. BTW, if anyone out there knows Renee Womble, a North Carolinian Cherokee, I'm still trying to reach her - please either post or mail me if you know anything about her. Thanks, Joseph Soaring Eagle LoCicero -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- minerva.cis.yale.edu - --------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- "Barriere Lake / Chief's Resolution" ---------- PRESS RELEASE MARCH 31, 1993 NATIONAL CHIEFS ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS QUEBEC'S ILLEGAL TERMINATION OF BARRIERE LAKE AGREEMENT Ottawa - The Assembly of First Nations, meeting in a Special Assembly in Ottawa today condemned Quebec's recent unilateral termination of the Trilateral Agreement signed with the Algonquins of Barriere Lake. The Resolution states: "The Assembly of First Nations considers the unilateral termination of the solemn Trilateral Agreement by the Quebec Government as immoral, illegal and a breach of international human rights..." The Chiefs called for the urgent resumption of talks and that Judge Rejean Paul of the Quebec Superior Court be appointed mediator/facilitator to restart the negotiations. They strongly urged for a peaceful resolution. But in the event that confrontation should become inevitable, the Chiefs pledged their complete support to the Algonquins of Barriere Lake on all fronts, domestic, national and international, including the United Nations. Copy of Resolution attached. Contact: Chief Matchewan or Michel Thusky (613) 725-9754 - 30 - DRAFT RESOLUTION #27 SPECIAL CHIEFS ASSEMBLY MARCH 29-31, 1993 OTTAWA, ONTARIO SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR BARRIERE LAKE TRILATERAL AGREEMENT WHEREAS, since time immemorial, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake have used and occupied their lands for the pursuit of traditional activities, managing the lands and resources, as part of their way of life, on the basis of conservation and harmony with Mother Earth; WHEREAS, impacts from flooding, logging and wildlife depletion, in the last 100 years have devastated the lands and resources and disrupted their traditional way of life; WHEREAS, determined to overcome these impacts; to maintain their traditional way of life and to improve the management of the lands and resources for the benefit of all, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake encouraged the Governments of Canada and Quebec to cooperate in a partnership in developing a conservation strategy based on the principles of sustainable development as expressed in the Report of the U.N. Committee on Environment and Development (Brundtland Report); WHEREAS, in good faith, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake signed the Trilateral Agreement with Canada and Quebec on August 22, 1991; WHEREAS, as expressed in the Trilateral Agreement, its purpose is to ensure, on the territory currently used by the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and included in Annex 1 and Annex 2 of the Agreement, the rational management of renewable resources in view of making possible, with a concern for conservation, their versatile utilization, and the pursuit of Algonquin traditional activities; WHEREAS, in a partnership of the signatories, the Trilateral Agreement establishes a trilateral process involving studies and inventories (phase one); planning (phase two); and recommendations (phase three), which is to result in the production and implementation of an Integrated Resource Management Plan in 1994; WHEREAS, in the interim, prior to the completion of the Integrated Resource Management Plan, so as to minimize the impact of forestry activities on their traditional activities, the Trilateral Agreement provides for the identification of measures to harmonize the conduct of forestry activities with Algonquin traditional activities, as well as sensitive zones which should be protected more especially in a provisional manner; WHEREAS, since the inception of the trilateral process, difficulties in the application of the Trilateral Agreement have occurred as a result of: - the refusal by the Quebec Government, as represented by the Ministry of Forests, to implement the provisional measures, particularly measures to harmonize; - the insistence by the Quebec Government that the Forest Act, regulations and forestry contracts (CAAF's) prevail over the Trilateral Agreement; - the refusal by the Quebec Government, under pressure from the Ministry of Forests, to grant sufficient authority to, and accept the decisions of, its Special Representative as required by the Agreement; and - the withholding by the Governments of Canada and Quebec of sufficient financial resources to make the process work; WHEREAS, in an effort to resolve the difficulties, Mr. Justice Rejean Paul, of the Quebec Superior Court, was appointed as Mediator, on August 12, 1992; WHEREAS, Mr. Justice Paul was unable to resolve the difficulties and issued a Report of his findings and recommendations, dated September 14, 1992; WHEREAS, the mediator's report confirmed that as of September 1992 "the said funding tap (both federal and provincial) has been shut" and that the source of the difficulties in the application of the Trilateral Agreement arises from the integral non-respect of the Agreement; WHEREAS, the mediator's report concluded that the Trilateral Agreement is a treaty or a solemn agreement that is binding upon the parties and takes precedence over Quebec's forestry laws and forestry contracts; WHEREAS, the mediator's report further stated that "this project is of capital importance for the future harmonious development of the forest industry in La Verendrye Park, and elsewhere in Quebec. Dr. Lafond (Quebec's Special Representative) sees in it a marvellous tool for the intelligent management of a forest"; WHEREAS, as a result of Judge Paul's Report, negotiations resumed under the Trilateral Agreement in December 1992; WHEREAS, shortly after re-starting, difficulties again occurred in negotiations because of Quebec's refusal to accept certain measures proposed to harmonize forestry practices with Algonquin traditional concerns, namely the enlarging of buffer zones along waterways from 20 metres to 40 and 60 metres for greater protection of wildlife habitat; WHEREAS, Quebec Native Affairs Minister, Christos Sirros, in letters dated February 12 & 18, 1993, to Chief Matchewan announced the unilateral termination of the Trilateral Agreement; WHEREAS, these actions by the Quebec Government are illegal, especially in view of the Report of Judge Paul which confirms the Trilateral Agreement is binding on all parties and contains no provision for unilateral termination; WHEREAS, the National Chief in a letter dated March 10, 1993 to Premier Bourassa recommended the re-involvement of Judge Paul to mediate/facilitate negotiations; WHEREAS, the situation is becoming extremely urgent because increased demand for lumber is creating more pressure to increase logging in the traditional territory of the Algonquins under the Trilateral Agreement; WHEREAS, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake have clearly stated their position that logging will not be permitted unless it is conducted in accordance with the Trilateral Agreement; WHEREAS, a confrontation will be inevitable unless this situation is resolved. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: 1. The Assembly of First Nations considers the unilateral termination of the solemn Trilateral Agreement by the Quebec Government as immoral, illegal and a breach of international human rights, and as such, condemns this action by Quebec. 2. The Assembly of First Nations urges Quebec and Canada to honour their obligations under the Trilateral Agreement. 3. The Assembly of First Nations urges the Government of Quebec to immediately appoint Judge Paul as Mediator/Facilitator to re-start negotiations under the Trilateral Agreement. 4. The Assembly of First Nations urges the Federal Government in accordance with its fiduciary duty to the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, through its Minister of Indian Affairs, to intervene in this matter and do everything within its power to ensure the Trilateral Agreement is respected by the Government of Quebec. 5. The Assembly of First Nations hereby asserts that if the situation at Barriere Lake deteriorates into a confrontation, every peaceful effort shall be made to support the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, both in the field, throughout the country, and in the international forum, including the United Nations. Moved by: Chief Jean Maurice Matchewan, Algonquins of Barriere Lake Seconded by: Chief Jimmy Hunter, Long Point First Nation. Passed Unanimously.