_ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ( N A T I V E A M E R I C A N ) O o O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o o o o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 01, ISSUE 034 O o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 13 November 1993 O o O ( N E W S ) O This issue contains articles from NATIVE_L/NATCHAT Lists and by members of the Invisible Band. <----<<<< >>>>----> This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters of the Invisible Band and those who share our spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the Red Road. It is hoped that our presence will be rewarded with a Native American RoundTable on GEnie. It is archived at the Native American FTP site ftp.cit.cornell.edu in the directory /pub/special/NativeProfs/newsletters; and is being sent to gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us (Gary S. Trujillo) should he wish to include it in his NATIVE-L or NATCHAT lists. "This is a happy season of the year -- having plenty of provisions such as beans, squashes and other produce with our dried meat and fish. We continue to make feasts and visit each other, until our corn is ripe." "At least one of the lodges in the village makes a feast daily for the Great Spirit. I cannot explain this so that the white people will comprehend me, because we have no regular standard among us. Everyone makes his feast as he thinks best, to please the Great Spirit, who has care of all beings created." -- Black Hawk, Sauk O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! This will be the last issue of Wotanging Ikche, but only for a short period. I regret there must be a break in this messenger I pledged to deliver, but I hope the cause will merit your approval. I have been offered work I find far more satisfying and it requires a month in the classroom followed by a move from Durham, North Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia. My wonderful woman and I hope it will not be long before we become part of the circle in Atlanta; and I promise I will resume sending Wotanging Ikche as quickly as possible. That is all. Mitaquye Oyasin! Night Owl ------------------ clip here for news feature -- 8< ----------- --------- "RE: Education Conference Update Newsletter" --------- From: John Burrows Subj: Education Conference Update Newsletter Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: This file has been created under the loving care of :: :: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- :: :: :: :: Questions and comments on FWDP can be addressed to: :: :: :: :: John Burrows jburrows@halcyon.com :: :: P.O. Box 2574 :: :: Olympia, Wa Fido Net 1:352/333 :: :: 98507-2574 206-786-9629 :: :: USA The Quarto Mundista BBS :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 1993 QANTAS INTERNATIONAL YEAR THE AUSTRALIAN AIRLINE FOR THE WORLD'S THE OFFICIAL AIRLINE CARRIER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Quote reference code: JLKWYL when booking your flights to 'A NEW PARTNERSHIP' Australia and within Australia WORLD INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' CONFERENCE: EDUCATION UPDATE OCTOBER 1993 LISTEN - LEARN - UNDERSTAND - TEACH ... THE ANSWERS ARE WITHIN US This newsletter is designed to inform Indigenous Peoples and their supporters worldwide about the 1993 World Indigenous Peoples' Conference: Education (WIPCE). The 1993 WIPC:E is the third in a series of triennial conferences. The first was hosted by the Indigenous peoples of Canada in 1987, and the second by the Maori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) in 1990. The 1993 WIPC:E will be the last major Indigenous meeting in the INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR THE WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES. Over 3000 people from 28 countries are expected to meet in Wollongong from 11 - 17 December, to discuss an INTERNATIONAL DECLARATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' EDUCATION RIGHTS, to share educational experiences and to celebrate the survival of the oldest continuous cultures in the world. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' EDUCATION RIGHTS During September, a group of leaders in Indigenous education from four countries met in the NSW South Coast to begin drafting an international DECLARATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' EDUCATION RIGHTS. The draft is the first of its kind, and will be the major topic of discussion during SPECIAL FOCUS FORUMS at the WIPC:E. It's envisaged that the draft will be developed and endorsed by delegates to the WIPC:E, to be used as a working document for future conferences and as an educational resource for Indigenous peoples. CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT, ART AND CRAFT The WIPC:E will be a place to celebrate the richness and diversity of the world's Indigenous cultures. Dance, music, performance, cultural exchange, art and craft are all important features of the Conference. All conference delegates are welcome to attend and participate in the opening and closing ceremonies, and for "gold coin" entry (one or two dollars), members of the wider community are also warmly invited to witness the celebrations at the Steelers' Stadium in Wollongong. Art and craft stalls will be open at the conference, where delegates and members of the wider community are welcome to buy, sell and trade. PROFILE: MS. ROMINA FUJII Ms. Romina Fujii is the deputy Chair of the National Organising Committee of the WIPC:E. Romina Fujii is from Thursday Island and has had a long involvement in Torres Strait Islander education. Romina is a member of the ATSIC Regional Council for the Torres Strait, and is Co-ordinator of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Consultative Committee (QATSIECC). She is a strong advocate for the rights of Indigenous peoples to control our own education systems. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACROSS THE WORLD In each edition of "UPDATE", you'll find information about Indigenous peoples across the world. These summaries can be found in "THE GAIA ATLAS OF FIRST PEOPLES", by Julian Berger, Robertson McCarta/Gala Books Ltd, London, 1990. SOUTH AMERICA: the total Indigenous population of South America is estimated at well over 15 million. The majority are highland peoples like the Quecha and Aymara whose population exceeds 11 million, and who live in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia. About one million are forest-dwelling peoples who live in the Amazon region, including the Amarakaeri, Amuesha, Yagua, Panare, Sanema, Secoya, Shuar and Yanesha peoples. People live mainly as hunters, shifting cultivators and farmers, and face militarization, invasions of land, environmental degradation, cultural breakdown, the drug trade, and the constant abuse by governments of their basic human rights. IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT DESCRIPTIONS OF PREVAILING WAYS OF LIFE AND MAJOR PROBLEMS CAN ONLY PROVIDE A SMALL CLUE TO THE COMPLEXITY, RICHNESS AND VARIATION WITHIN THE LIVES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES. SOME REMINDERS Australia has strict quarantine laws, including restrictions on animal products, plants and food. Articles such as feathers must be declared at the point of entry into Australia. If you haven't already sent in your registration form, please do so as soon as possible. Registration forms, posters and other information are available from the WIPC:E Secretariat: 5/73 Kembla Street, Wollongong, N.S.W., Australia 2500 Ph 61 42 261 522 Fax 61 42 283 033 The WIPC:E organisers would this month like to thank John Brotherton, Mrs. Brotherton, Mrs. Sargeant and Natalie Dufresnes for their invaluable help with translation. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- To have a current Center For World Indigenous Studies Publication Catalogue sent to you via e-mail, send a request to jburrows@halcyon.com Center For World Indigenous Studies P.O. Box 2574 Olympia, WA U.S.A. 98507-2574 Fax: 206-956-1087 BBS: 206-786-9629 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// John Burrows, Director jburrows@halcyon.com Fourth World Documentation Project The Quarto Mundista BBS Finger for more info on CWIS & FWDP Fido Net 1:352/333 206/786-9629 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ --------- "RE: Saviors of the Forest Top Doc Hawaii" --------- From: Loose Subj: Saviors of the Forest Top Doc Hawaii Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Funny! Award Winning! "SAVIORS OF THE FOREST" (the movie) up for top documentary in Hawaii Film Fest SAVIORS OF THE FOREST, a humorous adventure documentary about the the struggle to save the world's rainforests has been nominated for BEST DOCUMENTARY at this year's HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. SCREENING LOCATIONS AND TIMES THROUGHOUT THE ISLANDS ALL SCREENINGS ARE FREE AND FILMMAKERS WILL BE PRESENT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS!! 8TH NOVEMBER - HONOLULU Showing at DIAMOND HEAD THEATER 520 Makapuu Ave. 7:45 PM 12TH NOVEMBER - HONOLULU Showing at the FORUM AT WARD CENTER 1200 Ala Moana Bl. 8:00 PM 15TH NOVEMBER - MAUI WAILUKU Showing at the MEMORIAL HOSPITAL THEATER 7:30 PM 17 NOVEMBER - BIG ISLAND Kilauea Theatre Hawaii National Park Volcano 8PM 18 NOVEMBER -BIG ISLAND (PAHOA) Akebono Theater 7 PM 19 NOVEMBER - KAUAI Lihue Koloa Community School Library 7:00 PM For additional information, please contact the festival office in Honolulu at 808-944-7665. Winners to be announced Nov. 12th. SAVIORS OF THE FOREST is a breakthrough film -- With refreshing humor in an area dominated by bleak doomsday films, SAVIORS OF THE FOREST, shows Bill and Terry, two freelance Camera Guys, heading for Ecuador to make a film that will help save the rainforest there. What results is a topsy-turvy tour of the jungle as the Camera Guys hunt for heroes and villains, only to find they're up a river without a clue -- encountering a world where environmentalists are trying to import saw mills and lumber companies are campaigning for tree planting projects. Before it is all over, this irreverent expose/diary, transforms itself into a film about idealism, corruption, and more than anything else, the individual growth of its makers. From the opening chainsaw montage, to a raid on a shipment of rainforest timber bound for Hollywood movie sets SAVIORS OF THE FOREST saws its big subject - the rainforest - down to human scale with honesty and humor. SAVIORS OF THE FOREST IS AN INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNER BEST OF THE FESTIVAL Louisville Film Festival BEST DOCUMENTARY Chicago Film Festival GOLDEN GATE AWARD San Francisco Film Festival SILVER MEDALIST Sinking Creek Film Festival Please join us. If you have any questions, call USA (310) 828-5662 or write to Sincerely, Bill & Terry Camera Guys --------- "RE: Broken Chain" --------- From: Troy Subj: Broken Chain Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) In response to the question of when the Broken Chain will be shown. It will be televised, Sun. Dec. 12, on TNT. Check your local TV listings for the time. Also, I saw the preview for the movie Geronimo, starring Wes Studi. It will start showing, Dec. 10, at the theatre. Looks to be another Native American Film hit. *************************************************************** Troy Adkins J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Phone: (804) 371-3243 Computer Center Fax: (804) 371-3086 EMAIL: SRADKIT@VCCSCENT.BITNET --------- "RE: Statement from Daniel Ashini" --------- From: act@web.apc.org Subj: Statement from Daniel Ashini Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) /* Written 11:58 pm Nov 3, 1993 by act in web:gen.newsletters */ /* ---------- "The ACTivist vol9#11, November 93" ---------- */ JETS NOT WELCOME IN NITASSINAN Following is a statement sent by Daniel Ashini, the Innu Nation's Director of Innu Rights and Environment, to ACT's October 30 rally in support of the Innu. About 300 people attended the demonstration in Toronto, which also called for an end to clear-cut logging in Clayoquot Sound. As well as this statement, the rally heard from Innu speakers Jackie Ashini and Kathleen Nuna. A giant stump from the Clayoquot old-growth forest was also present.** I know a piece of paper is a poor substitute for an Innu spokesperson, but I hope that this letter will at least convey to you some of our feelings about low-level flying in our homeland, Nitassinan. I'm sorry I couldn't be with you in person to participate in your rally, but I, and other Innu spokespeople, are very busy here with several pressing concerns. In any event, let me start by simply thanking you all for coming out to the rally to show your concern for the future of Nitassinan, for the potentially negative impacts of low-level flying, and your support for the Innu people. Your ongoing support, and the hard work of the organizers of these rallies, is very much appreciated by the Innu people. I know that many of you have never had a chance to visit Nitassinan, to witness with your own eyes its majestic valleys, carpets of black spruce forests, serpentine rivers, and awe-inspiring aurora borealis. Had you spent even a minute in this beautiful land, you would understand instantly why we struggle so hard against military flight training and other industrial intrusions, and you would know that your protest actions are truly grounded in a deep appreciation for the earth and all its creatures. With that as an intro, let me say that we are now at a crucial point in our fight against military flight training. After eight years of environmental impact assessment, the Department of National Defence is about to release a new Environmental Impact Statement. You will remember that the first statement was a real mess and received heavy criticism from independent experts retained by the Innu Nation, from the Environmental Assessment Panel, and several other agencies. Besides participating in this assessment process, we have also continued to oppose the flight training through direct action, through civil disobedience at the military base in Goose Bay and on the Minipi Lake bombing range. Many of our people have been arrested and spent time in jail as a result of these actions. In fact, I and close to 50 other people were back in court just two days ago [October 26] in relation to charges stemming from an occupation of the ramp at Goose Bay in September. Our civil disobedience actions have been an important vehicle for the communication of our concerns about the impacts of the flight training to national and international publics, and of course, many of our supporters have played a key role in helping to reach these publics. With the release of the new Environmental Impact Statement some time in December or January, DND hopes to push ahead as quickly as possible to get the environmental review process finished with. The Allied air forces, Happy Valley-Goose Bay Town Council, and the Newfoundland government are all pressing DND to get the environmental public relations job over with as soon as possible. To this end, changes have been made to the Environmental Assessment Panel, to replace formerly strong members who had the wherewithal to scrutinize carefully the research done by DND, with new members who are either ex-military and government bureaucrats, pro-industry consultants, or who have limited capacity to understand the complexities of the flight training. I am very concerned that the environmental assessment with this new panel in charge has become a whitewash, or just another public relations rubber stamp for the military. What you have to remember now is that there are serious defects in what DND is doing to protect the Innu and the wildlife from the negative impacts of military flight training. You have probably heard that DND says that it can reduce the impacts of the flight training to a bare minimum by getting the Allied air force pilots to avoid our camps and concentrations of wildlife. However, DND promised to avoid these noise-sensitive areas before it had really made much of an effort to determine their location. When the Department started to conduct inventories to find out where wildlife concentrations are located, it found them all over the place. And when it started to implement some avoidance restrictions to prevent overflights, the Allies started to scream bloody murder. They told DND that they came to fly at Goose Bay because there were no restrictions on the activities, unlike those in Europe. They told DND that if it did not stop putting in all these avoidance restrictions they would pack their bags and go somewhere else. So as a result of this pressure, DND has been going back to the Canadian Wildlife Service and provincial wildlife agencies to get them to agree to watered-down avoidance measures. The Innu Nation has just released a study which looks at this whole process. It concluded, after an exhaustive analysis of documents obtained through the federal Access to Information Act, that DND is not designing the avoidance measures on the basis of scientific criteria, but through a process of political negotiation. Now, this situation is clearly unacceptable to the Innu Nation. We had been encouraged to sit down and cooperate with DND and to provide the coordinates of our camps on the basis of DND's argument that the impacts of the flight training would be eliminated through the avoidance program. But this program is clearly not working; in fact it's a sham. We have no faith in this program whatsoever and see no reason to cooperate with the Department. My message to you is that you must join with us in communicating to the Canadian public that DND's avoidance program is a sham. Inform yourselves about why it is a sham and tell the Canadian government as loudly as you can that the avoidance program is no good. Next, prepare yourselves to intervene in the upcoming environmental hearings. We are going to need your support at this time. Of course, the timing of these hearings is very important because they will happen just before Canada and its Allies start to renegotiate the terms of the bilateral agreements that permit flight training at Goose Bay. You must join with us in telling the panel and the Allied air forces that the training is not welcome in Nitassinan. That's about all I have to say today. But let me close by again thanking you all for your participation in this rally and your ongoing support of the Innu people of Nitassinan. Tshinashkumitan. --------- "RE: Medicine Wheel Alliance Newsletter" --------- From: Michele Lord Subj: Medicine Wheel Alliance Newsletter Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) [I'm posting this for Nicol Price who does not yet have access to a computer network. PLease, contact her for further details. Thank you. -Michele] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Medicine Wheel Alliance/Associated with Northern Cheyenne Cultural Commission PO box 37, Huntley, MT 59037 406-348-2079-nicol PO Box 763, Lame Deer, MT 59043 477-6215-tallbull OCTOBER 1993 NEWSLETTER Time to catch you up on what has taken place over the summer at the Medicine Wheel and Medicine Mountain. In June six signatories signed a short term MOA put together by the Big Horn Forest Service (BHFS) after we had spent 2 months working and commenting on an MOA [Memorandum of Agreement for the short term management of Medicine Mountain and the Medicine Wheel in 1993] put together by the Advisory Council. The versions were so close and time was getting short. The version put out by the Advisory Council was a tighter version. MOA stipulations were: a gate would be placed at the junction of MW road and FAA road, a small information center placed here, with a small parking lot and most people would be required to walk the 1-1/2 miles into the Wheel Site itself. The handicapped and elderly would be allowed to drive the road to the south, with no more then three cars permitted at one time. Interpreters would be hired and in place by July 1. Hours would be from 7:00 to 7:00, seven days a week. Hiring was to have Native American input and sensitivity training was to take place for all interpreters. Time frame was to be from July 1 to Nov. 1, with 12 days set aside for NA [Native American] ceremonial use between July 1 & Nov. 1 and the 12 days of solstice and equinox. With a monitoring meeting to be set up each month for members of the signatories and forest service. It sounded good, but this is what happened. The first three interpreters were 'rehires' of seasonal white people, which happened in May. Then two Native Americans were hired from Denver & Navajo country. Seven NA who applied from this area were turned down. Towards the end of July, a northern Cheyenne Lady was hired, also. By mid August the two NA hired from Denver had left and by Sept. 29, the Northern Cheyenne had left. Only the northern Cheyenne lady had NA input into her hiring and to date the Forest Service is still out of compliance with the MOA for the way hiring took place. The sensitivity training amounted to 3 hrs, one afternoon spent with Elders. The chief interpreter insisted that the Native Americans tell all the theories attached to the Medicine Wheel and then they could tell about their cultural affiliations. There have been many confrontations on this point and as yet the 'Indians' have not won. The Chief Interpreter considers the 'Custer Battlefield' his sacred ground. The NA input that should have taken place has been very hit or miss. The gate across the road is 'not' closed. Anyone who wants to drive by the Wheel is allowed to do so. The gate is never locked. The FS closes all roads the time in timber cuts but this one they just can't do. There have been good things. The visitation will be cut from 70,000 visitors last summer to more around 30,000 this summer. Maybe a third of the people coming are not walking in. The ones that do over 90% are happy with the walk and having some interpretation taking place. So what we have been telling the Forest Service all this time was right! Now for the other 10%. The Community of Lovell has been another bag of tricks. There were many abusive articles and comments out of this community this summer. By the likes of Cal Taggart, Reggie Croft, Jay Ellis Ramson and a new group call the 'Big Horn Mountains Medicine Wheel Assoc.' of which these same people are part, and then, remember the former Dist. Ranger, Pete Chidsey. Oh did he come out of hiding this past summer. He was and it was ugly. There were several of these. At first I thought we were dealing with Wise Use people but as things proceeded to get uglier, realized that we were dealing with White Supremacists and the like. Many hate calls were made late at night to people, threatening lives, that kind of thing. Its been a long summer to say the least. This same group 'did' their own survey up at the Wheel, stopping cars and giving them false information. Sent people up to harass the NA interpreters during their work hours. This same group is very concerned about 'their' first amendment rights. So thats how the summer went. Its been long and to be honest extremely hard on all of us. Something so many of us have spent so much time trying to make better and then must deal with articles from the likes of Pete Chidsey, really is disheartening. We may know "Why" we didn't get any place the first two years of this project. Where are we now? That's a good question. The BHFS was to start the process towards a long term management plan 60 days after the MOA was signed. To date we are still waiting for that to happen. The Short Term MOA states a Long Term MP will be in place January 1994. To date the Forest Supervisor, Larry Keown, has not even bothered to start the process let alone look like he'd like to see this finished. He is balking at supplying the funding for the next two parts of the ethnographic study and beginning to suspect that he to maybe a very right wing appointment into this position. So MWA is still waiting for the first meeting date to be put forward. It will not be easy, the group from Lovell wants full signatory rights along with the rest of the groups and we are sure they will do everything in their to disrupt the meetings. It looks like an even uglier and longer winter. NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS!!!!! We are waiting the appointment of Mr. Tallbull to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at the National Level. This would be a great appointment to help further the cause for preservation of Sacred Lands. He is one of three being considered so keep your fingers crossed. The Environment Studies Dept of U of M accepted another of our proposals to analyses the snowmobile use on Medicine Mountain and grazing allotments. The Long Range Management plan they did for us last semester was submitted in August and we are asking for 70% on one allotment for no grazing. We didn't leave much out but felt we would ask for it all then would have areas to mitigate from. MWA also submitted a Rest Stop Alternative to the Medicine Wheel Dist. for the Rest Stop/snowmobile warming hut. Its a disturbed area along the highway a quarter mile from the turn off going west from the Med Wheel Road. Its higher up then the one planned for by the community of Lovell. This should be out some time yet this fall of early winter. MWA will start meetings with the South Dakota Rec. Dept (SDRD) on Bear butte. We have decided to go to different Tribes and get their input. Many surveys were passed out this summer by us and SDRD but so far only $ have been returned. If anyone should want a copy of the survey please send a stamped envelope and we will mail one out. The Sweet Grass Hills has had a moratorium placed on all mineral leasing for two years until a better assessment is done by BLM. We have our congressional delegation of Williams and Baucus to thank as well as Sc. of Interior Babbitt. This will help with getting this declared a National Historic District. Also, the Mineral Policy Center, Bozeman, helped in this and the MWA was a hidden partner on 106 compliance issues on this. Tongue River Railroad is still on hold and we have heard nothing further on this project since last summer. The Dry Fork Hydro Project on the Big Horn is now in FERC's hands and they have not issued a permit for construction. FERC is requesting more information in different areas. Some of us have gone into this area this past summer and what a beautiful wilderness area it is. It will be a real shame to see it turned into a dam and hydro project. There were many blowdowns on the Big Horns this summer which took out several million board feet of timber. The spirits were active. Devils Tower has turned into a real problem child. We are now on our third acting superintendent in 5 years. A climbing management plan is out for this site and our stand on this is for a name change and no climbing allowed. MWA has finally done a FOIA request to get some information on meetings that have taken place. Some of us will be going to Devil's Tower this next weekend for a meeting. There are always enough projects to keep us busy. We have done much journeying around the country to speak on these issues and spent countless hours on the phone doing the same thing. We will keep you informed as things start to happen. We will need petitions and letters for the reststop/snowmobile warming hut and may need comments on the a long range management plan. Sincerely, Nicol Price The Medicine Wheel Alliance is hoping that with your spiritual and financial support we can continue our work for another year. Join the Medicine Wheel Alliance today with a $30.00 contribution toward preserving a wonderful area and a spiritual haven for all of us. The Board of the Medicine Wheel Alliance Bill Tallbull, Chairman John Hill, Sr., Vice-Chairman Floyd Youngman Haman Wise, Sr. Phillip Underbaggage Pat Chief Stick Curley Bear Wagner Liisa Ellis "Sam" Hartley Jo Smith Coordinator, Nicol Price ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michele Lord + If you have come here to help me, + you are wasting your time..... + But if you have come because + your liberation is bound up with mine, milo@scicom.alphacdc.com + then let us work together. Aboriginal Woman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------- "RE: Blood Quantum" --------- From: RCHVMW2.VNET.IBM.COM!SHUPE Subj: Blood Quantum Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Bill Green recently wrote that he is in support of Blood quantum as a means for determining Indian-ness. I couldn't disagree with him more if I tried. Any defining of Indian-ness by racial/genetic means is plain and simple racism (sure, lets get back into a definition of racism), it is a means of cultural genocide (culturacide?), and a means of relieving the United States Government of its treatied obligations to the various Indigenous Nations. No matter what the speaker had said, we all know that in the old days who was a tribal member was determined culturally. We married between tribes and between races fairly freely. Yet the U.S. government and Tribal Governments have said that if you don't have the "genetic" makeup of at least 1/4 blood quantum you aren't Indian (see my 9/8ths Swimmer example from an earlier post 8) ). Those of us who know something about the real world know that genetics has nothing to do with culture nor with spirituality. Thus, true Indian-ness has nothing to do with the biological determination of heredity since being a real Indian has everything to do with culture and spirituality and little to do with whether or not your X ancestor was a member of the Pequot tribe or not. It is surprising to me that we keep returning to this topic and the same ideas are espoused when the government is fairly open in its attempts to disband tribes by saying "Oh, there aren't any X bloods left so we can abrogate this treaty or disband this tribe." Sorry if this seems somewhat vehement but it angers and saddens me when Indians forget what being an Indian is all about. Mitakuye Oyasin, Waya Gola. | J.T. Waya Gola Shupe | SHUPE@RCHVMW2.VNET.IBM.COM -- The Mysteries and Magics of -- | Dept. 45n : Performance Tools III -- the world are far simpler -- | Professional AISES member, juggler, -- than we make them out to be.-- | story teller, Associate Programmer, | all around interesting person! ;) --------- "RE: Indigenous Environmental Conference" --------- From: GBVAXA.UWGB.EDU!444867SW Subj: Indigenous Environmental Conference Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) The Inter-Tribal Student Council along with several other students at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and community members from the Oneida and Menominee reserves are planning an Awareness Conference to be held in the Spring of 1994 in conjunction with the 2nd Annual UWGB Pow-Wow. We are identifying local, state and national issues in Indian country that are affecting the life- styles and natural resources of indigenous people. The age of industrialization which has encompassed the past two hundred years must now be evaluated and both for its significant contributions to the human race and to the devastation it has created. If we are to evaluate its impact, we may wish to begin with the beliefs and values that motivated not only its development but perpetuation. It is time now to turn our attention to alternative life- styles incorporating historical environmental and ecological philosophies along with modern technology that addresses the issue of a cleaner and safer planet. Looking within ourselves for the inherent ability we all possess to live with the natural cycles, seasons, plant and animal life may be a place to begin. Awareness from a global perspective will enhance our ability to understand this to be an issue of concern to every- one in the world. WE ARE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. WE ARE ASKING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN SPEAK FOR THEIR PEOPLE IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUES NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF THE DEVASTATION THAT IS CREATED, BUT ALTERNATIVES BEING PURSUED TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM. WE ARE ASKING FOR GUIDANCE IN IDENTIFYING FUNDING SOURCES THAT MAY ENTERTAIN OUR IDEAS FOR HOSTING SUCH A CONFERENCE. WE ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORT AND SUGGESTIONS FROM READERS OF THE NATIVENET. Sue Daniels (547242SD@GBVAXA.UWGB.EDU) 3744 Sturgeon Bay Road Green Bay, WI 54311 Corky West (444867SW@GBVAXA.UWGB.EDU) Clare Bader (625091CB@GBVAXA.UWGB.EDU) --------- "RE: Big Mountain Fax Request" --------- From: Michele Lord Subj: Big Mountain Fax Request Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) --------------------------------------------------------- CALL FOR FAX ATTACK TO HELP DINEH (NAVAJO) PEOPLE AGAINST EXTORTION/SHEEP IMPOUNDMENT --------------------------------------------------------- The Dineh residents on Hopi Partition Land (HPL) in Big Mountain were asked last June to ratify a 75-year lease agreement, "Agreement in Principle", that would tear them from the land where their families have lived for thousands of years. Instead, the community rejected this agreement by a vote of 250-1. Officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the U.S. Department of Justice would like them to change their votes. The officials are presently visiting many of the Dineh elders and are threatening that they will confiscate their sheep unless they sign this document. The Navajo Nation Zah directed a letter the the Honorable Ada Deer, Asst. Secretary for Indian Affairs, dated Oct. 20, 1993, stating: "Because the raising of sheep and other livestock is an important element of the traditional Navajo way of life, the continued threats and actual impoundments represent a powerful form of harassment and control for Hopi rangers and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). As you may be aware, the BIA has adopted a more flexible approach on the enforcement of this regulation [against Dineh sheep trespassing on HPL] in order to help establish a in order to foundation of trust and confidence between the parties to the mediation of the Navajo-Hopi-United States land dispute. I now understand that BIA officials intend to reverse this policy and aggressively enforce the impoundment regulation despite the objections of the Navajo Nation officials and Magistrate Harry R. McCue, the court-appointed mediator." ..."In addition to impounding more livestock, the BIA intended to increase its fees for releasing impounded livestock to approximately ten times the amount previously assessed." President Zah continues, "I am deeply concerned that Mr. Jackson [Dept of Interior] and the Department of Justice representatives have sought to reinitiate an aggressive impoundment policy to either punish the Navajo families living on the HPL for having rejected the 75-year lease concept, (Agreement in Principle), or in order to coerce the families to reconsider their decision. I am also concerned that the proposed increase in fees is an instance of selective enforcement, and that such a policy is not being adopted by other BIA offices around the country, and that this would have a negative impact on the mediation." We are aware that the relationship between the Dineh and their sheep is very deep. The herds are the descendants of sheep which have been in their families for hundreds of years. The threat of confiscation is like saying they will take and kill part of their families. The officials know what these herds mean to the people and are using this threat to force these people to sign an agreement they have already rejected. The 75-year lease, "Agreement in Principle", arose form lawsuits protesting U.S. PL93-531, which ordered the relocation of 10,000 Dineh from land their families have lived on for thousands of years. Most of these people have relocated with disastrous results consequences that have been documented in books and films. This cruel relocation program, at the cost of billion of dollars, is the largest forced relocation of people since the Japanese internment camps. It has left thousands of traditional people homeless, and in desperate poverty, with significant increases in alcoholism, suicide and emotional abuse. A few hundred resisters have held out, and a recent court decision (Manybeads vs. United States) requested that the remaining people be involved in a process to resolve this dispute. Hence, the government needed their signatures, which was similar to asking people to sign their own death warrants. The U.S. government should not be using extortion tactics to force people to sign this agreement. A full investigation into this matter as soon as possible is essential. Please support the Dineh struggle against extortion by sending faxes/letters to the people listed below. Please call for further information and SEND COPIES OF ALL FAXES/LETTERS TO: Marsha Monestersky, Dineh Hopi Alliance, fax/phone # 602-289-2707 2045 W. 3rd #34, Winslow, AZ 86047. Its very important to send copies of your faxes and letters to the Dineh Hopi Alliance so that we can document the number. Thank you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Attorney General Janet Reno 10th and Constitution Ave., Rm 4400 Washington DC 20530 Ph: 202-514-2000 Fax: 202-415-4371 Rep. Bill Richardson, Native American Affairs Sub Committee House of Representatives 2349 Reyburn House Office Bldg. Washington DC 20515 Ph: 202-225-6190 Fax: 202-225-5143 Senator Joseph Biden, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee Senate Office Bldg., 221 Russell Washington DC 20510 Ph: 202-224-5042 Fax: 202-224-0139 Senator Daniel Inouye, Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs Hart Senate Office Bldg., Ste. 722 Washington DC 20510 Ph: 202-224-3934 Fax: 202-224-6747 Representative George Miller Chairman, House Natural Resources Committee House of Representatives Longworth Bldg., Rm 1324 Washington DC 20515 Ph: 202-225-2761 Fax: 202-225-1931 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [I have copies of the letter from the Dept. of Interior to the BIA Hopi Agency, Keams Canyon (10/13/93) and the letter from Peterson Zah to Ada Deer (10/20/93). E-mail if you want them. -Michele] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michele Lord + If you have come here to help me, + you are wasting your time..... + But if you have come because + your liberation is bound up with mine, milo@scicom.alphacdc.com + then let us work together. Aboriginal Woman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------- "RE: Position announcement" --------- From: "Jason Curnow" Subj: Position announcement Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT The University of Montana College of Arts and Sciences Department of Anthropology and Native American Studies QUALIFICATIONS: The University of Montana, Native American Studies and the Department of Anthropology, invite applications for a full-time, tenure- track, joint faculty position at the assistant professor level. We seek an applied anthropologist with an area of specialization in Native American Studies. The successful candidate must have a research orientation in comparative indigenous issues. Interests in indigenous languages and language retention are strongly desired. The candidate also must be willing to work off-campus with local Native American communities. Ph.D. is preferred with demonstrated research and teaching record. The individual will be required to teach courses in Native American Studies and Anthropology, including a four-field introductory course in anthropology. APPLICATIONS: Applicants should submit a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, and the names of three references to: Richard Clow and Gregory R. Campbell, Co-Chairs Search Committee, Native American Studies University of Montana Missoula, Montana 59812 The closing date for applications is February 15, 1994 and the Search Committee will begin reviewing applications on that date. UNIVERSITY LOCATION: The University of Montana is one of the nation's outstanding public universities committed to liberal arts education, research, and strong professional programs. It is located in Missoula, a cosmopolitan Rocky Mountain community of 70,000, often singled out in national publications for it's quality of life. The University of Montana is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation. The University of Montana employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Note: This letter is being posted through my account, but I have no connection to the Native American Studies/Anthropology department. Please do not reply to this message. --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows" --------- From: JANS Janet McNeely Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows GE Electronic Mail =POWWOWS= Since we'll be away for awhile getting settled, I'm going to try to include as many powwows through the first of 1994 as I can...bear with the long post, please. My sources include _Powwow Calendar_, which I received by mail order from The Book Publishing Company, P.O. Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483 (phone 1-800-695-2241 for a free catalog). As events listed in ANY book published a year or more prior to the actual event, which is true of the late-in-the-year listings, especially, you should definitely call prior to making plans to attend. Another excellent resource, mentioned earlier, is _The Spike,_ which focuses on powwows in the Northeast and Southeast. Some Time in December (from The Book Company Powwow Calendar) Quinapiac Dancers Winter Dance, Milford, CT Info: 203-263k-3610 Mashpee Wampanoag Winter Social & Potluck, Mashpee, MA Info: 508-477-0208 Indian Art Show, Fort MacLeod AB CANADA Info: 403-533-2731 Dec 4 Long Moon Powwow Info: 617-884-4227 Dec 4 Mason School Powwow, Tacoma WA Info: 206-596-1139 Dec 4-5 6th Annual Powwow, St. Paul, MN Info: 612-872-6523 Dec 8-12 "Eyes that Shine From the Heart" Powwow & Arts & Crafts Fair, Reno, NV Info: 702-853-7444 Dec 11 Christmas Powwow, Davis CA 916-758-9470 Dec 11 Nickommo Festival, Webster MA Info: 508-943-4569 Dec 12-14 40th Annual Chicago American Indian Powwow, Chicago IL Info: 312-275-5871 Dec 26-Jan 1 Miccosukee Art Festival, near Miami, FL Info: 305-223-8380 From The Spike Dec 5 Native American Christmas Crafts Fair, Mahwah, NJ Info: 201-529-5751 Dec. 18 Thunderbird American Indian Dancer's Holiday Party NYC Info: 201-587-9633 Dec 31 Sault St. Marie Tribe New Years' Powwow, MI Info: 906-635-6075 -------------------------------------------------------------- Other Events of Note taken from the Internet NATIVE-L mailing list: ---------------------------------------------------- Original Sender: holly.hsu.edu!BALDWIN Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) STRENGTH OF OUR NATIONS SYMPOSIUM Date: November 14-15, 1993 (Sunday - Monday) Location: University Inn and Conference Center, Amherst, NY Sponsors: Native American SUNY: Western Consortium SUNY at Buffalo, American Studies Department Fee: $15 and $35 For info: call 1-800-851-5020 -------------------------------------------------------- Original Sender: M Jean Black Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Yap Ye Iswa, The Day of the Catawbas Festival. Saturday, November 27th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Catawba Reservation, South Carolina. >From Interstate 77, take Exit #77. Go South on U.S. 21 to Road 31. Turn onto Reservation Road and look for signs. This is a major fund raising event for the Catawba Center and their efforts for the conservation of Catawba Culture. --------------------------------------------------------- Original Sender: NIHCU.bitnet!HQE Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ANNOUNCEMENT The following was taken from the "Dispatch," the newsletter of the American Association of State and Local History--- RETURNING THE PAST: A SYMPOSIUM ON NATIVE AMERICAN REPATRIATION AND THE MUSEUM COMMUNITY will be held on November 19 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Michael Hasmmond, executive director of the recently opened museum of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, will discuss how repatriation has affected Native American tribes and mujseums. Other speakers will discuss how they have implemented the Native American Graves Repatriation Act and the legal responsibility of museums to return Native American materials in their collections. For details contact UALR, 2801 S. University, Little Rock, AR 72204-1099. (501)569-3235. Helen Engle, Archivist, National Archives-New England Send notices of forthcoming powwows, conferences and gatherings to: jans@genie.geis.com