Subject: nanews02.035 From: gars@netcom.com (Gary Night Owl) To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Message-ID: _ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 02, ISSUE 035 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 27 August 1994 O o O O o O K A N O H E D A A N I Y V W I Y A O ( N A T I V E A M E R I C A N N E W S ) This issue contains articles from UseNet alt.native & soc.culture.native Newsgroups FidoNet Indian Affairs Conference, NATIVE-L, NATCHAT & NATIVE-LIT Mailing Lists, UUCP e-mail, and by members of the Invisible Band. <----<<<< >>>>----> This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters who share our spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the Red Road. 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. "How smooth must be the language of the whites, when they can make right look like wrong, and wrong like right." __ Black Hawk, Sauk +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg- | | iance was first presented | I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the | to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat- | of the Republic | ional Congress of American | and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat- | borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI | Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the | as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian | States Constitution, | Nations. | so that my forefathers | | shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! We are leaving the blueberry moon. We will soon enter the days of winter. When you take your count include needs for the elders and children who can not do the things to keep them through the cold nights soon to come. Without the elders we could not be here. Without the children there is no reason for us to be here. Give to their needs and fill your own Spirit. Dohiyi Oginalii Night Owl , , (*,*) Gary Night Owl gars@genie.geis.com (`-') P. O. Box 672168 gars@netcom.com ===w=w=== Marietta, GA 30067, U.S.A. gars@igc.apc.org ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- Part A: FidoNet, Usenet and e-mail Part B: NATCHAT and NATIVE-L lists - DC Prayer Vigil - Conferences and Powwows - online - Hot Summer for Hydro-Quebec - TESC Longhouse - Puvungna Sacred Site Threatened - Arvidsjaur Resolution - Inuit Elder has Heart Attack - Who is Really.... - CITA Counting Coup - Toxic EMERGENCY - Traditional Dineh Update - Rock Creek Sacred Site - Native American Commandments - Poem: Bowl Filled with Light - Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline ------------------ clip here for news feature -- 8< ------------ --------- "RE: DC Prayer Vigil" --------- Date: Aug-08-94 21:46:10 From: John Burrows (john.burrows@f352.n333.z1.fidonet.org) Subj: DC Prayer Vigil From milo@scicom.alphacdc.com Fri Aug 5 17:40:50 1994 Date: Fri, 5 Aug 94 15:13:06 MDT From: Michele Lord To: jburrows@halcyon.com Subject: DC Prayer Vigil FidoNet Indian Affairs The Wittenberg Center For Alternative Resources 188 Wittenberg Road, Bearsville, NY 12409 PH: 914-679-9764 FAX: 914-595-7813 Dear Friends, We have reached the time that many indigenous prophecies have referred to as Purification. A portal has been opened, we stand at the doorway. We face a choice of two roads; the one we will take is up to each of us. What will we walk towards, destruction or rebirth? The time of decision is now. The landscape of the coming days will reflect all of our actions. It is not only important to rally to the aid of the Hopi and other precious traditional caretakers of this Earth, but we must commit to being caretakers ourselves now. What actions have we been postponing in our own families, communities and businesses that will bring the Earth back into balance before it is too late? The healing of Mother Earth depends on all of us. She cries out in pain. Where are her children? Why do they not respond? We have been told that this time was coming. Now it is here. Can we summon forth the best of ourselves to effect a healing? Can we join as a circle of love and support, coming from the four directions - red, white, black, and yellow - and bring our wisdom together? The Elders are waiting. They have spent their lifetimes bringing their messages to us. Now, they say we must act. If you ask what you can do to make a difference from where you are, remember the Creator put you there for a purpose, and has given you the gifts you need. Now is the time to use them, lest the time run out for all. Today, in this moment, are we walking our talk? Our we living in accordance with our true values? This life, this Earth, is a precious gift, and now it is up to all of us to preserve that gift. Let us all join in heart and mind with the understanding that we are a family of spirit. Let us commit to the uplifting and transformation of our relationship with each other and our Earth. There are many specific political actions that you can take. You can write your congresspeople, senators, governors, the President, and the Department of Interior, saying that as a voter, as a Native American, you wish to stand in solidarity with the traditional spiritual caretakers of this land, and that you will not vote for anyone who continues allowing the violation of treaties and the desecration of sacred lands. You can become educated on these issues, and use your creativity to make a difference. On Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2, 1994, we are issuing a call to all of those who know themselves as caretakers of this land, this Turtle Island, to show that the hoop can be mended and that all the colors of life have a place on the circle today. We will be gathering in Washington DC to let the government know that we stand united in caring for our Mother, and that these grandmothers and grandfathers are our elders too, that they are precious to us, and that their voices must be heard. To participate, and for more information, call or send SASE to: Northwest - Sacred Life Association PO Box 409, Maple Valley, WA 98038 (206) 432-5030 Southwest - From the Circle 56 Joaquin Court, Oakland, CA 94611 (510) 531-3842 Northeast - The Wittenberg Center 188 Wittenberg Road, Bearsville, NY 12409 (914) 679-9764 May you walk in peace, for all our relations OLX 2.1 TD * E-Mail Home for The Center For World Indigenous Studies --- GEcho 1.02+ Origin: -=The Quarto Mundista BBS=- Olympia, Wa 28.8VFC (1:352/333) --------- "RE: Hot Summer for Hydro-Quebec" --------- Date: Aug 17 10:38:22 1994 From: Ann Stewart (Stewartshp@aol.com) Subj: Long, Hot Summer for Hydro-Quebec UUCP e-mail Night Owl: a straight news piece...ok? Another Long, Hot Summer for Hydro-Quebec (and Quebec) As Quebec's election nears--September 12--opponents of mega-hydroelectric developments in James Bay and elsewhere in the province continue to stand up to candidates who insist that building dams will create thousands of new jobs and bail Quebec out of its worsening financial crisis. Polls indicate a win by the separatist Parti Quebecois. In June the PQ announced that it would hold a referendum on separation from Canada within 10 months following victory. Its candidate for premier, Jacques Parizeau, stated that the present boundaries of Quebec would constitute the new nation of Quebec. Reaction to his statement from native groups was immediate: Cree Grand Chief Matthew Coon-Come said that the Crees would seek international support to aid them in determining their own future. And at least one analyst has commented that it may be the Indians, and not "white people," who prevent the confederation of Canada from unraveling in the long run. The latest American institution to divest its Hydro-Quebec bonds is Williams College in Massachusetts. Learning from hard-fought but successful student divestment campaigns at Dartmouth College in 1992 and Tufts University in 1994, Williams student groups began to educate their campus in late winter about the social and environmental consequences of continuing to hold bonds. In July Williams admitted it sold its $1.3 million in bonds due to "fears of separation." Students pledge to continue work this fall to establish a responsible policy regarding any future Hydro-Quebec investment. Mention of Williams' action appeared in an op-ed piece entitled, "The Bond Market Holds Quebec's Fate" in the Wall Street Journal of August 5. Last August, Hydro-Quebec released its 5,000-page "feasibility study" on James Bay Phase II, the Great Whale project, as required by a memorandum of understanding reached among the Crees, Inuit, Quebec and Canada in 1992. Now only a few weeks into August 1994, the utility has been embarrassed by reports that it "paid its own consultants to comment on the quality of their contributions" to the study, that the same consultants found the study "gravely inadequate" in assessing Great Whale's impact upon the Crees, and that five Canadian federal departments have pointed out failures to follow guidelines set up by the provincial and federal review panels established to review the study (Montreal Gazette). Hydro-Quebec has applied to Canada's National Energy Board for another multi-year permit to export electricity to the United States. The utility and the governments are spending as much time and money as ever to convince the northeast's decision-makers and utilities that Canadian hydropower is clean, safe and reliable. --This information is supplied by Stewartship, which is registered as an agent of the Grand Council of the Crees with the US Department of Justice (#4632), where the required registration statement is available for public inspection. Registration does not indicate approval of the contents by the US Government. For more information, email Stewartshp@aol.com. --------- "RE: Puvungna Sacred Site Threatened" --------- Date: 19 Aug 1994 00:22:41 GMT From: eruyle@csulb.edu (Eugene E. Ruyle) Subj: Puvungna sacred site threatened Newsgroup: alt.native Puvungna Sacred Site Threatened by Campus Development Note: The following is a revised and updated version of an article originally published in the Newsletter of the Society for California Archaeology, March 1994. Officials at California State University, Long Beach, have provoked a pitched battle with local Indians with their plans to lease a 22 acre parcel on the western edge of the CSULB campus for commercial development. "Southern California doesn't have a crying need for a mini-mall that would justify destruction of the last 22-acre site of the Gabrielino's sacred, historic site of Puvungna," said Michael Strumwasser, an attorney who argued the case for the Indians at a court hearing. Campus officials claim that the site hasn't been proven to be sacred and want to conduct an archaeological excavation to determine whether the site was used for ceremonial purposes in prehistoric times. They contend that the term mini-mall is inaccurate for the proposed project would be dominated by much-need affordable faculty and staff housing, a child day care center, and a faculty and alumni house, as well as a retail center. The controversy began in January 1993, when the Indian community learned that campus officials had filed a Negative Declaration, required under state law, saying that there were "no cultural resources" on the site. The area, however, was a known archaeological site, LAn-235, which, together with the adjacent LAn-234 and LAn-306 located at the historic Rancho Los Alamitos just east of campus, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the last remnant of the ancient Indian village of Puvungna. Portions of an Indian skeleton which had been accidentally unearthed on LAn-235 were reburied on LAn-234 in 1979, and a sign posted which reads: RGabrielino Indians once inhabited this site, Puvungna, birthplace of Chungichnish, law-giver and god." In addition to the burial and reburial sites, the area includes about two acres used as community garden plots -- known as the Organic Gardens -- and a large natural areas where birds, mammals, trees, and grasses flourish. The controversy actually began when campus officials planned to pave the Organic Gardens for a temporary parking lot. The gardeners obtained about ten thousand signatures on petitions to save the Organic Gardens, and many gardeners are still involved in the effort to save Puvungna. Campus officials acknowledged their mistake, and promised a full cultural review prior to any final decision on development. When workmen began clearing the gardens for an archaeological survey, however, a group of Indians and their supporters began a prayer vigil to protect the land. The vigil was interrupted when campus officials erected a chain- link fence around the garden site. This action prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to enter the case. "This case is about the First Amendment rights of the Native Americans to whom Puvungna is sacred," according to Raleigh Levine of the ACLU. "They have the right to freely exercise their beliefs without the state stepping in to pave over their place of worship and put a mini-mall on it." In June, the Native American Heritage Commission, the state agency charged with protecting Indian sites, determined that "any digging, excavation, or grading would result in damage to the sacred/religious site. Therefore, the Commission recommends complete avoidance of the site as the appropriate and only acceptable mitigation measure. The religious and sacred significance of the site cannot be determined by trenching and excavation. Archaeology cannot determine religious and cultural significance. Only the Indian people can determine those values. They have spoken very clearly to the Commission . . ." CSULB officials, however, did not accept the Commission's ruling, and proceeded with their plans to excavate the site. In early September, the Commission joined with individual Indian plaintiffs and the ACLU to obtain a Preliminary Injunction to provide free access to the site for Native Americans and to prevent any excavation for archaeology or development until the case can be decided in court. Campus officials argue that devoting public land for the exclusive purpose of allowing some Indians to pray would violate the First Amendment. They argue further than only two acres of the site are on the National Register and, in spite of any claims that may have been made, the archaeological and historical evidence is too inconclusive for anyone to claim that Puvungna was located or that the Chungichnish religion was practiced on the land in question. CSULB officials stress that nothing will be done on the site that is not consistent with the results of their cultural review and sensitive to the concerns of Native Americans. The Indians and their supporters point out that they have not been consulted at any point, and that University"s case is refuted by information in the administration's own files. They further state that it is the land itself that is sacred, over and above any artifacts that may be found there, because it is all that remains of the sacred village of Puvungna. Many faculty and students also oppose the planned development and raise questions about whether any campus land should be leased for commercial development. Many members of the campus community are particularly upset that scarce funds are being spent on this project while classes and academic programs have been cut. The American Anthropological Association, after referring the case to its Human Rights Commission, adopted a statement in December of 1993 supporting the protection of Indian sacred sites and reminding all parties "that the issues raised by the Puvungna case are not just local but also are directly related to why the United Nations designated 1993 as the 'International Year of Indigenous People.' The United Nations and its signatory nations recognize the need for an active international effort to protect the human rights of indigenous people throughout the world. Should the actions of any party result in the destruction of an Indian sacred site, it is certain that such behavior would and should receive active state, national, and international condemnation." In addition to the human rights aspects of this case, there are also important environmental considerations. Since this land is on the National Register of Historic Places, it has been protected (until now) from campus development. Many native plants, small mammals, and birds can still be found on the 22 acre parcel, including foxes and falcons. In a recent walk through the site, members of the local Audubon Society were able to make a positive identification of the falcon as an adult male Merlin, a "Life Bird" for all Audubon members present, meaning it was the first time any of the bird watchers had seen a Merlin first hand. The presence of this rare native bird was seen as symbolic of the special nature of the Indian sacred site. Puvungna is a place of peace and great natural beauty, one of the few natural areas left in the urbanized area of surrounding the Long Beach campus. The California Supreme Court rejected a University challenge to the Preliminary Injunction, which remains in effect until the case goes to trial, possibly as early as December. The case merits attention because of its important implications for Native American religious freedom. Both sides appear to be willing to fight this potentially precedent-setting case to the Supreme Court if necessary. While waiting for the court trial, the Save Puvungna Coalition -- which includes CSULB students and faculty and local residents, as well as members of the Los Angeles/Long Beach Indian community -- is continuing to gather support for the preservation of Puvungna. The Gabrielino/Tongva people, the indigenous inhabitants of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, are maintaining a spiritual vigil at Puvungna and have hosted a variety of events, including visits from the Indian Peace Caravan to Chiapas, the Indian Student Alliance of Southern California, and the Australian Indigenous Performing Arts Coalition. Members of the Save Puvungna Coalition are asking supporters to express their concerns about the preservation of Puvungna to: Dr. Robert C. Maxson, President California State University Long Beach, CA 90840 For more information, contact: Eugene E. Ruyle Department of Anthropology California State University, Long Beach Long Beach, CA 90840(310) 985-5364 --------- "RE: Inuit Elder has Heart Attack" --------- Date: Fri Aug 19 12:52:50 1994 From: Ann Stewart (Stewartshp@aol.com) Subj: Inuit Elder has Heart Attack UUCP e-mail Could you run this in your next issue? Sappa Fleming, the ex-mayor of Kuujjuaraapik (the Inuit community of the village of Great Whale located at the mouth of the Great Whale River in James Bay, Quebec) is recovering from a recent heart attack. Mr. Fleming continues to speak out against James Bay Phase II--the damming of Great Whale by Hydro-Quebec, the provincially owned and regulated utility. Inuit people who oppose hydroelectric projects on their lands are under severe pressure. Earlier this year, their leadership signed an agreement with HQ that if James Bay II gets the go-ahead, they will receive financial and other compensation in return for dropping any opposition. Cards, letters and gifts of support would assure Mr. Fleming that he is not alone. Write to: Mr. and Mrs. Sappa Fleming, Box 195, Kuujjuaraapik, Quebec, J0M 1G0, Canada. --------- "RE: CITA Counting Coup" --------- Date: Aug-17-94 00:10:02 From: Tom Kunesh (tom.kunesh@f122.29.n362.z1.fidonet.org) Subj: CITA Counting Coup FidoNet Indian Affairs from the Chattanooga InterTribal Association (CITA) ... ho! many thanks to everybody who talked and wrote about the two native political issues that we're working on here: saving the native & national historic landmark of Moccasin Bend from local development, and saving Rattlesnake Springs, trailhead of the Trail of Tears in 1838 and site of the largest US concentration camp, used in the ethnic cleansing (aka "Removal") of the Cherokee from this area. we are happy to announce - and please spread this around - that our local Hamilton County has -not- sent in its application to the federal Economic Development Administration for $1,000,000 of funding for the amphitheater that it wants to build on Moccasin Bend. with the help of your letters and phone calls, and one heckuva good County Commission hearing in which many people from all parts of the community spoke out against siting the amphitheater on the Bend, the County suffered a major p.r. loss (one person called it "a massacre") and has backed off . .. for the time being at least. rumor has it that the city&county may offer us real and true - possession- of the burial ground lands (about 25% of the historic area) ... in exchange for keeping our @#$%&* mouths shut while allowing them the construction of the amphitheater on the Bend. some native americans (well ... at least -one-) recommends this course of action. others see that we gain nothing by this concession since the state owns all the archaeological easements on the property and is itself opposed to any such development themselves, and that we would lose our claim to the rest of the land (960+ acres total) and lose our political allies who have fought alongside us. ... will keep you posted. and secondly, at tonight's Cleveland (TN) Airport Study Group public meeting, they announced that their former #1 site of Beeler Ridge - which includes Rattlesnake Springs, trailhead of the Trail of Tears - had been moved down to their #3 choice based on information they received from the Department of the Interior's National Trails' office. we (CITA) were the first to contact the DOI-NT office to inform them of the situation and ask for their support. now the problem is that the new #1 site is New Tasso - right across the road! and sites #2 and #4 are also areas of native dwelling and the Trail of Tears. we are encouraging the local farmers to give us or the state archaeological easements to those native sites so that they can be better defended politically. two battles, two victories - CITA counting beau coup coup!!! ... and more battles ahead. we thank you for your support and for spreading this information around. mitake oyasin ;> --- MacWoof 1.5.3 Origin: ... think radically, act logically ... (1:362/122..29@fidonet) --------- "RE: Traditional Dineh Update" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Aug 94 23:35:33 -0500 From: LISA STALNAKER HELLWIG Subj: Traditional Dineh Support Group Update Newsgroup: soc.culture.native In August 1993, we witnessed the re-assertion of the Elders' will to remain on their ancestral homelands without compromising their religious freedoms or traditional lifestyle. The Dineh families overwhelmingly rejected the proposal to have the Hopi Tribe provide leases and place the Dineh under the jurisdiction of the Hopi Tribal Council. Regardless, the families were anxious to continue to pursue a permanent and secure settlement through mediation. In May 1994, the US and the Hopi Tribal Council brought a nearly identical agreement back for reconsideration as a "revised" and final offer. The Justice Department and the Hopi Tribe threatened to evict families who rejected the proposal. The Dineh Elders believe that their religious freedoms were not incorporated into the new settlement. Of 287 initial responses, 193 accepted continued mediation; others either rejected, abstained or refused to reply. The threats, coercion and false promises left many families feeling as if they had no choice. Many Traditionals prefer to establish consensus in their communities rather than being divided by voting. The new Clinton Administration policy, as set forth in a letter from Attorney General Janet Reno, continues to support the law (PL 93-531) mandating Hopi jurisdiction and possible relocation of the Dineh families. Clinton continues to disregard the religious freedoms of the traditional Dineh and Hopi Elders and is subjecting the families to prolonged poverty. As the mediation goes into its fourth year, Dineh are still being relocated. Peterson Zah, president of the Navajo Tribal Council, has officially stated that the Navajo Nation would not comply with recent US and Hopi Tribal Council requests for assistance in evicting resisting families. Though the Dineh want to continue the mediation, supporters must insist that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Attorney General review the entire proceedings, reinstate the Elders as equal participants, and secure the families from eviction. There is a wide range of possibilities that could satisfy the Hopi Tribal Council and the Dineh Communities; however, the United States stands in the way, insisting that Hopi jurisdiction or eviction are the only choices. POINTS OF CONTENTION -The current lease agreement does not adequately address religious freedoms and does not provide a secure or permanent settlement. A just agreement must provide the families ongoing participation in the future decision making process. -The United States must guarantee full compensation and payments to the Hopi Tribe, as well as security from eviction to the Dineh families. -The agreement was not presented to all Dineh residents, nor does it consider the thousand of refugees who have already been relocated. LETTER WRITING Judge John T. Noonan, US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, PO Box 193939, San Francisco, CA 94119. Reference Case #90-15003 President Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500 (Email president@whitehouse.gov) Gerald Torres, Office of the Attorney General, 10th & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530 Rep. Bill Richardson, Chair, Subcommittee Indian Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 FUND RAISING The Legal Defense Fund plans to transport Dineh Elders to appear before the court on their own behalf. Send contributions to the Alliance for Survival, PO Box 379, Ocotillo, CA 92259. Call 619-358-7232 for information. Please copy and distribute this update. ------------------------------------------------------------ Traditional Dineh Support Group - Open Letter to the Support Network Dear Friends and Supporters of the Traditional Dineh (Navajo), The Elders and their families of the former Joint Use Area in Arizona still suffer the cruel policies aimed at relocating thousands of Dineh since 1974. The Clinton Administration still supports the public law (PL 93-531) which gave the ancestral homel ands of the Dineh to the Hopi Tribal Council and mandates the relocation of the Dineh families. Extreme poverty brought about by livestock impoundments, restrictions on wood gathering and moratoriums on hew home construction continues to drive people from their homes. These conditions, along with renewed threats of eviction by the US government, are being used to pressure the Dineh into accepting a settlement which does not guarantee their religious freedoms or secure the Dineh from future eviction. High levels of stress, pressure and isolation have left the Elders vulnerable and in desperate need of support. The Justice Department claims a vast majority of the Dineh residents support an agreement to lease back small parcels of land for 75 years. Many families feel they are being rail- roaded into accepting an inadequate settlement. The US Department of Justice insists that the families could be evicted under the current law or as tenants of the Hopi Tribal Council. This is an essential point that will be addressed by legal counsel and the Elders in a motion presented to the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Elders will ask the court to consider their religious freedoms and their prolonged hardships as the mediation continues. WHAT YOU CAN DO +Travel to the land+: Elders request witnesses to document the living conditions and government harassment, sheep herders, and workers to help Elders tend livestock or maintain a household. People must be self- sufficient - bring food, water, camcorders , cameras, film and binoculars. +Petition Drives and Organizational Endorsement+: Church groups, Councils and other social organizations can pass resolutions in support of Dineh people. Resolutions and petitions can be presented to local and US policy makers. The responsibility of the United States to secure the Dineh families from any future eviction and guarantee full compensation and payments to the Hopi Tribal Council should be emphasized. +Fundraising+: The Elders and their attorney must travel to appear before the court in San Francisco. Small or large concerts, parties, potlucks, film showings, raffles, rug shows, walkathons, 10Ks, etc, can all be effective fund raisers. Please help. Make checks for the Legal Defense Fund payable to the Alliance for Survival, PO Box 379, Ocotillo CA 92259. Phone 619-358-7232 if you have questions. +Letter Writing+: Letters to the President, the Attorney General and other public officials should stress the need to secure the Dineh families from relocation or future eviction. Dineh religious freedom and sovereignty must be honored in any settlement. Poverty and relocation continue in the midst of the mediation. Request local congress members to make official inquiries with President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno, US Department of Justice, 10th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20530. President Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20500. (Email address: president@whitehouse.gov) Please copy and distribute this as widely as possible. For more information on how you can help or travel to the land, contact the Native American Rights Network, PO Box 379, Ocotillo CA 92259, (619) 358-7232. --------- "RE: Rock Creek Sacred Site" --------- Date: 20 Aug 94 01:47:10 GMT From: milo@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Michele Lord) Subj: WESTERN SHOSHONE - A Call To Action, Rock Creek Sacred Site Newsgroup: alt.native From the Newsletter of the WESTERN SHOSHONE DEFENSE PROJECT P.O. Box 211106, Crescent Valley NV 89821 Tel: 702-468-0230 Fax: 702-468-0237 Vol. 1 No. 6 Spring/Summer 1994 A CALL TO ACTION Western Shoshones and Western Shoshone spiritual leaders, along with the Citizen Alert Native American Program, are currently involved in an ongoing effort to protect and preserve an area of extreme cultural, spiritual and historical value to our people. It is important that action be taken now in defense of the site, known as Rock Creek, and your help would be much appreciated at this time. As Western Shoshone, or Newe as we are known to ourselves, we have conducted important religious and spiritually significant ceremonies at Rock Creek for thousands of years. We continue to hold religious gatherings there to this day, and the area has qualifying characteristics for inclusion in, and protection by, the National Register of Historic Places and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Rock Creek also qualifies for nomination by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site. Rock Creek, Bah-tza-gohm-bah (otter water), and surrounding area that includes Western Shoshone burial sites is located in northeastern Nevada's Lander County and is currently threatened by the country's proposed development of a multi-use recreational park. The project calls for, among other things, the damming of Rock Creek and would cover our sacred site with a permanent reservoir. If the country moves forward with the development of the reservoir, Bah-ttza-gohm-bah will be destroyed. This act would not only deny us as indigenous people the right to practice our way of life, but would indeed add one more chapter to a long history of cultural genocide of Great Basin peoples. News are people of the land. The land and people are inseparable. By destroying our sacred lands, the Newe suffer a slow death. To help write a letter, send a FAX., or call Lander County officials. Choose one, two, or all of these things, and let the county's elected government and the federal government recognize your concern for the preservation of Rock Creek. Remind them that religious freedom should be honored regarding the Western Shoshone people. Whether you share your concerns briefly or at length, any communication will help. Write or call: Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt Committee Chairman Ray Williams 1849 C Street N.W. P.O. Box 10 Washington D.C. 20240 Austin, Nevada 89310 (202) 208-7351 Phone&FAX (702) 964-2447 Bureau of Land Management Vice Chairman Gary Heimbigner Nevada State Office Committee Member Bill Elquist Ron Wenker, acting director 315 South Humboldt P.O. Box 12000 Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820 Reno, Nevada 89520 Phone (702) 635-2885 (702) 785-7690 FAX (702) 635-5332 For More Information Contact: Citizen Alert Native American Program P.O. Box 5339 Reno, Nevada 89513 Phone: (702) 827-5511 +*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*+ "When we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully because we know the faces of our future generations are looking up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them." -Oren Lyons, Onondaga Nation ~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~* Michele Lord + Alpha Institute + Tel: 303-343-4114 + 1017 Perth St. milo@scicom.alphacdc.com + Aurora CO 80011 + Fax: 303-360-9118 +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ --------- "RE: Native American Commandments" --------- Date: Tue, 23 Aug 1994 20:21:13 -0400 From: red-dwarf.cit.cornell.edu Subj: Native American Ten Commandments Mailing List: NativeLit-L@Cornell.EDU Native American Literature Native American Commandments Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect. Remain close to the Great Spirit. Show great respect for your fellow beings. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Do what you know to be right. Look after the well being of mind and body. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good. Be truthful and honest at all times. Take full responsibility for your actions. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Great Spirit, give us hearts to understand; never to take from creation's beauty more than we give; never to destroy wantonly for the furtherance of greed; never to deny to give our hands for the building of earth's beauty; never to take from her what we cannot use. Give us hearts to understand that to destroy earth's music is to create confusion; that to wreck her appearance is to blind us to beauty; that to callously pollute her fragrance is to make a house of stench; that as we care for her she will care for us. We have forgotten who we are. We have sought only our own security. We have exploited simply for our own ends. We have distorted our knowledge. We have abused our power. Great Spirit, whose dry lands thirst, help us to find the way to refresh your lands. Great Spirit, whose waters are choked with debris and pollution, help us to find the way to cleanse your waters. Great Spirit, whose beautiful earth grows ugly with misuse, help us to find the way to restore beauty to your handiwork. Great Spirit, whose creatures are being destroyed, help us to find a way to replenish them. Great Spirit, whose gifts to us are being lost in selfishness and corruption, help us to find the way to restore our humanity. "Earth Prayers" --------- "RE: Poem: Bowl Filled with Light" --------- Date: 20 Aug 1994 00:08:53 -0500 From: nobody@cs.utexas.edu Subj: Bowl filled with Light Newsgroup: alt.native Grandmother's young belly is filled like a bowl is filled with light corn pollen is carried into the wind and young birds carry their first flight feathers into the morning sun the stones tell their stories between the shadows dreaming i am carried into the river Full Moon (20 August) Tobacco Indian -- Turtle Heart turtle@soft21.s21.com (Ahnishinabeg) American Indian Computer Art Project BBS 619-374-2100 Land of Kaw-ii-su ancestor: Land of Light -- --------- "RE: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days" --------- Date: 94/08/21 03:00 From: Kepola (dfsanders@genie.geis.com) Subj: A HAWAI'IAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of August 28-September 3 GE Electronic Mail A HAWAI'IAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of August 28-September 3 AUKAKE (August) (Mahoe-mua) 28 The flower is nature's work of art. 29 Life is a continuous cycle of learning. 30 Curiosity is the seed of knowledge. 31 New ideas can help preserve old traditions. KEPEKEMAPA (September) (Mahoe-hope) September was the time when the plume of the sugar-cane began to unsheath itself. 1 If your heart tells you that you can soar with your dreams, let no one persuade you otherwise! 2 In even the tiniest seeds are found all the secrets of life. 3 The coral reef is a home to many creatures. (c) Copyright 1991 by D. F. Sanders Me ke aloha i ka nani, ... Moe'uhanekeanuenue (With love and beauty, ... Rainbow Dream) --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - offline" --------- Date: Thu, 25 August 94 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (Evening Star) (jans@genie.geis.com) Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows not previously posted to Mailing Lists NATCHAT or NATIVE-L GE Electronic Mail =POWWOWS= N A N A C O A " THE HEALING JOURNEY : EXPANDING OUR VISION " SIXTH ANNUAL NANACOA CONFERENCE SHERATON CENTRE MONTREAL SEPT. 15 - 18, 1994 Montreal - The National Association for Native American Children of Alcoholics (NANACOA) have announced their choice of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to hold their 6th Annual International Conference, at the invitation of the Native people within the Canadian borders, and initiated by the 1990 crisis in particular. The Sheraton Centre in Montreal will house the four (4) day, history making event from September 15 - 18, 1994. The Sixth Annual NANACOA Conference is co-sponsored by the Mohawks of Kahnawake, the Assembly of First Nations Health Commission, the Montreal Native Friendship Centre, and the American Indian Institute. In this International Year of the Family, the conference not only crosses the Canadian/U.S. border for the first time, but gives the French-speaking Natives in Quebec a chance to become a part of the NANACOA family, made possible through simultaneous translation services. Some of the workshops and keynote presentations offered at the conference will feature noted Canadian Native Leaders such as Ovide Mercredi, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Maggie Hodgson and Patrick Shirt. The international trainers from the Nechi Institute / Poundmakers Treatment Centre from Alberta, Humour and words of wisdom from Mohawk Elder and traditionalist Tom Porter, as well as direction from Native leaders and insight through respected elders from the north, south, east, and west winds of Mother Earth, and other internationally recognized leaders in the fields of healing and wellness. Seattle, Washington based NANACOA Executive Director Anna Latimer in making the announcement, said that the conference "Acknowledges the movement towards health and wellness among First Nations and Indigenous peoples throughout the world. This vision of healing from the effects of alcoholism and other traumas can become a reality for children choosing sober lifestyles, for parents who walk a path of sobriety and recovery from addictions, and for grandparents and great-grandparents who help us continue the vision by teaching the culture and traditions of our people." The Sixth Annual NANACOA Conference will feature such memorable events as a spiritual powwow / traditional social dance open to all, a scrumptious banquet featuring the First Nations addictions achievement awards, spiced up by national and local Native entertainment. Also planned is a tour of the nearby Kahnawake reserve as well as a get acquainted reception. Individuals, communities and nations interested in registering for the conference (deadline Aug 30) or to receive more information, please contact: Lori Jacobs NANACOA Conference Liaison '94 Local Planning Committee at Kahnawake P.O. Box 44 KAHNAWAKE QC CANADA J0L 1B0 (514)638-1831 (work) (514)638-4990 (fax) OR NANACOA 1411 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1110 SEATTLE WA 98101 1-800-322-5601 (Annette Squetimken Anquoe) Posted by Harold P. Koehler hkoehler@web.apc.org =========================================================================== From: John Farrington October 21 - 22 1994 Fifth Annual South Texas Pow-Wow at the Palmer Pavilion corner of Hackberry & McColl McAllen, Texas For more information call: Robert Soto (210) 686-6696 Ruben Soto (210) 585-0788 Origin: The Bit Bucket * bbucket.neosoft.com * 713-496-9670 * (1:106/9670) =========================================================================== From News From Indian Country: Labor Day is a big one for powwows! Sept 2-4 Dancing for the Big Rock, N. Little Rock, AR Info: 800-228-0936 Sept 2-5 Spokane Labor Day, Wellpinit, WA Info: 509-258-4060 Sept 2-4 8th Labor Day, Eufaula, OK Info: 918-689-5066 Sept 2-5 Labor Day Powwow, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Info: 305-476-7672 Sept 2-4 Numanga Indian Days, Reno, NV Info: 702-324-4600 Sept 2-5 Choctaw Nation Labor Day Fest. Tushkahoma, OK Info: 405-924-8280 Sept 2-4 Wee Gitchie Ne Me E Dim, Cass Lake, MN Info: 218-335-8289 Sept 3-5 2nd First Light, Athens, ME Info: 207-654-3981 Sept 3-5 26th American Indian Movement Powwow, Ft. Snelling, MN Info: 612-724-3129 Sept 3-5 Tecumseh Lodge Labor Day Powwow, Tipton, IN Info: 317-773-4233 Sept 3-5 Mohawk Trail Powwow, Charlemont, MA Info: 413-339-4096 Sept 3-4 Keeboonmeinkaa Powwow, South Bend, IN Info: 616-782-6323 Sept 3-5 12th Labor Day Powwow, Grove City, OH Info: 614-433-6120 Sept 3-4 20th Moraviantown, Moravian Reserve, Ontario Info: 519-692-3936 Sept 3-5 Potawatomi Trails Powwow, Zion, IL Info: 708-249-3182 Sept 3-5 Labor Day Weekend Celebration, Black River Falls, WI Info: 608-254-4404 Also: From the Spike Sept 2-4 6th Annual Rama's Traditional Powwow, Rama, Ontario Info: 705-325-3611 Sept 2-4 Iroquois Indian Festival, Howes Cave, NY Info: 518-296-8949 Sept 3-5 Michinemackinong 13th Annual "From the Past-Comes our Future St. Ignace, MI Info: 906-963-0931 Sept 3-5 48th Annual Labor Day Weekend Shinnecock Powwow Shinnecock, Long Island, NY Info: 516-283-6143 Sept 2-5 6th Annual Labor Day Weekend Powwow, Pembroke Pines, FL Info: 305-476-7672 Sept 3 6th Annual Nansemond Indian Tribal Festival Chuckatuck, VA Info: 804-485-9809 NOT CONFIRMED...CALL FIRST! Sept 3-4 5th Annual NAPA Running Water Powwow and Ripe Corn Festival, in Ridge Ferry Park on Riverside Parkway Rome, GA Info: 706-232-1714 Send notices of forthcoming powwows, conferences and gatherings to: jans@genie.geis.com gars@netcom.com ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ all items below this line have already been distributed by our brother, Jay Brummett, via the NATIVE-L or NATCHAT mailing lists. --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - online" --------- Date: Thu, 25 August 94 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (Evening Star) (jans@genie.geis.com) Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows already posted to Mailing Lists NATCHAT or NATIVE-L = Powwows and Gatherings From the Internet listserv groups= Original Sender: John Berry 301-443-5988 FAX 301-443-6385 Mailing List: NATIVE-L 20th ANNUAL BALTIMORE POW-WOW August 26th - 28th, 1994 Fifth Regiment Armory 219 West 29th Division St. Light Rail Cultural Center M.C. - Ray Littleturtle Head Lady Dancer - Millicent Hunt Head Man Dancer - Heath Hardin 3 days x Adult $12.00, Child $9.00 1 day x Adult $5.00, Child $3.00 Sponsored by The Baltimore American Indian Center, with support from the Maryland State Arts Council. Further Info: BAIC, 113 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231 (410)675-3535 =========================================================================== Original Sender: Rio Lara-Bellon Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) LADY OF THE DRUM Memorial Pow Wow Saturday/Sunday October 15/16, 1994 Skagit Valley College Pavilion Mt. Vernon, Washington Tony McGrady: Master of Ceremonies Robert Long Crane: Arena Director Eagle Heart: Host Drum Louis LaBombard: Whip Man Jackpot for each category Grand Entry - Sat. 1pm & 7pm Sun. 1pm & 5pm Special Activities: Exhibition dances, Indian arts and Crafts, and concession stands. Directions: Take 1-5 to Exit #227 (60 miles north of Seattle). Drive east on College Way. SVC is located just east of the intersection of College Way and LaVenture Road. Follow the signs on campus to the Pavilion For more information call: Ruth Silverthorne, Director Multicultural Services 206/428-1135 or 206/428-4012 =========================================================================== --------- "RE: TESC Longhouse" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Aug 1994 11:25:21 -0700 From: Rio Lara-Bellon Subj: TESC Longhouse (fwd) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 19 Aug 1994 11:22:08 -0700 (PDT) The following article appeared in The Olympian, Tuesday, 8-16-94: Breaking Ground On A Dream The Evergreen State College is building a multipurpose center that makes a strong cultural statement: More than 15 years of discussion about having a Longhouse at The Evergreen State College is about to turn into action this Saturday. A ground breaking ceremony for the Longhouse Education and Culture Center will be followed by construction scheduled to begin in September. The Longhouse is designed to resemble the architecture of Native American Longhouses common to Northwest Tribes. It was originally inspired by former Evergreen professor and Lummi Tribal member Mary Ellen Hillaire, who wanted a gathering place for Native Americans and the rest of the local community on campus. The state legislature funded the longhouse project last year to provide classroom space and to support the college's commitment to multicultural education. The 10,000 square-foot, $2.2 million dollar building will house the Native American Studies Program, support public services to the region's Tribes, and provide flexible space for meetings and special events. More than $16,000 in funding was obtained from fund-raisers. More is needed to embellish parts of the project not being funded by the state. The Longhouse will have a hall capable of seating 500. The hall will have movable partitions that can create up to five classrooms. Additional features include a classroom-kitchen, a lobby and two central fireplaces, reminiscent of traditional Longhouse hearths. The building will also host Native American art exhibits and celebrations. Its design was the fruit of discussions between architects, tribal members, faculty, staff, and students. Despite having modern conveniences and meeting current building codes, the Longhouse strives for authenticity. The building faces east, and the fireplaces are lined up in accordance with Northwest Tribal tradition. For more information contact: David Whitener, Native American Studies Faculty (Squaxin Tribe) Jane Jervis, TESC President Colleen Ray, Project Coordinator Les Wong, TESC Dean 206/866-6000 ========================================================================== edited for brevity & reprinted w/o permission ========================================================================== Rio Lara Bellon Cultural Resource Specialist EIRP WSU/Chehalis Tribe P. O. Box 100 Rochester, WA 98579 206/273-5911 206/273-5914 FAX ========================================================================== Internet: larabell@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu ========================================================================== --------- "RE: Arvidsjaur Resolution" --------- Date: Tue, 16 Aug 1994 18:48:00 PDT From: indnsc@web.apc.org Subj: Arvidsjaur Resolution Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) RESOLUTION OF THE INDIGENOUS FORUM OF ARVIDSJAUR, SWEDEN The Indigenous Forum, meeting in Arvidsjaur, Sweden, from August 8 to 13, 1994, in the framework of the topic "War and Peace", recognizing the existence of violent conflicts (economic, social, cultural, environmental and religious) which affect Indigenous nations such as those in Canada, Guatemala and Ecuador, resolve: 1. To support the demands of the First Nations and Nationalities of the Americas and the world to obtain peace in a framework of justice; 2. To support the process of self-determination by Indigenous Peoples; 3. To support the recognition of the right of each People to its own territory; 4. To support their demands for the right to a dignified life, guaranteeing the satisfaction of basic material and spiritual needs. In the concrete case of the Mi'Kmaq people, it is resolved: 1. That the Prime Minister of Canada order an end to the ethnocide and genocide which is occurring through environmental degradation in the territories of the First Nations such as Boat Harbour and Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia; 2. That the Government of Canada respect the request of the traditional government of the Mi'Kmaq nation and declare Kluscap (Kelly's) Mountain as a protected area, and that it stop once and for all plunder and sacrilege reflected in any exploitation of the mountain. In the case of Guatemala, it is resolved: 1. To commit ourselves to distributing the Mayan proposal called "Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples" presented by the Assembly of Civilian Sectors of Guatemala. 2. To support the demands and proposals of the Mayan People in the current peace negotiations based on a political project of a multicultural and multilingual State. In the case of Ecuador, it is resolved: 1. To support the demands of First Nations to administrate their natural resources; 2. To support the demands of the Ecuadoran Indigenous Peoples and other social sectors involved in the Commission of Notable Citizens which in elaborating reforms to the State Constitution. Arvidsjaur, Sweden August 9, 1994 --------- "RE: Who is Really.... " --------- Date: 18 Aug 1994 03:29:03 -0000 From: fourcirc@news.delphi.com (FOURCIRCLES@DELPHI.COM) Subj: Who is really.... Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) People saying that only card-carriers have a right to walk the red road, do Spirit a serious disservice. When they forbid the ways of Spirit which fit this land, from good hearted people who live here, just because of the seeker's color or ethnic background, do they think they are doing right by God? Recently Oren Lyons (of the Six Nations Confederation) said this: "The elders will say it is impossible, while the young have the capability to make it happen". and... "I was at a meeting with several tribal elders, when young white people seeking native ways showed up on my doorstep. I asked the other elders what should we do? The guidance of the creator has always been to refuse this help to no one. So we decided to help them." And for a while I've been saying stuff like this: This continent was settled by several waves of migration, from Atzlan, southeast Asia, and northeast Asia. All came here with respect for the land, and the land accepted them. Their descendants are now known as Indians, Native Americans, Native, etc. Even a few whites came before Columbus, sailors from Scandanavia who found it good here and settled in with those who were already here. All were accepted by the land, because they respected the land. The way it was supposed to be was anyone who lives here and respects the land, was to be considered native. Until the Europeans came, who for the most part did not respect the land, it was so. Then a distinction had to be drawn, as to who is "native" or "indian" and who isn't. A distinction was drawn between friend and enemy, and the gov't was the main one who drew this distinction. Some people ask me what percent Indian I am. I cannot say, because my family didn't like to talk about those things. Anyway, "percent Indian" is a BIA thing -- a US Government thing -- a power of 2 based on how far back your most recent known full blood ancestor was. What does it matter how many generations back she was if she is talking to you now? That's what I tell them. People cannot be cut up like pie charts; "percent Indian" conjures up images of dissecting human beings. Someone else I know, when asked this, likes to say, "my heart, my mind, and my right middle finger!", or something like that. Nowadays many tribes are disbanding, and many new tribes forming. Maybe it will be the way it was supposed to be from the beginning -- that anyone who lives here with respect for the land is a native, no matter what their ethnic heritage or when their family got here! This is the way it was meant to be, and this is the way it will be again. Dee @ 4C ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | The preceding represents the views of its | Email: | | author, but not necessarily everyone at | | | Four Circles Community | fourcircles@delphi.com | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- "RE: Toxic EMERGENCY" --------- Date: Tue, 16 Aug 1994 15:05:00 EST From: Indigenous Environmental Network Subj: So. CA. Toxic EMERGENCY on Reservation (Press Rel) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) August 16, 1994 STATE OF EMERGENCY ON THE TORRES-MARTINEZ AND CAHUILLA RESERVATIONS - COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNDER SIEGE! ATTENTION ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS, HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS AND CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATORS! The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), on behalf of Mary Belardo, Tribal Council Chairwoman of the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians of Southern California, is requesting your support on an environmental justice issue that is impacting her community. Please refer to the attached newspaper clippings for more information on the situation at Torres-Martinez (T-M). BACKGROUND INFORMATION The T-M Tribal Council, as the governing body, along with community grassroots support, has officially adopted a Council Resolution prohibiting sewage sludge dumping and compost processing within the T-M Indian reservation (attached). The T-M Tribal Council, through this and previous resolutions, have sought for the cease and desist of all sludge dumping and processing on a tract of allotted trust lands owned by Geraldine Ibanez, an enrolled tribal member. This tribal member has leased her allotted land to an off-reservation, non-Indian company by the name of Terra Farms, Inc., previously operated by Cino Corona Farms, Inc. Terra Farms is in partnership with sludge processing companies by the names of Pima Gro Systems, Inc. and HCK Company, Inc. These companies process the sludge on the site into fertilizer for use on farms and suburban gardens. The site of this sludge dump and processing facility is located on federally-owned Indian trust property that falls within the jurisdiction and authority of the T-M governing body. Currently, a mountain of approximately 500,000 tons of sewage sludge is illegally piled at the site. Tests by the local off-reservation California Regional Water Quality Control Board - Colorado River Basin Region 7, indicate the presence of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, high levels of nitrates, as well as fecal coliform bacteria that have leached into the ground water beneath the sludge deposits. Based upon these monitoring tests results, the Regional Board issued a Cleanup and Abatement Order on April 28, 1994 to the operators. The operators have ignored the order. According to the Tribal officials, reservation members, including children, have gotten sick from the dump. One woman is being tested at the Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for cyanide and cadmium poisoning. Members of theT-M Tribal Council, community members, Indigenous members of other regional Bands, concerned off-reservation residents, and environmental organizations have formed alliances and have formed roadblocks prohibiting trucks hauling this toxic sewage sludge onto the reservation. Municipal sewage sludge contains materials from the household, commercial, and industrial waste stream that contain hazardous substances such as heavy metals, and persistent organic chemicals. The composting processing activity that takes place there further increases numerous health and environmental risks through the release of fugitive dust, pathogens, metals, and certain inorganic and organic chemicals. To our knowledge, there is no regulatory authority and no monitoring activity on the illegal operation. It is not known if there are management policies in place that protect the workers, the health of the local Indigenous population and the quality of the environment. Numerous attempts by the tribal governing body requesting information has been ignored by the sludge operators. The Tribal Council with active support of the grassroots community have requested that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take enforcement action on this illegal operation and shut them down. These lead federal regulatory agencies have passed the buck on this situation. Catch-22 regulatory shuffle has taken place between the BIA, and the EPA, while the health of the people is being jeopardized each day. Federal law requires companies doing business with reservation-based Indigenous persons and governments to secure an approved lease from the Secretary of the Interior. The BIA is an Interior department with delegated responsibilities to initiate this action. Without an approved lease, government agencies such as EPA are saying that they cannot enforce many federal regulations, including environmental protection laws. Terra Farms, Inc., never secured an approved lease for the sludge dumping and processing site from the BIA. The BIA is the federal agency that is responsible for implementing the guidelines of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). Under NEPA, any action or activity requiring federal action (an approved lease) must undergo an Environmental Assessment (EA) to determine whether a more comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be required. No EA or EIS was ever conducted at this toxic sludge dump! The Torres-Martinez Tribe and the Indigenous support group California Indians for Cultural and Environmental Protection (CICEP), which is an IEN alliance group, have been meeting with the regional EPA and local area BIA officials. CICEP has reported to IEN that these federal agencies have not taken appropriate action to their requests for immediate enforcement action to close the toxic sludge facility and to remediate prompt clean-up. The EPA is reluctant to enforce existing federal laws regarding toxic dumping and claim that enforcement at T-M is a gray area. The CICEP members have video tapes of public meetings whereby the BIA and EPA have been promoting T-M and other local tribal reservation governmental leaders to become toxic dumping and processing vendors. These tapes show BIA officials denying any authority to stop the dumping activities and in the same breath, generously offering assistance to the Tribes if they desire to develop their own regulatory program to allow sludge dumping on their land. SIMILAR SITUATIONS ON OTHER NEARBY INDIGENOUS RESERVATIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA The Cahuilla Band of Indians, located at Anza, California has been trying to stop the operation of a toxic waste dump for the past couple years. The Candelaria Land Company (owned by a Cahuilla tribal member) has been accepting hydrocarbon contaminated soil, sewage sludge and possibly other unknown toxic materials on assigned tribal lands under the direction of tribal members, Lois Candelaria and Dee Alvarez. Rose Ann Hamilton, previous tribal council chairperson took a strong leadership role in attempting to stop the illegal operation. Because of Rose Anns active role speaking out against the toxic dump, the Candelaria and Alverez family managed to organize a tribal council takeover and voted Rose Ann from the chairperson office. Rose Ann and supporters contend that the action was illegal, yet the BIA recognized the takeover action. The Candelaria Land Company, also known as Candelaria Environmental Company (CEC) is still operating. Recently obtained trucker manifests indicate some contaminated soil is coming from the Camp Pendleton military base. Actual levels of contaminated soils are unknown. Rose Ann has received death threats as recently as last Thursday, August 4, 1994. The Soboba Indian reservation has a history of accepting hazardous waste. In 1991, RANPAC, Inc., paid $1.2 million in civil and criminal penalties for dumping soil contaminated with lead on the reservation. The RANPAC case began in 1990 when it paid a hazardous waste carrier to haul soils off of land purchased for apartment development to the Soboba reservation. The soil went to the Tribal Chairman, Robert Salgados land site and he was paid thousands of dollars. Over 220 trucks traveled 26 miles each to dump soil at the Soboba reservation. In 1994, BIA staff observed medical waste being dumped at the reservation. The latest happenings are that Ernie Salgado, brother of Robert, is pursuing a waste recycling center. The Los Coyotes Band of Mission Indians for the past couple years has been trying to build a toxic waste landfill that would service the regional area. The landfill is proposed by Chambers Development Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Tribal members are opposed to this planned activity. The Chambers company has promised $2 million or more of income per year to be distributed or used as the Band decides, in addition to developing a scholarship fund, assistance in developing housing, building a cultural center, and providing jobs. The Campo Indian reservation is one of the first Indian tribes in the nation that has built and obtained federal government approval to site a commercial waste dump on their tribal lands. The Campo Indian tribe has developed a partnership with Mid-American Waste Systems, from Illinois. Mid-American is a partner with the transnational corporation, Waste Management, Inc. Cabezon Band of Mission Indians operate a waste incinerator with the type of material that they receive is unknown (request for information is refused by the operators), and operated a U.S. governmental military training ground for Central American right-wing armies. A private non- Indigenous company that manages these Cabezon operations has been reported to have ties to organized crime. Tribal members that have spoken out against these business dealings have been threatened with de- enrollment from the tribe. STATE OF EMERGENCY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA The situation at Torres-Martinez is at a critical state. Last Saturday, August 6, 1994, Michael Hamilton, a 14 year old tribal member of the Cahuilla reservation was killed by two bullets to the head. The killing is under very suspicious circumstances. This youth is a member of the Hamilton family that has maintained a long-term opposition to illegal dumping activities on the 4 reservations in the area. These reservations are the Ramona, Torres-Martinez, Cahuilla, and Soboba reservations. Michael is the nephew of Rose Ann Hamilton. Questionable elections have ousted tribal leaders, replacing them with owners and beneficiaries of the dump operations. Rose Ann Hamilton, the ousted Chairwoman of the Cahuilla reservation has received numerous death threats. The local sheriffs department have done little to investigate the death of Rose Anns nephew. Witnesses say the sheriffs beat the boys father, Manuel Hamilton, who is the Chairman of the Ramona reservation. He was jailed on charges of arson and interfering with the investigation. Manual had received an anonymous telephone call informing him that his son was shot. Upon his arrival to the Ibanez home he grabbed his sons body, held on to him, and out of grief, didn't want to let go. The sheriffs fought with him over his sons body. When he refused to release his son, the sheriffs mace him and beat him up. His son was at the house of the Ibanez family (who operates the Torres- Martinez sludge dump). The Ibanez family are saying that the youth committed suicide, despite two bullets in the head. Please note that Manual Hamilton, as the Chairperson of the Ramona rancheria, was approached by the City of San Diego and the BIA in a previous meeting to take sewage sludge and informed by the BIA official that it was a lucrative business. He spoke out against toxic dumping activities on local reservations. On August 7, 1994, the house of Marina Ortega, of CICEP, was subjected to a siege by automatic weapon fire during the night that her daughter and infant grandchild were inside their home. The local sheriffs refused to respond. The life of people is at stake at Torres-Martinez and Cahuilla reservations. There is no justice to the Indigenous people that are standing in defense of their Indigenous rights to a safe and healthy environment. The Indigenous People of Southern California demand Environmental Justice! The Torres-Martinez Tribal Council and Grassroots Members have already had many meetings with the Region 9 EPA Officials and the Southern California BIA Agency and the Sacramento BIA Area Officials- WITH NO ACTION! There have been numerous Indigenous and non-Indigenous citizen actions to form blockades preventing the trucks from entering the dumping area! Orange County, Los Angeles County and Antioch in the Bay Area and others are renting Indigenous Sovereignty by contracting their wastes to our lands! THE TORRES-MARTINEZ AND CAHUILLA PEOPLE ARE FED UP WITH THE LIES, DECEIT, AND LIP SERVICE OF THE REGIONAL EPA AND AREA BIA OFFICIALS! SUPPORT THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF TORRES-MARTINEZ, CAHUILLA, RAMONA, AND SOBOBA RESERVATIONS TO HAVE A DIRECT MEETING WITH FEDERAL AGENCY ADMINISTRATORS OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, THE EPA, AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT! WRITE LETTERS TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS REQUESTING THAT THE FEDERAL AGENCIES TAKE TOP-LEVEL AND IMMEDIATE ACTION TO INTERVENE ON THIS VERY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT. REQUEST THAT THE TOP ADMINISTRATIVE HEADS OF THE EPA, JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR IMMEDIATELY MEET WITH THE TORRES-MARTINEZ TRIBAL COUNCIL AND CONCERNED MEMBERS OF THE RESERVATIONS. CALL ATTENTION FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BE CARRIED OUT! TOXIC WASTE COMPANIES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE LACK OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY INFRASTRUCTURES IN INDIGENOUS TERRITORIES! ASK FOR A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BE SCHEDULED ON THIS SITUATION THAT ALLOWS TOXIC WASTE DUMPING IN THE SACRED LANDS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE! CONTACT: Rep. Bill Richardson Secretary Bruce Babbitt Chairman/House US Dept of Interior Subcommittee on Native American Affairs 1849 C Street NW 2349 RHOB Washington, DC 20240 So Capitol St & Independence Av SE 202/208-3100 Washington, DC 20515 202/225-6190 fax 202/225-1950 Administrator Carol Browner US EPA Senator John McCain 401 M. Street SW 111 SROB Washington, DC 20460 Constitution & Delaware Ave NE 202/260-2090 Washington, DC 20510 202/224-2235 Fax 202/228-8938 Janet Reno US Attorney General Rep. George Miller Department of Justice Attn: Steve Lanich Constitution Ave & 10th St 2205 RHOB Washington, DC 20530 S Capitol St & Indep SE 202/514-2000 Washington, DC 20515 President Bill Clinton Brian Burke 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Domestic Policy Council Washington, DC 20500 Old Executive Ofc Bldg 202/456-1414 Washington, DC 20501 Senator Daniel Inouye Kathleen McGinty Chairman/Select Committee Director & Deputy Assistant on Indian Affairs to the President for Environmental Policy 722 Senate Hart Ofc Bldg Office on Environmental Policy Constitution Ave & 2nd St NE 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20500 202/224-3934 fax 202/224-6747 202/456-1111 Ada Deer Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs US Dept of Interior 1849 C St NW Washington, DC 20240 202/208-3171 ____________________________________________________________ Send letters of support to : Mary Belardo Chairwoman, The Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians 66-725 Martinez Rd Thermal, CA 92274 619/397-0300 fax 619/397-8146 For more info, contact: California Indians for Cultural & Environmental Protection, Star Route Mesa Grande, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070 Phone/fax 619/782-3703 or IEN National Office 218/751-4967 fax 218/751-0561