Subject: nanews02.044 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 044 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 29 October 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 NATIVE-L & NATCHAT Mailing Lists, UUCP & Genie (General Electric) e-mail, UseNet newsgroups alt.native & soc.culture.native. Articles appearing have been previously posted for public dissemination and/or permission for inclusion has been secured. Letters of authorization are on file. A list of those granting permission to repost their words in this issue are listed at the end of part A. I thank each of you for allowing your words to be shared with the people. <----<<<< >>>>----> 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. "Earth Always Endures." __ Mandan +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! Those of you who have shared your words with others through this newsletter need to know I must now have your written permission before I can repost anything you have to give to others. I posted notices explaining the need for either blanket permission to repost articles, or a note in the body of your article stating it could be reposted. The reason for this is that some of the places that archive past issues of Wotanging Ikche/Kanoheda Aniyvwiya are becoming increasingly concerned over the issue of copyright violations. Many have already sent notes granting me permission to repost. I thank each of you now. You made this issue possible. Others may do so by sending a note granting permission to repost your words to either of the email accounts listed in my signature file below. Do NOT try to send me email on fidonet. There are so many gary smith's I gave up trying to read mail sent over it. 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: Usenet and e-mail Part B: NATCHAT and NATIVE-L lists - Emergency Need for a Child - Conferences and Powwows - online - Books about Natives by Non-Natives - Mohegans on the Come-Back - Goldman Awards - Navajo-Hopi 'Land Dispute' Update - Ft. McDermitt Opposes - Indians/Species Protection Act Nuclear Waste Dump Collide - A Dream - Yvette Michel, SM-III - Iroquois Legend of Huron - Conservation of Four Elements - Poem: Rain Inside a Cloud - Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline ------------------ clip here for news feature -- 8< ------------ --------- "RE: Emergency Need for a Child" --------- Date: 94/10/20 18:29 From: James D. Audlin (j.audlin@genie.geis.com) Subj: Emergency Need GE Electronic Mail O'siyo, brother! This is a matter you might want to include in \Wotanging Ikche\. My dear friend and sister, Chief Singing Waters (of the Hawk Feather Council), is the director of the Learning Circle, a day care center in Watertown, Connecticut, operated along Native American themes and methods. She has had a little girl named Andrea Scott attending the Learning Circle. Some of you may have seen the news item (which was, amongst others, on the CNN news) about her father being gunned down at home apparently because of a drug deal gone awry. (Singing Waters had said to me she suspected Andrea's father was using crack.) When Andrea hadn't come for a few days to the Learning Circle, it was Singing Waters' husband, Dark Star, who had to force entry to the apartment. He found Andrea's father's body, riddled by bullet holes, in bed. Andrea was in the bed too, covered with her father's blood. She is physically unharmed, but I'm sure you realize this is, and will be lifelong, a traumatic event for her. I beg of everyone who reads this to keep this little girl in your prayers. Furthermore, there is a need for toddler girl clothes in size 4, and money to help provide care for Andrea, since she has no family of her own. The Hawk Feather Council is doing what it can to give her care following this awful event. Clothes, or a check payable to the "Learning Circle - Parents' Fund", may be sent to The Learning Circle / 680 Main Street / Watertown, Connecticut 06795. --------- "RE: Books about Natives by Non-Natives" --------- Date: Sun, 23 Oct 1994 12:20:31 -0400 From: "Gerard Donnelly-Smith" Subj: Books about Natives by Non-Natives UUCP email Comments on Brown's books and other such second-hand comments jog Derrida into my mind in that his discussion of Rousseau's "dangerous supplement" seems connected. Whenever we retell stories, we tell them through a "lens", even those stories we read which are "original" texts--the author long dead--we read through a lens. Thus tradition passed either from generation to generation though oral transmission, or from the text archived with books are both read through a "lens." Writing, as a dangerous supplement, freezes, entombs the "living" tradition, yet our change from an oral to a print culture creates an ever present--yet absent--author. The controversy spins round meaning's center, around the trace of the original metaphor, idea, thought, taboo. In the change from the oral to print, did we give up the living tradition, the living myth? In the print, do we stop growing or changing? This is the key that turns the lock, as J.D. would say. Joy Harjo writes that Western Culture lives off/loves dead myths. Indeed, this mythic necrophilia has grown cold. My own Celtic heritage seems far removed, a dead thing, because no one practices/lives the "real" myth. Traditional Native Americans, according to Harjo, have a living mythology, and this truth may be the reason others, of us, are drawn to it, as well as to Shinto, or Hindu, or Buddhism. So for me, the test of a book's authenticity means does it have the spirit, does the myth live within it, whether, this is first-hand, or second-hand. Many wrong paths exist, and many take the wrong path. But if that book respects the spirit, then O.K. If it makes a pretense and claims for itself that which it cannot be, then I/you will know. To claim one has the pipe bag of Crazy Horse, or a sliver of the "true" cross, means nothing. To even possess the pipe bag or the sliver, means nothing. Means nothing without the respect of the thing. Whether or not a new genre exist, that is a question. How to discover an authentic voice, that is a journey. G.D-S., Clark College, Vancouver, Washington --------- "RE: Goldman Awards" --------- Date: 26 Oct 94 10:04:29 EDT From: Ann Stewart <75361.1143@compuserve.com> Subj: Goldman Awards UUCP email To: Gary Night Owl Smith , San Francisco: Environmental Heroes from More than 20 Countries Meet in San Francisco October 26-29 is the first ever five-year reunion of the Goldman Environmental Prize winners. Founded in 1990 by California philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman, the prize is given annually to an individual grassroots activist from each of the six inhabited continental regions. The reunion will take place at the Faculty Club on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley. Prize recipients will discuss how best to address the world's pressing environmental problems: over consumption of limited resources, rapid population growth, unprecedented deforestation and mass species extinction. Some of the indigenous peoples who have received the Goldman Prize include Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come who is leading the fight against the massive James Bay hydroelectric projects in Canada, Luis Macas, a Quichua from the Andean highlands of Ecuador who successfully negotiated a land transfer of 3 million acres of rainforest back to indigenous control in 1992 and JoAnn Tall of the Oglala Lakota Nation who has led the fight to stop nuclear weapons testing and dumping of toxic wastes on Indian lands. --------- "RE: Ft. McDermitt Opposes Nuclear Waste Dump" --------- Date: 24 Oct 94 00:31:10 GMT From: milo@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Michele Lord) Subj: Fort McDermitt opposes nuclear waste dump Newsgroup: alt.native Mid-October 1994 Ft. McDermitt Tribe opposes nuclear waste dump (ICC)- Seventy-seven percent of Ft. McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone tribal members responding to a poll opposed the temporary disposal of radioactive waste on their reservation land. The polls results were released September 13, at a community meeting attended by 134 people in McDermitt. The Citizen Alert Native American Program conducted the poll. Exactly half of the non-Indian residents supported the waste proposal, with the other half opposed or unsure. The survey was conducted by mail, sent to all 250 McDermitt box holders. 109 people responded. The community meeting, called by both tribal and non-Indian residents of the McDermitt area, featured speakers ranging from radioactive waste consultants from Nevada and New York to Native American environmental leaders from throughout the country. Also at the meeting, Tribal Council attorney David Mielke, citing attorney/client privilege, repeatedly refused to answer Questions about how $300,000 in grant money from the federal government to study the rad-waste proposal was spent. Mielke did say that tribal council had used $30,000 for general administration and the rest had gone to administer the grant. A Tribal Council member privately stated later that Mielke had received $70,000 for his services. Tribal member Dennis Smart, talked about his family's long connection with the land around McDermitt, dating back to his ancestors, Captain Horse. "If I sell my land, I break my connection with my heritage and I can never get that back," Smart said. Grace Thorpe, Sac and Fox Tribal Health Commissioner From Oklahoma, suggested that the tribe formally declare itself a nuclear free zone, banning the storage of radioactive waste, as 12 other tribes have done in the last year, including the nearby, Pyramid Lake Paiute Community. After the meeting, tribal members indicated that they will begin circulating a petition on their Tribal Council to declare the Ft. McDermitt Reservation a nuclear free zone. Wilbur Slockish, a member of the Yakama Tribe, spoke about the cancer and related health problems his people have suffered working and living near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. "If this stuff was so safe, why isn't it being stored in any of the state capitals or in Washington D.C.?" Slockish said. As to the promise of $60,000 payments per tribal member per year, Slockish said, "in five years (Congress) will cut off the money and say, "you were dumb enough to take it, now you're dumb enough to keep it." He expressed doubt that the amount each tribal member would receive would end up being close to the promised figure in any case. ~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*+ "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 alphai@scicom.alphacdc.com + P.O. Box 110998 milo@scicom.alphacdc.com + Aurora CO 80042 + Fax: 303-360-9118 +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ --------- "RE: A Dream" --------- Date: 19 Oct 1994 10:47:02 -0400 From: bearwalker@aol.com (Bearwalker) Subj: A Dream Newsgroup: alt.native Ancient One sat in the shade of his tree in front of his cave. Red People came to him and he said to Red People, "Tell me your vision." And Red People answered, "The elders have told us to pray in this manner, and that manner, and it is important that only we pray as we have been taught for this has been handed down to us by the elders." "Hmmmm," said the Ancient One. Then Black People came to him and he said to Black People, "Tell me your vision." And Black People answered, "Our mothers have said to go to this building and that building and pray in this manner and that manner. And our fathers have said to bow in this manner and that manner when we pray. And it is important that we do only this when we pray." "Hmmmm," said the Ancient One. Then Yellow People came to him and he said to Yellow People, "Tell me your vision." And Yellow People answered, "Our teachers have told us to sit in this manner and that manner and to say this thing and that thing when we pray. And it is important that we do only this when we pray." "Hmmmm," said the Ancient One. Then White People came to him and he said to White People, "Tell me your vision." And White People answered, "Our Book has told us to pray in this way and that way and to do this thing and that thing, and it is very important that we do this when we pray." "Hmmmm," said the Ancient One. Then Ancient One spoke to the Earth and said, "Have you given the people a vision?" And the Earth said, "Yes, a special gift for each one, but the people were so busy speaking and arguing about which way is right they could not see the gift I gave each one of them." And the Ancient One asked same question of Water and Fire and Air and got the same answer. Then Ancient One asked Animal, and Bird, and Insect, and Tree, and Flower, and Sky, and Moon, and Sun, and Stars, and all of the other Spirits and each told him the same. Ancient One thought this was very sad. He called Red People, Black People, Yellow People, and White People to him and said to them. "The ways taught to you by your Elders, and your Mothers and Fathers, and Teachers, and Books are sacred. It is good that you respect those ways, for they are the ways of your ancestors. But the ancestors no longer walk on the Face of the Earth Mother. You have forgotten your own Vision. Your Vision is right for you but no one else. Now each of you must pray for your own Visions, and be still enough to see them, so you can follow the way of the heart. It is a hard way. It is a good way. bearwalker@aol.com --------- "RE: Yvette Michel, SM-III" --------- Date: 94/10/20 18:29 From: James D. Audlin (j.audlin@genie.geis.com) Subj: Yvette Michel GE Electronic Mail This definitely something I hope you will consider for \Wotanging Ikche\. On Sunday evening, 16 October 1994, I met, along with some other local activists (most of whom are involved in support of the Cree) with Yvette Michel. She is a member of the Innu Nation, and an attorney working in its behalf in its struggle with Hydro-Quebec (H-Q) to keep the latter from building the Sainte Marguerite III (SM-III) Dam, which the Innu fear will destroy the land and its living inhabitants, not to mention the Innu culture. Yvette does not speak English, so someone else and I took turns translating the conversation, in which she spoke French. Many people are familiar with the valiant struggle of the Cree as they try to keep H-Q from building the Great Whale dam complex in the James Bay region. The Innu, situated in eastern Quebec north of the Gaspe' Peninsula, have not had the same success the Cree have had in gathering attention from religious, activist, international, and environmental organizations to their similar concerns. The reason for this, Yvette agreed, is that the Innu historically do not have as highly centralized a tribal government as do the Cree. Furthermore, the Innu are right now being torn apart by internal politics, especially between CAM (the council of elected Innu Chiefs) and the Council for Nitassinan (an organization of traditionalists opposing selling out to H-Q). Also, the Innu are a French-speaking tribe, which means it is harder to get the word out into the U.S. news media, and they are less familiar with computer networks, faxes, and the like. Finally, probably because of the above factors, the Innu do not have even the limited funding sources that the Cree have. Yvette's main news is that CAM has changed from supporting SM-III to opposing it. While four chiefs remain essentially abstaining in this change (because they feel they already have received just compensation for the sellout to H-Q and thus cannot in good conscience vote against the sellout), the consensus is now to oppose further incursions by H-Q in Nitassinan, the traditional Innu land. CAM hopes to void the agreement on legal grounds, by citing the original treaties as being with the federal government and not with the Province of Quebec, by pointing out that the agreement to sell out to H-Q was not done through CAM, which alone has the right to cede territorial rights, and to contest the results of the recent plebiscite taken on the grounds that Innu tribespeople who were away in the bush (who are more likely to be traditionalist and therefore opposed to the dam) were not given the opportunity to vote even by absentee ballot. She further said that there are plans to develop an encampment, mainly for Innu but open to non-Innu supporters, to show that H-Q is wrong to say nobody really uses the bush (the wilderness hunting/fishing grounds) so it might as well flood it. In conversation with Yvette, I suggested that the Innu and the Cree would do well to work together, rather than reinvent the wheel. She had been saying the Innu mostly feel emotionally and physically drained from struggling against H-Q and struggling amongst themselves. She said they feel there are only a few months before the death knell for the land, the animals and plants, and the Innu Nation will be sounded. I offered to contact her equivalent, the attorney for the Cree Nation, Luis Eguren, whom I know, and see if there is any possibility of working together, given the Cree Nation's greater resources of energy, funds, and international support. --------- "RE: Iroquois Legend of Huron" --------- Date: Mon Oct 10, 1994 From: Art/Sue Horovitch (a.horovitch@genie.geis.com) Subj: Iroquois Legend of Huron GE Electronic Mail When the Great Messenger of Peace ( a Huron remarkable for his beauty and righteousness) came unarmed to Iroquois country he claimed that the Great Peace spoke through him but didn't claim to be its creator. This happened, according to the elders, a long time before the coming of the first European people. "It is my mission to stop the shedding of blood among human beings, tribes and nations. There will be no more strife in the villages." the Peace Messenger told the hunters who had fled their settlements in fear. " Whence can peace come?" they asked. he replied " It will come." He then went to a certain woman who lived by the warrior's path which passed between the east and the west. "I carry the Mind of the Great Peace" he relied " and my message will bring an end to the wars between east and west.." "They message is good" said the woman, " but a word is nothing until it is given form and set to work in the world. What form shall this message take when it comes to dwell among men?" "It will take the form of the Longhouse where there are many fires, one for each family, yet all live as one household under one chief Mother. Hereabouts are five nations, each with its won council fire, yet they shall live together as one household in peace. They shall be the Haudenosaunee, the Longhouse. They shall have one mind and live according to the Great Nice. Thinking shall replace the killing and there shall be one sacred hoop". He continued:" In the Longhouse the women shall posses the titles of chieftainship. They shall name the chiefs. That is because you, my Mother were the first to accept the Good News of Peace. Henceforth you shall be called Jogonhsasee, New Face, for your countenance evinces the New Mind, and you shall be known as the Mother of Nations." Then Jogonhsasee said " I am a woman and do not make war. But the work do is to feed the warriors passing my door on their way . They too must accept the New Mind." --------- "RE: Conservation of Four Elements" --------- Date: 22 Oct 94 20:05:15 GMT From: milo@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Michele Lord) Subj: Conservation of Four Elements, William Commanda Newsgroup: alt.native The following was read and submitted to 'The Wisdom of the First Nations: A Partnership for a Sustainable Future, a meeting held in the Indian Treaty Room of the Old Executive Office Building in Washington D.C. on Oct. 3, 1994. This meeting was the first ever meeting between Senior Whitehouse Officials and spiritual leaders of Indian Nations not arranged by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal Governments. William Commanda is Keeper of the Sacred Wampum Belts of the Algonquin Nation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Conversation of Four Elements Earth --N-- / | \ Fire W--O--E Air \ | / --S-- Water Submitted by William Commanda RR3 Pitobig Mikan Maniwaki, Quebec Canada, J9E3B1 Conversation of Four Elements Greetings, Elders, Spiritual Leaders, Ada Deer, Katy McGinty, Jim Pipkin, Brothers, Sisters, Ladies and Gentlemen, We of the Algonquin First Nations wish to express our sincere gratitude for the special invitation to be with you today. May we work together with one mind, one heart and one Spirit as we reveal the Truth, the reality of our modern day situation! We would like to share with you the Sacred Instructions from the Creator to the people of this Earth. It was mentioned at that time that there was a sacred gift given to our non-native people (white race), the gift of the fire element, known as technology. As we examine the history, this is obviously the truth. In the beginning, weapons were formed as tools for survival. As the years went by, advanced inventions were created of many kinds for survival! As these inventions were created the meaning of honour and respect was neglected, thus forming a damaging effect on this planet that we all know today. This caused pollution to the planet, fire, water, air, that is out of control. This is known as abuse to Mother Earth and to the other three elements mentioned above. People with modern technology today build missiles with Uranium. This is a dangerous area to be involved in. When Uranium is mined it causes a disastrous and destructive effect not only to people, but to creation, whose effect lasts for countless generations. It causes radioactive contamination of the land, poisons the water and air. We hope that this information given will be considered and taken seriously. Action must be taken soon so further contamination of Uranium will be stopped to the earth and its creation. We as a people acknowledge and appreciate the positive benefits of modern technology that has created computers and useful modern communications systems. Progress has always been a goal for our non-native people. But with progress there is greed and competition. If continued, this progress will destroy our Mother Earth and its Creation. Let us not wait any longer. Let us work with common ground and begin to work together to do what can be done to conserve and protect our lives, our childrens' lives, and all life. So Mother Earth can begin to heal, as we heal, together with one mind, one heart, one Spirit and one Prayer. Healing Process The direction towards the Healing Process is Recognition. Acceptance towards this Recognition is important. Motivation towards this Acceptance is the Key to the door-way of this Healing Process. When Change comes into effect then Healing can begin. Forgiveness is the Key to the awakening of the true meaning of Love and Under-standing. We begin to accept values that are so important to all life. As we accumulate values, we begin to have balance and harmony with our-selves, with others, with all life, and with our Mother Earth. We must begin to work from the Heart, not from the Brain. Everything is centered from the Heart. It is the work from the Heart that will bring us as a people to learn the necessary survival skills. This is the urgent need of our modern society. The Sacred Instructions given by the Creator to Native people at the time of Creation were as follows: A. To Take Care of Mother Earth and the other 3 colors of Man. B. To Respect this Mother Earth and Creation. C. To Honour All life, and to support that Honour. D. To be Grate-ful from the heart for All life. It is through life that there is Survival. Thank the Creator at All times for All life. E. To Love and express that love. F. To be Humble. Humility is the gift of wisdom and understanding. G. Kindness. To be Kind with one-self and with others. H. Sharing. The Sharing of feelings and personal concerns and commitments. I. Honesty. To be Honest with one-self and with others. To be Responsible for those Sacred Instructions and to administrate those Instructions to other Nations. We of the Algonquin Nations believe this to be the direction to follow for all man-kind because there is a urgent need for Spirituality. Through Spirituality, we as a people will begin to learn how to Care, Respect, Love and Honour one another with Humility as a people. As we follow this Spiritual direction, Mother Earth may begin to heal and as she heals, she may Survive as a result. Only then will she truly be able to continue to exercise her responsibility as She was originally created. Submitted by Spiritual Elder William Commanda and Helper Frank Decontie. ~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*+ "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 alphai@scicom.alphacdc.com + P.O. Box 110998 milo@scicom.alphacdc.com + Aurora CO 80042 + Fax: 303-360-9118 +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ --------- "RE: Poem: Rain Inside a Cloud" --------- Date: 23 Oct 1994 21:52:31 -0500 From: turtle@aicap.s21.com (Turtle Heart) Subj: Rain Inside a Cloud Newsgroup: alt.native Puple light swept upwards into the sky where red rocks sat half in shadow just with his toes marking the ground water-man stalked alone along a glowing path half in and half out of the lines offered by the sky holding a small feather in his fingers half in and half out of his raised hand now touching the warm earth whispering his name into the shadows weaving his heart half in and half out of the water in the clouds right there he picked up a stone and tossed it to the clouds he slept alone all night. Tobacco Indian ________________________________________________ Turtle Heart turtle@soft21.s21.com (Ahnishinabeg) American Indian Computer Art Project BBS 619-374-2100 PO Box 111 Johannesburg CA 93528-0111 Land of Kaw-ii-su ancestor: Land of Light Land of Kaw-ii-su ancestor: Land of Light --------- "RE: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days" --------- Date: 94/10/23 04:21 From: Kepola (dfsanders@genie.geis.com) Subj: A HAWAI'IAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of October 30 - November 5 GE Electronic Mail A HAWAI'IAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of October 30 - November 5 OKAKOPA (October) (Ikuwa) 30 In knowledge lies the greatest power. 31 The moon is my guardian on this night of nights. NOWEMAPA (November) (Welehu) November was the first month of the Hoo-ilo season, which ran from November through April. This month marked the season when people, for sport, darted arrows made of the flower stalk of the sugar-cane. 1 Know your own heart as no other can. 2 The reward for all endeavors is self-satisfaction. 3 Give others the praise you would covet for yourself. 4 Time is our enemy only if we make it so. 5 Pele's glory blazes across the night sky. (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, 27 October 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= The following list of events was compiled for Wotanging Ikche. The information was obtained from sources intended for public distribution. --Janet Evening Star Smith ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: kibby@scs.unr.edu (Larry Kibby) Newsgroups: alt.native October 21 - 23, 1994 is the time period scheduled for the Third Annual Elko/Te-Moak Pow-Wow, Honoring Youth thru Golden Ages. More then $6,000 to awarded. Host Drum is "White Fish Jr." from Canada and the Master of Ceremonies will be David Brown Eagle from Washington. Arts and Crafts- Food Booths available. For more information contact (702)738-4427 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: floyd@hayes.ims.alaska.edu (Floyd Davidson) Newsgroups: soc.culture.native For those who seek an understanding of the spirituality of Native Americans, below is the remaining itinerary for the fall western states tour of the Naa Kahidi Theater presentation of "Fires on the Water". Naa Kahidid Theater is from Juneau Alaska and is a program from the Sealaska Heritage Foundation, supported in part by Sealaska Corp., The Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the American Dialogue Grants Program. "Fires on the Water" is a presentation of traditional stories of the Native people of Alaska, and is intended to demonstrate and teach the spirituality from Alaska Native cultures (Indian, Aleut, and Eskimo). The performance and the participants are not a replica of historical cultures, but rather individual and group presentations of the culture each participant lives. I have listed only the main performances for the public; however, in most locations they also engage a variety of activities including teacher workshops, special presentations, etc. Wed. 19 Oct., 8 PM University Theater, Riverside, CA Wed. 21 Oct., 7 PM California Center for the Arts Escondito, CA Tue. 25 Oct., 8 PM Mt. Baker Theater Center, Bellinham, WA Fri. 28 Oct., 7:30 PM Omak Performing Arts Center, Omak, WA Wed. 2 Nov., 8 PM University Theater at Univ. of of Montana Missoula, MT. Fri. 4 Nov., 8 PM Sat. 5 Nov., 8 PM Myrna Loy Center, Helena, MT Tue. 8 Nov., 7 PM Albert Bair Theater, Billings, MT Fri. 11 Nov., 7:30 PM (Family Show) Sat. 12 Nov., 8 PM Southern Oregon State College, Asland, OR Tue. 15 Nov., 8:30 PM Del Norte Center for Cultural Awareness Crescent City, CA Thr. 18 Nov., 7:30 PM Yerington Center for the Arts, Yerington, NV Sat. 19 Nov., 7:30 PM Churchill Community Theater, Fallon, NV Sun. 20 Mov,., 10:07 PM Home, Juneau, Alaska ------------------------------------------------------------------- From: STEWARTSHP@AOL.COM Conference: "Universal Human Rights: Accountability and Enforcement" Date: Saturday, December 10, 9-4 Location: The Kennedy Library, Boston MA: Includes a workshop on indigenous peoples' rights featuring Naw Louisa Benson (US representative, Democratic Alliance of Burma and Karen National Union) and Ted Moses (UN Ambassador, James Bay Cree Nation). To register call The Coalition for a Strong United Nations at 617-576-3871. UPDATE: New Guest -- Rigoberta Menchu Tum, 1992 Nobel Peace Prize Winner The conference is open and free to the public! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From "Southwest Scene" Nov. 4-5 7th Annual Red Mt. Eagle Powwow Salt River-Pima Maricopa Rez Ball Field Info: 602-945-4116 From "Char-Koosta News" Nov. 5 Veterans Day Powwow, Portland WA Info: 206-696-4061 Nov. 5 Veterans Day Powwow, Tacoma, WA Info: 206-596-1139 From "Lac du Flambeau News" Oct. 29-30 12th Michigan Celebration Powwow, Detroit, MI Info: 313-535-2966 Nov. 5 2nd Annual Veterans Powwow, Lac du Flambeau, WI Info: 715-588-7977 From "The Spike" Nov 4-6 2nd Annual Native American Powwow-Festival Auburn, AL Info: 205-742-0210 Nov 4-6 8th Annual AIA Powwow, Orlando, FL Info: 407-862-9676 Nov. 5-6 Town Creek Indian Mound Heritage Festival Mt. Gilead, NC Info: 910-439-6802 ===========::============::=============::============== --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- Notice of Copyright Clearance by Contributors: The following have granted permission for their original articles to be reposted in order to help mend the Sacred Hoop: Alpha Institute, James D. Audlin, Bearwalker (with credit to Spirit), Art and Suzan Horovitch, Kepola, Michele Lord, Gerard Donnelly-Smith, Janet Smith, Ann Stewart, Turtle Heart (mending the Sacred Hoop with Song) Paul Bristol, Navajo Nation(jn), (Chinookan)Tina Stinnett --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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, 27 October 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: tlink.ness.com!1-1 (Deanna #1 @1) Mailing List: NATIVE-L RIVER LEAF POWWOW, October 22-23, 1994, Afton, VA At Van Rypers Lake, off Highway #151 Gates open 10AM to 5PM both days Native American Song & Dance, Arts & Crafts For more information, contact Two Bears at 804-263-8553 Directions from Interstate 64 (east or west): Go south on Highway 29 (near Charlottesville), turn right (west) on Highway 6, and right on Highway 151, then right at State Rt 635 Admission $4 for adults, $2 for children, with $1 off admission for contributions to the food and clothing drive for Natives in need ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Original Sender: Mary Mihalyi Mailing List: NATIVE-L 1794 Canandaigua Treaty 200 Year Anniversary "Treaty" Special Events Schedule: October 26, 1994 7:30 p.m. --------------------------- "Treaty Making" Speaker: Chief Irving Powless, Onandaga Nation Finger Lakes Community College Room D214 4355 Lake Shore Drive Canandaigua, New York November 1, 1994 6:00 p.m. ---------------------------- "Canandaigua Treaty, 200 Year Anniversary" Speaker: G. Peter Jemison, Seneca Site Manager, Ganondagan Bushman's Cabin, Henrietta Town Park off Calkins Road, Henrietta, New York Spaghetti dinner fund raiser for CHENAC program: Cost $3.50 adults/$2.00 children Dinner 6-7 p.m./speaker 7 p.m. November 5, 1994 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ------------------------------- "Treaty Preview" Speakers and children's performance Ontario County Historical Society 55 N. Main Street Canandaigua, New York November 9, 1994 7:30 p.m. ------------------------------ "Pickering Treaty" Speaker: John Mohawk, Ph.D, Seneca Historian Finger Lakes Community College, Room D214 4355 Lake Shore Drive Canandaigua, New York November 11, 1994 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. ----------------------------------- "Canandaigua Treaty Day" Native American Contemporary Art Exhibit "Our Spirit Grows...Polishing the Silver Covenant Chain" and a historical exhibit, "Our Peace, Our Pride" which includes a copy of the treaty on display. Ontario County Historical Society 55 N. Main Street, Canandaigua, New York For more information, please call: (716)396-0087 2:30 p.m. Parade Main Street, Canandaigua 3:00 p.m. Speakers Front Lawn, Ontario County Courthouse Main Street, Canandaigua November 12, 1994 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. ------------------------------------ Symposium: "1794-1994:Polishing the Rust from the Chain" Panel: Ada Deer (Asst. Sect'y for Indians Affairs U.S. Dept of Interior) John Mohawk, Ph.D (Seneca Historian) Paul Williams, Attorney and other invited Iroquois Leaders. Canandaigua Academy Auditorium 435 East Street Canandaigua, New York Fee admission to all events except where indicated. Directions: From Buffalo: NYS Thruway East to Canandaigua exit 44; Route 332 South to Canandaigua From Syracuse: NYS Thruway West to Canandaigua exit 44; Route 332 South to Canandaigua From Rochester: Route 490 East to Victor exit; Route 96 East to Route 332 South to Canandaigua From Corning-Elmira: Rt 17 West to Route 390 North; exit 2 for Chocton/Naples; Route 371 North to North Chocton; Rt 21 North through Naples to Canandaigua For more information, please call (716) 742-1690 =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\= Ganondagan's Native American Winter Craft Sale Saturday, December 3, 1994 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Victor High School 953 High Street Victor, New York books, pottery, baskets, moccasins, silverwork, bone carvings, clay sculptures, cornhusk dolls, and more! Some of the finest Native American arts and crafts in Western New York! Children's activities: 10-11 a.m. Craft projects 11-12 p.m. Learn Iroquois Social Dancing 1- 2 p.m. Craft projects 2- 3 p.m. Learn Iroquois Social Dancing Cost: $2.00 per session Sponsored by The Friends of Ganondagan (716)742-1690 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Original Sender: John Berry 301-443-5988 FAX 301-443-6385 Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) American Indian Heritage Month ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BEHIND THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS LOGO: CONFLICTING IMAGES OF NATIVE AMERICANS by Richard Hill (Tuscarora) American Studies, SUNY Buffalo Historically, popular culture has used images of Native Americans in such diverse areas as cartoons, Hollywood movies, sports team logos, brand names, and museum exhibitions. These symbols either reinvent the past or reconfirm stereotypes, and they make it difficult to separate the reality of the Native American experience from the conflicting images of savagery and nobility. In a slide illustrated lecture, Richard Hill, a Tuscarora Indian, traces the origins and development of these stereotypes. Beginning with the images created by the European explorers and early American artists, and continuing through the current characterizations in the media, Mr. Hill examines how historical and contemporary depictions have influenced the public's perception of Native Americans. He concludes with a discussion of how Indians are coping with these stereotypes. (Code 426-211) Wed., Nov. 9, 8 PM, Lecture Hall, S. Dillon Ripley Center, Members-$9.00, Non-Members-$12.00 NATIVE AMERICAN SCIENCE: An Alternative System by Clara Sue Kidwell Assoc. Dir. of Cultural Resources Nat. Museum of the American Indian Through the ages, different cultures have developed a wide variety of systems to explain the natural phenomena around them and to understand their place in the natural world. In the West, modern science, with its emphasis on objective truth, represents the most recent version of one such system. Unlike European scientists, Native Americans blended rituals and beliefs with systematic observation of the environment to interpret the surrounding world. When Christopher Columbus embarked on his voyage, Europeans believed, as did the ancestors of the Hopi, that the Earth was the center of the universe. For Europeans the sun revolved around the Earth. For the Hopi, the sun actually lived in the world, and their ceremonies were integral to the sun's ability to continue providing heat and light. In this thought provoking lecture Clara Sue Kidwell explores how Native Americans interpreted their knowledge of natural events with the human relationship to the universe. Drawing upon examples of Native American beliefs and traditions, she contrasts these with the European scientific method to illuminate cultural differences and similarities. (Code 426-213)Tues., Nov. 15, 6 PM, Members $9.00, Non-Members $12.00, Lecture location is indicated on ticket. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> JOY HARJO AND POETIC JUSTICE American Indian Heritage Month Performance Intro. by Joseph Bruchac Music echos the message, and poetry resonates to the rhythms of jazz, in a rare East Coast performance of the compelling quintet Poetic Justice. Award winning poet Joy Harjo, three glittering saxophones, a Lakota drum, and a mix of electric strings create an original and innovative musical style rooted in spoken verse. In powerful tone-poems like Harjo's "My House Is the Red Earth", repeated blues phrases underscore poetic recitations filled with bittersweet images of American Indian life and myth. Based in the Southwest-New Mexico and Arizona-the band members bring a wealth of experience to the music. Joy Harjo (saxophone and poetry) is an enrolled member of the Muscogee Tribe and the author of several books of poetry, including "She Had Some Horses" and the aclaimed "In Mad Love and War". Bassist John Williams (Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux) has played in a variety of reggae, Indian and Latin bands. His sister Susan Williams is Poetic Justice's drummer; Frank Poocha (Hopi/Pima) performs on keyboards and vocals; and Willie Bluehouse Johnson (Isleta Pueblo/Navajo) plays guitar. All are working professionals, in either education or the law. Poetic Justice has performed throughout the U.S., and was featured on Indian Airobics, recorded by Radio Smithsonian and the Native American Public Broadcasting Consortium, a companion program to the acclaimed radio series "Spirits of the Present: The Legacy from Native America". Joseph Bruchac well-known author and storyteller, introduces the evening. His "Smithsonian" magazine article on the New York opening of the National Museum of the American Indian appears in the magazine's Nov. issue. His latest book is "Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children", co-authored with Michael J. Caduto and published by Fulcrum. (Code 926-602) Fri., Nov. 18, 7:30 PM, Baird Auditorium, Natural History Bldg., Members $13.00; Non-Members $17.00, Full Time Students with ID's $10.00 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ FREE VIDEOS FOR FAMILIES-American Indian Heritage Month Three dynamic childrens videos: "Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back" - Joseph Bruchac and Jonathon London Mythology of the 13 moons of the year, each legend is taken from the tradition of a different Native American tribe, recounting how the people related the cycles of the moon to the seasons. "The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" Shows the vital role that Mother Earth plays in the lives of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico. A colorful sunset is the backdrop as the Red Willow People make pottery clay and paint, and dance traditional dances. "Arrow to the Sun" Tells the story of a boy's search for his father, which leads him on a dazzling voyage, in this animated tale from the Acoma Pueblo Indians. (Code 725-091) Sun. Nov. 13, 2:00-3:00 PM, Lecture Hall S. Dillon Ripley Center, Free. Members Only. Tickets required in advance. Suggested minimum age is 5 years. ///////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ MAKING SIOUX MOCCASINS American Indian Heritage Month - Adult-Child Workshop ...young artists learn how to make authentic Sioux moccasins out of leather. Led by Don Tenoso, a Lakota artist working on the Sioux Tribal catalog at the National Museum of Natural History, participants discover how to create two varieties of Sioux moccasins. They explore the symbolism and tribal differences of moccasin designs as they learn the different patterns and construction for making male and female moccasins. After viewing photographs of historic moccasins for inspiration, participants work in adult-child teams to choose the design, color, and beadwork for their personalized moccasins. (Code 726-193) Sat. Nov. 12, 10:00-12:00 Noon (Ages 8-12) Young Associates $34.00, Non-Members $45.00 Fee covers tuition for one adult and one child. **************************************************************************** These events are going on at the Smithsonian Instit. in Washington, D.C. during Nov.- write for tickets to: Smithsonian Assoc. - Lecture Series, Smithsonian Instit., Dept. 0603 Washington, D.C., 20073-0603 Make checks payable to Smithsonian Instit.-RAP, or use the plastic - call (202)357-3030 for info. Submitted by John Berry - from the "Smithsonian Associate" Vol. 23, No.2, October 1994. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Sender: tlink.ness.com!1-1 (Deanna #1 @1) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) CENTRAL VIRGINIA RALLY in support of Native prisoners in Virginia The Virginia AIM support group will be holding a rally to call attention to Virginia's policies regarding access of Native prisoners in Virginia to religious worship, and other discrimination against Native prisoners. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1 PM at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square in downtown Richmond Virginia Please join us there! Members of AIM and the AIM support group will be gathering prior to the rally at 12 Noon at the Chesterfield Court House Library. If you want to find out more about AIM support activities in Central Virginia, this is your chance. For further information, call Renee at 790-0166. --------- "RE: Mohegans on the Come-Back" --------- Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 20:28:17 -0400 From: Paul Bristol Subj: Mohegans on the Come-Back Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Connecticut (Land of tidal river) The Mohegans, cousins who share language similarities with the Pequots, share other things too. The 1000 member tribe has finally gotten recognition. And last week, President Clinton signed a bill which will allow the tribe to petition BIA for authorization to take over 240 acres formerly the site of United Nuclear Corp, which made reactors for submarines and is now closed. The site will become the new reservation. The tribe is also planning, with the help of the Pequots, to open a new casino on the reservation. The opening is anticipated in a years time. An agreement has been signed with Connecticut Governor, Lowell P. Weicker, Jr which would pay the state about $80 million per year. The state currently received over $100 million from the Mashantucket Pequots. Their contribution would be cut back to $80 million as well. The state is being paid for permission to operate slot machines, and gets a percentage of the take. The Mohegans casino will be only 10 miles from the Foxwoods Casino of the Pequots. Locals seem mystified when viewing the spirit of cooperation between Chief Ralph Sturgis of the Mohegans and Richard "Skip" Hayward, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Hayward said yesterday, "I don't think gaming is the best way to earn money, either. But done properly, it's no different than other legalized forms of entertainment." Little by little, the first Native Americans to encounter the European are rising from the ashes to reclaim their heritage, their history and their language. And Indian children of the Woodland Tribes are learning pride and the leadership they will need to carry on the fight to save Mother Earth in the land of the acid rain and pollution. --------- "RE: Navajo-Hopi 'Land Dispute' Update" --------- Date: Tue, 18 Oct 1994 16:01:00 PDT From: Navajo Nation Subj: NAVAJO-HOPI "LAND DISPUTE" UPDATE: Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) NAVAJO-HOPI "LAND DISPUTE" UPDATE: OCTOBER 18, 1994 It's Been a While I got a little time while I sit here in Council Chambers. It's fall session and I am here in case anyone has a question about Navajo-Hopi issues. The Vice President is up front, having given the fall "State of the Nation" address. Now the council delegate are taking turns grilling him. It snowed the last couple days and the roof is leaking, water dripping down next to Henry Willeto's chair in the back. Several people have passed away recently. Mr. Sam Wilson, Mae Tso's father, is gone. He was a Council Delegate in 1957, when the BIA attorney put a resolution before Council consenting to the lawsuit that became HEALING V. JONES. Mr. Wilson predicted, rightly, that this lawsuit would lead to Navajo land being taken away. He and four other delegates abstained in the vote that passed the resolution. With Navajo concurrence, Congress then passed the law which allowed the two tribes to sue each other. The rest, as they say, is history. Mr. Wilson instructed his children to stay on the land and fight to keep it. Mae Tso spoke of this in her testimony to Council on Aug. 26. Lew Gurwitz, the first Big Mountain Legal Office attorney also passed away this summer. He was at a powwow in Canada, I heard. A lot of people miss him, he was respected as an attorney and also known as a good singer. "That Lew Gurwitz can really sing", people used to tell me. Lee Phillips' father also passed away two weeks ago after a long illness. Lee went back to Ohio and I don't think he is back yet. In his absence the mediation is at a standstill. The mediation has developed into two parallel sets of talks. The most important issues, those relating to the terms of accommodation for the Dine' families, are being discussed between the Hopi Tribe and the Dine' families themselves. The Hopi Tribe is taking the position that these talks are abut implementing the Agreement in Principle and the Hopi lease. The U.S. and the mediator generally support this position, that what is being discussed is the IMPLEMENTATION of an agreement which has already ben reached. The families, in contrast, feel that there is plenty left to talk bout, particularly the entire religious issue. They do not feel that the Hopi Tribe has made more than cosmetic changes in its original lease proposal. They see these talks as the direct negotiations which they have been saying all along they want. We attend these meetings, mainly to observe, and to provide technical and logistic support. In a way its a matter of language. The Hopi Tribe can see this as an implementation process, while the families look t it as negotiations on the things that affect them. In fact, the families have the option of refusing to sign the final "lease" agreements. It will be very hard to get a unified position from the families. The process put in place by the mediator seems designed rather to split the families apart, getting them to sign leases, one by one. Meanwhile ... The other part of the negotiations is about compensation to the Hopi Tribe, dismissal of lawsuits, etc. The idea is that these are government-to-government issues, so should be negotiated by the governments. The Hopis Tribe is already demanding that the Navajo Nation make some lease payments up front as a condition to allowing the Dine' families to repair their homes. Council is concerned for two reasons: the first is that by going along and making payments, Council would be recognizing the Agreement in Principle and lease arrangement. The second is the delegates are wary of making payments before they have any idea what the Dine' families are getting. These are NEW rent payments, by the way. The Navajo Nation is already paying rents assessed by the Court in two of the "money" cases, Hopi lawsuits that were authorized by P.L. 93-531. Payments are made as soon as the courts have made a final determination of the rent due for a given year. Under the AIP and Hopi lease, these rental charges are much higher than those determined under the Court's "fair value" definition. Council met in special session August 26-27, took a lot of testimony, and had recommendations from the Land Commission before it. Unfortunately Council tabled the resolution before it. ("the Mother of All Resolutions", it was about six pages long and had over 20 whereases and maybe 12 resolved clauses. That's not counting the floor amendments.) The issue is up in the air, but it looks like Council will want to restructure the AIP, particularly the numerous specific contractual terms which the U.S. and Hopi Tribe worked into it. What would carry through is the Principles that were agreed to: that the religious and cultural needs of the Navajos would be accommodated on a perpetual basis, but that legal title to the land would remain with the Hopi Tribe. Last week the Intergovernmental Relations Committee - the super-committee of Council - began hearings on the Navajo-Hopi issues. hearings began last week, went into recess this week 'cause of Council being in session and will resume soon. IGR plans to do a complete inquiry into the religious issue soon as the nights get long and story-telling season begins. The Great Escape. I was at Teesto on August 10 for a Dine' Bikeya Committee meeting when Mr. Clinton told me this story. The Hopi rangers were as usual parked up on top of Horse Butte spying on everyone with their binoculars a few days previous, when they spotted Mr. Clinton's son Jordan and his wife drinking beer and horsing around. The Hopi's called in the BIA police and tried to arrest them. They grabbed Jordan's wife but Jordan got away. The cops called more cops, pretty soon there were nine vehicles chasing all over with their lights flashing. Jordan got a horse and ran for it. The nine carloads of cops couldn't catch him so they called a helicopter from the Arizona highway patrol. The helicopter was buzzing all over the Teesto area for several hours. Jordan of course got away - he was on horseback, after all - and went to live with his in-laws on the NPL for a while. Mr. Clinton is not happy at all. For all the surveillance by the Hopi rangers, it did not stop someone from setting his sheep corral on fire this summer. The corral was destroyed and ten sheep were burned up. more later jn --------- "RE: Indians/Species Protection Act Collide" --------- Date: Sun, 23 Oct 1994 13:06:16 -0700 From: "(Chinookan)Tina Stinnett" Subj: Indians/species protection act collide Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) I'm steaming so I'll probably make some other people steam too. Apparently Oregon is the first state to test out the traditional use of eagle feathers since passage of Religious Freedom Restoration Act last year. Unfortunately, this time I partially side with the government and not my native brothers and sisters. 33 year old Nathan Jim Jr. was on trial in U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon this week, at odds with the Endangered Species Act. In the courtroom, Jim's attorney pit spirituality against legality and bureaucracy. Where one side would argue God, the other would argue permits. Where one would argue funerals and sacred dances, the other would argue nesting sites and species numbers. Jim Jr., a Yakama Indian who grew up on the Warm Springs Rez but now lives on the Yakama Rez, was sentenced to 5 years probation last year for possessing a bald eagle and parts of a golden eagle. He says he obtains them for tribal religious leaders. Jim was originally charged with killing eagles but pleaded guilty only to possession. The U.S. government does not contest the fact that eagles and eagle feathers are essential to Indian spiritual ceremonies. Nor does the government contest that Jim Jr. was going to use them for religious purposes. But in the Northwest the Endangered Species Act forbids anyone to kill an eagle or possess an eagle or its parts. Anyone finding an eagle who has, "Dropped its Robe" or that is injured is suppose to turn it over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. I say if someone has found an eagle that has Dropped its Robe, that person should get to keep it. If the eagle is sick or injured and the person doesn't know how to care for it, they should turn it over to those who can properly care for it. My problem is that I don't like the idea of Indians SHOOTING eagles with GUNS for religious purposes. This definitely was not the sacred, traditional way to obtain eagle feathers. If we're going to go back to the old traditional ways, or maintain the traditional ways, let's at least kill the bird in a sacred way too! I don't see how anyone could make SHOOTING an eagle with a GUN sacred. There is no fucking skill in it, and the beautiful bird is totally defenseless against a gun. I agree that the "permit process" for obtaining eagle feathers or eagle parts needs to be changed. I think that there needs to be a Native American agency that distributes the feathers and parts, SEPARATE from the B.I.A. Right now, as part of the process, the applicant must be certified and enrolled in a tribe that the B.I.A. recognizes. There are over 300 Indian tribes that are not recognized in this country. That excludes a lot of Indians from practicing their religious beliefs. According to the "Oregonian", in 1991, the average time it took to process an Indian application was 43 days. Once approved, it takes two or three weeks more to send out feathers, six months to a year for eagle parts such as wings or tails, and 18 months to supply a whole bird. A spokesman for the national repository in Ashland, Oregon says he shipped 896 eagles out of the Ashland repository last year. This person says he received requests for TWICE as many. Now, please try and imagine if you can, that every Indian who requested eagle feathers or parts for their religious reasons SHOT an eagle instead of waiting for one? In court, Jim Jr. argued, "We believe in prayer. You guys don't believe in the Creator's way." Well, I do believe in the Creator's way Jim. We are all related, and Indians don't need a part of bird to feel that way. If you're lucky enough to be granted an eagle feather, great! But don't sweat it if you don't get one. It obviously wasn't meant to be - yet, or never! Let it go. How about watching an eagle fly? Pretty powerful, huh ? That's where the spirit of Eagle is anyway, in LIFE! -- Tina