Subject: nanews03.015 From: gars@netcom.com (Gary Night Owl) To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Message-ID: _ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 03, ISSUE 015 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 15 April 1995 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 Chiapas-L, NATCHAT & NATIVE-L Mailing Lists, FidoNet Indian Affairs Conference, Genie (General Electric) & UUCP email, Usenet newsgroup 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 part A is being sent to the NATIVE-L mailing list, one of the NativeNet lists managed by Gary Trujillo (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us). It is also echoed on AISESnet, IND-NET, and EIRP listservers and archived by AISESnet. Thanks to Marc Becker, mbecker@uclink2.berkeley.edu, issues of Wotanging Ikche/Kanoheda Aniyvwiya are now being archived at a World-Wide-Web site. The URL is http://ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu/~marc/journals/nanews/ This is a test site, and at some point in the future the location of these files will change. Thanks to Phil Duran, duranp@wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu, issues are now being archived at the Washington State University gopher in the following directory: gopher.wsu.edu /WSU Campuses Info /Public Services /Native Peoples "Oh, Eagle, come with wings outspread in sunny skies. Oh, Eagle, come and bring us peace, thy gentle peace. Oh, Eagle, come and give new life to us who pray." __ Pawnee Prayer +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! The Trail of Joy, a backwards tracing of the Trail of Tears to heal the wounds of that infamous death walk will end at New Echota, Georgia on the 25th of April. I will be there with gifts of sage and tobacco if possible. The State of Minnesota passed a law forcing any city or town with squaw as part of its name to remove this term of disrespect. On June 23, 1995, another walk will begin. This one from coast-to-coast, lead by Elders in response to a vision. 82 year old Grandfather William Commanda, keeper of the Seven Fires Prophecy Wampum Belt will guide this walk. Listen to Spirit. Listen to Our Mother. The healing of the Sacred Hoop will not be a clean, unbroken path; but it has begun. Peace! Night Owl , , Gary Night Owl gars@genie.geis.com (*,*) P. O. Box 672168 gars@netcom.com (`-') Marietta, GA 30067, U.S.A. gars@igc.apc.org ===w=w=== NativeNet Node 90:133/2501 FidoNet 1:133/2501 ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- Part A: Usenet and e-mail Part B: NATCHAT and NATIVE-L lists - Urgent Message from the Four Corners - Conferences and Powwows - online - Abenaki Convictions Upheld - Sunbow 5/Walk for the Earth - Passamaquoddy Youth Occupation - Navajo-Hopi Update:4/5/95 - Wounded Knee 1995 - The Big Picture - Grandfather Thundercloud - Feather Battle Ends with Death - NCDM Members Attacked - Not Alone - Waseskun House - Interview with Moctezuma About Ramona - Indigenous Initiatives for an Indigenous Decade - Poem: Medicine Wheel - Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: Urgent Message from the Four Corners" --------- Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 18:13:12 GMT From: tonym@tonymill.demon.co.uk (Tony Miller) Subj: An Urgent Message from the FOUR CORNERS Newsgroup: soc.culture.native Following his recent visit from the Black Mesa in Arizona USA, the heart of what is called the Four Corners area, Daniel Zapata gave a lecture to a small group of people at Emmanuel Church near Leeds University. Daniel is a Chicano-Chichimeka Native American who is deeply affected by Hanson Corporation's heartless open cast mining activities in his homelands. In our discussions with Daniel, who is founder of Peabody Watch and has worked with the affected communities such as Forest Lake, Cactus Valley and Red Willow, we reiterated our deep concern for the Earth and her peoples and offered our help. Daniel accepted our assistance. What follows are the details of what we need to do in his own words. "There is a need to start and continue networking in Great Britain, Europe and the rest of the World. The peoples of the Black Mesa are reaching out to the world's communities who are also suffering the effects caused by open cast mining operations. We need to communicate on a continual basis,in order to strengthen ourselves near and far and thus reinforce our spiritual linkage to Mother Earth. We must continue to bring to light our responsibility to our Creator's creations. THINGS NEEDED: Letters to James Hanson PLC, write and let him know that you're aware of the situation on Black Mesa. Demand that all mining and processing operations are carried out with full regard for the best interests and health of the Hopi and Dine'h (Navaho) people. Also that these operations respect the land and the many forms of life it sustains. Insist that he (Hanson) invests fully in scientific research on the effects of Selenium on the people of Black Mesa. Tell him that you want to be informed about any progress made in this area. Organise a nationwide event, "Healing Mother Earth Day", where people of all walks of life come together and further inform themselves of the struggles in their regions and globally. This kind of event is a useful vehicle for raising awareness of the issues and for meeting like minded individuals and organisations. It's also fun. Involve your members of Parliament and MEP's by expressing your concern that tribal lands are being exploited. Keep yourself informed and look beyond the "gloss" of PR and Advertising put out by the mining,oil, chemical and industrial concerns around the world." WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW. For millennia the Black Mesa has been the sacred ancestral home to many native peoples. The sacred landscape, moulded by nature, is now being brutally reshaped by man because of its incredible mineral wealth. Beneath its surface lies Uranium, Coal and Oil. The "treasures" of a modern energy dependent nation like the USA. These natural resources are seen as a viable long-term solution to America's requirement for energy-fuels. Extracting these materials ends their dependency on such so-called "volatile" external sources as Kuwait and the Middle East. However, this extraction is totally at the expense of the landscape, the people and the wildlife. The mentality of the policy makers is such that these areas are designated as "national sacrifice areas". Putting profit before human rights and fundamental principles, companies such as Exxon, HansonPLC and others are ruthlessly extracting all they can by open cast mining. In mining the Uranium they are leaving radioactive residue. Whilst some of the effects of this toxic waste are unfortunately only too well known, others are not. Only time will tell. By then it will be too late. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Write letters of concern to: - James Hanson, 1 Grosvenor Place, LONDON SW1X 7JH.UK. - Bruce Babbitt, Secretary, United States Dept.of Interior, WASHINGTON DC 20240. USA. Write letters of support to : - Maxine Kescoli, Forest lake Community, Box 650, Pinon, Arizona 86510, USA. Maxine is a Navaho woman living in a community deeply affected by the Black Mesa mining. - Leo C Begay, Box 1362, Kayenta, Arizona, 86033,USA. Leo is the spokesperson for the Forest Lake Community and would welcome your support. We are going to organise and hold a major event which will raise awareness about Black Mesa and other such sites around the world. If you would like to come along and/or can help in any way, please contact: WORLD-WISE. c/o Sundancer, Granary Wharf, Canal Basin, Leeds LS1 4BR.UK. "The Great Spirit is in all things, is in the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She nourishes us; that which we put into the ground, She returns to us...." __ Big Thunder (Bedagi), late 19th century Algonquin. --------- "RE: Abenaki Convictions Upheld" --------- Date: 95/04/06 23:09 From: James D. Audlin(j.audlin@genie.geis.com) Subj: Abenaki Convictions Upheld GE Electronic Mail O'siyo, brother! Nine Abenaki, who were charged with such misdemeanors as driving while intoxicated, careless and negligent driving, and so on, had appealed their convictions to the Vermont State Supreme Court. They argued that they were not subject to prosecution under Vermont law because they belong to a sovereign tribe. The state's argument was that an earlier Supreme Court decision, overturning a lower court decision that had granted the Abenaki had aboriginal rights to fish without a state license, set precedent for prosecution of these Abenaki. But the Supreme Court ruled that the earlier decision "was made as a matter of law based on historical fact", and that it therefore applied to the nine. As a result, the Vermont Supreme Court upheld the convictions. --------- "RE: Passamaquoddy Youth Occupation" --------- Date: Apr-06-95 13:35:00 From: Frosty Deere (frosty.deere@f167.n0.z90.fidonet.org) Subj: Passamaquoddy Youth Occupation FidoNet Indian Affairs Conference From Tribal Members Contact Larry Robichaud 207-853-2600 On Monday April 3, the youth Council of the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Maine occupied their Tribal complex building in a desperate attempt to call attention to ongoing oppression of the majority of the reservation community by a minority of tribal officials. The Passamaquoddy people suffer under substandard housing conditions while tribal officials live in luxury. Funds received through a land Claims settlement between the U.S. government in the 1980's have been pocketed by tribal officials and their families or for elaborate houses and offices while the majority of Passamaquoddy live under substandard conditions. Adults and elders who opposes these conditions have been threatened with job loss and rent hikes by the tribal authorities. The occupation of the tribal complex was initiated by the Passamaquoddy Youth Council, who declared they could take no more abuse on their families. Approximately, 30 youths joined together, singing at their rum in the center of the tribal building, after 17 months of frustrating negotiations meetings during which the youth and their parents ere virtually ignored. These meetings concerned among other issues, $1,2000,000 taken from the Youth Council in 19993 by the Tribal Council through a loan, authorized only by the Tribal Council to build the elaborate tribal complex. Passamaquoddy youth face a exceptionally high rate of suicide, substance abuse and depression as a result of the hopelessness and powerlessness evident in their community. The funds taken by the Tribal Council were allocated to build a Youth Center, including traditional Passamaquoddy cultural events. The Youth Council has only taken this step out of passionate concern for their friends, families, and the future generations. According to Tribal members , many of who have joined with the Youth since the "Loan" is over one year past due, whit no payment made, the youth are merely reclaiming what rightfully belongs to them. Up to one hundred and fifty community member have congregated in the building, demanding the the funds be returned to the Youth and that the Tribal Council work with the community to reform tribal governance to reflect traditional Passamaquoddy government in which everyone, regardless f age or position, has a voice and Tribal Council members are merely representatives, not dictators. The Youth Council and their supporters have kept their spirits strong with the songs of their ancestors and food provided by community members. They are also receiving strong support from other Indian Nations and The American Indian Movement. While the Youth have expressed their willingness to meet with the Tribal Council, they have threatened them with arrests, verbal assaults, and forced evacuation by Tribal and State Police. The Tribal Council has agreed to meet with three Youth, but only if adults and media are not present. ================================================================= This comes to from the Northeastern Native News Service, Mohawk Native News Service, Igloo Native News BBS, and Native The Network. Origin: Igloo Station (514) 632-5556 (90:167/0) UPDATE ON THIS RELEASE April 6th The youth had a meeting last night at 5pm and they are now out of the building. The Council has agreed to settle the problems and give back the loan and reduce the rent. Their may be more details but this what I got over the phone about five minutes ago. All I can say is people prayers, tobacco burning and talking sure help settled what could have turned ugly Origin: Igloo Station (514) 632-5556 (90:167/0) --------- "RE: Wounded Knee 1995" --------- Date: 7 Apr 1995 13:49:59 -0400 From: wanblisapa@aol.com (Wanblisapa) Subj: Wounded Knee 1995 Newsgroup: soc.culture.native I am writing on behalf of my Lakota family and friends who live on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, specifically, the traditional community members near Wounded Knee. There is a bill currently in committee in both the US Senate and House that would turn our sacred memorial and site of Wounded Knee into a national park, removing the land from the reservation, and placing it in trust of the U.S. government. This is the site of and mass burial from the 1890 massacre of over 300 innocent Lakota men, women, and children by the 7th Cavalry, Custer's old unit, in retaliation for the defeat handed Custer by the Lakota and Cheyenne Nations at Little Bighorn. We need your help to make sure these bills are defeated, because we want to keep our land, keep our memorial, keep our sacred place where many Lakota people come to pray and remember. We do not want a national park, a visitor center, an amphitheater, parking lots, and a lot of traffic in this burial area, disturbing the bones and spirits of our ancestors. The Senate bill, S382, was sent to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The House bill, HR877, was sent to the House Committee on Resources. Both bills were introduced February 9, 1995 by the congressional delegation from South Dakota. The bills are being supported by the tribal councils, but not by the residents and traditional members of Wounded Knee Community nor the reservation in general. In fact, the traditional members and residents were not even consulted prior to these bills being introduced, yet these residents will be the ones most impacted, and some will even lose their land and homesites to the national park. Please join your voice to ours. I can send you more information if you would like. Below are the names and addresses (including e-mail where available) of the Senate and House committee members. Please write to them and your own congressmen and ask them to oppose these bills. Pilamaya (thank you)! Black Eagle +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SENATE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS (17 members): John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman, 111 Russell Senate Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20510 Frank Murkowski (R-AK), 706 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Slade Gorton (R-WA), 730 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 (Senator_Gorton@gorton.senate.gov) Pete Domenici (R-NM), 328 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R-KS), 302 Russell Senate Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20510 Don Nickles (R-OK), 133 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Craig Thomas (R-WY), B34 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Orrin Hatch (R-UT), 135 Russell Senate Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20510 Paul Coverdell (R-GA), 200 Russell Senate Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20510 (senator_coverdell@coverdell.senate.gov) Daniel Inouye (D-HI, Ranking Democrat), 722 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Kent Conrad (D-ND), 724 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Harry Reid (D-NV), 324 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Paul Simon (D-IL), 462 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 2051 (senator@simon.senate.gov) Daniel Akaka (D-HI), 720 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Paul Wellstone (D-MN), 717 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 (senator@wellstone.senate.gov) Byron Dorgan (D-ND), 713 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510 Ben Nighthorse Campbell (D-CO), 380 Russell Senate Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20510 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES (45 members) (resource@hr.house.gov): NOTE: NPFLSub - Serves on Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Lands) NAIASub - Serves on Subcommittee on Native American and Insular Affairs Don Young (R-AK), Chairman, 2331 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NAIASub) James Hansen (R-UT), 2331 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub chairman) H. James Saxton (R-NJ), 339 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 Elton Gallegly (R-CA), 2441 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NAIASub Chairman) John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), 2400 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Joel Hefley (R-CO), 2351 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) John Doolittle (R-CA), 1526 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Wayne Allard (R-CO), 422 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), 332 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NAIASub) Ken Calvert (R-CA), 1034 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 Richard Pombo (R-CA)1519 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Peter Torkildsen (R-MA),120 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), 1023 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Frank Cremans (R-OH), 1107 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 Barbara Cubin (R-WY), 1114 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Wes Cooley (R-OR), 1609 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Helen Chenoweth (R-ID), 1719 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Linda Smith (R-WA), 1217 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (asklinda@hr.house.gov) (NOTE: NPFLSub) George Radanovich (R-CA), 313 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Walter Jones, Jr. (R-NC), 214 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NAIASub) William Thornberry (R-TX), 1535 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 Richard Hastings (R-WA),1229 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NAIASub) Jack Metcalf (R-WA), 507 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NAIASub) James Longley, Jr. (R-ME), 226 House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NAIASub) John Shadegg (R-AZ), 503 House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) George Miller (D-CA, Ranking Democrat), 2205 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (gmiller@hr.house.gov) Nick Rahall (D-WV), 2269 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Bruce Vento (D-MN), 2304 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (vento@hr.house.gov) (NOTE: NPFLSub) Dale Kildee (D-MI), 2187 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) (NOTE: NAIASub) Mr. Pat Williams (D-MT), 2329 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) (NOTE: NAIASub) Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), 2416 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (bozrah@hr.house.gov) Bill Richardson (D-NM), 2209 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub, Ranking Majority Leader) Pete DeFazio (D-OR), 2134 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (pdefazio@hr.house.gov) Mr. Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa), 2422 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) (NOTE: NAIASub Ranking Majority Leader) Tim Johnson (D-SD), 2438 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NAIASub) Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), 1233 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 Mr. Gerry Studds (D-MA), 237 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) W.J. Tauzin (D-LA), 2183 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), 2136 Rayburn House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 Cal Dooley (D-CA), 1227 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 Carlos Romero-Barcelo (D-Puerto Rico), 428 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) (NOTE: NAIASub) Nathan Deal (D-GA), 1406 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), 1524 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) Robert Underwood (D-Guam), 424 Cannon House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 (NOTE: NPFLSub) (NOTE: NAIASub) Sam Farr (D-CA), 1117 Longworth House Office Building, Wash, D.C., 20515 I> --------- "RE: The Big Picture" --------- Date: Sat, 8 apr 95 20:22 est From: "Steven C. Schiavi" <0005408096@mcimail.com> Subj: The Big Picture UUCP email Hau, Gary, the following is for W.I. There are very few things of which I am certain. One of them is that the Creator is in control of His creation. The orchestration of the movements on Earth is His; we are free to inter- pret and create our lives either in accord with the Creator's plan or not. If we choose to follow a different path, one that is not red, one that is not of life, this does not destroy the symmetry of the dance. The Creator has written two parts for each of us two-leggeds; He has given us a choice of which one we will follow. Truly, we cannot foil the intent of the author of the dance. We can make it difficult for ourselves and our relations; but we will learn and we will grow. Each of us will realize in the fullness of the now, but perhaps aeons in the future, that the best movement is the harmonious one. We are not puppets; but we are what we are. We are caretakers and re-dress- ers of balance. We are living engines to power the ceremonies by which life is renewed each year, each decade, each century, each millennium. We are cones of light, spinning, pointing upwards to the night sky where the star- people are cones of light pointing down, reaching down to touch and blend with us. It is the harmony of the dance of life. There is a light coming up over the horizon of time; the shadow it casts before it as it approaches the now touches our hearts, or minds, our spirits; some are burned up, some are healed, some are shattered, some are driven mad. This light is the Creator's light; it is the light of direct knowledge of the author of the dance. We must make ourselves strong, not give our energy to hate, or distrust or enmity or greed. These things sap our strength; we grow poisonous plants in the garden of our spirits. if these things thrive, in that place where they thrive no healing or nourishing plants will take root. The light of the sun will whither the weeds, and the soul will be left barren, and flee the body. We cannot afford to indulge our pettiness any longer. We cannot afford to point a finger (which is very rude, and not done by most Indians anyway) at our brother or sister and denounce them. The Creator will take care of them, and us. We need to pray for each other, not prey upon each other. We need to leave criticism and judgement to the Creator. People who are in and of the dominant culture may not know any better; those of us who are in but not of, have no such excuse. Too many of those who read these words know, deep inside, that they must change themselves; but as long as it appears we can put it off, too many of us will. There is no time left. It is time we grow up and become children again. Now. Rainbow Walker --------- "RE: Grandfather Thundercloud" --------- Date: 95/04/07 18:03 From: James D. Audlin (j.audlin@genie.geis.com) Subj: Grandfather Thundercloud GE Electronic Mail O'siyo, everyone! Grandfather Thundercloud (James Hawkins), a Saponi Cherokee medicine man, has been put in a nursing home in Trenton, N.J., against his will. He wants very much to leave, and members of the Native American community have tried to arrange his departure, but the nursing home will not let him leave even though he has never been examined to see if he is incompetent, nor has a court of law found him incompetent. His friends and supporters are trying to help him win his freedom so he can go, as he wishes, to live in the home of Grandmother Yehwenode (Twylah Nitsch), on the Cattaraugus Reservation, southeast of Buffalo, N.Y. This whole issue is going to be heard in a New Jersey state court, since the Federal Court in N.J. ruled this week that that is not the proper jurisdiction. There is a great deal of concern that the frailty of Grandfather's health means that the longer this drags out in court, and he remains against his will in the nursing home, the more his overall condition will deteriorate, such that his life will be increasingly at risk. If you wish to give Grandfather support, you can write, telephone, or fax to any or all of the following as soon as possible. Your communication should include both his names (James Hawkins - Grandfather Thundercloud), and say that he is being held against his will in the Capital Nursing Home in Trenton, N.J., even though he has not been adjudicated incompetent; mention also that he is a highly respected member of Native American society, a Saponi Cherokee elder of considerable standing. You should also say that, as a traditional Native American, he will be happiest on the reservation among his own people. He wants to go to live with Grandmother Yehwenode (Twylah Nitsch), who is in a large comfortable house with all the modern amenities, on the Cattaraugus Reservation (Irving, New York). You may write to the nursing home itself; I ask you not to criticize the nursing home, but to encourage it to let Grandfather go since there is no legal grounds for keeping him there against his will, and since the longer he remains there against his will the more his health is in danger. The nursing home is: Capital Nursing Home / 439 Bellevue Avenue / Trenton, N.J. 08618 / (609) 396-2646. You may also contact the two senators from New Jersey: Senator Bill Bradley / 1 Greentree Center / Marlton, N.J. 08053 / (609) 983- 4143 (voice) / (609) 983-4439 (fax). Senator Frank Lautenberg / (609) 757-5353 (voice) / (609) 546-1526 (fax) / I don't have an address for him. You may also want to contact the Governor of New Jersey: Governor Christine Todd Whitman / State Building CN-001 / Trenton, N.J. 08625 / (609) 292-6000 (voice) / (609) 292-3454 (fax). Please do this as quickly as possible; preferably, this weekend. Wado! (Thank you!) --Distant Eagle --------- "RE: Feather Battle Ends with Death" --------- Date: Thu Apr 06, 1995 10:39 EDT From: Jim Casto (j.casto@genie.geis.com( Subj: Feather Battle Ends with Death GE Electronic Mail In an article in "The Oregonian" (Portland, Oregon) for April 5, 1995 it was reported that Nathan Jim Jr.'s five-year battle for Native American rights in regards to eagle feathers is over. Nathan Jim Jr. shot himself to death at his home on the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon. For anyone that isn't familiar with this story, Nathan Jim pleaded guilty in 1993 to illegal possession of eagle feathers and parts. He had been placed on probation as a result. Nathan Jim appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court. After Congress passed the Religious Freedom Act in 1994, the case was returned to U.S. District Judge James Redden for a hearing on whether the charges violated the new law. In a ruling ten days ago, Redden agreed that Nathan Jim possessed the eagles for religious purposes. But, Redden ruled against Nathan Jim on the fact that the government had met the requirement of showing a compelling interest in prohibiting Native Americans from killing or possessing eagles. Redden also ruled that the government permit system is the least restrictive for meeting the needs of Native Americans. Nathan Jim's attorney, Celeste Whitewolf, immediately filed a notice of appeal to this latest ruling by Redden. When Whitewolf visited with Nathan Jim four days before he died, he was upset by the ruling. Nathan Jim's probation required that he remain on the Warm Springs Reservation and he had been unable to find work there. He was afraid this latest ruling would require him to go back to jail. He had already been in jail for fourteen months and really hated it. Nathan Jim Jr. was a thirty-three year-old Yakama Indian. He is survived by his father and mother, wife Tanya, three sons, a daughter, four sisters, and three brothers. He was buried Monday at sunrise in the Tenino Cemetery on the Warm Springs Reservation. Celeste Whitewolf reported a final irony. It appeared that there would be no feathers for the traditional dressing and burial ceremonies. Celeste, a Warm Springs Tribal member, took her own feather for him. Several other tribal members also brought feathers. Robert B. Ross, the U.S. attorney who was the prosecuting attorney in Nathan Jim's case, obtained an emergency package of feathers from the federal repository in Ashland, Oregon and drove them to the Warm Springs Reservation, but arrived too late for the dressing ceremony, Whitewolf said. Whitewolf has asked the Ninth Circuit Court to dismiss the case which pitted the Native American's treaty rights and religious freedom against the Eagle Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. These two Acts prohibit anyone from killing eagles or possessing eagles or eagle parts. The above taken from an article by Roberta Ulrich that appeared in "The Oregonian" (Portland, Oregon) for April 5, 1995. JimC --------- "RE: NCDM Members Attacked" --------- Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 19:19:40 -0700 From: National Commission for Democracy in Mexico Subj: NCDM Members Attacked Action Alert! Mailing List: chiapas-l@profmexis.dgsca.unam.mx Yesterday members of the National Commission for Democracy in Mexico were assaulted in a Dallas hotel by Zedillo's security guards while they were trying to conduct a peaceful protest against the war in Chiapas. Quoting from today's Dallas Morning News, " one of [Zedillo's] security agents ran up and punched one protester and shoved another.. "All I said was, 'Zedillo, pull your troops out of Chiapas," said a stunned Leonardo Contreras of Houston, as Dallas police officers escorted him out of the Loews Anatole Hotel. The Mexican secret service agents "forget they are not on Mexican soil, where free speech is not allowed", Mr. Contreras added. The National Commission for Democracy in Mexico is calling upon all people of conscience to join us in sending letters, telegrams and faxes of protest against these violent abuses of the freedoms of speech and assembly. We ask that the messages be sent to the following people: Secretary of State Warren Christopher 2210 C. St. NW Washington, DC 20520 Phone (202) 647-4000 Fax (202) 647-6434 Ambassador Jesus Silva Herzog Mexican Ambassador to the US Mexican Embassy 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC Phone (202) 728-1690 Fax (202) 728-1698 Gregory Favre President American Society of Newspaper Editors P.O. Box 4090 Reston, Virginia 22090 Phone (703) 648-1144 A copy of the letter we sent today follows. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ April 6, 1995 Mr. Gregory Favre, Yesterday we attempted to communicate with you regarding your organization's presentation of Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo. We did so because of worsening conditions in Mexico. We believe that in allowing Zedillo to appear before you, you have ignored the voices of 40 million poor people in Mexico, and the besieged voices in the state of Chiapas. Zedillo is following the trajectory of Carlos Salinas, his predecessor. His presentation of conditions in Mexico belies the truth, especially in regards to the violation of all international standards of humanitarian law. Yesterday in the presence of the Dallas police department and the hotel's security force, members of Zedillo's security force physically assaulted two of our members. Their crime: raising their voices to tell Zedillo to take Mexican federal troops out of the state of Chiapas. This brutal behavior is a vivid example of the way in which dissent in Mexico is received. If such is the behavior of the president's security on foreign soil and against American citizens, what are the people of Mexico subjected to? Does the Association regard the forced migration and starvation of 20,000 men, women and children in the Lacandon jungle as irrelevant? Does it deny the substantiated reports of Amnesty International, Greenpeace and Human Rights Watch of torture and procedural irregularities in the arrest and detention of accused members of the EZLN? Our efforts to ask for inclusivity were met with indifference. Please be advised that we will take all legal forms of re-dress against the assault, and we will denounce this occurrence publicly as much as we are able. The nature of the crisis in Mexico has not been covered by the U.S. media, much less the viability of the national movement for democracy. There are prominent analysts and leaders of the Mexican democracy movement fully capable of presenting the side of the story which Zedillo denies. We hope we will receive a quick response from the Association in regards to its willingness to present a broader perspective. A well-informed American public is the best means by which to avoid a disastrous foreign conflict. Sincerely, Cecilia Rodriguez Coordinator --------- "RE: Not Alone" --------- Date: 07 Apr 95 11:30:10 EDT From: Brooke.M.Ammann@DARTMOUTH.EDU (Brooke M. Ammann) Subj: Not Alone UUCP email --- David Denomie wrote: Several years ago it was at northern Wisconsin boat landings as my people (Ojibwe) exercised our clearly reserved off-reservation fishing rights that were guaranteed in Treaties and denied to us since the turn of the century. Similar events are now underway in Minnesota --- end of quoted material --- Its true. If there is one thing I learned during the spearfishing wars, its that those bad feelings toward the Anishinabe are right below the surface and the people who feel them wait for a good time to let them out, like when they have a bunch of their own kind (others that think like them) to back them up. That is the only time they have the courage to say anything. Another thing I learned is that the reason they are like that is because they are afraid of us. When I would confront the people who were calling me "timber nigger" and saying "spear and Indian, save a walleye" they shut up right away because they thought I was like them. They thought I would only have the courage to stand up to all of them while I was with a bunch of other Indians, but since I was the only indian in that school, they knew I wasn't afraid of them when I told them how stupid they were to say those things. People that think like me are always with me, even if I'm only one person physically, and I think a lot of indian people are like that. Maybe that's why we're scary, I don't know. In the spearfishing wars, all of those old Anishinabe were there. They were watching, and laughing, perhaps. They made these treaties with the hope that we would have something now to help us, and I think they were proud to see that we appreciated their gift and that we were willing to fight so hard to keep it ours. Hopefully the ancient people will help us to get through these other problems we have. --------- "RE: Waseskun House" --------- Date: Apr-08-95 19:31:00 From: Frosty Deere (frosty.deere@f167.n0.z90.fidonet.org) Subj: Waseskun House FidoNet Indian Affairs Conference Please post this where ever you want and share it with other's. Waseskun House: A day in the Life By Micheal Loft Sometimes life "on the outside" isn't all that it's cracked up to be. This is the way it seemed when I was invited to speak to the men at Waseskun House last week. We're the ones who are supposed to be "free," but I was the one who felt hemmed in with meetings, paperwork and worry as I left my regular duties for a visit on the "inside." (Waseskun house is a Montreal-based community treatment center or "halfway house" for native prisoners. It is situated a short distance from Atwater exit, one block south of the Imperial Tobacco building. Waseskun is home for prisoners until their release. Counsellors in these institutions help inmates readjust to life in the community.) This was my first visit to the halfway house so it was a relief when a familiar face greeted me on the corner of Rose De Lima and St. Jacques. This person was Curtis Horn, a counsellor and veteran of four years on the job. We went into the building which incidentally, appears to have been a factory of some sort in the past. The first floor looked pleasant almost chic with its old brick walls, wooded beams, large windows and decorative plants. It wouldn't be too far-fetched to expect to find a good cappuccino in this setting, but alas. this is where the fantasy ends. We were, after all, in an institution and reality began to set in at the sight of the central workstation buzzing with uniformed personnel. By-passing all this, Curtis and I jumped in the elevator and made tracks for the third floor - residence. Even the elevator is unique because a special plastic card is needed to operate it. The same card opens the doors. Once we got past this, we headed to Curtis' office and discussed the presentation. It wasn't long before we went down the hall to meet the men. The purpose of my visit was to give a cultural presentation. To accomplish this, I brought several, what I call, "Helpers" with me: the scared eagle feather, sage and sweet grass. During the first half of the presentation, I explained a little bit about my life and some of the hard roads I walked at one time. Then we went around in a circle and asked the men for their comments. What was good was that maybe 99% of them were listening very, very intently. As each man spoke, he held the eagle feather. Not everybody spoke but everybody held the feather earnestly. Perhaps for some, this was their first experience holding a Sacred object. We all had a good laugh when I explained a little about the feather. It was given to me by a Micmac women in Nova Scotia some years ago. She was a complete stranger, yet in spite of this, she gave me the feather out of the blue, for no reason so I thought. I was grateful for her gift but did not understand its meaning at the time. So this beautiful feather became a decoration just hanging on my wall doing nothing for many years. Gradually, one day I decided its time in my life to put it to work. I now refer to it as a working eagle feather and this is why the had a good laugh. It was good to see their smiles. This, I'm sure, is probably why the feather was given to me so many years ago, to help people get better. It was also good to see them, these men, touching the eagle feather very gently, stroking it and showing much care the way they held it, They looked at the eagle feather intensely. We smudged with sage and burned sweetgrass while we were going through the presentation. The men reacted well to that. Everybody was talking respectfully, everybody was waiting their turn, and nobody was joking. At this point, I began to ask some questions on my own. I questioned why so many Indian men are in jail ? Why so many Indian men get in trouble ? Not many answers came back so I told them about Saskatchewan, no it is out there, how Indian men are grossly overrepresented in prison so much so there's a virtual cottage industry built around it. If all the Indian men wrote to be released, for example, officials would have to close some prisons. The we talked about why the situation exists. Why are native men over-flowing the prisons? I shared with them what I learned from Dr. Brant a Mohawk psychiatrist from Tyendinaga. He talked about the "spring" inside of us, like a car spring, and using that as an example. He says that our people hold in their emotions and we do that for a reason: survival. In days gone by, hunting for the winter meat supply was a necessity. as anyone knows, a hunter can't be yelling, jumping all over and all that. One has to be under control to catch an animal. That way we lived played a big part in our survival as well. We had to get along so we couldn't have people sounding off, calling each other down and getting all excited. Otherwise the whole group's survival was at stake if everybody was fighting. Our people learned to control their emotions, that's part of the Indian way. Its caused much repression. We knew how to repress our feelings and we did it rather well. We expressed our emotions when we were in ceremonies, when we did traditional dances and things like that. But when alcohol, the "mind-changer" came along we were not prepared for it. Alcohol acts on the spring ( repression ) that is inside our stomach (neurological system). It loosens the spring already under pressure causing it to explode. It releases the control mechanism that we have when we're sober and this partially explains why there are so many native men in jail. Brant says many Indian are in jail for petty reasons and that they're mostly alcohol related. Another thing that came up too is about using sweetgrass, sage and the eagle feather to communicate with the Creator. I told the men that the way I look at it medicine comes many ways. Medicine men say that doing certain things trying to help your fellow man, trying to help children with fears, having difficulties in their lives. Trying to help adults. That's medicine. Helping as much as you can, in the best way you can, that's medicine for people. so this is what this man said. Medicine doesn't always work, you can sit there for hours and hours and months and months and not much happens. But now and then you do something and you get a result, a lasting result ot sometimes as much as a small shift in a person's life. Maybe even a change is his ( o her ) attitude and this is, medicine. These were my thoughts for the men as I left for home. --- SLMAIL v4.0 (#1349) Origin: Igloo Station (514) 632-5556 (90:167/0) --------- "RE: Interview with Moctezuma About Ramona" --------- Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 18:08:39 -0700 From: National Commission for Democracy in Mexico Subj: INTERVIEW WITH MOCTEZUMA ABOUT RAMONA Mailing List: chiapas-l@profmexis.dgsca.unam.mx INTERVIEW WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND CONAI TO SAVE RAMONA Tables to collect signatures in the Zocalo in Mexico City Press Release Mexico D.F., April 10, 1995 National Convention of Women We, the women of the National Democratic Convention, began working together after seeing the video in which Comandante Ramona appeared and directed her words to women, asking that we not leave them alone and where she mentioned that she would probably die soon. We decided to carry out a series of activities to prevent this from happening. Comandante Ramona, as well as being a model of dignity for women, represents the thousands of indigenous people who die from curable diseases every day because of a lack of medical attention. Due basically to the conditions of marginalization and oblivion in which the indigenous communities have lived for years. 1.- It is for the reasons stated above that beginning last week we initiated a national and international campaign for the life of Ramona which has had a favorable response. Men and women citizens, both in this country and outside of the country, have expressed their solidarity. 2.- With this campaign the National Convention of Women is trying to make a call to bring attention to both the precarious conditions of health in the indigenous communities and in particular, the impact of the situation on thousands of women and children who today live in with the tension and anxiety, above all in those communities where they have not been able to reestablish their daily life, due to the presence of the Federal Army in the state of Chiapas. We are very concerned about the situation of the entire communities which have been forced to emigrate and to live in the mountains with all of the risks that this implies for their health and lives. 3.- For this reason the National Convention of Women has made it a priority to contact the National Mediation Commission (CONAI) to ask for their assistance in reaching the CCRI-CG (Indigenous Revolutionary Clandestine Committee-General Command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation) and the Secretary of the Interior, so that, through its work of mediation, the best means can be found for Comandante Ramona to receive the medical attention that she needs as well as the security guarantees. 4.- In the same sense the National Convention of Women intends to meet with the Secretary of the Interior, Esteban Moctezuma. 5.-Today (April 10) at noon the National Convention of Women will set up a table to collect signatures in support of this campaign, at the flagpole in the capitol's Zocalo. Convencion Nacional de Mujeres FAX: 5-19-70-63 5-90-20-21 5-84-81-30 (All of them in Mexico City 011-52-5-) Address (Certified Mail preferred): Xola 181-3 Col. Alamos Mexico D.F. CP 03400 Mexico Typed in by :Jossie --------- "RE: Indigenous Initiatives for an Indigenous Decade" --------- Date: 12 Apr 95 09:45:12 EDT From: Ann Stewart <75361.1143@compuserve.com> Subj: Indigenous Initiatives for an Indigenous Decade UUCP email (reprinted with permission from Peacework, April 95, published by the New England regional office of the American Friends Service Committee, 2161 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02140 USA, phone: 617-661-6130) The UN's International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples began December 8, 1994 and will last until 2004. Ann Stewart of Stewartship reported on the second assembly of the Indigenous Initiative for Peace (IIP) held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in February. Details: 617-491- 5531 and 75361,1143@compuserve.com. "We express the wish that indigenous cultures never disappear from the face of the earth." So says Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum, UN- appointed goodwill ambassador to the 1993 International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples. During the Chiapas uprising in January 1994, some indigenous leaders recognized that they might contribute to its peaceful resolution. In May, the IIP was established with 20 founding members. The IIP "is an indigenous international, independent and permanent body, committed to work vigilantly for the protection of indigenous peoples' rights; to contribute to the establishment of legal mechanisms for the protection and recognition of these rights; to monitor the violations to indigenous peoples' rights, and to promote peaceful resolution of conflicts affecting indigenous peoples." In February, more than 70 indigenous representatives from 40 nations-- and almost as many observers--attended IIP's second assembly, presided over by Myrna Cunningham, a Miskito and a member of the National Assembly of Nicaragua. The Peru-Ecuador border flare-up that is occurring on indigenous lands lent particular urgency to the week-long meeting, as did discussion of the conflicts in East Timor and Burma, and the denial of aboriginal self- determination implicit in Quebec's secession from Canada. "To speak about Chiapas is to speak about other areas of the world where there is intolerance, marginalization, and exclusion," Antonio Hernandez of Mexico told the assembly. Julian Berger of the UN Commission for Human Rights believes that IIP should link its work "with the ongoing work at the UN," stressing three areas where the organization might be effective: A draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, ten years in the making, is now before the UN's Commission on Human Rights, the next step on the very long road to ratification by the UN General Assembly. A major "indispensable" concern is how indigenous peoples will participate, "not on the margins, but to be present." There is no permanent forum at the UN to address the concerns of indigenous peoples. "It'll be the future," said Berger. "It is important to discuss what forum and relationship you want to build with nation-states." At the end of 1995, the UN will adopt its program for the international decade. How can indigenous peoples forge new relationships with nation-stats? The words consultation, participation, and monitoring were used frequently, as the delegates clarified their goals and mediation strategies in formal and informal sessions. "Conflict can also occur in places where weapons are absent," a delegate from Nicaragua pointed out. Others mentioned that many governments announce plans for development but do not include indigenous peoples in the process. Nabin Mundu of the Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples told the assembly about the 500 groups of indigenous peoples in India, "from 100 to four million in populations. People are struggling for their autonomy and are being uprooted from their homelands." Jose Bueno described the situation in Colombia: "We are different culturally, but we have shared needs and common problems." Indigenous peoples must be integrated into the societies of Latin America. The assembly passed resolutions on mediating the conflicts in Chiapas, Ecuador, and Peru. Another resolution affirmed support for the peoples of East Timor, asking New Zealand to cancel joint military exercises with Indonesia, and requesting that the UN Commissioner for Human Rights take action if Indonesia failed to implement a 1994 resolution by the UN Commission on Human Rights. The assembly also recognized the special situations of the Karen, Cree, Inuit, and Karinas peoples. They called for a cease fire in Burma, and for the recognition and acceptance of democratic referenda held by indigenous peoples regarding their political future if Canada broke up. They called on Venezuela to affirm the right of the Karinas to live on the lands in the Guiano region in Monogas. Other resolutions recommended that UNESCO establish a reference committee with indigenous representation to inventory existing resources and establish diplomacy training programs, and outlined the mechanisms needed to improve IIP's operation. By the end of 1995, IIP hopes to open an office and incorporate as a nonprofit in the US. It is currently funded by the Rigoberta Menchu Tum Foundation in Mexico City, established in 1992 when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Human rights progress won't occur without prolonged effort on the part of others to understand and to support the initiatives of indigenous peoples themselves. At the UN, the US has been mostly silent on the subject of self-determination, preferring to take its cue from Canada, Brazil, and other nation-states that lobby against the use of the word "peoples," implying that "peoples" have "special rights" conferred upon them that "people" do not. "We are nobody's Indians," said Kenny Blacksmith, deputy grand chief of the James Bay Cree nation. "We have our own economic, political, and social needs like the rest of the world," added Minnie Grey, who represented the Inuit Circumpolar Conference. "This kind of international meeting is very necessary. One of the messages I'll bring back to our people is that we're getting stronger. When we get together, our numbers are great." --------- "RE: Poem: Medicine Wheel" --------- Date: 7:46 AM Mar 30, 1995 From: Liz Frost (lizfrost@unm.edu) Subj: Medicine Wheel Newsgroup: soc.culture.native what was given was taken and can be given again, but not just to one race of men, as on this continent exist many men mixed of many races, a blending of many faces, will join together in many places, with combined heart and soul, joined through the wheel, the earth can be healed and again become whole, look to your soul there you will see there you will know --------- "RE: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days" --------- Date: 95/04/08 15:56 From: Debra F. Sanders (dfsanders@genie.geis.com) Subj: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days GE Electronic Mail A HAWAIIAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of April 16-22 APELILA (April) (Welo) 16 The luminescence of the ocean at night glows like Pele's fire upon the sands. 17 The land is perpetuated in life. 18 Whisper to the wind your secret longings. 19 The blossoms of the shower tree form a golden lace upon the green grass. 20 Cherish the fragile beauty of nature -- it is ours to borrow, not to keep. 21 Sail the ocean by moonlight, and you may find the secret island of the ancients. 22 To know true power, capture the wind in your sails and journey to the place which no one has ever seen before. (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, 13 April 95 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 From: Michele Lord * mosa@netcom.com * Santa Cruz * (88:202/0) Permission granted to Nancy Thomas (88:239/260) for use of articles passed from Michele Lord. Trail of Joy ++++++++++++ THE WITTENBERG CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES 188 Wittenberg Rd., Bearsville NY 12409 Phone: 914-679-9764 The Trail Of Joy, was conceived by Jim Duncan, as a way to complete the past; and wipe away the tears of "The Trail Of Tears". This is a walk, that was started in Oklahoma, and will follow the Trail Of Tears, in reverse... is a walk intended to heal the Cherokee people, and all those of Cherokee descent: The "walkers" are in AK, now, and have moved off the interstate. If you are interested in participating, please call (501)833-2236, or (800)517-5991. The Trail Of Joy, will make it's way to New Echota, Georgia, where a gathering and celebration will take place. More information about this gathering will follow... If all goes as planned, the date of arrival in New Echota is 4/24/95. ======================================================================= From: "Michael A. Blount" Subject: Native Voices Conference This is the final, official, absolutely unchanging announcement of Native Americans at Princeton's first annual Native Voices conference. If you can't come, convince your friends to come! If you run a student organization out east, let your members know! Or if you just don't have the time/means/etc to attend, let me know so I'll stop bugging you. :) =Mike= NATIVE VOICES The Native American Confronts the Twenty-first Century Native Americans at Princeton (NAAP) is proud to present our first annual Native Voices conference. It will be held here at Princeton University from Friday, April 21, to Saturday, April 22. The conference will meet both days in McCosh Hall, with the main conference discussions held in McCosh 46, and will include single-speaker presentations, multi-speaker panels, and small group workshops on a variety of issues. Among this year's discussion topics are the impacts of language in culture, the status of native religion and repatriation acts, and the state of native education. Additionally, we will feature such speakers as Regis Pecos '77, Kumu Hula John Keolamaka'ainana Lake, and Rex Lee Jim '86. There will also be a special presentation on the changing face of Native Americans at Princeton, given by a NAAP member. The conference will conclude with our annual Luau, given jointly with the Princeton Hawaii Club and held at the Third World Center's Liberation Hall. The cost for this event will be $7 for Princeton students and $10 for non-students. For more information, check our WWW page (http://www.princeton.edu/~naap) or send email to naap@phoenix.princeton.edu. In addition to the above information, our Web page contains the latest news on schedule changes, the conference agenda, registration information, and a list of Princeton area hotels. Thank you, and we hope to see you at the conference! -Michael Blount- =Native Americans at Princeton= ======================================================================== From: Tracy.L.Canard@DARTMOUTH.EDU (Tracy L. Canard) Subject: Pow-Wow Announcement DARTMOUTH COLLEGE 23rd ANNUAL POW-WOW Location: Hanover, NH on the Green Rain Location:Thompson Arena Saturday, May 13 and Sunday May 14, 1995 Grand Entry is at noon on both days Head Dancers: Marvin Burnette Muriel Lewis Master of Ceremonies: TCHIN Host Drums: Thundercloud from Wisconsin and Eagle Whistle from North Dakota FREE ADMISSION Community Dinner on Sunday Many Arts & Crafts Vendors Camping Grounds Available DRUGS and ALCOHOL PROHIBITED Organized by Native Americans at Dartmouth for more information, contact the Pow-Wow Committee (603) 646-2110 ===================================================================== From: rcp9u@curry.edschool.Virginia.EDU (Renita C. Parrish) Subject: Monacan Pow-wow Sender: usenet@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU Organization: University of Virginia Natural Bridge of Virginia & George Whitewolf present the 1st annual "Return of the Monacan Indians" to Natural Bridge Powwow. Sat. April 29 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sun. April 30 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission: Adults $8.00 6 yrs. - 12 yrs. $5.00 under 5 FREE Public Invited - Everyone Welcome! Rain or Shine - Free Parking - All Crafts for Sale For vendor, dancer, singer info call (804) 929-6911 or (804) 929-0334 Show dates & time, Public information call 1-800-533-1410 ext. 3 Natural Bridge of Virginia is on Route 11 - 2 miles off of I-81, follow the Natural Bridge signs. ======================================================================= From: aisesnet@bioc02.uthscsa.edu (AISESnet General List) Subject: Attention AISES High School Science Teachers in the SW Original Sender: AISES PATHWAYS Here is an exciting opportunity for 2 science teachers - please use it or pass it around.... NAU and NASA are sponsoring a one week program in Astronomy for 6 Native American Indian high school students and for 2 teachers from June 19 - 23. It is called STARGAZER '95, will be at NAU Campus, taught by Phd. Astronomers and use of some of the big (24 and 31 inch) telescopes in the area....appears to be a good blend ofmodern science and traditional astronomy. Expenses are covered, except transportation to/from. Call Stephanie Dempsey, Coordinator at 520-523-8017 for more info and an application.Deadline is April 14, extended by a week to 4/20, but call now as 2 slots won't last long. Bon Summer!.....Dick Pierce, AISES ========================================================================= From: _The Spike_ Apr 21-23 Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Pau Was 4th Gathering of the People, Mashantucket Nation next to N. Stonington, CT. Info: 203-885-144 Apr 21-23 3rd Annual Tut's Mountain Powwow, Clayton, GA Info: 704-49704542 Apr 22 Thunderbird American Indian Center's auction, NY, NY Info: 201-587-9633 Apr 22-23 Native American Arts Festival and Powwow, Hackensack, NJ Info: 914-357-3252 Apr 22-23 Social Powwow sponsored by Univ. of Wis.-La Cross, WI Native American Students Association Info: 608-785-8225 Apr 27-29 1st Annual Return of the Monacan Indians Powwow, Natural Bridge, VA Info: 804-929-6911 Apr 28-30 Salute the Woodlands Nations, Hickory, NC Info: 404-735-6275 Apr 28-30 2nd Annual Tallahassee Powwow, Tallahassee, FL Info: 912-377-2784 Apr 28-30 Lone Eagle's Legacy, Alexander, AL Info: 205-541-2505 Apr 28-30 2nd Annual Iron National Festival and Powwow East Ridge, TN Info: 615-870-2922 Apr 29 Unity Powwow, NY, NY Info: 212-598-0100 Apr 29 Wabanaki Dawnland Peoples Unity Powwow and Gathering Wilmington, MA Info: 508-655-4070 ------------------------------------ From: _Char-Koosta News_ Apr 20-22 Gathering of Nations Celebration, Albuquerque NM Info: 605-341-5630 Apr 21-22 Aaron Perry Memorial Powwow, St. Ignatius, MT Info: 406-745-3557, 726-3458 Apr 22-23 13th Lakota Omniciye, Spearfish, SD Info: 605-642-6003 ========================================================================= -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- 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: wisdomkeep@aol.com(Please copy), Tony Miller, Liz Frost, Wanblisapa, Frosty Deere, James D. Audlin, Steven C. Schiavi, Jim Casto, Ann Stewart, Debra F. Sanders(Kepola), Janet Smith, Navajo Nation(jon), Brooke M. Ammann, National Commission for Democracy in Mexico --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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, 13 April 95 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 = ========================================================================= Subject: Plains Indian History Seminar, TCU, June 1995 From: lavender@ucsub.colorado.edu (H-WEST Coeditor Catherine Lavender) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) >From: FRED ERISMAN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Plains Indian in Fact, Film, and Fiction Eighteenth Annual TCU/Chisholm Trail Western Seminar Friday and Saturday, 9-10 June 1995 J.M. Moudy Building, Room 141-N Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas For brochure, please send your U.S. postal address to: JALTER@GAMMA.IS.TCU.EDU +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Subject: Oregon State U. Pow-wow Original Sender: kawamotw@ucs.orst.edu (Walter Kawamoto) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Announcing the 19th Annual Spring Oregon State University Pow-wow "Honoring Our Mother" - April 29th and 30th Gill Coliseum / Corvallis, Oregon Grand Entry Saturday 1pm and 7pm, Sunday 1pm Master of Ceremonies: David Brown Eagle Whip Woman: Pat Darcy Head Woman Dancer: Stephanie Donahue Arena Director: Captain Moody Head Man Dancer: David Liberty Host Drum: Eagle Thunder (Warm Springs Jrs.) Honorary Host Drum: Tscha Ti Man Wis Singers (OSU/Corvallis) All Drummers and Dancers are welcome! For more information call: Becky Soliz- Drums and dancers Lisa Leno- vendors (503) 737-2738 Sponsored by: Oregon State University's Native American Students Association No Drugs or Alcohol Allowed. ======================================================================= From: native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us Subject: Art Exhibit - Muskogee, OK Original Sender: berryj@okway.okstate.edu (John Berry) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) To all, _____________________________________________________________________ Five Tribes Museum is hosting an Indian Art Exhibit and Sale in conjunction w/ the city's annual Azalea Festival. The show will run April 8 - 30. The Museum will host its annual "Art Under the Oaks" Indian Market on April 15 & 16, featuring Indian artists, traditions and food. There will be a stickball demonstration, an educational program by Tommy Wildcat, storytelling, flute playing and ceremonial dancing. For more info. call the Museum at (918)683-1701 -------------------------------------------------------------------- John Berry ======================================================================= --------- "RE: Sunbow 5/Walk for the Earth" --------- Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 10:49:37 -0400 From: wisdomkeep@aol.com Subj: Sunbow 5 - Walk for the Earth Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Please copy, network, or otherwise pass along this information Starting this Summer: Sunbow 5 - Walk for the Earth With the Rising Sun - From Atlantic to Pacific On June 23, 1995, a coalition of people representing all the colors and spiritual traditions of humanity will leave First Encounter Beach, on the shores of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to begin a historic journey that will culminate 3,700 miles later on the shores of the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara. Grandfather William Commanda, 82, an elder of the Algonquin Indian people and keeper of the Seven Fires Prophecy Wampum belt, will guide this walk across the continent. He will walk with other elders and peoples from across the Americas and around the world, who share a common vision of racial harmony and a world free from environmental destruction. The Sunbow 5 Walk is a response to a vision of traditional Native Elders of North America (including Grandfather Commanda, Thomas Banyacya and Martin Gashweseoma of the Hopi, Jose Lucero of the Santa Clara Pueblo, Ernest Benedict of the Mohawk, and Frank James, Sacem, Wampanoag Nation. One of their goals is to bring together people of all races, whose concern for healing the Earth, now and for future generations, far surpasses any racial or religious divisions. The Sunbow 5 Walk is both a gesture of hope and a deed of unity. Individuals and groups are invited to participate in the many facets of this endeavor -- from organizing and fundraising, to PR and media contacts, sharing information about this event with other organizations, or planning to take some steps on the walk -- for a day, a week, a month, or the whole way from Atlantic to Pacific. To offer support or to obtain further information, contact: The Sunbow 5 Foundation, 280 Bank St., Harwich, MA 02645. Phone/Fax: 1-508-432-8969. --------- "RE: Navajo-Hopi Update:4/5/95" --------- Date: Wed, 5 Apr 1995 06:44:32 -0700 From: Navajo Nation Subj: NAVAJO-HOPI UPDATE:4/5/95 Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) NAVAJO-HOPI "LAND DISPUTE" UPDATE: APRIL 4, 1995 Tomorrow is another all-HPL meeting at Teesto, where the family representatives will get ready for their next face to face meeting with the Hopi Tribe. I will try to summarize all that has happened in the last three weeks. It has been very busy, with the Dine' families coming together as a group to negotiate on their own behalf. This has not been easy and has required a lot of meetings, mostly in Hardrock or Teesto. That's a lot of road time. March 9: The Stone Wall On March 9, the Dine' families representatives met with the Hopi Tribal negotiators in Flagstaff. The Hopi team had a week to look at the Dine' families' position statement (described and excerpted in the last UPDATE and circulated verbatim to those on our E-mail list). The Hopi team handed over a paper which essentially ignored the requests made by the families and instead demanded that they agree to "implement the AIP". The Hopi Tribe had promised the mediator that they would sit down to with the families to discuss the religious issue. Instead of talking about religion however, the Hopi Tribe instead attempted to put another demand on the dine' families. This time, the demand was for the families to tell them, in writing, whether they support the Agreement in Principle or whether they support the Navajo Nation Council's position taken in resolution CD-107-94. The Other Shoe Drops The Hopis' March 9 paper, unlike most of what we get from them, was obviously not written by their attorneys. It made us wonder whether the Hopis took the families' concerns seriously; after all when the Navajo Nation sends them anything related to the "land dispute", what they send back reads like a white attorney wrote it. We wondered if the Hopis' first team might be working on something else. As it turns out, they were all in Washington for general lobbying and for the Relocation Office's annual appropriation hearing. The Relocation Office, as I noted in the last UPDATE, offered to assist in the forced relocation of the Dine' families. Ferrell Secakuku also testified before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. In his written testimony Chairman Secakuku asked Congress to establish a relocation deadline. According to Claudeen Arthur, who was there, when he spoke he indicated the Hopi Tribe wanted involuntary relocation if that was necessary to complete the removal of the Dine within the upcoming three-year relocation appropriations cycle. So that was where the Hopi Tribe was putting most of its effort. A Moccasin Drops President Hale, Herb Yazzie, Claudeen Bates Arthur and Roman Bitsuie were there. President Hale also testified, asking for a 1-year moratorium on relocation while a study was done of all the various problems it has caused. Later the group met with some of the key Congressmen and Senators. According to Claudeen John McCain yelled at them for 20 minutes, he's so tired of saying there will be no changes in the Relocation Act. He also said "five times" that there would be no forced relocation. I guess if he really meant that, he would take that provision out of the Relocation Act. McCain and Senator Kyl both told our people that the Navajos and Hopis had to come up with a solution. Same line as usual, but I think it may mean they are not going to let anyone walk away from the mediation. They also said they were tired of appropriating money for relocation. At a meeting with Interior representatives they were told that "Secretary Babbitt will not get involved", even though the C-O Bar Ranch (a Babbitt family property) is no longer an issue. Apparently the main actors in Washington were not convinced by the Hopi argument that the Navajo Nation and the Dine' families are "trashing the mediation", as Claudeen put it. She also believes that both the Hopi Tribe and the U.S. negotiators are being urged to continue discussions with the Dine' families. The negotiations MUST continue, is the message everyone is getting. These are all things I learned at a pre-mediation strategy session held by the Dine family reps and the Navajo Nation at the offices of Brown and Bain in Phoenix, March 17. The meeting was held in a big 20th floor conference room, around a long, shiny art deco table made of every kind of rare tropical hardwood you can imagine. Brown and Bain had croissants stuffed with tuna salad brought in, also designer cookies, mineral water, the works. I always get a kick out of seeing yuppie heaven taken over by Dine'. The Mediation Will Continue The mediation held next day, again at Brown and Bain, was for the purpose of deciding whether to continue the process or close it out and make a final report to the 9th Circuit Court. This time. all the parties were at the table: the U.S., the Hopi Tribe, Judge McCue, Navajo Nation and the Dine' families. As usual, Tim Atkinson of Arnold and Porter did most of the talking for the Hopi Tribe. I can still hear his querulous voice as he says " The Hopi Tribe is no longer negotiating. Our guiding principle is that there will be no more changes made in the AIP or the Accommodation Agreement. We will gladly go over these documents again and explain what they mean to the Navajo families, but we are not negotiating...If there are people who won't sign (the lease agreement) then we have to decide what we're going to do." Judge McCue took another line. He said the AIP is "silent on the religious issue" because "from the beginning we always wanted face to face meetings: it was contemplated these religious issues would be worked out that way." President Hale stated that the Navajo Nation was concerned about the threat to the "tribal religion", and that the Nation would support whatever agreement the families and the Hopi Tribe came up with. He also asked that he mediator continue working and that he mediate or at least be present during the talks between the Hopi Tribe and the Dine' families. Roger Attakai, speaking for the Dine' families, said that the Navajos and Hopis are talking together and working out their problems. ""We'll try to work this out as a concept. The accommodation agreement (the lease)doesn't say how we're going to do it - we're going to sit down and work that out." Tim Atkinson came back again with "this is not a negotiation. we are not going to engage in a renegotiation of the agreement....we don't agree that we are offering an accommodation because of Navajo religion - we are doing it because there are elderly people who can't move." He also said that if the Navajo Nation did not make rent payments, "we need to pursue 25 CFR 640 (the Relocation Act)". Ferrell Secakuku said "we understand what the families are saying, religion is tied to the land: religion, livestock, land, family. Once you have accommodation (meaning the Hopi lease) as a framework, there will be no restrictions (on religion). He went on to say that there was "a lot of pro and con in the Hopi villages" and that the Hopi negotiators needed to go back and talk with the villages. At the end, Judge McCue directed Lee Phillips and the Hopi Tribe to schedule meetings every two weeks. he smoothed things out a little by saying that in the English language words can have a lot of different meanings - that is, Tim Atkinson may not call it negotiations, but what comes next will be in effect negotiations. He agreed to mediate if it was necessary to reach agreement on specifics. After the U.S. representatives, the Hopis and Judge McCue left, we met to talk things over and eat up the rest of the yuppie food left lying around. Katherine Smith sang a prayer song to finish it out. Mrs. Smith's speaking voice is pretty husky, but she sang high and sweet, like a girl, one of the blessing songs. The Hopi Document At the March 18 mediation the Hopi tribe gave us another reply to the families' religious concerns agenda of March 2. This one was a little more literate than the last, but it didn't give an inch on any of the issues. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 7. If the Hopi position is the same as given in their March 18 document, there will be no movement and no further talks unless the mediator can impose something. Meanwhile Meetings are continuing, in Hardrocks and Teesto. Louise Benally and Bonnie Whitesinger had dropped out of the negotiating group before March 18. Thursday, March 30, there was another meeting in Hardrock. Mae Tso said she would no longer participate because she did not believe in negotiating over the Agreement in Principle or the lease. She said that Willie Begay might represent Mosquito Springs from now on. Tom Bedonie said he wanted to represent his are of Big Mountain, as there was a vacancy, so I think he will be at the table from now on. Rena Babbitt says she feels divided in herself over whether she should negotiate, but it looks like she will stay in for a while. Pauline Whitesinger and Roberta Blackgoat are coming to the meetings and speaking up but don't sit at the table, at least yet. For a while there were only 20 or so people showing up, but now the turnout is usually 70 or more for the grassroots meetings. The Dine' Bikeya people are prominent because they have been meeting for ten years, passing resolutions, adopting agendas, keeping minutes, voting, everything. We continue to make all the meetings, provide technical assistance, like typing, when asked. The Dine' families don't really need us much, but it makes them feel like they've got the Nation's support if we show. Occasionally they ask us for advice. Mary Lucy Joe says it is all getting to be like a big chapter meeting. Tomorrow I will post this, then it's off to Teesto. jn