Subject: nanews03.032 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 032 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 12 August 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 NATIVELIT & NATIVE-L listservers; Usenet Newsgroups: alt.native, soc.culture.native; UUCP & Genie (General Electric) email 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 "The true Indian sets no price upon either his property or his labor. His generosity is limited only by his strength and ability. He regards it as an honor to be selected for difficult or dangerous service and would think it shameful to ask for any reward, saying rather: "Let the person I serve express his thanks according to his own bringing up and his sense of honor." __ Dr. Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiyesa), Santee Sioux +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! So you can know others are aware of the plight of the First Nations.... Over the next few issues I will be including resolutions passed during the recently closed Euromeeting. These will be included in Part B, as they have already been included in messages on the Native-L listserver. The following note from one of the organizers/participants will help explain what these resolutions represent. From: Oliver Kluge <100303.703@compuserve.com> Resolutions of the Euromeeting are usually the result of the work of workshops that deal with special cases. Resolutions are a good means to show government officials that the protest against Human Rights violations of Americas first peoples not only comes from some few individuals, but from a broad variety of organizations across Europe. I work for Big Mountain Action Group, a german human rights organization focussing on North America. BMAG was one of the organizers of this year's conference. Although the relocation at Big Mountain gave us our name nine years ago, we have about a dozen cases in the US and Canada we do campaign for. Of course you may reproduce, archive and re-post all resolutions of the Euromeeting and all the other documents produced. 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 - Wounded Knee Bill - Conferences and Powwows - online - Cherokee Nation Elects New Chief - Euromeeting 95 Officially Opened - Domenici Won't Cut HPF - Wounded Knee 1995 - Book List Update (Aug. 95) - New Jersey Organization - Gustafson Lake - 07/20/95 - CD Commemorates 50th Anniversary - Indigenous Peoples' Rights of Nuclear Age and Recognition - Indian Education Appropriations Update - Poem: Fingers Wet With water - Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: Wounded Knee Bill" --------- Date: Mon, 07 Aug 1995 18:58:03 EDT From: BTRU93A@prodigy.com (MS BROOKIE M CRAIG) Subj: Wounded Knee Bill UUCP email O'siyo...I have heard both sides of the issue of the Proposed National Park being built at Wounded Knee and have now taken a stand. I send this to each of you so that you might know my intention. To: marie_fouche@infozone.telluride.co.us Order #9589540 From: BTRU93A Subject: WOUNDED KNEE BILL Date: 08/07/95 03:27 PM O'siyo Marie... Wado for sending me the latest revised version of the impending Proposed Wounded Knee National Park Bill. I have examined my heart carefully on this issue and I have personally sat in the homes of the People, this last week, on the Pine Ridge Reservation talking of this issue. It is now time for me to take a stand on this issue. First...I want to let you know that I worked as an employee of a Native Tribe, responsible for writing grant proposals so I am very familiar with wording, language, legalities of proposed legislation. After reading this latest proposal I am filled with concerns and questions which I will list as follows: Under the Purposes section referring to sites to be established are listed to all sites relating to the massacre AND Ghost Dance Religion located on the Pine Ridge Reservation. (since both the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation and Pine Ridge are similar I shall use instance of Pine Ridge in example) My concern here is that no specific sites are mentioned..leaving open the distinct possibility that the government may/could designate any individual site as such. I see no specific restrictions in this section prohibiting this. My concern is that "to memorialize the Indian victims of the massacre is not specific enough. How? What way? Who decides this? Its language is too broad. Visitor and information center? Where, run by whom, what hours of operation with what purpose and goals? Under (4)..Real Property..."For the purposes of this Act, the term "real property" includes lands and ALL MINERAL RIGHTS, WATER RIGHTS, EASEMENTS, PERMANENT STRUCTURES and FIXTURES on such lands." This GREATLY concerns me as it gives (per your information also) no boundary lines..no designated lands..and WHAT Permanent structures and fixtures? WHY all MINERAL and WATER RIGHTS? This puts direct control over land and water rights in the area to the Federal Government...too broad and generalized for me to accept. Why are they needing these rights? Under Section 4 (i) citing "such sites relating to the l890 Wounded Knee Massacre and Ghost Dance Religion..etc...What sites? Who decides these? Where are these designated on a map? Too broad and generalized. Where is the cultural center and museum complex "AT or NEAR the Wounded Knee Massacre site"...to be located? What is a "suitable and APPROPRIATE national monument? Under Cooperative agreements subsection B...The SECRETARY would approve the procedures and requirements of the construction, federal management policies and is given full power to "the Secretary CONSIDERS NECESSARY to qualify both units of the Park for affiliation." This is too broad a power base with no mention in this section of any Indian final decision making process. "Restore the Wounded Knee Massacred Site and OTHER important (what others?) historic sites located WITHIN the units to the ORIGINAL (original is nothing on the land here) condition of the sites....Including the REMOVAL OF ALL BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES THAT HAVE NO HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. Who "decides" this? What buildings and structures? I saw no such structures there this week other than Indian housing. Enactment of tribal zoning ordinances? WHAT zoning ordinances? No specific mention is made in reference to this. Who under (iv) decides what the appropriate "visitor education concerning Lakota history and culture" is? Who has final approval of this? Under (vi)..Who and how is the "training and EMPLOYING of tribal members provided?" Talking with residents this week in Wounded Knee I was told that if they receive monies...they are disqualified from living in the Indian Housing project there. So..by being employed this will automatically move them off. As you may or may not know there is no alternative housing available in that area that they might move to. I hope you caught the legal phrasing in (d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE...(1) which states the Secretary "MAY" provide technical assistance, etc...and again in (2). Having written grants for the U.S. Government I assure you that this is phrased as a catchall phrase which gives broad scope of power, which in most cases, is not beneficial to anyone other than the Government. Under Section 5 (a) (1) The Tribes may acquire Surface And SUBSURFACE RIGHTS to any tract of fee-patented or trust land OR Easements that cover such lands....that the Secretary CONSIDERS NECESSARY..etc." This frightens me...I think its a open invitation for mining...for the takeover of lands without individual right to recourse. Under Section 6..Management (1) ...."OR A DESIGNATED AGENCY OR AUTHORITY of that tribe shall OPERATE, MAINTAIN and MANAGE the Units...etc" This throws the door open for private white corporations to lease concessions and run them on the Park lands..Seen this..KNOW how this works. Under Section 7 (1) The National Monument with be PLANNED< DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY THE SECRETARY AFTER "consultation" with an advisory committee that the SECRETARY SHALL APPOINT..etc."...I happen to sit on a advisory committee for the U.S. Postal Service and I can assure you that nothing we "propose" is ever taken action on. I see the way open here for the Secretary to either appoint those who will agree with changes or those who will "suggest" but the Secretary is not BOUND LEGALLY to follow up on. Please NOTE: "Authority of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal council and the Oglala Sioux Council...SHALL HAVE NO AUTHORITY to plan and design the monuments referred to..." WHAT!?!?!?! Why Not? I fear I see the handwriting on the wall here... Also included that they shall have no AUTHORITY To enter into contracts for the consideration, operation and replacement of monuments under the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et.seq)..This did it in for me. This strips all power of self determination from the tribes in reference to having any authority. Under Advisory Commission (a) "The Commission shall ADVISE (key word here)...Gives absolutely NO SCOPE OF POWER to the commission of council for changes or construction. Under "Membership" The SECRETARY shall APPOINT 17 members of a commission...etc...and the DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE or a "DESIGNEE" shall serve as ex-officio member of the Commission. Why not an Indian council? You will note under Section 9 (a) (b) "With the APPROVAL of the SECRETARY may enter into an agreement with a NONPROFIT CORPORATION to raise funds from PRIVATE sources to be used in LIEU of or supplement of any Federal funds..etc." and reference to a SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH A NONPROFIT CORPORATION..etc. So...that having been said...My opinion is that this bill is NOT designed with the best interest of the Indian People and will not PROTECT and DEFEND their constitutional rights of self determination and ownership of properties. I see the door cracked WIDELY open for opportunists to have great monetary gain at the expense and suffering of the First Nations People and I must go on record in OPPOSITION of the building of the National Park at Wounded Knee and shall so publicly state. I am, Marie, sending this to you and copies to each member of my circle and publicly publishing this both in Print and on my Homepage and addressing the issue with the media that my stand shall be in opposition to the proposal. I do thank you for your time and consideration in sending this to me but again state that this is too broad...giving away of water and mineral rights and taking easements without the consent of the Native People in the Wounded Knee area appears to me to be both a flagrant violation of their constitutional rights and the Indian Self Determination Act. I am faxing Committee on Indian Affairs to go on record in opposition and so state that I shall be an active opponent. I remind you of our famous leaders who said.."These lands are NOT for sale." Each involved in this must examine his/her heart on this issue but by history I have NEVER seen a single action that promoted First Nation People's welfare nor benefited any single tribe. I have, however, watched Dominant Culture Corporations make millions from private concessions from National Parks located on First Nation lands. This appears to me to be another attempt to exploit First Nations Peoples without regard to their individual rights. I have said this...It is so. Brooke Craig Cherokee@wolfe.net --------- "RE: Cherokee Nation Elects New Chief" --------- Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 03:31:15 GMT From: gehring.1@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (Glenn J. Gehring) Subject: Cherokee Nation elects new Chief Newsgroup: soc.culture.native The recent runoff election has resulted in Joe Byrd being elected Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Joe will be the first full-blood Chief of CNO since allotment in 1906. He served on the Tribal Council for eight years prior to his election as Principle Chief. George Bearpaw, who Wilma Mankiller supported for the position, not only lost the vote in the runoff, but was also declared ineligible due to a felony conviction in 1975. This created some confusion as to whether Joe had actually won the election. My understanding is that the Tribunal decided there will not be a new runoff election with Chad Smith (the third place candidate) or a new general election. Therefore, Joe Byrd will be the new Principle Chief of CNO. The Council hasn't changed much with most being re-elected. --Glenn --------- "RE: Domenici Won't Cut HPF" --------- Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 17:41:38 -0400 From: TomWheaton@aol.com Subj: Domenici Won't Cut HPF UUCP email August 7, 5:30 PM ACRA provides the following update from CEHP Incorporated concerning action in the Senate regarding Senators Domenici's and Inouye's amendment to cut $14 million from the Historic Preservation Fund. So far we seem to be leading a charmed life. Let's hope it continues. In the meantime, don't let your senators forget that historic preservation has a vociferous and active constituency. Tom Wheaton Exec Dir - ACRA >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Preservation Wins Again - But Help Still Needed We have learned that Senators Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) and Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) won't include the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) in their floor amendment to the fiscal 1996 Interior Appropriations bill. Last week, they had announced that they would offer an amendment on the Senate floor that would increase Indian programs by $285 million at the expense of other Interior programs. As originally announced, the amendment would have cut the HPF by $14 million, a 37% reduction. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) has joined as a cosponsor of the amendment; it was apparently through his efforts that the HPF was taken off the list of programs to be cut. Senate floor action on the Interior bill has not been scheduled yet, but it could occur as early as tomorrow. The Senate is currently caught up in controversial welfare reform legislation and the Department of Defense appropriations, which could block other bills from coming to the floor. However, the majority leader, Sen. Robert Dole (R-Kansas) had stated last week that the Interior Appropriations was one of the funding bills he hoped the Senate would complete before they adjourn for the August recess, which is likely to happen by this coming weekend. ACTION STILL NEEDED: While this is good news, nothing in Congress is certain until the votes are over. And we still have the House/Senate conference committee to worry about, which will meet in September. So ACRA members and others concerned about archaeology and historic preservation should contact your Senators by phone this week and urge them to support the Interior Appropriations bill and to oppose any amendments that would cut programs that benefit archaeology and historic preservation. All Members of Congress can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard, (202) 224-312. FOLLOW-UP: The best defense, they say, is a good offense. We have been fighting defense battles this summer. We need to go on the offense, both in preparation for the conference committee that will meet on the Interior Appropriations bill and to set the stage for other legislation that may come up this fall. Your contacts do pay off! We've already won four victories this summer. Two were in the House of Representatives: the approval of the amendment by Rep Sanders to retain and fund the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the defeat of the amendment by Rep. Hutchinson to eliminate funding for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We also had two victories in the Senate, an increase in funding for the National Trust and withdrawal of the proposed cuts in Historic Preservation Fund from the amendment Sen. Domenici plans to offer on the Senate floor. Now we need to get back on the offensive. We must continue educating members of the House and Senate about why cultural resources programs are important and how these programs benefit their districts and states. The House is now in recess and won't come back to Washington until September 6. The Senate is likely to go out this weekend and come back around the same time (nothing official has been announced for the Senate yet.) This is a good time to write thoughtful letters to your representatives in both the House and the Senate. Set up an appointment, if you can, to see one or more of them while they are back home. Attend a "town meeting" if the representative is hosting one in your community. You want them to get to know you and to trust your knowledge and opinions about these matters. If you don't know their local office phone numbers or addresses, call them here in Washington and ask. Last but not least, thank you to everyone who responded to our pleas for help, which many of you will recall started last May. It seems longer than just 3 months! We will keep you posted on upcoming issues and events as they happen. --------- "RE: Book List Update (Aug. 95)" --------- Date: Fri, 4 Aug 1995 10:04:42 -0500 (CDT) From: Michael Subj: Book List Update (Aug. 95) Mailing List: NATIVELIT Here is the updated, collated list of books recommended by this list. If you want to make your own suggestions, please submit 7-10 titles, rather than just one (I'll be doing this forever if I do one title at a time). Thanks for your help. I hope some find this useful or at least interesting. Mike ===================================== List of American Indian Books Suggested by the Electronic Mailing List NativeLit-L August 1995 Question: If you had only 10 books you could use to teach, what would they be? Books recommended by more than one person (number in parentheses indicate the number of recommendations). Erdoes and Ortiz, eds. American Indian Myths and Legends (translated/transcribed oral tales) (2) Erdrich, Louise. Love Medicine (fiction) (5) Harper's Anthology of Twentieth Century Native American Poetry, ed. Duane Niatum (2) Momaday, N. Scott. House Made of Dawn (fiction) (5) Momaday, N. Scott. The Way to Rainy Mountain (autobiography) (3) Silko, Leslie. Ceremony (fiction) (3) Silko, Leslie. Storyteller (fiction/poetry) (4) Welch, James. Fools Crow (fiction) (3) Other Books Recommended Fiction Alexie, Sherman. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven Broker, Ignatia. Night Flying Woman Bruchac, Joe. Dawn Land Dorris, Michael. Morning Girl Dorris, Michel. Yellow Raft in Blue Water Erdrich, Louise. Tracks Henry, Gordon. The Light People King, Thomas. Green Grass, Running Water King, Thomas. Medicine River McNickle, D'Arcy. The Surrounded Mourning Dove. Cogewea Ortiz, Simon. Fightin': New and Collected Short Stories Tapahonso, Luci. Saanii Dahataal, The Women are Singing Vizenor, Gerald. Bearheart Vizenor, Gerald. Dead Voices Vizenor, Griever: An American Monkey King in China Welch, James. Winter in the Blood Young Bear, Ray. Black Eagle Child Anthologies An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature, ed. Moses and Goldie Callaloo, Vol. 17 (poetry/prose/ including literature by high school students) Native American Literature: A Brief Introduction and Anthology, ed. Gerald Vizenor Returning the Gift: Poetry and Prose from the First North American Native Writer's Festival, ed. Joe Bruchac Talking Leaves, ed. Craig Leslie (short fiction) The Remembered Earth (essays/fiction/poetry), ed. Geary Hobson The Oral Tradition Bullchild, Percy. The Sun Came Down Bruchac, Joe. The Faithful Hunter: Abenaki Stories Smith, Theresa. Thunderers and Water Monsters Swann, Brian. Coming to Light Wallis, Velma. Two Old Women Walters, Anna Lee, Peggy Beck, Nia Francisco. The Sacred Non-Fiction Apess, William. The Complete Writings of William Apess Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux as told through John G. Neihardt Black Hawk. Black Hawk : An Autobiography, ed. Donald Jackson. Translations of Washington Mathews Interviews Bruchac, Joe. Survival This Way: Interviews with American Indian Poets Cotelli, Laura. Winged Words Critical Works Ruoff, A. Lavonne Brown. American Indian Literatures: An Introduction and Bibliography Owens, Louis. Other Destinies: Understanding the American Indian Novel Vizenor, Gerald. Narrative Chance Sarris, Greg. Keeping Slug Woman Alive Warrior, Robert. Tribal Secrets Krupat, Arnold. New Voices in Native American Criticism --------- "RE: Gustafson Lake - 07/20/95" --------- Date: Fri, 4 Aug 1995 17:43:29 UTC From: an254787@anon.penet.fi Subj: Gustafson Lake - 07/20/95 Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native [note: this is the soonest I was able to post this. I realize it is two weeks old. It is the most recent press release.] PRESS RELEASE July 20/95 FROM GUSTAFSON LAKE SUNDANCE GROUNDS' The Caribou Tribal council called a meeting and invited the Gustafson Lake Faithkeepers to attend to "discuss ways to resolve the situation with the traditional bands at Big Lake." A delegation of Chiefs, including Percy Rosette, Ernie Archie and William Ignace along with warriors and a documentor honored the request and appeared at 6:00 P.M. to express again the Faithkeepers' immovable position to uphold the great Law, defend the grounds and push for a reclamation of 2000 square miles which was illegally confiscated by various individuals over the last 137 years. One of the council's elders, the only one with a voice, attacked Chief Rosette personally, creating an atmosphere of unease and tension. The Caribou Council's intention was to find a solution but only on their terms without healing the hearts and demands of the Defenders of the Free Nation at Gustafson Lake. No resolution was found and the position of both parties became more defined. Later in the same evening, a cowhand from the Lyle James Cattle Company trespassed on the Sundance grounds accusing the people of horse stealing and insulted Chief Ignace. He was told to leave the grounds immediately and keep his horses and cows out of the Sundance boundaries. Upon retreating he threatened to return, after which two shots were fired in the bushes, a direct act of provocation. The warriors responded with several return warning shots while women and children in the camp were taken to safety. The attack has reinforced the position of a full-scale war against the ranchers, those aiding and abetting their illegal occupation of traditional Shuswap land. Lyle James still has yet to produce a deed or any type of valid documentation of a legal transaction between the Shuswap Nation and concerned individuals. The evidence of forced invasion and illegal confiscation becomes more apparent. For more information contact Bob or Lee at (604) 396-4963, or the Gustafson Lake camp at (604) 395-7117. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To find out more about the anon service, send mail to help@anon.penet.fi. If you reply to this message, your message WILL be automatically anonymized and you are allocated an anon id. Read the help file to prevent this. Please report any problems, inappropriate use etc. to admin@anon.penet.fi. --------- "RE: Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Recognition" --------- Date: 95/08/07 06:44 From: Ann Stewart <75361.1143@compuserve.com> Subj: Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Recognition...Now UUCP email On August 9, 1982, a United Nations' Working Group on Indigenous Populations met for the first time. Thirteen years later on that day, a ceremony will be held at UN headquarters in New York City to celebrate the first International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. From now on, August 9 will be honored as "the beginning of the recognition of indigenous peoples and their struggle for dignity by the United Nations system," as a report to the UN's General Assembly noted recently. The term indigenous refers to the estimated 400 million people throughout the world who have their own distinct cultures, languages, economies and spiritual traditions, and distinct claims to particular environments. But indigenous peoples who reside in the Americas, Africa and Asia, have lost control over their lands and waters, their economies, their governments and their destinies, first by colonialism and now by increased mining, oil and gas development, dam building and timber extraction. These peoples face the threat of extinction. Despite an overwhelming lack of resources, more indigenous peoples than ever before are uniting to make their unjust and critical situations understood by governments, multinational corporations and citizens. They are convinced that environmental destruction and cultural genocide will cease only when people everywhere accept their efforts to protect and manage their own lands and lives. How do peoples overcome global perceptions that they are neither entitled to nor capable of handling their own affairs? Earlier this summer, an incident in the Canadian Parliament made headlines when one legislator objected to Inuktitut being spoken in the House of Commons by a legislator from the Eastern Arctic. What still holds true in most countries applies to the UN as well, which suffers from a lack of indigenous personnel who hold visible managerial and political positions of authority. Worse yet, four hundred million peoples have no voice or representation in the UN. Along with persistent racial discrimination, indigenous cultures face unique situations. In Burma, Unocal, a California-based corporation, is building a natural gas pipeline - with the support of the country's ruling military junta - through the remaining rainforest inhabited by the Karen. In Peru, Shining Path guerrillas and the army clash repeatedly on lands farmed by the Ashaninka who have been forced to relocate time and again. In Quebec, hydroelectric dams being built to provide electricity to the northeastern United States have destroyed the Cree and Inuit traditional ways of life. Search the planet's multitudinous political bodies and you will not find a permanent organization universally recognized by all governments that gives indigenous peoples an effective voice in the special concerns which affect them and greater responsibility for their own interests. Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu Tum, a Mayan leader of the indigenous people of Guatemala, is determined to alter this situation. "We want the reality of indigenous peoples for all to see, so the perception of the past will not remain in the future," she said at a precedent- setting conference she convened in Paris in February, that was attended by seventy representatives of indigenous peoples. Permanent status at the UN for indigenous peoples where they may assert violations of their rights by corporations and governments must be addressed by the nations of the world. Many governments, including the United States, are largely silent on the subject of indigenous peoples' needs and human rights. At a time when American hysteria about the role of the UN in world affairs is rising, there is much we could learn as we observe the initiatives of indigenous peoples themselves to secure their future. In the history of movements for change, thirteen years is not long. Many will belittle August 9 as just another day set aside for speeches by those who stand in the way of "progress." But if we in the larger society will recognize and support cultures as rich as our own, then the quality of the world's habitats and diversity of its peoples will be protected and enhanced rather than diminished. ----Ann Stewart is a registered agent in the US for the Grand Council of the Crees (US Department of Justice #4632) --------- "RE: Indian Education Appropriations Update" --------- Date: Thu, 3 Aug 1995 11:48:25 -0400 (EDT) From: Denise Bambi Kraus Subj: Indian Education Appropriations Update UUCP email For Immediate Release, August 2, 1995, by the:=20 NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 121 Oronoco Street Alexandria, Virginia phone: (703) 838-2870 fax: (703) 838-1620 Contact: Lorraine Edmo, Executive Director Jack Jackson, Jr., Legislative Analyst "Senate Appropriations Committee Reduces Indian Education Funds, BIA Programs: Action Moves to Senate Floor" Wash., DC-August 2: Action on FY1996 funding for American Indian and Alaska Native education programs, which are part of Interior Department Appropriations bill H.R. 1977, will shift to the Senate floor this week. While some Senate staffers have predicted that the members will act on the Interior bill after the August recess, they cautioned that a vote could take place before the planned August 11 recess date. At stake is funding for the Office of Indian Education (OIE) in the Department of Education as well as funding for 187 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)-funded schools and other education programs under the agency's jurisdiction. Last Friday the full Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR), voted to accept the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee's report that set BIA funding at $997.2 million - a level that is $522 million below the FY1995 level and $612.6 million below the President's FY1996 funding request. The Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA), moved $394 million in program funding to a new Office of Special Trustee for American Indians that would be located in the Interior Department. In response to the Committee's action, NIEA President Lorena Zah Bahe stated, "We are alarmed at the deep cuts being made in the BIA's budget in general and Indian education programs in particular. Education is the number one priority for thousands of American Indians and Alaska Natives who hope to improve their communities and secure a productive future for their children.=20 These cuts will have a serious impact not just on the public and BIA-funded schools, but on all of Indian country. We urge the Senate to consider the future of Indian and Alaska Native children when the time comes to vote on the Interior Appropriations legislation. Our children cannot afford any more cuts to their education." Senators Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) and Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) offered a bipartisan amendment at the July 28 hearing that would have restored $284.5 million in critical program funding for the BIA. The Domenici-Inouye amendment was not acted on at that time and will, instead, be brought up when the Interior bill is considered on the Senate floor. Senator Domenici argued that most of the $394 million in program funding would come from the Office of Indian Programs and "Non-Recurring Programs," which fund special BIA law enforcement efforts, tribal courts, community development, self-governance programs, Indian business development grants, irrigation programs, forestry initiatives, and water management programs. Staff analysis by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs revealed that if these programs are not restored, then program funds for salaries at the tribal government level will face a 28 percent cut. Senator Domenici indicated that the major programs the Domenici- Inouye amendment is intended to re-establish are those that "directly employ Indians on their own reservations. These funds flow directly to the tribal governments, where priorities are set in such key areas as tribal government, human services, education, public safety and resource management." According to Carole McGuire, Professional Staff member of the Senate Budget Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee "found funds to restore the basic program of the Office of Indian Education [however] this was all the Committee could do." Funding for OIE was approved by the Committee at $54.6 million. This would provide $52.5 million for formula grants to local education agencies (LEAs) and $2.1 million for administration of these grants. In order to meet the FY1995 level, and additional $28 million would have to be found in offset funds. Senate sources have indicated that if any amendments are offered to try to restore the $28 million to OIE, these funds would have to come from the same sources as the Domenici-Inouye amendment would draw upon in order to fund Tribal Priority Allocations and other BIA programs. The amendment identifies offsets from ten competing Interior agencies. Senate Indian Committee staff members are still not sure whether the offsets will be approved in the Senate and they are expecting objections to be raised about some of these agency reductions. The following are the Senate Appropriations Committee's actions regarding BIA Education Programs Other than TPA: The SPECIAL HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM administered by the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) in Albuquerque, NM was included in the Senate bill at $2.7 million. The House did not include any funds and the fate of this program will be decided in Conference Committee. BIA SCHOOL OPERATIONS. The Committee increased this category by $2.2 million above the FY 1995 level. For Indian Student Equalization Program (ISEP) funds, the Committee recommended an increase of $3.4 million above the FY1995 level. The Senate figures are little higher than the House, which recommended a $1.9 million increase for school operations.=20 These figures, however, remain far short of the President's request. The House was $31 million under and the Senate is $30.6 million under the Presidents's request. It is estimated that BIA's Weighted Student Unit (WSU) will be below the 1993- 94 level in FY1996. (The Committee, in its report accompanying the bill, noted the following: "Offsetting these increases is a reduction of $2 million associated with the PROHIBITION [emphasis added] of use of funds for travel and training costs associated with national meetings." Section 328 of the provisions section states that "the Committee is troubled by the excessive costs associated with multiple national conferences each year. During a time of declining budgets, it is imperative that scarce resources are spent on classroom activities." This language applies to both the Office of Indian Education at the Education Department and BIA Education Programs.) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. The Committee recommended $5.5 million, a reduction of $1 million below the FY1995 funding level. This reduction represents savings expected from the prohibition on travel and training expenses related to national conferences (see above). BIA SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION. The Committee recommended $45.5 million for education construction - a cut of $23.6 million from the President's request. Funding was provided to complete the Chief Leschi Indian School in Washington State.=20 No funding was provided for the Many Farms High School. The Committee recommended a reduction of $134,000 for pay costs and $10 million for facilities improvement and repair. The Committee also included no funding for a pilot project for alternative financing for school construction. CONTINUING EDUCATION. The Committee provided $27.4 million for this item that provides funds to the tribally-controlled community colleges. There was no change from the President's request. The Committee provided no funds for the EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS PROGRAM and instead, transferred that funding for distribution to all schools through ISEP. The Committee did not provide any funds for TRIBAL DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION. Although the Committee recommended funding THE INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS AND CULTURE in Santa Fe, New Mexico at $5.5 million, it also recommended, like the House, that federal funding be phased out. NIEA is in the process of preparing a more detailed newsletter supplement for its membership that will also include information on appropriations for programs funded under the authority of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. If you are not an NIEA member and want a copy of the supplement, please call NIEA at 703/838-2870. --------- "RE: Poem: Fingers Wet With water" --------- Date: 15 Aug 1994 13:13:37 -0500 From: turtle@aicap.s21.com (Turtle Heart) Subj: Fingers wet with water Newsgroup: alt.native I was there a place where corn was growing Old Antelope Man put water in his fingers and dripped it onto my heart and fed me cedar and made me look inside an old old pot all night I slept singing and watched my feet on his earth his heart was there open all around me open in all directions Old Antelope Man holding an old pot in his hands later I went and wept into the river my heart Tobacco Indian Turtle Heart turtle@soft21.s21.com (Ahnishinabeg) American Indian Computer Art Project BBS 619-374-2100 Land of Kaw-ii-su ancestor: Land of Light Land of Kaw-ii-su ancestor: Land of Light --------- "RE: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days" --------- Date: 95/08/05 18:29 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 August 13-19 AUKAKE (August) (Mahoe-mua) 13 Wherever I journey, this place of wonder walks by my side. 14 The fullness of each day is made up of both light, malamalama, and shadow, ke aka. 15 Tiny lights bob in the darkness as paper boats carry them out to sea on the evening tide -- we are one with our past. 16 The gecko sings inside my home, blessing it. 17 The bird of paradise flower erupts with bright color amidst the green coolness of the ferns. 18 Arise with joy to greet the day! 19 Accept what cannot be easily explained. (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, 10 Aug 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: Denise Bambi Kraus Subject: 52nd Annual Convention Registr. (fwd) For more information, contact Georgette Horse, National Congress of American Indians, 2010 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 466-7767 [fax: 202/466-7797]. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- NCAI 52nd ANNUAL CONVENTION INFORMATION SHEET "CHARTING THE COURSE FOR EMPOWERMENT AND EQUITY" WHEN: Sunday, October 29 through Friday, November 3, 1995 WHERE: Town & Country Hotel For reservations call: San Diego, California 1-800-77-ATLAS or HOW MUCH: $69.00 - Single $85.00 - East Tower/Ctyard-Single $69.00 - Double $85.00 - East Tower/Ctyard-Double $95.00 - West Tower-Single $95.00 - West Tower-Double REGISTRATION: Early Bird Registration Fees (Deadline August 15) Member $250 Non-Member $300 Student $150 Pre-registration Fees (After August 15 - October 16): Member $275 Non-Member $325 Student $175 On-Site Registration Fees: Member $325 Non-Member $375 Student $200 DEADLINE: Pre-registration Deadline: October 16, 1995 MEMBERSHIP: Membership Fees: Individual $10 Indian Student $6 Joint Indian Couple $12 Associate $25 Associate $50 (Non-Indian, Non-Voting) Lifetime $100 EXHIBITORS: Fees (Space: 8' X 10') $300 Tribe/Tribal Enterprise $350 Indian Arts & Crafts $400 Non-Profit Organization/ $600 Corporation Educational Institution $800 Federal Agency ADVERTISING: In NCAI "52nd Annual Convention" Program: $350 Full Page; $200 Half Page; $125 Quarter Page; $100 Patron TRAVEL AGENT: NATIVE AMERICAN TRAVEL SERVICE 4130 No. Goldwater Blvd. #114 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 (602) 945-0771 (602) 945-0264 - Fax MORE INFORMATION: Lorenda Sanchez, California Indian Manpower Consortium 1-800-640-2462 Georgette Horse National Congress of American Indians 202-466-7767 ----------------------------------------------- Sender: root@newsbf02.news.aol.com The Confederated Siletz Tribes of Oregon will hold their annual Nesika Illahee, our Circle of Friendship Pow Wow, the weekend of Aug 11-13, 1995 at the Tribal grounds on Government Hill in Siletz, Oregon. This is located just east of Newport and north of Toledo a few miles. On Friday, Aug 11, the Grand Entry will take place at 7pm. Saturday, the 12th, the Parade will get underway at 11am; Grand Entry at 1pm and again at 7pm. On Sunday, the 13th, the Grand Entry will be at 12 noon. For questions concerning the weekend activities, call the Tribal Center at 1-800-922-1399. And don't forget to stop by the Siletz Casino, Chinook Winds, located at the north end of Lincoln City, OR, on the beautiful coast. The neighboring tribe of the Siletz, the Grand Ronde, will be holding their Pow Wow the weekend of August 18-20 at Grand Ronde, OR. Call them at 1-800-422-0232 for info. Also on the weekend of August 18-20, the Klamath will be having their Treaty Days at Chiloquin, OR. The Mill-Luck Pow Wow will be a feature of the weekend of Sept 8-10 at the Mill Casino in North Bend, OR. Friday night Grand Entry at 7pm; Saturday at 1pm; and Sunday at 1pm. Contact them at 1-800-953-4800. ____________________________________________________ From: angels@islandnet.com (Shirley Garneau) Subject: SONGHEES POTLATCH SONGHEES POTLATCH..hosted by the "Spirit of Nations" Youth Committee August 23, 1995, Lekwammen Longhouse, Lekwammen Grounds Maple Bank Road, Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, British Columbia Starts at 1:00 p.m. The Potlatch is to honor all elders and ancestors of all the "First Nations" peoples. The Lekwammen Youth Committee invite other Youth Committees to come and join in and learn about putting on a major Potlatch. Youth Committee extend an invitation to other native groups to come and share their songs, dances and legends at this Potlatch. Seeking Donators and Sponsors Please call Cookie Sam at 1 604 388 3475 or e.mail canpac@islandnet.com Many Thanks Shirley Garneau --------------------------------------------------- From: angels@islandnet.com (Shirley Garneau) Subject: SONGHEES POW WOW 4TH ANNUAL SONGHEES COMPETITION POW WOW AUG 25- 27, 1995 MAPLE BANK ROAD, Esquimalt, VAncouver Island, B C Grand Entries: 7 pm August 25/95 1 pm & 7 pm Aug 26 & 27/95 Arts & Crafts plus good food. NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL Pow Wow information from: Cookie Sam 1 604 388 3475 or e.mail canpac@islandnet.com Many Thanks Shirley G ========================================================================= From _The Spike_ Aug 18-20 Danbury, WI - St. Croix Wild Rice Powwow Info: 715-349-2195 (Hazel Hinsley) Aug 18-20 Haddam, CT - 9th Annual Quinnehtukqut Rendezvous & Native American Festival. Info: 203-282-1404 Aug 18-20 Prior Lake, MN - Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Powwow Info: 612-445-8900 (Glenn Cooks) Aug 19-20 Stanhope, NJ - 3rd Annual Festival of the Andes Info: 201-347-0900 Aug 19-20 Lebanon, IN - 13th Annual Traditional Powwow at Boone County Info: 317-482-3315 (Nancy Malaterre) Aug 19-20 Chuckatuck, VA 7th Annual Nansemond Indian Festival Info: 804-393-1634 (Earl Bass) Aug 19-20 Eleanor, WV - Kanawha River Powwow Info: 304-496-2923 (Suzanne Tewawina) From _Char Koosta News_ Aug 18-20 Twin Buttes, ND - Twin Buttes Celebration Info: 701-627-4781 Aug 18-20 Kyle, SD - Wazi Paha Oyate Festival Info: 605-455-2321 Aug 18-20 White River, SD - White River Celebration Info: 605-259-3670 Aug 18-20 Suquamish, WA - Chief Seattle Days Info: 206-598-3311 Aug 18-20 Wakpala, SD - Wakpala Celebration Info: 701-854-7231 Aug 18-20 Grand Ronde, OR - Grand Ronde Powwow Info: 503-879-5211 Aug 18-20 Satus, WA - Eagle Spirit Celebration Info: 509-856-5251 Aug 18-20 Kamiah, ID - Chief Looking Glass Celebration Info: 208-935-2144 Aug 18-20 Chiloquin, OR - Klamath Treaty Days Info: 503-783-2219 Aug 18-20 Rosebud, SD - Rosebud Fair and All-Indian Rodeo Info: 605-747-2381 From _News from Indian Country_ Aug 16-21 Crow Reservation, MT - 77th Crow Fair Info: 406-638-2601 Aug 18-20 Kamloops, BC - 16th Kamloops Powwow Info: 604-828-9700 Aug 18-20 Mille Lacs, MN - 29th Mille Lacs Info: 612-532-4181 Aug 18-20 Ft. Thompson, SD - Crow Creek Info: 604-245-2221 Aug 18-20 Piapot Reserve, Saskatchewan - Piapot Celebration Info: 306-781-4848 Aug 18-20 Duck Lake, Saskatchewan - Beardy's/Okamasis Info: 306-467-4523 Aug 18-20 Houck, AZ - Unity Gathering and 5K Indian Trail Run Info: 520-521-1063 Aug 19-20 Charlemont, MA - Mohawk Trail Info: 413-339-4096 Aug 19-20 Lebanon, IN - 13th AIC Traditional Info: 317-482-3315 Aug 19-20 Peshawbestown, MI - Peshawbestown Powwow Info: 616-271-3538 Aug 19-20 Belvidere, IL - 39th O-Sa-Wan Info: 815-568-7997 Aug 20 Calgary, Alberta - 7th International Native Arts Info: 403-233-0022 ========================================================================= -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- 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: Janet Smith, Debra F. Sanders, Brookie Craig, Mike Wilson, Tom Wheaton, Turtle Heart(Mending the Sacred Hoop with song poems), MaryAnne BrokenNose, an254787@anon.penet.fi(Press Release), Denise Bambi Kraus(Press Release), Oliver Kluge, Glenn J. Gehring, Wanbli Sapa, Carol Liu(Press Release), --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ all items below this line have already been distributed by our sister, Catherine Lavender, via the NATIVE-L or NATCHAT mailing lists. --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - online" --------- Date: Thu, 10 Aug 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: comsin13@nbnet.nb.ca (Burnt Church) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Hi people, the Burnt Church First Nation will be hosting a pow-wow on August 24-27, 1995, in New Brunswick, Canada. Esgenoopetitjg Miigemag Maoiomi is an opportunity to witness a renewal of the Micmac's respect towards our culture to the people young and old alike. Events slated for the three day gathering include the following: -First Light Ceremonies -Grand Entry -Dancing -Talking Circles -Various Workshops -Sweatlodge Ceremonies -Camping -Feasting on traditional Micmac food -Canoeing -Communal Teepees -Socials -Give-Aways -Sacred Fire There will be no alcohol or drugs permitted throughout the pow-wow. Security will be provided on a 24 hour basis. For more information contact: Jeannie Bartibogue at (506)776-1223 Miigamagen at (506) 776-1800 or E-mail queries at comsin13@nbnet.nb.ca Esgenoopetitj (BurntChurch) is a half hour drive north of Newcastle/Chatham on Route 11, situated on the shores of the Miramichi Bay, New Brunswick, Canada. Hope to see you at the traditional Micmac meeting place at Esgenoopetitg. nemooltogsop --------- "RE: Euromeeting 95 Officially Opened" --------- Date: Sat, 5 Aug 1995 12:54:37 EDT From: 100303.703@compuserve.com (Oliver Kluge) Subj: Euromeeting 95 officially opened Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) [Editorial Note: Only the opening is included in this issue. Individual resolutions will be included in forthcoming issues.] [The Euromeeting is already closed. I am back in Munich, and from here I have the time to relay some postings I made into the InterNet about the Euromeeting 95 - Tenth Planning Session of Support Groups of North American Indigenous Peoples. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me or other persons of my organization (Big Mountain Action Group) via CompuServe (100303,703@compuserve.com) or InterNet (kluge@ibm.net).] This message is to spread the news that in Geneyes-sur-Coffrane, Switzerland, a conference of European support groups for North American indigenous peoples started today, Sunday July 30. The conference is being organized by Inocmindios, Switzerland, Big Mountain Action Group, Germany and AKIN, Austria. These are the minutes I took during the opening session this morning: We officially welcome you to the Euromeeting '95 - the Planning Session of Support Groups of North American Indigenous PeopleS. 24 organizations from 10 different European countries have already registered: AKIN, Austria Amnesty International, Germany Arbeitskreis Indianer Heute, Germany ASNA, Switzerland Big Mountain Aktionsgruppe, Germany For Mother Earth, Belgium ATD Forth World, Switzerland Society for threatened peoples, Germany Hopi Arbeitsgruppe, Switzerland Incomindios, Switzerland Indian Support Group Cologne, Germany Individual observer from Poland Infoe, Germany Nederlands Centrum voor Inheemse Volken, Netherlands Innu Support Group, Netherlands KWIA, Belgium Nitassinan, France Arawak Indians private observer, Great Britain Ombre Rosse, Radio Onda Rossa radio station, Italy Sacred Eye film production, Germany Friend of people close to nature, Germany Soconas Incomindios, Italy Verein zur Unterstutzung nordamerikanischer Indianer, Germany In particular, we welcome the indigenous representatives from the US, Canada and Hawaii. Dionys Zink: The indigenous representatives will introduce themselves: Mary Ellen, is from Heart Butte, Montana and she is here with Floyd Heavy Runner Mary Ellen: Good morning. My name is Mary Ellen Little Moustache. I do the technical stuff when working for/with Floyd. It is good to see the support, this is an experience. Floyd Heavy Runner: My name is Floyd Heavy Runner. It all started in '89 in Geneva. We are representatives to protect our Blackfoot sacred lands, to keep our land the way it is. We have battles against multinational oil companies. People looking for fossil fuels damage the land. Since '89 we hoped that it would get better, but it didn't. We have people pro western development and people that want to keep the traditional ways. Marlene Laroque: My name is Marlene Laroque. I live in Saskatoon, I am a Cree indian. Do not only focus on Uranium mining, because there are many issues connected to it. Doreen Spence: My name is Doreen Spence, under which I am known in the western world. My grand mother said, a time would come to speak out. When I was little, this was not possibly, because teaching was not possible. So I became a volunteer on women issues and issues connected to colonization. I work from a holistic perspective. One of the real issues back home is the new regulations with gun control. This will affect many people hunting. Donna Johns from Hawaii: My name is Napua, Child of the Flowers. I came here to observe my brothers and sisters here. After travelling thousands of miles to Geneva, I figured it was not so hard to travel the additional miles here. In Hawaii, the women have the second biggest breast cancer rate in the world. The US government denies us the right to self determination, although they illegally took over the land. My name is Samantha Rainbow. I am from South Dakota. I grew up in the Black Hills Paha Sapa. I came on behalf of some elders that could not make the journey, to look what is going on in the international arena. I study water issues. Kevin Costner wants to pump a large quantity of water for a golf course. My name is Reinie Jobin from the Lubicon Cree. Daishowa, a japanese pulp mill is going to destroy our forests. It is our land, we never sold it to anybody. Unocal, an American gas and oil multinational, played havoc with the health of our people. They opened a gas plant on our land. All issues are still not resolved in the court system. We have racism in our country, we had to stand up for the last 300 to 400 years. To this day the genocide is not over. We are in a very sorry state. We need a lot of help, our fight is not over. Even if we do a land settlement, we have to fight Daishowa and Unocal. Frank Dreaver and Michael Eckhardt representing Leonard Peltier Defense Committee organization: I am Frank Dreaver and I am a Saskatchewan Cree. We as Indian people are born into the struggle. That we are still the only ones not recognized as peoples is proof of that. Leonard Peltier is an extreme example of what happens when all things fail. We have highest death rates, the highest this and that. All of us who are concerned of what happens, are aware that to everyone could happen the same things that happened to Leonard Peltier. It is important to continue the struggle. Leonard Peltier represents all issues, including Uranium mining. We bring our solidarity to Leonard Peltier. Leonard's case represents the last stage before complete destruction. It's the principles of our identity that we are protecting here. Greetings, I am Michael Eckhardt. I am a non-indigenous member of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. I come from Ohio and I am responsible for six states within the committee. We want to present Leonard's case in a way it has not been presented before. I come here with the knowledge to discuss the case. Our efforts which I hope will become common efforts, have been stepped up. I come in the spirit of putting my motions, my feelings and my heart in front of people I mostly do not know. The Peltier struggle represent land rights, fishing rights, sovereignty among other rights. We want to open up channels of communication. Edison Cassadore from the San Carlos Apache reservation is next. I am here to talk about the defense of the sacred site of Mount Graham, which is threatened by a consortium to build a telescope there, which would be desecration. They never consulted the Elders, although they claim that they did. The project - an example of neo-colonial domination and white supremacy-thinking - is funded extensively with European money (e.g. Max-Planck- Institute, Vatican and others). All issues are connected, all of us here fight the same thing. We want to get the UN to move during its decade of indigenous peoples. We should pressure the UN to have a legally binding convention. I am Robert Cruz, Papago. Indian prisoner rights are an issue. They are being denied their religious freedom. A white person interpreting Indian religion is not acceptable. Laws on land regulations are being changed by Mexico because of NAFTA. North of Sonora, at the US- Mexican border, we have to deal with seven different agencies (FBI, secret services, county and sheriff departments...). But our law is still violated. Non- Indians are being helped to get Indian lands. I want to help the European supporters help us. I seems that we have been silent too long. We haven't been so active after the 1970s and becoming more active will help people back home. My name is Daniel Zapata. I am Chicano-XiXimeka. This is the first time I came here, and I represent the people of Black Mesa: The Dene communities of Cactus Valley, Forrest Lake and While Willow. Among others, Peabody coal is threatening the land and the people. For a long time, I have been trying to help the community. The law for relocating the Dene people is something that has to be questioned. The way to mine in the area by Lord Hanson's company is something that has to be questioned. This is why Dene elders have the right to question authority and travel to Lord Hanson shareholders' meetings to express their view. Monika Seiller: Euromeetings normally focus on specific cases to which the European support groups plan actions and campaigns. However, we need an overall direction of what is going on in North America. This is why we have invited Tony Gonzalez , Sari (IITC) to give us a broad overview on the situation of the indigenous peoples living within the borders of the US. US assessment report: Good morning. A little bit of history first: As a result of Wounded Knee Indian people came to Switzerland to seek assistance to gain world attention. In 1977 there was the first indigenous conference and the IITC was the first indigenous organization to receive UN-consultative status in 1977. Incomindios was the first support organization to be created by native peoples using the logo of the IITC.The aim was to set up international committees for the indians of the Americas (=Incomindios) in all European countries. After I returned from Vietnam war, I had to do a lot of healing. IITC helped and I was with them. I am still learning. The IITC received a substantial grant to provide training and leadership on international laws and standards of indigenous peoples in the Americas. Now we are working out a program for this. Some of you might ask "what is the International Indian Treaty Council"? We work at the UN to develop standards for the protection of indigenous peoples, inventing mechanisms for the implementation of these standards. Proceeds for complaints have to be developed. We are achieving a lot of good work, but work has to be looked over many years to see what actually has been done. We are also concerned with nuclear effects on people. High and low level radioactive waste is a big problem today, as native reservations are targeted to become the toxic and radioactive dump sites for the waste of white civilization. California: There has been a military base with Minuteman rockets, and there has been fear that it would affect people. In New Mexico once a bomber airplane crashed on the land, and the effects were drastic to the neighboring Zuni people. The Mohave should take up nuclear waste which would endanger the quality of the Colorado river. Alaska: An oil pipeline was planned down to Valdez, which would threaten wildlife, namely the arctic wildlife refuge. Currently there is a bill in Congress to open up the country. Tourism may be the first stage of taking over the country step by step. Developers sell real estate at higher prices where they know artifacts may be some feet under ground. NAFTA absolutely removes all sovereignty from indigenous peoples when it comes to resources. Sovereign rights are being minimized. Chiapas: The Zapatistas in Chiapas have put up an international questionnaire we like everyone of you to fill in. They want to know whether they have the right to stand up as an independent political force supported by the native population (revolutions are not static, you have to keep on moving). With regard to Mexico: Are you aware of the massacre in Guerrero? The mexican army is being mobilized to get into the area of Guerrero, like in Chiapas. Back in the US again, the US have signed the UN convention on the rights of the child, but did not yet ratify it. It would reinforce the Indian Child Welfare Act (73). It may positively affect the rights of Indian children, but the US may reduce these effects. In Montana there is a strong militia force. In some area they are pro Indian, and in some they are not. We have to be very conscious of those racist militias. Beware, people that are talking of home stability are not indigenous. Another topic: Mass media. After Dances with Wolves, which did serve some good, there are many Hollywood productions that have problems portraying Indians correctly. Unless we can write the script ourselves, there won't be a correct representation. Disney currently has "Pocahontas" running, which is a very racist movie. The mascot issues is still going on. In the sports arena fierce looking, racist mascots and logos (e.g. Redskins) are used, and this is just plain racist. As you may be aware, in Round Valley a policeman was shot and an Indian man being shot and killed. Now there is a massive man hunt for a man known as Bear in his community. He may be a witness of the crime and he now fears for his life, so he will be hiding. In the US affirmative action is part of the Civil Rights Movement. People of colour are not allowed to have equal opportunities. The positive action of this is to pay back for the racism of the past, but conservative governments in many states and Congress try to roll this back. Low intensity conflict is a military strategy of insinuation, propaganda - agencies enter organizations and create instability. It was created by the US intelligence in the mid-60s and promoted by the CIA. The campaigns were extended to Central and South America (=covered action against civilian population in the so-called banana republics). Be aware, countries around the world might adopt this policy. More police, additional mobilization of military - there will be a presence of the government everywhere, including dis- and misinformation, false accusations and penetrating NGOs. Kenneth Deer has also been working with the UN for a long time, mostly because of the Mohawk conflict. He also is publisher of Eastern Door, a paper focusing on indigenous issues. He will give also give us an assessment report. Canada assessment report: Canada is one big lump made up of many little lumps sitting on top the United States. A liberal government came to power last year. The previous government basically tried to reduce the self government of indigenous peoples. The new government claims to have a much broader definition for self government of Indians. Brian Mulroney promised four major changes to the indigenous: Native people should be included in the legislation making process for the constitution, but this of course did not happen. In BC there was a negative court decision in the Gitksan case, saying that the native people do not have a claim to the land, and that the Gitksan are no people as such. But this is not the only racism. Oil drilling on native land and clearcutting is also a prime issue. Changes are promised on these issues, and this may give reason to hope for a better future. In Manitoba, all action is being shifted from the Indian Affairs administration towards the natives themselves. This can be used as a model for indian control of indian programs for other provinces as well. Also in Manitoba, urban indians are being accepted as a political factor. The former Minister on Indian Affairs, Dan Goodleaf, a Mohawk that really was a government man, has been appointed ambassador of Canada to some Central American countries. Another big issue is C31: Who can decide who is native and who is not? The Human Rights Commission found that in the case of women losing indian status after marriage is a violation of the Human Rights Bill. Still governments can decide that someone is a member of a given community, and that community cannot do anything against it. In New Brunswick there was a blockade for the preservation of the salmon fishing rights of the Micmaq. Native people had been arrested, and blockades have been erected. To make things really silly: Fishing department put a much bigger net in the river than the Micmaq, so to claim that they are killing the fish is silly, because the fish cannot spawn when they are blocked entry to the river. The issue of Oka never seems to go a away. The Mohawk cemetery is now full. Now recently unfortunately two Mohawks drowned. They had to be buried on ground that is technically speaking owned by the municipality of Oka.. The mayor tried everything to stop that, even sending the police, which did not really enter the area, fearing a Mohawk trap. Quebec separation: If the Quebecers hold a referendum, the Cree will do their own referendum. The Mohawks try to keep out of an argument of two parties on land they cannot even claim. In November we will all see what is actually happening in the separation issue, which by now they no longer call it this way, they use some evasive terms nowadays. Misinformation leads to great misconceptions in the public. A recent poll showed that 54% of the Quebecois feel indigenous peoples live better than the average whites. The Cree and the Mohawk do not say that Quebec has no right to separate, but the fight is over land that is not theirs. We don't know what will happen to our inherent right of self determination. -- Oliver Kluge Big Mountain Action Group Co-organizers of the Euromeeting --------- "RE: Wounded Knee 1995" --------- Date: Sat, 5 Aug 1995 09:36:58 -0400 From: Wanblisapa@aol.com Subj: Wounded Knee 1995 Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) WHO SHOULD WE BELIEVE - TRIBAL COUNCIL, TRADITIONALS, SURVIVORS ASSOCIATIONS,NEWSPAPERS, AND OTHERS by Wanbli Sapa According to Indian Country Today, Lakota Times section, in the May 18, 1995 edition, the Wounded Knee National Park and memorial is the idea of the Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Sioux Wounded Knee Survivors Associations. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe was the latest group to voice their>support for the project. Cheyenne River Chairman Gregg Bourland is quoted as saying "We support this legislation and believe the park should be set up as a sanctuary. We don't want any tourist traps. We're opposed to that kind of behavior." The article also says that the messages showing up on the Internet in opposition to the bill are from Gerald and Pamela Ice, who have their own commercial interests in "exploitation". The article says that the Ice's are trying to raise $2.9 million to develop their own Cultural Center and Campground. This could seem terribly confusing, so, let me make some sense out of this for you. First, Indian Country Today's reporting tends to be rather biased in a number of areas, just as any newspaper's reporting can be, depending upon the opinions and ideas held by the management of the newspaper. Hopefully, you take this possibility into consideration as you read articles in Indian Country Today and any other newspaper. Also, Indian Country Today tends to be an avid supporter of tribal council. Read on to understand the implications of this. Second, there tends to be a division on the rez (Pine Ridge not being the only rez that has this division) which dates back to the pre-rez days when leaders like Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull refused to give up their traditional ways of life and so refused to settle down near the agencies. Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull led their bands in the ways that they felt were best for their people and in accordance with the wishes of the people in their bands. Because these bands lived in remote areas and maintained the old ways of living, they received little to nothing of the government aid that was promised in the treaties. Other leaders felt that what was best was to settle near the agencies (like Pine Ridge), depend upon the treaties being fulfilled, and try to adopt the new life dictated by the dominant culture. These leaders led their bands in the ways that they felt were best for their people and in accordance with the wishes of the people in their bands. Because these bands lived next to the agencies and tried to live like members of the dominant culture, they were rewarded by receiving the best and most of government aid. As time passed and the reservation system became forced upon my Lakota ancestors (and other nations), these two ways of living became more separated and looked down upon by those of each group. Those who held to the traditional ways of life and belief became the "traditionals", and that term became a contemptuous epithet used by those who were trying to live the ways of the dominant culture. Those who were adopting the dominant culture's ways became the "hang-around-the-fort Indians", and that term became a contemptuous epithet used by those who were trying to live the traditional ways of the Lakota culture. Today, this division is still present and still strong, though there are many in each group who are trying to bridge the gulf that separates the two ways and reach out to Lakota brothers and sisters on the other side of the gulf. However, because tribal council is not a governing body that was in place in the traditional Lakota culture and was forced upon the Lakota people by the dominant culture, tribal council often is filled with folks who would prefer to live the dominant culture's way and not the traditional Lakota way. Tribal council tends to often have its own private agenda. Many who live near the agencies maintain the ways of the dominant culture, too, and are still the best provisioned of those Lakota living on the rez. This tends to put tribal council and non-traditional people at odds with traditional people. Traditional folks tend to not become members of tribal council and tend to live out in the districts away from the agencies. Those out in the districts are among the poorest of the poor and have the least provisions. This tends to put traditional people at odds with tribal council and non-traditional people. [In fact, two weeks ago, impeachment of the current tribal council was being considered because actions they took were in opposition to the desires and needs of the Lakota people on the rez, traditionals and non- traditionals alike]. This situation was highly publicized in the 1970s when the tribal council of Dick Wilson openly abused and trampled on not only traditional Lakota ways, but also on those who held to those ways. Dick Wilson created the GOON Squad, who maimed, harassed, and murdered many traditionalists without hesitancy. It was that situation that led the traditional elders to ask AIM for help and ultimately led to the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee. It was also this situation that led to the death of the 2 FBI agents and the wrongful incarceration of Leonard Peltier. [This harassment continues today, though it does not receive the publicity it should.] Today, this division is in evidence in the issues surrounding turning Wounded Knee into a national park. Tribal council, who stands to make financial gains by occupying seats on the advisory committee required in the bills before Congress (the bills, by the way, were drafted solely by the tribal councils and survivors associations), and who stands to loose none of their own land holdings support the creation of the national park. The Wounded Knee Survivors Association no longer contains the majority of survivors descendants because the majority of descendants did not like the actions and positions taken by the Association, which were contrary to the respectful remembrance of the 1890 Massacre and its victims. Hence, the Survivors Association no longer represents the opinion of a majority of descendants. Like the tribal council, the Survivors Association stands to make financial gains by occupying seats on the advisory committee. I refer your attention to Section 8 of the bills (both the House and Senate versions are exact duplicates of one another), which elaborates the role of the members of the advisory committee and the financial remuneration associated with it. The vast majority of land acquired for the park will come from the land at Wounded Knee - 1800 acres, to be exact. This land will be taken in such a way that traditional landowners will lose their land and be forced to relocate. Consequently, all construction will be focused at Wounded Knee (the bill calls for a visitors center, an amphitheater, the relocation of the three main roads that intersect near the existing memorial (which was created by the survivors....), the creation of a new memorial, the reconstruction of several buildings that were in existence at the time of the 1890 massacre, and the removal of any structures not found to be historically consistent - possibly including the burial ground adjacent to the existing memorial, and finally, trails and interpretive displays). All disturbance, therefore, will be focused on the area containing the existing memorial and 5-6 mass grave sites. Virtually no land will be taken for the park on the Cheyenne River rez and no disturbance except increased tourist spending will occur in Pine Ridge. The Wounded Knee Landowners Association is composed of the landowners that would be directly or indirectly impacted by this land taking, and the Association also contains a goodly number of descendants of the survivors of the Wounded Knee massacre (who do not belong to the Wounded Knee Survivors Association for reasons I discussed earlier). The Association and/or its members were never consulted regarding this legislation, and had no voice in drafting it. There was one Congressional hearing on this issue, and again, the Association and/or its members were not invited or notified. Gerald Ice is a survivor descendent, a member of the Landowners Association, and one of the landowners who would lose his land if the park is created. He and his family have lived on this same land for generations; in fact, the cabin that Gerald and his brother were born in still stands on his property. Gerald and his wife, Pamela, walk the traditional ways though both have college degrees from the California university system, and though both have a goodly number of experiences in the world of the dominant culture, they choose to live as traditionally as possible on the rez, which means they live in poverty. The Cultural Center you refer to is the dream of the traditional members of the Wounded Knee community, who have formed Wapaha Canku Luta, Inc., to bring this dream to life. The cultural center is intended to help Lakota people rediscover their traditional culture and the strengths and benefits it provides. This is all I can speak to regarding the cultural center because it is all I know. I suggest you contact Gerald and Pamela directly for more information. I hope that this helps clear up some of the confusion caused by the various reports and opinions that are circulating regarding the creation of Wounded Knee National Park. If not, feel free to contact me and I will do what I can to get your questions answered: wanblisapa@aol.com. Minds (and hearts) are like parachutes; they only function when open --------- "RE: New Jersey Organization" --------- Date: Mon, 31 Jul 1995 23:00:08 -0400 From: brokenma@umdnj.edu (MaryAnne BrokenNose) Subj: NJ organization Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) My name is Ivern Broken Nose. I am a Lakota from a traditional family in Oglala on the Pine Ridge Reservation. I want to let people know that we have an organization in New Jersey that is concerned about the rights of traditional indigenous people as well as enviromental issues. We are called P.I.C.T. - Preserve Indigenous Culture and Tradition. We are a small non profit agency, made of native and non-native people. In a short period (only 5 years since we were officially incorporated) we have accomplished a great deal. + in 1990 we organized a convoy of clothes, tools and non perishable goods to the Big Mountain people of the Navajo reservation. + in 1992 we co-sponsored a demonstration at the UN protesting the 500 year celebration of Columbus day. + in 1993 we began a yearly "Walk for Water" in South Jersey to highlight the pollution of the aquafier + in 1994 we hosted the "The Walk for Justice" in Washington DC We are currently working with a student organization at Rutgers University on a conference to be held on Oct 14th. There will be traditional leaders from indigenous communities speaking about there struggle. We will have a display of star quilts and Navajo rugs. If anyone on native-l is interested in finding out more about our organization, especially if your from the east, we would like to hear from you. My phone number is 908 238-3792, my e-mail address is brokenma@umdnj.edu. There is another contact number of 908 477-7071. --------- "RE: CD Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Nuclear Age" --------- Date: Sat, 5 Aug 1995 15:47:30 -0400 From: cliu@queens.lib.ny.us (Carol Liu) Subj: CD commemorates 50th anniversary of nuclear age Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) I am posting this news release for Rufina Marie Laws. Please feel free to re-distribute the announcement elsewhere. Carol Liu cliu@queens.lib.ny.us "A conservative government is an organized hypocrisy" - Benjamin Disraeli ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEW CD COMMEMORATING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRINITY TEST CONTACT: *Rufina Marie Laws - (505)257-3823 Humans Against Nuclear Waste Dumps (HANDs) P.O. Box 2170 Ruidoso, NM 88345 *Peter Gullerud - (818)848-9988 UZIMA P. O. Box 124 Burbank, CA 91503-0124 Marilyn Armstrong - (805) 528-4819 Co-author of the book, _The Obligated Whisper_ A new CD has just been release to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the atomic bomb test at Trinity Site and the destruction of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "The Obligated Whisper" is a CD featuring the contributions of an international group of activists who are seeking to awaken the conscience and humanity of America; to touch hearts, minds, and souls; and to remind all that we must be responsible for the impact of our actions upon the seventh generation. The spitting of the atom was achieved in a deliberate attempt to give the United States superior military strength in 1945. The Trinity test was conducted on the ancestral homelands of the Mescalero Apache Nation in New Mexico. After 50 years of using nuclear technology, starting with the destruction of the two Japanese cities and progressing through multiple above- and below-ground tests, the development of a nuclear-reliant military-industrial complex and nuclear utilities, the cycle ironically returns to desecrate Apache land once again in the form of the proposed high-level nuclear waste storage site. Two members of the Mescalero Apache Nation have contributed their work to "The Obligated Whisper" to help bring this important message to others. The sculptures appearing on the CD's cover are the work of CHARLES BELIN, and RUFINA MARIE LAWS' "The Vision of '90" describes the 'nightmare' of nuclear waste that she experienced five years ago. Copies of the CD have been sent to radio stations and other media outlets across the country, urging that it be played between August 6th and 9th, to help raise consciousness that the "nuclear way" is madness. This CD is also UZIMA's way of marking the 50th anniversary of the nuclear age and the destruction it has brought upon humanity and the biosphere. A limited number of copies of "The Obligated Whisper" are available from HANDs for the cost of $12.50, which includes shipping and handling. Please make checks or money orders payable to HANDs and send them to Rufina Marie Laws at the address above. You may wish to call first to check on availability!