Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews04.006 From: gars@netcom.com (Gary Night Owl) To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Message-ID: _ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 04, ISSUE 006 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 10 February 1996 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 NATCHAT & NATIVE-L listservers; Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native,hr.indigenous,apc.indig.info Transcribed snail-mail; 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. Thanks to Don Rayment ,don.rayment@uptowne.com, Wotanging Ikche/ Kanoheda Aniyvwiya is being redistributed via a listserver. If you would like to receive Wotanging Ikche via the listserver, you can send a message to listserv@uptowne.com and include, in the body of your message "sub wotanging.ikche " Thanks to Marc Becker and David Cole issues of Wotanging Ikche/ Kanoheda Aniyvwiya are being archived at a World-Wide-Web site. The URL is http://web.maxwell.syr.edu/nativeweb/journals/nanews "The battle for Indian children will be won in the classroom, not on the streets or on horses." "The students of today are our warriors of tomorrow." __ Eddie Box, Southern Ute and AISES Elder +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! In Canada and in the United States a disproportionate percentage of prison population is men and women of the First Nations. Some of these people are poisoned in their hearts and spirits. They committed acts of great violence and are paying in time for these acts. Native People are not immune from the bully or the teen gang. There are also a lot of incarcerated Native Americans who are victims of colliding cultures. What is different for Native People is that any time you get more than two together there is a community. There is a oneness and giving. Some of our adults have lost touch with this and some of our youth are losing touch with this coming together, and that is contributing to our numbers in the iron house. I ask if there is not a greater need to draw these broken spirits home, rather than shun them when they begin to drift from the traditional ways. For it is only in the traditional ways that they will find healing instead of payment in time in bitterness. 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=== ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- Part A: Usenet and e-mail Part B: NATCHAT and NATIVE-L lists - Letter for Leonard Peltier - Pow Wow Vets Dance - Warriors - Native Militancy - Help Ship Computers to Blackfeet - Protecting the ICWA - Cherokee Food Bank - Peltier: Collection of Letters - Cowlitz Indian Peoples Coalition to the Parole Commission - North American Spirit Lodge - A Tribal College Supports Orfield - A Little Town - Dine' Nation Water & Land Rights - Hearst and Hemp - Radio Show:Incident at Oglala & AIM - Poem: Solidarity in the Night - Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: Letter for Leonard Peltier" --------- Date: Sun, 04 Feb 96 17:09:29 EST From: R2JSQ@VM1.CC.UAKRON.EDU (Joe Quickle) Subj: Feb. 5 - Letter to Parole Comm. for L. Peltier Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native,hr.indigenous I am mailing a copy of this letter to the Parole Commission. I ask that you please sign and fax or mail a copy of this letter or your own letter of support to the Parole Commission. Or sign this and e-mail it or your own letter of support to me, and I'll print it and mail it to the Parole Commission. -Joe Quickle -------------------------- United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Blvd. Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD. 20815 FAX: (301) 492-6694 Dear Commissioner, When the Federal Bureau of Investigation extradited Leonard Peltier from Canada with knowingly perjured affidavits, when they provided the prosecution with fabricated evidence, this was not only an attack on the rights of Mr. Peltier, but an assault on the civil liberties of us all. When Judge Paul Benson sentenced Mr. Peltier to two consecutive life sentences, he not only sent an innocent man to a federal prison, but sentenced all of us to live in an unjust society. As long as Leonard Peltier is kept in prison, those with the power to release him are not only denying him his long-overdue freedom, but are supporting an abuse of power that threatens every citizen as long as it is upheld. Because Leonard Peltier should never have been imprisoned, because all of society - you and I included - are adversely affected by Mr. Peltier's continued incarceration, and because it is your moral, legal, and ethical responsibility, I urge you to immediately parole Mr. Leonard Peltier. Sincerely, --------- "RE: Warriors" --------- Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 15:01:06 -0800 (PST) From: cherokee@wolfenet.com Subj: Words from the Heart UUCP email Warriors An Indian warrior is a person whose Spirit is one with the Creator...whose heart belongs to the People....whose life is a sacred gift given by the Ancestors....whose mind is the greatest weapon and shield in life's battles. The foremost responsibility of an Indian warrior is to be true to one's self...to the People...and to the Creator. The purpose in life is to ensure the survival and well being of The People. An Indian Warrior transforms knowledge into wisdom and therefore understands that the greatest enemy in life is one's self. S/He must overcome weaknesses. A true Warrior will sacrifice His/Her Heart upon the altar of life for the survival of the People. S/He may be wounded or killed a thousand times in battle, but the spirit cannot be destroyed for the spirit of a true warrior is eternal as the stars. An Indian Warrior lives by a code of honor...beyond the reach of most mortals. An Indian Warrior speaks directly to the Creator and Mother Earth thru sacred prayer and ceremony, giving offerings of gratitude and respect. A true Indian Warrior is Proud...yet humble, with a heart full of love for the People. The path of an Indian warrior is the most difficult path of all for S/He will know pain and suffering in ways no one else ever can. The pain of life's injustices will be absorbed into the whole of their being. S/He may be captured...imprisoned...and taken away from the People, but the Spirit lives in the hearts of The People....for S/He is one of The People and will always be loved an respected by the People...Unconditionally. S/He will be forgiven mistakes by the Spirits and the Holy People because S/He has forgiven the self and humbled oneself before the People. S/He will go to the mountaintop without food or water to pray to the Spirits of the land and cry for a vision. This sacred vision will lead thru the darkest hours of life. It shall lead to the light of the Creator. An Indian warrior must always believe in Him/Herself...in the Spirit helpers..and in the Indian Way of Life. S/He must always speak and live the truth of who...and what...s/he is when standing before the eyes of the Creator. An Indian Warrior is not afraid of Death...and shall NEVER surrender to the Dark Forces of Life which attempt to break the Spirit...for the Spirit cannot be broken...the mind cannot be defeated.. The vision of life is that of the Eagle...with clarity and purpose in being. The wings are strong and carry the spirit to the highest levels of self-understanding and spiritual growth as a human being. (Sharing with an Indian Medicine Man) Dream World Among my People...the Yaqui...we call the night..Tuka Ania...the Night World....the Vehicle of Dreams... I cannot imagine what your your dreams are like unless you describe them to me. Dreams reflect that which we hold deep within our minds...Have you ever looked at your reflection in the water? You see your face so clearly and it appears as reach as your hand. But...when you reach to touch it...it is only water. Yet, in the reflection, you are safe from any harm....nothing can touch you. We call that reflection...the Dream world. When you see the reflection of a forest across a large lake...look closely. You can see that the forest in the reflection can never be burned...or cut down. The sky in the reflection is clear...blue and unpolluted. A forest...a world that once existed. Long ago...a world that we dream will exist once again. In this real world that we live in we all seek a place of our own...a place we belong to. We can find this place in our dreams or we can look for a reflection on a clear lake or we can find it within ourselves. Dreams can come true...but we must make them come true...with our eyes open... Alejeme..... Lessons of the Red Tail Hawk "It is so important to plant the seeds of truth...of wisdom and of pride in who we are...Even those of us who are only "breeds", that the Creator only put ONE race on Mother's Back...That is the Human Race! There are many who feel rage, hate and detest other human beings because their skin is a different shade than their own. I have been called white/half-breed/Indian/Nigger and worse...Yet, that is of no concern to me because I hear, see, listen and learn what my heart and spirit wants me to. If it is the design of Grandfather, he passes back to wanblee who carries it in his mighty talons to Red Tail Hawk, who in turn brings a message to me in his many different circling patterns what it is I am to know...and pass on to others. I pass on the wisdom to those who are willing to listen to the medicines... "Bones" Red Heart Red is the color of the sun that sets in the West Red as our children's cheeks who dance joyfully around the sacred fire red as the sacred Inya Sa from which our prayers rise to you, Grandfather. If our Prayers are being heard in this fourth....and final world. A world where our traditions....our beliefs... and our way of life are being sold on the roadside like meaningless trinkets.... A world where our beloved elders and spiritual leaders are laughed at and disrespected by our young ones. Can you hear me Grandfather? Have pity on us that we may live and continue to walk the path that you gave us in the beginning. As we see this beautiful red sun... as it sets in the West...... Let us remember Grandfather.... That red is the color of our hearts.... our lives.... And....our Sacred Path....A'ho Carl Norris (Cherokee) Warriors of Spirit Freedom of religion across this free country except the Native First People. The governments across this free country practice religious bigotry with their manipulations and deceit, with the changing of laws that are to protect all....but the Indian. Policy and procedure runs rampant within the Indian Nations....We fight to live by the TRUE laws of the land...to keep a clean spirit..a strong heart. Our societies are not all on the res.....They are now spread all across this free country.....In Institutions, prisons, inner cities, chemical dependency programs, suburbs and countries. Where you have Native First People....you have a Village! Spirits protect spirits! They teach and watch all our People...The "law" to the First People is our way of life...to protect Earth Mother...to protect our spiritual connection with all things...to show respect and pride. In all our ancestors struggles to retain our cultural ways of life...we seek to teach our children's children to come...so they will know what responsibilities the creator has placed upon the Red Children....to feel the sunshine...to talk to the winds...to stir up storms....to ease the ongoing destructions created by lack of respect.... My relations, it is up to YOU to unite and heal this world, when all has fallen apart.... Learn how to talk to the Brothers of the wild...Listen to the winds...Help the elders and learn the gifts of tradition... We....The First People...were bestowed a gift....It does not come easy. There is suffering. Our spiritual connection to all things must always come FIRST in our teachings. All brothers and sisters across this so called free country....must come together! Unite in Paper and ceremony! Share our gifts and pray for all who are struggling to retain our ways of life! Bushkinayoush (Terry Kemper) Coyote Every morning coyote wakes up knowing that if he wants to live he has to outrun the slowest rabbit. Every morning rabbit wakes up knowing that he has to outrun the fastest coyote if he wants to continue living. So...no matter who we are..coyote, or rabbit, we better be running when our feet hits the ground. We are born into this world to follow a path and to follow that path with heart. We were NOT born to follow only that which others allow or that which others feels is good enough for us. So...accept what you are given with a smile...Look them in the face....as coyote looks in the eyes of rabbit...and say.."thank you"...but My spirit...requires more! Dreamwalker.... "I am touching the Earth Mother and I know that thru her I will always hear the winds...and she will always provide for our People...With that in mind, I am in need of nothing more...other than the strength to endure the punishment of the Oppressor.... Ixcuina Wado to the Voices of Wisdom....and those who share their hearts with all of us...Hear well, with your hearts.... "But Grandmother....do you think they'll ever listen to us? Someday...the winds shall blow hard enough that they must.." Brekah and her Grandmother..... It was the wind that gave them life. It is the wind that comes out of our mouths now that gives us life. When this ceases to blow...we die. In the skin at the tips of our fingers we see the trail of the wind, it shows us the wind blew when our ancestors were created. The Great Honorable Nation....The Navajo O'siyo to each of you...and a personal message to someone now...EarthBridge...You walk in Honor...I have sent the words of wisdom through the winds...Let us see if they hear them now...Brooke --------- "RE: Help Ship Computers to Blackfeet" --------- Date: 29 January 1996 From: Bruce Two Bears Face-in-Wind Subj: Help Ship Computers to Blackfeet Community College Transcribed snail-mail "Oki" (Hello) Permit me to introduce myself. My name is Bruce Two Bears Face-in-Wind. I am 1/4 Blackfeet from the Montana region. My people were located there many years ago by the Federal Government. They are a very proud group of human beings, and have so very little. Our Community College is small and we have a difficult time sometimes, because we do not get money like other big colleges do. Night Owl, I have learned of your being through a person, Medicine Hands, who met you at a fall gathering. She said I should contact you, and that possibly, through your newsletter, you would be able to help my people. I apologize for not writing sooner, this situation, trying to get these big graphic computers shipped has really taken its toll on me. I have sent out so many letters, and have had very little response. It would be nice if people would just write back and say they are not interested, but for the most part I don't even get that. You offering to help leaves a warm feeling in my heart, and if we can get enough funds gathered up to ship these computers, I'm sure it will warm the hearts of my people back home. Let me give you the particulars on these units. They weigh approximately 650 pounds. They measure 5'6" high, 4'6" wide and 3'6" deep. These computers were donated by a company I used to work for, American Electric Power Service Corporation; and the software was donated by a company called Bentley Corporation. I will be happy to provide some names and phone numbers to verify this information. I have found a moving company that has given us a discounted rate to ship these units. The cost is $1,525.00 to ship from Columbus, Ohio to Browning, Montana. I have set up an non-profit account here in Columbus with the Fifth Third Bank. The person I have set the account up with is the office manager, Margaret Lightfoot. If any person is interested in donating any money, checks should be made payable to The Blackfeet Community College. When enough funds have been raised, the bank will make out a cashiers check to the moving company and get these computers shipped. The college is non-profit, so donations are tax deductible. All of my blessings to you and your people, my friend. Bruce Two Bears Face-in-Wind Send funds (made out to The Blackfeet Community College) to the following: Fifth Third Bank Attn: Margaret Lightfoot If everyone could just send $1.00 we might 1425 Worthington Center raise enogh money, and it wouldn't break Worthington, OH 43085 anybody. Phone: 614-885-7412 College Contacts: If someone needs to speak to me directly: Blackfeet Community College Bruce Two Bears Face-in-Wind Box 819 3042 Cypress Drive Browning, Montana 59417 Newark, Ohio 43055 Administration ph: 406-338-7755 Home Phone:(after 8:30 Eastern) Business manager: Ike HeavyRunner 614-745-5087 President: Carol Murray Administrative Assistant: Lola J. Wippert POWER: It is not the things we do today that we should expect to be rewarded for today, but to have our name remembered and spoke of in a good way many years after we have journeyed to the Spirit World. __ Bruce Two Bears Face-in-Wind --------- "RE: Cherokee Food Bank" --------- Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 10:10:30 -0600 (CST) From: sestrapp@powersource.com (Sue Ellen Strapp) Subj: Cherokee Food Bank UUCP email Thank you for all of those who sent along a contribution or requested information about the Cherokee food project that I am preparing to send to the Cherokee Food Bank. Just so you know what is happening with this project, our friends from the Net and members of the Cherokee Cultural Society in Houston are donating either fresh vegetables or money to purchase the vegetables. I am purchasing these from a fruit stand not far from me which supports local farmers, cutting and dehydrating the produce in several dehydrators and will send it along to the tribe's food bank as I fill up a shipping box. There are many reasons that I am doing this. One, because I felt that this was something that would allow me to "walk my talk", and do something that would contribute to the people of my tribe who needed nourishment. Two, as I prepare the vegetables, I sing and pray over them in the traditional way. Dehydrated vegetables last forever and are more nutritious than the canned variety. Three, when Deputy Chief Garland Eagle was here and spoke to our Cherokee Cultural meeting, he mentioned that the food bank had this need. When I spoke to Sherrie Perry, head of Food Distribution Services of the Cherokee Nation to make arrangements for this project, she was thrilled. They feed over 10,000 people a month! All of the food comes from an agency of the federal government. Two semi-trucks a day deliver the food to the three outlets. One of the outlets is a small store 30 ft. by 80 ft. and it feeds 6,500 people a month. The other ones are smaller. Many of the Cherokees are elderly and not able to get into town where the three distribution centers are, so the trucks pull up at certain spots and unload the food off the back of the truck. Sherrie said that it was really heart-breaking to see her relatives standing at the back of the truck in the rain, snow or heat waiting in line. In most of the places in the rural areas, the driver sets out the allotment in a circle and the people come and take what they need. After our fresh vegetables have been dehydrated, they will be packaged in vacuum sealed bags and sent along to the tribe. Dehydrated foods have more of the nutrients in them than processed foods. I have apples, strawberries, squash, okra and tomatoes. Sherrie was really excited about the whole idea, and will be approaching the council shortly to explain the project. >From our end here in Houston, the Cherokee Cultural Society here will be involved in the project as well. We hope to help with the building of a food distribution center in one of the rural areas that will provide jobs for the Cherokees in that area, and will have a nutritionist and a nurse. If you want to participate in that part of our project, write to dpscott@sageways.com. The Cherokee Cultural Society is a non-profit organization and can issue you a receipt for your donation. TO help: TO help with the Food Project or the Distribution building send along your check made out to the Cherokee Cultural Society and note which project you want to participate in. My US Mail address is: SueEllen Strapp 2727 Lakefield Way Sugar Land, TX 77479 713-265-2944 In all love and kindness, thank you. Sue Ellen Strapp Powersource Gallery - An art gallery full of powerful people, places, and objects - http://www.powersource.com/powersource/ --------- "RE: Cowlitz Indian Peoples Coalition" --------- Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 22:48:21 GMT From: davidb@spl.lib.wa.us (David Burlingame) Subj: Cowlitz Indian Peoples Coalition Newsgroups: apc.indig.info,soc.culture.native,alt.native Howdy... The Cowlitz Indian Tribe held a council meeting (27 Jan. 1996), at which the following was read by its author, Greg L. Grove. [There is much conflict and turmoil within our tribe, compounded by the fact that we are under active consideration by BIA/BAR. This recognition process has been used as an excuse and a crutch as long as I've been aware, in order that the status quo, the power structure, the dissemination of information, remain unchanged. I have taken certain projects on myself in hopes of levelling (sp?) the field, so that the tribal members who elected the council are ensured access to that council.] What follows is, with minor grammatical changes, what was read to the council on 27 January... [db] Klohawya - Yah Ta Hai - Greeting We the families of the Cowlitz Indian peoples have endured much in the last 170 Christian years. We were as many as 20,000+, when the greedy ones' diseased blankets and flus came to us, and when they were through we were only hundreds, but we endured. When our head men and chiefs were shot and killed, the bluecoats pointed to our brothers from over the hill. We knew the truth, even their own admitted the deed years later, and still we endured. When the old timers and elders were killed and the younger ones taken to different reservations and forts, we endured. When Isaac Stevens said, "You don't belong here. We will run our Iron Horse where your houses sit. Here's some blankets, beads, and whiskey for your trouble; sign this and leave." We turned our backs, went home and endured. When the bluecoats took our guns and horses and said, "Show us your trails so we can fight your brothers, only then will we give back your homeland," w believed, we helped -- and we were deceived. Yet, we endured. When they burned our longhouses, built fences, divided our homeland into farms, cities, freeways, concrete, and asphalt, they said "This is good," and called it their own. We endured. When they dammed our rivers, drowned our burial grounds, poured cement over our stories on the rocks, dug up our gifts and our bones, killed the fish and left no old timers of our cedar people to talk to, again our bellies were cut open; we hurt, still we endured. Now days when we talk of taking care of our burial grounds, our food and medicine gathering places, our homeland, we are told by some of our own people, "We don't have any authority over these things, those people don't owe us anything, and we should be glad for the little bit they give us." BUT TODAY, WE WILL NO LONGER BE SILENT. THIS IS WHAT WE SAY: We are a gathering of Cowlitz Indians, and our families and friends from many places. We are the Cowlitz Indian Peoples Coalition. We are Cowlitz who have decided to gather again in the same spirit as our ancestors, to pray, to sing, to dance, to laugh, to eat, to gift. To turn our faces once again to our traditions and culture, and our inherent rights as native peoples. To invite all our families to come home again, no matter what reservation, city, town, or land they live in or on. We believe in our stewardship and authority within our prairies, mountains, rivers, medicine/food gathering places, burial grounds, villages, trails, and sacred places, and All Our Relation, whether winged, four-legged, swimming, standing, walking, or crawling within and around our homeland. Our constitution and way is in our lands, culture, and our ancestors, and we are a free people. For all our past, present, and future ones to come, we are once again turning our faces toward our namesake: Gatherers and Keepers of the Spirit Medicine - the Cowlitz. For information, comments, questions, please write: Cowlitz Indian Peoples Coalition (CIPC) P.O. Box 215 Bucoda, WA 98530 Contact persons: Greg LaDue Grove Wendy Kinswa Patricia Donaldson or email: davidb@spl.lib.wa.us Feel free to ask me any questions about what I or we are doing...I have many questions of my own which will undoubtedly be asking. By the way, I am also on the council, in my second term. All My Relations (db) --------- "RE: North American Spirit Lodge" --------- Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 14:27:46 -0500 From: DAKKASWAN@aol.com Subj: North American Spirit Lodge UUCP email Hello everyone, Glenn was kind enough to give me your names. He suggested that you might be interested in the North American Spirit Lodge. We are a new group, dedicated to equal rights for all Native Americans. We are targeting a specific date to bombard the whitehouse with email/snail mail, to make our voices and desires heard. Far too long, has the government been content with their "divide and conquer" attitude. We do not advocate violence, nor will we turn away anyone of any background who wishes to help. Each week, I send out a letter to the North American Spirit Lodge members, updating them on what is happening with our group. We have sent mail to the government on numerous occasions, the most recent being the Fort Reno land issue faced by the Cheyenne and Arapaho in Oklahoma. While we are a young group, with few members (about 50) we plan to continue to grow and the more people we can get to send mail, the more likely are our voices to be heard. Imagine if you will, the president receiving mail on the targeted date from 100,000 concerned NA's and their supporters. And that is just a fraction of the population! If you think our cause is worthy, and you would like to be a part of it, please email me, and I will put you on our mailing list. We generally meet in a members created room on Sat. night at 9:00pm cst, called The Great Spirit. I am aware that most of you cannot attend meetings with us because you are on different networks. However, we can log the meetings and forward them if we need to. If at anytime you have suggestions or criticisms, please email me and let me know! I personally would love to have you on my mailing list. If you are unsure, feel free to contact Glenn Welker at gwelker@mail.lmi.org. Thanks for your time and attention, Dakkaswan Mary PS. Gary, thanks for keeping me on your Wotanging list! --------- "RE: A Little Town" --------- Date: Thu, 01 Feb 1996 19:41:41 CST From: Cameron J Probert Subj: A Little Town UUCP email [Editorial Note: Forwarded from Brooke Craig, reprinted with permission from the originating author, Cameron Probert] Dear Mater Animi, I guess I am addressing this to the circle, but I find it most convenient to phrase this to you. I come from a little town called Merrimack, in a state called New Hampshire. From a lower middle class white family that lived above there means. Again I am not anything special, just a simple man. I was raised to believe that all men, and women, no matter what race, creed, or color should be judged according to the honor in their heart. Not the honor that their name brings. I thought this of all people. And I thought that all people thought it. Unfortunately I was wrong. I say that I come from a little town named Merrimack. Well this little town is very Christian, and very conservative. To these people there is only one RIGHT and that is the Christian God. To these people it doesn't matter what the color of your heart is, it is the color of your skin that matters. To these people if you don't follow there path, see there light then you are wrong, and evil. These are sad people. I have spent many a night crying for them. Well I left that little town called Merrimack, and came to another town named Ames Iowa. And again I was accosted by a Christian in the street, and I told him that I believed that there were no absolutes. And he told me that that was an absolute. I chuckled then, but I was sad. I was sad inside for a man that wasn't going to see others for what they were inside. I cried for him as I cried for the people in my little town of Merrimack. And I wonder... I wonder how these people survive... How they live... without growing... without experiencing.. without seeing... They sadden me... And so now I return to my little town of Merrimack, knowing that those people are every where... espousing there truths... but never seeing... never hearing... never loving, what doesn't agree with them... And so I cry... as I cry now... And I hope that they will open there eyes one day... and see that there is more than one truth.. more than one teacher... and maybe maybe... they will be able to see past all of the makeup of skin and bones and religion to see the honor that rests inside.. *deep bow* Thank you, Cameron J. Probert --------- "RE: PRESS RELEASE: Dine' Nation Water & Land Rights" --------- Date: 31 Jan 1996 00:56:24 GMT From: <100612.2663@compuserve.com> Subj: PRESS RELEASE: Dine' Nation water & land rights Newsgroups: alt.native For immediate attention For immediate release NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONAL DINE' LEADERS COME TO LONDON TO MEET WITH HANSON CORPORATION AND PEABODY EXECUTIVES. SUBJECT Native American land and water rights in Big Mountain, Arizona, South-western United States: preservation of Native American ancestral land and native Dine' culture. For interviews with Native American Elders, contact Arlene Hamilton c/o 0171 637 1804, or join us at a press conference and public statement by the elders at approximately 14.15 on Wednesday 31 January 1996 at the Barbican Centre after the Hanson Corporation shareholders' meeting. PRESS RELEASE For the next two days, Leaders from the Sovereign Dine' Nation of the South-western United States are meeting with Hanson Corporation and Peabody Coal Company executives to hear the truth about future plans the Coal Company has to mine coal from their sacred, ancestral aboriginal land. These Traditional Dine' Elders and leaders, Roberta Blackgoat and Kee Watchman, have travelled across the great waters to represent over 100 Traditional Dine' families whose life and culture are currently threatened by the mining activities that take place from two to twenty miles from their homeland. For the past two years, Hanson Corporation/Peabody Coal Company executives have been meeting with representatives of the Sovereign Dine' Nation. These long term peaceful discussions have been with the goal of improving the living conditions of the families of Sovereign Dine' Nation and relieving the suffering that continues to exist. Some of the immediate needs of the people are; permanent clean drinking water, equal access to utilities, road improvement and long-term preservation of Sovereign Dine' Nation land and culture. One of the problems these Traditional Dine' Elders continue to face is the lack of communication between Navajo and Hopi tribe officials and Peabody Coal Company executives. Peabody Coal Company has denied their responsibility for meeting the needs of the td people living in the impact area. For years now, money given to Navajo Tribal officials, which amounts to millions of dollars annually, has not been used to decrease the hardship that Dine' Elders and their families are living under. The Navajo Tribal Council officials have continued to deny the Dine' people who live on their ancestral homeland the proper representation for their human rights and land and water rights. For many years these Dine' Elders and their families have had no access to clean drinking water (they have to drive 30-60 miles to carry water to their homes) and no electricity. They are forced to drive on muddy, rocky dirt roads that are often extremely hazardous and life threatening while the roads around Peabody's Black Mesa and Kayenta coal mines are paved and in perfect condition. The Peabody Coal Company executives have been very slow in keeping the agreements made with Dine' Elders in London at Hanson Corporation's AGM two years ago (1994). Although some progress has been made between Hanson/Peabody and these indigenous people to provide some temporary relief to life without water, still no permanent water resources have been acquired, no traditional medicine plants have been replaced, and the Elders and their families are still left with no communication systems in case of emergencies. At this time, Peabody Coal Company has broken agreements with local families made between 1950 and 1960 regarding local employment and the preservation of the environment. Instead Peabody Coal Company has made "closed door" agreements with Navajo and Hopi Tribal Councils and with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Again, millions of dollars are being paid "behind closed doors", disregarding the Traditional Dine' Elders living in or close to mining lease areas. These same Elders continue to face armed rangers around their homes on a daily basis. We are appealing to all the people of the UK who are concerned about Native American rights and the preservation of traditional Native American culture and aboriginal land. We ask you to please show your support for these Native American Elders by joining us at a press conference on Wednesday 31 January 1996 at approximately 2.15pm at the Barbican Convention Centre. The Elders will be making a statement to the public and press at this time, following the Hanson Corporation AGM. The elders look forward to greeting the people of the UK who are concerned for the protection of Native American life, culture and land. This international diplomatic trip has been sponsored by John Paul Jones DeJoria, CEO of Paul Mitchell Systems. For further information or appointments with the Dine' Elders during their stay in London, please contact Arlene Hamilton or Eddie Shine at 0171 637 1804. Posted by William Ross. I also have the text of some personal statements from the Dine' Elders: if you would like copies, please mail me at the above address. --------- "RE: Hearst and Hemp" --------- Date: Sat Feb 03, 1996 at 14:33 EST From: Che.Dog@genie.geis.com Subj: Hearst and Hemp GE Electronic Mail I don't know if this is the proper place to put this, but in the context of returning land to the Indians, I found this to be an interesting dichotomy, which, to me amply illustrates the insanity of our government. A few months ago, The San Jose Mercury News ran a series of articles on hemp cultivation and how it came to be illegal. It seems, back in the thirties, a newspaper magnate by the name of William Randolph Hearst acquired timber rights to vast acreages of public lands, which he intended to cut down and use the fiber to make the paper for his newspapers. A competing product at the time for the fiber was hemp, commercially grown in the midwest, which was widely used for rope, clothing and paper products. In fact, hemp is quite superior to wood for these purposes with the additional advantage of it's being a rapidly renewable resource, which over the longer term is much cheaper than wood pulp, unless you acquire vast amounts of trees which you plan on using and not replacing. Therefore, Mr. Hearst, lobbied congress, wrote scathing editorials, bribed whomever he could and was successful in getting laws written to abolish the evil narcotic and hemp production remains illegal to this day. Thus, by acquiring the timber rights of lands seized from Native Americans, he was able to cut down the trees, make his paper, and sell newspapers which resulted in his family becoming one of the wealthiest around. His greed was also instrumental in depriving the nation of a rich source of renewable fiber in the form of hemp, of which the varieties grown at the time, contained no THC. Last week, the Mercury News posted a small article about land (4 acres) that was BEING RETURNED TO THE KAROK TRIBE, which had been seized by the Federal Government in Northern California, under federal seizure laws, because the landowner allegedly had started hemp seedlings on his property which were later transplanted in a national forest. (There was no hearing, court order or proof of this, but the landowner did plead guilty to a federal firearms violation where a DEA agent offered testimony of having seen the hemp seedlings. It is interesting to note that California seizure laws would not have allowed this seizure of property without a court order). Janet Reno stated how "excited" she was, to be able to punish lawbreakers and return the use of the land to the original and rightful owners, the Karok tribe (held for them in trust by the government, in this case). My comment. Is this tacit acknowledgement by the Attorney General that the land should never have been seized from the tribe in the first place? And, if so, shouldn't the government replace the trees taken from the land? Of course, in the case of this land, the trees were probably 2000 year old redwoods which would difficult to replace. --------- "RE: Radio Show:Incident at Oglala & AIM" --------- Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 20:39:24 GMT From: schmeeb1@unixpop.utcc.utk.edu (mike knapp) Subj: radio show-Incident at Oglala and Amer. Indian Movement Newsgroup: soc.culture.native Greetings! Presently our production team is in the process of putting together a 1.5 hour radio show about the incident at Oglala and the american indian movement. This will be presented on wutk 850am on a show entitled "for the sake of argument". Unfortunately, the person who was to be on the show has cancelled so this request is to anybody who is/was involved in any way with both AIM and the incident in 1973. Of course, Norman Zigrossi, now the Inspector General (IG) of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), has not returned phone calls to participate. By the way, TVA's police, under control of the IG's office now has power of federal marshall. The format for the show is talk with a session of @ 20-30 min. for call in. It is possible to have a phone interview with anyone interested. We simply desire those who are interested and knowledgeable in the subject. We're trying very hard to provide alternative news analysis and information not found in the mainstream media. If interested please return e-mail. The show is at Eastern Stnd. 806-930am on sunday morning, feb 4. Thank you and good luck! MK --------- "RE: Poem: Solidarity in the Night" --------- Date: Sun, 4 Feb 1996 18:09:27 -0500 From: MARIJOM@aol.com Subject: Translations of poem UUCP email [Editorial Note: Please direct all responses and translations to MARIJOM@aol.com] Hi Gary, I was directed to you via Julia White. I am an Eastern Cherokee author/poet (living in NC) and am in the process now of finishing a new manuscript of poetry. One of the poems "Solidarity In The Night" I am having translated into as many native languages as possible. I have Eastern and Western Cherokee, Saponi, Choctaw, Catawba, and Creek (Muskogee), with promises of Comanche, Crow, and Chickasaw, and Obijwe. Please tell translators to send info about themselves along with translations so that I may give proper credit in my book. SPIRIT VOICES OF BONES should be available in early 1997. MariJo Moore marijom@aol.com SOLIDARITY IN THE NIGHT This was the night all the people sang together. This was the night all the people dreamed together. This was the night all the people danced together. This was the night all the people prayed together. This was the night all the people began to heal. MariJo Moore c1996 --------- "RE: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days" --------- Date: 96/01/31 23:02 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 February 11-17 PEPELUALI (February) (Kau-lua) 11 To a place of worship, a heiau, always bring a gift of stone. 12 The wind has learned the secrets of the ages. 13 Mano', the shark god, guides me to a safe harbor. 14 Abundant are the fruits of this land. 15 If you would find the perfect place of your dreams, moe'uhane, ... look within. 16 In our children lie the blessings of our heritage. 17 When entering the secret valley, knock three times, ... and see who answers! (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, 8 Feb 96 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: rbeaul5961@aol.com (RBeaul5961) Subj: LPDC SUPPORT GROUP - ALBANY NY ACTION Newsgroups: soc.culture.native A demonstration to bring attention to the 20th anniversary of Leonard Peltier's capture in Canada will take place at the Albany NY Federal Bldg., Clinton and N. Pearl Sts on 2/6/96 from 10am to 5-6pm. Flyers and a petition will be distributed. Activists/supporters in the area are urged to join us. Ruby Beaulieu (rbeaul5961@aol.com) for Sean Connery, President, LPDC Support Group, Albany NY. ------------------------------------------------------ From: Jan Rockwell Iron Subj: AISES Region 3 Conference - NEW DATES!! AISES Region 3 Conference Colorado State University - Fort Collins, Colorado April 18-21, 1996 "Balance.... Key to the Future" The Colorado State University Chapter of AISES has once again accepted the honor and challenge of hosting the Region 3 Conference. Preliminary plans were to have the conference from February 21-24, 1996. It has now been rescheduled to April 18-20, 1996. ATTENTION ALL REGION 3 CHAPTERS (AZ, CO, NM & UT): + All the Chapters in this region should have received conference information in January. If you haven't received it, please let us know. + Please note the NEW dates and plan to join us in Fort Collins in April. + The agenda will follow closely to that which has already been sent out. A final agenda, plus lodging information, will be posted and sent to each chapter as soon as possible. + Registration fees will remain the same (as listed in packet). + We would like to be able to reach more of the chapters by e-mail. If you have an e-mail address, please let us know immediately. Send a note to your regional representative, Chris Carlson, at the address: chris@lily.aerc.colostate.edu + MORE conference information is forthcoming! We want this to be a very educational and worthwhile experience for all of you! Pow-wow The Northern Colorado Intertribal Pow-wow Association (NCIPA) will be hosting their Fourth Annual Contest pow-wow in Fort Collins from April 20-21. The first grand entry will be at 1:00 on Saturday (20th) -- after the conference is adjourned. NCIPA and AISES-CSU extend a very warm invitation to all conference attendees to stay and enjoy this celebration. For pow-wow info, please call (970) 491-7403 or 204-1662. (Pow-wow info has been posted to the list.) * * * * * * * * * * If you have any questions, please contact Chris (see above) or Jan Iron (Co- advisor) at (970) 491-7403 OR at e-mail address: jiron@vines.colostate.edu ------------------------------------------------------ From: Gerald W Shirley Subj: Wildcat Pow Wow Newsgroups: alt.native Tribal People United invites you to their 3rd Annual Wildcat Pow Wow. The Pow Wow will be held March 2-3, 1996 at the University of Arizona football stadium. HEADSTAFF: Master of Ceremonies -- Sammy Tonekei White, Kiowa Scottsdale, AZ Arena Director -- Lee Williams, Navajo Tempe, AZ Head Man Dancer -- Tahlee Redbird, Kiowa/Sauk&Fox Carnegie, Oklahoma Head Lady Dancer -- Theresa Jim, Navajo Brimhall, NM Head Gourd Dancer -- Gary Koshiway, Ote/Sauk&Fox Keams Canyon, AZ Host Northern Drum -- Star Blanket Juniors Balcarres, Saskatchewan CANADA Host Southern Drum -- Rose Hill Pawnee, Oklahoma HOST HOTEL: THE PLAZA HOTEL 1900 E. Speedway Tucson, AZ 1-800-654-3010 (AZ only) 1-800-843-8052 (nation) Deadline is February 7, 1996. However the deadline may be extended. Mention "Wildcat Pow Wow" ARTS & CRAFTS: Call Bertha Benally @ (520) 626-4240 For more information please call at (520) 626-4240. FAX # (520) 621-9880 or call Geneva John and Erick Johnson @ (520) 292-8802. ------------------------------------------------------- From: Ondamitag@aol.com Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 11:51:21 -0500 Chautauqua Newsletter Subj: Traditional Indian Medicine Conference, Lawton Oklahoma, April 15-19, 1996 This Award Winning Program is the recipient of the Catholic Health Association of the United states 1986 Achievement Citation Faculty: The conference and faculty of Traditional Indian Medicine Practitioners and staff are under the direction of Edgar Monetathchi, Jr., Comanche Medicine Man and Harvard graduate. The ancient philosophy and concepts of Traditional Indian Medicine that he shares with thousands of people, has been a source to facilitate healing and balance in their personal and professional lives. He is a medicine person who acknowledges that it is now time to share this spiritual philosophy of a way of living preserved for thousands of years, with those who are seeking a way for expanded spiritual awareness. Concept: The philosophy and concepts of Traditional Indian Medicine as offered in this ceremonial seminar process has proven to be a spingboard for expanded spiritual awareness for thousands of people. A spiritual foundation for self growth, development, and maturity is embraced by those who have been searching to fill a void in their lives. This process of expanded spiritual awareness is offered in a universal form and is not reflective of a religion, but a philosophy of living to incorporate into our daily lives, moment by moment. It facilitates understanding of ones own spiritual growth and the barriers that inhibit expanding spiritual consciousness. By understanding these barriers, they can work to remove them. They can then integrate the healing they seek into their lives. Participants by their own admissions have experienced change, growth, satisfaction, healing, and fulfillment within themselves. These spiritual aspects are utilized first for self and how to apply them for our own lives and well being - satisfaction and esteem of self. Then, they become the focus and foundation for service. Spiritual awareness develops and expands our understanding of service and acceptance of services true intention. Through this process, participants are able to commit themselves in service with high degrees of satisfaction and gratification. Over 6,000 participants from all 50 states, 12 foreign countries, different cultures, and religions have found the freedom to release confusion, guilt, frustration, and anger through their expanded spiritual awareness. The development and growth that takes place leads to a maturity of commitment of service based in the hearts of the servers. The true essence, Service is Love and Love is Service is able to thrive and grow. Spirituality holds the keys for the direction of our future - PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. TRADITIONAL INDIAN MEDICINE offers for all people A Universal Spiritual Process: Create, Expand, Maintain Spiritual Balance in Service April 15-19, 1996, Lawton, Oklahoma What can we learn to enhance our lives - personally and professionally? A ceremonial process of in-depth didactic and experiential learning directed by a Traditional Indian Medicine practitioner. How the Traditional Indian Medicine philosophy of Wholeness, Wellness, Health and Healing can assist each of us daily. The Seven Sacred Aspects that are the foundation for service. How all aspects of dis-ease and dis-stress can be opportunities for expanded spiritual conciousness. Keys for self actualization through an expanded spiritual consciousness. Agenda Agenda will include philosophy and concepts of Traditional Indian Medicine and Rainbow Way Meditation as given to you by Traditional Indian Medicine practitioners. The philosophy and concepts of Traditional Indian Medicine, a way of living, offers individuals a way to enhance their personal and professional lives. The seminar structure reflects this way of living in all aspects. The seminar is administered as a Medicine Ceremony, with all sessions starting on time. When attending, we ask your respect for the ceremony by not being tardy to sessions. Due to the amount of information disseminated, long days and evenings are a necessity. Registration begins on april 15 at 7:00 A.M until the morning program which opens the seminar at 9:00 A.M. Day sessions are generally 9 A.M. - 5 P.M., and evening sessions are 7 P.M. Complete participation, in all aspects, is required so that each participant has the opportunity to fully experience a process of growth. The Program of ceremonial songs and dances will be the April 18 evening session, and traditional Indian dress is welcome. The agendas will be distributed on site when registration opens. Seminar site & lodging Howard Johnson Hotel * 1125 East Gore * Lawton, Oklahoma 73501 Please call 800-359-0020 and state T.I.M. Seminar dates to receive $41 rate, single or double ocupancy. Tuition In order for future seminars to occur after April 1996, this attendance nees to be such that the revenue generated will provide for a succeeding seminar. POSTMARKED BY MARCH 30TH: $550 Registration accepted only for total seminar attendance. Registrations not postmarked by March 30th must be presented April 15th at the Seminar Registration Table. Meals are not included in fees. Please complete registration form, enclose fee and mail. If seminar capacity full, total refund given. There will be no refunds after first day attendance. No exceptions. Print the following and send by postoffice mail Registration Name___________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________________ City_________________________________State_________________Zip___________ Home Telephone__________________________Work Telephone_______________________________ Employer________________________________Position_________________________ Please complete: Tribe____________________________________________________________________ School (if fulltime student)_______________________________________________________________ PAYMENT ENCLOSED: Full Amount: $_______________________ Half Now: $______________________ Total balance due on or before April 15, 1996 Checks should be made payable to White Buffalo Research, Development, and Training. Mail to: White Buffalo Reasearch, Development and Training Post Office Box 90895, Tucson, Arizona 85752-0895 Questions: Call Becky Monetathchi at 520-744-7255 4h4^ ^This Award Winning Program is the recipient of the Catholic Health Association of the United states 1986 Achievement Citation ========================================================================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- 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, Joe Quickle, Sue Ellen Strapp, Che Dog, MariJo Moore, Bruce Two Bears Face-in-Wind, Brooke Craig, David Burlingame, Dakkaswan (Mary), Cameron J Probert, Mike Knapp(General Call), Feather Eaglerock, Marie Fouche, Rick Myers(Forward Request) --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Part B of this newsletter (not included) has already been distributed via the NATIVE-L or NATCHAT mailing lists. --------- "RE: Pow Wow Vets Dance" --------- Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 17:18:16 -0500 From: eaglerok@northernnet.com (feather eaglerock) Subj: Pow Wow vets dance Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) [Editorial Note: As a member of a Warrior Society, I can tell you all Grandmother Feather Eaglerock says is also true here in North Georgia/Northeast Alabama] blkwolf@sos.net (Donna M. Dean) writes: > Well, I guess I have to expose my ignorance in the minefield of flaming > about people like me. But I need to know once and for all. I'm mixed > blood, non-enrolled, 100% service-connected disabled veteran of 18 years > Navy service, somewhat crippled, often must use a cane, and so "dancing" > is not always of the most graceful. I am also female. Is it appropriate O'siyo Donna, Here on the Leech Lake Rez and other pow wows and traditional gatherings that we have attended from coast to coast, women veterans join in the veterans honor song, even when not in regalia. No one asks to see their enrollment numbers, and many times a good announcer remembers to invite all veterans, mothers of veterans, and family members of vets to join in the honoring, Indian and non-Indian, to honor their family members who have served in the military. We also have women veterans who carry flags in the grand entry on this rez. Many times my husband Bernard, a Korean War Vet, talks at pow wows about the mothers of vets and that we remember the sacrifice that they make. And he talks about our indian woman veterans who belong in that circle also. Often young people are asked to dance for a veteran who can no longer dance. During the veterans honor song I dance along side my husband, I also dance for my father, my brother and my uncles who have passed on. At the Veterans Day Pow Wow here at Leech Lake, my husband had an honor dance, special, for two P.O.W.'s from this Rez. One died in a P.O.W. camp and was honored by a cousin who danced for the family. The other was a WWII vet in a wheelchair and was pushed around the arena for all veterans honoring dances, by a young family member. We have been to many Pow Wows where all Veterans, Indian and non-Indian are asked to come out to dance. Many times these non-Indian Vets have never been honored for their military service, especially Viet Nam Vets. At the beginning of the song the non-Indian dancers are clearly self-conscious about their feet and their steps, but there is a point in the Circle when they realize that they are being honored, and tears well up in their eyes, and they hold their heads erect and dance for those they left behind. Feather Eaglerock Leech Lake Rez (a sovereign Anishinabe Nation surrounded by the State of Minnesota)---and buried under many feet of snow right now:) English is a foreign language! Reclaim your language. Reclaim your heritage and send it to the future with your grandchildren as your gift to their grandchildren. di-ka-ne'-tsv a'-qua-tse'-li ha-htv-gi, wa-do' do-da-da-go'-hv --------- "RE: Native Militancy" --------- Date: Fri, 2 Feb 1996 10:12:02 -0500 From: bbrigham@icis.on.ca Subj: Native Militancy Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) A Question that has been put forward -- What are the roots of this new militancy and what is its potential for bringing about real social change for Canada's Native peoples? I am Anishnabe from Bkewjenong. I live on unceded territory, meaning that my people have never ceded or surrendered our land to either the American or Canadian government. But because we are surrounded by these foreign governments, there are many unresolved issues around land claims, jurisdiction, etc. which continue to plaque our communities and our people. For example, we have been conducting "border crossings" in the past few years to assert our freedom to cross the Can/US border. We base this on a treaty right (The Treaty of St. Anne's Island) as well as the fact that the Treaty of Ghent which ended the War of 1812, reaffirmed the notion set out by the Jay Treaty of 1790 that the border was not supposed to affect our people in any way. Even today, our people live in our original homelands which today happen to be under the control of the US and Canada. The United States has to honour our freedom to enter the US because they were parties to the Jay Treaty and the Treaty of Ghent but Canada continues to insist they are not bound by agreements made by Great Britain, before the British colonies joined to break away. Rooted in the past, this sort of thing continues to impact us today. For example, there is a Canadian Customs port located on our Island. We are always being harassed when we cross the river and come back home. When I was a child, I can remember a customs officer threatening to make my mother walk home in bare feet because he thought she bought a new pair of shoes in the U.S. and wearing them in order to not pay duty. Well I for one, on principle refuse to comply with customs. I never have and never will submit to paying duty on anything I purchase. When we schedule organized crossings, customs looks the other way, but when we are by ourselves, they try to intimidate us. We just finally got to the point where we decided that the government is not going to give us anything. If we believe we have the right to pass freely, we have to back it up by action. If we believe we have rights, then we must act accordingly. This kind of thinking is going on all across the continent. When for years, negotiations, royal commissions, task forces, and joint consultations have failed to remedy our outstanding grievances in meaningful ways, then I think some of our people get to the point where it feels like the only way to get results is to take action. I live not too far from Ipperwash and I do know some of the background to what happened there. I personally know some of the people involved including Bernard George, one of the individuals who got beaten up by the cops and thrown in jail. I was also one of the people who attended the burial of Dudley George. My husband assisted with the burial. The situation at Ipperwash is not some new thing that suddenly erupted. It is only one of countless disputes that has been festering for years. What would it feel like to you if your entire community was relocated and your land was taken under the War Measures Act and promised that it would be returned to you when it was no longer needed for defense purposes? Well that happened 50 years ago and it is only now that that the Stony Point First Nation people have a real hope of "going home". However complicated, the internal issues are, the fact remains that had action not been taken, the people involved would not be home. And how many lifetimes would it take for the memory to be gone? The government wants us to forget who we are and what they took from us. And if we take a stand for our rights, will they shoot us too? Our young people are getting impatient. The days are long gone when we will roll over and pretend that all is well and buy into the government plot to assimilate us, make us citizens and deny us our rights as members of our own nations. Their strategy is to treat these kinds of "incidents" as law and order" issues - not aboriginal and treaty rights and land claims issues. We figured that out a long time ago. When your back is up against the wall and you have nowhere to go and it feels like you have to justify your existence, what options do you have?" It is my hope that 100 years from now when I have passed on to the spirit world, that Kitche Manitou will allow me to return in spirit. What I hope to see are Ojibwa, Odawa, Potawatomie, Ongwe-Hungwe, Siksika, Odam, and so on still living as distinct, free peoples in our own homelands, speaking our own languages and practicing our own traditions and lifestyles. In short, living and walking freely upon grandmother earth. Is that so much to hope for? I think not and so do many of our people. The difference between the younger generation of today and previous ones is that we no longer say "yes" to what officials and bureaucrats tell us. We have learned to say "no". Ovid Mercredi, to the government of Canada, is the one person that the government wants to talk to about any of our issues. It's the old "take me to your leader" syndrome. His political clout comes and goes and even he realizes that. The problem is that there is no mechanism in either country equipped to negotiate new treaties, settle past claims and make new alliances. There are some nations that do not want simple "land for money" settlements. If you were to figure out in dollar terms what the lease payment would come to for Turtle Island, I don't believe they could print enough - yet when have any our nations received our fair piece of the pie? I could go on but I will stop for now. I am fairly new to this method of communication but I felt I wanted to respond. --------- "RE: Protecting the ICWA" --------- Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 16:09:35 -0700 From: fouche@rmii.com (Marie Fouche) Subj: Protecting the ICWA Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Hi Everyone, I've been trying to figure out exactly how to write this for the past few weeks, because this has become a very emotional issue for me...I'm writing to all of you to ask for support, for time to send an e-mail message to the below addresses I've included every day if you feel so inclined regarding the protection of the ICWA. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was passed into law by Congress in November of 1978. The purpose of this law was to give First Nations control over the welfare of their children. Before the law was passed, literally thousands of Native American children were adopted off the reservations into non-native families without any considerations to the ramifications these adoptions could have. Several of these children found good homes, but many others landed within families that didn't care for them, that abused these little ones. Many clinical studies have been performed with regards to the psychological impacts of these adoptions, and because of these clinical studies, Canada put a temporary stop to any further adoptions of Canadian Indian children. Many times these children were raised by families that simply didn't understand the need of their adopted child to know and learn about their heritage. Many times the adoption agencies purposely hid the fact that the child being adopted was Native American. Many times families adopted children with little or no information regarding the Tribe the child came from. Many times these families thought that they were saving the souls of these children from a certain damnation, and through their help, their spirits would find their way to heaven. Their intentions might have been good, but were misguided. Through my research I have found that many of the Native Americans in prison were adopted off the rez. Many times these children were taken from their families by social workers who were trained to undermine the self-esteem of the new mother. Other times children were taken from their homes without the parents' consent. The ICWA was enacted to put a stop to all of this. Presently, a number of high-profile cases are challenging the ICWA and what being "Indian" means. Two major cases were lost recently, and I was involved with one of these cases. This case involved Casey who was adopted by the Swenson's immediately after birth without the Lakota father's knowledge or consent. The Swenson's did not notify the father that he even had a son for four months. During the case the Idaho Supreme Court held in the case of Casey that a witness needs no special knowledge of Indian life where a professional person has substantial education and experience and testifies on matters not implicating cultural bias. Under this standard the court confirmed as "expert" a non-Indian witness who admitted to no knowledge of Indians or genetics yet who testified that Indians are genetically inferior to whites. We lost the case, and there is no chance of appeal. To say that this has broken all of hearts is putting it mildly. Recently, Karen and Rick Adams lost their bid to return their twin Pomo Indian granddaughters. Why? Because the biological father couldn't prove to the courts satisfaction that he was "Indian" enough. The court created a list of things Indians who live off of the rez must now meet. The criteria goes something like this...involvement in your Tribe's politics, involvement with your Tribe's religious ceremonies, read Indian newspapers, etc..... This is the new slogan of adoption attorneys across the country and now many of our lawmakers, many of our representatives. If you don't live on the reservation, then you might not be considered Indian by the courts. The Adams case is being appealed to the California Supreme Court. The Rosts are the ones who adopted the Pomo Indian twin girls, and their representative, Congresswoman Pryce, has introduced amendments to the ICWA to the Subcommittee of Native American and Insular Affairs to weaken the Indian Child Welfare Act. Her proposed amendments to the ICWA would support what adoption attorneys are saying...if you don't live on the rez, are not an enrolled member of your tribe, then you might not be considered "Indian" enough. Currently, there is a case going on in Georgia (the details are on my WEB page...http://rainbow.rmii.com/~fouche) in which the couple who is trying to adopt a child is claiming that the entire ICWA is unconstitutional. I'm trying to start a letter writing campaign by e-mail to protest the adoption of these amendments to the ICWA. I want to flood the offices of these people with protests of the adoption of these amendments, at least that's my hope. First Nations do not support these changes whatsoever...I have spoken with many people from different Nations, and I have heard over and over how this is not supported by their communities. So, I've been asked to initiate this. By tomorrow I should have Congresswoman Pryce's proposed amendments loaded onto my homepage if you are interested in reading this. My address is http://rainbow.rmii.com/~fouche. I also have the entire ICWA on my page if you are interested in reading what the Act actually says. Congresswoman Pryce's e-mail address is: pryce15@hr.house.gov. I've written to Congresswoman Pryce several times, but the only message I get from her office is that she won't respond to e-mail coming from any other state than Ohio. If anyone from Ohio writes to her, could you let me know what she says? Her phone number is 202-225-3121 Senator Glenn, who is sponsoring these amendments, does not have a personal e-mail address, but he is on the Aging Committee, and their e-mail address is: mailbox@aging.senate.gov The Subcommittee of Native American and Insular Affairs falls under the Resource Committee now. The members of this committee are: Don Young from Alaska Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland Walter B. Jones, Jr. of North Carolina Richard (Doc) Hastings of Washington Jack Metcalf of Washington James B. Longley, Jr. of Maine Eni F. H. Faleomavaega of America Samoa Dale E. Kilder of Michigan Pat Williams of Montana Tim Johnson of South Dakota Carlos A. Romero-Barcelo of Puerto Rico Robert A. Underwood of Guam. None of these guys have e-mail addresses, but they can be reached at RESOURCE@HR.HOUSE.GOV. The address for the Subcommittee on Native American and Insular Affairs is Room 1522 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The phone number is 202-226-7393 The e-mail that you send does not have to be long whatsoever....I point out in mine that is not their right or position to determine what being "Indian" is, because this is extremely individual to each an every person...that's these amendments were not initiated by the Native American community, and therefore should not be considered. Also, I state that if they are to continue with any further movement on these amendments, they should travel to all First Nations and speak with the elders, listen to what they have to say, and give them an equal voice in this. I'm sorry that this is so long, but if you have any further questions, please feel free to e-mail me directly at fouche@rmii.com. Thank you for taking the time to read this. In Lak'ech Yelir, Marie Fouche - fouche@rmii.com http://rainbow.rmii.com/~fouche. If that doesn't work, please try http://www.rmii.com/~fouche - The Lost Bird Page discusses the contentious issue of American Indian adoptions. --------- "RE: Peltier: Collection of letters to Parole Commission" --------- Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 17:41:13 -0600 From: r2jsq@vm1.cc.uakron.edu Subj: Peltier: Collection of letters to Parole Commission Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) [Editorial note: Space prevented including all of Joe's letters. I pray you will find one worthy of sending or one that gives you the strength to write and send a letter of your own.] Here are several of the letters that I have written to the U.S. Parole Commission. Feel free to attach your name and address and + send or fax them + e-mail them to me to print and mail or feel free to take whatever ideas or words you like out of them to use in your own letters to the Parole Commission or President supporting Leonard Peltier's release. -Joe Quickle -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD. 20815 FAX: (301) 492-6694 Dear Commissioner, I am writing to urge you to parole Leonard Peltier as soon as humanly possible. Never has a case of government misconduct been so thoroughly documented yet this misconduct at the same time been so thoroughly ignored. The actions of the government - the FBI in particular - on Pine Ridge Reservation in the 1972- 1976 period make L.A. Detective Mark Fuhrman look like a boy scout earning his citizenship badge. Examples of the government misconduct cited above (but far from a comprehensive list) include: * Leonard Peltier was extradited from Canada based on a perjured affidavit which had been coerced by FBI agents. * The judge barred most of the overwhelming amount of evidence in Peltier's defense. * The judge allowed FBI agents to perjure themselves by giving statements that contradicted their own written reports and their own testimony at the earlier trial of two other men who were acquitted. * An FBI agent testified about key ballistics evidence while his own memos - suppressed until well after Peltier's conviction - showed his testimony to be untrue. Leonard Peltier was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, without ever having a fair trial. Despite FBI documents demonstrating that the original evidence against him was falsified, he has been denied all appeals. The prosecutor has admitted in court on several occasions that he does not know who shot the agents. Yet Leonard Peltier remains in prison. Leonard Peltier has widespread support from around the world: over 25 million people have signed petitions for his release: he has the support of over 50 members of the US Congress, 50 members of the Canadian Parliament, Amnesty International, the National Association of Christians and Jews, Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Nelson Mandela. Also, the Canadian Justice Ministry is currently investigating the circumstances of Peltier's extradition. I urge and beseech you to immediately remove this blight on justice in the U.S. by releasing Leonard Peltier. Thank you for your time. I pray you'll make a choice for justice rather than support prejudice, racism, and abuse of power. Sincerely, ------------------------------- United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD. 20815 FAX: (301) 492-6694 Dear Commissioner, We recently began a new year, traditionally a time of renewal. I urge you to do your part in renewing justice in the United States by paroling Leonard Peltier. Mr. Peltier has been wrongfully imprisoned for nearly twenty years. He is known internationally as an American political prisoner. The Soviet Union freed Andrei Sakarov years ago; South Africa freed Nelson Mandela. But Leonard Peltier remains imprisoned - while there is no legitimate reason for this to be the case. If you do not believe that Leonard Peltier should be immediately freed, then I can say with the utmost confidence that you simply do not know his case very well. Look into it and make an informed decision, and you will know that you if you wish to do what is right for Leonard Peltier, for American society, and for yourself, you must free Leonard Peltier. Sincerely, ------------------------------- United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD. 20815 FAX: (301) 492-6694 Dear Commissioner, I start this appeal for Leonard Peltier's parole with a quote from the late Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, jr. - "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Think about this for a moment - injustice to even one man is an offense against us all, a peril to each of us. Dr. King wrote this truism in a letter from a Birmingham jail; he was being imprisoned for standing up for his legal, constitutional, civil rights. Leonard Peltier was also jailed for standing up for the rights of himself and his people. But his incarceration was orchestrated in a much more insidious fashion - he was framed for an act which the preponderance of evidence shows that he did not commit, and was tried in a manner that guaranteed his conviction, justice be damned. I ask you to consider Dr. King's words when you make your decision to parole Leonard Peltier, and consider who he was, where he was, and why he was there at the time that he said them. I urge you to fulfill your legal and moral obligation to free Leonard Peltier. Sincerely, ------------------------------- United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD. 20815 Dear Commissioner, Had anyone come to me several years back and told me of a "government conspiracy" against Leonard Peltier, against the American Indian Movement, or against civil rights leaders I surely would have thought that person to be delusional or suffering from some type of paranoid disorder. I would not have thought it possible that agencies of our own federal government would be involved in any such activities outside of the movies. I wish that were true today and represented the political reality of this country, but I've seen much too much since then to harbor or maintain such naivete. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that Leonard Peltier did not and could not have had a fair trial; that the judge, prosecutor, and Federal Bureau of Investigation acted in collusion to insure his conviction, often acting well outside of their legal parameters; that the FBI was involved - as evidenced by its own internal documents - in a war of repression against individuals and groups calling out for reform. I understand reluctance to see any government agencies as anything other than "the good guys," making anything they attacked the "bad guys." But - again by its own internal documents - the "bad guys" that the FBI battled to "neutralize" included Jane Fonda; Reverend Martin Luther King, jr.; and student protesters, among a myriad of others. The pursuit of civil rights should never have made anyone a target of the government. But this is precisely what made Mr. Peltier a target of the FBI, and what directly brought about his conviction. In the words of Judge Fred Nichol, after presiding over the Wounded Knee Leadership Trial, "... the FBI [was] determined to get the AIM movement and completely destroy it" (quoted in NY Times, Sept. 17, 1974). This injustice cannot be reversed - Mr. Peltier has spent nearly twenty years of his life in federal prisons. But it must be addressed an mitigated to the greatest extent it can be - and this means freeing Mr. Peltier at the earliest possible time. I urge you to make a move for justice rather than bring the stain of corruption onto yourself. I beseech you to parole Leonard Peltier. Sincerely, ------------------------------- United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD. 20815 FAX: (301) 492-6694 Dear Commissioner, The bulk of this letter comprises only of two quotations from the Boston College Law Review article "Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Leonard Peltier and the Sublegal System" (July 1993). I hope they will provide serious "food for thought" as ponder the decision to free Leonard Peltier. Imprisonment, such as in the case of Leonard Pelter, resulting from perjured or concealed testimony knowingly used of withheld by state authorities, is inconsistent with the rudimentary demands of justice and constitutes a deprivation of rights guaranteed by the federal Constitution [p. 930]. The extradition, prosecution, and affirmations of conviction of Leonard Peltier demonstrate not only the fundamental injustice possible in our legal system, but also the failure of the Bagley standard to correct those faults. Due to stringent standards and the ease with which crucial evidence may be concealed, Leonard Peltier has become one of the victims of a sublegal system, where citizens are functionally guilty until proven innocent. A judicial system that affirms a conviction obtained through the most questionable of means, while the affirming judge feels compelled to ask the President of the United States to pardon the convicted, is a system that has failed in its quest for justice [p. 934-935]. It is now up to the Parole Commission to mitigate this failure of the system in its quest for justice. I urge you to make the only legally, morally, and ethically correct choice in this matter - side with justice and parole Leonard Peltier. Sincerely, ------------------------------- United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD. 20815 Dear Commissioner, Leonard Peltier has widespread support from around the world: over 25 million people have signed petitions for his release; he has the support of over 50 members of the US Congress, 50 members of the Canadian Parliament, Amnesty International, the National Association of Christians and Jews, Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Nelson Mandela; and the Canadian Justice Ministry is currently investigating the circumstances of Peltier's extradition. I bring this up to point out that Mr. Peltier's is an extraordinary case; if justice were being served by Mr. Peltier's incarceration, it would not be possible for this type of support for his freedom to have emerged. I join these millions of people who have called for freedom for Mr. Peltier by urging you to parole him immediately. Sincerely, ------------------------------- United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD. 20815 FAX: (301) 492-6694 Dear Commissioner, Millions of people have called for Mr. Leonard Peltier's release from imprisonment. You may ask yourself "Why should Mr. Peltier be freed?" Were you to ask me, this is how I would answer that question, without hesitation.. Because he is innocent. The overwhelming evidence of Mr. Peltier's case shows that he should never have been imprisoned in the first place. Because this is an extraordinary case. Nearly every inmate claims innocence, but how many have passed through your office that have had millions of people petition for their freedom, that have members of the U.S. Congress and several foreign parliament's calling out for their release. Mr. Peltier's is an extraordinary case, and warrants extraordinary action. It warrants his immediate release. Because people such as Mr. Peltier are needed in our society. He is engaging in helping people even from the confines of a prison cell. Because justice should be served. This is fundamental to our nation, and our world. You would not be taking part in the judicial system without endorsing a belief in justice. To reject the corruption that put Mr. Peltier behind bars. If you knowingly keep an innocent man imprisoned while having the power to release him, you nourish and become a part of that depravity. Because it is damaging to you and to us all for this taint on our system and our world to persevere. In the words of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Mr. Peltier's wrongful imprisonment affects us all, hurts us all. Because the U.S. holds itself as a world leader for human rights. The United States of America is not supposed to have political prisoners. But this is exactly what the facts of Mr. Peltier's situation bear out. It is hypocritical in the extreme to demand the release of other countries' political prisoners while holding one's own. For these reasons, you must parole Mr. Leonard Peltier immediately. I pray you will do so. Sincerely, ------------------------------- United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD. 20815 Dear Commissioner, Although the format of the following letter may be unorthodox, it's message is striking, even for a long-time supporter of Mr. Peltier's such as myself. Please read the quotations presented below, and consider their sources. TOP TEN REASONS LEONARD PELTIER SHOULD BE FREED, IN THE WORDS OF THE GOVERNMENT... 10. "The United States government must share in the responsibility for the June 26 firefight... It appeared that the FBI was equally to blame for the shootout..." - Gerald Heaney, Senior Judge in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a letter supporting clemency for Leonard Peltier. 9. "We can't prove who shot those agents... Aiding and abetting whoever did the final shooting. Perhaps aiding and abetting himself. And hopefully the jury would believe that in effect he had done it all. But aiding and abetting nevertheless." -Prosecutor Lynn Crooks in Court of Appeals, October 15, 1985. 8. "But can't you see... that what happened happened in such a way that it gives some credence to the claim... that the United States is willing to resort to any tactic in order to bring somebody back to the United States from Canada. And if they are willing to do that, they must be willing to fabricate evidence as well." -Judge Donald Ross, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, referring to the coerced and perjured affidavits used to extradite Leonard Peltier from Canada. Transcript of the proceedings (oral arguments) in US v. Peltier, CR C77-3003 "Motion to Vacate Judgement and for a New Trial," at 7326-7. 7. Federal Bureau of Investigation teletype dated October 2, 1975, indicating that (FBI ballistics expert) Evan Hodge had performed a firing pin test on the Wichita AR-15 (claimed by the government to have been Leonard Peltier's) immediately after he received it and compared it to the cartridges found at the scene. Contrary to his trial testimony that the test was inconclusive, this memo conclusively stated that the rifle contained "a different firing pin" from the weapon used in the firefight. This exculpatory evidence was withheld from the defense, and only discovered years after the trial with the release of documents via the Freedom of Information Act. 6. "There are only two alternatives... to the government's contention that the .223 casing was ejected into the trunk of Coler's car when the Wichita AR-15 was fired at the agents. One alternative is that the .223 casing was planted in the trunk of Coler's car either before its discovery by the investigating agents or by the agents who reported the discovery. The other alternative is that a non-matching casing was originally found in the trunk and sent to the FBI laboratory, only to be replaced by a matching casing when the importance of a match to the Wichita AR-15 became evident." - Judges of the Appeals panel, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, "Appeal from the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota," op. cit., p. 16. The Court recognized that key evidence against Leonard Peltier could only have been fabricated, but went on to say "We recognize that there is evidence in this record of improper conduct on the part of some FBI agents, but we are reluctant to impute even further improprieties to them." 5. "The jury agreed with the defense contention that an atmosphere of fear and violence exists on the reservation, and that the defendants arguably could have been shooting in self-defense. While it was shown that the defendants [Dino Butler and Bob Robideau] were firing guns in the direction of the agents, it was held that this was not excessive in the heat of passion." -Jury Foreman Robert Bolin, after the acquittal of Butler and Robideau for their roles in the firefight. 4. Leonard Peltier was targeted for "neutralization" by the FBI years before the firefight; in 1972 two off-duty Milwaukee police officers beat Peltier and then had him charged with attempted murder. This occurred after one of the officers had shown a picture of Peltier to his girlfriend and boasted of "catching a big one for the FBI." (U.S. v. Peltier, CR 77-3003-1, U.S. Court for the District of North Dakota, November, 1990, p. 12). Both incidents were entirely consistent with the FBI's COINTEL program, which targeted any individuals or groups with political voices. 3. "...[L]ittle has been done to solve numerous murders on the reservation, but when two white men are killed 'troops' are brought in from all over the country at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars." - Civil Rights Commission Chairman Arthur J. Flemming on the reaction to the FBI agents' deaths in (his words again), "an extreme over- reaction which takes on aspects of a vendetta...a full scale military type invasion" of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 2. "... the FBI [was] determined to get the AIM movement and completely destroy it." -Judge Fred Nichol, after presiding over the "Wounded Knee Leadership Trial," quoted in NY Times, Sept. 17, 1974. 1. "We don't know who shot those agents" - Prosecutor Lynn Crooks in Court of Appeals, Nov. 9, 1992, p. 12 of oral arguments transcript. I urge you to eradicate the continuance of this longstanding injustice rather than embrace and support the corruption from which it grew. I urge you to free Leonard Peltier as soon as humanly possible. Sincerely, --------- "RE: A Tribal College Supports Orfield" --------- Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 16:00:23 CST From: rmyers@asab.fdl.cc.mn.us (Rick Myers) Subj: A Tribal College Supports Myron Orfield Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) -Please Forward----------- To whom it may concern: On Tuesday February 6, 1996, the FDL/TCC Student Senate will leave the ever-growing Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College (Cloquet, MN) to make its way to Minnesota's Capitol to support Rep. Myron Orfield (DFL) in his fight to pass his tuition relief bill to be officially introduced on the floor of the House of Represenatives on Wednesday February 7, 1996. Also, at this time the FDL/TCC Student Senate will have the opportunity to lobby Rep. Henry Kalis (DFL), who strongly opposes for their college to receive a bond for expansion into housing. In less than half a decade, this college has expanded and helped Cloquet, MN, grow. The economy in this small town has risen and these results are not known to Rep. Henry Kalis, so action must be taken now, because without this bond we can't expand and give the oppurtunity to future students to come. Please, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to direct them towards me or call Jack Briggs, FDL/TCC President, at (218) 879-0800. Cordially, Mr. Rick R. Myers FDL/TCC Student Senate Tribal Affairs Liaison ÿÿ