Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews04.011 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 011 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 16 March 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 Innu-L,NAT LIT,NATCHAT & NATIVE-L listservers; AISESnet; UUCP & Genie email; Newsgroups: apc.indig.info,apc.indig.canada,soc.culture.native,alt.native Articles appearing have been previously posted for public dissemination and/or permission for inclusion has been secured. Letters of authorization are on file. A list of those granting permission to repost their words in this issue are listed at the end of part A. I thank each of you for allowing your words to be shared with the people. <----<<<< >>>>----> This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters who share our Spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the Red Road. 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 title of the Cherokee People to their lands is the most ancient, pure, and absolute known to man; its date is beyond the reach of human record; its validity confirmed by possession and enjoyment antecedent to all pretense of claim by any portion of the human race." "The free consent of the Cherokee People is indispensable to a valid transfer of the Cherokee title. The Cherokee people have neither by themselves nor their representatives given such consent. It follows that the original title and ownership of said lands still rests in the Cherokee Nation, unimpaired and absolute. The Cherokee people have existed ass a distinct national community for a period extending into antiquity beyond the dates and memory of man. These attributes have never been relinquished by the Cherokee People, and cannot be dissolved by expulsion of the Nation from its own territory by the power of the United States Government." __ Resolution Adopted by the Last Cherokee Council Meeting, October 1838 (Shortly thereafter the Removal we call the Trail of Tears was ordered by President Jackson, whose life had been saved by Chief Junaluska, and in spite of a ruling by the United States Supreme Court in Favor of the Cherokee Nation. Aho!) +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! Recent budget cuts and court decisions indicate the "Indian Question" is still being dealt with in the only way the dominant society seems to understand - denial and oppression. Many things have been taken from the First Nations and the First People without it being granted. Considering this and the opening comment above, I would very much like to see the dominant society take one more thing, and keep it, and use it..... Honor. 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 - Timbisha Kicked Out - Conferences and Powwows - online - Adopt a Grandparent Program - Sunbow5 Walk Completion Ceremony - Boss Indian Around - Cleveland AIM/Chief Wahoo - Emergency Peltier Update - High Arctic Exiles - Freedom Run for Leonard Peltier - Natives Against New York Taxation - Councilman Indicted - NMAI - Goose Bay 'Subs for Bases' - Request for School Children - Lubicon Peoples' Daishowa Boycott - Tobacco Seeds - Internships - Silko's Birthday - Thought: Wars! - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: Timbisha Kicked Out" --------- Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 17:45:36 -0500 From: RPaton2@aol.com Subj: Timbisha Kicked Out of Death Valley National Park UUCP email Secretary Babbitt Promises To Throw The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe Off Its Ancestral Homeland In Death Valley For Immediate Release Monday, March 11, 1996 Contact: Richard F. Boland, Chief Spokesperson (619) 786-2374 Death Valley, California(Thursday, March 7, at a meeting in Death Valley, California, federal officials from the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management told leaders of the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe that their boss, Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt, has decided to throw the Tribe off the last remnant of its traditional homelands in Death Valley. The Secretary will force the Tribe to give up the tiny 40 acre camp in Death Valley it was relocated to when President Hoover took the Tribe's land away in 1933 to establish the Death Valley National Monument. Pauline Esteves, Acting Tribal Chairperson and tribal elder, observed that this latest action by the federal government is just one more attempt at ethnic cleansing. Since 1933, the National Park Service has done everything in its power to deny the Tribe is historical claims, pretend we do not exist, and to get us out of the Park. While only about fifty of our members managed to maintain a continuing presence in the Valley on this water starved, sand blown 40 acre parcel, the Park Service has treated us like dirt. Over the years, this arrogant agency has controlled our every movement, cut off our power, severed access to our sacred sites, fined us for engaging in our traditional practices, and bulldozed our homes when our people vacated them to return to traditional summer camps.i According to Richard Boland, Tribal Administrator and Chief Spokesman for the Timbisha Shoshone Land Restoration Committee, the Tribe reacted in disbelief to the news delivered by the federal officials. The Tribe had been hopeful its sixty-three year old grievance would be finally redressed with the passing of the California Desert Protection Act. This Act, passed in October 1994, largely because of strong support from California Senator Dianne Feinstein and environmentalists, added some 3 million acres of desert land to the National Monument and made the whole area into a National Park. But of particular interest to the Tribe, the Act included a provision instructing the Secretary of Interior, while implementing this huge land transfer, to conduct a study of the Tribe is aboriginal homelands with the purpose of identifying lands suitable for a reservation for the Timbisha people. Congress explicitly instructed the Secretary of Interior to prepare this study in consultation with the Tribe.i In the words of Tribal Chairperson Esteves: Finally the secret is out. And once again the federal government did it to us rather than with us. It was on long eleven-month charade.i Those pasty-faced bureaucrats knew from the beginning that they would not restore ancestral lands to us. They sat there through presentation after presentation by the Tribe, fooling us into believing that there could be a sincere dialogue between the federal government and its constituents. We spent over a hundred thousand dollars, hiring the best anthropologists, historians, lawyers and economic consultants, gathering data, establishing the suitability of segments of our traditional homelands proposed to be taken into trust. We made countless proposals. We got nothing of substance back, no effort on their part to even meet us part way. Instead of a dialogue and a respectful exchange of ideas, we were stonewalled. Instead of a commitment to right an old wrong, to fulfill the government's trust responsibility to this nation's first people, this Democratic Administration has used its enormous power to clobber us. And to add insult to injury, this Administration used the Desert Protection Act, to legitimatize the government's decades long racist policy to get Indians out of National Parks. This liberal Act has been used by the Clinton Administration as the 'final solution' to its Indian problem in Death Valley. The forced removal of the Tribe from its homelands in Death Valley will extend the lie that the Park Service has perpetuated ever since it stole the land and created the myth that there were no Indians living in the area. This is not only unfair to the Tribe but it continues to corrupt the Park's mandate to truly share this national treasure with the American public. There are over a million tourists who visit Death Valley each year both lured by the areas stark beauty and its unique history. An essential part of the regions legacy has been the Timbisha Shoshone people who have been an integral part of the desert for thousands of years. The lands are replete with historical encampments, hunting trails, burial grounds, hidden springs and archaeological sites that have powerful traditional and spiritual significance. Instead of the Valley just perpetrating Death as the National Park Service would have visitors believe today, the arid land and natural resources have sustained a resilient and creative desert people and a rich Native American culture for thousands of years. Until the Tribe was cut- off from its land in 1933, it had been an integral part of the ecological equation--cultivating mesquite, pine nuts and other indigenous plant life for food, developing and preserving springs for their own use and to protect and enhance the wildlife, and selectively burning underbrush to prevent forest fires in the mountains. The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe holds the secret to surviving one of the most awesome deserts in the world and the public most assuredly would love to learn the knowledge and wisdom directly from the people who possess it. Until now the National Park Service has kept all this a closely guarded secret lest the truth of its land theft also has to be revealed. We will not take this lying down. We still have faith in the American people and in the democratic system of government. If our government can stand up for justice in Bosnia, it should be able to do the right thing in Death Valley. We welcome your support. Write to us c/o: Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, PO Box 206, Death Valley, California 92328. --------- "RE: Adopt a Grandparent Program" --------- Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 18:51:15 GMT From: agpmlc@aol.com Subj: Adopt a Grandparent Program Newsgroups: apc.indig.info,soc.culture.native,alt.native NOTES FROM THE REZ AND OTHER PLACES 3/12/96 ADOPT A GRANDPARENT PROGRAM Our WINTER ELDERS GIFT DRIVE A SUCCESS $23,472.00 worth of toys, clothing, sewing supplies, food, school supplies, craft materials and $ 9,571.00 worth of food, electricity, propane and wood gift certificates ( from November 1995 thru February 1996) were gifted to elders and their families on Pine Ridge, all coming from the likes of you folks out there in real world and cyber space!!!... STUDENTS FROM LITTLE WOUND SCHOOL GOING TO WASHINGTON On March 18th, four young students will be traveling to Washington DC. to be part of a non partisan government studies program. Ted Standing Soldier, Eldridge Grinnell, Jennifer Takes War Bonnett and Shannon Puckett have been invited by the Close Up foundation to take part in a series of government studies seminars, and tours of Washington and surrounding areas. ALL FOUR OF THESE STUDENTS NEED MONETARY HELP, raveling money, for hotel accommodations, meals, and transportation in Washington DC. Contributions can go directly to: Mr. Silas Blaine, Teacher and coordinator Washington trip Little Wound High School Box 500 Kyle SD 57752 605-455-2461 All contributions for the Students trip must be received by March 18th. SEED PROGRAM: Looking for Native People to grow out seed stock. Every Spring AGP conducts a seed search for gardeners on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Many elders create gardens each year and we try to provide them with as many seeds as we can get. This year we have written to Native Seeds, Native Seeds Search, Seeds of Change and Four Eagles Garden Seeds and hope to receive some of their 95 surplus seeds to plant in this gardening season. The best seeds to plant on the Rez are all root crops, squash, zucchini, onions and potatoes. If you know of other seed companies in your area who have a surplus of seeds from 95 please let us know. NEWSLETTER LOOKING FOR STORIES: Our Spring newsletter is coming right up, AGP is looking for any folks out there who are members, and have a story to relate about the interaction that they have had with their adopted elders . If you have a few paragraphs, and/or pictures you can send along to us please do so. WE'D BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER YOUR STORY FOR THE NEWSLETTER. Newsletter deadline: April 15, 1996 ADVERTISING IN THE NEWSLETTER We are opening up the pages in Mountain Light, our Spring Newsletter for supporting advertisers. there are display ads ranging from the size of a business card to 1/4, 1/2 and full page ads. Ranging in price from $50.00 to $500.00. This is an excellent opportunity for businesses and organizations with related interests, products, and social concerns to communicate with the circle of AGP participants, and show your support for our program. The next issue will reach aprox. 10,000 people by mail, and many more on WWW and the internet. Newsletter deadline: April 15, 1996 Call, email or fax for Advertising rates and info. 505-776-8474 fx-505-776-8050 email: agpmlc@aol.com AGP BREAKFASTS A HIT! There have been these interesting gatherings held in different areas including Taos, Denver and Washington DC and who knows where next. The gatherings have been lively with Music from local musicians, great Waffles and breakfast yum yums, updates on AGPs progress, and extensive conversations, especially with "Ducky" our resident 12 yr. old green wing Macaw. Two sure dates are: Sunday March 10th at Mountain Light B&B in Arroyo Hondo NM, and Sunday April 21st, At The Tewa Kitchen in Conjunction with the Taos Talking Picture Show , a Benefit for AGP and Oo-Oonah Art Center, host of the Native American Film Festival in Taos NM. MANY PEOPLE HAVE ASKED "HOW CAN I HELP WITH VOLUNTEER WORK IN MY AREA?" Well, were learning as we go along, here are some ideas: + Have an AGP Benefit Breakfast in your area, + Put AGP's brochures and info in shops and places that there might be people interested in the project, + Share a newsletter advertising kit with businesses or groups that might sponsor an ad in MountainLight our upcoming spring newsletter. + AGP needs more members, the membership funds goes towards the general operations of the project, and helps to support all the behind the scenes activities that it takes to coordinate people and resources from all over the country.. contact our office if you are interested in any of the above.. JOHN SIERS WORKS WITH ELDERS IN THE CITY. In Rapid City, SD, there is a community of Lakota People that are in need of a helping hand...They have a carpenter in need of materials, to fix the roof of an elder and his family. He also needs a coat and they all need warm clothing and sweaters, new flat sheets and cotton fabric pieces for the traditional Quilters. all can be sent to : Deloris Allen; Community Coordinator 2430 GnuGnuska* Drive Rapid City, SD 57701. ... (* GnuGnuska means grasshopper in Lakota) For cash contributions for roofing materials etc.. contact: AGP Box 241 Taos NM 87571 Attn:Red Owl Memorial Elders Emergency Fund. AGP ON WWWEB AT SOUL ZONE This year AGP has been offered a free space on the World Wide Web. The site is called Soul Zone which promotes artists, educators and humanitarian assistance organizations. Soul Zone is in the process of creating their site and we expect them to be online by May. We will send out the address once it is created. This site will offer insight into the program, information updates, how you can volunteer, and will also offer AGP products for sale for fundraising. I wish everyone the best in this coming Spring Season of Earth Turning, Seed planting and Songs on the wind.... G.R. --------- "RE: Boss Indian Around" --------- Date: 6:00 PM Mar 9, 1996 From: cwyob@mailhost.galstar.com in igc Subj: Boss Indian Around-March Commentates Newsgroups: apc.indig.info,soc.culture.native,alt.native The following commentary written by Cherokee Nation Tribal Member Art Nave was published in the March issue of The Cherokee Observer. [Thanks for granting permission through Marvin Summerfield for redistribution in Wotanging Ikche/Kanoheda Aniyvwiya - gary] BOSS INDIANS AROUND Every Indian Citizen knows that BIA stands for Boss Indians Around. At worst, the BIA is no different than the old reservation Indian agent who stole beef for personal gain and starved the Indians! At best, they are an outmoded bureaucracy, inept, dictatorial, and with little or no regard for Tribal or individuals right or welfare. Latest reports indicate that the BIA cannot account for $2.4 BILLION dollars in tribal trust funds, or $1 of every $7 they have handled in the last twenty years. In the private sector someone would go to prison for these actions, but somewhere deep in our white government's psyche they believe that stealing from Indians is acceptable, the American way, if you will. We Cherokee recently felt the results of BIA ineptitude throughout the misapplication of our request for surplus land at Ft. Chafee, Arkansas. I believe that BIA should be segmented into small staffs of superintendents and support personnel and assigned to each individual tribe. These small staffs would be accountable to the Tribal governments and could be removed for non-performance. It is past time that the BIA be made accountable to the people they feed off of and are supposed to serve. ++++++++++++++++ Posted courtesy of: The CHEROKEE OBSERVER --------- "RE: Emergency Peltier Update" --------- Date: Fri, 8 Mar 96 01:55:14 GMT From: lpdc@idir.net (Lisa Faruolo) Subj: EMERGENCY PELTIER UPDATE Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native MARCH 7, 1996 An authoritative source today confirmed previous informal information to Peltier's Defense Committee that the parole hearing officer who conducted the hearing on December 11, 1995, HAS made a positive recommendation to the National Parole Commission for the parole release of Leonard Peltier without further delay. This recommendation was based on the failure of the government to present evidence that Leonard Peltier was the person who killed the two FBI agents at close range. A Final decision from the National Commission was expected in January. Then the unusual delay in its decision of over two and a half months has caused GREAT concern from the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and his supporters. It is feared that the Parole Commission may conceal the positive parole recommendation made by the parole hearing officer and attempt to deny Leonard Peltier parole. PLEASE help us to ensure that justice is done on behalf of Leonard Peltier. You can do this by requesting the public release of the parole hearing officer's recommendation for parole and demanding the approval of that recommendation by the National Commission and the immediate parole release of Leonard Peltier. Contact the United Stated Parole Commission at: Phone: 301-492-5922 or 301-492-5821 Fax: 301-492-6694, 301-492-5525, 301-492-5307 Thank you! --------- "RE: Freedom Run for Leonard Peltier" --------- Date: Sun, 10 Mar 1996 01:47:52 -0800 From: Wicincala Subj: Freedom Run for Leonard Peltier and all Indigenous Peoples -please spread the word Newsgroups: alt.native U.N. Decade for Indigenous Peoples 1995 - 2004 FREEDOM RUN 1996 FOR LEONARD PELTIER & ALL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES We invite you to join the FREEDOM RUN '96 as an action in support of the American Indian Political Prisoner Leonard Peltier and the struggles of Indigenous Peoples world-wide. This Run includes issues on human rights, the fight against racism and colonialism, the anti-nuclear campaign, protection of the natural environment, connection to the land, and respect of cultural and religious differences. PARIS - LILLE - AACHEN - KOELN - BONN - FRANKFURT - HEIDELBERG - STRASBOURG - FREIBURG - KONSTANZ - ZUEERICH - BERN - LAUSANNE - GENEVE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Leonard "Gwarth-ee-lass" Peltier, a symbol of Indigenous Resistance Peltier has been imprisoned for 20 years in the USA. He was found guilty of murder of two FBI Agents, even though the courts have never been able to prove his guilt of this crime. It has been proven before the courts that the FBI had intentionally fabricated evidence, coerced witnesses and withheld essential material supporting Peltier's innocence in order to get Peltier sentenced. Peltier's case is one of many in which governments try to destroy civil rights movements by arresting their leaders. AIM had held an occupation at the village of Wounded Knee, South Dakota in 1973 to fight against the exploitation of coal and uranium in the sacred Black Hills of the Lakota Nation. They were also defending themselves against the oppressive puppet tribal government that was at the time "persecuting" AIM-members and traditional Lakota who were demanding the right to self-determination from the U.S. government. For this activism to gain civil rights for American Indians, Peltier, like many other members of AIM, or organizations such as the Black Panther Party were targeted by the Counter Intelligence Program of the FBI. Today, Peltier is still an active member of AIM out of his cell. He has exhausted all judicial avenues to get a new and fair trial. The only chance for his freedom is the granting of executive clemency by the U.S. president. Millions of people, parliamentarians in the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium, the European Parliament and Nobel Prize Winners, Nelson Mandela, Rigoberta Menchu, the Dalai Lama and many more have demanded executive clemency for Peltier. Yet he is not free. With this RUN we want to gain more support for his freedom and raise awareness with his case to the struggles of Indigenous Peoples who face persecution, murder and imprisonment for their resistance against colonizing governments and their ongoing struggle to survive. Indigenous Peoples' Struggles Indigenous Peoples are the first inhabitants of the land that they traditionally live on. They have maintained their cultures and ties to this lands since times immemorial. World-wide, indigenous people have been victims of physical and cultural genocide, and exploitation by intruding "discoverers" or expanding populations and their governments. But despite centuries of extermination, over 300 million indigenous people live today on all five continents. Governments deny indigenous peoples the right to their land, and control over their resources, the right to self-determination and the right to exercise their culture and religion freely. In order to secure internationally recognized rights, indigenous peoples are actively fighting within the United Nations. The UN have called out the DECADE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: 1995 - 2004 to promote the recognition of Indigenous Peoples. As a section under the theme of the UN- Decade, this RUN is organized to provide a platform to inform and confront European governments and corporations who are implicit in the destruction of indigenous people's lands with the demands of indigenous peoples. Only through sustained political pressure and public awareness will governments be forced to uphold the rights of indigenous peoples. For this, support from the public and smaller political entities such as city-councils is helpful. Yet it is also the aim of this RUN to address the European Parliament in Brussels and the United Nations in Geneva. Representatives from all indigenous peoples are welcome to join this RUN to inform their situations and present their demands to political representatives in Europe. These presentations can cover issues such as human rights violations as for example in Central America in Chiapas or Guatemala; destruction of traditional lands as for instance of Ogoni- land in Nigeria or the Black Hills of the Lakota; resistance against nuclear testing and uranium mining as in cases such as the Maohi in Tahiti, the Western Shoshoni in Nevada, or the Cree of Saskatchewan; desecration of religious sites like Mount Graham of the Apaches or sites of Aborigines in Australia; and the struggle for self-determination as for example of the people of West Papua or the Mohawk in Canada, etc. As a result of these meetings we hope to have gathered a comprehensive collection of signatures and statements of support by the visited city- councils. This collection will be presented to the President of the Human Rights Commission of the UN and to the Chairperson of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Peoples in Geneva at the end of the RUN. Organizations and individuals supporting indigenous peoples' demands are invited to help organize this event. The RUN Traditionally the Run was used by indigenous peoples to bring messages from village to village. The Run was considered sacred and in North America the staff with eagle feathers was there to protect the messengers and to remind them of their purpose. There will always be a spiritual leader and elder in charge of the RUN. At the start and the end of the RUN a ceremony will be held and each day will be concluded with traditional songs and drumming. This RUN us organized to introduce the political demands of Indigenous Peoples to the political representatives in Europe and to inform the people of the European communities. While a group of runners covers the distance from city to city, parallely, delegations of indigenous representatives will travel by bus and meet with the city councils and hold public events. The delegations will present their political demands to the politicians at each city and ask for support and the recognition of the specific struggles and for support of Leonard Peltier's freedom. Each evening the runners and the delegates will meet again and stay in the scheduled cities. Together public events will be held. Local support groups in the cities will arrange sleeping accommodations and food. Everybody is welcome to join this RUN. It will begin June 16 in Paris and finish July 20 in Geneva. There will be also link-runs, from countries that are not on the main route, which will join the FREEDOM RUN. One will start in Bretagne, another in Poland which will cross Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic and Germany, and a third one from Italy to Geneva. How You Can Participate You can participate in this RUN as a Runner, as well as a participant who accompanies the RUN or helps as a driver, translator, sponsor, doctor, nurse, musician, artist or local coordinator. If you can volunteer to offer your services and/or your vehicles and if your organization, company, or tribe would like to assist this RUN by sponsoring a Runner, please contact our offices in your area. Everybody is welcome to participate in this RUN. We also welcome non-runners to become part of this event. You must be self-sufficient and provide for your own transportation. Locally we are looking for additional people who can help to mark the roads for the runners, organize lodging, food, public events and media coverage. Everybody is asked to help in spreading the word about this event and contacting human rights and environmental organizations in your area. We are looking for a lot of support to make this International RUN successful. If you want to participate please ask for a REGISTRATION FORM at our offices. NO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ALLOWED ON THE RUN! For more information: European Office: Indigenous Office: Local Office: Nitassian-CSIA AIM-California/LPSG AKIN-KOELN/LPSG-Cologne Sylvain Duez-Alessandrini c/o Bobby Castillo c/o Spinella 75229 Paris Cedex 05 3145 Geary Blvd #517 Lindlaustrasse 18 Phone: 01-43566998 San Francisco, California 94118 53842 Troisdorf/Germany e-mail: hdoreau@aw.sgi.com Phone: (415)-386-4373 Phone/Fax: 02241-402093 e-mail: aimca@igc.apc.org e-mail: Fungirl869@aol.com TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: Date Day Route appr. km comments June France 14.-16. Fr-Sun Paris arrival/opening 20. Thu Paris-Amiens 139 21. Fri Amiens-Lille 118 22. Sat Lille-Bruxelles 121 Belgique 23.-24. So-Mo Bruxelles meet European Parl. 25. Tue Bruxelles-Aachen 140 Deutschland 26. Wed. Aachen-Koeln-Bonn 70+30 arrival at US Embassy 27. Thu Bonn meet German Parl. 28. Fr Bonn-Luxembourg 170 Luxembourg 29. Sat Luxembourg 30. Sun Luxembourg-Frankfurt 240 July 1. Mo Frankfurt-Heidelberg 90 meet link RUN from the east 2.-3. Tue Heidelberg meet politicians in Stuttgart 4. Thu Heidelberg-Strasbourg 130 France 5.-6. Fr-Sat Strasbourg join international lawyers meeting 7. Sun Strasbourg-Freiburg 90 Deutschland 8. Mo Freiburg 9. Tue Freiburg-Konstanz 120 10. Wed Konstanz Schweiz 11. Thu Konstanz-Zuerich 60 12. Fri Zuerich 13. Sat Znrich-Basel 80 14. Sun Basel 15. Mo Basel-Mulhouse 40 France 16. Tue Mulhouse 17. Wed Mulhouse-Belfort 45 18. Thu Belfort-Bern 130 Schweiz 19. Fri Bern 20. Sat Bern-Fribourg 35 21. Sun Fribourg 22. Mo Fribourg-Lausanne 70 23. Tue Lausannne 24. Wed Lausanne-Geneve 66 total 1984 --------- "RE: Councilman Indicted" --------- Date: Sun, 10 Mar 1996 08:36:09 LOCAL From: cwyob@mailhost.galstar.com (cherokee observer) Subj: FYI--Councilman indicted for Cherokee Historical Society Past Problems Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native Tahlequah Times Journal weekly newspaper--Sat-3-09-96 story written by staff writer Connie Webb-Cherokee Nation member [Thanks for granting permission through Marvin Summerfield for redistribution in Wotanging Ikche/Kanoheda Aniyvwiya - gary] A confidential 1994 report on the Cherokee Nation Historical Society paints a picture of MISMANAGEMENT AND MISCONDUCT by a former director, a Cherokee Nation tribal councilman, which resulted in a loss of grants to the organization and could initiate a federal investigation. The report also questions transactions by two members of the CNHS board of trustees who made tax deductible contributions to the Society which were worth considerably less than their purported value. Other information contained in the report indicates some people connected with members of the board may have used their association for personal gain. From Feb. 1993 until Dec. 1994, TROY WAYNE POTEETE was the executive director of the CNHS. He was appointed to the position by ROSS SWIMMER, the former board of trustees chairman, even though he had no prior experience in managing a museum. When POTEETE resigned his post, LEE FLEMING, the TRIBAL REGISTRAR, was appointed as interim director until a permanent director, Fleming sent a memo to then Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller, advising her of what he had discovered at the CNHS. "I believe that it is imperative that some of our communication and documentation be kept confidential, because I firmly believe that the Society may be investigated due to lack of compliance in some of our federal funding," stated Fleming in the memo to Mankiller dated Dec. 7, 1994. Fleming stated that due to POTEETE'S LACK OF KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS in fund raising and the non-profit sector, he had allowed certain funding sources of the CNHS to come into Jeopardy.... "The State Arts Council of Oklahoma canceled three grants (including one which was funded for three years)," stated Fleming. "Had he allowed information to flow directly to the Development Director and the accounting office, a segmentation of responsibility would have been in place. In fact, he did not effectively utilize any human resource available to him." A memorandum was sent to Poteete regarding a National Archives Grant formalizing prior concerns regarding the grant application budget. A letter from Daniel A. Stokes, Program Officer, NHPRC, was received questioning the CNHS's eligibility for the grant under Commission guidelines, which later reduced the organization's grant funding by approximately 50 percent. The report states Poteete issued a memo to George Bearpaw regarding the NHPRC Archives Grant indicating back-dating the letter to set-up reimbursement for the CNHS on this grant. Attached to the memo were back-dated correspondence, dishonestly indicating the letter was initiated by Bearpaw, who was the Executive Director of Tribal Operations for the Cherokee Nation at that time. According to the report, Poteete's disregard for the board directives and policy embarrassed the CNHS before Federal and Oklahoma Historical Records Advisory Boards. Poteete allowed an accumulation of debt to accrue in the amount of approximately $200,000, with almost 100 vendors demanding immediate full payment, stated Fleming. "I nearly fell over when I requested an accounts payable listing from bookkeeping, and wondered why some of the board of trustees did not observe this way before it got out of hand," he stated. "Additionally receipts will show he [Poteete] permitted non-management- level employees to 'charge' purchases around the community, including prison trustees, friends, and temporary personnel. "He made purchases, approved his own expenses, and signed all the checks, forbidding the accounting department to have any input into the judicious use of funds," stated Fleming. "He removed invoices from the Society and did not return them. To date, an accurate financial statement cannot be obtained without these invoices." Fleming said that prompted him to request the executive support unit do an internal audit of the CNHS for the time period Poteete was executive director. But the tribal executive directors "felt that the Society's board of trustees should approve of the audit first," Fleming stated. "Let me now document that I intend to see this achieved (a clear definition between the old and the new before a new executive director comes on board) to ensure my own professional reputation," stated Fleming. "It's time to come clean or, at least, to set the record straight." According to Fleming, despite board policies, Poteete made decisions "which were contrary to the governing body of the Society. And in fact, refused to implement or acknowledge and adhere to regulatory procedures put forth by the board, contractors, grantors, the state and the IRS (the latter in matters concerning deductible contributions, labor laws, taxes and safety)." The report said that James Leake, a board trustee, made a contribution of display cases to the Society, which Poteet valued at $17,100 and gave Leake a receipt to that effect. "There was no accompanying independent valuation," the report stated. A letter drafted by development committee chair William Flint, stated the receipt was invalid and an independent appraisal "must be in the offices of the Society within 45 days." Leake did not respond, the report states, and the cases, which were delivered to the Cherokee Nation, were being stored at a warehouse. Hinkley cautioned the board of trustees to obtain a current appraisal on the collection. When that was accomplished, it was discovered the original appraisal provided to Rucker the the seller of the collection was "grossly over-valued," according to the report. Some of the dolls were not Kachina's, some had the wrong artist on them, the wrong dimensions, etc. The executive board was told of the situation and cautioned to be more "thorough," concerning appraisals of donations to the CNHS. Other allegations made against Poteete in the report include he allegedly spent the CNHS non-profit money on cartons of cigarettes, large quantities of intoxicating substances, i.e.-liquid cough medications and cold remedies for prison trustees, clothing, food, shoes, tape players and sporting equipment. "...the receipts have disappeared from the Historical Society accounting office, taken by Troy Poteete (but can be reconstructed)." stated the report. Fleming stated in his memo to Mankiller, "He [Poteete} harassed individuals on the staff, and did not clearly communicate with his coard. It is my opinion that he is still advising current employees and other Tribal Council members, to undermine the positive efforts that I have been trying to implement." Fleming stated he had spoken with Poteete and "he clearly has a vengeance for Carol Hinkley and remarked that 'as long as she is there, the Society will never succeed. I am not the problem, she is." "He [Poteete] is the problem and needs professional help," Fleming told Mankiller. "I have no time to put up with his hurt ego, his antics to jeopardize the employment of the current staff, undermining a major appropriation from the Cherokee Nation because of a personal vendetta he has with Carol." The Tribal Council temporarily withheld an annual $100,000 donation to the CNHS during its budget appropriation in 1994. An inside source said Poteete convinced some members of the Tribal Council to withhold the contribution by telling them Hinkley was discriminating against Cherokee employees at CNHS. During an interview with [Ross O.] Swimmer in Feb. 1995, the former chairman of the CNHS board of trustees said the confidential report had been presented to the board members. "I have found nothing that particularly substantiates anything Mr. Poteete is accused of," Swimmer said. He went on to say he though the document was based on hearsay and the allegations were nothing more than gossip. "None of these accusations have been documented to my understanding." However, according to the report, the accusations were backed up with documentation which was provided to Swimmer and the board of trustees in Dec. 1994, prior to Poteete's resignation. According to an inside source, Poteete was given the position with the CNHS because Mankiller pressured Swimmer to hire him, without regard to Poteete's lack of experience and training in managing an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the culture of the Cherokee people. And when it become a liability because his actions were drawing attention to questionable practices at the CNHS, he resigned. "Wilma, I point these areas out because they have a direct impact on the current condition of the Society," stated Fleming. CNHS owed about $200, 000 in unpaid bills under Poteete when it had been debt-free prior to his appointment, the amphitheater was falling into ruin as was the Indian village and the museum needed serious attention. Fleming's report to Mankiller remained confidential until it was recently leaked to the press. Posted courtesy of: THE CHEROKEE OBSERVER-Your only independent Cherokee newspaper. --------- "RE: Goose Bay 'Subs for Bases'" --------- Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 17:11:31 -0400 From: Larry Innes Subj: GOOSE BAY 'SUBS FOR BASES' DEAL WITH UK - LATEST Mailing List: Innu People Forum list GOOSE BAY 'SUBS FOR BASES' DEAL WITH UK - LATEST Failure of the Canadian Defence Minister to announce his government's rejection of the 'subs for bases' deal with the UK in a major speech last week has been interpreted by two Canadian defence analysts as meaning that the project is "not yet dead". Under the proposal, Britain would provide Canada with four Upholder class submarines in exchange for free British access to training facilities at Goose Bay and at Suffield, Alberta. The two analysts, quoted in Jane's Defence Weekly, argue that the defence budget speech would have been "an ideal time to announce a rejection of the proposal" since "it would have given taxpayers an example of government restraint"; failure to announce it is there-fore an indication that it may still be under negotiation. However, this analysis may be faulty since: 1. The deal was set up precisely to obtain better value for money for both sides. Rejection could therefore be seen as throwing away an opportunity for a good deal. 2. The UK is about to offer the four Upholder class submarines to South Africa as part of an offer to build four new corvettes in the UK. Failure to agree on a subs for bases deal would mean continued cost pressures on RAF training activity at Goose Bay, increasing the likelihood of the UK moving its Goose Bay operations to the USA in the longer term. --------- "RE: Lubicon Peoples' Daishowa Boycott" --------- Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 18:10:27 GMT From: lubicon@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Subj: Lubicon peoples' Daishowa boycott Newsgroups: apc.indig.canada,soc.culture.native,alt.native Canada's Future Forest Alliance Box 329, New Denver, British Columbia, Canada V0G 1S0 Phone (604) 358-2333, FAX: (604) 358-7950, e-mail: vws@web.net MEDIA RELEASE February 23, 1996 Environmental Groups take Lubicon Boycott Issue to the International Community A coalition of environmental groups from Canada and the United States have vowed to carry on the struggle of the Daishowa boycott on an international level. A recent decision by the Ontario Divisional Court has ruled that the Friends of the Lubicon boycott against Daishowa is illegal. The court has granted Daishowa Inc. an interlocutory injunction, forcing a temporary halt to the boycott until Daishowa's case seeking a permanent injunction can be heard. The Friends of the Lubicon began a consumer boycott in 1991 in order to help the Lubicon Cree people prevent clearcutting on their lands. A Forest Management Agreement (FMA) completely blanketing all 10,0000 square kilometres of Lubicon territory is held by Daishowa Marubeni International's subsidiary of the Japanese-owned Daishowa multi-national logging company. "Consumers have a right to know that the products they are purchasing are coming from clearcut logging and forest destruction," stated Colleen McCrory, Chairperson of the Valhalla Wilderness Society. Clearcut logging and road building will cause widespread destruction to Lubicon lands. Daishowa's new 1,000 metric ton/day pulp mill will need vast forested areas of the Lubicon's traditional territory which will clearcut 11,000 trees each day or approximately 4 million trees each year." The Lubicon people have already been suffering severe hardship as a result of the environmental damage inflicted upon their lands by the oil and gas industry. Daishowa Director of Corporate Development, Tom Cochrane was quoted in the Toronto Varsity News on February 8th, 1996 as saying "the Friends of the Lubicon think the livelihood of a hundred families is worth sacrificing for giving some Indians some land rights." "We are shocked by this blatantly racist remark by a Daishowa representative," said Grey Jones, Executive Director of Western Canada Wilderness Committee in Edmonton. "This kind of racist speech does not belong in Canada." The Ontario Divisional Court ruling must be appealed in the highest court in Canada as it jeopardizes the very foundation of the Canadian people's basic democratic right to freedom of expression. "It is a sad day when Canadians cannot tell their fellow citizens not to buy certain products from companies which are causing environmental damage and human suffering. In Canada, there are no laws against clearcutting and forest destruction, but if you dare to speak out against these injustices, you can't even depend on the courts to protect your democratic rights," said McCrory. "Environmental groups in Canada and the United States will take this issue to the international community in support of the Lubicon people and the boycott of Daishowa. We will be asking groups in the United States to help the Lubicon. There is already a well organized boycott of Mitsubishi across the US," state Chris Genovali, of the U.S. Pacific Environment & Resources Centre. Genovali said, "PERC is interested in protecting the boreal forest worldwide. We thought Canada was a very democratic country, but after seeing first hand the hardship of the Lubicon and then hearing of this court ruling, we are very concerned. We will be watching this issue very closely." For more information call: Colleen McCrory/Valhalla Wilderness Society (604-358-2333) New Denver, B.C. Grey Jones/Western Canada Wilderness Committee (403-433-5323) Edmonton, Alberta Chris Genovali/Pacific Environment & Resources Centre (604-388-9292) San Francisco, Calif. USA [ The area code for San Francisco is 415 - perhaps the number above is incorrect, since 604 is a B.C. area code. --Gary ] --------- "RE: Internships" --------- Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 18:04:30 -0700 From: McAfee Chuck Subj: Internships Mailing List: AISESnet Discussion List (aisesnet@victor.umt.edu) NOTICE REGARDING SUMMER INTERNSHIPS Last week we mailed an announcement of the 1996 AISES Student Summer Work Experience Program to all student members, chapter advisors, and others. An application form was included in the mailing. Please help us get the word out. If you are interested in a position, take time now to complete your application and get it back to us at AISES. The selection process will begin as soon as we have applicants, so it is to your distinct advantage to apply early. We expect positions in the Department of Commerce (including National Weather Service), the Department of Energy, and possibly the Department of Transportation. Last year's program, our first year in this, was a great success. I am pleased that we can offer it to you again, and look forward to participation from even more AISES students. Regards, Chuck McAfee AISES Deputy Director --------- "RE: Silko's Birthday" --------- Date: 96-03-05 09:12:39 PST From:zzshem@acc.wuacc.edu (sheldon mary) Subj: Silko's Birthday Today is Leslie Marmon Silko's birthday, and I thought we might remember her and all she has shared about the the wonder of stories within us. "He would go back there now, where she had shown him the plant. He would gather the seeds for her and plant them with great care in places near sandy hills. The rainwater would seep down gently and the delicate membranes would not be crushed or broken before the emergence of tiny fingers, roots, and leaves pressing out in all directions. The plants would grow there like the story, strong and translucent as the stars." --Ceremony Mary Dog Soldier --------- "RE: Thought: Wars!" --------- Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 10:45:11 -0500 (EST) From: Linda Ross Subj: Wars! UUCP email I found this little excerpt for a paper and thought you might like to read it. I am using this to show that indigenous peoples had/have a radically different perspective of war and killing and subsequent solutions. The paper is about justice systems. "Was it an awful war?" "It was a terrible war." "Were there many people killed?" "One man was killed." "What did you do?" "We decided that those of us who had done the killing should never meet again because we were not fit to meet one another!" ikkinaa' pssi LM Source is: The Gaia Atlas of First Peoples: A Future For the Indigenous World BY: Julian Burger (New York: Doubleday/Anchor Books, 1990) --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - offline" --------- Date: Thu, 14 Mar 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 Genie email From: mccoyd@sjen.org Subject: Homestead Pow Wow Newsgroups: alt.native 14th Annual Homestead Pow Wow Indian Education Scholarship Benefit March 16, 1996 Sponsored by: The Title V Indian Education Programs of Fremont Union High School District Milpitas Unified School District Santa Clara Unified/Sunnyvale Elementary School Districts Homestead High School Gym 21370 Homestead Road Cupertino, CA All Drums Invited Gourd Dancing 6:00 p.m. Grand Entry 7:00 p.m. MC: TBA Arena Director: TBA Genni and Lundy Mitchell Memorial *Prizes *Raffles *Food Basket *Arts and Crafts *50-50 Cards Food Booths: Indian Tacos, Fry Bread, Nachos, Soft Drinks, Candy No Smoking on Campus No Alcohol or Drugs Allowed -------------------------------------------------------- From: prindle@uconnvm.uconn.edu Subject: 5th Annual Light the Lodge Pow Wow, UConn Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native 5th Annual Light the Lodge Pow Wow Date: Saturday, March 30 Time: 10 am - 5 pm Place: ROTC Hanger, HIllside Road University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Admission: Adults $1.00 Children .50 Seniors .50 Students w/ID .50 An open Drum and Red Heart Drum will provide music for dancing. All dancers in regalia are welcome and allowed free admission. The Pow Wow is produced by the Native American Cultural Society at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. There will be a full house of vendors with traditional Native American craft items and foods. Throughout the day there will be ethno-technology demonstrations, craft activities, and 'tipi talks'. Performances by a storyteller, a flute player and an Iroquois social dance leader. Including 'south of the border' music, and Native video performances. For more information about the Light the Lodge Pow Wow, contact Shelley Smith at . ----------------------------------------------------- From: jamontes@csupomona.edu Subject: So. Cal Pow Wow Newsgroups: soc.culture.native HEALING THE EARTH POW-WOW 1st Annual: Cal Poly Pomona, 3801 W. Temple Avenue, Pomona Ca, 91748. Directions: Take the 60 fwy east from LA or west from Riverside to the 57 north and exit Temple Avenue make a left, head west, turn right on South Campus Drive then left on Kellog drive; enter parking lot on your immediate left. If from the 10 fwy head east from Pasadena or west from San Bernardino and exit Kellog Drive(near the the 57m fwy conjunction); head south follow the turn and enter the parking lot that is south of where the grazing horses are. You are there. Information: All drums and dancers welcome!!! Vendor space is still available. If you are a vendor, head on down and we'll deal on the spot. NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS ALLOWED. NO SALE OF SAGE, CEDAR, SWEETGRASS, TOBACCO OR CEREMONIAL ITEMS PERMITTED. Date & Time: Saturday March 9, 1996 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday March 10, 1996 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Master of Ceremonies: Orville Little Owl (Hunkpapa Lakota, Mandan) Spiritual Leader: Emo Motchman (Hidatsa, Mandan) Arena Director: Falomoe Steffany (Iroquois, Samoan) Head Man Dancer: Jessy Standing Bear (Ponca) Head Woman Dancer: Darice Sampson (Seneca) Head Boy Dancer: Steve Calderon (Shoshone, Mexica) Head Girl Dancer: Jessica Calderon (Shoshone, Mexica) Host Northern Drum: Bear Springs (Arizona) Aztec Dancers: Xipe-Totec FREE - FREE PARKING - PUBLIC WELCOME Sponsored by the American Indian Student Association and the Cesar E. Chavez Center For Higher Education. Thank you for the opportunity for me to allow the expression of my opinions. It seemed for a time that this was heavy work but when I consider the struggles and hard work and sometimes the absence of recognition from the traditional indigenous peoples of this earth I am ashamed to say I faced opposition and strife. By means of this Newsgroup, I say to myself now, When I think of a struggle, I think of the two(?) Sundancers who were shot up in Canada. That was a hardship. When the land was pulled from under the feet of the Lubicon peoples in the Northern Territory, that was a struggle. The Maya peoples did not have recognition did not have official sponsor- ship when they were buried in mass graves in Guatemala. There still digging them up. My cousins who were cut up in the Miskito struggle during the Sandinista reign will NEVER BE RECOGNIZED. Personal friends of the family, Quechua-Inca people that were massacred in front of their village in the Andes Mountains in the name of Communism did not have sponsorship did not have recognition DID NOT HAVE A VOICE. A Big Mountain brother who came over last year talked about sometimes we don't have water sometimes the electricity gets shut off, "What about human rights??? The struggle for human rights, that is Native Resistance!!!" ----Thank You Again. Joel Montes (Matagalpa-Men of the hills) -------------------------------------------------------- Sender: triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu From: Sahtu@aol.com STANFORD INDIAN GAMING CONFERENCE April 20, 21, 1996 Stanford University Registration information and a DRAFT agenda follows. A conference brochure and additional conference and lodging information will be available shortly. If you would like information on the conference send your: Name Company/Tribe Address Phone Fax E-Mail Address to or Stanford Indian Gaming Conference c/o American Indian Program P.O. Box 2990 Stanford, CA 94309 Phone (415) 725-6944 Fax (415) 725-6900 ================================================================= REGISTRATION The registration fee for the gaming conference is $200 per person before March 15 and $250 for those registering after March 15. Full-time student registration (with proof of student status) is $95. This includes admission to all conference events, conference materials and meals. Should you wish to register early to reserve attendance, you may send a check or money order (payable to Stanford University) to: Stanford Indian Gaming Conference c/o American Indian and Alaska Native Program P.O. Box 2990 Stanford, CA 94309 Please include your: Name Company/Tribe Address Phone Fax E-Mail Address ================================================================= HOTEL RESERVATIONS Some block reservations have been made for the nights of April 19 and 20, 1996 at the following hotels. If you wish to claim any of them for yourself or your party, you must call and confirm the number and type of rooms, etc. with the hotel. A credit card number will be required for confirmation. A list of other hotels in the Stanford area is available. Please contact the conference organizers for a copy. It is advised that you make your reservations before April as a great number of events are held at Stanford during this season. Some area hotels have a limited number of rooms available at government rates lower than the weekend rate. Inquire when making reservations. Holiday Inn Palo Alto (800) 874-3516 625 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94301 - 60 rooms blocked - approximately $100/night Menlo Park Inn (800) 327-1315 1315 El Camino Real Menlo Park, CA - 20 rooms blocked - $72/$77 single/double - CONFIRM BY END OF MARCH Best Western Creekside Inn (800) 49CREEK [492-7335] 3400 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94306 - 40 rooms blocked - $80-$90/night - limited shuttle service (5 person capacity) - 15 singles queen, 15 singles king, 10 doubles - CONFIRM BY APRIL 10 (Conference Code: CR0000) ================================================================= The California Nevada Indian Gaming Association will hold its April meeting on Friday, April 19th in conjunction with the Conference. Contact M. Louise Walters, Association Executive, at (916) 448-8706 for additional information. ================================================================= DRAFT AGENDA Saturday, April 20, 1996 8:00 - Noon Registration 9:00 - 10:00 am General Assembly, Welcome 10:00 - 11:30 am Session: National Legal Issues in Indian Gaming. Discussion of IGRA, implication of current House and Senate Bills, the Seminole v. Florida decision and 11th Amendment issues. 11:30 - 1:00 pm Luncheon 1:00 - 2:30 pm Session 1: The Future of Indian Gaming in New Mexico. Discussion of the current conflict between New Mexico tribes and the state government about the validity of gaming compacts and the legality of Indian casinos within the state. Session 2: Public Relations - Educating the Public About Indian Gaming. Increasing tribes' lobbying power, investing in surrounding non-Indian communities, and examining casino policies toward customers can affect public perception. 2:30 - 3:00 pm Coffee Break 3:00 - 4:30 pm Session 1: Law and Order, Regulatory Issues, Tribal Courts. Tribal Code development, enforcement problems, cooperation with state and local enforcement agencies, and amendments to the Title 31 Bank Secrecy Act that would allow sting operations on Indian casinos. Session 2: Public Law 280 States. 5:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner ------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, April 21, 1996 9:00 - 10:00 am Continental Breakfast 10:00 - 11:30 am Session 1: Gaming as a Means to an End - Tribal Sovereignty. Challenging stereotypes of Indians as people without business expertise, justifications as to why different tribes may or may not choose to operate casinos, such as the potential for increased economic self-sufficiency and religious beliefs. Session 2: Ongoing Budget Issues. Examining where tribes are in the legislative process, and implications of current trends in federal govt towards shrinking government, streamlining, cutting the budget and services. Impact of continuing resolution (vs. appropriation) budgets on tribes and the pressure that this puts on gaming operations. 11:30 am - Noon Coffee Break Noon - 1:30 pm Session 1:Planning for the future. Discussing the need for tribes to expand their economic bases and make long-term investments both on and off the reservation. 1:30 - 3:00 pm Luncheon 3:00 - 4:30 pm Session: Taking Land Into Trust. City of Oacoma v. U.S. Discussing whether the Secretary of the Interior has the authority to take land into trust since the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act, or whether that is a congressional power that cannot be delegated 4:30 - 6:00 pm Closing Dinner =================================================== INVITED PANELISTS Bob Anderson, US Department of Justice Manley Begay, JFK School of Government, Harvard University Steve Heeley, Majority Staff Director, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Rick Hill, Chairman, National Indian Gaming Association Sharon House, Tribal Attorney, Oneida Gay Kingman, National Indian Gaming Association Patrice Kunesh, Attorney, Mashatucket Pequot Tribe Tracy LeBeau, Council of Energy Resource Tribes Michael Lombardi, General Manager, Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, CA Chris McNeil, Attorney, Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, D.C. office Joe Meyers, Director, Indian Justice Center Harold Monteau, Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission Ann Noto, Junior Partner, Sonosky Chambers Sachse & Endreson Anthony Pico, Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians Frank Redner, General Manager, Firefly Creek Casino, MN Dan Tucker, California/Nevada Indian Gaming Association for more information, call: Nick Comella (408) 522-2238 Gwen Steirer (408) 746-3841 Sponsors not responsible for damage or loss of articles ---------------------------------------------- From aisesnet_general@umt.umt.edu Mon Mar 11 16:42:48 1996 Sender: aisesnet_general@umt.umt.edu Original Sender: pduran@wsu.edu (Phil Duran) Subject: AISES Region I Conference AISES-WSU now has a home page (http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~duranp/aises.html) which points to the Region I Conference agenda and other information. This is an important reminder to register NOW for the Region I Conference. We have an exciting set of events scheduled, including workshops, tours, traditional dinner, and the pow-wow at the end of the conference. AISES Region I Conference Washington State University Pullman, Washington March 29-30, 1996 "Native Perspectives for a Changing World" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ REGISTRATION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DEADLINE: March 11 to reserve dorm room If you're late, let us know right away that you're coming (see phone # below). Fee: $75 $50 if you're not staying in the dorm For information and and registration: Conferences and Institutes 208 Van Doren Hall Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-5222 (800)942-4978 fax:(509)335-0945 wsuconf@wsu.edu NOTE TO WSU FACULTY, STAFF, and STUDENTS: You are welcome to attend some of the workshops without registering, but please give seating priority to those with badges who have registered and paid. If you do not register for the conference but want to attend the dinner, please donate $25 at the registration desk. We will not collect money or tickets at the dinner. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: To reserve a dorm room (two nights), you need to register by March 11. After this date, remaining dorm rooms will be released to the University for other guests. TRADITIONAL DINNER: We are excited about plans for the traditional dinner on Friday evening, led by the Umatilla women who have agreed to lead a seven-drums ceremony. They are being supported by the Native Women of the Palouse. We are not advertising or selling tickets for the dinner. The cost of all meals, including the dinner, is included in the registration fee. No banquet/dinner tickets will be issued. SOCIAL EVENTS: Friday night events to choose from after the dinner include a planetarium show and a Talking Circle facilitated Umatilla elder Elizabeth Jones who will share traditional knowledge and inspirational messages. TOURS: Several concurrent tours will be available to choose from on Saturday morning. ------------------------------------------ From: GailWild Newsgroups: alt.native Subject: SE pow wow schedule March 15-17-17 Savannah, GA Native American Cultural Exchange Festival and Pow wow March 29-30 Summerville, SC 6th Annual Edisto Indian Festival Info: 1-803-871-2126 March 29-30-31 Tallahassee, FL 4th Annual Tallahassee Pow wow. Tom Brown Park Info: 1-912-377-2784 April 12-13-14 Dalton, GA 2nd Annual American Indian Pow wow and Festival North Georgia Fairgrounds NO Competition Info: 1-706-277-5358 or 1-706-935-2013 Hollister, NC 30th Annual HaliwaSaponi Pow wow Competition Info: 1-919-586-4017 Hickory, NC Salute to the Woodlands Nations NO Competition Info: 1-770-735-6275 April 13-14 Childersburg, AL 21st Annual Indian Dance and Crafts Festival DeSoto Caverns Info: 1-205-735-6275 April 26-27-28 Alexander, AL Lone Eagle's Legacy at Wind Creek State Park Cherokee Trust Competition Info: 1-334-541-2505 ======================================================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- 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, Mary Dog Soldier , Linda Manyguns, Marvin and Linda Summerfield, Gayle Russell, R. Paton, Lisa Faruolo, Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, Chuck McAfee, David Williams, A. I. M., Jack Hicks, David Goyette, Sandy Sunderland, Bernard and Feather Rock, Lawrence A. Shorty --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Part B of this newsletter (not included) has already been distributed via the NATIVE-L or NATCHAT mailing lists. --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - online" --------- Date: Thu, 14 Mar 96 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 Genie email Subject: 7th Annual U.of Maryland Pow Wow Original Sender: war2@dcez.com (William Reeves II) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) The Terrapin Society-Native American Student Union will Host the 7th Annual U. of Maryland Spring Pow Wow April 13-14, 1996 Preinkert Field House College Park, Maryland Head Staff: HOST DRUM--Mandaree Singers, Lead Singer Sidrick "Mister" Baker, Hidatsa-Cree Ft. Berthold Reservation New Town, North Dakota M.C.---- Bob Tennequer, Comanche-Laguna Pueblo Arlington, Virginia A.D.---- Clayton Old Elk, Crow Crow Agency, Montana Head Dancers: Joe White Eagle, Ho-Chunk Baraboo, Wisconsin Toni Fitzpatrick, Kiowa-Crow Falls Church, Virginia Color Guard: D.C. Metro VEVITA Color Sargeant, Max Little, Seminole THIS IS A TRADITIONAL GATHERING!!! No Dance Competition! Saturday Evening Meal for Head Staff, Singers and Dancers Grand Entries: 1PM and 6PM on Saturday 1PM on Sunday Doors Open to the Public @ 10 AM No Drugs, Alcohol or Attitudes will be permitted!!!! THIS EVENT WILL BENEFIT THE TERRAPIN SOCIETY NATIVE AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND. Booth Space is still available. The fee for the weekend is $125 and we will have a limit of 25-30 for the weekend. Additional Pow Wow Information: Will Reeves(Mandan-Hidatsa) at (301) 977-7663 E-Mail---war2@dcez.com (Home) wreeves@ihs.ssw.dhhs.gov (work) William A. Reeves II (Home)war2@dcez.com (Work)wreeves@ihs.ssw.dhhs.gov ----------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 20:33:38 -0600 Subject: Trail of Tears Symposium Original Sender: ltate@hiwaay.net (Les Tate) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) The Trail of Tears Symposium will be held in conjunction with the Inaugural Meeting of the Trail of Tears Association at the Riverfront Hilton Inn in North Little Rock, Arkansas on April 17-18, 1996. The following is a synopsis of the schedule. (To save space, I am using ToT as abbreviation for Trail of Tears) Tuesday April 16 6:30pm Early Bird Reception Wednesday April 17 8:30am ToT Association Plenary Session 9:30am Introduction to the Trail of Tears 10:15am ToT Assn State Caucus Meetings 11:45am Keynote Luncheon 1:00pm Welcome and Introduction 1:15pm Early Indian Settlement to Governmental Policy Focusing on Jacksonian policy 2:15pm The Cherokee Removal 3:15pm The Creek Removal 4:00pm The Choctaw Removal 6:00pm Reception 7:00pm ToT Assn Benefit Dinner ($50/person) Thursday April 18 8:30am ToT Assn Plenary Session (gen'l business) 10:00am Notable Trail Sites in Arkansas 11:00am New Research - New Findings: Recent ToT Research 12:00 Luncheon 1:30pm Panel Discussion (symposium speakers) Registration deadline is March 22: after this date add $5/person late fee.Non-member registration, $50/person; Members, $30/person. Make checks payable to Trail of Tears Association. Mail name, address, etc. (and check) to Trail of Tears Symposium, American Indian Center of Arkansas, 1100 N. University, Suite 133, Little Rock, AR 72207-6344. Vendors and display space available at $50/unit. Call AICA at (501) 666-9032 for details. --------- "RE: Sunbow5 Walk Completion Ceremony" --------- Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 13:34:09 -0800 From: iesercsb@rain.org (David Williams) Subj: Sunbow5 Walk for the Earth Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) [SUNBOW5] 02-03-96 Yesterday morning the Sunbow5 Walk for The Earth held its public completion ceremony, per originally scheduled date, at the water on East Beach in Santa Barbara with 60-70 participants including the remaining walkers who then left caravaning eastward. This public ceremony was preceded by over a week of meetings and ceremonies at closed camps with the local native people and many who had come to town for this occasion. This was a major spiritual happening in Santa Barbara with little public interaction due to the intensity of the times reflected in the elder William Commanda's message about the Seven Fires Wampum Belt Prophecy Message which directs all people to take immediate spiritual action (this year may be in time, next year may be too late), in response to the cry of the earth, to avert total destruction: Treat one another and all life with deep respect, love, and forgiveness; put not faith in money or majority rule political process, rather in a unanimity of agreement which will replace the money system; Unite all the "races" of humanity as the one human race. --------- "RE: Cleveland AIM/Chief Wahoo" --------- Date: Sun, 10 Mar 1996 20:52:15 -0500 From: philncleve@aol.com Subj: Cleveland AIM plans demontrations against "Chief Wahoo" Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) As another baseball season approaches, the Cleveland Chapter of the American Indian Movement has scheduled a series of demonstrations to protest the use of "Chief Wahoo" by the Cleveland professional baseball club.The right to hold these demonstrations on stadium property was won in a federal lawsuit last year. The demonstrations will be held at the East 9th Street entrance to Jacobs Field in downtown Cleveland on the following dates and times: April 1, 7, 20, 21 at 11:30 a.m. May 1, 18, 23 at 5:30 p.m. May 19 at 11:30 a.m. June 8, 9, 22, 23 at 11:30 a.m. July 6,7,20,21 at 11:30 a.m. August 3,4,18,25 at 11:30 a.m. September demonstrations have yet to be scheduled. For more information contact: Cleveland AIM 2012 W. 25th St. Room 515 Cleveland, OH 44113 216-641-8684 --------- "RE: High Arctic Exiles" --------- Date: Sun, 10 Mar 1996 12:30:40 -0500 From: jhicks@nunavut.ca (Jack Hicks) Subj: High Arctic Exiles 2: Bitterness over lack of apology Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Further to my post of yesterday regarding a possible settlement between the High Arctic Exiles and the Government of Canada: Yesterday's (March 9, 1996) Globe and Mail ran a very short article which said that "Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin said in an interview yesterday that nothing is final and the matter has not gone to cabinet." The following is the text of an article which ran in yesterday's (March 9, 1996) Ottawa Citizen. Jack Hicks -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [accompanying the article is: 1) a photograph of Gordon Robertson (former Clerk of the Privy Council -- senior bureaucratic in the federal government), with the quote: "I don't think for a minute that they suffered any real hardship. I am completely baffled by the compensation. The reasons for the move was to improve the lot of these people and I think they were better off." 2) a map showing the route taken by the ship which carried the High Arctic Exiles from Inukjuak to Craig Harbour and Resolute Bay, and 3) a basic chronology of events: 1953 -- Fifty Inuit are relocated 2,000 kilometres via icebreakers from Port Harrison (Inukjuak) and Pond Inlet to Craig Harbour and Resolute bay in the High Arctic. 1955 -- Thirty-six more Inuit are moved from Inukjuak. 1969 -- Over the next 16 years, six families move back to Inukjuak. 1977 -- Report for Department of Indian Affairs states the move was partly made to occupy the Far North. It observes "no doubt sovereignty was of concern to some. 1989 -- Makivic (sic) Corporation, the Inuit development corporation in Quebec, requests $10 milklion in compensation for original 19 relocated families. 1990 -- House of Commons committee's unanimous report recommends apology to Inuit and consideration of compensation. Government rejects it. 1994 -- Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommends government apologize and compensate Inuit for relocation. 1995 -- Inuit families request $28-million compensation package and apology from government.] BITTERNESS OVER LACK OF APOLOGY HAUNTS INUIT DEAL by Jack Aubry, Citizen aboriginal affairs writer Iqaluit, N.W.T. What's done is done, what's gone is gone We must put the past behind And set a course for better times When freedom's lost nobody ever wins I can't wait until my ship comes in -'Kajusita' ('My Ship Comes in') by the Inuit singing duo 'Tudjaat' The healing lyrics written by a descendant of the High Arctic exiles show that reconciliation between the Inuit and federal government may be possible. But a $10-million tentative settlement reached here this week with the Inuit has left bitterness on both sides. Some of the exiles, a name they gave given themselves, are vowing to continue their fight for an apology from the government despite the agreement. And Gordon Robertson, a former Clerk of the Privy Council who was deputy minister of the department that masterminded the moves, says he is baffled by the compensation package being given to the Inuit. Eighty-six Inuit were relocated in 1953 and 1955 from Inukjuak in northern Quebec over a distance of 2,000 kilometres to Resolute Bay and Craig Harbour in the High Arctic. The negotiated settlement features a $10-million compensation package -- an $8 million trust fund for the exiles' families and $2-million in direct cash -- and a reconciliation statement. The statement does not include an apology, but rather recognition of the Inuit's contribution to Canada's Far North and the "pain, suffering and hardship" they faced in the first years of the move due to poor planning by the government. The 17 Inuit families, who were split up on the icebreaker into the two communities, say they were dumped on the shore of the communities without housing and were forced to scrounge for food at the military base while adjusting to dark winters. They also say the government broke its promise to return them to Quebec on request while they adjusted to the dark winters of the Arctic. The 75 Inuit assembled for the week-long meeting signed the settlement, but said they were accepting the deal without an apology only for the elders before they die. In a telephone interview from his home in Rockcliffe, Robertson said he is gratified that the settlement has no apology and it specifies the former government officials involved in the move were acting with honorable intentions. "I'm pleased to see that. That means they have vindicated the RCMP and the government officials." But he said Canadians should be asking themselves why the Inuit are receiving the compensation, especially when the country is in such financial difficulty. "I don't think for a minute that they suffered any real hardship. I am completely baffled by the compensation. The reasons for the move was to improve the lot of these people and I think they were better off," said Robertson. He said Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord where the Inuit were settled are considered the two most prosperous settlements in the Far North. The absence of an apology contradicts the recommendation of three different bodies that issued reports this decade recommending one. A House of Commons committee, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples also recommended compensation. Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin declined to comment on the tentative settlement, which he is expected to sign in Inukjuak by the end of the month. But a spokesman in his office said Irwin is still committed to seeking reconciliation. Inuit leader John Amagoalik, one of the exiles, credited Irwin for pushing the matter and getting it through cabinet, despite the objections of the former bureaucrats. Markoosie Patsauq, 54, said the compensation means little to him without the apology. He said he will use his $23,000 share of the direct compensation on a new snowmobile, hunting equipment and fishing nets. A welfare agent in Resolute Bay, he says he has "lots of customers" in the community. Now the father of eight children Patsauq was relocated in 1953 with his family even though he had tuberculosis a few months earlier. He said he spent three years in a hospital in the south apart from his family when he was finally diagnosed. Emily Dederick, a descendant of an exile family, now lives in Ottawa and says she plans to protest on Parliament Hill until the government apologizes. Madeline Allakariallak, along with cousin Pheobe Atagotaaluk, has formed 'Tudjaat' -- 'land of gravel' in Inuktitut -- a throat-singing duo named after Resolute Bay. With the help of Inuit singer Susan Aglukark, the duo recently landed a record contract with Sony and have released a CD with songs about the north and the relocation. Allakariallak, who is the grand-daughter of an exile, said it is "weird and confusing" that the government is providing compensation without an apology. "It is like they are trying to buy our silence from us," she said. But Allakariallak also feels that the tentative settlement, even if not perfect, will allow the exiles to turn the page and move on. "Maybe it is time that it rests and we put the pain to sleep." --------- "RE: Natives Against New York Taxation" --------- Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 23:23:39 -0500 From: sfuwki@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us (David Goyette) Subj: Native people unite against New York taxation Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) FIRST NATIONS BUSINESS LEAGUE IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 24, 1996 CONTACT: ROSS L. JOHN, SR. (718) 0342300 (Radisson Hotel - February 24th) (716) 5324449 (Home~ February 25th) (716) 549-0090 (Native Business Association) NATIVE PEOPLE UNITE AGAINST NEW YORK TAXATION Buffalo, New York (February 24, 1996) --Native people have formed the First Nations Business League to defend the sovereignty of Indian Nations and Territories in the face of New York State's recent taxation regulations. The group will begin meeting weekly with the next meeting scheduled on Saturday, March 2, 1996, hosted by this Unkechaugs on Long Island. The historic two-day symposium drew more than 200 participants from tribes including Seneca, Mohawk, Dio Wan Do Onondaga Nation of People, Oneida, Cayuga, Tuscarora, Unkechaug, and Shinnecock. Independent business people and tribal representatives attended. Robert Perry, a Chickasaw from Oklahoma, also participated. Among organizations represented are the Native Business Association, Seneca Nation Tribal Council/Task Force, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Mohawk Anti-Tax Steering Committee, Ganiengeh Territory, Kahnawake Mohawk Chamber of Commerce, Unkechaug Businesses, Iroquois Business Association, Shinnecock Outpost Retail Businesses, Akwesasne Mohawk Council, Akwesasne Petroleum Cooperative, Mohawk Chamber of Commerce Akwesasne, Kanienkehaka Warrior Society, (Akwesasne, Kahnawake and Ganiengeh Territories, Concerned Citizens of Tonawanda, and Onondaga Nation Dic Wan Do Territory. Ross L. John, Sr., a Seneca from the Cattaraugus Territory, Chairman of the NatIve Business Association, which sponsored the symposium, said, "We speak in one equal voice when we say that we will not be treated as other than sovereign nations." New York State Tax Commissioner, MIchael Urbach on February 20, 1996 adopted regulations regarding the collection of taxes from sales to non- Native Americans on Indian territories, which will be implemented within 120 days. Participants pointed to President Clinton's April, 1994 remarks: "In every relationship between our people, our first principle must be to respect your right to remain who you are, and to live the way you wish to live... I reaffirm our commitment to self-determination for tribal governments." Kakwirakeron, a Mohawk, said:, "We have come to the point where we have learned our lessons from mistakes we have made in the past. We have never relinquished our sovereignty nor given any foreign government authority to tax our Nations. We will continue to be sovereign forever. Our people have lived side by side for seven generations with the formalized union called the United States of America and have never submitted to their jurisdiction," he continued. "We are not going to be the generation that will sign a taxing compact with the State of New York." The gathering called upon Governor George E. Pataki to rescind the Tax Commissioner's decision. The First Nations Business League encouraged consumers to write to Governor Pataki about the negative economic impact the New York State tax regulations would cause them. Full Statement Adopted Follows on Next Page. At a meeting of the First Nations Business League on February 23, 1996, the following was adopted as the statement of the meeting: The Federal Government of the United States (and other states) do not have the authority to impose taxation upon any other sovereign nation in the world. They cannot legally nor constItutionally impose taxation upon a foreign government without that nation's expressed consent. The IroquoIs Confederacy and the individual nations of the Confederacy and the Algonquin Nations have never relinquished our sovereignty. We have never consented to give any foreign nation the authority to tax our people. The United States and New York State have been in existence for 220 years. Canada has been in existence for only 129 years. In all of that time, the Iroquois Confederacy, the individual nations and other sister nations have never given those foreign nations the authority to tax our nations. Whether our governments have been at their greatest strength nor at their weakest point, no government body has ever signed any document, nor given any expressed consent to authorize any foreign government to tax us. We, the present generation, enjoy our tax free benefits because of the wisdom and strength of our forefathers. We have an obligation to the unborn generation that they will continue to enjoy those same benefits. It is up to us, the present living generation, to ensure that no present government official or officials, of any Band Council, Tribal Council, Nation Council or Confederacy Council or any other person or persons claiming to be an official give any foreign government the authority to tax us. To do so would invite extreme shame upon our generation by all the unborn generatIons to come. Our Nations will always meet and discuss with any other sovereign any matter of mutual interest. But any such discussion must be only a sovereign to sovereign utilizing appropriate diplomatic channels utilizing acceptable inter-nation protocol. NATIVE ORGANIZATION ADOPTS MISSION STATEMENT Jamesville, New York -- (March 10, 1996) -- The First Nations Business League adopted a mission statement that reaffirms solidarity on the issue of sovereignty, during a weekend conference in Jamesvilie, near Syracuse, New York. The First Nations Business League is a coalition of independent native businessmen and women and participants from Indian Nations and Territories, The organization was established to defend the sovereignty of Native Nations, especially in the face of taxation regulations recently adopted by New York State. First Nations Business League delegates are meeting weekly, with the next session scheduled for Saturday, March 16, 1996, on the Oneida Territory. The mission statement follows on Page Two. Further information: Ross L. John, Sr., Chairman, Seneca Territories (716) 549-0090 Harry WalLace, Unkechaug Territory (516) 281-4143 Philip Tarbell, Mohawk Territory (515) 358-3044 First Nations Business League MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the First Nations Business League is to express the sovereignty position of the original nations on this part of Mother Earth, and to promote, defend, and exercise our sovereign right to conduct trade and commerce. This expression of sovereignty by the First Nations Business League is consistent with the universal definition of sovereignty accepted by the United Nations and the international Community. We have valid treaties with the United States and Canada. Those nations continually violate virtually all articles of those treaties and principles of Sovereignty as defined by the international community. The First Nations Business League is actively working to unify the original nations in the common struggle to protect the inherent powers of our people to assert our sovereignty. Currently, both Canada and the United States are attempting to impose illegal tax collecting schemes on the First Nations and their people. To accomplish this, they are threatening to use military force to crush any resistance. The First Nations Business League, in consultation with the people, leaders, and legal counsel are working to develop the necessary strategies to resist this unlawful imposition on our sovereignty. David Goyette Co-director First Nations Resource Network, Inc/Red Sticks Press PO Box 59 St Petersburg, Fl 33731 813-821-6604 813-821-8804 fax/bbs sfuwki@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us 90:3603/264 1:3603/390 --------- "RE: NMAI" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 15:17:26 -0500 From: wasicuwin@aol.com Subj: NMAI Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) NMAI, recently mentioned in a post about magazines is the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. The only branch open at the moment is the one at Battery Park in the Old Customs House in Manhattan. The main division, scheduled to be built on the last vacant spot on the mall in Wahington D.C. is running into financial problems. Although the fundraising efforts from donations and memberships are right on schedule, the U.S. government is threatening to renege on it's promised contribution. (Imagine that! the government lying to the Indians!!!) The famous, or perhaps infamous (some items should be repatriated) Heye collection was taken over by the Smithsonian. All items are essentially in storage and unavailable to the public. The NMAI has a very artsy/craftsy exhibit which although beautiful, has little substance to anyone trying to learn about any specific tribe or any cultural information prior to the 1990s. In 1994, during my first visit to the museum, I was upset when I walked into the two gift shops. Most distressing was a blatantly displayed book by William Fenton entitled The False Faces of the Iroquois. The cover of the book had a large photo of a False Face mask. The Haudenosaunee council had previously issued an official written proclamation clearly stating that Iroquois Medicine Masks are not to be in the hands of non-Iroquois, that they are not to be displayed, photographed, drawn, and that those in possession of institutions should immediately be repatriated. A second concern of mine that day was the availability for sale of a video entitled "The Great Indian Wars 1840-1890' produced by Dan Dalton Productions which claimed to be re-creations of famous battles. Having this video in my personal collection of the good, the bad, and the ugly, I know that it contains, not re-creations, but clips from all the old films of the 40s and 50s which would only serve to reinforce stereotypes and distort history. I immediately sent a letter off to Rick West about these two major issues and several minor concerns. He responded, explaining that the Smithsonian controls the gift shops and that he was forwarding my letter to them. Having spoken to Rick on previous social occasions, I have no doubt he recognized the validity of my complaint During two subsequent visits, the offensive items were not in the gift shops, however just this past Sunday I, again, found the book blatantly displayed in direct violation of Haudenosaunee wishes and the same video, again, on sale. Another letter has, of course, gone off to people in charge, but this time I've sent carbon copies to some key people I know among the Haudenosaunee. It is nice to know that the Smithsonian is employing NAtive people at the museum but when they continue to retain human remains and spiritual items and when they continue to totally ignore the beliefs of the people they proclaim to honor, it is time for them to be deluged with letters of complaint. If any of you visit the museum and see either of these items or anything else that you deem inappropriate or offensive, please write and let them know. As for the new museum scheduled for D.C., perhaps we should write congress and insist that it is time the government kept a promise to our native populations. Sken:nen kenhak, Sandy --------- "RE: Request for School Children" --------- Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 11:18:23 -0500 From: eaglerok@northernnet.com (feather eaglerock) Subj: Request from Rock Family at Leech Lake Rez Mailing List: NATCHAT (natchat@gnosys.svle.ma.us) O'siyo, Our local public elementary school now has access to the internet. We are very excited about to prospect of our students _and_ the teachers being able to learn about the First Nations and the original people of this land from Indian people themselves. We are asking for individuals from this mailing list to send greetings to the students and teachers at the Cass Lake-Bena School District to inspire them to use and develop this tool of education to gain greater understanding of the many First Nations and the true history and contemporary lives of Indian People. We hope that you will send them greetings, with a little bit of your own personal history and heritage. the e-mail address is: 0115cbel@InfoMNs.K12.mn.us Mii Gwetch and Wa do :) Bernard and Feather Rock Grandparents of Cass Lake-Bena School District students Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota --------- "RE: Tobacco Seeds" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 11:05:36 -0700 From: lshorty@unm.edu (lawrence anthony shorty) Subj: tobacco seeds wanted for seed bank Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) I am a Navajo-Choctaw who is helping to develop a seed bank for Native American tobacco (Nicotiana) varieties and am looking for additional seeds. I developed a living seed bank here at the University of New Mexico that specializes in traditional Native American tobacco varieties -- that is, types raised or collected by specific tribes for traditional uses (prayers, offerings, ceremonies, etc). If you are a Native American and you need some seeds of your tribe's (or of a nearby tribe, if I don't have your's) to grow for traditional purposes, then contact me at my email address. In some instances I also have dried leaves. Please spread the word about the bank. Equally important, if you already have seeds, please send me some, so that I can add them to the bank, grow them, and harvest fresh seeds for other members of your tribe. So far I only have about 50 tribes represented. These services are being offered at no cost, as long as you agree to use the resulting tobacco only for traditional purposes, and not for everyday smoking. Remember, tobacco is an extremely powerful, sacred, and dangerous plant. If you use it improperly, it will kill you. Lawrence A. Shorty 424 Yale S.E. #4 Albuquerque, N.M. 87106 (505) 254-8503