_ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 04, ISSUE 036 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 7 September 1996 O o O K A N O H E D A A N I Y V W I Y A O o O Otapi'sin Atsinikiisinaakssin Es'te Opunvk'vmucvse O ( N A T I V E A M E R I C A N N E W S ) This issue contains articles from NativeWeb, Triballaw, NativeLit-L, & NATIVE-L listservers; UUCP & genie email; Newsgroups: alt.native, alt.activism, alt.prisons,soc.culture.native,apc.indig.info 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 Thanks to Borries Demeler all _Wotanging_Ikche_ (part a) submissions to AISESnet are archived under AISESnet and can be accessed easily by World Wide Web: 1994: http://bioc02.uthscsa.edu/94_dis.html 1995: http://bioc02.uthscsa.edu/95_dis.html 1996: http://bioc02.uthscsa.edu/96_dis.html This is a searchable index to the AISESnet Discussion mailing list database archive, and the keyword "Wotanging" will retrieve all issues for that year. "As a child, I understood how to give; I have forgotten that grace since I became civilized. I lived the natural life, whereas I now live the artificial. Any pretty pebble was valuable to me then, every growing tree an object of reverence. "Now I worship with the white man before a painted landscape whose value is estimated in dollars! Thus the Indian is reconstructed, as the natural rocks are ground to a powder and made into artificial blocks that may be built into the walls of modern society." __ Dr. Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiyesa), Santee Sioux +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg- | | iance was first presented | I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the | to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat- | of the Republic | ional Congress of American | and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat- | borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI | Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the | as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian | States Constitution, | Nations. | so that my forefathers | | shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! There is yet another language represented in the banner in honor of a promise I made nearly three years ago that I would include as many First Nation's languages in the title as were given to me. If it is cluttered, then that's how it is. This is news of/for the People and it makes little sense to send it out titled only in the language of the occupation forces. My wife and I were privileged to be at a powwow this last weekend that saw vows kept before those gathered. More and more we are seeing people making vows and keeping them in the old ways. More and more we are seeing the circles mended and strengthened. I return thanks for being granted witness to these connections and honoring of vows. Peace! Night Owl , , Gary Night Owl gars@netcom.com (*,*) P. O. Box 672168 gars@juno.com (`-') Marietta, GA 30006, U .S.A. gars@igc.apc.org ===w=w=== gars@genie.com ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- Part A: Usenet and e-mail Part B: NATCHAT and NATIVE-L lists - Urgent Update From Peltier - Conferences and Powwows - online - Norma Jean Croy Update - URGENT: Quentin Big Medicine Missing - Cherokee Judge Castigates Attorney - KBIC/Turtle Mountain Conflict - Logging at ANPO to Begin Soon - Dudley George Memorial Feast - Childrens' Literature Project - Protecting Lyle Point - IAIA, The Beat Goes On - Wind River Indian Reservation - Indian Art Education - Wintu Prayer Site in Danger - Leech Lake Chairman Offers to Resign - FDL Protestors Block Construction - ICWA Attorney Wanted - Poem: The Children Of Indians - Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: Urgent Update From Peltier" --------- Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1996 13:16:25 -0400 From: lpdc@idir.net Subj: Urgent Update From Peltier UUCP email URGENT CALL TO ACTION Dear Friends, On August 20, FBI Director Louis Freeh called a press conference to urge members of Congress to hold hearings concerning ways to further limit the already restricted access federal prisoners have with their families and communities. Complaining that federal prisoners have too many rights and privileges which allow them to maintain contact with the streets, Freeh proposed that Congress find ways to limit phone calls, out going mail and visits. Some people may not have much concern or sympathy for the ever worsening conditions in prisons, because the public is worried about crime and criminals. While sound arguments have been made that extreme conditions of repression and deprivation only serve to create more dangerous criminals; in other words, it makes the problem of public safety worse and not better, our concern here is about political prisoners. Let's be very clear, political prisoners in the US are often subjected to the harshest conditions and prisons. As new, even more restrictive and irrational policies are proposed and implemented, they will be forced on political prisoners as well as other prisoners. In fact it is likely many of us will be singled out first and most harshly by these new policies. You folks outside that have concern, sympathy or love for any or all of the political prisoners in US jails should understand that it is not just some anonymous drug dealer or robber who is being denied contact with his community -- it is every captured freedom fighter and prisoner of conscience who is being further cut off from his/her community. Freeh's proposals are the most recent in a series of repressive policies being proposed and implemented throughout the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). In August, here in Leavenworth federal prison during a two week lock-down that was basically a case of guards panicking and overreacting (29 shots were fired in the yard from two towers) when two men got into a fight, Warden Page True had all the weights and weight lifting equipment removed from the institution. He also issued a memorandum detailing a new severely restricted list of what property prisoners would soon be allowed. Among many restrictions, but of special concern to political prisoners, is that books and literature will be limited to six books, six magazines, and six newspapers (not more than one week old). This includes all educational, legal, reference, spiritual and recreational reading material! Resource materials for external education classes, (prisoner paid for college correspondence programs -- all post GED education offered by the prison was eliminated last year!) and legal cases are offered in the above 6 book/magazine limit. Even commissary items like portable radios and sweat clothes once sold in the commissary here, if not on the new list, will be confiscated. These measures come during a time when the BOP and Congress are testing the waters on how much of the gains made by prisoners throughout the last two decades can be recalled and taken back. Limitations on contact visits (contact visits at Leavenworth presently mean sitting in plastic chairs, prisoners on one side, visitors on the other, with a small table in between) phones, mail, and educational and legal material is all about tightening the screws on prisoners and their loved ones and is designed to discourage contact and further isolate prisoners. As we have witnessed before, the FBI, BOP and those seeking political mileage on the "get tough on prisoners/criminals platform" portray prisoners as having a lush life full of accommodations. This is nonsense. Except perhaps for special minimum security camps where top white collar criminals and government officials caught too red handedly are sent, prisons have never been easy or comfortable places. These new, extremely harsh proposals literally are bringing back conditions similar to 100 years ago -- chain gangs and dungeons, except now incredibly overcrowded. They are attempting to take away our visits, our phone calls, out letters and they are ready to further lock us down even while gearing up their prison factories to run 24 hours a day. They are trying to prevent us from helping ourselves educationally, legally, and spiritually. These policies will effect our loved ones, hence we need your support. There are no simple solutions because prison bureaucracies are the closest thing to real, not rhetorical, fascist or dictatorial agencies that operate openly in the US. Still we need people to rally around these issues. We need letters, faxes, and phone calls to the Attorney General, members of Congress, and the Warden here at Leavenworth. Express your concerns about the proposals to limit contact with us in here. Don't let them take away contact visits, phone and mail. Demand that we be allowed to keep our books, educational, legal and spiritual materials. Your support is needed. We will keep struggling in here, We hope you will too >From political prisoners in Leavenworth Federal Prison, Leonard Peltier, Luis Rosa, & Jaan Laaman Warden Page True, LVN Federal Prison, Box 1000, Leavenworth, KS 66048 Kathleen Hawke, Bureau of Prisons, HOLC Building Room 654, 320 1st St NW, Washington, DC 20534 Attorney General Janet Reno,Dept. of Justice, 10th & Constitution, Washington, DC 20530 -- Gillian Alston & Lane Alston warp10@usa.pipeline.com --------- "RE: Norma Jean Croy Update" --------- Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1996 00:35:58 -0700 From: amt@teleport.com Subj: Norma Jean Croy Update! September `96 Newsgroups: alt.native,alt.activism,alt.prisons,soc.culture.native Norma Jean Croy Defense Committee Pier 5 San Francisco, CA 94111 415-986-5591 Dear Friends: June 1996 If you have read the brochure about Norma Jean Croy (if not, please do) [can be found on-line at http://www.teleport.com/~amt/planetpeace/norma/] then you know a brief account of her story. Let me update you on her case. In the spring of 1996 after much legal struggle by her lawyers, the Federal Magistrate granted Norma Jean`s motion for an evidentiary hearing, which hopefully will lead to a new trial. A date was set for a status conference before the hearing. At that hearing the State`s lawyer from the Attorney General`s office challenged Norma Jean`s right to a hearing using the new anti-terrorist law as their latest excuse. This law limits prisoners` access to federal courts. At that time the judge ordered all the lawyers to write briefs with their arguments for and against the use of this law in Norma Jean`s case. Oral arguments were heard at the end of May, and the judge has taken the matter under submission. He`s thinking it over. Norma Jean`s lawyers think that he `s not going to make a decision until a higher court, The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, makes its ruling interpreting this new law. This means that we, and more especially Norma Jean, are back to the waiting game. Soooo... We are redirecting our energies to the parole board. At the last hearing in March, they seemed to show a more favorable attitude towards Norma Jean. It might not mean anything, but we think it`s worth putting our attention and energies toward getting her out on parole. Here`s what we need from you: L E T T E R S ! Letters asking, demanding, however you want to state it, to let Norma Jean Croy out of prison on parole. Her next hearing will be in March 1997. We want to get thousands of letters before that time, so we need to start the campaign now. Please address your letters to The Board of Prison Terms, but don`t mail it to them because they can deny they ever received them. Mail them to the Norma Jean Croy Defense Committee, Pier 5, San Francisco, CA 94111. We also need money so we can send out letters to the folks already on our mailing list. There are over 3,000 people on it now. So here`s what we`re thinking, if each person who gets this letter sends us a letter addressed to the Board of Prison Terms and encloses at least $1.00 then we can send more letters to folks on the mailing list. They send us a letter and at least $1.00, and soon we can afford to send out letters to the entire mailing list, cover the cost of printing this letter, and maybe still have money in Norma Jean`s account for future needs. Pretty easy, eh? One letter, one dollar. Not too much to ask to help a woman who has been in prison for EIGHTEEN YEARS for a crime she didn't commit. Let`s finally get this innocent woman out of prison! Thank you! Dvora Gordon, on behalf of the Norma Jean Croy Defense Committee [Posted on behalf of the Norma Jean Croy Defense Committee--Andrea] /-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\ Andrea Thein "They had things to SAY. Director, Planet Peace We had things to DO!" First Nations Community Internet Project --Alvina Lum http://www.teleport.com/~amt/planetpeace/ email: amt@teleport.com \-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/ --------- "RE: Cherokee Judge Castigates Attorney" --------- Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 08:56:51 +0000 From: Cherokee Observer Subj: JUSTICE CASTIGATES ATTORNEY FOR LAXNESS IN MANKILLER SUIT Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native JUSTICE KEEN DRUBS ATTORNEY FOR CHEROKEE NATION FOR LOOSENESS by Tiger White, staff writer--Tahlequah Times Journal--August 24, 1996 Nathan Young III, attorney for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma in a case against former Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller, got an earful from Justice Ralph Keen in the Cherokee Nation Court of Appeals Tribunal (Judicial Appeals Tribunal--The Supreme Court of the Cherokee Nation) proceedings that took place on Friday, Aug. 23, 1996. Mankiller is being sued by the Cherokee Nation for $318,000 she gave away as severance pay to some of her top (employees) appointees before leaving office amid scandal last August. Young is lead counsel in the case against defendants Mankiller (who has been living out of state), Aenta Casualty Insurance Company and Hartford Fire and Insurance Company. The firms insured the funds given out by Mankiller. Judge Keen began Friday's hearing by denying Young's motion to strike first status and simplification conference. This motion, which would delay the trial, was issued because pertinent information was not made available to Young's office. Keen quickly moved on to ask counsel if the defendants in the case had been served summons. Young replied that they had, but he had not received records of receipts of summons. Keen was visibly irate, stating that according to court rules, defendants should have be served within 120 days of the filing of the case. The writ against Mankiller was originally filed on Sept. 1, 1995. In Keen's legal opinion, the case began on that day. "I am concerned that the defendants in this case will file a motion to dismiss based upon lack of due diligence on your part," Keen thundered at Young. Young stated repeatedly that, as far as his office was concerned his 120-day limit to file summons began June 21, 1996, when he filed on amended petition to the original case which included matters contained in a separate suit filed against Mankiller in United States District Court. Keen went on to accuse Young of using the trail for his own purposes. Young appeared confused by the Judge's remark, and stated he didn't see any evidence to support that view. Apparently Young had made an agreement with Judge Drew Wilcoxen, in front of whom the original petition was filed last September, that certain delays would be granted to consolidate the tribal and federal cases against Mankiller. Summons were not an immediate concern to Young because of this agreement, but Keen made no such allowances. Judge Keen asked Young on Friday if he was hired by the Cherokee Nation to retrieve money's given away by Mankiller. When the Tahlequah attorney answered "yes", Keen replied, "You're not doing a very good job of it, counselor!" Keen concluded the hearing by saying he would confer with the other justices on the tribunal and a written order would be produced concerning their findings. Cherokee Observer note: Nathan Young III, Delaware attorney, appointed by Joe Byrd and Joel Thompson for the Mankiller "severance pay" case moved his suit to the Northern District in Tulsa on Tuesday, August 27, 1996. After being heavily criticized by Cherokee Supreme Court Associate Justice Ralph Keen, ex-United States Attorney, on his due diligence regarding the Mankiller severance pay suit on Friday 23, 1996. WHY?? --------- "RE: URGENT! Logging at ANPO to Begin Soon" --------- Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 06:49:47 GMT From: pamb@efn.org (Pam Venn) Subj: URGENT! Logging at ANPO to begin soon Newsgroups: soc.culture.native,alt.native The ANPO Camp, on the southeast side of Mount Hood in north central Oregon, is faced with imminent destruction under the Salvage Logging Rider. Please contact the President and your congressmen and remind them this site must have Constitutional protection. Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 15:18:15 -0700 (PDT) From: Peace Works - Ancient Forest Committee Subject: Come Celebrate Warner/Visit ANPO Camp CASCADIA FREE STATE WILL CELEBRATE ITS 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON Friday September 6th on the edge of the Warner Creek burn at the end of forest road 2408. Some folks are opting not to drive past the now destroyed blockade site and hiking the 8000+ year old Bunchgrass Ridge Trail to the celebration site. You can hike in either from the East, through a large cross section of the miraculously recovering burn area (it's about 6 miles) or from the West (about 3 miles). A potluck has been called for. Bring your own water, etc. Call SWEF! at 343-7305 or CFD at 465-8971. ON SATURDAY (7th) THE GROUP WILL PROCEED TO THE ANPO SUNDANCE AREA TO offer support to the struggle to fend off the desecration of sacred ground by the Deforest Service. The ANPO Camp is a Ceremonial Sundance site for native people of all tribal and band descents. Two timber sales, the Haze and Hazel 2, planned and sold by the Mt. Hood Nat'l Forest, will destroy and permanently disturb sacred ground thru road building and logging by Thomas Cr. Lumber Co., of Warner Creek fame. Directions to Anpo area: Please call SWEF! at 343-7305, CFD at 465-8971, ANPO at 635-0640? or come up and carpool with the folks leaving from Warner. Maybe the WALL Hotline might have it on their system soon....? 1-800-283-5926. FOR EUGENE AND.... CASCADIA ALIVE! WILL AIRING EVERY TUESDAY AT 9-10PM ON Channel 11 Cable Access TV. It's live and very up to date on all the latest Cascadian concerns. Oh, it is also a call in show. Stay tuned for showings all over the region! --------- "RE: Childrens' Literature Project" --------- Date: Wed, 28 Aug 96 15:04:33 EST From: "Glen WELKER" Subj: Childrens' Literature Project UUCP email Sources: http://www.humanity.org/childlit.spanish.html http://www.humanity.org/childlit.html Our goal is to help spread ancient wisdom around the world. The Humanity Foundation's mission is to encourage people to understand this planet as a common home. We aim to contribute to this mission through the collection, translation, and publication of the stories indigenous peoples have told their children for generations. There are 250 million indigenous people on this planet. The first to inhabit a particular region, they continue to live according to the laws prescribed by the natural world. Today many struggle in vain to maintain lifestyles developed over tens of thousands of years. Threatened by military conflict, social intolerance, and political and economic pressures, indigenous people strive to save their environment from the growing destructive appetites of the industrialized world. We believe the preservation of these oral traditions is crucial to the survival of the world. Woven together, these stories represent the tapestry of life on Earth. They are the fabric of humanity. Indigenous people not only are "the guardians of extensive and fragile ecosystems"* but also preserve a profound knowledge of coexistence with nature and with one another. If the world loses their stories, an invaluable part of our human identity is lost and the tapestry becomes more threadbare. We intend to help preserve the dignity and wisdom of these cultures by publishing a book that parents throughout the world will share with their children. We believe that children exposed to the intricacies of other cultures more likely will grow into adults who accept and treasure the differences among us. Once our children's literature program chooses a particular indigenous society, we plan to establish contact through grassroots organizations that already work for their benefit and preservation. From these contacts, we will collect the most compelling stories. We will then translate the stories into English. Recognizing that to some extent all translators are traitors, we will take extraordinary care to understand and preserve the original meaning. Finally, we recognize that indigenous peoples will be loaning us a precious gift. In order to reciprocate this generosity, we will support efforts that will benefit each culture in its struggle for survival. For example, with funds generated from the sale of this book we may help repair a school or home. In this way, we hope to reaffirm the richness and dignity of those peoples with whom we have established a relationship. Justen Ahren Director The Children's Literature Program --------- "RE: IAIA, The Beat Goes On" --------- Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 11:28:49 -0700 (PDT) From: steve laboueff Subj: iaia Mailing List: NativeWeb IAIA IAIA, the beat goes on. Day three of school at the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe. The Administration is still in denial that anything is wrong! President Sanchez has always blamed previous President Perry Horse, Kiowa for low enrollment although one former faculty member states that it was her that set the enrollment of 120. I had heard that also. The enrollment was 175 last year. The scary thing is that word coming out of IAIA is that only about 80-90 have shown up and that many are planning to leave. On its profane level, 30 students paying $9000 per year tuition translates into a $270,000 shortfall, yet Prez Sanchez maintains "I'm in control, I'm in control". At another level, students are pissed and hurt. Many had no notification that there was a change in policy and that they would be charged $9K tuition. They were told that scholarships were available, however, are not allowed to access them. One family from Canada are stranded. They don't have the monies to pay the tuition and don't have the monies to get home. Some students are selling meal tickets to buy supplies because there is no monies for supplies. Other students do not have meal tickets to feed themselves and volunteers are planning to bring in food. One student had to sleep on mattress on the floor because there was no bed. The dorm rooms were not ready when students showed up--portapotties were in the hall for their use. Students showed up in one class--IAIA does not have adequate classroom space--and the professor did not have a blackboard or desk, there were no chairs only benches, and many students sat on the floor. The IAIA administration maintains that everything is okay. There are plenty of culturally-based courses and Indian professors. Supposedly the faculty was involved in the curriculum changes and their recommendations were followed, yet the former Chair of the Faculty Council and Vice-Chair (1995-96 ((I served as Vice-Chair))), the Chair of the Faculty Council for 1996 (this Spring until she was laid off), and the former Chair of the Curriculum Committee ALL DISPUTE THIS STATEMENT BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND SAY THAT THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE NOT FOLLOWED. Yes, we went to meetings and made recommendations, however, OUR recommendations were not followed. This sounds like BIA stuff, doesn't it!! SOS! The students are confused and hurting. Indian people need to query their Tribal leaders and Congressmen. Ask the questions, be informed, and demand accountability. I would like to believe there is justice and that Indian people stand up for their rights and sovereignty on issues other than gambling. My relatives. --------- "RE: Indian Art Education" --------- Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 12:47:51 -0700 (PDT) From: stephen laboueff Subj: indian art education Mailing List: NativeWeb September 1, 1996 I am concerned about the stories that are "going around" stating that the President and Administration of the Institution of American Indian Art in Santa Fe sent a letter to Indian Country Today threatening to sue if the paper continues to print stories about IAIA. I do believe that IAIA would send the letter. I do not want to believe that Indian Country Today would back off from investigating and reporting about actions that will effect so many Indian young people and Indian education for generations. I heard that there was some question as to the validity of the reporting. Certainly good investigative reporting must be reliable. That should not preclude Indian Country Today from reporting the news and should in fact spur them to dig even deeper. The situation at IAIA is volatile. The decisions made by IAIA President Sanchez and the Board of Trustees are being questioned. They have authority and power and feel they are being attacked--of course they will defend themselves and strike out. We all need to pursue "the truth" and to be informed about the issues. Personalities are always "confusing". A reporting on events at IAIA was posted to NATIVELIT-L on the Internet (8/29/96): "IAIA IAIA, the beat goes on. Day three of school at the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe. The Administration is still in denial that anything is wrong! President Sanchez has always blamed previous President Perry Horse, Kiowa for low enrollment although one former faculty member states that it was her (Sanchez) that set the enrollment of 120. I had heard that also. The enrollment was 175 last year. The scary thing is that word coming out of IAIA is that only about 80-90 have shown up and that many are planning to leave. On its profane level, 30 students paying $9000 per year tuition translates into a $270,000 shortfall, yet Prez Sanchez maintains "I'm in control, I'm in control". At another level, students are pissed and hurt. Many had no notification that there was a change in policy and that they would be charged $9K tuition. They were told that scholarships were available, however, are not allowed to access them. One family from Canada is stranded. They don't have the monies to pay the tuition and don't have the monies to get home. Some students are selling meal tickets to buy supplies because there is no monies for supplies. Other students do not have meal tickets to feed themselves and volunteers are planning to bring in food (a 9/1/96 report states that as many as 25 students are without meal plans). One student had to sleep on a mattress on the floor because there was no bed. The dorm rooms were not ready when students showed up--portapotties were in the hall for their use. Students showed up in one class--IAIA does not have adequate classroom space--and the professor did not have a blackboard or desk, there were no chairs only benches, and many students sat on the floor. The IAIA administration maintains that everything is okay. There are plenty of culturally-based courses and Indian professors. Supposedly the faculty was involved in the curriculum changes and their recommendations were followed, yet the former Chair of the Faculty Council and Vice-Chair for 1995-96 ((I served as Vice-Chair)), the Chair of the Faculty Council for 1996 (this Spring until she was laid off), and the former Chair of the Curriculum Committee ALL DISPUTE THIS STATEMENT BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND SAY THAT THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE NOT FOLLOWED. Yes, we went to meetings and made recommendations, however, OUR recommendations were not followed. This sounds like BIA stuff, doesn't it!! SOS! The students are confused and hurting. Indian people need to query their Tribal leaders and Congressmen. Ask the questions, be informed, and demand accountability. I would like to believe there is justice and that Indian people stand up for their rights and sovereignty on issues other than gambling." Update September 1, 1996: The returning students were promised that their rights to graduation under a "grandfather clause" would be honored. Classes such as Western Art History, a requirement, are not being offered (IAIA cut the faculty member teaching these courses). Dean Art Bond attempted to change the course to Western Civilization and remaining faculty would not let this happen, so then the students were told they could take the "required course" on their own at the Santa Fe Community College ($17 a credit hour) in addition to the $9K tuition at IAIA. President Sanchez repeatedly told faculty, students and community in public meetings that the "graduation of the returning students was the highest priority". She used this to justify other cuts. Most students were not notified that there were tuition policy changes and returned under the guidelines put forth in the 1995-97 IAIA catalog. Of those who were notified, many did not know that they would be expected to pay their board and room. Interestingly, the money from faculty that were laid off (not fired according to Ms. Sanchez--roughly $700,000 in salary and benefits) presumably is being used to pay off a debt incurred by student services in 1995-96?? Is this legal? In corporate America, and Prez Sanchez fancies herself the ultimate "corporate power woman", heads would roll for poor management exhibited at IAIA. This smells like, looks like, is.........! An issue that remains unaddressed is the big money game that is being played with the land for IAIA's proposed campus. Rancho Viejo, a land corporation with five officers who are attorneys from Phoenix, "gifted" IAIA land on which to build their dream home in the late 1980's. The IAIA propaganda touted the land gift as a milestone in IAIA's history and immediately began trying to raise the monies to build the new campus, often ignoring Congressional directives to raise monies instead to become self-sufficient as well as addressing student educational needs. However, the "gift" comes with strings. IAIA was supposed to build at least one building on the land within five years or the land would revert to Rancho Viejo!! Seven years later IAIA is operating on an extension "graciously" granted by Ranch Viejo. In the meantime, IAIA has paved a winding road through the scenic allotment and put in gas, water, and electricity. Rancho Viejo has not paid taxes on the land since giving the land to IAIA. Should IAIA default now, Rancho Viejo stands to receive those improvements to their development--road, gas, water, and electricity--totally free. Not suprisingly, the county zoning commission has just approved the development of the land surrounding IAIA's proposed campus. With the IAIA-funded utilities and road, Rancho Viejo is now ready for business. This raises questions of conflicts of interest when someone working for Rancho Viejo serves on IAIA's Foundation Board. Are there any other connections between the IAIA Board or Foundation Board and Rancho Viejo? Respectfully, Stephen La Boueff (Blackfeet) --------- "RE: Wintu Prayer Site in Danger" --------- Date: 30 Aug 1996 07:29:50 GMT From: comix@sonic.net (Garth Haslam) Subject: ANCIENT WINTU PRAYER SITE IN DANGER! Newsgroup: alt.native The Wintu prayer site, located in Cottonwood, CA., was to be purchased by a group of five Native Americans to be used as what it is -- a quiet and sacred place -- both for Wintu ceremonies and as a youth & elder center and Native American language school open to ALL people who would respect the land. The group had raised all the backing necessary to purchase the site when, unfortunately, the single backer who had promised to pay the down payment backed out. That was one day ago; now the group must raise the down payment by 5:00 pm FRIDAY, AUGUST 30th to prevent the site from being sold to a private interest that the real estate company has already lined up! The full down payment is $10,000, but if HALF that amount -- $5,000 -- can be raised by the deadline then the deadline can be extended, buying the precious time needed for the remaining backers to provide their funding. If you can make a donation and are willing, any and all help is gratefully appreciated. To make a donation, please have your bank make a transfer of the amount to the escrow account of the site: ESCROW # 73988-DW And even if you can't make a donation, you CAN register your protest and ask for more time to save the site by sending messages to Dawn Wichael at the Redding Title Company (use the heading "Save the Wintu Sacred Site"): Redding Title Co. Attn: Dawn Wichael Churn Creek Rd. Redding, CA. 96002 PHONE: (916) 224-2817 FAX : (916) 222-8482 Thank you for all assistance in this time of need! --------- "RE: Leech Lake Chairman Offers to Resign" --------- Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 17:43:33 GMT From: eaglerok@northernnet.com (Feather EagleRock) Subj: Leech Lake chairman offers to resign Newsgroups: apc.indig.info,soc.culture.native,alt.native PRESS RELEASE FROM NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS OUTREACH AND RESOURCE CENTER August 29 -- Leech Lake Chairman Eli Hunt has renewed his offer to resign, provided that the other four members of the Leech Lake Reservation Business Committee resign also. No regular business meeting of the band has been conducted since July 19. The four RBC members refuse to meet in open meetings because "the people call them names." And they are "afraid they might get hurt." District Representatives also still refuse to meet with their constituents, individually. The Leech Lake Headstart program is in danger of loss of funding, due to the refusal of the four tribal RBC members to attend regular business meetings. This will mean loss of income to many families on the reservation. The National Indian Gaming Association has confirmed that Leech Lake IS STILL in compliance with gaming codes. The four RBC members and their non-indian lawyer, spokesman Steve Thorne of the Schoesller Law Firm, however, continue to issue press releases saying that the casinos are in jeopardy of being shut down. The Schoessler Law Firm has to date received in excess of $1,000,000 of TRIBAL FUNDS for the defense of RBC members (convicted of stealing TRIBAL FUNDS), and assisting the four RBC members in their fight against the duly elected tribal chairman of the Leech Lake Band. The newly formed General Council of the Leech Lake Band is forced to seek/hire an attorney to play the "whereas-duly-enacted-and-signed-here-to-with-and- in-accordance-with" game required by the BIA and TEC for recognition and continued funding of Tribal programs. The four RBC members continue to refuse to push for a constitutional convention of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. They are devoting a significant amount of their TRIBAL OFFICE HOURS putting out anti-Hunt issue papers and press releases. Most recently they released a statement that said they feel "beleaguered" with the "attempted coup" and they "don't see a quick end to the standoff with Hunt." .... In reality, DULY ELECTED LEECH LAKE CHAIRMAN ELI HUNT, has in fact offered them that a "quick end" several times. He will resign, provided that they also resign. And let THE PEOPLE choose through an election, just who it is they want leading the Leech Lake Band. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bernard J. Rock, Sr. Leech Lake Pillager Band Spotted Eagle Warrior Society North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans Outreach and Resource Center --------- "RE: FDL Protestors Block Construction" --------- Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 04:22:08 GMT From: eaglerok@northernnet.com (feather eaglerock) Subj: Fond du Lac protestors block construction Newsgroups: apc.indig.info,soc.culture.native,alt.native We have received permission from Bill Lawrence, publisher of the Native American Press/Ojibwe News, reporters Jeff Armstrong and Gary Blair to post articles pertaining to the struggle for governmental reform in Minnesota Chippewa Country. Issue August 23, 1996 Camp Truth blockades FDL construction site to force referendum vote By Jeff Armstrong About two dozen members of an Anishinabe encampment on Fond du Lac risked arrest and possible injury to block construction on a controversial administrative center until the Reservation Business committee complies with a referendum petition on the issue. After three day of pickets and blockades beginning Aug. 19, Camp Truth, a movement for democratic change, succeeded in its goal of suspending construction and forcing the RBC back to the bargaining table. "I shut the whole project down completely," said construction head Dennis Olson, "until this thing is settled." Erecting makeshift barricades and utilizing mobile units of picketers, Camp Truth blocked most heavy equipment from entering the construction site to the estimated $10 million project, but did not interfere with native workers. Non-native workers, who Kraus-Anderson said made up about half of the crew, were informed, however, that their presence was not welcome. "You're trespassing on tribal land," Camp Truth member Luella Diver told a white construction worker who barely concealed his hostility to the protesters. Although most confrontations were verbal, one tribal employee drove a forklift into a small line of protesters who vainly attempted to hold it off. Chairman Sony Peacock and Cloquet police officials had warned the demonstrators that they faced possible criminal trespass charges if they continued to block the access roads. City Police on the scene said they were first called in by construction security guards who had reported interference with employees. But camp members maintained that they were acting in accordance with the tribal constitution and that state law enforcement had no jurisdiction to interfere in the intra-tribal dispute. "The land on which we are currently occupying is our own property and we cannot be cited by State, County, City laws, " the group stated. "The three mentioned authorities have so Subject Matter Jurisdiction on any of the regulatory citations that may occur on our own commonly held property or for that matter not anywhere within the boundaries of the Reservation." Shirley Davis said the failure of state law enforcement to arrest tribal demonstrators was a historic occasion. "That's the first time they didn't intervene," said Davis. "I was surprised, really surprised. I thought I was going to be arrested." Camp Truth was launched August 2 after the RBC refused to recognize a legal petition signed by about 1/3 of Fond du Lac's adult residents for a referendum on whether to require a vote for approval of any construction project in excess of $400,000. The RBC had based its argument on a constitutional interpretation by the Tribal executive Committee of the six-reservation Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, but camp members successfully demanded the TEC repeal that interpretation at an August 8 meeting. The RBC then agreed to discuss the issue at an Aug. 15 meeting, but Camp Truth organizer Kelly Smith said the committee did not act in good faith. "They were talking about negotiations, but when we went in there, they didn't want nothing to do with us," said Smith. The following weekend, a number of suspected arsons occurred on the reservation, which the RBC property attempted to pin on Camp Truth. Although Cloguet police said they had no reason to believe the incidents were linked to camp members, the media broadcast without question Peacock's charges of "terrorism" linked to "certain elements" of the movement. Peacock was quoted in the Cloquet Pine Know newspaper demagogically referring to "a drive-by" by a number of people from the protest camp," but neglected to mention that it was a drive-by shouting -- not shooting -- by elders of the group. On Aug. 19, Camp Truth member Audrey Smith, Kelly's mother, reported receiving phone threats at her home, the first of 10 police reports that day from the reservation, including threats, gunfire, attempted arson, and a drove-by shooting. The RBC has also reported a number of alleged bomb threats, prompting camp members to volunteer to check the premises for explosives if more such calls come in. "They're trying to blame it on us because they want us to look bad," said Juanita Martineau. "They don;t even print what we say. The TV doesn't give us a chance to say anything. But they let Sonny Peacock sit there and blame it on us," she said. "Sonny Peacock wants to call us terrorists. How would he feel if we started talking treason and racketeering?" said Martineau. Jim Northrup, who offered to check tribal offices for bombs, said "it's easy to demonize us, we've got a tipi up." *********** Vocie of Gay-she-ba-o'sed, FDL enrollee Since Aug.2, 1996, a group of Anishinaabe patriots has been occupying the pow-wow grounds near the tribal offices on the Fond du Lac Reservation. We seek to address the ongoing corruption that is occurring within this Tribal Council, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, and their agents and minions. We are seeking a dialogue and solutions to our dilemma. We are seeking a safe and crime-free community. We wish to involve anyone who wishes to see this community become a better and safe place to live. Like the Freemen from Montana, we have no $&#! leaders; we are all leaders -- but unlike the freemen, we are not armed. We invite ALL people to attend out encampment and to share their thoughts and ideas to solve our ongoing problems collectively. We have not before asked from donations, but we would appreciate pop, grub and donations of wood. We most need people to spend some overnight to fuel the (prayer) fire. Thank you. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bernard J. Rock, Sr. Leech Lake Pillager Band Spotted Eagle Warrior Society North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans Outreach and Resource Center --------- "RE: ICWA Attorney Wanted" --------- Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 05:01:19 -0400 From: Miketben@aol.com Subj: N.A.S.L. - Fwd: ICWA atty wanted Forwarded message: From: icwalaw@tc.umn.edu (Mark D. Fiddler) Mailing List: TRIBALLAW (triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu) The Indian Child Welfare Law Center is now on the web thanks to Aaron Osterby and the Great Lakes Region American Indian Network (GLRAIN). Our URL is: http://glrain.cic.net/icwalc/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ We also have a job opening: JOB ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE: ICWA STAFF ATTORNEY SALARY: 30-40K D.O.E., excellent benefits. CLOSING DATE: September 13, 1996 (date application must be received). DESCRIPTION: The staff attorney will handle litigation in the areas of Indian Child Welfare Act, including the representation of Indian parents, custodians, members of the extended family, and tribes in proceedings for: foster care, termination of parental rights, adoption, third-party custody, and voluntary placements. The staff attorney will draft legal memoranda and briefs, and will represent clients in all pre-trial and trial matters in family and juvenile court proceedings, appellate matters, and federal court. QUALIFICATIONS: Must be currently licensed to practice in Minnesota, or be licensed in another state and be eligible for admission in Minnesota based on years of practice or be eligible for admission based under a temporary "legal services" attorney's license. Must have at least three years litigation experience in family or juvenile law; knowledge of Indian Child Welfare Act and federal Indian law; ability to relate well to Indian clients in crisis; interest in adoption and foster care legal matters; and excellent communication skills, both written and oral. SEND COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO: Mark Fiddler, Executive Director, Indian Child Welfare Law Center, Franklin Business Center, 1433 East Franklin Ave. 18A, Minneapolis, Minn. 55404. Tel: 612-879-9165 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mark D. Fiddler 612.879.9165 (tel) 612.879.0323 (fax) --------- "RE: Poem: The Children Of Indians" --------- Date: Tue, 28 May 96 11:53:04 -0800 From: Ralph Ianuzzi Subj: The Children Of Indians This poem is "reprinted from "What I Have To Say", Copyrighted 1995, by R.C. Thomas. My adopted name is Ralph P. Ianuzzi -- I write under my birth name. The Children Of Indians (Copyrighted 1995) by R.C. Thomas (Potawatomi/Chippewa) I was also one of those: The children who'd been taken then. The punishment the white man chose Was that their parents were forsaken them. . . Because they were the children of Indians. They'd divide us so we wouldn't fight: That's what they supposed back then. They'd turn our red skin into white And convert us to their religion. . . Because we were the children of Indians. But listen close and you can hear: The grumbling - the eruption's near. We've been silent but now it's time; The earth is rumbling - the awaited sign. . . For us, the children of the Indians. The Panther streaks across the sky. Tecumseh's footsteps shake the earth. We now begin to raise the cry To rise and fight for all we're worth. . . Because we are the children of Indians. And the Families once divided Are gathering now to fight. 'Cause we, the children, have long decided We'd rather be Indian than white. . . Because we are the children of Indians. So listen close and you can hear The grumble of the earthquakes here. He who's slept now gives the sign: The rumble begins - it's now our time. . . We're no longer children - We're the Indians!! I am half Potawatomi/Chippewa, half English and was placed in a boarding home at the age of five and adopted at the age of ten, hence the Italian surname. I was completely separated from my cultural background (in fact, was bullied in an attempt to deny my heritage (actually, the way I put it in the book was that my adoptive parents spent seven years attempting to beat "the Indian" out of me and in between beatings tried to deny what I knew in my bones - the fact that I was Indian)), and was raised as a white in white suburban neighborhoods. What I have written about, I have drawn from my own life, that which I've heard and read elsewhere, watched on various television broadcasts and documentaries and heard from my fellow community members (United American Indians of Delaware Valley - U.A.I.D.V.) and at Pow Wows. I'm sure there are many of you out there with similar experiences who will understand. The book is called "What I Have To Say", One Native American's Viewpoint. There are nineteen (19) poems which I made up from my experiences as an urban-raised Indian. If interested in how to obtain this book, please e-mail me at: temp@prep.net Mi Gwetch! (Thank You) - Anishnaabe --------- "RE: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days" --------- Date: 8/26/96 20:18 PDT From: Debra F. Sanders (dfsanders@genie.geis.com) Subj: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days genie email A HAWAIIAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of September 8-14 KEPAKEMAPA (September) (Mahoe Hope) 8 To walk upon black sands is to feel the touch of Pele. 9 Whenever we think we know all there is to know, ... the universe changes. 10 Each person sees the world a little differently. 11 You can see your true self reflected in a still pond. 12 Solitude feeds the spirit. 13 Look to the lessons of the past to solve the challenges of the present. 14 It is in the secluded valleys that the rarest of treasures are found. (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, 5 September 96 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (Evening Star) (jans@genie.com) Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows not previously posted to Mailing Lists NATCHAT or NATIVE-L genie email Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 13:07:40 +0000 From: Cherokee Observer Subj: Cherokee members should send a message to Joe Byrd and Tribal Leaders Published in the Muskogee Phoenix-- Editorially speaking ---dated Thursday Aug. 29, 1996 Cherokees will gather in Tahlequah today for the start of the annual Cherokee National Holiday. Fun, food, and renewing friendships will top the weekend's agenda. But, tribal members also should take this time to ask some pointed questions of their leaders. For, one year into a new tribal administration, the Cherokee Nation continues to SUFFER from too LITTLE LEADERSHIP and too much POLITICS. When Joe Byrd was elected to succeed Wilma Mankiller as Principal Chief in August 1995, he offered a vision of a more open, more responsive tribal government. Voters responded to that message after years of what was seen as a MANKILLER administration committed to its own internal interests rather than broad tribal concerns. But Byrd's record in year No. 1 sadly looks too much like Mankiller's Some highlights of Byrd's tenure are: --A lawsuit filed by a tribal councilor to compel Byrd's choice as tribal treasurer to provide councilors budget materials. [Harlan Joe Jones resigned under pressure] --A narrowly averted deal to join a casino project in Kansas with questionable financial backing and even more questionable utility to the tribe. --The continuing legal battle with Mankiller over $318,000. --Woes at Cherokee Nation Industries, once considered an economic engine for the tribe that now increasingly relies on loans backed by tribal bingo revenues to survive. --The arming of tribal security guards by Byrd, without discussion with tribal councilors or tribal members. --And, most recently, a tribal councilor successfully asking the tribe's highest court to ensure compliance with NEPOTISM laws in the appointment of another councilor. The year past hasn't included just bad news. The Cherokee Nation joined with other tribes to reach a compromise on fuel taxes with the state of Oklahoma that could mean millions of dollars for Cherokee coffers. And the tribe entered into an progressive agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop water resources in northeastern Oklahoma. Nevertheless, the trend is clear: The tribal administration still is not comfortable or willing to be open to members of the council or the tribe at large. Rather than a new period of open government working toward common goals, it appears the 1995 election merely removed one small, self-interested faction with another small, self-interested faction. The Cherokee Nations confronts too many challenges, in education, jobs, and health care, to name a few, to afford this type of "leadership". The faction fighting must come to an end, if the tribe is to move forward. That message should be transmitted to Byrd and other tribal leaders by tribal members in no uncertain terms this weekend. Posted courtesy of your only independent Cherokee newspaper, THE CHEROKEE OBSERVER. ===================================================== Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 19:56:00 GMT From: wesley_laughing_at_lme@isdtcp3.hwc.ca Subj: Akwesasne Mohawk Nation Powwow August 31 (Hogansburg, NY) Akwesasne Mohawk Nation 4th Annual Pow Wow Honoring Mother Earth August 31, to September 2, 1996 $25,000.00 US in honorarium and prize money COMPETITION & IROQUOIAN SMOKE DANCE CONTEST Prizes awarded in the following categories TRADITIONAL FANCY- JINGLE & GRASS Gate open 8:00am; Saturday, Sunday & Monday GRAND ENTRY 12:00 NOON, 6pm. saturday & sunday and 12:00 Monday Admission (in u.s. funds) $6.00 - seniors & students half price - children under 5 free MASTER OF CEREMONIES - BILL CROUSE ARENA DIRECTOR - MARK JOCK HEAD MALE DANCER - CURTIS KARON THOMAS HEAD FEMALE DANCER - BONNIE COLE HOST DRUM - STANDING ARROW INVITED DRUMS - WHITE EYE - CHINODIN & BIG STONE FOODS - NATIVE CRAFTS - ARTS & CRAFTS EXHIBITION GENERAL PUBLIC INVITED ARQUETTE FARM, COOK ROAD, HOGANSBURG, N.Y. For more information call Sheila at 613-575-2471 Sonny at 315-769-6428 NO DRUGS NO ALCOHOL NO PETS Bring your own lawn chairs Akwesasne Mohawk Nation Pow Wow HOGANSBURG, N.Y. ================================================================ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- 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: Tiger White, Tahlequah Times Journal (via Marvin and Linda Summerfield), Stephen La Boueff, Garth Haslam, Feather Eaglerock/Bernard J. Rock, Sr., Leonard Peltier, Luis Rosa, & Jaan Laaman, Dvora Gordon via Planet Peace, R.C. Thomas, Debra Sanders, Linda K. Peterson, Justen Ahren via Glenn Welker, Pam Venn (Urgent Appeal), Janet Smith, Mark D. Fiddler, A.W.N.Bernard, Lyle Point Action Committee, Gregory G. (Crow) Niemuth, Harold P. Koehler -//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Part B of this newsletter has already been distributed via the NATIVE-L or NATCHAT mailing lists. --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - online" --------- Date: Thu, 5 September 96 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (Evening Star) (jans@genie.com) Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows already posted to Mailing Lists NATCHAT or NATIVE-L genie email Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 23:18:19 -0400 From: wasicuwin@aol.com Subj: Iroquois Arts Festival, Rhinebeck NY 9/7-9/8 Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) The Chrisjohn Family presents the 10th annual Iroquois Arts Festival September 7th and 8th at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rte 9, Rhinebeck, NY from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm rain or shine. Featuring: Iroquois social dancing; intertribal dancing; Native American songs; Storytelling; Birds of Prey; Culture and Crafts of Native nations from across North America. Presenting Historian, Harold Dellinger; Singer/song writer, Tom Obomsawin; emcee, Bob White Eagle and Host Drum, Rocky Park Singers Adults $6 Children and Seniors $4 Children under 5 free Sken:nen kenhak, Sandy ------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 10:34:50 -0500 From: hkoehler@web.apc.org Subj: Dudley George Memorial Feast Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ANTHONY "DUDLEY" GEORGE MEMORIAL TRADITIONAL GATHERING [This posting gives information additional to the Aug 20 post.] Friday September 6 & 7, 1996 KETTLE AND STONEY POINT FIRST NATION Friday, September 6, 1996 5:00 p.m. -- Anthony "Dudley" George Memorial Feast 7:00 p.m. -- Social Evening, Kettle Point Community Centre Saturday, September 7, 1996 6:00 a.m. -- Sunrise Ceremony 12:00 -- Traditional Pow Wow (Traders Welcome) 5:00 p.m. -- Potluck Supper Kettle Point Ballpark HEAD ELDER -- Sugar Bear Shognosh MC -- Butch Elliot HEAD VETERAN -- Jimmy Klein HONORARY VETERAN -- Clifford George HEAD MALE DANCER -- Bert Schyler HEAD FEMALE DANCER -- ohyllis Schyler For more information contact: Pamela George (H)5d9-786-2744 (W)519-786-5647 Shirley George (H)519-786-6893 (W)519-786-5009 Sam George (H)519-786-4739 FAX 519-786-2956 No Admission -- All Donations Greatly Appreciated EVERYONE WELC.ME Find Kettle Point on Highway 21 just south of Ravenswood. 40 km east and north from Sarnia along Lakeshore Road 30 km south and west from Grand Bend -------//----------------//----------------- Posted by: Harold P. Koehler hkoehler@execulink.com 43 Napoleon Drive, LONDON ON N5V 4A8 (519)453-5452, Fax 453-3676. http://www.execulink.com/~hkoehler/index.htm --------- "RE: URGENT: Quentin Big Medicine Missing" --------- Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 12:17:43 -0700 From: benmarra@halcyon.com (Ben Marra) Subj: Urgent: seeking info on whereabouts of Quentin Big Medicine Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) [ Following is a request which speaks for itself. We do not generally handle such personal appeals, however. If anyone has information, please get in touch with Linda (benmarra@halcyon.com) or Ethel (see below). --Gary (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ] Dear Gary, I have an urgent message which needs to be posted ASAP for a family in Montana. Can you advise me as to how I can best accomplish this? I haven't used listservers except to receive msgs. over the months. I consider myself still somewhat green about e-mail lists, etc. The family of this man is desperate to find out what has happened to him. Please help me help them. Thank you, in advance. The message follows. Linda K. Peterson Ben Marra Studios Seattle, Wa. (206) 624-7344 August 29, 1996 A friend of ours has been missing since mid-July. I have been asked by the family of Quentin Big Medicine, near Crow Agency, Montana, to communicate a letter of deep concern in hopes that someone will know of his whereabouts and contact us or the family. He was last seen in Hardin, Mt. on July 19, 1996. The family's attempts to locate him have failed. Quentin resides on the Crow Reservation between Hardin and Crow Agency, Mt. He is 43 years old. We are all very concerned about his disappearance. It is not characteristic of his behavior to be gone this long without family contact. If anyone has seen or knows information regarding the whereabouts of Quentin Big Medicine please contact: Linda K. Peterson Ben Marra Studios benmarra@halcyon.com (206) 624-7344 or Ethel Big Medicine Little Big Horn College (406) 638-2228 or 638-7211 - work (406) 665-2437 - home Thank you. --------- "RE: KBIC/Turtle Mountain Conflict" --------- Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 00:37:18 -0400 From: washagizig@aol.com Subj: Tribal Activism (KBIC / Turtle Mountain conflict) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) To the interested: Many thanks to Mr.Bernard J. Rock, Sr. for keeping us informed on the Wisconson/Minnesota political scene. I would like to say a few words concerning such matters. The KBIC Conflict which I speak of has been ongoing for over a year and a half now. The occupation of the Tribal Grounds in Assins and the coinciding sanctuary offered by the respected and much loved Fr. John Hascall have now celebrated their respective one year anniversaries. The Turtle Mountain conflict is a less publicised controversy. I feel that this also deserves some attention, so I will relate story of Turtle Mountain. These things that are happening in our communities are formidable years for us as a people. They deserve our full and equal attention. I have been involved with the occupation of KBIC Tribal headquarters since Sept. 95 and have been involved with the Turtle Mountain, ND dispute since Jan. 96 where I unfortunately spent three months incarceration awaiting trial. I have since been acquitted on a felony charge resulting from attempted negotiations with tribal officials. Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe Belcourt, ND. Turtle Mountain Reservation has been in turmoil for nearly two years now. This began with the removal of "The Six Pack," one half of the twelve member tribal council, through recall petition by the current tribal administration. This was initiated by the then and current Tribal Chairperson Twila Martin-Kekaba. The recall petitions have since been under scrutiny by numerous tribal members. Several accusations of wrong doing against the Election Board resulted. The Chairperson of the Election Board who reviewed the recall petitions has since been appointed to a position as Tribal Council Representative, an elected position vacated by the removal of the Six Pack. Chairperson Kekaba and a few of her supporters took armed control of tribal headquarters to facilitate review of recall petitions against the Six Pack and replacement of the current Turtle Mountain Agency Superintendent with Kenneth Davis, an old associate of hers. Several accusations of corruption have been made against various members of the Six Pack and against various members of the current regime. Accusations of nepotism have also been made against the current regime. These actions have resulted in several firings and hirings within the numerous tribal enterprises. Many people suspect these to be politically motivated. Two Chief Tribal Judges have been impeached for what appears to be refusal to follow politically motived edicts dictated by Tribal Chairperson Kekaba. Chief Judge Richard "Tonto" Fredricks was removed and replaced with Chief Judge Betty Lavendure. Chief Judge Lavendure was impeached after jailing Chairperson Kekaba for refusing to follow court order. Chief Judge Lavendure was replaced by Judge Janice Morely. Judge Morely has since proved herself incompetent through blatant favouritism, a blundered attempt at recodification, and several blundered judicial decrees. Her attempt at recodification has placed the tribe itself in severe jeopardy by striking personal jurisdiction in tribal code. Essentially what this means is that every person arraigned since Jan. is eligible to file suit against the BIA for wrongful incarceration. I have also personally witnessed refusal by the tribal court, under supervision of Judge Morely, to prosecute certain individuals for criminal activities. I have also witnessed four separate attempts to impeach Judge Morley, one of which I was personally involved in. Since Judge Morley's appointment she has been convicted of DUI, which is an impeachable offense under Judicial Board code. The resulting impeachment proceedings against Judge Morley failed to make it past the Judicial Board. A prominent Judicial Board member, Gailord Peltier, is also a Vice Chairperson of the Tribal Council. He has been accused of conspiring with Chairperson Kekaba to overthrow tribal government with the removal of the Six Pack. Several of his relatives have been appointed to prominent positions within the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Casino infrastructure. Judge Lavendure, a distinguished elder of the band, Associate Judge of Devil's Lake Sioux Band, ND., and revered Board member of the Intertribal Elders and Youth Council, has since been denied several thousand dollars in back pay. Several members of the court staff were removed with her and also denied back-pay. Several questions have also been raised concerning a proposed Tribal Spiritual Centre to be built/operated by/and on the land of Appointed Tribal Council member Francis Cree, a man who until now has enjoyed the respect and admiration of many tribal members. This turmoil has resulted in several weeks of picketing at the casino by hundreds of former casino employees who were removed by the current tribal council. It also resulted in one attempted take-over of tribal headquarters, one successful take-over, and one attempt at direct negotiation with the tribal administration to resolve the many disputes on the reservation. These three incidents were initiated by separate factions within the community out of concern for the welfare of the tribe. After the successful take over of the tribal headquarters the activists were removed by BIA Police force. This resulted in what has become known as The January Eighth Incident. On January Eighth several Elders of the community along with their supporters and members of American Indian Arbitration (an arbitration group out of Washington D.C. concerned with providing a capable way to end political disputes within native communities), attempted to induce dialog with the current Kekaba administration. This is when I became involved. After having met with members of the Turtle Mountain community in Minneapolis, MN, I reviewed their complaints and evidence and then proceeded to Belcourt, ND to witness the negotiations planned for January Eighth. Having reviewed the evidence I became concerned with accusations of misconduct by the Turtle Mountain BIA Police. After arriving in Belcourt, ND I attended two days of ceremonies prior to the negotiations on the Eighth. On the Eighth several television crews and a few newspaper reporters were present. The current administration refused any attempt at dialog and denied any accusations of wrong doing. After this press release by the Tribal Government and a few select interviews with members of the opposing group the press left. At this time members of the tribal council and their security force initiated a physical confrontation with members of the community. The resulting fracas landed me in jail. I spent eighty-seven days in jail awaiting trial after having received a one count federal indictment. I was acquitted after a three day trial and forty-five minutes of deliberation by the jury. I am currently charged with eight misdemeanor counts under tribal code resulting from the January Eighth Incident. Seven people were also arrested with me. One Elder, Rose Baker, was maced, tear gassed, and refused medical attention while in jail, for her participation in the incident. Another tribal member was cut on her face and also was refused medical attention. The resulting scar from the cut and infection has marred her for life. After my release from federal custody I participated in the gathering of signatures for a Petition of Recall against Chairperson Kekaba. Two-thousand, nine hundred, and ninety-eight signatures were collected. There is nearly six-thousand eligible voters residing within the reservation. Only four thousand people voted in the last election. Of that four thousand voters, twenty percent (or 800 voters) are needed to initiate a recall referendum of any elected official. This recall petition was accepted by Elected Tribal Councilmember Mathew McLeod who presented them to the current Election Board. This is the same procedure that was utilized by Chairperson Kekaba to remove the Six-Pack. After the presentation to the Election Board, the Election Board declared the petition invalid based on the procedure used to turn in the petitions. This controversy is still under way. Chairperson Kekaba is also coming up for election on Nov. 8. Information on the Keweenaw Bay stand off is available on Rose's Native American Page on the Internet. You can locate this by using KEWEENAW as a search word. [ The Web site referred to here is maintained by Rose Edwards. It can be found at "http://www.up.net/~rose/native/native.html" --Gary ] These people are in need of assistance also, as are the people of many other reservations. I believe that we are all bands of the same nation and not separate Band/Nations. It is time for some of us to accept our responsibilities as members of our native communities and offer what little help we can. Someday this trouble may be in our own back yard. I would like to request any information on such things happening in Indian country elsewhere. I can be reached at "washagizig@aol.com" . Thank you, A.W.N.Bernard Little Traverse Band Anamhewaagwenh Odawa --------- "RE: Dudley George Memorial Feast" --------- Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 10:36:11 -0500 From: hkoehler@web.apc.org Subj: Dudley George Memorial Feast Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) September 2, 1996 DUDLEY GEORGE - A HISTORY My apology to the readers of the conference web.announcements for not including a preamble to my message on the DUDLEY GEORGE MEMORIAL FEAST. My intimate connections with the struggles of the Stoney Point peoples lead me to assume that readers would know. Thanks to reader Rhea Menzel Whitehead for her plea for "a brief history of Dudley George" because that reminded me how negligent I was. Stoney Pointers and others interested in Native justice consider Dudley to be a patriot and this history has been written from that perspective. Dudley George came to the attention of many because he was murdered, presumably by the Ontario Provincial Police, during a confrontation at the Ipperwash Provincial Park on Sept 6, 1995. He was there with other Stoney Pointers who had occupied the park when it closed for the season to protect an ancient aboriginal burial ground from desecration. On March 17, 1957, a little brown baby boy, the eighth "Nagdoonsag," was born in Sarnia to Reginald Ransford George and Genevieve Pauline Rogers George. He was given the name of Anthony O'Brien George by mother Genevieve who thought an Irish name would be appropriate. Dudley was always in the forefront of the fight for the land. On September 12, 1993, a group of people occupying the former base walked from Stoney Point to Ottawa to press the government to recognize their treaty right. Dudley believed that someone must stay to protect the land so he remained at home. They stopped at Trent University on the way and arranged to return to attend the 1994 Elders gathering in Peterborough. Dudley joined veteran Clifford George and others and manned an information table. The others were kind of upset because they expected him to work, taking in all the workshops and the things that were offered. Dudley didn't seem to care about that. He was in his glory manning that information table, and coaching younger people how to get the most out of a large and complicated gathering. He was just enjoying himself. He liked beautiful women too and he saw one. So it was delightful to have him there. "So we have a lot of good memories," reported Marcia Simon. There were record cold temperatures in the winter of 93/94. Neighboring people were taking bets as to how long the Stoney Pointers would stay in there once the cold temperatures hit. But they stayed. Dudley had a trailer right along the highway. They would congregate over there. They had a wood stove in there and were nice and toasty. In the spring friends put together a birthday tribute to Dudley on Saint Patrick's day. The program included references to all his brothers and sisters. They picked out key things about his childhood that were amusing. Dudley was game for anything and they joked around with him and had a lot of fun. [Never having met Dudley George, this author has gleaned the above comments from his files containing various reports all prepared since Dudley's death. On a more personal note Pat Gyenes was asked to report some personal recollections of her and her family. They made a fond acquaintance with Dudley as they camped at Ipperwash Provincial Park. Pat's presentation follows.] In the summer of 1993, when the people moved back to Stoney Point, they performed a number of ceremonies to help them in their aim of peaceful and final reoccupation of their ancestral home land. In conjunction with these ceremonies they lit a sacred fire. That fire burned through the Summer and long into the fall. Once, during a tremendous thunderstorm, four of the fire keepers fought to keep it going through the torrential downpour. Suddenly, lightning struck the fire and the horrified people sheltering in other parts of the camp watched the blue flame dance all the way around the poles that marked off the sacred precinct. Then they rushed through the rain, sure that the four young men were dead. They found the fire keepers miraculously unhurt, and the fire still burning brightly. That Summer seemed to be one made of miracles. It made you feel that anything might be possible, when you visited Stoney Point then. It was beside the sacred fire that I first met Anthony O'Brien (Dudley) George. My friend and I and our children had spoken frequently with the men on the barricades at the beach and had finally accepted their invitation to come to the camp and learn more about their struggle. We had spent a couple of hours speaking with the two fire keepers on duty and I had learned quite a bit about how to behave around the fire and its ceremonial significance. Suddenly a pick-up truck pulled in and a group of laughing men spilled out and came over for introductions. One of them was Dudley. After our conversation with the fire keepers, we felt completely overwhelmed by the extent of the injury done to these people. We were amazed at how well they were doing with so little and how high their spirits were considering the constant harassment from military and civil authorities. We asked what we could do to help them. What did they need? "Women!" grinned Dudley. Then he went off and got us coffee. He may have had some rough edges, but he knew how to treat company. We returned to the fire many times that summer and fall. Dudley was usually close by, after all his trailer, prominently marked "Dudley's Place", was just a stone's throw away. The last time we saw him that year was in October, when we brought a gift of tobacco. I had access to some chemical free plants through work, and had experimented with different ways of drying the leaves, so that they could be given to the fire keepers. It was chilly by the lake that afternoon, but Dudley had worked up a real sweat using a post-holer. He was trying to set the poles for a long house. It was a thankless job, as every other hole was stopped by a large rock. Besides, the rest of the work crew had given up and found other ways to spend their energy. Dudley wasn't convinced it was hopeless yet. A black puppy was running happily around, chewing the tools and peoples shoes indiscriminately. Dudley introduced him as the "Sacred Dog". He took the tobacco gravely. When I mentioned that I had had some difficulty finding a good drying method, he sniffed it suspiciously, "Not mouldy is it?" Then he grinned again and set the tobacco carefully aside. He always seemed to know how to put people at ease. Anywhere you went, people knew Dudley and his name always seemed to bring a smile. Even in the Summer of 1995, knowing Dudley seemed to break the ice. There were a lot more of the people there that year and they had had to close their beach front to outsiders, for reasons that I now know and fully understand. We had met only a handful of the people and by that summer, even the few we knew had become visibly stressed by the hostility of their neighbors and the campaign mounted by authorities to prevent them from spreading their story. Dudley became almost a password with people who didn't recognize us. The adults in our group honored the request of the Stoney Point people to stay off the beach on their side of the pilings, but the kids traveled back and forth freely. They saw Dudley frequently. My older son joined the group of kids who used to make the run to the store in Ipperwash Park to buy the Bazooka bubblegum that Dudley was addicted to. We were in the Park camping on July 29 when the people moved back into the barracks. On our campsite, we had a quiet little celebration for them and were surprised when about half a dozen of the kids from Stoney Point drifted onto our site around 7:00 to pick up our young people. They all disappeared into the dunes to have their own party. The police presence increased amazingly for the last part of our stay. Our children were threatened with arrest by the OPP for returning to our campsite from the reserve. This surprised me, as we had always known that we could be considered as trespassers and be arrested for going to the reserve, but we were legally registered at the Park and couldn't be called trespassers for returning to our campsite. I was very uneasy when we left, the police were not only hostile but seemed frightened. I was very worried about what would happen. Like Dudley himself, I never imagined that the aggression I sensed would result in the fatal assault of September 6th. The last time I saw Dudley was at his funeral. The gates to the barracks area, now Auzhoodena, were lowered and there were several people on guard. We didn't know if they would let us in, considering what had happened. I'm not sure if it was the newspaper that Dudley had given us or the muffins that we brought that did it, but the gate was raised and we were admitted. There were very few non-natives. The tension in the air was the fear that the OPP massed in the surrounding fields would move again. I never thought to see that many people afraid that they would die. Most of them didn't expect to ever be able to leave. I could hardly believe that I was in Canada. Dudley's coffin was open for display in the rooms formerly assigned to the Quarter Master. It was strange to see him in a suit. In the coffin with him was his pipe, an eagle feather, and his Bazooka gum. I couldn't understand how it had happened that Dudley, the guy who always had a joke, was lying there, shot to death even though he had been unarmed. When they had moved back in 1993, the people had taken an oath not to use violence. I vowed to his sister that I would work to see that this would never happen again in Canada and that justice would finally be given to his family and all of his people. In whatever way I can, no matter how small, I try constantly to honor that promise. I'll be at the memorial ceremonies, my husband and children with me and we'll bring tobacco, and Bazooka gum, to honor the dead. I'll be praying for the legal return of the land belonging to the people of Auzhoodena and justice for their suffering over the past 54 years and that no more blood will be shed anywhere in Canada. ---------//------------------//-------------- Posted by HAROLD P. KOEHLER, 43 NAPOLEON DRIVE, LONDON ON CANADA N5V 4A8 (519)453 5452, Fax 453-3676, E-mail hkoehler@execulink.com Home Page: http://www.execulink.com/~hkoehler/ --------- "RE: Protecting Lyle Point" --------- Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 22:41:13 -0600 From: vtd4@netrix.net (serena) Subj: protecting Lyle Point land (Hood River, Oregon) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) BACKGROUND: The Lyle Point controversy has been raging since an east coast land speculation and development company bought the Point from the railroad several years ago. If this investment company is successful, the Point will be chopped up into over 30 lots- to become a gated, elitist community for the rich- forever denying the public access and use of the point. Heroic efforts by citizens from across the United States and lawsuits by the Indian Nations have fended off the developers for three years. Lyle Point has and continues to be a usual and accustomed scaffold fishing site for the River People. Historic journals and tribal elders tell of an ancient Indian village at Lyle Point that was abandoned due to disease spread by the first contact with whites. Oral history tells of this village where the natives cared for a diseased white family which was abandoned by their own people. Their disease spread to the entire village, killing all the inhabitants. The Natives were buried there and the site remained undisclosed by the elders until this recent threat of development. The village at the mouth of the Klickitat (Lyle Point) was seen and recorded by Lewis & Clark. Sacred sites and burial sites must not be desecrated. Lyle Point Action Committee August 21, 1996 LYLE POINT IS NOT FOR SALE On Friday, August 16th, the Lyle Point Action Committee (a group of local and regional citizens working to prevent the development of Lyle Point) commenced with protest demonstrations at the Point and at Don Nunamaker, Inc. Realtors, Hood River, Oregon. The committees action was a reaction to the cover of "Today's Real Estate Guide," featuring the availability of Lyle Point lots for housing development, and word of a salmon bake open house being held at the site. Committee members also leafletted Gorge communities the weekend of the 17th & 18th, and were met with supportive gestures from the public during the three days. On Sunday, August 18th, the committee was informed by Nunamaker that: As of August 18th, 1996, Don Nunamaker, Inc., realtors and its agents have ceased marketing efforts on the lots at Lyle Point. We are no longer involved with this listing. Investment Real Estate firm Tilbury, Fergusen & Neuburg, Inc. (503) 224 6743, fax x7933, 530 NW 23rd Ave., Suite 112, Portland, OR 97210; Elizabeth Tilbury, John L. Fergusen, Gail Neuberg) released Nunamaker from co-listing Due to the unexpected public controversy regarding Klickitat Landing... the same day. As of this writing, Tilbury, et al. is being notified of the issues surrounding this sacred burial site and Native fishing site of the River People, in hopes they may choose to do the right thing and decline further marketing of this ill-conceived and disastrous project. Letters and calls to them from all over the world (polite) are in order. Any subsequent attempts by realtors and their agents to sell Lyle Point lots will be similarly protested. The committee will continue working to bring the applicable parties together to discuss, formulate and pursue a preservation plan, through acquisition. We hope for the landowners cooperation and refrainment from relisting Lyle Point until such discussion can resume. The committee commends Don Nunamaker, Inc. for being responsive to this sensitive issue by dropping their listing. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP SAVE LYLE POINT: -- Volunteer for duty. Protests at the realty office may be called if they don't cooperate after 8/24/96. -- We need help spreading the fact that this is a very bad investment into and throughout the Real Estate community- if you have any ideas or know of real estate networks, home pages and e-mail addresses to get a version of this out to, please let us know. -- And anything else you can think of- not the least of which is network the info & updates to inform as many as possible. Thanks! Contacts: Lyle Point Action Committee: Chief Johnny Jackson (509) 493 1686 Columbia Gorge Audubon Society: Jill Barker (541) 478 3427 P.O. Box 512, Hood River, OR 97031 (email: mediaisl@halcyon.com) --------- "RE: Wind River Indian Reservation" --------- Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 06:21:48 -0600 From: gniemuth@uwyo.edu (GREGORY G. \Crow\ NIEMUTH) Subj: Wind River Indian Reservation Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) This information is posted on behalf of Irene Houser, Block Grant Administrator for the Northern Arapaho Nation, Wind River Reservation, Wyoming by "gniemuth@uwyo.edu". Individual subscribers may reproduce or forward this post. Located in the west-central portion of Wyoming, the Wind River Indian Reservation covers 2,268,000 acres. Originally encompassing 44 million acres, land cessions have resulted in the present size. Wind River is the third largest reservation in the United States. It is home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Nations; each of which has its own separate, autonomous governing council. Lack of employment opportunities, as well as a decline in tribal oil and gas revenues, have combined with other factors to create a significant homelessness problem at Wind River. The Arapahoe Shelter Project, located on the reservation at the community of Arapahoe, is a transitional homeless shelter. Currently being implemented, the shelter site is located close to Indian Health Services, a general store, the Black Coal Senior Center, the Great Plains Hall, a detox center and extended family members. Easily accessed in a safe location, the shelter is approved and supported by the Arapaho Business Council. Unfortunately, sporadic availability of funding has delayed the opening of the shelter. Although fundraising efforts and donations of time and materials have been of great assistance, it has not been enough. Additional funds are needed for installation and hook-up of utilities as well as final site preparation. An intensive campaign to generate funds for supplemental food supplies is also underway as general economic conditions degenerate and winter approaches. As our elected officials struggle to maintain services and generate additional economic development, others of us are fighting to help meet basic needs. Implementation and operating funds for the Arapahoe Shelter Project are still needed. Persons who would like more information may contact: The Arapahoe Shelter Project, Attn: Irene Houser, PO Box 8035, Ethete, WY 82520-8035 Fax: 307-332-9104.