_ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 04, ISSUE 048 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 30 November 1996 O o O KANOHEDA ANIYVWIYA Otapi'sin Atsinikiisinaakssin O o O Es'te Opunvk'vmucvse Aunchemokauhettittea O ( N A T I V E A M E R I C A N N E W S ) This issue contains articles from AISESnet, FWS-News, TRIBALLAW, MINN-IND, INNU-L & NATIVE-L listservers; UUCP & genie email; Newsgroups: alt.native, soc.culture.native,igc.indig.education; 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. "Grandfather's spirits serve others as well as the Indian. We are the keepers of certain areas of knowledge, and we are to share for the good of mankind." "We do not turn our backs to please even those of our own people who do not agree." __ Fools Crow +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg- | | iance was first presented | I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the | to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat- | of the Republic | ional Congress of American | and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat- | borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI | Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the | as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian | States Constitution, | Nations. | so that my forefathers | | shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! The Warm Springs Tribe is fighting the Treaty of 1865. Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon tried to put through SB 2102 to nullify the treaty but it failed. The governor of Oregon, Gov. John Kitzhaber was against the passage stating, "Clearly, the 1865 Treaty was NOT a proud moment in our nation's history, nevertheless this treaty has been in existence 131 years and agreements and understandings on the affected lands have evolved on its basis." The fear was that if the treaty was nullified the tribe would be allowed to hunt game on millions of acres without having to follow Oregon Fish and Game laws. Ask yourself if the United States makes similar arbitrary decisions regarding its treaties with Britain, France, Japan or Canada. Ask yourself what would happen if the United States or Canada were as capricious with their international treaties as they are with their intra-nations treaties with their own sovereign First Nations. The truth is not that difficult to determine. The truth is the "Indian Question" is still being asked and still being answered the same tired way. Cultural and actual genocide are just more subtle in these days of grand enlightenment. Have you written or called seeking to free Leonard Peltier this week? 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 - A New Pride For Everyone - 1996 NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey - Letter from Leonard - Voisey Bay Agreement Reached - Peltier Prayer Vigil in D.C. - Chippewa Tribe Government Reform - Michele Ludlam - Casino Closure Threatened - President Remarks to Parliament - Leech Lake State of the Rez - LPDC Holiday Update - Highway Nightmare for Innu - Cherokee Housing Authority - Nunavut Leaders Support Gender Parity - Wichita North Redskins - Rogue Bureaucracy Update - Eagles Killed for Profit - Native America Calling - High Rate of TB Among Natives - Auction Raises $8K - It's A Matter Of Opinion - Red Ink - Summer Research for Undergraduates - University Position - Poem: Earth Lessons - Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: A New Pride For Everyone" --------- Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 22:37:48, -0500 From: Frederick Sinkevich Subj: Message UUCP email O'siyo! I have been given the following message given by Sidney Keith, a Sacred Lakota Medicine Man. This man, is the one you might recall who does in August, the Traditional Sun Dance, up at Green Grass. He has fought all his life as a Traditional. Hear his words well. A New Pride For Everyone "Racism is as old an issue as the arrival of Columbus to our sacred land and it will take some doing to say anything new about it. We have a higher than average dose in the Rapid City area, like an epidemic that never dies down. I have thought about racism for some time now. I've had 74 years to experience it and I have learned, for myself, to resolve it inside my own heart. This has not stopped the storekeepers from mistreating my elders, the schools from abusing my children or the law from denying my People the same rights everyone else has. But, maybe it provides a model for future action. Nothing changes unless there is first change in the human heart. We may as well talk to the wind, which will understand better, than talk to people with closed minds and stiffened hearts. There are the three options of education, violence and law, to work with toward just treatment of our Indian People, and so far all have been found lacking. Education has fallen on deaf ears, violence only hardens hearts and law is only as good as those who enforce it. No matter its limitations, education will have to be our chosen course if we hope to see any changes, but it will have to be done in a new way with a special new twist. Classes on the validity and beauty of Lakota, and general Native American ways must be part of every grade level course from pre-school to graduate. But this is just the first step. Side by side must be lessons on self-acceptance of each non-Indian student's culture, with homework requiring these students find out the customs that he or she can be proud of, too. It is only those who do not know the meaning or beauty of their own cultures who strike out against the ways of others. I call upon educators at every level to develop pride in the hearts of all our growing young ones of every race, and then there will be vital changes. No longer will racial difference be an excuse for hatred and spite, but a reason for sharing the wonderful diversity that covers our planet. To paraphrase our great leader, Sitting Bull, if the Creator did not want variety, he would have made all crows. Instead, he made eagles and meadowlarks, ravens and swallows. I still look for that day we'll all live the way the Creator had in mind." --------- "RE: Letter from Leonard" --------- Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996 15:25:00 -0600 (CST) From: Freedom Heart Rising Subj: Letter from Leonard: UUCP email This comes from the newsletter of the LPDC, _Spirit of Crazy Horse_. To support the LPDC, plus receive this newsletter, subscribe by sending $12, to LPDC; Box 583; Lawrence, Kansas; 66044. It is published 6 times a year, and always has a letter from Leonard in it. This issues letter, which I just received today, follows: Greetings my Friends and Supporters, Despite the cold of impending winter, my heart has been warmed by the incredible amount of hard work, friendship, and support that you, my friends, have shown me over the past several months. The unwanted transfer to Springfield and ensuing harassment I suffered as prison officials kept me locked in solitary confinement ended due to public pressure. Your phone calls, faxes and letters prevented the possibility of many more days and nights in the Hole. Although I am still in pain and remain unable to fully use my jaw, I believe that undergoing additional treatment without access to my medical records and with surgeons unable to agree on the problem and how to treat it would have been a serious mistake. Thank you for standing behind me. My hope now is that those same efforts will continue and grow stronger in our long, hard battle to win executive clemency. From Election Day to the Inauguration we must be able to apply more pressure than ever before. This will be the most opportune time for the President to act on the Clemency petition which has now been pending for three years. Please continue your letter writing, phone calls and faxes to the Justice Department as well as your elected representatives in the House and Senate. Another way to help us promote the Clemency campaign is to participate in our November Week Of Action which begins on the 12th and culminates on the 19th with a World Day of Prayer. We will offer prayers for all those lost in the struggle, including Joseph Stuntz, and agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams. We will pray for the loss of life as we respectfully honor all victims and families that have suffered and are hurting from denied relationships with their loved ones. And we will prayer that our country's leader will have the integrity, compassion, and fortitude to make the right decision when JUSTICE is involved. As we once again begin the holiday season, I pray that you will remember those less fortunate. Please remember the stories you will read in this publication: the Western Shoshone, the Dine, activists like Judi Barr. PRAY for peace and harmony. FIGHT against police brutality and racist repression. GIVE to those in need. I remain optimistic that I will spend the holidays with my grandchildren. I am relying on all of you to make my dream come true. In the Spirit of Crazyhorse: Leonard Peltier --------- "RE: Peltier Prayer Vigil in D.C." --------- Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 14:03:03 -0500 From: Scott Tippetts Subj: report on Peltier Prayer Vigil in D.C. UUCP email Siyo Friends, On Tuesday November 19th, there was a Prayer Vigil to Free Leonard Peltier, on the sidewalk in front of the White House (and at other locations as well, in solidarity). The date was selected to commemorate the 3 year anniversary of the filing for Executive Clemency by Ramsey Clark (former US Attorney General). There were approximately 40 people in attendance here in D.C., mostly from Virginia and West Virginia, and about 10 people from Maryland (more on that later). We mingled for about an hour, renewing old acquaintances and making new ones. About 4pm or so, we gathered in a circle, while a native elder passed around inside the circle smudging. One woman passed around ribbon/pins made of the four colors (white, yellow, red, and black), to pin on. Ron Lessard (LPDC member, and Leonard's official lobbyist) addressed the gathering, and passed around two recent photos of Leonard. Ron reminded us, as he usually does at these gatherings, that as cold or inconvenient as it may be for us to be here, our worst day here is still better than Leonard's best day inside the iron cage. Prayers were offered, and 3 or 4 others offered comments, expressing their feelings and encouragement. All emphasized the spiritual side of the struggle, and the importance of prayer in addition to the political, legal, and public relations activities. Then a drum was brought into circle. Everyone was invited to make a tobacco offering, sprinkling a small amount of tobacco over the drum's surface. Those who had brought tobacco shared with the rest, so each person was able to make an offering. The group then sang the AIM song, and then the honoring song for Leonard. After more sharing of thoughts, we lit the candles. After a while, we sang Leonard's song again, and seven luminaries were lit (one for each of the seven clans) and placed out on the sidewalk around the edge of the group. We then spent a while enjoying each other's company, sharing in the spirit of our collective prayers, chatting and meeting new people, or getting caught up with acquaintances made at previous gatherings. When we parted company, the collective mood was positive and the energy of re- dedication buoyed us for our journeys home. On a more personal note, I was surprised and delighted to meet about 8 high school students from Ellicott City Maryland (very near where I live). For a number of years a high school teacher there has been teaching his classes about Leonard's struggle, and gathering petitions; he and I were completely unaware of each other's activities until last month, when we met at a forum about Peltier that I presented at the public library. For many years, each of us had thought we were "islands" of support, working pretty much alone (the Baltimore LPSG being, um, dormant/nonexistent for many years). We are hoping to "congeal" our energies, and help strengthen the newly revived Baltimore group. --Scott Tippetts --------- "RE: Michele Ludlam" --------- Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 21:11:34 -0700 From: Chuck McAfee Subj: Michele Ludlam Mailing List: AISESnet Discussion List (aisesnet@victor.umt.edu) As many of you know, a student was seriously injured in an accident as she was on her way to Salt Lake City to participate in the AISES National Conference. Here is some more information about her. Her name is Michele Ludlam. She is a Senior at Ganado High School in Ganado, Arizona. Michele is a very successful and active student -- she is a cheerleader, edits the school yearbook, is the current valedictorian in her school. She is described as "a very unselfish person, college bound, focused on academics." She is planning to attend college when she graduates, possibly at BYU. Michele's injuries in the accident are very serious. Her arm was amputated, between her shoulder and her elbow. In addition, she has had to have her knee cap replaced. She is very positive and upbeat, but she is in great physical pain and has much healing ahead of her. Michele has three brothers and three sisters. Her mother is Delfine Ludlam, PO Box 388, Ganado AZ 86505. She is currently at the University of New Mexico hospital, and will soon be moving to Carrie Tingley Hospital in Albuquerque. The Chair of the AISES Board of Directors, Sandra Begay-Campbell, is in direct contact with Michele and her mother. We are asking that you send your cards and letters for Michele to AISES; we will send them to Sandra who will in turn hand-carry them to Michele and her mother. Similarly, please send e-mail messages to AISES; we will forward them to Sandra, and she will print them for Michele. Michele's uncle is establishing a fund for Michele. If you wish to contribute, please send your contribution to AISES so that, again, we can package your contributions and forward them to Sandra for personal presentation to Michele from her AISES family. While you are thinking of Michele, please keep Lawrence Lano in your hearts and minds as well. Lawrence was driving the van that struck a dead horse lying in the road, leading to Michele's injuries. Lawrence's two teenage children were also in the van. This is a very difficult time for Lawrence and his children as they deal with the aftermath of this tragic accident. You may leave messages for Lawrence and his children at 520-755-3239, in Ganado. Here are addresses for your messages and contributions to Michele: Michele Ludlam c/o AISES 5661 Airport Boulevard Boulder CO 80301 cmcafee@spot.colorado.edu Thank you for your good thoughts for Michele and for Lawrence and his children. This is a very difficult time for them and for their families. Sincerely, Chuck McAfee AISES Headquarters, Boulder CO --------- "RE: President Remarks to Parliament" --------- Date: 21 Nov 1996 16:48:29 +0100 From: scottrobertladd@juno.com (Scott Robert Ladd) Subject: The White House: 1996-11-20 President Remarks to Parliament in Canberra Newsgroup: alt.native Note: I lack reliable access to newsgroups, so please reply by e-mail to: ScottRobertLadd@juno.com. The following speech, by U.S. President Clinton before the Australian Parliament, illustrates the continued mythologizing of Western Democracies. As with his campaign speeches, Mr. Clinton adamantly opposes social and political divisions based on ethnicity. Native peoples will NOT find justice from this man and those who think like him. - Scott --------- Begin forwarded message ---------- From: The White House Subject: 1996-11-20 President Remarks to Parliament in Canberra Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 20:11-0500 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary (Canberra, Australia) ________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release November 20, 1996 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT TO PARLIAMENT Parliament House Canberra, Australia 4:10 P.M. (L) THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker, Madam President of the Senate, to the Leader of the Opposition, and all the members of the Senate and House, and ladies and gentlemen here assembled: Let me begin, Prime Minister, by thanking you, the people of Canberra and all of Australia for the absolutely tremendous welcome that Hillary and I and the entire American delegation have received. I know this is called the Land Down Under, but after only a day, we all feel like we're on top of the world, and I thank you for that. (Laughter.) I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you in this great hall of democracy. Your Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, was one of the very few world leaders to address our United States Congress twice. Now, I give you that fact as a point of interest, not a pitch for a return engagement here. (Laughter.) Forty-one years ago today -- not today, 41 years ago this year, here is what he said to our people: "We have, with your great country, as a result of war as well as of peace, a tie which I believe to be unbreakable and a degree of affectionate, simple understanding which I do not believe can be surpassed between any two countries of the world." Today, 41 years later, the Prime Minister's insight still holds. The ties between us span more than 200 years. In 1792, an American ship named for brotherhood -- the Philadelphia -- arrived at Port Jackson with supplies that helped to save the colonists from starvation. Former Prime Minister Frasier noted that the beef that the Philadelphia carried had been on board for nine months -- (laughter) -- well-cured he called it. (Laughter.) Well, my friends, two centuries later, our friendship, tested in war and seasoned in peace, has also become well-cured. Our people have built bridges of commerce and culture, friendship and trust, reaching over the greatest expanse of ocean on Earth. The United States is proud to be Australia's largest foreign investor and largest trading partner. We are also proud of the wars we have fought together and the peace we have fought to sustain together. The great diversity of our ties was born of shared experience and common values. Our pioneers both settled vast frontiers and built free nations across entire continents. In one another, I really believe we see a distant mirror of our better selves -- reflections of liberty and decency, of openness and vitality. In this century, our bonds have truly been forged in the fires of wars -- war after war after war. Together we carried liberty's torch in the darkest nights of the 20th century. My message to you today is that together we must embrace the dawn of this new century together and we must make the most of it together. We carried a torch through the night; now we can create the dawn our children deserve. For Australia's strength and sacrifice through these many struggles, for your fierce love of liberty and your unfailing friendship to the United States, the American people thank you. And the American people look forward with you to this new era of freedom and possibilities. After all, our nations are at peace, our economies are strong. The ideas we have struggled for -- freedom of religion, speech and assembly, open markets, tolerance -- they're more and more the habits of all humanity. For the first time in all history, two-thirds of all the nations on this Earth and more than half the people alive today are ruled by governments picked by their own people. The rigid blocks and barriers that too long defined the world are giving way to an era of breathtaking expansion of information technology and information. And because of these things, we now have a chance, greater than any generation of people who ever lived before us, to give more and more people the opportunity to realize their God-given potential, to live their own dreams, not someone else's plan. But this chance we have is nothing more than that. It is a chance, not a guarantee. For all its promise, we know this new century will not be free of peril, and therefore, we know that our freedom still requires our responsibility. Nations and people still will be tempted to fight wars for territory, or out of ethnic, religious or racial hatred. As I told the American people over and over again during the recent election campaign, it was literally heartbreaking to me to think of how much of their time I had to spend dealing with people who still believe it's all right to murder each other and each other's children because of their racial, their religious, their ethnic, their tribal differences. We must stand against that and the example of how we live together must be a rebuke to that in the 21st century. (Applause.) And make no mistake about it, there is a nexus of new threats -- terrorists, rogue states, international criminals, drug traffickers. They, too, menace our security, and they will do more of it in the new century. They will be all the more lethal if they gain access to weapons of mass destruction, whether nuclear, chemical or biological. Because of our size, our strength, our prosperity and the power of our example, Australia and the United States have a special responsibility, not only to seize the opportunities, but to move against the new threats of the 21st century. Together we can reduce even more of the danger of weapons of mass destruction. We can take the fight to the terrorists and the drug traffickers. We can extend the reach of free and fair trade. We can advance democracy around the world. And, yes, we can prove that free societies can embrace the economic and social changes, and the ethnic, racial and religious diversity this new era brings and come out stronger and freer than ever. The threat of nuclear weapons born a half century ago finally is diminishing as a new century begins. The United States and Russia are reducing our arsenals, pointing our weapons away from one another, working to safeguard nuclear materials and facilities. Every single Australian should be very proud of the role your country has played in guiding the world toward a more secure future. You helped lead the fight to extend the nonproliferation treaty. Your determined diplomacy brought the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to reality and the world to the verge of banning all nuclear testing for all time. Every nation is in your debt for that achievement. And on behalf, again, of the people of the United States, I say thank you. Now we must pursue together our remaining arms control agenda -- further reductions in Russia's and America's arsenals once Russia ratifies START II; a chemical weapons convention, so that our troops never face poison gas in the battlefield and our people never fall victim to it in a terrorist attack; a stronger biological weapons convention, so that disease is never used as a weapon of war; a worldwide ban on land mines, so that all our children can walk with confidence on the earth beneath them. (Applause.) As we deal with these challenges to our security we must recognize the new ones which are emerging and the new approaches they require. Terrorism, international crime and drug trafficking are forces of destruction that have no tolerance for national borders. Together we must show zero tolerance for them. That means putting pressure on rogue states, not doing business with them. It's very difficult to do business by day with people who kill innocent civilians by night. It means giving no aid and quarter to terrorists who slaughter the innocent and drug traffickers who poison our children. It means, in short, pursuing a concerted strategy -- intelligence and police cooperation worldwide, coordinated legal action in every country to stop money laundering, shut down gray markets for guns and false documents, and increase of extraditions. It means security coordination in our airports and airplanes, in giving each in our own nations our law enforcement officials the tools they need to cooperate and to succeed. The measure of our people's security includes not only their physical safety, however, but, as we all know, their economic well-being. Our two countries have led in opening markets around the world and we can be pleased with our progress. Through GATT, the WTO, APEC and literally hundreds of smaller accords, we are moving to extend the reach of free and fair trade. But we can do more, issue by issue, agreement by agreement. I am determined to work with Congress in my second term to move ahead boldly on market opening initiatives around the world. Decades from now I want people to say that our generation rose to the challenge of creating a new, open trading system for the 21st century. If we do, more people will have good jobs and better lives as they share in humanity's genius for progress. Over the long-term we can best advance the security and prosperity we seek by expanding and strengthening not only trade, but the community of free nations. The tide of democracy is now running strong and deep. Consider this: In just the past few weeks the people of Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Nicaragua and Thailand have freely elected their leaders -- a prospect literally unimaginable not very long ago. In my own hemisphere every nation but one has raised freedom's flag. In central Europe and in Russia, Ukraine and the other New Independent States the forces of reform have earned our respect and deserve our continued support. For the first time since the rise of nation states on the continent of Europe it is literally conceivable that we have an opportunity -- a real and tangible opportunity -- to build a continent that is democratic, undivided and at peace. It has never been possible before, and together we can achieve it now. Now, I know that some people on both sides of the Pacific are concerned that America's continuing involvement with Europe and our intense renewed involvement with our neighbors in Latin America will lead to disengagement from the Asia Pacific region. They are wrong. Mr. Prime Minister, if I could borrow your eloquent phrase -- at least I'm giving you credit, as we politicians don't often do -- (laughter) -- the United States does not need to choose between our history and our geography. We need not choose between Europe and Asia. In a global economy with global security challenges, America must look to the East no less than to the West. Our security demands it. After all, we fought three wars here in living memory. The Cold War's last frontier lies now on the Korean Peninsula. The region as a whole is in the midst of profound change. So our security demands it. Our prosperity requires it. One-third of our exports and more than 2 million American jobs depend upon our trade with Asia. Over the next decade, Asia's remarkable growth will mean ever-expanding markets for those who can compete in them. Our future cannot be secure if Asia's future is in doubt. As we enter the 21st century, therefore, I say to you that America not only has been, she is and will remain a Pacific power. We want America's involvement and influence to provide the stability among nations which is necessary for the people of the Asia Pacific region to make the routines of normal life a reality and to spur the economic progress that will benefit all of us. To meet those challenges of stability, we are now pursuing three objectives -- stronger alliances, deeper engagement with China, and a larger community of democracies. First, we share the view of almost every nation in Asia that a strong American security presence remains the bedrock for regional stability. We will maintain about 100,000 troops across the Pacific, just as we maintain about 100,000 troops in Europe. We will keep them well-trained, well-equipped and well-prepared. We will continue to revitalize our core alliances both bilaterally and regionally. These efforts, let me say clearly, are not directed against any nation. They are intended to advance security and stability for everyone so that we can grow together and work together, all of us in the new century. Our alliance with a democratic, prosperous Japan has been one of the great achievements of the postwar period. Last spring, after more than a year's hard study and work, Prime Minister Hashimoto and I signed a new security charter. Japan's continued support for our military presence and even closer links between our armed forces will enable us to deepen our cooperation on behalf of peace and stability in this region and beyond. With our close ally in South Korea, we're working to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula that threaten all of northeast Asia. We must give new momentum now to the four-party peace talks President Kim and I proposed last spring. And we must continue our work to dismantle North Korea's frozen nuclear program. We are reinforcing our security ties with the Philippines and Thailand, while multiplying the power of our troops through greater access to regional military facilities. And finally and simply put, the defense links between the United States and Australia have never been stronger in peacetime. Mr. Prime Minister and members of Parliament, the agreements our foreign and defense ministers signed this summer in Sydney authorized the largest exercises involving our troops since World War II. American Marines will soon begin training in northern Australia. And we are deepening our already strong security cooperation. Today I say, again, with utter confidence, our alliance is not just for this time, it is for all time. As we work nation to nation, let us continue to build a new architecture for regional security as well -- an architecture through ASEAN that will strengthen our ability to confront common challenges. Already this effort is helping to diffuse tensions in the South China Sea and to dispel distrust across the region. We must pursue it to its full potential. Our second stabilizing objective is deeper engagement with China. The direction China takes in the years to come, the way it defines its greatness in the future will help to decide whether the next century is one of conflict or cooperation. The emergence of a stable, an open, a prosperous China, a strong China confident of its place in the world and willing to assume its responsibilities as a great nation is in our deepest interest. True cooperation is both possible and plainly productive. We work closely with China to extend a nuclear nonproliferation treaty and to secure the passage of a comprehensive test ban treaty. We joined to shore up peace in Cambodia and increased stability on the Korean Peninsula. We're making progress together on some tough issues, from nuclear technology to intellectual property rights. The United States and China will continue to have important differences, especially in the area of human rights, and we will continue to discuss them candidly. But by working together where possible and dealing with our differences openly and respectfully when necessary, we can deepen our dialogue and add to Asia's stability. I look forward to doing just that when I meet for the fourth time with President Jiang in the Philippines next week. The third part of our work for stability is support for the advance of democracy. Our two nations know that democracy comes in many forms. Neither of us seeks to impose our own vision on others, but we also share the conviction that some basic rights are universal. And we have to decide whether we believe that. I believe everywhere people aspire to be treated with dignity, to give voice to their opinions, to choose their own leaders. We have seen these dreams realized in the democratic odyssey of the Asia Pacific from Japan to South Korea to Thailand and Mongolia. In this century we have sacrificed many of our sons and daughters, your nation and ours, for the cause of freedom. And so we must continue to speak for the cause of freedom in this new age of commerce and trade and technology. We must push repressive regimes in places like Burma to pursue reconciliation and genuine political dialogue. We must assist new democracies like Cambodia by encouraging the development of political parties and institutions. We know that the freer and better educated people are, the more creative they become, the better able they are to compete, the more able they are to satisfy each other's deepest wants and needs. We can look at economic vitality of the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea to see the proof of this assertion. As stability extends its reach and strengthens its grip, the Pacific may finally be able to live up to its name. In Cambodia farmers once again till the land that had become horrific killing fields. In Vietnam, schoolchildren can worry more about their exams than about the war. From Bangkok to Manila, power is no longer used against the people; it is in the hands of the people. A generation ago, it was hard to imagine how rapidly freedom could come to these nations, how rapidly their economies could grow. But freed from the threat of war, unleashed by their newfound freedoms, the people of this region have built among the greatest success stories the world has ever seen. They have transformed economic wastelands into powerful engines for growth, enriched the lives of millions by harnessing the technology of change. Today, the economies of the Asia Pacific are clearly the most dynamic on Earth. More than 7 million Americans trace their roots to Asia. Five of our states touch the Pacific. We are inexorably linked to the promise of the Asia Pacific region. That's why in the first year of my term I sought to elevate the APEC forum that began right here in Canberra into the first- ever meeting of Asian Pacific leaders. At our inaugural summit in Seattle, working closely with your former Prime Minister, Paul Keating, we agreed to give this extraordinarily diverse region a common goal -- to work as a community of nations committed to economic integration. A year later in Jakarta we made a historic commitment -- free trade and investment in the region by 2020. Some said that was an illusory vision. But already that vision is becoming a blueprint, a blueprint taking shape as concrete commitments. At next week's leaders meeting Prime Minister Howard and I hope and expect that APEC will give a boost to specific market opening initiatives. For me, I hope that means unshackling trade in computers, semiconductors and telecommunications, the high-tech sectors of the future. We have an opportunity to set an example for the rest of the world and we ought to seize it. If we do, the nations of the region will benefit, those who provide the services and those who receive them. Progress, after all, is not yet everyone's partner, and we have a responsibility to open the doors of opportunity to those who remain outside the global economy. For example, some two-thirds of the people on our planet have no access to a telephone. I found that hard to believe when I saw so many of your fellow citizens with their cell phones in their hands as I drove up and down your streets. (Laugher.) More than half the people of the world are two days walk from a telephone. They are totally disconnected from the communications and information revolution that is the present vehicle for human progress and possibility. If we add their creative energies to the mix which now exists, of course, they will gain skills and jobs and greater wealth, but we also will benefit from the higher growth rates, from the expanded markets and from the increasing likelihood that those people will find peaceful, rather than warlike ways, to release their energies. We can do this if we have the courage not to retreat, but instead, to compete. At this year's meeting at APEC and everywhere I go, I will also deliver again a simple, loud and clear message: The United States is more determined than ever to create an Asian Pacific community of shared efforts, shared benefits and shared destiny. The interests that compel our engagement have grown, not shrunk, and so has our commitment to a Pacific future. We know from our past that we can succeed, that we are equal to the difficulties ahead. I began today by quoting Prime Minister Menzies, so let me conclude by returning to his words. He said, "The world needs every scrap of democratic strength that can be found in it because nobody, however optimistic, need underestimate the measure or the character of danger that always confronts us. It is not merely our privilege to be strong, it is our duty to be strong. The world needs Australia. The world needs the United States. It needs us together as partners and friends and allies. We have stood together in the hard times as partners and friends. Let us stand together and work together now for a new future of peace and possibility that extends to our children and our grandchildren and to all the children of the world. May God bless Australia, the United States and the great friendship between our nations. Thank you very much. (Applause.) END 4:45 P.M. (L) --------- End forwarded message ---------- Scott Robert Ladd ScottRobertLadd@juno.com 957 Empire Street voice: +1 970 387 0271 P.O. Box 617 fax: +1 970 387 0277 Silverton, CO 81433 USA --------- "RE: LPDC Holiday Update" --------- Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 13:45:03 -0600 (CST) From: Freedom Heart Rising Subj: UPDATE from the National Office: by Lisa Faruolo UUCP email This comes from the newsletter of the LPDC, _Spirit of Crazy Horse_. To support the LPDC, plus receive this newsletter, subscribe by sending $12, to LPDC; Box 583; Lawrence, Kansas; 66044. It is published 6 times a year; it always has a letter from Leonard in it, as well as addressing other human rights issues: +++++ Update from the National Office: by Lisa Faruolo While most everyone shops for holiday gifts, Leonard Peltier will remain in hell. While the scent of cookies fills your kitchen, he will be dreaming of life beyond the concrete and razor wired walls. It's very easy to get sucked into the "business" of the holiday season. What takes courage and dedication is honoring its true meaning. Regardless of one's religion, this time of year is symbolic of brother and sisterhood like no other. Why then do so many find themselves engrossed in what's on sale at the local Walmart than how to save the life of an innocent man who continues to languish in federal prison? He is counting on you, those committed enough to read this publication, to use this crucial time in the Clemency Campaign to push the President with every ounce of strength we can collectively muster. What better gift than freedom? Three years have been spent promoting clemency. In that time, we have seen over 850,000 signatures on petitions delivered to the White House. So many calls were made to the White House Comment Line that Leonard's name was on a "current events" type sheet to make it easier for operators to log calls. C_Span covered our Freedom Forum airing segments for three days. Senator Inouye presented the case on the Congressional Record. So much work and an enormous amount of progress, yet the decision has yet to be made. It's hit hard time. It's double your efforts and hang up the gloves time, and I seriously doubt any of you would be willing to forfeit the game. A man's life is at stake. And we believe that's a tad more important than making sure the decorations are just right around the front window. The holidays are a special time, but only if we make a conscious effort to spend them in a meaningful way. If not, they become just more wasted time. The LPDC wishes to extend its warmest wishes to the entire Network for a happy, safe and PRODUCTIVE holiday season. --------- "RE: Cherokee Housing Authority" --------- Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996 15:22:02 -0600 From: Cherokee Observer Subj: Housing Authority, Council fight over HUD funds at council meet Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native The following article was published in the Tahlequah Times Journal November 23, 1996. It was written by Times-Journal Special Writer, Connie Webb. HOUSING AUTHORITY, COUNCIL FIGHT OVER HUD FUNDS AT COUNCIL MEET Fearing for their jobs and sporting protest buttons renouncing a Cherokee Nation takeover of the Housing Authority, employees of the HACN crowded into a meeting hall at the [Cherokee Nation] Tribal Complex Thursday night. On the agenda of the tribe's Executive and Finance Committee was a proposal that would make the Cherokee Nation the recipient of federal funding for the Native American housing - a role that up till now was a function of the tribe's housing authority. Joel Thompson, HACN Executive Director opposes the resolution, which would effectively take away from him exclusive control over HUD money and give it to the Cherokee Nation. The Nation would then appropriate whatever percentage of the funding, an estimated $60 million yearly, they choose to the HACN and other tribal housing programs. The act would allow the tribe to collect the interest on the HUD funds that would accrue while the money was in the bank. "The act gives the tribe the flexibility to appropriate the money to any housing development entity they choose, in any amount they choose," said Charles Head, Program Manager for the tribe's Community Development Department. The proposal is essential in that soon all funding that will come from HUD for housing will be in the form of block grants, said Chief Joe Byrd who supports the resolution. "This initiative deals with the trust responsibility of the tribe's elected officials" [in regards to federal funding], explained Head. But according to Thompson, that responsibility transfers to the housing authority. Head says it does not. Tribal Councilman Don Crittenden asked Thompson if it was possible for the HACN to go private. Thompson said he didn't believe the housing authority could go private but it could become more self sufficient. "By our mere existence we are a public entity. But the housing authority cannot exist without the tribe." Thompson said if the tribe became the recipient of the funding instead of the HACN, it would jeopardize housing projects that were already in progress. Jennie Battles, Secretary/Treasurer for the Cherokee Nation, however, said that was not the case. "The law mandates the first thing we do with [housing] funds is to fund already existing programs." Tribal Councilman Bill Baker wanted to know whether the tribe would be able to change the percentage of funds they give to the housing authority. According to Head, once the tribe becomes the recipient of the funds they can give however much they chose to the housing authority. "I think we run the risk of making the housing funds a political football," stated Baker as he reclined in his chair and propped one leg up on the Council table. "The housing plan is still going to be in the hands of the Council," said Battles. Byrd said he told the HACN six months ago that they needed to get together and discuss the issues of block grants, but nothing was done. "With all due respect, it doesn't come in as any surprise to me that community development hasn't gotten a response from the housing authority," said Tribal Councilman Troy Wayne Poteete. "I don't get any response from them either when I call." Poteete said he had called the HACN on behalf of some of his constituents who were needing assistance with housing, but were getting nowhere with the HACN. Dom Nessi, who heads the HUD Indian Housing Program in Washington, D.C., said in 1995 he tried for a year and a half to reach Thompson but was not successful. Tribal Councilwoman Barbara Starr-Scott said she had visited some of the homes of Cherokees in her district that were desperately in need of repairs, and repeated visits to those homes by HACN officials had produced nothing. "I see housing authority inspectors driving around doing nothing all day," Scott said. "They're too busy driving around to do the jobs they are paid to do." Several members of the Tribal Council, two of which are on the HACN Board of Commissioners, were sporting the same buttons as the housing authority employees and Thompson. [Councilors] Baker, Lay and Sam Ed Bush wore the buttons during the meeting. Scott told Lay she found the button he was wearing offensive. "Tough." he replied to her amid snickers of laughter from HACN employees standing behind him. Lay was appointed to the HACN Board of Commissioners by Chief Byrd last year. He has also been made a volunteer security guard for the HACN by Thompson and given a new security vehicle to drive. An employee of the HACN who requested to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal said Lay demanded that campaign posters promoting his father, who was running for the position of court clerk in Rogers County, be placed inside the housing authority office--in spite of the fact that he was advised it was against HUD regulations to do that. The employee said Lay replied that he was a housing authority commissioner and would do whatever he wanted. The Times-Journal attempted to question Lay but he refused to answer any questions and referred all question to his attorney. "I have no comment," he said. Baker, who was also sporting one of the buttons, sells appliances out of his furniture store in Tahlequah to the HACN, a situation that is considered by some to be a conflict of interest considering his position on the tribal council. He also receives thousands of dollars in HUD money for Section 8 homes he rents to low-income families through the HACN. In 1995, Baker received approximately $135,000 from contracts he has with the HACN. Tribal officials said they were concerned that if the tribe did not become the recipient of the HUD funding, it would lose some of its housing programs which are eliminated by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996, passed by the U.S. Congress. Those housing programs are currently funded through the tribe's community development program. This program provides housing improvement assistance to eligible tribal members who own homes not purchased through the HACN. The only tribal members who can receive housing improvement assistance through HACN's program and those who live in houses built by them. If the tribe does not become the recipient of the HUD funding, a large percentage of Cherokees would be left with no where to go for needed improvements to their homes. Thompson has been under pressure for several years for failing to secure funding from HUD to build houses for Cherokee people. The latest rejection was the fifth time during Thompson's leadership that the HACN was denied funding for the homes. Following the latest rejection, Thompson flew to Washington, D.C., in an attempt to lobby for the houses at the main office of HUD. His request for the funding was denied. Data obtained from HUD indicate the predominate reason funding was denied to the HACN was directly attributed to the administration. Under the new proposal introduced at the tribal complex, the HACN would continue as before in its responsibility to provide housing. The only remarkable difference is that the HACN would come under the supervision of the Cherokee Nation. It was also revealed earlier this year that Thompson, a former attorney in Minnesota, has been disbarred and was no longer allowed to practice law. Whether Thompson's past performance as the executive director for the HACN will have any impact on who will be the recipient for future HUD funding is unanswered. Thompson clearly has the support of at least six tribal council members, who for reasons of their own, will vote to let the HACN continue as the recipient of the millions of dollars of HUD funds. Tribal councilors who openly support the Nation becoming the recipient of the funding indicate it would be in the best interests of the Cherokee people. Over the last five years, the HACN has lost funding for 217 houses. The cause can be directly traced back to the HACN administration. Thompson said earlier this year that the HACN had lost 67 homes because the funding for the houses had been rescinded by HUD. The reason was due to poor performance in getting the houses started. Members of the Executive and Finance Committee agreed to table further discussion on the resolution until Dec. 4, 1996, at 6 P.M. *********The End******** Posted courtesy of your only independent Cherokee newspaper, The CHEROKEE OBSERVER. --------- "RE: Wichita North Redskins" --------- Date: 9:51 PM Nov 16, 1996 From: richkya@midusa.net Subj: Wichita North Redskins Newsgroup: igc.indig.education Reprinted with permission from the Wichita Eagle, Tuesday, November 12, 1996. Article written by Joe Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez has related to me that the Eagle allows reprinting articles as long as the publication and date are included. Matthew Richter Headline: "We are upset because this group does not know what North High is about." Christina Guerrero, a graduate in favor of keeping the Redskins name. North mascot controversy heats up again Byline: 250 people showed up at a public hearing on whether to keep the name Redskins at North High School By Joe Rodriguez, The Wichita Eagle More than two dozen people - many using fiery and emotional words - offered their views Monday night on why North High School should either keep or do away with its mascot and nickname the Redskins A crowd Of about 250, perhaps, 5 to 1 in favor of keeping the mascot, attended the first public meeting called by the North Mascot/identity Committee Committee members heard views on everything from how the term "redskins" is racist to how the mascot is meant to honor Native American people and their culture. The committee's role is to gather public response on the issue and make a recommendation to the school Site council next month. The site council will make its recommendations to North Principal Ralph Teran, who will make the final decision on the mascot, probably in January. At the Monday meeting, held in the North auditorium, 13 people spoke in favor of changing the mascot - including one man who told the committee be changed his position after listening to earlier speakers. Fifteen spoke in favor of keeping the mascot Another 10 had signed up to speak at the meeting but were unable to because of a time limit placed on the meeting. Committee members listened first to people who want the mascot changed. One of those speakers was Eldon Masqua. While speaking, he carried a chanunpa, known to many as a "peace pipe." He pointed out that the primary colors of it were white, black, red and yellow. "What is significant about the primary colors is that they are also the colors of the races of people that inhabit the earth," said Masqua, a Kickapoo. "You do not call a race of people whiteskins, blackskins, yellowskins or redskins." One of the younger speakers was 14 year - old Matthew Vance, a son of Nakita Vance, the woman who in April wrote a letter to the school board asking the mascot be changed. Matthew told the committee how disturbing it was to see signs hanging in his school's (West High's) hallways that read "Beat the Indians," Kill those "Redskins" or Scalp the Redskins." "Knowing that's my people's name up there and that it's used like a pet or an animal that you can kill and don't care about, that's just wrong," be said. "And that hurts inside." When the people in favor of changing the mascot were finished speaking, they and their supporters quietly left the auditorium. Many had planned on gathering to smoke the chanunpa that Masqua had carried. People wanting to keep the mascot talked about pride and tradition - the pride and tradition associated with the school, Many referred to what has become something of a slogan since the controversy "Once a Redskin always a Redskin." Although committee member Kathy Whepley repeatedly asked the audience not to applaud after each speaker, many audience members did so anyway. Christina Guerrero, a 1991 North graduate got perhaps one of the biggest responses after she told the committee she had petitions with 495 signatures of people who did not want the mascot changed. "We are upset because this group (of people who want the mascot changed) does not know what North High is about, she said. "They do not attend our school, they do not participate in our activities, yet they feel it necessary to use our school and our mascot for their own selfish means and their 10 minutes of fame." Many shared John Fredin's views that the mascot honored the Native American culture "Almost all Indians appreciate having their accomplishments and traditions understood and acknowledged." he said "The best way to retain one's heritage in a society of melting pots is to celebrate one's ancestors." At the meeting, Whepley shared the results of surveys that the committee recently conducted on people's views about the mascot. The survey of North staff members, students and parents oh North students revealed overwhelmingly support for keeping the mascot. At least one speaker, the Rev. B.J. Mills, called Monday's gathering "a token meeting," implying that the name was not likely to be changed. Committee member Lucy Burnnett however said that was not the case. "We're doing what needs to be done," she said. "It's a democracy and you have to listen to all sides of the story and that s what we're doing." (Comments on the meeting provided by Matthew Richter who spoke in favor of change at the meeting. Ongoing efforts at change are being made by the Urban Indian Coalition.) There has been confusion about the historical and current use of Redskin. There doesn't seem to be much memory of the time period prior to the invention of the microwave oven. Eldon Masqua and another one of our Sioux elders spoke clearly and pointedly in their allotted three minutes on what Redskin meant. Eldon describing an incident when as a child in public school one of the teachers told him and his playmates, "You little Redskins get to your own side of the playground.". Our Rosebud elder's story was even worse. He told how the nuns and priests had beat him for speaking his language, again for speaking English poorly and again for not speaking Latin. This happened at three different boarding schools. He related that he was repeatedly called a "dirty Redskin" during these incidents. No one even coughed during his talk. The first man scheduled to speak against change was so obviously ashamed he spoke in favor of change. Whepley who was in charge of the input session had said "We thought that perhaps we should get input..." from those who wanted to change the name. Perhaps yes was my thought. Especially since this was after the committee to make recommendations to the Site Council who would make recommendations to the principal was already formed. The principal had finally called one of us back in the first week of October saying he had mis-dialed our number before. Somewhere in his file he should have the four unanswered letters, the first written last June, requesting an opportunity to address the Site Council and for a seat on the Committee. This was also after the School Board refused to put us on the agenda for presentation. Somewhere in their file is the School District's Committee on Discrimination Report that has not surfaced. It asks the principal to change the name Redskins in a "quiet and responsible manner." (Wichita Eagle, Nov. 11, 1966) We were not happy to be treated so disrespectfully so we left after our talks and missed the cheerleaders and the man who told the crowd how to honor Indians. Interesting how everyone else knows better than we do what, how or when to honor ourselves. Curious that the powers that be think their "honoring" is happening on the basketball court. I haven't heard any mention from them when they might place it in the classroom. The law firm for the School District did contact us though. They wanted to see a copy of the, "Michigan Civil Rights Commission Report on Use of Nicknames, Logos and Mascots Depicting Native American People in Michigan Education Institutions," October 1988. We had written that this organization's report recommends that "Indian" reference mascots be changed since, "Any use of Indian names, logos and mascots should be discontinued because racial stereotyping of Native Americans is prevalent and destructive." This report will be sent to anyone who requests it by calling 517-335-3165 or by writing: Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Victor Office Center - STE. 700, 201 North Washington Square, Lansing MI 48913. --------- "RE: Eagles Killed for Profit" --------- Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 10:40:31 -0800 (PST) From: Larry Kibbey Subj: EAGLES ARE BEING KILLED FOR PROFIT (fwd) UUCP email They've killed off the buffalo, now they want to kill off the Eagle. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thur., 21 Nov 1996 9:40:00 -0600 (MDT) From: Mitch Snow Subj: EAGLES ARE BEING KILLED FOR PROFIT This message is from the fws-news listserver. Please DO NOT REPLY (it just confuses the computers). Subscribers can't reply or send their own messages to the fws-news listserver. This listserver is designed mainly as a "one way street" for the rapid dissemination of information concerning the Service and its activities, rather than for gathering feedback. To contact us, see the explanatory note at bottom of the message. ============================================================ Fish and Wildlife Service November 21, 1996 Anne-Berry Wade 505-248-6911 703-358-1949 Lucinda Schroeder 505-883-7814 EAGLES ARE BEING KILLED FOR PROFIT U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agents Uncover Illegal Market Special agents from the Interior Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today carried out Federal search and arrest warrants in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado, ending a 2-year undercover investigation into the killing and selling of bald and golden eagles, and other migratory birds. In all, approximately 35 individuals and businesses are expected to be charged with selling protected migratory bird parts in a highly profitable illegal market. Posing as traders of Indian artifacts, undercover agents were able to infiltrate a commercial trapping ring. They were told that in one pueblo during last year's winter migration, more than 60 eagles were intentionally killed either by being shot or caught in leg-hold traps baited with fresh meat. The agents located trap lines and were sold dead eagles with trap marks on their legs and feet. The Service decided to end this investigation, dubbed "Operation 4-Corners Feather Sales," prematurely to prevent more eagles from being killed. Some of those eagles were offered for sale from $850-$l,000 each. "As the agency responsible for protecting this Nation's wildlife, we must put an end to the commercial killing of eagles and other migratory birds. We decided to move now to stop this slaughter to protect vulnerable eagle populations in the Southwest. By taking this action, we protect birds that are sacred to many Native American cultures", said John Rogers, acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Undercover agents discovered an illegal market for migratory bird parts in which whole eagle skins, wings, tails, and wing bones; whole hawks, wings, and tails; and owl wings were sold throughout New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Utah. The investigation revealed that the illegal feathers were being sold to make popular Native American-style items such as fans, Kachina dolls, and bustles. Many of these items were sold to trading posts, collectors, tourists, and individuals participating in pow-wows. Items being offered for sale were made with feathers from at least 25 different species, including eagles, hawks, kestrels, magpies, flickers, scissor-tailed flycatchers, and anhingas. These birds are all protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Most are native to the Southwest (the anhinga is a waterbird found in Florida and Louisiana). Eagles are also protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the bald eagle is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Killing for profit in New Mexico makes the eagle population vulnerable as these birds migrate south. Illegal commerce in eagle feathers and migratory bird feathers is enormously profitable. In recent years, the increased popularity and demand for feathers has resulted in soaring prices. Compared to a similar case from 1988, the price of an intact golden eagle tail, which has 12 feathers, has quadrupled from approximately $l00 to $400. During this investigation, special agents learned that in today's market, a single golden eagle feather could sell for about $100; a red-tailed hawk peyote fan, $150; and an anhinga feather fan, $300. The popularity of Native American items made with migratory bird feathers has resulted in alarmingly high numbers of birds being killed for profit. For example, to make an eagle fan it takes the entire tail from one eagle. To make a single scissor-tailed flycatcher fan, it can take 25 birds. This case is being prosecuted by the Department of Justice, United States Attorney's Offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Phoenix, Arizona. John J. Kelly, the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, congratulated the agents of the Fish and Wildlife Service on their superb investigative work. "The United States government has a strong interest in the preservation of these magnificent animals," Kelly said. "This kind of large-scale commercial trapping must end before the resource is depleted entirely." The evidence in this case will be forwarded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Eagle Repository near Denver, Colorado. Eagles are available to Native Americans by permit through the Repository. The Service receives nearly 2,000 requests per year to distribute eagle carcasses, parts, and feathers to Native Americans for recognized religious, cultural, and ceremonial purposes. Congress has enacted three separate Federal laws that protect the eagle: the Bald Eagle Protection Act, amended to include the golden eagle in 1962; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, amended to protect eagles in 1972; and the Endangered Species Act. These statutes make it illegal for anyone to take, possess, transport, sell, or purchase any eagles or eagle parts, including feathers, unless permitted to do so. The maximum penalty under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is one year imprisonment and a $100,000 fine, and under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act 2 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Additional charges will be sought under the Lacey Act which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. -FWS- ============================================================ News releases are also available on the World Wide Web at http://www.fws.gov/~r9extaff/pubaff.html They can be reviewed in chronological order or searched by keyword. Questions concerning a particular news release or item of information should be directed to the person listed as the contact. General comments or observations concerning the content of the information should be directed to Craig Rieben (craig_rieben@mail.fws.gov) in the Office of Public Affairs. ============================================================ To unsubscribe from the fws-news listserver, send e-mail to majordomo@www.fws.gov with "unsubscribe fws-news" (and omit the "quotes") in the **body** of the message. You should not include anything on the Subject: line. For additional information about listserver commands, send a message to majordomo@www.fws.gov with "info fws-news" (and no "quotes") in the body of the message. --------- "RE: High Rate of TB Among Natives" --------- Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 18:36:13 -0700 From: Brian Hauk Subj: High rate of TB among Natives UUCP email themilitant@cdp.UUCP 09-Dec-94 Tuberculosis rising among Native peoples in Canada BY ROGER ANNIS MONTREAL - Statistics Canada has released a shocking report showing that the rate of tuberculosis for Canada's 1 million Native Indians is more than 30 times the rate for non-Native people born in Canada. For so-called status Indians, the rate is 43 times higher, double that of Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in Asia. "Status" Indians are those who are registered by the Canadian government as being of Native ancestry. They number half a million and most live on reserves. "It's unbelievable, really," commented David Ross, executive director of the Canadian Council on Social Development. He said the figures are a sign of the abominable living conditions of Native people on reserves, who are the poorest of the poor in Canada. Most reserves have chronic housing, water quality, and sewage treatment problems. According to the Statistics Canada report, Canada's Native Indians suffered 60.8 cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 people in 1992. The rate was 81.3 for "status" Indians. The rate for the entire population of Canada was 7.4. It was 1.9 for non-Natives born in the country. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that destroys body tissue, most commonly the lungs. It can be cured by antibiotic treatment and usually prevented with sanitary living conditions and a healthy diet. Tuberculosis should be thing of past "If the task of meeting minimum human social needs were given the priority it deserves, then we would be living in a society where tuberculosis would be a thing of the past," commented Denise Avard, executive director of the Canadian Institute of Child Health. The issues of housing, sewage treatment, and water quality are a constant source of conflict between Native communities and the Canadian government. Under Canadian law, including Indian treaties, the federal government is responsible for providing proper housing and social services on Native reserves. Last summer, one Native reserve in northern Manitoba abandoned its community after a renewed outbreak of water-borne diseases among children and other residents and took to the road on a 620-mile protest march to the provincial capital of Winnipeg. The outbreak was caused by a breakdown in the community's sewage treatment facility, which the government had been stalling for years to replace. After several days of marching, the community won a renewed commitment to carry out the necessary repairs. Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin recently toured Native reserve communities across northern Ontario. One of the biggest criticisms and demands for action he received along the way concerned water quality and sewage treatment problems. Earlier this year, Irwin and the government of Newfoundland cut off talks over land claims and self-government with the 500-person Innu Native community of Davis Inlet on the northern Labrador coast after residents kicked out the federal police and courts. For years the Innu have been fighting for help in moving the community from an island to a mainland location. Among other reasons, the move is necessary in order to improve chronic water supply and sewage treatment problems. Roger Annis is a member of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Local 841 in Montreal. To get an introductory 12-week subscription to the `Militant' in the United States, send $10 to: The Militant, 410 West Street, New York, NY 10014. For subscription rates to other countries, send E-mail to themilitant@igc.apc.org or write to the above address. --------- "RE: Auction Raises $8K" --------- Date: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 16:16:37 -0700 From: "Chris Milda (_Akimel O`odham_)" Subj: U of A: Silent auction raises $8K for American Indian students (Fwd) Mailing List: Minnesota Indian Affairs http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/90/58/01_2_m.html Silent auction raises $8K for American Indian students By D. Shayne Christie Arizona Daily Wildcat November 12, 1996 The American Indian Graduate Center raised an estimated $8,000 in a silent auction Sunday to benefit American Indian students. Although the event fell short of expectations for money raised and public turnout, "It's $8,000 we didn't have otherwise," said Glenn Johnson, director of the American Indian Graduate Center. The auction was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Doubletree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and about 85 people turned out for the event. A silent auction allows participants to place bids on items by writing their bids on a bid sheet next to the artwork. Yesterday's event was mainly a silent auction, with a voice-auction following for the most expensive items. Charles Geoffrion, associate vice president for research, said there were over 250 items offered for bidding, ranging in price from $5 to $13,000. The auction featured works from well-known American Indian artists like R.C. Gorman and Edgar Heap of Birds, as well as works from lesser-known regional and national artists. The auction also featured a number of paintings created by Johnson. The art for the auction was donated to the Graduate Center either by the artists themselves, or by other donors who owned the artwork, Johnson said. He also said the donated art is kept by the center if it is not sold, except for items on consignment. "That becomes material for future auctions," he said. The Pasqua-Yaqui tribe provided $3,700 of the estimated $4,000 to put on the event. Tickets for the event were $20 per person, or $30 per couple. Johnson estimated the total amount of money in the American Indian fund for graduate students after Sunday's auction was $86,000. Johnson said although the silent auction is the major public fund-raiser, there are other ways the center raises money. "We do solicitation of funding to all gaming tribes," he said, adding that private auctions and fund-raisers also help to raise money for the fund. He said there are 138 graduate students in the program, the largest in University of Arizona history. Johnson expressed concern over "federal cuts to funding" despite high enrollment in the program. "It's just difficult; the problem is we are depending on non-Indian communities because the Indian community is poor," he said of the center's fund-raising efforts. "The average income is below the poverty level; they (Indians) are the lowest economic group in the country," he said. Johnson said the interest generated by the fund is collected each spring and awarded to students in the American Indian Graduate Center based on economic need and academic merit. This fall, $7,400 was awarded, he said, next fall, the fund should generate between $9,000 and $10,000. --------- "RE: It's A Matter Of Opinion" --------- Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 08:58:40 -0600 (CST) From: "Dr. Eugene Norman" Subj: It's A Matter Of Opinion UUCP email Hi:) The History per 2075 is "Thought provoking". I have been told many times that there is no generic "indian language" and there is no such thing as a "Pan-indian". "Inter-tribal" organizations and agencies are looked upon with distrust. Prior to the Revolutionary War that separated these United States of America from a tyranny executed from a colonial source, the colonial conquerors were separated by location and philosophy of government. Yet, they soon realized that they soon had to come together, rationalize their differences, and present a common front to a perceived oppressor. They presented a rallying cry for this effort, "We must hang together or we shall surely hang alone." In the ensuing conflict, there was more than one unhung hero to contribute to the new experimental government. As with any experimental government, a careful study can divulge the methodology by which the government can be forced to work against itself. One such method is in the court system. Several tribes have used this method to force the Justice Department to join in their behalf against "sovereign states" abrogating their land in defiance of "sovereign united states" treaties and, in so doing, forced the Judicial System to recognize these treaties as law. In my own experience in saving Qualla Sacred Burial Sites from desecra- tion, my attorneys used a little known tactic in filing a brief with the Federal District Court as a "Friend of the Court" and forcing the COURT to file an Injunction against a "sovereign state" to freeze their assets until an equitable solution is reached. At the same time, the threat of a Congressional Injunction was presented to the Representative of Franklin County, North Carolina along with the penalties of "Contempt of Congress" should the offending parties defy the injunction. At the same time, the Bureau of Indian Affairs was notified of the impending congressional action (as prescribed by law). The BIA declared that "any burial sites, not on actual reservation land at the time of the perceived desecration was in fact public land". The BIA declaration was inadvertently and conveniently left out of the proceedings. The officials who were responsible for allowing the desecration had a change of heart under pressure from Congress and the State of North Carolina. The burial site is now in a protected sacred site "protected in perpetuity". The injunctions were abandoned as satisfied. As stated, much can be done if you know how but "We must all hang together or we will surely hang alone"! With love and respect, Gene --------- "RE: Red Ink" --------- Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 20:21:01 -0800 (PST) From: Milton J Bluehouse Subj: RED INK Mailing List: TRIBALLAW (triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu) Dear Subscribers, RED INK is proud to announce a fourth coming issue of RED INK v.5.1, which is currently at the press and is to be mailed out to subscribers within three weeks! For those unfamiliar with RED INK, we are a Native Student run journal, published twice a year (in the fall and in the spring). RED INK is a scholarly articles/creative writing/art/book reviews journal published by eleven Native student editors, who work hard and long hours. RED INK is deeply concerned about Native Issues. In publishing our journal we wish to educate, entertain and share. We accept scholarly articles, art, creative writing, and book reviews dealing specifically with native issues from Native and Non-Native contributors. Here is a preview of scholarly articles in the forth coming issue of the RED INK Journal: Silent Genocide- Controversy in the brewing with this article!... It deals with the "Plastic Indian" and Religious frauds. Watch Out! Archeology on the Rez- Narrative of a Navajo Archaeologist. The inside view of Archaeology on the Navajo Reservation and Tips for future Archaeologists. Plus Two more Gaming Articles!...I'd tell you more, but We need to pay our bills, and to get ready for Spring issue of RED INK v5.2! More...There are also Creative Writing stories and poems and artsy Photos! HOW CAN YOU GET A HOLD OF RED INK? Subscribe today! Snail mail a 3X5 card requesting subscription information,or subscription to: RED INK 1615 East 7th Street The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85719 (will make Phone # available soon) Include your Name, Address, and Ph#. Individual Subscriptions rates* are as follows: 1yr, three issues for $10 2 yrs, four issues for $20 We also have institutional subscriptions Feel free to personally e-mail me at: bluehous@gas.uug.arizona.edu if you wish us speed your subscription. Please leave your Name, Address, and Phone #, and we'll begin your subscription as soon as possible beginning with our hot-off-the press issue of v5.1. We also have back issues as well...with more articles! Help the Winning Team of RED INK! SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Sincerely, Milton J. Bluehouse Jr. Student Editorial Member of RED INK The University of Arizona Subscription subject to change --------- "RE: Summer Research for Undergraduates" --------- Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 21:21:33 -0700 From: Naida Zucker Subj: Summer Research for Undergraduates Mailing List: AISESnet Discussion List (aisesnet@victor.umt.edu) Could you please post the following announcement on your website and/or newsletter for Summer Research Fellowships for Undergraduates? Thank you. Naida Zucker ----------------------------------------------------- The Departments of Biology at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM and at Howard University in Washington DC., have support from the National Science Foundation for a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site Program during the summer of 1997. The focus is on ecology and environmental biology as well as environmental ethics. The program consists of an initial ten-day visit to Washington, DC where participants will visit governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations that have an interest in ecological/environmental concerns in order to learn how basic research is used in formulating public policy. Participants will then travel to NMSU for 8 weeks to perform original ecological/environmental research as part of a team effort. While in New Mexico, participants will meet informally with guest speakers who will discuss career opportunities and/or issues related to environmental ethics. The program will pay for all travel and housing, food while in Washington, DC, and provide participants with a $2500 stipend. Please contact Dr. Naida Zucker; Department of Biology; New Mexico State University; Box 30001; Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001. (505) 646-1200 (office); (505) 646-5665 (fax); nzucker@nmsu.edu (e-mail) for more information or an application packet. Application deadline is 24 February 1997. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Naida Zucker (505) 646-1200 (office) * Department of Biology - 3AF (505) 646-5665 (fax) * New Mexico State University nzucker@nmsu.edu (e-mail) * Box 30001 * Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --------- "RE: University Position" --------- Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 00:35:38 -0500 (EST) From: Harder Bernie Subj: University Position in Creative Writing Ad UUCP email Aniin Gary, I wonder if you would consider placing the information about this position in your newsletter. Only if you consider it appropriate. The Department is hoping that it will be able to attract a Native person to this position and the University is supporting this informally. I realize this effort should be organized in a much more serious way but do not have much influence in that process. The opening makes it possible for something new to happen at this University that could benefit Native people, especially Native students, at this university and in the community, and perhaps elsewhere. Bernie Harder English Department DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH ADVERTISEMENT FOR CREATIVE WRITING POSITION The Department of English invites applications for a tenure-track position in English and Creative Writing, at the rank of Associate Professor, for 1 July 1997. The appointee will teach courses in both creative writing and literary/cultural studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and will be involved in the various non-curricular activities associated with our Creative Writing program. We are interested in applicants whose creative work will complement our established strengths in fiction and poetry, and who will benefit from being in a university having the unique combination of acclaimed programs in creative writing, dramatic art, music, and visual art. Candidates who work in emerging, non-traditional, or interdisciplinary forms are encouraged to apply. Ideally, the incumbent's academic expertise should complement his/her creative work in diversity and interdisciplinary. We are seeking candidates with teaching and research interests in the literatures and cultures of nineteenth-century North America, although we welcome applications from superior applicants working in any area of literary and cultural studies. Qualifications: the successful candidate will have an established record of creative publication and achievement appropriate for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor, a Ph. D. or its equivalent, and a record of effective teaching and workshopping. Additional experience in related areas such as theatre, film, editing, or publishing would be an asset. Candidates should send a letter of application, a curriculum vitae, and a sample of their creative work, and should arrange to have three letters of reference sent directly to: Dr. Wyman H. Herendeen, Chair, Department of English, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4. Complete applications including letters of reference should be received by 31 January, 1997. The University of Windsor is committed to equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities. Applications from women are particularly encouraged. In accordance with Canadian Immigration standards, this advertisement is directed in the first instance to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. --------- "RE: Poem: Earth Lessons" --------- Date: Thu, 3 Oct 1996 14:43:50 -0500 From: eaglerok@northernnet.com (feather eaglerock) Subj: Earth lessons UUCP email we wanted to share this message forwarded to us from a brother vet. we do not know the author. ************************** Earth teach me quiet, as the grasses are still with new light. Earth teach me suffering, as old stones suffer with memory. Earth teach me humility, as blossoms are humble with beginning. Earth teach me caring, as mothers nurture their young. Earth teach me courage, as the tree that stands alone. Earth teach me limitation, as the ant that crawls on the ground. Earth teach me freedom, as the eagle that soars in the sky. Earth teach me acceptance, as the leaves that die each fall. Earth teach me renewal, as the seed that rises in the spring. Earth teach me to forget myself, as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me to remember kindness, as dry fields weep with rain. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bernard J. Rock, Sr. Leech Lake Pillager Band Spotted Eagle Warrior Society North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans Outreach and Resource Center --------- "RE: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days" --------- Date: 96/11/18 22:20 From: Debra F. Sanders (dfsanders@genie.geis.com) Subj: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days genie email A HAWAIIAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of December 1-7 KEKEMAPA (December) (Makalii) December was the time when the trailing plants died down and the south wind, the Kona, prevailed. 1 May your spirit be filled with song and laughter. 2 The stars shine more brightly at this time of year. 3 Weave the pattern of life into your every creation. 4 In simplicity, we can find the solutions to our most complex riddles. 5 Lava steams and crackles as it pours into the churning ocean -- the marriage of fire and water. 6 Let your dreams fly upon the wings of the wind. 7 May I one day sing the song of my being in the land of my heart's desire. (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, 28 November 96 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (evestar@juno.com) Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows not previously posted to Mailing Lists NATCHAT or NATIVE-L UUCP email Date: 25 Nov 1996 12:13:10 -0800 From: The Nighthawk Subj: Unthanksgiving Day Thursday, November 28, 1996 Unthanksgiving Day: The International Indian Treaty Council hosts this annual event on Alcatraz Island to demonstrate that everyday is a day to be thankful, to shatter the myths about the pilgrims and the first dinner,and to commemorate the Indian people who occupied Alcatraz for 19 months beginning in November, 1969. Speakers from different denominations share solidarity with Indigenous peoples of the Americas. First boat leaves Pier 41 at Fisherman's Wharf at 5:30 am and all boats should return by 9 am. $8/adults Free/children under 5 Call IITC for more details (415) 512-1501 ----------------------------------- Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996 08:20:39 -0800 (PST) From: Larry Daley Subj: INTERNATIONAL ETHNOSCIENCE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (fwd) Tau to all: An interesting meeting best wishes larry ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996o10:06:06 -0500 From: Kristen Porter-Utley Subj: INTERNATIONAL ETHNOSCIENCE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Building Bridges with Traditional Knowledge: There will be an international conference held at the University of Florida from February 12 - 15, 1997 which explores issues involving indigenous peoples, conservation, development, and ethnoscience. Interested students may contribute a poster to the conference that will be judged by invited speakers and session chairs. Cash prizes totalling $800 will be awarded to the best student poster submissions and the five best projects will be reviewed and published in the conference proceedings. The deadline for poster submission is November 29. Get your abstracts in ASAP! You can download the poster submission form from our home page: http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/~michael/BBT/index.htmp The conference will be divided into six sessions. Each session will consist of three speakers, a chair, and a 30 minute discussion. There will be 2 sessions held each day, and a total of 23 speakers from around the world will be present. Session One: Building Bridges Between the Past, Present and Future for Enlightened Agro-development. Chair: Hugh Popenoe, Center for Tropical Agriculture, University of Florida Session Two: Bridges to Tomorrow: A Traditional Perspective. Chair: James Billy, Seminole Chief Session Three: Forest Products: A Viable Bridge Between Life and Death? Chair: Jack Putz, Department of Botany, University of Florida Session Four: Ethnomedicine: A New Bridge to Prosperity for Who? Chair: William Taylor, M.D., Shands Hospital Session Five: Intellectual Property Rights: Bridge Specifications in the Making? Chair: Christine Padoch, New York Botanical Garden Session Six: The Bridge Builders: Can Industry Play a Positive Role? Chair: Brian Boom, New York Botanical Garden The pre-registration fees for the conference are: Students - $35.00 All Others - $65.00 For more information: Christine Kelly Office: (352) 392-1965 Fax: (352) 392-7127 E-mail: itd@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu Interested students must write for more information on the required formats for poster entries to: Alexandra Paul/Christine Kelly BBT Conference PO Box 110329 Gainesville, Florida 32611-0329 Home page address: http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/~michael/BBT/index.htmp ----------------------------------- Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996 09:53:15 -0700 From: Linden Gilbert & Victoria Stoll Subj: "Bring Peltier Home" tour The "Bring Peltier Home" clemency tour will begin November 30 in San Francisco, CA, and end in Chicago December 23. The tour is to publicize and promote the signing of a clemency order by President Clinton. This Usually is done around Christmas. So now is the time to call, write or fax your support: Write House - 202-456-1111/fax 202-456-2461 Pardon Attorney Margaret Love - 202-616-6070/fax 202-616-6069 US Pardon Attorney, 500 First St. NW, Washington, DC 20530 The "Bring Peltier Home" Campaign Tour will feature Native speakers, musicians, entertainers and traditional singing, drumming and dancing. Dennis Banks and Floyd Red Crow Westerman will headline the tour. For information on tour dates and locations, go to http://dickshovel.netgate.net/tour.html on the Web. Here in Santa Fe, the tour will be at the College of Santa Fe on Dec. 7, beginning at 2:00 PM with a community "teach in" and the "Freedom Now" banner exhibit The concert will begin at the CSF Forum at 8 PM. Due to health reasons, Floyd won't be able to attend this appearance. In Albuquerque, the tour will be at the Continuing Ed. building on the University of New Mexico campus. Please attend the tour if it comes to your area, and please send those messages now in support of clemency for Leonard. Linden ----------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 16:53:09 -0500 From: Centre for Indigenous Theatre Subj: Benefit Performance for Native Theatre School It Is Our Light Not Our Darkness December 10, 1996 8:00 pm Buddies In Bad Times Theatre - Tallulah's Cabaret 12 Alexandra Street, Toronto The Centre for Indigenous Theatre presents a benefit performance for the 1997 Native Theatre School & the 1997 James Buller Awards. Based of the quote "It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us." by Nelson Mandela Featuring: Columpa Bobb, Tim Hill, Julia Jamieson, Sandra Laronde, Paul Seesequasis, Drew Hayden Taylor and Amy White. Tickets: $5.00 advance / $8.00 at the door Come out and support aboriginal theatre!!!! ========================================================================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- 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: Larry Innes, Joe Rodriguez via Matthew Richter, Brian Hauk, Glenn Welker, Larry Innes, Debra F. Sanders, Mitch Snow via Larry Kibby, Scott Tippetts, Bernard J. Rock, Sr. via Feather Eaglerock, Dr. Eugene Norman, Janet Smith, Freedom Heart Rising, Frederick Sinkevich, Scott Robert Ladd, Naida Zucker, Connie Webb/Tahlequah Times Journal via Marvin & Linda Summerfield/Cherokee Observer, Milton J. Bluehouse Jr.(Announcement), Bernie Harder, Jack Hicks, Chris Milda, Chuck McAfee, Jordan S. Dill, Bernadette Chato -//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Part B of this newsletter has already been distributed via the NATIVE-L or NATCHAT mailing lists. --------- "RE: 1996 NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey" --------- Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 19:46:38 -0500 From: jhicks@nunavut.ca (Jack Hicks) Subj: 1996 NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Hi everyone, FYI, the Northwest Territories Bureau of Statistics has released the results of its 1996 NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey. The complete results -- which are dramatic, to say the least -- can be found on the Bureau's website at http://www.stats.gov.nt.ca Jack --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996 NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey Rates of use for alcohol, other drugs and tobacco Background The Bureau of Statistics completed the NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey during late January through early March of 1996 at the request of the territorial Department of Health & Social Services. Financial support for the survey was provided by Health Canada, along with access to national data for comparison purposes. The NWT survey covered a variety of topics including: * alcohol consumption; * prescription and non-prescription drug usage and other medications; * use of marijuana or hash, other illegal drugs, and aerosols or solvents; * use of tobacco products; * gambling activities; * views on laws relating to alcohol, drugs and tobacco; * impacts on the family and community; * respondent details such as age, sex, ethnic group, health status, employment and work history. A total of 1,590 persons were interviewed across the Northwest Territories. All respondents to the survey were 15 years of age or older. This report is the first in a series based on the survey and presents overall findings on the use of alcohol, other drugs, and cigarettes. Information is provided for the total territory, and for specific age, sex and ethnic groups -- as well as for Nunavut and the new Western territory that will be created on April 1, 1999. National statistics are also presented from the Canada Alcohol & Other Drug Survey that was conducted in the provinces during late 1994. To facilitate comparisons, the information is presented as rates (i.e., population percentages) in the highlights below. Both estimated numbers of persons and rate information are provided in the statistical tables at the end of the report. Highlights Alcohol Consumption During the Previous Twelve Months The percentage of the NWT population who had consumed alcohol during the twelve months prior to the survey (71.5%) was similar to the rate observed nationally (72.3%). Within the Northwest Territories, alcohol consumption during the previous year was much lower for Nunavut -- at 57.8% compared to 78.4% for the western NWT. The proportion of NWT aboriginal persons who stated they had drank alcohol in the past year was significantly lower -- at 60.1% compared to 85.2% for non-aboriginal persons. As well, an estimated 74.5% of men had consumed alcohol in the previous twelve months compared to 68.2% among women. The NWT rate of alcohol use was highest among persons 25-34 years of age (80.6%) compared to other age groups. Although the overall territorial alcohol consumption by age group was roughly similar to Canada, alcohol use for persons 15-24 years of age in the western NWT (87.4%) stood out as being substantially above the Canadian rate (77.3%). Incidence of Heavy Drinking While the NWT and national rates for alcohol consumption during the previous year were similar, there was a considerable difference in the percentage of persons who drank heavily. In particular, individuals who usually had five or more drinks on days when they consumed alcohol represented 25.6% of the territorial population over 15 years of age. This statistic compares to 8.8% nationally. The incidence of heavy drinking in the Northwest Territories was much higher among men than women. One-third of men reported consuming more than five drinks when they drank, compared to 17.3% of women. Heavy drinking was also more prevalent among aboriginal persons -- at 33.0% compared to 16.7% for non-aboriginals. The population percentage of heavy drinkers was fairly similar for Nunavut and the western NWT. However, there are striking differences when comparing sub-populations in each area. For example, an estimated 43.0% of 15-24 year olds in the western NWT were heavy drinkers compared to 24.2% for Nunavut. The rate of heavy drinking among aboriginal persons was much higher in the western NWT -- at 40.6% normally consuming five or more drinks compared to 25.1% for Nunavut. Frequency of Alcohol Consumption The frequency of alcohol consumption in the Northwest Territories is considerably below the rate for Canada as a whole. Specifically, some 28.0% of NWT adults drank at least once a week compared to a 34.9% figure for Canada. This finding was to be expected given the liquor restrictions in place for many NWT communities. Frequent alcohol consumption for persons in the western NWT stood at 33.8%, a figure similar to the Canadian rate. Frequent drinking was much lower in Nunavut, with just 16.8% of adults reporting they consumed alcohol weekly. Frequent alcohol consumption was also much lower for aboriginal persons-at 18.5% compared to 39.5% for non-aboriginals. Marijuana and Hash The proportion of NWT adults who reported using marijuana or hash during the twelve months prior to the survey was considerably higher for the Northwest Territories (19.8%) compared to Canada (7.4%). In Nunavut, use was 28.7% for persons 15 years and older; nearly four times the national rate. For the western NWT, the rate was double the national figure -- at 15.3%. As with alcohol, marijuana or hash use was higher for NWT men-at 26.8% compared to 12.3% among women. However, unlike alcohol, use of these drugs was greater for aboriginal persons (27.3%) compared to non-aboriginals (10.8%) -- and in Nunavut (28.7%) versus the western NWT (15.3%). Among aboriginal persons, marijuana or hash use was more prevalent in Nunavut -- at 32.5% compared to 22.3% for the western NWT. Other Illegal Drugs The use of other illegal drugs (LSD, speed, cocaine, crack or heroin) during the twelve months prior to the survey -- at 3.3% of NWT adults -- was much lower than the figure for marijuana or hash. However, use of these drugs was more than twice the national rate (1.5%). Looking at age groups, those persons 15-24 years of age had the highest rate territorially (7.1%) and a somewhat higher rate compared to this age group nationally (5.8%). NWT men (4.8%) were three times more likely than were women (1.6%) to have used these drugs during the previous twelve months. Use of other illegal drugs was significantly higher for Nunavut (5.6%) compared to the western NWT (2.2%). Of particular note was drug use by aboriginal persons in Nunavut which -- at 6.5% -- was more than four times the overall national average. Solvents and Aerosols Sniffing solvents and aerosols is mainly a childhood behaviour. As the survey covered only the population 15 years of age and older, the information presented in this report refers to persons who have ever used solvents or aerosols-rather than to use only during the past twelve months. The proportion of persons who have ever sniffed solvents or aerosols was much higher in the Northwest Territories -- at 11.1% of the adult population compared to 0.8% for Canada. Sniffing these substances was also more prevalent in Nunavut (20.7%) compared to the western NWT (6.3%). The percentage of people who have used solvents or aerosols was particularly high among aboriginal people -- at 19.0% (some 24 times the national rate) compared to 1.7% for non-aboriginals. Among aboriginal persons, the rate was much higher for those living in Nunavut (25.6%) compared to the western NWT (12.7%). Having used solvents or aerosols was also higher among men (13.6%) than women (8.5%). Cigarettes At the time of the NWT survey, an estimated 50.9% of adults smoked cigarettes. This rate of current smokers was almost twice that observed nationally (27.0%). Within the Northwest Territories, smoking rates were quite similar for men and women -- at 52.0% and 49.7% respectively. There was a particularly high rate of tobacco use for persons 15-24 years of age (64.3%) -- almost double the rate for this age group nationally (32.4%). There was a considerable higher rate of cigarette smoking in Nunavut (63.9%) compared to the western NWT (44.2%). Also, a very high rate of smoking was observed for persons 15-24 years of age in Nunavut -- at 77.9%. Aboriginal persons smoked cigarettes at a substantially higher rate (66.5%) than did non-aboriginals (32.1%). Further, smoking by aboriginal persons was considerably higher in Nunavut (70.5%) than in the western NWT (62.6%). Methodology Survey Organization The 1996 NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey questionnaire and the survey procedures were developed by the Bureau of Statistics in consultation with the Department of Health & Social Services. A effort was made to keep the questions comparable to the 1994 Canada Alcohol & Other Drug Survey. Telephone interviews were completed with respondents to the survey residing in Iqaluit, Sanikiluaq, Rankin Inlet, Inuvik, Fort Smith, Hay River and Yellowknife. In all other communities, respondents were interviewed in person. Most interviews were completed in the period late January through to the end of February 1996. Sampling Procedures Population sampling rates for the survey were determined by the requirement for statistically reliable estimates by sex, ethnic group and age category, and for Nunavut and the new Western territory that will be created on April 1, 1999. A total of 1,590 interviews were completed for the survey -- 709 in Nunavut and 881 in the western NWT. Data Processing & Sample Weights Following data entry, computer-assisted edits were performed to check for data entry errors and logical inconsistencies among responses. Weighting of the statistical file was undertaken based on the estimated numbers of males and females for specific age categories and ethnic groups. Weighting of the sample was done at the community level. Sampling & Non-Sampling Errors Information on the sample sizes and sampling errors is summarized in Table 8 (in Table 8, available on-line). The minimum proportion of the noted population for which estimates can be reliably produced is provided. Another source of error in surveys is referred to as non-sampling errors. These errors result from incorrect answers being given to questions, data entry errors, etc. Surveys are designed to help minimize such errors. Generally, the effect of such errors is not known. Statistical Tables Symbols & Notes: no. number of persons - zero or too small to be expressed '000 thousands of persons ... not available % percent Values that are italicized (in Tables 4, 5 and 6, available on-line) have a coefficient of variation of more than 33.3% and should be used with considerable caution. For additional information contact: NWT Bureau of Statistics, P.O. Box 1320 Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Phone: (403) 873-7147 Fax: (403) 873-0275 --------- "RE: Voisey Bay Agreement Reached" --------- Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 16:08:54 -0400 From: Larry Innes Subj: Innu, Inuit, Canada and Nfld reach agreement on Voisey's Bay EA Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) INNU, INUIT REACH AGREEMENT WITH CANADA AND NEWFOUNDLAND ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF VOISEY'S BAY PROJECT After months of intensive negotiations, the Innu Nation is pleased to announce that it has initialled the draft Memorandum of Understanding on the conduct of the Voisey's Bay environmental assessment. The draft MOU is now being made available for public comment, and panel appointments will soon be announced by the parties. Although the Innu Nation was not able to achieve all of its objectives in the negotiations, the draft MOU represents an acceptable compromise, particularly with respect to aboriginal rights. The 'official' news release from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is attached. The draft MOU is available on the internet at: http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/english/con_docs/voisey/voisey/voisymou.html Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency NEWS RELEASE PUBLIC COMMENT INVITED ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT FOR JOINT PUBLIC REVIEW OF PROPOSED VOISEY'S BAY PROJECT OTTAWA - November 22, 1996 - Following an announcement made earlier today in Goose Bay, Labrador, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is seeking public comment on a draft Agreement to conduct a joint environmental assessment panel review of the proposed mine and mill development near Voisey's Bay, Labrador. The Agency will receive written comments on the draft Agreement until December 23, 1996. The parties to this Agreement, the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and the Labrador Inuit Association and the Innu Nation, propose to enter into this Agreement to ensure that the environmental effects of the proposed development are assessed by jointly establishing a single, effective and efficient public review process. Environment Minister Sergio Marchi and Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Ron Irwin are pleased that all parties were able to reach agreement after five months of extensive negotiations. The full text of the proposed Agreement will be available on the Agency's Internet site: http://www.ceaa.gc.ca under the heading, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Comments on the Agreement should be addressed to Mr. Brian Torrie at the Agency's Head Office (address below). The proponent of this project, Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited, a subsidiary of Inco Limited, is proposing to develop a nickel-copper-cobalt mine and mill at Voisey's Bay, Labrador. The mineral resource has been estimated at approximately 150 million tonnes. The project would be located in northern Labrador, 35 km southwest of Nain and 79 km northwest of Utshimasits (Davis Inlet). For a copy of the draft Agreement or for information on the project and the review process, please contact: Mr. Brian Torrie Mr. Bill Coulter Manager, Public Review Director, Atlantic Region Canadian Environmental Suite 1030, TD Centre Assessment Agency 1791 Barrington Street 200 SacreCoeur Halifax, Nova Scotia Blvd. Hull, Quebec Tel. 902-426-0564 K1A 0H3 Fax: 902-426-6550 Tel: (819) 997-6364 Internet e-mail: coulterw@fox.nstn.ca Fax:(819) 994-1469 Internet e-mail: torrie@fox.nstn.ca Larry Innes Visit the Innu Nation WWW site: Environmental Advisor http://www.web.net/~innu Innu Nation P.O. Box 119, Sheshatshiu, Labrador, Canada A0P 1M0 phone: (709) 497-8398 email: innuenv@web.net fax: (709) 497-8396 --------- "RE: Chippewa Tribe Government Reform" --------- Date: Tue, 19 Nov 1996 12:28:37 -0600 From: eaglerok@northernnet.com (feather eaglerock) Subj: Update 11/19/96 Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Government Reform Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) NEWS RELEASE FROM NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS OUTREACH AND RESOURCE CENTER. November 19, 1996 Update from Minnesota Chippewa Country Statement by the Leech Lake General Council opposes lawyers' efforts to hinder federal investigation: With new federal subpoenas issued on Leech Lake Reservation General Funds and Gaming Accounts , the General council formally opposes any further expenditures of tribal funds to suppress the subpoena process or use Leech lake resources to pay attorneys for hindering the investigation of possible wrongdoing at Leech Lake. The General Council feels that any investigation conducted on Leech Lake regarding any suspicion of wrongdoing should be welcomed. If the Leech Lake Tribal Council was governed in an honest and open manner, then there should be nothing to hide or use attorneys to hinder the process. It is the consensus of the General Council that enough money has been spent on attorneys to defend the actions of the Leech Lake reservation Tribal Council and it is time the Leech Lake Tribal council be held accountable to the people of the reservation. "We, the General Council, were very concerned about the amount of Leech Lake money used to pay for attorneys to respond to wrongdoing by the convicted Tribal council leadership. Now, with these new subpoenas, how much is it going to cost the people of Leech Lake? The thousands and thousands of dollars used by attorneys could be going for Headstart, elderly nutrition, or our under funded scholarship programs. If we had good, and decent leadership on Leech Lake, we would not have to pay for attorneys. Honest people do not need thousands of dollars to defend themselves." --------------------------------------------------- LEECH LAKE GENERAL COUNCIL --------------------------------------------------- On Saturday, November 16 the Leech Lake General Council hosted a fundraiser pancake feed at the Onigum Community Center. The funds raised will be used for those employees who have not been paid for their services Gerald White, Linda Johnston, Martin Jennings and Burton Howard. These are the administrative appointments made by Chairman Eli Hunt More fund raisers are planned. A new leader is rising; it is not a man or a woman, but a collective force of voices joining together in the spirit of compassion and community. Help us, help ourselves. ---------------------------------------------------------- LAND CLAIMS SETTLEMENT Due to widespread opposition at the public hearings held recently on Leech Lake and Fond du Lac, Attorneys Schoessler and Thorne have reportedly cancelled plans to bring their presentation on the land claims settlement to all six member reservations of the MCT. Voices of the Anishinabeg: Kevin Dupuis of Fond du Lac - "We don't want the damned money. We want our land back." Darrel Johnson of Leech Lake, Onigum General Council rep - $20 million is pretty cheap for our forests." Marv Manypenny of White Earth - " You talk about conflict of interst, Mr. Schoessler, you were the lead attorney in the land ripoff called WELSA. Now you say you're going to come and protect our rights? Gaawiin!" Franklin "Doc" LaRose - "We never gave the TEC any authorization to settle our land disputes. We can't let the TEC make any decisions. The people need to make the decisions." Dale Hanks of White Earth said any tribal members with hopes of per-capita payments should be aware that any such payments "Would not be enough to take your family to McDonalds" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- A December 3 deadline given by the NIGC for resolve licensing dispute or Leech Lake Casinos will be shut down. -- November 21, set for sentencing of the Wadena Gang from White Earth, 9 a.m at the Federal Courthouse in St. Paul. -- CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM Meeting set for NOVEMBER 25, at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, 7 p.m. in the Wigwam Room. Please bring any materials you have that could be used for direction in the Constitutional Reform process (Material will be returned). Agenda Items: introductions, reform process, Constitutional Advisory Committee, community education. For information and questions: Call Leah Carpenter at 218-335-7968 or at 1-800-726-2764 on Wednesday November 20th or Friday November 22. --Cleansing Feast Wednesday, November 20, at the Veterans Memorial Pow Wow Grounds building at noon. The General Council will hold their weekly meeting prior to the feast and the meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bernard J. Rock, Sr. Leech Lake Pillager Band Spotted Eagle Warrior Society North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans Outreach and Resource Center --------- "RE: Casino Closure Threatened" --------- Date: Tue, 19 Nov 1996 12:28:52 -0600 From: eaglerok@northernnet.com (feather eaglerock) Subj: Leech Lake Threatened with Closure of Casino Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) NEWS RELEASE FROM NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS OUTREACH AND RESOURCE CENTER. We have received permission from Bill Lawrence publisher and editor of the Ojibwe News/Native American Press and reporters Gary Blair and Jeff Armstrong to forward articles pertaining to government reform movement in the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. Leech Lake Casinos may be shut down-- On Nov. 14 the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) issued an ultimatum giving Leech Lake until Dec. 3. to resolve a licensing dispute over gaming management or shut down it two casinos , Northern Lights and Palace Bingo and Casino. Refusing to recognize chairman Eli Hunt's dismissal of former gaming director Charlie Brown and controller George Wells, the Reservation Business Committee -- which also functions and the Leech Lake Gaming Commission--has refused to license their replacements, who have successfully completed background checks. Outside the context of a power struggle with the new chairman and continued revelation of corruption on the part of the incumbent officials, the RBC's steadfast support for the former casino management is difficult to understand. Although revenues from the casinos have risen to more than $32 million annually, profits declined nearly 400% in the past fiscal year. Federal officials recently subpoenaed casino financial records to investigate possible criminal wrongdoing. Two former RBC/Gaming Commission members are serving time for corruption; a third, Myron Ellis, still sits on the Committee and the Commission despite his conviction and prison sentence on similar charges. The two dueling factions issued press releases on tribal council stationery, each accusing the other side of refusing to negotiate the dispute. As band officials, the district representative are in violation of Article VI, of the Revised Constitution and Bylaws of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe by failing to recognize the dismissals," said a press release from Hunt. "Their continued insubordination in complying with executive authorities of the Chairman will result in NIGC enforcement action. . . The consequence of closure rests on the compliance of the Council District Representative to recognize and concur with the dismissals and subsequent appointments," said Hunt, who offered a date of Nov. 21 for negotiations. A press statement from the district representative quotes NIGC chairman Harold Monteau's letter as stating, "Initially, the NIGC determined, that despite the express requirements of the Band's gaming ordinance, certain regulatory decisions related to the band's griming operation were being made without the approval of the Tribal Council." RBC member Jack Seelye is quoted in the release as saying, "I'm not sure what it will take for Hunt to realize that what he is doing is the worst possible thing for the Leech Lake people. Despite years of allegations of fraud and ties of certain casino management officials to organized crime, NIGC commissioner Tom Foley praised gaming operations in the region at a recent MCT Tribal Executive Committee meeting, "I'm grateful for the gaming operations in the upper Midwest," said Foley. ********************* Editorial opinion by Bill Lawrence It should be obvious by now that the renewed threat by (NIGC) chairman Harold Monteau, a Clinton appointee, to close down the two Leech Lake casinos is politically motivated. The Leech Lake RBC "Gang of Four" and their ENABLERS with all the new-found casino funds have significant ties to the Democratic Party. With the '96 elections now over, it is only fitting that Monteau use some of the spoils from his office as NIGC chairman--which is essentially the new Indian czar--to intimidate Leech Lake tribal chairman Eli Hunt into capitulating to the Gang of Four. How else could you read his action here at Leech Lake, with its relatively minor infractions to the gaming act, in comparison to the ripoffs of other casinos by tribal officials, unscrupulous managers and management companies. In addition, due to Hunt's appointment of the two gaming official, i.e. Martin Jennings as gaming manager and Burton Howard as Controller, the Leech Lake casinos are being run the cleanest that they ever have been run in their history. It is apparent that the ENABLERS of the Gang of Four are desperate for something to happen before the federal Grand Jury meets on December 4 in Minneapolis in its probe of Leech Lake RBC's expenditure of gaming funds, records of which were subpoenaed last week by the U.S. Attorney's Office. It must have taken a lot of political clout to get Monteau to send the letter to the Leech Lake RBC at this time. In addition to the gaming documents, the U.S. Attorney's Office has also subpoenaed all records pertaining to the expenditure of leech lake tribal general funds, including travel funds and the use of credit cards. Based upon past experiences and common knowledge around the Leech Lake Reservation it is anticipated that the December Grand Jury hearing will lead to a new round of federal indictments. So you can see why the gang and their ENABLERS will go to any length, or call in any card, to save their hides. It should be very interesting indeed to see how deep into the leech Lake administration the new Grand Jury probe goes. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bernard J. Rock, Sr. Leech Lake Pillager Band Spotted Eagle Warrior Society North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans Outreach and Resource Center --------- "RE: Leech Lake State of the Rez" --------- Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 11:58:35 -0600 From: eaglerok@northernnet.com (feather eaglerock) Subj: Leech Lake Chairman's State of the Rez communication-11/23 Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) NEWS RELEASE FROM NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS OUTREACH AND RESOURCE CENTER: LL-RBC chairman responds to Gaming commission threat of casino closure I hope everyone has had a successful harvest season, and like myself, are preparing for the winter months ahead This letter is just the first of an ongoing communication from my office of the events that affect you, the Leech Lake people. As I promised during my campaign, I intend to keep you informed of the current and future activities that involve the strengthening of our government. The most pressing issue at hand is the lack of cooperation from the District Representatives to work with the chairman as a Tribal Council that works for the people. One of the issues affected by this problem is the situation with our gaming operation and the threatened closure by the National Indian Gaming Commission. The NIGC has threatened to initiate closure proceedings by December 3, 1996, if the Tribal Council does not work together to resolve the dispute. You need to be aware that this is a real possibility. I promised you open government and accountability and this is one of the reasons that new people are needed and I appointed them to work for you. The Federal Subpoena of our records supports my position of the need for change in the way things were done in the past and a federal review of our records should answer any questions. Many people feel that it was I who contacted the NIGC or the NIGC stepped in because of violations, when in reality, it was the District Representatives who called the NIGC. The licensing issue is not a valid excuse for closing our casinos as the two people who are in place are licensable under all applicable laws. I feel very strongly about keeping these staff members and I feel that these new people can effectively and efficiently run our programs. Our financial statements and profit margins have concerned me and they should concern you also, as it is Leech Lake funds that are not properly managed. It is a reflection on the way things have historically been done on Leech Lake. Finally, I would like to thank you for all the support I have received from everywhere. Your kind words are encouraging and please keep the faith in our movement. I appreciate the way everyone has conducted themselves considering how many of you have been treated because of your beliefs. Sincerely, Eli O. Hunt, Chairman Leech Lake Reservation >>> -----------------------------> Bernard J. Rock, Sr. Leech Lake Pillager Band Spotted Eagle Warrior Society North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans Outreach and Resource Center --------- "RE: Highway Nightmare for Innu" --------- Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 15:04:52 -0400 From: innuenv@pop.web.net (Larry Innes) Subj: Government Vision of Trans-Labrador Highway Nightmare for Innu Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 15 November 1996 GOVERNMENT VISION OF TRANS-LABRADOR HIGHWAY A NIGHTMARE - ASHINI (Sheshatshiu) The provincial government's vision of the Trans-Labrador Highway is a re-occurring nightmare for the Innu people. Daniel Ashini, the Director of Innu Rights and Environment stated that "The Newfoundland government has always been interested in gaining access to Innu land. But without a land rights agreement with the Innu, the Trans-Labrador Highway will always be a non-starter." Earlier this week, Ernie McLean, the Minister of Government Services and Julie Bettney, the Minister of Works Services and Transportation announced that the province was actively pursuing the development of an all-weather Trans-Labrador Highway, including an upgrade of the existing Churchill Falls tote road and the construction of a new link from Goose Bay to the South Coast. "This isn't the first time that a Trans-Labrador road has been proposed. And it comes as no surprise to the Innu that government has not even bothered to consult with us on their latest proposal. They certainly haven't given Innu rights any consideration in the past. Smallwood personally authorized a survey for the highway routing in the 60's. No one thought to even inform the Innu at that time. And when the present road was bulldozed across our land, government did so without our permission.", continued Ashini. "The present road has had a tremendous impact on the Innu people. It opened up large areas of our lan