_ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 05, ISSUE 005 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 1 February 1997 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 Triballaw, Uptowne, Taino-L, Minn-Ind, NAT-WORK & NATIVE-L listservers; UUCP & genie email; Newsgroup: alt.native; Indigenous Environmental Network(IEN) Articles appearing have been previously posted for public dissemination and/or permission for inclusion has been secured. Letters of authorization are on file. A list of those granting permission to repost their words in this issue are listed at the end of part A. I thank each of you for allowing your words to be shared with the people. <----<<<< >>>>----> This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters who share our Spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the Red Road. ++ It may be subscribed to via email by sending a request from your own internet addressable account to gars@netcom.com 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. "They signed away valuable portions of their reservation, and it is now occupied by white people, for which they have received nothing." They understood ample provisions would be made for their support; instead, their supplies have been reduced and much of the time they are living on half and two-thirds rations." __ General Mile, Indian Agent "We were made many promises, but have never heard from them since. The Great Father says if we do what he directs it will be to our benefit; but instead of this every year they are cutting down our rations, and we do not get enough to keep us from suffering." __ Chief American Horse, Oglala "C.W. Allen came over from the agency Sunday evening and spent Monday in the city. He brought with him several articles taken from the dead body of an Indian brave whose lamp of life was extinguished at Wounded Knee Dec. 29th. These articles were placed on exhibition in the Main street window of the Bank of Chadron, and was quite an attraction for the hundreds of people who passed the place Monday afternoon." "Joseph Ford came over from the agency Monday evening with a load of relics from the battlefield at Wounded Knee. The collection is mostly clothing worn by the Indians when fighting." __Chadron Record_, Chadron Nebraska, January 8, 1891 "The boys in Trager's Art Studio are being kept very busy manufacturing photographs of Pine Ridge scenes that all the finished pictures of that class have been taken to Smith & Co's store, where they will be hereafter kept on sale. There are a number of beauties among them, and are just the thing to send to your friends in the east." __Chadron Record_, Chadron Nebraska, January 15, 1891 +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! Tuesday, January 21, 1997 the Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out a federal law that requires small shares of Indian reservation land owned by individual tribe members to revert to the tribe when the owners die. In the majority opinion Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote the law "severely restricts the right of an individual to direct the descent of his property," . This resolves a long standing problem with the methods the Interior Department "handled" (meted out) tribal property. The harsh winter continues to take its toll in lives and misery. As of Friday contacts I had listed had not received one bit of assistance. If you care about the People on the various rez at all, help them now. 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 - Request from South Dakota - Conferences and Powwows - online - Cheyenne River Sioux - Cheyenne River Sioux - Arizona Family Update - Snoqualmie Tribe Needs Help - Youpee Indian Case - Nashville Burials Desecration - Why NA's Distrust Government - Demand Recognition of Indigenous Rights - Stand - Wisdomkeepers - RCAP Access Report 3-1 - Miami & Modoc Tribes get Bingo - Hotevila Denounces Self Appointed - Ward Valley Nuke Dump - Dineh Situation - Operation Buffalo Rescue - Emergency Injunction - An Appeal from NPCA - Minnesota Chippewa Tribe - Occaneechi Seek Justice - Dineh Alliance Needs Help! - NAFTA Commission Assails US - Dartmouth NA Studies Position - Poem: Sentinel of the People - Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: Request from South Dakota" --------- Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 22:05:43 -0500 (EST) From: aconcert@carroll.com (Joe Campagna) Subj: request from south Dakota Mailing List: Taino-L Sad news. There are four deaths confirmed as a result of the brutal weather in South Dakota. One woman from Wakpala (near Little Eagle), two deaths from the fort Thompson Area and another from another area in South Dakota. This is what is known at this time. No names were given and perhaps for a reason to not mention names of those who haves passed. So the identity and further info was not asked. Standing Rock Indian Reservation is a disaster as are many places throughout the Midwest and in the North as a result of the weather. Another freezing storm may be on its way. =================================== These things are needed: gloves all ages stocking caps snow suits & leggings jackets blankets boots diapers formula clothing c/o Helmina Makes Him First, PO Box 53, Little Eagle SD 57639 For the Little Eagle, Wakpala Communities and areas around there. Helmina Makes Him First is a traditional Lakota Elder who has been a IHS volunteer as she has again for some time been doing it on her own helping the people as she always has, distributing these clothes and taking elderly and sick people to the doctors. The original poster of this message has not been able to send the usual amount in boxes here from New Jersey. I was asked back in December and could only gather and send six boxes of clothing but there was not enough Blankets for the elders or warm clothing for the kids and many things were for adults. It was all was available. Helmina is asking for your help and she says it is bad and these things are needed. gloves all ages stocking caps snow suits & leggings blankets boots diapers formula clothing jackets --------- "RE: Cheyenne River Sioux" --------- Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 13:58:43 -0800 From: Barbara Johnson Subj: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Press Release UUCP email CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE PRESS RELEASE THE BLIZZARDS OF 1997 In mid-November of 1996, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe encountered the first of soon to be many blizzards of this young, yet ferocious winter. In late November, the reservation had a second blizzard, which prompted the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe on December 4th, 1996 to declare by resolution, the reservation a disaster. On the evening of December 15th, the reservation was hit with one of the largest of blizzards in recorded history. This blizzard lasted six days, subsiding on December 20th. The storm left in it's wake snow drifts as large as 30 feet high and over one half mile long. This storm also created compacted snow which was tested in excess of 270 pounds per square inch. This blizzard dumped as much as 25" of snow with wind speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour. "White Out" conditions prevailed throughout this storm. Nearly all reservation residents were left stranded due to this storm. Chairman Gregg Bourland created a Emergency Disaster Office on December 18th, which operates 24 hours per day to this day. CRST Rescue Rangers were fully functional by this storm. On December 20th, due to lack of sufficient equipment on the part of the Bureau of Indian affairs, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe began to hire various contractors to remove snow from reservation communities, ranches, farms, roads, and streets. On December 28th, the reservation received another two day blizzard which again hampered the snow removal process from the large storm of December 15-20. "White Out" conditions again prevailed through this storm. On January 3rd, 1997, with temperatures of approximately 40 degrees, the reservation received a large amount of freezing rain throughout the day. This rain turned to sleet, then to snow, the early evening of the 3rd. By the early morning of the 4th, the reservation was into it's fourth blizzard of the season with temperatures reaching zero and wind chills of Minus 20 below zero. Storms created an icy, near glacier environment, with ice crusts as deep as one foot in many places and snow compaction ratings of 600 pound per square inch. On January 8th, the reservation was hit with yet another winter storm. With wind speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour (some areas have reported winds far in excess of 80 miles per hour) and sub zero temperatures creating wind chills of over MINUS 85 degrees below zero. This storm lasted three and one-half days, ending on the 11th. This storm again completely blocked all roads and streets. Livestock losses were reported across the reservation. White Out conditions again prevailed throughout this storm. On Wednesday, January 15th, the reservation received a 24-hour blizzard with high wind speeds and sub-zero temperatures. This storm also completely blocked all roads and streets. Rescue crews were again hampered by the total "white out" storm conditions. -- Barbara Johnson, Ph.D. Dakota Interconnect Demonstration Site barbarajohnson@midco.net 605-229-5988 --------- "RE: Arizona Family Update" --------- Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 13:47:31 -0500 From: "Jordan S. Dill" Subj: Arizona Family update... UUCP email Good day all... This just in from AIMAZ re the Washington Family (see ): UPDATE ON THE WASHINGTON FAMILY OF LEHI, ARIZONA. As of January 24th, 1997, here is where we stand with the Washington family. The Washington family should be able to move, comfortably, into their new home by Monday, January 27. Workers are, at this time, remodeling the mobile home which was moved into place and set this last week, connecting electric and plumbing services, (the first indoor plumbing this family has had), laying carpet and tile, building wheel chair ramps into the home and a deck outside so that Fred's wheel chair will be able to be wheeled to a car without having to go through the gravel. An outpouring of support has come from individuals, families and groups from across the globe. There have been donations of cash, furniture, clothing, food, personal items and toys. There has been such a response, in fact, that AIM, Arizona has been able to donate duplicate items to the Iron Mountain (Vinum Dwuag) Food and Clothing Bank on the Salt River Pima/Maricopa Community. This is a privately funded bank and the items will be available for anyone with a need of them. Fred has gone through the necessary procedures to receive his veteran's benefits and they will begin on the first of February. Meryl has applied for, and received, benefits from Social Services and the Social Security Administration for the children. The Washington family and AIM, Arizona wish to thank all of the people who have donated their time, money, clothing, etc. to this very worthy cause. It is good, that in this time of bad news, a light of generosity shines through it all. AIM, Arizona, with the permission of the Washington family wish to extend special "thank you's" to the following: Ishgooda and Miketben@aol.com for getting the "word" out! Eddie Basha and Basha's Supermarkets for their generous donations of food. Smitty's Department Stores for their donations of food and clothing. Mr. Ken Buckley (Veterans Administration) for his professionalism and personal assistance. Trampus Trebbey, Gary Bowers and Motel 8 for their help in temporarily housing the Washington family. Robert "Bobby" Reinhardt of the American Legion for his expert knowledge and assistance. The Lehi Community Block Watch. DiDi and Bridget Campbell Ms Mary Kim Titla and certainly, NANAI Foundation. There is still work to be done, but it is progressing nicely. Again, Thank you. Ayatohihi... First Nations/First Peoples Issues Of Consequence PGP public key available upon request... --------- "RE: Youpee Indian Case" --------- Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 07:51:30 -0800 (PST) From: "KING,JOHN" Subj: YOUPEE INDIAN LAND CASE Mailing List: TRIBALLAW (triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu) --------------------------------------------------------------- AN E-BULLETIN LEGAL INFORMATION INSTITUTE -- CORNELL LAW SCHOOL lii@lii.law.cornell.edu --------------------------------------------------------------- The following decisions have just arrived via the LII's direct Project HERMES feed from the Supreme Court. These are not the decisions themselves nor excerpts from them, but summaries (syllabi) prepared by the Court's Reporter of Decisions. Instructions for accessing the full text of any of these decisions are provided at the end of this bulletin. =============================================================== BABBITT, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, et al. v. YOUPEE et al. certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the ninth circuit No. 95-1595. Argued December 2, 1996 -- Decided January 21, 1997 =============================================================== In the late Nineteenth Century, Congress initiated an Indian land program that authorized the allotment of communal Indian property to individual tribal members. This allotment program resulted in the extreme fractionation of Indian lands as allottees passed their undivided interests on to multiple heirs through descent or devise. In 1983, Congress adopted the Indian Land Consolidation Act in part to reduce fractionated ownership of allotted lands. Section 207 of the Act--the "escheat" provision--prohibited the descent or devise of fractional interests that constituted 2 percent or less of the total acreage in an allotted tract and earned less than $100 in the preceding year. Instead of passing to heirs, the interests described in Sect. 207 would escheat to the tribe, thereby consolidating the ownership of Indian lands. Section 207 made no provision for the payment of compensation to those who held such fractional interests. In Hodel v. Irving, 481 U.S. 704, this Court invalidated the original version of Sect. 207 on the ground that it effected a taking of private property without just compensation, in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Id., at 716-718. Considering, first, the economic impact of Sect. 207, the Court observed that the provision's income generation test might fail to capture the actual economic value of the land. Id., at 714. Weighing most heavily against the constitutionality of Sect. 207, however, was the "extraordinary" character of the Government regulation, id., at 716, which amounted to the virtual abrogation of the rights of descent and devise, id., at 716-717. While Irving was pending in the Court of Appeals, Congress amended Sect. 207. Amended Sect. 207 differs from the original provision in three relevant respects: it looks back five years instead of one to determine the income produced from a small interest, and creates a rebuttable presumption that this income stream will continue; it permits devise of otherwise escheatable interests to persons who already own an interest in the same parcel; and it authorizes tribes to develop their own codes governing the disposition of fractional interests. The will of William Youpee, an enrolled member of the Sioux and Assiniboine Tribes, devised to respondents, all of them enrolled tribal members, his several undivided interests in allotted lands on reservations in Montana and North Dakota. Each interest was devised to a single descendant. Youpee's will thus perpetuated existing fractionation, but it did not splinter ownership further by bequeathing any single fractional interest to multiple devisees. In a proceeding to determine claims against and heirs to Youpee's estate, an administrative law judge in the Department of the Interior found that interests devised to each of the respondents fell within the compass of amended Sect. 207 and should therefore escheat to the relevant tribal governments. Respondents, asserting the unconstitutionality of amended Sect. 207, appealed the order to the Board of Indian Appeals. The Board, stating that it did not have jurisdiction to consider respondents' constitutional claim, dismissed the appeal. Respondents then filed this suit against the Secretary of the Interior, alleging that amended Sect. 207 violates the Just Compensation Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The District Court agreed with respondents and granted their request for declaratory and injunctive relief. The Ninth Circuit affirmed. Held: Amended Sect. 207 does not cure the constitutional deficiency this Court identified in the original version of Sect. 207. The Court is guided by Irving in determining whether the amendments to Sect. 207 render the provision constitutional. The United States maintains that the amendments moderate the economic impact of the provision and temper the character of the Government's regulation. However, the narrow revisions Congress made to Sect. 207, without benefit of this Court's ruling in Irving, do not warrant a disposition different than the one announced and explained in Irving. Amended Sect. 207 permits a five year window rather than a one year window to assess the income generating capacity of a fractional interest, and the United States urges that this alteration substantially mitigates the economic impact of Sect. 207. But amended Sect. 207 still trains on income generated from the land, not on the value of the parcel. Even if the income generated by such parcels may be typed de minimis, the value of the land may not fit that description. 481 U. S., at 714. The United States correctly comprehends that Irving rested primarily on the "extraordinary" character of the governmental regulation: the "virtual[l] abrogation" of the right of descent and devise, id., at 716. The United States contends, however, that Congress cured the fatal infirmity inSect. 207 when it revised the section to allow transmission of fractional interests to successors who already own an interest in the allotment. But this change does not rehabilitate the measure. Amended Sect. 207 severely restricts the right of an individual to direct the descent of his property by shrinking drastically the universe of possible successors. And, as the Ninth Circuit observed, the "very limited group [of permissible devisees] is unlikely to contain any lineal descendants." 67 F. 3d 194, 199-200. Moreover, amended Sect. 207 continues to restrict devise "even in circumstances when the governmental purpose sought to be advanced, consolidation of ownership of Indian lands, does not conflict with the further descent of the property." 481 U. S., at 718. As the United States acknowledges, giving effect to Youpee's directive bequeathing each fractional interest to one heir would not further fractionate Indian land holdings. The United States' arguments that amended Sect. 207 satisfies the Constitution's demand because it does not diminish the owner's right to use or enjoy property during his lifetime and does not affect the right to transfer property at death through non probate means are no more persuasive today than they were in Irving. See id., at 716-718. The third alteration made in amended Sect. 207 also fails to bring the provision outside the reach of this Court's holding in Irving: Tribal codes governing disposition of escheatable interests have apparently not been developed. Pp. 8-11. 67 F.3d 194, affirmed. Ginsburg, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Rehnquist, C. J., and O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, Souter, Thomas, and Breyer, JJ., joined. Stevens, J., filed a dissenting opinion. --------------------------------------------------------------- HOW TO ACCESS OR ORDER EMAIL DELIVERY OF ITEMS REPORTED IN THIS BULLETIN --------------------------------------------------------------- The full text of these decisions is archived at the ftp site ftp.cwru.edu in several formats (filtered ascii, original ascii, and WordPerfect). You can also access the decisions using the LII's World Wide Web server at http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/ Finally, if you have only email access to the internet, you can retrieve these documents by sending a mail message to liideliver@lii.law.cornell.edu. Put your document requests in the body of the message like: request 95-1595 You can request several decisions at once by putting them on separate lines. Request court decisions using the docket number as it appears with the syllabus. --------- "RE: Why NA's Distrust Government" --------- Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 08:27:47 -0500 From: hemlock@spectra.net (Hugh Romine) Subj: Answer UUCP email I've considered researching this, rather long, post for some time. Non-NA people seem to question NA attitudes (short fuses, so I'm told) and our defensive position toward many things native. It is not my job to judge others, but stereotyping groups of people seems a waste of time. I can not vouch for the validity of dates, etc., but this is as accurate as I could determine. Now, consider that NA Nations were already established and functioning when the non-NAs came to Turtle Island. What did the Europeans DO? Note the word "Indian" is the word used in the cited events. 1763 Royal Proclamation (British) extinguishing Indian title to land. 1790 US Federal jurisdiction over Indian title and commerce with Indians. 1797 Jay Act allowed Indians living near Canadian border to cross freely. 1823 US altered Indian title and US holds the fee in Tribal land. 1830 Indian Removal Act - effected all Indians east of the Mississippi. 1831 Supreme Court rules Indians form domestic dependent nations with US as guardian. 1832 States do not have jurisdiction over Indians within their states; that US has three jurisdictional entities; Federal, State, and Indian Tribes. 1882 US allows State jurisdiction over non-Indian versus non-Indian on Indian land. 1883 US establishes Tribal Court jurisdiction over Tribal members. 1886 US Federal jurisdiction over Indian who had not signed at treaty with US. 1887 Dawes Allotment Act broke Indian Reservations down into individual allotments of land (usually 160 acres), and after doing so, authorized the sale of surplus land. Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory excluded. 1896 Ruled Indian courts were not bound by US Constitution provisions. 1898 Curtis Act gave Dawes Act power of the Five Civilized Tribes. 1902 US Supreme Court ruled that US has the power to overrule Cherokee laws. 1903 US Supreme Court rules that Congress has the power to unilaterally break treaties, declaring Indians to be "an ignorant and dependent race" that must be governed by the "Christian peoples of the United States". 1906 16USC432 Antiquities Act establishes national jurisdiction. 1908 US establishes that irrigation water rights accrued to Indian Reservations. 1924 US Indians given citizenship, although right to vote denied in several states.Last state to allow Indians to vote in state elections was Utah, in 1960. 1934 Indian Reorganization Act permitted Tribes to organize and write their own constitutions for self-government -- states were to administer education, medical and welfare programs on Indian reservations. 1946 Indian Claim Commission Act permitted Tribes to file claims, until 1951,and resulting cases could be heard until 1974. 1953 House Concurrent Resolution #108 provided policy to end Indian status as wards of the US. Public Law 280 gave five states civil and criminal jurisdiction over Indians living within their borders (CA, OR, MN, WI and NB). 1959 Supreme Court ruled tribal court has jurisdiction over a contract between a non-Indian and a reservation Indian. 1966 16USC470 National Historical Preservation Act. Amplified in 1979 by law which required permits for archaeological work and consent by Indian Tribes when being done on Indian land. Indian Civil Rights Act passed. 1970 Blue Lake restored to Taos Pueblo (It had been taken away in 1906 for a National Forest). 1971 Alaska Native Claim Settlement Act. 1973 Menominees Restoration Act restored tribal status (taken away in 1954). 1975 Indian Self Determination and Education Act 1978 Tribes don't have jurisdiction over non-Indians living on Indian Reservations. PL95-341 American Indian Freedom of Religion Act provided free exercise of traditional religions. Very narrowly interpreted in several cases, mostly those associated with the use of "drugs". Now when someone says why do NA people mistrust government actions, some of these factors may be at the root of it all. /========================================\ / Tsonkwadiyonrat (Now we are ONE Spirit) \ \ Hugh hemlock@spectra.net / \========================================/ --------- "RE: Stand" --------- Date: Thu, 23 Jan 97 11:39:27 -0600 From: jdkc@eden.com Thu Jan 23 17:39:50 1997 Subj: stand! UUCP email This is my personal affirmation and support of the "Lakota Declaration of War" issued earlier by the elders, and is addressed to those who are abusing our Sacred Ways. A' Ho Mitakolapi Anpetu ki le, me cante eta woaglake. Hear me my friends Today, I speak to you from my heart My name is Joe Chipps and I am of the tiospaye Woptura, the oldest Spiritual family on the Pine Ridge Reservation. My Great Grandfather was the Wicasa Wakan, (Sacred man) that gave TaSunka Witko (Crazy Horse), his wotave that protected him in battle with the enemy. My brother is a respected Yuwipi Wicasa, and my other brother is an Intercessor at our Sacred Wiwanyank Wacipi (Sun Dance). My whole family, from the beginning, has practiced our Sacred ways and have been responsible for protecting them from others that would make a mockery of our beliefs and Ceremonies. They have taught me these Sacred ways, and it is my responsibility to protect them from abuse as well. There has been the Lakota Declaration of War posted here against those that would abuse our ways. I am hereby giving notice that if I hear any more about our Sacred Ceremonies from those that are not authorized to teach them, I will do all within my power to have you removed from this and any list where I find you. I will do what I can to have your web page, that desecrates, these Sacred things removed from the web. The Sacred Cannupa, which should never be called a "pipe", The Inipi, which should never be called a "sweat", The Wocekiye Wanyanka, literally "Crying for a Vision", and the Wi Wanyank Wacipi, "Gazing at the Sun Dance, are Sacred Ceremonies that my family, and my people have protected throughout the years, some have even died defending these Sacred Ways and preserving them so that the people may still know them and pray in these ways for a better life for all the people. I will not have these Sacred Ceremonies desecrated by some "wouldbe wannabe" Sham-Scam man or woman. By doing this you are dishonoring me and my family and all my people. And I will not allow it. I am a warrior, and I have spent my life in defence of my people and our way of life. Many have died doing the same thing, and I will not allow their memory to be defiled by anyone, man or woman that "pretends" to be a teacher of our ways. Ho Hecetu Welo -- (\######/) J.D.K. Chipps \ o ~ / "Wokiksuye Canpe Opi" (^ ^) (Remember Wounded Knee) \*/ http://www.eden.com/~jdkc --------- "RE: RCAP Access Report 3-1" --------- Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 04:59:00 +0000 From: don.rayment@uptowne.com (Don Rayment) Subj: Royal Commission 3 - 1 Mailing List: UpTowne Online Services [Editorial note: This is a continuing series of a public release of a Royal Commission Report. Paul Antone posted it to the UpTowne listserver maintained by Don Rayment.] Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Restructuring the Relationship To restore the essence of the early relationship between Aboriginal and settler societies described in Chapter 1, the elements of partnership must be recreated in modern form. The starting point for this transformation is recognition of Aboriginal nationhood. Aboriginal Peoples as Nations The arguments for recognizing that Aboriginal peoples are nations spring from the past and the present. They were nations when they forged military and trade alliances with European nations. They were nations when they signed treaties to share their lands and resources. And they are nations today in their coherence, their distinctiveness and their understanding of themselves. Recognition of Aboriginal nationhood poses no threat to Canada or its political and territorial integrity. Aboriginal nations have generally sought coexistence, co-operation and harmony in their relations with other peoples. What they seek from Canada now is their rightful place as partners in the Canadian federation. This chapter shows how the foundations of Aboriginal nationhood were undone and how they can be rebuilt. The Case for Self-Government Aboriginal people trace their existence and their systems of government back as far as memory and oral history extend. They say that the ultimate source of their right to be self-governing is the Creator. The Creator placed each nation on its own land and gave the people the responsibility of caring for the land and one another until the end of time. Three other sources of the right of self-government apply to Aboriginal peoples: + In Canadian history, the colonial powers won no 'rights of conquest', for there was no conquest. Nor was North America terra nullius, free for the taking, as was claimed later. In most of their early dealings with Indigenous peoples in what is now Canada, the colonial powers recognized them as self-governing nations codifying their recognition in treaties and in the Royal Proclamation of 1763. + Aboriginal peoples' right of self-government within Canada is acknowledged and protected by the constitution. It recognizes that Aboriginal rights are older than Canada itself and that their continuity was part of the bargain between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people that made Canada possible. Aboriginal nations have accepted the need for power sharing with Canada. In return, they ask Canadians to accept that Aboriginal self- government is not, and can never be, a 'gift' from an 'enlightened' Canada. The right is inherent in Aboriginal people and their nationhood and was exercised for centuries before the arrival of European explorers and settlers. It is a right they never surrendered and now want to exercise once more. We believe Aboriginal people must be recognized as partners in the complex arrangements that make up Canada. Indeed, we hold that Aboriginal governments are one of three orders of government in Canada federal, provincial/territorial, and Aboriginal. The three orders are autonomous within their own spheres of jurisdiction, thus sharing the sovereignty of Canada as a whole. Aboriginal governments are not like municipal governments, which exercise powers delegated from provincial and territorial governments. Shared sovereignty is an important feature of Canadian federalism. It permitted the early partnership between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, and later it permitted the union of provinces that became Canada. Canadian governments are coming gradually to accept the idea of shared sovereignty and Aboriginal self-government. But they have been loath to hand over the full range of powers needed by genuinely self- governing nations or the resources needed to make self-government a success. Rebuilding Aboriginal Nations We have concluded that the right of self-government cannot reasonably be exercised by small, separate communities, whether First Nations, Inuit or Metis. It should be exercised by groups of a certain size groups with a claim to the term 'nation'. The problem is that the historical Aboriginal nations were undermined by disease, relocations and the full array of assimilationist government policies. They were fragmented into bands, reserves and small settlements. Only some operate as collectivities now. They will have to reconstruct themselves as nations. We believe strongly that membership in Aboriginal nations should not be defined by race. Aboriginal nations are political communities, often comprising people of mixed background and heritage. Their bonds are those of culture and identity, not blood. Their unity comes from their shared history and their strong sense of themselves as peoples. The work of reconstructing their nations poses great challenges for Aboriginal people. They will need to + reconnect communities split apart by years of band or settlement administration + develop constitutions, design structures, and train personnel to make laws and administer decisions + negotiate new relations with the other two orders of government in Canada They will need to develop their human resources. They will have to build an Aboriginal public service from the strong base in community administration they have now. They will have to encourage the attitudes necessary to be self-governing. And they will have to promote healing the deep social and spiritual recovery process already under way in many Aboriginal communities. To support the rebuilding of Aboriginal nations and shift from paternalistic policies to partnership relations, we propose a bold starting place: a new Royal Proclamation, issued by the Monarch as Canada's head of state and guardian of the rights of Aboriginal peoples. A new proclamation would signal, in dramatic terms, a new day for Aboriginal people. Its all-important preamble should contain these elements: + Reaffirmation of Canada's respect for Aboriginal peoples as distinct nations. + Acknowledgment of harmful actions by past governments, which deprived Aboriginal peoples of their lands and resources and interfered with family life, spiritual practices and governance structures. + A statement placing the relationship on a footing of respect, recognition, sharing and mutual responsibility thus ending the cycle of blame and guilt and freeing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to embrace a shared future. + Affirmation of the right of Aboriginal peoples to fashion their own lives and control their own governments and lands not as a grant from other Canadian governments, but as a right inherent in them as peoples who have occupied these lands from time immemorial. + Acknowledgment that justice and fair play are essential for reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and a commitment by Canada to create institutions and processes to strive for justice. The proclamation should be followed by the enactment of companion legislation by the Parliament of Canada legislation to create the new laws and institutions needed to implement the renewed relationship. Their combined purpose is to provide the authority and tools for Aboriginal people to structure their own political, social and economic future. Of particular importance among these laws is an Aboriginal Nations Recognition and Government Act to give the government of Canada a mechanism for acknowledging established Aboriginal nations once their processes of internal reconstruction and institution building are complete. To prepare for the new start, the federal government will need to undergo some reorganization of its own: + The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the ministerial position that goes with it should be eliminated. + A new senior cabinet position, the Minister for Aboriginal Relations, and a new Department of Aboriginal Relations should be assigned to negotiate and manage new agreements and arrangements from the federal government's side. + Another minister, the Minister of Indian and Inuit Services, and a new Indian and Inuit Services department should be assigned to deliver the gradually diminishing services coming from the federal level. The Prime Minister should assume responsibility for launching and sustaining the renewed relationship and signal the significance of the new deal by participating at every stage. Models and Powers of Self-Government Aboriginal visions of self-government are as varied as their traditions, circumstances and aspirations. Scores of detailed proposals for self- government have been drawn up by Aboriginal peoples across Canada. The Commission identified three basic models, each with many possible variations. These models are all realistic and workable in the framework of the Canadian federation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Internet: don.rayment@uptowne.com (Don Rayment) This message was processed by NetXpress from Merlin Systems Inc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This multi-part series will be presented over the next several issues. My thanks to Don and Paul for bringing this to my attention. gary --------- "RE: Hotevila Denounces Self Appointed" --------- From: cdm@azstarnet.com (Iyami) Subj: Hotevila denounces self appointed leaders Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 19:31:28 LOCAL Newsgroup: alt.native Apparently in response to recent books and activities by non-Hopi visitors and unauthorized local "self-appointed leaders and spokespersons," the following article was published in the official Hopi reservation newspaper. Responses should be sent to Hopi Tutuveni, P.O. Box 123, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039, NOT to me. I have been authorized to pass on previously published information as necessary, but NOT to speak for the Hopi Tribe in conjunction with such information. All official responses must come from the parties involved, or the editors themselves. ++++++++From Hopi Tutuveni, January 14: "By Hotevila Priesthood Kiva Members In a historic meeting held on January 3, 1997 at the Kokop clan house in Hotevila, members of the four Hopi religious priesthoods decided to restrict access to the village. Severe limitations were put on a new-age interpretation and appropriation of Hopi religious practices which include the disassembling of their shrines on Hotevila lands. They also agreed to expose self appointed leaders and spokespersons of Hotevila. Kyashongewa, Neil Kayquaptewa, who called for the meeting, stated, "All my life we here in Hotevila have been plagued by self appointed leaders who have created confusion in this village with the support of outsiders. We have talked about meeting on this for a number of years, and now the priesthood members have made their decision." Neil, who is 82 years old has been appointed through traditional practices to lead the village through the current cycle. It was decided to invoke the kiva practices which require each member to state his position and truth from the authority of the kiva into which they have been initiated, which is also considered his home. STATEMENT OF WIWIMKYAM OF HOTEVILA: OUR TUNATYA We the ordained members of the first Wimi, the original religious instruction, have gathered on this day of January 5, 1997 at the Kokop clan house in Hotevila. In consultation among the four priesthoods Aalt, Wuwuchim, Tataukyam and Kwankwant together we set forth out tunatya, our wishes: 1. That all people outside of our village and our jurisdiction stop interfering in our religious affairs and religious practices and that the village ceremonial and religious events are closed to non-Hopis. 2. That all non-Hopi shrines be obliterated from Hotevila lands. 3. That self designated religious leaders be exposed and stopped. 4. That all people accepting our hospitality learn and accept our ways of proper conduct and respect, before entering our village." --------- "RE: Ward Valley Nuke Dump" --------- Date: Monday, January 27, 1997 10:26AM From: Indigenous Environmental Network Subj: Ward Valley Indigenous Nuke Released by: Indigenous Environmental Network(IEN) FORT MOJAVE AND COLORADO RIVER NATIVE NATIONS ALLIANCE CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE PROPOSED RADIOACTIVE WASTE DUMP AT WARD VALLEY The Department of Energy (DOE) will be holding a meeting of their "Host State Technical Coordinating Committee" on Tuesday, January 28, 1997 in Laughlin, Nevada where they will discuss the proposed Ward Valley "low- level" radioactive waste dump. The DOE invited state and nuclear industry officials to make presentations at their meeting, BUT FAILED TO OFFER ANY SIMILAR INVITATION TO THE IMPACTED TRIBES THAT RESIDE ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER. The proposed radioactive waste dump is being sited in an area that is sacred to the Fort Mojave and other tribes in the area. The proposed Ward Valley site is not within the reservation boundaries of the tribes, however, is within Native traditional lands that have sacred and culturally significant value to the Native Peoples. The site is home of the desert tortoise, an endangered species. Plans are to bury long-lasting and highly dangerous radioactive wastes from nuclear plants in shallow, unlined trenches. Ward Valley is located directly adjacent to the new Mojave National Preserve and is surrounded by eight designated Wilderness Areas. The proposed nuclear dump site is right above a major aquifer and 18 miles from the Colorado River. The push for the Ward valley dump comes from the powerful nuclear energy and nuclear research industry lobby group looking for a cheap grave fro their radioactive waste and a way to transfer liability for nuclear waste to the taxpayer. The Ward Valley dump contractor, US Ecology, has left a trail of leaking dumps and litigation across the United States. The DOE has announced that they will arrive at Ward Valley at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 29,1997 to have a tour of the proposed radioactive waste dump. The site is located 22 miles west of Needles, California, near the Water Road exit off Interstate 40. Steve Lopez, Fort Mojave Ward Valley Director has announced that Native tribal leaders, community members, traditional elders and environmental justice activists will gather at the entrance to Ward Valley at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, January 29, 1997 to greet the U.S., state and nuclear industry officials. A traditional Native ceremony will be taking place at the site awaiting for the tour visitation of the U.S., state and nuclear undustry delegates. The Native representatives and environmental supporters will express their opposition to the proposed dump, and CALL UPON PRESIDENT CLINTON TO INTERVENE TO STOP THE DUMP AND RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL, AND SPIRITUAL CONCERNS OF THE NATIVE ELDERS AND TRIBES THAT LIVE ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER. The Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Quechan, Cocopah and Colorado River Indian Tribes have formed the "Colorado River Native Nations Alliance" to stop the dump and protect the Colorado River and Ward Valley, places of sacred significance to the tribes. The tribes consider Ward valley sacred homeland and have vowed to defend their traditions, land, water, air, and culture. The tribal councils of the five tribes, their traditional elders and tribal grassroots members are standing united in their fight against this proposed waste dump. The Fort Mojave have put out a call for support at this meeting so that there would be a continued strong message that the siting of this radioactive dump at Ward Valley makes no sense. The Indigenous Environmental Network, Ward Valley Coalition, Greenpeace and many other Native and non-Native support groups continue to stand in defense of the Indigenous rights of the Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Quechan, Cocopah and Colorado River Indian Tribes to protect their families from the contamination of leaking radionuclides from the dump. FIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Come and support the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance and the Ward Valley Coalition in their stance on January 29, 1997. WE MUST ACT NOW! Call, write, email and fax President Clinton. Tell him to protect Colorado River from radioactive contamination, honor his committment to the Indian tribes and protect tribal land, water, cultural and sacred sites and to preserve Wilderness and protect critical habitat for endangered species. President Bill Clinton, The White House, Washington, D.C. 20500, Phone (202) 456-1414, Fax (202) 456-2461, e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For more information: Steve Lopez, Ft. Mojave Tribe, (619) 326-4591 or Save Ward Valley Office (619) 326-6267 To provide letters of support: Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, 500 Merriman Avenue, Needles, CA 92363 Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, PO Box 1976, Havasu Lake, CA 52363 Cocopah Indian Tribe, County 15 and Ave G, Somerton, AZ 85350 Quechan Indian Tribe, Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, PO Box 11352, Yuma, AZ 85366 Colorado River Indian Tribes, Route 1, Box 23B, Parker, AZ 85344 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Other dates to be aware of: January 31, 1997, at 9:00 am, the Tribes will take their concerns to the Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission meeting in Needles Nuclear Free Newe Sogobia Gathering, and Indigenous Anti-Nuclear Gathering on the west side of Yucca Mountain, March 21-23, 1997. Sponsored by the Western Shoshone National Council with Citizen Alert Native American Program as host. For more info contact: Ian Zabarte, Nuke Free Newe Sogobia Gathering Organizer (702) 796-5562 or Virginia Sanchez, CANAP Director (702) 827-5511 or (702) 863-0258. Healing Global Wounds, March 27-31, Nevada. For more infomation, contact Healing Global Wounds (408) 338-0147. They are preparing for a 13-day series of diverse events at the Nevada Test Site, March 23 - April 4, 1997. Ward Valley Spring Gathering, April 25-27, 1997 at the Ward Valley site, California ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK P.O. Box 485 Bemidji, MN 56619 -0485 USA Ph: (218) 751-4967 Fax: (218) 751-0561 e-mail: ien@igc.apc.org web page: http://www.alphacdc.com/ien --------- "RE: Dineh Situation" --------- Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 08:18:26 -0600 From: bobf@jal.cc.il.us (Robert Fester) Subj: Dineh Situation UUCP email Good morning all. I have thought much about the situation of the Dineh people versus Peabody Coal Company. First, let me say that I live in southern Illinois. Until just a few years ago, this region was heavily mined with both pit mines and shaft mines. In many places, it looks awful. The most recent mines have been required to cover their scars but there are still vast areas that look like moonscapes. Because of emission regulations, most have now shut down because our local coal is high in sulphur. The companies now look westward for new coal fields. These coal companies are ruthless and relentless. Their bottom line is always--their bottom line. They are historically famous for strikebreakers and violence. Expect this situation with the Dineh to get extremely volatile if the companies do not get their way. Their main line of propaganda will be centered around local unemployment and the jobs the mines will bring. With tribal councils on their side, who knows... I am especially concerned about one aspect of the problem the Dineh in particular and all native Americans and their supporters face in this matter. It has been said that the tribal leadership of both the Navajo and Hopi support the companies while the traditional elders oppose mining. The dilemma is this: at what point do we turn away from tribal government and to individuals? The answer, I think, is not so easy as it seems. I am reminded of the issue of termination where the government broke up the traditional collective into individual allotments, which were then easier to steal. Deloria covers this at length in "Custer Died For Your Sins." Do we want to turn away from tribal structure? I don't think so, but sometimes when tribal governments work hand-in-glove with the Feds against the interests of traditional people, the idea is tempting. Internal reform of any government is slow and painful. Add to this situation the housing scandal reported by the Seattle "Times," (I think thats the paper) where tribal leaders got new homes and the poor got the shaft. It looks like this time in Arizona the poor might get the shaft again--the mine shaft this time--unless something unforeseen happens.. This brings up a question I asked before. Is there a crisis of confidence in a lot of tribal governments? I apologize for the length of this... In Spirit Bob Fester --------- "RE: Operation Buffalo Rescue" --------- Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 17:36:09 -0500 From: Ishgooda Subj: Press release OPERATION BUFFALO RESCUE UUCP email Contact: "J.D.K. Chipps" OPERATION BUFFALO RESCUE INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA CONTACTS: KARLE OR MATTHEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (307) 344-2015 or 344-2010 January 22, 1997 -4:15 p.m. 97-18 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK CONTINUES BISON OPERATIONS Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael Finley announced today that bison have continued to migrate near Stephens Creek along the northern boundary of the park. The Interim Bison Management Plan (approved and signed on August 5, 1996) requires that all bison along the northern boundary moving toward adjacent private land where cattle are grazed must be captured and transported to certified slaughter facilities. However, the plan does provide that "should unusual circumstance develop that are beyond the range of environmental conditions experienced since 1984-86, the agencies may develop contingency plans to assure that removals of bison outside of cattle-free public lands in Montana do not compromise the integrity of the bison herd within Yellowstone National Park." These usual circumstances now exist with the severe weather conditions the park has been experiencing, the large numbers of bison already taken to slaughter facilities or shot, and the significant winter mortality of bison expected this year. To mitigate these impacts, the park began testing all captured bison on January 21, 1997, at the Stephens Creek facility. Bison that test seropositive will continue to be shipped to slaughter facilities; bison that test seronegative will be held in a separate area at the Stephens Creek facility while discussions with the State of Montana to develop contingency plans continue. On January 21, 46 bison were tested for the brucella organism by a veterinarian from the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); test results showed 30 bison as seronegative and 16 seropositive. (Testing seropositive to the brucella organism does not mean a bison is infectious and capable of transmitting the disease; it indicates the bison was exposed to the brucella organism at one time.) Fourteen of the seropositive bison were shipped to a slaughter facility in Columbus, Montana, Wednesday morning (January 22). The remaining two seropositive animals had to be shot by park staff because of injuries sustained during capture operations (a yearling bull on January 21, and a cow on January 22). There are approximately 80 bison in a larger pasture being held until they can be processed. --------- "RE: Emergency Injunction" --------- Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 20:28:11 -0500 From: Ishgooda Subj: Emergency Injunction UUCP email (permission is given to repost) -- [ From: J.D.K. Chipps * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] -- Wednesday January 22 8:39 PM EDT Conservationists File for Emergency Injunction to Halt Bison Killing HELENA, Mont.----Jan. 22, 1997--Pointing out that government agents have already shot or corralled and sent to slaughterhouses six hundred bison from Yellowstone National Park, local and national conservation groups today filed a court motion for an emergency injunction to halt further killing. The groups warned that the program must be stopped immediately because the corralling, in combination with a difficult winter, threatens the survival of the last free-roaming bison herd in North America. Conservationists challenged the bison trapping inside the park as a violation of the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Park Service Organic Act, and the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act. Although the U.S. District Court denied their motion for a preliminary injunction on Dec. 19, today their motion noted that since that time, "Exceptionally harsh winter weather has combined with snowmobile trail grooming to create a massive movement of bison towards the north and west boundaries of Yellowstone National Park...the 575 Yellowstone bison that have been killed already this winter under the interim plan is greater than the number of bison that have been killed in any other year since the founding of Yellowstone National Park in 1872." The appeal of the U.S. District Court's decision will be pending for several months in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, during which time they say work by Yellowstone's leading bison researcher indicates that current practices could "jeopardize the very existence of the Yellowstone bison herd. "The motion for an emergency injunction is necessary in order to ensure that the herd is not crippled before the Ninth Circuit has a chance to rule. Represented by the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (SCLDF), the groups asking for the emergency injunction include the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife, Jackson Hole Alliance for Responsible Planning, Gallatin Wildlife Association, American Buffalo Foundation, and David Ritchey. They are suing the National Park Service, which is corralling bison as they head out of the park and shipping them to slaughterhouses, as well as various other agencies in the Interior and Agriculture departments. Montana cattle ranchers harbor fears about brucellosis, a bacterial disease, passing from bison to cattle when they leave the park, despite the lack of a single documented case of such transmission. Jim Angell, SCLDF lawyer representing the groups, emphasizes that, "The corralling program sets a number of inappropriate precedents, not only violating NEPA's requirement for environmental impact statements, but also implying that the bison must stay within park boundaries. Neither federal or state agencies have looked at alternatives or studied the effects on the ecosystem of removing the hundreds and hundreds of bison that have already been killed under this plan." After participating in a meeting with Montana Gov. Marc Racicot today, Mike Clark, executive director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, said, "Montana has a responsibility to protect the Yellowstone bison herd, rather than turning Montana's public lands into a killing field. The harsh winter conditions make this an extraordinary year. We must allow bison to follow their natural instincts to migrate to lower-elevation range outside Yellowstone National Park." At the beginning of the winter, Yellowstone's bison herd stood at more than three thousand. By the end of the winter, conservationists fear that those numbers will be greatly diminished. Rodger Schlickeisen, President of Defenders of Wildlife, noted that, "The National Park Service should not be managing our nation's premiere wildlife populations based primarily on invalid fears and local interests. The free-roaming bison belong to all Americans, and they should at a minimum be protected on public lands outside park boundaries. They are part of our heritage that should be preserved for future generations." Franz Camenzind of the Jackson Hole Alliance for Responsible Planning concludes, "What's happening now in Yellowstone proves that short-term solutions can be very fatal. We must stop this killing now and look for long-term solutions that are based on sound ecosystem concepts and not arbitrary political boundaries." CONTACT: Jim Angell of the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, 406-586-9699, or Bob Ekey of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, 406-586-1593, or Joan Moody, 202-682-9400, ext. 220, or Bob Ferris, 202-682-9400, ext. 229, both of Defenders of Wildlife -- (\######/) J.D.K. Chipps \ o ~ / "Wokiksuye Canpe Opi" (^ ^) (Remember Wounded Knee) \*/ http://www.eden.com/~jdkc --------- "RE: An Appeal from NPCA" --------- Date: Mon, 27 Jan 97 16:33:05 -0600 From: "J.D.K. Chipps " Subj: An Appeal from NPCA UUCP email Park Supporters Ask White House To Save Yellowstone Bison Record 592 Animals Slaughtered Washington, D.C. -- The nation's largest park advocacy group today called on the White House to rescind Yellowstone National Park's Interim Bison Management plan, which calls for the slaughter of all bison leaving the park's northern boundary. The National Parks and Conservation Association (NPCA) blamed the continuing slaughter of bison in Yellowstone on federal bureaucrats' unwillingness to stand up to the demands of the State of Montana. NPCA charged that the National Park Service and the Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) caved in to unfounded concerns about the spread of brucellosis to cattle. "The destruction of an American symbol at a park which is a symbol of America is abhorrent," said Paul C. Pritchard, President of NPCA. "For bison to be exterminated with the willing consent and participation of the very government agencies that are charged with protecting them is heinous. President Clinton has shown his leadership in working to protect Yellowstone's waters from the threat of gold mining on the park's border. Now he needs to step in to protect Yellowstone's bison -- something both the Park Service and the Department of Agriculture have failed to do." Only halfway into the winter, 592 park bison have been captured and killed. The Park Service is holding approximately 100 more in pens. Alarmed by the number of bison deaths, the park Tuesday began to test bison caught at the park's north gate for exposure to brucellosis and are considering a quarantine for animals that test negative. Sixteen of the 44 bison tested since Tuesday had tested positive and were shipped to slaughter. Severe winter weather is causing starvation and driving record numbers of the 3,500-head herd from the park. Deep snow that came early to the park froze into a thick crust that bison can't break through to graze. Until now, the most bison slaughtered in a year was 569 in the winter of 1988-'89. The bison management agreement provides for the development of contingency plans if it appears that removal of the bison is compromising the integrity of the Yellowstone herd. But, despite the double threat of harsh weather and record numbers of bison being slaughtered, alternatives are not being considered. According to a spokeswoman for Montana Governor Marc Racicot, the Governor today rejected out of hand a number of alternatives to the slaughter. APHIS officials have also refused to budge from their position of zero tolerance. "The American people have trusted the Park Service to protect Yellowstone and all its wildlife. The Park Service has betrayed that trust by giving away its management prerogative to Montana," Pritchard said. Brucellosis, which causes cattle to abort, has been detected in the Yellowstone bison herd, but there has never been a single case of bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle in the wild. Montana's cattle herds are currently classified as brucellosis-free. The National Parks and Conservation Association (NPCA) is America's only private nonprofit citizen organization dedicated solely to protecting, preserving, and enhancing the U.S. National Park System. An association of "Citizens Protecting America's Parks," NPCA was founded in 1919 and today has 500,000 members. A library of national park information, including fact sheets, congressional testimony, position statements, press releases and media alerts, can be found in NPCA's Press Room on the World Wide Web at http://www.npca.org. -- (\######/) J.D.K. Chipps \ o ~ / "Wokiksuye Canpe Opi" (^ ^) (Remember Wounded Knee) \*/ http://www.eden.com/~jdkc --------- "RE: Minnesota Chippewa Tribe" --------- Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 10:51:55 -0600 From: feather eaglerock Subj: Update--Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Mailing List: Minnesota Indian Affairs NEWS RELEASE NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS OUTREACH AND RESOURCE CENTER BIA turns petition dispute over the MCT/TEC (letter below) Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs Minnesota Agency Rt 3 Box 112 Cass Lake, MN 56633-8913 Norman Deschampe, President Minnesota Chippewa Tribe PO Box 217 Cass Lake,MN 56633 Dear President Deschampe, On January 6, 1997 I received a copy of Leech Lake Reservation Tribal Council ("Council") Resolution 97-69, which has dismissed the petition for removal or recall election of District III Representative Myron Ellis and cancelled the hearing scheduled by the council to address the charges. Originally, Resolution No. 97-69 was passed by the council on September 25, 1996 which set a hearing date of Monday, December 2, 1996 to address charges brought against Mr. Ellis in the petition. Resolution No. 97-51, passed on December 3, 1996, postponed the hearing until January 7, 1997 in order to provide additional time to review the charges. On January 7, 1997 I was presented with a cover letter and a copy of the petition from Diane E. White, spokesperson for the petitioners, which demands a recall election or removal of Mr. Ellis from office. The letter cites Article X, Section 5 of the MCT Constitution and has appealed this to the Secretary of Interior claiming that the Reservation Business Committee failed to act. Additionally, the petitioners claim that Resolution No. 97-69 is unconstitutional an invalid since the petition has met the requirements of Article X and the Constitution does not allow for cancellation of a hearing which has been set. In reviewing all of the documents above, I believe this is a valid concern, I believe this is a valid concern. However, since this is is directly related to Constitutional interpretation, it must be addressed and clarified by the Tribal Executive Committee (TEC), not the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Upon receipt of a response from the TEC, the Bureau of Indian Affairs will consider taking the appropriate action. Your timely response will be appreciated. (signed) Joel Smith SUPERINTENDENT CC Leech Lake Tribal Council Diane E. White, spokesperson Larry Morrin, Acting Area Director Office of the Field Solicitor ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Shortly before Christmas the home of the person tending the people's petitions (for recall election or removal of Leech Lake RBC District Representative Alfred Fairbanks, Jr.) burned to the ground. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Runoff election for Leech Lake Secretary/Treasurer will be held Tuesday January 28. Candidates are Frank "Walter" Reese and Linda Johnston. Both candidates support constitutional reform. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Runoff election for White Earth will be held in March. Runoff candidates are: For Secretary/Treasurer are Erma J. Vizenor and Albert James Goodwin, Jr. For District I Representative Irene Auginash-Turney and Marcell L. Goodwin. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ White Earth Activist speaks out about absentee voting system: (Bemidji Resident Lori (Queenie) Stone-Gellings was one of dozens of witnesses who testified in last year's trial of former White Earth officials that they names were forged on fraudulent ballots in the 1194 election.) "All those absentee ballots have hurt people on the reservation. If you want the right to vote on your reservation, go up to vote on your reservation! Absentee voting grants undue influence to those who are least affected by reservation policies." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >>>-------------------------------------> Bernard J. Rock, Sr. Leech Lake Pillager Band Spotted Eagle Warrior Society North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans Outreach and Resource Center "Vets helping Vets" --------- "RE: Occaneechi Seek Justice" --------- Date: 22 Jan 1997 23:11:42 GMT From: nassawango@aol.com (Nassawango) Subj: N.C.'s Occaneechi seek justice Newsgroup: alt.native North Carolina's Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, denied recognition by the NC Commission of Indian Affairs in Dec. 1995, is scheduled to have their case heard at the Office of Administrative hearings before an administrative trial judge Feb. 24, 1997. In spite of overwhelming support from experts in Indian history and anthropology, and in spite of the recommendations of their own hired consultants, the Commission members chose to turn down the Occaneechi's 600+ page petition for recognition. While accepting the Occaneechi as Indians, the Commission refused to recognize them as a tribe, allegedly because of a small degree of non-Indian ancestry. The Occaneechi believe that the Commission does not want to have to share resources with the Occaneechi, or change the balance of power on the present Board by allowing any other tribe representation. None of the present tribes who make up the Commission had to meet the criteria that they now impose on the Occaneechi, except the Meherrin Tribe, which had also been the only tribe to support the Occaneechi. The Occaneechi allege that they are being held to a far higher standard than were the Meherrins, and that the decision is being made by persons who (1) belong to tribes which themselves could not meet the criteria the have set up, and (2) whose tribes stand to lose a degree of state resources if the Occaneechi are recognized. The Occaneechi are a small tribe, and could use help; call Gregory Richardson, executive director, NC Commission of Indian Affairs and ask him why the Occaneechi are being held to a higher standard than other tribes. One specific instance is that the Meherrin received only one grant specified as for Indian only, as had the Occaneechi; This was deemed to be sufficient in the case of the Meherrin, but not for the Occaneechi. The Occaneechi allege that many of the Commission members are jealous of the work done by the Occaneechi without government assistance, while their own tribes have spent thousands of dollars of Federal money without amassing the quantity (or quality) of information that the Occaneechi have. Please call and urge Mr. Richardson to negotiate with the Occaneechi, before a court battle begins that will, of necessity, have a negative impact on all Indians in NC. The Occaneechi only wish to be recognized for who they are, and will not give up the struggle they wage for the sake of their children. The Commission's # is 919-733-5998. For more info call 919-304-3723 and ask for Forest Hazel, John Jeffries, or Lawrence Dunmore. Thanks! --------- "RE: Dineh Alliance Needs Help!" --------- Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 21:25:59 -0500 From: "David B. Bowden" Subj: FWD: Dineh Alliance Needs Help! UUCP email Louise Benally of the Sovereign Dineh Nation has asked LPDC to aid in stopping the forced relocation of Dine people from Hopi Partitioned Land. Forced evictions are now posted beginning April 1, 1997. The Department of "Justice" will be "the strong arm of the task force" in charge of forcefully moving people from their homes. We ask everyone to please help stop this from happening by writing and/or faxing letters to: President Albert Hale, Navajo Nation, Box 9000, Window Rock, AZ 86515, fax 520-871-4025; Chairman Ferrell Secakuku, Hopi Tribe, PO Box 123, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039, fax 520-734-6665; President Bill Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washngton, DC 20500, fax 202-456-2461. For more information contact Sovereign Dineh Nation, PO Box 1042, Hotevilla, AZ 86030 (520)607-1449 The LPDC also asks that you remember Leonard and his bid for clemency by continuing to call the White House Comment Line at 202-456-1111 (hit 0 to avoid survey) "Deep peace I breathe into you Oh weariness here, O ache, here! Deep peace, a soft white dove to you; Deep peace, a quiet rain to you; Deep peace, an ebbing wave to you!" --------- "RE: NAFTA Commission Assails US" --------- Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 21:21:28 -0700 From: Robin Silver Subj: NAFTA Commission Assails US UUCP email For Immediate Release, January 22, 1997 NAFTA Secretary Requests US Explain San Pedro DoD Violations International precedent set to end US Army lawlessness The Secretary of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation has requested that the US explain its failure to obey US environmental law. The US has been promoting the destruction of the last living river in the US to promote local developers and to maintain a massive US military presence at Ft. Huachuca on the US/Mexican border. The military missions conducted at Ft. Huachuca can be accomplished at alternative locations in less environmentally sensitive areas elsewhere. On November 14, 1996, a petition was submitted to the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation by Earthlaw on behalf of the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity. The petition was submitted under Article 14 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation allowing non-governmental entities to seek assistance when an Agreement country fails to enforce its own environmental laws. The San Pedro River is the last living river in the Southwest. Over half of the more than 700 US bird species have been recorded along the San Pedro. The San Pedro River has been recognized as a "Globally Important Bird Area" by the American Bird Conservancy. The US Army, as required by US environmental law, has never evaluated and publicly admitted the destructive effects on the San Pedro River resulting from its massive presence at Ft. Huachuca. Uncontrolled, excessive local growth and the resulting ground water pumping have already reduced base flows in the San Pedro by 67% in the last fifty years according to US Geological Survey (USGS) data. For 23 years, internal US Army documents have shown that the massive military presence at Ft. Huachuca continue to negatively affect the San Pedro River. For seven years, the Army has blatantly violated the law to risk continued destruction of the San Pedro River. Army officials have admitted that they have violated the law. US Courts have confirmed that the Army continues to violate the law. The Department of Defense, the Justice Department, and the US Congress continue to do nothing. The NAFTA Commission request to EPA Administrator Carol Browner recognizes that the US Courts have found and the US Army has admitted violations of US environmental law in order to continue the US Army massive military presence at Ft. Huachuca. For Information: Dr. Robin Silver, SWCBD Conservation Chair, 602 246 4170 Mark Hughes, Esq., Earthlaw, 303 871 6996 --------- "RE: Dartmouth NA Studies Position" --------- Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 21:10:24 -0700 From: "Chris Milda (_Akimel O`odham_)" Subj: Native American Studies Program Position, Dartmouth College (Fwd) Mailing List: NAT-WORK Job Opportunities border.gif Native American Studies Program Position Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire The Native American Studies Program at Dartmouth College seeks candidates for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level with expertise in contemporary Native American issues. The successful candidate should be able to teach courses addressing a broad range of political, social, legal, and economic issues in American Indian Studies. The appointment will be shared between Native American Studies and the department of the candidate's disciplinary training, with teaching obligations in both units. A Ph.D. is expected at time of appointment. Applicants should submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references no later than February 1, 1997 to; Colin G. Calloway Chair, Native American Studies Search Committee 306 Bartlett Hall, Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755 For more information call (603) 646-3530. Dartmouth College is an AE/EO employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. --------- "RE: Poem: Sentinel of the People" --------- Date: 08 Apr 1996 19:30:39 GMT From: True Reflection Subj: Sentinel of the People UUCP email Sentinel of the People High upon your mountain, my brother, lean into the winds and, as the eagle rises, wind beneath spread wings, joyously lift above the storms. High above the mountains, my brother, rise upon the gales and, as the eagle soars, wind beneath spread wings, seek truth among the heavens. High above the valleys, my brother, soar upon the currents and, as the eagle glides, wind beneath spread wings, ever wary against the foe. High above the rivers, brother, glide upon the breezes and, as the eagle floats, wind beneath speak wings, oversee a fragile peace. --------- "RE: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days" --------- Date: 97/01/20 17:27 From: Debra F. Sanders (dfsanders@genie.geis.com) Subj: Verse: Hawai'ian Book of Days A HAWAIIAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of February 2-8 IANUALI (January) (Kaelo) 2 In the first golden light of dawn, nothing is impossible! 3 Music is the key to the inner spirit. 4 My feet walk the paths where kings have gone. 5 For every ending, there is always another beginning. 6 We were not the first in this land: the Gods, ke akua, were here before us. 7 Before you throw a stone, pohaku, ask whose spirit dwells in it. 8 To care for the land is an act of worship. (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, 30 January 97 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: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 15:17:43 -0500 From: "Jordan S. Dill" Subj: Peltier Clemency Conference Newsgroup: soc.culture.native Good day all... Please note the following: "A four day Worldwide Clemency Conference for Leonard Peltier's Freedom is scheduled June 19-22, 1997 at the Tulsa Creek Community Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma," announces Dennis J. Banks, "Bring Peltier Home" Campaign Director and AIM's National Field Director. Additional specifics can be found at . Best regards, Jordan Ayatohihi... First Nations/First Peoples Issues Of Consequence PGP public key available upon request... --------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 20:51:40 GMT From: lilikoi@cats.ucsc.edu (J. Kehaulani Kauanui) Subj: Call for Submissions: 6th Women of Color Film and Video Festival The 6th Annual Women of Color Film and Video Festival University of California, Santa Cruz - May 1-3, 1997 The annual UCSC Women of Color Film and Video Festival features film/video screenings and conversations with independent film makers, videographers and visual media activists. Over the past five years this festival has drawn diverse audiences and has been a crucial venue for discussions about the production and circulation of images of women of color. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 1. Only 1/2" VHS tapes will be accepted for preview. Although reasonable care will be taken to protect submission tapes from loss or damage, neither Kresge College nor UC Santa Cruz assume responsibility for tapes submitted for consideration 2. Please label submission tapes (inside and out) with the title of the work, filmmaker's name, address, phone number and date of submission. Please label the spine of all tapes submitted with the name and length of the work. 3. Submissions will not be considered unless accompanied by a completed Entry Application. 4. Do not use fiber-filled envelopes when mailing. 5. Final program decisions will be made March 20, 1997 6. Please note, there is no entry fee for the festival, however, preview tapes of works not accepted for screening in the festival will be returned only if you have enclosed a stamped, self-addressed envelope for return. 7. You certify that you hold all the necessary rights for the submission of this film/videotape to the Festival 8. You certify that the information provided on the submission form is true and correct. Please send all material, postmarked no later than February 20, 1997 to: Women of Color Film & Video Festival Kresge College UCSC Activities Office 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064 For more information: phone: 408-459-3349 e-mail: wocff@cats.ucsc.edu web: http://www2.ucsc.edu/people/ktrion (look for a link to filmfest web-page) ------------Entry Application--------- The Sixth Annual Women of Color Film and Video Festival University of California, Santa Cruz - May 1-3, 1997 Title: ________________________________________________________________ Language: ___________________________________ Subtitled?______________ One sentence description (please include a longer description, if available): _______________________________________________________________________ Year Completed ______________ Running Time: _______________ Format: _____1/2" _____3/4" _____16mm Director: ______________________________________________________________ Producer: ______________________________________________________________ Writer: ________________________________________________________________ Principal Cast: ________________________________________________________ Screening History: _________________+____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Contact Person: _________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________ Phone:______________ Fax: ________________ e-mail:__________________ Return Video To: ________________________________________________________ Please submit a complete list of production credits, a short synopsis, b&w stills, and other relevant publicity materials with your preview cassette Signature: ___________________________________ Date:__________________ I have read and agree to the submission guidelines of the 6th Annual Women of Color Film and Video Festival --------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 20:04:28 -0800 (PST) From: Susanna Shreeve Subj: A Call for Native American College Student Papers (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Original Sender: pxgcst@ritvax.isc.rit.edu Mailing List: NAT-EDU (nat-edu@gnosys.svle.ma.us) Native Voices: Symposia on Contemporary Native American Issues March 27 to 29, 1997 Rochester, New York Call for papers by Native American college students Native Voices: Symposia on Contemporary Native American Issues is an annual event, sponsored by a consortium of Rochester, New York, area colleges and universities. Native Voices seeks to raise awareness of issues affecting Indian people today, and to provide a forum for Native academics and professionals to present their research. In 1997, Native Voices will include a day of paper presentations by Native American college students, on Friday, March 28, 1997. This is an opportunity for students to meet with other Indian students and professionals, and to present their work as part of a regional conference. -- All Native American college students, undergraduates and graduates, from community colleges, colleges, and universities, are encouraged to submit papers. -- Papers must address contemporary issues affecting Indian people. Works of fiction or purely historical research are not acceptable. -- Papers should be 7 to 10 pages in length, typed or computer- generated. -- Papers should represent original student work, but may have been prepared originally for a class assignment. -- Papers must be received by Friday, January 31, 1997. All papers must be mailed to the address below. No FAX copies will be accepted. -- Papers for presentation will be selected by a panel of Native American academics and professionals from the Rochester, New York, area. -- Notification of acceptance for presentation at Native Voices will be made by February 21, 1997. Approximately 6 to 12 papers will be accepted, and every effort will be made to provide financial support to help student presenters attend the symposia. -- Along with your paper, please include the following information: Name Address Telephone numbers (day and evening) E-mail address Tribal affiliation College or university affiliation Year in school Major area of study -- Papers (and any questions regarding Native Voices) should be submitted to: Susan Applegate Krouse, Ph.D. (716) 389-2764 Department of Sociology and Anthropology Nazareth College 4245 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618-3790 ===================================================================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- 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: John Berry, Jordan Dill, John King, Hugh Romine, Paul Antone via Don Rayment, Joe Campagna, Barbara Johnson, Philenese Slaughter, Joe Don Chipps, Ishgooda, Bernard J. Rock, Sr. via Feather Eaglerock, Nassawango, Debra F. Sanders, Robin Silver, LPDC via David B. Bowden, Janet Smith, Serena, Michael Sims, moonlight@igc.apc.org (National Commission for Democracy in Mexico, USA) Bob Fester, Doug Boydvia Elaine Flattery, Indigenous Environmental Network -//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Part B of this newsletter has already been distributed via the NATIVE-L or NATCHAT mailing lists. --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - online" --------- Date: Thu, 30 January 97 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (evestar@juno.com) Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows already posted to Mailing Lists NATCHAT or NATIVE-L UUCP email Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 23:08:42 GMT From: uaine19@nfi.com (Mahtowin Munro From: Mahtowin Munro & Moonanum James Moonanum James) Subj: Boston EZLN emergency action - 1/31/97 Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) There will be an emergency demonstration in support of the EZLN in Boston, Massachusetts on Friday, 31 January 1997. Demonstrators will meet outside the Mexican Consulate at the Park Plaza Hotel at 2 pm. They will later march to the JF Kennedy Federal Building in Government Center, downtown Boston, where they will hold a rally at 4 pm targeting the role of the U.S. government in supporting military repression against the EZLN and Mexican Indigenous Peoples. For more information, contact: Tonantzin at (617) 522-6430 United American Indians of New England (617) 773-0406 (e-mail uaine19@nfi.com) National Peoples Campaign (617) 522-6626 ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 13:37:03 -0800 From: berryj@okway.okstate.edu (John Berry) Subj: "Remembering Our Future" Symposium (Oklahoma City, 28 Feb.) Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) -A SYMPOSIUM- REMEMBERING OUR FUTURE: Memory, History, and Identity in Contemporary American Indian Communities February 28, 1997 Stage Center, 400 W. Sheridan Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co-Sponsored by: Native American Studies, University of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Foundation for the Humanities with additional funding from: National Endowment for the Humanities, Southwest Airlines, OKC Medallion Hotel. In Conjunction with the: 1997 Oklahoma Lecture in the Humanities: "Blood Trails: Missing Grandmothers and Mixing Worlds in American Indian Writing." Louis Owens - Professor of English, U. of New Mexico. ====================================================================== REMEMBERING OUR FUTURE: Memory, History, and Identity in Contemporary American Indian Communities 8:30am Registration 9:00am Welcoming Remarks and Introductions - Carter Revard Anita R. May, Director Oklahoma Foundation for the Humanities Clara Sue Kidwell, Director, Native American Studies, O.U. 9:15am Keynote Speaker - Gerald Vizenor, "Fugitive Poses: Traces of Native American Identities in Literature and History" 10:00am Coffee Break 10:15am Gary White Deer - "Tribalism vs. Humanism in American Art" 11:00am LeAnne Howe - "Choctaws do Aerobics, Too - A Literary and Theatrical Discussion on Choctaws" 12:00-1:15 Box Lunch - McAlpine Center 1:30pm Clara Sue Kidwell - "The Great Father's Choctaw Children: Intermarriage and Choctaw Leadership in the Early Nineteenth Century" 2:15pm Gus Palmer, Jr. - "On the Importance of Native Language" 3:00pm Coffee Break 3:15pm George Pumpkin, Vincent mendoza Response to the Symposium 4:00pm Adjourn 4-5:00pm Informal Reception ====================================================================== Hotel Info: The Medallion Hotel (405)235-2780, Special rate for symposium - $70.00. Reservations should be made no later than Feb. 21, 1997. -------------------------------------------------------------------- TICKET AND REGISTRATION INFO: Lecture and Symposium -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ticket and Registration Info: Registration for the symposium will be $25.00 (includes lunch). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Two types of tickets are available for the Oklahoma Lecture in the Humanities by Louis Owens at Stage Center, 400 W. Sheridan, OKC, OK at 7:30pm on Feb. 28, 1997. Underwriter Tickets, which help make the lecture possible are sold at $35.00 each. You receive preferred seating and an autographed copy of one of Louis Owens books. (Books picked up at the reception following the lecture.) General Admission tickets cost $5.00 each. Students w/ a valid student ID may receive a free ticket at the door on a first come first served basis. Lecture tickets may be ordered by phone or in person at the OFH office in OKC until Feb. 27, 1997. Please make checks payable to "Oklahoma Foundation for the Humanities". Symposium registrations must be made by Feb. 25, 1997. Mail orders should be postmarked later than Feb. 21, 1997. Mail to: OFH, 428 W. California, Ste. 270, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, or call (405)235-0280. --------- "RE: Cheyenne River Sioux" --------- Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 13:58:43 -0800 From: Barbara Johnson Subj: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Press Release Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) I was able to obtain a copy of Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Greg Bourland's press release from the Bureau of Indian Affairs here in Aberdeen. The Blizzards of 1997 have taken their toll on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota to the tune of $2 million in snow removal costs and untold costs to human and animal life. Tribal Chairman Greg Bourland described conditions on the rural South Dakota reservation in a recent press release. Bourland said the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe is providing snow removal for ranches and farms regardless of race or tribal membership and praised the cooperation his tribe has received from the state and BIA officials. "The relationship between the governor's office and the chairman's office has been superb," Borland said. "Governor Bill Janklow has worked tirelessly to help wherever possible in snow removal effort." Bourland also praised the Bureau of Indian personnel but said the agency suffered from lack of equipment to help the tribal. The BIA has had only one snowplow and one loader available due to the breakdown of aging BIA equipment, Bourland said. Bourland said that the tribe has set up an emergency operations office that has been open 24 hours a day since severe weather first hit the reservation in early December. He said the Tribe has provided many services of residents of the reservation including a Rescue Rangers operation that has saved the lives of people in addition to providing ambulance services under the most extreme conditions. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe through the efforts of Cheyenne River Gas Co. has also provided fuel to whoever is in need. "This has created a large charge account at the company," Bourland said, "But so far, no family has frozen due to shortage of propane." The tribe is also providing emergency wood, fuel oil, and is in the process of transporting coal to the reservation. The Tribe has also has the U.S. Department of Agriculture to waive existing regulations regarding income guidelines for all reservation residents regardless of membership and has requested that all reservation residents receive a 90 day ration of USDA Commodities to help supplement their food stock. The tribe has also received some food from outside sources and is working closely with the Red Cross to distribute this food across the reservation, Bourland said. The Tribe has also has for emergency livestock feed. The blizzards have cost the Tribe on the average of $25,000 per day just for snow removal and does not include the costs to the state, county or BIA, Bourland said. The tribe estimates it has spent in excess of $350,000 on the reservation cleanup so far and these costs do not include emergency labor and overtime, emergency rescue or command center costs. The propane company has charged in excess of $250,000 in propane to help people get through the storm, Bourland said. -- Barbara Johnson, Ph.D. Dakota Interconnect Demonstration Site barbarajohnson@midco.net Aberdeen, S.D. --------- "RE: Snoqualmie Tribe Needs Help" --------- Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 17:03:18 -0700 From: sds@digisys.net (Serena) Subj: Snoqualmie Tribe needs your help Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) The Snoqualmie Tribe is in Washington State. They are an unrecognized tribe. When the Washington Tribes were herded on to reservations, the Snoqualmie people stayed near the Snoqualmie Falls. It has been their millennia old responsibility to care for their people's sacred falls. The Snoqualmie Falls is a sacred site, not only to the Snoqualmie people, but to many of the coastal tribes. Puget Sound Power and Light is wanting to shut of the falls and divert the river for electrical production much of the year. The Snoqualmie people want the flow to continue for their culture and religion. The falls are also a significant tourist attraction with millions of people from all over the world visiting a year. In my mind this is proof of the power of the falls. The Snoqualmie people are requesting the help of the people of the world to continue the sacredness of the falls. Federal Agency Recommends Continued Operation of Power Plant at Snoqualmie Falls, Sacred Site by Marsha Shaiman SNOQUALMIE FALLS, SACRED SITE "That's where Heaven and Earth meet. And the mists...that roll up to Heaven carry our prayers and our hopes and our dreams to the Creator of us all," says Ernie Barr, Jr., son of late Snoqualmie Head Chief Ernie Barr. For the Snoqualmie People, who have lived for centuries in the Snoqualmie Valley, in western Washington, Snoqualmie Falls is central to their culture, beliefs, and spirituality. It is a traditional burial site, and the mists rising from the base of the waterfall serve to connect Heaven and Earth. Tribal Elders say that, along with Mt. Si, Snoqualmie Falls is the most significant sacred site the Tribe has. Although normally reluctant to talk publicly about their spirituality, circumstances have forced tribal members to become outspoken in their opposition to continued operation of Puget Power's Snoqualmie Falls hydroelectric plant and in their support for full restoration of natural flow over Snoqualmie Falls - Decommissioning of the Snoqualmie Falls power plant. Since 1898, Puget Power's Snoqualmie Falls power plant has diverted most of the flows that would pass over the Falls to an electricity generating plant, blasted into the rock behind and beneath the Falls. Diversion of the waters which should flow over Snoqualmie Falls is a desecration of this sacred site, as was the blasting done to create the plant. The Snoqualmie People had no say when this supposed miracle of modern engineering was first built at the end of the last century; they have no say now concerning a federal agency's proposal to allow continued operation of the power plant. FEDERAL LICENSING The power plant's federal license has expired and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is responsible for determining whether and under what conditions to issue a new license. In their decision making, they ignore the importance of Snoqualmie Falls to the spiritual and cultural life of the Snoqualmie People, and the federal laws and policies governing protection of sacred sites and licensing of hydroelectric projects. On hundred years after construction of the power plant, the Snoqualmie People still have no control over what is done to their sacred Snoqualmie Falls. Need For Power Although only about 1% of Puget's power sales is produced at Snoqualmie Falls, FERC recommends that the power plant continue to divert the Sacred Falls and continue to operate much as always. This, FERC claims is a balance of power and non-power usage of the Falls as required by law. Several years ago the Snoqualmie Falls Preservation Project concluded that shutting down the Snoqualmie Falls power plant - decommissioning - would cost about 60 cents a month to each Puget Power customer. Based on current power prices, which have dropped in the ensuing years, any rate increase would be even smaller. Alternatively, the small amount of power produced by diversion of the Falls could be replaced by conservation. FERC Lacks Understanding of Native Culture and Beliefs FERC has been criticized for their inability to understand the significance of Snoqualmie Falls to the Snoqualmie and other Native People. This lack of understanding is evidenced by their response when Puget Power shut down the first public hearing, held several years ago on FERC's draft EIS, by turning the power off with about 60 people, many of them Indian, remaining to speak. FERC responded to requests for another hearing to allow Snoqualmie and other people to present testimony, by telling them to submit written comments. After being informed that Indian tradition is oral rather than written and that a large number of Indian people were waiting to speak, FERC again insisted that further comments be made in writing. Ignoring what spoken testimony they did hear, FERC summarizes the support and opposition to relicensing of the power plant as 307 letters, 67% supporting decommissioning and 33% for relicensing. MaryEllen Ryan a member of the SFPP writes that at the public hearing she heard only one person, a Puget Power employee, speak in support of the DEIS. The large number of Native Americans from the Snoqualmie and other tribes, who opposed the power plant orally but not in writing do not count in FERC's tally. Also ignored were those who FERC refused to listen to. FERC, however, still claims their staff, "includes people with cultural resource training, Native American backgrounds and multi-cultural experience." FERC Ignores Needs of Snoqualmie People The SFPP, a coalition of the Snoqualmie Tribe, Church Council of Greater Seattle, and Washington Association of Churches, has proposed decommissioning of the power project and in its place a Spirit of the Falls Sanctuary Park to be co-managed by the Tribe and another entity, either public or private. Using tortured logic, FERC dismisses this alternative. Since no one has yet come forward to finance and co-manage the park, FERC discusses decommissioning in terms of an unmanaged facility. Despite the Snoqualmie Tribe's clear statement that decommissioning is their preference, FERC concludes this could actually be detrimental to their spiritual practice. The FEIS claims if natural flows were restored to Snoqualmie Falls tourism would probably increase and therefore "it would be more difficult to obtain privacy necessary for spiritual activities or the power of spiritual experiences could be diminished." FERC persists in claiming they know what is best for the Snoqualmie Tribe and they somehow manage to conclude that continued desecration would benefit the Tribe by guaranteeing them continued access to the Falls for spiritual purposes whereas decommissioning would not. FERC also wrongly concludes, that, since the Tribe still uses the Falls for spiritual purposes despite diversion, continued diversion would not be detrimental. If no Snoqualmie Indians continued to use Snoqualmie Falls for spiritual purposes, would FERC then conclude the power plant must be decommissioned? Another point lost on FERC, although it has been made at public hearings, is that part of the importance to tribal members of restoring the flows is the knowledge that the Falls are free flowing and no longer desecrated by diversion. LAWS AND POLICIES RELEVANT TO LICENSE PROCESS Religious Freedom Restoration Act In 1993 president Clinton signed into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It states that before interfering with anyone's religions practices, the federal government must be able to show a "compelling interest" in doing so. This power project is licensed by the federal government. Does 1% of Puget's power sales and a potential and barely perceptible power rate increase constitute a compelling interest? Executive Order Protecting Sacred Sites President Clinton issued his Executive Order 13007 on May 24, 1996 to provide protection for Native American sacred sites on federal lands. The EO requires agencies to "(1) accommodate access to and ceremonial use of Indian Sacred sites by Indian religious practitioners and (2) avoid adversely affecting the physical integrity of such sacred sites." Is FERC, a federal agency, accommodating Indian religious practitioners and avoiding adversely affecting the integrity of Snoqualmie Falls by recommending continued diversion of the Sacred Waterfall? Executive Order on Environmental Justice President Clinton, in February 1994 issued an executive order concerning environmental justice. The E.O. requires federal agencies to develop environmental justice strategies that "identify and address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies and activities on minority populations and low income populations." Does diversion of this Sacred Waterfall constitute environmental justice or is it an "adverse environmental effect" of a federal agency's policy? National Environmental Policy Act The National Environmental Policy Act requires a detailed analysis of proposed alternative uses of Snoqualmie Falls. The FEIS only does a detailed analysis of power production. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criticized FERC for their lack of analysis of Decommissioning in the draft EIS, stating, "This alternative analysis [decommissioning] is very speculative and does not appear to have been very well researched." In the final EIS, although FERC claims, "The decommissioning alternative...[was] developed specifically for traditional cultural uses and values in response to Native American statements that only full natural flows would support such uses and values," they respond to EPA's criticism, stating, "At present, the disposition and management of the project after Decommissioning is uncertain." Does this constitute a detailed analysis of decommissioning? Coastal Zone Management Act The FEIS proposal for continued diversion (referred to as the "minor upgrade") violates the Washington State Costal Zone Management Act. Federal Power Act The Federal Power Act (FPA) requires that FERC give equal consideration to both power and non-power values. Although FERC has finally admitted, "The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project represents a relatively small source of electric power," they claim, "Snoqualmie Falls helps maintain voltage control and adequate power factor in an area susceptible to voltage stability problems." Puget Power now purchases 60% of their power load. They have declined offers of additional power, based on lack of need. Would the purchase of an additional 1%, the amount needed to replace power from a decommissioned Snoqualmie Falls power plant, be too much to ask in consideration of non-power values such as preservation of a sacred site? FPA also requires FERC to make a decision in the best interests of the public. Is desecrating a sacred site in our best interest? Is diversion of a 268' sacred waterfall which draws 1.5 million tourists annually in our best interest? THE FUTURE FERC staff has made their recommendation to the FERC commissioners that Puget Power be allowed to continue to divert Snoqualmie Falls for 40 more years, the period of the next license. Now it is up to the commissioners to make their licensing decision. To help the Snoqualmie Tribe preserve Snoqualmie Falls as a sacred site, please write the people listed below. The following resolution was provided by the Snoqualmie Falls Preservation Project as a letter writing guide: WHEREAS, Snoqualmie Falls is sacred to the Snoqualmie Tribe and is a world class waterfall that attracts one and a half million visitors annually; and WHEREAS, the Tribe together with the Native American Task Force of the Church Council of Greater Seattle and the Washington Association of Churches and supporters from across this region, is working to preserve Snoqualmie Falls "for all people, for all time"; and WHEREAS, Puget Sound Power & Light Co. is a highly respected private utility, whose leadership in energy conservation and service to its customers and shareholders has long been appreciated; and WHEREAS, Puget Power has operated a hydroelectric generating facility at Snoqualmie Falls since 1898; and because the license for the hydro facility having expired on December 31, 1993, the public has, for the first time, an opportunity to comment on the diversion of water away from Snoqualmie Falls to generate electrical power; and WHEREAS, recent deregulation of the electric industry and negligible demand for the small amount of hydroelectric energy generated by Puget Power at Snoqualmie Falls indicate that a refurbished, relicensed project costing more than $30 million is not in our region's best interest; and WHEREAS, the new suburban parkway, major housing developments at Snoqualmie Ridge and the recent sale of the Salish Lodge and Falls Crossing to a convention center developer call for a regional effort to preserve the waterfall and its natural surroundings, "for all people and for all time"; and WHEREAS, the highest and best use of spectacular Snoqualmie Falls would be as the central feature of the natural, cultural landscape envisioned for a regional, publicly controlled, "Spirit of the Falls" Sanctuary Park; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, we the undersigned call upon our elected officials and park management agencies, decision-makers, shareholders and rate-payers of the following parties - Snoqualmie Tribe, City of Snoqualmie, Metropolitan King County, State of Washington, Puget Sound Power & Light Co, FERC, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - to formulate a vision and commitment for a regional, cooperatively managed park at Snoqualmie Falls "for all people, for all time." Write to: Governor Gary Locke, Legislative Bldg, Olympia WA 98504; Senator Patty Murray, U.S. Senate, Washington DC 20510; Chair Elizabeth Moler, FERC, 825 N Capitol St NE, Washington DC 20426; Executive, King County Council, 516 3rd Ave, Seattle WA 98104. For more information contact the Snoqualmie Tribe, PO Box 280, Carnation WA 98014. Phone (206) 333-6551; or the Snoqualmie Falls Preservation Project, 419 Occidental Ave S Suite 201, Seattle WA 98104. Phone: (206) 625-9790. --------- "RE: Nashville Burials Desecration" --------- Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 16:00:20 -0600 From: dragonfly@multipro.com (Michael Sims) Subj: Nashville burials desecration: call for support Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) [ Please contact Michael if you wish to help him with this issue. --Gary ] TRAVELLERS REST HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUM WILL THE ANCESTORS EVER KNOW REST? This site outside Nashville Tennessee continues to be of much concern to the Native American community. The following brief article seeks to background Native Americans and friends of the Native American community on the issue and what can be done to address it. The existing two-and-a-half story brick structure was built in the late 1700's as a residence for Judge John Overton, a prominent lawyer and associate of Andrew Jackson. His home was built over a burial mound which was the central feature of a Mississippian village (Tennessee Archaeological Site Designation 40DV11). In fact, Judge Overton nicknamed the site Golgotha (Hill of Skulls) because of the large number of skulls found during the construction of the cellar of his home. At present, the house serves as a tourist attraction with visitor center. This site has been the target of desecration for quite some time. The full extent of desecration will probably never be known. However, we do know that farming, railroad construction, building, and landscaping have disturbed dozens of graves. From August to November 1995, an archaeological investigation and burial removal project was conducted at this site. This was all part of a process to construct a new interpretative center at Travellers Rest. Under Tennessee law, if prehistoric Indian graves are involved, then notification, in writing, must be made to the Native American members of the Governor's Archaeological Advisory Council (AAC) as well as to the Chairman of the Tennessee Commission on Indian Affairs (TCIA). Since Travellers Rest is designated a National Historic Site, the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) also became applicable. Travellers Rest expected to find eight graves. However, when the excavation was completed, there were thirteen graves opened with some fourteen individuals removed along with their associated funerary objects. At present, the remains and artifacts are still at the lab of the State of Tennessee, Department of Conservation, Division of Archaeology. To recount what has transpired, first the Tennessee Commission on Indian Affairs was notified on October 6th, 1995 of the intent of The National Society of the Colonial Dames in Tennessee and Travellers Rest Historic House Museum, Incorporated, "Travellers Rest" "to terminate a native cemetery" located on their property, They then filed a petition for the same in Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee which was entered on October 9th, 1995. They cited the need for expediency due to the "likelihood of vandalism and destruction of graves" in their petition so that the order could be entered on the same day. Note, this petition was entered on October 9th, 1995, and the order was issued on October 9th, 1995. According to a notice from the State Archaeologist Nick Fielder titled "Burial Relocation Process for Prehistoric Burials at Travellers Rest Historic Site" dated September 1, 1995 " (8): Publication of notice to unknown descendants. Must run for four weeks". From the time the Commission was notified until the order was granted was only three days. What happened to the four weeks? This is significant also in that this was the same procedure that was tried at the Moss-Wright site in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. If alert members of both the native and local communities had not found out about that project I'm sure the same thing would have happened to this significant burial mound. By November, the excavation was completed and the artifacts and remains were turned over to the State Archaeologist for study and NAGPRA inventory. Members of a local native organization protested on site and monitored the excavation process. Nancy Cavener, Executive Director of Travellers Rest, expressed dissatisfaction "that some people were upset by the Indians protesting." I wonder why these "people" would not expect Native Americans to be upset over their ancestors' rest being once again disturbed. In January it was reported at the quarterly Tennessee Commissions of Indian Affairs meeting that the remains were ready for reburial. When asked about the artifacts, the reply was, 'the tribes had not responded to notification'. From then until July this became the standard answer from the state archaeologist, Mr. Fielder. In July, under the Tennessee Publics Records Act, my attorney and I met at the Tenn. Dept. of Archaeology to view all documents from this project. We were told that the tribal notification letters, as required by NAGPRA, were there, but none were produced. NAGPRA requires that prior to commencing work on any national historic site that notification be made to the NAGPRA Departmental Consulting Archaeologist and that a Cultural Preservation Section 106 process be started by the State Historical Commission. No evidence was found that any of these processes were done. Both the State Historical Commission and the State Archaeological Departments were checked. My attorney and I carefully researched the records while there, and found no such letters of studies. When questioned by the attorney as to why, Mr. Fielder responded 'that they were there'. However, when I later received what Mr. Fielder assured me was a complete copy of all documents, they were not there either. While at this July meeting my attorney also asked why the artifacts were not being made available for repatriation as were the human remains, Mr. Fielder responded, 'that rarely, if ever in Tennessee, are artifacts repatriated'. I understand that this seems to be common occurrence elsewhere, but I do not think this an acceptable policy anywhere. In August a viewing and honoring of the ancestors was arranged. Several peoples from local native organizations were present. Mr. Fielder was most gracious and co-operative in this, but still did not produce notification letters responding 'they would be forthcoming'. Why the constant references to these letters you might ask? The lack of response of tribes is the reason Mr. Fielder has repeatedly stated for not releasing the artifacts. However, note that even without tribal response he will release the remains. One would like to know how the tribes could respond if they were not notified, which no one is saying did not occur, just that no proof is at hand that they had been. A request has made for the archaeological field notes. As of this date no notes have been produced and one can only wonder why. Finally, when someone commented on the fact that the remains were stored in cardboard boxes, the response was the boxes were all that was required to comply with the law. Another point made was that when the remains are reburied these boxes would be all that would be provided for these ancestors. These individuals were buried in stone boxes and I do not see that a cardboard box is a proper substitute for a stone box. Finally, I wrote an inquiry letter to the National Park Service Department of Ethnography and Archaeology to clarify the questions I had about this issue. This was in September of 1996 and now it is January of 1997 and I have still had no response from the NAGPRA committee. At present, we have a new project underway to construct a stadium for a professional football team, the Oiler's. This site is suspected to contain a large burial site, rumored to be one to two in miles in extent. This site is an extension of the "Jefferson Street Bridge Site" that received much press in 1990. The businesses displaced here could end up in Bell's Bend or Cockrill Bend, both are significant Native burial sites. Can we expect to see the same thing to occur at this project as it did at Travellers Rest ? My answer is, "I hope not". In closing, I would like to ask the reader to consider all that has been written here. As Mr. Fielder has replied, 'in his thirteen years in his office as State Director of Archaeology no one has requested such a public disclosure as this'. Perhaps it is time that we all demand such an accounting of our public officials. Considering that the treaties made with native peoples contained no retroactive clause for burial ground protection, it is no wonder this violation of the dignity of the Original Inhabitants is so prevalent throughout this land our ancestors knew as Turtle Island. BY: MICHAEL SIMS Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 20:11:40 -0600 Traveller's Rest, Will the Ancestors Ever Know Rest Update: 1/15/97 As you know, the situation with Traveller's Rest is ever changing. This is a quick article to let you know some recent developments. In the article titled above it was noted that a request had been made by one of our bros, Shawn for the archaeological field notes. This was made in August while we were viewing the remains and artifacts. At that time Mr. Fielder told us that these notes were in the hands of the "contractor" and he would get them to us soon. Numerous times Shawn and I tried to obtain these notes directly from Mr. Fielder, but to no avail. On December 23rd, 1996 I faxed a written request for these notes under provision of the Tennessee Public Records Act, but as of January 15th, 1997, neither I nor Shawn have had any response or notes from Mr. Fielder. Recently I located a document from the Division of Archaeology entitled: Procedures for Court-Ordered Removal of Human Skeletal Remains Under the General Supervision of the Division of Archaeology dated November 7th, 1995. Section 5 of this document is "Delivery to the Division of Archaeology, Subpart B relates that: "All burial associations, field notes, records, maps, and photographs must be delivered to the Division along with the skeletal remains. If necessary, these materials may be delivered to the Division after the completion of the project report". Therefore, according to this report from Mr. Fielder's office, the Division of Archaeology should have the notes. If they don't then where are they and why can't we see them? Under Tennessee law Mr. Fielder must produce these notes, but he has not and many people are wondering why. Thank you for your support one and all. Once again I ask you join with us and demand that the facts be disclosed. by Michael Sims (dragonfly@multipro.com) --------- "RE: Demand Recognition of Indigenous Rights" --------- Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 16:28:38 -0800 From: moonlight@igc.apc.org(National Commission for Democracy in Mexico,USA) Subj: NCDM Action Alert - demand recognition of indigenous rights Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ACTION ALERT DEMAND IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION OF INDIGENOUS RIGHTS DEMONSTRATE THAT THE ZAPATISTAS ARE NOT ALONE! After three difficult years of armed resistance the Zapatistas' process of seeking a political solution for the conflict between them and the Mexican federal government has been stalled to the breaking point. This crisis is the end of the second set of negotiations. The renewal of negotiations necessarily requires a significant change in the approach of the Mexican government. Indigenous people in Mexico, because of their political system, their culture, and their relationship to the land are an "abomination" to the predominant economic policies in the world today. Their very existence is intolerable to an economic system whose driving force are exorbitant profits. Thus should the federal government put into the law the San Andres Agreements, it will begin to contradict the neoliberal policies which are now shaping the Mexican reality. For this reason alone, it is necessary to exert a higher level of international pressure than there has been, if there is to be any possibility of progress towards a political solution. The National Commission for Democracy in Mexico is asking those of you who have had the wisdom and humanity to recognize the significance of this conflict for the people of the United States to help undertake a series of actions. Given the indigenous rights and culture agreements' critical importance to the indigenous movement within Mexico and internationally, we particularly seek the participation of indigenous communities, organizations and leaders in the following: 1. Participate in a concerted national demonstration at every Mexican consulate possible on January 31st. On that day also deluge the Mexican government with faxes and email messages to their Web pages. We want to let the Mexican government know that we demand a political solution to the conflict. A list of every Mexican consulate in the United States and their contact information is available through NCDM's national office. 2. Because the national media long ago decided that the situation in Chiapas, Mexico was a "non-issue," we ask that all who can, organize and carry out actions in the local and/or alternative media. These can include letters to the editor, teach-ins, public forums, etc., which can make the general public aware of the nature of the crisis in Mexico. This is an important means by which we can counteract the strategy of isolation which is so important to the success of a low-intensity war. Cecilia Rodriguez, the official representative of the Zapatistas in the United States, is available for interviews, and can be reached through NCDM's national office. 3. Circulate and collect signatures on a letter of support to the Zapatistas and send them to NCDM by February 6th. On February 9th of 1997, the second anniversary of the betrayal of the dialogue process by the Mexican government took place. On that day, we hope to publish a letter of continued support and solidarity to the base communities of the EZLN and the people of Mexico. We also welcome people to send us personalized letters to the Zapatistas which we will forward to them. We have the greatest hopes that together we may help open the possibility of a new world for us all. For more information, contact National Commission for Democracy in Mexico 601 N. Cotton Street, #A103; El Paso, Texas 79902 Phone/fax: (915) 532-8382; Email: moonlight@igc.apc.org --------- "RE: Wisdomkeepers" --------- Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 12:45:17 -0500 From: "flattery" Subj: WISDOMKEEPERS Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us) WISDOMKEEPERS PRESENTS The Earth Speaks March 8 & 9, 1997 Holiday Inn Airport Asheville, North Carolina Featuring American Indian Speakers: George Goodstriker Bertha Grove Jake Swamp Ted Williams 704-252-3880 704-254-2716 Fax Project of High Country Art & Craft Guild (A Non-Profit Organization) ............................................................................ Wisdomkeepers Speak: The Earth Speaks by Doug Boyd A couple years ago, I traveled south to Asheville, North Carolina, to attend the Wisdomkeepers gathering--partly to renew my acquaintance with Ted Williams, a Tuscarora elder I had known during my days and years with