From gars@netcom.com Sun May 4 10:57:30 1997 Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 07:44:41 -0700 From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews05.017 _ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 05, ISSUE 017 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 26 April 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, NativeLit & NATIVE-L lists; UUCP and genie email; Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty; Newsgroup: alt.native Articles appearing have been previously posted for public dissemination and/or permission for inclusion has been secured. Letters of authorization are on file. A list of those granting permission to repost their words in this issue are listed at the end of part A. I thank each of you for allowing your words to be shared with the people. <----<<<< >>>>----> This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters who share our Spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the Red Road. ++ It may be subscribed to via email by sending a request from your own internet addressable account to gars@netcom.com ++ It is archived at http://www.nanews.org 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 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://aises.uthscsa.edu/94_dis.html 1995: http://aises.uthscsa.edu/95_dis.html 1996: http://aises.uthscsa.edu/96_dis.html 1997: http://aises.uthscsa.edu/97_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. "The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." __ Steven Bilko "My friends, when I went to Washington I went into your money-house and I had some young men with me, but none of us took money out of that house. At the same time, when your Great Father's people come into my country, they go into my money-house and take money out." __ Long Mandan, +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg- | | iance was first presented | I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the | to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat- | of the Republic | ional Congress of American | and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat- | borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI | Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the | as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian | States Constitution, | Nations. | so that my forefathers | | shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! There is a continuing erosion of our beliefs and ways. All too easily people resort to dominant society ways. Accusations and innuendo replace council and seeking out elders. Litigation replaces traditional methods of reconciliation. Apologies are forsaken. The one thing that made it difficult to answer the "Indian Question" was the tenacity with which our ancestors held to their traditions. When the ways of the dominant society and their language and their solutions are ours, where does that leave us? On the doorstep, still not in; but with no way left to go home. Mildred Cleghorn, Tribal leader, crossed over last week. Please read the related article by John Berry. Michael Dorris, novelist, husband of fellow novelist Louise Erdrich, crossed over last week. Please read the related article from David Born. Mike Wicks sends this reminder: In memory; 4.28.1976 Betty Jo Dubray-AIM supporter beaten to death at Martin, S.D. No investigation. 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 - Declaration of Northern Plains - BLM Allows Cow to Destroy Sites - Cheyenne Recover Sacred Pipe - Hopi Cooperative Agreement - Did the Cops Lie? - Update: Dutch Low-Level Flying - Violation of Rights of Women - Istook Amendment Alert - Anti-NY State Sales Tax Demonstration - Artifacts Threatened - Federal Parks by Construction - Free Bear Lincoln - Turquoise Trail Project - 5th Most Endangered River - University of New Brunswick - Navajo Grazing Allocations Position - Leo Yellowhair Story - Truth Of My People? - Ts'peten (Gustafsen Lake) Trial - Hobb's Island - Mildred Cleghorn - Michael Dorris - Poem: Abuser! - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: Declaration of Northern Plains" --------- Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 19:36:39 -0600 (MDT) From: Joe Chasing Horses via Gary Smith (gars@netcom.com) Subj: Declaration of Northern Plains Native Nations I have been granted the honor of passing on this message from Joe Chasing Horses, Lakota Elder. Declaration of Northern Plains Native Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous and Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Peoples We, the assembled representatives of Northern Plains Native Nations and Ikce Wicasa Treaty Councils, having heard and considered the Draft UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and having listened to testimonies from our various representatives, do hereby make the following declaration for the benefit of our future generations: Recognizing the hopes and aspirations of the ancestors of our nations, embodied in the spirit of the Fort Laramie treaties of 1851 and 1868 to exist forever as free and independent nations, do hereby reaffirm our own beliefs, ceremonies, and protocols, thereby honoring our ancestors, without whom we would not be here today, Understanding that Indigenous Nations and Peoples, as all other nations and peoples of the world, have the inherent and undeniable right to self-determination, and by virtue of that right may freely determine our own political status, as well as freely pursue our economic, social and cultural development; Continuing to recognize that the territorial integrity of the Northern Plains Native Nations--including but not limited to all life forms such as roots, four legged beings, the winged creatures, those that swim and crawl, air, water, minerals--encompasses the east bank of the Missouri Riber, the crest of the Little Bighorn Mountains, and the southern bank of the North Platte River, of which the sacred Black Hills forms the center; Understanding that U.N. General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) of 1960, is a means by which nations and peoples may free themselves of colonial subjugation, domination, and exploitation through the exercise of free and full rights of self-determination; Acknowledging that U.N. General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) of 1960 requires the immediate withdrawal of the colonizing government and military to provide for the effective exercise of the right to self-determination of colonized nations and peoples; Recognizing that the Northern Plains Native Nations were first subjected to colonial subjugation by French Claims of domination over the so-called colony and providence of Louisiana; Knowing that in 1803 France, through the Louisiana purchase, purportedly transferred the Northern Plains Native Nations to the United States in the same way that rocks, trees, and animals might be transferred by one country to another, which marked the origin of a United States colonial system responsible for the subjugation, domination, and exploitation of our various Nations, which still continues to this day; Understanding that the said system of United States colonialism stands in violation of our fundamental right to exist as free and independent nations pursuant to our 1868 and 1851 treaties, in violation of the historic world condemnation of colonialism, and in violation of the United States mandate to eradicate colonialism; Noting that the system of colonialism instituted by the United States against our various Nations has and continues to have devastating spiritual, political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental consequences for the Northern Plains Native Nations, threatening our very existence as nations and peoples; Understanding that during the U.N. Decade for the World's Indigenous Peoples, the GATT, NAFTA, and Convention on Biological Diversity, the Human Genome Diversity Project and other policies and practices of global economic integration, represents an intensification of colonialism, compounding further genocide against Indigenous Nations and Peoples; Acknowledging that we as Northern Plains Native Nations have a timeless history as free and independent Nations who have existed on our lands long prior to the arrival of the colonizers in a natural state of dynamic social, cultural and political evolution which has been obstructed by colonialism; Acknowledging that the Northern Plains Native Nations, historically and into the present, have always regarded and continue to regard the Earth as Sacred Life-Giver, which is why we are responsible for being protectors of our traditional territories in keeping with our traditional laws; Acknowledging that United States colonialism and militarism has brought environmental destruction to our traditional territories and natural resources due to toxic dumping, nuclear contamination, degrading mining and deforestation programs, privatization of water, the ruination of our aquifers, and the degradation of health and conditions of life; Acknowledging that Indigenous Nations and Peoples understand that their inherent and undeniable right to self-determination in Article 3 of the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as submitted to the Commission on Human Rights in 1994 carries the identical meaning and significance of full rights to self-determination, which includes the right to decolonized and the right to choose to be independent as all nations and peoples of the world have pursuant to international law; Understanding that the Draft U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples seeks to protect and enforce the collective rights of Indigenous Nations and Peoples which are the foundation of our cultural and political existence; Realizing that the United States system of colonialism is rooted in erroneous doctrines of Christian discovery and dominion which are found in the 1823 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Johnson v. McIntosh (8 Wheat.543), subjugating papal bulls of the fifteenth century, such as the Inter Cetera bull of 1493, and wrongful doctrines of terra nullius. BE IT RESOLVED THAT we, the Northern Plains Native Nations CONDEMN all manifestations of colonialism; Affirm that decolonization for Indigenous Nations and Peoples will advance the rights of self-determination for all nations and peoples by correcting inequalities and injustices, broadening human rights, addressing concerns and violations of peoples previously excluded from such a process, ending racism on a global level and securing the rights of all Indigenous Nations and Peoples of the world be known by their own names, languages, values, cultures, histories, economics, social and political systems, bringing dignity to the meaning of ALL NATIONS AND PEOPLES; Affirm that Indigenous Nations and Peoples have the full right to self-determination that all other Nations and Peoples of the world have pursuant to international law, including all rights to decolonization and permanent sovereignty, as expressed in U.N. General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) of 1960; CALL FOR the international community to support the vigorous intensification of decolonization of the Northern Plains Native Nations and all Indigenous Nations and Peoples from colonial governments and endorse the development of a process by which all Indigenous Nations and Peoples can realize free consent-based remedies for the historical and continuing denial of basic rights and meaningful choices, including the right to self-determination. Existing mechanisms of international law should be applied to end discrimination against all Indigenous Nations and Peoples who make up the majority of colonized Nations and Peoples for whom the process of decolonization was intended. Deliver this resolution to the United States Department of State, Department of Justice, as well as to the United Nations to urge their support of our work toward decolonization and self-determination pursuant to our own laws and international law. Remember, in a spirit of solidarity, our alliance with all Indigenous Nations and Peoples throughout the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific Islands, who are also struggling to maintain their cultures, lands, languages, and ways of life. --------- "RE: Cheyenne Recover Sacred Pipe" --------- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 10:32:40 -0500 From: John.Berry@okway.okstate.edu (John Berry) Subj: Cheyenne Recover Sacred Pipe UUCP email Cheyenne Tribe Recovers The Pipe A pipe held by the Oklahoma State Museum, donated in 1911, has recently been identified by Cheyenne traditionalists as, The Pipe, of tribal oral history and legend. The Pipe is one of the sacred objects that belongs with The Sacred Buffalo Hat bundle. When the Hat was desecrated by the removal of The Pipe around 1870. The Cheyenne people believe that this brought bad medicine on the tribe. History can not dispute their claim. Traditionalists Clifford Long Sioux, fifth great-grandson of Dull Knife and John Sipe attended a NAGPRA meeting in Norman, OK in March. After examining The Pipe they agreed that it was the missing Pipe. An agreement has been reached with the museum to return The Pipe to the tribe and replace it in The Sacred Buffalo Hat. After the meeting Logan Curly held a ceremony with The Pipe at the Museum. John Sipe said, "Afterward, Logan stood up and explained what he had done, he said that he had brought the spirituality of The Pipe back to life, and then he said The Pipe talked to him, and The Pipe was saying 'I want to go home.'" The current keeper of The Sacred Buffalo Hat is James Black Wolf, a traditional elder who speaks only Cheyenne and lives in Montana. James Black Wolf is expected to travel to Oklahoma within the next few weeks to carry the pipe home, which is wherever the keeper of The Sacred Buffalo Hat lives. John Sipe said, "Our goal is to pull our culture and our people back together, we have never been the Northern and Southern Cheyenne people. We are the Cheyenne people. To us, this is a major step ceremonially in bringing our tribe back together as one." ====================================================================== John Berry Oklahoma Material and Quotes from "The Daily Oklahoman" Monday, April 21, 1997 --------- "RE: Did the Cops Lie?" --------- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 01:09:59 -0700 From: yacinfo@mars.ark.com Subj: Did the cops lie to attorney general Ujjal Dosanjh? UUCP email The following is being sent to a very large media and allies list which may have some duplication...please let me know...and if you want to be removed from my bcc list email me with "remove" in the subject line. For more information about the gustafsen gustafsen trial, stoney point (ipperwash) and indigenous sovereignty issues, see... http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html Ujjal Dosanjh, Attorney-General of BC, has set up a toll-free line (1-800-563-0808) for reporting hate crimes. Call and tell him what you think of the RCMP hate crimes. please repost. ernie yacub ***** Did the cops lie to attorney general, Ujjal Dosanjh? The gustafsen lake trial of the 18 Ts'peten defenders is coming to a close this week, and still there is precious little coverage of court testimony and evidence which indicts the RCMP, the Canadian judiciary, the Canadian media, and the attorney general of British Columbia, Ujjal Dosanjh. Up to 400 RCMP officers and military personnel were employed at gustafsen lake. It became the largest police operation in bc history, costing taxpayers more than $5 million. This heavily armed force came within a breath and a whisper of a full waco-style military assault and consequent massacre of a group of children, women and men camping peacefully at the lake. And now the trial, in it's 38th week, has become the longest criminal trial in Canadian history, costing an estimated $50,000 per day. The testimony and evidence reveals the RCMP fabricating evidence, lying to the media, and organizing smear campaigns. Did the cops also lie to attorney general Ujjal Dosanjh? If not, then he too is culpable and ought to resign. According to the court record, the Canadian media were used by the RCMP to report lies, distortion, and propaganda. During the standoff, Canadian media pumped out bogus stories of heavily armed terrorists and phantom firefights. Since then, nary a peep...how come? The only time there is coverage is when the bald one with cool shades shows up. A flurry of words get written, some weird pictures and clips get aired, but little of substance is produced. Meanwhile, Wolverine has been in court or in jail for the last year and a half, and his son JoJo ("mental and memory skills equivalent to that of a 6 year old") was terrorized, beaten, heavily medicated, and kept in solitary confinement during much of his incarceration. The RCMP and the attorney general should be the ones on trial, not the small group of native people and their friends who simply refused to leave their unceded traditional lands. Ts'peten supporters hope that reports of the trial testimony on the internet will be picked up by media all over the world, forcing the government to initiate a full public inquiry. Some examples of key evidence and testimony: Peace process derailed by RCMP... The peace process initiated by native R.C.M.P. officers was working well and was to culminate in a meeting of all parties on August 21. Yet on August 17, native officers were transferred to other duties and an Emergency Response Team (ERT) was inserted into the camp area. On the stand, Constable Ken Tassell remembered the exact time he picked up the ERT members to drive them to the lake and the exact time he picked them up to bring them back. However he could not recall who gave him the orders to do so. He further stated he took no notes on these two crucial days. (S.I.S.I.S) Olfert calls them terrorists... August 19, 1995: RCMP Supt. Len Olfert held a press conference in 100 Mile House in which he displayed the cache of weapons from the August 11 arrests at Williams Lake and called the people in the camp (by their own Intelligence- Percy Rosette and his family) terrorists. Olfert was quoted by the Vancouver Sun newspaper, (August 20, 1995, Front Page) as saying: "This can't go on forever. We won't sit back and do nothing. We have all the residents to consider and the area has to be secured. There has been an escalation; the threat is serious. We see this as an act of terrorism." (fornasier) Olfert "misled" media... Cst. Lorne Clelland, who explained the action of the weapons to the media during the press conference, testified that Olfert "misled" members of the press. He agreed with Defence Attorney, Harry Rankin, that the weapons "came from "a separate case dealt with elsewhere." Staff Sgt. Sarich's testimony concurs that he "had no evidence to link the guns to the camp" and he went on to say that none of his members had ever reported seeing weapons in the camp. Cst. Lorne Clelland's testimony, Sept. 10, 1996; Staff Sgt. Sarich,, Aug.19, 1996 (fornasier) Olfert orders killing... September 1, 1995: Chief Superintendent Johnston makes a note during a phone conversation with Superintendent Len Olfert that "There are 6 hardliners in the camp WHO WILL REQUIRE KILLING." Crown disclosures. Police video shows RCMP Chief Negotiator Sgt. Dennis Ryan relating orders from Supt. Len Olfert to "... KILL THIS CLARK AND SMEAR THE PRICK and everyone with him." RCMP Training Tape , February 3, 1997. (fornasier) Cops panicked, opened fire when they hit a tree branch... The highly publicized September fourth "ambush" by the natives of an R.C.M.P. vehicle was in fact a collision with a tree branch. The officers panicked and opened fire toward the camp. (S.I.S.I.S) The alleged ambush was used to justify involving the army. Dosanjh orders heavy weapons... Weapons dealer and "consultant" Aubrey White testified that he received a fax from RCMP assistant Commissioner Murray Johnston requesting two fifty calibre belt fed machine guns. These were purchased by the RCMP for $16,000. Correspondence from BC's NDP Attorney General Ujjal Dosanjh to Canadian Solicitor General Herb Gray on September 15, 1995, requisitioned "four fifty calibre Mcmillan Sniper Rifles complete with 4 x 40 Leopold scopes, accessories and ammunition." Dosanjh also holds the portfolio as Minister of Human Rights in BC's New Democratic Party Government. Ryan wants help with smear and disinformation campaign... In another video-clip from the same time Ryan, in a meeting (same?) with the Management Team, asks generally "...Is there anyone who can help us with our smear and disinformation campaign?" And about six minutes later S. Sgt Peter Montague, Chief Media Liaison Officer for BC, adds "Smear campaigns are our specialty." He then offers Ryan a Media Strategy which he has drafted. RCMP "Training Tape" , January 6, 1997. (fornasier) Red truck blown up by land mine... September 11, 1995: According to RCMP media liaison, Sgt. Peter Montague, on this day "a camp truck knowingly violated a NO-GO ZONE" and was subsequently "disabled by an early warning device." He continued: "two or three ARMED natives then ran from the truck firing semi-automatic weapons at RCMP officers, which sparked a gun battle lasting nearly two hours during which hundreds of rounds were exchanged." The Vancouver Sun, Sept 12, 1995. Final Ed., Front page. RCMP surveillance footage, taken from six to eight thousand feet in the air by Wescam, reveals the camp truck blown-up by a powerful landmine, then two apparently UNARMED people running from the truck which was moments later struck violently by an APC. The camp dog, seen running away from the truck is shot and killed by RCMP fire. Cst. S.H. Arthur testified that he saw the two occupants running from the truck and that neither were carrying weapons. He also testified that he fired upon the unarmed occupants of the truck as they were leaving the lake with their hands in the air, within what was supposed to be the guaranteed "SAFE ZONE." September 19, 1996. (fornasier) Olfert gives "shoot to kill" order Sgt. Armstrong testified that he had been one of the experts that laid the land mines around the camp, one of which blew up a truck on September 11, 1996 when two camp members went to the lake for water. Asked about his orders, he stated that officers had been giving a green light by Supt. Len Ofert to shoot to kill. (S.I.S.I.S) The mysterious flack jacket caper... September 3, 1995: On or around this date Cpl. John Ward is caught on videotape remarking that "this is not the first time we've had to take flak-jackets to the firing range." RCMP "Training Tape" , February 20, 1997. (fornasier) Kemble orders snipers to kill unarmed man in safe-zone... Insp. Kemble the Field Commander testified that, upon viewing the Wescam direct-feed in the Command Centre, he determined that the man was indeed carrying a rifle and gave the order to the snipers to shoot him. Defence Lawyer Harry Rankin asked if it was his intention to kill that man. Kemble responded: "That's correct." October 1996. (ed. note...video shows clearly that he was NOT carrying a rifle and he was in the "SAFE-ZONE") (fornasier) ernie yacub...yacinfo@mars.ark.com...250-336-2646 laichwiltach/komeenook territory box 569, cumberland, b.c. canada V0R 1S0 for gustafsen/ipperwash info: S.I.S.I.S. / Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html SOVERNET-L is a news-only majordomo conference concerned with indigenous sovereigntist struggles around the world. To subscribe, send "subscribe sovernet-l" in the body of an email message to :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-PLEASE SEND LETTERS OF PROTEST TO:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Ujjal Dosanjh BC Attorney General and Minister of Human Rights Parliament Buildings Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 Canada Phone: (250) 387-1866 Fax: (250) 387-6411 Hate crime reports: 1-800-563-0808 Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs email: ClerkComm@lass.gov.bc.ca :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Free the Wolverine Campaign Spokespeople: Splitting the Sky - Phone/Fax: (604) 543-9661 Bill Lightbown - Phone: (604) 251-4949 Ts'peten Legal Defence Team: Manuel Azevedo, Phone: (604) 687-0231, Fax: (604) 687-0241 Margaret Clark, c/o Phone: (604) 687-0231, Fax: (604) 687-0241 :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 ==>>NEW EMAIL : WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html --------- "RE: Violation of Rights of Women" --------- Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 13:51:32 -0400 From: Mohawk Nation Office - Kahnawake Branch Subj: Violation of Rights of Women of The Iroquois Confederacy MEDIA ALERT!!! A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 22 - 1997 TIME: 2 P.M. PLACE: TONAWANDA SENECA TERRITORY 383 Bloomingdale Road Basom NY CONTACT: Denise ph./fax. 716/298-8671 WOMEN OF THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY'S RIGHTS BEING VIOLATED We wish to inform the world of the actions being taken by the Women of the Confederacy. As a result of Governor Pataki's recent imposition of New York State jurisdiction upon SOVEREIGN HAUDENOSAUNEE TERRITORIES, our people now face an economic crisis. New York State has imposed an illegal economic embargo on our territories. Fuel, tobacco, staples of the economy, and even heating fuel cannot be sold to Indians unless a totally absurd agreement is signed by them. This agreement is likened to what the early colonizer coerced our ancestors to sign. We now know it was for the sole purpose of theft of our lands and resources. Times have not changed. History is repeating itself. This time round it will be the total demise and destruction of our people. THE WOMEN OF THE CONFEDERACY were not informed nor did they participate in any of the negotiations that took place, nor was there any sanction by the women for this interim agreement. This action by a few, perhaps four men, is in total violation of the Iroquois Confederacy Constitution. The agreement is therefore ILLEGAL and must be deemed NULL AND VOID. As progenitors of future generations of Haudenosaunee Nations, we must implement Haudenosaunee Law on the land. Women carry the responsibility of supervising domestic, as well as, foreign policies. It is we who bring the children into this world and we must protect their futures. Background: See letter to Bill Clinton dated Feb. 3, 1997. -------------------------------------------------------------------- February 3, 1997 Ranatakiias Bill Clinton President of the United States White House Washington, DC 20350 Brother: Greetings from the women of the Haudenosaunee. Haudenosaunee means the "People of the Longhouse" or in your language, Iroquois people. We are comprised of Six Nations, Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga and Tuscarora. As women of the Haudenosaunee we have been entrusted with the responsibility of the survival of our people. Any issues dealing with our way of life and anything concerning our children and future generations rests with us. The women of the Haudenosaunee have been meeting to discuss issues concerning the imposition of taxation by New York State on our territories. We write to you today to request that you instruct the United States Congress and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior to abide by the Treaties and agreements that have been made between our Nations and to address these concerns. The women of the Haudenosaunee are instructing you of the procedures and laws that we abide by. The Haudenosaunee are governed by the Kaianerekowa, the Great Law of Peace. Our forefathers, yours and ours, devised the Two Row Wampum and the treaties between the United States government and the Haudenosaunee. The United States Federal Government and New York State have violated and ignored many of the treaties and obligations that were made with our ancestors. Always remember that our forefathers did not offer to come and make these treaties and wampums with you; your forefathers came and made them with us because they recognized the power and authority of the Haudenosaunee here in North America. The United Sates Federal Government and New York State Government have specifically violated Wampum #93 and Wampum #95 of the Great Law of Peace, which reads as follows: "Wampum #93... The Referendum The People decide on the Most Important Matters: Whenever an especially important matter or a great emergency is presented before our League Council and the nature of the matter affects the entire body of Five Nations, threatening their utter ruin, then the Chiefs of the League must submit the matter to the decision of their People and the decision of the People shall affect the decision of the League Council. This decision shall be a confirmation of the voice of the People." "Wampum #95... The Council Fires of The Women of Every Clan have the Same Rights as The Councils of the Men: The Women of every Clan of the Five Nations shall have a Council Fire ever burning in readiness for a Council of the Clan. When in their opinion it seems necessary for the interest of the People, they shall hold a Council, and their decision and recommendation shall be introduced before the Council of Chiefs of the War Chief for its consideration." New York State has imposed a gag order on these secret negotiations, negotiations which have been taking place behind locked doors. They have tried to force agreements for the taxation without the knowledge of the Haudenosaunee. Some of our People were escorted out of a meeting site on December 18 and 19, 1996, in Syracuse, New York. These meetings were attended by a U.S. federal mediator. According to our way of life, the leaders of the Haudenosaunee carry the word of the People to any negotiations. The People meet in Clans, they are informed of the issue at hand by the Clan Mother and the selected representatives of each Clan. The Haudenosaunee way would be to have many meetings to inform the People of the issues to be decided, never to impose a gag order. The People would then empower their leaders with specific instructions to safeguard the Haudenosaunee and the Great Law of Peace. You have also violated the Two Row Wampum which, in its essence, speaks of our People living on our land together and agreeing not to interfere in each others ways, laws and customs. That "interference" is exactly what is being done now. We will discuss with you and your delegates these violations and other issues at hand. Many of the People currently recognized by the United States Government/Bureau of Indian Affairs are those who have alienated themselves from the Haudenosaunee way of life and not sanctioned by the Women's Council and the People of the Haudenosaunee. If the United States federal government and New York State negotiate with any of these people, without the consent of the Women's Council and the People of the Haudenosaunee, the negotiations will be invalid, illegal and will be opposed to any length necessary. These People have lost their way and cannot speak for all the Haudenosaunee. Haudenosaunee People are non-taxable People. It is our People who will guide you to proper channels to resolve problems between our two parties; the United States of America and the Haudenosaunee. We are informing you that your Supreme Court decisions do not apply to our People. The Two Row Wampum Agreement provides that this cannot be; we must discuss the interpretation of our agreements. We are prepared to meet with you and your people to try to peacefully resolve some of the violations and the issues at hand. We expect an immediate response because of the urgency of this issue. We are providing you with a list of our People to contact. Skennengowa, Women's Council of the Haudenosaunee signed - Giennohgohs Mariann May Smith Doctor signed - Shirley Snyder cc: Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton Governor George Pataki Josephy Heath, Esq. --------- "RE: Anti-NY State Sales Tax Demonstration" --------- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 11:11:12 -0400 From: ishgooda@tdi.net Subj: Participant Notes: anti-NY State Sales Tax demonstration ************************************************************** I was in attendance at the Weekend anti-NY State Sales Tax demonstration this weekend at the Cattaraugus Reservation. I also heard about it this morning on the local radio. I do not agree with the morning radio news cast. The demonstrators assembled at one of the large rez gas and smoke shops on the rez. There were many non-Indian supporters in the crowd that I would estimate between 1200 and 1500 people. The march lined up just outside of the rez bridge leading into the rez proper. The Iroquois Veterans Assoc. lead the demonstration behind the Eagle Staff. My friend and I (a Cree) were honored by the veterans when they asked us to carry their banner at the front of the people. I remarked to my friend how was it that a Cree and a Passamaquoddy carried the banner for the Iroquois vets. Well, one step for uniting the Nations. The demo moved across the bridge and into the rez proper. This was the 1st time that I had ever danced to the beat of the drum while entering a reservation at the head of a parade. We danced/marched north up rts.5 & 20 to a 2nd gas/smoke shop. There the marchers reformed and marched to the NY State Thruway and unto the pavement, halting traffic in both directions. We all walked to the center of the bridge spanning Cattaraugus Creek at the boundary of the rez. At that moment in time there was a single NY State Police car parked on the west side of the thruway about 1/2 mile south of the bridge. The marchers filled both sides of the thruway. Several speeches were made by the organizers. There was much support from the vehicles on the road that had halted. Flyers were passed out and everything was going well. The speeches had been made, the flyers were being passed out and the people had made their statement. It was at this point that the NY State Police made a serious tactical error. The single police car mentioned before had radioed in and at least 20 more NYSP cars began showing up from the south. Since no more traffic had backed up on the thruway, it was obvious that they had closed the road and were diverting traffic in both directions around the rez between exits 57A and 59. #of the NYSP cars were driven up from the south, across the non-rez side of the bridge and onto the rez side of the bridge. The marchers moved forward to meet them. When the marchers moved toward the cars, the NYSP drivers stoped and abandoned the vehicles on the rez side of the bridge. At this point in time, the NYSP violated a standard training police procedure. The drivers left their vehicles with all of the doors unlocked and one vehicles windows were rolled down. Here is where some of the younger Native people made a serious error. They proceeded to remove items, including personal items from the vehicles and throw them on the pavement. One young person attacked the cars with a trenching tool, doing some damage. At least 6 NYSP officers are now without their hats and many batons. While I was part of and understand the emotions and frustrations of the marchers, I cannot in good conscience, condone the damage done to the police property. My criticisms fall on both sides of the line. For the NYSP side, I must lay blame for what happened on the shoulders of Governor Pataki and the NYSP Commanding officer of the Troop assigned to that area. All of the NYSP vehicles should have been kept at a safe distance south of the thruway bridge. In retrospect, I can only conclude that the actions of the NYSP drivers was a "planned" and baited trap set for the Native people. When the vehicles were driven onto and abandoned on the bridge, they were suspiciously "clean" of much "normal" police equipment including weapons. This mornings radio news reports said that 12 NYSP cars had been damaged, but only 3 were on the bridge. I also suspect that there were several NYSP "plants" in attendance in the crowd, trying to stir up trouble. What was missing from the Native side was effective leadership from the Chiefs and Clan Mothers. The rally organizers were effective up to the point where the NYSP cars were driven onto the bridge. After this, control of the crowd was beyond their means and the "heat of the moment" emotions overcame some of the younger, less experienced Natives. I was pleased to see at least 4 American Indian Movement jackets in the crowd. I believe that these were Canadian brothers. It is my understanding that there will be another protest next weekend. In this one I can only hope for more leadership from Tribal leaders who support the protest and if possible, some leadership from AIM. My apologies for the length of this post. But I was there. Gery Wolf --------- "RE: Federal Parks" --------- Date: Sun, 20 Apr 97 08:06:02 -0600 From: "J.D.K. Chipps " Subject: Fwd: Federal Parks UUCP email Since there is so much discussion about the parks right now, I thought I'd forward this post I received sometime back. Sorry I can't remember who it was, (nor do know his "credentials"). But for those of you who are into the "message" and not the messenger, here it is. FEDERAL PARKS Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, millions of acres of public range land, national sea shores, and on and on and on . . . Beautiful parks, scenery, wildlife, hiking trails, camping sites . . . Just look at all the beautiful places our federal government is giving to the people. An ideal place to spend an extended summer vacation with the family. Let's set the record right now . . . The United States government is breaking the law. They have NO power to own those lands. It's illegal as hell! The ONLY permission for the national government to own land is spelled out in Art I, Sect 8, cl 17. It specifically limits ownership to 10 square miles for the seat of the government (Washington, D.C .) and . . . ". . . over all places purchased by the consent of the legislatures of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings." That's it. Not one word about range land, national parks, presidential or other official hideaways. The only other place in our Constitution where the word property appears is in Article IV, Section 3, clause 2. This permission to "dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States; . . . " This gives them the right to sell property which lawfully belongs to the government. It allows them to exercise control over territories which may be awarded to the national government as a result of peace treaties, etc. Not a word about public lands or parks. In 1891, they passed the first act establishing National Forests. This came about because people were careless when they went into forested areas. They cut down trees and then vacated the areas. No attempt was made to plant new trees and rain runoff was ruining the lands. Commendable? No argument. By act of Congress dated Aug. 25, 1916, they established The National Park Service as a bureau of the United States Department of Interior. Purpose was to "promote and regulate the use of the federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations . . . by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." (Encyclopedia Americana)] This was a laudable undertaking on the part of the Congress. Makes no matter, it's without authority in the Constitution. Ownership by the individual states involved, if permitted by the state constitution concerned, would be another story. For the federals to assume such an undertaking without specific permission from or by an amendment to our Constitution is unlawful. Back to the naughty word again . . . Deficits! All monies spent operating the National Park Service is illegal. Some are really disastrous. They will admit that all the money collected from overnight lodging does not pay the cost of maintaining the buildings. Another chunk to move the figures into the red. After all, it's not their money, it's YOUR MONEY! Reports are that the United States government owns half the territory west of the Mississippi. How come? The Constitution is specific on land ownership, ". . . for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings." Nothing else! Alaska has been in a running battle with Congress over the past decade to decide who owns the property in the state. How can Congress tell the people of Alaska the federal government owns anything other than a military base or dockyard, etc.? Even then, the legislature of Alaska is mandated to give their permission to purchase the property. And to compound the problem, you are subject to jail if you go on the property without permission. The charge is trespassing. What kind of garbage is this? The Founding Fathers knew they couldn't foresee the future. They had no idea what problems would arise, so we know they included the amendment process. We should never look the other way when the government assumes a power for which we have not specifically given our permission. It's that simple. The powers we agreed to convey for government are spelled out in no uncertain terms. The way for the government to receive new powers from we the people is also plain. We have to make them use the proper and legal means to receive justification for any act they intend to undertake. Parks, wildlife and historical preserves are desirable. They are places of beauty and fun to visit. Many serve the purpose of sustaining the heritage of our country. Yet allowing politicians to seize power which we have specifically denied them is far more dangerous to the survival of our country. If we are so foolish to allow even the slightest step past what we have allowed, the next step is simple. Without looking too intently, we can see the result of permitting the first step to go unchallenged. This is an old and favorite trick of the politicos. When they are hell bent on accomplishing a specified goal, they take at least two steps toward the goal. If they are earnestly challenged, they will take one step backwards to disarm the dispute. Then they are one step ahead in achieving their intended goal. The scenario goes this: "When we passed the National Forest Act, we convinced the people it was for their own good. They were happy we took the initiative. No one checked the constitution or challenged us. Now we can do whatever we want. And as long as we convince them it's for their own good, they'll thank us." Easy , isn't it? As George Washington pointed out, ". . . the constitution which at any time exists till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people is sacredly obligatory upon all." Again it is pointed out that we demanded every official of government take an oath or affirmation to support the supremacy of the Constitution. They cannot exceed what we have allowed. We all must obey the Constitution and this includes all who work for government at any level! A thorough search of The Federalist Papers, shows only No. 43 by James Madison speaking of the ownership of property by the federal government. One section deals with the ownership of the property for the seat of the national government. Madison says: "The necessity of a like authority over forts, magazines, etc., established by the general government, is not less evident. The public money expended on such places, and the public property deposited in them, require that they should be exempt from the authority of the particular State. Nor would it be proper for the places on which the security of the entire Union may depend to be in any degree dependent on a particular member of it. All objections and scruples are here also obviated by requiring the concurrence of the States concerned in every such establishment." That's certainly clear enough. We did not say it was okay to own any property other than what was specified. Now I'm certain many will say the last clause of Art I, Sect 8 conveys special jurisdiction to the government. They can own any property they feel necessary, whatever its classification. This clause is called the "necessary and proper" clause. This argument runs into a stone wall immediately. Two facts in our Constitution kill that reasoning. One is the supremacy clause. The other is the "necessary and proper" clause only authorizes the exercise of listed powers. This includes other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States. The document has to show the power. NOT whatever THEY think necessary and proper. The ownership of property is specific and limited. Nowhere in our Constitution can anyone point to as permission for ownership of other types of property. This includes Camp David and a high official hideout on Jekyll Island off the coast of Georgia. Have you ever checked to see what these clowns are required to pay for a stay at Jekyll Island? There are many others, some set aside in 'public parks', exclusive for high ranking bureaucrats, members of congress and the justices of the Supreme Court. Though they might think otherwise, there are no kings or potentiates in our government. They are responsible to you and me. The Federalist Papers are crystal clear on this aspect. In paper No. 34, Hamilton is emphatic that the necessary and proper clause pertains only to powers specifically granted. He addresses the points in particular we are making. "If the federal government should overpass the just bounds of its authority and make a tyrannical use of its powers, the people, whose creature it is, must appeal to the standard they have formed, and take such measures to redress the injury done to the Constitution as the exigency may suggest and prudence justify. The propriety of a law, in a constitutional light, must always be determined by the nature of the powers upon which it is founded." Madison in paper No. 44 puts it this way: "If it be asked what is to be the consequence, in case the Congress shall misconstrue this part of the Constitution and exercise powers not warranted by its true meaning, I answer the same as if they should misconstrue or enlarge any other power vested in them; as if the general power had been reduced to particulars, and any one of these were to be violated; the same, in short , as if the State legislatures should violate their respective constitutional authorities. In the first instance, the success of the usurpation will depend on the executive and judiciary departments, which are to expound and give effect to the legislative acts; and in the last resort a remedy must be obtained from the people, who can, by the election of more faithful representatives, annul the acts of the usurpers." Usurpers are those who seize and hold a power or position without a legal right. This is exactly what we are facing in our country today. And how could this occur except with the acquiescence and, as Madison said, collusion between the executive and judicial branches? Remember the Tenth Amendment absolutely prohibits the federal government from assuming ANY power which we did not delegate. There are no exceptions. So how do we straighten out this mess? James Madison had the answer when he said the remedy must come from the people. Hamilton also pointed out the people must take whatever measures necessary to redress the injury to the Constitution. Call the local office of your Senator or Congressman. Ask where they find the authorization to own property beyond what is specified in our Constitution. A couple more questions would be pertinent. One, have you taken an oath to support our Constitution? Second, ask where Congress finds the specific justification to establish the National Park Service. Do not to take their answer at face value. Check their answer against the Constitution. Ask them for specifics. Point out the two areas in the Constitution which have to do with property. You will hear a lot of silence at the other end of the phone. They have never had a question before like you're asking them now. Tell them you are unhappy with the government spending money on items which are beyond the lawmaking and spending powers of Congress. Ask further what he/she expects to do about the problem. Then ask your friends to do the same. Letters to the Editor of your local newspapers would alert other people of your area . Another way to stir the pot would be to send members of Congress who represent you a "Petition For Redress of Grievances." To refresh our memory, this was a right included in the 1st Amendment. It is NOT a privilege as the hot shots in government keep insisting. The colonists had a great deal of trouble with the King of England. They filed these petitions to ask the King to correct the wrongs and injustices which had occurred. This was the main reason they included this right in the First Amendment. I strongly suggest you write out the complaint in your own words. It shouldn't sound as though you are following something out of a book. You don't need a degree in english to make your demand understood . Write it as though you were talking to a member of your family and those in Congress will understand it also. There has been no form prescribed for a petition for redress. Nor did our Founding Fathers specify which branch of government these petitions were restricted to. Any branch can be petitioned and I recommend ALL branches receive these petitions! This right has fallen into nearly complete disuse over the past years. There is an ASCII file at the end of this book containing a Petition for Redress of Grievances. It can be printed on any printer, filled out and mailed. A wise man once said, "The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws." (Cornelius Tacitus, Roman senator and historian. A.D. c.56-c.115) It's our sacred duty to curb this illegal abuse of our Constitution. We must make the government again responsible to WE THE PEOPLE. End of forwarded Message -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (\######/) J.D.K. Chipps \ ~ o / "Wokiksuye Canpe Opi" (^ ^) (Remember Wounded Knee) \*/ http://www.onr.com/user/jdc ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~ Help recall the Medals of disHonor ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~ --------- "RE: Free Bear Lincoln" --------- Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 20:17:58 -0700 (PDT) From: Christina Meckel Subj: Free Bear Lincoln UUCP email CASE SUMMARY: On April 14, 1995, three homicides occurred in the rural Mendocino County area of Covelo and the adjacent Round Valley Indian Reservation. On that afternoon, an Indian man, Gene Britten, was fatally shot by Arylis Peters, another Indian resident of Round Valley. Mendocino County sheriffs responded. At app. 9:30pm deputies Davis and Miller took up a position with vehicles on a fire road near the Lincoln family residence. Leonard Acorn Peters, the brother of Arylis Peters, was shot dead by two deputies. In the exchange of gun fire witch ensued, deputy Davis was shot and killed. In a statement made with in hours of the shooting, deputy Miller stated that he saw only one person (Acorn) approach the deputies' position. Miller said Acorn aimed and fired a rifle at the deputies and that he was killed by return fire. Shortly after Miller made his statement, investigators at the scene determined that Acorn's rifle had never been fired. In a transparent attempt to cover his own tracks, Miller issued a second statement three days later in which he stated that he saw two individuals approach the deputies position. This second statement gave the prosecution a way to assert that Bear Lincoln had initiated the gunfire and to cover up their ambush of an innocent Indian man. Where upon law enforcement began a reign of terror targeting Indian reservations and rancherias throughout Mendocino County looking for Bear Lincoln. Historical Context: The first white people to enter Round Valley killed app. 40 Indian people the day they arrived. In a way that set the tone. I believe in my heart that what we are dealing with in Bear's case has it's roots firmly in the past. We need to confront the issue of how the white community deals with the Round Valley Indian People and other Native American communities in this area. We can't heal the past unless we address the present. -Phil DeJong, attorney for Bear Lincoln. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Jury Selection is currently scheduled to begin April 15. It is important to demonstrate that the entire community is aware of Bear's case and concerned to see that he receives a fair trial. Your attendance in court shows this support and concern. Be sure you are on tour mailing list and telephone tree so we can keep you updated on activities and court dates. Lincoln/Peters Defence Alliance c/c Mendocino Environmental Center 106 West Standley Ukiah, CA 95482 707-468-1660 I typed this really fast, there will be more soon, hope it is readable! Christina Meckel Lonewolf lonewolf@pacific.net CLMeckel@hotmail.com --------- "RE: 5th Most Endangered River" --------- Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 10:12:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Alice McCombs Subj: Wolf River 5th Most Endangered River Newsgroup: alt.native April 16, 1997 Wolf River Named One of Most Endangered Rivers in North America National group's report says proposed Exxon Mine is dangerous threat to the river (Keshena, WI) The Wolf River today was named the 5th Most Endangered River in North America by American Rivers, the nation's leading river conservation organization. Conservation, environmental and tribal leaders hope this national warning will prompt the Wisconsin Assembly to vote on a bill that would protect the Wolf from unproven mining practices. The legislation, known as the Mining Moratorium Bill, passed the Wisconsin State Senate with overwhelming support earlier this year. The list of the 10 Most Endangered Rivers, published annually by American Rivers, highlights rivers that face the continent's worst environmental abuse. The Wolf, a National Wild and Scenic River and state-designated Outstanding Resource Water, is endangered because of a proposed metallic sulfide mine in its headwaters area in Wisconsin's Northwoods. "This listing brings more national attention to the plight of the Wolf River, Wisconsin's most threatened natural resource," said Sara Johnson, Executive Director of the River Alliance of Wisconsin, a state-wide, non-profit river conservation organization. "The experts at American Rivers have seen the devastating effects of sulfide mining in places like Colorado, New Mexico and elsewhere and are sounding this alarm to urge the Wisconsin State Assembly to prevent a similar disaster from destroying the Wolf River. Texas-based Exxon Coal and Minerals and Canadian-based Rio Algom, both multi-national corporations with notorious polluting records, have proposed to mine a zinc and copper sulfide deposit near Crandon. Mine waste from the project would cover an area the size of 350 football fields and would stand 90 feet high, making the waste heap the largest toxic waste dump in Wisconsin history. Sulfuric acid and heavy metal drainage from the waste dump would threaten the Wolf River, as well as other natural resources, the tourism economy and tribal cultures associated with the river. The Mining Moratorium Bill (AB 70, sponsored by Rep. Spencer Black) requires the state Department of Natural Resources to refrain from issuing permits to metallic sulfide mines until companies can point to a similar project that has operated for 10 years and been closed for 10 years without polluting ground or surface waters. Such an example has yet to be found. The State Senate recently passed the bill 29 to 3. "Not one mine similar to that proposed by Exxon has ever operated and been reclaimed without polluting ground or surface water," said Johnson. "That's like someone wrecking a car every single time they drive, and now they want the keys to your car," said Johnson. "Exxon's asking to take a test drive by mining near the Wolf with unproven technology. But sulfide mining has wrecked too many rivers and Exxon has wrecked too many cars -- the citizens are unwilling to turn over the keys." The report notes that the Wolf is one of the most pristine rivers in the country, and a primary destination for Midwestern river-based recreation. By harming the Wolf River, the mine threatens to depress the important tourism and recreation-based economy of the area, as well as harm tribal cultures. "Tens of thousands of people spend millions of dollars each year enjoying a unique outdoor experience on the upper Wolf River, one of the midwest's few remaining large, free-flowing, whitewater, trout rivers. It attracts and supports the local tourism industry," said Herb Buettner, owner of the Wild Wolf Inn, a business that depends on the pristine Wolf River. "The citizens insist that the state must fulfill its trust responsibilities for the Wolf River. The Wolf River has done much for my life and I feel obligated to protect it for future generations." "Exxon's Wolf River mine would poison our water, kill our fish, destroy our forests and ruin our tourist industry," said Apesanahkwat, Chairman of the Menominee Nation, "It would desecrate and destroy our cultural properties and our burial sites. We can stop this insanity. We can pass a common-sense law that makes Exxon prove they can mine responsibly. Listening to their lies and false promises is over. We will not be Exxon's experiment for unproven mine technology. We will deal with sulfide mining companies with an Iron fist." This national listing is the latest in a groundswell of opposition to this mine. Never before have so many people come forward to protect a natural Wisconsin treasure: * More then 35,000 people across this country have sent letters to the Army Corps of Engineers asking them to stop the Exxon mine. * Thousands of people across our state have attended dozens of hearings and rallies to voice their concern. * Sixty-seven community, environmental and conservation organizations representing hundreds of thousands of citizens in Wisconsin - the largest alliance of groups ever formed in this state to protect a water resource - have joined together to fight this mine. * And last month, the Wisconsin State Senate in a nearly unanimous vote of 29-3, passed the common-sense Mining Moratorium Bill. The Mining Moratorium Bill is now in the Environment Committee of the Assembly. Despite tremendous public and legislative support, the committee has yet to schedule public hearings or a vote. "This designation today of the Wolf as a nationally endangered waterway sends a message loud and clear down river to the members of the Wisconsin State Assembly in Madison -- Pass the Mining Moratorium Bill! Anything short of a vote makes a mockery of our representative form of government," Johnson concluded. The River Alliance held press conferences on April 16 at four locations: Keshena, Madison, Milwaukee & Eau Claire. For more information visit the River Alliance Web page at http://www.igc.org/wisrivers. ------------------------------------------------------------- A Proclamation Protect the Wolf River Day, the 16th Day of April Mahwaew Sepew Day WHEREAS, for untold centuries the Menominee People have preserved this land for future generations and our history dates back for at least 8000 years. We are the oldest indigenous peoples of Northeastern Wisconsin. The Treaty Era of the 1800s, as the Menominee Nation entered into Treaties with the United States Government the Menominee saw their original 9 1/2 million acres of land reduced by 98% to 234,000 acres with the last treaty signed in 1856. Ironically the treaty signed in 1848, the same year Wisconsin became a state, the U.S. Government attempted to take all of the Menominee land; and WHEREAS, what flows through the center of the Menominee Reservation, is the Wolf River, the lifeblood of the Menominee people. The Wolf River was designated: a Wild and Scenic River in 1968; designated an Outstanding Resource Water by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; and designated by American Rivers as one of the nation's twenty most threatened rivers in 1995; and WHEREAS, Exxon's Wolf River mine would destroy the Menominee People's air, water, fish, wildlife, forests,and tourism industry and would desecrate and destroy traditional cultural properties and burial sites; and WHEREAS, our elders have always taught us that we must protect our land from the beast of greed and exploitation and, when necessary, deal with the forces of evil with an Iron Fist; and WHEREAS, the Menominee Tribal Legislature hereby authorizes the Chairman of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin to issue a special proclamation in honor of this national, state, and tribally recognized natural resource, and also to remind the Menominee People that, as stewards of the land and its natural resources, we have a sacred obligation to protect the Wolf River from the harmful effects of pollution; NOW, THEREFORE, I, APESANAHKWAT, Chairman of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, do hereby proclaim the sixteenth day of April as "Mahwaew Sepew Day," or "Protect the Wolf River Day," and encourage all residents of the Menominee Indian Reservation to observe this day through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers. I would also like to call on churches, schools, businesses, and local media to support observance of this special day with suitable commemorative expressions and prayer. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the Menominee Nation to be affixed. Done at the Village of Keshena, on the Menominee Indian Reservation, this 7th day of April, in the Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Seven. Apesanahkwat, Chairman Menominee Nation +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The only way to mine metallic sulfides safely in Wisconsin ....Is not to mine them at all! Menominee Nation Treaty Rights & Mining Impacts Office P.O. Box 910 Keshena, WI 54135 Ph: 715-799-5620 / FAX: 715-799-5692 Email: mccombs@mail.wiscnet.net http://www.menominee.com/nomining --------- "RE: Navajo Grazing Allocations" --------- Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 10:50:09 -0700 (PDT) From: George Joe Subj: Navajo/Hopi News Release Mailing List: TRIBALLAW (triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu) NAVAJO NATION NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Annette Brown (520) 871-7919, Navajo Nation Press Officer George Joe, Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office HALE: NO MORE LIVESTOCK IMPOUNDMENTS WINDOW ROCK, Ariz./April 8, 1997/ A major source of conflict on Hopi Partitioned Lands may soon end. Navajo President Albert Hale has asked the BIA to halt all livestock impoundments on Hopi Partitioned Lands until grazing allocations can be worked-out with Accommodation Agreement signers. In an April 4 letter to Robert Caroline, Hopi Agency, BIA Superintendent, Hale told the BIA to "immediately cease all livestock impoundment activity on Hopi Partitioned Lands. We are at a critical stage [in the] implementation of the Accommodation Agreement," he wrote. "Most of the Navajo HPL residents have signed the Accommodation Agreement with the Hopi Tribe. Under the Agreement, the Navajo families and the Navajo Nation must develop a plan for the allocation of 2800 sheep units among the Navajo families on the Hopi Partitioned Lands." Hale said the grazing allocations would take time to complete, as the number of HPL Navajo families who signed the agreement have not yet been finalized. He said that in the meantime, the BIA did not need to exacerbate or create a situation by impounding livestock on HPL. Hale said, "Pending the completion of this effort (grazing allocations), it is important that federal offices such as yours help the two Nations and their people by not creating any adversarial or confrontational situations." This action comes a week after a deadline has passed to sign the Accommodation Agreement with the Hopi Tribe. Hale believes that Caroline will approve of the request because it would defuse any problems that may arise as a result of livestock impoundments. Livestock impoundments have always been a source of friction on HPL. In the past, the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office provided assistance for Navajo families to reclaim their livestock from the BIA livestock impoundment yard. But this program ended last year, "due to the lack of funds," said Colbert Dayzie, executive director of the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission. The Accommodation Agreement requires the Nation to allocate the 2800 sheep units among the families. When that is completed the Hopi Tribe will issue an annual grazing permit to each allocatee by December 1 of each year which the Hopi Tribe says will become effective the following month on January 1. --------- "RE: Leo Yellowhair Story" --------- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 18:57:33 -0700 From: Navajo Nation Subj: Navajo/Hopi: News Story UUCP email The following news story was published on April 9, 1997 in the Gallup Independent. The story can be found at the Gallup Independent site. By Aaron Osterby THE GALLUP INDEPENDENT April 9, 1997 page 1 Dine' Bureau HOPI PARTITIONED LAND _ Leo Yellowhair lives with his mother and brother in a traditional hogan overlooking Coalmine Canyon. Including the hogan, there are three dugout structures set in the side of the steep drop-off into the canyon and a storage shed thatched with sticks and blankets. "The traditional ways are still in my spirit today. I never really got used to the white man's ways," says Yellowhair, who is looking forward to building a new house this Summer. The simple act of putting up another building was against the law until he signed a lease offered by the Hopi Tribe. The lease says Yellowhair can remain on the land that Congress gave to the Hopi Tribe in 1974 for 75 years, or until he breaks Hopi laws three times. "If I had the lumber and supplies, I could start working," said Yellowhair, who plans to put up two new buildings on a flat area near the dirt road that leads to Highway 264. The BIA pays for most of his building materials and the Navajo Nation picks up the rest. The lease Yellowhair signed has been controversial among Navajo residents of Hopi-Partitioned Land, but Yellowhair saw it as the best chance he had to stay on the land where he was raised. He signed Dec. 4, soon after the deal was first offered. The last chance for eligible Navajos to sign was March 31. "That was the only choice I could make," Yellowhair said. "I love my land. If I move I might get homesick or something. I might get lonely every day." The important thing is to be willing to work with the Hopi Tribe, says Yellowhair, who has a black and white photo of when he signed the lease deal. It shows him signing the document with Hopi Chairman Ferrell Secakuku and his staff watching. "If I can work with them, everything should be alright," he said. A major part of the reason he signed was to get a grazing permit, Yellowhair said. Right now, he grazes 15 sheep, which he says is only enough for one person. The sheep are not on a grazing permit, but because he signed the lease agreement he expects that the BIA and Hopi Tribe will leave his animals alone. Yellowhair will have to wait until the Navajo Nation divides up the 2,800 sheep units among all the Navajos who signed leases before he'll get his permit. "I don't think they can bother me," said Yellowhair. "That's what they told me." Navajo President Albert Hale has said the grazing allocations will take a while to complete. Work has not yet begun as the official number of people who signed the so-called "Accommodation Agreement" is not yet known. "The BIA does not need to exacerbate or create a situation by impounding livestock on HPL," Hale said. "It is important that federal offices . . . help the two nations and their people by not creating any adversarial or confrontational situations." Yellowhair figures about half of the Navajo residents of HPL did not sign the lease deal offered by the Hopis. "That's their choice. That's their problem," Yellowhair said. "I'm not worried about that. I want to work with the Hopi Tribe." --------- "RE: Truth Of My People?" --------- Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 14:12:33 -0400 From: Larry Kibbey Subj: Truth Of My People? UUCP email TRUTH OF MY PEOPLE? I have walked through the doors of time and it is here that I see a people wandering in search of life. Within the ceremonies of our elder's is a truth given to many, but only a few stay for the truth is hard. Voices cried out across a land for justice but a blood flowed from empty hearts and a people vanished, watching as their own gave way to a life of lies. In the smoke of the ceremony I see my people with tears flowing like a mad river, faces covered with ashes of protection, knowing that their descendants have followed paths filled with mockery. Drums sound in the distant and the songs of life and death cross over a land forgotten by a people whose hearts have become filled with greed as they laugh at their ancestor's who stood in the valleys of blood murdered so their children could live. As descendants of a life, my people learn of values that come from lies and they sell what does not belong to them and they give away the sacred ceremonies because a people tell them, it is alright to do these things for it is written in the book. Tomorrow I will walk through the smoke of life and know that as I see my ancestor's who have gone before me, that I shall know of my people who live before me who have forgotten the truth of life, which can not be found in any book. Hearts of life, flowing tears of blood, a people so old, so forgotten, and the wind blows away the evidence of a past. Live for today, yesterday is gone, say the shadows of time and a people sell the burial grounds of their own, making way for another life called progress and the final chapter seems to be almost a reality. The ceremonies of life belong to my people who have gone before me, for they were the teacher's of life and death and the medicine of yesterday came from the hearts of only my ancestor's. In our own small way we profess to be of the blood but in our hearts we live for tomorrows great richness and lie to a people with a smiling face, saying we are Indian and continue to help only ourself gain a foot in a door where our ancestor's protested a people who took all that they could and left my people with a heart heavy of knowing that their descendants would never be. I reach into my heart, soul and mind, and in the smoke of life, I see my ancestor's with truth, for they gave of their life so that I may live, so that my children will live as the blood of my people. Slowly, ever so slowly, I speak to the shadows of times gone by and I hear them speak, "live as your people once lived within the sacred ceremonies of life and there you will always find truth." Truth is life and that truth comes from the ceremonies of my people, this my elder's tell me and they are elder's who have not sold their hearts, for they are of life, they are my people. They are....truth. By Larry Kibby - kibbey@sierra.net Elko Indian Colony Elko, Nevada "My heart belongs to my people, for they are my life." --------- "RE: Ts'peten (Gustafsen Lake) Trial" --------- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 23:24:45 -0500 From: "S.I.S.I.S." Subj: Ts'peten (Gustafsen Lake) trial and the BC Treaty Commission :-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-: April 21, 1997 Bulletin TS'PETEN TRIAL HEARS FINAL SUMMATIONS THIS WEEK BC TENSE, AS FRAUDULENT TREATY PROCESS CONTINUES All eyes will be on the high security, "anti-terrorist" Surrey courtroom #7 this week, as Regina v Pena et al, the longest criminal trial in Canadian history, begins hearing final summations from counsel. BC Supreme Court Justice Bruce Josephson will then "charge" the 7 woman, 5 man jury, who will then deliberate to consider the case.The summations will begin Thursday. Before the defence closed, Josephson, citing the Delgamuukw case and the doctrine of "stare decisis", dismissed the jurisdictional arguments of Shuswap elder Wolverine. "That will be grounds for appeal on the basis of your fraud in not dealing with the law," responded the much respected elder. (Background on Delgamuukw at http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/scchoax.html) Tension is mounting as a verdict approaches. The traditional sovereign- tists and native rights lawyer Dr.Bruce Clark have urged the jury to recommend referral of the matter to an independent, impartial third party tribunal. There is a strong sense that the BC and Canadian authorities' corrupt and fraudulent defiance of the binding constitutional and international law that precludes their jurisdiction on sovereign unceded Indian territory must be dealt with soon. This jury has heard from defendants and from Clark that by recommending third party adjudication, they have the power "to stop this genocide now." The termination and extinguishment policies of BC's NDP government continue to provoke protest and resistance. On Friday, April 18, thirty members of the Native Youth Movement occupied the BC Treaty Commission Office (BCTC) in Vancouver. The Commission, which oversees a bogus "treaty" process, is headed by Alec Robertson, once senior partner of Davis and co, one of BC's powerful corporate law firms, and director of logging giant Daishowa Canada, infamous for their violations of Lubicon territory. The Native Youth Movement is believed to still be occupying the BCTC, and are demanding: 1. an unbiased coherent independent review to all current treaty process issues pertinent to all native youth in their territories. 2. a budget breakdown of all allocations of funds where chief and council of BC are concerned. 3. to speak to the BCTC chief negotiators, and 4. that all native youth have equal representation on all processes concerning native affairs The BCTC is rapidly losing what support it had. Recently, the chief of the Sechelt Band, one of the most moderate in BC, threatened to leave the BCTC process, calling government negotiators "patronizing" and "arrogant". DIA Band Chief Gary Feschuk said "We are on a long and expensive road to almost certain rejection and failure. So, for the protection of my people, I am calling a halt." Meanwhile, a "framework agreement" has been signed between the Westbank First Nation and the governments of Canada and BC, the first with an Okanagan Band. Ronald Irwin, outgoing federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, said "I take great pleasure in seeing this framework agreement completed." However Westbank activist Tom Lindley says those negotiating such deals are ignoring the grassroots that elect them. "They can abandon and sell their rights all they want, but they do not have the inherent or delegated authority to get rid of my rights or my grandchildren's rights," Lindley told Windspeaker magazine (March' 97). Lindley is not alone in his opposition to the fraud and land theft being orchestrated by the colonizer governments and their "special champions" in the First Nations Summit, BC's pre-eminent collaborationist organization. Not surprisingly, Summit members were quick to condemn the Gustafsen traditionalists, collaborate with the police, and have been silent on the outrages perpetrated upon the native resistors. At a meeting of the First Nations Summit held shortly after the month long 1995 Ts'peten siege ended, Summit member Nathan Mathews of the Shuswap Tribal Council, told the Vancouver Sun: "the legacy of Gustafsen Lake is increasing questions about the legitimacy of elected Chiefs." The reaction of the Okanagan nation to the framework agreement signed by the Westbank was: (1) That the Okanagan Traditional Territory is indivisable. No single community such as, Westbank First Nation, has the right to negotiate a portion of Okanagan Territory; (2) Further that, the Westbank First Nation requires the consent of the remaining six (6) Okanagan Nation communities, as follows: * Okanagan Indian Band * Penticton Indian Band * Osoyoos Indian Band * * Upper Similkameen Indian Band * Lower Similkameen Indian Band * Upper Nicola Band. Under no circumstances will the Penticton Indian Band allow this fraudulent process to continue. A Press statement issued by the Penticton Indian Band on January 28, 1996 is also informative of the state of indigenous issues in BC: "The Penticton Indian Band rejects Minister of Indian Affairs, Ron Irwin's statement that the Native unrest of 1995 and any potential future Native unrest shall be linked to the lack of progress of the BC Treaty Commission. We find Irwin's statement to be totally ludicrous and completely without foundation. "The Adam's Lake Band, the Upper Nicola Band, the Penticton Indian Band and the people who were involved in the Gustafsen Lake standoff are unanimous in their opposition to the BC Treaty Commission process. Further, it should be noted that approximately 80 Native communities throughout the Province do not support the BC Treaty process. Any suggestion that these communities would become engaged in a "Native Uprising" in the event that the BC Treaty Commission doesn't "fast track" the settlement process is totally ridiculous. "If Minister Irwin's recent statement reflects his comprehension of these critical matters, he should be immediately terminated!!" The TS'ILQOT'IN National Government has also expressed its opposition to the fraudulent BC Treaty Process. In a release dated January 30,1997, they stated: "Approximately 80 native communities throughout the Province of BC do not support and are not participating in the BC Treaty Commission process. "Further, in many, many cases, only fragments of Tribal groups are actively participating in the BC Treaty Commission process. Even if these participants were to achieve a settlement agreement, such an agreement would not be recognized, respected or honoured by the balance of those Native communities within that particular Tribal group who chose not to participate in the treaty process. "Therefore jurisdictional certainty and economic stability CANNOT be achieved within the scope of the current BC Treaty process. "Finally, we reject minister of Indian Affairs Ron Irwin's recent public statement that Native unrest will result if the BC Treaty Commission process does not proceed in a rapid or expeditious manner. Quite the contrary. We are convinced that Native unrest is more likely to occur if the treaty process is allowed to continue in its present form." It should not be surprising then, to find that increasingly the governments of both Canada and BC are seeking to provoke the large interior nations like the Okanagans, Shuswaps, and Tsilhqot'ins into confrontations, in an attempt to destroy this formidable opposition to the grand larceny going on in the Province of BC. One potential trouble spot is the continuing attempts by the Province of BC to seize the rights to the Green Mountain road, which passes through the Penticton Indian Band's reserve. Roadblocks have occurred in the past, and the Province has threatened expropriation. Again some of the correspondence on this issue reveals the dangerous game BC's NDP government is playing. On September 26, 1995, Tsilhqot'in National Government Deputy National Chief Ray Hance wrote to Irwin, reminding him of "the duty of the federal government to protect indigenous communities and nations from policies of the provincial government and to defend our lands from invasion by that government," and urging him to "discharge this duty without delay so the major confrontation being designed by the province is avoided." Hance enclosed the following letter to BC Premier Glen Clark: "Premier Clark, "The government and people of the Penticton Indian Band have informed us that it is their view that the provincial government is deliberately provoking a confrontation over the Green Mountain Road so that you can assert your pretended jurisdiction over the road by force. They have asked us for our moral support now and our physical support in the event that you are successful in staging a confrontation. "I am writing now to inform you that our support for the Penticton Indian Band, as for the Okanagan Nation, is and will continue to be both substantial and unconditional. Not only do we have a long history of commitment to mutual support, but these commitments have been renewed recently. We are, then, obliged to support the Okanagan people and their governments: we have no choice in the matter. I can assure you that such support as we are called upon to give will be given with the vigour and determination that are characteristic of the Tsilhqot`in. Nor do I have any doubt that other communities and nations will also rally in support. "The government of the Penticton people wants to negotiate. They have made that clear to you. As negotiation is always preferable to confrontation, we advise you to follow their example. "We want you to understand that Penticton is one of the many communities and nations who object so strongly to the fraudulence of the so-called British Columbia "Treaty" Commission that they refuse to participate in it, preferring to wait until the proper procedure is followed for the making of genuine treaties with the Crown, a long wait though it is proving to be. "In the meantime, Penticton, and most of the rest of us who so object, have no forum for the discussion of our concerns and grievances, no means of resolving those issues that need to be addressed before that proper procedure is in place. "In the absence of any treaty between the Okanagan Nation and the Crown, International, Indigenous and Canadian constitutional law all recognize the traditional territories of the Okanagan as being under the valid jurisdiction and authority only of Okanagan governments. Your government needs to recognize that the Penticton government intends to negotiate from the position that they own the Green Mountain Road, as they own the rest of their traditional territory. Your government would do well to accept the legitimacy of their position and prepare to make interim arrangements with them that will be confirmed by treaty with the Crown in right of Canada. "No purpose will be served by your government attempting to deny the truth of the history of this province. The interests of all concerned can only be served by accepting honestly the simple fact that the governments of BC have, ever since the retirement of Governor James Douglas in 1864, attempted to steal all the lands and natural resources of the nations indigenous to this part of the world, including our roads, and have attempted to gloss over that massive theft by promoting the propaganda of the big lie. Such theft can never be concealed for ever. Indeed, the secret has already been exposed and knowledge of the shameful history of BC is already being disseminated (but with public servants and media types still woefully ill-informed). "We recommend to you very strongly that you, personally, read, learn and understand the unhappy history of the province. We recommend to you very strongly that you require your ministers and your caucus to do the same. We recommend that you collectively do your best to educate the other members of the legislative assembly in these matters and that your government require all school districts to provide instruction in such a way that the general population of the province has its deliberately cultivated ignorance of their own history reversed. We recommend that you consult with the indigenous nations every step of the way, so that you get the story right. The Tsilhqot'in National Government is willing to assist the province in such an endeavor and to provide further information to you in explanation of what has been said in this letter. "Your wisest course of action is to listen to what the indigenous government at Penticton is saying to you and to respond appropriately by establishing formal government-to-government relations with them and systematically addressing all the issues of concern to them. I repeat that, like the people of Penticton, the Tsilhqot'in National Government urges you to negotiate, not to confront. But I must also warn you that if you choose to ignore that advice and to provoke confrontation, you will achieve confrontation on a scale that will shock you. "Finally, I want to let you know that we are writing to the federal government and to opposition Members of Parliament to alert them to the seriousness of the situation that has developed and to urge on them the wisdom of negotiation. Sincerely Ray Hance Deputy National Chief cc: Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Minister of Transportation and Highways Minister of Forests Minister of Environment, Lands, and Parks Minister of Tourism, Small Business, Tourism, and Culture Others Interested" If the governments continue to provoke and incite confrontation, if murderous adventures like Gustafsen Lake continue to be orchestrated for political purposes, the attention and intervention of people of good will from around the world will be required. No matter what the verdict of the Gustafsen Lake jury, and despite the seamlessly perfected system of colonization known as BC and Canada, the indigenous peoples will continue to be the sovereign. Increasingly, their resistance to corporate colonialism in defence of their rights to sovereignty and self determination is finding allies and supporters among the growing underclass within the settler regime itself, who perceive a common enemy, reject the colonialist genocide, and are determined to replace racist oppression with honour: H ealing O ur N ations O f U nited R esistance! :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-CONTACTS:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: More information on the Ts'peten (Gustafsen Lake) trial at: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/gustmain.html Native Youth Movement: Cell phone (604) 805-8452 Wolverine "William Jones Ignace" Political Prisoner Surrey Pre-Trial Centre 14323 57th Ave. Surrey, BC V3X 1B1 Canada Free the Wolverine Campaign Spokespeople: Splitting the Sky - Phone/Fax: (604) 543-9661 Bill Lightbown - Phone: (604) 251-4949 Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chretien Phone: (613) 992-4211 Fax: (613) 941-6900 Faxing by email:remote-printer.Jean_Chretien@16139416900.iddd.tpc.int email:pm@pm.gc.ca WWW comments: http://pm.gc.ca/prime_minister/contact_pm/index.html-ssii Canada's Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin Phone: 1-800-263-5592 Fax: (819) 953-4941 Faxing by email::remote-printer.Ron_Irwin@18199534941.iddd.tpc.in Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs taking submissions on the BC Treaty Commission email: ClerkComm@lass.gov.bc.ca :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 ==>>NEW EMAIL : WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html SOVERNET-L is a news-only listserv concerned with indigenous sovereigntist struggles around the world. To subscribe, send "subscribe sovernet-l" in the body of an email message to For more information on sovernet-l, contact S.I.S.I.S. --------- "RE: Hobb's Island" --------- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 22:56:38 From: Dale Subj: Hobb's Island UUCP email Ho, I am writing this letter to inform as many people as I can about a situation here in Huntsville, AL. There is an island here, Hobb's Island, which is a burial ground for Native people. I think the people buried there are Chickasaw and Cherokee, but I am not for sure. There has been many different plans for this place; the city of Huntsville had plans to buy it, developers have had plans to build a casino/hotel there, but so far it has been left somewhat untouched. I have heard that an elderly woman in Tennesee owns the island. A friend of mine sometimes takes his boat over and walks the bank looking for arrowheads. (a practice which I myself do not condone). But he told me that as he was walking the shoreline recently he found a few bones just lying around on the bank. He said he tried to cover them up with some dirt and later got in touch with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He said they called him back a few days later and said they went there and had found six skeletons. He is not sure what they did with them, but one thing he told me for sure is that people are floating around the island when the water is low and have been digging into the side of the island!!! He has seen evidence of this himself as he goes there quite often. He approached me tonight very angry and asked if I knew anything else that we could do to stop this. If anyone has any suggestions or wants to help prevent any more desecration, please contact me. I am in touch with several people around this area, but I want to let everyone I can think of know about this. This just makes me sick and I am not going to stand by and just let people ruin a sacred place. Please forward this letter to anyone. Thank you for reading this far. Dale Worley 205-461-0783 .---. .---. / \ __ / \ / / \ ( ) / \ \ ////// ' \/ ` \\\\\\ //// / // : dale : \\ \ \\\\ // / / /' '\ \ \\ \ // //..\\ \\ ====UU====UU==== '//||\\` '''' --------- "RE: Mildred Cleghorn" --------- Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 16:12:40 -0500 From: berryj@okway.okstate.edu (John Berry) Subj: Mildred Cleghorn - Obit UUCP email Mildred Cleghorn, retired tribal leader, and a living treasure to her people, died April 15, 1997 in a traffic accident in Apache, Oklahoma. She was born at Fort Sill, Oklahoma on Dec. 11th, 1910. She was 86 years old, and served as Tribal chairwoman of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe until her retirement in 1995. She was one of the few surviving Prisoners of War of the Fort Sill Apaches, as they became known, who weren't freed until 1913-1914. The Fort Sill Apaches were members of Geronimo's band, who "surrendered" Sept. 5, 1886. The U.S. government promptly corralled 394 of his people, loaded them into railroad boxcars and shipped them off to Florida as prisoners of war. Mildred's grandparents were shipped east from the San Carlos Reservation in New Mexico, even though they stayed on the Reservation as ordered by U.S. authorities. "There was nothing we could do," said Cleghorn, who retired in the fall of 1995, after 18 years as tribal chairwoman. "We just accepted it and went on, but they could never make up for what happened to us." Before they were released, the Fort Sill Apaches were required to accept 160-acre allotments with a house, a well and a year's rations. Only two families received 158 acres, while most received 80 or less. In a 1996 interview, Cleghorn remembered her first moments of freedom when her family left Fort Sill in a horse-drawn wagon. She was 3 years old when her family settled on a 40-acre plot near Apache, Oklahoma. "The families weren't allowed to live together," Cleghorn said. "So they scattered us all over. If we wanted to go visit someone, it would be an all-day trip. I guess they were afraid of another uprising." In 1996, only 372 Fort Sill Apaches remained on the tribal roll from a tribal population that once numbered 1,000. That year, fewer than 115 members were still in Oklahoma. Also, in 1996, Mildred became one of the lead plaintiffs in the class action suit against the mismanagement of Indian money held in trust by the U.S. Government. The suit charged that the federal government had mismanaged Indian money and destroyed important documents. Filers of the suit hoped to get a reliable accounting of hundreds of millions of dollars in Indian trust funds, which has still not been forthcoming. The suit was filed in federal court in the District of Columbia by tribal members who say the Interior Department has lost track of money that it was supposed to be investing and guarding for American Indians. Mildred Cleghorn, filed on behalf of more than 300,000 Indians who have trust fund accounts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Last year, on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, Mildred helped to read the 168 names of the bombing victims in the company of Governor Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation and others tribal leaders. John Berry, Oklahoma Quotes by AP & The Daily Oklahoman --------- "RE: Michael Dorris" --------- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 09:55:28 CST From: "dborn@maroon.tc.umn.edu" Subj: Michael Dorris Mailing List: Minnesota Indian Affairs The announcement last week of the suicide of Michael Dorris stunned many of us. Subscribers to this list are undoubtedly familiar with the quantity and high quality of his literary creations. The Broken Cord has done more for creating public awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) than any other publication or public health education effort. Yellow Raft on Blue Water and his other adult and children's fiction were marked by beauty, insight, and love. I met Michael only once and found him gracious, charming, and tremendously sensitive and caring. As a teacher he was said to be accepting, encouraging, and thought-provoking - always challenging students to expand themselves and perfect their insight, their craft. Universities need more teachers like Dorris, teachers who, in their passioned acceptance of each person as an individual, inspire and challenge us to move outside ourselves to embrace humanity. Losses such as this impress upon us the critical importance of loving and caring for those around us. We rarely feel so alone as we do when the greatest among us are gone. Those who are outside the Twin Cities area might have missed Louise Erdrich's letter in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, which included the following comments: "Michael suffered from an exhausted state of mind due to intense depression. As brilliant and surprising people sometimes do, he experienced painful lows. These occurred with increasing intensity and frequency during the last year of his life. Michael was the kind of man who would have sent a thank you note to every Minnesotan who has shown kindness to his children in their loss. He would have wanted me to say that anyone who cares for his work might make a donation to the Seattle Foundation, Fetal Alcohol Research/Michael Dorris, 425 Pike Street, Seattle, WA." In reflecting on Michael Dorris' suicide, I came across the following quote which I pass on for such thoughts as it might provoke in others: "When even despair ceases to serve any creative purpose, then surely we are justified in suicide." Cyril Connolly, The Unquiet Grave. I invite others to submit their comments or reflections on Michael Dorris to this list. As I become aware of other tributes or information, I will post the information. I, personally, am not interested in any speculation regarding the reported investigation which has been temporarily, if not permanently sealed by the courts. --------- "RE: Poem: Abuser!" --------- Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 16:07:27 -0400 From: Larry Kibbey Subj: *Abuser!* UUCP email *Abuser!* Indian Young and old, Men and women, Boy and girls, You drank And took drugs. You followed A way of life That turned on you. Drugs, Alcohol and Material items; Things not of Our Indian World; Things that destroy The heart, The soul, The mind, And our way of life. When you abuse Indian, You lose. You lose everything; Your parents, Your wife, Your children, Your dignity, And your pride. Indian, Whom ever you may be, Drugs and alcohol Will carry you away From all that You care for. They will be gone forever. Please! Don't turn your back On the Indian World; The Indian Way of Life. Don't die Indian. Don't die For Drugs and alcohol!!!! January 5, 1991 By Larry Kibby - kibbey@sierra.net 1581 Pinenut Circle Elko Indian Colony, Elko, Nevada 89801 ========================================== "The Indian, America's Prisoner's of War." "Roll # 32814" ========================================== --------- "RE: Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days" --------- Date: 97/04/13 04:15 From: Debra F. Sanders Subj: Hawaiian Book of Days genie email A HAWAIIAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of April 27-May 3 APELILA (April) (Welo) 27 Morning sunlight flees -- how brief my contemplation of life's mysteries. 28 Be strong when others are weak, and they will support you in your time of need. 29 The wind and the ocean sing a lullaby at night. 30 Nothing ever truly ends. In the memories we preserve and in the traditions we perpetuate, there is always something new beginning somewhere. MEI (May) (Ikiiki) May was the first month of the Kau season, which ran from May through October. May was the time when the Na Huihui, or Pleiades, set at sunrise. The Pleiades are also known as the Makali'i stars. 1 Be reborn in the beauty of spring. 2 The past teaches; the present motivates; the future inspires. 3 True peace lives within the wondering heart. (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, 10 April 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: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 09:08:16 -0500 From: berryj@okway.okstate.edu (John Berry) Subj: Adoption anthology invitation To all, Perhaps there are some out there who would like to submit material to this - the submission date is flexible I suspect. Contact the editor if you wish to discuss submission(s). Best, John Berry _______________ Forward Header _________________ Subject: Adoption anthology invitation Author: BENSENR@newton.HARTWICK.EDU at SMTP Date: 4/18/97 10:02 AM Call for submissions to a proposed anthology: CHILDREN OF THE DRAGONFLY: Stories of the Adoption, Custody and Education of American Indian Children The editor is seeking stories, autobiographies, journals and poems on the experience of being removed from family and tribe and being raised in non-Indian adoptive or foster homes, boarding schools, or other settings. Work is especially welcome from those who were raised in such situations as children, as well as from birth parents, adoptive and foster parents, and from those whose experience and convictions lead them to write on the subject in imaginative literature. Children of the Dragonfly will include first-person accounts from 1870s Boarding School Movement through the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) and its consequences. The custody and upbringing of children have been among the most crucial and least documented sites of contention between Native America and the United States, a situation that this anthology is intended to remedy in part. History has produced abundant manifestos, reports, theories and programs for Indian children, but the experience of living with the consequences of these policies and programs has been (with notable exceptions) largely unrecorded by those whose lives were altered by it. In the Zuni tale to which the title refers, a boy makes a toy insect from corn leaves to cheer his sister, after they were unintentionally abandoned by their people, who had fled the village in panic. The toy comes alive as Dragonfly, who carries the children's story to the spirit world for help. The Corn Maidens bless the children with fresh stores of food and a field full of corn. The people return to find the children, and their way of life, abundantly restored. This anthology is meant to honor the children who, like those in the tale, reinvented Dragonfly as a means back to their families and people. Please address all manuscripts and inquiries to the editor at the address below. Manuscripts should be double-spaced on standard sized paper, in letter-quality print or good photocopy. Include a brief biography of the author. A self-addressed stamped envelope assures return. Payment will be on publication. Please send work by April 1, 1997 to: Robert Bensen, editor Children of the Dragonfly Department of English & Theatre Arts Hartwick College Oneonta, New York 13820 (607 )432-4902 Email: Bensenr@Hartwick.edu ------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 10:44:44 -0400 From: "Elaine" Subj: Northeastern Dates For those among us in the northeast: An Afternoon with Dave Chief Saturday, April 26, 1997 1:30pm to 4:30pm Peabody Museum of Natural History(Yale U) New Haven, CT (Free admission day) __________________________ Master's Tea with Dave Chief Friday, May 2, 1997 Time: TBA Ezra Stiles College (Yale) New Haven, CT _________________________ Blessing Ceremony and Talk Saturday, May 3, 1997 1-3pm New Pond Farm Ed. Center 101 Marchent Rd. W Redding, CT _________________________ Happy Earth Day! Elaine. --------------------------------- Date: Sat, 19 Apr 1997 13:16:37 -0400 From: ishgooda@tdi.net Subj: Sacred Little Cedar Mountain Defense Coalition Sacred Little Cedar Mountain Defense Coalition Trail of Tears Walk, part 2 TVA has announced its plans to sell off Little Cedar Mountain - Dragging Canoe's Lower Towns - with burial sites. All with good hearts are invited to join this coalition - organizationally and individually. Please make plans to join us. ......Finally the whole country, which the Cherokees and their fathers have so occupied, will be demanded, and the remnants of the Ani Yunwiya, the "Real People", once so great and formidable, will be compelled to seek refuge in some distant wilderness.....Should we not therefore run all risks and incur all consequences, rather than submit to further laceration of our country? Such treaties may be all right for men who are too old to hunt or fight. As for me I have my young warriors about me. We will have our lands. ---Tsiyu Gansini (Dragging Canoe), Cherokee We are planning a big walk on Sunday, June 1st, from Little Cedar Mountain(LCM) to Jasper Tennessee, which is the county seat of Marion County Tennessee. This is the home of all the developers with dollar signs in their eyes. Plans are to start about 10 AM with arrival to coincide with the end of most church services. We are planning on camping on LCM site Saturday night and have a gathering back at LCM afterwards. ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL STANDARD TIME Saturday, 31 May 1997 Camp 2:00 PM CST (LCM), Dragging Canoe's Town of Running Water Sunday, 1 June 1997 Walk 10AM from (LCM), Dragging Canoe's Town of Running Water Rally 12:00 noon Jasper, Tennessee Picnic & Public Inf. Fair 3:00 PM (LCM), Dragging Canoe's Town of Running Water Invited: all interested people Bring good walking shoes, open heart, camping gear, food & utensils. This is a peaceful, non-violent march to express our common desire as U.S. citizens to save these Native American burial and cultural sites and federal lands from commercial development. -------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 08:28:02 CST From: "dborn@maroon.tc.umn.edu" Subj: Urban Indian Education Working Symposium scheduled. Mailing List: Minnesota Indian Affairs U OF M TO HOST American Indian Higher Education SYMPOSIUM MAY 7, 8 The University of Minnesota and the American Indian Urban Higher Education Initiative will host a symposium entitled "Focusing Our Vision" Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, at the Earl Brown Center on the university's St. Paul campus. The Initiative represents approximately 60 higher education professionals and community members. Its members include two tribal community colleges (Fond du Lac Community Tribal College and Lac Courte Oreilles Community College) and the Native American Educational Services College (NAES) and three "mainstream" postsecondary institutions (Augsburg College, Metropolitan State University, and university of Minnesota) and Twin Cities community agencies that offer a variety of educational programs and student support services. Its purpose is to provide a broad base of community support and an organized approach for the development of a comprehensive strategic plan designed to address the problems and needs of the higher education system that serves American Indians living in the seven-county metropolitan area. This process will bring about systemic changes in the existing system so that more Indian students can successfully attain postsecondary goals, better compete in the job market and enjoy a better quality of life."This symposium will serve as a 'call to action' forum to begin the important visioning process from which the mission statement and the major planning direction will emerge," said project coordinator Margaret Peake Raymond. "The capability of the Initiative will be augmented in an important manner by the knowledge and expertise of the American Indian Policy and Research Institute who will conduct the first symposium and another at the end in May 1999." For more information on the symposium contact Raymond or Gordon Thayer, Executive Director, American Indian Housing Corporation at (612) 813-1610. Press Contact: Bob San University News Service, (612) 624-4082 bsan@mailbox.mail.umn.edu ---------------------------------------------0 From: NativeEvents@caraveo.com Subj: Native Events Date: 15 Apr 1997 16:50:59 -0400 These NEW event listings have been forwarded to you by the Native Events Calendar Visit us at http://www.caraveo.com/native/ Note: The state codes may not be correct for Mexico and Canada listings ---------------------------------------------------------------- LENAPE INDIAN TRIBE OF DELAWARE 5/11/1997 State: DE Country: USA Type: Powwow "A GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE" Native American Powwow SUNDAY MAY 11TH 10am - 5pm at the DELAWARE STATE FAIRGROUNDS ROUTE 13 HARRINGTON, DELAWARE all drums & dancers welcome RAIN OR SHINE FREE admission & parking (302)734-5092 or 398-3898 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial Powwow 8/12/1997 State: NM Country: USA Type: Powwow Two days - Intertribal Powwow, Contest, Arts and Crafts, Indian food. Everyone is welcome. Camping and RV space available. Contact: Joe Shunkamolah, PO Box 1, Church Rock, NM 873ll (505)863-3896 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 129th Annual White Earth Pow-Wow 6/15/1997 State: MN Country: USA Type: Powwow 129th Annual White Earth Pow-Wow White Earth, Minnesota 56591 June 13,14,15, 1997 Grand Entry 7:00 p.m. Friday Grand Entry 1:00 & 7:00 p.m. Saturday Grand Entry 1:00 & 7:00 p.m. Sunday ---------------------------------------------------------------- A.I.M. 25th YEAR IN OKLAHOMA POW WOW! 5/10/1997 State: OK Country: USA Type: Powwow A.I.M. 25th ANNIVERSARY POW WOW host drums: YELLOWHAMMER ROCKYBOY AND MORE... all are welcome! * great food, * great drummin' * great singin' * great dancin' * oral histories * Guests from all over the U.S. It's reunion time in Indian Country... Celebrating A.I.M. in OKLAHOMA! DATE: Saturday, May 10, 1997 TIME: Indian Time PLACE: POW WOW Grounds, White Eagle, OK for more information, call:405.723.4524 BYOCCC!(Chairs, containers, campgear) No alcohol, no drugs Ah ho! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 21st Annual Odawa Pow Wow 5/25/1997 State: ON Country: Canada Type: Powwow 21st Annual Odawa Pow Wow-For The Future, For Our Children May 23, 24 & 25, 1997 Ottawa-Nepean Tent and Trailer Park, 411 Corkstown Road, Nepean Ontario, Canada OVER $31,000 in Prizes! Everyone Welcome! Tell your friends, bring your family! Please feel free to spread the word! Gates open at-4:00 pm on Friday -9:00 am on Saturday and Sunday Any Specials - On Friday evening Saturday & Sunday - 10:00 am to 11:50 am Admission *Friday $5.00 *Saturday & Sunday-Adults(17 & up)$8/day *Youth & Students(with I.D.)$6/day *Seniors & Children under 12 Free Grand Entries - Friday at 6:00 pm, Social Evening - Saturday12:00 pm & 6pm - Sunday 12:00 pm only (On Time, No Indian Time) Drum Contest 1st-$1500, 2nd-$1200, 3rd-$800, 4-$600, 5th-$400 NO Phone-In Registration Dance and Drum Registration at Main Gate on: -Friday evening -Saturday at 9:30 am to 11:45 am Come see, experience, and enjoy * Native Singing! * Native Drumming, Dancing! * Native Arts and Crafts! * Native Foods! Native Artisans and Traders from Canada and U.S.A. Rain-out location:Bell Centennial Arena, 50 Corkstown Road,Nepean, Ontario, Canada. Camping available first come, first serve - camping fee $15/day NO ALCOHOL NO DRUGS NO PETS Odawa Native Friendship Centre & Pow Wow Committee are not responsible for personal loss, injury or damages Also, anyone wishing more information may reply to me or leave a message for Dallas Morrison by calling the Odawa Native Friendship Centre at 1-613-722-3811. For more information, please feel free to call, ask for Pow Wow committee member. Odawa Native Friendship Centre 12 Stirling Avenue Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Y 1P8 Tel:(613)722-3811 Fax:(613)722-4667 Days of operation: Monday to Friday Hrs of operation: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The centre is closed on statutory holidays. - John Brack (JBrack@gis.shl.com, davidb@ftn.net) SHL Vision* Solutions Reception http://www.gis.shl.com 99 Bank St., Suite 301 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Tel:(613)236-9734 ext.5391 Fax:(613)567-5433 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Peltier Benefit Concert 4/25/1997 State: MD Country: USA Type: Musical The Leonard Peltier Support Groups (Baltimore & Columbia chapters) proudly present: "Bring Peltier Home!" Benefit Concert & Forum Featuring Native American musicians performing a variety of styles, including country, blues-rock, folk, rap, and traditional Indian drumming. DATE: Friday, April 25th TIME: 7pm - 10pm PLACE: Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA) Station Building Auditorium 1400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore Master of Ceremonies will be Dennis Banks (Nowa Cumig), co-founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM), who has appeared in various motion pictures (Last of the Mohicans, Thunderheart). Mr. Banks will discuss the plight of world-famous human rights activist and political prisoner, LEONARD PELTIER, whose continuing struggle was the inspiration for the 1992 motion picture Thunderheart, starring Val Kilmer and Graham Greene. $3 admission - free parking available - no food or drinks please For more information, call: 410-444-6895 Marti Iben) or 410-997-9016 (Scott Tippetts) or E-mail: tippetts@pire.org Special thanks to MICA, and to the SoWeBo Center for Justice. NOTE: in the same region, an additional "Bring Peltier Home" concert will be held on Wednesday April 23rd, 6-9pm, at American University's outdoor amphitheatre, 4400 Massachussetts Avenue, NW, Washington D.C., free admission. For more information, call 202-885-2073 or email: jsanche@american.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------- International Indigenous People's Tribunal 6/17/1997 State: CO Country: USA Type: Conference Environmental Destruction and Native Peoples Human Rights June 17 - 21, 1997; Montview Presbyterian Church; Denver, Colorado USA June 1997 will mark five years since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) met in Brazil and negotiated the Declaration of Rio. The new paradigm designed to shift the world from its consumptive course to one of renewal and sustainability is well intentioned, but its results have been slow in coming. Industrialized nations are slow in changing their patterns of production and consumption which contribute to world-wide hunger and poverty. Both continue to be causes and effects of global degradation. The proliferation of multinational corporations resulting from economic policies promoted by the G-7 member nations and Russia has created industrialization in much of the world which has affected the cultures of indigenous peoples and the sustainability of global ecosystems. The 27 principles proclaimed in the UNCED Declaration on Environment and Development; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples are the baselines by which each G-7 member country and Russia will be held accountable by the tribunal. Each G-7 member country and Russia will be linked to one or several global corporations in a presentation of facts to the Tribunal. Each government and/or corporation will be invited to participate in the tribunal proceedings. Groups wishing to present cases are requested to contact convention organizers. Preliminary Indigenous People's Tribunal case list Canada: Mac Millan - Bloedel -- decimation of the temperate rainforest on indigenous people's land in British Columbia. France: Total Petroleum -- military government clear-cuts forest for pipelines through indigenous people's land in Burma. Japan: Mitsubishi and Daishowa -- clear-cutting forests on Lubicon Cree lands. United Kingdom: Rio Tinto Zinc -- Uranium mining in Australia is threatening the lands and culture of the Martu people; Shell -- oil exploration on Ogoni lands in Nigeria. United States: Unocal -- military government clear-cuts forest for pipelines through native land in Burma. Texaco -- oil drilling in Ecuador; Stone Container -- timbering old growth forests in Colorado. Italy: Impresit/Cogefar -- FIAT dam building company is constructing in South and Central America and Africa. Germany: Bayer -- engaging in pharmaceutical projects in India. Russia: Gaz Prom -- oil exploration in western Siberia on the lands of the Evenki and Khant-Mansi peoples The tribunal will consist of three to five prominent indigenous peoples and/or international law experts. Those who have been contacted include: Richard Falk (Princeton); Upendra Baxi (Delhi Univ.); Owens Wiwa (Ogoni); Glenn Morris (Fourth World Center); Medha Patkar (India); Sulaksana Shivaraksa (Thailand); Winona LaDuke (Ojibwa). During the first two and half days, the Tribunal will hear presentations by groups including, the Rain forest Action Network; Friends for a Democratic Burma; Pacific Environment and Resources Center; Oil & Atomic Workers International; International Rivers Network; Project Underground, Ancient Forest Action Network; Colorado People's Environmental and Environmental Network. The remainder of the time will be spent considering the testimony, with findings reported on the last day. For more information contact: Alan O'Hashi, City of Boulder, Human Relations Commission: 303-939-9914 Roy Young, Global Response: 303-444-4020 please call or e-mail alan o'hashi tel 303-939-9914 fax 303-444-7047 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Strong Hearts 5/3/1997 State: CA Country: USA Type: Educational FIRST NATION H.A.W.K.S, a Native American student organization at San Francisco State University, will be hosting a symposium honoring the work of Native American Women in ACTIVISM ACADEMIA AND THE ARTS 'STRONG HEARTS" a symposium honoring the works of native american women will be held at san francisco state university 1600 holloway ave., san francisco california in the McKenna theatre on May 3, 1997 , from 9: 00 am to 4:00 pm Some of our guests will be: Crystos L.Frank Manriques Judy Talaugan Terese LaFramboise Lupe Avila SPECIAL GUEST: Norma Jean Croy If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area on 5-3-97 (Saturday), please join us..there is no charge..and everyone is welcome. michele maas@mercury.sfsu.edu student kouncil of inter-tribal nations at san francisco state university 415-338-1929 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 12:41:12 -0600 From: umstead@oneida-nation.org Subj: Oneida Nation To Host Major Cultural Festival Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native Oneida Nation To Host Major Cultural Festival ONEIDA NATION TERRITORY, via Oneida, NY -- The hills of Central New York will once again echo with the sound of Indian music when the Oneida Nation hosts what is expected to be among the largest Native American cultural festivals in the Northeast this summer, attracting traditional Indian dance and drum performers and Native artists and crafts persons from around the country. The two-day festival, Aug. 9 and 10, will showcase the distinctive culture of the Oneida Nation, offer visitors the opportunity to learn more about the Iroquois Confederacy, and the chance to discover more about all Native American people as they hear music from across the ages and witness performers in traditional costume. The Oneida Nation "First Americans Cultural Festival (Who we were... Who we are... Who we always will be...)" will be held rain or shine on Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10 on Nation land adjacent to the New York State Thruway Exit 34 in Canastota. It will feature performances by traditional dancers, singers and drummers as well as the works of Native American artists and crafts persons. Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter said the festival is part of the Nation's continuing effort to educate the public about the proud heritage of the Oneida Nation. It will have the added benefit of creating a premier tourism event which will attract visitors from throughout the Northeast to Central New York, he noted, and with it, benefits for tourism properties throughout Central New York. Halbritter added that the Festival -- which is expected to be one of the largest summertime activities in the region -- is a tangible demonstration of the Nation*s commitment to tourism promotion in Central New York. "For years it has been a goal of the Oneida Nation to find an opportunity which would provide a way for people -- especially families with children -- to learn more about Native People, their history, culture and integrity," said Halbritter. "Our First Americans Cultural Festival will do just that, and also attract members of other Indian communities to demonstrate their talents and tell about their traditions and their heritages. It will be a valuable educational opportunity as well as one that will be very entertaining," he said. The Nation is pleased to be able to stage the Festival on its recently reacquired aboriginal lands near Exit 34 of the New York State Thruway near the Village of Canastota, a location with historic significance for the Nation. The Canastota site was selected for several reasons including an outstanding relationship with Madison County Tourism, Inc.; access to and from the Thruway and several other major highways, including Rtes. 5, 13 and 31, easily accommodating traffic flow of the 10,000 or so visitors expected to attend; and its link to the Nation*s past. The Canastota area formerly was the site of much Oneida activity and it is located between two other significant sites for the Nation, Nichols Pond and Fish Creek. Dance Competition The First Americans Cultural Festival will be an exciting experience, giving visitors an opportunity to discover what Native American life is all about. Those attending will have the opportunity to witness time- honored traditions as some of the most accomplished performers in the country demonstrate dances passed down to them over the ages. The festival is expected to attract upwards of 300 Native American dancers, singers and drummers from Indian communities around the country who will compete for prize money. Entertainment is slated throughout both days with exhibition dances as well as competitions. Native Crafters Part of the festival will be an arts and crafts show and sale of works by Native American artists and crafts persons. There are expected to be between 30 and 40 artisans displaying and selling high quality, authentic Native American arts and crafts. These include original jewelry, sculptures, paintings, and traditional arts such as dream catchers and wood and bone products. In addition, the festival also will offer a variety of Indian foods such as fry bread, corn soup and Indian tacos. There also will be a number of educational displays and demonstrations throughout the weekend. The Oneida Nation and its Members will host demonstrations of traditional crafts, including cornhusk dolls, crafting a traditional wooden lacrosse stick, sweet grass braiding, drum making, beadwork and the preparation of traditional foods. Oneida Members will be taking prominent roles in coordinating and planning activities and demonstrating traditional crafts. Dancers, singers and drummers will perform under a large circular tent. Visitors will have the opportunity to see traditional dances and hear traditional drummers and singers from upwards of 50 Indian communities from the Northeast to the Southwest. There will be a separate large tent for the Native American artists and crafts persons. The Festival also will showcase the history and accomplishments of the Oneida Nation. While plans are still in the works, it is expected that part of the Festival will be a replica of life in an Oneida village to illustrate how the Nation's People would have lived on their lands in a traditional setting a century or two ago. There also will be displays of the various cultural and social programs offered by the Nation. "Besides providing a weekend of entertainment and education, the Festival will also create a variety of tourism opportunities for all of Central New York," said Halbritter. "The Nation has been proud to serve as a catalyst for tourism development and promotion in the region. This Festival will help demonstrate that not only does the Nation talk about creating a premier, four-seasons tourism destination here in Central New York, it takes action to make that happen in a very tangible way." The Nation has begun to work with tourism promotion agencies in Madison, Oneida and Onondaga counties to create packages for visitors. This is one of the goals of an expansive tourism initiative sponsored by the Nation and four tourism promotion agencies, Touri$m-CNY, which has presented several conferences for the region*s industry professionals The Nation's tourism efforts go back more than three years when it constructed the Shako:wi Cultural Center, a showcase of Oneida history and culture. Several of the Nation*s enterprises have become leading tourist attractions. The Turning Stone Casino and High Stakes Bingo draws more than 2 million visitors a year, making it one of the top five tourism attractions in the state. Enthusiastic visitors have helped make the Nation*s Villages a