From gars@netcom.com Tue Nov 4 22:58:22 1997 Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 20:08:14 -0700 (PDT) From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews05.040 _ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 05, ISSUE 040 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 4 October 1997 O o O KANOHEDA ANIYVWIYA Otapi'sin Atsinikiisinaakssin O o O Es'te Opunvk'vmucvse ni-mah-mi-kwa-zoo-min 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 NAT-FILM, Big Mountain & FOL-L lists; North American Spirit Lodge; Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty; KOLA; UUCP email; Newsgroups: alt.native, soc.culture.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 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. "I was born a warrior. If warriors speak to me I will answer. Since none are present, I am honor bound to keep silent. I am to be executed. I like it well for I shall die before my heart is soft or I have spoken anything unworthy of myself." __ Cannonchet, Narragansett Warrior at his execution by Captain Benjamin Church in 1675 +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! Many of you know that last year, we lost precious elders each week during one of the coldest winters in the Black Hills, Montana and the Four Corners. They had no propane or firewood, no adequate heat, no adequate food. If you can sit in your warm homes and ignore these truths I feel pity for you. You have lost your heart, and are walking around empty. If you cannot or will not send help - any help, here at the start of winter remember it is but three months until Christmas. Start looking around your homes for things you no longer need that can be used by those in need on the rez's. Blankets, clothing, coats, especially children's clothing. Look at garage sales for cheap things that can be used. Please don't send rags. It is bad enough to be impoverished. Consider phone cards. Loneliness can kill, too. Consider gifts through the fuel companies. This winter the buffalo will continue to be shot, the government will take still more lands, the propane tanks will be empty, the elders will die, the leaders will suffer. Do not delete this message from your hearts. Ignoring the truth will not let you deny the burden of the needless death of an elder or child you could have saved. Thanks to Mike Wicks for this reminder: In Memory (with Respect and Honor) AIM Casualties on Pine Ridge, 1973-1976 10.5.1973 Aloysius Long Soldier - AIM member killed at Kyle, S.D. by Goons. No investigation. Peace! Night Owl , , Gary Night Owl gars@netcom.com (*,*) P. O. Box 672168 gars@nanews.org (`-') Marietta, GA 30067, U.S.A. gars@igc.apc.org ===w=w=== gars@bellsouth.net Fax: 770-528-9643 gars@juno.com ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- Part A: Usenet and e-mail Part B: NATIVE-L list - Fish War Threatens Native Rights THIS - More Graves O.K.'d for Removal ISSUE - Brentwood Library CONTAINS - Bear Lincoln Found Not Guilty NO - National Parks-Lawsuit Settlement PART B - A Mother's Plea for Help - Peltier Senate Oversight Hearing - Cherokee Nation District Court THIS - Christian Genocide, Then and Now ISSUE - Vernal Cross Response CONTAINS - Neuse River in NC is Dying NO - The Smear Campaign Continues PART B - Tears In The Courtroom - NMAI Turns Seven - Fine Navajo Weavings Sale THIS - Native Prisoner ISSUE - A Hundred Years Ago CONTAINS - Poem: Song of the Misfit NO - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days PART B - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: Fish War Threatens Native Rights" --------- Date: Tue, 23 Sep 1997 21:05:57 -0500 From: "S.I.S.I.S." Subj: US/Canada Fish-War Threatens Native Fishing Rights :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: [Please note: The following mainstream article may contain distorted or inaccurate information and may be missing important facts and/or context. It is provided for reference purposes only - S.I.S.I.S.] US/CANADA FISH-WAR THREATENS NATIVE FISHING RIGHTS Raven's Eye Magazine, August '97, by Linda Dumont Aboriginal tribal groups from three states and the province of British Columbia are collectively suing their governments over the lack of a salmon treaty. The Tsilquot'in National Government is bringing the lawsuit before the courts. "We are a well organized tribal council and we will take the initiative to protect fundamental Aboriginal rights," explained Dan Wise, Tsilquot'in spokesman. The Tsilquot'in Nation People live in a non-urban area near Williams Lake, in British Columbia. They follow a traditional lifestyle. Salmon is their staple food. It is dried, canned and frozen for year-round use. They and other Aboriginal people from Alaska, Washington State, Oregon, and British Columbia are concerned about the salmon war between commercial fishermen from Canada and the United States. They believe the current impasse threatens the spawning streams in their territories. The Alaskan fishermen have been taking more than their share of spawning fish, according to federal Department of Fisheries officials in Vancouver. Alaska agreed that it would take only 120,000 sockeye in the Noyes area but, this year to date, Canadian officials say they have taken 600,000. These are Canadian sockeye, Fisheries officials say. Canadian government officials accuse the Alaskan government of sanctioning this over-fishing. Canadian fishermen in the southern part of British Columbia threatened to retaliate by taking more than they should of the spawning fish headed for the Fraser river. These fish are the food fish for many of the Aboriginal people in the interior of BC, including the Tsilquot'in Nation. This is the fourth year without a salmon treaty. To date, Canada has exerted pressure on the United States to come up with a treaty, but has been unsuccessful. This year there was a stakeholders' process where shareholders from Canada and the United States had to come up with recommendations for a treaty. That process failed. On July 25, following the blockade of an Alaskan ferry off Prince Rupert in protest of Alaskan over-fishing, two envoys were appointed: William Rucklehouse to represent the United States federal government and Dr. David Strangway to represent Canada. Their mandate is to come up with recommendations for a specific salmon treaty by the end of this year."There is a specific salmon commission that negotiates with the US, and there are First Nations people involved in that," said Diane Lake from the Department of Fisheries."Aboriginal people are part of the process in trying to hammer out an agreement, but so far they have not been successful." The lack of a salmon treaty threatens Aboriginal rights to fish for food, something that ignores Canadian law as it was spelled in the Sparrow Case. "According to Sparrow, a Supreme Court case in 1990, the first priority in fishing is conservation to ensure that there are enough spawning salmon to replenish the stock. The second priority is Native subsistence fishing or food fish, and the third priority is commercial fishing," Tsilquot'in spokesman Wise explained. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: CANADA HAS NO JURISDICTION OVER SOVEREIGN INDIGENOUS NATIONS, THEIR PEOPLES, RESOURCES, FISHERIES, LANDS AND WATERS.ECOCIDE IS GENOCIDE! SOVEREIGNTY IS THE ISSUE, CANADA IS THE PROBLEM. NO TREATY = NO JURISDICTION! David Anderson, Minister of Fisheries Canada email: min@www.ncr.dfo.ca :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 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: More Graves O.K.'d for Removal" --------- Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 09:20:04 -0400 (EDT) From: FirehairSS@aol.com Subj: Brentwood---more graves o.k.'d for removal!!! UUCP email The Brentwood City Council met last night, 9/22/97, and authorized the removal of another 35 native graves at the Brentwood library site. To date there have been 24 removals and of these 18 were children's graves. These children's graves were 'accidentally' removed by soil stripping of the site. This occurred because no one, other than the previous landowner, seems to have known there was a native cemetery/habitation site there. While stating the plans for the library have been revamped to prevent any more than 35 more removals, that remains to be seen. Reports have surfaced that the plans for a corner of the building keep getting changed and it seems these changes tend to involve more grave removals. It has been reported that only one third of the site has been explored and 77 graves found. In addition forty house sites have been identified. This means that there could be another 80 house sites and over 150 more graves! We do know that the order for termination of cemetery, clearing the way for complete removal of the cemetery, is in place and has been for quite some time. This order encompasses the building and building future expansion and the parking lot and future parking lot expansion phases. At present we do not have a date when the next 35 graves will be removed, but are sure it will be very soon. Please begin a DAILY faxing to the following: ABC: Fax number 212-456-2700 Attn: VW Folks for the News Assignment Desk CBS: Fax number 212-975-1893 Attn: News Assignment Desk NBC: Fax number 201-583-5453 Attn: News Assignment Desk CNN: Fax number 404-681-3578 Attn: News Assignment Desk AND Contact: Brentwood, Tennessee - Chamber of Commerce 5211 Maryland Way, Suite 1080 Brentwood, TN 37027 USA Phone: (615) 373-1595, Fax: (615) 373-8810 E-mail: info@brentwood.org State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Archeology 5013 Edmonson Pike FAX (615) 741-7329 conservation@www.state.tn.us Governor Don Sundquist 615-532-9712 dsundquist@mail.state.tn.us Vice.President Al Gore 615-259-8093 vice.president@whitehouse.gov Senator Frist 615-741-4606 Fred Thompson senator_thompson@thompson.senate.gov -- TUSWECA --------- "RE: Brentwood Library" --------- Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 09:38:36 -0500 From: Raven Subj: Brentwood Library UUCP email The Nashville Tennessean Wednesday September 24, 1997 "Library Will Be Cursed For Building Over Graves" Native Americans reject panel's decision. BRENTWOOD -- Despite reasoned pleas that turned into anger and even a curse from Native Americans, city commissioners have reluctantly approved a revised library building plan requiring removal of 58 ancient Indian graves. "We are talking about the difference in a living legacy of continuing racism and genocide in this state or you making a stand right here and saying "We are going to be a part of stopping that." You could be an example to the rest of the country, to the rest of the world," Toye Heape, president of the Alliance For Native American Indian Rights, told the commission. Commissioners voted Monday for the plan that will preserve at least 20 graves, but drew the line at halting the project altogether or revamping the design of the parking lot where 18 children and infants are buried. The decision was not easy, commissioners said as each of the four present spoke about the difficult choices facing them. Time is a problem, since the parking lot needs to be built first for storage of building equipment and materials and winter is coming. "I know the representatives of the Native American community probably don't feel we have done everything we can and that we have been less than sincere....We feel like we have tried. We saved 20 and maybe several hundred," Mayor Anne Dunn said. State archaeologist Nick Fielder told the board at a Monday afternoon work session that the site likely has a large number of Indian burials. Under the original plan, part of the 40-acre site would have been used as fill dirt for construction. But archaeologists found more graves in those areas and the city instead will haul in the needed soil. The archaeological assessment, grave removal and design changes are expensive. In combination with work needed to fix unsuitable soil conditions, the project's cost will increase by $620,000 to an estimated $7.75 million -- further proof, commissioners say, of their good intentions. "We have labored with this graves situation for four weeks. Any decision we make tonight we do not take lightly. We do have respect for the graves out there...Much cost has been incurred because we do have respect for the people who are buried there," Commissioner Joe Reagan said. But the Native Americans attending the work session and Monday night's meeting were not convinced. At times their frustration boiled over into anger. "That library will be cursed, and anyone who takes part in the removal of the graves and the parents who send their children to that library," said Franklin resident Gilbert Cupp. Cupp scorned comments about putting a monument on the grounds or displaying Native American exhibits at the new library. "Don't put up a monument or Native American art to satisfy your consciences. Put up a plaque with the truth : "We Desecrated Graves." That's what you are doing," Cupp said. Heape's wife, Allison Shaw, said the commissioners are too concerned about the cost of finding another site, building the parking lot elsewhere or trying to build the lot around the graves. "It doesn't matter how much the library costs. It could cost 50 cents, $50 or $50 million. Money is nothing. What is important is what goes on in your heart, in your mind, in your spirit. That's what lasts forever," Shaw said. --------- "RE: Bear Lincoln Found Not Guilty" --------- Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 01:04:18 -0700 From: Nicholas Wilson Subj: BEAR LINCOLN NOT GUILTY! UUCP email BEAR LINCOLN FOUND NOT GUILTY! preliminary report by Nicholas Wilson 9/23/97 Bear Lincoln was found NOT GUILTY of capital murder and other major charges Tuesday, September 23, by an all-white jury. Lincoln, a Wailaki Indian resident of the Round Valley Indian Reservation, was accused of killing Mendocino Deputy Sheriff Bob Davis in an April 14, 1995, shooting incident on the reservation in which Lincoln's friend Leonard "Acorn" Peters also died from a bullet fired by Davis. Lincoln faced the death penalty for first degree murder of Davis, and second degree murder for the death of Peters (on the prosecution theory that Lincoln fired the first shot, provoking return fire by the deputies that killed Peters). Lincoln was also acquitted of two counts of attempted murder, of Davis and of Davis' partner, Deputy Dennis Miller. The jury was deadlocked 10-2 for acquittal on manslaughter of Davis, and a new trial before a new jury will likely be held on that charge, beginning as soon as a new jury can be chosen. Meanwhile Lincoln was freed on $50,000 bail within hours after the verdicts were read, with that amount based on prosecutor Aaron Williams contention that Lincoln had a prior strike for a 1978 conviction, doubling the usual bail for the manslaughter charge. Lincoln was greeted by some 70 jubilant supporters and family members when he walked out of jail a free man for the first time since turning himself in voluntarily to authorities August 16, 1995 at the San Francisco law office of famed defense attorney J. Tony Serra. Besides manslaughter, Lincoln still faces lesser charges of four counts of illegal firearms possession, and these counts will be heard in a mini-trial beginning Monday, September 29. These counts will be heard by the same trial jury that just acquitted Lincoln of the major charges. Judge John J. Golden told the jury that they could expect to be through with the case after next week. Some jury members were visibly upset to learn they would not be released today. They have served since initially summoned April 15 of this year. The charge of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm was kept secret from the jury until after reaching a verdict on the murder charges because informing them of the prior conviction was ruled too prejudicial. When Serra asked the judge if the total gag order would remain in effect, Golden replied "definitely." The gag order bars everyone involved in the trial, including Lincoln himself, from making any comment to the public or the media. Jailers delayed Lincoln's release as long as possible, sending the attorneys back to the court clerk twice for what the jailers said was the proper forms. The court clerk said she had never before had to issue a certified copy of the release order, or do any more than make a phone call to the jail to free a prisoner on bail. The jailers seemed to be trying to string together enough piecemeal delays to make it too late to obtain the documents they demanded, and to then keep Lincoln in jail another night. As Lincoln walked across the jail parking lot with his local attorney Philip DeJong, he was subjected to what could be interpreted as a threat by a plainclothes sheriff's deputy, who glared and gestured menacingly and accused Lincoln of lying, saying "You know what I mean." Lincoln joined family members and supporters at a private campground. In a brief interview he said he had not been treated too badly in jail, saying "they didn't beat me every day," but that they had "pencil whipped" him, meaning they had subjected him to petty bureaucratic hassles. He expressed gratitude for the dedication of supporters who kept the courtroom filled every day of the trial, and who held a prayer vigil outside the courthouse during jury deliberations. He said he had no immediate plans, except to take things hour by hour, and to spend time with his family and his horses, which he said are his family members too. For details about the case and for further updates please read the Albion Monitor online newspaper, which has been providing free, in depth coverage of the case for more than two years. The Albion Monitor is readable on the World Wide Web at http://www.monitor.net/monitor --------- "RE: National Parks-Lawsuit Settlement" --------- Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997 10:27:23 -0400 (EDT) From: FirehairSS@aol.com Subj: National Parks-Lawsuit settlement UUCP email FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 23, 1997 CONTACT: D.J. Schubert, (202) 588-5206 Jasper Carlton, (303) 442-3037 SETTLEMENT REACHED IN LAWSUIT OVER NATIONAL PARKS Parks will Study Snowmobile Trails and Other Winter Activities that Harm Wildlife WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, in an agreement filed in U.S. District Court, The Fund for Animals, the Biodiversity Legal Foundation, the Ecology Center, Predator Project, and several other co-plaintiffs settled their lawsuit against the National Park Service regarding winter use activities in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. One such activity discussed in the settlement agreement, the grooming of snowmobile trails in Yellowstone, was according to the plaintiffs a major factor leading to the gruesome slaughter of more than 1,000 bison last winter. As agreed to in the settlement, the National Park Service will: * Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate thoroughly and comprehensively the impact of winter use activities on Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. * Consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the impacts of winter use activities, including snowmobiling and trail grooming, on threatened and endangered species, including the gray wolf and grizzly bear. * Prepare an Environmental Assessment evaluating the impact of closing at least one road segment to winter use this year and in subsequent winters, until the EIS is completed, to study the impact of snowmobile trail grooming on bison. This is the first time ever that one or more trail segments are likely to be closed in Yellowstone National Park. "This will not end the indiscriminate and unnecessary slaughter of bison outside of Yellowstone, but it establishes an important precedent for trail closures to study the impact of grooming on bison," says D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with The Fund for Animals. "Ultimately we believe that to protect America's bison, trail grooming and snowmobile use in Yellowstone must cease and Yellowstone's thirty year experiment as a National Playground must end." Adds Jasper Carlton, director of BLF, "We commend the Park Service for agreeing to conduct this analysis, but it is long overdue. This will be the first meaningful analysis of the impacts of winter use on the environment and should result in fundamental changes to winter management." A copy of the seven-page settlement is available upon request. http://www.fund.org --------- "RE: A Mother's Plea for Help" --------- Date: Fri, 26 Sep 97 16:58:53 -0600 From: "John Berry" Subj: A mother's plea for help ------- FORWARD, Original message follows ------- To all, Please read - do what you can. Best, John B Subject: A mother's plea for help Date: 9/26/97 4:53 PM Dear friends in Indian Country. We are forwarding this letter to you from our daughter Beryl Rock, regarding our grandson Freaman. We hope that you will forward this letter to anyone who might be able to help raise funds for his legal representation. Mii Gwetch, Bernard and Feather Rock ------------------------ September 18, 1997 I would like to introduce myself. My name is Beryl Rock, Anishinabe, mother, grandmother, Cultural Coordinator for Women of Nations/Eagle's Nest Shelter. I am making a personal request to you. I would like to present the story that happened and changed my life for ever. The event that took place is heart breaking to those involved. It was a tragic accident that took the life of one young woman and injured her friend. For the family we say prayers for their loss. It also changed a life for someone who made a bad decision. I would like to present my case for my son's freedom. The accident that took placed involved my son, the victims and another driver. The car my son was driving hit the victim's car head on, another car came along and hit her car, the victim died at the scene. The other driver was charged with DUI, no license, no insurance and fleeing the scene of an accident. My son was charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. The pain, the heart break as I first received word of the tragedy, only to give thanks for my son whose life was spared, and offering prayer for the young woman and her family. As a mother who knows and loves her eldest son and seen him grow into a fine young gentleman, very responsible and caring. I felt great pain for him each day, asking the Creator to watch over him, I sat and wondered about him every moment, how was he holding up, confused by the accident, confused by the court system as he sat behind bars and wondering what was going to happen to him, pain from the accident itself, and he had just walked into a nightmare. Young and never been in trouble, not knowing what to expect and feeling so all alone. The week before I took my trip to see him, was a living nightmare for me, I couldn't eat, sleep and would cry unexpectedly. Not knowing how he was doing, wanting to hold my son and telling him that no matter what, I still loved him. That I would stand with him and give ail the help that I could render. Before I left I called the jail and scheduled a visitation with him, as I walked into the small visiting room, and as my son walked in, his mouth fell open and he said "Mom." I was the last person he expected to see, because I live so far away, in another state. I could see how relieved and happy he was to see me. I will never forget the look on his face. He said, " I just mailed you a letter today." I later received the letter and he explained what happened that day. It broke my heart when he said he was sorry that he brought shame to the family and that he hoped that we didn't love him any less, that he was the same son that I given birth too. There is so many unanswered questions that need to be cleared up, but there is one thing I know for a fact is that my son will not receive a fair hearing in that county or town. The accident took place in Chelan County, in Washington, the family of the girl, are quite well known. Her father is a school board member of the community. The local newspaper has continued to publish stories about the family. A letter was sent to the Editor, about my son and that continuous publication of the victim's family wilt do harm to my son in receiving a fair hearing. I talked to several attorneys, but that didn't work out. One wanted to add a clause in the contract that he could drop the case whenever he felt he could. That didn't sound encouraging. Another one knew the family. My son was given a court appointed attorney and this attorney had many cases to present in a day, he finally met with my son a few minutes before court. My son asked his attorney to make a motion for a change of venue (publicity would damage his chances for a fair hearing). The attorney replied that a change of venue could not be guaranteed and he did not go forth with the motion. Not acting in the best interest of his client. This attorney has since then resigned from the case due to "conflict of interest" his firm is now representing the second driver in the accident. I need to see that my son gets a fair hearing, this is a very serious matter with very serious consequences. My son is willing to take responsibility for what happened. And has accepted the fact that without good legal representation he will have to sit behind bars and have a felony charge forever on his record. My son is not a criminal, this was a very tragic accident. And i feel that with good legal representation that this will be proven in court and he will be at least given the best help through 2 lawyers, Deborah Ellis and Kate Latimer, who I have met with and asked for their help. They have agreed to take the case. In order to retain their services, I need to make a plea for donations. Our family does not have the financial resources, which limits us from good quality legal representation. With added hope, encouragement and support given to me by friends, I am very committed to helping my son, we will be working diligently at raising money through Indian Taco Sales, asking for donations, working on finding someone to help do a benefit. Will you please help? We can give one poor young Native American Indian man a chance to a fair hearing with the help of good legal representation. As a mother I know in my heart that my son is not a *criminal* and that he was involved in a very tragic accident, that's what it was, an accident without any intention of hurting anyone. Enclosed is a copy of the letter from the two women who are willing to make a difference, and give him a chance at liberty and justice for all. If you have any questions please feel free to call: (612) 222-5830, ext. 107 Peace and Love all my sincerest gratitude, Beryl J. Rock From: Deborah Ellis, Lawyer 700 Saint Paul Building Six West Fifth Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55102 September 10, 1997 Dear Ms. Rock We enjoyed meeting with you last week to discuss your son's case pending in Washington State. We are very interested in providing legal representation to your son. We understand that your son is charged with criminal vehicular homicide. As yet we have not received any reports or a copy of the complaint from your son's public defender. We are willing to jointly represent your son for a flat retainer fee for legal services of $25,000.00 plus costs. Since this case will require travel and lodging in Washington, prior to getting involved in the case, we would require $5,000.00 to put in a client trust account to be used as needed for expenses in the case. If we do not use all $5,000.00, the balance from the expense account would be returned. On the other hand, if there were additional expenses which we incur, with your prior approval, you will be responsible for those additional costs. Please feel free to contact either of us if you have any questions. Since there is a trial date in this case very soon, you should make a decision as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you. Very truly yours Deborah Ellis Kate Latimer ------- Trial date has been set for November 4, 1997 in Chelan County Washington --------- "RE: Peltier Senate Oversight Hearing" --------- From: Miketben@aol.com Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997 01:36:16 -0400 (EDT) Subject: N.A.S.L. - LEONARD PELTIER UPDATE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ * NORTH AMERICAN SPIRIT LODGE * FOR YOUR INFO +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Subj: Senate Oversight Hearing Info...Leonard Peltier Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 11:08:52 -0400 (EDT) From: FREEPLTIER@aol.com My relatives, Having spoken to Jim Robideau, Leonard's cousin and member of the National Task Force on these hearings, last night I have the following information to report. Meetings with representatives of Sen. Nighthorse-Campbell and Sen. Inouye have gone well. It appears that the Oversight Hearings concerning FBI misconduct in the case of Leonard Peltier will be happening...probably in January. Word from capitol hill is that the Senators are NOT hearing from the public on this issue. The strongest opponents to these hearings are: Sen. Slade Gorton (WA) 730 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3441 (202) 224-9393 Fax and Sen. Orrin Hatch (UT) 131 Russell Senate Office Bldg Washington D.C. 20510 (202) 224-5251 email: senator_hatch@hatch.senate.gov We MUST take the time to contact these individuals and demand that they support these hearings on Leonard's behalf. The time for action is NOW. Christmas has come and gone several times while President Clinton has been in office and the rumors of a "Christmas Pardon" or "Christmas Clemency" have not come to pass. We CANNOT depend on President Clinton to make good on his "tradition" of these types of release for Leonard. Witnesses to the action at Jumping Bull in 1975 have been contacted and are prepared to testify. The National Task Force is working day and night to prepare for the upcoming Oversight Hearings. Donors from across the country are prepared to donate food, transportation, lodging and assistance while this delegation is in D.C. We will need all the people that can possibly make it to D.C. during the hearings to come and be a part of the event that may well be the turning point for Leonard's freedom. The LPDC's convergence on D.C. is coming up in October and they can use your help and support. Please contact the LPDC for details. Right now, we MUST continue to call, write, fax and email the members of the Committee on Indian Affairs that will be holding these hearings. Let Sens. Nighthorse-Campbell, Inouye and McCain know that we appreciate their recognition of the need for these hearings. Let Sens. Hatch and Gorton know that we DEMAND their participation and support. We are, today, one step closer than yesterday to securing freedom for our brother Leonard. Small victories are being won across the nation for Indian people. Small victories that we feel are leading up to a large victory. The Freedom of our brother. Take the time. You have shown an interest in Leonard's freedom. You have dedicated your support to his cause. NOW is the time to make good on your word. Write, call, email and fax the members of the committee and your own Senators to voice your support of Leonard Peltier. Do it today. In the Spirit of Crazy Horse and In Struggle, Andy Mader AIM, Arizona Chapter and National Task Force on Senate Oversight Hearings for Leonard Peltier. --------- "RE: Cherokee Nation District Court" --------- Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1997 19:58:31 EDT From: SbrWarrior Subj: Cherokee Nation District Court http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5918/">The Cherokee Observer The Cherokee Observer obtained a copy of the following letter. CHEROKEE NATION DISTRICT COURT P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74465 918-458-6299 September 25, 1997 Chief Justice Ralph F. Keen Judicial Appeals Tribunal Cherokee Nation Dear Justice Keen: I have reviewed your correspondence dated September 15, 1997. and assume your offer to allow me to return to the Judicial Branch includes completely vacating the Order of May 14, Order of May 16, and Order of June 3, 1997, as no petition, motion nor response have been requested nor have any summons or service been issued on these Ex Parte Orders. Assuming that this is agreeable to all of the JAT Justices, once the Order vacating these earlier Orders has been filed. I believe your assessment is correct that we could begin discussion of the process of returning the District Court to the Cherokee Nation Courthouse. To facilitate this move, I would request that you, myself and Charles Head, who is the Self-Governance Coordinator at the Cherokee Nation, meet to discuss how to best utilize Self-Governance money, which funds the District Court, to effect the transition of the return of the District Court to the Courthouse. Further, be advised that Chief Joe Byrd, as provided by 20 CNCA Section 18, has appointed a Clerk of the District Court on a full time basis. The executive Branch's desire to support additional permanent positions with the District Court, thus freeing the clerks employed by the JAT to work there full-time, not only provides needed personnel for the growing case loads of the Courts, but helps to implement the recommendations of the Massad Commission Report and the Moratorium signed in Washington D.C. on August 25th. Also, I am sure that you are aware that J. Dewayne Littlejohn has been appointed as Associate District Judge by Chief Joe Byrd and confirmed by the Council in June, 1997. He has brought a very knowledgeable background in civil and criminal law which complements the other positions within the District Court. I am proud to report that during the time the Courthouse was temporarily closed, all public defenders, prosecutors, workers, Judges and Court personnel, utilizing space provided by the Cherokee Nation, continued to operate the District Court, thus keeping cases up-to-date and taking care of the District Court's business on a timely basis. A statistical report is provided for your review and will be mailed to your office monthly. Again, I suggest that we begin discussions to prepare for moving the District Court back to the Cherokee Nation Courthouse. Ideally then, we would be prepared to move as soon as the Tribal Council has taken action on the Massad Report and the Moratorium agreed to in the Cherokee Nation Department of Interior Agreement signed August 25th. I await your Order Vacating the Orders of May 14, May 16, and June 3, 1997. Additionally, a note regarding a convenient time to set up the suggested meeting would be appreciated. Sincerely, /s/Tina Jordan, District Judge of the Cherokee Nation cc: Chief Byrd Judge Littlejohn Justice Viles Justice Birdwell All Council Members --------- "RE: Christian Genocide, Then and Now" --------- Date: Sat, 27 Sep 1997 22:57:51 -0700 From: "S.I.S.I.S." Subj: Christian genocide, then and now :-:-:-:S.I.S.I.S. / Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty:-:-:-: Sept. 27, 1997 Bulletin Canadian Colonialism: Church and State Still Ugly Bedfellows "I have not come to get your lands... but to enlighten your minds. There is but one religion, and you have never worshipped the Great Spirit in a manner acceptable to him but have all your lives been in great error and darkness..." -- 1805 Evangelical missionary "Brother: We do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own... we are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while, and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will consider again of what you have said." -- Chief Red Jacket, Seneca Nation, in reply The Christian Churches have a lot of Indigenous blood on their hands. From the Conquistadores to the genocidal residential schools, the Christian Churches wrought havoc and cultural genocide upon the Sovereign Indigenous Nations of the Americas. In the present period this continues via the Christian Churches' continued active support of settler-state usurpation fraud and genocide. In Canada church-state constellations continue to systematically erode core structures of Indigenous identity, culture and sovereignty. This church-state genocide manifests both in the continued "Christianization" of indigenous nationals into the Christian cult and "euro" worldview, as well as by the support and furtherance of state sponsored extinguishment and termination strategies such as the BC Treaty Commission. This is facilitated by the churches' continued influence within the state itself, as is the case of BC's Native Affairs Minister who is also a Minister of the United Church of Canada, and by church lobbies such as ARC (Aboriginal Rights Coalition) and Project North, whose exclusive promotion and fundraising for what traditional sovereigntists refer to as "the sellout agenda" have contributed to systematic suppression and deprivation of support for dissenting voices or those critical of continuing church-state genocide and neo-colonialism. In the most recent edition of Island Christian Info, which describes itself as "a monthly tabloid with news and observations, through quality journalism, from a deliberately Christian perspective," a couple of items are interesting: In the first, "Indigenous Team Shares Jesus at the Games", we are told of how 30 Christians worked the recent North American Indigenous Games "manning a busy booth at the Cultural village in Sidney, and sponsored a "youth-quake" event which drew several thousand". Also distributed were hundreds of "copies of the Jesus video... they went fast... Hundreds of bibles were also picked up from the table. Cree bibles were the first to go, as Cree speakers were the majority at the games. Bibles in other tribal languages, as well as English, found new homes with spiritual hungry aboriginals. As well as bibles, two titles on family life and sex were available at the booth, along with other literature.." Even more alarming is "Christians in Aboriginal Negotiations - The Untold Story": "A number of clearly-committed Christians, many of them aboriginal, are currently playing significant roles in First Nations matters in BC. Those roles emerge in various sectors of the extensive network of negotiations currently underway in the province. But, additionally, there appears to be substantial input from Christians in the economic development area. To many First Nations leaders, economic well being for their people is as important in the short run as is the negotiation process in the longer term. "The presence of Christian input in these processes is, to this point, not a well known story in non-native communities - Christian or otherwise. As a result, many non-native Christian British Columbians believe that native leadership is working to an anti-Christian, anti-white agenda. Endemic to that perceived agenda is the assumption that BC aboriginals want to subjugate the non-native descendants of those who crushed them in the 19th and early 20th centuries." On the contrary, the article goes on to stress: "those Christians who are involved with First Nations groups in either negotiation or economic development would want to allay those fears". We are told that "Christian faith, not some secular or pagan vision" is the basis of involvement. What follows is a selected look at Christian influence deep within the ongoing BC Treaty negotiations. These include "the vice-chair of lands and resources negotiations" for the "ruling body of a First Nation community which claims traditional territory covering 10% of BC... one of the largest land claims in British Columbia." This individual we are informed was saved from "the influence of alcohol and other hounds of hell" by a "Terry Winter meeting in Whitehorse" and "the entry of the Vineyard movement into his community in the late 1980s.... It was the Vineyard movement that gave him the confidence to learn the negotiation process which led to his present job." Two Nisga'as are also profiled who "participated in group meetings about the well publicized agreement-in principle reached a year ago." Also profiled is one of the "behind the scenes people in many of the current aboriginal processes... She has worked for ARC in recent years and moves, in September, to Vancouver School of Theology. There she will provide administrative support for VST's native ministries consortium, which is involved in theological education and explores Christianity, spirituality and the sacraments from a native perspective." "In the course of her work, she may come across Paul Nettleton, a Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly who has just taken on the aboriginal economic development critic's role for the official opposition in Victoria. Nettleton, whose constituency is Prince George/Omineca, attends Nechako Christian Fellowship... the son of a Pentecostal minister, his aboriginal experience comes out of his practice in a Dene run Prince George law firm. A deep faith in Christ, along with the kind of relationship building which goes on in many Christian and aboriginal communities, forms much of the backdrop to the way he handles First Nations issues. When he is not in the legislative assembly in Victoria, he spends a fair amount of time in the Atlin area, working with Native groups as they track activities relating to the reopening of a mine in the area. He enjoys working out joint venture arrangements which see the bands receive economic benefits from the exploiting of resources in their areas..." "Nettleton sees... a chief in the Vanderhoof area who has been active in The Gathering, as pivotal to a number of aboriginal/Christian initiatives in BC. The Gathering is an occasional charismatic event which draws together several thousand at a time for worship and teaching, in various BC locations." The role of the Christian Churches in actively promoting and participating in processes described by Haida elder Lavina White as "the legitimization of the theft of our lands" demonstrates their persistence as a continuing feature of Canadian settler-state colonialism and genocide. <=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=oooo=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=> "When the white man came, we had the land and he had the bibles. Now we have the bibles and he has our land." -- old native saying <=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=<=oooo=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=>=> AN END TO CHRISTIAN COLONIZATION AND COMPLICITY IN GENOCIDE <<=>>SOVEREIGNTY IS THE ANSWER, CANADA IS THE PROBLEM<<=>> )Ooo._._______.______ DECOLONIZE NOW ______._______._.ooO( Island Christian Info: http://www.cinevision.com/info email: cine@ampse.com More information on the BC Treaty Process: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/BCgovt.html :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 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: Vernal Cross Response" --------- From: "Kathie Tennery" Date: Sun, 28 Sep 1997 19:32:54 -0500 Subj: Recent post concerning some special people... UUCP email Khwe, Am not sure what to write..this concerns a recent post from Darlene Cross posted by Mike Simms about people who are not authorized/ given power through the passing of Vernal Cross a man of the people who spent his life promoting harmony among the people...who had a message of Unity for all he encountered along his path...who spread a message of hope and love for the people. Steve McCullough and Vernal worked together for years, considered each other strong men who stood for the people..and respected each other's work..indeed often worked together.. I am told the same of the others who were mentioned in this post.. Vernal and Darlene have 14 children..Many strong sons who follow the vision of their father..and honor and respect the ways of the people...and who respect and work with Steve McCulloough. I don't thoroughly understand the motivation behind the posting I read earlier this week..but know in truth it is contrary in Spirit to what Vernal stood for all his life.. When I read posts such as the one posted...I need to ask "Does it benefit the people?..Does it promote Unity among the people?" or does it turn one against another..spread statements that are not true..or partially true...who benefits? There is adequate documentation that Vernal has authorized Steve to lead the Sundance in Indiana..Vernal was due there for ceremony the Tuesday after he died..he was sorely missed..His sons who attended are sorrowful at the loss of their parent..they have pledged to change nothing from how it has been done..how it has been authorized by Vernal that it BE done... Have been told that people who are hurt..hurt others unnecessarily in their pain..sometimes lashing out at bystanders... Am sorry this rambles..have just received word another friend has died and it is hard to think coherently.. I would like to request prayers that this be resolved..painful wounds be healed...and that the people benefit... In that Spirit of Unity, Ishgooda --------- "RE: Neuse River in NC is Dying" --------- Date: Sat, 27 Sep 1997 00:54:16 -0400 From: "Sara Emily Whitford" Subj: The Neuse River in NC is Dying a Slow and Painful Death UUCP email Please think about including this in the next Wotanging Ikche. This was written by my mother (Teresa Morris): +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ From: Teresa Morris (water_lily@rocketmail.com) To: Gary Night Owl (gars@netcom.com) My name is Teresa Morris. I was taught as a young girl that fished along the banks of the NEUSE RIVER in NC with a cane fishing pole in my hand ... Our waters are sacred...They are the source of life. I took much for granted.... I am writing this as a plea for help because the NEUSE RIVER in NC is now tired... crying out for help and I ask......Who will answer her call?Our children will not be able to experience the NEUSE as our ancestors once did. Regardless...they deserve healthy waters Do you care enough to come together for the sake of our children and future grandchildren, right here, right now? All relations should be able to share in the same experiences as our ancestors did growing up along the waters edge. .. Today,. this is no longer the case. My son cannot stand in the same spot I once fished with a fishing pole in his hand and eat what comes from the waters. I'm worried sick because I now witness in living color what I had never dreamed would happen as a little girl many moons ago.. I simply took it for granted. The Neuse was always suppose to be here for me, for my family to enjoy and generations yet to come. I trusted that others would make sure it always would be. I took this for granted......... If you are Tuscarora, or friends of the Tuscarora, the Neuse River in NC really needs your help.& prayers. We need to come together and work hard for timely solutions that will insure she heals. I wonder how many other children, grandchildren will be unable to enjoy this rightful passage ...( This was part of our heritage, way of life, memories.. .) I am from downeast coastal NC (home of the wild horses of Shackelford Banks/Cape Lookout/Craven County-Neuse River). neck of the woods...Bear Hole Road....Chatooka, Long ago many of our TUSCARORA ancestors walked this land and fished these waters. This was their homeland. Today it is ours and the Neuse River where many of the TUSCARORA once fished, traded, traveled, bathed, prayed is dying. I am an instructor at 2 local colleges teaching a course titled, "The American Indian: A Revival". A good portion of this class focuses and elevates the priceless contributions and sacrifices of our ancestors. Please know that I do not consider myself to be an expert but a lifelong student. I believe it is important to teach by example and to remember that calling oneself an American Indian carries with it a responsibility...a daily walk in faith.....a focus on being self-reliant and offering real solutions that bring harmony and peace. I respect the GREAT LAW OF PEACE and the ways of the LONGHOUSE. I value the wisdom of our elders, the clan mothers, the chiefs and faithkeepers. The Tuscarora Nation needs our abiding love, prayers and strength. Plant fruitful seeds of peace....build bridges for a better tomorrow. I believe we are the voices of our ancestors. Our choices and daily actions will help honor them in ways they can smile.......and the children will understand the value of being productive right where you are by our examples. We are their living role models...They are watching us.. We must not let them down.. I have learned that We take so much for granted...family...friends....the land and waters. We are to be caretakers and recognize everything is related..... interconnected. In the beginning we were given everything we needed to stay happy, healthy, fruitful. We need to get our priorities in order, exercise our minds, hands and feet work in the soil and remember where we truly come from. There is 1 planet earth, 1 moon, 1 sun, the human race. What is the color of love.....life? If I sound like I am "lecturing, preaching, then I probably am." Sometime ago, I was called a BITCH because I spoke out about an issue that was being ignored. I reminded this individual that this word -new title was an honor and I would wear it proudly...because this particular animal, mother, creature is very protective when it comes to matters of the heart affecting "little puppies" and that the initials to this word from that day forward would stand for the following: Being Indian Takes Courage & Honor......Being Independent Takes Courage & Honor...My students sometimes joke and say I work hard at living up to my title... If you feel a connection with the NEUSE...matters of the heart and life.....such as unhealthy waters that are bringing forth fish kills with sores and now our fisherfolk getting similar sores , I'd like to hear from you. This bothers me ...in some places we now see the .trees turning brown from the tops down and wildlife vanishing.. People bearing sickness of the heart and body worries me. Children not being taught their native language and ways of their ancestors bother me... Indians taking for granted where they live, come from and not supporting one another right where they are breaks my heart. WHY? Is it because of the lack of visible role models, not caring to get involved? If you care about coming together to help support one another as we grow and journey towards wholeness, I 'd like to hear from you. The Neuse River is crying out for our help and prayers. SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER and revisit the teachings of our ancestors? Dare we come together and make them ........smile? If you wish to be a part of this Gathering.......I'd love to hear from you. If you wish to contact me you can by e-mail at water_lily@rocketmail.com or by calling (919) 354-4187. Nya-weh, Teresa --------- "RE: The Smear Campaign Continues" --------- Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 10:57:01 -0500 From: "S.I.S.I.S." Subj: Attica/Gustafsen: The Smear Campaign Continues :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: [Please note: The following mainstream article may contain distorted or inaccurate information and may be missing important facts and/or context. It is provided for reference purposes only - S.I.S.I.S.] BC MAN IN N.Y. MAYORAL FIGHT. The Vancouver Sun, Wednesday, September 24,1997, Page A1, by Stewart Bell Vancouver - A BC man who was a key figure in the 1995 armed stand-off at Gustafsen Lake is now at the centre of a scandal involving a candidate in New York City's upcoming mayoral campaign when Mayor Rudolph Giuliani accused his democratic party rival Ruth Messinger of hosting a party for the man at her home in 1979. The party was to celebrate Hill's release from prison, where he served a sentence for killing a guard during a 1971 convict uprising. Hill now lives in Surrey and goes by the name Splitting-the-Sky. "It's ridiculous," Hill said Tuesday during an interview that was interrupted several times by phone calls from New York newspaper reporters. "It's just a pure smear campaign. It's sleazy, filthy politics." Although Hill told a New York newspaper earlier this week that Messinger was at the party,"then I thought about it again and then it hit me that it wasn't her that hosted the party, it was a roommate," he said. The issue arose Monday when two top contenders for mayor launched character attacks on each other. Giuliani, the Republican incumbent, accused Messinger of holding a party for a killer, and Messinger countered that Giuliani dodged the Vietnam draft in 1969. Messinger said she did not recall the party, but the soiree in her house was the subject of an April 23,1979 column in The New York Times, which described the event as a celebration of Hill's release. A U.S. Mohawk Indian, Hill was at the Gustafsen Lake encampment, training occupants in guerrilla warfare, police say. He left in mid-August and was not among those charged in connection with the stand-off. But he became their most vocal supporter, appearing frequently at rallies, fund raising for their defence and distributing press releases on the letter head of the "Ts'peten Defence Committee" denouncing police and government tactics. When the RCMP released the names and criminal records of those involved in the Gustafsen stand-off, they said Hill had convictions for petty larceny, attempted murder, second-degree assault, supplying contraband to a prisoner and possession of a dangerous weapon. Hill was serving time in New York's Attica prison in 1971 when a bloody uprising occurred over living conditions and he allegedly killed a guard with a two-by-four. He was sentenced to 20 years to life but his case was championed by some politicians and activists, who argued he was unfairly singled out as a scapegoat. The state eventually exonerated Attica inmates and guards from criminal prosecution for their role in the uprising, but prison guards resisted attempts to commute Hill's sentence. He was paroled in 1979. "After I was on parole for six years, my parole officer in Washington, D.C. said I was such an exemplary parolee that I fulfilled all of the obligations of parole, and had done so much good work in the community... and subsequently I was taken off parole." The leaders of New York's two prison guard unions, which support Giuliani, called the party at Messinger's house proof she is unfit to hold public office. "Obviously she doesn't care about corrections professionals," said Peter Meringolo, president of the 1,000 member Corrections Captains Association. But Hill said with more pressing issues such as unemployment and homelessness to deal with, "Giuliani's got a lot of nerve" trying to discredit his challenger in the November election bringing up an event almost two decades old. "It's just as ridiculous as the contrived misinformation campaign that [police] manufactured during the RCMP standoff up at Gustafsen Lake," Hill said. "It's no different." Thirteen Indians and non-Indian supporters were sentenced in July to terms of up to four and a half years in prison for their role in the two-month standoff, when RCMP and protesters exchanged gunfire until the dispute over Indian land rights ended peacefully. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Letters to the Vancouver Sun: sunletters@pacpress.southam.ca More information on Ts'peten (Gustafsen Lake): http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/gustmain.html Legal position by Counsel Dr. Bruce Clark: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/main.html :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 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: Tears In The Courtroom" --------- Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 23:24:18 -0400 From: fol@tao.ca Subj: Day 13 of Daishowa v. Friends of the Lubicon trial Mailing List: FOL-L Friends of the Lubicon 485 Ridelle Ave. Toronto, ON, M6B 1K6 tel: (416) 763-7500. Fax: (416) 603-2715. e-mail: fol@tao.ca Court Update: Day 13; Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997 Tears In The Courtroom Kevin Thomas, Friends of the Lubicon (FoL) defendant, continued to give evidence about the boycott under cross examination by Daishowa counsel Peter Jervis. Thomas stated firmly that the ultimate goal of FoL's work was to convince the Federal Government to settle the Lubicon land issues. But the boycott, he said, was intended to impress upon Daishowa that the company should not be logging on unceded Lubicon land in the meantime, which would cause serious damage to the Lubicon's way of life. Thomas again objected to Mr. Jervis' statement that FoL was threatening stores with picketing, saying that it was not coercing anyone with illegal force. He said the picketing was an educational tool that let people know what's going on and people made up their own minds whether or not to shop. Thomas testified the customers were never prevented from entering a store that was picketed. In fact, at a demonstration at a Pizza Pizza store, customers continued to enter the store and buy food while other customers took the leaflet offered and chose not to patronize the company. Ms. Wristen, counsel for FoL, at one point had to object to Mr. Jervis cutting off Thomas and not allowing him to finish his answers. Immediately before the lunch break, Mr. Justice MacPherson said that Mr. Jervis had been "very, very long" in his cross examination and the schedule would have to be adjusted again. After lunch, Mr. Jervis continued his cross examination of Thomas. Jervis asked Thomas if FoL could continue the boycott without picketing, as ordered by the injunction. Thomas replied that it wouldn't be the same; people on the street are prevented from even receiving information about the situation, hence their right to make an informed choice was removed. Mr. Jervis asked if FoL would continue the boycott if there was no injunction. Thomas said that FoL would continue to do everything they have a democratic right to do. Mr. Fred Lennarson, a consultant who had advised the Lubicon, gave testimony about the rapid changes in the 1980s that devastated Lubicon society. In response to Ms. Wristen's questions, Lennarson described Lubicon society as pretty constant with a self sufficient economy based on hunting and trapping. However, the situation suddenly changed in 1979 when oil and gas companies began to exploit resources on Lubicon land. Lennarson said that long caravans of trucks shook peoples cabins and presented such a danger that people were afraid to travel on the roads. The rapid changes to Lubicon society presented huge problems because fiercely proud hunters could no longer support themselves and their families. Skilled hunters, respected members of Lubicon society, found the moose population, the primary source of the Lubicon diet, sharply dropped. Depression and alcohol abuse contributed to the first known suicide among the Lubicon. Ms. Wristen asked Lennarson to offer his comments on the Lubicon community's health. Lennarson related a horrifying litany of health problems that affected the small Lubicon community. He spoke about the development of cancers and skin rashes. Lennarson discussed the still births, premature births and birth defects that struck the Lubicon. He called it a heart wrenching situation in which many women were reluctant to get pregnant because of fear of what might happen to their baby. Lennarson broke off his testimony to ask Mr. Jervis if he thought it was funny when he noticed Mr. Jervis' expressions. Several people in the courtroom had broken down and quietly sobbed. Ms. Wristen asked about the current situation. Lennarson stated that being a successful hunter is still terribly important. While he doubted whether hunting and trapping will ever be restored, the Lubicon are determined to preserve what remains of their way of life. Lennarson said it was contingent that the Lubicon maintain the viability as a people so they have the ability to determine their own future. He said that people now have to work very hard at hunting, often taking weeks at a time using resources that previously were unnecessary: off road vehicles and camping equipment. Lennarson said he had learned a lot from the Lubicon. He termed their society a theocracy where everything is sacred and the Lubicon trod "lightly on the earth." Lennarson said the Lubicon believe they live where the Creator put them and the Creator would look after them. He said that part of their belief is that if they take care of the land the Creator gave them, the land will take care of them. He said that the destruction of that land by resource companies was terribly distressing to them. Ms. Wristen inquired about the March 7, 1988 meeting between Daishowa officials and Chief Ominayak and others that Lennarson had attended. Lennarson said the discussion went back and forth with the Lubicon stating their position that they wanted Daishowa to stay out of their traditional land until their land rights were recognized. Lennarson said it was understood that Daishowa agreed to respect the Lubicon's position. In 1990, Daishowa announced they would be proceeding to log on Lubicon land through their subsidiary, Brewster Construction. The Lubicon were very concerned, Lennarson said, and were determined to protect their land. The long day ended at 7:30 p.m. and court will resume Friday with the cross examination of Fred Lennarson, advisor to the Lubicon. Chi Megwetch to the Catholic Workers for attending court and providing an excellent lunch for all the other supporters who came to court. Each day of court has been sponsored by various organizations who bring their members to court to support the Friends during the trial. FoL would also like to thank the Church of the Holy Trinity for their ongoing support in providing a room for FoL to gather in each day for lunch. for more background information, visit the Lubicon supporters web page at: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Lubicon/main.html The Daishowa v. Friends of the Lubicon trial will continue Friday, September 26th at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 4-2, 361 University Ave, Toronto. For more information call (416) 763-7500 or e-mail Friends of the Lubicon at fol@tao.ca --------- "RE: NMAI Turns Seven" --------- Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 09:32:57 -0400 (EDT) From: FirehairSS@aol.com Subj: National Museum of the Native American-D.C. UUCP email Story by Suzan Shown Harjo The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) turns seven on November 28, and it has some major milestones to celebrate this year. -Official Washington gave the go-ahead in May to the NMAI's design plans for its Museum on the Mall. -By October, nearly 250,000 people helped the NMAI to raise its share of the money to build it. Now that the NMAI has met its congressional requirement to come up with one-third of the funds, $36.7 million from private sources, the way is cleared for construction on the last great space on the National Mall. Not bad for a seven year old. Today, the NMAI has many proud parents. Like many a successful prodigy, however, it grew from humble, troubled circumstances -- a poorly housed museum collection and a national past of disreputable treatment of Native Americans. One of the few people grappling with these issues ten years ago was Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii. One afternoon, while discussing the problems with some friends on his Capitol office balcony, he peered down at the Mall and asked, "What's that blank space between the Botanical Gardens and the National Air and Space Museum--wouldn't an Indian museum fit in there nicely?" The "blank space" rests near the Smithsonian "Castle" on the graceful Mall, which extends from Capitol Hill past the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. Conceived in that providential conversation, the NMAI was born a year later in law, and the space was designated for its Museum on the Mall. Long Journey to the National Museum of the American Indian. The actual legislating to establish the NMAI was done at lightning speed in Washington lawmaking terms, especially for a law dealing with broad Indian policy and prized federal property. However, the journey to that point had been slow going over rough roads. In the late 1980s, Inouye was looking for more than real estate. Then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, he was trying to change a sorry history and to find solutions to two pressing problems. The first problem -- and the priority for him and for Native America -- involved the need for national museum policy respecting Native American religious and burial rights, and returning Native human remains and cultural property from federally-assisted museums and collections nationwide. Inouye and a handful of others in Congress -- most notably, Representatives Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, Morris K. Udall of Arizona, and Sidney R. Yates of Illinois, and Senators Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, Mark O. Hatfield of Oregon, and Ted Stevens of Alaska -- were working with the national Native community on the repatriation problem. The fact that hundreds of thousands of Native remains and sacred objects were held in collections across the country became an international cause celebre, and news reports and editorials zeroed in on the twenty-thousand human remains in the Smithsonian alone. Representative Charles B. Rangle and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, both of New York, and Inouye were working quietly with the Museum of the American Indian (MAI) Heye Foundation to solve the second problem -- how to salvage the world's largest collection of Indian art and artifacts housed in deteriorating and overcrowded conditions. The MAI, a private New York-incorporated trust, could not afford to properly display or care for the more than one million objects of hemispheric proportions, and it needed a financial bailout or a new home. Museums and collectors worldwide were concerned about the plight of the collection -- and some were salivating over the prospect that it could be put on the block piecemeal -- but few others even knew it existed or why they should care about it. All efforts to rally support for the extraordinary collection had failed, until two MAI Trustees -- New York businessmen Charles Simon of Salomon Brothers and Peter Kriendler of the "21 Club" -- hit on a brilliant way of calling attention to the situation. Simon contacted Texas billionaire Ross Perot, who was rumored to have an interest in building a "world-class museum" in Dallas. Perot's offer to move the collection to Texas not only made headlines, it started a bidding war. Politicians in New York laid claim to the collection as "our heritage," and said it was not moving from their city and state. Policy makers in Washington and at the Smithsonian said it was a "national treasure" and belonged in the Capital. The national art world closed ranks against the move to Dallas, insisting that someone, anyone, do something, anything to stop it. Suddenly, offers to save the collection abounded, but it took Inouye's masterstroke discovery of the "blank space" on the Mall to form the basis for a single solution to both challenges, establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian as part of the Smithsonian. Congress had committed the space decades earlier to the Smithsonian. While there had been internal talk of a Museum of Man, no specific plans had been made or approved. The Smithsonian was willing to give up the Museum of Man for the NMAI and the collection, but it wanted no part of a repatriation policy. The New Yorkers, who wanted a permanent exhibition space in New York City, were prepared to have the collection nationalized and supported Native American efforts to achieve repatriation law. Once a location for a national museum was identified, a complex set of negotiations began. In addition to the stakeholders -- Native Americans, the MAI, New York City, New York State, the Smithsonian, and other federal agencies -- museums and collectors claimed proprietary interests and flooded virtually every office on Capitol Hill with panic calls against the Smithsonian possibly accepting a repatriation process as the public policy price for the MAI collection. A deal was struck between the Smithsonian, the MAI, and New York, and congressional representatives on square footage and other details 30 regarding three facilities -- a permanent exhibit space in the historic Custom House at the tip of Manhattan in the Wall Street area, near the site of the "Wall" that had been erected three centuries earlier as protection against the Indians; a research and collections facility, the Cultural Resources Center, in Suitland, Maryland; and the centerpiece "Museum on the Mall." Members of Congress then held up the ratifying legislation until the Indian community could reach an accord with the Smithsonian on procedures for the return of Native human remains, funerary items, sacred objects, and cultural patrimony. When the final agreement between the Smithsonian and the Native American community was struck in the late summer of 1989, the legislation moved swiftly through Congress. The National Museum of the American Indian Act, with the historic repatriation provision, was signed into law by President George Bush on November 28, 1989. Building the NMAI--With a Lot of Help from Our Friends In 1990, the NMAI Trustees -- one half selected by the MAI and the other half by the Smithsonian -- announced the Mission Statement: "The National Museum of the American Indian shall recognize and affirm to Native communities and the non-Native public the historical and contemporary culture and cultural achievements of the Natives of the Western Hemisphere by advancing -- in consultation, collaboration, and cooperation with Natives -- knowledge and understanding of Native cultures, including art, history and language, and by recognizing the museum's special responsibility, through innovative public programming, research and collections, to protect, support and enhance the development, maintenance, and perpetuation of Native culture and community." "Indian people consider (the NMAI) an opportunity not only to tell the world their story, but to tell their own children their story," said Senator Nighthorse Campbell, a Cheyenne artist, "because an awful lot of artifacts and art pieces and things that we treasure from a cultural and historic standpoint are gone." Senator John McCain of Arizona, who chairs the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, has called the new museum "a stirring example of what is right with America. "The Indian Museum will show that a dynamic, pluralistic society can celebrate distinctiveness without fostering separatism," he wrote in a 1995 Native Peoples' guest essay. "It will be proof positive that a culturally diverse civilization like ours is enhanced when it strengthens its disparate parts. "There are some things the federal government does right," wrote Senator McCain. "The National Museum of the American Indian is one of them. It deserves the continued support of us all into the new century."Other policy makers agree. Through two Smithsonian secretaries and sweeping changes in national political leadership-first in 1993 in the White House, then in 1994 on Capitol Hill-the NMAI has enjoyed broad, bipartisan endorsement in Washington. Today, President Bill Clinton and all living former heads of state are members of the National Campaign's Honorary Committee. The Honorary Committee and the International Founders Council of the National Campaign are pivotal to NMAI's fundraising effort. The Committee is chaired by Senator Campbell and the Council is co-chaired by Smithsonian Secretary I. Michael Heyman and International Conference Resorts Founder Gene A. Keluche (Wintun). (Full listing). Members of the Council and Committee, as well as other NMAI friends, have held hundreds of fundraising dinners and events, large and small, in myriad cities, most states, and many reservations across the land. Ted Turner and Jane Fonda, council members, have hosted several themselves, including one this summer on their ranch in Montana. American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian artists have contributed their artwork for auctions to raise money and awareness for the NMAI. Other Native American luminaries, including Pulitzer Prize- winning author N. Scott Momaday (Kiowa), have hosted special events for writers and other segments of American society to support the NMAI. NMAI Director W. Richard West, Jr. (Southern Cheyenne), proudly points out that eleven percent of NMAI's members have identified themselves as Native Americans: "This is an over-representation by twenty times of Natives in the NMAI membership as compared with the total US population of Natives, who number fewer than two million people." In addition to changing the dynamic between Native Americans and the Smithsonian, the NMAI Act included an important public/private partnership provision. It mandates the Smithsonian and the NMAI to raise one-third of the cost of construction of the Museum on the Mall from non-federal sources. The deadline was met for raising the required $36.7 million by September 30, 1996. The money raised thus far has come from two-hundred- fifty-thousand NMAI members. Nearly ninety percent of the gifts have come from first-time contributors to the Smithsonian. In 1994, just before the NMAI's official opening at the Custom House in New York, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut donated ten million dollars, which was at the time the largest single cash gift ever received by the Smithsonian from a donor. The Tribe's Chairman, Richard A. Hayward, said that the Pequot's offering was "a gift on behalf of all Native Americans. It is our hope that other Indian tribes will also make commitments to this fine project." Other Native Americans have contributed five million dollars, for a total of fifteen million dollars from Indian Country. It is ironic that significant donations have come from Indians at a time when Native Americans remain the most economically impoverished population in the United States, despite the headline-making success of only a few Native nations in the gaming industry. Some eighty percent of all the donations to date have been made by individuals. "Some of these have come from very surprising sources," says West, "such as the unexpected $100,000 from a person who had just won the lottery." National Campaign Director John L. Colonghi is fond of recounting stories of the most precious gifts, "like the man in Los Angeles who sent a five-dollar Safeway money order, which was a large donation for him, and the Native American kids in Buffalo who sent two-hundred dollars, which they raised from a can drive." Colonghi brought in the first large donation -- $50,000 from a woman in San Diego -- shortly after he was hired in 1991 from the University of California at San Diego's Medical Center, Cancer Center and School of Medicine. Colonghi says that a "big challenge" in raising money for the Museum on the Mall is "finding foundations and corporations to contribute, when most of them don't fund bricks and mortar." West says that "fundraising is particularly difficult for the idea of a museum, when it's not been built and people can't see what it's going to look like." Nonetheless, Colonghi says the NMAI has received "$500,000 from the Knight Foundation and $1.3 million from Ted Turner's Foundation and $1 million from the Gund Foundation." Chase Manhattan Bank also has made a $350,000 gift to the NMAI campaign, and philanthropist David Rockefeller is a million-dollar donor. In 1987, Rockefeller paid for a feasibility study of the Custom House as an exhibition site for the MAI collection. On the occasion of his one-million dollar gift, he said that the NMAI's "creative development of the (Custom House/Heye Center) will add immeasurably to the cultural life of lower Manhattan and the entire metropolitan New York region." The George Gustav Heye Center -- named for the collector who amassed the million objects in the late 1800s -- opened its doors in 1994 with exhibitions, public programs, and an international resource center. The Cultural Resources Center, located in Suitland, Maryland will not only provide a suitable home for the museum's collection, but will also serve as the hub for new approaches to collections management and research. The architectural plans for the Museum on the Mall were approved earlier this year, developed through a series of consultations throughout Indian Country. Douglas Cardinal (Canadian Blackfoot), who is the architect of the museum, says that "a lot of museums are mausoleums and temples, and they're concerned about objects and the objects are of prime importance. I think that, in this museum, the buildings should have more of an empathy for the people that are using the space, and that doesn't just address the past, but that addresses the present and the future." The future for the Museum on the Mall is this. Now that the non-federal share of construction money has been raised, Congress will appropriate the promised federal share of the building costs, and signs of bricks and mortar will be seen in the "blank space." It is anticipated that the museum will be ready to receive visitors shortly after the turn of the century. The Continuing NMAI Campaign--Miles to Go Before They Sleep The great success of the NMAI Campaign in raising its construction goal of $36.7 million is ample reason for celebration, but it will not last long. The Campaign will continue in full force for another two years, until the goal of sixty million dollars is met. The remaining millions will be allocated for an NMAI endowment, primarily for the "Fourth Museum, " and to support necessary construction expenses of the Cultural Resources Center. The "Fourth Museum" has been described by the NMAI as "the name given to the variety of educational and outreach programs that, through computer-based technology, will extend beyond the museum's three facilities. Among those served by the Fourth Museum programs will be schools, libraries, reservations, and other tribal organizations. As part of its Fourth Museum programs, the NMAI is building a vast database including visuals of objects in the collection, as well as information on specific tribes, reservations, and language groups. Some of this information is already available on the Internet." Among those who have already contributed to the "Fourth Museum" are the Ford Foundation ($1.2 million dollars) and the Coca-Cola Foundation ($500, 000). Coca Cola President Donald R. Greene said, "This grant is another step on the path to make the (NMAI) accessible to students and teachers far beyond its Washington, DC, setting." The NMAI Endowment is established for educational programs to be conducted at the three museum facilities. Among the programs are readings by Native American writers, art demonstrations, storytelling, and song and dance performances. The first gift to the NMAI Endowment was made in 1992 by the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison). In announcing what was characterized by NMAI as "a generous gift," ConEdison Senior Vice President Edward W. Livingston said that the Company "is pleased to join the (NMAI) in furthering an appreciation for the cultural diversity which is the strength of our city and society." NMAI Director West oversees the massive Campaign and devotes at least half his time to the overall fundraising activities. "Since there is a seamless web between the NMAI programs and the fundraising efforts," says West, "it could be said that even some of the other fifty percent 33 of my time and much of the NMAI program staff's time supports fundraising." The fundraising campaign is under the NMAI and has an 18-person staff- two in New York, one in Los Altos and the rest in Washington, DC--who work full-time to raise money. John Colonghi, Campaign Director, started his work for the Smithsonian under the auspices of Alice Green Bumette, who served as the Smithsonian's Assistant Secretary for Institutional Initiatives. The Campaign is also guided by the J. Richard Taft Organization, a consulting firm located in Washington, DC. Colonghi is most pleased with the Campaign's progress in areas where the expectations were the lowest. "In the original fundraising plan," he said, "only $1.5 million was anticipated to be raised from the Indian community throughout the life of the Campaign, but Native contributions have far exceeded that amount already." "Only $750,000 was expected in the original plan to ever be raised from events," said Colonghi, "but we have raised three million dollars so far from events." The 1994 NMAI opening in New York alone netted $1.3 million, which was the largest amount the Smithsonian had ever raised from a single event. The top amount raised before that, $500,000, also came from an NMAI event. "The Smithsonian is impressed with our programs," said West, "and we are impressed with the great support that the Institution has provided to the NMAI. Secretary Heyman has backed us one-hundred percent, and has made our difficult task a smooth one." West is especially "touched and challenged by the reasons Native Americans give for supporting us." He says that gifts have come from "people across the entire spectrum of Native life, from those who want to continue to live according to Native values and who believe the museum is connected to that aspiration. They also say that NMAI offers a real opportunity for them to be involved directly in explaining Native cultures and peoples to non-Natives. "Colonghi speaks of the vigorous support of countless Native people, such as his mother, Natalie Bozeroff Colonghi (Aleut/Eskimo), who was "an avid supporter-she sold NMAI memberships everywhere and kept a scrapbook on all the museum news." The elder Colonghi died last year, at age eighty-four. "It may be too late for my mother and Rick West's dad," said Colonghi, referring also to Cheyenne Artist Dick West's passing earlier this year, "but it's not too late for thousands of Natives and millions of non- Natives who believe in this museum and will live to see it."Senator Inouye, who simply has broader vision than most, knew exactly what he was seeing in the "blank space" on the National Mall and how he could make a national Indian museum "fit in there nicely" for Native Americans and peoples of all the world to seek out, learn from, and enjoy for many generations to come. --------- "RE: Fine Navajo Weavings Sale" --------- Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 20:16:33 -0400 (EDT) From: WmBattles@aol.com Subj: Fine Navajo Weavings Sale UUCP email Chilchinbeto - "Sumac Springs". Named for the Sumac bush found near Tse'ii'aha or "The Fingers" formation near the Navajo Community of Chilchinbeto. Sumac is used as a natural dye for yarn in the weaving of Navajo rugs. The berries of the Sumac bush, though bitter in taste while raw become sweet when cooked and can be eaten as a mush. The History of Navajo Weaving . One of the most fundamental and expressive Navajo crafts is that of weaving. According to Navajo tradition and belief weaving was taught to Changing Woman by Spider Woman many years ago. Young apprentices are still taught that Changing Woman was walking about and was invited into Spider Woman's home and there taught how to weave. Spider Woman instructed Changing Woman how to weave on a loom which Spider Man told them how to make. The crosspoles were of Sky and Earth cords, the warp sticks of Sun Rays, the healds of Rock Crystal and Sheet Lightning. The batten was a Sun Halo, and White Shell made to comb. There were four spindles: one a stick of zig-zag Lightening with a whorl of Cannel Coal; one a stick of Flash Lightning with a whorl of Turquoise; one Stick of Flash Lightning with a whorl of Abalone; and the last a Rain Stream with a whorl of White Shell. Spider Woman taught Changing Woman not only how to weave but also how to take care of the various tools used in weaving. Spider Woman told her that those tools were something special and sacred. Navajo women should not be careless with these tools and they should not be left about or be abused. Spider Woman taught Changing Woman not only the shape of the tools but also what kind of wood to use. Spider Woman told Changing Woman then that because Changing Woman had now learned how to weave, thereafter Navajo's would have clothes and would not be cold. Changing Woman was lastly told that the Holy People would respect and recognize Navajo women who made their weavings and properly respected the tools for weaving because this teaching had come from them, the Holy People. Tradition also offers that any weaving with a border design must possess a slight flaw, known as a spirit line, across the border to allow the weavers soul to leave the weaving when the weaving is complete. Many Navajo designs are based on a relationship with nature. Symbols of nature can be seen in a variety of the styles, by abstract or direct interpretation in the pieces you are about to witness. There is an ageless beauty to Navajo weaving. Above all else, Navajo weavings are master works, regardless of whose criteria of art is used to judge them. As evocative and timeless portraits, they transcend time and space. Navajo weaving has captured the imagination of many not only because they are beautiful, well woven textiles but also because they so accurately mirror the social and economic history of the Navajo people. The Chilchinbeto Twins - The most dynamically outstanding examples of Navajo weaving in the entire history of the art are the Chilchinbeto Twins - "The Little Sister" and "The Big Brother". . or "Lesser and Greater of the Chilchinbeto Twins." Measuring 26 feet by 28 feet and 38 feet by 26 feet respectively these two weavings are the largest and most valuable Navajo textiles ever created. Both pieces were conceived by Charlie C. Billy in 1975. The loom was constructed in 1977, the largest of its kind - and was destroyed in a structural fire in 1983. The loom was a specially constructed dual hanging floor-to-ceiling loom. A photographic history was made of the development of the loom and weaving of the "Chilchinbeto Twins". Side by Side, in order to create the meticulous designs, the weavers sat daily for the duration of nearly four years creating both pieces. The same ten weavers wove both pieces - Helen Charley; Katheryn Lee Charley; Jane H. Charley; Bessie Red Moustache; Helen Begay; Rose Austin; Joanne Singer; Susie Young; Lillie Yazzie and Lita Kith. All were over the age of 50 at the time of the projects, spoke little or no English, and had never previously maintained any kind of regular employment. The wool used for each of these pieces was shorn from over fifty head of sheep each. The wool for both pieces was hand processed at the Navajo Wool Plant in Shiprock, Navajo Nation (NM). By the efforts of a single weaver the Chilchinbeto Twins would have taken 43 years to complete. Given the tragic loss of the loom, and the time involved in duplicating the effort, and two of the original weavers no longer being with us, it is impossible to suggest any effort will ever be made to reenact this level of achievement which was originally undertaken in a local school gymnasium given the size of the pieces anticipated. Standing before the raised loom designed for these massive pieces are eight of the ten weavers. Notice also the baseline of the weaving taking shape at the kneeling level of the loom. Despite the simpler explanation, all the weaving rows were done simultaneously, not one at a time and sewn together as the finished product might suggest. Setting and tightening the warp on the loom before it was raised was required to be done by hand. In the first setting for the "Little Sister" the warp was approximately 45 miles long. For the "Big Brother" which followed, the warp was more than 60 miles in length. Every three days the warp had to be tightened by hand from the top cross bar which was hoisted with mechanical come-alongs. Nearly four years later. The following results were evidenced after 83,000 hours of labor.. - The Big Brother The "Big Brother" is suspended from a nearby cliff side with a group of community members. This piece is not for sale, and is destined to remain within the Four Sacred Mountains of the Navajo People to be permanently enshrined there as originally intended. Colors in the "Big Brother" are predominately gray, with black and aniline dyes of red, turquoise, and yellow. The piece contains twelve (12) traditional designs, all interlaced as one weaving containing twenty five individual weaving frames. The weaving warp is more than 60 miles long. Combinations include Two Gray Hills; Yeibeichai and Storm patterns. The piece weights approximately 800 lb. The work took 51,000 hours to complete at the cost of $252,150.00 in labor and materials. - The Little Sister The Little Sister in vault storage preceding its present showing at the Opening of the Navajo Nation Museum and Library. Vault storage was contributed to the Chilchinbeto Health Clinic by Griswolds Inc. of Tse Bonito, Navajo Nation (NM). Colors of the "Little Sister" include Natural white wool, and synthetic dyes of black, gray, yellow, blue, rust and reddish brown. The piece contains eight Standard Two Gray Hills; six Storm Patterns; three Altered Two Gray Hills; three Again Altered Two Gray Hills; four Yeibeichai Patterns; and one Yeibeichai pattern in the center panel. All weavings are interlaced as one weaving containing twenty five individual weaving frames. The weaving warp is approximately 45 miles long. The work took 30,600 hours to complete at the cost of $152,790.00 in labor and materials. The original appraisal on the piece was in the amount of $950,000.00 at the time of completion as offered by Bill Malone, Curator of Hubbell's Trading Post, Ganado, Navajo Nation (AZ). At an average rate of return of 10% calculated annually the current value of the piece is estimated to be in the amount of $4,585,923.85. Recent estimates accommodate this valuation by local standards to the Navajo Nation, by Greg Bowin, Curator, Historic Preservation Office, Navajo Museum and Library, Window Rock, Navajo Nation. On showing the piece has a placed price of 5.7 Million. It is the largest Navajo weaving that has ever been, or ever will be, offered for sale, and will never be duplicated, or exceeded. Showings/Exhibits: - Goldwaters Third Annual Gallery of the Southwest, Scottsdale, AZ. - Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D. C. - American Festival of Evangelism, Kansas City, Mo. - North American Indian District Assembly, Kansas, Mo. - Denver Museum, Denver, Co. - San Diego Museum of Man, Balboa Park, San Diego, Ca. - Navajo Nation Fair and Parade, Window Rock, Navajo Nation - Intertribal Indian Ceremonial, Gallup, NM - U.S. Presidential Inauguration, President Ronald R. Reagan - U.S. Inaugural Parade - President Ronald R. Reagan - U.S. Presidential Inauguration, President George Bush - U.S. Inaugural Parade, President George Bush - Navajo Nation Museum and Library, Window Rock, Navajo Nation If you are interested in the purchase of this piece, please contact - Name: Wm P. Battles E-Mail Address: WmBattles@aol.com Company: Wm. P. Battles and Associates Street: 203 Shonto Boulevard Mailing Address: Post Office Drawer 460 City: Window Rock, Navajo Nation State: Arizona Zip: 86515-0460 Country: USA Telephone: 1-520-871-2525, 1-520-871-2527 Fax: 1-520-871-2526 Department: Native American Fine Art Navajo Weaving is a meticulous undertaking. In order to ensure quality in the finished product of the "Twins" constant monitoring and inspection was required to maintain the structure of the multiple designs. So meticulous in fact were the weavers, that there was consideration at one time of defraying the weaving to start over. However, in careful contemplation and adjustment of the loom, the concern was corrected and the weaving advanced undisturbed. This quality is now prepared to be advanced on to the buyer of this near sacred piece of Navajo culture. The Chilchinbeto "Little Sister" The Lesser Chilchinbeto Twin Description: The Chilchinbeto "Little Sister" - the second largest Navajo weaving ever created and the largest Navajo weaving that will ever be offered for sale. The piece took two years to complete. Completed in 1979. Medium: Natural shorn sheep wool from approximately 50 head. Natural white wool; synthetic dyes of yellow; rust; reddish brown, gray and black. Dimensions: 28 feet x 26 feet, approximately 45 miles in warp. Markings: This unique weaving, the only one of its kind in the world and not to be duplicated, consists of 25 separate Navajo patterns within one major loom. The patterns include 8 standard Two Gray Hill patterns; 6 Storm patterns; 3 altered Two Gray Hill patterns; 3 Again Altered Two Gray Hills patterns; 4 Yeibeichai figure patterns; and 1 Yeibeichai and Picture Pattern at the center point of the weaving.. Signatures: The piece was designed by Charlie C. Billy and woven by the collaboration of ten traditional weavers - Helen Charlie; Kate Lee Charlie; Jane H. Charlie; Bessie Red Moustache; Helen Begay; Rose Austin; Joann Singer; Susie Young; Lillie Yazzie; and Lita Kith. At the time of this weaving these Navajo weavers were all over the age of 50, predominately Navajo speaking only, and had never held a wage earning job before. Two of these weavers are no longer with us. The piece was woven as a project of the Chilchinbeto Chapter House (a local political sub-division of the Navajo tribal government) and was sponsored by the Navajo Tribe's Division of Labor, with funding from the Concentrated Employment Program of the U.S. Department of Labor. Under this project the weavers were paid minimum wage and had steady employment. Previously, Navajo weavers, dependent on local traders, had received between three to five cents an hour for their work. Condition: Excellent. Museum Quality. Provenance: The Chilchinbeto Community Health Clinic is the owner of the piece. The Chilchinbeto Community Health Clinic stands as a unique institution and tribute to the independent spirit and self determination of the Navajo people. The Chilchinbeto Clinic was built and has been independently sustained on an annual basis by the effort of the community and with the assistance of the Indian Health Service and help from several private entities. The Chapter of Chilchinbeto, wishing to sustain the independent nature and vitality of its Health Clinic, bequeathed this second largest Navajo weaving in the world to support its Clinic. The Board of Directors of the Clinic are now compelled to sell this one of a kind masterpiece to maintain the continued and necessary services of the Clinic. It is the hope that sufficient funds will be raised by which to establish an endowment by which to provide for the perpetual existence of the clinic which has a regular average annual budget of approximately $350,000.00 per year. The Clinic has recently been made to nearly close but for essential services. Since Lives have been lost as a result of the inability to provide rural medical and emergency services in this rural area of the Navajo Nation this art piece is all the local community has which can serve as an asset to provide these locally necessary medical services. The clinic serves a 1700 mile radius, and sees 7,000 patients a year, mostly children and elderly members of the tribe living in this remote area, which is nearly centrally located on the Navajo Nation, the largest Indian Reservation in the United States. Exhibit History: The piece has toured nationally and internationally to the Navajo Nation. The piece is presently on display at the Navajo Museum and Library located in Window Rock, Navajo Nation. Prior Appraisals: The piece was last appraised in 1980 and valued at $950,000.00. The piece is authentic; original; and one of a kind - and impossible to replicate. Present evaluations made by the Navajo Museum and Historic Preservation Department of the Navajo Nation have approximated value at 5.7 Million. There is no true premise by which to price this piece. It is exclusive, one of a kind, and a preserving artifact, in perfect condition, of an entire single culture of people, and the largest such contribution ever made by the Navajo People by way of contemporary art. Comments: This artwork is for sale. But please do not be discouraged if you "don't have the right place to put it". Any assistance that you might be able to offer this remote Health Clinic is greatly appreciated. The Chilchinbeto Health Clinic is exempt from federal taxation under Section 501c(3) of the IRC. Donors may deduct contributions to the Chilchinbeto Health Clinic as provided in Section 170 of the IRC, subject to provisions 2055, 2106 and 2522 of the Code. IRS Notice of Tax Free Status will be provided with receipt. Contributions should be sent to: President of the Board of Directors Chilchinbeto Community Health Clinic Post Office Box 1496 Kayenta, Navajo Nation (AZ) 86033 Tele - 1-520-697-3236/8154 Fax - 1-520- 697-8559 As to Matters of Sale - Transactions occurring within the territorial jurisdiction of the Navajo Nation are not subject to direct state or federal tax. No applicable tribal tax presently exists. Proceeds of the sale, less costs and expenses of sale due on sale, should be made payable to The Law Offices of Wm. P. Battles and Associates and the Chilchinbeto Health and Development Corporation. Transaction to be arranged by Eric Sexton, Indian Desk, BankOne Bank, Phoenix, Arizona. Arizona BankOne (BankOne of Arizona) 1-602-221-1714. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [Editorial Comment: I asked how this high dollar sale benefited the People Bill's answer follows: Your question is more than valid, and not so simple to answer. The weaving, as explained belongs to the Chilchinbeto Health Clinic, a small rural clinic located at Chilchinbeto, where the two Twins were woven. The Clinic is presently drastically underfunded (and had first thought they were going to be totally defunded). The clinic serves about 7000 visits a year, mostly elderly and children. The Rough Rough Community School is nearby. The Clinic provides routine and emergency services, including rescue services to the local residents and many tourists. The funding crisis started in about May of this year, although it had been developing for several years preceeding. Due to the situation at Chilchinbeto - the Board of Directors have decided to offer its weaving for sale. Yes, it is high-end, for indeed it is the only one of its kind, and can never be replicated in the same method or manner - but by machine. Does the clinic have any choices? No.. .. not any realistic choices, funding rural health care for tribal members is not a priority for any regular funding resources including the Navajo Nation government - who sees the responsibility exclusively as a duty of the U. S. Government - even as while people are dying. and going untreated. Presently the staff and management, including medical staff, have agreed to volunteer continuing services until the weaving is sold. The proceeds of the sale are to be deposited to an endowment for perpetual funding. (ie. Eric Sexton, BankOne). This will allow the clinic to continue its services. In the alternative, the local residents of this some 1000 mile services area will be required to travel to the Agency Office facilities of the Public Health Service, as is presently the case for trauma care given that the facility is unable to fund emergency transports. Since this crisis has hit the clinic the loss to the community has been measured by the lives of several children, and one paralyzed, for lack of immediate medical attention. The episode can only repeat itself and not improve unless this piece is sold or other funding becomes available. In my efforts to assist the clinic I have been confronted by several realities which the Clinic is finding difficult by its position to swallow. According to Sotheby's - the most valuable piece of Native American Art known to them to have been put to market was a "traditional mask" which sold in the range of $500,000.00. Sotheby's places a pre-auction value on THIS piece of $250,000 - $350,000.00 for its buying market. As you note from the material I took from the information available on the weavings, this estimate is barely $12.00 per hour, by best dollar. How does this impact the Dine' weavers who did the weaving? How does this impact the Navajo Nation? Both interesting questions. Directly, the weavers can only be credited with the achievement, and it finally being recognized for the art form, and value as one should appreciate. But the weavers wove the textile for the Health Clinic - it is truly the recipient of the proceeds which then filter in necessary medical services to the local people. The Navajo Nation? Even more difficult - most think of the Navajo Nation as the government located in Window Rock. The government will essentially receive nothing inasmuch as there is no present sales taxes - if that is what you mean. The Navajo Tribe, the people on the other hand, especially the traditionals and weavers, will finally have some acknowledgment of their worth and value through the marketing of their efforts, and create a proper market for this disappearing artform - if an appropriate price is achieved for the piece - on the other hand if this piece does sell for less than it is worth - then of course - we remain in commerce at the "trinket and exchange rate" of the Manhattan Island days. We can also be assured that what we offer for sale will never be appreciated, and only that which we do not offer will be sought out in continued plunder. I don't know if this, therefore, is the right medium - and leave that to your judgment. I do know that I have offered to the Clinic that I will do everything humanely possible to sell this artwork for them for the best price possible so that they don't have to explain to Navajo parents why their children needlessly died in the recent car accident, or why their son is paralyzed because he couldn't be backboarded, or why grandma went into shock or coma without her insulin; or why the four wheelers won't be working this winter for the very remotely located elderly who are so subject to death by exposure, etc. In this same respect, any effort to help the Clinic otherwise is also appreciated. That information is also provided. In point, if any of your Native American readers are interested in helping, it is appreciated by the local people that our tribes can find themselves coming together for common and "real people" causes... it might also afford the opportunity for some of our people, with the means, to keep this piece within our grasp and preserved at least among us, or some of our better off tribes... lastly it gives us the opportunity to know the sacrifices being made to just simply survive and see this piece of our history also pass by us, hopefully with more dignity than the history before it. I just had the opportunity to speak with the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Chilchinbeto Health Center regarding a photo shoot for "The Little Sister" and was met with yet another tragedy... last evening... details are forthcoming.... the community lost one of its teachers to a motor vehicle accident due to the lack of Emergency Medical Services previously provided by the Clinic ..... the community is saddened... and the situation grows worse...when the details are available they will be provided. The tally of loss can only grow. Sadly I pass this information along........ Bill Battles..... --------- "RE: Native Prisoner" --------- Date: Thu, 2 Oct 97 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (evestar@juno.com) Subj: Contacting those in the Ironhouse UUCP email In my e-mailbox this week: Greetings, In 1995 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police held siege to 14 native and 4 non-native people defending sacred Sundance grounds and the Sundancers after threats from a local cattle rancher. The standoff that ensued was the largest Canadian military "exercise" since the Korean war -- over 77,000 rounds of bullets fired by the police and military. Miraculously, the only casualty was a dog that was deliberately killed by a sniper as it and two unarmed people fled from a military tank after their truck was blown up by a land mine. After more than a month under siege, and under the guidance of a spiritual leader who had flown in to assist, the Ts'Peten Defenders felt it was appropriate to end their stand and walked out of their camp. They were promptly arrested and subjected to a bizarre year-long trial that ended with the judge instructing the jury to ignore all defenses presented. Of the 15 Defenders convicted, 13 were given jail sentences. One has since been released on electronic monitoring. Two of the Defenders are appealing the conviction on the grounds that because the land in question is Shuswap land, never signed over the BC government by a treaty, the BC government (and its court and police) have no jurisdiction on that land. This was one of the defenses that was presented at the initial trial, but the judge instructed the jury not to consider it. The addresses for these two Defenders are: Wolverine (William Jones Ignace) Political Prisoner Box 4000 Abbotsford, BC V2S 5X8 "OJ" Pitawanakwat Political Prisoner Box 4000 Abbotsford, BC V2S 5X8 For more information, please contact the Free the Wolverine Campaign: Box 13-2147 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5N 4B3 Spokespeople: Splitting the Sky - Phone/Fax: (604) 543-9661 Bill Lightbown - Phone: (604) 251-4949 or see the SISIS pages at http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/gustmain.html Also we have a listing of native political prisoners around the world, at http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/links/POW.html Many thanks for the important work you are doing. Warm regards, Joshua Goldberg SISIS www coordinator ---------------------------------- Once more I would like to thank Thomas Sunhawk, who provided much of my current Native Prisoner pen pal list, and to encourage readers to visit Laura Brooks homepage for the complete list, which includes her original list, Sunhawk's list, and the list I started with from our friend River. Laura's site is at http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/9118. You'll also find good discussions there about Native prisoner religious rights and other legal issues and some great links. Please especially remember - this is the "Year of Leonard". Leonard Peltier #89637-132, Box 1000, Leavenworth, KS 66048 Both Laura and I would greatly appreciate knowing about any other Native inmate needing contact. Please send all correspondence for "Native Prisoner" to evestar@juno.com --------- "RE: A Hundred Years Ago" --------- Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 13:46:38 -0700 From: Landis Subj: A Hundred Years Ago - Week 22 Mailing List: NAT-FILM [Editorial Note: These reprints are being included in this newsletter so that you might know the mind of those who ran institutions like Carlisle.] THE INDIAN HELPER ------------------------------------ PRINTED EVERY FRIDAY --AT THE-- Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa., BY INDIAN BOYS. ---> THE INDIAN HELPER is PRINTED by Indian boys, but EDITED by The man-on-the-band-stand who is NOT an Indian. --------------------------------------------- P R I C E: --10 C E N T S A Y E A R ============================================= Entered in the P.O. at Carlisle as second class mail matter. ============================================= Address INDIAN HELPER, Carlisle, Pa. Miss M. Burgess, Manager. ============================================= Do not hesitate to take the HELPER from the Post Office for if you have not paid for it some one else has. It is paid for in advance. ============================================== VOL. XII. FRIDAY, October 1, 1897 NUMBER 51 =============================================== WHAT TIME IS IT? --------- The Man-on-the-band-stand sent to the office, the above question, and the following clipping from an exchange was sent in reply: What time is it? Time to do well; Time to live better; Give up the grudge; Answer that letter; Speaking that kind word to sweeten a sorrow; Do that good deed you would leave till to-morrow. What time is it? Time to be earnest. Laying up treasure; Time to be thoughtful, Choosing true pleasure; Loving stern justice, of truth being fond-- Making your word just as good as your bond. ================ THE COLORADO RIVER INDIANS. ------------------- A Misleading Statement in the "Helper," set Straight. In the August 27th issue of the INDIAN HELPER, there appeared an article about the Indian tribes of Arizona. We drew our statements from the report of the Superintendent of the government school near the Needles. The following letter explains the statements which are claimed as misleading. We are always glad to be set straight and thank Agent McNichols for his kind letter: The Letter. COLORADO RIVER AGENCY, PARKER, YUMA CO., ARIZ, Sept. 13, 1897. EDITOR INDIAN HELPER, CARLISLE, PA. DEAR SIR:-- Permit me to say that some of the statements in the article concerning the Mojave Indians, in your issue of August 27th, are misleading so far as giving a true idea of the condition of the Mojave Indians on the Colorado River Indian Reservation. I believe that the article pretty accurately describes the condition of the Mojaves at Needles and Ft. Mojave, but with the one overshadowing error that there are Indian reservations at those places. There is but one reservation for the Mojave tribe and that is the Colorado River reservation, the North line of which is about 70 miles South of Needles, California. Those at Ft. Mojave and Needles are non-reservation Indians and are subject to no restraining influence save what may be exerted by the Ft. Mojave school. The condition of the 800 Mojave Indians on the reservation is quite different from those of the non-reservation Indians described in the article. The former have long since ceased to burn the personal property of a deceased Indian, or to sacrifice other property upon the death of one of their number. They still cremate their dead, but they do it in an orderly manner, at least six hours after death. Of late all funerals near the agency have been conducted by a missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church now residing here. The wild orgies have given place to singing such songs as "Nearer My God to Thee," and every head is bowed in prayerful attitude. No attempt is made to hold funeral services until after the Agency Physician has examined the body and given permission, and the minister is sent for voluntarily. While there is plenty of room for further improvement, the morals of the reservation Mojaves are much in advance of their non-reservation kindred. Promiscuous intercourse is no longer openly practiced and the habit of changing wives has been almost broken up. Christian marriages are becoming common and the sacredness of home ties is dawning upon them. Practically all the reservation Mojaves have adobe houses, with fire places and chimneys. All have something in the way of cooking utensils. The greater number of families have "dutch ovens," and a few have regular cooking stoves. Some homes have organs and sewing machines and they are well cared for. Civilized dress has been adopted. All the male Indian employees wear their hair cut ----------------------------------------------- (Continued on last page) =============================================== Let us be friendly to the friendless. Be thankful for a little and you will receive more. --MARY LYON. Every week, we get clubs of ten and two cents extra for the Souvenir of the school, containing sixty views. It is an easy way to obtain the views, a glance through which is almost equivalent to a visit. Mrs. W. Z. Bentz, South Hanover Street, gave a luncheon on Saturday last in honor of Miss Olivia Johannsdotter, of Iceland, who is still with us. Miss Olivia is busy, this week, getting off some correspondence for an Icelandic paper. Miss Annie Kowuni, '97, has entered Drexel Institute to take the private secretary's course. She will make her home with a private family, where she will work out of hours and off-days for her board. She has a free scholarship. No student can afford to be without the HELPER. Even those here on the grounds do not learn all that is going on, till they read the HELPER. Have one for yourself! It is SMALL business to depend upon one paid for by somebody else. Captain Pratt has sustained a great loss in the death of his favorite mare, Belle. She died of pink-eye, a disease that is contagious, there being a number of cases in town. Everything was done to save her that was possible. Black, now, has the same fatal disease. Mr. Guy Colony, who 16 years ago was a wee boy with us when his father was disciplinarian, dropped in on Wednesday as he was passing on his wheel. Of course his old friends did not know the young man. He and his brother were on their way from Philadelphia to Huntington, their present home. The band is practicing some fine new music. From the beginning it makes, we will have a better organization than ever this year. There is excellent material, and all they need is practice, practice, practice, INDIVIDUAL practice, to work out some of the discord. The old stand-bys maintain their usual excellence. The playing at the sociable Saturday night more than satisfied every listener. Since vacation, a number of girls have been tried at the new shirt ironer in the laundry. Sadie Butler and Nellie O'Dell have become quite expert, and do most acceptable work. At the mangle, no one folds the clothes more neatly than Flora Ross. Kittie Silverheels purchased a Hawkeye camera while in the country this summer. She has learned to operate it successfully and does her own developing. Sara Smith, '97, also knows how, and expects to get a camera soon. The latter is Professor Bakeless' Assistant this year, having special charge of the reference library. Do you want to help the HELPER help? Send us TEN names with P.O. addresses of people who might become interested in the cause of Indian education should they have a chance to read sample copies of our little paper. Some left-over copies of the HELPER have accumulated which should be out in the country working for their own support. Miss Hulme is walking lame from having run against a rocking-chair in the dark. She does not say much, however, about the bruise received from a fall from her wheel a few evenings before. Somehow, that rocking chair knew exactly where the bicycle bruise was located, and hit it squarely in the centre. Rocking-chairs in the dark are very intelligent things sometimes. The King's Daughters have been organized for the year with the following named leaders: Wayside Gleaners-The Binders, Miss Nana Pratt; the Reapers, Miss Cummins; Sunshine Scatters, Miss Barclay; Lend-a-Hand Circle, Miss Luckenbach; What-so-evers, 1st section, Miss Shaffner; 2nd section, Miss Miles; Willing Workers, Miss Simmons and Miss Bailey; The Little Learners, Miss Ericson. Their lessons in Bible Study will be upon the life of Christ as found in the four Gospels. Miss Ely is off for her annual leave after a hard summer's pull with her outing pupils, numbering over 600. Her work is to place the pupils in country homes, make all the arrangements for their coming and going, receive reports from them monthly and attend to all the correspondence connected with that branch of our school work. Her desk is piled with letters nearly all the time, needing attention. She will visit friends and relatives in Kansas during her absence, and no doubt will return, as she always does, refreshed and rested. On last Thursday, at the opening exercises of school, Antonio Apache gave an account of his trip through the British Colonies. On Friday, "Seth Lowe and the Greater New York," occupied the time, Professor Bakeless the speaker. On Monday he again spoke upon Nicola Tesla and his Electrical Researches, showing how little things change the world. On Tuesday, James Wheelock, played a clarinet solo, accompanied on piano by Miss Simmons. It was one of Hartmann's compositions and was beautifully rendered and well received. On Wednesday, Miss Lida Standing gave an excellent talk on "Lord Nelson and his Service in the British Navy.' The talks at the opening exercises this year have all been spirited and much enjoyed. ============================================================ New moon! Fair week, this. Overcoats feel good. Good-bye, straw hats! Jack Frost has put in an appearance. The Normal Teachers are working faithfully. Lone Bear, an Apache Indian, has come to us. The Seniors are studying "Refraction of Light'. Miss Cummins has Miss Ely's desk during the month of October. That was a jolly sociable Saturday night. A number of guests were out from town. Miss Luckenbach made the hearts of the printers happy by a crate of peaches. Mrs. Dennison Wheelock has a new Cleveland, which she prizes very highly. Susie Yupie one of the new girls this year is said to be skillful with her needle. The Indian Band is to meet the Gobin Guards when they return from Hazleton. The new football suits for first team are fine. Red and old-gold--our school colors. Eighth grade are struggling with the mysteries of the complex sentence, and interest. Our first foot-ball team plays Dickinson College tomorrow, the first game of the season for us. The Juniors are hard at work learning to write English as Irving did. They are studying his life. Capt. and Mrs. Pratt are still in Denver, Colorado, at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Guy LeRoy Stevick. Ida Bennet's button-holes are a delight to the eye; not only to the needle's eye but to the eye of the beholder. Some of the grades are making a hard struggle for only best work in writing. A surprising advance in penmanship is the result. Antonio Apache left for San Carlos, Arizona, on Tuesday evening. He will see what pupils down that way wish to come to Carlisle. The last Teachers' Meeting had a survey of the work of the Chautauqua Summer school, and Manual Training of Germany and France. This year we have been blessed with an abundance of nice tomatoes for the pupils' table. A number of gallons have been canned for winter use. We are sorry to report that Miss Linnie Thompson, our prima donna, is somewhat ill in the hospital. We hope she will soon be better; for we miss her voice. Any teacher wishing to use the HELPER for Supplementary Reading in her school may have, free, as many copies of anyone number as will supply her school or class. Sixty Indian boys in charge of Frank Hudson, went to the lower farm on Saturday morning, cut 18 acres of corn and were back to the school in time for dinner, and the work was well done. The Wayside Gleaners held a gathering in party, at Miss Nana Pratt's on Tuesday evening, at which the leaders of all the circles were invited. Refreshments were served and a general good time enjoyed. Miss Cummins ran across a new relative of Amos Quito in Washington. None other than "Anti Skeet." The Susan Longstreth Literary Society had an interesting program last Friday evening. There were a number of visitors present. Professor Bakeless, Misses Shaffner, Hill and Burgess were invited by Mrs. Standing to dine with Col. Duncan, Indian Inspector, on Saturday. Some one says that Thomas Denomie is a most excellent and careful janitor. This is in keeping with his excellent reputation at his farm home. Mr. and Mrs. Weber are to be congratulated on the birth of a new little daughter at their home. Now Albert has a little sister and he no doubt is very proud of her. Mrs. Noetling, wife of Prof. Wm. Noetling of the Chair of Pedagogy in the Bloomsburg Normal School, and her daughter, visited our school on Monday. They were delighted with the institution. Master Dick Pratt and his three sisters, Sara, Roxanna and Marion after an enjoyable visit of several weeks at the school, returned to Steelton on Friday last, and the very heavens wept all day. Miss Shaffner must have been very hungry when she visited the printing office the other day, for she did not leave it without making a pi, the very sight of which scared her so that she could not eat it after all. Leander Gansworth, '96, addressed the Union Y.M.C.A., at the Methodist Church in town, last Sunday. He told of the work of our school Y.M.C.A., which organization was highly spoken of from the platform. Mr. Charles W. Harvey, State College Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association was with us over Sunday, dividing his time between the Indian School and Dickinson College. There was an extra meeting held on Sunday. We are now "fixed" in our new quarters, the last finishing touches having been given by Mr. Weber in bringing the water pipes, and Mr. Harkness in suspending tin hangers for the oil drops. The girls have come in flocks to the printing office this week to see us in our new home, and they are ever welcome guests. It is the opinion of the Man-on-the-band-stand that they ought to visit the shops more than they have in the past, to keep in touch with the industries. Indian Inspector Duncan left on Tuesday evening for the West. He did not inspect us regularly, but rather visited the school. A stranger to all when he cam