From gars@netcom.com Wed Jun 24 01:18:29 1998 Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 19:53:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews06.026 _ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 06, ISSUE 026 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, June 27, 1998 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 AisesNet & Nat-Film Lists; Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty; NUEVO AMANECER PRESS; UUCP email; Newsgroup: alt.native; Mexico Solidarity Network 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. IMPORTANT!! ----------- To all who send copywrite protected articles, make very sure you have permission from the copywrite holder (a newspaper, the AP, a magazine, an author) because a new law is now in effect that says you can be prosecuted even if there is no monetary gain. Just because a newspaper has a website where it posts some or all of its editions does not grant permission for their redistribution. Be careful and be sure you pass on the items you do with full permission. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, all material appearing in this newsletter is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for educational purposes. <----<<<< >>>>----> 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. Downloading Wotanging Ikche on AOL From: MAANG1419@aol.com Just thought I would share some info. I could not download on to a .txt because I kept getting the message (when I tried to retrieve it) that the text editor could not handle the volume. This time I downloaded it on to a .doc and when I retrieved it out of file manager, IT WORKED. "The white people, who are trying to make us over into their image, they want us to be what they call "assimilated," bringing the Indians into the mainstream and destroying our own way of life and our own cultural patterns. They believe we should be contented like those whose concept of happiness is materialistic and greedy, which is very different from our way. We want freedom from the white man rather than to be integrated. We don't want any part of the establishment, we want to be free to raise our children in our religion, in our ways, to be able to hunt and fish and live in peace. We don't want power, we don't want to be congressmen, or bankers....we want to be ourselves. We want to have our heritage, because we are the owners of this land and because we belong here." "The white man says, there is freedom and justice for all. We have had "freedom and justice," and that is why we have been almost exterminated. We shall not forget this." __ From the 1927 Grand Council of American Indians +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg- | | iance was first presented | I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the | to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat- | of the Republic | ional Congress of American | and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat- | borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI | Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the | as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian | States Constitution, | Nations. | so that my forefathers | | shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! The Europeans left their homelands for freedom in the "new world", came to a land of unlimited tress and open spaces; and the first thing they did was build boxes to enclose themselves in. They sent thanks to those who befriended them by enslaving and murdering them, and called those they slaughtered "savages." The descendants of these Europeans have no understanding of why we don't feel like they have done a thing in the last 500 hundred years of occupation that justifies them telling the First People how to live. Let me try to help. - Your BIA has misplaced millions of dollars - Your IHS has involuntarily sterilized countless Indian women - You give our Sacred mountains names you would not dare utter in front of anyone if you had the slightest concept what they mean (Squaw is NOT a good word) - You imprison our brothers and sisters for basically minor offenses, then lose them in the U. S. prison system, because they "don't adjust well to 'the system'") - as an aside, any offense on a rez is a federal offense. The first arrest moves the 'offender' into the federal prison system! - When you can't prove a case against a high profile Native American, you shrug it off with logic like, "Even if you didn't do it, you know who did" (Lynn Crook, prosecuting attorney against Leonard Peltier) - Your School of the Americas (dubbed the School of Assassins by citizens of the nation states where the graduates return to apply their knowledge) in Ft. Benning, Georgia U.S.of A., where insurrection and mayhem are taught to operatives in Central and South American Countries. We are not grateful. =/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\= Interesting aside: Bishop O'Connor, an admitted rapist of children will serve zero prison time. Leonard Peltier remains in prison, though the prosecuting attorney has admitted the Government's case is lacking in proof. =/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\= The language project I have started is moving very slowly, but it is moving. The need for this is a thing I truly believe. Without language a culture dies. What is said in any language seldom translates literally to another. It, at best, approximates the meaning. Our languages are dying. Our cultures will not linger long without our own words to describe the events in our lives, the ways passed down by our ancestors and our prophecies. I am collecting language resource information. Please send me all information each of you have regarding language resources. This should include all written teachings including dictionaries, grammar books and stories. Include all audio and video resources. Include the source, how it is distributed, the publisher, ISBN or other catalogue information that might be known. Include cost and current availability if you have it. Finally, include _your_ opinion. Is it good, bad, indifferent? I will keep this information, by language/nation and make what I have available to any who request it. Send what you can via email to gars@netcom.com You may also send info via snail mail to P O Box 672168. Marietta GA 30006. 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 ---------- - Wolf Delist Alert - BC Forest Industry Moves - Wolf Alert Response to Protect Turf - Delisting of the Wolf - Indian Wars North and South - Delisting - Letter to UN HIgh Commissioner - Cherokees Sideline Council - National Action in Response Committees to Recent Massacre - BIA Funding Cut - Summary Executions Discovered - Kahnawake Position on Taxation - The Third Journey - Can the Band Council - Music Review: Smoke Signals be Sovereign? - Special Rappateur/Violence - Draft Legislation re to Women Prisoners Native Hawaiian Status - Native Prisoner - Camp Ipperwash Deal - A Hundred Years Ago - BC Shuffles Deckchairs - Poem: Morning Song on Treaty Talks Titanic - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days - Bishop Avoids Rape Trial - Honoring Sacred Places - Nisga'a Deal to Wrap Up Within Weeks - Conferences and Powwows --------- "RE: Wolf Delist Alert" --------- Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 09:23:18 -0500 From: "Jean BraveHeart" Subj: Wolf delist alert UUCP email (Editorial note: I _did_ distribute this alert as requested. It is included here to help clarify the letters that follow.] Gary, your newsletter next week would be too late, can you send this out this week. Thanks Jean Thanks for always keeping me updated. Jean Brave Heart Minnesota Wolf Alliance jbraveheart@sprynet.com http://www.nnic.com/mnwolves/ Emergency Call To Action Alert To Stop Early Delisting of the Wolf -- PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY! Wolf activists in Minnesota have been told that Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior, is about to implement early delisting of the wolf in this country. ASK MR. BABBITT TO STOP EARLY DELISTING. We must get e-mails or call Bruce Babbitt this week, next week will be too late! Minnesota is one state that is advocating for a RECREATIONAL SPORTS HUNTING AND TRAPPING PROGRAM to "control" the wolf population and are waiting for the wolf to be delisted to start wolf hunting. To go from the protection of the Endangered Species Act protection to a public hunt would not look good to the citizens of this country nor the USFWS. This early delisting will affect the Western Great Lakes Population (Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan) and also could affect the entire Eastern Population from North Dakota to Maine as well as states like Montana and Idaho. It could have devastating consequences for the wolf in this country. Although the Western Great Lakes wolf is recovering well, it is the only major wolf population in the contiguous states, but still only represents one percent of its former range. The numbers of the wolf population in the lower 48 state still remains severely threatened. We are asking that you e-mail, or call Bruce Babbitt (Secretary of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) ASAP at: (Don't Wait) Phone (202) 208-7351 e-mail: exsec@ios.doi.gov Let Bruce know that you oppose "EARLY DELISTING OF THE WOLF" in the areas of the Western Great Lakes, Eastern and Western wolf populations. Let him know that as we are approaching recovery of the wolf in this country, --we must have more time to assure that states are not rushing into management plans--that do not have the best interest of the wolf in mind and of all the citizens of this country. For Bruce to even CONSIDER such an act is a betrayal to each and every citizen who contributed endless time, energy and money into the endangered species programs throughout Minnesota and the nation. Without your immediate attention, wolves WILL BE KILLED FOR SPORT in Minnesota! The wolf is a priceless national resource and it only exists today because of Federal protective measures implemented in the early 70's. The wolf still remains highly vulnerable, history has repeatedly demonstrated how quickly wolves can be eliminated once they come into intensive contact with hostile human activity. We must act now to stop this QUICK DELISTING! --------- "RE: Wolf Alert Response" --------- Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 06:29:49 EDT From: Wild4x4gal@aol.com Subj: Wolf Alert UUCP email Hello and greetings to you. I received your email about the wolf delisting and immediately responded. The Wolf has always been very important to me and to my family... for many many generations. Thank you for forwarding the information to me. Here's what I wrote: Hello. My name is Izzabella. I have heard that you are planning to delist the wolf as an endangered species and open up a sport hunting season. This news greatly disturbs me. The people of this country had nearly wiped this great animal completely out of existence and almost into extinction and now you have plans to further eradicate this animal. How hard have the caring people of this country worked to rebuild our wolves as a natural resource? How many hundreds and thousands of dollars have been spent to protect these animals and insure their continuance? Now you wish to destroy all our hard work. You would not even give the wolf the honor or respect it deserves with its death. The wolf will not grace your tables as meat for your family nor will it's hides be used to keep your children warm. You are planning a SPORT hunt of this magnificent creature. A cold and cruel, meaningless death... a "status" trophy for your empty hearted participants. A waste of a life for the fancy of your ego. These values you pass on to your children... they grow up with a disregard and disrespect of life. As you well know and can see every day in the news, our society is crumbling. You teach them that to kill is SPORT and that a life does not matter... it is merely a trophy to be had... a nock on the butt of a rifle.. a head mounted on the wall. Is that something to be so proud of? Izzabella Wolfsong --------- "RE: Delisting of the Wolf" --------- Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 09:40:02 PST From: americannative@juno.com (FLYING Eagle) Subj: Delisting of the Wolf UUCP email Dear Secretary Bruce Babbitt, As sacred as the Eagle is to those who entered our lands and have made this their national symbol so is the wolf in the eyes of the native born american. Both of these are natural creatures that should be allowed the freedom of life. With the ever increasing encroachment of humans on the lands, the lands become such that they can no longer sustain the wild life and therefore the wild life moves to new areas. As Native Americans we know this from personal experiences as we have been moved from our lands many times. When one kills an animal it should be for immediate protection of life or for food. But when one kills only for sport then that is tragedy. Hostile humans can never be trusted, they will not eat the wolf and therefore they will kill the wolf in great numbers because it is sport in the name of animal control. The wolf is still threaten even to be a part of our lives, he is a priceless national resource and he only exists today because of Federal protection measures that were implemented in the early 70's. Without that protection the wolf will be complete vulnerable. History has repeatedly demonstrated how quickly wolves can be eliminated once they are made available to hostile human activity. As Secretary, we call upon you to continue to protect this great national resource and symbol of our peoples and yours; by retaining the wolf on the endangered species programs throughout Minnesota and the nation. Without your immediate attention, the wolf will be killed for sport in Minnesota, and that will only be the start of the desecrations. May the Great Spirit guide you in your decision, Flying Eagle American Native Federation POB 551065 Jacksonville, FL 32255-1065 904-642-3277 Fax: 904-356-3564 --------- "RE: Delisting" --------- Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 14:36:43 -0400 From: "PAUL.D. UNDERWOOD" Subj: DELISTING OF THE WOLF UUCP email Date: 18/06/98 19:09 RE: DELISTING OF THE WOLF Dear Mr Babbitt, We understand that delisting of the wolf is under consideration at present and earnestly ask you to prevent this. Living in the UK., we, and many of our friends, realise we have no right to expect your consideration except as citizens of the world, but would be horrified should this take place. It is a dreadful indictment of man's intelligence and spiritual evolution to consider killing any animal to be "sport" and to kill wolves at this time would deeply offend vast numbers of spiritually aware people worldwide. As we move into the New Millennium, the Wolf is the symbol of the teaching we need to carry us out of the atrocities and insular separatism of past centuries and into the brotherhood for which we all hope in the future. PLEASE, PLEASE, do not allow the symbolic annihilation of the wolf to take place at this time. We see it as genuinely important on many levels both to the animal kingdom and to mankind himself. Paul and Monica Underwood --------- "RE: Cherokees Sideline Council Committees" --------- Date: Wed, 17 Jun 98 08:40:46 -0600 From: berryj@okway.okstate.edu Subj: (FWD)Indian News 6-17-98 ------- FORWARD, Original message follows ------- Subj: Indian News 6-17-98 Date: 6/17/98 1:44 AM Cherokees sideline council committees By ROB MARTINDALE Tulsa World 6/17/98 Move suggested by Byrd after latest meeting folded TAHLEQUAH -- The deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation said Tuesday that all business would go directly to the tribe's council instead of through a committee system. The official, J. Garland Eagle, said the action came after Chief Joe Byrd recommended that all eight council committee meetings be "canceled." As the deputy chief, Eagle is the president of the 15-member tribal council. Eagle said he accepted Byrd's recommendation with the support of the majority of council members at a scheduled Monday night meeting, which was canceled because of lack of a quorum. "Effective today," Eagle said Tuesday, "I hereby suspend all council committee meetings and all appointments of all chairpersons and co-chair persons of all eight committees." He said all business, including resolutions, from department heads would be presented at regularly scheduled council meetings. "I believe that these actions will provide for more efficient and effective productivity of the council members while saving valuable time and money," Eagle said. The council has failed to reach a quorum at its meetings about six times this year because of a constitutional crisis in the tribe. Troy Wayne Poteete of Webbers Falls, the chairman of the tribe's rules committee, said he believed committee meetings should be postponed until "adequate, unbiased officers can be present to ensure the orderly conduct of business." Following a meeting of the tribal council on Sunday, two councilors opposed to the Byrd administration were shoved about in the lobby of the tribal headquarters. Outside the headquarters, the tribe's chief elder, who walks with a cane, was called obscene names by a group of men supporting Byrd's eight-member majority on the council. Poteete, who is among the six opposing the Byrd majority, said he would "not allow ex-cons, bullies, thugs or the acutely ignorant to put me or mycouncilmates in a position where we can be implicated in some sort of physical or verbal altercation." "To do so would allow the wrong element to infringe upon the dignity of the Cherokee Nation as well as lower us personally to their standard." The tribe has been in turmoil since February 1997, when the Cherokee Marshal Service raided Byrd's headquarters in search of evidence of allegations of misuse of funds. Byrd fired the marshals and subsequently was charged in a tribal court with obstruction of justice. The case is still pending. --------- "RE: BIA Funding Cut" --------- Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 12:56:55 -0700 (MST) From: chris@u.arizona.edu Subj: ACTION NEEDED: HOUSE INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS CUTS BIA FUNDING BY $131 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 1999 BUDGET MARKUP (Fwd) ------- FORWARD, Original message follows ------- NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION [NIEA 121 ORONOCO STREET ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314 - 703-838-2870 logo] FAX 703-838-1620 - E-Mail: niea@mindspring.com Website: www.niea.org For Immediate Release For More Information Contact: June 19, 1998 Lorraine Edmo or John W. Cheek at (703) 838-2870 *HOUSE INTERIOR SUBCOMMITTEE CUTS BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS* *FUNDING BY $131 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 1999 BUDGET MARKUP* Washington, DC -- On Thursday, June 18, the House Interior Appropriation Subcommittee marked up the fiscal year 1999 Interior funding bill under its jurisdiction. In his opening statement, Chairman, Ralph Regula (R-OH), stated that ``the subcommittee focused on operational shortfalls and backlog maintenance and focused increases for Native Americans for education and law enforcement and most importantly, Indian Health, which we increased $147 million.'' Funding under Interior appropriations will fund all Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service (IHS) operations. _NOTE : NIEA requests Indian Education advocates to contact the Senate before they mark up the Interior bill on Thursday, June 23. See the end of this update. -Editor_ Some of the details from the markup were not available at this writing and the Interior appropriation subcommittee staff stated that no numbers would be available until after the full committee markup next week. A few of the dollar amounts NIEA was able to obtain include an overall BIA funding level request of $1.7 billion or $10 million over the fiscal year 1998 enacted amount. This amount is $131 million less than the President's FY99 budget request of $1.84 amounts billion. The new school construction category appears to include funding for only the Sac and Fox Settlement School (IA), and the Pyramid Lake High School (NV) in the amount of $17.4 million, with both schools receiving $8.7 million each. A third school on the priority list, the Seba Dalkai Boarding School (AZ), does not appear on the funding list in the amount of $20 million. The school construction category is reported to be $4.2 million over fiscal year 1998. Other unconfirmed budget item include funding for Tribal Colleges at $400.000 above the fiscal year 1998 enacted level of $29.9 million and $5. 1 million below the President's requests. School Operations are recommended at 9.6 million above 1998 and $16.9 million below the President's requests bringing the total to $469 million. No indication was available as to where the reductions are occurring in the school operation category, which includes funding for the Indian School Equalization Program (ISEP), School Transportation, Administrative Cost Grants, and other critical education line items. The subcommittee also recommends a one year moratorium on any new tribal compacts. Other than his opening statement, no other references were made to Indian tribes, other than an amendment offered by David Obey (D-WI) which would permit the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes to build a temporary nuclear waste dump on their reservation in Utah. The tribe would be able to benefit financially from such a facility, but they were meeting resistance from the state. The amendment as passed, however, goes against Utah Gov. Michael O. Levitt's wishes to have the matter delayed for one year. The House Interior Appropriation full committee is scheduled to markup the Interior bill in Wednesday, June 24. The Senate Interior Appropriation's Subcommittee is schedule to markup their version of the bill on Tuesday, June 23 with the full committee marking up on Thursday, June 25. *ACTION NEEDED*: NIEA urges Indian Education advocates to contact the members of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee _no later than Monday, June 22 or Tuesday morning June 23_ to voice your concerns over the devastating cuts the Indian education programs. Without an outcry from Indian county over these substantial cuts, the budget numbers will likely go unchallenged. Below is listing of the member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee who will be marking up the Interior funding bill on Tuesday, June 23. SENATE INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE 202-224-7233/SENATE DIRKSEN-131, Washington, DC 20510 FAX 202-228-4532 Republicans-8 PHONE FAX No. Slade Gorton (WA)-Chair 202-224-3441 202-224-9394 Ted Stevens (AK) 202-224-3004 202-224-2354 Thad Cochran (MS) 202-224-5054 202-224-9450 Pete Domenici (NM) 202-224-6621 202-224-7371 Conrad Burns (MT) 202-224-2644 202-224-8594 Robert F. Bennett (UT) 202-224-5444 Judd Gregg (NH) 202-224-3324 202-224-2952 Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO) 202-224-5852 202-224-1933 Maj. Staff Dir: Cherie Cooper 202-224-7262 Democrats-7 Robert C. Byrd (WV) Rnk Mem 202-224-3954 202-228-0002 Patrick J. Leahy (VT) 202-224-4242 Dale Bumpers (AR) 202-224-4843 202-224-6435 Ernest F. Hollings (SC) 202-224-6121 202-224-4293 Harry Reid (NV) 202-224-3542 202-224-7327 Byron L. Dorgan (ND) 202-224-2551 202-224-1193 Barbara Boxer (CA) 202-224-3553 415-956-6701 Min Prof Staff Mem: Sue Masica 202-224-5271 --------- "RE: Kahnawake Position on Taxation" --------- Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 15:02:00 -0400 From: "Mohawk Nation Office" Subj: Restating the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake Position on Taxation UUCP email Restating the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake Position on Taxation The Two Row Wampum is an agreement whereby two nations coexist and travel the River of Life in peace and friendship. This agreement incorporates all social, political, and constitutional aspects of nationhood. In summary, it states: "You keep your laws, ways and traditions in your vessel, and we will keep our laws, ways and traditions in our vessel. We will travel the river of Life side by side in parallel paths (two rows) which never meet, in peace and friendship, never interfering with one another." Legally, it means that each of the two nations retains its respective jurisdiction. Neither of the two nations can impose its laws and ways over the other. The Two Row Wampum Belt Agreement has its roots in the arrival of the Europeans on this continent. It soon became clear that the Europeans had come with a different way of life. The People of the Haudenosaunee, also known as the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, observed how the newcomers acted toward each other, toward the land and everything that was on it. In order to maintain peace the Two Row Wampum Agreement was afforded each newcomer nation that arrived on our shores. At the time of it's inception, the Two Row Wampum Agreement was established on a government to government basis. Whenever a dispute arises between native and non-native peoples, we find ourselves in a situation where we are left at a standstill and therefore nothing gets resolved. If this agreement were respected, the mechanisms already exist within it that would allow us to peacefully resolve such issues as taxation and jurisdiction. To avoid a crisis situation, responsible governments should be looking towards re-instituting this process. The traditional Kanienkehaka have always maintained that their authority comes from the Kaienerekowa (Constitution of the Great Law) not the Canadian Constitution. Today the position is the same. The Kanienkehaka (Mohawk Nation) have never relinquished our sovereignty over our territory, nor have we given the United States or Canada the authority to impose taxation within our territories. Our territories have always been a "duty-free" zone. Kanienkehaka are a non-taxable people and not `tax exempt'. The latter infers that one is taxable but has been 'given' the right to not pay tax. Kanienkehaka are also not tax collectors for any foreign governments. Just as it would be absurd to ask the United States to collect taxes for Canada on American soil. Jurisdiction is more than an abstract legal term. It is bound with sovereignty and identity, and all their ramifications - social, cultural, political, and economic. The Canadian government, like European colonizers around the world, have learned to conceal what is in effect genocide in many pretty terms. For example, alternative funding becomes municipal structures and self-government becomes not self-determination but `Indian government as Canadian municipalities'. The Traditional People of the Longhouse have consistently warned the Kahnawake Band Council and many other people that self-government agreements would only bring about taxation and municipalization of our sovereign territory. As Kanienkehaka we once again restate our objection to any form of foreign taxation on native lands. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mohawk Nation Office - Kahnawake Branch Our site has been updated! Please view and let us know what you think! http://www.cyberglobe.net/users/mnation --------- "RE: Can the Band Council be Sovereign?" --------- Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 16:18:08 -0400 From: Kahn-Tineta Horn Subj: CAN THE BAND COUNCIL BE SOVEREIGN? CAN JOE NORTON'S BAND COUNCIL ASSERT SOVEREIGNTY FOR THE MOHAWK NATION IN KAHNAWAKE? MNN (Mohawk Nation News) Kahnawake M.T. 18 June 98. BAND MEETING. At A Indian Act band council meeting June 16th, Joe Norton announced to the 40 or so people present that he was asserting Mohawk sovereignty. He was attacking Quebec interference with Mohawk jurisdiction. The next day the press announced that the Mohawks are asserting sovereignty over the Montreal South Shore, taking control of highways, railways and waterways and declaring Kahnawake a duty free zone. This is Norton's reaction to Quebec's latest attempt to violate Canadian law that affirms Aboriginal tax-free jurisdiction. The tobacco tax laws announced last week are intended to stop the sale of tax-free cigarettes on Indigenous territories by collecting tobacco taxes through the manufacturers rather than the sellers. It fails to include any measure to respect Canada's tax-free jurisdiction to tax on Aboriginal territories. Joe Norton had previously admitted negotiating a secret deal with the Quebec government for Byron Horn of Club Rez to pay a lower rate of tax for selling cigarettes. Though he said this was meant to take account of Kahnwake's independent jurisdiction, the negotiation was for one person, not for everyone. Norton is diverting attention from his invitation to Quebec to illegally collect taxes on Kahnawake Mohawk Territory. Many, however, suspect his stance is related to his running for re-election in July. By failing to adequately consult the people he is taking a position which is not his to take. Canada and Quebec are outrageously abusing Mohawk, promoting the idea that cigarettes which are being sold according to Mohawk laws are "contraband". As for the sale of arms near Kahnawake, why is it in the press at the same time? The gun purchase in question was made in December 1997. If they had a real concern, why did they wait so long to do something about it? The police are giving the public a false impression that there are arms in Kahnawake. They continue to push the contemptuous Mohawk stereotype they have created. Kahnawake is a peaceful law-abiding family-oriented community that has seen its share of Mohawk bashing. Men, women, grandparents and grandchildren live there with no fear at all. Joe Norton is correct when he says that the Mohawk Nation has a right to take control of its territory. But this control must be exercised by the true traditional government that represents the people and not by the band council that represents the Canadian government. BACK TO BASICS. The Indian Act band council was illegally imposed on Kahnawake by a Canadian Government Order in Council based on the uninformed consent of 14 people. Canada reversed this number to 41, making it look like there was majority support. The order in council should have been revoked following the 1978 referendum in which a majority of the electors voted to return to the true traditional government of the Mohawk. Why doesn't the Canadian government respect democracy? The band council is not legitimate! Canada can resolve this by respecting the will of the people and dealing with the traditional government instead of the illegally imposed band council. At the band council meeting Norton said that he was operating as a customary council but had not asked Ottawa to revoke the Order in Council that created the band council. The Indian Act can only operate on land that has been ceded. Kahnawake was never ceded. This means he is either operating under an illegally imposed band council system, or he is operating as a custom council without revoking the order in council. CANADA DRAGGING ITS FEET. Why does Canada drag its feet about the order in council that supports the illicit band council? When can the Confederacy Council come back so the people are properly represented? Both Canada and Quebec could prevent confrontations by respecting true Mohawk Nation jurisdiction. If they continue to deal with people like Joe Norton, they will feed the desperation all Mohawk feel about the lack of recognition of the laws of this peaceful nation. Norton violates the basis of Mohawk culture. Women are the titleholders of the land at Kahnawake and Joe Norton has not consulted the women even though his measures involve land use. CANADA IS IN CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Canada can diffuse the situation by separating itself from the paternalistic mistakes that were made in the past and recognize that it is in a conflict of interest. Canada and the Mohawk should present the jurisdictional issues to an impartial international mediator, through the United Nations or another international organization. REACTION IN KAHNAWAKE. The press is making it look like the people of Kahnawake are in favour of the band council's actions. Said one person, a supporter of the Longhouse, "This is not so. Over 80% are traditional people who are working towards reestablishing the Longhouse as their governing body. We are angry about the Gazette (June 18th) making it sound like traditional spokesperson, Karonhiahente of the Mohawk Nation Office, made a statement that we support Joe Norton's actions to collect taxes at "toll booths and other fee collecting measures". This makes it look like there is collusion between the Longhouse and the band council. As far as I know, the Longhouse people do not support the band council. We learned in 1990 what happens when we work together. To this day Norton condemns us for closing the bridge in 1988 and 1990 and running a bingo. Now they want to open up a casino. The people who support the band council system voted against having a casino in a referendum in 1994 and this vote still stands. He constantly accuses us of causing civil unrest. Now it sounds like we are forgetting all about the Great Law of Peace, our constitution, jeopardizing everything we stand for. Supporting the band council in any way erodes our rights. Have they lost sight of what this is all about - the secret taxation agreement that Joe Norton negotiated with the Quebec government to bring Quebec jurisdiction onto Mohawk territory?" The Mohawk Nation Office states that Karonhiakente was misquoted by the Gazette and have issued a statement clarifying their position on taxation. MNN: P.O. Box 991, Kahnawake Mohawk Territory (Quebec, Canada) J0L 1B0 450-635-8696 Fax 450-635-8693 mohawkns@cyberglobe http://www.cyberglobe.net/users/otsira --------- "RE: Draft Legislation re Native Hawaiian Status" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 10:15:34 -1000 From: Hawaii Nation Info Subj: Federal Draft Legislation re Native Hawaiian status <<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>> This message is sent to subscribers of the Hawaii Nation Info service, featuring articles, updates and action alerts on Hawaiian politics and culture, for informational and educational purposes only. Contents represent the views of author/originator of message/article. Redistribute freely. Un/subscribe: mailto:info@hawaii-nation.org <<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>> --- begin forwarded text Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 00:42:39 -1000 From: Tony Castanha To: kanakamaoliallies-l@hawaii.edu Subject: IMPORTANT DRAFT LEGISLATION PLEASE FORWARD Aunty Clara Kakalia has asked me to post for comment, discussion and action the current draft proposal and legislation arising out of Sen. Inouye's office. In an earlier message to the Kanakamaoliallies list, Professor Boyle called the legislation, "truly outrageous and dangerous--treating you just like Native Americans, a one-way path to extinction. I would encourage you all to start organizing against it." The following message is broken into three parts: 1) Aunty Clara's letter to 'Ohana and Hawaiian Organizations; 2) the concept paper titled, "Consideration of the Restoration of a Governmental Entity which would Represent the Native People of Hawaii"; and 3) the "Discussion Draft" in the Senate of the United States. Aloha, Tony I. MEMO To: ALL 'OHANA and/or HAWAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS FROM: Clara L. Kakalia, Chair, Kukahi Coalition Re: Invitation to Participate in Meetings Kukahi is a Coalition of bringing together all Hawaiians and/organ- izations to educate on the values and preservation of the Hawaiian culture. Kukahi invites you to participate on Monday, June 22, 1998, 4:30pm, Kaumakapili Church, to review two (2) Documents entitled "Concept Papers" and "Senate Draft" legislation from Washington, D.C. Please review these enclosed documents and prepare to submit your written comments on or before June 30, 1998. On this date, we will be meeting with the author, Ms. Patricia Zell, Counsel, Committee on Indian Affairs, from Washington, D.C. We look forward to coming together of all Hawaiian organizations and 'Ohana. (PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD). This Draft Legislation will impact all Hawaiians, now and in the future. II. CONCEPT PAPER: CONSIDERATION OF THE RESTORATION OF A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY WHICH WOULD REPRESENT THE NATIVE PEOPLE OF HAWAII Discussion Over the last ten years or more, there has been increasing scrutiny at the federal level of the legal justification for the authorization of federal programs designed to benefit Native Hawaiians and for the expenditure of federal funds to implement those programs. Following the United States Supreme Court ruling in Adarand Construct- ors, Inc. v. Pena, the U.S. Justice Department undertook a review of all federal affirmative action programs. It was as a function of that exercise that the Justice Department has continued to urge the Committee on Indian Affairs that legislation be enacted to clarify the legal status of Native Hawaiians. In Adarand, the Supreme Court held that federal affirmative action programs that use racial or ethnic criteria as a basis for decision- making are subject to strict judicial scrutiny. Accordingly, if a federal program is based on racial or ethnic classifications, strict judicial scrutiny requires that there be evidence of A COMPELLING GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST and the governmental use of race or ethnicity must be NARROWLY-TAILORED to achieve the objective. These requirements are not applicable to the other native people of the United States (American Indians and Alaska Natives) because the Supreme Court has held that the relationship that the United States and the Indian tribes is a political relationship arising out of treaties that the United States entered into with the Indian tribes and the course of dealings between governments. Thus, working within the framework of the Supreme Court's rulings in this area, the challenge has been and continues to be--how to go about establishing as a matter of federal law that Native Hawaiians have a comparable political relationship with the United States. We can, of course, document a course of dealings--a government-to- government relationship--between the government of Hawaii and the United States prior to the 1893 overthrow. It is the absence of a government representing the Native Hawaiian people from 1893 up and through contemporary times that presents the problem. While the Congress has authorized the inclusion of Native Hawaiians in laws that have been enacted for the benefit of Native Americans, those representatives of the Justice Department that have urged the Committee to take further steps to clarify the legal status of Native Hawaiians believe that legislation which includes Native Hawaiians in Native American programs may not be sufficient to overcome a legal challenge to the constitutionality of any Act that is designed to benefit Native Hawaiians, should one be brought. THUS, ONE GOAL OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION WOULD BE TO CLARIFY THE LEGAL STATUS OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS. A SECOND OBJECTIVE FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION WOULD BE TO PROVIDE A PROCESS FOR THE RESTORATION OF RECOGNITION BY THE UNITED STATES OF A GOVERNMENT REPRESENTING THE NATIVE PEOPLE OF HAWAII. The thinking is that if a process were to be established in federal law within the next few years while a congressional delegation that is supportive of Native Hawaiian sovereignty is in office, that pro- cess would be there (in federal law) to be followed at whatever point in time in the future that a broad consensus is reached on a governing entity that would be authorized to represent the native people of Hawaii in their dealings with the United States. Outlined below are considerations that might be brought to bear in determining how to address these objectives. Clarification of the Legal Status of Native Hawaiians Legislation clarifying the legal status of Native Hawaiians could be introduced with or without addressing the matter of a process for the restoration of federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian governing entity. The purpose of such legislation would be to address and resolve any legal challenge to existing or future federal legislation enacted for the benefit of Native Hawaiians, by making clear that the United States recognizes a political relationship with the native people of Hawaii, arising out of treaties and the course of dealings with the Hawaiian government prior to the 1893 overthrow. Process for the Restoration of Federal Recognition of a Native Hawaiian Government The restoration of recognition by the United States of a Native Hawaiian government would obviously be preceded by a series of organizing actions on the part of the Native Hawaiian community. Federal legislation would typically address only that point in the process at which a Native Hawaiian governing body were ready to petition the United States for recognition. The federal legislation would likely spell out what criteria would be applied for federal recognition and what action would be taken at the federal level and by whom such action would be taken to effect a formal United States' recognition of a Native Hawaiian government. Consistent with the Federal policy of self-determination and self- governance, the elements of organizing actions to form a Native Hawaiian government would be determined by the Native Hawaiian community. Perhaps a consortium of Native Hawaiian organizations would come together to organize the convening of a Native Hawaiian constitu- tional convention. That consortium would likely want to address the manner in which delegates to a Native Hawaiian constitutional con- vention would be determined. If delegates to a convention were to be elected--all the aspects associated with an election of delegates and the conduct of such an election would have to be addressed. An earlier discussion draft bill circulated by the Committee several years ago suggested that federal funding be made available for various activities associated with the formation of a Native Hawaiian government. If the Native Hawaiian community decides that federal funding for these purposes would be desirable, the Committee could prepare an amendment to the Native American Programs Act which would authorize the expenditure of federal funds for such purposes. With that authority in place, appropriations to support organizing activities could be sought. Assuming an election for delegates to a constitutional convention is held and delegates are elected, would the delegates then be responsible for the planning and convening of a Native Hawaiian constitutional convention? Would the original consortium of Native Hawaiian organizations (assuming that one was formed for this purpose) have any remaining role? Would the consortium work with the delegates on the planning and convening of the convention? Are there any requirements of state law that would apply to the convening of such a convention? A constitutional convention would typically be the forum in which the elements of a constitution would be decided upon. In addition to addressing how a government is organized (i.e., legislative, judicial and executive branches or some other form of organization), a constitution will likely address the powers and authorities of the government to be formed. But because a Native Hawaiian government might be authorized to exercise powers of government that are currently being exercised by the State of Hawaii and/or its political subdivisions, or by the federal government, the question arises whether the delegates to a constitutional convention should meet with the representatives of the state and federal governments to discuss the possible parameters of the exercise of governmental authorities by each of the respective governments, or should such meetings take place only after the provisions of a constitution of a Native Hawaiian government have been decided upon. If a constitution is adopted by the delegates, and amendments to the constitution are determined to be warranted as a result of meetings or negotiations with the representatives of the state and federal government, the mechanism for making amendments to the constitution (prior to its adoption by the larger Native Hawaiian community) would have to be decided upon. Assuming the delegates reach agreement on the provisions of a Native Hawaiian constitution, would the delegates be responsible for the conduct of a statewide election so that eligible voters (as determined by the constitution?) could ratify the constitution? Assuming the constitution is ratified, are the delegates to the con- vention then responsible for convening an election of representatives to serve in the Native Hawaiian government? Once the governing body of the Native Hawaiian government is formed, if it is the desire of the Native Hawaiian people to secure the recognition of the United States of their government, the process for such recognition--established by earlier enacted legislation-- could be triggered. Federal legislation would likely address: 1) the manner of filing a petition for recognition (with the President or the Congress); 2) if filed with the President, a determination by the executive branch of the U.S. government that certain threshold requirements have been met (a constitution ratified by a majority vote of eligible voters and the election of representatives to the newly-formed government by a majority vote of eligible voters) before forwarding the petition to the Congress; 3) what action would be required on the part of the two houses of the Congress and whether a majority vote would be required for passage; and 4) whether the President would have to sign the petitioning legislation into law before formal recognition is extended to the Native Hawaiian government. Federal legislation would also likely address those rights, responsibilities and benefits that would be recognized in a Native Hawaiian government. This concept paper clearly addresses only the broad "process" considerations associated with the formation of a government which would represent the native people of Hawaii. Considerations of a land base over which a Native Hawaiian government would exercise jurisdiction, and the source of revenues to fund the operation of a Native Hawaiian government might be addressed in the context of a Native Hawaiian constitutional convention. III. DISCUSSION DRAFT IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES - A BILL To recognize the political status of the aboriginal, indigenous people of Hawaii and to establish a process for the restoration of recognition by the United States of a Native Hawaiian government. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE This Act may be cited as the "Native Hawaiian Recognition and Restoration Act". SECTION 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. The Congress finds that-- 1) At the time of the arrival of the first Europeans in 1778, the Native Hawaiian people lived in a highly organized, self- sufficient, subsistence social system based on communal land tenure with sophisticated language, culture, and religion; 2) A unified monarchical government of the Hawaiian Islands was established in 1810 under Kamahameha I, the first King of Hawaii; 3) From 1826 to 1893, the United States recognized the indepen- dence of the Kingdom of Hawaii, extended full and complete diplomatic recognition to the Hawaiian government, and entered into treaties and conventions with the Hawaiian government in 1826, 1842, 1850 and 1887 to govern commerce and navigation; 4) On January 14, 1893, the United States Minister assigned to the sovereign and independent Kingdom of Hawaii conspired with a small group of non-Hawaiian residents of the Kingdom of Hawaii, including citizens of the United States, to overthrow the indigenous and lawful government of Hawaii; 5) In pursuance of the conspiracy to overthrow the government of Hawaii, the United States Minister and the naval representatives of the United States caused armed naval forces of the United States to invade the sovereign Hawaiian nation on January 16, 1893, and to position themselves near the Hawaiian government buildings and the Iolani Palace; 6) On January 17, 1893, a Committee of Safety representing the American and European sugar planters, descendants of missionaries, and financiers deposed the Hawaiian monarchy and proclaimed the establish- ment of a Provisional Government; 7) The United States Minister thereupon extended diplomatic recognition to the Provisional Government that was formed by the conspirators without the consent of the Native Hawaiian people or the lawful government of Hawaii in violation of treaties between the two nations and of international law and on February 1, 1893, pro- claimed Hawaii to be a protectorate of the United States; 8) In a message to Congress on December 18, 1893, President Grover Cleveland reported fully and accurately on the illegal acts of the conspirators and concluded that a "substantial wrong had thus been done which a due regard for our national character as well as the rights of the injured peoples requires we should endeavor to repair" and called for the restoration of the Hawaiian government; 9) Notwithstanding President Cleveland's message to Congress, on July 4, 1894, the Provisional Government declared itself to be the Republic of Hawaii and on July 7, 1898, President McKinley thereafter signed the Newlands Joint Resolution that provided for the annexation of Hawaii; 10) Through the Newlands Resolution, the self-declared Republic of Hawaii ceded sovereignty over the Hawaiian Islands to the United States and ceded 1,800,000 acres of crown, government and public lands of the Kingdom of Hawaii without the consent of or compensation to the Native Hawaiian people or their sovereign government; 11) Through the Newlands Resolution, the Congress ratified the cession of lands, annexed Hawaii as part of the United States and vested title to the ceded lands in the United States; 12) On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th State of the United States; 13) The Native Hawaiian people never directed relinquished their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people and over their national lands to the United States, either through their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum; 14) The Native Hawaiian people are determined to preserve, develop and transmit to future generations their ancestral ter- ritory and their cultural identity in accordance with their own spiritual and traditional beliefs, customs, practices, language and social institutions; 15) The authority of Congress under the Constitution to legislate in matters affecting the indigenous people of the United States includes the authority to address matters affecting Native Hawaiians; 16) Through treaties, Federal statutes and rulings of the Federal courts, the United States has recognized and reaffirmed that the political status of Native Hawaiians is comparable to that of American Indians and Alaska Natives, and that the aboriginal, indigenous people of the United States have a continuing right of self-determination and self-governance that has never been extin- guished; and 17) The political relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian people has been recognized and reaffirmed by the United States as evidenced by the inclusion of Native Hawaiians in the Native American Programs Act of 1974, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, the National Museum of the American Indian Act, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Native American Languages Act, the American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Development Act, the Job Training and Partnership Act and the Older Americans Act of 1965. SECTION 3. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purposes of this Act are-- 1) to clarify and recognize the political status of the aboriginal, indigenous people of Hawaii; 2) to recognize the right of the Native Hawaiian people, as indigenous, aboriginal people of the United States, to exercise self- determination and self-governance; 3) to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the inherent sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian people; 4) to provide a process for the restoration of recognition by the United States of a Native Hawaiian government within the framework of the laws of the United States for purposes of achieving self-determination and protecting and enhancing Native Hawaiian language, culture, resources and religious practices; and 5) to reaffirm the government-to-government relationship between the Native Hawaiian people and the United States. SECTION 4. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Act, the term-- 1) "Native Hawaiian" means any individual who is a descendant of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now constitutes the State of Hawaii; 2) "Native Hawaiian government" means the government organized by the Native Hawaiian people. SECTION 5. RECOGNITION. The United States recognizes and reaffirms-- 1) the inherent sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian people which has never been extinguished; 2) the right of the Native Hawaiian people to exercise self- determination and self-governance; and 3) that the native people of Hawaii have the same legal and political status as the other aboriginal, indigenous people of the United States. SECTION 6. ORGANIZATION. In recognition of their inherent sovereignty, the Native Hawaiian people shall have the right to organize a Native Hawaiian government for their common welfare, and may adopt an appropriate constitution, which shall become effective when ratified by a majority vote of those persons eligible to vote pursuant to the provisions of the constitution. SECTION 7. PETITION FOR RECOGNITION. a) The Native Hawaiian government formed pursuant to section 6 of this Act shall be authorized to present a petition to the President and the Congress for formal extension of recognition by the United States to the Native Hawaiian government; b) Upon receipt of the petition for recognition of the Native Hawaiian government, the President shall promptly forward such petition to the Congress, along with any reports or recommendations he may deem appropriate; c) The petition for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian government shall be adopted-- 1) upon a vote by the majority of those members of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives voting to authorize the recognition of the Native Hawaiian government; and 2) the signature of the President of the United States approving the petition. SECTION 8. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Upon adoption of the petition adopted by the Congress under section 7 of this Act and approved by the President of the United States, the United States shall recognize the authority of the Native Hawaiian govern- ment to exercise those rights and responsibilities contained in the constitution of the Native Hawaiian government, including the right to self-determination and self-governance. ___________________________________________________________ | Hawai`i - Independent & Sovereign | | info@hawaii-nation.org http://hawaii-nation.org | |___________________________________________________________| "The cause of Hawaii and independence is larger and dearer than the life of any man connected with it. Love of country is deep- seated in the breast of every Hawaiian, whatever his station." - Queen Lili`uokalani --------- "RE: Camp Ipperwash Deal" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 00:37:03 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: Camp "Ipperwash" Deal :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: DEAL TO BE SIGNED ON CAMP IPPERWASH Sarnia Observer, June 17, 1998 [S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news article may contain biased or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context. It is provided for reference only.] SARNIA, Ont. (CP) - The federal government and the areas aboriginals will sign a proposed deal worth $26.3 million Thursday to return land taken from the natives by Ottawa during the Second World War. It's hoped the deal, which requires ratification by members of the Kettle and Stoney Point bands, will end the dispute over Lake Hurons Camp Ipperwash in southwestern Ontario. "I think it will be a positive thing for the community," said Bill Graham, mayor of nearby Bosanquet. "We've been waiting a long time for some sort of proposal to come forward. I'm happy to see them come to an arrangement that the native community can live with and that this be put to bed once and for all." Along with Camp Ipperwash's return would comes millions of dollars in individual and community compensation and services for the native community. Indian Affairs Minister Jane Stewart, who arrived at Kettle and Stoney Point Wednesday, had asked for a gag order to prevent the specifics of the deal from being leaked. But a band source who attended a meeting on the proposed deal Tuesday told the Sarnia Observer said the terms were basically unchanged from an agreement reached January after two years of negotiations between Ottawa and the native groups. Details of that deal were leaked to the media. The agreement in principle includes $12.9 million to rebuild the native community at Stoney Point, individual compensation for band members ranging from $157,000 to $405,000 and $3 million for a trust fund, the source told the newspaper. The band member said the latest agreement is "garbage." "This negotiating team has spent over $2 million but they have never included the actual membership, until last night. They came up with the same figure they offered in the beginning in January," the band member told the paper. "I think people were really shocked because they (council) are dictating. No one will have a say." No one involved in striking the tentative agreement would comment. The deal could also pave the way for Ottawa to try and negotiate the transfer of nearby Ipperwash Provincial Park, where provincial police shot and killed native protester Dudley George during a 1995 confrontation. Stoney Point Reserve, established by the British Crown in 1827, was expropriated by the federal government under the War Measures Act in 1942. Eighteen families were relocated to Kettle Point and promised the return of their 2,211 acre homeland after the Second World War but the promise was never kept. In 1980, the federal government paid Kettle Point $2.5 million for use of Camp Ipperwash. On May 5, 1993, a handful of natives moved onto Camp Ipperwash and shared the land with military forces for more than two years. The military abandoned the base in July 1995. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: More information on Aazhoodena (Stoney Point): http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Ipperwash/00arcmai.html In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 EMAIL: SISIS@envirolink.org WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html --------- "RE: BC Shuffles Deckchairs on Treaty Talks Titanic" --------- Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 02:29:20 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: BC Shuffles deckchairs on BCTC "Titanic" :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: EX-YUKON LEADER TO REPRESENT BC IN TREATY TALKS Vancouver Sun, June 18, 1998, by Stewart Bell [S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news article may contain biased or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context. It is provided for reference only.] Former Yukon government leader Tony Penikett has been assigned to represent B.C. in discussions with Canada and First Nations over the future of treaties, sources said Wednesday. Although his appointment has not yet been officially announced, an official at the aboriginal affairs ministry confirmed Penikett had been asked to help with government treaty efforts. Penikett, a New Democrat who led the Yukon territory until 1992, will make his debut in his new role today at a meeting at the Vancouver offices of the department of Indian affairs. "If the news of his appointment is correct, it's good news," said Indian affairs regional director John Watson, adding Penikett was well-versed in treaty issues due to his role in the Yukon. Penikett's appointment coincides with the departure of Bob Plecas as the premier's representative in talks that aim to salvage B.C.'s treaty-making process, which has been in turmoil since a 1997 court decision broadened the scope of aboriginal land rights. Penikett left the Yukon in 1995 to take a job as senior policy adviser for the NDP government in Saskatchewan. Last year, Premier Glen Clark made him B.C.'s chief negotiator in contract talks with government employees. Penikett will continue in his role in the union negotiations. He could not be reached Wednesday. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: For more information on the BC Treaty Process, see: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/BCgovt.html http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/switlo.html Letters to the Vancouver Sun - mailto:sunletters@pacpress.southam.ca In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 EMAIL: SISIS@envirolink.org WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html --------- "RE: Bishop Avoids Rape Trial" --------- Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 02:30:23 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: O'Connor avoids rape trial via "healing circle" :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: BISHOP O'CONNOR AVOIDS RAPE TRIAL VIA "HEALING CIRCLE" [S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news articles may contain biased or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context. They are provided for reference only.] 1. Finally, he confesses 2. Victim sheds cloak of shame 3. Healing circle built on respect and equality 4. Healing - or vicious - circle? :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: FINALLY, HE CONFESSES A Roman Catholic bishop apologizes for his sins, and a proud native woman can start putting the past behind her The Province, June 18, 1998, by Barbara McLintock, Victoria Bureau Bishop Hubert O'Connor publicly confessed and apologized for the pain he caused his victims more than three decades ago.And with that, the highest-ranking Roman Catholic ever to be charged with sex offences ended up free of criminal charges. In an unprecedented move, the Crown and defence lawyers, the victim, native leaders and O'Connor agreed to a traditional native healing circle instead of another round of trials and appeals. The circle took place at Alkali Lake, near Williams Lake, on Monday and ended with about 70 members of the native community cramming into the community hall to hear formal apologies from O'Connor and the Roman Catholic church. Assistant deputy attorney-general Ernie Quantz said yesterday the O'Connor settlement must not be considered a precedent for other cases. "This was an exceptional case," said Quantz, adding that the policy is to prosecute in all sex-offence cases where there's a reasonable likelihood of conviction. But in O'Connor's case the court proceedings have dragged on for more than seven years. Quantz also noted O'Connor has served six months in jail and would return to jail for little time even if reconvicted, there's no guarantee the Crown would win another appeal or trial, and victim Marilyn Belleau and her family preferred the healing-circle approach. Belleau, who's told her story three times in court, said she wasn't sure "if I would have had the strength or the energy to go through it all again." She said she was frustrated that the court system dealt only in the facts and never let her express to O'Connor her feelings about the pain he had caused her. Her sister-in-law, Charlene Belleau, said the band -- long known for its pioneering tradition of sobriety and healing -- felt the need for the healing circle so all involved could move on. A circle based on trust, respect and honesty, she said, was "one of the most painful and fearful processes O'Connor has ever had to go through," probably more so than another trial. O'Connor's lawyer, Chris Considine, said the 70-year-old bishop, who is in failing health, "found it very, very difficult" but did feel a greater sense of peace once it was over. Quantz, who said he found the circle a powerful and moving experience, said the challenge now is to find ways to bring that type of experience into the criminal justice system, "not as an alternative to it, but as a part of it." 'I AM SO SORRY . . . I WILL DO PENANCE UNTIL I DIE' Here is the full text of Bishop Hubert O'Connor's apology: "I have listened and heard. I only wish that we had had this opportunity eight years ago. I have had a very difficult time, and I believe this process will start the necessary healing. I am so sorry. I want to apologize for my breach as a priest and my unacceptable behavior, which was totally wrong. I took a vow of chastity and I broke it. I apologize for the harm I have done. I have and will continue to do my penance until I die, both in the community and before God. "I have come here today to apologize for the harm I have done in the hopes that there will be a healing of the rifts between our communities, not because I have to but because I want to. Our views of the case may be different, but I know that it is time to bring us together and to heal. You (Marilyn) have spoken about your anger and your sorrow, and I respect what you have said. It is a very important step for both of us and our communities to help start healing. "I now realize there were incidents and events that occurred at the residential schools that were wrong. But it was not all bad. Please remember the good things as well: The pipe band, the academic education, the good work of many of the priests and nuns. Do not condemn them because of the conduct of myself and others. "I trust that the meeting today will be a step forward in healing between the complainants and myself." :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: VICTIM SHEDS CLOAK OF SHAME: Healing circle eases the pain of sexual abuse The Province, June 18, 1998, by Barbara McLintock Marilyn Belleau is a victim no longer. She has chosen to be publicly identified as a victim of Roman Catholic Bishop Hubert O'Connor as the last symbolic step to show her freedom from the sexual abuse that has haunted her for 30 years. "I don't feel that shame any more," Belleau told The Province. "That cloak of shame, I've let go of that." On Monday, the 51-year-old woman participated in a seven-hour traditional native healing circle with O'Connor, justice officials and native leaders in her home community of Alkali Lake, south of Williams Lake. She confronted O'Connor face-to-face and told him how wrong what he did was, and the years of pain and suffering it caused her. She also heard apologies from him and from the Catholic Church, which ran the St. Joseph's residential school that O'Connor headed. "I came out of it feeling really much lighter," said Belleau. Her friend Irene Johnson noted that after the ceremony, Belleau looked more relaxed "than I've seen you in years." Belleau said she'd expected to be anxious going into the circle but quickly realized O'Connor was much more uncomfortable. "He kept saying so many times 'I'm sorry,'" she recalled. "I felt like sorry wasn't enough, but I don't know what else he could have said." O'Connor never admitted to raping her -- although the one charge that remained outstanding against him was that of rape -- but acknowledged it was wrong to have a sexual relationship with Belleau when she was only 18, working in the school office, and he was her boss and previous school principal. For Belleau, that was enough. The healing circle, she said, was the culmination of several years of working to overcome the legacy of the residential school -- not only the sexual abuse but also the years of loss of culture, loss of language, loss of traditions. She has received counselling and has also learned from participating in traditional native spiritual ceremonies such as sweat lodges and singing. She has received support from women in Alkali and throughout the native community. "It served me well," she concluded. "I wanted to do this at this time in my life. It was really empowering for me." BISHOP'S FALL FROM GRACE Bishop Hubert O'Connor was principal of St Joseph's residential school at Williams Lake from 1961 to 1967. He was appointed Bishop of Prince George in 1986, but resigned in 1991 when the sex charges, relating to his years at the school, were laid. 1989: Police investigation into allegations begins. 1991: O'Connor ordered to stand trial on four charges. June 1992: First B.C. Supreme Court trial begins. December 1992: Trial stayed on grounds Crown had not made proper disclosures to defence about counselling records of the complainants. 1994: B.C. Court of Appeal grants the Crown appeal of that decision and orders a new trial. 1995: O'Connor loses appeal to Supreme Court of Canada that stay should be allowed. July 1996: O'Connor's second trial takes place. He is convicted of rape and indecent assault and sentenced to a total of 2 1/2 years. He is acquitted of the other two charges. 1996-97: O'Connor serves 6 1/2 months before being released on bail pending another appeal. March 1998: B.C. Court of Appeal changes the conviction on the indecent-assault charge to an acquittal, and orders a third trial on the rape charge on the grounds the judge did not apply correct legal tests in determining guilt. June 1998: Complainant Marilyn Belleau, the native community, Crown and defence agree to a native healing circle as an alternative to yet another appeal or trial. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: HEALING CIRCLE BUILT ON RESPECT AND EQUALITY The Province, June 18, 1998, by Barbara McLintock The healing circle is a traditional native ceremony designed to allow a wrongdoer to be held accountable for his actions to the victim and the community. One of the keys of the circle, says Alkali Lake co-ordinator Charlene Belleau, is that everyone who feels he or she needs to speak can do so for as long as he wishes, and everyone will be listened to with respect and without interruption. "In a circle, there is no hierarchy; everyone is equal," she said. A healing circle opens with a sacred ceremony and is led by an elder who ensures a respectful tone is maintained. In the Hubert O'Connor case, the circle was divided into three parts. In the first and smallest circle, victim Marilyn Belleau confronted O'Connor with her feelings about the wrong he had done, and O'Connor apologized. A total of 38 people participated in the next phase, in which members of the victim's family and native elders also talked about the pain they'd suffered, not just from O'Connor's actions but also from the residential-school system. O'Connor then had a chance to reply and apologized to them. In the final phase, more community members joined the circle to hear formal, written apologies from O'Connor and from Bishop Jerry Wiesner on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church. The circle then closed with native songs, drumming and prayers. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: HEALING - OR VICIOUS - CIRCLE? Furore rises over native rite that freed Bishop Hubert O'Connor from a third rape trial The Province, June 19, 1998, by Suzanne Fournier and Barbara McLintock B.C. aboriginal women and victims' assistance groups are angry at Bishop Hubert O'Connor's use of a native healing circle to "escape" a third trial for rape. On the steps of the downtown Vancouver courthouse, several women's groups said yesterday they feel "betrayed" by B.C. Attorney-General Ujjal Dosanjh for breaking a promise not to use native healing circles or "alternative justice" for serious sex offenders. And a coalition of victims' assistance groups said the diversion of one of Canada's most notorious sexual-assault cases to a "healing circle" sends a devastating message to victims. "The use of alternative measures for a case of such magnitude as this is a frightening one," said Greta Smith, of the B.C./Yukon Society of Transition Houses. "The underlying message that is now being conveyed to the women of B.C. is that sexual assault and violence against women [are] not being taken seriously by our government." Smith said O'Connor, the highest-ranking Roman Catholic in Canada to be convicted of a sexual offence, escaped a third trial "with a simple apology for breaking his vow of chastity. He failed to acknowledge guilt, thus leaving him without a criminal record for rape, a criminal offence." All the women who spoke emphasized their respect and compassion for Alkali Lake Chief Marilyn Belleau, who was impregnated as a teenager by O'Connor. Debra Bell, co-ordinator of B.C.'s only provincially funded native women's sexual-assault centre, said: "We honor the First Nations women who had the courage to report the actions of a prominent and powerful Catholic bishop and we understand their decision not to suffer through a third trial." But Bell charged "O'Connor was just using our aboriginal culture for personal advantage, which is ironic after he spent his career as a Catholic trying to destroy our 'pagan' spirituality." Viola Thomas, president of the United Native Nations, said: "Both the lower-court judge and the parole board said Bishop O'Connor appeared to have nothing but contempt for his victims, so how can a healing circle magically erase 30 years of him inflicting pain without remorse?" But assistant deputy attorney-general Ernie Quantz insisted the O'Connor case is "unique" and that "alternative measures" such as healing circles as opposed to prosecution will normally not be considered in sexual-abuse cases. Belleau and several other Shuswap women have filed a civil suit against O'Connor, the Catholic church and the federal government over sexual abuse. Quantz said the ministry consulted Belleau's lawyer to ensure she wouldn't lose any rights to a civil lawsuit before agreeing to the healing circle. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Letters to The Province - mailto:provedpg@pacpress.southam.ca In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 EMAIL: SISIS@envirolink.org WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html --------- "RE: Nisga'a Deal to Wrap Up Within Weeks" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 00:35:47 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: Nisga'a "treaty" within weeks? :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: NISGA'A DEAL TO WRAP UP WITHIN WEEKS Globe and Mail, June 16, 1998, Page A6, by Robert Matas [S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news article may contain biased or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context. It is provided for reference only.] Vancouver - BC Premier Glen Clark says he expects federal, provincial and Nisga'a negotiators to complete their work on a treaty within weeks, clearing the way for a debate this summer that the Premier believes could be hostile and divisive. With only a few items left on the table, the Nisga'a negotiating team headed for Ottawa yesterday for private talks with federal officials. A federal Indian Affairs official said in Vancouver yesterday the negotiators are "well positioned" to close the deal within the next few weeks. An agreement with the Nisga'a first nation will be British Columbia's first treaty with an Indian group since it entered confederation. Mr. Clark has expressed worry that the deal could spark turbulent disagreement between those who oppose the settlement and those who support it. He appealed yesterday to several religious leaders to speak to people about the history of treaty negotiations and related moral issues. Federal and provincial governments and leaders of the Nisga'a have been involved in talks about the legal language of a settlement since March, 1996, when they reached an agreement in principle that would give the Nisga'a a 1, 930 kilometre tract of land, $190-million and a measure of self-government. Once the negotiators finish their work, the treaty must be ratified by Parliament, the provincial government and the Nisga'a. At a meeting three weeks ago, more than 90 per cent of the Nisga'a people expressed support for the agreement. Mr. Clark said in an interview that he does not expect religious leaders to preach in support of the contentious deal. But said he hopes they will engage their audiences in "respect for genuine dialogue" and discussion about the ethical issues relating to Indian land claims. Mr. Clark added that he is determined "to make a difference on this issue" and expects negotiations will be completed "real soon". "I think it's a question of justice and ethics and morality," he said, "and I think there is an important role for spiritual leaders to play in that debate." Roman Catholic Archbishop Adam Exner, of the Vancouver Archdiocese, said after the meeting that religious leaders should be involved in the ethical and moral aspects of the issue but avoid the politics. "People really are not well-enough informed about it and there are moral aspects of these issues we should talk about," said the archbishop. Anglican Archbishop David Crawley said religious leaders should be involved in the educational process. "Understanding overcomes prejudice," he added. However, Liberal aboriginal affairs critic Mike de Jong said Mr. Clark was pursuing a propaganda campaign in his talks with religious leaders. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. is pleased to note the BC NDP Premier's concern with this "question of justice, ethics and morality." Thousands of people worldwide share these concerns with reference to his government's involvement in the Gustafsen Lake affair. Will Premier Clark now call for the inquiry they are demanding? BC Premier Glen Clark - mailto:premier@gov.bc.ca Letters to the Globe and Mail - mailto:letters@GlobeAndMail.ca For more information on the fraudulent BC Treaty Commission, see: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/BCgovt.html In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 EMAIL: SISIS@envirolink.org WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html --------- "RE: BC Forest Industry Moves to Protect Turf" --------- Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 02:29:51 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: BC Forest Industry moves to Protect Turf :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: FOREST INDUSTRY JOINS INTERFOR IN LOGGING FIGHT Vancouver Sun, June 19, 1998, by Jim Beatty, Sun Legislature Bureau [S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news article may contain biased or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context. It is provided for reference only.] VICTORIA -- British Columbia's forestry industry intervened Thursday in a B.C. Supreme Court court case that threatens to devastate logging operations across the province. The case involves an attempt by the Kitkatla Indian band to stop International Forest Products Ltd. from clearcut logging in an old-growth forest just south of Prince Rupert. A week ago, the court granted the Kitkatla an interim injunction -- stopping all cutting, blasting and road building -- and the band is seeking to make the injunction permanent. At the heart of the issue is whether the Kitkatla were properly consulted -- as provided for in the historic Delgamuukw decision by the Supreme Court of Canada -- before Interfor logging operations began this spring. In the Delgamuukw case, the Supreme Court found that Canadian Indian bands that have not signed treaties are constitutionally entitled to consultation when governments are making decisions about the use of their traditional lands. "There was a lack of consultation here and we insist that we be involved," Kitkatla Chief Matthew Hill said in an interview . "Our heritage and cultural values are at stake. . . . It's about time our voices are heard." As Interfor was defending itself Thursday, saying it made great efforts to inform the Kitkatla of its intentions, it was joined by the Council Of Forest Industries, which said the issue before the court is much broader than just the Kitkatla situation. COFI, the umbrella organization for the forest industry, will argue today that Interfor's consultation process meets the industry and government standard. Therefore, it said, forest company operations could be devastated if the court sides with the Kitkatla by extending the injunction. "It has great importance to our industry," COFI lawyer Chuck Willms said in an interview. "This is the same consultation process that is taking place across the province. If there's something wrong with this process it has broader implications." The dispute centres around a pristine old-growth forest about 50 kilometres south of Prince Rupert. The 100-hectare stand of cedar, spruce, fir and hemlock is hundreds of years old. Kitkatla lawyer Jack Woodward said the issue should be limited to the 100 hectares in question and whether the band was properly consulted -- not the wider issue of the economic impact on the forestry industry. "It's an intimidation argument and it's unfair to First Nations" that go to court to protect their specific rights, Woodward said in an interview. The Kitkatla band claims the property is culturally significant and may include some native artifacts or burial grounds. But Interfor lawyer Bill McNaughton said those claims are unfounded. "There are no such items. They have never been found," McNaughton told the court, referring to archaeological surveys of the land. The case continues. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Letters to the Vancouver Sun - mailto:sunletters@pacpress.southam.ca In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 EMAIL: SISIS@envirolink.org WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html --------- "RE: Indian Wars North and South" --------- Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:00:22 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: Chretien's "green light" to Zedillo :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: INDIAN WARS NORTH AND SOUTH - Even in genocide Canada is polite Canadian Forum, June 1998 by Tony Hall Canada was tugged more deeply into the Mexican government's undeclared war on Indian Country when two of our citizens, Julie Marquette and Sarah Mereille Baillargeon, were expelled in mid-April from Chiapas. The Quebec activists had gone to Mexico's southernmost state, the site of this hemisphere's most vital and politically volatile indigenous resistance struggle, under the auspices of a Montreal based non-governmental organization named Salut le monde. Once in Mexico, these dedicated young women worked under the direction of the Centro de Derochos Humanos Fray Bartolome de las Casas. This church-based research centre takes its name from the legendary Catholic priest who in the mid-16th century was the first great chronicler and critic of the conquistadors' vast human rights violations. The conquistadors' object shared by many of their descendants to this day, was to kill and extinguish a very old world and establish themselves as founders of a New World. On the first of January 1994, the 502-year-old Indian struggle against extinguishment was dramatically renewed in Chiapas by the Zapatista Liberation Army. Their armed assertion was timed to coincide with the inauguration of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Mexican government clamped down hard on the Zapatistas and their sympathizers. In the kind of conflict often pitting Indian against Indian, many indigenous people were murdered. While much of this brutality remains hidden from international view, news did emerge last December that the Zapatistas' paramilitary enemies had killed 45 townsfolk in the village of Acteal. This crime of war continues a tragically familiar tradition of US-backed military aggression against Indian Country in Central and South America. Thus, the making of the new killing field at Acteal represents a direct extension of the anti-Indian brutality brought to light by Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu by her documenting the murderous, right-wing elimination of tens of thousands of largely Mayan peoples in her native Guatemala. The recent civil war in Guatemala and the current one in neighbouring Chiapas, therefore, are closely connected. Both are animated by right-wing regimes bent on privatizing and concentrating wealth against the stubborn resistance of the same large complex of Mayan agriculturalists. In Mexico, Guatemala and, indeed, throughout the rest of the Americas, the most committed defenders of indigenismo remain attached to the collectivist orientation of aboriginal land tenure in which the integrity of virtually all native cultures is rooted. It is these facts of history that created the milieu surrounding the Mexican government's expulsion of Julie Marquette and Sarah Baillargeon from Chiapas. Deported along with these Canadian activists were 10 other foreigners whose primary work was to witness, record and, it is hoped, discourage the murder and repression of Indian freedom fighters and their many supporters. The apparently official silence surrounding these expulsions speaks eloquently about the degraded state of international diplomacy in the Americas in this increasingly totalitarian era of global corporate rule. Indeed, not only did Prime Minister Jean Chretien fail to chastise the Mexican government for such contemptuous treatment of our own Canadian human rights workers, he actually defended the actions of the Mexican government after conferring personally with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo. In explaining his decision not to make a diplomatic issue of the expulsion, Chretien commented that Zedillo was only "applying the laws of his own country." The PM concluded by virtually complimenting Zedillo for his government's supposed restraint, saying the president is even "blamed for not being hard enough on people who create problems in Chiapas." What is to be made of the Canadian PM's apparent nudge and a wink to his Mexican counterpart, effectively giving Zedillo the green light to continue removing international observers from Chiapas? What I take from Chretien's position is a corresponding desire on the part of the Canadian government not to be the subject of international scrutiny when repressing Indians in our own backyard. The underlying theme in this tacit agreement is that indigenous peoples must be contained within a prison of domestic law so that they cannot challenge the very legitimacy of the primary instruments of global corporatism such as NAFTA, the World Trade Organization and the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas. Thus, Mexico is apparently to be left to quell the Indian uprising in Chiapas just as Canada is to be left to use its own domestic instruments of repression against Aboriginal groups who have taken assertive stands to protect their lands and autonomy. Among the most assertive of these First Nations patriots in Canada have been the Ojibway Warriors' Society, the Lubicons, the Mohawk Warriors, the Innu, the Calgary Urban Treaty Indian Alliance, the Defenders of Haida Gwaii, the Barrier Lake Algonquins, the Teme-Augama Anishinabe, the Dene Nation, the James Bay Cree, the Defenders of the Shuswap Nation and the Peigan Lonefighters. Moreover, implicit in the understanding between Mr. Chretien and Mr. Zedillo is a mutual pact not to draw attention to past and future casualties in the Americas-wide war on Indian Country. In Canada these casualties include Dudley George, the Ipperwash martyr who was downed in a peaceful resistance to the Ontario government's right-wing extremism, and Nelson Small Legs Jr, the Blackfoot activist who took his own life to protest the Trudeau government's failure to establish a sufficient infrastructure of social service agencies for this country's fast-rising urban Aboriginal population. Chretien's conversations with Zedillo were part of the preparations for the summit meeting in Santiago, Chile, where 34 heads of state gathered to set in motion the creation of a new Free Trade Area of the Americas. Ironically, just as the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) negotiations in Paris were stalling because of massive public hostility, a modest replacement was being created in Latin America to more firmly integrate that part of the world into the totalitarian monoculture of global corporate rule. A very clear indication of the corrupt nature of these negotiations in Santiago was the lack of any invited representative of aboriginal peoples. Instead, Mr Chretien and the other 33 heads of state stood together in the tradition of Christopher Columbus and the conquistadors. There can be no credibility to any invocation of a rule of law for yet another redrawing of the geopolitical map of the Americas without affording First Nations significant veto powers over the process. Without this, we can't expect genuine reckoning with the continuing pattern of expropriation and genocide of the First Nations. Instead, we can anticipate a joint demonstration that nation-states are maintaining their monopoly of sovereign jurisdiction and thus subordinating the concept of Aboriginal self-government into domestic frameworks of non-Aboriginal laws and institutions. Jean Chretien signalled this strategy in his speech at Santiago. In a statement conveniently bypassing any formal acknowledgment of one of history's most monumental and ruthless continuing acts of genocide and dispossession, the PM remarked, "there are indigenous people throughout our region." He added, "Too often they are the most marginalized members of our society." By restricting the debate to a consideration of aboriginal peoples in relationship to "our society," Chretien avoided addressing the more basic question of how First Nations are to develop the political levers needed to address the requirements of their own societies. A similar form of self-serving myopia was evident in the PM's failure to notice the grave international implications of the expulsion of Julie Marquette and Sarah Baillargeon from the Indian killing fields of Chiapas Mexico. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Tony Hall teaches Native American studies at the University of Lethbridge. He can be reached by email at: hall@uleth.ca In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 EMAIL: SISIS@envirolink.org WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html --------- "RE: Letter to UN HIgh Commissioner" --------- Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 15:43:23 -0700 From: Arturo Espana Subj: Letter to UN HIgh Commissioner ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Translated by Rosalva Bermudez-Ballin for NUEVO AMANECER PRESS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ORIGINAL SENT BY GUILLERMO MICHEL correspondent for NUEVO AMANECER PRESS MEXICO-USA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mexico, D.F., June 16, 1998. Mrs. Mary Robinson High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations Present Most Distinguished Mrs. Robinson: We, the signing organizations express our firm support for the assistance offer you have made to the Mexican government to fulfill its international obligations within the context of the serious crisis of human rights suffered in the state of Chiapas. Your observations regarding the deterioration of human rights and the need to resituate the troops of the Mexican Army, which are currently detached in the area, coincide fully with that held by ample sectors of Mexican society, including that of the National Commission for Human Rights, whose highest official told the President of the Republic of the need to resituate the troops. We consider your intervention necessary, given the incapability the Mexican government has shown to put a stop to the serious and reiterated violations of human rights in Chiapas, which dangerously extend to the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca and the region of the Huasteca, which covers the states of San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, and Veracruz. Given the aforementioned issues, we request your visit to Mexico, as a mission of the High Commissioner, to verify what various human rights organizations have stated regarding the situation of those rights in the country. Similarly, we manifest our disagreement with the premature disqualification made by the Mexican government regarding your declarations. To state that you are not well informed is equivalent to saying that the decisions taken inside the United Nations Organization are rash and not very objective. Finally, we wish to express our satisfaction for the increasing attention the international community has placed in our country; this will surely contribute significantly in preventing the continuation of serious violations of human rights, and will undoubtedly constitute an important support for Mexico in its attempt to become a country where the law is respected, especially regarding the most fundamental rights. Anticipating your response, we remain, Sincerely yours, Christian Action for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) Social and Cultural Studies Center, Antonio de Montesionos, A.C.(CAM) Human Rights Center "Francisco de Vitoria" O. P. Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights, A.C. (CMDPDH) Tabasco Human Rights Committee (CODEHUTAB) Convergence of Civil Organisms for democracy Civil Mission for Peace Citizen Movement for Democracy (MCD) Peace and Justice Service Indigenous Mixe People Services Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights, A.C. Tehuantepec 155 Roma sur. CP 06760. Mexico D.F. Telephones: 5 64 25 82 / 5 64 25 92 / 5 84 91 16 Fax: 5 84 27 31 email: cmdpdh@laneta.apc.org _________________________________________________________________ NUEVO AMANECER PRESS - N.A.P. Para conocernos visite: LA PA'GINA DE N.A.P:http://www.nap.cuhm.mx/nap0.htm Director General: Roger Maldonado Director Europa: Darrin Wood Coordinacion Mexico-USA-Europa: Susana Saravia(Anibarro) Una Prensa en apoyo a los DDHH. Equipo Asesor:Mexico *Todo el equipo de NAP es voluntario* *NAP no recibe ningun financiamiento para su trabajo* *When reproducing NAP's translations; please give credit* *NAP's team works on a volunteer basis and does not receive any funding from any source* --------- "RE: National Action in Response to Recent Massacre" --------- Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 21:37:57 -0400 From: Carol Liu Subj: CHIAPAS: Call for Action from Mexico Solidarity Network /** headlines: 111.0 **/ ** Topic: CHIAPAS: Call for Action from Mexico Solidarity Network ** ** Written 2:25 PM Jun 12, 1998 by newsdesk in cdp:headlines ** /* Written 5:41 PM Jun 11, 1998 by alex2051@xsite.net in reg.mexico */ /* ---------- "Call for Action from Mexico Solidar" ---------- */ From: Mexico Solidarity Network Re: Need to call national action in response to recent massacre For more information contact the Mexico Solidarity Network alex2051@xsite.net Tel: 773-583-7728 NOTE: In light of the massacre at El Bosque, the importance of the Tri-National Delegation to Chiapas July 2-9 is greatly increased. To participate in the delegation contact the Mexico Solidarity Network. The invasion and massacre yesterday in El Bosque (see below for more information) paints a clear picture of Zedillo's strategy in Chiapas: - Attack the Zapatista civilian support base using the army, police, local PRI sympathizers and paramilitaries. - Dismantle the self-declared autonomous villages. - Provoke the Zapatista army into a response, giving the military an "excuse" for direct attacks on the EZLN. Ultimately, Zedillo's targets are civilians, especially the young and old. Military and paramilitary activities since December have created 19,000 internally displaced refugees. This dirty was is escalating rapidly. We need to respond quickly to yesterday's events. We also need to formalize a rapid response structure that can call for and implement rapid response strategies. The Mexico Solidarity Network makes the following suggestions: 1) Form a rapid response committee that can quickly consult when emergencies arise, and then call for nationally coordinated actions. Committee members should include organizations that have a national rapid response structure in place. The Mexico Solidarity Network will form this rapid response committee over the coming weeks. 2) Presently this committee does not exist, but there is clearly a need to respond to the attack on El Bosque. Therefore, the following actions are suggested: Actions: 1)Demonstrations at Mexican consulates, Congressional offices, or other appropriate targets the week of June 15-20. Mexican consulates should be the first choice. Where Consulates do not exist, Congressional offices that supported NAFTA or that have refused to criticize Mexico for human rights abuses should be the second choice. The Committee for Labor Rights has called for demonstrations at Consulates on Tuesday, June 16, in support of the Hyundai workers in Tijuana and they invite people concerned about Chiapas to join these demonstrations and make Chiapas a focus of the actions. Demands should include: Stop the war on the civilian population in Mexico End US military funding to Mexico Close the School of the Americas The events in El Bosque represent a clear escalation of the war on Indians in Chiapas. They demand an appropriately strong response. Occupations of Cosular or Congressional offices should be considered by local committees. It is important that these occupations be non-violent and do not involve property destruction. 2)Phone calls and faxes to appropriate targets. The head of Mexican immigration will be visiting Chicago on Monday, June 15. He is in charge of the campaign to expel foreigners from Mexico which is part of the government's strategy of low intensity warfare. Call or send faxes to the Chicago Consulate making the above-mentioned demands. Also demand on end to the expulsion of foreigners. Tel: 312-855-1380 Fax: 312-855-9257 Please respond with your ideas. The time to act is now. Background on the El Bosque Massacre El Bosque is the fourth autonomous village (there are 32 autonomous villages in Chiapas) that has been attacked and dismantled in the past two months by government forces. The scenario is familiar. Local PRI supporters enter the community accompanied by the army, police and immigration officials. The building that serves as the center of the autonomous structure is destroyed, often along with other houses, and "leaders" are arrested. The army maintains a presence in the village after the occupation and allows PRI sympathizers to terrorize the remaining villagers. This is part of Zedillo's strategy of low intensity warfare directed principally at the civilian population that supports the Zapatistas. These actions are an affront to the peace process in general and the San Andres accords in particular. In 1996, after months of difficult negotiations, the Zedillo administration and the Zapatistas signed the first in what was envisioned as a series of peace accords that would eventually lead to a comprehensive peace in Chiapas. Within weeks the government announced that it would not implement the accords. An important element of the accords was the establishment of autonomous indigenous communities. The fact that the government is now dismantling these very communities indicates the extent to which Zedillo is willing to go to resolve the situation in Chiapas by force rather than by negotiation. If Zedillo is not stopped, we can expect more attacks on autonomous villages, more massacres, more arrests, many more refugees, and a generally destabilized situation in Chiapas. Zedillo appears to be moving rapidly toward all out war on the Indians of Chiapas. The following article was written by Herman Bellinghausen and published in the June 11 issue of La Jornada, a major leftist Mexican newspaper. PUBLISHED ORIGINALLY IN SPANISH BY LA JORNADA IN MEXICO TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH BY irlandesa FOR NUEVO AMANECER PRESS LA JORNADA, June 11, 1998 Hermann Bellinghausen, correspondent, San Cristobal de Las Casas, June 10 The scene was set. Albores couldn't even wait for the start of the first game of the World Cup Soccer championship. And he immediately took charge, as is his custom, through the bloody attack which took place today against the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan de la Libertad. The pretext - yesterday's ambush in the neighboring Los Platanos - was already rehearsed and, in a certain way, announced. Without any proof that the shootout was the work of the zapatistas, Attorney General Rodolfo Soto Monzon took it as a given. Regardless of the fact that the Autonomous Municipality authorities and the Zapatista bases of support immediately denied the accusation, the government and official media supported the version that they had already prepared. They weren't going to change it for lack of proof. The "operation," one of the projects the Governor most warmly adores, began yesterday, immediately, after the second time that PRI members in Los Platanos had ambushed each other. The same thing happened on April 18, when Andres Lopez Hernandez died in a similar incident. They are divided because of problems over land and the manner in which they relate to the autonomous municipality. The PRI members in Los Platanos, one of the few communities in El Bosque, or San Juan de la Libertad, who are not with the autonomous municipality, expelled the families that were the zapatista bases of support and established a state of siege. The beachhead was now in place for the escalation of provocations. On April 27 there were two other deaths, of PRI members, in Los Platanos, when there were no zapatistas in the community. For the second time, regardless, they were blamed without proof. The third time was it. The ski masks worn by the attackers who assassinated Roberto Perez Ruiz yesterday and wounded five passengers in a 3-ton truck driving towards the municipal seat, were sufficient for Soto Monzon to consider it a "demonstration that when supposedly autonomous municipalities exist within the same constitutional municipality, spite and quarrels will always be found." Based in this conclusion, and the military decision to effect the "dismantling" of the important Autonomous Municipality, a powerful offensive was launched today against several communities. Now there are nine new deaths and 25 detainees, at least. Located in the tzotzil region of Los Altos towards the north zone of the state, San Juan has been governed by an autonomous municipal council for almost two and a half years. There has even been a change in authorities. The constitutional PRI government in El Bosque doesn't even work out of the municipal offices, which are the headquarters, as in San Andres, of the autonomous council. This PRI government is administers, among the few communities and families that support them, all of the budget assigned to the municipality. Once again there was the heralding of a helicopter, as in the attack at San Pedro Nixtalucum, in the same municipality, close to two years ago. But this time the attack against civilians included mortars and other high powered arms. Without presenting the bodies, the State Attorney General's office stated that six of them were "guerrilleros." The clean-up operation in San Juan, La Union Progreso and above all, in Chavajeval, recalls other clean-up operations at the "scene of the crimes" which happened before in the conflict zone. Selective Protection Today, the movement of military vehicles with troops and arms was very active in the direction of Los Altos. The Panamerican Highway was practically full with a continuous Army convoy. The State Security Police's five-ton trucks have completed their part; the squads posted there and the policewomen remain, with their tear gas, in the Autonomous Municipality, which in fact finds itself occupied by an extraordinary contingent of soldiers. All access to the hills and mountains which make up the municipality are controlled by the military and the police. The displaced families of Los Platanos have been in the mountains for almost two months, hiding, persecuted by the PRI members with the suport of the Security Police posted in the community. Today it remains hidden, in a state of siege. During this time, the zapatistas' houses were looted and burned, and their coffee plantations robbed or destroyed, without anyone interfering. The zeal with which the Albores' government protects the minority PRI members who are supposedly in trouble (REMEMBER Nicolas Ruiz), is always noteworthily absent when the aggrieved are autonomous or zapatista communities or persons. Through this same selective inaction was plotted the exodus of Chenalho, which culminated in the Acteal massacre and the mass phenomenon that is Polho and its 8000 displaced. They carried the suffering to the communities of San Juan de la Libertad. Children, old people, women and men are experiencing for themselves the hidden meanings of the government's slogan, which is all over Tuxtla Gutierrez: "Let peace speak." This obviously does not refer to them, as Albores' demonstrated last night when speaking to a newsperson from TV Azteca and referring to the dead of Los Platanos as tzeltales, since in this region there are only tzotziles. ** End of text from cdp:headlines ** +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This material came from PeaceNet, a non-profit progressive networking service. For more information, send a message to peacenet-info@igc.apc.org --------- "RE: Summary Executions Discovered" --------- Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 22:43:38 -0600 (CST) From: AME la Paz Subj: Summary executions discovered in El Charco and El Bosque. (AME LA PAZ-News Service 18/VI/98 19-e) (Please forwarding and posting Cc amelapaz@amelapaz.org, http://www.amelapaz.org) Executions (not clash) in El Charco and El Bosque. Summary executions discovered. - Fuentes and Monsivais accuse government.- Translated from Spanish by PC93: Parar la Guerra en Chiapas - Stop the War in Chiapas http://www.kineko.com/pc93/index.htm http://www.wilder.net/c73/index.htm http://nni.irdg.com/pc93/index.htm http://www.peak.org/~joshua/fzln http://www.newhumans.com/chiapas/automail.html http://www.findmail.com/list/chiapas-l/ gopher://mundo.eco.utexas.edu:70/11/mailing/chiapas95.archive June 17, 1998 - Mexico, D.F. What was presented as a confrontation and ambush the morning of June 7, of the EPRI with the army in the community of El Charco in the municipality of Ayutla in Guerrero, was an execution. The few guerrilleros that were sleeping in the school were surprised by a quantity of fire from AK-G3 machine guns that passed through the delicate walls; witnesses said various (of the guerrilleros), after tiring, were executed in the court of the school and others, sunken and very badly injured, were assassinated in the interior of the school. The visitors from the Center for Human Rights observed mercy shots in the corpses among those a minor. One of the detained, Erika Zamora, was heavily tortured - his relatives threatened- to implicate social leaders and campesinos. There is no trace of combat in the locality and the walls perforated by light artillery were rapidly repaired. There is a lack of elements and proofs of a clash of aggression or injured by the detained. Come out 'dogs, dead with hunger'! Yelled the General Juan Manuel Oropeza, commander of the 27 Military Zone in command of 300 soldiers, armored and artillery vehicles. The civilians tired and at least two of them were executed on the spot. The same as in the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan de la Libertad (El Bosque) on June 10, all of it was a escenografia (scenography?) witnessed by a narrator Notary Public: Fernando Reyes Cortes, casually retired ex-military and founding member of the Federal Direction of Security, and availed by television cameramen who never filmed indigenous shooting and of the soldiers supplied with bazookas. Simultaneously more than a thousand troop elements, supported by light artillery, helicopters with artillery, armored and transport vehicles presented themselves in the communities of Chavajeval, Union Progresso and El Bosque, under the pretext of executing 15 orders of arrest. They fanned out in formations, entered the townships, tear-gassing and striking, afterwards shooting, there is no constancy of impacts in the units and transports. What appears to be the case is that zapatista militants or inhabitants covered the retreat of women and children to the nearby mountains. The radial communications of the militaries spoke of a single weapon, of a single shooter. What has been gathered to date is that the people fled beneath a rain of bullets in which fell no less than six that were arrested already being injured and afterwards they appeared dead. Concerning the supposed injured policeman, an analysis of the video where he appears only shows a policeman with a bulletproof vest and does not show a bullet injury. The army lacks dead, today they announced another fallen, an injured military of whom nobody knew anything, not even the same authorities. The action was commanded by general Jorge Isaac Jimenez Garcia; the fallen indigenous, eight to this date and at least 10 disappeared, the fallen militaries: two. The human rights organizations, the journalists, the direct witnesses talk and accuse, as much in El Charco and El Bosque: Executions and massacres, there are sufficient and left over elements, what is more those that accumulate, to accuse the army of summary executions. A wave of indignation is raising up the knowledge in Mexico of said executions. The well-known writer Carlos Fuentes, who was particularly severe, -comparing the politics of extermination with that of the Nazis of Hitler- said today, in the newspaper Reforma: 'From Chinameca to La Union at the same time; one and another time, the Mexican powers have not directed the word to the indigenous and campesina population. They have directed bullets, against Zapata in Chinameca,against Jaramillo in Xochicalco, against the anonymous people in Acteal, now against supposed delinquents in El Bosque, Union Progreso and Chavajeval. To believe that some shots in the mountain could gather together a thousand soldiers in one strike to kill a handful of people without roof nor land, nor shoes, it is such a monstrous deception to call the dead "delinquent". Zapata was called the same in his day (see the newspapers of 1919)' and adds in another part, 'The question that is left is this: Who gives the orders to the Mexican Army for them to move? The only one who can do it is the supreme chief, the president of the Republic. Chiapas is besieged internally by all these forces and contradictions of power. The governor does not want any witnesses. The federal government, from what is seen, doesn't either. But Chiapas without witnesses signifies the death of Chiapas, the impugn extermination. Hitler did not tolerate witnesses in Auschwitz, nor Stalin in the Gullag, nor Pinochet in Chile. But Chiapas without witnesses, Chiapas given over to the official impunity and the death of the poor, signifies another thing: it signifies the danger of uprisings of protest in the country and the cities, it signifies the grave interruption, if not the death, of the democratic transition in Mexico. The emissaries of death not being punished, in Mexico, the cadavers revive and demand justice, from Chinameca to Tlatelolco. As well the prestigious intellectual Carlos Monsivais in the magazine Proceso of this week, writes: 'God protects the good super armed ones when the bad ones are some bad or unsupplied ones' and describes 'At seven in the morning, more than a thousand elements surrounded the town and invaded it taking as guides and pointers out of zapatistas two hooded priistas. The police shoot at a group of campesinos (affiliated zapatistas), and take the injured. The scene is terrible: interrogations with the detained's faces to the ground, brutal questions that identify the zapatista affiliation with the worst of crimes, mistreatment, prepotency, and after that, confidence in impunity. The public relationists of the government were already given charge to transform the acts, returning 'provocation' to the killings and certifying that the only problem in the country is that unloosed by the victims' The supreme Commander in Chief, Ernesto Zedillo; the generals Juan Manuel Oropeza and Jorge Isaac Jimenez Garcia covered with glory the national arms, eleven dead mixtecos in Guerrero and eight tzotziles in Chiapas in less than four days. All killed in dubious and certainly avoidable confrontations. #########################################################################Sta rt the English News List, to subscribe send a E mail to majordomo@amelapaz.org with: subscribe paznews-e in the body of the menssage To unsubscribe from PazNews send an e-mail to majordomo@amelapaz.org stating "unsubsribe paznews" and your address Daily listserve of human rights, the only one and the best one, directly from your editors to you, send an e-mail to sididh-pro@amelapaz.org (in spanish only) THE ONLY ONE IN MEXICO VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.amelapaz.org www.amelapaz.org www.amelapaz.org www.amelapaz.org Food, Medicine and Equipment for Peace is a social action international civil organization (Mexico, USA and Canada) dedicated to the tasks of managing aid for peace in Mexico. For further information send an e-mail to info@amelapaz.org to receive an immediate response and personal contact at webmaster@amelapaz.org --------- "RE: The Third Journey" --------- From: toj@alice.net Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 09:45:57 -0700 Subj: The Third Journey UUCP email May 10, 1998 O SI YO'(Greetings) My brothers and sisters, and all our Relations My name is James and I am the son of Hiawatha, grandson of Ada Vann, seventh generation from Chief Joe Vann and Cherokee (Bird Clan) born at Tahlequah, Oklahoma on September 14, 1946. But even more important, I am a member of the family of people called Native Americans, that indigenous group of people that have from the beginning of time and still do live here in the Americas. We are one of the four parts of humanity. On March 10, 1995 my wife Norma our five daughters and I started the first walk of the four journeys given in vision. We began in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and arrived on May 10th at New Echota, Georgia. The walk was called "THE TRAIL OF JOY, THE RETURN", it was done to complete the circle that began with the "Trail of Tears" and to reconnect the spirit of our people back with the lands of our ancestors. The Creator is calling for our people to move back to the spiritual road, this journey is needed to rekindle the sacred fire and spirit back in the people and all mankind. We need to reestablish spiritual centers and places for the clans mothers in the East and across the land where the roots of many families were torn out by the " RELOCATION". This relocation known as the "Trail of Tears" by many, affected all the indigenous people and divided us. The "Trail of Joy, The Return" walks and journeys are just another step in the healing. This is not only for our family, it is for all of humanity. On May 10, 1996 my family and I began the second journey of the vision, back along the path of DeSoto. That journey started from where he died in southeastern Arkansas, about 5-10 miles north of what is now known as Arkansas City and traveled back along his route to south of what is now known as Tampa Bay. Planting trees for cleansing, for life and peace in each of what are now states where he traveled leaving so much death and destruction along the way. These trees are for a sign of renewal, forgiveness and rebirth. If the "Trail of Tears" and subsequent removals were the end of a way of life for the people of the southeast, then DeSoto's journey was the beginning of that end. It was a way of life that had lasted for hundreds of thousands of years. This is true all around our Mother Earth where humanity was brought so much death and destruction to humanity and to all our relations in the name of discovery and God. We have, and will continue to travel and visit with our relations along the way, to visit with the Elders and the children, to share the visions and to share the call for a great Gathering of the Children of Mother Earth. We are losing our young ones to the modern world at an alarming rate, many are not seeing the beauty of their heritage and traditions that bind them together and to our Mother Earth. It is our prayer that with each journey, humanity will begin to have an even greater understanding and appreciation of each other, that once made us a great people. Prophesy has been given that there would come a time when we would be at a crossroads. The Elders have said that we are now there and it is time for all of our people to come back to the spiritual oneness that bound us to our Mother Earth and each other before European contact. Grandfather William Commanda once wrote that "forgiveness is the key to the awakening of the true meaning of love and understanding." This year we will begin the third of the four journeys given in vision. On June 21st. there will be a pipe ceremony at sunrise to celebrate the beginning of this third journey and to join with others around the world in prayer for the healing on humanity and our Mother Earth. It will be held at the place where DeSoto first landed near what now is known as Bradenton, Florida. We ask for your prayers for humanity, for all of our relations and the Journey that will take us back to the seat of the Jaguar, in the lands to the south. On this journey we will enter the lands to the south near Merida in the Yucatan Peninsula. From there we will go on south into the lands of Belize and Guatemala, and then turn northwest to the coast of the Pacific Ocean then circle to the north and east into Mexico City. The journey will take between two to four months. This journey will accelerate the awaking that has been fore-told by many cultures around the world, and now cannot be ended. This journey to the south is to make preparation for the fourth and final journey which will take us full circle around our Mother Earth gathering her children that will complete the vision. We will awaken a place there in the land of the Jaguar for the Children from the four directions to come and gather again as we did once and will do again. On January 31, 1996 in Santa Barbara, CA we were shown that the four doors were opening for the return of the Children. As we have journeyed away so shall we return, coming full circle. We have had several offers from people to do posting to the internet for us. Ana M. Robles-Rhoads(of Taino decent) in Gainesville, Florida will work with us on funding and support while we are on the journey. If you wish to help in some way, please visit our site at or contact Ana. Our only source of funding for this Journey as in the past is the kind and loving gifts given by you and others like you who care. We need your support now. We wish to extend our heart felt appreciation and thanks to you all for your past, current and future support in this effort. Contributions may be sent to the address below or contact Ana as noted above. In faith I come to you, in accord with the spirits of our ancestors, Creator and Mother Earth. Your Brother, James Duncan, "The Gathering" of Mother Earth's Children RR 2, Box 2233 - Thayer, MO 65791 1-417-264-7717 E-Mail - Website - P.S. My Family and I would like to thank the many who called and wrote when I had my Heart attack back in May. Our love and Prayers to you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! --------- "RE: Music Review: Smoke Signals" --------- Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 11:08:28 -0400 From: Brent Michael Davids <75522.3516@compuserve.com> Subj: Smoke Signals Music Review Mailing List: NAT-FILM SMOKE SIGNALS MUSIC REVIEW Brent Michael Davids, 1998 I saw "Smoke Signals" in Minneapolis the other night and got my first look at the film and music. I generally think the film flowed well and had inspired and funny moments, touching movie. Musically, the film was somewhat sparse, mostly relying on situation music, music that might appear in the movie like on a car radio ... mostly popularized songs from Ulali (sp.), etc. These songs were used well, appearing at good moments in the film and not overdone. As far as underscoring, it was dependent mostly on guitar, giving "Smoke Signals" a folksy quality throughout. My general appraisal of the