From gars@netcom.com Tue Jul 28 23:57:30 1998 Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 19:26:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews06.031 _ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 06, ISSUE 031 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, August 1, 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 Nativeweb, InfoHawaii, Big Mountain & Nat-Film Lists; Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty; UUCP email; Nuevo Amanecer Press; Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native Articles appearing have been previously posted for public dissemination and/or permission for inclusion has been secured. Letters of authorization are on file. A list of those granting permission to repost their words in this issue are listed at the end of part A. I thank each of you for allowing your words to be shared with the people. 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. "Caring for mother earth begins in our own backyards! and front yards, too :) Celebrate block (cleaning and planting) parties in your neighborhoods. Teach the little ones responsibility and respect for our mother. (: mii gwetch and wa do :)" "English is a foreign language. Reclaim the language of your people and send it to the future as your gift to your grandchildren's grandchildren." di-ka-ne'-tsv a'-qua-tse'-li ha-htv-gi, wa-do' do-da-da-go'-hv __ Feather Eaglerock, Leech Lake Rez +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! Someone, actually several someones, simply do not understand a very simple, basic truth. The population of _ALL_ Native Peoples in the United States is less than the population of Atlanta. Georgia. This takes into account every single human being recognized as a Native American, whether they be federally recognized, card-carrying BIA Indians (or paper-holding, as is also the case) or state recognized, or simply checked off that way on income tax returns. These stupid, self-serving pissing contests about who is more Indian than someone else mean less than buffalo chips to anyone except those who hope to puff their own ego. The bureaucrats in Washington sure don't care, nor do their agenda-supporting, "around the fort," "yes sir" tribal agents. In fact, our stabbing each other in the back suits them just fine. "Thank you very much". If you don't have numbers, and we sure don't, how do you get others to pay attention to your needs and your problems and your programs? You present a unified front with enough numbers to make the bean counters (and congressional representatives) listen. If the second paragraph remains true, the third one can never, ever become true. So start acting as if terms like "brother" and "sister" and "elders" are more than just lip service. =/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\= Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 22:08:49 -0600 From: Chuck McAfee Subj: Dick French, Former AISES BoD Member Mailing List: AISESnet General List It is with sadden heart to relay the following information and more information will be posted by Joshua Eddings: ORIGINALLY SENT FROM Joshua Eddings, coyote@weeya.com The Lower Columbia / Willamette Chapter of AISES lost a guiding light when Dick French passed away Tuesday, July 21, 1998. He died of a heart-attack while golfing. He is survived by his wife Louis and family. Dick was a Sequoyah member of AISES, and had supported AISES as a former Board member, active professional member and long-time friend. Dick was also a key member of NIVA, Northwest Indians Veteran Association. Dave Hatch and I will post more information to this list as it becomes available. We will also compose a release for the national AISES mailing list within a day or so. If anyone has any ideas or things to add please email me at coyote@weeya.com, or simply send to oases@oa.com. Joshua Eddings, coyote@weeya.com =/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\=/\= 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 ---------- - Threat of Bloodshed - US Ecology's Financial Crisis - Urgent Notice of Diplomacy - Kamloops Res School Abuse Lawsuit - It's a Crime! - Gorton Proposals - Message from David Swallow, Jr. and Tribal Sovereignty - Residential School Awareness - Who's Sorry Now? Bicycle Tour - Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Fear for Safety - Spirit of the Wolf Walk - Nisga'a Deal Leak - Metis Eligibility for Agreement - Peace Chiefs - Book Review: Stand Watie - Elder to Sue University - Directions for Discrimination - Five More Sentenced to Prison - Black Hills Proposed Wilderness for Protesting SOA Area Under Attack - Indigenous Activists Arrested - Canadian Colonialism - Native Prisoner Kills Birdtail Sioux - Thoughts at a Museum - Birdtail Sioux in Crisis - A Hundred Years Ago - Yellowstone Buffalo - Poem: Rambling Winds - Resistance in Paradise - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days - Comparing Cultures - Conferences and Powwows --------- "RE: Threat of Bloodshed" --------- Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 20:26:21 -0400 From: leslie@neca.com Subj: Threat of Bloodshed UUCP email Greetings, It is with a heavy heart that I bring this news to the list. I have been asked by David Swallow Jr. to tell you all that The California AIM Chapter and the Oglala Tribal Govt. are planning to stop his Sundance ( Aug 4 ) in Porcupine, SD. They believe he charges for ceremonies. I have been to several of his Sundances and many other ceremonies and NEVER has he charged one cent. These are false stories. AIM and the Tribal Govt. have indicated that there will be bloodshed. They do not like it that non indians are allowed there to pray. There will be many other medicine men from other parts of the reservation who have pledged to come and support us. Please pray for our protection and be aware of this potential violence. We will need your help, please, those of you who follow these ways, stand up for us, do not let us be attacked like this. Thank you, Leslie --------- "RE: Urgent Notice of Diplomacy" --------- From: BUTTER1FLY@aol.com Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 14:14:12 EDT Subj: Urgent Notice of Diplomacy! Please post Please post to all your listings: NOTICE FOR THE WORLD Just to inform everyone that the Princess of New Zealand was at the Dave Swallow Jr. sundance last year and is expected again this year with other World Diplomats. We will make any actions against this sundance a world event. This is a spiritual gathering only. We as a group go to pray and suffer for the people. This is not the place to carry out revenge or bad feelings. All those feelings and actions are to be left at the gate. We are all created of the same dust, the same elements and put on this planet to be and act the best we can. Of all the religions and beliefs of the world we are not to sit in judgement of someone else. It is not ours to judge if someone's beliefs are strong or weak. The spirits do that. By turning against each other we are weak. Standing together we are strong. I do not stand in judgement of your blood line and beliefs ..... DO NOT STAND IN JUDGEMENT OF OURS! The government over many years has and is still trying to commit genocide. Let the world stand together on this sundance. World unity of all races is the only way to save the world. Education is the only way to stop the selling of our culture. This is a free sundance for all the colors of the medicine wheel. We are standing united, strong against the threats from Tribal (pro-government) government and now we are receiving threats from National AIM to shut us down. We ask you add your voice to ours against this cultural genocide. REMEMBER THE WORLD IS WATCHING! --------- "RE: It's a Crime!" --------- Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 20:10:32 -0400 From: Janet Smith Subj: It's a crime! UUCP email Don't get caught on Pine Ridge Reservation carrying sage or sweetgrass, or participating in any Lakota ceremony unless you're prepared to either prove your enrollment in a Federally recognized tribe, or go to jail. You'll be charged with a crime under Oglala Tribal law. You needn't be Oglala, or even Lakota, to legally participate in ceremony or carry traditionally sacred herbs (curiously, or perhaps not so curiously -- tobacco, the most sacred herb of all -- is not mentioned) but you must be "BIA" certified as Indian. The new tribal law was passed last winter without a lot of fanfare or knowledge, and only now, as sun dance season has begun, are people paying attention to it. The primary focus, and probably the first implementation of this law, may be intended for David Swallow's sun dance, set to begin at Porcupine in early August. Certain factions of the OST have long vocally opposed Swallow's inclusion of non-enrolled people of Native ancestry in his sun dances. His sun dance last year was interrupted by officials and officials threatened to arrest him for conducting the ceremony. There are many aspects of all this that trouble me, even though my personal involvement is limited to respect for some of the people, like David Swallow and several others, who as traditional ceremonial and spiritual leaders find themselves in the position of being told how they may conduct their ceremonies by politicians. It seems curious to me that the Oglala, if they are determined to dictate terms of ceremony to their spiritual leaders, don't restrict ceremony to documented Lakota people. They would accept, for instance, the participation of a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma in Lakota ceremonies, even though that person may have as little as 1/64 blood, so long as that person carries a card saying the U.S. recognizes their enrollment. However they will arrest an unenrolled descendant of one of their own spiritual leaders for carrying a twig of sage, even though that decedent may have EIGHT TIMES the Cherokee individual's blood quantum. It also seems curious that they would, as leaders sensitive to the sovereignty of their nations, honor the recognition of an oppressor nation, the thief of their sacred Black Hills, as their measure of "spiritual worthiness." Whether or not I approve of this law isn't truly important. As a sovereign nation, the OST can make it illegal for anyone to do anything on their own land. It's their business. The lack of sense, tradition, and over the long term, of self-preservation behind it, though, bothers me. First, where is it traditional among the Lakota that the political chiefs may dictate anything to the traditional spiritual leaders? Where does this leave those people who have been adopted, sometimes with good cause, by members of a tribe, and who have adopted the tribal culture and way of life? As with all the enrollment/blood quantum issues -- where does this leave Indian people generations down the road? With the Osage? No longer in existence? And what happens to sovereignty when, as will happen eventually, somebody who isn't enrolled gets busted for carrying a smudge stick into Pine Ridge? Yes, they can easily be convicted. What if they choose to appeal -- will this not eventually see it's way off the rez to the U.S. court system? And if the U.S. Courts find against the OST, what precedent does that set for tribal sovereignty? Right now, from my perspective, even though I am enrolled in a tribe that has applied for federal acknowledgement and have close relationships on Pine Ridge, thus might be invited to a ceremony -- I would not, as a matter of conscience, participate while on the reservation, and I'll be darned careful what's on my person if I go to visit friends there. Why? Well, while I believe spiritual leaders are fully competent to know who the Grandfathers and Grandmothers want in the ceremonies--and are far more competent in that knowledge than any politician--I also fully support and defend tribal sovereignty. I cannot in conscience do anything that weakens that concept because I am conscious of the possible effects for future generations. Right now, some ceremonial leaders see, ironically, that the U.S. government respects their spiritual rights and responsibilities more than their own civic leaders. They may be forced to move their ceremonies off their own home lands. I am trapped and so are the ceremonial leaders. Janet --------- "RE: Message from David Swallow, Jr." --------- Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 19:36:35 -0600 (MDT) From: Gary Smith Subj: Message from David Swallow, Jr. Last year, as you know, there was an attempt to shut down the Sun Dance of David Swallow, Jr. This resulted in his going to tribal court and all charges brought against him by Oliver Red Cloud and others, were dismissed, permission was given by the Oglala to continue the Sun Dance and David has since brought a multi-million dollar lawsuit against individuals involved. This year, further attempts are being made to close down the same Sun Dance, which begans next Tuesday at Porcupine, on the Pine Ridge reservation, by the same individuals. AIM from California has made threats, actually only approximately 5 AIM members from there, and the SD Chapter of AIM has told them they refuse to participate or sanction their actions. Several Lakota Spiritual Leaders are coming to this Sun Dance, including Arvol Looking Horse, Joseph Chasing Horse, Selo Black Crow, Leonard Crow Dog and many others to stand united, with David, and ensure the Sun Dance will continue. I have been granted the honor of passing on this message from David Swallow, Jr. "This is not a political issue, this is an issue of Spirituality...not religion...Spirituality of all People to come and pray as they wish to do regardless of skin color. It has always been the white people who come and do the labor, do many things to help us and support us. It was meant that all people, regardless of skin color, be allowed to come together to pray as one. This is not a religion. This is Spirituality for ALL people. We as Spiritual Leaders will come together as one, and stand in support of our right to Pray as we are given to do. This is the last stand, here at Porcupine. This is where we have to draw the line. If they defeat us and not allow us to pray together, all Nations will then not be free to pray. I ask all of you....I am putting this call out on the internet, for people to come here to our Sun Dance at Porcupine at Pine Ridge and help us. Come and support the Lakota Leaders make a last stand to save our Spiritual ways and our right to pray as we were given to do." When our Sun Dance is over we will began a march from Wamblee to Washington DC, walking as one People, to go there and to tell the Government that the Spiritual ways of First Nations People must not be dictated by ANY Government, tribal or otherwise. I have asked my friends who live in the Black Hills, to come here Tuesday and record our leaders for a historical document of what is about to happen to us." Mitakuye Oyasin David Swallow Jr. --------- "RE: Residential School Awareness Bicycle Tour" --------- Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 01:41:37 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: Res. School Awareness Bicycle Tour :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:Forwarded message:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 17:05:23 -0700 To: sisis@envirolink.org From: Tehaliwaskenhas-Bob Kennedy Subj: Healing HONOUR OUR TEARS The Summer of '98 Bicycle Tour Of Haida Elder Willie Abrahams July 15th, 1998 VANCOUVER- 57 year old Haida elder Willie Abrahams bicycling this summer from Prince Rupert to the lower mainland to raise awareness of residential school issues, is an honoured guest today at a North Vancouver gathering of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation at the Squamish Nation recreation centre. Abrahams was forced to attend St. Michael's residential school on Vancouver Island from 1950-1957 where a staff member sexually abused him. Now, he is telling his story, encouraging others to step forward and deal with their abuse. Abrahams set out on his Honour Our Tears journey of hope and healing on July 6th and plans to complete it around mid-August in Vancouver and Nanaimo. This week the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, established to manage a $350 million healing fund is looking for input from First Nations' representatives on how the money should be managed, and how to identify the spending priorities. For Abrahams, the timing of the invitation to attend these meetings and workshops couldn't be better. "It provides me with the opportunity to tell my story to key decision-makers and to share my message of hope to a large audience", said Abrahams. "I also welcome the encouragement and support from these people who want to do the right thing for the survivors and their families...people who have suffered so much because of the dreadful experiences in residential schools", he added. Abrahams who will be a banquet speaker tonight, will fly back to Prince George on Friday to join his cycling team to continue the second half of their 1500 kilometre journey. Donations to the Honour Our Tears campaign can be made at any branch of the Bank of Montreal. Tehaliwaskenhas - G.R. (Bob) Kennedy INFOCOM Management, 1401-955 Marine Drive West Vancouver BC V7T1A9 PHONE:(604) 921-1677 FAX: (604) 921-1678 E-mail:infocom@pro.net :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: 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: Fear for Safety" --------- Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 02:44:52 -0400 (EDT) From: NUEVO AMANECER PRESS Subj: U R G E N T A C T I O N A P P E A L Fax:303 258 7881 --------------------------------------------------- UA 200/98 Fear for safety 14 July 1998 MEXICO Yolanda Castro - Director of K'inal Antzetik, women's group. Ines Castro - Member of K'inal Antzetik, women's group. All other members of K'inal Antzetik, women's group. There are concerns for the safety of sisters Yolanda and Ines Castro after they received a death threat on 10 July 1998. The two women are members of K'inal Antzetik, a Chiapas-based advisory women's group. Members of the group have received a number of threats in the past and the K'inal Antzetik office has been kept under surveillance. Yolanda and Ines Castro believe the death threat was written by paramilitaries linked to the state authorities. The letter, signed by `Las Muertes'(`The Deaths'), ordered the two sisters to leave Chiapas `before it was too late' and went on to say: `Hasen caso de lo que estamos escribindo porque es verdad y pronto sabran quienes somos, igual alas extrangeras que se ballan del pais porque de todas maneras pronto las echaran. Acuerde se que estamos muy cerca de ustedes...[sic]' (Take note of what we have written, because it is true and you will soon know who we are. The same goes for the foreign women, they should also leave the country, because they will be thrown out soon anyway. Remember we are always near by...). BACKGROUND INFORMATION Over the past years Amnesty International has documented the escalating violence in the State of Chiapas with deep concern. Threats against non-governmental organisations and human rights defenders have increased recently, as in the cases of threats received by the Centro de Derechos Indigenas (CEDIAC), Indigenous Rights Centre and those received by Bishop Samuel Ruiz (see UA 90/98 issued 20 March and 13 January). RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters: - requesting that adequate measures be taken to guarantee the physical safety of Yolanda Castro, Ines Castro and all the other members of K'inal Antzetik; - calling for an immediate investigation to be opened into these death threats, that the findings be made public, and that those found responsible be brought to justice; - seeking assurances that all members of K'inal Antzetik will be able to carry out their peaceful activities without being subjected to human rights violations. APPEALS TO: (Salutations) Attorney General of the Republic (Dear Attorney General) Lic. Jorge Madrazo Cuellar Senor Procurador General de Justicia de la Republica Procuraduria General de Jusitcia de la Republica Paseo de la Reforma y Violeta, Col. Guerrero 06300 Mexico D.F., MEXICO [Telegrams: Procuradoria General de la Republica, Mexico DF, Mexico] [Faxes: 011 52 5 626 4419] Governor of the State of Chiapas (Dear Governor) Lic. Roberto Albores Guillen Gobernador del Estado de Chiapas Palacio de Gobierno, Piso 1 Col. Centro, 29000 Tuxla Gutierrez Estado de Chiapas, MEXICO [Telegrams: Gobernador del Estado, Chiapas, Mexico] [Faxes:011 52 961 2 0917] Attorney of the State of Chiapas (Dear Governor) Lic. Jorge Hernandez Aguilar Procurador del Estado de Chiapas Procuraduria General del Estado de Chiapas Tuxla Gutierrez Estado de Chiapas, MEXICO [Telegrams: Procurador del Estado, Chiapas, Mexico] [Faxes: 011 52 961 2 8998] H.I.: this fax number is not correct! COPIES TO: Human Rights Organizations Comision de Derechos Humanos 'Fray Bartolome de las Casas', Francisco Leon 46, Barrio de Santa Lucia, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas C.P. 29250, MEXICO K'inal Antzetik Avenida 5 Mayo, 25 Barrio de los Mexicanos San Cristobal de las Casas Chiapas C.P. 29240, MEXICO -- Harald Ihmig Beim Rauhen Hause 30 22111 Hamburg T. 040-6518393;Fax 040-65901168 email: ihmig@iname.com Ya Basta! __________________________________________________ NUEVO AMANECER PRESS- N.A.P.To know about us visit: http://www.nap.cuhm.mx/nap0.htm General Director: Roger Maldonado Director Europe: Darrin Wood Coordinator: USA-Mexico-Europe: Susana Saravia (Anibarro) Advisory and support team: Mexico 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: Nisga'a Deal Leak" --------- Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 01:42:22 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: Nisga'a deal leak: "full and final settlement" :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: NISGA'A DEAL FREES CANADA, BC FROM ALL FUTURE CLAIMS The Vancouver Sun, July 22, 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.] VICTORIA -- A copy of the final Nisga'a deal leaked Tuesday by the Opposition Liberals shows the Nisga'a Tribal Council has agreed to give up all future claims in exchange for its historic treaty. In the deal, the Nisga'a concede the treaty will be a "full and final settlement" and agree to "release" Canada and B.C. from any future claims. The settlement signals to the four dozen other bands now involved in treaty talks that they should expect the same treatment in their treaties -- which will please resource companies but may not sit well with some chiefs. Resource companies have lobbied for treaties that close the door to future claims, saying that is the only way to end the uncertainty over B.C. land ownership, which has hurt the province's economy. But tribal leaders have resisted demands to "cede, cease and surrender" their future claims in exchange for treaties. Those words don't occur in the treaty. Instead it says: "This agreement constitutes the full and final settlement in respect to the aboriginal rights, including aboriginal title, in Canada, of the Nisga'a Nation." The final draft also states that the treaty will be protected under the Constitution and any amendments must be agreed to by the three parties: the Nisga'a, Ottawa and Victoria. The treaty provides "the right to self-government and the authority to make laws," with elections to be held at least every five years at both the nation and village level. As well, the treaty sets out a Nisga'a justice system including the right to appoint judges, to create a police force and a corrections system that will be guided by but not limited to the Criminal Code of Canada. On taxation powers, the Nisga'a people will have their tax- exempt status phased out over 12 years. Premier Glen Clark's office admitted Tuesday the cost for the historic deal involving cash, 2,000 square kilometres of land in northwest B.C. and self-government powers, has jumped to $459 million. That figure does not include compensation to be negotiated with resource companies that lose out as a result of the deal. Earlier estimates had put the price tag for the deal at $445 million. Clark's aides said the latest tally includes $106 million worth of land, $41 million for a highway and the balance for a cash settlement, forgone revenue and other costs. But the premier defended the treaty, calling the Nisga'a settlement "the most critical issue facing the province" and warning its failure could have dire consequences for the province's floundering economy. "I think it would plunge the province into uncertainty, and uncertainty is very bad for investment," he said. "This would clearly be a blow to both our economy and to any notion of reconciliation" with aboriginal people. The final draft of the treaty also sets out a schedule for logging on the lands that will fall under Nisga'a ownership. It permits the annual harvesting of 165,000 cubic metres for the first five years followed by 135,000 cubic metres the next four years. Federal, provincial and tribal negotiators were to outline details of the treaty at a news conference in Vancouver this afternoon. Clark denounced the Liberals for releasing the treaty documents. "I guess the only explanation is they are trying to do everything they can to discredit the treaty and I think it's unfortunate because there's lots in there for a good debate and we'll have that and playing these kinds of silly games." Nisga'a president Chief Joseph Gosnell called the release of the treaty by Liberal leader Gordon Campbell "unfortunate, ill-timed and reprehensible. The political grandstanding is an insult to the Nisga'a nation. I ask the leader of the Opposition, is this his way of contributing to the building of a new relationship?" Campbell said he felt compelled to release the documents as quickly as he could because the public shouldn't be denied the details of the final agreement for even a couple of weeks longer. "They have a right to know, this is a major initiative and I don't think it's something that should be managed in terms of public relations." Provincial negotiator Jack Ebbels said the fact that the government has not yet released the treaty document does not mean there will be any changes of substance to the deal that was agreed to on July 15. The three parties at the table agreed to wait until next month so the text could be prepared for a massive print run -- as many as 50,000 copies. "This is purely an editorial exercise going on," he said. Clark said the Nisga'a leadership also face a tough sell among their membership, who are being asked to become the first aboriginal group in the country to opt out of federal taxation exemptions. And he said public opposition won't change this deal, but it will have "a profound impact" on what happens with the four dozen other treaties currently being negotiated. Rejection of the Nisga'a deal will put those other talks in jeopardy, he said. "It will mean that the people have rejected the first modern treaty, one which is clearly lower than the expectations of some aboriginal groups, and I think aboriginal people will see it as a message to pursue either confrontation and/or court action rather than treaty negotiations. And clearly the governments would have to reconsider the treaty issues if this fails." The Nisga'a treaty is still being finalized in anticipation of an Aug. 4 signing ceremony in the remote Nass Valley. WHAT HAS BEEN AGREED Here are the highlights of the Nisga'a treaty documents released Tuesday: - The treaty provides "the right to self-government and the authority to make laws," with elections to be held at least every five years at both the nation and village level. The Nisga'a government can make laws establishing public institutions, determining citizenship, controlling the use and management of Nisga'a lands, and administering services such as human resources, public works, traffic and transportation, social services, health services and education. Nisga'a laws can be challenged in B.C. Supreme Court only after all internal procedures for appeal or review provided by Nisga'a government have been exhausted. - On maintaining Nisga'a law, the treaty sets out a Nisga'a justice system including the right to appoint judges, to create a police force and a corrections system that will be guided by but not limited to the Criminal Code of Canada. "The Nisga'a Court may impose penalties and other remedies under the laws of Nisga'a government, British Columbia or Canada in accordance with generally accepted principles of sentencing." It does allow for an accused to opt out of the Nisga'a justice system and be tried under provincial law when faced with a potential sentence of imprisonment under Nisga'a law. And the Nisga'a court cannot impose a sentence on a person who is not a Nisga'a citizen "different in nature from those generally imposed by provincial or superior courts in Canada, without the person's consent." - On fiscal relations between the three orders of government, the treaty requires further negotiation to determine the federal and provincial governments' ongoing contributions to the Nisga'a government. "Every five years, or at other intervals if the parties agree, the parties will negotiate and attempt to reach agreement on a fiscal financing agreement by which funding will be provided to the Nisga'a Nation to enable the provision of agreed-upon public programs and services to Nisga'a citizens and, where applicable, non-Nisga'a occupants of Nisga'a lands, at levels reasonably comparable to those generally prevailing in northwest British Columbia." - On taxation powers, the Nisga'a people will have their tax- exempt status phased out over 12 years. The Nisga'a government "may make laws in respect of direct taxation of Nisga'a citizens on Nisga'a lands in order to [ raise] . . . revenue for Nisga'a Nation or Nisga'a Village purposes." The extent of taxation authority over non-Nisga'a people can be negotiated with the federal and provincial governments. -On certainty, the governments of B.C. and Canada have backed away from the controversial "cede, release and surrender" phrase that was supposed to extinguish any further claims. Here's the new wording: "This agreement constitutes the full and final settlement in respect of the aboriginal rights, including aboriginal title, in Canada, of the Nisga'a Nation. . . "The Nisga'a Nation releases Canada, British Columbia and all other persons from all claims, demands, actions or proceedings, of whatever kind, and whether known or unknown, that the Nisga'a Nation ever had, now has or may have in the future, relating to or arising from any act, or omission, before the effective date that may have affected or infringed any aboriginal rights, including aboriginal title, in Canada of the Nisga'a nation." :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: 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: Peace Chiefs" --------- Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 18:58:17 -0400 From: Janet Smith Subj: Peace Chiefs UUCP email Headline story today in the Seattle Times: Peace chiefs quietly labor to save our salmon, by Mark Trahant / Times staff columnist I won't repost this article in full, it's copyrighted, and if you're interested, you can read the whole thing on the Web at: http://www.seattletimes.com/news/local/html98/trah_072698.html The focus on this article is on a different kind of Native activism that is quietly getting results. Unlike the warriors and war chiefs, the peace chiefs seek progress through negotiation and cooperation. The examples here were chosen from the Umatilla confederated tribes and their successful program to restore salmon to the Umatilla River. They are now focusing on the Columbia River. Rather than seek legislative or administrative remedies that cram their agenda down a perceived opponent's throat, they go to the local people who are involved on all sides of the issue and find ways to reach consensus. Rather than destroy one to build another -- they seek to protect all. I found the article worth reading, and worth reminding myself that we don't have to go to war and attempt to utterly destroy every time we encounter an individual or a group with different or even offensive approaches or a goals. Mark N. Trahant's column appears Sunday and Thursday in the Local News section of The Times. His phone message number is 206-464-8517. His e-mail address is E-mail Comments to Editor : Comments@seatimes.com The Seattle Times home page http://www.seattletimes.com/ --------- "RE: Elder to Sue University for Discrimination" --------- Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 12:38:08 -0700 From: "S.I.S.I.S." Subj: Native elder to sue CSU for discrimination Please distribute widely. Apologies for any duplicate postings. LAW OFFICES OF LAWRENCE A. HILDES 1840 WOOLSEY ST. BERKELEY, CA 94703 PH: (510) 845-9788 FAX: (510) 540-4821 LAW AND JUSTICE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST ____________________________________________________ PRESS RELEASE: NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT TO SUE CSU SAN BERNARDINO FOR $20 MILLION FOR RACE DISCRIMINATION. Pamalalee Bailey-Shimizu, an elder of the White Mountain Apache and Cherokee Nations will file a suit on July 31, 1998, in United States District Court in Los Angeles, alleging discrimination against her by the University based on her race and religion, and retaliation against her for the exercise of her right to free expression. Ms. Bailey-Shimizu, a master's student at Cal State San Bernardino received a failing grade in an educational counseling class strictly because she wore an American Indian Movement t-shirt and beret to class. In the class, she was repeatedly berated for wearing the clothing, which identified her political and religious affiliation with AIM and displayed ethnic pride. Doctor Susan Brotherton, and Professor Louis Downs, the co-instructors in her educational counseling class singled Bailey-Shimizu out and denigrated her in front of the class for her "unprofessional dress" and wrote notes on her papers stating that her work was good but it was a "shame she couldn't dress properly". They harassed and downgraded her until she withdrew from the class. This class was a prerequisite for the Masters in Educational Counseling program, which meant that Bailey-Shimizu was forced to withdraw from the program. "This incident is typical of the racist climate of this University," Bailey-Shimizu stated. "Things are real bad here. I need to fight this battle for my daughter who's in the Cal State system, and my grandchildren who are likely to be. None of the children should have to go through this. I didn't fight hard in the 60's and 70's for this." Bailey-Shimizu is the president of the campus chapter of AIM. Other Native American students and other students of color have complained to her about the oppressive climate of the campus. There have been a number of racist incidents on the campus in the past year, including a fraternity/sorority party where a group of white students dressed up in blackface and Afro wigs and sang racist lyrics. A Chicano student, who wore an Aztec t-shirt to another class, was attacked by a professor for wearing a shirt for an empire that practiced human sacrifice. After withdrawing from the class, Bailey-Shimizu was repeatedly obstructed in her attempts to file a grievance and obtain a hearing from the University. When she finally received the hearing, it was restricted to the issue of whether or not her clothing was proper. The University upheld the professors' treatment of Bailey-Shimizu as proper. Bailey-Shimizu, as well as being denied her education, was humiliated and emotionally traumatized by the incident and has been physically threatened by proteges of Dr. Brotherton for making an issue of her treatment. Prior to taking legal action, she tried to resolve the issues without demanding money. "We tried for a year to get their attention, and they ignored us. Now we need to use the biggest club we can find." PRESS CONFERENCE: Friday JULY 31, 1998 10:30 AM, Outside Los Angeles Federal Courthouse 312 N. Spring Street, L.A. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 EMAIL : WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html --------- "RE: Black Hills Proposed Wilderness Area Under Attack" --------- Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 16:25:41 EDT From: news@wildrockies.org (Wild Rockies InfoNet) Subj: BLACK HILLS PROPOSED WILDERNESS UNDER ATTACK UUCP email Letters needed by August 17th, 1998 One of the very few remaining roadless areas on the Black Hills National Forest (South Dakota and Wyoming) is under attack from the U.S. Forest Service. The Beaver Park Roadless Area, proposed for Wilderness Designation by conservationists since 1991, would be subjected to 1,126 acres of cutting and 5.7 miles of new roads if USFS plans for the Veteran/Boulder timber sale go forward. THE CURRENT THREAT The USFS has proposed the mammoth Veteran/Boulder timber sale in and around the proposed Wilderness. The entire project includes over 4,000 acres of cutting, nearly 9 miles of new roads, and a whopping 35 miles of road "reconstruction." As mentioned above, 1,126 acres of cutting and 5.7 miles of new roads would be inside the proposed Wilderness. According the the draft Environmental Impact Statement, "there are no other large blocks of inventoried or uninventoried areas which have a roadless character." Special values, in addition to roadless qualities, include dense forest, old growth, habitat for neotropical birds (ovenbird, tanagers), at least one Goshawk territory, and good elk habitat. So what is the USFS response? A huge commercial timber sale and roads project. Why? Because the area is "lacking openings, and has a high number of mountain pine beetle infested areas...." What's the impact? Again according to the EIS, "the unroaded character would be lost" and "probability of designation of an RNA [Research Natural Area] would also be lost." WHAT YOU CAN DO It's important that the USFS hear from a wide range of folks who want the proposed Wilderness protected. Please contact the agency at the address/phone below BY AUGUST 17th. Consider these points for your letter: -The roadless area should be completely protected. The 0.8% of the Forest currently protected as Wilderness is shamefully low. -No cutting, road building, or road reconstruction should be allowed in the roadless area. -The obliteration of 17.8 miles of existing roads outside the roadless area should go forward. -The USFS should include in the EIS alternatives for managing the roadless area as Wilderness or RNA. That way, citizens can support these designations. -There is no ecological reason to have this timber sale, and many reasons not to. Sacrificing what remains of the natural Forest as a gift to the timber industry is simply wrong. Send your letters by August 17th to: Patricia Seay Spearfish/Nemo Ranger Distict, Black Hills NF 2014 N. Main Spearfish, SD 57783 (605) 642-4622 ADDITIONAL INFO The Black Hills NF has been roaded and cut more than any other Forest in the Rocky Mountain region. About 8,500 miles of road already crisscross the Forest, and most areas have been cut at least once. Almost none of the Forest has been protected; there's one small (10,000 acre) wilderness designated, and that's it. In the early 1990's, a coalition of 18 local, regional, and national citizen's groups proposed about 45,000 acres for Wilderness designation--out of over 1.2 million acres in the entire Forest. The USFS has fought protection ever since. The citizens proposal for the Beaver Park roadless area was approximately 6,700 acres and called the area the Breakneck Wilderness. The recently completed Revision of the Black Hills Forest Plan recommended 0 acres additional Wilderness, even though they admitted several areas had exceptional qualities. That's one of the reasons a coalition of citizen groups appealed the Plan to the USFS Chief. The USFS proposed moratorium on new road construction in roadless areas won't help the Black Hills, because the Chief exempted Forests with completed Plan Revisions from the moratorium. Besides the roadless area issue, there's plenty to worry about with the massive timber and roads program. The US Fish and Wildlife Service puts it this way: "There are species in the Black Hills that exist no where else in the world... The economy and ecosystem are delicately linked and are beginning to show signs of stress." There is a great deal of other information about the ecological problems in the 'Hills. Contact Biodiversity Associates if you want details. For more information about our concerns, contact Jeff Kessler Biodiversity Associates PO Box 6032 Laramie, Wy 82073 (307) 742-7978 mailto:jkessler@igc.apc.org --------- "RE: Canadian Colonialism Kills Birdtail Sioux" --------- Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 00:06:02 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: Canadian Colonialism Kills Birdtail Sioux :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: FIRST NATION MOURNING VICTIMS OF SUICIDE Brandon Sun, July 23, 1998, by Adrienne Spring [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.] BIRDTAIL SIOUX FIRST NATION, Man. (CP) - Alberta Benn can barely choke out the words when she tries to talk about her son Justin. The death of the 23-year-old in April - the latest in a rash of suicides at the First Nation - has left Benn and the rest of the tiny community of 400 in a state of mourning. "My son just died so suddenly and tragically," she says, pausing. "Alcohol had lots to do with it. If it wasn't for alcohol, my son would still be alive." The people of Birdtail Sioux are reeling from a startling number of deaths over the past 12 months. There have been seven suicides over the last year and police have recorded 20 more attempts since January. Also, one man was hit by a train, two people died in a house fire and another person died in a fatal shooting. Alcohol was identified as a factor in many of the incidents. Benn says her son had been in treatment for alcohol abuse but when he returned home he fell back into the destructive cycle. Two weeks before he took his life, Justin's 26-year-old sister, along with some of their cousins, started an Alcoholics Anonymous group. But Benn says shed like to see Birdtail Sioux return to its status as a dry reserve. "It would help the other people. I know it wouldn't bring my son back but...," she says, her voice breaking. The youth of the community has been hit hard by the losses as well. In the past year, Brigette Bunn, 18, has lost two cousins, a man she says was like a father to her and several other community members to suicide. "I get mixed up with all of them, I cant really remember," she says when asked how long ago her 19-year-old cousin committed suicide. "Everything's so messed up out here." But Bunn, like some other band members, says alcohol abuse is only a symptom of larger problems. The situation for the youth of the community is bleak, she says. There are no recreation facilities, a nearly nonexistent chance for employment and lack of understanding about their own culture is draining away their self-esteem. Although she says she doesn't know what's causing band members to take their own lives, she does know what isn't helping. Last year in school, Bunn and some of her friends came together to write a letter pleading with their band council to do something. She says they never got a response. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: 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: Birdtail Sioux in Crisis" --------- Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 00:06:51 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: Birdtail Sioux "in crisis" :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: NATIVE BAND IN CRISIS SAYS CHIEF Victoria Times-Colonist, July 26, 1998. Page A5 (CP) [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.] Brandon Manitoba - The chief of a troubled Manitoba Indian band says his people are in a state of crisis that parallels Davis Inlet. The Birdtail Sioux First Nation has been plagued by seven suicides in the last year and 20 attempts since January by children as young as nine. Another two people have died in a house fire, one died in a fatal shooting and another was hit by a train. "We're just another Davis Inlet - that's where we're going," Chief Nelson Bunn said. Davis Inlet, an aboriginal community in northern Labrador with a population of about 500, became the focus of international attention in the early 1990s after six children died in a house fire and six teens were found in an abandoned shed sniffing solvents and threatening suicide. Many residents were shown in news reports to be poor, chronically unemployed and suffering from some kind of alcohol or drug abuse. The story is not dissimilar for the 400 members of the Birdtail Sioux band, located about 145 kilometres northwest of Brandon. "We're an unhealthy community," said medical clerk Ken Chalmers. "We've got huge problems with everything from abuse to alcoholism to social problems." Bunn, himself a recovering alcoholic, has come under fire for everything from drinking convictions to fraud and assault. Band employees say he hasn't been to a council meeting since he took office. Bunn said he's been working with federal officials from Health Canada and Indian Affairs to organize assistance. "I would like to get a hold of Indian Affairs, medical services and whatever agencies we can to say, 'Look. We have a crisis situation here'" he said. "The whole country knows about it. Help us. We're in need of help." :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Prime Minister Jean Chretien: mailto:pm@pm.gc.ca mailto:remote-printer.Jean_Chretien@16139416900.iddd.tpc.int Minister of Indian Affairs Jane Stewart: mailto:remote printer.Jane_Stewart@16139926382.iddd.tpc.int 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: Yellowstone Buffalo" --------- Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 09:51:03 -0600 From: Buffalo Folks Subj: An update from the only activist group working year round in the Park! List-Subscribe: mailto:Stop-the-Slaughter-on@vortex.wildrockies.org List-Unsubscribe: mailto:Stop-the-Slaughter-off@vortex.wildrockies.org News Submissions or Problems: mailto:Stop-the-Slaughter@wildrockies.org ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the InterAgency Bison Management Plan for State of Montana and Yellowstone National Park In June, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the interagency bison management plan for the state of Montana and Yellowstone National Park was released for public comment. The DEIS explains seven different alternatives that range from "no action" (which is not truly a no action alternative and full of quarantine and killing options) and continuing the interim plan to minimal management to no tolerance of bison outside Yellowstone National Park. The preferred alternative by the government agencies involved combines capture and slaughter facilities, hunting, and intensive quarantine facilities that would ruin the wildness of the herd. The main objective of this "preferred alternative" would be to maintain a specific population of bison that ranges from 1,700-2,500 and at the same time keeping the bison wild and a free-ranging population. Sure doesn't sound like a wild herd though with all that handling. Buffalo Nations will be researching the environmental impacts that the alternatives may cause and the legality of them also. At this time Buffalo Nations will not support any of the alternatives until each one has been studied intensely. We will be informing you of our interpretation of the best actions to take soon. We are also looking at a very interesting biologists' alternative: Alternative B; the Buffalo Alternative (http://www.wildrockies.org/PlanB). We'll send you an update soon regarding our suggestions on commenting. Thanks! It is important that you go to the public meeting nearest you and speak in behalf of the buffalo. Listed below are the public Meetings on the EIS for Bison Management. All meetings start at 2:00 P.M. and end at 9:00 P.M. Public testimony will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. July 27 Helena, MT Best Western Colonial Inn, Capitol Room, 2301 Colonial Dr. July 29 Gardiner, MT Gardiner School, 510 Stone St. August 10 Jackson, WY Virginian Lodge, Buffalo Room, 750 W. Broadway August 11 Idaho Falls, ID Best Western/Stardust Motor Lodge, Russet Room, 700 Lindsay Blvd. August 13 West Yellowstone, MT Holiday Inn Conference Hotel, Geyser Room, 315 Yellowstone Ave. August 25 Billings, MT Holiday Inn Billings Plaza, Lewis and Clark/Yellowstone Room, 5500 Midland Rd. August 27 Cody, WY Holiday Inn, Taggarts Rooms 1, 2, and 3, 1701 Sheridan Ave. September 1 Golden, CO Holiday Inn West Village, Golden Room, 14707 W. Colfax Ave. September 3 Salt Lake City, UT Wyndham Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 215 West South Temple September 15 Missoula, MT Missoula Public library 301 E Main Conference Room September 17 Washington, DC Sumner School, Museum and Archives, 1201 17th St., N.W. September 23 San Francisco, CA Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery St., Sea Cliff Room September 29 Austin, TX Holiday Inn South, 3401 S. Interstate Highway 35 October 6 Minneapolis, MN Thunderbird Hotel and Conference Center, Shoshone Room, 2201 E. 78th St. Written comments on the DEIS will be taken until October 1, 1998. You can request a copy of the summary DEIS and send comments to Sarah Bransom, Interagency Bison Management Plan, DSC-RP, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287. Please feel free to contact Buffalo Nations on an update of the research at: P.O.Box 957, West Yellowstone, MT 59758, Email: buffalo@wildrockies.org Phone:406.646.0070 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Greetings from Buffalo Nations We hope this summer finds you all well If you would like to volunteer and see beautiful Yellowstone Park in the summer and help us with our summer educational tabling...give us a call. We are already thinking about chopping wood for this upcoming winter as we will still need to be with the buffalo. We could use some help getting snowmobiles.. any donation is tax deductible! thanks! --------- "RE: Resistance in Paradise" --------- Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 10:17:43 -1000 From: Hawaii Nation Info Subj: Resistance in Paradise (a resource guide) Mailing List: Hawaii Nation Info RESISTANCE IN PARADISE Rethinking 100 Years of US Involvement in the Caribbean and the Pacific an education resource guide "And when they wrote that we were racist because we preferred our own ways to theirs, they meant that their culture needed to dominate other cultures. And when they wrote that we were superstitious, believing in the mana of nature and people, they meant that the West has long since lost a deep spiritual and cultural relationship to the earth... This means that the history of indigenous people cannot be written from within Western culture. Such a story is merely the West's story of itself. Our Story remains unwritten. it rests within the culture, which is inseparable from the land. To know this is to know our history. To write this is to write of the land and the people who are born from her." - Haunani-Kay Trask, _From a Native Daughter_ (1982) This year marks the centennial of the annexation of six overseas territories (Hawai`i, Guam, Samoa, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Cuba) by the United States. These acts of overseas territorial incorporation are the generally unacknowledged beginning of the US as a colonial power. That development, involving the pursuit of economic and political advantage, notions of racial and cultural superiority, and the use of military force, profoundly altered those societies and the US. Yet little is known about this development and its impact on the annexed societies and the country that annexed them. The Asia Pacific Program seeks to expand popular understanding of the annexations, their effects, and the realities of this colonial expansion from the perspective of those overseas communities, and to develop support for those communities and peoples among various members of US society by producing and disseminating _Resistance in Paradise_. Educators from the affected communities have developed this resource guide and appropriate exercises to be used along with the units of the guide. The resource guide is modeled on the successful curriculum, _Rethinking Columbus_, produced in the early 1990s to help reframe the teaching and understanding of Columbus' landing in the Western Hemisphere. _Resistance in Paradise_ will be used by schools and community groups. The guide is also an organizing tool that will be disseminated through training sessions for educators and organizers in the use of its exercises and text, a speaking tour featuring Pacific and Caribbean activists, and a conference at the end of the 1998-1999 school year that will offer an opportunity for some of the guide's users to improve it based on their experiences in the classroom and in community settings. Problems or Issues to be Addressed Indigenous peoples in the Caribbean and the Pacific have struggled for years to tell the stories of their once healthy and self sustaining societies. The passage of almost 100 years has not led to much change in the awareness level of US residents, who think of many island nations primarily as "paradise" with swaying palm trees, beautiful beaches, and happy natives. In other cases, US residents see island nations as bastions of unreconstructed communists or hordes of people relying on the earnings of US taxpayers for basic survival. Insufficient, inaccurate, and misleading media portrayals of these societies and peoples add to the regions' isolation from North American audiences and from each other. US school curricula remain inaccurate or incomplete in their coverage of US domination of the resources and institutions of these societies. This misinformation contributes to a pervasive sense among US residents that our military and foreign policy initiatives and our economic enterprises have only positive consequences for countries the US "freed" from Spain and continues to "protect" even now. The isolation and invisibility of these regions and the lack of information on the struggles of its peoples contribute to the racism and ignorance among non-Caribbean and non-Pacific communities and justify colonization and the US government's refusal to negotiate a peace with Cuba. Caribbean and Pacific peoples are organized and have developed plans for self-determination, demilitarization, and economic sustainability. Support from the US public will contribute significantly toward the success of these indigenous community based efforts to challenge US culture and systems of dominance. _Resistance in Paradise: Rethinking 100 Years of US Involvement in the Caribbean and the Pacific_ (a resource guide featuring voices from the peoples of Cuba, Guam, Hawai`i, Philippines, Puerto Rico and Samoa; written for educators, students and community activists). A project of the Asia Pacific Program of the American Friends Service Committee and the Office of Curriculum Support of the School District of Philadelphia. Available in soft cover format; includes glossary, bibliography, maps and illustrations; 8 1/2 X 11; approx. 220 pages: $12.00 USA, $15.00 Canada. ISBN 0-910082-33-2. Publication date August 1, 1998. Shipping and handling: USA $3.00 for 1st copy, $2.00 each additional copy; CANADA $4.00 1st copy, $3.00 each additional copy. Make checks payable to AFSC. Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. Write to: AFSC Literature Resources 1501 Cherry St. Philadelphia, PA 19102-1479 For more information, write or phone (215) 241-7059 To use your Mastercard or VISA: Call Toll Free 1-888-588-2372 ___________________________________________________________ | 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: Comparing Cultures" --------- Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 16:12:07 -0700 From: Barbara Russell Subj: Hunting Whales Law At 02:19 PM 7/27/98 -0700, John Wm Sloniker wrote: >Someone wondered if we discuss political issues here. Well, I do bring >them up at times. Here is one, though this is a negative report. > >Tribes in Washington have something other Tribal Nations don't have, and >I feel it is something to protect. Their treaties say they have the one >rights that other Tribes don't have that is most important in my view. > >The Washington Tribal treaties say they have the right to "hunt in their >accustomed ways and places". That means they don't have to stay on the >reservation for their activities. Now do you understand why Gorton has >been working so hard to change things? -- John in Seattle > That little phrase "hunt in their accustomed way and places" was included in the "treaty" by the chiefs -- they had learned from watching what was happening to other tribes as the land grab moved west. Some of the land owners around where I live are very angry about the Indians have a treaty right to clams -- so it is not unusual to hear racist comments from non-Indians (dominate culture). I have been re-reading "In the Absence of the Sacred: The Failure of Technology & the Survival of the Indian Nations", by Jerry Mander. Chapter 11 is called, "What Americans don't Know About Indians." He opens this chapter by telling us that most school children answer Columbus -- to the question, "Who Discovered America." So much for the quality of education in America. Chapter 12 is called, Indians are Different from Americans. Rather than Dominate Culture Mander uses Technological Peoples. Technological Peoples Native Peoples _____________________ ______________ -- ECONOMICS -- Concept of private property a No private ownership of resources basic value: includes resources, such as land, water, minerals, or land, ability to buy and sell, plant life. No concept of selling and inheritance. Some state land. No inheritance. ownership. Corporate ownership predominates. Fishing for Salmon and harvesting clams is where the two world views collide -- with Slade Gorton taking on the role of modern day Indian Fighter. Also there is Reservation land that "is in need of development" according to Gorton's backers. -- RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY -- Separation of spirituality Spirituality integrated with all from rest of life in most aspects of daily life. Western cultures (though not in some Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist states); church and state separated; materialism is dominate philosophy in Western countries. Either monotheistic concept of Polytheistic concepts based on nature, singe. male god, or atheistic. male and female forces, animism. Futuristic/linear concept of Integration of past and present. time; de-emphasis of past. The dead are regarded as gone. The dead are regarded as present. Individuals gain most information Individuals gain information from from media, schools, authority personal experiences. figures outside their immediate community or experience. Time measured by machines; Time measured by awareness according schedules dictate when to to observance of nature; do things. time to do something is when time is right. Saving and acquiring. Sharing and giving. Mander lists two more side by side comparisons of -- "Relation to Environment" and "Architecture". But I'll stop for now -- I believe that the comparisons above will provide fuel for thought. Also I believe that the above comparisons agree with some of the personal observations we feel living in two worlds. The above comparisons are also called "WORLD VIEWS" or core belief systems. These are cultural facts or values that aren't questioned -- and often the dominate culture doesn't realize that there is another way of seeing the world, of living in the world. The Christians who tried to "save the savage Indians" believed that education and intermarriage would help the Indians assimilate, they failed to be aware that there were two world views in collision -- rather than intelligence or degree of civilization. The world view on the left is the dominate one in America -- thus the term Dominate Culture is probably accurate. There are many European Immigrants who share many of the values in the right column -- and we have seen examples of American Indians (& Native Hawaiians) who share few traditional values and have an Dominate Culture world view. BARB Barbara Russell & GYPSY West of Seattle, Washington, West Coast North America --------- "RE: US Ecology's Financial Crisis" --------- Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 19:55:03 -0700 (PDT) From: swv1@ctaz.com (Save Ward Valley) Subj: US Ecology's Financial Crisis--Still Mailing List: NativeWeb Ward Valley dump company in financial difficulties, newspaper says SACRAMENTO (AP) -- A university expert on the proposed Ward Valley nuclear dump says the company poised to take control of the controversial facility is in serious financial straits. The report by economist F. Gregory Hayden is based largely on Securities and Exchange Commission filings and related market data. It is scheduled to be released this week. An earlier study by Hayden, a professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, which raised serious doubts about the economic viability of Ward Valley, received widespread attention. Details of the latest study were reported Wednesday in the California edition of The Wall Street Journal. The latest analysis focuses on the financial condition of American Ecology Corp., a unit of which holds the license to run Ward Valley. The report questioned the Idaho-based company's ability to meet certain federal performance standards. Under U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission guidelines, the report says, a company operating a waste site like Ward Valley should maintain a ratio of current assets to current liabilities of "certainly no less than 1.5." This is designed to help ensure that the facility remains open and all contract requirements are met. But American Ecology, the study points out, had an assets-to-liabilities ratio of just 0.37 last year. That fell to 0.35 during the first quarter of 1998. Hayden serves as a commissioner of an organization of Midwestern states that has selected American Ecology to run a proposed radioactive-waste disposal facility in Nebraska. In that role, he has been a sharp critic of the company. The report was dismissed by American Ecology as the self-serving product of an adversary and deemed irrelevant by California regulators, but it is sure to provide fresh ammunition for opponents of Ward Valley. These include Democratic lawmakers, environmental groups and Native American tribes. Gov. Pete Wilson and his predecessor, George Deukmejian, have sought for the past 15 years to construct the facility near Needles. It is supposed to store low-level nuclear waste from California and three other Western states. The Wilson administration has been locked in a political and legal battle with the U.S. Interior Department over the transfer of 1,000 acres of federal land needed for the dump. The state and American Ecology have sued the Interior Department, contending that they had previously secured the right to take title to the site. They are seeking $73 million in damages. Scott Peyron, an American Ecology spokesman, said the company has been through tough financial times. In its latest SEC filing, dated March 6, American Ecology noted that it had defaulted on certain bank covenants in January and February. And the company's accounting firm said that it had "substantial doubt" about its client's "ability to continue as a going concern." But Peyron says American Ecology has restructured and "positioned itself to be profitable in an environment that is politically challenged." The company, which reported annual losses for each of the past three years, chalked up its best quarter since 1994 -- a loss of $78,000 -- in the first three months of this year. "The company has taken the bad medicine and is healthier today as a result," Peyron told the Journal. It had losses of $48.9 million in 1995, $11.4 million in 1996 and $676,000 in 1997. Save Ward Valley 107 F St. Needles, CA 92363 ph. 760/326-6267 fax 760/326-6268 http://www.shundahai.org/SWVAction.html http://earthrunner.com/savewardvalley http://www.ctaz.com/~swv1 http://banwaste.envirolink.org http://www.alphacdc.com/ien/wardvly4.html http://www.wildrockies.org/cmcr http://www.greenaction.org --------- "RE: Kamloops Res School Abuse Lawsuit" --------- Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 01:41:16 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: Shuswap Territory: Kamloops Res School Abuse Lawsuit :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL NAMED IN SUIT Kamloops Daily News, July 18, 1998, by Robert Koopmans [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.] The Catholic Church, the federal government and four former employees of the Kamloops Indian Residential School have been named in a lawsuit alleging sexual and physical abuse at the school more than 25 years ago. Glen Darrell Jack, a member of the Upper Nicola Indian Band, filed a statement of claim in Vancouver. The suit alleges repeated sexual and physical assaults at the hands of three of the employees at the Kamloops Indian Residential School between 1965 and 1972. Jack alleges the fourth defendant knew of the abuse and failed to take appropriate steps to stop it. That person also failed to investigate reports of abuse made by others, the claim states. The employees named in the suit are referred to as John Does 1, 2, 3 and 4, suggesting the plaintiff does not recall the full names of those he believes responsible for the abuse. According to the court document, Jack was a student at the school from 1965 to 1972. He alleges three of the defendants performed varying sex acts on him, as well as beat and threatened him. The suit seeks damages for pain and suffering, loss of opportunities, past and future wage loss and loss of enjoyment of life. The statement of claim indicates all the defendants have "denied or failed to acknowledge their misconduct towards the plaintiff." They have also shown no remorse and continue to refuse compensation or treatment to aid in Jack's recovery, it says. "The conduct of the defendants remains disgraceful, repugnant and reprehensible... They acted and continue to act in an arrogant and high-handed fashion towards him," the statement of claim reads. As well, the suit seeks damages because the government removed Jack from his community, home and family, depriving him of family love, guidance, and the knowledge of his native language, culture, customs and traditions. Rose Bender, the Vancouver lawyer acting on behalf of Jack, could not be reached for comment. Bishop Lawrence Sabbatini, head of the Kamloops diocese, refused comment. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: 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: Gorton Proposals and Tribal Sovereignty" --------- Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 10:07:02 -0500 From: Joe Gentile Subj: Gorton legislative proposals, and tribal sovereignty UUCP email Slade Gorton is little better than pond scum....but don't forget, there have been some severe abuses of "tribal sovereignty," and it was inevitable there would be some backlash, a lot of it deserved. Concerning such political shenanigans in current-day Native country: 1) There is a real dissonance in the dialogue about tribal sovereignty, which would be laughable if it wasn't so important. The "sovereignty" of present-day tribes is nothing more than a self-serving construct of the American government, more to humor and placate the tribes into the delusion of self-control than anything else. Whenever "sovereignty" comes into conflict with significant policy prerogatives of the federal government, (or the states many times), the feds win every time. 2) For the tribes fortunate enough to exert a significant amount of "sovereign power," the abuse of that prerogative becomes excellent fodder for anti-native forces. For example, there is the case of a Tribal casino in New York state that was caught cheating its customers......but that asserts "sovereign immunity" in dodging any liability, or attempts at meaningful regulation, either internal or external. Similarly, tribes have asserted "sovereign immunity" to escape culpability from premises injury to visitors, workers compensation oriented matters, and a whole plethora of issues which rightly invoke responsibility for any other resident of this sector of the continent. 3) There is a very troubling selfishness, narrow-mindedness, and back stabbing among Native entities concerning issues that should be of a collective nature. The Native gaming arena is a good case study. Some Tribes in Minnesota, for example, have resorted to arbitrary and extremely self-serving exclusion of tribal members in order to concentrate vast sums of revenue into very few hands (the Prior Lake band, associated with the Mystic Lake Casino by Minneapolis). Contrast that with Oklahoma, the state with more Indians per-capita than any other state, which for all intents and purposes has NO native gaming, save for the small fry of pull-tabs and bingo. The tribes there are pretty much flailing on their own, with no help from their brethren in gaming-rich states (would be too much competition, natch). 3A) The "sovereignty" prerogative resounds most offensively in the raison d'etre of many Native American listserves--genealogy. Tribes assert the "right" to exclude from membership the descendants of persons who, for one reason or the other, "weren't int he right place at the right time," in order to get recorded on this census, this roll, or party to this treaty. My wife and I both have ancestors who assiduously avoided gubment agents and deals at every turn, because they were bright enough to figure out that whenever the feds came by, you were gonna get screwed royally within a very short time. Thus, these ancestors became very adept at covering their tracks, "vanishing," and whatnot. Smart for them; bad for their descendants. "Sins of the fathers, visited on the sons" (and grandsons, and great-great-great-granddaughters, etc) Perhaps the most ironic part of this, is that the tools of the oppressor....the various census rolls, like Dawes, Siler, Chapman, etc.--are the "instruments of choice" used by modern-day tribes to "weed out" who is and isn't a "real Indian." Cute, using the tools the conquerors used to "pedigree" us like cattle, to pick and choose among ourselves who is and isn't considered a "true Cherokee" or whatever. This tired bias against "wannabees" and such is yet another manifestation of this phenomenon. Interesting how people who have blue cards because all their pedigrees line up jusssssst right have such condescension for those whose family trees aren't so perfectly woven. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Joe Gentile email at: Kahless@ix.netcom.com Webmaster of: Marquess-Kellner-Stout-Killman-Beall Genealogy Center web site http://members.aol.com/ftnkid/index.htm Central Oklahoma Mensa Web Site http://members.aol.com/ftnkid/okieland/comindex.htm --------- "RE: Who's Sorry Now?" --------- Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 00:10:26 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: Who's Sorry Now?: Secret Report on Canada's "Apology" :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: WHO'S SORRY NOW?: SECRET REPORT ON CANADA'S "APOLOGY" Government paper warns of risks of apologizing for residential schools Canadian Press, July 27, 1998, by Wendy Cox [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. For more information on Canada's genocidal residential schools, visit http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/resschool/main.html ] OTTAWA (CP) - Government officials were urged two years ago to provide a compensation package to aboriginal people who suffered in residential schools as an attempt to control the potentially explosive costs of lawsuits, an internal document shows. The report, stamped Secret and obtained by The Canadian Press, compares the pros and cons of forcing claimants to go to court with offering financial redress to victims. It concludes that in the long run, compensation would be cheaper. "The number of individual claims as well as any negative implications for the federal government in defending such actions (lawsuits) would likely be minimized if a government policy, including some form of redress package, were adapted," says the 20-page report. The document also warns against using the word "apology," preferring instead "an acknowledgment or expression of regret. It could be worded in such a fashion so as to not lay blame on anyone." Government officials confirmed the report, which is titled simply Residential Schools Discussion Paper, was written in late 1995 or early 1996 for Ron Irwin, then the minister of Indian Affairs. It may also have been prepared for the Justice Department. The report never reached current Indian Affairs Minister Jane Stewart and the advice in it never formed the basis for actions she later took, officials say. Earlier this year, Stewart issued a Statement of Reconciliation, saying the government was "deeply sorry" for those who suffered the "tragedy" of physical and sexual abuse at the schools. The statement also included a $350-million healing fund. "It was critical that the apology meant something to us," said Shawn Tupper, spokesman for the minister on the residential schools file. "We can point to (the $350-million healing fund) and say were actually doing something substantive to back it up." The statement has been accepted by national Chief Phil Fontaine, however other native leaders said at the time that it wasn't good enough. But critics who have read the 1996 document say the federal government has followed the advice to the letter. They say its evidence the statement is not an apology at all but merely an attempt to control costs. Ovide Mercredi, a former national chief, said the document shows "the minister didn't follow her heart or her sense of justice." "She followed legal advice and the advice was to reduce legal liability at all costs and the government measure is designed to do that." Fontaine was unavailable for comment. The document advises that forcing former students to take the government to court would ensure they would have to prove their claims. As an added advantage, it would also limit lawsuits, the report states. "There is a general disinclination by persons who have suffered abuse to testify on such a personal and painful matter in a public and adversarial forum," the report says. "A litigation approach may well keep the number of claimants down to a minimum." however, going to court would cost the government dearly in money and in bad press, the report concludes. The author, who is unnamed, recommends a compensation package instead. Since the report was written, thousands of former students have joined class action suits or have filed individual lawsuits against the federal government. A landmark B.C. court ruling last month declared for the first time that both the federal government and the United Church are legally liable for widespread sexual and physical abuse at a Port Alberni, B.C., school and ordered them to compensate about 30 former students. A figure for the compensation has not yet been decided. The mounting lawsuits are anticipated in the 1996 report, but the document also cautions that apologizing is dangerous territory. "Whatever it is called, the department will want to ensure that the statement cannot subsequently be used to establish a cause of action against the Crown in any particular individual cause," it states. "It would appear that this government is committed to looking ahead and in these tough economic times, it would not want to be involved in anything that is too expensive or linked to the past." Tupper said the departments thinking has evolved since the report. When asked at a news conference last January if the statement of reconciliation was an apology, Stewart responded yes. "In our view, the statement of reconciliation is not an acknowledgment of guilt in a court of law," Tupper said. "It is an acknowledgment of a historic policy and the negative impacts of that policy and it is a commitment to do something about it." However, John McKiggan, a lawyer for about 800 former students at the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School in Nova Scotia, said the internal document reveals the federal governments strategy. "There is an amazing similarity between the present and suggestions made in the paper," he said. "The statement of reconciliation does not apologize for government actions. It recognizes the pain. It doesn't admit responsibility for that pain." :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: WHO'S SORRY NOW? CANADIAN GENOCIDE - THE 'GIFT' THAT KEEPS ON GIVING! Minister of Indian Affairs Jane Stewart: mailto:remote printer.Jane_Stewart@16139926382.iddd.tpc.int AFN Grand Chief Phil Fontaine: mailto:pfontaine@afn.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: Universal Declaration of Human Rights" --------- Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 14:17:38 -0700 From: Robert Dorman Subj: Universal Declaration of Human Rights & Misc. Mailing List: Big Mountain List From: sdnation@earthlink.net Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 19:21:44 -0700 (PDT) Dear Bob, Did you want to post this pledge to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Amnesty International is collecting signatures. The other items that were in this e-mail can be included in your posting or not. Please feel free to snip it. The second, about the Millennium Peoples Assembly is gaining a lot of momentum among the NGO community. Thank you, Marsha Monestersky ----------------------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 22:04:18 EDT From: BEBIRD@aol.com Subj: Fwd: Please support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Millenn... People's Assembly Network + "Transmute the Prophecies" Dear Friends, The last email spoke of the world we are all working so hard to create. I believe this initiative is a step in realizing that goal. Please pass this on to your networks. Every voice counts. Thanks. Betsy Hello Please take a few minutes to add your name to this global pledge and pass it on to others on your list. Thank you. Jean Hudon Earth Rainbow Network http://www.cybernaute.com/earthconcert2000 Universal Declaration of Human Rights Here is a great opportunity to support a great cause. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Amnesty International is collecting signatures for a pledge to support this very important United Nations declaration. Amnesty already has 3 million signatures (real and virtual) world wide, and wants 8 million (which would be 1% of the world's population). The UN Secretary General has already agreed to be present either in person or live by satellite, if he has to be in New York, to receive the pledge as a tangible statement of the people of the world's commitment to an international agenda of human rights. The most simple way to add your name to the pledge is to: + Send an email to udhr50th@amnesty.org.au Put YOUR NAME in the SUBJECT, and cut and paste the following text in the MESSAGE: "I support the rights and freedoms in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all people, everywhere." Forward this message to as many people as you can. For further information, contact the SA branch of Amnesty International at: saaia@ozemail.com.au ----------------------------------- And I also encourage you all to support the Millennium People's Assembly Network Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 16:35:20 -0700 From: Sue Zipp Subj: "Transmute the Prophecies" ATTENTION: Millions of people will participate in the world's first World Peace Prayer Ceremony, to be broadcast live via the Internet. "Transmute the Prophecies" A global vigil to undo the negative prophecies and predictions of earth changes with James Twyman, Doreen Virtue, and Gregg Braden, the coordinators of The Great Experiment. Ancient tribes have called this the "Time of No-Time" Now scientists and other sources warn us about possible earth changes that seem to support these ancient prophecies. Again we ask ourselves the question: Can we, through global prayer and meditation, choose love over fear to shift these earth changes? Can we choose peace instead? The prophecies of catastrophic earth changes have been predicted to begin in October of 1998 by many well-known ancient and modern sources. Please join us in prayer, meditation, and visualization to transmute and undo these prophecies. We firmly believe that our world is a product of our thoughts. If we empower these earth changes with fear and negativity, then we actually make them manifest in our world. But if we choose peace, compassion, and healing, then we likewise have the power to undo these changes, simply by uniting our minds and focusing our intent on global peace. On August 22, 1998, between 3:30 and 4 PM New York Time, millions of people around the world will create a powerful global link by simultaneously joining in the prayer ("May Peace Prevail on Earth"). In union with the Eighth Annual Amenia World Peace Festival, in Amenia, New York, an unparalleled opportunity will be offered to everyone dedicated to manifesting peace on the planet. For the first time ever, a World Peace Prayer Ceremony will be broadcast live via the Internet, linking people of every race, religion, and creed, in the common goal of peace and harmony. Join the thousands of people from around the world, who will attend this ceremony in Amenia, and millions more who will participate through prayer and meditation, in shifting the focus of humanity toward the positive force of love and compassion. HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED: 1. Decide to participate in whatever way you can. Join us at the Amenia Festival (visit http://www.worldpeace.org or call 1-800-PEACELINE for info and directions). Form or join a prayer group in your area, or set aside time to meditate alone. You can join Doreen Virtue, author of "The Lightworker's Way," at Secret Garden Mansion, in conjunction with Wings of Solimar Angel Gallery near San Francisco (call 925-284-3324 or visit http://www.angeldreams.com for info). For information about joining Gregg Braden, author of "Walking Between the Worlds" in prayer, please check the www.emissaryoflight.com website. 2. If you have access to a computer with Internet service, log onto http://www.WorldPuja.org at 2 PM New York Time. This will enable you to view the entire ceremonial program, featuring a performance and talk by "The Peace Troubadour," James Twyman, author of "Emissary of Light." The program culminates in a World Peace Prayer Ceremony inviting everyone to send a prayer for peace to each and every country of the world as its national flag is raised. It is a breathtaking event you won't want to miss. 3. No matter where you are, please join us in prayer. If you choose, you can use the following prayer and visualization: A. First, become quiet and centered within yourself. B. Say a prayer such as: "Dear God, We give thanks for the peaceful world in which we live. We now choose to live in a world of harmony and safety, and we affirm that it is so. We know that You love us and watch over us at all times, and we ask for Your help in releasing all effects of fear from the world. Thank you and may peace prevail on earth." C. Spend five minutes visualizing the people and geography of the world at peace. See people everywhere joyously joining in gratitude for this peaceful world. Allow yourself to be filled with gratitude and love, and extend these feelings to Mother Earth and to life everywhere. "The Great Experiment" On April 23, 1998, millions of people in at least 75 countries participated in "The Great Experiment," an attempt to prove what the saints and sages have always told us - that we have the collective power to change the world through prayer and meditation. Some believe that the current flux in the geomagnetic field and the Schumann resonance frequency of the earth has made it nearly impossible to show how this meditation impacted the planet. However, many people who participated reported feeling a "profound shift" both within themselves and in the world. "Transmute the Prophecies" is a follow-up to this amazing experiment. We have the power to shift the direction of earth changes by resolutely choosing love over fear. Join millions of people around the world who are dedicated to creating a new world of harmony and compassion. Remember: August 22, 1998 between 3:30 and 4 PM New York Time. May Peace Prevail On Earth! Visit http://www.emissaryoflight.com for more information. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You are on the BIGMTLIST, a moderated mailing list of Big Mountain relocation resistance information (not discussion or debate). To unsubscribe, email redorman@theofficenet.com with "unsubscribe" in the subject header. For non-list members receiving this post as a forwarded message, you may subscribe by emailing redorman@theofficenet.com with the word "subscribe" in the subject header. For Big Mountain and other activist internet resources, visit "The Activist Page" at http://www.theofficenet.com/~redorman/welcome.html Also, for great internet tools please visit: http://www.msw.com.au/cgi-bin/msw/entry?id=1271 --------- "RE: Spirit of the Wolf Walk" --------- Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 15:46:24 -0500 From: "Jean BraveHeart" Subj: Spirit of the Wolf Walk UUCP email To Wolf Friends: The Minnesota Wolf Alliance is hosting its first annual: "NATIONAL SPIRIT OF THE WOLF WALK", September 26, l998 in Duluth, Minnesota. 12:00 PM The Theme is "FOR PROTECTION OF THE WOLF ALWAYS" as we believe with delisting coming up shortly, we need to all come together now as there will be hard times ahead for the wolf. COME TO SAY NO TO: Wolf hunting and trapping or indiscriminate killing of wolves Violent attacks towards the wolf To rushing delisting of the wolf in this country COME AND SAY YES TO: More wolf education Responsible and ecologically sound state management plans once the wolf is delisted Ensuring that the wolf is protected for future generations Thanks to the following sponsors of the walk: Defenders Of Wildlife HOWL (Help Our Wolves Live) FATE (Friends of Animals And Their Environment) Animal Protection Institute - Chicago, Illinois Indigenous Environmental Network North Woods Animal Alliance Animal Rights Coalition I would like to invite other wolf groups and concerned organizations to participate and become sponsors of the walk. We are looking for the following help in these areas: Speakers, sponsors, participants, helping to get the word out, posters, donations for the walk, helping with the walk itself. If you can't participate in these ways, sending good thoughts and energy for the wolf would be much appreciated. We will have a flyer out next week and will forward it to you Thanks Jean Brave Heart Minnesota Wolf Alliance PO Box 6351 Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-837-1754 jbraveheart@sprynet.com http://www.nnic.com/mnwolves/ --------- "RE: Metis Eligibility for Agreement" --------- Date: 24 Jul 1998 15:17:47 GMT From: ab155@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Martin F. Dunn) Subj: Metis Eligibility for Agreement Newsgroups: alt.native At the request of Jim Green of the South Slave Metis Tribal Council, I am posting the following message so that those eligible to be enumerated as beneficiaries of a land a resources agreement can register themselves with he Council. The South Slave metis Tribal Council, comprised of the indigenous Metis of Fort Smith, Hay River and Fort Resolution in the Northwest Territories, is currently negotiating a lands and resources agreement with the federal and territorial governments. An integral part of the process includes the enumeration of all eligible indigenous Metis beneficiaries to the final agreement. The Tribal Council defines "indigenous Metis" as one who: (1) resided in a designated community and used and occupied the South Slave on or before December 31, 1921 and who is not registered as an Indian under the Indian Act, and (a) is of mixed Aboriginal and non-aboriginal descent; or (b) is of Chiewyan, Slavey or Cree descent; or (c) is a descendent of a person described in (1) above, and who is not registered as an Indian under the Indian Act. A "Designated Community" means one or all of: (a) Fort Smith and area; (b) Hay River and area; (c) Fort Resolution and area. If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria as defined above, please contact the SSMTC and you will be mailed a registration form. Enumeration Coordinator, South Slave Metis Tribal Council, P.O. Box 129, Fort Smith, NT X0E 0P0 Telephone (867) 872-4044 Fax (867) 872-2404 e-mail jgreen.ssmtc@auroranet.nt.ca <===============================================================> Martin F. Dunn Aboriginal Rights Consulting ab155@freenet.carleton.ca from an Aboriginal Perspective <===============================================================> --------- "RE: Book Review: Stand Watie" --------- Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 08:42:26 -0600 From: berryj@okway.okstate.edu ------- FORWARD, Original message follows ------- Subj: Indian News 7-19-98 Author: at SMTP Date: 7/19/98 9:27 AM Book Review: Stand Watie and the First Cherokee Regiment: 1861 to 1865 Tulsa World By Robert D. Norris Jr. 7/19/98 Author: Carolyn Bartels (Two Trails Publishing, $9) Despite a record of shabby and often shameful treatment by the government, Indians have nevertheless always ranked amongst our most patriotic Americans and have served well and honorably in all America's wars, including both sides of our greatest conflict, the Civil War. This book, well researched and well written, tells the story of one of Oklahoma's greatest Indian leaders, Confederate Brigadier Gen. Stand Watie, the only Indian general on either side of the Civil War and the last Confederate general to surrender. Like the nation, the Five Civilized Tribes of the Indian Territory found themselves split into loyalist and secessionist factions with the outbreak of the Civil War. Watie, a prominent Cherokee lawyer and statesman, was representative of the Pro-Southern faction of Cherokees. With no love for the federal government which had exiled them to Oklahoma, culturally and socially allied to the south and flanked on two sides by Confederate states, the Secessionist Red Man had cogent and compelling reasons to side with the South. Bred to arms, if not West Point, the Indians were hereditary warriors, skilled with firearms, accomplished in fieldcraft, touchy of their rights, and, like most Americans of the era, not afraid of a fight, even if they were not looking for one. Indian units would render excellent service to both Blue and Gray, fighting Yankees, Rebels and each other. Ill-equipped and under-armed even by Confederate standards, the Rebel Red Men of Watie's command would see battle in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. At Pea Ridge, Arkansas, the Confederate Cherokees overran and captured a Union artillery battery. They saw much service in the Indian territory, excelling at hit-and-run raids and almost forcing the Union to abandon the Indian territory. Under Watie's inspired leadership, they had an effect far out of proportion to their numbers, in spite of their woeful shortage of arms, ammunition, rations, and other material of war. Using skillful tactics and Red Valor, Watie and his command wrote a proud and unique chapter in Civil War history. Virtually cut off from Confederate supply lines, Watie and his Red Rebels carried on the war against fearful odds, doing much with very little, often seizing from the Union what they needed to fight in a war of ambush and raids. Gen. Stand Watie finally surrendered on June 23, 1865, two months after Gen. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. He returned to civil life, died in 1871, and is remembered today as one of America's greatest and most unique citizens- soldiers. His is a tale worth re-telling, and this book does it admirably. [Robert D. Norris Jr. is a Tulsa attorney. ] --------- "RE: Directions" --------- Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 06:45:17 -0500 (CDT) From: "Dr. Eugene Norman" Subj: Stories and Quotes UUCP email Directions The following is from "The Healing Drum" by Blackwolf Jones, who is of the Anishinaabe People. The Four Directions organize all things. They bring us the life cycles and keep them renewed. The Four Directions bring predictability and order. All cycles follow their form. The color of the East Direction is yellow. The first rays of morning sun bring the new light of innocence. East is the white plumage of the Eagle feather. It is the filling of the right container. It is an infant. It is the conception of a new day. It is the spring of the year, stimulating new growth. It is the creation of life. This is the East Direction. The color of the South direction is red, the color of Earth Mother. South represents summer and adolescence. It is hormones exploding, experimentation, and invigorating growth spurts. Peer conformity replaces parental dominance. It is a time for confusion, the precedence of wisdom. It is a time to collect one's identity, the time of the vision quest. This is the South Direction. The color of the West direction is black. The sun trail takes us into cavern of Self. We come to see Self in the deep, still waters within. The mirror of the Bear reflects our essence. This is the autumn of our life, the adult years. It is a time to bundle our knowledge into wisdom. It is time for us to empty our bucket, so that we may become filled. This is to become mature. This is West Direction. The color of the North direction is white. It is a time for enlightenment, a time to be purified and refined. It is time to wear the white crown of Elder enlightenment. From this spiritually dominant position flows the eternal waters of life, the well spring of the life cycle. The North contains shifting spiritual ice sheets that move from great pressure. A new spiritual construct results. A Grand Canyon of Self emerges. Darkness accents the light. From the North all will be renewed. This is North Direction. Beyond the Four Directions, we are asked to go down, to the fifth direction of Earth Mother. The green color reminds us that growth is needed. Earth Mother supplies nourishment. Earth Mother is our connection to life. The Sixth Direction is Sky Father, depicted with the color blue. It reminds us to monitor our life choices. It is here where evaluation will take place. It is the connection to the world from which we came and to where we will go. The Seventh Direction is you. You are part of the hoop of life that intersects Eternity. This is the Direction to come to Self, to recognize your role in life, to give of your self. --------- "RE: Five More Sentenced to Prison for Protesting SOA" --------- Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 15:43:25 -0700 From: NCDM Subj: Five More Sentenced to Prison for Protesting SOA Posted on SOAWATCH Five More Sentenced to Prison for Protesting Us Army's School of the Americas at Fort Benning On July 23, in Columbus, GA, Federal Court Judge J. Robert Elliott, 90, sentenced five School of the Americas (SOA) protesters to prison terms of up to 12 months. Judge Elliott ruled the terms must be served consecutively with a previously imposed six month term stemming from a January 23, 1998 conviction. In January, Judge Elliott sentenced Fr. Bichsel, Sister Eilerman, Mr. Kinane and Ms. Trotochaud, along with twenty-one others, on a charge of "unlawful re-entry." The twenty-five were among the six hundred and one arrested for participating in a peaceful vigil at Fort Benning on November 16, 1997. The twenty-one are currently serving six month sentences. Ms. Rumpf was taken into custody today while the other four were released to self- surrender to a federal prison at a date to be determined. Those sentenced and their to: 12 months * Fr. William Bichsel, SJ, 70, Tacoma, WA 8 months * Sr. Marge Eilerman, OSF, 60, Booneville, KY 10 months * Ed Kinane, 53, Syracuse, NY 12 months Kathleen Rumpf, 47, Syracuse, NY 8 months * Mary Trotochaud, 47, Atlanta, GA Plus six months for their January, 1998 conviction in Judge Elliott's court. Additionally, fines and restitution varied from $1,000 to $3,050 with two years supervised probation for each. . On March 2, 1998 the five were found guilty of "destruction of government property with malicious intent," a felony. In their September 29, 1997 protest, the five pried metal letters off Ft. Benning's main entrance sign, and stenciled in their place: Home of School of Americas/school of shame and SOA=torture. Since the early eighties, Ft. Benning has been host to the SOA, a US Army training center for Latin American militaries. The SOA is known throughout Latin America as the "School of Assassins." In September, 1996, the Pentagon acknowledged the SOA had used training manuals endorsing torture, extortion and assassination. Defendant Kathleen Rumpf noted that "SOA graduates are notorious for abusing their own people." Fr. William Bichsel explains that such terrorism "is perpetuated in order to assure cheap labor to the corporations operating in those countries." Mary Trotochaud notes the "irony of going to prison when SOA graduates implicated in the hemisphere's most atrocious human rights violations remain free." Sister Marge Eilerman adds, "our time in prison will be worth it if it hastens the closure of the SOA. Given the scale of terrorism perpetrated by SOA-trained militaries now operating in Chiapas, Mexico and Colombia, the stakes are high." ------------------------------------------------------------ SPAN (Strategic Pastoral Action) Accion Estrategica y Pastoral wrehberg@spanweb.org Wes Rehberg, Ph.D. wrehberg@peacenet.org +607-546-2250, phone & fax http://www.spanweb.org A human-rights and social-justice NGO working non-violently through themes of liberation theology and the pedagogy of the oppressed in areas of struggle. --------- "RE: Indigenous Activists Arrested" --------- Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 00:07:54 -0800 From: SISIS@envirolink.org (S.I.S.I.S.) Subj: BC: Indigenous Activists Arrested [S.I.S.I.S. note: Please scroll to the end of this message and send letters of protest to the addresses listed there.] :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:Forwarded message:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: From: "James Michael Craven" Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 12:58:11 PST8PDT Subject: Urgent Appeal Last night (Jul 23 rd) Frank Martin (Bella Bella) and his wife Helen Michell (Carrier) were arrested again--following a meeting on Indian activism and plans for actions and protests. Frank was arrested on the basis of an alleged previous warrant in 1992; the problem is, that he was just previously arrested (charged with being an 'illegal alien) and nothing was said about any alleged previous warrant and he was released on bail--"gating". I am unaware of the charges against Helen but sincerely believe that this latest round of arrests needs to be examined and questioned thoroughly; my personal opinion is that this is clear reprisal for the testimonies and activism of Frank and Helen related to issues presented at the Tribunal at which I was one of the Judges (Pro Tempore) and possibly as a result of certain issues disclosed recently on SISS related to the Vancouver Club about which they may have had knowledge also. I implore all people of conscience to call for an examination of these latest rounds of arrests, intimidation and harassment. Helen is presently in the Vancouver jail and Frank is at Maple Ridge as I write this. They have been made destitute and fear for their safety and that of their children. I publish Helen's appeal again to urge all people of conscience to assist these freedom fighters in any way possible. Jim Craven Urgent Action These people recently testified at an Inter-Tribal Tribunal dealing with the Residential Schools in Canada and almost immediately after their testimony, actions commenced against them. I was one of the Tribal Judges on that Tribunal and their testimony was moving and very damaging to some of the "powers that be". Please circulate this widely and help if possible. Jim Craven Forwarded Message Follows ------- Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 15:12:34 -0700 From: Steve Kisby Subj: Appeal from Helen Michell July 6, 1998, update. Frank, Helen Michell's husband, is being held in a Pentiction jail (in the interior of British Columbia, Canada) and is being denied his medication prescribed by a Doctor in Vancouver. The Penticton, B.C., court file number is 7247C. Prior to being put in jail, Frank had lost 20 lbs as he couldn't eat properly as a result of a beating by police, which broke his jaw. The medication is for the injuries receive during the beating. So far, $150 has been raised toward his bail of $500 and we desperately need people to come forward with help toward the remaining amount. If you can help, please contact Helen Michell c/o 2985 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., V6K 2R2, Canada. Messages may also be left with Dimitri at 604-738-4260. In Helen's words: ------------------------------------------ Helen Michell 2985 West 12th Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V6K 2R2, Canada July 3, 1998 Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 25; (1) Every one has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, DISABILITY, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. This is what my husband read out in the welfare office to the workers and to the police officers before his arrest. I believe my husband is a prisoner of war. To the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates ; On July 1, 1998, Canada celebrated one hundred years of GENOCIDE, on the Indigenous people of this stolen land. The R.C.M.P. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police -- Canada's national police force), also celebrated one hundred and twenty-five years of GENOCIDE on the Indigenous peoples within Canada. On July 2,1998, we as an Indigenous family of North Central British Columbia, Canada's most western province, are in need of protection from the British Columbia and Canadian government systems, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Our need for protection is vital because we are against this illegal "treaty" process happening now in this province. And now a taste of GENOCIDE; For the past six months we have been living in Port Coquitlam, just outside of the city of Vancouver, and we are on welfare. The government welfare workers have been very discriminating towards us as a indigenous family, and I have seen many discriminating social workers throughout the province. These workers would do a variety of things to us everytime such as with-holding our rental cheques, cutting the amounts of our cheques down, laughing at us because of our disposition, kicking us out of their office without our cheques, or threatening to call the police. Throughout all of this, the white people who visited their offices were getting their cheques, with no problem. They usually have a security guard at the office, but today, there wasn't any, and so they must of planned to call the police. Our son had moved in with us, that made the social workers mad. She said we couldn't live together because we were related. We found a new place in Vancouver where we could all live together. That made the social workers furious, but they paid my son's rent in the new place for the month of June anyway. Our rent was paid in Port Coquitlam. Now it is July, the social workers refused to pay my son's rent at his new home and refused him his sustenance cheque. Our half of the rent was paid already . So we were back at the office to try and get our sons rent paid. We were already under stress and illness, so we were considering putting our belongings into storage and living in our van again. The workers wouldn't budge. Instead they called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on my husband. There was no charges laid but my husband got hauled away , by a rude and discriminating police officer. My husband was not read his rights and was not informed what the charges were. Except that they say they had a warrant for his arrest for being an "Illegal alien" in Canada. I had not seen any warrant to this day. We had already been arrested in the past, twice each, on this same charge. The rude R.C.M.P. officer threatened to take me to jail if I didn't stop taking pictures with my camera. As indigenous people in North America, we have "dual citizenship" in Canada and the United States. So they violated their own laws in this country and also violated our Indigenous Human Rights. The R.C.M.P. officer who arrested us on the "illegal alien" charge was also an indigenous person. He couldn't tell the difference between his own kind and an alien. While they were arresting my husband, I quickly jumped into my van and raced into Vancouver. I have never been so scared and alone. Later my husband called me and said there is a warrant for my arrest also, for being an illegal alien. I called the office of the elected member of the provincial legislature for Port Coquitlam at 4 p.m. the same day and spoke to the office worker there. She did some investigating and said the government social worker had no right to treat us like that. They should of transferred my son's file to Vancouver before July. So the social workers were in the wrong, but now my husband is in jail. My sons cheque was mailed out that day at 4:30 p.m. thanks to the elected member's office worker. How many other Indigenous families have to suffer as we do, just to survive everyday? Most welfare workers act as if the money is coming out of their pockets. This "illegal alien" charge is two years old this July, and they have never bothered us all this time. We have been in their court rooms and police station, they have been in my house in Port Coquitlam a few times. I think because we are to out spoken against a fraudulent "treaty process" here and to politically active that they want us dismantled and destroyed as a indigenous family. They sure are doing a great job of it. A few weeks after this illegal alien charge in July, 1996, my husband was brutally beaten up, by ten Vancouver city polices in the downtown section called gastown. Half of his face was completely smashed in from a police flash light. That beating took place on August 8, 1996, and my family has suffered terribly because of that incident. He was in terrible pain and had two tumors in his head, 27 broken bones under his ear, and his jaw was broken down the middle of his mouth. At one time, because of the tumors, my husband went under, while riding on the bus. They took him to the hospital in an ambulance. They were getting ready to do a brain operation, without anybody's consent. My husband said he woke up to knives in the operating room. He quickly jumped up and grabbed his clothing and raced out without putting on his clothes. He changed his clothes in the bushes outside the hospital. Since the beating , my husband has been under two special doctors care and is taking special medication for his head. This arrest cuts him off his treatment, which is another human rights violation. Since this brutal beating , the head sergeant of that Vancouver police outfit died of liver cancer, a week before his retirement. Five other city police officers have become mentally ill, of which one died this past Saturday. We have no hand in what ever is happening to them. Justice still wins in the end regardless of the injustices. They have offered Frank an out of court settlement which started at $50,000 and the last offer was $250,000. How much does a humans right to life cost? In my words no amount of money could replace what we went through, a life of shambles and the loss of many lives. Today is July 3, and it is my husbands birthday. Happy birthday Frank, where ever you are. We all love you, be strong and stay alive please. Maybe they will try to kill my husband while he is in custody, so they don't have to pay anything. I know they are already paying for that brutal beating. On June 30, 1998, we buried my cousin, who was murdered on the east side of Vancouver. Her sister was buried a month ago. I think she was murdered also. The cousin we buried on June 30, her face was smashed in, on the same side as my husbands face, when he was done in. When I looked at her in the coffin, one last time, I flashed on my husbands face when he was beaten up by the police. We called for an investigation on her death. Now they say there are ten more indigenous women murdered or missing from the east side of Vancouver. In 1993, our little family drove to New York city to lodge our complaints to the United Nation, regarding our disposition in this country. It seems like our lives went from bad to worse, after that journey. The United Nations had no ears for indigenous peoples in Canada. Since going to the United Nations , I have buried a brother and two nephews, and my oldest sister. My brother was involved in a drug conspiracy case, he was a witness. Both him and his girlfriend were killed. One nephew was run over by a truck and killed instantly, his killer was never found or convicted. Another nephew was stabbed six times, by a Canadian government supported indigenous leader, who didn't want to pay out settlement money owed to my nephew, for the flooding out of his log houses and land. It's weird that my nephew knew when he was going to die, and who would do it to him. My sister was contaminated with blood cancer, she passed away a month after the Vancouver police beating on my husband. The same things happened to my parents and my grandparents, who are also deceased. My husband and I have been together for seventeen years now. In those seventeen years we have never tasted an ounce of FREEDOM without fear of prosecution or worse. Our life together has been spent in the court rooms and on the run. They could never convict us on any charge, there was always a stay of proceedings. Throughout most of our time together, we spent most of our lives as fugitives on our own lands. Our children were always with us . We also have a grandchild, who we haven't seen in two years, because they live in Prince George, in the center of the province. I think the world should know what is happening to us and other Indigenous people in Canada. who stand up for their international rights. We cannot get a lawyer to represent us. No human being would represent us as humans. In every way they violated our HUMAN RIGHTS, as an Indigenous family. Where do we go from here? Can anyone help us? Human Rights is fifty years old and many of the Indigenous people in North America never live past that age, because of all the abuses and useless policies, and discrimination is a disease more contagious than aids. We are seeking funding for filing suits to sue the Canadian government, the police forces, and Canadian supported indigenous governments. It looks like there is no way, in this world, we could dare to go that far. With our past experiences though, we know there is a higher power and miracles do happen. We are fighting to survive in this heartless world, and it sure isn't getting any easier. For many of our people, suicide is the easy way out. We plan to stand up for our rights as a family. Please send letters that support us to the Canadian government. Meci cho (Thank you very much) Telqua (Helen Michell) Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:End forwarded message:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: ADDRESSES: Prime Minister Jean Chretien Room 309-S Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ont. K1A OA6 Canada Phone: (613) 992-4211 Fax: (613) 941-6900 Faxing by email: remote-printer.Jean_Chretien@16139416900.iddd.tpc.int email:pm@pm.gc.ca WWW comments: http://pm.gc.ca/english/pmo/e_corres.htm BC Premier Glen Clark Room 156 Parlia