From gars@speakeasy.org Wed Nov 7 01:07:44 2001 Date: 31 Oct 2001 02:19:22 -0000 From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews09.044 WOTANGING IKCHE -- Lakota -- Common News Kanoheda Aniyvwiya -- Cherokee -- Journal of the People Otapi'sin Atsinikiisinaakssin -- Blackfeet -- News for All the People Es'te Opunvk'vmucvse -- Creek -- People's New News Aunchemokauhettittea -- Naragansett -- Let Us Share News Ni-mah-mi-kwa-zoo-min -- Ojibwe -- We Are Talking About Ourselves Ha-Sah-Sliltha -- Ditidaht Nation -- News of the People Un Chota -- Susquehannic Seneca -- The People Speak Ximopanolti tehuatzin, inin Mexika tlahtolli -- Nahuatl -- For you we offer these words It-hah-pe-hah Ah-num pah-le -- Chicasaw -- Together We Are Talking Sho-da-ku-ye -- Teehahnahmah -- Talking Birchbark Native American News -- Language of the Occupation Forces ==>If you want your Nation represented in the banner of this newsletter<== email gars@nanews.org with the equivalent of "News of the People" in your tribal language along with the english translation O +-----------------------------+ O o O | Much more happens in Indian | O o O VOLUME 09, ISSUE 044 | Country than is reported in | O o o o o O | this weekly newsletter. For | O o O November 3, 2001 | For daily updates & events | O o O | go http://www.owlstar.com/ | O | dailyheadlines.htm | Pomo kasi-sa/cold begins moon +-----------------------------+ Cherokee nvda tsiyahloha/harvest moon <================<<<< >>>>================> This issue contains articles from www.pechanga.net; www.owlstar.com; www.indianz.com; ndn-aim, Amazon Alliance, First Nations & Rez Life mailing Lists; UUCP email IMPORTANT!! ----------- 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@speakeasy.org ++ It is archived at http://www.nanews.org <================<<<< >>>>================> As historian Patricia Nelson Limerick summarized in The Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West, "Set the blood quantum at one-quarter, hold to it as a rigid definition of Indians, let intermarriage proceed as it had for centuries, and eventually Indians will be defined out of existence. When that happens, the federal government will be freed of its persistent 'Indian problem.'" "Are not women and children more timid than men? The Cheyenne warriors are not afraid, but have you never heard of Sand Creek? Your soldiers look just like the soldiers that butchered women and children there." -- Woquini (Roman Nose) to General Winfield Scott Hancock +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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 +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Journey | In the summer and early fall | The Bloodline | of 1998 the Treaty Unity Riders | | rode a thousand miles on horse- | For all that live and live by law | back, carrying a staff and | We Stand, we Call, We Ride | praying each step of the way. | For All that fear and fear by sight | | We Hear, we Listen, we Ride | These prayers were offered for | For all that pray and pray by strength| each of us, and that the Unity | We Feel, we Move, we Ride | of all Peoples might happen. | For all that die and die by greed | | We Hurt, we Cry, we Ride | Tatanka Cante forwarded this | For all that birth and birth by right | poem on behalf of all the Unity | We Smile, we Hold, we Ride | Riders that we might stop and | For all that need and need by heart | ask if the next words we say, the | We Came, we Went, we Rode. | next act we make is for the good | | of the People or is it from ego | Treaty Unity Riders | for self. +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! There are three articles in this issue concerning the selling of eagle feathers. Two are about a Canadian member of the Salish tribe's Cowichan band in British Columbia. The other centers on a Santa Fe dealer who was caught selling bald eagle feathers. One factor that has nagged at me regarding the Canadian (who was found guilty) is that the prosecutor made a big issue of the fact that the U. S. did not recognize his tribe. Maybe I'm stupid, but when did it become critical for the U. S. to recognize Canadian First Nations for those nations to be legitimate? That's just crap and non-sense! There seems to be some confusion around Indian Country regarding eagle feathers. The rules are actually pretty simple: Boiled down - if you aren't from a federally recognized tribe you can't have them. If you are from a federally recognized tribe and you didn't obtain them through the Federal Repository they probably aren't legal. - Here's the actual Interior legalspeak regarding possession: TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PART 22--EAGLE PERMITS--Table of Contents Subpart C--Eagle Permits Sec. 22.22 What are the requirements concerning permits for Indian religious purposes? We will issue a permit only to members of Indian entities recognized and eligible to receive services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs listed under 25 U.S.C. 479a-1 engaged in religious activities who satisfy all the issuance criteria of this section. We may, under the provisions of this section, issue a permit authorizing the taking, possession, and transportation within the United States, or transportation into or out of the United States of lawfully acquired bald eagles or golden eagles, or their parts, nests, or eggs for Indian religious use. We will not issue a permit under this section that authorizes the transportation into or out of the United States of any live bald or golden eagles, or any live eggs of these birds. (a) How do I apply if I want a permit for Indian religious purposes? You must submit applications for permits to take, possess, transport within the United States, or transport into or out of the United States lawfully acquired bald or golden eagles, or their parts, nests, or eggs for Indian religious use to the appropriate Regional Director--Attention: Migratory Bird Permit Office. You can find addresses for the appropriate Regional Directors in 50 CFR 2.2. If you are applying for a permit to transport into or out of the United States, your application must contain all the information necessary for the issuance of a CITES permit. You must comply with all the requirements in part 23 of this subchapter before international travel. Your application for any permit under this section must also contain the information required under this section, Sec. 13. 12(a) of this subchapter, and the following information: (1) Species and number of eagles or feathers proposed to be taken, or acquired by gift or inheritance. (2) State and local area where the taking is proposed to be done, or from whom acquired. (3) Name of tribe with which applicant is associated. (4) Name of tribal religious ceremony(ies) for which required. (5) You must attach a certification of enrollment in an Indian tribe that is federally recognized under the Federally Recognized Tribal List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a-1, 108 Stat. 4791 (1994). The certificate must be signed by the tribal official who is authorized to certify that an individual is a duly enrolled member of that tribe, and must include the official title of that certifying official. (b) What are the permit conditions? In addition to the general conditions in part 13 of this subchapter B, permits to take, possess, transport within the United States, or transport into or out of the United States bald or golden eagles, or their parts, nests or eggs for Indian religious use are subject to the following conditions: (1) Bald or golden eagles or their parts possessed under permits issued pursuant to this section are not transferable, except such birds or their parts may be handed down from generation to generation or from one Indian to another in accordance with tribal or religious customs; and (2) You must submit reports or inventories, including photographs, of eagle feathers or parts on hand as requested by the issuing office. (c) How do we evaluate your application for a permit? We will conduct an investigation and will only issue a permit to take, possess, transport within the United States, or transport into or out of the United States bald or golden eagles, or their parts, nests or eggs, for Indian religious use when we determine that the taking, possession, or transportation is compatible with the preservation of the bald and golden eagle. In making a determination, we will consider, among other criteria, the following: (1) The direct or indirect effect which issuing such permit would be likely to have upon the wild populations of bald or golden eagles; and (2) Whether the applicant is an Indian who is authorized to participate in bona fide tribal religious ceremonies. (d) How long are the permits valid? We are authorized to amend, suspend, or revoke any permit that is issued under this section (see Secs. 13.23, 13.27, and 13.28 of this subchapter). (1) A permit issued to you that authorizes you to take bald or golden eagles will be valid during the period specified on the face of the permit, but will not be longer than 1 year from the date it is issued. (2) A permit issued to you that authorizes you to transport and possess bald or golden eagles or their parts, nests, or eggs within the United States will be valid for your lifetime. (3) A permit authorizing you to transport dead bald eagles or golden eagles, or their parts, nests, or dead eggs into or out of the United States can be used for multiple trips to or from the United States, but no trip can be longer than 180 days. The permit will be valid during the period specified on the face of the permit, not to exceed 3 years from the date it is issued. [39 FR 1183, Jan. 4, 1974, as amended at 63 FR 52638, Oct. 1, 1998; 64 FR 50473, Sept. 17, 1999] - And here's the actual law regarding transport of eagle feathers across international boundaries as posted on Indianz.com July 2000: The Eagle Rule JULY 12, 2000 The following is the summary for 50 CFR Part 22, known as Rule 22. Rule 22 allows members of federally recognized US tribes to transport eagle feathers and eagle items across international borders. A permit must be obatined from Fish and Wildlife. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 22 RIN 1018-AB81 Eagle Transportation Permits for American Indians and Public Institutions AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final rule revises the general eagle permit restrictions applicable to American Indians and public institutions. This final regulation provides for the issuance of eagle permits for transportation of lawfully possessed eagle parts into or out of the United States only when the eagle parts have a religious purpose, or when a public institution transports eagle parts for scientific or exhibition purposes. In these cases, we will require that the eagle parts be returned to the country of origin. We make this revision to address concerns expressed by American Indians and public institutions who have sought our permission to allow international travel of lawfully possessed eagle parts or items containing eagle parts. We have carefully considered the needs of science and education, the religious protections guaranteed by the United States Constitution, and the recommendations made by those responding to the proposed rule providing for Eagle Transportation Permits for American Indians and Public Institutions published Thursday, June 16, 1994 (Federal Register (59 FR 30892)). EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective September 17, 1999. ADDRESSES: Comments received are available for public inspection between the hours of 8 a.m.and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, in Room 500, Arlington Square Building, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203-3247, (703) 358-1949. FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin R. Adams, Chief, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, (703) 358-1949. Copyright c. 2000 Noble Savage Media, LLC / Indianz.Com =================================== If you have names and addresses of trustworthy collectors of food, money and clothing gifts at the various reservations please forward them soon. The winter winds already have come down from the north. -=-=-=- I send thanks to my friend, Crazy Bull, for passing along a contact for those who wish to donate food, clothing or fuel money to elders in need on the Rez's. Wopila Russell. Evelynn Charging P O Box #170 Lower Brule, SD 57548 if no answer call Grandmother Charging at Phone: 605-473-5377 the Golden Buffalo Casino 605-473-5577 -=-=-=- From: "Kay" For those of you who wish to 'Give A Gift,' here is the address: Eastern Cherokee Alliance 5411 Laureltree Place Louisville, Ky. 40229 Marty Soaring Eagle said he would distribute/deliver. 1-502-966-8046 Thank you Kay -=-=-=- From: "Nimchira" I am collecting items for the Rosebud Reservation if anyone is interested. Below is a small list of items needed before first snow fall. The first part of the list is what they need now, they have plenty of clothing so far....however there is a shortage of warm jackets, food is also an important need right now...... again, I thank you.... Nim Toiletries: Bath Soap Shampoo and Conditioner Deodorants Tooth brushes, Paste Feminine products Mens Shaving items Bath Towels and wash cloths Non-perishables Food items: Boxed goods Canned goods Bottled Water Baby foods Warm Clothing: Childrens Winter Wear in good repair Men and Womens Winter coats or jackets Gloves, mittens, scarves, hats [knit or crochetted] Other items of warm outer wear. Baby items, diapers Blankets, lots of blankets. For more information you can call Nimchira Webb at: 1-620-278-3842 Items can be left in care of: J. Porter Selman 217 So. 2nd. St. Sterling, Kansas -=-=-=- From: "Brigitte Thimiakis" Subj: Lame Deer Reservation Greetings Gary, I hope this finds you well. I have just received the address for your list(Lame Deer Reservation). I hope it is not too late!=20 There are a couple of thousand children there, many single mothers too. There is a shelter for children up to 15-16 years old. Ann gives them all the assistance she can. Beside toys, warm clothes like jackets, gloves, hats, socks, coats, etc for children and blankets, would be much appreciated. The toys will be distributed during the Christmas give away but the clothes and blankets will be distributed right away. Address for Truck (only): GPTA Building Cheyenne Ave and Ridgewalker Lame Deer, MT Please ask for Ann Booker Only Monday through Friday 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Someone looking for the building could ask anyone they see where the GPTA Building is and they should be able to direct them. Ann Booker works in the office where they work with assistance, etc. [If needed please contact thimiakischool@the.forthnet.gr before the boxes arrive at the office and we can let Ann know in advance.] - Address for shipping items by mail: Ann Booker P.O. Box 1004 LAME DEER MONTANA 59043 Ann's home address is available off list for anyone who would like to send items by UPS (United Parcel Service), at the above email address. Dohiyi Ani Oginalii , , Gary Night Owl gars@nanews.org (*,*) P. O. Box 672168 gars@speakeasy.org (`-') Marietta, GA 30006, U.S.A. gars@olagrande.net ===w=w=== gars@sdf.lonestar.org ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- - Dale Looks Twice - Quebec signs $3.5B Deal with Crees - Crossings - Premier Calvert - Norton says U.S. accused of Double Standard must use its Own Oil - Harris's Ipperwash Affidavit - Osage miss out on to be Public most of $25 Million Settlement - Deni win Legal Right - New Hotel at Sun Peaks to their Amazon Land destroyed in Fire - Court finds Canadian Indian Guilty - Are Texas Indian Tribes - Art Dealer accused of Trade just Simple Associations in Illegal Feathers - Oregon Salmon Ruling - Cops pen Letter to Bootleggers could have Ripple Effect - Yavapai object - Pueblo asks Court to hiring of Non-Indians to halt Mine's Growth - Native Prisoner - Navajo Uranium Workers -- Pals for Death row Brother receive Compensation -- Ohio Native Prisoner - Wayne Smith Religious Freedom new Deputy Assistant Sacretary - Rustywire: Navajo Gold - Chemehuevi Journey - Poem: Today to preserve Past - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days - Pee Dee mark History with Reunion - Grandfather's Words - Alaska Federation Keynote - New Cree Dictionary honors Culture - NWT Promises help for Dene Language - Indian Education Summit - Cherokee Teaches Kids - Annual Buffalo Roundup to appreciate Native Culture - Montanans reflect - Have Drum will Travel on a Fallen Legend - Youth Cultural Exchange - Cree/Government sign Deal at Hopi gets Funds - Metis Group - Yei-be-chei to devise New Hunting Rules - Indian Country's Largest - Appeals Court Board Member Conference rejects Native Land Claim - Native America Calling --------- "RE: Dale Looks Twice" --------- Date: Sat 27 Oct 2001 11:41:07 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="DALE LOOKS TWICE" http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/display/inn_state/state02.txt Activist Looks Twice dies Tribal activist Dale Looks Twice has died of an apparent heart attack, according to Anna Yellow Bird Steele, wife of Oglala Sioux Tribal Chairman John Yellow Bird Steele. Looks Twice, who was in his mid-40s, died at his Manderson home sometime overnight Wednesday, she said. Looks Twice had been a leader and spokesman for the Grassroots Oyate group that occupied the Red Cloud Tribal Administration Building in Pine Ridge for nearly all of 2000. For much of 2001, he worked for John Yellow Bird Steele and the tribe, first heading up the district Community Action Program office in Pine Ridge, then serving as a public-relations specialist in the tribal chairman's office. "They were supposed to be printing a (newsletter) letting people know what the administration was doing," Anna Yellow Bird Steele said. Looks Twice promoted the teaching of the Lakota language and culture in reservation schools, a cause he began pushing while serving on the school board in the Wounded Knee district in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Yellow Bird Steele said. "He really spoke up on that. He was for getting a better education for our kids," she said. "He himself was a fluent speaker." Looks Twice helped write a strategic plan that set the aggressive goal to have Lakota children speaking the language by the year 2000. Looks Twice worked as a disc jockey at KILI radio and hosted call-in forum programs, she said. The unarmed occupation of the tribal administration building led the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct an audit of the tribe's financial records. In 2000, three tribal-council members were indicted in federal court in relation to alleged corruption in the tribal-housing office. During tribal elections in the fall, only three members of the tribal council were re-elected, and John Yellow Bird Steele replaced former tribal president Harold Salway. John Yellow Bird Steele was unavailable for comment. The Rapid City Journal did not receive an obituary and could not reach family members of Looks Twice by news deadline. Call reporter Denise Ross at 394-8438 or send e-mail to denise.ross@rapidcityjournal.com. Copyright c. The Rapid City Journal. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Crossings" --------- Date: Sun 28 Oct 2001 11:16:19 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CROSSINGS" October 24, 2001 Milton Ray Marshall MARTIN - Milton Ray Marshall, 14, Martin, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001, in Bison. Survivors include his maternal grandmother, Nancy Blue Legs-Milk, Martin; his parents, Eddie Marshall and Clara Marshall, both of Yellow Bear Canyon, Allen; two sisters, Edna Marshall, Yellow Bear Canyon, and Sharalda Marshall, Fort Wayne, Ind.; and two brothers, Vernall Marshall and Cecil Marshall, both of Yellow Bear Canyon. Two-night wake begins at 1 p.m. today at the Martin CAP office. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at the CAP office, with the Rev. Jeff Sisco officiating. Burial will be at Lakota Chapel Cemetery in Martin. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Nikolas White MARTIN - Nikolas White was born and died Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2001, at Pine Ridge Hospital. Survivors include his maternal grandmother, Alvon Little White Man, Kyle; his maternal grandfather, Calvin Red Owl Sr., Gordon, Neb.; his paternal grandmother, Karlene Janis, Sharp's Corner; his paternal grandfather, Richard White Sr., Kyle; his parents, Carrie Red Owl and Richard White Jr., both of Kyle; and one sister, Ricci White, Kyle. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Kyle, with the Rev. Larry Cohen officiating. Burial will be at St. Barnabas Episcopal Cemetery. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Barbara Ann Jumping Eagle-Winslow MANDERSON - Barbara Ann Jumping Eagle-Winslow, 59, Manderson, died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001, in Brandon, Fla. Survivors include her husband, Bob Winslow, Brandon; two daughters, Marie Exum, Seffner, Fla., and Marsha Tubbs, Kempton, Ind.; two brothers, Dennis Hendricks, Pine Ridge, and Nelson Hendricks Jr., Austin, Texas; three sisters, Fern Cooper, California, and Donna Anderson and Maxine Garcia, both of Rapid City; and four grandchildren. One-night wake begins at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at St. Agnes Catholic Hall in Manderson. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at St. Agnes, with the Rev. Jim Ryan officiating. Phillip Jumping Eagle will officiate at traditional services. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. October 26, 2001 Billy Keith Turney WANBLEE - Billy Keith Turney, Mahpiya To Hoksila, 31, Wanblee, died Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2001, at Bennett County Hospital in Martin. Survivors include his parents, Twylla Brown, Kadoka, and Wilbur Between Lodges, Wanblee; three sisters, Shanna Turney and Melissa Turney, both of Wanblee, and Amanda Turney, Kadoka; and one brother, Johnny Perko, Old Agency, Sisseton. One-night wake begins at 1 p.m. today at the Wanblee CAP office. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Wanblee CAP, with the Rev. Daniel Makes Good officiating. Richard Moves Camp will lead traditional ceremonies. Burial will be at the Brown Family Cemetery in Wanblee. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. October 29, 2001 James Cloud Eagle BOX ELDER - James Cloud Eagle, "Akicita Witco," 59, Box Elder, died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2001, at Sioux San Hospital. Arrangements are pending with Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. Copyright c. The Rapid City Journal. -- - - - October 23, 2001 Delbert Chee COTTONWOOD, Ariz. - Services for Delbert Chee, 34, will be held at 11 a. m., Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the Black Mountain Mission, Black Mountain, Ariz. Pastor Daniel Smiley will officiate. Burial will follow at Community Cemetery, Black Mountain. Chee died Oct. 19 in Chinle, Ariz. He was born March 22, 1967 in Chinle into the Towering House People for the Deer Spring People Clan. Chee did general labor. Survivors include his parents, Irene C. Tsosie and Edward James; brothers, Cecil M. Tsosie of Cottonwood, Edison James of Navajo, NM, Edwin James of Forest Lake, Ariz., Harlan James, Elliott James, Christian James and Eldride James all of Salina Springs, Ariz.; sisters, Deborah J. Tsosie and Priscilla Tsosie, both of Cottonwood, Edwina James of Pinon, Ariz., Angelita James of Chinle, Ariz., Adraina James and Audrey James both of Salina Springs; and grandmother, Mary E. Totsoni of Cottonwood. Pallbearers will be Harlan Sammy James, Joe Jones, Askie Burbank, Chris Jones, Gary Rockbridge and Nelthan Tabaha. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Hosteen Kee WIDE RUINS, Ariz. - Services for Hosteen Kee, 91, will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24 at St. Annes Catholic Church. Father Flann O'Neil will officiate. Burial will follow at Wide Ruins Community Cemetery. Kee was born Aug. 21, 1910 in Wide Ruins, Ariz. into the Bitter Water Clan for the Red Running into Water People Clan. Kee attended St. Michael Catholic School. He worked for Santa Fe Railroad and Chieftain Motel in Chambers, Ariz. as a maintenance man. Survivors include his sons, George Kee of Tuba City, Ariz. and Charles Kee of Mt. View, Calif.; daughters, Rose Bonnie and Elsie K. Morgan both of Wide Ruins; 26 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren and one great- great-grandchild. Kee was preceded in death by his son, Willis H. Kee. Pallbearers will be Elano D. June, Jackie D. June, Ned Gaddy, Richard George, George Kee and Charles Kee. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Wide Ruins Chapter House. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Mary Woody Yazzie ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. - Services for Mary Yazzie, 73, will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24 at St. Michaels Mission. Burial will follow at St. Michael Community Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1-4 p.m., today at Tse Bonito Mortuary. Yazzie died Oct. 20 in St. Michaels. She was born Oct. 20, 1928 in Fort Defiance, Ariz. into the Near the Water for the Salt Clan. Yazzie attended St. Michaels School, St. Michaels. She was a homemaker, rancher, rug weaver and practiced crocheting and sewing. Survivors include her sons, Luke Yazzie Jr., Herbert Yazzie, Arthur Yazzie, Albert Yazzie, Gilbert Yazzie and Nerbert Yazzie all of St. Michaels; daughters, Lenora Lincoln of Window Rock, Eleanora Tsosie of St. Michaels, Eleanora Yazzie and Lenore Yazzie both of Tempe, Ariz.; brothers, Justin Woody of St. Michaels; sisters, Mary Alice Williams of Fort Defiance, Betty Jacobs of Imperial Beach, Calif., Josephine Hoskie and Mary Ann Benally both of St. Michaels; 36 grandchildren and 13 great- grandchildren. Yazzie was preceded in death by her husband, Luke Yazzie, Sr., son, Robert W. Yazzie; daughter, Caroline Yazzie and parents, Joe and Yilth habah Woody. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at St. Michaels Chapter. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Dan Denetchee ROUGH ROCK, Ariz. - Services for Dan Denetchee, 76, will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the Rough Rock Friends Church, Rough Rock. Melvin Harrold will officiate. Burial will follow in Rough Rock. Denetchee was born Dec. 21, 1924 in Rough Rock into the Blacksheep for the One Who Walks Around. Denetchee retired from Rough Rock School. His hobbies included the outdoor and carpentry work. Survivors includes his wife, Rita Denetchee; sons, Dan Denetchee Jr., Danny Denetchee, Alvin Denetchee, Calvin, Melvin, Galvin, and Irvin; daughters, Marjorie Price, Geneva Carroll, Linda Tsosie, Selena Holgate, Virginia Yazzie, Verna Denetchee, Charlene Dentchee, Sandra, Alvina, Cassandra and Marita Denetchee; and sisters, Evelyn Teller, Helen Descheenie and Mary S. Begay. Denetchee was preceded in death by his parents, Ada Singer and Kato Sells. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Rough Rock Chapter House. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. October 24, 2001 Juan Diego Keyonnie STEAMBOAT, Ariz. - Services for Juan Keyonnie, 41, will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 25 at the family's residence in Steamboat. Rev. Harold Nobel will officiate. Burial will follow in family plot, Steamboat. Keyonnie died Oct. 20 in Gallup. He was born April 19, 1960 in Lawton, Okla. into the Towering House People Clan for the Dark Streak in the Wood Clan. Keyonnie graduated from Ganado High School. He received a culinary art certification from Southwestern Indian Polytechincal Institute. He was employed as a cook. His hobbies included baking, cooking and playing in a band. Survivors include his son, Quentin Keyonnie; daughter, Anissa Keyonnie; brother, Adrian Keyonnie of Steamboat; sisters, Veronica Torpey of Plummer, Idaho and Chlotiea Keyonnie of Steamboat; and grandparents, Tillie Begay and Ruth Jeaua both of Steamboat. Keyonnie was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Bessie Keyonnie. Pallbearers will be Joshua Keyonnie, Adrian Keyonnie, George Tropy, Leto Quintana, Freddie Yazzie and Donald Benally. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Ben Mitchell TSELANI/COTTONWOOD - Services for Ben Mitchell, 65, will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the Church of Nazaren of Nazlini. Daniel Smiley will officiate. Burial will follow at Nazlini Community Cemetery. Mitchell died Oct. 18 in Tselani/Cottonwood. He was born June 5 in Ganado into the Many Goats People Clan for the Edge of the Water People Clan. Mitchell was a U.S. Marine. He worked for and retired from the N.F.P.I. Survivors include his sons, Olson Mitchell, Ben Mitchell and Kee Charley all of Cottonwood; daughters, Karen Mitchell of Cottonwood; brothers, Ben Joe and Tsosie Badoni both of Cottonwood; sister, Bah Singer of Cottonwood; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mitchell was preceded in death by Sadie Mitchell. Pallbearers will be Kee Charley, Olson Mitchell, Benson Mitchell, Amintino Mitchell, Dan Nez and Benton Fatt. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. October 25, 2001 Dorothy Mae Begay SAWMILL, Ariz. - Services for Dorothy Begay, 37, will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 26 at Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Fort Defiance, Ariz. Father Gilbert will officiate. Burial will follow at Fort Defiance Community Cemetery. Begay died Oct. 17 in Gallup. He was born Aug. 24, 1964 in Fort Defiance into the Tangle People Clan for the Towering House People. Begay graduated from Navajo Pine High School. His hobbies include country line dancing, cooking and outdoor actitives. Survivors include her sons, Shawn Virgil Davis of Flagstaff, Ariz., Skylar W. Begay and Arron J. Begay, both of Gallup, daughters, Yolanda Davis of Gallup and Laci Hanabah Davis of Flagstaff; brother, Gilbert Begay of Crystal; sister, Martha Van Winkle of Sawmill and Lavina Begay of Navajo; grandparents, Billy and Yazasbah Tsosie both of Sawmill and Joe Gay and Asondebah Jones of Chinle, Ariz. and one grandchild. Begay was preceded in death by his parents, John and Hasbah Begay; sister, Bertha M. Begay and brothers, Eddie W. Begay, Gilroy Begay and Joneson Begay. Pallbearers will be Oscar Davis, Clifford R. Begay, Nelson R. Yazzie, Roland Begay, Bryon Hardy and Gilbert Begay. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Sawmill Chapter House, Sawmill. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. October 26, 2001 Sarah Murphy THOREAU - Services for Sarah Murphy, 79, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 at Rollie Mortuary. Burial will follow on private family land, Coyote Canyon. Murphy died Oct. 23 in Blackrock. She was born May 22, 1922 in Standing Rock into the Sleeping Rock People for the Salt People. Survivors include her brother, Benson Shirley of Coyote Canyon and sisters, Louise Cronemeyer of Winslow, Ariz. and Eleanor Spires of Pelion, SC. Murphy was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Murphy; parents, Charley and Annie Shirley; sisters, Elizabeth Bowman and Ida Hale; brothers, Albert Shirley, Benjamin Shirley, Elton Shirley, Herman Shirley, Milford Shirley, Milton Shirley and Wayne Shirley. Pallbearers will be Jerald Begay, Don Cronemeyer, Ron Cronemeyer, Verdal Etsitty, Adrian Showalter and Alan Showalter. Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. October 27-28, 2001 Steve Ranger Sr. BRIMHALL - Services for Steve T. Ranger, 51, will be held at 9 a.m. at the Gallup Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. President Tulley Haswood will officiate. Burial will follow at a private family cemetery. There will be a family meeting tonight at 5 p.m. at the Coyote Canyon Chapter House. Ranger died Oct. 25 in Gallup. He was born May 10, 1951 in Tuba City, Ariz., into the Start of the Red Streak People Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan. Ranger was a Vietnam Veteran, serving with the U.S. Army. He was an educator with the Crownpoint Eastern Child Development. Survivors include his wife, Rose Ranger of Brimhall; sons Bronco T. Ranger, Bronson T. Ranger and Steve T. Ranger Jr., all of Brimhall; daughters Krystal D. Ranger and Stefanie R. Ranger, both of Brimhall; father, Tom Ranger of Coyote Canyon; mother Mavis Scott of Cow Springs, Ariz.; brothers Theodore Ranger of Gallup, Thomas Ranger of Provo, Utah and Tom Ranger Jr. of Coyote Canyon; sisters Tomacita Becenti of Green River, Wy., Bernadine Ranger of Roy, Utah, Rita Ranger of Tonalea, Ariz; grandfather William Yazzie of Gallup and one grandchild. Ranger was preceded in death by a son and a daughter; his mother, Berenice Vivian Ranger; brothers Timothy Ranger and Travis Ranger and a grandmother, Florence Yazzie Pallbearers will be family members. Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Helene Henderson FRUITLAND - Services for Helene A. Henderson, 62,will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 at the First Baptist Church of Kirtland. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens of Farmington. A reception will follow at Nenahnezad Community School Cafeteria. Henderson died Oct. 23. She was born Dec. 30, 1939 in Hogback, N.M. Henderson graduated from Albuquerque Indian School, UNM, Texas Tech and the Methodist School of Nursing. She graduated as a registered nurse in 1960. She graduated from NAU with her BSN in 1977. She worked as an operating room nurse and outpatient clinic at Indian Health Service. She was employed by San Juan Regional Hospital, Lovelace Medical Center and Fort Defiance Hospital. Her hobbies included fundraising and gardening. Survivors include sons Charles Henry Henderson III, Darwyn Clyde Henderson, Cullen Wade Henderson; sisters Caroline Dodge of Fruitland, Ginger Lopez of Santa Ana, N.M. Lillie Fournier of Fruitland, Lena Begay, Betty Alexander, Julia Redhouse and Nancy Lawrence of Kirtland, and Victoria Wood of Albuquerque; brothers Wesley D. Begay of Topeka, Kans., Wesley Y. Begay of Rio Rancho and Victor Wood of Albuquerque. She was preceded in death by her parents Wesley Denetchilly Begay and Helen Charley; brothers Werner Watson, John Russell, Joe Russell; sisters Annie Alfred, Mrs. Custer Sims, Mary Louise Nakie and Mamie Jackson. Copyright c. 2001 the Gallup Independent. --------- "RE: Norton says U.S. must use its Own Oil" --------- Date: Sun 28 Oct 2001 11:16:19 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ANWR OIL/AGAIN" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?section=local&display=content/local/2nortonoil.inc U.S. must use its own oil, Norton says Sun Oct 28 02:34:13 CST 2001 Central Time By BECKY SHAY Of The Gazette Staff America must "reverse our dependence" on foreign oil, U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton said Saturday in Billings. Norton promoted President Bush's "Energy Security Act," which the administration hopes the U.S. Senate will pass with the help of a bipartisan group of senators. The House adopted the measure in early August. Norton said developing national resources and cutting dependence on overseas oil - namely the purchase of 700,000 barrels a day from Iraq that costs about $12 million each day - is a "national security aspect of energy." "We need to have American energy independence in this new world we face," Norton said. One solution is the proposal to tap American reserves and drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which Norton said could produce an estimated one million barrels a day for almost 50 years. Conservationists oppose the plan to drill because of possible environmental consequences. Norton said domestic drilling could create more than 100,000 jobs, including an estimated 2,100 positions in Montana. "We'd much rather be looking at American resources," she said. Norton is in Billings to speak Sunday at the National Indian Education Association meeting. She held a press conference Saturday at the Billings BLM office. Also Saturday, Norton visited the Bureau of Indian Affairs office and saw a demonstration of computer software that processes Indian trust account information. Norton was also scheduled to visit Pompeys Pillar, although that travel plan was kept under wraps. She joked that the time of trip to the national monument was a "state secret." Norton spoke several times of working in conjunction with special interest groups, from conservationists to state governments. Cooperation, not conflict, is key to most Department of Interior issues, Norton said, from planning for the Missouri Breaks National Monument to endangered species. Public input, especially from the local level, aids wise decision making, Norton said. The department will follow the "four Cs" of decision making, she said, which are "communication, consultation and cooperation, all in service of conservation." That philosophy will work in conjunction with the national environmental planning process, she said. On other topics, Norton: * Pointed to coalbed methane development as an example of environmental planning that she said can allow development to go forward "in a way that makes sense." The department will also look at its overall permitting process and find a way to cut delays, she said. "It doesn't serve energy security or the department to have unnecessary delays in the way we make decisions," Norton said. Speaking separately, BLM State Director Mat Millenbach said his staff continues to hope the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on coalbed methane will be finished by year's end. However Millenbach admitted he is not as confident of that timeline as he was six months ago because some work has slowed and hampered other portions of the process. Water and air quality in addition to land use are among the controversial issues surrounding coalbed methane development. Millenbach said that at a national level coalbed methane development is "pretty significant," compared to its "very significant" local status. The EIS will address the "cumulative impacts" of development in Wyoming, he said. Estimates for coalbed methane wells in Montana range from 9,500 to 26,000 state-wide, with most estimates at around 10,000, he said. * Said decisions to add or remove species from the federal listing requires cooperation with affected parties, specifically for the department to work with farmers and ranchers. One solution to conflict is funding included in the appropriations bill passed last week, Norton said. The cash is for habitat enhancement and will help landowners pay for projects such as to fight invasive weeds and protect sensitive areas. Listing decisions require "firm science" that is backed by peer review, she said. Aversion therapy for wolves, which the Fish and Wildlife Service recently tried on Ted Turner's ranch near Livingston to teach wolves not to feed on livestock, is an example of researching different options for addressing species recovery, Norton said. The aversion program was partially funded by the Turner Endangered Species Fund. The FWS has not labeled the program a failure, however with all the wolves in the program now dead - two by natural causes and the third killed by federal agents after if was found feeding on a dead calf - Norton said biologists would have to decide if it is a worthwhile program. "We want to put resources into successful programs," Norton said. "The goal is to recover species, so we don't have the continued conflicts and kinds of problems we have seen when the Endangered Species Act is enforced." * Said the Interior Department is taking a new look at its priorities with federal finances being tapped to fight the war on terrorism. Maintenance backlogs in national parks and working with Indian tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs continue to be high priorities, she said. Among the new priorities is a heightened awareness of providing safety to people visiting federal lands, including parks and monuments, and security those lands' infrastructure, she said. "We're doing things we need to do to respond to this new era in which we live," Norton said. "It's a tweaking, rather than massive shifting, of resources." Becky Shay can be reached at 657-1231 or at bshay@billingsgazette.com Copyright c. The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: Osage miss out on most of $25 Million Settlement" --------- Date: Wed 24 Oct 2001 08:19:55 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="OSAGE OIL" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.okit.com/news/2001/october/osagesettlement.html Osages Miss Out on Most of $25 Million Settlement by Wilhelm Murg A $25 million settlement is being divided-up from Koch Industries from a case alleging under-reported oil. While 44% of the oil allegedly came from The Osage Nation, the tribe can expect far less than 44% of the settlement. One member of the Department of the Interior, who did not wish to be named, said that anywhere from $2.5 million to $5 Million is a reasonable estimate of what the tribe might receive. If the case had gone to a jury, the penalties could have had a statutory maximum of $350 Million. Ironically, the Osage Nation's Principal Chief Charles Tillman, and Councilman Joe Trumbly have both stated that there is no evidence of under-reporting between Koch and the Osage Nation. When asked if the Osage Nation would get a part of the $25 million settlement, Trumbly did not seem very optimistic. "We received communications that would indicate `probably not,'" Trumbly said. We were pleasantly surprised when somebody in the BIA put out in a press release that said they were working on behalf of the tribe to get a portion of it. But obviously the BIA didn't talk to the Justice Department. I don't think anybody is working on it from the BIA now. All the BIA did was put out a press release that was ill timed and incorrect." Ken Vogel of the Mineral Management Service, which is under the Department of the Interior, talked about the case's history. "Bill Koch sued his brother's company, Koch Oil," Vogel said. "They got a jury verdict that awarded a half a million dollars worth of damages based upon under-payment that they found on Federal leases. They also found penalties on both Federal and Indian leases. Bill Koch and Koch Oil came to a settlement for $25 million dollars." Geoffrey StandingBear, an Osage private attorney, and former Assistant Chief to the tribe, talked about how the money in such a case is awarded. "Bill Koch brought the case under a type of law that allows anybody to bring a lawsuit if the Federal Government could have brought it. When you file such a suit you have to give the government notice so they can either join the lawsuit or just sit back and let you do it. All of the money recovered will go to the government because you are suing on behalf of the United States. If you are the one who brings the suit, you can take a third of it as your fee. That's why, procedurally, Bill Koch gets a third of this money, and that's why the United States gets two-thirds of this money." "The Osages were not plaintiffs," StandingBear said. "If we had been, we would have automatically had a piece of what was covered and also a say in whether the case should have settled or not. The United States has two- thirds of that money. They could go ahead and cut a check to the Osage shareholders." Vogel's department is making sure that the tribes involved get a part of the settlement. "We have been working with the Department of Justice to come up with an allocation based on how much of that settlement is penalty, which goes to the U.S. Treasury, and how much of that is payment on royalties due, which goes to the leases," Vogel said. "We've come up with an allocation which, if I understand correctly, will be approved this week. We're expecting about $6 Million will be payment to the leases." "I'm not sure there was any formal representation of any Indians in the case," Vogel said. "It was basically what Bill Koch's lawyers did, and what we have done since then to make sure that the Indians get a share that we believe they are entitled to. There was an appeal on the issue as to whether the Indians should be included, and, as it was an open issue when it was settled. Because of our trust responsibility to the Indians we felt that it was important that we make the allocation." As to why the Osages were not a part of the case, there are differing opinions. Trumbly points to a lack of evidence. "When we met with Bill Koch's legal team, and they asked us to file something. We said `Fine, give us some hard evidence where Koch did some wrong.' They came up and spent a couple of weeks looking over records, strapping tanks, looking at strapping tables, et cetera. They had a former FBI man that looked around. Basically, they found no evidence." Native American Times asked to see a copy of any study showing that there was no under-reporting, but Trumbly said that no report was taken. When asked to comment on Mr. Trumbly's statement, Mr. Vogel seemed at a loss for words at first. "That's uh-yeah," Vogel said. "Obviously that's an open issue as to whether (the under-reporting of oil) is true or not. I think it's very difficult to know what would have happened had the facts gone to the jury. The jury might have a different position than the Osage Agency. It is difficult to prove or disprove thief, especially in the way it is alleged that Koch did it." StandingBear says that he worked to get the tribe involved, but with no success. "I met with Bill Koch and his attorney to try and figure this out. They told me that they had approached the Osages twice to have the tribe join as a co-plaintiff, and Mr. Koch would have paid for everything. They were directed to a Washington D.C. Firm, who sent them back to the tribal attorney, and then they went back to the tribe. They went in circles twice. It kept coming back to Chief Tillman's office for a response and the tribe never decided to side with them. They didn't say why." Osage Tribal members have often brought up an alleged, legal loan or line of credit between Koch Industries and Principal Chief Tillman for $800,000 as a conflict of interest. Neither Koch Industries nor Chief Tillman would return calls from Native American Times to comment on the allegations. Councilman Trumbly defended the Chief's actions. "I don't think there's any truth to the rumor that the chief received a loan," Trumbly said. "What the chief has, and it's already been published, is that he had a business which was marketing gasoline to companies, and one of his suppliers was Koch. Anytime you're doing business with somebody, you have a line of credit, and he had a line of credit from Koch." As to whether of not the Osages will take the money if it is offered to them, Mr. Vogel seemed very optimistic. "The Osages are not a party to the suit but I assume they will take the money if we send it to them," Vogel laughed. "I'm trying to get a hold of the Osage Nation to find out whether or not they mind me releasing how much money they are going to be getting". Many tribal members share Mr. StandingBear's attitude. "As a shareholder, I'll just be glad to see anything out of it," StandingBear said. When asked about the confusion, StandingBear alluded to the system of government held by the Osages where political power is determined by headrights. 1,229 headrights were allotted to the tribal members in 1906. Since then the headrights have been inheireted and split apart. Only those tribal members who are headright holders can vote, in most cases with only a fraction of a whole vote. However, the majority of the tribal members have no voting rights, and will not be allowed to vote until they inherit a part of a headright. "That's our leadership," StandingBear said. "The main problem is that only a small portion of the Osages can vote, and we don't have a rule where you have to get fifty percent of the vote. I forgot what Charlie Tillman got in the last election, but it was under a third of the vote. You figure out of 20,000 Osages, less than 900 vote. That's the problem. Under such a system we do not have leaders that look out for all of the Osages. None of them, including the council, look out for the 20,000 Osages. They just look out for that one little group that got them elected. So we end up with leaders doing stuff like cutting deals with the oil companies." UPDATE: A $25 million settlement is being divided-up from Koch Industries from a case alleging under-reported oil. While 44% of the oil allegedly came from The Osage Nation, the tribe can expect far less than 44% of the settlement. One member of the Department of the Interior, who did not wish to be named, said that anywhere from $2.5 million to $5 Million is a reasonable estimate of what the tribe might receive. If the case had gone to a jury, the penalties could have had a statutory maximum of $350 Million Native American Times is c. Copyright 2000-2001 Oklahoma Indian Times, Inc. --------- "RE: New Hotel at Sun Peaks destroyed in Fire" --------- Date: Sat 27 Oct 2001 11:41:07 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SUN PEAKS BURNS" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Sun-Peaks-Fire.html October 26, 2001 New hotel at Sun Peaks ski resort destroyed in early-morning fire KAMLOOPS, B.C. (CP) -- A ball of fire roared through a hotel nearing completion at the Sun Peaks ski resort early Friday, destroying the $40- million structure. No one was injured in the blaze at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort and Conference Centre. The early morning fire was punctuated by explosions, apparently from propane tanks being used by construction workers. The 230-room hotel was unoccupied but about 35 people at the adjacent Cahilty Lodge had to be moved to more secure rooms. British visitor Dave Barker said it was frightening. "It was just a ball of fire, from one end to the other," Barker said. "The sky was alive with flames." The cause of the fire has not been determined but resort officials said early indications point to a construction fire. RCMP Sgt. Reid Tait said he expects police and fire commissioner's office investigators would start sifting through the ruins on Saturday. "We'll work together to find a cause, to determine if the fire was accidental or if there was criminal intent," he said. It's not known how long the investigation will take. Tait said there is speculation the fire may have been started by propane heaters brought into the building to keep it warm during construction. Sun Peaks has been the site of numerous native protests over land claims, however, Art Manuel, chief of the Neskonlith band, said arson isn't part of the demonstrators' strategy to stop the resort expansion. "It's an unfortunate accident for Sun Peaks," he said Friday. "But in no way do I think it's going to have a dramatic impact on the overall expansion that Sun Peaks is proposing. So the overall issue is still going to be there." Sun Peaks spokesman Chris Rogers said there is no reason to believe the fire was suspicious. "In fact at this stage of construction on a building like this, this is a real risk," Rogers said. "All hands are gathering at the site to discuss next steps," Rogers said. "I'm sure there will be meetings over the next couple of days." The five-storey hotel and conference centre was scheduled to open Dec. 17 and was expected to hire 75 employees. Volunteer firefighters were credited with saving numerous buildings surrounding the Delta Hotel. The Sun Peaks village's 10 volunteer firefighters worked with a single fire truck to keep the raging flames from engulfing neighbouring restaurants and hotels. Kamloops firefighters arrived more than an hour after the fire was spotted. The additional resources were used to further protect neighbouring buildings. (Kamloops Daily News) Copyright c. 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Are Texas Indian Tribes just Simple Associations" --------- Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 02:40:03 -0000 From: dfinstead@setaim.com Subj: I've been telling you......no Indians in Texas Mailing List: ndn-aim from Melodie Miller October 26, 2001 - 11:49am EST What could be the ultimate in states' rights injustice is beginning to unfold. It emanates out of Texas and it portends the highest possible danger for American Indian nations. The Fifth Circuit District Court of Appeals in New Orleans decided that the Tigua Indian Tribe of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, neighbor to El Paso, Texas, and a federally recognized American Indian government, basically does not have the rights of virtually every other federally recognized tribe in the country. Cavalierly, the court decided to deny the status rights of the Tigua, agreeing with the state attorney general's position that "in Texas," Indian tribes are simple "associations" and have no more rights than "a sorority or a fraternity." The Tigua are federally recognized and covered under the 1987 Pueblo Restoration Act. The act is but one of several legal bases that open the way for tribes to conduct economic enterprises, including gaming, in Texas and in any other state where federally recognized tribes reside. But, according to this troublesome ruling, Texas has the right to define the status of American Indians, and is in complete non-compliance with the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The lead objective of that congressional legislation was to promote self-sufficiency for the tribes. The tribe blames the Texas legacy of its former governor, President George W. Bush, for its current fight. The tribe contributed more generously to the rival candidate than to Bush during the president's second run at the governorship. The tribe claims that it picked up the enmity of Texas Republican operatives. In what has the feeling of a left- over fight from another era, an overzealous attorney general did tend to ride roughshod over the backs, not only of the tribe involved, but also a whole range of political and business supporters in the immediate area. In most states, such as in New York, Indians are sometimes virulently opposed by local towns and counties. Yet, by and large, the state's politicians have figured out that Indians will vigorously uphold their standing as the land's first peoples and governments, and are now beginning to work together to build their shared economies. In this respect casinos can be a boon to those stagnant financial areas that plague large areas of their state, especially following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. In the Texas case, the Tigua are ardently supported by an impressive list of neighbors. Yet the state has relentlessly sought to destroy it, even branding its economic initiatives "as illegal as drug dealing." While the judge has ordered the Nov. 30 closing of the Tigua Casino, the Tigua's case for keeping it open is impressive and resonant. The Tigua of Ysleta filed a motion Oct. 23 in U.S. District Court requesting the court allow its casino to remain open while the tribe appeals the astonishing and explosive decision of the 5th District Court. They and others expressed concern about "extensive economic damage" if the casino is forced to close during the appellate process. Since its opening in 1993, Speaking Rock Casino has emerged as a crucial partner in the regional tourism industry. Business and community leaders regionally are united in their recognition that the Tigua, a small tribe, have generated a strong economic boom for an extensive economically depressed area. Given El Paso's weakened economy, the ruling may prove catastrophic. With an annual local payroll of more than $14 million and 800 employees (only 50 are tribal members), Ysleta del Sur's gaming enterprise has pumped over $824 million into El Paso's economy. Of course, the closing of the casino, which provides 87 percent of tribal program funds, would have devastating impacts on the tribe itself, particularly harming health care for tribal elders and children, education, and housing programs. The Tigua have the support of the vocal majority of citizens of El Paso and boast a whole sheaf of unanimous support resolutions from such agencies as the El Paso City Council, El Paso County Commissioners Court, the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, and the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Listen to Cindy Ramos-Davidson, from the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: "Speaking Rock Casino has given so much to El Paso by providing wages that exceed the average with benefits that are second to none. With today's economic outlook, if the casino closed, it will have a devastating impact on our community." But to no avail. It appears that the Texas approach to Indians and tribal sovereignty, possibly based on political paybacks, is intent on destroying or denying them. We wonder what could possibly have been the honorable motive for then Gov. Bush to start this fight? And we wonder now what benefits President Bush would see in such an egregious court decision or even in such a termination policy toward Indian tribes in his home state. There are few enough tribes in Texas, after all, and in this era of much-needed national unity, the creation of economic opportunities for tribes can certainly be seen as a worthy cause for national action. To pick this moment in history to disenfranchise a recently destitute Indian people sends the wrong signal across this country and around the world. It certainly would not hurt the embattled president if his associates in Texas were to lay off the persecution of the Tigua. Texas Attorney General John Cornyn might take a cue from another Republican, New York Gov. George Pataki, who has of recent partnered with his state's federally recognized tribes to reenergize his terror-victimized state with several new projects. In New York, out of both desire and necessity, Pataki extended a clean hand and the tribes have responded. It's a more positive Republican direction. We hope Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., and other good senators and congressmen (particularly those who defended George W. Bush during the presidential campaign) will advocate strongly for the Tiguas of Ysleta. The people of Texas should simply back off this unsavory movement and totally reject this gross injustice by the 5th District Court. The tribe has the inherent right to be whom they are, to continue as a people and, through their own self-reliant government, to support their own essential tribal programs. In so doing, they are also helping support the economic health of El Paso. The president, the state, the nation, and indeed justice, will be better served. We urge all of Indian country leadership to support the Tigua's fight for respect as a sovereign tribal government. Peace and Solidarity Your Friendly Neighborhood Freedom Fighter http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/guerillanews ...................................................................... "We must always fight for what we believe in.We must never tire in our fight. It does not really matter how we fight, what matters is what we are fighting for." Dino Butler, American Indian Movement http://www.setaim.com/ http://community.webtv.net/hugomama/HHNIP http://www.freepeltier.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe to this group,send an email to: ndn-aim-subscribe@egroups.com Archived on line at: http://www.eScribe.com FREE LEONARD PELTIER --------- "RE: Oregon Salmon Ruling could have Ripple Effect" --------- Date: Mon 22 Oct 2001 08:11:03 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SALMON" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134356893_fish21m.html Sunday, October 21, 2001 - 12:00 a.m. Pacific Oregon salmon ruling could have ripple effect along the West Coast By Lynda V. Mapes Seattle Times staff reporter What started as a narrow court order - about one fish in one river in one state - could compel changes in salmon listings under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) up and down the West Coast, say federal fish managers. The court order, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Michael Hogan last month, found that once federal fisheries managers designate an "evolutionarily significant unit" or distinct population group under the ESA, they can't single out some fish within it for protection while excluding others. Yet that is precisely what the National Marine Fisheries Service has done in listings of fish from California to Washington throughout the 1990s, including the 1999 listing of Puget Sound Chinook. While the Sept. 10 ruling legally pertains to only one coastal-coho population segment in Oregon, it could affect listings of salmon and steelhead all over the coast, including Puget Sound. The fisheries service may appeal the ruling. Or it could list all Oregon coastal coho for protection - including hatchery fish excluded from federal protection when coastal coho were listed as a threatened species. If that approach passes muster with the judge, a similar policy could be adopted West Coast-wide. Such a policy shift would be bad news for Puget Sound fishermen. They catch 36 stocks of Puget Sound hatchery chinook not currently covered by the listing. The fish are targeted because they are manufactured, cranked out like widgets by hatchery workers to give sport, tribal, and commercial fishermen something to catch. Listing those fish for protection could result in fishing closures and restrictions. And that could quickly undercut the mission of the hatcheries themselves. Why manufacture fish nobody can catch? "They could get themselves and us in a real box," Jim Anderson, executive director of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, said of the fisheries service. Some believe the fisheries service will simply redefine the distinct population groups affected by the ruling to include only the fish they wanted to protect in the first place: natural spawners. The ESA was intended to protect wild animals and their essential natural habitats, not zoo populations or farmed animals. "The true measure of health isn't how many hatchery fish are returning," said Rob Jones of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). "The goal is streams that can support fish, and fish that can support themselves." But the results of that policy can be perplexing in a place like Puget Sound, home to 41 populations of hatchery chinook. Five populations of hatchery chinook are protected in Puget Sound because they are about the only chinook left in their respective rivers. None of the remaining 36 populations of hatchery chinook are protected. Yet if they spawn naturally, their genetically identical offspring are. "NMFS has gotten themselves in a corner here," said Bruce Sanford, who manages chinook recovery for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "They have said all naturally spawning fish are listed. Well, there are a lot of hatchery fish out there spawning." It's the kind of complexity that has given ESA critics a field day, saying implementation of the law, in the words of Oregon attorney James Buchal is "just plain wacko." After the Hogan decision, Buchal filed administrative challenges to listings of salmon and steelhead across Washington, including Puget Sound chinook. A legal challenge to the listing is also pending in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. For some, the ESA hasn't gone far enough. Washington Trout, a conservation group, filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the fisheries service last month, alleging the agency allows too much fishing on threatened chinook. The conservation group takes issue with the agency's approval of the management plan for the 2001-02 fishing season. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and tribes have already agreed to the plan. The complaint alleges the fisheries service didn't do the analysis required by law before approving the agreement. Weak populations of chinook also don't get the protection they need under the agreement, and could be fished to extinction, the complaint alleges. Susan Bishop, of the fisheries service, said the management plan did not meet the agency's highest standards for protecting some weak chinook populations. But no populations were expected to "wink out" under the agreement, she said. And overall, the agency believes the agreement is in keeping with the goal of recovery, Bishop said. Even if Washington Trout does file suit next month, said Jeffrey Koenings, director of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, fishing would proceed as usual for the 2002 season. "We have restricted fisheries but still have the ability to harvest some fish as long as we don't impede recovery," he said. "And we think we have met that test." Lynda V. Mapes can be reached at 206- 464-2736 or lmapes@seattletimes.com. Copyright c. 2001 The Seattle Times Company. --------- "RE: Pueblo asks Court to halt Mine's Growth" --------- Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 02:07:12 -0700 (PDT) From: Paul Pureau Subj: Pueblo Asks Court To Halt Mine's Growth Mailing List: ndn-aim http://www.abqjournal.com/paperboy/text/news/487229news10-25-01.htm Thursday, October 25, 2001 Pueblo Asks Court To Halt Mine's Growth By Brendan Smith Journal Staff Writer Picuris Pueblo has turned to the New Mexico Supreme Court in a last-ditch effort to stop the state-permitted expansion of a mica mine on ancestral land where pueblo potters once gathered clay for their micaceous pottery. "It's a site that has been used for years and years," Picuris Pueblo Lt. Gov. Gerald Nailor said Wednesday. "(The mine) disrupts our traditional way of life." A three-judge panel of the New Mexico Court of Appeals last month dismissed the pueblo's lawsuit, which sought to halt a 20-year expansion of the mine. The expansion, approved by state officials in 1998, will allow more than 80 acres to be mined near Vadito south of Taos, including a pit two-thirds of a mile long and about 400 feet deep. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center, which represents the pueblo, appealed the case this month to the New Mexico Supreme Court, but the high court has not announced whether it will hear the case. The pueblo has argued that mine owner Oglebay Norton Specialty Minerals lacks space to store waste rock from the expanded mining activities and that runoff water from the mine leaches into the watershed for the Rio Pueblo, which is used for irrigation and traditional ceremonies. A clay pit where for centuries pueblo potters gathered clay for their micaceous pottery is now covered by tons of waste rock from the mine. The pueblo still claims title to the land where the mine is located, but the land ownership and environmental questions were not considered in the case, which is so complicated the appeals court called the issues "fact- intensive and even abstruse" in its 15-page opinion. Picuris Pueblo's loss of the case at the district and appellate levels boils down to a tactical error made in 1999 when the pueblo decided to sue the mine owner and the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department over the department's approval of the mine expansion. State District Judge Stephen Pfeffer dismissed the lawsuit last year, ruling that provisions of the 1993 New Mexico Mining Act required the pueblo to appeal the mining permit within 60 days to the state Mining Commission. The Court of Appeals, in its ruling last month, affirmed Pfeffer's decision. Attorneys for Picuris Pueblo have argued that the Mining Act allows a party to either sue in district court or appeal to the Mining Commission over the issuance of a mining permit. But the appeals court ruled that the Legislature intended for appeals of new permits be directed first to the Mining Commission, in part because its members have expertise in mining issues. In its opinion, the appeals court noted the 60-day window for the pueblo to appeal Oglebay Norton's permit to the Mining Commission has long since past, so "the real question of this appeal is the effect of opportunity lost." The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department is not seeking to exclude the pueblo from input on the expanded mining operations, Special Assistant Attorney General Ted Apodaca said Tuesday. Picuris Pueblo could still file a lawsuit or an administrative appeal if Oglebay Norton does not comply with permit conditions or seeks changes in the mining permit, Apodaca said. Mining has continued during the lawsuit, but there has not been a dramatic expansion in the size of the mine pit yet, Apodaca said. Oglebay Norton officials couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday. If Oglebay Norton does violate the permit conditions, Picuris Pueblo will file another lawsuit, Nailor said. "It's real beautiful, and we want to keep it that way," Nailor said of the area surrounding the mine. "That's why we're trying to stop it before it expands much more." The pueblo is planning a peaceful protest rally at the mine gates off N.M. 518 at 11 a.m. Nov. 10, Nailor said. The mine site used to be part of the Carson National Forest but was obtained by Franklin Industrial Minerals by patenting mining claims under the federal 1972 Mining Act. But the pueblo still claims the mine property, now owned by Oglebay Norton, as part of its ancestral lands near Picuris Mountain. Mica, a flaky, semi-transparent mineral, is transported from the mine to a mill site near Velarde for processing before being shipped to customers around the world for use in paint, cosmetics and other products. Copyright c. 2001 Albuquerque Journal ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe to this group,send an email to: ndn-aim-subscribe@egroups.com Archived on line at: http://www.eScribe.com FREE LEONARD PELTIER --------- "RE: Navajo Uranium Workers receive Compensation" --------- Date: Wed 24 Oct 2001 08:19:55 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="URANIUM" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa2001349.htm October 24, 2001 News Release OPA Press Release: NAVAJO NATION URANIUM WORKERS RECEIVE $50,000 COMPENSATION IN WEDNESDAY CEREMONY [10/10/2001] SHIPROCK, N.M. -- Five uranium miners or their widows who are members of the Navajo Nation were presented checks for $50,000 in a ceremony on the Navajo Reservation today in Shiprock, N.M. The checks are lump-sum payments awarded through a new federal compensation program for nuclear weapons employees, the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. "These checks represent our deep respect for the men and women of the Navajo Nation who steadily and quietly worked to protect our country, and who, because of their work, lost their health," said Shelby Hallmark, director of the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. "Through this ceremony we wanted to make it clear to everyone on the reservation that the energy compensation program is real, and that this promise will be kept." The Labor Department administers benefits under the law. Several members of the Navajo Nation also participated in the 9 a.m. ceremony Wednesday: Taylor McKenzie, vice-president of the Navajo Nation; Judy Secody, executive director of the Navajo Division of Health, and Larry Martinez, program director for the Office of Navajo Uranium Workers. The event was held at the Navajo Chapter House in Shiprock, N.M. A town hall meeting to explain the new law will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Shiprock Chapter House. In addition, representatives from the U.S. Labor Department's district office in Denver and the joint Labor/Energy Department resource center in Espanola, N.M., will be available at the Shiprock Chapter House Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning to help uranium miners or survivors of miners who need help completing claim forms. Department of Labor - www.dol.com --------- "RE: Wayne Smith new Deputy Assistant Sacretary" --------- Date: Wed 24 Oct 2001 08:19:55 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ASSISTANT SECRETARY" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.doi.gov/bia/news/wayne_smith.htm BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Keith Parsky, Nedra Darling October 23, 2001 202-219-4150 McCaleb Names Wayne R. Smith as Deputy Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Wayne Smith (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Interior Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Neal A. McCaleb today announced the appointment of Wayne R. Smith, 52, as the Deputy Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs. Mr. Smith is of American Indian heritage, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux - his mother was born and lived on the Tribe's reservation in Fort Thompson, S.D., until her graduation from high school. "I welcome Wayne to my team," McCaleb said. "His extensive Indian gaming, administrative, legal and policy experience will be invaluable as we work to shape Indian Affairs in the 21st century. He will be my Chief of Staff and responsible for the operation of the office, as well as be in charge of gaming, acknowledgment and land-into-trust." "I look forward to this new challenge," said Smith. "I want to thank the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for their support and confidence as I tackle this exciting opportunity. I am especially pleased and honored to be charged with all gaming-related matters." Prior to his appointment, Smith served as Chief Counsel to the California Assembly Republican Caucus. From 1991 to 1999, Smith was the Chief of Staff for the California Attorney General, where he supervised the day-to-day operations of the California Department of Justice with over 5,000 employees, including over 1,000 lawyers and 600 police officers, and a $600 million dollar budget. As the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Smith is a political appointee and the second in command of the Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs. The Assistant Secretary oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a 176-year-old federal agency with approximately 10,000 employees nationwide that provides services to, carries out its federal trust responsibilities for, and promotes the self-determination of the 558 federally recognized tribal governments and approximately 1.4 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. Under his purview are a 185-school system, one of only two federally administered school systems in the country; 29 tribally controlled colleges; law enforcement and detention programs and facilities; social service, firefighting, tribal economic development and Indian child welfare programs; trust resource management programs, including management of tribal and individual Indian trust assets; and the federal acknowledgement process. -BIA- --------- "RE: Chemehuevi Journey to preserve Past" --------- Date: Sun 28 Oct 2001 11:16:19 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CHEMEUEVI" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories/local/1004161177.shtml Group's creation first step in journey to preserve past By Benjamin Spillman The Desert Sun October 27th, 2001 Ancient salt songs of the Chemehuevi Indians take listeners on a journey through the ancestral lands of the Colorado River tribe. Once the land in California, Arizona and Nevada was overrun with European settlers, the tribe's oral history became the only link between modern Chemehuevi people and the land previous generations once roamed. A 4-year-old Coachella Valley group wants to buy back land mentioned in the salt songs as well as other sacred tribal sites throughout Southern California. The Native American Land Conservancy needs to raise $250,000 to purchase 2,500 acres near the Old Woman Mountains, home to a major stopping point on a route used by nomadic Chemehuevi Indians. The land is home to a village site, burial grounds and a shaman's cave with walls covered in rock art. "Hopefully people will (wake up) to what is happening to the United States as a whole and see more of the devastation," said Teresa Mike, a Lummi Indian from Bellingham, Wash., who lives in Palm Springs. "Not only to the ... sites that belong to Native Americans, but to nature itself." Mike's husband, Dean, leads the conservancy. He is also chairman of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians and a direct descendant of one of the last Chemehuevi medicine men. But getting the money won't be easy, according to the group's fund raiser. Many charitable foundations invest their endowments in the stock market. The economic slowdown compounded by recent terrorist attacks means less money for grant proposals. The land conservancy has about $25,000 in the bank and is confident it will receive a $100,000 grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, said Kurt Russo, who writes grant proposals for the group. They hope to raise the money needed to buy the Old Woman Mountains land by Dec. 31, 2002. Russo hopes grants from the Coca-Cola Foundation in Atlanta and the Tides Foundation in New York will bring in another $65,000. Early next year, he will submit proposals for another $115,000 from private foundations. The group has been reluctant to depend heavily on donations from tribal casinos. Gaming tribes support the concept but would like to see a plan in action before they participate, said Cliff Trafzer, a member of the conservancy. "We haven't put our hands out. We are waiting to be successful," Trafzer said. In addition to the Chemehuevi land, the group has its sights on areas important to other local cultures. Horse Canyon in the Santa Rosa Mountains is the site of several former Cahuilla villages and on the conservancy's list. The group also has designs on land in the San Bernardino Mountains that is important to people of Serrano Indian heritage. They want land stewards who would teach visitors about Indian culture and the environment by day and protect the site from destruction at night. "We want Indian people going out there, using the land, protecting it, watching it," Trafzer said. "It is a village site and there are burials there. We don't want people digging up the site. The modern people use that place. It is like visiting a church." But building a land conservancy won't be easy or quick. Oftentimes preservation groups must wait years for land to become available. When it does, they must be ready to act, said Delores Lukina, a member of the board of directors of the Anza Borrego Foundation. The group was created to acquire land for Anza Borrego State Park. "These things don't happen overnight, they take a long time," said Lukina. "It just depends on the piece of property." Some of the most effective methods to acquire land include targeting tracts owned by people who have not paid property taxes or by cultivating relationships with landowners and convincing them to sell. The Anza Borrego group and the land conservancy are both eyeing the Horse Canyon land. They have pledged to work together to buy and manage it. Tony Madrigal, whose ancestors once lived in villages in the Horse Canyon area, looks forward to the conservancy buying the land. He knows a large part of his Cahuilla culture has been permanently erased. But Madrigal said the land is a physical reminder of what remains. "The important part, the spiritual beliefs, can be kept alive," Madrigal said. "There are enough people looking ... for that spiritual connection that it will go on." Benjamin Spillman can be reached at 778-4643 or by e-mail at Benjamin.Spillman@thedesertsun.com Copyright c. 2001 The Desert Sun. --------- "RE: Pee Dee mark History with Reunion" --------- Date: Mon 22 Oct 2001 08:11:03 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="PEE DEE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://augustachronicle.com/stories/102101/met_140-6266.000.shtml Pee Dee tribe marks history with reunion Sunday, October 21, 2001 By Matthew Boedy South Carolina Bureau SALLEY, S.C. - About 100 people gathered Saturday in a small gymnasium in Salley to connect to their Indian history. After watching solemn ceremonies and listening to the pounding of a drum, they discovered that history was still living. The Beaver Creek Band of Pee Dee Indians' third annual reunion brought together those with Indian ancestors from Arkansas, Florida and Georgia with the hundreds of Pee Dees in the Midlands. It was Aiken resident Stephen Cobb's first reunion, though his mother, Jewel, sits on the Pee Dee tribal council. Mr. Cobb watched as Lamar Ironhorse performed a dance of rings in the center of the gymnasium floor. Organizers used bales of hay to mark the tribe's traditional sacred circle in the center of the floor. Inside the circle, dances honoring veterans and other tribes were performed. The tribe, which has about 1,600 members on record, is a federally recognized group. It also is a member of the South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission, which helps organize the state's 10 Indian associations. Salley is home to the main office of the Pee Dee tribe. The tribe's chief, John Barry Chavis, said that because genealogy has become an interest over the past few years, more and more people have discovered they have Indian blood. "I think it gives them the freedom to express the good feeling about being Indian," he said. Reach Matthew Boedy at (803) 648-1395 or mboedy@augusta.com. Copyright c. 1996-2001 The Augusta Chronicle. --------- "RE: Alaska Federation Keynote honors Culture" --------- Date: Sun 28 Oct 2001 11:16:19 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ALASKA KEYNOTE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/733360p-773960c.html October 26, 2001 Powerful messages AFN keynote honors culture Francesca Sutton, the keynote speaker at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage, offered a subtle and even heartening message to delegates Thursday morning. The 21-year-old from Togiak honored her Tlingit and Yup'ik heritage and gave her Yup'ik name: Marr'aq. She then pointed out that defining the theme of the convention, "Our World -- Our Way of Life," is a complex, sometimes ambiguous process. She listed the acronyms of organizations, legislation and places that affect Native lives and noted still vibrant Native communities, the struggles to protect subsistence and languages and the ongoing battle with alcoholism and drug abuse. Of the latter, she said, "It is sad to say that it is a part of our world," and she called on elders to join in programs for healing. Ms. Sutton recounted her own struggles in school, when she was tempted to drop out but dissuaded by a cousin who told her "just because you get a Western education doesn't mean you have to give up your culture, your identity, who you are." Instead, she came to see the wisdom of advice to use Western education as a tool in life; use your elders as teachers. Finally, she recognized her parents, elders and generations past, who suffered the scourge of epidemics and racism and were on the short end of cultural collisions: "I may not have always understood the actions of our ancestors. But I and you guys are all here. And we are here as a testament to their intelligence to know when change and adaptation to change was necessary." "You are people who retain that greatness." However Alaska Natives decide to define "Our World," that world will be no more static than any other. Wisdom to deal with change and complexity without losing fundamental values may well be the biggest contribution young leaders like Ms. Sutton -- Marr'aq -- will make. Knowles pushes subsistenceK If there were any doubts about the seriousness of Gov. Tony Knowles' decision to drop the Katie John case and press for a subsistence solution in Alaska, he finished them Thursday morning during his address to AFN. "I know, we all know in our heart that Katie John was right," the governor said, referring to the Athabaskan elder's long, determined battle to secure traditional subsistence fishing rights. Gov. Knowles honored Ms. John for her bravery shortly after he blistered "a small minority of urban legislators" for bullying Alaskans by obstructing a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment for a rural subsistence preference. He promised that "their vision of a divided Alaska cannot be allowed to stand." The governor also said that 10 years of debate and five special sessions of the Legislature have "only hardened positions and hardened hearts." If Gov. Knowles is as good as his words, it's clear he'll spare no effort in finally achieving "permanent protection for subsistence," a way of life vital to Alaska Natives. And he's drawn a sharp line between those in favor and those opposed to a subsistence amendment, putting people opposed on the side of division and on the wrong side of history. It was good to hear the governor speak so plainly about where he stands and good to hear his determination to fortify the subsistence rights of Alaska Natives, as fairness and respect demand. Copyright c. 2001 The Anchorage Daily News. --------- "RE: Indian Education Summit" --------- Date: Sun 28 Oct 2001 11:16:19 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="NEIA SUMMIT" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?section=local&display=content/local/3neic.inc Indian education summit today Sun Oct 28 02:34:13 CST 2001 Central Time By JODI RAVE LEE Lee Newspapers The National Indian Education Association conference begins in Billings today with thousands of Native American students, educators, parents and tribal leaders meeting to help dictate the future of Indian education. Their common goal: Unity. "There's strength in numbers," said Carole Anne Heart, Lakota and NIEA president, as hundreds registered Saturday at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana. "When you put your heads together, there's an energy that 3,000 people bring together. That energy is forceful. It's demanding. It's an evolving process." This year's conference theme, "Connecting to the Spirit of Traditional Wisdom," will find participants discussing culture and language preservation, empowering youth, standardized testing, reauthorization of education laws and increasing unity among all educators. Language, culture "The focus here is the education of our Indian people," said Sherry Allison, Navajo and past president of NIEA. "Part of our identity as Indian people is language and culture. As we acculturate more into the mainstream, there's always this threat of losing our languages and culture." Said Sandra Fox, Lakota and 1998 Indian Educator of the Year: "I've been in Indian education for 30-some years. I thought the exciting part was going to be incorporating language and culture into the curriculum. Here we are entering the new millennium and it's still not being done the way I thought it would be done." Fox has written a five-book series, "Creating Sacred Places for Our Children," on how to integrate language and culture into classroom instruction. The National Indian School Board Association is working on a "sacred places project, an Indian model of school reform," Fox said. One of the people at the front of indigenous education has been Philip Beaumont Sr., now an elder of the Crow tribe who lives in Pryor. He testified before Congress in the 1960s to help bring about the Indian Education Act, which help set the framework for teaching Native students. Today, at age 80, he's still an advocate for education. As a sergeant in the Air Force between 1942-45, he saw the difference an education could have on one's life. "We (Native military men) had a lot of disadvantages because of our race and a lack of education," he said. Beaumont left the service and went on to complete bachelor's and master's degrees. And in December, he expects to finish his doctorate at Montana State University. "I'll keep trying to inspire young people and tell them about the value of an education," he said. What's the value of an education for youth? "Success in life," he said. Lloyd Elm, principal of the American Indian Magnet School in St. Paul, Minn., worries about how national standardized testing affects Native American students' ability to pursue degrees in higher education. "National standardized tests will show whether education is working for Native Americans," he said. "We're not going to fare well. Native Americans and other children of color will cluster to the left side of the curve. To get into college, you have to do well on those. We don't do well because of learning differences." Elm said the language used in the tests draws on upper middle class language and values. He recalled a recent test for his third-grade students. They missed "language" questions. One of the questions involved the word "yacht." "One of them said, 'It's a big animal with big horns,'" Elm said. "Yacht. Is that a run-of-the-mill word they know at Fort Berthold (a North Dakota reservation)?" he asked. "I don't think so." Elm hopes to see standardized testing developed for Native American students. Like Elm, hundreds of educators hope to improve youth's future through education. It's one of the reasons Allison has traveled to Billings. She is concerned about some of the education laws that will be up for reauthorization in 2002. Two of them include the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. "We need to be certain we're ready to communicate," said Allison, who is also the director of special education for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "We need to be certain we have a voice and our needs are known." Making Native American needs known isn't an easy task and is one that requires Native people and organizations to pull their resources together, said Gil Vigil, All Indian Pueblo Council secretary-treasurer and chairman for next year's NIEA conference in Albuquerque. Vigil now sees fragmentation among schools, families, communities and institutions. "We are failing our kids," he said. He sees the NIEA conference as a tool for unity. "We need to be an organization that can bring all kinds of people together. We need to foster relationships in all areas of education." Copyright c. The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: Annual Buffalo Roundup" --------- Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 18:20:05 -0700 From: "Jess Hansen" Subj: "Buffalo roundup almost done" Mailing List: ndn-aim http://www.kotatv.com/localnews/story.asp?ID=9316 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 "Buffalo roundup almost done" CRAWFORD, Neb (AP) -- "The annual fall roundup of buffalo at Fort Robinson State Park is in its second week and winding down. Park staff are tagging and inoculating new calves and separating them from the rest of the herd that numbers about 500. Park Superintendent Mike Morava says heifers from this year's calf crop will be sold at an auction at the Crawford Livestock Market on November fourth. Fort Robinson buffalo roam freely on the 22-thosuand-acre northwest Nebraska park for most of the year. Morava says about 60 head of young heifers will be weaned and ready for auction. A few yearling and two-year-old heifers also will be sold with some two-year-old bulls." Copyright c. 2001 by The Associated Press. ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe to this group,send an email to: ndn-aim-subscribe@egroups.com Archived on line at: http://www.eScribe.com FREE LEONARD PELTIER --------- "RE: Montanans reflect on a Fallen Legend" --------- Date: Thu 18 Oct 2001 08:19:29 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="MEDICINE TREE" http://www.imdiversity.com/Article_Detail.asp?Article_ID=7353 Montanans Reflect On A Fallen Legend - The Medicine Tree by AP, The Associated Press By Jane Rider, Missoulian Conner (AP) - For an 81-year-old Hamilton woman whose family once owned the White's Country Store in Conner, childhood recollections of dancing at Indian powwows near the Medicine Tree still generate a warm smile. "I loved to see them when they came; I loved the dancing and I love the memories," Winifred White Blodgett said in a telephone interview from her Hamilton home. The towering Ponderosa pine of more than 300 years that a windstorm toppled on Sept. 25 also captured the hearts of a Texas family who visited the Bitterroot Valley. Two family members wrote that they passed the tree's legend on to their grandchildren upon their return to the Lone Star State and then were saddened to learn it was knocked over in the storm. To a former Ravalli County resident who now lives in Polson, "The Medicine Tree was part of growing up in the Bitterroot." To a Missoula man, who over the past 60 years regularly stopped to visit the sacred site, the legend of the great medicine man Coyote's encounter with a wicked ram was one he shared with three generations of his family. For more than a century, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have treasured the Medicine Tree and its surrounding site. Both figure prominently in the traditional creation stories of the Salish. The tree's legend tells how Coyote tricked the wicked ram into embedding its horns in the tree. His wit triumphed over physical strength. The tree has served as a place for tribal members to pray to the Creator and for people to leave offerings of their prized possessions, to give thanks and to ask for good fortune and good health for loved ones. Tribal elders said this week they are saddened that all but a 16-foot snag of the tree is gone, but they still view the area and remaining landmark as sacred. "We all feel bad about it," said Louis Adams, 67, a tribal elder and member of the Salish/Pend d'Oreille Culture Committee. "But things like this happen. It's Mother Nature's way." Tribal leaders decided at a meeting last Wednesday that they will leave the snag standing, Adams said. "We'll let Mother Nature take its course," he said. "It might stand one year or another 100 years. Regardless, it still is a sacred area to us. We'll still use it to reach our Creator." Adams said the public also may still continue to visit the site and leave offerings. "That's great," he said. "We all serve one God. We use places like the Medicine Tree to pray because it reaches up. When someone goes to a mountain to pray, they will go to the highest point because it is nearest to our Creator. "There is no color boundary on worshipping God," he said. Many tribes, not just the Salish and Kootenai, have treasured the Medicine Tree, Adams noted. Chief Joseph, of the Nez Perce tribe, sent his medicine man to the sacred ground to pray for guidance. "It was known throughout the Northwest to all tribes," Adams said. Adams himself has a lifetime of memories tied to the tree. "Since I was little I used to go up there with my folks," he said. "I'll still go over there once or twice a year on my way back from visiting my great, great grandpa. I'll go to pray." His grandfather has a grave site atop the Bitterroot Mountains, up the West Fork, near the Montana and Idaho border. It's a beautiful spot, he said. "He died in 1900 at 80 years old," Adams said. "I visit him once or twice a year." For Adams, the Medicine Tree's significance will live on - in more than one way. While visiting the tree site shortly after the storm, Adams retrieved a few small cones that he brought back to the Tribal Forestry Department in Ronan. "If we can get one tree growing, we can have a new tree ... a descendant of the Medicine Tree," he said. Others shared their stories about the Medicine Tree at the invitation of the Missoulian. Several came from non-American Indian families who also have passed down the legend of Coyote from generation to generation and viewed the Medicine Tree and its surrounding site as a special place. "My grandparents migrated to the Darby area of the Bitterroot Valley in a covered wagon pulled by two mules in 1883," said L.M. Powell of Hamilton. "Later my grandfather, John Waddell, freighted produce to Anaconda by way of the East Fork of the Bitterroot River, with a team and wagon. "They told of the times he passed the Medicine Tree when the Indians were hanging offerings on the tree and how they would greet him with, 'Hello John,"' Hamilton said. "I was very distressed to learn that the Medicine Tree had fallen," said Ann Ross of Polson. "During World War II, while my father was overseas, my mother, Ethlyn Fowler Ross, and I lived in Hamilton where she taught high school. She had been raised in Darby and always pointed out the Medicine Tree to me every time we passed by. It was part of her childhood as well as mine. The Medicine Tree was part of growing up in the Bitterroot." "My parents owned White's Country Store and post office about three miles from the Medicine Tree," said Blodgett. "I grew up there. Every year the tribes would come from the Flathead and have a powwow on the flat just north of the tree. As a little girl who loved to dance, I was taken there to the powwow and danced with them every year." "I watched them visit the Medicine Tree and put their gifts on it. I'm 81 years old now, and still remember it all so well," Blodgett said. "I came to know an Indian family quite well. Every year they sent me a pair of new handmade moccasins, from the time I was 6 years old until high school. "I loved to see them when they came. I loved the dancing. I loved the moccasins and I love the memories. It was such fun to dance with them," she said. "My dad was an avid fisherman. Growing up in Missoula my family would go on camping trips to the North Fork of the Salmon River for my dad to fish for steelhead salmon," said Jo Sacco of Missoula. "The Medicine Tree and its legend were told to me by my dad on our travels to go fishing. My dad and his fishing buddies called the tree 'Itchy Bawd.' "When we traveled past the tree on our fishing and camping adventures, it was standard procedure to cast pennies out of the car windows at Itchy Bawd for good luck fishing," Sacco said. "If dad wasn't in too much of a hurry, we were allowed to stop by the tree for a while." Copyright c. 2001 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Copyright c. 2001 iMinorities, Inc. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Cree/Government sign Deal" --------- Date: Thu 25 Oct 2001 08:22:20 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HYDRO" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://montreal.cbc.ca/editorServlets/View?filename=sign011023 Oct 23 2001 03:53 PM CDT Cree, government sign deal Quebec City - The Quebec government has reached an agreement-in-principle with the James Bay Cree on the development of the Eastmain-Rupert hydro- electric project. The project which could cost as much as $3.8-billion. The agreement comes as a surprise as the two sides have been involved in legal battles over the project for more than 20 years. Cree Grand Chief Ted Moses says it's no coincidence this agreement-in- principle comes after the September 11 terrorist attack. "That day, people throughout North America realized how small the world is and how important it is to resolve issues," Moses said. The deal resolves 25 years of negotiations over how the Quebec government meets it obligations under the James Bay Northern Quebec Agreement. The Cree receive almost $150-million over the next three years, and then $70-million a year to compensate for hydro development, forestry and mining on their lands. For Quebec, the plum is the agreement to allow the Eastmain-Rupert hydro project to go ahead. It would produce 1,200 megawats of electricity and create 8,000 construction jobs. Cree leaders are committed to consult the people affected. Chief Robert Weistche of Waskaganish, says there's no guarantee that people who live along the river will say 'yes'. "The ability of the river being diverted in the future worries me a lot, as a chief, and as a member of my community," Weistche says. If the Cree leaders receive approval from their communities, Premier Bernard Landry and Grand Chief Moses plan to sign a formal agreement before the end of the year. Copyright c. 2001 CBC. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Metis Group to devise New Hunting Rules" --------- Date: Mon 22 Oct 2001 08:11:03 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="METIS" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://winnipeg.cbc.ca/editorServlets/View?filename=mb_metis191001 Oct 19 2001 11:44 AM CDT Metis group to devise new hunting rules Winnipeg - The new Commission for Metis Law of the Hunt held its first consultation meeting with the public Thursday night. The group's purpose is to come up with Metis hunting rules that could eventually become law in Manitoba. David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, which set up the commission, says new rules are necessary because the Supreme Court of Canada is expected to uphold traditional Metis hunting rights when it hears a Metis hunting case in 2002. Lower courts have previously ruled in favour of the Metis. "It's becoming an issue where we have to plan," he says. "If we go about as Metis people supporting and standing by our right that we have the right to take a species for sustenance, then we should be very careful when we take it. "We should plan that we can't kill during calving season - how can an animal reproduce if they're not going to be given a chance to reproduce?" The commission is holding meetings in about 80 Metis communities. After the consultations, it will write proposed rules which will be presented to the provincial government in the spring of 2002. Copyright c. 2001 CBC. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Appeals Court rejects Native Land Claim" --------- Date: Wed 24 Oct 2001 08:19:55 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="LAND CLAIM" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?f=/stories/20011024/751540.html Saskatchewan appeals court rejects native land claim Lac La Ronge to appeal Les Perreaux National Post WINNIPEG - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has rejected a massive land claim awarded to the province's largest Indian band, overturning a lower court decision that would have cost an estimated $300-million. In a unanimous decision released yesterday, the court ruled the band is not entitled to the 3,200 square kilometres of land it had been awarded based on a 19th-century treaty applied to its 20th-century population. Instead, the justices ruled the treaty should be applied to the band's population in 1889 - 526 people - instead of its current population of 7,142, as a lower court had ruled. "There is no evidence in the treaties or in the documentation surrounding the negotiations of the treaties that Canada intended to leave the question of land entitlement open-ended," wrote Mr. Justice William Vancise. He wrote the treaty process was designed to "assist the Indians in making the transition from a nomadic lifestyle based on hunting and gathering to a sedentary one based on agriculture. "In my opinion, an interpretation which results in a continually expanding obligation based on increasing band populations is not consistent with the Crown's objectives." The Lac La Ronge band in northern Saskatchewan signed the treaty with Ottawa in 1889, which allotted it 128 acres of land per person for its Indian reserve. It was not given all the promised land until 1964, but over the years, the band received about 107,000 acres for its reserve. In 1999, Justice Frank Gerein of the Court of Queen's Bench ruled the band was entitled to an area more than half the size of Prince Edward Island, or about 800,000 acres, based on current population. The band argued successfully the treaty's land allocation formula was intended to be based on its current population, because federal officials had promised more than 100 years ago that the treaty was made to last "as long as the sun shines and the river runs." In overturning the ruling, Justice Vancise said the band had already received about 40,000 acres more land than it was entitled to receive. However, he added the band could still be entitled to damages for waiting 75 years to receive the land. Yesterday's ruling, delivered 13 years after the lawsuit was launched, will probably be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, said Harry Cook, the band's chief. "The treaties are living treaties that were signed by two nations in this country and we still hold to that truth," he said. Mitch McAdam, a lawyer for the Saskatchewan government, said the original decision would have led to great inequities in how treaties were settled in Saskatchewan. Most bands agreed to land allocations based on their populations when the treaties were signed, he said. Mr. McAdam said 27 bands agreed to a $516-million treaty land entitlement agreement in 1992, based on the 19th-century populations. "We're trying to ensure that all bands are treated in an equitable fashion," he said. "It's certainly possible that some bands that have settled their treaty land entitlement claims in the past might have attempted to reopen them. That's a big part of our argument." The case will have far-reaching implications according to Jeff Rath, a Calgary lawyer. "I think the stakes in this are so big and so scary that the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal had a tough time ruling in favour of the first nation." Copyright c. 2001 National Post Online. --------- "RE: Quebec signs $3.5B Deal with Crees" --------- Date: Wed 24 Oct 2001 08:19:55 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CREE DEAL" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.nationalpost.com/news/national/story.html?f=/stories/20011024/751539.html Quebec signs $3.5B deal for 'great peace' with Crees Leaders begin tour to convince natives to support plan Graeme Hamilton National Post MONTREAL - Quebec's Crees agreed yesterday to end more than 25 years of legal skirmishing and work with the provincial government to develop the North. In what Bernard Landry, the Quebec Premier, called a "nation-to-nation" agreement, the province will provide at least $3.5-billion to the Crees over the next 50 years in exchange for their consent to a major hydro- electric project and the abandonment of a host of Cree-initiated lawsuits against the province. "By this agreement, we stand with Quebec," Ted Moses, the Cree Grand Chief, said during a signing ceremony in Quebec City. "We share the intention to develop this land in a way which is respectful of its vital importance to our survival and mindful that both Crees and Quebecers must have the means to create a common future of prosperity." Mr. Landry said the agreement-in-principle marks the beginning of a "great peace" between Quebec and the Crees, a reference to the 1701 Great Peace Treaty between French and Iroquois leaders, which allowed for the continued settlement of New France. The harmonious talk was a dramatic departure in a relationship that has been characterized by bitter rhetoric and court battles since the 1975 signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. In the 1990s, Matthew Coon Come, then Cree Grand Chief, accused the Quebec government of inflicting "cultural genocide" on his people. Mr. Moses, who first sat down with Mr. Landry last spring, said he was motivated to forge a new relationship by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "That day, people throughout North America realized how small the world is and how important it is to resolve issues rather than to let them divide us." It was a message that seemed directed at the approximately 13,000 northern Quebec Crees, to whom the agreement signed in the National Assembly's ornate Salon Rouge came as a surprise. Mr. Landry and Mr. Moses said the tentative pact will be transformed into a final agreement before the end of the year. There is no mechanism for ratification by the Cree people, and Cree leaders appeared unsure of what level of support would be required to move ahead. Billy Diamond, a former Cree Grand Chief who helped negotiate the 1975 James Bay agreement, said he was stunned at the sudden reversal by the Cree leadership. Speaking from his home in Waskaganish, the James Bay community that stands to suffer the most from the proposed $3.8-billion, 1,200-megawatt hydro-electric project, he said people there will never agree to the proposed diversion of the Rupert River. "There is going to be some very bitter internal fighting among the Crees as a result of some of the things that were done this morning," he said. "Standing with Quebec is contrary to what the Crees have done in the previous Quebec referendums. ... The Crees have always been opposed to Quebec separation." Cree leaders flew to Waskaganish yesterday to begin a tour of Cree communities seeking input on the agreement. "It's going to be hard to get people to accept it, but that doesn't mean that in the end it won't be signed," said Bill Namagoose, director of the Grand Council of the Crees. "There will be people who will never accept it." The $3.5-billion payout will be made in $70-million annual instalments over 50 years. The money is to be administered by a new Cree economic development agency, with a mandate to foster growth of Cree businesses. The agreement also provides for greater Cree control over logging on their hunting and trapping grounds. Copyright c. 2001 National Post Online. --------- "RE: Premier Calvert accused of Double Standard" --------- Date: Thu 25 Oct 2001 08:22:20 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SASKATCHEWAN WATER" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Sask-Premier-Natives.html October 24, 2001 Sask aboriginal leaders accuse premier Calvert of double standard on water SASKATOON (CP) -- Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert caught an earful from aboriginal leaders Wednesday who accused him of a double standard for native and non-native communities. Chief Ted Quewezance of the Keeseekoose First Nation said many native communities have faced boil water advisories and orders and little has been done. But when North Battleford, Sask., suffered a cryptosporidium outbreak earlier this spring, the province responded with a judicial inquiry and money, he said. "Why has this not been the same treatment afforded to the Yellow Quill First Nation and countless other First Nations throughout this province?" Quewezance asked. "We have a water crisis in many of our communities, Mr. Premier, and we have no place to turn. Now, Mr. Premier, this is a double standard and it has to change." Calvert was addressing the fall legislative assembly meeting of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. He tried to focus on how his government is improving its relationship with the aboriginal community, but instead faced sharp questions from the chiefs. "The relationship that our government has shared with First Nations and Metis communities in Saskatchewan I believe has built some strong foundations for our future," Calvert said. Some others would not see it that way. The Saskatchewan government and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations have had a rocky relationship over the last few years. Native-run casinos and the justice system's treatment of aboriginal people have been at the forefront of the conflict. Last month the provincial government announced it would proceed with a commission to investigate the way the justice system deals with aboriginal people. Calvert said the commission, which will begin its work next month, will focus on solutions for the future rather than past mistakes. "Our discussions . . . will be geared to finding ways to make the justice system in the province of Saskatchewan more effective and more respectful of First Nation and Metis people." The provincial government has also been working to renew its 1995 agreement with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. Calvert told the chiefs he hopes a new agreement will be signed soon. Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said there are several areas that still need to be worked out in any deal, including jurisdiction and expansion. "We assert our jurisdiction on reserve. That's what we believe. That's our bottom line. We want to keep moving towards that goal," said Bellegarde. "It may not happen right away. It may be one, two or three years down the road, but at least we're going to work on it." A report by the province's acting auditor, Fred Wendel, earlier this year found more than $30 million in casino profits meant to help First Nations over the last four years was unaccounted for. The money, administered by a board of trustees appointed by the Indian federation, was to be distributed among Saskatchewan's 70 bands. Wendel also found problems with more than $2 million earmarked for an addictions rehabilitation foundation and the Saskatchewan Indian Veterans Association. Copyright c. 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Harris's Ipperwash Affidavit to be Public" --------- Date: Fri 26 Oct 2001 08:05:21 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HARRIS AFFIDAVIT" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canada.com/news/story.asp? id={805072BD-538B-4717-A6E3-C9B1037D838F} Information commissioner rules Harris's Ipperwash affidavit to be public COLIN PERKEL Canadian Press Thursday, October 25, 2001 TORONTO (CP) - Ontario's information commission has ordered the release of key affidavits sworn by Premier Mike Harris related to the 1995 raid on Ipperwash provincial park in which police killed an unarmed native protester. Government lawyers had argued that the documents, produced this week on orders from assistant commissioner Tom Mitchinson, should remain confidential. "Legal counsel's submissions are sketchy at best, consisting of statements with little or no evidence or argument to support them," Mitchinson said in his interim ruling. "I intend to provide the appellant with a copy of the five affidavits .. . no earlier than Nov. 5, 2001." Earlier this month, Mitchinson ordered Harris to submit an affidavit on any meetings he had on Sept. 6, 1995, the day Dudley George was shot dead at Ipperwash provincial park. He made a similar order to Municipal Affairs Minister Chris Hodgson and several other top government officials as part of an appeal by Liberal native affairs critic, Gerry Phillips. Phillips has argued that the government hadn't produced all relevant documents related to meetings, some of which involved provincial police officers. "They're afraid of the truth," said Phillips of the latest wrinkle. "The premier has said all along that he has no problem with the truth coming out but they fight it every step of the way." However, Attorney General Dave Young said Harris and Hodgson will make their affidavits public "soon" and the argument for confidentiality was only intended to protect the privacy of others. "There are a number of individuals who don't work for the government at this point in time who should be at least consulted," said Young. An ongoing civil lawsuit filed by one of George's brothers alleges Harris directed police to clear native protesters from the park, which was located on a sacred burial ground. Harris has strenuously denied giving police any instructions. He has also said he and the others have turned over all documents related to a meeting he had with police officers just before the shooting but Mitchinson said there were reasonable doubts. Only a few handwritten notes, but no official minutes, have come to light from that meeting, which was attended by 14 people. "That (meeting) was the centrepiece of the Ipperwash affair," said Phillips. "The premier made his intentions known and hours after that the tragic events occurred." In submitting the affidavits about the meeting, the government argued they were being given to Mitchinson "in confidence and ought not to be shared because of the potential prejudice to the (civil) litigation." But Mitchinson said he saw no evidence to back that assertion. He also dismissed the government's claim that "no legitimate public interest would be furthered" by sharing the information with Phillips. Nor had the government persuaded him that "personal information" would be disclosed if Phillips was given the documents. Copyright c. 2001 The Canadian Press. --------- "RE: Deni win Legal Right to their Amazon Land" --------- Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 14:30:03 -0400 From: Amazon Alliance Subj: Brazil: Deni Indians Win Legal Right to their Amazon Land Deni Indians Win Legal Right to their Amazon Land Greenpeace commends the Deni for protecting their land from illegal logging 19 October 2001 Manaus, Brazil - After a two year struggle supported by Greenpeace, Missionary Indigenist Council (CIMI), and Opera=E7ao Amazonia Nativa (OPAN), the Deni Indians of the Brazilian Amazon won formal recognition of their rights to their traditional land. The land will now be held for their sole occupation and use, and industrial exploitation, such as logging and mining, will be prohibited. The Decree, signed by Brazil's Minister of Justice Jose Gregori last week, was officially published on October 16 in Brasilia. The Deni's land is inhabited by 670 people and spans 1,530,000 hectares in the remote southwest of the Amazon. According to the Brazilian Constitution, all Indian lands should have been demarcated by 1993 and the Deni themselves were first promised this in 1984. Of the 580 Indian territories identified in Brazil, only 360 have been formally demarcated. In 1999 Greenpeace first learned that the Malaysian logging giant WTK had purchased 151,000 hectares of land that overlapped with the Deni's traditional territories. Greenpeace went to the area and met with the Deni, who until that time were unaware of the threat. Subsequent visits by Greenpeace, CIMI and OPAN led to the Deni asking for help to mark the borders of their land and to have this recognised by the Brazilian Federal Government. "The Deni, after years of broken promises from the Federal Government, decided to take control over the fate of their tradition lands," said Greenpeace campaigner Nilo D'Avila. "And they succeeded. We are proud to have played a small part in their great victory." Over the past month volunteers from Greenpeace, CIMI, and OPAN supplied technical and logistical support to the Deni as they marked their most vulnerable borders, cutting 53 km of trails through thick jungle, and 218 km along the banks of rivers and creeks. Along the routes, the Deni posted signs reading "Entry Prohibited. Deni Land." A letter dated 30th September, 2001, from 10 Deni leaders to FUNAI, Brazil's Indian Agency, stated "Deni waited a long time for the demarcation, but the demarcation did not happen. Deni decided to do the work. Deni will only halt the work if FUNAI gives a precise date of the beginning of demarcation and accepts the work that Deni has already completed". On October 9, FUNAI accepted the demands of the Deni, and one week later the Minister of Justice signed the Decree."The Brazilian Government must now, as a priority, keep their promises to the Deni. They must legally recognise the work done by the Deni, and complete the demarcation of all Deni lands, under the supervision of the Deni themselves," said D'Avila. Greenpeace also calls on the Government of Brazil to, with urgency, meet their constitutional, social and moral obligations to demarcate all Indian lands in Brazil. 20 percent of the Brazilian Amazon is Indian land. Greenpeace's support for the Deni's demarcation is part of a campaign to protect the world's remaining ancient forests. Some 80 percent of the world's ancient forests have already been degraded or destroyed and only percent remain intact. Time is running out unless governments around the world take swift action to ensure the future of the ancient forests. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: In Manaus Nilo D 'Avila, Greenpeace Amazon Campaigner +, 55 92 9995 5050 Lucas De Freitas, Greenpeace Press Officer +55 92 9603 4801 In Amsterdam, Natalia Truchi, Greenpeace International Press Officer, +31 621296908 Stills available from John Novis in Amsterdam +31 20 5249 580 or +31(0) 653819121 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Distribuido por: Distributed by: 'AMAZON ALLIANCE' FOR INDIGENOUS AND TRADITIONAL PEOPLES OF THE AMAZON BASIN 1367 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036-1860 tel (202)785-3334 fax (202)785-3335 amazon@amazonalliance.org http://www.amazonalliance.org Disclaimer: All copyrights belong to original publisher. The Amazon Alliance has not verified the accuracy of the forwarded message. Forwarding this message does not necessarily connote agreement with the positions stated there-in. --------- "RE: Court finds Canadian Indian Guilty" --------- Date: Fri 26 Oct 2001 08:05:21 -1000 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="GUILTY!" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/breaking/1026eaglesmuggler-ON.html Court finds Canadian Indian guilty of violating U.S. eagle protection act Associated Press Oct. 26, 2001 19:25:00 SEATTLE - A Canadian Indian who said he was acting as a medicine man when he brought eagle feathers and remains across the border was convicted Friday by a federal jury. Terry Antoine, 47, a member of the Salish tribe's Cowichan band in Duncan, British Columbia, was found guilty of violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Prosecutors and Antoine's lawyer declined to comment after the verdict. During the trial, prosecutors argued Antoine smuggled the eagle parts across the U.S. border without a permit, then sold or bartered them for cash, beadwork and other goods as part of a black-market scheme. "Mr. Antoine would sell openly his beadwork," Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen Brunner said. "What he didn't sell openly was eagle parts. That was done behind closed doors." Antoine's lawyer, Michael Filipovic, argued his client acted as a medicine man when he traded eagle parts to other Indians, who use the parts in religious ceremonies. "This case is in large part about an effort to impose the laws and values and views of a majority culture and apply it to an individual in a minority culture," Filipovic said. Parts from more than 100 eagle carcasses were discovered at Antoine's home in Canada, where he faces similar charges. Once endangered, bald eagles are now listed as threatened in the lower 48 states. They're protected by law in the United States and in Canada. Antoine is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 11. He faces a maximum nine years in prison and $45,000 in fines. Copyright c. 2001, azcentral.com. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Art Dealer accused of Trade in Illegal Feathers" --------- Date: Sat 27 Oct 2001 11:41:07 -1000 From: Gary Smith