From gars@speakeasy.org Tue May 14 21:37:40 2002 Date: 15 May 2002 01:32:30 -0000 From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews10.020 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 -- Chickasaw -- Together We Are Talking Sho-da-ku-ye -- Teehahnahmah -- Talking Birchbark Acimowin -- Plains Cree -- Story or Account Native American News -- Language of the Occupation Forces Wotanging Ikche and Native American News Copyright c. 1996-2002 nanews.org ==>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 10, ISSUE 020 | Country than is reported in | O o o o o O | this weekly newsletter. For | O o O May 18, 2002 | For daily updates & events | O o O | go http://www.owlstar.com/ | O | dailyheadlines.htm | Cherokee nvda gahlvsga/planting moon +-----------------------------+ Kiowa pai tegpan p'a/geese go north moon <================<<<< >>>>================> This newsletter is produced in straight ASCII text for greatest portability across platforms. Read it with a fixed-pitch font, such as Courier, Monaco, FixedSys or CG Times. Proportional fonts will be difficult to read. <================<<<< >>>>================> This issue contains articles from www.pechanga.net; www.owlstar.com; www.indianz.com; INDIAN Heritage, Big Mountain, ndn-aim, Paths-L, LPDC and Native Rights Mailing Lists; UUCP email; newsgroup: alt.native 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.'" "We recognize the signs of terrorism in the mutilated bodies at Sand Creek and Indian Island, and on the blood-soaked snow at Wounded Knee. The vampire was there in the boarding schools where Indian children as young as four were raped and tortured, laced inside by barbed wire and fear, their mouths bleeding from being scrubbed with wire brushes when they spoke their tribal languages." __ Tia Oros, Zuni +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! 1997 - 10th Circuit Appeals Court reverses District Court and invalidates the elected government and Constitution chosen by the majority of Osage, and once again limits the rights of the Osage to be involved in their government. The court stated that: "ONLY CONGRESS HAS THE POWER TO PERMIT A FUNDAMENTAL ALTERATION OF THE PRESCRIBED FORM OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT." EFFECTS OF DECISION Disenfranchises 13,000 of 17,000 Osage People One vote, One person is denied to Osages Links political power to PROPERTY RIGHTS, NOT individual. May 2002 - The Bush administration has reaffirmed a decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs that the Duwamish, the tribe of Chief Seattle, is extinct. Interior Secretary Gale Norton declined to order the BIA to reconsider its earlier decision, made last fall. The Duwamish received federal acknowledgment in the waning hours of the Clinton administration, when it ruled the tribe met all seven criteria. Those criteria include a requirement that the tribe show an unbroken continuity of social and political structures. The Bush administration, however, cited procedural errors by its predecessor and overturned that ruling. Part of the banner reads in each issue of Wotanging Ikche quotes historian Patricia Nelson Limerick 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.'" Make no mistake about it, the Federal Government, since the first treaties were signed, has labored consistently and diligently to eradicate the Native Nations of this land they refer to as the United States. As far as Native Peoples are concerned it is united only in its persistence in eliminating the People whose lands and way of life they stole. Through the Pratt-engineered boarding schools, Indian children were systematically denied any link to their own cultures and languages. Through deliberate subterfuge treaties were undermined and violated by the very government that had forced those treaties on them at gunpoint and fort internment. Through public pronouncement that disavowed promises made in exchange for land, Native Nations were painted as welfare states. Through stroke of pen, agreements were dashed. Through theft billions were and continue to be stolen by the very agencies that were mandated to caretake the trust system. Whether human or cultural, genocide is still genocide. Denying recognition of the Duwamish is genocide. They will not be the last. Dohiyi Ani Oginalii , , Gary Night Owl gars@nanews.org (*,*) P. O. Box 672168 gars@speakeasy.org (`-') Marietta, GA 30007, U.S.A. gars@olagrande.net ===w=w=== gars@sdf.lonestar.org ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- - Crossings - St. Thomas cancels Powwow - Death Knell for Duwamish Tribe after Legal Challenge - Tribe Works to Reclaim - Judge orders Negotiations Dead Childrens' Honor in Bison Dispute - Tribes oppose - Cayugas plan to Appeal Rulings Treaty Termination Bill - Tribal Jurisdiction - Occidental abandons boils into Conflict Oil Development on U'wa Land - Yakama Tribe to file Suit - Navajos oppose Black Mesa over Dam Repairs Mining Expansion - Shellfish Probe took too Long - Outcome of Hopi Tribal Court - Resort raided by BIA and Appeal - Native Prisoner - Desecration at Yucca Mountain -- Support Letters Needed - Op/Ed: Indian Energy Office: -- Letters for Peltier Carry Out Promise urgently Needed - Guest Editorial: -- Have Consitutional Rights Rich/Poor Tribes been Violated - Maya Town expels Catholic Priests -- Letter Campaign - Federal Court reinstates Gabriel for Alex Montana - Inuit not getting Fair Share -- Upcoming Artshow - Another attempt to - History: Carlisle Indian School Shut Down B.C. Referendum - Rustywire: - Memo more reason for You know You are Assimilated When Probe into Ipperwash - Poem: Dear Mother - Lessons Learned from - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days Treaty 8 Tax Issue - Norton scheduled - Report finds Racism for Radio Appearance - Judge allows Powwow Lawsuit - Native America Calling --------- "RE: Crossings" --------- Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 08:10:52 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CROSSINGS" May 7, 2002 Alexander F. Bad Bear Sr. WOUNDED KNEE - Alexander F. Bad Bear Sr., 60, Wounded Knee, died Thursday, May 2, 2002, in Pine Ridge. Survivors include four daughters, Betty Bad Bear, Carol Bad Bear and Sharon Goings, all of Pine Ridge, and Martha Bad Bear, Rapid City; four sons, Alex Bad Bear Jr., Winston Bad Bear and Edsel Bad Bear, all of Pine Ridge, and Irving Bad Bear, Wounded Knee; eight sisters, Eva Black Bear, Cathy Black Bear, Peggy Black Bear, Raydine Black Bear, Nellie Black Bear, Maxine Ghost, Gloria Ghost and Barbara Bad Bear, all of Pine Ridge; five brothers, Robert Ghost and Randell Ghost, both of Pine Ridge, Burgess Ghost, Hot Springs, Artie Black Bear, Black Hawk, and Leroy Ghost, Rapid City; 24 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A two-night wake will begin at 4 p.m. today at Billy Mills Hall in Pine Ridge. The second night will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 8, at Messiah Episcopal Church in Wounded Knee. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at the church, with the Rev. Cordelia Red Owl and the Rev. Darrell New officiating. Burial will be at Messiah Episcopal Cemetery in Wounded Knee. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. May 10, 2002 Lauren Marie Stewart PINE RIDGE - Lauren Marie Stewart, 5, Pine Ridge, died Tuesday, May 7, 2002, in Omaha, Neb. Survivors include her parents, Loren Waters and Wendi Buckman, Pine Ridge; five sisters, Corey Stewart, Stacey Stewart and Callie Stewart, all of Oglala, and Carley Stewart and Laura Waters, both of Pine Ridge; one brother, Josh Stewart, Oglala; her maternal grandparents, Ivis Black Elk and Larry Buckman, both of Pine Ridge; and her paternal grandfather, Harold Waters, Pine Ridge. A two-night wake will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 12, at Billy Mills Hall in Pine Ridge. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, at Billy Mills Hall, with the Rev. Ben Tyon officiating. Burial will be at Holy Cross Episcopal Church Cemetery in Pine Ridge. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Lillian Black Bird RAPID CITY - Lillian Black Bird, 86, Rapid City, died Wednesday, May 8, 2002, at a Rapid City nursing home. Survivors include three daughters, Christina Black, Rapid City, Clara Cross, Dickinson, N.D., and Marilyn Brock, Pocatello, Idaho; one son, Thurman Black Bird, Rapid City; 18 grandchildren; and 31 great- grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today and for one hour before services Saturday, May 11, at Campbell, Paula & Quinn Funeral Home in Rapid City. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Custer Cemetery. May 11-12, 2002 Linda A. Brings-Patton PINE RIDGE - Linda A. Brings-Patton, 54, Pine Ridge, died Wednesday, May 8, 2002, at Pine Ridge Hospital. Survivors include one son, Robert Patton, Pine Ridge; her mother, Celeste Brings, Pine Ridge; one brother, Thomas Brings, Pine Ridge; two foster brothers, Brian Running Horse and Aaron Pawnee Leggins, both of Pine Ridge; and four sisters, Sedona Brings and Sandra Brings, both of Pine Ridge, and Harriet Maea and Latonna Plenty Wolf, both of Rapid City. A two-night wake will begin at 3 p.m. Monday, May 13, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pine Ridge. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, at the church, with the Rev. Steve Sanford and Floyd Hand officiating. Burial will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery in Slim Buttes. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2002 The Rapid City Journal. -=-=-=- May 12, 2002 Rev. Thomas Roughface WHITE EAGLE -- The Rev. Thomas Roughface, superintendent of the United Methodist Church's Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, died Thursday from injuries suffered in an April 28 automobile wreck. Roughface, 66, a member of the Ponca Tribe in White Eagle, worked for 43 years in the ministry of the conference and served five parishes. He was the moving force in obtaining the missionary conference status in 1972 for the former Oklahoma Indian Mission. He also was instrumental in getting voting rights for the conference at the United Methodist Church's highest legislative assembly, the General Conference. He is survived by six children and many grandchildren. Funeral services, which will be preceded by a noon feast, will be Sunday in the activity building at White Eagle United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, 3020 S Harvey Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73109. Copyright c. 2002, Produced by NewsOK. -=-=-=- May 9, 2002 James Burdeau James "Adam" Burdeau, 77, of Browning and Starr School, died May 2, 2002, at Blackfeet Community Hospital of natural causes. He was born Oct. 4, 1924, in Browning and attended Holy Family Mission. He did farm and ranch work, worked for the railroad in Canada and the United States and as a fire fighter. He enjoyed the Indian Days pow-wows, riding and viewing scenic routes of the Blackfeet Reservation and Glacier Park. He enjoyed travels to Seattle to visit his nephews and walking along the river at Starr School. Surviving are sisters, Elizabeth Lahr and Beatrice Bear Medicine of Browning; a brother, Joe Burdeau of Yakima, Wash.; a niece; and six nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Burdeau and Agnes Takes Gun; brothers, Bert Burdeau and Herbert "Fuzzy" Burdeau; and a niece, Sandra Lahr Raya. Day Family Funeral Home handled arrangements. Frank Comes At Night Frank Jerry Comes At Night, 92, of Heart Butte, died April 30, 2002, at IHS of natural causes. Rosary was recited May 3 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Heart Butte. His funeral was held May 4 at St. Anne's with burial in St. Anne's Cemetery. He was born July 20, 1909 at Badger Creek. He and Lena LaFromboise were married and she died in 1972. He worked for Forestry, for the Green Thumb program and was a truant officer at Heart Butte School. He was the oldest elder in Heart Butte, member of the White Shirt Society, original Heart Butte Society member and member of the Crazy Dog Society. He enjoyed playing stick game, loved to sing and play banjo, guitar and harmonica, enjoyed horse races and pow- wows, spending time with his children and grandchildren and playing blackjack. Comes At Night is survived by daughters, Zelma DuCharme, Jolene Vance, Sandra Calf Boss Ribs and Cheryl Comes At Night, all of Heart Butte; sons, Fred Comes At Night of Browning, Floyd Comes At Night, Franklin "Bacon" Comes At Night, Steve Comes At Night of Browning, Gary Comes At Night of Heart Butte, Clarence Comes At Night of Heart Butte, and Clarence "Cash" Old Rock; 50 grandchildren; 87 great-grandchildren; and six great-great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sepi Comes At Night and Double Charge Eagle Head; his wife, Lena; sons, Daniel Comes At Night, Willard "Hamms" Comes At Night and Kenny LaFromboise. Jean Paul Wippert Jean Paul Wippert, 79, of Browning, died Wednesday, April 24, 2002, of natural causes. Funeral services were held at Little Flower Parish in Browning on April 29. She was born Dec. 8, 1922, to Josephine La Barge Paul and Edward Paul of Browning. She and Hunter Wippert were married on Sept. 12, 1942. They spent much of their married life together on Seville where he worked as a water master for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Irrigation project. She worked as a nurse for more than 25 years in Glacier County as well as in Fort Washakie, Wyo., and St. Ignatius. She and her husband farmed and ranched on Seville where they raised 11 children. In 1985, they retired to Browning to be near family and friends. She was an active member of the Little Flower Parish in Browning. Wippert is survived by two sisters, Velma (Tiny) Smith of Cut Bank and Noreen (Bea) Martin of Browning; 11 children, Herb Gilham of Browning, John Wippert of Billings, Quentin Gilham of Billings, Merlin Gilham of Cut Bank, Barbara Aubert of Browning, Donna White of Browning, Mary Blue of Browning, Mike Gilham of Babb, JoAnn Grant of Browning, Terry White of East Glacier and Kerry Kay McKay of Billings; 29 grandchildren; 20 great- grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1995; her parents; four sisters, Eloise "Ellie" Gilham, Alfreda McClusky, Leona Conway and Dorothy Paul; and five brothers, Clarence Paul, George Paul, Lloyd Paul, Roger Paul and Buzzy Paul. Copyright c. 2002 Golden Triangle Newspapers. -=-=-=- May 4-5, 2002 Louise Allison Preston KINLICHEE, Ariz. - Service for Louise Preston, 86, will be held at 11 a. m., Monday, May 6 at Mother Mary of Mankind, St. Michaels, Ariz. Father Flann will officiate. Burial will follow at Kinlichee Community Cemetery. Preston died May 2 in Ganado, Ariz. She was born April 15, 1916 in Steamboat, Ariz. into the Mexican People Clan for the Black Streak People Clan. Preston was homemaker and was employed with Kinlichee Boarding School as a foster grandparent. Survivors include his sons, Leonard McCabe of Kinlichee, Ariz. and Harry McCabe of Gaithersburg, Md.; daughters, Eleanor Bluehouse and Rosie Preston William both of Ganado; brother, Burton Jack of Kinlichee; 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Preston was preceded in death by her husband, Tom K. McCabe, her second husband, Scott Preston:son, Emery McCabe and one grandson. Pallbearers will be family members. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Kinlichee Chapter House. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. May 6, 2002 Leonard Watchman ROCKSPRINGS - Services for Leonard Watchman, 56, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 7 at Cope Memorial Park. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery. Watchman died May 2 in Albuquerque. He was born Dec. 11, 1944 in Tohatchi into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Red Water Running into the People Clan. Watchman attended Intermountain School and a Trade School in Ohio. He was employed in Santa Fe as a construction worker. Survivors include his wife, Alberta Watchman; and brothers, Tom Watchman and Samuel Watchman. Watchman was preceded in death by his parents, Fannie Willie and Kee Watchman; brother, Ray Watchman and sister, Edith Guardian. Pallbearers will be Walter Brown, Jay Brown, Jasper Long, Joseph, Richard and Miguel Jr. Guardian. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Rocksprings Chapter House. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. May 7, 2002 Eva G. Tsosie LUPTON, Ariz. - Services for Eva Tsosie, 77, will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 8 at Rollie Morturary Palm Chapel. Pastor Harry House will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Tsosie died May 3 in Gallup. She was born July 2, 1924 in Jacob Wells, Ariz. into the One Who Walks Around You People Clan for the Black Sheep People Clan. Survivors include her son, Peter Yazzie of Lupton; daughter, Betty James of Lupton; sisters, Charolette Kee of Vanderwagen, Elizabeth Haswood and Jeannie Stevens both of Lupton; six grandchildren and 12 great- grandchildren. Tsosie was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Guy Tsosie Jr.; parents, Yakasbah and William Goodluck; brothers, Hebert Goodluck, James Goodluck, Johnny Goodluck, Ken Goodluck and Jack Silversmith and sisters, Leona Lynch and Kehlibah Pinto. Pallbearers will be Farrell Gustine, Rocco Q. James, Rush Kennedy, Edward Louie, Delson Roger and Willard Stevens. Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Micheal B. Thomas CHINLE, Ariz. - Services for Micheal Thomas, 41, were held at 10 a.m., today at Rough Rock Friends Mission. Pastor Mel and Sandy Harold officiated. Burial followed at Rough Community Cemetery. Thomas died May 2 in Chinle. He was born Aug. 3, 1960 in Black Mountain, Ariz. into the Zuni Red Running into the Water People Clan for the Towering House People Clan. Thomas attended Rough Rock Elementary School. His hobbies included watching sports. Survivors include his wife, Lois Chee Begay; sons, Myron , Byron and Marcus Thomas; daughters, Tarcissia, Santana and Ashley Thomas; mother, Sadie Thomas; brother, Cecil Thomas and sisters, Selina and Sheri Thomas. Begay was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Begay. Pallbearer were Cecil Thomas, Thomas Mailboy, Bobby Mailboy, Tom Mailboy Jr., Dennis Mailboy and David Mailboy. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. May 9, 2002 William Robert Nelson Sr. GANADO, Ariz. - Services for William Nelson Sr., 64, will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 10 at All Saints Mission. Father Flann O'Neil will officiate. Burial will follow on family land, Steamboat, Ariz. Nelson Sr. died May 6 in Ganado. He was born May 14, 1938 in Ganado into the Mexican People Clan for the Zuni Edge Water People Clan. Nelson atttended high school in Flagstaff, Ariz. and went to the Sherman Institute, Calif. He served in the U.S. Army in West Germany and was currently Steamboat Veteran Organization Commander. His hobbies included ranching, gourd dancing and carpentry work. Survivors include his wife, Grace Allen of Toyei, Ariz.; son, William Nelson Jr. of Iyanbito; daughters, Sherry Nelson of Crownpoint and Marsha Nelson of Tempe, Ariz.; and sisters, Rosemarie Brown and Verona Begay both of Steamboat; and five grandchildren. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, Ezra and Dzonnie Nelson and brothers, Peter, Dennis, Thomas, Jesse, Augustine, Lee, Edward and Francis Nelson and one grandson. Pallbearers will be the Armed Guards of Tuba City, Ariz. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Steamboat Chapter House. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. May 10, 2002 Art Arviso Sr. CROWNPOINT - Services for Art Arviso Sr., 68, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 11 at Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church. Rev. Carlos Baki will officiate. Burial will follow at private family land, Canoncito. Arviso Sr. died May 7 in Crownpoint. He was born Aug. 7, 1933 in Rehoboth into the Sage Brush People Clan for the Sleeping Rock People Clan. Arviso Sr. was a business man and rancher. Survivors include his sons, Laffie Begay of Gallup, Alonzo Arviso and Art Arviso Jr. both of Crownpoint; daughter, June Kotsidotsky of Murrietta, Calif.; brothers, Olsen Arviso Sr. of Iyanbito, Tommy Arviso Sr. of Window Rock, Phillip Norberto of Flagstaff, Ariz., Leonard D. Arviso and Arnold Norberto both of Crownpoint; sisters, Minnie Brownie of Twin Buttes, Lucy Carlston of Twin Lakes and Grace Tsosie of Crownpoint; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Arviso Sr. was preceded in death by his wife, Bess Arviso; parents, Leo Arviso and Anna Norberto; daughter, Lori Mora; and sisters, Sarah Bass and Mary Rose Murphy. Pallbearers will be Ed Antone, Marshall Arviso, Tom Arviso Jr., Bill Craig, Farrell Moore and Robbie Murphy. Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Joan Silversmith Dickens GANADO, Ariz. - Services for Joan Dickens, 66, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 11 at Presbyterian Church, Ganado. Burial will follow at family cemetery, Ganado. Visitation will be held from 3-6 p.m., today at Norvel Owens Mortuary, Flagstaff, Ariz. Dickens died May 7 in Flagstaff. She was born June 1, 1936 in Ganado. Dickens was a artist and rug weaver. Her hobbies included gardening, flowers, cooking, and grilling outdoors. Survivors include her son, Tim Watson of Flagstaff; daughters, Sheila Dickens, Marjane Johnson of Flagstaff, Sylvia Johnson, Brenda Watson, Carrie Johnson and Rose Ann Dickens of Ganado, Barbara Johnson of Kibeto; brothers, Harrison Silversmith of Ganado, Cecile Silversmith of Navajo Station; sisters, Mary Ault of Flagstaff, Nettie Smith, Lila Mae Silversmith and Rose Whitefeather of Navajo Station, Alberta Boyd of Red Mesa and 22 grandchildren. Dickens was preceded in death by her parents, John and Sarah Silversmith; son, David Johnson; and sister, Annabelle Pino. Arnold Eddie Bahe SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Services for Arnold Bahe, 42, will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 11 at Lukachukai St. Isabel Catholic Church. Father Caron will officiate. Burial will follow at family land. Bahe died May 6 in Salt Lake City. He was born April 13, 1960 in Lukachukai, Ariz. into the Mountain Cove People Clan for the Coyote Pass People Clan. Bahe attended Many Farms High School, Many Farms, Ariz., and Navajo Community College, Tsaile, Ariz. He was in the Army National Guard, S.C. He was employed with HB Zachery Woodcross, Utah. Survivors include his daughters, Angelita Bahe of Rough Rock, Ariz.; parents, Guy and Elizabeth Bahe of Lukachukai; brothers, Virgil Nez of Lukachukai, Ernest Bahe of Tooele, Utah, Ben Bahe of Phoenix and Christopher Bahe of Bountiful, Utah; sisters, Ernestine Bahe of Bountiful. Bahe was preceded in death by his brother, Andrew Bahe. Palbearers will be Elando Yazzie and Alex Bahe. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Guy and Elizabeth's residence, Lukachukai. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Marlene B. Arviso CROWNPOINT - Servcies for Marlene Arviso, 73, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 11 at Hosanna Tencecostal Church, Crownpoint. Harry Cayatineto will officiate. Burial will follow at Thoreau Community Cemetery. Arviso died May 6 in Albuquerque. He was born April 3, 1929 into the Salt People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan. Arviso attended Wingate High School. She was worked in different locations, Idaho, San Francisco, Calif., El Paso, Texas and Denver. Her hobbies included traveling, weaving rugs, silversmithing, taming horses and ranching. Survivors include her sons, Vern Largo of Crownpoint and Gary Arviso of Fort Defiance, Ariz.; daughters, Virginia King of Iyanbito, Betty Sam, Marie Largo and Darlene Ramone all of Crownpoint; brothers, Joe Tsosie of Shiprock; sisters, Lucy Thompson of Thoreau, Pauline Morgan of Crownpoint, Alice Garffi of Dalton Pass and Mary Manygoat of Red Valley, Ariz.; 34 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren. Arviso was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Arviso; parents, Hosbaha and David Lee; brothers, San Lee, Frank Lee and Tom Lee and sister, Mary F. Lee. Pallbearers will be Tully L. Sam, David Whitethorn, Emerick Tom, Russel Tom, Alvin Begay and Elvis Silago. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Thoreau Chapter House. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Betty Francisco Larry THOREAU - Services for Betty Larry, 72, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 11 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Rev. Ray Barker will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Larry died May 6 in Thoreau. She was born May 30, 1930 in Haystack into the Tachini for the Two Came to the Water People Clan. Larry was a homemaker. She was a member of the Thoreau Chapter, Thoreau Community School Board and a foster parent. Survivors include her sons, Jones Larry Sr. of Flora Vista, Herman Larry Sr., Jerry Larry and Calvin Larry all of Thoreau; daughters, Elousie Martinez of Lakewood, Calif., Elvera Chee of Haystack, Nora Larry and Vina Robertson both of Thoreau; brothers, Jim Francisco and Woody Francisco both of Prewitt; Nellie F. Begay of Haystack; 23 grandchildren and one grandchild. Larry was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Grace Francisco; brother, John Francisco Sr. and sisters, Grace, Dorothy Francisco and Emma E. Larry. Pallbearers will be Jake Chee, Justin Larry, Jones Larry Jr., Rocky Malubag, Herman Larry Jr. and Shawn Eskeets. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Thoreau Church of God, Fellowship Hall. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Jane L. Brown BREADSPRINGS - Services for Jane Brown, 75, will be announced at a later date. Brown died May 7 in Breadsprings. She was born July 24, 1926 in Breadsprings into the Towering House People Clan for the Tower House People Clan. Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. May 11-12, 2002 Facey Yazzie White MANUELITO - Services for Facey White, 64, will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, May 13 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery. White died May 8 in Gallup. She was born April 10, 1938 in Fort Wingate into the Black Streak Forest People Clan for the Meadow People Clan. Survivors include her sons, Benson White, Robertson White, Allison White, Jimson White, Albertson White, Billy Yazzie White and John White; daughters, Grace Salazar, Josephine Terrazaa, Louise White and Arlinda Moza; father, Kee Haswood; sisters, Minnie Adakia, Helen Yazzie and Betty Smith; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. White was preceded in death by her son, Anson White and mother, Alt-Ha- Bah Yazzie Haswood. Pallbearers will be Albertson White, Robertson White, Allison White, Jimson White and Billy Yazzie. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Facey White residence. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Theda Bilidaalbai Evans KLAGETOH, Ariz. - Services for Theda Evans, 106, will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 13 at St. Michaels Catholic Church, St. Michaels, Ariz. Burial will follow at family land. Evans died May 8 in Chinle, Ariz. She was born Dec. 7, 1895 in Chichiltah into the Blacksheep People Clan for the One Who Walks Around You People Clan. Evans attended St. Michaels Catholic Indian School. She was a rancher, a weaver of Ganado Red and vegetable-dyed textile and a teacher of weaving at Santa Fe Indian School, Santa Fe and the University of Arizona Summer Institute. Survivors include her daughter, Rebecca Hogner Lynch of Window Rock; sister, Florence Tsosie of Klagetoh; ten grandchildren; 15 great- grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Hogner was preceded in death by her sons, Richard P. Hogner and Alexander Evans and daughter, Flora Evans. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at St. Michaels Parish Hall. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2002 the Gallup Independent. -=-=-=- May 11, 2002 Victor Waseta Victor Waseta, 67, a resident of Albuquerque and Zuni died peacefully Saturday, May 4, 2002 with his family by his side. Born February 19, 1935. He is survived by his wife, Alvina; his sons, Christopher, Jeffery and wife, Veronica, Fernando and fiance, Katherine Teupell, Hiram and wife, Marisa; and daughter, Kimberly. grandchildren, Elizabeth, Evonne, Sandra, Jenny, Amanda, Jessica, and Sebastian; his brothers, Louie, Scholastico, Samuel; sister, Elizabeth; as well as many other family members, special neighbors and friends. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He was a dedicated law enforcement officer for over 25 years and one of the first Native Americans to graduate from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. He ended his career as the Zuni Pueblo Chief of Police. He was laid to rest at his home in Zuni, NM on Monday, May 6, 2002. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Condolences may be sent to 10819 Cruz St. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121. The family would like to express their gratitude to the Albuquerque Fire Department, Lovelace Hospital, and Superior Ambulance for the special care given to our loved one. Copyright c. 1997 - 2002 Albuquerque Journal: Albuquerque, New Mexico. --------- "RE: Death Knell for Duwamish Tribe" --------- Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 12:28:18 -0700 From: John Wm Sloniker Subj: Death Knell for Duwamish Tribe Mailing List: INDIAN Heritage The SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER - Northwest Saturday, May 11, 2002 Decision is death knell for Duwamish Bush administration reaffirms earlier ruling that tribe is extinct By PAUL SHUKOVSKY SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER The Bush administration has reaffirmed a decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs that the Duwamish, the tribe of Chief Seattle, is extinct. Interior Secretary Gale Norton declined to order the BIA to reconsider its earlier decision, made last fall. Norton's ruling exhausts the tribe's administrative remedies and leaves it only two options: File a federal lawsuit or seek direct recognition through an act of Congress. Federal acknowledgment brings money for tribal government, health care, housing, social services and cultural programs, as well as an opportunity to create a reservation and open a casino. Without acknowledgment, the Duwamish face the growing prospect of assimilating into the general population. The Duwamish received federal acknowledgment in the waning hours of the Clinton administration, when it ruled the tribe met all seven criteria. Those criteria include a requirement that the tribe show an unbroken continuity of social and political structures. The Bush administration, however, cited procedural errors by its predecessor and overturned that ruling. Although the paperwork acknowledging the Duwamish was complete before the administrations changed on Jan. 20, 2001, some of the documents were not signed by the acting assistant secretary, Michael Anderson, until Jan. 22, according to an investigation. The Bush administration cited the snafu, reversed the ruling and declared the Duwamish extinct. Anderson told the BIA that he believed career officials at the BIA who disagreed with his decision purposely sought to thwart the Duwamish decision by altering a key document to make it appear as if it were a draft rather than a final decision. Yesterday, Cecil Hansen, the chairwoman of the Duwamish, said she was too upset to discuss Norton's ruling. But Hansen in the past said she is angry at what she called "shabby treatment" at the hands of the BIA. Duwamish attorney Dennis Whittlesey said if the tribe chooses to challenge Norton's ruling in court, he will argue that BIA career officials sabotaged the the earlier decision made by the Clinton administration. "This is an absolute attack on the integrity of the decision- making process," said Whittlesey, who called the Bush administration action "arbitrary and capricious." "They are inviting the next administration to ignore their decision making as they have done with the Clinton administration." The tribe, which has reached out in the past to the state's legislative delegation, could gain recognition through an act of Congress. A spokeswoman for Sen. Maria Cantwell said yesterday that the office is reviewing the BIA decision and discussing what action would be appropriate. "The senator feels strongly that legitimate Indian tribes should be recognized by the federal government," said the spokeswoman, Jennifer Crider. P-I reporter Paul Shukovsky can be reached at 206-448-8072 or Copyright c. 1998-2002 Seattle Post-Intelligencer. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Tribe Works to Reclaim Dead Childrens' Honor" --------- Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 08:04:08 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CHILDREN" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_0506_news_lummi_tribe.5d7780d8.html Tribe Works to Reclaim Dead Childrens' Honor 05/06/2002 Associated Press Elders of the Lummi Indian tribe from Bellingham, Washington, gathered at the Chemewa Indian School in Salem yesterday to honor about 200 students who died there. Sunday's service marked a new effort by tribal people to reclaim the histories of those children who never returned from Chemawa, and to pressure the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, which runs Chemawa, to restore the cemetery and build a monument in the children's honor. Criss Brown, the student body president, said many students today consider the children who died to be their forebears and she said they would like to regularly help in mowing and picking up trash at the cemetery. Government archives indicate that most of the children, who ranged in age from toddlers to teen-agers, died during epidemics of influenza and smallpox between 1880 and 1925. Copyright c. 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright c. 2002 Belo Interactive/kgw.com. --------- "RE: Tribes oppose Treaty Termination Bill" --------- Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:12:32 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="TREATY TERMINATION" http://www.indianz.com/SmokeSignals/Headlines/ Tribes oppose treaty termination bill THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2002 A bill to extinguish all treaty rights in the state of Illinois drew opposition from tribal leaders and Democrats at a Congressional hearing on Wednesday. Representatives of two tribes whose claims would be forever terminated called the measure premature and asked the House Resources Committee not to approve it. Citing an 11th-hour memorandum drafted by a Clinton administration official, they said a 1,280-acre reservation established by an 1829 treaty still exists. "We want to buy the land back," said Gary Mitchell, vice chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation of Kansas. Larry Angelo, second chief of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, said the only solution was to honor the treaty or pay "millions of dollars" in compensation. "This particular bill in its present form is not beneficial or helpful," he asserted. Chiming in were Democrat members of the panel who questioned the wisdom of the measure. "I think this Congress should be extremely reluctant to do anything that sets aside treaties," said Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) charged that there was "little or not consultation" with the affected tribes. "I think it is an affront to tribal sovereignty," he said. The measure's sponsor, Rep. Tim Johnson (R-Ill.), defended his proposal and said it was drafted "as narrowly as possible" to avoid setting a precedent nationwide. But the primary target of his bill -- the Miami Nation of Oklahoma, which last year withdrew a 2.6-million-acre claim amid controversy -- didn't provide testimony in person. Gary Brazill, the tribe's legal counsel, was present at the hearing but instead submitted written comments for the record. That didn't stop bill co-sponsor Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) from criticizing the tribe's legal tactics. "These claims have been made for the sole purpose of establishing a casino and not for any true reparations for their tribe," he said. No action was taken on the bill yesterday and, other than the Illinois contingent, no Republicans spoke at length on its provisions or asked questions of the tribal leaders. The exception was Native caucus co-chair Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), who didn't state his views, but essentially apologized to the Ottawa Tribe for an "historic theme of racism toward American Indians" Angelo said he felt during talks with the state of Illinois. "The message received from the Illinois representative was, 'We got rid of the damn Indians over one hundred years ago and we are not going to have them back,'" Angelo said. Copyright c. 2000-2001 Noble Savage Media, LLC/Indianz.Com. --------- "RE: Occidental abandons Oil Development on U'wa Land" --------- Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:12:32 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="U'WA LAND" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-03-01.html Occidental Petroleum Abandons Oil Development on U'wa Land LOS ANGELES, California, May 3, 2002 (ENS) - At its annual shareholder meeting today, Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) announced that the company will return to the Colombian government its controversial oil block located adjacent to the traditional territory of the U'wa people. The U'wa and their American environmental supporters rejoiced at this result which follows a nine year campaign to halt the oil project in the Colombian cloud forest. Known for years as the Samore block, the land at issue is located in a guerrilla controlled area of northeast Colombia, and is estimated to hold up to 2.5 billion barrels of crude oil. Uwa spokesperson Ebaristo Tegria said, "This is the news we have been waiting for. Sira, the God of the Uwa has accompanied us here in Colombia and our friends around the world who have supported us in this struggle. Now Sira is responding to us. This is the result of the work of the U'wa and our friends around the world." Atossa Soltani, director of the advocacy group Amazon Watch, said, "Oxy's departure from the oil block will be a great victory for the U'wa. Oxy now needs to commit to staying out of all U'wa ancestral lands permanently." Last July, Occidental Petroleum announced that its first exploratory well on Uwa land turned up dry. Today the company cited economic reasons for relinquishing the block. Soltani said that the company's continuing public relations nightmare around the Uw'a issue weighed heavily on the decision. Occidental Petroleum's attempt to develop oil production on the controversial block of land has been troubled. The U'wa have repeatedly denounced Occidental's oil operation, saying it threatens their tribe and will raise the death toll of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of Colombia's civil war. At one point the approximately 5,000 U'wa threatened to commit suicide en masse unless the oil company stopped its operation on their territory. U'wa leaders have conducted protest tours across the United States several times over the past five years and have visited Congress to raise support for their cause. On March 31, 2000 a Colombian court ordered the oil company to stop all construction work on the oil drilling site. A Bogota judge supported the U'wa tribe's claim that oil exploration of the Samore block while located just outside their official reservation is part of the ancestral lands of their forefathers. The injunction was later lifted, and drilling was allowed to proceed. In June 2000, Colombian riot police broke up a road blockade by U'wa people who were trying to prevent trucks from reaching the construction site where Occidental Petroleum was preparing to drill. Three indigenous children died in the incident. Occidental also finds itself center stage in a growing controversy around the Bush administration's military aid proposal to spend $98 million to defend the company's Cabo Limon oil pipeline in Colombia, which runs through traditional Uwa land. In its 2001 Annual Report, Occidental Petroleum said, "Sabotage of the Cabo Limon pipeline by leftist guerillas significantly disrupted our Colombian production last year." Soltani says, "If Congress passes the proposal, this targeted military assistance for the pipeline will set a dangerous precedent of taxpayers covering private corporations' security expenses overseas." "When in operation, Colombia is one of our most profitable operations on a unit-of-production basis and costs are kept at an absolute minimum when the field is down," Oxy said in the annual report. "Colombia accounts for less than three percent of our worldwide proved reserves and less than one percent of our total assets," the company said. In a related development, Attorney General Ashcroft this week indicted six FARC guerrillas for the 1999 murders of three Americans working in Colombia with the Uwa people. Among the activists murdered was Terence Freitas who founded the U'wa Defense Project. The Freitas family issued a statement in opposition to more military aid to Colombia. Human rights and environmental groups have highlighted the connection between oil development and militarization for years. Oxy pays a fee to the Colombian government on every barrel of oil produced, which funds the military. Amazon Watch estimates that one in four Colombian soldiers are detailed to protect oil installations. Soltani said the threat to U'wa land from oil development is not yet over. "While Oxy's departure from the oil block is a welcomed development, " she said, "the threat remains that another company could take over the area. In addition, Repsol-YPF is currently looking to develop the Capachos oil block, also located on traditional Uwa land." The U'wa hold that the Earth is their Mother and oil her blood. They have often expressed the fear that the drilling will bring guerrilla violence to their territory. The Colombian government has maintained that the oil revenues will benefit the majority of the Colombian people. Copyright c. 2002 Environment News Service (ENS). All Rights Reserved. Copyright c. 2002, Lycos, Inc. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Navajos oppose Black Mesa Mining Expansion" --------- Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 08:11:21 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="NO BLACK MESA EXPANSION" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.daily-times.com/Stories/0,1413,129%257E6574%257E602371,00.html Navajos, others oppose Black Mesa mining expansion Special to The Daily Times Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 11:56:24 PM MST FOREST LAKE, Ariz. The Navajo Residents of Black Mesa will gather at 7 a. m. today to oppose Peabody Coal Company's application for a permanent permit for the Black Mesa Mine. Various organizations and the Hopi people who object to Peabody coal mining operation will join the Navajos in the peaceful demonstration today to voice their opposition to the proposal. The Forest Lake Chapter passed a resolution opposing the request to increase water withdrawal from the Navajo Aquifer from the current 4,000 acre feet to 5,700 acre feet to transport coal by slury pipeline, and opose coal production from 4.7 million tons per year to 5.7 million tons per year. The OSM and BIA should not issue a permanent program permit or life of the mine' permit due to the fact that Peabody has failed to abide and live up to it's original agreement that is to with the development of communty infrastructures, local elementary school, health clinic, and more," said Amos Johnson, president of the Forest Lake Chapter. Approxiamately 90 percent of the Navojo People of Forest Lake do not have indoor plumbing while Peabody has pumped hundreds of millions of gallons of ground water to slurry coal 273 miles to Laughling, Nev., Johnson said. "The people of Forest Lake feel that Peabody should transfer one of their wells and assist the community by developing a public water system. In the long term the chapter feels that the cultural, human health, environment, and the social impact out the local economic benefits," Johnson said. For every dollar generated from the coal water revenues less than one cent or practically none is reinvested to improve the living conditions for the Navajo people living on Black Mesa, he said. EDITOR'S NOTE: The Forest Lake Chapter provided this article. Copyright c. 1999-2002 MediaNews Group, Inc/Farmington Daily Times. --------- "RE: Outcome of Hopi Tribal Court and Appeal" --------- Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 16:44:53 +0000 From: Robert Dorman Subj: Outcome of Hopi tribal court and appeal for supporters Mailing List: Big Mountain List Date: 2002-05-06 From: Marsha Monestersky: sdn57 at earthlink.net Subj: Outcome of Hopi tribal court and appeal for supporters Dear Big Mountain Supporters, Update on the status of current Hopi tribal and appellate court hearings On April 11, 2002, I appeared as pro se counsel in an oral argument of an appeal of my lifetime exclusion in Hopi appellate court before a three-judge panel. I believe, I presented a strong case and if successful, will create a precedent for lack of jurisdiction by the Hopi tribal court and Hopi tribal chairman over Dineh trespassing and eviction. A decision will be made in the next few weeks. In the meanwhile, in world fora, there has been a steady mainstreaming of indigenous issues at the United Nations and among Non Governmental Organizaitons (NGOs). I attended the first session of Protecting Indigenous Peoples Environment (PIPE) conference with a Dineh representative, and was active in the NGO Energy Caucus and as Program Director of the NGO Human Rights Caucus at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. On April 18, 2002, Jerry Lane appeared in Hopi tribal court with legal counsel, Steven Dennison Smith, Esq. where I assisted in a para-legal capacity. The Hopi tribe's witness, the Hopi Ranger who gave Jerry a wood cutting violation on New Year's day was not present. We refused to accept a plea bargin of guilty, payment of a $50.00 fine to get the chain saw returned. The outcome - the Hopi tribal court ordered the case dismissed and the chainsaw that was confiscated returned. Hearing of the loss of Arlene Hamilton then Roberta Blackgoat, I remember well the night, on the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday in the Los Angeles House of Blues when Roberta Blackgoat, Arlene Hamilton and I all received Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights awards with 15 Dineh on stage. And I feel the loss of two freedom fighters that are no longer with us. HPL residents, including Rena Babbitt Lane, Billy Begay, Pauline Whitesinger and others are urgently in need of supporters. If you are interested in spending some time on the land this summer please contact me via e-mail or contact Dixie at BMIS. Thank you for your continued support. Yours sincerely, Marsha Monestersky ========================================= Please visit http://www.theofficenet.com/~redorman/pagea~1.htm for more background on the Big Mountain relocation issue. To post to the list, email your message to redorman@theofficenet.com. To subscribe, send an email to: BIGMTLIST-subscribe@topica.com. --------- "RE: Desecration at Yucca Mountain" --------- Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:12:32 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="YUCCA MOUNTAIN" http://www.indianz.com/SmokeSignals/Headlines/ Yucca Mountain gains House approval THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2002 The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a plan to store up to 77,000 tons of highly radioactive nuclear waste on traditional Shoshone land in Nevada. By a vote of 306 to 177, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers backed President Bush's endorsement of Yucca Mountain. Located about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, the site would accept waste currently housed at locations nationwide. Many lawmakers support the project for that reason and believe it will help secure the nation's energy future. "For the sake of long-term public health and safety, and our national security interests, it is critically important that we move to develop Yucca Mountain," said Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, after the vote. Opponents use a variant of the argument and charged that shipping the waste poses a great risk to terrorist attacks. "We will create thousands of weapons for terrorists," said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) on the House floor. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), the ranking member of the House Resources Committee, challenged the plan's scientific rationale. He also noted that the area is still claimed by Shoshone tribes under the Ruby Valley Treaty of 1863. "Yet, in arrogance, and that is what it is, arrogance, this administration has determined that this particular sacred site is a pretty good place for a nuclear waste repository," he said. "That is desecration, plain and simple." These and other arguments weren't enough to derail the Department of Energy project. A total of 203 Republicans, 102 Democrats and 1 independent rejected a veto by Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn (R), a power granted under the federal law which mandates a federal site. Siding with Guinn and a broad coalition of state officials, politicians, residents and area tribes were 13 Republicans, 103 Democrats and 1 independent. All of Nevada's delegation oppose the repository. The proposal now goes onto the Senate where it faces an uncertain future. Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) and Majority Whip Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) are trying to shore up opposition. Copyright c. 2000-2001 Noble Savage Media, LLC/Indianz.Com. --------- "RE: Op/Ed: Indian Energy Office: Carry Out Promise" --------- Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 09:13:24 -0700 From: "mikola 18" Subj: Op/Ed: "Indian Energy Office: Carry Out Promise" Mailing List: ndn-aim [**NB - Senders note: Was unable to locate the article below in any of the available "Santa Fe New Mexican" databases.**] May 12, 2002 The Power Marketing Association (via: The Santa Fe New Mexican) "Commentary: Indian Energy Office: Carry Out Promise" "Nearly 40 years ago, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy traveled to Bismarck, N.D., to address the National Congress of American Indians. He pointed out that his brother, President John F. Kennedy, had fulfilled 10 of his campaign promises to American Indians since his election in 1960 but warned, "Still, let there be no governmental gloating over these achievements.This is only a beginning, and a long-delayed beginning at that.Even after 10 more pledges have been made and kept - and 10 more, and still 10 more - even then, there will be no cause for complacency." Since that time, the U.S. government has made more promises to us, the first Americans.Many have been kept, but too many more have been broken.There still remains such a glaring gap in performance and due compensation that Indian Nations can ill afford room for complacency. Yet I am pleased to say that there is a chance that Congress will fulfill one of those promises and pass legislation this year that addresses one of the most basic of American Indian needs: energy. The Senate just passed the Energy Policy Act of 2002, sponsored by Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Majority Leader Tom Daschle, which contains numerous provisions addressing American Indian energy policy, development and electricity needs.The Navajo Nation has worked closely with Bingaman and Domenici on this bill, as well as with many other tribes.The fate of this bill now rests in a contentious House-Senate conference that will take place later this year. A study conducted in 2000 by Energy Secretary Bill Richardson found that "household-energy availability and use on Indian lands is significantly below that of non-Indian households. In fact, sizable Indian populations have no access to electricity at all." On the Navajo Reservation alone, the study found that 37 percent of family homes do not have access to electricity. Tribes across the nation own substantial shares of the nation's conventional and renewable energy resources.Tribal lands contain 30 percent of coal in the West, 5 percent of the onshore oil and 10 percent of the known onshore natural gas. Indian energy resources supply the fuel that produces electricity for millions of other Americans, yet tribes have the highest percentage of homes without electricity. An Indian family on an Indian reservation has 10 times the likelihood of not having regular electricity service as do other Americans, according to the Indian energy study. The Energy Policy Act, as passed by the Senate, goes a long way toward addressing these problems.The bill would, for the first time, create a national Indian Energy Office within the U.S. Department of Energy that would coordinate federal energy policy research and fund Indian energy programs.The office would provide planning and management assistance to tribes to study their energy needs and plan for the creation of generating facilities, installation of transmission lines and the formation of tribal utilities. The Indian Energy Office would also provide money for the further electrification of Indian reservations and for economic self- sufficiency.Money would be made available through the office on a competitive basis and would use a formula that would take into account a tribe's land base, population, lack of electricity and access to financing. The Senate bill also creates a streamlined process approving energy projects on tribal lands so that tribes can attract energy development on their lands if they wish but, at the same time, provides for environmental safeguards that are regulated by the tribes themselves. The bill would also require the Interior Secretary to assist Indian tribes in developing their resources under the Indian Mineral Development Act. In addition, the program authorizes the Agriculture Department to provide $20 million a year in tribal grants for improving transmission and distribution lines and modernizing electric facilities. Finally, the bill also extends, for one year, the Indian Investment and Employment Tax Incentives (i.e., accelerated depreciation and the Indian employment credit) originally enacted in 1993 with the strong advocacy of the Navajo Nation and the Navajo Nation Washington Office.These incentives have been very successful in increasing business and employment opportunities on Indian reservations. I urge my fellow tribal leaders to write, fax and e-mail their congressmen and senators and ask them to support the tribal provisions in the House-Senate conference.This bill has the chance to leave a lasting imprint on the future of Indian self- determination and economic self-sufficiency. Robert Kennedy went on in his address to the NCAI stating, "May our government never forget that its goals are not merely to give succor to the Indian, to fill the Indian's hunger and ease the Indian's pain.Those are the goals of charity - of spiritual first aid - and the Indian deserves much more from his country than that." Here is a chance for the United States to rectify injustice and to provide an unmatched new opportunity for Indian tribes.Let us hope that Congress acts wisely. [The Honorable Kelsey A. Begaye is president of the Navajo Nation.]" Copyright 2002 The Santa Fe New Mexican (via Power Marketing Association) ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 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: Guest Editorial: Rich/Poor Tribes" --------- Date: Thu, 09 May 2002 00:41:54 -0700 From: "mikola 18" Subj: "As rich tribes grow in wealth, poor tribes grow in dignity" Mailing List: ndn-aim http://www.missoulian.com May 8, 2002 GUEST EDITORIAL: "As rich tribes grow in wealth, poor tribes grow in dignity" By TIM GIAGO, for the Missoulian "When the Mashentucket Pequot of Connecticut and the Oneida of New York donated $10 million each to the Smithsonian Institution, they did something most of the large tribes of the West found to be appalling: They gave money back to the federal government. Both of these Eastern tribes are rich with profits from their extremely lucrative casinos. They have the unique distinction of geographical favoritism. Their tiny reservations are near areas with huge populations. Millions of people reside near their casinos. One Indian educator asked me last week, "What could the American Indian College Fund or Dean Chaver's 'Catch a Dream' college fund have done with such a (windfall)?" It was his opinion that thousands of Indian high school seniors could have continued their education at a college of their choice. There is a popular misconception that all Indian nations are rolling in untold wealth because of the advent of casinos. This is a myth. The Lakota (Sioux) of the Northern Plains are among the poorest people on this continent. The Navajo and Hopi have refused to build gaming casinos on their tribal lands, and as a result have maintained their traditions, culture and language as intended by their ancestors. Whether they will eventually succumb to the temptations of gaming is to be seen, but as of today they stand tall among the Indian nations. Indian nations in Wyoming, Montana, Utah, North Dakota and Nebraska continue to be among the poorest of the poor. The Goshute of Utah are so desperately poor they would use their reservation as a dump for nuclear waste in order to generate jobs and income. They will never enjoy the luxuries of the Pequot or Oneida because they reside in a state with a large Mormon population deathly opposed to gambling, cigarettes and alcohol. The state legislative body is composed largely of Mormons. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act made it impossible for an Indian tribe to open a casino without getting a compact approved by the state government. A recent article by The Associated Press about the Goshute and the dump site missed this important connection completely. The state of Nebraska has used every tactic imaginable in an effort to prevent the small tribes in that state from opening a casino. South and North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana are so sparsely populated that even if the tribes did open gaming establishments, the revenue generated would hardly put them in the same financial category as the Pequot and Oneida. As a matter of fact, Wyoming is vigorously opposing the tribes on the Wind River Reservation from opening a gaming establishment. In the first place, it is a crying shame that the indigenous people of this nation had to turn to gaming casinos in order to find a semblance of independent income. Every Indian nation was at one time economically independent. It was not until they became wards (a euphemism for children) of the United States that they began to experience the depravation of extreme poverty. The disparity between the Indian nations has grown with each passing year. That disparity can be measured in financial gain only. As many Indian tribes grew in wealth, the poorer tribes grew in strength in their own dignity. The poor tribes continued to place their stock in traditions, culture and language. When everything is tallied, which tribes are the richest? As you have probably noticed, I am very much ambivalent about Indian gaming. I see the good it has done among those tribes that used their newfound wealth for the good of their people. These are the older, established Indian nations who have clung to their culture, traditions and language against all odds. And I see the opposite happening among the tribes who had little of their own culture or traditions to begin with. These are the tribes who would rather give their newfound wealth back to the federal government. I would like to see the leaders of the very wealthy Indian nations send a delegation to visit the very poor tribes out West. Let them see firsthand the extreme poverty out here. Maybe they would then, as a group, use some of their millions to help their poorest brothers and sisters. I am a great fan of the American Indian College Fund and of Dean Chaver's Catch a Dream College Fund. I believe these college funds will contribute to Indian leadership better equipped to take the Indian nations into the 21st century by providing the financial tools to make it happen. There are literally thousands of Indian high school seniors and older Indians determined to further their education. There are 32 colleges on Indian reservations that are struggling to find the funds to provide the opportunities for their people. These are the people and the institutions deserving of the contributions that would ensure their success. No Indian nation is an island. Even those tribes now immersed in wealth will one day reach out to the very poor Indian people for their salvation. It is now time to start building that bridge." Tim Giago is a columnist and editor of Lakota Journal in Rapid City, S.D. Copyright c. 2002, The Missoulian ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 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: Maya Town expels Catholic Priests" --------- Date: Wed, 08 May 2002 22:21:25 -0700 From: "Chris Milda (_Akimel O`odham_)" Subj: Town expels Catholic priests - - - - - - -- - - - - - - http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/20501iWorldBrfs.html Tucson, Arizona Wednesday, 1 May 2002 Around the World MEXICO Town expels Catholic priests SAN JUAN CHAMULA - Leaders of this Maya Indian town said Tuesday that they have expelled Roman Catholic priests and broken ties with the local diocese. Town residents who observe a mix of Mayan and Catholic beliefs have been involved in a decades-long battle with both the official church hierarchy and rapidly encroaching Protestant groups. Town council member Juan Perez Heredia justified this week's expulsion, saying two local priests and a deacon had allowed Protestant women to enter and preach in the Chamula church, offending traditionalists. The Associated Press All content copyright c. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 AzStarNet, Arizona Daily Star and its wire services and suppliers. --------- "RE: Federal Court reinstates Gabriel" --------- Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:12:32 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="MOHAWK: GABRIEL" http://www.easterndoor.com/ Federal Court reinstates Gabriel By: Greg Horn May 3, 2002 The saga continues in James Gabriel's battle with the current Mohawk Council of Kanesatake. Earlier this week a Federal Court judge granted an injunction which reinstated Gabriel to the post of Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake. Gabriel lost his post as Grand Chief in a vote last December in which 207 out of 337 people voted him out of office. The movement was spearheaded by four new councilors who were elected last summer. These councilors - Pearl Bonspille, Steven Bonspille, John Harding and Crawford Gabriel - said that by Gabriel's drawing attention to the community's drug problem he was tarnishing Kanehsatake's image. Gabriel immediately contested the results saying that only the community members living within the boundary of Kanehsatake, about 55 per cent of registered members, were allowed to vote. "It's a first step in the overall case," Gabriel told The Eastern Door earlier this week. "It's an important decision for the court case." The decision was handed down by Justice Daniele Tramblay-Lamar and rejected claims by Gabriel's opponents that his reinstatement would incite violence with the community. The judgment says "The Council is required to reinstate the applicant (James Gabriel) as Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake until such time as the final order is rendered in this matter or that the parties otherwise agree." Gabriel plans to go back to work as Kanehsatake's Grand Chief within the next few days. However, what will his reception be when he does so? "I don't think the reception from my opponents will be friendly," Gabriel said, but I have a court order." Gabriel said in the decision the judge recognized that the removal from office of a chief is not in the custom of the Mohawks of Kanehsatake. He also said that precedent set in past cases had the chiefs resigning. "I never resigned from that office," he said. "And that makes my case different. "I feel that the court made the right decision," Gabriel said. "The court said that it's in the best interest of the community for us to work together, which is what I've been saying all along." Interim Grand Chief Steven Bonspille said that on Wednesday night the MCK held a community meeting in which Gabriel was invited to present his position to the community. However, Bonspille said that Gabriel declined the invitation. "This council is definitely a law-abiding council and we will respect the judgment," Bonspille told The Eastern Door. Bonspille also said the the judgment gives the council the authority to reinstate Gabriel and "until we do he is not reinstated." He said that they have a process in which this will be done. This includes community participation. He said the current council, made up of himself, John Harding, Pearl Bonspille and Crawford Gabriel, has always acted according to the will of the people. "The community feels that the democratic will of the people living in Kanehsatake has been squashed by one person," Bonspille continued. "We think that there has been a great injustice don. "We don't agree with it (the decision), but we will abide by it," he concluded. Copyright c. 1997-2000 The Eastern Door --------- "RE: Inuit not getting Fair Share" --------- Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 08:10:52 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="INUIT" http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavut/20510_8.html of aboriginal money Pauktuutit and ITK say Ottawa ignore Inuit needs May 10, 2002 DENISE RIDEOUT OTTAWA - Inuit organizations blasted the federal government last week for aboriginal programs that do a lot to help First Nations but leave Inuit scrambling for dollars. Representatives from Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national Inuit organization, and Pauktuutit, the Inuit women's association, told a committee of federal government officials that Inuit feel they're second-class citizens in their own country. On May 2, the two Inuit organizations went to Parliament Hill, where they presented their case to the House of Commons standing committee on finance, an MPs' committee that's asking groups for their opinions on the federal budget. Both Inuit organizations argued that while the federal government puts money into programs and services for aboriginal people, too much of it is strictly for First Nations. "Inuit see a move within government to a one-size-fits-all approach to aboriginals," said Whit Fraser, who works on policies and programs for the ITK. Fraser said proof of that mentality is evident in the federal government's programs for fetal alcohol syndrome. In the 2001 budget, for example, the government allotted millions of dollars to help children suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. But the money only went to children living on First Nations reserves. "Inuit don't live on reserves," Fraser pointed out. He said ITK believes the federal government is simply lumping all aboriginal people together, without recognizing they have different social problems and require unique programs. "There is no national strategy for what Canada wants to do in the North," Fraser said. "There needs to be Inuit-specific programs. We urge the government to address the needs of all aboriginal people, and not forget the Inuit." Pauktuutit, which represents Inuit women across Canada, said Inuit rarely benefit from the pots of money set aside for aboriginal people. "We get left out. We have been fighting this for a long time," said Veronica Dewar, Pauktuutit's president. While the federal government has funded programs for First Nations victims of sexual abuse, Pauktuutit doesn't even have enough money to determine how many Inuit women have suffered from abuse, let alone devise programs to help them, she said. The fact that Inuit live in remote regions of Canada doesn't help the matter, Dewar said. The isolation means they don't have the same access to programs available to people outside of the North. "Not all Inuit have access to programs and education that are taken for granted in southern Canada," she said. "For us to access post-secondary education means we must leave our communities to attend colleges and universities in southern Canada." Even health-care services, such as diagnostic equipment, are rare in northern hospitals. In Nunavut, she said, there is one mammogram machine for the entire territory. "Many women aren't diagnosed with the cancers that specifically affect women until it's too late to save their lives," she told the committee. The two national Inuit organizations suggested the federal government take a closer look at its commitment to helping aboriginal people and devise programs that are geared specifically toward Inuit. Copyright c. 1995 - 2001 Nortext Publishing Corporation (Iqaluit). --------- "RE: Another attempt to Shut Down B.C. Referendum" --------- Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 08:04:08 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="STOPPING BC TREATY" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Treaty-Referendum-Challenge.html Aboriginal group makes another attempt to shut down B.C. treaty referendum May 6, 2002 VANCOUVER (CP) -- Another aboriginal group has gone to court to try to shut down the B.C. government's referendum on treaty negotiations. The First Nations Treaty Negotiations Alliance -- representing more than 40 First Nations negotiating treaties with the provincial and federal government -- said the group would file documents in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday seeking an injunction to stop the referendum ballot count. More than 2.2 million ballots have been mailed out and must be returned by May 15. Elections B.C. said 644,000 have been returned as of Sunday. Aboriginal groups, as well as church and social activist groups, are widely opposed to the referendum, which the provincial government says is an effort to give British Columbians input on the principles guiding treaty negotiations. Robert Morales, chief negotiator of the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group and a spokesman for the alliance, said while public input is positive, this referendum is "fundamentally wrong and in breach of the Canadian Constitution. "We have already seen an increase in racism in the schools and on the streets and the situation will only get worse if the province tries to implement the referendum results," said Morales. A white supremacist group in the Okanagan has distributed a leaflet encouraging residents to vote Yes in the referendum. One other aboriginal group has already had its court challenge of the referendum thrown out of court. In March, the Hupacasath argued the referendum is illegal because of the way the eight ballot questions are worded. The band argued the questions are ambiguous, misleading and threaten to destroy B.C.'s treaty process by undermining current negotiations. But Justice Robert Hutchison ruled although the questions may be misleading, it will not harm aboriginals whose rights are guaranteed in the Constitution. That ruling did not deter Morales. He said the alliance will argue the referendum violates the sections of the Constitution which guarantee equality rights and aboriginal rights. As well, the referendum is not consistent with the Crown's legal duty to act honourably in treaty negotiations, the alliance states in a news release. Instead of working to resolve the issues that have stalled the treaty process, Morales said the B.C. government is trying to derail the process through the referendum. "It is a dishonest process masquerading as consultation and the people of B.C. have not been well informed about the rights and history of First Nations," Morales said. Copyright c. 2002, Canoe, a division of Netgraphe Inc. --------- "RE: Memo more reason for Probe into Ipperwash" --------- Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 08:21:19 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="IPPERWASH MEMO" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Ipperwash-Inquiry.html 'Removal now' memo more reason for probe into Ipperwash killing May 13, 2002 TORONTO (CP) -- A top-level government memo suggesting the Ontario premier's office wanted the immediate removal of native protesters from a provincial park further emphasizes the need for a public inquiry into the death of one of the demonstrators, the opposition said Monday. The memo, emerging from a high-ranking government meeting held just hours before Dudley George was shot dead by an officer Sept. 6, 1995, also shows provincial police wanted a go-slow approach. The memo shows two opposing arrows. On one side, "removal now" is written under a reference to the premier's office. On the other side, under a reference to the provincial police, is: "Remove later (ASAP). When feasible ie: injunction." Participants at the meeting were apparently grappling with whether the government of former premier Mike Harris should have been involved in the discussions. "Issue is political direction of (Ontario Provincial Police)," the memo notes. "Police discretion issue." A wrongful death suit launched by five members of the George family against Harris, other ranking government officials and police officers claims Harris directed police to remove the protesters. The natives had occupied Ipperwash Provincial Park on the shores of Lake Huron on the grounds that it was located on a sacred burial ground. The memo, made public recently as part of the civil case, shows police were "reluctant" to take action because they knew the occupation involved a land dispute. Hours after the meeting, and following a second meeting attended by, among others, Harris and two senior police officers, police moved in on the park. One police officer, later convicted of criminal negligence, shot George dead. Harris has steadfastly denied giving any direction to police, who have also called for an inquiry. Liberal Gerry Phillips said the memo adds weight to his repeated calls for an inquiry. "We now have a new premier . . . who I hope will take a fresh look at this and recognize that there are huge public issues at stake here," said Phillips. "Why was there this level of political involvement and . . . inappropriate political interference in a police matter?" Harris has spent more than $1 million in taxpayer money defending against the suit, which the plaintiffs have offered to drop in exchange for an inquiry. Like Harris, rookie Premier Ernie Eves insisted the civil suit must first run its course. "At the end of the civil lawsuit proceedings into Ipperwash, it may well be appropriate to call for a public inquiry," Eves said on his first day in the house as premier. "Until those civil proceedings are completed, I don't believe it's appropriate." But Phillips, who formally asked Eves for a probe on Monday, said only an inquiry will answer questions surrounding the allegations of political interference and how to avoid similar situations in the future. Patrick Macklem, a law professor at the University of Toronto, said there are no legal impediments to holding an inquiry now. He also said civil proceedings are "ill-equipped" to deal with the broader issues arising out of the dispute, something an inquiry can do effectively. Eves said that was simply a matter of opinion. Copyright c. 2002, Canoe, a division of Netgraphe Inc. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Lessons Learned from Treaty 8 Tax Issue" --------- Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:12:32 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="TREATY 8 TAX" http://www.easterndoor.com/ Lessons learned from Treaty 8 tax issue By: Kenneth Deer, the Eastern Door The Federal Court of Appeal has decided to suspend the tax-exempt status of the Cree and Dene people for the time being. Under Treaty Eight the Cree and Dene understood that they would not have to pay taxes to Canada if they signed the treaty. A recent Federal Court ruling recognized the tax exempt status of the Cree and Dene but the case is being appealed by the Feds and they received an injunction to suspend that right until the appeal process is completed. This is not surprising. The Federal government has been trying to find ways to eliminate the tax benefits that Native people have. Examples are the Nisga'a Treaty where the Feds managed to get the Nishka to give up their tax status under the treaty. The government is also encouraging alternative-source-revenue powers in any self-government negotiations to enable Natives to tax their own people or others to wean themselves off the government fiduciary obligations. The initial court victory by the Cree and Dene has created a firestorm in Alberta. Non-Natives are upset that Natives are tax-free. They consider it a form of discrimination; a special right for a certain race of people. Politicians complain that if the Cree and Dene don't pay any taxes, which is what the court ruling says, then towns with large populations of Natives and Native owned businesses would not pay taxes and support the infrastructure of those towns. The tax base of those municipalities will shrink and a greater burden of the upkeep of municipal services will have to be born by the non-Natives. Ordinary working Albertans, working side-by-side with Natives, are complaining that they are doing equal work as Natives but are bringing home about one quarter less money because they pay tax and the Natives don't. The anxiety is understandably high. Racial tension is coming to the surface. The whole issue of Native rights is not new. It has been brewing for years. The Oka Crisis of 1990 was a benchmark over rights but the tension was there before. But today, it seems the issue of Native rights has taken on a far more political stance. Political parties are preparing platforms in their party policies on Native rights and some of those positions are not in our favour. There is a growing backlash against Native rights. The ludicrous referendum in British Columbia is a good example. The B.C. government is expending considerable expense and moral currency by holding a referendum on Native rights, which is designed to favour the government over Natives. The results will set the stage for tough bargaining on the governments part in any future negotiations with the Natives of BC All this is unfortunate and unjust. Non-Natives perceive themselves as the victims and Natives as the enemy. An adversarial and confrontational attitude that is bound to end up in violence at some time in the future. These Canadians do not call this racism. They claim that Natives are the beneficiaries of a racially based government policy. Some Canadians say that all Canadians should be equal and Native 'Canadians' should not be treated differently than anyone else. Of course, many Canadian have it all wrong. And the government is allowing the misconceptions to continue hence the appeal of the court case. The Cree and Dene who signed Treaty Eight were not Canadians when they signed the treaty. Canada treated them equally as separate sovereign nations because they signed treaties with them. Treaties are international agreements between nations. That is the equality between the Cree and Dene and Canadians. The Cree and Dene, by becoming Canadian, are undermining their own treaty. The Cree and Dene are not Canadian and they should not call themselves that. Canada has forced the nationality of Canadian on the Cree and Dene as an attempt at assimilation and now it is manifesting itself as 'unequal' rights between Canadians. The first part of the plan was to make us Canadian and now the next part is to remove our treaty rights because treaties make us 'unequal' Canadians. Very Devious. In reality, the tax-exempt status of the signers of Treaty Eight is a result of negotiations with the Crown. They made an agreement because both sides wanted peace. Canada took a lot of land in that treaty. If Canada does not want to recognize the tax exempt right of the Cree and Dene, then Canada should return the land to them. That is not a hard logic to follow. If Albertans can understand that, then maybe they will feel a little more equal: land for tax exemption. Not a bad deal for Canada or Canadians. Copyright c. 1997-2000 The Eastern Door --------- "RE: Report finds Racism" --------- Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 08:11:21 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="RACISM" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.adn.com/front/story/1068067p-1174438c.html Report finds racism NATIVES: Panel member vows to put muscle into ending discrimination. By Zaz Hollander Anchorage Daily News (Published: May 9, 2002) Racism is battering minorities in Alaska and is threatening Natives' opportunities in the workplace and schools, a report released Wednesday concludes. Natives are encountering discrimination in jobs, schools, law enforcement and courts, according to the findings of a state advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The report is the second in less than six months to find sweeping racism across Alaska. The 53-page report, "Racism's Frontier: The Untold Story of Discrimination and Division in Alaska," pinpoints three core issues: the rural-urban divide, the inability of lawmakers to resolve the subsistence question, and a lack of self-governance in the villages around the state. Among the panel's 43 recommendations, it presses for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a rural subsistence priority, the immediate creation of village-level tribal courts, increased hiring of Alaska Natives and other minorities in state government, and more funding for rural schools. The findings generally echo a report issued last December by the Tolerance Commission, a panel created by Gov. Tony Knowles. Both investigations began after three white youths attacked a group of Alaska Natives downtown with frozen paint balls in January 2001. Recommendations from both panels are advisory, officials acknowledge. But a high-ranking commission member promised Wednesday to knock on doors at federal agencies in Washington, D.C., if local and state governments drag their feet. Cruz Reynoso, commission vice chairman, said the panel, if members have to, will push for action with agencies like the U.S. Department of Justice or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. For example, the recommendations include one encouraging the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education to make sure new high school qualifying exams don't hurt minority students. Reynoso refered to the federal government's court-ordered takeover three years ago of fisheries management on and along federal waterways following failure of the state to resolve a conflict between federal subsistence law and the state constitution. "In a similar manner ... if things don't move along, why, there will be meetings with the secretary of the Interior, with the EEOC and others," he said. Courts are expected to decide some of the issues addressed in the report. One lawsuit, for example, claims off-road villages receive inadequate law enforcement under the Village Public Safety Officer program. Other areas will fall to the state to remedy, the report states. No other group is as poorly represented in state government jobs as Alaska Natives, the panel found. Natives make up 19 percent of the state's population but only a little more than 5 percent of permanent executive branch employees. Generally, minorities are three times more likely to be part-time or temporary employees, the report found. The report's emphasis on resolving subsistence drew praise from the Knowles administration, which is preparing for a special session on subsistence next week. "It's actually helpful for this report to echo what was said by the Tolerance Commission, that (subsistence) is one of the most important things in terms of improving racial harmony," Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer said in a separate phone interview. But while Ulmer pointed to some positives steps, other actions initiated at the urging of the earlier commission have foundered. In early March, Knowles signed an administrative order addressing state hiring practices that directed agencies to adopt new recruitment practices and a new informal process for discrimination complaints. None of the legislation that emerged from the Tolerance Commission's report, however, is expected to survive the session. They include education funding and hate crimes bills reintroduced by Knowles and a bill sponsored by Rep. Mary Kapsner, D-Bethel, to add Alaska history to high school curricula statewide. Rep. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, a co-sponsor of Kapsner's bill, cautioned against blaming racism for the stalled legislation. He instead pointed to the weakened influence of rural lawmakers, in part due to population shifts. "That's left the Bush relatively disenfranchised," Dyson said. "It's not a part of any plot." The latest investigation was requested by the Alaska Federation of Natives. A representative of AFN said he hadn't seen the report Wednesday afternoon and didn't want to comment on it. The report released Wednesday is based on public testimony, interviews with public officials, and government-provided statistics. The state advisory committee held hearings in Anchorage on Aug. 23-24 and Oct. 25, during the AFN conference. Reporter Zaz Hollander can be reached at zhollander@adn.com or 907 257-4591. Copyright c. 2002 The Anchorage Daily News. --------- "RE: Judge allows Powwow Lawsuit" --------- Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:12:32 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="POWWOW LAWSUIT" http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/3210408.htm ST. PAUL: Judge allows powwow lawsuit BY HANNAH ALLAM Pioneer Press Posted on Tue, May. 07, 2002 A Ramsey County judge ruled Monday that a lawsuit challenging the exclusion of female drummers from a campus powwow can proceed - a decision that threatens a 15-year University of St. Thomas tradition. Members of the Canada-based Sweetgrass Road Drum Group consider Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman's decision a victory. The group claims the St. Paul university discriminated against them by allowing a powwow organizer to bar them from performing at the event in November. University officials have said they are simply respecting American Indian tradition that typically allows only men to sing around drums. Phyllis Karasov, an attorney for the school, said the judge's decision makes it doubtful that St. Thomas will be able to continue the November gathering that draws 250 dancers, drum groups and about 5,000 visitors. "(The university) is certainly not going to conduct a powwow that goes against the spiritual beliefs of members of the powwow committee," Karasov said. "It would be really unfortunate for the entire Native American community if the university decides not to have this powwow." The judge denied the university's request for dismissal of the suit for three key reasons: the school failed to show that drumming is protected speech under the First Amendment, judicial inquiry would not compromise the separation of church and state, and the St. Thomas gym that houses the powwow is a public place. If attorneys for the school gather sufficient evidence to revisit their free speech argument, the judge could still rule in favor of St. Thomas and block a trial. A settlement conference is tentatively scheduled for early next year. Raven Hart-Bellecourt, one of the six people suing the university and claiming it violated Minnesota human rights laws, said she and the other singers are eager to tell their story in court. The women hold the school responsible for discriminating against them because the powwow is held on campus and is organized in part by university students or staff members, according to the civil complaint. After a volunteer allowed the women to perform - but not compete - at the 2000 powwow, the Sweetgrass Road singers again drove from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to St. Paul for the November 2001 event. That time, a member of the powwow committee said female drummers were not welcome and offered them money to leave, according to the lawsuit. "All we wanted is for people to know we're not going to stop singing and we're going to fight for this," Hart-Bellecourt said. "To us, it's not just a Native American issue. Our human rights were totally stomped on." Some American Indians say the growth of single-parent households and high rates of intermarriage have made it imperative for women to become keepers of drums, songs, eagle-feather fans and other sacred items. Others argue that drumming is off-limits to women no matter the circumstances. Larry Smallwood, part of the Little Otter Singers drum group from the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation in central Minnesota, said women singing around a drum is a "cultural no-no." After word of the Ramsey County lawsuit reached his reservation, organizers of the annual Hinckley powwow added a line to the rules sheet that groups will receive at registration next month: "No women drummers allowed." "If (women) want to sing, they sit behind the drummers and sing," said Smallwood, who also goes by the name Amik. "That's the way it's always been. This is not to disrespect the ladies; this is just following the cultural traditions given to us." Hannah Allam can be reached at hallam@pioneerpress.com or (651) 228-2172. Copyright c. 2002 the St.Paul Pioneer Press. --------- "RE: St. Thomas cancels Powwow after Legal Challenge" --------- Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 14:11:43 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ST THOMAS LAWSUIT" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.imdiversity.com/Article_Detail St. Thomas Cancels Powwow After Legal Challenge by AP, The Associated Press St. Paul (AP) - An annual powwow at the University of St. Thomas has been canceled this year in a dispute over whether the tradition should be open to women. The school announced the cancellation after Ramsey County District Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman ruled earlier this week that a lawsuit could proceed challenging the powwow's ban on female drum groups. Event organizers have said that only men could drum and sing according to Indian tradition and spiritual beliefs. Members of the Sweetgrass Road Drum Group claim the university violated their rights by refusing to allow them to participate in last November's powwow. The decision to cancel came about because the next legal action won't occur until mid-November and probably wouldn't be resolved before this year's event. The 14-year-old powwow attracted thousands of Indians from throughout North America annually and contributed more than half a million dollars to the Indian community, St. Thomas officials said. But a leader of the female drum group suing the university said she and other women have been allowed to drum at powwows elsewhere and that St. Thomas has fostered division within the Indian community through its actions. "This has nothing to do with us trying to be like the men," said Raven Hart-Bellecourt, a member of the Winnipeg, Canada, drum group. "We're trying to hold onto whatever piece of culture we can grasp." Hart-Bellecourt, whose father, Vernon Bellecourt, founded the American Indian Movement in Minneapolis, also said that members of the Sweetgrass Road group performed at the St. Thomas powwow during the previous year as members of the White Turtle Women Singers and were well-received. In attendance at both events was Jim Clairmont, a Lakota Sioux tribal member who has served as a powwow master of ceremonies for about 40 years. He said while it is true that the women were allowed to perform in 2000, many Indians were unhappy about the decision and complained about it afterward. "All my young life I never heard of any women sitting around the drum singing," he said. "That was an automatic `no."' St. Thomas spokesman Jim Winterer said the university acknowledges that the issue of female drum groups is a "cultural tug of war within the American Indian community," but that the institution's powwow committee is saying "no" to the female groups and St. Thomas respects its decision. "We're in no way going to tell committee members what their position should be," he said. "Not in a million years." Copyright c. 2002 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Copyright c. 2002 iMinorities, Inc. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Judge orders Negotiations in Bison Dispute" --------- Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 08:11:21 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="BISON RECORDS" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/ Judge orders negotiations in dispute over bison records Associated Press HELENA (AP) - A judge on Thursday ordered lawyers for the Department of Livestock and three conservation groups into settlement talks to try resolving a year-old dispute over access to the agency's records on bison management. District Judge Thomas Honzel of Helena said negotiations should begin immediately and that both sides should report their progress Friday. He said he would consider appointing a "settlement master" if efforts bog down. A hearing in the case, scheduled for Thursday, was postponed because Marc Bridges, executive officer for the department, had a family emergency in Billings and could not testify. The legal battle began 14 months ago when Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers; The Ecology Center Inc.; and Buffalo Field Campaign asked to review and copy department files about management of Yellowstone National Park bison as they wander from the park. The organizations sued, claiming the agency had violated the constitutional right to know by refusing to fully comply with their request. Federal and state efforts to control the animals, many believed to be infected with brucellosis, have been the subject of controversy for years. Bison that leave Yellowstone and can't he hazed back into the park are captured and tested for brucellosis. Those that test positive are slaughtered. The management plan is based on concerns that the animals may spread brucellosis to cattle if allowed to roam outside the park. Brucellosis, a contagious disease widespread in Yellowstone's bison and elk herds, causes cattle to abort and can result in undulant fever in humans. Brenda Lindlief Hall, attorney for the conservation groups, told Honzel she believes a settlement of the lawsuit is possible. "We are very close," she said. Bernie Jacobs, department attorney, said any agreement would be subject to approval by the Board of Livestock. He promised the agency would make a "good-faith effort to settle." Some of the disagreement has centered on the conservation groups' pending federal court suit over some bison management practices. The department has argued that the request for records was a back-door and improper attempt to collect evidence for the organization's case. Honzel rejected that contention last month, saying there he didn't believe there was "any question" members of the organizations have a right to inspect public documents. "I think the department has an obligation to make its documents open for inspection for whatever reason," the judge said at the time. Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. Copyright c. The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: Cayugas plan to Appeal Rulings" --------- Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 08:10:46 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CAYUGA APPEAL" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.syracuse.com/newsstories/20020507_raland.html Cayugas plan to appeal rulings Nation to seek $1.7 billion Tuesday, May 7, 2002 By David L. Shaw The Cayuga Indian Nation of New York would have accepted the $247.9 million in damages from the state awarded in March by U.S. District Judge Neal P. McCurn in the tribe's 21-year-old land claim case, the tribe's lawyer said. But last week's decision by the state to appeal the lower court rulings on the validity of the claim and the damages award changed everything, said lawyer Martin R. Gold of New York City. The Cayugas are appealing. "We have long made it perfectly clear that we would not appeal Judge McCurn's decisions if the state did not appeal," Gold said. "But the state's decision gives us no choice but to cross appeal from the district court judgment." The Cayugas' cross appeal, Gold said, would allow the Cayugas to seek the $1.7 billion that he claims the evidence at the 2000 trial established as the actual amount owed the tribe. The appeals would be heard by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan. No date has been set. In addition to seeking more money, Gold said, the Cayugas will appeal McCurn's decision to rule out eviction of current occupants of the claim area as a remedy. In particular, he said the Cayugas would seek eviction of the state from all state land in the claim area, including Cayuga LAWYER, FROM PAGE B-1 Lake State Park in Seneca Falls. Gold also said that every day the $247.9 million award is not paid by the state since the judgment was filed March 19, additional interest is adding up. But McCurn has ruled that collection of the judgment be put on hold and the state does not have to post a bond in the amount of the damages award. The lawyer also repeated the tribe's offer to negotiate a settlement of the case to avoid further litigation - even with a judgment filed. "Closure will mean that the New York Cayugas that chose to remain in this state will be able to re-establish a homeland and live with their neighbors in peace," Gold said. The tribe has indicated it would use any money received from the state to buy land within the 64,027-acre claim area in Cayuga and Seneca counties. "They are not interested in casinos. All they want is to settle this land claim once and for all in a fair and reasonable basis," Gold said. He said McCurn has also urged settlement several times. The state has missed "golden opportunities" to settle the claim at a fraction of the $247.9 million the Cayugas were awarded, Gold said. He cited a 1979-80 proposal that would have settled it for $8 million and about 5,300 acres of public land in Seneca County; a 1984 proposal of $15 million and 8,500 acres in both counties; and a 1999 proposal to settle for $130 million - split evenly between the state and federal governments - and an acreage cap on land purchases. "Now the state is apparently giving up the opportunity to settle for $247.9 million, which may turn out to be a fraction of the ultimate amount they will be required to pay by a judge and jury," Gold said. Paul W. Larrabee, a spokesman for the state attorney general's office, declined to comment on Gold's remarks. But Joseph Conway, a spokesman for the governor, said, "We continue to believe the decisions of the lower court were wrong. We have an obligation to the taxpayers to appeal it, and that's what we intend to do." Copyright c. 2002 The Post-Standard. Used with permission. --------- "RE: Tribal Jurisdiction boils into Conflict" --------- Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:12:32 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="TRIBAL JURISDICTION" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/669/public/news298428.html Tribal jurisdiction boils into conflict Sheriff says Sho-Ban chairman ordered deputies arrested, criminals released 05/08/02 By John O'Connell - Journal Writer FORT HALL - Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen said he is frustrated and concerned after Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Chairman Blaine Edmo ordered Fort Hall police Tuesday morning to arrest two of his county officers and free two wanted suspects. During a press conference, Nielsen said Edmo and certain members of the Tribal Council were guilty of "blatantly racist and bigoted actions," and federal courts are now probably the only solution to jurisdiction problems. The leaders agree two Bannock County Sheriff's deputies were attempting at 10 a.m. Tuesday to arrest two suspects with outstanding warrants on tribal lands that are traditionally not patrolled by outside agencies. They disagree about who should have access to the land and if Bannock County followed proper protocol. "I am concerned about the public safety. I'm concerned when you put one law enforcement agency against another," an angry Nielsen said. "I have tried to work with Mr. Edmo, and I have gotten nothing but contempt and mistrust." An attorney for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Paul EchoHawk, attended the press conference and said the county officers have not been charged with trespassing. Edmo would not return calls but issued a prepared statement, indicating the Bannock County officers were on a closed part of the reservation and had arrested two tribal members who were working within a sacred cemetery. "The Fort Hall Business Council today issued a notice to surrounding jurisdictions, notifying them that if they are found in closed areas of the Reservation, including roadways that are not subject to concurrent jurisdiction, they will be cited by tribal police officials and escorted off the reservation," Edmo said. Fort Hall police would not comment. If the county does take legal action, Nielsen said the sheriff of Bingham County has already asked to be included. "This has got to be taken care of through the courts," Nielsen said. "It certainly can't be taken care of through memorandums of understanding because they're not working." Nielsen said the incident started after Deputy Clint Brown saw a known offender and another person driving on Reservation Road. Reservation Road is open to patrolling by Idaho State Police, the Bannock County Sheriff's Department and Fort Hall Police. Nielsen said Brown followed the vehicle on Swanson Loop Road and pulled the suspects over on a dirt road along a cemetery. Brown contacted Fort Hall police, because he was not on a county- or state-maintained road, and escorted Brent Sequints, wanted on a misdemeanor warrant, and Delsray Honena, subject of a felony warrant for grand theft, into the back of his patrol car. When Edmo arrived at the scene, along with Tribal Council Member Frederick Auck, and told Brown he was trespassing, the deputy called Lt. K.G. Fonnesbeck for backup, Nielsen said. "Edmo advised us we were trespassing on sacred ground," Fonnesbeck said. Fonnesbeck said after Edmo ordered Fort Hall police to charge him and Brown with trespassing, he told Edmo, "Fort Hall police have no authority outside of Fort Hall. If your officers need to leave Fort Hall down the road, they could be charged with impersonating peace officers." In response, Edmo requested they also be charged with threatening police, according to Fonnesbeck. Fonnesbeck said he and Brown gave Fort Hall police their badge numbers, turned over the two suspects and were escorted away. Nielsen said the two warrant suspects were released an hour and a half later, in violation of an agreement for Fort Hall to hold suspects arrested by the county for at least 24 hours. According to Edmo, the suspects were released based on the county's failure to produce certified copies of their warrants for approval by a tribal judge - a fact the county disputes. Nielsen said his officers had the right to arrest the suspects, even without permission from Fort Hall, and were just granting them a courtesy as outlined by informal agreements. Bannock County Prosecutor Mark Hiedeman, who attended the press conference, agreed Nielsen's officers were well within their rights. "Public Law 280 gives the sheriff not only the right to be on the reservation but the obligation," Hiedeman said. "It concerns me that tribal members are at the scenes of traffic stops and giving orders to police officers." Nielsen said his department has a good relationship with Fort Hall police, and the problem is only with the Tribal Council. He said his officers will continue assisting in Fort Hall, and he said he will not comply with a tribal request made this winter that anyone who operates in Fort Hall, including law enforcement agencies, purchase a business license. "They are not sovereign over anybody but tribal members, and we've got non-tribal members on the reservation," Nielsen said. "I am the elected sheriff of this county. I have full jurisdiction over tribal members and non-tribal members in this county." In his statement, Edmo said the tribe has contacted the U.S. Attorney's Office to assist in mediating the situation. John O'Connell covers courts, law enforcement and local government for the Journal. He can be reached by calling 239-3128 or by e-mail at joconnell@journalnet.com. Copyright c. 2002 MyWebPal.com. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Yakama Tribe to file Suit over Dam Repairs" --------- Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 08:04:08 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="DAM REPAIR SUIT" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/665/public/news297636.html Yakama tribe to file suit over dam repairs Construction still should start this month 05/06/02 MIKE JOHNSTON Respond to this story Email this story to a friend HYAK - Repair of Keechelus Dam in the Upper County is on track to start this month despite a threatened lawsuit against the project by the Yakama Nation. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials in Boise, Idaho, said this morning they have been informed that the tribe on April 24 filed in U.S. District Court in Yakima a notice of intent to file a lawsuit against the federal government in connection with the repairs. The tribe contends the $32 million project is not a repair project but a major reconstruction of the 85-year-old rock and earth dam five miles southeast of Hyak. As a reconstruction project, the dam would be subject to federal laws that require the construction of fish-passage facilities. When the dam was completed in 1917, it did not include a way to allow migratory fish to pass around or over the dam, the tribe claims. The tribe has argued that fish ladders should have been made part of the reconstruction project, said Diana Cross, a spokeswoman for the bureau and its Safety of Dams Division in Boise. The bureau has repeatedly maintained that the project is a repair effort that uses the same location of the dam and the same configuration. As a Safety of Dams repair project, the work is not required to consider adding fish passages, Cross said. The project involves taking the top off the 128-foot-high dam and replacing it by the end of 2003. The tribe threatened a lawsuit in February if the bureau didn't add fish ladders to the project. "The tribe's position has been known to us for quite some time, and our position has been known to them," Cross said. "We need to repair the dam as soon as possible because it is a public safety issue." She said the bureau has begun a $4 million study of the feasibility of putting in fish passage at the bureau's five dams and reservoirs in Kittitas and Yakima counties, including Keechelus Dam. "We believe we can address the tribe's future concerns with this comprehensive study on fish passage," Cross said. Yakama Nation officials in Toppenish were not available for comment this morning. Phil Parish, a bureau construction office employee in Yakima, said this morning there have been no changes in plans by the main contractor for the work, Kiewit Construction Co. of Omaha, Neb., to begin the work this month. "We don't have an exact date when they plan to be on site, but they have told us they want to start in the next couple of weeks," Parish said. Jack Carpenter, manager of the Kittitas Reclamation District, said Keechelus Dam and its reservoir is a major source of irrigation water for the district's distribution system in Kittitas County. He said he and the district board are watching the project closely. "I'm encouraged the bureau is going ahead to fix the dam even with this legal notice," Carpenter said. He said the district board is concerned that continued restrictions on the amount of water the dam can hold back will hamper filling the reservoir to its capacity. "Even in a normal water year, we can have problems if we don't have that reservoir back to normal and filling the way it was designed," Carpenter said. Bureau officials on Jan. 18 made the final decision to replace the top of the dam as the preferred option to deal with more than 40 cavities found along its top in June 1998. Since the discovery, the amount of water held back by the dam in its reservoir as been reduced by 11 percent, or 18,000 acre-feet of water. The cavities are suspected to have formed from wooden trestles used in the construction of the dam in 1917. The trestles were covered with earth and rock and left inside the dam. It is suspected that over the years the trestles rotted and internal water movement within the dam caused cavities to form in the trestles. Copyright c. 2002 MyWebPal.com. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Shellfish probe took too long" --------- Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:12:32 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="NISQUALLY" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20020508/southsound/20719.shtml Shellfish probe took too long, tribe says Wednesday, May 8, 2002 JOHN DODGE THE OLYMPIAN NISQUALLY INDIAN RESERVATION -- Nisqually Indian Tribe officials blasted state authorities Tuesday for allowing an alleged Dungeness crab poaching operation to go on as long as it did in the Nisqually River Delta. The crab population was devastated when poaching was allowed to continue unchecked during the 18-month undercover probe by state Fish and Wildlife agents and the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, they said. Tribal leaders called on the state to restore and enhance the depleted shellfish resources with funds aimed at tribes. "We share in the tribe's concern about the depleted resources," Fish and Wildlife spokesman Tim Waters said. "Right now, we're still trying to get a handle on the extent of the damage." State officials defended the length of the probe, saying it was an international case involving the harvest, processing, distribution and sale of poached shellfish. Case took time "It took time to make this case," said Bruce Bjork, Fish and Wildlife chief of enforcement. "It was multifaceted." Douglas John Martin Tobin, 49, of Fife and several other alleged poachers were arrested March 18 on suspicion of operating a geoduck and crab poaching operation in South Sound. Tobin, a member of the Squaxin Island tribe, has been in the Pierce County Jail since his arrest, Bjork said. Much of the estimated $3 million in stolen resources were poached from the Nisqually tribe's usual and accustomed fishing areas, tribal officials said. The tribe fears the crab may never recover to harvestable levels, said David Troutt, tribal natural resources director. The amount of crab poached has yet to be determined, Bjork said. The state did a poor job of coordinating the probe with tribal law enforcement, which had a parallel investigation under way through December 2001, tribal Police Chief Joe Kautz said. "Had the state worked with us more closely on a government-to-government basis, we could have crushed this criminal ring and protected valuable tribal resources," tribal Chairman John Simmons said. Tribal leaders also urged the state to do everything in its power to locate any and all crab pots that remain on the Nisqually Delta bottom. The cage-like devices could still be catching crab. Bjork said the state is using underwater video surveillance and other techniques to search for crab pots, but hasn't found any yet. Copyright c. 2002 The Olympian. --------- "RE: Resort raided by BIA" --------- Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 15:25:12 -0400 (EDT) From: IndigenousNews@webtv.net Subj: Resort raided by BIA Mailing List: Native Rights Palo Verde Valley Times - News Resort raided by BIA and tribal officials searching for information on missing funds By Lyn Johnson News Editor Sources from within the Colorado River Indian Tribe that wished to remain anonymous, alerted the Times to a raid that took place at the Blue Water Resort and Casino in Parker, Ariz. The raid took place on the night of Friday, April 26 and into the early morning hours of Saturday, April 27. The raid was related to allegations of missing funds. The source stated that more than $700,000 was missing out of the millions of dollars raised by CRIT for television gaming promotions and an Arizona proposition initiative on casinos. A confirmed report from the Bureau of Indian Affairs stated that BIA confiscated financial records and computers. There were conflicting reports as to who else was involved with the raid. "This is a tribal investigation only, not federal. The FBI was not called in, nor was anyone else," said John Oliveira, from the BIA office of Law Enforcement Services Criminal Investigations Unit. The La Paz Sheriff's department confirmed they did not participate in the raid. The Times contacted the FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigations. Special Agent Manuel Johnson also confirmed that this was a tribal investigation only. "We (FBI) were not involved in any raid, search or arrest of any type at the Casino," Johnson said. Oliveira confirmed the raid took place and items were confiscated from the tribal offices of the Blue Water Casino including computers and financial records. Rayford Patch is a tribal councilman and the tribe's treasurer. Russell Welsh, vice-chairman of CRIT, is currently the acting chairman since the medical leave of Chairman Daniel Eddy took place the middle of April of this year. There is no return date as yet for Chairman Eddy. Upon assuming the position of acting chairman, Welsh allegedly discovered misappropriated funds. Welsh was allegedly threatened with great bodily harm if he disclosed the information he had uncovered concerning tribal funds, and therefore contacted CRIT law enforcement for protection. Oliveira said he would not confirm, nor would he deny, some of the reports because the investigation was still in progress. "It's really too early to say, but reports coming in so far are pretty accurate," Oliveira said. Attempts by the Times to reach Welsh were unsuccessful. The Times contacted the Phoenix IRS, Internal Revenue Service, and spoke with Sandy Schwartz in the Public Information Office. "It's a dead-end with us. To my knowledge our office was not involved and we do not have any information," Schwartz said. Schwartz did say there were other field offices that may have been involved with the raid, since Parker is considered somewhat of a border town. The Times contacted the Blue Water Resort and Casino. Messages were left for Dempsey Holt with marketing and special events, Debbie Valentine in the executive office and Michael Nez, supervisor of security. As the Times went to press, calls to these individuals had not been returned. --------- "RE: Native Prisoner" --------- Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 08:19:12 -0600 From: Janet Smith Subj: Native Prisoner Date: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 12:30 PM From: "Carmen Shuler" Subj: Letters supporting Native American Inmates Needed Please take time to correspond and share this letters-needed request with others that might be sensitive to the issues of Native American Inmates. If I remember correctly, the title of the late Little Rock Reed text used in many college NA Law classes was: "American Indians in A White Man's Prison: The Last Story of Genocide in America" Carmen E. Shuler carmenshuler@hotmail.com =================================== Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 18:47:07 -0500 From: "lpdc" Subj: Letters for Peltier urgently needed! Mailing List: LPDC URGENT: LETTER DRIVE FOR PELTIER'S PAROLE Dear Friends, Leonard Peltier's next interim parole hearing has been scheduled for July 1st, 2002. Letters of support are urgently needed. An interim parole hearing is different from a regular parole hearing. Its purpose is to review the Parole Commission's original decision to deny parole to see if any new developments warrant a change. The Commission can do one of three things: affirm the original decision to deny parole and leave the next full hearing date (2008) in place (the most common scenario); accelerate or postpone the next full hearing date; or grant parole (the rarest scenario). As many of you have experienced, the Parole Commission does not treat these hearings with any seriousness or fairness. During the last hearing, the Parole Examiner wrote his recommendation that Leonard not be granted parole while Leonard's representatives were still making their presentations. However, it is critical that we maintain a strong showing of support for Leonard's release. We DO NOT want to give the Commission or prison officials the false impression that Leonard Peltier's support is dwindling. This showing of support is what keeps Leonard safe. Furthermore, we must take full advantage of any opportunity to seek Leonard's release, even if the chances for victory are slim. Let's gather as many letters as possible and show officials that we have not and will not give up. A sample letter that you can use if you'd like is below. If you can personalize it that is even better. Please send your letters to the LPDC so that we can track how many were submitted and compile them for presentation to the Parole Commission. Thank you for your ongoing support! In Solidarity, LPDC Click here to learn about Leonard's parole status: http://www.freepeltier.org/remaining_avenues.htm SAMPLE LETTER: Date United States Parole Commission 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 420 Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7286 Re: LEONARD PELTIER #89637-132 Dear Commissioners, I am writing to express my wholehearted support for the parole of Mr. Leonard Peltier who is currently housed at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth. Mr. Peltier has served more than 26 years in prison for the deaths of FBI Agents, Ronald Williams and Jack Coler. I recognize the grave nature of such an offense. My deepest sympathy is extended to the families of these two agents. After careful consideration of the facts in Mr. Peltier's case, I ask you to grant Mr. Peltier parole. I note that the United States attorneys and the courts have long held that they do not know who killed Mr. Coler or Mr. Williams. In spite of this fact, Mr. Peltier has served more than 26 years in prison for their deaths. Although Mr. Peltier maintains that he did not kill the agents, he has openly expressed remorse and sadness over their deaths. Mr. Peltier has no prior convictions and has advocated for non-violence throughout his prison term. Mr. Peltier does not represent a risk to the public. To the contrary, his release would help to heal a wound that has long impeded better relations with Native Americans. Furthermore, Mr. Peltier has been a model prisoner. He has received excellent evaluations from his work supervisors on a regular basis. He continues to mentor young Native prisoners, encouraging them to lead clean and sober lives. He has used his time productively, disciplining himself to be a talented painter and an expressive writer. Most admirably, he contributes regular support to those in need. He donates his paintings to charities including battered women's shelters, half way houses, alcohol and drug treatment programs, and Native American scholarship funds. He coordinates an annual gift drive for the children of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, which last year garnered more than 1,000 gifts. He is widely recognized in the human rights community for h