From gars@speakeasy.org Tue Feb 11 20:27:56 2003 Date: 12 Feb 2003 00:24:00 -0000 From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews11.007 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 Dineh jii' adah' ho'nil'e'gii ba' ha' neh -- Navajo Nation -- What's Happening among The People News Okla Humma Holisso Nowat Anya -- Choctaw -- People(s) Red Newspaper Hi'a chu ah gaa -- Pima -- The stories or the talk of the People Native American News -- Language of the Occupation Forces Wotanging Ikche and Native American News Copyright c. 1996-2003 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 11, ISSUE 007 | Country than is reported in | O o o o o O | this weekly newsletter. For | O o O February 15, 2003 | For daily updates & events | O o O | go http://www.owlstar.com/ | O | dailyheadlines.htm | Blackfeet piitaiai/Eagle moon +-----------------------------+ Zuni onon u'la'ukwamme/no snow in trails 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.owlstar.com; www.indianz.com; www.pechanga.net; ndn-aim, Rez Life, Native American Chat and Iron House Drums Mailing Lists; Newsgroup: alt.native; UUCP email IMPORTANT!! ----------- In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, all material appearing in this newsletter is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for educational purposes. <================<<<< >>>>================> This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters who share our Spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the Red Road. ++ It may be subscribed to via email by sending a request from your own internet addressable account to gars@speakeasy.org ++ It is archived at http://www.nanews.org <================<<<< >>>>================> +-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --+ + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + | As historian Patricia Nelson | | Once a language is lost, it is | | Limerick summarized in "The | | gone forever | | Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken | | * Of the 300 original Native | | Past of the American West... | | languages in North America, | | "Set the blood quantum at | | only 175 exist today. | | one-quarter, hold to it as a | | * 125 of these are no longer | | rigid definition of Indians, | | learned by children. | | let intermarriage proceed as | | * 55 are spoken by 1 to 6 elders;| | it had for centuries, and | | when they die, their language | | eventually Indians will be | | will disappear. | | defined out of existence." | | * Without action, only 20 | | "When that happens, the federal | | languages will survive the next| | government will be freed of | | 50 years. | | its persistent 'Indian problem.'"| | Source: Indigenous Language | +-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --+ | Institute | |http://www.indigenous-language.org| This issue's Elder Quote: + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + ======================== "I find it ironic that descendants of native people who have lived in North American for thousands of years are the only Americans that must be 'documented' to prove their status." __ Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Cheyenne +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! An article in this issue titled "Lawyer facing Disbarment over Native Trust Funds" points out this is not the first, but the third attorney called before an Alberta Law Society hearing panel, all accused of making false billings to the federal Indian Affairs Department, which controls trust funds for aboriginal youths. If it were not for the Canadian byline you would swear the article was about the misuse of Native trust funds in the United States. The proof lies in an article title "Judge Sanctions Justice Department Attorneys". Six Justice Department attorneys are accused of deception and obstruction in the Indian Trust Fund Case. In "Report suggests Band Members get Treaty Money" we learn John Richards of the C. D. Howe Institute (a Canadian think tank) recommends individual band members get treaty money allocated by Ottawa. His argument is "Sound economic policies could give individual Indians more flexibility in their choice of where to live and give those who stay on-reserve more direct influence over their chiefs and councils." The report: A New Agenda for Strengthening Canada's Aboriginal Population: Individual Treaty Benefits, Reduced Transfers to Bands and Own-Source Taxation has a very familiar ring. Am I the only mixed-blood (or skin) who remembers the Eisenhower administration's assimilation program? Essentially, it proposed to empower the individual Indian by providing a free bus ticket off the rez - one way, of course - with the promise of good housing and a job guarantee in mainstream Americana. The jobs for the most part never materialized. Those that did were meaningless, mindless drudge work with zero training and zero opportunity. Many never got the promised housing. Most that did wished they had not. Project slums are seldom the stuff of dreams. One promise was kept - the bus ticket taking you way the hell off-rez. Part B of the plan was headed off at the pass, but only barely. That was to have ended Federal recognition and the Indian Trust. Thus the Indian Question would finally be answered - "No Indians". There would just be some more displaced brown skins in the great meting pot. Kanada and the U. S. of Amerikka have the same plan. Kill the tribe by weakening it and then eliminate the Indian. North or South of the Yonega's (Euro Invader's) border another think tank is planning cultural or actual genocide and your name is on the hit list if you are Indian. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Those brothers and sisters who are shipping out to the Mid-East I send prayers for your safe return. You do need to understand veterans who preceeded you in Desert Storm, Granada, Panama, Viet Nam, Korea and beyond are now being denied medical benefits at VA Hospitals. Apparently, some congressional representatives, senators, your President and Vice-President all feel their toys and official perq's are more important than promised medical care for those who risked their lives. Quoting Rep. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., "When a man or a woman puts on a uniform for this country, that person knows that he or she may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice. ... They make a contract with the United States government and the people of this country," Sanders said. "They are prepared to obey orders. They are prepared to take the risks. "But, in return, it seems to me clear that the United States government, the president, Congress, have got to uphold its end of the bargain. Thats what a contract is," he said. "Unfortunately over the last several weeks, the president of the United States has announced that 160,000 veterans - people who have served our country - will no longer be eligible for VA health care." Unless Sanders and some others in Congress can pursuade the administration to increase VA funding, know your efforts to remove Saddam may be rewarded with a door slamming in your face, because you seek medical benefits and either can't prove your problem is service related or if your family income exceeds a certain level. By-the-way, all vets and families of vets and "soon-to-be-vets" need to write their own Senator and Representative and demand this shameful action be brought to a halt now! 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 ---------- - Geneal Anderson - Court Sees no harm - James Arnold Paiva in Pueblo Water Use - Crossings - Bounds of Tribal Courts Argued - Senators want Limits - Cheyenne Leader Suspended on Indians' Prosecution - Seven Citizen Potawatomi - Tohono O'odham Citizenship Bill face Criminal Charges - BLM begins - lawyer facing Disbarment Controversial Horse Roundup over Native Trust Funds - Indian Kids Dying - Native Prisoner -- too Many, too Young -- Pen Pals Wanted - Judge Sanctions -- Former Prison Guards Sentenced Justice Department Attorneys - Rustywire: Past Wood Springs - Nez Perce file - Poem: Two Poems new Timber Sale Appeal - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days - Navajos and Whites - Book Review: Worlds apart in Page Our Fire Survives the Storm - Wounded Knee: Thirty Years Later - Tribe starts Immersion School - Report suggests - This Week on First Peoples TV Band Members get Treaty Money - Specials This Week on APTN - Liberals risk backlash - This Week on AIROS with New Native Deals - Upcoming Events --------- "RE: Geneal Anderson" --------- Date: Tue 11 Feb 2003 08:48:06 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="GENEAL ANDERSON" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Feb/02112003/utah/28370.asp Former Official of the Paiute Tribe, Dies at 51 February 11, 2003 A former chairwoman of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah died Friday at the Hurricane Rehabilitation Center. The cause of death was not disclosed. Geneal Anderson, 51, of Cedar City, served as chairwoman of the Indian Peaks Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe for more than 13 years and was a member of the tribal council for more than 16 years. The tribe has more than 750 members on a reservation of 35,000 acres in southwest Utah. The U.S. government "terminated" the tribe in 1954, and Anderson was instrumental in getting it restored in 1980. She also helped to regain tribal lands. Anderson served as chairwoman of the Utah Indian Health Advisory Board and was a member of the Governor's Board for the Utah Division of Indian Affairs. She received an associate degree in education at Brigham Young University in 1972 and served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Rapid City, S.D. A traditional service will be today at 6 p.m. at the Paiute Tribal Building in Cedar City. Funeral will be Wednesday at the Canyon View Stake Center. Copyright c. 2003 The Salt Lake Tribune. --------- "RE: James Arnold Paiva" --------- Date: Tue 11 Feb 2003 08:48:06 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="JAMES ARNOLD PAIVA" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2003/02/10/ Former Shoshone-Paiute tribal chairman to be remembered Monday Associated Press 2/10/2003 06:45 am Members of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes were due to gather Monday to remember a tribal leader. James Arnold Paiva died Friday at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center after suffering a massive heart attack. Paiva, 65, served several terms as tribal chairman. His wife, Dolly Blossom, currently serves on the Tribal council. Services for Paiva were scheduled at 1 p.m. Monday at the Tribes'Human Resources Building in Owyhee, Nev. on the Duck Valley Reservation. Burial will follow. Copyright c. 2003 Reno Gazette-Journal, a Gannett Co. Inc. Newspaper. --------- "RE: Crossings" --------- Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 08:10:52 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CROSSINGS" February 5, 2003 Alva One Feather OGLALA - Alva One Feather, 87, Oglala, died Monday, Feb. 3, 2003, at Castle Manor Nursing Home in Hot Springs. Survivors include two sons, Gerald One Feather and Delmar One Feather, both of Oglala; three adopted sons, Carl Koch, New Haven, Conn., Paul Hadzima, Woodbury, Conn., and John Zeller, Waubasha, Minn.; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A one-night wake will begin at 1 p.m. today at Brother Rene Church Hall in Oglala. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at the church hall, with the Rev. Ben Tyon officiating. Mr. Richard Broken Nose will officiate over traditional Lakota services. Burial will be at St. Peter's Episcopal Cemetery in Oglala. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. February 6, 2003 Baby Isabel A. Pourier MANDERSON - Baby Isabel A. Pourier, infant daughter of Amanda Pourier and Benjamin Brown of Manderson, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, in Denver. Survivors include her parents; her maternal grandparents, Mary Plenty Wolf, Scottsbluff, Neb., and Ronnie Pourier, Rushville, Neb.; and her paternal grandparents, Sherre Boauvias, Springfield, Mo., and Guy Brown, Niangua, Mo. A one-night wake will begin at 1 p.m. today at St. Agnes Church Hall in Manderson. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at the church hall, with the Rev. Bill Pauly officiating. Burial will be at St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Teddy J. Poor Bear PINE RIDGE - Teddy J. Poor Bear, 20, Pine Ridge, died Monday, Feb. 3, 2003, at Pine Ridge Hospital. Survivors include his parents, McArthur and Mary Poor Bear, Pine Ridge; six brothers, Francis Poor Bear, Denver, Mike Poor Bear, Isaiah Poor Bear and Daniel Poor Bear, all of Pine Ridge, and Aaron Poor Bear and Eric Poor Bear, both of Brookings; and six sisters, Julie Poor Bear, Brookings, Tina Poor Bear, April Leftwich and Marsha Poor Bear, all of Pine Ridge, Miriam Poor Bear, Wounded Knee, and Irene Poor Bear, Rapid City. A first-night wake will begin at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at American Horse School in Allen. The second-night wake will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Billy Mills Hall in Pine Ridge. Services will be at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at Billy Mills Hall, with Mr. Frank Hill and Mr. Enoch Brings Plenty officiating. Burial will be at Wolf Creek Community Cemetery. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. February 7, 2003 Belva Ann Janis-Young WANBLEE - Belva Ann Janis-Young, 56, passed away on February 4, 2003, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital. She was born December 4, 1946, at Pine Ridge. Belva graduated high school from Holy Rosary Mission and attended Haskell Junior College and Black Hills State College. She was a member of the St. Ignatius Parish Council and Title 1 Goals 2000 Parent Council in Wanblee. Grateful to have shared her life are her 4 daughters - Annie E. Janis, Rebecca Young, and Trish LaMont of Wanblee, Jennifer Richards of Kyle; 2 sons - Stanley Young Jr. and Algin Young of Wanblee; 3 sisters - Amelia Blackbear of Kyle, Sandra Janis of Wanblee, Cordelia Red Owl of Porcupine; 4 brothers - Lloyd Janis, Nick Janis and Melfred Ashley Sr. of Wanblee, Stanley Janis of Rapid City; her aunt Francine Red Willow of Wanblee; her uncle David "Shorty" Janis of Kyle; 43 grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her father and mother - Cleve and Annie Janis; 3 brothers - Melvin, Peter and Paul Janis; 1 sister - Linda Red Willow; grandmother Margaret Brown and nephews Scott and Erik Janis. A two-night wake will be held at the Crazy Horse School in Wanblee, February 8-9, 2003, 11 a.m., with funeral services on February 10, 2003, at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Hisle, SD. Fr. Frank Schmidt will be officiating. Sioux Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. February 8, 2002 Matthew `Zack' Bear Shield WOUNDED KNEE - Matthew "Zack" Bear Shield, 75, Wounded Knee, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003, at Bennett County Nursing Home. Survivors include his wife, Pearl White Dress, Kyle; and two grandchildren. Two-night wake services begin at 11 a.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wounded Knee. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, at the church, with the Rev. Stanley Hollow Horn officiating. Burial will be at Bear Shield family cemetery. Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. February 9, 2003 David J. `Speedy' Allen PINE RIDGE - David J. "Speedy" Allen, 40, Pine Ridge, died Dec. 16, 2002, in a house fire at Pine Ridge. Survivors include two brothers, Fred Mousseaux Sr., Rushville, Neb., and Stewart Mousseaux, Pine Ridge; four sisters, Pamela Pourier and Marilyn Winters, both of Pine Ridge, and Arlene Allen and Delores Dryden, both of Rapid City. A one-night wake service will begin at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Billy Mills Hall in Pine Ridge. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, the hall, with the Rev. Steve Sanford officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery in Porcupine. Sioux Ann Titus PINE RIDGE - Sioux Ann Titus, 18, Pine Ridge, died Thursday, Feb. 6, 2003, as the result of an automobile accident near Pine Ridge. Arrangements are pending with Sioux Funeral Home. Copyright c. 2003 the Rapid City Journal. -=-=-=- Feb 5, 2003 Ernest Aguilar, Sr. Ernest Aguilar, Sr., 62, passed away Saturday, February 1, 2003 in El Centro, California. Mr. Aguilar was a former employee of Germain's Seed Co. in Maywood, California. He is survived by his wife Frances of Winterhaven; sons Ernest Aguilar Jr. and Francisco Aguilar III, both of Winterhaven; daughter Margarita Aguilar, of Yuma and daughters Sonja Aguilar and Natasha Hernandez, both of Winterhaven; 11 grandchildren, nine great grand children and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Francisco Aguilar, mother Eva Aguilar, and brother Robert Aguilar. Visitation will be at Kammann Mortuary on Thursday, February 6, 2003 at 1:00 pm. Funeral services will be at Quechan Cry House on Thursday, February 6 at 5:00 pm. Pallbearers will be Francisco Aguilar III, Robert Aguilar, Eddie Moreno, Rafael Dorane, Moses Moreno and Noah Barley. Honorary bearers will be Ezequiel Aguilar, Francisco Aguilar IV and Ernest Aguilar Jr. Copyright c. 2003 The Yuma Sun, Sun Freedom Newspapers of Southwestern Arizona. -=-=-=- February 5, 2003 Johnnie M. Poncho Jr. Mr. Johnnie M. Poncho Jr. died Tuesday, February 4, 2003 in Albuquerque at the age of 35. He is survived by his wife, Cindy Poncho; mother, Jaqueline Poncho; grandma, Ezilda Antonio; sons, Cody Poncho, Kyle Hiatt and Tyler Hiatt; daughter, Rebecca Hemphill; sisters, Mary H. Valencia and husband, Vernon and their son, Christopher, Maureen Hernandez, Tanya Poncho and Aurelia Poncho; best friend and co-worker, John John Sedillo; two special uncles, Vernon Antonio and Jack Antonio Jr.; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. A Memorial Service for Johnnie will be held on Thursday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Salazar & Sons Mortuary. A Rosary and Wake Service will take place on Thursday evening at 7:00 p. m. at his mother's residence in Laguna Pueblo. Funeral Services will be held on Friday at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Laguna where the Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Old Laguna Village Cemetery. Arrangements by Salazar & Sons Mortuary, 400 Third St. SW. Copyright c. 1997 - 2003 Albuquerque Journal: Albuquerque, New Mexico. -=-=-=- February 6, 2003 Ireta Second Visitation for Ireta Inez Second, 63, of Mescalero will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., today, Feb. 7, at LaGrone Funeral Chapel in Ruidoso. The prayer service will follow at 6 p.m. at the Mescalero Assembly of God Church, where the funeral will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, and burial will follow at the Mescalero Cemetery with the Rev. Peter Luna officiating. Mrs. Second died Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2003, in El Paso. She was born Aug. 22, 1939, in Mescalero, where she lived nearly all of her life. She had worked with the C.H.R. Program and Headstart Program at Mescalero and was a member of the Mescalero Assembly of God Church. Survivors include sons Freddie Second, Everett Second Sr. and Frank Second all of Mescalero; a sister, Jackie Knighten, of Galveston, Texas; her mother, Angelia Yulay of Mescalero; nieces and nephews Marcia Hosetosavit, Claralyn Hosetosavit, Kathy Guzman, Eli Hostosavit and Brandon Mendez; and 13 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Ross Second. Arrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Chapel of Ruidoso. Copyright c. 1999-2003 MediaNews Group, Inc./Ruidoso NM. -=-=-=- February 6, 2003 Gary Kellywood Nov. 5, 1953 - Feb. 3, 2003 Gary Kellywood, 49, of Upper Fruitland, passed away Monday, Feb. 3, 2003, in Farmington. He was born Nov. 5, 1953, in Farmington to Albert Kellywood Sr. and Mary Pinto Johnson. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, at the World Harvest Church in Farmington with the Rev. David Tutt and the Rev. Fred Yazzie officiating. Interment will follow at the Upper Fruitland Family Cemetery. Arrangements are with Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, Hwy. 666, Shiprock, (505) 368-4607. Lillie Kinsel Benally June 7, 1911 - Feb. 2, 2002 Mrs. Lillie Kinsel Benally, 91, of Tohatchi, passed away Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at Gallup McKinley Manor after a lengthy fight with liver cancer. Mrs. Benally was born in the Chuska Mountains on June 7, 1911. She attended and graduated from Ganado Mission School in Ganado, Ariz. In 1948, she received her teacher certification from Arizona State College in Flagstaff, Ariz. Mrs. Benally retired, after 29 years, from the Bureau of Indian Affairs School, where she worked as a teacher. She married Grant Benally Sr. in Red Rock, Ariz. Her hobbies included reading the Bible in Navajo and English, playing the harmonica, singing and rug weaving. Mrs. Benally is survived by her sons, Grant Benally Jr., of Chinle, Ariz. , Levon Benally Sr. of Tohatchi and Perry V. Benally of Tohatchi; one daughter, Priscilla Wilson of Tohatchi; brothers, Harry Kinsel of Coyote Canyon, Paul Kinsel of Tohatchi, Herman Kinsel of Chester, Utah and Billie Kinsel of Bread Springs. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Grant Benally Sr.; two sons, Norman Benally Sr., and Gale Benally; and two daughters, Grace Benally and Rosie Benally. Services will be held at 10 a.m., today, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2003, at the First Navajo Christian Reformed Church in Tohatchi with the Rev. John Kosteylk officiating. Burial will follow at Tohatchi Community Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Cpl. Jason Charles, USMC, PFC Gary Ben, U.S. Army, Daven Benally, Vaughn Benally, Michael Turkelson, Jeremy Yazzie, Lynall Benally, and Lyle Benally. Honorary Pallbearers are Grant Benally Jr., Levon Benally Sr., Perry Benally and Kevin Benally, USMC. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tse Bonito Mortuary in Tse Bonito, (800) 893-5565. Rickie "Rick" Begay Sept. 29, 1964 - Feb. 3, 2003 Rickie Begay, 38, of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz., passed away Monday, Feb. 2, 2003, at Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock. Rickie was born on Sept. 29, 1964, in Shiprock the son of Ray and Minnie Begay. He attended Teec Nos Pos School, Wingate High School, Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wyo., Navajo Community College in Shiprock, and Highlands University through San Juan College in Farmington. He was employed with the Navajo Nation for over 10 years as an agency director. Rick enjoyed cooking, barbequing, taking care of his pet dogs, taking a drive and mostly being with family and friends. He will be deeply missed. Rick is survived by his parents, Ray and Minnie Begay; brother, Richard Begay; sister, Rita Begay; nine nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Roy Palmer and Sadie Tallman; paternal grandparents, David and Marie Begay; older brother, Raymond Begay; uncles, Charley and Herbert; and aunt Lucy. Visitation will be held from 2-6 p.m., today, Friday, Feb. 7, 2003, at Cope Memorial Chapel of Farmington, 404 W. Arrington St. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, at Crestview Southern Baptist Church, 4400 English Road in Farmington with the Rev. Tom Ellison officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joey Harrison, Steven Harrison, John Harrison, Gilbert Harrison Jr., Richard Begay and Arthur Yazzie. Special thanks to Dr. Lazar, her assistants and to all who came to visit Rick in the hospital. Arrangements are with Cope Memorial Chapel of Farmington, (505) 327-5742. February 7, 2003 Bernadine Lee Joe May 20, 1982 - Feb. 3, 2003 The Joe family is sad to announce the passing of a special daughter, sister and mother, Bernadine Lee Joe, as a result of an accident involving alcohol. She came into this world May 20, 1982 and on Feb. 3, 2003, she was called home to our Heavenly Father to be reunited with her son. Bernadine is survived by her loving parents, Junior and Rosita Joe of Fruitland; her life-long partner, Frank Harry Jr., of Nageezi; as well as numerous sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles. She was preceded in death by her precious son, Dorian Devon Ray Henry, as well as her grandparents, Minnie Dixon and Roy Enoah. Bernadine was the youngest of three daughters and one son including three half-sisters and two half-brothers. She loved traveling to basketball tournaments with her son and boyfriend. She also enjoyed outdoor activities, such as fishing and horseback riding. As with her son, she loved getting new clothes and shoes. Bernadine brought laughter and happiness to those who knew her. We have again lost a precious gift in her death, but heaven has gained another angel. Please join us in our final farewell to a special child of God, Bernadine Lee Joe, at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, at Open Bible Baptist Church in Waterflow. We will lay her to rest close to her son at the Kirtland Cemetery. Our daughter and sister will be greatly missed. February 8, 2003 Pete Atcitty Sr. March 15, 1912 - Feb. 5, 2003 Pete Atcitty Sr. crossed into the spirit world to continue his journey on Feb. 5, 2003 with his children and grandchildren at his side. He was born in Beclabito, to the late Anna Bekis and the late Roy Hoskie Nez on March 15, 1912. He was Oozeii Tachiini born for Tsinsekadni and Todichiini clans. He was raised in Shiprock by his late grandfather Olta Nez and the James Atcitty family. He married Betty Kindle who preceded him in death as did a daughter, Nancy Walter, and brothers: Roy Bekis, Chester Bekis, Melvin Bekis, Bob Bekis Begay, James Atcitty and Jerome Bekis. He is survived by his sons, Gary Atcitty and wife Vera of Shiprock, Leonard Atcitty and wife Vivian, Pete Atcitty Jr. and wife Vivian and Benjamin; daughters Martha Charlie and husband Charlie, Sandra Jackson and husband Gilbert and Carol Lee Atkins of Manchester, Tenn. He lived with his companion, the late Roxanna M. Yazzie of Teesto, Ariz., after the death of his wife. He is survived by numerous step-children and grandchildren. He was a loving father, grandfather, brother and uncle. Pete worked on various construction projects (as a heavy equipment operator and truck driver) in the Four Corners area including the construction of highway 666 from Shiprock to Gallup and to Cortez, and U.S. Highway 64 from Shiprock to Kayenta. He also worked for various uranium mines in the Four Corners area as a truck driver. Other jobs included BIA warehouseman, delivery driver and auto mechanic at the old El Navajo garage; ranch hand in Colorado and Texas and Wyoming. He was also a farmer and sheepherder and silversmith. He attended school at Shiprock up to the seventh grade. He loved attending rodeos, watching western movies and all of his grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., today, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Shiprock. Interment will follow at the family cemetery in Rattlesnake. Pallbearers will be Randy Atcitty, Shoncey Charley, David Kindle Atcitty, Aaron Pete Atcitty, Simeon Atcitty and Hoskie Walter Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be The Honorable Pete Ken Atcitty III, Gary Atcitty, Benjamin Atcitty, Leonard Atcitty, Pete Atcitty Jr., Hoskie Walter Sr., Gilbert Jackson Sr., Alfred Charlie Sr., Dan Benally, former President Thomas E. Atcitty, Jim Atcitty, Franklin Atcitty, George Atcitty, Ralph Atcitty, Dan Atcitty, Lewis Atcitty and Thomas Atcitty. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home of Shiprock, (505) 368-4607. February 11, 2003 Clarissa Kay Hubbell - Feb. 9, 2003 Clarissa Kay Hubbell, 38, of Lower Fruitland, passed to her heavenly home on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2003, after a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, Rich Hubbell and three daughters Mary Delecia Hubbell of Albuquerque and Kristie Marie and Richelle Marian Hubbell of Lower Fruitland. She is also survived by her maternal grandmother, Mary Louise Benally of Lower Fruitland; paternal grandmother, Virginia Deale of Toadlena; two brothers, John Benally Jr., of Albuquerque and Andres J. Becerra of Nenahnezad; two sisters, Vanessa Benally of Lower Fruitland and Yolanda Benally of Gallup; and two nephews, Dominic Jacquez and Aaron Becerra. Clarissa served in the U.S. Army and will receive military graveside honors from the members of VFW Post 2182 and the Marine Corps League of San Juan County. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003, at the San Juan Catholic Center in Kirtland with the Rev. Patrick Wedeking and the Rev. Joe Blonski as celebrants. Burial will follow at the Kirtland-Fruitland Community Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are with Chapel of Memories Funeral Home of Kirtland, (505) 598-9636. Roy Ambrose Begaye Feb. 4, 1958 - Feb. 8, 2003 Roy Ambrose Begaye, 45, of Shiprock, passed away Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, at his home. He was born Feb. 4, 1958, to Ambrose and Mary Begaye. Arrangements are pending with Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home of Farmington, (505) 325-8688. Copyright c. 1999-2003 MediaNews Group, Inc./Farmington, NM. -=-=-=- February 5, 2003 Lillie Kinsel Benally June 7, 1911 - Feb. 2, 2002 Mrs. Lillie Kinsel Benally, 91, of Tohatchi passed away on Feb. 1, 2003, at Gallup McKinley Manor after a lengthy fight with liver cancer. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Feb. 6, 2003, at the First Navajo Christian Reformed Church in Tohatchi with Pastor John Kosteylk officiating. Burial will follow at Tohatchi Community Cemetery, Tohatchi. Pallbearers will be Cpl. Jason Charles, USMC, PFC Gary Ben, U.S. Army, Daven Benally, Vaughn Benally, Michael Turkelson, Jeremy Yazzie, Lynall Benally, and Lyle Benally. Honorary Pallbearers are Grant Benally Jr., Levon Benally Sr., and Perry Benally. Mrs. Benallly was born in the Chuska Mountains on June 7, 1911. She attended and graduated from Ganado Mission School, Ganado Ariz. She married Grant Benally Sr. in Red Rock Arizona. Mrs. Benally was retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs School, where she worked as an assistant teacher. Her hobbies included reading the Bible in Navajo and English and playing the harmonica and singing. She was preceded in death by her husband, Grant Benally Sr., two sons Norman Benally Sr., and Gale Benally, and two daughters, Grace Benally and Rosie Benally. Mrs. Benally is survived by her sons, Grant Benally Jr., of Chinle, Ariz. , Levon Benally Sr. of Tohatchi and Perry V. Benally of Tohatchi; one daughter, Priscilla Wilson of Tohatchi; Brothers Harry Kinsel of Coyote Canyon; Paul Kinsel of Tohatchi; Herman Kinsel of Chester, Utah; and Billie Kinsel of Bread Springs. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tse Bonito Mortuary in Tse Bonito (800) 893-5565 Phoebe Faye Edison Feb. 20, 1936 - Feb. 2, 2003 Phoebe Faye Edison, 66, of Shiprock, went home to be with her Heavenly Father Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. She was born Feb. 20, 1936, in Crownpoint to the late Vern Sr. and Phoebe M. Freeland. She was of the Tobaazhni'azhi Clan, born for the Tsenahabilnii Clan. She retired from IHS as an LPN, after 39 years of service. Survivors include her husband, Bob D. Edison; son, Robert David Edison of Shiprock; daughter, Lanetta Fern Edison of Albuquerque; brothers, Daniel H. Freeland and Dr. Franklin Ross Freeland of Gallup; and half- sister, Martha Largo of Crownpoint. She was preceded in death by a son, Merwyn Tom Edison and brothers, Harold Freeland Sr., Herbert Freeland Sr., Benjamin Freeland, Johnnie Freeland Sr., and Vern Freeland Jr. A visitation will be held from noon to 5 p.m., today, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003, at Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home in Shiprock. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 6, 2003, at Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home Chapel in Shiprock. The Rev. Gordon Stuit will officiate. Interment will follow at Shiprock Community Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Harold Freeland, Randy Freeland, Herbert Freeland Jr., Frank Edison Jr., Stanley Edison and Errol V. Blackwater. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob D. Edison, Robert D. Edison, Johnnie Freeland Jr., Frederick Freeland, Vern Freeland III, Duane R. Freeland, Rydell J. Freeland, Sydney (Butch) Freeland, Jeffrey Freeland, Lance Freeland, Vince Blackwater, Dr. Franklin R. Freeland, Aaron Freeland, Darryl Freeland, Isaiah F. Scott and Howard Leonard. A reception will be held at the Shiprock Chapter House, after the Graveside services. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, Shiprock, (505) 368-4607. Rickie Begay Sept. 29, 1964 - Feb. 3, 2003 Rickie Begay, 38, of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz., passed away at Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock. He was born on Sept. 29, 1964, in Shiprock. Survivors include his parents, Ray Begay and Minnie Tallman. Services are pending with Cope Memorial Chapel, Farmington, (505)327-5742 Copyright c. 2003 the Gallup Independent. -=-=-=- February 2, 2003 Agnes Howe Jacket Funeral services for Agnes Howe Jacket, a lifelong resident of Towaoc, will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at the Cortez Cemetery. Officiating will be MacDougal Coyote. Agnes was born the daughter of James Howe and Erma Hight at Mancos Creek, Colo. on Oct. 7, 1934. She passed away at the San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003. She was 68 years old. Agnes was involved with the family livestock, which she enjoyed tending with her husband, Scott Jacket Sr. When it came to branding time, Agnes could be counted on to take care of roping the calves. She was known to be very good with a rope. Surviving Agnes are her children: Henrietta Jacket of Towaoc; Scott Jacket Jr. and wife, Jolanda, of Cortez; Vanessa Jacket of Paul, Idaho, and Scotty Jacket III of Towaoc; 10 grandchildren, and three great- grandchildren. Two sisters: Imogene Lopez of Cortez, and Betty Howe of Towaoc; and a brother, Stanford Howe also survive Agnes. Preceding Agnes in death are her parents; and her husband, Scott Jacket Sr., a former Tribal Chairman and Council member for over 30 years. Services will be under the direction of the Ertel Funeral Home. Copyright c. 2003, the Cortez Journal. -=-=-=- February 6, 2003 Wilma Brien White Clay LODGE GRASS - Wilma Brien White Clay, 62, of Lodge Grass, went to the other camp on Monday evening, Feb. 3, 2003, in the Crow Agency IHS Hospital, following a short illness. She was born Jan. 28, 1941, in Crow Agency, a daughter of Perry Howe and Tillie Walking Bear. She grew up and attended schools in Crow Agency, Wyola and Lodge Grass. Wilma married Robert Brien White Clay, Jr., on Jan. 12, 1959, in Lodge Grass and the couple made their home in Lodge Grass. Mr. Brien died in 1998. She was a member of the Baptist Church, Crow Agency VFW Auxiliary, Whistling Water Clan and a child of the Whistling Water Clan. The highlight of her life was beading and sewing for her children and grandchildren and camping during the Annual Crow Fair with her family. She always enjoyed visiting with her family and friends with a good sense of humor. In her little feisty way, she always let you know she cared for you. During her younger years, she worked for the Carpet Mills, Crow-Northern Cheyenne Hospital and was a flagger for the Montana Highway Department. Her parents; sister, Faye Iron; and five brothers, Bobby, Frederick, Alvin, Ralph and Lamond, preceded Wilma in death. Survivors include 13 sons, Frederick (Denette) Brien of Hardin, Larry Dean Brien, Vernon P. Brien, Wayne R. Brien, Wayne K. (Rachel) Howe, Conrad Stops and Myron Eastman of Lodge Grass, Robert Brien, III of Lame Deer, Matt Emigh of Indiana, Garrett Stops of Colstrip, Joe Whitewolf and Kevin Howe of Crow Agency; 11 daughters, Valerie Brien, Barbara A. Brien, Kisha Larae Brien and Mary Whiteman of Lodge Grass, Bobaleen (Clinton) Walks, Barbara Susan Stewart, Lucille Brien and Joyce LaForge of Crow Agency, Roberta (Pedro) Hernandez of Billings, Martha (Steve) Larimer of Hardin and Verna Mae Koch of North Dakota; one sister, Delma Fox of North Dakota; five adopted daughters, Bobby Jean Medicine Horse of Pryor, Dessie Old Horn, Clemencia, Vanetta and Edwina Stops of Crow Agency; nine adopted sons, Jarvis Gust of Oregon, Mike Howe of North Dakota, Dean Little Light of Canada, Gilbert Packineau, Larry (Jackie) Blacksmith, Edward Blacksmith, Albert (Beckie) Gros Ventre, Clay Blacksmith and Billy Day Child of Lodge Grass; her adopted brothers, Vernon (Carol) White Clay, Jr., Mervin (Darlene) Eastman and Thomas (Cheryl) White Clay of Crow Agency, Harold White Clay of Ft. Smith, Ronald (Bernadine) Eastman of New York, John (Mary) Cummins Jr. and Harold Buster (Josie) Brien of Lodge Grass and Thomas (Lois) Whiteman of Oklahoma City, Okla.; her adopted sisters, Vera White Clay, Alice Mae LaForge, Eloise White Clay, Miriam Plenty Hawk, Joy Brien, Mary (Isaac) Shane and Veronica White Clay, Rebecca (Dennis) Buffalo, Delma Yarlott, Betty Mullenberg, Julia Wolf, Penny Howe, Martha White Clay, Anna Bear Cloud and Jolene White Clay. She is also survived by 53 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and her special nieces and nephews, Alice, Suzann, Mike and Kenneth Iron, Virjama Plain Bull, Leland Walking Bear, D.J. Fox, Larry and Lenora Pretty Weasel, Connie and Mike Howe. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in the Lodge Grass Chivers Memorial Baptist Mission Church. Interment will follow in the Lodge Grass Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. February 9, 2003 Alfred Strange Owl, Sr. BUSBY - Alfred J. Strange Owl, Sr., 72, longtime Busby area resident, died Tuesday evening, Feb. 4, 2003, in the Crow Northern Chey-enne IHS Hos-pital. Okomehe-mahtovoootse, "Coyote Ears," was born Aug.1, 1930, in Birney, a son of David and Grace Red Neck Strange Owl. He was a direct descendent of the Cheyenne Chief, Black Kettle. He received his education in Ashland. Following his education, he enlisted in the US Air Force. He returned to the Busby area and married Jeanne Rising Sun in 1966 in Sheridan, Wyo. The couple made their home in Busby, while Alfred worked as a carpenter. Alfred was a traditional Cheyenne man who participated in traditional dancing. He was a member of the Mennonite Church and the Chief's Society. His granddaughter and namesake, Alfredine Bear Comes Out was a frequent visitor, as well as his brother-in-law, Irvin Rising Sun. In his spare time he worked on cars. His parents; two sons, John and Alvin Strange Owl; a sister, Elaine Strange Owl; a brother, Gordon Strange Owl; and grandson, Sheran Strange Owl preceded Alfred in death. Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Jeanne; nine daughters, Rachel and Shasta Strange Owl of Busby, Athea Strange Owl of Ashland, Deborah (Joedy) Emerson and Sylvia (Lolin) Shorty of Arizona, Eva Strange Owl of Miles City, Ann (Dan) Booker, Alfreda (Hubert) Heart and Anita Weasel Bear of Lame Deer; eight sons, Wayne, Rufus, Dayton, Melvin (Roberta) and Frank Strange Owl of Busby, Alfred (Christine) Strange Owl, Jr., of Muddy, and Jo Jo (Emily) Weasel Bear of Lame Deer; three step-sons, Phillip (Peggy) Rising Sun of Hardin, Larry (Jolene) Rising Sun and Randy Big Head of Busby; three adopted sons, Joe Morrison, Jr., of Lame Deer, Martin Roman Nose of Washington, and Matt Long Jaw, Jr., of Crow Agency; a brother, David Strange Owl of Lame Deer; seven sisters, Ann (Dayton) Raben of Colorado, Sylvia (Don) Garcia of Polson, Eva (Jim) Lee of Wyoming, Florence (Mike) Running Wolf of Birney, Charlotte (Tom) Rockroads of Busby, Rachel (George) Magpie and Ruth (Don) Shoulderblade of Lame Deer; five adopted brothers, Logan Curley, Jr., of Utah, Joe Fox, Sr., of Ashland, Juan Castro, Jimmy Red Cloud and Perry Little Coyote of Lame Deer; and 49 grandchildren, two of which he raised as his own, Shannon and Leland Crazy Mule, Jr.; as well as his special nieces, Germaine Spotted Wolf Brien and Barbara Small Braided Hair. Wake services will be held 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 9, in the Busby White River Cheyenne Mennonite church. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Monday, in the Church. Interment with military honors will follow in the Busby Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. February 10, 2003 Georgia Not Afraid Little Nest LODGE GRASS - Georgia (Mama Geno) Not Afraid Little Nest passed away Feb. 8, 2003 in Billings. She was born Sept. 6, 1949 in Crow Agency to Edward Sr. and Ethel (Morrison) Not Afraid. She received her education in Lodge Grass. She married Bernard Little Nest, Sr. in 1979 and the couple made their home in Lodge Grass. Mr. Little Nest died in 1988. Georgia was a member of the Lodge Grass Pentecostal Church of God. She was a member of the Peigan Clan and a child of the Greasy Mouth. She worked at the Lodge Grass Arts and Craft where she used her talents in knitting, beading and crocheting. She loved to sing and listen to gospel music. Her parents, Edward and Ethel Not Afraid, Sr. and her husband, John Bernard Little Nest, Sr., precede her in death. She is survived by her children, Robert and Kathy Brien, Jr., Hannah Little Nest Driftwood, John and Sarah Little Nest, Leslie and Garilyn Nomee, Dee and Loretta Nomee, Martha and Aaron Alden, Berthina Nomee, Bill Old Crow, C.J. (Jana) Not Afraid, Knute and Darreldlene Old Crow; as well as adopted children, Gary Jo Whiteman, Marie Jefferson, Claude Dawes, Jocelyn Falls Down, Tasha Nomee, Clement Nomee, Carlton Nomee, Jr. Clinton (Sarge) He Does It, Vince Black Hawk, Eli Stone, Marsha Not Afraid, Annie Couture, Gary Gardner, Pat Nomee, Elton Backbone, Janet Big Lake, P.J. Jefferson, Bobbi Jo Old Coyote, Grace Morrison, Tara Bird Stewart, Brian Blaine, Ethel Not Afraid, Eliza Not Afraid, Randy Not Afraid, Mark Nomee, Terra Medicine Top, Carrie Medicine top, Gwen Little Nest, Tanya Falls Down, William Driftwood, Sr. Chris Horn, Lewellyn Dawes, Victoria A. Hogan, Deserae Rock Above, Mary Ann Hogan, Sherri House, Barbara Amyotte, Carlene Jefferson, Felicia Nomee; her brothers, Ed (Shirley) Not Afraid and Alvin (Tina) Not Afraid; sisters, Adella Spotted Horse, Melvina Jefferson and Bertha (Paul) Nomee of Lodge Grass, Lorraine (Joe) Bear Cloud, Gail Redwolf; adopted father, Donald Stewart, Sr., adopted mothers, Frances Bends, Bonnie Hawk and Emma Don't Mix; adopted sisters, Sherrie Lou Laforge, Sharolyn Nomee, Shirley Stewart, Cora Teeth, Lavina Old Bull, Georgiann Pisano, Benadicta Day Child, Charlotte Spotted Horse, Magdaline Bonko, Delmyrne Yarlott, Linda Ten Bear, Marsha Brown, Rosella Stewart, Mary French, Donna Stewart, Marjorie Hoops, Janet Stewart, Nadine Dawes, Maude Williamson, and Tori Half; adopted brothers, Edgar Old Bull, Myron Old Bull, Robert Stewart Aaron Yarlott, Alvin O. Yarlott, Charles Yarlott, Francis Springfield and Marshall Left Hand; as well as aunts, Mary Carpenter, Caroline Morrison Miller, Julia Not Afraid, and Gloria Medicine Crow; uncles, Cyril (Flora) Not Afraid, Art (Lenora) Plenty Hawk, Star (Hazel) Not Afraid and Kenneth (Christine) Yellowtail; and numerous grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews whom she took as her own. She leaves an extended family and circle of friends too numerous to mention but not forgotten. Mama Geno was well known for her sense of humor and her ability to stick with us through thick and thin. She left us to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She will be greatly missed. Funeral Services will 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 in the Lodge Grass Catholic Gym. Interment will follow in the Lodge Grass Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary is entrusted with the arrangements. Copyright c. 2003 The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. -=-=-=- February 8, 2003 Clinton Big Throat MR. CLINTON BIG THROAT of the Blood Reserve, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2003. Funeral arrangements to be announced when completed. Copyright c. 2000 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc./Lethbridge Herald. --------- "RE: Senators want Limits on Indians' Prosecution" --------- Date: Thu 6 Feb 2003 08:51:14 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="MICCOSUKEE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/ Senators want limits on Indians' prosecution By John Holland STAFF WRITER February 6 2003 The Miccosukee tribe is again trying to stop the state from prosecuting crimes committed on Indian land, and two legislators have filed bills to help them. Last year, similar efforts died after strong opposition by Gov. Jeb Bush and several state prosecutors who said changes would put Florida residents in danger. The Miccosukees have battled with state law enforcement agencies in the past, including their attempts three years ago to protect a tribe member, Kirk Billie, who murdered his two children to spite their mother. Anger over the Billie case, in which Miccosukee leaders had a brief, armed standoff with federal and state officers who tried to serve subpoenas on tribal land, helped sink the bill's chances last year. Miami- Dade County prosecutors convicted Billie in 2001 without the tribe's help, and he is serving life in prison for murdering his young sons. Now Sens. Rod Smith, D-Gainesville, and Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, have filed new bills that would protect the Miccosukees from any state interference. Under the proposed law, only the federal government can prosecute crimes committed on the tribe's property. But federal investigators usually get involved on major crimes, meaning drunken driving, assaults and drug dealing would go unchecked, critics charge. And several Miccosukee police officers have complained that tribal leaders have ordered them never to notify federal or state prosecutors when tribe members commit crimes. In a statement, Miccosukee Chairman Bill Cypress decried years of unjust treatment by the state against his tribe. "[A new law] will right a wrong of a past government policy that tried to terminate Indian tribes and clarify a state law to which the Miccosukee tribe never agreed," Cypress said. The proposed changes won't affect the much larger Seminole tribe, which has long cooperated with state prosecutors for all crimes committed on its land. Copyright c. 2003 South Florida Sun-Sentinel. --------- "RE: Tohono O'odham Citizenship Bill" --------- Date: Fri 7 Feb 2003 08:26:19 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="TOHONO O'ODHAM" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/2_6_03citizenshipbill.html Grijalva will offer Tohono O'odham citizenship bill GABRIELA RICO Tucson Citizen Feb. 6, 2003 Members of the Tohono O'odham Nation roamed freely on a reservation that stretches as far north as Gila Bend and as far south as Hermosillo, Son., for thousands of years. But crackdowns on border crossings in the past decade have impeded their ability to come and go on both sides of the international border. A fix on the border crossing problem may be in sight for the 25,000 members of the nation. They hope Congress will correct this "oversight" with passage of U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva's first bill, the Tohono O'odham Citizenship Act. Grijalva, D-Ariz., who plans to introduce the bill Wednesday, said, "I need to make the case that this is simply an anomaly in the law and not let people tie it to the immigration debate." The Tohono O'odham Citizenship Act would grant citizenship to about 8, 400 tribal members not recognized as U.S. citizens. Originally introduced last year, the bill was supported by 122 members of the House of Representatives from 40 states. But it never made it through the subcommittee that handles immigration because the session was consumed by the creation of the Homeland Security Department. Grijalva said the bill will go through this time. "If I can keep it bi-partisan and keep it from the partisan immigration debate, I believe it has a much better opportunity," he said. The traditional lands of the O'odham were divided in 1853 between Mexico and the United States by the Gadsden Purchase, but tribal members continued to travel freely across the border as they had for centuries. "One day some of our tribal members woke up, and they were in Mexico," said Henry Ramon, vice chairman of the O'odham. "We feel that this is just an oversight that should have been corrected." Since the mid-1990s, when Congress passed new immigration laws leading to an increase in U.S. Border Patrol activity along the U.S.-Mexican border, tribal members have been arrested, deported and barred from re- entry because they lacked documents proving citizenship or permitting travel within the United States. Required documentation - including birth certificates, utility bills and bank account statements - consists of items that many of the nation's members do not have, Ramon said. Until the 1980s, most tribal members were born at home without birth certificates because in O'odham tradition, births were not recorded in writing, but were remembered by elders who passed them on orally. Copyright c. 2003 Tucson Citizen. --------- "RE: BLM begins Controversial Horse Roundup" --------- Date: Fri 7 Feb 2003 08:26:19 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="DANN/BLM THIEVES" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2003/02/06/33905 BLM begins horse roundup Don Cox RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL 2/6/2003 11:02 pm Federal range managers began a controversial roundup Thursday of about 500 horses claimed by two Western Shoshone sisters whose battle against the government over their ancestral lands in northern Nevada has attracted worldwide attention. The early stages of the operation proceeded without incident, the Bureau of Land Management said. Opponents of the roundup observed the horse gathering, which is expected to last two or three days. BLM officials maintain that the horses must be removed to restore overgrazed habitat in the high desert Crescent Valley region, about 60 miles southwest of Elko. But Mary and Carrie Dann, citing a 140-year-old treaty between the United States and Western Shoshone, say the BLM has no jurisdiction over the horses or the land. BLM officials, who impounded 227 head of Dann cattle in September, said the sisters haven't paid federal grazing fees since the mid-1990s, and their livestock is trespassing on public land. "The BLM has tried to work with the Danns and local interests in every possible fashion over a number of years to resolve their unauthorized use of the public lands," said Helen Hankins, head of the agency's Elko office. "Removing these horses is critical to restoring the damaged range lands." Supporters of the Dann sisters called the roundup a government "attack" on Western Shoshone homelands. The Dann sisters live on an 800-acre ranch founded in Crescent Valley by their father in the early 1900s and have taken their case to the United Nations and other world bodies. They and some tribal leaders have said the Treaty of Ruby Valley in 1863 allowed white settlers to cross 26 million acres of Western Shoshone territory in Nevada, but the tribe didn't surrender land to the United States. The United States needs to recognize its obligations to the Western Shoshone," said Julie Fishel, a lawyer and spokeswoman for the Dann sisters. The Danns rounded up about 400 horses and placed them in corrals during the past several weeks, Fishel said. But BLM administrators said they had to finish gathering the horses remaining on range before the mares start giving birth next month. "Foaling season is coming," said Jo Simpson, a Reno-based BLM spokeswoman. "After that, it gets hot. The next opportune time (for a roundup) is September, but the herd will have grown." Although Fishel said most of the horses are unbranded, the Dann sisters have said the animals belong to them. "Everybody knows these are our horses," Carrie Dann said recently. "These horses have always been here." Simpson said any horses claimed by the Danns after the roundup will be impounded by the BLM for nonpayment of $3 million in grazing fees and fines the agency says the sisters owe. Horses deemed "estray," without brands or identifiable owners, will be turned over to the state, which has reserved 700 animals, more than the BLM expects to gather, for adoption groups. "The horses aren't the issue," said Shawn Collins, a Western Shoshone. "This has always been about the land. This is just another intimidation tactic by the United States government to break these ladies down." In January, the International American Commission, part of the Organization of American States, found the United States in violation of international law with its treatment of the Western Shoshone. Copyright c. 2003 Reno Gazette-Journal. --------- "RE: Indian Kids Dying -- too Many, too Young" --------- Date: Fri 7 Feb 2003 08:26:19 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CHILD MORTALITY" http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20030207/localnews/ Indian kids dying -- too many, too young Montana's child mortality rate above national average By ERIC NEWHOUSE Tribune Projects Editor Friday, February 7, 2003 Native American children have a significantly higher death rate than white children in Montana, according to the state health department's first mortality study. Death rates for Native American infants are 88 percent higher than for white infants. For Indian children 1-19 years old, death rates are 58 percent higher, according to new state statistics. "A disproportionate number of Native American children in Montana are dying," said the Montana Fetal, Infant and Child Mortality Review. Reasons for the higher death rate include poverty, access to health care, education, high-risk behavior and culture, said Wilda McGraw, nurse consultant for the study. "It is not because the child was an Indian," she added. Montana's child mortality rate is somewhat higher than the national average, but the state's Native American children are well above that average -- and above the national average for Native Americans, as well. "We've had too many young people die here in accidents, most of which are alcohol-related," said Zelma DuCharme, a chemical dependency counselor in Browning. Her 16-year-old granddaughter Dallas was one of them. Bored on reservation Like many teens in Browning, Dallas found herself with little to do too much of the time. "Kids just walk around town and get into trouble," said DuCharme. "I think we're pushing our children aside for more adult-oriented activities." Then last June, a group of teenage friends suggested a moonlight rural truck ride. "She was in a vehicle that was trying to climb a steep embankment," said DuCharme. "The pickup rolled, and she was pinned underneath." The truck had no license or registration, and DuCharme wonders why police officers didn't intervene to prevent the tragedy. Alcohol reportedly was involved, and she also wonders what more she could have done to keep her grandchild from drinking. "I feel like I abandoned her," said DuCharme, tears beginning to run down her cheeks. "I should have been there for her." Causes of children's death According to the mortality study, 865 children under the age of 17 died during the four-year period from 1997 through 2001. State health teams intensively reviewed nearly half of those cases. Since this was the first report, there's no way of telling whether the rate is increasing or decreasing. Of the 865 total deaths, 334 were children, 289 were infants and 242 were stillborn. For the 334 children between 1 and 17 years old, accidents claimed the lives of 184. Another 89 died of natural causes, 38 of suicides, 16 of homicides and seven of unknown causes. "The unintentional injury death rate was twice as high for Native Americans as for white children," said the report. Of the 38 children who committed suicide, four were girls who hanged themselves; the rest were boys, most of whom shot themselves. Five of the suicide victims were Native Americans, and the 16 homicide victims included three Native Americans. Of the homicide cases reviewed, half involved gunshot wounds. "The majority of firearm homicides are impulsive acts by friends or relatives," said the report. "The most common event precipitating a shooting is an argument over something later seen as trivial." Over the four-year period, 48 children were killed by firearms, according to the report. "Access to firearms is the single greatest risk factor for homicides," the report said. "Presence of a gun in the house is associated with a three- to four-fold increase in the risk of adolescent homicide." Causes of infant death Among children younger than 1, the most common cause of death is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which killed 41 youngsters in Montana. Cigarette smoke is a big risk factor, but a larger one is sleep position. Of the cases reviewed, 68 percent of the babies died sleeping on their stomachs. A generation ago, parents were told to place infants on their stomachs so they wouldn't suffocate if they spit up. Today, "back to sleep" is the current mantra of health care professionals. Dr. Suzanne Dixon, a pediatrician at the Great Falls Clinic, originally pooh-poohed the change. Today, she's a believer. "Now that we've changed sleep habits, there's no question that there's been a dramatic reduction of SIDS in this country, down to about a third of what it was," she said. In 1988, there were 1.4 SIDS deaths nationally per 1,000 live births. A decade later, that had dropped to 0.64 deaths per 1,000 births. Dixon said SIDS apparently affects infants with immature or irregular hearts or lungs, and there's some evidence that children with neonatal infections are at greater risk. The risk of infection apparently decreases when mothers breast-feed their babies, she added, because they pass along more natural antibodies. "If you could get everyone breast-feeding, no one smoking, and everyone putting their babies to sleep on their backs, we could make a tremendous difference in the SIDS rate," Dixon said. "We'll never get them all because some babies are bound to have physical abnormalities," she added, "but I think we could help a substantial number of them." A child stops breathing At the beginning of last May, 4-month-old Deni Rae Palmerton appeared to be running a fever. A doctor could find no evidence of it, but said the baby appeared to have a heart murmur. "She was a happy baby," remembered her grandmother, Marybeth Palmerton, "but sometimes she would just let out an ear-piercing scream." A few days later, Palmerton came home from a meeting to find that her daughter had finally coaxed the baby to sleep. "She was on her stomach and I knew she shouldn't be," Palmerton said, "but she had been so fussy that I didn't move her." Finally, Palmerton realized Deni Rae had been sleeping an abnormally long time and went to check. "I couldn't see her back moving, and when I turned her over, I could see the mottled blood in her cheeks, and her skin was cold," said Palmerton. Resuscitation was useless, she said. The next day, the coroner ruled the death was SIDS. "There isn't a day when I don't think about what I could have done differently," said Palmerton, now a fetal alcohol specialist with the City-County Health Department. "The coroner said she might have been dead an hour before I found her," Palmerton said, "but he also said she could have died the day before when I was holding her in my arms." Rates rise on reservations No one knows exactly why, but Native American infants are twice as likely as white children to die of SIDS in the first year of life. A study of Northern Plains Indians found that a child was eight times more likely to die of SIDS if its mother had consumed five or more drinks of alcohol in one sitting during the first trimester of pregnancy. Infants in homes visited by a public health nurse before or after birth were 80 percent less likely to die from SIDS than babies in homes that never had such visits, although the study couldn't draw a conclusion about what aspects of the nurse's visit helped. The study also found that wearing two or more layers of clothing (excluding a diaper) increased a child's risk of SIDS more than six-fold. Dixon speculated that high SIDS rates on Indian reservations might be a result of a higher rate of smoking, lesser availability of prenatal care and higher premature birth rates. "SIDS is a big problem in this community," said Mary Ellen LaFramboise, a community health representative in Browning. Three women sitting around a table in the Eagle Shield Senior Center echoed that. One woman said she had lost her granddaughter and a niece to SIDS. A second spoke of finding her baby blue in the crib with an idiopathic seizure. She said she ran over to the hospital, where doctors got the child breathing again. A dangerous childhood But the problem on the reservation goes well beyond crib death. The third woman at the table said she had lost a 12-year-old in a horseback accident and two 18-year-old children to automobile crashes. Now community health officials are working to make the Blackfeet Indian Reservation a safer place for children. Browning got a wake up call in 1999 when five children died in auto accidents on five consecutive weekends. Health Director June Tatsey, counselor Herman Whitegrass and security officer Gerald Cooper launched a series of sobriety marches which dramatically cut back on fatal auto accidents -- until about a year ago, when deaths began surging again. "The economy has a lot to do with it," said Norah Kennedy, head of Emergency Medical Services in Browning. "We have a 70 percent unemployment rate," she said, "and with nothing else to do, there's a lot of alcohol and drug abuse." The street people used to be middle-aged alcoholics, said Whitegrass, but now they're frequently teens. "We find a lot of our children lying out in the fields with alcohol poisoning," added Kennedy. "That probably happens once a week." An adolescent also attempts suicide about once a week, she said. Search for solutions What can be done to prevent those deaths? More activities, said Cooper, who runs an annual hunting camp for area children. Cooper noted that one outlet in Browning currently sells more than 3 million cases of beer a year and suggested imposing a tribal tax of a nickel a case. "We could build a rec center in every community on the Blackfeet Reservation with that," he said. But Whitegrass said a cultural rejuvenation is needed. 'Our children have lost their religion, their culture and their respect for elders, which is why they have so many problems," he said. On the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Gerald Stiffarm agrees that a combination of cultural factors puts Native American children at higher risk for suicide, accident and illness. "Until we go back to the essence of our culture, we as Indian people will journey endlessly and we'll journey lost," he said. "Our elders have told us that we'll lose our young men and our spirits," added Stiffarm, who runs the suicide prevention group at Fort Belknap. Retaining their native language is critical to Indian youth, said Stiffarm, but only about 2 percent of the reservation's children can speak it. "Until we go back to our language, our ceremonies and our elders, we'll always be lost," he said. The family unit has already become a casualty, he said, because of single-parent households or both parents holding minimum-wage jobs. Without adult supervision, there's a high dropout rate in the schools that sets children up for failure, said Stiffarm. "At Fort Belknap, we see 60 or 80 kids graduate from junior high," he said. "Four years later, we see 20 or 25 kids graduating from high school." In Great Falls, public education is seen as the answer to reducing the number of drowning deaths, motor vehicle deaths and SIDS. "We have had several deaths due to firearms, and that is why we did a public service announcement urging people to keep their guns locked up and unloaded with the ammunition in a separate locked box," said Carol Keaster, director of nursing at the City-County Health Clinic. Keaster also said Bennett Motors has volunteered to check child seats for safety or install them for free. "But even one child's death is too many," she said. "It's clear we need to do much more to keep our children be safe." Copyright c. 2003 Great Falls Tribune. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Judge Sanctions Justice Department Attorneys" --------- Date: Thu 6 Feb 2003 08:51:14 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="JUSTICE DEPT." http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31804-2003Feb5.html Judge Sanctions Justice Dept. Attorneys 6 Accused of Deception, Obstruction in Indian Trust Fund Case By Neely Tucker Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, February 6, 2003; Page A06 A federal judge yesterday ordered the head of the Justice Department's civil division and five other government attorneys to pay personal sanctions for their tactics in defending the Interior Department in a long-running lawsuit alleging chronic mismanagement of an Indian trust fund. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered Assistant Attorney General Robert D. McCallum -- a friend of President Bush and the nominee for the No. 3 spot in the Justice Department -- and subordinate attorneys to pay sanctions for "attempting to cover up" lies and misrepresentations to the judge. The sanctions require McCallum and the others to pay legal fees, expenses and other costs of the Indians' lawyers for having to re-depose a Bureau of Indian Affairs official because of "obstruction" by Justice Department attorneys, the order says. Those expenses will total "much more than $10,000," said Keith Harper, an attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, who is representing the plaintiffs. Lamberth ruled that the government attorneys could apply to the Justice Department to be reimbursed for their payments. It was not clear yesterday how the department would respond. "We have every confidence in the integrity and professionalism of our Justice Department attorneys and their appropriate handling of this case," said Barbara Comstock, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department. The sanctions come six weeks after Lamberth referred five of the six attorneys to a court ethics panel for disciplinary hearings for mailing out financial statements to some of the 300,000 Indian plaintiffs without the court's consent. Lamberth, appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan, has held three Cabinet-level members in two administrations guilty of civil contempt charges in the case and imposed more than $700,000 in sanctions against the government. Pending sanctions for civil contempt against Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton and other Interior officials may total more than $1.5 million, but Lamberth has not imposed the final amount. Until yesterday, all of the sanctions had been against the office of each official, not in their personal capacity, meaning taxpayers paid the sanctions. In the most recent incident, government attorneys told Lamberth on Dec. 13 that Donna Erwin, BIA's acting special trustee working on trust fund reform, was based in New Mexico and was too busy to come to Washington to be deposed by lawyers for the Indians. Less than 72 hours later, the Indians' lawyers saw Erwin at a BIA meeting in Washington. Government lawyers told Lamberth there was no deception, merely a mix-up in busy schedules. But Erwin testified "we told everyone" her travel schedule. When an attorney for the Indians asked her if government attorneys had misrepresented her case, Sandra P. Spooner, a Justice attorney, refused to let her answer, citing attorney-client privilege. The attorneys liable for the sanctions are McCallum, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart E. Schiffer and Justice department attorneys Spooner, J. Christopher Kohn, John T. Stemplewicz and Timothy E. Curley. Copyright c. 2003 The Washington Post Company. --------- "RE: Nez Perce file new Timber Sale Appeal" --------- Date: Thu 6 Feb 2003 08:51:14 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="BITTERROOT" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story Nez Perce Tribe files new appeal of Bitterroot timber sale Dan Hansen Staff writer February 4, 2003 The Nez Perce Tribe, which rarely appeals federal timber sales, has filed its second challenge over a single proposal in the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. The tribe worries that the North Lochsa Face "forest restoration project" will foul streams that are important to native fish, tribal chairman Samuel Penney wrote in a press statement on Friday. The project is designed to fix an area that foresters say is overly packed with stunted trees and brush, while simultaneously providing more browse for a declining elk herd. "We do not feel that this project has adequately balanced the needs of salmon and steelhead with the needs of elk and timber supply," Penney wrote. Several environmental groups also have appealed the plan, which the Forest Service unveiled in December. The project, bounded on the south by the Lochsa River, covers 128,000 acres. A 2000 version of the same project was derailed by appeals, including the first by the tribe. The new plan calls for cutting 42 million board feet of timber from about 4,000 acres. That's down from 73 million board feet proposed in 2000. There were other changes that pleased environmentalists: No logging within sight of the route followed 200 years ago by explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, for instance, and no logging in roadless areas. In addition to logging, the plan calls for burning 12,530 acres and thinning saplings from 995 acres. The Forest Service would obliterate 66 miles of unnecessary roads and close 54 miles more. The agency would construct 3.5 miles of temporary roads and reconstruct 1.5 miles of Pete King Road, for use by loggers. The agency would plant 600 acres of trees along Fish and Pete King creeks. Penney noted that many tribal members work in timber-dependent industries. "Despite this appeal, we remain committed to trying to work with the Clearwater National Forest to address the tribe's concerns with this project and future projects," he said. A second appeal was filed by six environmental groups, citing issues similar to those listed by the tribe appeal. Those groups are Friends of the Clearwater; the Ecology Center; Alliance for the Wild Rockies; The Lands Council of Spokane; Idaho Sporting Congress; and the Palouse chapter of the Sierra Club. Idaho Conservation League and The Wilderness Society filed a separate appeal. Those groups allege that the Forest Service does not have an accurate inventory of old-growth trees in the Lochsa area, and that some of the logging would occur within the habitat of Canada lynx, an endangered species. Appeals of Forest Service projects go to the regional forester -- in this case, Brad Powell in Missoula. If Powell agrees that a project fails to meet scrutiny, it goes back to the forest for more study. If an appeal is denied, forest work often moves forward. However, groups have the option of filing suit to override Powell's decision. Copyright c. 2003 The Spokesman-Review. --------- "RE: Navajos and Whites Worlds apart in Page" --------- Date: Fri 7 Feb 2003 08:26:19 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="PAGE ARIZONA" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0207pageracism.html Navajos and Whites worlds apart in Page Mark Shaffer The Arizona Republic Feb. 7, 2003 12:00 AM PAGE - As the all-Navajo work crew at his burger joint on Lake Powell Boulevard busily tends to customers, Richard Kidman wonders aloud why he has become the focal point in a national discussion about the use of Native American language in the workplace. Why, after he flew all the way to New York City recently, the folks at the Donahue show would place the caption "Angry White Male" under his name. Will Bill O'Reilly do the same on Kidman's upcoming Fox network appearance? What about the planned profile in Fortune magazine? All he did, Kidman said, was put up a sign, with wording from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's own Web site, warning his employees to check the Navajo language at the door after female workers complained about male co-workers sexually harassing them in Navajo. He should have fired them for sexual harassment, Kidman says now. Instead, he's making the rounds on the talk-show circuit to help raise money to take on the EEOC, which filed suit against his R.D.'s Drive-In late last year, the first such federal lawsuit for forbidding Native Americans from speaking their own language on the job. No action on the lawsuit is expected until the fall, said David Selden, Kidman's Phoenix attorney. But the fallout and attention from the lawsuit are making this isolated, high-mesa town of nearly 7,000, which borders both the nation's longest lakeshore and largest Indian reservation, more than a little uneasy. Page city officials say they are doing all they can to make their city Navajo-friendly. List of complaints Navajos have a litany of complaints about their treatment: * Page has no Navajo police officers on its 20-member force despite Native Americans composing almost three-quarters of its cases. And when Mike Anderson, a local Navajo community leader with an extensive law enforcement background, applied for the vacant police chief position recently, he wasn't among the finalists. A White man from western Texas was hired. * No Navajo has ever been elected or appointed to Page's City Council. * The local high school is 70 percent Navajo but only about 10 percent of its teachers are. When the district recently hired a White man as administrator for a Navajo cultural enrichment program at the high school, former Navajo President Kelsey Begaye threatened a lawsuit. He has not filed one. * Navajos working within the school district say school officials tried to keep transportation workers from speaking Navajo among themselves until Begaye came to town last year for a forum to discuss grievances. They say that Navajo students are encouraged to enroll at Page's Lake View Elementary School, while Whites are directed to Desert View Elementary School. The school district has an open enrollment policy. Then, there are the concerns of Navajos living in the nearby LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation. They complain about a senior citizens center in Page they say makes them feel unwelcome. And, they say, if a Navajo's vehicle breaks down outside town, a tow truck won't answer the call. "Our people who drink in town reflect badly on us," said Irene Whitekiller, president of the LeChee Chapter. "But it's just a few people. Navajos spend a lot of dollars here, and there shouldn't be a rush to judgment about us." Effort to improve Page Mayor Dean Slavens said he has been working hard to improve relations between Whites and Native Americans. He said he was especially concerned about no Navajo police officers on Page's police force. "I've offended a few people how hard I've pushed (for that to change)," he said. Dennis Veal, Page High School's principal, also said the school system has been in the vanguard of change, as evidenced by its push for the more than $1 million Navajo cultural program. He said the district also plans job fairs for Native American teacher candidates. Seven of Page's 67 high school teachers are Native American, Veal said. Wally Brown, a longtime Navajo educator and activist, said the school district rejected his proposal to link the educational curriculum with his local Navajo Village Cultural Center, which teaches the culture by using hogans, a sweat lodge, a bread oven and ramada and trading post replica. "I don't get that contract. I apply for City Council openings, and they fill those with White people, too. It's all just very frustrating," Brown said. He also said that Navajos feel unwelcome at the Page senior citizens center and that few go there because of it. "No one pays any attention to you when you go in. They don't even come over and say hello," Brown said. Vicki Myers, director of the senior citizens center, said she normally serves two Navajos out of the meals prepared for 80 people daily. "A lot of them will come to pick up free bread, but not during the lunch hour," Myers said. "This isn't a prejudice thing, though. They go to the seniors center at the LeChee Chapter House to eat." As for the complaint about tow trucks being reluctant to answer the calls of Navajos, Gary Watson, owner of Transport Towing in Page, said he's eager for all of the business he can get "but there have been problems like that with other tow truck operators in the past." Business down Back at R.D.'s, Kidman acknowledged that his Navajo business has declined considerably since the EEOC lawsuit was filed. He is trying to raise $45,000 for his legal fight so Arlington, Va.-based Pro-English, an English-only group, will contribute the same amount. "The last place I'm going to go is a business that won't let me speak my own language after being forced to go to a boarding school that wouldn't let me speak Navajo or braid my hair in the traditional way," Whitekiller said. But Kidman's 16 Navajo employees are fiercely loyal. "This whole thing is ridiculous," said Rolanda Redhair, a longtime R.D.'s employee. "The irony of this is that none of us working here now even speak Navajo anyway." Reach the reporter at (602) 444-8057. Copyright c. 2003 The Arizona Republic. --------- "RE: Wounded Knee: Thirty Years Later" --------- Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 09:28:58 EST From: ErthAvengr@aol.com Subj: Wounded Knee: Thirty years later, standoff views differ Mailing List: ndn-aim http://www.rapidcityjournal.com Thirty years later, standoff views differ By Bernard McGhee, Associated Press Writer Feb.7,2003 WOUNDED KNEE - Johnson Holy Rock speaks easily, with the composure of a history teacher, as he points to a wall map and describes the events leading to the massacre of American Indians 112 years ago at Wounded Knee. But his words are more deliberate when talking about a standoff with the federal government that began 30 years ago this month at the same village. His voice is calm - but there is no mistaking his feelings. Dissidents who wanted to unseat then-tribal President Richard Wilson caused the 1973 takeover, Holy Rock, an Oglala Sioux Tribal Council member, said. The American Indian Movement, which led the 71-day occupation, should not have engaged in gunplay, Holy Rock, 84, said. "If they wanted to resist, they should have come to the right door without violence," Holy Rock said. In December 1890, U.S. soldiers slaughtered an estimated 300 Indians, including women and children. It is considered the last major armed conflict between Indians and the government. The struggle between Indians and the government was rekindled on Feb. 27, 1973, when a group of armed AIM activists who felt disenfranchised by the Oglala Sioux tribal government took over Wounded Knee, population 60. The deaths of two Indian men also had fueled the trouble. In 1972, three white men who forced Raymond Yellow Thunder to dance and then beat him were convicted of manslaughter. And early in 1973, a white man was charged with second-degree manslaughter rather than murder in the stabbing death of Wesley Bad Heart Bull, sparking an AIM-led riot at the Custer County Courthouse. The tense takeover of Wounded Knee sparked shootouts between the two sides while negotiations hobbled along. By the time the Indians surrendered on May 8, two of them were dead, and several people, including federal agents, had been injured. Today, opinions on the standoff run the gamut even in Indian Country. For some, it was a shining moment in the quest for self-determination. For others, it was a bitter and unfortunate event whose divisive effects linger. "You can probably talk to 10 people and get 10 different opinions on it," said Richard Yellow Bird, an administrative assistant to Oglala Sioux Tribal President John Yellow Bird Steele. Yellow Bird entered Wounded Knee during the standoff and remained for a few weeks before leaving. Asked whether he took part in any of the shootouts, he smiled and jokingly said he did not want to incriminate himself. He was one of many who sneaked in and out of Wounded Knee during the standoff. Scores were arrested trying to smuggle food to the occupiers, who had captured the attention of the national news media. In one instance, a Boston Globe reporter was arrested for organizing an air drop into Wounded Knee. Tribal officials set up roadblocks at one point to keep people from sneaking in food and supplies. Displaced residents, angry at the government for not ending the standoff sooner, also set up roadblocks. At one point, residents even threatened to drive out the occupiers themselves. Yellow Bird said he believes the standoff was needed to call attention to problems on the reservation. Others are less reserved in their praise. "The major result of Wounded Knee was the reinstitution of self-dignity and self-pride among American Indians," said Indian activist Russell Means. "And it signaled the rebirth of our culture." Means, one of the leaders of the standoff, said he regretted the loss of life but that there was nothing he would have done differently. Frank Clearwater of Cherokee, N.C., and Lawrence Lamont of Pine Ridge were killed in separate shootouts during the standoff. Also, U.S. Marshal Lloyd Grimm was partially paralyzed after being shot in the chest. Dennis Banks, national chairman of the American Indian Movement, also played a leading role and said it changed Indians' attitudes for the better. "I didn't know how far the government was going to go to try to crush the American Indian Movement," Banks said. "At Wounded Knee, I found out how far." The loss of life, while tragic, had a more far-reaching positive effect by making Indians feel empowered, Banks said. "They didn't die in vain," he said. Holy Rock said the Wounded Knee takeover caused a divide within his family. He and his brother did not like the standoff, but his sisters supported it, often prompting hostility among them, he said. The wounds are healing, but feelings about the standoff still simmer in the community, Holy Rock said. "It's had a long-lasting impact," Holy Rock said. "I wish many times that it didn't happen." Ted Muenster, chief of staff for then-South Dakota Gov. Richard Kneip in 1973, said the governor's office was bombarded with calls from people around the country who wanted to express feelings for or against the Indians at Wounded Knee. Muenster said reservation life needed to be improved. Even today, many in the Indian community struggle to get health care, food and other necessities. Cars and telephones are luxuries. "But the question is, how do you address those (issues)?" Muenster said. Muenster, who has met with activists such as Means and Banks in the past, said some of their more extreme stances may have hurt them. "I have a certain amount of admiration for them," he said. "I think they wanted to restore dignity and a sense of purpose to their people. But I think some of their tactics backfired on them." And then there is Lyle Sutton, who mans a visitor center at Wounded Knee. He lives out of one room in the back that contains a bed, refrigerator, stove and kitchen table. The heater was not working on a recent winter day, and Sutton pulled on a black leather jacket as he walked into the public part of the visiting center, where it was cold enough to see one's breath. The center is as much a shrine to Means and AIM as it is to the 1890 massacre. It contains photos from the massacre and campaign signs from Means' recent, unsuccessful bid for Oglala Sioux tribal president. Sutton, who was 11 when the standoff occurred, said he sees both sides. He remembered watching National Guard troops come and go from a nearby town. He even sneaked food into Wounded Knee at one point. "They brought it on themselves," Sutton said of the tribal officials as he smoked a cigarette. "But I guess the AIM members brought it on themselves." =================================== Date: Sun, 09 Feb 2003 18:22:09 -0000 From: Carter Subj: Re: Wounded Knee: Thirty years later, standoff views differ Mailing List: ndn-aim I respect Johnson too but I think he's blaming the wrong side. All he has to do is count the casualties. Any vet would have laughed at the state of our weaponry compared to theirs, at least for the first week, (but then they lifted the roadblock and we got reinforced:). But although I believe we acted to defend our people I also realize it hurt our Oglala relatives in many ways too. They had to bear the brunt of the pain caused when relatives fight, so even though I know ndn country benefited as a whole I realize it left wounds that will be hard to heal on Pine Ridge. CC --- In ndn-aim@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Two Horses" wrote: As much respect as I have for Inyan Wakan (Johnson Holy Rock), I must disagree. The 'gunplay' he refers to was already going on; dead and wounded traditional people, killed and injured by Wilson's murderous GOONs. Sometimes the only recourse is self-defense, and I believe it was so in this case, and again at the Jumping Bull property on June 26, 1975. Where would the "right door" that he refers to be? The BIA? The Feebs? I believe the traditional people knocked on the only door available to them, that of AIM. mth --------- "RE: Report suggests Band Members get Treaty Money" --------- Date: Fri 7 Feb 2003 08:26:19 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ABORIGINAL MONEY DISTRIBUTION" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Aboriginal-Money.html C. D. Howe report suggests individual band members get treaty money February 6, 2003 TORONTO (CP) -- At least "a sizable fraction" of federal treaty funds now paid almost exclusively to First Nations band governments should go to individual aboriginals, a new report recommends. "Sound economic policies could give individual Indians more flexibility in their choice of where to live and give those who stay on-reserve more direct influence over their chiefs and councils," John Richards of the C. D. Howe Institute writes. The report, A New Agenda for Strengthening Canada's Aboriginal Population: Individual Treaty Benefits, Reduced Transfers to Bands and Own-Source Taxation, was released Thursday by the non-profit think-tank. It says that by paying treaty benefits almost exclusively through band governments, Indian Affairs has introduced a "large locational bias" into the lives of aboriginal Canadians. Making payments directly to individuals would help those who have moved off-reserve and miss out on what is paid to band councils, concludes Richards, who teaches business at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. "Given that Indian Affairs transfers are to some extent related to band population, migration off-reserve -- Indians voting with their feet -- will in time have an impact on a band's budget," he writes. "But in the short run, the fiscal costs of migration are borne by the migrating Indians, who lose access to most benefits." Such "locational bias" wasn't always so prevalent, Richards writes. But by the 1990s, more than two of five registered Indians had chosen to live off-reserve. Many Indians want to live a more traditional style of life -- either on a well-run reserve or off-reserve, Richards notes. To do that, "the solution seems obvious," Richards writes. "Pay treaty benefits, or at least a sizable fraction of them, to individual Indians regardless of place of residence," he writes, noting that it would address the issue of band accountability. Richards also says that the purpose of such a reform is to redistribute benefits paid to Indians, not increase them. Copyright c. 2003 CANOE, a division of Netgraphe Inc. --------- "RE: Liberals risk backlash with New Native Deals" --------- Date: Fri 7 Feb 2003 08:26:19 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="LIBERALS " http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=3779fa0f-bc5c-4d56-adaa-6c11c22c181e Liberals risk backlash with new native deals Vaughn Palmer Vancouver Sun Friday, February 07, 2003 VICTORIA - The B.C. Liberals have been moving lately to accommodate the land claims of First Nations, a policy front that was not expected to see much progress under their administration. Premier Gordon Campbell and his ministers are proceeding to transfer timber, resource revenues, and development dollars to First Nations as interim measures on the road to treaty-making. One of the biggest steps came on Jan. 28., when Forests Minister Mike de Jong delivered 600,000 cubic metres of timber into the hands of four First Nations on Vancouver Island. The four bands signed interim measures agreements for the wood, thereby recognizing a precedent for the use of resources to ease the way for treaty settlements. The timber itself was part of the so-called "undercut" -- wood awarded to forest companies as part of their tenures but not harvested for a variety of reasons, usually economic. The provincial government's official stance on cutting rights is "use it or lose it." In practice, the province rarely takes back the undercut but instead extends it into the next award of cutting rights. Mr. de Jong's takeback on Vancouver Island could, if applied broadly, allow First Nations to tap into an estimated 20 million cubic metres worth of undercut along coastal B.C. The Liberals are also looking at providing natives with their own cutting rights. The government's "year of forestry" reforms, discussed here Thursday, include a proposal to provide natives with about five per cent of the provincewide annual allowable cut or three million cubic metres. As well, in a major policy shift the Liberals have said they are prepared to share provincial revenues with First Nations. The first revenue- sharing agreement is being negotiated with First Nations in the northeast corner of the province. The Liberals are proposing to provide those bands with a significant share of the oil and gas royalties that flow from the fields in the northeast. The Liberals have also put $12 million into an economic measures fund to jump-start development in remote and rural regions. Two bands recently received money from the fund to develop small-scale hydroelectric projects in partnership with private companies. These moves, welcome in some quarters, will be controversial in others. There is still a great potential for a backlash against the terms of any deal with the natives. One need only review the recent furore over the so-called "race-based fishery." The Liberals, contrary to their pre-election stance, have endorsed the federal government's offer of exclusive fishing rights as a basis for treaty settlements with six First Nations. Natives are bound to be skeptical about the Liberal intentions. They'll say -- with some justification -- that this apparent generosity was forced on the government by recent judicial decisions. The courts ruled last year that the province is obliged to do more than consult First Nations when making decisions that could affect their claims. It must try to "accommodate" their interests. The move to give natives a piece of the action will be controversial among Liberal supporters as well. Some will say that the government is going well beyond the negotiating position that was endorsed by the public in last year's referendum. Plus the development money could be characterized as a handout from an administration that came into office vowing to end business subsidies. There are also concerns that interim measures, containing resources and revenues with no strings attached, could lessen the incentive for First Nations to make the trade-offs necessary for a final treaty. For all that, these moves offer hope in negotiations which have seen little progress in a decade. The Liberals took a hard line toward land claims in Opposition and alienated natives again last year with the referendum. Now they are moving toward accommodation, offering a share of resources, revenues and economic development. In doing so, they raise the possibility that, for younger natives, career opportunities may include something other than filing claims and negotiating treaties. vpalmer@direct.ca Copyright c. 2003 Vancouver Sun. --------- "RE: Court Sees no harm in Pueblo Water Use" --------- Date: Wed 5 Feb 2003 08:22:56 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="POJOAQUE WATER" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.sfnewmexican.com/site/news Court Sees No Harm In Pueblo Water Use By BEN NEARY The New Mexican February 5, 2003 The state's request for a federal court order cutting the amount of water Pojoaque Pueblo uses should be denied, a federal magistrate says. In a suggested ruling filed Monday, U.S. Magistrate Leslie Smith of Las Cruces concluded the state failed to show it would suffer irreparable harm without a court order cutting the pueblo's water usage. State Engineer John D'Antonio said Tuesday that he expects the state to file objections to Smith's decision within the next two weeks. "Obviously, we don't agree," D'Antonio said of Smith's ruling. By irrigating its golf courses and proceeding to develop a resort hotel, he said, Pojoaque Pueblo is taking more water than the courts have ruled it is entitled to. By taking the water, he said, the pueblo prevents flows from reaching the Rio Grande. "It's extremely important and even more so now than ever," D'Antonio said of the state's efforts to force the pueblo to cut its water use. "We just came out of the driest January on record." But Pojoaque Lt. Gov. George Rivera said Tuesday that the pueblo welcomes Smith's suggested ruling. "We believe that it should have gone our way," Rivera said of the ruling. "We know that what the New Mexico attorney general was doing was bringing a frivolous lawsuit to court because there was no proof of any damage and no proof of future damage." Rivera charged that Attorney General Patricia Madrid brought the court action against Pojoaque Pueblo to drum up publicity during her successful re-election campaign. Madrid and the State Engineer's Office filed a request to cut Pojoaque's water usage late last year. Attempts to reach Steve Farris, the AG lawyer on the water case, for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful. The state filed its request against Pojoaque Pueblo in the federal Aamodt water-rights-adjudication lawsuit, which it had initiated in the mid-1960s to determine water rights on the Rio Pojoaque, Rio Nambe and Rio Tesuque. U.S. Judge Martha Vazquez of Santa Fe presides over the Aamodt case. Ultimately, she will decide whether to accept Smith's suggested ruling or give weight to the state's objections. Vazquez inherited the lawsuit from former Senior U.S. Judge Edwin Mechem, who died late last year. In rulings entered in the lawsuit so far, Mechem had ruled Pojoaque Pueblo was entitled to about 200 acre-feet of water a year but didn't rule on all aspects of the pueblo's rights. The state claims Pojoaque is now using roughly twice the water the courts have ruled it is entitled to and is expected to use more as it continues commercial development. "The Pueblo, in essence, argues that it may put water to use without limit until this case has returned from the final appeal since its rights will not be finally determined until then. This argument is absurd," Smith states in his ruling. "Some development, within reasonable expectations of water rights under the law as it stands today, is permissible. However, to allow the Pueblo to develop water uses without check can only harm the greater community, including other pueblos, the federal government and non-Indians as well as the state." Later in his ruling, Smith wrote that the state met its burden in showing that Pojoaque Pueblo was probably exceeding its federal water rights significantly and that the pueblo hasn't taken steps to acquire more water rights on the open market. However, Smith concludes the state wrongly asserted it has no obligation to prove Pojoaque Pueblo's over-use of water is causing the state irreparable injury. Rather, the judge stated, "there is insufficient proof that the existing uses of the Pueblo are today affecting any existing water right owned by or protected by the State of New Mexico." According to Pojoaque's Rivera, the pueblo intends to appeal the earlier court rulings about its total water rights. "We feel that there is still room for appeals, if we need to go that route, and we feel that the Pueblo of Pojoaque needs enough water to sustain itself," he said. "The amount that was recognized by the court's earlier ruling is not enough even to keep the present-day pueblo." Pojoaque Pueblo has completed 27 holes of its golf-course development, Rivera said, and an additional nine holes have been built but have not yet been seeded. The pueblo plans to open a 350-room Hilton Hotel on its property in connection with its golf course and casino developments. Rivera said the hotel is still in the planning stages and won't be completed this year. Pojoaque Pueblo ultimately plans to use treated wastewater to irrigate its developments, Rivera said. The state's request for the court order against the pueblo has strained ongoing settlement talks in the Aamodt lawsuit. Mechem ordered the parties into talks under an Arizona judge a few years ago. Although details of the settlement talks are secret, state officials have said they hinge on the federal government's building a regional water system that would supply Indians and non-Indians alike. Draft settlement documents seen by The New Mexican call for non-Indians to agree to cap their private wells in exchange for connection to the water system. "I still want to put on there as an official statement that we have supported the negotiation process and a settlement," Rivera said. "But it has to include what Pojoaque Pueblo needs for a permanent home base." Rivera said the pueblo hopes the negotiations can move forward, but that will depend on what actions the state takes. Peter Chestnut, a lawyer for San Ildefonso Pueblo, said Tuesday that he hopes Smith's ruling on the state's request against Pojoaque means settlement talks can make headway. And Richard Hughes, a lawyer for Tesuque Pueblo, also said he hopes the court ruling means the settlement talks can resume. Mark Sheridan, lawyer for a group of non-Indian water users in the Aamodt lawsuit, said Tuesday that he couldn't comment on Smith's ruling because he hadn't yet reviewed it in detail. Copyright c. 2003 Santa Fe New Mexican. --------- "RE: Bounds of Tribal Courts Argued" --------- Date: Fri 7 Feb 2003 08:26:19 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="DIABETES DRUG DEATHS" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://news.statesmanjournal.com/article.cfm?i=56300 Bounds of tribal courts argued The dispute stems from a case about a diabetes drug linked to deaths. JOSEPH B. FRAZIER The Associated Press February 7, 2003 EUGENE - Attorneys for a drug giant and members of the Navajo and Zuni nations clashed Thursday about whether the U.S. Supreme Court has given American Indians the right to sue non-Indians in tribal court. The 16 plaintiffs say they are among thousands harmed by the drug Rezulin, a diabetes medication that was taken off the market after dozens of patients died. A lower Navajo court ruled earlier that it lacks jurisdiction in the case. The plaintiffs appealed to the Navajo Nation Supreme Court, which heard arguments Thursday at the University of Oregon Law School. The three-member court said it likely will rule within 90 days. If it agrees with the lower court, the case will be dismissed, but the plaintiffs still will have access to civil courts. The drug was developed and distributed by Warner-Lambert Co., which was taken over by Pfizer in mid-2000. Rizulin got fast-track approval from the FDA in 1997 and was withdrawn in March 2000 after at least 63 deaths were attributed to it, mostly from liver damage. The Los Angeles Times concluded that doctors and others suspect the drug in 556 deaths. Specialists in American Indian legal affairs say that tribal court rulings generally are binding but that losers sometimes try to use federal courts to contest them. At issue are provisions of a 1981 U.S. Supreme Court case, Montana v. The United States, which says, in part, that tribal jurisdiction over non- Indians in civil cases is limited to instances where a consensual relationship exists between the non-Indians and the tribe, or when a non- Indian threatens or affects the health and welfare of the tribe. Randolph Barnhouse of Gallup, N.M., representing the plaintiffs, contended that there is no treaty, statute or case law that denies tribal members their right to put their case before a tribal court. He said the pharmaceutical defendants participated in drug testing on the reservation. Andrew Fedehar of Phoenix, Ariz., representing Pfizer, said that when the National Institute of Health approached the Navajo Nation, tribal leaders declined to have the drug tested within tribal boundaries. Fedehar said the drug was federally approved and could be prescribed by any doctor. "That's what happened in these circumstances," he said. He said the manufacture, distribution and approval of the drug did not happen on Navajo land. "There is no case in the United States of America where a nonmember of a native American tribe has been subject to the jurisdiction of a tribal court for off-reservation activities," he said. Copyright c. 2003 Statesman Journal/Salem, Oregon. --------- "RE: Cheyenne Leader Suspended" --------- Date: Thu 6 Feb 2003 08:51:14 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="NORTHERN CHEYENNE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/ Cheyenne leader suspended By JAMES HAGENGRUBER Of The Gazette Staff February 5, 2003 Northern Cheyenne Tribe President Geri Small was suspended without pay Tuesday afternoon on allegations of mismanaging tribal programs and finances. Small, who is in the final year of a four year term, is vowing to fight the charges and has asked the tribe's court to block the suspension. The tribal council voted 5-4 to suspend her for 30 days, she said. Two council members were absent. The charge to suspend Small was led by Councilman Eugene Little Coyote, who was elected to the tribe's legislative body in November. Little Coyote accused Small of "gross negligence in her duties and responsibilities," according to a copy of the complaint being circulated across the reservation Tuesday night. The complaint went on to say Small's actions jeopardized $200,000 in social services funding from the federal government. Little Coyote was not available for comment Tuesday night and did not return phone calls earlier in the day. Myrna Burgess, president of the reservation's Lame Deer District, said council members have warned Small to improve the management of tribal finances and programs. The tribe is at least $1.3 million in debt, Burgess said. There wasn't even enough money to buy paper for copy machines. "It was negligence of duty, and the tribe is very broke," Burgess said. "She's used up every penny." There are a total of eight formal complaints against Small, Burgess said. Details on the complaints were not available Tuesday, but at least one involves accusations that Small made unauthorized trips using tribal funds. Council members spent most of the day meeting in executive session and were not available for comment. Small said she will provide a detailed response to all the accusations. A formal hearing on her status is scheduled for March 6 in Lame Deer. The tribe's vice president, John Woodenlegs, has been named acting president, according to a brief statement issued by the council's attorney, Ron Arneson. Councilman William Walksalong was named acting vice president. Three of the council members voting to suspend Small are previous tribal presidents, including Walksalong, Small said. "The council's just being vindictive. It's a personal vendetta," Small said. " The bigger thing, too, is that I'm a woman." Small is the tribe's first female president and won 72 percent of votes cast in 1999. Copyright c. 2003 The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: Seven Citizen Potawatomi face Criminal Charges" --------- Date: Thu 6 Feb 2003 08:51:14 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CITIZEN POTAWATOMI" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=982232 Seven face criminal charges 2003-02-05 By Ann Kelley The Oklahoman SHAWNEE -- Seven Citizen Potawatomi Nation members are facing criminal charges in tribal court over a political advertisement that allegedly slandered tribal Chairman John "Rocky" Barrett. Citizen Potawatomi Nation Business Committee members Hilton Melot and J. P. Motley, and Kristie Warner Hall and Teresa Vieux, both members of the tribe's grievance committee, were charged Dec. 12 in tribal court with defamation of character and contempt of court. Both are criminal offenses under the tribe's legal code. Tribal members Joe Wano, and Johnny Flynn and his wife, LeAnn Flynn, also face similar criminal charges. The charges stem from a political advertisement posted on the Internet in May that accuses Barrett of sabotaging William John Rodd's candidacy in the election for vice chairman against the incumbent, Linda Capps. Rodd, a staff sergeant of the U.S. Army Reserve, dropped out of the tribal election after Barrett sent a letter to his commander requesting he not be allowed to run. According to court documents, Barrett expressed his belief in the letter that Rodd was violating an Army regulation by running in the tribal election. The advertisement, bearing the endorsement of Melot, Motley, Vieux and Hall, accuses Barrett of "underhanded" politics and signing the letter as if he represented the opinion of the entire tribe. Barrett blocked the group's attempt to publish the political ad in the How-Ni-Kan, the tribe's newspaper, and got an injunction in tribal court in an attempt to prevent it from appearing in any other publications. All of the defendants, with the exception of Hall, appeared in tribal court Dec. 27 to answer to the charges. Wano, one of the defendants, said the court's district judge, Phil Lujan, ordered that he and the Flynns be held in tribal police custody until they each posted an $1,165 bail. He said an arrest warrant was issued for Hall and the three other tribal officials were released on their own recognizance. The defendants are scheduled to appear again in court Thursday. Wano said they will know more about the evidence against them after the hearing. He said he thinks Thursday's proceeding will be similar to the preliminary hearing conferences held in Oklahoma district courts. Melot's attorney, Brad West, said he was notified Tuesday that the charges against the seven defendants would be amended to fall under the criminal code that was in effect when the alleged crime was committed. He said the law prohibiting defamation of character was altered in November to make banishment from the tribe, rather than jail time, a punishment for violating the law. He said the alteration to the law also would have taken away the defendants' rights to a jury trial because juries are only permitted in criminal cases in which jail is a potential sanction. West said the recent change in the law, followed by the charges against Melot are "100 percent politically motivated" to hurt Melot's campaign to keep his seat in the upcoming tribal election. Barrett told How-Ni-Kan readers in the fall they would be receiving a direct mailing about the upcoming election to fill Melot's seat and urged qualified candidates to consider running for the position. He also said there has been a long history of character assassinations, libel and abuse of the grievance procedure against him over the past three years and that he planned to use the tribe's laws and court system to "fight back." "I promise you that I am doing something about it, so that you, as a potential candidate do not have to suffer the same abuse, if you serve," he wrote in his column, From the Chairman. Melot and Motley, three years ago, were among those who opposed Barrett serving as tribal chairman and being paid to be the administrator of the tribe's daily operations. West said Melot is not guilty of the crime and it is likely that the person responsible for posting the advertisement on the Internet will come forward soon. He said that person is not a tribal member. The tribe's attorney general, Jon Pappas, could not be reached for comment. "The court documents speak for themselves," Barrett said Tuesday about the case. Copyright c. 2003 NewsOK/News 9/The Oklahoman. --------- "RE: lawyer facing Disbarment over Native Trust Funds" --------- Date: Wed 5 Feb 2003 08:22:56 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="TRUST FUNDS" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Lawyer-Trust-Funds.html Top Edmonton criminal lawyer facing disbarment over native trust funds February 5, 2003 EDMONTON (CP) -- One of Alberta's top criminal defence lawyers is facing disbarment over the alleged mishandling of aboriginal trust funds. Peter Hanington, who has handled a number of high-profile cases in Edmonton, appeared before an Alberta Law Society hearing panel Tuesday to respond to five charges that he improperly billed the trust funds of aboriginal youths. He is the third Alberta lawyer to appear before the panel since Wetaskiwin lawyer Ken Sockett was found guilty of fraudulent billings last year and suspended for 18 months. Brian Mardy, also of Wetaskiwin, was disbarred Monday on similar charges. Sockett's case, which involved nearly a hundred instances totalling more than $440,000, prompted the law society to audit several other Alberta firms that billed the funds more than $20,000 in legal fees. The lawyers were all accused of making false billings to the federal Indian Affairs Department, which controls trust funds for aboriginal youths. Hanington, who has practiced in Edmonton for 27 years and handled more than 70 murder cases, has admitted to making the billings in an agreed statement of facts filed with the three-member panel. But the visibly distraught lawyer maintained Tuesday that he believed the guardians had the authority to access the trust funds and that he didn't deliberately try to deceive the Indian Affairs department. "I thought the guardian could withdraw funds from those accounts and the management of the account was through the guardian," he said. He told the panel he now realizes that is not the case. "I am sitting in a situation where I am totally embarrassed by this," he said, struggling to hold his emotions in check. "It sounds like I am professing to be one of the stupidest lawyers in the city." Until they reach the age of 18, aboriginal youths can only access the funds for legal fees, dental services, eyeglasses and tuition, the panel heard. The money is sent directly to the service provider. The youths in question are members of the Ermineskin, Louis Bull, Montana and Samson bands near Hobbema, about 80 kilometres south of Edmonton. The bands receive oilfield revenues which are put into trust accounts for underage members. On one charge, Hanington is accused of billing the trust fund for legal fees for one youth's adult boyfriend and for billing -- under the guise of legal fees -- additional amounts for cash advances for her. He told the panel the pregnant 17-year-old girl, who was living with her boyfriend and his mother, wanted her account to be used to help defend her boyfriend and needed additional money to care for the baby. "I was satisfied she was making a reasonable request," he said. "They weren't going to be used for a trip to Disneyland. They were going to be used for necessities." In another case, he admitted billing four trust accounts for a total of $18,457, of which $13,000 went to the youth's parents and guardians and $5, ,457 to his firm for legal services provided. "He represented to Indian Affairs that this entire amount was for legal fees for these four young people," Janet Dixon, a Law Society lawyer, told the panel, chaired by Calgary lawyer Perry Mack. Hanington said the money that was over and above his legal fees was provided to pay the arrears on a grandmother's phone and utility bills and repair damage to her house to make it inhabitable. He conceded there was an enormous inconsistency with his being concerned about the use the funds were to be put to and his contention that the guardian had the right to authorize him to bill the account. "I wasn't trying to stand there as a gatekeeper," he said. "I only had a concern that the funds were being withdrawn for proper purposes. Otherwise, I would just be a Money Mart." However, he said, one youth used some money accessed through him to buy drugs and throw a party which resulted in a number of criminal charges. Michael Sidon, a manager with Indian Affairs estates and trusts division, said his staff didn't check the information provided by the lawyers. "We trusted that the information that we received was correct, that it met the minimal requirements for legal fees for the child . . . and that the need was legitimate," he testified. Since the law society investigations began, the department has tightened up the billing process, making what Sidon called "fairly drastic changes." The department now requires that lawyers provide photo identification of their clients and court documents proving the charges against them and their appearances in court. Copyright c. 2003, CANOE, a division of Netgraphe Inc. --------- "RE: Native Prisoner" --------- Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 08:19:12 -0600 From: Janet Smith Subj: Native Prisoner ===== Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 00:45:02 -0600 From: Kathleen Burgess Subj: Pen Pals Wanted ...if you could have my son put on the penpal list you had him on before, I would appreciate it. His new address is David Burgess #32391 South Dakota State Penitentiary PO Box 5911 Sioux Falls, SD 57117 He is currently in the hole, receiving no mental health care and is quite suicidal. He is in his cell for 24 hrs per day alone, and mail would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Kathleen Burgess ----------------------------- Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 15:14:48 -0000 From: Kevin Subj: 29 year old male from Ma looking for penpals Mailing List : Iron House Drums I am writing on behalf of a friend. I am under his yahoo ID. He is desperatly looking for someone to write him, He loves to write and talk with people. He is very outgoing and friendly. He is looking for someone open and honest like him and who is willing to start a friendship via snail mail. He prefers US residents but if you are overseas he would need you to send a self addressed stamped envelope because he cannot afford the cost to mail overseas. His hobbies are working out,reading,writing and drawing beautiful art pieces. He is sentenced for stealing a tv and has a non-violent record. He is not sentenced for any crimes of a violent nature and never has been. You do not have to worry about writing this inmate. If you are willing to write his is willing to answer any and all questions you may have for him. He truely is a special person with a huge heart,he is always trying to help others. If you are interested in what he looks like please check out his yahoo profile. He is in desperate need of just at least one person to give him a chance he has no family to write him. Here is his address to write,please do not send email unless you would like to confirm that you sent mail to him. I will relay the message. Kevin Souto W-70087 make sure to put this number MCI NORFOLK P.O.Box 43 Norfolk,MA 02056 ---------------------------------- Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 04:13:24 -0800 (PST) From: "THUNDERINGDRUMS@webtv.net" Subj: Former prison guards sentenced 6-year and 7-year terms Mailing List : Iron House Drums http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/02/07/BA80585.DTL Former prison guards sentenced 6-year and 7-year terms for pair who set up assaults at Pelican Bay Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, February 7, 2003 Copyright c. 2003 San Francisco Chronicle Two former guards at Pelican Bay State Prison were sentenced to federal prison Thursday for setting up assaults on inmates, mostly child molesters and other sex criminals. In sentencing Michael Powers to seven years and Jose Ramon Garcia to more than six years, a federal judge in San Francisco said they had abused the prisoners they were sworn to protect. The guards' "experience and information was used for bad, not good," said U. S. District Judge Martin Jenkins. Defense lawyers said they would appeal the convictions. They persuaded Jenkins to reduce the sentences somewhat below the norm because the former guards would likely be at risk of attacks from other inmates. They remain free on bail. Powers, 56, and Garcia, 48, were convicted last May of conspiring to violate the civil rights of prisoners who were beaten or stabbed by other inmates between July 1992 and August 1996. Powers was implicated in seven attacks and Garcia in six. Prosecutors said the guards targeted convicted child molesters and rapists, as well as prisoners who would not cooperate with them. They offered other inmates alcohol and other privileges to attack them. The prosecution case depended heavily on testimony from prisoners, some of whom received sentence reductions for their cooperation. Pelican Bay, in a remote corner of Del Norte County, houses some of the state's most violent prisoners. In 1995, a federal judge found a pattern of brutality by guards and ordered changes in conditions and operations at the prison. In a 1998 trial in Del Norte County, Garcia was convicted of conspiracy to assault Pelican Bay inmates and was sentenced to more than four years in state prison. After he was paroled, with time off for good behavior, a judge overturned his conviction on the grounds of incompetence by his trial lawyer, Robert Noel. Later, Noel and his wife, attorney Marjorie Knoller, were convicted of manslaughter in the dog-mauling death of a San Francisco woman. Garcia's current lawyer, Matthew Pavone, argued Thursday that his federal sentence should be shortened considerably because he already served time for "essentially the same conduct" and is now undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. Jenkins agreed that those circumstances justified some leniency but said Garcia's federal conviction involved more assaults than the Del Norte case. E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko@sfchronicle.com. Copyright c. 2003 San Francisco Chronicle. ~Thundering Drums~ http://www.angelfire.com/wy/nainmatessupportgrp/index.html http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IRONHOUSEDRUMS/ --------- "RE: Rustywire: Past Wood Springs" --------- Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2002 21:34:30 -0000 From: "John Rustywire" Subj: past wood springs Mailing List: ndn-aim out past summit on the road west to Ganado there is an old trading post, Cross Canyon it was called it is just a shell of what once was there but beyond that there is a road that goes to a place called Wood Springs, it is in the pines and i am on the road there. travelling a long ways to get there, it is a windy dirt road, taking my red cherokee off road over bumpy roads about 4 or 5 miles off the main highway past the brush oak and red berry bushes which we call chilchin, there is a shade house packed with the smell of food cooking, mutton ribs, hot coffee, fry bread and stew. in the way of things there are many vehicles gathered there, and the night is long. there will be three large bon fires of cedar lighting the midnight sky with golden embers taking the chill out of night air. The flickering light will cast long shadows across the sage. from the darkness they will emerge, those figures, dietiess, they are, covered in white paint gathered from White Clay, masked faces and necks ringed with pine boughs and they will step in time th