From gars@speakeasy.org Tue Mar 25 22:02:26 2003 Date: 19 Mar 2003 01:14:38 -0000 From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews11.012 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 012 | Country than is reported in | O o o o o O | this weekly newsletter. For | O o O March 22, 2003 | For daily updates & events | O o O | go http://www.owlstar.com/ | O | dailyheadlines.htm | Cree migisupizum/eagle moon +-----------------------------+ Mvskokee tasahcucee/little spring 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, Indian Trust ListServ, Frostys AmerIndian and Native American Advocate 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: + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + ======================== "The horse is our brother. We ride them; parade them; we use them in ceremonies; and we give them away to our brothers-in-law. The horse is completely involved in Crow culture." __ Joe Medicine Crow, Crow +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! The Miccosukee are struggling against an imperialist Florida state government that assumed jurisdiction over Native lands during the shameful termination activities during the mid-50's to mid/late-60's. During that disgraceful period, government institutions right up to and including President Eisenhower attempted to rob all Native Peoples of rights obtained through treaty. To this day, the state of Florida maintains jurisdiction control illegally stolen from tribes within that state's borders. The state of Nebraska, with towns such as Pender on reservation edges, nearly went to riot state when the Omaha Tribal Police dared to set up a traffic safety point on reservation lands controlling west-bound traffic into Pender. The very audacity of these Indians daring to invoke jurisdictional control over traffic through their reservation was simply something the "dominant society" was not willing to accept. I notice NONE of the white-dominated news interests have expressed similar outrage over the package stores lining Main Street White Clay. Lincoln Star Journal has reported far more fairly, thanks in large measure to the presence of Jodi Rave Lee on their staff - and the management that had the foresight and wisdom to hire her. If you live in Shiprock or Rapid City you've seen "the attitude" and the consequences of this paternalism and self-serving arrogance every single day. If it were restricted to state or even local governments it would be bad enough. The fact is, it is national in scope. The tragedy over the Indian Trust Fund playing out in Federal Judge Royce Lamberth's court and the continuing efforts of the Department of Interior to deny responsibility is more than ample evidence. The situation is not hopeless. The fact that Eloise Cobell is able to carry her case forward in a Federal Court ... that Jodi Rave Lee is an award winning reporter for Nebraska's major paper should give every Native in the country heart to continue the struggle. And we must continue the struggle. Florida, Nebraska, Gail Norton, and too many others to name are all proof that we are a long way from anything resembling true sovereignty. For many in local and state governments, and for many people who somehow perceive themselves as decent and fair-minded, the preferred answer to the "Indian Question" is still "No Indians." Dohiyi Ani Oginalii , , Gary Night Owl gars@nanews.org (*,*) P. O. Box 672168 gars@speakeasy.org (`-') Marietta, GA 30008, U.S.A. ===w=w=== ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- - Crossings - Treaties 'imminent,' - Oldest Blackfeet says First Nations Leader celebrates 101st Birthday - A Lack of Accountability - Better Water on the way - Aboriginal, Non-Aboriginal for Fort Peck Education Gap Closing - CNO Housing Authority - Anglican Church, Ottawa plans Layoffs seal Abuse Fund Deal - Indian Students raising Money - Manitoba First Nation sues Ottawa for Curriculum - Two Saskatoon Policemen convicted - Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund - Part of Massacre Site - Lumbee should be allowed will go to Shoshones to make `Indian' Case - CNO Defendants plead Guilty - Tribal Members from Montana - O'odham Chairman learn from Utes is quickly Acquitted - IIM Accounting keeps changing - Native Prisoner - Editorial: -- Inmates may be barred Score one for the Indians from seeking pen pals - Indian Trust: - Rustywire: Beyond Two Gray Hills Court Memorandum and Order - History: Carlisle Indian School - Earl Old Person wants - Poem: Mother of All Bombs-MOAB to remain in Trust Suit - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days - House panel to talk ANWR Drilling - This Week on First Peoples TV - Nunavut Budget raids Surplus - Aboriginal Achievement Awards to boost Health - Specials This Week on APTN --------- "RE: Crossings" --------- Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 08:10:52 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CROSSINGS" March 15, 2003 Tobias W. "Bio" Shaw Tobias W. "Bio" Shaw, 24, of Ft. Totten, ND, died Saturday March 8, 2003 in Devils Lake, ND in a house fire. Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in Seven Dolors Catholic Church, Fort Totten. Burial will be held at St. Thomas Cemetery in Crow Hill District. Pallbearers will be his many friends and family members. Wake services will be held today, beginning at 5 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 8 p.m. at the Crow Hill Recreation Center. Tobias W. "Bio" Shaw was born Oct. 4, 1978 in Devils Lake N.D., son of Whalen Sr. and Renita Shaw. He was a member of the Spirit Lake Nation. He attended Little Hoop Head Start, Fort Winds Elementary, Prairie View Elementary, Central Middle School, Devils Lake High School, and graduated from Four Winds High School. In his junior and senior years he was on the Four Winds Football Team. In 1992 he attended the Pre-College Summer Institute sponsored by the Indians into Medicine Program, also in 1992 he participated in the Regional Annual Native American Science and Engineering Fair Competition in Bismarck, ND and placed second. He then advanced onto the Nationals in Milwaukee Wis., where he placed first. Tobias also attended courses at Little Hoop Community College. Tobias earned two Security certificates for Basic Security Training and Casino Security, he also took part in and was involved with the Ft. Totten Fire Department Hand crew, and Spirit Lake Emergency Medical Service. Tobias was knowledgeable and skilled in advanced technology audio systems he placed fourth in a Team Electronics Rockford Fosgate DBL Competition with a 147.2 DBL Systems Rating held in Grand Forks, ND. His favorite pastimes included skateboarding, Internet surfing, fixing up his car, joking and just plain horsing around. He was currently employed as a recreation and youth adviser for Spirit Lake Nation. Bio took interest in working with youth and providing after school activities/recreation for the Crow Hill children, including a special friend Joey Robertson who had a special place in BIOS heart. Tobias appreciated life, even at the time of his untimely passing he fought to extinguish flames saving other lives in the process of losing his own. He will be deeply missed by all. He is survived by his parents, Whalen and Renita Shaw, Sr.; grandfather, Andrew Shaw; brothers, Denver, Whalen Jr. (Breanne), Gandi, Andrew, and Bryer; adopted brothers, Tom Solway and Allen Alberts Jr.; sister Meada (Scott) Jetty; great-grandmothers, Lillian Shaw and Herminia McKay; grandmothers, Ardis Shaw, Ernestine Herman, Bernice Cavanaugh, Janice McKay, Romona Cannon, Pauline Graywater, Elaine Robertson, Helena Littleghost, Elizabeth Littleghost, Arlene Gomez and Lavern Peltier; nephews, Jordan Skadsem, Devin Littlewind and James Alberts; nieces, Whitney, Shanae, and Miranda; and grandfathers, Vincent Shaw, Ambrose Littleghost and Leroy Littleghost. He was preceded in death by his great-grandfather, William Little Ghost; great-grandmother, Suzie "Black Tiger" Cavanaugh; grandmothers, Angline Little Ghost and Patricia Shaw; great-grandfathers, William Shaw Jr., Joeseph "Grampsie" and Martha Little Wind; grandparents, Pius and Mary "Waanatan" Little Wind; uncle, Alfred Little Wind and Carol Little Wind; and cousin, Fabian "Fabes" Little Wind. Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2003 Devils Lake Daily Journal. -=-=-=- March 11, 2003 Corrina Y. Eagle Elk KYLE - Corrina Y. Eagle Elk, 36, Kyle, died Wednesday, March 5, 2003, as the result of an automobile accident east of Rapid City. Survivors include three sons, Travis Black Spotted Horse, Jimmy Black Spotted Horse and Stetson Black Spotted Horse, all of Rosebud; three daughters, Contessa Eagle Elk and Gwendolyn Eagle Elk, both of Allen, and Christy Black Spotted Horse, Rosebud; her mother, Victoria Eagle Elk, Kyle; four brothers, Jesse Eagle Elk and Christopher Eagle Elk, both of Rosebud, Cheyenne Eagle Elk, Kyle, and George Eagle Elk, Lexington, Neb.; and five sisters, Amy Eagle Elk, Parmelee, JoAnne Eagle Elk and Marie Eagle Elk-Black Bear, both of Rapid City, Hilda Eagle Elk, Alliance, Neb., and Diane Eagle Elk, Rapid City. A three-night wake will begin at 1 p.m. today at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Kyle. The second and third night will begin at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at Grass Mountain Community Hall near Rosebud. Traditional Lakota services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 14, at the community hall, with Roy Stone officiating. Burial will be at Eagle Elk Family Plot in Grass Mountain Community Cemetery west of Rosebud. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. March 12, 2003 Marie M. Espinoza WOUNDED KNEE - Marie M. Espinoza, 80, Wounded Knee, died Friday, March 7, 2003, in Rapid City. Survivors include two sons, Paul Espinoza, Salinas, Calif., and Darryl Espinoza, Pine Ridge; one daughter, Carol Lamont, Salinas; one brother, Robert Lamont, Wounded Knee; four sisters, Alyce Lamont, Rebecca Lamont and Angelique Olona, all of Gordon, Neb., and Katherine Hudson, Reno, Nev. ; and numerous grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Church of the Nazarene, Fast Horse Creek, Wounded Knee, with the Rev. Cecelia Spotted Bear officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in a private family ceremony at Fast Horse Creek Cemetery. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. March 13, 2003 Thomas L. Pourier PORCUPINE - Thomas L. Pourier, 66, Porcupine, died Monday, March 10, 2003, in Rapid City. Survivors include his wife, Thelma Janis, Porcupine; four sons, Thomas Pourier Jr., Marty Pourier and Eric Pourier, all of Porcupine, and Lawrence Pourier, Rapid City; five daughters, Jeannie Pourier, Batesland, Janet Pourier, Wakpamni, Carla Ghost Bear, Oglala, and Cheryl White Eyes and Gwendolyn Kingi, both of Porcupine; one brother, Sidney Pourier, Pine Ridge; one sister, Georgia Rae Pourier, Porcupine; 22 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A one-night wake will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 16, at Our Lady of Lourdes Gym in Porcupine. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17, at the gym, with the Rev. Bill Pauly officiating. Burial will be at Christ the King Catholic Cemetery in Porcupine. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Lucas Grey Day-Ghost Bear PINE RIDGE - Lucas Grey Day-Ghost Bear, 21, Pine Ridge, died Sunday, March 9, 2003, in Rapid City. Survivors include his mother, Katherine Grey Day, Rapid City; four brothers, Marvin Ghost Bear Jr., Wolf Creek, Shawn Ghost Bear, Manderson, Jarrel Ghost Bear, Rosebud, and Sam Ghost Bear, Oglala; and six sisters, Jenny Ghost Bear, Rapid City, Tammy Joyce Ghost Bear, Pine Ridge, Carissa Ghost Bear and Misty Ghost Bear, both of Rapid City, and Eileen Ghost Bear and Mary Ghost Bear, both of Oglala. A one-night wake will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, March 14, in the Bill C. Memorial Gym at Batesland School. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 15, in the school gym, with the Rev. Joe Brown Thunder and Mr. Ben Conquering Bear officiating. Wilmer Mesteth and Jerome Lebeau will officiate over traditional Lakota services. Burial will be at Messiah Episcopal Cemetery in Wounded Knee. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. March 15, 2003 Krystal Feather Two Crow PORCUPINE - Krystal Feather Two Crow, infant daughter of Sheldon Two Crow and Cathy White Face of Porcupine, was stillborn Thursday, March 13, 2003, in Pine Ridge. Survivors include her parents; her paternal grandmother, Carol Two Crow; and her maternal grandparents, Rose and Howard White Face. A one-night wake will begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 16, at the Porcupine CAP. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17, at the Porcupine CAP, with the Rev. Phil Compton and the Rev. Howard White Face officiating. Burial will be at Lakota Gospel Cemetery in Porcupine. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Floyd O. Comes Last RAPID CITY - Floyd O. Comes Last, 56, Rapid City, died Thursday, March 13, 2003, in Rapid City. Survivors include his wife, Jessie Yellow Boy-Comes Last, Rapid City; one son, Gerald Young, Poplar, Mont.; two stepsons, Julian Yellow Boy and Zackery Yellow Boy, both of Rapid City; one daughter, JaTonna Four Star, Billings, Mont.; two brothers, Alfred Comes Last, Billings, Mont., and Charles Comes Last, Okanogan, Wash.; and three sisters, Violet Stand Fast and Elizabeth Shawl, both of Okanogan, and Rosemarie Bercier, Wolf Point, Mont. A two-night wake will begin at 11 a.m. today at Billy Mills Hall in Pine Ridge. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17, at Billy Mills Hall, with the Rev. Darrell New and the Rev. Abraham Tobacco officiating. Burial will be at Wolf Creek Community Cemetery. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. March 18, 2003 Florence Cross Dog OGLALA - Florence Cross Dog, 65, Oglala, died Thursday, March 13, 2003, in Rapid City. Survivors include six sons, John Cross Dog Sr., Chester Cross Dog, Ronald Cross Dog Sr. and Rex Crow, all of Oglala, Lincoln Cross Dog, Chadron, Neb., and William Cross Dog, Lompoc, Calif.; two daughters, Wanda Cross Dog and Flora Cortier, both of Oglala; three brothers, Floyd Walks Out and Leonard Walks Out, both of Oglala, and Hermis Walks Out, San Diego; three sisters, Norma Blacksmith and Aurelia Two Crow, both of Oglala, and Minerva Blacksmith, Phoenix; 23 grandchildren; and one great- grandchild. A two-night wake will begin at 1 p.m. today at Brother Rene Church Hall in Oglala. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 20, at the church hall, with the Rev. Ben Tyon officiating. Burial will be at Advent Cemetery in Calico. Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2003 the Rapid City Journal. -=-=-=- March 17, 2003 Eva Taylor O'John Eva Taylor O'John, a Southern Ute tribal member and former board member for the Denver Indian Center died Thursday, March 13, 2003, at Denver Health Medical Center in Denver of cancer. She was 60. "She was a courageous woman. I always admired her. She raised three children from a wheelchair," said Carolynne Taylor, Mrs. O'John's sister- in-law. Mrs. O'John sustained a spinal injury from a car accident at 16, but the accident did not stop her from living a productive life, Mrs. Taylor said. Mrs. O'John was born Aug. 4, 1942, in Ignacio. She earned a bachelor's degree and later attended Metro State College in Denver to pursue a master's degree. She served as a board member at the Denver Indian Center, an organization that provides employment and training services, community resources and referrals for various American Indian tribes. Mrs. O'John was a former treasurer and president of the Denver Housing Board, and she was an active volunteer in the Denver public school system and United Way. She enjoyed helping people and spending time with her grandchildren. Her brother, Erwin Taylor, of Ignacio, said she enjoyed traditional Southern Ute events such as the Bear Dance and Sun Dance. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cavanaugh O'John Sr. Mrs. O'John is survived by her father, Henry Taylor Sr. of Ignacio; a daughter, Cecilia O'John of Denver; two sons, Cavanaugh O'John Jr. and Amos O'John, both of Denver; grandchildren, Christina O'John, Franklin O'John, Milo O'John, Darwin O'John, Darrin O'John, Davin O'John, Andrew O'John, Lonicia O'John, all of Denver; five brothers, Henry Taylor Jr. of Ignacio, Laddie Taylor of Ignacio, Erwin Taylor of Bayfield, Robert Taylor of Ignacio, and Gene Valdez of Ignacio; five sisters, Henrietta Taylor of Denver, Desiree Taylor of Denver, Mary Taylor of Ignacio, Marilyn Cotton of Ignacio, and Marie Rivas of Pagosa Springs; and numerous other family members. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of Christ in Bayfield. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hood Mortuary Chapel in Durango. Mrs. O'John will be buried at Ouray Memorial Cemetery in Ignacio. Copyright c. 2003 Durango Herald. -=-=-=- March 12, 2003 Oscar Cornelius Bolin DRY CREEK - Funeral services for Oscar Cornelius Bolin, 82, of Dry Creek, will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 13, 2003, at the Dry Creek General Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Pettit officiating. Burial will follow at the Barber Cemetery under the direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home of Tahlequah. Pallbearers will be Myron Bolin, Dale Bolin, Ricky Jones, Dennis Gourd, Kenneth Gourd, Steve Jones, James Gourd and Everett Bolin. Honorary pallbearers will be Edward Bolin, Gilbert Bolin, Tony Stayathome, Leroy Grayson and Tiny Flynn. Mr. Bolin was born on Aug. 31, 1920, in Sequoyah County, the son of John M. and Lila (Banty) Bolin, and he passed from this life on Monday, March 10, 2003, at his home in Dry Creek. He was born and raised in Sequoyah County. He later married Nellie Mae Smith, the granddaughter of Red Bird Smith of Vian. They moved to Cherokee County and made their home at Dry Creek. Oscar and Nellie had five sons and five daughters. He loved being around his family and friends. He loved all of his family members. Oscar was surrounded with love by all of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. His wife, parents, three sisters, one brother and one half-brother preceded Oscar in death. Among those he leaves behind are his children, Naomi and the late Bobby Gourd of Park Hill, Jenni K. Hendricks and husband Billy of Dry Creek, Mary and the late Andrew Pritchett of Dry Creek, Martha Jones of Park Hill, Ella (Tech) Bolin of the home, Don and the late Geneva Bolin, Dean Bolin and wife Mildred , Donald Ray Bolin and wife Jean, Johnny Bolin and wife Mary, and David Bolin and Elsie Pritchett, all of Dry Creek; 39 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren as well as many other friends and loved ones. Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 W. Delaware, 456-2551. Copyright c. 2003 Tahlequah Daily Press. -=-=-=- March 15, 2003 Robert Everett Ellis Robert Everett "Bob" Ellis, 61, of Shawnee died Thursday in Shawnee. He was born May 1, 1941, in Prague to Levi and Mary Elizabeth (Spooner) Ellis. He grew up near Prague and attended school at Centerview. Ellis worked as a heavy equipment operator. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Ellis was a Shawnee resident for many years and attended a Native American church. Ellis was preceded in death by his father and his brother, Mike Ellis. Survivors include his mother, Mary Ellis of Shawnee; two sons, Levi Ellis of Shawnee and Lawrence Ellis of Davenport; and two sisters, Marlene Ellis and Julia Ellis, both of Prague. Tribal rites will be 10 a.m. Sunday at the McKosato Family Cemetery. Ellis will be taken to the McKosato family home at 4 p.m. today. Arrangements are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service of Prague. Copyright c. 1998-2003 The Ponca City News. -=-=-=- March 11, 2003 Ramona Leona Mack Yones Ramona Leona Mack Yones, 79, of Shawnee died Saturday at a local nursing home. She was born April 14, 1923, in Tecumseh to Henry and Mary (Bullfrog) Mack. She attended OK School in the Pink area and had lived in the Shawnee area all her life. She married Arthur Franklin Yones. He preceded her in death on March 19, 1990. She had worked as a nurse most of her life and retired from Colonial Estates after 20 years. She was a member of the First Indian Baptist Church and attended Sunday services at Shawnee Care Center. She also was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Arthur Franklin Yones Jr.; two brothers, William Cody Mack and William Exendine, and two sisters, Emily Littlebear and Cornelia Kaseca. Survivors include three sons and one daughter-in-law, James Cody Spybuck of Stillwater, Larry E. and Gloria Spybuck of Shawnee, Arthur Ralph Yones of Shawnee; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Serena Mae and Ken Daugherty of Shawnee, Emily Spybuck Longman of Newalla, Rita Ann and James Pine of Tecumseh; 20 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; three great- -great-grandchildren; one brother, Dewayne Mack of Shawnee; one niece she raised, Ella Mae Greer Tasier of Shawnee, and many other relatives Services will be 10 a.m. today at the Chapel of Walker Funeral Service of Shawnee with the Rev. Ellis Rolette officiating. Burial will follow at Tecumseh Cemetery. March 16, 2003 Lucille Longhorn Norman resident Lucille (Blanchard) Longhorn, 76, died Saturday in Norman. She was born Jan. 13, 1927, in Little Axe to Henry Caleb Blanchard and Mary Anna (Spoon) Blanchard. She attended school at Little Axe and Norman. She was a longtime resident of Little Axe and was married to Wayne Allen Longhorn. Longhorn was a homemaker and was a member of the Absentee Shawnee tribe. She was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Harold Bruce Longhorn. Survivors include her husband, Wayne Longhorn of the home; five sons, Leonard Longhorn, Tom Longhorn and Vincent Longhorn, all of Tecumseh, Darrell Longhorn of Norman and Warren Longhorn of Newalla; two daughters, Jayne Werst of Newalla and Judy Bender of Norman; two brothers, Lewis Blanchard of Newalla and Clifton Blanchard of Shawnee; three sisters, Lousetta Gibson, Elsie Patty and Velma Gibson, all of Norman; 24 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A wake will be tonight at the Little Axe Community Center. Tribal rites will be Monday morning at Absentee Shawnee Tribal Cemetery with Don White officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home. Copyright c. 1997-2003 The Shawnee News-Star. -=-=-=- March 11, 2003 Susan Cardoza Funeral services for Sasakwa native Susan (Pennokee) Cardoza, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at the Birdcreek Baptist Church in Sasakwa. Brother Ledtkey McIntosh and Brother Eugene Harjo will officiate. Burial will follow at the Wilson Family Cemetery in Sasakwa, under the direction of PickardSwearingen Funeral Home of Konawa. Wake services will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at Glorieta Baptist Church, located at 7308 S. Western in Oklahoma City. Mrs. Cardoza will be moved to the Bird Creek Baptist Church in Sasakwa on Wednesday evening, with other wake services planned for Thursday night at 7 p.m. Cardoza died Monday, March 10, 2003 at her home in Oklahoma City at the age of 55. She was born to Richmond Pennokee and Virginia (Wolfe) Pennokee on Jan. 19, 1948 in Sasakwa. Cardoza was a dietician and Cafeteria Manager for Oklahoma City Public Schools. She was a member of the Bird Creek Baptist Church in Sasakwa. Cardoza was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; one sister, Ramona Stewart on Dec. 11, 2002; her husband, Sam Chotkey; and one son, Richmond Chotkey. She is survived by two sons, Gabriel Cardoza, and Johnny Cardoza, both of Oklahoma City; three brothers, Richard, Gary, and Nathan Pennokee, all of Oklahoma City; three sisters, Nancy Musser, Belva Pennokee, and Rachel Pennokee, all of Oklahoma City; and one grandchild. Pallbearers will be Anthony Bitseedy, R.J. Harjo, Joey Pennokee, James Haag, Matt DeLana, and Terry Harjo. The Seminole Producer/Copyright c 1999-2000 Arizona Newspapers Assn. -=-=-=- March 12, 2003 Kasey Benally Nov. 11, 1984 - March 8, 2003 Kasey Benally, 18, of Shiprock, passed away Saturday, March 8, 2003. Kasey was the son of Janelia Smiley-Benally of Sanostee and Kenneth Benally of Red Valley, Ariz. Funeral services are pending with Chapel of Memories Funeral Home, 458 C.R. 6100, Kirtland, (505) 598-9636. Copyright c. 1999-2003 MediaNews Group, Inc./Farmington, NM. -=-=-=- March 10, 2003 Elizabeth Endito THOREAU - Services for Elizabeth Endito, 69, will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 11 at Thoreau Church of God. Pastor Ray Barker will officiate. Burial will follow at Thoreau Community Cemetery. Endito died March 6 in Thoreau. She was born Dec. 1, 1933 in Thoreau into the Sagebrush People Clan for the Towering House People Clan. Endito was a homemaker. Her hobbies included weaving, silversmithing, ranching and watching WWF wrestling. Survivors include her sons, Melton Mariano, Albert Sandoval, Herbert Sandoval Jr., Jerry Sandoval of Thoreau, Jeremy Sandoval of Utah; daughters, Rosita Black of Albuquerque and Veronica Ballesteros of Thoreau; brothers, Andy Endito and Homer Endito Sr. both of Thoreau; sisters, Betsy King of Iyanbito and Bixie Endito of Thoreau; 20 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Endito was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Sandoval Sr.; parents, Flora and Arthur Endito; and brother, Raymond Endito. Pallbearers will be Jeremy Sandoval, Eliseo Ballesteros, Wayne Black, Earnest Largo, Paul Endito, Nicholas Mendoza, Steve Morgan and Earl Endito. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Thoreau Chapter House. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. March 11, 2003 Herbert Tsosie Brown Sr. SHEEPSPRINGS - Services for Herbert Brown Sr., 70, will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 12 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Fort Defiance, Ariz. Burial will follow in Deer Springs, Ariz. Brown Sr. died March 6 in Shiprock. He was born June 6, 1932 in Sawmill, Ariz. into the Red Running into the Water People Clan for the Tangle People Clan. Brown Sr. was employed with the Navajo Tribe, BIA Roads, Brown Construction of Albuquerque, Nielson Inc. of Delores, Colo., L.C.O.P at Naschitti Chapter and T.S.R. of Phoenix. He was a member of the Sheepsprings Chapter Planning Committee and rodeo committee of Sawmill, Ariz. His hobbies included volleyball, baseball, and auto mechanics. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Fannie Brown; sons, Herbert Brown Jr., Leroy Brown and Philbert Brown of Sheepsprings, Vincent Brown, Delbert Brown both of Navajo, N.M., Carlbert Brown of Albuquerque, Hubert Brown of Farmington, Norbert Brown of Fort Defiance, Ariz., Robert James Jr. of Shiprock and Alexander Bryant of Naschitti; daughters, Barbara Tony of Tohatchi, Varbara Yazzie and Nanetta Brown of Farmington, Orlena DeChee of Navajo, N.M., Johanna and Shannon Brown of Sheepsprings, Paula Nez, Roberta Garcia and Sheila James of Shiprock; brothers, Paul N. Brown of Shiprock and Herman J. Brown of Navajo, N.M.; sister, Lula Brown Edison of Window Rock; 34 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Brown was preceded in death by his son, Halbert Brown; daughters, Velma Brown and Bertha Brown; parents, Newton and Edna A. Brown; brothers, Norman T. Brown, Anslem J. Brown, Francis H. Brown Sr.; and sisters, Susie Tallwood and Helena Fuson. Pallbearers will be Delbert Brown, Vincent Brown, Norbert Brown, Hubert Brown, Carlbert Brown and Leroy Brown. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Navajo Recreation Center, Navajo, N.M. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Joseph Tsosie MEXICAN SPRINGS - Services for Joseph Tsosie, 52, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 12 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Tohatchi. Burial will follow on family land, Mexican Springs. Tsosie died March 7 in Gallup. He was born Nov. 8, 1950 in Mexican Springs into the Near the Water People Clan for the Mexican People Clan. Tsosie attended Tohatchi Boarding School, Tohatchi High School and Long Beach Calfornia Vo-Tech School. He was employed as a carpentor and in construction. His hobbies included horseback riding, participating in rodeos, and going to NAC church. Survivors include his mother, Thelma Tsosie; brothers, George Tsosie of Crystal, Henry Tsosie of Ganado, Ariz., Joe L. Tsosie and Leonard Tsosie both of Mexican Springs; sisters, Catherine Manning of Michigan, Shirley M. Tsosie of Gallup, Elizabeth Bitsilly, Veronica Garnenez, and Margaret Thomas all of Mexican Springs. Tsosie was preceded in death by his father, Charlie Tsosie; brother, Albert Tsosie and sister, Janice Tsosie. Pallbearers will be George Tsosie, Joe L. Tsosie, Ridley Bitsilly, Marcos Tsosie, Willie Sherman Jr. and Erwin Tsosie. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Betty Jane Davis MARIANO LAKE - Graveside services for Betty Davis, 83, will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 12 at Mariano Lake Cemetery. Davis died March 8 in Albuquerque. She was born Oct. 10, 1919 in Mariano Lake into the Red Streak People Clan for the Salt People Clan. Davis was a rug weaver, silversmith and homemaker. Survivors include her sons, Liston Davis and Melton Davis both of Gallup; daughters, Sadie Tsosie of Fairfield, Calif., Larose Johnson of Continental Divide, Karmalita Davis and Darlene Davis both of Mariano Lake; brother, Chee John of Mariano Lake; 18 grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Ryan Davis, Brian Davis, Delbert Davis, Shawn Ray Tsosie, Tyson Tulley and John Payton Jr. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Jerrison "Jerry" Benallie Sr. CHURCH ROCK - Services for Jerrison Benallie Sr., 37, will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 12 at Rehoboth Christian Reform Church. Clarence Benally will officiate. Burial will follow at Rehoboth Cemetery. Benallie Sr. died March 7 in Church Rock. He was born Dec. 24, 1965 in Gallup into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Red House People Clan. Benallie Sr. attended Crownpoint Elementary and Gallup High School. He was employed with Denny's resturant, Kristy's Coffee Shop and Ellis Tanner's. His hobbies included rodeos, playing basketball and watching football. Survivors include his wife, Mattie Begay; sons, Roderrick Begay, Julius Benallie and Jerrison Benallie Jr. all of Church Rock; mother, Louise Benallie; brothers, Larry Benallie, Allison Benallie, Benson Benallie and Robertson Benallie all of Church Rock Mine; sister, Lisa Benallie of Church Rock Mine; and grandmother, Mildred Benallie. Benallie Sr. was preceded in death by his father, Francis Benallie and grandparents, Grace and Ray Nachin and Tom Benallie. Pallbeaers will be Allison Benallie, Benson Benallie, Robertson Benallie, Aveler Nachin, Trevor Nachin and Tony Nachin. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Church Rock Chapter House. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. March 12, 2003 Garry Chee Benally WIDE RUINS, Ariz. - Services for Garry Benally, 23, were held at 10 a.m., today, at Indian Holiness Mission, Chambers, Ariz. Burial followed in Wide Ruins. Benally died March 7 in Gallup. He was born Feb. 28, 1980 in Keams Canyon into the Redhouse People Clan for the Towering House People Clan. Benally attended Wide Ruins Boarding School, Junior High School and Wingate High School. He was employed with Chevron, in Flagstaff, Ariz. as a sales associate. Survivors include his parents, Anita Begay and Billy Chee Benally; brothers, twin Terry C. Benally, Harry Keams, Henry Keams and Jerry Benally; sisters, Betty Keams, Sophina C. Benally and Valerie C. Benally. Pallbearers will be Jason Keams, Gary McElfresh and Ethan McElfresh. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. March 13, 2003 Margret Chee Parker BLACKHAT - Services for Margaret Parker, 89, will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, March 14 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Pastor Robert Hurber will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery. Parker died March 8 in Gallup. She was born Nov. 10, 1913 in Blackhat into the Mountain Cove People Clan for the Edge Water People Clan. Parker was a homemaker. Her hobbies included quilting and rugweaving. Survivors include his daughter, Ramona Skidmor of Whiteriver, Ariz.; sisters, Marie McCray of Gallup and Rose Ann Etsitty of Blackhat; seven grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Parker was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Parker; parents, Lukauchuaki Hastii Yzhi and Yanabah and brothers, James Parker, Jimmy Parker and Robert Parker. Pallbearers will be Cameron S. Curley, Eugene Ross, Arnold Etsitty, Victor McCray, Tony McCray and David McCray. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Western Skies Recreation Center. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Gerald Tsosie CHINLE, Ariz. - Services for Gerald Tsosie, 36, were held at 10 a.m., today. Father Blaine officiated. Burial followed at family plot, Chinle. Tsosie was born Feb. 17, 1967 in Ganado, Ariz. into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Honey Comb People Clan. Tsosie attended Chinle School. He was employed with the Chinle Chapter House, and had jobs in Las Vegas, Nev., Santa Fe, and Chinle, Apache County. He was a carpenter, heavy equipment operator, and security guard. He volunteered with the Apache County Sheriff Posse, Search and Rescue Team. His hobbies included playing basketball, football, volleyball and fishing. Survivors include his son, Gerrell Tsosie, Garald Tsosie and Geraldson Tsosie both of Chinle; daughters, Alysia Tsosie, Geraldine Tsosie and Gerilynn Tsosie all of Chinle; parents, Sammie Tsosie and Lorinda Bia of Chinle; brother, Nathaniel and Fernando Bia both of Chinle; sisters, Lucille Bia, Regina Bia, Doreen Bia, Vergina Bia all of Chinle; grandparents, Tom and Bessie Tsosie of Chinle. Tsosie was preceded in death by his great-grandmother, Habah Lewis and grandfather, Ceya Lewis. Pallbearers were Travis Simshauser, Shane Bodie, Hugh Lynch, Roscoe Herrera, Larry Thomas, Robert Platero, Brian Hounshell and Paul Guy Jr. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. March 14, 2003 Carlos H. "Chubby" Charley THOREAU - Services for Carlos Charley, 18, will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 15 at Thoreau Church of God. Pastor Ray and Florence Barker. Burial will follow at Thoreau Community Cemetery. Charley died March 10 in Thoreau. He was born July 13, 1984 in Gallup. Survivors include his parents, Carolyn Be gaye and Paul Charley III both of Thoreau; brothers, Carl Harry Charley and Paul Charley IV both of Thoreau; sisters, Colleen Charley, Pamla Charley and Paula Charley of Thoreau; and grandparents, Elsie C. Begay, Willie Begay and Elsie Charley all of Thoreau. Charley was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Fred R. Begay and Paul Charley Jr. Pallbearers will be Carl Charley, Harvey Charley, Paul Charley Sr., Paul Charley Jr., Sampson Mariano, Mike Platero, Tyson Wood and Derek Yazzie. Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. March 15, 2003 Laura Charley LUPTON, Ariz. - Services for Laura Charley, 53, will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, March 17 at St. John Catholic Church, Houck, Ariz. Father Cormac Antram will officiate. Burial will follow on family land, Lupton. Charley died March 10 in Lupton. She was born March 3, 1950 in Fort Defiance, Ariz. into the Sleep Rock People Clan for the Mexican People Clan. Charley graduated from Sherman High School, Riverside, Calif. She was employed with PNM Coal Mine and Wal-Mart in Phoenix. She attended University of New Mexico. Her hobbies included cooking, reading and weaving. Survivors include her sons, Regison Charley of Phoenix and Matthew Charley of Lupton; daughter, Aurelia C. Yazzie of Casa Grande, Ariz., MaLorie C. Tsosie and and Cheryl Ann Kenny both of Lupton; brother, Leonard Thompson of Lupton; sisters, Irene Fatty of Sanders, Ariz., Ilene Connolly of Lupton, Pearl Chischilly of Black Hat and Annie Joe of St. Michaels, Ariz. and seven grandchildren. Charley was preceded in death by her husband, Regis Charley; son, Merle Kenny; parents, Violet and Carl Thompson; brothers, Elmer Thompson Carl Thompson Jr. and Earnest Thompson. Pallbearers will be Gary Fatty, Ron Connolly, Jamie Connolly, Andrew Connolly, Zackery Connolly and Miles Connolly. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Lupton Chapter House. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. James Jerrell Watchman WINDOW ROCK - Services for James Watchman, 69. will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Bishop Nolte officiated. Burial followed at Sunset Memorial Park. Watchman died March 15 in Gallup. He was born Feb. 5, 1934 in Rehoboth. Watchman was a retired employee of El Paso Natural Gas Company. Survivors included Marianne Watchman of Window Rock; daughter, Michael Watchman of Farmington and three grandchildren. Pallbearers were Tony Hubbell, Leo Livingston, Fermin Herrera and Kurtis Watchman. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements March 17, 2003 Cecil Sylversmythe IYANBITO - Services for Cecil Sylversmythe, 68, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 18 at Rehoboth Christian Reform Church. Pastor Mark Thomas will officiate. Burial will follow at Rehoboth Cemetery. Sylversmythe was born Oct. 5, 1934 in Coyote Canyon into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Folding Arm People Clan. Sylversmythe attended Sheman Institute, Heart Thorn High School, Business Classes at N.A.U., Silver City, Durango, Colo., and UNM-Gallup. He was employed as a Navajo Police and the Park and Rec. and was a polication for the chapter house, council delegate and school board. His hobbies included silversmith, traveling and ranching. Survivors include his wife, Lyla Sylversmythe of Iyanbito; sons, Ernie Sylversmythe of Iyanbito; daughter, Pauline Morgan of Iyanbito; brothers, Benson Silversmtih of Tohatchi, Tom Silversmtih of Las Vegas, N.M. Mike Silversmith Sr. of Coyote Canyon and ten grandchildren. Pallbearers will be family members. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Chester Tso Francisco SAWMILL, Ariz. - Services for Chester Francisco, 90, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 18 at Our Lady of the Blessed, Fort Defiance, Ariz. Burial will follow at Fort Defiance Veterans Cemetery. Francisco died March 15 in Farmington. He was born July, 1912 in St. Johns, Ariz. into the Sleeping Rock People Clan for the Black Sheep People Clan. Francisco attended Fort Apache Boarding School, White Rock, Ariz. He retired from BIA Road Department and served in the Navy. Survivors include his sons, Irvin Francisco of Sawmill, Ariz., Wilfred T. Francisco of Fort Defiance, Franklin T. Francisco and Henry P. Francisco both of Window Rock; daughters, Ella F. Becenti of Shiprock and Dorothy T. Francisco of Window Rock; brothers, John Francisco of Sanders, Ariz. and Joe H. Francisco of Tse Bonito; 20 grandchildren and 22 great- grandchildren. Francisco was preceded in death by his wife, Alice T. Francisco; son, Milton T. Francisco; daughter, Virginia F. Blackgoat; parents, Mary and Turk Francisco; brother, John J. Francisco. Pallbearers will be Darryl Becenti, Norbert Lee, Henry Francisco Jr., Fritz Francisco, Peter Tsosie and Leo Becenti Jr. The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Sawmill Chapter House. A family meeting will be held at 6 p.m., tonight at Sawmill Chapter House. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2003 the Gallup Independent. -=-=-=- March 13, 2003 John Billy John "Ba Ba" Billy, 102, of Tuba City, died Sunday, March 9, 2003. Mr. Billy was born Dec. 20, 1900, in White Cone, Ariz., to As'clzaa Tsosie and A'Has'teen Nez of the Tachini, "Red Running into the Water People" (maternal), and Ashiihi, "Salt People" (paternal), clans. He worked and retired as a truck driver from the Navajo Army Ordnance Depot in Bellemont. He was a very quiet and lovable man who loved horses and sheep. Mr. Billy is survived by his wife, Mary Billy; daughters Ellouise Baloo of Holbrook, Genevieve Tsosie of Flagstaff and Regina B. Keetso of Tuba City; son Irving M. Billy of Tuba City; sister Lucy Charlie of White Cone, Ariz.; brother Tommy Ahasteen of White Cone, Ariz.; 15 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. Services will be on Thursday, March 13, 2003, at 10 a.m. at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Tuba City. There will be a family meeting today at 6 p. m. at Mr. Billy's residence, 149 Preston Way, Tuba City, a quarter of a mile west on Moenave Road and south three houses on Preston Way. Copyright c. 2000-2003 Arizona Daily Sun. -=-=-=- March 17, 2003 Larry James Piffero Sr. Larry James Piffero Sr., born Jan. 24, 1943, to Frank and Carrie (Woods) Piffero Jr. of Lee, Nev., passed away in Reno, Nev., at Washoe Medical Center. Larry, who was a kidney dialysis patient, died of complications following an operation on March 13, 2003. Larry attended elementary and grammar schools in Elko, Nev., and then graduated high school in 1963 where he served as the class president of the Owyhee Combined School District. He was also a member of the FFA delegation and served as chapter president at the conference held in Kansas City, Kan. After completion of graduation he attended and graduated from the Heald Business College located in San Francisco, Calif., majoring in business and computer science. He then returned to Elko and worked at various jobs including an accountant with Dutch Stenovich Motors and Harriman Floral as a designer and landscaper. He was a veteran of the United States Army and was Honorably Discharged from Ft. Bliss, Texas. Upon his return from the Army he then met and married Linda Blossom of Battle Mountain, Nev., and had two children, Laura and Larry Jr. Larry was heavily involved in tribal politics a majority of his life with the Elko Band Council, Te-Moak Council of Western Shoshone and the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada. He played many roles both as a member and as a chairman of the councils stated above. At the time of his death Larry was spearheading and consistently pursuing the Shoshone claims distribution act for members of the Te-Moak Band of Western Shoshone. He found great reward and success in helping his tribal members and the community both near and far in anyway he could. His willingness to listen and acknowledge the tribal elders helped in his many roles wherever he served. Larry is survived by two children, daughter, Laura Lynn Piffero of Tempe, Ariz.; son, Larry Piffero Jr. (Kim), of Mesa, Ariz.; and grandchildren, Hillary Lynn Blossom-Whitney of Tempe, Ariz.; Hannah and Beau Clarence Piffero both of Mesa, Ariz.; brothers, Ed Piffero and Ted Mendoza of Elko and Pete Mendoza of Lee, Nev., and aunt, Dorothy Woods-Wines of Elko; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. His father, Frank; mother, Carrie; sister, Joyce and brother, Audie preceded him in death. Family members, coworkers, associates and friends will miss him, his laughter, thoughtfulness, and presence. He will be remembered forever in our hearts and memories as a great father, grandpa, brother and friend. We will all miss him dearly. Funeral services will be held on March 19, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home in Elko. Any donations may be sent in Larry's honor to: Larry Piffero Memorial Fund c/o Ted L. Mendoza at P.O. Box 484, Elko, NV 89803. A public viewing will be held on Tuesday, March 18, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home. Copyright c. 2003 Elko Daily/Elko, NV. -=-=-=- Golden Triangle On-Line Obituaries The following obituaries appeared in the Cut Bank Pioneer Press, Shelby Promoter or Glacier Reporter this week. March 12, 2003 Dorothy Connelly Dorothy Mae (Merchant) Connelly, 69, of Cut Bank, died Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2003 at a Browning hospital of complications to chronic respiratory disease. Funeral services were Friday, Mar. 7, with burial at Willow Creek Cemetery. She was born in Boarding School, Mont. on July 8, 1933 and was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation. She attended grade school at Seville School, Browning and Iron Breast Schools, graduated as Valedictorian of Browning High School in 1951. She attended Great Falls School of Nursing for one semester, and attended Haskell School of Business from 1952-1954 and received a two year commercial business degree, and also attended Kinnman Business College. After completing one year at Kinnman Business College she worked for one year in Denver, Colo. She then went to work at the SAC Air Force Base in Rapid City, S.D. for two years. She married Charles J. Connelly on Nov. 3, 1958 in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. She then went to work at the Billings area office before working as a bookkeeper for Show Service Station for several years. In 1992 she worked as her daughters receptionist at Grass Winds Veterinary Clinic for the next two years. Connelly was selected to Girls State in her junior year; she was active in her high school yearbook, newspaper, marching band and jazz band. Dorothy was in the Haskell Marching Band. She was the secretary for the Blackfeet Constitutional Convention. She enjoyed reading, beading, woodworking, gardening, in her younger years she liked to dance and bowl. She loved to have her family come to visit, tell stories and play cards. She is survived by her husband Charles J. Connelly, mother Ethel R. Merchant, daughters Charlene Beuerman of Meriwether, Carrie Chlarson of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Ethel Connelly-Johnson of Meriwether; a son William Connelly of Meriwether; sisters Mary McCarthy of Verandale, Wash., Thelma Merchant of Browning, Doreen Blackweasel of Browning, Francie Hacking of Battle Ground, Wash., and Margie Merchant of Browning, a brother Frank Merchant of Pryor, and 6 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father Frank Merchant and a sister Loretta Merchant. Linda L. Horn Linda L. Horn passed away peacefully Feb. 23, 2003 after battling cancer at the age of 63. Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 18, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Heart Butte. A reception will follow. Born October 2, 1939, in Lawrenceville, Ill., she later married Clarence Horn of Heart Butte, son of Thomas and Rose Horn. Much of the family lives in Heart Butte, Browning and Cut Bank. She also lived in Heart Butte in the 1950s. Her father, Dalton Austin, was with Gulf Oil and was stationed in Montana. She went to high school in Browning, where she met Clarence through mutual friends. Clarence was in the military, so the family moved a lot, but every year the family returned to Browning for Indian Days and the Horn reunions. She loved fishing with Clarence at Twins Lake. She was a wife, mother and LPN who worked in health care throughout Tacoma, Wash., where she moved in 1970. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dalton and Madelene Austin; her husband, Clarence; and her son, Christopher. She is survived by her daughter, Sherry of Seattle, Wash., as well as aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers-in-law and cousins. Copyright c. 2003 Golden Triangle Newspapers. -=-=-=- March 11, 2003 Raleigh T. Cloud CROW AGENCY - Raleigh Tristan Cloud, 22, of Crow Agency, died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Butte on March 8, 2003. He was born March 15, 1980, in Cottonwood, Ariz., a son of Marlin C. Cloud and Annette Cooka. He grew up and received his education in Arizona and was currently a student at Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency. He had artistic and creative interests that he followed throughout his life, often working at a variety of jobs to fund his schooling. He was a compassionate person who would listen to anyone that needed help and would offer his humor openly. He was a free spirit who would stand out to those around him. His father, Marlin Cloud; grandmother Mildred Cooka; grandfather, Ben Cloud, Jr.; great-grandmother, Georgia Horse Reed; and great-grandfather, Thomas Medicine Horse preceded Raleigh in death. Raleigh was a traditional Indian man who actively participated in Sun Dance ceremonies and was a member of the Hopi Nation, Big Water Clan and was a child of the Crow Nation, Big Lodge Clan. Survivors include his mother, Annette Cooka-Cloud of New Mexico; his adopted mothers, Myrna Dawes and Claudette Black Hawk; his brothers, Marlin (Opal) and Tommy Cloud; his sisters, Nichole Cloud and Cheyenne Cloud; his grandparents, Alex (Deana) LaForge and Tom Cooka; his great- grandmothers, Flora (Cyril) Not Afraid, Louise Three Irons and Rosemary Dawes; his adopted grandparents, Thomas L. (Patti) Medicine Horse, Karen Earl, Bernadette Pellman, Mary Monette, Michael (Virgie) Earl and John (Ruth) Earl; his uncles, Ben Cloud III, Matthew, Chris and Franklin Cloud, Joe Gutierrez, Kendall Old Elk, Cyrus Leider, Tyler Medicine Horse, Donald (Darlene) Medicine Horse, Ron, JR and Wesley Medicine Horse, Patrick Earl, Chris, Terrence and Thomas Cooka; his aunts, Theodora Dawes, Makalia Gutierrez, Annie Leider, Lorida Armajo, Belva Costa, Clemsia and Rebecca Stops, Donna Dawes, Janice Medicine Horse, Renee Cooka, Angie and Jaylynn Louie; as well as members of his extended families, including the Horse, Medicine Horse, Hill, DeCrane, Goes Ahead, Stops, Stewart, Spotted Bear, Wall, Dawes, Turns Plenty, Not Afraid, Two Dogs, Bad Hand, Pretty Voice Hawk, Other Bull, Earl, Cooka, Pellman and Monetee; his special friends, Cherlee Iron Horse, Samuel BirdinGround and Mike Beaument. He is also survived by Joey, whom he took as a brother; and Nicole, Chelsea, Lindsey, Deveny and Eliza, whom he took as his sisters. Peace be with you, Raleigh, as you begin your new journey. We knew you for a short time but we'll have you in our hearts and memories forever. He will be missed by all his family and friends in Montana and New Mexico. Traditional Sundance Society and Hopi Traditional Funeral Services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, March 13, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel with Sun Dance Chief Dan Old Elk, leader. Interment will follow in the Crow Agency Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. March 17, 2003 Thomas Tallwhiteman, Sr. BIRNEY - Thomas Tallwhiteman Sr., Mohenah - Kahgits, "Little Horse," age 36, of Birney, passed away at his home on Thursday, March 13, 2003. Tom was born on April 9, 1966, at Crow Agency, the son of Ruby Tallwhiteman. He grew up at the family home and attended St. Labre Indian School, graduating in May of 1984. During his schooling, Tom kept busy by working with the "Peanut Crew" and also the Neighborhood Youth Corps, NYC. He was also very gifted in the sports he played, especially football, which earned him the opportunity to play for BYU in Utah. Opting not to attend BYU, Tom enrolled in college at Lawrence, Kan. On Dec. 19, 1987, Tom was united in marriage to Faith Payne in Wolf Point. To this union, three wonderful children were born. Following their marriage, Tom and Faith remained in Wolf Point, where Tom helped at Faith's family farm. They later moved to Birney, where Tom was employed at the Northern Cheyenne Pine Company as an operator for four years. Following his time working at the Pine Company, Tom began his employment with the St. Labre Educational Association as a maintenance person and from there, he worked in the print shop as well as driving bus. Tom was later hired by the BIA as a laborer and operator for the blacktop hot plant. During the off season at the BIA, Tom kept busy by working for the V-1 Oil Co. delivering propane. Tom was respected among his peers as well as his elders. He grew up in the traditional Cheyenne ways and was able to speak fluently in the Cheyenne language. He took great joy in being with his family, being in the outdoors, boating, hunting, fishing, hiking, gardening and attending powwows. Tom always read the Bible and was a faithful church member at the New Apostolic Church in Birney. He loved his family as well as his life. He is survived by his wife Faith; his three children, Thomas Gerald Tallwhiteman Jr., Layton Henry Tallwhiteman and Tiffany Joy Tallwhiteman, all of the family home in Birney; his mother, Ruby Tallwhiteman; his grandma and grandpa, Sylvia Elkshoulder and George Elkshoulder. He also survived by his uncles Andy, Mark, Leonard, Eugene and George Elkshoulder, Jr., as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Layton and Joy Payne. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, March 19, at 11 a.m., at the Birney Community Hall in Birney. Burial will be in the Tallwhiteman family cemetery on the divide. A Wake will be on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. in the Birney Community Hall in Birney. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth is in charge of the arrangements. Copyright c. The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. -=-=-=- March 11, 2003 Almena Clara Reddog POPLAR - Almena Clara Reddog, 74, of Poplar, who had previously worked at the gun factory, CETA program, IHS, and at the Fort Peck Housing Authority, died Thursday at Northeast Montana Health Services Center in Poplar of natural causes. Visitation begins at noon today at Clayton Memorial Chapel in Poplar, Her wake also begins today at 7 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. Her funeral is 2 p.m. Wednesday at the center, with burial in Fort Kipp Cemetery, followed by a feed at the center. Clayton Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include sons, Maynard Hawk and Rick Hawk, both of Poplar, and Ron Kills Party of Bronsboro, Md.; daughters, Rhea Red Dog of Poplar, Vearlene Johnson of Medicine Lake, Lauren Eder, Estelle Bear Cub, and Kara Red Dog all of Poplar; stepdaughters Bonnie Youpee of Billings, Doris Red Dog of Wolf Point, and Darlene Orencia of Pasadena, Calif.; adopted daughter Della Thomas of Fort Kipp; adopted sons Louie Youpee Jr, of Poplar, Timothy Turning Heart of Eagle Butte, S.D., Lanny Riley of Poplar; sisters Lida Menz of Wolf Point and Serena Good Soldier of Fort Kipp; brothers, Ervin Four Bear and Raymond Four Bear, both of Brockton, and Virgil Four Bear of Poplar; and numerous grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Reddog, a son, James Allen Reddog, and two grandchildren. March 13, 2003 Joanne Pipe WOLF POINT - Joanne (Stafne) Pipe, 69, an education specialist for the BIA for more than 30 years, died of natural causes Monday at her home in Wolf Point. Visitation is noon to 8 p.m. Friday at Clayton Memorial Chapel, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Her funeral is 10 a.m. Saturday at Clayton Memorial Chapel, with burial in Chelsea Cemetery in Poplar. Survivors include sons John Pipe and Alfred Pipe of Wolf Point; adopted sons Gib Medicine Cloud and Ronnie Adams of Wolf Point and Gary Medicine Cloud Jr. of Wyoming, daughters Anna Marie Pipe, Jackie Lee Chase and Myra Grace Pipe, all of Wolf Point; adopted daughters Hallie Gray of Fort Belknap and Nora Hayes of Hardin; a brother, Rusty Stafne of Wolf Point; an adopted brother, Matt Foolish Bear of Newtown, N.D.; sisters Marie Esparza and Joy Martin of Wolf Point and Lavina Loves Him of San Jose, Calif.; and eight grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy; and an infant son, Billy. March 15, 2003 Julie Cecile 'Tootsie' Rider EAST GLACIER PARK - Julia Cecile "Tootsie" (Night Gun) Rider, 67, of East Glacier Park, a homemaker, died Wednesday at a Cut Bank hospital of natural causes. Rosary is 7 p.m. Sunday at Old Eagle Shields Center. Her funeral is 11 a. m. Monday at Little Flower Parish, with burial in Rider's Cemetery. Day Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Survivors, all of Browning, include her husband, Floyd Rider Sr.; daughters Jolene Mad Plume, Yvonne Night Gun, Justine Croff, Bernadette Little Dog, Memory Boy Chief, Floy Crawford, Jeroma Rider, Myra Makes Cold Weather, Floygina Rider, Florinda Gaither, Patricia Little Young Man and Terri Lynn Little Young Man; sons Floyd Rider Jr., Lorenzo Rider Sr., Thomas Big Springs, James Rider Sr., and Myron Rider Sr.; sisters Patsy King, Rose LaMere and Nancy Two Teeth LaMere; brothers Joe LaMere and Chuck Two Teeth; 43 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Copyright c. 2003 Great Falls Tribune, a division of Lee Enterprises. -=-=-=- March 14, 2003 Joseph Jamieson IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOSEPH (JOEY) JAMIESON II March 20, 1973 - March 7, 2003 Joey was 29 years old. He was a loving father, brother, uncle and friend. Joey is predeceased by parents Joseph and Jessie Jamieson, brother Stuart Jamieson, sisters, Lena Jamieson and Sylvia Jamieson and niece Sondra Mandamin. Joey is survived by children Joseph Jamieson III, Jarron Jamieson and Montana Jamieson. His grandmother, Olive Cameron, sister, Ida Jamieson- Kejick (Henry) and Charles King, brother-in-law Vincent Fisher, nieces and nephews, Fitz Jamieson (Dakota), Jessica Jamieson, Sonny Jamieson, colin Jamieson, Canaan Kejick, Shawna Jamieson (Zinnia), Jade Jamieson, Chloe Jamieson, Storm Jamieson, Lena Jamieson, Vincent Jamieson, Dayna Jamieson, connor Jamieson, Carl Jamieson Jr., Taylor Muckle, Raymond Jamieson, aunts and uncles Gilbert Hunter, Margaret Hunter, Danny Hunter, Angela Cameron, Rose Diaz-Lopez (Maurice), Gloria Paishk (Gus), Adolphus Cameron and many cousins. Joey will be sadly missed by family and friends. A Wake will be held at Wabaseemoong Community Hall starting March 11, 2003. A Traditional Service will be held at Wabaseemoong Community Hall on March 12, 2003. Interment to follow at Wabaseemoong Burial Grounds. Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre entrusted with arrangements. Copyright c. 2003 Kenora Daily Miner and News. -=-=-=- March 13, 2003 Bernard Rabbit (Anatokoomii) March 18, 1930 - March 7, 2003 It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Dad and grandfather. Dad passed away March 7, 2003 at the Kainai Continuing Care Centre, leaving behind to mourn, children: Nick, John (Diane), Dale (Margaret), Beverly (Douglas) and Joan (Clayton); sisters: Myrna (Gus) Chief Moon and Sandra Black Water; 28 grandchildren; 37 great-grand- children; as well as nieces and nephews along with their families too numerous to mention. Bernard was predeceased by: his wife - Minnie; daughters - Mary Rabbit and Josephine King; parents - Martina Big Snake and Bob Rabbit; brothers - Joe Rabbit, Bill Rabbit; sisters - Irene Weasel Head, Emma Rabbit; Uncle - Nelson Rabbit; grandchildren - Bernie Rabbit, Gina Good Dagger, Clayton Myles Many Guns Jr, Delbert Good Rider, Johnny Good Rider, Owen Good Rider, Emil King; nephew - James Rabbit; niece - Jodi Day Chief, and other relatives too numerous to mention. Bernard was born and raised on the Blood Reserve. He received his education at the St. Mary's Residential School. Thereafter, Dad met and married Mom (Minnie King). Together they made a home for us in the community of Standoff. Dad always strived to provide for the family. Working alongside his father-in-law raising horses at the coal mines near Magrath or leaving home to work the fields in Vauxhall, did little to slow him down. Dad was a man of his word, often conjuring ways to meet the demands of life. No job was too big or too small. Dad even participated in law enforcement programs as a Special Constable for three years. He was a rancher, trapper, hunter and fisherman all his life. Dad also believed strongly in the traditional aspect of our culture as he was a member of the Magpie Society and a helper for the Horn Society. He instilled in each of us a desire to work hard, always have a sense of humor, and maintain close ties with family and friends. Dad established many friendships throughout his journey and those he touched with kindness will miss him dearly. The Wake Service will be held on Thursday, March 13th in St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Standoff, AB from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. continuing all night at the residence of Dale Rabbit. The Funeral Mass will be held in St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Standoff, AB on Friday, March 14th, at 11:00 a.m. with Father Lezek Kwiatkowski Celebrant. March 17, 2003 Harvey Leon Iron Shirt HARVEY LEON IRON SHIRT, of the Piikani Nation, passed away at Pincher Creek, Alberta on March 14, 2003 at the age of 29 years. Funeral arrangements will be announced when completed. Copyright c. 2000 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc./Lethbridge Herald. --------- "RE: Oldest Blackfeet celebrates 101st Birthday" --------- Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2003 19:47:12 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="101 YEARS" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story Oldest Blackfeet Indian celebrates 101st birthday A lot to celebrate Virginia de Leon Staff writer March 15, 2003 Love and prayers sustained her for many years - through two world wars, the Depression, the loneliness of widowhood. Agnes Bird Keller - the oldest living member of the Blackfeet Nation - turned 101 years old this year. Although her birthday was Jan. 25, she celebrated again Friday when her family and members of several tribes threw her another party at the Northern Quest Casino. Dozens of people came to honor the tribal elder, who has lived in Spokane for the past 18 years. They showered her with hugs and kisses and lauded her with praise for a lifetime of hard work. "She is a very dignified lady," said Earl Barlow, Keller's nephew and the master of ceremonies during the program. "One of the reasons that Indians survived was because of the women - women like my aunt who held the society together. She's been such a good example to all the young people." Keller was the ninth of 10 children born to John Bird of Kansas City, Mo., and Mattie Medicine Wolf Woman of Browning, Mont. She lived in a small log house with her family near Choteau, Mont. When Keller was about 5, they moved to Cut Bank, Mont. Her mother, who died in 1934, was a proud woman who spoke only the Algonquian dialect of the Blackfeet Nation. She survived the smallpox epidemic in 1869 that killed two-thirds of the tribe. She also lived long enough to see the territory of the Blackfeet Nation, which once covered northern and much of western Montana, diminish to a small reservation. Because of U.S. government policies, Keller and other Indian children were forced to attend boarding schools in other parts of the country. Keller had to leave her family for Genoa, Neb., and Chemawa, Ore., where she learned how to read and write in English. Despite the hardship that the Blackfeet endured, Keller never complained about her life, said her oldest daughter, Fran DeArmond of Prescott, Ariz. "She told us, `It is always that way with a conquered people,' " DeArmond, 75, said. "My mother has always been optimistic despite all the changes she has lived through." She met her husband, David Keller, during a carnival in Browning, Mont. He kept buying her tickets for the merry-go-round. The couple married on Oct. 1, 1923. Taking advantage of the Homestead Act, the couple moved to a farm north of Havre, Mont., where they made a living raising chickens, ducks, turkeys, hogs and cattle. Keller gave birth there to their seven children. Now in their 60s and 70s, the six surviving children remember how their mother treated illnesses with herbs and poultices, the way she sang and played the violin, and how she caught trout for supper from the creek that flowed through the ranch. In 1945, after the family bought a house in Cut Bank, Keller worked at the creamery in town. She also baked pies and washed dishes for a cafe. When her husband died in 1963, Keller got a job as a maid at the Cut Bank Hotel. She later cooked at a restaurant downtown and became a foster mother to more than 70 children. At 101, Keller looks almost as young as her daughters with her coiffed white hair and kind smile that she flashed for everyone at her party. "My mother was always younger than her age," said her daughter, 72-year- old Evelyn Ostlie of Spokane. Keller has 34 grandchildren, about 60 great-grandchildren and a dozen great-great grandchildren. Her secret to a long, fulfilling life? Love from her children, prayer and a good doctor. Virginia de Leon can be reached at (509) 459-5312 or by e-mail at virginiad@spokesman.com. -- Spokane, Wash., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and the Inland Northwest Copyright c. 2003, The Spokesman-Review. --------- "RE: Better Water on the way for Fort Peck" --------- Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 08:49:03 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="FT. PECK WATER" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20030313/localnews/1168106.html Better water on the way for Fort Peck residents By JENNIFER PEREZ Tribune Hi-Line Bureau March 13, 2003 HAVRE - Construction of a 3,000-mile regional water system pipeline that will serve the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and four northeastern Montana counties is expected to begin this summer. The federal government is expected to provide an additional $7.5 million in July to begin construction. The $198 million water system will bring quality drinking water to roughly 25,000 people on the reservation and in Roosevelt, Daniels, Sheridan and Valley counties. The 10-year-project is a joint venture by the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water Supply System and Dry Prairie Rural Water District. The system would carry water from Fort Peck Lake. A phone call late last week from Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., to Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniel led to the report's approval Monday, according to a Rehberg news release. "The timing is great," said Rick Duncan, the regional water project coordinator with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Without Rehberg's help, the report could've been stuck in the Office of Management and Budget - delaying construction even longer, he said Wednesday. About $3.4 million will help build the pipeline from Poplar to the Big Muddy River in the Fort Peck water project while $2.3 million will start construction of the pipeline from Culbertson to Medicine Lake in the Dry Prairie district, according to the Rehberg release. Half of the $15 million request from Congress was approved in the Omnibus Spending Bill last month. Construction was held up nearly a year awaiting the approval. After the final engineering report was filed in May, regional water officials finished the environmental assessment, which found there was no significant impact to the area, Duncan said. Officials have been waiting since October for their final engineering report to be approved, he said "The tribes thank Congressman Rehberg for his help," said Tom Escarcega, manager of the reservation water system, adding that officials will thank him personally during the upcoming trip to the nation's capital. Now, the White House must approve it again before it's turned over to Congress for final approval. At least 90 days later the money is released, Duncan said. Tribal officials hoped to begin construction this spring but intake work won't start until summer, he said. Four pumps and a 42-inch pipeline will be installed this summer into the Missouri River complete with screens to prevent to filter debris and protect endangered species, Escarsaga said. The water treatment plant will be built in a site about five miles west of Wolf Point on Highway 13 in phase two before the pipeline is laid. Cultural and hazardous materials surveys and land appraisals will be conducted, he said. Officials will evaluate the engineering studies of the water-treatment project March 31 to April 4 in Billings, Duncan said. Construction plans to build the nonreservation portion of the pipeline are under review by the Department of Environmental Quality, Duncan said. Copyright c. 2003 Great Falls Tribune. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: CNO Housing Authority plans Layoffs" --------- Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 08:24:51 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HACN CUTS" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.zwire.com/site/news HACN plans 15-20 percent layoffs By:Betty Smith March 12, 2003 Tribal Council also overrides chief's veto on road funds. Between 15 and 20 percent of the 400 employees of the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation could face layoffs soon. The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council heard that news Monday evening. Councilors also voted to override a veto by Principal Chief Chad Smith regarding allocation of tribal tag revenue for roads and law enforcement. Rumors about problems with HACN had been circulating among tribal members for some time. "As you all are aware, we are reducing some costs at the Housing Authority," David Southerland, acting executive director, told councilors. He said HACN had been operating under numerous grants and programs over the past few years. The expanded operations included the opening of seven area offices. Now, the additional funds have run out, and HACN is back to its traditional operating funds. "We have reached a point at which we have to control the costs," Southerland said. He is meeting with the area offices and determining what staffing levels they need, and identifying areas for reduction. "We will ask the board later this week to approve a severance package," he said, adding that employees would be asked to take voluntary layoffs. HACN will try to place laid-off employees in other positions with the Cherokee Nation when possible. Southerland said it costs $4 million to operate the area offices. Councilor Nick Lay asked for a list of the layoffs, and Councilor Chuck Hoskin asked for a target number of layoffs. "I don't have a number at this moment. I'll have an idea earlier next week," Southerland said. He said if there are no layoffs, there will be no money to build or rehabilitate homes. Councilor Stephanie Shepherd asked whether HACN had look at all other possible cost-cutting methods. "There's not an awful lot to cut back rather than salaries, unless you cut service," Southerland said. Councilor David Thornton said he'd heard "on the grapevine" that 15 to 20 percent of the workers may be cut. "I think that would be in the neighborhood," Southerland said. "David, I don't understand how we got like this," Councilor Barbara Starr-Scott said. "How did we get to be so overlooked?" She said there are more complaints about rehab programs since HACN took them over than when they were administered by the tribe. She spoke of an elderly disabled man living in a small camper, with a hole in the top, that had a tarp thrown over it. She said the man was not able to obtain emergency assistance from the Housing Authority. Southerland said under the funds he administers, there is no such thing as emergency assistance. Starr-Scott said some provisions need to be made for emergency help to elderly and disabled people and families. "The council is willing to set aside some dollars, but we need to have some checks on how those dollars are spent," Hoskin said. Councilor John Ketcher said he had questioned the wisdom of establishing the seven area offices. "I remember asking the question of how much will it cost to do that," he said. He was told, "No problem." Ketcher thinks improving service to outlying communities could have been accomplished more efficiently by sending employees from the central office to those communities to meet with the citizens. Councilors made it clear they did not blame Southerland, who has held that position only a short time, for the HACN state of affairs. The councilors amended the agenda to override Smith's veto of the road funding, with Ketcher, Buel Anglen and Don Garvin voting against bringing the matter to a vote. Ketcher questioned whether allocating the money to roads was wise at this time, when there are other financial needs. "We just had an example where we're going to need a lot more money," he said, referring to the HACN. He said more money will have to be spent to repay the Department of Labor over funds spent during the previous administration. Starr-Scott disagreed. "We passed some legislation that said we would give 20 percent for roads, and we have a compact that we would give 20 percent for roads," she said. "If there is anything we need to be known for, it is for keeping our word. Smith said the budget actually included 30 percent for roads, rather than 20 percent. "There are still fundamental flaws that we need to work out," he said. Smith said the money needs to be spent where it is most needed, rather than divided among the council districts. He said money had been transferred from Tulsa to pave a parking lot in Nowata, and wanted to discuss the situation and implement it in the next budget year. Starr-Scott said the tribe had made a promise to the government, and needed to keep it. "We don't want to do what they did to us," she said. Ketcher was the only one voting against the veto override. "A big nay," he said. When Starr-Scott's turn came, she said, "A big yes." Councilors also: + Voted to establish a scholarship in memory of Councilor Harold "Jiggs" Phillips, who died in November. The $1,000 scholarship will go to a student from Adair County. Phillips was a longtime educator. Members of his family received a plaque in his honor. + Learned that Cherokee Nation Enterprises and Cherokee Nation Industries are prospering. CNE boasted the highest income in the history of the company, with revenue up 200 percent. CNI continued to record increased sales and profits for the month, and is regaining the strength it lost when the telcom industry plummeted. + Received an update on upcoming elections regarding a new Cherokee Nation constitution. At the May 24 primary, voters will decide whether constitutional amendments should require Bureau of Indian Affairs approval. During the July general election, they will determine whether to approve a new constitution. There will be a series of educational meetings, including one at 9:30 a.m. April 26 in Tahlequah. + Approved a resolution authorizing the BIA to update Indian roads. + Approved a resolution granting $50,000 to the Cherokee Heritage Center. + Authorized a grant application for an Inter-Tribal Council Network Challenge Proposal. + Authorized a grant application for paper recycling. + Authorized a proposal for a lead outreach and assessment program. + Authorized an oil and gas lease on tribal fee property. + Authorized bidding on land management agreements for the Chilocco Units. Copyright c. 2003 Tahlequah Daily Press. --------- "RE: Indian Students raising Money for Curriculum" --------- Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2003 19:47:12 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CULTURAL CURRICULUM" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20030315/ Indian students raising money to help create cultural curriculum Tribune Capitol Bureau March 15, 2003 HELENA - Students from at least two Indian reservation schools are raising money to help the state create and distribute curriculum for the Indian Education for All program. Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch sought $120,000 over the next two years to create a curriculum council that would develop the curriculum and distribute it to all schools. The 1999 Legislature had passed a law requiring all schools to teach about the culture of Montana's Native American tribes, and OPI has made it part of the state's accreditation standards, so curriculums would give teachers advise on what to teach. But Gov. Judy Martz did not include money in the budget for the curriculum development, and a legislative subcommittee also turned down the request. The senior class at St. Labre High School in Ashland read about the state's failure to fund the program and led a walkathon and penny drive to help. On Friday, the seniors presented Lt. Gov. Karl Ohs with more than $6,000, including $300 in pennies for the program. Ohs turned the money over to McCulloch for the program, and both officials thanked the students. The St. Labre student president emphasized that the students weren't trying to show up the state, but just wanted to contribute to a program that they considered important. Meanwhile, Browning students and school officials have raised about $1, 500 so far for the same cause by raffling gift baskets, according to Dorothy Still Smoking, director of Blackfeet and Native American studies for the Browning school district. "The money is just a drop in the bucket compared to what we need, but they took a stand that was like sending a strong message to the governor and Legislature that Indian kids and communities consider the Indian Education for All program important," said OPI Indian education specialist Lori Falcon. She said OPI is holding its own fund-raiser dinner for the program and will use the proceeds to support what it can, including the existing Montana Advisory Council for Indian Education. Copyright c. 2003 Great Falls Tribune. --------- "RE: Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund" --------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 10:26:34 -0800 (PST) From: Carter Camp Subj: Fw: Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund Mailing List: ndn-aim DEADLINE: Tuesday, April 1, 2003 Since 1961, Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund has provided 25-30 need-based grants (up to $6,000) to student activists who are able to do academic work at the college level (undergraduate and gradate) and are involved in building the movement for social and economic justice. Applications available for student activists who are building the progressive movement and will be enrolled in school during the 2003-04 academic year. Grants are for one year although students may re-apply for subsequent years. What kind of activities are grantees involved in? Former recipients fought for civil rights, against McCarthyism, and for peace in Vietnam. More recently, grantees have been active in the struggle against racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression; building the movement for economic justice; and creating peace through international, anti-imperialist solidarity. DEADLINE: Tuesday, April 1, 2003 APPLICATION PROCESS: 1. Application. Requests for applications must be received by Friday, March 21, 2003 - by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address listed below. 2. Transcripts 3. Personal statement 4. Two letters of recommendation 5. Photograph 6. Financial aid reports Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund Post Office Box 7307 New York, NY 10116-7307 QUESTIONS? Direct to --------- "RE: Lumbee should be allowed to make `Indian' Case" --------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 08:11:08 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="LUMBEE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/editorial/30433 Lumbee should be allowed to make case that they are valid Native American group By Asheville Citizen-Times March 11, 2003 11:44 p.m. The Lumbee of eastern North Carolina should have the same rights as any group to show the Bureau of Indian Affairs that they are a valid Native American group, no more and no less. More than 50,000 people, most of them living in or near Roberson County, consider themselves Lumbee, which would make them the largest group of Native Americans east of the Mississippi. By comparison, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee number 12,500. Last month, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., and U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-Roberson County, introduced bills to give the Lumbee full federal recognition as a tribe. This would entitle them to federal funds for such purposes as economic development, health care and education. It would not give them a reservation, which entails a separate process to put land in trust. "This is not something new that's happening with us," said Lumbee Chief Milton R. Hunt. "We started our recognition efforts in 1888." The Lumbee already are recognized by North Carolina. An obvious question is whether the Lumbee are seeking to open a gambling casino. Gambling can be an enormous money-maker for Native Americans, as illustrated by the success of the Harrah's casino in Cherokee. Profits have financed a number of tribal facilities and provide annual payouts of about $7,000 to each tribal member. Lumbee leaders insist they are not considering a casino. "Recognition is a bandwagon that other tribes may be jumping on because they're interested in a casino," said Alex Baker, the Lumbees' public information officer, "but it should not be an issue with us." It's hard to believe gambling would not become an issue in the future. An ideal casino site would be along I-95, the primary highway between Florida and the Northeast, which crosses Roberson County. But that would depend upon the Lumbee obtaining a reservation, which means they would have to find the money to purchase the land and then get the federal government to place it in trust for the tribe. The problem with the Dole and McIntyre bills is that they circumvent the normal procedure under which the Bureau of Indian Affairs certifies a tribe for recognition. Under this procedure, a group must demonstrate that it has been a functioning Native American entity in historic times and has been so identified since 1900. Granted, that is a bit of a Catch-22, in that the same federal government that did everything in its power for years to keep Native American societies from functioning now says they must demonstrate that they functioned in order to be recognized. Still, many other groups have managed to obtain recognition in this way. The dilemma for the Lumbee is that they have been left with no options aside from federal legislation. An act of Congress in 1956 recognized the Lumbee but denied them tribal access to federal programs, though some individuals may obtain housing assistance, and locked them out of the BIA process for full recognition. It is problematic whether the Lumbee could achieve full recognition. Their origins are shrouded and many question whether they really are Native Americans. Their roots have been traced variously to the Hatteras Indians, Eastern Sioux groups such as the Cheraw, the survivors of Sir Walter Raleigh's "Lost Colony" of 1587, Scots-Irish settlers and African- Americans. "The Lumbees ... consider themselves to be Indian ... but they are not considered to be so by some of the people who live around them," Charles Hudson wrote in his book The Southeastern Indians. "They speak no language other than English, and they retain nothing of an aboriginal culture, and they have not done so in historic times. "More importantly, it is difficult to connect them clearly with indubitable Indian cultures in the historic past, though genetically they obviously have a strong Indian inheritance." Still, the Lumbee should be allowed to make their case. Instead of short-circuiting the BIA process, Sen. Dole and Rep. McIntyre should sponsor legislation lifting the ban on Lumbee participation in that process. Copyright c. 2003 ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES. --------- "RE: Tribal Members from Montana learn from Utes" --------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 08:11:08 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SOUTHERN UTES" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article Tribal members from Montana learn from Utes March 11, 2003 By Brian Newsome Herald Staff Writer IGNACIO - Eighty percent of the tribal members on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, in Montana are unemployed. Though it's surrounded by energy development, the tribe has no economic base. Meanwhile, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe is La Plata County's largest employer, and its accomplishments in energy development have ranked it among the nation's wealthiest tribes. Now, members of the Northern Cheyenne Nation are turning to the Southern Utes for guidance. "I'm just amazed at the level of involvement in investment and development of (the Southern Ute tribe's) own resources, and almost having complete control," said Alonzo Spang, a Northern Cheyenne elder. Spang was the first Cheyenne Indian to receive a doctorate degree, and he's a professor at a tribal college. "It became quite clear that we have a lot of work to do." Spang and other Northern Cheyenne tribal members met with officials from the Southern Ute tribe's Energy Department, and they toured the tribe's gas facilities Monday. They made the trip to learn more about the tribe's success and what it has done to achieve it. "I think we were able to give them an overview of how the Southern Ute tribe has been able to accomplish its goals," said Jerry Bruner, director of the Southern Ute tribe's Energy Department. Spang said, "It would be kind of an understatement to say (the Energy Department's presentation) was a real awakening to the realities of coal- -bed methane development." Like the Four Corners, Montana is rich in coal-bed methane. The nation's largest coal mine sits just 12 miles from the border of the Northern Cheyenne reservation. But in contrast to the Southern Ute tribe, the Northern Cheyenne tribe has not allowed any energy production on its reservation. Northern Cheyenne member Gail Small is executive director and founder of Native Action, a nonprofit group that represents Indian Tribes in Montana on various issues. She said her tribe has held an "island view" toward energy development. Members turn to the reservation for sanctuary from the outside world. The Southern Ute tribe, Small said, provides a good example of using a tribe's resources to benefit its members and take control of its environment. "The (Southern Ute) tribe did not permit itself to become the victim of an energy boom," she said. They "took control of what's happening around them." Small believes the stability in the Southern Ute tribe's government - former Tribal Chairman Leonard C. Burch led the tribe for three decades - and the tribe's willingness to hire non-Indian gas experts are two important aspects of its success. She said both stability and a reliance on non-Indian professionals would be hard to find on other reservations. "This (tribe) is very much the exception," she said. The Northern Cheyenne tribe also faces technical obstacles. The tribe relies solely on wells for its water supply. Coal-bed methane development, which requires water in its production process, could threaten the tribe's drinking water, Small said. Spang said that because the Northern Cheyenne tribe has little money, it would be hard to hire the experts necessary to get energy production off the ground. About 6,000 of the Northern Cheyenne tribe's 7,500 members live on the reservation. The trip was facilitated by Sage Remington, spokesman for Southern Ute Grassroots Organization. Reach Staff Writer Brian Newsome at brian@durangoherald.com. Copyright c. 2002, the Durango Herald. --------- "RE: IIM Accounting keeps changing" --------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 08:11:08 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="DOI VOODOO ACCOUNTING" http://www.indianz.com/News/show.asp?ID=2003/03/12/iim On accounting, Norton find her magic date WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2003 I will not accept that this is a job too big for us to accomplish. It may take time, but the historical accounting must be completed. - Secretary of Interior Gale Norton, July 10, 2001. Taking the stand in her own trial more than a year ago, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton seemed genuinely flabbergasted that she was facing contempt charges for her failure to fix the broken Indian trust. When asked to explain why she affirmed a 11th-hour Clinton administration decision to conduct a statistical sampling of funds held in trust for more than 500,000 American Indians, she didn't see much of a problem. Signing the memo wasn't about limiting her fiduciary duties but rather an attempt to "kick people into gear," she told U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth. "I wanted to reject the idea that we only had to do things back to 1994, " she testified. In making that statement, Norton sought to draw a distinction from the Clinton administration, which sought to restrict an accounting to that magic date. She was well aware of a unanimous D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that obliterated such a position. "The Court of Appeals clearly threw that out," Norton recounted. Norton backed up her promise to provide the "long overdue" accounting by withdrawing another set of Clinton-imposed limits. The magic date contained in those court filings was 1951. The Office of Historical Trust Accounting (OHTA) would look as far back as 1938, Norton's attorneys claimed at the time. Five months later, in July 2002, the office estimated it would cost $2.4 billion over 10 years to do just that. But in January, Norton found herself retreating. Scaling back the accounting dramatically in response to complaints by members of Congress, she devised a slew of limits that drove down the cost and time estimate to $335 million over five years. She also brought statistical sampling back into the picture. And she filed new court papers that settled on a magic date for the accounting: October 1, 1984. Why? Because the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust beneficiaries, according to the government, filed their lawsuit too late. "There can be no dispute that plaintiffs - and the rest of the class - knew or should have known of their claims long before October 1, 1984," Norton's attorneys wrote in a motion for summary judgment. The new date is convenient for a couple of reasons. Prior to 1985, the trust fund was handled almost exclusively on paper. Interior calls this the "Paper Records Era" and admits it is a challenge to handle - due to lost, destroyed or otherwise missing documents. More importantly, the date matches nicely with a controversial provision of a spending bill that was the subject of heavy debate last summer. The House Interior Appropriations subcommittee added language to restrict the accounting from 1985 to 2000. Interior calls this period the "Electronic Records Era." The provision was struck from the House bill by an overwhelming margin. "And yet they (Interior) had nothing to do with it," said Keith Harper, a Native American Rights Fund (NARF) attorney, sarcastically. "We stunned even the press," recalled Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), co- chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. "We certainly stunned the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee when that vote came out." Lamberth will be considering Norton's new motion as he advances the case. In May, he will hold a trial to address the historical accounting and a reform plan the Bush administration submitted in early January. Meanwhile, efforts continue in Congress that stand to affect the dispute. The Interior subcommittee, whose members have grown impatient with the spiraling cost of trust reform, today holds a hearing on the Interior's new budget, which requests a total of $130 million to account for tribal and IIM trust funds. Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles is the sole invited witness. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, plans to introduce a bill to settle the historical accounting claims of willing IIM beneficiaries. Paul Moorehead, Campbell's chief aide, said the committee has a "responsibility" to offer alternatives. Copyright c. Indianz.Com 2000-2003. --------- "RE: Editorial: Score one for the Indians" --------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 08:11:08 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SUPREME COURT RULINGS" http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/ Editorial: Score one for the Indians Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - Indians won a half a loaf in the U.S. Supreme Court last week, but the half they got was important. Legal scholars feared that a pair of recent cases would give the high court a way to further erode the federal government's obligation to correctly manage property that it holds in trust for Indians. Instead, the court specifically reaffirmed the government's trust obligation in one case the Indians won. Even in the case the Indians lost, the decision went against them not because of the crucial issue of Uncle Sam's trust obligation, but because of a narrow question about the wording in an old federal law. The rulings don't directly affect the biggest ongoing courtroom feud between Indians and the U.S. government: Uncle Sam's mismanagement of 300, 000 Indian trust accounts. The lawsuit was filed in 1996 by the Boulder- based Native American Rights Fund and former Denver lawyer Dennis Gingold, on behalf of all Indians for whom the government manages assets. But Indians involved with the trust-fund case still might find reason to cheer in one of the high court's two recent rulings. In the case the Indians won last week, the White Mountain Apache tribe in Arizona had sued the U.S. Department of Interior for not properly maintaining Fort Apache, a historic Old West site vital to the economically struggling tribe's tourism business. Congress gave the tribe the old Army post in 1960, but told the Interior Department to keep it "in trust" for the Apaches. Citing the government's trust obligations, the court said the Apaches' lawsuit against the Interior Department could proceed. The second ruling, which Indians lost, stemmed from a 1985 coal lease. Then-U.S. Interior Secretary Don Hodel met with a lobbyist for Peabody Coal, which wanted to mine Navajo coal. Hodel then told the tribe to negotiate a lease with Peabody. But when presented with the lease that the Navajos wanted, Hodel rejected it. The Navajos claimed Hodel's actions denied the tribe millions of dollars and cut their royalty payments from a proposed 20 percent of the coal's value to 12.5 percent. The episode did serious injustice to the Navajos. Indeed, it's one of the issues Indians mention when explaining why they still deeply distrust the federal government. But the high court didn't cite the issue of trust obligations when it ruled against the Navajos. Instead, it pointed to a 1938 federal law that gives the secretary of the interior broad powers to approve or disprove Indian mineral leases. By not explicitly rejecting the idea that Uncle Sam has trust obligations to Indians, the court left the door open for Indians to press other legal cases, such as the trust-fund lawsuit. The recent cases differ from the larger Indian trust-fund lawsuit in a key aspect, though. In the recent decisions, Indians sought to have the government pay monetary damages. In the trust-fund suit, Indians want Uncle Sam to correct past wrongs, under a theory called equitable relief. By seeking equitable relief, the Indians believe they have a strong case rooted in basic legal concepts, not dependent, as the Navajo case was, on vague language in an outdated statute. Even so, the Indians must feel a little relieved they didn't do worse before a court that often has been unfavorable toward Indian rights. Copyright c. 2003 The Denver Post or other copyright holders. --------- "RE: Indian Trust: Court Memorandum and Order" --------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:08:59 -0500 (EST) From: Indian Trust ListServ Subj: Court Memorandum and Order. Mailing List: Indian Trust ListServ Court sanctions defendants again for deliberately submitting a false affidavit to defraud the Court and plaintiffs that the General Accounting Office conducted historical accountings of individual Indian trust assets when they, in fact, maintained that they had never conducted an accounting of any individual Indian trust assets. * * * * "In sum, despite the fact that the Interior officials in charge of the present litigation possessed a letter from the General Accounting Office declaring that GAO had neither conducted a comprehensive audit of IIM accounts, nor established any regular practice of auditing IIM accounts, defendants filed an affidavit in support of their motion for partial summary judgment representing that the GAO "dealt separately with IIM accounts" and that it had "separate accounting controls in place for ensuring that IIM accounts were properly processed and the balances were accurately stated." Moreover, defendants made no attempt to inform the Court of the falsity of the information contained in the affidavit. Defendants' attempts to deceive the Court are only made more repugnant by the fact that, in their opposition brief to plaintiffs' motion for sanctions, defendants attempted to shift the blame for their misleading statements to plaintiffs, claiming that plaintiffs "play[] off the inherent ambiguities of such terms as `accounting' and `audit.'" Defs.' Opp. at 9. As dubious assertions go, this ranks down at the bottom with "It depends on what the meaning of the word `is' is."" "Given the pattern of deceit by defendants that was demonstrated in the factual findings made at the conclusion of the second contempt trial in this case, the Court is unwilling to turn a blind eye to yet another demonstration of defendants' misconduct and their willingness to mislead the Court and to misrepresent the truth whenever it suits them. As demonstrated above, the Interior Department officials in charge of the instant case possessed a letter from the Office of the Comptroller General informing them that GAO had neither conducted a final comprehensive audit of IIM accounts nor established any regular practice of auditing IIM accounts. Therefore, when defendants submitted the Sapienza Affidavit in support of their motion for partial summary judgment, they were filing an affidavit containing material representations of fact that defendants knew to be false. The Court is satisfied that this affidavit was presented to the Court in bad faith, and it will therefore impose sanctions against defendants pursuant to Rule 56(g) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure." "[C]ounsel for defendants would be foolish to misconstrue this decision by the Court. The misconduct by defendants that is at issue here was egregious and undertaken in bad faith, and the Court condemns it. Accordingly, defendants, who bear the responsibility for this misconduct, have been held accountable herein. But additional individual accountability is already pending for so many other actions that the commencement of another round now for misconduct that took place in the year 2000 does not appear warranted at this time." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To view the latest information concerning this case, go to www.indiantrust.com --------- "RE: Earl Old Person wants to remain in Trust Suit" --------- Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 10:07:26 -0500 From: Michigan Branch-Native American Advocate Subj: Blackfeet tribal leader Earl Old Person wants to remain in trust suit Mailing List: NAA Old Person wants to remain in trust suit By FAITH BREMNER Tribune Washington Bureau http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20030309/localnews/ WASHINGTON - Lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit over Indian trust funds are seeking to remove Blackfeet tribal leader Earl Old Person from the case. Old Person is not fit to be a lead plaintiff in the class-action lawsuit because he failed to appear for a deposition in Washington in December and did not produce requested documents, the plaintiffs' lawyers said in court documents filed in January. The request is pending before Federal District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth, who is hearing the case. But in a recent interview, Old Person - a member of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council - and his personal lawyer, Joe McKay, said the reason the plaintiffs' lawyers want him off the case is because he has publicly criticized some of their tactics. Old Person said he missed his deposition because his wife died last fall and because the tribe has been in political turmoil. Old Person said he told the lawyers he is ready to carry out his duty as a lead plaintiff and wants to stay on the team. "I don't see any reason why they want to put me off unless they're afraid I'll continue questioning things that need to be questioned," he said. The lawsuit alleges the federal government kept such sloppy records that it lost or misplaced up to $100 billion in land royalties that ranchers, farmers, oil drillers and others who use Indian-owned land paid into trust fund accounts managed by the Interior Department. The lawsuit has five named plaintiffs who represent the 300,000 individual Indians who own trust fund accounts. If he is removed, Old Person would remain a member of the certified class because he is a trust fund account holder. The other lead plaintiffs are Elouise Cobell, also a member of the Blackfeet Tribe; Thomas Maulson, a member of Wisconsin's Lac du Flambeau Chippewa Tribe; James Louis LaRose, a member of Nebraska's Winnebago Tribe, and Penny Cleghorn, a member of Oklahoma's Fort Sill Apache Tribe. Messages left this week with the lead lawyer handling the case, Dennis Gingold, were not returned. Cobell said it's important that the lead plaintiffs respond to the government's demands for depositions and documents. "He wasn't responding to the requests and that's a serious issue," said Cobell, the most visible of the five lead plaintiffs. "When they asked for my deposition, I had to drop everything and go to Washington, D.C." Old Person, 73, and his attorney said they're unhappy that Gingold is asking the court to take the trust fund system away from Interior and appoint a third-party receiver to run it. Old Person said he wants the department to do the work, just as the lawsuit originally demanded. Gingold now says Interior cannot be trusted to do an accounting because it has destroyed so many documents. Instead he wants Washington lawyer Joseph S. Kieffer III, who is the special master-monitor on the case and has expertise in trust fund law, to be the receiver. "(Kieffer) is not an Indian, he has no experience with Indian laws or tribes," McKay said. "Indian Country is not a corporation and the solution is not to handle us as if we are a corporation." Old Person said he is also unhappy Gingold asked the court in December 2001 to order the department to shut down its computer systems after a court-appointed hacker broke in and set up phony trust fund accounts. Many Indian families didn't have a Christmas that year because the computers were off and Interior couldn't get the checks out, McKay said. "I'm not saying the computer system was perfect but on the other hand there's no evidence that I'm aware of that anyone hacked into it and stole money from any Indian," McKay said. "They could've waited a month or two longer to do that. It wouldn't have hurt as much." Faith Bremner is a reporter for Gannett News Service. Joyce M. Dallenbach Branch Manager Michigan Branch-Native American Advocate http://www.geocities.com/mi_branch_naa/ --------- "RE: House panel to talk ANWR Drilling" --------- Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 08:24:51 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ANWR DRILLING" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/2756713p-2806221c.html House panel to talk ANWR DRILLING: Young expects bill to advance to Senate again. The Associated Press March 12, 2003 Fairbanks - The U.S. House Resources Committee will consider Alaska Rep. Don Young's bill to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. A hearing was set for today. The committee's new chairman, Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., issued a brief statement in advance of today's hearing, saying protecting "our environment and our energy security" are compatible goals. Young has said he expects the Republican-led House will approve ANWR drilling again this year. In August 2001, when Young was Resources chairman, the House passed a national energy bill with his ANWR drilling legislation attached. The Senate did not include drilling language in its version of the energy bill, which it passed while under Democratic control in 2002. Negotiations over a compromise version collapsed. Because several senators have threatened to filibuster any ANWR-opening legislation, some drilling supporters are hoping to secure victory through a two-step budget process not subject to that obstacle. Young, now Transportation Committee chairman, said last month that he wouldn't discuss his ANWR strategy. He suggested, though, that while everyone is watching one hand, he'll strike with the other. Invited to speak at today's hearing are Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton; former Energy Secretary James Schlesinger; Gov. Frank Murkowski's rural affairs assistant, Tara Sweeney; National Wildlife Federation vice president and former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Jamie Clark; former Alaska Division of Oil and Gas director Ken Boyd; and Trustees for Alaska attorney Peter Van Tuyn. Copyright c. 2003 The Anchorage Daily News. --------- "RE: Nunavut Budget raids Surplus to boost Health" --------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 08:11:08 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="NUNAVUT HEALTH" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.NUNbudget.html Nunavut budget raids surplus to boost health, education, keep lid on taxes March 11, 2003 IQALUIT, Nunavut (CP) - Health and education programs will get a boost as Nunavut increases spending but holds the line on taxes in a new budget handed down Tuesday. But to keep in the black, the territorial government must raid its dwindling accumulated savings to run a $2.7-million surplus on expenditures of $843 million. Finance Minister Kelvin Ng said Nunavut's fifth budget reflects the difficulty of providing services to a young and growing population widely dispersed over the vast area of the eastern Arctic. "The next challenge in our evolution is to ensure sustainability given limited revenue and ever pressing needs," Ng warned in his budget speech. "Our capacity to meet increasing expenditures is limited and will require strong fiscal discipline." The increase in health spending will help pay for a new state-of-the-art hospital in Iqaluit and new health centres in Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet. There is also more money for outreach drug and alcohol programs and for retaining nurses. Iqaluit's schools will receive more money, including funding to bolster Inuit teaching programs. An increase in law enforcement spending will allow the government to open RCMP detachments in Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet -- the last communities in Nunavut without a police force. Ng called on Ottawa for increased financial assistance to help Nunavut build its infrastructure and develop its economy, and reiterated the territorial government's push for more control over its natural resources. "If we are to provide Nunavummiat with a level of services enjoyed by other Canadians, we must have increased funding from the federal government," he said. "A new partnering agreement is needed to resolve the problems that will be created by declining federal funding and the chronic housing shortage that has historically plagued our communities." Nunavut's population grew 8.1 per cent between 1996 and 2001 -- twice the rate for the rest of Canada. About one-half the population is under 20. About 91 per cent of Nunavut's budget comes from federal transfers. The budget spends almost all the $14.2-million surplus left over from last year. Ng warned that without more federal money the territorial government will have to consider spending and program cuts in the future. "We hate to get to that point, but the reality is we can't keep operating on the resources that we have now to meet the demands." Ng said Nunavut's mineral resources, such as diamonds and gold, are still a long way from development. The territory is also pushing for a greater share of the offshore turbot and shrimp fisheries. Tuesday's budget is expected to be the government's last before the next election is called. Copyright c. 2003, CANOE, a division of Netgraphe Inc. --------- "RE: Treaties 'imminent,' says First Nations Leader" --------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:50:10 -0500 From: "Frosty" Subj: Fw: Treaties 'imminent,' says First Nations leader Mailing List: Frostys AmerIndian ----- Original Message ----- From: Russell Diabo ----- Original Message ----- From: Don http://vancouver.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=bc_fn20030311 Treaties 'imminent,' says First Nations leader March 11 2003 10:26 AM PST VANCOUVER - The head of the B.C. Treaty Commission, Miles Richardson, says the Campbell government has softened its stand on major issues such as revenue-sharing and compensation, and predicts that could lead to treaty deals. 'The Treaty Commission has observed unprecedented commitment to negotiations' - Miles Richardson Richardson says trust has been gained, and there now appears to be a political shift in favour of making treaties. "In the past few months, the Treaty Commission has observed unprecedented commitment to negotiations," he says. "Breakthroughs are possible," adds Richardson. "With political will, with leadership, I would say breakthroughs are imminent at several key lead tables." Attorney General Geoff Plant agrees his government has become more flexible, in an effort to reach agreements. "Doing so though clearly within the scope of the principles the public supported in the referendum, but recognizing that it's time to see if we can make some real progress at the treaty tables," he says. Last year, the B.C. Liberals held a controversial treaty referendum on eight principles of treaty negotiations. All eight received overwhelming support. The only B.C. treaty signed in recent years - the Nisga'a Treaty - came outside the current treaty process. Meanwhile, First Nations in northwestern B.C. say Forests Minister Mike de Jong has agreed to negotiate their demand for an equal voice in forest policy - and a 50 per cent share of revenues. The Northwest Tribal Treaty Nations call it a giant step forward in their relationship with the provincial government. --------- "RE: A Lack of Accountability" --------- Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 08:24:51 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ACCOUNTABILITY http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canada.com/search/story A lack of accountability Times Colonist Thursday, March 13, 2003 For aboriginal Canadians trying to get out from under the yoke of the federal government, reports of the exorbitant pay being pocketed by a few native leaders are an embarrassment. Seventeen of them received more than $100,000 in salaries in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2002. One chief in Atlantic Canada took home $371, 000, the kind of salary the CEO of a corporation with more than $500 million in revenue would expect. We don't know who they are, because of privacy rules, but we can't imagine how any of them could claim more than $100,000 for making political statements, counseling band members and lobbying for more government money, which we're told is what most of them do. Assembly of First Nations Chief Matthew Coon Come says most native leaders make around $28,000, and that some chiefs work for nothing. But the continuing lack of accountability for the way bands spend taxpayers' money is simply inviting more interference in native affairs such as is contained in the First Nations Governance Act, now before Parliament. If First Nations don't want to be bound by more government red tape, they should open their books to other Canadians and rein in those chiefs demanding inflated salaries. Copyright c. 2003 Times Colonist (Victoria). --------- "RE: Aboriginal, Non-Aboriginal Education Gap Closing" --------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 08:11:08 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="EDUCATION GAP" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Census-Aboriginals.html Education gap between aboriginals and non-aboriginals closing: 2001 census March 11, 2003 REGINA (CP) - A big smile shoots across the face of auto-body student Tim Pratt when he is asked why he left home to enroll at a technical institute in Regina. "I wanted to get off the reserve," quips the frank 23-year-old Cree who was raised on the Gordon First Nation, about an hour and a half north of the city. "This is not saying anything bad about my people, but I want to make it better for my culture." Pratt knows he has beaten the odds when it comes to being aboriginal and getting an education. He has seen a lot of his friends drop out, even before they finished high school, and he has watched some of them struggle with living off welfare. He remembers himself falling into the cycle of partying his life away on the reserve and can recall how hard it was to get himself into a post- secondary school - how he didn't have a car and couldn't get to the interviews. But he says he's fed up with First Nations having that reputation and he's working hard to break the cycle of aboriginals being poorly trained. "There are a lot of people who want to get off the reserve, but they are held down by lack of experience in the work force and lack of education," Pratt says. "Just looking at the statistics, there is a lot of stereotyping and I want to be one of those aboriginals that can say, 'Hey, I was nothing like that.' "In a way, I wanted to make my mom and my father proud so here I am. Hopefully, I can get a job somewhere." Pratt is not alone in his struggles as an aboriginal student. According to the latest 2001 census figures released Tuesday by Statistics Canada, aboriginals, who are traditionally under-educated compared to the rest of Canada, are managing to close the gap. Among the working-age aboriginal population, 39 per cent had less than a high-school diploma in 2001, down from 45 per cent in 1996. Nationally, 22 per cent of Canadian adults hadn't completed high school in 2001, down from 26.8 per cent five years earlier. The proportion of aboriginal workers with post-secondary training increased to 38 per cent in 2001 from 33 per cent in '96. Across the country, the proportion of adult Canadians with post-secondary credentials in 2001 was 53.4 per cent, compared to 48.8 per cent in 1996. The gap was still wide among university graduates. However, the proportion of aboriginals with a trade-school certificate actually surpassed the proportion of non-aboriginals with a trade. In 2001, 16 per cent of working-age aboriginals held a trade certificate, compared to 13 per cent of the non-aboriginal working population. Most often, aboriginal men held certificates in building and construction trades, while aboriginal women were qualified as office administrators and secretaries. Lisa Shipley, a senior education analyst at Statistics Canada, said people shouldn't get caught up in comparing native education levels to those of the non-aboriginal population. "To me, it's an internal perspective that's important," Shipley said Tuesday. "It is the aboriginal population improving itself relative to five years earlier. This is where we really want to see the changes happening now." Observers say that the overall numbers are still low and that will become a huge problem considering the population of aboriginal young people is the fastest growing in Canada. The latest demographic snapshots show a native birthrate almost twice that of the rest of the country. The average age for aboriginal people - 25 - is about 13 years younger than the median non-native age of 38. In provinces such as Saskatchewan and Manitoba, one in four children is aboriginal and it is those children who will need to fill jobs in the future. "What takes it from a sad, sorry situation to a crisis is the combination of education achievement and the demographics," says Corinne Mount Pleasant-Jette, an assistant professor at Concordia University in Montreal. Recently, Mount Pleasant-Jette co-chaired a federal working group that looked at the problem of under education among First Nations. The 15-member aboriginal committee released its report last month containing 27 recommendations, ranging from including more culture in the classroom to better mandating the way bands spend their education dollars. "If you look to the biggest pool of young people that are growing, it's aboriginal kids. If you look further they are doing poorly in education," Mount Pleasant-Jette says. "The Canadian economy and First Nations economy all need a labour force and without a qualified, educated labour force then they won't be able to grow." Poor education rates among aboriginals certainly isn't a new concern. The federal government has done studies on the issue that date back to the 1960s. In 1998, a federal report entitled: Gathering Strength - Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan, indicated that aboriginal youth leave the school system "without the necessary skills for employment." In 2000, the auditor general remarked that "success in providing education to Indian students can be achieved only if their needs and aspirations are appropriately identified and served by an education system that is designed to meet them." What frustrates Mount Pleasant-Jette is the inactivity when it comes to fixing the problem. "People aren't listening," she says. "It's been an invisible problem in that there hasn't been a big labour shortage. But there will be. "First Nations children are a potential solution to a very serious problem, because the population is starting to mushroom. They have to become a priority for this government and First Nations' governments." Mount Pleasant-Jette feels that a big part of the problem lies with the way the older generations were educated. Parents and grandparents who have not had good experiences with the school system themselves are not going to be quick to press the need for an education onto their children. "All of the socio-economic factors of poverty, compounded by the psychological trauma of residential schools, compounded by the lack of parenting skills, leaves a whole generation of kids today who need to be educated," Mount Pleasant-Jette says. "We say 'be a good parent and send your kid to school,' and those messages are falling on deaf ears." Shirley Boucher is a counselor at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology - a post-secondary trade school where nearly 20 per cent of the students are aboriginal. As a Metis who grew up in rural Manitoba, she can identify with the problems aboriginal students face. "For a lot of aboriginal people now, education is the way out of the cycle of poverty, it's a way out of the alcoholism, it's a way out of all of those social problems," Boucher says. "We have a lot of people who succeed, but not as many as we would like. Too often life gets in the way." John Richards, a professor at Simon Fraser University in B.C. who writes extensively on aboriginal issues, says the situation is not entirely bad. "It's an optimistic story in one sense that education among aboriginal people is allowing them to escape poverty just as it has everyone else," Richards says. "Unfortunately, aboriginal education profiles are not as good as they should be." He says solving problems doesn't necessary mean throwing money at them. It's really a process of experimenting with what works. "I don't think anyone has an answer, there are many answers," Richards says. "All of the su