_ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' VOLUME 15, ISSUE 040 / /-< / /--/ /-- __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, WOTANGING IKCHE - Lakota - Common News Wotanging Ikche and Native American News Copyright c. 1996-2007 nanews.org Aboriginal/AmerIndian Perspective about the First Nations of Turtle Island October 1, 2007 Hopi Angaqmuyaw/long hair moon Mohawk Kentenha/moon of poverty Lakota Canwape Kasna Wi/moon when the wind strips the leaves Assiniboine Tasnaheja-hagikta/striped gopher looks back moon +-------------------------------------------------------+ | Much more happens in Indian Country than is reported | | in this weekly newsletter. For daily updates & events | | go to http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm | +-------------------------------------------------------+ Otapi'sin Atsinikiisinaakssin -- Blackfeet -- News for All the People Ni-mah-mi-kwa-zoo-min -- Ojibwe -- We Are Talking About Ourselves Aunchemokauhettittea -- Naragansett -- Let Us Share News Kanoheda Aniyvwiya -- Cherokee -- Journal of the People O Es'te Opunvk'vmucvse -- Creek -- People's New News O o O Acimowin -- Plains Cree -- Story or Account O o O Tlaixmatiliztli -- Nahuatl -- News O o o o o O Agnutmaqan -- Listuguj Mi'kmaq -- News O o O Sho-da-ku-ye -- Teehahnahmah -- Talking Birchbark O o O Un Chota -- Susquehannic Seneca -- The People Speak O Ha-Sah-Sliltha -- Ditidaht Nation -- News of the People 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 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 s ch mA mL tL squee Lux -- Okanogan -- News from the People Native American News -- Language of the Occupation Forces ++>If you speak a Native American language not listed above, please send us your words for "News of the People." We'd rather take up this whole page saving these few words of our hundreds of nations than present a nice clean banner in the language of the occupation forces who came here determined to replace our words with their own. email gars@nanews.org with the equivalent of "News of the People" in your tribal language along with the english translation <================<<<< >>>>================> 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.indianz.com; www.pechanga.net; www.indiancountrytoday.com; Mailing Lists: Mohawk Nations News, Native Poetry UUCP Mail 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 Quotes: + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + "Wholesale massacre occurred and I have never heard of a more brutal, cold-blooded massacre than that at Wounded Knee. About two hundred women and children were killed and wounded; women with little children on their backs, and small children powder burned by the men who killed them being so near as to burn the flesh and clothing with the powder of their guns, and nursing babes with five bullet holes through them." __ General Nelson A. Miles, division chief officer, during the Wounded Knee Massacre "This war did not spring up on our land, this war was brought upon us by the children of the Great Father who came to take our land without a price, and who, in our land, do a great many evil things... This war has come from robbery - from the stealing of our land." __ Chief Sinte Gleska (Spotted Tail), Little Thunder Chief of the Brules "We were once friends with the whites but you nudged us out of the way by your intrigues, and now when we are in council you keep nudging each other." __ Chief Motavato (Black Kettle), Cheyenne +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg- | | iance was first presented | I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the | to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat- | of the Republic | ional Congress of American | and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat- | borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI | Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the | as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian | States Constitution, | Nations. | so that my forefathers | | shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Journey | In the summer and early fall | The Bloodline | of 1998 the Treaty Unity Riders | | rode a thousand miles on horse- | For all that live and live by law | back, carrying a staff and | We Stand, we Call, We Ride | praying each step of the way. | For All that fear and fear by sight | | We Hear, we Listen, we Ride | These prayers were offered for | For all that pray and pray by strength| each of us, and that the Unity | We Feel, we Move, we Ride | of all Peoples might happen. | For all that die and die by greed | | We Hurt, we Cry, we Ride | Tatanka Cante forwarded this | For all that birth and birth by right | poem on behalf of all the Unity | We Smile, we Hold, we Ride | Riders that we might stop and | For all that need and need by heart | ask if the next words we say, the | We Came, we Went, we Rode. | next act we make is for the good | | of the People or is it from ego | Treaty Unity Riders | for self. +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters This editorial will be very short and to the point. One article in this issue, "Appeal court reserves decision in Stonechild Case", explains the two cops fired in the Neil Stonechild case managed to get their appeal decisions reversed. Further, they have petitioned the Saskatchewan Supreme Court to quash all findings from the hearing. The inquiry lasted a long time and was very careful how facts and testimony were dealt with. Further, the way the inquiry was handled and the findings were lauded by both aboriginal and non-aboriginal, alike. The appeal totally upheld the findings arrived at by the inquiry. Now, this reversal based on facts? Nope... on the right of the inquiry to make the findings it made. Ask yourself one question: "What would the results have been if the dead young man had been non-aboriginal and the officers had been First Nation?" ' ' Gary Smith (*,*) wotanging@bellsouth.net P. O. Box 672168 (`-') gars@nanews.org Marietta, GA 30007, U.S.A. ===w=w=== http://www.nanews.org ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ----------- Editorial Section: - HARJO: Reject Genocide-denier's . Non-aboriginal Cops get appeal Propaganda reversal on technicalities - GRAHAM: Americas - Tales of harassment National Terrorist Holiday in Hate Crime Case - YELLOW BIRD: Don't let Diabetes - $150M System failing get best of you to track Royalty Payments - JODI RAVE: Auction - Senate hears Stories reveals Blackfeet spirit of Sexual Assault - Opposition to Salmon Farming - Tribes most vulnerable in British Columbia to climate shift - Kahnawake Mohawks walk CPR Tracks - Cherokee Nation definition - 6 Nations Defenders of Tribe challenged charged with "mis'chief" - Blackfeet Border Guards - 6 Nations Spokespersons - NA Legislators hear "Suckered" by Politicians sobering School Statistics - First Nation 'digs in heels' - Indigenous organize at Blockade to halt mining in Americas - Kahnawake Band Council - Peru's Indigenous arise attacks "Council of Elders" in defense of Earth - Appeal court reserves decision - Proposed Deal reached in Stonechild Case for Michigan Tribes - Tribes to pilot - Washington Tribes, State Indian Country Amber Alert to meet over Rights - Expert: - Council Donates $200,000 Tribal Courts should beware to Code Talkers Monument - S.D. Supreme Court: - It's time for Indians Tribe has no Jurisdiction to look to better Future - What happened to the - American Indian College Fund Wampanoag Museum Money? granted $500,000 - Investigators raid Cairo, GA. - NA Natural Foods Set Insurance Agency to launch Tanka Bars - Native Group sues Ramras - Washo Elders help compile over request for Probe Online Dictionary - Native Justice - LONGFEATHER: -- Muscogee Nation helps Inmates Working to understand One Another re-enter Society - YELLOW BIRD: Learning Culture - Rustywire: takes time,devotion Never Known Anything Like This - GARCIA: It's time for action - Lee Goins Poem: Spirit Talker --------- "RE: Tales of harassment in Hate Crime Case" --------- Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:09:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ASSAULT ON 13-YEAR-OLD" [Editorial comment: Addresses were listed for the Prosecutor's Office and other officials involved in the case in last week's editorial. Do not let up on the letters. Make sure they know they are being watched.] http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/09/28/ap-state-id/d8ru1f181.txt Victim, mother share harassment tales in hate crime case September 28, 2007 LEWISTON, Idaho - A 13-year-old American Indian girl and her mother say they have been constantly harassed since the girl was beaten two weeks ago. Prosecutors say the teen's beating was a hate crime and allege that brothers Michael S. Moody, 22, and David C. Moody, 18, intimidated her in anticipation of the trial. The Moody brothers are each charged with two counts of felony attempted witness intimidation, accused of chanting "white power" at the girl and her mother three days after the beating. At the men's preliminary hearing Wednesday in Nez Perce County Magistrate Court, the teen and her mother testified that they have moved twice and the girl has transferred schools since the beating on Sept. 12. Court documents say the beating occurred outside an apartment complex where a group of men were yelling "white power" and "white pride." The teen was walking by the apartment complex at the time, according to prosecutors, and said something to the effect of, "What about Native pride?" Court documents say a woman then punched the teen, knocking her to the ground. When the teen began to fight back, an older woman kicked her in the head and stomach. The teen, who suffered injuries to her face and arm, was treated and released from a local hospital. Jill R. Grant, 40, and her 21-year-old daughter, Ashley N. Grant, have each been charged with one count of felony malicious harassment in connection with the beating, and four other people _ including the Moodys _ have been charged with felony attempted witness intimidation in the days since the beating. Preliminary hearings for 19-year-old Jason R. Grant and a 16-year-old boy are scheduled to be held separately from the Moody's proceedings. The girl and her mother testified that on Sept. 15, they were returning to their apartment from picking up a cousin a few blocks away when two or three men began yelling "white power" as they made their way through Pioneer Park. When asked by public defender Robert Van Idour, the girl said "white power" was the only phrase she heard the men shout. But the teen's mother testified that the two men also use other obscenities considered degrading to American Indians. The girl's mother said she feared for her life and for the life of her child because of the initial attack. The two walked quickly back to their apartment, she said, where they called 911. "I thought they were going to attack us because we were Native American, because we were the only Native Americans on the street at that time, and the rest were white," the mother said. Lewiston police Officer Mike Rigney testified that police officers watched the incident with binoculars. "They were chanting 'white power' and raising their fist into the air," Rigney said. Rigney testified their actions were characteristic of neo-Nazism. In talking to the men later, Rigney said, Michael Moody allegedly first denied chanting the slogans but later "became remorseful" and said he no longer believed in that ideology. Rigney then arrested Michael Moody and Jason Grant. About an hour later, after watching two people shout the same phrases below the girl's apartment window, officers arrested David Moody and the 16-year-old boy, Rigney testified. Defense attorneys Van Idour and Neil Cox asked the judge to dismiss the case, contending the brothers were protected by the First Amendments' promise of freedom of expression. But county Deputy Prosecutor Nancy Berger-Schneider said both men knew about the earlier beating and that the girl and her mother had already been subpoenaed into court. Magistrate Judge Gregory Kalbfleisch agreed with the prosecutor, saying if the two men had simply been chanting the phrase they probably wouldn't have faced criminal arrests. But given the earlier beating and the other evidence, there was probable cause that a crime had taken place, Kalbfleisch ruled. Both men are scheduled to appear before District Judge Jeff M. Brudie on Oct. 10. Their bond remains at $50,000. Information from: Lewiston Tribune, http://www.lmtribune.com A service of the Associated Press(AP) Copyright c. 2007 Magic Valley Times-News, Twin Falls, ID. Lee Publications, Inc. --------- "RE: $150M System failing to track Royalty Payments" --------- Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:18:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ALL THAT MONEY FAR A COMPUTER THAT CAN'T TRACK THAT MONEY AT ALL" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/ news-34/1190838651200760.xml&storylist=louisiana $150 million computer system failing to track royalty payments By H. JOSEF HEBERT The Associated Press September 26, 2006 WASHINGTON (AP) - A $150 million computer system that is supposed to help the government keep track of oil and gas royalties has been a "profound failure," contributing to possibly millions of dollars in lost revenue, according to Interior Department investigators. The department's inspector general cited the computer system's shortcomings in a scathing report released Wednesday that said the royalty collection process is riddled with mismanagement, ethical lapses and conflicting relationships with the energy industry. The yearlong investigation found "a Band-Aid approach to holding together one of the federal government's largest revenue producing operations," Inspector General Earl E. Devaney wrote Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. The government collects about $10 billion in royalties a year from oil and natural gas taken under federal leases covering federal coastal waters. Copies of the IG report were sent to the oversight committees in both the House and Senate, which had asked for an investigation into the Minerals Management Service's royalty collection system and complaints by four whistle-blowers that millions of dollars were not being collected from energy companies. Many of the findings and management shortfalls cited in the IG report have been previously raised in reports, court papers and at congressional hearings. But the report for the first time delved into allegations that the agency was losing perhaps millions of dollars in uncollected interest on overdue royalty payments in part because of computer problems. Investigators found that the agency had agreed decades ago to calculate such interest payments, instead of requiring the energy companies to do it, claiming that would be a "hardship" on the companies. In an attempt to improve the process, the report said, the government in 1999 contracted for a new computer system that is supposed to track and dispense royalties paid by the oil and gas companies and also bill and collect interest. The IG report said nearly $150 million has been spent on the program and supposed improvements. But the problems have persisted and in some cases interest payments continued to be calculated manually causing further delays and some payments being missed altogether, investigators were told. The agency "has manually calculated interest for oil companies for years, while it has also spent considerable amounts of money to modify its (computer) system to calculate interest automatically," Devaney wrote, adding that "to date the effort to automate interest calculations has been largely unsuccessful." He said the inspector general's office has begun a separate investigation into the procurement of the system and its development. Minerals Management Service employees involved in royalty collection "outlined numerous concerns regarding the system since its inception," the IG report said. One accountant told investigators that because of the delay - and in some cases the failure - to collect interest energy companies "were continuing to have the use of their money to the detriment of the government" in some cases for many months, even years. It was not certain how much interest was lost. But the agency told investigators that from 2002 through 2006 energy companies were billed for $21.4 million in interest because of overdue royalty payments. It said $13. 6 million was collected. One accountant told investigators that the computer system had an array of problems, dating bills incorrectly, billing interest when companies paid early and sometimes not identifying overpayments. Another accountant said it took him twice as long to bill companies for interest using the computer system compared to a previous system. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., chairman of the House Resources Committee, said the report "raises a number of troubling questions" about the management of the government's oil and gas royalty collection system. They said they were concerned about the conflicting roles and relationships between the agency and the energy industry as well as the IG report's reference to "systemic communication failures" that hinder auditors in their attempt to collect all the royalties owed the government. Copyright c. 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. Copyright c. 2007 New OrleansNet LLC. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Senate hears Stories of Sexual Assault" --------- Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:09:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SEXUAL ASSAULT ON THE REZ" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/stories/KTVKLNews 20070927_sexual-assault_reservations.1176363bc.html Senate hears stories of sexual assault on reservations By The Associated Press September 27, 2007 The Senate Indian Affairs Committee says Congress will try to help decrease violent crimes against women on reservations. Senator Byron Dorgan is the Democratic chairman of the panel. He says he'll introduce legislation this year to try and lessen some of the confusion about whether state, federal or tribal police can respond when a violent crime is reported. Dorgan says crimes against women on reservations can't be ignored. An Amnesty International report released earlier this year says American Indian women are more than twice as likely to be raped as other U.S. women. The Report says suspects often go free because of confusing police jurisdictions and a lack of resources. Today's hearing was the latest in a series held by the committee to investigate the lack of law enforcement on Indian reservations. Copyright c. 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright c. 2007 KTVK-TV, Poenix. --------- "RE: Tribes most vulnerable to climate shift" --------- Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:01:42 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="WATER, FOOD SUPPLIES AT RISK" http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0925climate-tribes0924.html Report: Tribes most vulnerable to climate shift Water, food supplies at risk Shaun McKinnon The Arizona Republic September 25, 2007 Climate change will exacerbate problems on American Indian reservations, says a new report that warns of flooded homelands, ruined fish habitat and long-term water shortages. "While climate change will affect everyone, it will affect some disproportionately," said Jonathan Hanna, a research fellow at the University of Colorado at Boulder and author of the report. "Native American communities are among the most vulnerable to a changing climate." Deepening droughts expected by climate scientists could further squeeze water supplies across the Southwest and worsen shortages for tribes, such as Arizona's Navajo Nation, that lack secure water rights, the report said. Rising ocean levels and melting Alaskan tundra would wipe out native lands, while changing river cycles threaten salmon that have sustained Northwest tribes for centuries. The researchers say reservations could benefit from the need for more renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, but the tribes need help from state and federal leaders. Copyright c. 2007 Arizona Republic, azcentral.com. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Cherokee Nation definition of Tribe challenged" --------- Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:12:47 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="WHO SHOULD DECIDE WHO IS CHEROKEE" http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=136547 Cherokee Nation Definition Of Own Tribe Being Challenged AP September 24, 2007 TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A dispute involving race and tribal identity that was supposed to play out in the courts now seems headed for Capitol Hill, where some lawmakers want the country's second-largest Indian tribe stripped of $300 million in federal money. U.S. Rep. Diane Watson, a California Democrat who claims Indian blood and ties to Oklahoma, is demanding the Cherokee Nation reinstate 2,800 descendants of the tribe's former black slaves, known as freedmen. She calls a March election that booted the freedmen descendants from the tribe "ethnic cleansing" and doesn't want to wait on the courts to decide the matter, a process that could take years. The tribe is digging in to fight the legislation, and its chief, Chad Smith, has called Watson's bill a "scorched-earth" policy aimed at hurting the poorest and sickest of the nation's 270,000 members. Neither side shows signs of giving up ground as lawmakers are expected to have a hearing on the matter next week in Washington. At stake are millions of federal dollars for health clinics, Head Start programs, elderly care and housing assistance for the Tahlequah-based tribe. More than 6,000 nation employees could lose their jobs, touching off a ripple effect that would economically devastate northeastern Oklahoma. Health care to 126,000 patients would be axed. "If the Cherokee Nation were to fold, I'd be with it," said David Rabon Comingdeer, a 15-year employee of the nation. "It would be like our whole world just fell out from under us." But to Watson, those are consequences the nation should have thought of before the election was called. "We can't even fund education properly or health care properly," said Watson, whose bill has 23 co-sponsors, including support from Congressional Black Caucus lawmakers. "Why should we fund this kind of disenfranchisement?" Watson wants Chief Smith and his supporters "to come to their senses and see this is throwing out the blacks, and using federal dollars to do it." "I stand on the law, I stand on what's right, and I'm not going to massage it for phony reasons," she said. For decades, descendants of freed Cherokee slaves fought to reclaim their citizenship, even though they were adopted into the tribe in 1866 under a treaty with the U.S. government. A ruling last year by the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court held that the Cherokee constitution assured freedmen descendants of tribal citizenship. That led to a petition drive for a ballot measure to determine who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. In March, nearly 77 percent of Cherokee voters decided in a special election to amend the nation's constitution to remove the freedmen descendants and other non-Indians from tribal rolls. Critics of the vote said then it was hardly a mandate because only a fraction of the nation's tribal citizens - about 9,000 - cast ballots. For months, the matter has been tied up in the federal and tribal courts. Introduction of Watson's bill in June escalated the issue. Some Oklahoma congressmen, such as Rep. Dan Boren, say the chances Watson's bill will become law are "almost nonexistent," but acknowledge such legislation, if successful, would have far-reaching consequences on the state's economy. Recent history shows that her bill has a chance of gaining traction. In 2000, after the Seminole Nation voted to oust freedmen descendants from its tribe, the government cut off federal programs and refused to recognize its election. The freedmen were later allowed back in the tribe. "When you design a legislative bill to hurt the most vulnerable and weak of the population, the young people in their Head Starts and schools, the infirm and frail in our clinics, then that truly is a scorched-earth policy," Smith said in an interview this week with The Associated Press. "I anticipate this is going to be a long, hard battle, and the sad thing is, it doesn't have to be." Smith expressed surprise some lawmakers took up the issue, and has said the March election had nothing to do with race and everything to do with common heritage. He wants the matter to be decided in the courts. "This is not my choice," Smith said. "Three-thousand Cherokees, by their own initiative, signed a petition and it was brought to a vote. It was the people's decision." But freedmen descendants, such as Marilyn Vann, say the tribe is resorting to scare tactics to defend itself, and welcomed the "additional actions of Congress and additional court cases which continue to pound this on the table." "We're the little people to Mr. Smith," said Vann, president of the Oklahoma City-based Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes. "We're not supposed to go to Congress, only Mr. Smith and his supporters are allowed." Results of the election are on hold pending the legal challenges, but if allowed to stand, descendants such as Tahlequah resident Charlene White would lose tribal benefits, including medical coverage. That means she would have to find a way to pay for the $200 in groceries the tribe provides her each month, as well as the expensive medical care for her glaucoma now covered at a local clinic. "It would be a big hardship on me," she said. But White says she's fed up with the war of words over her right to be recognized as a Cherokee citizen and wants to wait on the courts, whatever their decision. "I know where I came from," said White, who can trace her lineage back seven generations. "They can take away everything today if they want, but I'm still a freedman." Copyright c. 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright c. 2007 KOTV, A Griffin Communications, LLC Subsidiary. --------- "RE: Blackfeet Border Guards" --------- Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:33:17 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="LITTLE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE" http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/09/26/ news/state/18-border_s.txt Reservation shares 65 miles of border with Canada By MARTIN J. KIDSTON Independent Record September 26, 2007 CUT BANK - When Robert DesRosier looks north into Canada and east toward the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, he remarks that if he were a smuggler, or perhaps a terrorist, he would take advantage of the reservation's lack of security. DesRosier, a tall and easy-speaking man, is one of just two tribal members working to secure the reservation's 65 miles of international border. It's a daunting task and one DesRosier says goes largely unsupported by the federal government. "The things that come through here could affect the rest of the nation," he said after a scouting flight over the border. "But one of the things that affects us the most with Homeland Security is that we don't often get the money to operate or maintain a good border protection program." DesRosier took on the Blackfeet Nation's Homeland Security mission one week after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. He and his partner - a Blackfeet man who asked that his name not be used - represent the sum total of the reservation's effort to secure the border. The program has made progress since its inception. Relationships have been forged with nearby law enforcement agencies, including the Glacier County Sheriff's Department and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Even the Blackfeet Tribal Council supports the mission, helping out in a pinch if DesRosier needs it. But DesRosier acknowledges that his program has taken small steps backward. It hasn't grown much during the past six years, and that leaves him frustrated. What's more, he said, it continues to struggle for funding. "We'd like to have a full-time program that puts Blackfeet people to work on the northern border," he said. "I'd like to see 10 to 12 people who are full-time employees working Homeland Security for the Blackfeet Nation. I'd like to do rotating shifts, and that means vehicles and equipment." DesRosier and his partner, along with a host of Native American agents from southern Arizona, have gathered in Cut Bank to fly the border with a drug interdiction pilot from the Montana National Guard. Doing so, DesRosier hopes, will reveal the illegal crossing points that lie invisible to those on the ground. Knowing where the roads and trails lie will help his team devise a better plan, one he may deploy with limited manpower. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that funding isn't going to the reservations like it is to the rest of the country," he said. "If I was a smuggler, I certainly wouldn't go through the Port of Sweetgrass or the Port of Piegan. It's common sense. The smugglers aren't dumb. They know what's going on." DesRosier's words mirror those spoken by Hill County Sheriff Greg Szudera two weeks earlier. The 14 ports of entry dotting Montana's northern frontier are well-secured. But the 545 miles between them are lonely, open miles with only farmers and a handful of Border Patrol agents keeping watch. "Putting myself in the shoes of doing criminal activity, it's a toss-up whether I'd try to cross at a busy station or at a location with limited personnel," Szudera said at his Havre office. "I personally would take the risk of doing it in a location with a smaller amount of traffic." That's what has DesRosier concerned. Aside from the weather and expansive terrain, there's little to stop smugglers and illegal aliens from crossing the reservation and reaching the highway, where they may disappear into the Montana population. Smugglers have been known to fly drugs across the border and drop them for collection. Others move on four-wheeler or foot. They set their package by a trail or road, marking it in some unsuspecting way for future collection. In land this big and rugged, catching them, says one Native American agent, is a game of luck, good intelligence and planning. "We've seen increased activity on the border," the agent said, shaking his head. "You'll see roads, illegal crossings on the border. If somebody wanted to get across the international boundary bad enough to go around a port of entry, it usually means there's something on their mind." DesRosier's team has won small victories in securing funding for border security, mainly a small grant from the Department of Justice and funds for two-way radios. Still, he says, the tribe remains at a disadvantage due to the way Homeland Security funding is distributed. For starters, he said, the tribe must apply for money at the state level while the state, in contrast, gets money directly from the federal government. There's no money for tribal salaries, nothing in the tribal budget to pay personnel to actively patrol the border or do Homeland Security work. "We've always maintained that we need to have a funding path in place directly to the federal government," he said. "Not to say that we're going to be competing with the states. But the federal government must recognize Indian Country's needs when it comes to Homeland Security. We don't think they adequately address that now." As a result, DesRosier fears that smugglers and illegal aliens who want to cross the international border will do so on the reservation. Others agree. Up here, tucked against the rise of Glacier National Park, law enforcement is thin at best. What officers there are keep busy with crisis management. As DesRosier puts it, tribal police don't even have time to work traffic. "I think the criminal element will target a reservation because there's not adequate law enforcement," he said. During his flight, DesRosier marked the GPS coordinates of each illegal crossing discovered below. They found three on this morning. Back at base, he and his men gathered around a contour map of north-central Montana, marking the crossings on the map. These, says DesRosier, are the places he'll begin watching. He'll take to a secret vantage high in the hills to do so - one that lends an expansive view of the border. While DesRosier remains hopeful that funding will someday come his way, he knows how the game is played. He acknowledges that the northern border is nothing like the southern border, at least when it comes to the level of activity streaming across it. He called the difference significant and one he can't compete with. Still, he wants to spread the word to smugglers and illegal aliens - if you're looking to enter the U.S. through Montana, the Blackfeet Indian Reservation isn't the place to do it. "By far the most important thing to me is the Homeland Security mission," DesRosier said. "It's important for the Blackfeet Nation that we maintain our identity as far as our northern border. We're one of the most unique tribes in the nation because we have 65 miles of international border. We try to remain very observant." Contact Martin Kidston at mkidston@helenair.com or 447-4086. Copyright c. 2007 The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: NA Legislators hear sobering School Statistics" --------- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:43:08 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="INDIAN CHILDREN BEING LEFT BEHIND" http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/09/28/ news/top/doc46fdc07c7823c098044446.txt Native American legislators hear sobering school statistics The Associated Press September 29, 2007 HELENA, Mont. - Native American legislators from throughout the country were told Friday that Native students lag far behind their peers, and something must be done about it. The National Caucus of Native American State Legislators is meeting in Helena to consider ways to close the so-called "achievement gap." A study on the issue headlined the conference. The group was told that only 54 percent of Native students graduate from high school, compared to 70 percent of the general population. The group is also more likely to think about, or commit, suicide. And Native grade-school students are often performing about two grade levels below their peers -- only one of many problems found, said a social-sciences researcher whose work has contributed to Montana Office of Public Instruction data. "To be frank, the results could not be more troubling," Christopher Lohse said. Lohse said poverty on Indian reservations plays a role in the underachievement. "Breaking up concentrated poverty matters," Lohse said. He found many indicators pointing to the problem, such as evidence that teachers in areas experiencing greater poverty are more likely to be teaching out of their specific areas of expertise. The Native students face greater challenges and enormous risks that limit their chances for success, Lohse's report said. His report looked at states with dense populations of Native Americans. Lohse said that a number of improvements can be made, such as increasing culturally relevant education that appeals more to Native students. He said further study of other methods being used needs to take place. "This is one of the greatest challenges facing our K-12 schools today," Montana state Sen. Carol Juneau, D-Browning, said. The group was scheduled on Saturday to finalize policy recommendations that state legislatures nationwide can use to deal with the issue. Copyright c. 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright c. 2007 Rapid City Journal. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Indigenous organize to halt mining in Americas" --------- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:43:08 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="PROTECTING NATIVE LANDS FROM PLUNDERERS" http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/ Empowered: Indigenous Peoples organize to halt mining in Americas By Brenda Norrell September 29, 2007 TUCSON, Ariz. - Indigenous Peoples from throughout the Americas fighting mining gathered to organize and support one another to halt the mining destroying their communities and the environment. The first in the series of articles focuses on the delegation from Peru, fighting copper mining and the poisoning of water sources. Coal, gold, silver, copper and uranium mining in Indigenous territories has reached the level of a global crisis. Nikos Pastos of Alaska's Big Village Network said climate change and melting ice, combined with oil drilling, result in unprecedented dangers for polar bears, walruses and whales. On the Navajo Nation and near its borders, proposals for new uranium mines, coal mining and the Desert Rock Power Plant pose threats to land and air already heavy with toxins. Manny Pino, Acoma Pueblo, said the sacred sites endangered by new proposed uranium mining include Mount Taylor in New Mexico, sacred to Pueblos, Navajos and other tribes in the region. At the root of the problem, says Western Shoshone Carried Dann, are the IRA tribal governments who are acting in the best interest of energy companies, rather than the best interest of the people. Louise Benally, Navajo from Big Mountains, Ariz., said the Earth is being "butchered" by mining and elected leaders at both the tribal and federal level are responsible and must be replaced. In a story which repeats itself in every geographic region of the Americas, mining is rupturing communities and poisoning the environment, including the First Nations in Canada, Mayan in Guatemala and the Spokane Nation in Washington. Censored and under-reported news: brendanorrell@gmail.com --------- "RE: Peru's Indigenous arise in defense of Earth" --------- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:43:08 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="PERU INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PREPARE FOR 'DAY OF GENOCIDE'" http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/ Peru's Indigenous Peoples arise in defense of Earth from mining Andean Indigenous Peoples organize in defense of land, prepare for mobilization on 'Day of Genocide,' October 12 By Brenda Norrell http://www.narconews.com/ September 29, 2007 TUCSON, Ariz. - Indigenous Peoples from Peru say that while their country's leaders have endorsed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the international level, at home the federal government is preparing to forcibly claim Indigenous lands for mining. Indigenous Peoples are now struggling to protect their territories from a proposed law that would claim the right to appropriate Indigenous territories based on the Peruvian government's claim that it is a matter of "national interest." Speaking out against mining, Quechua leader Miguel Palacin of Lima, Peru, said Andean Peoples from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina have organized to protect Indigenous territories in this region. Palacin is coordinator of the Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indigenas (Andean Federation of Indigenous Organizations.) "This group is working to protect Indigenous rights," Palacin said, speaking through a translator during an interview at the Western Mining Action Network Conference 2007, held in Tucson on Sept. 28 - 29. Palacin said the concept of Indigenous territories does not only refer to the lands of Indigenous Peoples, but also to Indigenous' languages, cultures, values and clothing. Indigenous territories include the right to autonomy and self-governance based on Indigenous Peoples' own legal systems and principles. "This is a fundamental right, a right that is being offended by the politics of globalization, the invasion of transnational corporations and the contamination that is damaging the life and culture." Palacin said it is essential to grow in visibility and expose the mining, energy and hydroelectric corporations seizing Indigenous territories for profit. He said Indigenous territories are under attack by governments. "The governments are campaigning against the social movement." This is particularly true in Colombia, where Indigenous Peoples are confronted by the federal government, FARC and the paramilitaries. "In Colombia, there has been a lot of death and displacement." However, Palacin said there is also hope. In both Bolivia and Ecuador, new Constitutional reforms propose changes that respect Indigenous Peoples rights. Further, the Andean Federation of Indigenous Organizations is now proposing the establishment of Indigenous Diplomats, to meet with governments to explain their positions. These include opposition to Free Trade agreements and militarization. Further, concerns are arising because of new visa and passport requirements. In support of these struggles, Indigenous Peoples plan mobilizations throughout South America on the "Day of Genocide," October 12, followed by a delegation to Europe on Oct. 13, he said. "The Indigenous movement has power in the south. We want to be included in the transformation of our countries. Indigenous Peoples have the right to govern their countries," Palacin said. Attorney Javier Aroca of Lima, Peru, said the government of Peru has criminalized the social movement to protect the land. "Mining is very strong. The government really supports this industry because they view it as a means of receiving a lot of revenues. "Whoever opposes mining is seen as a terrorist and anti-patriotic," Aroca said, during an interview in Tucson. At issue now are the mining companies who obtain their leases from leaders without consultation of the community, including copper mines. "The biggest concern is water," Aroca said, pointing out that water from the mountain tops flows throughout the region. Where copper mine exploration is being carried out, there are natural protected reserves in the high mountain region. "These mountain top areas are the source of water." Aroca said the Peruvian government supported the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to free, informed and prior consent and Indigenous Peoples' rights to their territories. "But in practice, the Peruvian government is doing the opposite." Currently, opposition is mounting to oppose a law in the Peruvian Congress, which would allow Indigenous lands to be appropriated in the name of "national interest," Aroca said. "If this law is passed, it would trash eight years of work in support of Indigenous Peoples rights." The representatives from Peru joined Indigenous Peoples from throughout the Americas at the Western Mining Action Network conference, including Western Shoshone Carrie Dann; Navajo Louise Benally from Big Mountain, Ariz.; Manny Pino, Acoma Pueblo and member of the International Indian Treaty Council; Tom Goldtooth, Navajo/Dakota director of the Indigenous Environmental Network; Twa-le Abrahamson of the Shawl Society Spokane Nation, Wash.; Flora Natomagan, Hatchet Lake Band of First Nations from Canada who served previously as chief; Dailan Long, Navajo from Dine' CARE, Wahleah Johns, Navajo from the Black Mesa Water Coalition and other Indigenous Peoples whose communities have been devastated by uranium mining, coal mining, power plants, copper mining and other natural resource extractions and contaminating energy development. --- Miguel Palacin, Quechua, is the first coordinator of the Andean Federation of Indigenous Organizations. He is originally from Vicco in the central Andes of Peru. Earlier, in 1999, he founded the National Federation of Peruvian Communities Affected by Mining, CONACAMI, an organization that defends the rights of communities affected by mining. - Javier Aroca is an attorney specializing in Indigenous Peoples, rural communities and Native Rights law. He is currently the Regional Coordinator for Oxfam America's Extractive Industries Program at the South American Regional Office. Censored and under-reported news: brendanorrell@gmail.com --------- "RE: Proposed Deal reached for Michigan Tribes" --------- Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:33:17 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HUNTING, FISHING, LAND USE AGREEMENT" http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20070926/APA/709260583 Proposed Deal Reached for Mich. Tribes By JOHN FLESHER Associated Press Writer September 26, 2007 TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Five American Indian tribes will regulate hunting, fishing and plant gathering by their members on millions of acres in Michigan under a tentative agreement announced Wednesday with the state. Supporters hope the proposal will end decades of bickering over what rights Indians retained when they signed away ownership of land that amounts to 37 percent of the state. The 1836 treaty helped lead to Michigan acquiring statehood the next year. State officials and the leaders of most tribes and sporting groups were lining up behind the plan, saying it doesn't give the tribes all they want but does protect their interests. It "will provide stability and predictability in an area of former legal uncertainty," said Rebecca Humphries, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The proposed consent decree needs approval of each tribe's government and U.S. District Judge Richard Enslen to take effect. Several have already signed on, while the largest tribe - the Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians - has submitted the pact to its 23,870 adult 29,000 members for a referendum. Both sides hope to submit the document to Enslen before the next court hearing, scheduled for Oct. 22. Conservation and property rights groups that observed the negotiations described the agreement as "tough but fair." "We have worked to ensure healthy and sustainable game and fish populations, to protect private property rights and to preserve Michigan's sportspersons' heritage," said Dennis Muchmore, executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs. In a statement, the Burt Lake Preservation Association voiced "disappointment with the negotiation process because there was little public involvement." The group said it feared the deal would put the lake's walleye fishery at risk. "But we must accept the conclusion and work toward a positive resolution with the state and the tribes," the association said. Tribal leaders say they have demonstrated over many generations their responsible stewardship of natural resources. "We've wanted all along to make sure people wouldn't feel the need to lash out because they were afraid we were going to destroy the resource," said Jimmie Mitchell, natural resources director for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians based in Manistee. The proposal affects much of the western and northern Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula. The five tribes are the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Sault Tribe, the Little River Band, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. --- On the Net: Michigan Department of Natural Resources: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr Copyright c. 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright c. 2007 Daily Comet, Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. --------- "RE: Washington Tribes, State to meet over Rights" --------- Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:12:47 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CLEAR PASSAGE FOR FISH" http://www.indianz.com/News http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/161173.html Clear passage for fish at stake SUSAN GORDON; The News Tribune September 21, 2007 A recent federal court ruling could step up efforts to restore fish habitat by removing or replacing problem culverts around Puget Sound and on the Olympic Peninsula. But it's unclear how many millions of dollars that might cost, how quickly it could be accomplished and where state officials will find the money. "To me, it's a very simple fix to fix the culverts and their huge impact on salmon recovery," said Billy Frank Jr., the Nisqually leader whose tribe is among 20 that sued in 2001 to force the state into action. Harking back to the historic 1974 Boldt decision, U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Martinez sided with the tribes in August. Since the blocked culverts reduce fish habitat, he said, they violate tribal treaty rights to fish. Martinez stopped short of demanding an immediate fix. Instead, he encouraged state and tribal officials to work out a solution. Official talks begin Monday in Seattle. The goal is to have a proposal ready by December, in time for the 2008 legislative session that begins in January, said Steve Dietrich, senior counsel for the office of the state attorney general. "He wants us to check in by Nov. 1 and every 60 days after that," Dietrich said of the judge. "I think there'll be a series of meetings. This is pretty complicated." Simple, according to Frank. Complicated, to Dietrich. Here's the essence of the issue: Just because a buried pipe carries a stream from one side of a road to the other, it doesn't guarantee that fish can pass through. Or that gravel and sand don't build up on the upstream side and threaten to clog up the passage. Or that a plugged pipe won't fail, causing a flood or road collapse, which also damages the stream bed and kills fish. Biologists for both the state and the tribes generally agree that all of those things are problems. That said, there's little consensus on the scope of the problem, including how many miles of usable habitat are blocked. Lawyers for the tribes contend that culvert problems in the area covered by the lawsuit - around Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula - render about 750 miles of salmon streams useless. On the state side, it's hard to get a single number because multiple agencies are involved. Beyond that, from the tribes' perspective, the dispute revolves around deadlines, priorities and appropriate culvert design. On the state side, agency representatives cite cost as the primary reason why so many culverts haven't been fixed. CONCERNS ABOUT COST On and off for years, tribal and state officials have tried to resolve the dispute. A last round of court-sanctioned mediation ended unsuccessfully last May before Martinez weighed in. For the upcoming settlement talks, Gov. Chris Gregoire's office is coordinating the state's response. That doesn't sit well with at least state lawmaker, Rep. Joel Kretz, a Republican from Wauconda, Okanogan County. Kretz is a rancher and forest landowner who became politically active representing his county's Farm Bureau in a dispute over state forest road maintenance and abandonment rules. He's had firsthand experience with culvert requirements. What worries Kretz most is the cost. "There have been billions of dollars spent on salmon recovery efforts and now the governor may negotiate more money away in private without consideration for the taxpayers of this state," he said. The culvert case involves the state agencies that oversee transportation, forests, fisheries and parks. "We're the lion's share," said Paula Hammond, the Transportation Department's interim secretary. "We do care about fish and it's been something we've tried to work on," she said. Since 1991, the Transportation Department has spent $40 million to fix the problem. So far, 200 culverts have been corrected statewide. Over the next 12 years, the department plans to spend an additional $69 million, she said. As for the Puget Sound area, she estimated the Transportation Department's culvert repair or replacement obligation at a minimum of $300 million. Transportation officials have identified about 850 problem culverts in watersheds around Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula. "They're on pace to complete the job sometime in the next century," said lawyer John Sledd, who represents Nisqually and several other tribes in the lawsuit. "That's certainly not adequate." But Paul Wagner, who manages the department's biology branch, said the state's timetable is based on a priority list. "We know we can get most of the habitat from less than half of the culverts. If we fixed the top 40 percent of the priority list we would get 80 percent of available habitat, " he said. While Transportation Department officials deal with highway culverts, the Natural Resources Department handles forest roads. Natural Resources, the parks department and the Department of Fish and Wildlife are subject to a previously negotiated 2016 deadline for culvert correction. Natural Resources Department officials put the total number of problem culverts in the lawsuit area at about 700. "We are fixing them all over the place all the time as we are doing work in various locations," said Patty Henson, department spokeswoman. BAD PIPE DESIGN, PLACEMENT Sometimes culverts that are bad for fish also are bad for people. That's true of one just outside of Roy, where three 4-foot-tall arched culverts are supposed to carry Lacamas Creek under Highway 507. Lacamas Creek runs into Muck Creek, a Nisqually River tributary and home to a native run of chum salmon. When Lacamas Creek runs high, the culvert stands in the way and the creek floods parts of town. And even before the creek jumps its banks, the fish can't get through, state biologists said. Debris now blocks two of the three barrels. It's a troublesome design. "You never want to have rows of pipe" next to each other, said Dan Wrye, Pierce County watershed services manager. "The fish can be impaled. They hit the sharp edges and it can be lethal." A 2005 county watershed plan calls for culvert replacement and estimates the cost at $345,000. The state Department of Transportation could pick up at least part of the tab, but so far it's not budgeted, officials said. Closer to the Sound, on the east fork of Hylebos Creek and near Federal Way's Wild Waves Theme Park, a pipe spills water out of an embankment beneath Enchanted Parkway South. The water drops into a scour hole where young coho swim, but they can't get through the conduit because it's perched too high above the creek, a tribal biologist said. If not for that poorly placed pipe, fish could move upstream an additional 6,000 feet or so, said Russ Ladley, the Puyallup Tribe's resource protection manager. From his perspective, that's significant. Such blockages "contribute to a sizable loss of fish production," he said. "It's the death-from-1,000-wounds type of argument." Susan Gordon: 253-597-8756 susan.gordon@thenewstribune.com Copyright c. 2007 Tacoma News, Inc. A subsidiary of The McClatchy Company --------- "RE: Council Donates $200,000 to Code Talkers Monument" --------- Date: Friday, September 28, 2007 12:40 am From: Joshua Lavar Butler Subj: Navajo Nation Council Donates $200 Thousand to Code Talkers Monument Navajo Nation Council - Office of the Speaker Contact: Joshua Lavar Butler, Public Information Officer Phone: (928) 871-7160 Cell: (928) 255-2946 Fax: (928) 871-7255 joshualavarbutler@navajo.org joshualavarbutler@yahoo.com www.navajonationcouncil.org September 26, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Navajo Nation Council Donates $200 Thousand to Code Talkers Monument WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - The Intergovernmental Relations Committee (IGR) unanimously approved a $200 thousand donation to the Navajo Nation Code Talkers Memorial Foundation on Wednesday - Sept. 26, 2007. The Honorable Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan (Iyanbito/Pinedale) sponsored Legislation No. 0684-07, which authorized the reallocation and disbursement of funds to the Code Talkers Memorial Foundation. The legislation was co-sponsored by Young Jeff Tom (Mariano Lake/Smith Lake). The monument is being designed by Oreland C. Joe, Sr., a world-renown Navajo master sculptor. Mr. Joe will work closely with Metal Arts Foundry towards the successful completion of the bronze sculpture. Metal Arts Foundry will cast eight bronze plaques that will be attached to the monument as well. The plaques will include the names of approximately 429 Navajo Code Talkers. As directed by the 21st Navajo Nation Council, the Office of the Speaker has been working to insure that this project is completed. The Office of the Speaker, through the direction of Speaker Morgan, has been persistently working with Sylvia Laughter of the Navajo Code Talkers Memorial Foundation to solidify funding appropriations for the monument. The monument is slated to be completed and in place on the front lawn of the Arizona State Capitol by January 1, 2008. Speaker Morgan expressed his gratitude to his colleagues and his staff. Speaker Morgan is a strong advocate for veteran's issues and has often expressed his concern for more recognition of Native American veterans. Speaker Morgan said that he wholeheartedly supports the contributions that our Navajo people provided during World War II (WWII). "We need to make sure to educate all people about the contributions of our Native American warriors to this country." Speaker Morgan explained that Navajo people come from a long line of warriors and he said that Native American soldiers constitute the highest number in per capita serving in the U.S. military forces all over the world. "It is for this very reason that I supported this legislation to fund the Navajo Code Talkers Memorial." Sylvia Laughter, Founder and Board Member of the Navajo Nation Code Talkers Memorial Foundation, also expressed her appreciation on behalf of the Foundation immediately after the passage of Legislation No. 0684-07. "I want to thank the Navajo Nation Council, specifically the Honorable Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan and Young Jeff Tom for sponsoring this piece of legislation and moving it forward." The Navajo Code Talkers Memorial Foundation has been working on this project for years and has been able to raise some money. Laughter explained that the money that they have raised was just not enough to erect the second monument. The first monument was placed in the Veteran's Park in Window Rock, Ariz. "To say that I am excited today is an understatement. I am very grateful to the Navajo Nation Council members who voted in favor of this particular legislation - this has been a long awaited process," Laughter said. "It's great to know that the Navajo people will finally see a monument that represents our pride and honor of the Navajo Code Talkers who bravely represented the U.S. during WWII." The Code Talkers monument will be a significant and historical marker that will be here forever. "People will be able to see how proud Arizona is for their Navajo Code Talkers and their undying service to our country," Laughter explained as she was elated with appreciation to everyone who helped in the process. Laughter said that they are planning to host an unveiling and dedication ceremony in January, just in time for the state's Tribal Legislative Day. Laughter encourages everyone to come down to the State Capitol and celebrate the dedication of the memorial. For more information about the Navajo Nation Code Talkers Memorial Foundation, log-on to their Myspace.com profile at www.myspace. com/123376482 or contact Joshua Lavar Butler with the Office of the Speaker at (928) 871-7160. --------- "RE: It's time for Indians to look to better Future" --------- Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:09:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="DO NOT DWELL ON GRIM PAST" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ articles/2007/09/28/news/50yellowtail.txt It's time for Indians to look to better future, not grim past, Yellowtail says By GAIL SCHONTZLER Chronicle Staff Writer September 28, 2007 It's time for American Indians to stop being victims of a horrific past and start being self-sufficient individuals and entrepreneurs, determined to build a brighter future, Bill Yellowtail told a Bozeman audience Thursday night. "We Indians have to stop identifying ourselves by our tragedies and start identifying ourselves by our hopes, expectations and successes," he said. Yellowtail received standing applause from a crowd of about 200 at the Museum of the Rockies, where he gave the 2007 Phyllis Berger Memorial Lecture. Yellowtail, 59, holds Montana State University's Katz Endowed Chair in Native American studies. Originally from Wyola, the son of a Crow father and Irish mother, he has been a regional Environmental Protection Agency director in the Clinton administration, a Montana state senator, and in 1996 an unsuccessful candidate for Congress. It is time, Yellowtail said, to return to traditional Indian values of self-sufficiency and of the powerful individual, and time to end 200 years of waiting for the great white father, the church, the U.S. government or even tribal governments to come to the rescue. He recounted the ills plaguing Indian country - high rates of poverty, infant mortality, teen suicide, obesity and diabetes, and epidemic substance abuse. Of the 33 schools that failed No Child Left Behind tests last year, every one serves principally native students. The poorest county in the nation is on a South Dakota reservation, and the poorest three counties in Montana all have Indian reservations. Unemployment for all of Montana is 2.8 percent, but in Indian country it soars to 50, 60 or 70 percent. Yellowtail said it's time to be blunt, not politically correct, and to face difficult truths. Native people have the choice to stick with bleakness and despondency, he said, "or say `Enough!'" Some blame history - genocide, bigotry, injustice, the white man, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he said. But, he argued, "Victimhood is even more destructive." In addition to seeking college training to become teachers and lawyers, native people need to study economics and entrepreneurship, he said. Yellowtail cited the example of David Anderson, a Chippewa-Choctaw tribal member who founded the successful Famous Dave's BBQ national restaurant chain and later became an assistant secretary of the Interior. People on the Crow reservation are also showing spirit and ambition and starting their own businesses, he said, and it makes them feel proud. Some think that individual enterprise is contrary to tribal values of kinship and community, or that it means greed, but it actually means being resourceful, Yellowtail said. It's imperative that Indian people give themselves permission to pursue education and excellence, to pursue a livelihood outside the reservation community, and yet be welcomed back later, he said. Yellowtail applauded native schools that have students start each day by shouting out their values: "Integrity! Respect! Justice! Stewardship! Spirituality! Excellence! No excuses! Step up!" Asked by an audience member about the guilt and shame that white people feel over the historic mistreatment of Indians, Yellowtail said such feelings only promote a sense of victimhood. "As regrettable as that history might have been," he said, "now it's time to move forward." Gail Schontzler is at gails@dailychronicle.com Copyright c. 2007 Bozeman Daily Chronicle. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: American Indian College Fund granted $500,000" --------- Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:53:39 -0700 (PDT) From: Dina Horwedel, Public Education Director-American Indian College Fund Subj: News from the American Indian College Fund FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Raymond Foxworth rfoxworth@collegefund.org 303-430-5327 American Indian College Fund Granted $500,000 for Mellon Faculty Research Program Denver - September 25, 2007 - American Indian people are one of the fastest-growing populations in America. Yet, they are often deemed statistically insignificant, resulting in their voices and perspectives being excluded. The nation's tribal colleges and universities are taking hold of the research agenda in Indian Country to serve as a voice for Native communities. To address the acute lack of research conducted by Native people, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation granted the American Indian College Fund (the Fund) $500,000 to establish the Mellon Faculty Research Program for faculty at tribal colleges. Tribal colleges and universities are integral to the success of American Indian communities. With the growth of the American Indian population and the increased number of Native people attaining degrees, the need for tribal college faculty to conduct research on behalf of tribal governments and Indian communities is at an all-time high. The three-year Mellon Faculty Research Program will permit selected faculty to complete research sabbaticals to strengthen intellectual capacity at the nation's tribal colleges and universities. The Mellon Faculty Research Program will fund American Indian faculty research projects for the tribal colleges and Indian communities, placing Native professors in the rightful place of telling the Indian story. The Mellon Faculty Research Program will allow tribal college faculty and students the rare opportunity to pursue scholarly research in their respective fields. Over the three-year grant period, a total of eight tribal college faculty members will be awarded one-year research fellowships valued at $34,000 each. Selected faculty will also receive an annual travel and supply allowance to assist with their research. The project will also provide undergraduates with the opportunity to serve as research assistants, sparking an interest in research, writing and advanced studies. At the conclusion of the three-year program, the Fund will publish a manuscript of faculty and student research projects and make it available to the public. To be eligible for the Mellon Faculty Research Program, applicants must currently be a tribal college faculty member possessing at least a master' s degree, have an identified tribal college research assistant, and possess a demonstrated commitment to Indian education, Native communities and scholarship. Faculty also must agree to serve at least two years at a tribal college after their project completion to build intellectual capacity and sustain research efforts. The Mellon Faculty Research Program will greatly contribute to tribal communities, and reverse the negative educational attainment trends that have persisted in Indian Country. This initiative will allow tribal college faculty and students to contribute to the national dialogue of Indian scholarship. About the American Indian College Fund With its credo "Educating the Mind and Spirit," the Denver-based American Indian College Fund is the nation's largest provider of private scholarships for American Indian students, providing more than 6,000 scholarships annually for students seeking to better their lives and communities through education at the nation's 30 accredited tribal colleges and universities. For more information about the American Indian College Fund or to make a donation, visit www.collegefund.org. Copyright c. 2007 American Indian College Fund. --------- "RE: NA Natural Foods Set to launch Tanka Bars" --------- Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:01:42 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="TANKA BUFFALO ENERGY BARS" http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=9033 Native American Natural Foods Set to launch Tanka Bars Oct. 5-7 Pine Ridge-based company creates new food category with buffalo energy bars KYLE SD September 24, 2007 Following two years of intense product development, Native American Natural Foods is preparing to launch its new buffalo energy bar at the Black Hills Pow Wow, Oct. 5-7, in Rapid City, S.D. The Tanka Bar, which pairs prairie-raised American buffalo with Wisconsin cranberries, is a modern artisanal take on a traditional Native American recipe for "wasna" or "pemmican," which has been described by many nutritionists as the perfect energy food. The 100 percent natural bar is 70 calories per 1 ounce serving and no trans fats. According to Karlene Hunter, CEO of the company, which is based in Kyle, S.D., on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the Tanka Bar introduces a new product category: the meat-based energy bar. "Tanka Bars don't taste medicinal or like a candy bar," Hunter said. "They are tender, flavorful and good for you. We're convinced that once people taste them, they'll choose pure meat protein-based energy over `enhanced' cereal bars every time." The Tanka Bar, already a household name on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, has also won the endorsement of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association and several nutrition experts around the country. According to Mark Tilsen, president of Native American Natural Foods, the Tanka Bar is receiving an enthusiastic reception from Native American people across the country. "It shows that people want healthy, authentic Native foods with all the modern conveniences," he said. Native American Natural Foods has partnered with Rapid City's Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and the Black Hills Pow Wow Association to share its milestone with the community that has helped nurture the tiny company's big brand ambitions. Tanka Bars will be available at www.tankabar.com or at 1-800-416-7212. Native American Times. Copyright c. 2005 All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Washo Elders help compile Online Dictionary" --------- Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:12:47 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="WASHO ONLINE DICTIONARY" http://www.indianz.com/News http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-washo21sep21%2C0%2C1852254.story A final say? They hope not Tribal elders are helping a linguist compile an online dictionary of Washo, a language close to extinction. More than just words are at stake. By Larry Gordon Los Angeles Times Staff Writer September 21, 2007 WOODFORDS, CALIF. - In a classroom amid the dusty hills southeast of Lake Tahoe, an unlikely duo sit across from each other and conjugate the verb "to sleep." They are working in Washo, a language with, at best, an uncertain future. Elshim, to sleep. Lelshimi, I am sleeping. Elshimi, he is sleeping. Shelshimi, they are sleeping. On one side of a yellow plastic table sits Ramona Dick, a 74-year-old elder of the Washo tribe, a great-grandmother and retired cook whose formal education ended at the eighth grade but who has a deep knowledge of the Native American language she learned as a child. Facing her is Alan Yu, 30, a Hong Kong-born linguist who immigrated to California as a teenager, earned a doctorate at UC Berkeley and now is an assistant professor at the University of Chicago. Despite differences in age, culture and education, the two have bonded in a way that they hope will bring lasting results. What brings them together is their mutual interest in Washo, a tongue that tribe members estimate is spoken fluently by no more than 20 or 30 people. The big picture is even grimmer: Half of California's 100 Native American languages no longer have fluent speakers, and many of the rest have just five or six hanging on, experts say. Attempts to document, if not revive, many of those languages have been going on for years. The goal is to preserve more than just conversation and literature; a vital part of cultural identity -- what it means, for example, to be a Washo -- slips away when a language becomes extinct. Now, Yu and Dick are part of newer efforts applying contemporary technology worldwide. Last year, Yu received a $160,000 federal grant to compile an online dictionary of 5,000 Washo words and phrases, complete with digitally recorded pronunciations by Dick and other Washo elders. Scheduled to be finished in 2009, the dictionary is designed partly as a tool to help younger Washos learn the language -- even if just a few words, such as da'aw (Lake Tahoe), gewe (coyote)and gu'u (maternal grandmother). "It's going to be lost, I think, if nobody tries to teach them," Dick said of Washo, which had no written form until 20th century scholars began transcribing it phonetically. "If the young people could learn, maybe they can tell their children down the line a bit that it's important to our tribe. Because we are not a very big tribe." Washo (some spell it Washoe) leaders estimate that there are about 1,500 tribal members, mainly in the eastern Sierra on both sides of the California-Nevada border. Dick lives in Woodfords, in an isolated Washo community known as Hung-a-lel-ti (Southern Washoes) on rolling ranchland with stunning mountain vistas. Its 350 or so residents can walk to the lime-green education center, where Yu and Dick meet, but must drive 10 miles north into Nevada for most shopping. During his summer and vacation-time visits to the Washo towns, Yu said, he tries to avoid the paternalistic attitudes that strained some past relationships between nonnative researchers and Native Americans. Yu, who spoke only Cantonese until he started elementary school, stressed that his goal is to document Washo, not to save it. "I think the consensus these days is for a language to be revitalized," he said. "It's really a community effort. It's something that an outsider can't come in and force it onto people." The Washos have a better chance at revitalization than many other tribes, scholars say. About 60 adults and teens attend several Washo language classes, and teachers introduce Washo words and phrases to young children in pre-kindergarten and after-school programs. Besides, Yu said, it is a "gift" to meet fluent -- and vibrant -- volunteers for the dictionary project like Dick, her cousin Steven James and his cousin Eleanore Smokey. Nevertheless, everyone agrees it will be an uphill effort against assimilation and English-language television. Another formidable obstacle: the educations of many middle-aged and elderly tribe members, who were sent away from Washo-speaking homes to government boarding schools that discouraged the use of Washo. Dick learned the language from a grandmother and great-grandmother, neither of whom had a full grasp of English. A widow, Dick says that none of her own five children, 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren really speak Washo, although some are trying to learn and most understand when she speaks at home or at a class she is leading. Lynda Shoshone, the tribe's language and cultural preservation coordinator, said she could "kick myself in the rear for not paying more attention" as a child when her grandmother spoke Washo. Shoshone said she knows Washo words but has trouble putting sentences together. However, her 22-year-old son, she said, attended a now-defunct immersion school and is quite fluent. So, she said, the language has a shot at survival. James, 74, is pessimistic. "There's too much competition from the present-day world," said the retired electrical construction worker from Dresslerville, Nev. "Everyday living, your job, just trying to survive in this world is difficult." Still, he and Dick are willing to spend long days, sometimes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., answering Yu's detailed lists of questions. The elders' responses about nouns, adjectives, verbs and sentences are captured on a digital recording device, and Yu's graduate students splice them and upload them online. On a recent day, Dick visited the classroom leaning on the cane she now requires and sat in front of the microphone. A full-faced, vivacious woman with a graying ponytail and gold hoop earrings, she paused only when she was unable to pull a word from the memory of her late grandmother's kitchen or when her voice got "froggy" from overuse. After all, "Dr. Yu," as she calls him despite his pleas for informality, "comes from far away, and when he does, it's always nice to sit down and talk with him." Wearing jeans, a pullover shirt, sneakers and squarish glasses, Yu queried her in a low-key and respectful manner, like a grandson fishing for a family story. But he also was persistent and, for accuracy, asked the same thing in various ways. Taking lots of handwritten notes, he wanted equivalents of English words and inquired about Washo words or sentences he had picked up from other sources. "Do you know how to describe someone who has a big tummy?" Yu asked. "Have you ever heard people talk about Ngalbuli?" "It means he's got, like, a pot belly," Dick responded, chuckling. They tackled other verbs after "sleep." How would you say, "I'm laughing?" Yu asked. Lasawi. How about a lot of people laughing? Sasawi. Can you say that one more time? Sasawi. To swim? Yeem. I'm swimming? Diyeemi. He's swimming? Yeemi. Sometimes Dick gently corrected Yu's backward word order or mangled pronunciations. Sometimes Yu pushed her into shades of meaning, such as the difference between shooting something and trying to shoot it. Then came nouns: paternal grandmother (ama), maternal grandfather (elel), maternal grandchildren (gu'yi). What about shrimp? She shook her head, drawing a blank. The word for fish is atabi, but apparently there is no word for shrimp. "There was no shrimp around here," she later explained, "until white men brought them into markets." Yu has posted a preliminary Washo pronunciation guide online at http://washo.uchicago.edu and has compiled about two-thirds of the words he needs before he makes the dictionary and its voicing technology available to the public late next year. That progress is "very impressive, " said Douglas Whalen, a program officer at the National Science Foundation's program known as Documenting Endangered Languages. The program, which also involves the National Endowment for the Humanities, is funding Yu's dictionary and similar work in about 60 other languages worldwide. "Language is part of our human heritage," Whalen said. "It's part of what makes us human. Not having any record of what's gone on in a language is regrettable." The rate of world language extinction is alarming, a study sponsored by the National Geographic Society warned this week. Of the world's 7,000 languages, two are disappearing every month, and half may be gone by century's end, including scores of Native American tongues in the Southwestern U.S., researchers said. To an English speaker, Washo sounds difficult, with frequent glottal stops that change meanings and a throaty "ng" sound (ngawngang is child). Verbs change prefixes as they shift among "I, he, we, they," and verbs also have several forms for the recent or distant past. Its oddities include some double-negative expressions, such as "I don't not know." Washo is very unlike the other Native American languages -- Miwok, Maidu and Northern Paiute -- that surround it, according to William H. Jacobsen Jr., a professor emeritus at the University of Nevada, Reno, who conducted groundbreaking linguistic research on Washo starting in the 1950s and published a basic grammar guide in 1996. The tribe's linguistic isolation fed into a sense of cultural distinctiveness in the Indian world, even as white settlers took over traditional Washo fishing and hunting territory for silver mining, ranching, lake resorts and casinos in the 19th and 20th centuries, Jacobsen said. Jacobsen said he too is compiling a Washo dictionary, albeit a print one. But he is gloomy about Washo's future, although he said he hopes his work, language classes and Yu's dictionary will help young people learn a few words and phrases. "Even though they don't know the language or the grammar, there is some value in this," he said. "It gives them some identity and they can say, 'I'm a Washo.' " Internet dictionaries are the latest tools for language survival but are not the sole answer, said former UC Berkeley linguistics professor Leanne Hinton. Tribes showing some success have put special effort into classes for children and for adults, such as the Pechangas, who are working to revive Luisenno in communities near Temecula, and the Yuroks in northwestern California, said Hinton, an expert in tribal languages. Those and other tribes have people "who don't want to go down without a fight, so to speak," said Hinton, who has helped organize the biennial "Breath of Life -- Silent No More" conferences at UC Berkeley that seek to revive endangered Native American languages in California. Yu, one of Hinton's former students, became fascinated with Washo when he was assigned to help out at one of the conferences. Hinton described Yu as a good match for the Washo elders: "He is extremely competent as well as being good with people. He is a very patient person." Besides Cantonese and English, Yu can speak Mandarin and has a rudimentary knowledge of Turkish and Russian. He has a grasp of some Washo vocabulary and grammar but is not fluent. "I am picking it up slowly. In general, I'm not a very good language learner. That may seem odd for a linguist to say, but linguists are not necessarily polyglots," said Yu, whose new book on linguistics was recently published by Oxford University Press. Last month, the Chicago professor went public with his own Washo abilities. The tribe held a luncheon for anyone involved in learning the language. Yu prepared a brief speech in Washo but was clearly nervous. So he first ran the speech past Dick: I'm happy to be here today. Wading ebe dihamu' angawi wa' le'iga' a'alu. . . As I do not speak Washo very well. Washiw diwagay'angaweesinga. . . Eat well and drink well. Gemlu'angaw geme'angaw. Dick gently brushed up Yu's pronunciations here and there and sought to calm his concerns about the lunch crowd's reaction: "They can't expect to hear you talking like a lawyer." That afternoon, about 20 people attended the baked chicken and salad luncheon in the education center. Melba Rakow, who teaches Washo classes in Nevada, offered a blessing and urged the tribe, she later translated, "not to throw our language down." Yu initially hung back a bit before screwing up his courage. Then, clutching his notes, he seemed to carry off the speech flawlessly, finishing up with "Di'nga ledinga" ("That's all I'll say.") The audience applauded, and Dick declared: "I think he did real well." larry.gordon@latimes.com Copyright c. 2007 Los Angeles Times. --------- "RE: LONGFEATHER: Working to understand One Another" --------- Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:33:17 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="LONGFEATHER: WALKING ANOTHER'S PATH" http://www.indianz.com/News http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/09/26/ news/columnists/longfeather/139992.txt Working to understand one another September 26, 2007 Ask any child: It's really hard to walk when you want to run. I was reminded of this with the release of a recently published report about American Indian and non-Indian perceptions of each other. The report, "Walking a Mile: A First Step Toward Mutual Understanding," references a frequently quoted American proverb: "Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his boots." The hackneyed Native version of the proverb is typically phrased as the prayer, "Great Spirit, grant that I may not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins." The study was conducted by the nonprofit organization Public Agenda. The report is described by the organization as "one of the most in-depth examinations ever made of the thinking of American Indians and non-Indians about each other." The research methodology consisted of 12 focus groups conducted over a two-year period across the United States with Native and non-Native groups. The 12 focus groups were comprised of seven groups of Native Americans, including two conducted in the Crow language, in such diverse states as Montana, Washington, New Mexico, Oklahoma and New York. The other five focus groups were conducted with non-Natives in areas removed from reservations, such as New York, Philadelphia and Minneapolis, and in areas near Indian lands and major Indian populations, such as Oklahoma and Colorado. The report claims to explore "Indians' perceptions of their own place in contemporary American society and how non-Indians view American Indians, what they know (or think they know), the generalizations they make and stereotypes they hold, how their perceptions were formed and their interest in learning more." The principal observations culled from the focus groups were that most American Indians believe the past has a significant impact on contemporary life while non-Indians had little to no understanding of negative historical events; that Native participants believed prejudice and discrimination continue to exist, while non-Indians were largely blind to the issue; and that non-Indians know very little about Native American history, legal status, daily life or contemporary issues, but that non- Indians, in general, would like to learn more about American Indians. The report, while helpful, will be somewhat of a disappointment for American Indians and culturally competent non-Natives. Non-Indians' negative perceptions, obliviousness to our lives and issues, and resentment toward perceived preferential treatment might be ground- breaking to the researchers, but they are common experiences for Native people. Unfortunately, one of the most significant impacts of the report might be the validation of these Native experiences. The study does make some interesting recommendations, however, that provide hope for the future of the research and Indian/non-Indian relations. The report suggests that "the content of education in museums, schools and the media should not only include more in-depth, less stereotyped information about Indians' history, but also be expanded to include information on Indians' contemporary life, culture and political rights." It goes on to propose that "Non-Indians need to recognize and respond to the feelings, perceptions and issues uppermost in the minds of American Indians - at the levels of policy and public education. ... It is not enough to know, and feel guilty, about Indians' mistreatment in the past or even their poverty and isolation today." While the report was long overdue and a little inceptive, perhaps with conscientious follow-up to helpful recommendations such as these, more communities can get our mutual walk together up to a healthy jog. The full report can be found online and downloaded at http://www.publicagenda.org. --- Cheryl Long Feather - Hunkuotawin - is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She writes from Bismarck and can be reached at longfeather@;bis.midco.net Copyright c. 2007 Bismarck Tribune, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: YELLOW BIRD: Learning Culture takes time,devotion" --------- Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:33:17 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="YELLOW BIRD: CROSS CULTURE PARENTING" http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=51628 Learning culture takes time, devotion September 26, 2007 It's a little overwhelming to recognize the responsibility American Indian people have for preserving their culture, language and ceremonies. It is these things that will help the public understand American Indians, and that's important. For American Indian children, the culture, language and ceremonies also will help them understand who they are. I say this because a few days ago, I received a letter from a non-Indian woman who was married to an American Indian. They had a son. Things didn't work out, and they divorced. From her letter, she reminded me of a mother bear wanting to protect and help her cub - they can be fierce. She had seen, from her view as a non-Indian, a point of view that she said "I can't stand." It was what she'd read and heard - the atrocities committed against Indian people, people like her son. She wants to be able to teach and nurture him to be proud of his tribe. The boy's father did not give him any cultural wisdom or lore, she said. She could be stepping into a landmine of prejudice and will be in an area where she may be chastised by both sides. This non-Indian woman is trying to provide information on a unfamiliar culture that she is only peripherally a part of. How do you tell your son about tribal history or the stories of their grandmothers and grandfathers when you yourself don't know them? How do you teach understanding to your son about a history that denigrates or belittles him? And most important, how do you help the child use these negatives to create a positive understanding about himself and the world around him? In other words, how do you teach him to be American Indian and proud of it? I applaud her efforts, and thank the Creator for these women who try. Her problem will be in trying to get the Indian community to help her help her child. Without the help of elders, relatives or a kind friend - and there are those people -- it will be difficult. It's a merry-go-round, and you have to know where to jump on. It is most important, however, that she try and try in a real way. Attending a powwow once a year and explaining what tribal outfits means is like attending a Russian Barynya folk dance and expecting to know Russian culture, life and even the language because of it. One of the most important lessons I learned, although I didn't know it at the time, is how critical it is to live in an Indian community or have close ties to it. Even though there was no set lesson plan, and I wasn't told this is a cultural lesson, I absorbed Indian culture because it was what was happening every day. When I started school, I came home and asked my grandmother, who lived with us, if the Sahnish (Arikara) word for bear that I used was English or Arikara. I didn't know because English and Sahnish were used interchangeably at home. I absorbed those words like I absorbed the ceremonies. They were part of what we did each day, like the family who says a Catholic blessing before eating. It was also hard as a child to understand why my classmates didn't do the same things we did. I learned that Indian culture, language and ceremonies were far too difficult to explain, so I kept quiet and became one of the quietest elementary school students at Sunnyside in Minot. I learned how important the language is for this reason, too. It is the culture. I learned that words paint pictures of who we are, so to understand a culture, you must understand its language. This is true not just for Indian languages and culture, but all languages and all cultures. During my 14 years as a Sundancer, I've learned many of the Lakota words used in that ceremony. But while I did learn how to say the word, I didn't learn the word parts and the meanings of those. That is something I am trying to learn now. Unfortunately, there is no manual for learning Indian culture, language and ceremonies. That would be nice, but it's really left up to the good people who help and teach not only their relatives, but also people such as the non-Indian woman and her son. --- Dorreen Yellow Bird is a reporter and columnist. Her columns appear Wednesdays and Saturdays on the opinion pages of the Herald. Reach her at (701) 780-1228 or dyellowbird@gfherald.com Copyright c. 2007 Grand Forks Herald, Forum Communications Co., Fargo ND. --------- "RE: GARCIA: It's time for action" --------- Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:09:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="VIOLENT CRIME IN INDIAN COUNTRY" http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415814 Garcia: It's time for action by: Joe Garcia September 27, 2007 Indian country has lived with horrifically high rates of violent crime in our communities for years, and it appears that this reality has finally caught the attention of policy-makers and the public. Much of the momentum on this issue was sparked by the efforts of the Indian women leaders who pushed the tribal amendments to the Violence Against Women Act of 2005. We have also been aided by countless visits by tribal leaders to Washington to raise this issue, federal crime reports that demonstrate the dramatically higher rates of violent crime on Indian reservations, news articles that have highlighted the problems, and most recently the Amnesty International Report, "Maze of Injustice." Recent actions of important members of Congress and the Bush administration suggest that Washington, D.C., is finally listening, and there is a window of opportunity right now to make constructive change. I had the opportunity to testify recently before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and made the following four proposals. First, we need to reaffirm and support tribal government authority to protect their communities. Since the Oliphant decision in 1978, the National Congress of American Indians has urged Congress to reaffirm tribal inherent criminal jurisdiction over all persons within Indian country. NCAI has also long advocated for an amendment to Public Law 280 that would allow tribes to initiate retrocession. We know that restoring tribal criminal jurisdiction has historically proven controversial, but the lives of our people are on the line and we must make progress where it is possible. There is growing support to restore tribal law enforcement in one area where federal and state enforcement is failing completely - domestic violence committed by non-Indian family members. Congress should affirm tribal authority to prosecute crimes committed by non-Indians who cohabitate with an Indian family on Indian land. Jurisdiction would be based on domicile and consent - by living in the tribal community on tribal land, a person consents to tribal laws regulating domestic relations. This is a common-sense solution to a very real problem. Second, we need to improve and hold accountable the federal law enforcement response at the Department of Justice. The one-two punch of the Major Crimes Act and the sentencing limitations in the Indian Civil Rights Act leave tribes dependent on the DOJ for investigation and prosecution of major felonies on most reservations. But federal prosecutors decline as many as 85 percent of the cases referred by tribes. We have serious concerns that the DOJ leadership places no priority on addressing crime in Indian country, and is subject to no oversight. To ensure accountability, Congress should establish an Office of Assistant Attorney General for Indian Law Enforcement within the DOJ. This position should be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to make sure that there is leadership and oversight on Indian country crime. Congress should also require the DOJ to collect and share data on referrals and declinations of prosecution by the U.S. attorneys' offices and to coordinate with tribal and BIA police on crime statistics reporting. With these tools in place, Congress, the administration and tribal leaders can make sure that federal prosecutors are doing their job. Third, we need to increase cooperation between tribal, state and federal law enforcement. Criminals do not respect jurisdictional boundaries. Law enforcement has been significantly improved where tribal, state and local police work together, but too many local law enforcement agencies are reluctant to work with tribal law enforcement. Congress should establish incentives to increase cooperation between tribal, state and federal law enforcement. This program can be modeled after a successful tribally initiated Wisconsin law that provides additional funding to county and tribal law enforcement agencies who enter into cooperative agreements. Fourth, we need to increase resources for law enforcement. Basic law enforcement protection and services are severely inadequate on Indian reservations. To put it in perspective, Indian country law enforcement officers make up 0.004 percent of all law enforcement officers in the United States, yet they patrol 2 percent of the land of the United States and 1 percent of the population. Funding must be increased and streamlined for police, courts and detention and rehabilitation facilities. These recommendations and others are explained in greater detail in my testimony, which is available on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Web site. Lives are on the line, and I feel a tremendous responsibility as NCAI president to push forward on these issues. Of course NCAI needs tribal leaders to help us shape the solutions that will work best for Indian country. We have been talking with Sen. Byron Dorgan and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chair and vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, about the development of a legislative vehicle. We have also been meeting with DOJ officials and met with outgoing Attorney General Roberto Gonzales. We will be hosting a one-day summit on improving law enforcement in Indian country at the NCAI Annual Meeting in November in Denver, Colo. I encourage all tribal leaders to join us and engage on this critically important issue. Joe A. Garcia is president of National Congress of American Indians. Copyright c. 1998 - 2007 Indian Country Today. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: HARJO: Reject Genocide-denier's Propaganda" --------- Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:18:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HARJO: MEDVED LIES ABOUT WHITE GENOCIDE" http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415813 Harjo: Reject genocide-denier's propaganda by: Suzan Shown Harjo / Indian Country Today September 27, 2007 Michael Medved wants his audience to "reject the lie of white 'genocide' against Native Americans" and says this is one of the "most urgent needs in culture and education." The neocon author blogged on Sept. 19 that "the word 'genocide' in no way fits as a description of the treatment of Native Americans by British colonists or, later, American settlers." Colonial and American government "never endorsed or practiced a policy of Indian extermination," wrote Medved. Rather, "official leaders of white society tried to restrain some of their settlers and militias and paramilitary groups from unnecessary conflict and brutality." Medved rose to national prominence as guest-host for talk radio star Rush Limbaugh and as a movie critic who defended director Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" when many other Jewish-Americans denounced it as anti-Semitic. Medved claims that the "real decimation of Indian populations had nothing to do with massacres or military actions, but stemmed from infectious diseases that white settlers brought with them at the time they first arrived in the New World." Would that Medved were correct in his use of the word "decimation." That would mean that only 10 percent, rather than 95 percent, of Native people actually died by 1900. Medved is wrong about his main point, too. While many Native people died of foreign diseases, non-Natives killed and nearly killed entire nations and cultures, and meant to do so. Thus, genocide is the right word. The most widely accepted definition of genocide is in the United Nations' 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Article 2 defines genocide as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group." Article 3 lists the following punishable acts: (a) Genocide; (b) Conspiracy to commit genocide; (c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide; (d) Attempt to commit genocide; (e) Complicity in genocide. Article 4 states, "Persons committing genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in Article 3 shall be punished, whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals." A reasonable person (or even just a reading person) would be hard- pressed to make a case that there were no European or American genocidal crimes committed against Native peoples. Did officials, entities or individuals intend, direct, incite or conspire to commit genocide? Yes. Were some complicit in genocide? Yes. Did they succeed in genocide in some cases? Yes. Did they attempt genocide without actually succeeding? Yes. That about covers it. Medved claims that describing early colonists and settlers in "Hitlerian, mass-murdering terms represents an act of brain-dead defamation." Official colonial and territorial bounty proclamations, which announced pay scales for scalps as proof of Indian kill, were Hitlerian, mass-murdering edicts that produced Hitlerian mass murders. All the forced marches of Native peoples under President Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policies - notably, the Muscogee and Cherokee Trails of Tears, the Potawatomi Trail of Death and the Navajo Long Walk - resulted in Hitlerian mass murders, ethnic cleansings and generational dislocation and damage that continues today. It is more precise chronologically to say that Hitler's Holocaust or the genocides in Rwanda or Cambodia may be described in Jacksonian or Sheridanesque or Custerish, mass-murdering terms. In analyzing genocidal plans, it is fair to compare the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question" to the federal "Indian Crania Study" or to the "Civilization Regulations" that brutalized, confined and killed American Indians, criminalized traditional ceremonies and customs and wrenched Indian children from their families. The world knows there was genocide and attempted genocide against Native peoples. Only fools and propagandists would make a claim to the contrary, which brings us back to Medved, who is no fool. We need not guess why he is raising this issue now. He tells us. And he reveals much along the way: "The notion that unique viciousness to Native Americans represents our 'original sin' fails to put European contact with these struggling Stone Age societies in any context whatever, and only serves the purposes of those who want to foster inappropriate guilt, uncertainty and shame in young Americans. A nation ashamed of its past will fear its future." Where to start? Let's jump right in at "Stone Age societies," shall we? Medved is very smart, so he probably knows about those Native peoples who perfected irrigation systems, performed brain surgery and formed democracies and confederacies, which some Europeans dreamt about but never saw until coming here. He might respond that only some Native peoples did that. And I would like to say to him that, of all the ships and wagons filled with white folks, there wasn't a Shakespeare among them. Medved uses that "Stone Age" term to plant a falsehood in readers' minds that advanced Europeans simply had to do something about the backward Native peoples - kill them or tame them. Using this "context," Medved actually pins genocide on the colonists and settlers. As Christians, they were supposed to help struggling societies, not try to exterminate them. I don't know what "inappropriate guilt" means, but a quest for historical truth is not the same as a guilt trip. Honorable people are strengthened by facing their fears, even if acknowledging past shame is part of it. Medved calls on his readers to discard the "stupid, groundless and anti- American lies that characterize contemporary political correctness" and "to confront, resist and reject the all-too-common line that our rightly admired forebears involved themselves in genocide." The truth is that many admired forebears did involve themselves in genocide. Georgians and Coloradoans and Californians and all those who killed Indian people in their rush for gold were involved. Those who massacred innocents at Sand Creek and Wounded Knee were involved. Those who raped Native women and children were involved. Those who killed Indian people for praying, decapitated them and robbed their graves were involved. Anyone who looked the other way was involved. Here are a few lies that are anti-American Indian: that Native children and women and men had it coming; that massacres were battles; that "harvesting skulls" was science; that torturing little kids for speaking their mother's language was OK in anyone's culture; that genocide wasn't genocide when it was committed against Native peoples. --- Suzan Shown Harjo, Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee, is president of the Morning Star Institute in Washington, D.C., and a columnist for Indian Country Today. Copyright c. 1998 - 2007 Indian Country Today. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: GRAHAM: Americas National Terrorist Holiday" --------- Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:09:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="GRAHAM: COLUMBUS DAY" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=38797 'Columbus Day' Americas National Terrorist Holiday Mike Graham September 27, 2007 Americans are calling into question their tax dollars are paying for Columbus Day holiday when the true history of the man cannot be taught in our nations schools. State school officials are on record saying it would be harmful to teach young school children about atrocities Columbus committed against Indian men, women and children. Americans do not want their tax dollars paying for Columbus Day when the true history of this "sick criminal" clearly shows he was not a man of honor toward other human beings. Change Columbus Day to Native American Day: www.UnitedNativeAmerica.com True: Columbus did not discover America! Columbus never set foot in America! Columbus is one of the first Europeans to discover the Americas, after the European Vikings. Columbus did, by luck find Islands in what's now called the Caribbean. Indians living there told him to sail West in hopes of getting rid of him. Columbus then set foot in now what's called Central America, and then on to South America during four of his voyages to the so-called new world. True: Columbus was a slave trader. He kidnapped and enslaved Indians he came in contact with. Columbus and his men with superior weapons forced Indians to mine for gold on their Island homelands, this included Indian children. Columbus and his men punished Indians by cutting off their ears, nose, hands and feet. Columbus and his men, for sport, would hunt Indian children with dogs and let the dogs kill them. Columbus would tie Indians to his ship's mask and let his dogs eat them alive for food when sailing back across the Atlantic Ocean. Indians that survived the voyage were sold as slaves. Columbus was not a holy crusader; that's another myth. Columbus is personally responsible for the killing of about half a million Indian men, women and children. It's a national sick joke for our U.S. government to honor him with a national holiday and not the Native Americans here in their true homeland! Columbus the sailor was lost! Indians saved his life, unfortunately, for them and others. http://www.2think.org/ah.shtml Columbus was relieved of his duties as governor over the newfound lands. Columbus and two of his brothers were arrested for their atrocities against Indians. Columbus was placed in manacles on his arms and chains on his feet and thrown into prison to await his return to Spain. He was 53 years old at this time in the year of 1500. After all was said and done by Columbus, toward Indian people, he was ordered never to return to the Americas. Columbus Arrest and Removal from the Americas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus#Governorship_and_arrest It's time for the Italian American community to rethink how they honor their national holiday. Changing Columbus Day to Italian Heritage Day is only offered as a suggested new name. The Italian American community should have the opportunity to voice their support for this action. The Native American community stands ready to join side by side with all Italian Americans in the celebration of their heritage under any name other than Columbus. Progressive Italians to Transform the Columbus Holiday (PITCH) http://www.transformcolumbusday.org/pitch.html The Native American community fully respects all Italians, but will not show support for Columbus, the man, nor support his having a national holiday in America. This issue has been discussed with Italian American community leaders and Italian groups around the country. Many are in support of doing away with Columbus representing their history and heritage in America. United Native America Working With Italian Americans http://www.unitednativeamerica.com/letters/Italian_Americans.html Seventeen states have dropped Columbus Day holiday. South Dakota state law changed Columbus Day to Native American Day. No American Indian Nation supports Columbus having a national holiday, especially when you look at the fact that there's not a federal national holiday recognizing American Indians for all they have endured, to include helping the country America come about, plus our government being set up on the principals of American Indian governments. It's time for America to come full circle and give credit where it's deserved on our countries national holiday list. Across America multiple ethnic groups are set to protest this coming Columbus Day. University of Southern Maine, opening ceremonies will begin on the Portland campus lawn at 1:00 and end with a peaceful walk to Deering Oaks. Follow the drumbeat to the Portland Campus and join us, our Elders, and guest speakers for a truly educational experience. Protesters will propose a bill to the legislature in Maine to remove Columbus Day. This action will be taking place at cities and University's throughout America; Columbus Day started in Colorado in 1905. On October 6, 2007, a massive national coalition of groups will descend on Denver, Colorado to protest and call for an end to Columbus Day by the state. Protesters will assemble on the west steps of the state capitol beginning at 8 am on October 6. Transform Columbus Day Alliance www.transformcolumbusday.org United Native America a national group based in Oklahoma and part of the Transform Columbus Day Alliance will be in Denver with their banners, one states: "Christopher Columbus The Americas' first Terrorist" Native Americans refer to the holiday as Columbus-Hitler Day. These two men's action sparked the killing of over one hundred million people each. Columbus is past racist slavery history in the Americas. His holiday should also be past history. Columbus went to hell for his sins against Indian men, women and children. Mike Graham, Citizen Oklahoma Cherokee Nation Founder United Native America www.UnitedNativeAmerica.com The American Chronicle and its affiliates have no responsibility for the views, opinions and information communicated here. The contributor(s) and news providers are fully responsible for their content. American Chronicle is a trademark of Ultio LLC. --------- "RE: YELLOW BIRD: Don't let Diabetes get best of you" --------- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:43:08 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="YELLOW BIRD: DIABETES" http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=51983 Don't let diabetes get the best of you Dorreen Yellow Bird September 29, 2007 If you had a disease that might kill you, would you want to know what it is and how to help yourself? There's no doubt you'd be concerned. Diabetes is one of those killer diseases. It's so prevalent in North Dakota, it's commonly considered benign. Yet, it's the sixth-leading cause of death in our state. Four percent of all 2003 deaths in North Dakota were from diabetes. Diabetes also is a contributing cause for an additional 7 percent of deaths in our state. Diabetes is caused by excess glucose in the bloodstream because the body doesn't produce or use sufficient levels of insulin. The most common form of diabetes is Type II, which can be controllable by diet and exercise. Type I is characterized by a partial or complete loss of insulin producing beta cells as a result of an autoimmune disorder and is most common in young people and children. Finally, there is gestational diabetes, which is when a mother experiences diabetes during pregnancy. What health problems are associated with diabetes? Associated problems are hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), heart and kidney diseases, stroke, eye complications, neuropathy (nerve damage), amputation and ketoacidosis (building up of fat byproducts in the blood). Most adults in North Dakota have one or more of these five risk factors for diabetes: high blood pressure; high cholesterol, overweight; lack moderate physical activity and eat fewer than five fruits and vegetables per day. The number of adults who have one or more of these risk factors maybe the reason diabetes in North Dakota is increasing at an alarming rate. Those most at risk are adults 65 years and older and American Indians. Native people have diabetes 1.9 times as high as white adults. Diabetes among American Indians is familiar to me. Of my 10 brothers and sisters, two of my sisters have diabetes. That's my immediate family, but aunts, uncles and other family members have diabetes, too. It seems unusual, but my mother and father didn't have diabetes. And it seems that in the larger family of my mother and father's brothers and sisters, there are whole families that have the disease. Diabetes is common, so common, most of us know how to give insulin shots and administer pills to family members. At my aunt's house years ago, part of the morning ritual was shots and pills rather than the cereal, toast and coffee. A few weeks ago, when I was home visiting my sisters, we had our meals together those days. I couldn't help but notice how my two sisters who had diabetes seem drawn to the syrup, pancakes, sweet rolls and bacon. At lunch, when they chose dessert, they pushed it back behind the rest of their food. I made a remark the first day about the pancakes but could tell it wasn't well received. They've let us know in the past that what they eat is their decision and I know that reminding them really doesn't help. We laughed when one of my diabetic sisters ordered a large, chocolate sundae and called it a Type II diabetes ice cream sundae. Like I said, it is a common disease, and we laugh in the face of it. Unfortunately, we also are no stranger to the results: amputations, kidney dialysis or death. It isn't just North Dakota that has a high incidence of diabetes. It affects 20.8 million people nationwide, about 6.2 million of whom don't know they have it for several years. We are fortunate to have at Altru Health System in Grand Forks a pre- diabetes project that is experimenting with heading off diabetes before it becomes a problem. I believe, from our sessions, that it is possible. I am one of those who participate and who is at risk: I am female, American Indian, overweight, older than 65 and have a family history. But I've come to understand that I don't have to walk that road. I've learned in the project that my future is dictated by my choices, according to Dr. James Brosseau, who is a diabetes and internal medicine specialist for Altru. During the meetings, which last two to three hours once a month, we go over ways to prevent the disease, talk about the problems we are having, listen to speakers and hope we can keep this wolf at bay. I also am involved in a project to raise funds for diabetes prevention. The fundraising event will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Alerus Center. It's called the Harvest Gala and is a silent and live auction with a social and a dance. If you would like to attend, you can register (it is a RSVP event) either online at altru.org, or call Jennifer Dobrowski at (701) 780-5611. --- Dorreen Yellow Bird is a reporter and columnist. Her columns appear Wednesdays and Saturdays on the opinion pages of the Herald. Reach her at (701) 780-1228 or dyellowbird@gfherald.com Copyright c. 2007 Grand Forks Herald, Forum Communications Co., Fargo ND. --------- "RE: JODI RAVE: Auction reveals Blackfeet spirit" --------- Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 07:51:07 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="JODI RAVE: BLACKFEET ART AUCTION" http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/10/01/jodirave/rave34.txt Native News Column: Auction reveals Blackfeet spirit By Jodi Rave of the Missoulian October 1, 2007 EAST GLACIER - Two bidders, a cowboy and an Indian, quickly drove up the price on a painted buffalo robe Saturday night at the Harvest Moon Ball here. "Seven thousand, now going eight ? who'll give me 11?" asked auctioneer Fred Burow. A blond-haired Rusty Garrett calmly tipped his black cowboy hat to signal he was still in the game. The ballroom audience whooped and clapped their hands. The auctioneer coaxed J.D. Colbert, a Chickasaw/ Choctaw from Denver, Colo., to bid higher. The man in the black hat from Tucson, Ariz., ended the duel with a $12, 000 final bid, prompting a German woman at a nearby table to joyfully wave her arms in the air. It was Angelika Norman, the wife of Darrell Norman, painter of the buffalo robe. Some 200 people in Glacier Park Lodge punctuated Garrett's bid with wild applause. But he and Colbert were only warming up, as the art auction continued through the night in "the big tree" lodge where 800-year-old cedar and pine poles soar 50 feet to the wood-planked ceiling. Garrett and his wife Mary were in East Glacier to support dozens of regional and local artists who gathered for the 11th annual Harvest Moon Ball, a project of the Blackfeet Community Foundation, which is working to build a $1 million endowment for community projects. So far, about $400,000 has been earned through the art auction. Artwork from Saturday's sales raked in $95,000, marking the most successful ball yet for the foundation. "It's an incredible event for the Blackfeet, and the community, to have a gathering like this in a setting like this," said Byron Mallott, director of the Sealaska Corp. in Juneau, Alaska. "There's a lot of fun that goes into the serious business of raising money." Founders of the Blackfeet Community Foundation once wondered how they could fundraise for community projects on the Blackfeet Reservation, where unemployment rates can reach 80 percent. The task seemed daunting. But organizers also knew they had one, undeniably rich resource. They lived in a community of artists, where painting and beadwork had long been a way of life. The late Blackfeet artist Ernie Pepion suggested the foundation host an art auction. Today, money is earned through dinner ticket sales and a 50-50 split on auction items with the artists. Theodora Weatherwax of Browning counts herself among the ball's annual supporters. "This is one of the things we look forward to each year," she said, noting the importance of nurturing local artists. Art aficionados from around the country joined the locals at Saturday night's event. The ball proved so popular this year that some 100 people were added to a waiting list after the ball sold out three weeks ago. "Every year it gets better and better," said Lyle Omeasoo, a Blackfeet artist. "It really helps us artists get out there and show our work to the community." Darrell Norman, Blackfeet and owner of the Lodgepole Gallery and Tipi Village in Browning, said many of the artists at the auction have space in his gallery. This year, his business was featured on the "The Today Show," and in Sunset and Travel and Leisure magazines. "We're proud of the artists we represent and the beautiful work that they do," said Norman. Mary Garrett, a citizen of the Blackfeet Nation, arrived at the ball with her husband, Russell. "We love the Indian art and love to see it go as high as possible," said Mary, who is also Blackfeet. "These artists work really hard." Art is their livelihood, said Russell. While the Garretts prompted a bidding war for Darrell's painted buffalo robe, the evening's crown jewel - a painting by Terrance Guardipee - was yet to be auctioned. Guardipee is best known for ledger art, which consists of paintings on old maps, government records and antique paper. "Everybody brings out the best this time of year," said Mary. Guardipee, who was born and raised on the Blackfeet Reservation, arrived at the ball from his home near Seattle. His painting," Big Sky, Northern Pacific Railroad," created the biggest stir of the evening. Once again, Russell Garrett and Colbert dueled through the auctioneer. As the bid moved past $20,000, Colbert, president of the Colorado-based Native American Bank, started to have second thoughts. "I looked at my CFO," said Colbert. "Should I keep going?" She said no. A few nods of the hat later, Garrett ended the battle with a final bid of $22,000. Guardipee, an internationally acclaimed artist, was thrilled with the final price. "I was expecting, maybe, $9,000 or $10,000," he said. "Tonight was awesome because it was in front of my hometown. I couldn't ask for anything more." Reach reporter Jodi Rave at 800-366-7186 or jodi.rave@lee.net. Copyright c. 2007 Missoulian, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: Opposition to Salmon Farming in British Columbia" --------- Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:01:42 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="THREAT TO WILD SALMON CITED" http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=9041 Continuing Opposition to Salmon Farming in British Columbia By BJ McManama September 24, 2007 On September 17, 2007, thirty-three notable scientists sent an open letter to Prime Minister Stephan Harper and Premier Gordon Campbell regarding the threat to British Columbia's wild Pacific salmon from sea lice due to farmed salmon. Indigenous people have inhabited and lived in harmony within the coastal territories of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for millennia. Part of their success has come from their relationship with many species of salmon and trout. These fish have a variety of nutritional advantages, not only for people but the ecosystems in which they inhabit. From the bear, wild cats, wolf, and sea mammals to the forest itself, the salmon are an integral factor in maintaining the balance of nature. Salmon migrate thousands of miles to spawn inland, fighting strong currents, evading predators and then the fry or juvenile salmon travel back down the rivers and out to sea to grow and return the next year. However, for more than 150 years they have been under assault from commercial fishing practices, damming of their historical spawning routes, and in the last 20 years from fish farming. Today, many indigenous communities depend on the salmon for their food, spiritual connections and livelihood. The tribes that have thrived from this cultural and nutritional resource still honor these creatures with ceremonies of thanksgiving and prayers for their long journeys and safe return to the people. With all the negative pressure on wild populations being generally ignored some experts predict that extinction in many areas is a reality in the not so distant future if present situations are not changed. On the Union of BC Indian Chief's website Chief Bill Cranmer of the Namgis First Nation states that: "Open net fish farms continue to undermine to our wild salmon, marine ecosystems and traditional way of life. We need to stop the fish farm industry from eradicating the lifeblood of the coast, the wild salmon." Alexandra Morton, who signed the letter along with the other 32 scientists, (with many years of combined dedication to these issues) has lived, raised her children and worked in British Columbia, Canada since 1984. She is the Director of the Salmon Coast Field Station in Echo Bay, BC and a member of the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform. She works closely with the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal council to address the problems caused by commercial salmon farms in a non-confrontational manner. For over ten years, Alexandra and tribal representatives, armed with a mountain of scientific evidence have and continue to lobby government officials to stop giving salmon farming permits to foreign companies with little or no success. Morton is surprised that with all the evidence pointing to the degradation of wild salmon, not only from sea lice, but escapes from Atlantic species that the people in charge of protecting the natural resources of this area have, to date, completely ignored these threats. Atlantic salmon, which have escaped are more aggressive, spawn at different times, raid wild salmon nesting beds and eat the eggs. The introduction of non-native species of all forms has proven disastrous in almost every instance - from plants to animals. Other factors challenging the survival of native salmon are pollution from logging that causes silt runoff and alters the water quality beyond the salmon's tolerance, fossil fuel extraction, and at present the most damaging are the fish farms in Echo and Alert Bays. Alexandra stated that when the farms were first established the combined populations in these farms were approximately 125,000 but that now, these "feed-lots" house three million or more, in approximately 130 farms in British Columbia's bays and rivers where the pink and chum salmon migrate and spawn in the spring months. The primary sea lice hosts are adult salmon. Under natural conditions, the adults are far offshore when the juveniles are migrating out to sea. Fish farms put huge concentrations of adult salmon infested with the lice in net pens along the migration routes. The one to two inch juvenile pink and chum salmon must travel through the clouds of sea lice in these areas and it takes only one or two lice to kill a juvenile. Alexandra makes clear that she does not speak for the indigenous tribes in the area but has worked with the people for many years and has been appalled by the treatment of these communities by these companies once they agree to allow the farms to operate within their territories. These companies initially promise employment opportunities, however, to date there are no natives working within these operations, see no economic advantages and are now suffering from the depletion of wild stocks. In the beginning, many people, to include the indigenous communities and fish biologists were not opposed to the establishment of these farms. And some indigenous communities are still actively engaged and support these operations. However, there is increasingly less tolerance and more active participation in influencing government to close some farms due to ignoring environmental regulations and deny new permits. Indigenous people cultivated fish in limited forms throughout history. Fish weirs were constructed to contain wild populations to harvesting size to compliment and add to the food supply. However, there were standards or practices that adhered to an unspoken understanding based on `taking only what was needed - and using all that was taken' - monetary profit was not part of their objectives. Therefore, the abundant natural stocks continued to flourish as did the people. Salmon farming is a hugely profitable industry, garnering a retail price of more than eight dollars per pound. The support businesses for fish farming include fish meal production, pharmaceutical suppliers, equipment manufacturers, transportation, hatcheries, and packaging supply companies. Once these factors are considered, it is easy to see why there is a great push from many commercial and government entities to continue to expand aquaculture production. The costs of running a fish farm are significant and companies seeking high profit margins are cramming thousands of fish into less than adequate space within their net pens. These conditions perpetuate the need for antibiotics and other chemicals to counter viral disease caused from stress of over-crowding. In most cases these are incorporated into the fishmeal. Uneaten food and excrement from the fish sink to the riverbeds, destroying benthic quality, introduces pollutants to native fish and causes other animals and organisms harm. Alexandra was quick to point out that it seems apparent that a great many people are trading the future of wild stocks, the forest, and the people for short-term profits. "There is a wealth of natural beauty that is being destroyed - not just the salmon. Seals and other water mammals suffer from being caught in the net pens trying to eat the fish. Since the wild stocks are being depleted this is their only alternative. Fish farmers are also allowed to kill the animals that are found raiding the pens - some of which are also considered endangered species. The wild salmon, if conditions improve will recover. They are resilient and marvelous creatures - strong and adaptable. However, the odds are stacked against them and all elements of the ecosystem that depend on them for survival - to include the people. "Fish hatcheries and spawning channels are not the answer to the dwindling salmon populations," states Alexandra. "We must follow the science and the collective knowledge to help the m return healthy and in abundance." For more information, go to: http://www.raincoastresearch.org/home.htm Native American Times. Copyright c. 2005 All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Kahnawake Mohawks walk CPR Tracks" --------- Date: Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:33 pm From: orakwa Subj: Kahnawake Mohawks walk CPR tracks to support 6 Nations KAHNAWAKE MOHAWK "ROTISKENEKETEH" PEACEFULLY WALK ACROSS CPR TRACKS IN SUPPORT OF 6 NATIONS DEFENDERS OF THE LAND MNN. Sept. 20, 2007. Message from Rotiskeneketeh, "We will be walking peacefully on the CPR tracks from the "border" of Kahnawake at St. Constant off Highway 132 at the intersection of Highway 30. From there we will walk to the Train Bridge over the tunnel in the village of Kahnawake." "We are standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Six Nations who have just been kidnapped by the foreigners forces of the Ontario Provincial Police, Hamilton City Police and the RCMP. Ontario and Canada have walked away from the "talks". This has always been an international matter of colonial Canada invading the Indigenous sovereign people of Six Nations." "Our people have been victimized by attacks from colonial government agencies. This use of force must stop. They must obey international law. We are standing together in support of all of our Six Nations Territories." "Defending our land is not criminal." Contact: Janie at 519-732-9828 and B.L.T. 514-816-9533. --------- "RE: 6 Nations Defenders charged with "mis'chief"" --------- Date: Sunday, September 23, 2007 05:18 pm From: orakwa Subj: MNN 6 Nations defenders charged with "mis'chief" WHAT GIVES? CHIEFS, CLAN MOTHERS & DEVELOPER ORDER ARREST OF SIX NATIONS DEFENDERS FOR "MIS'CHIEF" - MNN Special MNN. Sept. 20, 2007. At 2:00 pm. Wednesday September 19th twenty defenders were attacked by the combined forces of over 200 Ontario Provincial Police, Hamilton City Police and the RCMP. The defenders were objecting to a non-native housing development on their land known as "Stirling Street" in the colonial town of Caledonia. They were attacked by the "Riot Squad" which was bound and determined to create a riot. They were armed with M-16s, tasers, shields, batons and "twisty tie handcuffs". To get the riot going, this combined force of confused wannabe heroes marched in 13 rows in front of fully loaded armored trucks, ambulances and paddy wagons. Frankly, they looked scared. They had to know that what they were doing was wrong. The defenders were standing 10 feet behind a log that had been placed on the boundary line at the side of a deep railroad ravine. They were on a public road. It was outside the perimeter created around the site by Venture Homes to keep out the "Injuns". "They're coming in! They're coming in", yelled a few of the defenders, as the invading forces clacked their batons on their shields. This old psychological ploy was meant to incite fear. Instead it created such a weird sight that people started to laugh. The defenders tried to make them get real by yelling, "We're here peacefully. We're not on the property the developer wants. We're the Iroquois, the Haudenosaunee. This is our land. You're breaking the laws". The defenders said this over and over, hoping someone with intelligence would hear. But the cops had all left their intelligence behind in return for a pay check and their right to use weapons against others. They had agreed to become mindless robots. They were on autopilot, wearing earphones waiting for their orders from someone who wasn't there. On and on they marched relentlessly like mechanical dolls. They crossed that line and left the land the developer claims. They tasered the defenders and started arresting everyone they could lay a hand on. They dragged one young man into the bush so no one could see them tasering him over and over and over again. The defenders' self-control was amazing. Truly amazing! The defenders knew that if one of the cops got hurt, they would be blamed. Most of the people arrested were women in their twenties and thirties, some younger and one elder, and a few men. Most were beaten in the encounter. All emerged with ugly black and blue bruises under their arms, all down the sides of their bodies and back and down their legs. Some had bumps on their heads. These were the scars of what the cops call "gentle arrests". Remember, the ratio was 200 to 1. Video footage of one arrest showed a woman standing between a female and male cop who tried to talk her into walking voluntarily into their waiting paddy wagon. The defender laughed at them and sang a traditional Mohawk song, refusing to move. In the end she was dragged onto the "prohibited area", then later charged with biting the female cop's Kevlar covered hand and "drawing blood". The video showed this cop was not wearing any glove and there was no bite. What kind of unreality do these jackbooted, Indian hating racist control freaks come from? Asked what they were charged with, the defenders said, "Missing the chiefs" [mischief]. As we all know, even though Canada pretends to be a democracy, its operatives have a problem understanding how there can be social order without a "big chief" or head "boss" or some kind of "honcho" to tell everyone else what to do. They back their commands with threats of violence. There was more to this surreal circus. On the south side of the embankment were perched 50 "lost" observers known as "yellow bellies" for their yellow t-shirt attire. They yelled for the defenders to "Go home to Jesus!" These were supporters of the Royaners [chiefs], Oyaner [clan mothers] and the contractor. [How did they manage to be there at this particular time? Were they tipped off? Were they offered donuts?] There was also an audience of White people nearby peering through their binoculars from the safety of their "whiteness". "Whew", they must have been saying. The defenders had replicas of a corn stalk and a child on top of their mound. For full theatrical effect there were real black choppers overhead with no strings attached. Somehow these must have been spared from the "liberation" that Canada is imposing on the Afghan people. So what brought on these theatrics? Who was the director? Was this a "make work" project for the movie industry now that the soaring Canadian dollar is costing them jobs? It certainly has nothing to do with bona fide attempts to keep the peace. Canada and Ontario walked out of the "talks" with Six Nations on outstanding land issues. Their excuse! Violence. But they created the violence!!! The breakdown in proper policing is tragic. On September 13th a member of the Gualtieri family was hospitalized. This would have been avoided if the police had been doing their job. The construction on Stirling Street had been closed down. All the workers were supposed to have left, including the Gualtieris. The place was crawling with police. But what were their orders? Were they sleeping? Weird, eh! According to the video tape and eye witnesses, five members of the Gualtieri family, two brothers in their 50s, and 3 nephews in their 30s, marched into the unfinished mansion carrying weapons and baseball bats. Why didn't the police stop them? Aren't they supposed to protect hotheads from their own stupidity? Once the Gualtieris got inside the mansion, they attacked some Indigenous youths who had gone in there to check for movements they had cited within. One of the older Gualtieris pinned a young boy against the wall by the throat with some kind of a pipe or pole. His terrified companion tried to save him. The younger Gualtieris ran out of the house leaving their uncle gawking at the scene. When the youths struggled free, and another one got out of the Port-a-Potti outside, the kids left. Then the cops went in and helped load the Gualtieri into an ambulance. There were all kinds of wild rumors. The hospitalized Gualtieri was said to be fighting for his life. In reality, he was home in less than a week. Why did the Royaner immediately condemn the youth and apologize to the thugs before investigating it? Were they suckered by an official OPP snow job? No one's been arrested so far. Were the cops frustrated by the defenders' persistent self-control and refusal to break the peace? There was something else going on, that's for sure. Lest we forget, Ontario just spent $1.2 million on "talks" over lands they have no choice but to return to us. Some people have cashed in on this scam, big time. As for us, we got nothing even though the frauds against us have long been documented by countless external and academic investigators. After all this misspent money, the feds and the province have taken themselves out of the picture. Isn't this what we've always wanted? They surrendered, retreated. In effect, they ran and hid in the bushes. Both colonial governments want to keep this land issue out of court because they know they will lose. No doubt about it, we never surrendered our land. We are sovereign and independent. They conceded this. Now they've created an excuse to avoid the truth. They won't talk to us. Wah! Wah! And boo-hoo! Should they want to talk to us again, shouldn't they go through the legal protocol by getting in touch with their Governor General who represents the Queen? We're not sure when we'll be available to meet with her. We're busy these days. The Royaner and Oyaner sure got bamboozled. They got this colonially trained lawyer, Aaron "Let's-Make-a-Deal" Detlor. He set up a colonial style development company called "Haudenosaunee Development Institute" HDI. It's a total mimic of the colonial system. It's a complete violation of the Kaianerehkowa/Great Law. Detlor and his gang claim they consulted the people, but we can't find any ordinary Six Nations folk who were in on it. It wasn't exactly done on the basis of "full and informed" consent. No way!!! "Let's-Make-a-Deal" Detlor said that the HCI was signed, set up and ready to be "shown" to other communities. After he signed it, he took it over to the defenders' site to tell them about it. Talk about putting the cart before the horse!! At 4:00 pm, he stood on top of a mound of dirt and yelled, "Here's the agreement I made". This guy should invest in a dictionary. You can't make an agreement for people who aren't there and then tell them about it afterward. At the meeting where he supposedly got his consensus, 99% of the people did not go for his plan. They did not understand his rationale. Never mind. Their jerry-rigged agreement was needed to justify what followed. They were told that construction was to start on September 19th at 6 am at the Stirling Street site. In keeping with the policy of peaceful assertion of our rights, the defenders did not stop the construction of the almost complete mansion. Instead, they kept watch in a small nearby area. Venture Homes apparently wants to build another 90 homes on our land (or they want to squeeze a payout out of Ontario like Henco Construction got!) These mansions are worth half a million dollars. Fancy squatters, eh? How can these developers use our unsurrendered land as collateral to borrow money? Can't they see the red "caution" flags all over Canada? On September 18th "Let's-Make-a-Deal" Detlor signed a deal with John Kragten of Venture Homes Ltd. of Caledonia . Detlor "ensures that there will be no disruption or obstruction" by those Six Nations people they call, the "They-don't-listen" group. HDI is asking for 4% of the value of the development plus administration fees to lease our l and. The deal brokers said they were less than an inch away from "signing another deal with Venture Homes" when, as luck would have it, the defenders derailed it. The police enforcement of this deal is in keeping with a tradition of helping big business have their way against our people. This trespass is taking place on the land of our people who are not part of Canada. This means that the police action is an international invasion by foreign forces. The Kaianerehkowa does not allow the Royaner and the Oyaner to make decisions for us. They can only represent us after we the people have discussed the matter thoroughly and made our decision. "Let's-Make-a- Deal" Detlor is being paid by Ontario. [He got over $180,000 last year, on our file alone as part of their $1.2 million "talks" with us]. He certainly has no authority to sign anything on our behalf. Only a Rotiskeneketeh selected by the people can sign anything for us. Detlor's signature is not worth the paper it's written on, just like the 1844 phony surrender that Canada touts as their claim to our land. These are men making decisions about the land of our people. Detlor represents Ontario and that's the bottom line. [All "Let's-make-a-Deal" lawyers like Detlor have to be stopped]. The Royaner and Oyaner who sent in the colonial forces to attack us violated the Kaianerehkowa. Attacking your own people? That's a violation of Six Nations sovereignty. It's high treason. Canada and Ontario using force to resolve diplomatic issues is also a clear violation of the Two Row Wampum and of their obligations to us and to the world under international law. "Let's-Make-a-Deal" Detlor and a supporter of the Royaner went to Cayuga court to identify the defenders arrested in the surprise attack on September 19th, after being directed not to go there. The Royaner and Oyaner forgot that we, the people, are the law. They tried to take away our law by going along with a shyster's scheme to set up a phony institute and then send in colonial cops to make us eat it. Their usurpation of jurisdiction is totally illegal. The Six Nations people have never agreed to become part of Canada. As the people said when we met to discuss these strange developments, we own the Kaianerehkowa and it owns us. It will always be there underneath our feet and in our minds. It goes and walks with the people. Every Onkwehonwe carries the duty to protect the land no matter where we are on our land. We always carry the Kaianerehkowa. No one can separate us from it. This "checkerboard" is not us. The only authority we are accountable to is our mother who created us. There is no doubt about it! The Royaner and Oyaner tried to compromise us and our land and then sent in colonial troops to enforce their will on us. This is old fashioned colonialism on a grand scale. Wampum 58 provides that those who follow the laws made by foreigners have "alienated themselves from their nation". They have submitted to the law of a foreign people. They have left us and are no longer a part of us. They have thus forfeited all birthrights and claims of our nation and territory and must be removed. Further, the Royaner have tried to usurp the rights of the women who are the title holders of the land. Nice try, Aaron "Let's-Make-a-Deal"! All matters pertaining to the land are subject to Wampum 44, which provides that the women are the "progenitors of the nation. They shall own the land and the soil". The Royaner and Oyaner did not protect our youth when they were viciously attacked by five non-native men. They quickly extended condolences to the Gualtieri family. They condemned our youth for defending themselves without knowing the facts. Royaner Leroy Hill says these boys stepped "outside the law". Which laws? The colonial laws? Even in Canada , people are allowed to defend themselves when their lives are threatened; people are not supposed to use clubs to solve differences; and people have a right to a fair trial before they are condemned. Hill appears to be sanctioning vigilantism both on the part of the Gualtieris and the cops. According to one newspaper account, the Royaner and Oyaner said they did not look good when the thugs were repelled by the Indigenous youth. "Now the Confederacy's image has been tarnished internationally. We need to do something to save face." Who sold them that bill of goods? Leroy Hill admits that the Royaner and Oyaner were close to finalizing a "peaceful" deal with the contractor who has treated us so treacherously. Why does Hill state the Haudenosaunee Development Institute protects the Haudenosaunee when we were not even consulted? When did he assume paternal authority over us? That's not our culture. It's so Indian Affairs! It looks like the Royaner, Oyaner and all their "partners" have jumped into the other boat, the "Achilles Lauro". They've joined the pirates to steal from us and to oppress us. Canada did not sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People because they are still under the crown. As one person put it, "The Queen still sits on their heads and that's the way they like it". The crunch has come in Six Nations. To go forward the Haudenosaunee Council has to clean up its act. It looks like the people are going to be moving some horns, gustowis and shawls around. The sooner the better! When you come right down to it, these chiefs won't be missed. The colonial governments walked away from the table because they had no business there. These "pseudo chiefs" won't be missed either. Contact: donations for legal defense and updates: Janie Jamieson, %R.R. 1, Ohsweken [Ontario, Canada] N0A 1M0 - DubbleJ71@aol.com. Kahentinetha Horn MNN Mohawk Nation News --------- "RE: 6 Nations Spokespersons "Suckered" by Politicians" --------- Date: Thursday, September 27, 2007 10:50 pm From: orakwa Subj: MNN 6 Nations Spokespersons "Suckered" by Politicians & Lawyers SUCKERED BY POLITICIANS & LAWYERS - HOW THE CONFEDERACY WENT OFF THE RAILS AND FORGOT TO CONSULT THE PEOPLE MNN. Sep. 27, 2007. The original Haudenosaunee Law is based on clear thinking and not on emotion or fear. The Six Nations Confederacy Royaner [chiefs] who follow the Handsome Lake religion are an emotional people. It's a Christian based revitalization movement of the early 1800s that was brought into the longhouse. They believe that the "creator" is going to solve our problems for us. This fear based inhibition stops them from aggressively pushing the Six Nations sovereignty and land issue. Too bad! In the Christian religion that the colonial law is based on there is a story about Moses and a burning bush and how he got the Ten Commandments directly from God. Our story is about our efforts to get people to join the confederacy. The extent and complexity of these stories is meant to remind us about how much care is needed to reach a true consensus. We have to understand people's minds. The colonial law is based on command. They don't need consensus. They just have to obey. Our spokespersons at the Six Nations "talks" with Canada and Ontario went off track somewhere along the way. In a recent update from one of our spokespersons there is a reference to the law of the "Creator". This is consistent with the English concept of legality where they stick a cross on top of everything, including the Crown. According to the Kaianerekowa, the Great Law of Peace, only the women can make a decision concerning the land [wampum 44]. The Haudenosaunee women own the land and the soil. The newly created "Haudenosaunee Development Institute" HDI is a violation of the Kaianerehkowa. It's an attempt to usurp the power and authority of the Haudenosaunee women. The Royaner [chiefs] and Oyaner [clan mothers] are supposed to represent our ideas. Instead, they made decisions on our behalf without consulting us. MNN did an internet search and found that the name, "Haudenosaunee Development Institute", is not available in Ontario. This suggests that someone might have or is in the process of registering or incorporating the "Haudenosaunee Development Institute" under Ontario law. This represents an alienation from our sovereign independence and a submission to Ontario law. These spokespersons never presented the proposal to form such an Institute to us. We were never shown this organization's constitutional documents. We are told that HDI is not incorporated, that it falls under the jurisdiction of the Confederacy. If it were to be i ncorporated under colonial laws, we could be sued and all our assets could be seized such as equipment and bank accounts, not to mention the main prize, our land itself. Our assets are being signed over to the HDI board members. HDI not being incorporated allows individual board members to be sued and held responsible for any decisions HDI makes. What protection do we have in this new concoction that extinguishes our political rights in this area? None! Who's paying the liability insurance for the board members? The "Institute" is not being recognized as a governmental authority that represents us. It appears that the money collected for our land will go to the institute, not to the people. Sounds more and more like a private company, doesn't it? It is just asking to be turned into a land surrender system? What went wrong in the "talks"? It is our custom to change spokespersons frequently. This is to make sure that they continue to communicate with us and that we remain fully informed. Then we select someone else to be our spokesperson. This system raises the level of knowledge among everybody and better decisions are made. It also protects our representatives from bribery and assimilation into the elitist culture of those who sit in positions of power in colonial society. We made a mistake. We have been letting the same people go to these meetings throughout. In the process they seem to have lost touch with us. Everything was turned upside down. Instead of reporting on the "talks", and letting us decide what to do next, an elite group of "faithkeepers, clan mothers, chiefs, and many of our Ratiskenekethe" took it upon themselves? to make decisions on our behalf. They did not meet the people BEFORE HDI was set up. They are trying "to explain what they did". We must be informed to make a proper decision. Then that decision is taken back to the talks with Canada, Ontario or any other foreign nation or corporation we may be dealing with. Our spokespeople should not have put us in a position where we are called "dissidents" on our own land by our own people who are supposed to be representing us. Their position is that we will be tolerated regarding the Stirling Street housing development. We are "O:ya non eagaeya dodinidoha" or "they've chosen a different idea to do something different from what the Council thought best for this situation". This goes against the root concept of the Kaianerehkowa and modern international law. Both require "prior, informed consent" of the people before any decision affecting our resources is made. One of the spokespersons says in the update that those who obstruct them "will have to face our Creator". This also shows how things got off track. Nobody has to face the "creator". They have to face us, the people, and tell us what they're up to. They have to come out of their colonial trance and start thinking. Haudenosaunee law provides that meetings shall not take place after sundown, to make sure that decisions are made with a clear mind and not rushed. We all know how important it is to "sleep on" major decisions. MNN has learned that one clan mother was pressured into signing the documents that set up HDI at 3 am. Nothing signed at this hour is valid. This must be why she forgot that she did not have the right to sign. Why are 3 Cayuga clan women signing for everybody? The proper person must be selected by the people in a public process. Other questions concern the role of Aaron Detlor. How did he come to be the lawyer for the Haudenosaunee? He is not being paid by funds under our control. He is paid by the Ontario government. Therefore, he represents Ontario, not us. This is not independent legal advice. It's a huge conflict of interest. Aaron Detlor claims to be a lawyer and technician for the Confederacy. He drafted what he calls a "precedent setting" agreement with a developer to build houses on our land. We never saw or agreed to this. The colonial police was sent in to stop those Haudenosaunee who were trying to force the Confederacy and the developer to follow our law. Our spokespersons seem to have been bewitched by John Tory the conservative candidate for Premier in the Ontario election. In Caledonia he said "if elected " on October 10th, he would change provincial laws to broaden the definition of trespassing and double existing fines for those [Indigenous] who defy the order and illegally occupy lands?. Our spokesperson exclaimed, "Finally someone who agrees with the Haudenosaunee". What nonsense!!! John Tory did not say that Ontario would respect Haudenosaunee law and sovereignty. He wants us to submit to the colonial order that he is hoping to head. Under him we can look forward to more oppression than ever. Our spokesperson gave him "three cheers". How can we get things back on track? We have to recognize that the HDI is not legal under Haudenosaunee law. It is merely a proposal. All the documents need to be circulated to all members of the Confederacy living at Six Nations and in our other communities on Turtle Island. We need to decide whether it conforms to our laws and to our "nation-to-nation" position. We need to stop our spokespersons from being assimilated into the colonial government, especially their knee jerk apology to the people who attacked our children. These Indigenous kids were part of a group raising the issue of another illegal housing development. They took a brave stand. We knew all too well that they were exposing themselves to the full force of colonial society. One of those arrested was refused bail because "he disrespected Canadian rule of law, does not comply with band council rules and doesn't listen to the Confederacy spokespeople". He is being jailed for thinking for himself, attempting to protect the future generations and not obeying the law of usurpers and trespassers. How can we trust the people who have been wining and dining with the colonial representatives? One day they told us there will be no development. The next day the shovels appeared and 90 new houses are going to be built by one man. What kind of man needs 90 homes? The spokespeople pretend that the Haudenosaunee represents the settler population too. No way! It's their problem when their government does not consult them. If they don't like it, they can change their political system. We cannot represent those who have no participation in our government process. Who are you, HDI? This is an evil slight of hand being tried against us. The colonists would like to solve the Six Nations problem once and for all by incorporating or registering the Six Nations in Ontario. What the Royaner, Oyaner and our spokespersons are doing is just plain illegal and they have to be stopped! Contact: donations for legal defense and updates: Janie Jamieson, %R.R. 1, Ohsweken [Ontario, Canada] N0A 1M0 - DubbleJ71@aol.com. Kahentinetha Horn MNN Mohawk Nation News See: "Six Nations" http://www.mohawknationnews.com/news/news4.php? en=en&layout=mnn&category=21&srcurl=%2Fnews%2Fnews3.php% 3Flang%3Den%26layout%3Dmnn%26sortorder%3D0 --------- "RE: First Nation 'digs in heels' at Blockade" --------- Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:01:42 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HOLLOW WATER FIRST NATION STANDING STRONG" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2007/09/24/hollow-water.html First Nation 'digs in heels' at blockade over cottages CBC News September 24, 2007 Members of the Hollow Water First Nation say they have no plans to end their growing blockade of a new cottage subdivision on Lake Winnipeg. Band members first blocked Highway 304 near Manigotagan on Sept. 14 to protest Manitoba Conservation's new Driftwood Beach subdivision, about 180 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. The subdivisions are part of the province's cottage lot draw and are on Crown land, but the band officials argue the development is on its traditional land and they should have been consulted. "We're going to sit here and we're going to dig our heels in," Chief Ian Bushie told CBC News on the weekend. "We're also going to, if need be, up our efforts." Bushie wouldn't explain how efforts could be stepped up, but said any protest would be peaceful. Band officials say they will not remove the barricades until the province sits down to talk. But provincial officials say they will not negotiate until the barricades come down. In total, four barricades have been set up, each with a large tepee stocked with firewood, food and water for band members, who guard the posts round the clock. "We lived here. We were brought up here. This is our home, and I want my grandchildren to come back and see where we were raised," said Marlene Smith, who has been watching the barricades in 12-hour shifts since the first one was erected. "I don't want it developed into other things or a bunch of cottagers living in here." Relationship strained between natives, cottagers Band members at the blockades have delayed or refused access to people at about 75 cottages at several developments in the area, located near Manigotagan and Seymourville on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. In the coming days, the band will ask hunters in areas behind the blockade to leave, Bushie said. Meanwhile, the impasse is creating a rift between the First Nations and some cottagers behind the barricade. Local developer Ivon Saber told CBC News he has supported businesses on the reserve in the past, but now he is inclined to take his business elsewhere. "We will still support Seymourville because they've been supportive of us but I, for one, will never buy gas at Ian Bushie's store again," Saber said Monday. "I speak only for myself on this, but I think I share the sentiment of a lot of people." Last Friday, Saber raised the ire of band members on the barricade when he went through the ditch in his skid steer loader. "The barricade in the middle of the road was cars, quads and a big back hoe. I didn't touch the quads, or cars, I just went through the ditch, ran over a few little trees in the ditch, pushed a few big trees slightly out of the way so I could get around the barricade and kept on going," he said. "I just waved and said goodbye." Copyright c. CBC 2007. --------- "RE: Kahnawake Band Council attacks "Council of Elders"" --------- Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 07:14 pm From: orakwa Subj: MNN Kahnawake Band Council attacks "Council of Elders" WHAT DOES THE "RULE OF LAW" MEAN IN KAHNAWAKE? BAND COUNCIL ATTACKS "COUNCIL OF ELDERS" AS PART OF GENOCIDE PLAN MNN. Sept. 24, 2007. Every community has a set of rules to conduct its affairs. One of these in Kahnawake is the Membership Law. Before the European invasion the Mohawk lived according to the Kaianereh'kowa, Great Law of Peace. Many still do. In 1897 the colonial government of Canada illegally imposed foreign laws known as the "Indian Act". Today the majority object to the illegal band council system and will not take part in their elections. However, this system is the only way the Mohawk can get access to the portion of our assets that these foreigners stole from us. The people of Kahnawake spent more than 20 years developing the Membership Law. The people wanted to decide for themselves who could be a member of our community instead of letting Indian Affairs impose foreign notions that are destructive to us and our culture. On May 14th 2004 the people established a Council of Elders at a public meeting. Their task was to apply the people's Membership Law. So far over 90% of the applicants have been found to meet the requirements. This isn't good enough for band council chief, Mike Delisle. At a closed meeting, without notifying the public, he unilaterally suspended the activities of the Council of Elders. Is this legal? No way. Not unless you believe in dictatorships. Mike Delisle has completely sidelined the people of Kahnawake and cut them out of taking part in the decision-making process. This brings to mind a situation that occurred in 2002 in Venezuela, a country with great oil wealth that has been held under the thumb of an oligarchy that kept most of the people in poverty. The 5% minority monopolized the resources, power and wealth. When President Hugo Chavez was democratically elected, he educated the people about their democratic constitution. He began to reorganize Venezuela so that the assets were fairly distributed. This infuriated the oligarchy. They organized a CIA backed coup. They invaded the Presidential Palace and abducted President Chavez. They declared that the elected government was disbanded. They immediately started a brutal crackdown, trying to disband popular institutions. The army was ordered to shoot anyone who objected. The people refused to accept the return of the old dictatorship. A huge crowd gathered around the Presidential Palace. The soldiers would not take orders from the usurpers to shoot the people and decided to defend the constitution instead. Within two days the usurpers were kicked out of the Presidential Palace and President Chavez was returned by the people. He did not take revenge. He simply confirmed that the country was a popular republic and would continue to be ruled according to the people's constitution. No one has the power to suspend the operation of the law. Hugo Chavez said, "If anyone does not like what I am doing, they can vote me out of office". Only the people can change the law. Mike Delisle was not been as brutal as the Venezuelan oligarchy but he has grabbed power like a dictator. He took it upon himself to suspend the Membership Law. Mike Delisle has managed to create a climate of fear. This is why he's been able to push the Council of Elders around. Let's take a closer look at what Mike Delisle and the band council did. At the beginning of September 2007 the Council of Elders was called by Jenny McComber of the Registrar's office to pick up "your envelope" at the band council office. No explanation was given. Under threat of suspension Mike Delisle ordered us to attend an "urgent" meeting at 6:00 pm on September 5th at the "Golden Agers' Club". Mike Delisle spoke in a hostile and angry tone of voice as if he was scolding kids instead of speaking respectfully to the community's elders, some of who are in their late 70s. Mike Delisle reviewed a "secret" 24-page document entitled "A Review of the Kahnawake Membership Law". This document was not the result of consultation with the community. The Council of Elders was not given copies of this list of allegations. There was no indication who wrote it. On behalf of the Council of Elders T.B. carefully summarized the allegations that had been made by unnamed persons. T.B. asked for a copy of the document and time to discuss it. Then band councilor, Rhonda Kirby, a former member of the Council of Elders, repeated the allegations. She was followed by Timmy Norton, a member of the Council of Elders who used to be a band councilor. He stood behind us and made further allegations, in the course of which he admitted that he had breached the oath of confidentiality. He's the one who told the television station about a decision before the applicant had been notified. He punctuated his tirade by resigning from the Council of Elders. The Council of Elders agreed to suspend application hearings until such matters were cleared up. Friday morning, September 7th the Council of Elders was shocked to read in the Eastern Door newspaper that Mike Delisle had suspended the activities of the Council of Elders. The elders were given no opportunity to see the evidence or to defend themselves against the charges. Just like the Venezuelan oligarchs, Mike Delisle made a public announcement of his "fait accompli". On Monday, September 10th T.B. of the Council of Elders supposedly received an email from Alexis Shackleton of the Membership Registrar's office declaring that the Council of Elders would no longer receive any support services from her office and that we would have no access to a lawyer. The Council of Elders is required to keep minutes, write letters and review all administration and files that are kept by the Registrar. The band council has followed a procedure that seems to have violated our tradition in a number of ways. The issue to be considered was not formulated by a neutral party. Mike Delisle told the elders that he is selecting a third party [maybe with the help of Indian Affairs?] to conduct his investigation. He is also hand picking the three members of the Council of Elders who will be involved with him. According to Haudenosaunee practice, a council serving the public must be neutral and cannot be removed once they have been appointed. Mike Delisle seems to think the Council of Elders can be neutral so long as long as it does what he says. Councils serving the people are given a support staff that must remain neutral and may not take part in the decision making process. The Council of Elders was appointed to conduct a quasi judicial function. Its neutrality is important. Members should be protected from arbitrary removal from office, just like any judge anywhere else in the world. Before this matter erupted, the Council of Elders had run into some problems. The Registrar, Alexis Shackleton, whose role should be purely clerical, was giving the Council of Elders written instructions on how they should decide a case before the applicant was even heard. She also was placing persons on the membership roll who were not qualified, which were subsequently overturned by the Council of Elders. The Council of Elders must make decisions based on the laws and customs of the people as set out in the Membership Law. There is no provision to usurp their decision making role. As it turns out, Alexis Shackleton is one of the authors of the report that Mike Delisle relied upon in his attempt to disband the Council of Elders. Mike Delisle's suspension has no legal force or effect under any known concept of legality except totalitarian dictatorship. There was no evidence presented, no legal argument and the Council of Elders was not allowed to present its points of view. This violates the basic principles of procedural fairness that are recognized by most nations under international law If the community doesn't like the rules, it should change the law. Mike Delisle is a member of the community. He has no more authority than anybody else to change it or to dictate how the Council of Elders applies it. There has always been pressure from Indian Affairs as to who can be a member. What are Mike Delisle's motives? We understand that almost 4,000 people want to be enrolled. Perhaps many may or may not qualify according to the Membership Law. This reminds us of the situation that happened at Kanehsatake when James Gabriel was handing out membership cards prior to the 2005 election in the hope that it would garner him votes. This was done through Alexis Shackleton's counterpart, Jean Vincent, the Registrar at Kanehsatake. The band council also wants more voters because it will get more money. The would-be Mohawks want tax free status, land, health and education benefits, to vote and take over Kahnawake. Is Indian Affairs planning to relocate the Mohawks to stop opposition to the expansion of the St. Lawrence Seaway, to build a ten-lane bridge right through the middle of Kahnawake and who knows what else! Somebody's got a long term plan here. The band council hopes to "cash bleed" the Council of Elders. On September 24th the Elders paid for a meeting room from their own pockets. T.B. read the most recent dictate from the band council which appeared to declare that the Council of Elders can no longer meet except with the band council. This is a violation of the right of freedom of association that is guaranteed under international law. Mike Delisle seems to infer that it is "unlawful assembly" [according to who?]. Remember how the RCMP used to break up our longhouse meetings? Indian Affairs must be laughing at how they now have our own people suppressing us. This looks like a hostile corporate takeover of Kahnawake by the powers that think they are. What kind of future is in store for our children and the generations to come? A dictatorship under the direction of Indian Affairs and Mike Delisle? The Mohawks of Kahnawake better speak up quick. Delisle and his cohorts have put a noose around our necks. Kahentinetha Horn MNN Mohawk Nation News Contact Mike Delisle with your comments concerning his behavior at: communications@mck.ca send your concerns to: loudspirits@hotmail.command easterndoor@axess.com --------- "RE: Appeal court reserves decision in Stonechild Case" --------- Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:18:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="STONECHILD APPEAL DECISION REVERSED" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/ story/2007/09/25/stonechild-appeal.html Appeal court reserves decision in Stonechild case CBC News September 25, 2007 Two former Saskatoon police officers will have to wait to find out if the province's highest court will quash findings in the Neil Stonechild inquiry that led to their firings. On Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal reserved its decision in the appeal of the Stonechild case. He's the aboriginal teenager who was found frozen to death on the outskirts of Saskatoon 17 years ago. Brad Senger and Larry Hartwig went to the court hoping it would quash some of the conclusions made by the public inquiry in 2004. The inquiry determined that Neil Stonechild was in the officers' custody the last night he was seen alive. Shortly after the inquiry's report was released, the two officers were fired. On Monday, Hartig's lawyer argued the inquiry headed by David Wright had no right to make that finding, nor the finding that the injuries Stonechild had appeared to have been caused by handcuffs. Senger and Hartwig were never charged and have always denied that they had Stonechild in custody before he died. They want that conclusion officially struck from the record. The inquiry made national headlines and underlined tensions in Saskatoon between the police service and aboriginal people. Findings appropriate: lawyer Si Halyk, the lawyer for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, argued Tuesday that the findings were appropriate and the public inquiry had a duty to satisfy the public's right to know what happened. Donald Worme, a lawyer representing Stonechild's mother Stella Bignell, said his client is hoping for some closure in the case. "She had loved her son, she loves him today, but she wants to bury him and move on with her life," he said. The court didn't say when it might hand down its decision. Meanwhile, the Saskatoon Police Commission is preparing to hear a request from Hartwig and Senger to get their Copyright c. CBC 2007. --------- "RE: Tribes to pilot Indian Country Amber Alert" --------- Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:12:47 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="AMBER ALERT PROGRAM BEING IMPLEMENTED IN INDIAN COUNTRY" http://www.tanasijournal.com/main/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=601&Itemid=1&ed=76 Choctaw Nation & Eastern Band Among Thirteen Communities to Pilot Indian Country Amber Alert Program Source: US Dept. of Justice September 14, 2007 WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 - The Department of Justice today announced that ten Tribal sites have been selected to serve as pilot communities as part of the Department's AMBER Alert in Indian Country Initiative. The ten Tribal sites will serve as demonstration sites for other Native American communities to help expand the AMBER Alert program into Indian County and bridge the gap between Tribal communities and state and regional programs across the country. "Tribes can play an important role in strengthening our AMBER Alert network," said Regina B. Schofield, National AMBER Alert Coordinator and Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. "The ten pilot sites will serve as models for other Tribal communities working to develop AMBER Alert plans so that children in Indian country can benefit from the AMBER Alert network." The Tribal communities selected to participate in the initiative are the Acoma, Hopi, Laguna and Zuni Pueblo communities; the Choctaw Nation; the Crow Nation; the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; the Gila River Indian Community; the Navajo Nation; the Northern Arapaho Tribe; the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community; the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; and the Yakama Nation. The AMBER Alert in Indian Country Initiative grew out of talks last year between Tribal leaders and the Justice Department about expanding the AMBER Alert program into Indian Country. The initiative aims to assist Tribal communities in the development and implementation of AMBER Alert plans, and support the recovery of missing and abducted children by providing interoperability, infrastructure, and equipment resources to meet the specific needs of Tribal communities. AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alerts are emergency messages broadcast when a law enforcement agency determines that a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger. The broadcasts include information about the child and the abductor, including physical descriptions as well as information about the abductor's vehicle, which could lead to the child's recovery. AMBER Alerts are also available to wireless users who can opt to receive geographically-specified messages on their wireless devices or cell phones through an AMBER Alert wireless messaging system. The PROTECT Act established the national AMBER Alert Coordinator role. Assistant Attorney General Schofield was appointed to serve as the national AMBER Alert Coordinator and a national strategy to create a seamless national network of alert systems has followed. More than 90 percent of the 360 recoveries of abducted children have occurred since AMBER Alert became a nationally coordinated effort. All 50 states have statewide AMBER Alert plans in place so that all levels of state law enforcement know when a child is abducted. The AMBER Alert program began in Texas in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed up with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children, in memory of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman of Arlington, Texas, who was abducted while riding her bicycle and later found murdered. The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney General Regina B. Schofield, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime. Additionally, OJP has two program offices: the Community Capacity Development Office, which incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy, and the Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART) Office. More information can be found at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov. Copyright c. 2007 Tanasi Journal. --------- "RE: Expert: Tribal Courts should beware" --------- Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:33:17 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SOVEREIGNTY BATTLE UNWINABLE" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp? article_type=news&article_path=/news/07/news070925_6.htm Expert: Tribal courts should beware American Indians won't win sovereignty conference told By Joe Hanel | Herald Denver Bureau September 25, 2007 COLORADO SPRINGS - Indian tribes are headed for a showdown over sovereignty with the U.S. Supreme Court, and they are sure to lose, an Indian scholar said Monday. The fight probably will start over Indian courts trying to get jurisdiction over a non-Indian defendant, said Philip S. Deloria, who ran the American Indian Law Center at the University of New Mexico for 37 years. "I bet you a month's salary it's going to happen. The question is when, and how long can we stall it," Deloria said at a conference called "Completing the Circle: Strengthening Criminal Justice in Indian Country." Efforts already under way in Southwest Colorado might help the tribal courts keep their power. Congress has protected Indian sovereignty, or the right of the tribes to run their own affairs, Deloria said. But federal judges are getting ready for a challenge. The evidence is plain to see in a number of legal opinions. "I'm not a legal scholar, but I can read," Deloria said. "And we know the courts have said, 'We don't want you messing with non-Indians,'" he said. The Supreme Court, he said, will want to defend the rights of non- Indians who live on the reservation but cannot vote in tribal elections. The answer is for tribes, cities, counties and the federal government to cooperate closely, Deloria said. That's happening now in Southwest Colorado. Since February, 85 officers have been cross-deputized to enforce federal, state and tribal laws. Thirty more will go through the training next month in Cortez, said Troy Eid, the U.S. Attorney for Colorado. If police officers are cross-deputized, then they have the authority to enforce the laws whether or not suspects are Indians, Deloria said. If the tribes can make themselves an essential partner to the local governments, then they might have a chance to retain their power, Deloria said. "If we had everybody at the table talking about law enforcement and there's an empty chair `85 suddenly, you get focused on who needs to get with the program," Deloria said. "But if we write it off as politics - acceptable politics - then nobody's responsible." Despite the success with cross-deputization, Eid was pessimistic about the prospects for more full-time police officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the Ute Mountain Ute reservation. "Let's be candid about it. We're not making progress in terms of Ute Mountain Ute police levels from BIA," Eid said. "It's just a tough situation out there. Those guys are working 12-hour shifts. Twelve hours on, 12 hours off, sometimes six days in a row." The problem affects reservations nationwide, and only more money from Congress will help, Eid said. The conference, sponsored by the Colorado U.S. Attorney's Office, brought together federal and Indian justice experts from the Four Corners states. It continues today and Wednesday, but the last two days are closed to the public because they deal with sensitive victim and law-enforcement topics. jhanel@durangoherald.com Copyright c. The Durango Herald. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: S.D. Supreme Court: Tribe has no Jurisdiction" --------- Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 07:51:07 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SD COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF FATHER WHO LET DAUGHTER DIE IN CAR" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415849 S.D. Supreme Court: Tribe has no jurisdiction over father, child by: The Associated Press By Joe Kafka - Associated Press October 1, 2007 PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled Sept. 13 that the Sisseton-Wahpeton tribal court has no jurisdiction over a non-Indian father or his daughter, reversing an earlier ruling by a state judge who said the tribe could remove the girl from her father's custody. The tribal court issued the order for enforcement in state court against Daniel John Carlson of Sisseton after he forgot a younger daughter all day in a parked car and she died of overheating on Aug. 17, 2005. A state prosecutor, deciding that Carlson did not intentionally leave Tehya, age 14 months, in his car when he went to his job as vice president of a telemarketing firm in Browns Valley, Minn., refused to charge him. Carlson had left his then-6-year-old daughter, Jacinda, at his mother's home in Sisseton but forgot to drop Tehya off at her day care. Carlson's ex-wife, Barbara Baldwin, is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribe. She filed an abuse and neglect complaint in tribal court to gain protective custody of their older daughter; both girls also were enrolled tribal members. After gaining the tribal court order, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Child Protection Program went to state circuit court for enforcement against Carlson. Carlson argued that the tribal court had no jurisdiction to issue the removal order, but Circuit Judge Scott Myren disagreed with him. Myren said the Indian Child Welfare Act gave the tribe jurisdiction. ICWA was passed by Congress in 1978 to regulate the placement of Indian children, with the goal of strengthening Indian families and culture. Overturning Myren 4 - 1, the state Supreme Court said the tribal court lacked jurisdiction because ICWA does not apply to Carlson or his oldest daughter. Jacinda is not a ward of the tribal court because she did not live on the reservation, and Sisseton is not on the reservation, either, the justices said. The former Lake Traverse Reservation was diminished in 1975, resulting in a checkerboard of jurisdiction and giving state courts jurisdiction over non-Indian lands within the 1867 reservation borders, the high court noted. Sisseton is not within tribal jurisdiction, the justices added. One of the attorneys representing Carlson was Bill Janklow, the former governor and congressman who temporarily lost his law license after a 2003 conviction of second-degree manslaughter for causing a fatal traffic crash in Moody County. The case marked Janklow's return to the legal profession, and his appearance before the Supreme Court on behalf of Carlson a year ago drew intense media interest. Copyright c. 1998 - 2007 Indian Country Today. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: What happened to the Wampanoag Museum Money?" --------- Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:18:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="MUSEUM FUNDS UNDER INVESTIGATION" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/ report/2007/09/26/attorney_general_digging_deep_into_triba What happened to the Wampanoag museum money? AG looks into snail's pace of work, FBI questioning members By Peter Kenney September 27, 2007 Deep in the blue file in the building commissioner's office at Mashpee Town Hall is a copy of a bill. It is from the Town of Mashpee to the state Attorney General for $37.80. The bill is in the form of a letter dated Aug. 14, 2007, and refers to 189 pages of records copied by the building inspector's assistant and faxed to Boston. A notation at the top of the bill states, "Re: Copies - 414 Main Street and 410 Meetinghouse Road." The Mashpee Wampanoag tribal museum is situated at 414 Main St. (Route 130) in Mashpee and 410 Meetinghouse Road is the address for the ancient Mashpee meetinghouse. Both buildings are being restored and both projects have been the subject of rumors in the tribe and the town for years. Grant money for museum first diverted, then disappeared On Feb. 18, 2000, a $14,850 check was drawn on the tribal council account at Fleet Bank and deposited the same day into the account of the Mashpee Fisherman's Association at Cape Cod Bank and Trust. A handwritten notation on the check clearly says, "Fisherman's/Kellogg Grant." Well- placed sources in the tribe tell this reporter that the money was intended for the restoration of the museum, but was diverted to the Fisherman's Fund and disappeared. Work on the museum, sporadic for seven years, is only now being completed. Earlier this year Attorney General Martha Coakley's office contacted the Kellogg Foundation and has been investigating alleged improprieties, according to a foundation spokesperson who declined to elaborate. Coakley's office would not comment. Winnie Hernandez Gallegos of Battle Creek, Mich., is a program officer working for the Kellogg Company. Her husband, Floyd Gallegos, is president of FEG Advisors.Winnie Hernandez Gallegos of Battle Creek, Mich., is a program officer working for the Kellogg Company, which is based in Battle Creek MI. Her husband, Floyd E. Gallegos, is president of FEG Advisors, a Battle Creek company providing management expertise to Indian tribes. During a telephone conversation Sunday, Mr. Gallegos said he introduced Herb Strather to the Mashpee tribe. At the time, Mr. Gallegos says, he was involved in efforts to support tribes across Michigan and he says he knows nothing of how Kellogg grants were used. The foundation spokesperson, when asked about grant oversight, said that every grant is subject to review and a report is issued when the review is completed. Sources in the Mashpee tribe say they remember discussion within the tribal council that reports to the Kellogg Foundation were late. Work on the meetinghouse has also been stalled in spite of substantial grant money from government and private sources. Mashpee residents will vote at special town meeting on Oct. 15 on whether to approve $325,000 of Community Preservation Act funds to finish work on the meetinghouse. The article is number 6 on the warrant. Among the questions Amelia Bingham and her son Stephen Bingham and others are asking, questions which earned shunning for them and three other members of the tribe - what happened to the money set aside for repairs to the museum and meetinghouse? Allegations have been swirling around town that Kellogg Foundation money earmarked for the museum was actually used for repairs at Maushop Farm, a property owned by Strather, the Detroit gambling and real estate developer who charges the tribe $72, 000 every year for use of one-third of the farm. Now we know that state Attorney General Coakley is also curious about the glacial pace of work at the museum and the meetinghouse. In addition to her inquiry there are federal investigations by the FBI and IRS into former tribal chairman Glenn Marshall's questionable financial dealings. Information subpoenaed by federal authorities is due by Oct. 27. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston declined comment, but a source revealed "they have been talking," a reference to current tribal council chairman Shawn Hendricks and council secretary Desire Hendricks Moreno, who are cousins. Members of the tribe tell this reporter that FBI agents have been in Mashpee this week speaking to members of the tribe - and police cars have been seen parked near Moreno's house on Route 130. Copyright c. 2007 Cape Cod Today. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Investigators raid Cairo, GA. Insurance Agency" --------- Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:18:03 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="YET ANOTHER TRIBAL IDENTITY FOR ILLEGALS SCAM ALLEGED" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=7133105&nav=5kZQ Investigators raid Cairo Insurance Agency September 26, 2007 Cairo - Investigators say the victims of the scam are Hispanic immigrants and the woman taking advantage of them claims to be the leader of a phony Indian tribe. Investigators think she sold the victims fraudulent insurance policies and tried to convince them they could become legal U.S. residents by joining her tribe. Wednesday morning's raid on Annex, a legitimately licensed insurance agency came after reports trickled into Sheriff Harry Young of some not so legitimate activity. "I had some people come to me about a month ago complaining that they were getting charged outlandish fees for identification cards," explains Grady County Sheriff Harry Young. The Department of Insurance's Chief Investigator Steve Sprouse adds, "What we're looking at right now is allegations that some immigrants are being signed up down here in a scheme." When the state insurance commissioners office was called in to help, they uncovered more complaints. "What is alleged is there has been some assistance to provide documentation that helps them either in some of the title issues on vehicles and the purchase of insurance," explains Sprouse. Agents removed computers and boxes of files to aid in the investigation but they say the biggest piece of the puzzle could be victims who've been defrauded that come forward. "We understand that they may not want to do this because they may not be in the country legally but we're not after those folks. I'm not on the immigration side of it, but we do feel like some have been victimized as a result of what's gone on," assured Sprouse. Right now the investigation is centered around a woman who goes by the name of Chief Rachel Pashman. They say it seems she's been recruiting the immigrants for an organization called the Georgia Kokeneshv Natchez Nation. "Apparently for a fee has been receiving funds from some of these immigrants that basically they're being told that once they purchase these items, they can not be deported," says Sprouse. While even the website for the group seems convincing, investigators have discovered the American Indian organization is not licensed in the state of Georgia. Investigators made no arrests Wednesday. They say it may take time to piece together the evidence they gathered at the office. Georgia Insurance investigators say every insurance application filed in someone else's name carries a separate charge. So depending on how many immigrants were victims, there could be some stiff penalties. Feedback: news@walb.com?subject=GradyRaid/sb Copyright c. 2000 - 2007 WorldNow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. --------- "RE: Native Group sues Ramras over request for Probe" --------- Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:33:17 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SOUTHWEST VILLAGES SUE RAMRAS" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.adn.com/money/industries/mining/story/9329642p-9244784c.html Native group sues Ramras over his request for probe CHILL: Plaintiffs say lawmaker's payoff claims intimidated people. By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK ebluemink@adn.com September 25, 2007 A Native corporation representing five Southwest Alaska villages has filed a lawsuit, including a request for a restraining order, against Rep. Jay Ramras, the Alaska attorney general and the state Department of Public Safety. A Superior Court judge in Dillingham denied the restraining order request from the Alaska Peninsula Corp. Monday shortly after it was filed, calling it "overly broad," according to attorneys involved in the case. The lawsuit claims that Ramras, R-Fairbanks, violated state and federal free speech rights of village residents who are shareholders of Alaska Peninsula, and state officials should be barred from doing the same. Though the restraining order was denied, the lawsuit has not been dismissed. Alaska Peninsula is weighing its legal options, said company attorney Sam Fortier. Alaska Peninsula represents the Native villages of Port Heiden, Ugashik, South Naknek, Newhalen and Kokhanok. Earlier this month, Ramras wrote a letter asking the state attorney general and federal prosecutors to send investigators to hearings this week on a bill he is co-sponsoring to prohibit water pollution discharges or use of freshwater by mining companies in five Bristol Bay drainages that support salmon. He claimed that Northern Dynasty Mines Inc. - a company exploring the region's copper and gold prospects in hopes of developing a large-scale mine near Iliamna - has handed out cash and lucrative jobs in return for political support from Native and elected leaders in the region. Northern Dynasty officials say Ramras' allegations are false. Talis Colberg, the attorney general, responded to Ramras last week, saying the allegations, if true, are serious, and Alaska State Troopers might be asked to investigate. The specter of investigators at the hearing prompted the request for a restraining order. "Rep. Ramras' demand for Trooper presence at the (legislative) hearings has already had a chilling effect on free speech, as some village members . .. who intended to attend and testify have decided not to participate out of fear of retribution and investigation by the state," according to the corporation's complaint. Alaska Peninsula asked the Superior Court to prohibit state troopers from intimidating people who testify against the bill, House Bill 134, at the hearings. The corporation wanted the judge to issue a restraining order barring any uniformed officers, "intrusive video or audio surveillance" or law enforcement interviews of bill opponents at the hearings. The legislative hearings began Monday in Newhalen, and will continue on Tuesday in Naknek and Wednesday in Dillingham. Ramras refused to comment Monday about the suit. Copyright c. 2007 The Anchorage Daily News, a subsidiary of The McClatchy Company. --------- "RE: Native Justice" --------- Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:46:09 -0700 From: Janet Smith [owlstar@bellsouth.net] Subj: NA News Item -- Muscogee Nation helps Inmates re-enter Society The Muskogee Nation has much to be proud of and I, as a descendant of the Muskogee, am very proud of them and their program for aiding the re-entry of their citizens who have been in prison back into their homes and communities. The story below tells how they have proven that yes, there can be productive life after prison. That flies against the current "wisdom" offered by corrections professionals. One of the first things I learned as a volunteer in the federal prison system was that few inmates who leave that system stay outside those walls for more than a few weeks or months. Native inmates, often the most isolated, socially, culturally and spiritually deprived of those inmates during their incarceration, were among those most likely to return to prison within less than a year. These facts were presented not only as past history, but as future prophecy, and used to justify "warehousing" rather than attempts to rehabilitate inmates and prepare them for life outside prison walls. The Muskogee experience proves that prophecy is false. We do not have to believe the corrections "experts" who bask in the gloom and doom of the revolving prison door, and try to tell us there is little hope that an offender can be rehabilitated. Instead, an Indian nation, since joined by two others, have demonstrated convincingly that reaching out a helping hand benefits not only the vast majority of released inmates, but their families and communities. To only have TWO of 250 released inmates re-offend within 3 years is nothing short of a miracle and is well worth the monies spent to achieve that result. Other tribes (and other communities, states and this nation) would do well to study this program, learn from it, and create their own similar program. -- Janet http://www.indianz.com/News http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx? articleID=070926_1_A9_ANWor15888 Life after Prison: Tribe helps ex-cons move on By S.E. RUCKMAN World Staff Writer September 26, 2007 The Muscogee Nation uses gaming funds to gamble on imprisoned Indians. HENRYETTA - Fate had a way of finding Charley Wilson while he was serving time for a drug-related conviction at the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite. The 28-year-old picked up a brochure left by Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reintegration Program officials and began reading. The brochure helped change his outlook on life. "I filled out the paper, and they came to see me, and I got a case manager," he said. "They built a relationship with me." Close to his release time, Wilson found assistance from the tribe's reintegration program that helped him develop a workable plan for the outside. He landed a job with a food service contractor at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa as a kitchen employee and was able to get an apartment. That allowed him to save for the $600 fee to get his driver's license back. The program, which focuses on helping tribal citizens in prison get back into the swing of life, also helped him with bus passes, rent, referrals and morale boosts. The initiative's mentor was tribal legislator Keeper Johnson, who drafted a bill to get the program started in 2004. Johnson was a vocational rehabilitation officer for more than 20 years. Gaming revenues of $500,000 annually comprise the bulk of the program's funding, officials said. The amount could grow with its success, Johnson said. Creek Nation caseworkers target people who are about to be released from prison and concentrate on providing them with basic life skills -- such as catching a bus or setting an alarm clock, case worker Andrea Alexander said. The Creek Nation re-entry program has developed liaisons with "friendly" vendors in case of unforeseen circumstances for clients who are overwhelmed by common living emergencies. "We have local contacts set up that if we need to, we can get food, clothing or shelter within 24 hours," Alexander said. Most clients are men; only about 5 percent are women. "Women inmates mostly have children waiting on them on the outside," Alexander said. "Their motivation for being successful is different." Of about 250 inmates who have taken part in the program so far, only two have gone back to jail, Alexander said. Details in helping people make the transition from prison to the outside are important, Johnson said. "The alternative is for them to return to prison, and we can't have that, " he said. "These people are Creeks; they are our citizens." The Creek Nation program also makes referrals for other tribes' members who need reintegration services. Only two other Oklahoma tribes have prison reintegration programs -- the Comanches and the Chickasaws. But other tribes, such as the Absentee Shawnee and the Cherokee Nation, are expressing interest in similar programs. Jimmy Ivey, the Chickasaw Nation's re-entry coordinator, said his tribe's program is newer but that it is growing at a hasty pace. "We have about 100 clients in our program," he said. According to Oklahoma Department of Corrections demographics, about 2, 195 in- mates, or 8.7 percent, are American Indian. Most Indian offenders are serving time for drug- or alcohol-related crimes, although some have committed offenses such as murder and robbery. Wilson, the Creek Nation client, is enthusiastic about the future. He hopes to go back to school and finish his degree. But he stresses the helping hand he received from the re-entry program. "They were there for me; it was the real deal," he said. "People always promise things, then don't deliver, but they did. It made all the difference." S.E. Ruckman 581-8462 se.ruckman@tulsaworld.com Copyright c. 2007 World Publishing Co. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Rustywire: Never Known Anything Like This" --------- Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2006 08:10:07 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="RUSTYWIRE: NEVER KNOWN" http://www.rustywire.com/love/known.html I Have Never Known Anything Like This by Johnny Rustywire I have never known anything like this come with me you know I have never done this before it is a first step for both of us how strange I feel inside slowly we look into each other's eyes and find hope, laughter and innocence should we go this far slowly we touch tenderly we hold the other it is another being I hold living breathing and so close moving ever so slowly oh how we shudder there is no wind I have never known anything like this so so slowly we move I am on fire what is this that rages in me how can this be so oh, it seems I tremble so what is this feeling I have never known anything like this we are so close and find ourselves together more so than ever before shyly we laugh and close our eyes what is this it is something so new I have never known anything like this is this what it is all about I am so scared and yet full of joy let me do this right and without haste oh we must move slowly and so we go about everything like beginners how do you do such things I have never known anything like this oh have mercy on me and forget it all I am running like a stallion flying across the ground I go losing touch and I begin to fly I have never known anything like this I feel nothing and yet everything what a wondrous place this is you are with me and we run together where is the ground it no longer exists where is this place way up above the earth I have never known anything like this your skin is so soft I am lost in it Copyright c. 1999, Johnny Rustywire, all rights reserved. --------- "RE: Lee Goins Poem: Spirit Talker" --------- Date: Monday, September 04, 2007 04:10 am From: cherokee2proud [cherokee2proud@yahoo.com] Subj: Spirit Talker Mailing List: Native Poetry Spirit Talker Lingering in the background Always there, your presence felt A power and beauty ready to be unleashed Guiding me through the difficult paths Ahead I seek your wisdom and warmth I honor your vision and compassion Show me the way Of my people So that I may be worthy Of the quest ahead. Lee Goins Copyright c. 2005 --------- "RE: Upcoming Events" --------- Date: Mon October 1, 2007 14:29:44 -0700 From: Gary Smith (gars@speakeasy.org) Subj: Upcoming Events =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= EVENTS ARE FEATURED IN ODD NUMBERED ISSUES ONLY =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= ------------------------------------------------------------------------- --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//- Notice of Copyright Clearance by Contributors: The following have granted permission for their original articles to be reposted in order to help mend the Sacred Hoop: Gary Smith, Joshua Lavar Butler, Public Information Officer, Navajo Nation Speaker of the House, Orakwa/Kahentinetha Horn, Johnny Rustywire, Dina Horwedel, Public Education Director-American Indian College Fund, Janet Smith, Lee Goins --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//- _ __ __ _ / | / /___ _/ /_(_) __ __ / |/ / __ \ __/ / | / / _ \ / /| / /_/ / /_/ /| |/ / __/ /_/ |_/\__,_/\__/_/ |___/\___/ ______ _ / ____/____ ___ __________(_)___ ____ _____ / / / ___/ __ \/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ \/ ___/ / /___/ / / /_/ /__ /__ / / / / / /_/ /__ / \____/_/ \____/____/____/_/_/ /_/\__, /____/ Volume 15,Issue 040 /____/ October 1, 2007 Native Crossings (c) is a separately emailed suppliment to Wotanging Ikche (c) Native American News (c) dedicated to the memory of those in Indian Country who have begun their spirit journeys It may be subscribed to via email by sending a request from your own internet addressable account to gars@nanews.org <================<<<< >>>>================> 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. <================<<<< >>>>================> 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. <================<<<< >>>>================> --------- "RE: Crossings" --------- Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 07:45:54 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CROSSINGS" September 26, 2007 Deborah Grace Locklear, 38 Deborah Grace Locklear, 38, died Sept. 23, 2007. The funeral was this morning at the Good News Chapel Church, the Rev. Sim Barton officiated. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Debbie was born Oct. 21, 1968, in Lancaster, Calif. She was the daughter of Carolyn Radabaugh Bullard and the late Odis Gibson Locklear. She was employed with the Oliver Oil Company in Lumberton and attended Robeson Community College. The family said that she enjoyed reading, cross stitching and spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by a stepbrother, Russell Lambert. She leaves to cherish her memories her mother, Carolyn Bullard; two brothers, William Stubbs and his wife Cecile, both of Rockingham, and Isaac Locklear of Maxton; two sisters, Amanda Locklear of Pembroke and Ashley Locklear of Maxton; two stepsisters, Carol Lambert and Wenona Metze; a stepbrother, William Lambert; her grandmothers, Beatrice N. Locklear of Laurinburg and Grace Radabaugh of Lumberton; several nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends. Richard Boles Funeral Service is serving the Locklear family. Charles Wayne Locklear, 60 Charles Wayne Locklear (Hobby), 60, of 1375 Crenshaw Road, died Sept. 23, 2007, at Southeastern Regional Medical Center. The funeral will be 3 p.m. today at Crumpler Funeral Home Chapel, the Revs. Freddie Gibbs, William Burns and Jeffrey Locklear officiating. Burial will follow in the Locklear cemetery in Rex. Surviving are his wife, Joannie Jean Locklear; a son, Brandon Locklear of Rex; four daughters, Tonya Locklear of Rex, Lummie Clark of Red Springs, Tina Haire of Tampa, Fla., and Kayla Locklear of Red Springs; three brothers, Robert Locklear of Rex, Spurgeon Locklear of Red Springs, and Talton Locklear of St. Pauls; four sisters, Ruth Collins of Rex, Alice Hammonds of St. Pauls, Joan Chavis and Katie Brewer, both of Shannon; and five grandchildren. September 27, 2007 Gaylord Revels, 62 Gaylord Revels, 62, of 605 Normal St., died Sept. 25, 2007, at home. A graveside service will be 3 p.m. Friday at Lumbee Memorial Gardens in Lumberton. Surviving are his wife, Linda Revels of the home; a son, Vernon Lyndale Revels of Little River, S.C.; a daughter, Natoria Revels of the home; two brothers, Donnie Revels Jr. of Pembroke, and Jerry Revels of Florida; five sisters, Kathleen Revels of Hendersonville, Aileen Linton of Goose Creek, S.C., Mary Joyce of Silver Spring, Md., Margaret Ann Locklear of Laurinburg, and Cora Sue Oxendine of Maxton; and two grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 tonight at Prospect United Methodist Church, at the memorial and at the home at 605 Normal St., Pembroke. Copyright c. 2007 The Robesonian, Lumberton, NC. -=-=-=- September 26, 2007 Charles W. Locklear ST. PAULS - Charles Wayne "Hobby" Locklear, 60, of 1375 Crenshaw Road, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, in Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton. Services: Funeral, 3 p.m. today in Crumpler Funeral Home chapel in Red Springs. Burial in Locklear Cemetery in Rex. Survived by: Wife, Joannie; son, Brandon; daughters, Lummie Clark, Tina Haire, Tonya and Kayla; brothers, Robert, Spurgeon and Talton; sisters, Ruth Collins, Alice Hammonds, Joan Chavis and Katie Brewer; and five grandchildren. Deborah G. Locklear PEMBROKE - Ms. Deborah Grace "Debbie" Locklear, 38, of Pembroke, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. Ms. Locklear was employed by Oliver Oil Co. in Lumberton. Services: Funeral, 11 a.m. today in Good News Chapel Church. Burial in church cemetery. Visitation, 10 to 11 a.m. today at the church. Survived by: Mother, Carolyn Bullard; brothers, William Stubbs and Isaac; sisters, Amanda and Ashley; stepsisters, Carol Lambert and Wenona Metze; stepbrother, William Lambert; grandmothers, Grace Radabaugh and Beatrice; and several nieces and nephews. Richard Boles Funeral Service of Laurinburg. James E. Hunt James Earl Hunt, 59, of Fayetteville, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, in Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Services: Funeral, 2 p.m. Thursday in Reeves Funeral Home chapel in Hope Mills. Burial in Lafayette Memorial Park. Visitation: 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Survived by: Son, James; daughter, Barbara; mother, Mable; brothers, Homer Chavis, Meredith, Eugene, Kenneth, Michael and Edmond; sisters, Ellen Gilmore, Betty Ann Wells, Connie Snyder and Jenny Jacobs; and three grandchildren. Memorials: James Hunt Funeral Fund, c/o Reeves Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Hope Mills, NC 28348. September 27, 2007 Gaylord Revels PEMBROKE - Gaylord Revels, 62, of 605 Normal St., died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, in his home. Services: Graveside, 3 p.m. Friday in Lumbee Memorial Gardens in Lumberton. Visitation: 6 to 9 tonight at Prospect United Methodist Church; and at other times at the home. Survived by: Wife, Linda; daughter, Natoria; son, Vernon; brothers, Donnie and Jerry; sisters, Aileen Linton, Mary Joyce, Margaret Locklear, Cora Oxendine and Kathleen; and two grandchildren. Revels Funeral Home of Pembroke. September 30, 2007 Beulah L. Blue MAXTON - Mrs. Beulah Locklear Blue, 82, of Maxton, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, in her home. Mrs. Blue was a homemaker. Services: Funeral, 3 p.m. Tuesday in Community Fellowship Christian Center. Burial in church cemetery. Visitation: 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the church. Survived by: Sons, David Locklear, Kenneth Locklear, Isiaih Locklear, Canada Locklear, Redell Locklear, Daniel Locklear and Ray Allen Locklear; daughters, Mary Locklear, Helen Locklear, Betty Locklear, Myrtle Hunt and Felisha; 10 stepchildren; 42 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Richard Boles Funeral Service of Laurinburg. October 1, 2007 Kevin G. Lowry PEMBROKE - Kevin Gene Lowry, 24, of 107 Barker St., died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, in Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton. Services: Funeral, 3 p.m. Tuesday in Revels Funeral Home chapel in Pembroke. Burial in Sandcutt Cemetery. Visitation: 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Survived by: Mother, Dorothy; sister, Melissa; paternal grandfather, Melvin; and maternal grandmother, Annie Wilkins. Copyright c. 2007 The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. -=-=-=- September 26, 2007 Melissa Ann Welch Cherokee - Melissa Ann Welch, 33, of Wolftown Road, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, at Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County she was a member of Cherokee Pentecostal Holiness Church; daughter of the late Richard Stillwell Taylor and Juanita Ann Welch. Surviving is three sons, Charles Richard Esparza of the home, Serbando Welch of the home, and Richard Stillwell Welch; one brother, Charles Henry Welch of Honesdale, Pa. The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Cherokee Pentecostal Holiness Church, with the Revs. Betty Drake and Donald Ensley officiating. Burial will be in Welch Family Cemetery. The body will be taken to the church at 4 p.m. Wednesday to receive friends and await the service hour. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. September 30, 2007 James Michael Owle Cherokee - James Michael Mike Owle, 63, of Shelby, formerly of Cherokee, passed away Friday, Sept. 28, 2007. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Bethebara Baptist Church. Online condolences may be sent at www.crispfuneralhome.org. October 1, 2007 John Watty Cherokee - John Watty, 27, of the Birdtown community, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Goose Creek Baptist Church. An online register is available at www.crispfuneralhome.org. Copyright c. 2007 Asheville Citizen-Times. -=-=-=- September 25, 2007 Alvina Marie Beaulieu Alvina Marie Beaulieu, "Nii'Gon'o'Sake," which means woman leader, 59, of Red Lake, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at her home in Red Lake. A traditional funeral service is pending with the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji. Rhoda "Bunny" Pacheco Rhoda "Bunny" Pacheco, 47, of Cass Lake, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth, Minn. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Facility Center in Cass Lake. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Cass Lake assisted the family with arrangements. September 26, 2007 Baby Sayers Baby Sayers, infant child of Phillip Sayers Sr. and Velvet Petite, of Red Lake, was born and died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. Dennis Joseph Smith Dennis Joseph Smith, "Onzaanamikiins" which means little thunder, 75, of Redby, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Redby Community Church in Redby with Rev. Tom Pollack officiating. A wake will begin at 3 p.m. today at the Redby Community Center and will continue until the time of the funeral. Burial will be in the Redby Community Cemetery under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji. Alvina Marie Beaulieu Alvina Marie Beaulieu, "Nii'Gon'o'Sake," which means woman leader, 59, of Red Lake, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 at her home in Red Lake. A traditional funeral will be held at 8 a.m. on Friday at the Red Lake Community Center in Red Lake with spiritual leader Greg Kingbird officiating. A wake began today at the Red Lake Community Center and will continue until the time of the funeral. Burial will be in the Fox Point Cemetery in Redby under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji. Copyright c. 2007 Red Lake Net News. -=-=-=- September 24, 2007 Norma R. "Punkin" Graves Norma R. "Punkin" Graves, 70, of Cloquet passed away Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born Jan. 30, 1937, in the old Cloquet Indian Hospital to Eugene "Curly" and Eleanor (Shotley) Graves. Norma retired from Cloquet's Wood Conversion after 10 years of work, and for the last 25 years, including up until the time of her death, she worked at various different positions for the Fond du Lac Reservation. She enjoyed playing her favorite slots at area casinos, traveling, and working game puzzles. Norma especially loved spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents and a niece, Cheryl Diver Schultz. Norma is survived by her brothers and sisters, Kenneth Graves, Faye (Chuck) Diver, Judy (Les) Northrup, Linda Houle, Roberta (friend Bob) Houle, Mike (friend Jenette) Houle, Charlene Frymier of Avon, Ohio, Carla (friend Joel) Houle, Diane Soderholm, Mike (Chris) Graves and Rick (Peggy) Graves; and many nieces and nephews who Norma treated like her own children. Norma also was a special "Gramma" to Clint Jr., Reanelle and Dennis Houle. Unless otherwise noted, all of her family is from the Cloquet and surrounding area. Visitation was held Tuesday Sept. 25, from 5-8 p.m. in Handevidt Funeral Home, Cloquet, and continued Wednesday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service, also in the funeral home chapel. Interment was in New Holy Family Cemetery. Following the burial there was lunch in the Fond du Lac ENP. To leave an online condolence for Norma's family please visit www. handevidtfh.com. Arrangements with Handevidt Funeral and Cremation Services, 218-879-4636. Copyright c. 1998-2007 The Pine Journal, Cloquet, MN - Multi-Media Interactive. -=-=-=- September 26, 2007 Alvina Marie Beaulieu, 59 Alvina Marie Beaulieu, "Nii'Gon'o'Sake," which means woman leader, 59, of Red Lake, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 at her home in Red Lake. A traditional funeral will be held at 8 a.m. on Friday at the Red Lake Community Center in Red Lake with spiritual leader Greg Kingbird officiating. A wake began today at the Red Lake Community Center and will continue until the time of the funeral. Burial will be in the Fox Point Cemetery in Redby under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji. September 27, 2007 Dennis Joseph Smith, 75 Dennis Joseph Smith "Onzaanamikiins" which means little thunder, 75, of Redby, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Redby Community Church in Redby with Rev. Tom Pollack officiating. A wake began at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at the Redby Community Center and will continue until the time of the funeral. Burial will be in the Redby Community Cemetery under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji. Copyright c. 2007 The Pioneer/Bemidji, MN. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Levi Joseph Eagleman Levi Joseph Eagleman, 58, of Wisconsin Rapids, SD formerly of the Spirit Lake Nation, died on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at St. Joseph Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Mass of Christian Burial for Levi will be held on Friday, September 28 at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, St. Michael, ND. Fr. Paul Ruge will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at St. Michael's Church on Thursday, beginning at 6 p.m. The procession to the Tekakwitha Center will leave the Wal-Mart larking lot, Thursday (today) at 5:30 p.m. Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2007 Devils Lake Daily Journal. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Albert Afraid Of Hawk Albert B. Afraid Of Hawk, 65, Cherry Creek, S.D., died Sept. 25, 2007, at Medcenter One Hospital, Bismarck. Services will be held at 2 p.m. MDT Wednesday, Oct. 3, at UCC Church, Cherry Creek. Further arrangements are pending with Oster Funeral Home, Mobridge, S.D. September 28, 2007 Levi Eagleman Levi J. Eagleman, 58, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., formerly of Spirit Lake Nation, died Sept. 23, 2007, at St. Joseph Hospital, Wisconsin Rapids. Services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Sept. 28, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, St. Michael. Burial will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery. He is survived by his sons, Winter Hawk Old Rock, Redwood Falls, Minn., and Levi Eagleman Jr., Grand Forks; his daughters, Rani Old Rock and Memorie Old Rock, both of St. Michael, Pretty Deer Old Rock, Fargo, and Reggina Eagleman, Brenda Leah Eagleman and Roberta Eagleman, all of Minneapolis; many grandchildren; and his brother, Lawrence, Wisconsin Rapids. Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake. Keith Fast Horse Keith Fast Horse, 59, Salt Lake City, died Sept. 26, 2007, in Salt Lake City. Arrangements are pending with Oster Funeral Home, Mobridge, S.D. Copyright c. 2007 Bismark Tribune. -=-=-=- September 28, 2007 Levi Joseph Eagleman Eagleman, Levi Joseph, 58, of Wisconsin Rapids, South Dakota, formerly of the Spirit Lake Nation, died on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at St. Joseph Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, ND. Copyright c. 2007 Grand Forks Herald/Grand Forks, ND. -=-=-=- September 26, 2007 Wesley High Elk Sr. served in Korean War By Wendy Thorstenson Wesley Delmar High Elk, Sr., 79, of Eagle Butte, died Sept. 13, 2007 at the Hot Springs VA Medical Center. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. MST Tuesday, Sept. 18 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte with Mother Marion Rechtenwald and Rev. Richard Charging Eagle officiating. The Veteran's Coalition Post #2 accompanied him from the 4-mile junction Tuesday at Noon and held a military service and roll call prior to the service. Burial services will be held at a later date at St. Peter's Episcopal Cemetery, Thunder Butte, following the return of his ashes with Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte in charge of the arrangements. Wesley Delmar High Elk, Sr. was born on Oct. 26, 1927 to Jobe and Estella (Slides Off) High Elk at Cheyenne Agency. Wesley attended the Thunder Butte Day School, the Cheyenne Agency Boarding School, and later BYU-Provo, Utah (Special Officer and U.S. Marshall training) and Police Academy in Artesia, N.M. to further his law enforcement career. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1954 and during this time he took on active duty in the Korean War where he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the United Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged in 1954. He married Imogene Rose Clown (Raymond and Sarah (Marrowbone) Clown) on March 6, 1962 at Gettysburg. They were married for 41 years and had a daughter, Leslie, and two sons, Eugene and Wesley, Jr. (J.J.) and also adopted a daughter, Raylene (Sandy) LeCompte and adopted a granddaughter, Justine Rae High Elk. During their marriage, they lived in many places including Fort Thompson, Eagle Butte, Thunder Butte, Dupree and then back to Eagle Butte where he spent the remainder of his life. In his lifetime, he worked as a ranch hand for various individuals including Elmer Butler, Bob Clark, Sam Tidball, Dale Briscoe, Dutch Perret, Roy Veit, Wally Brahms and Earl Main. He worked as foreman for the railroad company, dismantling the railroad from Faith to Eagle Butte. He was also Chief of Police for both Crow Creek and Cheyenne River Agencies and a special officer for the Cheyenne River BIA Agency. He then retired as the director of the CRST Game, Fish and Parks Department. He served on various boards for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe including the Police Commission, the personnel hiring board and the board of directors for the Pte Hca Ka, Inc., buffalo program. Survivors include two daughters Raylene (Sandy) LeCompte, Selfridge, N.D. , and Justine R. High Elk, Eagle Butte; son Wesley, Jr. (J.J.) of Huron; two brothers, Paul (Clara), Thunder Butte and Floyd (Lucille), Eagle Butte; a sister Corrine (Earl Red Bird) High Elk, Eagle Butte; three grandsons, Jacob West (Randi Peacock), Eagle Butte, Duane (Deanne of Eagle Butte) West, Englewood, Colo., and David West, Jr., Leavenworth, Kan.; two great granddaughters, Madisyn Elayne Dubray and McKenzie Rose West, Eagle Butte; one great grandson, Davyn M. West, Eagle Butte; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his father Jobe, mother Estella, four brothers, Ernest, Arthur, Madrick and Theodore, two sisters, Maxine (High Elk) Takes the Gun and Ilene (High Elk) Red Bear, daughter Leslie, son Eugene, and wife Imogene. Christine Swan specialized in star quilts By Wendy Thorstenson An excellent seamstress, Christine Swan's specialty was star quilts and they were in great demand. According to family members she took great pride in her work, making sure the finished product was always perfect. She spent many happy hours as her foot pedal operated the Singer sewing machine, creating her coveted start quilts as well as dresses, which she custom made for many people. Those meticulous seamstress hands will design no more as Christine Patterson Swan, 100, of Pierre died Monday, September 24, 2007 at Maryhouse Nursing Home in Pierre with her son Aaron at her side. Christine was born Dec. 8, 1906 on Ash Creek near Cherry Creek to Daniel and Louise Patterson. In 1923 she married Thomas Slow and a son Gaylord was born to this union. In 1934 she married David Swan and they adopted her nephew Aaron at Dupree. They lived in Cherry Creek, Dupree and Cheyenne Agency until 1948 when the family moved to Pierre where Christine lived the rest of her life. During her years at Cheyenne Agency, she provided meals for Tribal Council members and she was also employed at the IHS Hospital. Her many years in Pierre included employment at St. Mary's Hospital, the Pierre Lunch, the Falcon and the Liberty Cafe'. Her employment allowed her to provide for her family and also to provide educational opportunities, both of which were first priorities to Christine. After many years of hard work, she retired in 1972. She had a favorite thoroughbred mare, Shurae Shurae, owned by her family and Christine was in the winner's circle picture with her on many happy occasions. She also enjoyed powwows and attended many during her lifetime. Survivors include her son Aaron Swan, Pierre; nieces, Virginia White Feather, Dupree, and Laverne Counting, Eagle Butte; nephews, Ronnie Eagle Chasing and Patrick Eagle Chasing, Eagle Butte; grandchildren, Robin Claymore, Aberdeen, Mick White Feather, Eagle Butte, Jeff White Feather, Gail White Feather, EvAnn White Feather, Dupree, Donna Straighthead, Cherry Creek, Troy Straighthead, Eagle Butte; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and her two faithful pets, Ska Ska and Tony. Preceding her in death were her parents, her brother David Patterson, her son Gaylord Slow and her husband, David Swan. A one-night wake service will begin at 5 p.m. MDT at Cherry Creek Episcopal Rectory in Cherry Creek on Thursday, Sept. 27. Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28 at the Episcopal Rectory in Cherry Creek. Burial will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery at 2 p.m. MDT on Friday, Sept. 28 under the direction of Luce Funeral Home, Eagle Butte. Copyright c. 2007 Mobridge Tribune. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Albert Afraid Of Hawk Cherry Creek - Funeral for Albert Afraid Of Hawk, 65, of Cherry Creek, S.D., will be at 2 p.m. MDT Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, at the UCC Church in Cherry Creek, S.D. Burial will be at the UCC Cemetery in Cherry Creek, S.D., under the direction of the Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge, S.D. Albert passed away on Sept. 25, 2007, at the Med Center One Hospital in Bismarck, N.D. September 28, 2007 Keith Fast Horse Salt Lake City, Utah - Keith Fast Horse, 59, of Salt Lake City died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007, in Salt Lake City. The arrangements are pending with Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge. Copyright c. 2007 Aberdeen American News. -=-=-=- Welcome to the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe/Dakota Nation Sota Iya Ye Yapi On-Line, News from the Lake Traverse Reservation Volume 38, Issue 39 Wednesday, October 3, 2007 Funeral services for Oscar Westbrook Oscar Westbrook Jr., age 82, of Minneapolis, MN passed away Thursday, September 20, 2007 at his home. Born on June 13, 1925 in Praco, Alabama , Oscar is survived by wife Louise Ortley-Westbrook; sons John Joe (Audrey) Downwind, Thomas (Barb) Westbrook, and Stephen Ortley; daughters Rosalie (Bruce) Jourdain, Marilyn Westbrook, and Melody Ortley; sisters Frances, Betty and Charlotte; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by first wife Winifred Downwind-Westbrook; sons: Alvin, James, and baby boy Douglas; parents; and nine siblings. Funeral services were held Monday morning, September 24, 2007 at the Little Earth of United Tribes Gymnasium in Minneapolis with Chaplain Joan Olson officiating. There was an all-night wake on Sunday. Honorary Bearers were: Daniel Weyaus, Gary Polar, Jr., Dain Collins, Anna Westbrook, Contessa Ortley, and Joanna Sanchez-Cordero. Casket bearers were: Joey Kettle, T.J. Westbrook, Jared Westbrook, Frank Ortley, Eugene Eischens Jr., and Samuel Ortley Sr. Online condolences may be made at: www.chilsonfuneralhome.com Chilson Funeral Home-Winsted, 320-485-4447. Copyright c. 1999-2007 by C. D. Floro/Earth and Sky Enterprises. -=-=-=- September 25, 2007 Walter Means ALLEN - Walter Means, 77, died Friday, Sept. 21, 2007, at Winner Regional Nursing Home in Winner. Survivors include three sisters, Martha DuBray, Allen, Josephine White Crane, Potato Creek, and Lavina Glade, New Underwood. A two-night wake will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Inestimable Gift Episcopal Church in Allen. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at the church, with the Rev. Daniel Makes Good officiating. Burial will be at Trinity Episcopal Cemetery in Allen. Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Richard R. Standing Bear MARTIN - Richard R. Standing Bear, 24, Martin, died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, in Rapid City. Survivors include his parents, Duane Richards, Wounded Knee, and Robin Standing Bear, Martin; two brothers, Frankie Joe Standing Bear and Willie Standing Bear, both of Martin; and five sisters, Barbara Standing Bear and Cheryl Standing Bear, both of Denver, Paha Standing Bear and Maria Standing Bear, both of Allen, and Misty Standing Bear, Rapid City. A two-night wake will begin at noon Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Martin CAP Office. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the office, with the Rev. John Bush officiating. Burial will be at Black Eyes Community Cemetery in Wanblee. Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Christine Patterson Swan PIERRE - Christine Patterson Swan, age 100, died peacefully with her son Aaron at her side on Monday September 24, 2007 at Maryhouse in Pierre, SD. She was born December 8, 1906 on Ash Creek near Cherry Creek, SD to Daniel and Louise Patterson. In 1923 she married Thomas Slow and to this union a son Gaylord was born. In 1934 she married David Swan and in 1937 they adopted her nephew Aaron at Dupree, SD. The family lived in Cherry Creek, Dupree and Cheyenne Agency until 1948 when she moved with her family to Pierre where she lived the remainder of her life. During her years at Cheyenne Agency, she provided meals for Tribal Council members and she was also employed at the IHS Hospital. Her many years in Pierre included employment at St. Mary's Hospital, the Pierre Lunch, the Falcon and the Liberty Cafe. Employment enabled her to provide for her family and also to provide educational opportunities, both of which were her first priorities. After many years of hard work, she retired in 1972. She was noted as an excellent seamstress and specialized in making star quilts. Her star quilts were in great demand as she took great pride in her work and the finished product was always perfect. She spent many happy hours at her foot pedal operated Singer sewing machine creating numerous star quilts and custom made dresses for various people. Her favorite family owned racehorse was a thoroughbred mare called Shurae Shurae and Christine was in the winner's circle picture on many happy occasions. She also enjoyed attending powwows and was at many during her lifetime. Preceding her in death are her parents, her brother David Patterson, her son Gaylord Slow and her husband, David Swan. Survivors include her son Aaron Swan of Pierre, her two faithful pets Ska Ska and Tony of Pierre, nieces - Virginia White Feather of Dupree, SD and Laverne Counting of Eagle Butte, SD, nephews - Ronnie Eagle Chasing and Patrick Eagle Chasing of Eagle Butte, SD, grandchildren - Robin Claymore of Aberdeen, SD, Mick White Feather of Eagle Butte, SD, Jeff White Feather, Gail White Feather, EvAnn White Feather of Dupree, SD, Donna Straighthead of Cherry Creek, SD, Troy Straighthead of Eagle Butte, SD, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. A one-night wake service will begin at 5 P.M. (MDT) at Cherry Creek Episcopal Rectory in Cherry Creek, SD on Thursday, September 27, 2007. Services will be at 9:00 A.M. on Friday, September 28, 2007 at the Episcopal Rectory in Cherry Creek. Christine will be laid to rest among the bravest at Black Hills National Cemetery at 2:00 P.M. (MDT) Friday, September 28, 2007. Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte, SD is in charge of arrangements. September 26, 2007 Benjamin Charles Brown Wolf EAGLE BUTTE - Benjamin Charles Brown Wolf, 54, Eagle Butte, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at his home. An all-night wake service will start at 6 p.m. today at H.V. Johnston Cultural Center in Eagle Butte. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the cultural center in Eagle Butte, with Mother Marian Rectenwald and the Rev. Hazel Red Bird officiating. Traditional services will be rendered by Michael Cross, Ivan Looking Horse, Orville Looking Horse and Sam LaDeaux. Burial will be at Ascension Cemetery in Blackfoot. Oster Funeral Home in Mobridge is in charge of arrangements. Tracy L. Garcia-Yellow Eyes SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. - Tracy L. Garcia-Yellow Eyes, 35, Scottsbluff, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, in Scottsbluff as the result of an auto accident. Survivors include two sons, Trevor Garcia and Hunter Garcia; her parents, Kenneth and Linda Yellow Eyes; one brother, Leonard Garcia; and two sisters, Monica Garcia and Annie Cross, all of Scottsbluff. A two-night wake will begin at 3 p.m. today at Intercultural Chapel in Scottsbluff. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at the chapel, with the Rev. Don Mink officiating. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Morrill. Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. September 27, 2007 Albert Burnette Afraid of Hawk CHERRY CREEK - Albert Burnette Afraid of Hawk, 65, Cherry Creek, died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, at Med Center One Hospital in Bismarck, N.D. An all-night wake will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, at United Church of Christ in Cherry Creek. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the church, with the Rev. Ted Knife and the Rev. Harold Condon officiating. Burial will be at the UCC Cemetery in Cherry Creek. Oster Funeral Home in Mobridge is handling the arrangements. Antonio Vargas PINE RIDGE - Antonio Vargas, 52, Pine Ridge, died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, in Morgan Hill, Calif. Survivors include one son, Edwin Grass, Wounded Knee; two daughters, Antoinette Vargas, Illinois, and Red Fawn Janis, Denver; and one brother, Rudy Vargas Sr., Pine Ridge. A one-night wake will begin at 1 p.m. today at Billy Mills Hall in Pine Ridge. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at the hall, with the Rev. Craig West officiating. Burial will be at Holy Cross Episcopal Cemetery in Pine Ridge. Sioux Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. September 28, 2007 Keith Fast Horse SALT LAKE CITY - Keith Fast Horse, 59, Salt Lake City, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007, in Salt Lake City. Arrangements are pending with Oster Funeral Home in Mobridge, S.D. Gerry D. Runnels Sr. BATESLAND - Gerry D. Runnels Sr., 63, Batesland, died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Survivors include four sons, Raymond Runnels, Shelton, Wash., Gerry Runnels Jr., Mission, Rodney "Zach" Runnels, Batesland, and Jess Runnels, Rapid City; three daughters, Lisa Carpenter, Lower Brule, Carmel Richards, Mission, and Mica Forrester, Gordon, Neb.; three brothers, Jack Runnels Sr. , Horton, Kan., Victor Runnels, Aberdeen, and Dean Runnels, Abilene, Texas; two sisters, Betty Sharp, Yukon, Okla., and Etta Mae Runnels, Batesland; 24 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A one-night wake will begin at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at Batesland School. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the school, with the Rev. Roger Herberg officiating. Burial will be at Knight Family Cemetery in Batesland. Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2007 The Rapid City Journal. -=-=-=- September 21, 2007 Ruby Taylor Garcia Ignacio resident Ruby Taylor Garcia died at her homeWednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. She was 88. Mrs. Garcia was born to G. Valdez and Euterpe Taylor in Ignacio on Nov. 24, 1918. When she was just 9, she was sent to the Santa Fe Indian School. The other schools she attended were Allen Day, Towaoc Indian, Ute Vocational and Ignacio High School. Mrs. Garcia was 17 when she graduated from Sherman Vocational High School in Riverside, Calif. After graduating from high school, she became a nurse's aid at the Taylor Hospital in Ignacio. Mrs. Garcia married Joseph Weaver in Ignacio in 1938. The marriage later ended in divorce. She was the Southern Ute tribe's director of social services, a kindergarten aide at Ignacio Elementary School, and an alcohol counselor and director of Peaceful Sprits Alcohol Treatment Center. She spent 12 years in the last two positions and retired in the early 1980s. Mrs. Garcia was elected as the first president of the Elders' Committee, a position she held for several years. She was fluent in three languages: English, Ute and Spanish. Her family said she believed that languages were key to developing friendships with other races. Mrs. Garcia used to enjoy bingo. She spent most of her time at the Sky Ute Casino, where she was one of the regulars and had her special machines. She often said she "needed to spend her children's inheritance." She wanted to leave behind a legacy of giving, her family said. "I helped a lot of people: giving them food, money or whatever they needed," Mrs. Garcia said. Her final advice was, "Be good to one another." Mrs. Garcia is survived by her daughters Arlene Millich of Durango and Lillian Seibel of Ignacio; brother Sylvian Valdez of Ignacio; five grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. today, Sept. 21, 2007, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, also at St. Ignatius. Burial will follow at Ouray Memorial Cemetery in Ignacio. Copyright c. 2007 Durango Herald. -=-=-=- October 1, 2007 Charles Michael "Mike" McIntosh TAHLEQUAH - Services for Charles Michael "Mike" McIntosh will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, Oct. 1, at First Baptist Church in Tahlequah, with Rev. Ronnie Rice officiating. Interment will follow services at Tahlequah City Cemetery under the direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Mike McIntosh, 60, died at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. He was born in Tahlequah, April 28, 1947, to the late Dr. Robert Kerr and Lucretia Ruth McIntosh. He attended Tahlequah public schools, was an eagle scout, an all- conference football player, and participated in several extra curricular clubs. He graduated from Tahlequah High School in 1965, and from Northeastern State University with a bachelor of science degree in 1969. After returning from two years in Morocco as an English and history teacher, Mike joined the U.S. Army National Guard in 1970 and received an honorable discharge in 1976. From 1972 to 1974, he attended medical technology school in Tulsa. While there, he would hitchhike from Tulsa to Tahlequah on weekends to work at Tahlequah City Hospital as a lab assistant. This began his 35 year career at Tahlequah City Hospital. In 1977 he married Susan (Martin) Wyly. They were married for 20 years, and were blessed with two wonderful sons, Kerr Michael and Charles William. On May 5, 2000, Mike married the love of his life Donna, and became a stepfather to her daughters Sarah and Marcy. Mike's boys were the center of his heart and Donna was his soul mate. He loved, worshiped and adored them! Mike also enjoyed taking pictures, watching movies, and cooking for those he loved, which included anyone who walked through the door. Mike was devoted to his work and went above and beyond for those he served and the family he acquired at the Tahlequah City Hospital. He was an enthusiastic OU football fan. His Saturdays were and will always be devoted to his beloved Sooners! Mike was preceded in death by his parents; his special grandmother Dora McIntosh; and Grandfather Robert K. McIntosh Sr.; and his brother Robert K. "Mac" McIntosh III. Survivors include Mike's wife, Donna; his sons Kerr and Charlie; his stepdaughters Sarah Phillips, and Marcy Polson and husband Chris; his brother Jim McIntosh; seven nephews, Bob McIntosh, Mark McIntosh, Nick McIntosh, Jimmy McIntosh, Jeff Davison, Alan Presley and Jason Glover; three nieces, Jennifer Schroeder, Lacy Hall and Paige Presley; mother-in- law Sue Presley; brother-in-law Mark Presley and wife Michele; sister-in- law Jeannie Glover and husband Mike; aunt Mary Jean Chandler and husband Dick; cousins Susan Casteel and husband Charles and family, Jenny Lynn Tucker and family, Marilyn Thomas, and Carolyn Thomas along with an untold number of family and friends. Mike's family would like to thank all the staff of Tahlequah City Hospital, members of First Baptist Church, and the entire Tahlequah community for the untiring support, constant prayers, and immense love we have received during this difficult time. Mike was our rock. We will carry the memory of his unparalleled love and encouragement with us forever. Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 W. Delaware, 456-2551. Copyright c. 2007 Tahlequah Daily Press. -=-=-=- October 1, 2007 Earl Sanford Howe Jr. Earl Sanford Howe Jr., longtime resident of White Eagle, passed away Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, at his home surrounded by family. He was 60. Earl was born Feb. 3, 1947, in Pawnee, the son of Earl Sanford Howe Sr. and Vivian Moore Howe. Earl graduated from Ponca City High School. He spent the last six years with his loving wife, Reva Neal. Earl was employed at the 7 Clans Paradise Casino in Red Rock, where he worked surveillance, he was formerly an employee of both the Burton and Smith Furniture Stores. He was a member of the Ponca Indian Baptist Church. Earl took great pleasure in mowing the grass, watching movies and playing pool. He is survived by his wife, Reva Neal; daughter, Martha "Buttons" Fryer of Tulsa; daughters, Jeanine Howe Sfragidas and Vivian Howe; son, Earl "Trey" Howe III; daughter, Johnnie Mendoza; son, Caleb Buffalohead; and one brother, Everette Eason Howe, all of Ponca City; stepchildren, Angela Sonders and Janice Flores, both of Moore, Christina Munoz of Oklahoma City and James Noriega of Red Rock; 35 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Eric Howe; sister, Vanice Cornell Howe; and his nephew, Brandon Howe. A prayer service will be held Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Ponca Indian Baptist Church. A traditional noon feast will be held Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Ponca Indian Baptist Church followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at the Otoe-Missouria Cemetery in Red Rock. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Copyright c. 1998-2007 The Ponca City News. -=-=-=- September 30, 2007 Phyllis Gail Poafpybitty CACHE - Funeral for Phyllis Gail Poafpybitty, 63, Indiahoma/Cache, will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Comanche Nation Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Walter Quoetone, pastor, Sherwood Tsotigh Memorial United Methodist Church of Cache, officiating. Ms. Poafpybitty died Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, in Lawton. Burial will be at Post Oak Mennonite Cemetery, Indiahoma. She was born Feb. 25, 1944, in Lawton to Frank and Irene Chappabitty Poafpybitty. She was the granddaughter of Otis and Lucy Quassycheeky Chappabitty and Robert and Mahrahwaddi Poafpybitty. She was raised in Indiahoma and attended Indiahoma Public Schools. After leaving high school, she moved to Dallas where she attended Mountain View Junior College and worked for the Dallas Inter-tribal Center and the Counseling House in Grand Prairie, Texas. She moved back to Oklahoma in the early 1980s and attended Cameron University, studying psychology. She graduated with a bachelor of science degree. She worked as a drug and alcohol counselor for Taliaferro Community Mental Health Center for 18 years before retiring on June 30, 2007. She was a member of the Comanche Nation and Sherwood Tsotigh Memorial United Methodist Church of Cache. Survivors include three daughters: Rhonda Collins-Stavinoha and Lisa Collins, both of Cache; Allison Collins, Lawton; a son, Jason Dalby, Cache; five sisters: Francella Thom, Duncan; Verwyn Nevaquaya, Coeur'dAlene Jacob and Theresa Poafpybitty, all of Dallas and Paula Clark, Mesquite, Texas; two brothers: Gary and Jarold Poafpybitty, both of Indiahoma; eight granddaughters: Heather Stavinoha, Judith Gilliam, Rachel Collins, Ariane Alvarado, Lauren Dalby, Derian Dalby, Sydney Dalby and Karissa Dalby; two grandsons: Eric Stavinoha and Philip Gilliam; a great- granddaughter, Macy Pagan-Stavinoha; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by a sister, Laverna Hoahwah; a brother, Robert Poafpybitty; and her parents. Friends may call from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday. The family will be present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday for visitation. Copyright c. 2007 The Lawton Constitution. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Mary Helen Geronimo Visitation for Mary Helen Geronimo, 66, of Mescalero will be at 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at LaGrone Funeral Chapel. The prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Mescalero Reformed Church where the funeral will be on at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28. Burial will follow at the Mescalero Cemetery with the Rev. Bob Schut officiating. Mrs. Geronimo passed away Tuesday, Sept. 25, in Ruidoso. She was born May 17, 1941 in Mescalero and had lived there all of her life. She was a retired secretary for BIA and a member of the Mescalero Reformed Church. She is survived by her husband, Snyder Geronimo; four children, William F. Pellman, Sonya Hiles, Snyder Geronimo Jr., and Sammy R. Geronimo; 14 grandchildren, four great- grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers, Keith and James Koaschonney. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lagroneruidoso.com. Copyright c. 2007 Ruidoso News, a Gannett Co., Inc. newspaper. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Emanuel B. Yazzie Red Valley, Ariz. Dec. 7, 1984 - Sept. 22, 2007 Emanuel B. Yazzie, 23, of Red Valley, Ariz., passed from this life on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, in Farmington. He was born Dec. 7, 1984, to Sally Yazzie of Red Valley and Bronson Yazzie of Cove, Ariz. His maternal clan was Tachinii and paternal clan was Ashiihi. Emanuel was a student at Red Rock Day School. He graduated from Northwest High School in 2004. He was employed with Aztec Well Service, as an assisted driller on rig 301. He was employed there for six years. Emanuel was preceded in death by his great-grandmother, Grace Jim; great-great-grandfather, Sadie Yazzie; and uncle, Philbert Anderson. Emanuel is survived by his wife, Latoya; daughters, Tymeika and Tyra; son, Lamanuel; one unborn child due in April; his parents, Sally Yazzie and Bronson Yazzie; brothers, Terri Yazzie and wife, Michelle, of Farmington, and Kirby Yazzie and wife, Tonia, of Red Valley; sister, Laura Yazzie and husband, Darrell, of Farmington; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 27, at Greater Miracle Church of God in Waterflow, Hwy. 64, south side of highway, one mile southeast of Circle W Pawn. Interment will follow at Red Valley Community Cemetery. Reception will be at Ruby Martin's residence. Pallbearers are Kirby Yazzie, Terri Yazzie, Darrell Nakai, Harold Johnson Jr., Leonard Wayne Jr., Kirstopherson Wayne and Julius Martin. Donations are still welcome. September 28, 2007 Chester Deal Benally Bisti Jan. 8, 1935 - Sept. 24, 2007 with his Lord and Savior on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, surrounded by his family. Chester was born Jan. 8, 1935, to Amos and Alice Begay. He was one of 12 children; there are only three surviving children, Olive Harris, Eleanor Charley, and Jane Atencio. He was a loving husband, father, papa, pastor and, above all, friend. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary J. Benally; his five children, Clifford of Farmington, Clarence and wife, Alice, of Kirtland, Leroy and wife, Rhonda, of Bisti, Lawrence and wife, Roxanne, of Seattle, and his only daughter, Joanne and husband, James, of Farmington; and his 13 grandchildren, whom he loved very much. He was a plumber in the Farmington area for 32 years before retiring. He probably worked on every house and business in Farmington. He was also a wonderful pastor for 21 years at Roger Deal Memorial Baptist Church in Bisti. He had a burden for people, that they might have the wonderful gift of eternal life. His desire was to help others not only spiritually, but physically as well. Viewing and visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today, Friday, Sept. 28, at Cope Memorial in Kirtland. Family and friends will come together to celebrate Papa B's life at 11 a. m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Roger Deal Memorial Baptist Church in Bisti. A viewing will be from 9 to 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Roger Deal Memorial Baptist Church, P.O. Box 3344, Farmington, NM 87499. Sarah N. Reeves Beclabito Dec. 7, 1934 - Sept. 25, 2007 Our beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Sarah N. Reeves, 72, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, at Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock. Sarah was born Dec. 7, 1934, in Beclabito, to the late Roy and Hattie Nelson. Sarah was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Louise Jones; brothers, Herbert Ben and Robert Nelson; and niece, Daisy Tutt. Sarah is survived by two daughters, Shirleen (Marvin) Ellison, of Beclabito, and Yvonne (Michael) Chee of Oljato, Utah; grandchildren, Joshua, Tyus and Kara Ellison, and Berkeley, Bradley, Yoraidyl, Nazhonie and Mikayla Chee; great-grandchildren, Maurice and Jerridan Begay, Windancer Chee, Whiteshell Chee and Lyzan Chee; and a brother-in-law, Roy Jones of Cudei. Upon the passing of her sister, Sarah took her nieces and nephew under her wings, and recognized them as her own; nieces, Hazel (Ernie) Sherman of Kirtland, Ellen (Ronnie) Baker of Ignacio, Colo., Jimmy (Marina) Jones of Cudei, Laura (Herbert Jr.) Tom of Cudei, Daisy (Jimmy) Smith of Kayenta, Ariz., Bessie (Chris) Begay of Phoenix, Ariz., Joyce (Frankie) Funston of Hogback, and Elouise Jones of Cudei. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today, Friday, Sept. 28, at the Desert View Funeral Home in Shiprock. Viewing will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, the day of the services, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Shiprock. Services will follow at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Marcus Denetdale officiating. Sarah will be laid to rest at Shiprock Community Cemetery in Shiprock. A reception will follow burial at the Beclabito Chapter House in Beclabito. The family wishes to thank everyone who took care of Sarah at the Life Care Center of Farmington and the Northern Navajo Medical Center of Shiprock. Sarah is in the care of Desert View Funeral Home of Shiprock; (505) 368-4607. Copyright c. 2007 Farmington Daily Times, a MediaNews Group Newspaper. -=-=-=- September 25, 2007 Jones Begay Sr. PINEDALE - Funeral services for Jones Russell Begay Sr. of Pinedale will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26 at the Fort Wingate Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints church. Burial will be in Pinedale on family land. Begay died Sept. 22, 2007 in Albuquerque. He was born May 19, 1923 in Pinedale into the Meadow People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan. Begay retired after 44 years of service for the Santa Fe Railroad. He was also a rancher, raising cattle, horses, sheep, and goats at the Fallen Timber ranch in Pinedale. Survivors include wife, Alice Joe Begay of Sundance; sons, Jones R. Begay Jr. of Pinedale, Dennison, Joe, Ron and Stoney Joe, all of Sundance; daughters, Genevieve Begay, Janice Begay, Annie Davis, Elsie Begay, Dora Mamrobone, all of Pinedale; 41 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild. Begay was preceded in death by wife, Mae ann Begay; sons, Frankie R. Begay, Lorenzo R. Begay; daughters, Geneva Whitemore, Marlene Joe Begay; grandson, Richard Billy; mother, Annie Hogan Begay. Pallbearers will be Lathan Begay, Eric Miller, Norvell Yazzie, Ned Yazzie Jr., Neil Yazzie, Alexander Begay. The family will receive relatives and friends at Pinedale Chapter House. Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Wayne Dodson VANDERWAGEN - Funeral services for Wayne Dodson, 57, of Vanderwagen will be 11 a.m. Sept. 26 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burial will be in Rehoboth Cemetery. Dodson died Sept. 20, 2007 in Gallup. He was born Jan. 16, 1950 in Kaibeto, Ariz., into the Many Goats People Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan. He graduated from Page High School, attended vocational school in San Francisco and received a welding degree. He worked at Local #16 for 23 years. His hobbies included being with family, traveling, and being outdoors. Survivors include Bernice Dodson of Vanderwagen; sons, Alan Dodson, Kevin Dodson, Derrick Dodson all of Las Cruces; daughter, Charlene Dodson of Las Cruces, Sherrill Dodson of Albuquerque; sisters, Elsie Dodson, Ella-Mae Dodson both of Salt Lake City; four grandchildren. Dodson was preceded in death by his father, Carl Dodson; mother, Lena Dodson; brother, Jimmy Dodson; sister, Fannie Dodson; grandfather, Harry Sage; grandmother, Lucy Sage. Pallbearers will be Derrick Dodson, Roland Lee, Del Lee, Justin Grey, Art Simmons and Ryan Joe. The family will receive relatives and friends at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gallup. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Thomas Tsosie NAZLINI - Funeral services for Thomas Albert Tsosie, 66, will be 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at the St. Michaels Catholic Mission, St. Michaels. Father Gilbert Schneider, OFM, will officiate. Burial will be in Community Cemetery, Kinlichee. Visitation will be one hour before services. Tsosie died Sept. 22, 2007 in Albuquerque. He was born June 15, 1941 in Ganado into the Born of Bitter Water People Clan for the Big Water People Clan. He attended Kinlichee Boarding School, Concho, Oklahoma Indian School and Chimawa Indian School. Survivors include wife, Marie Rose Tsosie of Nazlini; sons, Benjamin Morgan of Fort Defiance, Norman Morgan of Nazhini; daughters, Priscilla Morgan of Kinlichee, Irene Begay, Christine Tsinnjinnie, LaVerne Tsosie, Marcella Tsosie all of Nazlini, Linda Tsosie of Sawmill, Ariz.; brothers, George Tsosie and John Tsosie, both of Kinlichee, Ariz.; sister, Irene Williams of Kinlichee; 27 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Tsosie was preceded in death by parents, Charlie B. and Akebah Tsosie; brothers, Joe Tsosie, Kee Bernice Tsosie Sr., Lee Deiro Tsosie. Pallbearers will be Steven Dale Jr., Larry Brown, Calvin Owens, Ronald Tsosie, Norman Morgan, Benjamin Morgan. The family will receive relatives and friends at Kinlichee Chapter House. Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge arrangements. September 26, 2007 Garrison Joe TO'HAJIILI - Servoces for Garrison Johnathan John Joe, 19, will be 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 27 at the Family Worship Center, Albuquerque. Pastor Steve Ulibarri will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park, Albuquerque. Joe died Sept. 23, 2007 in Albuquerque. He was born Sept. 3, 1988 in Albuquerque into the Black Streak of Forest People Clan for the Salt People Clan. Joe was a 2006 graduate of West Mesa High School. Hobbies included skateboarding, BMXing and playing video games. He enjoyed spending time with his horses and dogs. He was a 49er and UNM Lobo fan. He also enjoyed traveling and being with his family. Survivors include his parents, Harrison and Lorenda Joe of To'hajiilee; brother, Fredrick Begay of Tsayatoh, N.M.; sisters, Ophelia Joe, Charmayne Joe, Ernestine Sunni Joe all of To'hajiilee, Shishana Hurst of Lubbock, Texas; grandparents, Martha S. Bennett of Mariano Lake, Katherine Joe of To'hajiilee. Joe was preceded in death by brother Johnathan John Joe; grandfathers, John Bennett, John Joe. Pallbearers will be Delayne Reeves, Marvin Chicharello Jr., George Chicharello, Branson Bennett, Tyrell Davis, Alfonzo Purdy. The family will receive relatives and friends at Family Worship Center in Albuquerque. El Vonna Yazzie WINDOW ROCK - Funeral services for El Vonna Yazzie, 40, will be at 10 a.m. on Sept. 27 at the United Methodist Church, Window Rock. Pastor Roger Tsosie will officiate. Burial will be in Fort Defiance Cemetery, Fort Defiance. Yazzie died Sept. 23, 2007 in Santa Fe. She was born April 3, 1967 in Keams Canyon into the Mexican People Clan for the Red Bottom People Clan. She graduated from Window Rock High School. She served in the Air Force four years as services specialist, received Air Force Achievement Medal and an Air Force Good Conduct Medal. She received a diploma in electronics in Moorhead, Minn. She worked as a biomedical tech for Gallup IHS, Rehoboth McKinley Medical Center, Espanola Dialysis Center and St. Vincent in Santa Fe. Her hobbies were camping, fishing and beadwork. Survivors include parents, Mary Ann Johnson and Eddie Howard Yazzie; brothers, Eddie Scott Yazzie, Edison Howard Yazzie; sister, Lavern Yazzie. Yazzie was preceded in death by her grandparents and one sister, LaVonna Yazzie. Pallbearers will be Matthew Milford, Emerson Sam, Eric F. Johnson, Timothy Morris, Bruce Watchman, Edison H. Yazzie. The family will receive relatives and friends at Family resident, 127 Jeddito Court, St. Micheals Housing at 6 p.m. on Sept. 25 and 26. Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements Ray Begay JONES RANCH - Graveside services for Ray Begay, 46, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27. Steven Nez will officiate. Burial will be in Jones Ranch. Begay died Sept. 19, 2007 in Salt Lake City. He was born Dec. 31, 1960 in Zuni into the Black Streak People Clan for the One Who Walks Around People Clan. He attended Fort Wingate Elementary School and Fort Wingate High School. Survivors include parents, Joe H. Begay, Mary Jane Begay; brothers, Leonard Begay of Brea, Calif., Raymond Begay of Farmington; sisters, Marianne Nish of Jones Ranch, Laverne Harrison of Kirkland, Lousie Barlow of Leupp, Ariz., Nancy Buehlmeyer of Tussin, Calif., Rose Begay of Jones Ranch; grandparent, Mary Bah Tsosie of Gallup. Pallbearers will be Austin Barlow, Tsosie Tom, Rodger Wilson, Nelson Joe, Leonard Begay, Raymond Begay. The family will receive relatives and friends at Mary Janes residence. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.is in charge of arrangements. Kee Begay Sr. MANY FARMS - Funeral services for Kee Allen Begay Sr., 77, will be at 11 a.m. on Sept. 28 at the Many Farms Full Gospel Church. Evangelist Joe Tsosie will officiate. Burial will be in family plot/ land in Many Farms. Visitation will be at Many Farms Gospel Church. Begay died Sept. 24, 2007 in Many Farms. He was born Nov. 14, 1928 in Many Farms into the Towering House People Clan for the Start of the Red Streak People Clan. He worked railroads, carpentry, power plants and facility buildings as a masonary. He served as a farm board member for two terms. He was a rancher and livestock/owner. He was a member of Many Farms Full Gospel Church. He loved Native Gospel music. Survivors include sons, Thomas Begay, Raymond A. Begay, Henry A. Begay, Kee A. Begay Jr., Terry A. Begay, Randall A. Begay; daughters, Mae E. Bia, Darlene E. Clah, Charlene E. Begaye, Evangeline E. Begay; sister, Helen Tsinajinnie; 30 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren. Begay was preceded in death by wife, Betty A. Begay; son, Phillip A. Begay; grandson, Jordan J. Clah and Randy A. Begay Sr. Pallbearers will be Thomas A. Begay, Raymond A. Begay, Henry A. Begay, Kee A. Begay Jr., Terry A. Begay, Randall A. Begay. The family will receive relatives and friends at Many Farm full Gospel Church fellowship hall, 5.5 Miles N. of Conoco. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. September 27, 2007 Sadie Hale ST. MICHAELS - Funeral services for Sadie Marie Hale, 66, will be 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 at St. Michaels Catholic Church. Father Ron Walters will officiate. Burial will be in St. Michaels Cemetery. Visitation will be at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Sept. 28 at 12 p.m. A rosary will be recited at Rollie Mortuary, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. Hale died Sept. 25, 2007 in Fort Defiance. She was born Aug. 9, 1941 in Hunterspoint, Ariz., into the One Who Walks Around People Clan for the Black Sheep People Clan. She attended St. Michaels Catholic School, Hunter's Point Boarding School, Holbrook High School, Window Rock Unified School Dist. #8, St. Michaels Indian School. Hale was a dietician, culunary master chef, food service director. Her hobbies were doing seamstress work, doing crossword challenges, ranching, traveling with familly, watching movies with grandchildren and helping relatives with ceremonies. Survivors include her husband, Vernon E. Hale Sr.; son, Vernon Hale Jr.; daughters, Verna Hale-Tabaha, Laverne Emerson, Vera Hale, Velma Hale, Verlena Begay, Vernonda Hale-Arlinda Betone; sisters, Marie Tabaha, Martina Keeto, Theresa King; 10 grandchildren. Hale was preceded in death by John and Maggie King, Francis King, Mary Alice Arviso, Ada Wilson. Pallbearers will be Darby Hale, Scotman Hale, Jerry Bitley, Elvin Roanhorse Sr., Mike S. Begay, Harold Arviso. The family will meet at St. Michael's Chapter House, 6 p.m. Sept. 26 and 27. Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Leroy Smith LUPTON - Funeral services are pending for Leroy Smith, 81, of Lupton, Ariz. Smith died Sept. 24, 2007 in Phoenix. Cope Memorial is in charge of arrangements. September 28, 2007 Paul Henio Jr. FORT WINGATE - Funeral services for Paul Henio Jr., 56, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Thoreau Church of God. Pastor Kenneth Hielkama will officiate. Burial will be in Thoreau Community Cemetery. Visitation will be at 4-7 p.m. Sept., today, 28 at Cope Memorial. Henio died Sept. 22, 2007 in Gallup. He was born May 3, 1951 in Crownpoint into the Zuni People Clan for the Two That Come To The Water People Clan. Paul had 14 years of education, attended both NMSU in Las Cruces and CIT in Crownpoint. He worked for the BIA as a janitorial supervisor for 20 years. Survivors include wife Dorothy C. Henio of Fort Wingate; sons, Timothy Kesterson of Phoenix, Aruther Woody Jr., Al Dean Woody, both of Albuquerque; daughters, Stephanie Briones of Rio Rancho, Paulina Henio of Wingate, Dorothea Henio-Charley of Mentmore, Bertha Henio of Wingate; mother, Christine Henio of Thoreau; brothers, Leonard Henio of Continental Divide, Philip Henio of Navajo, Stanley Henio of Crownpoint; 14 grandchildren. Henio was preceded in death by father, Paul Henio Sr.; brother, Anthony Henio; daughter, Alfrieda Woody. Pallbearers will be Timothy Kesterson, Al Dean Woody, Aronzo Charley, Lorenzo Briones, Stephan Briones, Herbert Lee. The family will receive relatives and friends at Thoreau Church of God Reception Hall, immediately following the burial. Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. George Yazzie SHEEP SPRINGS - Funeral services are pending for George Yazzie, 84, of Sheep Springs. Yazzie died Sept. 27, 2007 in Gallup. He was born Sept. 8, 1923 in Sheep Springs. A family gathering will be at 5 p.m. today, Sept. 28 at the Sheep Springs Chapter. Cope Memorial is in charge of arrangements. September 29, 2007 Gene King IYANBITO - Funeral services for Gene Arthur King, 47, will be 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1 at the 1st Assembly of God church in Gallup. Pastor David Tappen will officiate. King died Sept. 22, 2007 in Tuscon. He was born June 10, 1960 in Gallup into the Towering House People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan. He was a high school graduate, was in the U.S. Navy and he worked in construction. His hobbies were horseback riding, country music. He enjoyed being with his children. Survivors include wife, Virginia King; sons, Bradley King of Albuquerque, Malcom King of Zuni, Gene King III of Crownpoint, Ryan King of Crownpoint; daughters, Tiffany King of Albuquerque, Joan M. King of Crownpoint; brother, Darwin J. King of Albuquerque; sister, Margie R. King of Jemez Pueblo, N.M.; five grandchildren. King was preceded in death by father, Gene Autry King Sr.; mother, Marie E. King; sisters, Marilyn A. King, Diana M. King; brother, Marvin King; grandmothers, Etta Arviso, Nellie Benally; grandfather, George King. Pallbearers will be Derrick Toledo, Albert Arviso, John Arviso, Bryan King, Travis Shetima, Bradley King. The family will meet at Iyanbito Chapter, at noon, Monday, Oct. 1. Cope Memorial is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2007 the Gallup Independent. -=-=-=- September 26, 2007 Gilford David Nodman Gilford David Nodman, 56, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away on September 21, 2007. Vistiation will be held on Friday September 28, 2007 at 6:00 PM at the Salt River Memorial Hall, 9849 E. Earll Dr in Scottsdale. Services will be held on Saturday September 29, 2007 at Sunrise at the Salt River Indian Cemetery in Scottsdale. Meldrum Mortuary handled the arrangements. September 27, 2007 Victor Curtis Dallas Victor Curtis Dallas, born March 16, 1965 passed away September 25, 2007. He was the 14th and the youngest child of Frances L. Nelson and Robert Dallas Jr. (deceased). Being the youngest of a large family, 8 sisters and 5 brothers, he was surrounded by love and affection and we watched him grow into the loving, caring brother and friend to many. He had a love for music that he guided and shared with all of those who loved him. Memorial Services will be held Friday, September 28, 2007, 2:00 PM at First Indian Baptist Church, 14202 N. 73rd Ave. Burial Services, Saturday September 29, 2007, 12 Noon in Moencopi, AZ. Copyright c. 2007 The Arizona Republic. -=-=-=- September 26, 2007 Gary Ganilla Sr. Gary Ganilla Sr. passed away at his home on Aug. 30, 2007 at the age of 45. He was born on June 20, 1962 at San Carlos Hospital, to Rufus Ganilla Sr. and Emily Upshaw. Gary had a healthy childhood and attended Ft. Thomas Elementary School and in high school he participated in football, a sport he loved. At age 13 he started working and began raising his two sisters. He graduated from Ft. Thomas High School in 1981 and following his graduation he decided to serve his country and enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1981-1987 and was honorably discharged. On Aug. 11, 1981 he married Janice Cadmus Ganilla. Gary completed two years training course in welding at Pima Community College in Tucson. He worked as a seasonal firefighter and worked briefly with the San Carlos EMS. In 1988, he started working at the Cutter Sawmill as a welder. He was very instrumental in resurrecting the old sawmill into operational condition with his skillful welding and working with his boss doing major repairs. The Cutter Sawmill is still in operation to this day. He gradually worked his way up to the millwright position. Unfortunately, due to his chronic back pain he had to retire in 2004 after 16 years with the sawmill. Survivors include his wife, Janice Ganilla; three daughters, Jessica, Jeanette, and Garilynn; sons, Gary Jr., Walter, and Garrett; brothers, Ardell, Rupert, and the late Rufus Jr.; and sisters, Bessie, Gloria, Nanla Benally, and Carolyn Ganilla. Funeral service was conducted Sept. 8. Internment was in Bylas Veterans Cemetery. Copyright c. 2007 Arizona Silver Belt/Apache Moccasin. -=-=-=- September 29, 2007 Edith Suttle Forrest Edith Suttle Forrest went home to be with the Lord Sept. 20, 2007, in Globe. She was born Aug. 24, 1918, in Whiteriver. Edith is survived by her daughter, Shirley Ann Forrest; son Spencer Forrest; grandsons Nathaniel Forres and Evertett Loas; and many relatives and friends. Edith's body will be brought back to her residence at Upper East Fork for a one-night wake Thursday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m. A funeral service will be held Friday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m. at the East Fork Lutheran Mission Church with Pastor Fidal Dazen officiating. Interment will be at the Mourning Dove Cemetery in East Fork. Silver Creek Chapel Mortuary of Whiteriver handled the arrangements. Jerome 'Jobo' Hansen Nez Jerome "Jobo" Hansen Nez, 44, of Whiteriver died Sept. 19, 2007, in Phoenix. Jerome, a registered nurse for Indian Health Services in Whiteriver, was born June 3, 1963, to the late Israel and the late Irene (Lewis) Nez. Jerome attended school in Whiteriver and, following high school, attended the University of Arizona for one year. He received his associate's degree from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., then attended NPC and studied nursing, receiving his R.N. degree in 1996. Following graduation, he went to work as an RN at the IHS Hospital in Whiteriver. In 2001, he went to work at Infinia in Show Low and then Hon- Dah Casino as an auditor. He then moved on to work as an advisor for NPC, which led him back to IHS hospital, working on the Healthy Smiles Program. Jerome also worked for the White Mountain Apache Tribe in various departments and programs. "Jobo" loved to cook, sew, crochet, fish and perform music, which he could play any instrument, except the drums. Jerome is survived by his brother, Oliver L. "Tinker" Nez (Phoebe) of Whiteriver; sister Cynthia D. "Cindy" Riley (Arthur), of Whiteriver, as well as several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and his extended family of Whiteriver, San Carlos and the Navajo Nation. A one-night wake will begin Friday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m. at Jerome's residence at Down Below in Whiteriver. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. at the Whiteriver Baptist Church. Interment will be in the Whiteriver Cemetery immediately following the services. Owens Mortuary of Show Low handled the arrangements. For those who have special memories and would like to send private condolences or sign an online guest book, we invite you to visit www.owensmortuary.com. Copyright c. 2007 White Mountain Independent. -=-=-=- September 25, 2007 Rodney Miles UncaSam 1948~2007 Rodney Miles "Hot Rod" UncaSam, age 59, of Ft. Duchesne, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sept. 17, at the Basin Care and Rehabilitation Center. He was born May 21, 1948, in Roosevelt, to Calvin UncaSam and Ida Tahreep Santio. "Hot Rod" enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. He liked to listen to music, attend Pow Wows and Sundances and be with family and friends. He is survived by his sisters, Bernadine UncaSam, Gwendolyn UncaSam, both of Ft. Duchesne; aunts, Dorothea Garcia, Ft. Duchesne; Eva Box, Towaoc, Colo.; Flora Sowsonicut, Clara Ankerpont, Ft. Duchesne; Hannah Santio, LaPoint; an uncle Kenneth Santio, Ft. Duchesne; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Rudy, Jack, Tilford UncaSam; sisters, Mildred Tom, Coleen UncaSam, Sherry UncaSam, and Maxine Day; aunts, Bonnie McKinley, Dorris UncaSam Ridley; uncles Randolph McCook, Frank UncaSam; and other aunts and uncles. Graveside services were held 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Ft. Duchesne Cemetery under direction of the Hullinger Mortuary. Copyright c. 2007 Uintah Basin Standard/Roosevelt, UT. -=-=-=- September 26, 2007 William Scott Warm Springs resident William Moody Scott died Sept. 22, 2007, in Warm Springs at the age of 46. Mr. Scott was born Aug. 1, 1961, in Redmond to parents Leonard Scott and Evelyn Moody. He was a lifetime resident of Warm Springs and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. He was employed as a firefighter with the Confederated Tribes. Survivors include his son, Justin Miller; brother, Melvin Scott; and sisters, Linda Allen, Lucy Smith and Sandra Scott, all of Warm Springs. He was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters. A dressing ceremony was held Sept. 25, at the Agency Longhouse, with overnight services following. Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Mouth of the Warm Springs River Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Bel-Air Colonial Funeral Home of Madras. Copyright c. 2001-2007 Madras Pioneer, Eagle Newspapers Inc./Madras, OR. -=-=-=- September 25, 2007 Geraldine "Mitzi" Foster LeDuc YAKIMA - Geraldine "Mitzi" Foster LeDuc passed away surrounded by her family September 21, 2007 at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital from complications of a major stroke. Mitzi was born May 23, 1932 to Rae Marie Korter and Louis Douglas Foster. Mitzi was raised by her mother and step father Buster Wolfe. As a young woman, Mitzi became an accomplished horsewoman. She and her family worked hard toward starting a family livestock business. In addition to raising cattle and horses, the family also chased wild horses on the Yakama Reservation. They caught and corralled many horses successfully. They became a well known ranching family in the valley. Mitzi first met Bud LeDuc at Hoyt's Market in the summer of 1949! They were later wed when Bud was on leave from the Navy on November 13, 1952. Following Bud's discharge from the Navy, they began their lifelong partnership fulfilling their life goals together. With the help of their two children, Lynn and Bud Jr., they built their own family livestock operation. They would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this year. Mom was an avid outdoor enthusiast. She also delighted in watching her family compete in various activities. From school sports, music concerts, rodeos, and rifle shooting competitions, mom loved them all. She was most proud to witness her grandchildren graduate from Washington State University. Mitzi was a member of the Yakama Nation. She was one the original creators of the Yakama Nation's emblem used today. Her design was selected in a contest sponsored by the Yakama Nation. Mitzi loved her entire family, and deeply cherished the times that they spent together. Mitzi is survived by: her husband, Bud; Daughter, Lynn (Moses Squeochs); Son, Bud Jr. (Margaret Ambrose); Grandchildren, Jonalee and Graysen; Sisters, Verna (Pete Mullinnex) and Wilma (Carl Meluskey); and five nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at Colonial Funeral Home in Toppenish on Wednesday September 26, 2007. Concluding services will be held at Elmwood Cemetery, Toppenish. September 26, 2007 Deeana Morrell-Columcus "Wah-pum" WAPATO - Deeana Morrell-Columcus (35) of Wapato died on Sunday September 23, 2007. She was born in Toppenish on October 22, 1971 to Corbett Morrell and Minnetta Moses. She graduated from Davis High School in Yakima and worked as a firefighter and as a siva culture for the Yakama Nation. She was an avid swimmer, ran track, raced horses, participated in rodeo, fancy dancing, made shawls and moccasins. Deanna was an accomplished artist and loved to cook. She is survived by her husband, Sahtanus Columcus of Wapato; her parents, Minnetta Moses of Wapato and Corbett Morrell of Spokane; and adopted child, Celine Moses; one brother, Chase Martin of Wapato; two sisters, Domina Phillips of Wapato and Lynnette Morrell of Spokane; her grandparents, Nelson and Tillie Moses of White Swan, Roland "Jack" ( Lorraine) Spencer of Satus, and Adeline Miller of Warm Springs; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins; everyone was her favorite. Deanna was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clifford & Betty Moses, Roberta Matt, great-grandma, Dorothy Speedis-George; one brother, William Lallashute-Moses; aunts & uncles, Rena, Wanda, Dominick and Ellen Moses; cousins, Kristen Moses, Penny & Lamar Miller. Dressing services will be held on Tuesday September 25, 2007 at 1 PM at Colonial Funeral Home. Overnight services will be on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the White Swan Independent Shaker Church. Funeral services will be on Thursday September 27, 2007 at 7 AM at the White Swan Methodist Cemetery. Colonial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2007 Yakima Herald-Republic/Yakima, WA. -=-=-=- September 25, 2007 Ella Jean Sun Goes Slow "Toni" Cortright Ishbaaxuasaa Baxpaash Ella Jean "Toni" Sun Goes Slow Cortright passed away Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, at the Billings Clinic. She was born Sept. 28, 1942, in Crow Agency, to John and Clara Bellrock Sun Goes Slow. She was a member of the Bad War Deeds Clan and a child of the Piegan Clan. Ella Jean grew up in the Pryor, Crow Agency and Billings area. She attended school in Pryor and Crow Agency, where she was a cheerleader and graduated from the eighth grade. At Hardin High School, she was also a cheerleader and later received her GED and bachelor's degree in elementary education at Eastern Montana College, now MSU Billings. Ella Jean was always proud to be a direct descendant of Chief Plenty Coups and his son Chief Bellrock, Chief Pretty Eagle from her maternal side; and Chief Bull Tongue and her grandfather Pvt. Sun Goes Slow from her paternal side. Toni was loved and cherished by all on her maternal side of the family. She was our mother, big sister, grandmother and best friend. Her aunts and uncles gave her lots of love for she was an only child for six years before all her sisters and brothers came to depend on her love and strength. Her mothers and brothers gave her the traditional Crow outfit so she enjoyed dancing and took first prize in parades at the Crow Fair with her Appaloosa stallion named "Mic." Toni met her true love, William "Bill" Cortright in Anaconda. They married in Wallace, Idaho. Together, they raised Appaloosa horses at their home in Pryor. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her children, Mildred Mary and Sidney Leo; her parents; her brothers James "Sonny" Bellrock and Kenneth Sun Goes Slow; and her sisters Catherine Smells, Ethel Bellrock and Dorothy Sun Goes Slow. She is survived by her children, John Charles, Justin Emmitt, William Carson (Amber), Ellagene (Jerry) and Charles Aubrey; grandchildren, Aspen, Zariah, Allana, Alisha, Eric, Julissa Mary, Jaylon and her special grandson Jasper "Sonny"; adopted daughters, Gaye Kopczynski, Carmen Belden, Adriene Loveridge, Nicole Leahy, Lisa Bellrock, Lena Tsosie Rides Horse, Mary Big Day, Emma Lena Bellrock (sister), Randine Bankston, and Tamara Nile Little Eagle; adopted son Luke Broken Rope; adopted grandchildren, Gregory Mims, Nicholas Kopczynski, Greg Medicine Horse and Shawn Roland; special sisters-in-law, Ava Bellrock and Janice Sun Goes Slow; sisters, Eloise Leahy (Robert), Emma Core (Frank), Clarann Rides the Bear, Janice Bellrock, Melvina Bellrock Prince, and Tammy Briese; brothers, Carson Bellrock, Linwood Curtis Prince and Robert Flat Lip; adopted brothers Willie Brown and Benito Brown; adopted sisters, Dorothea Adams, Twila Grant, Sarah Sings Good Stewart. Extended family includes Bellrock, Sun Goes Slow, Birdinground, Bird Hat, Little Owl, Flat Lip, Lincoln, Brown, Don't Mix and Beaumont. We regret that we have not specifically listed all of our large extended family and ask that you bear with us during our time of loss. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, with a prayer service at 6 p.m. at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Arrow Creek Christian Center in Pryor with burial in Big Horn National Cemetery. September 27, 2007 Jacalyn Ann Bear Claw LODGE GRASS - Jacalyn Ann Bear Claw, 55, of Lodge Grass, passed away Tuesday evening, Sept. 25, 2007, at the Billings Clinic. "Sits beside the River" was born on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1952, in Hardin, a daughter of Francis Bear Claw and Joan Horn. She received her early education in Lodge Grass, before graduating in 1971 from St. Labre High School. While in school, she was a star athlete in basketball and track. She was the first female athlete from St. Labre to represent her school at the Montana State track meet. She continued her education at St. Theresa College in Minnesota, Southwestern Poly Tech Institute in New Mexico and Rocky Mountain College, where she was a member of the basketball team. She later attended Little Big Horn College and was the 2005 Student of the Year, before receiving an AA degree in business in 2006. She worked for the Crow Tribe and for Little Big Horn College. During her younger years, she was a barrel racer and the 1968 Crow Fair Rodeo Queen. She excelled in independent softball and basketball leagues in Hardin and Billings, and was awarded numerous MVPs in tournaments. She enjoyed beading; riding horses and watching her nieces and nephews participate in sporting events; as well as coaching and teaching them how to play basketball. One of her fondest memories was the annual cattle drive to the mountains with her brother Forrest. She was a faithful member of the Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church, where she was a religious education teacher for many years. She made a tepee as a labor of love for her family to sponsor a Corpus Cristi in Lodge Grass. She was a member of the Greasy Mouth Clan and a child of the Greasy Mouth Clan. Her sisters, Bernadette White Clay and Mary Horn and brothers Clayton and Forrest preceded Jacalyn in death. Survivors include her mother, Joan Horn; her father, Francis Bear Claw; her special friend, Laurie Smith; she held a special place in her heart for Norman Julian Brien, Kevin and Vanessa Sandoval; her sisters, Roseline (Loren) Old Bear, Trivian (Jeff) Rides the Bear, Joanie (Frank) Rowland, Cheryl (Troy) Spang, Donna (Russell) Stand, Lana (Carson) Schinderline, Ronda and Susan Horn; her brothers, Floyd (Ada), Samuel (Darla) and Chris Horn, Francis White Clay, William (Barbara) Old Bear, Darrell Bright Wings, Daniel (Letha) Gun Shows, Dewitt Dillon, Benedict (Linda) Blaine, Dean (Mona), Mike (Laura) and Hartford (Angie) Bear Claw; members of her extended family include the descendents of Horn, She Kills from North Dakota, Sarah Walker Pease family, Stops, Froze, Bends, High Nose, Wesley, Black Hair, Sits Down Spotted, White Hip, Grey Bull, Bear Below Little Light, Dreamer and the Lucy Old Bull Driftwood families. Rosary will be recited 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, in the Lodge Grass Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Lodge Grass Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. Copyright c. 2007 The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Ella Jean Sun Goes Slow Cortright Ishbaaxuasaa Baxpaash Ella Jean "Toni" Sun Goes Slow Cortright, 64, who raised Appaloosa horses with her husband, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, at the Billings Clinic. She was born Sept. 28, 1942, in Crow Agency to John and Clara Bellrock Sun Goes Slow. She was a member of the Bad War Deeds Clan and a child of the Piegan Clan. She attended school in Pryor and Crow Agency where she was a cheerleader and graduated from the eighth grade. At Hardin High School she was also a cheerleader and later received her GED and bachelor's degree in elementary education at Eastern Montana College. She was a direct descendant of Plenty Coups and Pretty Eagle. Her mothers and brothers gave her a traditional Crow outfit, and she took first prize in parades at Crow Fair with her Appaloosa stallion named Mic. She married William "Bill" Cortright in Wallace, Idaho. Together they raised Appaloosa horses at their home in Pryor. Survivors include children, John Charles, Justin Emmitt, William Carson, Ellagene and Charles Aubrey; eight grandchildren; sisters, Eloise Leahy, Emma Core, Clarann Rides the Bear, Janice Bellrock, Melvina Bellrock Prince and Tammy Briese; and brothers, Carson Bellrock, Linwood Curtis Prince and Robert Flat Lip. Visitation and a prayer service were at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings. Services were on Sept. 26 at Arrow Creek Christian Center in Pryor with burial in Big Horn National Cemetery. Copyright c. 2007 The Billings Outpost. -=-=-=- Golden Triangle On-Line Obituaries The following obituaries appeared in the Cut Bank Pioneer Press, Shelby Promoter, Valierian or Glacier Reporter this week. September 26, 2007 Lorraine Marceau Lorraine "Bumps" Thompson Jefferson Marceau, 59, of Wapato, Wash. went peacefully at her home surrounded by her family to be with the Lord on Sept. 11, 2007. A wake was held at the Toppenish Community Center with open services starting Wednesday and Thursday. The funeral was Friday, Sept. 14. Burial followed at Toppenish Creek Cemetery in White Swan. Lorraine was born in Klamath Falls, Ore., Nov. 6, 1946, to Eda Chester and Mervin Thompson. On Nov. 6, 1966, she married Wilbert Marceau Sr. at the log church in White Swan. They lived in the Wapato area and Starr School. While in Montana the Marceaus had various businesses including a store and a drive-in. They sponsored many community activities. Lorraine enjoyed church services, singing gospel songs, powwows, stick game, picnics in the mountains and spending time with her kids and grandkids. The family had a radio program called The Gospel Hour in which she and her sisters would sing. Lorraine is survived by her husband of 40 years, Wilbur; daughters Gloria (Warren) Shirt of Browning, Elena (Clancy) Frank, Leah Marceau, Elizabeth Marceau and Victoria Marceau, all of Wapato; sons Wilbert (Maggie) Marceau Jr. of Wapato, Victor Marceau and Vernon (Amelia) Marceau, all of Browning; grandchildren Janice, Elias, Wilbert III, Ivan, Christian and Mona; sisters Donna (Raymond) Cloud, Marla Lefthand, Letitia Jefferson, Elizabeth Jefferson, Valarie (Gary) Lincoln of Riverton, Wyo., and Adeline (Mike) Thompson; brothers Lyman (Lisa) Jefferson, Gaylord (Marlene) Jefferson and Melvin (Sonya) Thompson; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eda and Gaylord Jefferson Sr.; Mervin Thomspon; brothers Marvin Thompson, Lyndon Jefferson and Johnny Thompson; and a sister, Marlene Thompson. Copyright c. 2007 Golden Triangle Newspapers. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Delores 'Deedo' DuMontier Delores Marie "Deedo" DuMontier "has left the building" on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Born to Harold and Louise (McDonald) DuMontier on February 26, 1935 in St. Ignatius, she attended schools in St. Ignatius, Flandreau, and South Dakota, and graduated from Dixon High School. After graduation she attended Missoula Business College and then went to work for the Billings area office and then transferred to the BIA at Dixon Agency. In later years, she worked at Doug Allard's Trading Post in St. Ignatius for many years. A proud member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe, she held various positions including Clerk of Court and Juvenile Probation Officer. Deedo enjoyed family picnics and gatherings, powwows, and listening to the love of her life, Elvis. She loved attending sporting events, especially those events involving family members. Giving nicknames and having humorous conversations was a gift she had. Most people called her "Gram", and her big heart and knack of gathering information kept her family connected and informed of past and future events, which was always helpful and very beneficial. The wondrous aroma of good home cooking could always be found when entering her home and you never left hungry. She met and married Pete Stasso and they had a daughter together, the light of her life, Michealanne (Stasso) Arca. Michaelanne kept her involved in the Dixon Indian Club as an Advisor to the Big Medicine Drummers and Singers, and also a member of the Indian Education Committee. As her daughter grew she remained active within the Indian community by supporting her daughter's reign as Miss Flathead. As her family grew she became an avid follower of all the events of her nieces, nephews and grandkids, especially her grandsons, Nicholas, Jordan and Paul. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Louise (McDonald) DuMontier; infant baby brother, Harold Jr.; sister, Gloria Gail Smith; niece, Pauletta Faye O'Neill; and nephews Mark DuMontier and Joey DuMontier. She is survived by her daughter, Michaelanne (Stasso) Arca of the family home in St. Ignatius; her four grandsons, Nicholas Stasso (Adaire Big Beaver), Jordan Stasso, Paul Arca, and Winter Gopher, all of St. Ignatius; brother Reginald "Speed" (Myrt) DuMontier of Lake Havasau, AZ; sister Lois "Sally" Mitchell of St. Ignatius; brother Joseph "Bud" DuMontier of Ronan; brother Jim DuMontier of St. Ignatius; sister Debbie Courville (Wayne Coleman) of Pablo; as well as many nieces, nephews and grandchildren too numerous to mention. Wake services started Friday, Sept. 21, 2007 at the Longhouse; rosary was recited Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007 at 8 p.m. The closing began Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 at the Longhouse with services held at the Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Interment followed at the Snyelmn Cemetery. Copyright c. 2002 Lake Country Leader Advertiser/Polson, MT. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Joseph Gopher ROCKY BOY - Joseph "Joe" Gopher, 43, whose Indian name was "Medicine Bird," died Monday near Haystack Loop on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. His death is under investigation by the Hill County Sheriff's Office. His funeral is 10 a.m. today at Rocky Boy Lutheran Church, with burial in Rocky Boy Cemetery. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include his mother, Lois J. Gopher of Rocky Boy; brothers Tom Gopher of Great Falls and Paul V. Gopher and Hadushka Howell of Rocky Boy; and sisters Laurie, Juanita, Althea and Jackie Gopher, all of Rocky Boy. September 28, 2007 Diana C. Fields KEVIN - Diana C. (MacDonald) Fields, 60, a homemaker, died of respiratory failure Wednesday at a Great Falls hospital. Cremation has taken place. Rosary is 7 this evening at Foster & Spotted Eagle Tribal Wake Center. Funeral Mass is 2 p.m. Saturday at Little Flower Catholic Church in Browning. Survivors include her husband, Patrick Fields of Kevin; daughters Terri Schwartz of Fargo, N.D., Laura Saputo of Vero Beach, Fla., and Judy Subatch of Bigfork; sisters Alma Faye Chippewa, Pauline Sure Chief, Carolee Douglas, Rosemary MacDonald, Bernadette Trombley and Deeds Kipp, all of Browning; brothers Kenny Stillsmoking, Ivan MacDonald, Lyle MacDonald, Jeff MacDonald, Kenny Walters, George MacDonald and John Walters Sr., all of Browning; and eight grandchildren. Daniel Edward Healy LODGEPOLE - Daniel Edward Healy, 76, an Army veteran and carpenter, died of natural causes Tuesday at his home in Lodgepole. Wake and rosary is 7 this evening at the Medicine Bear Center in Lodgepole. Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Saturday at the center, with burial in Lodgepole Cemetery. Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook is in charge of arrangements. He is survived by daughters Audrey (Francis) Aims Back of Great Falls, Terryl "Disa" (Gene) Matt of Cut Bank and Cheryl (Bill) Doney of Lodgepole; a son, Stuart Healy of Lodgepole; a stepdaughter, Alice Walker of Havre; a brother, Chancey (Terry) Healy of Malta; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Daniel was born Nov. 9, 1930, to Harry and Rose (Galligher) Healy, in Lodgepole, and was raised and educated in Lodgepole and Dodson. In 1950, he enlisted in the Army and served two tours during the Korean Conflict, returning home in 1954. In 1955, he met and married Anna Bell Wing. To this union, five children were born. Anna Bell passed away in 1977. In 1987, he met and married Sophia M. Gunn, and they raised a daughter together. During the early 1960s, the family moved to California as part of the relocation project. They later moved back to Lodgepole. Dan served in the Army honorably and later worked as a carpenter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the maintenance department. His work took him all over the Fort Belknap Reservation, where he met and enjoyed many people. He always was willing to lend a helping hand to those in need of some repair work, and was respected and admired by all who knew him. After retiring, he spent most of his time driving around Fort Belknap visiting friends. He spent a lot of time with his family and at family gatherings. Everywhere he went, his dog was with him. Dan liked to listen to old country and western classics and sing along with them. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his second wife, Sophia M. Gunn Healy; a son, Michael Healy; brothers Harry, Bud, Percy, Wade and Robert Healy; sisters Ardeth, Cleo, Daisey, Maxine and Mel; and his parents. Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries. September 29, 2007 Marjorie Wilkinson CROW AGENCY - Marjorie Marie Wilkinson, 62, former Crow Tribal Chief Judge, passed away Wednesday evening Sept. 26, 2007 at the St. Vincent Hospital. Uukiitchaa' "Good Clay" was born Dec. 16, 1944, in Crow Agency, a daughter of Edward and Olive Williamson Bad Bear. She received her early education in Crow Agency, Busby and the Flandreau Indian School. She later studied Criminal Justice at the United Tribes College and at Bismarck State. She was certified in Indian Law at the Judicial Indian College in Reno, Nev. She served as a Crow Tribal Associate Judge for many years and later as the Crow Tribal Chief Judge. Her testimony in a Federal court case and later concurred by the U.S. Supreme Court, was instrumental in the establishment of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Marjorie was united in marriage to Arnold Wilkinson in October of 1973 and the couple made their home south of Crow Agency. She was an excellent cook who enjoyed creating traditional foods for her family. She also enjoyed beading and sewing, often creating her own original designs. When not creating, she could be found enjoying the company of her children and grandchildren. She was a faithful member of the Catholic Church, a member of the Newly Made Lodge, was a Greasy Mouth Clan child and a member of the Tobacco Society. Her parents; sons Mark and Norbert; sisters, Ada and Paula; brothers, Herman, Edward, Ronald, Royce, Thomas, William and Mark Bad Bear; grandson Taylor and an adopted daughter Karla preceded Marjorie in death. Survivors include her husband, Arnold; her daughters, Julie (Elmer) Yarlott, Jr., Georgette (Newton) Old Crow, Jr., Audie and Sheila Wilkinson; her son, Gordon Paul Wilkinson; her brother, David (Bernadine) Bad Bear, Sr.; her sisters, Darlene Eastman and Mary Louise LaForge; her aunts, Julia Not Afraid, Winona Plenty Hoops, Beverely Pretty on Top, Wilma Stands, and Priscilla Gardner; her uncles, Elmer Gun Shows, David and Ruben Stewart; her adopted daughters, Lucy Real Bird Washakie, Julie Kreitzburg, Amber Old Horn, Gevy (Arnold) Coyote Runs and Crystal Wolf; her adopted son, Kyle Wilkinson; her adopted brothers, Bill Bachrack, Dan Press and Mike Bazerman; 15 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; her Tobacco Society adopted relatives, Gladys Jefferson, Sandra Shields, Karen Goes Ahead and Tommy Whiteman, Sr.; as well as her North Dakota in-laws including Howard, Gloria, Theresa and Beverely Wilkinson. Words are not enough to thank the staff of doctors and nurses Rebecca, Jennifer, Vicki, Jolene and Sharon at St. Vincent Hospital for all of their compassion and care giving to our loved one during her illness. Rosary will be recited 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in the Crow Agency St. Dennis Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will follow in the Crow Agency Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. September 30, 2007 Dale Laplant BROWNING - Dale LaPlant, 56, of Browning, a rancher and construction worker, died Thursday at a Browning hospital of injuries received in an auto accident west of Starr School. Wake is in progress at the Old Eagle Shields Community Center in Browning. Rosary is 7 p.m. Monday at Little Flower Catholic Church. His services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Little Flower Catholic Church in Browning, with burial at the family ranch on upper Cut Bank Creek. Hi Line Funeral Home in Cut Bank is handling arrangements. Survivors include his soul mate, Annie Wagner; children Ervin, Clara Jo (John) Gallagher Horn, Daesha, Triston, Luke and Gregory, all of Browning; broth-ers Carl (Elaine) Guardipee, Francis (Geraldine) LaPlant, Kelly (Rita) LaPlant, Galen (Laurie) LaPlant, Bradley (Patty) LaPlant and Louis (Alice) LaPlant; sisters, Judith LaPlant, Henrietta (John) Tailfeathers, Crystal Gomez and Pam (Oscar) Crawford; four grandchildren, Shyanne, Jazlyn, Jude Dale and Dale Wyatt; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clara J. and Francis A. LaPlant Sr.; and a sister, Enid LaPlant. Dale was born Dec. 11, 1950, in Browning to Francis A. and Clara (Guardipee) LaPlant Sr. He grew up in the upper Cut Bank Creek area and attended the Browning school system. He ranched and worked various construction jobs on the reservation. An avid outdoorsman, Dale enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. He loved to read any and all newspapers and books. Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries. Copyright c. 2007 Great Falls Tribune, a division of Lee Enterprises. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Joseph "Joe" Gopher Rocky Boy Joseph "Joe" Gopher, 43, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation near Haystack Loop. His cause of death is under investigation by the Hill County Coroner's Office. Joe's wake service began Wednesday afternoon at the Rocky Boy Lutheran Church and his funeral service will be 10 a.m. today also at the Rocky Boy Lutheran Church with tribal elders officiating. Burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Joe was born Aug. 2, 1964, in Great Falls to Thomas and Lois (Murie) Gopher. His Indian name was "Medicine Bird." He was raised and educated in Rocky Boy and graduated from Rocky Boy High School in 1983, where he excelled in basketball and track. He attended Stone Child College and graduated with his associate's degree in general studies and a certificate in carpentry. Joe enjoyed being with his family and friends and taking long walks. He had a great sense of humor and his motto in life was "Go for it." He is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Gopher; and one sister, Elizabeth Wetsit. Joe is survived by his mother, Lois J. Gopher of Rocky Boy; brothers, Tom Gopher of Great Falls and Paul V. Gopher and Hadushka Howell, both of Rocky Boy; sisters, Laurie, Juanita, Althea and Jackie Gopher, all of Rocky Boy; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Daniel Edward Healy Lodge Pole Daniel Edward Healy, 76, died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, at his home of natural causes. A wake and rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at the Medicine Bear Center in Lodge Pole. A funeral mass is scheduled Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Medicine Bear Center, with the committal rite being celebrated at the Lodge Pole Cemetery with Father Joseph Retzel, S.J. officiating. Daniel was born Nov. 9, 1930, to Harry and Rose (Galligher) Healy in Lodge Pole. He grew up in and around Lodge Pole and Dodson. He attended school in Lodge Pole and Dodson. In 1950, he enlisted in the Army and served two tours during the Korean Conflict. He returned home in 1954. In 1955, he met and married Anna Bell Wing. To this union five children were born. Anna Bell passed away in 1977. In 1987 he met and married Sophia M. Gunn. They raised a daughter together. During the early 1960s, the family moved to California as part of the relocation project. Later the family moved back to Lodge Pole. Dan served in the Army honorably and he worked as a carpenter for the BIA in the maintenance department. His work took him all over the Fort Belknap Reservation where he met and enjoyed many people. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need of some repair work. He was respected and admired by all who knew him. After retiring, he spent most of his time driving around Fort Belknap visiting friends. He spent a lot of time with his family and at family gatherings. Everywhere he went his dog was with him. Dan liked to listen to old country and western classics and sing along with them. He is preceded in death by his parents; wives, Anna Bell Wing Healy and Sophia M. Gunn Healy; son, Michael Healy; brothers, Harry, Bud, Percey, Wade and Robert Healy; sisters, Ardeth, Cleo, Daisey, Maxine and Mel. Daniel is survived by daughters, Audrey (Francis) Aims Back of Great Falls, Terryl "Disa" (Gene) Matt of Cut Bank and Cheryl (Bill) Doney of Lodge Pole; son, Stuart Healy of Lodge Pole; and stepdaughter, Alice Walker of Havre; brother, Chancey (Terry) Healy of Malta; and numerous grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, nieces and nephews. The family has entrusted the care of Daniel Healy to Edward's Funeral Home in Chinook. Copyright c. 2007 Havre Daily News. -=-=-=- Char-Koosta News - The official publication of the Flathead Indian Nation September 2007 Obituaries Delores Marie "Deedo" DuMontier ST. IGNATIUS - Delores Marie "Deedo" DuMontier "has left the building" and did so on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. She was born to Harold and Louise (McDonald) DuMontier on February 26, 1935 in St. Ignatius. She attended schools in St. Ignatius, Flandreau, South Dakota and graduated from Dixon High School. After graduation, she attended Missoula Business College and then went to work for the Billings Area Office and then transferred to the BIA at the Dixon Agency. In later years, she worked at Doug Allard's Trading Post in St. Ignatius for many years. A proud member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe, she held various positions including Clerk of Court and Juvenile Probation Officer. Deedo enjoyed family picnics and gatherings, powwows, and listening to the love of her life, Elvis. She loved attending sporting events, especially those events involving family members. Giving nicknames and having humorous conversations was a gift she had. Most people called her "Gram", her big heart and knack of gathering information kept her family connected and informed of past and future events, which was always helpful and very beneficial. The wondrous aroma of good home cooking could always be found when entering her home and you never left hungry. She met and married Pete Stasso and they had a daughter together, the light of her life, Michealanne (Stasso) Arca. Michaelanne kept her involved in the Dixon Indian Club as an Advisor to the Big Medicine Drummers and Singers, and also a member of the Indian Education Committee. As her daughter grew she remained active within the Indian community by supporting her daughters reign as Miss Flathead. As her family grew she became an avid follower of all the events of her nieces, nephews and grandkids, especially her grandsons, Nicholas, Jordan and Paul. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Louise (McDonald) DuMontier; infant baby brother, Harold Jr.; sister, Gloria Gail Smith; niece, Pauletta Faye O'Neill; nephews, Mark DuMontier and Joey DuMontier. She is survived by her daughter, Michaelanne (Stasso) Arca of the family home in St. Ignatius; her four grandsons, Nicholas Stasso (Adaire Big Beaver), Jordan Stasso, Paul Arca, Winter Gopher, all of St. Ignatius; brother, Reginald "Speed" (Myrt) DuMontier of Lake Havasau, AZ; sister, Lois "Sally" Mitchell of St. Ignatius; brother, Joseph "Bud" DuMontier of Ronan; brother, Jim DuMontier of St. Ignatius; sister, Debbie Courville (Wayne Coleman) of Pablo; as well as many nieces, nephews and grandchildren to numerous to mention. Bryant James Schliep ST. IGNATIUS - Bryant James Schliep of St. Ignatius, born April 5, 2005, passed peacefully from his parents' arms into the arms of Jesus on Sept. 21, 2007, in the Seattle Children's Hospital after courageously battling complications of a genetic blood disease. Bryant was a remarkable child who touched hundreds of lives during his short stay here on earth. Through all the difficulties of his illness, he retained his easygoing personality, his ready smile, and his sweet, uncomplaining nature. Bryant loved all animals, and he spent many happy hours playing with his dog, Mouse; his kitty, Nana; and his bunny, Francis. He was enthralled with all motorized vehicles, calling them, "vroom vrooms," and was quick to point out any helicopter and airplane in the air, stating simply, "Bampa." Bryant loved the outdoors, and we followed his 60-foot oxygen hose many times to discover he had snuck outside to play in the dirt with his trucks. He loved books and balls of all sizes; he had a knack for electronics, and consistently called his family on any cell phone he came across, as well as downloaded music and took many pictures of unsuspecting subjects, sending them to unsuspecting recipients! Bryant embodied a warrior; he met each challenge with enthusiasm and calm determination, never giving up. His resilience and his fighting spirit amazed and encouraged all who met him. Bryant had a wonderful summer with his family. He enjoyed playing in his wading pool, attending horse competitions, rollicking with the puppies, throwing baseballs and rocks, and driving his red Mustang. We will remember his impish sense of humor, his precious way of blowing kisses and cuddling, and his unabashed love of life. He will forever be an inspiration and blessing to all who knew him. Bryant is survived by his parents, Meredith Scott and Dewey Schliep of St. Ignatius; his grandparents, Callie "Ya-Ya" Scott, Kenneth "Bampa" and Adrienne "A-da" Scott; Joyce "Qene" and Gordon "Sx'epe" Schliep; great- grandmothers, Bette Scott, Barbara Bartell, Felicite P. McDonald and Aileen Bain; surrogate grandparents, Bernadine Lovell and Vicky and Henry Johnston; uncles, Brandon "Bra-da" and Trevor "Deena" Scott, Gabe Schliep, Byron (Sarah) and cousins, Tate and Jase Schliep; aunts, Sierra "Dadna," Laurel "La-la," and Felicia "Ba-da" Scott; Karin (Scotty) Zeller and Kellie (Arkadi) and cousin Michael Tandilyan; and special friends Keenan " Dee-nee" Nerby, Bobby "Bob" Jensen, Jonna "Donna" Grant, Danielle "Dan-l" Richwine, and Hudson Taylor. Bryant was also blessed with many loving great-aunts and uncles and cousins on both sides of his family. Preceding him in death were his great-grandpas Gordon Bartell, Lester Scott, Louie McDonald, Robert Schliep and Tom Bain. We are all thankful for every moment we had with Bryant; he has blessed us beyond measure and we will carry him in our hearts forever. A private viewing was held on Wednesday. A celebration of Bryant's life will be held at 4:30 p.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 27, at the St. Ignatius High School gym. The family suggest memorials in Bryant's name be made to: Seattle Children's Hospital 4800 Sandpoint Way N.E. C/O Volunteer Office G1010 Seattle, WA 98105. Specify the Bone Marrow Transplant Service. Gary Frank Mitchell RONAN - Gary Frank Mitchell, 58, went to be with the ancestors on Monday morning, Sept. 17, 2007 at his home at Kicking Horse Job Corps. Gary was born to Jack and Jane (Whitworth) Mitchell on October 24, 1948 in Aberdeen, WA. He lived in Hot Springs, Perma, Dixon, and Ronan. His brothers, George and Robert; and sister, Marjorie as well Gary, stayed at the Ursulines Boarding School for one year when their mother had tuberculosis - he was five years old and was taken care of by Mother Loyola. Gary attended school in Hot Springs and Dixon. He also graduated from Heavy Equipment Operator and Mechanics School in Chicago, IL. In 1968, he joined the Army and was sent to Vietnam. He belonged to the 547 Corp of Engineers paving roads. In 1971, Gary married Lori Bartholomew when he was working as a Tribal Police Officer and they had two children, Bobbi and Bill. They later divorced and he briefly married Antoinette "Toni" Paro. A diehard romantic, Gary finally married his last love in 2000, Lorene Dumont-Mitchell, who made him the happiest of all. Gary was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. He started working at Kicking Horse Job Corps in 1973 and was still working there when he had his heart attack at his home. Gary's loves in life were: camping, fishing, fixing his cars and tending his yard and flowers. He had served as the President of the Hot Springs VFW. And if there was a rodeo anywhere, he could be found sitting in his chair in the front row. He was a cowboy at heart. He was devoted to his mother Jane who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his father, Jack; nephew, Robert, Jr.; stepdaughter, Michael Marie; and numerous other relatives. Gary leaves behind his wife, Lorene; children, Bobbi (Matt) Jore and Bill (Jennifer) Mitchell; grandchildren, Ashley and Nic Peterson; and Courtney and Dustin Mitchell; Lorene's children, Nita (Conan) and their children Shonko, Jedidiah, Kanen and Tyler (Billie) and their children Katie, Cheyenne and Ty; siblings - sister, Marjorie (Urban) Bear Don't Walk and children Urban, Jr., Scott and Eldena; brother, George (Lynette) and children, Dennis, Shelly, Michelle and Ron; sister, Sharon Noyes and children Tyson and Chad; sister, Donna and her daughter Kayla; brother, Robert and his sons Doug and Lawrence and a brother, Donald and his children Isadore, Tashene, Sophie and Traylon; mother-in-law Lois Dumont; his aunt Harriet Whitworth; his only uncle James "Uncle Fuzz" Whitworth; his cousin June Acevedo and numerous other family members and friends. Dad will always be remembered for his classy style of dress and that twinkle in his eyes. (Dad may all your pain (emotional and physical) be gone and that you rest in peace. You are loved.) Rosary was recited Wednesday evening at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius with funeral services being held today, Thursday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m. in the Longhouse. Interment will follow in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery where military honors will be presented. Victoria J. Lozeau ST. IGNATIUS - Victoria J. Lozeau, 64, left around 7 a.m. Friday, September 14, 2007 and was laid to rest in St Ignatius. Born on April 6, 1943 to Margaret Joscum and Tom Lozeau, she went home to be with her parents and ancestors who have gone before. She left behind her companion of 25 years Chuck Ramas, Wapato Wa.; daughters Venita Wall, Ronan; Jolynn (Paul) Cole, Havre; Jackie (Chad) Shoemaker, Clarkston, Wa.; sons, Carl Finley, Missoula; Joseph Stiner, Shelby; William (Jeri) Peterson, Clarkston, Wa; grandchildren, Danielle, Mary, Jeremy, Jon, Matthew, Shannon, Shenita, Tyler, Carl, Gharrett, Adrienne, Cyrus, Antoine, Christal,David, Lily, Francesca,Victoria, Clifton, Joseph, Duane, Chad, James, Shantel, Ava; and her great- grandchildren, Tink and Tristan. She is survived by her brothers, Ken, Ed, Sonny, Pat and sister, Rita; a sister-cousin, Rosanna Yellowhair, Wapato Wa.; and a dear friend, Etta of Wapato Wa. Waiting to meet her are her parents, Tom and Margaret; two granddaughters and a brother and sister. Her infectious smile and laughter, her caring and loving soul will be greatly missed. She is no longer suffering and even as we grieve, please also rejoice with us as she greets her friends and family and dances with them once again. Memorials may be made to Emerald Care Center, Wapato, Washington. Copyright c. 2007 Char-Koosta News. -=-=-=- September 30, 2007 Sandra Shell Lifelong Alaskan and Clam Gulch resident Sandra "Sandy" Lynn Shell, 55, died Aug. 11, 2007, at Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. Private family services were held. Mrs. Shell was born May 15, 1952, in Ninilchik, to Ernest and Jeanne (Cooper) Matson. She was raised there and graduated from Ninilchik High School. Mrs. Shell was a member of the Russian Orthodox Church. She enjoyed sewing, quilting and four-wheeling. Her family wrote: "Sandy was a wonderful wife and mother. She loved making quilts and just giving them to people in the community. Sandy was a quiet person with a big heart." Mrs. Shell was preceded in death by her mother, Jeanne Kvasnikoff; father, Ernest Matson; and brothers, Eugene and Danny Matson. She is survived by her son, David Shell of Clam Gulch; brothers, Jerry Matson of Washington state and Sonny Matson of Kasilof; and sisters, Charlotte Shingleton of Ninilchik and Charlene Key of Arizona. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shell family, P.O. Box 102, Clam Gulch 99568. Leonard Young Palmer resident Leonard Young, 62, died Sept. 27, 2007, at Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage due to pulmonary fibrosis. Visitation will begin at noon today at Valley Funeral Home, 2020 N. Hemmer Road, in Palmer, with a funeral at 1 p.m. The Rev. Dean Mandrell will officiate. Burial will take place Thursday in Anvik. The Rev. Anna Frank will officiate. Pallbearers will be John Bond, Donald Savage, Ernest Demoski, Rudy Demoski, Paul Parsons and Edward J. Demoski. Leonard was born April 15, 1945, in Anvik at the fish camp, living his entire life in Alaska, mrecently, in Palmer. He went to trade school and many electronic-related schools. He worked for Veco and many other oil field service companies and was affiliated with the Episcopal Church while enjoying hobbies such as hunting, fishing, shooting, snowmachining, picking blueberries and other outdoor sports. His family said: "He made me so happy and so angry. He did things his way. He spoke loudly and expressed what he had on his mind and was a joy to work with. Best of all, he was a friend. He was a blast!" He is survived by his sister, Mable and brother-in-law Pius; nieces Mary, Debbie and Daisy; nephew, Donald; grandnieces and nephews, Lisa, Jon, Brandon, Katlyn, Josh, Mathewe, Kayla and his sweetie, Marlane Shanigan. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Franklin and Donald; and sister, Helen. Arrangements were by Valley Funeral Home of Palmer and Wasilla. Copyright c. 2007 The Anchorage Daily News. -=-=-=- September 30, 2007 Sandra 'Sandy' Lynn Shell Lifelong Alaskan and Clam Gulch resident, Mrs. Sandra "Sandy" Lynn Shell, died Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007 at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. She was 55. Private family services were held. Mrs. Shell was born May 15, 1952 to Ernest and Jeanne (Cooper) Matson in Ninilchik. She was raised there and graduated from Ninilchik High School. Mrs. Shell was a member of the Russian Orthodox Church. She enjoyed sewing, quilting and four-wheeling. "Sandy was a wonderful wife and mother. She loved making quilts and just giving them to people in the community. Sandy was a quiet person with a big heart," wrote her family. Mrs. Shell was preceded in death by her mother, Jeanne Kvasnikoff; father, Ernest Matson; brothers, Eugene and Danny Matson. She is survived by her son, David Shell, of Clam Gulch; brothers, Jerry Matson of Washington and Sonny Matson of Kasilof; sisters, Charlotte Shingleton of Ninilchik and Charlene Key of Arizona. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shell Family, P.O. Box 102, Clam Gulch, AK 99568. Copyright c. 2007 Peninsula Clarion Division of Morris Communications, Kenai, AK. -=-=-=- September 27, 2007 Riley Houston Black Rabbit Riley Houston Black Rabbit passed away suddenly in Lethbridge, AB. on September 22, 2007. Riley is survived by his Mother Sharon Eagle Plume (Many Guns), Step Father Kenny Eagle Plume, his Sister Charmaine Many Guns and Neill Fox, Grandmother Evelyn Many Guns, His Father Wes Black Rabbit. Grandparents Ann & Oliver Shouting and the Late Nap Black Rabbit. His Parental siblings; Clinton, Cody, Cash, Gracie, Chlore and Natasha. Godparents are Cody Black Rabbit and Paula Smith. Riley was a Godfather to Turique Crazyboy. Numerous Aunts, Uncles, Great Uncles and Aunts, cousins and adopted Grand Parents. Predeceased by his Sister Megan Jewel, his Grand Parents Annie and Mickey Crazyboy, Jack and Margaret Many Bears and Agnes Black Rabbit, Tom and Jossette Many Guns and numerous relatives. Riley received his schooling in Edmonton, Calgary, Kainai High School, Blood Reserve and Lethbridge. Riley's love of Pow-Wow was so great you would often catch him humming and singing to himself. He was also a sweat hog and knew all the spiritual songs from the piercing Sundance. Riley was only 3 years old when he first attended Maurice Crow's Sundance and he never missed a year since. Riley was well known for his sense of humor. He would often pull pranks on his Friends and Family. Riley was well known and Loved by all who knew him. He has numerous friends, even from as far away as Germany. He had Great Love and respect for his Grandparents Ann and Oliver, especially his papa Oliver who was his hero. As young as he was, Riley took it upon himself the role as protector for his Mom, Sister and proudly looking forward to be an uncle for the baby to be. A Wake Service will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at Ann and Oliver Shouting's residence on the Blood Reserve in Cardston, following the family service which is at Eden's Funeral Home at 1:00 p.m. The Wake Service will continue at Micheal and Joanne Smith's residence in Brocket on Friday, September 28, 2007 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Funeral Service will be held at the Community Hall in Brocket on September 29, 2007 commencing at 1:00pm with Fr. Tim Boyle officiating. Interment in Brocket Cemetery. Copyright c. 2007 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc./Lethbridge Herald.