articles-august 28

Oglala sojourn: Handshakes at Slim Buttes

SLIM BUTTES, S.D. - At Slim Buttes, the circle was of heads of families, working men and women of expressed moral concern and conviction. They had come together to greet visitors and to tell their story. The occasion was a visit to the Oglala tiospayes of Pine Ridge by two Oneida Nation council members and this writer. We were at "ground zero" of a project of substance that has coalesced serious people on the poorest and most economically marginalized Indian community in North America.

Headquartered at a camp on the White River, in the westernmost section of the Oglala Lakota reservation, a vigorous home-grown agricultural homestead development project has sprung up from among the poorest and yet among the most cultured of American Indian peoples. Our hosts were the elders of several tiospayes of the old Oglala - among them the Afraid of Bear and American Horse families as host camp - which together have undertaken a recovery journey to help their next generation grow healthy and thrive. full article

Burial site spurs concern

But American Indian group is told developer, agency are properly handling discovery
BY PHILLIP PIÑA

A band of American Indians has set up camp outside an archaeological dig to ensure a newly found burial site near the Hiawatha light-rail line in Bloomington is treated properly.

The partial remains of a what is believed to be a Dakota native were unearthed Thursday during an archaeological survey at the corner of Old Shakopee Road and 34th Avenue in Bloomington. The survey was part of the preconstruction review of the 47-acre site to be redeveloped into office, retail and living space near the Bloomington Central Station of the new light-rail line.

"We are paying our respects," said Jim Anderson, the cultural chairman and historian for the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community. About 20 members set up a vigil outside the site. full article

Bush, Giuliani go after Kerry in Farmington
Dine' VP meets with Bush but Shirley can't?

Staff Writer

FARMINGTON Navajo Nation Vice President Frank Dayish Jr. partook in a little extracurricular political activity Thursday, meeting with U.S. President George Bush to the rest of the tribal government's surprise.

Before launching into his stump speech amid thousands of fans filling the bleachers and infield at Ricketts Field, the president mentioned meeting Dayish and his wife at the Farmington airport, where he arrived aboard Air Force One. The president did not mention what they spoke of, however.

Deana Jackson, spokesperson for the Navajo Nation president and vice
president, said her office was caught by surprise by news of Dayish's visit with Bush and that it hadn't yet confirmed the report. Although Dayish's schedule for Thursday noted a trip to Farmington, Jackson said, where tribal business often takes him, it made no mention of a meeting with Bush.

Whatever encounter Dayish had with the president, Jackson said, was strictly in a "personal capacity." full article

Friendly' Killer Whale Damaging Boats
Associated Press

August 28, 2004, 1:39 PM EDT

GOLD RIVER, British Columbia -- A "playful" killer whale who likes to frolic alongside fishermen has damaged three boats in separate incidents in recent weeks.

Luna, described by fishermen as a friendly 5-year-old whale, has made frequent contact with people and boats in waters off Vancouver Island, about 125 miles north of the U.S. border, since he began frequenting the waters more than two years ago.

Now Canadian officials and an Indian group that believes the animal is the reincarnation of its late chief are working on a plan to protect both Luna and humans. Officials hope to eventually reunite him with his pod of U.S. relatives. full article

Feds may weigh in on peyote case
By Elizabeth Neff
The Salt Lake Tribune

   In June, the Utah Supreme Court OK'd religious peyote use for any member of the Native American Church. As a result, state drug charges were dropped against local medicine man James Mooney and his wife, Linda.
   But federal prosecutors are now going after the couple. Prosecutors may challenge James Mooney's assertion that he is part American Indian.
In an Aug. 20 letter sent to Mooney, founder of the Oklevueha Earthwalks Native American Church, U.S. Attorney Paul Warner said the court's ruling does not bind federal prosecutors.
"Please be advised that this office is reviewing your conduct for consideration of seeking federal charges," the letter said. full article