American Indian Movement of Colorado

The Lie of Thanksgiving

2006-11-21T10:26:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is a Lie
by Tommi Avicolli Mecca‚ Nov. 21‚ 2006

Thanksgiving is a lie. Just like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

There's no more truth to the Hallmark moment of Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a feast of squash, corn and turkey than there is to Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag. According to my favorite history text, "Lies My Teacher Told Me" by James W. Loewen, it was all manufactured to create a feel-good beginning for this country.

Thanksgiving wasn't invented by the Pilgrims. By the time the Mayflower pulled up at Plymouth Rock in 1620, Native Americans in that part of the country already had a rich tradition of marking the fall harvest with a major fiesta. The day wasn't recognized nationally until 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln declared it a holiday. He had an entirely different motive than honoring the Pilgrims: Morale during the bloody Civil War. America needed a warm fuzzy holiday to make it feel good about itself again.

The Pilgrims were latecomers to the legend, not getting added to the mix until the 1890s.

Of course, some major revisions had to be done to make heroes of those guys. The truth is: When the Pilgrims arrived on the coast of Massachusetts, they found a deserted Native American settlement. Unburied human bodies were scattered everywhere. The survivors had vanished. The villagers had been wiped out by a plague, brought to the "new world" years before by the Europeans. The immune system of the native peoples had no defense against those diseases. Many in Europe couldn't be happier.

Good Christian that he was, King James of England called the death of millions of Native Americans "this wonderful plague." He thanked God for sending it. Other preachers of the day echoed this same sentiment. They believed that God had aided the conquest of the new land by sending disease to ravage the native populations, so that the English could have it. How convenient for them that God was on their side.

The Pilgrims, who were ill-equipped to survive in the harsh environment they found themselves in, immediately took advantage of the situation. They proceeded to rob food (including corn and squash) and pottery from the deserted Native village. They also stole from Indian graves. Within about 50 years of arriving, they had slaughtered most of the native population in the area that wasn't already killed by the plague.

Not the touchy-feelie story you'll see on TV this week.

Tommi Avicolli Mecca is a radical, southern Italian, atheist, working-class, queer performer, activist and writer who bakes a mean tofu lasagna around this time of year.
LINK

The Unquiet Grave: A Book Review by Bob Robideau

2006-11-07T13:09:00.000-08:00

The Unquiet Grave: The FBI and the Struggle for the Soul of Indian Country - A Book Review by Robert Robideau,
Co-Director of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee

The Unquiet Grave: The FBI and the Struggle for the Soul of Indian Country by Steve Hendricks

Steve Hendricks' new book, The Unquiet Grave: The FBI and the Struggle for the Soul of Indian Country, is focused on the 1976 execution of Anna Mae Aquash, a Mic Mac from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Anna Mae Aquash was a leading member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) from 1970 to the time of her death and, although known for taking part in the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, she is best known for her involvement with Dennis Banks and Leonard Peltier during the aftermath of the June 26, 1975 Oglala shoot out with the FBI on the Pine Ridge reservation.

Because of her important role in AIM, she became a target of the FBI's Counterintelligence program ("COINTELPRO"). After the exposure of FBI informant Douglas Durham, at the higest levels of AIM, in the summer of 1974 the FBI began to spread rumors that Aquash, too, was an informant. This effort to discredit her and to divide our movement, through what is known as "badjacketing" in the language of the FBI, lead to Anna Mae's death.

I met Anna Mae for the first time in June of 1975, during an AIM convention in Farmington, New Mexico, when I and others were asked by AIM leadership to discern whether or not she was an informant. We reported that we believed she was not an informant. In the passage of 30 years there has not been any evidence to disprove us.

Several books have been written about AIM and the FBI. Twenty six years ago, I was privileged to meet, and work with, noted author Peter Matthiessen. Peter Matthiessen's In the Spirit of Crazy Horse became the first important book written about events involving the federal government and Native Americans that took place between 1972 and 1976.

Peter Matthiessen called Hendrick’s book, "An impressive and important book." Peter also said in a phone conversation with me that there was “nothing new in the book,” I would disagree with Peter. I found new information, some revealing, while other skewed and unacceptable.

Hendrick’s book exposed further critical information about the FBI’s long and continuing war against the American Indian Movement, bringing into sharp focus the outrageous illegal actions of the FBI. Despite a few new revelations, he does not seriously explore the FBI’s COINTELPRO activities that creted the suspicions within AIM that Anna Mae might be an informant. Instead, Hendricks condemns AIM for the murder. It is believed within AIM that the FBI’s informer and provocateur, Douglas Durham, played a large role in the events that led to the killing of Anna Mae.

Hendricks has shared with the LPDC, the complex web of information he followed through the Freedom Information Act. His efforts exposed hundreds of documents from the FBI’s investigation: memorandums, reports and teletypes, that trace the movements of Anna Mae Aquash prior to her death, which the LPDC has been unable get access to. One very important revelation is that these documents confirm that the FBI knew 30 years ago who the shooters were who killed Anna Mae.

The investigation leads Hendricks into both the AIM and FBI camps, as he goes from one FBI agent to the next and then to members of AIM, prying obvious lies and half truths and emotionally charged expressions that reveal the mutual animosity for each other.

Although, the interplay of word games exposes that there are deep dark secrets being kept by both the American Indian Movement leadership and the FBI, it is clear that Anna Mae Aquash, a Canadian citizen, was threatened and abused by the FBI. She was found shot to death and her body dumped in a ravine.

An FBI-ordered autopsy failed to reveal the bullet wound in the back of her head, leading to more criticism and suspicisons that the FBI might have played a role in the killing (or at least the cover-up). This possibility is not seriously explored by Hendricks.

The indictment of two individuals, John "Boy" Graham and Arlo Looking Cloud 30 years later, when the FBI had gathered sufficient evidence to have brought the case to trial in the 1970’s, has renewed suspicions from AIM and other indigenous communities close to the events of foul play by the FBI.

Arlo Looking Cloud was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, despite a deal made with the Feds for his cooperation. The trial, felt by many to be a sham, and disguise to cover up the FBI’s real purpose of retrying Leonard Peltier for the killing of their two FBI agents after the federal prosecutors had admitted publicly that the prosecution could not prove that Peltier shot and killed the agents.

The sensational testimony at Looking Cloud's trial, by Kamook Banks-Ecoffey, that Leonard Peltier had confessed to the killing of agents Coler and Williams, was contaminated by at least $42,000 in "moving expenses" and other fees that the FBI had paid Banks-Ecoffey for her testimony. Nevertheless, the slanderous allegations against Peltier lingered in the press for months to follow.

Kamook Banks later married Robert Ecoffey an ex goon, who became an investigator in the case, undoubtedly introduced both Kamook Banks and another AIM member, since expelled after turning informant, John Trudell, to the FBI.

In an hour-long interview with Mike McCormick, on KEXP 90.3 FM, Seattle, Washington, Steve Hendricks made the outrageous and ridiculous charge that the reason why the “FBI, who had the names of Anna Mae’s killers 30 years ago did not prosecute because they feared that their informant, David Hill, may have been too close to the murder.”

Steve Hendricks, unoriginal accusations that David Hill became an FBI informant after being arrested and released for the Mount Rushmore Bombings were first lauded by John Trudell twenty-six years ago, then adopted by Paul DeMain, Editor of News From Indian Country. Without proof, these are unacceptable and dangerous accusations to be throwing around. This behavior,on the part of Hendricks, is irresponsible, and under other circumstances that he, himself, describes in his book, would easily be interpreted as the activities of a provocateur.

It put me on my guard when Hendricks ask that we believe an FBI’s story that they rejected David Hill as an informant because he “knew nothing.” There is more then ample evidence to show otherwise and also that his actions in the 1970s were completely loyal to our struggle. If he had been an informant, arrest would have come much earlier then they did. Those of us in AIM who knew David Hill best are not buying these regurgitated stories and false accusations. Let Hendricks reveal his direct, documentary evidence on this allegation, or he should retract it.

Much of Hendrick’s information about David Hill undoubtedly came from John Trudell, who has labeled many individuals in the American Indian Movement and associates as informants. In my view, for many years, Trudell’s behavior has been that of provocateur.

In disregard for the Reign of Terror, accelerated by the counter intelligent activities of the FBI to destroy AIM from 1973 to 1976 resulting in 60 murders, Trudell, in a interview with Indian Country Today recently charged that it was “…The explosion of militancy [ of AIM ] surging from many sources. In that summer of 1975, you had the shootout in Oglala, the killing of Joe Stuntz, the killing of the two FBI agents, you had the bombing at Mount Rushmore , there was a series of bombings at Pine Ridge in the fall. And the operative in my mind, as I consider it, was mostly in that group, hyping up the violence. Annie Mae had gravitated to that most active group and as the government tracked them, she was amongst the people that were accused of doing these things.”
SEE: http://www.leonardpeltier.net/reignofterror.htm

Despite Hendrick’s admission that Paul DeMain, “… will not disclose his sources,” he still regurgitates and validates DeMain’s accusations that accuse David Hill of being in a house where it is alleged the order to kill Anna Mae came. If DeMain’s sources are so good, why weren’t they called to testify at the Looking Cloud trial?
SEE: http://www.leonardpeltier.net/peeledapple.htm

There has been an ongoing effort for the past 30 years, without success, to get the U.S. Congress to investigate the Reign of Terror and culpability of the FBI, as sanctioned in a memo entitled "Para military activity in Indian Country," which was issued because of the 1973 Wounded Knee confrontation with the United States government.

Thirty years of investigations by the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee has contributed much to exposing criminal activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who, under the Nixon administration, was given Presidential authority to destroy the American Indian Movement and others dissent groups through the counter intelligence program (COINTELPRO) a predecessor to today’s Patriot Act.

Hendricks references, but does not explore the important connections between the FBI’s domestic Conintelpro period to that of President Bush’s Patriot Act today. The Leonard Peltier and Anna Mae Aquash cases have inspired two other books to be written by Ward Churchill and Jim Vanderwall, Agents of Repression and The COINTELPRO PAPERS, but Hendricks barely mentions them.

It is evident that Hendricks agrees with the FBIs condemnation that Peltier shot the agents, but he concludes that Peltier should be freed because he has served 30 years in prison, and because of the illegal methods used by the FBI to gain the convictions. Hendricks then writes that if he were to ‘meet Leonard Peltier that he knew that he would not like him.’ These pronouncements left me wondering about Hendricks motivation for writing the book.

Steve Hendricks has not just written a book with a single purpose in mind. His web site, http://www.stevehendricks.org/, is indicative of a plan to create a long career from the tribulations, sufferings, sacrifices and struggles of our past and continuing wars with the United States. I hope that this is not true.

Hendrick’s book, The Unquiet Grave, despite its coverage of much information already written in other books, and its other shortcomings, deserves to be read by all who have an interest in learning the dynamics of this story, and how the story continues to be played out today.
Robert Robideau
Co-Director Leonard Peltier Defense Committee

Bob Robideau Comments on Columbus Day

2006-10-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

October 10, 2006

The Historical Debt to Native People Has Still Not Been Paid
The Myth Keepers of Columbus

By ROBERT ROBIDEAU

In 1993, 500 years after European invaders of the Americas had brought the first Native Americans to Europe in chains, my plane landed in Barcelona, Spain, I had been invited to the International Cultural Symposium to speak on behalf of Leonard Peltier . The day after my arrival, I took a walk down their famous Rambler to the Placa del Portal de la Pau where I ran head long into a monument of Christopher Columbus. Built for the World Exhibition in 1888, the iron column is an impressive 197 feet tall and weighs 205 tons. On top the column stands a 26 foot statue of Columbus with head sculptured high, positioned to face out over its outstretched arm, with finger pointing over the Mediterranean sea and out to the distant horizon toward the Americas. As I moved around its base I discovered a series of relief's depicting the "new lands." What I saw was not the innocence that had been carved, but instead the first stages of colonization, the rape and plunder of the land and people of the Americas.

The popular fallacy is that Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. At age 14 he became a sailor, shipwrecked off of Portugal in 1470, he remained until his idea to sail west to India, known then as "Hindustan," was financed by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain in 1492. He reached the Bahamas on October 12th, visited Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti), where he left a small colony before returning to Spain on March 15th, 1493 bringing with him 6 captive Taino people, taken from the Caribbean islands, who were presented to Ferdinand and Isabella in the royal court of Barcelona as proof of his travel. A painting that today hangs in (government building) show the Taino people at the feet of the king and queen in servile postures of slaves. The 6 Tainos never saw home again, their spirits still linger in the streets of Barcelona.

In his delirium Columbus thought he landed in Paradise. He wrote in his journal that Taínos had beautiful, tall, slender olive bodies. They wore short haircuts with a long hank at the back of the head. They were clean-shaven and hairless. According to Columbus the Taíno tongue was "gentle, the sweetest in the world, always with a laugh."

Friendly relations did not last long, many Tainos were beaten and murdered. The Spanish brought diseases with them that the Tainos lacked immunity to. The weapons that the Spanish were far superior to the Tainos. An estimated fifty thousand Tainos perished within two years of Columbus landing. The Spanish jammed more then five hundred Taino prisoners into a boat for Spain. They became homeless in their own land. They were devastated by abuse, starvation, and disease. Life was never the same for Indians of the Americas after 1492. Puerto Rico, an Island once occupied by Tainos were almost wiped out within two decades.

With the arrival of Columbus begin the onslaught of genocide in the Americas that Europeans only whisper about. The legacy of Columbus has kept Native Americans at the very bottom of the socio-economic ladder. Population surveys of the Americas estimates that at the time Columbus stumbled onto the Americas 100 million people inhabited it, a count far greater then that of all Europe in those times. More then 10 million resided in the United States, today less then a million remain in the United States. Many tribes have long become decimated and extinct.

The myth that continues to be propagated is that Native Americans were savages and the civilization brought by Europeans saved them. Reality is that the foods, medicines and political structures of Native Nations in the Americas not only saved Europeans from constant famine in Europe but also taught them much about freedom and democracy, later adopted by the forefathers of Euro Americans. The model of Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee, also known as the League of Peace and Power) enabled the United States to form in part its constitution which, thanks to President Bush's Patriot Act, is well on the road to become myth. Today, the myth of democracy, has become a perverted tool to dominate, subjugate and colonize other countries around the world such as Iraq and Palestine.

The United States held their first celebration of the "discovery of America" in New York, on October 12, 1792. At that time the only statue of Columbus in existence was in New York. In 1876, Italian Americans of Philadelphia erected a statue of Columbus in Fairmount Park. In 1905 Italian Americans in Denver, Colorado were the first to observe Columbus Day. It was not until September 1934 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt made it national holiday. Finally, Columbus Day became a federal legal holiday in 1971 after lobbying from the National Columbus Day Committee. Columbus Day or "El Dia de la Raza" has brought a wave of dissent across the United States and Canada by many Native Americans who feel that it perpetuates a myth that breeds bias and racism toward them.

Since 1970 Native Americans have gathered to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving in remembrance of the genocide of millions of Native Peoples, theft of Native lands and the relentless assault on Native cultures since Columbus open the flood gates to European invasions of the Americas. It is curious that Columbus Day is, except for religious holidays, the only historical event which all Pan-American countries celebrate.

Since 1989 the Colorado AIM chapter has lead a protest against the Columbus Day Parade in Denver declaring, "As the original people of this land, we cannot and will not, tolerate social and political festivities that celebrate our genocide. We are committed to the active, open and public rejection of disrespect and racism in its various forms---including Columbus Day and Columbus Day Parades." For these last 17 years they have tried to educate the general public about their feelings for Columbus Day; they have protested, blockaded and gone to jail for their efforts to stop this parade of indoctrinated myth keepers.

The issue of Columbus and Columbus Day is not easily resolvable in a society spoon feed on its propaganda of myths and historical lies that propagate the idea that Europeans were a superior race of two legged homo sapiens that came to save the Indians from their barbaric ways. The Europeans who came and settled invented and schooled the myth that they had created the New World by their imaged "discovery, " just as they had come to create the creation myth of its origins known as the "Bearing Strait Theory." Native Americans just had to have come from somewhere, but not the western hemisphere.

What good does Columbus Day contribute by celebrating racist propaganda and myths that perpetuate genocide in institutions of education. Nazi Germany is perfect example of where such false, racist and opportunistic ideas lead. The most popularly believed myth of scholars is that native Americans were Jews. Louis Hennepin, in his New Discovery of a Vast Country in America wrote, "These savages originally sprung from the Jews," because they lived "in a form of tents, like as did Jews" and they are "subtle and crafty as Jews."

The first thought that crept to mind was that the encounter with the statue of Columbus must represent some sort of warning and I had better watch my step. Sure enough in 1996 I was teased back to Barcelona, Spain where I began a new life out of the reach of the FBI and the emergence of fascist rumblings in the States.

Europe too, I felt, had a historical debt and there was social need to transmit that Indian cultures had not been completely destroyed. We still existed despite 500 years of genocide and so I founded an AIM museum to bring awareness of it to Europeans so that they would not forget.

Robert Robideau is Co-Director of theLeonard Peltier Defense Committee.
He can be reached at: robertrobideau@yahoo.com

Message from Leonard Peltier -- FREE PELTIER!

2006-09-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

September 13, 2006

Crazy Horse in Chains
30 Years in Prison and the Struggle Continues
By LEONARD PELTIER

Well here it is another year. Another birthday. This one makes me 62 years old. Also this makes it my thirty plus years in prison. I believe it was right after I was illegally convicted in Fargo, North Dokota when I wrote a statement telling everyone that my freedom would only come after the masses had demanded it. But first we would have to unite and organize, to reach them.

So far we have been unable to do so. Yes we have reached millions who have signed my petitions we have circulated throughout the world asking for my release. True most of those good peoples are from Europe, but we have also made a lot of gains here in the United States. At one time we had fifty five (55) members of Congress sign a letter for a new trial or my release.

Fifty-five members is historical. No other prisoner in history has ever been able to accomplish this, nor has anyone else, individually I mean, and there are other accomplishments we have made and won here in the United States.

Still I sit in prison not because I am guilty of the alleged crime I was illegally convicted of but because we still are unable to reach the masses here in America. The reason for this is not because the American people do not care or want to help, but because we have been unable to reach them.

Personally I believe the majority of them do care and want to help. We sense this from the ones we are able to reach. We are moving forward very slowly in this freedom campaign of mine. The reason is we just do not have the financial resources to move forward at the pace we would like to be.

This is the real and only reason that we have not been able to reach the people in the United States. Nothing is free here in America, not justice or the media. So although there is still no light at the end of the tunnel for me or my freedom, we continue struggling forward. I continue to search for the hope and strength I need to survive.

I continue to pray and hope that one day I will get the support I need from the American people and one day I will still be able to walk out of prison. So my hopes and spirits are still high at my 62 years of age. I continue on this continued struggle.

We are still finding bits and pieces of new evidence to file new appeals on. Those of you who have followed my case closely I can imagine are thinking How can this be, as there has been so many constitutional violations already. But the same old problem exists. The courts continue to cover up the continued criminal acts of my conviction committed by my prosecutors.

Your help is needed, Give what you can to FreedomWalk.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

Leonard Peltier

Six Nations Warriors Request Support for Winter

2006-08-29T16:50:00.001-07:00

TORONTO (CP) - Aboriginal protesters occupying a former housing development site in Caledonia, Ont., are asking for donations to help them make it through the winter.

The Six Nations protesters, who have occupied the land since February, are calling for building supplies to help them finish constructing the 11 houses on the disputed territory.

Janie Jameson, spokeswoman for the protesters, says no one wants to see the half-built houses "rot away" when they could be used for shelter during the winter.

She says protesters also need non-perishable food and warm clothing to help them maintain their occupation, which she says will only end when the land is returned to the Six Nations people.

But Jason Clark, of the Caledonia Citizens Alliance, says residents are at their "wit's end" and can't contemplate the occupation - which has been marred by barricades and violent clashes - lasting into the winter.

He says it's time both levels of government stepped in to end the occupation.

For more information, contact: www.reclamationinfo.com

Zionism and Manifest Destiny Redux

2006-07-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

The most recent, and currently unfolding, example of Zionist psychopathy in Gaza and Lebanon by the Israeli state warrants a reprinting of Bob Robideau's column from February of this year. We hope that Native people can see the transparent similarities between U.S. policy towards our indigenous nations and the zionist repression of the Palestinian people. For current accounts of the situation, without the mainstream U.S. media bias, visit Al Jezeera at: http://english.aljazeera.net/HomePage

Here is the article from our brother Bob Robideau. The original article may be found at http://www.counterpunch.org/robideau02012006.html

February 1, 2006

"God Given Right"
Palestine and Native America
By ROBERT ROBIDEAU

The recent election windfall victory of Hamas has sent shock waves through the United States and the European Union. They swiftly announced their threat to withhold $400 million in aide if Hamas refused to recognize the state of Israel and disarm.

Hamas, which has promoted itself as a militant alternative to the discredited Fatah government, now has to live up to its own rhetoric of providing an alternative to the long suffering Palestinian people.

Mr Zahar, the leader of Hamas who rose to power in 1989, reportedly said, "Spies and thieves must fear us," and "thieves are those who steal our land". As a member of the American Indian Movement, I know full well that the roads into the Americas were paved by thieves. It was A government spy sent to create internal disruption, who set the stage for the execution of Anna Mae Aquash, an icon in Indian country; and while over 150 government police terrorized communities on the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota reservation in the summer of 1975, the federal government stole one eighth of the Pine Ridge reservation land.

The state of Israel sets on land that was originally Palestinian but Zionist movements in Europe and the United States claimed that the "land was given to them by God" and their belief that their race possessed some "natural superiority". Euro- Americas pray to "god and country" and teach their future generations to pray homage to the gangsters, outlaws and thieves who stole the country from Indian nations in god,s name.

The European idea that they possessed a "God given superiority" not only had brought them into conflict with the Palestinian people, but also North American Indian Nations in the 1800s.

In contrast, Euro-Americans and Europeans began their westward expansion of North America under the banner of manifest destiny. A belief that they had a "divinely inspired mission" to expand. Euro-American expansion meant the thief and occupation of Native American Indian lands. A big part of William Henry Harrison´s responsibility, who as the Territorial Governor of Indiana, was to obtain title to American Indian lands so that white settlement could expand in the area, asked the Indiana legislature: "Is one of the fairest portions of the globe to remain in a state of nature, the haunt of a few wretched savages, when it seems destined, by the Creator, to give support to a large population, and to be the sea of civilization, of science, and true religion?" Isn't this the Zionist attitude toward Palestine?

The United States continued the European practice of recognizing only limited land rights of Native American Indians who they regarded as "savages" who stood in the way of Euro-American expansion. The same mentality has prevailed with Israel people in their dealings with the Palestinian people.

In the time of Manifest Destiny, this idea was clear and simple, "Indian Removal". The "Indian wars" between Native Indian Nations and Euro-American armies, which are now well recorded, ended in more then 300 treaties that won some tribes large sections of land, but today these lands have all but melted away into the hands of Euro-Americans.

Euro-American's believed that Native American Indians were "destined to melt and vanish before the advancing waves of Anglo-American power..." but the large land sessions won by the Tribes through treaty in fact allowed future generations to survive, even as their lands continued to be lost through one passage after another of Congressional Acts that swindled tribes out of millions of acres of land.

Today Native lands have become checker boarded with Euro-American ownership and continue to be subject to Congressional Acts to defraud Native people of even more land and the natural resources.

The Palestinian people continue to struggle through various groups like Hamas in self defense of their sovereignty and to keep their remaining lands. So too, has North American Indian people continued to struggle to keep what is left of their lands and recover stolen lands.

The Federal Government offers the Lakota Nations 100´s of millions for their sacred Black Hills, but the Lakota people have refused the federal paper dollars, firmly stating, "Our sacred land is not for sale!"

Of the numerous Native American Indian groups that have historically formed to confront the continued Euro-American intrusions into our lives and sovereign rights, the American Indian Movement (AIM) has become best known. Like the PLO, Hamas and other Palestinian liberation groups, we too were criminalized by the invaders and thieves who attempt to undermine our rights as a liberation group with aggression, violence and name calling. As with the Palestinians, we too will not be denied, through threats of violence, our right of self defense.

On September 2005 the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched a three day aerial attacks killing and wounding Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip. An action by the Israel government to demoralize Palestinian victims through acts of terror are common tactics used by occupying forces.

For 30 years Congress has failed to fully investigate their law enforcement agency the FBI´s role in the "Reign of Terror" on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota that resulted in 240 assaults and 60 murders in a 3 year period. It also failed to investigate the gross misconduct of the FBI in the case of Leonard Peltier, a member activist of the American Indian Movement who has now spent 30 years in federal prisons for defending the lives of his people against the violent and aggressive attacks of the FBI. The order to eliminate Mr. Peltier was apparently authorized by the federal government.

If the United States and the European Union fail to buy Mr. Zahar out with "aid money", we can expect that they will use military units with similar powers given to law enforcement agencies here in the United States under the old Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) or the one now known as the Patriot Act to eliminate him in the name of God.

United States history attest to the genocide of North American Indians and most educated Euro Americans and Europeans would agree that a genocide has been committed on this continent in the name of God and riches, but when it comes to the Muslim world the racism is disgusting.

The "Gods" must be crazy to think that their programs of racism and genocide will stop freedom fighters around the world from carrying on with their struggles for liberation and self defense.

ROBERT ROBIDEAU is co-director of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. He can be reached at: americanindianm@telefonica.net

2 Native events to check out on July 4 and July 7.

2006-06-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

There are 2 upcoming events in Denver that are being held for the native community and visitors who will be in town for the week.

One is a hip hop concert featuring Savage Family and the Culture Shock Camp. The other is an indigenous spoken word/musical performance event.

The Hip Hop Concert will be held on-
July, 4 2006, 9 p.m
The Mercury Cafe
2199 California St, Denver, CO 80201

The Medicine Word Poet performance will be-
July, 7 2006, 6:30 p.m.
The Mercury Cafe
2199 California Street, Denver, CO 80205
Free admission
Show description
Here's a show for Ndns by Ndns! We have a handful of seasoned poets who are scheduled to read. The rest of the evening is for the youth from ages 13-19 to read their work, whether it be a poem or spoken word. Please don't be shy and if you are, remember that most of the people there you don't know anyway! This event is being put on by Medicine Word Poets for the people who are here for the Indigenous Games AND the local Ndn community. Remember you have a voice...USE IT! Let's hear ya holla!

Check out the myspace websites.

Savage Family- Theories of Revolution
Medicine Word Poets-Medicine Word Poets

Check out both shows and support out native artists

Yellow Bird:Open letter to all Indigenous Peoples

2006-06-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

This Yellow Bird open letter has been forwarded around email lists but I have not been able to find a link for it. Therefore, I am posting the entire letter until I find a link.

Open Letter to all Indigenous Peoples:

As the United States prepares for its annual Independence Day celebrations, I strongly urge all of our nations to hold critical and independent discussions on why we are committing our young people to serve the U.S. military in its occupation of Iraq.

The recent reporting (including revelations of a cover-up) of the murders, executions, and massacres of innocent Iraqi citizens by United States troops prompts me to ask, "Why are Indigenous (American Indian) soldiers serving in Iraq?" I wonder why our tribal communities have not had critical debates on the immorality of this war, on the lies of the present Bush Administration that got us into this war, and on the spiritual, economic, social, and psychological costs that both our people and the Iraqi people will pay for this war. It is clear from the history of many of our tribes that our people understood the grave costs of war and so took this act very seriously.

Before engaging in war, many of our tribes initiated peace councils and sent emissaries to negotiate goodwill and friendship with the "enemy" in order to avoid war. As sovereign Indigenous nations, we did not do this before or during the invasion of Iraq. We instead let the United States make the decision for us as to whether we should or should not enter into this war. I wonder when was the last time that the United States asked our people for our opinion about war and its costs.

Our history tells us that because war was so destructive on many different levels, many of our tribal nations” before committing to war against another tribe” consulted our elders, peacemakers, women, youth, philosophers, intellectuals, spiritual leaders, children, warriors, and veterans to weigh the costs of war. This is something that many of our nations have not done for some time. Many of us have “outsourced-our-thinking” to the United States with respect to when and why we should or should not go to war. We are sovereign nations with very intelligent and moral people who do not need to rely on this country to interpret for us the meaning and the costs that war will bring to our communities. Most of us already know the answer to this. And we know that we should decide for ourselves, after careful, deliberate, and intelligent discussions, whether we must commit our people and resources to the wars of the United States.

Along with the U.S. invasion of the lands of our respective nations, the last two major conflicts of the United States, Vietnam and now Iraq, were based on lies created by the U.S. government. Their track record makes it even more imperative that we rely upon our own thinking, experiences, and morality when we enter into discussions on why our tribal nations should compel our people to go to war. The Vietnam lie was very expensive and horrific; it was responsible for the deaths of 58,191 American soldiers and 153,303 wounded. One million Vietnamese combatants and four million civilians were killed for this American lie. The missing in this war includes approximately 2,300 American soldiers and 200,000 Vietnamese. In Iraq, over 100,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since 2003. After so many lies told to our people by the United States, do we trust this nation to be honest with us? Do we trust it to care about life as much as we do?

If we are to have discussions about this war, topics must include:

Our belief that all people and beings are related to us so what does it mean to make war on our relatives; The fact that we value all life so, therefore, war truly must be a last resort; The fact that we value Mother Earth as a living being and the fact that the United States military is contaminating the lands, waters, trees, plants and people in Iraq through the use of biowarfare, landmines, and depleted uranium which will kill innocent people and will poison much of their territory for many years; The fact that we believe in the great circle of life (e.g., what goes around comes around and what we are doing to the Iraqi people is what the U.S. did to our ancestors); What are the effects that all of the killing, maiming, poisoning, and torturing will have upon our people, especially on the psychic and cosmological levels; How the U.S. has treated us in the past and the present, and how it has conscripted our minds and hearts so that we are participating in their same oppressive behavior of another group/race of humans; What other nations has the United States overthrown for its own interests? How many innocent non-U.S. peoples have been killed by this country’s covert operations, and who is it planning to attack in the future? Why? Who benefits most from war and who are the biggest losers? Finally, there are many other reasons that we can discuss and analyze.

It seems that we cannot rely on corporate media or the U.S. government to tell us the truth or to give us the facts about why we should go to war or who we should consider our enemy. John Stockwell, the highest-ranking CIA official to leave the agency and go public with information about CIA-sponsored activities, once said that the U.S. neither does “bloody, gory operations” in Europe nor does it spend its time attacking these countries. Rather it performs such operations in countries that are filled with people of color who do not have the military strength and resources to protect themselves from U.S. invasions. I am convinced that Stockwell is suggesting that the U.S. government has a clear racist war ideology and readily employs it against people or races that are not white. So, we must use all the available evidence to independently decide for ourselves if and when we should go to war and who is our enemy. An enemy should not be invented because of the color of its skin or religious beliefs.

I believe that it is time for us to demand that our tribal governments call for critical and independent discussions, and we need to tell the United States to immediately call for withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq. Most importantly” and independently of their decision or indecision” we must immediately pull our people out of this quagmire. Countries such as Japan, Honduras, Tonga, Nicaragua, Spain, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand, Portugal, and Moldova already have pulled out their troops and many other nations are planning to reduce their troop commitment in the near future. So why are we still in Iraq fighting the U.S.’s illegal war? It also is time for our tribal leaders and communities to impose a moratorium upon any further enlistments of our young men and women into the U.S. military. The United States has abused our trust and has coerced us to fight its illegal, immoral wars long enough.

Many things about this war trouble me to the very core. One of the most disturbing questions is why does it seem that of all the countries that have been, or continue to be, in this war, it is only U.S. soldiers who are committing the murders of, and atrocities against, innocent Iraqi citizens (the unarmed, the disabled, the defenseless elders, the women, and the children)? Is it because the U.S. is serving in larger numbers?

Is it because the U.S. is serving in more hazardous situations? Is it because the U.S. is more trigger happy? Is it because of poor oversight and supervision by the upper ranks of the military? Is it because U.S. troops are a more violent group and enjoy killing more than do other soldiers? Is it because the architects of this war, including President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and former Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, care more about profit than "just war" principles? Is it all of the above?

As I write this, two national guardsmen are being investigated for killing an innocent Iraqi man earlier this year; seven Marines and one Navy corpsman were charged with the shooting death of an Iraqi man, whom they had kidnapped from his home, forced into a hole, and shot to death” they then left a stolen AK-47 near his body to make it look like he was firing at them; three soldiers and one non-commissioned officer were charged with killing (in May 2006) three unarmed Iraqis who were in military custody. And many more Iraqi people have been abused and tortured to death in U.S. custody (especially in the military prisons). Many of these atrocities have been covered up or are “under investigation.”

The story currently receiving the most press is the November 2005 massacre of the twenty-four innocent civilians (including women and children) in Haditha by U.S. Marines. This mass killing is being in compared to the 1968 My Lai massacre in Vietnam. A “Washington Post” article reported that "Aws Fahmi, a Haditha resident said he watched and listened from his home as Marines went from house to house killing members of three families, recalled hearing his neighbor across the street, Younis Salim Khafif, plead in English for his life and the lives of his family members. ˜I heard Younis speaking to the Americans, saying: “I am a friend. I am good,” Fahmi said. But they killed him, and his wife and daughters.’ The girls killed inside Khafif's house were ages 14, 10, 5, 3 and 1”(Saturday, May 17, 2006).

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), a former Marine who maintains close ties with senior Marine officers despite his opposition to the war stated, "Marines overreacted . . . and killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Murtha already has called for the withdrawal of the U.S. military from Iraq and has called the war "a flawed policy wrapped in illusion" (Larry Downing, Reuters, Nov 18, 2005).

There are many reasons why we must immediately get our people out of this war:

War is not a moral act. The occupation, torture, mutilation, killing, and murder of innocent Iraqi people are acts of immorality. Our people should not be complicit in atrocities. The invasion of Iraq was based on lies. Iraq was accused of having weapons of mass destruction by the Bush administration; it did not. Iraq was accused of having ties with Osama Bin Laden; it did not. Our people should not be complicit in lies. The war against Iraq does not meet the standards of a "Just War" that evolved among "civilized" societies. Our people have enough struggles and battles, and should not be complicit in unjust global activities on behalf of the United States. The war on Iraq was for "regime change" which is not legal under international law, Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. Our people should not be complicit in lawlessness.

After two decades of wars, invasions, and sanctions, Iraq did not have the military power to pose a clear and present danger to the U.S. before or after being invaded in 2003. Our people should not be complicit in oppressing and occupying a nation that never attacked us. Many people in the U.S. and throughout the world oppose this war. Our nations should exercise their right to voice their opposition to U.S. military operations, conflicts, wars, and occupations. The U.S. soldiers who have murdered Iraqi civilians must now stand trial. Several of them could receive the death penalty. Will more death and life sentences follow or will the deaths of innocent Iraqis be ignored or covered up? Do we want our men and women involved in situations that might conclude in such trials or cover-ups? Our people should mentor their young into just and moral activities that benefit their nations, while encouraging conflict-resolution when possible. This war is creating new "terrorism" and retribution that will be directed at the U.S. for its invasion of Iraq and its torturing and killing of innocent people. Our people should not contribute to U.S. creation of hatred. There is no end in sight for a U.S. military exit out of Iraq. Many sources report that the U.S. is establishing permanent military bases in Iraq which would keep troops in Iraq for many years. Our people should not contribute to the expansion and maintenance of U.S. militarization, colonization, and occupation. Invading Iraq is extremely financially costly and takes resources away from many badly needed priorities at home. At present, it costs nearly one billion dollars a week to wage this “War on Terrorism.” Our people should not be complicit in U.S. activities that waste money.

Billions of dollars have been authorized by the U.S. congress to be used for occupation and reconstruction. There is evidence that billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars have been lost through waste, abuse, and fraudulent billing. In a June 8, 2006, article published in “The Baltimore Chronicle,” Dave Lindorff reported that twenty-one billion dollars "has gone missing without a trace in Iraq." Who is responsible for this? I am reminded that our people are fighting for, in part, accountability of billions of lost dollars in the Eloise Pepion Cobell, et al. v. Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior lawsuit in the United States. Our people should never be complicit in U.S. theft, fraud, and dishonesty. The U.S. is supposed to be rebuilding Afghanistan but it is not; rather, it is targeting most of its focus and resources on Iraq. Our people should not contribute to unilateral U.S. policy and doctrines.

Despite billions of U.S. dollars spent in Iraq after its invasion, very little promised rebuilding of the Iraqi infrastructure has been accomplished. Our people “who are familiar with broken promises and treaties” should never be complicit in the lies of the United States.

The rebuilding of Iraq is not happening. Many U.S. firms that went to Iraq to perform reconstruction services have been accused of "bilking" funds intended for reconstruction. In an April 16, 2006 news story, the “Boston Globe” reported that "American contractors swindled hundreds of millions of dollars in Iraqi funds." For instance, in March 2006, a Rhode Island-based company called, The Custer Battles, was found "liable for $3 million in fraudulent billings in Iraq." Stories such as this are outrageous and numerous. Many of these companies had/have ties to the current Bush administration, especially Dick Cheney, the current Vice President of the United States. Cheney was the CEO of Halliburton from 1995 to 2000. Halliburton has made hundreds of millions of dollars from this war and occupation. Our people should not be complicit in helping the rich, like Cheney, get richer.

We must no longer allow our nations to remain in the fog of war, participating in the U.S. continued colonization and destruction of the world. What this country has done” and continues to do” to the Iraqi people is unconscionable and must stop. The U.S.-led war in Iraq is wrong, immoral, illegal, unjust, a lie; it is about profiteering for a very small, corrupt, elite sector of the U.S. population. Our people, many of whom occupy some of the lowest levels of decision making in the U.S. military, are considered expendable and are being used for cannon fodder so that the rich, especially in the United States, can become richer.

We must realize that many of the people in the highest levels of the United States government suffer from an addiction to war, power, and colonization. Many, but not all, Indigenous Peoples have become co dependent in this addiction as demonstrated by not holding public meetings and councils that question the U.S. invasion, and by allowing our people to participate in this unjust, illegal war that is creating suffering for untold numbers of innocent Iraqi people. In the Fall of 2004, the academic journal Wicazo Sa Review published a paper I wrote entitled “Cowboys and Indians: Toys of Genocide, Icons of American Colonialism.”? In that article, I stated that "it took me some years to understand that colonialism is a sickness, an addiction to greed, power, and exploitation....Colonialism has taught many Indigenous Peoples to be silent, passive, compliant victims who participate in, excuse, enable, or ignore the colonizer's addictive behaviors. Left unchecked, colonialism has continued to flourish, devastate, and suppress Indigenous Peoples, keeping them in a the perpetual role of 'the Indian,' causing many to say, do and think things they never would if their minds and hearts were free from American colonial rule." Today this addictive behavior or the drug of choice of this country is its illegal, dishonest, and brutal invasion of Iraq. I urgently ask each and every Indigenous Person to quit enabling the addictive behavior of the U.S.

In this same article, I also wrote that there are "antidotes to colonialism that Indigenous Peoples can and must employ: courage, intelligent resistance, development of a counterconsciousness and discourse, and a fierce critical interrogation of American colonial ideology." It is incumbent upon our peoples to employ these antidotes in order to condemn and get our people out of this war. We must commit all of our intellectual and truth-seeking energies to this objective and not let any one, Indigenous or non Indigenous, hijack our need for such critical and independent discussions. A key democratic principle of our peoples was our willingness to allow our people dissent from popular opinion so that we might consider all of our options. We must not let accusations that our "honor and courage as warriors is on the line" prevent us from deciding to leave Iraq” and the U.S. military. After generations of service in the U.S. military” and its numerous wars” our people have repeatedly proven that we are brave and courageous beyond compare. However, our ability to think morally, critically, and independently about our participation in this war is another matter that we now must undertake ever so seriously.

Maybe, just maybe, if we act using our traditional Indigenous forms of morality that value truth, intelligence, honesty, life, and dignity” and refuse to be a enabler to the U.S. addiction to greed, war, power, and colonization” we can help it overcome its unhealthy, destructive obsession for war, conquest, and killing of others. And, as it recovers from this addiction, maybe we also can help it overcome its two greatest phobias: dikephobia (the fear of justice) and hypegiaphobia (the fear of responsibility). I pray that that you will take this open letter (or a statement of your own) to your tribal leaders and communities and immediately begin the important critical and independent discussions that will promote and act upon the well-being of all of our people.

All the best,
Michael

Dr. Michael Yellow Bird, Ph.D.

CANADA ORDERS EXTRADITION OF GRAHAM FOR AQUASH MURDER

2006-06-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 22, 2006 | 8:29 PM CT
CBC News

Federal Justice Minister Vic Toews has ordered the extradition of former Yukoner John Graham, who is wanted in the United States for the 1976 murder of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq activist Anna Mae Pictou Aquash. Aquash was shot in the back of the head at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

Graham, who now lives in Vancouver, was a member of the American Indian Movement, as was Aquash, at the time she was killed. He was arrested for the murder in December 2003.

In 2005, the B.C. Supreme Court decided that Graham should be sent to the U.S. to face the charges. The extradition order issued Thursday by the federal government follows that up.

Graham's lawyer Greg Delbigio says Graham will launch a joint appeal on both the extradition order and the court decision. Delbigio said he expects a court date for the appeal will be set Friday. He will also ask the B.C. Court of Appeal that Graham be granted an extension of his bail.

Colorado AIM Supports Western Shoshone Against Bomb Test

2006-06-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

MERCURY, Nev. - The ''Divine Strake'' detonation has been halted, but Western Shoshone continued their protest at the Nevada Test Site over Memorial Day weekend to demand respect for Western Shoshone land rights at the site, as stated in the Treaty of Ruby Valley of 1863.

Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone grandmother, was among 45 people arrested after they crossed the boundary onto the Nevada Test Site in an act of civil disobedience. Security from the site and Nye County sheriff's deputies arrested them and placed them in a holding facility.

''Enough is enough,'' Dann told the crowd before being arrested, which resounded the ''Ya basta!'' (''Enough is enough!'') battle cry of the Zapatistas fighting for indigenous rights in Mexico.

Glenn Morris, attorney, university professor and member of the Colorado Chapter of the American Indian Movement, was arrested. Morris told officers that they were in violation of the Treaty of Ruby Valley and the U.S. Constitution. Other members of Colorado AIM participated in the rally, but were not arrested.

''This is treaty land,'' said several Western Shoshone as they were arrested. Non-Western Shoshone received permits to be on the land from the Western Shoshone Nation Council.

Julie Fishel, attorney and advocate for the Western Shoshone Defense Council, and Steven Newcomb, Indian Country Today columnist, were among the 30 women and 15 men arrested.''It doesn't have to be hostile, it can be done in a good way,'' Fishel told Indian Country Today. She said it was the first time she was arrested and as an attorney considered the choice carefully. She said her decision was based on the lawlessness in this country and the United States' refusal to honor decisions of the United Nations, while continuing to violate Western Shoshone and indigenous human rights.

Western Shoshone spiritual leader Corbin Harney, Tom Goldtooth, of the Indigenous Environmental Network, and Tupac Enrique, of Tonatierra in Phoenix, led the day's events, which centered on tradition and respect for mother earth. Several hundred people attended the protest and march to the Nevada Test Site. The 45 arrested were cited and released.

The 700-ton explosion named Divine Strake was halted after Western Shoshone filed a lawsuit in federal court and 42 national and international organizations joined forces, including environmental justice, environmental, political, nonproliferation activists, peace activists and indigenous groups.

The ''Not so Divine Strake Protest'' turned into a victory celebration for Western Shoshone, environmental activists and downwinders May 28 at the Nevada Test Site. Downwinders, those who could be affected by the release of radioactive particles from previous blasts, celebrated in Western states including Utah, Idaho and Montana. (Exerpt from article by Brenda Norell, Indian Country Today, 5 June 2006.)

be back next Tuesday

2006-05-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Others may be updating the blog in the next few days but as for me, I'll be back next Tuesday.

Bear Butte update

2006-05-24T23:28:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of paragraphs taken from an update email from the Bear Butte International Alliance.

Today Attorneys Bruce Ellison of Rapid City, as well as James G. Abourezk of Abourezk Law Offices, P.C. and Thomas Van Norman, Sr Tribal Attorney Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Legal Dept. representing Meade county resident plaintiffs filed a Writ of Mandamus at the Meade County Court House. This is a legal appeal asking a Judge to
compel the commissioners to allow the historical first referendum petition that was filed on May 2, 2006 go to a vote. Meade County Commissioners on May 4 unanimously determined that the question/petition of Jay Allens Sturgis County Line malt liquor
license was an administrative action therefore not eligible for the ballot.

You can sign up for updates by visiting there site at BBIA

Six Nation updates

2006-05-24T23:12:00.000-07:00

Just checking back in with some Six Nation updates. The Six Nation protection barricades were taken down today. An earlier goodwill gesture to take them down was met with an attack by a mob of Caledonians. The Six Nation defenders, in a show of magnanimity, once again removed their protection barricades today and all roads around Caledonia are now open.

To get more details, visit the following websiteSix Nations Solidarity

Now is the time for protest-Bear Butte

2006-05-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

One of the key organizers in the struggle to protect Bear Butte, Deb White Plume, wrote the following guest column, which was posted on the Native Times.

This column is regarding a decision by commissioners in South Dakota’s Meade County to approve the alcohol application of Jay Allen, who proposes to build a large bar, asphalt parking lot and amphitheater near Bear Butte.....

Many of us attending the April hearing urged the commissioners to take courage and vote for the environment, creation, and the coming generations. We urged them to stand against the powerful raging money machine that often drives small towns into making disastrous, regrettable decisions. As elected officials, the commissioners must be aware that the decision to allow Allen the one tool he needs to make a profit from his endeavor will result in great suffering for the people who need and cherish Bear Butte, as well as environmentalists who respect Bear Butte for the special place that it is.

Aren’t the 60 bars already in the area enough?

Lakota people could have celebrated a decision to protect and preserve the sacred mountain. That was not to be, and the commissioners approved Allen’s alcohol-license application. The power was there for the commission to enact an honorable decision, yet without any discussion, the vote was unanimous to approve

Our work is not done; we will continue to resist the desecration of Bear Butte. We will continue to make a stand for our right to pray for our sacred mountain when we camp there with other tribes and our supporters beginning on the Fourth of July. Native Times column

There are now several support groups that will be travelling to the Bear Butte camp. To join one of the support groups or to start one, visit the following sites.
Protect Bear Butte
Defend Bear Butte
Bear Butte International Alliance
Owe Aku

""Do they think the Shoshone people don't matter?"

2006-05-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

Residents on the Duckwater Reservation began what will be a series of actions against the "Divine Strake" bombing within traditional Shoshone territory. The blast date has been postponed and is scheduled for June 23.

Darlene Graham, a resident of the Duckwater Indian Reservation in northeastern Nye County, said she never understood why her 32-year-old brother died of throat cancer back in 1983. He didn't smoke.

Graham suspects the testing of nuclear weapons at the Nevada Test Site in the 1950s killed her brother. The family grew their own vegetables and butchered their own cattle, she said, on ground that could have been contaminated. She raised her nephew and niece.

"They told me I could apply for compensation for my nephew and niece after my brother passed away," Graham said. "I filled out all my paperwork and they said it was the wrong type of cancer. Because of my brother I'm doing this protest. What's happening on our land."

The protest includes overall issues of Indian rights, including the Treaty of Ruby Valley, which dates to 1864.

"Seventy million acres is Shoshone land we're still fighting for," said Johnnie Bobb of Austin.Pahrump Valley Times article

The Shoshone citizens interviewed in the article are skeptical of the government assurances that the blast will be safe.

Arvilla Mascarenas

"I don't understand why everything that's happening down at the test site is happening," Mascarenas said. "Why do they want to set off this 700-pound blast? It's going to bring up everything from the soil below from the nuclear blasts they set off in the '50s. It's going to be floating in our air again. We're going to have more people getting sick.

"Do they think the Shoshone people don't matter? They say it's not going to be dangerous but still they want to be testing this stuff. If it's going to hurt our people here, why do they want to set it off? Do they want to kill more people?"

Several Native organizations and allies will be having a day of action on May 28. The Western Shoshone Defense Project has more information for those who may want to attend or hold solidarity events in their communities. WSDP website

Jack Random asks-What would Crazy Horse do?

2006-05-17T22:28:00.000-07:00

In this entry, Jack Random examines some of the misconceptions in the immigration debate

We are not a nation of justice – justice least of all. If we were a nation of justice, we would honor our debts. We would make just reparations to natives and African Americans who were compelled to migrate as slaves. What the nation owes to the Lakota1 and Cherokee2 alone amounts to more than what we will ultimately spend to destroy the nations of Afghanistan and Iraq – more even than our national debt, a debt that is deeper than the skies over Bear Butte are wide.

We are not a nation of justice. We are a nation of exploitation. We have conspired with corporate governments throughout the hemisphere to exploit labor and extract resources. We have created a free trade zone without factoring wages into the equation. Though it seems complex, it is not that difficult to understand. It follows the fundamental laws of supply, demand and profit taking. Corporations will seek all means of maximizing profits, including cutting the cost of production. Jobs will move to where the costs are least. Labor will move to where jobs pay living wages. Wherever possible, good paying jobs will be replaced by low paying jobs and no wall or barrier will prevent these laws from being carried out. In the corporate mind, it is a cold calculation: cost versus benefit.essay link

"we can’t and should never have trusted this process”

2006-05-17T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Native Times reported on the Supreme Courts refusal to review the Cayuga land case

The current makeup of the United States Supreme Court is being called the “most anti-Indian court in the history” of the country as justices refuse to hear a case featuring an Oklahoma tribe as a co-plaintiff.

The Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma and the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York had hoped justices would review a June of 2005 ruling against their land claims that was issued by the New York-based U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

The appeals court ruling turned what had been victory for the tribes into a defeat: It overturned a 1994 decision that awarded the tribes $248 million in damages, with a judge agreeing that the state illegally took their land.

But justices on the Supreme Court without comment refused to review the appeals court case, delighting the tribes’ opponents. native times article

Clint Halftown,Cayuga, was quoted in the article.“The Cayuga people are disappointed but not surprised,” said Clint Halftown. “Our history has taught us to expect little, and today’s decision confirms what we always expected — that we can’t and should never have trusted this process.”

Many native people have always viewed the settler legal system as a dead end option for seeking redress. That awareness is beginning to build and spread rapidly in all segments of ndn country. There is a growing disillusionment even amongst tribal bureaucrats who have invested years of their lives in pursuit of justice in the U.S/Canadian judicial system.

The land reclamation at Six Nations offers some valuable lessons for those who would rather push the issue today instead of letting it be drawn out over decades and eventually dismissed.
"Rezervoir Dogs"-returning after chasing off some would be barricade breachers.

Looks like Donaldson gets the point.

2006-05-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, who pissed on Joe Donaldson's car?

Mayor Joe Donaldson got a nasty surprise after attending a candidate's forum where his support of snowmaking at the Arizona Snowbowl was a point of contention.
Vandals had littered his car with toilet paper, and placed a urine-filled commode on top.
Donaldson took it as an extreme example of opposition to using reclaimed Flagstaff wastewater to make snow on the nearby mountaintop. azstarnet

"Our lives are more precious than gold"

2006-05-16T22:07:00.000-07:00

Indian Country Today recently featured the Newmont protest on their website.

Indigenous join global protest of Newmont gold mining practices

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. - Western Shoshone and Colville tribal members protested in early May at Newmont Mining Corp.'s annual shareholders meeting, uniting with indigenous from Peru, Indonesia and Ghana to create a protest over the pollution and scarred land resulting from gold mining.

''Our lives are more precious than gold,'' read the sign of Mark Tilsen, of Porcupine, S.D., who was among those protesting April 25 at Newmont's annual meeting, held this year at Inverness Hotel, south of Denver.

Western Shoshone Carrie Dann protested and demanded that Newmont halt the destruction of Western Shoshone lands for gold mining in Nevada.

''The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination agreed with us last month and has told the United States to 'freeze' any efforts to privatize our lands, and to 'stop' any new mining projects or other resource extraction and exploitation,'' Dann said. link to article

(IP3).
AP Photo/Ed Andrieski -- Stop Newmont Alliance and American Indian Movement members protested Newmont Mining Corp. at its annual meeting in Englewood, Colo., on April 25. Pollution and scarred lands resulting from Newmont's gold mines around the world prompted the protest, which included indigenous from Peru, Indonesia and Ghana.

The banners and signs in the photos were created by the hardworking members of the Indigenous Peoples Power Project

The tireless IP3 members worked late into the night, swapping ghost stories and breaking to sled down the nearby slopes. The banners completed, they were delivered to the protest site and positioned at the exit routes so that the Newmont shareholders coulnd't ignore their message.

Much respect goes out to the IP3.

Mapuche suspend hunger strike

2006-05-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

Jailed Mapuch activists have agreed to suspend their hunger strike.

After 63 days on hunger strike, four jailed Mapuche rights activists agreed to temporarily suspend their protest on May 14 after reaching an agreement with Chilean legislators. In exchange for an end to the fast, the government promised to give urgent attention to a proposed law allowing supervised release, introduced by Socialist Party (PS) senator Alejandro Navarro. Navarro and fellow PS senator Jaime Naranjo helped broker the agreement, with mediation from Temuco bishop Manuel Camilo Vial and from lonko (Mapuche community leader) Jose Cariqueo. full report

Surprise, surprise-natives back protest

2006-05-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

This from the National Post.

Canada's Aboriginals overwhelmingly back the long-running Six Nations demonstration in Caledonia and predict the number of similar land-claims protests is about to rise, a new survey has found.

According to a poll conducted for the National Post, 62% of natives believe protesters in the Hamilton bedroom community and in eastern Ontario -- where natives briefly blocked a rail line in sympathy last month -- were right to demonstrate. That compares with just 12% who said the demonstrators were wrong.

"We're talking about a margin of 5-1 and civil disobedience is involved," said Conrad Winn, president of polling firm Compas full article

The support for the Six Nations and reclamation actions in general is most likely higher than this poll indicates.

Protect Bear Butte-new website

2006-05-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

There is a new website to support the efforts to protect Bear Butte. There are suggested actions and an address for those who want to make donations. Pay a visit to the site and help protect Bear Butte. Protect Bear Butte

Six Nation profiles

2006-05-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

There are hundreds of people who are helping to resist further erosion of the Six Nation traditional territory. Some have been at the camp for months while others come and go. The Hamilton Spectator profiles 4 of the Six Nation Defenders. The 4 are Clyde Powless, Michael Laughing, Hazel Hill and Janie Jamieson.

Clyde Powless
""I'm looking at the long run. Maybe my grandchildren won't have to do this," he says, in his matter-of-fact style."

Michael Laughing
"I've learned I can lead people."

Hazel Hill
"We could hand out fliers every day and we'd never get any response," she said. "Canada has a history of only responding when action is taken -- peaceful action ... Canada always resorts with guns."

Janie Jamieson
She says police helicopters fly over her house but it will take more than that to scare her off."They don't know what I've endured. They'll have to come up with more than that." full article

This encampment has been sustained for 3 months. For an encampment to continue this long, community support is a necessity. These are but 4 people who are a part of a greater movement that is supported not only by their community and nation, but by native nations across turtle island.

Cafe Cultura-Friday May 12.

2006-05-11T23:00:00.001-07:00

The second friday of the month has arrived and you know what that means. Come support Red and Brown Unity.

Café Cultura (www.myspace.com/cafecultura)
Feature: Debajo del Agua

Open Mic Night, Spoken Word, Hip Hop, Visual Arts, Poesia/Poetry FREE!!!!

Red and Brown Unity

WHEN: 2nd Fri. of every month @ 7:30 pm (May 12th, June 9th)
WHERE: Denver Inner City Parish-9th Ave & Galapago St.(2 blks east of Santa Fe on the NE corner)
WHAT: All ages Open Mic Night

June: Day Acoli
Come express yourself creatively or just chill with your people
Everyone is welcome!
For more info: cafe_cultura@yahoo.com; 720-436-1830
Cafe Cultura

Six Nation News and perspectives

2006-05-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

Audio and Video reports
Auto_sol has an audio report from CKUT that features interviews with defenders of the Six Nations and their allies. Go to their site to listen- Auto_sol

They are also carrying video footage from a Toronto rally in support of the Six Nations. To view, click on the following links-Toronto Rally

Solidarity Actions
Ontario
Mother's Day Rally & Ride for Six Nations
The Kitchener-Waterloo Solidarity Association for International Liberation Struggles (SAIL) presents...

MOTHER'S DAY RALLY 'N' RIDE 4 6 NATIONS!

Come to hear speaker Jacqueline House, spokesperson for Six Nations land rights regarding Douglas Creek Lands (near Caledonia), and then hop on a bus for a short day trip to Caledonia to peacefully show our support for the Six Nations in their struggle!

Where? Speaker's Corner (corner of Benton and King Street, downtown Kitchener)

When? Sunday, May 14th, at 12pm (the bus will leave at 12:30pm). (We are flexible to pick people up on the way in Guelph, Hamilton, and other cities on the way - please let us know). SSIS for more info

Ottawa
March on The Governor General’s May 13th!

When: 12 Noon, Saturday May 13th
Meet at RiverRain Parc
New Edinburgh
(Near St. Patrick’s Bridge and the Vanier Parkway)

=====> Restore Land Rights Across Canada!

In solidarity with the people of Six Nations and in struggle with all First Nations across Turtle Island, the people of Ottawa are going to the Queen’s representative to demand an immediate solution to land rights disputes everywhere.

Treaties made between the Six Nations and the British Crown are being trampled by governments that didn’t exist. Neither the Federal nor Provincial governments have jurisdiction on Six Nations land near Caledonia. click here for more info

News
The first talks dealing with Six Nations land rights began today with provincial and federal officials across the table from Confederacy Council chiefs to find a solution to the Douglas Creek lands that could be used as a model for dealing with Six Nations land rights issues up and down the Grand River, said Mohawk chief Allen MacNaughton.

The talks, aimed at ending the now 72-day old reclamation of Six Nations lands on the outskirts of Caledonia under development for a 600 unit subdivision, got underway with provincial representative and former Minister of Indian Affairs, Jane Stewart and former cabinet Minister Barbara MacDougall Provincial appointee former premier David Peterson is expected to leave the team today.full article-Gathering Place

"Trespassing" documents nuclear industry effects on Native Peoples

2006-05-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

Brenda Norrell writes about the making of Trespassing, a documentary that focuses on the destructive practices of the nuclear industry.

When filmmaker Carlos DeMenezes filmed the Colorado River Indian Tribes and Fort Mojave Tribe's successful fight to halt the proposed Ward Valley nuclear waste dump, another reality was revealed: the cruel legacy of how American Indians were targeted by the nuclear industry.

The filmmaker's journey began when he left his native Brazil and came to Los Angeles to study film in 1982.

After gaining his degree and experience as a filmmaker, he searched for meaning in the industry: ''I did not want to only make money; I wanted to make something that means something.''

DeMenezes began researching the nuclear industry in books and film and soon found his way to Ward Valley, where American Indians and environmentalists joined together to fight the proposed nuclear waste dump. full article

The Ward Valley campaign is one of the actions covered in Trespassing. The Colorado Native Nations Alliance was instrumental in the success of the campaing.

It took 113 days and nights, risking arrest, and braving harsh weather, government threats and intimidation, but the long occupation of the proposed nuclear waste dump site at Ward Valley by Indian Nations and environmental supporters has ended in a major victory.

On February 12, 1998, hundreds of tribal members and supporters took over "ground zero" to defend the land and the desert tortoise from test drilling planned by federal and state governments as part of the dump project.

The Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Quechan, Cocopah and Colorado River Indian Tribes had vowed to defend Ward Valley against the test drilling which would have further desecrated their sacred land.

The Colorado River Native Nations Alliance hailed as a huge victory the announcement by the U.S. Department of the Interior that the controversial test drilling was canceled and that virtually all work on the dump project was being halted. The Interior Department had continued to insist that the Tribes and supporters leave "ground zero" in exchange for the canceling of the test drilling, but the Tribes refused to compromise. On June 5th, the Interior Department rescinded the eviction notice issued to the Tribes on February 14th, completing the victory for the occupation. full article located here

Trespassing recently received the Trustee Award at the Arizona International Film Festival. This was quite an achievement because the film has been refused screenings at numerous film festivals because it is deemed to "controversial".

''Trespassing,'' by Red Umbrella Productions, captured the Trustee Award at the 15th Arizona International Film Festival April 28, an award based on merit, which is not given out annually.

In the United States and worldwide, however, the film has been rejected by more film festivals than it has been accepted.

DeMenezes, in an interview with Indian Country Today, discussed the rejections.

''There are two kinds of film festivals: true independent film festivals and those who sell their souls to the studios and corporations,'' DeMenezes said after the well-received screening at the Arizona International Film Festival.

''Trespassing'' was rejected at every film festival in Canada, France, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.

''Sundance Film Festival rejected it twice,'' DeMenezes said. The film was rejected at some of the leading festivals: Los Angeles International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Hot Docs International Film Festival, Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival and the York Film Festival. Comments from these festivals' organizers were not received by press time.

The Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival in Spain was the only festival in Europe to accept the film. It received a standing ovation. full article

Click on the following link to visit the Trespassing website- Trespassing

"Divine Strake" postponed

2006-05-10T09:48:00.000-07:00

As this Spectrum article notes, there have been conflicting reports over whether or not the "Divine Strake" bombing was going to happen on June 2. Government officials had been denying it was going to be postponed but now they have confirmed it.

After conflicting reports over the weekend about whether the June 2 Divine Strake test would be postponed, various federal agencies have acknowledged the large bomb blast will not go forward until June 23 at the earliest.

However, late Tuesday night a Defense Department spokeswoman said that a study of a revised environmental assessment of the blast resulted in a finding of "no significant impact" to the human environment.

Darwin Morgan, a public information officer for the Nevada Test Site, confirmed Tuesday that the 700-ton ammonium nitrate-fuel oil blast has been postponed for at least three weeks. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the National Nuclear Security Administration proposed the test 150 miles west of St. George to gather data about the effects of both large conventional weapons and low-yield nuclear weapons. full article

For more information visit the Western Shoshone Defense Project website

Stop Niocan Mine-Demonstration at shareholders meeting

2006-05-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

This was sent via email and is being reprinted in full.

STOP NIOCAN’S PROPOSED NIOBIUM MINE ON KANIEN’KEHAKA TERRITORY!

Demonstrate at Niocan’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders-Montreal

***********************
WHEN: May 18th, 2006, 9:30am
WHERE: Best Western Hotel, 3407 Peel (corner Sherbrooke)
WHAT: Demonstrate Against Niocan’s Annual General Shareholder’s Meeting ***********************

Refuse Niocan! Resist Environmental Racism! Reject Canadian Colonialism!

Niocan Inc., a Montreal-based mining corporation, is nearing the final stages of approval for their "Oka Project", a toxic niobium mine to be developed within traditional Kanien’kehaka (Mohawk) territories.

Community members have taken a clear stance on this issue - they said the destructive project would not be tolerated! In addition to the outright violation of the centuries old claim the Kanien’kehaka people have to this land, the mine also poses serious environmental threats - the release of ionizing radiation which will contaminate the air, soil and water.

Niocan assured their shareholders they only invest and develop in politically stable regions. In solidarity with the Haudenosaunee Peoples from Six Nations to Kanehsatake, we gotta let the investing-class know: "The myth of political stability is over!" Investing in developments on stolen native lands has a price - and that price is the risk of bankrupcy Henco Industries is currently facing. The decolonization movement is growing and coast-to-coast People will rise up in solidarity with Kanehsatake!

*****************
bring noisemakers, placards, banners and your anti-colonial determination!
*****************

BACKGROUNDER:

Last May, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks Thomas Mulcair announced that Montreal-based mining company Niocan Inc. would have to provide more substantive environmental study results before he would issue the necessary certificate of authorization to move ahead with the company's niobium mining project on unceded Kanien:keha'ka (Mohawk) territory.

In a letter to shareholders on November 30, 2005, Niocan stated that the company is "reassess[ing] the hydrogeological studies to date and to propose a plan of action to provide answers to the questions raised by the professionals at the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parcs (MDDEP)." The report also reiterated Niocan's commitment to "move ahead with vigor and determination on the Oka Project."

The report to shareholders cited the recent Oka municipal elections as proof of community support for the project, stating: "the mayor and four councilors that support the Oka Niobium Project have been re-elected. This is further evidence of the support of area residents for the project." This, despite a press release issued last May 16th by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) stating: "the commission learned through the public consultation process that the land on which the mine is located is subject to claims... [and] most public consultation participants are very concerned about the mining project, to which they did not consent."

Niocan’s former Chairman and CEO René Dufour said "the Mohawks have nothing to do with this." But Dufour couldn't be more wrong. The land on which the proposed mine would be built has never been surrendered to the Canadian government, and thus neither Niocan nor the Quebec (an equity investor in the project to the tune of $427,000) have any legal right to continue with this environmentally devastating project. This is yet another gross example of the blatant violation of Native sovereignty in Canada. More studies and assessments will mean nothing. They simply cloud the real issue, which is one of violation of Mohawk land claims by the governments of Canada and Quebec and the huge corporations they keep close to them.

Currently, Niocan is awaiting a certificate of authorization from Claude Bechard, the newly-appointed Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment & Parks to give the project the go ahead. Niocan is confident the certificate will be granted.

If you can not attend the May 18th demo, please phone/fax or email your objections to Claude Bechard at:

Phone: (418) 521-3911
Fax: (418) 643-4143
E-Mail: ministre@mddep.gouv.qc.ca

Carrie Dann on Native America Calling today

2006-05-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

Today, Carrie Dann will be on Native America Calling to discuss the Pentagon plan to detonate a 700 ammonium nitrate bomb on Western Shoshone territory. The bombing is being dubbed "divine strake". Several organizations (co aim included)are sponsoring a day of action on May 28. To learn more about this, listen to NAC online and pay a visit to theWestern Shoshone Defense Project

Support the Indigenous Peoples Power Project(IP3)

2006-05-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

What is the Indigenous Peoples Power Project? Find out by going to their site. Indigenous Peoples Power Project(IP3)

Other voices

2006-05-07T20:28:00.000-07:00

Other members of Colorado AIM will begin posting under their own chosen handles. The coloradoaim handle will still be in use but we'll be adding other members to this blog who will have the same posting privileges. The views expressed by the new posters may not necessarily reflect the views held by all CO AIM members and thus should not be considered to be the official position of CO AIM.

Photos from Vancouver rally and bridge blockade

2006-05-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken on April, 25, 2006, and were sent by our friends in Vancouver.

Members of the Squamish Nation drum on stage.

Two unidentified Native Rebels

Native woman waits for the march to begin

Native youth member holds the warrior flag
Native Youth members show support

After the rally, the march begins.

We'll post more photos later.

Support the Stop the Violence March

2006-05-04T15:01:00.001-07:00

Check out the Stop the Violence March

The March

A growing group of young Nuu-chah-nulth people and supporters are organizing a march/walk throughout all the Nuu-chah-nulth territories, beginning May 5th in the Pacheedaht community of Port Renfrew. The purpose of this march is to raise awareness and to announce our collective intent to stop the violence in our communities. We will visit all 15 of the Nuu-chah-nulth communities on Vancouver Island. The march was inspired by the initial efforts of the Tla-o-qui-aht women in 2004 and it is there that we plan to finish the walk on May 14th, Mother’s Day.

We are observing traditional protocols by seeking the permission of our hereditary leaders when possible and appropriate. We wish to acknowledge the elected leadership and staff as members of our communities who are committed to healthy Nuu-chah-nulth Nations. In addition to encouraging safe, open discussion, accountability and a healthy adherence of Nuu-chah-nulth laws and values we wish to leave a gift in each community.

To learn more about the march and how to support it, please visit the following website Stop the Violence

Bear Butte update:Meade County Commission-liquor license will stand

2006-05-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, May 02, the Meade County Commission approved a second liquor license for another bar near Bear Butte. Bear Butte defenders wanted the issue put to a vote and collected the necessary amount of signatures for a county wide referendum. Their petition was presented to the Meade County Commission.

The Meade County Commission has received a stack of petition signatures and two court challenges, all seeking to overturn the commission’s decision to grant a beer license to the new Broken Spoke Saloon and Sturgis County Line campground.

The new Sturgis motorcycle rally venue is under construction a couple of miles north of Bear Butte.

Another venue, Rock’n the Rally at Glencoe CampResort, received a full liquor license from the county Tuesday.

Both moves have been greeted with outrage by American Indian groups, who hold Bear Butte as sacred and see the raucous rally moving closer to the mountain. In addition, some rural Meade County ranchers also decried the rally’s eastward expansion from Sturgis.

Ken Chleborad, deputy state’s attorney in Meade County, confirmed Wednesday that the court challenges were filed in 4th Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon.

One was filed by Rapid City attorney Bruce Ellison on behalf of rural Meade County Jesse Levin and six others.

The other challenge was filed by Tom Van Norman, attorney and state legislator from Eagle Butte, on behalf of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

In addition, petitioners gathered 756 verified signatures seeking to refer the Sturgis County Line beer license to a countywide vote. They needed 745 valid signatures.

Chleborad said the petitions have been forwarded to the Meade County Commission. Commissioners have scheduled a meeting for 9:30 a.m. today to decide how to proceed. full article

The Meade County Commission met and announced their decision this afternoon.

A beer license issued for a new campground near Bear Butte won't be going to a public vote in Meade County.

The county commission decided unanimously Thursday that its granting of the license to Jay Allen is an administrative decision that can't be referred to a public vote. Petitions calling for the vote were submitted this week.

The Meade County deputy state's attorney said two challenges to the license have been filed in circuit court - one on behalf of several rural Meade County residents, and the other on behalf of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. full article

The 2 challenges are still in play but might not stand much of a chance at reversing the license approval.

Various native nations, allied organizations and Meade County citizens have gone through the necessary channels to protect Bear Butte. At this point, those paths have turned into dead ends and recourse is seemingly hard to find.

Unbeknownst to the Meade County Commission, there is a growing grassroots mobilization of native communities to protect sacred sites in general and Bear Butte in particular. More and more, it looks as if the Meade County Commision will see the result of this mobilization this summer.

EZLN issues red alert

2006-05-04T13:27:00.000-07:00

From Narco News

Zapatista Red Alert: The Other Mexico on the Verge of an Explosion from Below
The Story Behind the Zapatista Red Alert as the Other Campaign Arrives at Zero Hour

By Bertha Rodríguez Santos and Al Giordano
The Other Journalism with the Other Campaign in Mexico City

May 3, 2006

MEXICO CITY: From his first statements early this morning on Mexico City’s historic Alameda, Zapatista Insurgent Subcomandante Marcos was clearly informed about — and visibly bothered by — the police riot underway in the nearby city of Texcoco, where 800 heavily armed riot cops stormed the local flower growers’ market in the dawn’s early light, leading to a violent nationally televised standoff between the firearms of above and the worktools of below. By the afternoon — after “Delegate Zero” traveled through downtown Mexico City by foot, by subway and by motorcycle, through its most working-class neighborhoods, listening to the grievances of the people — he exploded in the Plaza of the Three Cultures: The Zapatistas have gone on Red Alert, the Other Campaign is suspended, and Marcos is heading to the scene of the crime to confront the Mexican State.

“To the death, if that’s what it takes,” as he said two days ago during a mass meeting in front of the national palace.

And now, the Red Alert…

The first clue came at 10 a.m. During a gathering with “sexual dissidents” — gays, lesbians, transvestites, “other loves” and sexual workers who have adhered to the Zapatista “Other Campaign” — on the historic central park of this metropolis known as La Alameda Marcos referred to the police raid underway in Texcoco: “If those above think that they are going to continue repressing us, they are mistaken. The Other Campaign is not just a movement of words. It is also a movement of action.” He announced that meeting with campaign adherents in downtown Mexico slated for six o’clock would be suspended to deal with the conflict underway, less than an hour from Mexico City.

After all, the compañeros and compañeras in the line of fire in Texcoco were the Other Campaign adherents of San Salvador Atenco, where, in 2001 and 2002, they chased out the federal government with machete swords and defeated an international airport imposed on their farmlands. These are men and women that Marcos visited on April 25 and 26 and urged to come to the aid of their neighbors; to show the rest of Mexico how to stand up for, and win, its rights and autonomy. This morning the men and women of Atenco went to nearby Texcoco and, together with the local people, drove out the invading police. The government response: to send more police, and thus what the TV news called a riot (in fact, a police riot) ensued. full article

For more information go to ezln.org the other campaign
The Tryworks blog has more links Try-works
For more native commentary, check out Angry Indian's blog
Angry Indian

Mohawk Nation News-

2006-05-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Mohawk Nation News has their own website but these bulletins are currently being sent out on their email list. We are reprinting the email bulletins in their entirety until they are posted on the MNN site.

SIX NATIONS WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS

MNN. May 4, 2006. We are the victims. Our land has been stolen. Canada claims it’s there to protect us. So, why are we under siege? It’s like a bank robbery, but instead of running off with the loot, the thieves took over the whole building and sold it to somebody else. While they were gone, we sneaked in the back door and mounted a guard to keep out the people who had taken over the stolen goods. They were in the process of fencing it to someone else. That’s when the original crooks sent in their armed forces and attacked us and then held us hostage.

Then while they put their guns to our heads, they demanded to negotiate with us. For what? They want all the jewels and money in the bank vault and the bank too. Then they say they’ll let us go. This is terrorism! No one should negotiate with terrorists, we heard.

The robbers are sending a patsy in to “negotiate” with us, to tell us about the cement shoes that await us if we don’t tow the line. He’s bringing us the message from the liars, embezzlers and thieves. He wants us to take down our protective barricades. Are we crazy or what? People all over the world are watching this hostage taking and putting pressure on Canada. Canada is trying to stop getting the information out.

We know a thing or two about robbers and thieves. We can’t put our guard down. Canada’s got a stakeout with yellow tape around us telling everybody to stay away so they can make a secret deal with an imposter. They took him out to a steak dinner and to a hockey game hoping he would sign a surrender on our behalf. We won’t go along with that. We can get by on baloney. That’s all we’ve had to eat for the last 200 years. No offence to the people of Bologna Italy. This colonial idiom has nothing to do with their food. “Get your gun toting goons out of here”, that’s all we want right now. If Canada is going to refuse to protect us, the least it can do is to stop backing thievery.

We want their “Big Don” – whoever is running their gang - to tell them to back off.

We heard that there is a big law somewhere out there that is supposed to protect us. The big Don knows about this. A long time ago to keep the peace they agreed to this pact. We want everyone to shame the big Don and his gang into obeying the big laws.

We can’t negotiate with these gangsters. We just want these bullies to give us back our property and to stay away from us.

If the Don doesn’t go along with this, we’ll have to send for our ‘family’ to come and help us. They don’t like anyone picking on us. You never know. There might be repercussions all over the place if something happens to us. Now they’re getting all our neighbors to gang up on us too. They used to bitch and complain about us but they always traded with us without any trouble. They didn’t have the nerve to come in and kill us because they know that we will do whatever we have to do to defend ourselves. The next thing they did was to hire some thugs from far away to hang around outside and scream and threaten us. They want us to react to this so they can finish us off.

In the meantime the gangsters are creating all kinds of diversions to take everybody’s mind off what’s really happening. They don’t want to give us back our goods and to release us. They want us to shut up about it and go away. Where? Farther down the rabbit hole where they are always trying to shove us?

We have to stay focused. We have to hang on for the sake of our kids and their kids and so on. This is not a weekend picnic. If we are attacked, what will we do? Some of our people might get hurt or killed, but this is no reason for us to give in. We will fight in the best way we know how. We really don’t have the right to give up.

Hey, you guys in that big criminal organization in Ottawa, we know you’ve given us the “kiss of death". We’ll turn around and show you where to place your kiss!

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nations News
kahentinetha@mohawknationnews.com

Second liquor license approved for Bear Butte bar

2006-05-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

Nick Tilsen, at right behind the podium, directs a question to Gary Lippold, seated on the left, during Tuesday’s Meade County Commission meeting. When a commissioner tried to stop Tilsen from talking, he responded, “We’re going to talk, and you’re going to listen,” and continued. (Don Polovich, Journal staff)
From the Rapic City Journal.

Groups vow protests during motorcycle rally

STURGIS — American Indian groups vowed Tuesday to stage daily demonstrations in Sturgis during the 2006 motorcycle rally to protest the event’s continuing eastward expansion toward Bear Butte, a sacred site to a number of tribes.

However, Carter Camp of the Intertribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte and Jay Red Hawk of the Bear Butte International Alliance both emphasized Tuesday that the demonstrations will be peaceful.

In addition to the rally week protests, the groups are organizing a large, summerlong gathering at Bear Butte. It could draw as many as 10,000 people, Camp said.

Camp said the groups will ask bikers to voluntarily honor a buffer zone around Bear Butte, staying away from the rally campgrounds, saloons and concert venues east of Fort Meade Veteran’s Affairs Hospital. He believes some bikers will side with the groups.

“We’re not trying to shut down the rally,” Camp said. “We know the rally has an economic impact on the state; we just want a buffer around Bear Butte.”

The vow to protest came amid a tense, sometimes confrontational meeting of the Meade County Commission on Tuesday morning in Sturgis.

Despite pleas from the crowd, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a liquor license for Gary Lippold’s new concert venue south of Bear Butte, Rock’n the Rally at Glencoe CampResort. full article

Over the past few months, native organizers have been mobilizing their communities, in the Plains region and western states, to travel to South Dakota in the summer. The hope was that Meade County would deny these liquor licenses. Now that they have approved them, the defense of Bear Butte has taken on even more of an urgency.

Six Nation solidarity actions and updates

2006-05-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

SUDBURY, ONTARIO-RALLY AND MARCH IN SUPPORT OF THE SIX NATIONS
Submitted by scap on Fri, 2006-04-28 16:59. Event

RALLY AND MARCH IN SUPPORT OF THE SIX NATIONS STRUGGLE AND FIRST NATIONS STRUGGLES MORE GENERALLY.

Provincial Building (Larch and Paris) 4pm Thursday May 4th, 2006 Rally followed by a march to the office of Sudbury MP Diane Marleau

Initiated by the Hunger Clinic Organizing Committee and other social justice activists. full entry

Courtenay,BC: Six Nations solidarity rally

There will be a solidarity rally in Courtenay, "British Columbia" on Saturday May 06th. We want to let the Six Nations People know that they are not alone. Meet in front of the Public Library at 11 AM. Families welcome. After a short march we will share some food together. The rally will end at 1 PM. Link to site with comprehensive Six Nation News

"Over and over, I'll be a fool for you" - KKK Marches into Caledonia to solve "Indian Problem" at Six Nations

MNN. May 2, 2006.

Things are on schedule! The flyers in the hands of Caledonia residents, Ontario Provincial Police and a few Six Nations people reads:

Citizens of Caledonia –

Meeting tonight – 7:00 Sharp! (no location, no date)

Agenda: Discussion of the “Indian Problem”. “What is the final solution?”

Full dress meeting. Wear your sheets. (This is no joke. This is what the flyer actually says. This ain’t the movies, folks. This is real life).

Special Speaker – all the way from Burning Cross Mississippi, Bobby Lee Raspmas, Veteran of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s.

Hear about the “Final Solution”. (How come Canada is letting him in and they won’t let Indians cross the border to support us?)

Three-fourths of the flyer has a picture of a KKK meeting with sheets on.

We were waiting for this one! This flyer was given out for last Friday’s rally and march onto the barricades at the site of the illegal housing project that the Six Nations People are trying to stop. It’s being given out again for the Friday, May 5th rally at 7:00 right at the barricades this time. full article

And finally, we leave you with these words of wisdom-in regards to the Six Nations-courtesy of the Angry Indian. Please visit his website at The Angry Indian Blog

My congrats to all the bloggers Native and Non who kept up the pressure. This blog and podcast certainly tried to do its best and we all should feel proud for what we do.

Alas, the Native Media in the U.S. still needs to learn this lesson, Indian people MUST speak on behalf of Indian people, issues and causes. Not sitting in editorial offices wringing their hands about how to address Indian stories that may offend White society. The Six Nations are sitting in the cold. - The Angryindian

Six Nation the focus of Native America Calling

2006-05-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

Today's edition of Native America Calling will feature guest from the Six Nations. The program airs at 1pm EST today. To listen to the program, follow this link and choose one of the stations. NAC Online

Tohono O' odham mother seeks justice

2006-05-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

A thanks to one of our readers for sending us this story.

Tohono O'odham seeks justice for her son run over by border patrol
Posted: May 01, 2006
by: Brenda Norrell / Indian Country Today
Click to Enlarge

Brenda Norrell Indian Country -- Angie Ramon's son, 18-year-old Bennett Patricio Jr., Tohono O'odham, was run over and killed by a Border Patrol agent as the youth walked home one night on tribal land in 2002. Incidents surrounding her son's death produced more questions than answers and resulted in a civil lawsuit filed by Ramon and other family members in federal court. The case is now on appeal.
SELLS, Ariz. - Tohono O'odham Angelita Reino Ramon is fighting a lonely battle as she seeks justice for her son, 18-year-old Bennett Patricio Jr., who was run over and killed by U.S. Border Patrol Agent Cody Rouse on April 9, 2002.

In the beginning, Ramon was prepared to accept her son's death as an accident and she waited for the Border Patrol to come to her home and apologize.

The apology never came. Instead, there were more questions than answers as to what really happened in the desert that night.

Ramon and family members filed a civil suit in U.S. District Court in Tucson and alleged that Rouse was negligent. However, in February, the court ruled in favor of the United States. Ultimately, even the Tohono O'odham Legislative Council failed to support the family when it requested funds for an attorney to file an appeal.

''No one is helping us,'' Ramon told Indian Country Today.

The U.S. District Court ordered the family to pay $6,254 for court costs, documents and mileage. Even Ramon's own attorney urged her to accept the federal government's deal to waive court costs in exchange for the family agreeing not to appeal the case.

However, against all odds, Ramon refused the deal, found another attorney and filed an appeal in federal court. full article

Photos and CO AIM speech from "We are America" March

2006-05-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

Colorado AIM has a decades long alliance with the Chicano Community of Denver. The alliance was first formed by the late Corky Gonzales and continues to this day. Colorado AIM was invited to particpate in the We are America march and we were honored to march and stand in solidarity with over 75,000 our long time allies and relatives.

Here are a few photos from today's march

The marchers at Viking Park prepare to start.

The siren sounds and the march begins

Security leads the marchers down Speer Boulevard

The Marchers pass under Speer Boulevard bridge

A crowd is already at the capitol and cheer as the marchers approach

Former mayor, Federico Pena, rallies the crowd

Performers from Su Teatro take the stage.

Glenn Morris delivers speech on behalf of Colorado AIM

Colorado AIM members stand on stage as Glenn Morris delivers speech.

Speech given by Glenn Morris at May Day March

There has been a lot of talk lately about what America is, and who is an American. Let's be clear, America stretches from the Arctic to Argentina, and, as indigenous peoples of this land, we have something to say about who an American is. A friend of ours from Ghana was in town last week and he passed along one of their proverbs – we provide it especially for Tom Tancredo and for all of his invader friends. The proverb says that "a visitor doesn't get to lock the gate." Tancredo is not only a visitor to our land, but he is an unwelcome, racist visitor, and he does not get to decide when the gate gets to be locked.

There has also been a lot of talk lately about flags. That stars and stripes flag, that doesn't represent us or this land. THIS (holding up an eagle feather staff) is the first flag of our homeland. We ask people when they wave that (U.S.) flag to be
conscious of not only what it has stood for, but what it can stand for.

When we say that WE ARE AMERICA, we all must make a choice. That choice is between
embracing what that flag has meant, THE OLD AMERICA, with its invasion, and Manifest Destiny, and broken treaties and lies, or to embrace THE NEW AMERICA – an America of equality and justice, of rights for native peoples, for workers, for elders and for children, and for a clean environment.

If people want to come to our homeland to embrace the OLD AMERICA, we cannot support that, but if people want to come to build a NEW AMERICA, we are with you. This movement for a NEW AMERICA is real, it is emerging right before us, it is rising, it is standing and it is on the move – from Evo Morales in Bolivia to the
Zapatistas and Andres Lopez-Obrador in Mexico, it is moving. From the Mohawks resisting the militarization of the US-Canada border to the Tohono-O'odham resisting
the militarization of the US- Mexico border, it is moving. From Hugo Chavez in Venuzuela, and Ollanta Humala in Peru, to the tens of thousands of us right here in Denver, it is moving.

We can realize a NEW AMERICA, based on mutual respect and cooperation, based on human rights and economic justice – it can happen, it must happen. We are making it happen, and we must not stop; for our future generations, we cannot stop. The future does not belong to fear and hate and xenophobia; it belongs to hope and to
justice -- it belongs to us. ¡Adelanate! [Forward!]

N'Quatqua blockades road

2006-04-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

The N'Quataua have set up a blockade to stop the logging of their lands.

N'Quatqua blockade Portage Road at D'Arcy
Activists angered by chief's decision to enter forest, range agreement with limited consultation

Published Date: 2006-04-27

By Cindy Filipenko

More than 20 members of the N’Quátqua band and their supporters began blockading Portage Road at the entrance to D’Arcy on Monday.

The protestors claim that their elected representatives went against the wishes of the area residents and negotiated a logging agreement between The N’Quátqua Logging Company and the Pemberton’s CRB Logging Company to allow for the removal of 81 hectares of old growth forest in CP16 near Anderson Lake. The protestors’ goal is to prevent logging trucks from entering or exiting traditional N’Quátqua territory.

The area, which was scheduled to be logged beginning on Monday, April 24, is winter range to mule deer. As well, it is a habitat for bobcats, cougars, bears, wolves and many species of birds. At least two endangered species, the rubber boa and the horned owl, are also indigenous.

On the highway sign reading "Entering D’Arcy", there is another sign, it reads: "Where are you Rich Coleman?" a reference to the forest minister. A few feet away is a similar handmade sign that reads: "Biologist Says No."

Blockade spokesperson Carol Thevarge makes it clear that what’s at stake is more than old growth timber; it’s also culture, water, animals, plant life, fish and the band’s heritage. full article

Gunboat diplomacy at Six Nations

2006-04-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

received via email

“GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY” AT SIX NATIONS - TRAGIC MISMANAGEMENT OF BOTH INDIGENOUS AND CANADIAN RIGHTS.

MNN. April 28, 2006. Friday, 10:30 pm. Shotgun diplomacy is much more harmful than people realize. Instead of providing leadership to the Canadian people that it represents, and reassuring the Indigenous people of Six Nations, Canada sent in armed forces. Barricades and yellow tape are blocking peoples’ way for 50 square miles. There are three helicopters flying overhead, extra heavily armed police all over the place and a raucous crowd of 300 Caledonians are trying to rush the Six Nations barricades. Everybody’s nerves are on edge. People feel like they’re caught in the middle of a “war” zone.

The issue is a longstanding Indigenous land theft by Canada that has to be rectified. We are not letting it go on any longer. We want Canada to obey its laws and keep its promises. Bringing in armed forces has ignited violence by the non-native citizens of nearby Caledonia. They feel trapped, confined and need to blame someone. The police and military are happy to have this action. It is less boring than standing around. They have a chance to use their armaments and other fancy toys.

This misbehavior of the citizens of Caledonia keeps the spotlight off the cops who carried out an unprovoked pre-dawn attack on the Six Nations people on April 20th. It makes it seem like their gonzo style is justified. Actually it’s victimizing the people of Caledonia.

Is this how to do things? We don’t think so. If the Kaianereh’ko:wa/Great Law, our constitution, was used to solve the issue, fruitful discussions could be well underway by now. The people of Caledonia need to take part in a ‘small condolence’ ceremony. This is when people clean their eyes with a piece of soft leather so they can see the issue clearly; then they take an eagle feather and gently touch around their ears so that they will listen and hear the voices of the other people; and then they drink a glass of clear water so that their words will be as clear as the water and there are no sharp edges. This ceremony helps calm people and keep their emotions under control so they can rationally discuss the issues at hand.

Some of the people of Caledonia are out of control. The rest seem to be condoning or even encouraging the rioting and threats that are being made against us. At a time like this they might cool down if no one confronted them. Everyone would be wise to avoid going to Caledonia and doing business there for any reason. They need to be left alone to return to their senses. It may seem like a small thing to drop by there for a cup of coffee, especially when you’re thirsty and it is convenient. But these people have gotten out of control!

It’s like putting a kid who is having a tantrum into a room by himself so they can think. Caledonians need to pull back their rowdies who are making it dangerous to go there. They have temporarily forgotten how to interact calmly with people. Maybe if they think about it, they can understand how our people have been racially boycotted. They can see how we have been and continue to be attacked by the colonial government and kept under economic subjugation.

Successful neighborly relations depend on exchange and reciprocity as equals. When one of the parties becomes disturbed, as the residents of Caledonia show us they have become, it’s obvious they need to be avoided. They need space to think about the consequences of their actions. The people of Chateauguay have never really recovered from their misbehavior during the Mohawk Oka Crisis of 1990. They were so uncivilized that the people of Kahnawake stopped doing business with them. A lot of businesses were ruined. The Mohawk population was almost half the population of Chateauguay. The Six Nations population is more than double that of Caledonia.

It’s understandable their nerves are on edge because neither Canada nor Ontario has offered them any reassurances about the Indigenous land on which they live. The colonial misappropriation of Six Nations land, funds and resources must be reversed through legal, thoughtful and fair negotiations with the People, not the Indian Act administration that Canada violently forced upon our people. Obviously they haven’t done anything to solve the situation in over 150 years.

In the process of developing a consensual approach to managing inter-communituy relations, the Caledonian people should be included because their interests are involved. According to the colonial custom that Canada continues to rely upon, the people of Caledonia will not have any say in the types of solutions that will be devised. Whoever controls the Canadian and Ontario governments will dictate the solution and impose their will by force. The current deployment of the police and army make this all too clear. State use of force should be limited to making sure that everyone is treated equally and no one violates anyone else. This escalating violence might never have happened if the Ontario Provincial Police hadn’t been there. They made the first violent move by attacking the Six Nations people. They are instigating violence rather than preventing it.

What we are seeing here is a demonstration of great differences in approach - the Indigenous way of solving problems consensually versus the colonial forced solutions without the people having a role. The people of Caledonia have been suckered into behaving like hooligans. They are seen as being at the bottom of the hierarchical colonial system that Canada and Ontario enforce. This is feeding their frustration and leads them into misbehavior.

Everyone who is affected must be involved. A solution requires their fully informed consent. We want everybody to obey the laws, including Canada and Ontario. No one can leave the table and get on with business as usual until a proper agreement is reached. All promises and agreements that have been made with us must be fulfilled. Business and community relations will have a sound equitable foundation. We are tired of living under the burden of all of the unfulfilled promises that have been made by Canada, Ontario and Britain so they can live on our land and take all our resources.

Previously Caledonia citizens were decent neighbors. We hope this relationship will be resumed in the future. In the meantime, they need rest to calm their spirits.

In nature, when a bully is removed from the aquarium, life instantly improves for the rest. Creating conditions of violence, suppressing the voice of the people, negotiating with the gun pointed at us and keeping the people of Caledonia victimized is meant to maintain the dominance of a few diseased minds. They pretend that social order depends on them. What would happen if all the armed forces left? Canada would have to sit down and talk to us about their illegal actions and how they can be rectified. Caledonians would stop being angry and society will flourish.

The use of force by the state is inflaming this situation. Everyone has a concern that is not being validated. We hope nothing happens. We are all worried. We need our brothers, sisters, friends and allies to stand with us and to set an example of self-restraint in the face of armed forces and the angry people of Caledonia who hover around us night and day.

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
Kahentinetha2@yahoo.com
www.mnn.mohawknationnews.com

Six Nations Radio

2006-04-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

To learn more about the Six Nations defense of their land, listen to live streaming from 100.3 CKRZ. CKRZ is native owned and operated.

CKRZ

Defend Bear Butte merchandise

2006-04-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

Check out the Defend Bear Butte merchandise now for sale at Cafe Express.
cafe express defend bear butte

Six Nations update letter

2006-04-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

Received via email

Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 7:11 AM

Friday morning, and I just wanted to touch base with everyone. things are quiet around the camp. we are currently in the process of re-organizing, re-structuring, etc. so that we're not all over the place. the women are in the process of getting the information organized and hopefully (?) we will have a daily report coming out from the site. At least that is my personal goal, perhaps early evening, maybe even once in the morning and once at night. the Caledonia residents are getting a bit frustrated, not only with us, but there is alot of anger toward police for not getting us out of there, and now they want to block our roads on the rez, stop accepting status cards etc. it really is alot of garbage and i understand their frustration, but it was clearly stated by my daughter who wrote in to one of their blogs, "the racism is not new, it has just been hidden better until this incident" something along those lines anyway. and i agree with her. as do many. not
all of them feel that way, but it is not uncommon in any of the cities towns and townships along the grand river, and it shouldn't even surprise us, they were taught their history and believe us to be just like them......but it is their spirit that is stirring and questioning their truth, and that is where the anger comes from. it is easier to be angry and racist than to admit that they might be wrong and there might be truth to what we are saying. so, have compassion in your hearts for those people, don't react to their anger and if you're going to the site tonight, lets stay by the front gate, we'll have a sing, and let's ignore their behavior. The media is just waiting for us to react and give them a show, we need to stay proud and allow those people to have their own say, in their own way, without even acknowledgeing it. As far as them stopping us from shopping in "their" town, quite frankly, if they don't want our business, caledonia may soon turn out to be a
ghost town without it. will touch base soon. Hazel

Meade County protest-May 02.

2006-04-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

Received via email

PRESS RELEASE
MANDERSON, SD
The Intertribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte, Bring Back the Way, and the Lakota Action Network will gather on the steps of the Meade County Courthouse to protest the desecration of their Sacred Mountain, Bear Butte on May 2, 2006 at 9:30am. The Meade County Commissioners will have a hearing regarding the liquor application of the Glencoe, Inc. Campground on the outskirts of Sturgis, SD. The campground is near Bear Butte, and the site of an already enormous campground hosting thousands of bikers during the Sturgis Motorcyle Rally held every August.

"It's time to take a stand for our way of life, to demand justice," say Vic Camp and Nick Tilsen, organizers of the May 2nd Protect and Preserve Bear Butte Rally. "We need to protect our way of life, we need to protect our Sacred Mountain" says TJ Afraid of Hawk, also of the Intertribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte, "We are sending out a Call to Action to come to Sturgis on May 2."

The May 2 Protect Bear Butte Rally is planned as a peaceful gathering which will begin with morning star prayers at Bear Butte. On April 4, 2006, hundreds of Lakota, Cheyenne, and Ponca people gathered and marched on Sturgis, SD, closing down highway 34 on their pathway to the Meade County Courthouse. That peaceful protest was organized to oppose the liquor license application of Jay Allen, who proposes to build a campground, bar, diner, and ampitheater 2 miles north of Bear Butte. After hearing several dozen native nations, and a few Meade County residents all speak in opposition to the license based on location, the Meade Coounty Commissioners, after no discussion, voted unanimously to approve Mr. Allen's application.

Many Meade County residents were visibly upset that their elected officials approved the application. One resident asked the question "When is enough,enough?" She wondered why there should be another bar, when there are more than 50 already. The April 4 Rally to Protect Bear Butte participants all remembered the civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated on April 4 decades ago and asked each other "Will the Meade County Commissioners vote to assasssinate Bear Butte and our way of life?" The vote was yes on April 4, who knows what the vote will be on May 2? Is the decision a foregone conclusion, as many felt the April 4 decision was?

"We did not expect to get justice from the Meade County Commissioners, we expected them to vote for capitalism and private property rights over our Human Right to Pray" said Debra White Plume of the Intertribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte, "and they did not waiver." According to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, attorneys have filed an appeal regarding the April 4 decision to approve the application of Mr. Allen. The Bear Butte International Alliance is doing a petition drive to put the issue to a referendum vote. Meade County residents are posing questions to the SD Dept of Transportation regarding use of the American flag, which the heavy equipment operators who are working on Mr. Allen's property, have been flying from their machinery, an occurence that some say is in response to the flag of the Cheyenne Nation, who hoisted their morning star flag on Bear Butte following their purchase of 120 acres of land on Bear Butte earlier this year.

For more information on the May 2nd Rally to Protect Bear Butte people can call Bring Back the Way at 605-455-2155, Intertribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte at
605-455-2508 or 605-964-4642,or Lakota Action Network at 605-441-7485 or go to
www.bringbacktheway.com or www.defendbearbutte.org.

Memorial Reading of Vine Deloria's last work-tonight

2006-04-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

Memorial Reading of Vine Deloria Jr.'s Last Work

Thursday, April 27, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. at the Tattered Cover Cherry Creek, 2955 East First Avenue at Milwaukee Street, Cherry Creek, CO.

Special guest readers will offer a memorial reading from Vine's last book, The World We Use To Live In- Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men, published by Fulcrum Books.

Daniel Wildcat is the moderator. George Tinker, Walter Echo-Hawk, Patty Limerick, and Norbert S. Hill Jr., are the guest readers. Eric 'Many Winds' Herrera will be playing his flute.

Call (303)322-7727 for more information.

Support the Shipibob Nation of Peru

2006-04-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

The following was sent courtesy of Village Earth. We encourage everyone who can attend to do so.

Fort Collins based Village Earth and ReflexiveFilms.org will be
premiering, for the first time in North America, "Los Hijos De La
Anaconda" (The Children of the Anaconda), a documentary filmed entirely
by members of the Shipibo Nation in Peru's Amazon Basin. Produced over a
five day period in January of this year, their documentary describes
their struggles against the pollution of their rivers and the loss of
their fish, illegal logging, and the encroachment of oil and gas
companies onto their lands - issues intimately linked with the
consumption of those resources in North American an Europe. It also
highlights their vision and plan to restore their fish, forests, and
enhance their local economy.

Date: Thursday, May 4th, 2006
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Lory Student Center Theater
Cost: $5

Tickets can be purchased by calling the LSC box office at (970) 491-4849

For more information or to purchase a DVD contact Village Earth at (970)
491-5754 or visit http://www.villageearth.org/pages/Projects/Peru/perublog/

Six Nation solidarity actions

2006-04-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some solidarity actions in support of the Six Nations defense of their lands.

TORONTO-Rally against colonialism and in support of the Six Nations blockade
Minister of Indian Affairs Jim Prentice speaking in Toronto!
****************************************************
This Friday, April 28
6:30pm at U of T, King's College Circle
(in the field north of College St., west of University Ave.)
****************************************************

For almost 60 days now, the community of the Six Nations Haudensaunee Confederacy has held a blockade to defend land that is rightfully theirs from further encroachment by real estate developers and the Canadian government. Last Thursday, OPP forces mounted a pre-dawn raid to assault those taking this stand, deploying cops with guns drawn to pepper spray, beat and arrest community members. The government had hoped to remove resistance to the development of Six Nations land by real estate developer Henco Industries Ltd. The Six Nations community mobilized in response and drove the OPP out. The community's determination to assert its national sovereignty and legitimate treaty rights, like the blockade itself, has only strengthened since.

Audaciously, less than a week after this unprovoked attack, the Harper government's Minister of Indian Affairs is speaking in Toronto on the topic of "Native Self-Government." No First Nations leader has authorized Minister Jim Prentice to speak on this topic, and it is an issue that he clearly does not understand in even the most basic terms. In fact, since Ontario's McGuinty government has actively distanced itself from these OPP actions, the possibility that federal hands were in on this operation is a very real one. Meanwhile, the threat of possible RCMP or military intervention continues to hang over the Six Nations community. The government of Minister Prentice and Prime Minister Harper still refuses to uphold its treaty obligations and respect the legitimate leadership of First Nations people. Until they do, there is nothing Jim Prentice can say that is worth listening to.

It is imperative that this government understand that people will not tolerate further attacks on the sovereignty of the Six Nations Haudensaunee Confederacy or other First Nations communities. Come out this Friday to join in sending this message, and talk to friends and allies to ensure that we do so in the maximum numbers possible. Solidarity actions and demonstrations have already been organized in Tyendinaga, Kahnawake, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and elsewhere. But the Canadian government remains two-faced, and especially given the underlying racism of last Monday's demonstration in Caledonia, it is extremely crucial that solidarity activities spread.

For more information, call 416-997-1562 or email:
amadahy@rogers.com / ocap@tao.ca

Ottawa: Six Nations solidarity rally
Stand in solidarity with Six Nations!
Demand an end to violations of First Nations sovereignty!

=================
12:00 Noon
Friday, April 28th, 2006
War Memorial (Elgin @ Wellington, next to the PM's Office)
Ottawa, Ontario
=================
For almost 60 days, the people of the Six Nations Haudensaunee Confederacy have taken a stand against the theft of their land by property developers and the Canadian government.

While negotiations with the government may be underway, the threat of state violence against the Six Nations remains. The OPP and the Canadian military continue to lurk just beyond the barricades in Caledonia, Ontario. A nearby prison has been emptied, and a hospital ward prepared for casulties.

Your strength and support is needed to end the encroachment of Six Nations land and remove the constant threat of violence that hovers over the Six Nations people, their friends, and allies.

Join us on Friday, April 28th, in demanding the Canadian state get its HANDS OFF SIX NATIONS LAND!

BRING BANNERS AND NOISEMAKERS!

For more information on the situation in Caledonia, see http://auto_sol.tao.ca/

For more info about Friday's rally, call 613 316 0341

Montréal public assembly to organize solidarity with Six Nations
*********************************
When? Friday April 28th @ 6pm
Where? DIRA
Address: 2035 St-Laurent, 3rd Floor
Metro: St-Laurent
**********************************

This is a call-out for all groups and individuals interested in joining forces to organize support for the ongoing Six Nations Land Reclamation. The Assembly will focus on the formation of committees, and strategizing for each area of work.

Groups who've expressed interest include: IPSM, PASC, SAB, PPL, CLAC Latin America, NOII, CAPMA and ISM.

The proposed committees, so far, include:

1. Transport: coordination of rides to and from Six Nations
2. Finance/Legal: budgets for transportation, supplies, money for Six Nations, legal support, etc.
3. Action: Montreal solidarity actions and coordination with Toronto support
4. Information: collecting and creating info, from the ground, and translating it into French and Spanish.

Letter from Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca

Brothers and Sisters,
We would like to send you our deepest salutations from the heart, we know about the hard path we Indians have to walk due to the rich peoples ambitions, but our love of Mother Earth and liberty is stronger, that's why we will keep defending them even if the price to pay could be death.

We want to tell you you're not alone, and that we have sent letters, by fax and email, to your governments to demand justice for your peoples

Our solidarity is with you
From Indian communities of Oaxaca,
For the reconstitution and free association of the peoples
Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca "Ricardo Flores Magón"
CIPO-RFM
Dolores
CIPO-RFM Representative
-----------

SENT LETTER TO:
Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, México, April 13th of 2006. MICHAEL BRYANT,
ONTARIO ATTORNEY GENERAL. STEPHEN HARPER PRIME MINISTER
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER MICHAELLE JEAN GOVERNOR GENERAL. JIM PRENTICE MINISTER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT
PARLIAMENT HILL: HOUSE OF COMMONS OTTAWA, ONTARIO
Sirs,

With great shock and discontent, we learned from Six Nations Mohawk people's press releases that on March 3rd, Ontario Supreme Court gave to Henco company a legal order so the OPP could dislodge by means of force Native Mohawk people of Six nations from the land where the company plans to build 72 houses, the same projects that sits in ancestral territory, for which Natives have never in any way been consulted and which will not bring any good to the communities.

The Six Nations communities are defending their land based on Haldimand tract that was signed in 1784, which represent 9,6 kilometres on each side of Grand River from his source to its mouth. The Mohawk of Six Nations, since February 28th, have mobilized themselves to stop their Territories' illegal invasions and eviction menaces.

The Judge said in his verdict, during an audience held without Six Nations peoples even knowing, that if they didn't get out of the place by March 22nd at 2pm, they could be arrested and jailed for 30 days. On march 29th at noon, 6 boats, 3 vans and 15 polices came nearby the Mohawk camp, looking at them and taking notes. We oppose to the eviction and jail menaces they are subjected to for defending their territory. Canada must stop using repression to solution its legal disputes with Native Peoples.

We know that John and Don Henning, from Henco Industries Limited, say they have a title of property certificated by Ontario Provincial Government and which guarantees the company is the "legal landowner" of these lands, and they say "we are confined between a group of Natives and Federal Government". Canadian government has to solve the jurisdiction ant titles problem by political means, not with weapons.

In both international and Canadian Law, when negotiations are broken between the two Parties, " any person should have the access to an audience in a competent, independent and impartial Court." Since when is Ontario Court a neutral Court in a fight between Ontario and Indigenous Nations ? It is necessary to find an international mediator without any interest in the affair, or to create a meditation team that would include representatives from Native peoples and other States which are not involved in this particular case. But the mediators have to understand both colonial and indigenous Laws, such as the kaianereh'ko:wa. Canada has to find a peaceful solution to this conflict, establishing a nation-to-nation dialogue with On'kwe'hon:we people.

For all of the above and facing a possible unjustified eviction and serious Human Rights violations which could endanger the life and integrity of Mohawk people of Six Nations, we demand:
1. Henco Industries to cease immediately all construction on Six Nations ancestral territory ;
2. That the conflict get to a political and negotiated solution without Police interventions.
3. That a Nation-to Nation dialogue be established between Canada and On'kwe'hon:we nation.
4. That a resolution of the conflict should pass by a solution to the Titles and

Jurisdiction problematics, and would mean for the Federal Government to take responsibility for his actions towards Six Nations, accordingly with its international law obligations.

From our countries, we will closely follow this situation Six Nations peoples have to get through.

For the reconstitution and free association of the peoples.
Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca "Ricardo Flores Magón"
CIPO-RFM
The Organizers Group
Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzi
Rosario Gómez Hernández
Leonardo López Sarabia
Miguel Cruz Moreno
Pedro Barrios Vásquez
Agustina Reyes Martínez
Rosario Ortega Luciano

Okanagan solidarity action

2006-04-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

Local Native Protest

by Kelly Hayes - Story: 18045
April 25, 2006 / 5:09 pm

The native unrest in Ontario over a land dispute has spread to B.C. including the Okanagan.

Local natives calling themselves the “Okanagan grassroots people” set up an information picket at the intersection of Highway 97 and Westside Road Tuesday. The goal of the protest was to generate more attention to the unrest in Caledonia, Ontario where members from the Six Nations Reserve are trying to stop construction of a housing project.

"We support the Mohawks of the Grand River because Okanagan Peoples are in a similar situation with our Okanagan land title not being recognized by the Federal Government," says spokesman Alex Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band.

He's also no fan of the Self-Government agreement signed between the Westbank Band and the Government.

The Westbank First Nation didn't endorse the protest however, some members of the band did take part in Tuesday’s protest.

Louie says there are so-called militants in his group who want to crank up the protest by blocking roads including the Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge.

"The militants are saying that if the government doesn't want to recognize our title to this land, then this is our land. They say if they want to create disruptions on our own land, then we may do so."

Louie says the protest will return to the Westside if things escalate in Ontario.

Lions Gate Bridge blocked

2006-04-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

News from Vancouver.

First Nations solidarity backs up bridge traffic
Apr, 26 2006 - 2:30 AM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Protestors say Tuesday afternoon's disruption on the Lions Gate Bridge is just the start of action planned in solidarity with Caledonia, Ontario First Nations.

David Dennis, Vice President of the United Native Nations says the group is plotting their next move and is hoping to get other First Nations groups to join in the action, "We want to encourage our people to begin to stand up and wake up and tell themselves that you know lives are in danger, we got to get out there."

It's not clear what the future action may be or when it will happen. link

We'll be posting more about these actions.

Newmont Protest news roundup

2006-04-26T09:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some media articles about the Stop Newmont protest.

Denver Post-Critics of Newmont Mining Corp. march Tuesday to the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center in Englewood, where the company held its annual shareholders meeting. CEO Wayne Murdy said nations could make better use of the taxes they collect. (Post / Jerry Cleveland)

CEO faults governments
By Tom McGhee
Denver Post Staff Writer

Some Third World governments collect taxes from gold producer Newmont Mining Corp. but don't spend the money to improve neighboring communities, the company's chairman and chief executive told shareholders Tuesday.

Newmont builds schools and clinics, improves infrastructure and helps train farmers to make better use of the land. But people who feel ignored by their governments expect the company to provide more of the services they lack, Wayne Murdy said.

"That's not our job. In many cases, they have governments that don't function very well, and people don't trust their governments," he said.

Murdy was questioned by activists who held proxies and were allowed into the company's annual meeting, and those from areas where the company operates painted a far different picture. full article

Glenn Morris holds a megaphone Tuesday for Carrie Dann, a Western Shoshone elder from Nevada, at the Inverness protest. "If they want to stay in business, they should clean it up," she said. Newmont has operations in Nevada. (Post / Jerry Cleveland)
Peaceful protests attack "ecocide"
By Beth Potter
Denver Post Staff Writer

Newmont Mining Corp. protesters had talked tough about civil disobedience but on Tuesday declared victory without breaking the law.

The protesters included local college students, members of the American Indian Movement, a Peruvian priest, a trade-union representative from Ghana and several members of the Western Shoshone tribe from Nevada.

Newmont has been accused of harming the environment and indigenous people with its gold-mining operations.

The protesters waved signs on the east side of Newmont Mining's corporate offices in downtown Denver on Sherman Street between 17th and 18th avenues.

"We're making a statement against genocide, ecocide and destruction of the environment," said Chako, 19, a protester who declined to give his last name. full article

Gabe Oner, left, Mac Liman, center, and Sarah Graves, all of Denver, protest Newmont Mining Corp. outside the Inverness Hotel on Tuesday. Newmont held its annual meeting at the hotel, where CEO Wayne Murdy discussed the gold mining company's strong financial results and defended its record in the communities around the world where it does business.

Crowd inside and out
Newmont meeting draws shareholders, protesters
Linda Mcconnell © News

ARAPAHOE COUNTY - Protesters outnumbered shareholders Tuesday at Newmont Mining Corp.'s annual meeting, but tight security kept most of the company's critics from getting close to the official event.
Company CEO Wayne Murdy, speaking before a standing-room-only gathering at the In- verness Hotel, spent a few minutes recounting the gold mining company's strong financial results.

He spent the rest of the meeting defending Newmont's record in the far-flung communities where it does business.

"It's all about balance," Murdy said in response. "Can we make everybody happy? No. We don't live in that kind of world."

Several shareholders or their proxies peppered Murdy with questions about everything from water quality to wages in some of the countries where the company operates its mines. Most of the concerns centered on operations in Nevada, Peru, Indonesia and Ghana. full article

DJ Newmont CEO: Will Work On Community Concerns Worldwide

(Comtex Business Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)ENGLEWOOD, Colorado, Apr 25, 2006 (Dow Jones Commodities News Select via Comtex) --As protesters beat drums outside and critics raised questions inside, Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) CEO Wayne Murdy told the annual shareholders meeting Tuesday he would work with communities around the company's gold mining operations worldwide.

Marco Arana of Peru, speaking in Spanish, asked Murdy whether Newmont would pay its Peruvian workers salaries equivalent to its employees at its Denver headquarters.

Peru was the site of violent protests by local villagers last year against Newmont's plans to expand its giant Yanacocha mine in northern Peru, Dow Jones Newswires has reorted.

Daniel Owusu-Koranteng of Ghana asked him to commit to improving the water supply there.

Representatives of a Shoshone Indian group in Nevada asked Newmont to promise not to seek privatization of Indian lands that are targets for mining. full article

CONFRONT NEWMONT TODAY!

2006-04-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

Protest Newmont Mining's Policies That Are Destroying Native Peoples Today

Newmont Mining, the largest gold mining corporation in the world (and is based in Denver), is holding its annual shareholder's meeting today. Join us, along with Native delegations from Western Shoshone, Ghana, and Peru, to hold Newmont accountable.

Protest and picket at Newmont headquarters, 1700 Sherman Street, Denver
9:30-10:30 am, Bring signs, noisemakers, bullhorns. "Newmont: Stop Destroying Native Peoples" "Life Is More Precious Than Gold."

Caravan to Shareholder's Meeting - 10:30 am
Shareholder's meeting at Inverness Hotel, Inverness Business Park near I-25 and Dry Creek Road. For map go to www.stopnewmont.org

Protest at Newmont Headquarters in the afternoon - 2:00 pm
Vigorous, non-violent, noisy protest to let Newmont know that we disagree with its practices and policies.

Newmont moves annual meeting

2006-04-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

From today's edition of the Denver Post

Newmont moves annual meet
Gold producer fears disruptive Denver protest. Peaceful demonstrations are nothing new to the firm, but one group could turn up the heat.
By Greg Griffin Denver Post Staff Writer

Newmont Mining Corp. was nervous enough about security at its annual meeting Tuesday to move it from its downtown Denver headquarters to a hotel in the southern metro area.
Protest organizers say as many as 200 activists could show up for anti-Newmont events in Arapahoe County and downtown Tuesday. The downtown protest could involve "acts of civil disobedience," an organizer said.

Newmont decided a few weeks ago to move the meeting to the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center for "meeting logistics and security considerations," spokeswoman Heatheryn Higgins said. The meeting is at 1 p.m.

"We take security seriously," she said. full article

For more information, please visit Stop Newmont

Six Nations Defenders Resist Ontario Cops' Invasion

2006-04-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

Ontario Cops Attack Six Nations People
Cops Retreat When Hundreds of Natives Respond

Protest now has 'national implications', one protester says
Apr. 20, 2006. 02:08 PM
PETER EDWARDS
STAFF REPORTER -TORONTO STAR
CALEDONIA, Ont. - A confrontation between native protesters and police escalated this morning hours after Ontario Provincial Police staged a pre-dawn raid at an occupied Caledonia construction site, southwest of Hamilton.
Around 5 a.m., dozens of officers stormed the Douglas Creek Estates to evict native activists who'd occupied the site for almost two months.

By mid-morning, hundreds of native people from across the province and as far away as Manitoba had poured into the area. They said their numbers would rise if efforts to remove occupiers increased. "We’re here and we’re not going anywhere," said Hazel Hill of the nearby Six Nations reserve.

The protesters argued that the site was part of a large land grant back in 1784, but the provincial and federal governments say the land was surrendered in 1841 to help build a major highway.

Indigenous Peoples and Mining Conference

2006-04-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

The Real Price of Gold:
The Impacts of Mining on Indigenous Peoples and the Global Environment
Monday, April 24, 2006 - Tivoli Student Center - Room 320
Auraria Campus - Denver, CO

9:30 am Registration/Coffee and Juice

10:00 am Welcome
Film: “The Curse of Inca Gold”

10:30 am – 12 Noon Panel Discussion – “Stripping Off the Mask”
Scientists and academics who work with indigenous communities, mining companies, non-governmental organizations and governments around the world, discuss the impacts of mining on water, public health, indigenous peoples’ societies, community decision making, and the creation and dissemination of reliable information.
Panelists: Gail Bundy, Blue Wolf Futures, Moderator
· Loring Abeyta, Ph. D., Faculty member, University of Colorado at Denver/Colorado School of Mines
· Robert Moran, Ph.D., Geological Sciences, Michael-Moran Associates, LLC.
· Ann Maest, Ph.D., Geological Sciences, Buka Environmental
· David Silver, MD, MPH, Associate Clinical Professor of Preventative Medicine, University of Colorado Denver/Health Sciences Center – Global Response
Newmont Mining Corporation was invited to participate, but did not respond by the time of printing

Noon – 1:00 pm Film: Choropama: The Price of Gold
Free lunch for students and panelists

Noon Press Conference – Panelists from communities affected by Newmont Mining

1:00 – 2:30 pm Mining and Indigenous Peoples: Digging for the Truth
Professor Glenn Morris, 4th World Center for Indigenous Law and Politics, University of Colorado at Denver, Moderator
· Carrie Dann, Newe Sogobia (Western Shoshone Territory – Nevada)
· Padre Marco Arana, Cajamarca, Peru, President, GRUFIDES (Education and Action Group for Sustainable Development)
· Daniel Owusu-Kornateng, Accra, Ghana, Executive Director, WACAM (Wassam Association of Communities Affected by Mining)

2:45 pm – 4:00 pm Escaping Midas’ Touch
A panel of activists will share success stories and strategies for building international solidarity around issues of the rights of indigenous peoples, and creating an environmentally sustainable future, creating collective and individual strategies for action, and resisting the growth of mining
Pavlos Stavropoulos, Dandelion Center, Moderator
· Awon Atuire, Regis University Service Learning Project to Ghana
· Paula Palmer, Executive Director, Global Response/No Dirty Gold
· Jennifer Samimi, Indigenous Support Network, CU-Denver
· Glenn Spagnuolo, Stop Newmont Alliance
· Youth of the Peaks (AZ indigenous alliance) representative
Sponsored by The Indigenous Support Network (CU-Denver), and supported by CU-Denver Student Activities and the Fourth World Center for the Study of Indigenous Law and Politics (CU-Denver)

Protest Newmont's Crimes Against Native People

2006-04-19T20:53:00.000-07:00

STOP NEWMONT MINING! DEMAND JUSTICE FOR NATIVE PEOPLES!
Two Days of Education
In the Classroom and in the Streets of Denver
To Create a Better Future for Ourselves and for Future Generations

Newmont Mining Company is the largest gold mining corporation in the world. It's international headquarters is here in Denver. Wherever its operations reach, Newmont poisons the land, the water and the people. Native peoples have been especially hard hit – in Peru, Ghana, Indonesia, and among the Western Shoshone Nation in Nevada. On Tuesday, April 25, 2006, the directors and officers of Newmont (the people who run and operate the corporation) will be in Denver at the annual shareholder's meeting.

We plan to let them know how we feel about the crimes they are committing.

Monday, April 24, 2006 – all day conference

"The Real Price of Gold: Impacts of Mining on Indigenous Peoples and the Global Environment"

Tivoli Student Union, Room 320, Auraria Campus, Downtown Denver
(Conference schedule below)

Tuesday, April 25, 2006 – join us for one or all events

Resistance to Newmont Mining – Action at the Newmont Mining 2006 Annual Shareholder's Meeting

9:00 am - Gather at Newmont Headquarters 1700 Sherman Street, Denver

10:30 am - Caravan to Newmont Shareholder's Meeting Inverness Hotel, Inverness Business Park, I-25 and Dry Creek Road (see www.stopnewmont.org for map)

12:30pm – 2:00pm – Picket Shareholders' meeting in support of international delegation confronting the Newmont executives and shareholder's meeting.

3:00 pm – Return to Newmont Headquarters, 1700 Sherman Street for vigorous protest of Newmont's policies.

Note: Conference and protest were organized, and are sponsored, independent of one another

Stop Newmont Press Release

2006-04-18T05:42:00.000-07:00

STOP NEWMONT MINING COALITION
www.stopnewmont.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWMONT MINING CAN RUN, BUT IT CAN'T HIDE
Change of Venue Won't Prevent Local and International Activists from Exposing Company's Shameful Practices

DENVER, April 17, 2006 - Less than two weeks before its scheduled annual stockholders meeting on Tuesday, April 25, Newmont Mining, the world's largest gold mining company, has announced that it is moving that meeting from its corporate headquarters at 1700 Lincoln Avenue in downtown Denver to the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center, 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, Arapahoe County. When asked the reason for the move, a Newmont representative said the company understands there will be protests of the meeting and that some building tenants at 1700 Lincoln had expressed some concern.

This will be the second time in less than a month that Newmont has changed this meeting to avoid public scrutiny, the first being the move from the Brown Palace Hotel to their headquarters and now this most recent move. The Stop Newmont Alliance understands why the tenants are concerned¡ªnot because of peaceful protests, but because of being associated with Newmont, whose mining operations around the world:
* contaminate water sources
* destroy sacred indigenous lands
* threaten entire ecosystems
* force indigenous people off their traditional lands, resulting in the loss of ancient ways of life and livelihood
* poison our air with arsenic admissions.

The Alliance believes Newmont has moved its meeting in the vain hope that this remote location will prevent the alliance from exposing Newmont's destructive practices. But the alliance still intends to shine a light on the environmental destruction and social devastation Newmont has caused. According to Glenn Morris of the American Indian Movement of Colorado and the Stop Newmont Alliance; Newmont can run, but it can't hide. We intend to be there to expose the truth about Newmont no matter where they go.

Indigenous spokespeople from Ghana, Peru and Western Shoshone territories (Newe Segobia) in the western U.S. are coming to speak at Newmont's annual meeting. These people have traveled from all corners of the World; this small move from Denver to Englewood will not stop them from having their message for Newmont shared with us all! These community spokespersons have suffered at the hands of Newmont in their homelands, where Newmont has attempted to intimidate critics. To ensure their safety at the AGM, and allow their voices to be heard, members of the alliance will provide a security detail for them from Newmont's headquarters at 1700 Lincoln to Inverness, and support them while they present their concerns to Newmont shareholders.

These indigenous delegates and members of the alliance will gather at 1700 Lincoln at 10 am on Tuesday, April 25 and proceed to Inverness. There, the indigenous delegates will hold a press conference at 12 noon, and then they will address the AGM. Members of the alliance will then escort them back to 1700 Lincoln, where protests will continue.

On Monday, April 24, the alliance will hold a conference, What Price Gold? in the Tivoli Student Union on the Auraria campus, to explore in depth the negatives impacts of gold mining on indigenous lands, people and our environment. Details of the conference are available at www.stopnewmont.org.

Grassy Narrows organizer at Weyerhaeuser Annual General Meeting

2006-04-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

From Grassy NarrowsLast week, Bonnie Swain got in a van with four of her friends and drove more than 2000 miles from her home in Northern Ontario to have just three minutes of face time with Weyerhaeuser, the biggest lumber company in the world. This Thursday, at the company’s Annual General Meeiting, she’ll ask a room full of executives, employees and investors to stop buying wood taken from her homeland without her community’s consent.

Tonight, we’re making sure that Weyerhaeuser gets her message. We’re projecting larger-than-life images of her home on Skyscrapers in downtown Seattle (photos here). One shows what used to be a natural forest near her house.

She tells us about memories of her step-dad, who taught her and her sisters how to hunt, and warned them about the threats posed by increased logging on their land. She talks about the mercury pollution in Grassy Narrows that’s made the fish dangerous to eat and describes sores that her aunt found in the meat of a deer she took last season.

She describes how, when the logging came too close to her community, she and her sister felled trees into the road to prevent trucks from getting through. Both new mothers, Bonnie and her sister feared that their children would grow up unable to hunt, trap or learn about their culture as they had growing up. When loggers moved the blockade, Bonnie convinced her dad to spend the night in his truck telling loggers leaving the forest that they were haruling their last load. Soon friends and neighbors came out to help build more permanent shelters. Today, the blockade remains, but logging continues further to the North. Free Grassy

Cleveland AIM protest

2006-04-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

Our longtime friend and ally, Bob Roche, recently organized a protest against the Cleveland Indians.

Obies Protest Team Mascot

By Séla Steiger

“If this is racism, I like racism.” This phrase, among others, was shouted at protesters last Friday as they demonstrated in Cleveland against the allegedly racist name and mascot of Ohio’s major league baseball team — the Cleveland Indians and Chief Wahoo, respectively. Over twenty Oberlin students carpooled to participate in this event, intentionally held on opening day at Jacobs Field stadium.

“There was a really clear divide between the people who hold predominant power and ‘the others,’” said College senior Aaron Englander of the day’s events. “I really saw that [a large percentage of the fans] really couldn’t grasp that ‘Indians’ is offensive or that racism even exists”.

The stadium is juxtaposed with an intersection, located about a block away from its entrance. The protesters stood in a grassy section adjacent to the sidewalk, stationing themselves so that passersby could not avoid the demonstration on their way into the game. full article

Please pay a visit to the Cleveland AIM website to learn more about the issue and to view their extensive AIM history documentation project. Cleveland AIM website

This mural is preferrable

2006-04-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

A couple of murals in Idaho and California are stirring controversy for their depictions of ndns.

The one in Idaho is on the side of a now abandoned building and depicts the lynching of a native man. Check out the story here. mural lynching story

The other mural appears on the side of a coffee house. The artist says the theme is the oppression of the Ohlone Nation. Get the story here
Oppression mural

I prefer this mural.

This photo was snapped by our buddy Peach who is hanging out on the west coast.

"We're doing what justice calls for"

2006-04-13T12:38:00.001-07:00

The police buildup continues.

OPP appear to be preparing to use force at Six Nations blockade

Six weeks after citizens of the Six Nations repossessed land near Caledonia, Ontario on February 28, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) appears to be making prepations to remove protesters by force.

On April 11, more than 50 police cruisers gathered at an abandoned school on Unity Road in Caledonia. Two paddy wagons and several vans were also seen.

"Things are very tense," said Dick Hill, one of the people on site. "We are trying to defend our lands, which were taken from us. Every time we try to stand up for who we are and what we are, they come and drag us away."

Before the site was blocked by protesters, Henco Industries had began construction on 10 of 71 houses planned for the site, says the Hamilton Spectator. Citizens of the Six Nations say they set up the blockade after officials ignored other forms of protest. full article

Cafe Cultura-April 14th

2006-04-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

The second friday of the month is upon us so it's time for another visit to Cafe Cultura. Cafe Cultura was recently voted "best open mic" by Westword magazine. The initial Cafe Cultura was presented immediately after the 2004 four directions march and promoted as one of the transform columbus day events(in fact, many of the spoken word pieces from the first cafe cultura were performed the next day in a different setting- the Denver City Jail- where we were all relaxing after blocking the Convoy of Conquest aka Columbus Day parade). Since then, Cafe Cultura has continued to grow and create a space in the cultural landscape of the area. Check out their website at Cafe Cultura
Cafe Cultura
Open Mic Night, Hip Hop, Spoken Word, Poetry
Red & Brown Unity

FREE!!!!

WHEN: 2nd Fri. of every month @ 7:30 pm (April 14th, May 12th)

WHERE: Denver Inner City Parish-9th Ave & Galapago St. (2 blks east of Santa Fe on the NE corner)

WHAT: All ages Open Mic Night

April: Santiago
May: Debajo del Agua

Come express yourself creatively or just chill with your people

Everyone is welcome!

For more info: cafe_cultura@yahoo.com; 720-436-1830

www.myspace.com/cafecultura

"We are tied to the earth like a mother to a child"-Ongwehonwe Women's Manifesto"

2006-04-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

This manifesto was written by those from the Six Nations who are currently asserting jurisdiction of their territories. The entire manifesto, as well as the history of the action, can be read at the Gathering Place

Ongwehonwe Women's Manifesto
We have been accused of inciting a war, and yet who are the one's with the guns, threatening to come in and remove our women and children. To arrest and make criminals out of us. Who are the one's who have helicopters flying overhead, and an abundance of police presence in and around the area. Who are the one's that continue to have talks and negotiations with everyone BUT the people involved. Who are the one's who publicly make statements such as "Can we shoot the Indian's now", or tear Status Cards in half with the remark "There's nothing that you can do about it", or ask patrons of the biggest fast food chain across Canada & the United States "don't you people have someplace in your own community to eat". It is ignorance and fear that promotes such cowardly actions and yet we continue to uphold the Peace.

We have been accused of disrupting our neighbors in the Caledonia business area, yet I see no suffering or loss. We maintain a peaceful vigil on our lands, and other than going to buy supplies we don't bother anyone. We have, if anything, helped their businesses to grow, by the many supporters who stop to buy coffee and groceries in their town in support of the people
here

We have been accused of spreading propaganda because we write from a different perspective than mainstream media, and yet what has the government done throughout history when there is unrest with Onkwehonweh people. They use the media to incite division, to label us as militants; they criminalize us because we stand up for the Truth, and they murder us or throw us in jail in a semblance of justice based on unilateral laws of deception.

It's been said that the whole town of Caledonia is at unrest for what we are doing, yet there are many, many people from the town who come to support, to take the time to listen and to try to gain an understanding from the people. They do not understand that the government continues with it's deception by having lawyers who say, "We have the 1841 Surrender", and that the dynamics of our council could not legally allow such a transaction to take place. Because it was only the "Indians", the government used dishonest practices such as this to steal anything and everything they've ever gotten. It would be like our people, getting 14 or so people from Caledonia, to sell us their town, and then rejoicing at having made such a wonderful land transaction. Would it be legal? Of course not, and neither are the so-called surrenders that the crown set out to build their empire upon.

If you could see it through the eyes of our people, who know that it is not for the Chiefs to make any decision's without consensus from the people, and as far as lands, that job was given to the women because we are tied to the earth like a mother to a child, through the umbilical cord, and we never lose that connection no matter how old we get.

The Creator gave each of us a mind and a heart, and a spirit within that he placed those laws. You need only to allow that spirit to guide you and speak the truth. Then there is no question as to what is right and wrong, for we have only the TRUTH. When we adhere to the principles of Peace, then we have honored the Creator and are doing our duty.Entire Manifesto

Newmont changes the location of shareholders meeting-again.

2006-04-11T09:16:00.002-07:00

Newmont Mining has changed the location of their annual shareholders meeting (AGM). This is the second location change within the past 3 weeks. Originally scheduled at the Brown Palace Hotel, the AGM was then moved to Newmont headquarters. Yesterday, the AGM was moved once again

The Company also announced that its Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 in Auditorium 2 at the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center, 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, Colorado, USA. This is a change in location from the Notice mailed to shareholders earlier this year. As before, all stockholders of record as of March 1, 2006 are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. full article

As announced in an earlier blog post(CO AIM announces Newmont Mining Protest),) the American Indian Movement of Colorado, as part of the Stop Newmont Alliance, will be at the AGM to expose Newmont's policies and their impact on indigenous peoples, communities and homelands.

Please visit Stop Newmont Mining for more information. Also, we'll be posting updates on this blog.

Fast in support of Grassy Narrows

2006-04-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Received via email. To learn more about the struggle of Grassy Narrows, go here-Free Grassy

Women Warriors
April 13, 14, 15, 16, 2006

Easter Long Weekend Fasting
Grassy Narrows, Ontario
Slant Lake Blockade Site
Women of all Nations, Please come and fast with us to stop the current devastation that is occuring upon the earth. We know and realize that alot of women energy comes from the moon.

April 13, 2006 is the FULL MOON
This time of fasting does not have to be for the earth, it can be to support each other as women, as the mothers of the Nations, as sisters of humanity. This time can be a time of renewal for yourself, a time of solitude with nature.

MAKWA PIMATIIZIWIN WOMAN'S GROUP WILL PROVIDE FOOD, WATER, FIREWOOD, SHELTER. YOU BRING; YOUR BEDDING, YOUR STRONG HEART, PRAYERS SONGS, HANDDRUMS, STORIES, TEACHINGS. NEED MEN WARRIORS/HELPERS TO TAKE CARE OF SACRED FIRE FOR 4 DAYS

Breaking fast feast sunday, April 16, 2006 2 pm Everyone Welcome

FOR MORE INFO:
Judy Da Silva
807 925 9941
jsilva@kmts.ca

p.s we know you cannot all come to Grassy Narrows, Ontario, so Makwa Pimatiiziwin Woman's
Group is making a request to fast, pray, or sing along with us during that time in your own communities. We are also making a special request to send your prayers out to our Mohawk
brothers and sisters that are out east protecting their people against further encroachment of their traditional territories.

First Nations set up roadblock

2006-04-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

From the Guelph Mercury website

First Nations throws up Hwy. 7 roadblock

Land claim could also disrupt plan to build new bridge over Grand River

JEFF OUTHIT

GUELPH (Apr 8, 2006)

Plans for a new Highway 7 to Guelph have been stalled by a First Nations claim to the Grand River, and that's not the only potential impact.

The same land claim could disrupt a proposed regional bridge, linking Fairway Road in Kitchener to Kossuth Road in Cambridge by 2009.

"We claim ownership of the river banks and beds," said Jo-Ann Greene, director of lands and resources for Six Nations of the Grand River.

"We need meaningful consultation. We have legitimate, long-standing, outstanding claims."

The Six Nations claim to the Grand River, and a huge swath of land on either side, is not new. The Brantford-based First Nation is trying to negotiate a compensation settlement with the federal and provincial governments. complete article

Bear Butte update from Carter Camp

2006-04-07T18:34:00.000-07:00

This was received via email and is reprinted in its entirety

Bear Butte update-Carter Camp
Ah-ho My Relations,

Many things have happened since I sent out the last update from the "Intertribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte" but one thing has overshadowed everything else. Jay Allen HAS BEGUN CONSTRUCTION on the huge, 600 acre, "biker bar/concert venue" only a few hundred yards north of the Sacred Mountain!! We have posted some of the pictures on our web site www.defendbearbutte.org but I warn you they're ugly. He began the construction well before the county granted him the license to sell booze so both he and we knew how the vote would go.

Last Tuesday over a thousand Indian people gathered to pray on Bear Butte and march to the Meade County Courthouse to show the County just how serious a step they were taking when they vote to approve the liquor license for Jay Allen. We were led by Treaty Council Chiefs Oliver Red Cloud and Floyd Hand and many other traditional Chiefs and Headsmen. The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council came to stand with us, as did Councilmembers from Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Cheyenne River and Lower Brule. A group of Akicita, Eagle Staff Carriers, were followed by a group of veterans in camo dress carrying the American Flag and the black MIA flag alongside the Tribal flags. Walking in front of us all in pride and dignity was the 19th generation, "Keeper of the Sacred Pipe Bundle", Chief Arvol Looking Horse.

As is always the case as the morning dawned on Tuesday those of us who organized the protest wondered how many people would take time from their weekday schedule and travel from the reservation homelands to stand with us for the sacred mountain. At first the parking lot held a few knots of people standing around talking and shaking hands greeting each other. Then as the ten o'clock starting time came closer more and more cars began to arrive and the lot began to fill. A school bus from Takini pulled in and the energy all around rose. Then up the road came our invited escort of bikers on their big Harleys who had ridden in from Denver. Veterans in their fatigues began to assemble and a speaker system was mounted on Tom Cook's flatbed truck and the drum placed in the middle. Six or eight young men jumped up on the truck to sing an opening prayer song before our honored Sicangu Elder, Lorraine Iron Shell Walking Bull, an honored woman who has been steadfast in her work to defend Bear Butte, offered a prayer to the Mountain for all of us.

After the opening prayers I was called upon to explain the recent history of our struggle and how the gathering was organized. As I looked around I was struck by the singular honor that I was being given to speak at such a historic gathering of Indian people. Our people gathered in a large circle as the prayers began so I was able to look into the crowd and recognize strong traditional leaders and Sundance Chiefs like Rick Two Dogs, Wilmer Mesteth, Keith Horse Looking, Russell Eagle Bear and others. (I shouldn't have begun mentioning names because so many were there that my poor memory will fail to mention some notable people like Rocky Afraid of Hawk and his wife Pam who are founding members of the Coalition.) I say these things to tell you how truly awe inspiring the gathering was to me as I stood facing Mato Paha and a thousand brave Indian people who were determined to save our mountain that day.

It's hard for me to describe the many inspiring talks were given in front of the mountain that morning. Organizers like Debra White Plume of our Coalition and Owe Aku, Anne White Hat of the BBIA and Sicangu Way of Life spoke for all of us who have spent the past year getting ready for this struggle. Alex White Plume, Vice Chair of the Oglala Lakota Nation spoke of his nations determination to defend the entire Black Hills and the Oglala's willingness to take a stand for Bear Butte. The Thunderhawk drum then sang a special strongheart song for Crazy Horse that Chief Floyd Hand requested before he told the people to stand strong no matter how hard it gets. He told us the entire Teton Nations Treaty Council was behind us and that if we stay together we can win. Then Chief Red Cloud spoke to us about how his Grandfather had fought for the Black Hills and drove the whiteman out of them. He said Mato Paha still belongs to our people and that we must fight for her in the name of our future generations. Then Chief Looking Horse came forward to offer a wonderful prayer to and for Bear Butte and all the red nations. With that the hearts of the people soared and we happily began to get into cars for the caravan to Sturgis.

The caravan was led from Bear Butte by our biker allies, followed by a van with our own security men and the flatbed truck with the drum and singers. Following them was a long caravan of cars, pickups, school bus and tribal Elders vans. It was well over a hundred cars and from where I was we could barely hear the drum and singers as we slowly drove into Sturgis. Once in Sturgis we dismounted in the park to march the final eight or ten blocks into town. Now the truck with the drummers went first, then Chief Arvol striding alone in his Headress and Chief's shirt. Behind him were the Eagle Staff Carriers, including me with the Coalition Staff, behind us the veterans marched with the American, Tribal and MIA flags. Then a thousand beautiful people came, the young ones chanting "Save Bear Butte!" "Save Bear Butte!" all the way through town.

The route the local cops had planned out for us went down a small side street and only came on the main thoroughfare the final block or so. However my son Poj Camp was in charge of security and he had mapped out a different route:), at the right corner he turned the lead truck left so now the march was going past the Broken Spoke Saloon and turning right down the main drag! At first I could see every cop grab their mics and report what had happened, the lead cops were already going down the sidestreet alone while the Indians were marching right past the B.S.Saloon! Then we turned down the main street and spread out across the entire street instead of one way, I loved it as now we could then march where all of Sturgis had to see us.

As we reached our destination the drum began the AIM song and all the women sang in chorus, Chief Looking Horse began to dance and all the Staff Carriers and Flag carriers danced behind him to the steps of the community building where we were to gather. It was a powerful march and as we made our way into the building I could feel the energy and power of my people, all with one mind and united in purpose.

After a meal we once again assembled to march the final three blocks up the hill to the courtroom where the hearing would be held. The only difference in the march order was we were led by a Cheyenne River police car manned by two young Lakota policemen who were also sundancers and traditional men. As we began the drums sang warrior songs for us and the women trilled their encouragement to be strong when facing an enemy. Once again Arvol led us up to the courthouse door and we gathered in a large circle around him, dancing with our staffs until the songs were finished then whooping in defiance to let the wasicu know we had arrived.

In a way the following hearing was a farce and at the same time a wonderful thing. It was a farce because the outcome was a foregone conclusion. It was wonderful because so many leaders of our people were able to tell the world, on the record, about our Sacred Mountain and what she means to our Nations. Our rally filled the street outside while seventy of our people were able to fit into the crowded auditorium inside. Elders, Chiefs and Tribal leaders explained for over an hour the history of Bear Butte, her place in our beliefs and ceremonies and how the noisy, drunken biker bar would forever destroy the sanctity of the sacred places upon her. Tribe after Tribe, leader after leader gave testimony, we told them how bad the location was for a beer bar and just what the mountain meant to our various Nations. We told them of ten thousand years of peaceful worship that has taken place on Bear Butte and how the spirits and medicine on the mountain would be threatened by the noise and filth of Jay Allen's proposal. It was wonderful to hear.

On behalf of the bar a lawyer spoke briefly, a town racist spoke, a bar maid testified that Allen was a good boss and Allen testified that he respected Indians. Based on everything they had heard that day the Meade County Commissioners then voted unanimously to give Jay Allen a liquor license. Not one commissioner had ears.

Adding to this alarming development is the fact that the Meade County Commissioners have renewed all the liquor licenses for the other booze and concert venues surrounding Bear Butte. Plus the State legislature refused to even hear the bill introduced by Indian legislators to establish a buffer zone around Bear Butte.

Even though we expected these bad developments they are none the less disappointing and show us all that Indian people will not be heard in the normal channels of political discourse in South Dakota. These actions only serve to make it even more vital that the people gather at the time of the "Sturgis Bike Rally" to show America that if they destroy this sacred place, they also destroy we Indians as a people. We must gather to show them that the destruction of our sacred mountain is an act of genocide against the indigenous people of this land just as the destruction of the buffalo was to our Grandparents.

If you care to help us please visit our web site www.defendbearbutte.org and sign up for the long hot summer that faces our people. We had one thousand Tuesday, this summer we need ten times that many, I hope you will be one of us.
Carter Camp, Inter-Tribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte

Gathering of Native Nations at Bear Butte

2006-04-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

Please visit Bear Butte International Alliance to view photos from the April 04, rally in Sturgis.

Butte fight marches on
By Dan Daly, Journal Staff Writer
Meade County probably has not seen the last of the controversy about the Sturgis County Line campground and Bear Butte.

On Tuesday, the Meade County Commission approved a malt-beverage license for the new Broken Spoke Saloon and Sturgis County Line campground, a planned Sturgis motorcycle rally week venue on S.D. Highway 79 north of Bear Butte.

Commissioners approved the license unanimously despite strong opposition from American Indians, for many of whom Bear Butte is sacred, and others. Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Sturgis Tuesday to demonstrate their opposition. Hundreds more wrote letters.

The bar — a 100-by-150-foot building — and campground would be about 2-1/2 miles north of Bear Butte. Dirt work has begun, and Broken Spoke owner Jay Allen plans to be operating by the 2006 rally in August. Later plans include a concert venue closer to the mountain. Allen has insisted that his venue won’t disturb the peace at Bear Butte.

Opponents, however, decried the idea of a bar so near to the butte. They say loud music, loud motorcycles, alcohol and rowdiness is already encroaching. The new venue will be deeply disturbing and disrespectful to Indians who pray and fast at Mato Paha, the Lakota name for Bear Butte. complete article

April 12-Day of Action in Support of Six Nations

2006-04-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

The following was received via email and printed in its entirety

DAY OF ACTION IN SUPPORT OF SIX NATIONS

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12, 2006: DAY OF ACTION IN SUPPORT OF SIX NATIONS IN MONTREAL, SASKATOON, TORONTO, VANCOUVER, VICTORIA ...

**** WEDNESDAY APRIL 12, 2006 ****
IN VANCOUVER

Gather at Victory Square (corner of Cambie and Hastings) at 2:30 pm Organized by International Indigenous Youth Conference Secretariat, Redwire Native Youth Media, No One is Illegal-Vancouver

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Under the direction of the Clan Mothers at the Six Nations Territory, a series of actions are being organized in solidarity with the with the Six Nations and in support of their demands for an immediate cessation of all construction by Henco Industries on Six Nations territory and for resolution to the current standoff to be conducted on a nation-to-nation basis. Jamie Jamieson from the Six Nations community
states " I hope for a resolution. It would involve having the whole issue of title and jurisdiction resolved, and it would mean for the federal government to take accountability and responsibility for their actions in regard to this land."

The racist colonial legacy of Canada continues to devastate the lands and lives of indigenous peoples and standing in support of the Six Nations community is a tangible way to stop the settler government's interventions in the continued illegal expropriation and exploitation of indigenous lands and territories.

To increase the pressure on April 12, the Six Nations Clan mothers are also requesting that people contact Michaelle Jean and Michael Bryant to express support for their demands and to call for a resolution to the standoff through political means, rather than policing.

* Michaelle Jean, Governor General:
Phone: (613) 993-8200, Toll Free: 1-800-465-6890, Fax:
(613) 998-1664,
Email: info@gg.ca

* Michael Bryant, Ontario Attorney General
Phone: (416) 326-2220 or (416) 326-2210, Toll Free:
1-800-518-7901
Fax: (416) 326-4007, Email:
http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/comments.asp

Editors Note added:Go to the page provided and send your message from their site.

BACKGROUND

On March 3rd, 2006, members of the Rotinoshon'non:we (Iroquois) people set up camp on the Haldimand Tract, located at the entrance to Douglas Creek Estates, a 71-lot subdivision under construction by Henco Industries Ltd. on Six Nations territory.

This land has at no point been surrendered to Canada, and was formally recognized by the Crown as Six Nations territory as part of the 1784 Haldimand Deed. The Plank Road Tract was subsequently registered as a land claim with the federal government in 1987. The Six Nations, in their submissions to Ottawa, stated that the reserve was
never properly compensated for land sold to non-natives and land that was taken to build the Hamilton to Port Dover Plank Road. The Six Nations reserve now covers less than 5 per cent of the original tract of six miles each side of the Grand River from the mouth to the source. Meanwhile, the province of Ontario passed legislation allowing this tract of land to be developed as part of a scheme to draw 4 million settlers into the Golden Horseshoe area.

Henco Industries successfully obtained a court injunction last month to have members of Six Nations who are camped out on the territory forcibly removed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). A revised injunction issued by an Ontario Supreme Court Judge on March 28th states that those who refuse to vacate the property are guilty of
criminal and civil contempt, and will be fingerprinted and photographed as part of a probation order. In delivering his judgment, Provincial Court Judge David Marshall said this to the Clan Mothers: "What's the matter with you people? Why don't you forget all about the past and listen to me?" On the evacuation deadline date issued by Justice Marshall, there were roughly 300-500 people lined up at the road in support of theSix Nations. The Clan Mothers held an action that had 50 women blocking
the construction crews from building.

In the face of mounting police presence at Six Nations- including two dozen marked and unmarked police vehicles parked outside a nearby elementary school currently being used as a command post, a number of police cruisers scattered throughout the neighbouring town of Caledonia, and scores of undercover officers around the periphery of the Six Nations reserve - and a mobilization of the state reminiscent
of the lead-up to the murder of Dudley George by the OPP at Ipperwash in 1995, the Clan Mothers and Six Nations community have requested solidarity in their struggle to affirm their inherent right to self-determination and sovereignty on the land. "Canada must stop using guns to resolve its legal disputes with the indigenous people," states Jacqueline House.

The clan mothers have mostly recently issued the following statement:

The Women, being Title Holders to all lands of Turtle Island, assert our constitutional jurisdiction over the Haldimand Tract. We have never and cannot ever give up our land or our sovereignty.

1. The Six Nations are distinct original nations. We are to be dealt with on a nation-to-nation basis by the Crown and all other nations.

2. The Crown must respect our original relationship as set out in the Two Row Wampum, our jurisdiction as provided in our constitution, the Kaiannereh'ko:wa, and as respected by Sections 109 and 132 of the BNA Act, 1867 and according to international covenants that Canada has signed.

3. We are to be dealt with on a nation-to-nation basis, as was the custom before Canada separated from the British Empire. Respect for the independent international status of the Six Nations by Canada was established before Canada achieved recognition as a state or gained the ability to sign treaties on its own. The independent international identity of the Six Nations identity has never been
legally extinguished.

4. The band councils were established with procedures that violated international law. They continue to function as colonizing institutions.We have never consented to their establishment nor their representing us.

5. Canada and all its politicians, bureaucrats, agents, assignees and appointees should cease and desist immediately their attempt to criminalize and apprehend our people for defending what is rightfully ours, the land to which we hold title. Any further action by Canada, Ontario and their agents shall be viewed as being a
direct violation of the Two Row Wampum, the constitutional accord between the Ratino'shon:ni and Canada and international law.

6. The claims of Canada and the province of Ontario to have a right to legislate for the Rotino'shon:ni Six Nations and to grant private title to our land has no foundation in law.

ANGELA STERRITT
Gitxsan Nation
Justice for Girls
International Indigenous Youth Conference Secretariat
ange@resist.ca
REDSKYDESIGN
Coast Salish Territory

2006-04-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

NATIVE SOLIDARITY FEST

In the spirit of Solidarity with Indigenous peoples of the Americas and across the world, we are coming together to celebrate our strength and commUNITY here in Denver, CO with a Native Solidarity Fest: A Fundraiser for Four Winds American Indian Survival Project!

Join us as we see great performances, eat delicious food, and shop from local Native artists!

WHAT: Native Solidarity Fest
WHEN: Friday, April 21st, 2006.
TIME: Doors at 5 pm, Performances begin at 7 pm.
LOCATION: Four Winds American Indian Survival
Project 201 W 5th Avenue (in a church building at the corner of 5th and Bannock)
COST: *$5-10 donation (*No one turned away forlack of funds)

Besides the incredible politically-minded original hip hop masters we will also have an amazing local native spoken word artist, Cele Spink, Mvskogee flutist Cakko (of Rock Out columbus Day performers, Debajo del Agua, and Pariah), Native DJ and
breakdancers!

This event needs you and will be far too fun to pass up!

Come check out the booths and buy delicious Enchiladas foods-support local artists and Four Winds American Indian Survival Project.

Four Winds American Indian Survival Project works to identify and address the issues and concerns of women, children and families, as well as track the current effects of welfare reform on Native American women in the Urban metropolitan area. These funds continue to support these efforts including work with other organziations to bring about an awareness of alcoholism and substance abuse and to stress the
importance of spirituality.

*****Many organizations and artists are welcome to have booths-just call 303.201.1101 or 303.756.1341for any questions or to purchase booth space!

See you there! (and don't forget to tell everyone you know about it!
Repost! Repost!

In Solidarity,
Leslie Andrews
Lmanoart@gmail.com
303.756.1341

Liquor license for bar at Bear Butte approved

2006-04-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

Several hundred people gathered at the liquor licencse hearing and voiced their opposition to the license approval. The license was approved.

Native Americans Protest Bar Plans
It's a sacred spot to Native Americans, but Bear Butte will soon be home to a bar. An Arizona man wants to build an entertainment complex near the base of the hill, just north of Sturgis. Jay Allen asked Meade County commissioners for a liquor license and today, all five unanimously approved it. But that didn't stop hundreds who oppose the bar from protesting the decision.

Native Americans chanted and carried signs to show their dismay for their sacred land being turned into a spot to sell and drink alcohol.

Protestor Nita Bald Eagle said, "It makes me angry because a lot of people go up there to pray and they go there to be closer to their spirituality."

They took their message to the Meade County Courthouse over the planned "Sturgis County Line Bar." Inside, county commissioners listened to both sides concerning Allen's proposed bar. complete article

Please visit the following sites Owe Aku, Bear Butte International Alliance, Defend Bear Butte

American Indian Movement of Colorado Press Statement

2006-04-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

Colorado AIM will stand in solidarity with indigenous peoples from around the globe on APRIL 25, 2006 at the Newmont International Headquarters, 1700 Lincoln St., Denver, CO, in a vigorous protest at Newmont’s annual shareholder’s meeting. Representatives from indigenous communities that have been adversely affected by Newmont will be arriving in Denver from Peru, Ghana, Western Shoshone, the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State, and perhaps other locations.

Colorado AIM condemns the actions of Newmont that destroy the water, earth and air through its operations in places such as Peru, Nevada, Ghana and Indonesia, but also in the territories of indigenous peoples in Mexico, Canada, Australia, Bolivia and the Philippines.

Equally, we deplore and condemn the explorations and proposed operations of Newmont in the Black Hills of South Dakota, an area sacred to several indigenous nations of the Great Plains region. We also call on Newmont immediately to fulfill its responsibility to clean up radioactive uranium waste on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State.

Indigenous peoples have been protecting their territories and water over the past several years, and they continue actively to confront the destructive practices of Newmont.

· Last week, in Sumbawa, Indonesia, community members expressed their opposition to Newmont’s operations by setting ablaze a number of pieces of Newmont’s machinery, forcing the corporation to close its Batu Hijau Copper Pit until further notice.

· Tens of thousand of indigenous people marched on Newmont’s operations at Yanacocha, Peru. These actions forced Newmont to cancel plans to expand its open pit mines to the sacred mountain of Quillish.

· The Western Shoshone Nation (Nevada) recently received a victory at the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The decision called for an end to the collusion between the United States government and corporations such as Newmont, in the theft of Western Shoshone resources in violation of the 1863 Ruby Valley.

The courage and integrity of native peoples around the world in resisting the eco-terrorism of Newmont is an inspiration to us in Colorado AIM. When representatives of these struggles come to Newmont’s international headquarters here in Denver, the source of the misery in their communities, we will welcome our relatives, and we will show them that they are not alone in their quests for environmental justice. We will call on local and state officials to demand responsibility from this corporate criminal in our midst.

We will stand shoulder to shoulder in support of our indigenous relatives, and any people who choose love of earth and love of life, over love greed and love of profits.

We intend to shine a bright light on Newmont and its destructive operations. We intend to hold Nemmont accountable for what it has done, and for what it continues to do.

Visit Stop Newmont to learn more

Collville Nation rejects mining

2006-04-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

From Indian Country Today

Colville reject mining
Posted: April 03, 2006
by: Jack McNeel / Indian Country Today
NESPELEM, Wash. - Voters on the Colville reservation decisively rejected the mining referendum when the votes were officially tallied on March 23.

Votes against numbered 1,254, compared to 847 ''yes'' votes for nearly a 60 percent to 40 percent ratio in opposition to mining. Voters essentially turned down the possibility of huge financial gains in favor of protecting the environment and cultural values. Many considered the financial income as a chancy situation dependent on several factors, most notably the long-term value of molybdenum. Molybdenum is the primary ore at the Mount Tolman site that was being considered in the mining proposal.

Billie Jo Bray, a San Poil, was one of the leaders in getting the word out in opposition to mining. The organization she represents, Visions for Our Future, is a non-profit grass-roots organization concerned about preventing destruction to natural resources and saving sacred sites on the reservation.

''I'm very happy. I'm jumping with glee inside,'' Bray said. ''I want to do a celebration dinner right now to bring people together and enjoy the company - to pray and say 'thank you.' I'm really excited.'' complete article

Charmaine White Face-Bear Butte is sacred

2006-04-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

From the Rapid City Journal

Forum, 4-1: No development near Bear Butte

By Charmaine White Face, coordinator for Defenders of the Black Hills.

Open letter to the Meade County Commission:

This letter is to reaffirm our position of no development of any kind within a five-mile radius of Bear Butte, a position we have held for a number of years. Our reasons for this position are:

1. Bear Butte is a sacred place to more than 60 Native American nations of the North American continent who have continually visited this shrine for religious/spiritual purposes for tens of thousands of years, and respect should be given to all peoples' places of worship in order to meet the foundations of the Freedom of Religion.

2. Bear Butte is a National Historic Landmark whose impact for its historical significance and unique geological structure in this region is being eroded with the incursion of urban development. complete letter

For more information, please visite Owe Aku

CO AIM and the Stop Newmont Mining Coalition

2006-04-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

Please visit the Stop Newmont Website for more information.

Also, we will be posting updates on this blog.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 2006
CONTACTS: Glenn Spagnuolo 720-771-4669
Mark Cohen 303-733-7037

STOP NEWMONT MINING COALITION
www.stopnewmont.org
stopnewmontmining@att.net

GLOBAL RESISTANCE AGAINST NEWMONT MINING COMES HOME TO DENVER!

Local and International Activists Shine Light on Local Company

DENVER, March 31, 2006: A broad coalition of human rights groups will hold a PRESS CONFERENCE on Monday, April 3, 10:30 a.m., at 1700 Lincoln Avenue (on Sherman Avenue between 18th and Lincoln), Denver, Colorado, the headquarters of Newmont Mining, one of the world's largest gold mining companies - a company whose mines are contaminating water sources, destroying sacred indigenous lands, threatening entire ecosystems, forcing indigenous people off their traditional lands, resulting in the loss of ancient ways of life and livelihood.

Indigenous peoples around the world - in Indonesia, Peru, Ghana, Mexico, and on Western Shoshone territories in the western U.S., are forcefully resisting Newmont's destructive and unsustainable practices in their ancestral homelands. Newmont has failed to respond to their concerns, failed to consult with them, and threatened and intimidated critics.

When Newmont holds its annual shareholders meeting at their headquarters on 1700 Lincoln Avenue in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, April 25, 2006, hundreds of activists and community members from around the U.S. and the world will bring this struggle home to Newmont's corporate offices and expose the environmental and social devastation created by Newmont.

The Stop Newmont Coalition will serve notice of this coming confrontation, as well as announce plans for a conference, What Price Gold? to be held at the Tivoli Student Center on the Auraria campus on Monday, April 24, that will explore the destructive impact of gold mining on indigenous peoples.

"Greed for gold by invaders has consistently destroyed great indigenous civilizations in the Americas," said Glenn T. Morris of the American Indian Movement of Colorado. "Today, Newmont Mining is the newest invader of indigenous peoples's territories. On April 25, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with native peoples from around the world to bring Newmont to account."

Native Students/ACLU Sue Racist South Dakota Schools

2006-03-31T09:35:00.000-08:00

ACLU Fights to End Discriminatory Prosecution of Native American Students (3/28/2006)
National “School-to-Prison-Pipeline” Trend Exemplified in South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, SD – The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a class action lawsuit in federal court against the Winner School District in South Dakota, charging that the District maintains an environment hostile to Native Americans by, among other things, disciplining Native American students more harshly than Caucasians and by forcing them to sign “confessions” for minor rule- breaking, which often leads to juvenile court convictions.

“The treatment received by Native American students in Winner and throughout the region is completely different than that of their white counterparts,” said Jennifer Ring, Executive Director of the ACLU of the Dakotas. “These experiences demonstrate the reasons why Native American children so often fail to reach graduation -- hostility of peers, discrimination of school officials and knee-jerk police involvement.”

ACLU national staff attorney Catherine Kim said the problems in Winner are part of a nationwide trend of “get tough” policies on school misconduct, which lead to increases in suspensions for trivial conduct and the use of law enforcement to handle minor school discipline. According to Kim, research consistently shows that students of color are far more likely than Caucasian students to feel the brunt of this trend, which advocates refer to as the “school-to-prison pipeline.”

More information is available at: www.aclu.org/crimjustice/juv/schooltoprisonpipeline.html

Winona LaDuke-which energy path?

2006-03-31T06:50:00.000-08:00

From Indian Country Today

LaDuke: Three Affiliated Tribes at a crossroads: Which energy path?
Posted: March 31, 2006
by: Winona LaDuke

Tex Hall is eager to bring a synfuels refinery and other tribal energy resources into the market. ''The tribe is concerned about delays ... We really want to work with our senators and kick-start the regulatory and funding process to get the new Indian energy programs under way,'' Hall explained at an early October meeting with the Crow and Fort Peck tribes. At the meeting, Hall proposed the northern tribes consider a strategic formal alliance on energy and economic development. ''Our tribes are rich in energy resources,'' he said.

Wes Martel, a former tribal council member of the Wind River reservation, echoed his sentiments. ''We're here to support Tex's tribal economic alliance,'' he said, adding that tribes can't depend on federal agencies.

At stake is a flagship project at Three Affiliated Tribes and, potentially, a large number of other projects in the region as tribes grapple with options from the fossil fuel or the renewable energy economy. The proposed $80 million Makoti synfuels oil refinery will be sited on the Fort Berthold Reservation, employing some 300 construction workers and providing 80 full time jobs. The tribe has approved a lease for this land, as well as 200 acres to oil companies. The draft environmental impact study was released just this past month.

Regionally, Bill Kitto, BIA superintendent at Fort Berthold, is lauding a minerals study reporting l to l.5 billion tons of coal on the reservation, with an estimated 560 tons of coal in the White Shield community alone. At the other end of the energy spectrum, Fort Berthold has some of the best wind energy potential of any location in the world, with an estimated 17,000 times more wind power available than can be used on the reservation.

Arguably one of the most powerful Indians in North America, Hall's past leadership at the National Congress of American Indians means that the Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara tribal chairman's choice to focus most on a conventional fossil-fuel path on energy issues sends a message. It also illustrates the complex challenges of tribal governments, and worries many of his tribal members. complete perspective

CONAIE sends solidarity letter to Flagstaff marchers

2006-03-30T06:37:00.000-08:00

Ecuadoran Solidarity with the March for Sacred Sites
by nm Sunday March 26, 2006 at 02:53 PM

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon salutes your struggle to defend the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of America and the world.
Message: To the March for Sacred Sites and in Defense of Human Rights - Flagstaff,Arizona
March 25, 2006

From: The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador- CONAIE - Quito, Ecuador
March 25th, 2006

Dear Relatives and Friends of Flagstaff, Arizona,

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon salutes your struggle to defend the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of America and the world.

Here in our country for the past 15 days we have been implementing a Mobilization in the Defense of Life throughout the country in order to defend our future as Indigenous Peoples and for the peoples of Ecuador as a whole. We are in opposition to the signing of the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) in the absence of prior consultation with our Pueblos, demanding as well the termination of the contract with Oxy Petroleum, and have called for the Convocation of a National Assembly of Constituents.

Our struggle is not only for the rights of Indigenous Peoples but extends to all living beings on the planet.

For this reason we support your struggle to defend the Sacred Sites of the Indigenous Peoples, defending the waterfalls, the rivers, and the
entire biodiversity that has as expression in human terms the relationship of harmony of society and mother nature (Pacha Mama). From these principles we develop our education, our systems of cultivation, our organizational networks, our own systems of justice, and our identity. An Indian without territory does not know who he is.

In this manner the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador - CONAIE defends our territories in the three regions of our country. At this moment we are being invaded by the giant multinational corporations, monsters of mining, lumber extraction, including Environmental Non-governmental Organizations (NGO's) who attack our territories of the Amazon, of the highlands, and of the coast.

We are the victims of the consequences of 30 years of petroleum extraction in our country. In the provinces where the exploitation is most severe, out of every three children, two are malnourished, and our communities experience serious health issues such as skin cancer. We suffer from nicosia, anemia, tuberculosis etc.

The majority of our water ways are contaminated by the petroleum discharges into our rivers and streams. It is not true either that these multinational companies create jobs or employment. Reality is that 17% of Ecuadorians live outside of the country seeking employment; it is these individuals who through remesas of capital back to Ecuador are in actuality sustaining the country economically. In Ecuador, 80% of the population lives under the pall of poverty.

And now with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement, this situation stands to be massively compounded across Ecuador, and so we have
determined to respond in the struggle of our Peoples. We once again unite to defend ourselves. It does not matter whether it is in Flagstaff, Arizona or in Ecuador - it is the same struggle with the same objective - to defend the right of life with dignity for all of the Indigenous Peoples.

Adelante! Tayecana! Forward !

One thought, one hand, one heart. - Un solo Corazón, Una sola mano, Un solo pensamiento.

Rafael Pandan
Director of International Relations - CONAIE
Governing Council of CONAIE
http://www.conaie.org

Translation : TONATIERRA http://www.tonatierra.org

Colorado AIM joins forces with "Save the Peaks" to March for Respect for Indigenous Spiritual Freedom

2006-03-29T14:54:00.001-08:00

On Saturday, March 25, 2006, members of Colorado AIM joined with members of the Save The Peaks Coalition, and Youth of the Peaks, to march in Flagstaff, AZ for spiritual freedom for indigenous peoples. The march was also joined by hundreds of participants from the National MeCHA Chicano student's convention, held at Northern Arizona University. March organizers estimated that 1200-1500 people participated in the rally that protested the continuing desecration of indigenous peoples' sacred sites in northern Arizona. Of particular concern is the operation of the Snow Bowl Ski area, near Flagstaff, that denigrates sacred mountains, known in english as the San Francisco Peaks.The ongoing efforts of Save the Peaks are discussed here.

Saturday's rally brought together people from as far away as California, Alaska, Colorado and Mexico. For a more detailed report,check out Arizona Indy Media here:
AZ Indy Media

Members of Colorado AIM had a great time working with native youth from across the Southwest. The energy and organization of Save the Peaks/Youth of the Peaks was an inspiration to our own organizing efforts. We were able to inform other indigenous activists of the upcoming actions in Denver against Newmont Mining on April 25th Stop Newmont action, and we look forward to working in alliance on issues of indigenous peoples' liberation in the future.

Bear Butte is sacred

2006-03-27T19:22:00.000-08:00

From the LA Times.

Beer, broads, bikers -- and the Great Spirit
By Peter Nabokov, Peter Nabokov teaches at UCLA and is the author of "Where the Lightning Strikes: The Lives of American Indian Sacred Places."
March 26, 2006

JUST EAST OF THE hogback ridge that encircles the Black Hills of South Dakota rises the irregular profile of Bear Butte, a 4,426-foot-high cross between a hill and a mountain. Geologists call it a laccolith, a volcanic bulge that never erupted, as if still storing its power within.

To a handful of Plains Indian tribes, Bear Butte remains the preeminent sacred place on their continent. On all sides, the approach to this counterpart of Mt. Sinai or Mt. Athos is mantled with waves of prairie grass, allowing arriving pilgrims or vision-seekers to take in the promontory's stillness, quietude and power by degrees.

ADVERTISEMENT
But the construction of a 30,000-seat-capacity rock-concert amphitheater, a 22,000-square-foot biker bar and a 150,000-square-foot asphalt parking lot adjacent to the butte threatens the place's ability to provide peace and refuge. Every summer, an estimated 500,000 growling Harleys invade the nearby town of Sturgis, destroying the butte's zone of spiritual restoration. However, that August orgy of mandatory machismo, nonstop boozing and wild-girl breast-baring lasts for only two weeks. The mammoth entertainment venue under construction, for which bulldozers are scraping up turf, will bring roaring choppers, blasting music and carousing drinkers year-round.

Next week, the Meade County Commission will hear debate on the venue's liquor license application. An overflow crowd of American Indians is expected to attend. For them, Bear Butte's history is ancient and hallowed. Into the butte's bowels, says Cheyenne Indian mythology, once ventured a man and a woman who were charged with saving their tribe from starvation. Within its cavern-like interior, they received the great Massaum ceremony, with its gift of providing game animals to feed the people. For Lakota Indians, Bear Butte is their ultimate altar, where their Great Spirit placed all seven sacred elements and made it the optimal location for smoking the sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, a rite that holds the secret "to the past, present and future of the Lakota people." complete article

At least 50,000 march in Denver

2006-03-27T19:17:00.000-08:00

From the AP.

Tens Of Thousands Attend Immigration Rally
By Kim Nguyen, Associated Press Writer
Save It Email It Print It
(AP) DENVER More than 50,000 people gathered downtown Denver Saturday as part of a national protest against a crackdown in immigration laws, surprising city police who had expected far fewer people.

On a warm, spring day, with temperatures reaching 70 degrees, protesters came out to urge the state Senate to reject a resolution supporting a ballot issue that would deny many government services to illegal immigrants in Colorado.

They also protested federal legislation aimed at criminalizing illegal immigrants and building more walls along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Police officers were expecting only a few thousand people at Civic Center Park next to the state Capitol and Denver city and county buildings, said police spokesman Sonny Jackson, who provided the crowd estimate. complete article

Update from the Six Nations

2006-03-24T20:52:00.000-08:00

received via email

SIX NATIONS BLOOD BATH AVERTED

THANKS TO POPULAR SUPPORT

MNN. March 23, 2006. It was a victory for the power of the people! It was a victory for Indigenous land rights. It was a victory for all those struggling for recognition of Indigenous jurisdiction. Since mid-February the Rotinoshon’non:we/Iroquois have been protesting the construction of a luxury residential subdivision on their land called “Douglas Estates” near Caledonia Ontario. With the Canadian and provincial governments intent on ignoring our rights, there were no options. We had to stop the construction ourselves. Our people braved freezing rain, snow, sleet and ankle deep mud. Many slept in tents and cars to keep the barricades manned. Supporters carried in pots of food and truckloads of firewood. We’re in it for the long haul! We are continuing the fight that our grandparents and great-grandparents fought and that our children and grandchildren are prepared to continue if the colonization doesn’t stop.

Henco Industries, the developer that is squatting on our land, went to court and got an injunction. Judge David Marshall of the Ontario Provincial Court thought he had a fool proof plan to get rid of the people protesting Ontario’s persistent violation of Six Nations Territory. On March 16 he issued a strange convoluted order. He announced that at 2:00 on Wednesday, March 22nd, the Ontario Provincial Police OPP would come in. They would read the order to us. Anyone who didn’t leave immediately would be arrested and taken to the police station where they would be photographed, fingerprinted and released. He also ordered that anyone who returned would be charged and placed on probation for a year. The trouble is he seemed to have forgotten about due process and the honor of the Crown. He didn’t mention a hearing or a trial. Neither Ontario nor Henco was required to prove they owned the land in question. This may have something to do with the report that Judge Marshall and the Crown Prosecutor, Owen Young, both claim parts of our land themselves.

The people weren’t frightened by Marshall’s attempt to bully us with his bogus order. We’ve seen it all before. Everyone rallied to support us. By 2:00 on Wednesday hundreds of people had converged at Douglas Estates. The Women locked arms together on the front line. It’s our duty under our constitution, the Kaianereh’ko:wa/Great Law, to protect the land for our future generations. We were going to do our best. We weren’t alone. All across Turtle Island from the Dene of the Northwest Territories, the Western chiefs of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, natives and non-natives alike bombarded everybody they could with the message: "Stop the OPP bloodbath". It did not happen because as 2:00 came and went people continued to arrive to stand with us.

We lead ourselves, which we had every right to do. That’s autonomy and freedom of _expression. We found out that we all follow the same philosophy. We all want to protect the natural world and to live in peace and harmony together. We all have the same vision, to preserve our sovereignty in order to protect our land to ensure a future for our people, as creation intended us to do. We are not Canadians and not Americans. We have always rejected the genocidal colonial European vision.

Super Indian Cop, Jim Potts, a self-described expert on us, pulled himself and his Aboriginal mercenaries out of the protest at the last minute. He had set up a squad of his own people to attack their brothers and sisters at Six Nations. He said, "They aren't going to have any weapons", like we’re supposed to believe that the OPP is unarmed! That’s who he said was their back up. If anything happened, the Aboriginal inductees would take the flack and act as human shields for the provincial gestapo. Looks like he read Ward Churchill’s “A Little Matter of Genocide” and decided to be Ontario’s ‘Little Eichmann’. "We have a court order to do this", he said. That's the plan that was outlined in his report on "Dealing with Indigenous Protests and Occupations" that fell into the hands of MNN. It came from one of its most valued and trusted sources.

The OPP have no jurisdiction on land claimed by the Rotinoshon'non:we because we never gave any to them in accordance with our nation-to-nation agreement. The Ontario courts used to recognize that back in the 1920’s before Duncan Campbell Scott deposed the traditional Rotinoshon’non:we government.

Colonial practices have gotten worse since then. The popular action on Wednesday has turned the tide, we hope. Maybe Ipperwash made them think, finally! We will no longer be lead into the ovens by sell-outs like Jim Potts! When we pull together and assert ourselves, we will win by standing on our principles. Our path has been blocked for so long. We removed the ‘log’ on the road, chopped it up and used it for firewood. Yes, we are going to find non-destructive ways to get Turtle Island back. Every time we neglected our responsibility, hard times came upon us. But our duties and responsibilities were still there.

We lost our way because there was so much dust on our constitution. Generations were forbidden to speak our language. They were interpreting everything through residential school eyes. The Kaianereh'ko:wa was being used to control the people as if it was colonial law instead of helping us. The servants of the colonialists try to make the people serve them. On Wednesday no leaders showed up because the minds of the "leaders" are the minds of the colonialist.

In the early 1800’s there was a Judge Marshall in the United States Supreme Court whose reasoning is relied on to this day by courts that are trying to defend Indigenous rights in an honorable way. If Ontario’s Judge David Marshall is a blood descendant, he’s certainly not philosophical kin. This guy believes in “big gun” injunctions. He can’t be bothered with little details like legal proof. He was determined to charge people even if he didn’t know who they were. His orders were all made out mostly to fictional people called “John and Jane Doe”. He wanted to sentence them without a hearing or a trial. He threatened them with criminal records, bad credit ratings, inability to borrow money, border crossing trouble and lots more. Sounded like he said something like, "We’ll even hose you down with bad water if we have to". But he really wanted to “atomize” us! Oops! Hey! Isn’t that genocide again? He seemed to want to dump every kind of threat in his quiver to stop us from exercising our rights and to perfect Henco Industries’ theft of our land.

These kinds of things always attract scammers as well as serious supporters. This time we got one, Pat Holly, who claimed to be the trustee of Mohawk Nation Grand River and maybe even Mother Earth itself! He sure didn’t look like a clan mother! But this white guy thought he had a good thing going. He had two native fronts. Maybe he thought no one would find out he’d been caught selling fake Indian and Metis status cards in the United States. He served Henco Industries with Notices of International Claim for $110 million US through the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Texas. He wanted a check made out to Pat Holly, Bill Squires and Thedawahka. Then the whole issue would go away. This sounds almost as legitimate as the previous “sales” of Six Nations land. Maybe this guy has an option on the Brooklyn Bridge too!

People are still at the site. They intend to stay. They invite supporters to come and stand with them. The injunction is not legal and is going to be challenged. We have the support of people across the whole of Turtle Island and beyond. Today even Indian Affairs Minister Prentice sent a representative to the site to open up a dialogue. They told him, “Give us your name. We’ll call you sometime”. I wonder if he would open up a dialogue if someone came to squat on his land and tried to kick him off?

Kahentinetha Horn – MNN Mohawk Nation News – kahentinetha2@yahoo.com – coming soon www.mnn.mohawknationnews.com

Announcement of Gathering to protect Bear Butte

2006-03-24T20:51:00.000-08:00

My name is Carter Camp, I'm a Ponca Indian and I have been chosen to be the "Eyapaha" or "Traditional Speaker" for the Inter-Tribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte. (www.defendbearbutte.org).

As such, I would like to announce a major effort by over thirty (30) Sovereign Indian Nations in America to stop the obscene developments which are being built all around the Mountain each of our Nations hold sacred and inviolable. For over a century our Nations have attempted to explain to the encroaching Americans that this Sacred Mountain is a place where we come to pray and it holds an exquisitely important place in the ancient religious ways of each of our Nations. For example, during each of America's World Wars, plus Korea and Viet Nam, our Nations and our Veterans pilgrimage to Bear Butte to pray for the victories of American Armed Forces and the safe return of our tribal warriors who fought in those wars in such great numbers. In fact all year around hundreds of Indian people make their pilgrimage to Bear Butte to pray, fast, and hold religious ceremonies. The Mountain holds such tremendous meaning to our people that many of us believe our entire way of life will be destroyed if the continued exploitation of the land around Bear Butte is allowed to continue by local and State governments.

Now because those same local and state governments refuse to hear our pleas to mitigate the developments or in any way cooperate with our requests for a five-mile buffer zone around her base, we must attempt to convince them in a more direct way. Therefore we have decided to hold another "Great Gathering of the Nations" such as the one Hunkpapa Chief Sitting Bull held in the mid 1800's for the same reason… to protect our sacred grounds. Chief Sitting Bull gathered 6,000 of his people; we plan on gathering over 10,000 native people on Bear Butte during this year's "Sturgis Bike Rally" to stand and march in witness and protest to the destruction of our most holy site. Each day of the "Rally" we plan on exercising our Constitutional right to assemble on Bear Butte and march to the Sturgis City Hall and/or the various scenes of noisy, drunken debauchery taking place around the slopes of our sacred mountain.

Our people will begin gathering to hold ceremonies on the Fourth of July and we will continue to gather our people until August when a "Grand Council of the Tribes" will be held to determine our future course of actions. All Traditional Societies will take their place in the grand circle; Traditional Chiefs will lead societies of Kit Fox, Dog Soldiers, Ponca He'Thuska, and other Lakota Tokala and Akicita to take their places at the front of the people. Our effort will be led principally by American Indian Veterans who have fought for America in all of her wars.

The second effort will be an International boycott of the Broken Spoke Saloon and all booze serving campgrounds within the five-mile buffer zone. This effort will be spearheaded by the newly formed biker group "BIKERS FOR BEAR BUTTE" who will take it upon themselves to inform the biker nation that Meade County and South Dakota are turning a deaf and racist ear to Indian people and only the bikers themselves can take the proper steps to enforce the buffer zone by asking all bikers not to patronize any campground, booze party, or concert venue within the buffer zone. They will "request" in the strongest terms that their fellow bikers stay off Highway 34 and 79 within five miles of Bear Butte. This effort has already begun and will grow much stronger before the "Rally".

In closing I would like to assure the people of South Dakota that our gathering and marches will be peaceful and within Constitutional bounds. We will seek permits for our marches and gathering places and we intend to comply with existing laws. But in the end, we fully intend to protect the sanctity of our sacred mountain no matter how long it takes; we have done so for hundreds of years and we intend to continue as long as she is being shown disrespect and remains under attack.

We further ask the people of South Dakota to help us by writing or calling their legislators and asking them to enact the five-mile buffer zone as law.

In 2001 the World Trade Center ruins became "Sacred Ground" to all Americans so it seems America can understand the concept with which our people have regarded Bear Butte from time immemorial.

All we're asking is that South Dakotans give our sacred mountain the same respect given to New York's sacred site.

Carter Camp, Eyapaha
Inter-Tribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte.
www.defendbearbutte.org
605-455-2508

More people arriving to assist those enforcing 1784 treaty

2006-03-23T17:12:00.000-08:00

More natives from Canada and the United States are arriving to help out their relatives.

Clan mothers lay it on the line

Sheryl Nadler, the Hamilton Spectator

No showdown with police at native rally to stop builders

By Paul Legall
The Hamilton Spectator
CALEDONIA (Mar 23, 2006)
More than a hundred native women including powerful clan mothers locked arms in a human chain to block a police arresting party that never happened.

It was the second mass rally that native protesters have staged since moving onto a residential building construction site south of town on Feb. 28.

It started with about a dozen people in the morning. Supporters kept streaming in during the course of the day and by 2 p.m., more than 200 people had gathered at the entrance of the Douglas Creek Estates.

There were also dozens of cars parked on and around the building site and along both sides of Argyle Street. The anticipated showdown with the local OPP also attracted a steady stream of spectators creating bumper-to-bumper traffic on the road.

Droves of new supporters, including natives from other parts of Canada and the United States, responded to a judge's order last week which ordered protesters to leave the site by 2 p.m. If they didn't go on their own, they were told they'd be arrested for contempt of court and face a possible 30-day jail sentence. complete article

Gitka'a'ata First Nation mobilizes to save passengers on sinking ferry

2006-03-23T10:14:00.000-08:00

Hartley Bay is home to the members of the Gitka'a'ata First Nation

The rescue at Hartley Bay
Villagers race to sea in pitch blackness with one thought: help those in distress

MARK HUME AND ROBERT MATAS
From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Moments after the marine radio crackled to life at 12:25 a.m. yesterday with a distress call announcing that a British Columbia ferry was on the rocks, the village of Hartley Bay sprang into action.

People tumbled out of their beds, pulled on their clothes and raced through a lashing rain squall for the small dock in the isolated community on B.C.'s rugged Central Coast, 140 kilometres southeast of Prince Rupert.

The men who had boats went to sea, in pitch blackness and not knowing exactly where they were headed, while those who remained behind were organized by women at the Hartley Bay native band community centre to get ready for survivors.

Nobody knew what to expect, but they knew they would do whatever they could. complete article

Natives defy injunction in order to enforce 1784 treaty

2006-03-23T06:24:00.000-08:00

Deadline passes with no arrest. The standoff continues.

Native occupiers stay at Ontario site as deadline passes
Last Updated Wed, 22 Mar 2006 15:53:42 EST
CBC News
A court-imposed deadline has passed without arrests as native protesters continue to occupy a construction site near Caledonia, Ont.

INDEPTH: Aboriginal Canadians

Native protest near Caledonia, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police told reserve officials Tuesday night they didn't plan any arrests on Wednesday, despite a 2 p.m. deadline set by a judge last week for the protesters to leave. The police planned to monitor the situation.

The protesters, from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory reserve near Brantford, have been occupying the area since Feb. 28. They say a new subdivision is being built on land that belongs to them.

"We would like to see a stop put to the development at this point, a moratorium of sorts," Sandra Muse, the editor of a reserve newspaper, told CBC News on Wednesday morning. complete article

The following was sent via email. Reports from the inside are also going to be sent so we'll publish those as we receive them.

March 22, 2006

NEED PRESSURE ON OPP, ONTARIO GOVERNMENT, CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AND
EVERYBODY TO STOP THIS IMPENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST THE IROQUOIS WHO
ARE DEFENDING THEIR LAND AT ILLEGAL BUILDING SITE ON HIGHWAY 6
CALEDONIA. WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER IPPERWASH. NO ONE NEED TO
BE KILLED, HURT OR ARRESTED BECAUSE THEY STAND ON THE CONSTITUTION.
To All Onkwehonweh, our Friends and our Allies:

The Men and Women who are in occupation of the lands on 6th line
near Caledonia need your support. According to Wampum #44 of the
Kaienerekowah (the Great Law) The Women are the title holders to the
lands; and under the direction of the Clanmothers, Janie Jamieson and
others have maintained their position that our lands are inalianable.
They are not for sale and there is no negotiation. The government
knowingly transfered our lands to Henco Industries, through years of
negotiations with the Band Council; which neither party had the
authority to do. They have been continually reminded and they knew
full well that as Title holders, the responsiblity of our lands lie
with the Women and our Traditional Government.
Under the Great Law, when the Clanmothers give direction, it is our
responsiblity as men to uphold their wishes and protect the people.
The Clanmothers have maintained this to be a peaceful occupation and
we are asking for all of you, who's future generations we are
fighting for, to come and support them. The OPP are coming in at
2:00. We must imlore them to pull back.
Spokespersons: Janie Jamieson 905-517-7006, D.Hill 519-865-7722;

Call: Governor General 613-993-8200; Attorney General of Ontario;
Ontario General of Canada; Jim Potts OPP head of Aboriginal OPP
invasion 613-795-3907; OPP Brian Haggith 905-772-3322; Stephen Harper
pm@pm.gc.ca fax 613-941-6900, ph 613-992-4211; Premier Dalton
McGuinty Dalton.McGuinty@premier.gov.on.ca;
Jim Potts, a native, who is leading the Aboriginal policemen who are
going to attack us at 2:00 co-authored a report on "Policing and
Aboriginal Occupations and Protests". One strategy being used is
bringing in Aboriginal policemen to attack their own people. This is
so that the OPP will not get a black eye like they did at
Ipperwash. They will make it look like a fight between Indians. We
urge the mothers of these Aboriginal policemen to implore their sons
and daughters to stay away. Why should the state put the gun in the
Indian's hands to shoot their brothers and sisters? This is the same
strategy Hitler used in bringing in Jews, referred to as "trustees"
to help him herd him the Jews into the ovens.

At 1:17 pm Wed. Mar. 22 the choppers have arrived flying high over
the site to intimidate the unarmed People who are peacefully
protecting our land. Cruisers going by regularly. Streets are going
to be blocked.

Please Circulate this Widely, Nationally and Internationally.
Sharon Green
www.gatheringplacefirstnationscanews.ca/

Pine Ridge students protest

2006-03-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

Red Cloud high school sophomore students walked out of the school to protest the termination of 2 culture teachers.

Students protest teachers’ firings

By Jomay Steen, Journal Staff Writer

PINE RIDGE - On Tuesday, American Indian high school students protested the recent firings of two teachers and what they describe as the suppression of their Lakota language and culture at a Catholic school on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The sophomore class of Red Cloud Indian School led about 25 students in a protest of the school’s recent firings of two Lakota culture teachers, the confiscation of students’ tobacco ties made on a religious retreat, comparisons of Lakota spiritualism to mythology and allegations of mistreatment.

Bob Brave Heart, Red Cloud Indian School superintendent, said that although he is disappointed that the students hadn’t approached him or the school’s principal about their concerns, the school would not punish the students beyond counting them absent from classes.

“They do have the right to protest,” he said complete article

The students were met by some members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Council. "“I admire their activism." said OST council member Will Peters.

Protests in Ecuador continue-State of emergency declared

2006-03-22T09:37:00.000-08:00

The state of Ecuador has declared a state of emergency in response to the continuing protests by Indigenous Peoples.

Ecuador: Protests Against Free Trade Reach Critical Juncture
Written by Cyril Mychalejko
Wednesday, 22 March 2006
The Ecuadorian government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, March 21 after countrywide protests and roadblocks led by indigenous peasants intensified.

Protesters are demanding that President Alfredo Palacio end negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, which are scheduled to resume on Thursday in Washington. They also demanded the government expel U.S. oil company Occidental from the country. The protests are in their tenth day and growing stronger, despite headlines in the U.S. media over the weekend suggesting that they were "losing steam" and "fading."

Palacio has accused protesters of trying to "destabilize democracy" and of using "deceptive politics that seek to perversely tear apart the nation."

And although the protesters seek to protect, not destabilize democracy, they may very well destabilize Palacio’s already fragile interim government. His administration has been struggling to contain protests and strikes in the oil producing Amazon region over the last few months. Protesters shut down two oil-pumping stations in February, demanding that the government spend more on social programs and infrastructure projects. Ecuador uses less than 8 percent of its GDP on social programs. complete article

Possible invasion of four Mohawk communities

2006-03-20T16:26:00.000-08:00

This came courtesy of Mohawk Nation News. The website will be up soon and we are posting it in it's entirety.

“APRIL FOOL’S DAY”? ARE THE CANADIAN MILITARY AND POLICE PLANNING TO INVADE THE MOHAWKS?

MNN. March 14, 2006. “I don’t trust them. We’ll get ready for the 1st and they’ll come in on the 2nd”, said a Kanehsatake grandmother. To help us Mohawks welcome the Spring, the RCMP and the Canadian army seem to be planning to attack four of our communities on Saturday, April 1st, 2006. Get ready, folks! This is just two weeks away.

Tyendinaga near Belleville Ontario has found out about this from two separate sources. Kahnawake, Kanehsatake and Akwesasne haven’t been told yet. We’ve all been the targets of surveillance by low flying helicopters for some time now. They’re inspecting our homes and businesses. Why don’t they drive up to our cigarette shacks in cars like anybody else?

In Tyendinaga a chopper landed right in the middle of their runway on Wednesday, February 8th at 8:30 pm. The soldiers got out, stomped around for a bit, all decked out in full uniform, helmets and night vision goggles. (Why did they land? Did someone need to pee?) “We’re just doing routine training”, they told the ever-suspicious Mohawks. Then they quickly jumped back into their helicopter and flew away, without even waving good-bye. A week later two army choppers flew low enough to shine bright blinding lights right inside people’s houses.

Last summer Mohawks bumped into Canadian and U.S. Special Operations Soldiers on the CN Rail lines on Tyendinaga. The Mohawks chased them off. Later they came across Canadian soldiers on a road near their northern boundary. This time dozens of soldiers jumped out of the trees on both sides of the road and scooted off like a bunch of scared rabbits. What do you think of that?

These and other incursions over the past months and years worry our communities. R. Don Maracle, the band council chief there, wrote to the army on February 9th 2006. He protested the helicopter flights, saying "further activities will be viewed as harassment and a serious breach of protocol."

What did those guys means that it was just “routine training”? Since when did Canadian soldiers practice on unsuspecting civilians of another nation? This is an international incident! They certainly don’t run practice maneuvers in the middle of downtown Ottawa or suburban Scarborough or Albany New York, do they?

Since 1994 Canada has been quietly reviving the old fashioned Hollywood-Cowboy method for dealing with Indigenous people. What they’re doing is illegal under international law. But they’re trying to get away with it anyway.

They call it a crime for Indians to make and sell cigarettes on “reserve” lands. But they still haven’t resolved the boundaries between Canadian and indigenous jurisdictions. Their constitution says they have to respect “aboriginal and treaty rights”. Their highest courts say these rights are “inherent”. That means they have to respect our jurisdiction that predates the arrival of the colonizers.

The trouble is they’re still with cowboy and Indian fantasies. They think we have to live like we did 400 years ago. Do they? Are they going to go back to wearing little bloomers, frilly collars, ride sailing ships and not bath? Not likely. But they still want us to stay in canoes.

When you come right down to it, their decision to declare that our business activities are crimes is illegal nonsense. They think they have a right to raid us like a bunch of Rambos. They seem to have forgotten about the commitment to peace and honorable negotiations they made to our ancestors and to the international community.

They’re not above trying to co-opt some of our cousins into their deceitful schemes. James Gabriel of Kanehsatake allegedly signed a deal in November 2003 with the Solicitor General to target all Mohawks who are trading with their sister communities. They want to wipe out the entire native run tobacco industry.

Canada thinks that the only way to scare the Mohawks is by launching an overwhelming attack on us with massive military and police armaments and weaponry. They just don’t want us to become economically self-reliant because then we would control our own lives. Indian Affairs would be out of a job.

We Mohawks are proud of our prowess in looking after ourselves and our people. We will not let colonial governments and their agents criminalize us for running legitimate economic enterprises. Because they fear our asserting our rights, Canada hires high priced public relations firms to constantly demonize and stereotypes us as “dangerous criminals”. This is being done to condition the public. If they think we’re criminals, they wont object if we’re attacked. They won’t notice that peaceful families are being violated by armed “mercenaries”. They’ll think they’re just cleaning up crime.

In 1994, the Canadian army planned to invade these four communities. It was called ‘Operation Scorpion Saxon’. It was to have involved some 1,500 soldiers, 2,000 RCMP and 2,000 Quebec officers. What a great make work plan. Indian Affairs isn’t the only colonial government agency looking to justify its existence. “They would invade at night with the forces arriving by road, rail and air using helicopters and armored vehicles”.

The soldiers would have brought tear gas, smoke bombs and pepper spray. They were trained to use 66 millimeter rockets and M-67 type fragmentation grenades. There would be low level helicopter flights below power lines and shooting from flight levels of 100 feet. There was no mention of what precautions were to be taken to protect babies sleeping in their cradles, or to ensure that shrapnel avoided hitting the elderly. Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) commandos were on standby. They figured this would cause countrywide native protests and were prepared for multiple strikes across Canada. Obviously at some level they knew that the public would be able to see what they were doing was wrong.

When it was called off, the army called this ‘simple routine training’. Have we heard that before? Two reasons were given: (1) CSIS advised Canada that there would be "grave political violence" that the Canadian public would not tolerate; and (2) There were too many leaks about the army’s plans which would eliminate the element of surprise they thought they needed. All this to stop Canadians from smoking Native Cigarettes!

In the Toronto Star, Sgt. Martin Blais of the RCMP in Ottawa said, "We would not confirm or deny this or any operational matter".

Maj. Mike Lagace of the Canadian Air Force Air Wings headquarters in Winnipeg said relationships with local native communities are important for the military, "when conducting flying exercise or operations." So why aren’t they telling us what they’re up to? What’s routine about practicing military maneuvers in residential Indian neighborhoods?

So, we Mohawks better brace ourselves just in case this is not an April Fool’s joke! Let’s keep our eyes open. As one Akwesasne resident said, “We’re supposed to be watching out. But we’re seeing so many strange things these day we don’t know what’s out-of-the-ordinary anymore”. Maybe it’s time for an email campaign to tell the Canadian government to back off. .

Kahentinetha Horn,

kahentinetha2@yahoo.com

MNN Mohawk Nation News

Mnn.mohawknationnews.com (coming soon)

Indigenous Peoples prepare for another week of demonstrations-Ecuador

2006-03-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

The indignous mobilization in Ecuador continues.

Ecuador begins second week of anti-FTA protests

QUITO, March 20 (PL).—Ecuador today is starting another week of indigenous mobilizations against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, with marches and road blocks in various provinces.

"The national mobilization will continue and will be more forceful and courageous," with more demonstrations throughout the nation from dawn this Monday," states a communiqué from the Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador Federation (CONAIE).

Despite violent repression by the police forces, the indigenous movement has warned Alredo Palacio, president of that country, that if he persists in signing the FTA there will be a popular uprising.

The CONAIE noted that the unmeasured use of force by this transitional administration demonstrates its fear and is making the popular clamor for the just demand for a more worthy and sovereign life all the stronger.

At least 25 people were arrested last night and others sought refuge during a police ambush of the peaceful indigenous march as it approached the capital. complete article

Bigger blockades promised in Ecuador

2006-03-17T21:11:00.000-08:00

The protests in Ecuador are easing up but bigger blockades are being planned.

Ecuadorian Indians promise bigger blockades

Protests by Ecuador's indigenous peoples against a proposed free trade deal with United States eased on Friday but leaders warned they will call bigger blockades if the government insists in signing the agreement.

Angry indigenous groups blocked roads and burned tyres during four days and Thursday evening returned to their villages. The government welcomed the end of the recent wave of protests, which it said heralded the return of normality to Ecuador.
Public Administration Secretary Jose Modesto Apolo said that “the Indian protest has ended and the country is going back to normal”.

Apolo added that the Cotopaxi province protest ended after the government awarded regional authorities 2 million US dollars for infrastructure works.

Protests paralyzed 8 of the country’s 22 provinces and caused great disruptions in the capital Quito.

But protest leaders remained unconvinced by government efforts to ease the crisis and Indian Congress member Jorge Guaman warned that "an uprising" will take place between March 23 and April 6, --when the final round of negotiations takes place in Washington--, if Ecuadorian President Alfredo Palacio signs the FTA.
“By no means are the demonstrations over”, highlighted Guaman. complete article

Vine's book is now available

2006-03-17T13:54:00.000-08:00

The World We Used to LIve in: Rembering the Powers of the Medicine Men-Vine Deloria, Jr.
Book Description
One of the unfortunate byproducts of the recent renaissance in Native American spirituality has been the abuse and misuse of sacred ceremonies by Indians and non- Indians alike. In Vine Deloria's Jr.'s groundbreaking final work, the culmination of more than 30 years of research and scholarship, this great and beloved thinker reclaims the importance of these ceremonies for Native America. Through the collection of dozens of stories about medicine men, across tribes and time, Deloria displays the sense of humility, the reliance on spirits, and the immense powers that characterized Native people through history. Moreover, in a synthesis of many of his earlier writings, Deloria explores the relation of these powers to our current understanding of science and the cosmos.

Six Nations members defend their land

2006-03-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

Received via email

SIX NATIONS COMMUNITY PEOPLE PROTECT LAND

SIX NATIONS - Six Nations community people remain unarmed and peaceful at the site of Douglas Creek near Caledonia on Six Nations Territory known as the Haldimand Tract.

In 1784, Sir Frederick Haldimand issued a proclamation authorizing Six Nations to take possession of and settle upon the banks of the Grand River "beginning at Lake Erie and extending in that proportion to the head of the said river which them and their posterity are to enjoy forever."

An injunction against some members of Six Nations was heard in Cayuga Provincial Court today at 2 p.m. Judge Thomas David Marshall was asked to step down from presiding over this case as it was presented to be found that he held land deeds on the Haldimand Tract. After a short recess, Judge Marshall declared no conflict and proceeded. No judgment was made and the hearing continues Friday, March 17, 2006 at 11 a.m.

The Six Nations community people at the land reclamation site wish this situation to come to a peaceful end. They are prepared to accept a resolution of the following two conditions. First, they wish any further development on their land to cease and desist. Second, they wish to be informed that Six Nations land claims will be settled by the federal government.

The Six Nations community people feel confident that the urgency and the importance of this situation will result in a positive solution.

For more information contact:

Lisa VanEvery, Media Consultant
Janie Jamieson, Spokesperson

Phone: (519) 771-5681
Phone:(905) 517-7006

Fax: (519) 751-1595

Email: c-p-i@rogers.com

Here is some background info from the gathering place

Backgrounder

The Douglas Creek Estates development is currently under construction on lands stolen from the Six Nations Peoples. On Feb. 28th, the Peoples re-occupied their land and said they will stay until jurisdiction and title over the land is restored to Six Nations.

The British Crown granted the Six Nations Reserve a 10- kilometre strip on each side of the Grand River from the mouth to the source, a tract of about 950,000 acres. But today, the reserve covers only about 5 per cent of the tract. Protesters say the rest of the lands were stolen, squatted on or illegally transferred after being leased to non-natives. Protesters say the building site, which could eventually accommodate close to 200 homes, is part of the original tract granted to the Six Nations people more than 200 years ago. The proposed development and impending growth continues to infringe on Six Nations treaty rights.
The land was never sold, transferred or surrendered to non-natives and the site is still part of the Six Nations territory, even though at least two of the houses have been sold and were soon to be occupied. The protesters are acting under the direction of the Six Nations Confederacy, the traditional chiefs. They believe the Confederacy -- and not the elected band council -- has the authority to negotiate lands on behalf of Six Nations. Gathering place

Go to the link to learn more.

We'll also be posting updates on this issue as news comes in.

Exorcising colonial demons

2006-03-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

This arrived courtesy of Mohawk Nation News. Their webiste will be up soon and we are posting the article in it's entirety.

EXORCISING COLONIAL DEMONS -- HOW THE U.S. LOST TO THE WESTERN SHOSHONE AT THE U.N.

MNN. March 16, 2006. On March 10, 2006, the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination found that the United States was denying the Western Shoshone people "their rights to own, develop, control and use their land and resources". They warned the U.S. to respect their obligations according to the Convention". The U. S. was urged to "freeze",
"desist" and "stop" their actions against the Western Shoshone and abide by the Committee's "Early Warning and Urgent Action Procedure".

The Western Shoshone land base covers approximately 60 million acres, stretching across the states of Nevada, Idaho, Utah and California. Their land rights were entrenched in the 1868 Treaty of Ruby Valley. The U.S. used a procedure similar to that of the Canadian and Ontario governments when they turned land belonging to the Stoney Point people at Ipperwash into a park. The U.S. declared the Western Shoshone lands had become "public" or federal lands in violation of the treaty.

The U.S. uses Western Shoshone land for military testing, open pit cyanide heap leach gold mining and nuclear waste disposal planning. They have used military style seizures of Shoshone livestock, trespass fines in the millions of dollars and ongoing armed surveillance of Western Shoshone who assert their original and treaty rights. When the Western Shoshone questioned their actions, they were denied "fair access" to the U.S. courts. The U.S. courts represent the United States, one of the adversaries in the conflict. So the Western Shoshone took their case to the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This became the neutral tribunal required under international law.

In 2001 the Committee had already expressed alarm that U.S. laws and treatment of indigenous peoples continue to be based on the outdated, colonial era "doctrine of discovery." The Committee's decision is a direct negation of the colonial process.

The US was extinguishing Western Shoshone's rights through "gradual encroachment" on their lands even though the Indigenous people continue to use and occupy their lands. This process was crafted in the U.S. Indian Claims Commission
which does not follow "international human rights norms, principles and standards".

U.S. tactics include:

a. Privatizing ancestral lands so they could
be transferred to multinational corporations and
energy developers.

b. Destroying and denying them access to
their spiritual and cultural areas; opening a
nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain; using
explosives and open pit gold mining on Mont
Tenabo and Horse Canyon; and issuing geothermal
energy leases at, or near, their hot springs.

c. Resuming underground nuclear testing;

d. Conducting all activities without consulting with and despite the protests of the Indigenous peoples;

e. Intimidating and harassing them through imposing grazing fees, trespass and collection notices; impounding horses and livestock; restricting hunting, fishing and gathering; and arresting them; and

f. Blocking them from challenging these actions before an impartial court;

The Committee has ordered the U.S. to immediately stop all of these tactics.

Joe Kennedy, of the Western Shoshone delegation, said, "We have rights to protect our homelands and stop the destruction of our land, water, and air by the abuses of the United States government and the multinational corporations". He asked
people worldwide to help stop this insanity to secure a safe future for all.

Recognizing Indigenous rights is the beginning of healing the earth and the international family. We need support to assert our jurisdiction so that we can look after the environment. The interests in health, safety and the desire to lead a wholesome life are shared by Indigenous and ordinary people worldwide. In the past year the citizens of New York State have supported the Kanion'ke:haka/Mohawk in stopping the fraudulent land claims and the destructive plans of the multinational mega energy corporations.

There was no valid consultation with or consent by the constitutional Indigenous people according to the standards set by U.S., Canadian or international law. What is called "international law" is not yet 'international' because Indigenous people do not participate in its formulations. So we are still at the mercy of state governments. However, state governments have become estranged from the populations they supposedly represent.

Deals with tribal and band councils set up by the state are not consultation. When they are conducted in secret, as often happens, there is no possibility of popular consent. The U.S. and Canada have been encroaching on land even when there were no agreements or treaties to validate their intrusions. The Western Shoshone decision indicates that encroaching as a way to take over land has been formally rejected.

The Committee urged the U.S. to initiate a dialogue to work toward a solution acceptable to the Shoshone. The Committee implements the consultation and consent standard to make an agreement valid.

US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in USA v. Lara stated in his concurring decision that he could find no evidence that any Indigenous people had given up any of their land and sovereignty; that federal Indian laws are "schizophrenic"; and
Indian affairs would be "chaotic" until this is dealt with. This is the first time a United Nations Committee has issued a full decision against the U.S. and "its highly controversial Federal Indian law and policy".

This decision challenges the U.S. and Canadian theft of Indigenous title to all of Turtle Island. Kanion'ke:haka/Mohawks have not been allowed to use our land or even to traverse upon most of it. Our lands have been illegally taken for bridges, highways, seaway, railway lines, communities for the settlers, mines, extraction of our resources and mega developments without our permission. This is comparable to the imposition of fines, taxes, confiscation of sheep and putting mines on Western Shoshone property without their consent. States, mining companies, hydro developers and multinational corporations now have to get our permission to go on our land to set up their businesses.

The Committee has requested that the U.S. provide it with information on actions they are taking to implement their decision by 15 July 2006.

The University of Arizona Indigenous Law and Policy Program and Oxfam America, along with 13,000 signatures of U.S. supporters, helped the Western Shoshone file a new legal action at the United Nations CERD. (Contact Julie Fishel
wsdp@ig.org or 775-468-0230 (US)).

The U.S. argued that their actions were not "novel". As if we didn't all know that! What is somewhat original is their resistance to the decolonization movement that everyone in the world is coming to terms with. One of the ironies of the situation is that the U.S. Declaration of Independence was an inspiration for much of the decolonization process that
permeates the world. The U.S. has slipped from being a "leader of the pack" to being one of the "last lone laggards" charging off on imaginary crusades in ridiculous directions. Sadly, they are trampling a lot of ordinary and innocent people underfoot. They need to be exorcised them of their colonial ghosts.

Fortunately, the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was not duped by the U.S.'s colonial phantoms. The U.S. asked the Committee to wait for them to submit their 'Periodic Report' which has been past due since 2003. The
Committee insisted on an immediate response. The U.S. didn't even show up! We cannot expect fair dealing and straight play from the U.S. Maybe they will try to fool people and set up a UN Indigenous Affairs Department using the U.S. and
Canadian Indian Affairs models. They will can hold all our land "in trust" so they can globally control us and our resources? Most likely they are looking for Indigenous leaders to co-opt.

How many times have we seen this before? Indigenous peoples have been active at the United Nations for several decades. This decision could promise hope to indigenous communities everywhere.

Kahentinetha Horn, MNN Mohawk Nation News,
kahentinetha2@yahoo.com (Coming soon. Get your
daily Kanion'ke:haka news on
mnn.mohawknationnews.com)

Ecuador protests to continue

2006-03-16T21:08:00.000-08:00

CONAIE leaders continue to pressure the state of Ecuador.

Indian leader nixes call to end protests
GONZALO SOLANO
Associated Press
QUITO, Ecuador - The leader of Ecuador's main Indian movement on Thursday rejected President Alfredo Palacio's call to end protests against free-trade talks with the United States.

"We will continue to mobilize and radicalize the protests in favor of life and against the free-trade agreement," Luis Macas, leader of Ecuador's main Indian movement, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, said in a statement. "There will be neither dialogue nor contact with the government."

Police, however, said the protest was slowing as provincial governors called for an end to the protest following government pledges to invest more on social spending and public works in their areas.

In the face of the unrest, Palacio went on national television Wednesday and urged Ecuadorans to "close ranks" to defend the country's democracy. The president said the protests were "the culmination of deceptive politics that seeks to perversely tear apart the nation."

CONAIE began blockading roads and highways Monday and has threatened to overthrow Palacio's government if he signs a free-trade pact with the U.S. complete article

Save the Peaks-Sunrise prayer gathering

2006-03-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

From Save the Peaks
Friday Sunrise Prayer Gathering for the Holy San Francisco Peaks!

Flagstaff, AZ - On Friday, March 17th at 6:00am, while Arizona Snowbowl prepares to open it's slopes for the first time this season, traditional Indigenous practitioners and community members will gather to offer prayers. The prayers offered will be to heal wounds and divisions created by Snowbowl owners and operators and the Forest Service officials because of their controversial plan to expand the developed ski area and make snow from contaminated wastewater on the Sacred Mountain known as the San Francisco Peaks.

"We are not gathering to interfere with Snowbowl's business or anybody's recreation," says Klee Benally of the Save the Peaks Coalition, "We are gathering to offer our prayers for healing. We will also acknowledge those who do not understand the harm they are trying to commit on our way of life, our community's health and the environment. We will be praying for compassion and respect."

Arizona Snowbowl recently received approval in District Court to make snow from contaminated wastewater, clear cut over 70 acres, expand its facilities and make additional development on the Peaks. The San Francisco Peaks are a holy site to more than 13 Native American Nations and a critical habitat for threatened species. The decision is being appealed by the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Yavapai Apache, Hualapai, Havasupai, Sierra Club, Flagstaff Activist Network and others.

Come show your support for the protection of our cultural and natural heritage. Save the Peaks!

After the prayer gathering at 1:30pm, members of ECHOES will be delivering petitions representing thousands of voices from throughout the world calling for the Flagstaff City Council to stop the sale of wastewater to Arizona Snowbowl for snowmaking.

Who: Traditional Indigenous Practitioners and Community Members

What: Sunrise Prayer Gathering for the Holy San Francisco Peaks!

Where: San Francisco Peaks, Arizona Snowbowl - Hart Prairie - lower parking lot

When: Sunrise - 6:00am

For more info email: coalition@savethepeaks.org

If you can't make it to Flagstaff on Friday:

Call in to stop the City of Flagstaff's sale of wastewater to Snowbowl for Snowmaking!

Please call:
City of Flagstaff Mayor Joe Donaldson
Telephone: (928) 779-7600

Suggested talking points:

The Coconino National Forest Service's Environmental Impact Statement recognizes that there will be "adverse impacts" to the cultural integrity of the San Francisco Peaks if the Snowbowl development is permitted. Snowbowl's plan would not be possible if the City did NOT sell wastewater to Snowbowl. Let him know how you personally feel about the preservation of ancient living cultures.

Scientific studies have found contaminants in the wastewater that could be dangerous to the environment and humans. With this information, the City must also address its use on parks, school fields and golf courses. Urge the city council to take these scientific findings seriously!

The City of Flagstaff's economy benefits greatly from neighboring Native American Nations and from heritage tourism year round. The sale of wastewater to Snowbowl will continue to be detrimental to the City's reputation and relations with these tribes that oppose further desecration of the San Francisco Peaks.

Snowbowl's wastewater plan and the City's involvement are contributing to racial division in the community.

Urge the Mayor to allow the community to decide if it should sell wastewater to Snowbowl.

Stop the sale of contaminated wastewater to Snowbowl! Respect our Cultural and
Natural Heritage!

www.savethepeaks.org

Aymaran professor denied entry into U.S.

2006-03-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

Waskar Ari is an Aymarran professor who was hired to teach at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. The U.S State Department is subjecting him to extensive background checks, and effectively denying his entrance, due to what they claim to be "derogatory information" on Ari, which they refuse to disclose.

Read the American Historical Association letter to the U.S State Department here.American Historical Association

You can also watch a clip from the Democracy Now program that focuses on the case of Waskar Ari and Tariq Ramadan. Tariq Ramadan is a Venezuelan professor who was denied a visa to teach at the Univeristy of Notre Dame.

Video Clip Download

Fourth day of protests in Ecuador

2006-03-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

From the BBC website

Ecuador protests enter fourth day

Indigenous groups fear a trade deal would harm their economy

Indigenous groups in Ecuador have begun a fourth day of protests against a proposed free trade deal with the US.

They are blocking roads across the Andean highlands, where extra police and soldiers have been deployed.

Demonstrators have rejected an offer by the government to form a committee to investigate their concerns, describing it as a smoke screen.

President Alfredo Palacio says the protests are designed to create chaos and bring down his government. complete article