[NN-Dialogue] Wotanging Ikche--nanews10.030
Gary Night Owl
gars@speakeasy.org
24 Jul 2002 00:34:11 -0000
WOTANGING IKCHE -- Lakota -- Common News
Kanoheda Aniyvwiya -- Cherokee -- Journal of the People
Otapi'sin Atsinikiisinaakssin -- Blackfeet -- News for All the People
Es'te Opunvk'vmucvse -- Creek -- People's New News
Aunchemokauhettittea -- Naragansett -- Let Us Share News
Ni-mah-mi-kwa-zoo-min -- Ojibwe -- We Are Talking About Ourselves
Ha-Sah-Sliltha -- Ditidaht Nation -- News of the People
Un Chota -- Susquehannic Seneca -- The People Speak
Ximopanolti tehuatzin, inin Mexika tlahtolli -- Nahuatl --
For you we offer these words
It-hah-pe-hah Ah-num pah-le -- Chickasaw -- Together We Are Talking
Sho-da-ku-ye -- Teehahnahmah -- Talking Birchbark
Acimowin -- Plains Cree -- Story or Account
Dineh jii' adah' ho'nil'e'gii ba' ha' neh -- Navajo Nation --
What's Happening among The People News
Native American News -- Language of the Occupation Forces
Wotanging Ikche and Native American News Copyright c. 1996-2002 nanews.org
==>If you want your Nation represented in the banner of this newsletter<==
email gars@nanews.org with the equivalent of "News of the People"
in your tribal language along with the english translation
O +-----------------------------+
O o O | Much more happens in Indian |
O o O VOLUME 10, ISSUE 030 | Country than is reported in |
O o o o o O | this weekly newsletter. For |
O o O July 27, 2002 | For daily updates & events |
O o O | go http://www.owlstar.com/ |
O | dailyheadlines.htm |
Pomo bakaichich/manzanita ripens moon +-----------------------------+
Cherokee nvda utsi'dsata'/corn in tassel moon
<================<<<< >>>>================>
This newsletter is produced in straight ASCII text for greatest portability
across platforms. Read it with a fixed-pitch font, such as Courier, Monaco,
FixedSys or CG Times. Proportional fonts will be difficult to read.
<================<<<< >>>>================>
This issue contains articles from www.pechanga.net; www.owlstar.com;
www.indianz.com; TribalLaw, Chiapas95-English/Ciepac-b, Iron Natives
and Indigenous_Peoples_Literature Mailing Lists; newsgroup: alt.native;
UUCP email
IMPORTANT!!
-----------
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, all material appearing in
this newsletter is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a
prior interest in receiving this information for educational purposes.
<================<<<< >>>>================>
This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters who share our
Spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the
Red Road.
++ It may be subscribed to via email by sending a request from your own
internet addressable account to gars@speakeasy.org
++ It is archived at http://www.nanews.org
<================<<<< >>>>================>
As historian Patricia Nelson Limerick summarized in The Legacy of Conquest:
The Unbroken Past of the American West,
"Set the blood quantum at one-quarter, hold to it as a rigid definition
of Indians, let intermarriage proceed as it had for centuries, and
eventually Indians will be defined out of existence. When that happens,
the federal government will be freed of its persistent 'Indian problem.'"
"Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to
cure it and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory
of existence."
__ Mourning Dove (Christine Quintasket), Salish
+- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+
| Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg-
| | iance was first presented
| I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the
| to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat-
| of the Republic | ional Congress of American
| and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat-
| borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI
| Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the
| as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian
| States Constitution, | Nations.
| so that my forefathers |
| shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl
+- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+
+- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+
| Journey | In the summer and early fall
| The Bloodline | of 1998 the Treaty Unity Riders
| | rode a thousand miles on horse-
| For all that live and live by law | back, carrying a staff and
| We Stand, we Call, We Ride | praying each step of the way.
| For All that fear and fear by sight |
| We Hear, we Listen, we Ride | These prayers were offered for
| For all that pray and pray by strength| each of us, and that the Unity
| We Feel, we Move, we Ride | of all Peoples might happen.
| For all that die and die by greed |
| We Hurt, we Cry, we Ride | Tatanka Cante forwarded this
| For all that birth and birth by right | poem on behalf of all the Unity
| We Smile, we Hold, we Ride | Riders that we might stop and
| For all that need and need by heart | ask if the next words we say, the
| We Came, we Went, we Rode. | next act we make is for the good
| | of the People or is it from ego
| Treaty Unity Riders | for self.
+- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+
O'siyo Brothers and Sisters!
Those who have asked if they can contribute directly to the White
Mountain Apache now have a way.
http://www.silverbelt.com/display/inn_moccasin/Moc2.txt
WMAT account helps fire, flood victims
The White Mountain Apache Tribe has opened a bank account for those who
have been affected by the Rodeo/Chediski fires and now flooding in the
burned out areas from the monsoon rains.
Donations to the fund will be used for families that have been directly
impacted by the fires through loss of employment, relocation expenses, etc.
Anyone who would like to donate to this fund can go into any
Arizona Wells Fargo Bank and designate their donation to the
WMAT-Rodeo/Chediski Disaster Relief Fund
Account No. 1004051817
[For those not living in Arizona wishing to help here are some addresses
of Wells Fargo Banks - just be sure you earmark your funds for the WMAT
Rodeo/Chedeski Disaster Relief Fund, Account Number 1004051817 - gary]
Wells Fargo Bank - Pinnacle Peak Wells Fargo Bank - Phoenix Main
23405 N. Scottsdale Rd 100 West Washington St
Scottsdale AZ 85255 Phoenix AZ 85003
Wells Fargo Bank - Downtown Mesa Wells Fargo Bank - Apache Junction
305 East Main St 231 South Phelps Dr
Mesa AZ 85201 Apache Junction AZ 85220
The entire White Mountain Apache Tribe wishes to express their sincere
thanks and gratitude to all of those who have offered assistance and
prayers during their time of need.
Copyright c. 2002 Arizona Silver Belt. All rights reserved.
-=-=-=-
These Cherokee found a way to contribute their talent to the needs of
the White Mountain Apache. I send my thanks.
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 10:55:58 -0400
From: "TIM, BETH & BEN TRUMAN" <t.truman@verizon.net>
Subj: White Mountain Apache Benefit: concert date
>To: "Gary Smith" <gars@speakeasy.org>
[Editorial Comment: Band tour dates are not normally included in this
newsletter. Commercial posts simply detract from
the intended content. The exception is being made
because Terry contacted me to help him make contact
with the White Mountain Apache to setup a benefit
concert in their behalf. This tour list, including
that benefit - a giveaway, is why I gladly make this
exception now. - gary]
Gary: We have a confirmed date for the White Mountain Apache Benefit
Concert. If you see fit, please share the date with anyone whom you think
might be interested.
Thanks for all your help.
-Timothy Truman
Mon. July 29- Mt. Joy, Pa. Green Party fundraiser at Bube's Brewery.
Featuring Terry Strongheart, Tim Truman and Mike Diehm in an acoustic set.
7:00 PM - 11: PM.
Sat. Aug. 24- Pottstown Pa., Southern Cherokee Confederacy Pow Wow,
Memorial Park.
Sat. Aug. 31- Harrisburg, Pa. Pow Wow on the Island
Sat. Sept. 7- Muddy Run State Park, Quarryville, Pa., First Nations Fall
Harvest Festival Pow Wow
Sat. Sept. 14- . Ephrata, Pa., Ephrata Park Amphitheater behind Eicher Arts
Center. SPECIAL EVENT:
BENEFIT FOR THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE, featuring the Terry Strongheart
Band with the Jim Beers Band (Native American Music Award winner). All
proceeds will be donated to the Apache tribe fire victims whose lands were
devastated in the recent Arizona forest fire tragedy. This event is
sponsored by Eicher arts Center and the Strongheart Band.
ALSO IN SEPTEMBER: Terry Strongheart Band in concert at the Ephrata
Playhouse. We'll have a time and date for the show soon.
The Terry Strongheart Band is:
Terry Strongheart- lead vocals, guitar; Tim Truman- lead and slide guitar;
Mike Diehm- rhythm and lead guitar; "Buffalo" Chip Ames- bass; Jeff
Chambers- drums; Erin and Tara Strongheart- backing vocals
For more information about these concerts, the Terry Strongheart Band, or
to acquire our CD, "Tears", please contact:
Tim Truman
email: t.truman@verizon.net
or
Terry Strongheart
stronghearttf@aol.com
or write to
TSB
c/o T.Truman
PO Box 5321
Lancaster, PA 17606
phone: 717-569-0612
Dohiyi Ani Oginalii
, , Gary Night Owl gars@nanews.org
(*,*) P. O. Box 672168 gars@speakeasy.org
(`-') Marietta, GA 30007, U.S.A. gars@olagrande.net
===w=w=== gars@sdf.lonestar.org
----------- News of the people featured in this issue ----------
- Mario Juruna - Drought hits hard on O'odham Lands
- John Joel (Uncle Joe) McTigue - White Firestarter
- Crossings is cleared of Charges
- Letter to the Editor: - Land Conflicts
Learned Helplessness intensify in Chiapas
- American Indian Studies - Aboriginal Group
Director Dismissed files Court Challenge
- Administration Criticized - Aboriginal Women speak out
on management of Sacred Sites - Jury orders Probation
- Sacred Land may outshine - Judges Wrongly excluded
any Gold Mine Navajos from Juries
- Zuni Salt Lake: - Three admit shooting up
Native beliefs vs. Mines Tribal Town
- Ruins at Wupatki vandalized - Leonard Peltier
- Lewis and Clark Update and Action Alert
made a Pit Stop Here - Native Prisoner
- Riders push to end -- Letter from Standing Deer
Peabody's pumping of N-Aquifer -- Alex Montana
- Navajo Council OKs threatened by Officials
Drought Relief Fund - Rustywire: Corn
- Hopis offer to underwrite - Poem: Sweet Water
Powell Pipeline - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days
--------- "RE: Mario Juruna" ---------
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="MARIO JURUNA"
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/19/obituaries/19JURU.html
Mario Juruna, Who Served in Congress in Brazil, Dies at 58
By SIMON ROMERO
Mario Juruna, a chief of the Xavante Indians of central Brazil and the
only Indian to serve in the Brazilian Congress, died on Tuesday in
Brasilia. He was 58.
The cause was complications from diabetes, said a spokesman for Santa
Lucia Hospital.
Mr. Juruna was elected to Brazil's lower house of Congress in 1982. A
vocal critic of government policies, Mr. Juruna represented Rio de Janeiro
State until 1986, when he lost a bid for re-election.
Mr. Juruna was raised in the interior of Mato Grosso, where his tribe,
the Xavante (pronounced SHA-vanteh), were known in the 1930's for their
resistance against intruders. By the 1960's, however, Xavante lands were
flooded with settlers.
Many members of the tribe took refuge in villages under the
administration of Funai, the Indian affairs bureau, as their society
shifted from hunting and gathering to dependence on tractor-driven rice
farming and outside assistance.
Mr. Juruna, who learned to speak Portuguese only at 16, emerged as an
advocate of Indian rights. In the late 1970's, he traveled to Brasilia to
request an audience with President Ernesto Geisel to try to secure
blankets and shoes for the Xavante.
That effort failed, but Mr. Juruna remained in the capital. A folkloric
figure, Mr. Juruna carried a tape recorder to register the promises of
politicians. He collected these recordings in a book, "Juruna's Tape
Recorder," published in 1983.
In 1984, Mr. Juruna charged that an ally of a right-wing politician,
Paulo Salim Maluf, tried to bribe him to vote in the electoral college for
Mr. Maluf, who was running against Tancredo Neves. Mr. Maluf's campaign
denied any bribery. Mr. Neves eventually won that vote, an important
episode in the re-emergence of democracy after military rule.
After losing his re-election bid, Mr. Juruna grew more resentful of
Brazil's political system. He moved to a modest home in Guara, a poor
satellite city near Brasilia, where he occasionally spoke to visitors on
what he viewed as systemic corruption gripping Brazil.
"Many men climbed higher on my shoulders," Mr. Juruna once said. "Many
white men did this. After my term, I was abandoned."
Mr. Juruna was married twice and is survived by his current and former
wives, and by 12 children, the newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo reported.
Copyright c. 2002 The New York Times Company.
--------- "RE: John Joel (Uncle Joe) McTigue" ---------
Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 06:41:34 -0400
From: "Jim Anderson" <jim@andersons-web.com>
Subj: Uncle Joe McTigue
[Editorial Note: Jim Anderson is one of those people in Indian
Country who leads by beautiful example. If Jim Anderson can be
so moved by an Grandpa's crossing you can be sure we have suffered
a great loss here, and Creator has taken another trusted warrior
home. And, yes, this post is with Jim's permission.... gary]
Dear Friends, Relatives, Native Americans and Martial Artists:
It is with unbelievable sadness that I type this e-mail to inform all
of you that Sensei John Joel (Uncle Joe) McTigue known as a "Peaceful
Warrior" in the Martial Arts, and crazy JJ in the Kiowa World, Uncle Joe
to almost all, and Grandpa Joe to many, has passed from this Earth this
evening around three and a half hours ago.
Joe did not feel well this morning when Jim Charlton was visiting us.
He said he was okay but did not feel like coming with Amy, Mike and I as
we went to a double header basketball game in Citrus County. After the
game we were going to my daughter Cindy's to celebrate her daughter
Kaycee's and our son Michael's birthdays as they are only days apart and
we have gotten together this way for the 11 years of Mikes life. Amy,
Jim, Mike and I all felt that he just felt the trip, a double header and
then a party was too much; and he just wanted to opt out of the long hard
day. His last words were "I'll be all right don't worry." My last words
were, "I will worry, it's what I do." However we all felt he was okay and
left around 11:30 a.m.
We had our day and were bringing a big thank you from Kaycee home to him
for her gift and found him unconscious on our back porch. Paramedics and
then at the hospital the doctors did all they could but he never regained
consciousness and they let him go around 8:00 p.m.
Amy, Mike and I are NOT okay so you need not ask, but we will be! Cindy,
Brian, Kaycee and Amber just left after rushing down here from their
Citrus County home so that we would not be divided and alone, you see
someone had to stay with Mike or he had to go to the hospital too, so
Amy followed the ambulance and I stayed with Mike until the other family
members got here, then Brian stayed with the kids and Cindy drove me to
the hospital where we met with Amy just as they told her he was gone!
I know this is a lot put in this e-mail, but you should all know that
Uncle Joe has lived here in Brooksville with us now for over four years
and had well become our son Mike's best friend, Mike took Karate, so Joe
took Karate, Joe became a Black Belt in Wa No Michi Ryu Karate and was
appointed the Spiritual Advisor to the entire system by the Soke,
Michael McGann 10th Dan and founder of the system. Mike plays baseball,
so Uncle Joe pitched to him and let Mike pitch to him, Mike Plays
basketball, so Uncle Joe played basketball with him. Uncle Joe waited at
the bus stop for Mike to come home from school every day and made sure
that when Amy or I did not have time to be with Mike that he was there
doing what he called being an "Uncle"
Every child on this block will cry when they wake in the morning and
find from their parents Uncle Joe is no longer with us, for he was Uncle
Joe to every kid in this neighborhood, and Uncle Joe to almost every
school kid in this school district as every year for I believe five
years now he has donned his straight dance regalia and gone with us to
"show the kids" how "REAL" Indians danced and talked. Joe never asked
for and never received one red cent for the educational experience he
would take to the school kids each year. He was a member in good
standing of The School Advisory Board of Brooksville Elementary School
where even the Principal Mrs. Sue Stoops called him Uncle Joe!
Uncle Joe was a Viet Nam Veteran and a member of both the American
Legion and the VFW and very proud of his service to his Country.
There are many people who do not have e-mail who would want to know of
this loss, I think of Mary LaCroix in Jacksonville, Soke Mike McGann in
Clearwater, Betty Lininger and half of the Kiowa Nation out in Oklahoma,
if you can contact any one who should know of this loss and pass the
word on for me I will be forever grateful.
Amy, Mike and I would like a little time before we start dealing with
the responsibilities of getting word to the people who will want to know
the what, when, where and hows and be part of whatever is decided to be
done. So please do not call the house or ask anyone else to call for a
couple of days. The ME has told us that it will be well into next week
before they have a next of kin report and have finished all they must do
to release the body, therefore we will not have any information for
anyone until we hear from them next week.
Thank you for your understanding, and I ask that you each in your own
way say a little Prayer for, or sing a special song for Uncle Joe as he
goes to be with his wife Aunt Flo.
In closing Amy would like to add to this long e-mail these words, "Uncle
Joe was the kindest and most generous person she has ever known. He
lived his life in such a way that he taught us all the definition of the
word compassion."
Jim Anderson
--------- "RE: Crossings" ---------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 08:10:52 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="CROSSINGS"
July 16, 2002
Alexander "Alex" A. Greywater
Alexander "Alex" A. Greywater, Jr., Mihpiya Idi Nazi (Stops The Clouds),
63 of Fort Totten, ND, died on Friday, July 12, 2002 at his sister's home,
rural Fort Totten, surrounded by his loving family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St.
Michael's Catholic Church, St. Michael. Fr. Paul Ruge, OFMI and Fr.
Charles Leute, O.P. will celebrate the mass and burial will be in St.
Michael's Catholic Cemetery.
A wake service will be held at the Tekakwitha Center, St. Michael today
beginning at 5 p.m. with a Rosary and Vigil Service at 8 p.m.
Honorary pallbearers will be Brother Burnell, Josey Lawrence, Larry
Greene, Buddy Longie, Skip Longie, Don Hart, Carl Walkingeagle, Merle
Ironhawk, Faron Stensland, Neil Greywater, Delores Lohnes, Marie Baker,
Bruce McKay, Vincent Walker, Charlie Walker, Butch Lohnes, Buzz Jenson,
Jim Baker, Butch Kazena, Homer Whitebuffalo, Gordon Burdick, Victor Delong,
Frank Charboneau, Allen Fassett and Francine Spotted Elk.
Active Pallbearers will be Elton Greywater, Marty Greywater, Kieth
Greywater, Chris Greywater, Cody Greywater, James Lenoir, Sheldon
Greywater, Delvin Greywater, Robert Greywater, Jr. and Michael Greywater,
Jr.
Alexander Ambrose Greywater was born July 25, 1938 at Fort Totten, ND
the son of Alexander Ambrose and Elizabeth Belgarde Greywater, Sr. He was
reared and educated at Fort Totten. He attended Auto Body School in Omaha,
Nebraska.
On November 18, 1977, Alex was united in marriage to Audrey DuBois at
Crookston, Minn. They made their home in the Fort Totten area their entire
life. Alex worked area road construction and at the Nekoma Missile Site.
He managed the Bingo Palace at St. Michael and also worked for Tribal
Planning. Alex also worked for the Tribal Housing Authority and most
recently was a driver for the Spirit Lake Casino. He also served on the
Tribal Council.
Alex enjoyed being a part of the church family. He also enjoyed playing
Bingo and going to the casino. He especially enjoyed spending time with
his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Alex is survived by his wife, Audrey; mother, Elizabeth Robertson of
Fort Totten; children, Lisa (Merle) Greywater of Fort Totten, Shirley
(Faron) Stensland of Oberon, ND , Alex (Harriette) Greywater, III of Ft.
Totten, Angela (James) Corveau of Bremerton, WA and Chris (Josy) Greywater
of Missoula, MT; 23 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brothers,
Michael "Mike" (Pauline) Greywater of St. Michael, Andrew "Chuck" (Mary
Jo) Greywater, Robert "Bob" Greywater, Sr. and Kenneth "Knute" (Beverly)
Greywater, Sr. all of Fort Totten; sisters, Delemma Greywater, Renae
(James) Lenoir, Pam Greywater, Brenda Robertson and Barbara Robertson, all
of Fort Totten and Bev LeBelle of Bismarck, ND; aunt, Mary Louise
Simonson; mother-in-law, Violet DuBois; extended family, Verle Greywater,
Eugene Hedine, Ivan Black Cloud, Sonta (Dean) Dauphinais, Della Belgarde
and Terry Dean Iceman.
He was preceded in death by his father; brother, Richard Greywater, Sr.
and two infant brothers; and father-in-law, Edwin DuBois, Sr.
Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, is in charge of arrangments.
Copyright c. 2002 Devils Lake Daily Journal.
-=-=-=-
July 16, 2002
Kenneth W. Red Feather
PINE RIDGE - Kenneth W. Red Feather, 40, Pine Ridge, died Friday, July
12, 2002, in Pine Ridge.
Survivors include his mother, Katherine Red Feather, Pine Ridge; two
daughters, Samantha Red Feather and Sandy Red Feather, both of No. Four
Community; four bothers, Paul Red Feather and John Red Feather, both of
Pine Ridge, Phillip Red Feather, San Carlos, Ariz., and George Red Feather,
Oglala; one half sister, Delores Mills, Pine Ridge; and seven sisters,
Thelma Red Feather, Lulu Walking, Vienna Red Feather and Linda Garcia, all
of Pine Ridge, Mary Martinez, Kyle, Loretta Red Feather, Rushville, Neb.,
and Annabelle Picket Pin, Chadron, Neb.
One-night wake begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at Sacred Heart
Catholic Church in Pine Ridge.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 18, at the
church, with the Rev. Steve Sanford officiating.
Burial will be at Holy Rosary Mission Cemetery in Pine Ridge.
Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements.
Austin L. Big Crow Sr.
PINE RIDGE - Austin L. Big Crow Sr., 26, Pine Ridge, died Friday, July
12, 2002, in Rapid City.
Survivors include his fiancee, Jamie Okuma, Pauma Valley, Calif.; one
son, Austin Big Crow Jr., Pine Ridge; his parents, Diane Big Crow and
Dennis Painte, Shields, N.D.; one brother, Rayjay Painte, Shields; and
five sisters, Farrah Big Crow, Rapid City, Tina Painte, Martin, and Denise
Painte, Deleena Painte and Janina Painte, all of Shields.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. today at Sioux Funeral Home in Pine
Ridge, with traditional Lakota prayers by Bob Lee and Laura Nelson.
Burial will be at St. Anne's Catholic Cemetery in Wolf Creek.
Collins L. Clifford
MANDERSON - Collins L. Clifford, 81, Manderson, died Sunday, July 14,
2002, in Manderson.
Survivors include his wife, Madge Clifford, Manderson; three sons, David
Clifford, C.J. Clifford and Loren Clifford, all of Manderson; four
daughters, Cleo Gates, Penny Wolfers and Angeline Clifford, all of
Manderson, and Peggy Morgan, Bridgeport, Ill.; one brother, Tom Clifford,
Rapid City; 25 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.
One-night wake will be from 3 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, July 17, at
Wounded Knee School in Manderson.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 18, at St.
Agnes Catholic Church in Manderson, with the Rev. Pete Klink officiating.
Burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Black Hills National Cemetery near
Sturgis.
Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements.
Vestana Elk Boy
PORCUPINE - Vestana Elk Boy, 59, Porcupine, died Sunday, July 14, 2002,
in Rapid City.
Survivors include two sons, Quentin Lone Elk and Brian Lone Elk, both of
Porcupine; three daughters, Lucille Brave and Stacy White Face, both of
Porcupine, and Vestana Clifford, Kyle; two brothers, Wyolind Iron Boy and
Harvey Iron Boy, Porcupine; one sister, Yvonne Iron Boy, Porcupine; and
eight grandchildren.
Two-night wake begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at the Porcupine CAP
office.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at the Porcupine CAP
office, with the Rev. Cordelia Red Owl officiating.
Burial will be at St. Alban's Episcopal Cemetery in Porcupine.
Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements.
July 17, 2002
Elizabeth L. Morrison
INTERIOR - Elizabeth L. Morrison, 66, Interior, died Friday, July 12,
2002, in Interior.
Survivors include three sons, Clifford Morrison Jr., Wilbur Morrison Sr.
and Christopher Morrison, all of Potato Creek; six daughters, Stella
Antelope, Arapahoe, Wyo., Edna Morrison, Lander, Wyo., Debra Frazier, St.
Stephen, Wyo., Marion White Mouse, Wanblee, and Sarah Martinez and Cindy
Antelope, both of Potato Creek; four adopted sisters, Patty Harvey,
Interior, Martha Coble, Munising, Mo., Jeanne Lowe, Des Moines, Iowa, and
Ramona Bonin, Potato Creek; one half sister, Ramona Meat, Wanblee; nine
adopted children, Vincent Armont and Paul Foley, both of New York, Kim
Dewhurst and Becky Dewhurst, both of Martin, Tim Phelps, Denver, Tom Casey,
Porcupine, J.P. Sullivan, Boston, Al Miller, Phillipsburg, N.J., and Bob
Stroup, Caputa; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Two-night wake begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at St. Henry's
Catholic Church in Potato Creek.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at the church, with Kim
Dewhurst officiating.
Burial will be at St. Timothy's Episcopal Cemetery in Potato Creek.
Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements.
Phoebe Grace High Bull-Morrison
MARTIN - Phoebe Grace High Bull-Morrison, 25, Martin, died Sunday, July
14, 2002, in Martin.
Survivors include one son, Dalton Morrison, Martin; one daughter,
Morning Star Yellow Bird, Martin; her parents, Bonnie High Bull, Hisle,
and Vernon Moves Camp, Springfield; three brothers, Terance High Bull,
Sioux Falls, Garland Morrison, Long Valley, and Patrick Reddy, Hisle;
three sisters, Candace Luby, Sioux Falls, Shilo Ghost, Manderson, and
Wojape Moves Camp, Hisle; maternal grandparents, Arthur and Margie
Morrison, Martin; and paternal grandmother, Ellen Moves Camp of Wanblee.
Two-night wake begins at 1 p.m. today at the Martin CAP building.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, July 19, at the Martin CAP building,
with Sonny Richards officiating.
Burial will be at Hisle Cemetery.
Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements.
July 18, 2002
Jarred W. Red Cloud
WOUNDED KNEE - Jarred W. Red Cloud, 14, Wounded Knee, died Sunday, July
14, 2002, in Pine Ridge.
Survivors include his parents, Karen Boltz, Wounded Knee, and Manuel Red
Cloud, Pine Ridge; three brothers, Merle Boltz, Wounded Knee, Michael Cuny,
Manderson, and Case Red Cloud, Pine Ridge; one sister, Brittany Clifford,
Manderson; his maternal grandparents, Mark and Lillian Fire Thunder,
Lincoln, Neb.; and his paternal grandfather, Pedro Red Cloud, Pine Ridge.
One-night wake begins at 3 p.m. Friday, July 19, at Sacred Heart
Catholic Church in Wounded Knee.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at the
church, with the Rev. Jim Ryan officiating.
Burial will be at Messiah Episcopal Cemetery in Wounded Knee.
Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements.
Copyright c. 2002 The Rapid City Journal.
-=-=-=-
July 16, 2002
O.H. Hickman
Graveside services for O. H. "Herschel" Hickman, father of Seminole
resident Gary Hickman, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Rest Haven
Memorial Gardens in Seminole.
Services will be under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.
Rev. Orville White will officiate the services.
Hickman died Sunday, July 14, 2002 in Shawnee at the age of 95.
He was born to Lewis R. and Myrtle June (Lightfoot) Hickman on June 29,
1907 in Sparks. Hickman was raised in Sparks, and attended and graduated
from Sparks High School.
He married Ann McCants on April 12, 1941 in Holdenville. Hickman worked
in the oil fields after finishing school. He then purchased a cattle
ranch in 1941, and continued operating it until 1974. Hickman was a long-
time resident of Macomb.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann, on May 1, 1998; his
parents; and one sister, Geniveve Nall.
Hickman is survived by one daughter, Sue Cantrell, Shawnee; four sons,
Harold Hickman, Woodward, Gary Hickman, Seminole, Robert Hickman,
Oklahoma City, and Jay Hickman, Shawnee; eight grandchildren and 13
great-grandchildren.
July 17, 2002
Kelly Lee Haney
Funeral services for Seminole resident Kelly Lee "Brown" Haney, are
scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Hitchitee United Methodist Church
in Strothers. Revs. Mike Harjo and Thomas Morris will officiate.
Interment will follow at the Harjo Family Cemetery, under the
direction of Stout-Phillips Funeral Home of Wewoka. Wake services for
Haney will be tonight starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Hitchitee United
Methodist Church.
Haney died Monday, July 15, 2002 at Integris Baptist Medical Center in
Oklahoma City at the age of 42.
He was born to Robert "Bob" Haney and Jo Kay Underwood on Jan. 24,
1960 in Seminole County.
Haney was reared in the Strothers area and attended school at Pleasant
Grove. He was a member of the Hitchitee United Methodist Church.
Haney was preceded in death by his father Robert "Bob" Haney.
He is survived by his mother and step-father, Jo Kay and J.D. Berryman,
Shawnee; two children, Sterling Royce Haney and Colton "Chubby" Haney,
both of Toppenish, Wash.; and his brothers and sisters, Steve Haney,
Shawnee, Shelly Hall, Oklahoma City, Bobbie Haney, Okmulgee, Andrea
Henderson, Shawnee, and Cyd Wood, Oklahoma City. Pallbearers are Tony
Perry, Rick Deer, Joe Deer, Ronnie Harjo, Jerome Isham, Bruce Harjo,
and Nathan Harjo. Honorary pallbearers are Victor Underwood, Tecumseh
Underwood, Ted Underwood, Willie Underwood, Jerry Haney, and Ernie Haney.
Copyright c. 1999 - 2000 The Seminole Producer.
-=-=-=-
July 21, 2002
Dora Mae Herrera
Dora Mae Dirt Herrera, 69, died Friday in Shawnee.
Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Cornerstone Indian Baptist Church,
Little Axe, with the Rev. Bryce Scott officiating. Burial will follow in
Fairview Cemetery.
Cooper Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Herrera was born Oct. 26, 1932, in Lawton to Wilber and Emily "Little
Bear" Dirt. She lived most of her life in Shawnee and attended Haskell
Indian School in Lawrence, Kan.
She was a homemaker.
She was a member and elder of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. She also was a
member of the Cornerstone Indian Baptist Church.
Herrera is preceded in death by her parents; one son, Robert Wayne Tyner,
and a granddaughter, Keona Moletta Jordon.
Survivors include her daughter, Arlene Herrera, Denver, Colo.; two sons
and a daughter-in-law, Dan Tyner, Shawnee, Rudy and Frankie Herrera,
Shawnee; four sisters, Jenny Lee Ross, Cordelia Maxfield, Dorothy Dirt,
Alice Dirt; brother, Paul "Mutt" Day; four grandchildren; three
stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and
nephews.
Copyright c. 1997-2002 The Shawnee News-Star.
-=-=-=-
July 15, 2002
PAUL E. 'JAP' NARANJO
PAUL E. 'JAP' NARANJO , 45, of Santa Clara Pueblo died Saturday. He was
an internationally known wildlife artist. He is survived by his wife,
Ana Naranjo; his children, Alana Naranjo and Luciano Naranjo; one
granddaughter, Aaliyah Naranjo all of Santa Clara Pueblo; his parents,
Raymond and Lila Naranjo of Santa Clara Pueblo; three sisters, Marian,
Mildred and Rhea Naranjo all of Santa Clara Pueblo; five brothers, Allen
Naranjo and wife Kay of Virginia, Roger Naranjo and wife Nona of Ignacio,
Colo., Daniel Naranjo and wife Rose, Gilbert Naranjo all of Santa Clara
Pueblo, and James Naranjo and wife Isabel of Santa Fe; his godmother,
Helen Sing of Utah; and many other relatives and friends.
Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. today at the Santa Clara Catholic
Church. Interment will follow at the Santa Clara Pueblo Cemetery. Salazar
Family of Block-Salazar Mortuary.
Copyright c. 1997 - 2002 Albuquerque Journal: Albuquerque, New Mexico.
-=-=-=-
July 16, 2002
Dorinda Lee (Ben) ANETH, UTAH April 30, 1964 - July 13, 2002
Dorinda Lee (Ben), 38, went home to her heavenly father July 13, 2002.
She was born April 30, 1964, the daughter of the late Jimmie Lee Sr. and
the late Almeida (Ida Mae) Lee, of Aneth , Utah. She was born to Bithnii
(Folded Arm People); born for Tchii'nii (Red Running into the Water
People).
She is survived by her children, Kevin Ben of Farmington, Cassandra I.
and husband, John, of Layton, Utah, Denton Ben Jr. and wife, Sophina, of
Montezuma Creek, Utah, Leland Ben of Farmington, Elias Ben of Hatch, Utah,
and Drew C. Merritt of Aneth; and two grandchildren, DeAndre Ben and
McKayla Irene Gabaldon.
She is also survived by her grandmother, Mary Jay of Aneth; five sisters,
Betty Lee, Fannie Nez, Virginia Yellowman, Julia Redrock, Priscilla
Herrera and Marcia Lee; and five brothers, Ernest Lee Sr., James Lee Sr.,
Jimmie Lee Jr., Angelo J. Lee and Martinez J. Lee, and their families; and
numerous nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles.
Funeral arrangements are pending with San Juan Mortuary in Blanding,
Utah. Contributions and donations will be greatly appreciated at Marcia
Lee's residence in Aneth.
July 17, 2002
Everett H. Poyer Nov. 28, 1915 - July 15, 2002
Everett H. Poyer, 87, a lifetime resident of Shiprock, passed away
Monday, July 15, 2002, at Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock. He
was born Nov. 28, 1915, in Sweetwater, Ariz.
Mr. Poyer graduated from high school in Albuquerque and was employed
with the BIA for 31 years as a soil conservationist. He received emeritus
hours for his work there. He had an experimental farm for the BIA and
raised native plants. As a farmer, he won many prizes in the fair. He
enjoyed hunting and fishing, and loved the outdoors. He was a member of
the American Legion and attended the Methodist Church in Shiprock.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ida Edith (Peshlakai) Poyer.
He is survived by his son, David M. Poyer and wife, Ellen, of Shiprock,
and daughter, Jennie Jimenez of Crystal; seven grandchildren and six
great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 19, at First United
Methodist Church in Shiprock, with the Rev. Paul West officiating. Burial
will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Farmington.
Pallbearers will be David Hernandez, Matthew Jimenez, Eric Jimenez,
Raymond Jimenez, Yinneyah Pioche and Henry Chee Dodge III. Honorary
pallbearers will be Donald Dodge, Henry Dodge, James Kee, David M. Poyer,
Danielle Poyer and Alton Halwood.
Arrangements are with Cope Memorial Chapel of Farmington, 404 W.
Arrington St., (505) 327-5142.
July 21, 2002
Jimmie Lee MONTEZUMA CREEK, UTAH July 17, 2002
Jimmie Lee, 75, of Montezuma Creek, Utah, died Wednesday, July 17, 2002,
following an auto accident in Shiprock.
He is survived by his wife, Nellie Joe of the home. He is also survived
by three sons, Delbert Begay and wife, Marie, of Aneth, Utah, Larry Lee
and wife, Susie, of Montezuma Creek, and Lester Lee and wife, Nancy, of
Monticello, Utah; four daughters, Nellie Dishface and husband, Calvin,
Lillie Johnson, Sarah Torivio and husband, Byron, and Sharon White and
husband, George, all of Montezuma Creek; and one stepdaughter, Diane
Redhorse and husband, Leo. He has one half brother, Ervin Gould and wife,
Marita, of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.; one sister, Evelyn Merritt of Aneth; and
one half sister, Nellie Slowman of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.
His paternal grandchildren are Verissa Toney, Sophina Garcia, Natasha
Lee, Shane Lee, Larson Lee, Jerrick Lee, Lesdrick Lee, Chelsea Lee, Tyler
Lee, Tyrell Lee and Colton Lee. His maternal grandchildren are Calvin
Dishface Jr., Delphina Dishface, Erik Dishface, Brandon R. Johnson,
Shelton Johnson, Vaughn Johnson, Sapharino Torivio, Krystal Torivio,
Krystallia Torivio, Kryleria Torivio and Lemitrius White. Six great-
grandchildren also survive him.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lucy Lee, in December 1982;
one son, Sammie Lee, in September 1979; his mother, Susie Lee David, in
September 1973; and a granddaughter, Sharlise D. White, who died in July,
1992.
Funeral services are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Monday, July 22, 2002,
at the Church of Christ in Montezuma Creek. Pastor Ray Whaley will
officiate. Burial will follow at the family cemetery in Montezuma Creek.
Pallbearers will be Lester Lee, Jerrick Lee, Byron Torivio, Brandon R.
Johnson, Shelton Johnson and Vaughn Johnson. Alternate pallbearers will be
Arredondo Merritt and Jose Garcia. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Lee,
Delbert Begay, Nellie Dishface, Lillie Johnson, Sarah Torivio, Sharon L.
White, Peter Merritt, Harrison Merritt, Evelyn L. Merritt, Nellie Slowman
and Ervin Gould.
Funeral arrangements are with Chapel of Memories Funeral Home of
Kirtland, (505) 598-9636.
Copyright c. 1999-2002 MediaNews Group, Inc./Farmington, NM.
-=-=-=-
July 18, 2002
Nellie Mitchell Hamm
Nellie Mitchell Hamm, 55, of Globe died July 14 at Cobre Valley
Community Hospital. She was born in Cherokee, N.C., and had lived in
Arizona 29 years.
Mrs. Hamm is survived by her husband, Kenneth Hamm of Globe; two sons,
Paul Hamm and Jason Hamm of Clarksville, Tenn.; one daughter, Katherine
Barnes of Clarksville; her mother, Nell Lanive of Hopkinsville, Ky.; one
brother, Doug Wallace of Oakgrove, Tenn.; five grandchildren and one
great-grandchild.
Private services were handled by Lamont Mortuary.
Copyright c. 2002 Arizona Silver Belt/Apache Moccasin.
-=-=-=-
July 17, 2002
Naomi Rehm
Naomi Rehm, 77, of Parks died Sunday, July 7, 2002. She was born Aug. 31,
1924 on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Laveen, and had lived in
Parks for more than 50 years. She worked at the Navajo Army Depot for 10
years.
Survivors include her daughter Vivian Rehm of Parks; stepdaughter
Elizabeth Rehm of Hermiston, Ore.; two grandchildren; and three great-
grandchildren.
Services will be held Friday, July 19, 2002, at 11 a.m. at Stewart
Chapel, 117 S. Slagel St., WIlliams. Visitation will be one hour before
the services at the chapel. Stewart Chapel is handling arrangements.
Copyright c. 2000-2002 Arizona Daily Sun.
-=-=-=-
Golden Triangle On-Line Obituaries
The following obituaries appeared in the Cut Bank Pioneer Press,
Shelby Promoter or Glacier Reporter this week.
July 17, 2002
William 'Bill' Adams, Sr.
William "Bill" Walter Adams, Sr., 83, died at IHS in Browning on July 7,
2002, of natural causes.
Rosary was said Wednesday at Glacier Homes Community Center. Funeral
mass will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Little Flower Parish. Burial will
follow in Holy Family Mission.
He was born April 24, 1919, at Birch Creek. He attended school at Birch
Creek through the eighth grade and Browning Public Schools through the
10th grade. He was in Co. B 306th Med. Bn., a member of the 81st Wildcat
Infantry Division Army of the United States. He served June 11, 1942, to
Nov. 29, 1945, when he was honorably discharged. He was a litter bearer
during WW II and served at Southern Philippines, Fuzon. He was awarded the
American Theater Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Bronze
Service Star, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and
Victory Medal.
In 1945, he and Wilma Guardipee were married.
Adams worked as a laborer, for the railroad, Anaconda mine in Butte and
was a firefighter.
He is survived by his wife, Wilma; daughters, Karen Adams and Reva Adams,
both of Browning, Geraldine Charlo of Umatilla, Ore., Frances Adams and
Allison Adams, both of Cut Bank and a granddaughter he raised as his own,
Brenda Vielle of Salem, Ore.; sons, Eugene Dubray, Barry Adams, William
Adams, Jr., and grandsons he raised as his own, Jeremy Adams and Tyler
Heavy Runner, all of Browning; sisters, Violet Welch and Mary "Billie"
Adams, both of Spokane, Wash., and Alpha Brown; 29 grandchildren; and 34
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Matthew and Mary Adams; sisters,
Daisy Adams and Gertrude "Doody" Garry; and a brother, Sidney Adams.
Day Family Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Kenneth Loring, Sr.
Kenneth Lee Loring, Sr., 39, died at IHS in Browning on July 5, 2002.
Rosary was said Tuesday at the Old Eagle Shields. Funeral mass was held
at St. Anne's on Wednesday with burial at the Loring ranch.
He was born Nov. 1, 1962, in Browning and attended Flandreau High School.
He was a ranch hand and did carpentry work. Loring enjoyed breaking horses,
fishing, hunting, basketball and family gatherings. He loved his family
and enjoyed every minute he spent with them.
Survivors include his partner, Cecilia; his parents, Wyena Loring and
Bill and Loxie Loring; daughters, Trista, Tiana and Starla, of Omaha, Nebr.
; sons, Trevor, Travis and Little Ken; sisters, Dana, Tammy, Marla, Loxie
Lynn and Dori; brothers, Harland, Bill Blue, Kelly, John and Justin; and
his grandmother, Sisty Galbreath.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Rusty.
Day Family Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
July 18, 2002
Dallas Marceau
Dallas Shantay Marceau, 14, died June 27, 2002, of injuries suffereed in
a motor vehicle accident.
Services were held July 2, 2002, in Heart Butte at St. Anne's Parish
with Father Dan Powers officiating.
She was born in Great Falls on Mar. 22, 1988 and graduated from Heart
Butte Middle School in May. She liked hanging out with her group of best
friends and enjoyed playing volleyball. She was her class secretary. She
had planned to attend a seminar at a police academy in San Diego in August.
She was also involved in Gear Up.
Marceau is survived by her mother and stepfather, Julene Martinez and
Yenrry Harris; her father, Edwin Lee Champine, Sr., and his wife, Rita
Salois; sisters, Dara Kaye, Keenan and Fernele Marceau of Heart Butte,
Rose, Christy and Marie Champine of Browning; brothers, Edwin Lee Champine,
Jr., and Shay Dalton Marceau of Heart Butte; a sister, Melinda and brother,
Bobby Lee of Rocky Boy; her grandmother, Zelma DuCharme; great-
grandparents, Beatrice and Fred Marceau of Heart Butte, who also raised
her as their daughter; numerous great-uncles and aunts, cousins, nieces
and nephews; uncle, Thom and Gaye DuCharme of Browning; and aunt Jodi and
uncle Emerald Spotted Eagle.
She was preceded in death by her great-grandmother, Catherine "Caroline"
Bear Shoe Calf Boss Ribs #1; great-grandfather, Frank Jerry Comes At
Night; and Jack Makes Cold Weather, Sr.
Copyright c. 2002 Golden Triangle Newspapers.
-=-=-=-
July 17, 2002
Kent Stevens
LODGE GRASS - Kent A. Stevens from the "where gardens grow with no
water" District of the Crow Reservation, passed on to the other side July
13, 2002.
He was born Aug. 16, 1956, in the Hardin Hospital, to his Crow parents,
Janet Schenderline (Piegan Clan) and Donnie Stevens. He was a member of
the Piegan Clan and a child of the Ties the Bundle Clan.
Kent is survived by his wife, Linda Edmo Stevens; his parents; two
brothers, Dominic, Jr. (Linda Lee Havener) of "Home" District and Jeffery
W. (Sheryl Rae Roth) of Off Reservation District; and two sisters, Donna
(French) Dillon, Mighty Few District and Lois Stevens (Cyrus Gros Ventre);
three sons, Kert (Andrea), Daniel of Reno, Nev., Thomas of Pryor; and a
daughter, Alicia of Reno; four grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews;
and his special nephews, Nic and Garrett Stevens.
He learned at an early age how to ride horses, wrestle calves at
branding time and trail cattle from the family ranch on the Lodge Grass to
the Big Horn Mountain's grassy ranges in springtime conditions and bring
them home again in autumn-winter conditions.
Kent attended Lodge Grass Schools, loved the outdoors and the beauty of
and from the Big Horn Mountains and enjoyed camping, four-wheeling,
photography and welding. He was proficient in electronics, carpentry,
plumbing, mechanics and raising horses.
His grandparents preceded him in death.
Kent married Linda Edmo Stevens on Aug. 15, 1992, and lived in Blackfoot,
Idaho, and recently moved back to Lodge Grass. His Idaho family included
his wife's parents, Maxine Racehorse Edmo and the late Kesley Edmo, Sr.
(Casey); brothers, Leo C. Edmo, Kesley (Linda Lee) Edmo, Jr., Blaine Edmo,
Gary (Janice) Edmo, Kevin (LeeAnn), Edmo (deceased); and sisters, Lorraine
Edmo (Jerry) Cordova, Lucille Edmo, Louise Edmo Dixey (Clyde) and Lori
Edmo-Suppah (Delson), Wesley (Nancy) Edmo and Linda's children, Casey
Ellsworth and Rebecca Ellesworth and many grandchildren. All members of
the Shoshone Bannock Tribes.
Tribal traditional wake services will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17,
at the Stevens Family ranch. Traditional burial services will be held 10 a.
m. Thursday, July 18, in the Stevens family ranch on Lodge Grass Creek.
Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
James A. Wilson, Jr.
HARDIN - James A. "Cactus" Wilson, Jr., 80, of Hardin, died Saturday
evening, July 13, 2002, in the Heritage Acres Nursing Home.
He was born Nov. 6, 1921, in Garryowen, a son of James Wilson, Sr., and
Rose Old Bear. He was raised by Lena Old Bear while he received his
education in Crow Agency and Pierre, S.D.
Cactus was a cowboy and bronco rider who worked for the Antler Rancher
and later as a house painter and maintenance man for the Montana Highway
Department.
He was married to Myrtle BigMan until the time of her death. He
remarried and later divorced. He was a member of the Four Square Church,
Greasy Mouth Clan and child of Big Lodge.
Survivors include a son, Jerry Wilson of Crow Agency; and a daughter,
Peggy Rising Sun of Hardin; his sisters, Alice Wilson of Hardin, Phoebe
Dillon of Crow Agency, Jessie Halverson of Wyoming, Dora Johnston of
Colorado and Agnes Old Bear of Benteen; his brother, David Yarlott, Sr. of
Benteen; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Nora, Mollie, Harriett,
Marie, Bertha and Susie Yellowtail; brothers, Bert, Henry and John; a son,
Sherman.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, in the Crow
Agency Four Square Church. Interment will follow in the Crow Agency
Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the
arrangements.
July 20, 2002
Frank Half Sr.
LODGE GRASS - Frank Half, Sr., 38, of Lodge Grass, died Thursday July 18,
2002, in the Deaconess Billings Clinic of complications following surgery.
Baaa'chiileckiassa (Known to be Fortunate) was born Aug. 31, 1963 in
Crow Agency, a son of Robert Half, Sr. and Lorena Morning. He received his
early education in St. Xavier, before attending Hardin schools and
completed his education at the St. Labre Indian School in Ashland. While
in high school he participated in basketball, football and wrestling and
was an active member of the Rodeo Club, where he rode in saddle bronco
events. Frank enjoyed horses and trained them at various racetracks in
Montana, Wyoming and North and South Dakota.
Frank married Michele Stops on Nov. 16, 2001, in Hardin and the couple
made their home in Lodge Grass.
He was a member of the Catholic Church, Piegan Clan and a child of the
Bad War Deeds Clan. He worked on several highway construction projects,
worked for the Crow IHS Hospital, Quick Mart, area farms and ranches and
was recently employed as a concrete finisher for Swank Construction.
His father, two brothers, Robert and Jasper Half and a sister, Brenda
Half preceded Frank in death.
Survivors include his wife, Michele of Lodge Grass; his five children,
Clinton (CC) Half of Lodge Grass, Frank Half, Jr. of Crow Agency, Rena Mae
Half of Washington, Nichole Half and Anita Bixby of Hardin; his mother,
Lorene Morning Half of Crow Agency; five brothers, Etting (Jackie) Half of
Pryor, Kenneth (Joclyn) Ward of Lodge Grass, Arnold (Gevy) Costa, Daniel
(Elsie) and Greg (Dorcella) Half of Crow Agency; his five sisters, Mary
Jane (Isaac) Birdinground of Garryowen, Corliss (Clinton) Iron of Hardin,
Iva (Rudolph) Shane, Ruby (Al) Big Hair and Carlotta Half of Crow Agency;
his adopted brothers, Hartford (Sylvia) Stops and Eddy Roundface; his
adopted sisters, Donna Jefferson, Geraldine Big Day, Diane Not Afraid,
Mary and Sandy Medicine Horse, Aretha Hoops, Deana and Zona Roundface; his
grandfather, Keith Black Hawk, his grandmothers, Mae House, Myrtle Smart
Enemy, Pearl Hogan, Annie Walks, and Laura Singer; two granddaughters,
Frankie and Devene; his brother-in- law, Melville (Donya) Stops; his
sister-in-law, Marilyn (Charles) Salway; his father-in-law, Melvin
(Aurelia) Stops; his aunts, Phyllis Well Known, Darlene (Dwayne) Bixby,
Carol (John) Bullinsight, Rita (Owen) Snell, Glenda Morrison, Johanna
(Sonny) Reed) Jane (Wayne) Moccasin, Lucy (Bobby) Little Light, Tana (Max
French) Olyette, Leda (Bernard Little Nest) Falls Down, Mary (Gale) Three
Irons and Mary Hoops; his uncles, Jerry Hoops Wilson, Sam Hoops, Tommy
Half, Dexter (Marclene), Adli (Norma), William (Donna) and Frank (Agnes)
Falls Down, Jr., Maurice Mountain Sheep, Tyrone (Linda) Ten Bear, Clifford
(Ardith) Birdinground, Arthur Alden, Sr., and Ronnie (Ruby) Big Man; his
special friends, Randy Not Afraid, Domonic Costa, Manford Gardner, Elmer
Yarlott, Jr., Randy and Cameron Three Irons, Curtis Real Bird, Robert
Snell, George Couture, Sr., Allie Little Light and Mr. And Mrs. Walsh of
Ashland, whom he lived with during his high school days. Numerous nieces
and nephews also survive him.
Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday July 22, in the Crow
Agency St. Dennis Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Crow
Agency Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the
arrangements.
July 23, 2002
Sheran Ethan Strange Owl
PABLO - Sheran Ethan Strange Owl was born Nov. 11, 1995, to Rufus (RJ)
and Holly Smith Strange Owl at the Crow-Northern Cheyenne Hospital in Crow
Agency. Our precious little angel died July 20, 2002, in Missoula, of
injuries sustained in a car accident which occurred in Polson on July 19,
2002.
He attended Headstart, Kindergarten and the first grade in Ronan. He
enjoyed eating at various restaurants and fast food places, playing in the
park and being in the company of his young brother, Malik, and younger
sister, Des'Rae.
He was a descendant of Chief Black Kettle and Chief Dull Knife. He was a
member of the Bow String and Hereditary Chiefs Society.
His great-grandmother, Grace Strange Owl; grandmother, Elaine Strange
Owl; grandfathers, Gordon Strange Owl and Raymond Rising Sun; and uncle
Johnny Strange Owl preceded Sheran in death.
Survivors include his parents, RJ of Busby and Holly Strange Owl of
Pablo; his brother Malika and sister Des'Rae of Pablo; his grandparents,
Alfred (Jeanne) Strange Owl, Tom (Charlotte) Rockroads, Ed (Laretha)
Grinsell and Irving Rising Sun of Busby, Don (Sylvia) Garcia of Polson,
George (Rachel) Magpie, Don (Ruthie) Shoulderblade and David Strange Owl
of Lame Deer, Mike (Florence) Running Wolf of Birney, Dayton (Ann Grace)
Raben of Colorado, Jim (Eva) Lee of Wyoming and Alice Rising Sun of
Billings; his aunts, Rachel Strange Owl, Shasta (Shane) Birdsbill, Alfreda
(Hubert) Heart, Deborah (Joedy) Emerson, Sylvia (Lolin) Shorty, Ann (Dan)
Booker, Juanita (Richard Foote) Weasel Bear and Angie Elie; his uncles,
Wayne, Melvin (Roberta), Dayton, Aljo (Christine) and Frank Strange Owl,
Phillip (Peggy) and Larry (Jolene) Rising Sun, Randy Big Head and Jo-Jo
(Emily) Weasel Bear; as well as numerous cousins and relatives.
We love you Sheran. We miss you greatly. You will always be a part of us
because we will carry you in our hearts forever.
"Dear Lord, I place my tiny hand in yours when I heard you call my name.
I wondered then if I could stay, to laugh, to learn, to love, to play.
Perhaps my time may seem to brief, I pray it does not bring undue grief. I
pray that if my parting has left a void, help them fill it with remembered
joy. Oh loving parents and family that I miss, I ask you now to remember
this I asked the Lord, don't let them grieve, I'm following the path you
laid for me. Do not stand at the grave and cry, I could not stay another
day, God has better plan for me. In the hearts of this I love and from the
Heavens up above, I'm sending you all my love." Author unknown.
Wake service will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, in the Strange Owl
Family residence in Busby. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday,
July 24, in the Busby White River Mennonite church with Rev. Joe Walks
Along officiating. Interment will follow in the Busby Cemetery. Bullis
Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Copyright c. The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.
-=-=-=-
July 17, 2002
Calvin V. Clark Sr.
WOLF POINT -- Calvin V. Clark Sr., 77, a former game warden, member of
the Tribal Council and retired co-owner of Ost-Clark water hauling
business in Wolf Point, died of natural causes Sunday at a Wolf Point
hospital. A wake is 7 this evening at Oswego Community Hall. His funeral
is 10 a.m. Thursday at Oswego Community Hall, with burial in Oswego
Catholic Cemetery. Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Tootie Clark of Wolf Point; sons Mitchell
Clark, Calvin Clark Jr. and Ronald Jackson, all of Wolf Point, and Gerald
Jackson of Poplar; daughters Judy Rodriguez of Gary, Ind., and Coleen
Clark, Linda Clark and Ethel "Pie" Jackson, all of Wolf Point; sisters
Bernadine Wallace of Frazer and Rita Track of Wolf Point; brothers Walter
Clark and Donald Clark of Frazer; 34 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren
and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by sons Kermit, Rusty and Roland.
July 19, 2002
Robin Wayne Walking Eagle
RONAN -- Robin Wayne Walking Eagle, 40, died Tuesday in his home. Cause
of death is under investigation. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m.
Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar, with burial to
follow in Riverside Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Lori Walking Eagle, and daughters, Natasha
and Jesse, both of Ronan; brothers, Clarence, Myron and Kermit Walking
Eagle, all of Brockton, Allie Walking Eagle of Springville, Utah, Melvin
"Rusty" Walking Eagle of Alexandria, Va.; and sisters, Toni and Doris
Walking Eagle, both of Brockton.
He was preceded in death by sisters Sharon and Penny Walking Eagle; and
a brother, Michael Walking Eagle.
July 23, 2002
Keith C. 'Ike' Heavy Runner
BROWNING -- Keith C. "Ike" Heavy Runner, 49, an Army veteran and former
business manager at Blackfeet Community College, died of kidney failure
Sunday at a Browning hospital. Rosary is 7 this evening at Little Flower
Parish in Browning. His funeral is 2 p.m. Wednesday at Little Flower
Parish, with burial in Ground Cemetery west of Starr School.
Survivors include his parents, Eugene Sr. and Gertrude Heavy Runner of
Browning; sisters Linda Warden and Gay Ann Spotted Bear of Browning and
Iris Heavy Runner of Wolf Point; brothers Eugene Heavy Runner Jr. of Pablo,
George Heavy Runner of Browning and Lyle Heavy Runner of Great Falls; and
grandparents George and Angeline Old Person and John and Mary Ground.
Ike worked at Blackfeet Community College for 20 years as the business
manager. He recently went back to work at the college as a financial
consultant. As one of the original staff members, Ike was able to
experience the growth of the college starting from a one-house structure
to a multi-million dollar facility that serves as the primary post-
secondary higher educational institution on the Blackfeet reservation.
He was an avid sports fan who enjoyed golfing, fishing and betting on
the horse races.
Although he had no biological children, Ike was very proud of the fact
that he had a large part in the raising of his niece, Kathy Warden, and
her children Lakota Weatherwax, Trae and Summer Kennerly. He had one
godson, Kellan Hall.
Ike was preceded in death by his brothers, David, Glenn, Duane, Carl and
Kermit Heavy Runner; and a sister, Bonnie Heavy Runner.
Copyright c. 2002 Great Falls Tribune.
--------- "RE: Letter to the Editor: Learned Helplessness" ---------
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 21:40:31 -0700
From: "Theda Kresge" <tkresge@cybertrails.com>
Subj: Query
To:<gars@nanews.org
Dear Editor:
I have a very strong concern regarding Indian Health Service hiring
practices. The concern is about a position to be located within IHS
Headquarters, Rockville, MD. I was so upset. I am enclosing my e-mails
to Senator John McCain and Senator Jon Kyl, Arizona senators,
Honorable Congressman:
It is my understanding interviews are presently being conducted for the
Director of Behavioral Health within Indian Health Services (IHS). This
position would be within the Headquarters branch of IHS.
It is my further understanding, no Native American is being considered
for the position. Only non-Indians are being interviewed, interestingly
all are from the quasi-military Commission Corps. This seems to happen
in each and every instance of a top administrative position within that
organization. At times it appears as if professional incest occurs
within that federal service branch.
There are always reasons for not having a qualified Native American in
the final panel. The finer points of discrimination in disqualifying an
applicant have been honed to a fine art in today's bureaucracy.
Why do I bring my concerns to your office? Because it simply does no
good to offer any concerns with the IHS administration in HQ or other
sites.
More than likely there is nothing your office can do in a matter as
this. However, in my growing up years, (I am almost into my 7th decade)
the common phrase heard was "write your Congressman" so I am.
This particular position is vitally important in the deliverance of
treatment services to Native American people. With the prolonged
alcohol/substance addictions and dual and multiple diagnoses among
Indian adults and adolescents, it is so important to have a
knowledgeable professional individual who understands. One who
understands and lives the culture and traditions as well as having the
professional skills to direct such a program of needed services.
Thank you for any attention your office may give to this matter. I know
you are a busy person, I express my appreciation and thanks for your
professional services within our congress.
Theda Goodfox Kresge, M.S., M.Ed., B.S., (retired)
Replies from their offices indicate I will receive a response, but
this may take weeks. In the meantime, the Director has been named, it
is the Hispanic and I have heard via moccasin grapevine that he was
pre-selected. All the rhetoric, the interviewing was simply a sham.
Today I wrote the Acting HQ Director, IHS of my strong concerns.
Acting IHS Director Lincoln:
Approximately three years ago at an IHS Behavioral Health Conference in
Albuquerque, we passed a resolution requesting a Native American be
considered for the position of Behavioral Health Director. In fact, it
was from the group of Native
American Behavioral Health professionals that the proposal had come for
such a position to be placed in HQE.
Recently, I had heard interviews were being conducted for the above
position and that a Hispanic, a Black and an Asian were on the final
panel. Angered by this ploy of IHS, for it always seems to happen that
no Native American ever makes the final cut, I wrote Senator John McCain
and Senator Jon Kyl, Arizona senators expressing my dismay at the
actions of Indian Health Service. I also understand all three were
Commission Corps which is always the way it is.
I understand the choice has been made, or should I state pre-selection
has been done. For that is the strong rumor that has been winging
across Indian country, and surprise, surprise, the individual is from
the "Phoenix Mafia" nest. That is a term that I have heard used among
IHS workers and citizens.
You may be a Phoenician too, I don't know, but it certainly seems that
many in HQ ranks reflect, as I described to the Senators, a professional
incestual cloning.
News stories have declaimed the insufficiencies, ill-treatment,
unlicensed professionals and poor quality of Indian Health care that
seemingly exists throughout Indian Health Service. At this point my
uppermost concern, as a retired senior citizen, is the gross lack of
professional practices in IHS hiring actions. Nepotism, personal
preferences, appointments without announcements of positions, etc. all
seem to exist.
I have no personal vendetta against your selection of the Behavioral
Health Director, simply the manner in which it was carried out. I only
hope that all interviews were conducted with the same parameters, with
no variations. Of course, there is nothing now that can be done to
alter this situation nor your selection. It would be amusing, if not
heartbreakingly painful, to recall the past actions of IHS when the
Behavioral Health Director Panel was called for. If the right person was
not on it, the panel was cancelled.
Thank you for your attention.
Respectfully,
Theda Goodfox Kresge, M.S., M.Ed. (retired)
Editor, I can see so very clearly how we Indian people came to know
"learned helplessness". Situations as this reinforce the syndrome.
Well- just had to share. It's obviously a done deal as I stated in my
missive to the Acting Director of IHS.
Thank you.
Theda Goodfox Kresge
--------- "RE: American Indian Studies Director Dismissed" ---------
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 14:47:52 -0700
From: "Martha E. Ture" <marthature@earthlink.net>
Subj: Fwd: VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM VICTOR ROCHA
Mailing List: TRIBALLAW (triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu)
------- FORWARD, Original message follows -------
>Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 13:19:08 -0700
>From: "Victor Rocha" <victor@pechanga.net>
>Subj: VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM VICTOR ROCHA
>To: "CIGN Daily Digest" <victor@pechanga.net>
DEAR INDIAN COUNTRY,
Your assistance and letters needed.
Please pass this information along.
Thank you for your support,
Victor Rocha
<http://www.pechanga.net>www.pechanga.net
----------
July 19, 2002
Open Letter to the American Indian Community:
Without notice or consultation, as of July 1, 2002, the University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA) unilaterally removed Professor Duane
Champagne (Chippewa) from his post as Director of the UCLA American Indian
Studies Center (AISC). After 11 years of distinguished service to the
American Indian community and UCLA, Professor Champagne was not
recommended for reappointment to his position, despite his willingness to
serve. The on and off campus Indian and Indian Studies community is
confused, shocked, and dismayed with this abrupt change in leadership.
His removal severely threatens the continuity of important AISC
initiatives involving community-based research, advocacy, community
service, student recruitment and retention, fund-raising, and the growth
of American Indian Studies at UCLA. In fact, all community service
efforts for the Native American community, in the name of UCLA, are rooted
in the American Indian Studies Center and the American Indian Studies
degree programs.
UCLA has imposed their decision on the American Indian community. The
American Indian Studies faculty, staff, students, and community were not
consulted on this matter. Instead, UCLA has dismissed the idea of shared
governance in the case of American Indian Studies and expects our
community to accept silently their decision. We cannot afford to be silent.
Over the past thirty years, Native people have joined with other
communities to assert their right to self-determination at the University
through the development of academic programming that is relevant to the
conditions of our communities. The AISC and American Indian Studies
interdisciplinary degree programs are nationally renowned programs
providing real service to Indian Nations and people, and these beneficial
programs are now threatened. Taking advantage of the low numbers of UCLA,
the University has decided to choose our leadership for us! UCLA should
affirm the will of our community in regards to the appropriate mission for
the AISC.
Many of you are familiar with all of the work and support that UCLA AISC
has done to support us, and now we need to support it. UCLA needs to hear
your voice. Indian nations, community organizations, student
organizations, alumni, concerned individuals, future Bruins, youth
organizations and all interested parties, please express your concern
about their decision to not renew the appointment of Professor Champagne,
without a vote of the American Indian Studies faculty and without
consultation with students, faculty, staff, and tribal and community
representatives. We deserve accountability, collegiality and respect from
UCLA.
Please write to UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale and include the following
points in your correspondence:
* Concern over the UCLA's lack of shared governance and consultation
with the community regarding the Directorship of the UCLA AISC.
* Request that Chancellor Carnesale meet with Professor Champagne in
person, as soon as possible.
* Request that Chancellor Carnesale convene a blue ribbon panel,
comprised of impartial representatives from the various constituencies
of the AISC (AIS faculty and staff, students, community members, etc.)
who convene and investigate the matter in the name of shared governance
and then provide actionable recommendations to the Chancellor within a
short timeframe so as to minimally disrupt the Center's activities.
Please send your letters to:
Chancellor Albert Carnesale
Office of the Chancellor
2147 Murphy Hall, UCLA MC 140501
Los Angeles, California 90095-1405
<mailto:acarnesale@ucla.edu>acarnesale@ucla.edu
Victor Rocha
C.I.R.C.L.E. for UCLA
(Coalition for Indian Rights, Consultation, Leadership and Education)
_______________________________________________
Triballaw mailing list
Triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu
http://thecity.sfsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/triballaw
--------- "RE: Admin Criticized on management of Sacred Sites" ---------
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="SACRED SITES"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.montanaforum.com/rednews/2002/07/18/build/tribal/sacredsites.php?nnn=6
Administration criticized on management of sacred Indian sites
By ROBERT GEHRKE
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, July 18, 2002
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is allowing mining companies to
exploit sites sacred to American Indians, Indian leaders said Wednesday.
"The very idea of placing a cell phone tower at the Wailing Wall, making
a parking lot out of Notre Dame, or putting an oil rig in the Blue Mosque
or Westminster Abbey is preposterous," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.,
"And yet, there are numerous Native American sacred sites ... that are
currently being ravaged and destroyed in these very ways."
Boxer is helping California's Quechan Tribe fight the effort by Glamis
Gold Ltd. to develop a 1,600-acre open-pit gold mine on the banks of the
Colorado River in Imperial County, Calif.
For generations, the tribe's ancestors gathered at the site to perform
funeral rites and cremate their dead.
"This mine would rip the heart out of the tribe's religious center,"
Boxer said.
Before leaving office in January 2001, the Clinton administration
rejected the mine request because of cultural considerations. But in
October, Interior Secretary Gale Norton rescinded the denial and is
reconsidering the company's application.
"We thought we won a victory and it was taken away from us before we had
a chance to celebrate," Quechan President Mike Jackson said. "Our elders
just shake their heads knowing this has happened too many times in the
past."
Norton has yet to meet with the tribe about the decision, Jackson said.
Interior Department official Christopher Kearney said there are policies
in place requiring the department to consider the cultural or religious
significance of a location when approving land use and other rules are in
the development stage.
But when pressed by Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel
Inouye, D-Hawaii, Kearney could not give examples of cases where religious
considerations affected the outcome of a mining petitions.
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., challenged Kearney and the
administration to do more than follow procedures, but to really do what is
right.
"We get too bogged down in doing things by the book and by the rules
that we don't do enough by the heart," said Campbell, the only Indian in
the Senate.
Campbell said he and Inouye plan to add language to an upcoming Interior
Department spending bill that would prohibit any action on the Glamis mine
for at least a year while he works on a permanent solution.
The Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico and Hopi tribe in Arizona are embroiled in
similar disputes with the Interior Department.
The Zunis are opposing plans for an 18,000 acre coal strip mine 10 miles
from Zuni Salt Lake. The tribe fears the mining could affect the hydrology
and damage the lake, which the tribe believes is home to Salt Woman, the
tribe's central deity.
Historically, it has been a sacred gathering place for the Zunis and
other southwestern tribes.
The Interior Department approved the mining plan on May 31 and
construction could begin next spring. The Zunis have vowed to resist the
project.
"This area would probably harbor ... thousands of human remains," said
Malcolm Bowekaty, governor of the Zuni Pueblo. "That is an abomination to
our tribe."
And in Arizona, Hopi leaders say the Interior Department has failed to
protect the Navajo aquifer beneath Black Mesa by allowing Peabody Energy
to take billions of gallons of groundwater and surface water for its
mining operations.
Copyright c. 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Montana Forum: Copyright c. 2000 Ravalli Republic and Lee Enterprises.
--------- "RE: Sacred Land may outshine any Gold Mine" ---------
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 09:04:21 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="GOLD MINE"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/bell/20020720-9999_1m20bell.html
Sacred land may outshine any gold mine
Diane Bell
July 20, 2002
A battle is being waged in Washington, D.C., over a piece of Imperial
County desert. It was the only area in the Western United States named
last month to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of 11
Most Endangered Historic Places for 2002.
The dispute centers on federal land about 45 miles northeast of El
Centro. It hosts a mother lode of ancient Indian trails, pictographs,
prayer circles, spirit breaks and other sites sacred to the culture and
religion of the nearby Quechan Indian tribe.
But a Canadian-based company is eyeing different riches in the desert
soil. Glamis Gold Ltd. wants to dig an open-pit gold mine up to 850 feet
deep on 1,571 acres near Indian Pass, using cyanide to "wash" the gold
flecks from the dirt.
Then-Secretary of State Bruce Babbitt rebuffed the mining proposal after
extensive environmental scrutiny and public input. The Quechan tribe had
thought the matter was put to rest. But Gale Norton, Babbitt's successor
under President Bush, has flung the door wide open. Last November she
rescinded the denial, saying the Interior Department lacked the
regulations to determine when something "unduly impaired" Indian culture.
The war moves east
On July 6, the History Channel aired a special, "America's Most
Endangered," that focused on the tug of war over the territory. Among
those featured was San Diego lawyer Courtney Ann Coyle, who joined the
fray on behalf of the Quechan tribe. On Wednesday, in Washington, D.C.,
she argued before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, as did tribal
council president Mike Jackson Sr. and tribal historian Lorey Cachora, who
maintains: "Glamis Gold will destroy our way of life."
California Sen. Barbara Boxer testified that the mine "would rip the
heart out the tribe's religious center" and compared it to making a
parking lot out of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, or building an oil rig
in London's Westminster Abbey. Aside from destruction of archaeological
treasures, opponents contend that the mining will sully air quality,
deplete underground aquifers and contaminate the water supply. They also
maintain that ore quality is so low grade that 422 tons of rock would be
mined for each ounce of gold produced, leaving a massive hole and piles of
waste rock as high as 30 stories.
In previous testimony, the Glamis Gold folks estimated as much as $300
million in gold could be retrieved and contended that they have invested
more than $14 million in the project.
At the Wednesday hearing, two senators pledged to add language to an
upcoming Interior Department spending bill that would prohibit any action
on the proposed mine for a year while they search for a permanent solution.
Then, on Thursday, Reps. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., and Dale Kildee, D-Mich.,
introduced legislation to protect sacred American Indian sites. A similar
bill has passed the California state Senate and awaits Assembly action.
Coyle is optimistic: "It was a very good two days for the tribe and for
all Native American people."
Copyright c. 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
--------- "RE: Zuni Salt Lake: Native beliefs vs. Mines" ---------
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 08:17:47 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="ZUNI SALT LAKE"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.daily-times.com/Stories/0,1413,129%257E6574%257E738477,00.html
Zuni Salt Lake: Native beliefs vs. mines
By Rebecca Schubert/For The Daily Times
Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 1:15:51 AM MST
ALBUQUERQUE Pueblo leaders, Intertribal allies and the Zuni Salt Lake
Coalition met in at the Indian Pueblo Culture Center in Albuquerque,
Tuesday, to discuss the abrogation of their rights by the U.S. government.
"The Department of the Interior's (DOI) recent decision to approve
mining (just north) of the Zuni Salt Lake violates the trust obligations
of the U.S. government on four different accounts: the National
Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, Bulletin
38, which protects Traditional Cultural Properties, and the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act," Pablo Padilla, Zuni
Pueblo liaison, said.
All of these rights are applicable not only to Native American nations,
but to every U.S. citizen. In response to the approval of the state and
federal permits by Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and Mining and
Minerals director Glenda Owen, leaders from Zuni Pueblo are now traveling
to Washington, D.C. where views of the 19 pueblos will be presented before
the U.S. Senate's Indian Affairs Committee. Padilla explained that four
new, independently-conducted studies by qualified hydrological firms
conclude that the Fence Lake coal strip mine will use great amounts of the
water which feeds Salt Lake, located just north of Quemado. This would
drain the 5-foot-deep lake and destroy it.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is being used currently
does not recognize these facts. Padilla said that after five years, it is
the Committee of Environmental Quality's responsibility to conduct time-
appropriate evaluations.
"The EIS is outdated and stale," he said. "The first study was done in
1990, and the supplements were added in 96. They need to look at the
recent work."
This lake has been used by the Zuni people for at least 1,500 years as a
source of salt used daily, as well as in sacred ceremonies. This uniquely
gathered salt plays an intricate role in their culture, as well as those
of other Puebloans and the Din.
Wells Mahkee Jr., Zuni resident, said that this historical significance
has been ignored by the DOI.
"There has been no acknowledgement of any kind no visits, no letters.
Secretary Norton needs to see what's at stake," he said.
Mahkee explained that the Salt Lake is a vital part of the Zuni
tradition. It was one of the reasons that their predecessors moved from
their location in the Four Corners region; the sacred word for south in
their language is "in the direction of the Salted Lake."
He also referred to the religious rites that some young men must take
part in that includes a pilgrimage to the Zuni Salt Lake. Zuni Governor
Malcolm Bowekaty said that the committee traveling to Washington hopes to
communicate "... the inconsistencies and failed processes of the federal
government to protect sacred places such as Zuni Salt Lake."
The scope of this issue reaches far and wide. The coal derived from
these Bureau of Land Management lands would be refined in St. Johns, Ariz.,
and the energy used by people in Phoenix. The importance of the Zuni Salt
Lake and surrounding discussion is also relevant to Grant County. William
K. Featheringill, Silver City resident and business owner who has visited
the Zuni Salt Lake, expressed his vested interest in its protection.
He also said that numerous community members are extremely concerned
about this abridgement of peoples' rights and have been actively pursuing
the DOI to reconsider its decision. He referenced the solar alternative to
coal energy that could be used in this situation.
"There's a demand for solar power and a need for it. The technology is
there and has been used for 30 years. It just continues to grow."
Mary Liebhart, Western New Mexico University assistant professor
reflected on the issue by asking, "Is there a difference in how the U.S.
government defines sacred, and how the Zuni people define sacred?"
She said that the U.S. "should be supporting and encouraging sovereign
nations wherever invited," and believes that the Zuni Salt Lake and story
behind it are very important. Liebhart will focus her fall graduate course,
"Life and Literature of New Mexico," on the Zuni, their community and
literatures.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Schubert is a staff writer for the Las Cruces Sun-News,
The Daily Times' sister newspaper.
Copyright c. 1999-2002 MediaNews Group, Inc./Farmington Daily Times.
--------- "RE: Ruins at Wupatki vandalized" ---------
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="WUPATKI RUINS VANDALIZED"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=44935
Ruins at Wupatki vandalized
By MICHAEL MARIZCO
Sun Staff Reporter
07/18/2002
The Lomaki Ruins at Wupatki National Monument were severely damaged by
vandals sometime after 12:30 p.m. Monday and before 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Stone walls around the pueblo structure were smashed and 800-year-old
granaries, used for grain storage, also were damaged.
"The granaries had original mortar," said Mary Blasing, a National Park
Service law enforcement ranger. "Can we repair the granaries so they look
authentic? Yes. Is the integrity of the structure gone? Yeah."
The site, which contained remnants of an Anasazi village dating back to
the 12th century, was closed by National Park Service rangers Tuesday
afternoon because of the damage.
"It could be weeks to months before we reopen," Blasing said.
So far, archaeologists estimate the damage in the thousands of dollars.
"The damage is extensive," said Blasing. "We're talking original stuff.
Philosophically, it's irreparable damage."
Blasing was conducting regular patrols Tuesday when she came upon the
damage at the Lomaki site.
"I walked the trail, which we always do and found this," she said.
Handmade stone signs made by park rangers to blend in with the pueblo
architecture also had been smashed.
"They were made to keep people from going on to other unexcavated sites"
she said.
Blasing said Park Service investigators are searching the grounds for
evidence. Usually, the Park Service will work with the assistant U.S.
attorney out of Flagstaff, although it retains its own criminal
investigators.
Officers searched for tools that may have been used, but Blasing said
her first impression was instruments had not been used at all. Instead,
she speculated that hands and feet might have been used to kick in the
walls, smash the stone signs and damage the granaries.
It is believed as many as 100 to 150 visitors had gone through the area
between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.
"We've got no clues, nothing to go on," Blasing said.
Wupatki National Monument remained opened even as forest closures
prompted the closing of other sites like Sunset Crater Volcano National
Monument earlier this summer.
"With the forest closures, we stayed open so the public would have
somewhere to go," Blasing said.
The Lomaki site is the only site in Wupatki that will remain closed
until further notice by the Park Service.
Blasing said archaeologists will have to assess the damage, draw up
plans to repair the site and receive approval from the State Office of
Historical Preservation before they can repair the damage.
Archaeological sites are protected under the federal Archaeological
Resource Protection Act of 1979, the current law used to protect
archaeological resources.
Reporter Michael Marizco may be reached at
mmarizco@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.
Copyright c. 2000-2002 Arizona Daily Sun.
--------- "RE: Lewis and Clark made a Pit Stop Here" ---------
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 09:04:21 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="SACRED POOP"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.missoulian.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt
July 20, 2002 editorial opinion from Owlstar Trading Post
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
[I'm cranky today, so bear with me. I read two stories -- one in
the Missoulian, which, after I stopped laughing at the absurdity,
really ticked me off. Because I knew...I knew... Sure enough, this
afternoon, came the counterpoint.
I don't think I even need to explain what I'm thinking when an
archaeologist suggests that a latrine three sick explorers squatted
over should be registered as an "historic site," and stresses the
seriousness of that registry, while at the very same time, the
Department of Interior refuses to protect an already designated
historic site that is clearly an ancient Indian ruin of religious
significance from becoming a cyanide-laced pit mine. Thank the Creator
the congresscritters have a tad more sense. What WILL our great-
grandchildren think when their archaeologists start digging into what
we did in our lives.] See: Potty stop below from the Missoulian
Potty stop
LOLO - Lewis and Clark made a pit stop here.
And this week, nearly 200 years after the explorers' history-making
layover, archaeologists may well have found the pit.
In a never-tilled meadow beside Lolo Creek, scientists dug a 1-by-1
meter square, looking for the latrine used by members of the Lewis and
Clark expedition at the camp they called Travelers' Rest.
Every 10 centimeters, the archaeologists stopped to test the soil for
mercury, the presence of which is considered proof of the Corps of
Discovery's presence.
Whenever they felt poorly, soldiers on the 1804-1806 expedition took
laxatives known as Dr. Rush's Thunder Clappers. The pills were 60 percent
mercury, so induced immediate and lasting diarrhea which Philadelphia
physician Benjamin Rush believed would cleanse the body of all infirmities.
"It didn't matter what you had," said Dan Hall, a historical
archaeologist for Western Cultural in Missoula. "Syphilis, constipation, a
wound. If you were in need of medical care, they fed you Dr. Rush's pills."
And in their journals, expedition leaders Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark noted that three soldiers were sick during the expedition's
encampment along Lolo Creek on June 30-July 3, 1806 - on their return from
the Pacific Ocean.
"So we know that for three days, three guys were sitting on the latrine,"
Hall said. "And that if this was the latrine, there should still be
mercury in the soil and we should be able to find it."
Twenty centimeters into this week's dig, the archaeologists saw the
hoped-for change in the soil. Where the upper layer had undoubtedly been
Lolo Creek gravel - rounded, unsorted cobbles of brown and gold - the new
layer was a dark gray soil rich in organic material and cobble-free.
But when they tested for mercury, the samples came up empty. Thirty-
eight times.
So the archaeologists kept digging.
At 48 centimeters, the organic layer began to give way to another creek-
bottom deposit. They kept digging and sampling and testing.
On the last sample of the day Thursday, at about 50 centimeters, they
hit pay dirt. Literally.
Consultant Natalie Morrow saw the reading on her mercury vapor analyzer
and started dancing: 0.004 milligrams of mercury per cubic meter of soil,
a statistically significant spike. And just where you'd expect to find it:
at the bottom of the latrine.
"Mercury is a heavy inert element," Hall said. "It does not decompose.
Water has a hard time moving it. So it would settle at the bottom, right
where we found it."
"We were all screaming," he said, "and dancing."
Hall did another little jig Friday morning when Morrow arrived with the
next bit of good news. The soil sample she took to the lab showed 0.0145
milligrams of mercury per cubic meter of soil, "another hit" from the same
bottom-of-the-trench level.
"Now we have ruled out equipment error or operator error," Hall said.
On Friday, the crew began excavation of another test pit, looking to
repeat the discovery. They'll do three excavations along the suspected
trench. Then they'll collect soil samples from across the cottonwood
bottom land, for purposes of comparison.
If the suspected latrine is the only site with hits for mercury, they'll
know - for certain - that they found THE latrine.
Archaeologists used a similar mercury vaporizer analysis at Fort Clatsop,
where the expedition spent the winter of 1805-1806, to verify the location
of that campsite. The results there were "robust," Hall said, as the
soldiers spent so many months in the same place and built an actual privy.
The same sort of analysis may eventually be used to verify the location
of the expedition's portage around the Great Falls of the Missouri.
At Travelers' Rest, the documentation is particularly significant
because the encampment is a National Historic Landmark - and has been for
many years. But the national listing shows the camp at the confluence of
Lolo Creek and the Bitterroot River, about 1 1/2 miles from its actual,
upstream location.
And in order to get the landmark expanded, or otherwise relocated to
include the actual campsite, Hall and company need substantial
documentation. Proof positive.
"A National Historic Landmark designation is a recognition that not all
sites are equal, that some are more important than others," Hall said. "So
they must have a high degree of integrity. We don't change a landmark's
location on a whim."
This summer's archaeological work, which will also include excavation of
a possible hearth, "will help us put a square on a map and say this is the
place," he said. "That we know for certain."
Remote-sensing work in recent years has repeatedly zeroed in on the
grassy bench and cottonwood bottom land on the south side of Lolo Creek,
land owned for 30 years by Pat and Ernie Deschamps and sold last year to
the public, for management as Travelers' Rest State Park.
Historians and archaeologists studying the site knew they were looking
for a military style layout, as all field encampments of that era followed
a regimen prescribed by Baron Von Steuben, a Prussian who came to Valley
Forge and helped Gen. George Washington establish the revolutionary army's
encampment.
In his guidebook, the baron prescribed the location of a central cook
fire, from which all other features were located: the soldiers' tents, the
captains' tents, the sentries, the game-butchering area, and at a distance
of 300 feet, the latrine.
Earlier tests of electromagnetic conductivity, which show anomalies in
the soil, located the likely site of the central cook fire at Travelers'
Rest. The suspected latrine is 300 feet away, at the bottom of the bluff.
Pinpointing the campsite's precise location should open more doors for
funding and for protection of the area, said Beth Berlin, a Missoula
County grants administrator assigned to the project. (The archaeological
work is funded by $98,000 in grants from historian Stephen Ambrose, the
White House, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National
Park Service.)
"It really helps with the money," Berlin said.
"It legitimizes all of the efforts being undertaken on this property,"
said Philip Maechling, Missoula County's historic preservation officer.
"Finding the subsurface trench was serendipity in the first place," said
Hall, "because finding evidence of Lewis and Clark in a quickly developing
community like Lolo is like looking for a needle in three haystacks."
To find such strong evidence so quickly, after just two days of
excavation, is amazing, said Berlin. "There were skeptics who said we'd
never find anything out here, that too much time had passed, that mercury
vapor analysis would never show anything. So this is pretty exciting."
Said Hall: "It's about as much excitement as you can get standing over a
200-year-old latrine."
If you're interested
Travelers' Rest is managed as a state park by the Travelers' Rest
Preservation and Heritage Association. Through Labor Day weekend, the park
will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. For visitors headed south from
Lolo on Highway 93, turn right on Mormon Creek Road, the first road after
you cross Lolo Creek. The park is on the right-hand side, a quarter mile
to the west.
For security reasons, the archaeological excavation is not open to the
public. There are, however, no artifacts to be seen because the excavation
is looking for subtle changes in the soil and for evidence of mercury.
Docents will be on hand to explain the site's history and significant
throughout the weekend.
Copyright c. 2002, Missoulian, Missoula, MT. A Lee Enterprises subsidiary.
--------- "RE: Riders push to end Peabody's pumping of N-Aquifer" ---------
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="AQUIFER RIDE"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.thenavajotimes.com/nation.html
Riders push to end Peabody's pumping of N-Aquifer
By Marley Shebala
The Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK July 18, 2002
According to traditional Navajo history, the Navajo people are made from
four elements of life and water is one of them.
Nicole Horseherder, who took part in a 115-mile horseback ride from
Forest Lake, Ariz. to the Navajo Nation's capital to protest the use of
water by Peabody Coal Company, said on Monday that the people of Black
Mesa have been going to the local springs to make their traditional
offerings and prayers since the beginning of time.
But now the elders don't see any water coming from the springs,
Horseherder said.
She said the young adults and youth from the community started gathering
reports and research, including one from the Black Mesa Trust, a nonprofit
group working to stop Peabody's use of the N-Aquifer, on what is causing
natural springs in the area to go dry.
Horseherder said they found out that Peabody is pumping 4,400 acre-feet
of water a year from the Navajo Aquifer (N-Aquifer).
That amount of pumping exceeds the natural ability of the N-Aquifer to
recharge itself, she said.
Horseherder said Peabody has been pumping out water for the past 30
years and that's contaminated and destroyed the aquifer.
It can't be fixed, she added.
Peabody mixes the water with coal from Black Mesa to transport the coal
to the Mohave Generating Station in Laughlin, Nev., through a 270-mile
slurry pipeline, she said.
Marshall Johnson, who also rode from Forest Lake, made a comparison of
Peabody's water use and the community's use.
Johnson said residents on and around Black Mesa haul water in 55-gallon
barrels.
If Peabody used 55-gallon barrel to haul the 4,400 acre-feet of water
that is taken annually from the N-Aquifer, they would need 26 million
barrels.
Horseherder said Peabody uses three times more water than all the
communities around Black Mesa.
She said one of their community leaders, Hard Rock Chapter President
Percy Deal, advised them to educate other communities in the Navajo
language about how Peabody's massive use of the N-Aquifer is drying up
local springs and wells.
Horseherder said the Black Mesa Trust recommended that they organize
their informal group of young adults, youth and elders into an official
association. They are now called To'nizh Oni'Ani', which means "water use
for the future."
She said the people, especially the elderly and the youth, were "moved"
by their presentation.
Horseherder said the people talked about what needed to be done to save
their water and they decided that Peabody's water permit had to be
terminated.
She said the Hopi Tribe, after strong pressure from Black Mesa Trust and
other Hopi people, recently terminated an agreement with Reliant Energy of
Houston, Tex., for a proposed coal-fired generating plant on Hopi lands.
Black Mesa Trust member Becky Masayesva said on Wednesday that Reliant
reported that the proposed coal-fire generating plant would use less water
than Peabody, but the people didn't believe that.
Masayesva said the Black Mesa Trust was created by her husband, former
Hopi Chairman Vernon Masayesva.
She said the Hopi people also rely on the N-Aquifer and they are pushing
the Hopi Tribe not to renew Peabody's water permit when it expires in 2005.
Horseherder said Peabody is destroying a way of life, which is a
violation of basic human rights.
Johnson reiterated that the damage can't be reversed.
He showed several color photographs of sinkholes that were growing
larger and connecting.
Horseherder said their research showed that Peabody's enormous pumping
of water from the N-Aquifer was creating the sinkholes.
She said what makes her really sad is she doesn't know how to comfort
the elders, who used to see the springs flowing as they made their
offerings.
"I can't imagine what they feel," she said.
Johnson is sponsoring proposed legislation to the Navajo Nation Council
to terminate Peabody's water permit with support from the Chinle Agency
Council and the chapters of Tuba City, Pinon, Forest Lake, Hard Rock, Low
Mountain and Kayenta.
The council is in their summer session, which is from July 15 to 19.
Copyright c. 1999-2002 - Navajo Times/Navajo Nation.
--------- "RE: Navajo Council OKs Drought Relief Fund" ---------
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="DROUGHT RELIEF"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.thenavajotimes.com/drought.html
Council OKs drought relief fund
The Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK July 18, 2002
The Navajo Nation Council on Monday appropriated $2.975 million for
emergency drought relief and to victims of the Rodeo/Chediski fire.
The money is to come from the tribe's savings account, which is supposed
to remain at over $40 million in case of emergency.
By a vote of 61 in favor and 7 opposed, the council voted to provide
water, food, feed and other drought mitigation measures. About $50,000
will be provided to Navajos impacted by the Rodeo/Chediski fires.
According to the Western Regional Climate Center Desert Research
Institute, the Navajo Nation has been experiencing drought conditions for
several months now and soil moisture conditions have become increasingly
dry, with below normal precipitation levels.
Copyright c. 1999-2002 - Navajo Times/Navajo Nation.
--------- "RE: Hopis offer to underwrite Powell Pipeline" ---------
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="PIPELINE"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=44950
Hopis offer to underwrite Powell pipeline
By GARY GHIOTO
Sun Staff Reporter
07/18/2002
As environmental activists open a new front in their battle to end
groundwater withdrawals on Black Mesa, the Hopi Tribe has offered to help
underwrite a $100 million pipeline from Lake Powell that would keep a coal
mine operating and eventually fuel a new power plant owned by the tribe.
The Hopi Tribe and Peabody Energy are working on a proposal to build a
pipeline from Lake Powell to replace 1.3 billion gallons a year in
groundwater used in a slurry line that carries coal to a power plant in
Laughlin, Nev., said Claire Heywood, a spokesperson for the Hopi Tribe.
The tribe is willing to help pay some of the costs associated with the
estimated $102 million pricetag of the pipeline that would run from Lake
Powell through the Navajo reservation to Black Mesa, she said Tuesday.
The pipeline also would provide water for Navajo and Hopi communities
and limit further pumping of the aquifer that also is being strained by
expanding population in the region, said Hopi officials.
Another plan that would tap Lake Powell and run a pipeline from Page to
Cameron along Highway 89 is opposed by the Hopi Tribe because it would not
solve the "water crisis" on Black Mesa, Heywood said.
Tribal support for the Powell pipeline came as activists for the Black
Mesa Trust told Congress Wednesday that the aquifer water is "sacred" and
deserving of the same protection the federal government affords
irreplaceable archaeological and cultural sites. (see related story)
The Trust previously cited a study by a national environmental group
that contended that surface springs were drying up because of water pumped
by Peabody deep below the surface. Peabody's hydrological consultants say
that surface springs are shrinking due to drought and that the aquifer is
not being permanently damaged, despite the use of 1.3 billion gallons a
year for the slurry line.
According to Peabody Energy spokesman Vic Svec, mining on Black Mesa
injects $2 million each week into the local Hopi and Navajo economies and
provides 700 jobs. The Hopi Tribe says royalties from water and coal sales
to Peabody make up 80 percent of its annual operating budget.
But Peabody's coal lease on Black Mesa expires in 2005, and the Hopi
Tribe, despite the revenues it receives from its deal with Peabody, is on
record as opposing Peabody's application for renewal until an alternate
source of water for the slurry coal line is found. The tribe has even
considered closing the Black Mesa Mine and losing the revenue to preclude
Peabody from using underground water resources, according to Hopi
officials.
Tribal Chairman Wayne Taylor says the water is "wasted in the slurry"
and that "no more studies are needed to prove that the Tribe's natural
water resources are now so threatened, so needlessly squandered, and so
cavalierly managed."
In addition to the pipeline from Lake Powell, Peabody says it is
"working" with owners of the Laughlin power plant, the Hopi Tribe and the
Navajo Nation to use "untapped groundwater sources" or water from the
Laughlin area to slurry the coal and leave the Navajo aquifer untapped.
While Hopi officials and Peabody Energy consider plans for a pipeline
from Lake Powell and other options, the tribe is still considering
building its own power plant and exploiting coal resources on Black Mesa,
said Heywood.
After much publicity, the tribe abruptly dropped out of a partnership
with Reliant Energy of Houston to construct a coal-fired plant on Black
Mesa. Heywood said concerns voiced by tribal members that the plant would
require 800 million gallons of water a year from the aquifer sank the plan.
Black Mesa Trust, a grassroots organization about 2 years old, opposed
the Reliant Energy deal and is also urging caution about the proposed Lake
Powell pipeline.
Vernon Masayesva of the Trust said he doesn't believe the Hopi Tribe
should pay millions of dollars for the pipeline. A Hopi-owned power plant
could generate $60 million annually for the Hopi Tribe and is still
seriously being considered, said Heywood.
But until a pipeline from Lake Powell is built to provide water for the
power plant, the tribe is hesitant to move forward at this time, said
Heywood.
Copyright c. 2000-2002 Arizona Daily Sun.
--------- "RE: Drought hits hard on O'odham Lands" ---------
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 08:19:19 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="O'ODHAM DROUGHT"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/20715Oodhamdrought2fjm2fmst.html
Drought hits hard on O'odham lands
Tucson, Arizona Monday, 15 July 2002
By Carmen Duarte
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
FRESNAL CANYON - Vast sections of Tohono O'odham lands remain parched,
and tribal leaders hope more rains such as Sunday's can heal the land from
this year's severe drought.
An estimated 1,000 cattle have died since May on the Nation west of
Tucson, from the U.S.-Mexico border up to Gila Bend and the Casa Grande
areas, said Homer Marks, administrator of the tribe's range conservation
and management program.
The loss to ranchers is about $500,000, and the devastation may climb,
said Marks, as his pickup traveled rocky terrain in the Baboquivari
District. It is one of 11 districts on the reservation that covers an area
about the size of Connecticut.
Marks and Fred Narcho, a member of the district council who represents
this remote canyon community of about 20 people, surveyed watering holes,
known as charcos, and contaminated wells Friday.
As they neared the two-acre Owl's Nest Charco, their eyes took in the
carcasses of more than 30 cows and calves in the sunbaked hole. The
carcasses will be left there for nature's scavengers to devour.
"This is the first time I've seen this charco dry in over 40 years,"
said Narcho. "It has come pretty low, but it never has completely dried.
"This hurts my heart," he said, his voice lowering as he looked out at
death. "Some of my cattle are here. This drought is affecting so many
ranchers."
Tribal and district leaders are encouraging ranchers to sell off their
cattle so they can cut their losses. They can rebuild their herds after
the drought.
While Narcho surveyed the area, about 20 cattle walked through the
watering hole on their way in search of food. The herds munched on
mesquite and palo verde trees, cholla cactus and ocotillo.
Since 1999, mountain lions have come in greater numbers from Baboquivari
Peak to hunt cattle because the dry spell is also affecting their food
supply, Narcho said. Some ranchers have killed cougars to protect their
herds.
Narcho recently rescued 11 calves from the range after nine mother cows
died. He is nursing them in corrals by his home. He lost three of the
calves, but eight are in good shape and gaining weight with a diet of hay.
"When the rains come, and as long as we get a little grass and other
growth, the calves will return to the range. That's where they like to
be," he said.
Meanwhile, the tribe is using a 5,000-gallon tanker trailer on loan from
the Bureau of Indian Affairs and three rental trucks to deliver water to
this canyon community and two others in the Gu Achi District.
The trucks, which travel hundreds of miles each week, also are
delivering water to stock tanks for cattle. This is helping to prevent
ranchers like Narcho from completely losing their herds.
"Everybody is pulling together and trying our best with the resources
that we have," Marks said. "We have crews grading roads and trails so the
trucks can deliver to stock tanks. The weight of the water is making it
hard on the trucks. There have been a lot of breakdowns, and that's why it
is so important to make the roads passable."
Marks said Tucson Electric Power Co. donated $15,000 to help the Nation
during the drought. He said the money will be used to rent a fourth truck
and buy another tank for water delivery, and to buy new blades for the
road grader. Nearly 200 miles of dirt roads need to be graded for water
delivery.
Spotty rain has fallen in various parts of the reservation, which has
about 270 livestock watering holes. It is estimated that 40 of those
watering holes will be dry by the end of summer. The Nation's herd size is
about 17,500 cattle and 2,650 horses.
If the drought lasts through August, the tribe will need to spend more
than $230,000 to provide relief to communities and ranchers, Marks said.
"We're praying for rain, and we're looking for help from anyone who can
help," said Ronald Ventura, chairman of the Baboquivari District, which is
home to about 2,000 people.
* Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at 573-4195 or at cduarte@azstarnet.com.
Copyright c. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 AzStarNet,
Arizona Daily Star and its wire services.
--------- "RE: White Firestarter is cleared of Charges" ---------
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="WHITE FIRESTARTER"
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0718fire18-ON.html
Crowd boos, walks out as firestarter is cleared of charges
Brent Whiting and Mark Shaffer
The Arizona Republic
July 18, 2002 04:00:00
HEBER - No criminal charges will be brought against Valinda Jo Elliott,
the stranded woman who set a signal fire that became the "Chediski"
wildfire, authorities said Thursday.
A federal prosecutor said there was no proof that Elliott acted with
criminal intent. The facts, if anything, supported a defense that she
acted out of necessity - to save her own life.
The announcement at the Mogollon High School gymnasium in Heber, one of
the communities most devastated by the monster blaze, drew boos from a
crowd that walked out in protest.
As Paul Charlton, the U.S. attorney for Arizona, explained that Elliott
will not be prosecuted, one upset man tossed a burned ponderosa pine log
from the stands onto the court. It landed near the foul line and broke in
two.
Navajo County Sheriff's deputies hustled the man out, prompting a
number of area residents who lost homes in the fire to heckle the deputies.
"You take him away but you won't do anything to this woman who ruined so
many of our lives," yelled Carla Emmert of Overgaard.
Dan Caivano of Heber also was incensed.
"This is just ridiculous," Caivano said, chiding the arresting officers.
"Who's going to follow any laws around here if you're not doing anything
to her?"
Meanwhile, Elliott and her attorney, David Michael Cantor, left for New
York City, where they are set to appear Friday morning on CBS' The Early
Show.
Said Cantor, a Tempe lawyer: "When Miss Elliott started the fire, she
did what any reasonable person would do after being stranded for three
days with no food or water. Miss Elliott's actions were for her survival
and not with any criminal intent."
Elliott remains remorseful about what happened. "She feels bad for
people who lost their home," Cantor said. The facts are expected to show
that Elliott probably couldn't have survived another day, Cantor said.
A spokeswoman for The Early Show said Cantor and Elliott are scheduled
to appear in the first hour of the show, which begins at 7 a.m. (Arizona
time) on Channel 5 (KPHO).
Elliott had admitted setting a signal fire June 20 that quickly spread
out of control and merged with another human-caused blaze to become the
"Rodeo-Chediski" fire. By the time it was contained, 470,000 acres were
burned and 423 homes destroyed, including widespread destruction in the
Heber area.
The fire cost more than $43 million to fight and forced the evacuation
of about 30,000 people.
Helen Grand of Pinecrest Estates, one of nearly 200 people who lost
homes in the Overgaard subdivision, called Charlton a "total screwhead."
"He does nothing, she walks away scot-free and our insurance company
won't have anything to do with us," Grand said. "Boy, life is just
wonderful these days."
Helen Grand's husband, Ray Grand, said that the woman "should be brought
up here by the police and have her nose stuck in every pile of ashes she's
responsible for."
Elliott had been lost for three days near Chediski Peak when she tried
to catch the attention of a TV news helicopter with smoke signals. She was
rescued by the Channel 5 news team, but her distress flames, lit in a
fire-restricted area during a severe drought,, exploded beyond control.
Her case has sparked intense debate, both inside and outside of the U.S.
Attorney's Office, on whether criminal charges should be filed.
It's a question complicated by smoky legal issues and political
considerations because Leonard Gregg, 29, of Cibecue, a part-time
firefighter, has been indicted on charges that he set the Rodeo fire near
his home in order to get work.
Some Native Americans have wondered if race was a motivating factor
behind Gregg's arrest.
Federal officials have denied that, saying Gregg was arrested and
indicted after confessing he set the fire so he could make money.
By contrast, Elliott offered a survival story that has been double-
checked by investigators for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other
agencies.
Ransford Olmsted, a New River businessman who accompanied Elliott on the
ill-fated trip, was at his north Phoenix lawyer's office when Charlton
appeared on television to announce his decision.
He said he absolutely agreed, because both he and Elliott were close to
death after his pickup truck ran out of gas in the woods and they got
separated.
Olmsted, 45, who runs coin-operated pool tables in Young, a remote
community below the Mogollon Rim, said he, too, might have lit a fire if
it would have meant saving his life.
"They made the right decision because we were out there innocent and we
were lost and facing our lives," he said. "There is no more to say. I mean,
those are facts."
Reach the reporter at brent.whiting@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8543.
Copyright c. 2002, azcentral.com. All rights reserved.
--------- "RE: Land Conflicts intensify in Chiapas" ---------
Date: Tue 16 Jul 2002 0045 -0600
From: joewest <joewest@gwe.net
Subj: Chiapas al Dia 290,Jul 16
newsgroup: alt.native
Chiapas95-english wrote:
--
This message is forwarded to you by the editors of the Chiapas95
newslists. To contact the editors or to submit material for posting send
to: <chiapas-i@eco.utexas.edu.
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 09:09:20 -0500
From: CIEPAC <ciepac@laneta.apc.org
"Chiapas Today" Bulletin No. 290
CIEPAC; CHIAPAS, MEXICO
May 15, 2002
Land Conflicts Intensify in Chiapas
The state of Chiapas covers 75,634.4 square kilometers, 3.8% of national
territory. The state has 118 official municipal governments (seven of which
are the result of political counter-insurgency by ex-governor Roberto
Albores Guillen to counteract the influence of the EZLN's autonomous
municipalities). The state has a population of 3,920,515, 1,931,495 males
and 1,989,020 females (Statistical Agency of the Secretary of State).
Chiapas houses 33 "Protected Forest Areas." The federal government
controls 16 of these areas, encompassing 932,521 hectares, with ecological
reserves, national parks, natural monuments, protected areas of flora and
fauna. The state government controls 17 areas, with 282,836 hectares of
land, including recreation centers, state reserves and private reserves
(www.chiapas.gob.mx) http://www.chiapas.gob.mx).
A large part of these reserves include lands that belong to indigenous
people engaged in civil resistance, who are demanding autonomy.
Therefore, the theme of land ownership has become linked to environmental
problems, and land disputes among many actors. Collectives of small
farmers and indigenous people use 17% of the land in Chiapas. 37% of this
land has not been registered by the government's certification program for
communal land rights (PROCEDE), which is to say that the land has not been
privatized. 76% of the economically active population receive their
primary income from cultivation of the land, and 83.7% of communal land
owners (ejidatarios) have no income. In the best of cases, those with an
income mostly earn the minimum wage (Agricultural Statistics. Year 2000.
Procuraduria Agraria).
According to statistics from the Secretary of Agricultural Reform (SRA),
in 1992 when the federal government reformed the 27th Article of the
Constitution, 27% of national agriculture was concentrated in Chiapas.
Officials who represented the interests of large landholders and ranchers
prohibited land redistribution for the benefit of small farmers.
Nevertheless, in order to not affect the rancher's property, federal and
state governments came and went but never truly modified the structure of
land tenancy. Instead, the government adopted the policy of sending
people who solicited land to colonize deeper into the Lacandonan Jungle.
Due to this strategy, we currently have the conflict in the 32 communities
living in the Montes Azules Ecological Reserve (which contains 331,200
hectares). Previous governments created this problem, and the present
government must work for a just solution in which the human rights of the
indigenous and small farmers are respected. Currently, ! it appears that
the government prefers to expel them from the land, to the benefit of
transnational corporations like Novartis, Monsanto, Dupont Pulsar and
others dedicated to biopiracy, with the complicity of "International
Conservation" and its allies.
In Chiapas, various organizations of small farmers are fighting for
small pieces of land and find themselves in constant confrontations that
have led to negative, and sometimes, tragic results.
Recent history begins with the start of armed conflict in January 1994.
The federal government realized that small farmer's organizations were
working together and beginning to gain more power, and was pressured to
name a special commission to attend to and to mediate their demands. The
members of the commission were Andres Fabregas Puig, Eduardo Robledo
Rincon y Eraclio Zepeda Ramos. At that time, 182 organizations made up the
State Advisory Board of Indigenous People and Farmers (CEOIC). While the
farmers' organizations pressed for land, productive projects, freedom for
political prisoners, etc., the government responded by paying off a few
leaders, giving them new Dodge Ram trucks in order to provoke conflicts
between the organizations.
Prior to this came the dialogue of San Andres between the EZLN and the
government, and the division of the CEOIC: the independent CEOIC that
chose to support the peace talks and bring their demands to the table, and
the CEOIC official who chose to negotiate with the government on the side
and to separate from the rest of the farmers' movement. It is fitting to
mention that later a faction of the CEOIC decided to negotiate with Dante
Delgado Ranauro, a federal government representative, while only a tiny
group decided to remain at the negotiating table along with the EZLN.
This shows a lack of political clarity and understanding of the political
moment and strategies of the two negotiating parties (EZLN, Federal
Government).
The Zapatista uprising gave rise to a resurgence of new indigenous and
rural organizations that are still active in Chiapas (some 500 rural,
Indigenous, cooperative and civil society organizations). At that time,
some groups chose to directly confront the ranchers and the state by
occupying lands; they took approximately 2,800 plots of land. Within the
zone of Zapatista influence, 50 properties were taken in the municipality
of Las Margaritas, 100 in Altamirano and 240 in Ocosingo. However, when
the ranchers tried to reclaim their lands, they demanded and continue to
demand payment for 642 plots that were seized. These ranchers have chosen
to approach the current government of Pedro Salazar for their payment and
indemnification, treating the state government as the intermediary with
the federal government in order to resolve their demands. To add further
pressure, they have formed the Coalition of Ranchers of Ocosingo, replete
with PRI members and the municipal presidency, in order to harass the
Zapatista communities in the zone.
The archive of the secretary of Agricultural Development of March 1997
indicates that among the families that appealing for ownership of seized
lands in the municipality of Altamirano, were the following: Pinto Kanter,
Kanter Gomez, Alfonso Kanter, Kanter Solis, Kanter Castellanos, Kanter
Solorzano, Ruiz Kanter, Kanter Alfonso, Pinto Albores, Albores Aguilar,
Albores Luis, Albores Dominguez, Albores Guillen, Albores del Carmen,
Guillen Najera, Albores Agueda, Macal Castellanos, Aguilar Lopez, etc. In
the municipality of Las Margaritas many of the same family names appear:
Kanter, Mendez, Avendano Argu:ello, Avendano Aguilar, Tovar Culebro, Recta
Alvarez, Aguilar Hernandez, Gonzalez Tovar, Morales Lopez, Monzon Tovar,
Cordero Albores, Altuzar Garcia, Gordillo Noriega, among others. In the
municipality of Ocosingo the same families : Aguilar Trujillo, Rocha
Aguilar,Aguilar Argu:ello, Garcia Aguilar, Penagos Aguilar, Albores
Aguilar, Albores Cruz, Aguilar Castillejos, Diaz Aguilar, Aguilar Sanchez,
Hernandez Aguilar, Alfonso Castellanos, Lopez Solorzano, F ernandez
Kanter; Hernandez Kanter, Dominguez Bermudez, Cancino Dominguez, etc. The
majority of these ranchers were granted cattle raising loans in order to
purchase purchase lands in other municipalities of Chiapas, such as Playas
de Catazaja, Pichucalco, La Independencia, la Libertad, Palenque, Arriaga,
Reforma, Venustiano Carranza, Tzimol, Chicomuselo, La Trinitaria. In the
state of Tabasco, they purchased lands in the municipalities of Macuspana,
Balancan, Teapa, La Libertad, Emiliano Zapata, etc. In the state of
Veracruz, the ranchers of Chiapas saw benefits in the purchase of cattle
ranches in the municipalities of : San Juan, Hidalgo, Las Choapas, Jesus
Carranza; in the state of Yucatan in: Tizmin y Panaba; and in Campeche in
the municipality of El Carmen.
According to sources from the Special Representative of the Secretary
of Agricultural Reform (SRA), in 1994 the Chiapas state government
government made moves so that the SRA would transfer the means of
purchasing land to the government. For this reason, Fund 94 was created,
directed by the governor at that time, Javier Lopez Moreno; Saul Prado,
Rodolfo Ulloa y Rodolfo del Pino were members of the commission. In
"direct form", they purchased 40,000 hectares, at 175 million pesos, for
the benefit of 16 farmer organizations, primarily the National Farmer
Confederation (CNC), Farmer Solidarity Magistrate (SOCAMA) and others
which belonged to the PRI. A total of 12,000 farmers received land, and
they were divided in 270 groups.
(Catorcenal Sur Proceso No. 55. March 30 2002).
Independent farmer organizations at that time protested these actions,
among them the Independent Central of Agricultural Workers and Farmers
(CIOAC), Farmers Organization "Emiliano Zapata" (OCEZ-CNPA) because other
groups received the most land (SOCAMA and CNC). Due to these protests,
the government created Fund 95. This fund, with 794 million pesos,
purchased 160,000 hectares containing 2,300 plots for 67 rural
organizations, for 930 groups that solicited land. More than 242,000
hectares were reportedly purchased by the government for those rural
groups. However, as was usually the case, they paid for non-existent plots,
"self-invasions," the necessary studies were not undertaken, officials
sold out rather than hand over inspections, and did not implement
resolutions. (Ibid pag. 17).
Nevertheless, it is the duty of Pablo Salazar and Vicente Fox's
governments to investigate the irregularities committed by previous
administrations, and to hold former government officials accountable along
with leaders of social organizations who were accomplices, among others.
The ball fell in the government's court to demonstrate willingness to make
changes that would benefit farmers and to carry out the justice of the
Mexican Revolution by continuing investigations of large landholders and
estate farmers, who continue to possess large areas of land. There are 2,
800 farmers who have solicited in the hopes of gaining a tiny plot of land
and to avert the continued application of PROCEDE.
In 1994 and 1995, the most expensive lands were in the mountainous and
coastal zones, at 5,900 pesos per hectare, the least expensive were those
of the isthmus coastal zone, at 3,700 pesos per hectare. Many of these
lands were purchased from their owners, but the majority were not
legalized because of the need to re-study the lands to determine reliable
figures. There was also a need for the social organizations to continue
the necessary legal procedures in favor of the farmers, and these
organizations were already suffering due to the armed conflict.
The prevailing conditions in Chiapas are grim: the government's lack of
will for true dialogue and their non-compliance with the three conditions
set by the EZLN to re-start the dialogue, threats of displacement of
people from the ecological reserves, confrontations between the EZLN and
various farmer organizations over land disputes, the resurgence and
recycling of old and new actors, who play within the political terrain set
by the government and those who prefer to play according to their own
rules. We must remember that Chiapas still suffers from a war, with the
EZLN trying to maintain control of its territories, building long-term
solutions for the communities, while the government, following the logic
of Ernesto Zedillo, seeks to reduce, confront, divide and isolate the EZLN
so that it will not be an important actor in the transformation of the
nation. With this logic, the EZLN will not fall into the game of "small
dialogues." For those who seek to pressure them into dialogue with rural
organizations who are in conflict in its territory, an understanding of
the magnitude of the conflict in its real state is needed, not only the
function of the EZLN but also the causes that provoked the armed conflict.
Land is one demand from the San Andreas dialogues, by the EZLN and the
indigenous people of the country. Still today, demands have not been
resolved for all of the organizations, even those in conflict with
Zapatismo. The problem remains and resurges, and it is not because of the
lasting policies of Zapatismo, as some have tried to explain, but because
of the intensification of the war's causes. That is, while there is no
solution to the causes which generated the armed conflict, pending a
process of serious dialogue, of respect and willingness to seek solutions,
the problems that were laid out during the San Andreas dialogues will
continue to explode in conflicts in various ways in Chiapas and in other
parts of the country. This explains why the EZLN was unable to negotiate
with the state government, nor with anyone related to the government,
while there was non-compliance with the accords of San Andreas, while 17
prisoners on hunger strike are not freed and while the federal government
fails to abandon a military solution in Chiapas.
Meanwhile, the solution to the problem of land in Chiapas, for the EZLN
and the rural organizations (ARIC's, ORCAO, CNPI, FIPI, RAP, OPEZ's,
OCEZ's, CNPA's, etc., and the remainder of the country with similar
demands), lies in the opportunity of evaluating the armed conflict in its
entirety: its causes, its recycling and in the re-articulation of the
actors along with the implementation of the Plan Puebla Panama and of neo-
liberalism in Chiapas. In this sense, indigenous people must be considered
as independent actors with their own project, with autonomy in their
territories and rights to the natural resources therein, resources very
much in the interest of the multinational corporations. We are all
awaiting the verdict of the Supreme Court of Justice of the nation with
respect to the constitutional complaints that have been presented.
However, if bureaucracy rules, along with government "administration" of
the conflict, and exhaustion of the actors, the question remains: Within
civil society, what must we do to ensure that the EZLN becomes the actor
that combines, convokes, provokes and conducts, together with other actors
of the country, the changes we need for a more democratic and just society
in Mexico?
Many actors on the national and international level, journalists, NGO's,
churches, etc. await word from the Coordinating Committee of the EZLN,
from Subcomandante Marcos, in regards to what is currently taking place in
the Chiapanecan communities and the events of 9/11 in the U.S., along with
the intensification of the war in Afghanistan, in Palestine, and all other
areas, etc. that accumulate. The answer lies with the communications and
denunciations from various autonomous municipalities about what is taking
place in Chiapas, what civil society and national and international
pacifist groups say about the Mideast war. We must understand the EZLN in
its paradox, in the logic of peace, not of war, in light of construction,
when the enemy speaks of destruction, in view of peace, when the enemy
speaks of war.
Without seeking to justify, but rather to understand, now is the moment
to look at Zapatismo according to its logic, strategy, methods, in its
actual state, location, dimension, in its journey, in its silence. To
paraphrase Zapatismo, I believe that now is the time for us to bring forth
our words, even while the EZLN decides to remain silent. It is time for
us to become bridges of communication for the various actors, time to
confront isolation with an alternative that responds to people's interests.
We must build the networks needed to protect and execute the alternatives
from where we find ourselves now.
Onesimo Hidalgo
The Center for Economic and Political Investigations of Community Action,
A.C. CIEPAC,
CIEPAC is a member of the Movement for Democracy and Life (MDV) of Chia
pas, the Mexican Network of Action Against Free Trade (RMALC) www.rmalc.
org.mx (http://www.rmalc.org.mx/) , Convergence of Movements of the
Peoples of the Americas (COMPAwww.sitiocompa.org), Network for Peace in
Chiapas, Week for Biological and Cultural Diversity www.laneta.apc.
org/biodiversidad (http://www.laneta.apc.org/biodiversidad%A0)
(http://www.laneta.apc.org/biodiversidad%A0) and of the International
Forum "The People Before Globalization", Alternatives to the PPP
http://usuarios.tripod.es/xelaju/xela.htm (http://usuarios.tripod.
es/xelaju/xela.htm)
Translated by Maria Elena Sanger for CIEPAC, A.C.
Note: If you use this information, cite the source and our email address.
We are grateful to the persons and institutions who have given us their
comments on these Bulletins. CIEPAC, A.C. is a non-government and non-
profit organization, and your support is necessary for us to be able to
continue offering you this news and analysis service. If you would like to
contribute, in any amount, we would infinitely appreciate your remittance
to the bank account in the name of:
CIEPAC, A.C
Bank: Banamex
Account number: 7049672
Sucursal 386
San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
You will also need to use an ABA number: BNMXMXMM
Thank you! CIEPAC
Note: If you wish to be placed on a list to receive this English version
of the Bulletin, or the Spanish, or both, please direct a request to the
e-mail address shown below. Indicate whether you wish to receive the
email or the "attached file" (Word 7 for Windows 95) version.
Email: ciepac@laneta.apc.org
Web page: http://www.ciepac.org/ (http://www.ciepac.org/%A0)
(http://www.ciepac.org/%A0)
(Visit us: We have new maps on the situation in
Chiapas, and a chapter with more information on the PPP)
_______________________________________________________________________
CIEPAC, A.C.
Centro de Investigaciones Economicas y Politicas de Accion Comunitaria
Eje Vial Uno Numero 11
Col. Jardines de Vista Hermosa
29297 San Cristobal, Chiapas, MEXICO
Tel/Fax: en Mexico 01 967 678-5832
Fuera de Mexico +52 967 678-5832
____________________________________
Ciepac-b mailing list
Ciepac-b@listas.laneta.apc.org
http://www.laneta.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/ciepac-b
--
To subscribe from this list send a message containing the words
subscribe chiapas95 (or chiapas95-lite, or chiapas95-english, or
chiapas95-espanol) to majordomo@eco.utexas.edu. Previous messages
are available from http://www.eco.utexas.edu/faculty/Cleaver/chiapas95.html
or gopher to Texas, University of Texas at Austin, Department of
Economics, Mailing Lists.
--------- "RE: Aboriginal Group files Court Challenge" ---------
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="INDIAN ACT CHALLENGE"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Indian-Act-Challenge.html
Saskatchewan aboriginal group files court challenge to Indian Act changes
July 18, 2002
REGINA (CP) -- The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, claiming
aboriginals have not been properly consulted, has filed a legal challenge
to proposed changes to the Indian Act.
The lawsuit names Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Indian Affairs
Minister Robert Nault as defendants and claims new legislation would
increase federal government control over aboriginal governments.
"The plaintiff asserts that the defendants breached their fiduciary duty
to act in the best interests of the First Nations of Canada by not
including the chiefs and councils of the treaty First Nations and
representatives of the First Nations governance institutions in the
drafting process," the statement of claim says.
The challenge, filed with the Federal Court in Ottawa on Monday, asks
for a permanent injunction stopping the changes from being passed in
Parliament.
The suit also asks for a declaration by the court that the government
has breached its obligations to First Nations and needs to conduct
"meaningful" consultations before any changes in the future.
Calls to Nault's office on Thursday were not returned.
The statement of claim claims the federal government is required to hold
a constitutional conference with First Nations in regard to any changes in
legislation.
"The plaintiff asserts that the amendment of the Indian Act in the form
suggested by the defendants will amount to a constitutional amendment,"
the claim said.
Nault announced last year his government was going to overhaul the act
which has remained relatively untouched for 50 years.
The proposed legislation is designed to revamp election regulations for
band members on and off reserves, tighten fiscal authority and improve
administration.
Nault has said the legislation would be an interim step toward self-
government, but native groups complain they weren't properly consulted and
the legislation would perpetuate a colonial approach to aboriginals.
The new law would require native bands to develop codes to spell out how
they choose their leaders, run their governments and spend their money.
Bands would be allowed to develop their own laws in these three areas as
long as they met certain minimum standards set out by the federal
government. The federal government could impose default rules if the codes
weren't developed within two years.
The bill would also make the Indian Act subject to the Canadian Human
Rights Act for the first time.
Copyright c. 2002, Canoe, a division of Netgraphe Inc.
--------- "RE: Aboriginal Women speak out" ---------
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 09:04:21 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="ABORIGINAL WOMEN"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.canada.com/search/site/story
[Editorial Comment: This article left me angry. The idea of this
bureaucrat telling First Nations Grandmothers to sit quietly, toe
the mark, do things his way, and he might throw them a bone was too
much of the "same old stuff, different day" way of treating Indians.]
Aboriginal women speak out
CATHERINE SOLYOM
Montreal Gazette
Friday, July 19, 2002
Throughout three days of debate and resolution by aboriginal leaders from
across the country, the face of the First Nations has been predominantly
male - chiefs, veterans, band councilors.
But what of aboriginal women, officially the most marginalized sector of
the country's population?
They continue to be ignored by both the federal government and their own
chiefs, a group of women said yesterday at the Assembly of First Nations
meeting in Kahnawake.
First, they stuck it to the federal government: "We spoke to (Indian
Affairs) Minister (Robert) Nault and he said the issue of discrimination
is too complicated, too big," said Michele Audette, president of Quebec
Native Women.
"But he said if we signed on to governance, he'd listen.
"That's blackmail."
Flanked by Mohawk women denied access to housing and services in
Kahnawake because they married non-aboriginals, Audette raised the
longstanding controversy over Bill C-31, the subject of about 200 ongoing
court cases.
Introduced in 1985, the bill reinstated status to aboriginal women who'd
lost it by marrying non-aboriginal men.
But Bill C-31 stipulated that the children of those women could pass on
their Indian status to their children only if that third generation
married another status Indian.
"If we were to ask white women who the father of their child was to
determine whether that child could go to school, it would be a huge
scandal," Audette said. "It's been 17 years."
"At this rate, in a few years there will be no reserves, no inherent
rights, and we will be totally assimilated," said Ellen Gabriel, a
Kanesatake Mohawk.
Alastair Mullin, a spokesman for Nault, said many of the women's
grievances would be resolved with the First Nations Governance Act: it
would bring the Indian Act, and hence Bill C-31, under the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms, which currently does not protect 600,000 status
Indians.
The Governance Act also asks band councils to formulate mechanisms for
redress in cases of discrimination, Mullin said.
But Mullin denied Nault had cut funding to Quebec Native Women. They
would have been paid $1.4 million for participating in Governance Act
consultations, but they withdrew from the process.
But if the women say they were denied a voice with Indian Affairs, they
haven't found a more open forum with the AFN.
"About 80 per cent of native women are victims of conjugal violence and
almost 50 per cent have been sexually assaulted," Audette said. "The
situation is exploding and we never hear about it. Yes, treaty rights are
important, but we're dying here."
Part of the problem is the overwhelmingly male makeup of the aboriginal
leadership. Of 633 chiefs across the country, 80 are women. In Quebec,
there's one female chief out of 42.
The AFN agreed to set up a gender-equality secretariat, then disbanded
it because of budget cuts, said AFN vice-chief Ghislain Picard.
As for discrimination and violence against women within their
communities, Picard said it's a long process of re-education to undo the
"brainwashing" of the Indian Act.
"But it's true, we can't talk about self-government if we don't make
sure the base is solid enough to assume it."
To that end, AFN National Chief Matthew Coon Come said there would be
more women's participation in AFN meetings.
"But I don't elect the chiefs. And if you go to a band-council meeting,
you'll see it's mostly women, dealing with their children out of high
schools with no jobs, without access to higher education, committing
suicide. These are social issues we are trying to deal with, but then the
government comes up with this legislation that we have to respond to."
Indeed, much of the discussion inside and outside the AFN's 23rd annual
meeting focused on the Governance Act, and in his closing statements
yesterday, Coon Come reiterated the AFN's absolute opposition to the bill.
It is now the job of aboriginal leaders to mobilize their communities to
prepare for intense lobbying this fall when Parliament resumes, Coon Come
said.
But the AFN has an increasingly "social" agenda dealing with previously
taboo subjects, thanks largely to the women, Picard said.
In three days, 33 resolutions were passed, including on the following:
- A long-term aboriginal healing fund to help residential-school
survivors.
- Increased funding for post-secondary education.
- Establishing a First Nations housing council to deal with overcrowding
on reserves.
- Early-childhood development program funding.
- Establishing a First Nations mental-health program.
- Developing a strategy to deal with property division after divorce.
- Developing a national aboriginal radio network.
- Support for Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations participation in the bid
to host the 2010 O Olympic Winter games.
"The greatest challenge is moving our own agenda forward at the same
time as we respond to the government's agenda," Coon Come said.
Catherine Solyom's E-mail address is csolyom@thegazette.southam.ca
Copyright c. 2002 Montreal Gazette.
--------- "RE: Jury orders Probation" ---------
Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 08:35:17 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="THEFT"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.yankton.net/stories/071702/new_20020717031.shtml
Jury Orders Probation For Former Tribal Council Member
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
RAPID CITY (AP) -- A former Oglala Sioux Tribal Council member was
sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $59,114 in back
rent to the tribal housing authority.
A federal jury in April convicted Gerald Big Crow of five counts of
theft from a tribal organization.
He was convicted of theft for falsifying income statements for 1995
through 1999. Court documents indicate Big Crow and his wife should have
paid $472 monthly in rent based on their income, but paid $114 because of
the false income statements.
Big Crow faced a minimum of 50 months in prison and a maximum of 80
months under federal sentencing guidelines.
U.S. District Judge Richard Battey instead granted Big Crow a "downward
departure," which allowed for a reduced sentence.
Battey said the case fell outside the "heartland" of normal theft cases
and that he had struggled with whether failure to pay rent constituted
theft.
"I have an abiding conviction that perhaps this case should not have
been tried in the posture of a criminal matter" but as a civil case, he
said.
Copyright c. 2002 Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan.
--------- "RE: Judges Wrongly excluded Navajos from Juries" ---------
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 08:17:47 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="NAVAJO EXCLUDED"
http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm
http://www.sfnewmexican.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2144&dept_id=461625&newsid
Court Rules Judges Wrongly Excluded Navajos From Juries
By BARRY MASSEY, Associated Press
July 17, 2002
SANTA FE, N.M. - Trials should be postponed when no interpreter is
available for a potential juror who has difficulty speaking English, the
state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.
The court, in an unanimous decision, ordered new trials in cases from
Socorro and San Juan counties because judges wrongly disqualified
potential jurors who primarily spoke Navajo.
No Navajo interpreter was readily available at the Socorro County
courthouse on the day of a trial, and in the San Juan County case a Navajo
interpreter failed to appear in court as scheduled.
The Supreme Court said a judge must "make every reasonable effort to
accommodate a potential juror for whom language difficulties present a
barrier to participation in court proceedings."
That will mean continuing trials in some cases, the court said.
The ruling expands on an order issued by the court in January 2000 that
spelled out a procedure to court personnel for allowing non-English
speakers to serve as jurors.
The New Mexico Constitution says residents cannot be restricted from
sitting on juries on account of an inability to speak, read or write
English or Spanish. The court said there were 55 certified Navajo
interpreters in New Mexico.
"If an interpreter is needed and not available, the court is under a
constitutional obligation to continue the trial for a reasonable time if
the continuance will be effective in securing an interpreter," the high
court said.
The case from Socorro County was an appeal by Ernest Rico, who was
convicted of misdemeanor counts of unlawful sales of alcohol and
commercial gambling at a veteran's organization in Socorro.
The San Juan County case was an appeal by Albert Shirley of a drug
trafficking conviction.
The Supreme Court vacated the convictions and ordered new trials in both
cases
Copyright c. 2002 Santa Fe New Mexican.
--------- "RE: Three admit shooting up Tribal Town" ---------
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2002 11:41:48 -0600
From: Gary Smith <gars@Speakeasy.org>
Subj: NA News Item
- - - - - - -<Forwarded news>- - - - - - -
filename="KLAMATH SHOOTERS"
http://www.pechanga.net/
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story
Three admit shooting up tribal town during water dispute
Men made racist remarks, challenged Klamath Indians in Oregon to fight
Jeff Barnard
Associated Press
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Three men pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges
they shot up the hometown of the Klamath Tribes to intimidate Indians at a
time when tension was high over irrigation water being withheld from
farmers to protect fish held sacred by the tribes.
Dressed in T-shirts and jeans, the three men stood in Klamath County
Circuit Court and described how they got drunk after being snowed out of
goose hunting, and drove into the town of Chiloquin, where they stopped at
a grocery store and bought a bag of chips, then drove around calling out
racial slurs, accusing the tribes of stealing their water, and shooting
signs and an outhouse.
Deputy District Attorney Scott Carter filled in the gaps, telling Judge
Roger Isaacson that the men harassed teenage boys on a school bus heading
for a basketball game, singling out tribal members and calling them
"stupid Indians." They also called out, "Sucker lovers come on out and
fight."
The taunt was a reference to the Lost River sucker and short nosed sucker,
two endangered species of fish the tribes consider a sacred gift of the
Creator. During last summer's drought, water was withheld from farmers to
assure the fish would survive.
George Curry, 23, a ranch hand; Richard Sharp, 26, a logger; and Adam
Lee, 27, occupation unknown, each pleaded guilty to felony charges of
conspiracy to commit criminal intimidation and unlawful use of a weapon,
and misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.
Sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 10.
"This is one of the most terrifying episodes in the town's history,"
Klamath tribal chairman Allen Foreman said.
"We believe the guilty pleas give a clear message that the Klamath
County authorities do not tolerate this kind of behavior."
Subject to approval by the judge, District Attorney Ed Caleb said the
men will be required to make a public apology to be read in court and
published in the local newspaper, do some sort of community service to
benefit the town of Chiloquin, and undergo cultural identity orientation
conducted by the Klamath Tribes.
They also must serve 30 days in jail and pay fines and restitution.
The arrests came on the heels of an Oregon State University draft report
on last summer's water wars noting that "racism that mostly lies below the
surface of social life in the basin emerged as some framed the issue as
`Indians vs. farmers."'
Many focused on the sucker fish even though it was water dedicated to
threatened salmon in the Klamath River that tipped the balance away from
farmers for the first time since the Klamath Reclamation Project opened
in 1907.
"Blaming us for the water shortage is unfair, and attacking our
community is vicious and unexcusable," Foreman said.
Copyright c. 2002 The Spokesman-Review.
--------- "RE: Leonard Peltier Update and Action Alert" ---------
Date: Saturday, July 20, 2002 2:21 PM
From: "LPDC" <lpdc@freepeltier.org>
Subj: LPDC Update/Action Alert - July 20, 2002
To: <gars@speakeasy.org>
LPDC Update/Action Alert - July 20, 2002
Dear Supporters of Leonard Peltier,
This update has several sections, and we at the Leonard Peltier Defense
Committee (LPDC) hope you can read them all. Two are updates, followed by
three items that require action. Consider them, and budget your time in
an effort to give these urgent situations your attention:
1. Leonard denied parole on July 9, 2002
2. Peltier Forum in Lawrence, KS to be webcast Sat., July 20, 2002
3. Urgent Action: Leonard's Health neglected by prison bureaucrats
4. Solidarity Needed: The Carson City Ten
5. FBI/CIA attacks Peltier attorney Jennifer Harbury
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + -
1. Leonard denied parole on July 9, 2002
Leonard had for his interim parole hearing on the morning of Tuesday,
July 9th, 2002. In attendance were his attorneys, Carl Nadler and former
US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, his daughter Marquetta Shields, former
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) teacher Paul Berg, and a paralegal.
The examiner began by informing those gathered that a group opposing
parole for Leonard had been given an earlier hearing that day. Ramsey
Clark challenged the propriety of that, and was quickly instructed by the
civil servant that he, Ramsey Clark, was only being allowed in the
hearing as a representative of Mr. Peltier, not as his attorney. The
group was informed that they would have been welcome to sit in on that
phase of the hearing. That would have been difficult, though, as the
government never told Leonard's legal team that the earlier hearing was
scheduled, and, in fact, told the team not to arrive before 9:30 AM
(presumably after the opponents had left).
The Parole Commission examiner then began to interrogate Leonard
regarding the specific events of the day of the shootout, June 26, 1975,
in essence attempting to get Leonard to confess. Leonard maintained his
position throughout, that he was on the Pine Ridge Reservation with AIM to
support the traditionalists and defend the elders, women and children, and
that he was innocent.
Attorney Carl Nadler spoke, reiterating the long history of Leonard's
model conduct, his human rights record, the fact that the Parole
Commission was in violation of its own guidelines, especially relating the
its failure to recognize the prosecution's admission that it does not know
who shot the agents. He pointed out the close to 10,000 letters in
support of parole collected from around the world, which were carried into
the hearing room, in addition to being sent earlier to the Parole
Commission in Maryland.
Leonard's daughter, Marquetta, spoke eloquently of the loss her family
has felt living without a father, and how her prayers have daily gone out
to the families of Agents Coler and Williams. She described the history
of violence on Pine Ridge, and how her father was there to defend the
people of the Oglala Nation.
Paul Berg, the former BIA teacher, described his personal experiences
witnessing out-of-control FBI agents on Pine Ridge, around the Wounded
Knee occupation and afterwards, and especially relating to the murders of
traditionalists Sandra Wounded Foot, his student, and Hobart Horse, his
friend. Both were violently murdered, and the perpetrators were given
light sentences of several years, demonstrating the double standard of
justice that exists with respect to indigenous people.
Ramsey Clark spoke further of Leonard's character and the lack of
justice in his case, as well as the necessity to seek healing and
reconciliation with indigenous people, given the US government's role in
ongoing genocide. He told the examiner that Leonard was the single-most
well-known indigenous person globally, and that his release would do much
to restore faith in US justice and the US government.
The examiner was also provided a medical update provided by Doctor
Monica Peek, who volunteers with the human rights group Physicians for
Human Rights (http://www.phrusa.org) The report reiterated the findings
in 2000, that Leonard's health continues to decline, and that he receives,
overall, suboptimal care for chronic hypertension, hyperlipidemia,
complications due to stroke and diabetes, and the painful bone spur in his
foot and consequent inability to exercise.
While the examiner mulled over the statements, Leonard enjoyed a few
moments of laughter with Ramsey Clark, discussed his case with Carl Nadler,
and spoke at length with Paul Berg about their shared time on the Pine
Ridge Reservation. Paul and Leonard had never met in person before the
hearing.
The examiner summoned Leonard and his attorneys back to the room, where
he announced that he would recommend no change in Leonard's status,
indicating that an interim hearing would be scheduled for 2004 with the
full hearing set for 2008. Leonard will appeal the examiner's decision.
Leonard has had a habeas corpus suit filed with the District Court in
Kansas since 1999, specifically challenging the US Parole Commission's
failure to follow its own guidelines. Leonard's attorney's will pursue a
hearing on this case very soon, as the Court appears reluctant to try it.
2. Peltier Forum in Lawrence, KS to be webcast Sat., July 20, 2002 The
latest on the 30,000 pages of FBI documents just obtained Listen Live Sat
July 20, 7:30 PM Central Time, at http://www.wbix.org
While the parole hearing was disappointing but no surprise, such efforts
are necessary to fully expose the inherent bias and corruption of the
system. With the bad news, though, comes the good news that the FBI was
forced to release close to 30,000 pages of documents relating to Leonard's
case, called by the FBI "RESMURS," for Reservation Murders. The documents
were released to Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), who said he was "only
doing his job" by responding to constituent requests for the release of
the documents. This is an excellent example of how sustained grassroots
organizing, letter writing and lobbying can ultimately gain significant
advances.
While the efforts to get the withheld documents has been an ongoing
campaign of the LPDC, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the FBI
released these, technically, under an Executive Order issued by Pres.
Clinton. However, the LPDC has a growing FOIA legal team, many members of
which are convening on Lawrence, Kansas to assess the level of disclosure
the FBI has made, to look for prospects for new openings in the case, and
to strategize on how best to analyze these. As well, plans to go after
the additional documents, which the FBI's lead FOIA agent says may number
close to 100,000 pages, and to sue the FBI to force removal of much of the
redactions, or "blacking out" of the documents, will be discussed.
The group will speak at a public forum in Lawrence, Kansas, Saturday
night, 7:30 PM Central Time, at 925 Vermont Ave, at the Plymouth
Congregational Church. Thanks to dedicated community radio activists, the
event will be audio webcast live at the internet radio site WBIX.org,
short for WBAI Radio in Exile, http://www.wbix.org WBIX.org formed in
2001 when NYC's Pacifica station WBAI 99.5 FM was taken over by hostile
management. This internet radio station is hosted by long-time Peltier
supporters, and gives a great opportunity for people globally to tune in
and enjoy the program.
One aspect of the FOIA strategy will be to digitize the FBI documents
and create a searchable database of all the documents that define the
record of Leonard's case, from court transcripts, affidavits and filings
to FBI teletypes and memoranda. This will be achieved with, first, the
acquisition of a very high-quality scanner, and then with open source
software being developed principally by a consortium of libraries globally
to make digital archives available over the web. Look for sample
documents on our website in the near future.
The LPDC needs immediate donations in order to move this document
archiving process forward. Please see below for details, or got to
http://www.freepeltier.org. Please call or email if you have access to
such a scanner that can be loaned, or if you have expertise in document
digitization.
3. Urgent Action: Leonard's Health neglected by prison bureaucrats
Three weeks ago the LPDC issued an alert about a painful bone spur in
Leonard's foot that is causing him extreme pain, especially as he is
forced to work in the Federal Bureau of Prison's UNICOR factory system.
We thank the many people who wrote, called, and emailed the Director of
the Bureau of Prisons, and who forwarded much valued medical advice and
personal experience with bone spurs.
In response to the public demand for attention to Leonard's condition,
the Bureau of Prisons provided a new pair of what they describe as
orthopedic shoes. While this has lessened the chronic pain that Leonard
suffers, it is insufficient care, and we ask that you take the following
action to continue pressing BOP Director Kathleen Hawk Sawyer for remedy.
While she is reportedly out of the DC Headquarters of the BOP until July
24th, please direct your calls, emails and faxes to:
Capt. Newton E. Kendig II, Medical Director
Health Services Division
Bureau of Prisons
Phone: 202-307-3055
Fax: 202-307-0826
Email: nkendig@bop.gov
Demand immediately at least the level of care recommended by their own
clinician in Leavenworth to the painful bone spur that is currently
causing suffering to Leonard Peltier, USPL #89637-132.
Send a copy of your letter to:
Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
complaint@jcaho.org
Fax: (630) 792-5636
4. Solidarity Needed: The Carson City Ten
10 Young Native American Indians Are Facing Two Consecutive Life
Sentences In A Racist Frame-Up In Carson City, Nevada. Trial Set for July
22, 2002
During the evening of August 22, 1998, Jessica Evans, a young Native
American woman was assaulted by a member of a Carson City gang while
attending a party at a local motel. Jessica notified the Sheriff's
Deputies, but they refused to take action despite visible injuries to her
face as well as blood stains on her sweatshirt.
This inaction by the police reflects a long history of negligence in
conflicts involving the Latino and Native American communities, which
often leads to an escalation of hostilities between them. As a result,
Jessica returned home where several of her family members and friends
decided to confront her attacker at the motel. Local police arrived
shortly thereafter. According to police reports the defendants had
already left and the gang members were still alive. The reporting
officers stated that they had to restrain Sammy Resendez, gang member, who
later died from head injuries so severe that he would have been in no
condition to struggle against the officers. Jessica Evans, her family
members and friends who returned to the motel are now being charged with
the murder of Resendez.
There is no physical evidence linking any of the defendants to the crime.
At the time of the incident, the Carson 10 ranged in age from 14-20,
along with one 24 year-old. Six were under 18. In an effort to break
solidarity among the defendants, the State of Nevada has split the m into
four groups. Just yesterday, defendant Rocky Boice, Jr. was severed from
his group of codefendants, and will now face the prosecution alone, with
the State hoping to pit different defendants against one another. Rocky
and his family had previously filed complaints against the Sheriff's
department, which were ignored, and Rocky was continually harassed by
Police.
The Carson 10 American Indian Defense Committee has formed, and has
asked the for the following support;
- consider coming to Carson City, Nevada (30 miles south of Reno) to
attend all or some of the trial. The trial begins Monday, July 22, and is
expected to last three weeks. Local people have opened up a local
gymnasium with ample padded floor space for sleeping, and arrangements are
being made for solidarity meals and activities throughout the trial.
- Make a contribution, payable to: Carson 10
Mail to
387 Colorado Street
Carson City, NV 89701
- Contact the local government officials and voice your concerns
regarding this case.
Noel S. Waters
District Attorney
885 East Musser Street, Room 2030
Carson City, NV 89701
(775) 887-2072
Email: Nwaters@ci.carson-city.nv.us
Rod Banister, Sheriff
901 E. Musser Street
Carson City, NV 89701
(775) 887-2020 ext. 1900
Board of Supervisors
2-1 North Carson Street, Suite 2
Carson City, NV 89701
(775) 887-2100
Email: mayor@ci.carson-city.nv.us
Contact the Committee at c10aid@aol.com, 775-883-6505 in NV or
cheruss@hotmail.com 415-648-5936 in California.
6. 5. FBI/CIA attacks Peltier attorney Jennifer Harbury
We were very alarmed to receive this report from one of Leonard's
attorneys. Jennifer Harbury. Jennifer is a renowned human rights attorney
whose efforts exposed the role of the CIA in the torture and murder of her
husband in 1992, at the hands of the Guatemalan military. She has
tirelessly devoted herself to human rights work, and was a key legal
strategist, organizer and spokesperson in Leonard's drive for executive
clemency during Pres. Clinton's administration. Her call to action is at
the bottom. She will appear at the July 20th forum (see above).
July 10, 2002
Dear Friends,
I am writing today because I would like all of you to be informed about
some very disturbing information I received last week . September 11 was
certainly one of the most horrifying tragedies we have ever witnessed on
our own soil, but I fear it is being badly exploited by certain government
officials in order to justify both human rights violations abroad,
including torture, as well as extreme repression against our own citizens.
Our civil rights are eroding with a speed which I find frightening.
Given the situation, I have not been a bit surprised to find myself a
target. Not long after Sept. 11, various government officials, including
many of the CIA people exposed in Everardo's case, began to publicly
insist that it was all my fault. When asked again and again if the tragedy
did not represent the biggest failure of our intelligence system in U.S.
history, they replied that I was to blame, that CIA operatives in the
field had been afraid to aggressively seek out information from unsavory
characters. In fact, the 1995 reforms simply required an operative to
inform his superiors before hiring a known human rights abuser, and the
CIA itself admits that permission has never been denied. Nevertheless the
accusations were made again and again, especially on a lengthy BBC program.
I took all this with a grain of salt and figured things would come out in
the wash. They did indeed....I know that all of you have seen the lengthy
disclosures about exactly how much the CI A and FBI did in fact know, but
somehow never acted upon. Similarly, I have not been particularly upset by
harassing phone calls or right wing articles which have appeared in remote
publications.
I was however, very taken aback by the most recent news I received,
specifically, that an FBI official told an Amnesty International staffer
that they consider me a top suspect in the death threats and assaults
against Barbara Bocek. Barbara is the Amnesty worker who has received
death threats for a year now and who has been assaulted twice, once in
Guatemala and once in Washington state. All threats have made it very
clear that she is being targeted for her work for Guatemalan human rights.
The FBI has made it very clear that they do not believe her at all. As in
the case of Sister Diana Ortiz, there seems to be a government effort to
suggest that Barbara somehow, inexplicably, assaulted and threatened
herself, not once but twice. I am sure most of you saw the recent New York
Times article. Now, apparently, the story has shifted a bit to suggest
that I have carried out the threats, to somehow make my own case stronger.
In fact, as a matter of law, the assaults on her, so me ten years after
Everardo's abduction, has a legal relevance of zero for my own case. I
have, however, been outspoken in my support for her, which is evidently
more than enough. I get the message : Shut up about the Guatemalan
terrorists here in the US who happen to CIA links, or else suffer the
consequences.
Barbara first began receiving threats a year ago when she wrote an op ed
piece about the Bishop Gerardi murder trial. When she went to Guatemala
with a delegation in June 2001 she was assaulted outside her hotel room
and left bound and gagged at the bottom of a stairwell. Her abductors were
telling her she would be tortured and killed for her human rights work.
Clearly, a warning was being sent to the international human rights
community. Foreigners should not feel safe, even members of the highest
level ngo's could and would be attacked and perhaps killed whenever the
killers so desired. The Guatemalan response was predictable. It didn't
happen, or else she did it to herself for whatever reason. The U.S.
government response was a throwback to the not so good old days. No real
action was taken and slowly but surely we began to hear insinuations that
perhaps Barbara indeed was either fabricating the threats or staged the
abduction.
While this was going on, my own witness was having grave problems as well.
He is living here in the US with his family, and began to receive very
frightening death threats against himself and his children. His friends
and family back in Guatemala too were having the same problems. Upon the
request of an Amnesty staffer , we did go to the FBI offices to give them
the details. The response was shocking. The officer read through a few
lines of the police report and asked if the assertions were true. He then
stated that no threats had been made, only obscenities. When we pointed
out the portion of the report specifically describing the threats, he
refused to accept them, stating that the witness should have mentioned
them earlier in the interview. The witness, however, was never asked.
Later, an FBI agent approached the witness at home, stating that he had
spoken with local Guatemalans, and none had noticed any military types or
death squad members around town. This was rather r laughable, and the
witness asked that he not be contacted again.
I was particularly incensed by this because it was more of the same from
the mid-1990s. In the spring of 1995 just after the disclosures by Sen.
Torricelli, the FBI arrived late at night on my doorstep in Texas to let
me know that the Guatemalans were hiring a hit man to kill me. The iron
security door of the Guatemala Human Rights Commission was torn off its
hinges and left in the street. Only the answering machine was taken. A few
months later, in January 1996 my lawyer, Jose Pertierra, had his car
firebombed at his Washington D.C. home, and the religious community where
I was living in D.C. was shot at by someone in a pickup truck with dark
glass windows. The FBI agent in charge opened the case under potential
international terrorism. We also received a tip from a high level insider,
indicating a Guatemalan military person who fought in Vietnam, owned a car
repair shop, a luxurious home, and had unexplained income. The FBI agent
was very interested but was swiftly transferred off the case. None of us
ever received any further communications from the FBI, although some truly
foolish statements have come back to me through the grapevine.
When I heard about the incipient smear campaign about Barbara, I
immediately sent in all of this information as to the same or similar
events to corroborate her story. The Guatemalan army clearly has a modus
operandi of sending or hiring people here to terrorize human rights
activists and witnesses living in this country. And our own government has
a practice of looking the other way when the perpetrators happen to be
working with the CIA.
Things went from bad to worse. Barbara was attacked again, this time in
the United States near her place of work. She was returning home one night
and heard a grating sound beneath her car. When she got out to investigate,
a car with its headlights off pulled up behind her and she was seized and
tied up and told not to return to Guatemala for the investigation as
planned, or she would be killed. The men spoke in Spanish. Her eyes were
taped, she was gagged, and she was locked into her car where police found
her later, semi-conscious. According to the New York Times article which
followed, the police found her story questionable. Yet most of their
questions could have been easily answered had they spoken with Barbara.
But they failed to do so.
Barbara was also sent to the FBI to give her story. As soon as she arrived
it became clear that she was a suspect and not the victim. Her sister had
accompanied her but was not allowed to attend the "interview". Instead,
Barbara was given a hostile interrogation of many hours, and then told
that she was probably fabricating the whole story. What on earth her
motive would be has never been elucidated.
Barbara is a quiet and mature woman who has a PhD from Stanford which she
is too shy to mention, and who worked for several years in Guatemala. She
then chose to return to the U.S. and do public service work for Native
Americans in a remote northwestern reservation. This is clearly not a
woman seeking attention for herself. This is a modest and courageous woman
who has long dedicated herself to working for the human rights of others
with little or no recognition for herself.
Now I learn that because I have outspokenly defended her and offered up
evidence of the same and similar events when her credibility was
questioned, that I too have become a "suspect". Evidently these statements
were made some time ago. It is clear to me that I have not only received
an insult, but also a direct threat. Silence about these matters, or else.
Since I am not too good at silence, I am considering my legal alternatives
at this time. But most importantly, I wanted to keep all of us in the
network fully informed. I have no doubt that more is coming.
Should you wish to call anyone in Congress in this regard, I would
recommend three Members on the Judiciary Committees who have been truly
heroic on the issues of human rights : Rep. Conyers, Rep. Frank, and
Senator Leahey. If you call them, please remember that they are our
friends, and simply call their attention to yet one more example of abuse
of power by government officials. They have long been very interested and
supportive. The Congressional Switchboard telephone number is 202-224-3121.
Abrazos, Jennifer
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
To make a donation of any size to the scanner project, please write your
check to LPDC and send it to the below address. Donations of $250 or more
are tax-deductible, and should be made payable to Global Exchange, with
LPDC in the memo, and mailed to the below address. Thank you for your
continuing support.
Until Freedom Is Won!
The New Leonard Peltier Justice Campaign
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
PO Box 583
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-5774
http://www.freepeltier.org
To subscribe, send a blank message to lpdc-on@mail-list.com
--------- "RE: Native Prisoner" ---------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 08:19:12 -0600
From: Janet Smith <owlstar@speakeasy.org>
Subj: Native Prisoner
=====
Date: Saturday, July 20, 2002 2:34 PM
From: Brigitte Thimiakis
Subj: new web address/Standing Deer Letter
------- FORWARD, Original message follows -------
From: Barbara Fortier <Bdyingswan@aol.com>
Coordinator, IRONHOUSE/Support
ironhousesupport.net
POB 262, Villa Rica, GA 30180-0262
New IRONHOUSE/Support website address
[w/ link to the Standing Deer Defense Committee archive website]
ironhousesupport.net
Letter from Standing Deer
My name is Standing Deer. I am an elder of the Oneida and Choctaw Nations
who was in prison for 25 years. I was released on parole in September of
last year [2001]. I want to say some words about Barbara Fortier of
IRONHOUSE/Support who ran the Standing Deer Freedom Campaign 2000.
The campaign that Barbara did resulted in many letters of support being
written to the prison officials. She set up Standing Deer Defense
Committee on the web and helped keep me alive when I was very sick due to
the medical neglect of the prison doctors. She wrote countless letters and
made phone calls, plus she featured the criminal neglect of the prison
doctors on our web page for all the world to see. Shining the spotlight on
a prison's illegal behavior is the best way to make them stop killing or
mistreating a prisoner. Prison people are like roaches who do their dirty
work under cover of darkness but run for cover in the light of day.
I did not make parole in 2000, but I made it in 2001. When I went before
the parole interviewer he had four 6" files that contained mostly letters
from supporters who were urging the parole board to grant me a parole.
I am deeply grateful to Barbara for all she has done for me. She
continues to help my grandson, Hawk, who is a good person who deserves to
be free. She does all she can for the Indian prisoner. I pray that those
of you who can write letters and or make a gift to IRONHOUSE/Support will
do so. Thank you for listening.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Standing Deer
977 Bunkerhill Rd. #113
Houston, TX 77024
===================================
Date: Sunday, July 21, 2002 5:56 PM
From: Brigitte Thimiakis
Subj: Latest on Alex Montana
>From Valerie Scott - NAPS - narights@yahoo.com
=====
Alex Montana (Eastham Unit) threatened by Officials
On 8 July 2002, Mr. Montana was escorted to the Office of Captain Ross,
who claimed to be investigating at Warden Stacks direction, an IOC dated
20 June from the Office of the Inspector General - Investigations Division,
pertaining to Mr. Montana having provided their office with information by
letter regarding CO Holloway (Hewett). (This was the IOC mentioned in our
last update and the information referred to was requested by L. Truhlar,
for the alleged review the Investigations Division was going to conduct
into this case.)
Mr. Montana's escort was CO Stephens, the brother of CS Stephens (who
falsified Mr. Montana's disciplinary records and collaborated with other
officers to produce fraudulent evidence). (A coincidence? No other
guards to escort Mr. Montana?)
Prior to entering Captain Ross's office, CO Stephens stopped to talk to
his brother, and remained in the office during Mr. Montana's meeting (so
you can be sure the details of that meeting remained confidential).
During the meeting, Captain Ross advised Mr. Montana that he should just
do the "little bit of time" he has left on the south end, since when he
goes to "re-class" (re-classification), he'll get his "stuff" back, be on
the north end and "things will be over with". In other words, Ross
indirectly acknowledges their wrong-doing, but wants Mr. Montana to keep
quiet and play along with their little game, then all will be well again.
When Mr. Montana failed to respond to the above tactic, Captain Ross
then advised him to leave the matter concerning CO Holloway (Hewett) alone.
(Or else???) He also threatened to bring charges against Mr. Montana for
"life endangerment" of the above officer, though he failed to explain how
documentation provided to the Investigations Division would do this. (Mind
you, another trumped-up charge would fit right in with this case.) Finally,
Captain Ross claimed that Mr. Montana was merely retaliating against CO
Holloway for her having "sent him south" (an interesting theory
considering it was she who retaliated against Mr. Montana for his refusal
to do illegal alterations to her uniform).
For officials who claim to have done nothing wrong, they are certainly
going to extremes, at all levels, to ensure that Mr. Montana's case is not
investigated.
Mr. Montana has sent a statement concerning the threats to Warden
Stacks, as part of an informal resolution attempt, but has made it very
clear that he does not intend to be threatened by officials, nor does he
intend to leave matters alone pertaining to his case.
NAPS still intends to send the petition concerning Mr. Montana to the
Investigations Division, since they referred this case back to Warden
Stacks and essentially gave him the "green light" to do as he pleases.
And his response was to issue threats. Therefore, we would encourage you
(and others) to sign the following petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/ajm40/petition.html
Since this matter can still be resolved with intervention, we would ask
that you continue to send letters to the following politicians, urging
them to press for an independent, impartial investigation, especially in
view of the fact that threats have now been issued.
On behalf of Mr. Montana, we wish to thank you for your continued
support.
Valerie Scott, NAPS
Officials to Contact:
The Honorable John Whitmire
State Senator
P.O. Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711
Fax: 512-475-3737
E-mail: john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us
The Honorable Rodney G. Ellis
State Senator
P.O. Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711
Fax: 512-463-0006
E-mail: rodney.ellis@senate.state.tx.us
Mario Obledo, Staff Assistant
Office of Senator Leticia Van de Putte
3718 Blanco Road, Ste. 2
San Antonio, TX 78212
E-mail: MARIO.OBLEDO@senate.state.tx.us
=====
NAPS (Native American Prisoner Support)
http://www.hri.ca/partners/naps/
--------- "Re: Rustywire: Corn" ---------
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 11:17:21 -0000
From: "Rustywire" <rustywire@hotmail.com>
Subj: Corn
Mailing List: indigenous_peoples_literature@yahoogroups.com
Sundance time is a couple of weeks away, the grass is dry and the air
is hot. The streams are really low this year and it will be a tough
Sundance this year.
He asked me are you going up there. We stood under the shade arbor at
the Pow Wow grounds, it was late afternoon and the ground was hot. We
stood looking at the dancers and wondered how they could go out there
in buckskins and dance under the hot sun. It was 102 in the shade.
I told him, we will probably go up there. Some women go each morning
and gather around the Sundance arbor and wait for the dancers to come
out and watch them as they bless themselves with the rising sun,
standing in the early twilight of dark blue skies, turning pink and
gold then light blue as the sun rises to the East. You can hear the
sound of eagle bone whistles as they greet the morning sun.
Corn was one of them, he stood next to me, his arthritis has bent him
and made it hard for him to stand. He was soft spoken and spoke of
time he played in the fields at the Sundance ground where he camped
with a family that took him in, and how he went each year and watched
these dancers come out of the circle and greet the sun with parched
lips. He then prepared himself to dance by running each morning
building his stamina, and trying to ready himself by living a life so
that he could stand in the circle and dance with these men. He went
in with three brothers, who danced next to him for three days,
suffering without water and seeking the shelter of the shade at noon
day. Each wearing trail in the dirt where they danced back and forth.
He leaned on his cane and and spoke about his children now grown and
standing not too far off. His name in the traditional way of speaking
is Coom-wee, it means Corn and that is how he is called. He stands
with some difficulty in the sunlight, his hands gnarled with the pain
of arthritis that swelled his knees. Most times he in a wheel chair
but you can't get around the dirt at the pow wow grounds with a wheel
chair, so he chose to make his way around slowly.
His wife is a quiet woman and his son works for the tribes fish and
game, and his daughter works for the deli dept at the tribal store.
He stood for awhile and talked about the small things and the
Sundance that is coming up.
It is dry this year, and the thought of the taste and smell of rain
filled out senses. You know he said, we don't think about it but we
haven't had the sweet smell of rain, you know how it is when it is
just beginning to rain. The air cools, and the clouds hide the sun, a
slight breeze, a cool breeze comes up and you can feel the soft wind
come over you and the smell of rain gently falling is not too far
off. It is a good day when it rains like that he said. Standing there
in the hot sun, I could see it and with that he shook my hand and
went off to visit others as he walked away. He is Sundancer who is
waiting to stand with those who will seek a vision and left with the
soft taste of rain, for just a minute. They call him Corn and will
greet the early morning sun singing the songs of his People in a few
days as a singer in the arbor being prepared for them. Coom-wee he is
called. Corn
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indigenous_peoples_literature/messages
for: Indigenous Peoples Literature
http://www.indigenouspeople.org/natlit/
--------- "RE: Poem: Sweet Water" ---------
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 13:42:08 GMT
From: rustywire <rustywire@yahoomail.com>
Subj: sweet water
Newsgroup: alt.native
thirst
cracked earth
land dry
no wind blows
sun rays beat down
still air covers me
taste of dust
sweat and long days
sky shocking blue
has no end
clouds of dust
at my feet
legs ache
from the walk
arms like lead
flat lands
ahead
morning comes
thirst
thirst
thirst
want the taste
of cool
sweet water
quench parched lips
coolness on my brow
rain
rain
from an empty sky
to fall on my head
to run over me
a drop
two
more
sweet water
the taste of it
i want to feel
no rest
no quench of thirst
body aches
no peace
no quiet soul
desolate
of soft rain
soft winds find me
wandering feet
carry me
to distant mesas
what is there
beyond that place
who waits for me there
in the valleys
on the plains
and through mountains
moving on
walking
running
standing
wondering
how far is this place
tell me where it is
growing tired
strife
some say
follow me
follow me
they say
tell me
straight
heart
plainly
I go
so tired
so tired
come they say
come with us
we are like you
we talk
the talk
we dance
we know you
we restore you
we save you
we are you
you are nothing
without us
hollow songs
yellow eyes
broken words
crooked talk
hidden hearts
strangers
in fine feathers
chanting noise
no rainbows
heat waves
empty nights
faint stars
emptiness
thirst
hunger
come
they
say
go on
go on
pass them by
thirst
thirst
dry lips
whisper
sweet water
sweet water
where is
sweet water
--
rustywire
www.geocities.com/rustywire
--------- "RE: Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days" ---------
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 06:24:37 -1000
From: Debbie Sanders <kepola@hgea.org>
Subj: Hawaiian Book of Days
A HAWAI`I BOOK OF DAYS, week of July 29-August 4
IULAI
(July)
(Hinaiaeleele)
29
My heart's wings give flight to my dreams.
30
The joy of the spirit is everlasting.
31
The clouds lie upon the mountaintops like sleepy children.
AUKAKE
(August)
(Mahoe-mua)
August was the season when the ohia fruit ripened abundantly.
1
All are strangers when they come here, until the spirit of this land claims
their hearts.
2
Life is the only true magic.
3
The summer sunlight is rich honey poured upon the flowers.
4
To hear the bright laughter of even one child's joy is to hear the world.
(c) Copyright 1991 by D. F. Sanders
Me ke aloha i ka nani, ... Moe'uhanekeanuenue
(With love and beauty, ... Rainbow Dream)
--------- "RE: Upcoming Events" ---------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 15:39:14 -0
From: Gary Smith (gars@speakeasy.org)
Subj: Upcoming Events
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
EVENTS ARE FEATURED IN ODD NUMBERED ISSUES ONLY
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-
Notice of Copyright Clearance by Contributors:
The following have granted permission for their original articles to
be reposted in order to help mend the Sacred Hoop:
Tim Truman, Gary Smith, Jim Anderson, Theda Kresge, Martha E. Ture,
Victor Rocha, Janet Smith, Brigitte Thimiakis, Valerie Scott,
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, John Rustywire, Debbie Sanders
--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-