By Brenda Norrell
Human right editor
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
BAKER, Nevada – The apology to American Indians which passed the U.S. Senate is a diversion, said Jimbo Simmons, coordinator of the Longest Walk 2 Northern Route, which crosses the Nevada border into Utah today.
"It is meant to diffuse our efforts," Simmons said.
Simmons said if the United States is sincere about issuing an apology to American Indians, it should begin with the descendants of the original treaty signers and include the peoples of the world whose relatives have been murdered and massacred by the United States.
Simmons said this is a critical time and not just for humanity. “They should also have an apology for the earth itself. This is connected to all us.”
“The apology should be to all the people of the world. Millions have died around the world,” he said, pointing out the U.S. legacy of murder and massacre.
The Senate passed the Indian Health Care Improvement Act that included an apology to American Indians for the violation of Indian treaties, massacres and other atrocities.
Simmons said the apology as it now stands is directed at the IRA Indian tribal governments or “puppet governments,” organized under the Indian Reorganization Act, which have caused so much suffering for Indian people.
Simmons said the apology should go to the original treaty signers. His comments were made on the Longest Walk Northern Route’s live broadcast on http://www.earthcycles.net/ on Monday morning, March 3.
Simmons pointed out that when the original Longest Walk was making its way across the United States in 1978, a similar diversion was created to diffuse the impact of the walk at that time. Indian representatives came out and told the Long Walkers that their walk was not necessary because the anti-Indian legislation underway would be defeated without their march into Washington.
Now, 30 years later, another effort is underway to diffuse the impact of this Longest Walk.
“The United ‘Snakes’ of America thinks this would be enough for us,” Simmons said. “There are still problems across Indian country. We’re talking much more than just treaty rights.
“It goes beyond human rights and civil rights, we are talking about our natural rights since the beginning of time.
“Our traditional and spiritual leaders have been silenced for so long. The apology should be directed to them.”
Simmons said the IRA Indian tribal governments created by the United States are “puppet governments” which are “victimizing our people.”
“They continue to perpetuate the bureaucracy in Indian country.”
The U.S. apology to American Indians was inserted in the health care bill by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas. Kansas is on the route of the Longest Walk Northern Route, as American Indians walk from Utah through Colorado to Kansas and Pennsylvania before reaching D.C.
The U.S. apology approved by the US Senate includes the violation of treaties with Indian tribes; forced removal of Indians from their traditional homelands; armed confrontations and massacres, such as those at Sand Creek and Wounded Knee; condemnation of Indian traditions, beliefs and customs; and unlawful acquisition of tribal land and theft of tribal resources and assets.
Urging the masses to march into Washington with the Longest Walk, Simmons said, “This is the time for us to be in Washington DC.”
Simmons said the original Longest Walk in 1978 started with about 17 people from Alcatraz and by the time the walk reached Washington, the walk was 40,000 people strong.
“All of those people who are sincere in their apology, let us see them in Washington. Passing a bill won’t make it all alright,” he said.
Simmons said when the southern and northern routes of the Longest Walk 2 arrive in Washington on July 11, there will be a cultural survival gathering there. He pointed out that there are 400 million Indigenous peoples who maintain their traditional cultures around the world.
“Indigenous Peoples will teach the world how to be human again.”
In 1978, when the Longest Walk reached Washington, 50 spiritual leaders were selected to meet with President Carter. However, President Carter refused to meet with the Longest Walk spiritual leaders. Now, Simmons said if today’s U.S. leaders refuse to meet with the Longest Walkers, there will be others waiting there to greet them.
World leaders are ready to meet and listen to American Indians on the Longest Walk 2.
“Much progress has been made with countries around the world. The world will be meeting us,” Simmons said. The Longest Walk 2 will also send a declaration to the United Nations.
Human right editor
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
BAKER, Nevada – The apology to American Indians which passed the U.S. Senate is a diversion, said Jimbo Simmons, coordinator of the Longest Walk 2 Northern Route, which crosses the Nevada border into Utah today.
"It is meant to diffuse our efforts," Simmons said.
Simmons said if the United States is sincere about issuing an apology to American Indians, it should begin with the descendants of the original treaty signers and include the peoples of the world whose relatives have been murdered and massacred by the United States.
Simmons said this is a critical time and not just for humanity. “They should also have an apology for the earth itself. This is connected to all us.”
“The apology should be to all the people of the world. Millions have died around the world,” he said, pointing out the U.S. legacy of murder and massacre.
The Senate passed the Indian Health Care Improvement Act that included an apology to American Indians for the violation of Indian treaties, massacres and other atrocities.
Simmons said the apology as it now stands is directed at the IRA Indian tribal governments or “puppet governments,” organized under the Indian Reorganization Act, which have caused so much suffering for Indian people.
Simmons said the apology should go to the original treaty signers. His comments were made on the Longest Walk Northern Route’s live broadcast on http://www.earthcycles.net/ on Monday morning, March 3.
Simmons pointed out that when the original Longest Walk was making its way across the United States in 1978, a similar diversion was created to diffuse the impact of the walk at that time. Indian representatives came out and told the Long Walkers that their walk was not necessary because the anti-Indian legislation underway would be defeated without their march into Washington.
Now, 30 years later, another effort is underway to diffuse the impact of this Longest Walk.
“The United ‘Snakes’ of America thinks this would be enough for us,” Simmons said. “There are still problems across Indian country. We’re talking much more than just treaty rights.
“It goes beyond human rights and civil rights, we are talking about our natural rights since the beginning of time.
“Our traditional and spiritual leaders have been silenced for so long. The apology should be directed to them.”
Simmons said the IRA Indian tribal governments created by the United States are “puppet governments” which are “victimizing our people.”
“They continue to perpetuate the bureaucracy in Indian country.”
The U.S. apology to American Indians was inserted in the health care bill by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas. Kansas is on the route of the Longest Walk Northern Route, as American Indians walk from Utah through Colorado to Kansas and Pennsylvania before reaching D.C.
The U.S. apology approved by the US Senate includes the violation of treaties with Indian tribes; forced removal of Indians from their traditional homelands; armed confrontations and massacres, such as those at Sand Creek and Wounded Knee; condemnation of Indian traditions, beliefs and customs; and unlawful acquisition of tribal land and theft of tribal resources and assets.
Urging the masses to march into Washington with the Longest Walk, Simmons said, “This is the time for us to be in Washington DC.”
Simmons said the original Longest Walk in 1978 started with about 17 people from Alcatraz and by the time the walk reached Washington, the walk was 40,000 people strong.
“All of those people who are sincere in their apology, let us see them in Washington. Passing a bill won’t make it all alright,” he said.
Simmons said when the southern and northern routes of the Longest Walk 2 arrive in Washington on July 11, there will be a cultural survival gathering there. He pointed out that there are 400 million Indigenous peoples who maintain their traditional cultures around the world.
“Indigenous Peoples will teach the world how to be human again.”
In 1978, when the Longest Walk reached Washington, 50 spiritual leaders were selected to meet with President Carter. However, President Carter refused to meet with the Longest Walk spiritual leaders. Now, Simmons said if today’s U.S. leaders refuse to meet with the Longest Walkers, there will be others waiting there to greet them.
World leaders are ready to meet and listen to American Indians on the Longest Walk 2.
“Much progress has been made with countries around the world. The world will be meeting us,” Simmons said. The Longest Walk 2 will also send a declaration to the United Nations.
Photo: Jimbo Simmons, on Longest Walk 2 from Lake Tahoe to Cave Rock. Photo Marie Littlemoon.
3 comments:
If we must,then have them come and meet with us like the old days when all the lies were told to the ancestors before us.Invite all men of the goverment and women as well.Together as one voice is how it must be,we must not fight amongst ourselves cause that is what they will want.Get to know your enemy before you fight them,that way you know what you fight and who you fight.All the ancestors of the past have done this to,but with one voice and they showed strength in numbers.Let you children,grandchildren know that we still fight and we are still here!No one,can take our pride for who we are or what we stand for.If all the Native prophecies are right then President Bush would have to initiate the talks,after all he is the one that will be the leader when the Longest Walk gets to D.C.,and he is alaso the one who faces the curse of Tucemsah.
Let all the politicians know that we take the words to heart like our ancestors and we will be expecting them to honor thiers.
Not one treaty or unselfish deed has ever been honored by the United States Government,presidents,congress,senators and the includes the supreme court. The suffering I see on a daily basis on every reservation in Indian Country is in fact due to their continuous ignorance and supremest ideals, "that they are divine".
That they whisper apologies to the Indian people is just another insult to true land owners of North America. No....the only Indian that will stand down to the United States Government is those that work for the BIA as the largest of the monies meant for Indian Country goes to them first.
I believe that apology to the Indigenous Nations of this country is a cove up for the US.
Early January this year. The UN made statements to the press of the inhumane acts the government has committed against the Native Nations of this country.
The UN council for Native American Rights, is presently a long indepth doccument to the United Nations reguarding these issues. Such as uranium digging on Native Lands, and dumping of toxic waste into Native Water supplies. Imprisonment of Natives without trial by jury of their peers. Stealing of Native mineral rights and lands. Grave desecration. Encrouchment on sacred lands. The documents go on.
The US has also been of inhuman acts concerning illegal prison camps an torture on prisoneers, such as Guatama Bay. Inhuman concentration camps in Texas, holding Mexican women and children.
The US is trying to find favor with the UN council. The whole world is looking their way.
I feel these tactics are done, in fear, that the UN will go through with threat of food sanctions to US.
Beleive me...this apology is not heart felt. Even if it was...would anything change. Words are just words.
Ask them about the FEMA trailors their issuing Native Americans...filled with so much formaldyhide, that trailors are combustiable. Why do you think the citizens in Louisianna refused them.
Not to mention formaldyhide, kills brain tissue at fast levels..are these trailors comparable to the small pox blankets?
I thank Censored News for all the good work they do...Peace...Chrissy
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