Native radio journalists call for Bush war crimes tribunal

Native radio journalists urged a war crimes tribunal for Bush and immediate withdrawal from Iraq

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

LOS ANGELES -- On American Indian Airwaves, Native American radio hosts Kehaulani Kauanui, Kanaka Maoli/Native Hawaiian, and James Brown, Elm Pomo Nation, called for a tribunal to hold President Bush responsible for war crimes, during a panel discussion by distinguished Indigenous journalists and scholars.
“I think we need to pursue trying George Bush and company for war crimes related to this illegal and unlawful occupation in Iraq,” Kauanui said.
“We need to have a war crimes tribunal and bring all these people in,” Brown added. Both Kauanui and Brown called on President elect Obama to initiate immediate withdrawal from Iraq upon entering office.
During the panel on KPFK Radio Los Angeles/Santa Barbara today, Suzan Harjo joined James Brown, producer of “Tribal Voices Radio” on KPFZ, and Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Lakota Nation. Ghosthorse serves as host of “First Voices Indigenous Radio,”at WBAI in New York. Kehaulani Kauanui, an associate professor and producer of "Indigenous Politics: From Native New England and Beyond," on WESU, in Middletown, Conn., completed the panel.
Today's show demonstrated Indigenous programming and shared the history, girth and diversity on Pacifica since the 1960s, according to American Indian Airwaves cohosts Marcus Lopez (Chumash Nation) and Larry Smith (Lumbee Nation.)
James Brown, Pomo, spoke about Rattlesnake Island and the incompetence of the BIA. “Our so-called protectors can not be trusted with the land,” Brown said. The BIA sold off Pomo land for mercury mining in the 1940s, leaving the tribe with only 50 acres of land, located 100 miles north of San Francisco.
"We have all our Creation stories here. We were basically fishing villages," he said.
Brown said Pomo is a matriarchal society, which resulted in the strength of the culture which has lasted so long. Earlier, Pomo fought Boise Cascade and prevented Rattlesnake Island from being subdivided for condominiums. Now, a wealthy businessman, John Nady, is attempting to build a mansion on their sacred mound and burial grounds at Rattlesnake Island.
"We may end up occupying this island to help preserve it this coming summer," Brown said.
Harzo praised President elect Obama for promising to protect Native American sacred places. Harzo said Native Americans have no way of protecting their “churches,” or sacred places because of the lack of legislation. Harjo, now president of the Morning Star Institute, said she was a WBAI broadcaster for "Seeing Red" in the 60s and 70s.
“We have hundreds and hundreds of sacred places being desecrated as we speak,” Harjo said.
Native American radio hosts described the desecration of sacred places, including San Francisco Peaks, and how US courts have closed the door to Native Americans protecting their sacred places.
Kauanui pointed out that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is allowing “sewage to be turned into snow so the rich can ski” on San Francisco Peaks. However, countries in South America have made strides in Indigenous rights.
Harjo said the Bush administration has not honored federal laws regarding the protection of endangered species or of Native peoples' human remains. Harjo said this sent a signal that it was "open season" on Native remains.
Brown said Obama's appointment to head the Interior, Ken Salazar, is a disappointment. Describing Salazar as a "cowboy," Brown said a Native American should have been appointed to head the Interior. "Let's light a fire under Obama," Brown said. Brown said he supported the Green Party and Cynthia McKinney, who has a better understanding of Native Americans.
Brown also pointed out that universities, including UC Berkeley, are violating the Native American Graves Protection Repatriation Act.
Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Lakota Nation, said he is watching to see what Obama will do once in office. Ghosthorse said there is a “mystical” feeling that something is going to change, but he wants to wait and see. Ghosthorse said Native Americans must dictate their own sovereignty and not allow the seizure of their lands for energy development.
“We have to see past the system that depleted us of our spiritual values,” Ghosthorse said, adding that countries in South America are now stating the rights of nature within their laws. He said the treaties have not been honored in the United States. Further, the United States and New Zealand still have not signed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Kauanui urged the Obama administration to honor the petition from the Lipan Apache women to halt construction on the US/Mexico border wall and stop the forced removal of Indigenous individuals and communities. Kauanui said Obama should take a stand on the state sponsored terrorism and attacks on Palestine and the issue of colonialism. She said there must be careful watch to make sure the US does not “start aggravating in Iran.”
Kauanui said US universities can lose all federal funding if they do not comply with NAGPRA laws. But the problem is the Bush administration has not gone after the violators.
“Obama needs to turn this around,” she said. She urged Obama to oppose the Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act, also known as the Akaka bill, which does not ensure Native Hawaiian rights.
After the show, she explained that the problem with the bill is that it is being sold as federal recognition and therefore packaged as a solution for Native Hawaiians. But it actually states that any future Native Hawaiian governing entity would be subject to both state civil and criminal law.
"We Native Hawaiians have sovereignty claims that the US government already recognizes and exceed US federal policy regarding tribal nations. This bill is about setting up a 'reorganized' Hawaiian government that would settle un-adjudicated land claims to 1.8 million acres, the same lands recognized in the Apology Resolution," she explained.
Kauanui said Obama must honor the apology resolution of 1993, US Public Law 103-150, which states "the indigenous Hawaiian people never directly relinquished their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people or over their national lands to the United States, either through their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum."
She said the Akaka Bill undermines this resolution.
On the radio show, Ghosthorse said there must be withdrawal from Iraq and soldiers must have a way to come home, without bringing the violence with them.
“Instead of honoring the killing, they have to reinstate their relationship with the Creator," Ghosthorse said.
Harjo said there are cleansing ceremonies for soldiers returning home.
Ghosthorse said Pacifica radio and pirate radio stations have helped counter the mainstream media and more needs to be accomplished to reveal the truth from Israel and Palestine.
Ghosthorse has served as host of "First Voices Indigenous Radio,"at WBAI in New York since 2002, after beginning with KAOS in Olympia, Washington in 1992.
"Other Indigenous radio stations in South America have formed a broadcasting relationship with First Voices Indigenous Radio largely due to their participation at the United Nations' Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues," Ghosthorse said.
Today's show will be available later in archives at: http://www.kpfk.org/

Cynthia McKinney's account of attack on Free Gaza ship

Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was the Green Party candidate for President in 2008. Ms. McKinney traveled aboard the boat “Dignity”, which tried to bring doctors and medical supplies to Gaza, as a humanitarian response to the recent bombing of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli government.The Dignity is a project of www.freegaza.org. Ms. McKinney writes:

December 30, 2008: Oh What a Day!
By Cynthia McKinney
I’m so glad that my father told me to buy a special notebook and to write everything down because that’s exactly what I did.
When we left from Cyprus, one reporter asked me “are you afraid?” And I had to respond that Malcolm X wasn’t afraid; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn’t afraid. But little did I know that just a few hours later, I would be recollecting my life and mentally preparing myself for death.
When we left Cyprus, the Mediterranean was beautiful. I remember the time when it might have been beautiful to look at, but it was also filthy. The Europeans have taken great strides to clean it up and yesterday, it was beautiful. And the way the sunlight hit the sea, I remember thinking to myself that’s why they call it azure. It was the most beautiful blue.
But sometimes it was rough, and we got behind on our schedule. We stayed on course, however, despite the roughness of the water and due to our exquisite captain.
There were no other ships or boats around us and night descended upon us all rather quickly. It was the darkest black and suddenly, out of nowhere, came searchlights disturbing our peace. The searchlights stayed with us for about half an hour or so. We knew they were Israeli ships. Who else would they be?
They were fast, and they would come close and then drop back. And then, they’d come close again. And then, all of a sudden there was complete blackness once again and all seemed right. The cat and mouse game went on for at least one half hour. What were they doing? And why?
Calm again. Black sky, black sea. Peace. And then, at that very moment, when all seemed right, out of nowhere we were rammed and rammed again and rammed again the last one throwing me off the couch, sending all our food up in the air; and all the plastic bags and tubs–evidence of sea sicknesses among the crew and passengers–flew all over the cabin and all over us. We’d been rammed by the Israelis. How did we know? Because they called us on the phone afterwards to tell us that we were engaging in subversive, terroristic activity. And if that if we didn’t turn around right then and return to Larnaca, Cyprus, we would be fired upon. We quickly grabbed our lifevests and put them on. Then the captain announced that the boat was taking on water. We might have to evacuate. One of my mates told me to prepare to die. And I reflected that I have lived a good and full life. I have tasted freedom and know what it is. I was right with myself and my decision to join the Free Gaza movement.I remembered my father’s parting words, “You all will be sitting ducks.” Just like the U.S.S. Liberty. We were engaged in peaceful activity, a harmless pleasure boat, carrying a load of hospital supplies for the people of Gaza, who, too are sitting ducks, currently being bombarded in aerial assault by the Israeli military.
It’s been a long day for us. The captain was outstanding. Throughout it all, he remained stoic and calm, effective in every way. I didn’t know how to put my life jacket on. One of the passengers kindly assisted me. Another of the passengers pointed out that the Israeli motors for those huge, fast boats was U.S. made–a gift to them from the U.S. And now they were using those motors to damage a pleasure boat outfitted with three tons of hospital supplies, one pediatrician, and two surgeons.
I have called for President-elect Obama to say something. The Palestinian people in the Gaza strip are seeing the worst violence in 60 years, it is being reported. To date, President-elect Obama has remained silent. The Israelis are using weapons supplied to them by the U.S. government. Strict enforcement of U.S. law would require the cessation of all weapons transfers to Israel. Adherence to international law would require the same.
As we are about to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, let us remember that he said:
1. The United States is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world, and
2. Our lives begin to end the day we remain silent about things that matter.
I implore the President-elect to not send Congress a budget that contains more weapons for Israel. We have so much more to offer. And I implore the Congress to vote “no” on any budget and appropriation bills that provide more weapons transfers, period.
Israel is able to carry out these intense military maneuvers because taxpayers in the U.S. give their hard-earned money to our Representatives in Congress and our Congress chooses to spend that money in this way. Let’s stop it and stop it now. There’s been too much blood shed. And while we still walk among the living, let us not remain silent about the things that matter.
We really can promote peace and have it if we demand it of our leaders.

Censored Readers: Worst Company in the World is US

The United States was voted the Worst Company in the World, followed by Monsanto, Peabody Energy Corp. and Barrick Gold

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
PHOTOS: Barrick Gold Pascua-Lama mine protest in Chile/ Indymedia
Monsanto protest/Organic Consumers Association
Hopi and Navajo protest of Peabody Coal/Mano Cockrum
Western Shoshone protest of Barrick Gold on Mount Tenabo/Lisa Wolf
Navajos Dooda Desert Rock protest/ Dooda Desert Rock
Photo of Arizona border wall with deer halted/Daniel Patterson
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Censored News readers selected the United States as the “Worst Company in the World,” in a reader poll that ended today. Readers, primarily Indigenous Peoples, voted Monsanto as the second Worst Company in the World. Peabody Energy Corp., recently granted a life-of-mine permit to expand coal mining on Navajo and Hopi lands, was voted the third Worst Company in the World.
Barrick Gold Corp., which began the destruction of the Western Shoshone’s Mount Tenabo region during Thanksgiving, was voted the fourth Worst Company in the World. Blackwater Worldwide, responsible for murders and brutality worldwide, was voted the fifth Worst Company in the World. GEO Group, Inc., formerly Wackenhut, profiteering from the misery of migrants and people of color in prisons, was voted the sixth Worst Company in the World.
Cameco uranium mining and Sithe Global/Navajo Nation, tied for the seventh Worst Company in the World. Israel’s Elbit Systems and Raytheon tied for eighth place. Boeing, constructing the US/Mexico Apartheid Border Wall, followed in ninth place. Newmont Mining was voted the 10th Worst Company in the World by the readers of Censored News blog, which focuses on the censored news of Indigenous Peoples and international human rights.
The United States emerged in truth as one of the worst violators of international human rights during the Bush regime, with torture, kidnappings and secret renditions in violation of the Geneva Conventions. The bogus war in Iraq resulted in the widespread murder and displacement of Iraqi people. Corporations seized the freefall of US democracy, with mercenaries, private prison profiteers and war manufacturers reveling in their profits. During the Bush regime, the United States ceased to be viewed as a democracy by many US citizens, who now view the United States as a company comprised of select individuals seeking corporate gain and control.
It was not just the US corporations that benefited. In the corporate get-rich schemes to construct the US/Mexico border wall, the contractor Boeing subcontracted Israel’s Apartheid border wall builder, Elbit Systems, for the multi-million dollar dysfunctional debacle of the US border spy towers. While xenophobia and racism toward migrants ruled in US television news, Wackenhut, owned by G4S in England and Denmark, seized the opportunity to profiteer from a Homeland Security contract for the transportation of migrants from the US/Mexico border.
Monsanto, in second place, continued to threaten the future of humanity with genetically altered seeds. Depleting the world of a rich diversity of seeds and crops, Monsanto continues to destroy sustainable systems of food production around the world. Monsanto was the primary supplier of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Even Prince Charles exposed Monsanto recently, revealing that thousands of farmers have committed suicide in India because of Monsanto’s promise of riches. Those promises only resulted in failed crops and a flood of debt in India’s “Suicide Belt” after switching to genetically modified seeds.
Navajos and Hopis united and protested a life of the mine permit for Peabody coal mining on Black Mesa. However, the US Office of Surface Mining approved the permit in December, continuing the US genocide on Black Mesa, where more than 14,000 Navajos have already been relocated to make way for coal mining. The so-called Navajo Hopi land dispute was orchestrated by Peabody Coal.
The Navajo Nation Council's 88 members receive their salaries and travel expenses primarily from energy leases, while many Navajos live without running water and electricity.
Klee Benally, Navajo, said the US permit was a blatant act of US genocide.
Calvin Johnson, Navajo, said, “Our local leaders, including the president of the Navajo Nation, continue to pursue this senseless plan to give Peabody a life of mine permit and continue using pristine water for coal operations without the impacted resident’s decision, which continues to be ignored. When will our leaders stand up and fight for us?”
Vernon Masayesva, Hopi, said the US permit, "The decision was announced during the Hopi Soyalung ceremonies throughout our villages. Soyalung is when Hopis plant their prayers for the coming year. It is a time the priests carry out sacred rituals to renew the earth, and pray for peace and harmony throughout the world. It is similar to the Jewish Chunaka observance, of bringing light to darkness.This is the ancient ritual the Office of Surface Mining has rudely interrupted. It is a blatant action sanctioning Peabody to exploit our natural resources for the benefit of its wealthy owners, officers and stockholders."
Barrick Gold, responsible for the deaths of Indigenous Peoples around the world, began its onslaught on the sacred lands of the Western Shoshone at Mount Tenabo during the Thanksgiving holidays. Before leaving office, President Bush Sr. made it possible for Barrick to lease lands for gold mining in Nevada. Once out of office, Bush Sr. went to work for Barrick as a senior consultant.
In Australia, DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and New Guinea, Indigenous Peoples are fighting Barrick’s destruction in solidarity with the Western Shoshone. They are fighting the coring out of mountains for minute particles of gold and the poisoning of water with cyanide leaching.
Carrie Dann and other Western Shoshone grandmothers said the United States is trespassing on Western Shoshone treaty land, destroying mountains, trees, food and medicine, while leaving dirty polluted water ponds for birds and animals.
“Why doesn’t the mining company go dig up the Vatican or the Mormon Tabernacle instead of Western Shoshone lands, I’m sure they will find gold there,” said Mary McCloud, Western Shoshone grandmother, mourning the bulldozing of the pines near the ceremonial grounds on Mount Tenabo in November.
Near the Porgera mine in New Guinea, Jethro Tulin of the Akali Tange Association, told Barrick Gold, “Your security guards have been shooting and killing our people and raping, even gang-raping, our women with impunity for years now."
Another Canadian gold mining corporation, Goldcorp Inc., is destroying communities in Guatemala. Antonio Morales, Maya Mam, Guatemalan indigenous leader was assassinated on August 7, 2008, as he returned to his home in Colotenango, Guatemala. Morales was a national leader in three of Guatemala's most important Indigenous organizations which have actively opposed large scale mining projects, including Montana Exploring, a subsidiary of Goldcorp.
GEO Group, formerly Wackenhut, and other private prisons continued to profiteer from the orchestrated hysteria against migrants and people of color at the southern border, gaining lucrative US and state prison and detention contracts from California to Texas. GEO was recently named in charges filed in Texas, in an attempt to prosecute Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for private prison profiteering, resulting in the death of at least one inmate.
A second private prison profiteer, Corrections Corp of America, imprisons and abuses migrant women and children at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, Texas.
Cameco is the Canadian company which purchased the mysterious shipment of 500 tons of yellowcake uranium from Iraq, transported by the US to Montreal in July of 2008. Cameco continues to push for uranium mining on Lakota lands, resulting in the poorest of the poor struggling to fight the world’s largest uranium mining company in court in Nebraska. In Australia, Aboriginals at Alice Springs continued their protests of Cameco, while research studies in Port Hope, Canada, show the people are being poisoned by Cameco’s uranium mining.
“The result of testing conducted on a small group of residents of Port Hope has found contamination by uranium of military or industrial origin. Four of nine people tested had unusual types of uranium in their bodies, including one who carried measurable quantities of depleted uranium, which is used to make armour-piercing weapons, and another who had uranium at levels about three times higher than average concentrations of the element,” according to the Globe and Mail.
Sithe Global, in a relationship with the Navajo Nation elected government, is pushing to build a coal fired power plant, Desert Rock, on Navajo lands in New Mexico. Grassroots Navajos at Dooda Desert Rock continue to fight the power plant, which would be the third power plant in the area, where the air, land and water are already poisoned by unreclaimed uranium tailings from the Cold War and widespread oil and gas wells. Sithe Global’s financier is Blackstone Group, cofounded by Steve Schwarzman of the Bush elite Skull and Bones secret society based at Yale University.
Israel’s Elbit Systems, a producer of Apartheid spy and border wall systems in Israel, continued to gain US contracts, including Boeing’s subcontract for the border wall. Raytheon Missiles continued to be protested in Tucson for its weapons production and contamination. Raytheon has a manufacturing plant on the Navajo Nation’s commercial farm of Navajo Agricultural Products Industries, where potatoes, corn and other crops are produced with Monsanto’s genetically-modified seeds.
Boeing continued to build the US/Mexico border wall, as Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff waived all federal laws to build the border wall, including the laws designed to protect endangered species and the graves of Native Americans. On the Tohono O’odham Nation, Boeing dug up the graves of the Tohono O’odham ancestors in 2007. In Arizona, border wall construction endangered the jaguar, Sonoran pronghorn and other species in violation of all federal laws. Further, Indigenous Peoples traveling in their own territories on the border are harassed, threatened and treated as criminals by the US Border Patrol.
Tohono O’odham human rights activists continued to be targeted as they defined their homeland as an occupied militarized zone.
The poorest of the poor in America used their last dollars in 2008 to fight the United States construction of the US/Mexico border wall and seizure of their lands, including the Lipan Apache in Texas who are in court to protect their lands from seizure by Homeland Security for the border wall.
At the northern border, the United States pushed for more militarization of the region.
Kahentinetha Horn, publisher of Mohawk Nation News, is among the authors published in Censored News. Kahentinetha was beaten by Canadian border guards on June 14, 2008 and suffered a heart attack as border police tightened a stresshold. Mohawk Nation News editor Katenies was also beaten and jailed. Kahentinetha is recovering and the two Mohawk grandmothers have filed suit.
In recent articles, the Mohawk Nation News exposed the fact that carbon market scams seek the seizure of Indigenous Peoples forests for corporate profiteering and the fact that Canadian officers are being trained in Israel, where the border has become a militarized war zone. The carbon credit scam, profiteering for the World Bank and private corporations, is one of the most censored stories worldwide.
Throughout the United States, the poorest of the poor fought for justice during the Bush regime, often resulting in arrest or imprisonment. While the US and multi-national corporations received millions, billions and trillions in bailouts, widespread unemployment and hunger increased in the US.
While the US spy factory vaporized rights guaranteed by the US Constitution, the US media gave up the fight.
While the corporate seizures of lands was dismal during the Bush regime, Indigenous elders spoke of a time of cleansing and regeneration.
"We will outlive their ways. Our ways will outlive America's ways. It is because we regard the earth as sacred," said Floyd Red Crow Westerman said before his passing to the Spirit World.
In the Censored News poll, one-half of those voting chose the United States as the Worst Company in the World (50 percent.) The other percentages of total votes were: Monsanto (30 percent) Peabody Coal (26 percent) Barrick Gold (20 percent) Blackwater (17 percent) GEO (15 percent) Cameco and Sithe Global/Navajo Nation tied (14 percent) Raytheon and Israel’s Elbit Systems tied (12 percent) Boeing (11 percent) and Newmont Mining Corp (9 percent.)

More corporations and politicians were responsible for the deaths of Indigenous Peoples and destruction of Indigenous lands and communities worldwide than could be published in one article. Read more articles at Censored News http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Free Gaza Ship rammed

Israeli vessel hits Gaza-bound boat

Onboard is Al-Jazeera reporter Sami al-Haj, former prisoner at Guantanamo Bay; Hon. Cynthia McKinney (former U.S. Congresswoman, 9/11 Truth activist) and three doctors

Tuesday, December 30, 2008
19:17 Mecca time, 16:17 GMT
News Middle East
Video of damage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7805075.stm

Israeli Gunboats Came out of the Darkness and Rammed us Three Times

Date : 12-30-2008

For more information, please contact:
(Gaza) Ewa Jasiewicz, +972 598 700 497 / freelance@mailworks.org
(Cyprus) Lubna Masarwa +357 99 081 767 / lubnna@gmail.com
(Lebanon) Caoimhe Butterley +961 70 875 727 / sahara78@hotmail.co.uk
http://www.freegaza.org/
By Free Gaza
LEBANON (December 30) -- Today the Free Gaza ship "Dignity" carefully made its way to safe harbor in Tyre, Lebanon's southern-most port city, after receiving serious structural damage when Israeli warships rammed its bow and the port side. Waiting to greet the passengers and crew were thousands of Lebanese who came out to show their solidarity with this attempt to deliver volunteer doctors and desperately needed medical supplies to war-ravaged Gaza. The Lebanese government has pledged to provide a forensic analysis of what happened in the dark morning, when Israel rammed the civilian ship in international waters, and put the people on board in danger of losing their lives.

The Dignity, on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza, was attacked by the Israeli Navy at approximately 6am (UST) in international waters, roughly 90 miles off the coast of Gaza. Several Israeli warships surrounded the small, human rights boat, firing live ammunition around it, then intentionally ramming it three times. According to ship's captain Denis Healy, the Israeli attack came, ""without any warning, or any provocation."

Caoimhe Butterly, an organizer with the Free Gaza Movement, stated that, "The gunboats gave us no warning. They came up out of the darkness firing flares and flashing huge flood lights into our faces. We were so shocked that at first we didn't react. We knew we were well within international waters and supposedly safe from attack. They rammed us three times, hitting the side of the boat hard. We began taking on water and, for a few minutes, we all feared for our lives. After they rammed us, they started screaming at us as we were frantically getting the life boats ready and putting on our life jackets. They kept yelling that if we didn't turn back they would shoot us."

Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate, was traveling to Gaza aboard the Dignity in order to assess the impact of Israel's military onslaught against the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

According to McKinney, "Israeli patrol boats...tracked us for about 30 minutes ... and then all of a sudden they rammed us approximately three times, twice in the front and once in the side ... the Israelis indicated that [they felt] we were involved in terrorist activities."

The Dignity departed from Larnaca Port in Cyprus at 7pm (UST) on Monday 29 December with a cargo of over 3 tons of desperately needed medical supplies donated to Gaza by the people of Cyprus. Three surgeons were also aboard, traveling to Gaza to volunteer in overwhelmed hospitals and clinics. The ship was searched by Cypriot Port authorities prior to departure, and its passenger list was made public.

Israel's deplorable attack on the unarmed Dignity is a violation of both international maritime law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which states that "the high seas should be reserved for peaceful purposes."

Delivering doctors and urgently needed medical supplies to civilians is a just such a "peaceful purpose." Deliberately ramming a mercy ship and endangering its passengers is an act of terrorism.

CALL the Israeli Government and demand that it immediately STOP attacking the civilian population of Gaza and STOP using violence to prevent human rights and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.

Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
+972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence at:
+972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il
Major Liebovitz from the Israeli Navy at:
+ 972 5 781 86248
The Free Gaza Movement, a human rights group, sent two boats to Gaza in August 2008. These were the first international boats to land in the port in 41 years. Since August, four more voyages were successful, taking Parliamentarians, human rights workers, and other dignitaries to witness the effects of Israel's draconian policies on the civilians of Gaza.
http://www.freegaza.org/

Atlanta Journal Constitution article
http://www.ajc.com/gwinnett/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2008/12/29/cynthia_mckinney_gaza.html

News from Al-Jazeera

A small boat, damaged as it tried to break the Israeli blockade of the
Gaza Strip, has arrived in the Lebanese port of Tyre.

The Dignity started taking on water after it was hit by an Israeli naval
vessel as it approached the Israeli coast with its cargo of medical aid.

The Free Gaza Movement, which organised the attempt to reach the territory
, said their boat was "rammed" and shots were fired when at least four
Israeli vessels confronted them in international waters.

Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, denied there had
been any shooting but said that the ships had made "physical contact".

He said that the crew of the Dignity had failed to respond to Israeli
naval radio contact.

'Rammed'

Elize Ernshire, one of the activists onboard the boat, told Al Jazeera by
telephone that the boat was rammed twice from the front and then once from
the side.

"It has destroyed the front of the boat and the roof ... and has left the
cabin, the wheelhouse quite destroyed," she said.

" ... we were threatened directly by the Israeli navy that if we continued
on our course towards Gaza they would attack us again."

Mark Regev, an Israeli government spokesman, said that the incident was
nothing more than a "propoganda stunt".

"Israel would never have done anything against international law, that is
inconceivable," he told Al Jazeera.

"These people just want a headline, they don't really want to help the
people of Gaza, if they wanted to help the people of Gaza they would be
asking Hamas why they initiated the violence."

Several small boats have arrived in the Gaza Strip carrying international
activists and medical aid since August in defiance of the Israeli siege.

Ernshire said that the incident would not stop the movement trying again
to take aid to the impoverished territory.

"The majority of passenger here are determined, once we reach Lebanon, to
keep continuing to organise such boats as these, to reach the people of
Gaza," she said.

Gaza's health system is struggling to cope with the casualties from four
consecutive days of aerial bombardment by Israeli warplanes and helicopter
gunships.

Shortages

Hospitals were already facing shortages of medicines and other medical
products due to the Israeli siege imposed after the Hamas government
seized full control of the territory in 2007.

As well as more than three tonnes of aid, the Dignity was carrying three
doctors to help treat the more than 1,600 wounded in recent days.

Avital Leibovitz, an Israeli military spokeswoman, said that humanitarian
aid was being allowed into the Gaza Strip and the medical supplies on the
boat would not have made much impact on the humanitarian situation.

"Lets not talk about a blockade because it does not exist, the
humanitarian corridor is active, alive and working," she told Al Jazeera.

"There are a numerous number of trucks enetring Gaza with food and
medicine according to the requests of the aid organisations."

Three Al Jazeera journalists were among the 15 people onboard the boat.

"Al Jazeera holds Israel responsible for the safety of the Al Jazeera
journalists and everyone on board the Dignity," Wadah Khanfar, director
general of the Al Jazeera network said in a statement.

"Al Jazeera's presence on the boat is to cover the expedition for news and
journalistic purposes. We are deeply concerned for the safety and well
being of our journalists."

'Protecting Rattlesnake Island' and Indigenous Roundtable Discussion

Update: Native radio journalists urge Bush war crime tribunal
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2008/12/native-radio-journalists-call-for-bush.htmlSPECIAL
Weekly shows can now be heard on the KPFK web site ( http://www.kpfk.org ) under "audio archives" located on the left. Scroll down and click on American Indian Airwaves.

Dakota 38 horseback ride to Mankato photos

Dakota 38 plus 2 Ride photos from South Dakota to Mankato. Photos by Dave Murray. Thank you!

http://www.dakota382008.com/

By Dakota 38 Riders
MANKATO, Minn. -- Twenty-eight years before the Massacre at Wounded Knee, and 14 years before the Legendary Battle at Little Bighorn, was Minnesota’s Dakota Sioux Uprising of 1862.

It began on August 17, 1862 and ended with the largest mass execution ever recorded in U.S. History.

By order of Abraham Lincoln, 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato, Minnesota on December 26, 1862.

Unbeknownst to the masses, the very next day two more Dakota men were also executed. Four months later, in April of 1863 Congress enacted a law providing for the removal of all Dakota people from Minnesota. Three hundred families were held in a concentration camp at Fort Snelling then most of the Dakota Community was moved by river boats to a desolate prairie at Crow Creek, South Dakota.

The convicted prisoners of the war who were not executed, were then moved from Ft. Snelling, Minnesota to Camp McClellan, near Davenport, Iowa. It wasn’t until three years later, President Andrew Johnson ordered a release of the 177 surviving prisoners.

In the spring of 2005, Jim Miller, a descendent of the Dakota People who were displaced after 1863, courageously stepped forward and acknowledged his dream with the people. Miller dreamt of a series of horseback rides that would bring, not just the Dakota people together, but all whose hearts are affected by this tragic history.

Jim’s vision is for horseback riders from all Dakota tribes to ride in December over 330 miles from Lower Brule Sioux Reservation to the site of the mass hanging in Mankato, Minnesota. This is to commemorate the men, women, and children who were forced to march across the cold winter prairies either to the mass hanging in Mankato or to the large concentration camp at Fort Snelling, Minnesota (present day St. Paul.) The ride coincides with the anniversary of the hangings on December 26, 1862.

Four years are required to address this vision, as of 2008, the first three years have been completed. In the past three years, the riders left from the Lower Sioux Indian Community, near Morton, Minnesota and rode down to Mankato, Minnesota.

Because this is the last year and the completion of Miller’s vision, the riders began their new starting point from Lower Brule, SD to Mankato.

His overall vision is to raise awareness about how this historical grief has impacted us from the mass hanging to the surrounding events. In the end, the final outcome of his vision is to bring reconciliation among all people of the region so that we may move forward and live in a good way. Miller is a Vietnam Veteran, an enrolled member of Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and a

leader in traditional spiritual practices.

Honoring Floyd Westerman and the Miwok Youths

Listen to Censored Blog Talk Radio
Honoring the land, honoring the youths
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell

Article and photos by Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/


Censored Blog Talk Radio offers a tribute to Floyd Red Crow Westerman, sharing his songs and words. The show is also a tribute to the Miwok youth singers, with a special message on the Longest Walk for respect for Mother Earth from the Six Nations on the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol.
Westerman speaks on the Spirit World and what is happening to Mother Earth.
"America is dying from within, because they forgot the instructions of how to live on earth," Westerman said. He said without the understanding of the spritiual reality of living on earth, "It is likely you will not make it."
"We are here on earth only a few winters, then we go to the Spirit World."
Westerman describes how the United States is creating monstrous conglomerates to facilitate energy for America, polluting sacred water and sacred mountains to do it.
America is destroying itself, but Native people will live on.
"We will outlive their ways. Our ways will outlive America's ways. It is because we regard the earth as sacred," Westerman says in the series of recordings.
"Our Mother is a sacred entity."
Westerman said it is important to educate people that the people coming across the border are Indian people. Speaking on broken treaties, Westerman said, "The United States of America is an occupation of Indian land."
With warnings for America and its spiritual state, he said, "You shouldn't let the dollar control what you are doing."
"America, you won't be here long."
Westerman said great changes are coming and when one looks at evolution, one knows, "It is time."
Censored News also honors the Native American youths on the Longest Walk, with traditional songs and conversations with the Miwok youths from Shingle Springs, California, Daniel, Junior and Vinny, with Everett, Washo. The Miwok youths sing with clapper sticks made from elderberry branches.
On the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol at Harrisburg, Mohawk and Tuscarora welcome the Longest Walk to the east with songs and prayers. Jerry McDonald, Mohawk, speaks of respecting and honoring Mother Earth and of universal peace. Longest Walk Carl Bad Bear Sampson also speaks at the gathering, where the Pennsylvania governor's representative heralds the Long Walk for honoring the earth and protecting sacred sites.
Longest Walk recordings by Earthcycles on the Longest Walk.
Listen to Floyd Westerman and Miwok youths at:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell
November radio show, including AIM West and Alcatraz programs:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell/page/1
Photos: Floyd Westerman with the International Indian Treaty Council at the Indigenous Peoples Border Summit of the Americas in San Xavier, Arizona, on the Tohono O'odham Nation in 2006. Photo Brenda Norrell.
Photo 2: Daniel and Junior on the Longest Walk in Eureka, Nevada, after singing Miwok songs for Western Shoshone Carrie Dann in the spring of 2008. Photo Brenda Norrell
Photo 3: Vinny, Miwok walker and runner, at the Indigenous Environmental Network's annual Honoring Mother Earth Conference, held this year on Western Shoshone land in Southfork, Nevada, in July 2008. Photo Brenda Norrell.

Zapatistas Digna Rabia video

Click to watch video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkRJellx0UA

Express outrage: Peabody coal mining on Black Mesa

Interior Approves Permit for Coal Mining on Hopi Lands
Black Mesa Trust Calls for Telephone, Letter Campaign

By Vernon Masayesva
KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz., Dec. 29 -- As expected, the U.S. Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation (OSM), the sole regulatory agency overseeing mining on Black Mesa, has made a formal decision approving Peabody Western Coal's application for a life-of-mine permit that would combine mining operations at Black Mesa Mine and Kayenta Mine.
The decision was announced during the Hopi Soyalung ceremonies throughout our villages. Soyalung is when Hopis plant their prayers for the coming year. It is a time the priests carry out sacred rituals to renew the earth, and pray for peace and harmony throughout the world. It is similar to the Jewish Chunaka observance, of bringing light to darkness.
This is the ancient ritual OSM has rudely interrupted. It is a blatant action sanctioning Peabody to exploit our natural resources for the benefit of its wealthy owners, officers and stockholders.
Black Mesa Trust appeals to people all over the world to express their outrage by writing or calling:

Dirk Kempthorne
Secretary of Interior
US Department of Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: 202/208-3100

Al Klein
Western Regional Director
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
P. O. Box 46667
Denver, CO 80201-6667
Phone: 303/293-5001
aklein@osmre.gov

Brent Wahlquist, Director
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
1951 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: 202/208-2719

Dennis Winterringer, Director
Western Region, Southwest Branch
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
P. O. Box 46667
Denver, CO 80201-6667
Phone: 303/293-5030
E-mail dwinteringer@osmre.gov.

US protests of Israeli Massacre in Gaza

Radhika Sainath, NLG Free Gaza Committee, radhika.sainath@gmail.com, 917-669-6903

The National Lawyers Guild Condemns Israeli Massacre of over 300 Gazans, Calls for Ceasefire and Urges Participation in Protests

New York. The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) condemns Israel's massive bombardment of the Gaza Strip which has left over 300 dead and 1,400 wounded, with the tolls mounting. The Israeli Air Force dropped more than 100 bombs in dozens of locations throughout the Gaza Strip as children left school on Saturday. The dead include men, women and children in school uniforms.

"International law forbids the targeting of civilians," said Radhika Sainath, a civil rights attorney and member of the Free Gaza Committee of the NLG. "Israel must comply with laws of war and the Fourth Geneva Convention." Today's massacre marks an escalation of Israel's two-year blockade of the Strip which has deprived 1.5 million Palestinians of necessary food, medicine, fuel and other necessities. In November 2008, the United Nations stated that it had run out of food to feed over 750,000 needy Gazans.

Israel claims that the attack is in response to Palestinian rocket fire, which caused no recent Israeli deaths and few injuries. However, Israel's "rolling bombardment" and impending ground invasion is grossly disproportionate in light of the minimal damage caused by Palestinian rockets. “The law of war prohibits collective punishment and the targeting of a civilian population disproportionate to military necessity. Israel has flouted both these prohibitions, that follow its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and its sealing of Gaza, subjecting Gazans to near starvation,” said Marjorie Cohn, NLG president and a professor of international law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. “The Human Rights and Security Assistance Act mandates that the United States cease all military aid to Israel, which has engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.”

Israeli military spokesman Avi Benayahu stated that the Israeli bombardment of Gaza was "only just the beginning," showing utter contempt for international norms and the lives of innocent Palestinians. The Guild calls on the entire international community, and the United States in particular, to demand an end to Israel's blockade of the Occupied Territories and its murderous assault on the Palestinian people. We urge everyone to join in the demonstrations planned across the country in opposition to this latest attack on the rule of law by Israel and we call on both sides to immediately reinstate the cease fire.
Founded in 1937 as an alternative to the American Bar Association, which did not admit people of color, the National Lawyers Guild is the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.
SCHEDULE OF PROTESTS:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2008/12/us-protest-schedule-of-israeli-massacre.html

Happy holidays from Sonoma County

Happy holidays from Sonoma County, California,

In the world of growing vegetables and preparing good, clean and delicious food, maybe no one does it better than the good folks of Sonoma County. I won't attempt to offer any recipes, because I gave up serious cooking after shaving up my fingers for my Navajo Times cooking page, and serving up a raw turkey or two out of my woodstove in the Chuska Mountains in New Mexico. So here's an online blog with a great pumpkin pie recipe from nearby Marin County. Happy holidays, Brenda
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/spicekissed-pumpkin-pie-recipe.html
Photo: Christmas dinner by Brenda Norrell

Censored Blog Radio: Kahentinetha, Carnes and Bahe

Listen now: Kahentinetha Horn, Mohawk, Ben Carnes, Choctaw and Bahe Katenay, Navajo

Article and photos by Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

On Censored Blog Talk Radio today, Mohawk Nation News publisher Kahentinetha Horn speaks on the crimes of arrests of Indigenous Peoples at the southern border. Ben Carnes, Choctaw, tells of his own life, and the life and death of Standing Deer in relation to Leonard Peltier. Bahe Katenay of Big Mountain shares the truth of Navajo relocation and the destruction of sacred Navajo lands.
Kahentinetha, and MNN editor Katenies, were beaten by Canadian border guards in June, after this interview. Kahentinetha suffered a heart attack in a police stresshold and is now recovering. Both women, Mohawk grandmothers, have filed suit.
In the radio interview, Kahentinetha describes how Mohawks were on the Tohono O'odham Nation on the US/Mexico border, during the Indigenous Peoples Border Summit of the Americas.
Kahentinetha said Mohawks were shocked to see the Tohono O'odham Nation government officials working in complicity with Homeland Security to arrest Indigenous Peoples. She also describes how Mohawks stood in solidarity with Indigenous women and children and attempted to halt the Border Patrol from arresting them, near where the border wall was under construction on Tohono O'odham Nation lands.
Ben Carnes, Choctaw, speaks on his life.
Carnes speaks on Standing Deer's life and death in relation to Leonard Peltier.
In prison, Standing Deer was asked to be a government informant and "neutralize" Peltier. However, Carnes said after meeting Peltier in prison, Standing Deer realized what Peltier was doing for his people, maintaining the culture.
Carnes said Standing Deer told Peltier about the "assassination plot." Standing Deer told Peltier that he had planned to kill Peltier to get his own freedom. Peltier said, "Thank you for telling me my brother."
Standing Deer said, "It was at that point I came back to my people."
Standing Deer was murdered, stabbed to death, in Houston after his release from prison.
Carnes said, "My first thought was the government had fulfilled its promise of killing Standing Deer if he ever revealed the plot."
On the radio show, Bahe Katenay of Big Mountain talks of Navajo relocation, truth and resistance on Black Mesa. Katenay was a walker on the Longest Walk 1978 and joined the Longest Walk 2008 in Colorado.
Katenay describes the role of Peabody Coal and the media in the so-called Navajo Hopi land dispute. He explains that the Navajo tribal government is basically a board of directors and does not represent the Navajo people.
Bahe tells how Navajos have suffered because of relocation. Navajos were relocated from Black Mesa to New Lands, Ariz., downstream on the Rio Puerco, the land contaminated by the Church Rock, NM, nuclear spill.
On Black Mesa, coal mining and the depletion of the water continues.
"The land is still being torn up.
"A lot of our sacred springs are gone."
The relocation of Navajos, orchestrated by Arizona Congressmen and Peabody Coal thirty years ago, has generations of victims.
Bahe said the young people have been separated from the elders.
But, he said, "We are still there.
"Thirty-five elders have stood to disrupt America's progress there," Bahe said.
Bahe said Dinetah is where the Holy People emerged, in what is known as northwest New Mexico. Ancient Navajo songs originated there. Today, the area is desecrated by the oil and gas drilling of corporations, with the Navajo Nation planning a new power plant, Desert Rock, in the region.
Bahe remembers the early Navajo protests of the desecration in Burhman, NM, in 1980. Bahe tells how the Navajo warriors who challenged this destruction were all dead shortly after the protests. This fact has been censored.
Bahe said the Navajo Nation government just attempts to "show its good face" and play politics when it voices opposition now to uranium mining. He said the Navajo Nation government has not cleaned up the unreclaimed uranium mining tailings in many areas, including those contaminating Navajo land and water at Cameron, Ariz. There are 50 radioactive areas and the Navajo people have to haul their water.
The interviews were recorded in southern Colorado on the Longest Walk 2 northern route by Earthcycles in March of 2008.
Listen at:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell
Photo 1: A delegation of Mohawks and representatives of Derechos Humanos at the border south of Sells, Arizona, during the Indigenous Peoples Border Summit of the Americas. Photo Brenda Norrell
Photo 2: Ben Carnes with Earthcycles radio producer Govinda Dalton on the Longest Walk in the Rockies, speaking on this interview, March 2008. Photo Brenda Norrell
Photo 3: Bahe Katenay on the Longest Walk2 northern route in Pueblo, Colorado, March 2008. Photo Brenda Norrell
Return to Censored News Hompage for more articles ...
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Petros: Christmas in the Holy Lands

A Massacre in Palestine - Responses and Developments
http://www.cyprusindymedia.org/massacre-in-gaza.html

Christmas in the Holy Lands
By Petros Evdokas
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

All of the global Empire's lies, violence and hypocrisy can not hide the
plain truth: the native people of the Holy Lands are being exterminated.
Through carefully calculated enforced starvation; by selective
assassination; by indiscriminate air-bombing and artillery strikes;
torture; denial of basic medical necessities; killing the people by any
means available.

We live in a world that is so bizarre and twisted with venomous atrocity
that our own realities are incomprehensible. One photo published by
Ha'aretz newspaper yesterday tells it all:

A thin and starving Santa walking on the edge of a mine field waving a
Peace sign is attacked by the military in a swirling cloud of tear gas:
http://wa-be2.www.haaretz.com/hasite/images/iht_daily/D261208/santa2.jpg

Realities inside the world's largest prison, where a million and a half
children, elders, women and men are locked up by the occupation army
through a land, air and sea blockade that's aimed to break and destroy
them collectively:

" 'Our bakery is out of bread for days now and what we have will only
last for another 24 hours. In fact, we stopped our work yesterday as we
ran out of flour. Now, we use animal feed which will finish in a matter
of hours.'
... If you visit my house you won't find power, while my neighbor is out
of gas. Another neighbor seeks potable water as power outages have left
him without for four days. A third neighbor desperately looks for milk
for his child but does so in vain. Another friend who lives on the
corner needs medicine that can't currently be found in Gaza..."
"Hunger before the storm"
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10053.shtml
Sameh A. Habeeb writing from the occupied Gaza Strip,
Live from Palestine, 25 December 2008

" 'Father, we want to eat, we don't have bread,' my eldest daughter
complained...."
"No bread in Gaza"
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10054.shtml
Rami Almeghari writing from the occupied Gaza Strip,
Live from Palestine, 25 December 2008
Jesus in the 21st century is a Palestinian infant denied milk and
medicine. The Holy Child is a Navajo boy, an Iraqi girl, an Afghani 90
year old Grandma wrapped in the flames of napalm bombs dropped on her
village by the Empire's Crusaders to cleanse the land of its native
flesh and make the world safe for shopping.

Petros Evdokas
from the Belly of the Beast
petros@cyprus-org.net
http://petros-evdokas.cyprus-org.net/Another-sort-of-Introduction.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blog Radio: Walking the talk, Miwok, Washo and Shoshone

Listen now: Longest Walk in Miwok, Washo and Shoshone country

Article and photo by Brenda Norrell

Christmas Special: Listen to walkers on the Longest Walk northern route in the west, beginning with the Miwok at Shingle Springs, Calif. Walkers speaking include Marie Littlemoon, Willie Lonewolf, Antonio Ruiz and Weldon Austin, with Rockstar Ray.
Chet Stevens, Western Shoshone and David Smith, Yomba Shoshone, describe the nuclear testing, radiation and gold mining on Shoshone treaty lands in Nevada. Western Shoshone Corbin Harney is remembered. Janice Gardipe, Paiute Shoshone, shares a Shoshone song of a little bird leaving its nest.
Washo gathered near Cave Rock, speak on prayer and honoring Mother Earth. One Washo great grandmother said earlier she questioned, "Where are the warriors?"
Then, she said, "I see from you warriors that we are alive.
"I am so happy to be here."
Near Cave Rock, Calvin Magpie, Cheyenne Arapaho, offers a song.
From South Dakota, at the site of the hogfarm protest, Yankton Dakota offer a drum song.
"Starwalker" and "Universal Soldier" by Buffy Sainte Marie. "Going Back," by Floyd Westerman.
Listener level: Everyone, 90 minutes
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Censored News Blog Talk Radio
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell
Photo: Longest Walk northern route in South Lake Tahoe in Feb. 2008. Second from left: Calvin Magpie; next Willie Lonewolf and Stella Magpie. Photo Brenda Norrell
.

Colombia: Voice from the heart of the world

VOICE of the ELDER BROTHER, TAYRONA Original Peoples

Heart of the World, UMÛNÛKÛNÛ

(Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia)

We, the Wintukwa Peoples of Umûnûkûnû along with our other brothers of the Wiwa, Napeybu (Kogi) and Kankwamu who guard Umûnûkûnû, Heart of the World, demarcated under the Understanding of the Law of Origin or Linea Negra (Black Line) by Serankwa the Creator; we deliver now the clamor of Umûnûkûnû, the thundering demand of the Mountain:

We address you as our younger brothers, representing different nations who gathered in Poznan, Poland under the framework of the UN Climate Conference to negotiate climate issues. While you the younger brothers continue speaking and making decisions without recognizing the Rights of the Original Peoples and without a harmonious agreement with we the Elder Brothers who are the caretakers and translators of the knowledge of the Mother Earth of Umûnûkûnû and in defense of her, the Creator Serankwa continues and will continue to bring due to you brothers until the debt of destruction of the constitution of the Mother Earth is canceled.

Law that legislates the universe, whose constitution is made of harmony and balance by which Serankwa traverses on the ray of the sun, drawing close and piercing the sky from above to say no more marketing of the Mother Earth much less of the Sky because as the Grandmother Sea charges invoking a second tsunami or Mother Earth itself may call upon Brother Storm to bring global disaster, and so it is Brothers, representatives of different nations, especially the government of Colombia who must respect the Mandate of Serankwa because we the Tayrona Peoples are prepared to educate in the schools and with the University of Mother Earth as Emissaries of Umûnûkûnû that we are, we are ready to cooperate to halt the abyss that you the Younger Brothers are creating through economic and scientific development that is recklessly speeding the end of the world.

We are concerned about the path of destruction being invented by the scientific orientation and so we ask of the present governments: If the second tsunami or third hole appears in the sky, do your scientific advisers have the knowledge to avert this catastrophe?

We believe that your knowledge is that of an infant to respond in this regard, or is it that you understand fully one hundred percent the secrets of the land? Do you control the winds? Do you know the power of the waters? Please respond clearly and effectively to these questions, or if it is you can only present a hypotheses, then please listen, as we are not beings who over speak, much less when the subject is the caretaking of our universe. Be respectful of what you do not know and what you cannot dominate with your rational formulations.

Such is the VOICE of the MAMAS of UMÛNÛKÛNÛ.

Asdrubal Torres

Indigenous rights in a world context

Agenda item – “Analysis of the world context of the recognition of Indigenous rights”

BY THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ CAUCUS OF THE AMERICAS

December 2008

(Photo: Longest Walk northern route at vigil for Leonard Peltier and Native prisoners in Lewisburg, Penn.)

Indigenous peoples face a wide range of urgent human rights issues in all regions of the world, including in the Americas. They continue to suffer serious violations, if not atrocities, that sorely need to be addressed.
We, in the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus, hear of some of the issues both at the Organization of American States (OAS) and at the United Nations. However, the violations that are described to us in Caucus meetings reflect only a minute fraction of the suffering that is occurring in different parts of the globe. Most Indigenous voices are never heard.
Global support for UN Declaration
In light of this urgent situation, it is important to consider the world context of the recognition of Indigenous rights. A resounding achievement has been the historic adoption of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. As a result, there is a strong feeling of hope among Indigenous peoples from the various regions of the globe. In the Indigenous context, the Declaration is the most comprehensive, universal human rights instrument in the world. It establishes a principled framework for addressing a wide range of human rights issues internationally and within States.
On 13 September 2007, the UN Declaration was overwhelmingly adopted by the General Assembly. Only four States voted against it – Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. No Latin American State, including those in the Caribbean, opposed the adoption of the Declaration.
Two weeks later, the Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people. This mandate now includes the promotion of the Declaration in carrying out the Special Rapporteur’s work.
Throughout the world, there is widespread support for the Declaration. The UN Secretary-General has urged that the Declaration must be a “living instrument”. The High Commissioner for Human Rights has repeatedly expressed her support for this “universal” instrument. The African Group of States has indicated its support for implementation of the Declaration. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has highlighted that the Declaration will “strengthen the international human rights system … and will support the vital work that the … Commission … is undertaking for the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples rights” in Africa. Similarly, the European Union has emphasized its support.
It is important to note here the role of the Latin American States in realizing the adoption of the Declaration. In particular, the role of Mexico, Peru and Guatemala is acknowledged and deeply appreciated. They took the lead in reaching agreement with the African Group of States and others.
There are 31 UN specialized agencies in the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues that have expressed their favourable response to the Declaration. They are in the process of examining how each of them might implement the Declaration within their respective mandates. These specialized agencies represent a very diverse group that includes, among others: the International Labour Organization, World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNESCO, World Bank, UN Development Programme, World Intellectual Property Organization and UN Environment Programme.
In particular, UNICEF is supporting the translation of the Declaration into 15 indigenous languages. It is also involved in the preparation of “child-friendly” translated versions. This is consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (art. 29), which calls for the education of children to be “directed to the development of respect for human rights”.
In its May 2008 report, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues decided that it would use the Declaration as a “legal framework” for all its work – and the Permanent Forum covers a wide range of subject areas. In October 2008, at its inaugural meeting in Geneva, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples indicated that it “has an important role in promoting the rights affirmed in the Declaration, and in mainstreaming them into the Human Rights Council's overall efforts to promote and protect all human rights”.
Human rights education and other initiatives
In regard to human rights education, Indigenous peoples and human rights organizations have arranged the publishing of 100,000 pocket-sized copies of the English version of the Declaration. Similarly, 10,000 copies of the French version have been made available. These copies are being distributed in different regions of the world. Mexico and Bolivia have prepared Spanish versions of this human rights instrument.
The United Nations has also published small booklets of the Declaration in all of the UN official languages. Further, symposiums and workshops are being organized in Canada and other parts of the world to further the implementation of the UN Declaration.

This positive momentum globally is highly relevant to the regional context in the Americas. At the previous OAS Special Session for Reflection in November 2007, it was determined that the UN Declaration would be used as “the baseline for negotiations and … a minimum standard” for the draft American Declaration. As both the Chair of this current Special Session and the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus have emphasized, the draft American Declaration – as a regional instrument – must complement the universal UN Declaration and not undermine it.
Despite all of these positive initiatives to implement the UN Declaration, we must bring to your attention recent regressive actions – especially since two of the States concerned are also OAS member States. Yesterday, at the world meeting on climate change in Poland, the States of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States refused to include any references either to the term “rights” in referring to Indigenous peoples[5] or to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. [6] Indigenous peoples suffer some of the worst impacts as a result of climate change and yet these States continue to act in this substandard manner. Climate change is one of the most serious challenges facing humanity and merits a principled response.
In regard to the UN Declaration, it is worth noting that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights is already making reference to this human rights instrument. The same is true in a recent judgment in Belize by the Chief Justice of its Supreme Court. To date, Bolivia is the only State that has implemented the whole text of the Declaration through its incorporation in domestic legislation.
It is important to remember that, without the collaborative actions of supportive States, we would not have realized the adoption of the UN Declaration. As repeatedly reflected in our Caucus meetings, Indigenous representatives are determined to work closely with OAS States in order to achieve a strong and effective American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

[1] Adaptado de la presentación oral.

[2] Posterior a la presentación oral en la Sesión Especial de la OEA, se obtuvo información que estos mismos cuatro Estados utilizaron la frase “pueblo indígena” en vez de “pueblos indígenas” con la “s” el cual es un lenguaje aceptado internacionalmente. Ver Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Directora Ejecutiva de TEBTEBBA y Presidenta del Foro Permanente sobre las Cuestiones Indígenas), Boletín de Prensa “Día Internacional sobre los Derechos Humanos 2008: Un Día Triste para los Pueblos Indígenas”. Polonia, 10 de Diciembre del 2008.

[3] Ver Documento (FCCC/SBSTA/2008/L.23), el cual es la versión final del Borrador de Conlusiones del Item. 5 de la Agenda “reducción de emisiones por deforestación y degradación de los bosques (REDD). Acciones para estimular la acción, de la 29va Sesión del SBSTA (Órgano Subsidiario para Asesoría Científica y Tecnológica).
[4] Adapted from oral presentation.
[5] Subsequent to this presentation at the OAS Special Session, it was learned that these same four States used the phrase “indigenous people” instead of “indigenous peoples” with an “s” which is the internationally accepted language. See Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Executive Director, TEBTEBBA and Chair, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues), “International Human Rights Day 2008: A Sad Day for Indigenous Peoples”, Press Statement, Poland, 10 December 2008.
[6] See Document (FCCC/SBSTA/2008/L.23), which is the final version of the Draft Conclusions on Agenda Item 5: Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries: approaches to stimulate action, of the 29th Session of Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA).

Censored News holiday gift, best free software

ree and really cheap: Software and equipment for virus protection and online audio production

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot/

This holiday season, I'm sending all Censored News readers a special gift, a list of the best free software on the web. After crossing America on the Longest Walk and the Earthcycles radio bus headed home, I began to search out free software for audios.
Before getting started with the free audio software, I want to recommend AVG free anti-virus software. It can save you a great deal of money each year and is recommended by PC magazine. If you're not always online, you will need to make sure you regularly update it, as there are constantly new attacks and new protections released. Free AVG download: http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html
All the software tips here are for beginners, PC users.
To edit audio, I've been using the free Audacity and it is great for beginners. I use it just to pick out clips and sections of long recordings. It is also a top recommendation of PC magazine. Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
One of the great finds, thanks to radio host Robin Carneen at NAMAPAHH radio, was the free Blog Talk Radio. It takes a little practice for beginners, but the switchboard if fairly easy. You will need a talk show host and to upload your own original recordings, but it is a great free source to broadcast a radio show. (The host telephone number to call in to do the show is not an 800 number. There's no 800 number for callin guests either, so regular phone charges apply.) http://www.blogtalkradio.com/
At Earthcycles radio, produced by Govinda Dalton, we use tiny digital voice recorders for interviews, purchased at Radio Shack (Olympus brand for about $85.) The sound quality is excellent and we never ran out of space. Sony also makes a superb digital voice recorder (about $100 at Target) which produces mp3 files. It is good to get the type voice recorder that plugs right into your computer's USB port to transfer the files. You also have to save each audio file individually on most computers.
The sound quality of these tiny recorders is superior to more expensive radio equipment that we tried out during our lengthy broadcasts in 2008.
If you are using a recorder that produces a wav format, you can use Free Rip free software,
to transform the heavy wav to the lighter mp3 (necessary to upload large files at Blog Talk Radio.) http://www.freerip.com/download.php
Now for online calls, there's Skype. I downloaded this many times and removed it before I actually started using it. It was a real lifesaver this week and allowed me to record the Lipan Apache 'No Border Wall' press conference for $1.80. Skype is free for computer to computer calls, but there is a small charge when your computer dials a regular phone (2 cents a minute or unlimited US for $2.95 a month.) Skype is another recommendation of PC magazine. http://www.skype.com/ww.skype.com/
For recording the press conference, I used the 30-day free trial of Callburner, which works great and produces the much needed mp3. http://www.callburner.com/
Callburner is pricey to purchase, so now I'm now searching for a high quality free recorder for phone interviews. Any suggestions?
When I first started out, I needed a place just to "park" huge audio files, so I went to the free Driveway. I discovered it makes widgets also, so those same recordings can play on the web by placing the code on a website. Widgets are just a bunch of code you can stick in the html box of your blog. (It is best to use mp3s for the Firefox brower's playback.) http://www.driveway.com/
If you receive pdf files for your website, and you can't post those, there's free software to switch those to jpegs at Soft Interface: http://www.softinterface.com/Convert-Image-To-PDF/Convert-Tiff-To-PDF.htm
If you are new to computers, it is best to have a friend explain downloads and the danger of viruses, because not all free downloads are safe for your computer. You can open the door to viruses if you are not aware of the dangers.
Also, if you are new to computers, have a friend show you how to clean your computer, by using the delete option under tools (Tools/Internet) to remove cookies and temporary files. If you're a new user, have a friend show you how to run the virus scanner to remove viruses, cookies and spyware.
If your computer is running slow, also run the "defragmenter" on your computer which puts everything back in place. You can usually find it by searching your own computer for "defragmenter."
Finally, if you want to buy a digital camera for about $150, but don't know where to begin, the Canon digital cameras in this price range score high on all consumer reports. (I use the Canon A570, but the Canons in the 900 and 1000 series are said to be even better.) Here's more great cameras recomended at CNET: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camera-reviews/?filter=100021_10061970_&tag=centerColumnArea1.0
If you take a large number of digital photos, high quality rechargeable batteries will save you hundreds of dollars each year. To prevent hassles, get a one hour charger and a couple of sets of batteries (about $20 to $30 at discount stores.) I found the Kodak rechargeable excellent, but couldn't find those this time, so now I'm trying out Duracell rechargeables.
After Christmas the big computer chains usually run sales. I bought a great laptop computer, a Compaq Presario, the one I smashed after the Longest Walk, for $399 last December. So check the sales in the local newspaper. Here's five cheap laptops recomended by PC World:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/154358/top_5_netbooks.html
For all the best free software recommended by PC magazine, go to:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2260070,00.aspmag.com/article2/0,2817,2260070,00.asp
Finally, if you have tips about free or really cheap software or equipment, please e-mail me, brendanorrell@gmail.com
Happy holidays! Brenda
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
PHOTO TOP: November 1940. Tehama County, California. John Frost and his daughter listening to the radio in their home. View full size. Medium format safety negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration.

Apache to Obama: Halt Border Wall, listen to audio

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

EL CALABOZ, Texas -- Lipan Apache and Jumano Apache in Texas sent a strong message to President-elect Obama to halt the construction of the border wall. Eloisa Tamez and her daughter Margo Tamez described the ongoing militarization of the border and the attempts by Homeland Security to seize Lipan Apache lands for the border wall in Texas, during a telephone press conference today.

Eloisa Tamez said Homeland Security is attempting to build the wall north of the border, on Lipan Apache land, and deny them access to their lands south of the levee. Tamez asked Obama to restore the rights in the Constitution. "We have had enough lawlessness in Texas at our expense," she said.

Jose Matus, Yaqui and director of the Indigenous Alliance without Borders, and Michael Hill, San Carlos Apache, both in Arizona, spoke out in support of Indigenous Peoples who oppose the construction of the border wall and the ongoing human rights abuses at the US border, from California to Texas.

Speakers pointed out the abuse of power by Border Patrol agents in Texas. Further, speakers stated how the US has targeted the poor and minorities to seize lands for the border wall, but has not seized resort areas of primarily white and wealthy Texans.

Listen to today's telephone press conference at: http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Margo Tamez, co-founder of the Lipan Apache Women Defense, said, "We are invoking the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, U.S. federal laws, and Texas state laws which have been fought for by citizens of the U.S. in order to protect the people and the nation from violent aggressors against sovereignty.

"In our case, Indigenous peoples and persons must use both traditional community law systems and state legal mechanisms in order to disrupt the violent measures that the U.S. government continues to deploy against us in this land grab," Tamez said in a statement today.

"It is no secret that Indigenous communities and the natural resources such as water, oil, minerals, medicinal botanicals, wildlife, and game in the Lower Rio Grande Valley will be sectored off through militarization and converted into a 'no mans' land' and kill zone.

"Our case speaks to Indigenous communities in crisis throughout our region. Our way of life and our culture depend upon the land and the people remaining intact - together - not figuratively but under law systems - both tribal, communal and constitutional. The border wall must not be built and our rights restored and upheld."

Tamez said in December of 2007 the hostile policies of the US DHS/Secure Border Initiative against border communities came to the foreground in landmark struggles on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The construction of the border wall through the middle of ancient, Rio Grande communities, forced Eloisa García Támez and community elders of El Calaboz Rancheria, as well as numerous poor land owners along the Rio Grande, to take actions to stop DHS.

The seek to halt Homeland Security from taking the community's lands, ancient burials, archaeological resources, botanical and medicinal riparian zones, and the community's pastoral ways of life which are dependent upon subsistence cattle and goat herding, grazing rights, water rights, medicinal and riparian rights-in other words Indigenous Peoples' communal life-ways.

The Lipan Apache Women Defense's fight raised complicated constitutional, civil, and human rights in the face of intensified government force to pressure the community to surrender their lands.

One year later approximately 80 landowners continue to litigate their ancestral land claims along the Texas-Mexico border. Some of the land claims, such as Eloisa García Támez', pre-date the United States as a sovereign nation and are directly connected to forced colonization and dispossession inflicted by Spain, Texas, Mexico and the U.S. on the Lipan Apache.

In the face of increasing public criticism of the border wall and serious claims of human rights violations before the Inter-American Commission/OAS, Indigenous peoples all along the U.S.-Mexico bordered lands are reframing and redefining the border wall conflict. They are organizing their networks around a framework of "Indigenous Peoples & Principles."

Return to Censored News Homepage for more articles ...

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Hopi Chairman Ben Nuvamsa Resigns

Hopi Chairman who fought against Peabody expansion, and for true sovereignty, resigns

By Bill Havens,

Public Information Officer, Office of the Chairman

Photo: Chairman Ben Nuvamsa in a Hopi and Navajo delegaton at Peabody protest in Denver/Photo Mano Cockrum

Kykotsmovi, Arizona – December 22, 2008 – Chairman Benjamin H. Nuvamsa Submits Resignation. After nearly two years of turmoil, conflict, in-fighting, and dysfunctional tribal government, the elected Chairman of the Hopi Tribe, Benjamin H. Nuvamsa, following a regular session of the Hopi Tribal Council, submitted his resignation to be effective December 31, 2008.
Stunned tribal members were in tears.
In the memorandum announcing his resignation, Chairman Nuvamsa cited among the reasons the affect the turmoil of the last two years has had on every member of the Tribe and the impact it has had on his family. He also expressed concern that it has “affected the very meaning of what ‘Hopi’ stands for.”
Collectively the Hopi people have just entered Soyal Muya, a time for a new beginning and the rejuvenation of life, in the annual Hopi ceremonial cycle. “Let us look at this decision as a new beginning,” said Chairman Nuvamsa, “and an opportunity where we can all begin a reconciliation process – a healing process – and work together for a new and healthy year and a brighter future.”
Continued Chairman Nuvamsa, “It was necessary to take this step for the sake of the people – to hopefully end the vicious series of events that have been consuming the Tribe and interfering in the work we are supposed to be doing for the people. They, Todd Honyaoma, Sr., Ivan Sidney and their supporters, would have never stopped until the end of my term. Their entire agenda has revolved around blocking everything I have tried to accomplish and, ultimately, getting me out of office.”
“Our government has been broken for nearly two years,” said Chairman Nuvamsa. “We have been prohibited from making any positive progress with regard to economic development or government reform and we are losing the fight to protect our natural resources. We have not been allowed to do anything for our people for two years. We have not been allowed to work on important issues like the Black Mesa Project Environmental Impact Study, water rights, land issues, increasing revenue, and important social and health issues.”
“Over the last two years we have seen a systematic dismantling of our government,” said Chairman Nuvamsa. “They have destroyed the Hopi Court system by ‘suspending’ the Appellate Court Justices to protect themselves from rulings unfavorable to their agenda. They have defied the Hopi Constitution and have interfered in the peoples’ right to have their votes count, and they have transferred the authorities of the Chairman over to the Office of the Vice Chairman.”
“In spite of their obstructionist tactics,” said Nuvamsa, “we have made some accomplishments. We were able to secure funding for an elderly facility and helped with the funding for Moencopi Development Corporation’s projects. We were also able to restructure our investments so we were making money instead of losing it.”
“We also stood up for the preservation of the Hopi and Tewa people’s right to control the exploitation of our natural resources,” said Chairman Nuvamsa. “By fighting against the Office of Surface Mining’s last minute efforts to push through the Peabody life-of-mine permit before the end of the Bush administration, even though it appears on the surface that we lost, we fought for the sovereignty of the Hopi Nation and for the principle of the right of all sovereign Indian nations to control their own resources and to determine how and when they are sold. We will continue this fight even after we leave office.”
Chairman Nuvamsa continued, “Since my election in the special election that followed the removal of Chairman Ivan Sidney after his widely publicized intoxication incident in Winslow, I have been the target of a small majority of the Tribal Council who have been determined to make my removal the only item on their agenda. Most recently I have been accused of disrespecting our traditional leaders. Nothing can be farther from the truth.”
“In fact,” continued Nuvamsa, “the real disrespect for our traditional religious leaders comes from dragging them into the political arena. Our religious practitioners walk a thin line. It is said they walk on a razor’s edge and they must maintain their focus on their religious duties or they will fall. Bringing them into the political battles is a serious distraction from their spiritual responsibilities that threatens the balance and harmony they are responsible for maintaining for the good of all mankind.”
The spearhead of the attacks on Chairman Nuvamsa has been Todd Honyaoma, Sr., the Vice Chairman that publicly “stepped down” from office in February 2008 but has since refused to vacate his office. Faced with rulings by the Hopi Appellate Court that those opposed to Chairman Nuvamsa’s leadership didn’t like, Honyaoma recently “suspended” the entire panel of Appellate Court Justices. Honyaoma recently promised the people that he would resign, also effective December 31, 2008.
Said Chairman Nuvamsa in his resignation memorandum, “I now challenge Todd Honyaoma, Sr., to do the honorable thing and honor his word and promise he made to the people on two separate occasions to ‘step down’ on December 31, 2008…To the members of the tribal council and other key officials of the tribe, I also challenge you to look within yourselves and ask yourselves why you sit on the tribal council and why you work for the Hopi Tribe. As leaders, we must honor our word to our people and be accountable…because it is the people we serve. We are their servants.”
“We will see if he keeps his promise,” said Chairman Nuvamsa about Honyaoma’s promise to resign.”
“Without an appellate court,” said Nuvamsa, “there is no justice. There is no right to appeal. Corruption goes unquestioned. What results is a dictatorship.”
Chairman Nuvamsa has also been under almost constant attack from the current “acting” Chief Prosecutor, Jeffrey Porturica, who has been maliciously issuing arrest warrants, seemingly as fast as he can prepare them, based on questionable charges in an apparent attempt to harass Chairman Nuvamsa and to keep him from presiding over Tribal Council meetings. Porturica assumed the position of “acting” Chief Prosecutor when the real Chief Prosecutor, Dorma Sahneyah, was fired from her position allegedly for sharing confidential information with the press. Porturica does not have a law degree. Sahneyah, a licensed attorney, had prepared a simple statement for the press in a high-profile case that Sahneyah says did not reveal any privileged or confidential information. It is common practice for prosecutors’ offices to prepare such statements when they anticipate a high volume of calls from the press on a particular case.
If Honyaoma follows through on his promise to resign, there will be no Chairman and no Vice Chairman. Though the Hopi Constitution mandates an election when vacancies occur in these offices, the same individuals that have been targeting Chairman Nuvamsa for removal are preparing to place the Tribe’s Secretary, Mary Felter, in the top position. Felter is very unpopular among many Hopi and Tewa people and is seen by many as a behind-the-scenes manipulative force with aspirations for power.
More recently emerging forces in the efforts to remove Chairman Nuvamsa are First Mesa Representative Dale Sinquah and Ivan Sidney, the former Chairman who’s removal prompted the special election that put Chairman Nuvamsa into office. Sidney was hired by Honyaoma a few months ago as his top staff member.
“It appears that their main goal is to get rid of me. The result has been a collapse of our government, the destruction of our court system and, thus, the violation of our citizens’ civil rights, and the tearing apart of our community and families. By taking myself out of the equation,” said Nuvamsa, “I’m hoping that we can begin the long healing process and the stabilization of our government.”
Concluded Chairman Nuvamsa, “I pray that the people will understand that this appears to be the only way to stop the pain and tears that our people have been experiencing for the last two years. I want to thank you, the people, for your faith in me. Now I must have faith in you to take back your government and rebuild it as a government that truly works for you, the Hopi and Tewa people, a truly representative form of government.”

IEN meets with Obama Transition Team

Obama-Biden Transition Team Meeting on Energy, Environment, and Natural Resource
By IEN
Tom Goldtooth attended a face-to-face meeting with members of the Obama Transition Team on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, along with other Native and non-Native groups working on environmental justice. This meeting took place on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 in Washington, DC. Attending the meeting was Jon Waterhouse, Alaska Region Director, Yukon Rive Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, and by teleconference call, was Gail Small, Executive Director, of Native Action, based on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana. Tom and Jon provided a limited verbal briefing ranging from recommendations to elevate the USEPA American Indian Environmental Office to the USEPA Administer's Office level; restore funding levels of the USEPA (Tribal) General Assistance Program; to appoint Native Americans to high level posts within the Administration and federal agencies; recommending the Obama Economic Stimulus package includes provisions for Tribes and Native organizations; and the special issues of Alaska Natives.
Full length version:
http://www.ienearth.org/docs/IENSubmittedtoEJElementsofObamaTransition/index.html
This includes a letter of recommendation by Carrie Dann of the Western Shoshone Defense Project (WSDP), and comments submitted by Evon Peter, Alaska-Native Movement and Shawna Larson, Environmental Justice Coordinator, Alaska Community Action on Toxics.

Joint statement to Obama: Energy Justice for Indigenous Peoples

ENERGY JUSTICE IN NATIVE AMERICA AND THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION
Policy Statement- Presidential Transition 2009
December 17, 2008

Joint statement by:
Honor the Earth
Intertribal Council on Utility Policy
International Indian Treaty Council
Indigenous Environmental Network
OVERVIEW
When considering energy production, resource extraction, housing and energy efficiency it is essential that the incoming administration take into account the disproportionate impacts of climate change and energy development on American Indian reservation and Alaska Native villages, and the potential for catalyzing green reservation economies. We ask that the incoming administration consult with Honor the Earth, Intertribal Council On Utility Policy and the Indigenous Environmental Network, representing a network of 250 grassroots tribal organizations and tribes, to ensure input from impacted communities is fully taken into account, and to ensure Native American participation in the green economy of the future.

A just nation-to-nation relationship means breaking the cycle of asking Native America to choose between economic development and preservation of its cultures and lands; renewable energy and efficiency improvements provide opportunity to do both simultaneously. A green, carbon-reduced energy policy has major national and international human rights, environmental and financial consequences, and we believe that this administration can provide groundbreaking leadership on this policy. The reality is that the most efficient, green economy will need the vast wind and solar resources that lie on Native American lands. This provides the foundation of not only a green low carbon economy but also catalyzes development of tremendous human and economic potential in the poorest community in the United States- Native America.

HISTORY OF EXPLOITATION AND ENERGY INJUSTICE
The history of resource exploitation, including conventional energy resources, in Indian Country has most recently been highlighted by the Cobell lawsuit against the Department of the Interior on behalf of individual Indian land owners, which requires both accountability of the federal trustees and a just settlement for the Indian plaintiffs. The programmatic exploitation of conventional energy resources has run an equally long and often deadly course in Indian Country, with a distinctly colonial flavor where tribes have supplied access to abundant natural resources under trust protection at rock bottom prices in sweetheart deals promoted by the federal government, yet often go un-served or underserved by the benefits of such development. Even the most recent federal energy legislation and incentives are still designed to encourage the development of tribal resources by outside corporate interests without ownership or equity participation of the host tribes.

The toxic legacy left by fossil fuel and uranium development on tribal lands remains today and will persist for generations, even without additional development. Mines and electrical generation facilities have had devastating health and cultural impacts in Indian country at all stages of the energy cycle- cancer from radioactive mining waste to respiratory illness caused by coal-fired power plant and oil refinery air emissions on and near Native lands. Native communities have been targeted in all proposals for long-term nuclear waste storage.

Compensation for uranium miners and their families has not been fulfilled from the last nuclear era, and every tribal government with uranium resources has opposed new uranium mining developments, including in the Grand Canyon, as an immoral and untenable burden for Native American communities. In addition, energy-related deforestation has serious climate change and human rights impacts for Indigenous communities globally. Approximately 20% of climate change-inducing emissions come from deforestation and land use, often from unsustainable energy projects, biofuel (agrofuel) and other monocrop development fueled by a need to satisfy tremendous foreign and World Bank debt obligations. On an international level, the US has yet to sign onto the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we believe signing onto this important agreement is an essential early step in the context of next administration’s dealings with Native America.

When considering energy and climate change policy, it is important that the White House and federal agencies consider the history of energy and mineral exploitation and tribes, and the potential to create a dramatic change with innovative policies. Too often tribes are presented with a false choice: either develop polluting energy resources or remain in dire poverty. Economic development need not come at the cost of maintaining cultural identity and thriving ecosystems. Providing incentives to develop further fossil fuels and uranium in Indian country will only continue the pattern of ignoring the well-being of tribes and Alaska Native villages in favor of short-sighted proposals that exploit the vulnerabilities of poor, politically isolated communities.

• ‘Clean coal’ is an oxymoron; mining coal is never ‘clean,’ coal plant emissions add to climate change impacts, carbon capture and sequestration technology is unproven financially and technically. Coal expansion on and near Native lands should not be incentivized by the administration.
• Nuclear power is not a solution to climate change: from mining to nuclear waste, the nuclear cycle is far from carbon neutral and disproportionately impacts Native communities. Nuclear power is also economically unfeasible, and will not address climate change at the speed required to mitigate the devastation ahead.
• Oil drilling in sensitive Arctic regions, including the off shore Outer Continental Shelf areas of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, threatens Alaska Natives’ way of life, and perpetuates the nation’s addiction to oil and GHG emissions. It is of utmost importance to institute a federal time-out on the proposed offshore development within the Outer Continental Shelf areas in Alaska. It has not been proven whether or not cleaning up spills in broken ice conditions is possible, the implications to subsistence ways of life and human health of coastal communities have not been reviewed extensively and impacts to Polar Bears and other threatened and endangered Arctic marine species have not been studied.
• Importing 80% of the Alberta Canada tar/oil sands crude oil to feed US energy needs encourages unprecedented ecological destruction in Canadian Native communities and the use of a fuel far more carbon intensive than conventional oil. This tar sands expansion has been called the tip of the nonconventional fuels iceberg. This iceberg includes oil shale, liquid coal, ultra-heavy oils and ultra-deep off shore deposits. Extraction of these bottom-of-the-barrel fuels, emits higher levels of greenhouse gases and creates ecological devastation.
• Unchecked expansion of biofuels (agrofuels) production and agricultural monocrops threaten biodiversity and food security and contribute to climate change and the destruction of rainforests, impacting Indigenous communities worldwide.
• Impacts of climate change are greatest in Native communities because of the close cultural relationship with the land and subsistence farming, hunting and fishing. In Alaska, the entire Indigenous village of Shishmaref will need to relocate (at a cost of $180 million) because rising temperatures have caused ice to melt and rapid erosion of the shoreline. Shishmaref is one of some 180 villages that will either move, at an estimated cost of $1.5 million per household or be lost. All of these burdens fall on tax payers, although one Alaskan Native Village- Kivalina has sued 14 oil companies for the damages.

Our Native organizations and the communities and tribes we serve believe the Obama Administration should request the new Congress and direct the departments of interior, energy and treasury to review all energy subsidies that go to coal, gas, oil and nuclear industries which have climate or toxic waste impacts on Native communities and to redirect the billions in subsidies to actualize clean sustainable energy development in Native America. Subsidies for the nuclear, coal, gas and oil industry should be rapidly phased out with a proportional ramp up of subsidies for renewable technologies and locally administered conservation/efficiency improvements.

In particular, we believe that any climate change legislation should not allocate funds for nuclear or clean coal technologies, and proposals to provide liability guarantees to nuclear plants, and capitalize research on uranium in situ mining practices must be eliminated.

NATIVE AMERICA: IN NEED OF GREEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Ironically, whiles some Native Nations and their reservation communities have borne the brunt of destructive energy development that has reaped massive profits for some, they are the poorest in the country, with high unemployment rates and inadequate housing.

• The unemployment rate on Indian reservations is more than twice the national rate.
• The median age in Indian Country is about 18 years, with a young and rapidly growing population in need of both jobs and housing.
• The poverty rate for Native Americans is 26%; more than twice the national average.
• More than 11% of Indian homes do not have complete plumbing. About 14% of reservation households are without electricity, 10 times the national rate.
• In rural Alaska where Alaska Natives predominately reside, 33% of the homes lack modern water and sanitation facilities.
• Energy distribution systems on rural reservations are extremely vulnerable to extended power outages during winter storms threatening the lives of reservation residents.
• Reservation communities are at a statistically greater risk from extreme weather related mortality nationwide, especially from cold, heat and drought associated with a rapidly changing climate.
• Reservations are waiting on more than 200,000 needed new houses.
• About 1/3 of reservation homes are trailers, generally with completely inadequate weatherization.
• Inefficient homes are a financial liability, leaving owners vulnerable to energy price volatility.
• Fuel assistance programs provide millions of dollars of assistance to tribal communities. While necessary in the short term, they do nothing to address the cycle of fuel poverty due to leaky inefficient homes, and the need for a localized fuel economy.
• Internationally, the present levels of deforestation and climate-related disasters are creating huge populations of environmental refugees. It is anticipated that within 20 years, we will be spending some 20% of world GDP on climate change related mitigation and disasters.

Unemployment rates, poverty and the need for efficiency improvements and renewable energy provide an ideal opportunity on tribal reservations and Alaska Native villages for maximizing the impact of a green jobs initiative. Local jobs weatherizing buildings, constructing, installing and maintaining renewable energy technology could be created. This has huge financial implications for rural economies, and for the overall US economy.
The Obama Economic Stimulus Plan that incorporates a green economy and green jobs portfolio must include provisions for access of these resources by our Native Nations, our tribal education and training institutions and Native organizations and communities.

GREEN ECONOMIES IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES: MASSIVE POTENTIAL, MAXIMUM IMPACT
Providing clean renewable energy development and reversing the trend from exploitation toward energy justice should be top priority in administration energy decisions. Tribes must be provided federal support to own and operate a new crop of renewable electricity generating infrastructure providing the dual benefits of low carbon power and green economic development where it is needed most. Tribes should be targeted with efficiency programs to reduce consumption of fossil fuels for heating and cooling and creating local jobs weatherizing and retrofitting buildings, helping reduce the tremendous amount of money that exits communities to import energy.

• Tribal lands have an estimated 535 Billion kWh/year of wind power generation potential.
• Tribal lands have an estimated 17,000 Billion kWh/year of solar electricity generation potential, about 4.5 times total US annual generation.
• Investing in renewable energy creates more jobs per dollar invested than fossil fuel energy.
• Efficiency creates 21.5 jobs for every $1 million invested.
• The costs of fuel for wind and solar power can be projected into the future, providing a unique opportunity for stabilizing an energy intensive economy.

Efforts should be made to invest locally first- from training green jobs workers locally to using local building materials to producing energy locally, closing the financial loop will help revitalize Native America’s strangled economies, making them less vulnerable to volatile external costs and maximizing the positive impact of the new green revolution.

A green jobs economy and a new, forward thinking energy and climate policy will transform tribal and other rural economies, and provide the basis for an economic recovery in the United States. In order to make this possible, we encourage the Obama Administration to provide incentives and assistance to actualize renewable energy development by tribes and Native organizations.

• Increase the capacity of tribes and tribal colleges education institutions to train the next generation of green job workers and continue to boost the capacity of technical training programs. Included in these programs should be training to use natural local materials with lower embedded energy costs and greater passive survivability in the face of climate extremes.
• Create financial support for efficiency in federal fuel assistance programs, and for the installation of solar heating panels and other innovations which deflect rising fuel costs, and provide for local employment, especially in rural areas.
• Ensure the Production Tax Credit for renewable projects is renewed for at least 10 years and made applicable to tribes to encourage tribal ownership, as currently it penalizes tribal ownership of projects.
• Provide a renewable production refund for tribal projects that can’t utilize tax credits. A refund at face value of the tax credit (valued at 2.1 cents) would be more economic to the federal government than the applied tax credit (valued at 3.5 cents).
• Provide special financial matching grants to capitalize renewable energy potential in tribal communities.
• Create a renewable energy specific Investment Tax Credit for tribes to attract the decreasing number of investors that have tax credits.
• Resolve timeline issues with Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREB); history shows that predicting the timeline for any kind of major energy development can be difficult, a reasonable amount of flexibility ought to be built into the program to ensure that project delays don’t result in payback starting before a project is completed.
• Ensure priority access to the electrical grid for green energy, particularly in the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and Bonneville Power Authority (BPA) regions.
• Direct the WAPA and BPA to regard tribal projects as a “governmental instrumentality” much like the federal dams in terms of transmission preferences on the federal grids. (See: Sovereign Power decision (Sovereign Power, Inc., 84 FERC P 61014 (1998)).
• Fully authorize the reconductoring of the WAPA transmission system in the Upper Great Plains and the integration of tribal wind power and federal hydropower on the WAPA grid to supplement diminishing federal hydropower and reduce regional carbon emissions.
• Fully authorize the implementation of a tribal solar project to cover the 355 miles of an open federal Central Arizona Project canal with solar photovoltaic cap to reduce 50,000 acre feet of evaporation, generate over 1500 megawatts of clean, efficient solar power in the desert Southwest and provide a just transition for tribal economies displaced by the closing of dirty coal plants.
• Continue Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) consideration of destructive dam projects like those on the Klamath River, Snake and other rivers, and replace such hydroelectric sources with renewable sources from tribal communities.
• Support Tribal Energy Resource Agreements (TERA) only if funded sufficiently to develop standards at least as strong as federal law, hire qualified staff, and not make approval any slower than it is now for tribal projects with US Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs approval. Tribes need to have the legitimate ability to implement and the capacity for enforcement.
• Ensure international debt reduction programs, to reduce the pressure on governments and Indigenous communities to cut down their forests, or issue large lease holdings. Support preservation of biodiversity and Indigenous rights in these areas.
• Imposing international sanctions and wood tariffs to prevent deforestation.

A GREEN ECONOMY IS CORE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUST RELATIONS WITH NATIVE AMERICANS- AND CAN PLACE THE US IN AN EXCELLENT LIGHT INTERNATIONALLY.

Now is the time to act to ensure that the next Presidential legacy is one that provides for the nation’s power needs while empowering this continent’s First Nations with sustainable economic development. Tribally owned and operated renewable energy, along with green jobs that help reduce dependence on fossil fuels are central to a sustainable and affordable low-carbon energy future. Energy decisions made by this administration will have significant domestic and international implications for many generations to come.

The most recent climate research indicates that it will be necessary to eliminate anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions completely as soon as practical to stabilize the climate. Over 80% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are associated with fossil fuel use and it is technically and economically feasible to phase out fossil-fuel-related CO2 emissions from the U.S. economy by mid-century. The US should adopt this as a goal. Taking bold steps toward creating a clean sustainable energy future will enable the United States to both achieve energy independence and reestablish our country’s position as a respected international leader.

Respectfully Submitted,


Honor the Earth
Intertribal Council on Utility Policy
International Indian Treaty Council
Indigenous Environmental Network


CONTACT:
Winona LaDuke
Honor the Earth
info@honorearth.org
612 879 7529

Bob Gough
Intertribal Council on Utility Policy
Gough.Bob@gmail.com

Tom Goldtooth
Indigenous Environmental Network
ien@igc.org
Cell: (218) 760-0442

US Government Continues Genocidal Assault on People of Black Mesa

U.S. Government Continues Genocidal Assault on the People of Black Mesa
By Klee Benally
Indigenous Action

Black Mesa, AZ -- On Monday, December 22nd, 2008 The U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) issued a decision to approve the Black Mesa Project. This decision continues the legacy of the United States Government's genocidal policies against those living in the Black Mesa region.

For more than 30 years Dine' and Hopi traditionalists, mainly elders, have resisted continued assaults on their lives and land because of coal mining operations. Through policies such as PL93-531, the U.S. has already forcibly relocated more than 14,000 Dine' people from their ancestral homelands.
Although PL93-531 has been portrayed as a resolution to this so-called "Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute", elders from the Black Mesa region have resisted and held that the coal beneath their homes has been the real interests of the Federal and Tribal governments.
This decision has been widely viewed as a foregone conclusion because of the colonial history of the area relating to resource extraction. Activist's also decried the decision making process due to OSM's lack of meaningful outreach to impacted communities and refusal to extend public comment deadlines.

In February 2004, Peabody Energy submitted to the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) a permit application proposing substantial revisions to its mining plans at the Kayenta and Black Mesa Mines on Black Mesa, which is located in Northern Arizona.

Additional impacts of the Black Mesa Project include (from www.blackmesais.org):
• Establish permanent mining rights until the coal runs out or until at least 2026!
Substantially accelerate global climate disruption and cause an ecological meltdown.
Destroy thousands of acres of pristine canyon lands, causing animal and plant ecology and cultural sites to vanish.
Increase the detonation of coal on a daily basis, affecting air quality and health of miners, local residents, and their livestock.
Deplete the already scarce water tables and regional aquifer that are all essential to residential survival.
Uproot & relocate families from their ancestral homelands due to coal mining expansion.
Sacrifice human dignity and planetary health for elite profit! Peabody would cause many more problems than what is reflected here. Its roots remain sunk deeply in the history of colonial genocide, corporate power grabs, and ecological devastation.

In 30 years of controversial operation, Peabody's Black Mesa Mine has been the source of an estimated 325 million tons of CO2 that have been discharged into the atmosphere.* If expansion plans are permitted, it would exacerbate already devastating environmental and cultural impacts on local communities and significantly add fuel to the fire of the current climate chaos we face globally. Coal from the Black Mesa mine could contribute an additional 290 million tons of CO2 to the global warming crisis!* (info from www.blackmesais.org)
Coal from the Black Mesa Mine was delivered to the Mohave Generating Station until it's doors were shut on December 31, 2005 due to non-compliance with a 1999 consent degree that required the owners to install pollution controls. The coal was transported to the plant in a slurry (about 50/50 water and crushed coal) through the Black Mesa Pipeline, owned and operated by Black Mesa Pipeline, Inc. As a part of the Black Mesa Project, this coal-delivery system would be rebuilt. Southern California Edison and other co-owners of the Mohave Generating Station are proposing to construct and operate a new water-supply system to convey water from a well field near Leupp, Arizona, using water from the Coconino (C) aquifer, to the Black Mesa Mine for the coal slurry, and mine related uses.

Lawsuits against OSM to protect the land and people of Black Mesa are expected to be filed by multiple groups.

Pressure can also be put on the incoming Obama Administration considering that intended energy policies include further use of so-called "Clean Coal".

Additional groups such as Navajo Green Jobs are also proposing alternative energy transitions on the Navajo & Hopi Nations to reduce dependency on non-renewable resources.

Of course, we must not just shift dependencies to a more "green lifestyle", we must find more sustainable and meaningful ways to better our relations with mother earth. No matter how green our lifestyles, capitalism will never be sustainable.

For more information visit: www.blackmesais.org

To read the full decision visit: http://www.wrcc.osmre.gov/default.htm

Klee Benally
indigenousaction@gmail.com

www.myspace.com/eelk
www.blackfire.net
www.indigenousaction.org - Independent Indigenous Media
www.savethepeaks.org
www.myspace.com/taalahooghan

Lipan Apache to Obama: Stop Border Wall Construction

UPDATE: Listen now to press conference at:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Lipan Apache to President-Elect Obama:
Stop the border wall construction
Restoring U.S. Justice Begins with Respecting the Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Principles

WHAT: National Telephonic All Media Conference Briefing
WHEN: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 10:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time; duration 60 minutes.
WHERE (Call-in Number & Access Code): News media (719) 325-4820; Participant Code: 1118417
WHO:
· Eloisa Garcia Támez, (Lipan Apache), Professor, University of Texas-Brownsville/TSC, Brownsville, TX
· Daniel Castro Romero, Jr., Chair, Lipan Apache Band of Texas, Inc., TX
· Enrique Madrid, Jumano-Apache Council, Redford, TX
· José Matus, (Yaqui), Director, Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras/Indigenous Alliance Without Borders, AZ
· Michael Paul Hill, (Chiricahua Apache/Nnee'), San Carlos Apache Tribe, AZ
· Peter Schey, Founder, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, Los Angeles, CA
· Denise Gilman, Clinical Professor, Law, University of Texas—Austin, UT Law Working Group Texas-Mexico Border Wall, TX
· Jeff Wilson, Assistant Professor, Environmental Science, University of Texas—Brownsville, UT Law Working Group Texas-Mexico Border Wall, TX
· Andrea Carmen, Executive Director, International Indian Treaty Council, AK
· Margo Tamez, Co-Founder, Lipan Apache Women Defense, WA
· Moderator: Arnoldo García, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Oakland

WHY: The Lipan Apache Women Defense will announce the delivery of its letter of recommendations to President-Elect Barack Obama, which urges him to halt the construction of the border wall, to stop the illegal seizures of communities' border properties and to uphold and respect the rights of Indigenous people. The letter from this Texas-Mexico border community of El Calaboz Ranchería (Texas) will be delivered to the Co-Chair of President-Elect Obama's Department of Interior Transition Team, Robert Anderson (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Bois Forte Band), Director of the Native American Law Center at the University of Washington. The Lipan Apache Women Defense's letter, with dozens of signatories and endorsements by close partners and allies, is requesting the administrative review of the Department of Homeland Security's unlawful utilization of Condemnation Proceedings, and the fast-tracking of the Declaration of Taking Act against Indigenous peoples' lands, livelihoods, ecologically-based religions, traditional cultures and way of life. The letter calls for, instead, a community-based partnership with the new Obama-Biden Administration to transform the U.S.'s relationship with Indigenous peoples.

BACKGROUND
Margo Tamez, co-founder of the Lipan Apache Women Defense, declared, "We are invoking the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, U.S. federal laws, and Texas state laws which have been fought for by citizens of the U.S. in order to protect the people and the nation from violent aggressors against sovereignty.
"In our case, Indigenous peoples and persons must use both traditional community law systems and state legal mechanisms in order to disrupt the violent measures that the U.S. government continues to deploy against us in this land grab. It is no secret that Indigenous communities and the natural resources such as water, oil, minerals, medicinal botanicals, wildlife, and game in the Lower Rio Grande Valley will be sectored off through militarization and converted into a 'no mans' land' and kill zone. Our case speaks to Indigenous communities in crisis throughout our region. Our way of life and our culture depend upon the land and the people remaining intact – together – not figuratively but under law systems – both tribal, communal and constitutional. The border wall must not be built and our rights restored and upheld."
El Calaboz, Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX
In December of 2007 the hostile policies of the US DHS/Secure Border Initiative against border communities came to the foreground in landmark struggles on the U.S.-Mexico border.
The construction of the border wall through the middle of ancient, Rio Grande communities, forced Eloisa García Támez, (Lipan Apache), and community elders of El Calaboz Rancheria, as well as numerous poor land owners along the Rio Grande to take actions to stop DHS from taking the community's lands, ancient burials, archaeological resources, botanical and medicinal riparian zones, and thecommunity's pastoral ways of life which are dependent upon subsistence cattle and goat herding, grazing rights, water rights, medicinal and riparian rights—in other words Indigenous Peoples' communal life-ways. The Lipan Apache Women Defense's fight raised complicated constitutional, civil, and human rights in the face of intensified government force to pressure the community to surrender their lands.
One year later approximately 80 landowners continue to litigate their ancestral land claims along the Texas-Mexico border. Some of the land claims, such as Eloisa García Támez', pre-date the United States as a sovereign nation and are directly connected to forced colonization and dispossession inflicted by Spain, Texas, Mexico and the U.S. on the Lipan Apache.
In the face of increasing public criticism of the border wall and serious claims of human rights violations before the Inter-American Commission/OAS, Indigenous peoples all along the U.S.-Mexico bordered lands are reframing and redefining the border wall conflict. They are organizing their networks around a framework of "Indigenous Peoples & Principles."

CONTACT:
Margo Támez, Lipan Apache Women Defense
sumalhepa.nde.defense@gmail.com
Moderator: Arnoldo García, NNIRR, (510) 465-1984 ext. 305; agarcia@nnirr.org
Copy of letter to President-elect Obama with signatures, letter of support and media advisory for Tuesday's telephone conference at:
http://lipanapachecommunitydefense.blogspot.com/

Willie Littlechild, UN Declaration on Human Rights

Click the link below to view Regional Chief, Willie Littlechild address the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. He was one of four civil individuals selected to speak at the 60th commemorative ceremonies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
UN Photo/Stephenie Hollyman
Video – 8 minutes 20 seconds
"Chief Wilton Littlechild, IPC - Cree Nation, UN, 12 December 2008"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9xHbFYOfI8
[Unofficial transcription of text]

Thank you Mr. President. Respectful greetings from the […] Cree and the Assembly of First Nations in Canada to the Secretary General, her Excellency the High Commissioner, Madame Pillay, to all your Excellencies and distinguished ladies and gentlemen. It’s certainly a great honor to address this special session.

In the words of a Cree elder, who said “you must know where you came from yesterday, know where you are today, if you’re to know where you’re going tomorrow.”

Sixty years ago the United Nations General Assembly adopted the world’s most important human rights document in international law to recognize the inherent rights of all peoples. For the Cree Nation we say [words in Cree language], rights that were recognized for all peoples as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

But in 1948 Indigenous peoples were not included in the Universal Declaration. We were not considered to have equal rights as everyone else. Indeed, we were not considered as human. Nor as peoples.

Consequently there were at times gross violations of our human rights. Indigenous peoples simply did not benefit from the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration.

Your Excellencies, in my community, the leaders and elders gathered [..?..] very concerned about this. We have an international treaty with Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. It’s not being respected according to its original spirit and intent, they said, as an international agreement, nor was it being honored. So after much deliberation and spiritual ceremonies, they decided to seek recognition and justice from the international community.

We were here in 1977 when we could not gain access to inform the UN family of United Nations about our issues and concerns. We’ve been coming here ever since then. Yes, we have called attention to ongoing treaty and treaty rights violations, but we have always also recommended solutions for positive change, recognition, and inclusion.

Today, our delegation wants to take this opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous advancements we have made together over the past three decades in efforts to better the quality of life for Indigenous peoples worldwide. The United Nations has, for example, taken many steps within its system, through its various bodies to address indigenous issues. There have been several UN expert seminars and studies on a number of major areas.

If one was to highlight major achievements, they include the establishment of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples, the establishment of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Inter-Agency Support Group, established by all major UN agencies to contribute to their mandated areas, the proclamation of two international decades and the establishment of a Special Rapporteur, the ongoing work on Indigenous children, traditional knowledge and more. The collective work of all these entities would not be possible without the co-ordination by the Indigenous Unit of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and also the Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum.

Today we see with the successive efforts of High Commissioners, Special Rapporteurs, and supportive preceding Secretary Generals, two pinnacles of success. First, the pronouncement by former Secretary General that the indigenous issues were now one of the top ten priorities for the UN. And secondly, his welcoming us into the UN family of nations.

While this has been tremendous work to date, many have died along this tough struggle together – and yes, we have a long way to go. As we look back one of the most satisfying was to see all these contributions leading to better understanding, better relations and respect that accumulated in a historic decision last year. With good will on all sides, the foundation was set for the General Assembly to adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. And the Human Rights Council to establish an Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Excellencies, one could argue that the UN now has, with the important contribution of Indigenous leaders and representatives, succeeded in ensuring that Indigenous peoples are now part of humankind with equal rights and freedoms. Indeed, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples clarifies how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights applies for our survival, dignity, and well being. As an elder wanted me to tell you, “I am not an object. I am not a subject. I am a human being.”

Tomorrow, many challenges remain. Why is it that there is still abject poverty among our families, especially among our children? Why is it in a country of ours, the education of indigenous students is in a crisis? Why is it that we continue to be excluded from the economic mainstream, especially during this economic global crisis? Why is it that our treaties continue to be violated? Why is it that four States continue to actively oppose the recognition of our rights, in particular the UN Declaration, as recently as two days ago on the eve of this important commemoration?

For tomorrow, we must put all these good words of the past three decades, and I would dare say the past three hours, into more concrete action. What we need is implementation of the UN Declaration.

On this important occasion, let me thank the States that support us. Through you, your Excellencies, I would not do justice to those I represent, if I were not to call on the others to say “yes” to a new framework for partnership. Say “yes” to better relations among our peoples and nations. Say “yes” to honoring treaties and agreements with mutual respect. Say “yes” to our full inclusion and continued contribution to humankind.

We respectfully urge you to call on the CANZUS states [Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States] to now support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its full implementation as a solution. That will give real meaning to this celebration. And finally, when Indigenous peoples win, the whole world wins [closing words in Cree]. Thank you.

Holiday photo and thanks to readers

Keep Beauty Alive
Happy holidays to all of you, with special thanks to each of you who contributed to Censored News in 2008. Many thanks to all the publishers, bloggers and readers who make Censored News available around the world. During the past six weeks, more than 33,000 readers from 132 countries have visited Censored News. There's also a new blog radio to bring the voices of grassroots Native Americans to all of you. Nearly 1,000 people listened online to shows during the first two weeks of broadcasts. A special thanks to photographer Brita Brookes for this photo of Florida birds, a beautiful reminder of why we all struggle. May the Creator bless each of you, Brenda.

US Crime of Depleted Uranium against Iraq and Humanity

This 18-month-old boy from Basra, Iraq suffers from birth defects, which doctors believe were caused by his mothers exposure to depleted uranium.
December 21, 2008

By Dr. Haithem Alshaibani,
Expert of environmental sciences

The first attack of nuclear strike on man kind was when the US aeroplanes bombed the Japanese city of Hiroshima, in the second world war on the sixth of Aug. 1945. On the ninth of Aug. 1945 another Japanese city was hit by nuclear bomb, which led to the defeat of Japan.
This terrifying event turned out deep lessons which nestled in human consciousness, raising accusations towards the ugliness of practising the dirtiest crimes against humanity during the battle of wills.
During the aggression against Iraq, described in some literature as the third world war, and in spite of the absence of balance, quality and quantity wise between the combating parties, the US forces used large quantities of depleted Uranium for the first time in history.
This took place in contradiction with all religions, laws, human rights legislations and section 35 of the annex protocol number one within Geneva convention of 1977, which prevents using means that leads to long-term harm to the environment.
The amount of destruction exercised against Iraq in 1991 by bombarding infrastructures using all weapons including depleted uranium, is equal from the results point of view to the amount of destruction caused by seven nuclear bombs of 20 kilo tons, which was deployed on Hiroshima including the blast, buildings’ destruction, fires and radiation contamination.
Depleted Uranium has been used in Kosovo later, though in less quantities. In addition, sites of deployment were marked on the map, to ease handling the contamination later.
UN OBSERVER & International Report
http://www.unobserver.com/



TOP 10 HUMANITARIAN CRISES IN WORLD INCLUDES IRAQ

Doctors without Borders annual list:
http://www.unobserver.com

Lipan Apache letter to Obama: Stop Border Wall

Professor Robert Anderson
Co-Chair, Interior Department Transition Team
Director University of Washington School of Law
Native American Law Center

Cc: Keith Harper
Team Lead, Interior Department Transition Team
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
Suite 900
607 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005-2018

Dagotee' Robert Anderson,
At this time, on behalf of my mother, Dr. Eloisa Garcia Tamez, Indigenous peoples, and impacted land owners of El Calaboz Rancheria, and in coordination with our allied communities throughout the hemisphere, we are handing to you an important document which articulates the prayers, vision and requests from traditional elders, women, families, veterans, and workers of the Texas-Mexico bordered lands.
Since I last spoke to you, an enormous effort has gone into the preparation of this document, encompassing the voices of a vast binational, international network of grass-roots communities, legal advisors, NGO's, non-profit organizations, and key Indigenous leaders along the U.S.-Mexico bordered lands
We are entrusting you with this historical document in the hopes that you will safekeep and deliver our message to the Interior Department Transition Team and to President-Elect Obama. Attached is our letter addressed to to the President-Elect, care of yourself, and copied to Keith Harper.
Ahe'ye'e,
Margo Tamez
Co-Founder
Lipan Apache Women Defense
(509)-595-9666
Copy of letter to President-elect Obama with signatures, letter of support and media advisory for Tuesday's telephone conference:
http://lipanapachecommunitydefense.blogspot.com/

'My Life is My Sun Dance' Theater

My Life is My Sun Dance, theater production of Leonard Peltier's sufferings and dreams

From Harvey Arden

Leonard Peltier's stage play MY LIFE IS MY SUN DANCE is a soul-transforming theatrical experience that is a living expression of his own words, his own pain, his own dreams --as well as the suffering and dreams of his People.
We seek patrons, donors, sponsors, theater folk & plain old long-suffering Peltier supporters (Bless'm)--to assist Keith Rabin and me in bringing this amazing production on tour to cities and rez communities around the nation and abroad this spring '09 & onwards. Any suggestions or comments about the play should go to keith@mylifeismysundance.com
Leonard is now 64 . He's been in prison since he was 31. I ask EACH of you personally to step forward NOW-- and assist us with ideas, theater info, purchases of CDs, books or Peltier support items all available here https://mylifeismysundance.com/catalog/
And--yes, please--reach into your heart and make a modest donation to In Peace Productions right on the website. Keith Rabin has already gone deeply into debt to create it so we have a legit professional touring the U.S., Canada and overseas in 2009-2010. Leonard DOES enthusiastically support Keith Rabin and In Peace Productions.
This play can help free Leonard as the film Hurricane helped free Hurricane Carter
As co-playwright with Leonard, I have given outright my entire co-playwright's share, plus quite a few personal thousands, to ‘In Peace Productions’, created by Keith Rabin specifically to make a reality of Leonard's play MY LIFE IS MY SUN DANCE. Please reach into your heart and your soul and your pocketbook to help us stage this play and bring Leonard's continuing CRUCIFIXION--33 years on the Cross of American Injustice--to center-stage of AMERICA'S CONSCIENCE. It's time we took Leonard down from his Cross.
Puh-leeze FWD this notice to friends and post on lists.
Become part of the history of your Own Times!
Help us LIBERATE LEONARD PELTIER!
His captivity must end!
Special note from Keith: Please watch for our upcoming January ’09 speaking tour of Utah, Nevada, California and Santa Fe, N.M.. We have dates open if you're interested in meeting Harvey or seeing his powerful spoken-word performances. For more information please contact Keith Rabin at Keith@mylifeismysundance.com
Funds to make this play a reality are needed. To assist in funding Leonard's wondrous play, the following hard-to-find books authored/edited by Harvey Arden have been donated for sale here with limited signed copies available https://mylifeismysundance.com/catalog/
~ WISDOMKEEPERS: Meetings with Native American Spiritual Elders
~ DREAMKEEPERS: A Spirit-Journey into Aboriginal Australia
~ TRAVELS IN A STONE CANOE: Return to the Wisdomkeepers
~ NOBLE RED MAN: Lakota Wisdomkeeper Mathew King
2008 “Free Peltier Flag are also for sale at the above website Your browser may not support display of this image.
For more information contact keith@mylifeismysundace.com
Maybe you alone can’t save the world … but it certainly won’t be saved without you.
--Harvey Arden LEONARD PELTIER IS INNOCENT !
http://mylifeismysundance.com
Paris: International Day of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
On October 11th 300 people gathered in Paris, France for the International Day of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples of the Americas after several presentations from other Indigenous peoples from Chile, Mexico, Bolivia, French Guyana, US, and Canada. This event was also celebrating the 30th year anniversary for the Committee in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples of Americas which also represents the Leonard Peltier Support Group in France.
This statement was read by Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee.
From Leonard Peltier
Greetings my relatives from all over the world!
I am extremely sorry I can't be there with you today. I am deeply honored that I can speak to you today even though it is through someone else. First, I want to commend you all for your dedication in furthering rights for Indigenous People throughout the world. Prison has a way of causing deep reflection as I suppose any form of isolation would. In my reflection, I have always come to the conclusion that my relationship with the Creator, my family, the earth, my fellow Indigenous relatives are the most important things to me. I try to keep up with what is going on in the world by any form of media that is available to us. I know many of you in your homelands are greatly persecuted and displaced from your homes. I know many of you are exploited, with resources taken away, and I know that oftentimes your people are killed because multinational companies want the resources from your land. I want you to know that I recognize that we have a common enemy. That common enemy has many faces. It speaks many different languages and wears many different uniforms. I know that its motivation is always the same. They are motivated by their obsession for wealth and their greed, always taking more than they need from the earth. I can't say that I know the answer for our survival. I'm sure there isn't any one answer but I truly believe that whatever the answer is, it has to begin with us. We must find every way that we can to make ourselves strong; to make our children strong; to make our faith strong and our connection to Creator strong. We must learn to use the tools of today to protect ourselves from the challenges of their greed tomorrow. We must be relentless in teaching our children how to fight back. We must be relentless in warning our children to not become like the enemy. We must be relentless in teaching our children to respect Mother Earth, the Creator, their fellow man, and to respect their brother's vision while maintaining their vigilance and guard over our lands and resources.
Someone once said that the greatest battle a warrior must fight is the one inside himself. We must develop ourselves first, and then seek to develop self discipline and self respect within our own groups. I have seen it happen time and time again. Some of our people have self destructed within their own organizations before they had begun to contend with the enemy. I hope I haven't offended anyone by what I have said. I am just being honest about the most significant challenge we face. We cannot demand our rights. We cannot demand respect. We cannot demand our freedom or any of these other things until we are in a position of strength. One of the ways we can magnify the strength we do have is by continually networking with one another, forming alliances, the way we are doing here today.
Also we should seek to teach the world about our Indigenous traditions that have allowed our survival. We should seek to teach the world of the greatest manifestation of the Creator that we have to relate to and that is Mother Earth. We should teach the world that the highest technology in all the universe is the technology of the Creator. The most productive thing that we can do is to seek to live in harmony with that technology, with the environment the Creator has provided for us. And perhaps in that teaching we will find a way to destroy our enemies by making them our friends. In the meantime, we must stay strong and strengthen ourselves and our children. We must further our alliances and networks as you are doing here today. My heart and love goes out to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I would like to say a special thank you to the organizers of this event and a special thank you for the opportunity to speak to you. I thank you with all my heart.
Your relative,
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
Leonard Peltier

No Justice in Mexico: Murdered Indigenous women journalists

Special federal prosecutor rules out that community journalists were killed for their work

Photo: Murdered Indigenous radio reporters in Oaxaca, Felicitas Martinas Sanchez, 20, far left, Teresa Bautista Merino, 24, third from left. Photo Indymedia.

By Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders today voiced astonishment at a public statement yesterday by the special federal prosecutor for dealing with attacks on the media, Octavio Alberto Orellana Wiarco, ruling out that two young women community journalists in Oaxaca State were killed because of their work.
His statement that the radio journalists of the Triqui indigenous community were shot in an attack aimed at the driver of their vehicle showed yet again the special prosecutor’s determination to play down the real dangers facing Mexican journalists while doing their job, the worldwide press freedom organisation said
“The few known facts of the investigation into the killings of Teresa Bautista Flores and Felicítas Martínez do not indeed lead to a conclusion that they were linked to their work. We should however remember that this file has since the start been in the hands of the Oaxaca judicial authorities, who have never shed light on a single one of the recent murders of journalists and have concentrated on exonerating the government of all responsibility in the case of Brad Will (see releases).
“Octavio Alberto Orellana Wiarco has endorsed the claims of an unreliable local justice official, which augurs badly for a possible elucidation of the death of the two women at a federal level”.
“It is also worrying that the special prosecutor insists on denying, on principle, that the freedom of the press is in danger in his country, when his mandate is to defend it”, the organisation concluded.
Questioned about his annual report, Orellana Wiarco replied that the two young staff on La Voz que Rompe el Silencio (The voice that breaks the silence), shot dead in Putla de Guerrero on 7 April 2008, were “collateral victims of an attack aimed at the driver of the vehicle in which they were travelling”. He automatically ruled out any motive linked to their work, prompting outrage among community radio representatives.
Jurist, David Peña, of the Network of Indigenous Community Radio stations of the Southeast, told Reporters Without Borders that there was not a single fact to support this version of events and he condemned the attitude of the prosecutor “who is only trying to limit his responsibility and to offload his duty onto the Oaxaca prosecutor general’s office”. The community association appealed to the special prosecutor to publicly retract or to produce new information to back up his conclusions.
The special prosecutor’s statements came immediately after his recent broadsides against press freedom organisations, including Reporters Without Borders, whom he accuses of putting Mexico in the ranks of the most dangerous countries for journalists on the continent, against the evidence. The organisation wrote to the special prosecutor on 11 December 2008 but has so far received no reply.

Happy holidays from Censored News

Double click to enlarge.

Mohawk Nation News: Real Algonquins at Barriere lake

Mohawk Nation News exposes the forest 'green' scam that will leave Indigenous landless

REAL ALGONQUINS DO EXIST AT BARRIERE LAKE:
MNN REGRETS MISINFORMATION POSTED ON OCTOBER 12, 2008

MOHAWK NATION NEWS
Dec. 16, 2008. Yes, Virginia, there are real Algonquins. Created the natural way. Without any help from Canada’s Indian Affairs or their bureaucratic “Svengali”, Mother Joan Holmes.
The Algonquins of Barriere Lake in northern Quebec have lived in the area now known as “LaVerendrye Park” since time immemorial, long before colonial Quebec or Canada existed. It’s a four hour drive north from Ottawa. They’ve taken care of the land so that the forest and water are pristine. Plenty of minerals lie beneath that they don’t want to disturb. Of course, the multinational corporations want to deforest the land, take out the fresh water and then dig for the minerals.
Two opportunists have been hanging around them for over 20 years, Russell “Potato Bug” Diabo from Kahnawake and David “Dutiful-Dog” Nahwegabow from White Fish Bay. They’ve hooked up with Jean Maurice “Poncho” Matchewan and his gang who are willing to play ball with corporations like Domtar, Tembec and AbitibiBowater who want to deforest and exploit the land. Why in a park?
Around 1993 Diabo and Nahwegabow, with the help of businesses and environmental groups, set up the “Forest Stewardship Council” FSC in Bonn Germany. FSC is an Orwellian twist to the real “double dealing” that some so-called environmental protection groups are fronting.
The original Indigenous owners of the world’s forests have not been informed or consulted about this.
FSC “is a non-profit organization that sets global standards for responsible forestry”. 80% of their revenue comes from governments, private foundations, corporations and non-governmental organizations, some associated with the United Nations.
Diabo and Nahwegabow have both sat on the boards of FSC at the international and Canadian levels. Diabo was recently in Toronto promoting FSC.
FSC tries to provide accreditation worldwide as to which Indigenous lands can be deforested by the corporations. According to the Indigenous of Clayoquot Sound British Columbia, “it’s a fraudulent scam to allow marketing of old growth forests around the world”. [See Link #1 at end of this article] [See Link #2 for a list of their latest certifications].
It is a scheme that has perverted the efforts of such well known environmental activists as the Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, David Suzuki Foundation, Green Peace, the Pembina Institute, Ivey Foundation, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Rainforest Alliance, Ducks Unlimited, Global Forest Watch Canada, National Environment Trust, Environmental Defence Canada and others. Instead of promoting environmental protection, it looks like they are now lending their support, knowingly or unknowingly, to those who would exploit and pollute the environment for private profit.
The idea is that any wood or wood products sold worldwide will need FSC approval, or else! the scheme allows Rona, Home Depot, Ikea and many others to present themselves as “green” companies. FSC promotes a concept of sustainability. On inspection, it turns out that after divesting us of our trusteeship and control of our lands and forests, the corporations then set up “tree farms”. Who owns them? The companies, of course! The Indigenous people are left with nothing.
At Barriere Lake Indian Affairs took over administration and placed the Algonquins under the third party management of Price WaterhouseCoopers. Just like Kanehsatake and Burnt Church! Divisions in the community were fomented. Then Indian Affairs, that holds the purse strings, incorporated the group and started to treat them like a business enterprise.
As a founding member of FSC Diabo is able to help the corporations find the best forests to get FSC accreditation anywhere in the world. The companies then go to the respective governments and get the permit to deforest the designated area. Diabo also works with members of the local band council or Indigenous group to “help” them sign illegal “Trilateral Agreements” with the province, federal government or colonial entity. The local Indigenous collaborators who sign on get very little from the deal. Their people end up having to leave their hunting, fishing and trap lines to get away from deforestation and subsequent flooding. As far as we can tell, Nahwegabow, the lawyer, and Diabo, the House Mohawk, seem to pull the strings and set up this scheme.
Jean Maurice “Poncho” Matchewan and his gang at Barriere Lake signed the Trilateral Agreement with Quebec and Canada. "Poncho", as he is known up there, is a cynical man. He accepted power and money in exchange for compromising his people. The traditional Algonquins did not go along with him. After all, it’s their forest, their soil, their homeland and their livlihood. They remain sovereign, independent and never became Canadians. Their territory remains unsurrendered and never part of any treaty. In exchange for singing away all their territory the Algonquins have been promised some firewood, chump change and no say.
When opposition started openly brewing, Indian Affairs cut off a lot of programs to the real Algonquins – phones, hydro, water, heating oil, education and social programs and health care. The whole works! All gone! When Matchewan was subsequently removed by the people, he pulled the plug on the only generator in the community. The people were denied basic human rights and amenities and coerced into tying in social services as part of the big "deal" with the corporations, Canada and Quebec.
Why should Algonquins be reduced to refugees on their own land? The Algonquins have had to go into the bush to trap and fish to feed their families in one of the coldest winters in recent history. They are living in improperly-heated over-crowded homes that are potential fire traps. Indian affairs parachuted in four new people to “represent” the Algonquins along with a new constitution and electoral code. This was supposedly put in place with the consent of respected elders. The elders say their signatures were forged. Isn’t this an old colonial trick? In keeping with international law, agreements like this must be signed in public before the whole community which must completely understand and consent to the terms.
Poncho’s gang is now accusing Quebec and Canada of violating the Trilateral Agreement by not giving them their share of the profits. It looks like the road blocks of Highway 117 on October 6, 2008 were staged and video taped for worldwide distribution. This is where MNN got hooked in. It was incredible to see such a raw display of force against women and children. People have been made desperate. Some were paid $20 to $50 to go out on the highway and hold placards for these protests. They were forced by threats of violence and seizure of personal assets to take part. The Quebec Police SQ was more than willing to engage in brutality. They pepper sprayed and tear gassed small children and hit the women with batons.
Russell Diabo and others from Poncho’s faction are now touring Haudenosaunee and other Ongwehonwe communities trying to lure our youth to Barriere Lake to stand on the “front lines”. This plays right into the hands of those who are trying to defame the Mohawks and find an excuse to implement martial law against us.
Barriere Lake is part of the “North American Water Plan” that started in 1933 (the same year that Trenton Air Force base was built) affecting 36 Indigenous Nations. It’s a short sighted three pronged action: 1. take out the trees; 2. take out the minerals; and 3. dam and divert the rivers through aqueducts to the U.S. Remove those who are in the way. There are no signs of a back up-plan to clean up the environmental damage.
The corporate elites plan to block the St. Lawrence River and James Bay. The entire Great Lakes watershed will be turned into one big lake. This will be powered by nuclear reactor pumping stations. This appears to be one of the reasons for merging of Canadian, U.S. and Mexican military and law enforcement under the North American Union NAU and the Security and Prosperity Plan SPP.
An Algonquin elder told MNN he openly opposed their schemes. He and others that were labeled as "dissidents" have been driven from Barriere Lake under a policy of “banishment”.
Around the same time in April 2008 Ontario and Quebec signed a deal for Quebec to sell power to Ontario from hydro plants to be built on Algonquin land. Domtar also signed with Quebec to log and flood Kokomville, an Algonquin community. Quebec doesn’t believe the people living there should benefit from the resources they extracted for the benefit of foreign industries. A Domtar executive sits on the FSC Canada board. Talk about conflict of interest!
The Montreal supporters “No One Is Illegal” have been posting stories, raising money and getting support for the Pancho Matchewan group. sarita@resist.ca
Huge tensions surround this situation. The current economic melt down should lead to creating a sustainable economy and sharing the world’s resources fairly. We Indigenous people have always questioned why we are forced to subsidize foreign companies who extract profits from our resources and leave us with a mess. The province of Newfoundland just stripped the rights and assets of U.S. company AbitibiBowater Inc. They say they’re tired of seeing “their” [Indigenous] resources exploited with no return for the people! The Forest Products Association of Canada is now pushing Canada to extend a “work sharing program” that will turn unemployment insurance recipients into low cost slave labor so the multinational corporations can keep getting the high profits demanded by their greed. Barrier Lake Algonquins, you better dig in and find out what’s going on. [Oh! It’s beginning to look a lot like Sharbot Lake, everywhere you go – same people, same tactics!]
Iakoha'ko:wa, Eagle Watch near Sharbot Lake MNN Mohawk Nation News www.mohawknationnews.com kittoh@storm.ca Katenies20@yahoo.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations to PayPal at www.mohawknationnews.com, or by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN “Barriere Lake” category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now! Purchase t-shirts, mugs and more at our CafePressStore http://www.cafepress.com/mohawknews; Sign up and Subscribe to MNN for breaking news updates http://.mohawknationnews.com/news/subscription.php; Sign Women Title Holders petition! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Iroquois
[See Link #1]: www.fsc-watch.org/archives/2007/09/30/British_Columbia_FSC_certification_is_a_fraudulent_scam]
Link #2 for a list of their latest certifications]. www.wrm.org.uv/countries/Asia/Lang.html] this site lists certificates issued by FSC where areas of forest are being badly managed or destroyed, or where other important wildlife habitats, such as wetlands are also being damaged. www.illegal-logging_info/item_single.php?item=news@item_id=1773@approach_id=1
http://www.fsc.org/
http://www.fsccanada.org/
http://www.borealcanada.ca/index-e.php
http://cpaws.org/
http://www.fsc-watch.org/archives/2008/11/04/NGOs_in_a_tangle_ove
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/holding-the-line-with-fsc
http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/2008/11/greenpeace_reaffirms_support_f.asp
http://forests.org/archive/canada/algtroub.htm
http://www.turtleisland.org/news/news-algonquin3.htm
http://www.perc.ca/PEN/2001-02/s-johnson2.html
http://politicsnpoetry.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/algonquins-of-barriere-lake-urgent-request/
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341bf80a53ef00e54ff052ff8833
http://aquadoc.typepad.com/waterwired/2008/01/kennedy-to-cana.html]-----------
Critic: Jacob Wawatie: jake_kokomville@hotmail.com
FSC pushers: Russell Diabo, 705-259-1474; David Nahwegabow care of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Canada, 70 The Esplanade, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1R2, 416-778-5568, 1-877-571-1133 Fax: 416-778-0044 info@fsccanada.org; Antony Marcil President & C.E.O. 416-778-5568 x 23 amarcil@fsccanada.org; Maia Becker Vice President 416-778-5568 x 25 mbecker@fsccanada.org
FSC Opposition: http://www.ecoearth.info/ Dr. Glen Barry, Ecological Internet, Inc., PO Box 9704
Seattle, WA 98109 glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org see also: http://www.fsc-watch.org/archives/2008/11/04/NGOs_in_a_tangle_ove
“Capitalist un-environmentalist” Domtar http://www.domtar.com/en/ 395 de Maisonneuve Blvd West
Montreal (Québec) Canada H3A 1L6 PHONE : 514-848-5555 EMAIL :information@domtar.com
communications@domtar.com Michel “Environmentally-Unfriendly” A. Rathier, Vice-President, 514-848-5103
OTTAWA SLIME BAGS: Indian Affairs Minister Hon. Chuckie Baby Strahl (613) 992-2940 Fax: (613) 944-9376 StrahC@parl.gc.ca; Prime Minister Stephen “Stalin” Harper, (613) 992-4211 Fax: (613) 941-6900 Harper.S@parl.gc.ca Web Site: www.pm.gc.ca/; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Robert “Dirty-Indian-Fighter” Nicholson, (613) 995-1547 Fax: (613) 992-7910 Nicholson.R@parl.gc.ca Web Site: www.robnicholson.ca/; Hon. Lawrence “When-Did-You-Get-Sober?” Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs(includes Barriere Lake)
(613) 992-5516 Fax: (613) 992-6802, Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca, Web Site: www.lawrencecannon.com/
Tel. (819) 281-2626 Fax: (819) 281-2755 Maniwaki, Québec near Barriere Lake, (819) 441-2510 Fax: (819) 441-2680
Algonquin of Barriere Lake contacts: Matchewan Group: http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/,
Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 - 435 – 2113, marylynnpoucachiche@hotmail.com, Michel Thusky 819 435-2171
Ratt Group: Casey Ratt caseyratt@hotmail.com
*Jean Charest, Premier minister, Quebec
Téléphone: 418 643-5321/Télécopieur: 418 643-3924
Email: www.premier.gouv.qc.ca/premier-ministre/nous-joindre/courriel-formulaire-en.asp
Benoit Pelletier, Ministre responsable des Affaires autochtones
Phone : 418 646-5950/Fax : 418 643-8730
Email: ministre.saic@mce.gouv.qc.ca
Claude Béchard, Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune
Téléphone : 418 643-7295/Télécopieur : 418 643-4318
Email: ministre@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca
Line Beauchamp, Ministre du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs
Téléphone : 418 521-3911/Télécopieur : 418 643-4143
Email: line.beauchamp@mddep.gouv.qc.ca

Uncensored voices

By Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Western Shoshone building lodge on Mount Tenabo
In an update from Western Shoshone's Mount Tenabo, Lisa Wolf said Western Shoshone men are still in the process of building the lodge on Mount Tenabo at the Ceremonial Site and will be going back up in the next few days. "The mountain is covered in a white shroud as Northeastern Nevada and Crescent Valley receive ample snow. Temperatures have been below zero at night, but the men are still moving forward with their camp," Wolf wrote.

Censored Blog Radio: Kickapoo water and Navajo resistance
On the Best of the Longest Walk Radio on Friday, Dec. 19, Kickapoo Chairman Steve Cadue describes how Kickapoo must haul their water in Kansas because of the broken promises of the U.S., followed by a message to protect Haskell Wetlands.
Louise Benally, Navajo from Big Mountain, speaks of resistance and how Navajos were forced on the Longest Walk and faced relocation. A Palestinian on Alcatraz Island at sunrise offers words of solidarity with Native Americans. Songs by Buffy Sainte Marie.

Blackfire and Indigenous Rights
Censored Blog Radio interviews Clayson Benally of Blackfire, the Navajo band that captured NAMMYs Record of the Year and Native Heart Award for Silence is a Weapon. Next, blog radio looks at Indigenous rights in California, from sacred places to southern California racism.
On American Indian Airways, Dr. Michelle Rehaja, Seneca professor, describes racism and colonialism at her child's school during Thanksgiving, fueled by rightwing radio.
On Alcatraz at sunrise, Indigenous rights in California speakers include Joey Silva and Mark LeBeau speaking about Pitt River and Medicine Lake. On Alcatraz, we hear from Quanah Parker Brightman, whose father Lehman Brightman founded United Native America in the 60s, and Charlie Hill. Keith Secola concludes at the AIM West 40-Year Reunion, with final songs by Yankton Dakota protesting the hog farm in South Dakota.
News/audience level everyone

Navajo Councilmen at Las Vegas Rodeo:
Why Navajos do not need another power plant
While the Navajo Nation and Desert Rock power plant spin machines churn out deceptive information, the grassroots Navajo people say 'NO' to another power plant and business as usual for the 88 Navajo council men and women. That includes the elected Navajo leaders regularly attending the Indian National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas on the Navajo peoples' money. The Navajo councilmen receive most of their income for salaries and travel from energy leases, then schedule meetings in Las Vegas during the rodeo and other social events. This happens while Navajos on the land live with the poisons of the power plants, coal mines and oil well drilling, many living without running water and electricity. The huge electric lines carry electricity over the rooftops of Navajo homes and hogans, to non-Indians in southern Arizona and southern California, while many Navajo students read by lantern light.Please read Dooda Desert Rock's response to the latest spin by those who want to poison the air, land and water for profit.
Read Dooda Desert Rock's letter:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2008/12/business-as-usual-navajo-spin-machine.html

No Human Being is Illegal
Native America Calling:
http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/
On the national radio show Native America Calling, Jose Matus, Yaqui, described how difficult it is for Indigenous Peoples to travel in their ancestral territories. Matus is director of the Indigenous Alliance without Borders.
Mike Wilson, Tohono O'odham, said he has continued to put out water for migrants. The Tohono O'odham's Baboquivari District, which has the highest rate in the Southwest of migrants dying in the desert, passed a resolution to forbid Wilson from putting out water. Wilson said it is a moral issue, and Indian people are moral people. His water stations remain on O'odham land.
Wilson said of the US Border Patrol, "They are an occupying army.
"They will stop the Tohono O'odham elders and ask, 'What are you doing here?'"
Wilson pointed out that O'odham have lived on this land since time immemorial.
One caller asked how could any human being be "illegal."
She said the US creates this "death walk" and then watches to see which migrants will live and which ones will die.
Another caller, Robert, said the Tohono O'odham councilmen have developed the same arrogance toward the people, as the US Border Patrol.
Robert said it is time to tear down the border wall as was done in Berlin.

Keshj'e (Dine' Shoe Game) Flagstaff

Késhj é' (Dine' Shoe Game) & Potluck

Sunday, December 21st (Winter Solstice!)

6PM - Free - Donations accepted

At Taala Hooghan Infoshop

1926 N. 4th St. #7B

Flagstaff, AZ

We also have new books, tons of new 'zines and tshirts!

Other events coming up in December:

Tues. 23rd - Movie Night: "What Would Jesus Buy?"- 6:30PM

What Would Jesus Buy? follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they go on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt!Tues. 30th - Movie Night: "The Edukators" - 6:30PM

Three activists cobble together a kidnapping plot after they encounter a businessman in his home.

Wed. 31st - Dezzie's New Years Dance Party! - 7pm-until...

All ages, no drugs, no alcohol - $1

*We are also scheduling events for January, please email us ASAP if you'd like to host a meeting or event!

Taala Hooghan - Infoshop & Youth Media Arts Center

www.myspace.com/taalahooghan

Klee Benally
indigenousaction@gmail.com

Mohawk 'Splitting the Sky' 9/11 Follow the money

Paiutes, descendants of Wovoka, want reburial for Spirit Cave Man

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Photo: Wesley Dick, Paiute buckskin tanner. Photo Brenda Norrell

STILLWATER, Nevada -- Dell Steve, Northern Paiute elder, said the United States has seized the remains of one of the Paiute people, Spirit Cave Man, who deserves a ceremonial reburial.

Steve joins Wesley Dick, Paiute buckskin tanner and traditional hunter and gatherer, on Censored Blog Radio in the show, "Paiutes of Stillwater: Best of the Longest Walk Radio."
The descendants of Wovoka, who brought the Ghost Dance, send a message to the US President and US Congress to honor the inherent rights of Native American people.

Steve said Spirit Cave Man, seized by the US at Grimes Point in the early 1940s, should be reburied in the Stillwater Mountain Range, where the Paiute people began in this world. Steve describes how the colonizers first seized the use of this land and have now seized the remains of the Paiute people. "The state of Nevada and the Bureau of Land Management do not want to give the remains back to us," said Steve. The issue is now before the federal court.

Steve said the remains were first believed to be 2,00o years old, but were later documented to be at about 10,000 years old. The Paiute remains are among three of the oldest found in the Americas. Steve aid the other two oldest remains were in the Northwest US and South America.
"That proves our people have lived here for thousands of years," Steve said. He said the remains belong to the Paiutes and should be returned. However, he said the State of Nevada and its museum, Nevada State Museum, contend that "they are not our people."

"They claim these remains to be 'ancient people,' and not our people." Steve said the oral history of the Paiute people tells how the mother and father of the Paiute Nation lived in the Stillwater Range at Fox Peak. "That was the original story of our people," he said, adding that the Paiute people later migrated. In the region that is now called Stillwater, Paiutes lived around the marshes, where waterfowl were plentiful and deer were in the mountains. "We had plenty of food from Mother Nature. Our culture was hunting and fishing," he said of the early Paiutes. "They did that for thousands of years," he said, adding that Paiutes maintained their ceremonies and dances as they respected Mother Nature and believed in the culture.

Steve said the people here are the descendants of Wovoka, whose vision led to the Ghost Dance. In the broadcast, Steve shares the message of Wovoka and encouragement for Indian people to follow the traditional ways.

Wesley Dick, Paiute hunter and buckskin tanner, describes how the restrictions on Paiute hunting rights here makes it difficult to maintain the Paiute culture. As a Paiute hunter, his responsibility is to provide for the elderly and others in need. Dick said the large migrating waterfowl was once a main source of food, but is now restricted. Dick, who cooked rabbit for the Longest Walk Northern Route as it passed through Stillwater in west central Nevada in February of 2008, describes the process of traditional buckskin tanning. During the Longest Walk's stay here, Dick taught one of the walkers, Yukio from Japan, how to make a buckskin drum.

Speaking on the culture of the marshes, Dick describes the tules or cattails that were used to weave mats for the construction of homes. Dick gathers the tules from the marshes to create ducks and other traditional crafts. Dick sent a message to Washington to respect Paiute traditions and honor the Paiutes inherent right to hunt and gather wild foods.
Listen to the program, with audios recorded by Earthcycles, at Censored Blog Radio:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
or listen at Censored Blog Radio homepage:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell

Graphic: The Peabody Octopus Cyclops on Black Mesa

The Peabody Cyclops on Black Mesa. Special thanks to Another Walker on the Good Red Road, for this original graphic to illustrate today's Censored News editorial, "A Call for Whistelblowers, Cyclops in the Closet:"

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2008/12/time-for-eagles-code-pink-muntadar-and.html

Double click on image to enlarge. High resolution image available for media and activists signs and websites.

A time for eagles: Code Pink, Muntadar and Ackerman

Today is Code Pink, Muntadar al-Zaidi and Judy Ackerman Day at Censored News
A call for whistleblowers: Cyclops in the Closet
By Brenda Norrell
Photo 1: AP/Washington Post; Graphic for Censored News by 'Another Walker on the Good Red Road'
Photo 3: Shoe-icide video
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

In Washington outside the White House, the Code Pink ladies were throwing shoes at a Bush effigy on Wednesday, while a lone woman, Judy Ackerman, 55, was getting arrested in El Paso for defending the Rio Bosque Wetlands from the destruction of the US Border Wall construction.
It was a day for eagles.
We can only hope that more eagles in the form of whistleblowers will step forward before another dirty coal mine, Desert Rock, becomes a reality on the Navajo Nation, and Peabody Coal is allowed to expand its genocidal tentacles into the heartland of Black Mesa.
Like a morbid octopus, Peabody wants to usurp everything that does not belong to the coal-chewing monster. Like a thirsty cyclops, Peabody wants to drain the pristine waters of the Navajo and Hopi aquifer, with its one eye focused on more dirty millions.
If the highly-paid spin doctors have their way, there will be more Navajo relocation to make way for the Peabody Coal dragon. There will be more lies in the media and more Navajo elderly will die from broken hearts.
Through the years there have been many whistleblowers on the Navajo Nation, exposing the dirty backdoor deals of Navajo politicians and corrupt corporate spiders.
Today, the Censored News blog calls on all those whistleblowers who are home biting their nails to come out and tell the world about the sleazy deals behind the Desert Rock scheme and Peabody Coal's latest parasitic coal mining plan.
Already, the sex and cocaine of the US Mineral Management Service in Denver with the Big Oil daddies has been exposed.
We would like to hear from the whistleblowers of the Office of Surface Mining in Denver. We would like to hear about the cash that is flowing to keep people silent in corporate offices and what is going on in the US Interior closets.
We would like to hear about the lush meals and lavish hotels aimed at keeping American Indian politicians voting for dirty power plants in tribal council sessions. We would like to hear about the advocates who receive scholarship dollars to speak out in favor of digging into the Earth Mother.
We would also like to hear from whistleblowers at the BLM and elsewhere within the Bush Family. We would like to hear more about how President Bush Sr., before leaving office, cleared the way for Barrick Gold mining to lease lands in Nevada. Once he was out of office, Bush Sr. then went to work as a senior consultant for Barrick. Barrick tore out the trees and bulldozed the area of the Western Shoshone's sacred Mount Tenabo in the past two weeks, as it prepares to core out the mountain for gold mining and poison the water with cyanide leaching.
We would also like to hear from the whistleblowers in the Cheney ring of private prison thieves, who profiteered from imprisoning migrants and all people of color. Surely there are whistleblowers in the US military torture schools and the private mercenaries for profit empire.
Meanwhile, there are the shoes to consider.
With more than 8,300 online articles now in Google Breaking News, Muntadar al-Zaidi -- the shoe-throwing journalist who called Bush a "dog" and remembered the dead, orphans and widows -- has become one of the most famous people in the world.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said of al-Zaidi, "What courage."
Today's AP article on the Code Pink shoe throwers outside the White House says, "The U.S. Secret Service stood by during the protests; however there were no conflicts with authorities and no arrests were made."
How could anyone have a conflict with what the reporter Muntadar al-Zaidi did in Iraq. There is no way to bring back the dead women, children and elderly of Iraq. The mass murders in Iraq can only be considered an act of US genocide. The US kidnappings and tortures were violations of the Geneva Conventions.
Today is Code Pink, Muntadar al-Zaidi and Judy Ackerman Day at Censored News. VIDEO: 'Code Pink Shoe-in at the White House'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yOC4ckof04
VIDEO: 'Shoe-icide at the White House'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju0VpP4oUyM

El Paso woman arrested protecting Wetlands from border wall construction

Judith Ackerman arrested while protecting Rio Bosque Wetlands from the destruction of border wall construction

By Carlos Marentes
Photo by Bill Addington
EL PASO, TEXAS - Today, at about 2 p.m., Judith Ackerman, a member of a growing number of border residents against the border wall, was arrested by officers of the Texas Department of Public Safety ("The Texas Rangers") at the construction site inside the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park. She was attempting to stop heavy machinery and equipment from entering into the park which is the only remaining spot of real wildlife in El Paso' border.

A small group of border residents were in the area to show their support for Judy's action and to protest against the wall. The border wall contractor called for help to remove Judy. An impressive number of officers from the State, Federal, County and City law enforcement agencies arrived quickly to detain Judy and harass the rest of the demonstrators. Even Border Patrol officers moved to the area to stop American citizens from moving close to the border area. The officers approached many of the protesters to intimidate them but the protesters refused to leave the area. A woman was detained for almost three hours for interrogation. Many more received threats of more arrests if the group continue protesting against the construction of the border wall.

The construction of the border wall represents a serious threat to the already fragile ecosystem of the Rio Bosque. Plants and animals who had survived the predatory maquiladora model of economic development still live on this place. Some of these plants and animals are in the endangered species list. But thanks to concerned border residents, environmentalists, conservationists as well as faculty from UTEP and city employees have worked for many years to restore the ecosystem of the park. The construction of the wall will cause irreparable damage to the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park of El Paso.

Once completed, the wall will cover almost 70 miles from Sunland Park, New Mexico, to McNary, Texas. The wall will separate the border communities of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México. Both cities used to be part of one community, the El Paso del Norte. The war against México created the current border and divided the El Paso del Norte, but both communities retained their common language and culture and developed deep family, social and economic relationships. The border wall is more than 18 ft. high and the estimated cost is more than 7.5 million dollars per mile. The cost of the wall is considered an offense by the people of El Paso, the Fourth Poorest City in the Nation.

Judy was released from jail and she expects to be charged by the arresting authorities. More arrests may occur since the demonstrators have expressed the commitment to continue the struggle to stop the construction of the border wall.

Sheep Dog Nation Rocks: On being a true human being

Ancient Ways Abandoned to Fend for Themselves at Big Mountain

By Bahe Kateney, Navajo from Big Mountain

Sheep Dog Nation Rocks shares the words of Pauline Whitesinger, Navajo on Big Mountain, on the way to be a true human being:

"In the old days, a day would start when you leave your dwelling place and as you make your first step outside your doorway, your day begins. What lies ahead is not clearly predictable because you may ‘tripped.’ You need a family or community to be part of your day and within that, there is a culture. Others would be there to share with you or support you in case you ‘stumble and fall.’ It was taught to me when I was young that we should limit the use of the word, ‘no!’ We were to always be there for someone in need and have empathy because ‘you’ may need that help someday.
Today, you may ask for help like borrowing tools to mend your clothes or repair something. The method of borrowing is a test of the human ability to be considerate, and it is an expression of attitude. How you achieve in that test will ultimately determine your mental balance, if you have empathy and humbleness, and it basically determines where your ‘heart’ is at: love and kinship. Certainly, these things were expected of every new born back in the old days. For instance, the new born will give to the community or if he is a boy, he will cultivate the fields or become builder of dwellings. This is probably how my father was raised because he was always there to help build a lodge or help maintain the values of the community.
I don’t think I can define Life. It has to be how much the human mind can take. Utilizing faith is key so, that you can pray when it is difficult and never give up on that faith no matter how painful. The modern-day, human mind seem less durable and it resorts to degrading others, or alcoholism. Modern way of life has separated our children from us and they have become ‘uncivilized.’ The family units of the Indian are gone. The reliance on horses and sheep herding is the past and the automobile is now the future.
My childhood times required us to haul water by hand and I remember making the climb out of this canyon, Sweet Water. I helped with carry bundles of firewood and sometimes when we moved, I helped carry the grinding stones. A day’s job did not involve going to the grocery store to get soda pop, a dangerous form of drink which we didn’t realized, and other unknown American products. Read more ...

http://sheepdognationrocks.blogspot.com/

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Video interviews: Alcatraz Occupation 1969

Video: 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz, John Whitefox, Richard Oakes and LaNada Means
Watch video:
https://diva.sfsu.edu/bundle/view/185990
Alcatraz photo by Brenda Norrell/Nov. 2008
A KQED news report from Alcatraz featuring the American Indian occupation of the island, on November 24th 1969. Includes interviews with John Whitefox, Richard Oakes and LaNada Means. Oakes confirms there there is no outbreak of hepatitis amongst the population and Whitefox states they're determind to remain there for 10 years if necessary, to defend their property rights. When LaNada Means is asked by a reporter if their protest has any connection with the Third World Liberation Front she replies: "Well, this is a Native American struggle." She describes the occupation as an attempt to make the federal government honor the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie and claims the failure of Walter Hickel (Secretary of the Interior) to respond to their November 20th proclamation was expected. She also points out that whilst living conditions for the protestors are very basic, this is in fact: "Average for an Indian way of life anyway. Now, I mean today."
50.13 MB uploaded Dec 12, 2008 by Michael D Harper
Also watch the 1966 TV interview with Cesar Chavez and the 1971 TV report on 'Your Black Muslim Bakery'
http://www.library.sfsu.edu/about/collections/sfbatv/index.php?over=1
The San Francisco Bay Area Television Archive is a unique moving image collection that chronicles 60 landmark years of social history and cultural revolution in the San Francisco Bay Area. The film & video material in our collection - which includes local newsfilm, documentaries and other footage - was donated to San Francisco State University by broadcasting organizations and private individuals for the use of its faculty, students and staff. Access to the collection and our search databases is by prior appointment only. Please contact the resident film archivist Alex Cherian with research and general enquiries. The TV Archive will be closed from Monday 15th December 2008 to Friday 2nd January 2009 (inclusive). Direct all inquiries during this vacation period to our e-mail address (below):SF Bay Area TV Archive, SF State Downtown Campus, Room 524, 835 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Tel: 415-817-4261 e-mail: acherian@sfsu.edu

Guatemala Radio Project Keeping Hope and Language Alive

Support grassroots radio around the world: More stations raided in Guatemala
From Cultural Survival

Another popular community radio station belonging to the Guatemala Radio Project network was raided last month. Stereo Lago, broadcasting from Panajachel, was shut down by armed guards from the Public Ministry who seized their equipment. The radio stations' right to broadcast is enshrined in the Guatemalan Peace Accords that ended 36 years of civil war, the Guatemalan constitution, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, but not in Guatemala's telecommunications law. We are continuing to meet with members of congress in Guatemala City and are putting community radio legislation on their agenda to finalize the reform to the law. We still need your help to send more volunteers to the capital to lobby their representatives.Guatemala Radio Project
Cesar Gomez, GRP Coordinator
“Before we started the radio station in Palin eight years ago, our language, Pocomam, was only spoken in our homes. Now Pocomam is spoken everywhere-in offices, in the streets. Without community radio, we might have lost our native tongue.”—Cesar Gomez, GRP Coordinator
Listen to a broadcast
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/programs/grp/program
The Guatemalan army couldn't wipe out Mayan culture, but American Idol can.
The indigenous peoples of Guatemala have kept their culture through 500 years of colonization, brutal repression, and, most recently, 36 years of genocide that killed 200,000 Maya. But where brute force failed, globalization is succeeding. Mainstream Western entertainment is now flooding Guatemala‘s airwaves, hammering home the 24-hour-a-day message that Mayans should abandon their languages, their clothing, their spirituality, and their identities. And the only thing holding back this tidal wave of homogeneity is a network of tiny 500-watt radio stations.
Cultural Survival is partnering with Guatemalan nongovernmental organizations to strengthen this network of 140 community radio stations across the country, many of which broadcast in one or more of the country’s 23 indigenous languages. The stations provide news, educational programming, health information, and traditional music, all reinforcing pride in Mayan heritage. We provide the equipment and organizational expertise; they provide the people and the passion. And it’s working: languages on the brink of extinction have come back into common use; marimba music that was being replaced with top-40 songs is being played again; and people are wearing the distinctive traje that defines where they come from and who they are. But the job has only begun. A loophole in Guatemalan laws allows the police to shut down stations and confiscate equipment, and they are doing this with increasing frequency. We need your help to shore up this fragile network of protection for Mayan communities and cultures.
More:
If there's a model of hope for the world's indigenous peoples, it is the town of Todos Santos Cuchumatán in northwestern Guatemala. The Mayans who live here still wear their traditional clothing with pride and practice their traditional ceremonies and customs, and 95 percent of the population still speaks Mam. At the same time, the people of Todos Santos also participate vigorously in the larger society and have a thriving economy. The key to this indigenous success story is Radio Qman Txun, the town's community radio station.
Comment:
The Alliance for International Reforestation (AIRES) which plants trees, establishes tree nurseries, provides environmental education, digs wells, and builds fuel-efficient brick ovens, will fund environmental radio content which is dated to begin mid April. AIRES has agreed to underwrite four, 15 minute radio programs to be broadcast throughout Guatemala and translated into the four most commonly spoken languages. These programs (produced and distributed by the CGCC) will serve to educate the public about sustainable farming practices.

Tohono O'odham Women on the Border

By Brenda Norrell

SAN MIGUEL, Arizona -- Tohono O'odham women describe the militarization of the US/Mexico border on Censored Blog Radio today. The US/Mexico border wall is now a barrier on the annual O'odham ceremonial route. The contractor Boeing has dug up the graves of O'odham ancestors on Tohono O'odham Nation land. US Border Patrol agents harass and threaten O'odham, holding O'odham women and elderly at gunpoint on a regular basis and routinely searching O'odham without cause.

Ofelia Rivas, founder of the O'odham Voice Against the Wall, and Angie Ramon, whose 18-year-old son Bennett Patricio, Jr., was run over and killed by the US Border Patrol, describe the sorrow caused by this US military invasion of O'odham land.
Angie Ramon and her family members believe that Bennett walked upon an illegal drug transfer between US Border Patrol agents and was intentionally killed as he walked home in the desert in the predawn hours. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals did not rule in the family's favor. The family continues to seek justice for the death of Bennett, now seeking an attorney to file murder charges against the Border Patrol agent.
The US militarization and border wall, with out of control border agents, result in death and intrusion for O'odham, who have lived in this region where the desert meets the sea since time immemorial.
"I don't know how to live my life without visiting my family members," said Ofelia Rivas, of her family members in Mexico. "I'm going to be stuck in the United States now since I don't have a passport."
Rivas said the border wall is a barrier on the annual O'odham ceremonial route. Without the ceremonies, there will be catastrophes in the universe.
"Our ceremonies, our Him'dag, it is our way of life."
"We have not migrated anywhere," Rivas said, adding that O'odham Creation stories tell how the O'odham were created here and have not migrated.
In May of 2007 the border wall contractor Boeing dug up the O'odham ancestors, who were later reburied.
During the interview, as the border wall is being constructed, Rivas says, "It is our Mother Earth and they are raping her and they are sticking these metal objects into her. It really impacts our spiritual being as O'odham people.
"Our tribal government doesn't seem to understand that this is impacting our people.
"Who is going to stand up against this government to take this wall down? This is our land, our O'odham land.

Listen at Blog Radio. Original interview recorded by Amanda Shauger, with Brenda Norrell:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Roberto Rodriguez: Why Bush Will Walk

AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM: JUSTICE WE CAN BELIEVE IN OR WHY BUSH WILL WALK

BY ROBERTO DR CINTLI RODRIGUEZ
Column of the Americas, Dec. 16, 2008

The President ducked two shoes in Iraq recently, just as he will inexplicably also be able to walk away from his office, without the worry of ever having to duck Nancy Pelosi's heels -- without ever having to face impeachment by a complicit Congress. Read column:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2008/12/roberto-rodriguez-why-bush-will-walk.html

Shellmound Walkers Honor Ohlone Ancestors

Shellmound Walk by those that respect the Ohlone ancestors and honor Sacred Burial Grounds

by Francisco Da Costa
Every year the Shellmound Walkers visit the various Shellmounds, Sacred Burial Grounds in the Bay Area and pay their respects to the Ohlone ancestors. The First People of San Francisco and the Bay Area. We have many Shellmounds, the San Bruno Mountains, the Bayview Hill, the two hills that were but demolished by the U.S. Navy at Hunters Point. Other Shellmounds that one can read about, if they go to any decent Library.
Shellmounds are Sacred Burial Grounds and the First People have Patrimonial Jurisdiction over these Sacred Sites.
Of course in San Francisco, the Bay Area, the various Cities and Counties do not respect the Ohlone, because they are NOT on the Federal Register. Imagine being treated as second class citizens in America, the home of the First People, the Native American.
The Ohlone were here for over 10,000 years all carbon dated and documented.
The United States Government signed treaties -- eighteen to be precise -- and never, ever ratified them. Some tribes were on the Federal Register, but the Bureau of Indian Affairs chose to remove some Tribes without justification from the Federal Register.
Case in point the Muwekma Ohlone. The Muwekma Ohlone were on the Federal Register until 1927 and then illegaly removed by one L.A. Dorrington, a Bureau of Indian Affairs agent.
The Shellmounds are healing points that I believe are important. But, to see them as healing points, one must be educated on issues. Of course be sensitive to the Native American.
Until 1924 it was legal to kill any Native American -- no questions asked -- think about that for a second. The land was stolen: Native American women raped and killed and with them innocent children. Such atrocities cry to heaven for restitution and of course there is Karma.
Those that practice “Greed” destroy what is good by polluting, desecrating the graves, and do injustice to all that should be respected. They foul the air and bring disgrace on the human race.
We have atrocities committed in the Bay Area and we witness it mostly with the remains linked to the Ohlone, when found are not treated with respect.
The Shellmound Walkers walk miles and bring honor and respect to the millions they represent every year. It is always a pleasure to see the Shellmound Walkers, in action and witness their acts of kindness.
This year the Shellmound Walk started on November 14 and end November 28, 2008.
Enjoy the photographs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/franciscodacosta/sets/72157610035672130/show/
Francisco Da Costa, Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/11/24/18552775.php

Blackfire and Indigenous Rights in California

Blackfire and Indigenous Rights in California
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell

By Brenda Norrell

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

LOS ANGELES -- On Censored Blog Radio, Clayson Benally of Blackfire, the Navajo family band that captured the Native American Music Award Record of the Year and Native Heart Award for "Silence is a Weapon," speaks to Native American youths about remaining true to themselves. While holding his 10-month-old daughter in downtown Los Angeles, Benally also shares the joy of being a new parent.

Benally reflects on racism and colonialism in the US and describes Blackfire's travels around the world. Blackfire is comprised of Clayson, his sister Jeneda and brother Klee. With both traditional and rock sounds, the award winning Blackfire band inspires Native Americans to resist oppression and injustice and protect sacred places, including San Francisco Peaks. Blackfire has become a symbol of hope for Indigenous Peoples around the world resisting tyranny.

Next, Censored Blog Radio focuses on Indigenous rights in California, from sacred places to southern California racism. On American Indian Airways, Dr. Michelle Rehaja, Seneca professor, describes racism and colonialism at her child's school during Thanksgiving, fueled by rightwing radio. The situation was so serious that police patrols had to be increased in her neighborhood.

Then, on Alcatraz at sunrise, California Natives Joey Silva and Mark LeBeau speak about Pitt River and Medicine Lake. Quanah Parker, whose father Lehman Brightman founded United Native Americans in the 60s, and Charlie Hill speak on human rights. Mohawk Mark Maracle speaks on prisons and reservations, recorded by Alcatraz Free Radio.

Keith Secola at the AIM West 40-Year Reunion sings Fry Bread and NDN Cars. Yankton Dakota protesting the hog farm in South Dakota offer a song, recorded by Earthcycles. The final sound is Blackfire's "Silence is a Weapon."

Listen to Censored Blog Radio:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell

Photo: Clayson Benally with his daughter in Los Angeles. Alcatraz Sunrise Gathering, November 2008. Photos Brenda Norrell

Zapatistas Festival of Digna Rabia, Mexico City, Dec. 2008

COMMUNIQUÉ FROM THE INDIGENOUS REVOLUTIONARY CLANDESTINE COMMITTEE—GENERAL COMMAND OF THE ZAPATISTA ARMY FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION
MEXICO
Sixth Commission and Intergalactic Commission of the EZLN
26th of November 2008.
To the adherents to the Sixth Declaration from the Lacandona Jungle in Mexico and in the world:
To the guests of the First World Festival of the “Digna Rabia”:
To the people of Mexico:
To the peoples of the world:

COMPAÑERAS AND COMPAÑEROS:
BROTHERS AND SISTERS:

ON THIS OCATION WE TELL YOU OUR WORD ON THE ADVANCES FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST WORLD FESTIVAL OF THE DIGNA RABIA.
FIRST. - UP UNTIL TODAY, WE HAVE THE CONFIRMATION OF ATTENDANCE FROM PEOPLE, GROUPS, COLLECTIVES AND ORGANIZATIONS, ASIDE FROM MEXICO, FROM THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES:
IRAN. ARGENTINA. ITALY. FRANCE. UNITED STATES. BRAZIL. SWEDEN. COSTA RICA.
SPANISH STATE. SWITZERLAND. BASQUE COUNTRY. CUBA. CHILE. ENGLAND. AUSTRIA. VENEZUELA. BELGIUM. GERMANY. NORWAY. GREECE.

SECOND. - FROM OUR COUNTRY, MEXICO, COMPAÑERAS AND COMPAÑEROS FROM THE OTHER CAMPAIGN, FROM WITHIN THE DIFFERENT STATES OF THE REPUBLIC WHICH WORK ON ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION MEDIA, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFFENCE, IN SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES, AGAINST REPRESSION, FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE DISSPAPPEARED, FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE POLITICAL PRISONERS, IN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS, IN ART AND CULTURE, IN UNIONS, IN WOMEN’S STRUGGLE, WITH THE MAQUILA WORKERS, IN THE CORNERS OF THE NORTHERN MEXICO, IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL STRUGGLE, IN SEXUAL DIVERSITY, IN THE TEACHER’S MOVEMENT, IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, WITH THE SEXUAL WORKERS, AND THE OUTSTANDING STRUGGLE OF THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MOVEMENT WILL BE ATTENDING.

THIRD. - DURING THE DAYS IN WHICH THE FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD IN MEXICO CITY (26th, 27th, 28th AND 29th OF DECEMBER) SOME OF THE PROGRAMMED ACTIVITIES ARE:
26th of December 2008.
1000 hrs. INAUGURATION.
1100 hrs. The Four Wheels of Capitalism: EXPLOITATION. Open forum with the participation of maquila workers from Baja California and Tamaulipas, the National Confederation of Workers (CGT from the Spanish State), workers from Solano (Argentina) and workers from the Middle East (Iran), as well as those workers who wish to participate and who let us know in advance.
Moderator: Multidisciplinary Analysis Centre (CAM, UNAM, Mexico).
1700 hrs. The Other Paths: ANOTHER CITY. Open forum with the participation of the National Union of Popular Organizations from the Independent Left (UNOPII Mexico), the Workers and Socialist Unity (UNÍOS Mexico), young people from anarchist, punk, and libertarian collectives (Mexico). Street Brigade (Brigada Callejera Mexico), as well as those who struggle in the cities who wish to participate and who let us know in advance.
Moderator: UNOPII (Mexico).
27th of December 2008.
1100 hrs. The Four Wheels of Capitalism: PLUNDER. Open forum with the participation of the National Indigenous Congress (CNI Mexico), dwellers of Lomas de Poleo (Ciudad Juárez) (Mexico), Indigenous Cabildos Association from the North of the Cauca (Colombia), as well as those who have a say on capitalist plunder who wish to participate and who let us know in advance.
Moderator: Bárbara Zamora (Mexico).
1700 hrs. The Other Paths: OTHER SOCIAL MOVEMENTS. Open forum with the CNUC -Tlaxcala (Mexico), Indigenous Chinanteca Force (Fuerza Indígena Chinanteca Mexico), People’s Front (Frente del Pueblo Mexico), Blanca Navidad Neighbourhood, of Nuevo Laredo (Mexico), Independent Francisco Villa Popular Front (FPFVI Mexico), CACTO-Oaxaca (Mexico).
Moderator: CNI (Mexico).
28th of December 2008
1100 hrs. The Four Wheels of Capitalism: REPRESSION. Open forum with the Doñas of Sinaloa and Chihuahua (Mexico), message from the Atenco political prisoners (Mexico), recorded message from Gloria Arenas, political prisoner (Mexico), We are all prisoners collective (Tod@s somos Pres@s (Mexico), National Network against Repression and for Solidarity (Red Nacional contra la Represión y por la Solidaridad (Mexico), and Bárbara Zamora (Mexico).
Moderator: UNÍOS (Mexico).
1700 hrs. The Other Paths: ANOTHER HISTORY, OTHER POLITICS. Roundtable with the participation of John Holloway, Felipe Echenique (Mexico), Francisco Pineda (Mexico), Raúl Zibechi (Uruguay), Olivier Besacenot (France), Mónica Baltodano (Nicaragua), Sergio Rodríguez Lascano (Mexico).
Moderator: Revista Rebeldía (Mexico).
29th of December 2008.
1100 hrs. The Four Wheels of Capitalism: CONTEMPT. Open forum with the Anarcho-Punk Collective La KURVA (Mexico), National Indigenous Congress (Mexico), Braceros National Assembly (Mexico), Mercedes Oliveira (Mexico).
Moderator: CNI (Mexico).
FOURTH. - FOR THE SERIES OF MAGISTRAL CONFERENCES WHICH WILL BE CELEBRATED IN SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, CHIAPAS, FROM THE 2nd TO THE 5th OF JANUARY 2009, THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE HAVE CONFIRMED THEIR PARTICIPATION:
Adolfo Gilly (Mexico) Pablo Gonzalez Casanova (Mexico) Monica Baltodano (Nicaragua).
Luis Villoro (Mexico) Oscar Olivera (Bolivia). Michael Hardt (USA) Walter Mignolo (Argentina) Pier Luigi Sullo (Italy) Sylvia Marcos (Mexico) Jotxe Iriarte (Basque Country). Paulina Fernandez (Mexico) Marcos Roitman (Chile-Spanish State) Gustavo Esteva (Mexico) Jean Robert (Switzerland) Arundhati Roy (India) (who will send her participation) Barbara Zamora (Mexico) Carlos Aguirre Rojas (Mexico) Raul Zibechi (Uruguay) Carlos Gonzalez –CNI- (Mexico) Juan Chavez –CNI- (Mexico) John Berger (England) (who will send his participation)
Olivier Bensacenot (France) Jaime Pastor (Spanish State) Landless workers movement-MST (Brazil) Sergio Rodriguez Lazcano (Mexico) Via Campesina (International).
FIFTH. - ON BEHALF OF THE EZLN, THE FOLLOWING COMPAÑEROS HAVE CONFIRMED THEIR PARTICIPATION AS MODERATORS OR PARTICIPANTS (or just to be a pain -if you know who I mean-) AT THE CONFERENCES IN CHIAPAS:
COMANDANTA SUSANA. COMANDANTA MIRIAM. COMANDANTA HORTENSIA.
COMANDANTA FLORENCIA. COMANDANTA EVERILDA. COMANDANTE DAVID. COMANDANTE ZEBEDEO. COMANDANTE TACHO. COMANDANTE GUILLERMO
TENIENTE CORONEL INSURGENTE MOISÉS. CAPITANA INSURGENTE ELENA. NIÑA LUPITA. NIÑA TOÑITA.
SIXTH. - FOR THE INVITATIONS WE HAVE PROCEEDED WITH THE DATA WE HAVE FROM THE ADHERANTS TO THE SIXTH DECLARATION, THE CONTACTS MADE DURING THE OTHER CAMPAIGN TOUR AND THE DIRECTORIES OF ATTENDANCE TO THE DIFFERENT EZLN’S PUBLIC ACTIVITIES. IF ANY PERSON, GROUP, COLLECTIVE OR ORGANIZATION, FROM MEXICO OR THE WORLD, HAS NOT BEEN INVITED, IT IS SURELY BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THEIR DATA. SO WE RESPECTUFULY ASK THAT YOU EXCUSE THIS INABILITY OF OURS AND THAT YOU MAKE CONTACT WITH THE ENLACE ZAPATISTA WEB PAGE AT THE CORRESPONDING FESTIVAL-MUNDIAL-DE-LA-DIGNA-RABIA SECTION.
SEVENTH. - WE CLARIFY THAT THE INVITATIONS ARE TO PARTICIPATE AS EXPOSITORS. THE ENTRY TO ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FESTIVAL ARE FREE AND OPEN FOR ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO ATTEND AND GET TO KNOW THE DIGNA RABIA THAT ORGANIZES ITSELF IN MEXICO AND IN THE WORLD.
SOME TECHNICAL AND PROCEDURAL DETAILS WILL BE MADE KNOWN BY THE FESTIVAL’S ORGANIZATIVE SUPPORT TEAM, AT THE ENLACE ZAPATISTA WEB PAGE AT THE CORRESPONDING FESTIVAL-MUNDIAL-DE-LA-DIGNA-RABIA SECTION.
THAT IS ALL FOR NOW, WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED.
¡FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ATENCO!
From the Mexican South-eastern Mountains.
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos.
EZLN’s Sixth Commission
Teniente Coronel Insurgente Moisés.
EZLN’s Intergalactic Commission
Mexico, November 2008.

Vernon Masayesva: Black Mesa threatened at time of Hopi ceremonies

Black Mesa Trust
By Vernon Masayesva
Black Mesa Trust

KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz., -- Dec. 16 -- Today Hopi priests and elders are in their kivas praying that harmony and peace may come to all the world’s children.
December is the month of Soyalung on the Hopi mesas in northern Arizona; it is a time of reverence, prayer, quiet reflection. For all peoples, much depends on the Soyalung ceremonies being conducted properly. But this year the Hopi people are confronted with a serious and unnecessary challenge to their ancient religion and culture.
In Denver and Washington, and the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is about to announce a decision that will impact their natural resources for many years to come.
On December 15, 2008, OSM is ready to issue a decision allowing the Black Mesa Project to go forward as requested by Peabody Western Coal Co, a subsidiary of Peabody Energy. The decision would commit Hopi natural resources for an additional 15 more years. It would continue to put a risk the N-aquifer that feeds Hopi and Navajo sacred springs and provides the sole source of potable groundwater for the peoples of Black Mesa.
It will put at risk the destruction of hundreds of archaeological sites, our ancestral villages, and human remains. I do not believe Secretary of Interior Kempthorne knows the implications of what OSM is doing regarding the federal government interference with an ancient religious ceremony.
During this month when both Hopis and Christians observe the renewal of spirit and harmony that comes with the renewal of light in late December, OSM is disturbing both religious calendars by promising to issue a very controversial Record of Decision in the middle of Soyalung, Juewish Chanukah festivities and just 10 days before Christmas.
Secretary Kempthorne should direct OSM to delay issuing the Record of Decision on the Environmental Impact Statement of the Black Mesa Project until the end of December for the sake ofall peoples, the beneficiaries of Hopi prayers and ceremonies.
The unprecedented number of Hopi and Tewa people have signed a petition urging OSM to suspend the EIS to allow them time to study and analyze the Peabody Mine application but to no avail.
Vernon Masayesva Executive director, Black Mesa Trust P.O. Box 33 Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039 E-mail: kuuyi@aol.com

Related news ...

West Virginia Citizens join with Navajo & Hopi Tribal Leaders and Community Members to Protest Office of Surface Mining

Special to Huntingtonnews.net

From Black Mesa Water Coalition Charleston, WV and Denver, CO (HNN) – Citizens in West Virginia and the Navajo and Hopi in Arizona and New Mexico have more in common than they once thought. Both areas are dealing with loss of water, land and cultural resources as a result of surface mining, and both are frustrated with the systemic lack of enforcement and lack of citizen involvement from the federal government. "When we met with folks from the Navajo community out west, we realized we are having the same problems," said Vernon Haltom of Coal River Mountain Watch. "They are struggling with bad water, loss of culture and heritage, and systemic apathy from government agencies." The issue these groups are responding to is a rushed "midnight regulation" from the Department of the Interior may be issued in favor of Peabody Coal, and the affected Navajo and Hopi people of Black Mesa are trying to stop it. A large delegation has traveled to Denver to meet with top officials in the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and hold a press conference and rally in downtown Denver to protest the pending decision, which will grant the coal company a "life-of-mine" permit, expanded mining operations and rights to tap the fresh water of the Navajo aquifer.

Read more ...

http://www.huntingtonnews.net/state/081214-staff-statesurfacemining.html

Western Shoshone Spiritual Gathering, Mount Tenabo, Dec. 7, 2008

On Mount Tenabo at the spiritual gathering December 7, 2008. "This mountain is the landmark for the Western Shoshone Indians. In their native language Tenabo, which is pronounced as (dee-na-bo), means writing on the mountain. This mountain is the home to local Shoshone creation stories, spirit life, medicinal, food and ceremonial plants and items and continues to be used to this day by Shoshone for spiritual and cultural practices. Thank you for your interest in what we Native Americans be,"said a Western Shoshone grandmother. Photos Western Shoshone Defense Project.

Related article: Barrick Gold Kills

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2008/12/barrick-gold-kills.html

Barrick Gold Kills

Canadian company profiteering and killing around the world

LATE BREAKING NEWS: Thousands raid Barrick's North Mara mine, destroy $15 million in equipment
http://www.protestbarrick.net/
TANZANIA: In what appears to be a civilian movement against Barrick Gold, the world's largest gold miner, thousands of people invaded Barrick`s North Mara Gold Mine this week in Tarime District and destroyed equipment worth $15 million. One villager, identified as Mang’weina Mwita Mang’weina, died in the confrontation. (Earlier, a subsidiary Barrick purchased buried miners alive.)

Photo: Sheila, child in photo at right, is one of 258 people moved at gunpoint, by machine guns, to make way for the Geita Gold Mine. Photo from Someone Else's Gold Exhibit

Killing of local boy at Barrick Gold Porgera mine creates crisis
PAPAU, NEW GUINEA: On the evening of July 22nd, Barrick security guards open fired on the local villages using high powered assault raffles, M16 and shot guns on the harmless villages. The reckless use of excessive force resulted in instant death of the late Gipson Umbi. In the last few weeks, three more locals have died under mysteries circumstances at the mine site.

WESTERN SHOSHONE: Barrick Gold is now destroying the region around Mount Tenabo, sacred mountain of the Western Shoshone
Barrick ripped the trees out by the roots and bulldzoned the region of the Western Shoshone's sacred Mount Tenabo in December. President Bush, Sr., cleared the way for Barrick to seize Nevada lands for gold mining before leaving office, then went to work for Barrick as a senior advisor. Photo Barrick destroying Mount Tenabo by Lisa Wolf.

Indigenous leaders expose Barrick's lies
Indigenous Leaders expose Barrick Gold's lies at a press conference after Barrick's Annual General Meeting in May of 2008.

“Your mine has destroyed our ancestral land, our sacred places, and our gardens, which we need to feed ourselves. You dump your mine waste directly into our river system contaminating 600 km of river all the way to the sea,” explained Jethro Tulin, Executive Officer of Akali Tange Association of Papau, New Guinea, in a speech aimed directly at Barrick's head Peter Munk.
He continued, “Your security guards have been shooting and killing our people and raping, even gang-raping, our women with impunity for years now… When will Barrick agree to move the more than 5,000 families who live within your mine lease in a way that is fair and will provide us an opportunity to be healthy, to feed our families, and to educate our children?”

PHOTO (From left to right) Larson R Bill (Community Planner, Western Shoshone Defence Project, USA), Anga Atalu (Secratary, Porgera Land Owners Association, Papua New Guinea), Jethro Tulin (Executive Director, Akali Tange Association, Papua New Guinea), Mark Ekepa (Chairman, Porgera Land Owners Association, Papua New Guinea) and Neville Chappy Williams (Mooka/Kalara United Families within the Wiradjuri Nation, Lake Cowal, Australia). Photo: Allan Cedillo Lissner

Blizzard slams Pine Ridge and Rosebud

December 14, 2008
By Tamra Brennan
www.NDNnews.com
Life threatening temperatures of -60 degrees slam South Dakota. Heating crisis a major issue
URGENT HELP NEEDED!

South Dakota has been hit with yet another blizzard last night. This severe storm has brought low temperatures of -35 degrees with the wind chill factor. Tonight's low is expected to be -60 degrees in many areas of Western South Dakota. These temperatures are expected to last through Tuesday evening, with more snow expected over the next few days. The rest of this week, evening temperatures will be around zero, or just above.

Many of you are aware of the blizzard that slammed Western South Dakota on November 5th. Over two thousand power poles were broken, leaving hundreds of people on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations without power and heat for up to two weeks. That blizzard left snow drifts of up to twenty feet in some areas, leaving roads impassible for days. See our press release Eleven Days Later, Disaster finally coming to a close for Pine Ridge Reservation and all of the posts and updates regarding the blizzard on our blog post entitled "Blizzard slams South Dakota Rez's" http://news.ndnnews.com

Since that last blizzard, hundreds of people were left low or without propane. Now another storm blasts through, this time with even worse life-threatening temperatures. The National Weather Service states that a person could suffer from frostbite within ten minutes or less in these temperatures. At -60F, it takes only one minute for exposed skin to become frostbitten. There are many people on the reservations that do not have adequate heating and are suffering horribly in these brutal temperatures.

Link Center Foundation (LCF), a non profit 501C3 organization, is desperately seeking funding for emergency heating assistance for the elders, the disabled, and/or the seriously ill on the Reservations. Also, there are often children found in the homes of elders. According to statistics, nearly 60% of the elders are raising their grandchildren or great-grandchildren.

Since the blizzard in November, Link Center Foundation has received a enormous amount of requests for heating assistance. LCF has successfully funded 132 families in need so far this year. However, as of today, they still have 130 approved applications still pending on a waiting list and more applications are arriving every day. Tragically, LCF has run out of funds even though winter has only just begun. Some assistance has come in from other organizations such as NAMA (the Native American Music Association). However, with the enormous number of requests pouring in, even that hasn't been able to cover the needs. Funding is the major challenge.

The first day of Winter has not officially arrived yet; it is still ten days away and we have already been faced with two blizzards and brutally extreme temperatures. South Dakota can receive snow up until May. The first snow this year was the beginning of October. Eight months of cold and snow is going to make for a horrific and very long winter this year.

How many people can withstand -60F temperatures in sub-standard housing with inadequate or little heating? Well, this is what many elders, disabled, and folks with small children are being faced with this year.

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is located within three counties. Shannon County is one of the poorest counties in the country. Pine Ridge is the second largest Reservation in the United States, roughly the size of the State of Connecticut. The unemployment rate is approximately 80-85% and the median income is about $3,500.00 a year. To make matters worse, heating costs have risen approximately 33% this year.

Nearly 60% of the homes on Pine Ridge are significantly sub-standard. Many are over-crowded and without proper heating, insulation, running water, sewer, or electricity.

How can you help?
Please consider making a contribution (tax deductible), to Link Center Foundation for heating assistance for the elders, the disabled, and the seriously ill. No amount is too small (or large!). If you can send $10 or $20 dollars, every dollar can help make a difference.

The Holidays are upon us, many of you will be out shopping for your loved ones soon. Here is a creative idea to help: Instead of buying yet another toaster, sweater or video game for your family members, how about making a donation to LCF on behalf of your loved ones! You can give them a card, saying that they helped provide heat to a family in need on the Reservations in South Dakota.

It's a great way to help, and you are able to provide a life-saving gift to the people. I am sure your loved one would be thrilled that they were able to help someone in this way. You can also take it one step further and make a family decision for everyone to take their gift money and make a donation on behalf of your entire family!

Please visit LCF's website for additional information at www.linkcenterfoundation.org or email admin@linkcenterfoundation.org
You can easily and securely make your donation on your credit card or bank debit card right on the Link Center Foundation website!
Or you can mail donations to the following address at:
Link Center Foundation
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 576 – Firestone, CO 80520-0576
Shipping Address: 117 Jackson Drive – Firestone, CO 80520
Local Phone: 303-833-6520
Toll-Free Phone: 888-220-1653
Thank you all for your continued help and assistance with this winter crisis on the rez.

Bracero Stories, El Paso

Double click image to enlarge.

Judge sets temporary stipulation for gold mining on Mount Tenabo

STIPULATION SETS UP PARAMETERS FOR WORK ON BARRICK CORTEZ HILLS PROJECT UNTIL HEARING ON PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
By Lisa J. Wolf
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

December 11, 2008
Click map to enlarge

Roger Flynn, attorney for the Western Shoshone and allies seeking to stop Barrick’s Cortez Hills Project, reported at 5:50 p.m. Thursday, December 11th that minutes earlier a Joint Stipulation “between the parties” was “filed with the court,” before Judge Larry R. Hicks and Magistrate Judge Robert A. McCaid of the U.S. District Court for Nevada, regarding “what work can and cannot be done in this interim period before the court issues its decision on plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.” Flynn advised, “The hearing will be sometime during the week of January 20th.”

Flynn noted, “The Stipulation allows some site preparation work to begin, but none of the major mine facilities such as the Cortez Hills Pit, the waste dumps, and cyanide heap leaching facility. The Stipulation recognizes the ability of Western Shoshone plaintiffs to continue to access and use the lands for religious and cultural purposes, as long as people do not interfere with Cortez's operations allowed in the Stipulation.”

While the suit initially named the U.S. Department of the Interior and the BLM as plaintiffs, Barrick Cortez intervened and joined the suit as a defendant, represented by Michael R. McCarthy, Jim B. Butler, Francis M. Wikstrom, and Michael L. Larsen of Parsons Behle & Latimer.

According to the Stipulation, “Cortez may relocate the power transmission lines” on the “upper pediment area (to remove the existing line from its current location) and lower down the hill (to install the new power line).” In addition, Cortez may “relocate the existing county road to the new location” so long as “public motorized travel on County Road 222 between Crescent Valley and Grass Valley shall remain open, subject to reasonable construction and maintenance delays, not to exceed 20 minutes” and can “extend the haul road to connect the crusher pad with the existing haul road.”

Cortez may also “perform site preparation and construction activities at the site of the crusher facility,” the “truck shop” and “conveyor” and can “continue archaeological clearance work throughout the Project area.” Cortez is also being permitted to “perform underground mining operations generally, including as previously permitted under Cortez’s separate permit and exploration plan of operations as well as the BLM’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (“FEIS”) and Record of Decision (“ROD”) at issue in this case.”

However, Cortez must “remove the water lines, tanks, and trucks presently located for dust
suppression purposes north of the boundary of the heap leach facility” during “the term of this Stipulation.”

Cortez can continue to “access any and all areas within the Cortez Hills Project area and perform
any and all work previously permitted and authorized separate and apart from the FEIS and ROD at issue in this case. In other words, nothing herein shall be construed to limit the work and activities of the Barrick entities which is authorized under pre-existing permits and approvals. Cortez has received permits and approvals, other than the FEIS and ROD plaintiffs are presently challenging in this case, for exploration and other activities for the Cortez Hills Project. For example, Cortez has received permits and approvals to install instrumented drill holes and storm water control features under a separate permit and exploration plan of operations. Thus, such previously permitted work will be permitted to continue and not be affected by this Stipulation.”

The Stipulation also provides that “Cortez will temporarily suspend the following activities permitted by the FEIS and ROD in this case” and will “not cut trees, begin mining, or conduct further activities permitted by the ROD in this case, in the approximately 835 acres comprising the Cortez Hills Project pit area.”

The Stipulation specifies, “Cortez, however, will be allowed to disturb the pit area to the extent required to move the power transmission line, construct the haul road, or perform previously permitted work,” but “will not perform site preparation, construction work, or conduct further activities permitted by the ROD in this case, in the approximately 1,936 acres comprising the Cortez Hills Project waste rock dumps” or “on the approximately 328 acres comprising the Cortez Hills Project leach pad;” and “will not perform any work or other activities within a radius of 200 yards of the water monitoring well PD-03 that is located just north of the C area and will not impede plaintiffs’ access to and use of this area.”

This includes the site of the Western Shoshone sweat lodge and fire pit, which had been blocked and disturbed by Barrick Cortez shortly after Thanksgiving.

The document further states that “the parties agree that in light of this Stipulation, plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary restraining order” is “moot.”

The Stipulation specifies that “Plaintiffs are not required to post a bond before the Preliminary Injunction hearing, however, Cortez reserves the right to seek a bond if the Court should enter a preliminary injunction, and this Stipulation and/or any resulting Order from the Court shall not prejudice Cortez’s rights to seek such a bond, nor prejudice plaintiffs’ rights to seek a zero or nominal bond.”

Further, the document specifies, “The conditions and restrictions of this Stipulation will remain in full force and effect until 3 calendar days after the close of the preliminary injunction hearing, or January 23, 2009, whichever is earlier.”

The Stipulation provides that “neither plaintiffs, nor any members of plaintiffs’ organizations shall impair, impede, or otherwise interfere with the work permitted under this Stipulation. Except for work expressly authorized by this Stipulation, Cortez shall not impair, impede, or otherwise interfere with plaintiffs’ and their members’ access to and use of public land.”

The Stipulation’s “terms and conditions are without prejudice to the parties’ respective claims, defenses, positions, and arguments relative to the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction and the merits of this case.”

Flynn noted that Western Shoshone working on an arbor at the ceremonial site on Mt. Tenabo should “not interfere with Cortez’ operations in any way” and “anyone wanting to do a protest” should “stay by the arbor and the sweat lodge” otherwise “it would break the agreement.” Flynn emphasized that Shoshone supporters must not interfere with Cortez equipment or personnel; and while they can take pictures should not approach Cortez equipment.

Indigenous Peoples Censored at UN Climate Conference

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Dec. 10, 2008

POZNAN, Poland -- Indigenous People trying to speak at the UN Climate Conference were slamdunked by proponents of the global carbon market scam, designed to enrich the World Bank and chosen corporations by way of the sale of fictitious carbon credits. The following video shows statements by two non-governmental organizations, before Indigenous Peoples were denied a voice. The Indigenous Peoples' censored statement, which was not read, follows the video.

Indigenous Peoples lands and forest are at risk in the carbon market schemes, which allows the world's polluters to continue polluting. In the censored statement, Indigenous Peoples point out that four countries -- the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand -- refused to vote in favor of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration, adopted by the UN, states that Indigenous Peoples have the right to "free, prior and informed consent," a right which is currently being denied to Indigenous Peoples in UN climate summits.

The censored statement points out that Indigenous Peoples denounce the "outdated colonial structures" of these four countries.

The carbon market scam is the latest corporate profiteering scheme, promoted by a duped media, which seeks to seize Indigenous Peoples land and forests around the world. The censorship of Indigenous Peoples at the previous UN Climate Summit in Bali in 2007 was one of Project Censored's most censored stories of the year.

The group of Indigenous Peoples are among the delegates attending the UN climate change gathering in Poznan. The forum is the half-way mark in the negotiating process leading up to Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009, where an a climate change deal will be finalizeed to follow on the first phase of the United Nation's Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

Video from: Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries: Approaches to stimulate action, of the 29th Session of Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA)
Watch video by Rebecca Sommer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brsqUgbBHu0

The following statement was NOT read:

Statement of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change
SBSTA
December 10, 2008
Chair,
We acknowledge the efforts of some Parties who have supported and worked with us to reflect our rights and our full and effective participation in this COP14. However, we DENOUNCE those Parties, including Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Australia who continue to exercise, outmoded, outdated colonial power structures that the rest of the world left behind decades ago.
We remind the parties that UNFCCC is NOT a consensus document AND perhaps a time has come for a simple majority vote that lets these four nations know how isolated their position is.
On the 60th Anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights IT IS APPALLING that any UNITED NATIONS BODY is still denies extending the Rights enshrined in this document to the Indigenous Peoples of the planet. It is a abrogation of BOTH the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Reference to the draft text ON SBSTA 29 agenda item 5, on REDD (Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries: approaches to stimulate action]. In the annex of this document, 1 (c ), we are profoundly disappointed that the Indigenous Peoples fundamental rights, INCLUDING the UNDRIP and other existing Human Rights instruments (Convention ILO169) are not included in the operative paragraphs of the latest document of SBSTA29 .
We, are just not ONE SINGLE indigenous people, as the document states. WE ARE a multitude of indigenous Peoples from multiple countries, with multiple languages, diverse cultures and background and experiences. TO REDUCE all this, to the concept of a singular unitary experience IS A DENIAL OF THE RICHNESS OF DIVERSITY THAT EXIST WITHIN, the framework of indigenous peoples as a collective of individual nations.
For this reason, WE, appeal to the UNFCCC and Parties take affirmative action to reaffirm the rights of Indigenous Peoples as codified in UNDRIP and other relevant Human Rights instruments (EG. Convention ILO 169). Any decision or measure that will be adopted at this COP, in particular the REDD process, must reaffirm the principle of free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples AND OUR RIGHT of the Indigenous Peoples TO SAY NO,. In that regard, Indigenous Peoples must be included as parties to official decisions, should be centrally involved in and benefit from, all climate change and forest programs and policies at all levels to ensure that they deliver justice and equity and contribute to sustainable development, biodiversity protection, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
We, demand an IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION of all REDD initiatives and carbon market schemes in Indigenous Peoples territories UNTIL Indigenous Peoples Rights are fully RECOGNIZED, PROTECTED AND PROMOTED.
Thank you.

Currently, the 14th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is underway in Poznan, December 1 - 12. It is the half-way mark in the negotiating process leading up to Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009, where an a climate change deal will be finalizeed to follow on the first phase of the United Nation's Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
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Impromptu protest by indigenous peoples to oppose draft REDD text

Over a 100 indigenous group leaders, including three members of the Papua New Guinea’s Eco-Forestry Forum, held placards outside the European Union pavilion

Wed, 10 Dec 2008
A PACNEWS SPECIAL REPORT
By Makereta Komai

POZNAN, POLAND --Local and international indigenous peoples groups staged an impromptu protest this evening (Tuesday), an hour before a contact group was to discuss the proposed new carbon trading mechanism, reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD).

Over a 100 indigenous group leaders, including three members of the Papua New Guinea’s Eco-Forestry Forum, held placards outside the European Union pavilion to protest against four Annex 1 countries attempt to remove their rights from the legal text of REDD.

PNG’s Ken Mondiai said they are ‘outraged’ by the actions of United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand’s ‘opposition to including the recognition of indigenous people’s and local communities in a decision drafted today.’

The 45 minutes contact group session scheduled from 4.30pm was cancelled without an explanation.

Both Australian and New Zealand delegates refused to comment on the claims of the indigenous people’s groups.

“These four countries want to include REDD in the future climate change agreement, but they oppose protecting the rights of indigenous and forest peoples who will be directly affected by REDD measures, said Mr Mondiai.

The NGO’s claim that during discussions this morning, the four countries insisted that the word ‘rights’ and references to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be struck from the text.

“This is totally unacceptable for indigenous peoples, local communities as the forests being targeted for REDD are those which have sustained and protected them for thousands of years.

“Any REDD mechanism that does not respect and protect the rights if indigenous people’s and local communities will fail.

“We, therefore demand that an unequivocal reference to rights and to the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous People’s be reinserted into the draft COP14 decision text on REDD,” the group said.

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**Ms Makereta Komai is part of the Pacific Communications Team covering this event in Poznan, Poland
This event is officially known as the "14th Conference of the Parties (COP14) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 01 – 12 December 2008 Poznan, Poland."
PACNEWS coverage is made possible with funding from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
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REDD may harm forest people
Rhett A. Butler, http://www.mongabay.com/
December 2, 2008
A new report finds that the World Bank is not doing enough to protect indigenous rights under its mechanism to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD).
REDD is a proposed mechanism to compensate developing countries for protecting their forests. The report — titled "Cutting Corners: World Bank's forest and carbon fund fails forests and peoples" — was issued by the Forests and the European Union Resource Network (FERN) and the Forest Peoples Program (FPP) at the start of UN climate negotiations in Poznan, Poland. "Cutting Corners" alleges that the Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) — which provides seed funding for REDD projects — has rushed its review process and is failing to follow its own rules set to protect indigenous people and forest communities.
Such groups fear that without a proper framework, REDD could be used by governments and carbon traders to force forest people off their lands. "In this flawed process forest communities have not been properly consulted. As a result, donors could be complicit in a new global drive reinforcing old top-down policies that will only lead to more forest destruction," said Saskia Ozinga, Coordinator of FERN. "We have seen from the EU's FLEGT process, which aims to control illegal logging, that a proper consultation process will take years, but trying to shortcut consultations will just lead to long-term failure."
"If measures to respect the rights of forest peoples are at the heart of efforts to combat deforestation, then forest and climate policies could do some good," added Tom Griffiths, Coordinator of the Forest Peoples Program's Responsible Finance Program.
"It is alarming that the early government plans, approved by the World Bank, are simply business as usual. None of these REDD plans deal with the critical issues of governance, human rights, land tenure reforms and Free, Prior and Informed Consent. "To attain sustainable forest and climate initiatives, forest peoples must be fully consulted about their design. International donors must also ensure that human rights and forest sector reforms are guaranteed before any international funding is released to developing countries for their national actions on forest and climate issues."
"Cutting Corners" comes shortly after Friends of the Earth International (FOE), an environmental activist group, announced its opposition to REDD via a report titled "REDD Myths". At the UNFCCC talks in Poznan, FOE says it will oppose attempts to include forests in carbon markets. "During the climate talks, we will be demanding that forests are kept out of carbon markets, that plantations are entirely excluded and land rights are enforced as the basis of any forest policy," said Joseph Zacune, Climate and Energy Coordinator with FOE.
"If governments are serious about tackling climate change, deforestation must be stopped once and for all. To do this we need to tackle the consumption of agrofuels, meat and timber products which is driving deforestation and support good governance of forest resources."
Other analysts say REDD — in a form that recognizes rural peoples' rights — offers the best hope for preserving forests in the future while simultaneously fighting global warming. "REDD can benefit biodiversity conservation as well as indigenous and rural peoples," wrote Daniel Nepstad, Stephan Schwartzman, and Paulo Moutinho in a report published last year. "To succeed, national REDD programs must be consistent with UNFCCC and other UN principles, be transparent and have the active involvement of indigenous peoples and forest communities."
"Rejecting REDD will not defend indigenous rights. Substituting official aid from developed countries for carbon market funding will not be a better, less risky alternative for reducing deforestation. Indigenous rights abuses, often caused by the same activities that drive deforestation, must be addressed directly."
References
Kate Dooley, Tom Griffiths, Helen Leake, Saskia Ozinga. Cutting Corners - World Bank's forest and carbon fund fails forests and peoples. FERN. November 2008.
Kate Dooley. An overview of selected REDD proposals. FERN. November 2008.
Ronnie Hall. REDD myths: a critical review of proposed mechanisms to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries. Friends of the Earth. December 2008.
Stephan Schwartzman, Daniel Nepstad, and Paulo Moutinho. GETTING REDD RIGHT - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Environmental Defense / The Woods Hole Research Center / Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazônia (IPAM). December 2007
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Breaking news
Repairing our reputation on human rights
ABC Online, Australia - By Elizabeth Evatt The language of the declaration is inspiring, starting with article 1: "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights". Australian gov't intends to endorse indigenous rights declaration
Xinhua, China - Dec 9, 2008 CANBERRA, Dec. (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has indicated it still intends to endorse a United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous ...
PMA: Indigenous Rights Petition to Parliament
Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand - The first signatures on the national petition calling on the government to support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will be presented ...
Canada's opposition to the human rights of Indigenous People at UN ...
Canada NewsWire (press release), Canada - OTTAWA, Dec. 10 /CNW Telbec/ - This International Day for Human Rights on December 10 marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of ...

International Human Rights Day: Sad Day for Indigenous Peoples

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2008: A SAD DAY FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Executive Director, TEBTEBBA (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education)
Chair, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
December 10, 2008

It is with great sadness that today, the 60th Anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights, some States have denied indigenous peoples of their rights at the 14th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC.

This morning indigenous peoples were shocked to see the final version of the Draft Conclusions on Agenda Item 5: Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries: approaches to stimulate action, of the 29th Session of Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). This Document (FCCC/SBSTA/2008/L.23) removed any references to rights of indigenous peoples and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This move was spearheaded by the same States (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA) which voted against the adoption of the UNDRIP by the UN General Assembly last 13 Sept. 2008.

Furthermore, these same states used the phrase “indigenous people” instead of “indigenous peoples” with an “s” which is the internationally accepted language. The international human rights instrument on indigenous peoples' rights, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was adopted by 144 member-states of the UN, uses Indigenous Peoples. This was a battle fought by indigenous peoples for more than 30 years within the United Nations. The “s” in peoples means that indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination (Article 3, UNDRIP) and have collective rights. The UNDRIP is an interpretation of how the existing Human Rights Covenants apply to indigenous peoples considering the historical and present injustices they are suffering from.

Witnessing the way indigenous peoples rights are undermined by the very States who took the lead in formulating and adopting the UN Declaration on Human Rights, 60 years ago, is a tragic thing.. These States are very keen to include REDD as part of the agreement on mitigation which will be agreed upon during the 15th Conference of Parties in Copenhagen which will be held in 2009. However, they obstinately refuse to recognize the rights of indigenous peoples and other forest peoples, who are the ones who sacrificed life and limb to keep the world's remaining tropical and sub-tropical rainforests.

I call upon these States to reconsider their positions and move towards recognizing indigenous peoples' rights, as contained in the UNDRIP, as a framework for the design and implementation of REDD I earnestly wish to see States and the UN system implement effectively the UNDRIP as stated in Article 42. The Declaration has to be implemented in all arenas, whether at the local and national level and at the global level, including by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its protocols.

I congratulate the Parties who insisted that the language of rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples remain in the draft conclusions. I know they fought hard for these and I certainly hope they will continue to do this in the future negotiations. Indigenous peoples will continue to oppose the REDD mechanisms if their rights are not recognized by States and the UN, including the UNFCCC and the World Bank. They are very vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, but they are also providing the solutions to climate change. Their traditional knowledge on forests and biodiversity is crucial for the methodological issues being tackled under REDD. Their participation in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating REDD policies and proposals has to be ensured. Their free, prior and informed consent has to be obtained before any REDD mechanism is put into place in their territories. It is their right to decide whether to accept REDD or not.

I welcome paragraph 6 of the Draft Decision which calls for an Expert meeting on REDD before the 30th SBSTA session. This Expert meeting should be used to go more deeply into the methodological issues relevant for indigenous peoples. However, it should also be linked with the policy issues which will be discussed under the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA). Enhanced policies and measures for REDD should be linked with methodologies proposed by the SBSTA. Indigenous peoples participation in this Expert Group meeting was acknowledged in the Draft Decision and it is my hope that this is implemented.

I call on the Ministers who will be speaking before the High-Level Ministerial Segment to reiterate the importance of recognizing and implementing the UNDRIP in REDD decisions and mechanisms. I call on the Ministers to pledge more financial and technical support for indigenous peoples to be able to contribute more substantially to mitigation efforts.

I urge indigenous peoples to continue being vigilant and active in influencing and monitoring the climate change negotiations, policies and programmes at the national and global levels. We have to use the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as an instrument which will ensure our survival and dignity especially in the face of the multiple crisis the world faces. The climate change crisis, the economic downturn and the destruction of biodiversity and cultural diversity are serious threats to our continuing existence. But if we strongly unite amongst ourselves, with other civil society organizations, with States who are willing to do all they can to genuinely address these, then there is hope for the earth and the future generations.

There is no choice left for us but to continue contributing what we can to help bring down greenhouse gas emissions, to strengthen our values and systems which are respectful of nature, to assert our rights contained in the UNDRIP and to be in solidarity with the most vulnerable sections of society. We should continue practicing our low-carbon and sustainable traditional livelihoods. At the same time we should demand that resources be made available for us to adapt to climate change.

I reiterate the imperative for the Annex 1 countries to carry the heavier burden of mitigating climate change. As these are the countries which have mainly caused climate change, it is just fair that they be the ones to lead the way. Meeting their legally binding targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emission is the main path towards mitigation. REDD, if properly designed and implemented can still contribute to mitigation. However, I believe that forests should not be used as carbon offsets for Annex 1 countries. Thus, emissions trading of forest carbon may not be the right approach. Rewards, both monetary and non-monetary, to indigenous peoples and other forest peoples for protecting the forests may be a better track to take.

Let it not be said that the richest and most powerful reneged on their duty to save this world and to respect the rights of those who have contributed the most to mitigating climate change.

Thank you.
Contact: Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, email: vicky@tebtebba.org
mobile: +63-9175317811
www.tebtebba.org

Algonquin Chief imprisoned for peaceful protest

Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Quebec judge imprisons Algonquin Chief for two months for peaceful protest: Crown asks for one year to send "clear message" to impoverished community
From Barriere Lake Community

Photo by Lia Tarachansky
French translation

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory -- On Thursday December 4th a Quebec judge sentenced Barriere Lake Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway to forty-five days in jail, in addition to fifteen already served in pre-trial detention, for participating in peaceful blockades intended to draw attention to violations of Barriere Lake's rights by the Canadian and Quebec governments.

Barriere Lake has been demanding that Canada and Quebec honour signed agreements and that Canada appoint an observer to witness and respect the outcome of a new leadership selection in accordance with Barriere Lake's Customary Governance Code.

"It's shameful that the government of Quebec would rather throw me in jail than fulfill their legal obligations by implementing signed agreements," said Acting Chief Nottaway, a father of six who passed his twenty-eighth birthday in jail last Thursday. "Meanwhile, the Government of Canada continues to interfere in our internal affairs while trying to wash its hands of responsibility for this situation."

Nottaway was charged with three counts of mischief and breach of conditions stemming from March blockades on Barriere Lake's access road and a November blockade on highway 117 outside the community's reserve in Northern Quebec. Another blockade in October was violently dismantled by Quebec riot police, who used tear-gas on a crowd that included Elders, youth, and children. More than 40 members of the community of 450 have been charged for these actions.

"Quebec has now joined the company of Ontario, which put the leaders of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation and Ardoch Algonquin First Nation behind bars for peaceful protest. It seems like the provinces' preferred method for dealing with our rights is to use the police and the courts to punish us until we forget about them," said Marylynn Poucachiche, a community spokesperson who was arrested during the November blockade.

Crown Attorney France Deschamps asked Judge Jules Barriere for a sentence of 12 months, saying a "clear message" was required "to make sure Nottaway has no desire to do this again, and to discourage the group – because his supporters are waiting to hear what happens here." Judge Barriere noted that the Crown's request was "partly illegal," as 6 months is the maximum possible sentence for summary convictions. But he agreed with Deschamps that a prison sentence was necessary, saying it was "important to pass a clear message to the community."

"The only message the Canadian and Quebec governments are sending is that they are willing to criminalize our community and split apart our families in order to avoid implementing precedent-setting agreements and respecting our leadership customs," added Nottaway.

Barriere Lake wants Canada and Quebec to uphold signed agreements, dating back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada has been in breach of the agreement since 2001. Quebec signed a complementary Bilateral agreement in 1998, but has stalled despite the 2006 recommendations of two former Quebec Cabinet Ministers, Quebec special representative John Ciaccia and Barriere Lake special representative Clifford Lincoln, that the agreement be implemented.

On March 10th, 2008, the Canadian government rescinded recognition of Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council and recognized individuals from a minority faction whom the Barriere Lake Elder's Council says were not selected in accordance with their Customary Governance Code. On March 2nd and 3rd, community members had set up blockades on their access road to prevent members of this minority faction from entering the reservation, anticipating the Canadian government would try to illegally interfere in Barriere Lake's internal customary governance for the third time in 12 years.

In 2007, Quebec Superior Court Judge Rejean Paul issued a report that concluded that the current faction recognized by the federal government was a "small minority" that "didn't respect the Customary Governance Code" in an alleged leadership selection in 2006 [1]. The federal government recognized this minority faction after they conducted another alleged leadership selection in January 2008, even though an observer's report the government relied on stated there was no "guarantee" that the Customary Governance Code was respected [2].

The Algonquin Nation Secretariat, the Tribal Council representing three Algonquin communities including Barriere Lake, continues to recognize and work with Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council.
Media Contacts:
Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 – 435 – 2171
Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 - 435 - 2113
Notes
[1] http://web.resist.ca/~barrierelakesolidarity/resources/Rapport_du_Juge_Paul-versionANGLAISEcomplete.doc, pg 26-27
[2] http://web.resist.ca/~barrierelakesolidarity/resources/Riel_Translation_Letter_2.doc , pg 2
Collectif de Solidarité Lac Barrière
*******************************************
www.solidaritelacbarriere.blogspot.com
barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com
514.398.7432

Hopi Chairman Ben Nuvamsa takes lead to halt Peabody

Photo 1: Hopi Chairman Ben Nuvamsa in Denver protest. Photo 2: Kevin Nash, Hopi, tells OSM officials about how their decision on the "Black Mesa Project" will tear apart every aspect of his life ad his peoples' lives far into the future. Elder Anna Silas, Hopi, listens near by, while Hopi Tribal Chairman Ben Nuvamsa (seated) supports Racheal Povatah, Hopi. Photo 3: Denver banner. Courtesy photos.

Hopi and Navajo united in Denver to halt Peabody's genocide and desecration

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

DENVER -- Hopis and Navajos spoke out in solidarity to oppose a new life-of-mine permit on Black Mesa for the longstanding genocidal corporation Peabody Coal. Speaking out during a panel on Dec. 7 and then protesting outside the Office of Surface Mining in downtown Denver on Dec. 8, Hopi and Navajo said their water is too precious to be used again for water slurry.

Navajo and Hopi are opposing the permit for Peabody Coal, which would extract enormous amounts of aquifer water and could mean more forced relocation of Navajos.

A delegation of 35 Navajo and Hopi tribal members, including Hopi Tribal Chairman Ben Nuvamsa, met with the U.S. Office of Surface Mining at their Denver headquarters in hopes of delaying OSM's Record of Decision until the next Presidential Administration takes office.

The Record of Decision is the final stage of the permitting process for the proposed "Black Mesa Project," which would grant Peabody Coal Company a life-of-mine" permit-- expanded mining operations and rights to tap the fresh water of the Navajo aquifer.

For three hours the Navajo and Hopi representatives met with OSM officials and presented documents and petitions ratified by their communities that urge OSM to suspend their decision, the Hopi and Navajo delegation said in a statement.

Their unified statement read, "Although we represent two different tribes, we come today united to protect our shared land and water. Water is the life source to both our peoples, and Peabody has failed to understand this connection. If the Office of Surface Mining grants a permit to Peabody, our way of life and spiritual balance will be severely disrupted and altered. Currently, we are already suffering the damage this industry has caused over the past 30 years. We believe OSM has been negligent in fulfilling the NEPA process, and if OSM issues a Record of Decision, that would be a breach of the Federal Trust Responsibility. United we ask the Office of Surface Mining to stop the Record of Decision process."

OSM Western Regional Director Al Klein stated, "The Environmental Impact Statement process is finalized, the decision before us is very minor, and we are on track to release it on Dec. 15."

The tribal representatives expressed the weight of this decision and that it is not a "minor" decision. They also gave testimony to the many aspects of their life, culture, and spirituality that would be severely impacted if the project was approved. Gordon Isaac, a Navajo tribal member and veteran of the Gulf War told the officials, "Peabody is not just digging into topsoil. They are tearing into people's lifeways."

While most of the delegation was inside meeting with OSM officials, 60 local supporters accompanied the rest of the Navajo and Hopi delegation outside to rally, protest, and show support, including dropping a 10ft by 16ft banner from a nearby parking garage that read, "Navajo & Hopi Say NO COAL MINING!" Support was not only outside of the building. OSM's telephone and fax lines were bombarded with calls of support and written requests to postpone the ROD from across the country.

After listening to three hours of emotional testimony, OSM was asked if they would simply consider suspending the record of decision. Director Klein replied, "We have a set of regulations, and when a company puts on paper in their application how they will fulfill the requirements, we do not have discretion. We have to grant them a permit ... At this point we will not be changing the calender of events on this decision."

This decision comes in the midst of Hopi political turmoil. Chairman Nuvamsa came to represent the Hopi and Tewa people in the battle to protect the water and lands from further coal mining in Black Mesa, AZ. "Due to lack of representation on the Hopi Tribal Council, the Village of Tewa was never afforded the opportunity to participate in any discussion of the Draft EIS as it applies to Hopi people and land," stated Chairman Nuvamsa.

"Hopis believe that this time of year is a very sacred and sensitive time that prevents us from stepping outside our home area, because it's the time of renewal for all life. We are taught not to be disruptive and confrontational during this time. It is such a big sacrifice for us to be here in Denver, but OSM continues to release critical decisions during this time; so many of our people have not been able to to voice their grave concerns about this Black Mesa Project. We feel an obligation to our families, clans, and future, so we have come here despite our cultural restrictions." says Racheal Povatah, a Hopi tribal member.

Speaking on a panel before the protest on Sunday, Wahleah Johns, Navajo from Forest Lake, Arizona, with the Black Mesa Water Coalition, said she comes from the area, close to the Peabody Coal operations. Read about it, and listen to Johns, John and Leonard Benally of Big Mountain at:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2008/12/navajos-and-hopis-protest-peabody-coal.html

Indigenous Peoples slammed at UN Climate Summit in Poland

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND NGOs OUTRAGED AT THE REMOVAL OF RIGHTS FROM UNFCCC DECISION ON REDD
We, the undersigned representatives of indigenous peoples, local communities and non-governmental organizations monitoring the progress of negotiations in Poznan are outraged that the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand opposed the inclusion of recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities in a decision on REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) drafted today by government delegates at the UN Climate Conference. These four countries (often known as the 'CANZUS Group') want to include REDD in the future climate agreement, but they oppose protecting the rights of the indigenous and forest peoples who will be directly affected by REDD measures. In discussions today, these countries insisted that the word "rights" and references to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be struck from the text.
This is totally unacceptable for indigenous peoples, local communities and supporting NGOs, as the forests which are being targeted for REDD are those which indigenous peoples have sustained and protected for thousands of years. The rights of forests peoples to continue playing this role and being rewarded for doing so has to be recognized by the UNFCCC Parties. Any REDD mechanism that does not respect and protect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities will fail. We therefore demand that an unequivocal reference to rights and to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be reinserted into the Draft COP14 Decision text on REDD.
Poznan, December 9, 2008, Signed by The Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change, comprised of more than 30 civil society organizations from three tropical continents, Accion Ecologica, Friends of the Earth, International Indigenous Peoples' Forum on Climate Change, Rainforest Foundation Norway, Rainforest Foundation, UKTebtebba Foundation

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tar Sands Sign-On Letter

To: All NGO and Indigenous Organizations

From the Indigenous Environmental Network
From: Organizations at the Poznan Climate ConferenceRe: Visit of Rob Renner, Alberta Environment Minister to Poznan Climate Conference
Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner is visiting the United Nations Climate Conference in Poznan Poland in order to promote and defend the tar sands – the world's dirtiest oil.
Click Here to download sign-on letter (PDF). We are seeking ORGANIZATIONAL endorsements – not individual endorsements.
Please provide us with (a) the name of your organization; (b) contact person; (c) e-mail; and (d) telephone number Please send this information to Montana Burgess: mburgess@climateactionnetwork.ca
DEADLINE FOR ENDORSEMENT IS WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10 20:00 HRS (POZNAN TIME)
The letter will be released to media in Poznan; Canada; and United States on the morning of Thursday December 11, 2008. A brief media advisory will be attached to the letter.

Navajos and Hopis protest Peabody Coal in Denver photos

Photos and audio by Mano Cockrum, Hopi-Navajo, in Denver:

Navajos and Hopis in solidarity, protest Peabody Coal, outside the Office of Surface Mining in Denver today. Black Mesa Panel Discussion on Sunday, recorded by Mano Cockrum. Listen to audio:

http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2008/12/black-mesa-panel-denver.html

Navajo and Hopi: 'Black Mesa is not for sale'

By Brenda Norrell

DENVER -- Hopis and Navajos spoke out in solidarity to oppose a new life-of-mine permit on Black Mesa for the longstanding genocidal corporation Peabody Coal. Speaking out during a panel on Sunday, and protesting outside the Office of Surface Mining on Monday, Hopi and Navajo said their water is too precious to be used again for water slurry.

Wahleah Johns, Navajo from Forest Lake, Arizona, with the Black Mesa Water Coalition, comes from the area, close to the Peabody Coal operations. Johns said the latest push for Peabody Coal mining is part of the Bush legacy of targeting Indigenous lands with fossil fuel extractions all over the world.

Johns said the proposed life of mine would mean that Peabody can mine as much coal as they can, as long as they like, until all the coal is gone. "It hurts me. I have seen what actual strip mining looks like."

Peabody has been using the pristine aquifer water at the rate of 4,600 acre feet of water each year. "No where else could you find this type of abuse, no where else in the world."

Johns said the Black Mesa Water Coalition organized because of the abuse of sacred water. "Black Mesa is regarded as a female mountain of Black Mesa." She said every effort must be made to stop coal mining on Black Mesa.

During the panel discussion on Sunday, Enei Begaye moderated the discussion on what more coal mining and devastation would mean for the Navajo and Hopi people.

Dale Jackson, Hopi from Third Mesa, said Hopis made a difficult sacred run to Mexico, which required a great deal of sacrifice. He was happy to see the rain when they returned.

"We were happy to see we brought the rain back."

Jackson said the Hopi grandmothers are sad now and do not know what will happen to them. "They are here in spirit listening to us."

Maxine Wadsworth, Hopi, said the people came out of respect to protect the water. "We just had to put our prayers before us, and lay our prayers down to be here today."

She said the Hopi tribal government has provided misinformation about the draft environmental impact statement. She said the Hopi people are not in support of the EIS and have gained the support of Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva, who has asked that the EIS be suspended. She said the Office of Surface Mining is pushing for passage of the EIS.

Wadsworth said Peabody Coal does not have permission to use C-Aquifer water.

"We are here to speak on our own behalf." She said the aquifer provides water for ceremonies at the springs. The springs are drying up.

"When I think about it, I just want to cry. It is that significant to us."

Wadsworth said the US government is failing to protect the religious beliefs of the Hopi people, but yet protect insects and fishes.

Wadsworth listed the federal laws being violated, included the Treaty of Guadalupe and laws created to protect American Indian religious freedoms.

Hopi and Navajo traveled 12 hours to reach Denver, many living in desperate conditions.

They said they came to Denver for their children, their future and the sacred ceremonies. The people are being abused by their own tribal officials and the officials of the Office of Surface Mining.

Navajos from Big Mountain said ceremonial plants are disappearing as the springs dry up.

"They are destroying this beautiful land," said John Benally from Big Mountain. "Because they don't live there, they don't care."

While the healing and ceremonial plants and clays are disappearing, Benally said burning fossil fuels is responsible for global climate change. The sun is now causing people to have blisters. He said Navajos do not want to give their young people contaminated air to breathe and land to live on.

Navajos have to travel long distances to haul water, while Peabody uses the water and tribal officials ignore the grassroots people, especially the elderly.

"We are threatened again with relocation," said Leonard Benally of Big Mountain. "Enough is enough. We need your help."

"Tell the OSM people, 'Black Mesa is not for sale! Go home!'"

More news articles on protest at Pechanga Net Native News:

http://www.pechanga.net/NativeNews.html

Bush Inc.: Maddog attack on Indian lands in final hours

Article and photo by Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

SAN FRANCISCO -- From Black Mesa to the Western Shoshone's Mount Tenabo, the Bush extended corporation of thieves is seizing Indigenous lands in the final hours.
Barrick Gold is right now bulldozing the Western Shoshone's sacred Mount Tenabo, tearing the trees out by the roots as Barrick prepares to dig out the heart of the sacred mountain for an open pit gold mine with cyanide leaching. Barrick is targeting Indigenous lands around the world.
In Denver today, Navajos and Hopis in solidarity are protesting the latest threat to Black Mesa. A soon-to-be released environmental impact statement could reopen the Black Mesa Mine and more lands for coal strip mining. It could result in the relocation of more families from Black Mesa and give Peabody Coal Company a life-of-mine permit to mine Black Mesa. Peabody Coal could also be given the green light to suck dry the precious water of the Navajo Aquifer.
In the Arctic, the fight continues to protect the pristine region from oil drilling and the pollution of power plants. Black carbons from power plants, including those on Indian lands, and tailgate emissions are destroying the habitat for polar bear, walrus and seals in the melting Arctic.
The proposed Desert Rock power plant on the Navajo Nation is being pushed by elected Navajo officials who receive their salaries and travel funds primarily from energy profits.
Desert Rock is being fought by grassroots Navajos at Dooda Desert Rock who do not want a third power plant in this area on Navajo land, in northwestern New Mexico. Desert Rock's corporate schemer is Sithe Global, whose parent company was created by Stephen Schwarzman at Blackstone, a member of the Bush corporate band of Skull and Bones.
With the racist hype of television news and hate crimes rising, Indigenous borderlands are being seized by the U.S. Homeland Security. The ancestors graves have been dug up on the Tohono O'odham Nation by Boeing during construction of the border wall. Lipan Apache in Texas are fighting the seizure of their land by Homeland Security.
The seizure of borderlands will result in a profitable corridor of land for the US, while the militarization of the border results in deaths, harassments and rape. US soldiers and US border agents are smuggling drugs and carrying out murders, assaults and rapes.
Across America, Native American sacred places, from San Francisco Peaks to Bear Butte, are being pillaged and desecrated. Indian lands, including the Lakota and Navajo lands, already strewn with unreclaimed radioactive tailings from the Cold War, poisoned water and massive cancers and deaths from uranium mining, are targeted in the United States and Canada for more uranium mining and nuclear waste dumping.
At the northern border, Mohawk grandmothers have been beaten by Canadian border guards, resulting in the heart attack of Mohawk Nation News Publisher Kahentinetha Horn. MNN Editor Katenies was also beaten and jailed.
Just as the American Indian Movement said after the murder of Raymond Yellow Thunder in Gordon, Neb., the battlecry is now "Never again!"
Related:

Related:
Video: Award-winning journalist Great Palast tells how Bush Sr. went to work for Barrick Gold after changing the laws before he left office, so Barrick could buy land for its gold mine in Nevada. Also described is how a subsidiary, which Barrick purchased, buried miners alive in Tanzania:
http://vimeo.com/1620121?pg=embed&sec=1620121

Israel's automatic killzone border towers could be future for US border
Barrick Gold: Sucking it dry
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Photo: During the last year of her life, Navajo relocation resister Roberta Blackgoat protesting Peabody Coal and the use of the Navajo Aquifer in Flagstaff, Ariz. Photo Brenda Norrell

Israeli's automatic kill zone border towers could be future for US border

Special thanks to Mohawk 'Splitting the Sky' for contributing to this report.

By Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

TUCSON -- Border towers and automatic killzones are already a reality in Israel and could be the next step for the US/Mexico border. Meanwhile, an unmanned and malfunctioning Predator drone is headed for the US/Canadian border from the US/Mexico border to endanger lives there.

The drones, unmanned spy planes, were discontinued for a while after one crashed near Nogales, Ariz., in 2006. Congress, however, brought back the drones, equipped with lasers, to endanger lives on the ground again. The Predators are also used by the US to kill people in Iraq and Afghanistan, computer operated by US soldiers in Arizona and Nevada.

Now, Noah Shachtman writes in WIRED that the US government has been trying with limited success to install a string of sensor-laden sentry towers at the US/Mexico border. In Israel, these towers have automatic weapons to spray death.

"On the U.S.-Mexico border, the American government has been trying, with limited success, to set up a string of sensor-laden sentry towers, which would watch out for illicit incursions. In Israel, they've got their own set of border towers. But the Sabras' model comes with automatic guns, operated from afar," Shachtman writes.

The Sentry Tech towers are basically remote weapons stations, stuck on top of silos. "As suspected hostile targets are detected and within range of Sentry-Tech positions, the weapons are slewing toward the designated target," David Eshel describes over at Ares. "As multiple stations can be operated by a single operator, one or more units can be used to engage the target, following identification and verification by the commander."

Wired said it flagged the towers last year, as the Israeli Defense Forces were setting up the systems, designed to create 1500-meter deep "automated kill zones" along the Gaza border.

Meanwhile, the US now has a Predator drone on the way to patrol the northern US border. It comes as no surprise that the first Predator drones for the US/Mexico border were purchased from Israel defense contractor Elbit Systems, the Apartheid maker who also worked on spy systems for Boeing at the US/Mexico border.

The southern drones have been stationed at Fort Huachuca in southern, Arizona, the site of recent protests over US Army training that resulted in torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. Fort Huachuca was also the site of production of the School of the Americas torture manual, made public in 1996, which resulted in tens of thousands of murders, rapes and tortures in the Americas in the 70s and 80s.

With so many US soldiers arrested and sentenced for smuggling drugs recently, from the border at Nogales to Phoenix, it would be good to know if anyone has checked to see if the unmanned drones are being used by the US military to smuggle drugs.

The FBI had to shut down the sting Operation Lively Green, because so many Army, Marine, Airforce and National Guard soldiers in Tucson, along with police and prison guards, wanted to smuggle cocaine from the Arizona border north. A similar sting resulted in the arrests of soldiers in Oklahoma, smuggling drugs north from the Texas border.

Drone headed to US northern border:
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/12/drone-to-keep-w.html

Navajo Give Back, To Be So Blessed

Photos and song documenting the annual Thanksgiving Food and Supply Run to the Dine people of Big Mountain in resistance to forced relocation from their land in north eastern Arizona. The song, "To Be So Blessed" is by Somer Moon, performed by Somer Moon and Clan Dyken at Paradise studio in Sacramento California. Recording, mix and keyboards by Jeff "Fingers" Crawford.

http://www.clandyken.com/cd/index.php

Barrick on Mount Tenabo: Sucking it dry

Unearthed: The News Without the Chaff
Bush Interior Department Grants Barrick Gold's Parting Wish
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-and-brendan-demelle/unearthed-the-news-withou_b_148634.html
Photo: Destruction underway on Mount Tenabo/
Photo by Lisa Wolf
Dec. 5, 2008
By Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Brendan DeMelle

Barrick Gold Corporation could begin cyanide heap leach mining operations on sacred Shoshone native lands as early as next week, thanks to last minute approval by the outgoing Bush Interior Department of the Cortez Hills Expansion Project. The project would be sited entirely within Shoshone territory recognized in the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley, land that is still used by the Shoshone Nation for food, medicine and spiritual ceremonies.

Western Shoshone, Timbisha Shoshone and Great Basin Resource Watch have filed a complaint in federal court in an attempt to stop the mine.

If the project proceeds, Barrick Gold, the world's largest gold mining company, will blast a massive 900-acre, 2,000 foot deep open pit mine on Mount Tenabo, a sacred place for the Shoshone. Barrick will first "dewater" the mountain, sucking all the groundwater out, and then extract gold using the destructive cyanide heap-leaching method. In total, the mine would permanently destroy 6,800 acres on and around Mount Tenabo, over 90 percent of which is public land, according to the Shoshone coalition.

In approving the mine project, the Bureau of Land Management ignored its own scientific findings, including a report that described Mt. Tenabo as "literally a life-giver" that is "the tallest mountain in the area - the most likely to capture snow and generate water to grow pin'on and nourish life."

Opponents estimate the mine's wastes will include 1,577 million tons of waste rock, 53 million tons of tailings material and 112 million tons of spent heap leach material.

Bush family cleaning up on transfer of public lands to private hands
By Wayne Madsen
Online Journal Contributing Writer
Sep 16, 2008, 00:26

(WMR) -- WMR has learned from a senior Democratic congressional source that the Bush family, most notably former President George H. W. Bush, is reaping windfall profits from the transfer of title of public federal and state lands to private hands. The elder Bush, according to our sources, has a vested financial interest in land title companies that specialize in the transfer of public lands to private interests.
The revelations represent the first evidence that the elder Bush has benefited from the transfer of public lands to private hands in a giant scheme to defraud federal and state governments, as well as the American taxpayers and Native Americans.
The land-grabbing scheme primarily involves the transfer of federal lands, including Native American lands and national forest system lands, in the Rocky Mountain West, state lands in Texas, and both federal and state lands in California, Mississippi, and Florida to private entities. The scheme is also at the center of the scandal surrounding jailed GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff who conspired to privatize federal lands and assets around the country to benefit his corporate clients. Read article:
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_3748.shtml

Listen to Oneida Comedian Charlie Hill

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

SAN FRANCISCO -- Listen to Comedian Charlie Hill, Oneida from Wisconsin, at the AIM-West 40-Year Reunion in San Francisco, recorded by Earthcycles. Photo: Keith Secola, Jared and Charlie Hill on stage in San Francisco. Photo Brenda Norrell

Listen to Censored News Blog Talk Radio (30 min)
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell

WATCH YOU-TUBE VIDEO

Charlie Hill on the Richard Pryor show 31 years ago

(5 minutes)

With a five-star rating, more than 20,000 people have

watched this great video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3ismmzVAsM&feature=related

Halt Peabody: Navajo and Hopi delegation to Denver

Contacts: Nikke Alex, (505) 879-7461 and Chelsea Chee, (928) 637-5592 (both on-site cell phones in Denver, CO)

Navajo & Hopi Tribal Leaders and Community Members Protest "Midnight Regulation" to Expand Peabody's Coal Mining Operation on Black Mesa, Arizona

Delegation Travels to Denver to meet with Office of Surface Mining, Hold Press Conference and Rally

WHEN: Monday Dec. 8th, 1 PM (MST)
WHERE: Sidewalk in front of The Office of Surface Mining - Downtown Denver
1999 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202

WHO: Speakers will include Hopi Chairman, Ben Nuvamsa; Hopi tribal member Maxine Wadsworth, Navajo tribal member Leonard Benally, Black Mesa Water Coalition Director Wahleah Johns

DENVER – It looks like another rushed "midnight regulation" from the Department of the Interior may be issued in favor of Peabody Coal, and the affected Navajo and Hopi people of Black Mesa are trying to stop it. A large delegation has traveled to Denver to meet with top officials in the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and hold a press conference and rally in downtown Denver to protest the pending decision, which will grant the coal company a "life-of-mine" permit, expanded mining operations and rights to tap the fresh water of the Navajo aquifer.

Navajo and Hopi citizen's were given 45 days to comment on a revised "Black Mesa Project" Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and were never offered a public commenting period. Requests for commenting period extensions were denied by OSM as well as requests for OSM to come to Navajo and Hopi lands for question and answer meetings.

Arizona Congressman, and leading candidate for Secretary of Interior in the Obama Administration, Raúl M. Grijalva has asked current Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne to suspend further consideration of Peabody's permit. "At present, OSM is rushing to approve a life-of-mine permit, first without making the permit revisions sufficiently available for public review, and then without adequate environmental review."

"Mining at Black Mesa has caused springs on Hopi lands to dry up and jeopardized the sole source of drinking water for many Hopis and Navajos," stated Grijalva. "The Secretary, as the trustee for Native American tribes, must ensure that mining is done responsibly on tribal lands and that tribes actually want mining to occur. This project does not meet that test."

Former Navajo Chairman Peter MacDonald Sr. also recently came out against the expanded permit for Peabody, "The best thing that the Navajo Nation could do is to get rid of Peabody."

The Hopi Tribal Council is officially opposed to this project, however, the Council is currently in turmoil over the suspension of the Tribal Chairman. As a result, proper consultation with the Tribe, as required by federal law, cannot occur.

"The Interior Department and OSM are moving forward on this project to try to approve it before the end of the year," said Grijalva. "During a time of sacred religious ceremonies on Hopi, OSM is expecting the Hopi people to understand a complicated legal process to approve mining without a functioning tribal council to represent them. The Secretary needs to suspend this process until the tribal council is once again functional and spiritual ceremonies have concluded. Doing otherwise ignores the important obligations the federal government has toward tribes."

In addition, the power plant that previously used Black Mesa Mine coal shut down, and there is no other proposed use for the coal whose mining would be permitted by OSM. As a result, there is no actual proposed project involving Black Mesa Mine coal to be analyzed, making the pending decision not only premature, but in direct conflict with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. According to former Hopi Tribal Chairman, Vernon Masayesva, "No customer means no project – you can't do an EIS unless you have a real project, yet OSM is going ahead with getting a life-of-mine permit."

Black Mesa Navajo and Hopi residents are concerned about how this project will impact the future of their homelands given the history of Peabody's unwise use of the Navajo Aquifer. "For decades coal and water from our lands have been taken to power Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Yet, we have have suffered the loss of our sole source drinking water to accomodate the over consumption of these areas," says Nikke Alex.

Black Mesa is the ancestral homelands to thousands of Navajo and Hopi families and is regarded as a sacred mountain to the Navajo people and plays an integral role in the cultural survival for the future generations of both the Navajo and Hopi people. Many Navajo and Hopi people stand firmly in opposition to this mine expansion plan and are organizing to voice their concerns.

Navajo & Hopi tribal members travel to Denver to meet with the Western Regional Office of Surface Mining as the agency prepares to permit Peabody Coal Company's Black Mesa Project
Panel Discussion & Press Conference Announcement

WHAT: Panel Discussion, Navajo and Hopi delegation to Denver
*free and open to the public*
WHEN: Sunday Dec. 7th, 1-3 PM (MST)
WHERE: Denver Indian Center, 4407 Morrison Road Denver, CO 80219

WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE, Navajo & Hopi People Say No to Coal Mining
WHEN: Monday Dec. 8th, 1 PM (MST)
WHERE: Sidewalk in front of Office of Surface Mining - DOWNTOWN Denver - 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 Denver, CO 80202
Background Information:
Concerned Navajo & Hopi people will rally in downtown Denver on Monday while a small delegation meets with Office of Surface Mining (OSM) personnel at their offices in Denver. OSM is expected to make a final decision – a "Record of Decision" - on Peabody's proposed Black Mesa Project. The controversial plan includes approval of a "Life-of-mine" permit, expanded mining operations, use of scarce water resources and an unclear buyer of the coal supply, potentially to the Navajo Generating Station in Page, AZ.
After a year of inactivity on the "Black Mesa Project" Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the process was restarted on May 2008. Navajo and Hopi citizen's were given 45 days to comment on a revised Draft EIS and were never offered a public commenting period. Requests for commenting period extensions were denied by OSM as well as requests for OSM to come to Navajo and Hopi lands for question and answer meetings.
The Final EIS states "if OSM approves the LOM revision for the Black Mesa Complex, the area previously associated with the Black Mesa operation (18,857 acres), including associated surface facilities, would be added to the 44,073 acres of the existing OSM permanent permit area for the Black Mesa Complex, bringing the total acres to 62,930, which would be considered as one operation for the purpose of regulation by OSM. This entire area is within Peabody's existing coal leases. The coal-mining leases with the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation provide Peabody the right to produce up to 290 million tons of coal from the Navajo Exclusive Lease Area and up to 380 million tons of coal from the Hopi and Navajo Joint Lease Area for a combined total of 670 million tons."
Black Mesa Navajo and Hopi residents are concerned about how this project will impact the future of their homelands given the history of Peabody's unwise use of the Navajo Aquifer to transport coal to MGS. Many community members from the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe are extremely disappointed in the lack of public outreach the Office of Surface Mining office and Department of the Interior has carried out through the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process.
Black Mesa is the ancestral homelands to thousands of Navajo and Hopi families and is regarded as a sacred mountain to the Navajo people and plays an integral role in the cultural survival for the future generations of both the Navajo and Hopi people. Many Navajo and Hopi people stand firm and oppose this mine expansion plan and are organizing to voice their concerns to the western regional office of the Office of Surface Mining in Denver, CO. on Dec. 8, 2008.

Quechan mourners take Spirit Walk for Mucaw

Quechan mourners take spirit walk for young leader

December 6, 2008 - 5:41 PM
BY WILLIAM ROLLER, SUN STAFF WRITER

Read article at:

http://www.yumasun.com/news/young_46294___article.html/leader_mourners.html
A "spirit walk" for deceased Quechan leader Lewis Jefferson symbolized for mourners one last journey with Lewis, who died at 21 last month yet left a legacy for tribal youths who will take up where he left off, say friends and family.

Censored Blog Radio: AIM on Alcatraz

AIM to Obama: Abolish BIA; establish treaty commission and pass UN Declaration

By Brenda Norrell

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

ALCATRAZ ISLAND -- Speaking at the Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremony, the American Indian Movement called on the Obama administration to make real changes for Indian country. The challenge is voiced on today's Censored Blog Radio show, "AIM on Alcatraz," by Bill Means, with Pat Bellanger and Mike Flores.

Bill Means, cofounder of the International Indian Treaty Council, said the new administration in the U.S. offers hope. Means said the American Indian Movement is calling on the Obama administration to establish a new Presidential Treaty Commission; abolish the BIA and for passage of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

On Alcatraz, Mike Flores, Tohono O'odham, described the assault by Homeland Security and the US Border Patrol on Tohono O'odham lands. Flores called for worldwide support to halt construction of the US/Mexico border wall and stop the militarization of the Tohono O'odham Nation and all Indigenous borderlands. Flores said the US is destroying endangered species, their habitat and migration routes.

On the broadcast, KPFA/Alcatraz Free Radio cohost Tony Gonzales points out that the people of Palestine are also suffering from the isolation, militarization and horrors of a border wall. Gonzales said while walls are coming down in Europe, the US is building a wall.

Bellanger, Anishinabe from Minnesota, shares a memory of Phillip Deer and the imaginary border. Bellanger said she has been with AIM since the beginning and it has been an incredible journey. She said the gathering at Alcatraz was a time to celebrate what has been accomplished and a time for giving thanks.

"We beat daddy Bush and we beat baby Bush," Bellanger says of the fight against oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.

Means also points out the rise in power of the Maori in New Zealand, a rising world voice empowering Indigenous Peoples.

Means said what happened on Alcatraz and at Wounded Knee, along with the fishing rights struggle, the struggle of Pitt River and the struggles elsewhere, led to sovereignty and self-determination.

Listen to today's show and three others in this week's series:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell

--The first show, "American Indian Resistance," includes interviews with Morning Star Gali about the Shellmound Walkers. Long Walker Harry talks about service with the Black Mesa Caravan. Mohawk Mark Maracle speaks about Tyendinaga, at the AIM-West 40-Year Reunion in San Francisco. The show includes a segment from Alcatraz Island, with Clyde Bellecourt and Lenny Foster, Dine' speaking on Native religious freedom rights (30 minutes.)

--The second show, "Emergence of the American Indian Movement," includes Bill Means remembering Raymond Yellow Thunder, a Lakota whose murder in Gordon, Nebraska, changed the course of history for the American Indian Movement. Award-winning Anishinabe singer Keith Secola sings Fry Bread and NDN Cars. Clyde Bellecourt speaks on the importance and early years of AIM, during the AIM West 40-Year Reunion in San Francisco (90 minutes.)

--The third show, "Indigenous Voices of Resistance," includes Western Shoshone call in guests describing how Barrick Gold is currently bulldozing the Shoshone's sacred Mount Tenabo. During the first days of December, Barrick cut off Western Shoshone access to their ceremonial grounds. The show includes news and music. The All Nation Singers in California and the Longest Walk Northern Route at Cahokia Mounds, recorded by Earthcycles, sing the AIM song. (90 minutes.)

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell

US has blood on its hands

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Blackwater mercenaries are now charged with murdering Iraqis, including children. The prosecutors have put a not-so-horrible face on it, calling it "manslaughter." All of the killers are former decorated US veterans.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081206/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/blackwater_prosecution
Meanwhile, the Zetas are carrying out the most heinous crimes of the drug war at the US border, with decapitations and largescale murder of civilians and journalists.
The Zetas were trained as Special Forces by the United States, then eventually came to rule the Mexican drug war. The Guatemalan Kaibiles also received US Special Forces training. These killers, known for extreme cruelty, even served as "UN Peacekeepers." The Kaibiles are known for their practice of forcing recruits to bite the heads off live chickens.
When you hear of the most horrible crimes against the people of the world, ask yourself, "Who has the technology, training, weapons and money to carry this out?"
Too often the answer is the United States. The School of the Americas is just one place that foreign nationals have been trained by the United States to torture and murder. Indigenous Peoples are being murdered around the world, as their lands and resources are seized for corporate profiteering.
Commenting on the murderers trained by the US, a friend said, "When a dog kills a chicken, and gets a taste of it, it will keep killing. The only thing you can do with the dog is to put it down."
US training and guns boost Mexico's drug war
Narco News: Exposing the US drug involvement

PHOTO: A truck, carrying Mexican army soldiers, drives past a pedestrian bridge where a giant banner signed by the Zetas, the enforcement arm of the Gulf drug cartel, hangs in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, northern Mexico, Sunday, April 13, 2008. The banner reads in Spanish: "Operative group 'The Zetas' wants you, soldier or ex-soldier. We offer a good salary, food and benefits for your family. Don't suffer anymore mistreatment and don't go hungry. We wont give you instant noodle soup." (AP Photo/El Manana de Nuevo Laredo)

MNN: Bye, bye Canada! It wasn't nice knowing ya!

BYE, BYE, CANADA! IT WASN’T NICE KNOWING YA!
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/

Dec. 3, 2008. The vermin have come out of the woodwork. Now that Canada’s Parliament has been suspended, it should now be obvious to everyone, Canada is not a democracy.
It never was. It is a colony that has a single person, the Queen, sitting on top as the head of state. It’s been run for the benefit of a few business interests. It only pretends to protect the people.
Canada has no land base as Ongwehonwe never gave up anything. Turtle Island and its resources belong to us.
On December 4th 2008 Canada’s Parliament was “prorogued." In other words, the pretense of representative government of the colony was dissolved. Prime Minister, Stephen Harper presented a bogus budget to Parliament. He wanted to cut corporate taxes, slash social, education and health programs. He even wanted to cut off the election subsidies to the parties.
It was outrageous. He knew it would be rejected. His party was outnumbered.
Next Monday, December 8th, he would have had to face a vote of “non-confidence," lose and then step down. Then another election would have been called with just about the same result as the last one. Harper would have had another minority government. Canadians have spoken. They don’t him to have too much power.
The other parties, the Liberals, New Democratic and Bloc Quebec, decided to form a coalition, which was legal according to their colonial structure. It made sense. It followed Canadian cultural precedent. It has to have been anticipated by Harper and whoever pulls his strings.
What was the real plan?
The Governor General of Canada, Michaele Jean, had been sent to Europe to be near whoever pulls the strings of her boss, Queen Elizabeth. The Governor General was called back “suddenly” to fulfill this colonial metaphor about being a single head of state, the “maharajah” who reigns over her subjects in Canada. Harper asked the Governor General to discontinue Parliament for eight weeks [or more].
“Prorogue” means to discontinue meetings of parliament without dissolving it. In other words, it’s a dictatorship. The Prime Minister can indefinitely extend his term of office if he can create the “need” for it. It was a measure meant to take care of emergencies – like war. It was not meant to allow a prime minister to assume dictatorial power, or to do an end run around the discussions that should take place when people living in widely separate places with different needs have to work together. Canada’s chaotic state is a sign that differences are coming out and their system cannot deal with it.
During this time Harper does either as he’s told or as he pleases according to the secret clique that’s pushing him. In the meantime, Harper has set up meetings across Canada to rile up the people into a frenzy of anger, pitting everybody against each other. His remarks about the people in Quebec have been particularly offensive and meant to start fights. Is he trying to break up Canada? Or is he just trying to create a “pretext” for martial law? Is it a coincidence that the military conducted exercises to prepare for this eventuality just two weeks ago?
Why have there been so many problems lately with the police who are freely killing, shooting and assaulting innocent people? This has been happening everywhere involving city police, provincial police, RCMP, CBSA and CSIS [secret service]. Are they trying to normalize violence?
It’s been called an “economic crisis”. Then what’s the excuse for setting up a totalitarian regime? Unless the time has come for someone to cash in! Should Harper and his “counsel of foreign advisors” decide that the situation has gotten “out of hand," he could maintain martial law indefinitely. This would give him time to bring everybody and everything under control. His backers can then “take the money and run."
As it stands Harper can be sent around the world to make deals to sell off our resources, and then pocket the money. Who can stop him? It’s time for people to do some serious thinking about the real meaning of “democracy." There has to be some real consultation with the people, which he doesn’t want.
Canada’s “pseudo democracy” is dangerous. It lets a single person take dictatorial control to sell off resources without regard for the welfare of the people. We would like to suggest to Canadians that it is time for them to take a serious look at the Great Law of Peace, a tried and proven model that shows how people can work together without having a leader or head of state. It shows how differences of opinion are turned into strengths that contribute to a solution that benefits everyone.
Today Canadians are groping to be saved. It is totally absurd that someone in England can rule Onowaregeh, Turtle Island, through their nominee, the “prime minister." Equality failed for the colonists because in their hierarchical system they want a “prime” minister, governor general, queen or a Don to sit on top and dictate to everybody. In the beginning the colonists looked at our Great Law constitution and tried to create a model with some of the principles of equality and everyone having a voice. It did not work because of their refusing to create a balance of power.
The colonizers have no choice but to see the land our way if they want to save themselves. Today there is no caretaking as access to our resources is being dictated by outsiders who represent the colonizers, who want to dig out everything and cart it away, leaving us to cope with the toxic waste. Colonizers will not find balance as long as they have imperial thinking that uses a single person as “head of state” or a CEO to run the corporation.
The megalomaniacs think they can control the world and do anything they please with impunity. It’s based on mathematical formulas where only a few people are in control and get the benefits. The psychotics separate themselves from the people and the natural environment. This cannibalistic structure is being shaken.
It is supposedly the international position that everyone is a custodian of the land. What is the reality? The whole economy of Canada and the U.S. has been based on greed and expansion for the business viability for a few. New technology pushes this idea along. In the long run this can’t work because we are not looking after our mother as one earth where we all have to stay rooted. So it’s coming to an end.
We have lots of challenges. We have to learn how to achieve balance and a way of life that respects us, our land and everything on it. The bosses of the colonizers must be forced to let go of their greed. Is this possible?
As it looks, the Queen and the oligarchs have no further use for their colonists here in their present state. They used their natural energies and labor to build something false for themselves. They controlled their minds. In fact, they enslaved them and took all the products for themselves. Now they are taking them to a new level of bondage. Canada has expired as they thought they knew it. We Ongwehonwe were spared because we always resisted. So all they got from us was our resources. We still have our minds and our basic relations with the land and with each other.
Stephen Harper can do whatever he pleases because he is being protected by?- the “mob?" It’s obvious he does not care about the decaying infrastructure or crumbling programs that are falling apart. They were always meant to be short term until they finished taking what they wanted. The squabbling colonists and their puppeteers have to get off our backs. They have to go back to the original relationship with us as the owners of the land and the colonizers as our “visitors."
The North American Union NAU is the next totalitarian step. The oligarchs are going to amalgamate the land of the Indigenous people of the colonial entities of Mexico, U.S. and Canada. They want a free flow of commerce to benefit a few capitalists. They want to tighten their grip on the people and get rid of human rights. Everybody has to resist this potential slavery. We demand that they leave their destructive and grasping schemes behind and move toward a proper and legal relationship with us.
To save yourselves, Canadians, you have to take on our basic principles of equality, everybody having a voice, taking care of the land, living peacefully and respecting us and each other.
Karakwine & MNN Staff http://www.mohawknationnews.com/
Mohawk Nation News Katenies20@yahoo.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations to PayPal at http://www.mohawknationnews.com/, or by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN “Canada” category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now! Purchase t-shirts, mugs and more at our CafePressStore http://www.cafepress.com/mohawknews; Subscribe to MNN for breaking news updates http://mohawknationnews.com/news/subscription.php; Sign Women Title Holders petition! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Iroquois

Prosecution urged for John Yoo, architect of torture

Please take a moment this weekend or Monday to contact the City Council of Berkeley CA and urge them to pass a resolution critical of "torture professor" John Yoo, on the faculty of the law school at UC Berkeley:
Silence In a Time of Torture Signifies Tacit Approval
From Debra Sweet, The World Can't Wait

A message from Linda Rigas, JC Candidate, New England School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts, member of FireJohnYoo.org + Legal Intern, Physicans for Human Rights
BERKELEY, Calif. -- The Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission's recommendation to the City Council presents an important call for all Americans to stand in opposition to abetting John Yoo, University of California professor and author of the "Torture Memos" which were key to the establishment of a system of state torture. This Resolution calls for John Yoo to be prosecuted for war crimes and dismissed from his position as Professor of Law at Boalt Hall.
The ramifications of the Resolution ensure that torture is not tolerated in the city of Berkeley and will serve as a model for other communities' efforts to hold high administration officials of torture to account. The passage of the John Yoo Resolution presents a critical step in investigating the codification, implementation, and acceleration of the authorization of torture-a responsible step that must now be taken to call for the end of torture as a pillar for endless war.
FireJohnYoo.org, a member of the No To Torture - John Yoo Must Go Coalition, supports the Commission's John Yoo Resolution and asks organizations and individual advocates to do the same. Fire John Yoo encourages directly contacting city council members to support the Resolution, and to visibly stand and speak out against torture before the City Council on December 8th. If you are unable to attend the Public Hearing, please write a statement that can be submitted to the Council. By taking these actions, we can have an enormous impact on the direction the U.S. will take in honoring its commitment to rescind the use of torture.
People of conscience demand the removal of John Yoo, legal architect of the Bush Regime's torture policies, from the employ of the University of California. How will the community of Berkeley respond when someone asks: "What did you do during this time?"
Public Hearing: Monday, December 8, 2008
2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Berkeley City Council Meetings begin at 7:00 PM READ the Peace and Justice Commission recommendation.
Please write and call Berkeley City Council Members to show your support for recommendedactions against John Yoo, Legal Advisor to the Bush administration and author of memos giving the green light for torture:
(kindly cc info@firejohnyoo.org on your emails!)
Mayor: Tom Bates mayor@CityofBerkeley.info (510) 981-7100
District 1: Linda Maio lmaio@CityofBerkeley.info (510) 981-7110
District 2: Darryl Moore dmoore@CityofBerkeley.info (510) 981-7120
District 3: Max Anderson manderson@CityofBerkeley.info (510) 981-7130
District 4: Jesse Arreguin jarreguin@CityofBerkeley.info (510) 981-7140
District 5: Laurie Capitelli lcapitelli@CityofBerkeley.info (510) 981-7150
District 6: Susan Wengraf swengraf@CityofBerkeley.info (510) 981-7160
District 7: Kriss Worthington kworthington@CityofBerkeley.info (510) 981-7170
District 8: Gordon Wozniak gwozniak@CityofBerkeley.info( 510) 981-7180
WE ARE NOT YOUR SOLDIERS Tour moves from Los Angeles to San Francisco Bay Area & New York City. Read Emma Kaplan's report from Media Arts Academy, Los Angeles
http://www.wearenotyoursoldiers.org/?page_id=52
Support World Can't Wait as a national effort. Become a sustainer of $4RealChange.
Debra Sweet, Director, The World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime

Seven Global Currencies of the Indigenous Peoples

Seven Global Currencies Of the Indigenous Peoples
Life Sustaining Systems of Exchange and Reciprocity
Photo Jihan Gearon/IEN
An Evaluation Matrix for the Global Economy and Millennium Development Goals
Challenging the Marketing of Global Monetary Policy
United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznań, Poland 1-12 December 2008

The Commodification of the Future and the Battle for Middle Earth

They are called the market-based mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol, and were developed as means of meeting greenhouse reduction targets by the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol now meeting in Poznań, Poland at the United Nations Climate Conference. The decision making process at the UN Climate Conference is limited to those UN member government states who are signatories of the Kyoto Protocol, with limited participation of observers and side events and exhibits by Non-Governmental Organizations involved with environmental and economic issues from around the world. The last UN Climate Conference was in Bali in 2007.
These mechanisms, established under the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, have been institutionalized under a worldwide structure of international exchange and monitoring that includes Emissions Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI). These three elements define the operational contractual framework that has created the global "carbon market". Directed at the primarily at the accelerated deforestation of the 'Middle Earth' belt of forests that encircle the globe along the tropics, the priority of addressing deforestation is driven by the magnitude of carbon emissions that result from the deforestation of Middle Earth, critically exacerbating the volume greenhouse gases in the atmosphere resulting from human activity.
Yet, a