Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

July 22, 2008

A tribute to the Long Walkers

Long Walkers of the northern and southern routes merge in Greenbelt, Maryland in July.
Photo copyright Brenda Norrell
Final Call: Longest Walk empasizes Native American concerns:
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_5011.shtml

Listen to audios from the Protecting Mother Earth Conference


Listen to downloads from the 15th Indigenous Environmental Network Protecting Mother Earth Conference, Answering Mother Earth's Call for Healing -- Reaffirming Our Roots, held July 17 -- 20, 2008, on Newe Segobia (Western Shoshone) lands, at South Fork, Nevada.

Listen to IEN staff, Western Shoshone and Indigenous Peoples from the Americas at http://www.earthcycles.net/
More info at Indigenous Environmental Network: http://www.ienearth.org/
(Photo: Western Shoshone were among the speakers at the IEN Conference/Photo Brenda Norrell)

Canada's Cameco targets Lakota homelands with uranium mining

Cameco, the company that just bought 500 tons of Iraqi yellow cake via the US and transported to Montreal, is not only connected to the Bush secret society of Skull and Bones, but Cameco has also targeted the Lakota homelands

PRESS RELEASE
20 July 2008
contact info: Debra White Plume 605-455-2155

OWE AKU STATEMENT
email: lakota1@gwtc.net
During early winter of 2007, for the first time in 17 years, seven petitions were filed with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding In Situ Leach uranium mining. The petitions were seeking to intervene in the uranium mining license amendment application of the Crow Butte Resources, Inc. In Situ Leach uranium mine in northwest Nebraska (ISL mining utilizes a system of underground piping to extract uranium.)
Three of the seven petitioners were granted “Standing to Intervene” by the Atomic Licensing Board (ALB), following a January 16, 2008 hearing in Chadron , Nebraska . The petitioners and their legal counsel will attend a hearing in front of the ALB on July 23, 2008 at 10am at the Scottsbluff Room of the Student Center at Chadron State College in Chadron , Nebraska to settle some issues that will determine how the big hearing itself will take place.
The three petitioners granted “Standing” (Debra White Plume, Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge , SD , the Western Nebraska Resource Council, and Owe Aku, Bring Back the Way, a nongovernmental organization on the Pine Ridge, SD Indian Reservation) opposed the expansion application by Crow Butte Resources, Inc. to establish a second ISL mine called “North Trend” northwest of Crawford , Nebraska . “Standing” is a term that designates meeting strict criteria established by the ALB and allows the petitioner to present their “Contentions”. Contentions are the petitioners’ reasons why the NRC should not grant a license to the mining corporation.
Three contentions of Debra White Plume and Owe Aku that have been accepted by the ALB include ISL uranium mining’s potential impact on the environment and health of the Oglala Lakota people and members of Owe Aku; potential for contamination of the drinking water source of the Oglala Lakota people and members of Owe Aku; and protection of cultural and historic resources in the area of the proposed North Trend ISL uranium mine.
On July 23, 2008 oral arguments will be presented by the three petitioners’ legal counsel. The first discussion regards the right of the Oglala Sioux Tribe to participate in the process. The OST filed an Amicus Brief concerning their right to water, health, and a clean environment. The argument on a fourth Contention by the petitioners concerns Foreign Ownership, as Cameco, Inc. is a Canadian-based corporation. The final argument concerns the process for the actual hearing. The petitioners want to proceed under the rules of “Sub-part G”, which allows discovery and witnesses.
Attorney Bruce Ellison of Rapid City , SD is legal counsel for petitioners Ms. White Plume and Owe Aku. David Frankel of Aligning for Responsible Mining is legal counsel for WNRC, and the Gonzalez Law Firm is representing the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
“Cameco, Inc. recently agreed to pay the state of Wyoming a $1.4 million settlement for failure to comply with state environmental standards at its’ Smith Ranch-Highlands ISL uranium mine. The folks at Cameco seek to expand their extraction of uranium near Crawford , Nebraska . We question Cameco’s ability to adhere to environmental laws. We are in the fight of our life here. To Cameco, it’s about financial profit. To us, it’s about wasting and destroying water, and deadly contaminants that can never be contained or cleaned being released into the environment. Many generations of the future will be impacted by lethal contaminants, our generations will become stricken with fatal diseases-there is no cure for cancer and diabetes-this means genocide for our people. ISL uranium mining has the potential to wipe the relatively small population of Oglala Lakota people off the face of the earth and to turn this part of the country into a sacrifice area. We need our sacred water” says petitioner Debra White Plume. “We are currently using the process of the federal government to protect our environment and people. We oppose the expansion of Cameco. They have had 23 leaks and spills since they began operations in 1998, and they want to open 3 more uranium mines? Isn’t Cameco’s recent payment to Wyoming for environmental violations a clear message? Their current reclamation bond of $40 million had to be increased to $80 million as part of the Wyoming settlement. Their reclamation bond in Nebraska is $20 million.”

Recipe for disaster: Yellow cake and Skull and Bones
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2008/07/recipe-for-disaster-yellow-cake-and.html

Kahentinetha to United Nations: Canada conspired to kill us

Complaint to United Nations concerning attack on Mohawk grandmothers

Kahentinetha Horn, publisher of Mohawk Nation News, filed a complaint with the United Nations, following the attack on her and Katenies at the border. Kahentinetha suffered a trauma induced heart while handcuffed in a police stress hold during the attack by special forces at the Canadian border. Katenies, editor of Mohawk Nation News, was beaten and jailed. The Mohawk grandmothers live in fear for their lives after exposing the truth of Canada's genocide of First Nations peoples, including the genocide of uranium mining, the murder of innocent children in residential schools, the seizure and rape of Indigenous Peoples lands and digging up the graves of the ancestors for housing, industrial development and the NAFTA highway. The complaint to the United Nations sent today follows:

Box 991, Kahnawake of Haudenosaunee Territory
[Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0

REGISTERED MAIL

Mr. Rudolpho Stavenhagen
Office of High Commission for Human Rights
Ms. Tonya Gonella Frichner
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples
United Nations, UN Plaza, S294, New York 10017

COMPLAINT OF ATTACK BY CORNWALL BORDER GUARDS ON 2 MOHAWK WOMEN
She:kon - Mr. Stavenhagen and Ms. Frichner:

In the past we have informed you of the problems that we Kanion’ke:haka face at the U.S.-Canada border. As you know, our territory is comprised of vast areas of the eastern half of Onowaregeh/Turtle Island. The colonial border has been placed through the middle of our territory. We are not Canadians or Americans. We are Kanion’ke:haka. We have always traversed freely on our territory. Treaties and international laws confirm this right.
We have reason to believe that many of our peoples’ lives are in “danger”. They have particularly been targeting youth, women with children and elders, particularly if these people are known for speaking out in favor of our rights.
I am a 68 year old grandmother. We run MNN Mohawk Nation News, a website that is known for reporting on issues of interest to the Mohawk Nation.
On June 14th 2008 two other people and myself were crossing the border at the Cornwall checkpoint that is placed in the middle of our community of Akwesasne so that it seriously impedes normal community life. We were attacked by a swarm of muscular young guards under the direction of the Canada Border Security Agency.
They attacked us so violently that I suffered a heart attack. I am presently under a doctor’s care and ordered to avoid stressful situations. However, Canadian authorities seem determined to create as much stress for me as possible. They are blocking my internet, intermittently withholding my phone service and my mail service.
Katenies [aka Janet Davis] was a passenger with me on that day. She was assaulted and held incommunicado for three days. Instead of investigating this violent incident, they are trying to serve us with charges.
We have reason to believe that the Canadian “State” conspired to kill us. This attempt appears to have been carried out by the Canada Public Safety and Security, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Services and Mohawk Security Officers, all agencies of the Canadian government. The courts of “Canada” are issuing false charges and attempting to serve warrants on us.
In 2003 Katenies was falsely charged with “running the border”. She has filed a question which the court refuses to answer: “How did you get authority and jurisdiction over me and my land“? We understand that we have a right to ask this question and to have a proper answer. We are aware that Canada does not have authority according to international law.
The same checkpoint agents have physically and psychologically attacked Katenies’ daughter, Teiohontathe. A complaint was filed with the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 2006 with no proper response to this date.
Killings of our people by the Canadian state are not uncommon. We are concerned about these recent developments because two Mohawk men were killed in Akwesasne in 1989 during a political conflict. There is strong evidence to suggest that they were killed by agents of the Canadian government under the direction of the Department of Indian Affairs. These crimes were never resolved by the Canadian justice system. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne are under the direction of the Canadian State. They do not represent the people of Akwesasne. We are afraid for our lives.
The Canada Border Services Agency has hundreds of documented complaints of abuses committed by their agents against our people. Policing agreements, Joint Investigative Task Force and Remission Orders have all been applied to Akwesasne illegally without consultation with the community. The community has been unable to get copies of the agreements that the band council has signed with the Canadian government.
The video footage of the June 14th 2008 assaults on us and Teiohontateh have been confiscated by Canada‘s Department of “National Defense”. We are informed the only way to obtain these videos is to “waive our rights”. Canada has defined us as “terrorists”, “insurgents” and a “global risk”. We have no army or weapons. In reality, we are a peaceful people who want to live quietly with our families.
The international relations between Canada and our people have degenerated seriously. There is a desperate need for an investigation by a neutral and independent tribunal.
Canada’s courts are not neutral. Canada is a party to the disagreement between our nations. A fair decision can never be reached when one party is allowed to judge the other, especially when there is a serious power imbalance of the kind that exists in this case.
We would appreciate your immediate intervention. We are afraid for our lives. Please help make sure that no more of our people are killed or threatened.
Onen ki:wahi

Kahentinetha /s/ ________________________ kahentinetha2@yahoo.com
Katenies /s/ ___________________________ katenies20@yahoo.com

cc: Members of the United Nations
tonya@aila.org
pespinilla@ohchr.org
tihs@unitednationsofturtleisland.com,
Unrepenter unrepenter@aol.com
UNOisikaChakrabarti, chakrabarti@un.org
UNMurtizastrvyenberg unat@un.org
UNIndigPermForum indigenouspermanentforum@un.org
UNIndigForum TB-petitions@ohchr.org
UNIndigenousPeople IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org
UNHumanRights tb-petitions@ohchr.org
UNfrance france-presse@un.int

AIM For Freedom Reception July 30, 2008

Friends and Relations,

Thanks for your continued support and encouragement for the AIM 40 years retrospective exhibition. Make plans to attend the reception, July 30. Here's the latest painting from Leonard Peltier. It is for sale! A silent auction will be held at the Somarts Gallery during the time of reception! See you there!
Tony Gonzales
AIM-WEST
415-577-1492
Painting Chief Red Crow by Leonard Peltier

AIM FOR FREEDOM!
A 40 Year Photography & Art Retrospective of the American Indian Movement
July 16th - July 31st, 2008
SomArts Bay Gallery
934 Brannan Street (between 8th & 9th Streets)San Francisco, CA 94103
Tuesday-Friday: 1:00pm – 7:00pm, Saturdays: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Featuring Photography and Art by J.R. Auginash, Dick Bancroft, DaveCordova, Ilka Hartmann, Brenda Norrell, Paul Owns the Sabre, LeonardPeltier, Kerry Richardson, Michelle Vignes, Floyd Red Crow Westerman,and traditional Dine rugs.
Opening Reception Thursday July 17th, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Honoring thewomen in the movement with special guest AIM co-founder PatriciaBellanger. Also featuring the Vallejo Sweet Medicine Singers, TheCalifornia Traditional Pomo Dancers, The All Nation Singers, and TheTlingit Women's Dance Group.
Friday July 18th, 6:00pm - 9:00pm - A lecture and screening ontraditional basket weaving by Orie Medicine Bull and a performance byMedicine Warriors Dance Troupe care of Gilbert Blacksmith.
Tuesday July 22nd 2:00pm - 8:00pm Storytelling, poetry and musicFeaturing California Indian storyteller Anne Marie Sayers, all ageswelcomed.
Wednesday July 30th, 3:00pm - 9:00pm - Founder's Day Reception &Fundraiser A silent auction of work by Leonard Peltier and Floyd RedCrow Westerman with MC Bill Means, a ceremony honoring Lee Brightmanand the completion of the Longest Walk II, a book signing by AIMauthors and photojournalists, The All Nation Singers, The CaliforniaTraditional Pomo Dancers, The Tlingit Women's Dance Group, and Dr.Loco's Rockin' Jalapeño Band.
Curated by Tony Gonzales, Rene Yañez, and Rio Yañez
http://www.aimovement.org/

Tohono O'odham Baboquivari Defense founder jailed

From the Mohawk grandmothers, Kahentinetha Horn and Katenies, beaten at the northern border, to the bogus arrests at DQ University of students and elders in California, to the attack by the Columbus, Ohio police on the Longest Walkers, Native Americans are under assault by police and special agents using bogus charges. In the case of the Long Walkers, a taser was pointed at the forehead of Michael Lane, Menominee, without provocation, and walker Luv the Mezenger tackled and thrown in the concrete. Kahentinetha, publisher of Mohawk Nation News, suffered a trauma-induced heart attack while handcuffed in a police stress hold at the Canadian border. Katenies was tackled and thrown to the concrete and jailed. The arrest and jailing of Ernest Moristo, Tohono O'odham, defending the O'odham's sacred Baboquivari Mountains from tribal development and the swarming and littering Border Patrol agents on sacred Tohono O'odham land at the southern border, is the latest attack.

PRESS RELEASE
DATE: JULY 8, 2008
Baboquivari Defense Project founder jailed 30 days for trespassing and resisting arrest
From: sacredmtn@gmail.com
The Baboquivari Defense Project is funded by the Seventh Generation Fund organization. Baboquivari is the sacred mountain of the O’odham people. Ernest Moristo's family has lived at the base of the mountain for many generations. For over twenty years Moristo, with his family and friends has been fighting the development and commercialization of the area. The jail of the Tohono O’odham is currently crowded and the sentence is severe considering the charges. While Moristo is in jail, the development may begin again which has been opposed by the Moristo family. For O’odham, Baboquivari mountain is the home of I'itoi and has been the focus of our language strength truth and spiritual healing. Further disrespect of this area will increase the damage of our people and those yet to come. How can anyone trespass on their own sacred homeland? Contact sacredmtn@gmail.com with your concerns.