Army document reveals plan to seize 7 million acres in SE Colorado

Not 1 More Acre! PO Box 773, Trinidad, Colorado 81082, news@not1moreacre.net
Army Document Reveals Plan to Take 7 Million Acres in SE Colorado
From: Not 1 More Acre!

TRINIDAD, Colorado -- The Pentagon has been planning since at least 2004 to acquire almost 7 million acres in southeastern Colorado, forcing more than 17,000 residents off their land to establish the largest military base in the world, according to documents obtained in a federal court case. The unprecedented acquisition of 6.9 million acres, or 10,800 square miles, of private and public land would result in a military reservation larger than some states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Jersey. The multi-service battlefield would be more than triple the size of the enormous White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, which at 3,200 square miles is currently the largest military installation in the United States. It would undermine the whole southeastern corner of Colorado east of the Rockies destroying the last intact shortgrass prairie remaining in the American Great Plains. The May 2004 policy document prepared by Fort Carson was obtained as part of a federal court challenge to Pentagon plans to expand the size and boundaries of the 238,000-acre Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS). A copy of the document, titled "Analysis of Alternatives Study: Pinon Canyon Manueuver Site, Colorado," can be found at www.not1moreacre.net/docs. Read more ...

http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2008/10/army-plans-to-seize-7-million-acres-in.html

Canada to examine disappeared children at residential schools

Schools commission to examine 'disappearances of children'
BILL CURRY AND JOE FRIESEN
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081027.wgraves28/EmailBNStory/National/home October 27, 2008 at 8:01 PM EDT
OTTAWA and TORONTO — The commission examining Indian residential schools is launching a massive new research project to find out who is buried on school grounds and what happened to the young aboriginal boys and girls who left for boarding schools and never returned home.
Kimberly Phillips, a spokesperson for Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said the expanded research has been approved by Claudette Dumont-Smith, one of the commissioners. The “Missing Children Research Project,” as it has been named, will include “an examination of the number and cause of deaths, illnesses and disappearances of children at the residential schools as well as the location of burial sites,” Ms. Phillips said. Ms. Phillips said researchers will go through all relevant church and federal government records to find information that will help families looking for lost children. They will also prepare a questionnaire, and encourage former students and people who worked at the schools to come forward with their stories. According to a commission document obtained by The Globe and Mail, one option involves “visiting residential school sites where graves of Missing Children are located or the cemeteries near the schools where Missing Children have been buried.” Tuberculosis was the most common reason cited for deaths at schools across the country, however, survivors have said that rumours have circulated over the years that some of the forgotten children died of neglect, abuse or even murder. Read more ...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081027.wgraves28/EmailBNStory/National/home

American Indian Film Festival nominees 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For Media Inquiries Contact:
THE 33rd ANNUAL AMERICAN INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS NOMINEES
By Cindy Benitez
(Photo: Before Tomorrow)

SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Indian Film Institute (AIFI) and Title Sponsor the Seminole Tribe of Florida are proud to announce the nominees for the 33rd annual American Indian Film Festival. The awards will be presented at the annual American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show on Saturday Nov. 15 at 6:00p.m at the historic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

The American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show, (established in 1978), has recognized excellence in American Indian cinematic achievement, making the annual awards show one of the most prominent Indian Country and Native Cinema showcases.

Over 100 films have been screened and judged by a jury panel designated by the American Indian Film Institute (AIFI). Fourteen prestigious awards will be recognized to those with outstanding cinematic accomplishments, including: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, Best Live Action Short, Best Animated Short, Best Public Service, Best Music Video, Best Industrial, and Eagle Spirit Awards.

BEST FILM
Older Than America, Georgina Lightning, Director
In A World Created By A Drunken God, John Hazlett, Director
Before Tomorrow, Marie-Helene Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu, Directors

BEST DIRECTOR
Georgina Lightning, Older Than America
John Hazlett, In A World Created By A Drunken God
Marie-Helene Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu, Before Tomorrow

BEST ACTOR
Adam Beach, Older Than America
Trevor Duplessis, In a World Created By a Drunken God
Ron Dean Harris, Moccasin Flats: Redemption

BEST ACTRESS
Candace Fox, Moccasin Flats: Redemption
Georgina Lightning, Older Than America
Madeline Piujuq Ivalu, Before Tomorrow

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
George Leach, Moccasin Flats: Redemption
Wes Studi, Older Than America
Paul-Dylan Ivalu , Before Tomorrow

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Misty Upham, Frozen River
Kaniehtiio Horn, Moccasin Flats: Redemption
Tantoo Cardinal, Older than America

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Weaving Worlds, Bennie Klain, Director
Summer Sun Winter Moon, Hugo Perez, Director
River of Renewal, Carlos Bolado, Director
Power Paths, Bo Boudart, Director

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Reservation Soldiers, Lisa Jackson, Director
Byron Chief-Moon: Grey Horse Rider, Philip Szporer and Marlene Miller, Directors
Magic On The Water, Tracey Bonneau, Director
It Had To Be Done, Tessa Desnomie, Director

BEST LIVE SHORT SUBJECT
Shadow Of The Salmon, Michael Pearce, Director
Sikumi, Andrew Okpeaha MacLean, Director
Out In The Cold, Colleen Murphy, Director
Niigaanibatowaad: Front Runners, Lori Lewis, Director

BEST ANIMATED SHORT
By The Rapids, Joseph Lazare, Director
Darkness Calls In Gitxsan, Anthony Wong, Director

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Seminole Wind, Micki Free, Director
One Drum, Helen Haig-Brown, Director
Ua Uitumupan, Louis- Philippe Eno, Director
You Can Let Go, Courtesy of 2008 BMG Music

BEST PUBLIC SERVICE
Hope On The Rez, Rick Williams, Director
Modern Day Warriors, Jenni Monet, Director

Mohawks: Canadian court recognizes Kahnawake and Akwesasne are not part of Canada

ROUTINE CBSA “CHILD ABUSE” CONTINUES - FINALLY! CANADIAN COURT RECOGNIZES THAT KAHNAWAKE & AKWESASNE ARE NOT PART OF CANADA …

Mohawk Nation News

Photo: Kahentinetha Horn, publisher of Mohawk Nation News, objecting to the border wall and arrests of Indigenous Peoples, on the southern border on Tohono O'odham land in 2007. Photo/Indigenous Peoples Border Summit of the Americas.

October 26, 2008. A top dog at the Federal Court of Canada, Prothonotary Madame Mireille Tabib agrees with us. She recognizes that Akwesasne and Kahnawake are not part of Canada.

Finally!! This is what we’ve been saying all along!! Since 1783 when Britain illegally agreed with the U.S. rebels to divide up our land without our knowledge or consent.

Katenies is a resident of Akwesasne. Kahentinetha is a resident of Kahnawake. Madam Tabib’s October 23, 2008 Order in Kahentinetha and Katenies versus the Queen, Docket T- 1309-08, found that neither of these two women are “residents in Canada”.

But she’s not our friend. She did this because she wants to erect a barrier to justice. She ordered them to put up $6,500 to pay the legal expenses of the Crown before the Federal Court will even look at evidence of the assaults and attempted murder carried out by the Canadian Border Services Agency CBSA goons at the Cornwall Ontario Border on June 14, 2008.

Have you ever heard of such a thing? Since when did victims have to pay the state to prosecute criminals? How is this protection? After all, Canada does claim that the Queen sent them over here to protect us. This makes it clear who we need protection from - them!!!

Madam Tabib’s Order proves that the issue of the 500 missing Indigenous women [3,000 plus really!] is no accident. The Canadian state is out to ‘git’ Indigenous women!

This explains another mystery. Even though Madam Tabib has now recognized that Akwesasne and Kahnawake are not part of Canada, CBSA agents are still threatening Akwesasne residents, particularly young women.

This is serious.

We want them to get their steroid laden jackasses off our land real quick. We’re sick and tired of their child abuse and their death-squad mentality.
Halloween would be a suitable time for them to clear out. They’ll fit in perfectly with the vampires, monsters and ghouls that night!

Canadians do not all support this institutionalized evil.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission CHRC is on our side. Two years ago a young Akwesasne mother filed a complaint after she was racially and sexually harassed and forced to submit to several shots of the VACIS x-ray machine intended for use on commercial transport vehicles. As a result she had to abort her unborn child and her family has suffered untold stress and grief.

Canada acts slowly, but when the CHRC report [file number 20061366] finally came in on October 1st 2008, it found that an inquiry is needed. In its words, there was “a complete lack of core values like cooperation, respect, integrity and professionalism towards the complainant because of her race”.

The CHRC report hasn’t had any effect on the conduct of the CBSA brutes who are accustomed to running rough shod over international accords that Canada has signed, like the “International Convention on Civil and Political Rights”, the “International Convention on the Rights of the Child” and even the “International Convention Against Torture” and other degrading and inhuman treatment. They haven’t heard of Madam Tabib’s finding that Akwesasne isn’t part of Canada either. Those cruel goons are still there, using their razor-in-the-apple-type Halloween dirty tricks.

The aggrieved young mother is still being harassed while she prepares her response to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. On Saturday, October 25th, on her way home from visiting relatives, she was pulled out of the “Indian lane” at the Cornwall border checkpoint which is a few yards from her home.

The CBSA told her to get out of her vehicle and leave her sleeping infant unattended so they could do what they called a “routine check”. When she refused, they said “What? Don’t you trust us to look after your baby?”

Why should she? As both she and the CBSA know, abuse is common. Canadian police and the CBSA refuse to investigate complaints filed with them by the Mohawks. Hundreds have been registered with the Mohawk Band Council of Akwesasne. Those guards know full well that this young woman wants the border removed and criminal charges filed against them.

Would you trust these cannibals to baby-sit your child?

When the young mother challenged these sadists to show her what law allows them to force her to leave her infant unattended in the car, they ordered her to wake up her baby.

She refused. After a big rigamorole, they finally let her go home. She was so shaken that her 8 year old daughter said, “They bothered you at the border again, didn’t they, Mom?” So the family still lives in a climate of fear, despite the support of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Madam Tabib’s reasoning is pretty illogical too. Even though she recognized that Akwesasne and Kahnawake are not part of Canada, she still thinks the “imaginary line” drawn through our community is a valid excuse for human rights abuses, gangsterism and theft by CBSA agents.

Madam Tabib seems to think that the Crown can say we are not part of Canada for the part of the Federal Court Act that lets them make Orders for Costs against “non-residents” of Canada but claim us as part of Canada for other parts of the Act. She’s playing the “heads I win, tails you lose” game. The Halloween blood suckers came out early this year!!

MNN Staff – Mohawk Nation News www.mohawknationnews.com
Katenies20@yahoo.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com

Note: These challenges of CBSA abuses at the border require support and money. 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.

Some of the ‘borderline’ culprits involved: Prothonotary Mireille Tabib, 284 Wellington TSA-6032, Ottawa ON Canada K1A 0H8 613-992-4238 Fax 613-952-3653; Phil Fontaine of the AFN is a partner in CBSA’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2007-9; Chris Kealey, Canada Customs Excise, Immigration Taxation Board, CBSA Media Relations 613-991-5197; President CBSA 613-952-3200, 613-957-0612, CBSA-ASFC@Canada.gc.ca; National Aboriginal Initiative CHRC 204-983-2189 1-866-772-4880 info.com@chrc-ccdp.ca; Canada Customs Port of Entry at Cornwall Island Ontario; Gaetan Cousineau, Quebec Human Rights presidence@cdpdj.gc.ca; Akwesasne Mohawk Police 613-575-2250 ex 2400; Mohawk Security at the border 613-932-5183, 613-575-2340; Lance Markel, District Director CBSA 613-930-3234, 613-991-1214; Brent Lafave, Investigator CBSA; Susan St. Clair, Canadian Human Rights Commission, 344 Slater, Ottawa 613-995-1151, 1-888-214-1090, 613-943-5188; CBSA National Spokesperson 613-957-6500; Quebec Media Relations CBSA 514-350-6130; Chief Mohawk Council Akwesasne 613-575-2250 nbenedict@akwesasne.ca; Minister Stockwell Day, Ottawa 613-995-4432; Melissa Leclair Communications Pub. Safety 613-991-2863.

Go to MNN “Border” 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

On the border, Big Brother's bullets and drugs

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

On the Border -- With more US government dollars flowing into Mexico, supposedly to fight the war on drugs, more Indigenous Peoples and human rights activists are being arrested and targeted with US-issued bullets. Read more about police opening fire on Indigenous Peoples with US issued bullets, and the arrests of human rights activists, at Narco News.
The narco trafficking, cartel battles and bloodbaths prevalent in Tijuana and along the South Texas border are now in Nogales, Sonora, across the border from Nogales, Arizona, and south of Tucson. Michel Marizco reports on the violence at Border Reporter.

While the violence increases, people who live along the border question the United States role in the violence and crimes, including the massive seizures of land by corporations after the passage of NAFTA that has displaced Indigenous Peoples. This has forced Indians to flee on foot to the north for survival. Many have died on the border in the desert.

One of those regions with the highest death rate is the Tohono O'odham Nation, where some O'odham are struggling to halt the tragedies. However, O'odham human rights activists are not supported by the elected Tohono O'odham officials.

The O'odham struggling to carry out the Himdaag, O'odham sacred way of life, want to stop the deaths and halt the border wall, which is a barrier to passage on the annual ceremonial route.

The construction of the border wall has violated all federal laws created to protect Native American remains, cultural items and the environment. During construction of the border wall on Tohono O'odham land, O'odham ancestors were dug up by the contractor Boeing and cultural remains looted and destroyed.

The Tohono O'odham struggling to protect human rights and human decency include Mike Wilson, who puts out water for migrants; Ofelia Rivas, founder of the O'odham Voice against the Wall and Mike Flores, organizer of the Indigenous Peoples Border Summit of the Americas in 2006 and 2007. Angelita Reino Ramon and Irvin Ramon are struggling for justice after their 18-year-old son, Bennett Patricio, Jr., was ran over and killed by the US Border Patrol. Many other O'odham living along the US/Mexico border work quietly to render aid and serve the people.

Tohono O'odham are increasingly held at gunpoint by border agents and tribal police on bogus allegations and harassed as they travel in their homeland.

Meanwhile, so many military recruiters, cops, prison guards and Airforce pilots were eager to smuggle cocaine from the border at Nogales, north to Tucson and Phoenix, that the FBI had to shut down "Operation Lively Green."

Soldiers in the Army, Marines, National Guard and AirForce smuggled cocaine. They wore their uniforms during the drug operations. More than 50 have been sentenced, including a military recruiter at a Tucson high school. Soldiers stationed in Oklahoma were caught in a similar major drug smuggling operation from the border north.

There would have likely been more arrests of various border agents, but the other border agencies were involved in carrying out the sting operation.

.

Photos: Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham founder of O'odham Voice against the Wall, at the border wall south of Sells, Arizona, on Tohono O'odham land. Photo Brenda Norrell. Arizona border wall with deer halted by Daniel Patterson, published with permission. Map: Please double click to enlarge. The O'odham's homeland in Mexico is shown south of the border.

Alaska's Youth Protest Palin and Uranium Mining

Elim Students Against Uranium (ESAU)
Organizers: Emily Murray & Flora Simon
Box 39907, Elim, AK 99739
(907) 890-2351

Alaska's Youth Protest to Gov. Palin and the State of Alaska Against Uranium Mining
By Pearl Johnson

Through covert dealings, Gov. Sarah Palin, State Dept. of Natural Resources, Bureau of Land Management, the Alaska and U.S. senators and representatives and an ANCSA corporation entrusted with the security and health of their constituents have accepted the lease proposal to explore for uranium at the Fireweed/Boulder Creek area located in southwestern Seward Peninsula, without the knowledge, consent nor approval of the citizens of Western Alaska.

When students of Elim, Alaska first realized this, they began researching the effects of uranium mining and created educational posters to share what they learned. A community meeting was organized in Elim to share their findings and garner support to protest this action. The community responded favorably and in March 2007, demonstrated when the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race went through their town.

On September 17, 2007, a letter was sent to Gov. Palin inquiring what she planned to do about uranium mining at Boulder Creek which is located north of their community. She has yet to respond to this letter... Click here to read the letter.

In her State of the State speech on January 17, 2007, I quote: "With our rich energy supplies, we can contribute globally in many arenas, if we do things right. We must lead with trust - founded upon a most ethical government. To sustain our future......we must look to responsible development throughout the state... from mining etc. We can be good stewards of God's green earth."

Core drilling has been completed at Boulder Creek. Pollution in this watershed will negatively impact and irreversibly destroy the area and sustain heavy environmental and cultural damage impacting the communities of Council, White Mountain, Golovin, Koyuk, Elim and Shaktoolik. To allow the total destruction of this beautiful land, lush meadows, rich green forests, flower fields, pristine lakes and rivers is unthinkable. This fragile ecosystem nourishes and supplies Inupiaq, Yupik and non-native people, and healthy populations of every plant and mammal species indigenous to Arctic Alaska. It is not a frozen wasteland but a biologically diverse home to millions of salmon, beluga whale, seals, crab and annual migrations of birds from the Americas. The great Western Arctic Caribou Herd has wintered here, along with local reindeer, grizzly and black bear, and moose. Wolves, fox, lynx, beaver, otter, muskrat, mink, weasel, squirrel and porcupine traverse through quiet grasslands and marshes. Eagles, hawks and owls, robins and ravens fly through wind blown rocky enclaves in search of insects and small rodents. Berries, herbs and teas color the landscape along with wild cotton, cat tails and willows.

Why would you destroy this? If mining is allowed, air, wind and waterborne pollutants will turn this area into an arid, desolate wasteland unfit for habitation forever. Did the politicians decide how the residents of this area were going to live, stricken with cancers and deformed fetuses? Where would they go? The birthright of the residents of this area has been sold. And, they have been abandoned by the politicians and left to fend for themselves!

The village of Elim and other Seward Peninsula communities were never given the opportunity to discuss planned exploration and drilling of uranium nor voice their concerns regarding mining. The regional native corporation, Bureau of Land Management, State Dept. of Natural Resources and the elected officials charged to care for their constituency did not study the impact uranium mining would incur in the region. Had they done that, they would have realized that mining for uranium is unregulated and no method of extracting uranium is safe and would have informed the impacted area of the pros and cons of development. And Gov. Palin has broken her oath of office and despite her State of the State speech, has gone against her promises of "doing things right, mutual trust, trustworthy government and responsible mining development " by allowing a proposal to mine uranium on the Seward Peninsula which now threatens the livelihood and lives of the people of Western Alaska.

The organization, Elim Students Against Uranium (ESAU), has been spearheaded by Emily Murray and Flora Simon. Emily Murray, "We may be the minority but as an indigenous nation, our voices will be heard and we will stand tall and fight for what we believe in."

ESAU is continuing to educate organizations and communities in the region and plans to take this protest to the United Nations Permanent Form on Indigenous Issues should Gov. Palin, the State of Alaska and mining conglomerates continue pursuing heavy mining development at Boulder Creek. Flora Simon, "This process of exploring, mining and being possessed by the mighty dollar has even corrupted the minds of our leaders that we voted for. The ones that are to be praised the most are the students of Elim that care enough to speak up and want to protect their subsistence lifestyle, for these are the ones that will benefit or be destroyed."
For More Information:
Western Mining Action Network
Elim Uranium Mine Student Blog
Big New’s: Uranium in Norton Sound Reigon
Indigenous Environmental Network
Images Courtesy: Big New’s: Uranium in Norton Sound Region
For more information contact:
Flora Simon - flora_simon@yahoo.com
Tom Goldtooth ien@igc.org
The Indigenous Environmental Network • PO Box 485 • Bemidji • MN • 56619