Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

May 14, 2010

Mike Wilson: Tohono O'odham Chairman lacks moral authority to speak against SB 1070


Photo copyright Brenda Norrell
Mike Wilson, Tohono O'odham who puts out water for migrants, says Tohono O'odham Chairman Ned Norris has no moral authority to speak on behalf of migrants, since Chairman Norris and other elected O'odham officials encourage the deaths of migrants on a daily basis.

By Mike Wilson, Tohono O'odham
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Photo: Mike Wilson at one of his water stations on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Photo by Brenda Norrell

TUCSON -- U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva, Dist. 7, had a protest rally in Tucson against SB 1070 at one of his campaign offices on Saturday morning, April the 24th.

Guess who was the first speaker? Tohono O'odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris, Jr.!

I'm insulted and angry that the Chairman was invited to speak, given the Tohono O'odham Nation's fatal anti-immigrant history. The Tohono O'odham Nation has a 10 year demonstrated record of allowing hundreds of Indigenous and Latino migrant men, women and children to die by dehydration on tribal lands.

The Tohono O'odham Legislative Council, the Executive Branch, and specifically Baboquivari District, not only do nothing to prevent inevitable migrant deaths, but worse, continue to confiscate and/or destroy my 4 water stations in the Baboquivari District, the deadliest migrant trail in the U.S.

To destroy or remove life-saving water in the Sonora Desert is a deliberate, universal crime against humanity for which the Tohono O'odham Government and its leaders must be held accountable.

I'm curious as to why Congressman Grijalva invited Chairman Norris to speak. Was the invitation an exercise of political favoritism that shows Congressman Grijalva chooses to conveniently ignore the fact that the Tohono O'odham Nation has migrant blood on its hands?

But now, speaking as a Tohono O'odham AND as a registered Democrat, I'm more suspicious than curious as to how much the Tohono O'odham Nation and/or Desert Diamond Casino has or does contribute directly or indirectly to the Democratic Party of Arizona, the Pima County Democratic Party and to Congressman Raul Grijalva's political campaigns.

I don't understand why Congressman Grijalva would share the podium and attempt to present Chairman Norris as a friend of immigration, as a champion of human rights and as a distinguished Native spokesperson of the oppressed.

Chairman Norris has no moral authority to speak against SB1070.
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Mike Wilson, Tohono O'odham, is a human rights activist and maintains water stations for migrants on the Tohono O'odham Nation, against the wishes of the Tohono O'odham Nation.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Longwalker Spoke

for Mother Earth
and I heard him

a white-eyes, with limited abilities
lurking in the shadows
yearning for
the story of elements
Creating a voice
for Mother Earth
from my limited abilities
Disgorging my prayers
upon anthills--
seeking stones

collected from
unknown realms
which they bestowed upon me
Fifty-two in number
Happy, or Destructive?
while I rested, naturally,
back into Mother Earth
rain and sorrow,
a cell--
redistributed!



A proud name to carry--may your spirit soar, and tarry, to welcome me upon my passing.

SNAKEBELLY said...

I am saddened when this government commits in-humane acts upon anyone. All life is precious. Please, keep up the good work you are doing.

chuck said...

As a registered member of the Baboquivari District,I am saddened to know that all of this is STILL going on!!! I remember reading this some years back. This is the MOST in-humane thing a person can do. To take away their resources and let them die?!? you might as well go out there and kill them with your bare hands!! I'm honestly crying because this is so sad....not only for the ones who have passed, but for the ones who may also pass from this in-humane act. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS(especially those of you who are members of the Tohono O'odham Nation): Please remember, A MAJOR PART OF OUR NATION IS IN MEXICO!!! Just because they're not in the same country, doesn't mean they aren't our relatives.....