Native Round Dance to oppose Nevada Bear Hunt Feb. 11, 2013

NATIVE AMERICANS OPPOSE

NEVADA BEAR HUNT

By AIM Northern Nevada
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

NATIVE AMERICANS WILL DANCE AT LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT S.B. 82, WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT BEAR HUNTING IN NEVADA

Bear is Sacred Animal for Nevada Native Americans, and Native Americans Believe their Rights Have Been Violated by Bear Hunt

On Tribal Day, Monday, February 11, 2013, at 10:00 -12:00 am, in front of the Nevada State Legislature Building at 401 S. Carson Street, Carson City, Nevada Native Americans will perform a Round Dance in support of Senate Bill 82, which would prohibit bear hunting in Nevada, and prohibit the Nevada Wildlife Commission from authorizing the hunting of black bears in Nevada.  American Indian Movement (AIM) president, Raquel Arthur said, ”We will perform a Round Dance in support of S.B. 82, and in solidarity with the Bear Nations (Nevada’s black bears).”  Anywhere from 20-50 people are expected to participate in the dance, which will include Native Americans in traditional dress, drummers and singers.

Among the reasons that the Native Americans oppose the bear hunt are:

1. The black bear is a religious, sacred animal to Native Americans because he provides healing medicine to them, and they consider him a relative.  They have dances and ceremonies that honor the bear to this day.  To kill a bear for sport is extremely offensive to them.

2. The Nevada Department of Wildlife never consulted with any Nevada tribe before creating the bear hunt.

3. The bear hunt takes place where Native Americans conduct their annual pine nut harvest, principally in the Pine Nut Mountains and the Sweetwater Range, which creates serious public safety threats to their families.

Last September, members from two AIM chapters (AIM of Northern Nevada and AIM of Western Nevada) presented to Governor Sandoval Resolutions opposing the bear hunt from the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, which represents all 27 tribes in Nevada, and from 11 other individual Tribal Councils from all around the State.  Accompanying these Resolutions were petitions opposing the bear hunt signed by approximately 800 Nevada Native Americans from four Great Basin Tribes (Washoe, Northern and Southern Paiute, and Shoshone).

Contact: Raquel Arthur, President, AIM of Northern Nevada raquelaarthur@yahoo.com
Contact: Johanna Emm, Secretary, AIM of Northern Nevada johannaemm50@hotmail.com
Contact: Christine Schwamberger, Legislative Advisor, schwamberger@earthlink.net