Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

January 29, 2021

O'odham Solidarity website creator journeys to Spirit World

Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham, with website creator Jeff Hendricks


O'odham Solidarity website creator journeys to Spirit World


By Ofelia Rivas

Censored News


To all our Friends and Supporters,


My dear friend and honorable warrior Jeffery D. Hendricks took his journey to the infinite spirit world on January 13, 2021. In his memorial my family honors him with words from my daughter, “It’s hard to put into words the kind of person he was. He was all the good things a man should be but how difficult it is to be that man. One so sensitive and can see the dark side of people, but strong and will stand up and be a fighter." Jeff was surrounded by a diverse wealth of people with long time memories with him. 


Two Water Protectors Lock Down Blocking Enbridge Line 3 Worksite Jan. 29, 2021


Two Water Protectors halted work today by locking down at an Enbridge site.





Unicorn Riot is live
SAINT PAUL
SAINT PAUL, MINN. -- Hundreds have gathered in St. Paul, Minnesota calling on President Biden to revoke permits for the Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline project. The protest billed as 'Protect the Water, Revoke the Permits' started downtown and plans to march to the local Army Corps of Engineers' office to demand federal water crossing permits be rescinded. Jan. 29, 2021
https://unicornriot.ninja/2021/opposition-to-line-3-mounts/


Two Water Protectors Lock Down Blocking Line 3 Worksite 

Giniw Collective

Censored News
January 29, 2021
Contact: giniw@protonmail.com


PARK RAPIDS, Minn. -- On Friday morning, two water protectors locked to one other between barrels of concrete, halting construction at an Enbridge worksite as dozens more held space.

Bioneers: Listen to Cutcha Risling Baldy 'Indigenous Voices for Decolonized Futures'



Bioneers: Listen to Cutcha Risling Baldy 'Indigenous Voices for Decolonized Futures'

By Bioneers

Censored News

Watch video:

https://bioneers.org/cutcha-risling-baldy-indigenous-voices-decolonized-futures-zstf2101/


Indigenous peoples, deeply rooted in place-based knowledge, are leading the way in developing strategies on how best to approach climate justice and climate resilience.

January 25, 2021

Kumeyaay 'No Border Wall on Native Land'



Photos by John Clark-Dvorak, published with permission at Censored News

Article by Brenda Norrell 
Censored News
Updated Jan. 25, 2021

Video of Stan Rodriguez interview now on YouTube:

Kumeyaay gathered Sunday on both sides of the border to hold a ceremony, and bring attention to the environmental and cultural damage done by the border wall construction.


Standing Rock Thunderhawk Litigation Advances in Appeals Court against Morton County and TigerSwan

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Photo copyright Ryan Vizzions

Standing Rock Thunderhawk Litigation Advances in Appeals Court and in Discovery Toward Trial

Columbia Students Provide Critical Assistance in Civil Rights Lawsuit  

Thunderhawk v. County of Morton, North Dakota

By Columbia School of Law
Jan. 25, 2021
Censored News
 
NEW YORK — Advancing yet another step toward trial set for August 2021, the Standing Rock Thunderhawk litigation is now in discovery against Morton County and TigerSwan, LLC, and briefed on qualified immunity at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. 
 

January 23, 2021

Border Wall construction continuing defying Biden's executive order



The destruction by border wall contractors accelerates after President Biden's order to halt construction

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

Border wall construction is continuing on the Arizona border, even though President Biden issued an executive order for it to halt on his first day in office.

Border wall contractors continued the destruction of blasting mountains and destroying critical habitat of endangered species this week after President Biden  ordered it halted.

January 22, 2021

Western Shoshone celebrating Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons






By Native Community Action Council

nativecommunityactioncouncil@gmail.com

January 22, 2021

French translation by Christine Prat

LAS VEGAS -- The Native Community Action Council is celebrating the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entry into force by gathering in Las Vegas at the Federal Courthouse to hold banners affirming the entry into force of the treaty. 


January 20, 2021

President Biden halts Keystone XL Pipeline and Border Wall Construction

Photo by Laiken Jordahl

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

President Biden signed executive orders revoking the Keystone XL Pipeline permit, halting funding for the border wall, reviewing boundaries of Bears Ears, and issued a moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Cheyenne River Lakota Chairman Harold Frazier in South Dakota immediately praised Biden for recognizing the danger the Keystone XL Pipeline poses to the land and people.

Indigenous Elders and Medicine Peoples letter to Biden


Chief Arvol Looking Horse

January 20, 2021

Translation into French by Christine Prat


Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. President, United States of America

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden,

We, Indigenous Elders and Medicine Peoples, welcome you, your family and your administration to your new responsibility as President of the United States of America. The tradition of welcoming newcomers started long before the formation of the United States; it began at first arrival of our relatives that came from across the ocean. This ceremonial act is to promote peaceful relations, to respect one another and to recognize each other as an integral part of Creation.

Bolivia's Evo Morales being treated for coronavirus


By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

Former President of Bolivia Evo Morales is being treated for moderate pneumonia in a clinic, after testing positive for coronavirus, local media reports.

From Los Olivos Clinic in Cochabamba yesterday,  Morales expressed in a tweet his appreciation for the solidarity, plants and medicines. Morales said Bolivians remain united in adversity.

Censored News sends hope for a speedy recovery. Those of us that you welcomed to your homeland, send the hope of a good recovery.

Evo Morales tweet Jan. 19, 2021


Update Evo Morales discharged from clinic:



January 16, 2021

OAK FLAT -- Judge orders hearing, halts land transfer for 55 days


By Apache Stronghold 
Censored News
January 15, 2021

Contacts:
Dr. Wendsler Nosie, Sr., Apache Stronghold, apaches4ss@yahoo.com
Michael V. Nixon, michaelvnixon@yahoo.com

French translation by Christine Prat

AFTER APACHE FILE LAWSUIT AND PLACE LIEN ON OAK FLAT, FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS INJUNCTION HEARING JANUARY 27 AND FOREST SERVICE DELAYS LAND TRANSFER FOR 55 DAYS

OAK FLAT, Ariz. - Apache Stronghold, on behalf of traditional Apache religious and cultural leaders, placed a lien on Oak Flat on Wednesday, January 13, with the Pinal County Recorder's Office.  The lien prevents the planned transfer of Oak Flat, or Chi'chil Bildagoteel, to a foreign mining company until the recently filed ongoing Apache Stronghold lawsuit is finalized.

January 14, 2021

Apache file temporary restraining order to halt Sacred Oak Flat land transfer for copper mining


Photo by Steve Pavey

January 14, 2021

Contacts:

Dr. Wendsler Nosie, Sr., Apache Stronghold, apaches4ss@yahoo.com

Michael V. Nixon, michaelvnixon@yahoo.com

French translation by Christine Prat

APACHE FILE LIEN ON OAK FLAT, TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO STOP LAND TRANSFER FROM FOREST SERVICE TO FOREIGN MINING COMPANY

FLORENCE, Ariz.— Apache Stronghold, on behalf of traditional Apache religious and cultural leaders, filed a lien on Oak Flat, or Chi'chil Bildagoteel, Wednesday with the Pinal County Recorder’s Office in Florence, Ariz., to stop the transfer of Oak Flat to British-Australian corporate mining giant Rio Tinto and its subsidiary, Resolution Copper.

The lien seeks to prevent the U.S. Forest Service from transferring the title for Oak Flat to Resolution Copper while the Apache Stronghold’s case is being heard in court.

Apache Stronghold filed a lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix challenging the land transfer on the grounds that the giveaway and destruction of Oak Flat violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and Apaches’ constitutional rights to religious freedom, due process, and petition and remedy, and is a breach of trust and fiduciary duties.


Water Protectors Lock Down Inside Enbridge Pipeline



Water Protectors Lock Down Inside Line 3 Pipeline 

By GINIW Collective

Censored News

Jan. 14, 2021

BACKUS, Minn. -- Thursday morning, water protectors locked to each other inside a Line 3 pipe segment, halting construction at an Enbridge worksite as dozens more held space.  

The site is a few miles from a large Enbridge man camp operating in the township of Backus, Minnesota. Enbridge is working 24 hours per day at several worksites, as a pending injunction to halt work while tribally-led lawsuits are heard has yet to be decided. 

According to several cultural site maps, numerous sacred and significant sites lie in the path of the Line 3 project. 


Rosebud Lakota President: Capitol events are painful reminder of inequality of justice


Lakotas defend Mount Rushmore from Trump rally July 2020


Capitol riot 2021


In related news: Videos downloaded from Parler, before it was taken offline, are now on YouTube. These 14 videos show the extreme violent coup attempt to take over the Capitol, including attacks on Capitol police officers and a mob entering the underground area of the Capitol: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq6cQ--4f90ja7xShfORhnlvnvHaG05zj

Statement of President Rodney M. Bordeaux
ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE 
Censored News
On January 6, 2021, we watched the events unfold at the U.S. Capitol with great sadness and concern. What we are most troubled by is the fact that this act of domestic terrorism was incited by the President of the United States. What happened was not supposed to happen in the United States.
We worry about the legacy of these actions. We worry that the losing side in any election or debate will think this is an appropriate way to behave in the future. We worry about the fanaticism displayed by the supporters of the President. We are further alarmed that this fanaticism included members of Congress.
The level of violence that we have witnessed over the last year and even the last four years has been troubling. We saw various protests in cities throughout America last year where people were beaten, handcuffed, and rounded up in busses.
The events of this past Wednesday was a painful reminder for all people of color about the inequality of justice. In 2014, one of our tribal members sang an impromptu honor song in the balcony of the U.S. Senate after the Senate rejected the KXL Pipeline. Our tribal member was arrested and led out of the chamber by the park police. He honored those senators and was arrested!
Last July, when the President came to the ill-advised desecration of our scared Black Hills, a number of our tribal members were met with an overwhelming law enforcement presence. Our people were arrested and dealt with severely. The State of South Dakota targets native peoples with their attempts to quell peaceful protests and this was within our own treaty lands.
During this attack on the U.S. Capitol, we saw no arrests. We saw no busses lined up to take these criminals. We hate to think because most of these criminals were white that the response was very different than what we typically see. We have a long way to go in the struggle for equality. These events were merely a reminder of how far we have to go.
We extend our prayers to those who were victims of this act of domestic terrorism. We extend our prayers to the Congress of the United States. We pray for President Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris as they help all peoples to begin the process of healing the wounds of the last four years and beyond.

Mohawk Nation News 'Creation's Game 'Tewaaraton (Lacrosse) Audio



CREATION’S GAME, “TEWAARATON” [LACROSSE] Audio
Posted on January 9, 2021



MNN. Jan. 9, 2021. TEWAARATON. Lacrosse is more than just a game where some lose and some win. This game is played for medicine for all life and it’s played for creation. Today sports reflects Western society as a battle to beat one another and to be rewarded with money.

Audio: Listen at:

http://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2021/01/09/creations-game-tewaaraton-lacrosse-audio/Audio Player

MNN. This story was originally posted on May 25, 2013. Lacrosse [TEWAARATON] was created before the arrival of people on Mother Earth. The first game was played between the winged ones and the four-legged ones. In the end the winged ones won because they understood that every mind is important to the whole, no matter how small. The capitalist two party system of majority rules means almost half have no voice. The great peace system is created so that 100% either totally agree or understand the decision. When a final decision in the consensus process is at a stalemate, tewaaraton, the game of creation, is played to resolve the issue and replace war.


January 12, 2021

Apaches sue to save Oak Flat from destruction by foriegn mining company, Jan. 12, 2021


APACHE SUE TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, SAVE OAK FLAT SACRED AREA FROM DESTRUCTION BY FOREIGN MINING COMPANY

By Apache Stronghold 

Censored News

TUCSON, Ariz.— Apache Stronghold, on behalf of traditional Apache religious and cultural leaders, sued the Trump administration today in U.S. District Court in Phoenix to stop the transfer of Oak Flat, or Chi'chil Bildagoteel, to British-Australian corporate mining giant Rio Tinto and its subsidiary, Resolution Copper.

The lawsuit seeks to stop the U.S. Forest Service's publication on January 15, 2021, of a final environmental impact statement that will trigger the transfer of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper.


U.S. plans to seize Oak Flat, Apache sacred land, for copper mining on Jan. 15, 2021

 


Apache Wendsler Nosie, Jr., said the U.S. Forest Service plans to seize Oak Flat, sacred land, on January 15, 2021. Nosie asks others to come to Oak Flat now and join him in prayer, to halt the seizure of Apache sacred land for copper mining

TAKE ACTION NOW | HELP SAVE OAK FLAT

By Apache Stronghold
Censored News

Last month Tribes discovered that the date for the completion of a crucial environmental review process has suddenly been moved forward by a full year, to December 2020, even as the tribes are struggling with a Covid outbreak that has stifled their ability to respond. If the environmental review is completed before Trump leaves office, the tribes may be unable to stop the mine. Oak Flat needs all of us now to come together. Below are suggested actions and ways you and your communities can organize and get involved to help Save Oak Flat Anything you can do is greatly appreciated.

January 5, 2021

Remembering Carrie


Carrie Dann by Brenda Norrell, Western Shoshone Gathering 2009


Carrie and Mary Dann photo by Ilka Hartmann 1979

Remembering Carrie

Article by Brenda Norrell
Censored News
Translation by Christine Prat

The sun was setting over Eureka, Nevada, and the roads were icy and treacherous. It was February and I worried over Carrie Dann, in her seventies, making the long drive back to her ranch alone. I walked her out to her white truck, trying not to slip on the sidewalk which was a sheet of ice. With a smile, she assured me she would be just fine.

Carrie traveled the world and was a global force, traveling to the Mother Earth Conference in Cochabamba, Bolivia in 2010. Ultimately, however, she was a rancher, a tough working rancher, fighting to protect her horses and the land, air and water.

Carrie passed to the Spirit World on Jan. 2, 2021. Carrie's sister Mary passed in 2005.

Simon J. Ortiz, Acoma Pueblo poet-author,  Retired Regents Professor, Arizona State University, honored Carrie.

"What a grandmother, mother, daughter, sister, Carrie Dann was," Ortiz wrote today.

"A force of life."

"Life of life."

"Generation after generation before, after."

"We -- all people all beings -- are with her always. And she will always be with us."

"She will always be with all peoples -- even those who mislead and are destructive -- because that is the way of the original knowledge -- who are bound by the Sacred Way of life to be responsible for life to be sustainable forever."

Dine' Chili Yazzie 'Energy development significant contributor to climate crisis'





Dine' Chili Yazzie 'Energy development significant contributor to climate crisis'

By Chili Yazzie, Dine'

Censored News

The concerns of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico, Power the Future, and the Republican Party of New Mexico on the nomination of Deb Haaland to be Secretary of the Interior and the assenting celebration and support for her, are compelling for varied reasons.


January 4, 2021

Hopi Reggae Artist Casper's Brave Underground Sound



Notice to our readers: The newspaper Indian Country Today, in a breach of ethics, removed my byline from this article, which I wrote as a staff writer, and put a fake name on it. As journalists, we must ensure that this theft of our work does not continue and publicly condemn this violation of ethics. -- Brenda Norrell

Revisiting the powerful words of Casper 

Casper’s Brave Underground Sound

January 18, 2005 

by Brenda Norrell

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Casper's underground reggae sound on his new compact disc, ''Honor the People'', examines the imprisonment of Leonard Peltier and the corporate root of the war in Iraq. The Hopi artist from Third Mesa questions who won the last presidential election and how long before the voices of truth are silenced in America.

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January 3, 2021

Carrie Dann takes flight to Spirit World

Carrie Dann and Louise Benally Photo Brenda Norrell

Carrie Dann takes flight to Spirit World

Carrie Dann passed to the Spirit World on Jan. 2, 2021. We offer our tribute in a series, "Carrie Dann in Her Own Words," beginning with these powerful words from the Western Shoshone whose words and resistance inspired a generation. We are saddened at the loss of our long time friend and send our condolences to her loved ones. Carrie truly really lived and loved. -- Brenda Norrell

Western Shoshone and Navajo, Solidarity in Resistance

By Brenda Norrell

November 2006

ELKO, Nevada – Western Shoshone and Navajo share a legacy that the corporate world and United States government want censored. It is the government-sponsored terrorism of Indian people for exploitation of their land, minerals and water.



January 2, 2021

Zapatistas Declaration for Life, For the People Fighting in Europe, Jan. 2021



Part One: A DECLARATION FOR LIFE

January 1st, 2021

Translations in 12 languages:

http://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/2021/01/01/primera-parte-una-declaracion-por-la-vida/

TO THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD:

TO PEOPLE FIGHTING IN EUROPE:

BROTHERS, SISTERS AND COMPAÑER@S:

During these previous months, we have established contact between us by various means. We are women, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, transvestites, transsexuals, intersex, queer and more, men, groups, collectives, associations, organizations, social movements, indigenous peoples, neighbourhood associations, communities and a long etcetera that gives us identity.