Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

December 30, 2023

Parallel Massacres: From the Zapatistas to Wounded Knee and Gaza -- Censored News Most Censored 2023


Puyallup and Nisqually Water Warriors blocking ship carrying weapons to Israel in port in Tacoma, Washington. Photo by Mike Ferguson used with permission.

Parallel Massacres: From the Zapatistas to Wounded Knee and Gaza -- Censored News Most Censored 2023

The weapons flow and its tentacles in Indian country are among the most censored

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Dec. 30, 2023

A delegation of Native human rights defenders went to Chiapas as human shields during the military assassinations of Zapatistaas in the jungle highlands near Ocosingo in 1995. Strewn on the ground were the shell casings marked "Made in the U.S.A." Now, in Gaza, this chilling image returns.


On Friday, the same day that South Africa launched its case of crimes of genocide by Israel at the International Court of Justice -- the Biden administration bypassed the U.S. Congress for a second time, and sent more weapons to Israel to continue the war crimes and genocide.

December 29, 2023

Oomaka Tokatakiya Final Day, Wounded Knee and Pine Ridge


Oomaka Tokatakiya Final Day, Wounded Knee and Ride to Pine Ridge
Photos by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project


December 28, 2023

The Oomaka Tokatakiya, Porcupine to Wounded Knee


The Oomaka Tokatakiya, Porcupine to Wounded Knee
Day 14
Photos by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project

December 27, 2023

Zapatistas 'Invitation to the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Beginning of the War Against Oblivion'



INVITATION TO THE THIRTY ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR AGAINST OBLIVION.

December 2023.

The Zapatista communities and the EZLN invite all people, groups, collectives, associations, organizations and movements that signed the so-called Declaration for Life, the indigenous peoples gathered in the National Indigenous Congress, the International Sixth, the non-governmental organizations defenders of human rights and, especially, those whose destiny is in artistic creation, to the celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the beginning of the war against oblivion.

The celebration will be on December 30 and 31, 2023 and January 1 and 2, 2024. Guests will be able to arrive from the 29th, not before that day.

Oomaka Tokatakiya, Kyle to Porcupine, The Ride to Wounded Knee

Oomaka Tokatakiya, Kyle to Porcupine, The Ride to Wounded Knee

Photo by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project
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December 26, 2023

Oomaka Tokatakiya, The Badlands to Kyle, The Ride to Wounded Knee


Oomaka Tokatakiya, The Badlands to Kyle, The Ride to Wounded Knee
Photos by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project

December 21, 2023

Oomaka Tokatakiya, Cherry Creek to Bridger, the Ride to Wounded Knee


Oomaka Tokatakiya, Cherry Creek to Bridger, the Ride to Wounded Knee

Photos by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project

Tohono O'odham Police Vendetta Revealed in Murder of Raymond Mattia



Raymond Mattia


Tohono O'odham Police Vendetta Revealed in Murder of Raymond Mattia

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Dec. 21, 2023

The vendetta of a Tohono O'odham Nation police officer is revealed by attorneys for the family of Raymond Mattia, Tohono O'odham, who was murdered when Tohono O'odham police and U.S. Border Patrol agents fired 38 shots at him, striking him with nine bullets, in front of his home.

“I don’t know exactly where that motherfucker is at," a Tohono O'odham Nation police officer told U.S. Border Patrol agents as they met shortly before Raymond was murdered.

December 20, 2023

Oomaka Tokatakiya, Jensen’s to Cherry Creek -- The Ride to Wounded Knee



Photos by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project

Day six of the Oomaka Tokatakiya, Jensen’s to Cherry Creek


Oomaka Tokatakiya: Riding out of Green Grass, The Ride to Wounded Knee



Photos by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project
Riding out of Green Grass, Day Five, the Ride to Wounded Knee

 


December 19, 2023

Coming into Green Grass: Oomaka Tokatakiya, Future Generations Ride to Wounded Knee


 Coming into Green Grass: Oomaka Tokatakiya, Future Generations Ride, to Wounded Knee

Photos by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project





The riders arrived in Green Grass today, where the community has prepared a huge turkey dinner for them.


Listen Now: Tiokasin Ghosthorse: First Voices Indigenous Radio with Alex White Plume


Alex White Plume is Oglala Lakota and one of the founders of the Wounded Knee Bigfoot Memorial Ride (South Dakota), which was started in 1986. The nation needed a Wiping of the Tears ceremony after the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890. The ride began because of the way our people were living; they needed change and a way that brought awareness to what happened to Bigfoot and his people at Wounded Knee. Between 1986-1990, the ride was a Wiping of the Tears ceremony for the Lakota nation. There were 19 riders on the very first ride in 1986 from Bridger, SD to Wounded Knee, SD. The ride was called the Future Generation Ride after 1990, when the Wiping of the Tears ceremony ended.

Thank you for allowing Censored News to share your photos. Dec. 17. 2023

Oceti Sakowin Treaty Council Passes Measure Supporting Palestinians, Calling for Ceasefire and Aid


Oceti Sakowin Treaty Council

OCETI SAKOWIN TREATY COUNCIL PASSED SWEEPING MEASURE SUPPORTING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE OF GAZA, CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AND EMERGENCY AID FOR THE MILLIONS DISPLACED

Breaking News: The Oceti Sakowin Treaty Council resolution states Israel is carrying out ethnic cleansing and genocide that mirrors what was done to the Oceti Sakowin. Comparing the genocide by Israel to that carried out by the U.S. Indian Removal Act, the resolution states, "This act was designed to cut relationships Native Peoples had with the land by removing us, keeping us in prisoner of war camps, destroying our homes, our medicines, our crops, our livestock, and killing any who resisted." Now, two million Palestinians are being forced to leave Gaza or risk being bombed. More than 18,787 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, 7,729 are children. "The state of Israel would not be able to maintain an apartheid regime without enormous military aid provided by the United States every year, thereby also depriving Americans and Federal Programs of money for their own urgent needs."

By Oceti Sakowin Treaty Council
Censored News

On Thursday, December 14, 2023, The Oceti Sakowin Council – the treaty council of the Oceti Sakowin people (Sioux Nation) – of the He Sapa territory (South Dakota) unanimously passed a sweeping measure in support of the Palestinian people of Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and emergency aid for over two million residents of the Gaza Strip, half of whom are children.

The Oceti Sakowin Treaty Council represents all of the Tribes within the Ocet Sakowin – approximately 49 Tribes.

U.S. Silences Voices for Palestine at Rutgers, on Same Day Mohawks Enter the Picture


Wikileaks exposed U.S. State Dept. cables revealing illegal wiretaps of Mohawks, and that Mohawks were the most spied on, and feared, of all those targeted. Censored News
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2010/08/wikileaks-canadas-unauthorized-wiretaps.html

U.S. Begins 'Civil Rights' Investigation to Silence Voices for Palestine at Rutgers, on Same Day Mohawks Enter the Picture

Rutgers University Shuts Down Students for Justice in Palestine -- U.S. Has New Hit List

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Dec. 14, 2023

Rutgers University suspended Students for Justice in Palestine, after the Biden administration announced a "civil rights investigation."

The Biden administration now has a "list" of schools under civil rights investigations.

It comes as no surprise that Rutgers University shut down Students for Justice in Palestine. The U.S. government's ethnic discrimination investigation began the same day that a film was shown, and the Mohawk Warriors entered the picture.

December 17, 2023

O'odham Holiday Toy Drive Underway


O'odham Holiday Toy Drive Underway 

By Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham
Censored News

Thank you so much early donors to our annual Holiday Toy drive. All the toys are getting sorted wrapped and labeled. Soon the O'odham volunteers will be delivering to children along the border. The International border will not deter our efforts to bring gifts to all children.

To donate for this year's Holiday Toy Drive for O'odham children, please send to:
Ophelia Rivas, Box 1835, Sells, Arizona 85634

Read more on Ofelia's website, O'odham Rights https://www.oodhamrights.org/ 

Northern Cheyenne: Palestine Teach-in, Lame Deer, Montana


Tonight (12/17) at 7:30 at the Tribal Building Chambers.
Please attend, this event is open to all community members. A meal will also be served!

 

Oomaka Tokatakiya, The Ride to Wounded Knee

Day two of the Oomaka Tokatakiya, Future Generations Ride, Timber Lake to Opps’ Ranch Today, Dec. 17, 2023, Opps Ranch to Green Grass, South Dakota

Oomaka Tokatakiya, The Ride to Wounded Knee


Photos by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project 









                     From Day 1 of the Oomaka Tokatakiya Sitting Bull Camp to Timber Lake







One-hundred and thirty-one years ago on this day, more than 300 Lakota men, women, and children were disarmed and murdered by the 7th Calvary of the United States near Wounded Knee Creek.

Since 2004 I have joined Lakota riders to the site of the mass grave and remember those lives. We have traveled 300 miles to this site, starting where Sitting Bull was killed for the government’s fear of his strength. Riding through the South Dakota winter—blizzards and -50° wind chills—in an expression of resilience that is unmatched in my experience, children as young as 6 travel the entire distance on horseback.

But the ride doesn’t end at Wounded Knee. Those who were wounded were left as a blizzard came in, and two days later, troops returned and any who were still alive were taken to Pine Ridge where some survived, but many died. So we ride on to Pine Ridge so that they are not forgotten.

-- Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project


Special thanks to Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project for allowing Censored News to share your photos.

December 15, 2023

Justice for Raymond Mattia Protest at Tohono O'odham Nation Police Department

Now at the Tohono O'odham Nation Police Department: Justice for Raymond Mattia

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, December 15, 2023

SELLS, Arizona -- Protesting for justice, family and friends of Raymond Mattia, Tohono O'odham, are at the Tohono O'odham Nation police department. Raymond was murdered in a hail of gunfire by Tohono O'odham Nation Police and U.S. Border Patrol agents in front of his home in Ali Jegk, on the Tohono O'odham Nation.

"Good support, honking horns and many people slowing down to give support," said Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham.

The Arizona Attorney has refused to press charges against the officers and details of who fired the shots that killed Raymond have not been made public.

Raymond told Censored News, during a series of interviews on the border, that he had videotaped U.S. Border Patrol agents running drugs and escorting the cartels through his community. After he submitted the evidence, the video disappeared.


The Killing of Raymond Mattia by Border Patrol Protested in Sells, Arizona

José Ignacio Castañeda Perez
Arizona Republic

SELLS, ARIZONA — The family of Raymond Mattia gathered in Sells on Friday to demand accountability from the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department after Mattia was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in May.

Mattia’s family and a handful of attendees held a peaceful protest outside of the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department nearly seven months after Mattia was killed steps away from his front door. Attendees shouted, “Justice for Ray,” every time a police truck drove in front of the crowd and turned into or out of the station.

Read article:



Yahoo News

Federal prosecutors announced that they weren’t going to file charges against the agents who killed Mattia in October. U.S. Department of Justice employees met with the family in Sells to discuss their decision but refused to provide substantive details about what happened that night. Read article:

December 13, 2023

'Race, Liberation and Palestine' Rutgers Refuses to Shut Down Event after Congressman's Demand

'Race, Liberation and Palestine' Rutgers Refuses to Shut Down Event after Congressman's Demand


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRQXuQwYmO8


'Race, Liberation and Palestine' Rutgers Refuses to Shut Down Event after Congressman's Demand

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Dec. 8, 2023

Update Dec. 13, 2023
Rutgers University has suspended Students for Justice in Palestine, after the Biden administration announced a civil rights investigation. The U.S. Office of Civil Rights has now published a list of schools 'under investigation.'

Students for Justice in Palestine at Rutgers responded and said it was censorship aimed at silencing voices for Palestine. "This attempt to conflate protected speech with violence is dangerous," said the student group Wednesday. "The administration’s letter contributes to the perception of Arab and Palestinian students on campus as terrorist threats, a racist and unacceptable caricature. These allegations lodged against our group, with no due process, are attempts to silence Palestinian voices." Read the statement here.

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey -- The threats, pressure from a U.S. Congressman, and 12,000 e-mails, didn't shut down the event, "Race, Liberation and Palestine," at Rutgers University.

Nick Estes, Lakota, Lower Brule in South Dakota, said the U.S. had more than 400 federal institutions dedicated to removing Native children from their families, all across the United States, and in Alaska and the Pacific.

Look at the headstones at Carlisle Barracks, where there are more than 200 headstones, Estes said.

December 11, 2023

Justice for Raymond Mattia: Peaceful Protest on Tohono O'odham Nation, Dec. 15, 2023


Justice for Raymond Mattia: Peaceful Protest on Tohono O'odham Nation, Dec. 15, 2023

Peaceful Protest: Justice for Raymond Mattia. Sells, Arizona, Tohono O'odham Nation. Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, 3 pm. Raymond Mattia was murdered in front of his home in Ali Jegk, on the Tohono O'odham Nation, in a hail of bullets fired by Tohono O'odham Police and U.S. Border Patrol agents.

December 7, 2023

White House Summit --'Clean Green Energy is on the Backs of the Underserved' -- Timbisha Shoshone and Wampanoag




White House Tribal Nations Summit --'Clean Green Energy on the Backs of the Underserved' -- Timbisha Shoshone and Wampanoag

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Dec. 6, 2023

At the White House Tribal Nations Summit today, a panel praised themselves on the great job they are doing in the Biden administration. However, Jimmy-John Thompson representing the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe in Death Valley pointed out during questions that "green energy" actually means that the land in Nevada is being targeted by foreign mining corporations pursuing lithium mining and nuclear projects, and the tribes are not benefitting.

Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, Chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, in Massachusetts, questioned what is being done to protect the sacred from the detrimental effects of wind energy, including the submerged archaeological resources.

December 6, 2023

Battle of Lithium Mining at Paiute Massacre Site Links Struggles Against Greenwashing Around the World



"Our songs are still out there on the land," said Dean Barlese, Pyramid Lake Paiute, before offering a traditional prayer during the press conference on Tuesday.


Battle of Lithium Mining at Paiute Massacre Site Links Struggles Against Greenwashing Around the World

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Dec. 5, 2023

Translation into French by Christine Prat 

https://chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=8277

The struggle to protect Peehee Mu'huh, Thacker Pass, from lithium mine links the global struggles of uncontacted Indonesians battling nickel mining, child slaves in Congo's cobalt mines, and the peoples' battles against lithium mining in Serbia and Argentina. They are all battling the greenwashing of the false solution of electric vehicles for climate change.

The desecration of the sacred Paiute Massacre site by Lithium Americas of Canada is proceeding because federal laws do not protect massacre sites. Further, a man camp of lithium miners threatens the rural communities of Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Nation, and the town of Winnemucca with crime, specifically sex trafficking.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Chairman Arlan Melendez called for a new mobilization of peaceful protests that will bring awareness to the public about the ongoing desecration to the sacred place and the damage to the environment. He called for support from South Dakota and elsewhere to bring this desecration to the forefront.


December 4, 2023

Reno-Sparks Indian Colony: The Battle to Protect Peehee Mu’huh: Press Conference Dec. 5, 2023


Reno-Sparks Chairman Arlan Melendez said sacred places must be protected and there must be new measures created to protect sacred places including Peehee Mu'huh. Melendez said they want to mobilize Indigenous Peoples, including those in South Dakota, for peaceful protests and to educate the public about outdated mining laws. Speakers pointed out that the United States government failed to adequately consult Native Nations before issuing a permit for lithium mining on Thacker Pass. The dangers for the local community will increase with a workers' man camp. Joining Chairman Melendez are Michon Eben, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for RSIC; and Will Falk, one of the attorneys who has represented the tribe in the Thacker Pass court cases.

Update article at Censored News:
Thacker Pass lithium struggle links to global struggle
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2023/12/battle-of-lithium-mining-at-paiute.html

Video from live broadcast now available on Facebook  now https://fb.watch/oLnoLHlSHd/

November 30, 2023

'Stop Genocide' Raytheon Missiles Protest and Arrests in Tucson


Photos courtesy of Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance and Unicorn Riot media

The Dollars of Death

Enabling War Crimes and Genocide is Big Business for Arizona's Largest Universities
French translation by Christine Prat
https://chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=8273

Breaking News Nov. 30, 2023 -- During the protest of Raytheon Missiles and the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, twenty-six people were arrested, including a news reporter. Raytheon is providing weapons to Israel for genocide, and partners with the University of Arizona to design weapons of death. Raytheon's business partner is Rafael, one of the largest defense contractors in Israel.





BREAKING: Unicorn Riot said, "This morning protesters blockaded the Raytheon facility within the University of Arizona Tech Park in Tucson, Arizona. At the UA Tech Park, Raytheon, which supplies the Israeli military, works in close collaboration with the University of Arizona to design weapons of war."



Reporter Alisa Reznick for Fronteras Desk and KJZZ, shown in yellow jacket, was arrested by Pima County Sheriff's deputies at the protest at UA Tech Park. Watch on YouTube https://kjzz.org/content/1864356/kjzz-news-reporter-covering-tucson-protest-among-several-people-arrested







By Unicorn Riot media, Censored News

This morning protesters blockaded the Raytheon facility within the University of Arizona Tech Park in Tucson, Arizona.

At the UA Tech Park, Raytheon, which supplies the Israeli military, works in close collaboration with the University of Arizona to design weapons of war.

About 60 people held a rally in front of the Tech Park -- demanding an end to collaboration with Raytheon and Israel -- while those who physically blockaded the entrance are being loaded into police vehicles inside the complex.

Vehicle access to the UA Tech Park was blocked for at least an hour, with protesters blocking the main entrances to Raytheon and workers zooming in and out of the crowds attempting to get in.

A blockade also occurred at the west entrance to the campus; police have arrested all the blockaders there.

After clearing protesters from blocking UA Tech Park/Raytheon's entrance, Pima County Sheriffs also insisted on arresting KJZZ journalist Alisa Reznick despite Reznick clearly carrying media equipment and repeatedly identifying herself as press. Follow Unicorn Riot on Twitter/Mastodon/BlueSky/Threads to see more from today’s action.


Read more:

In solidarity with Palestine, there was a protest and blockade of Raytheon Missiles and the University of Arizona in Tucson on Thursday, resulting in 26 arrests, including a news reporter. The University of Arizona partners with Raytheon to create weapons of death now being used in Israel. Raytheon's business partner is Rafael, a defense contractor in Israel. Raytheon has a factory on the Navajo Nation's commercial farm NAPI, near Shiprock, N.M., a fact censored by Indian Country Today. Earlier, the University of Arizona president squelched a rally by speaking out against it. In nearby Tempe, in the Phoenix Valley, Arizona State University revoked permission for use of a hall, just hours before U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib was scheduled to speak.

Raytheon Produces Weapons of Death with Israeli Defense Contractor

Raytheon Missiles is partnered with Rafael, one of the largest defense contractors in Israel, and is providing weapons for the ongoing war crimes and genocide of Palestinians.


Phoenix New Times: ASU in Tempe, in the Phoenix Valley, Revoked Permission for Rep. Tlaib Event

"Just hours before Arizona State University’s Neeb Hall in Tempe was supposed to host an Arizona Palestinian Network event with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the university publicly revoked permission for the hall to be used and canceled the event.

"Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat and the only Palestinian-American in Congress, planned to speak at a Nov. 17 event titled “Palestine is an American Issue." She was to be joined by other speakers calling for a ceasefire in Gaza."