Justice and Freedom for Leonard Peltier: Appeal to United Nations Indigenous Forum

                                   Leonard Peltier/Photo by Gloria LaRiva


Statement to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

22nd Session
April 25, 2023
AIM-West Oral Intervention
Item #4

Each year we are saddened to remind this forum that Mr. Leonard Peltier, Anishinabe and Dakota and an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, has been wrongfully incarcerated by the United States since 1976. Leonard Peltier was a leader of the American Indian Movement, a historic civil rights group founded to combat the oppression of Native Americans in the United States.

Foreign Mining Giants Join U.S. to Seize Apaches Sacred Oak Flat in Court

Apache Stronghold at federal court/Photo Apache Stronghold

Foreign mining giants enter the legal fight to seize sacred Native land

Rio Tinto and BHP’s Resolution Copper seek to join forces with the feds to destroy Oak Flat

By Apache Stronghold

April 21, 2023

WASHINGTON – A massive foreign-owned mining corporation has joined forces with the United States government in its ongoing legal battle to destroy Oak Flat, an ancient Apache sacred site in Arizona.In Apache Stronghold v. United States, a coalition of Western Apaches is fighting to stop the federal government from giving Oak Flat to a mining giant that will swallow the site in a nearly two-mile-wide, 1,100-foot-deep crater—ending Apache religious practices forever (Watch this short video to learn more).

Live Coverage United Nations Indigenous Permanent Forum

Winnemem Wintu Chief Caleen Sisk addressed UN Indigenous Forum this morning. Screenshot by Censored News

World governments are rushing to defend their human rights records again today -- as the second week of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues  begins in New York

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Monday, April 24, 2023

NEW YORK -- Winnemem Wintu Chief Caleen Sisk spoke on the extermination policies of California and false solutions for climate change, including genetically-modified organisms for climate change. Native people who are not federally recognized, like the Winnemem Wintu, currently have no rights and no way to ensure their survival in the United States, Chief Sisk told the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as the second week began today.

Mongolian Youth Tells United Nations -- China's Cultural Genocide Costing Lives and Language

Mongolian youth describes China's cultural genocide at U.N. Indigenous Permanent Forum.

Mongolian Youth Tells United Nations -- China's Cultural Genocide Costing Lives and Language

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News©

NEW YORK -- A Mongolian youth representative told the United Nations that China's cultural genocide in Mongolia has cost lives, and now the Mongolian language is at risk during the widespread crackdown in the name of 'Chinese supremacy.'

"Eleven Mongolians lost their lives in defense of the rights to their Mother Tongue," she told the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Mohawk Mothers Court Statement and Agreement, April 20, 2023

MOHAWK MOTHERS COURT STATEMENT & AGREEMENT APR 20/23

Posted on April 21, 2023

Mohawk Nation News

APRIL 20, 2023. COURT STATEMENT OF KAHNISTENSERA “MOHAWK MOTHERS”, QUEBEC, MONTREAL – #500-17-120468-221

This is a historic Agreement between:

The kanienkehaka kahnistensera of Kahnawake, the Mohawk Mothers, and The Quebec Government, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, City of Montreal, Attorney General of Canada and Attorney General of Quebec.

We followed the great peace which is our way since time immemorial. It is the spirit of these children that is making us seek the truth so that we can more clearly see into the future.    

We came to the Montreal Superior Court with the kaianerekowa to find a way to search for the unmarked graves of our children and families. This is how the kahenkehaka [Mohawk Iroquois] are dealing with the issue of genocide. Our children’s lives were devalued. We are using our natural way, with the women at the helm supported by the men.

There will be justice for all children and families. 

Blackfeet to United Nations -- United States is Greatest Offender of Native Rights

Blackfeet Councilman Marvin Weatherwax speaking at the UN Indigenous Peoples Forum/Image by Censored News

Blackfeet to United Nations -- United States is the Greatest Offender of Native Rights

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

NEW YORK -- Blackfeet Councilman Marvin Weatherwax, Jr., told the United Nations, "Today there is no greater offender to tribal rights than the U.S. Department of Justice which repeatedly fails to protect our tribal communities in egregious violation of the government's treaties and trust duties."

Councilman Weatherwax, chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes, delivered a powerful address to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The United States has failed to ensure Navajo water rights, plans to put a copper mine in the epicenter of San Carlos Apaches ceremonial place at Oak Flat, and treats Native people with hostility along the Canadian border.

The Department of Justice has taken the position in federal court that the United States bears no responsibility for the rape of a Northern Cheyenne woman in her home by an on-duty federal law enforcement officer.

World Governments Rattled as Indigenous Expose Atrocities at United Nations

Vice Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues/ Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is an indigenous Mbororo woman from Chad. Screenshot by Censored News

World Governments Rush to Defend Human Rights Records as Indigenous Expose Atrocities at United Nations

Article and images by Brenda Norrell
Censored News

August 20, 2023

NEW YORK -- Governments from around the world are rushing to defend their human rights records as Indigenous Peoples describe the atrocities -- from the shackling of Aboriginal children in Australia to forced police confessions in Vietnam, and cultural genocide in China's Inner Mongolia, during the 22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

From Nicaragua, a Miskito land defender described the assassination of his son and said 79 Indigenous Peoples have been murdered. An Indigenous human rights activist in Brazil said he is targeted for death.

"I am marked for death," said an Indigenous delegate from Brazil. "I don't know how much life I have left." Appealing to the United Nations Forum, he said that he and his brothers, all marked for death, will continue their fight to the end. 

United Nations -- 'Water is Life' Dismantling Water Colonialism

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Wakinyan LaPointe addressing the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York 2023. Courtesy photo.

Mni Ki Wakan calls for Indigenous Water Justice, Global Collaboration, and Dismantling of Water Colonialism

Watch the video on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4XSehZ0plw

MKW Co-convener, Wakinyan LaPointe (a Sicangu Lakota citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe), in partnership with Indigenous Peoples Organizations, called for Indigenous water justice on a mass scale, global collaboration, and an end to water colonialism.

China Denies Cultural Genocide in Mongolia at UN Forum of Indigenous Peoples

China's government representative responds at UN Forum/Image by Censored News

China Denies Cultural Genocide in Mongolia at UN Forum of Indigenous Peoples

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

NEW YORK -- China's representative to the UN Indigenous Peoples Forum passionately denied that China is guilty of cultural genocide in Mongolia.

While denying that China is engaged in cultural genocide, China's representative redirected the focus to the genocide of Indigenous Peoples in residential schools.

"China does not have Indigenous Peoples," he said.

United Nations -- Father of Assassinated Miskito Youth: Courage in Nicaragua

Miskito father speaks at UN Forum/Image by Censored News

United Nations -- Father of Assassinated Miskito Youth: Courage in Nicaragua

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

April 19, 2023

NEW YORK -- The father of assassinated Miskito youth Mark Rivas described the struggle for the survival of Indigenous Peoples in Nicaragua, where 79 Indigenous People have been assassinated protecting their forests and their lands.

Carlos Rivas Thomas, Miskito, described the invasion of settlers and the crisis during his statement to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on Wednesday.

Lithium Mining is Green Colonialism -- Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Appeal to UN Forum on Indigenous Issues

 

 Duck Valley Paiute-Shoshone Council Member Addie Parker/Image by Censored News

Lithium Mining is Green Colonialism -- Duck Valley Paiute-Shoshone Appeal to UN Forum on Indigenous Issues

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
April 19, 2023

French translation by Christine Prat

https://chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=7941

NEW YORK -- Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Council Member Addie Parker appealed to the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues today, describing the disastrous lithium mining and hydrocarbon plume her people suffer from in northern Nevada. Parker said there has been extensive mining here for over 150 years.

The "new green gold rush" for lithium batteries has brought devastating lithium mining and "green colonialism." Currently, there are 70 lithium mining applications in Nevada alone. The so-called "green" solution actually creates an environmental nightmare, including the disposal of batteries.

Indigenous Peoples at United Nations: Voices from the Earth for a Fractured World

San Carlos Apache Chairman Terry Rambler speaking at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York today/Image by Censored News

Article and images by Brenda Norrell
Censored News

NEW YORK -- Indigenous Peoples from around the world spoke out on climate change, devastating development, murders of Indigenous Peoples, and the impact of false climate solutions like carbon credits, at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues today.

San Carlos Apache Chairman Terry Rambler said Sacred Oak Flat is a place for the ceremonies of Apache. Resolution Copper's planned copper mine would result in an enormous crater, leaving an environmental disaster.

"Oak Flat is a holy site," Chairman Rambler told the UN Forum. "It is an area filled with power." 

“Oak Flat is a holy site, an area of irreplaceable beauty akin to a church, no different than the Wailing Wall, Temple Mount, Australia’s Juukan Gorge, or Mecca’s Kaaba,” Chairman Rambler said. “Apache people have lived, prayed, and died at Oak Flat from time immemorial.”

Chairman Rambler said the United States is failing to comply with international standards and Treaties. (At this point he was cut off for time.)

 

The Sami youth delegate said 'green energy' is just more 'green colonialism' at the expense of Sami. The green transition is being used to promote industrialism. Sami's response to those who say, "Everyone has to sacrifice something," is this: 'Colonizers have already taken everything we have, there is nothing left to sacrifice.' She received a roar of applause at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.

What the Interior Secretary Failed to Tell the United Nations Forum of Indigenous Peoples

Video of lithium mine underway on the Paiute Massacre Site at Thacker Pass in Nevada.
 Video by Young Warrior 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ChO5tXyzQ

While the United States desecrates the land, water and sacred places -- around the world, Indigenous land defenders are being assassinated. In New York, rhetoric dominates the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Watch UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues today, Tuesday:

https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1e/k1em34yuev

NEW YORK -- Here's what Interior Sec. Deb Haaland did not mention during her address to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York on Monday.

While promoting President Biden and glorifying his actions, portraying Biden as honoring Native people and their lands, Haaland did not mention the Willow Project in Alaska -- an oil drilling carbon bomb now threatening the lives of polar bears and caribou -- or the lithium mining now gouging out the earth of the Paiute Massacre site on Thacker Pass in Nevada, a lethal threat to all created things.

This desecration by a Canadian company, Lithium Americas, is enriching the company. Biden is promoting it as 'green energy,' for batteries for electric vehicles. 

During the rhetoric at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, only a few delegates described the widespread assassinations of Indigenous land and water defenders around the world.

While praising the government of Mexico, the delegate from Mexico failed to point out the horrific assassinations and disappearances widespread in Mexico right now. Although he praised Mexico for the creation of a university language program for  Yaqui in Sonora, he failed to dignify the deaths of Vicam and Bacum Yaqui who were assassinated, and Bacum Yaqui who remain disappeared, in Sonora and Sinaloa, south of the Arizona border.

The delegate from Peru was one of the few delivering a passionate plea for Indigenous Peoples who are fighting for their lives. Speaking out for the rights of women and children, the Peruvian delegate described the racist and colonial violence in Peru.

Quechan delegate from Peru at UN Forum

"We are being killed as Quechua Indigenous Peoples." Quechua and Aymara are being murdered. There is widespread racism, and impunity for the murders of Indigenous Peoples, right now in Peru.

"The representative of the National Organization of Indigenous Andean and Amazonian Women said that in Peru, racism and classism by members of civil service, Congress, and the media have become more visible through racist speech," U.N. media reports.

"The Peruvian State does not care about the lives of our brothers," she underscored, noting the impunity, as well as the use of judicial power to prosecute and criminalize Indigenous Peoples.

“Indigenous women are protecting the lives of people and Mother Earth, and for defending those rights, we are prosecuted and killed,” she emphasized, voicing hope that recommendations are issued to States so that they comply with international conventions and treaties to which they are signatories. Further, States must be called upon to respect the rights of Indigenous women and girls who will continue to ensure the survival of their cultures.

Meanwhile, the representative of the government of Mexico spoke only of the positive, failing to describe the widespread assassinations and disappearances of Indigenous Peoples, targeted assassinations of media, displacement of Indigenous Peoples for development, and theft of Indigenous Peoples resources, throughout Mexico.

 

Watch the video by Young Warrior of the desecration and destruction of the Paiute Massacre Site at Thacker Pass in northern Nevada, near the Oregon border, now underway. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ChO5tXyzQ

Nevada Prosecutor Releases Amended Charge for Driver Killing Myron Dewey -- Has No Record of Plea Agreement

Myron Dewey photo by Matika Wilbur Project 562

Nevada District Attorney Releases Amended Charge for Driver Killing Myron Dewey -- Has No Record of Plea Agreement

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

April 17, 2023

Breaking News

PAHRUMP, Nevada -- The Nye County District Attorney's Office released today the amended charge for John Walsh, the driver who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in the death of Paiute journalist Myron Dewey.

Responding to a request from Censored News, the Nye County prosecutor's office provided the amended charge but said it has no record of Walsh's plea agreement. Walsh's plea of guilty to vehicular manslaughter was made by his attorney in court last Tuesday.

Navajo Sexual Abuse Awareness Walk

Dine' advocates and Navajo Nation Council delegates are speaking out for Dine' survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence, and in defense of missing and murdered Indigenous Peoples. Dine' are also speaking out in defense of water rights.

Inside the Files: TigerSwan's Target -- Standing Rock

Photo by Rob Wilson

Inside the Files: TigerSwan's Target -- Standing Rock

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

April 15, 2023

Updated April 17, 2023

With the release of 50,000 TigerSwan spy documents, the Intercept published its first article this week, revealing the details of how the mercenaries spied on Water Protectors at Standing Rock.

National Sheriffs' Association helped target LaDonna Brave Bull Allard

The TigerSwan spy files reveal that the mercenaries targeted individuals like LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, now in the Spirit World, who provided her home as the base of the Sacred Stone Camp when the resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline began in 2016.

The Intercept and Grist begin release of 50,000 TigerSwan spy documents

 

The Intercept and Grist begin release of 50,000 TigerSwan spy documents

Article by Brenda Norrell

Censored News

French translation by Christine Prat

https://chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=7841

April 14, 2023

Updated April 16, 2023

The Intercept and Grist began releasing new TigerSwan spy documents in new coverage of the mercenaries hired by the Dakota Access Pipeline. They now have 50,000 TigerSwan spy documents, and another 9,000 are held up in the court battle for now. The documents reveal TigerSwan spying on Water Protectors at Standing Rock in North Dakota, Bold Iowa, and at other locations.

Reporters Alleen Brown and Naveena Sadasivam expose the new spy documents in their article, After Spying on Standing Rock, TigerSwan Shopped Anti-Protest 'Counterinsurgency' to Other Oil Companies.

The University of Minnesota Committed Genocide

Ojibwe and Dakota were Targets of Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing by the University of Minnesota

By Dan Kraker and Melissa Olson

Minnesota Public Radio

Read the full report

https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/assets/full-report_tcm1193-572488.pdf

A massive new report details the University of Minnesota’s long history of mistreating the state’s Native people and lays out recommendations, including “perpetual reparations,” to improve relations between the university and Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations.

Among its troubling findings, the report by the TRUTH (Towards Recognition and University-Tribal Healing) Project concludes:

-- The U’s founding board of regents “committed genocide and ethnic cleansing of Indigenous peoples for financial gain, using the institution as a shell corporation through which to launder lands and resources.”

Driver Killing Myron Dewey Enters Plea Agreement of Guilty for Manslaughter

Paiute Journalist Myron Dewey

Driver of truck killing Paiute Journalist Myron Dewey enters into a plea agreement for a lesser charge

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

TONOPAH, Nevada -- John Walsh, the driver responsible for killing Paiute journalist Myron Dewey in a head-on collision on an isolated dirt road, entered a plea of guilty for vehicular manslaughter Tuesday afternoon, in the criminal case before Tonopah Justice Court Judge Jennifer Klapper.

Walsh's attorney entered the plea of the lesser charge of guilty for manslaughter. The plea agreement was arranged by Walsh's attorney and the prosecutor, a Nye County District Attorney, newly appointed to the case.

Myron's death remains suspicious as he was battling both the expansion of the Navy Seals Bombing Range in Fallon, pushed by the Nevada Congressmen, and a Canadian company's lithium mine on the Paiute Massacre site at Thacker Pass, promoted by President Biden. 

Jet Fighters Endanger Tohono O'odham

This jet, N635AX, operated by the private company ATAC flew repeated combat jet fighting missions over the Tohono O'odham Nation during the last two weeks of March 2023. It is based at Luke AFB Phoenix.

Tohono O'odham were not informed of jet combat training overhead, or that the Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems had built an 11th spy tower in the heart of the Tohono O'odham Nation

By Brenda Norrell

Copyright Censored News

Updated April 11, 2023

April 11, 2023

GU-VO District, Tohono O'odham Nation -- Jet combat fights above the western Tohono O'odham Nation this week endangered the lives of O'odham, who were not informed. The jets were identified as being owned by the private training company, ATAC, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, which uses second-hand jets. It is not the U.S. military.

The company, ATAC, based in Virginia, flew out of Phoenix and engaged in simulated air combat over the Tohono O'odham District of Gu-Vo between 7 and 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday. ATAC has air combat training contracts with the U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force.

"Living out here on the land, we are not fully informed, and we have not given permission for them to fly over us," said Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham, who lives in Gu-Vo District.

Quechan Preston Arrow-weed 'The Land You Know Has Been Given to You'

Quechan elder Preston Arrow-weed

The Land You Know Has Been Given to You

The Gold Mine

Robert Lundahl

I just turned the recording on so we're official. It’s really nice to meet you could you could you both introduce yourselves for whomever might be listening to this podcast or reading this article – who are you and why are you here and where are you?

Preston Arrow-Weed

Preston J Arrow–weed, I'm on the Fort Yuma reservation. What else do you need?

Robert Lundahl Who is the fellow next to you?

Preston Arrow-Weed Oh this is Faron.

Faron Owl

Basically I've worked with Preston and just trying to help as much as I can on all these fights that we're involved with but it's been very good experience.

Robert Lundahl

I've been paying attention and that's what I wanted to talk to you about, so could you describe the event the other day? You guys had a run and went out to a sacred place with a geoglyph, and an official BLM geo-glyph sign there. So this is close to Oro Cruz, which is a gold mine is that correct?

Mohawk Nation News 'Sweet Surrender'

Posted on April 10, 2023

Mohawk Nation News

Please post & distribute. 

 

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MNN. Apr. 3. 2023. Canadians are beginning to be haunted by two past issues, murders of indigenous children and their unmarked graves being found. So far many thousands of unmarked graves have been discovered across Canada of children who were taken and disposed of, as well as numbers of children who were sold to colonial settlers for as little as $100. Most bodies are found near the Canadian Government Indian residential schools they were forced to attend. Many were medically experimented upon or died from mistreatment. 

The Censoring of Mount Graham: Vatican's Telescope now a marker of genocide

The Vatican Advanced Telescope on Mount Graham is a physical marker in this era when the Pope has confirmed that the Catholic Church committed the crime of genocide at Native residential schools in Canada.

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

It has been one of the most censored issues: The Pope and the University of Arizona in Tucson discrediting Apaches sacred way of life, battling Apaches for years to put their telescope on Mount Graham, arresting Wendsler Nosie, Sr., for praying on the mountian, and now a New York state college has said 'No' to giving a Vatican telescope scientist an honorary doctorate because of it.

Southwest Alaska Native Nations file federal suit to halt Donlin Gold mine

The massive proposed open-pit gold mine and its toxic chemicals threaten salmon, human health, and Native peoples' traditional ways of life

By Earthjustice 

April 5, 2023
Censored News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Three Native Nations in the Kuskokwim River region of Southwest Alaska, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court today challenging the Donlin Gold Mine, a project that would be the largest pure gold mine in the world.

Hereditary Chiefs Grabbed and Isolated at Royal Bank of Canada Annual Meeting

Watch video on Twitter 
https://twitter.com/i/status/1643669245719609345

Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief violently prevented from entering the Royal Bank of Canada annual general meeting 

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

April 5, 2023

SASKATOON -- Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief Na'moks was violently prevented from entering the Royal Bank of Canada annual general meeting today. "Such a racist act, they've actually laid hands on me, a Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief on my regalia just now," Chief Na'Moks told the RBC, as snipers were stationed on the buildings where traditional elders gathered in an Indigenous delegation.

San Carlos Apache Chairman to Biden: Copper mine approval would be human rights violation

San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Condemns Any Plan by Biden Administration to Advance the Proposed Resolution Copper Mine as a Human Rights Violation 

 

By San Carlos Apache Chairman Terry Rambler

Censored News

April 4, 2023 

French translation for Censored News by Christine Prat

https://chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=7831

SAN CARLOS APACHE NATION — San Carlos Apache Chairman Terry Rambler today sharply criticized reports that the Biden Administration is preparing to approve the proposed Resolution Mine that would destroy sacred Indigenous land located at Oak Flat on the Tonto National Forest about 70 miles east of Phoenix. “Obliterating Oak Flat for a copper mine will be a grave human rights violation against Indigenous people and an environmental catastrophe,” Chairman Rambler said. “Only China and shareholders of the two largest foreign mining companies in the world will benefit.”