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Future leaders at Convening of Four Winds today at Phillip Deere Round House. Photo Movement Rights |
OKEMAH, Oklahoma -- Casey Camp Horinek, Ponca, is speaking on adaptation in this time of change and trauma, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Casey is joined by her daughter Julia Horinek, and they are speaking on free, prior and informed consent as stated in the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Nature, and the Rights of Nature.
Casey speaks on recognizing the rights of the climate, as the second day of the gathering, Convening of Four Winds, begins at the Phillip Deere Round House on Sunday morning.
Remembering the words of her mother Casey while growing up, Julia said others speak of "natural resources, but we call them the sources of life."
"We acknowledge that the rights are already there," Julia said, pointing out that rivers change paths, change directions, and this is a right of the rivers, it is not given by anyone.
"That's the right they already have," Julia said.
Casey asked what if, in the case of the Kiamichi River in southeastern Oklahoma, the community had given "free, prior, and informed consent" -- pointing out that consent is not consultation. Casey compared the theft and seizures of nature to the rape of a woman, it is the rape of the environment.
"Free, prior and informed consent" is stated in Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
During the audience participation, one woman said the "Snake Oil Salesman" approach is used.
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Emerging leaders this morning, Sunday morning at Convening Four Winds. Image by Movement Rights. |
"They only think about money," the woman from southeastern Oklahoma said, describing the greed. She described the process of cutting deals, and how representatives are often taken into the "back room." The people never know what is being discussed.
The question was asked about eminent domain and the seizure of lands, and how to battle this.
Casey said the response to seizures of land by eminent domain must be multi-layered, including the courts and the media, to uphold the peoples rights and the Rights of Nature. Casey said when necessary the demand for justice can be taken to international courts.
Heather Milton Lightening spoke on domestication of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Heather explained there were differing responses from Indigenous Peoples to this move by Canada. Heather is Nehiyaw, (Cree), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Lakota/Dakota and Welsh.
Heather said there is a danger involved in Canada being responsible for the implementation of the U.N. Declaration in Canada.
Native communities have a sovereign right to uphold their own rights, she said.
"We should be interpreting this for ourselves," Heather said. "A lot of our governments are run by corporations." And there are still actions needed "to keep the corporations from coming into our territories."
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| Indigenous youth present on Saturday. Photo Movement Rights. |
Encouraging global support for Indigenous Peoples, Heather pointed out that this struggle is global, and that not all Indigenous Peoples around the world have the tools that are available to those who have tribal recognition.
During the discussion, it was pointed out the necessity of using the language of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in all documents entered into the legislative records, because this can ultimately be used for new U.S. laws.
It is also important to submit amicus briefs, known as friends of the courts briefs, in court cases. These concepts, submitted in amicus briefs in higher courts, can later become part of U.S. laws.
Amicus briefs, also known as "friend-of-the-court" briefs, are legal documents submitted to a court by individuals or organizations that are not directly involved in a case. The purpose of an amicus brief is to provide the court with additional information or arguments that may be relevant to the case.During the audience discussion, speakers said this is all part of the multi-layered approach to the protection of Indigenous rights. Further, elected tribal governments have not always upheld the rights that have been fought for, and are holding on to assimilation, and "destroying ourselves from within." The resurgence of Native youths who are engaging in prayer and ceremony shows hope for the future.
Sharing a prayer song, Casey Camp Horinek spoke of the love and the knowledge that has always been.
"You're like the river that flows, you have the water inside you."
"Water has life, water has memory."
"Thoughts have power," Casey said, pointing out that the earth gave us our thoughts and understanding. "We have but one mother, our Mother Earth."
"We have but one way to go, adapt and learn from one another."
Casey said this is a continuation of the Warrior Way, and she spoke of the joy of being with her family here, and remembering the AIM warriors, her family, at Wounded Knee.
"And yet my babies in Palestine are being murdered. I see the war in Ukraine. I see the United States government still inflicting genocide on my people, and trying to kill the river herself."
"At this time, we are one."
College of Muscogee Nation students and Native youths shared heartfelt words.
During the session on the Doctrine of Discovery on Sunday afternoon, Shannon Biggs introduced the session, and Jimbo Simmons, Choctaw, remembered the movement through the years, from the grassroots struggles to the United Nations.
Seminole Evan Haney Found the Right War, Dedicated Himself to the American Indian Movement
When Evan Haney, Seminole, was in the military in Vietnam, he suffered a trauma. He found a culture like his own, and found he was fighting the wrong war.
Evan spent the rest of his life fighting the United States government.
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/09/listen-live-convening-of-four-winds-at.html
Defending the Ancestors: Voices from the Phillip Deere Round House
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/09/defending-ancestors-voices-from-phillip.html
Live from the Phillip Deere Roundhouse: Day 1: Convening of the Four Winds
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/09/live-now-from-phillip-deere-roundhouse.html
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Movement Rights said, "We opened with the history of the Phillip Deere Round House from Bonnie Deere (Mvskoke). We are grateful to share this space for the Convening of the Four Winds and learn of what this space was created for and continues to be a place for the Mvskoke community. We gather here to be in ceremony, build strategy to protect indigenous lands, and defend the Rights of Nature." Photo courtesy Movement Rights |
"A report by the National Institute of Justice found that Native women are murdered at rates more than 10 times the national average. Moreover 96% of the Indigenous female survivors experienced violence from a non-Indigenous perpetrator. These crimes are largely unreported. Out of 105 cases of MMIW, 62% were unreported, 74% have no public documentation, and 56% don’t mention the victim’s tribal affiliation."
SOUTHEASTERN, Okla. (KXII) - The Choctaw Nation and southeastern Oklahoma residents have joined in opposition to a proposed hydroelectric plant that would be built along the Kiamchi River.
The Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation, or SEOPC, wants to build a closed-loop pumped storage plant with a transmission line running from Pushmatha County to Lamar County.
Choctaw Nation Chief, Gary Batton, said the lack of transparency is one of the several reasons he opposes the project.
“When you have transparency as an open government, I’m required to tell our people what’s going on and let them know what’s going on,” Chief Batton said, “I can’t do that behind closed doors, that’s what they’re doing here.”
Residents believe more than 500 families would lose their land. “We as a tribe, we know what it’s like to lose our land and to give up our homeland,” Chief Batton said, “We stand united.”
Seth Willyard, a concerned resident and board member of the Kiamchi River Legacy Alliance, said his family is among those whose properties are at risk. “It’s my family’s place and we built the cabin there by hand,” Willyard said, “Me, my grandfather, my uncles, my mom, and my dad built it by hand, and that’s what I’m fighting for here today.”
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