Lakota Tony Black Feather: 'American flag represents racist nation' on the Stronghold 2002

Tony Black Feather, Lakota, on Stronghold
Photo by Brenda Norrell

Tony Black Feather, Lakota, on the Stronghold in 2002 -- speaking out about the American flag, racism, the Black Hills and Iraq
Censored News new series 'Racism in America'

By Brenda Norrell 
Censored News

(Oct. 1, 2002) STRONGHOLD TABLE, S.D. Lakota elder Tony Black Feather told the United Nations that the American flag represents a racist nation that violates natural and spiritual laws, dishonors treaties and engages in a game plan of corporate greed.

In his statement delivered to the United Nations and distributed here on Stronghold Table, Black Feather pressed for disarmament and peace as President Bush pressed for war in Iraq.

Urging America to “come clean in the eyes of the world,” Black Feather said people often ask him about the red, white and blue of the American flag

“I tell them that the aboriginal Lakota people of this country look at this flag as a piece of red, white and blue cloth that stands for the foreign racist system that has oppressed Indigenous peoples for centuries.

SOUTH DAKOTA: First Nation Chiefs forging cross border alliance to oppose Keystone XL

Tsleil-Waututh spokesperson Rueben George, Coun. Charlene Aleck, and manager of cultural relations Gabriel George open the signing ceremony for the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion in Vancouver, B.C. on Thurs. Sept. 22, 2016 Photo credit National Observer

First Nation Chiefs to travel to South Dakota to forge cross-border alliance with tribes opposing Keystone XL

Chiefs are supporting Tribes in the US on July 4, the US "Independence Day," as a day to mark their own independence as sovereign nations

By Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion
Censored News
Dutch translation by Alice Holemans at NAIS

TURTLE ISLAND, CNW/ - A large delegation of Chiefs of First Nations from across Canada that are among the over 120 First Nations and Tribes who have signed the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion will be travelling to the sacred Black Hills of the Great Sioux Nation in South Dakota at the invitation of US Tribal leaders for a historic ceremony on July 4th in opposition to TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline and the other three planned oil sands expansion pipelines (Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain Expansion, Enbridge's Line 3 and TransCanada's Energy East).

Peltier's Statement on 40th Anniversary of Incident of Oglala

26 June 2015

Greetings to you, my relatives and friends.

This is the first time that my dear sister Roselyn will not be there for me, but I know she is there in spirit as she has gone on her journey. I have seen pictures of the gathering over the years and can still see her sitting there under the trees with our relatives… I will always miss her and be grateful to her for all she did for me and for our people.

This year I am most concerned with our children and the taking of their own lives. This is very sad to me, as it is to you, and I know there are many reasons for them to feel such despair and hopelessness. But I can only ask and encourage all of us to double our efforts to show them love and support, and let them know that we will always look after them and protect them. That includes asking big brothers and sisters to look after the younger ones. They are our future and have to be protected and to learn to be the protectors. This is not something we can live with, we need to all work to change this.

And this year it is even more urgent that we come together to protect our sovereignty. There are so many issues to face and fight. We continue to fight for our Black Hills and to stop the XL pipeline from poisoning our water and our land, and I stand with the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Nations, and all people of like mind in this fight.

The destruction of our Mother Earth by the heavy and toxic Tar Sands oil, fracking, gas and oil drilling and uranium mining is unacceptable to me and to us. We are supposed to be protecting these things even as others try to push us aside. I honor all of our relatives who are on the front lines of this fight.

And after all that I have seen in these 40 years behind bars, I was still shocked to see what they are trying to do to the Apache people at Oak Flats. This cannot be tolerated. It is not only a blatant money grab at the expense of a tribe’s Sacred site, but it is an effort to push us back in the direction of termination by ignoring our rights as sovereign nations. This we will not tolerate. Nothing is sacred to these people and they will continue to try to bulldoze us out of the way without even a single thought to our coming generations if we do not continue to stand up and oppose them. We must be ready for anything or we will lose all that we have gained in the last 40 years.

The continued use of racist mascots is something that we can never accept as Indigenous peoples and we need to all continue to push to end that racist practice.

As for me, time is something I have learned a lot about in these years in prison. And now I can see that time is slipping away from me and I know that if I do not get out under this President I will almost certainly die here in prison.

I have been able to survive with the hope you have given to me and your prayers and I am grateful for that support from all of you.

I continue to pray for the family of my brother Joe Stuntz and for all those who paid such a dear price in those bitter times 40 years ago.
And I pray for the families of all our people who have suffered so much and continue to suffer now.

I thank all of you for coming today and I know how hot it can be there. And especially to all the runners and walkers I offer my gratitude.

I send my Love to the people of the Lakota Nations and to all Native Nations,

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse…

Doksha,

Leonard Peltier

Pe' Sla Returns to Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation)

 

By Chase Iron Eyes
Last Real Indians

Incredible effort raises $9 million to purchase land

Article by Brenda Norrell
Photo copyright Chase IronEyes
Censored News
http//www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

The Great Sioux Nation today celebrated the reacquisition of Pe’ Sla, sacred land in the Black Hills. Chase IronEyes, Lakota, initiated the effort to reclaim the land online at Last Real Indians.
IronEyes said today, “From the bottom of my heart and spirit I know the world is a better place because of the Pe’Sla campaign. Lastrealindians, Inc. has contributed over $900,000 toward the total purchase price of $9 Million.”
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, which raised $8.1 million, said in a statement that Pe Sla is sacred because it is related to the Lakota Creation, is the site of annual ceremonies, and historically, hosted many village gatherings. Black Elk, the Lakota visionary, sought his vision at Pe Sla.
IronEyes said, “The unthinkable has happened! The world has shown its support and the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) has provided a powerful new narrative for Indigenous people."
“Our ancestors are watching us, expecting us to fulfill our roles and reach our potential,” IronEyes said.
IronEyes thanked Lakotas and those around the world who made it possible, including Hollywood stars and music makers.
“The Pe’Sla effort was driven and shared by many throughout the world, including Dr. Sara Jumping Eagle, Dana Lone Hill, Ruth Hopkins and all who donated time, energy, money and artwork for perks in the first campaign. There are simply too many people in too many capacities to thank. What a whirlwind when we activate. LRI wants to extend its gratitude to the bands of the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) who stepped up to make this happen along with the Indian Land Tenure Foundation.
“We owe a special shout out to DJ Two Bears, Sol Guy, Ezra Miller, Anneliese Vandenberg, and Piet Suess who helped spring the movement back into consciousness with the second campaign. Additionally, thanks to celebrities P. Diddy, Bette Midler, Lou Diamond Phillips, Rosanne Barr, Whoopi Goldberg, Ashley Judd, and Susan Sarandon who retweeted to raise awareness to help save Pe'Sla. Most thankfully, we send a voice to our spiritual leaders who answer the call to travel to our sacred sites to perform obligations on our behalf.”
Pe Sla is a high mountain prairie in the Heart of the Black Hills, just north of Deerfield Lake and west of Harney Peak. Historically, Pe Sla and the entire Black Hills was protected by the 1868 and 1851 Sioux Nation treaties. The United States violated those treaties and took the Black Hills in violation of the 5th Amendment of the Constitution. So, today, the reacquisition is a healing and historic event for the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people, the Sioux Nation said in its statement.
IronEyes said:
These are times of prophecy. White buffalo calves are being born, earthquakes and tsunamis abound, droughts ravage our lands, we as humans have lost our way; but there is still hope. We want hope and our spirits require more than what money, oil, and pop “culture” can offer us. As Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle, says, “We humans send sacred energy, we have power, but we don’t use it and we need to in these times; our prophecies tell us to return to the Black Hills.” It is time we come together as one. When we are at our center we are one with the Universe. There is nothing more powerful than dedicated humans strong in their love for Creator. Indeed, this is the only thing that will save us. I believe this is a sign that humans are returning to their center as Crazy Horse said they would:
“Upon suffering beyond suffering; the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations; a world longing for light again. I see a time of seven generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the Sacred Tree of Life and the whole earth will become one circle again. In that day there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things, and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom. I salute the light within your eyes where the whole universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am at that place within me, we shall be as one.” –Tasunke Witko (Crazy Horse)

Read Chase IronEyes full statement:
http://www.lastrealindians.com/axpostDetails.php?writerId=3

The Sioux Nations released this statement
Historic Reacquisition of “Pe-Sla Sacred Site” Was Signed Today
By Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Tribe
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community gathered in a historic assembly of related Tribes to reacquire the sacred site, Pe Sla. Pe Sla is sacred because it is related to the Lakota Creation, is the site of annual ceremonies, and historically, hosted many village gatherings. Black Elk, the Lakota visionary, sought his vision at Pe Sla.
Pe Sla is a high mountain prairie in the Heart of the Black Hills, just north of Deerfield Lake and west of Harney Peak. Historically, Pe Sla and the entire Black Hills was protected by the 1868 and 1851 Sioux Nation treaties. The United States violated those treaties and took the Black Hills in violation of the 5th Amendment of the Constitution. So, today, the reacquisition is a healing and historic event for the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people.
The Tribes will work together to form an Oceti Sakowin Sacred Lands Protection Commission to protect Pe Sla and preserve the sacred site for traditional and cultural ceremonies in a pristine state for our future generations.
President Scott, Chairman Vig and Chairman Sazue issued a joint statement, “Today, we are grateful to stand together before the Creator to help heal our people through reclaiming one of our most sacred sites.”
“We did not wait for the United States to deal with us justly on our Black Hills rights. We acted now, exercising our inherent sovereign authority to protect this most sacred site. We must perpetuate our way of life for our future generations.”
“We thank the members of the public that donated to the cause of justice for our people. Now, we are more determined than ever that the United States must provide justice to our people and honor our treaties.”

http://www.indiegogo.com/Pesla
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By Indian Land Tenure Foundation

Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

This afternoon at 2:00 pm MST in Rapid City, South Dakota, full ownership and control of the sacred site Pe’ Sla, located in the Black Hills, was officially returned to the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation). We would like to offer our sincere and heartfelt congratulations to the Oceti Sakowin on its return of the control of this sacred site to all the people of the Nation and its relatives today and for all future generations.Many of you have been following the collaborative effort to raise the $9 million purchase price for the 1,942 acre parcel of land that contains Pe’ Sla since it was first announced in August that the Reynolds family planned to sell the land at auction to the highest bidder. The area known as Pe’ Sla by the Lakota is one of five holy sites for the Nation and the only one not on public land. This area is particularly important in that it is the site of the Lakota origin story and star knowledge. While recognizing that the ownership of this land and the remainder of the Black Hills is still disputed by non-Indians, gaining control of this site was an opportunity too good to pass up and too important not to fight for.

It has truly been an honor for Indian Land Tenure Foundation and Indian Land Capital Company to be a part of this remarkable effort and to work with the Lakota and Dakota nations and other partners over the past few months. Indian Land Capital Company, ILTF’s affiliate lender, was able to provide $900,000 in rapid financing in order to help the tribes secure the initial purchase agreement.

In the end, all of the tribes of the Oceti Sakowin will have contributed time, effort and scarce funds to make this transaction possible. It is anticipated that each tribe will also participate in the oversight and management of the land to ensure its spiritual and cultural values.

We have been extremely humbled by the outpouring of support from across the country and the world. Our many thanks to all those who contributed to the Pe’ Sla fundraising efforts of LastRealIndians and ILTF. Whether large or small, each contribution meant a great deal to the effort and said much about the donors’ commitment to righting a long standing injustice.

As Indian people, we are faced every day with the loss of our sacred lands and the way in which this has impacted our communities, families and cultures. History being what it is, we recognize that our struggle to recover these lands will be difficult and long but we do not accept that these losses are permanent. The return of Pe’ Sla today has renewed our spirit. To see so many people willing to support the rights of American Indians and the return of Indian land makes us hopeful that there is a growing number of people that understand the magnitude of what we have lost.

We are truly grateful for your support.