Indigenous Testify on Dakota Access Pipeline Before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Germaine Tremmel, Standing Rock, Lakota testifying from the Oceti Sakowin camp.
Screenshot Censored News.

Lakota leaders testified before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in December of 2016.

Indigenous Testify on Dakota Access Pipeline Before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Censored News is republishing the testimony before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in December 2016, which describes the brutality of law enforcement, and failures of the U.S. government at Standing Rock. The current case in federal court, North Dakota v. U.S., omits the brutality of excessive force by law enforcement, critical injuries, and destruction of the sacred.

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, December 19, 2016

WASHINGTON -- Lakota leaders testified before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, describing the excessive force and brutality of law enforcement during attacks on water protectors defending the water from construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock in North Dakota. The attacks resulted in critical injuries, the targeting of women, the destruction of cultural sites, and the violation of human rights, and international rights.

"Presently in the United States of America, our people have no civil rights," Cheyenne River Chairman Harold Frazier, Lakota, South Dakota, testified before the commission.

"In 1968, the U.S. passed the Indian Civil Rights Act, it only protects our people from tribal governments."

Supai, Ute, Dine', Arapaho, and Lakota Testify on Uranium Exploitation before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Havasupai, Ute, Dine', Arapaho, and Lakota Testify on Uranium Exploitation before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Edith Hood, Dine' from Red Water Pond Road community (Live screenshot by Censored News)

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News

Translation into French by Christine Prat

WASHINGTON -- "There was no respect for the people living on these lands, and certainly no respect for Mother Earth," Edith Hood, Dine' from Red Water Pond Road community, told the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

"The government was aware of the risks and the dangers but failed and neglected to inform our people," testified Hood, who lives down the road from Church Rock, New Mexico, the site of the worst radioactive spill in U.S. history.

Dine', Havasupai, Northern Arapaho, Oglala Lakota and White Mesa Ute testified on uranium exploitation by the United States on Wednesday, during the session, "Impacts of Uranium Exploitation on Indigenous Peoples' Rights."

The BIA, EPA and Nuclear Regulatory Commission praised themselves, and attempted to cover-up the legacy of death from uranium mining, strewn radioactive waste, and deadly uranium mills in Indian country.

Best of Censored News: Provocative and Relentless Voices from the Ground

Robert Free with delegation in Venezuela.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

As we begin our 14th year at Censored News, we share with you some of the most extraordinary news that has come our way. It is good to go through these old stories, because not only are the details often forgotten, but so is the perspective, a way of seeing the world. Here are a few highlights from Censored News.

Criminalizing Indigenous Peoples, Oil Companies Engineer New Laws after Standing Rock, Dine' Michelle Cook Testifies in Jamaica

Michelle Cook in Jamaica
Photo by Brenda Norrell

Criminalizing Indigenous Peoples, Oil Companies Engineer New 'Riot Boosting' Laws after Standing Rock, Dine' Michelle Cook Testifies before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Jamaica

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
French translation by Christine Prat

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- The United States engaged in the criminalization of Indigenous Peoples at Standing Rock, and continues this abrogation of human rights with new legislation engineered by the oil companies, Michelle Cook, Dine', told the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Jamaica.
The United States will tell you that the U.S. protects Indigenous Peoples, and supports the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Michelle testified.
"They will talk to you about a consultation policy, in compliance with human rights."
"What they won't tell you is how those rights are abrogated, extinguished and divested for private profit for oil companies like ETP (Energy Transfer Partners) and TransCanada."
"I'm here to tell the Indian side of what we learned during and after the phenomenon of Standing Rock and the Dakota Access Pipeline."
"In the case of the Dakota Access Pipeline, during the seven months, from September 2016 to February 2017, at least 76 law enforcement agencies and 35 federal agencies and private security firms, hired by the oil company were present at some time."
"Over the seven months, law enforcement's prosecutors aggressively charged 841 water protectors exercising their Constitutional right in peaceful assembly."
Many of these arrested were detained and subjected to abusive conditions. They were subjected to unnecessary strip searches and jailed hours away from camp in humiliating conditions, Michelle told the Commission.
Local authorities aggressively prosecuted 841 water protectors, despite the lack of probable cause and the fact that there was no evidence in the vast majority of the cases.
"The Water Protector Legal Collective is pursuing a class action lawsuit for the injuries that occurred on November 20."
Now, following Standing Rock, Michelle testified that "oil and gas interests are pushing to criminalize protests against their fossil fuel projects, by engineering bills purportedly to protect against critical infrastructure sabotage."
Currently there are 95 anti-protest bills being proposed in 35 states including North Dakota. Of these, 14 have passed, 24 are pending, and 55 have been expired and defeated. There are 28 currently pending in state legislatures.
In Texas, House Bill 3557 would make some forms of protest a second degree felony on par with second degree murder.
In South Dakota, the riot boosting act has created a fund specifically dedicated to going after groups who are not in the state, in a direct response to Standing Rock
"We encourage the Commission to look at these bills and follow the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur."
Michelle testified with Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham testifying on militarization of border; Casey Camp Horinek, Ponca Tribal Councilwoman testifying on abusive arrest at Standing Rock; and Leoyla Cowboy, Dine' wife of imprisoned Standing Rock Water Protector Michael Little Feather Giron, Chumash.
Michelle Cook, Dine' (Navajo), is a Dine' lawyer, and organizer of the women's delegation to the Commission in Jamaica.
She is founder of Divest, Invest, Protect. Michelle is a commissioner of the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, and co-founder of the Water Protector Legal Collective at Standing Rock. As a Fulbright Scholar, she lived in New Zealand and learned of the Maori culture. She has traveled to Iran on cultural exchange, and was present at the Conference on Mother Earth in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in 2010. She is currently pursuing an advanced law degree in the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Read more in our series from Jamaica:
Tohono O'odham Ofelia Rivas' testimony: US seeks to annihilate Indigenous Peoples.
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/05/us-homeland-security-aims-to-annihilate.html
Live from Jamaica -- Native Women Testify:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/05/live-from-jamaica-inter-american.html

Water Protector Leoyla Cowboy, Dine', honors NO DAPL Political Prisoners
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/05/water-is-life-political-prisoners.html

Tohono O'odham Ofelia Rivas delayed two days by airline, with repeated searches, after U.S. slaps SSSS status on her boarding passes following testimony in Jamaica. Ofelia testified about the militarization of the border, and abuse by the U.S. Border Patrol
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/05/militarization-at-standing-rock-and.html

Brutalized at Standing Rock, Poisoned by Extractive Industries, Ponca Casey Camp Horinek Testifies
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/05/brutalized-at-standing-rock-and.html 

United States places blame on TigerSwan, private security, not police, for excessive force at Standing Rock
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/05/united-states-blames-excessive-force-at.html

Donate to Censored News for travel expenses for live coverage from Jamaica
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/05/censored-news-fundraiser-coverage-of.html
Copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News

United States Rattled by Native Women's Testimony Before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Photos by Brenda Norrell in Jamaica, Censored News

A delegation of the United States, comprised of the U.S. State Department and U.S. Embassy, failed to combat the power of testimony delivered by the Native Women's Delegation in Jamaica

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Native Water Protectors have a place in history.
Their sacrifices to protect the water, land, air and all living things is so powerful that when Native women testified in Jamaica this week, the United States sent a delegation from the U.S. Embassy and U.S. State Department in a failed attempt to protect the image of the United States and present the United States as abiding by its own laws.
Read Censored News detailed coverage of the United States response to the testimony at:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/05/united-states-blames-excessive-force-at.html

Navajo News at Censored News Oct. 30, 2015

 Navajo News at Censored News

Alert: Arizona officials intent on stealing Navajo water rights have an upcoming Arizona Town Hall in November: http://www.aztownhall.org/Upcoming_Town_Hall

Censored News is happy to share with you these Dine' (Navajo) news stories from the people on the land, Censored News journalists and video coverage of testimony before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington.

Nihigaal bee Iina Dine' walkers at Sisnaajini, San Luis Valley

By Nihigaal bee Iina 

Oct. 30, 2015:" We made it to the base of Sisnaajini! The mountain is beautiful and we can definitely feel the strength of dził'adzaan. Here in the San Luis Valley, we can also feel the impacts of colonization - the presence of our people has been removed from this area for generations, starting with the Spanish land grab settlement of Nuevo Mexico back in the 1600's. As indigenous people, we are in the minority here, to the point where many people are confused by our presence here ..." Read more:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/10/nihigaal-bee-iina-dine-walkers-at.html






Video interview with Louise Benally at Big Mountain
By Christine Prat
Video in English. Article in French. Thank you Christine Prat for sharing your photo, video and article with Censored News. Watch video and read article:
http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=3080
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/10/video-louise-benally-at-big-mountain-by.html

Big Mountain: On-Land, Decolonized-Spirited Gathering, Nov. 21 - 27th & Beyond
By NaBahii Keediniihii
Lets do this together at the heart of Big Mountain, November 21st - 27th:

- Boycott "Genocide-Coverup" Week (aka Thanksgiving), and show up at the Blackgoat homestead, Thinrock Mesa,

- Herd sheep as family monitor your first day, and so that elders can rest or tend to important cultural activities,

- Provide your vehicle or chainsaw, if you wish, for the numerous support project activities,

- Join wood crews that will gather firewood and do a few needed road repair work,

- Attend the closing day assembly to feast and celebrate solidarity, Friday, November 27th.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/10/video-louise-benally-at-big-mountain-by.html

Interview with Sacramento State student Chiitaanibah Johnson, Navajo/Maidu
by Francisco Dominguez and Dan Bacher  

(Photo copyright Francisco Dominquez)

Interview with Sacramento State student Chiitaanibah Johnson, Navajo/Maidu 

Q: Explain the events that led to a part time adjunct history teacher, Maury Wiseman, disenrolling you from his class, American History 17A, a requirement at Sacramento State University. This is a controversy that has gained national media attention. 

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/10/video-louise-benally-at-big-mountain-by.html

Human Rights and Water: Testimony before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Video testimony: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Thanks to Michelle Cook, Dine', for sharing the news from Washington

Navajo in New Mexico testify on uranium mining, radiation and water. Listen to more.
Testimony on Human Rights and Water before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Washington DC this week.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/10/human-rights-and-water-testimony-before.html

Extractive industries impacts on sacred places: Navajo, Pueblo and Apache testify
Friday, Oct. 23, 2015: Washington DC
Photos and video by Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Indigenous representative gathered in Washington D.C, Oct 23 at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to give testimony regarding the need to secure and meaningfully protect sacred sites and landscapes, including San Francisco Peaks. Mt. Taylor, and the recent land exchange and proposed copper mining at Oak Flat.

Those testifying are Leonard Gorman Executive Director, Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission. Dr. Ora V. Marek Martinez, Historic Preservation Officer, Navajo Nation. Vernelda Grant, Historic Preservation Officer San Carlos Apache Nation, and David Martinez, 1st Lt. Governor, The Pueblo of Laguna.

The testimony highlighted current inadequacies within the legal framework of the United States  in protecting indigenous sacred sites particularly those located off reservation lands.

The thematic hearing was titled: Impact of extractive industries on sacred places of indigenous peoples in the United States Hearing, 156th ordinary period of sessions.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/10/extractive-industries-impact-on-sacred.html

Collusion by Feds on Navajo Coal Plant Deal
Illegal government collusion and secrecy uncovered in EPA and Dept. of Interior deal on air pollution control at Navajo Generating Station

Navajo community groups file civil action to address harmful smokestack emissions without delay: BLACK MESA, Ariz. – One of the nation's oldest and dirtiest coal-burning power plants will be able to continue dumping pollution into the skies above the Navajo Nation for another three decades because of a plan that was hatched in secrecy by government agencies, a coalition of Navajo groups claim in a complaint filed on Oct. 26, 2015.

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/10/collusion-by-feds-uncovered-on-navajo.html

Navajo Farmer Visits Palestine
Roberto Nutlouis' photos and words as he shares his journey to Palestine, in solidarity with Palestinians
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/09/dineh-farmer-visits-palestine.html
and
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/09/photos-navajo-in-palestine-ethnic.html
"They built a wall to try to keep terrorists out And it becomes symbolic what terrorism’s about" (h. Salam)

Spent the day taking with various communities impacted by the apartheid wall. They explained it as 'Ethnic Cleansing' by making their lives severely difficult and many communities have becomes ghost towns. The Beduin communities have collective decided to resist relocation. It demonstrates indigenous peoples deep connection to their lands are not easily uprooted.

Beduin elders remind us this struggle is not isolated but rather part of the continued colonization.

"The British brought settlers to your lands and they also sent them to our lands" -- Roberto Nutlouis, Dineh in Palestine