The Birth of the Environmental Justice Movement, Dine' CARE, Dilkon, Navajo Nation, 1990

A tribute to those who came together on the Navajo Nation in 1990 and created the solidarity movement to protect the water, air and land, today's environmental justice movement. They came from the fishing rights struggle in the northwest, and the Seminoles came from Florida. Hopi Thomas Banyacya was there, and Jim Main from Gros Ventre in Montana, they came from Mohawk lands, and the border, and it was a beginning. They came from near and far -- Havasupai, Zuni Pueblo and Pine Ridge, and gave birth to the movement that has spanned the past 35 years. (Photo Gros Ventre Jim Main, Chief Johnny Jackson from Columbia River, and Hopi Thomas Banyacya.)

U.N. Permanent Forum Concludes: Women's Rights and Destructive Mining among Priorities 2025

Resounding Indigenous Women's Voices

The U.N. Permanent Forum: The Sterilization of Native American Women and Destructive Mining are Priorities in Final Report

A representative of Indigenous in Morocco said the world must hold the Moroccan government responsible for not restoring and rebuilding the schools and communities, following the devastating 2023 earthquake in Morocco. Indigenous Amazigh communities in the High Atlas Mountains continue to suffer, nearly 500,000 Amazigh continue without homes and dignity. She urged the release of Indigenous prisoners in Morocco, arrested for peaceful protest of Indigenous rights. On the final day of the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in April of 2025, Indigenous women delivered powerful statements, including global voices for midwives, and demands for justice for Native American women sterilized by the U.S. government. During the final day, the U.S. government representative criticized China for the genocide of ethnic minorities -- but he did not describe the U.S. government's own genocide.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAmydaLfauQ

Violence and Repression: Indigenous from Russia, Algeria and Nicaragua Appeal to United Nations

An Indigenous woman from Russia describes the coal and gold mining at the U.N. Screenshot Censored News.

Violence and Repression: Indigenous from Russia, Algeria and Nicaragua Appeal to the United Nations

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, July 17, 2024

GENEVA -- The coal and gold mining in Russia has driven Indigenous Peoples from their homes and poisoned their rivers. In Nicaragua, the assassinations and imprisonment of land defenders has fractured families and communities, presenters told the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In Algeria, the people have barely survived 3,000 years of violent colonization and genocide.

"Other people should not undergo what we have experienced – which is the case now in Palestine," said the representative from the Algeria Association, Learned Society of scientific research, religious and mystical bodies. Describing the genocide in Algeria, he said France has thousands of bones and craniums of the people in French museums.

U.S. and Canada Among Top Violators of Indigenous Rights: Mining, Militarization and Boarding Schools

Paiute Shoshone elders and mothers defending the unmarked burial place of Paiutes massacred here, are now being sued by Lithium Americas of Canada.

U.S. and Canada Among Top Violators of Indigenous Rights: Mining, Militarization and Boarding Schools

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, August 1, 2023

French translation by Christine Prat

Published today on Indybay

GENEVA -- The United States and Canada are among the top countries violating the human rights of Indigenous Peoples, with mining companies based in the U.S. and Canada linked to assassinations of Native people around the world, Indigenous told the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The United States is responsible for accelerating the crimes against humanity with its endless war, resulting in the deaths of millions of innocent people, which benefits its war manufacturers.

Canada's long history of abuse of Native people includes the mandate for churches to seize Native children from their families and institutionalize them in residential schools, resulting in abuse, torture and murder, and generations of trauma. The Pope confirmed the Catholic Church was responsible for the genocide of Native people in 2022. Currently, Mohawk Mothers in Montreal are monitoring the search for graves at McGill University, the site of a CIA torture site.

Peltier, Oak Flat and Enbridge Line 5: Priorities in UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Report

The U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues urged UNESCO to step up the protection of world heritage sites to protect sites from the mining giant Rio Tinto, including Apaches Oak Flat. Rio Tinto blew up 46,000 years of Australian Aboriginals' history and sacred teachings when it blew up Juukan Gorge caves in Western Australia. (Panel of ancient rock art painting, Quinkan Cave near Laura, Cape York, Queensland, Australia)

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

June 16, 2023

NEW YORK -- The release of imprisoned Leonard Peltier, the protection of Apaches sacred Oak Flat, and the halt of Enbridge's Line 5 were included in the final report of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The murders of Indigenous in Nicaragua, the imprisonment of Australian Aboriginal children, cross-border crime in the Amazon, and the rights and safety of Indigenous journalists are in the report from the UNPFII's 22nd session held in New York, April 17 -- 28, 2023.

Censored News: As media collapses, truth tellers work harder to report the news

Solidarity in Paris: Freedom for Leonard Peltier

'Aleut Story," the horrific story of Aleut forced into internment camps during WWII, where they died of hunger and disease, and then were abandoned and left to starve by the U.S. government. The film is featured this week on Vision Maker Media's free online film festival. 

Censored and under-reported news: As the media melts down, the truth-tellers continue their labors of love

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

While the media melts down, and struggles to survive, Censored News is now in its  17th year, with 22 million page views. There are no ads, salaries or revenues, as the truth-tellers share the struggles of Indigenous Peoples and the news of the defenders of human rights and of the land, water and air of the life-giving earth.

We are sharing the most censored issues in Indian country, with the breaking news from our writers, broadcasters and translators.

Solidarity in Paris: Freedom for Leonard Peltier

Censored and Under-reported news:

Mohawk Mothers are in court defending the land of unmarked graves. Canada and the US CIA conducted torture experiments at McGill University in Montreal, in its MK Ultra mind control experiments. Families in related lawsuits said Native children were among the victims.

The Catholic Church confessed to the crime of genocide. The Pope said what the church did to Native children at residential schools in Canada was genocide.

The Biden administration announced in Farmington, N.M., bordering the Navajo Nation, that the 'transition to green energy' in the region would be led by the atomic bomb industry at Los Alamos.

Then, immediately, there was a push for a new freight railway through the Navajo Nation, in the area that is already a uranium crime scene, where Dineh die from cancer from uranium mining and strewn radioactive tailings remain south of Shiprock, N.M. The railway would be in the region of the horrific Church Rock, N.M., uranium spill. The radioactive water continues to flow toward Flagstaff in the Rio Puero wash.

The spy towers built by Israel's Elbit Systems on the Tohono O'odham Nation, on O'odham burial places, now allow US Border Patrol agents to stalk vulnerable traditional O'odham.

Live from Reno -- Western Mining Action Network

 https://youtu.be/ef80zhZMkss

Honoring Heroes Leroy Jackson, Cate Gilles and Tomas Rojo -- as Canada's Mining Industry Implodes

Old-growth Ponderosa pines; Tomas Rojo; Vicam Yaqui International Water Forum in Sonora;
Photo in front of Navajo Nation Council chambers by Cate Gilles.

Honoring Heroes Leroy Jackson, Cate Gilles and Tomas Rojo -- as Canada's Mining Industry Implodes

Brenda Norrell

Censored News

French translation by Christine Prat

https://chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=7163

In memory of three of my friends, I've written about the world mining conference in Toronto this week.

The majority of the mining corporations -- linked to the murders of Indigenous Peoples around the world who are defending their land -- are based in Canada.

While Indigenous People protested, it was surprising to see four Native people in Canada have joined the boards of directors of notorious mining companies; companies blasting and ripping into the earth for gold, silver, cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, and other veins of the earth.

Remembering and honoring my friends Leroy Jackson, Cate Gilles and Tomas Rojo

Leroy Jackson, Dine', fought the cutting of the old-growth Ponderosa yellow pines in the Chuska and Tsaile mountains, and the Navajo tribal logging operation. Leroy was cofounder of Dine' Citizens Against Ruining our Environment, Dine' CARE.

Leroy lived his struggle.

Since I was a reporter for Associated Press at the time, Leroy's interviews reached around the world. One of Leroy's most effective tools protecting the tall yellow pines on the Navajo Nation, and shutting down the tribe's logging operation was his sense of humor.

Leroy was found dead in the mountains near Taos after his life was threatened on the Navajo Nation.

Cate Gilles, reporter, covered the Navajo and Hopi areas and the truth about Peabody Coal on Black Mesa. She was among the first to expose the danger of radiation from uranium mining in the Grand Canyon, and the threat of contamination for the Havasupai in their homeland, after she received a degree in environmental journalism.

Cate was found hanged in Tucson while working for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

Tomas Rojo, Yoeme (Yaqui), in Vicam Pueblo, Sonora, Mexico, was kidnapped and brutally murdered last year.

Tomas was the spokesperson for the Traditional Authority of Vicam, as they fought to protect their water in the Yaqui River from the theft by the Independence Aquaduct for the City of Hermosillo.

Vicam Yaqui held major highway blockades for years blocking commercial traffic to the U.S. and resisted the state and federal governments, military, ranchers, and cartels.

Vicam hosted international water forums and the Zapatistas international gathering.

It was an honor to know all three, and the beauty of their work, sacrifices and service to the people, water and earth.

Arizona border wall contractor's parent company is among most polluting companies destroying the planet

Saguaro cactus bulldozed by Southwest Valley Constructors near Ajo, Arizona, for illegal U.S. border wall.

Arizona border wall contractor's parent company is among most polluting companies destroying the planet 

Border wall contractor linked to Keystone Pipeline and Alberta Tar Sands

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News
French translation by Christine Prat

AJO, Arizona -- The parent company of Southwest Valley Constructors -- now building the border wall, violating all federal protection laws, destroying endangered species and bulldozing the pristine Sonoran Desert --  is a global mining and construction corporation that is one of the most polluting companies in the world.

Southwest's parent company Kiewit, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is listed as one of the top 32 North American polluters killing the planet.

The border wall contractor, Southwest Valley Constructors  based in Albuquerque, is now violating all federal protection laws created to protect endangered species, water and sacred sites, as it builds an illegal border wall based on political ruin, xenophobia and the collapse of the US government.

The endangered pupfish is found nowhere else in the world but here near Ajo in a spring sacred to Tohono O'odham.

Nearby, the migration paths of endangered jaguar and pronghorn antelope are being destroyed.

Protected saguaros are being ripped from the earth with disregard for state or federal laws.

The federal government has waived 41 federal laws that protect life as it builds the border wall.

In its lawsuit, the Center for Biological Diversity points out the damage to human rights, as the pristine desert borderzone is turned into a militarized zone.

"Beyond jeopardizing wildlife, endangered species and public lands, the U.S.-Mexico border wall is part of a larger strategy of ongoing border militarization that damages human rights, civil liberties, native lands, local businesses and international relations. The border wall impedes the natural migrations of people and wildlife that are essential to healthy diversity," the Center said.

Southwest Valley Constructors received $646 million in U.S. Army funds for border wall work in the contract from the U.S. Defense Department, with the Army Corps of Engineers in Albuquerque operating the contract. The use of U.S. military funds to build the border wall is the subject of numerous ongoing lawsuits.

Kiewit was also awarded a border wall contract in Texas, along the Rio Grande. "The $42.8 million contract was awarded to Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. The project, according to CBP, includes the construction of "18-30 foot tall steel bollards, in addition to road construction, detection technology and lighting installation," CNN reported.

Kiewit's projects around the world polluting the planet include construction for Suncor's tar sands in Alberta, Canada; mining nickel in Quebec; mining diamonds in Yellowknife, NWT; mining iron ore in Western Australia; mining coal in Wyoming; mining phosphates in Idaho; lignite mining in Texas; and nickel mining in Voisey's Bay, NF., according to its website.

Keystone Pipeline is among Kiewit's construction projects, which include oil, gas and oil sands construction projects elsewhere in Canada, North Dakota, Texas and Western Australia.

In North America, Houston and Calgary are the top cities where corporations are killing the planet, primarily with oil and gas and tar sands industries. In 2017, Kiewit received a contract from Houston-based Wood Group Mustang to build Israel's Leviathan offshore gas field platform.

The border wall construction in violation of federal protection laws is part of a greater scheme of the U.S. government that is now violating international laws which protect migrant children, including the genocidal act of separating children from their parents and disappearing the children.

Migrant children are being imprisoned in US death camps where they are being sexually abused and dying of neglect and preventable infections, according to documented cases of migrant child deaths.

The United States now leads the world in the widespread disregard for human life and the Earth.

Read more about top corporations killing the planet:

https://decolonialatlas.wordpress.com/2019/04/27/names-and-locations-of-the-top-100-people-killing-the-planet/

Copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News

4th Annual March to Save Oak Flat, Feb 15 -- 18, 2018

Chili Yazzie 'Mineral Extraction Hurting the Earth Mother'

Dunae Chili Yazzie, Dine' Shiprock, Navajo Nation

Editor:

Stephen Hawking, regarded as one of the greatest modern day scientific thinkers on the realities of earth and space says the human race has only 100 years to find a new planet and to relocate. He suggests that life on this planet will come to an end because of climate change, nuclear war and viral genetic diseases.  So according to Hawking there are only 4 generations left.

Going to a new planet sounds so far-out-there, science fictional and unrealistic, but science and technology say it’s possible. Who will be on the spaceship to the new world? It is not going to be us “regular folks”, if it happens, it will be the billionaires and millionaires.

America as much of the civilized world is hooked on extractive energy development, the addiction is fatal as it is killing the planet. And just like with any addiction, it craves more and more. The physical addiction is further driven by the gluttony to make more money profit. The Navajo Nation as an energy state is also hooked and contributing to the reality of climate change. Our Navajo leadership demonstrate that addiction by frantically looking for ways to keep Navajo Generating Station running and also appearing to be to be in favor of the dastardly business of fracking.

I understand that the current level of extractive energy development around the globe is already beyond the limits of what was considered “safe” in terms of realizing the opportunity for extended life of the earth. And that any new development will only accelerate the end of life of the earth. The advocacy to oppose new development is not to be against the livelihood of people, but to advocate for the extended life of the planet.

From a traditional Native perspective, we have some understanding of the actual physical and spiritual damage that is being done to the earth with massive mineral extraction. We willingly take part in hurting the earth, then we talk about honoring the Earth Mother and how we should walk in beauty on her. Makes me wonder how those who pray with the corn pollen or sit at the sacred fireplace justify their support for hurting the earth….for those that do. The other great contradiction is, we say the future belongs to our grandchildren and generations to come; by participating in killing the earth, we are also killing the future of our children.

Chili Yazzie

Shiprock, Navajo Nation

505.860.4436

OREGON: Molalla Tribe Sacred Site in Danger of Mine Project

Charlie Tufti

Demers: Desecration or Development?

Molalla Tribe Sacred Site in Danger of Mine Project

By Kayla Godowa-Tufti

Censored News

May 17, 2016
OAKRIDGE, Oregon -- An article published by the Eugene Weekly February 11, 2016 stated, "Old Hazeldell Quarry, an investment of Ed King of King Estate Winery, has applied to Lane County to change the zoning of the hillside, currently zoned F1 and F2 forestlands, to allow for quarry mining. This area is known by residents of Oakridge as "TV Butte."

Phil Donovan, a spokesman for the quarry, says the area was a quarry before current zoning was put in place in the 1970s. Donovan also clarifies that Greg Demers and the McDougal Brothers, who have been involved in a number of controversial resource extraction projects such as the mining of Parvin Butte in Dexter, are not involved in Old Hazeldell."

Hillary leaves tracks in the oil

Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State, meeting with Saudi Arabia.

As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton targeted Indigenous Peoples defending their homelands. Millions have flowed into the Clinton Foundation from oil and mining.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
English
Translation into Dutch at Alice Holemans, NAIS

Update 2016: Also see 21 new revelations about Hillaey's ties to hidden uranium mi g and exploitation of Indigenous lands
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/06/03/21-new-clinton-cash-revelations-that-have-imperiled-hillary-clintons-campaign/

While Secretary of the State Department, Hillary Clinton orchestrated a spy network targeting Indigenous activists throughout the Americas who were defending their homelands from drilling, mining and development. Those targeted in the dragnet spanned the Americas, from the Mohawks in Canada to Mapuche in Chile. 

Further, while Indigenous Peoples were dying defending their lands from mining in Peru, the US and four other countries met as a pro-mining alliance in Peru and reported in to Hillary Clinton, as exposed in the Wikileaks cables.

Now, a Swiss banking leak reveals that the Clinton Foundation has received millions from Canadian mining magnate Frank Giusta. Further, a top donor to the Clinton Foundation is Saudi Arabia, a country leading in human rights violations which has teamed up with the United States to orchestrate a regime partnership.

The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation now has $277 million in assets. The Charity Index says it can not consider it a non-profit.

Bill Clinton and Canadian mining magnate Frank Giustra posed as humanitarians while Giustra bilked Indigenous Peoples globally out of their lands and resources for gold and copper mining. Then, millions flowed into the Clinton Foundation from Giustra.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/02/swiss-leak-mining-magnate-and-clinton.html

Now, the Clinton Foundations' Saudi Arabia financiers have been exposed. Saudi Arabia is the world's number one producer of oil, and has the second  largest oil deposits, with Venezuela having the largest.

Further, the Clinton Foundation received hundreds of thousands of dollars from an agency promoting the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, according to exposure by the Wall Street Journal.

The Clinton Foundation's number one donor is The Children's Investment Fund Foundation, a hedge fund of steel, coal and energy investors.

The following article describes how the five country pro-mining alliance met in Peru while Indigenous Peoples were dying defending their lands. In the cables, the US Ambasssador reported in to Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State.

Censored News wrote a series of articles about spying on Indigenous Peoples while Hillary Clinton headed the State Department, as exposed by Wikileaks in the cables. Hillary Clinton demanded DNA and iris scans of leaders of state and others targeted, in her cables to Ambassadors.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

Wikileaks exposed State Department cables stating that a core group of diplomats formed an alliance with mining companies globally to promote and protect mining interests. The diplomats were from the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Switzerland and South Africa.

Devastation of mining and war silenced at Indigenous World Conference

Devastation of mining and war censored, Pacific Islanders withdraw support for Indigenous World Conference

Protest in Toronto of Hudbay mine in Guatemala

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

French translation by Christine Prat

http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=2500

Mining is among the leading causes of murder, rape, assassinations and disappearances of Indigenous Peoples globally.

However the non-profits, especially those at the United Nations, are strangely silent about the fact.

The seizure of land, water and resources for mining, and the violence against Indigenous Peoples defending these, should be a priority at the UN, with coal, uranium and metals mining topping the list.

Another leading threat to Indigenous Peoples is nuclear dumping and the effect of war, especially on women and children. As revealed in this statement by Pacific Islanders, demilitarization was censored at the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2014/09/demilitarization-censored-pacific.html

Kalamaoka’aina Niheu, of the Pacific Caucus, said, “It is with great sadness and outrage to find at the 11th hour that Paragraph 21 regarding Demilitarization has been removed from the Outcome Document.”

“For this reason, Ohana Koa –Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific can no longer consent to our participation in the High Level Plenary Meeting (HLPM) also known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP).”

There is no mention of mining or militarization in the outcome document for the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, held in New York in September:

http://www.rightsandresources.org/wp-content/uploads/WCIP-Outcome-Document-FINAL.pdf

The censorship of the voices for peace, and against mining and war, is not new in Indian country.

Louise Benally, Dine' (Navajo) resisting Peabody Coal's coal mining, forced relocation and US militarization, was censored by Indian Country Today when she opposed the Iraq war, comparing it to the genocidal forced Long Walk of Navajos.

Remembering her great-grandfather forced on the Long Walk to the prison camp at Fort Sumner, N.M., Benally said, “The U.S. military first murders your people and destroys your way of life while stealing your culture, then forces you to learn their evil ways of lying and cheating." http://bsnorrell.tripod.com/id78.html

In October, Pacific Islanders will block the world's largest coal port in canoes.

Thirty Pacific Climate Warriors from 12 different islands will arrive on Australian shores to stand up to the coal and gas industry. "We are now excited to announce that on October 17th, the Pacific Climate Warriors will use the canoes they have built to paddle out into the harbour of the world’s largest coal port – Newcastle – to stop coal exports for a day."

http://350.org/pacific-climate-warriors-will-block-the-worlds-largest-coal-port/

For permission to repost this article brendanorrell@gmail.com

Censored: O'odham relief, Wikileaks, US spying and mining

The Face of Mining:
RT news: South African miners killed by police.

In the news, O'odham emergency relief, Wikileaks, US spying, School of Assassins, the bloody face of mining, and Indigenous heroes

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

TUCSON -- The monsoon storms in southern Arizona destroyed homes on the Tohono O'odham Nation. But why aren't the millions in casino revenues providing for O'odham emergency needs? If the lucrative Desert Diamond casino is really a Tohono O'odham enterprise, there should be funds ready and available to rebuild homes and provide for O'odham children, instead of the continued desperation.
In global news, Ecuador granted Wikileaks' Julian Assange asylum. As the United States pursues Assange and Bradley Manning, the US continues its dragnet for whistleblowers -- while killers and corporate thieves exposed by Wikileaks remain free.
The past week's top story at Censored News was the result of months of research into the US diplomatic cables exposed by Wikileaks, and the espionage of Indigenous Peoples. A key exposure revealed that the US and five other countries organized to secretly promote mining on Indigenous lands, as Natives in Peru were dying to protect their lands.
The largest number of cables on spying on Indigenous, revealed the US targeting Mohawks in Canada and Mapuche in Chile. The US cables also revealed the attempts by US diplomats in Iceland and Ecuador to halt support for, and passage of, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In other news, Joan Roelofs at Counterpunch exposed how the New York Times got it wrong on the US School of Assassins. The School of Americas changed its name,  it did not close. http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/08/17/the-nyt-and-the-school-of-assassins
Here, in southern Arizona, the Army's Fort Huachuca is the place where the US torture manual of the School of Americas was published, a fact made public in 1996. Torture training resulted in assassinations, rapes and disappearances of Indigenous Peoples. Fort Huachuca personnel was also involved in torture at Abu-Ghraib, leading to protests and arrests at Fort Huachuca.
Fort Huachuca, at Sierra Vista, Ariz., is now a top US training center for drones, which launch there for the border.

Protests begin over Keystone XL southern
route as construction begins, after
endorsement from President Obama.

RT exposed South African police opening fire on miners near Johannesburg and killing at least 30 protesters. The platinum mine, owned by Lonmin PLC, has been the focal point of strikes and violence. The scene of horror is the face of mining globally as people of color are considered expendables for mining companies. http://rt.com/news/south-africa-mine-violence-862/
The Guardian exposed a new surveillance system on the streets in Seattle and DC, as revealed by Wikileaks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/13/trapwire-surveillance-system-exposed-leak?

Now, if only the Guardian would expose the secrets of the Queen of England and how much of the royal wealth was illegally extracted from the resources and life blood of Indigenous Peoples around the world.
Tarsands protests began as pipeline construction started on the southern route of the Keystone XL pipeline, which President Obama was earlier on hand to launch in Cushing, Okla.

Censored News this week honors Dine' Kris Barney of Rough Rock, Ariz., who walked across the Navajo Nation to San Francisco Peaks for the protection of the sacred mountain.
Kris said, “The holy San Francisco Peaks is under attack. Our culture, our traditions, our ceremonies, our very existence as Dine' (Navajo) people is under attack by the Arizona Snowbowl and its plans and ongoing construction on top of the Holy Mountain Dooko'o'sliid. This mountain is sacred to more than 13 Indigenous Nations and at this moment they are committing genocide through environmental ecocide on this holy mountain where we gather medicinal herbs and pray."

Censored News honors Protect the Peaks and Indigenous Action Media in Flagstaff, Ariz., for organizing and protection of San Francisco Peaks. Today, Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, Indigenous Action Media is reporting on the Tree Sit that has halted Snowbowl pipeline destruction: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/08/tree-sit-halts-snowbowl-pipeline.html

Why aren't Tohono O'odham casino funds providing for O'odham emergency needs?
Storms have destroyed homes in the Santa Rosa community on the Tohono O'odham Nation. But the question remains, why aren't those millions in casino funds ready and available to rebuild homes, and provide for the children, on the Tohono O'odham Nation?
It is sad to see children and families in need. Still, very sad to pass by and see the huge crowds at the Tohono O'odham Desert Diamond casino, then drive across O'odham land, and wonder where all those millions, possibly billions, have been going for the last decade. Non-Indian management firms, non-Indian attorneys and non-Indian lobbyists have received large sums of money, as well as non-Indian charities for publicity reasons (like the fire truck for Peoria), and there's the cut for the state of Arizona, yet most O'odham suffer in need.
People pour into this casino thinking their money is going to the O'odham. At times like this, there should be plenty of money to replace the O'odham homes destroyed by the monsoon storms, and provide for the children, if this casino is really a Tohono O'odham enterprise.

Wikileaks exposed US espionage of Indigenous Peoples

Wikileaks exposed the US corporate schemes, espionage, promotion of mining and efforts globally to halt passage of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Wikileaks revealed extensive espionage of Indigenous Peoples, including the Mapuche and Mohawks, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales, who ushered in a new Indigenous global rights campaign.
The release of the US diplomatic cables of the US State Department confirmed that the US feared the power of Indigenous Peoples, specifically their claims to their traditional territories, a right stated in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Further, the Declaration states the right of free, prior and informed consent before development proceeds and protects intellectual and cultural property rights.
The United States and Canada, as revealed by Wikileaks, worked against the rights of Indigenous Peoples, by engaging in espionage and the promotion of mining, while violating Indigenous autonomy, self determination and dignity.

The United States was part of a coalition to promote mining and fight against Indigenous activists in Peru. A core group of diplomats from U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Switzerland and South Africa formed an alliance with mining companies to promote and protect mining interests globally.

The collection of DNA and other data, makes it clear that US Ambassadors are spies abroad. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton states that the Intelligence Community relies on biographical information from US diplomats. In cables to Africa and Paraguay, Clinton asked US Embassy personnel to collect address books, e-mail passwords, fingerprints, iris scans and DNA.
Read more:

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/12/wikileaks-revealed-us-espionage-of.html

For permission to repost in full, contact brendanorrell@gmail.com, or feel free to share the link!

Shannon Rivers, Akimel O'otham, standing up for Indigenous Rights

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

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

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Gila River Pima-Maricopa Indian Nation became the first in the United States to ratify the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Shannon Rivers, Akimel O'otham from Gila River in Arizona, speaks on the importance of this action on Censored News Blog Talk Radio.

"We hope it becomes customary law, throughout the United States and the world ," Rivers said of the Declaration, speaking on Earthcycles' Longest Walk Talk Radio at the end of the Longest Walk.

Pointing out that the Declaration includes rights at borders and self-determination, he said Gila River undertook this hallmark move in commitment and solidarity with Indigenous Peoples worldwide, on May 21, 2008.

Rivers also describes the visit by Bolivian President Evo Morales to the United Nations in New York and the disrespect this world leader has been shown in the U.S. Rivers also describes how Homeland Security used fear after 9/11 to increase fear of migrants. Ultimately, the US profiteered with jails and prisons.

Further, Rivers discusses how the lifestyle and foods of the colonized U.S. has damaged the health of Indigenous Peoples in the Sonoran Desert. Rivers said there is a revitalization on Gila River of people growing traditional foods in their fields.

"Indigenous Peoples are some of the richest peoples," he said, during the interview a Greenbelt Park, Maryland. "We have many languages and we can learn many songs, many teachings."

Rivers urged Indigenous Peoples to stand up with courage and fight for what they believe in, with sacred walks and sacred runs, protection of sacred places and listening to the stories of the elderly.

Rivers is joined by Phillip Morris, Navajo from Page, Arizona. Morris describes the abuses of the US government and Peabody Coal in the destruction of Navajo lands and aquifer water.

"They call it 'Relocation.' I don't care what you call it, it is another way of the government saying, 'We want your land,'" Morris said.

Morris said the strip mining of Peabody Coal has resulted in the springs drying up. While Peabody Coal drained the aquifer, most Navajo people were hauling their water there. With words and millions of dollars, the U.S. and Peabody has continued with their ways, he said, "Of keeping us poor."

Morris said, "Healing is within us, but when we do it together as a group, in unity, it is more powerful."

"It all starts with prayers. We have to start coming together," Morris said, urging people to go to sweatlodges and learn from others.

Also, on the blog radio show, Long Walkers speak in tornado-hit Greensburg, Kansas, a town that was more than 90 percent destroyed by a tornado in 2007. Adriano Buckskin, Luv the Mezenger, Calvin Magpie, Jr., Paul Owns the Sabre and Rebecca Duncan speak as Long Walkers over a feast to the community. The show includes a song by the Miwok youth singers who were Long Walkers.

Recorded live by Earthcycles, producer Govinda Dalton, and cohost Brenda Norrell, on the Longest Walk northern route across America, Feb. through July, 2008.

Listen: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell

Radio stations may rebroadcast in whole or part. Please credit Earthcycles.

Photo 1: Shannon Rivers as master of ceremonies at the Longest Walk Concert in D.C. Photo by Brita Brookes Photo 2: Phillip Morris and Shannon Rivers onboard the Earthcycles radio bus on the Longest Walk in Greenbelt Park, Maryland, in July 2008, during this interview. Photo Brenda Norrell

Contact Shannon Rivers at:
sunriverhawk@aol.com