Pesticides, human rights and food workshop in Yoreme (Mayo) community in Sinaloa, Mexico
“AGROQUIMICOS: LA AMENAZA A NUESTRA SALUD COMUNITARIA Y AL MEDIO AMBIENTE; CONOCIENDO NUESTROS DERECHOS, EXPLORANDO LAS ALETRNATIVAS Y TRABAJANDO JUNTOS CON UN FUTURO SALUDABLE”
Una Tarea anfitrionada por la Red Indigena Norte y Sur Contra los Plaguicidas, un proyecto del Consejo Internacional de Tratatos Indios (CITI), con la Organización de Yoremes Unidos del Municipio de Ahome, A.C.
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"Pesticides: The Threat to our Community Health and the Environment, Knowing our Rights, Exploring Alternatives and Working Together for a Healthy Future."
A workshop hosted by North-South Indigenous Network Against Pesticides, a project of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) in coordination with the United Municipality of Organizaciones Yoremes of Ahome, A.C.
EJIDO GABRIEL LEYVA SOLANO, AHOME, SINALOA.
Octubre 26, 27, 28 2007
Agenda Provisional
Provisional Agenda
Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2007
The agenda will start each day from 9 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
The afternoon agenda will restart at 2:00 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.
The evening agenda will continue form 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (Tentative)
El registro para la Tarea se realizara en el sitio a partir de 8 de manana el dia 26.
Programa Diario:
Programa de la manana: 9:00 am – 12:00pm
Programa de la tarde: 2:00 pm – 5: 30 pm
Programa de la noche (no confirmado): 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Horario de la comidas del 26-28
de 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm – ALMUERZO
de 6:00 TO 7:30 PM: CENA (el 29 y 30)
Lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
And 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. for Dinner
VIERNES 26 DE OCTUBRE DE 2007.
PROGRAMA DE LA MAÑANA:
Inaguracion del Evento
Bienvenida
Lic. Bulmaro Bacasegua Campos
Secretario
Yoremes Unidos de la Municipalidad de Ahome
Honores a la Bandera
Ceremonia Tradicional
Fiesteros de Los 8 Centros Ceremoniales del Municipio de Ahome.
Introducción del CITI- Consejo Internacional del Consejo Internacional del Tratado Indios
Saul Vicente
Representanta Nacional deL citi- Mexico
Alberto Saldamando
CONSEJERO JURIDICO
consejo INTERNACIONAL de tratados indios (CITI)
INTRODUCCION de la RED NORTE Y SUR CONTRA LOS PLAGUICIDAS
Sara Mendoza, Coordinadora de Proyecto
Presentación de la Organización “Yoremes Unidos del Municipio de Ahome, A.C.”
PROGRAMA POR LA TARDE
Presentacion: Soberania Alimentaria, Derechos Culturales y los Pueblos Indígenas
Saul Vicente, Representatnte Nacional Mexico
Taller: Indicadores Culturales
Saul Vicente, Representatnte Nacional Mexico
Programa por la Noche
Programa Cultural por los Fieseros del Municipio de Ahome, El Fuerte, Choix, Guasave, Sinaloa de Leyva y Angostura.
Ballet Folklorico a Cargo de la Maestra Alejandra Cervantes Ayala.
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Friday, October 26, 2007
Morning Program:
Event Inauguration
Welcome
Lic. Bulmaro Bulmaro Bacasegua Campos
Board Member, Secretary
United Yoremes of the Municipality of Ahome
Flag Honoring
Traditional Ceremony
Fiesteros of the 8 Ceremonial Centers of the Municipio of Ahome.
Introduction of the International Indian Treaty Council- IITC
Saul Vicente,
National IITC Representative Mexico
Alberto Saldamando,
General Counsel
International Indian Treaty Council
Introduction of the North South Indigenous Network Against Pesticides.
Sara Mendoza
Program Coordinator
International Indian Treaty Council
Introduction of the “Organización Yoremes Unidos del Municipio de Ahome, A.C.” (United Yoremes of the Municipality of Ahome)
Afternoon Program:
Presentation: Food Soverignty, Cultural Rights, and Indigenous Peoples
Saul Vicente, IITC Mexico Representative
Workshop: Cultural Indicators
Saul Vicente, IITC Mexico Representative
Evening Program
Cultural Program by the Fiesteros of the Municipality of Ahome, El Fuerte, Choix, Guasave, Sinaloa de Leyva y Angostura.
Ballet Folklorico directed by Ms. Alejandra Cervantes Ayala.
*********************************
SABADO 27 DE OCTUBRE DE 2007.
PROGRAMA POR LA MAÑANA
PANEL: QUE SON LOS PLAGUICIDAS? LOS EFECTOS Y DAÑOS A LA SALUD DEL SER HUMANO Y AL MEDIO AMBIENTE
ING. REYNALDO CERVANTES LEYVA, COORDINADOR DEL PROGRAMA ZONA PACIFICO
CONSERVEMOS UN CAMPO LIMPIO
DR. GABRIEL DIAZ YZETA, DIRECTOR DE TOXICOLOGIA, DEL GOBIERNO MEXICANO
PAM MILLER, BIOLOGA Y DIRECTORA EJECUTIVA ACCION COMUNITARIA SOBRE LOS TOXICOS EN ALASKA.
PATRICIA DIAZ ROMO, ASESORA DE LOS INDIGENAS HUICHOLES.
MARGARET REEVE, CIENTIFCA Y COORDINADORA DEL PROGRAMA SOBRE LA COMUNIDAD Y LA SALUD AMBIENTAL (PANNA).
DRA. ELIZABEHT GUILLETT, UNIVERSIDAD DE FLORIDA, ESTUDIOS EN NIÑOS INDIGENAS DEL RIO YAQUI.
PROGRAMA POR LA TARDE
PRESENTACION: DERECHOS HUMANOS, EL DERECHO DEL CONSENTIMIENTO PREVIO, LIBRE E INFORMADO, LA DECLARACION DE LOS DERECHOS DE LOS PUEBLOS INDIGENAS; Actualización sobre el trabajo del Relator de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Productos Toxicos
ALBERTO SALDAMANDO,
CONSEJERO JURIDICO
CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS
DERECHOS HUMANOS Y LOS EFECTOS DE PLAGUESIDAS
TESTIMONIOS DE PERSONAS AFECTADAS POR LO AGROQUIMICOS:
ING. FRANCISCO VILLEGAS PAREDES, COORDINADOR DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN COMUNITARIA POR LA MADRE TIERRA.
MIEMBROS AFECTADOS DE LA COMUNIDAD YOREME.
LUZ IRENE BACASEGUA CAMPOS, PRESIDENTA ESTATAL DE LOS MEDICOS INDIGENAS DEL ESTADO DE SINALOA.
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Saturday, October 27, 2007
Morning Program:
Panel: What are Pesticides? The Harmful Effects of Pesticides on Human Health and the Environment.
Reynaldo Cervantes,
Pacific Zone Program Coordinator
Conservemos un Campo Limpio
Dr. Garbriel Diaz Yzeta,
Director of Toxicology
Mexican Government
Pam Miller
Biologist and Executive Director
Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Patricia Romo
Filmaker and Organizar
Margaret Reeves, PhD.
Senior Scientist/Program Coordinator (Community and Environmental Health)Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)
Dr. Elizabeth Guillete,
Associate Research Scientist
University of Florida
Afternoon Program:
Presentation: Human Rights, Free, Prior and Informed Consent, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and update on the work on the U.N Rapporteur on Toxics
Alberto Saldamando
IITC General Counsel
International Indian Treaty Council
Panel: Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples and Effects of Pesticides
Francisco Villegas Paredes
Program Coordinator
Yaquis Unidos Por la Madre Tierra
Rio Yaqui, Sonora
Local Community Yoreme Members Affected by Pesticides
Various Participants
Luz Irene Bacasegua Campos
Statewide President
Unites Medical Doctors of the State of Sinaloa
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DOMINGO 28 DE OCTUBRE DE 2007
PROGRAMA POR LA MAÑANA
Panel: RESTORACION DE CONOCIMIENTO Y DIVERSIDAD, PERSPECTIVAS Y ALTERNATIVAS
ING. REYNALDO CERVANTES LEYVA
COORDINADOR DEL PROGRAMA ZONA PACIFICO
CONSERVEMOS UN CAMPO LIMPIO.
SANTOS VALENZUELA RAMIREZ
EMETERIO VALENZUELA AGUILAR
EXPERIENCIA EN CULTIVOS TRADICIONALES DE AUTOCONSUMO SIN AGROQUIMICOS
PROGRAMA POR LA TARDE
TALLER: A TRAVES DEL LIBRO “LOS PLAGUICIDAS SON VENENOSOS”
SARA MENDOZA
MESAS DE TRABAJO
PLENARIA: ELABORACION DE UN PLAN DE ACCION Y EL FORTALECIMIENTO DE NUESTRAS ALIANZAS
Lino Buitimea Sauceda
ADelina Bacasegua Alvarez
Rita Amarillas Anguamea
SARA MENDOZA
SANTOS VALENZUELA
CLAUSURA DEL EVENTO
SANTOS VALENZUELA RAMIREZ, PRESIDENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN “YOREM UTTIA”
LIC. BULMARO BACASEGUA CAMPOS, SRIO. DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN “YOREMES UNIDOS DEL MUNICIPIO DE AHOME, A.C.
CONDUCCION DEL PROGRAMA
PROFR. LINO BUITIMEA SAUCEDA
ADELINA BACASEGUA ALVAREZ
RITA AMARILLAS ANGUAMEA
*********************************
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Morning Program:
Panel: Restoring Tradicional Knowledge and Biodiversity: Perspectives and Alternatives
Yernaldo Cervantes Leyva
Pacific Zone Program Coordinator
Conservamos un Campo Limpio
Santos Valenzuela
Presidente
Yorem Uttia Organization
Emerito Valenzuela Aguilar
Presentation: Tradition Farming Methods without Pesticides.
Afternoon Program:
Workshop: “ Pesticides are Toxic”
Sara Mendoza
Program Coordinator
North South Indigenous Network Against Pesticides
International Indian Treaty Council
Panel: Rights, Solutions, and Future Plans.
Alberto Saldamando
Legal Counsel
International Indian Treaty Council
Elaboration of the Action Plan and the Strengthening of our Alliances
Profesor Lino Buitimea Sauceda
Adelina Bacasegua Alvarez
Rita Amarillas Anguamea
Sara Mendoza
Santos Valenzuela
Closing Ceremony for the Event
Santos Valenzuela
Presidente
Yorem Uttia Organization
Bulmaro Bacasegua Campos
Secretary
United Yoremes of the Municipality of Ahome
Agenda Coordiantors are:
Profesor Lino Buitimea Sauceda
Adelina Bacasegua Alvarez
Rita Amarillas Anguamea
October 20, 2007
October 19, 2007
Michael Lacey jailed for exposing Arpaio's spying
By Brenda Norrell
http://www.blogspot.com/
Michael Lacey, who created Phoenix New Times and is now executive editor of Village Voice Media, spent the night in jail last night for exposing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's snooping, a big secret of a Grand Jury.
Lacey was always destined for grand things. Lacey shared an audience bench with me in the federal courtroom of the infamous Earth First! Trial in Prescott, Arizona, when I was a stringer for Associated Press. (The trial was the one where the FBI agent drove the so-called saboteurs to do their supposed monkey-wrenching and Peg Millet outran the Swat Team.)
Anyway, I'll always remember Lacey for his description of the tense federal prosecutor.
Lacey wrote something like this in New Times: She came into the courtroom, grabbed her balls and shot the judge a high-five.
Village Voice Media Executive Editor Released From Jail and Vows to Fight
posted: 11:08 AM, October 19, 2007 by Michael Clancy
Two top executives of Village Voice Media, the parent company of the Voice, were arrested Thursday night and released from jail early Friday morning for revealing information about a secret grand jury proceeding in a story in the Phoenix New Times.
The story—headlined "Breathtaking Abuse of the Constitution", and written by Michael Lacey, Village Voice Media executive editor, and Jim Larkin, VVM chief executive— detailed how Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio used a wide-ranging subpoena "in an attempt to research the identity, purchasing habits, and browsing proclivities of our online readership."
http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/runninscared/archives/2007/10/village_voice_m.php
http://www.blogspot.com/
Michael Lacey, who created Phoenix New Times and is now executive editor of Village Voice Media, spent the night in jail last night for exposing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's snooping, a big secret of a Grand Jury.
Lacey was always destined for grand things. Lacey shared an audience bench with me in the federal courtroom of the infamous Earth First! Trial in Prescott, Arizona, when I was a stringer for Associated Press. (The trial was the one where the FBI agent drove the so-called saboteurs to do their supposed monkey-wrenching and Peg Millet outran the Swat Team.)
Anyway, I'll always remember Lacey for his description of the tense federal prosecutor.
Lacey wrote something like this in New Times: She came into the courtroom, grabbed her balls and shot the judge a high-five.
Village Voice Media Executive Editor Released From Jail and Vows to Fight
posted: 11:08 AM, October 19, 2007 by Michael Clancy
Two top executives of Village Voice Media, the parent company of the Voice, were arrested Thursday night and released from jail early Friday morning for revealing information about a secret grand jury proceeding in a story in the Phoenix New Times.
The story—headlined "Breathtaking Abuse of the Constitution", and written by Michael Lacey, Village Voice Media executive editor, and Jim Larkin, VVM chief executive— detailed how Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio used a wide-ranging subpoena "in an attempt to research the identity, purchasing habits, and browsing proclivities of our online readership."
http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/runninscared/archives/2007/10/village_voice_m.php
O'odham: Awakening at the Zapatistas' Encuentro
O’odham Return from Gathering with Mexico’s Indigenous and Subcomandante Marcos
“I Felt a Sense That This Is an Awakening of the People”
By Brenda Norrell
October 18, 2007
TUCSON -- When more than 500 Indian delegates gathered in Vicam Pueblo in Rio Yaqui, Mexico, at the Gathering of Indigenous Peoples of América, the power of a global spiritual force was present and released, said Ofelia Rivas, an O’odham woman living on the border of the United States and Mexico.
“It is not a local movement, it is not just the Zapatistas. It is the Indigenous People of the world creating this movement,” Rivas said during an interview.
“I felt a sense that this is an awakening of the people.
“There was a sense of unity, of continuing the struggle, although people still have problems. We were in unity talking about them together. I really felt it was a grassroots effort.”
Rivas said among the powerful cultural presentations was that of the Indigenous Peoples from Michoacan. “That was really moving to me,” she said, recalling a Tzotzil friend from Chiapas telling her, “When things get serious, we dance.”
Rivas said the traditional authorities of Vicam Pueblo offered the ultimate respect. “It was amazing to see the traditional Yaqui leaders attentively and patiently listening to the stories.”
Rivas said it was important for the people from the United States and Canada to share their sufferings. She said often, people in other countries think Indians here have it easy.
“Yes, there are human rights violations in Canada and the United states. People on the outside believe we have it made. They don’t know we live in poverty and we have serious conditions for our women and children.”
In some way, conditions are worse in the United States than elsewhere.
“It is worse. The people are controlled by the government. Your own people are assimilated as well and they abuse the system. The system is controlling us and controlling the people.”
Rivas said the money that flows into Indian Nations, and the conditions and restrictions attached to the money, result in that control.
“With the federal money, state money, gaming money, there is control. Everyone is under control.”
Among the tearful stories shared at the gathering, she said, were those of a Lakota woman, who spoke of the abuses in boarding schools and the conditions that the Lakota still live under. Indian children were seized by the governments of the United States and Canada during much of the Twentieth Century and forced into government-operated boarding schools. Here, they were often abused sexually abused and beaten. Indian children were forbidden to speak their own languages and were forced to assimilate the dominant culture. Those who ran away were placed in solitary confinement and some died. The abuses resulted in generations of traumatized Indian people in the United States and Canada.
As Nation after Nation told their stories at the encuentro, or gathering, Rivas said, “Everyone was so attentive. They heard it straight from the people.”
Meanwhile at home on the US/Mexico border where O’odham ancestral lands are bisected by the international border, the construction of a border vehicle barrier has blocked the ceremonial route of the O’odham people.
“This ceremony has been going on since the creation of the world,” Rivas said.
Before the recent construction of a federal vehicle barrier on tribal land on the border at Ali Jegk in the Gu-Vo District in Arizona, 12 miles east of Sonoyta, Mexico, local O’odham were able to cross in their traditional territory here.
Now, instead of taking less than an hour to go to town for shopping, O’odham have to travel six hours roundtrip to shop in Tucson. For those with diabetes and medical emergencies, the new border barrier means a life-threatening crisis.
“A lot of traditional people do not have passports, because they were born at home.”
For O’odham attending the ceremony during July, the new border barrier violated the spiritual journey.
“It was a real hardship,” Rivas said. “When you are on a pilgrimage to a sacred place, you are in a sacred mode. Then you are stopped by immigration and your papers are checked, that is a disruption. People have prepared spiritually and then they have to go through this ordeal of crossing the border.
Rivas said the Tohono O’odham Nation’s elected government in Sells, Arizona, is not assisting the traditional O’odham people to maintain their right to cross their ancestral territories and carry out their traditional ceremonies. Further, many O’odham lack passports because they were born at home and this makes border crossing difficult.
“This ceremony,” she said, “is hanging on by a thread.”
Rivas said the power, unity and awareness shared at the Intercontinental Encuentro should now be shared with those who were unable to attend.
“So many people who should have been there were not there. They were home guarding their people or their land. Some had problems crossing the border.”
Rivas said she hopes the Vicam Pueblo gathering will continue with regional gatherings in Canada, the United States and South America, so others will be able to participate.
Rivas, bilingual in English and O’odham, delivered her presentation to the Intercontinental Encuento in the O’odham language.
“Speaking my language is my personal form of resistance,” said Rivas, whose presentation was translated from O’odham into English and Spanish.
Rivas shared a statement from the traditional O’odham leaders from the Cu:Wi I-gersk and the ceremonial leaders from the O’odham lands of Mexico and the United States.
“The O’odham resistance began when the prophets told of the invasion of the foreigners and the many changes that would happen to the people and the world. The O’odham defense was to bend to the surge of this coming wind so as not to break. My friends, my people are at the breaking point,” Rivas said, reading from the statement at the Encuentro.
The O’odham Nation consists of four bands in the Sonoran Desert. To the north, there is the On’k Ake’mel O’odham (Salt River people) and the Ake’mel O’odham (Gila River people.) In the west, there is the band of Hia’ced O’odham (Sands people) and the southern band is the Tohono O’odham (Desert people.)
The O’odham ancestral territory is bordered by the Yaqui territory to the south and the Apache territory to the east. To the southwest, along the inland waters of the Pacific Ocean at Ka’ch’k (the Sea of Cortez or Gulf of California in Mexico), O’odham land borders the Seri territory.
The United States and Mexico claimed O’odham lands when the International Boundary was created in 1853. The boundary bisected O’odham lands. The Tohono O’odham elected government, which chose to work with the U.S. federal government, receive federal dollars and develop a tribal government based on the U.S. system, was not recognized by the traditional authorities of the O’odham.
“Our peoples’ history begins at the creation of the world. We also have knowledge of former worlds that existed.”
The people were given the Him’dag, the O’odham way of life. They were taught how to live in the desert and given the responsibility and honor of being Indigenous Peoples.
“We are the keepers of the universe; we keep the universe in balance through our teachings from the Creator, through our songs and ceremonies maintain the balance of the universe.”
The first attack on O’odham came by way of foreign diseases, which altered the people’s genetic makeup. Then outsiders came to steal and market O’odham knowledge of healing medicine plants.
The second attack came from a foreign religion.
“The very Churches that catholic O’odham pray in were constructed with O’odham slaves controlled by the missionaries.”
Today, O’odham ceremonial places are seen as tourist sightseeing places, from the great lava fields along the border to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.
“The ceremony sites and sacred places are under constant threat by archeologists, mining companies and Mexicans claiming O’odham lands and communities, such as a recent threat of a proposed chemical waste dump proposed location, just eight miles from our ceremony site.”
With the agenda of assimilating O’odham, the United States placed O’odham children in boarding schools and relocated O’odham to cities.
“The destruction of the social structures of the people is evident today; the people are dependent on the system to exist. Our language that was forbidden in boarding school is today surviving, but by a small degree.”
Now, the militarization at the border prevents O’odham from crossing on traditional routes.
In Mexico, ranchers, farmers and corporations are seizing O’odham lands. In 1845, there were 45 villages south of what is now the border. Today, there are nine surviving villages.
The restriction of mobility, exploitation of land and destruction of cultures through genocide and ethnocide means this is a critical moment in the universe.
“Today here in Vicam we gather not as governments and organizations, but as people of the earth. We are here to stand in solidarity, for our survival, to protect the world, our territories and our future generations.”
“A delegation of all Nations must continue to strengthen this message of solidarity and continued education on Universal Indigenous Rights.
“Today we continue to demand access to our lands, including access to our ancestral routes, to conduct our Him’dag and make offering to sacred places. We demand the protection of our cultures and sacred places. We demand fair elections and our own representation in the government systems that ignore us.”
“I Felt a Sense That This Is an Awakening of the People”
By Brenda Norrell
October 18, 2007
TUCSON -- When more than 500 Indian delegates gathered in Vicam Pueblo in Rio Yaqui, Mexico, at the Gathering of Indigenous Peoples of América, the power of a global spiritual force was present and released, said Ofelia Rivas, an O’odham woman living on the border of the United States and Mexico.
“It is not a local movement, it is not just the Zapatistas. It is the Indigenous People of the world creating this movement,” Rivas said during an interview.
“I felt a sense that this is an awakening of the people.
“There was a sense of unity, of continuing the struggle, although people still have problems. We were in unity talking about them together. I really felt it was a grassroots effort.”
Rivas said among the powerful cultural presentations was that of the Indigenous Peoples from Michoacan. “That was really moving to me,” she said, recalling a Tzotzil friend from Chiapas telling her, “When things get serious, we dance.”
Rivas said the traditional authorities of Vicam Pueblo offered the ultimate respect. “It was amazing to see the traditional Yaqui leaders attentively and patiently listening to the stories.”
Rivas said it was important for the people from the United States and Canada to share their sufferings. She said often, people in other countries think Indians here have it easy.
“Yes, there are human rights violations in Canada and the United states. People on the outside believe we have it made. They don’t know we live in poverty and we have serious conditions for our women and children.”
In some way, conditions are worse in the United States than elsewhere.
“It is worse. The people are controlled by the government. Your own people are assimilated as well and they abuse the system. The system is controlling us and controlling the people.”
Rivas said the money that flows into Indian Nations, and the conditions and restrictions attached to the money, result in that control.
“With the federal money, state money, gaming money, there is control. Everyone is under control.”
Among the tearful stories shared at the gathering, she said, were those of a Lakota woman, who spoke of the abuses in boarding schools and the conditions that the Lakota still live under. Indian children were seized by the governments of the United States and Canada during much of the Twentieth Century and forced into government-operated boarding schools. Here, they were often abused sexually abused and beaten. Indian children were forbidden to speak their own languages and were forced to assimilate the dominant culture. Those who ran away were placed in solitary confinement and some died. The abuses resulted in generations of traumatized Indian people in the United States and Canada.
As Nation after Nation told their stories at the encuentro, or gathering, Rivas said, “Everyone was so attentive. They heard it straight from the people.”
Meanwhile at home on the US/Mexico border where O’odham ancestral lands are bisected by the international border, the construction of a border vehicle barrier has blocked the ceremonial route of the O’odham people.
“This ceremony has been going on since the creation of the world,” Rivas said.
Before the recent construction of a federal vehicle barrier on tribal land on the border at Ali Jegk in the Gu-Vo District in Arizona, 12 miles east of Sonoyta, Mexico, local O’odham were able to cross in their traditional territory here.
Now, instead of taking less than an hour to go to town for shopping, O’odham have to travel six hours roundtrip to shop in Tucson. For those with diabetes and medical emergencies, the new border barrier means a life-threatening crisis.
“A lot of traditional people do not have passports, because they were born at home.”
For O’odham attending the ceremony during July, the new border barrier violated the spiritual journey.
“It was a real hardship,” Rivas said. “When you are on a pilgrimage to a sacred place, you are in a sacred mode. Then you are stopped by immigration and your papers are checked, that is a disruption. People have prepared spiritually and then they have to go through this ordeal of crossing the border.
Rivas said the Tohono O’odham Nation’s elected government in Sells, Arizona, is not assisting the traditional O’odham people to maintain their right to cross their ancestral territories and carry out their traditional ceremonies. Further, many O’odham lack passports because they were born at home and this makes border crossing difficult.
“This ceremony,” she said, “is hanging on by a thread.”
Rivas said the power, unity and awareness shared at the Intercontinental Encuentro should now be shared with those who were unable to attend.
“So many people who should have been there were not there. They were home guarding their people or their land. Some had problems crossing the border.”
Rivas said she hopes the Vicam Pueblo gathering will continue with regional gatherings in Canada, the United States and South America, so others will be able to participate.
Rivas, bilingual in English and O’odham, delivered her presentation to the Intercontinental Encuento in the O’odham language.
“Speaking my language is my personal form of resistance,” said Rivas, whose presentation was translated from O’odham into English and Spanish.
Rivas shared a statement from the traditional O’odham leaders from the Cu:Wi I-gersk and the ceremonial leaders from the O’odham lands of Mexico and the United States.
“The O’odham resistance began when the prophets told of the invasion of the foreigners and the many changes that would happen to the people and the world. The O’odham defense was to bend to the surge of this coming wind so as not to break. My friends, my people are at the breaking point,” Rivas said, reading from the statement at the Encuentro.
The O’odham Nation consists of four bands in the Sonoran Desert. To the north, there is the On’k Ake’mel O’odham (Salt River people) and the Ake’mel O’odham (Gila River people.) In the west, there is the band of Hia’ced O’odham (Sands people) and the southern band is the Tohono O’odham (Desert people.)
The O’odham ancestral territory is bordered by the Yaqui territory to the south and the Apache territory to the east. To the southwest, along the inland waters of the Pacific Ocean at Ka’ch’k (the Sea of Cortez or Gulf of California in Mexico), O’odham land borders the Seri territory.
The United States and Mexico claimed O’odham lands when the International Boundary was created in 1853. The boundary bisected O’odham lands. The Tohono O’odham elected government, which chose to work with the U.S. federal government, receive federal dollars and develop a tribal government based on the U.S. system, was not recognized by the traditional authorities of the O’odham.
“Our peoples’ history begins at the creation of the world. We also have knowledge of former worlds that existed.”
The people were given the Him’dag, the O’odham way of life. They were taught how to live in the desert and given the responsibility and honor of being Indigenous Peoples.
“We are the keepers of the universe; we keep the universe in balance through our teachings from the Creator, through our songs and ceremonies maintain the balance of the universe.”
The first attack on O’odham came by way of foreign diseases, which altered the people’s genetic makeup. Then outsiders came to steal and market O’odham knowledge of healing medicine plants.
The second attack came from a foreign religion.
“The very Churches that catholic O’odham pray in were constructed with O’odham slaves controlled by the missionaries.”
Today, O’odham ceremonial places are seen as tourist sightseeing places, from the great lava fields along the border to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.
“The ceremony sites and sacred places are under constant threat by archeologists, mining companies and Mexicans claiming O’odham lands and communities, such as a recent threat of a proposed chemical waste dump proposed location, just eight miles from our ceremony site.”
With the agenda of assimilating O’odham, the United States placed O’odham children in boarding schools and relocated O’odham to cities.
“The destruction of the social structures of the people is evident today; the people are dependent on the system to exist. Our language that was forbidden in boarding school is today surviving, but by a small degree.”
Now, the militarization at the border prevents O’odham from crossing on traditional routes.
In Mexico, ranchers, farmers and corporations are seizing O’odham lands. In 1845, there were 45 villages south of what is now the border. Today, there are nine surviving villages.
The restriction of mobility, exploitation of land and destruction of cultures through genocide and ethnocide means this is a critical moment in the universe.
“Today here in Vicam we gather not as governments and organizations, but as people of the earth. We are here to stand in solidarity, for our survival, to protect the world, our territories and our future generations.”
“A delegation of all Nations must continue to strengthen this message of solidarity and continued education on Universal Indigenous Rights.
“Today we continue to demand access to our lands, including access to our ancestral routes, to conduct our Him’dag and make offering to sacred places. We demand the protection of our cultures and sacred places. We demand fair elections and our own representation in the government systems that ignore us.”
Brenda Norrell has been a news reporter in Indian country since 1982. She is currently based in Tucson and covers Mexico, the U.S. borders and the West. She is the publisher of The Censored Blog.
Copyright Brenda Norrell, Ofelia Rivas, Censored News. Content may not be used without written permission.
October 18, 2007
New Zealand terror police storm organic gardeners
Terror raid at the veggie gardenWith the ethnic cleansing of Maoris now in full swing in New Zealand, anti-terrorist riot police broadened their definition of terror and stormed a couple of organic gardeners. Police seized computers, cellphones, digital cameras and a pair of camouflage pants. Police dogs aided in the search for terror.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/bayofplenty/4243760a6014.html
Photo: Taupo Times
Protesting police raids: One thousand march in Whakatane
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=126116
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