Jim Main, Sr., takes flight to Spirit World

By Tia Oros Peters
Photo of Jim Main, Sr, at home by Brenda Norrell


Dear Seventh Generation Fund Relatives and Friends,

With a heavy heart I share with you the news of Jim Main Sr., (Gros Ventre) passing to the Spirit World. As many of you may remember Jim Main, he was a steadfast and unrelenting warrior for Indigenous Peoples and especially for our homelands and sacred sites. In fact, his words and guidance helped inform our Sacred Sites Protection Campaign – including our memorable person Sacred Earth Summit in 2001 in Seattle, WA, and again, in 2002 in San Diego, CA.

A member of the White Clay Society, Jim was a treasured leader to Seventh Generation Fund for many years. He will be sorely missed by our organization. We trusted Jim. We were honored when he attended our convenings and shared his great wisdom, wit, and generous spirit. He taught us through his conduct and his dedication. We looked to him often to help us. And, he was always generous.

Jim was a true and consistent warrior, to be sure. And, as such, he was also a gracious, kind, thoughtful and honorable leader that set for us a clear pathway of how to continue work on behalf of our respective peoples.

Jim would be so pleased to know of recent sacred sites victories in places like Panhe in California, and just a couple of days ago in Zuni, New Mexico. It would have been great to march with him in Redding, in the struggle to protect Hatchet Mountain (Pit River Country) from (so-called green) windmills that will damage a sacred area, and severely impact golden and bald eagle habitat. He knows, where he is now in the other world, that we will continue the good fight for our peoples. Today, in mourning, and reflecting on how much we have learned from Jim Main Sr., we carry forward – heavy hearted but as determined as ever to strive, to fight, to honor our ancestors, as he did.

It is always so hard when we lose one of our elders. The world seems that much emptier, bigger, more difficult to travel through. Jim’s presence meant a great deal to so many of our community and projects. SGF sincerely hopes that our work continues to carry forth the great legacy and integrity of Jim Main Sr., a warrior of character, determination, and outstanding leadership. On behalf of our organization, board, staff and the Indigenous communities we serve throughout the Indigenous World, I extend a heartfelt condolence to Jim’s family, community and Nation.
May he be in peace.
All Our Relations,
Tia --Tia Oros Peters, Executive Director, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Development, Office Ph: 707-825-7640 x111 http://www.7genfund.org/
Supporting Social, Environmental and Cultural Justice for 32 Years (1977 – 2009)

In memory of Jim Main, Sr., the following interview is posted, written while I visited with him and his family at home, on Gros Ventre land two years ago. Sincere condolences to his family. Jim was a true warrior, arising with courage in his lifelong fight for the people, Brenda Norrell

In Montana, Indians are guilty until proven innocent
By Brenda Norrell

HAYS, Montana – James Main, Sr., Gros-Ventre and longtime advocate of Indian rights, said some conditions have improved for American Indians in Montana, particularly the treatment of Indians by government officials. Ranchers in north-central Montana often get along well with
Indian cowboys.
However, the treatment of Indians by the Montana Justice System has not improved its treatment of Indian people.
"We've got a long way to go with the Justice system. I'd like to see a handful of radical attorneys come over here and shake this place up, attack the system," Main said.
Main, known internationally as a voice for Indigenous Peoples, now in poor health following open-heart surgery, has a personal view of the state system.
James Sr. laughs remembering how Bill Means said Jim Jr. should be a comedian because of his impersonations of John Wayne and others. Jim Jr. was the caregiver of his mother, Vernie White Cow Main, who lives on the homesite where she was born on Big Warm Creek on the Fort Belknap Nation.
James Sr. said, "Jim took care of her. He almost had to be a nurse for six months. He trained himself to take care of her."
James Sr. spent his life traveling for Indigenous rights, helping those who needed him. "I decided to do some good," he said of his decision to live a life in service to humankind.
"I learned a lot about different people and different cultures. I never knew there were other Indians in California. I thought John Wayne got them all," James Sr. joked.
"It's good to travel, travel around."
Seated at home in the community of his childhood at Hays, James Sr. is surrounded by memories and the passing of time.
"I don't know how long I'm going to last. I have got a lot of people praying for me. These Mayan Indians went up on a pyramid in Guatemala.
It must have been a very powerful ceremony. I knew; it was in my mind."
On his living room wall, there is a huge poster of a Gros Ventre man. It reads, "Sits on High, EK-GIB-TSA-ATSKE, of the White Clay People A'AH'NI NIN."
James Sr. looks at the poster and says, "He did what they wanted him to do, settle down. Then, they took his land."
Speaking about those who took the land here, rich in gold, water and forests, he says, "They make a fortune and they die."
These days, James Sr. teaches his grandsons the philosophy that he has lived by. It is the philosophy of pride, self-esteem and honoring the culture.
"Go back to your old ways, traditions and culture. That is what I teach my grandsons. Try to get the language back," he adds. There are only a handful of speakers left.
James Sr. remembers the harsh years at St. Paul's Mission School.
During second grade, when the children went to pray during Christmas mass, the nuns told them Santa Claus would come if they had been good.
If not, there would be willow switches waiting. When they returned, they expected presents and instead found a stack of willow switches. There was also writing on the blackboard.
"I recognized the writing. It was a priest's, telling us how bad we were."
The little children were often beaten. James Sr. remembers, "They would slap us around for nothing."
Remembering his father Tom Main, James Sr. said, "He was a humanitarian, a real leader. He did things for nothing. He could have amassed a fortune, but he didn't."
James Sr. said Tom Main served as an interpreter at a time when few White Clay People spoke English. Tom served on the executive committee of the National Congress of American Indians.
"I learned a lot from him, he was honest to a fault," Jim Sr. said of his father.
"We had a pretty rough upbringing, we were poor and we had to haul water a long way. We burned wood, so we had to saw wood. My mother used to wash on Saturdays, all we did all day long was haul water."
James Sr. grew up with three brothers and four sisters. Today, all of his brothers are living and the oldest is 86. He served in the Air Force in Japan and was there when the Korean War began in 1950.
James Sr. also worked in the copper mines for 15 years. "That's where there was never racism, a melting pot."
The happiest days of his life were spent during his high school years. "We rode horseback, we rode bucking horses; there were lots of wild horses. We had powwows during the holidays, I really enjoyed those. We had bone games, hand games, we would sing songs and have a guessing game. We tried to guess whose hand the bone was in."
The men and women played each other. Kumeyaay have similar games, he said. During their travels, both Jim Sr. and Jim Jr. earned the respect of Indian people.
Read entire article:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/11/in-montana-indians-are-guilty-until.html
From Indigenous Environmental Network: Jim Main Sr., elder and warrior was an intregal part in the founding and creation of IEN, and was a long term National Council member for IEN. He was also a member of the International Indigenous Treaty Council and the Grand Governing Council of the American Indian Movement. His teachings of wisdom and the memory of his humor and traditional songs will stay with us.Ga-a-woo-wuss (Coyote Bear), a.k.a. James Main, Sr., of the White Clay Nation died peacefully in his sleep at approximately 4:30 a.m. on January 29, 2009. His hard-fought battle with End-Stage Congestive Heart Failure over the past several years finally took its toll about two weeks ago. Like a true warrior, he did not go down easily, but went with honor and dignity. To the end, he maintained his humor, making those around him laugh…and cry as he used his dwindling strength to sing, talk Indian, pray, and tell of old times. Always at the center of his heart and spirit was the survival of the Red Nations. It is an overwhelmingly sad day for his loved ones here on earth, but truly a victorious day for a warrior who is so deserving of the peace, love, and acceptance he will meet as all our relatives take him to his rightful place in the spirit world, known as the “Big Sands” to the White Clay people.Wake services will be held Saturday, January 31 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at his residence in Hays, Montana.
Traditional services will be held Sunday, February 1 at 1:00 p.m. followed by burial at the family cemetary in Big Warm, Montana.

If you would like to make a contribution to the family at this time -
Please Contact: Rose Main: 406.390.5350 (mobile), 406.673.3013 (home)
James Main, Sr.'s residence: 406.673.3813
William "Snuffy" Main: 406.945.7349
Harold "Jiggs" Main: 406.262.3041

MNN: Wimpy Montreal cops' anti-insult laws for tender egos

Wimpy Montreal cops seek god-like status – anti-insult laws to protect their tender egos

MOHAWK NATION NEWS

Jan. 29, 2009. Montreal police want the city to give the cops the right to crack down on “insult-hurling” citizens “with a blow to their pocketbooks” or cooling our heels in a jail cell. They don’t’ want to be called "pigs" and "doughnut-eaters" anymore! They want us to salute them and lick their boots. We’re worried that some insulters could get jail time in the “Swearor’s Prison” in Old Montreal. British Police are already enforcing this law even though it’s not on the books. Photos of police harassing the public is going to be a crime there.
Mayor Tremblay and Chief-Insp. Paul Chablo of the Montreal Police force are seriously thinking about it. It’s probably a go since you can’t fight city hall. They haven’t mentioned what hapless people can do about the insults and disrespect we have to endure at the hands of their bureaucrats and agents. What about the names, assaults, tasering, obstruction and “accidental” killings we have to suffer in the name of law and order? They want to be able to commit all the atrocities with impunity and no complaint department.
We wonder whether they are going to be allowed to shoot us like that kid in the park? Wasn’t he playing chess? What’s this about? Are the police fishing for bigger payoffs to buy our peace? The city is always trying to find ways to make some quick cash.
Thank goodness they can’t punish us yet for giving them dirty looks, sticking out our tongue and our risky thoughts about them! With all the new surveillance technology, is that coming next?
Their excuse is they want to keep police interventions involving violent citizens from getting out of hand. We’ve seen them gleefully go after people, beat them to get a reaction and then arrest and brutalize them.
The Great Law of our people says the “Royaner” must have a thick skin to deal with issues. It is well known that people who are frustrated often express their feelings in words and are less likely to resort to weapons. There’s a good reason for the advice from elders that, “sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me”. It would make a lot more sense to train police to be desensitized to name calling and behave and respond in an upright manner. Why don’t they set up a soap box so we can call them names and tell them why we do it? This would be therapeutic for both sides. Or are these laws meant to condition us to get used to being controlled and enslaved?
In what language can the cops be insulted before it is a crime? Most of the cops in Montreal are French speaking. It is a good reason for learning Mohawk where we have colorful and accurate descriptions of the colonizers that are explanatory, not expletive.
The cops don’t need another discretionary weapon. They already engage in provocative and abusive behavior like stopping people for no reason, pushing them around and threatening them with fines and penalties.
It all depends on one’s budget. Are they going to put out a list of swear words and the amounts of the fines attached? Calling them pigs could be a small fine. But calling them “f---ing pieces of foreign dog s—t” could be more! If we call them “f--king cop”, this might mean he knows how to make his girlfriend happy. But if we call him a “mother f--king cop”, then, if there’s supporting evidence, whose going to lay the charge?
Under the common law there is a principle “nule criminen sin legge”. Nothing is a crime unless there is a law against it.
It's questionable policy. Ronald Sklar, a McGill University law professor, said "There are … a lot of words that are border line. Insults are highly subjective." The police shouldn’t be any different than anybody else as far as insults go because it doesn't affect their ability to do their duty. If the cops shoot and kill one of our sons, will we be charged for screaming in agony and insulting them as an expression of fear and anger? Sklar said words can be punishable, but they must threaten bodily harm or incite disorder.
Montreal also wants to pass a motion to prohibit protesters from covering their faces during demonstrations [of what?] Is this law a way to get rid of peaceful demonstrators? Claude Dauphin of the Montreal executive, said there would be exceptions to the rule. “Demonstrators would have the right to don headgear” that look like a certain politician who is the target of a rally, or wear a ski mask when the temperature goes below -25 C, but not above. What about people wearing a mask to protect themselves or others from Asian flu?
Chablo said, "Whenever there's a protest where people cover their faces with masks or any type of cloth, usually it results in violence or there's an intention to commit violence." How can they prove an intention? Are these laws to protect the cops’ dainty egos? Couldn’t they also be evidence of violent intentions? Many of us are targeted by the cops. Is a natural mask like a dark face more easily punishable? Is this a back door way to justify the racism that people “of color” already suffer at the hands of the cops?
We have a right to cover our face if we don't want to be seen or don’t feel secure enough to be seen. Some of us could have scars or marks we want to hide. The fact that people have to resort to public demonstrations is proof that citizens are given no real respect or voice in the colonial society. Two MNN staffers were targeted and subjected to attempted murder by Canadian agents last June 14th 2008 at the Cornwall border crossing. Canadian officials refuse to investigate this crime, let alone accept responsibility. For those who have never been targeted, fear comes to those of us who know that we may be beaten up or targeted for murder if we express our opinions.
The way the law looks, we can’t wear makeup, sun glasses, mustaches, beards or hats, dye our hair or lose or gain weight for fear of being charged with illegally changing our appearance! The police can drag us into court and cause us all kinds of expense, fines and conditions. When police beat up people in public, we cannot film them. They say they feel intimidated. Police are equipped with video cameras mounted on vans to tape everyone at a protest. But when the videos provide evidence of police misdeeds, the footage suddenly disappears. This law suggests we are going to be forced to salute the cops or else. It looks like they’re stepping up to something more vicious! Aw! shit! Oh, oh! That's a $10 sear word!
MNN Mohawk Nation News
Posted: MNN Mohawk Nation News http://www.mohawknationnews.com/ Katenies20@yahoo.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations to PayPal at http://www.mohawknationnews.com/, or by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN “Police” category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now! Purchase t-shirts, mugs and more at our CafePressStore http://www.cafepress.com/mohawknews
Subscribe to MNN for breaking news updates http://.mohawknationnews.com/news/subscription.php; Sign Women Title Holders petition! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Iroquois Prisonplanet.com/uk-terror-law-to-make-photographing-police-illegal.html;ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090126/national/police_insults
; [From an article by Andy Blatchford of The Canadian Press]; ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal

Benefit for Food Not Bombs and Copwatch Flagstaff

FLAGSTAFF: An all ages benef​it show for Food Not Bombs​ & Flags​taff Copwa​tch!​

Black​fire, Moksh​ya, membe​rs of Summi​t Dub Squad​, The Spoke​n Word of Broth​er Levy, Matt Mille​r, Jacob​o, Steph​anie & Marcu​s, Cruci​al Taint​ & More!​

Frida​y,​ Janua​ry 30th, 6:​30PM, $3-6 admis​sion (​slidi​ng scale​)​ At the Murdo​ck Cente​r
S. Agass​iz and Butle​r, Flags​taff,​ AZ
About​ Food Not Bombs​
Food Not Bombs​ is a loose​-​knit group​ of indep​enden​t colle​ctive​s,​ servi​ng free vegan​ and vegetarian​ food to other​s.​ Food Not Bombs​'​ ideol​ogy is that myria​d corpo​rate and gover​nment​ prior​ities​ are skewe​d to allow​ hunge​r to persi​st in the midst​ of abund​ance.​
FNB Flags​taff serve​s every​ Sunda​y from 12 pm -- ​2 pm at the Murdo​ck Cente​r.​
Conta​ct:​ naupe​acean​djust​ice@​gmail​.​com
About​ Copwa​tch
Copwa​tch is forme​d to comba​t abuse​ by the polic​e in our commu​nity.​ We use a varie​ty of means​ to fight​ polic​e abuse​,​ inclu​ding commu​nity patro​ls,​ video​tapin​g of polic​e activ​ity,​ and educa​tion.​ Copwa​tch is compl​etely​ indep​enden​t from the polic​e,​ all other​ law enfor​cemen​t agenc​ies,​ the gover​nment​,​ and all polit​ical parti​es.​
We meet every​ Tuesd​ay at 8PM at the Taala​ Hoogh​an Infos​hop.​
Conta​ct:​ flagcopwatch@gmail.com
Klee Benally
indigenousaction@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/eelk
http://www.blackfire.net/
http://www.indigenousaction.org/- Independent Indigenous Media
http://www.savethepeaks.org/
www.myspace.com/taalahooghan

Obama: End raids, halt immigrant abuse

Thursday, January 29, 2009
Catherine Tactaquin, (510) 465-1984 ext. 302
Laura Rivas, (510) 465-1984 ext. 304

Immigrant Rights Supporters Urge Obama To End Raids, Restore Rights

By National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Thousands sign letter to President Obama calling for changes in immigration enforcement in the first 100 days of new Administration
(OAKLAND, CA) Immigrant rights supporters are calling on President Barack Obama and his Administration to protect the rights of immigrant workers, families and communities. An "Open Letter" to President Obama, signed by over 3,500 individuals and organizations from nearly all 50 states in the union, urges Obama and his Administration to end immigration raids and suspend all detentions and deportations in the first 100 days of his Administration.
The letter, which is also being shared with key policy-makers, also calls on President Obama to restore immigrants' due process rights and hold field hearings with immigrant communities to learn from them about the impacts they suffer from immigration law enforcement.
"President Obama must stop the cycle of punishment and implement humanitarian policies and practices to uphold the rights of immigrant communities," declared Catherine Tactaquin, Executive Director of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR), announcing the delivery of the "Open Letter to President Barack Obama" during a a telephonic media conference on Tuesday. [Click here to read the Open Letter to President Obama.]
NNIRR members and partners drafted the open letter as part of a campaign to expose the massive immigration detention and deportation system that the U.S. government has built over the last decade. NNIRR is calling for accountability and other changes to end the abuses.
Ms Tactaquin said, "We are calling on President Obama to take decisive action to end the criminalization of immigrants, de-linking immigration policy from the politics of national security. President Obama moved swiftly to close the notorious Guantanamo prison; we will urge him to also act quickly to end the abuse and trauma that hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers are experiencing in detention centers throughout the United States."
Ending Raids Will Not Be Enough to End Abuses
In fiscal year 2008, the Department of Homeland Security deported 349,041 persons; almost 6,000, or less than two per cent, were detained and deported through immigration work place and other types of raids. However, ICE detains and deports the overwhelming majority of immigrants through different strategies, including collaboration with local police and other public agencies and employers.
"The result of raids and other types of immigration enforcement is the same. ICE enforcement devastates families, undermines our rights and traumatizes communities, disrupting the economy. Ending ICE raids will not be enough; detentions and deportations must be put on hold while the Obama Administration takes action to uphold our rights," Ms. Tactaquin concluded.
NNIRR presented several more speakers who shared their stories exposing the grave injustices caused by immigration enforcement in the interior and the border.
Criminalization of Immigrants,
Militarization of Immigration and Border Control
During the media briefing on the open letter to President Obama, NNIRR had several speakers share stories of the devastating effects detention and deportation have on immigrant families.
Susan Gillis spoke about the case of Mr. Rebhy Abdel Malak, an Egyptian man who was brutally beaten by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in an Atlanta detention center to force him to sign away his rights and deport him. Ms. Gillis is advocate working on behalf of Mr. Abdel Malak's family.
Rebhy Abdel Malak came legally to the U.S. ten years ago with his family. He has three children, two who are U.S. citizens, and petitioned for asylum after he and his wife fled religious persecution in Egypt.
Ms. Gillis emphasized, "Mr. Abdel Malak's case points to the humanitarian crisis deepened by a lack of accountability in federal detention centers across the country." Ms. Gillis told how Rebhy Abdel Malak, after errors made by unscrupulous lawyers in his petition, was taken into custody over a year ago and transferred to a remote jail in Alabama, separated from his family in North Carolina. Mr. Abdel Malak is the family's sole breadwinner; his wife and children have been traumatized by his incarceration.
Ms. Gillis urged the immediate release of Mr. Abdel Malak and all immigrants detained for status violations as part of the letter's call to President Obama on immigrant's rights.
Betsy Dewitt with Families for Freedom, an organization in New York advocating with families
directly affected by the detention and deportation regime, noted that "At least 15 percent of American families are 'mixed status,' meaning that at least one or more family member is an immigrant." Ms. DeWitt, whose husband was deported over a year ago, echoed the urgency of ending raids and the cruel separation of families caused by detention and deportation.
Ms. DeWitt said that the ongoing criminalization of immigrants - deepened by the 1996 laws such as Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act and the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act - gives no respite to families whose loved ones are being subject to deportation.
President Obama: End Raids, Restore the Rights of Immigrants
"In this era of change, it is vital that we work with the Obama Administration to educate the public and return to American values of family unity and the rule of law. If we can close Guantanamo, we can also close Hutto," Ms. Dewitt emphasized. "T. Don Hutto" is a federal detention facility in Taylor, Texas, used to jail immigrant families, including over 200 children.
Isabel García from the Coalición de Derechos Humanos in Tucson denounced the criminalization of immigrants and spoke out against "Operation Streamline," a strategy implemented at the U.S.-Mexico border to automatically jail migrants. Ms. García said that Streamline has resulted in "criminal convictions of up to 70 persons per day, essentially normalizing violations of the U.S. Constitution en masse." In addition, she urged President Obama and the new administration to "address immigration as a social, humanitarian and economic issue and examine why last year 183 people died a horrific and unnecessary death attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border to reunite with families."
Ms. García closed by saying, "Enforcement measures at the U.S.-Mexico border and in the interior affect us all, immigrants or not. Current immigration policies and laws continue to normalize the deprivation of rights for immigrants."
Immigrant rights groups also announced plans for follow-up work with the "Open Letter" to President Barack Obama and members of Congress when they travel to Washington, D.C. in March. Signators and immigrant rights groups will continue pressing elected officials to take action to end the raids, suspend detentions and deportations, and restore due process before the end of Administration's first 100 days.
TAKE ACTION FOR JUSTICE & HUMAN RIGHTS:
Click here to read and share the Open Letter to President Barack Obama with your Congressional delegation, local, county and state public officials and community groups.
Support the National Network!
Founded in 1986, the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is dedicated to promoting and defending the rights of all immigrants, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status. By joining and supporting NNIRR, you become part of a Network that works and organizes for justice and human rights for all!
You can join the Network, subscribe to Network News and/or make a generous contribution to support NNIRR's work for justice and human rights!
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