CENSORED NEWS

September 30, 2024

In His Own Words -- Tohono O'odham Mike Wilson

Mike Wilson at his water station on Tohono O'odham Nation 2006. Photo by Brenda Norrell.

In His Own Words: Tohono O'odham Mike Wilson

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Oct. 1, 2024

Tohono O'odham Mike Wilson, in his new book, says the liberal left have failed to hold the Tohono O'odham Nation responsible for the death of migrants in the desert by depriving them of water.

Wilson's words come as millions of dollars flow into tribal governments with a long history of leasing tribal lands to mining, and who are signing away the peoples water rights. At the same time, millions of dollars are quietly pouring into non-profits in Indian country, and few, if any, are holding tribal governments responsible for irreparable harm.

In his new book, What Side Are You On? Wilson describes how Tohono O'odham Nation police smashed his life-saving water stations, and one district forbid him from leaving water for migrants. Wilson also describes how the Presbyterian Church, where he served as a lay pastor on the Tohono O'odham Nation, forbid him from putting out life-saving water.

Wilson, in the broader picture, paints a portrait of this society, in the United States, as one that has lost its sense of humanity.

Standing Rock -- Police gang broke hip of Comanche water protector: Bismarck officer will face justice

Comanche water protector Eric Poemoceah being chased before he was pounced on and law enforcement broke his hip at Standing Rock, Feb. 22, 2017. Censored News live coverage.

Standing Rock -- Police gang broke hip of Comanche water protector, now Bismarck officer facing justice

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, September 28, 2024

BISMARCK, North Dakota -- When a gang of thirty law enforcement chased and pounced on Comanche water protector Eric Poemoceah -- Eric cried out in pain and told them they had broken his hip, but they laughed at him, and made him walk to an ambulance.

Now, an appeals court has returned the case to the district court, as Eric seeks justice. It has been more than seven years after the Standing Rock camps were brutally cleared by law enforcement on Feb. 22, 2017.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said on Wednesday that Eric “plausibly alleges a Fourth Amendment excessive force claim against Bismarck Officer Benjamin Swenson" and sent that claim back to the district court for further proceedings.

The Red Nation with John Redhouse: Resource Extraction Brought Hate Culture to Bordertown of Farmington

The Red Nation Video, Censored News, September 28, 2024

Watch video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ygxHuKWqEM

Resource extraction and racism escalated in the bordertown of Farmington during times of boom, Dine' John Redhouse tells Melanie Yazzie, Dine', of The Red Nation.

"In Farmington they both escalated during times of boom energy, first it was oil and gas and uranium in the 50's and 60's, and in the 70's through the early 80's, it was primarily coal -- but there was a good level of oil and gas extraction and processing as well," Redhouse said.