Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

January 3, 2008

Uncensoring the dying fields


Navajos poisoned by energy corporations, Colombia targets Indians with aerial spraying and the legacy of censorship: Uncensoring Buffy Sainte Marie on war and uranium mining

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


Follow the money, Skull and Bones and Desert Rock

Who is financing the Desert Rock power plant, another dirty coal-fired power plant planned for the Navajo Nation?
Sithe Global LLC plans to invest millions in Desert Rock. The largest financier of Sithe Global LLC is the Blackstone Group. It comes as no surprise that Blackstone was cofounded by Stephen Schwarzman, a member of the small group of Skull and Bones that the Bush family belongs to. The Yale secret society includes former presidential hopeful John Kerry. Which means two Bonesmen ran for president, one won, and now Bonesmen corporations are at work.
Here's a list of Bonesmen:
http://www.nndb.com/org/723/000041600/
But that's not all. Another Bush-friendly corporation, Fluor Corporation, landed the contract for management and design of Desert Rock.
While Dooda (NO) Desert Rock, grassroots Navajos, lead the opposition, the Navajo Nation Council and Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr., are pressing for it.
At the same time Navajo leaders push for another coal-fired power plant, with their words they say they support protection of Mother Earth.
The proposed Desert Rock would be located in northwest New Mexico, the same region as the most sacred region, Dinetah, the place of origin of Navajos. Already the air, water and land are poisoned by power plants, unreclaimed uranium mines and a concentration of oil and gas wells.
Aerial fumigating: Plants or Indians?
Colombia will start aerial fumigation of Indian lands, with a toxin produced by Monsanto, the same company producing genetically-modified seeds.
But are they fumigating the plants, or the Indians?
The short-term health risks of glyphosate are congestion of the lungs and increased breathing rate. The long-term health hazards are kidney damage and reproductive effects, according to the EPA.
Although the use of some deadly pesticides have been banned in the US, those are still produced and exported to other countries where Indigenous Peoples grow crops and live near the land. Yaqui in Sonora, Mexico are dying and mothers are having "jelly babies," babies born without bones, because of the banned pesticides used in their fields.
In Colombia, the security contractor DynCorp is providing the firepower for the fumigating operation.
Read more at Narco News: Colombian Government Declares Indigenous Reservations Targets for Fumigations "We are worried that this will affect our traditional crops, the medicinal plants of our grandparents."

Buffy Sainte Maire, blacklisted for anti-war song, exposed the uranium secret
With the coming of a new year, it it time to celebrate Buffy Sainte Marie. Buffy was blacklisted by President Lyndon Johnson and forced out of the music industry in the US for her song, "Universal Soldier," because it became a battlecry of the anti-war movement.
It was one of the most censored stories of the age we live in.
Buffy Sainte Marie also spoke out on the death of Anna Mae Aquash. She sang about how Aquash became aware of plans for uranium mining on Lakota lands in Pine Ridge, S.D.
Now, new uranium mining targets Pine Ridge and many other Indian lands.
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee lyrics ...
"My girlfriend Annie Mae talked about uranium
Her head was filled with bullets and her body dumped
The FBI cut off her hands and told us she'd died of Exposure…"
Listen online: You Tube: Buffy Sainte Marie's "Universal Soldier,"
Watch on You Tube a young Buffy Sainte Marie perform with mouthbow with Pete Seeger

January 2, 2008

Los Angeles City Beat on Lakotah: US Out of Upper Midwest

U.S. Out of the Upper Midwest
The Lakota Sioux start their own country
By RON GARMON

Look at me, see if I am poor, or my people either. The whites may get me at last, as you say, but I will have good times till then. You are fools to make yourselves slaves to a piece of fat bacon, some hard-tack, and a little sugar and coffee.
–Sitting Bull

"I called up LFD and spoke to Canupa Gluha Mani (Duane Martin, Sr.) longtime AIM activist, veteran of the 1973 Wounded Knee standoff and one of the four delegates sent to Washington. 'They can kill us if they want to,” he shouted, outrage venting through the receiver. They can assassinate us. However, it’s up to them to understand what they’ve been doing since the treaties were signed since 1803. Our people have been living up to it subsequently to this God-forsaken day. The First Nations people wouldn’t have to do this if the colonial government in Washington lived up to its obligations. They lie, so we have to endure Third World conditions with five or six families living in a two-bedroom house. They never live by the treaties or else they would’ve stopped the flow of illegal alcohol coming onto the Pine Ridge reservation in June. That’s how much they live up to treaty. It’s an insult. We were promised a treaty ‘as long as the grass grows’ and we get this? Don’t be going into Iraq and killing all the poor people only to turn it into a big Indian reservation like they have here.'"
Read article:
http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=6732&IssueNum=239

Mohawk Nation News: Lakota Nation, Good Beginning for 2008

LAKOTA NATION - GOOD BEGINNING OF YEAR 2008

By Kahentinetha Horn
Mohawk Nation News
January 1, 2008.

Colonialism is a disease. It is characterized by fantasies, delusions, greed and destruction of everything in its path. Something like the “Cookie Monster” that eats everything up and just leaves a few crumbs behind ...
Recently the Lakota decided to give the colonists another chance to come to their senses. They put out a “Declaration of Continuing Independence” on December 17, 2007. It’s nothing new. According to ancient principles of international law that were defined and confirmed by the UN, the Lakota and all Indigenous Peoples continue to be independent and sovereign. The colonists did not respect the law because they’re sick and deluded. But that is no excuse. There are signs that many people who were born in colonial society have developed a resistance to the disease. The Lakota Declaration is attempting to strengthen the process needed to overcome the illness. It is offering members of the colonial society a reality check and a chance to start treating everyone with equality and respect. They’ll have to leave their “false hierarchical high” and fill that void some other way! Can they rehabilitate themselves and begin the long slow process of recovering from their addiction and escape this ravaging disease?
It is a good way to begin the new year!
Read full article:
http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/3161/32/
Notice to All Foreign Governments and Private Owners of Real Estate within the Republic of Lakotah
See:
http://www.republicoflakota.com/

Lakotah Republic: Notice to buyers of real estate in Lakotah Republic


By Russell Means
Republic of Lakotah
January 2, 2008
Notice to All Prospective Buyers and Lessors of Government Owned Real Estate within the Republic of Lakotah
Lakota, through its government, have appointed representatives to withdraw from all the treaties with the United States of America.
Lakota, through such representatives, have formally withdrawn from all agreements and treaties with the United States of America. The reinstitution of our freedom and independence is found in law.
Lakotah has reclaimed sovereignty as a nation and over its traditional lands. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties substantiate this freedom.
While we have the right to impose liens on all of the real estate in our country, we are only declaring liens on real estate held by governments foreign to the Republic of Lakotah, but not on real estate held by private parties. However, if you buy, lease, or make any other real estate transaction with any government foreign to the Republic of Lakotah after this date, the real estate may be subject to a lien by the Republic of Lakotah or the Bank of the Republic of Lakotah. This would especially apply to the purchase of tax deeds or extraction rights.
If you are interested in obtaining any such property free and clear of any lien by the Republic of Lakotah or the Bank of the Republic of Lakotah, please let us know.

We look forward to making win-win solutions with all people in our country.
Russell Means
Chief Facilitator
Provisional Government
JAN 1, 2008
Notice to All Foreign Governments and Private Owners of Real Estate within the Republic of Lakotah
TO:
The United States of America;The States of: Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska;
The County and Municipal Governments Operating within the Republic of Lakotah; and All Private Owners of Real Estate within the Republic of LakotahLakotah, through its government, have appointed representatives to withdraw from all the treaties with the United States of America.
Lakotah, through such representatives, have formally withdrawn from all agreements and treaties with the United States of America. The reinstitution of our freedom and independence is found in law.Lakotah has reclaimed sovereignty as a nation and over its traditional lands.Despite many years of repeated bad faith on the part of the United States government towards the Lakotah People, the Lakotah hold no animosity toward the American people, most of whom have had no part in the actions of their government. We wish to deal with the American people in good faith and in a win-win manner.
While we have the right to impose liens on all of the real estate in our country, we prefer to come to resolutions with you all with out resorting to such measures. Accordingly, at this time, we are only declaring liens on real estate held by governments foreign to the Republic of Lakotah, but not on real estate held by private parties.
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties substantiate this freedom.Lakotah welcomes the opportunity to meet and discuss this matter. We are in the process of scheduling meetings and will issue public invitations. Should you desire input with regard to scheduling these meetings, please contact us at the above.
ussell Means, Chief Facilitator
Provisional Government
Republic of Lakotah