Listen online: New Zealand family joins Long Walk, on Earthcycles

Photo: Family from New Zealand, just off the cold Hwy 50 on the Longest Walk, will be onair on Earthcycles radio today, Friday. Photo at the Cimarron, Kansas, Library by Brenda Norrell

Good Morning from Cimarron, Kansas,

Listen to http://www.earthcycles.net/ and meet a family that just arrived and joined the Longest Walk from New Zealand. We'll be talking with Sharon Heta, Maori/Tuhoe Nation, Michael Lane, Menominee and children Merehuka, Rangitau, TeRuihi.
Welcome to the Longest Walk.
Earthcycles is live at 10 am Pacific; 11 am Mountain; 12 am Central Time and 1 pm Eastern Time on weekdays, weekends during special events on the Longest Walk

Read about the Maori sovereignty movement following the police raids in New Zealand:

Te Kotahi a-Tuhoe

http://www.tekotahiatuhoe.iwi.nz/

Western Shoshone visit Longest Walk

Western Shoshone spiritual person Johnny Bobb, wife Bonnie and daughters recently visited the Longest Walk. They presented the Longest Walk with a flag of the Western Shoshone National Council to carry to Washington D.C. The family hosted the walkers earlier when they were in Austin, Nevada. Photo Brenda Norrell

Censored: Homeland Security waives NAGPRA and 35 other laws

By Brenda Norrell

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has waived NAGPRA and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, among 36 federal laws waived, to build the US/Mexico border wall.
Why is there no outrage from American Indian Nations, National Congress of American Indians or the American Indian media?

Letter from Congressman Raul Grijalva:
Dear Colleague,
On April 1, 2008, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff signed a waiver of 36 separate laws to pave the way for border walls and fences along 470 miles of the southwest U.S. border. The laws waived include the:
- Endangered Species Act,
- Clean Water Act, - Clean Air Act,
- CERCLA (the Superfund Act),
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act,
- National Park Service Organic Act,
- Wilderness Act,
- NAGPRA,
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act,
- and 27 other major public laws.
Unfortunately and incredibly, this was no April Fools' joke. Secretary Chertoff's action severely compromises decades of environmental stewardship, public health and safety, the integrity of our public lands, and our Nation's obligations to Indian tribes. We all recognize the urgent need to secure and control our nation's borders, but we cannot allow this Administration to run roughshod over the rule of law.It is with particular urgency that I ask you to join me in co-sponsoring H.R. 2593, the Borderlands Conservation and Security Act, which I introduced on June 6, 2007.
This bill strikes the smart balance missing from our current border policy. H.R. 2593 gives federal border enforcement agents the tools and options they need to do a difficult job, while upholding environmental protection laws and respecting local, state, and tribal governments, by: ·
Repealing Section 102 of the REAL ID Act, which DHS is now using to waive numerous laws for construction of roads and barriers along the border,·
Mandating joint development of a comprehensive Border Protection Strategy among Executive Branch agencies, including those that manage public lands,·
Providing on-the-ground DHS agents and officials, the men and women most familiar with enforcement needs, with the flexibility to choose appropriate methods of border security,· Respecting tribal sovereignty, requiring DHS to consult with tribal governments before implementing enforcement activities on their lands. Please join me in co-sponsoring the Borderlands Conservation and Security Act.
Should you have any questions regarding the legislation, please contact Gloria Montaño, Gloria.montano@mail.house.gov or my office.
Sincerely,
Raúl M. Grijalva
Member of Congress

Longest Walkers plan feast for Greensburg, Kansas, ravaged by tornado in 2007

Photo of Greensburg, Kansas, destroyed by a tornado on May 4, 2007. Jaime Oppenheimer/The Wichita Eagle

By Brenda Norrell

The Longest Walk Northern Route crossed the Kansas state line today, marking the fifth state for the Long Walkers. It was with great joy today that the Long Walkers planned a feast for the community of Greensburg, Kansas, ravaged by a tornado on May 4, 2007.
When the community of Greensburg apologized for having nothing left to offer the Longest Walk, the walkers organized a feast for the good people of Greensburg.
Since entering Kansas, the Long Walkers have received the most gracious hospitality from the townspeople of Syracuse, Kansas. While camped here last night, there was lightning, high winds and some freezing rain with a little snow whirling around their tents, but the spirits of the walkers was high. The sun returned today.
Please join us in Greensburg to walk and offer a feast to Greensburg, Kansas on Sunday, April 13.
Join us on April 16 at the Mid America Indian Center in Wichita, Kansas.

--On the northern route of the Longest Walk

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