November 2009 KQED Presents American Indian Hertiage Month
KQED proudly celebrates the richness and diversity of the greater San Francisco Bay Area by commemorating November, American Indian Heritage Month. During the month of November, KQED Public TV 9 schedules a special lineup of programs focused on American Indian themes and issues. These programs are highlighted in a guide along with listings of community resources and local events.
We are honored to be partnering with The San Francisco Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services, Friendship House Association of American Indians, Native American AIDS Project and Native American Health Center to celebrate the rich culture of the American Indian community. Please join us on Thursday, November 12, 2009 from 5pm-7:30pm at the San Francisco City Hall Rotunda for dancing, drumming and a special awards ceremony where we will honor local heroes doing outstanding work in the American Indian community.
2009 American Indian Heroes
Gayle Burns
Native American AIDS Project
Mary Jean Roberts
Voices of the Native Nation, KPOO Radio
Ras K'dee
Seventh Native American Generation, Audiopharmacy
Professor Lehman Brightman
United Native Americans, Inc.
Cathy Chapman
Native American Health Center
For More Information Visit:
http://www.kqed.org/community/heritage/americanindian/index.jsp
http://www.teachingthevaluesofpeace.blogspot.com
October 17, 2009
Leech Lake: Lawsuit expands in pipeline resistance
TRIBAL LAWSUIT EXPANDS IN ALBERTA CLIPPER PIPELINE CASE
IS ENBRIDGE IGNORING ‘HUGE’ FINANCIAL RISK
Contact Information: Marty Cobenais
Indigenous Environmental Network
(218) 751-4967
(218) 760-0284 (cell)
martyc@ienearth.org
On Thursday, October 8, 2009, Leech Lake Tribal Members known as IN ZHA WEN DUN AKI, leading the resistance against the Alberta Clipper and Southern Diluents Pipelines, filed a motion in Leech Lake Tribal Court to include the Leech Lake Reservation Business Committee (RBC) and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
We believe this will go before tribal court with the next month. “We believe at that time the Leech Lake Tribal Court will rule against all the named parties, recognizing that a grave injustice has been done and allow the valid petitions and a referendum vote to be admitted," said Marty Cobenais, Indigenous Environmental Network's Pipeline Organizer.
Should the court agree with the plaintiffs, Enbridge will have to stop construction of the entire route, as the FEIS, PUC ruling, and the Presidential Permit would no longer be valid. It would have to remove any new pipes within the Leech Lake Reservation boundaries that were placed in the ground at their own cost.
“Enbridge arrogantly believes that their money and legal power will allow them to bypass the tribe's sovereignty; but they are taking a huge financial risk by continuing to work within the boundaries of the reservation at this time, as the lawsuit was started and was heard in the Leech Lake Tribal Court prior to the starting of construction of the pipelines," Cobenais continued.
The tribal members are still opposing the construction of the Alberta Clipper and Southern Diluent pipelines that are currently being constructed within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation. According to the Treaty of 1855, that formed the Leech Lake Reservation, and as defined by the U.S. Congress “Indian Country” runs from boundary to boundary regardless of who actually owns the land.
Background: On September 18, 2009, the Leech Lake RBC denied to certify the 693 signatures on petitions that sought for the Leech Lake RBC to rescind and a second petition calling for a referendum vote to be allowed for the Leech Lake tribal members to decide on Resolution 2009-170. The resolution that was enacted on May 14, 2009, is the agreement between the Leech Lake RBC and Enbridge Energy L.P. that allows the two pipelines to be built and a right-of-way extension of the 4 current pipelines for another 20 years. The oldest of these pipes were put in the ground in 1949, which have laid on the bottom of Cass Lake for 60 years.
The RBC vote was split with two members voting for the denial of the petitions, and two other members abstaining from voting on the matter. District One Representative Robbie Howe stated in the meeting “I don’t know what the findings are, and I didn’t get a copy of the petitions."
Leech Lake District 3 Representative Eugene “Ribs” Whitebird made the motion to deny the certification of the petitions, seconded by District 2 Representative Lyman Losh. Their decision was based on a memo, dated September 17, 2009, from Nancy Whitebird, Enrollment Department Coordinator, and aunt to Eugene Whitebird. In Ms. Whitebird’s review of the 2 petitions she cited 15 irregularities; the majority of them were arbitrary in nature and were contrary to the MCT Constitution residency requirement. According to the MCT Constitution, the requirements for a valid petition are eligible voting tribal membership and residency within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation.
The tribal members dispute the findings of the Leech Lake RBC and the certification process. They discovered during this process that there are no policies or procedures in the MCT Constitution that outlines how the referendum petition is suppose to work. There are rules and guidelines for a recall petition for the removal of a tribal official, but they didn’t apply to this situation.
The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is comprised of 6 tribal governments that include the following northern Minnesota reservations: Leech Lake, Bois Forte, Mille Lacs, White Earth, Grand Portage, and Fond-du-Lac. All of these reservations are currently required to follow the Constitution and By-laws of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
IS ENBRIDGE IGNORING ‘HUGE’ FINANCIAL RISK
Contact Information: Marty Cobenais
Indigenous Environmental Network
(218) 751-4967
(218) 760-0284 (cell)
martyc@ienearth.org
On Thursday, October 8, 2009, Leech Lake Tribal Members known as IN ZHA WEN DUN AKI, leading the resistance against the Alberta Clipper and Southern Diluents Pipelines, filed a motion in Leech Lake Tribal Court to include the Leech Lake Reservation Business Committee (RBC) and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
We believe this will go before tribal court with the next month. “We believe at that time the Leech Lake Tribal Court will rule against all the named parties, recognizing that a grave injustice has been done and allow the valid petitions and a referendum vote to be admitted," said Marty Cobenais, Indigenous Environmental Network's Pipeline Organizer.
Should the court agree with the plaintiffs, Enbridge will have to stop construction of the entire route, as the FEIS, PUC ruling, and the Presidential Permit would no longer be valid. It would have to remove any new pipes within the Leech Lake Reservation boundaries that were placed in the ground at their own cost.
“Enbridge arrogantly believes that their money and legal power will allow them to bypass the tribe's sovereignty; but they are taking a huge financial risk by continuing to work within the boundaries of the reservation at this time, as the lawsuit was started and was heard in the Leech Lake Tribal Court prior to the starting of construction of the pipelines," Cobenais continued.
The tribal members are still opposing the construction of the Alberta Clipper and Southern Diluent pipelines that are currently being constructed within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation. According to the Treaty of 1855, that formed the Leech Lake Reservation, and as defined by the U.S. Congress “Indian Country” runs from boundary to boundary regardless of who actually owns the land.
Background: On September 18, 2009, the Leech Lake RBC denied to certify the 693 signatures on petitions that sought for the Leech Lake RBC to rescind and a second petition calling for a referendum vote to be allowed for the Leech Lake tribal members to decide on Resolution 2009-170. The resolution that was enacted on May 14, 2009, is the agreement between the Leech Lake RBC and Enbridge Energy L.P. that allows the two pipelines to be built and a right-of-way extension of the 4 current pipelines for another 20 years. The oldest of these pipes were put in the ground in 1949, which have laid on the bottom of Cass Lake for 60 years.
The RBC vote was split with two members voting for the denial of the petitions, and two other members abstaining from voting on the matter. District One Representative Robbie Howe stated in the meeting “I don’t know what the findings are, and I didn’t get a copy of the petitions."
Leech Lake District 3 Representative Eugene “Ribs” Whitebird made the motion to deny the certification of the petitions, seconded by District 2 Representative Lyman Losh. Their decision was based on a memo, dated September 17, 2009, from Nancy Whitebird, Enrollment Department Coordinator, and aunt to Eugene Whitebird. In Ms. Whitebird’s review of the 2 petitions she cited 15 irregularities; the majority of them were arbitrary in nature and were contrary to the MCT Constitution residency requirement. According to the MCT Constitution, the requirements for a valid petition are eligible voting tribal membership and residency within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation.
The tribal members dispute the findings of the Leech Lake RBC and the certification process. They discovered during this process that there are no policies or procedures in the MCT Constitution that outlines how the referendum petition is suppose to work. There are rules and guidelines for a recall petition for the removal of a tribal official, but they didn’t apply to this situation.
The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is comprised of 6 tribal governments that include the following northern Minnesota reservations: Leech Lake, Bois Forte, Mille Lacs, White Earth, Grand Portage, and Fond-du-Lac. All of these reservations are currently required to follow the Constitution and By-laws of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
October 16, 2009
The Forgotten Navajo
The Forgotten Navajo: People in needNews, Special Reports —NYU Arthur L Carter Journalism Institute
On the side of Gray Mountain in Northeast Arizona, Lorraine Curley lives alone in a two-room concrete home. Her roof is tarpaper and tin, and her bathroom is a wooden outhouse 50 feet from her door. Living without electricity or water is a way of life for Curley; she has, after all, been restricted by the Bennett Freeze, a law enacted in 1966 and not lifted until last May. Because of that law, more than...
http://pavementpieces.com/the-forgotten-navajo-living-with-contaminated-water/
Rolanda Tahani has been drinking water from a well behind her house for decades. And just recently she was informed it has been contaminated with uranium since the 1970s. Her mysterious health problems — developing cancers and debilitating infections — finally make sense. But Tahani still has no relief, as she continues to consume the water: It’s her only source, she says.
Stop the expansion of Peterborough Nukes
Eagle Watch #11
Stop the Expansion of Peterborough Nukes:
No More Nuclear Madness
October 16, 2009
The nuclear industry raving lunatics want to build many more nuclear reactors all over the world, especially in Asia. They say it is for "peaceful" purposes only. They call it "green" energy. Wow! What an insult to people's intelligence.
We know that ANY nuclear development and proliferation are about making war and killing people, either quickly with bombs or slowly with nuclear waste.
Indigenous communities in Cree/Dene territory (Saskatchewan, Canada), Ongwehonwe and Nishnaabe territory (Ontario, Canada), Australia, Navajo/Pueblo Territory (New Mexico and Four Corners, USA), Kazakhstan, Niger and elsewhere are being targeted to accept the waste and to endure the devastation of more uranium mining. We have a responsibility to speak out against this insanity for the sake of our future generations who will inherit this horrible legacy.
It looks like somebody wants to foment nuclear war in Asia where the majority of the world's population live. China and Japan have nuclear technologies. India and Pakistan already have nuclear weapons. Pakistan is quickly being drawn into the US led war on Afghanistan. There is no end in sight to this insane carnage and destruction.
GEHitachi wants to make low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel bundles at their Peterborough, Ontario facility for nuclear reactors in Japan, India and China. People in Ontario know about the dangers and have indicated they don't want any more reactors here. Cameco, the big uranium mining company, makes the same fuel and parts for reactors at Port Hope where a growing pile of nuclear waste is making people sick. The government wants to move the waste and spread it around. It is a growing embarrassment to them as some people in Port Hope are speaking out. The nuclear waste at the small city of Peterborough is not as well known.
India has developed the technology to weaponize tritium. Nuclear reactors release deadly tritium and other radioactive toxins into the air and water. Any amount is harmful to human health and all living beings and therefore totally unacceptable. Any dosage can be fatal. Because radioactive water is chemically identical to ordinary water, it cannot be filtered out or otherwise removed from drinking water by any municipal water treatment plant. The city of Ottawa gets plenty of tritium in its water from the leaking NRU reactor at the Chalk River Laboratories upstream on the Ottawa River.
Anyone can make a dirty bomb with a bit of radioactive material. It doesn't have to be an actual nuclear bomb to do great harm to people and devastation to the land, water and air. All this nuclear activity must be stopped.
CNSC is the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the supposedly non partisan and independent body that monitors the Canadian nuclear industry. While they approve dangerous projects left and right, they also produce damning reports against nuclear development, such as their report on reactor emissions. These reports can be used against them. (see endnotes)
We just found out about CNSC's press release seeking comments on the "Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) Screening Report" for GEHitachi's nuclear expansion at Peterborough. The report is available on request from "CEAAInfo". CNSC has extended the deadline just for us until October 21 to respond.
How many people actually heard about it? CNSC states that in the past, "No comments were received from First Nations or members of the general public". The three Indigenous communities that they say they contacted are the Alderville, Curve Lake and Hiawatha Mississaugas.
Curve Lake is on Buckhorn Lake, just north of Peterborough. Alderville and Hiawatha are on Rice Lake, south and east of Peterborough. There are Serpent Mounds at Hiawatha.
Chief Marsden of Alderville said he didn't know of it though he is quite concerned about nuclear development. We are waiting to hear back from someone at the other two communities.
Peterborough is two hours west of Sharbot Lake. GEHitachi already has a nuclear facility in Peterborough, about one hour north of Port Hope, Ontario. Peterborough is on the Otonabee River which flows into Rice Lake which feeds into the Trent River which flows into Lake Ontario near Trenton. The region is half water, an intricate network of creeks and lakes. Some call it "cottage country". The fishing is good but is it safe to eat the fish? Nuclear activity always uses and pollutes large quantities of water.
GEHitachi already makes fuel bundles and zirconium tubing for CANDU's at their Peterborough nuclear facility. They do the tricky handling of the fuel bundles getting them into the reactors. They host training sessions and write manuals. They do the computer system design and replacement and do nuclear fastener welding services. They are developing new nuclear stuff all the time.
GEHitachi also have facilities in downtown Toronto on Lansdowne Avenue where they have been testing and manufacturing nuclear products for over 50 years and in Arnprior. Hitachi, a Japanese firm and GE General Electric merged their nuclear departments in 2007 to consolidate their global nuclear reactor business. Another Japanese firm, Toshiba recently bought Westinghouse who also make reactors. It's some kind of feeding frenzy.
The CNSC report on reactor emissions shows the results of nuclear power plants release monitoring programs over a ten year period up to 2008. Nuclear power plants routinely give off large quantities of radioactive hydrogen (called tritium), radioactive carbon (carbon-14) and gamma-emitting radioactive isotopes of krypton, argon and xenon as well as smaller quantities of iodine-131 into the surrounding air and water. This is many trillions of becquerels of each of these materials being released every year. No wonder so many people are sick and can't seem to get better. Any amount of these radioactive emissions is unacceptable.
The lonely people at CNSC want to hear from us. Let's make their day by sending them our objections to the madness of nuclear development. Never mind the experts who work for a fat paycheque, forgetting about the future generations. We, both Indigenous and settlers alike, have a right and responsibility to speak out.
KITTOH
Contact Info:
CNSC
Send comments by mail, fax or email to:
Dr Caroline Ducros
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Environmental Assessment Division
Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, ON K1P 5S9
Phone: 1-800-668-5284
Fax: 613-995-5086
Email: EA@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
GE Hitachi
Peterborough Fuel Bundle Assembly and Fuel Handling Operations
1160 Monaghan Road Peterborough, Ontario Canada, K9J 7B5
Phone: 705 748 7999
Toronto Fuel Pellet Operations
1025 Lansdowne Avenue Toronto, Ontario Canada, M6H 3Z6
416-583-4200
Arnprior Tubing Operations
465 McCartney St. W Arnprior, Ontario Canada, K7S 3X5
613-623-1455
Notes and Sources
http://www.ge-energy.com/prod_serv/products/nuclear_energy/en/ge_canada.htm
http://www.ccnr.org/india_tritium.html
http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/readingroom/reports/rrd/index.cfm
Radiological Release Data Report
http://www.aldervillefirstnation.ca/
http://www.curvelakefn.com/
http://www.hiawathafirstnation.com/
www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/scr/on/ofn/index-eng.asp
http://www.porthopehealthconcerns.com/latest_news.htm
"Port Hope - Canada's Nuclear Wasteland"
Pat McNamara, Author
To order the book:
Pat McNamara, RR#1, Site 10, P.O. Box 85 Grande Prairie Alberta, T8V 2Z8
http://www.wise-uranium.org/epcdn.html
http://nuclear-news.net/
Stop the Expansion of Peterborough Nukes:
No More Nuclear Madness
October 16, 2009
The nuclear industry raving lunatics want to build many more nuclear reactors all over the world, especially in Asia. They say it is for "peaceful" purposes only. They call it "green" energy. Wow! What an insult to people's intelligence.
We know that ANY nuclear development and proliferation are about making war and killing people, either quickly with bombs or slowly with nuclear waste.
Indigenous communities in Cree/Dene territory (Saskatchewan, Canada), Ongwehonwe and Nishnaabe territory (Ontario, Canada), Australia, Navajo/Pueblo Territory (New Mexico and Four Corners, USA), Kazakhstan, Niger and elsewhere are being targeted to accept the waste and to endure the devastation of more uranium mining. We have a responsibility to speak out against this insanity for the sake of our future generations who will inherit this horrible legacy.
It looks like somebody wants to foment nuclear war in Asia where the majority of the world's population live. China and Japan have nuclear technologies. India and Pakistan already have nuclear weapons. Pakistan is quickly being drawn into the US led war on Afghanistan. There is no end in sight to this insane carnage and destruction.
GEHitachi wants to make low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel bundles at their Peterborough, Ontario facility for nuclear reactors in Japan, India and China. People in Ontario know about the dangers and have indicated they don't want any more reactors here. Cameco, the big uranium mining company, makes the same fuel and parts for reactors at Port Hope where a growing pile of nuclear waste is making people sick. The government wants to move the waste and spread it around. It is a growing embarrassment to them as some people in Port Hope are speaking out. The nuclear waste at the small city of Peterborough is not as well known.
India has developed the technology to weaponize tritium. Nuclear reactors release deadly tritium and other radioactive toxins into the air and water. Any amount is harmful to human health and all living beings and therefore totally unacceptable. Any dosage can be fatal. Because radioactive water is chemically identical to ordinary water, it cannot be filtered out or otherwise removed from drinking water by any municipal water treatment plant. The city of Ottawa gets plenty of tritium in its water from the leaking NRU reactor at the Chalk River Laboratories upstream on the Ottawa River.
Anyone can make a dirty bomb with a bit of radioactive material. It doesn't have to be an actual nuclear bomb to do great harm to people and devastation to the land, water and air. All this nuclear activity must be stopped.
CNSC is the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the supposedly non partisan and independent body that monitors the Canadian nuclear industry. While they approve dangerous projects left and right, they also produce damning reports against nuclear development, such as their report on reactor emissions. These reports can be used against them. (see endnotes)
We just found out about CNSC's press release seeking comments on the "Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) Screening Report" for GEHitachi's nuclear expansion at Peterborough. The report is available on request from "CEAAInfo"
How many people actually heard about it? CNSC states that in the past, "No comments were received from First Nations or members of the general public". The three Indigenous communities that they say they contacted are the Alderville, Curve Lake and Hiawatha Mississaugas.
Curve Lake is on Buckhorn Lake, just north of Peterborough. Alderville and Hiawatha are on Rice Lake, south and east of Peterborough. There are Serpent Mounds at Hiawatha.
Chief Marsden of Alderville said he didn't know of it though he is quite concerned about nuclear development. We are waiting to hear back from someone at the other two communities.
Peterborough is two hours west of Sharbot Lake. GEHitachi already has a nuclear facility in Peterborough, about one hour north of Port Hope, Ontario. Peterborough is on the Otonabee River which flows into Rice Lake which feeds into the Trent River which flows into Lake Ontario near Trenton. The region is half water, an intricate network of creeks and lakes. Some call it "cottage country". The fishing is good but is it safe to eat the fish? Nuclear activity always uses and pollutes large quantities of water.
GEHitachi already makes fuel bundles and zirconium tubing for CANDU's at their Peterborough nuclear facility. They do the tricky handling of the fuel bundles getting them into the reactors. They host training sessions and write manuals. They do the computer system design and replacement and do nuclear fastener welding services. They are developing new nuclear stuff all the time.
GEHitachi also have facilities in downtown Toronto on Lansdowne Avenue where they have been testing and manufacturing nuclear products for over 50 years and in Arnprior. Hitachi, a Japanese firm and GE General Electric merged their nuclear departments in 2007 to consolidate their global nuclear reactor business. Another Japanese firm, Toshiba recently bought Westinghouse who also make reactors. It's some kind of feeding frenzy.
The CNSC report on reactor emissions shows the results of nuclear power plants release monitoring programs over a ten year period up to 2008. Nuclear power plants routinely give off large quantities of radioactive hydrogen (called tritium), radioactive carbon (carbon-14) and gamma-emitting radioactive isotopes of krypton, argon and xenon as well as smaller quantities of iodine-131 into the surrounding air and water. This is many trillions of becquerels of each of these materials being released every year. No wonder so many people are sick and can't seem to get better. Any amount of these radioactive emissions is unacceptable.
The lonely people at CNSC want to hear from us. Let's make their day by sending them our objections to the madness of nuclear development. Never mind the experts who work for a fat paycheque, forgetting about the future generations. We, both Indigenous and settlers alike, have a right and responsibility to speak out.
KITTOH
Contact Info:
CNSC
Send comments by mail, fax or email to:
Dr Caroline Ducros
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Environmental Assessment Division
Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, ON K1P 5S9
Phone: 1-800-668-5284
Fax: 613-995-5086
Email: EA@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
GE Hitachi
Peterborough Fuel Bundle Assembly and Fuel Handling Operations
1160 Monaghan Road Peterborough, Ontario Canada, K9J 7B5
Phone: 705 748 7999
Toronto Fuel Pellet Operations
1025 Lansdowne Avenue Toronto, Ontario Canada, M6H 3Z6
416-583-4200
Arnprior Tubing Operations
465 McCartney St. W Arnprior, Ontario Canada, K7S 3X5
613-623-1455
Notes and Sources
http://www.ge-energy.com/prod_serv/products/nuclear_energy/en/ge_canada.htm
http://www.ccnr.org/india_tritium.html
http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/readingroom/reports/rrd/index.cfm
Radiological Release Data Report
http://www.aldervillefirstnation.ca/
http://www.curvelakefn.com/
http://www.hiawathafirstnation.com/
www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/scr/on/ofn/index-eng.asp
http://www.porthopehealthconcerns.com/latest_news.htm
"Port Hope - Canada's Nuclear Wasteland"
Pat McNamara, Author
To order the book:
Pat McNamara, RR#1, Site 10, P.O. Box 85 Grande Prairie Alberta, T8V 2Z8
http://www.wise-uranium.org/epcdn.html
http://nuclear-news.net/
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