O'odham protest US Border Patrol disruption of ceremonies

US Border Patrol told to halt disruption of O'odham ceremonies


Update:
The second protest against the US Border Patrol received support from those passing by on Friday, July 26, 2013. The third protest will be held in Why, Arizona near the Border Patrol station, in the area close to Ajo, on Aug. 2.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/07/oodham-protest-us-border-patrol.html

SELLS, Arizona -- The O'odham Voice against the Wall will protest the US Border Patrol invasion of their lands, and disruption of their ceremonies on Tuesday, July 16, and Friday, July 26, 2013.

"Our message is that we as traditional O'odham are still here, carrying out the ceremonies and maintaining the balance," said Ofelia Rivas, O'odham founder of O'odham Voice against the Wall.

During this time of O'odham ceremonies, traditional O'odham are demanding a halt to the interference of O'odham ceremonies by US Border Patrol agents.

Rivas said traditional O'odham said there should be no US Border Patrol interference with the ceremonial O'odham deer hunt, including helicopter flyovers by the US Border Patrol and other immigration agents.

Ofelia Rivas protests Salt River Project/Photo Indigenous Action Media

O'odham are demanding a halt to the spotlighting by US Border Patrol agents during their ceremonies, Rivas told Censored News.

During May and June, the Tohono O'odham government approved the 15th US spy tower on sovereign Tohono O'odham land, and the expansion of lands for US Border Patrol occupation.

Rivas said supporters are asked to join O'odham for the protest from 10 am until 2 pm on July 16 and July 26, west of Three Points on Highway 86, near the illegal Border Patrol checkpoint near the Tohono O'odham border.

Rivas said water and fresh fruit for protesters would be appreciated.

Read more:
Tohono O'odham Nation approves 15th US spy tower, expands lands for US Border Patrol occupation:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/07/tohono-oodham-council-approves-15th-us.html
O'odham Solidarity Project
http://tiamatpublications.com/

Dutch translation by Alice Holemans
The NAIS GAZETTE

De ‘O’odham Voice against the Wall’ wil dinsdag 16 juli en vrijdag 26 juli 2013 protesteren  tegen de invasie van hun land en verstoring van hun ceremoniën door de US grenspolitie.

Ofelia Rivas, stichter van 'O’odham Voice against the Wall’ zegt :“Onze boodschap is dat wij als traditionele O’odham nog steeds hier zijn, onze ceremoniën uitoefenen en het evenwicht in stand houden”.

“De traditionele O’odham eisen dat grenspatrouilles en andere immigranten jagers stoppen met het verstoren van de ceremoniële  hertenjacht met hun helikopters .” Zei Rivas aan Censored News.

Tijdens de maanden mei en juni keurde de Tohono O’odham overheid de 15de US spionnen toren op soeverein Tohono O’odham land, en de uitbreiding van land voor bezetting door de US grenspatrouilles goed.

Rivers roept op tot solidariteit voor de protestacties die zullen doorgaan op16 en 26 juli ten westen van Three Points op Highway 86, nabij de illegale grens -controlepost nabij de Tohono 0’odham grens.

Lees meer: over de 15de spionnentoren. :http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/07/tohono-oodham-council-approves-15th-us.html

O’odham solidariteits project

http://tiamatpublications.com/

Tohono O'odham Council approves 15th US spy tower, expansion of Border Patrol

US spy tower on Tohono O'odham land

Censored News Exclusive

Tohono O'odham Council approves 15th US spy tower on sovereign land, expansion of US Border Patrol occupation

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
Copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News

SELLS, Ariz. -- The Tohono O'odham Nation has approved the lease of more of its sovereign land for US Border Patrol units and a 15th US spy tower on sovereign Tohono O'odham land. O'odham human rights activists say they have been oppressed and stalked by the tribal government because the tribal government has been coopted by the United States government.

The Tohono O'odham Legislative Council approved the use of the US military in the construction of the 15th spy tower on sovereign O'odham land, according to the May 7, 2013 resolution, despite O'odham protests over the militarization of their lands.

The Tohono O'odham Council also approved expansion of the US Border Patrol station in the San Miguel area, and waived its right to a fair market value assessment of the land. The Border Patrol station will be expanded from two to five acres. The expansion includes an operating station for spy towers, helicopter pad, fuel station, lighting and more, according to the tribe's resolution of June 10, 2013.

Three days earlier, on June 7, 2013, the Tohono O'odham Council approved the expansion of the US Border Patrol station at Papago Farms from two to five acres. The same waiver of a fair market assessment of the land was waived. The expansion includes communications for spy towers, fuel stations, helicopter pad and lighting.

The Tohono O'odham Council approved the use of three acres at Pisinemo/Kupk/Dirtburn site for US Border Patrol use, according to a second resolution on June 7. The site, which would include housing, helicopter pad, and more, was approved in secret last year. Many O'odham in the area said they were unaware of it.

O'odham human rights activists say both the Tohono O'odham government and Homeland Security have ignored the abuse and stalking inflicted on them by US Border Patrol agents. The documentation includes unjustified beatings of O'odham and US agents harassing and abusing O'odham women. Further, as seen in the photo, US Border Patrol agents' spy cameras are pointed at traditional O'odham homes, and not the border.

Meanwhile, US Border Patrol agents continue to smuggle drugs and work for the drug cartels in the area. Although numerous US Border Patrol agents have been arrested and convicted of drug smuggling and conspiracy, including serving as spotters for the cartels, the mainstream media has censored those arrest reports. Further, US Border Patrol agents have literally gotten away with murder in the shooting deaths of Mexican teens throwing rocks.

While the abuse of O'odham continues, corporations are profiteering from the migrant hysteria propagated by the media. This hysteria is spun by Arizona politicians and their lobbyists who are funded by these corporations, including border wall builders, spy tower builders and private prison operators.

Mohawks from the northern border are among those who have come to the southern border to support O'odham who are protesting the abuse by the US Border Patrol, and violations of sovereignty being carried out by the tribal government in collusion with the US government.

Tohono O'odham resolution screen captures by Censored News, double click on images to enlarge:

The Tohono O'odham Council approved the US Border Patrol to expand in San Miguel and Papago Farms, from two to five acres:

 

Tohono O'odham Council waives appraisal of the land for US Border Patrol

 Tohono O'odham Council approves 15th US spy tower on sovereign Tohono O'odham land

Tohono O'odham Council approves use of US military to construct US spy towers on sovereign land, despite protest by O'odham human rights activists

To repost this article, contact Brenda Norrell, brendanorrell@gmail.com for permission.
Copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News

Survival International: Sacred object returned to Hopi after shameful Paris auction

Sacred object handed back to Hopi tribe after ‘shameful’ Paris auction 15 July 2013

Photo: The katsina was handed over to Hopi chairman and religious leaders by lawyer Pierre Servan-Schreiber and Survival International's Jean Patrick Razon (no photography was allowed during the handover itself).

© Survival

In a historic handover ceremony, an object sacred to the Hopi people has been returned to Hopi after dozens of katsinam (‘friends’) were sold at a Paris auction house in April 2013 despite repeated requests and litigation.
Representatives of tribal rights organization Survival International and lawyer Pierre Servan-Schreiber returned the katsina to Hopi.
The katsinam are of cultural and religious significance to the Hopi, who were vehemently opposed to the auction and asked the Paris auction house Neret-Minet Tessier & Sarrou to cancel the sale on the grounds that the objects are considered sacred to Hopi.
Read more at Survival International:  http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/9360

Long Walk 4 readies for Sunrise Ceremony July 15, 2013

Long walker Lisa Peake.

 Affirmation of Sovereignty of the Indigenous People of the Western Hemisphere

Longest Walk 4 Return to Alcatraz

By Longest Walk 4
Censored News

Update Monday, July 15, 2013

"Today there was a Ceremony at the place where the original The Longest Walk ended in 1978. From there a Sovereignty Staff and Women Staff were carried twenty one miles in very hot and humid conditions." 
"We did 21 miles in 93 degree, 100 humidity. Fun had by all."

WASHINGTON DC -- The Longest Walk 4: Return to Alcatraz begins tomorrow morning, July 15, 2013, with a sunrise Ceremony from the place where the original The Longest Walk 1978 finished.  At this time, as we prepare for our journey bringing the Sovereignty Staff to Alcatraz, we would like to remember the spirit of all those that helped bring that spiritual message across the land, and the words that reflected this in The Longest Walk 1978.  It is called an Affirmation of Sovereignty of the Indigenous People of the Western Hemisphere.  When we Walk we start with this affirmation in our thoughts and prayers.

This Walk is not just for the Indian Nations of the United States.  This Walk is for all Indigenous Nations and Peoples that continue to seek and assert affirmations of sovereignty compatible with their spiritual and cultural beliefs and values.  We are hoping that those, whether they be Indigenous Nations, groups, individuals or non-Indigenous allies, that  believe in Indigenous Sovereignty will take the time to read the original The Longest Walk manifesto, and will also write us a message of their own issues relating to Indigenous Sovereignty so that we might include them in our journey.

Women's Walk to Sand Creek Massacre site Long Walk 2

At this time we would like to acknowledge the Oskapewis (Helpers) Walk toward the mountains of what is called Alberta.  They too have been walking in their own way to support the Indigenous understanding of Treaties and affirming the traditional sources of Indigenous Sovereignty.  We acknowledge and honor the Two Row Wampum Renewal PeaceWalk and Canoe happening in the territories of the Haudenosaunee, who have long upheld their Haudenosaunee vision of sovereignty, based on their spiritual ways and embodied in the Great Law of Peace and recognized by European nation-states, as a form of legal sovereignty.

It is our hope that those reading this will extend their support to all of these endeavours and those on the front lines in protecting the practice of Indigenous Sovereignty, from the Micmaw,trying to stop fracking, to those trying to stop the desecration of the tar sands and resultant pipelines in Great Turtle Island, to those in Amazon blockading mining development on their lands, to those in Aotearoa trying to stop oil drilling in their waters, and everywhere else that Indigenous Peoples are trying to protect their lands, waters and ways.

Updated Long Walk 4 Schedule:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/07/longest-walk-4-return-to-alcatraz.html

Photo: Among the walkers: Long walker Lisa Peake, Anishinabe/Pomo, will walk across America for the third time. Lisa Peake is joined by walkers Mark Blue and Kyle Guthrie form Minnesota. Photo Long Walk 2/Brenda Norrell.