John Kane, Mohawk 'A Tale of Two Cases'

A Tale of Two Cases

By John Karhiio Kane, Mohawk

Censored News

Last week two stories about the ongoing battle by New York State and the U.S. federal government against the Native tobacco trade hit the papers.

In the state case (http://www.mpcourier.com/article/20140204/DCO/702049802), the government prosecutor joined with defense attorneys in a motion to dismiss felony charges against two men attempting to transport tobacco products from Mohawk territory to Seneca territory in March 2012.

District Attorney Mary E. Rain told the St. Lawrence County Court Judge Jerome J. Richards that she had determined there was not enough evidence to prosecute.

Press Freedom: The collapse globally and in Indian country

The World Press Freedom Index 2014 describes the violence and collapse of media -- but does not include widespread plagiarism and deception in national Indian country news

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

The World Press Freedom Index 2014 details the violence against journalists around the world. It includes the decaying state of press freedom in the United States, where the Obama administration continues to pursue journalists sources for prosecution. 

In the US, the whistleblower is now the enemy targeted by the US government. The United States plunged 13 spots to the ranking of 46 in press freedom, states the report by Reporters without Borders.

The Index documents how reporters continue to be killed and tortured around the world. The Index, however, does not detail the collapse of journalism in Indian country in the US, where plagiarism, armchair journalism and deception dominate the national news in Indian country. 

Reporters and editors in the national Indian country news -- who are never seen present on a news story -- continue to be paid for plagiarism and rewriting others work. 

The deception in the news includes the publication of press releases and spin as if those are facts, which facilitates corporations that target Indian country for mining, power plants and dumping. The promotion of non-Indian profiteers within the casinos is disguised and concealed. The deception includes the promotion of politicians who are actually the publishers.

Further, there is widespread censorship in national Indian country news of issues ranging from the dirty coal industry, uranium mining, genetically modified seeds, and the theft of Indian water rights, to the truth about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The militarization of Indian lands, including Indian lands at the US borders with US spy towers, is widely censored. The truth about how the US created tribal councils to sign energy leases and serve as puppets of the US government, along with the back door deals of politicians, is also censored. The colonization of Indian children and the eradication of culture and traditions, from boarding schools to the US military, is censored.

Favoritism, the narrow selection of issues for publication, and distraction dominate the national Indian news. The theft of photos and copyright violations are part of the continual collapse of the national news in Indian country. Conflicts of interests are also present, as those posing as reporters are secretly paid as pubic relations agents or receive benefits for their articles.

Excerpts from World Press Freedom Index 2014

KPFK: US cover-up of nuclear testing of Indigenous in Marshall Islands

U.S. Government Cover-up of Nuclear Testing on Indigenous Peoples

Listen in archives: Tuesday, 02/11/2014, on American Indian Airwaves

8pm to 9pm --- KPFK

American Indian Airwaves Tuesdays 8pm to 9pm (PCT) on KPFK FM 90.7 in Los Angeles, FM 98.7 in Santa Barbara, FM 99.5 China Lake, FM 93.7 North San Diego, WCRS FM 98.3/102.1 in Columbus, OH, and on the Internet @ www.kpfk.org

  

Part 1

Irradiation of Marshall Islanders
was no accident

Adam Horowitz, Director, Producer and Writer, joins us live to discuss the documentary, Nuclear Savage: The Islands of Secret Project 4.1(http://nuclearsavage.com), PBS has refused to broadcast over the past year. Adam has been forced to undergo numerous revisions, yet the film has not broadcasted to date. Using U.S. declassified documents, interviews with Indigenous peoples from the Marshall Islands, the film uncovers how the U.S. government conducted nuclear testing, from 1946 to 1958, above ground or near Bikini and Enewetok atolls. The film shows, the heavily exposed people of Rongelap were then enrolled as human subjects in the top secret Project 4.1, evacuated to another contaminated (radioactive) island, and studied for radioactive fallout for over 30 years. Adam joins us live for the most of the hour for station Winter Fund Drive. The DVD will be exclusively available on tonight’s show.

Navajoland Billboard reveals Dine' cheated by BHP coal

Navajoland billboard reveals Dine' cheated by BHP coal and Navajo Nation government

By Dine' CARE

Censored News

Purpose: Members of Diné C.A.R.E., Honor the Treaties, and Diné community advocates collaborated on a Billboard project to provide a powerful message to the people. The Billboard states the monies used for the Navajo Mine purchase and Johnny Naize’s misuse of discretionary funds. The message is to empower the people to “Speak Up!” because millions of dollars of Navajo Nation monies are being spent without transparency and accountability.

Location: The Billboard is located on U.S. Highway 64, directly across Hogback Trading Post in New Mexico – 10 miles east of Shiprock, NM.

Voices from Community Members:

“A reason for a billboard in this day and time is to tell a story, a story of how we got cheated of millions of dollars. This billboard tells the story of how BHP Billiton, a billion dollar company has taken advantage of us Diné people and our leaders allowed that to happen. No public hearings, no feedback on money spent on the mine purchase, our sovereignty was waived without our knowledge, completely no transparency in this action,” says Sarah Jane White, Burnham community member.

"Art acts as a political megaphone for the voiceless and transcends language barriers. It also plays a pivotal role in raising awareness and shaping people's opinions. This project is very unique in its statement, mixed media approach, and the youth involvement," says Tom Greyeyes of Honor the Treaties.

Contact: For more information, contact Sarah Jane White at (505) 608-1002 or contact Lori Goodman at (970) 759-1908 or email us at dinecare88@gmail.com.