Yaqui Jose Matus receives Corazon Indigenous Award

Jose Matus, a lifetime upholding border rights, human rights and Yaqui ceremonies

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Jose Matus receives
Corazon Indigenous Award

PASCUA YAQUI NATION -- Jose Matus, Pascua Yaqui ceremonial leader and human rights activist, was selected by the Pascua Yaqui Nation to receive the Corazon Indigenous Award. 

Matus was one of twelve people in the Tucson area to receive Corazon de Justica Awards, Heart of Justice Awards, on Saturday night. Coalición de Derechos Humanos hosted the 10th Corazón de Justicia Awards. 

Matus, director of Indigenous Alliance without Borders, has spent 40 years traveling to Yaqui communities in Sonora, Mexico, to bring Yaqui ceremonial leaders to southern Arizona for temporary stays to continue the ceremonies. For decades, Matus has battled difficult border crossings to ensure the continuance of Yaqui ceremonies.

In 1995, Matus was part of an Indigenous delegation to Chiapas to support the Zapatistas. The Indigenous delegation of Yaqui, Tohono O’odham, Dakota, and Hopi-Navajo, were human rights shields at a time when the Mexican military was assassinating Zapatistas in the mountain highlands near Oventic.

During his years of service, Matus organized human rights panels to expose the US Border Patrol targeting people of color on the border, and pressed the United Nations to take action to defend Indigenous Peoples living in their territories in what today is known as the US Mexico border.

Jose Matus in Bolivia
Photo Brenda Norrell

Matus traveled to Bolivia in 2010 for the Protection of Mother Earth Conference hosted by President Evo Morales. 

Speaking on the border hysteria and human rights abuses, Matus told Censored News, “The wall itself is a lethal weapon that the US government is using to kill thousands of undocumented crossers.” 

Matus said the border wall is destroying the environment, sacred sites and the connection between relatives in Mexico and the United States.

“Now they are destroying and dividing the Tewa and Kumeyaay ceremonial grounds,” he said of the Tewa in the region of El Paso, Texas, and Kumeyaay, in California and Baja, Mexico.

“We are all terrorists as far as they are concerned. They put us through all these obstacles as we try to cross that border," Matus said. 

Listen to an interview by Censored News with Matus in 2013: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/brenda-norrell/2009/03/18/border-radio-jose-matus

Through the years, Matus has exemplified himself by his courage, determination and perseverance.

On Saturday, Coalición de Derechos Humanos hosted the 10th Corazón de Justicia Awards Dinner. Honored were 12 Tucson activists who have demonstrated their “heart of justice” through their work in the community to make Tucson a more just and equitable place for all of us. The award ceremony included live music by thecumbia/ska band Santa Pachita.

AWARD WINNERS

Corazón African-American
Javetta Clemmons
Selected by: Derechos Humanos

Corazón Arts
Pancho Medina
Selected by: Raices Taller

Corazón CommunityEmpowerment
Miquiztli Valenzuela
Selectedby: Coalición de Derechos Humanos

Corazón Environmental
Richard Elias
Selected by: Save the Santa Ritas

Corazón Faith- based
Maryada Vallet
Selectedby: Coalición de Derechos Humanos

Corazón Human Rights
Dalton McClelland
Selectedby: Coalición de Derechos Humanos

Corazón Immigrant Rights
Belem Chagolla
Selectedby: Coalición de Derechos Humanos

Corazón Indigenous
Jose Matus
Selected by: The Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Corazón Labor
Lani “Kira” Johnson
Selected by: WFC 99

Corazón LGBTQ
Karolina Lopez
Selectedby: Mariposa Sin Fronteras

Corazón Women
Dr. María Teresa Velez
Selected by: Las Adelitas

Corazón Youth
Michelle Jahnke Raygada
Selectedby: Coalición de Derechos Humanos

AIM West Coast Conference Nov. 21 -- 22, 2014

Winners Native Music Awards 2014!

Debut Group of the Year 2014 Sihasin, Clayson and Jeneda Benally
Congratulations to all the winners from Censored News
Send us your photos: brendanorrell@gmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 15TH ANNUAL NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS Artist of the Year Mato Nanji Vanishing Americans Best Blues Recording Vanishing Americans Indigenous Best Compilation Recording Don’t Let Me Forget Kelly Montijo Fink Best Country Recording Woman Of Red Tracy Bone Debut Artist of the Year Leah Shenandoah Spektra Debut Group of the Year Sihasin Never Surrender Best Female Artist Rita Coolidge A Rita Coolidge Christmas Best Folk Recording Keeper of the Dreams Red Feather Woman Flutist of the Year Rona Yellowrobe The Gathering Best Inspirational Recording Grace & Grit: Chapter I Dark Water Rising Group of the Year Plenty Wolf Singers Medicine Wolf Best Historical/Linguistic Recording Heart of the Buffalo Richard Stepp and Rick McKee Best Instrumental Recording The Long Journey Home Ryan Little Eagle Molina Best Male Artist Jimmy Wolf A Tribute To Little Johnny Taylor Best Native American Church Recording Apache Peyote Songs Joe Tohonnie Jr Best New Age Recording Bridge Rushingwind & Mucklow  Best Pop Recording Day After Day Jamie Coon  Best Pow Wow Recording Stoic Tha Tribe  Best Producer Kevin Chief Honoring The Mazinikijik Singers Best Rap Hip Hop Recording One Tribe One Nation The Council  Record of the Year Romanze Songs of Tosti Lawrence Harris  Best Rock Recording Two Sons The Ollivanders Song of the Year Witchi Tai-To – Water Spirits Shadowyze, Caren Knight Pepper and Jim Pepper Songwriter of the Year  Theresa "Bear" Fox Diamond Best Spoken Word Recording Grandfather Speaks Ken Quiet Hawk  Best Traditional Recording Spirit of Thunderheart Rising  Best Music Video Sisters ft Northern Voice A Tribe Called Red Best Waila Recording In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Father & Uncle Family Pride Joanne Shenandoah and family Best World Music Recording Nature Dance Joanne Shenandoah Native Heart Lex Nichols The Long Road Lifetime Achievement Jim Boyd . Scroll down for winners list! TO BE BROADCAST ON FIRST NATIONS EXPERIENCE AND FNX-TV ON THANKSGIVING DAY AND 11/29/2014 CALL YOUR LOCAL STATION Click Here To Find It

PROTECT MOADAHK DO'AG RUN and RALLY

Nov. 15, 2014, Saturday, 7 am till noon

The Arizona Dept of Transportation will be holding a public forum at the Komatke Boys & Girls Center, where community members will be given the opportunity to provide their comments on the recently released FEIS. GRIC has been in opposition to the South Mountain Freeway/ Loop 202 for decades with several community votes and resolutions. NO BUILD! Protect our land, our air quality, our animal relatives. 

So it's pretty simple- there will be a short run to the base of Moadahk Do'ag aka South Mountain and then a march and rally to the forum site. The spirit of the people and the spirit of the mountain needs to be recognized. Let's show them a strong and united front- We Will Protect Our Community- We Will Protect Moadahk Do'ag- We Will Stop Their Freeway. 

Spread the word! Open to all!
Runners needed! Walking is fine! 
Singers needed- bring your shawkud, bring your drums!