Navajo Councilman says Escalade developer 'flipped him off' as Navajo Council voted project down

Video below:

Sharing from Save the Confluence, "Video from when the Escalade was voted down, We were not allowed to film inside the chambers, but Delegate Brown was able to record and you can catch him calling out Lamar for flipping him off near the end." Save the Confluence fought hard to halt the Escalade Monster Tourism Project on Dineh Sacred Land at Grand Canyon.

Leonard Peltier -- An appeal for compassion and freedom from Florida

Leonard Peltier -- An appeal for compassion and freedom from Florida Report from Tampa, Oct. 31, 2017 By Paulette Co-director, International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee in Florida Censored News Greetings Friends, Supporters and Family. Hard to start my report to you all without remembering our good friend and supporter Dennis J. Banks. He and Leonard traveled many miles together and he spoke often and eloquently for Leonard’s freedom (http://www.aics.org/LP/dennis.html)He will be greatly  . We will send out Leonard’s statement later today, as it takes time to get messages from the prison. On a new note the trip from Fargo was almost a 4 day drive, and thanks to friends and my social security we didn’t have to go into committee money except for a couple of tanks of gas and dinners. I was determined not to spend the small amount raised for Leonard’s legal team to make this move and we were successful. We arrived in Tampa FL. to our new committee office and home on Tuesday and have been working to put it together.

While we were waiting for the Internet to be hooked up we had a meeting with lawyer to discuss trying to hire one or two legal researchers to go through the thousands of pages of Freedom of Information pages (FOIA) for new evidence that the lawyer can use to get Leonard back in to court. We are also looking into the possibility of a compassionate release due to age and physical problems. These issues are why we desperately need funds to continue the work, given Leonard’s age and health his time is on the short side of Freedom! I did get to visit Leonard last Sunday. He was pleased that the move went well, and that he can have regular visits. One of the problems he mentioned was that he continues to have a shooting pain from hip to his foot. He was supposed to have a sonogram but it got cancelled due to fights in the prison and he said there was no telling when it will happen now but the pain drags him down and has affected his mobility to go to the Art room or Law Library. We would like for people to politely write the Warden and ask why it has taken over a year for this issue with Leonard’s hip to get resolved? They have done test and x-rays and yet no relief for his pain. Neither a steroid shot or hip replacement has been offered Leonard. You should send your letter to: WARDEN USP COLEMAN I U.S. PENITENTIARY P.O. BOX 1023 COLEMAN, FL 33521 So, we are up and working to find ways to bring Leonard home. If you are in the Tampa area please call and come by to look at Leonard’s art work or have a cup of coffee and talk about supporting an event in your area for Leonard.116 W Osborne Ave Tampa, FL.33603 218-790-7667 We have a couple of speakers including myself that would be willing to speak for Leonard. While prayers support Leonard’s soul, the legal team needs money to do the work! Thank you for your support Paulette Co-director in Florida

Ponca Nation of Oklahoma to Recognize the Rights of Nature to Stop Fracking

Casey Camp-Horinek with her granddaughter 

Ponca Nation of Oklahoma to Recognize the Rights of Nature to Stop Fracking

By Casey Camp-Horinek caseycamphorinek@yahoo.com  

Shannon Biggs shannon@movementrights.com

Pennie Opal Plant pennie@gatheringtribes.com

Movement Rights

SAN FRANCISCO -- After suffering for years with poisoned water and serious health issues due to fracking and injection wells on and near their reservation the governing body of the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma voted to pass a statute recognizing the rights of nature on Friday, October 20, 2017.  When enacted, the Ponca will be the first tribal nation to recognize the rights of nature into statutory law.

"On Friday, October 20th the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma took the historic step of agreeing to add a statute to enact the Rights of Nature.  We are proud to be moving into the future by honoring our original instructions to respect all life on our Mother Earth,” said Casey Camp-Horinek, a member of the Ponca Tribal Business Council.  “We would like to thank everyone who has brought information about the Rights of Nature and those who continue to share ways to bring back respect for the natural laws that have sustained all life for millenniums.  A special thanks to Movement Rights founders, Shannon Biggs and Pennie Opal Plant for all the support provided over the last few years.”

Movement Rights, has been working with members of the Ponca Nation to assist the tribe with fracking issues utilizing the recognition of the rights of nature as a model to protect the land and health of tribal members. “Dozens of communities in the United States and several countries, including New Zealand, India, Ecuador and Bolivia, have passed laws that stop treating nature as property to be destroyed.  The rights of nature legal framework recognizes the legal rights of ecosystems to exist and regenerate their vital life cycles,” said Shannon Biggs, the Executive Director of Movement Rights.  “These communities and countries are using this new legal framework to protect people and natural communities from harmful activities including fracking. They are shifting human law to align with natural law.”

Ponca, Oklahoma is the epicenter of earthquakes caused by fracking and injection wells.  Tribal members have experienced diseases that have decimated their population since the fracking industry began in their area.  Every single water well on the reservation is too toxic to drink, bathe in or allow pets and livestock to drink.  There have been 448 earthquakes in and around the Ponca reservation this year, in a state that was essentially earthquake free before the fracking industry moved in to the area.  The Ponca Nation is expected to enact the Rights of Nature Statute into law by the end of 2017.

“We all know that water is life. The years of fish kills related to the fracking and injection wells amount to environmental genocide,” said Casey Camp-Horinek. “It is going to take all of us humans because we’re speaking for those without voices, for the deer, the cattle, those that fly.  In our tribe we have a funeral a week now. We’re being fracked to death and It’s time to take a stand for our people and defend the earth.”

The Ponca Nation and Movement Rights also conducted two events which took place on Saturday, October 22nd called “Ponca Environmental Community Action Day”.  The day included a prayer walk to the Phillips 66 refinery in the City of Ponca as well as a community meeting.   "I feel like we are gaining strength, we had more tribal nations represented this time as well as non-natives,” said Ponca Tribal member, Suzaatah Williams. “We had elders and even a newborn on this walk and every age group in between. Even if only one of these people share the information they learned we have made a difference.  Knowledge is power and we are only getting stronger!”

Speakers for the community events included Casey Camp-Horinek, Mekasi Horinek, Shannon Biggs, Bryan Parras of the Sierra Club and TEJAS in Houston, Texas, and Robby Diesu, coordinator for the National Stop the Frack Attack Network based in Washington, DC.  

“Most importantly, thanks to our Creator, Wakonda,” said Casey Camp-Horinek.  “We believe that the prayers and guidance provided are leading us to further protect our Mother Earth, who sustains us; and make a way for the generations to come."

Professor Mark Trahant resigns after Standing Rock journalists seminar repeatedly rejected

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Update: University will allow lecture series
http://diverseeducation.com/article/104251/

By Mark Trahant, Shoshone-Bannock

Censored News

I have decided to not renew my term as an endowed chair at the University of North Dakota. It really comes down to this: I am disappointed and disgusted that the university is not an institutional leader in this state. It should be a beam of light, shining on the protected realm of rational discourse. Last year, for example, I was asked to coordinate a journalism lecture series. I proposed hearing from the journalists who covered Standing Rock. Nope. Instead the series was “put on hold.” This year I suggested a conference on technology and society, again leading with a conversation about Standing Rock and social media. Again, no, and I learned about senior administration fears that the legislature might retaliate.

I understand that it's important to keep fighting, but when your institution is absent, well, for me, this chapter ends.

I do appreciate my many colleagues who do great work and will carry on. Thank you for that. And, despite everything, I'm grateful for my experiences here.

Right now my inclination is to leave the academic world and focus on journalism (but I have some time to figure that out). My TV project with FNX is launching soon and I will work harder to raise funds for my other worthwhile projects.

Mark

Read more:

Professor resigns after university repeatedly rejects seminar on Dakota Access Pipeline

By Elanor Sheehan at Splinter -- "Mark Trahant, a journalism professor at the University of North Dakota, has tried to teach a seminar on the Dakota Access pipeline protests for two years. After his second proposal was rejected this year, Trahant has decided to quit." https://splinternews.com/professor-resigns-after-university-repeatedly-rejects-p-1819897178