Longest Walk May 10 Pow wow at Illinois/Missouri border. Please double click to enlarge.May 6, 2008
Longest Walk Powwow May 10
Longest Walk May 10 Pow wow at Illinois/Missouri border. Please double click to enlarge.May 3, 2008
Longest Walk arrives in Missouri
Kansas City Mayor issues Longest Walk Proclamation
On the Longest Walk Northern Route, Sierra Club Representatives Support Walkers in Their Mission to Raise Awareness of Environmental Disharmony and the Need to Protect Sacred Sites
By Aisyln Colgan
On the Longest Walk Northern Route, Sierra Club Representatives Support Walkers in Their Mission to Raise Awareness of Environmental Disharmony and the Need to Protect Sacred Sites
By Aisyln Colgan
Photo by Chris Teves
Longest Walk Northern Route
KANSAS CITY, MO- On Friday, May 2nd, more than 45 participants of the Longest Walk 2 gathered at the City Market in Downtown Kansas City with members of the Sierra Club and the local community, to raise awareness and call for action around local environmental and Native American issues.
The Longest Walk 2 began on February 11th in San Francisco and is stopping in communities all across Turtle Island to listen to Native peoples concerns, document and deliver them to US officials in Washington DC. This walk consists of Indigenous peoples from North, South, and Central America, as well as people from New Zealand and Asia. It is a spiritual and historic walk and Native Americans and their allies walk behind the banner, "All Life is Sacred; Save Mother Earth!”
Kansas City Mayor, Mark Funkhouser issued a proclamation declaring May, 2008 Longest Walk Month, and offered his support to fix the walker's bus which recently broke down.
Melissa Hope of the Sierra Club commended the work of the Longest Walkers carrying the message of the environmental disharmony this country is experiencing. She stated, “No community should bear a higher risk of harm because of their demographic or economic condition. The Sierra Club opposes efforts to dispossess indigenous people of their lands, their cultures, and their right to self determination.”
The Longest Walk 2 stopped in Kansas City after visiting Haskell Indian Nations University where they learned about the Haskell-Baker wetlands, a Sacred Area under threat of destruction by the construction of the South Lawrence Trafficway.
The walkers will take 10 days to cross Missouri, stopping to hear community's concerns along the way. The walk will arrive in Washington, D.C. on July 11, 2008, where walkers will bring their concerns to the Federal Government as well as hold a Cultural Survival Summit to bring attention to the issues of environmental injustice, protection of sacred sites, cultural survival, youth empowerment, and eroding Native American rights the Longest Walk 2 has encountered along the route.
The 2008 Longest Walk marks the 30th anniversary of the original Longest Walk of 1978 that resulted in historic changes for Native America. In July of 1978, thousands converged on the Nations’ capitol to oppose and successfully defeat 11 pieces of legislation in Congress that would have terminated many significant treaties between the federal government and tribes nation wide. Largely due to the impact of the walk and the hard work of many Native American activists, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) of 1978 was passed one month after the walk arrived in D.C. AIRFA states that it is ‘the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and exercise the traditional religions of the American Indian”
Aislyn Colgan 831 295-2555
acolgan2002@yahoo.com
http://www.longestwalk.org/
Longest Walk Southern Route in Oklahoma
By Brenda Golden
Oklahoma City -- The Longest Walk 2 Southern Route is organized and led by American Indian Movement co-founder Dennis J. Banks, elders and original 1978 Walkers. Eighty to one hundred of these walkers will be traveling by foot across Oklahoma from May 3 to May 13 on their way to Washington DC from San Francisco, California.
Walkers include American Indian tribal members from all over the nation, and many International participants. The Nipponzan Miyohoji Buddhists from Japan have been walking with The Longest Walk 2 - Southern Route and will continue to through Oklahoma.
Communities in Oklahoma welcoming the Longest Walk 2-Southern Route are: May 3rd in Canton, May 5th in Kingfisher, May 6th in Perkins, May 6th in Tulsa, May 9th Tahlequah, May 10th Vian/Sallisaw, May 11 in Poteau, May 12th in Octavia and May 13th in Broken Bow.
A benefit dance for Dennis Banks and Don Hatch was held at the Watonga Cheyenne & Arapaho Community Center on Saturday, May 3 with ground dancing at 2:00 pm, Supper at 4:00 pm with dancing to follow. Viola Hatch, children and grandchildren are sponsors of the Benefit Dance Honoring Dan Hatch and Dennis Banks. Contacts: Ms. Viola Hatch at (580) 886-3472.
The purpose of the Southern route is to continue and carry the message from the Longest Walk of 1978: "The Longest Walk is an Indian spiritual walk, a historical walk; and it is a walk for educational awareness to the American and the world communities about the concerns of American Indian people." The Longest Walk 2 is walking to create awareness about the environment. They are walking to protect sacred sites in our country and to promote positive change in our world.
The Tulsa Indian Coalition Against Racism (TICAR) is pleased to support and welcome The Longest Walk in Tulsa on May 7 and 8th. The Society to Preserve Indigenous Rights and Indigenous Traditions (SPIRIT) is also pleased to offer support for the Longest Walk II while they are in Oklahoma.
For more information about the Longest Walk Southern Route, contact Michael Rojas at (510) 338-8694 and Larry BringingGood at (209) 242-1162 and on the web at: http://www.longestwalk.org/
Longest Walk Northern Route
KANSAS CITY, MO- On Friday, May 2nd, more than 45 participants of the Longest Walk 2 gathered at the City Market in Downtown Kansas City with members of the Sierra Club and the local community, to raise awareness and call for action around local environmental and Native American issues.
The Longest Walk 2 began on February 11th in San Francisco and is stopping in communities all across Turtle Island to listen to Native peoples concerns, document and deliver them to US officials in Washington DC. This walk consists of Indigenous peoples from North, South, and Central America, as well as people from New Zealand and Asia. It is a spiritual and historic walk and Native Americans and their allies walk behind the banner, "All Life is Sacred; Save Mother Earth!”
Kansas City Mayor, Mark Funkhouser issued a proclamation declaring May, 2008 Longest Walk Month, and offered his support to fix the walker's bus which recently broke down.
Melissa Hope of the Sierra Club commended the work of the Longest Walkers carrying the message of the environmental disharmony this country is experiencing. She stated, “No community should bear a higher risk of harm because of their demographic or economic condition. The Sierra Club opposes efforts to dispossess indigenous people of their lands, their cultures, and their right to self determination.”
The Longest Walk 2 stopped in Kansas City after visiting Haskell Indian Nations University where they learned about the Haskell-Baker wetlands, a Sacred Area under threat of destruction by the construction of the South Lawrence Trafficway.
The walkers will take 10 days to cross Missouri, stopping to hear community's concerns along the way. The walk will arrive in Washington, D.C. on July 11, 2008, where walkers will bring their concerns to the Federal Government as well as hold a Cultural Survival Summit to bring attention to the issues of environmental injustice, protection of sacred sites, cultural survival, youth empowerment, and eroding Native American rights the Longest Walk 2 has encountered along the route.
The 2008 Longest Walk marks the 30th anniversary of the original Longest Walk of 1978 that resulted in historic changes for Native America. In July of 1978, thousands converged on the Nations’ capitol to oppose and successfully defeat 11 pieces of legislation in Congress that would have terminated many significant treaties between the federal government and tribes nation wide. Largely due to the impact of the walk and the hard work of many Native American activists, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) of 1978 was passed one month after the walk arrived in D.C. AIRFA states that it is ‘the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and exercise the traditional religions of the American Indian”
Aislyn Colgan 831 295-2555
acolgan2002@yahoo.com
http://www.longestwalk.org/
Longest Walk Southern Route in Oklahoma
By Brenda Golden
Oklahoma City -- The Longest Walk 2 Southern Route is organized and led by American Indian Movement co-founder Dennis J. Banks, elders and original 1978 Walkers. Eighty to one hundred of these walkers will be traveling by foot across Oklahoma from May 3 to May 13 on their way to Washington DC from San Francisco, California.
Walkers include American Indian tribal members from all over the nation, and many International participants. The Nipponzan Miyohoji Buddhists from Japan have been walking with The Longest Walk 2 - Southern Route and will continue to through Oklahoma.
Communities in Oklahoma welcoming the Longest Walk 2-Southern Route are: May 3rd in Canton, May 5th in Kingfisher, May 6th in Perkins, May 6th in Tulsa, May 9th Tahlequah, May 10th Vian/Sallisaw, May 11 in Poteau, May 12th in Octavia and May 13th in Broken Bow.
A benefit dance for Dennis Banks and Don Hatch was held at the Watonga Cheyenne & Arapaho Community Center on Saturday, May 3 with ground dancing at 2:00 pm, Supper at 4:00 pm with dancing to follow. Viola Hatch, children and grandchildren are sponsors of the Benefit Dance Honoring Dan Hatch and Dennis Banks. Contacts: Ms. Viola Hatch at (580) 886-3472.
The purpose of the Southern route is to continue and carry the message from the Longest Walk of 1978: "The Longest Walk is an Indian spiritual walk, a historical walk; and it is a walk for educational awareness to the American and the world communities about the concerns of American Indian people." The Longest Walk 2 is walking to create awareness about the environment. They are walking to protect sacred sites in our country and to promote positive change in our world.
The Tulsa Indian Coalition Against Racism (TICAR) is pleased to support and welcome The Longest Walk in Tulsa on May 7 and 8th. The Society to Preserve Indigenous Rights and Indigenous Traditions (SPIRIT) is also pleased to offer support for the Longest Walk II while they are in Oklahoma.
For more information about the Longest Walk Southern Route, contact Michael Rojas at (510) 338-8694 and Larry BringingGood at (209) 242-1162 and on the web at: http://www.longestwalk.org/
Lakota Owe Aku environmental victory
Lakota Organization OWE AKU's Environmental Victory
Greetings from Owe Aku, the traditional Lakota (Sioux) organization advocating for Lakota peoples’ human, ecological and treaty rights from a proactive grassroots perspective. Owe Aku, on behalf of our communities and allies, is very pleased and humbled to express our gratitude for recent developments regarding the protection of our sacred Mother Earth. The United States Federal Atomic Licensing Board (ALB) has granted Owe Aku the opportunity to put forth its arguments why Crow Butte Resources, Inc. should not be allowed to expand their current mining interests in northwestern Nebraska.
“Petitioners Debra White Plume, the organizations Owe Aku/Bring Back the Way and the Western Nebraska Resources Council are admitted as parties in this proceeding and their Requests for Hearing and Petitions to intervene are granted…”
The land and water that Canadian-based Cameco/Crow Butte Resources, Inc. is trying to access is traditional Lakota treaty territory under the 1868 and 1851 Fort Laramie treaties. The 1868 Ft. Laramie treaty has been acknowledged as legal and binding by the United States Supreme Court (1980) and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Treaties (2000). In filing its petition with the NRC, Owe Aku submitted the treaty issue as a relevant part of the discussion along with the recently passed Declaration on the Rights of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, relying on provisions regarding Indigenous peoples’ rights to traditional land and resources, and free, prior, & informed consent. Prior to its decision yesterday, on January 16, 2008 the NRC sent a three judge panel to Nebraska to hear oral arguments and specifically requested additional information on the treaties and the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights. Although the ALB, in its written decision, mentioned the issue of international human rights and treaty law by stating they need not rely on these assertions for this particular decision, an entire section of their Memorandum and Order was dedicated to just that.
Debra White Plume, an organizer and strong force behind this action, stated:
“We are very, very happy about this decision. Now that Owe Aku and the Western Nebraska Resources Council has been granted “standing,” the Oglala Sioux Tribe, our traditional elders and chiefs from the treaty council and others will now be able to join the case. It was their blessing and encouragement that helped us in this EARLY victory, WHICH IS BASICALLY FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHT TO FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS. In this work we do what we have to protect our sacred water and our future generations.”
Late in 2007, Owe Aku was instrumental in driving colonial corporate interests from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Native American Energy Group (“NAEG” – despite the name they have nothing to do with Native Americans except to exploit our territory) came to Pine Ridge promoting in situ uranium mining in the vast aquifer that lies under the reservation and spans across many states in the west. Owe Aku, through its Director Debra White Plume, WORKING WITH the treaty council, filed an action in tribal court to BANISH NAEG FROM TREATY TERRITORY. In this victory, NAEG was driven from the reservation to ensure that there would not be further contamination to the aquifer, the land, the people and the totality of the environment. Pine Ridge continues to suffer from radioactive contaminants and arsenic in their groundwater in elevated rates of disease.
Owe Aku has experienced a variety of tragedies this winter, including the complete destruction of our headquarters by fire. Despite these serious challenges, with the support of individuals and organizations across the country, this victory shows that through our alliances we can continue to Unite to Fight. We send a special Wopila (thank you) to our allies, the AND our pro bono legal team.
CONTACT: Kent Lebsock, Owe Aku Intl Human Rights and Justice Program,
917-751-4239, iamkent@verizon.net
www.bringbacktheway.com
info@UraniumIsNotMyFriend.com
www.savecrowbutte.org
Kent Lebsock
Owe Aku (Bring Back the Way)
International Justice & Human Rights Project
917-751-4239
iamkent@verizon.net
South Dakota:
lakota1@gwtc.net
www.bringbacktheway.com
Greetings from Owe Aku, the traditional Lakota (Sioux) organization advocating for Lakota peoples’ human, ecological and treaty rights from a proactive grassroots perspective. Owe Aku, on behalf of our communities and allies, is very pleased and humbled to express our gratitude for recent developments regarding the protection of our sacred Mother Earth. The United States Federal Atomic Licensing Board (ALB) has granted Owe Aku the opportunity to put forth its arguments why Crow Butte Resources, Inc. should not be allowed to expand their current mining interests in northwestern Nebraska.
“Petitioners Debra White Plume, the organizations Owe Aku/Bring Back the Way and the Western Nebraska Resources Council are admitted as parties in this proceeding and their Requests for Hearing and Petitions to intervene are granted…”
The land and water that Canadian-based Cameco/Crow Butte Resources, Inc. is trying to access is traditional Lakota treaty territory under the 1868 and 1851 Fort Laramie treaties. The 1868 Ft. Laramie treaty has been acknowledged as legal and binding by the United States Supreme Court (1980) and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Treaties (2000). In filing its petition with the NRC, Owe Aku submitted the treaty issue as a relevant part of the discussion along with the recently passed Declaration on the Rights of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, relying on provisions regarding Indigenous peoples’ rights to traditional land and resources, and free, prior, & informed consent. Prior to its decision yesterday, on January 16, 2008 the NRC sent a three judge panel to Nebraska to hear oral arguments and specifically requested additional information on the treaties and the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights. Although the ALB, in its written decision, mentioned the issue of international human rights and treaty law by stating they need not rely on these assertions for this particular decision, an entire section of their Memorandum and Order was dedicated to just that.
Debra White Plume, an organizer and strong force behind this action, stated:
“We are very, very happy about this decision. Now that Owe Aku and the Western Nebraska Resources Council has been granted “standing,” the Oglala Sioux Tribe, our traditional elders and chiefs from the treaty council and others will now be able to join the case. It was their blessing and encouragement that helped us in this EARLY victory, WHICH IS BASICALLY FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHT TO FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS. In this work we do what we have to protect our sacred water and our future generations.”
Late in 2007, Owe Aku was instrumental in driving colonial corporate interests from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Native American Energy Group (“NAEG” – despite the name they have nothing to do with Native Americans except to exploit our territory) came to Pine Ridge promoting in situ uranium mining in the vast aquifer that lies under the reservation and spans across many states in the west. Owe Aku, through its Director Debra White Plume, WORKING WITH the treaty council, filed an action in tribal court to BANISH NAEG FROM TREATY TERRITORY. In this victory, NAEG was driven from the reservation to ensure that there would not be further contamination to the aquifer, the land, the people and the totality of the environment. Pine Ridge continues to suffer from radioactive contaminants and arsenic in their groundwater in elevated rates of disease.
Owe Aku has experienced a variety of tragedies this winter, including the complete destruction of our headquarters by fire. Despite these serious challenges, with the support of individuals and organizations across the country, this victory shows that through our alliances we can continue to Unite to Fight. We send a special Wopila (thank you) to our allies, the AND our pro bono legal team.
CONTACT: Kent Lebsock, Owe Aku Intl Human Rights and Justice Program,
917-751-4239, iamkent@verizon.net
www.bringbacktheway.com
info@UraniumIsNotMyFriend.com
www.savecrowbutte.org
Kent Lebsock
Owe Aku (Bring Back the Way)
International Justice & Human Rights Project
917-751-4239
iamkent@verizon.net
South Dakota:
lakota1@gwtc.net
www.bringbacktheway.com
May 2, 2008
Indigenous Peoples: Carbon trading is permission to pollute
Indigenous Peoples Critical of Position on Carbon Trading of UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Juan Carlos, Amazon Alliance, 202-285-0153 (Spanish)Marcial Garcia, Kuna People, ariasmarcial@hotmail.com (Spanish)
Jihan Gearon, Indigenous Environmental Network, 218-760-1370 (English)
Photo: Florina Lopez, Coordinator of the Indigenous Women's Biodiversity Network/Photo by Ben Powless, Mohawk
New York City, NY – Indigenous Peoples attending the Permanent Forum are outraged that their rejection of the carbon market has been ignored in the final report of the 7th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII).
The final report of the PFII hails World Bank funded carbon trading, like the Clean Development Mechanism, as “good examples” of partnership despite the human rights violations and environmental destruction they have caused.
“Indigenous Peoples attending the 7th session of the Permanent Forum are profoundly concerned that our key recommendations on climate change are not being taken into account by the Permanent Forum. This Permanent Forum was created precisely to recognize, promote, and support the rights of Indigenous Peoples,” says Florina Lopez, Coordinator of the Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity Network of Abya Yala.
Throughout the two weeks of the Permanent Forum, Indigenous community representatives have consistently testified about the injustices associated with the clean development mechanism projects and have asked that the Permanent Forum not promote the projects. However, in the final report of the Permanent Forum (document E/C.19/2008/L.2) adopted today, these injustices have been ignored.
In response, many groups under the name of the Indigenous Caucus of Abya Yala took the floor today to express their concerns. Their statement affirmed that the recommendations of the Permanent Forum do not properly reflect their positions. They used the opportunity to affirm their rejection of carbon trading mechanisms and concerns over specific implementations. Over 30 organizations at the forum called for the final report to include a section outlining their concerns.
In the background paper for this session (Document E/C.19/2008/10), three projects are being upheld to illustrate the “clean development mechanism projects that are being implemented in indigenous peoples territories with good results.”
However, there are grave problems with each of these projects including violations of the rights enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
For example, the Jeripachi wind power project in Colombia did not get the free, prior, and informed consent of the Wayuu people to build this wind farm in a sacred territory of the Wayuu People.
Indigenous Peoples’ organizations contend the assassination of over 200 Wayuu People prior to the implementation of the project was to clear the area for this and other projects. Additionally, most of the energy generated from the wind farm is used to power the Cerrajon mine, the biggest open air coal mine in the world, which itself is known for numerous human rights violations and environmental damages.
Representatives of the Wayuu people who attended the Permanent Forum didn’t even know the project was being promoted as a good example.
“In promoting the clean development mechanism projects and carbon trading, the Permanent Forum is allowing oil companies who are the biggest emitters for greenhouse gases, to continue to pollute,” says Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network. “Promoting the commodification of the air is a corruption of our traditional teachings and violates the original instructions of Indigenous Peoples. ###
Indigenous Environmental Network
Indigenous Environmental Network
Native Energy and Climate Campaign
P.O. Box 2696 Flagstaff, AZ 86003
928.214.8301
Black Mesa Water Coalition: Voices ignored on carbon trading
Black Mesa Water Coalition members, Chelsea Chee (Climate Justice Organizer) and Enei Begaye (Co-Director) traveled with a North American Indigenous Delegation to participate in the recent United Nation's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in NYC the past couple of weeks. We pushed for a moratorium of mining fossil fuels on Indigenous Peoples' lands as well as the end of carbon trading markets (which do not address the climate crisis!) The below news release explains the disappointment of this meeting not only from us but many many Indigenous peoples through out the world! Many Indigenous Peoples gave testimony to the harm that these fossil fuel & carbon trading industries have done to our communities! However, our voices were ignored! This is very disappointing!
Enei Begaye
Executive Director
Black Mesa Water Coalition
Enei Begaye
Executive Director
Black Mesa Water Coalition
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