by Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
SAN FRANCISCO -- Listen online to Native American speakers at the "Indigenous Peoples Struggles to Defend Sacred Places," held Saturday in San Francisco.
Speaking on the ongoing struggles to defend sacred places in the audio, "Indigenous Defenders Sacred Places," are: Ann Marie Sayers, Ohlone, with Morning Star Gali, Radley Davis and Mark LeBeau, Pit River. Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone, with Julie Bill of the Western Shoshone Defense Project, speak on the efforts to halt Barrick Gold from destroying sacred Mount Tenabo. The seminar was presented by the International Indian Treaty Council. Audio production by Govinda Dalton at Earthcycles.
Listen to "Indigenous Defenders Sacred Places," 90-minute show at:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell
March 8, 2009
Black Hills Treaty Fishing: Galvanizing Sovereignty and Law
SOUTH DAKOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL: 'I’VE NEVER READ THE FT. LARAMIE TREATIES'
By Natalie Hand
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
PINE RIDGE, S.D. -- What began as an attempt to exercise sovereignty at Sheridan Lake in the Black Hills last summer, now has Russell Means in deep water with South Dakota law enforcement.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2009, a Pennington County judge issued a bench warrant for Means arrest after he failed to appear in court for a charge of fishing without a license.
“I do not understand why the State is continuing to press for a major court trial when they know I have petitioned to have this case heard in federal court. This is a constitutional issue, which means that local courts have no jurisdiction and they know this," Means said.
However, South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long disagrees. In a telephone interview, Long contended, “There is no distinction between a Native American and a non-native in this State. If either is breaking our laws in the Black Hills, they will be arrested. The State does have jurisdiction over Indians here.”
“Furthermore, why are they bringing in a magistrate from Pierre to hear this case?” questioned Means.
“I would speculate that all the Pennington County judges have disqualified themselves because they all live in the Black Hills. For that reason I would suspect that they appointed someone from outside the Circuit," Long said.
When asked whether or not Means had a valid argument to move his case to a federal court based on constitutional rights violation, Long replied, “Mr. Means ‘claims’ that the Black Hills is treaty territory and that South Dakota has no jurisdiction over him. I don’t believe that he has any rights to fish without a license under the U.S. Constitution.”
Means reference to the U.S. Constitution pertains to Article VI, which states: “ . . . This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby . . .”
In his application to move his case to federal court, Means contends that he is within his inherent rights under the 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaty.
“I have never even read the Ft. Laramie Treaty," Long admitted.
“Russell is within his rights under the 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaty. He Sapa, the sacred Black Hills, is within our treaty territory. That treaty is a living document. We have a Nation-to-Nation agreement with the U.S. More of us Lakota need to exert our sovereign power. The U.S. has violated the Treaty, which they authored. They have offered us compensation. We have refused it. We will never sell the Black Hills. It is what defines us," stated Floyd Hand, an Oglala Lakota and delegate to the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council.
A Federal Court clerk confirmed that Means filed a complaint in October, 2008 to move the case to Federal Court. The State filed for a continuance on January 12th and it was granted the next day.
Long concluded, “I suspect that Mr. Means’ application is unique. I would assume that someone has written a response not to touch this.”
To date, no hearing date has been scheduled. There is no deadline for a federal judge to rule on Means’ petition.
By Natalie Hand
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
PINE RIDGE, S.D. -- What began as an attempt to exercise sovereignty at Sheridan Lake in the Black Hills last summer, now has Russell Means in deep water with South Dakota law enforcement.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2009, a Pennington County judge issued a bench warrant for Means arrest after he failed to appear in court for a charge of fishing without a license.
“I do not understand why the State is continuing to press for a major court trial when they know I have petitioned to have this case heard in federal court. This is a constitutional issue, which means that local courts have no jurisdiction and they know this," Means said.
However, South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long disagrees. In a telephone interview, Long contended, “There is no distinction between a Native American and a non-native in this State. If either is breaking our laws in the Black Hills, they will be arrested. The State does have jurisdiction over Indians here.”
“Furthermore, why are they bringing in a magistrate from Pierre to hear this case?” questioned Means.
“I would speculate that all the Pennington County judges have disqualified themselves because they all live in the Black Hills. For that reason I would suspect that they appointed someone from outside the Circuit," Long said.
When asked whether or not Means had a valid argument to move his case to a federal court based on constitutional rights violation, Long replied, “Mr. Means ‘claims’ that the Black Hills is treaty territory and that South Dakota has no jurisdiction over him. I don’t believe that he has any rights to fish without a license under the U.S. Constitution.”
Means reference to the U.S. Constitution pertains to Article VI, which states: “ . . . This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby . . .”
In his application to move his case to federal court, Means contends that he is within his inherent rights under the 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaty.
“I have never even read the Ft. Laramie Treaty," Long admitted.
“Russell is within his rights under the 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaty. He Sapa, the sacred Black Hills, is within our treaty territory. That treaty is a living document. We have a Nation-to-Nation agreement with the U.S. More of us Lakota need to exert our sovereign power. The U.S. has violated the Treaty, which they authored. They have offered us compensation. We have refused it. We will never sell the Black Hills. It is what defines us," stated Floyd Hand, an Oglala Lakota and delegate to the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council.
A Federal Court clerk confirmed that Means filed a complaint in October, 2008 to move the case to Federal Court. The State filed for a continuance on January 12th and it was granted the next day.
Long concluded, “I suspect that Mr. Means’ application is unique. I would assume that someone has written a response not to touch this.”
To date, no hearing date has been scheduled. There is no deadline for a federal judge to rule on Means’ petition.
March 7, 2009
Native Human Rights Defenders Honored in San Francisco
By Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
SAN FRANCISCO -- The International Indian Treaty Council honored Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone, and Manny Pino, Acoma Pueblo, with Human Rights Defenders Awards Saturday night in San Francisco.
"We have the original rights, not aboriginal rights, because we were the first here," Dann said at San Francisco State University.
Dann and Pino spoke during the seminar, "Indigenous Peoples Struggles to Defend Sacred Places," which focused on human rights, sacred places and the international inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Dann spoke on the oppression of the colonizers and the necessity of rising to protect Native sacred places.
Dann said Indigenous Peoples all over the world are suffering because of the so-called civilized worlds. "What does it mean to be civilized?"
"Does it mean you have the right to rape and murder?"
Barrick Gold continues its rape of the land for massive gold mines, coring out mountains and poisoning the water with cyanide, in Indigenous territories around the world.
In Western Shoshone territory, Barrick Gold continues the destruction of the area of sacred Mount Tenabo.
"It is too heartbreaking," Dann said when asked if she had been to Mount Tenabo to witness the destruction.
Pino, known for his efforts to expose the injustices of uranium mining in the Southwest and the assaults on sacred places, said it was an honor to be here with Carrie Dann.
Pino spoke on the need for learning the Native languages and the continuance of the ceremonies.
"It's never too late, hang out with your grandma, hang out with your grandpa," Pino said.
"The most important advice we can get is listening to them."
Pino presented a slide presentation on the horrors of uranium mining for Pueblo and Navajo people. The radioactive contamination was carried by the winds into the foods of the people, in the fields and the foods that were drying. This radioactive dust coated the vegetation of the sheep and contaminated the people.
Photographs of the Jackpile Mine in New Mexico revealed the devastation to the land.
The horror of this 30-year legacy of mining remains now in the form of widespread cancers and Down Syndrome. At the time of the mine, the tribal government was unaware of the impact.
On the Navajo Nation alone, there are 1,300 unreclaimed uranium mines. The radioactive tailings in the Monument Valley area are one fact that no one tells the tourists, Pino said.
"Of course, it is the grassroots people who live in these areas."
Navajos used radioactive materials to build their hogans. Many are sick and dying today.
Pino said the Bush administration claimed that nuclear power was the key for the future, but there was no solution of where to put the waste. At the same time, radioactive waste is blowing in the Southwest.
Pino said it is important to be vigilant with the Obama administration to ensure a nuclear free future.
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
SAN FRANCISCO -- The International Indian Treaty Council honored Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone, and Manny Pino, Acoma Pueblo, with Human Rights Defenders Awards Saturday night in San Francisco.
"We have the original rights, not aboriginal rights, because we were the first here," Dann said at San Francisco State University.
Dann and Pino spoke during the seminar, "Indigenous Peoples Struggles to Defend Sacred Places," which focused on human rights, sacred places and the international inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Dann spoke on the oppression of the colonizers and the necessity of rising to protect Native sacred places.
Dann said Indigenous Peoples all over the world are suffering because of the so-called civilized worlds. "What does it mean to be civilized?"
"Does it mean you have the right to rape and murder?"
Barrick Gold continues its rape of the land for massive gold mines, coring out mountains and poisoning the water with cyanide, in Indigenous territories around the world.
In Western Shoshone territory, Barrick Gold continues the destruction of the area of sacred Mount Tenabo.
"It is too heartbreaking," Dann said when asked if she had been to Mount Tenabo to witness the destruction.
Pino, known for his efforts to expose the injustices of uranium mining in the Southwest and the assaults on sacred places, said it was an honor to be here with Carrie Dann.
Pino spoke on the need for learning the Native languages and the continuance of the ceremonies.
"It's never too late, hang out with your grandma, hang out with your grandpa," Pino said.
"The most important advice we can get is listening to them."
Pino presented a slide presentation on the horrors of uranium mining for Pueblo and Navajo people. The radioactive contamination was carried by the winds into the foods of the people, in the fields and the foods that were drying. This radioactive dust coated the vegetation of the sheep and contaminated the people.
Photographs of the Jackpile Mine in New Mexico revealed the devastation to the land.
The horror of this 30-year legacy of mining remains now in the form of widespread cancers and Down Syndrome. At the time of the mine, the tribal government was unaware of the impact.
On the Navajo Nation alone, there are 1,300 unreclaimed uranium mines. The radioactive tailings in the Monument Valley area are one fact that no one tells the tourists, Pino said.
"Of course, it is the grassroots people who live in these areas."
Navajos used radioactive materials to build their hogans. Many are sick and dying today.
Pino said the Bush administration claimed that nuclear power was the key for the future, but there was no solution of where to put the waste. At the same time, radioactive waste is blowing in the Southwest.
Pino said it is important to be vigilant with the Obama administration to ensure a nuclear free future.
March 6, 2009
Earthcyles Broadcast Live, Native Sacred Places, San Francisco
"LISTEN NOW" online today, Saturday:
"Indigenous Peoples Struggles to Defend Sacred Places:
http://www.earthcycles.net/
Earthcycles broadcasts live from San Francisco on Saturday
Join us on Saturday, March 7, 2009, during the daylong seminar on Native American human rights and sacred places, broadcasting live. Presenters include Carrie Dann, Manny Pino, Radley Davis, Mark Lebeau, Corrina Gould and members of the International Indian Treaty Council. Join us live, Longest Walk Talk Radio producer Govinda Dalton of Earthcycles and cohost Brenda Norrell of Censored News.
Speakers, schedule and location: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2009/03/native-sacred-places-seminar-saturday.html
Listen at Earthcycles on Saturday: http://www.earthcycles.net/
Photo: Govinda Dalton's Earthcycles bus at the culmination of the Longest Walk 2 in DC. Photo Brenda Norrell
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