Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

October 23, 2009

Women Warriors: Indigenous Uranium Forum


VIDEO STREAM/INDIGENOUS URANIUM FORUM: Watch sessions of the forum, which ended Saturday, by clicking "On Demand" for sessions at:
Watch Ofelia's interview: Click on "On-Demand" then click on the photo of the session on Thursday, the five hour tape. You can fast forward through the session by clicking on the time bar, to time 1 hour and 10 minutes into the tape for Ofelia's interview.
Tohono O'odham Ofelia Rivas and Roselyn Bates, Navajo, at the Indigenous Uranium Forum. Live music by Indige Femme. Photos Brenda Norrell

Indigenous Uranium Forum, Women and Youth Photos





Indigenous Uranium Forum, Acoma Pueblo
Shonto high school students screen their films on the devastation from uranium mining. Margene Bullcreek, Goshute, speaks out on nuclear dumping. Louise Benally, Navajo of Big Mountain with Faith Gimmell, Gwich'in from Alaska. Photos copyright Brenda Norrell
JOIN US LIVE
Indigenous Uranium Forum, Acoma Pueblo Live Video
Stream:
Earthcycles Web Radio
Forum Schedule
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2009/10/earthcycles-live-thursday-morning.html
Thursday, October 22, 2009
7:00AM—8AM: Breakfast & Registration
8:30AM: Welcome – Honorable Chandler Sanchez, Governor of Acoma Pueblo
8:45AM: Opening Prayer – Honorable Ron Charlie, 2nd Lieutenant Governor, Acoma Pueblo
9:00AM: Introductions – Manny Pino, Acoma, Professor, “Overview of Acoma Homelands”
9:30AM: Protecting Mt. Taylor: 30 Years of Resistance
• Jon Redhouse, Advisor to SIUF
• “Honoring Diana Ortiz, Women of Acoma: Great Role Model”
• Wild Fire Singers, Taos Drum Group, “Songs for the People”
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Inter-Tribal Voice
12:00PM: Lunch (on your own)
1:00PM: Indigenous Nuclear Resistance Panel
• Charmaine White Face, Defenders of the Black Hills, “Impacts of uranium
development on Lakota Lands and World Health Organization Obligation to the UN”
• Rita Capitan, Eastern Navajo DinĂ© Against Uranium Mining
• Supai Waters, Matthew Puetsoy , Carletta Tilousi, Havasupai Tribe, People of
the Blue Green Waters, Protecting Red Butte and Grandmother Canyon
• Nuclear Waste: Margene Bullcreek, Shoshone Paiute
• Indigenous Youth Voices: Nadine Padilla, Autumn Chacon, Nikke Alex & Jihan
Gearon
• Solidarity Statement: Katsumi Furitsu, Japan & Mayra Gomez, Aymara Tribe,
Bolivia
3:00PM: Break
3:15PM: Indigenous Nuclear Resistance Panel
• Gilbert Bedonie, Navajo Dependents of Uranium Workers Committee
• Chris Peters, 7th Generation Fund, “Abya Yala” International Connections
• Updates: Nuclear Regulatory Commission-GEIS Panelist Eric Jantz, NMELC
• Dineh Project, Sarah Adeky and Chris Shuey, SRIC
4:30PM: Adjourn
5:00PM: Dinner & Music by “Indigie Femme”
7:00PM—9:00PM: Evening Activities
1. Networking and relax: It’s your choice
2. Film Screenings: “U38 Womyn” (7 mins), Shonto Prepatory School, Uranium
Research, “Radioactive Mines to Radioactive Weapons” (27 mins) -- Host:
Norman Brown
Friday, October 23, 2009
7TH SOUTHWEST INDIGENOUS URANIUM FORUM ACOMA PUEBLO, NM
9:00AM: Greening Our Economies Panel
• John Fogarty, New Energy Economy
• Louise Bennally, Food Sovereignty
• Cristala Allen, Caddo, Native Workplace
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Nuclear Terrorism on Indigenous Lands: Treaty and Human Rights Lens –
Moderator: Manny Pino
• James Zion, Esq. “Public Lands Uranium Resistance: Grand Canyon and
Beyond”
• Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity
12:00PM: Lunch (on your own)
1:00PM: Tools for Change – Moderator: Petuuche Gilbert, Acoma
• Multi-Cultural Alliance for a Safe Environment-Best Practice for Alliance
Building Nadine Padilla, Larry King, Jonnie Head, & Rosemarie Cechini
3:00PM: Break
3:15PM: Impact of Uranium Development on Local Communities – Moderator: Laura
Watchempino, Acoma
• Teddy Nez, Carletta Garcia, Al Waconda
4:30PM: Adjourn
5:00PM—6:30PM: Dinner
7:00PM-9:00PM: Film Screening and Discussion – Host: Robert Tohe
• “Return of Navajo Boy” (53 min) & Conversation with Elsie Mae Begay
Saturday, October 24, 2009
7:00AM—8:00AM: Breakfast & Registration
8:00AM: Opening Prayer & Announcements
9:00AM: Guest Speaker, Winona LaDuke, Anishanabe, White Earth Homelands
10:15AM: Beyond Nuclear, Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Strategy Presentations, Draft Press Release, Reach Consensus on Plans of Action,
Assignments, Committee to Carry out Plan of Action, Set Conference Call, & What
organizations are committed?
12:00PM: Wrap Up Discussion
12:30PM: Adjourn
Thank you all for taking the time to share and plan for a Nuclear Free World.

October 22, 2009

Oglala Treaty Council Exerts Inherent Authority on BIA Agent

Black Hills Treaty Council affirmed Treaties and initiated removal proceedings of BIA Superintendent Robert Ecoffey, Jr.

MEMBER RESERVATIONS
Cheyenne River
Crow Creek
Fort Peck
Lower Brule
Pine Ridge
Rosebud
Standing Rock
Yankton
October 22, 2009

By Oglala Delegation of the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
PINE RIDGE, S.D. -- The Oglala Delegation of the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council, headed by Chief Oliver Red Cloud, reaffirmed the 1851 and 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaties by exerting their inherent rights and authority by issuing removal proceedings against their agency's BIA Superintendent Robert Ecoffey, Jr. for human, civil, and treaty rights violations against the Oglala Oyate (people).
Article I of the Treaty states, “… If bad men among the whites, or among other people subject to the authority of the United States, shall commit any wrong upon the person or property of the Indians, the United States will … proceed at once to cause the offender to be arrested and punished … and also re-imburse the injured person for the loss sustained … If bad men among the Indians shall commit a wrong or depredation upon the person or property of any one, white, black or Indian, the Indians will deliver the wrongdoer to the United States to be tried and punished …”
Upon issuing the order for Ecoffey to vacate his position as the Pine Ridge Superintendent, two tribal members occupied Ecoffey's office in the BIA for several hours. They released a statement that they would not leave the office until the Agency was shut down and a federal negotiator would be called in to hear the complaints from tribal members regarding Ecoffey's ineffectiveness as an Agent, especially several years of questionable trust land transfers and refusal to conduct a forensic land audit.
Wednesday's non-violent action stems from months of false promises made by Ecoffey to address numerous complaints brought by firefighters from the Pine Ridge Agency Fire Department who have sought to remove Fire Management Chief Daigre Douville, Mike Twiss, Harold Compton and others from the station for human and civil rights violations and a sexual assault charge.
In a pre-emptive move to appease the tribal membership, he made a 11th hour call to the Equal Employment Office in Washington, D.C., who sent a representative to Pine Ridge yesterday to take testimony on the sexual assault charge brought against fire station staff. The E.E.O. officer was on hand to witness the Treaty Council exert their custom law on Ecoffey and assured tribal members that he would return to D.C. and summons a special commissioner to come to Pine Ridge to address the peoples' concerns.
By late afternoon, Ecoffey had granted two-week paid administrative leave to Fire Chief Daigre Douville and Fire Technician Mike Twiss, pending the outcome of the E.E.O. investigation.
The Black Hills Treaty Council contends that their action is legal under custom laws as lineal descendants of the treaty signers. Therefore, the Pine Ridge Agency is currently without a Superintendent and any action Ecoffey attempts to takes will be considered illegal.
Yesterday's events are a result of the perpetual poverty and genocidal policies that the federal government imposes on the Tribe. The Treaty Council will re-convene on November 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in Billy Mills Hall, Pine Ridge to update tribal members on their progress.
Contact Alex White Plume, Treaty Council spokesman, at 605-455-2534 605-455-2534 for additional comment.

October 21, 2009

Earthcycles LIVE Thursday morning: Indigenous Uranium Summit


LISTEN: EARTHCYCLES LIVE THURSDAY 8:30 a.m.
through Saturday noon
http://www.earthcycles.net/

Indigenous Uranium Forum
Sky City Hotel

Acoma Pueblo, N.M.
The 7th Indigenous Uranium Forum proposes to focus much needed public attention on the rape of Mount Taylor and to serve as a vehicle to launch a regional inter-tribal campaign to end this madness in the Grants Mineral Belt, Lakota Lands, and elsewhere in Indian Country from the Grand Canyon to White Mesa where deadly and runaway uranium technology threatens the lives of future of our water, land, people, and our winged, four legged and those that crawl relatives. The 7th Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum will focus on the recent onslaught of exploratory measures to mine and mill uranium in the Grants Mineral Belt. Due to recent price fluctuations of uranium on the world market and United States energy policy still emphasizing nuclear power as an answer to global warming and climate change, we will inform and educate participants of local, national and international nuclear issues impacting Indigenous peoples. The forum will also prioritize presentations on health issues impacting both mining and non-mining populations living in contaminated communities. We will use the forum as an organizing and network initiative to help us better understand the work Indigenous people are doing to fight nuclear power in their communities and move toward alternative forms of energy such as wind and solar.

Earthcycles will broadcast live from the Indigenous Uranium Forum at Sky City, Acoma Pueblo, N.M., on Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. Mountain Time through Saturday noon, Oct. 22-24.

Thursday, October 22, 2009
7:00AM—8AM: Breakfast & Registration
8:30AM: Welcome – Honorable Chandler Sanchez, Governor of Acoma Pueblo
8:45AM: Opening Prayer – Honorable Ron Charlie, 2nd Lieutenant Governor, Acoma Pueblo
9:00AM: Introductions – Manny Pino, Acoma, Professor, “Overview of Acoma Homelands”
9:30AM: Protecting Mt. Taylor: 30 Years of Resistance
• Jon Redhouse, Advisor to SIUF
• “Honoring Diana Ortiz, Women of Acoma: Great Role Model”
• Wild Fire Singers, Taos Drum Group, “Songs for the People”
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Inter-Tribal Voice
12:00PM: Lunch (on your own)
1:00PM: Indigenous Nuclear Resistance Panel
• Charmaine White Face, Defenders of the Black Hills, “Impacts of uranium
development on Lakota Lands and World Health Organization Obligation to the UN”
• Rita Capitan, Eastern Navajo DinĂ© Against Uranium Mining
• Supai Waters, Matthew Puetsoy , Carletta Tilousi, Havasupai Tribe, People of
the Blue Green Waters, Protecting Red Butte and Grandmother Canyon
• Nuclear Waste: Margene Bullcreek, Shoshone Paiute
• Indigenous Youth Voices: Nadine Padilla, Autumn Chacon, Nikke Alex & Jihan
Gearon
• Solidarity Statement: Katsumi Furitsu, Japan & Mayra Gomez, Aymara Tribe,
Bolivia
3:00PM: Break
3:15PM: Indigenous Nuclear Resistance Panel
• Gilbert Bedonie, Navajo Dependents of Uranium Workers Committee
• Chris Peters, 7th Generation Fund, “Abya Yala” International Connections
• Updates: Nuclear Regulatory Commission-GEIS Panelist Eric Jantz, NMELC
• Dineh Project, Sarah Adeky and Chris Shuey, SRIC
4:30PM: Adjourn
5:00PM: Dinner & Music by “Indigie Femme”
7:00PM—9:00PM: Evening Activities
1. Networking and relax: It’s your choice
2. Film Screenings: “U38 Womyn” (7 mins), Shonto Prepatory School, Uranium
Research, “Radioactive Mines to Radioactive Weapons” (27 mins) -- Host:
Norman Brown
Friday, October 23, 2009
7:00AM—8AM: Breakfast & Registration
8:30AM: Opening Prayer
8:45AM: Overview/Check in with Forum/Updates
7TH SOUTHWEST INDIGENOUS
URANIUM FORUM
OCTOBER 22 , 23, 24 2009
SKY CITY HOTEL & CASINO
I- 40 AT EXIT 102, ACOMA PUEBLO, NM
9:00AM: Greening Our Economies Panel
• John Fogarty, New Energy Economy
• Louise Bennally, Food Sovereignty
• Cristala Allen, Caddo, Native Workplace
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Nuclear Terrorism on Indigenous Lands: Treaty and Human Rights Lens –
Moderator: Manny Pino
• James Zion, Esq. “Public Lands Uranium Resistance: Grand Canyon and
Beyond”
• Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity
12:00PM: Lunch (on your own)
1:00PM: Tools for Change – Moderator: Petuuche Gilbert, Acoma
• Multi-Cultural Alliance for a Safe Environment-Best Practice for Alliance
Building Nadine Padilla, Larry King, Jonnie Head, & Rosemarie Cechini
3:00PM: Break
3:15PM: Impact of Uranium Development on Local Communities – Moderator: Laura
Watchempino, Acoma
• Teddy Nez, Carletta Garcia, Al Waconda
4:30PM: Adjourn
5:00PM—6:30PM: Dinner
7:00PM-9:00PM: Film Screening and Discussion – Host: Robert Tohe
• “Return of Navajo Boy” (53 min) & Conversation with Elsie Mae Begay
Saturday, October 24, 2009
7:00AM—8:00AM: Breakfast & Registration
8:00AM: Opening Prayer & Announcements
9:00AM: Guest Speaker, Winona LaDuke, Anishanabe, White Earth Homelands
10:15AM: Beyond Nuclear, Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Strategy Presentations, Draft Press Release, Reach Consensus on Plans of Action,
Assignments, Committee to Carry out Plan of Action, Set Conference Call, & What
organizations are committed?
12:00PM: Wrap Up Discussion
12:30PM: Adjourn
Thank you all for taking the time to share and plan for a Nuclear Free World.

Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabe) is an internationally renowned activist working on issues of sustainable development, renewable energy and food systems. She lives and works on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota, and is a two time vice presidential candidate with Ralph Nader for the Green Party. As Program Director of the Honor the Earth, she works nationally and internationally on the issues of climate change, renewable energy, and environmental justice with Indigenous communities. Winona LaDuke will be speaking at the Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 9AM.
http://groundswellfilms.org/grandmothers-dc.htm
November 2006 saw the birth of Indigie Femme. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA international performers Indigie Femme combines their traditional and original songs, dance and storytelling, Indigie Femme’s vision is to create global cross-cultural exchange. The lively performances weave ethnic cultures through song, dance, storytelling and facilitating educational workshops in North America and the world. Indigie Femme will be performing at the Forum Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 5PM.
Set in the stunning landscape of Utah's Monument Valley, this unforgettable, universally acclaimed documentary chronicles the extraordinary saga of how a rediscovered 1950s silent film reel leads to the return of a long-lost brother to his Navajo family. Since the 1930s, members of the Cly family have lived in Monument Valley and appeared as subjects in countless photographs, postcards, and Hollywood westerns -- even in a home movie by legendary director John Ford and a propaganda film by a uranium mining company. The film "The Return of Navajo Boy" will be screened at the Forum Friday, October 23, 2009 at 7PM.
Special acknowledgement to the following supporters:
7th Generation Fund
Lannan Foundation
Western Mining Action Network
Bioneers
Available Media, Inc.
Beyond Nuclear
Phil Harrison, Navajo Nation Council Delegate (Cove & Red Valley)