Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

September 25, 2015

Paiute Steve Melendez 'Pope Francis is no Christian, Enforce Treaties'

"Pope Francis in no more a Christian than was Pope Alexander VI ... To criminalize the landowners and to bestow blessings on the thieves is deeply Satanic ... Stolen property should be returned. It’s the rule of law. Treaties should be enforced." Steve Melendez, Pyramid Lake Paiute, President American Indian Genocide Museum

By Steve Melendez, Pyramid Lake Paiute
President, American Indian Genocide Museum


In the year 1501 the Master of Ceremonies of the Vatican, Johann Burchard, wrote in his secret diary, “On Sunday evening, October 30th, Don Cesare Borgia gave a supper in his apartment in the apostolic palace, with fifty decent prostitutes or courtesans in attendance, who after the meal danced with the servants and others there, first fully dressed and then naked."

"Following the supper too, lampstands holding lighted candles were placed on the floor and chestnuts strewn about, which the prostitutes, naked and on their hands and knees, had to pick up as they crawled in and out amongst the lampstands. The pope, Don Cesare, and Donna Lucrezia were all present to watch. Finally, prizes were offered—silken doublets, pairs of shoes, hats and other garments—for those men who were most successful with the prostitutes. This performance was carried out in the Sala Reale and those who attended said that in fact the prizes were presented to those who won the contest.”

It is interesting to note that the Pope’s children, Cesare and Lucrezia were present at the Vatican orgy.

As strange as it may seem, Rodigo Borgia (Pope Alexander Vl) is not remembered for his debauchery or incest but for issuing a bull (a decree from the Pope) which drew a line from the north pole to the south pole which gave most of the Americas to Spain and a slice of Brazil to Portugal.
The licentiousness of Rodrigo Borgia was well known at the time. As a Cardinal, he received a reprimand from Pope Pius II, written in his own hand in June of 1460.

“We have heard that three days ago a number of Sienese women were gathered together in the gardens of Giovanni Bichi and that you, forgetful of your high office, were with them from one o’clock until six in the afternoon.  Your companion was one of your colleagues whose age, if not his respect for the apostolic see, should have reminded him of his duties. We have been informed that there was unseemly dancing, that no amorous allurements were lacking, and that you conducted yourself in a wholly worldly manner. Decency forbids us to go into the detail of what happened, for they were things whose very names are unworthy of your rank. The husbands, fathers, brothers and other kinsmen who had accompanied the girls were forbidden entrance so that you and a few of your intimates could be more free to indulge your pleasures. They say that in Siena this is the main topic of conversation and everyone is laughing at your vanity…We leave it to you to judge whether paying court to girls, dispatching fruit and delicate wines to the woman of your choice, spending the whole day watching every kind of folly and finally sending away the husbands so as to have all freedom for yourself, are compatible with yours dignity. We are blamed on your account, and your late uncle Callixtus is blamed too for entrusting you with so many offices and honours…Remember your dignity and do not try to win the reputation of a vain gallant among men and girls…Here at Bignio there are many ecclesiastics and laymen among whom you have become a byword…”

Many people in this country believe that America was founded a “Christian Nation” but no one can disagree that there was nothing “Christian” about Pope Alexander VI.

From the genocide that Columbus committed on the natives on the island of Haiti to the government’s refusal to honor treaties with the Indians, it is all traced back to this licentious, incestuous, pervert, Pope Alexander VI.  As we shall see, all history since Christ is filled with men who profess to be Christians when they are not.  It is the Catholic Church that is most responsible for the hijacking of Christianity. Spaniard, Rodrigo Borgia’s papal Bull ‘Inter Caetera” issued May 4, 1493, was the basis for the Doctrine of Discovery which is written into American law. Black’s Law Dictionary defines “Discovery” as, “The foundation for a claim of national ownership or sovereignty, discovery is the finding of a country, continent, or island previously unknown, or previously known only to its uncivilized inhabitants.

That a  Spanish Pope could give the Americas away to Spain and Portugal is land theft on a Continental  scale. To criminalize the landowners and to bestow blessings on the thieves is deeply Satanic.

Today, Pope Francis’s addressed a joint session of the United States Congress. Speaking of Americas’ historic wrongs to the Indigenous people shows that Pope Francis in no more a Christian than was  Pope Alexander VI.  He said, “Tragically, the rights of those who were here long before us were not always respected.  For those peoples and their nations, from the heart of American democracy, I wish to reaffirm my highest esteem and appreciation. Those first contacts were often turbulent and violent, but it is difficult to judge the past by the criteria of the present.” 

The Anti-Christ is someone who opposes or takes the place of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church does exactly that!  If the Holy Spirit was in either of these men then they would know that the “criteria” of the Bible never changes. Right and wrong never change. Stolen property should be returned. It’s the rule of law. Treaties should be enforced. It’s the law. Unjust laws should be condemned. It is the righteous thing to do.

MAINE: New Film on Battle of Penobscot River Territory


Sunlight  Media Collective Releases Documentary on the Battle Over Contested Penobscot River Territory

By Sunlight Media Collective Co-Founders Maria Girouard & Meredith DeFrancesco sunlightmediacollective@gmail.com
Censored News
September 25, 2015

Indian Island, MAINE: On Friday, Sunlight Media Collective released The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory, a documentary film that explores the conflict between the state of Maine and the Penobscot Nation over contested river territory. Spanning from the 1700's to the present-day legal battle of Penobscot Nation v. Mills, the film illustrates the Penobscots' centuries-long fight to retain their territory and their inherent, treaty-reserved sustenance fishing rights for future generations. Featuring first-person accounts, the film tells the urgent, inspiring story of a struggle for justice and cultural survival in the face of an astonishingly open abuse of state power.
The documentary release closely follows a meeting between Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis and President Obama, where they discussed the Penobscot Nation v. Mills case. The Penobscot Nation is suing the state of Maine in response to a decision by former Attorney General William Schneider that the Penobscot Indian reservation, which includes more than 200 islands in the Penobscot River, does not include any portion of the water— a decision that amounts to territorial theft by the state. Oral arguments for the case are scheduled for October 14th at the US District Court in Portland, ME.


The case is taking place in the context of a larger state battle over river jurisdiction and water quality standards. In February, the federal EPA ruled that Maine must improve its water quality standards to protect Penobscot sustenance fishing rights. Governor Paul LePage has called the ruling “outrageous” and threatened to relinquish state regulatory responsibilities to the federal EPA if they did not reverse the ruling.


The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory chronicles the Penobscot’s struggle to maintain their centuries-long stewardship to ensure a healthy ecosystem for all of Maine, a struggle exemplified by these contemporary legal battles. According to Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis, the Penobscot v. Mills case “is really not about controlling the river system, or controlling individuals within the system. It’s really about our ability to manage a subsistence resource that we have a responsibility for, for multiple generations.”


Funded by Broad Reach Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory is available for free on the Sunlight Media Collective website (www.sunlightmediacollective.org), and DVDs are available by order. To schedule a screening, please email sunlightmediacollective@gmail.com.


The Sunlight Media Collective is a collaboration between Penobscot and non-native filmmakers. The film is just one example of an up-swell of activism and work on issues affecting the Wabanaki tribes. In October, Upstander Productions will also release a short documentary entitled First Light, on the recently completed Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission.


Screenings of The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory currently scheduled:
October 21st, Belfast Free Library, Belfast, 6:00PM
October 24th, Gates Auditorium, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, 1:30PM


For more information, contact sunlightmediacollective@gmail.com

September 24, 2015

Nihigaal bee lina Walkers: On the Road from Nihímá Dibé Ntsaa



By Nihigaal bee lina
Censored News
English and Dutch
Dutch translation by Alice Holemans at NAIS Gazette
http://www.denaisgazet.be/nieuws/nihigaal-bee-lina-walkers-onderweg-van-nihima-dibe-ntsaa

Yesterday we resumed Nihígaal bee Iiná, Our Jounery for Extistence, and celebrated the Diné new year by laying down prayers and offerings at Nihímá Dibé Ntsaa for the protection of our land and water, and for the resilience of our people and our way of life. We gave our offerings to Tó Asdzaa' at the base of a waterfall that feeds into the La Plata River and felt incredibly blessed to be surrounded by the beauty of the mountain changing color with the seasons.
There are many old gold mines on Dibé Ntsaa, much like the Gold King Mine in Silverton, Colorado, that contaminated the Animas and San Juan rivers on August 5. The gold mines in the canyon where we made our offerings have been acquired by the Wildcat Mining Corporation, which received a permit in 2011 to "clean up" the mines after illegally building new roads and establishing a new mill to process gold ore. These mines are reportedly leaking contaminated water into the La Plata River, which also feeds into the San Juan.
We were also informed of a last minute meeting held yesterday at the Aneth Chapter House to discuss the Utah Water Rights Settlement for the San Juan River that was not announced to the public; there are concerns that the Navajo Nation is being pressured to reduce our claims to the river after the Gold King Mine spill. From what we have learned on just this first day of our journey, our water crisis is clear.
Last night, the temperature dropped as we camped near the base of the mountain, and what also became clear is that some of our walkers do not have the adequate clothing and gear for the colder temperatures. Our support vehicles are also in need of some break and c.v. joint repair, so we are requesting for donations for jackets, cold weather hiking shoes, thermals, and funds. (Please contact us at 405-534-4620 for sizes and information.)
We are on the road today from Hesperus, Colorado to Red Mesa, Colorado on Highway 140, and we have about 275 miles to go. We also are looking for a place to stay in the region. If you see us on the road stop by and say, "hi."

September 23, 2015

Natives Respond: Hillary Flipflops Harvests Votes on KXL



Hillary Clinton Announces Opposition to KXL, Native Leaders Respond

For Immediate Release: September 23, 2015

Dutch translation by Alice Holemans, NAIS/Censored News:
http://www.denaisgazet.be/nieuws/natives-reageren-hillary-clinton-probeert-stemmen-te-ronselen-met-kxl
Contacts:
A. Gay Kingman, Kingmanwapato@rushmore.com, 605-484-3036
Dallas Goldtooth, ienpipeline@igc.org, 708-515-6185
Paula Antoine, wopila@gwtc.net, 605-828-0740
Faith Spotted Eagle, eagletrax@hotmail.com, 605-481-0416
Waniyetuopi Bud Lone Eagle, Sr., bethcbest@gmail.com
Byron Buffalo, trbuffalo.tb@gmail.com, 605-200-2614
Greg Grey Cloud, Greycloud@WicaAgli.org, 1-855-942-2669
Dustina Gill, sitowiyan@hotmail.com

At a town hall meeting in Iowa yesterday afternoon, Hillary Clinton finally gave her position on the Keystone XL pipeline, telling the crowd, "I oppose it. I oppose it because I don't think it's in the best interest of what we need to do to combat climate change."


Clinton's statement is being met with skepticism and guarded celebration by grassroots Native American leaders of the Oceti Sakowin, also known as the Great Sioux Nation. The pipeline has not received consent from the Oceti Sakowin tribal nations of the Great Plains to cross their treaty lands, it does not have legally permitted routes in South Dakota or Nebraska, and it has faced a growing opposition nationwide. Now, with Clinton joining fellow Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in opposition to this tar sands pipeline, all focus now lies on President Obama to deliver the final blow and reject the Keystone XL pipeline.

Gay Kingman, Executive Director of Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association Coalition of Large Tribes: "Tribal leaders of the Great Plains have long stood in opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline. We were disappointed when Hillary Clinton took a stand supporting KXL as Secretary of State but we are happy to hear of her changed position now opposing the tar sands pipeline. Hillary Clinton's new stance reflects the clear facts that this pipeline is all risk with no rewards for the people of this land. Now, it is time for President Obama to end this debate once and for all and reject KXL."

Dallas Goldtooth, of Indigenous Environmental Network: "It is great to see Hillary Clinton finally make the right choice on Keystone XL. Her position switch on KXL is a direct testament to the sustained action and movement of our frontline Indigenous communities along this pipeline route. She once stood against Oceti Sakowin people on this issue, now she sings a different tune. We, along with our allies, made this happen. Now it is President Obama's turn see the writing on the wall and reject this dirty tar sands pipeline, once and for all."

Oyate Wahacanka Woecun (Shield the People), Rosebud Sioux Tribe: "We recognize the importance of Hillary Clinton renouncing and opposing the Keystone XL pipeline. KXL will negatively impact our cultural, historical and burial sites; it will be a major environmental, public health and safety hazard, and most importantly it will be a threat to the non-negotiable rights of our women and children. President Obama, time to act, reject Keystone XL."

Faith Spotted Eagle, of Ihanktonwan Treaty Council spokesperson: "Hillary's switched opinion on KXL is a plus for our climate change efforts, however, given her previous support of this pipeline, our celebratory reaction as Oceti Sakowin people remains guarded. Hillary is like sand cherries to us, moving in whatever direction the strongest wind is blowing . She knows how to harvest votes. It's ok though, we from the Oceti Sakowin appreciate her new position on Keystone XL. Mr. Obama, reject the pipeline now."

Waniyetuopi Bud Lone Eagle, Sr.,  Pte Ospaye Headsman: "Hillary Clinton's announcement that she opposes the Uncekila Sapa (Black Serpent), aka the Keystone XL pipeline, is another coup counted on TransCanada, and other environmental terrorist corporations. However, only when the Presidential permit is denied and the project scrapped in it's entirety can we claim victory over the Uncekila Sapa. When that day comes I would personally invite our allies to a victory celebration in my home, Bridger, South Dakota, a frontline community in this fight against KXL."

Byron Buffalo, Pt'e Ospaye Headsman: "Hillary Clinton, your stance opposing Keystone XL pipeline is encouraging yet is met with skepticism. The Indigenous people of America stand strong against the Black Snake known as KXL. We implore you to not only voice your opposition but to actively seek ways to stop the climate destroying corporations  that believe continued mutilation of our earth is the only way progress can be made. All we have this one earth, we must ALL protect it, for we, ALL living beings, are truly ALL related. Mitakuye Oyasin."

Greg Grey Cloud, of Wica Agli: "Hillary Clinton is just now realizing that foreign tar sands crude, by way of the Keystone XL pipeline, is NOT for the American people. However, I see yet another political ploy taken as a wrongful gain to run for president. I reserve my celebration for the moment President Obama takes action and rejects the permit for KXL."

Dustina Gill, Community Advocate, Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota:  "Hillary Clinton's recent stance against KXL attests to the threat this pipeline poses and highlights the efforts of numerous organizations and citizens of the Oceti Sakowin who have dedicated themselves to this fight against the tar sand pipeline. Those efforts have been critical in making this a national issue and getting presidential candidates on board with the climate movement. Now I too, like thousands of others, anxiously away the President's decision to reject this pipeline."

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The Indigenous Environmental Network  •  PO Box 485  •  Bemidji, MN 56619
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