Northern Paiute traditional hunter Kwassuh's letter to Nevada governor

Northern Paiute Kwassuh, Wesley Dick, has drafted this letter to Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, requesting dismissal and disclosure of State of Nevada Wildlife charges. Kwassuh explains the ceremonial reasons for traditional hunting.

By Wesley Dick Jr. (Kwassuh)
Censored News
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/06/northern-paiute-traditional-hunter.html

Governor of Nevada Brian Sandavol
June 23, 2012

Dear Sir:
My name is Kwassuh/Buckskin a.k.a. Wesley Dick Jr. and I am an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe, Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of Nevada.  I ask for the respect and acknowledgement on behalf of myself and the traditional peoples across and over these lands that practice and live our sacred and unique traditional lifeways and the laws that protect and preserve these lifeways.
I stand as a traditional man of the Numa/Northern Paiute Nation of Nevada and as a father to provide for my family and my people of our ceremonial and traditional lifeways of the Numa/Northern Paiutes of Nevada that are known throughout these lands including several other related nations of tribal people along with the 564 federally recognized tribes, the unrecognized and also the terminated tribal people that live amongst the lands of the United States of America today.
This request is of good relations towards the indigenous people and the people of the state of Nevada as well as the United States of America concerning these multiple violations of State Wildlife Officer Buckland Tingle and the State of Nevada Wildlife Department concerning disrespect, disregard of treaties, laws recognized nationally and internationally protecting my inherent rights as a descendant of the original peoples of this land to continue our sacred and unique lifeways and traditions of the Numa/Northern Paiutes of Nevada.
As I first met with Officer Buckland Tingle, I shook his hand and told him I come in a good way and expect him to do the same.  I then introduced myself, my tribe, where I am from, my federally recognized I.D.; the same as my people did in the past.  I then described what I was doing and what I still needed to do in regards to my prayers, the ceremony, and the preparations to the Tunna/Antelope.  I then told him of the rights I carry with me, and handed him from my hand to his, to read.  After an hour of his investigation, I was placed under arrest while I told/advised him of the disrespect towards the laws.  I provided these laws and my rights to provide for my family, my people, and my ceremonial tasks of hunting, and the process I learned from my elders of the spiritual recognition of the Tunna/Antelope and the area I stood that is always done in ceremony which provided my people the Numa/Northern Paiute with the plants and animals of these lands for thousands of years with no interference.
I openly advised the State Wildlife Officer of my status, identification, my laws and rights; he decided on his own to disregard.  These laws I provided to him, is the same I am including with this letter.  I also can provide more information.  As my related tribal relative nations of people are winning court challenges throughout and across these lands, these laws of our inherent rights protect us and preserve our lifeways and we should not be punished, prevented, or prosecuted for being what and who we are as the Native Americans of these lands.
Indigenous peoples worldwide are still in existence, as I have been a known teacher, demonstrator, instructor, mentor, and ceremonial provider/supporter for many years.  It is also world known of the importance of continuing our lifeways to pass this to our children and future generations, this knowledge to live the good life and stand as our ancestors have from thousands of years past to today is shared with all indigenous peoples of the world.
I request a dismissal and disclosure of these State Wildlife Charges and also that all my belongings be returned to me immediately as I have been tremendously delayed culturally, financially, and spiritually.  And an end to these distractions and interferences amongst my peoples of the Numa/Northern Paiute Nation, Newa/Shoshone Nation, and the Washoe Nations of Nevada and the recognition and respect that is due these laws and treaties.
This spiritual disrespect not only interferes with my prayers for my family, Earth, and all my surroundings including the Tunna/Antelope’s ceremonial circle of life, it has clearly affected our connection towards this animal as I, Kwassuh, have visions and dreams of these Tunna/Antelope that stand and watch me as I cannot connect their spirit towards their ending so they are like lost and blood from the liver is to be taken and gifted to the Earth, along with tobacco, to ensure that three more Tuna/Antelope will take it’s place.  There are several more ways I learned and keep to myself and I now sense the sadness of the Earth and Creator from whom I asked for the blessings to take part in our sacred ways that were of goodness, honor, and gratitude.  There are unfinished prayers and the ending methods that I was taught by my own people; they need to be completed.  I also advised these officers that this interruption/interference towards my traditional ways and the importance of my request, may bring some honor towards my traditional relationship I described when these request have been returned to me and I will complete/fulfill my ceremony as it should be.
Immediate attention to these matters is of great importance for this good relationship between said Indian nations and all governmental agencies to understand and honor.  These laws are easy to acknowledge, understand and are recognized daily throughout this nation; it is the law. 
Respectfully,
Wesley Dick Jr. (Kwassuh)
Enrolled member of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe.
A federally recognized tribe of the United States of America

Kwassuh – means Buckskin in the Numa/Northern Paiute language.

Numa – means Northern Paiute in the Northern Paiute language.
Toi-Ticutta – means the Cattail Eaters in the Northern Paiute language.

RIO+20 Protest: Ta'kaiya, 11, rips apart UN for failing to act

June 21, 2012: 11-year-old Ta'Kaiya is outside the Rio+20 plenary urging world leaders to act now, and calls the society to the Earth Revolution.

Video Kandi Mossett: Defend the Rights of Mother Earth

Growing up and living in North Dakota, Kandi Mossett has experienced firsthand what oil development can do to communities. She is a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations on the Fort Berthold Reservation and works with the Indigenous Environmental Network, organizing with tribes to fight the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Kandi says "there are sacred sites out here, there are burial sites out here, there's places that are holy that they want to just bulldoze right through." Watch for more on her story. For more stories visit:

http://www.nrdc.org/energy/keystone-pipeline/tar-sands-stories

Video Debra White Plume: NO! to tarsands and pipeline

Debra White Plume is an activist, grandmother, and member of the Oglala Lakota Nation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, who has been fighting the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, concerned about its effect on water resources. She says "I think our native nations are going to stay opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline and stay opposed to any other oil pipelines that come through here because we understand that water is a precious resource, it's a gift from our Grandfather and it's a gift for life, it's a gift of life...." Watch for more on Debra's story.
 

Aljazeera and Democracy Now! feature Indigenous Environmental Network

Alternative voices from Rio+20  Aljazeera

While world leaders negotiate in the Rio+20 meeting halls, thousands of activists have launched 'The People's Summit'. Preethi Nallu Last Modified: 22 Jun 2012 18:51

.Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - "The development - the drilling, mining and damming - is affecting everyone, our communities and the Earth, our home and the only planet we have."
The piercing voice of 11-year-old T'Kaiya is enough to grab the attention of delegates passing by. With the aptitude of a seasoned speaker, this young delegate from Canada comfortably commanded the following of environmental activists staging a sit-in at the Rio+20 conference.
T'Kaiya is in Rio to represent the Indigenous Environmental Network and to speak out against the controversial tar sands project being planned by an energy transport company, Enbridge, that involves a pipeline from the Alberta tar sands to the Pacific northwest coast of Canada.
"This pipeline puts in jeopardy, thousands of streams, 45 different indigenous cultures that have been practiced by my ancestors and their ancestors. I am shocked that people would jeopardise such pristine beauty and put a price tag on it," T'Kaiya told Al Jazeera.
READ MORE:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/06/2012622175745190650.html?utm_content=tweets&utm_campaign=Trial3&utm_source=SocialFlow&utm_term=twitter&utm_medium=ExperimentMasterAccount

Civil Society, Indigenous Groups Protest at Rio+20       

Democracy Now

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/6/22/headlines

Protests continue at the Rio+20 U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil. On Thursday, civil society delegates staged a walkout of the talks to call for bold action against global warming. Meanwhile, hundreds of indigenous activists marched through the streets of Rio de Janeiro to deliver a petition demanding fairer treatment over land and other rights.

Tom Goldtooth: "What we are concerned about is that Mother Earth is not for sale. Mother Earth is not a commodity to be traded on the trading system. The trees are not for sale."

What is it about Ecuador?

Colombian Embassy serves up coffee to journalists outside
Ecuador Embassy in London Friday, where Wikileaks Julian
Assange has sought refuge.
Twitter photo borrowed from RT London Bureau.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

With Wikileaks Julian Assange at Ecuador's Embassy in London, waiting to hear if Ecuador will grant him political asylum, I have to ask myself: What is it about Ecuador?
A few years back, while I was doing the grassroots radio show on the Longest Walk across America, one of the young Japanese walkers needed a quick ticket out of the country to satisfy his visa.
It was nearing midnight and the Internet was coming and going out in the woods. The cheapest ticket I could find was to Ecuador. He spoke almost no English and not a word of Spanish.
I was very worried. He had no US dollars. A good-hearted walker who had just arrived from California quickly loaned him nearly $1,000. All this happened in minutes.
A car arrived, and he was off to the airport. In the weeks that followed, I imagined the worst. (Locked up abroad, sick and hospitalized, wandering and lost.)
Weeks passed. Finally I heard from him. He was back.
"How was your trip?"
Wonderful, he said, laughing, and said something about meeting up with some like-minded Buddhists on the streets of Ecuador, teaming up to explore the Andes, then hiking up near Peru, and having the time of his life.
Let's hope the magic finds Assange.