The censoring of Rosalie Little Thunder

Tucson schools banned books: Just what was so provocative, so dangerous, about Rethinking Columbus?

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

TUCSON -- Still delirious from the relentless heat, I stumble into the university bookstore, in search of cold air. Then, I see them. Spread on a table near the front door, neatly arranged, are the banned books I've been searching for.

Picking up 500 Years Anos del Pueblo Chicano, 500 Years of Chicano History in pictures, I then see that my long search is over. I've finally found a copy of Rethinking Columbus, The Next 500 Years, among the first seven books banned by the Tucson Unified School District. The list of banned books was bloated into dozens of books when Mexican-American Studies was forbidden in January. The books in the classrooms were placed on the extricating cart and doomed for the depository.

So, just what was so naughty, so provocative, so dangerous, in Rethinking Columbus?


Rethinking Columbus is packed full of famous Native American authors.

The powerful Native American women's voices censored by Tucson public schools includes the voice of Rosalie Little Thunder, in, "The Sacred Buffalo." Little Thunder's letter describes the massacre of buffalo at Yellowstone National Park. It includes a personal family story of massacre and survival and her arrest at Yellowstone.

Above all, Little Thunder's letter describes the significance of the slaughter of buffalo. For the colonizers, the buffalo must die to eradicate Indians, just as in the minds of Tucson public school officials, the voices of Lakota survivors must be banned and silenced.

Little Thunder writes in Rethinking Columbus, "Just as I am a survivor of massacre, so too are the Yellowstone buffalo survivors of massacre."

Here, too, in Rethinking Columbus, is the powerful account of "Resistance at Oka," by Mohawk author Peter Blue Cloud Aroniawenrate. The censorship of Aroniawenrate by Tucson public schools was so powerful that the publisher of his book of poetry re-released it in response. Gary Lawless at Blackberry Books, re-released Back Then Tomorrow. http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/05/aroniawenrate-peter-blue-cloud_10.html

Meanwhile, the dramatic photos in the book of 500 Years of Chicano History, reveal plenty of photos to inspire. There are photos of farm workers being beaten bloody, and photos of the Southwest Organizing Project, fighting toxic dumping on Indian lands and elsewhere in the Southwest.

History, you see, is dangerous.

In 500 Years of Chicano History, there are also photos from southern New Mexico, where the wives of miners picked up the picket signs and manned the picket lines of the famous mining strike. The women faced brutality, while striking for running water and decent housing. Even their children were jailed.

Here, the past and present come together. When the movie about the mining strike, Salt of the Earth, was filmed in Silver City, N.M., in 1953, with the real life heroes of this strike, McCarthyism struck, and the filming went underground. In the next 10 years, only 12 theaters showed the film.


Wikipedia states about Salt of the Earth, "Director Herbert Biberman was one of the Hollywood screenwriters and directors who refused to answer the House Committee on Un-American Activities on questions of CPUSA affiliation in 1947. The Hollywood Ten were cited and convicted for contempt of Congress and jailed. Biberman was imprisoned in the Federal Correctional Institution at Texarkana for six months. After his release he directed this film.^[3] Other participants who made the film and were blacklisted by the Hollywood studios include: Paul Jarrico, Will Geer, Rosaura Revueltas, and Michael Wilson."

Today, those miners and the movie have survived the tentacles of McCarthyism. The attacks to banish Salt of the Earth only served to cement it as legend.

The banning of Rethinking Columbus, 500 Years of Chicano History, and all the other books banned by Tucson public schools, reserves their place in history. The voices of Rosalie Little Thunder, Lakota, Peter Blue Cloud, Mohawk, and all the others, are now assured of standing the tests of time.

For permission to repost in full, contact brendanorrell@gmail.com, or feel free to share the link.

Also see:
Heatstroke: Scrounging for banned books in Tucson, with list of banned books and Censored News videos with Tucson students:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/07/heatstroke-scrounging-for-banned.html

Copyright Brenda Norrell

Navajo Human Rights Commission report on relocation rights violations

NNHRC releases its relocation public hearing report citing human rights violations

By Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission
Posted at Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Navajo human rights officials release their “Public Hearing Report: The Impact of the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974—P.L. 93-531 et al.”

SAINT MICHAELS, Navajo Nation -- The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission distributed its report, “Public Hearing Report: The Impact of the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974—P.L. 93-531 et al.,” to representatives of the Navajo Nation about Diné citizens’ human rights violations on Friday, August 3, 2012. To read the report, go to www.nnhrc.navajo-nsn.gov.

On July 6, 2012, commissioners for NNHRC unanimously adopted the public hearing report in a resolution (NNHRCJULY-21-12) as one of two last actions before ending their four year term on July 14, 2012.

NNHRC adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2008 as a minimum standard of achievement for NNHRC when advocating for and protecting the human rights of Navajo citizens. With that, UNDRIP provided the standard to ascertain human rights violations in NNHRCs public hearing report.

Presently, NNHRC is the only Navajo Nation governmental entity using the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a minimal standard of achievement.
What is not widely known is that the Navajo Nation officials presented recommendations to a working group when the Declaration was in draft form and had advocated its adoption by the U.N. General Assembly for nearly 15 years. In 2007, the United Nations adopted UNDRIP and later the United States as a member state to the United Nations did too, in 2010.
Interestingly, “[m]any of the Navajo families who are suffering from the Navajo-Hopi relocation program have journeyed to faraway places such as Geneva, Switzerland, in order to present their stories to international bodies,” according to NNHRCs resolution. Further, “[m]any of these international travels coincided with the Navajo Nation’s advocacy for the adoption of UNDRIP.” As a result, “the input and advocacy by the Navajo families who are directly impacted by the Navajo-Hopi relocation resulted in the United Nations General Assembly adopting Article 10 of UNDRIP.”
Article 10 of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states,
“Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories.” No relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible, with the option of return.”
Decisively, according to NNHRCs resolution the commission found that, “Navajo families and individuals [who] were relocated from their traditionally owned and used homelands, including those [who] remained on their lands under arrangements, have egregiously suffered, and continue to grieve, largely from the long lasting and devastating impacts on their lives.”
Glimpse at the Report
The report provides a sincere acknowledgement section from the commissioners, a summary of the historical account of the Navajo-Hopi land settlement, an overview of the international human rights laws including standards of assessing the impacts of relocation, a comprehensive summary of the testimonies provided by Diné and non-Diné individuals, 22 findings, and 16 recommendations.

As an example, the first finding in the report states, “Because the Navajo-Hopi Relocation Act falls within the scope of human rights violations under the standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission recommends P.L. 93-531 et al., be repealed. Navajo lands should be returned to the Navajo Nation and all efforts to compete relocation should be halted immediately.”

Finally, NNHRC states, “The legacy of [Public Law] 93-531 et al. has been a source of profound dislocation, alienation, and trauma for Diné citizens who have been forced to relocate from their homeland and based upon investigation, NNHRC finds the forced relocation of over [ten] thousand Navajos is a clear violation of their human rights.”

The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, initiated this process with its charge to conduct public hearings on and off the Navajo Nation to determine the state of race relations between Navajos—Diné, and non-Navajos.  The state of race relations was assessed after NNHRC held a series of public hearings in 25 neighboring communities surrounding the Navajo Nation to determine if Navajo human rights were being violated. At that time, about 158 people testified. Many of whom were relocated as a result of the Navajo-Hopi Settlement Act of 1974—P.L.93-531.

Following the race relations hearings, two months later in 2009, to focus directly about the impact of the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974, NNHRC conducted seven public hearings and received 124 testimonies. NNHRC conducted public hearings in Birdsprings, Navajo Nation; Dilkon, Navajo Nation; Tonalea, Navajo Nation; Pinon, Navajo Nation; Sanders, Navajo Nation; Flagstaff, Ariz., and in Tuba City, Navajo Nation beginning on November 17, 2009 to January 14, 2010. 

Throughout the week, NNHRC will provide a series of statements to better provide a comprehensive overview of the testimonies, NNHRC findings and recommendations, redress, and Commissioners’ concerns to the public through different media efforts. 


Rachelle Todea,Public Information Officer
Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission
P.O. Box 1689
Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)  86515
Phone: (928) 871-7436
Fax: (928) 871-7437
rtodea@navajo-nsn.gov
www.nnhrc.navajo-nsn.gov

"Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development," according to Article 3 of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, G.A. Res. 61/295, U.N. Doc A/RES/295 (Sept. 13, 2007), 46 I.L.M 1013 (2007).

First Nations march against tarsands

    
More Than 250 First Nations and Allies From Across North America Gather In Alberta To Raise Awareness
First Nations delegations from British Columbia and Ontario show growing concern and resolve against tar sands infrastructure projects across Canada.

Tar Sands Healing Walk
Press statement
http://acfnchallenge.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/tar-sands-healing-walk-press-release/

French translation:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.fr/2012/08/first-nations-march-against-tarsands.html
http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=915
FORT MCMURRAY ALBERTA (August 4, 2012) – Hundreds of First Nations leaders from BC, Alberta, the NWT and Ontario along with First Nation actress Tantoo Cardinal and allies from across North America, gathered in Fort McMurray today, to walk 13-kilometres through the visceral landscape of tar sands operations to bring attention to the destructive impacts of tar sands projects and pipelines on surrounding communities and the environment.
First Nation representatives from the Heiltsuk (BC), Yinka Dene (BC), Coastal First Nations (BC), the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Six Nations (Ontario) and Aamijiwnaang (Ontario) joined with local First Nations leaders in a traditional mixing of the waters ceremony, bringing water from their respective territories as a symbol of importance of the protection of water and the sacred connection to mother earth.
Local elders led the group in prayers along the route that was once valuable northern Boreal forest and fertile traditional hunting, fishing and gathering grounds, stopping in the four directions to lay down tobacco as an offering for healing of the land.
“We have come from all over North America to walk together through the heart of the destruction caused by the ever-expanding tar sands and offer prayers for the healing of the land and its people,” said Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus. “For more than 500 years governments have fought over our lands and resources. It’s time the provincial and federal governments sit down with the First Nations, the rightful owners of these lands and resources, to decide if and when these lands should be developed.”
The third annual healing walk was organized by Keepers of the Athabasca, a network of First Nation, Metis and allied communities along the Athabasca River that includes people whose lives have been directly impacted by tar sands operations.
“The places where we used to pick berries and find our medicines have been destroyed by rapid tar sands projects,” said Anthony Ladouceur, Councillor of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. “Our people have lived here for thousands of years, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to continue to live off the land with industry expanding all around us.”
The Alberta tar sands currently produce approximately 1.8 million barrels of oil per day; if industry and government’s expansion plans are approved that number could reach six million barrels per day. Local opposition to Shell’s two proposed open pit mine applications is growing, along with North American-wide resistance to pipeline proposals. Four pipelines are being proposed to transport tar sands oil: Enbridge Northern Gateway, Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain, Trans Canada Keystone XL, and Enbridge Line 9 reversal.
“I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to participate in the 3rd Annual Tar Sands Healing Walk,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. “This sacred walk serves to remind us that we, as parents and grandparents, have the unconditional responsibility to safeguard and pass on the legacy of respecting and caretaking Mother Earth, entrusted to us by our ancestors, to our children and grandchildren.”
“This walk creates strength and unity among the people who have to live with the destructive impacts of tar sands. Together, we are more empowered to ensure a clean and healthy world for future generations,” said Roland Woodward Chair of the Keepers of the Athabasca.
The walk was not a protest, but a spiritual gathering to offer prayers for the healing of Mother Earth and all those negatively impacted by tar sands projects and associated infrastructure. Participants walked along Highway 63 past Suncor and Syncrude’s operations to help heal what has been destroyed and to give each other the spiritual strength to carry on.

US Citizens to lead anti-drone march in northern Pakistan

Medea Benjamin in Tucson: Obama's Tuesday kill list responsible for assassination of 16-year-old from Denver

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

TUCSON -- President Obama's Tuesday kill list is responsible for the assassination of a 16-year-old boy from Denver, Medea Benjamin of CodePink said here today. Describing the US program of targeted assassinations using drones, the CIA out of control, and the US Congress refusing to act, Benjamin said it is time for US citizens to show the world they do not support US drone assassinations in Pakistan and elsewhere.

Benjamin called for citizens in Tucson to join the march with Pakistanis in northern Pakistan, during the week of September 21, and show the world that the people of the US seek global peace and understanding, and do not support US drone killings.

"President Obama signs off on the kill list," Benjamin said, speaking at a public gathering in the downtown Tucson library.

Obama meets with his advisers on Tuesday to review the list. "They decide who will live and who will die," Benjamin said. Any male on the ground of military age is considered fair game.

She said that in a signature strike, drone operators manning the computer screens can fire at anything that looks suspicious, on the other side of the world, without the suspect being given a chance to surrender, or defend themselves against charges.

Benjamin, author of "Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control," described the drone warfare that has killed both the US Constitution and innocent people, including children and teens, in Pakistan and Yemen.

During the Bush administration, drone strikes were every 40 days. During the Obama administration, the drone strikes increased to 1 every 3 days. Currently, there is a drone strike every 4 days.

US drone killing in western Pakistan.

Those drone strikes have killed 175 children. Few US citizens ever see the photos of those children who are disintegrated or burned by those drones. Sometimes only pieces of their flesh can be found for burial. A drone's victim never hears the missile that kills him or her.

Benjamin described how one teenager, Tariq Aziz, attempted to take the case of a relative killed by a US drone to court in Pakistan. After meeting with attorneys, Tariq was assassinated by a US drone.

Benjamin pointed out that this type of US killing is counter-productive and driving people in other countries toward extremists out of despair and desperation.

Anwar Al-Awlaki was a 16-year-old from Denver. He was on Facebook and his friends said he was a normal teen, not interested in politics, who enjoyed rap and hip hop. He was enjoying an evening sharing a meal with his cousin in his family's home village in Yemen, when he and his cousin were assassinated by a US drone strike.

Obama refuses to respond to questions about the US drone killing of Anwar Al-Awlaki of Denver.

"Barack Obama is responsible for this killing," Benjamin said.

The US drone operations have been largely kept secret until now and operated by the CIA and Joint Special Operations.

While Americans falsely believe that they are the only ones with drones, she said that globally, drones are part of the arms race. Israel is the number one exporter of drones, and the number two producer of drones. Meanwhile, Iran is working on its own drone production plans with Venezuela, after Iran retrieved a US drone. China now is speeding up production of drones.

Benjamin said that in the US, the FAA knows that drones are not safe. She pointed out that one large Global Hawk drone recently crashed in Maryland. Besides being affected by bad weather, she pointed out that drones are unsafe because they can be hacked into by computer hackers.

Because of Freedom of Information Act requests, it is now known that the US has issued 700 domestic drone permits. Of those, 200 are active. She pointed out that the Arizona governor is pushing for Arizona to become a test site for domestic use of drones. In an obvious reference to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Benjamin pointed out that the thought of drones in the hands of some Arizona law enforcement agencies is frightening to consider. The audience moaned when the Arizona governor was mentioned.

Benjamin said that eight drones are being used by the US Border Patrol. However, she also pointed out that the drones are not effective in locating illegal immigrants or in detecting illegal drugs along the US/Mexico border.

The universities in Arizona are among the US universities involved in developing drone technology. Now, police departments are using drones. The Montgomery County, Texas, SWAT team has a drone which can be equipped with tasers, weapons and devices to intercept cell phone calls.

"The CIA is committing mass murder," Benjamin said, pointing out that private contractors are also operating drones.

Benjamin said the CIA is out of control and Congress is doing nothing to bring the CIA back into control. She points out that the US has not declared war on Pakistan and that the US violates international law by carrying out assassinations without chance of surrender or trial.

Benjamin hopes the people of Tucson will follow the example of the Occupy Movement in Buffalo, New York. They plan to send three representatives to march with the people of Pakistan against drones, and for global peace, during the week of September 21.

Pointing out that there are many heroes among us, she described how Fr. Louis Vitale at the age of 80 just keeps going out there to protest and getting arrested. Among those arrests was Vitale's arrest near Tucson, when he knelt to pray, and oppose US torture, at the US Army Intelligence Center at Fort Huachuca.

Fort Huachuca, at Sierra Vista southeast of Tucson, is among the largest drone training centers.

Describing the US agenda of "spying and killing" with drones, Benjamin said there were only 50 drones, being used by the Pentagon, in the year 2000. Today, there are at least 7,000 US drones, and the number could be as high as 10,000 if the US were to release all the facts.

Benjamin said it is unknown how many drones the US is using as killing drones.

As outrage continues to grow over the US war in Afghanistan, even Republicans say it is time to halt spending $2 billion a week to keep the war going. When the US pulled troops out of Iraq, the drones were left behind with the US State Department.

Today, eight out of 10 Americans say it is OK to use drones to kill "suspects," who have not been given a chance to prove their innocence.

Currently, US drones can be as tiny as a dragonfly or hummingbird, and are now produced to look like both. Drones can also fit into backpacks. The Predator and Reaper drones are the size of small planes, while the larger drones, the Global Hawks, are the size of a large aircraft.

US killer drones are operated by Airforce personnel sitting in air-conditioned rooms all over the US, staring at a screen showing people thousands and thousands of miles away.

"They are pressing a button and killing people," Benjamin said.

The United Nations has objected to the US drone killings, stating that the US has promoted a "Play Station" mentality toward war.

Benjamin said soldiers pressing those buttons have the same level of post traumatic stress syndrome as those on the battlefield.

Pointing out how Wikileaks has revealed truth about the US role in deaths by drones, Benjamin said Bradley Manning remains in prison, while Bush and fellow criminals remain free. Further, she pointed out how news reporters today are faced with censorship, or being fired, if they report the truth about the United States program of drone assassinations.

Meanwhile, in Tucson, Censored News investigations reveal that the University of Arizona has been involved in drone research. This drone research led to an operation producing drones near the Tucson International Airport. The operation is on Tohono O'odham land of the San Xavier District. San Xavier District accepted the joint venture contract for Advanced Ceramics, after the Pascua Yaqui initially accepted, then rejected the project. Today, few details have been made public about the production of drones there.

Tohono O'odham human rights activists have boycotted the University of Arizona because of its role in the development of drones and border spy equipment, and oppose the manufacture of drones on O'odham land.

Article copyright Brenda Norrell, to repost in full, contact brendanorrell@gmail.com, or feel free to share the link.

Navajo Human Rights Commission: US Sacred Sites Sessions 2012

San Francisco Peaks/Photo www.sacredland.org

US Interior issues short notice on Sacred Sites Listening Conferences

Update Aug. 2: See listing below, still no details for the Portland session

NNHRC learns of U.S. Department of Interior’s sacred sites listening sessions
By Rachelle Todea
NNHRC
Posted at Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

SAINT MICHAELS, Navajo Nation— Today, the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission requested a letter from the U.S. Department of Interior regarding the upcoming sacred sites listening session scheduled for the month of August.
According to U.S. Department of Interior Counselor to the Assistant Secretary Dion Killsback, a press release will be issued soon.
Soon, however, may not be soon enough.
Because the Interior’s listening sessions begin in approximately two weeks, NNHRC wants to ensure the public is aware of the listening sessions.
According to a letter from the U.S. Department of Interior Acting Assistant Secretary Donald E. Laverdure, the dates, times and locations are as follows:

·        August 13, 2012 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the BIA Southwest Regional Office, Pete V. Domenici Bldg., 1001 Indian School Road in Albuquerque, New Mex. Contact: (505) 563-3103.

·        August 16, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Holiday Inn-Grand Montana Billings, 5500 Midland Road in Billings, Mont. Contact: (406) 248-7701.

·        August 23, 2012, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd., in Prior Lake, Minn. Contact: (952) 445-9000.

·        August 24, 2012, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., at the Mohegan Sun Casino, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., in Uncasville, Conn. Contact: (860) 862-7311.

·        (Tentative) August 28, 2012, a time, location to be determined for the Portland, Ore., area.

The Interior’s sacred sites listening sessions should not be confused with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s sacred sites listening sessions, which took place last year.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interior Dept. Aug. 2, 2012

A Notice by the Indian Affairs Bureau on 08/02/2012

•  
  Publication Date:

Thursday, August 02, 2012

Agencies:

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Dates:

See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for the dates of the tribal listening sessions. We will consider all comments received by close of business on September 21, 2012.

Comments Close:

09/21/2012

  

Document Number:

2012-18891

Shorter URL:

https://federalregister.gov/a/2012-18891

 The Department, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, intends to develop policy to strengthen the protection of sacred sites on Federal lands. For many years the Department has received input on sacred sites and to that end, the Department is seeking input specific, but not limited to, the following topics regarding sacred sitesShow citation box

• Meanings of sacred sites and whether the Department should attempt to define the term “sacred site”;Show citation box
• Personal views of existing Departmental practices or policies, if any, that should be revised to protect sacred sites and steps necessary to make appropriate revisions;Show citation box
• Potential development of Departmental practices or policies to protect sacred sites;Show citation box
• How the Department should facilitate tribal access to sacred sites;Show citation box
• How the Department should control and grant access to tribally provided information regarding sacred sites;Show citation box
• Whom the Department should include (recognized leaders of tribal government, tribal spiritual leaders, et.al.) in determining whether a site is considered “sacred” by a tribe.Show citation box

Tribal listening sessions will be held at the following dates and locations:Show citation box

Date	Time	Venue
August 13, 2012	1 p.m.-4 p.m	BIA Southwest Regional Office, Pete V. Domenici Building, 1001 Indian School Road, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104, (505) 563-3103.
August 16, 2012	9 a.m.-12 p.m	Holiday Inn-Grand Montana-Billings, 5500 Midland Road, Billings, Montana 59101, (406) 248-7701.
August 23, 2012	1 p.m.-4 p.m	Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, 2400 Mystic Lake Boulevard, Prior Lake, MN 55372, (952) 445-9000.
August 24, 2012	9 a.m.-12 p.m	Mohegan Sun Casino, 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, Connecticut 06382,(860) 862-7311.

Dated: July 27, 2012.

Donald E. Laverdure,

Acting Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.

[FR Doc. 2012-18891 Filed 7-30-12; 4:15 pm]

BILLING CODE 4310-02-P

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press statement at top of this post from:
Rachelle Todea, Public Information Officer
Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission
P.O. Box 1689
Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)  86515
Phone: (928) 871-7436
Fax: (928) 871-7437
rtodea@navajo-nsn.gov
www.nnhrc.navajo-nsn.gov

"Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development," according to Article 3 of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, G.A. Res. 61/295, U.N. Doc A/RES/295 (Sept. 13, 2007), 46 I.L.M 1013 (2007).

AIM West International Day for Indigenous Peoples 2012

By AIM West
http://www.aimwest.info
Posted at Censored News                                                         

AIM-WEST celebrates 18th year of United Nations proclamation, August 9th as “International Day for the World’s Indigenous Peoples.”

The public is invited to attend the observance of the United Nations proclaimed “International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples” at The BRAVA Women’s Theater, 2781 24th Street, in San Francisco, on Thursday, August 9, 2012 from 11:30 am to 6 pm. 

The event, sponsored by American Indian Movement-WEST, a community based human rights advocacy organization promoting the rights of Indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere, seeks U.S. implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in September 2007, in an effort to educate communities and the youth about the achievements Indigenous peoples have gained in the international arena since 1977, and the challenges posed at the grassroots level.

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Observed 9 August:

“The world’s Indigenous peoples—370 million in 70 countries—are the custodians of some of the most biologicaloly diverse areas on earth.  They speak a majority of the world’s languages, and their traditional knowledge, cultural diversity and sustainable ways of life make an invaluable contribution to the world’s common heritage.

The adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the General Assembly in 2007 was a landmark in the struggle of Indigenous peoples for justice, equal rights and development.  There have also been recent welcome steps at the national level; some governments have apologized to Indigenous peoples for past injustices, and others have advanced legislative and constitutional reforms.

Still, Indigenous peoples remain some of the most marginalized populations, suffering disproportionately from poverty and inadequate access to education.  Many face discrimination and racism on a daily basis.  All to often, their languages face strictures or are threatened with extinction, while their territories are sacrificed for mining and deforestation.

Indigenous peoples also tend to suffer from the low standards of health associated with poverty, malnutrition, environmental contamination and inadequate health care.  With that in mind, this year’s observance of the International Day focuses on the threat of HIV/AIDS.  It is essential that Indigenous peoples have access to the information and infrastructure necessary for detection, treatment and protection.

Insufficient progress in health, in particular, points to a persistent and profound gap in many countries bwtween the formal recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights and the actual situation on the ground.  On this International Day, I call on Governments and civil society to act with urgency and determination to close this implementation gap, in full partnership with Indigenous peoples.” (2009)

The day’s activities will include a press conference starting at 11:15 am, to include solidarity statements, special guest speakers, traditional dancers, drummers and singers, and performances from Indigenous nations in solidarity with the occasion, sharing their cultures and spiritual beliefs.

The program begins with traditional Mexica TeoKalli dance to the four winds/directions, and invocation from Ms. Betty Parent with reading from the Great Law of Peace.  We are joined by special keynote speaker Dr. Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz (professor-retired), followed by a *panel discussion on “Mayan Cosmo-vision for 2012 and beyond”, moderated by Dr. Jose Cuellar (aka DR. Loco), including Consejo de Ajq’ijab’s Don Pasquel Xayon, and *TBA.

The afternoon includes a recent documentary screening of “Mayan Words” (Palabras Mayas) in Spanish with English subtitles, and “Guatemala Vive!” followed by discussions after the panel and film.  The event will focus on sacred sites with references to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Media and Partnerships in Action, Climate Change, and political prisoners in the U.S. such as Leonard Peltier.

A donation of $5 is requested at the door, nobody turned away!  The press, families and youth are cordially welcomed.  Door proceeds go toward The Brava Theater! Raffle prizes, refreshments and snacks, vendors and information booths available!  Support your AIM chapters!

Informacion call 415-577-1492 www.aimwest.info, y Consejo de Ajq’ijab de San Francisco, 415-377-1320