Lisa DeVille at Women's March 'Walk for our Sisters, Solidarity for all Indigenous Women'

Walk for Our Sisters, Solidarity for all Indigenous Women

Remember the Tears of Our Women

Hosted by Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College

Talk by Lisa DeVille

Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara

Censored News

My name is Lisa DeVille.  I lived my whole life in Mandaree.  My husband Walter and I have five children and three grandchildren.  My Native American name is Accomplishes Everything!  I have received all my college education from NHSC.

I am president of the grassroots group Fort Berthold Protectors of water and earth rights, I am a board member for Dakota Resource Council, Western Organization Resource Council, and of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council in Washington DC.

My grandmother use to tell me of this oil that was coming.  She would say get your education because when the oil people come to have you sign you will understand what your signing, our ancestors did not know what they were signing when the white mans' government took it from us.

Protecting the Mother Earth has always been important to me.  When my advocacy began I started to ask questions about the flaring and it led me to having to educate myself about the dangers of bringing things up from under the earth. 

My advocacy is not about me (I don't have a facebook because I know I would be arguing with people.) It is not about money either. It's about protecting the only land we have left, for my grandchildren, for all future generations so that they will have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and clean soil to grow food.  My work has been all volunteer.

I am not against the oil. I'm for responsible oil development, holding industry accountable for their environmental infractions that affect our health, land, air, and water.  We need environmental justice, stricter laws and enforcement of those laws.  We need studies and research to better understand and educate how to remediate the environmental and health impacts. 

Environmental racism is a word that's used every day. Most people don't believe it's a reality. Look around you. You do not see as many oil well flares off reservation. I've traveled to other reservations that have been impacted by extraction longer than we have, their people are sick. Their water is contaminated. Why? Because people's lives in those communities are not valued as much as those in wealthier communities.

Big industries lie, if they cannot get their hands on your minerals in your community they will throw more money in the mix and cause division. This is how they operate. They divide to conquer. But we must stand together and remember our culture and how our ancestors died to give us the freedom we have today.

We are sick with diabetes, drug addiction because Mother Earth is sick. We rely on westernized civilization to provide us with food that isn't nourishing, on medicine that makes us sicker, and on a capitalistic system that leaves the poorest people at the bottom of the pile. Don't let anything hold you back from moving forward and fighting for what you believe in, not even other's jealousy, or the haters that think you want to disrupt their flow of oil money. The lord will take care of that.

The creator put you on your path for a purpose/reason.

Women are sacred because we carry life. That life we carry is in water so water is life.  We hold our families together.

I write reaction articles and letters to the editor and submit press releases because it is my constitutional right, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Press to tell these stories. I feel that these stories need to be told. Stories of injustice, greed, and corruption.These things shouldn't stay in the dark.

We are role models for our children.  I ask my children what will be their legacy?  Are you going to let things happen to you or will you act on protecting the only land we have left.   We live the now not thinking of our future.

What I and Ft. Berthold POWER do today is to make sure our future generations have a clean environment to live in.  Its morals, its common sense, it is how my grandmother raised me to protect mother earth who provides us all we need survive. Trump is rescinding the protection.

I don't do what I do for fame, for money, like I said my work has been volunteer.  I do what I do because this is the path I chose to make sure our future generations have a sustainable future.  Like my son says who is spiritually connected it is like the beat of a heart, a beat of a drum because your in harmony with yourself and purpose and it feels right.

Believe me that there are challenges. The positive aspect of challenges is that they offer an excellent chance to cleanse the senses and strengthen the soul.  Being persistent, determined, and believing, then change will come.

We need more women to run for office whether its tribal, state, federal or county government to help our people move forward. We need to have our own representation for our issues. We can do it, not because we are women, but because we will always persist, we have for over 500 years.

In addition our group the Ft. Berthold POWER has filed lawsuit with other conservative groups opposing the rescinding of Trumps administration, Bureau of Land Management  Methane Rule and Hydraulic Fracking Rule.

Trump and his administration are attacking NEPA to extract from the national parks.  NEPA protects tribal nations, the endangered species act and our water ways.  We are in the process of researching.

Resistance Gathering on the Oglala Homeland

Resistance Gathering On The Oglala Homeland

by Lakota Media Project with a partial reprint from Lakota Country Times article by Natalie Hand

Censored News

The “Gathering on the Homeland: Solidarity, Decolonization and Celebrating Acts of Resistance” is a two-day event being held in the heart of native resistance in Indian Country, the Oglala Lakota Nation on February 24 and 25, 2018 at the Wounded Knee School in Manderson, South Dakota.
"Along with the beauty and power of 10,000 people coming together in 2016-17 along the riverbanks at Cannon Ball, North Dakota, we experienced the chaos that emerged, as it became apparent that the understanding of MOVEMENT was as diverse as the people gathered there. We have brought together folks from many Red Nations and allies from the four directions who have led, founded, and/or participated in movements in order to examine, explore, and discuss how their experience can teach young emerging social change makers, community leaders, students, families, and our youth,” stated Wioweya Najin Win (Debra White Plume), event Co-Organizer and Director of Owe Aku.
What does the frontline of Non-Violent Direct Action at Cannon Ball, North Dakota have in common with hip hop music? or Resistance Art for Youth? or the formation of an Indigenous Resistance Media Network? or Idle No More? or serving as Medic or Legal Observer?
"Many paradigm-shifting experiences along the river banks felt by thousands of people from all walks of life have resonated throughout the world since the camps were closed and the structures burned. There was such an awesome and truly special fire ignited from that spark of energy inside all of us on the frontline, that many people have expressed an urgent need to gather, pray, discuss, debrief, and learn together from our experiences there. We decided to pull together people who have past experiences that not only fuel and inspire their current ongoing work, but whose historical presence merges into today's organizing and change-making work to help provide a framework for young organizers and change-makers to learn from. They will present a panel discussion entitled "What Is Movement?" on Sunday beginning at noon. Some of the presenters gained their first and only experience at the river, some have been at this work for years, some for decades. We have been working at great risk to empower and shape a generation in this racist and punitive country, but we are willing to continue to take that risk. We have put together this two-day event to provide a forum for such teachings through art, music, dialogue, brainstorming, and prayer with the best energy we have for our younger generations," continued White Plume. Nina Waste, co-founder of Idle No More is the keynote speaker for this panel discussion.
Native Artists In Action, an indigenous collective from New Mexico and Arizona will host a youth workshop Saturday afternoon to create art that teaches not only art skills, but the philosophy of art and the preservation of ancient lifeways. There are also a number of native musicians coming to perform a free youth concert on Saturday night, who promote an alcohol/drug-free lifestyle as well as using music to inspire youth to reclaim their ancestral identities. Native musicians will debut recent single and CD releases at the concert, including Nataanii Means and Tracy Bone.
"Our youth need to know that there is music in the world created by Indigenous people that carries the truth of their message of overcoming the genocide of the big world, the alcohol, drugs, and violence to women. It is a voice of resistance and of proudly and loudly reclaiming native identity and celebrating that decolonization," said Olowan Martinez, co-organizer of the event. "The artists coming here to work with our youth have been doing this for a long time, and bring a special talent to working with youth."
The "GurREALla Media, Do's and Don'ts on the Frontline" film forum and training beginning at noon on Saturday is extremely necessary in today's world of social media and the immediate internet that connects people around the world. When do you put your camera down? What do you do when arrested and film is conficasted? What does guerrilla media really mean? Filmmakers will show their video shorts and feature-length films and discuss their work, and their risks, and be available for Q and A with workshop participants.
Organizers state that the event is being held in conjunction with the 45th Anniversary of the 1973 Liberation of Wounded Knee. Through the past 45 years the annual celebration has enjoyed pow-wows and feasts, but very little has been done in terms of educational experiences and/or solidarity building for the long term work ahead of Red Nations, so this event is designed for the Oglala Oyate and their nearby sister nations on the Rosebud, Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, and Standing Rock Homelands but all of the Oceti Sakowin are encouraged to attend and participate. Organizers have stated that all people from all walks of life are encouraged to attend, especially past and current allies and accomplices. The event poster states "No Feds, Informers, Infiltrators, or TigerSwan" as part of the security culture the organizers observe.
Beverages during breaks, and evening meals will be provided as part of the Lakota way of life, and security will be present throughout the event. People are encouraged to bring their own eating utensils if possible, in order to minimize the amount of trash that will need to be hauled out of the Wounded Knee School in Manderson, which has so graciously provided space for the event.
The "Gathering On The Homeland" two-day event is hosted by Owe Aku (Bring Back the Way) and the Red Robin Hood Fund. Please contact Olowan Martinez at 605-407-138. Please visit www.oweakuinternational.org to learn more about the work of Owe Aku.

Mojave Steve Lopez: Ward Valley Direct Action Halted Nuclear Genocide, Poisoning of Colorado River

Fort Mojave tribal member Steve Lopez (seated) leads the sunrise ceremony with Spirit Runners to Ward Valley. | Photo: Greenaction.

Faced with nuclear genocide, the poisoning of the Colorado River, and the destruction of the homeland of the remaining Desert Tortoises, Native Nations stood in Ceremony on the frontline to halt forced removal from Ward Valley.

Article by Brenda Norrell
Transcript from Trespassing
Courtesy Director Carlos DeMenezes
Censored News

The Occupation of Ward Valley halted a nuclear waste dump on sacred land, home to the Desert Tortoise. This week, we celebrate the 20-Year Anniversary of the Occupation.
The widely-censored film Trespassing will be shown during the commemoration.
The strong words of Steve Lopez, Mojave and coordinator of the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance, describe the Occupation as a foundation for all Indian Nations to carry out direct action, in prayer and unity.
Faced with the nuclear genocide of the poisoning of the Colorado River, and the destruction of the homeland of the remaining Desert Tortoises, Five Native Nations -- Mojave, Chemehuevi, Cocopah, Quechan and Colorado River Indian Tribes -- stood in Ceremony, with the Birdsongs, on the frontline to halt forced removal from Ward Valley.
"Our people care about our children, and that's why we're here. Our forethought is to look seven generations ahead, to the unborn," Lopez said.
Steve Lopez' words in Trespassing:
"We have a tie spiritually, culturally, and traditionally in the fact that our songs from the time that we were put here, even before any man was here, that our Creator put us here from the center of existence of Avi Kwa Me. You may know it as Newberry Mountain. And, you know, just for your, educational purposes, we did not migrate over the Bering Strait. Our people came from right there.
And we, and we were sent out from that point. So that disputes that claim anyway. But, my point being here is that we've been here forever, since day one, since time immemorial. And, the Desert Torres, at one time, was a Mojave also. Now that may be hard for you to understand, but even in the fact that you do not believe this, it still doesn't mean that doesn't exist, with significant value to us.
A Foundation for all Indian Tribes
The things that we did out in Ward Valley, have laid down a foundation for all the other Indian tribes across the country to look at this and, and learn from. We used some mechanisms that were never used before such as the abominable justice. We stood strong, under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.

Birdsingers, One of our Biggest Weapons

And what you see today of these Birdsingers, this was one of our biggest weapons. The Bureau Of Land Management were going to come in and remove us, remove our elders. You see some of the girls out here dancing. And, the children. These young, these young children, and along with Amy and her group, the ones that we dedicated this performance to, they stood out there in front.
The thing that we really wanted to stress was that it was a direct action that we needed to get the attention of the White House. And, we did. We didn't break any laws. As a matter of fact, we used the very laws that they gave us, and we told them that if you guys cross us then, then you're not any better than you were when you were breaking the treaties.
And these things carried on as, as Wally was there, we had many other seniors there, standing with us. We had 75, 80-year-old ladies there with us. Our elders they were all there, standing around the secret staffs and the fire. And they stood strong. And all through that time, the weather was pressing us, but we stayed strong and, with the support of all these other people.
Efforts included attempts to reach President Clinton and Congressmen
Yet because of that non-commitment, uh, from the financial standpoint, it's very difficult for them to respond on our behalf. I believe that one thing that we are doing there is we are making these people accountable and responsible that they do have the trust responsibility. They do have a fiduciary responsibility that obligates them to protect us, to provide us with those things that will prevent projects such as nuclear waste to have all this negative impact on us.
By our health and the environment. And protect us as a historical natural resource of the United States government. One thing that we did learn is that a consistently made effort on behalf of these political people to find loopholes. To get us so frustrated that we wanna throw our hands up and just like they say, give up the fight. But also, we've learned that we've got to deal with these people with the understanding that our concerns have to be pushed right in their face.

And I believe that by making allies with these people, they address our positions and our issues with a little bit more concern. And we have to get all the support of their contemporaries and their colleagues. And that's the way that we gotta get this done.
In the face of forced eviction, Ceremony
They're actually going to try to close us down now at 12:01 tonight. Um, we collectively made a determination by the tribal leadership, and the elders over there, that they, they have agreed are going to start a ceremony that's going to, that, that, again, is going to require now your backing because the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) are going to try to come in.
Alright, I'll explain now, again, what kind of situation we're, we're in. Where, like, this closure notice, or, or this camp right here, ground zero. Tonight at eleven-thirty we're going to begin a ceremony that is, under what we believe is our right, we're under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Now, this, in itself is going to, is going to actually blockade the road coming in, to access to come and get here with, with our people there.
With the coalition members, I'm asking you to do this now if it's agreeable, to put a buffer zone around our people during the ceremony. That way, for those who want to, want to exercise their right for civil disobedience, with whatever kind of toys they got, you know, you guys want to be arrested? Now's your time.
They don't want confrontation, it's not a good media thing.
Waiting out the threats of removal
Yeah, the easier way is, to just let you stay here and ignore you until your food and water supplies run out. They exercise the close-down, which means nobody comes in, they just don't remove you. You know, so the question is, this could go on for two, three, four weeks.
Nuclear Genocide
Steve Lopez speaking. Ward Valley Press Conference. Washington, D.C. No press showed up.
And I believe firmly that, that the United States has not fulfilled its obligation of trust, and they are putting us in a position where it's time immemorial, which means the tribes that have lived on the Colorado River forever, are really impacted and they are threatened for their lives and existence. And this in, in some senses may be a form of genocide, a nuclear genocide.
Because of the fact that the Indian tribes on the Colorado River could be directly affected if contamination from here gets into the Colorado River. We'll be directly affected in that way. We've asked that this Five River Alliance be one cooperative agency which will allow us now to not only have the traditional and heritage part and the cultural part of the four Mojaves and all the other tribes, to be able to have this input which makes a greater statement about our cultural relationship to this land out here.
United, We Stood
These are the things that unite us together, that, under one cause, we gained strength. And this strength carried us through. This gave us the stamina to stop all these people from coming in and continuing to do what they've been doing to all of us. Desecrating our lands, polluting us, and destroying our traditions.
You know, our people are being damaged. It's tough sometimes for all of us because we get, we get frustrated. But this is what we call life. We meet the challenge, and every day is a challenge, a new challenge. And when we think that we can't carry on no more, it's like Wally said, you have to go to somebody else and, and, and have, have them help you.
They will pick you up. They may not even know why you're there. But it takes all of us, again, together. 'Cause, no one person can do all this. Believe me, I know. I've been a one-man army for five years. And we never gave up. And we never gave up hope. Think about these songs here, think about what Wally was telling about, how they continue on and on.
Because they have been with us from time immemorial, everything that you know, and your tradition and your language and whatever. You remember that and, and realize how important it is, and never let it die
Understand this position. You don't have to have science to know that. Our people care about our children, and that's why we're here. Our forethought is to look seven generations ahead, to the unborn. Cause the things we do today will affect, affect that later down the road.

The series at Censored News

The Rhythmic Journey Home: Birdsingers ensured victory at Ward Valley https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-rhythmic-journey-home-birdsingers.html
Mojave Steve Lopez: Ward Valley halted Nuclear Genocide, Poisoning of Colorado River
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/mojave-steve-lopez-ward-valley-direct.html
The Desert Tortoise on Sacred Land, Celebrating the 20-Year Victory at Ward Valley
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-desert-tortoise-on-sacred-land.html
Celebrating Victory at Ward Valley: Corbin Harney 'Sing to the Water'
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/celebrating-victory-at-ward-valley.html
Laguna Pueblo Dorothy Purley Exposed Nuclear Holocaust on Native Lands. Featured in widely-censored Trespassing film to be shown at Ward Valley Celebration, Feb. 23-24, 2018.
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/laguna-pueblo-dorothy-purley-exposed.html

Copyright Steve Lopez
Transcript copyright Carlos DeMenezes, Trespassing
Article copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News

The Desert Tortoise on Sacred Land: Celebrating Victory at Ward Valley, 20 Years Later

BLM officials (far left) sent to evict activists. Wally Antone (Quechan), right; AIM member (far right), Feburary 13, 1998. | Photo: Greenaction



Quechan Lightning Singers and dancers at front line of occupiers blocking police from entering Ward Valley, February 13, 1998. | Photo: Greenaction.



Activists holding the line at Ward Valley occupation, 1998. | Photo: Molly P. Johnson.

The Desert Tortoise on Sacred Land: Celebrating Victory at Ward Valley, 20 Years Later

Article by Brenda Norrell

Seated in the shade of a Mojave Nation School bus, Dennis Scott spoke of the Turtle Land and the tortoises that silently passed in the noonday sun.
"I'm Mojave. This is our sacred land. It has been for thousands of years. That is the name of our village, Silaye Aheace," he said, pointing to the name on the sign at the camp's entrance.

Silaye Aheace is the Mojave name for mesquite. The resident tribal elder represented the tribes of the Colorado River here and was among those occupying the desert in protest of the proposed nuclear waste dump.

For those who said it is merely wasteland, Scott quietly and reverently responded, "Oh, but there is so much out here."

Beneath the hot sand is a pristine aquifer, the size of Lake Tahoe, and the surface is the home of the endangered desert tortoise.

"Some are no bigger than a Coke can. I saw five of them, without radio transmitters," he said, referring to the transmitters used in an environmental study.

With the only sounds coming from distant aircraft above the bare desert mountains, Scott was surrounded by creosote, yucca, cholla, mesquite and ironwood.

"I like the quiet. I like solitude. Most of the time I like being by myself."

The land is ancestral Mojave land and the tortoises have been here for millions of years. In this Turtle Land, spirit trails or running paths of Colorado River tribal runners remain.

In the choking heat that sears to around 120 degrees in summer, Scott maintained the site without running water or other comforts. The solitude of the site was sometimes shattered by four-wheel riders intent on destroying desert land or turtle hunters seeking cooking ingredients in violation of federal law.

But the greatest threat was the proposed nuclear waste dump, which Scott said threatened to ruin the waters of the Colorado River and pristine ground aquifer. Scott said the transport of nuclear waste endangered the safety of all life forms along the highways of transport.

Written in 1998, this interview was during the Occupation of Ward Valley, which halted the proposed nuclear waste dump.

This series at Censored News:

The Rhythmic Journey Home: Birdsingers ensured victory at Ward Valley https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-rhythmic-journey-home-birdsingers.html
Mojave Steve Lopez: Ward Valley halted Nuclear Genocide, Poisoning of Colorado River
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/mojave-steve-lopez-ward-valley-direct.html
The Desert Tortoise on Sacred Land, Celebrating the 20 Year Victory at Ward Valley
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-desert-tortoise-on-sacred-land.html
Celebrating Victory at Ward Valley: Corbin Harney 'Sing to the Water'
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/celebrating-victory-at-ward-valley.html
Laguna Pueblo Dorothy Purley Exposed Nuclear Holocaust on Native Lands. Featured in widely-censored Trespassing film to be shown at Ward Valley Celebration, Feb. 23-24, 2018. https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/laguna-pueblo-dorothy-purley-exposed.html

Article copyright Brenda Norrell

Celebrating Victory at Ward Valley: Western Shoshone Corbin Harney 'Sing to the Water'

  

(Photo 1)  Corbin Harney, Western Shoshone, Wally Antone, Quechan and Llewellyn Barrackman Fort Mojave. (Photo 2) Curly Has Two Feathers Walks Alone, Navajo leading the morning circle.  Curly was our firekeeper. (Photo 3) Bird Singers and Dancers from Fort Mojave.  (Photo 4) Group picture of the people that were camped at Ground Zero. -- Photos by Molly Johnson

Twenty years ago, the Occupation of Ward Valley halted a proposed nuclear waste dump on sacred land, home to the Desert Tortoise. The upcoming celebration will recall this victory and those who stood for the land, air and water. We remember the words of Western Shoshone Spiritual leader Corbin Harney.

Corbin Harney: 'Sing to the Water'

The Water Song

PBS

My people always have said to me from the beginning of my life, as I remember, to do, to take care of what’s out here, what’s out there on the land. All those things, we have to have ceremonies for. Those are the reasons why I’ve been trying to teach my people, not only my people but the people that survive on all this land. To teach them we have to really start talking to nature. Nature's Way of life is the only way we are going to survive here.

My name’s Corbin Harney. I was born in Idaho, and raised in Idaho and Nevada both. Roamed the country.

“Naraborochi”, that’s in my words, that’s water. Water is something that’s really, we have to appreciate. Those are the reasons why we have to sing about those things, cause if it wasn’t for water, there would be no life on this earth. We have to sing to ‘em, sing to the life of the water, the spirit of the water and so forth. So the water can be happier, the water can continue to flow. We have to make that water spirit at least as happy as can be.

I’m asking the water to continue to flow over the land to give water to all living things.

That’s singing about all the living things on this—that all we are is trickling over our mother earth. “Banoso”, in my language, that’s our mother. Our mother is the one that we’re circling on, everything on this earth. That’s what it’s about, “wanonoawatee”, “wanososhy”, we all are rotating with our mother. So that’s what it is. So everything appreciates each other, we’re supposed to. Appreciating each other, working together, doing things together, living on this mother earth together. We have to appreciate it. It’s really important.

http://www.pbs.org/circleofstories/storytellers/corbin_harney.html

Listen to Water Song:
.https://m.soundcloud.com/poets-org/corbin-harney-water-song

.

In 1998, a historic 113-day occupation of the proposed dumpsite by the Five River Tribes (Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Quechan, Cocopah, and Colorado River Indian Tribes) along with environmental activist were assembled at the site to fight and stop the proposed Ward Valley nuclear waste dump. The 113-day occupation prevented federal police from entering the site as well as prevented the test drilling for the dump that would have desecrated the sacred land of Ward Valley. The occupation ended in victory when the U.S. Department of the Interior rescinded the eviction notice and canceled test drilling. On November 2, 1999, the Interior Department terminated all actions regarding the Ward Valley dump proposal, which officially ended the extensive conflict.

The proposed dump, which would have been in the center of eight wilderness areas, amidst of critical habitat for the threatened desert tortoise, enclosed by the pristine golden canyons and cave paintings of the Old Woman Mountains, and east of the foothills of the Stepladder Mountains that remain covered in a forest of cholla cacti was utterly eliminated by the coordinated effort of dedicated Native and non-native people joined together for the love of Mother Earth. -- Molly Johnson, Censored News

This series at Censored News:

The Rhythmic Journey Home: Birdsingers ensured victory at Ward Valley

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-rhythmic-journey-home-birdsingers.html

Mojave Steve Lopez: Ward Valley halted Nuclear Genocide, Poisoning of Colorado River

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/mojave-steve-lopez-ward-valley-direct.html

The Desert Tortoise on Sacred Land, Celebrating the 20-Year Victory at Ward Valley

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-desert-tortoise-on-sacred-land.html

Celebrating Victory at Ward Valley: Corbin Harney 'Sing to the Water'

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/celebrating-victory-at-ward-valley.html

Laguna Pueblo Dorothy Purley Exposed Nuclear Holocaust on Native Lands. Featured in widely-censored Trespassing film to be shown at Ward Valley Celebration, Feb. 23-24, 2018.

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/laguna-pueblo-dorothy-purley-exposed.html

Article copyright Brenda Norrell

PINE RIDGE -- Celebrating Young Social Change Makers, Gathering on the Homeland

CELEBRATING YOUNG SOCIAL CHANGE MAKERS OF YESTERDAY and TODAY

PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION, South Dakota

The "Gathering on the Homeland: Solidarity, Decolonization and Celebrating Acts of Resistance" is a two-day event being held in the heart of native resistance in Indian Country, the Oglala Lakota Nation.

"Along with the beauty and power of 10,000 people coming together in 2016 along the riverbanks at Cannon Ball, ND we experienced the chaos that emerged, as it became apparent that the understanding of MOVEMENT was as diverse as the people gathered there. We have brought together folks from many Red Nations and allies from the four directions who have led, founded, and/or participated in movements in order to examine, explore, and discuss how their experience can teach young emerging social change makers, community leaders, students, families, and our youth," stated Debra White Plume, Co-Organizer and Director of Owe Aku.

The gathering, in conjunction with the 45^th Anniversary of the 1973 Liberation of Wounded Knee, is scheduled for February 24^th a25^th at Wounded Knee District School in Manderson. 

Surviving veterans of the occupation of Wounded Knee, along with the decendants of Wounded Knee veteran activists will celebrate 45 years of modern resistance against the injustices brought by colonial oppressors throughout Turtle Island. The annual Four-Direction Walk to the Wounded Knee Massacre Site will start at 10 a.m. on February 27^th.  The Independent Oglala Nation Powwow and meal will follow the walk at Wounded Knee District School in Manderson, SD.

"Native artists from California and Arizona will host a youth workshop to create art that teaches not only art skills, but the philosophy of art and the preservation of ancient life ways. There are also a number of native musicians coming to perform a free youth concert who promote an alcohol/drug free lifestyle as well as using music to inspire youth to reclaim their ancestral identities," added White Plume.

Dine'/Oglala/Omaha rap artist Nataanii Means, The Peace Poets of Bronx, NYC, Annishinabe singer/songwriter Tracy Bone and other artists to be announced are scheduled to perform. A range of activities are featured at the event. The schedule includes:

February 24th:

 Noon:                         "GuREALIa Media on the Frontline"

Panel includes: Rose Stiff Arm (Canada), Lorenzo Serna (Black Snake Killaz), Rosebud White Plume (Lakota Media Project)

                                    4 Film Reviews & 4 Film Makers

                                    Do's and Don'ts on the front line

                                    Discussions/Q&A

                                    Indigenous Resistance Media Caucus

                                    Native Artist in Action- Resistance Art Workshop for Youth

7 pm-11 pm:               "Sounds of Resistance" Youth Concert (free admission)

February 25^th:

Noon:                          "What is Movement?"

Panel includes: Nina Waste' (co-founder of Idle No More), Kim Smith & Nakai (Dine' Activists), Mark Tilsen (SR Oceti Sakowin Camp), Tyrell Iron Shell (Int'l Indigenous Youth Council), Deja Red Cloud (SR Oceti Sakowin Camp)

                                    Panel Discussion

                                    Indigenous Women's Caucus

The Peace Poets, Tracy Bone and other artists were confirming at press time. 

February 27^TH:           

10 am:                         Four Direction Walk, Horse Ride and Caravan into Wounded Knee

                                    Independent Oglala Nation Pow Wow @ W.K.D.S.

Gathering on the Homeland event is sponsored by Owe Aku and Red Robin Hood Fund.  Contact coordinator Olowan Martinez at (605) 407-1381, Debra White Plume at (605) 454-2105 or visit www.oweakuinternational.org for more information.

Four-direction walk & powwow, contact AIM Grassroots at (605) 381-3535 or Iva Black Elk at (605) 441-6657.

"The more dependent you become on centralized power, the more easily you are led around."- Russell Means (Oglala Lakota).