U.S. Border Patrol Harasses Tohono O'odham Community on Birthday of Murdered Raymond Mattia

 

Raymond Mattia, Tohono O'odham, was murdered by the U.S. Border Patrol 
at his home in Ali Jegk on May 18, 2023.

"One quad came by the Ceremony Grounds even though I asked them to leave." -- Ofelia Rivas

Harassment on Raymond Mattia's Birthday and a Cultural Meeting

By Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham, Censored News, May 18, 2025

GU-VO District, Tohono O'odham Nation -- Harassment on Ray's birthday and a cultural meeting.
It's continuous intimidation warfare tactics on the community,
Also there is a death in the community.
They told the district officials that there was suspicious activities going on. We are preparing for the cultural meeting, getting firewood.
The family lost a young man in his 30's, we're in sad mourning.

U.S. Border Patrol and Tohono O'odham Nation Police during Mourning Ceremony. Photo by Ofelia Rivas.

Read and listen to more:

Ofelia Rivas describes the murder of her lifelong friend, Raymond Mattia, by the U.S. Border Patrol on Tiokasin Ghosthorse's First Voices Radio.

Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham, speaks with First Voices Radio host Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Lakota. Ofelia describes how the U.S. Border Patrol murdered her friend Raymond Mattia, Tohono O'odham, at his home on the Tohono O'odham Nation.

Ofelia shares how Ray's father was her spiritual mentor and taught her about O'odham ceremonies. "Raymond is my ceremony brother, and I have a lot of respect for him."

Ofelia describes the moments leading up to Ray's murder when about 25 U.S. Border Patrol trucks arrived. After murdering Raymond, Ofelia could hear the U.S. Border Patrol agents laughing about murdering him. The gunfire included two shots from the back, and U.S. Border Patrol agents bashed in Raymond's body after he was shot and dying.

"He died such a painful death," Ofelia said. "He was unarmed."

Ofelia filed a civil rights complaint which was denied by the U.S. Justice Department. A Tohono O'odham Nation police officer, a non-tribal member, who had continually harassed Raymond, led the U.S. Border Patrol to Ray's home that night.

Ofelia said this tribal police officer's actions are a hate crime.

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2025/01/tiokasins-guest-on-first-voices-radio.html

Ofelia Rivas website: O'odham Rights

https://www.oodhamrights.org/

Copyright Ofelia Rivas. Content may not be used without written permission.

Apache Stronghold: Fight For Existence Podcast 'A Halted Land Transfer, A Continued Fight'

Fight For Our Existence Podcast

Episode 32 is now available! Apache Stronghold: A Halted Land Transfer, A Continued Fight

This episode is deeply personal, I sat down with my own family, the core of Apache Stronghold, to talk about the recent court decision that halted the land transfer of Oak Flat.

Mohawk Nation News 'Kanienkehaka Mohawks Forever!'

 .

New today at Mohawk Nation News. Read the article at MNN

https://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2025/05/19/kanienkehaka-mohawks-forever/

Indonesia Accused of Human Rights Crimes at the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Tgk Fajri describes human rights crimes by Indonesia's government at the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2025. Screenshot by Censored News.

Indonesia Accused of Human Rights Crimes at the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, May 11, 2025

NEW YORK -- In the talk-polite world of the United Nations, Indigenous representatives for the people of Aceh, West Papua, and Maluku delivered a fiery speech, and described the human rights abuses by Indonesia's government.

The delegation also had their signs taken away by United Nations security, and were told not to offend anyone at the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.

Mohawk Nation News 'On-Going Destruction of Turtle Island'

New today at Mohawk Nation News. Read at MNN

https://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2025/05/12/destruction-of-turtle-island/

 

Guatemalan Youth Inspires at U.N. Permanent Forum, 'We are not the end of the road. We are the bridge.'

.

Guatemalan Youth Inspires at U.N. Permanent Forum, 'We are not the end of the road. We are the bridge.'

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, May 13, 2025

NEW YORK -- "We are not requesting permission to exist. We are inviting you to walk with us -- hand in hand -- with the wisdom of our ancestors, while we still have time on this earth."

"We are not the end of the road, we are the bridge. We are inspired by our ancestors." 

Those are the words of a Guatemalan youth to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, representing the Community for Latin America and the Caribbean.

"I am speaking from the global south, and expressing the hope and pain of Indigenous People."

She said this is not an issue of who suffers more, because all are suffering from the systematic injustice, and this must not be a competition for who is suffering most. 

This Forum, she said, is not for some sort of prize, but was forged by generations of resistance. It is not to ensure a future for a small few -- but it is for the dignity for many, and reaching this point has not been easy.

"Many voices have been silenced by borders, by poverty, and simply forgotten."

Financing should be transformative, she said. It is not important to sustain what has always been there, but it is important to invest in those who are autonomous with community roots.

"We are not financing to see more reports, we are financing to see lives being transformed."

"We are not the end of the road. We are the bridge. We are inspired by our ancestors."

She urged those gathered to encourage youth leadership that is innovative.

"We are not requesting permission to exist. We are inviting you to walk with us, hand in hand, with the wisdom of our ancestors, while we still have time on this earth."

She is among the young emerging voices at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and delivered a collective statement from the Community for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Copyright Censored News. Censored News original series.