Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

February 16, 2015

Washington Police Shooting Ignites a Cross-Border Controversy

Human Rights News

 Washington Police Shooting Ingites a Cross-Border Controversy

 by Fronteta NorteSur
Censored News
English and Dutch
February 16, 2015

The fatal shooting of an unarmed Mexican migrant by police in Washington state has stirred renewed attention south of the border on the use of deadly force by U.S. law enforcement agencies. The February 10 shooting of Antonio Zambrano Montes by police in Pasco, Washington, is getting prominent coverage in both the print and electronic media in Mexico.

The Zambrano killing, which was captured on video and widely transmitted in cyberspace, has also drawn the involvement of all three levels of the Mexican government. President Enrique Pena Nieto, the Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE) and the Michoacan state government all condemned the shooting, while the official National Human Rights Commission urged the SRE to provide financial support, attention and guidance to Zambrano's family. In a statement, the SRE not only criticized Zamrano's violent death, but also called attention to "incidents in which disproportionate force is used, even more so when it results in the loss of civilians."

An apple industry worker, Zambrano was shot and killed by Pasco police officers after he was reported throwing rocks at cars. According to police accounts, the 35-year-old man also threw rocks at officers before he was killed. Some eyewitnesses, however, said Zambrano had his hands up when he was shot. Zambrano's mother, Acapita Montes Rivera, was granted a U.S. humanitarian visa this past weekend so she could travel from the family home in Michoacan to recover her son's remains in Washington state.  Montes said her travel and legal expenses were covered by the municipal government of Aquila, Michoacan. "He is my son, and he was always a good boy," Montes was quoted. "He never forgot about us and always helped us out." Antonio Zambrano's body was expected to be shipped back to Mexico this week.

In another communique, the SRE reiterated its disposition to provide all the necessary support to the slain man's family. On Sunday, February 15, Eduardo Baca, Mexican consul in Seattle, met with Zambrano's relatives. In rapid fashion, Zambrano's family took the initial steps in an expected  $25 million lawsuit against the City of Pasco for Antonio's death. Cited by the Mexican press, Washington state media were credited for reporting that one of the officers involved in the deadly confrontation, Ryan Flanagan, was accused of excessive force and racism by a 30-year-old Latina woman in 2009, but escaped further consequences when a $100,000 settlement was reached with the complaintant.

Similar to Albuquerque, Ferguson and many other U.S. communities, the Zambrano shooting  sparked mass protests against police violence.

On Valentine's Day 2015, hundreds of demonstrators led by Zambrano's family marched in Pasco chanting "Justice for Antonio." Felix Vargas, chair of Pasco's Consejo Latino, demanded a federal investigation of the shooting. Prior to the march, Vargas said he was "very perturbed" by an encounter that did not justify "even a single shot." On Facebook, activists are publicizing a Seattle rally for Zambrano and against police brutality set for Westlake Park on Wednesday, February 18.

Four people have been killed by Pasco police since last summer. About half of the estimated 68,000 inhabitants of the city are Latinos. Don Blasdel, the local county coroner, took the unusual step of ordering a public inquest into Zambrano's death. The inquest, Blasdel said, would ensure an independent and transparent investigation.

"I don't want the situation to end up as another Ferguson," the Franklin County official said.

In Mexico, Zambrano's death recast the spotlight on the broader treatment of migrants by U.S. law enforcement officials.

According to the SRE, 74 Mexican nationals have been killed by the  Border Patrol and other U.S. law enforcement agencies since 2006. Of the 74 deaths, 26 of them occurred at the hands of the Border Patrol,  with the remaining 48 attributed to altercations with municipal, county and state police forces.
More than half the cases, or 47, produced no consequences for the involved agencies, while 9 yielded some reparations of damages for family members. In addition to death by firearm, the fatalities were caused by electric shocks, drowining and crushing injury by a horse, according to the SRE.

In 2014, the Border Patrol instituted new policies that put some restrictions on its agents from employing gunfire during rock-throwing incidents.

Reina Torres, general director of the SRE's department dedicated to the protection of Mexicans abroad, expressed optimism that the Zambrano killing would produce accoutability.

"In the case of Antonio, we are confident there could be difference," Torres told the Mexican daily El Universal. "There are a lot of witnesses and a video that is very clear."

Torres vowed the Mexican government will pursue legal follow-ups on all the outstanding cases involving police violence against Mexican nationals in the U.S. Michoacan state lawmaker Noe Bernadino said the local legislature would pass a resolution during its next session requesting that the federal congress demand greater respect for the civil rights of Mexican nationals in the U.S.

In the bigger scheme of things, Zambrano's death has further propelled allegations of excessive use of force by U.S. police agencies into an increasingly thorny issue on the world stage.


Sources: Cnnenespanol, February 16, 2015. La Jornada, February 15 and 16, 2015. Articles by Fernando Camacho, Gabriela Martinez, Antonio Heras, Juan Carlos Flores, Ciro Perez Silva, and editorial staff. La Jornada (Michoacan edition), February 16, 2015. Article by Francisco Torres.
SeattlePI.com, February 15, 2015. Associated Press, February 15, 2015. El Diario de Juarez/El Universal, February 14, 2015. Proceso/Apro, February 13 and 14, 2015. Articles by Mathieu Tourliere and editorial staff. Lapolaka.com, February 14, 2015. Milenio, February 14, 2015.


Frontera NorteSur: on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico

For a free electronic subscription
email: fnsnews@nmsu.edu

 Dutch translation by Alice Holemans, NAIS, thank you!
Home » Nieuws » * SCHIETPARTIJ DOOR POLITIE VAN WASHINGTON WAKKERT GRENSOVERSCHRIJDENDE CONTROVERSIE WEER AAN.
* SCHIETPARTIJ DOOR POLITIE VAN DE STAAT WASHINGTON WAKKERT GRENSOVERSCHRIJDENDE CONTROVERSIE WEER AAN.
Human Rights News
Door Frontera Norte Sur
Bron: Censored News: www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Vertaald door NAIS: www.denaisgazet.be
Het doodschieten van een ongewapende Mexicaanse migrant door de politie van Washington, heeft ten zuiden van de grens de aandacht over het uitoefenen van dodelijk geweld door US ordehandhavers terug aangewakkerd.
Het neerschieten van Antonio Zambrano Montes, door de politie in Pasco,op 10 februari, krijgt aandacht in zowel de geschreven pers als in de elektronische media in Mexico.

De Zambrano moord, die opgenomen werd op video en wijd verspreid werd in cyberspace, heeft ook de betrokkenheid van de drie niveau’ s van de Mexicaanse regering belicht.
President Enrique Pena Nieto, het Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE) en de Michoacan staatsoverheid, hebben allen de schietpartij veroordeeld, terwijl de officiële National Human Rights Commission aandrong bij de SRE, om financiële steun en begeleiding aan de familie van Zambrano te verschaffen.
In een verklaring gaf de SRE niet enkel kritiek op Zambrano’ s gewelddadige dood, maar vestigde ze ook de aandacht op “incidenten” waarin ongepast geweld wordt gebruikt,en zeker wanneer deze resulteren in de dood van burgers.

Zambrano, een arbeider in de appel industrie werd gedood door de politie van Pasco nadat er een melding binnengekomen was dat hij auto’s met stenen bekogelde.
Volgens de politie zou de 35 jarige man stenen gegooid hebben naar de agenten voor hij gedood werd.
Echter, ooggetuigen verklaarden dat Zambrano de handen in de lucht hield toen hij werd neergeschoten.
Acapita Montes Rivera, de moeder van Zambrano heeft een US ‘humanitarian visa’ gekregen zodat zij vrij kon reizen vanuit Michoacan naar de staat Washington, om de overblijfselen van haar zoon thuis te brengen.
Montes zei dat haar reis en andere kosten gedekt worden door de gemeentelijke overheid van Aquila, Michoacan.
“Hij is mijn zoon, en hij is steeds een goede jongen geweest. Hij is ons nooit vergeten en heeft ons altijd geholpen” aldus Acapita Montes Rivera.
Men verwacht dat Antonio Zambrano’s lichaam nog deze week terug zal gebracht worden naar Mexico.
In een ander communiqué herhaald de SRE het verzoek om wettelijke steun aan de familie van de gedode man.
Eduardo Baca, Mexicaans consul in Seattle heeft op zondag, 15 februari een ontmoeting gehad met de verwanten van Zambrano.

De familie van Zambrano nam reeds de nodige stappen voor een rechtszaak tegen de City van Pasco. De eis voor schadevergoeding zou $ 25 miljoen zijn.
Geciteerd door de Mexicaanse pers, heeft de media van de staat Washington de aanzet gegeven met hun verslaggeving dat Ryan Flanagan, een van de agenten die bij de dodelijke confrontatie betrokken was, in 2009 door een 30 jarige Latino vrouw beschuldigd werd van extreem geweld en racisme, maar die aan een veroordeling ontsnapte toen met de aanklager een overeenkomst van $ 100.000 gesloten werd.

Vergelijkbaar met Albuquerque, Ferguson en vele andere US gemeenschappen, wakkerde het doodschieten van Zambrano massa demonstraties tegen de politie aan.

Op Sint Valentine, stapten honderden demonstranten, geleid door de familie van Zambrano, in Pasco terwijl ze scandeerden: ”Recht voor Antonio.”
Felix Vargas, voorzitter van ‘Pasco’s Consejo Latina,’ eiste een federaal onderzoek.
Voor de mars zei Vargas dat hij “zeer verontrust” was door een treffen dat “zelfs geen enkel schot” kon rechtvaardigen.
Op Facebook publiceren activisten een rally voor Zambrano in Seattle en tegen politiegeweld op Woensdag 18 februari in Westlake Park.

Sinds de zomer zijn vier mensen gedood door de Pasco politie. Bijna de helft van de geschatte 68.000 inwoners van de stad zijn Latino’s.
Don Blasdel, de lokale lijkschouwer heeft de ongebruikelijke stap gezet om een openbaar onderzoek naar Zambrano’s dood te bevelen.
“Het onderzoek moet onafhankelijk en transparant zijn. Ik wil niet dat toestand eindigt in een ander Ferguson,” aldus Blasdel.

In Mexico zet Zambrano’s dood het spotlicht weer op de wijdere behandeling van migranten door US ordehandhavers.
Volgens het SRE, werden sinds 2006 74 Mexicaanse onderdanen gedood door de grenspolitie en andere US ordehandhavers.
Van die 74 vonden 26 onder hen de dood door de handen van de grens patrouille, de overige 48 kwamen om in conflict met gemeentelijke, provincie en staatspolitie.
Voor meer dan de helft, zo’n 47, werden er geen vervolgingen ingesteld, terwijl voor slechts 9 een vorm van schadevergoeding aan de families van de overlevenden toegekend werd.
Behalve door vuurwapens vonden vele de dood door elektrische schokken, verdrinking en verpletterd door paarden, volgens de SRE.

In 2014 voerde de grenspatrouilles een ander beleid dat het gebruik van vuurwapens tijdens incidenten waarbij stenen gegooid werden beperkte.

Reina Torres, programmadirecteur van het SRE departement dat zich toelegt op de bescherming van Mexicanen in het buitenland, zegt dat ze optimistisch is over het feit dat de Zambrano moord vervolgd zal worden.
“In het geval van Antonio zijn we er zeker van dat een verschil zal gemaakt worden.” Vertelde Torres aan de Mexican Daily El Universal. “Er waren veel getuigen en een video die aan duidelijkheid niets te wensen overlaat.”
Torres zegt dat de Mexicaanse overheid er alles aan zal doen om al de lopende zaken in verband met politiegeweld tegen Mexicaanse onderdanen in de US zal op te volgen.

Noe Bernadino, een wetgever van Michoacan zei dat de lokale legislatuur op de volgende zitting een resolutie zal indienen waarin van het federaal congres een groter respect geëist wordt voor de burgerrechten van Mexicaanse onderdanen in de VS.

Sources: Cnnenespanol, February 16, 2015. La Jornada, February 15 and 16, 2015. Articles by Fernando Camacho, Gabriela Martinez, Antonio Heras, Juan Carlos Flores, Ciro Perez Silva, and editorial staff. La Jornada (Michoacan edition), February 16, 2015. Article by Francisco Torres.
SeattlePI.com, February 15, 2015. Associated Press, February 15, 2015. El Diario de Juarez/El Universal, February 14, 2015. Proceso/Apro, February 13 and 14, 2015. Articles by Mathieu Tourliere and editorial staff. Lapolaka.com, February 14, 2015. Milenio, February 14, 2015.
 Frontera NorteSur: on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico

For a free electronic subscription
at No comments:

February 15, 2015

Dan Bacher 'Cold, Dead Fish Awards 2015'

Cold, Dead Fish Awards for 2014
Cold, Dead Fish Awards for 2015

by Dan Bacher, February 13, 2015
Censored News

The year 2014 started off with a record drought that was aggravated by the impact of the Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Water Resources draining Trinity, Shasta, Oroville and Folsom reservoirs to record low levels to fill southern California reservoirs and the Kern Water Bank.

Folsom Lake dropped to its lowest level ever, forcing the closure of the American River to fishing as releases were reduced to 500 cfs. While February and March were wet months, the drought continued throughout the year, with the exception of a few big storms in December.

2014 was one of the toughest years ever for fish in California history. As a result of the mismanagement of Folsom Reservoir by the Bureau of Reclamation during a drought, Nimbus Fish Hatchery staff counted the lowest number of steelhead ever recorded, 10 fish, by December 29, normally a date when hundreds if not thousands of fish had already returned to the river.

For its disastrous water policies and the near-extinction of American River steelhead, as well as its continuing drive to raise Shasta Dam, David Murrillo, MidPacific Director of the Bureau, receives the “Extinct Steelhead” award.

However, the Bureau of Reclamation had a very willing partner in the destruction of California’s fisheries, California Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin and Natural Resources Secretary John Laird. 

As if draining the reservoirs and endangering American River steelhead and winter run Chinook salmon on the Sacramento River weren’t enough, the California Fish and Wildlife’s Fall Midwater Trawl Survey on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta revealed that the Delta smelt, an indicator species that demonstrates the health of the Delta, reached a new record low population level in 2014. Department staff found a total of only eight smelt at a total of over 100 sites sampled each month from September through December. 

The survey also revealed the continuing collapse of striped bass, longfin smelt, threadfin shad and American shad in the Delta. The striped bass index was the third lowest in history, the longfin smelt index was the third lowest in history, the threadfin shad index was the sixth lowest in history, and the American shad indiex was the second lowest in history.

For their continued commitment to driving Delta smelt and other fish species towards extinction, the esteemed “environmentalists” Cowin and Laird receive the “Delta Smelt Destruction Crew” award.

The year 2014 began and ended with moves to push forward drought relief legislation by Congressman Devin Nunes, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, and Congressman David Valadao, with the support of House Speaker John Boehner, to allow the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta pumps to operate "as long as water is available.” 

Restore the Delta described the legislation  “nothing more than a blatant, short-sighted water grab, fueled by years of political contributions from huge growers in the Westlands Water District and the Kern County Water Agency to these Central Valley Congressional Representatives.”

On December 9, in spite of intense opposition by fishermen, environmentalists, Indian Tribes and Northern California Representatives, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by 230 to 182 "drought relief" legislation, H.R. 5781, that would eviscerate protections for Delta smelt, Chinook salmon and other fish species.

Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and the Obama administration opposed the bill, but you can expect a similar bill to be introduced in the new Congress and Senate this year.  

For their efforts to destroy what’s left of the Delta fisheries, co-sponsors Reps. David G. Valadao (CA-21), Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), Ken Calvert (CA-42), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Tom McClintock (CA-04), and Devin Nunes (CA-22), received the “Corporate Welfare Crybabies” award.

On the ocean front, Brown administration officials and corporate “environmental” NGOS continued to greenwash the fake “marine protected areas” created under the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, in spite of the fact that the science underlying the process was terminally flawed, according to the Yurok Tribe science team and other Tribal scientists, while the process was overseen by corrupt corporate interests. The process was also characterized by its private funding by the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation, its failure to create authentic marine protected areas, and the violation of traditional Tribal fishing and gathering rights. (http://yubanet.com/california/Dan-Bacher-MLPA-Initiative-based-on-incomplete-and-terminally-flawed-science.php#.VOIZXN3Dy9U)

The illegitimacy of the MLPA Initiative “science” was highlighted when a federal judge in San Francisco on May 20 sentenced Ron LeValley of Mad River Biologists, the former co-chair of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative Science Advisory Team for the North Coast, to serve 10 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to embezzle over $852,000 in federal funds from the Yurok Tribe. In February.

LeValley pleaded guilty to a single federal charge of conspiracy to commit embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal Organization in the complex scheme in collaboration with former Yurok Forestry Director Roland Raymond.

For the demonstration of his lack of scientific ethics, we grant Ron LeValley with the “Junk Science Criminal” of the Year “ award.

But we’re not done yet. In spite of calls for an investigation of the terminally flawed science developed by the “Science Advisory Team” under the embezzler’s helm, Chuck Bonham, Department of Fish and Wildlife Director, and Natural Resources Secretary John Laird continue to propagate the “Big Lie” that the process was “open, transparent and inclusive” and  “based on science.” For their "heroic" efforts to greenwash the MLPA Initiative, Bonham and Laird receive “The Big Lie” award of 2014.

Of course, we can’t give these awards without a big “round of applause” to Catherine Reheis-Boyd, the President of the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) and former Chair of the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force to create so-called “marine protected areas” in Southern California. She also served on the task forces for the Central, North Central and North Coast.

The (WSPA), the most powerful corporate lobbying organization in Sacramento, has spent a total of $32,871,430 on lobbying since January 1, 2009. The group paid a record $8.9 million on lobbying to eviscerate California’s environmental laws, oppose fracking moratorium legislation and to defeat a bill to protect  the Vandenberg State Marine Reserve and Tranquillon Ridge from new oil drilling.  

For her service to Big Oil by kicking fishermen and tribal members off vast areas of the ocean while opposing California’s environmental laws, Reheis-Boyd gets the “Oil-Drenched Marine Guardian” award.  

Always a big contender in these awards, the Westlands Water District and San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority are awarded the “Raid on the Trinity” plaque for their continuing litigation to block the release of Trinity River water to stop an imminent fish kill on the Klamath in August when the water was warming up. 

Fortunately, due to direct action protests by the Hoopa Valley Tribe and members of the Yurok, Karuk and Winnemen Tribes, combined with litigation by the Hoopa Valley and Yurok Tribes and Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, the Bureau of Reclamation made the decision to release the water from the river and stop a massive fish kill from taking place like the one when over 68,000 salmon perished in September 2002. 

Stewart Resnick, the Beverly Hills billionaire owner of Paramount Farms in Kern County, and his wife, Lynda, have been instrumental in promoting the construction of the peripheral tunnels and campaigns to eviscerate Endangered Species Act protections for Central Valley Chinook salmon and Delta smelt populations.

The Resnicks made over $270,000 in contributions to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, $350,000 to support Gov. Gray Davis, and $102,000 to Gov. Jerry Brown. Most recently, Stewart Resnick made a donation of $150,000 to the Yes on Prop. 1 and 2 campaign to make sure the bond benefited him and corporate agribusiness allies. For their continual dedication to destroying our fisheries while making huge profits off selling back subsidized water to the public, Lynda and Stewart Resnick receive the “Koch Brothers of California” award.

Finally, there comes the most prestigious award, the “Cold, Dead Fish.” The common link in much of the destruction and mayhem I’ve described in my articles is Jerry Brown, the worst Governor for fish, water and the environment in recent California history.  Brown has constantly gushed about his "green energy" and carbon trading policies at press conferences and photo opportunities while he enthusiastically supports the expansion of fracking in California and is rushing the most environmentally destructive public works project in California history, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) to build the peripheral tunnels.  

While the mainstream media and Brown's collaborators continue to greenwash the Governor's neo-liberal carbon trading policies, he has in fact continued and expanded the worst environmental policies of the Schwarzenegger administration, including exporting massive quantities of northern California to corporate agribusiness interests on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California water agencies and implementing the corrupt Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative to create fake "marine protected areas.  

Brown and his backers in 2014 dumped over $16.4 million into Proposition 1, a water grab for agribusiness that passed in November. Bill Jennings, Executive Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, summed up the water bond as “a poster-child of why California is in a water crisis: it enriches water speculators but accomplishes little in addressing the drought, solving California's long-term water needs, reducing reliance on The Delta, or protecting our rivers and fisheries." 

Brown and his staff also continued to fast track the Bay Delta Conservation Plan to build the peripheral tunnels, in spite of the fact that the fiasco could violate the federal Clean Water Act and increase harm to endangered fish species, according to a scathing43 page letter by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the Brown administration, in collaboration with the Obama administration, presided over the near extinction of Delta smelt, formerly the most abundant fish in the estuary, as well as a record low steelhead run on American River. In recent California history, it is hard to find a Governor that has overseen more destruction of California's fish, waterways and environment than Jerry Brown, yet the mainstream media and corporate "environmental" NGOs continue to falsely portray Brown as a "green" Governor.

For his continuing efforts to plunder California’s natural resources while posing as a “Green Governor” promoting “green energy” and addressing “climate change,” Brown gets the “Cold, Dead Fish Award” for the third year in a row.
at 1 comment:

February 11, 2015

Sandra Rambler: Traditionally Speaking Apache Oak Flat Spiritual Gathering

San Carlos Apache Sandra Rambler reflects on the defense of Oak Flat and all that is sacred, after Sen. McCain's copper mining sneaks through in the defense bill

 By Sandra Rambler, San Carlos Apache
Censored News
More photos
“Yu’shdaa,” my grandmother would often say to us, which meant, “Come here.”  She would sit us down and begin explaining what all the millions and billions of dollars in the world cannot buy.  Our Apache heritage.
As we were growing up, my brothers would often chop wood for our wood stove while my cousins and I were learning how to make dough for fry bread or tortillas.  Those were the days when we were going to have either fresh fish or quail or rabbit for dinner.
Memories of my youth ran through my mind as I ventured to walk in some parts of the spiritual march as part of the All Nations Spiritual Gathering at Oak Flat which began on Wednesday evening, Feb. 4th with a rally, the two-day march on Feb. 5 and 6 and the prayer ceremony on Feb. 7 and 8 at Oak Flat.
As I was getting tired, I kept thinking of our dearly beloved grandmother.  I kept hearing her words, “Yu’shdaa!”

Read more »
at No comments:

Mohawk Nation News 'Women Awake'

WOMEN AWAKE

Posted on 
mnnlogo1

Please post and distribute. Nia:wen.
MNN. Feb. 11, 2015. In the 1990 “Mohawk Oka Crisis” 5,000 heavily armed Canadian soldiers surrounded three of our communities. We were protesting the expansion of a non-Ongwe’hon:weh golf course over our burial and ceremonial grounds. The army attacked and hurt many of us. One of our children was stabbed in the chest by a soldier. Our longhouse, filled with women and children, was surrounded by tanks to attack us. The women ran out and faced them. In the battle many were seriously injured.
Women beat tyranny.
Women beat tyranny.
The natural world created women as the progenitors of the soil for the coming generations. Women always stood up to brutality and aggression of the Admiralty matrix that is controlling the world. We feel the courage and anger of the Ukrainan people through the voices of these two women in the following video. Ukranian Women face soldiers.
We can hear the children of the future crying for their mothers in Donetsk right now.
The Nazi controlled band council in Kahnawake creates similar chaos and confusion to force us to monetize our land. Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Inc. officers, Mike Delisle and Christine Deom are not Ongwe’hon:we. We can see they work for the corporation. We get no information or discussion on local or mainstream media about the planned genocidal action to remove us from our land. Women of the world do not want to send our husbands and children to do the dirty work for the Corporations.
The local Nazi band council lies and threatens us. They are the invading soldiers and we are the people. Anything based on a lie is a lie. They and their Nazi supporters should pack their bags and leave Kahnawake before they are removed physically. Kayoni #59 of the law of the land, Kaia’nere:kowa, provides that when our traitors refuse three times to heed the warnings of the Women, they will be dealt with by the Rotiskenra’keteh.
The patriarchal lies will meet the maternal truth as Red and Kitty remind us: “The love I treasured you sold for gold, for worldly goods you left me cold. You are happy now but the time will come, your false loves will leave you one by one.”
MNN Mohawk Nation News kahentinetha2@yahoo.com or more news, books, workshops, to donate and sign up for MNN newsletters, go towww.mohawknationnews.com  More stories at MNN Archives.  Address:  Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L thahoketoteh@hotmail.com for original Mohawk music visit thahoketoteh.ws
at No comments:

Swiss Leak: Mining Magnate and Clinton posed as philanthropists while bilking world's energy resources

Photo credit 'Goldcorp out of Guatemala'
Guatemala youth Topacio Reynoso mining resister shot and killed in 2014. Marlin mine is owned by Tahoe Resources. Goldcorp owns 40 percent of the shares.
Mining magnate and Bill Clinton posed as philanthropists as they bilked the world’s energy resources


By Brenda Norrell
English and Dutch

Leaked Swiss bank files show the Clinton Foundation was funded by a Canadian mining magnate who created uranium and gold mines around the world -- devastating Indigenous Peoples and their lands -- leaving behind a trail of death of mining resisters from Guatemala and Mexico to Africa and Asia.

 While bilking the world’s energy resources, Canadian mining magnate Frank Giustra posed as a philanthropist. Giustra cut deals for uranium mining in Kazakhstan on tour with Bill Clinton. Giustra then donated $31 million of uranium mining dollars to the Clinton Foundation. This is just one example of the millions flowing to the Clinton Foundation from the mining magnate as they posed as philanthropists.

 Carlos Slim Helú, the Mexican businessman and one of the richest persons in the world, joined with Giustra and Clinton. They posed as philanthropists fighting world hunger while bilking the world’s energy resources.

 Posing as philanthropists, Clinton flew to Africa to "fund raise for the poor" with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, now the center of a global probe into pedophiles and child sex abuse. 

 The Clinton Foundation has $277.8 million in assets, according to Charity Index. Charity Index says the Clinton Foundation does not meet their criteria as a non-profit for an undisclosed reason.

 Now Giustra is advising Endeavour Mining on new gold mining in Africa.

 According to the Guardian newspaper on Tuesday:
Leaked files from HSBC’s Swiss banking division reveal the identities of seven donors to the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation with accounts in Geneva.

They include Frank Giustra, a Canadian mining magnate and one of the foundation’s biggest financial backers, and Richard Caring, the British retail magnate who, the bank’s internal records show, used his tax-free Geneva account to transfer $1 m into the New York-based foundation.
Another Clinton foundation donor who had a HSBC account in the tax haven is Jeffrey Epstein, the hedge fund manager and convicted sex offender who once flew the former president on his private jet for charity events in Africa.
The identities of Clinton supporters who banked with HSBC in Geneva are contained in internal bank data leaked by a HSBC computer expert turned whistleblower, Hervé Falciani.

Giustra's bio shows he is an early architect of many resource companies, including Wheaton River Minerals (now known as the $33B Goldcorp, which spun out the $12B Silver Wheaton), Petro Rubiales (now the $7B Pacific Rubiales), and Urasia Energy, Geo.ca reports. 

News reports reveal Goldcorp and its subsidiaries are responsible for the assassinations and disappearances of Indigenous Peoples around the world.

One woman in Guatemala describes her husband, a mining resister, who was burned alive, while protesting the Marlin mine owned by Goldcorp in Guatemala.

“They took him and poured gasoline all over him. Then they struck a match and lit him.”

“They asked him, “Why are you against the mining?” They were wearing hoods. They asked him, “Why are you against the company?” That’s why we knew they were members of the company," David Hill reports in the Guardian.

Giustra, now in Vancouver B.C., serves as adviser to Endeavour Mining which is currently targeting Burkina Faso with gold mining and has the Tabakoto Gold Mine in Mali, West Africa.

BIO: Frank Giustra serves as Chief Executive Officer and President at Fiore Capital Corp. Mr. Giustra has been the President and Chief Executive Officer at Fiore Financial Corporation, an exclusive advisor to Endeavour Mining Corp. since July 2007. He is the Founder of Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation. He founded Clinton-Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative in June 2007. In 1997, he founded Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and served as its Chairman from April 1997 to May 2003. He served as Chairman of Endeavour Financial Corp. from January 2001 to July 2007. He served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yorkton Securities Inc. from 1995 to December 1996 and as its President since 1990. He has been a Director at Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. since December 2010. He serves as Director of Thunderbird Films Inc. and Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation. He has been a Director of Petromanas Energy Inc. since August 20, 2012, Endeavour Resources Inc. since October 23, 2008 and Catalyst Copper Corp. since August 2014. He has been Director of Endeavour Mining Corporation since September 17, 2013. He served as Director of Crew Gold Corporation since February 11, 2010. He served as Member of Strategic Advisory Board at Endeavour Mining Corporation since December 17, 2012. He served as a Director of Endeavour Financial Corporation since July 26, 2002 and Eacom Timber Corporation from July 5, 2010 to June 2013. He served as a Director of Iamgold Corp., Namibian Minerals Corp. and New Gold, Inc. He served as a Director of Franco-Nevada GLW Holdings Corp. (formerly, Gold Wheaton Gold Corp.) from July 14, 2008 to March 14, 2011 and Endeavour Mining Corporation since July 26, 2002. He served as a Director of Wheaton River Minerals, Ltd. since May 2001. Mr. Giustra serves as a Trustee of International Crisis Group (The) and , Streetohome Foundation. He is the President and a Director of the Radcliffe Foundation and a Trustee of the William J. Clinton Foundation. He and former US President launched the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership, alleviating poverty in the developing world through education, training and supply chain distribution. -- Bloomberg Business
Sources update:
Swiss leaks: Banking giant HSBC sheltered murky cash linked to dictators and arms dealers
Guardian: Welcome to Guatemala, Gold Mining Protester Beaten and Burnt Alive

Common Dreams: Big Backers of Clinton Foundation found in leaked Swiss bank files


Wikipedia: Frank Giustra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Giustra

 Bloomberg Business
http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=230079&privcapId=58101798


Thanks to Alice Holemans, NAIS, for Dutch translation!


Home » Nieuws » *ZWITSERS LEK: MIJNBOUW MAGNAAT EN CLINTON DEDEN ZICH VOOR ALS FILANTROPEN
*ZWITSERS LEK: MIJNBOUW MAGNAAT EN CLINTON DEDEN ZICH VOOR ALS FILANTROPEN TERWIJL ZE DE ENERGIEBRONNEN VAN DE WERELD ROOFDEN.
Guatemala.jpg
Photo credit 'Goldcorp out of Guatemala'
Guatemala youth Topacio Reynoso mining resister shot and killed in 2014. Marlin mine is owned by Tahoe Resources. Goldcorp owns 40 percent of the shares.

Door: Brenda Norrell, Censored News: www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Vertaald door NAIS: www.denaisgazet.be
De gelekte files van de Zwitserse Bank tonen ons dat de Clinton Stichting gefinancierd werd door de Canadese mijn- magnaat die in de hele wereld uranium en goudmijnen gebouwd heeft- mijnen die verwoestingen hebben aangericht aan inheemse volken en hun landen, en een spoor van dode mijn- protesters achter zich gelaten hebben van Guatemala en Mexico tot Afrika en Azië.
Terwijl hij wereldwijd energiebronnen afstroopte deed de Canadese mijn- magnaat, Frank Giustra zich voor als een filantroop.
Terwijl hij samen met Clinton op tournee was in Kazakhstan sloot hij contracten voor uranium ontginning af.
Vervolgens schonk Giustra $31 miljoen uranium dollars aan de Clinton Foundation.
Dit is maar één voorbeeld van de miljoenen die de mijn- magnaat naar de Clinton foundation heeft laten vloeien terwijl zij zich beiden voordeden als filantropen.
Carlos Slim Helú, de Mexicaanse zakenman en een van de rijkste van de wereld, sloot zich aan bij Giustra en Clinton. Zij poseerden als filantropen die vochten tegen de honger in de wereld, terwijl zij ondertussen de energiebronnen van die wereld roofden.

Vermomd als 'filantroop' vloog Clinton samen met de veroordeelde seksdelinquent Jeffrey Epstein - die nu het middelpunt is van een wereldwijd onderzoek naar pedofilie- naar Afrika om “ fondsen te werven voor de armen.”
Volgens de Charity Index heeft de Clinton Foundation $277.8 miljoen in activa.
Charity Index zegt dat de Clinton Foundation niet aan hun criteria als een non-profit voldoet.
Nu geeft Giustra advies aan Endeavour Mining voor hun nieuwe goudmijn in Afrika.

Volgens de Guardian :

Gelekte files van HSBC’s Zwitserse bank onthullen de identiteiten van zeven schenkers aan de Bill, Hillary en Chelsea Clinton Foundation met rekeningen in Genéve.
Onder de schenkers vinden wij Frank Giustra, een Canadese mijn magnaat en een van de gulste schenkers aan de stichting, en Richard Caring, de Britse detailhandel- magnaat die, zoals te zien is in het interne archief van de bank, zijn belastingvrije rekening in Genéve gebruikte om $1 miljoen dollar over te maken naar de stichting in New York.

Een andere Clinton Foundation- donor die een HSBC rekening in de belastinghemel had is Jeffrey Epstein, ‘hedge fund’ manager en veroordeelde seksdelinquent die de voormalige president naar zijn liefdadigheidsevenementen in Afrika bracht in zijn private jet.

De identiteiten van Clinton supporters die bankierden bij HSBC in Genéve worden bewaard in interne bank data. Deze werden gelekt door Hervé Falciani, een HSBC computer expert die klokkenluider werd.(*)

De bio (**) van Giustra toont dat hij vroeger de architect was van veel resource compagnies , waaronder Wheaton River Minerals (nu bekend als de $33B Goldcorp, die voortgekomen is uit de $12B Silver Wheaton), Petro Rubiales (nu de $7B Pacific Rubiales) en Urasia Energy, Geo.ca verslag.

Krantenberichten onthullen dat Goldcorp en zijn dochterondernemingen wereldwijd verantwoordelijk zijn voor de moorden en verdwijningen van inheemsen.

Een vrouw in Guatemala praat over haar man, die zich verzette tegen de mijnbouw en levend verbrand werd terwijl hij demonstreerde tegen de Marlinmijn die eigendom was vanGoldcorp in Guatemala.

“ Zij pakten hem vast en gooiden benzine over hem. Dan staken ze hem in brand.”

David Hill schrijft in The Guardian: “ Zij vroegen hem, “waarom ben je tegen de mijnbouw?” Zij droegen kappen over hun hoofd. Door de vraag waarom hij tegen de mijnbouw was wisten we dat zij hoorden bij de compagnie.”

Giustra, nu in Vancouver BC, was adviseur voor de Endeavour Mining die momenteel zijn pijlen richt op Burkina Faso met goudmijnen en die de Tabakoto Goudmijn in Mali, West Afrika, in handen heeft.
(*) nota van NAIS: Dank u Hervé Falciani. Dat is wat de wereld nodig heeft, méér klokkenluiders!.

(**) Bio:
Frank Giustra serves as Chief Executive Officer and President at Fiore Capital Corp.
Mr. Giustra has been the President and Chief Executive Officer at Fiore Financial Corporation, an exclusive advisor to Endeavour Mining Corp. since July 2007.
He is the Founder of Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation. He founded Clinton-Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative in June 2007.
In 1997, he founded Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and served as its Chairman from April 1997 to May 2003.
He served as Chairman of Endeavour Financial Corp. from January 2001 to July 2007.
He served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yorkton Securities Inc. from 1995 to December 1996 and as its President since 1990. He has been a Director at Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. since December 2010. He serves as Director of Thunderbird Films Inc. and Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation. He has been a Director of Petromanas Energy Inc. since August 20, 2012, Endeavour Resources Inc. since October 23, 2008 and Catalyst Copper Corp. since August 2014. He has been Director of Endeavour Mining Corporation since September 17, 2013. He served as Director of Crew Gold Corporation since February 11, 2010. He served as Member of Strategic Advisory Board at Endeavour Mining Corporation since December 17, 2012. He served as a Director of Endeavour Financial Corporation since July 26, 2002 and Eacom Timber Corporation from July 5, 2010 to June 2013. He served as a Director of Iamgold Corp., Namibian Minerals Corp. and New Gold, Inc. He served as a Director of Franco-Nevada GLW Holdings Corp. (formerly, Gold Wheaton Gold Corp.) from July 14, 2008 to March 14, 2011 and Endeavour Mining Corporation since July 26, 2002. He served as a Director of Wheaton River Minerals, Ltd. since May 2001. Mr. Giustra serves as a Trustee of International Crisis Group (The) and , Streetohome Foundation. He is the President and a Director of the Radcliffe Foundation and a Trustee of the William J. Clinton Foundation. He and former US President launched the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership, alleviating poverty in the developing world through education, training and supply chain distribution. -- Bloomberg Business
Sources update:
Swiss leaks: Banking giant HSBC sheltered murky cash linked to dictators and arms dealers

Guardian: Welcome to Guatemala, Gold Mining Protester Beaten and Burnt Alive

Common Dreams: Big Backers of Clinton Foundation found in leaked Swiss bank files


Wikipedia: Frank Giustra

Bloomberg Business

at No comments:

February 10, 2015

Dine' Walkers Conclude 225 Mile Trek: Remembering Long Walk

Walkers Conclude 225-Mile Trek to Mount Taylor

By Lyla June Johnston
Censored News

 French translation by Christine Prat

On February 1st 2015, the walkers of Nihígaal Bee Iina (pronounced ni-hi-gahl beh ee-nah, meaning "Our Journey for Existence") completed their quest to walk over 200 miles in the name of their children, land and ancestors. The walk was in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of The Long Walk, whereby over 9,500 Diné (Navajo) were marched at gunpoint for hundreds of miles into Bosque Redondo—a concentration camp they would stay for four years. Only 7,304 survived the internment to return back to Diné Tah, the original Navajo homeland. In addition to honoring the resilience of their ancestors, the walkers also set out to raise awareness about issues surrounding oil and gas extraction in Diné Tah. Ultimately, the group walked the entire span from Dził Naa’oodiłii (Huerfano Mounatin) to Tsoodził (Mount Taylor) in 26 days, a total of 225 miles.
“It was awesome to be walking up that mountain, carrying those prayers, to feel the stillness of Tsoodził and just for that day it was really calm, sunny, bright,” commented Kooper Curley, one of about 70 walkers who joined for all or part of the journey.
“My favorite part of the journey was when I saw that picture of Tsoodził. It really brought tears to my eyes and made me think, ‘They did it. They did it,” said Libby Williams, an elder Diné woman who assisted the walkers on their journey.
“They kept singing that song, ‘Sheenaashaa,’” stated Enoch Endwarrior, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. “I’ve always heard that song but I never knew what it meant. I learned that this is the song the ones who survived Hwééldi [“The Place of Suffering,” or Bosque Redondo] sang when they burst into joy, relieved to leave that place and go back within the four sacred mountains. To see the peak reminded me of my great-great-great-great grandmother. She was just a little girl during the round up, during Hwééldi. It was a family of five and only two survived—my grandma and her sister. I will never know the true degree of that suffering but it was such an overwhelming feeling of joy just to see the peak of Tsoodził. Just to know that she stuck it out, she survived, she endured, just for me to see that.”
According to the walkers, their journey leading up to Tsoodził was full of sobering experiences. Along the way they spoke with children in Lybrook, NM whose schools had been shut down due to water contamination from surrounding oil wells. At another point they walked along miles of idle cars that were held up due to a gas tank explosion. One local resident they encountered experienced a murder in their family, incensed by lumps of money offered by the oil industry. One young woman they met reported that she could no longer run alone in the evenings because of the countless oil and gas workers that pepper the land.
Cheyenne Antonio, a young woman from Torreon, NM—the heart of the Dine hydraulic fracturing industry—joined the walkers after they visited her community. “It felt good to finally have people come and really talk about how the violence has gone up. It’s hardly ever discussed and it needs to be discussed. There’s so much violence among our children, our women. Once that oil money comes in there is a whole new person in front of you. Money is controlling them. And that’s new in my life, dealing with greed.”
“This is about addressing the issues with fracking, coal mining and the gas extraction around the four corners that NASA can see from space,” says Leslynn Begay of Flagstaff, AZ. “When people see the walkers they become interested, they ask questions and they become more aware.”
Seeing a great herd of walkers along the road laid the foundation for many discussions and conversations with local residents, according to the walkers. “Someone was always pulling over asking, ‘What are you guys walking for?’ Even a Peabody employee pulled over and said, ‘I work at the coal mine, but it’s just a job and I support you guys.’ Things like that put everything into perspective. That these workers, they’re not just people, they’re family,” stated Curley.
Despite the continuous hardship they encountered through the oil and gas corridor of Dine Tah, the walkers indicated that each day ended with a note of hope.
According to Kim Smith of St. Michaels, Arizona, “The plight of the people was the most memorable thing throughout the journey. Really seeing how poor our people were and how beaten down. But the most beautiful part was when we told them about our prayer walk, that we didn’t have to accept that the only jobs for us are in oil fields and coal mines. It gave them a pep in their step. That’s what leadership does. And it was a group of people that did that. It wasn’t just one person, one savior that came in to give people that hope. It was a group of young people.”
Another young female organizer, Amber Hood, stated, “I had an elder tell me the other day that through these walks we are breathing life back into Hozhó [inner/outer balance]and I think he is absolutely correct. I realized about a third through the walk that this is bigger than fracking, this is bigger than the energy sector, it’s bigger than resource extraction and corrupt tribal government. It’s truly a journey back to our original selves where with every walk, hopefully every year that we do it, we are becoming more fluent in our language, we learn more stories about our land and our ancestors. On the next walk I want to focus on bringing in our traditional herbology to the walkers.”
Throughout the interview process with the walkers, this was a recurring theme: that the solution to the ailments of Dine people is not necessarily fighting what they don’t want, but embodying what they do want and returning to their traditional way of life.
“When we were at Tsoodził today, I felt this surge of overwhelming positivity,” said Dana Eldridge, one of several core organizers of the walk. “We saw a lot of really bad, terrible things on our journey. Things that hurt physically, emotionally and mentally. But this journey has shown me that Nihima Nahasdzáán [Mother Earth] really does have the power to heal. Being outside, walking outside it really does uplift you. Going up the mountain today, that’s all I felt. I wasn’t thinking about the negativity. I wasn’t thinking about how awful all this destruction is. I was just thinking about how beautiful everything is and how thankful and happy I am that I got to experience this.”
“I believe that In our original condition we were people of hope,” said Hood. “That is being restored. A year ago, even though we were working very hard to understand what’s going on and work with community, it felt very hopeless. I’ve felt a certain type of emotional paralysis. And this walk, it gives me hope now. I really believe that things are going to get better now. I really believe that we are restoring our lives, our original state of being. With every walk I see that beauty being further and further compounded, if you will.”
According to organizers, this walk will be the first of four major journeys to each of the four sacred moutains of the Diné (Tsoodził, Doo’ko’o’slííd, Dibe Nistáá and Tsisnajini). Through this first walk, organizers reported to have gained a great deal of useful experience for the journeys ahead.
“I’m really excited about [the next walk], knowing that we were capable of it, knowing that it’s not going to be a horrific failure,” says Eldridge. “I really believe that all we need to do is be with the earth after this. This is just the beginning of a whole awakening.”
As the journey began with a focus on women’s leadership and women’s healing, interviewees also ended with this message for their movement.
“I am honored and proud to walk side by side with these true naataanii [leaders], our women, selfless Diné women. This is a walk of healing for our land, our people, our women, our relationships, our mother, in faith to truly restore hozhó. It’s so old it’s new. This is the medicine that is needed and only women can bring it. To see the way our communities live is sobering; fracking, toxic water spills, pollution, tank explosions across the street from an elementary school. It’s time. Our elders need this. Mother Earth needs this. The five fingered nation needs this. It’s not just about Navajos, it’s about all people, all living things, all hands on deck. When women support each other, incredible things happen,” stated Smith.
Hood, a major advocate against the rape epidemics occurring in Indian Country, states, “We are saying no more of this connected violence. Our land is being violenced and that violence is reflected upon or bodies. Whether it’s through sexual abuse due to increased man camps, contamination of breast milk due to toxins, spontaneous miscarriages, children born with developmental delays, those are all ways that violence upon the land directly impacts native women’s bodies. We have to pull back the veil that leads us to believe that this is normal, that this is okay. They say for every one woman abused, we pray four come home and are restored and are healed. May as many women as possible walk with us and receive healing for whatever trauma they may carry, may they be restored simultaneously as our land heals because when we heal, our mother heals and when she heals, we heal.”
Eldridge ended her interview in gratitude: “Tsoodził is the same mountain our people saw when they were returning home from the concentration camp. When I saw it I was just thinking about how uplifted I feel and how positive I feel and how hopeful I feel. And that’s what it feels like to come home.”
---
The next journey is scheduled to begin on March 21st, spring equinox. For more information on Nihígaal Bee Iina, contact nihigaalbeeiina@gmail.com.

COMMEMORATION DE LA DEPORTATION DE 1864: LES MARCHEURS NAVAJO SONT ARRIVES AU MONT TAYLOR, BUT DE LEUR VOYAGE

On February 11, 2015, in Activités minières, Navajos, by Chris P

NihigaalBeeIinaMntTaylor4-2-2015
LES MARCHEURS NAVAJO SONT ARRIVES AU MONT TAYLOR, BUT DE LEUR VOYAGE
Par Lyla June Johnston
Communiqué de presse
Publié sur Facebook
Et sur Censored News
10 février 2015
Traduction Christine Prat
Le 1er février 2015, les marcheurs de Nihígaal Bee Iina (prononcer ni-hi-gahl beh ii-nah, ce qui signifie « Notre Voyage pour l’Existence » ) ont achevé leur quête, un voyage à pied de 360 km, entreprise au nom de leurs enfants, leur terre et leurs ancêtres. La marche était une commémoration du 150ème anniversaire de la Longue Marche [de 1864] au cours de laquelle 9500 Diné (Navajo) ont été forcés de marcher, à la pointe du fusil, sur des centaines de kilomètres, jusqu’à Bosque Redondo – un camp de concentration où ils sont restés quatre ans. Seulement 7304 d’entre eux ont survécu à l’internement et sont retournés en Diné Tah, la terre d’origine des Navajo. En plus de rendre honneur à la résilience de leurs ancêtres, les marcheurs voulaient aussi faire prendre conscience des problèmes causés par l’extraction de pétrole et de gaz en Diné Tah. Finalement, le groupe a marché sur tout le trajet de Dził Naa’oodiłii (le Mont Huerfano) jusqu’à Tsoodził (le Mont Taylor) en 26 jours, au total 360 km.
NihigaalBeeIina5-2-2015« C’était merveilleux de grimper cette montagne, portant ces prières, de sentir le calme de Tsoodził, et justement ce jour-là, c’était vraiment calme, ensoleillé, étincelant » dit Kooper Curley, un des environs 70 marcheurs qui ont participé à tout le voyage.
« Mon moment préféré de ce voyage, c’est quand j’ai vu cette image de Tsoodził. Çà m’a vraiment fait venir les larmes aux yeux et j’ai pensé « ils ont réussi, ils ont réussi », dit Libby Williams, une Ancienne Diné qui a aidé les marcheurs pendant leur voyage.
« Ils n’arrêtaient pas de chanter ce chant, ‘Shee naashaa’, » dit Enoch Endwarrior d’Albuquerque, au Nouveau-Mexique. « J’ai toujours entendu ce chant, mais je n’avais jamais su ce qu’il voulait dire. J’ai appris que c’était le chant que ceux qui avaient survécu à Hwééldi [‘Le Lieu de Souffrance’, c’est-à-dire Bosque Redondo] ont chanté quand ils ont éclaté de joie, soulagés de quitter cet endroit et de retourner au milieu des quatre montagnes sacrées. De voir le sommet m’a rappelé mon arrière-arrière-arrière-arrière-grand-mère. Elle était une toute petite fille lors de la rafle, puis à Hwééldi. C’était une famille de cinq et seules deux ont survécu – ma grand-mère et sa sœur. Je ne connaîtrai jamais le véritable degré de leur souffrance, mais çà a été un sentiment de joie bouleversant juste de voir le sommet de Tsoodził. Juste de savoir qu’elle en était sortie, qu’elle avait survécu, qu’elle avait tout enduré, juste pour que je puisse voir cela. »

D’après les marcheurs, leur voyage jusqu’à Tsoodził a été plein d’expériences incitant à l’humilité. En cours de route, à Lybrook au Nouveau-Mexique, ils ont parlé avec des enfants dont les écoles avaient dû être fermées à cause de la contamination de l’eau par les puits de pétrole des alentours. Ailleurs, ils ont marché pendant des kilomètres le long d’une file de voitures bloquées par l’explosion d’un réservoir de gaz. Un habitant rencontré leur a dit qu’un meurtre avait eu lieu dans sa famille, il était outré par les sommes d’argent offertes par l’industrie pétrolière. Une jeune femme leur a dit qu’elle ne pouvait plus courir seule le soir à cause des innombrables travailleurs du pétrole et du gazqui sont partout dans la région.
Cheyenne Antonio, une jeune femme de Torreon, au Nouveau-Mexique – au cœur de l’industrie de fracturation hydraulique en pays Diné – s’est jointe aux marcheurs après qu’ils aient rendu visite à sa communauté. « C’était bon que des gens soient enfin venus pour parler réellement de la montée de la violence. On n’en parle presque jamais et il faut qu’on en parle. Il y a beaucoup de violence chez les enfants, chez nos femmes. Une fois que l’argent du pétrole arrive, vous avez une tout autre personne en face de vous. L’argent les contrôle. Et c’est nouveau dans ma vie, de devoir faire face à l’avidité. »
« Il s’agit de s’occuper des problèmes causés par la fracturation hydraulique, l’extraction de charbon et de gaz dans la région de Four Corners, que la NASA peut voir de l’espace » dit Leslynn Begay de Flagstaff, en Arizona. « Quand les gens voient les marcheurs, çà suscite leur intérêt, ils posent des questions et prennent conscience. »
NihigaalBeeIina10-2-2015La vue d’une grande troupe de marcheurs le long de la route a servi de base à de nombreuses discussions et conversations avec les habitants, disent les marcheurs. « Il y avait toujours quelqu’un qui venait demander ‘Pourquoi marchez-vous ?’Même un employé de Peabody est venu dire « je travail à la mine de charbon, mais ce n’est qu’un boulot et je vous soutiens.’ Des choses comme çà remettent tout en perspective. Ces travailleurs, ce ne sont pas seulement des gens, ils font partie de la famille » dit Curley.
Malgré les difficultés continuelles qu’ils rencontraient dans le corridor du pétrole et du gaz de Diné Tah, les marcheurs dirent que chaque jour se terminait sur une note d’espoir.
D’après Kim Smith de St. Michaels, Arizona, « les épreuves rencontrées ont été ce qu’il y a de plus mémorable dans ce voyage. Voir en réalité à quel point les nôtres sont pauvres et écrasés. Mais le plus beau, c’est quand nous leur avons parlé de notre marche de prières, quand nous leur avons dit que nous n’acceptons pas que les seuls emplois pour nous sont dans les champs pétrolifères et les mines de charbon. Çà les a stimulés. C’est ce que font les dirigeants. Et c’est un groupe de gens qui l’a fait. Ce n’était pas une personne, un sauveur venu leur donner cet espoir. C’était un groupe de jeunes. »
Une autre jeune organisatrice, Amber Hood, dit : « L’autre jour un Ancien m’a dit qu’avec ces marches nous insufflons à nouveau la vie dans le Hozhó [l’équilibre intérieur et extérieur] et je pense que c’est absolument correct. Je me suis rendu compte au tiers de la marche que ceci est plus grand que la fracturation, plus grand que le secteur de l’énergie, plus grand que l’extraction de ressources et qu’un gouvernement tribal corrompu. C’est vraiment un voyage de retour vers notre être d’origine, où à chaque marche, et j’espère chaque année où nous le ferons, nous parlons plus couramment notre langue, nous apprenons plus d’histoires sur notre pays et nos ancêtres. Au cours de la prochaine marche, je veux m’occuper de ramener notre herbologie traditionnelle aux marcheurs. »
Au cours de toutes les discussions avec les marcheurs, çà a été un thème récurant : la solution aux malheurs des Diné n’est pas nécessairement de se battre contre ce qu’ils ne veulent pas, mais d’incarner ce qu’ils veulent et retourner au mode de vie traditionnel.
NihigaalHorses5-2-2015« Quand nous étions à Tsoodził aujourd’hui, j’ai senti monter une vague de positivité » dit Dana Eldridge, une des principales organisatrices de la marche. « Nous avons vu beaucoup de mal, de choses horribles pendant notre voyage. Des choses qui font mal physiquement, émotionnellement et mentalement. Mais ce voyage m’a montré que Nihima Nahasdzáán [Notre Mère la Terre] a vraiment le pouvoir de guérir. Etre dehors, marcher dehors, çà vous soulève vraiment. En grimpant la montagne aujourd’hui, c’est tout ce que je sentais. Je ne pensais pas à la négativité. Je ne pensais pas combien toute cette destruction est affreuse. Je pensais seulement que tout est beau et combien je suis reconnaissante et heureuse d’avoir pu faire cette expérience. »
« Je pense que dans notre état d’origine nous étions un peuple d’espoir » dit Hood. « C’est en train de revenir. Il y a un an, bien que nous travaillions très dur pour comprendre ce qui se passe et travaillions avec la communauté, çà semblait sans espoir. J’ai ressenti une certaine forme de paralysie émotionnelle. Et cette marche me donne de l’espoir, maintenant. Je crois vraiment que les choses vont aller mieux. Je crois vraiment que nous reconstruisons nos vies, notre état d’origine. A chaque marche, je vois la beauté s’étendre de plus en plus, si on veut. »
D’après les organisateurs, cette marche était la première de quatre voyages principaux vers chacune des quatre montagnes sacrées des Diné (Tsoodził, Doo’ko’o’słííd, Dibe Nitsáá et Tsisnajini[Mont Taylor au Nouveau-Mexique, San Francisco Peaks en Arizona, Mont Hesperus dans le Colorado, Pic Blanca dans le Colorado]). Par cette première marche, les organisateurs disent avoir acquis beaucoup d’expérience utile pour les voyages à venir.
« Je suis très enthousiaste pour [la prochaine marche], sachant que nous en sommes capables, que ce ne sera pas un terrible échec » dit Eldridge. « Je crois vraiment que tout ce que nous devons faire après cela, c’est d’être avec la terre. Ce n’est que le début d’un réveil général. »
Comme le voyage avait commencé en mettant l’accent sur le rôle dirigeant des femmes et la guérison par les femmes, les personnes interviewées ont conclu leur mouvement par ce message :
« Je suis honorée et fière de marcher côte à côte avec ces vraies naataanii [leaders], nos femmes, des femmes Diné sans ego. C’est une marche de guérison pour notre terre, notre peuple, nos femmes, nos relations, notre mère, avec la confiance dans le fait de rétablir le hozhó [équilibre, harmonie]. C’est si ancien que c’est nouveau. C’est le remède dont on a besoin et seules les femmes peuvent l’apporter. Voir comment nos communautés vivent incite à l’humilité ; la fracturation hydraulique, les fuites d’eau toxique, la pollution, les explosions de réservoirs en face d’une école primaire. Il est temps. Nos Anciens en ont besoin. Notre Mère la Terre en a besoin. La nation aux cinq doigts en a besoin. Çà ne concerne pas seulement les Navajo, çà concerne tout le monde, tout ce qui vit, on a besoin de tout le monde. Quand les femmes se soutiennent, des choses incroyables se produisent » dit Kim Smith.
Amber Hood, une des principales militantes contre les épidémies de viols en Pays Indien dit : « Nous disons non à cette violence qui ne se produit pas par hasard. Notre pays subit la violence et cette violence se voit sur nos corps. Que ce soit les violences sexuelles dues à l’expansion des camps masculins, la contamination du lait maternel par les poisons, les fausses couches, les enfants nés avec des retards de développement, ce sont des façons diverses dont la violence imposée à notre terre touche directement le corps des femmes. Nous devons déchirer le voile qui nous fait croire que c’est normal, que c’est bien comme çà. Il est dit que pour chaque femme agressée, nous prions quatre fois pour le retour chez nous et sommes restaurées dans notre être et guéries. Que le plus de femmes possible marchent avec nous et reçoivent la guérison pour tous les traumatismes qu’elles portent, qu’elles soient restaurées dans leur être simultanément avec la guérison de notre terre, parce que quand nous guérissons, notre mère guérit et quand elle guérit, nous guérissons. »
Eldridge conclut son interview par de la gratitude : « Tsoodził est la montagne que les gens de notre peuple ont vue quand ils sont rentrés chez eux du camp de concentration. Quand je l’ai vue, je pensais combien j’étais exaltée et combien je me sentais positive et pleine d’espoir. Et c’est ce qu’on ressent en rentrant chez soi. »
—
Le prochain voyage doit commencer le 21 mars, jour de l’équinoxe de printemps. Pour plus d’informations, contacter nihigaalbeeiina@gmail.com
Tagged with:  •  •  •  • 
 
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)