CONSENSUAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com
MNN. Oct. 31, 2009. The meetings in Kahnawake to set up a justice system are supposedly based on the decision making process of the Rotino’shonni:onwe. [Wampums 5 to 11, Kaianereh’ko:wa]. Our ancestors brought rational thinking to a principle. To keep our identity, we have to be free in body, mind and energy. We have to make up our own mind based on all the facts. There are many similarities in the nature based philosophies of all Ongwehonwe on Onowaregeh [Great Turtle Island] and beyond. These are the basic principles of our decision making process.
GOAL. The decision must be in the best interests of all the people. Consensus does not mean that all agree but that all understand the decision.
NOTE. Whatever ideas are put into the process, the needs and attitudes of each is considered and complements the decision. The individual has a duty to be directly involved, and to bring their ideas into the discussion within their clan. The final decision will be fully satisfactory to some, satisfactory to others and relatively satisfactory to the remainder, and will reflect elements from each group. This is a slow careful process requiring the reaching of a full understanding by each individual and not a decision made by a leader.
WAR CHIEF. Presides over the meeting to make sure that collective rational thought and behavior are followed.
CLANS. The people are divided into three clans: Bear, Wolf and Turtle. Each have 3 chiefs for a total of 9.
ASSISTANT WAR CHIEF. Each clan selects a temporary spokesperson called an Assistant War Chief.
WELL-KEEPER announces the subject for discussion and passes the issue over the Council Fire.
The three clans deliberate.
Then the Assistant War Chief either reports or asks questions or reports a final decision. If the Clans disagree or there is an error or the proceedings are irregular, the Assistant War Chief calls attention to it on behalf of his clan. They once again deliberate.
The issue is then passed by all three clans.
THREE CRITERIA.
When an issue is discussed, the clans consider the short term and long term pros and cons of the issue. Three criteria must be met:
1.PEACE. Does it preserve the peace that is already established?
2.RIGHTEOUSNESS. Is it morally correct? And
3.POWER. Does it preserve the integrity of the nation? What does it do for the present and how does it affect the future seven generations from now?
DURING DELIBERATIONS.
Each must follow the criteria of peace, righteousness and power at all times. Persons are asked throughout the process if they fully understand. If not, the process stops until this is accomplished. One cannot simply be stubborn and refuse to understand as they will be questioned.
Every Person has a responsibility to expand and exercise their minds. The forces of life have given the human being the potential to use the mind to create a better life through peace, power and righteousness.
In the decision-making process:
-all opinions have to be considered;
-all must be completely reasonable;
-all should come with an open mind;
-all must fully understand the other’s viewpoint;
-each participant cannot repeat a position once it has been fully explained and understood;
-if a person does not agree with the views that have been stated, they must fully explain their dissenting views;
-no one can impose their will nor make decisions for another;
-all must understand the viewpoint and agree of their own free will; and
-if there is no consensus, the consensus is to retain the status quo.
The Chiefs and the War Chief who preside over the meeting make sure that the Kaianereh’ko:wa and collective rational thought and behavior are followed.
All human beings are capable of rational thought, which leads to solving even the most difficult problem. The underlying philosophy is that human beings are loving, caring and wish to interact in a positive way. People cannot think clearly when they are in psychological plain, or have feelings of rage or lose hope. The process must bring us from despair to hope. We have to resist being manipulated or having decisions made for us or pacifying us. We all have a responsibility to develop our minds. To think is to create a sane world for the present and future generations, a world safe from the emotional, irrational behavior controlled by fear, hatred, greed, jealousy, suspicion and conflict. The main obstacle to our survival is fear.
We are a distinct nation with our own law, government, people and territory. We have to always assert this.
Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Or go to PayPal on MNN website. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN BORDER category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now!
For more details: Horn, Kahentinetha. The Confusion Between the Great Law and the Handsome Lake Code. Mohawk Issues for Dummies Series. #2. The Longhouse Conflict in Iroquois Communities. MNN Mohawk Nation News. 2007. $20.
Hall, Karonhiaktajeh. Gayanerekowa. The Great Law of Peace As Brought to the Confederacy of the Iroquois By Dekanawida the Peacemaker. Ohontsa. 1993. $20. 6 hour video available. Book & video. $80.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
More than 200 bodies recovered at Arizona/Sonora border
October 30, 2009
Contact: Kat Rodriguez: 520.770.1373
Total of Recovered Remains on the Arizona-Sonora Border Reaches 206 despite continued claims of Border Enforcement Success
Contact: Kat Rodriguez: 520.770.1373
Total of Recovered Remains on the Arizona-Sonora Border Reaches 206 despite continued claims of Border Enforcement Success
By Kat Rodrigquez, Derechos Humanos
Photo by Brenda Norrell (Walkers arrive at San Xavier on Tohono O'odham land Oct. 31, 2009, with crosses in memory of the migrants who died in the Sonoran Desert.)
Arizona -- The final number of bodies recovered on the Arizona-Sonora border for the fiscal year that began on October 1, 2008 and ended September 30, 2009 is 206, reports Coalición de Derechos Humanos. The data, which are compiled from medical examiner reports from Pima, Yuma, and Cochise counties, are an attempt to give a more accurate reflection of the human cost of failed U.S. border and immigration policies. The final count includes 141 males, 33 females, 5 minors, and approximately 99, or 48% of unknown identity. Countries represented in the final count include México, Guatemala, and Ecuador.
This figure is higher than last year's total of 183 remains recovered, but the true total number of deaths on the border is impossible to calculate, particularly as the number of remains recovered in neighboring states is not available.
"In looking at the data from this year, an alarming piece that jumps out immediately is the staggering increase in the number of remains of unknown gender. Two years ago, that number was 5, then 19 last year, and this year we are at 31, an incredible 15% of the total recovered." says Kat Rodriguez, Coordinator of Coalición de Derechos Humanos.
Unknown gender indicates that not enough of the remains were recovered to determine gender, and without DNA, it is impossible to know even this basic information about the individual, making identification and return to their families even more difficult. The dramatic increase in these unknown gender cases are a troubling indicator or what might be to come, as people are pushed out into more and more isolated areas, making rescue and detection less likely, and the likelihood of death more certain.
There is information to suggest that the migration flow patterns are shifting due to the Funnel Effect, which has been documented by the Binational Migration Institute*. The high number of skeletal remains recovered this year, 36 (17.5% of total) support this likely shift in migration flow, and it is possible that the long periods of time before being recovered indicates that people are crossing in more isolated and desolate areas, with less chance of rescue or discovery. It is unknown how many remains are currently near the border but have not yet been discovered, and it is possible that some of these remains will never be recovered.
"Every year we total up the human cost of militarization and wonder when our government will acknowledge that these deaths are the direct effects of border militarization and immigration policies." continued Rodriguez. "As we watch politicians and many of the large immigrant rights groups negotiate on what they deem viable politically in discussions around immigration reform, we call on all people of conscience to denounce policies of militarization and enforcement.
"We must not waver in our opposition to any reform that will continue to militarize our communities. Doing so is not only being untrue to our commitment to human rights and dignity, but an affront to the thousands of men, women and children who have died on our borders, and the families who suffer the agony of their deaths or the bitter anguish of never knowing what has become of their loved ones."
The complete list of recovered bodies is available on the Coalición de Derechos Humanos website: http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/ This information is available to anyone who requests it from us and is used by our organization to further raise awareness of the human rights crisis we are facing on our borders.
* The complete BMI study, The "Funnel Effect" & Recovered Bodies of Unauthorized Migrants Processed by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, 1990-2005, is available on the Derechos Humanos website: http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/images/pdfs/bmi%20report.pdf
Coalición de Derechos Humanos
P.O. Box 1286 Tucson, AZ 85702
Tel: 520.770.1373 520.770.1373
Fax: 520.770.7455
http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/
Arizona -- The final number of bodies recovered on the Arizona-Sonora border for the fiscal year that began on October 1, 2008 and ended September 30, 2009 is 206, reports Coalición de Derechos Humanos. The data, which are compiled from medical examiner reports from Pima, Yuma, and Cochise counties, are an attempt to give a more accurate reflection of the human cost of failed U.S. border and immigration policies. The final count includes 141 males, 33 females, 5 minors, and approximately 99, or 48% of unknown identity. Countries represented in the final count include México, Guatemala, and Ecuador.
This figure is higher than last year's total of 183 remains recovered, but the true total number of deaths on the border is impossible to calculate, particularly as the number of remains recovered in neighboring states is not available.
"In looking at the data from this year, an alarming piece that jumps out immediately is the staggering increase in the number of remains of unknown gender. Two years ago, that number was 5, then 19 last year, and this year we are at 31, an incredible 15% of the total recovered." says Kat Rodriguez, Coordinator of Coalición de Derechos Humanos.
Unknown gender indicates that not enough of the remains were recovered to determine gender, and without DNA, it is impossible to know even this basic information about the individual, making identification and return to their families even more difficult. The dramatic increase in these unknown gender cases are a troubling indicator or what might be to come, as people are pushed out into more and more isolated areas, making rescue and detection less likely, and the likelihood of death more certain.
There is information to suggest that the migration flow patterns are shifting due to the Funnel Effect, which has been documented by the Binational Migration Institute*. The high number of skeletal remains recovered this year, 36 (17.5% of total) support this likely shift in migration flow, and it is possible that the long periods of time before being recovered indicates that people are crossing in more isolated and desolate areas, with less chance of rescue or discovery. It is unknown how many remains are currently near the border but have not yet been discovered, and it is possible that some of these remains will never be recovered.
"Every year we total up the human cost of militarization and wonder when our government will acknowledge that these deaths are the direct effects of border militarization and immigration policies." continued Rodriguez. "As we watch politicians and many of the large immigrant rights groups negotiate on what they deem viable politically in discussions around immigration reform, we call on all people of conscience to denounce policies of militarization and enforcement.
"We must not waver in our opposition to any reform that will continue to militarize our communities. Doing so is not only being untrue to our commitment to human rights and dignity, but an affront to the thousands of men, women and children who have died on our borders, and the families who suffer the agony of their deaths or the bitter anguish of never knowing what has become of their loved ones."
The complete list of recovered bodies is available on the Coalición de Derechos Humanos website: http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/ This information is available to anyone who requests it from us and is used by our organization to further raise awareness of the human rights crisis we are facing on our borders.
* The complete BMI study, The "Funnel Effect" & Recovered Bodies of Unauthorized Migrants Processed by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, 1990-2005, is available on the Derechos Humanos website: http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/images/pdfs/bmi%20report.pdf
Coalición de Derechos Humanos
P.O. Box 1286 Tucson, AZ 85702
Tel: 520.770.1373 520.770.1373
Fax: 520.770.7455
http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/
Flagstaff 'Outta Your Backpack' grand opening concert
Taala Hooghan Infoshop/Outta Your Backpack Media Grand Opening of New Location! Sunday, Nov. 1st
Photo: Fence on Black Mesa
The event is also a benefit for Black Mesa Indigenous Support (http://www.blackmesais.org/)
Free open house and veggie BBQ at 3PM
Show starts at 6PM, $3-6 sliding scale donation, all ages
At 11 S. Mikes Pike in Downtown Flagstaff (In the white warehouse near the south side bus transfer station)
With performances by:
Broadcast Live (Hip Hop indie rock from New York)
Radmilla Cody (Traditional Dine' vocalist)
Evan Greer (Folk/punk from Massachusetts)
Discotays (Awesomeness from New Mexico)
Shining Soul (Hip Hop from Phoenix)
Capoeira workshop/demo
Outta Your Backpack Media short films
Speakers and various issues and more!
We also have a new website! Check it out and visit often as its a work in progress!
http://www.taalahooghan.org/
We still need volunteers & donations! Volunteer meetings every Friday at 6:30PM at Mikes Pike location. Heres some goods were looking for right now: Kitchen towels; folding chairs; folding tables; large garbage & recycling cans/ cleaning supplies (rags,etc;) electric stove and exhaust fan; large storage shelves
From Flaglive: Grassroots Groundswell
The Táala Hooghan Infoshop has created a vibrant arts and music-oriented community in the two years of its existence. With regular free markets to live concerts and encouraging independent media and film projects among youth, the Infoshop has its hands full. So they’ve moved into a bigger space downtown south of the tracks and are having a party to celebrate, which will double as a benefit for Black Mesa Indigenous Support. There will be live music by Broadcast Live, Evan Greer, Radmilla Cody, Discotays and Shining Soul. Also show up for a capoeira demo and workshop as well as speakers and food. 11 S. Mikes Pike. Open house at 3 p.m. Show at 6 p.m.www.myspace.com/taalahooghan. infoshop@gmail.com
Taala Hooghan - Infoshop & Youth Media Arts Center
www.myspace.com/taalahooghan
Leonard Peltier's artwork at Berkeley
La Peña Cultural Center and Polu Manu Productions proudly presents:The artwork of Native American political prisoner Leonard Peltier
The highly-praised artwork of Native American activist, political prisoner and six time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Leonard Peltier - curated by Bird Levy Strain of Polu Manu Productions, SF - will be exhibited in Berkeley's La Peña theater from October 19 until November 30, 2009.
The exhibit can be viewed either during show times (with admission ticket only) or by appointment; call 510-849-2568 510-849-2568. Opening Reception Date: Friday, Nov. 13. 6:30 - 8pm
Navajo activist Chelsea Chee wins young activist award
For details, contact:
Lynne Hollander Savio707-823-7293
Mobile: 707-703-9829savio@sonic.net
http://www.savio.org (Photo Chelsea Chee)
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS WIN MARIO SAVIO YOUNG ACTIVIST AWARDS
Two young leaders who have been tackling the problems of climate change and environmental justice in different but complementary ways have been awarded this year's Mario Savio Young Activist Award. Each will receive $6,000, half for their projects and half to use as they wish.
Chelsea Chee, a 25-year old Navajo woman, Youth Organizer for the Black Mesa Water Coalition in Arizona, has been working to engage Indigenous youth of the Southwest in implementing climate change solutions. Through Chelsea’s leadership young Indigenous peoples are actively reorienting their tribal governments, schools, and communities towards a "greener' future. This means opposing fossil fuel extraction, encouraging sustainable living, and promoting a green job opportunities. Her efforts have resulted in the creation of numerous Indigenous youth groups throughout the rural Southwest and the passage of the Navajo Nation Green Economy legislation.
Timothy DenHerder-Thomas, 22, a senior at Macalester College in Minnesota, has devised practical new programs that focus on organizing for ecological innovation and sustainable community development. After establishing a revolving fund that helps students implement campus sustainability practices and recaptures the savings created (now over $100,000), Timothy has gone on to organize Summer of Solutions, a program that trains youth leaders to partner with local groups in developing community projects around energy efficiency, sustainable food production and urban design, and green industry.
"Chelsea and Timothy strike us as representing two key aspects of the climate debate--the need for those communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, though least responsible for it, to have a strong voice in the debate and the need to build bridges across class divides and challenge the system from within," stated Lynne Hollander Savio, Chairperson of the awards program. "Chelsea has had to struggle against great odds -- a vast territory, little money, and tribal history and cultural values, while Timothy has been exceptionally creative and ingenious in developing new, self-sustaining projects."
The awards for leadership ability, creativity, and integrity, were presented last night at the 13th annual Mario Savio Memorial Lecture, delivered this year by journalist Naomi Klein at the University of California Berkeley campus. Both the Lecture and the Young Activist Award, which is given to a young person with a deep commitment to human rights and social justice and a proven ability to transform this commitment into effective action, honor the late Mario Savio, who came to public notice in 1964 when students at Berkeley rebelled against restrictions on political activity at the University. Their protest drew nationwide attention and stirred activism by college students across the country. Savio's words to his fellow students sparked a non-violent sit-in and the arrest of over 800 protestors, the largest mass arrest in U.S. history up till that time. They have also been quoted frequently in movies and recordings.
` "There comes a time," he said, "when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part, you can't even passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, the people who own it, that unless you're free the machine will be prevented from working at all."
Although condemned by University administrators and public opinion at the time,
the Free Speech Movement has been recognized for some years as having made a positive contribution to university life. On Savio's death, a plaque was installed naming the steps of Sproul Hall where he made his speeches as the Mario Savio Steps. The Free Speech Movement café, commemorating the protest, was opened in the undergraduate library in 1998 and has become a popular campus gathering place. The yearly lecture series which bears his name is co-sponsored by several departments at the university, and has presented such well-known speakers as journalist Molly Ivins, teacher and author Cornel West, and historian Howard Zinn.
For more information, contact Lynne Hollander Savio, savio@sonic.net, 707-823-7293 or 707-703-9829.
Lynne Hollander Savio707-823-7293
Mobile: 707-703-9829savio@sonic.net
http://www.savio.org (Photo Chelsea Chee)
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS WIN MARIO SAVIO YOUNG ACTIVIST AWARDS
Two young leaders who have been tackling the problems of climate change and environmental justice in different but complementary ways have been awarded this year's Mario Savio Young Activist Award. Each will receive $6,000, half for their projects and half to use as they wish.
Chelsea Chee, a 25-year old Navajo woman, Youth Organizer for the Black Mesa Water Coalition in Arizona, has been working to engage Indigenous youth of the Southwest in implementing climate change solutions. Through Chelsea’s leadership young Indigenous peoples are actively reorienting their tribal governments, schools, and communities towards a "greener' future. This means opposing fossil fuel extraction, encouraging sustainable living, and promoting a green job opportunities. Her efforts have resulted in the creation of numerous Indigenous youth groups throughout the rural Southwest and the passage of the Navajo Nation Green Economy legislation.
Timothy DenHerder-Thomas, 22, a senior at Macalester College in Minnesota, has devised practical new programs that focus on organizing for ecological innovation and sustainable community development. After establishing a revolving fund that helps students implement campus sustainability practices and recaptures the savings created (now over $100,000), Timothy has gone on to organize Summer of Solutions, a program that trains youth leaders to partner with local groups in developing community projects around energy efficiency, sustainable food production and urban design, and green industry.
"Chelsea and Timothy strike us as representing two key aspects of the climate debate--the need for those communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, though least responsible for it, to have a strong voice in the debate and the need to build bridges across class divides and challenge the system from within," stated Lynne Hollander Savio, Chairperson of the awards program. "Chelsea has had to struggle against great odds -- a vast territory, little money, and tribal history and cultural values, while Timothy has been exceptionally creative and ingenious in developing new, self-sustaining projects."
The awards for leadership ability, creativity, and integrity, were presented last night at the 13th annual Mario Savio Memorial Lecture, delivered this year by journalist Naomi Klein at the University of California Berkeley campus. Both the Lecture and the Young Activist Award, which is given to a young person with a deep commitment to human rights and social justice and a proven ability to transform this commitment into effective action, honor the late Mario Savio, who came to public notice in 1964 when students at Berkeley rebelled against restrictions on political activity at the University. Their protest drew nationwide attention and stirred activism by college students across the country. Savio's words to his fellow students sparked a non-violent sit-in and the arrest of over 800 protestors, the largest mass arrest in U.S. history up till that time. They have also been quoted frequently in movies and recordings.
` "There comes a time," he said, "when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part, you can't even passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, the people who own it, that unless you're free the machine will be prevented from working at all."
Although condemned by University administrators and public opinion at the time,
the Free Speech Movement has been recognized for some years as having made a positive contribution to university life. On Savio's death, a plaque was installed naming the steps of Sproul Hall where he made his speeches as the Mario Savio Steps. The Free Speech Movement café, commemorating the protest, was opened in the undergraduate library in 1998 and has become a popular campus gathering place. The yearly lecture series which bears his name is co-sponsored by several departments at the university, and has presented such well-known speakers as journalist Molly Ivins, teacher and author Cornel West, and historian Howard Zinn.
For more information, contact Lynne Hollander Savio, savio@sonic.net, 707-823-7293 or 707-703-9829.
Friday, October 30, 2009
MNN: Polish death probed -- attempt on Mohawk ignored
POLISH DEATH PROBED – ATTEMPT ON MOHAWK IGNORED
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/
MNN. Oct. 29, 2009. On October 14th 2007, Polish immigrant, Robert Dziekanski, was killed by the RCMP at the customs venue in Vancouver Airport. He was tasered, knocked down and hit again. He screamed in pain on the floor. They fired again, again and again until he died.
Dziekanski had come from Poland to visit his mother, who had been waiting for him at the arrivals level for 7 hours.
A bystander video taped his death with his cell phone. The RCMP were all buffed up with body armor, hand guns, pepper spray and collapsible batons. They said they feared for their safety when he picked up the stapler and waved it at them.
The state is spending millions on an highly publicized investigation into his death.
What’s the difference between this and the attack on Kahentinetha Horn at the Akwesasne border on June 14, 2009? The CBSA Canadian Border Services Agency video taped this vicious assault which they hide for reasons of National Security. Many witnesses have signed affidavits.
Horn was pulled over by the border guards to wait for hours. CBSA and a squad of heavily equipped commandos appeared. They surrounded her car, grabbed her and used stress tactics that brought on a heart attack. The border guards tried to push her to bend forward so the blood would rush into her heart and kill her. She survived.
This attack has been kept out of mainstream news. Every request to the RCMP, OPP and Attorney General of Canada to investigate this crime has been stopped.
Canada does not want a review of their agents torturing and trying to kill a 69 year old woman who was peacefully crossing the border at Akwesasne.
Horn went to the Federal Court of Canada to file an action to investigate this crime. FCC issued an order that she must pay for all of the Crown’s costs starting with a $20,000 deposit. They declared she lives in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake and therefore is not a resident of Canada. This is an admission that we are sovereign.
Many have been brutalized at this border. The colonial Akwesasne Mohawk Council is hiring a high profile lawyer, paid by Canada, to mount a class action suit against Canada, mainly to avoid the sovereignty, international border and land issues. Indigenous victims will be urged to take a settlement. The deal will probably try to absolve Canada of guilt and responsibility in the eyes of their law.
Canada knows this is an international nation-to-nation issue. The lawyer will say the ruling is a great victory for the Indigenous, blah, blah, blah. Canada will keep pretending they are in control of their Indians.
The foreigners need guns to assert their illegitimate authority.
In Akwesasne we are in our homes, doing nothing wrong. When some antagonistic armed border goon confronts us, our guard goes up. An issue is created and we could be killed. Armed camps are being created around us to force us to defend ourselves against their brutality and weapons. Since they have guns, shouldn’t we have guns to defend ourselves from them?
Any law abiding peaceful and compliant individual, black, white, yellow or brown, who shows up at the border is confronted with tasers and guns. They can become a victim, attacked and killed. Because it’s at the border the goons think they can walk away scot free with no fear of retaliation.
Is Canada at war with us? Why are they pointing us at us? The corporations, Wall Street, bankers, military and lawyers now control governments. Anyone asserting self-determination and sovereignty or questioning their lack of jurisdiction in a resource rich territory is considered an enemy. We have been declared terrorists or enemy combatants and denied civil, sovereign and human rights.
Dziekanski was a visitor with more rights to an investigation than us. He was killed to desensitize the public to what state agents will do to enforce their will. The RCMP took 7 hours to plan his killing and to work up the nerve to do it. In the Horn case, they spent over an hour and botched it.
Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Or go to PayPal on MNN website. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN BORDER category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now!
NOTE: Charges could not be brought against the CBSA border guards unless the victims paid the crown’s court costs. Federal Court of Canada Prothonotary Mireille Tabib made an order on October 23, 2008 that Mohawks residing in Akwesasne and Kahnawake are not residents of Canada. Two supporting FCC orders were made by Judge Francois Lemieux on January 29, 2009; and Claude Morissette on March 16, 2009. FCA T-1309-08 and T-288-09.
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/
MNN. Oct. 29, 2009. On October 14th 2007, Polish immigrant, Robert Dziekanski, was killed by the RCMP at the customs venue in Vancouver Airport. He was tasered, knocked down and hit again. He screamed in pain on the floor. They fired again, again and again until he died.
Dziekanski had come from Poland to visit his mother, who had been waiting for him at the arrivals level for 7 hours.
A bystander video taped his death with his cell phone. The RCMP were all buffed up with body armor, hand guns, pepper spray and collapsible batons. They said they feared for their safety when he picked up the stapler and waved it at them.
The state is spending millions on an highly publicized investigation into his death.
What’s the difference between this and the attack on Kahentinetha Horn at the Akwesasne border on June 14, 2009? The CBSA Canadian Border Services Agency video taped this vicious assault which they hide for reasons of National Security. Many witnesses have signed affidavits.
Horn was pulled over by the border guards to wait for hours. CBSA and a squad of heavily equipped commandos appeared. They surrounded her car, grabbed her and used stress tactics that brought on a heart attack. The border guards tried to push her to bend forward so the blood would rush into her heart and kill her. She survived.
This attack has been kept out of mainstream news. Every request to the RCMP, OPP and Attorney General of Canada to investigate this crime has been stopped.
Canada does not want a review of their agents torturing and trying to kill a 69 year old woman who was peacefully crossing the border at Akwesasne.
Horn went to the Federal Court of Canada to file an action to investigate this crime. FCC issued an order that she must pay for all of the Crown’s costs starting with a $20,000 deposit. They declared she lives in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake and therefore is not a resident of Canada. This is an admission that we are sovereign.
Many have been brutalized at this border. The colonial Akwesasne Mohawk Council is hiring a high profile lawyer, paid by Canada, to mount a class action suit against Canada, mainly to avoid the sovereignty, international border and land issues. Indigenous victims will be urged to take a settlement. The deal will probably try to absolve Canada of guilt and responsibility in the eyes of their law.
Canada knows this is an international nation-to-nation issue. The lawyer will say the ruling is a great victory for the Indigenous, blah, blah, blah. Canada will keep pretending they are in control of their Indians.
The foreigners need guns to assert their illegitimate authority.
In Akwesasne we are in our homes, doing nothing wrong. When some antagonistic armed border goon confronts us, our guard goes up. An issue is created and we could be killed. Armed camps are being created around us to force us to defend ourselves against their brutality and weapons. Since they have guns, shouldn’t we have guns to defend ourselves from them?
Any law abiding peaceful and compliant individual, black, white, yellow or brown, who shows up at the border is confronted with tasers and guns. They can become a victim, attacked and killed. Because it’s at the border the goons think they can walk away scot free with no fear of retaliation.
Is Canada at war with us? Why are they pointing us at us? The corporations, Wall Street, bankers, military and lawyers now control governments. Anyone asserting self-determination and sovereignty or questioning their lack of jurisdiction in a resource rich territory is considered an enemy. We have been declared terrorists or enemy combatants and denied civil, sovereign and human rights.
Dziekanski was a visitor with more rights to an investigation than us. He was killed to desensitize the public to what state agents will do to enforce their will. The RCMP took 7 hours to plan his killing and to work up the nerve to do it. In the Horn case, they spent over an hour and botched it.
Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Or go to PayPal on MNN website. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN BORDER category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now!
NOTE: Charges could not be brought against the CBSA border guards unless the victims paid the crown’s court costs. Federal Court of Canada Prothonotary Mireille Tabib made an order on October 23, 2008 that Mohawks residing in Akwesasne and Kahnawake are not residents of Canada. Two supporting FCC orders were made by Judge Francois Lemieux on January 29, 2009; and Claude Morissette on March 16, 2009. FCA T-1309-08 and T-288-09.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Running in the shadows
With all that's going on with our country right now -- health care reform, two wars in the Middle East, the federal budget deficit, the slow recovery of the economy, etc. -- you'd think it would be a good thing to see Medford and Ashland featured prominently in The New York Times.You'd be wrong.
The two Southern Oregon cities earned dubious datelines this week as, first, the Times looked at Medford in describing how the recession has worsened the nation's youth runaway problem and then, the following day, featured an Ashland girl in its report on how teenagers are often forced to sell sex in order to survive on the streets.
Both stories are well worth reading. If you're one of those folks who tends to skip over links to videos, I urge you to make an exception. Reporter Ian Urbina and photographer Monica Almeida team up for a compelling report, featuring the same teenagers who are interviewed in the two articles.
I won't attempt to distill the articles here, other than to say that, for me, they engendered a feeling of respect for the resourcefulness displayed by many of these youth. Make no mistake: These aren't the "road warriors" you see on some Portland streets -- the aggressive, panhandling, drug-addled young people who are just passing through. These are kids who've left home because of abusive parents or economic difficulties. One girl is trying to make it by squatting in the abandoned house her parents lost to foreclosure. The stories are powerful and deserve a careful reading.
First article: Recession Drives Surge in Youth Runaways
Second article: For Runaways, Sex Buys Survival
Videos: When No One's Looking, and When No One's Looking, Part 2
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Safe cities, scary people
News item: Portland ranks No. 3 among America's safest cities.News item: Glenn Beck, Michael Moore and Kanye West are among the Scariest People of 2009.
Says who? Forbes magazine, that's who.This week began with the ho-hum news that the City of Roses is among the nation's safest places, trailing only Minneapolis and Milwaukee and ranking ahead of Seattle and Boston, which tied for fourth, among America's 40 largest metro areas. Portland actually has the lowest crime rate but came out third when all the criteria -- including workplace deaths, fatal crashes and the risk of natural disasters -- were taken into account.
No one I know gets excited about such rankings anymore because we've come to expect them. I know that sounds conceited, maybe even condescending. But when Portland is continually held up as a model when it comes to urban planning, mass transit use, parks and bicycling -- not to mention our microbreweries, coffeehouses, food carts and cutting-edge restaurants -- well, sometimes it's hard to be humble. (I can't believe I just wrote that.)
Anyway, you can go to forbes.com to read the complete rankings of America's safest cities.
While there, you can feel sorry for those metro areas that landed on the magazine's list of America's most dangerous cities, headed by Detroit, Memphis and Miami.
But, wait, there's more...Just in time for Halloween, Forbes rolls out its annual list of the 10 scariest people. Aside from the three mentioned above, the list includes just one woman: the ubiquitous Kate Gosselin. (And, yes, her ex made the list, too.)Who would you add to the list?
Photo by Randy L. Rasmussen, The Oregonian; illustrations by Val B. Bochkov
Listen: Uranium Forum Defending Mother Earth
Censored News Blog Radio
During the 7th Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum, Faith Gemmill describes how mining is destroying the lands of the Gwich'in in Alaska. Charmaine White Face, Oglala coordinator of Defenders of the Black Hills, reveals the secrecy behind uranium mining in the Plains. Chris Peters of the 7th Generation Fund provides an overview of the assualt of uranium mining in Indian country. Earl Tulley, Navajo, speaks on defending Dinetah, Navajoland.
Listen at:Photo: Charmaine White Face, Oglala, Defenders of the Black Hills
Radio stations anywhere in the world may rebroadcast in whole or part for news.
Southwest Weekend to End Torture
SOUTHWEST WEEKEND OF WITNESS TO END TORTURE, NOVEMBER 14-15, 2009SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Photos: Fort Huachuca protest 2004/Indymedia
Protest at Fort Huachuca, where the US army produces torture manuals
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14
1--4 p.m. Workshop/Teach-in on Human Rights
Teach-in will be led by Prof. Randall Amster from Prescott College and Russell Crawford with NAU Peace and Justice
Held at Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 E. 23rd St., Tucson, AZ -One block south of 10th Ave and 22nd St. in Tucson, AZ
4-6:30 p.m. Sign-making and Community-building Event
Simple supper served for donation
Also held at Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 E. 23rd St., Tucson, AZ
7--8 p.m. Healing Ritual and Music
Music provided by Ted Warmbrand and Francisco Herrera
Held at Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 E. 23rd St., Tucson, AZ
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Note: For those who wish, carpooling has been organized to leave from Borderlinks (620 S. 6th Ave, Tucson) at 10:15 to allow at least 90 minutes for the trip to Sierra Vista, which is 72 miles southeast of Tucson (east on I-10, then south on Hwy. 90, then east on Fry Blvd. Hwy. 90 is also called Buffalo Soldier Trail.)
Noon - 3 p.m. No to Torture Rally, followed by a Procession and Presence at the Ft. Huachuca Main Gate
Rally is at Len Roberts Park at E. Theater Dr. and N. Carmichael Ave. in Sierra Vista, AZ (from the main gate of Ft. Huachuca take Fry Blvd east to N. Canyon Dr and go north to Theater Dr.)
Speakers, musicians
Bring brown bag or picnic lunch, beverages, hat, sunscreen, folding chair, appropriate signs, and walking shoes if you will be in the procession.
The park has restrooms and some parking but carpooling is encouraged. There are fast food and cafe options all along Fry Blvd.
No to Torture Procession Note: A Vigil of Presence across from Ft. Huachuca's main gate on the east side of Buffalo Soldiers Trail and Fry Blvd. follows the park Rally. We will also have a presence at one of the private contractor's office nearby. (Please note that we are no longer allowed to be in the empty lot where vigils have taken place in past years. We will need to vigil in the sidewalk area.)
The gate is a little less than a mile from Len Roberts Park. Counter-demonstrators are expected and peacekeepers will be aiding us in our procession. We will allow a half-hour for the t
ransition from the park to the gate. Those not walking may drive near the gate and park in the neighborhood east of the gate.All these events are sponsored by Southwest Witness, Tucson SOA Watch, and Torture on Trial in solidarity with SOA Watch and their annual Vigil & Action at Ft. Benning, Georgia on November 20-22 (see http://soaw.org/)
More information: http://southwestwitness.org/
/ and http://tortureontrial.org/
or 520-820-7784
Plastering the hole in journalism
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Here's three ways that news reporters and editors fake being present at a news event:
--Publish a press release and label it with the byline "Staff writer"
--Make a phone call to someone, anyone, and publish it with a photo by someone who was there
--Plagiarize the work of reporters who were there and rewrite their work
Here's three of the many ways reporters and editors fail their readers:
--Rewrite a press release by politicians or corporations and label it "news"
--Publish an inaccurate or one-sided wire service story, then claim they have no time or money to do it right
--Censor the truth to keep their advertisers or other funders happy; Censor the truth to prevent backlash from Congressmen, other politicians and federal judges
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Here's three ways that news reporters and editors fake being present at a news event:
--Publish a press release and label it with the byline "Staff writer"
--Make a phone call to someone, anyone, and publish it with a photo by someone who was there
--Plagiarize the work of reporters who were there and rewrite their work
Here's three of the many ways reporters and editors fail their readers:
--Rewrite a press release by politicians or corporations and label it "news"
--Publish an inaccurate or one-sided wire service story, then claim they have no time or money to do it right
--Censor the truth to keep their advertisers or other funders happy; Censor the truth to prevent backlash from Congressmen, other politicians and federal judges
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tsoodzil: Protecting the mountain of sprinkled turquoise
Thanks to John Redhouse for his history of the efforts to protect sacred Mount Taylor. This painting by Navajo artist Shonto Begay is in Redhouse's compilation, Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum, A Reader 1987 -- 2009.
John Trudell speaks on racism at Santa Barbara
INDIGENOUS SYMPOSIUM ON RACE AND RACISM @ UCSB
Censored News
The American Indian Graduate Student Alliance / American Indian Student Association of the University of California Santa Barbara, presents an
INDIGENOUS SYMPOSIUM ON RACE AND RACISM
November 13th-15th, 2009
Key Note Address by John Trudell, Lakota Activist, Writer and Musician
Following recent events surrounding the Carpenteria High School mascot vote, the UCSB Nexus Newspaper, the lack of an Indigenous/Native American Indian Studies department at UCSB and low enrollment, students are organizing this Symposium to address race and racism affecting local Indigenous communities, especially in the areas of education.
Sessions will be on racism regarding mascots, sacred sites, and education, including religious and identity persecution effecting urban and rural communities. The Symposiums goal is to bridge conversation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous, academic and traditional knowledge, and tribal nations and organizations, in addressing historic and contemporary issues and solutions facing our nations today.
Event is Free, donations of $5.00 per meal is requested.
For more information and registration, please contact:
AIGSA Facebook, or Monique Sonoquie at sonoquie@hotmail.com or (805) 403-6744
INDIGENOUS SYMPOSIUM ON RACE AND RACISM
November 13th-15th, 2009
Key Note Address by John Trudell, Lakota Activist, Writer and Musician
Following recent events surrounding the Carpenteria High School mascot vote, the UCSB Nexus Newspaper, the lack of an Indigenous/Native American Indian Studies department at UCSB and low enrollment, students are organizing this Symposium to address race and racism affecting local Indigenous communities, especially in the areas of education.
Sessions will be on racism regarding mascots, sacred sites, and education, including religious and identity persecution effecting urban and rural communities. The Symposiums goal is to bridge conversation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous, academic and traditional knowledge, and tribal nations and organizations, in addressing historic and contemporary issues and solutions facing our nations today.
Event is Free, donations of $5.00 per meal is requested.
For more information and registration, please contact:
AIGSA Facebook, or Monique Sonoquie at sonoquie@hotmail.com or (805) 403-6744
Venezuela Ambassador to meet with Alaskan Indigenous
Alaska Inter-Tribal Council is pleased to announce an opportunity for everyone to meet with the Venezuela Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez.
Photo PBS
Photo PBS
Censored News http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Friday, October 30, 2009,
10 am - 12 noon
University of Alaska Anchorage
Integrated Science Building Room 120
Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuela’s ambassador to the U.S., will travel to Alaska on October 28-30, 2009 to strengthen relations with the state’s indigenous tribes and promote cultural, commercial and academic links between the U.S. and Venezuela.
During his trip to Alaska, Ambassador Alvarez will meet with elected officials, speak to students and faculty at the University of Alaska and participate in some media interviews. He will also meet with the executive leadership of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council and speak to a number of tribal chiefs that have benefited from a discounted heating oil program sponsored by the CITGO Corporation, which is owned by Venezuela’s state oil company. Since 2007, low-income Alaskans -- primarily members of the state’s indigenous tribes – have been eligible for the program.
Ambassador Alvarez’s visit will mark his first trip to Alaska since returning to his post in June 2009. In September 2008, Ambassador Alvarez left the U.S. during a diplomatic dispute; his return earlier this year marked the first time in U.S. diplomatic history that an ambassador has been allowed to return to his post.
Since being appointed as Venezuela’s top envoy to the U.S. in 2003, Ambassador Alvarez has traveled to a number of states promoting people-to-people ties based on culture, commerce, energy and sports. Prior to serving in Washington, Ambassador Alvarez occupied a number of posts in Venezuela’s Ministry of Energy and Mines, where he focused on the country’s oil industry.
10 am - 12 noon
University of Alaska Anchorage
Integrated Science Building Room 120
Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuela’s ambassador to the U.S., will travel to Alaska on October 28-30, 2009 to strengthen relations with the state’s indigenous tribes and promote cultural, commercial and academic links between the U.S. and Venezuela.
During his trip to Alaska, Ambassador Alvarez will meet with elected officials, speak to students and faculty at the University of Alaska and participate in some media interviews. He will also meet with the executive leadership of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council and speak to a number of tribal chiefs that have benefited from a discounted heating oil program sponsored by the CITGO Corporation, which is owned by Venezuela’s state oil company. Since 2007, low-income Alaskans -- primarily members of the state’s indigenous tribes – have been eligible for the program.
Ambassador Alvarez’s visit will mark his first trip to Alaska since returning to his post in June 2009. In September 2008, Ambassador Alvarez left the U.S. during a diplomatic dispute; his return earlier this year marked the first time in U.S. diplomatic history that an ambassador has been allowed to return to his post.
Since being appointed as Venezuela’s top envoy to the U.S. in 2003, Ambassador Alvarez has traveled to a number of states promoting people-to-people ties based on culture, commerce, energy and sports. Prior to serving in Washington, Ambassador Alvarez occupied a number of posts in Venezuela’s Ministry of Energy and Mines, where he focused on the country’s oil industry.
Monday, October 26, 2009
The new guy in charge
After six weeks of suspense, the announcement came today as we logged onto The Oregonian's email system. We have a new publisher: N. Christian Anderson III, a homegrown Oregon boy who's been a newspaper editor in Oregon, Washington and California and, more recently, a widely respected publisher and consultant.Chris, as he prefers to be called, is known as innovative, intense and intelligent -- truly one of the sharpest minds in the business. As publisher of the Orange County Register, he transformed an underachieving daily into a Pulitzer Prize-winning organization that took on and defeated the much larger Los Angeles Times, when the latter had a large Orange County bureau and hopes of crushing the hometown paper. Didn't happen.
At 59, Anderson is nearly three decades younger -- and way, way, way more savvy about the Internet -- than his predecessor Fred Stickel, who retired Sept. 18 at age 87 after 35 years as publisher of Oregon's oldest business. (He announced he was leaving Sept. 9.) Just last Thursday, I was among the dozens of people who attended Stickel's farewell dinner, an emotional sendoff at the Multnomah Athletic Club that featured tributes from friends, family and current staffers.
Like many colleagues, I was anticipating the next publisher would be a money guy, someone known for more generating revenues and running a tight ship on the business side. I think we're fortunate to have a new guy in charge who came up on the news side and appreciates the journalistic challenges, yet who's savvy enough to know we need to operate as an information organization and not just a newspaper.
Here's a link to the news story on OregonLive. And here's a factoid o' the day: Anderson shares something in common with Chris Johns, editor in chief of National Geographic Magazine, one of the world's most respected publications. Both graduated from Oregon State University and both served as editor of the student newspaper, The Daily Barometer.
Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum a Success
This past weekend Indigenous Peoples from Alaska, North America, Bolivia and Japan converged near Acoma Pueblo for the 7th Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum in Sky City, New Mexico. Although the forum focused on the uranium developments being proposed at Mount Taylor and throughout the grants mineral belt of New Mexico, it also provided an opportunity for networking.
CONTACTS: Anna Rondon, 7th Indigenous Uranium Forum Organizer, 505-726-9392 505-726-9392
Nikke Alex, Black Mesa Water Coalition, 505-879-7461 505-879-7461
Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum a Success
by Jihan Gearon
Photo by Brenda Norrell
ALBUQUERQUE – This past weekend Indigenous Peoples from Alaska, North America, Bolivia and Japan converged near Acoma Pueblo for the 7th Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum in Sky City, New Mexico. Although the forum focused on the uranium developments being proposed at Mount Taylor and throughout the grants mineral belt of New Mexico, it also provided an opportunity for affected communities to share knowledge, experiences, and strategies to combat the current onslaught of nuclear power throughout Indigenous territories worldwide.
Over the two and a half days, participants shared knowledge about a variety of topics related to uranium mining including ongoing resistance efforts, the health affects on uranium mining, the implications of U.S. energy and climate policy, and the emerging green economy. Suzanne Singer, a young Navajo woman new to the issues of uranium mining reflected, “I have learned a lot here. This summit has been very different than other conferences I’ve been to because it brought out so much emotion in me – anger, happiness, and most importantly, inspiration.”
Michaela Stubbs traveled from Melbourne, Australia representing the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance, a network of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people sharing skills and strategies to campaign against nuclear development in Australia. “It’s been amazing to be here, meet people and strengthen international links,” said Michaela. “The tactics used by multi-national corporations on the Indigenous Peoples here – division, bribery, and bullying – are the same tactics used in Indigenous communities in Australia. We need to find the resources to connect, support and strategize together. If we can accomplish that on the grassroots level, I believe we can shut ‘em down.”
The Indigenous Environmental Network, Honor the Earth, and the Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development will be key strategic partners in strengthening connections between national and international communities fighting the nuclear industry. Next steps for the forum include improving communication between communities, coordinating smaller international and inter-tribal dialogues, and planning for the 8th Indigenous Uranium Forum in Australia.
Winona LaDuke, Executive Director of Honor the Earth closed the summit by restating a key theme present throughout the summit. “We need to move past being reactive to the attacks on our communities and be more proactive in creating the communities we want.” The 7th Indigenous Uranium Summit was a success in moving this important discussion forward for communities affected by the uranium and nuclear industry.
Find more information about the 7th Indigenous Uranium Forum by visiting the website at http://www.siuf.net/index.html
You can also listen to recordings from the summit at http://www.earthcycles.net/ and watch videos from the summit at http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles
(Most of the video is already available, check back for the radio audio files of the event.)
Tucson editor welcomes power plant in his backyard
Tucson editor welcomes power plant in his backyard
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
TUCSON -- In a sudden change of heart, the editor of the Arizona Daily Starr said he would like to offer his neighborhood for the Navajo Generating Station.
After encouraging the EPA to forget about new clean air standards, he said he realized that this was an act of environmental racism. He said he realized that his desire to continue this polluting power plant on the Navajo Nation was wrong.
"I'm sorry I joined the environmental racism parade," he said. He said it had never occurred to him that Navajos were human beings and that the people who live on the land deserve
to live out their lives without respiratory diseases.
Further, he said he looks forward to having the large toxic ash ponds from regional coal-fired power plants, on and around the Navajo Nation, in his backyard. He recommended the ash ponds for wading pools in Tucson city parks.
As for polluting the skies around his southern Arizona neighborhood, he said, "The haze will offer some shade. Besides, we have plenty of hospitals here to treat bronchitis and asthma."
The editor said in a show of good faith, all the radiation from the abandoned uranium mines around Monument Valley could be stockpiled in his back yard as well.
"It is time that those of us profiting from the energy produced by these disease-producing power plants take a turn at becoming sick and disabled. We look forward to sharing in the diseases caused by power plant emissions and abandoned radioactive tailings."
"Besides, how can we continue to steal the water of Arizona Indian tribes for the cities of Phoenix and Tucson without disease-producing power plants and the Central Arizona Project," he pointed out.
"To continue stealing Arizona Indian water and the electricity it produces, we need power plants, attorneys and Arizona Congressmen in our pockets."
The editor said, in any case, the pristine view of the Grand Canyon is highly over-rated.
"The canyon is far more glorious draped in a grey cloud of dark and dingy smog in the morning light. There's nothing I enjoy more than standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon and choking and coughing from a big puff of coal-fired power plant smog."
The editor encouraged the leaders of Tucson and Phoenix to offer their own backyards for nuclear and toxic dumping as well.
"In the true spirit of 'be here now' lets not worry about our future generations, or about radiation deconstructing our genetic matter." He said the Western Shoshone, Goshute and other Indian tribes shouldn't have to spend their lives fighting nuclear dumping in their communities.
"Lets put it in our backyards."
.
Yes, its satire.
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
TUCSON -- In a sudden change of heart, the editor of the Arizona Daily Starr said he would like to offer his neighborhood for the Navajo Generating Station.
After encouraging the EPA to forget about new clean air standards, he said he realized that this was an act of environmental racism. He said he realized that his desire to continue this polluting power plant on the Navajo Nation was wrong.
"I'm sorry I joined the environmental racism parade," he said. He said it had never occurred to him that Navajos were human beings and that the people who live on the land deserve
to live out their lives without respiratory diseases.Further, he said he looks forward to having the large toxic ash ponds from regional coal-fired power plants, on and around the Navajo Nation, in his backyard. He recommended the ash ponds for wading pools in Tucson city parks.
As for polluting the skies around his southern Arizona neighborhood, he said, "The haze will offer some shade. Besides, we have plenty of hospitals here to treat bronchitis and asthma."
The editor said in a show of good faith, all the radiation from the abandoned uranium mines around Monument Valley could be stockpiled in his back yard as well.
"It is time that those of us profiting from the energy produced by these disease-producing power plants take a turn at becoming sick and disabled. We look forward to sharing in the diseases caused by power plant emissions and abandoned radioactive tailings."
"Besides, how can we continue to steal the water of Arizona Indian tribes for the cities of Phoenix and Tucson without disease-producing power plants and the Central Arizona Project," he pointed out.
"To continue stealing Arizona Indian water and the electricity it produces, we need power plants, attorneys and Arizona Congressmen in our pockets."
The editor said, in any case, the pristine view of the Grand Canyon is highly over-rated.
"The canyon is far more glorious draped in a grey cloud of dark and dingy smog in the morning light. There's nothing I enjoy more than standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon and choking and coughing from a big puff of coal-fired power plant smog."
The editor encouraged the leaders of Tucson and Phoenix to offer their own backyards for nuclear and toxic dumping as well.
"In the true spirit of 'be here now' lets not worry about our future generations, or about radiation deconstructing our genetic matter." He said the Western Shoshone, Goshute and other Indian tribes shouldn't have to spend their lives fighting nuclear dumping in their communities.
"Lets put it in our backyards."
.
Yes, its satire.
Peltier 'Circle for Clemency' White House Nov. 5, 2009
UPDATE:
The only real change to the itinerary is that we will be meeting at The Elipse Grounds South (not Lafayette Park)
Group contacts are Robert Fife who may be reached in Washingon on his cell at (919)475-1343
6:00 AM
We will gather @ The Elipse grounds S.- SW quadrant @ 17th and C streets
We will set up our circle and join in Sunrise Prayers, individual prayers and socializing/greeting our Relations.
7:30 AM
Walk en masse to the Department of the Interior building (Approximately one block)
8:00 AM
Respectfully greet our tribal representatives as they arrive, welcoming them to the conference
Prayer/blessing for a successful meeting and that each of them carry in their agenda a request for clemency and Leonard's freedom.
We would ask that everyone attending in support of Leonard bring some kind of food/drink that can be shared throughout the day that we may nourish each other physically.
We would ask that everyone attending in support of Leonard carry with them their personal prayers and perhaps a personal sacred object that we may nourish each other spiritually.
We would ask that everyone attending in support of Leonard share information/conversation to educate not only our people but others who may be drawn to the event so that we may nourish each other mentally.
We anticipate several Indigenous artists/musicians, dancers, drummers and singers to be in attendance. It is hoped that they will share their gifts with The People throughout the day as the Spirit moves them.
In September, Ben Carnes and I came to Washington, DC, fasted for seven days and sent our humble, sometimes whispered prayers to The Creator that President Obama hear our pleas of clemency and justice for Leonard Peltier. We have faith that The Creator heard every word and today is our chance to take the next right step on the path that He has laid for us. In its essence, this Gathering is an opportunity to send many more humble and whispered prayers that they may become One Great Voice heard not only by The Creator but by All The Nations and all The People.
For all attending, this is a rare and beautiful opportunity to celebrate the joys of being Indigenous People and speaking the truth for our brother, Leonard Peltier.
5:30 PM
Closing prayers to bless the day, our tribal representatives and All Our Relations. These prayers shall be of solidarity, hope and gratitude that our voices have been heard and that our message of freedom for Leonard Peltier is carried in the hearts, words and deeds of our tribal representatives, President Obama and the United States government from this day forth.
MNN: How Stupid are Tribal Councils?
HOW STUPID ARE TRIBAL COUNCILS?
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com
MNN. Oct. 25, 2009. Native Pride has asked if tribal, state and federal officials are really so stupid? MNN wonders too. US Senator Charles "Chuck" Schumer (D-NY) misinforms the public about how Indians have no right to sell our products to non-Indians and estimates that the state is losing billions? in taxes. There’s also the misinterpreted 1994 US Supreme Court ruling that New York State could illegally collect taxes without our consent. [http//:letstalknativepride.blogspot.com/ edited by MNN]
Shumer says that his people can sell to us but we can't sell to them. NYS knows they may tax purchases but can't tax our sales. NYS says the consumer is supposed to remit the tax back to them. (Form CG-15). How likely?
We are born sovereign. It’s an individual birthright. We didn’t win it in an election. It can’t be granted by foreign federal or state governments. Every business on our land is a Nation business. Every Native retailer is sovereign.
New York State Governor David Paterson allows everyone to buy up to 2 cartons of untaxed and unstamped native made cigarettes, which, we presume, can only be smoked in NYS. He allows anybody to buy 2 cartons from anywhere but but not from the Indians.
In Department of Taxation & Finance of New York et al. v. Milhelm Attea & Bros., non-native wholesaler, Attea, lost his challenge. He got his license to do business with Indians from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He argued that it supersedes NYS law. Weak rulings in other states were used against Attea to imply somehow they beat us, but in fact they didn’t.
NYS always wants to take in billions of dollars every way they can. Any attempt to shut us down will never get a net gain for the state.
It’s not money. Control through threats and force is the end game. Shumer mentioned that many "tribes" elsewhere have entered into illegal agreements with the states. Why? The States have no rights. Otherwise why do they have to enter into compacts with us? We don’t need agreements to exercise our sovereign trade and commerce rights anywhere.
The state promises casinos to sell-out tribal leaders that will assert illegitimate authority over us, our territory and our businesses. They want to disperse our internationally recognized distinction as Rotino’shonni:onwe.
The state is legitimately powerless and has to resort to coercion. Colonial tribal officials are puppets of their masters in Ottawa, Washington and Albany. To defend ourselves from their attacks, we have shut down the Thruway, blocked bridges and stood toe to toe with the police.
Mohawk and Seneca will always resist colonial lawlessness and human rights violation. Regrettably many tribal puppets are forced to enter into illegal compacts because they know we have a right to maintain a strong private sector economy. These tribal councils help the state to arrest, criminalize and extort huge fines against almost half of our youth.
The Mohawk and Seneca don’t have any legal tax compacts with any foreigners. We never gave our consent to anyone to sell us out. NYS can only use state criminality and force on us. Are these tribal puppets so stupid as to not know what they are doing is wrong? So Senator Shumer and Governor David Paterson, why don’t you stop your colonial racist nonsense! [See www.letstalknativepride.blogspot.com
for original article.]
Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Or go to PayPal on MNN website. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN AKWESASNE category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now!
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com
MNN. Oct. 25, 2009. Native Pride has asked if tribal, state and federal officials are really so stupid? MNN wonders too. US Senator Charles "Chuck" Schumer (D-NY) misinforms the public about how Indians have no right to sell our products to non-Indians and estimates that the state is losing billions? in taxes. There’s also the misinterpreted 1994 US Supreme Court ruling that New York State could illegally collect taxes without our consent. [http//:letstalknativepride.blogspot.com/ edited by MNN]
Shumer says that his people can sell to us but we can't sell to them. NYS knows they may tax purchases but can't tax our sales. NYS says the consumer is supposed to remit the tax back to them. (Form CG-15). How likely?
We are born sovereign. It’s an individual birthright. We didn’t win it in an election. It can’t be granted by foreign federal or state governments. Every business on our land is a Nation business. Every Native retailer is sovereign.
New York State Governor David Paterson allows everyone to buy up to 2 cartons of untaxed and unstamped native made cigarettes, which, we presume, can only be smoked in NYS. He allows anybody to buy 2 cartons from anywhere but but not from the Indians.
In Department of Taxation & Finance of New York et al. v. Milhelm Attea & Bros., non-native wholesaler, Attea, lost his challenge. He got his license to do business with Indians from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He argued that it supersedes NYS law. Weak rulings in other states were used against Attea to imply somehow they beat us, but in fact they didn’t.
NYS always wants to take in billions of dollars every way they can. Any attempt to shut us down will never get a net gain for the state.
It’s not money. Control through threats and force is the end game. Shumer mentioned that many "tribes" elsewhere have entered into illegal agreements with the states. Why? The States have no rights. Otherwise why do they have to enter into compacts with us? We don’t need agreements to exercise our sovereign trade and commerce rights anywhere.
The state promises casinos to sell-out tribal leaders that will assert illegitimate authority over us, our territory and our businesses. They want to disperse our internationally recognized distinction as Rotino’shonni:onwe.
The state is legitimately powerless and has to resort to coercion. Colonial tribal officials are puppets of their masters in Ottawa, Washington and Albany. To defend ourselves from their attacks, we have shut down the Thruway, blocked bridges and stood toe to toe with the police.
Mohawk and Seneca will always resist colonial lawlessness and human rights violation. Regrettably many tribal puppets are forced to enter into illegal compacts because they know we have a right to maintain a strong private sector economy. These tribal councils help the state to arrest, criminalize and extort huge fines against almost half of our youth.
The Mohawk and Seneca don’t have any legal tax compacts with any foreigners. We never gave our consent to anyone to sell us out. NYS can only use state criminality and force on us. Are these tribal puppets so stupid as to not know what they are doing is wrong? So Senator Shumer and Governor David Paterson, why don’t you stop your colonial racist nonsense! [See www.letstalknativepride.blogspot.com
for original article.]
Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Or go to PayPal on MNN website. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN AKWESASNE category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now!
Quick Takes
End of the month is in sight, so it's time for a quick run-through...-- Wedding Day approaches. Yesterday, Nathan and I and Jordan's good friend, Vaughn Emmons, headed to Lloyd Center to be fitted for our tuxedo rentals. Pretty amazing that, as of Sunday, we are only four weeks out from the big day -- Jamie and Jordan's wedding on Nov. 22. Looks like there will be a good turnout of friends from Portland who'll join us in meeting the bride's side of the family that weekend. My mom will be coming up from California. Unfortunately, neither of my sisters nor my dad and stepmother will be able to make it.
-- A birthday candle for Kyndall. In the couple of years that we've known her, Simone's partner, Kyndall, above, has won a place in our hearts as a virtual member of the family. Always talkative, always entertaining, always helpful, she's a delight to be around. She's having a golden birthday (31 on the 31st) this Saturday, so it only makes sense that she'd have a "Golden Girls" themed party (a la Bea Arthur) on Halloween. We celebrated early with a home-cooked dinner, featuring a surf and turf entree, risotto, zucchini and two (not just one) desserts.
-- A new book, a new topic. After managing to squeeze past the sidewalk zombies Saturday, I did sell a few books at Cameron's and decided to use the in-store credit to get "God's Politics," a much-acclaimed book about religion by Jim Wallis, an evangelical preacher who founded Sojourners, a nationwide network of progressive Christians. The book came out in 2005, right after GWB was re-elected (yes, I know I'm a whole election cycle behind in getting to it), and made The New York Times best-seller list. I'm not a particularly religious person and, in fact, have felt pretty strongly that there ought to be a firewall between religion and secular politics. This book may make me change my mind.
Consider the liner notes:
Since when did believing in God and having moral values make you pro-war, pro-rich and pro-Republican? And since when did promoting and pursuing a progressive social agenda with a concern for economic security, health care, and educational opportunity mean you had to put faith in God aside?I'm looking forward to digging into it.
While the Right in America has hijacked the language of faith to prop up its political agenda -- an agenda not all people of faith support -- the Left hasn't done much better, largely ignoring faith and continually separating moral discourse and personal ethics from public policy.
Faking the News: Where were the reporters?
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
SKY CITY, Acoma Pueblo, N.M. -- Where were the news reporters during the 7th Southwest Uranium Forum? Only two people identified themselves as news reporters at the gathering, a correspondent for Washington Post and another from the Four Corners Free Press.
Where was the American Indian media? Where were the Native American newspapers and radio stations?
Recently, Associated Press and the Arizona Republic were quick to attack environmentalists by rewriting the press releases of politicians and corporations. But where were their reporters when Indigenous Peoples gathered to tell their stories of how uranium mining, and the radioactive waste strewn and left behind, caused the deaths of their children, parents, brothers and sisters?
Faith Gemmill came all the way from the Arctic Circle in Alaska to this gathering, telling of the climate change devastating the way of life of her people and the land, water and air of all life there. Charmaine White Face of Defenders of the Black Hills came from South Dakota, revealing the secrecy of the uranium mining and the waste that poisons the land and water of the Oglala. Winona LaDuke, Anishinabe, came from White Earth, Louise Benally, Navajo, came from Big Mountain, Margene Bullcreek, Goshute, came from Utah and Supai Waters from the land of the Havasupai.
This Indigenous Uranium Forum was broadcast live with streaming video by Earthcycles. As of Monday morning, there were more than 68,500 views of the sessions from Thursday, Friday and Saturday. News reporters have access to these sessions at no cost. Will they tell the story of the Navajos who buried their children after they died of brain tumors, or the children who grew up without their mothers who died of lung cancer from the uranium mines in Monument Valley, Red Valley and Cove, Arizona?
Will they tell the story of the children taken away, vanished from their families, after their parents died working in the uranium mines without protective clothing? Will they tell the story of the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos who ate the radioactive dust with their meals near Jackpile Mine? Will they tell the story of the Havasupai who now must sacrifice their own money to fight the new threat of uranium mining in the Grand Canyon, uranium mining that could poison their water? Will they expose how Cyprus Tohono Corporation's copper mining released uranium into the Tohono O'odham water supply and there is now a cancer alley.
Will they listen to John Redhouse, Navajo, tell of the hate crimes toward Navajos and Pueblos here. Will the news reporters reflect and consider that uranium mining has long been a hate crime in Indian country?
Sky City on Acoma Pueblo is located between the Navajo Nation and Albuquerque. It is alongside the interstate highway, but no local reporters came. If they did, they did not identify themselves at the beginning or the conclusion of the gathering.
Censorship is the sad state of the media today. Faking news coverage is what the media does when reporters are lazy and editors do not send reporters to hear the stories of the grassroots people.
It is far easier for editors and reporters to rewrite the press releases of corporations and politicians than to go and listen to the truth and the voices of the people. A quick phone call will not do justice to the long standing genocide, greed and destruction by energy companies and the US government in Indian country.
This was an opportunity missed for the media who did not make it a priority. Please write the reporters and editors and hold them accountable.
Indigenous Uranium Forum session videos:
http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles
Brenda Norrell is a contributor to Narco News, CounterPunch, Americas, Sri Lanka Guardian, Atlantic Free Press and the UN OBSERVER & International Report.
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
SKY CITY, Acoma Pueblo, N.M. -- Where were the news reporters during the 7th Southwest Uranium Forum? Only two people identified themselves as news reporters at the gathering, a correspondent for Washington Post and another from the Four Corners Free Press.
Where was the American Indian media? Where were the Native American newspapers and radio stations?
Recently, Associated Press and the Arizona Republic were quick to attack environmentalists by rewriting the press releases of politicians and corporations. But where were their reporters when Indigenous Peoples gathered to tell their stories of how uranium mining, and the radioactive waste strewn and left behind, caused the deaths of their children, parents, brothers and sisters?
Faith Gemmill came all the way from the Arctic Circle in Alaska to this gathering, telling of the climate change devastating the way of life of her people and the land, water and air of all life there. Charmaine White Face of Defenders of the Black Hills came from South Dakota, revealing the secrecy of the uranium mining and the waste that poisons the land and water of the Oglala. Winona LaDuke, Anishinabe, came from White Earth, Louise Benally, Navajo, came from Big Mountain, Margene Bullcreek, Goshute, came from Utah and Supai Waters from the land of the Havasupai.
This Indigenous Uranium Forum was broadcast live with streaming video by Earthcycles. As of Monday morning, there were more than 68,500 views of the sessions from Thursday, Friday and Saturday. News reporters have access to these sessions at no cost. Will they tell the story of the Navajos who buried their children after they died of brain tumors, or the children who grew up without their mothers who died of lung cancer from the uranium mines in Monument Valley, Red Valley and Cove, Arizona?
Will they tell the story of the children taken away, vanished from their families, after their parents died working in the uranium mines without protective clothing? Will they tell the story of the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos who ate the radioactive dust with their meals near Jackpile Mine? Will they tell the story of the Havasupai who now must sacrifice their own money to fight the new threat of uranium mining in the Grand Canyon, uranium mining that could poison their water? Will they expose how Cyprus Tohono Corporation's copper mining released uranium into the Tohono O'odham water supply and there is now a cancer alley.
Will they listen to John Redhouse, Navajo, tell of the hate crimes toward Navajos and Pueblos here. Will the news reporters reflect and consider that uranium mining has long been a hate crime in Indian country?
Sky City on Acoma Pueblo is located between the Navajo Nation and Albuquerque. It is alongside the interstate highway, but no local reporters came. If they did, they did not identify themselves at the beginning or the conclusion of the gathering.
Censorship is the sad state of the media today. Faking news coverage is what the media does when reporters are lazy and editors do not send reporters to hear the stories of the grassroots people.
It is far easier for editors and reporters to rewrite the press releases of corporations and politicians than to go and listen to the truth and the voices of the people. A quick phone call will not do justice to the long standing genocide, greed and destruction by energy companies and the US government in Indian country.
This was an opportunity missed for the media who did not make it a priority. Please write the reporters and editors and hold them accountable.
Indigenous Uranium Forum session videos:
http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles
Brenda Norrell is a contributor to Narco News, CounterPunch, Americas, Sri Lanka Guardian, Atlantic Free Press and the UN OBSERVER & International Report.
.
Comment
Tiokasin Ghosthorse
Oyate Tokaheya Wicakiye
FIRST VOICES INDIGENOUS RADIO, New York
FIRST VOICES INDIGENOUS RADIO, New York
Comment published with permission
"Faking the News: Where were the reporters?":
"Yes!! the "mainstream" Native American radio stations that are too afraid to bite the hand that feeds them and who can really afford to be there should have been there.
"Yes!! the "mainstream" Native American radio stations that are too afraid to bite the hand that feeds them and who can really afford to be there should have been there.
Those of us who want to be and do not have a budget because of the easily accepted Native "American" or America's Indian mentality to not rock the boat. These are the "indians" who America pays attention to rather than the real story. I wish I could have been there. I really do. If there was a travel account for me to go to these events across country without being taking from my personal expenses. I have been "volunteering" for 17 years on the radio.
I will download and use on several radio stations with your permission.
Thank you for doing this."
Listen to First Voices Indigenous Radio, Thursdays 10am-11am
http://www.firstvoicesindigenousradio.org/ CRAZY HORSE (His Horse Is Enchanted) 1877 said this smoking a pipe with Sitting Bull 4 days before his assassination. "Upon suffering beyond suffering: the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations. A world longing for light again. I see a time of Seven Generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the Sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become one circle again. In that day, there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom. I salute the light within your eyes where the whole Universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am that place within me, we shall be one."
COMMENT AT NARCO NEWS
Submitted October 27, 2009 - 11:38 am by Tonya Hennessey
Hi Brenda,
I'm a Fieldhand; this is my first post over here. The organization I work with, CorpWatch, recently ran a feature written by a journalist in India on this same topic -- the hate crime that is uranium mining, and again, on tribal lands. When the most recent hearing was held on mine expansion, Indigenous voices were locked out.
You can find the article here, http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15450
Uranium Corporation of India Limited: Wasting Away Tribal Lands
by Moushumi Basu, Special to CorpWatch October 7th, 2009
Saludos,
Tonya
Hi Brenda,
I'm a Fieldhand; this is my first post over here. The organization I work with, CorpWatch, recently ran a feature written by a journalist in India on this same topic -- the hate crime that is uranium mining, and again, on tribal lands. When the most recent hearing was held on mine expansion, Indigenous voices were locked out.
You can find the article here, http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15450
Uranium Corporation of India Limited: Wasting Away Tribal Lands
by Moushumi Basu, Special to CorpWatch October 7th, 2009
Saludos,
Tonya
.
NOTE: Yes, permission is given from Govinda at Earthcycles and Brenda at Censored News Blog Radio to radio stations around the world, to rebroadcast our audio recordings, in whole or part in news programs.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
MNN: Hail Mary Pass by James (Moon Bat) O'Reilley
HAIL MARY PASS BY JAMES [MOON BAT] OREILLEY
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/
(PHOTO: Kahentinetha after she was beaten by border guards. She suffered a heart attack when border agents put her in a stresshold and attempted to murder her in 2006.)
MNN. Oct. 25, 2009. A Hail Mary pass is when a long ball in football is thrown down the field towards the offence’s goal line. It’s a last ditch hysterical attempt [by the federal Mud Dogs] to beat the invincible Ongwehone Eagles. Time has run out for the mud dogs to stop their losses. They are desperate to win. If this pass is completed, they can go on to score the winning goal. Hey, Mud Dogs, it’s hopeless. Give it up! You ain’t goin’ nowhere with it!!
Montreal ambulance chaser, James Moon-Bat Oreilley, wanted my files. He was looking for my defense strategies on the Federal Court of Canada border case. Sometime in the ethereal future, Canada is going to try to carry out their plot to remove me from the earth. This comes on the heels of events where Mohawks and other Indigenous nations are asserting sovereignty, which MNN posts truthfully.
Last week my friend, a lawyer in Montreal, phoned me. He had been helping us in the FCC case to charge the border agents who almost killed me at Kawenoke of Akwesasne on June 14, 2008.
My friend received a call from James OReilley who wanted all my files to be SENT over to him and that I had given my permission. It’s a lie!
What’s odd here is that my case is against the CBSA [Canadian Border Services Agency] who are represented by James Oreilley. He is on retainer with Akwesasne Mohawk Council and Akwesasne Mohawk Police, my adversaries in this case.
My friend found this odd that OReilley would give him the impression that he was taking over my case. I told him OReilley had never called me nor had I given permission for my files to be sent to him.
My friend found this strange. I took this to mean highly questionable behavior. We are now forced to ask the Quebec Bar if they condone this kind of behavior of their lawyers who are in a conflict of interest. Can he represent my opponents and request my files without my knowledge or permission while falsely stating they have my permission?
As far as I know the Federal Court of Canada is not going ahead with this case because I can’t afford it. They initially ordered me to put $20,000 on deposit as a retainer to cover the crown’s costs. They’ve declared that because I live in Kahnawake I am not a resident of Canada. I must pay ALL court costs as a foreigner, which they told me is mandated in Canadian law.
We can only speculate that there is a plan in motion to get me into custody to kill me. Despite the squad of commandos brought in that day, the CBSA botched the hit. Since then they needed to keep their claws hooked into my flesh. So they drummed up bogus charges so they could drag me back into custody to finish the job. That’s why these unknown charges have been filed.
I have no outstanding charges, warrants or citations that I know of. My friend thought they were looking for something on me. He felt that it may have to do with a rumor that the Akwesasne Mohawk Police charged me on behalf of CBSA, who are the main ones gunning for me. I think they want to charge me with failing to die.
It appears they want to know what kind of defense I’ve mounted for the eventual exercising of these phony charges. We hear a posse of their agents wanna com git me one of these days.
My understanding is there is a process involved when someone is held hostage by the authorities. First the arresting officers can decide to release the suspect on their own recognizance. The suspect could be held over for a bail hearing and then released, or have bail conditions imposed or money posted for a promise to appear.
If bail is not granted, the suspect is held in jail until their trial date, which could be months over a period of time.
The purpose of putting me in custody would be to have me miraculously disappear once and for all, or to put MNN out of commission. Water boarding, rape, torture, humiliation, beating and psychological tactics are commonly used by law enforcement. Anthony Griffin, Harriet Nahanee and many others have died under mysterious circumstances which were never satisfactorily explained to their families.
When we exercise indigenous sovereignty this is the treatment we can expect. No one is exempt.
Oreilly’s Hail Mary pass is bound to fail. He didn’t get my files. If this plan had succeeded, they would have known everything I told my lawyer friend about it. They would use this information against me and how I will respond to their interrogation.
We know well placed police informants in Akwesane read MNN. They are in a position to provide their version of intel to their handlers. The two people with me during the attempted Murder At The Border have surreptitiously removed themselves from my company. They could provide intel on their version of events to try to provide deeper insights into how we work as a people.
Nabbing and putting me away is a real threat. Why it’s taking so long for this kangaroo court system to work is because Canada has no jurisdictional over me or my territory. According to the FCC court order, because I live in Kahnawake and am a Kanionkehaka, a separate sovereign nation, I am not a resident of the colony of Canada. Therefore, Canada has no jurisdiction over me. The attempted murder by the CBSA happened in Kawenoke which is part of sovereign Mohawk territory.
Actually, anything I have to say about this is on MNN.
Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Or go to PayPal on MNN website. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN AKWESASNE category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now!
NOTE: Two Mohawk women were brutally assaulted on June 14, 2008 at the Akwesasne border. They could not bring charges against the border guards unless they paid court costs. Prothonotary Mireille Tabib made an order on October 23, 2008 that Mohawks residing in Akwesasne and Kahnawake are not residents of Canada. Subsequent orders supporting Tabib are: Judge Francois Lemieux on January 29, 2009; and Claude Morissette on March 16, 2009. FCA T-1309-08 and T-288-09.
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/
(PHOTO: Kahentinetha after she was beaten by border guards. She suffered a heart attack when border agents put her in a stresshold and attempted to murder her in 2006.)
MNN. Oct. 25, 2009. A Hail Mary pass is when a long ball in football is thrown down the field towards the offence’s goal line. It’s a last ditch hysterical attempt [by the federal Mud Dogs] to beat the invincible Ongwehone Eagles. Time has run out for the mud dogs to stop their losses. They are desperate to win. If this pass is completed, they can go on to score the winning goal. Hey, Mud Dogs, it’s hopeless. Give it up! You ain’t goin’ nowhere with it!!
Montreal ambulance chaser, James Moon-Bat Oreilley, wanted my files. He was looking for my defense strategies on the Federal Court of Canada border case. Sometime in the ethereal future, Canada is going to try to carry out their plot to remove me from the earth. This comes on the heels of events where Mohawks and other Indigenous nations are asserting sovereignty, which MNN posts truthfully.
Last week my friend, a lawyer in Montreal, phoned me. He had been helping us in the FCC case to charge the border agents who almost killed me at Kawenoke of Akwesasne on June 14, 2008.
My friend received a call from James OReilley who wanted all my files to be SENT over to him and that I had given my permission. It’s a lie!
What’s odd here is that my case is against the CBSA [Canadian Border Services Agency] who are represented by James Oreilley. He is on retainer with Akwesasne Mohawk Council and Akwesasne Mohawk Police, my adversaries in this case.
My friend found this odd that OReilley would give him the impression that he was taking over my case. I told him OReilley had never called me nor had I given permission for my files to be sent to him.
My friend found this strange. I took this to mean highly questionable behavior. We are now forced to ask the Quebec Bar if they condone this kind of behavior of their lawyers who are in a conflict of interest. Can he represent my opponents and request my files without my knowledge or permission while falsely stating they have my permission?
As far as I know the Federal Court of Canada is not going ahead with this case because I can’t afford it. They initially ordered me to put $20,000 on deposit as a retainer to cover the crown’s costs. They’ve declared that because I live in Kahnawake I am not a resident of Canada. I must pay ALL court costs as a foreigner, which they told me is mandated in Canadian law.
We can only speculate that there is a plan in motion to get me into custody to kill me. Despite the squad of commandos brought in that day, the CBSA botched the hit. Since then they needed to keep their claws hooked into my flesh. So they drummed up bogus charges so they could drag me back into custody to finish the job. That’s why these unknown charges have been filed.
I have no outstanding charges, warrants or citations that I know of. My friend thought they were looking for something on me. He felt that it may have to do with a rumor that the Akwesasne Mohawk Police charged me on behalf of CBSA, who are the main ones gunning for me. I think they want to charge me with failing to die.
It appears they want to know what kind of defense I’ve mounted for the eventual exercising of these phony charges. We hear a posse of their agents wanna com git me one of these days.
My understanding is there is a process involved when someone is held hostage by the authorities. First the arresting officers can decide to release the suspect on their own recognizance. The suspect could be held over for a bail hearing and then released, or have bail conditions imposed or money posted for a promise to appear.
If bail is not granted, the suspect is held in jail until their trial date, which could be months over a period of time.
The purpose of putting me in custody would be to have me miraculously disappear once and for all, or to put MNN out of commission. Water boarding, rape, torture, humiliation, beating and psychological tactics are commonly used by law enforcement. Anthony Griffin, Harriet Nahanee and many others have died under mysterious circumstances which were never satisfactorily explained to their families.
When we exercise indigenous sovereignty this is the treatment we can expect. No one is exempt.
Oreilly’s Hail Mary pass is bound to fail. He didn’t get my files. If this plan had succeeded, they would have known everything I told my lawyer friend about it. They would use this information against me and how I will respond to their interrogation.
We know well placed police informants in Akwesane read MNN. They are in a position to provide their version of intel to their handlers. The two people with me during the attempted Murder At The Border have surreptitiously removed themselves from my company. They could provide intel on their version of events to try to provide deeper insights into how we work as a people.
Nabbing and putting me away is a real threat. Why it’s taking so long for this kangaroo court system to work is because Canada has no jurisdictional over me or my territory. According to the FCC court order, because I live in Kahnawake and am a Kanionkehaka, a separate sovereign nation, I am not a resident of the colony of Canada. Therefore, Canada has no jurisdiction over me. The attempted murder by the CBSA happened in Kawenoke which is part of sovereign Mohawk territory.
Actually, anything I have to say about this is on MNN.
Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Or go to PayPal on MNN website. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN AKWESASNE category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now!
NOTE: Two Mohawk women were brutally assaulted on June 14, 2008 at the Akwesasne border. They could not bring charges against the border guards unless they paid court costs. Prothonotary Mireille Tabib made an order on October 23, 2008 that Mohawks residing in Akwesasne and Kahnawake are not residents of Canada. Subsequent orders supporting Tabib are: Judge Francois Lemieux on January 29, 2009; and Claude Morissette on March 16, 2009. FCA T-1309-08 and T-288-09.
Censored Radio: Fighting the corporate beast in Indian Country
Censored News Blog Talk Radio
7th Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum
By Brenda Norrell
SKY CITY, ACOMA PUEBLO, NM -- On Censored News Blog Radio, Louise Benally, Navajo from Big Mountain, speaks on Food Sovereignty and her recent visit to the Arctic, at the Indigenous Uranium Forum. Cristala Allen, Caddo, speaks on Native green jobs and non-Indians harvesting medicine plants. During an interview, Mayra Gomez from Bolivia speaks on international human rights. During the panel on Nuclear Terrorism on Indigenous Lands: Treaty and Human Rights Lens, moderator Manny Pino introduces James Zion. Zion, an attorney, speaks on, Public Lands Uranium Resistance: Grand Canyon and Beyond. Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity, describes the assault on the Grand Canyon by new proposed uranium mining. Recorded at the Indigenous Uranium Forum, Acoma Pueblo, NM, Oct 22--24, 2009. (90 minutes)
LISTEN AT:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell
Videos of forum at:
http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles
Read more at Censored News:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
7th Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum
By Brenda Norrell
SKY CITY, ACOMA PUEBLO, NM -- On Censored News Blog Radio, Louise Benally, Navajo from Big Mountain, speaks on Food Sovereignty and her recent visit to the Arctic, at the Indigenous Uranium Forum. Cristala Allen, Caddo, speaks on Native green jobs and non-Indians harvesting medicine plants. During an interview, Mayra Gomez from Bolivia speaks on international human rights. During the panel on Nuclear Terrorism on Indigenous Lands: Treaty and Human Rights Lens, moderator Manny Pino introduces James Zion. Zion, an attorney, speaks on, Public Lands Uranium Resistance: Grand Canyon and Beyond. Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity, describes the assault on the Grand Canyon by new proposed uranium mining. Recorded at the Indigenous Uranium Forum, Acoma Pueblo, NM, Oct 22--24, 2009. (90 minutes)
LISTEN AT:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell
Videos of forum at:
http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles
Read more at Censored News:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Portland Zombie Walk 2009
So, it's about 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon when I decide to head downtown to see if I can sell a few used books at Cameron's Books -- the anti-Powell's of Portland.I exit from the Morrison Bridge onto Southwest Second Avenue and as I head north, I can see a large crowd of people in the distance. They're about two blocks away and they seem to be pretty well behaved, all bunched up at the corner so they can cross the street together.
I hang a left onto Oak Street and as I roll up to the red light, I see what it's all about. Another large crowd of people, staggering across the intersection, stiff-armed and moaning, many of them white-faced and bleeding from all kinds of cuts and gashes. They're a hideous-looking bunch, really, but their smiles give them away. I realize I've come upon the annual Portland Zombie Walk.
Inspired by the original walk in Vancouver, British Columbia, this was the fifth year for the Portland version of the walk, billed on MySpace as nothing more than "a group of people getting together dressed as Zombies roaming Portland in a predetermined route...a sort of flash mob of zombies if you will."
Someone unfamiliar with Portland's vibe no doubt would have been alarmed, maybe even put off, by the sight of hundreds of ghouls taking over the downtown sidewalks. But here in the People's Republic of Portland -- where the courts have ruled that riding your bicycle in the nude is a protected form of self-expression under Oregon's Constitution -- it really doesn't raise an eyebrow. And how cool is it that the Zombie Walk sponsors also incorporated an online feature where participants could donate to the Oregon Food Bank?
Final words...Cameron's is located on a corner of a block whose other businesses include a tattoo parlor, a generic Chinese restaurant and a strip club. I had to laugh when customers of all three came outside and bumped into this scene.
Photo by Melissa Toledo. Click on her name to see more.
View 2008 photos from OregonLive.com here.
Winona LaDuke, Acoma Uranium Forum
Video of Winona LaDuke's talk at the Indigenous Uranium Forum
http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles
CLICK ON "ON DEMAND"
THEN SELECT "LIVE SHOW SAT"
http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles
CLICK ON "ON DEMAND"
THEN SELECT "LIVE SHOW SAT"
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
The weaker sex?
I don't think so.Not after reading Joyce Carol Oates' collection of nine short stories involving mystery and suspense, in which the protagonist is either a woman or a child contemplating or causing the death of another.
"The Female of the Species" is a fast read and perfect for a change of pace from a full-fledged novel. It's the kind of book you can plow through all at once or dip in and out of as you please. I read it in a single weekend and pretty much agreed with what various critics said in the promotional blurbs accompanying the book -- it's gripping, creepy and imaginative.
Whether the main character is an abused wife or an adulterer, a 6-year-old climbing to a rooftop with her infant brother, a dying woman looking back on her past or a mild-mannered nurse dispensing her brand of mercy in the wee hours of the morning, Oates pulls you in with great characterization and luminous prose.
An excerpt from "Angel of Mercy":
A pillow. A pillow is best. She'd come to believe so. for when the patient is smothered, oxygen ceases to flow to the brain and the heart races and lunges and begins to falter and fails and will stop. And where, in the City of the Damned, hearts are old, leaky, strained, there is a yearning to stop. And so an ordinary pillow over the mouth and nose satisfies this yearning. And so the death pronouncement will be cardiac arrest. And so no physician would suspect, for why would he? Nor any nurse, mostly. Though Agnes must be alert to her sister nurses who look upon her (she has reason to think) with some suspicion.Oates is way too prolific for me to have read even a tiny fraction of her novels and short stories. But what I've read -- "We Were The Mulvaneys" and "The Falls" -- I've thoroughly enjoyed. Some writers are absolutely in command of their material and it shows in every single sentence. Oates is one of those masters.
Here's an unofficial home page about the author that's pretty comprehensive: http://jco.usfca.edu/index.html
Women Warriors: Indigenous Uranium Forum
VIDEO STREAM/INDIGENOUS URANIUM FORUM: Watch sessions of the forum, which ended Saturday, by clicking "On Demand" for sessions at:
Watch Ofelia's interview: Click on "On-Demand" then click on the photo of the session on Thursday, the five hour tape. You can fast forward through the session by clicking on the time bar, to time 1 hour and 10 minutes into the tape for Ofelia's interview.
Tohono O'odham Ofelia Rivas and Roselyn Bates, Navajo, at the Indigenous Uranium Forum. Live music by Indige Femme. Photos Brenda Norrell
Indigenous Uranium Forum, Acoma Pueblo, LIVE VIDEO
Watch sessions of the Indigenous Uranium Forum
CLICK ON "On-Demand" to watch sessions, including Winona LaDuke's talk on Saturday.
http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles
The On-Demand shows are a little slow to load, especially the 5 hour one. Sorry about the commercial at beginning, it's a free site. Also, Lenny Foster speaks on Leonard Peltier effort at the White House, on the 5 hour tape at time: 2:33. Fast forward by clicking on time bar.
Indigenous Uranium Forum, Women and Youth Photos
Indigenous Uranium Forum, Acoma Pueblo
Shonto high school students screen their films on the devastation from uranium mining. Margene Bullcreek, Goshute, speaks out on nuclear dumping. Louise Benally, Navajo of Big Mountain with Faith Gimmell, Gwich'in from Alaska. Photos copyright Brenda Norrell
JOIN US LIVE
Indigenous Uranium Forum, Acoma Pueblo Live Video Stream:
Indigenous Uranium Forum, Acoma Pueblo Live Video Stream:
Forum Schedule
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2009/10/earthcycles-live-thursday-morning.html
Thursday, October 22, 2009
7:00AM—8AM: Breakfast & Registration
8:30AM: Welcome – Honorable Chandler Sanchez, Governor of Acoma Pueblo
8:45AM: Opening Prayer – Honorable Ron Charlie, 2nd Lieutenant Governor, Acoma Pueblo
9:00AM: Introductions – Manny Pino, Acoma, Professor, “Overview of Acoma Homelands”
9:30AM: Protecting Mt. Taylor: 30 Years of Resistance
• Jon Redhouse, Advisor to SIUF
• “Honoring Diana Ortiz, Women of Acoma: Great Role Model”
• Wild Fire Singers, Taos Drum Group, “Songs for the People”
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Inter-Tribal Voice
12:00PM: Lunch (on your own)
1:00PM: Indigenous Nuclear Resistance Panel
• Charmaine White Face, Defenders of the Black Hills, “Impacts of uranium
development on Lakota Lands and World Health Organization Obligation to the UN”
• Rita Capitan, Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining
• Supai Waters, Matthew Puetsoy , Carletta Tilousi, Havasupai Tribe, People of
the Blue Green Waters, Protecting Red Butte and Grandmother Canyon
• Nuclear Waste: Margene Bullcreek, Shoshone Paiute
• Indigenous Youth Voices: Nadine Padilla, Autumn Chacon, Nikke Alex & Jihan
Gearon
• Solidarity Statement: Katsumi Furitsu, Japan & Mayra Gomez, Aymara Tribe,
Bolivia
3:00PM: Break
3:15PM: Indigenous Nuclear Resistance Panel
• Gilbert Bedonie, Navajo Dependents of Uranium Workers Committee
• Chris Peters, 7th Generation Fund, “Abya Yala” International Connections
• Updates: Nuclear Regulatory Commission-GEIS Panelist Eric Jantz, NMELC
• Dineh Project, Sarah Adeky and Chris Shuey, SRIC
4:30PM: Adjourn
5:00PM: Dinner & Music by “Indigie Femme”
7:00PM—9:00PM: Evening Activities
1. Networking and relax: It’s your choice
2. Film Screenings: “U38 Womyn” (7 mins), Shonto Prepatory School, Uranium
Research, “Radioactive Mines to Radioactive Weapons” (27 mins) -- Host:
Norman Brown
Friday, October 23, 2009
7TH SOUTHWEST INDIGENOUS URANIUM FORUM ACOMA PUEBLO, NM
9:00AM: Greening Our Economies Panel
• John Fogarty, New Energy Economy
• Louise Bennally, Food Sovereignty
• Cristala Allen, Caddo, Native Workplace
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Nuclear Terrorism on Indigenous Lands: Treaty and Human Rights Lens –
Moderator: Manny Pino
• James Zion, Esq. “Public Lands Uranium Resistance: Grand Canyon and
Beyond”
• Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity
12:00PM: Lunch (on your own)
1:00PM: Tools for Change – Moderator: Petuuche Gilbert, Acoma
• Multi-Cultural Alliance for a Safe Environment-Best Practice for Alliance
Building Nadine Padilla, Larry King, Jonnie Head, & Rosemarie Cechini
3:00PM: Break
3:15PM: Impact of Uranium Development on Local Communities – Moderator: Laura
Watchempino, Acoma
• Teddy Nez, Carletta Garcia, Al Waconda
4:30PM: Adjourn
5:00PM—6:30PM: Dinner
7:00PM-9:00PM: Film Screening and Discussion – Host: Robert Tohe
• “Return of Navajo Boy” (53 min) & Conversation with Elsie Mae Begay
Saturday, October 24, 2009
7:00AM—8:00AM: Breakfast & Registration
8:00AM: Opening Prayer & Announcements
9:00AM: Guest Speaker, Winona LaDuke, Anishanabe, White Earth Homelands
10:15AM: Beyond Nuclear, Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Strategy Presentations, Draft Press Release, Reach Consensus on Plans of Action,
Assignments, Committee to Carry out Plan of Action, Set Conference Call, & What
organizations are committed?
12:00PM: Wrap Up Discussion
12:30PM: Adjourn
Thank you all for taking the time to share and plan for a Nuclear Free World.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
7:00AM—8AM: Breakfast & Registration
8:30AM: Welcome – Honorable Chandler Sanchez, Governor of Acoma Pueblo
8:45AM: Opening Prayer – Honorable Ron Charlie, 2nd Lieutenant Governor, Acoma Pueblo
9:00AM: Introductions – Manny Pino, Acoma, Professor, “Overview of Acoma Homelands”
9:30AM: Protecting Mt. Taylor: 30 Years of Resistance
• Jon Redhouse, Advisor to SIUF
• “Honoring Diana Ortiz, Women of Acoma: Great Role Model”
• Wild Fire Singers, Taos Drum Group, “Songs for the People”
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Inter-Tribal Voice
12:00PM: Lunch (on your own)
1:00PM: Indigenous Nuclear Resistance Panel
• Charmaine White Face, Defenders of the Black Hills, “Impacts of uranium
development on Lakota Lands and World Health Organization Obligation to the UN”
• Rita Capitan, Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining
• Supai Waters, Matthew Puetsoy , Carletta Tilousi, Havasupai Tribe, People of
the Blue Green Waters, Protecting Red Butte and Grandmother Canyon
• Nuclear Waste: Margene Bullcreek, Shoshone Paiute
• Indigenous Youth Voices: Nadine Padilla, Autumn Chacon, Nikke Alex & Jihan
Gearon
• Solidarity Statement: Katsumi Furitsu, Japan & Mayra Gomez, Aymara Tribe,
Bolivia
3:00PM: Break
3:15PM: Indigenous Nuclear Resistance Panel
• Gilbert Bedonie, Navajo Dependents of Uranium Workers Committee
• Chris Peters, 7th Generation Fund, “Abya Yala” International Connections
• Updates: Nuclear Regulatory Commission-GEIS Panelist Eric Jantz, NMELC
• Dineh Project, Sarah Adeky and Chris Shuey, SRIC
4:30PM: Adjourn
5:00PM: Dinner & Music by “Indigie Femme”
7:00PM—9:00PM: Evening Activities
1. Networking and relax: It’s your choice
2. Film Screenings: “U38 Womyn” (7 mins), Shonto Prepatory School, Uranium
Research, “Radioactive Mines to Radioactive Weapons” (27 mins) -- Host:
Norman Brown
Friday, October 23, 2009
7TH SOUTHWEST INDIGENOUS URANIUM FORUM ACOMA PUEBLO, NM
9:00AM: Greening Our Economies Panel
• John Fogarty, New Energy Economy
• Louise Bennally, Food Sovereignty
• Cristala Allen, Caddo, Native Workplace
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Nuclear Terrorism on Indigenous Lands: Treaty and Human Rights Lens –
Moderator: Manny Pino
• James Zion, Esq. “Public Lands Uranium Resistance: Grand Canyon and
Beyond”
• Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity
12:00PM: Lunch (on your own)
1:00PM: Tools for Change – Moderator: Petuuche Gilbert, Acoma
• Multi-Cultural Alliance for a Safe Environment-Best Practice for Alliance
Building Nadine Padilla, Larry King, Jonnie Head, & Rosemarie Cechini
3:00PM: Break
3:15PM: Impact of Uranium Development on Local Communities – Moderator: Laura
Watchempino, Acoma
• Teddy Nez, Carletta Garcia, Al Waconda
4:30PM: Adjourn
5:00PM—6:30PM: Dinner
7:00PM-9:00PM: Film Screening and Discussion – Host: Robert Tohe
• “Return of Navajo Boy” (53 min) & Conversation with Elsie Mae Begay
Saturday, October 24, 2009
7:00AM—8:00AM: Breakfast & Registration
8:00AM: Opening Prayer & Announcements
9:00AM: Guest Speaker, Winona LaDuke, Anishanabe, White Earth Homelands
10:15AM: Beyond Nuclear, Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog
10:30AM: Break
10:45AM: Strategy Presentations, Draft Press Release, Reach Consensus on Plans of Action,
Assignments, Committee to Carry out Plan of Action, Set Conference Call, & What
organizations are committed?
12:00PM: Wrap Up Discussion
12:30PM: Adjourn
Thank you all for taking the time to share and plan for a Nuclear Free World.
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