At Standing Rock, Environmental Justice Is Reproductive Justice

"As indigenous women, we deserve a future free from fears of our tap water, a future where we are free to raise our families the best way we know how on our ancestral land."

Sep 20, 2016, 11:50am Rachael Lorenzo 

As Published in: https://rewire.news/article/2016/09/20/standing-rock-environmental-justice-reproductive-justice/

On the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, water and land are being threatened by the proposed Dakota Access pipeline, which would carry almost 500,000 barrels of oil per day. Fears of the pipes bursting and affecting the land are not unfounded; sacred sites, such as burial grounds, have already been desecrated during the pipeline’s construction.

What many non-Natives don’t realize is that indigenous people’s ties to the land and water are directly connected to our bodies, even though all tribal communities are different. And for women, these ties are even stronger.

I grew up in Laguna, New Mexico, land of my father and our Pueblo ancestors. Some of our sacred songs are about hunting at Mt. Taylor. It is this history and what we have left of our language that propelled us, along with other Pueblo communities, to fight against the State of New Mexico when our access to Mt. Taylor was threatened by outside interests. And this is one of many issues that compels New Mexico’s indigenous communities to stand in solidarity with Standing Rock.

My identity and experiences as an indigenous woman and mother inform my perspectives on how strong the connection between our traditions and our environment really is.

My mother is a Mescalero Apache and Xicana woman. Because we are Apache, I had my August 2005 puberty ceremony in Mescalero. It was one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done for myself and the greatest gift my parents have ever given me. This puberty ceremony requires at least a year of preparation, and it is an emotionally and physically demanding event. This ceremony is four days, but we are required to prepare four days before and four days afterward.

Having this ceremony, which generations of young women before me have had, made me question why, when I went back to my mostly white high school, the topic of periods was usually followed by “Gross!” I had just celebrated getting my period, and I was being told how strong and sacred I am, like White Painted Woman. My peers shrugged off my discomfort with their “Pocahottie” costumes, but no Natives I grew up with sexualize traditional attire and the costumes were nowhere near accurate. As I got older, I started to realize that the way women’s bodies—more specifically, indigenous women’s bodies—were talked about or represented directly affects how our bodies are treated.

This realization is part of a long history of exploitation and violence since settlers came to Turtle Island: the rape and murders of indigenous women; the almost complete decimation of an entire group of people; and for many tribal communities, removal from ancestral lands.

From involuntary sterilization to having our babies forcibly taken from our homes to boarding schools, indigenous women have had our bodily autonomy taken from us in many ways. In virtually every indigenous community, women are sacred and respected because we bring and sustain life. We hold families together.

But without land to literally house our families, how can we lead our communities? Without water, how can we sustain our own lives and secure a future for our children and their families? These are the questions mamas and grandmothers are asking in Standing Rock right now. Indigenous communities have always been resilient in the face of danger, but resilience is more important now than ever.

Indigenous people whose water has been contaminated and land has been mined have experienced pregnancy losses, pregnancy complications, children born with disabilities, and gender-based violence. In a part of the Navajo Nation where many mines are located, childhood reproductive cancers have occurred at rates 17 times higher than in the United States as a whole. Women go missing in Farmington, New Mexico, where many oil workers stay while working, and their disappearances are heartbreakingly normalized.

Our lands are not just reservations. They are literally what supports our families. In almost every indigenous community, our women and some two-spirit people are the caretakers of the land. What we put into our bodies directly affects our pregnancies and our general well-being.

Standing Rock’s strong and well-founded opposition to this dangerous pipeline is not just an issue of tribal sovereignty not being respected by private entities and state governments, nor just an issue of environmental justice. This is also an issue of reproductive justice. As indigenous women, we deserve a future free from fears of our tap water and free to raise our families the best way we know how on our ancestral land.

 

Natives on The Voice!

SEASON 11 FEATURES TWO NATIVE RECORDING ARTISTS!

By Michael Kickingbear                                                                                                                                   Season 11  of NBC Television's "The Voice" features two artists from Indian Country. I regularly continuously ask myself "Why not us?".  I follow music and talent reality TV shows for two very specific reasons. 1.)  I like them.  2.) I look specifically for Native American talent to appear on these programs.  Over the past 13 years, I have ben honored to broadcast the Native American Music Awards (Thank You, Ellen Bello and Donald Kelly)

Other shows that I follow such as "America's Got Talent, I particularly often wonder why we haven't seen more talent coming our of Indian country? I continuously ask myself "Why not us?".   It certainly isn't from a LACK of talent! Is it due to resources? Travel can certainly be expensive.  Could it be some form of racism on the part of show producers? Not likely, but who really knows?

The last artists that I remember being on a mainstream talent show was probably LIL MIKE & FUNNYBONE (aka MikeBone) out of Oklahoma City. The little person brother rap duo just killed their opening audition on the stage really helping to bring Native American talent forward to mainstream audiences. in case you didn't catch it, check this out:

This season, on NBC Network’s “The Voice," in what I believe to be a first, there are TWO singers featured who are native. I thought we would introduce them to you in this article. On our radio show and podcast, Native Opinion, we will continue to follow and report on their progress throughout the competition. 

As a young man, I was always taught that "Ladies go first" and so, in the respect, she deserves, I would like to Introduce to you Khaliya Kimberlie. She is Mescalaro Apache through her mother and is 16 years old. During her intro video, Khaliya mentioned that at 15 years old, she came out to her parents that she is gay. She mentioned how very supportive her parents and family have been since doing so. In a world where it seems like everyone is judgemental, and particularly the social pressures of high school, the courage for her to simply say hey, I'm gay, just goes towards how decisive she is at such a young age.   Khaliya performs at local venues and fairs. She stated that she is very much into country music, but also gravitates to the genre of Indie/alternative. despite her young age, she exudes a confidence that is bold and front and center. 

Next is Josh Halverson.  His mom is a Sioux, He learned to play piano and guitar when he was Just 5, and he says that he wrote his first song when he was 21. Josh works Cattle on his dad’s ranch and has been doing so since he was 12. Josh is also a father himself, and named his own son “Thunderbird” which in his intro video on the Voice he stated it is “a powerful symbol in the native American culture”.  He travels all around Texas performing gigs where he can and is a singer-songwriter. However, he admits that gigs are hard to find that pay enough to support his family. Josh says “The Voice would give me the opportunity to do what I’m supposed to do and play music,”.

We wish much success to Khaliya and Josh this season! They are examples of the wonderful talent found within Indian Country! I hope we see more native artists audition so that mainstream American audiences get to see what we have always known...that there is deep talent from native American communities that have always been right here all along! 

 

 

TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS: GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS SET – ALL TRIBES INVITED

Trahant photo

Trahant photo

The U.S. Departments of the Army, the Interior, and Justice today invited representatives from all 567 federally recognized tribes to participate in formal, government-to-government consultations on how Federal decision-making on infrastructure projects can better allow for timely and meaningful tribal input. Starting with a listening session on October 11, formal tribal consultations are scheduled in six regions of the country, from October 25 through November 21. The deadline for written input will be November 30.

The consultations will focus on how the federal government can better ensure meaningful tribal input into infrastructure-related decisions and the protection of tribal lands, resources, and treaty rights, and will also explore with tribes whether new legislation should be proposed to Congress to alter the current statutory framework to promote those goals.

Consultation Details:

The Theft of the 2016 Democratic Primary

The following drafted letter which is available on Attorney Cliff Arenebecks Facebook page apparently was sent to President Obama and Vice President Biden on behalf of The Alliance for Democracy, a grassroots organization of United States citizens seeking to replace corporate domination of politics with people power.

Their stated mission is:

"The mission of the Alliance for Democracy is to free all people from the corporate domination of politics, economics, the environment, culture and information; to establish true democracy; and to create a just society with a sustainable, equitable economy."

Some assertions made in this letter are no less than simply incredible if determined to be true. It includes allegations of Murder, as well as accusations that Karl Rove, the senior campaign advisor to George W. Bush, and later to his administration, is responsible for orchestrating electronic fraud during this past 2016 democratic primary. Specifically, he is named as the one to direct his organization's IT professional "Mikey Cunningham" to install and run software that was created to alter voting results in many, if not all voting machines across the United States.

Attorney Arnebeck may very well be a hero for putting forth the following information. The letter below is long but well worth a read. Please share with others!

 

ARNEBECK LAW OFFICE

Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr.
1021 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43205
614-224-8771
clifford.arnebeck@gmail.com

July 25, 2016

Offices of the President and Vice President
The United States of America
Via Email

Dear Messrs. President Obama & Vice President Biden:

I believe former star Philadelphia prosecutor Beverly Campbell was assassinated because Karl Rove operatives believed she was about to reveal to you, before it unfolded, the wholesale corruption of the electronic voting process in the 2016 Democratic Party Presidential Primary. 

On January 15, 2016, I met privately with Beverly at lunchtime. Beverly told me that she believed your son, Mr. Vice President, had been assassinated. She also said she thought you probably suspected that to be the case. When Bev returned home she began writing a letter to you as follows:

“It is interesting how our lives keep crossing. I first met you, Mr. Vice President, shortly after you were first elected to the US Senate. I was in one of the very earliest classes to attend Delaware Law School and worked in your second senate campaign. Later practicing law in Philadelphia and Delaware County, PA our paths crossed a few times and you never forgot that I had worked in your campaign. Many years later I had moved to Ohio and ran for the Ohio House of Representatives and then the Ohio Senate. You graciously endorsed and supported me in those races.” 

I represented Beverly in litigation before the Ohio Elections Commission in regard to her 2006 election campaign. Prior to that I had represented a number of public interest groups and citizens in high profile election litigation against the Ohio and U.S. Chambers of Commerce, and against Karl Rove and Dick Cheney et al. in regard to the theft of the 2004 Presidential Election. 

The day in 2008 when you, Mr. President, were in Columbus to address a Bernie Sanders’ scale crowd of supporters on the Statehouse lawn, Beverly told me of the social relationship a high-level CIA agent, she referred to as “Mark,” had initiated with her. After your election, according to Beverly, Mark assumed a high-level position with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while concurrently doing contract covert activity on behalf of a variety of interests. Mark referred to himself as a “thug,” accepting assignments from whoever wanted to pay him the most money. He told Bev he was making $3.5 million a year.

The first secret revelation from Mark that Bev shared with me—in strictest confidence, with the caveat that she would deny telling me if I ever attributed it to her—was that: “911 was an inside job.” 

The second was Mark’s boast that: “All it took to get Obama to stay in line was to show him the Zapruder film.”

Based on her knowledge of Mark’s whereabouts and travel at Christmas 2009, Bev told me she suspected that Mark was the American intelligence officer who supervised and cleared the “Underwear Bomber’s” travel from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, on Christmas Day, 2009.

I lent my copy of JFK and the Unspeakable, and Why We Need to Know About It, by James Douglass to Bev. After reading it she asked: “How can he still be alive?” Bev knew from her intimate relationship with Mark how murderous were the criminals occupying positions of power within the government.

Mark told Beverly that he had personal bodyguards and people watching his intimate partner for possible leaks of his information. Mark also warned Bev many times that they were being monitored by a security team whenever he spent time with her at her home in Gahanna, Ohio. These minders would kill her and her sons if she betrayed his confidences. Bev told me Mark also referred to the possibility of taking out the “big kahuna,” which I inferred was a reference to me because of my extensive litigation activity against Karl Rove and the Chamber of Commerce since the 2000 election. 

On July 17, 2008, I pointed out that Karl Rove had breached the general rule of a successful racketeering enterprise by employing his IT/Webmaster guru, Mike Connell, across the full spectrum of his criminal activities. Mike Connell’s presence was a sure marker of Karl Rove’s involvement. It is now my belief that Karl Rove made the same mistake in having Beverly’s Mark serve as his chief of executions as to all executions in which he was involved.

We learned through our opposition research team from the 2012 election cycle that Benghazi was but the first of three planned attacks upon American overseas government personnel, to serve as props for Karl Rove’s Operations Security (“OpSec”) advertisement. This ad argued that President Obama’s decision to reveal to the public how the takedown of Osama bin Laden was accomplished was to serve his selfish political goal of being reelected President and that the disclosure of these methods jeopardized overseas personnel of the United States.

Because of Mark’s high level of service in the CIA and pay grade of $3.5 million afterward that he claimed to Bev, Mark would have been a likely candidate, if he was not the person finally settled to orchestrate these planned attacks – beginning with Benghazi. I believe Mark gave the stand down order to CIA contractors a few moments away from being able to rescue Ambassador Stevens.

I believe Bev Campbell was assassinated on February 11, 2016, by the minders of her relationship with R. Nomura which had just terminated. I am transmitting Bev’s files related to this to Acting US Attorney Ben Glassman and Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker for review by appropriate investigative agencies for use in bringing to justice those responsible for Bev’s death. 

I have been litigating against Karl Rove’s corrupt election practices since the 2000 general election cycle. In this 2016 Democratic Presidential primary election cycle, our opposition research and an investigative team have determined that an advanced technology election hacking system invented by Karl Rove’s technical genius, Mikey Cunningham, was successfully implemented. 

The ratio of votes between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton was changed by some 25-33% in favor of Hillary Clinton compared to the ratio of votes as they were originally cast by voters. This was done by dropping many voters/votes for Bernie Sanders, i.e. reducing the number of votes recorded as cast, and also switching many votes cast for Sanders to Hillary Clinton. 

Cunningham's innovation and Karl Rove’s application of it for the benefit of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential Primary campaign are common knowledge among employees of SmarTech at which its CEO, Jeff Averbeck, continues to work exclusively on behalf of Republican candidates.

In the past, the unadjusted exit polls published by the media have been a reasonably accurate measure of the actual votes as cast by the voters. In this 2016 Democratic Presidential primary election, however, they are not. The current exit polling was designed to anticipate a substantial amount of fraud in Hillary Clinton’s favor. Thus, while these polls show Sanders getting dramatically more votes than the reported tally, in fact, his actual vote percentage as cast by the voters is dramatically more. In Ohio, for example, where the end of day screen shots of exit poll results showed Bernie Sanders receiving 10% more than those recorded for Hillary Clinton, Sanders actually received more than enough votes to achieve a substantial majority of those cast, entitling him to the majority of Ohio’s delegates to the Democratic Convention.

The last reported exit polls before their final adjustment to conform to the reported result show Bernie winning the 2016 Democratic primary. He actually won it by a landslide. There is no credible basis to believe that the reported votes in an easily hackable electronic vote counting system controlled by the very global corporate cabal that wants to rule the world has any validity whatsoever. 

Karl Rove’s team covers Republican officials. Rove’s partner on the speaking circuit, James Carville may have been involved, without the knowledge of the Clintons in influencing Democratic officials. Rove’s mentor, R. Doug Lewis, has influenced election workers of both parties. Alwaleed bin Talal, Nathaniel Rothschild, and George Soros have directed financial & press support in aid of this criminal undertaking. The mainstream global corporate owned press suppresses the exit polling indicative of massive fraud in this election. 

In my July 7, 2016, letter to Attorney General Lynch I described FBI Director Comey’s fundamental conflict of interest in having served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Legal Affairs Institute of the US Chamber of Commerce. His Institute engineered the Citizen Untied decision of the US Supreme Court to overturn a hundred years of campaign finance regulation against corporate corruption of American elections. Then, pretending to act as both a career prosecutor and career investigator Director Comey terminated the investigation of Hillary Clinton for violation of security laws with her private email system.

I will now go further. When you, Mr. President, proposed an executive order to require federal contractors to disclose all their political expenditures, the US Chamber of Commerce stated that if you did so, “All options would be on the table.” If Bev Campbell’s CIA friend’s report of an implicit threat against your life is true, why was the US Chamber of Commerce not immediately interrogated under oath by the FBI and Secret Service? 

Is the fact that James Comey is Karl Rove and Tom Donohue's top lawyer in service to the global corporate cabal, have something to do with the absence of FBI Cybersecurity investigation of the obvious evidence of massive theft in this election?
Are the overwhelming majority of Democrats who supported Bernie Sanders supposed to shift their support to Hillary Clinton because their votes have been fraudulently flipped or destroyed? If there is such a strong basis for uniting Democrats to be sure to defeat Donald Trump, why are Democratic Party leaders, including Hillary Clinton, backing Bernie Sanders--the man who is outpolling Donald Trump?
Why should any American allow Karl Rove to steal another Presidential election? Perhaps with Karl Rove’s help, Secretary Clinton may be able to “beat” Donald Trump, the same way she “beat” Bernie Sanders. But that way she, as the candidate of the global corporate cabal, will have won–not the people. And, whatever may be Donald Trump’s faults as a citizen candidate, it is obvious to the broad public that has supported him that the global corporate cabal’s contempt for Mr. Trump is based upon his refusal to embrace their highly profitable campaign to overthrow the democratically elected leader of Russia. 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr.
___________________________
Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr.
Attorney for the Estate of
Campbell deceased

I hereby attest and affirm under penalties of perjury that the statements of fact set forth in the above letter are true and correct, based upon either my personal knowledge, or the sources that have been consistently reliable over years of my working with them, and the opinions expressed therein are my true professional opinions to a reasonable degree of certainty. I have written this letter with knowledge of the threat against my life that has been made by Mark R. Nomura on behalf of Karl Rove for doing so and their proficiency in carrying out their death threats by means of apparent suicides, fatal accidents, terminal illness as they have done to many of my witnesses, clients, and even my champion -- former U.S. Attorney, Judge and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. I intend that this letter is used by any prosecutor or citizen in any federal or state court of law court in any state, or any international tribunal, whether I am alive, dead, or incapacitated to prosecute, criminally or civilly, Karl Rove as the principal perpetrator of the fraudulent manipulation of the 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Election.

/s/ Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr.
___________________________
Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr.

Sworn and subscribed before me this 26th day of July 2016.
/s/DevinRobinson ________________________
Devin Robinson-Notary Public Ohio

My Thoughts on the DNC

Published on Jul 27, 2016

Michael Kickingbear, Co-host of the Native Opinion radio show and podcast, gives his opinion about the nomination of Hillary Clinton to the Democratic Party. He shares his thoughts about Bernie Sanders as a supporter and the emotions around his exit from the campaign.

Trumps War On Natives

Editorial by Michael Kickingbear Johnson

Donald J. Trump Testifying against Indian Gaming

Donald J. Trump Testifying against Indian Gaming

Over the past few months, we have been telling you that Donald Trump is no friend to Indian Country.  He has consistently demonstrated that he is no friend to minorities as a whole.  But tonight we are going to focus a bit on Indian country, and what we feel are concrete examples of why many native people feel this way. 

But some people may be wondering why suddenly there is this surge of Trump attacks against native people?  Many people only know Donald Trump though his Television show “The Apprentice”. Others only know him as New York Businessman.  But myself, I know Donald J Trump because of his dealings with close tribal relatives of mine.  Relatives that Donald Trump sought to exploit. You see, shortly after the opening of Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is owned and operated by my tribe, the Mashantucket Pequots , other tribes here in Connecticut were also pursuing Federal Recognition.  In fact, they had been pursuing federal recognition just as long as my tribe had, and sadly they still are to this very day. 

Before I get back to the so-called Phenomena called “Donald Trump” a little background on Federal recognition I think is needed for the context of future points.  The federal BIA, or Bureau of Indian Affairs, a division within the department of Interior has criteria  for which it issues to tribes throughout the United States for which they must meet  in order to be recognized by the federal government as a Sovereign Tribe.

If obtained, this “status” or “Federal Recognition” as it is called allows a native American tribe to govern itself. The provision grants a tribe the ability to make its own laws on its reservation with certain limitations. It allows a tribe to establish who is a citizen of its nation.  It allows tribes to establish their own tribal constitutions.  It allows for establishing rights for its people. For building infrastructure such as police departments, fire, EMS, Hospitals, Schools, And yes creating employment on its reservations for native and non-native people alike.  

This can include…Indian Casino Gaming. 

And in the past, gaming has become very lucrative for some native American tribes, my own included. And with this success, comes outside business interests.  Developers, who want in on the action. Developers like Donald J. Trump. 

You all have heard the saying “Follow The Money Trail”. That is exactly what Donald Trump did to Indian Country.  Straight here to Connecticut. He started targeting tribes who were close to getting a decision on their federal recognition bids.  He offered them money to build their own “Foxwoods” trying to woo them into “Partnering” with him. 

But Trump made a HUGE error. He assumed these tribes…and particularly their leaders…. were naive.  He assumed that after seeing the success that my tribe had with Foxwoods that they were desperate to have their own fortunes. That they would blindly listen to him, and just sign on the dotted line.

They didn’t

No, they actually did some homework. They conducted research about the developer.  What they discovered… was that Donald J. Trump was good at real estate. But he was a HORRIBLE casino operator . The first example, Trump Taj Mahal, went bankrupt in 1991, one year before Foxwoods Resort Casino even opened its doors. Trump then went Bankrupt 3 more times later in 2004, 2009 and 2014.

So trump figured these east coast “Indians” as he called us wouldn’t check him out. 

They did.   

And they fired him For not being forthcoming with that financial information.  Does that sound familiar to you? Kind of like how he won't release his taxes right now?

So since that time, and after the 3 more financial disasters that he went through, including a debt reconstruction in 2004, Donald J. Trump has had it out for native American tribes, particularly those in the hospitality or Entertainment industry, to the point that he insinuated that there was widespread corruption within the Indian Gaming industry. At a hearing before the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs trump was called to testify about his assertions that there was widespread organized crime "Rampant" on Indian  reservations with gaming. It was at this hearing where he completely insulted my tribe by stating "They Don't look like Indians to me, and they don't look like Indians to Indians." I will venture further to say it was a broader insult to east coast native American people. 

(video includes interview with Gyasi Ross, editor at Indian Country Today Media Network)

Actually, trump has been fired by other tribes across the country. The 29 Palms as an example, terminated a contract (reported by origional pechanga) they had with Trump when trump didnt' reveal that his casino management company went bankrupt.  Sadly, it is also being reported that 29 may have had to pay Trump 6 million to end that contract.

 

Now he wants to be president of the United States.  I personally just shake my head. Now he attacks Elizabeth Warren, who presumably in her career, made an assertion that she has native ancestry.  She has backed off that claim over the past few years, but trump now calls her Pocahontas every time her name is mentioned. These insults towards native people have escalated  over the past few days with a less known Radio Talk Show host Howie Carr doing a War Hoop with his hand over his mouth like an old bad western from the 1950’s.

So Donald J. Trump has no love what so ever for Indian Country.  And he never will.  Sadly, I have met Native people who claim that they will vote for him.  I can’t make anyone vote. But I hope in reading this, or listening to our show, it will give them pause. To think about what their actions might do in the future. Indian country has a strained relationship with a country who has not been very kind to us.  Who has yet to formally apologize, as some other countries have done, for it’s behavior towards Indigenous People who have always lived on this continent.  No, I cannot see having Donald Trump as president would ever strengthen Native American Relations with the country that borders us all.

Michael Kickingbear Johnson, is a enrolled citizen of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in Connecticut.

 

 

What should be done?

By David GreyOwl

Well, we are nearing the end of another race within the respective political parties for the position of President of the United States. As you may already know, readers, the race on the Democratic side, has not been on the up and up. Bernie Sanders, the candidate of choice for most progressives and Dems alike, and I might add, Independents as well, has not been given the respect, and coverage he deserved in the Democratic race. There have been many allegations of the mishandling of ballots, flipped ballots and voters being turned away for some of the most ridiculous reasons.

I encourage voters, and readers of this post to make up their own minds as to what has been going on, and what should be done. This author does not trust the system to be fair, otherwise, we would not have the problems that we have seen in regards to voting.

Just so readers understand, the Republican National Convention (RNC), and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) are not government agencies. They are both private, political organizations. Let me repeat that. They are PRIVATE POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS. Let that sink in for a minute. For the last few decades, and longer, the American people have been hoodwinked by private political organizations, who have worked tirelessly to undermine your vote and your choice to elect the nation's leader.

I believe we are on the very edge of the collapse of our countries political system. What should be done? We are under obligation to wrest back from the, One Percent, (as they are classified), the power we have so willingly given away.

The weakness, the greatest weakness the one percent has, is the dollar. Our greatest weakness is apathy. Our greatest strengths are the dollar and our voices. Think about that for a second.

The ultra rich uses the power of the dollar to subdue the American people, buy politicians through lobbying (bribery), and to use the media to keep America as ignorant as possible. The dollar is the greatest weakness the one percent has. In other words, without us spending and buying the goods corporations produce, or at least, spend at a minimum, the one percent looses its power, one dollar at a time. 

As a people, we are more powerful than the one percent wants to acknowledge.

 

Who remembers our Native Veterans on Memorial Day?

By David GreyOwl

It has been a long time coming, and I believe now is the time to write this blog post. Over the years, I have often wondered, Who remembers us on Memorial Day? Each year, my answer to my own question is always, no one. No one outside of the Native community at large, that is. Natives have had long held traditions of remembering fallen warriors, Veterans, if you will, for their sacrifice for family, tribe and country. Natives who fought for families, homes and ways of life, Natives long gone, and sometimes, most often forgotten by many, are Veterans by rights and by actions. I suggest we create our own Memorial Day remembrances. I suggest we create our own Veterans Day. Yes, we are part of the US, BUT, no one cares to mention the sacrifices made by Native Veterans, who fought and died for the same principles non-native soldiers fought and died for. 

Another question that I have always asked myself, and sometimes other Natives is. Why do we have to wait until non-natives give their blessing(s) before we are  "allowed" to have our own remembrances and holidays? I believe the time has come to stop "allowing" non-natives to determine what remembrances and holidays we can and should participate in, and enjoy.

It has always been "allowed" and accepted as a practice by this country for other cultures, (mainly cultures of European origins), to celebrate their cultural heritage(s) at their chosen time(s) of the year. Yes, the movement to replace Columbus day is in full swing, as it should be, but look at what it has taken to reach the point the movement has reached. As Native people, we should not have to wage campaigns to be recognized for our accomplishments, past or present. 

Native people should take it upon themselves to create our own remembrances and holidays, specific to our cultures. We do not need permission, nor approval from non-natives. Who remembers our Veterans on Memorial Day? We will.

 

Donald Trump 1994 Testimony against Indian Gaming

Since announcing his candidacy in late 2015, I have been reminding our audience on our talk radio show "Native Opinion"  about Donald Trump's past attitude towards my own tribe, The Mashantucket Pequot Nation of Connecticut. He stated, "They don't look like Indians to me, and they don't look like Indians to Indians.". 

The inference was two-fold in case you didn't' catch it:

1.) With no insult meant to our brothers and sisters out west,  Donald trump seemingly believes that there aren't any Native People here on the east coast. By saying "They Don't look like Indians to me" begs the question...what are Indians supposed to look like Mr. Trump? And where did this attitude come from? What shaped it? Movies? TV? Certainly not books....  

2.) He then stated "And they don't look like Indians to Indians" Sadly, this is another attitude that many tribes of the east coast suffer from. The belief that our tribes are "Made Up". That a group of people got together, and decided "wouldn't it be cool if we just pretended to be a tribe?"  Like all across America relevant to Indigenous people, history has not been kind to east coast native people. Assimilation forced slavery upon the tribes of the North East. My own people were forced to be divided among other tribes such as the Narragansett/Niantic and Mohegan People. As history elapsed, and modern attitudes evolved, people married into other tribes and also into Non-Native families.  Trump's belief that we "Don't look like Indians to Indians" is simply his lack of actually knowing real native people and his failure to manipulate a few of my cousins from some other tribes here in the Northeast. 

But this article isn't intended to be a history about Northeast Native people. It's intent is to shed more light on the "Trumpster" and to add my little piece of foundation to my assertion that Donald Trump simply has no respect for native people, or even more broadly, "People of Color". To do this, I am simply going to present you the transcript from his testimony in 1993 of a sub-committee that was formed to look into the assertion that Organized crime was on the rise within Indian Gaming Casinos. The document is quite lengthy, but I ask that you take the time to read the transcript no differently than you would sit down to enjoy a good book.  Pay attention to Trumps attitude towards the proponents of Indian Gaming at the time. Keep in mind that Indian gaming was growing at the time, and Trumps personal profits were on a decline in this industry.

We welcome all comments. Feel free to also send your feedback to our show...hosts@nativeopinion.com

Link to testimony:   https://archive.org/details/implementationof05unit

 

 

 

 

Framing the conversation.

By Dr David GreyOwl

We have all witnessed advocacy, or may have taken part in advocacy for things that involve Native peoples. We have all witnessed the types of advocacy for things that involve Native peoples, from marches, lines to block illegal mining, logging, abuse and trespass on Native lands, to outright vocalization against the things that are going on. Let me be clear. These types of actions are needed. In every way, they are needed. If anyone in Indian country ever wonders why some things never seem to receive resolution, there might be a very good reason why that is, beyond the obvious.  

As Native people, we may be unknowingly, partially to blame for the lack of resolution(s). What I am talking about is the way we frame our conversations. I have listened to many other groups present their concerns to entities that needed to hear their concerns, and compared to other groups of people, many Native groups frame their conversation(s) in ways that result in unintended results, no resolution to the concern being presented.  We are not alone in this verbal error.  All too often we frame our concerns as "issues" not as problems. When the receiving party, (non Natives) hears the word "issue", it leads them to believe the concern is not that pressing. Sometimes, an issue and a problem are similar, and require the same attention, or require the same action, but usually, in my opinion they are two different things.



An issue is something that is, as an example, debatable, something that does not necessarily have or need a solution. A problem, on the other hand, is something that requires or needs a solution. When we talk about concerns in Indian country, and call those concerns issues, we unknowingly marginalize our own concerns because of wording, language if you will, (I am not talking about our Native languages.) that we have become accustomed to using. WORDS HAVE POWER! How we frame our conversations determines how the conversation(s) will go. How we frame our conversation(s) will determine whether or not a much needed solution is reached.

The link to the video below will hopefully help us in framing our conversations and empower us to reach resolutions to the problems within Indian country. Thank you for reading our blog.

Copy and paste the link below to watch.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TBSBuy0SRU&feature=youtu.be 

Just when you thought you had it all figured out.

By Dr. David GreyOwl

There is a trend going on in Indian country. A trend that is extremely harmful to tribes all over the country. "What is that trend", you may ask? That trend is tribal dis-enrollment. Tribal dis-enrollment is a very dangerous practice being conducted within Native tribes. Tribal dis-enrollment is a tool given to tribes by non-natives to help Natives hasten their own demise. So you believe you have it all figured out? You believe you have justified dis-enrolling members based on tools that non-natives told you were accurate tools to verify if someone is Native or not? Well guess what? Just when you thought you had it all figured out, the truth happens........

 "So how do tribes use DNA testing to determine membership?
It depends. The tribe I’m enrolled in does DNA testing to trace parentage, but only on new applicants. However, some tribes will go back and test everybody. Of course, in any population where you do that you’re going to find misattributed paternity. And some tribes dis-enrol descendants: say your biological father is not who you think he is, then you can get dis-enrolled. This has happened in some tribes in the US."

"Is this dangerous for tribal identity?
All a parentage test does is say whether your parent is your biological parent or not. I feel that’s dangerous in the long run because there is a conflation going on in people’s minds of parentage testing with genetic-ancestry testing. People think that there’s a DNA test that can prove if somebody is Native American or not. There isn’t."

“People think there is a DNA test to prove you are Native American. There isn’t”

To read more.........

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129554-400-there-is-no-dna-test-to-prove-youre-native-american/

When do we grab the bull by the horns?

By: Dr. David GreyOwl,

When do we grab the bull by the horns? As Native people, it is long past time for us to "grab the bull by the horns" and choose our own direction(s). As a people, we have to decide whether we want our destinies to continued to be controlled by non-natives, or whether we want to control our own destinies. Yes, the issue of "tribal sovereignty" through Federal Recognition is a touchy subject, but is "tribal sovereignty" through Federal Recognition all it is cracked up to be? 

I have over the years, heard tribal leaders make statements like " We now have a chance to determine our own destinies" after receiving Federal Recognition. My question to those who believe "tribal sovereignty" is a good thing is: If Federal Recognition is all it is cracked up to be, why do tribes apply to a government body that assumes the right to decide whether you are a tribe or not? Do you not know you are a tribe already? Do you need the blessing of the "Great White Father" to validate who and what you are? The issue of "tribal sovereignty" has become yet another problem for tribes who have sat by and wasted years petitioning a government body to acknowledge them as a tribe. Money has permeated the fabric of tribal culture, and the pursuit of money through per capita payments has deluded many tribal members into believing the less members you have, the more you will collect per individual. This type of mentality has led to tribal dis-enrollments. Most, if not nearly all of those dis-enrollments are, in my opinion, unjust. So, because of such beliefs many dis-enrollments have also come about for political reasons. Understand, this is a slow, deliberate attempt at tribal genocide by your own hands.

Below is an excerpt. to read more.........  http://www.academia.edu/603498/Introduction_Native_Americans_in_American_Politics 

 

Self-government under Federal Law

One must immediately add qualifiers to the assertion that self-government and institutionalized political independence is the fulcrum of Native Americans in American politics. Native American "sovereignty" is not as complete as the "government-to-government" relationship suggests. Indeed, the first time the United States dealt with Native Americans through the State Department -- the normal vehicle for government-to-government relationships -- was in May, 1996. This was a "consultation" meeting preparatory to the United States taking a position in the United Nations with regard to a Draft Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples under consideration in the international arena. Prior to that meeting, and continuing since, the "government-to-government" relationship consists of Native American governments dealing with the United States through various domestic agencies, primarily the Department of the Interior. From an historical perspective, there was more "government-to-government"dealing when the United States acted towards Native Americans through the War Department, where the first Bureau of Indian Affairs was created (1824), than in the subsequent years when "Indian affairs" became institutionalized as a "domestic" concern.4

 

A straight-forward legal explanation of the special position of Native Americans in American politics was provided in 1973 by the Federal District Court for the District of Montana, in the case of 

United States v. Blackfeet Tribe

. The facts of the case were simple: The Blackfeet Business Council had passed a resolution authorizing gambling on the reservation and licensing of slot machines. An FBI agent seized four machines. The Blackfeet Tribal Court issued an order restraining all persons from removing the seized articles from the reservation. The FBI agent, after consultation with the United States Attorney, removed the machines from the reservation. A tribal judge then ordered the U.S. Attorney to show cause why he should not be cited for contempt of the tribal court.The U.S. Attorney applied to federal court for an injunction to block the contempt citations. The Blackfeet Tribe argued that it was sovereign and that the jurisdiction of the tribal court flows directly from this sovereignty. The federal court said:No doubt the Indian tribes were at one time sovereign and even now the tribes are sometimes described as being sovereign. The blunt fact, however, is that an Indian tribe is sovereign to the extent that the United States permits it to be sovereign -- neither more nor less. [194]The court explained: While for many years the United States recognized some elements of sovereignty in the Indian tribes and dealt with them by treaty, Congress by Act of March 3, 1871 ... , prohibited the further recognition of Indian tribes as independent nations. Thereafter the Indians and the Indian tribes were regulated by acts of Congress. The power of Congress to govern by statute rather than treaty has been sustained.

United States v. Kagama,

118U.S. 375, 6 S.Ct. 1109, 30 L.Ed. 228 (1886). That power is a plenary power ... and in its exercise Congress is supreme. ... It follows that any tribal ordinance permitting or purporting to permit what Congress forbids is void. ... It is beyond the power of the tribe to in any way regulate, limit,or restrict a federal law officer in the performance of his duties, and the tribe having no such power the tribal court can have none. [Id .] The fundamental definition of "American Indian sovereignty" in United States law, as the District Court made clear, is that it is not really sovereignty. According to the fundamental jurisprudence of "federal Indian law" -- a vast, complex body of United States statutes and court decisions designed to govern Native Americans -- "tribal"peoples have a diminutive form of "sovereignty," which turns out to be not self-determination, but dependence. This theory was articulated by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall in

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

(1831). Marshall wrote that Native5[sic]

American societies, though they are "nations" in the general sense of the word, are not fully sovereign; he suggested they are "domestic, dependent nations," a phrase suggesting that native peoples are "wards" of the United States, a concept that almost immediately passed from dictum to dogma. Native American sovereignty has been the object of a kind of legal shell game -- "now you see it, now you don't" -- since the beginning of federal Indian law.......

Words Matter

By Michael Kickingbear

 As we move through the 2016 political season, a central question I have had is. Why haven't these candidates for President of the United States approached native people to solicit our vote? Yes, we know the usual answers. "We are an invisible people", and "they are ignoring us."  In the past eight years, Native people have really worked to make our voices heard through activism and other movements such as, Not My Mascot, and Idle No More. Native people have been collectively organizing and speaking with one voice around a variety of subjects.

So, when, Senator Bernie Sanders a Democratic candidate for, President recently visited his second reservation in North Minneapolis, MN, my ears perked up a bit. I was encouraged by the fact that out of the six to eight remaining candidates running for the highest position in America, Bernie Sanders has started to reach out to Indian country.  Sure, another question naturally rises. "What took so long?" We can think of a million reasons the candidates would give for not reaching out to Natives, and most would not hold water.

  I believe it is important that a dialog be initiated, or maintained.  If a candidate takes it upon himself, or herself to open a dialogue with tribal leaders around the country, how can we fault him, or her for that? To have a chance to speak directly with someone who is a sitting United States Senator, and (potentially) a future President, and talk about concerns, issues, or problems, this is something you would want to take advantage of, Correct? That is an opportunity that was afforded to Clyde Bellecourt at a black caucus meeting being hosted on a Minnesota reservation on February 12th, 2016.

Sanders:

 

 Mr. Sander’s time was limited because he was scheduled to appear at an event in St. Paul, Minnesota. The moderator (all though rather rude, was also a guest on the reservation), did explain to, Clyde Bellecourt, the Senator had time for one question. The moderator then asked Mr. Bellecourt to come forward, to ask his question. Unfortunately, Mr. Bellcourt chose to use his time to scream at the, Senator, bringing up past issues that (while still relevant to Indian Country) really were not the type of things to try to bring up in the amount of time he had available to him.

Bellcourt instead, ranted largely about HIS career with the American Indian Movement, history relevant to the work done by AIM, and other things. While it is not my intent to diminish his, or the organizations past efforts, the way he went about attacking, Senator Sanders was not helpful to Indian Country. 

On our show, Native Opinion, we try to present Native American perspectives and points of view that are constructive. In my opinion, Mr Bellcourt's rant did nothing to elevate Indian Country. All, Mr. Bellcourt did was obtain a sound bite. There is an old saying. "Know when to pick your fights."  In this instance, Mr. Bellcourt did not exercise good judgement. He took an old school approach that may have worked in the 70's and 80's, the tactic of disrupting a conference when there are cameras present, to try to get your agenda out.  I can virtually guarantee that, Mr. Sanders walked away knowing nothing more about Indian Country, or our needs, and absolutely no solutions. A completely missed opportunity. 

The things I believe should be acknowledged are the needs, and problems in Indian country.  Every time an approach is taken like that of Mr Bellcourt’s, how much more difficult do you think it will be to get, Mr. Sanders, or any politician to visit other reservations after an experience like that?   All this does is feed an already pre-existing problem of ignorance by United States government officials. Fortunately, in Iowa, Mr. Sanders had a more positive experience at the Meskwaki Nation. The questions presented by some of the tribal youth were very well thought out, and I believe the questions impressed the, Senator. They did us all proud! The town hall meeting on the reservation in Iowa, and the participants approach to discussions should be a good example around Indian country. Those types of discussions are much more proactive.

 

 

 

Each year, the National Congress of American Indians presents "The State of Indian Nations" address.  It is presented by NCAI President Brian Cladoosby.  It is a good summary of a broad range of progress that Indian Country has made. It's important to really know what has actually been worked on to help native people. To understand what has actually been accomplished, and what still needs to be worked on.  

Here is that address:

 

 

If we took an approach to create a town hall meeting with a distinct focus on American Indian issues, with well constructed questions, and invited any presidential candidate that truly wishes to engage with Indian County, which method do you think a candidate would walk away with having learned something? The Town Hall Approach, or the one that Clyde Bellcourt took In Minnesota?. The answer should be obvious.  I personally do acknowledge and thank the American Indian Movement for the work that they have done in the past, and continue to do.  But I encourage Clyde Bellcourt and other activist leaders to please take a step back and think about your approach.  Thank you for what you do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

A great example of cultural insensitivity.

Cultural insensitivity has existed since the beginning of time. One would be correct to believe that such lapses of sensitivity would begin to evolve and move away from a developed, progressive society. In America, cultural insensitivity has and is a money making past time that has very few rivals. The fight against using Native American imagery as sports logos is not new. To feign ignorance about knowing there is an on going fight to ban the use of Native American imagery for sports logos, is at best, an attempt to not be responsible to do ones part in helping to stop the use of Native American logos. The claim to care about the use of said logos, and the lack of action to support the removal of said logos is an act of cowardice, and it is ingenious.

My Co-Host Michael Kickingbear, a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe which is located in Connecticut stated:         "Some people here in CT are "Closet Racists".  I no longer say that people like this are "ignorant" or "uninformed". They CHOOSE to be racist.  They CHOOSE to not try to understand another point of view. They CHOOSE to not learn about another culture to better themselves. "Ignorance" can infer that someone isn't exposed to something.  It doesn't always mean they consciously disregard something they don't understand. Willfully creating images like this (T-Shirt) does not demonstrate ignorance. It demonstrates a desire to not be inclusive and perpetuate racism.  If I catch anyone wearing this shirt in public, they will hear from me publicly and I will video document the encounter."

 

After Mascot Ban at CT High School - Parent Designs ‘F*ck You’ Finger Headdress T-Shirt

Vincent Schilling

1/30/16

 Soon after a Native mascot image ban at two West Hartford Connecticut high schools in 2015, a Conard Chieftain high school parent alumni created a t-shirt with an image of a Native American man in a headdress with an emblem of a ‘f*ck you’ middle f…

 

Soon after a Native mascot image ban at two West Hartford Connecticut high schools in 2015, a Conard Chieftain high school parent alumni created a t-shirt with an image of a Native American man in a headdress with an emblem of a ‘f*ck you’ middle finger hidden in the medallion.........

 

 

 

Read more at : 

 

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/01/30/after-mascot-ban-ct-high-school-parent-designs-fck-you-finger-headdress-t-shirt-163250

 

 

How much is it going to take to put an end to the abuse and misuse of Native culture?

As long as Natives sit back and allow someone else to speak out against the abuse and misuse of our culture, and the destruction of sacred lands and sites, the abuse and misuse will continue. It is going to take ALL of our voices to speak out against the abuse and misuse to make a difference, and put an end to the madness.  

From Dailykos


Militants bulldoze through Native American archeological site, share video rifling through artifacts

 

Armed militants at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge continue to damage both the delicate ecosystem of the refuge and archeological [sic] sites of critical importance to the Burns Paiute Tribe. Amanda Peacher from Oregon Public Broadcasting shared photos of what appeared to be a new road in the refuge and got confirmation that not only is the road new, it goes through a vitally important area:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed Thursday that not only is the road built last week by the occupiers new, but it is also within an archaeological site important to the Burns Paiute Tribe.

Members of the Burns Paiute Tribe are increasingly angry nothing has been done to get the armed militants out of the refuge and away from their artifacts and the archeological sites:

On Friday, the tribe delivered a letter to federal agencies including the U.S. Attorney and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service demanding prosecution of Ammon Bundy and other armed militants occupying the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, “If the occupiers disturb, damage, remove, alter, or deface any archaeological resource on the refuge property.

There are approximately 4,000 artifacts belonging to the tribe in the buildings the militants are holding. The occupation is entering its third week.

The tribe is demanding federal action under both the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 and a "protection against bad men” provision in the treaty the tribe signed with the United States in 1868.

Meanwhile, in the video below, LaVoy Finicum and other armed militants show themselves rifling through boxes of artifacts and offering to return them to the Burns Paiute Tribe. Some of the artifacts at the refuge date back 6,000 years. Tribal representatives have repeatedly said they want the militants to leave immediately:

"They just need to get the hell out of here," said Jarvis Kennedy, a member of the tribal council. "They didn't ask anybody, we don't want them here...our little kids are sitting at home when they should be in school."

They also note the relationship with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has evolved over the years:

"We feel strongly because we have had a good working relationship with the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge," she said. "We view them as a protector of our cultural rights in that area."

Watch as the militants open boxes and show off the artifacts, complaining about their storage and offering to return to the tribe who helped archive them at the refuge in the first place:

 

https://youtu.be/rTOW3CfHNTI

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/1/21/1472882/-Militants-bulldoze-through-Native-American-archeological-site-share-video-rifling-through-artifacts