photos
http://gallery.me.com/alliesms
video
http://youtube.com/alliesms
The video is less than two minutes and is Jim giving an update and
asking for support and witnesses tomorrow afternoon.
Chris Leith will have an Inipi tonight at 5:00 Indian time at Cold Water.
Some of us will be going to Steve Blake wake.
But hope to be there for the Inipi.
Sharon
Steve Blake, 51, artist and advocate for American Indians
By BEN COHEN, Star Tribune
September 3, 2008
When Steve Blake of Minneapolis was a boy, the artist and future chairman of the Twin Cities chapter of the American Indian Movement would sketch the whirl of activity around the Wounded Knee conflict of the early 1970s.
Blake, who as a teenager designed the American Indian Movement, or AIM, logo widely recognized as the symbol of the movement, died of lung ailments on Wednesday in Minneapolis. He was 51.
Blake, whose father, Francis Blake II, helped establish the AIM, became a teacher in his Ojibwe culture, fluent in the language and a force for justice in Minnesota, said his family and friends.
His mother, Norby Blake of St. Paul, recalled that he sketched the activities of the early AIM leaders in the late 1960s and early 1970s. “He was a curious and very active young man,” she said.
He was a graduate of Heart of the Earth School and South High School in Minneapolis.
As a member of the Minneapolis Police Community Relations Council, he worked to ensure that people receive fair treatment when dealing with the police. Clyde Bellecourt, American Indian activist and co-chairman of the Police Community Relations Council, said Blake had been reviving the AIM street patrols he helped establish in the 1980s.
“If someone needed help day or night, he would respond,” Bellecourt said. “If it was Red Lake or anywhere, he would go.”
In recent years, Blake helped establish AIM chapters at St. Cloud State University, in Red Lake, Minn., and in Fargo, N.D.
He was an accomplished dancer and singer in native ceremonies, participating in powwows around the nation. He crafted ceremonial drums and ceremonial dress.
His “top-notch” paintings were “seen around the world,” Bellecourt said.
Two years ago, Blake underwent a double lung transplant. In April, he struggled anew with illness, but he had bounced back until recent weeks, said his cousin, Minneapolis Police Sgt. Bill Blake, who also serves on the Police Community Relations Council.
“Steve really had a strong passion to help people and reach out to others,” Bill Blake said.
Floyd (Buck) Jourdain, tribal chairman of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation, said Steve Blake was a leader who would also roll up his sleeves and do the grass-roots work, such as teaching the culture to children in Minnesota and Wisconsin or taking kids to Pipestone, Minn., to teach about its sacred quarry.
“He was articulate and outspoken” but didn’t waste words, Jourdain said. “He backed up his talk with action. He practiced the culture hands-on.”
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his fiancée, Lani Moran of Minneapolis; a brother, Francis III of St. Paul; a sister, Valerie of St. Paul, and nephew Jesse and niece Neegahnee, both of St. Paul.
By BEN COHEN, Star Tribune
September 3, 2008
When Steve Blake of Minneapolis was a boy, the artist and future chairman of the Twin Cities chapter of the American Indian Movement would sketch the whirl of activity around the Wounded Knee conflict of the early 1970s.
Blake, who as a teenager designed the American Indian Movement, or AIM, logo widely recognized as the symbol of the movement, died of lung ailments on Wednesday in Minneapolis. He was 51.
Blake, whose father, Francis Blake II, helped establish the AIM, became a teacher in his Ojibwe culture, fluent in the language and a force for justice in Minnesota, said his family and friends.
His mother, Norby Blake of St. Paul, recalled that he sketched the activities of the early AIM leaders in the late 1960s and early 1970s. “He was a curious and very active young man,” she said.
He was a graduate of Heart of the Earth School and South High School in Minneapolis.
As a member of the Minneapolis Police Community Relations Council, he worked to ensure that people receive fair treatment when dealing with the police. Clyde Bellecourt, American Indian activist and co-chairman of the Police Community Relations Council, said Blake had been reviving the AIM street patrols he helped establish in the 1980s.
“If someone needed help day or night, he would respond,” Bellecourt said. “If it was Red Lake or anywhere, he would go.”
In recent years, Blake helped establish AIM chapters at St. Cloud State University, in Red Lake, Minn., and in Fargo, N.D.
He was an accomplished dancer and singer in native ceremonies, participating in powwows around the nation. He crafted ceremonial drums and ceremonial dress.
His “top-notch” paintings were “seen around the world,” Bellecourt said.
Two years ago, Blake underwent a double lung transplant. In April, he struggled anew with illness, but he had bounced back until recent weeks, said his cousin, Minneapolis Police Sgt. Bill Blake, who also serves on the Police Community Relations Council.
“Steve really had a strong passion to help people and reach out to others,” Bill Blake said.
Floyd (Buck) Jourdain, tribal chairman of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation, said Steve Blake was a leader who would also roll up his sleeves and do the grass-roots work, such as teaching the culture to children in Minnesota and Wisconsin or taking kids to Pipestone, Minn., to teach about its sacred quarry.
“He was articulate and outspoken” but didn’t waste words, Jourdain said. “He backed up his talk with action. He practiced the culture hands-on.”
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his fiancée, Lani Moran of Minneapolis; a brother, Francis III of St. Paul; a sister, Valerie of St. Paul, and nephew Jesse and niece Neegahnee, both of St. Paul.
William (Bill) Carter
American Indian Community Advocate
City of Minneapolis
Direct: (612) 673-3028
Fax: (612) 673-2599
Strength and answers (to you.)
But there are a few photos at http://gallery.me.com/alliesms#100134
Download if you can make use of anything…
Good day.
m
–
Mona M Smith
Producer/director/media artist
Allies: media/art
The Ded Unkunpi Projects
4720 32nd Avenue South
Mpls., MN 55406
612.721.8055
So far Canada’s response has been violence. Bring out the guns and bats!
Canada and the world knows this is wrong. They have no choice but to deal with us, the landowners. We are the legal trustees of Onowaregeh, Turtle Island. Each time they hit us, they remind us of our duties. We struggle even harder to uphold them.
The use of force can never produce a legal result. The Supreme Court of Canada and international law agree with our law, the Kaianerehkowa/Great Law. The only legal way to solve problems is through discussions, negotiations and understandings.
Canada must start listening to our legal reasoning. The violence against Indigenous peoples has got to stop. We know what’s right and wrong. The more they beat us, the more they make it clear that they are wrong. They must back off, stop arresting us, stop beating us up and stop shoving their kangeroo court documents down our throats.
On Tuesday, at 9:00 a.m., some of our people will be brought into the Brantford Court. There is no proof that it has jurisdiction over our people and our land. Many Indigenous people have been asserting our law. They have refused to attorn to the court. They have declared that they stand on the law of the land, the Kaianerehkowa. Or they have demanded proof of the court’s jurisdiction.
So far Canada’s colonial courts have all refused to provide proof for their authority. They know they have none. So they find some way of putting things off. They don’t know what to do when indigenous people who have been accused for political reasons demand proof of their jurisdiction or evidence of the valid termination of our law. They know full well that we never gave our informed consent to become Canadians. We are not Canadians.
If you can, please come to witness the court proceedings and provide support. We need to tell Kingspan of Ireland, Hampton Hotels of the U.S. all the other shysters trying to trespass on our land to go away.
MNN Staff
www.mohawknationnews.com
Contact: Sonehahs 519-761-8094
Please Note. It’s becoming critical for legal actions to be taken to protect our rights. We have no funds. If you can donate anything to our cause, it will be greatly appreciated. Donate to PayPal, www.mohawknationnews.com, or “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Nia:wen.
Go to MNN “Six Nations” category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now! Purchase t-shirts, mugs and more at our CafePressStore http://www.cafepress.com/mohawknews; Subscribe to MNN for breaking news updates http://.mohawknationnews.com/news/subscription.php; Sign Women Title Holders petition! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Iroquois
This Photo gallery from StarTribune.com has been sent to you by MarthaFastHorse.
*Please note, the sender’s identity has not been verified.
The full Photo gallery, with any associated images and links can be viewed here.
PLEASE FORWARD TO NEW NATIVE WRITERS TRIBAL WRITERS CHAPBOOK SERIES The Sequoyah Research Center announces its second series of Tribal Writers Chapbooks. The first series published chapbooks (small, limited editions of poetry, prose, or drama) by such noted Indian writers as Maurice Kenny, Lance Henson, Glen McGuire, Ron Wellborn, and Doris Seale. We hope to continue to bring out writing of the same high quality with this second series. Stuart Hoahwah (Comanche) leads off with a collection of poems, Black Knife, followed by Elgin Jumper's (Florida Seminole) work Nightfall, Doyle Turner's (White Earth Ojibwe) Time is a Parlor Trick and Other Poems, and The.Indian.In.Indian.School by Linda Grover (Ojibwe). The focus of the second series is on new Native writers, those who have not published a significant body of work, either as individual pieces or in book or anthology formats. We are attempting to give exposure to new (not necessarily young) writers. The major dif ference between the first and second series is that in addition to publishing in hard-copy the new works will appear in digital format in the Tribal Writers Digital Library. We hope in this way to reach a wider readership for what we think are some exciting new Indian poets, storytellers, and dramatists. You may view the first volumes at http://anpa.ualr.edu in the Digital Library. Payment to authors will be in the form of copies of their chapbook. The SRC will print 250 copies that will be furnished to the author upon completion of the press run. No funds are required from the author; no funds will be disbursed to the author. Copyright will remain with the author. We envision that two chapbooks will be published each year under a grant from the Bay and Paul Foundations. An editorial board of prominent Native writers review all submissions and make recommendations to the editors. The target date for chapbook publication each year will be the annual Sequoyah Research Center Symposium, held in the third week of October. Submissions are accepted at any time during the year. Native writers should submit manuscripts that are no longer than 36 pages to fit the print format. Further information should be requested from or submissions sent to James W. Parins, Sequoyah Research Center, Suite 500 University Plaza, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR 72204, or e-mailed to < a href="mailto:jwparins@ualr.edu" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer; ">jwparins@ualr.edu. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION • Use Microsoft Word only. • Use Times New Roman font. If you have a preference for another font, please let me know separately. • Turn OFF all "AutoCorrect functions" under "Tools." These features make encoding more difficult. • When typing poetry, indent where appropriate according to your text. • Double space between paragraphs. • Provide a hard copy of your manuscript. • Provide a digital copy of your manuscript via email to jwparins@ualr.edu • Submit questions to the same email address.
If you are registering for the Dakota class via email, you will need the
following course information to register.
Here is the link to the email registration form:
http://apps.asr.umn.edu/RegAdd/add.asp
Class number: 58972
Grading basis: type either “A-F” or “S/N” (pass/fail)
Units (credits): 5
Subject, catalog number, section: Dako 1121, Section 2
Campus: Twin Cities
University of Minnesota college or program: CCE
Tuition level: Undergraduate
Term Required: 2008
You do not need to fill out the section on health insurance.
No money is due at time of registration. Tuition bills are sent late
The housing bill, funding for tribal colleges and Indian education, and law enforcement improvement are also on his agenda, and consultation with tribes and others is important to ”find out what works.”
Citing an Amnesty International report on crime in Indian country, he said one in three Native women will be raped or sexually abused in her lifetime; yet on a reservation the size of Connecticut, there are only nine officers and they may not reach a violent crime scene for 90 minutes because of the vast distances they have to cover.
Off-reservation law enforcement and U.S. attorneys decline to enforce cases referred to them at rates ranging from 50 to 76 percent for murder and rape or other sexual abuse, and ”we have to ask U.S. attorneys to stop declining cases,” he noted. Jurisdictional authority in Indian country can vary according to whether the crime is a felony, whether it takes place on Indian lands, is committed by or against a tribal member, and other factors.
Dorgan said the basic question is, ”What is our value system?” and the answer is revealed in part by what the nation spends its money on. Terming the question a ”matter of priorities,” he said ”keeping this country’s promise” should take precedence.
The NCAI in a prepared release distributed to attendees said the Native health bill delay continues ”despite the fact that Natives suffer higher health disparity rates than all other U.S. populations, and that health services are only available to Natives if ‘life or limb’ is at stake.”
Health care spending for Natives is less than half the amount the U.S. spends for federal prisoners, although infant mortality is 150 percent higher for Natives than whites, suicides 2.5 times the national average, and life expectancy 5 years less than for all others, it states.
Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Mich., who established the Native American Caucus, told attendees he will urge his fellow members of Congress to get past the anti-abortion and freedmen issues surrounding the health care bill and will work to see that it is ”enacted into law one way or another.”
Kildee also described issues concerning tax-exempt bonds and pension reform in Indian country and tribally controlled community colleges, urging the motto, ”Sovereignty today, sovereignty tomorrow, and sovereignty forever.”
Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., a sponsor of the Indian health care bill, said such authorization is ”always a problem when the president isn’t supportive.”
Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., said ”We cannot afford $10 to $15 billion a month on this war,” and urged a change in priorities.
Other speakers included Mark Macarro, tribal chairman, Pechanga Band of Luise�o Indians, DNC platform committee member, who termed the platform a ”very powerful document” that reaffirms tribal sovereignty and is the ‘’strongest ever” platform for Indian country.
Keith Harper, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, an attorney specializing in Indian affairs, said, ”We’ve suffered through a long, cold winter of George W. Bush” and ”we need a fundamental change.”
Indian country ‘’suffers from invisibility,” he said, but Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is committed to a ”new politics that includes voices from disenfranchised communities.”
Harper called for a senior policy adviser for Indian affairs for day-to-day contact with the president, for a tribal ”G8” summit, and for influence on judicial selection to develop a more tribe-friendly Supreme Court, or ”tribal sovereignty as we know it will be fundamentally undermined.”
Wizi Garriott, Obama’s chief organizer in Indian country, said North Dakota, Montana, New Mexico, and Alaska are among states where the Indian vote is very important, and Native vote coordinators and field organizers will be working to get voter turnout.
Tribal sponsors of the event at Denver Art Museum conducted by NVisionIt LLC were the Eastern Band of Cherokee, Gila River Indian Community, Mississippi Band of Choctaw, Pechanga Band of Luise�o Indians, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and Seneca Nation.
There are no circumstances under which Indian people should have second-class health care,” said Sen. Byron Dorgan , D-N.D., chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
Indian communities should ”demand that it be passed this Congress,” he said of the health bill.
His remarks were addressed to a panel Aug. 27 of tribal leaders and delegates at the Democratic National Convention moderated by Joe Garcia, president of the National Congress of American Indians, whose executive director, Jackie Johnson, was also a panelist.
Two hurdles to its passage are an anti-abortion amendment and an objection to the Cherokee Nation’s decision to deny citizenship status to freedmen. The latter also affects funding to the Cherokees under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act.
Dorgan said he hopes the health bill will clear the House in the next few weeks, but if that fails, he will work to attach it to an omnibus bill or appropriations bill in order to ensure passage because ”we don’t have to wait anymore.”
The housing bill, funding for tribal colleges and Indian education, and law enforcement improvement are also on his agenda, and consultation with tribes and others is important to ”find out what works.”
Citing an Amnesty International report on crime in Indian country, he said one in three Native women will be raped or sexually abused in her lifetime; yet on a reservation the size of Connecticut, there are only nine officers and they may not reach a violent crime scene for 90 minutes because of the vast distances they have to cover.
Off-reservation law enforcement and U.S. attorneys decline to enforce cases referred to them at rates ranging from 50 to 76 percent for murder and rape or other sexual abuse, and ”we have to ask U.S. attorneys to stop declining cases,” he noted. Jurisdictional authority in Indian country can vary according to whether the crime is a felony, whether it takes place on Indian lands, is committed by or against a tribal member, and other factors.
Dorgan said the basic question is, ”What is our value system?” and the answer is revealed in part by what the nation spends its money on. Terming the question a ”matter of priorities,” he said ”keeping this country’s promise” should take precedence.
The NCAI in a prepared release distributed to attendees said the Native health bill delay continues ”despite the fact that Natives suffer higher health disparity rates than all other U.S. populations, and that health services are only available to Natives if ‘life or limb’ is at stake.”
Health care spending for Natives is less than half the amount the U.S. spends for federal prisoners, although infant mortality is 150 percent higher for Natives than whites, suicides 2.5 times the national average, and life expectancy 5 years less than for all others, it states.
Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Mich., who established the Native American Caucus, told attendees he will urge his fellow members of Congress to get past the anti-abortion and freedmen issues surrounding the health care bill and will work to see that it is ”enacted into law one way or another.”
Kildee also described issues concerning tax-exempt bonds and pension reform in Indian country and tribally controlled community colleges, urging the motto, ”Sovereignty today, sovereignty tomorrow, and sovereignty forever.”
Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., a sponsor of the Indian health care bill, said such authorization is ”always a problem when the president isn’t supportive.”
Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., said ”We cannot afford $10 to $15 billion a month on this war,” and urged a change in priorities.
Other speakers included Mark Macarro, tribal chairman, Pechanga Band of Luise�o Indians, DNC platform committee member, who termed the platform a ”very powerful document” that reaffirms tribal sovereignty and is the ‘’strongest ever” platform for Indian country.
Keith Harper, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, an attorney specializing in Indian affairs, said, ”We’ve suffered through a long, cold winter of George W. Bush” and ”we need a fundamental change.”
Indian country ‘’suffers from invisibility,” he said, but Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is committed to a ”new politics that includes voices from disenfranchised communities.”
Harper called for a senior policy adviser for Indian affairs for day-to-day contact with the president, for a tribal ”G8” summit, and for influence on judicial selection to develop a more tribe-friendly Supreme Court, or ”tribal sovereignty as we know it will be fundamentally undermined.”
Wizi Garriott, Obama’s chief organizer in Indian country, said North Dakota, Montana, New Mexico, and Alaska are among states where the Indian vote is very important, and Native vote coordinators and field organizers will be working to get voter turnout.
Tribal sponsors of the event at Denver Art Museum conducted by NVisionIt LLC were the Eastern Band of Cherokee, Gila River Indian Community, Mississippi Band of Choctaw, Pechanga Band of Luise�o Indians, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and Seneca Nation.
$427 million. That’s what the oil and coal industries spent during the first half of 2008 on lobbying and advertising. They’re protecting their interests — and hurting ours.
I just watched a new ad from the We Campaign that tells the truth about what needs to be done — demanding our leaders FREE US from an addiction to expensive fossil fuels.
Watch it here:
http://www.wecansolveit.org/freeusad
Hi, everyone
Ref. KFAI’s weekly radio program, Indian Uprising, Sundays 7:00 p.m. CDT (www.kfai.org). It’s been about six years since I first volunteered to produce/host Indian Uprising.
Starting September 1st, 2008, I will take a five-month leave-of-absence to travel and take care of personal affairs/business. Friends have asked if I’m okay. Yes, I am… also, my health is good. As to who will produce/host Indian Uprising in the meantime, KFAI will decide that.
Chris Spotted Eagle
FACES of RESISTANCE
GALLERY 7
HIGHWAY 55
PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3
36-37. Mary O’Brien, CSJ, John Harmon and Rita McDonald, CSJ, keep vigil with others across from the cottonwood tree wherein the remaining four environmental activists had “locked down” in their attempt to halt construction of the Highway 55 reroute and save the almost 100-year-old cottonwood - October 1999. Mary’s sign contains a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt: “I say to the young: Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively.”
38-39. Zach of the Objibway nation drums and chants support for activists “locked down” in the cottonwood tree which can be seen to bear the scars of attempts by cutting crews to remove the activists from its branches.
40. Theresa O’Brien, CSJ, braves the cold of an autumn afternoon to support the activists high atop the cottonwood. “I came to support the young people here who have a vision for the future - one that they struggle to be true to. Their vision encompasses all of us and the earth. It’s a vision of interdependence and respect for all things.”
41. Zach looks towards the strong police presence gathered at the base of the cottonwood tree and preventing any food or water reaching the activists within its sheltering branches. For the duration of the activists’ occupation of the cottonwood, supporters kept a 24 hour vigil across the street. After ten days, the last of the activists were forced from the tree. The cottonwood and several other surrounding trees were subsequently destroyed.
42. Susu Jeffrey, flanked by Mary Jo Iverson and James McNamara, holds an acorn from the felled Princess Oak - October 1999. Located above Minnehaha Falls, and south of Minnehaha Creek, the Princess Oak was one of several large bur oak that grew around the first railroad track connecting St. Paul and Minneapolis to the Falls.
43. Ken Pentel of the Green Party of Minnesota, expresses his outrage during an interview beside the felled Princess Oak - October 1999. Over 200-years-old, the Princess Oak was destroyed as MnDOT crews cut a swathe of destruction in their advance southwards towards the Four Oaks Spiritual Encampment.
44-45. By early November 1999, tree-cutting crews working for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) were felling trees south of the former Camp Two Pines. Activists prevented the immediate destruction of several trees by setting up camp high within their branches.
46. Jan from St. Paul places a lighted candle upon the stump of one of the trees destroyed by MnDOT. Referring to the destruction of the trees and to the activism of the young people from the encampment, Jan expressed her belief that “the hope for the whole is in the people and Earth. Not ‘the’ earth, but Earth. I will not objectify the planet. It is the common sense and insights of the people that are the gifts needed to restore all to wholeness.”
47. Emily - Four Oaks Spiritual Encampment, November 1999.
48-52. Under the shadow of MnDOT’s relentless approach, life at the Four Oaks Spiritual Encampment continued - with time even for celebration. In late November a birthday breakfast was held for longtime reroute opponent and encampment supporter, Susu. Among those celebrating were Solstice, Tree, John and David.
53. A member of the Four Oaks Spiritual Encampment offers prayers at the sacred fire within the sanctuary of the threatened grove of oaks - November 1999. As MnDOT destruction crews drew closer, the encampment began bracing itself for another police raid. On December 2, the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community facilitated a special pipe ceremony at the four oaks. During the ceremony each tree was scaled by a climber who placed in their uppermost branches a sacred eagle feather - a powerful symbol of protection. One week later on December 9, an eviction notice was served to the occupants of the encampment.
54. The Four Oaks Spiritual Encampment - December 1999. With prospects of the destruction of the encampment and the four sacred oaks increasing daily, a commentary by Nick Raleigh was published in the alternative newspaper, Siren, which attempted to account for the failure of the many and varied efforts made to halt the reroute: “Lobbying the legislature, going to court, occupying houses slated for demolition, squatting in parks, and [people] chaining themselves to trees. So far, nothing has worked and the project continues. The outcome of the protest has left a number of people wondering what went wrong . . . Perhaps the best thing to blame is cultural imperialism.”
Raleigh goes on to clarify his analysis: “Cultural imperialism is what happens when a dominant group fails to recognize the validity of the interests, values and beliefs of other non-dominant groups. The colonial version looked something like this: a ship full of Europeans land in the ‘new’ world, encounter native people, declare the native people to be primitive and inferior to themselves, and exploit their land for all of its natural resources. The cultural imperialism faced by the Highway 55 protesters is more subtle. The dominant group here includes the common people of Minnesota and their decision-making institutions. The dominant group’s interests, values and beliefs are widely held as the norm. Using the norm, the dominant group has carelessly cast aside the critical viewpoints of others who do not fit its descriptions. The Highway 55 protesters were unable to stop the reroute because their values and interests didn’t match those of the dominant group. Because of this mismatch, their voice has been oppressed in the local media, MnDOT and the Legislative . . . [Such oppression has] shaped a general public sentiment that says the Highway 55 protest is both misguided and insignificant.”
55. Dawn at the Four Oaks Spiritual Encampment - Saturday, December 11, 1999. Even as this photograph was being taken, state troopers were swarming into the camp and surrounding a group of fifty protesters gathered at the four bur oaks.
56-59. Opponents of the reroute, including Kurt, Esther, Tom and Pepperwolf, had been called to the encampment during the early hours of December 11 after a tip-off of an imminent raid. Confirmation came at 5:00 a.m. when it was reported that state patrol cars and troopers were massing at MnDOT’s reroute depot. At 6:30 a.m. a large pile of wood used for construction at the camp and situated near the remnants of the labyrinth, was set ablaze.
60-61. As those present huddled together in the glow and warmth of the bonfire, Jim Anderson, Cultural Chair of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota, thanked them for their support throughout the encampment’s sixteen month history. The crowd then moved into the circle of the four sacred oaks as over one hundred state police dressed in riot gear entered the encampment at 7:00 a.m.
62-63. Surrounded by police, those gathered within the circle of the oaks were led in a ceremony by members of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota. The police respectfully allowed the ceremony, which involved drumming, singing, and words from Jim Anderson and Clyde Bellecourt, to be completed.
64-67. After the ceremony was completed those gathered were told that they could either leave the area without risk of arrest or remain and be arrested. About half of the group reluctantly chose to leave, including those present from the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community. Those who remained, as well as several activists who were occupying surrounding trees, were arrested and removed from the encampment. A total of 33 people were arrested. Later that day as tepees and a sweat lodge were dismantled and removed from the area, the encampment’s kitchen and starlodge were leveled.
At 4:31 p.m., the four sacred oak trees were felled.
68-69. “. . . Native Americans have already lost enough to cultural imperialism. It is unjust for Minnesota to continue using a subtler version to rob local tribes of culturally significant land.” Nick Raleigh, December 1999.
70-71. Bob Brown and other members of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community observe the felled sacred oaks - Sunday, December 12, 1999. I find photograph 70 particularly poignant when recalling Bob’s deep love and respect for the trees and his role in introducing them and their significance to his people, to so many - myself included (see photograph 4).
Two weeks after these photographs were taken, Kurt Seaberg (picture 56) had a letter published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “Isn’t it interesting how the media collude with the institutions of power in denying the sacredness or significance of a place . . . The four oak trees that were cut down by the Minnesota Department of Transportation for Highway 55 were 137 years old and therefore, according to a December 17 article, ‘too young to have been significant in sacred American Indian ceremonies.’ If indeed the trees are 137 years old, that would mean they were planted in 1862, a date significant not only to Native Americans but all Minnesotans, as that was the year of the ill-fated Dakota conflict. It’s quite possible that the oaks were planted to heal the broken hearts and spirits of a people torn apart by that terrible war, which would make those trees very sacred and removal of them an unconscionable crime . . .”
INTRODUCTION
GALLERY 1 - FACES OF RESISTANCE
GALLERY 2 - CONFRONTING CORPORATE
GALLERY 5 - RESPONDING TO THE CRISIS IN IRAQ
GALLERY 6 - CLOSING THE SCHOOL OF THE
Native Americans to gather in Keystone, South Dakota to Commemorate the 38 Year Anniversary of the Historic Invasion and Occupation of the ”Shrine of Democracy’ Mount Rushmore and to Honor the Women of the Red Power Movement.
What: Mount Rushmore Reunion to Remember the Native American Occupation and Take Over of Mount Rushmore
August 29, 2008 marks the 38th anniversary of the historic Mount Rushmore Occupation of 1970. Native Americans representing groups from around the country will gather to reflect on that day, renewing friendships and bonds and to honor the women of the red power movement.
On August 29th 1970, a small group of young Indians invaded Mount Rushmore, the so-called ‘national shrine of democracy’ The invasion brought together Indians form different tribes and reservations who converged to help the Lakota Oyate/Sioux Nation in their efforts to reclaim the sacred Black Hills and to force the Federal Government to be held accountable for the illegal taking of their Lands. At 7:00 pm on August 29th, after eluding authorities, the group of young natives reached the top of the mountain near the four faces of the presidents where they hung a large flag with the words: SIOUX INDIAN POWER.
The Paha Sapa - The Black Hills-is a sacred place for all Lakota people.It is where all Lakota life began, where our creation stories originate from ‘The heart of everything that is.’
United Native Americans is sponsoring the reunion of this historic event that honors and recognizes the women of the Red Power Movement such as Madonna Thunder Hawk, Martha Fast Horse and Maxine Bordeaux - Warrior Women who have fought and continue to fight for native rights, protection, family and community, treaty rights, human rights, civil rights, environmental justice and cultural preservation. The younger generation will have the opportunity to experience living history with presentations planned, and by listening in the oral tradition to elders who were part of the original occupation.
The reunion will also recognize the United Nations International Day for the Worlds Indigenous Peoples adopted in 2007. In observance of this day, we Demand that the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 be Recognized and Honored by The United States of America. U.S. Courts have recognized the illegality of these actions and offer modest payments, but the Lakota Oyate/Sioux Nation Remain determined to get the Black Hills Returned to our Tribal Communities. We will not accept any amount of money for our sacred sites. In the words of Lehman Brightman-President of U.N.A.- The Principal Leader of the invasion, who was asked how long the Native people intended to stay, replied. ‘As long as the grass grows, the water flows and the sun shines.’
For More Information Visit:
www. myspace. com/thewashichustolethepahasa
A few years ago I co-produced the below documentary. Due to many local requests we will be showing it again for the first time in 4 years. Please join us for this great opportunity to better understand mass convergences, local impacts, and how low income and communities of color are effected by these large protests. The showing is FREE. If you know anyone who might be interested, please forward them this email and the attachment to them. Thank you. Jerry Lopez
RNC Week - Video Showing and Critical Dialogue
Wednesday September 3, 2008 at 7:30 pm
“In the Eye of the Hurricane:
People of Color Resisting Corporate Globalization”
(A critical analysis of the 2003 FTAA protests in Miami)
A group of community organizers from the Twin Cities traveled to Miami in November of 2003 to document the protests taking place against the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas ministerial.
While most of the international media were focusing on the police state that authorities created by using tear gas, rubber bullets and tasers on protesters, the Sin Fronteras Video Collective focused on the organizing efforts of the Root Cause Coalition.
Root Cause was a low income people of color led coalition. Focusing on housing issues and environmental racism and farm worker justice in south Florida. The Root Cause Coalition was joined by activists from the Global South to bring to world’s attention the impacts of globalization and neoliberal policies on low income communities of color.
Critical questions raised by Root Cause
Relevant to the RNC protests
Taking place in our hometown of St. Paul:
· Who are most directly impacted by the policies of the Republicans and Neo-Conservatives around the globe and here at home?
· Where are those voices in our movements of resistance?
· Who gets to decide our tactics and strategies of resistance?
· How do issues of racism and white paternalism impact our abilities to build a broad base movement for social change?
RNC Week - Video Showing and Critical Dialogue
“In the Eye of the Hurricane:
People of Color resisting Corporate Globalization”
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
7:30 pm
at
Multicultural Indigenous Academy
133 East 7th Street, 4th Floor
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Grand Forks Herald: PRAIRIE VOICES: Official says Indians should stop pushing guilt
(Doreen Yellow Bird)
Grand Forks Herald: VIEWPOINT: Indians must let go of chains of victimhood
(Charles Trimble)
Grand Forks Herald: letter: ‘Human rights are not negotiable’
(L. Buddy Gwin)
Grand Forks Herald: VIEWPOINT: Why tribal leaders keep saying ‘no’
(Sharon Carson)
MPR: Minnesota tax group urges ‘no’ vote on outdoors sales tax
Star Tribune: Dedicated funding supporters will be out spreading the word
For those who couldn’t make the Pow Wow this year, here are some of the wonderful things that happened.
First: the tribal council would like to say thank you to all the volunteers for all your help. We couldn’t have done it with out you.
Our Pow Wow was wonderful again this year. We had lots of people from all over. Some from South Dakota, North Dakota, Chicago, and Idaho. One person came from Iceland.
I felt this Pow Wow was our best Pow Wow so far, but we say that every year. This one felt so good, everyone told me they felt the same way.
When the drums started the eagles came again, it is always so awesome to see them flying over our Pow Wow.
Bob and Lisa had Harriet a beautiful eagle, thanks to the Wasbasa Eagle Center.
We gave Joseph Anderson, Greg Standmark, Paul Lauer, and Jim Albright eagle feathers, for there hard work all year long. They all do so much for MMDC. Pidamaya to you guy’s again.
We had a traditional Dakota wedding so to the happy new couple Mr & Mrs Nick Anderson, congratulations. Nick is also a member of MMDC.
This was the second wedding at one of our Pow Wow’s.
We had a naming ceremony for Eugene Red Day’s grandaughter, a very sweet little girl.
We made Linda Rost, Diane Elliott, and Bruce White honorary members of MMDC. Thank you all for your hard work.
A special thank you to Connie Blaisdell who is always there to make fry bread.
I hope everyone enjoyed my maple butter again this year.
Sincerely
Sharon, the Pow Wow committee, and the tribal council.
Next year will be our 10th Pow Wow.
What do you think about having our 10th Pow Wow in the second or last weekend in September 09? Please send us an email, as to what you would prefer.
We hope to have some pictures of the Pow Wow on the web site soon.
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SEPTEMBER
22nd – Applications Due
23rd - Personal Interviews Start
OCTOBER
8th – Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 1 – Introduction)
15th – Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 2 – Taking Inventory)
22nd – Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 3 – Fundamental Bookkeeping Tools)
29th - Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 4 – Finance Section of the Business Plan)
NOVEMBER
5th – Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 5 – Marketing Basics)
12th – Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 6 – The Business Plan)
19th - Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 7 – Writing the Business Plan)
26th - Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 8 – Types of Business Organizations)
DECEMBER
3rd – Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 9 – Net Profit and Loss)
10th – Indianpreneur Training (CANCELLED)
17th – Indianpreneur Training (Lesson 10 – Class Presentations)
*There will be a graduation for participants that successfully meet class requirements
JANUARY
9th – 1st Draft Business Plan Due
16th – 2nd Draft Business Plan Due
31st – Final Business Plan Due
For Applications and Information:
Linda Sapp, Director of Education
lmoga@aiedfloans or 651.917.0819
American Indian Economic Development Fund
831 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55103
651.917.0819 – telephone
65.917.0804 – facsimile