Manataka American Indian Council
Volume XII Issue 3
MARCH 2008
SMOKE
SIGNAL
NEWS
Manataka
- Preserving The Past Today For Tomorrow
PAGE 2
LEGENDS OF OLD:
Origin of the Ghost Dance
A Winnebago Legend
A man was to learn from the spirits. He fasted and he would sleep four
times. In the evening he would stand with both hands full of tobacco.
Earthmaker made Waterspirits and put them in charge of the spirits, as many
as there are above, all that are on the earth, they and all below the earth.
Then the man cried pitifully -- he made himself thirst to death; he made
himself hunger to death. He cried to the spirits. After awhile, he would
sleep six times. After awhile, he would sleep eight times, then ten times he
would sleep, and then the spirits there are above [blessed him], the chiefs
that are below the earth, all of them, they blessed him.
The spirits
that there are, everyone he went to, in a space plumbed by spans of the
earth. He was thirsty, thereby he killed himself, therefore, that man had
nothing.
He became omniscient, so he made a war bundle. So the one in charge of ghosts
blessed him. He said, "I am he who is in charge of ghosts. Human being, I
bless you," he said to him, "not of anything will you fail to know. With
wars I bless you. I bless you with life. I bless you with the possessions of
the people. As I am in charge of this village, I bless you with everything.
With my Dance I shall bless you for as long as your root shall be, that long
shall I bless you. Whenever the people [perform?] this dance, they should
have you start it.
Those who lie sickly shall get well. And so I will
come back to place the souls in all that which is frail. If my servants
come, they too will take souls back home. They will come." He would always
remember tobacco and hot water.
The man knew of a great thing. Right away now he wanted to do it. The thing
that he did was to fix the war-date. He went to war taking very many along
with him. By victories he came back triumphant. So he was a dreamer that
they might know. Then he started the Ghost Dance (Wanâghí Wací) and a life
there was in it he thought, so in this way he acted. He gave a great feast.
He boiled for those who are in charge of ghosts.
Having offered the
Ghost Chief tobacco, he set on kettles reaching far into the distance. He
said, "Grandfather, you said you would come, so this I ask for: war powers,
life, and clothing for the people; place the souls back with us in all that
is frail. He boiled and gave tobacco for the Wanâghí Mónâtc who roamed about
visiting with them. "You also, my friends, added minds for me. You said to
me what you blessed me with, and it is these things that I ask for: wars,
long life that we may live, so tobacco I fill for you, so that the humans
will have all that. Everyone thought that the Ghost Dance was sacred, so
they were attentive.
For the dance the people made four of them dance
leaders so that they would be able to dance. That is where men and women are
to obtain life, to obtain war powers.
Narrated by R. G., Ghost Dance, in Paul Radin, [unpublished] Winnebago
Notebooks, #79 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1909?) 1-5
Submitted by Blue Panther Keeper of Stories.
FEATURE STORY
George Caitlin`s Creed
about American Indians...
 |
|
| George Catlin (July 26, 1796
- December 23, 1872) was an American painter, author and
traveler who specialized in portraits of Native Americans in the
Old West. |
|
"I love a people who have
always made me welcome to the best they had. I love a people who are honest
without laws, who have no jails and no poorhouses.
I love a people who keep the
commandments without ever having read them or heard them preached from a
pulpit. I love a people who never swear, who never take the name of
God in vain. I love a people who love their neighbor as they love
themselves.
I love a people who worship God
without a bible, for I believe that God loves them also. I love a people
whose religion is all the same [yet so different], and who are free from
religious animosities. I love a people who never raised against me, or
stolen my property, where there was no law to punish for either. I
love a people who have never fought a battle with white men, except on their
own ground.
I love and do not fear mankind
where God has made and left them, for there they are children. I love a
people who live and keep what is their own without locks and keys. I love
all people who do the best they can.
And oh, how I love a people who
do not live for the love of money!"
Submitted by Wilford Bates
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...
Manataka receives dozens of letters each week. Space does not allow us to
publish all letters but we make a concerted effort to print letters that are representative of a majority. Let us know if there is a
topic you feel needs to be addressed.
|
Likes
Carol Elk Looks Back
Dear Manataka;
Thanking you kindly for this month's copy of the
Manataka Smoke Signal News. It resonated true with vibrations
within Ms Carol Elk Petersen's article and a beautiful story of
Little Wolf I loved it.
~Elvina Jean
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Likes Obama?
Dear Editor:
US Senator Barack Obama is the
choice of the Native
American Times to become
the next president of the United
States. This choice made before
the all important super Tuesday
election to get as many Native
Americans to the polls as
possible to push Obama to
victory. This is not an
anti-Hillary vote but a decision
based on what is best for Native
Americans.
Obama has started to
aggressively reach out to Native
Americans in word and deed. In
his words he has put together a
policy which truly addresses
Native problems. In his deeds he
has actually gone to Indian
reservations to seek our votes.
He is also the co-sponsor of the
all important Indian Health Care
Improvement Act. And he
continues to seek the Native
vote.
As he explains it, he says he
understands to be treated
differently and unfairly. Part
of the change he proposes is one
of justice and equality. He is
also proposing sweeping changes
in health care for Native
Americans that include mental
health. While the economy is the
driving issue on the national
stage its ‘Health Stupid, ’ in
Indian Country. People are dying
too soon, babies are not making
it to adulthood, and diabetes is
robbing our way of life in ways
never imagined. It’s hard to
worry about the paycheck when
you are too sick to go anyway.
According to his advisors on
Indian issues, he will address
the nagging problem of criminal
jurisdiction on Indian land.
From runaway methadone use to
domestic violence to murder the
problems on Indian land should
be the providence of Indian
governments where they are able.
It is a significant distinction
because it is clear some in the
federal government doesn’t
believe Indian governments are
legitimate or evolved enough to
handle a more expansive role in
criminal jurisdiction. It is
part of the change this campaign
has represented.
Perhaps more than anything,
Obama inspires us to want and
dream of more. Indian Country
has been waiting for someone
like Barack for a long time. Now
is the time for positive change
and now is the time to vote
Barack Obama for President of
the United States. Native
Americans can make history next
week if we all pull together and
get behind the man who actually
wants our vote.
Sincerely,
Kim Lyman
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Does NOT Like HR2421 and S1870
Hello Manataka,
Congress is moving to seize control of
all US water from bathtubs to baptismal fonts and the
give
Corps of Engineers control of all U.S. waters according
to the
Land Rights Association.
Having been slapped down by the U. S. Supreme Court's
recent decision that the words "navigable waters" in the
Clean Water Act limited federal agencies to regulation
of navigable waters only. Democrats and liberal
Republicans in Congress are striking back.
They are attempting to pass the Clean Water Restoration
Act of 2007 (HR2421 and S1870) that would amend the 1972
Clean Water Act and replace the words "navigable waters"
with "waters of the United States." Further, it defines
"waters of the United States" with such breathtaking
scope that federal agencies would be required to
regulate use of every square inch of the U.S., both
public and private.
The proposed definition states: "The term 'waters of the
United States' means all waters subject to ebb and flow
of the tides, the territorial seas, and all interstate
and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including
lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams),
mudflats, sand flats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie
potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes [a flat dried up
area, esp. a desert basin.] natural ponds and all
impoundment of the foregoing, to the fullest extent that
these waters are subject to the legislative power of
Congress under the Constitution."
Contacts:
Tom Randall, Winningreen LLC, 3712 N. Broadway - PMB
279, Chicago, IL 60613 Phone: 773-857-5086.
trandall@winningreen.com
http://www.landrights.org
Call, fax and e-mail James Oberstar, Chairman of the
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at his
personal office. Honorable James Oberstar, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC 20515. Fax: (202)
225-0699. Send e-mail to Rep. Oberstar care of the
following staff persons:
bill.richard@mail.house.gov
john.schadl@mail.house.gov
chip.gardiner@mail.house.gov
Honorable John Mica (R-FL), Ranking Minority Member,
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 2165
Rayburn House Office Building, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC 20515. Minority Phone: (202) 225-9446.
Minority Fax: (202) 225-6782. Send e-mail to John Mica
and Don Young (R-AK) in care of:
jon.pawlow@mail.house.gov
geoff.bowman@mail.house.gov
john.anderson1@mail.house.gov
Don Parmeter and Linda Runbeck, American Property
Coalition, 161 St. Anthony Ave., Ste. 935, St. Paul, MN
55103 (651) 224-6219
donp@americanpropertycoalition.org
Thank you.
Waya Glassman
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Likes The Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Dear Manataka,
I
have to share this with all Native parents and educators.
The Indian Land Tenure Foundation
http://www.indianlandtenure.org/curriculum/
has put together a free and "native centered curriculum from head
start to higher grades I am so impressed with the work they have
done and will be sharing these lessons with my son.
Register at the above link and then you have access to the
curriculum to download.
I can not tell you how happy I am to see this type of curriculum!?
This will bring positive change to our children, teenagers, and
communities.
For formal educators out there: Keep in mind, ILTF offers grants to
colleges, schools and Headstart to implement the curriculum (in most
cases the curriculum is modified to a local area and subject matter
consultants are brought in to assist.
Pidamayaye, Angelique "Wambdi"
http://www.indianlandtenure.org/curriculum/
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Italian wants a pen-pal
Hello Manataka,
I would love to stay in contact by email
and letters with anyone who likes to talk about American Indian
culture. I really hope to find an American native interested
in keeping in contact with me through Manataka. I have
met indigenous people from Australia, Russia, Africa, and
South America. but I never had the honor to meet a American Indian.
I wish you a great time. Take care! I hope to receive an
answer. Thank you.
Franco Di Lazzaro
macawxe_02@yahoo.it
italia1980msn@hotmail.it
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Questions
about the Sacred Pipe
Hello Manataka,
Is there at Manataka a list of Pipe Keepers? And, is there somewhere
a
correct description of the use of the sacred pipe? May you all
be blessed in the circle of light.
Jean
http://www.users.skynet.be/jeanvanhove
In the over 6,000
printed pages on our website will you not find a description
of using the sacred Pipe. Manataka does not maintain a list of
Pipe Keepers -- for good reason.
There is no such thing as a "correct" use of the sacred Pipe. To
say otherwise is creating dogma (correct thinking) where no dogma
exists. It is time we stop putting sacred beliefs into neat little
boxes that are easily defined and packaged for quick consumption.
Some may attempt to persuade us that their way is "the" way, but
they honestly do not know. It is false ego, vanity that lures
those to preach dogma and doctrine over real spirituality.
They entirely miss the higher meaning of the sacrament and the
depth of its being.
We appreciate your desire to know the ways of the Pipe, but such
things cannot be communicated by an off-hand manner of idle
discussion, writing, or other mechanical means. Have a
wonderful day!
~Editor |
|
Down Under is Grateful
Hello from my heart sacred brothers and
sisters,
Momentous times, momentous energies, many tears and a huge sense of
gratitude, relief and 'its about time' as today, at last, the
Australian government, through our new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd
offered a "Formal Apology" to our sacred sisters and brothers - the
Indigenous Peoples of Australia, for what was done to them.
My brothers and sisters, Spirit is truly moving us all wherever we
are to the knowing and BEingness of ONE peoples - the Creator's
children regardless of our ethnicity, spiritual paths, gender or age
......... there have been many many tears shed today, much gratitude
from our Indigenous Communities, and I feel a certain sense of
humbleness from the wider community as many who didn't understand
how important a National Apology IS, has revealed itself and they
now see why this is the first HUGE step in the path of Peace and
Reconciliation ...
Lynn
Dream Dancer Guy, Australia
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SUSTAINABILITY ALERT:
 THE
DARK SIDE OF ETHANOL AND BIODIESEL
SUBSIDIES
Americans now understand that
climate-destabilizing greenhouse gases
are a major threat to our survival.
Unfortunately, large corporations have
convinced Congress to ignore real
solutions to the crisis (like
significant advances in
fuel-efficiency), while providing
billions of dollars per year in
subsidies to big-agribusiness for
agrofuels.
More than a hundred U.S. based and
international organizations, including
the Organic Consumers Association, are
calling for a moratorium on the more
than $8 billion of annual government
subsidies paid to large corporations
producing agrofuels from
industrial-scale genetically engineered
crops. Family farmers currently
receive only a small portion of annual
funds allocated to agrofuels. While
billions of dollars in subsidies for
corn, soy and palm oil-based agrofuels,
certainly result in higher profits for
corporate giants such as Archer Daniels
Midland, Cargill, and Monsanto, their
overall contribution to reducing
reliance on foreign oil and greenhouse
gases is negligible (see facts below).
Government support for agrofuels in the
U.S. costs taxpayers roughly $2 per
gallon in subsidies at the gas pump.
These misguided funding priorities have
taken tens of billions of dollars of
funding away from essential greenhouse
gas reduction policies, such as energy
conservation, solar and wind power,
fuel-efficiency technologies, and mass
transit. While the OCA supports the
production of biofuels from recycled
waste (such as used vegetable oil,
manure or sewage) and biomass
sustainably grown and harvested for the
benefit of local communities, the
current focus is a recipe for disaster.
Learn more and sign
the Agrofuel Moratorium Petition today:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_9980.cfm |
|
QUICK AGRO-FUEL FACTS
-
 Increasing
fuel efficiency by just 3% would
reduce U.S. dependence on foreign
oil more than all of the agrofuels
combined.
-
The amount of grain it takes to fill
an average gas tank with ethanol
would be enough to feed a person for
a year (source: Foreign Affairs)
-
If the United States stopped growing
food and converted its entire grain
harvest into ethanol, it would
satisfy less than 16 percent of its
automotive needs. (source: Earth
Policy Institute)
-
The majority of U.S. biofuels are
produced from pesticide intensive
genetically engineered crops (soy,
corn).
-
Monocultures of soy and sugar cane
in Latin America and palm oil in
Indonesia and Malaysia have led to
massive deforestation and the loss
of invaluable biodiversity.
-
Current methods of industrial-scale
biofuel production worsen global
warming by increasing deforestation
and degradation of peatlands and
soils, while also creating more
nitrous oxide emissions from
fertilizer use
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WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF BIO-FUELS?
OCA's web forum provides an online
discussion space for like-minded folks.
Over 1500 people have registered to the
forum and are posting thoughts about
everything from organic gardening to
food safety to sustainability issues.
This week's feature topic is on
bio-fuels. What's good about them,
what's bad about them, and what role do
they have in the future of the
sustainability movement?
Click here to read
what other people have to think and join
in the discussions:
http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php
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 FOOD
SAFETY ALERT:
UNLABELED ALLERGENS IN FOOD THREATEN
CHILDREN'S HEALTH
In the last issue of Organic Bytes, we
highlighted Robyn O'Brien as the
activist of the week. Robyn's
organization, AllergyKids.com, is
working with the OCA to close a loophole
in U.S. food labeling regulations that
is allowing common foods to contain
dangerous new allergens without
labeling. Specifically, the U.S. Food
Allergen Labeling and Consumer
Protection Act fails to highlight and
require labels for the now commonplace
foreign or "novel" gene-spliced proteins
and allergens in soy, corn, canola and
other food products. According to Daniel
Sheehan, an FDA scientist, American
children are part of "a large,
uncontrolled and basically unmonitored
human infant experiment." Contact your
Congress-members to require labels on
gene-spliced foreign proteins and
allergens in food products, which are
contributing to the epidemic of food
allergies, autism, ADHD and asthma in
our children.
Learn more and take
action:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_9979.cfm
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 WEB
VIDEO OF THE WEEK:
SWEET MISERY - A POISONED WORLD
If you're still eating foods containing the
artificial sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet,
Equal, diet drinks, etc.), you need to watch
this documentary. Aspartame was approved for
widespread use in the U.S. in July of 1983.
Within six months, brain tumor rates climbed
10%, diabetes went up 30% and brain lymphoma
tumors skyrocketed 60%. Learn how this toxic
chemical was scandalously approved by the FDA
and is now one of the most widespread food
additives in the U.S.
Watch it now:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_9978.cfm
|
This article is brought to you by
ORGANIC BYTES, from
Organic Consumers Assoc.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/
|
ELDER'S MEDITATION
"So don't be
afraid. What we left behind, leave it back there. Try to do some good.
Let's try to take a step, try to think something good." -Wallace Black Elk,
Lakota
Every day is a new day. Sometimes we make mistakes. We do not need to carry
these mistakes along with us. Take the lessons and leave the mistakes behind.
Look forward to today. Today we can do something good. Today we can have
good thoughts. Today we can think kind, uplifting thoughts about ourselves.
Today I will think good about...
My Creator,
today I ask You to direct
my thoughts.
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Manataka "Spirit Award"
for
exemplary volunteer service to the organization and community, this
months'
award by unanimous decision of the Elder Council
goes to the
following member:
|
 Becky
"Flaming Owl Woman" Moore was unanimously selected to
receive the Manataka Spirit Award for the month of March.
The month of March is a special time for the Moore family
because Becky, 55, and her two daughters Andrea, 35, and Amanda, 21,
were all born in March.
Becky has been the tireless and dedicated
chairperson of the Manataka Women's Council since 2002.
Becky receives Manataka visitors at her home
most every day and is constantly preparing for events, trips
and activities with a cheerful smile and a good word for
everyone. Becky enjoys working in the woods
behind her home, where she loves feeding and caring for a
menagerie of critters such as deer, rabbits, squirrels,
and dozens of varieties of birds. Becky Owl Woman is Mother Nature to all her
little friends.
Becky learned the art of sewing from her
mother and grandmother and today she creates Indian regalia
in her spare time for her family and customers. She
earned two Associate of Arts degrees in the field of
business from Garland County Community College in 2001 and
served as a graphic arts editor for the Arkansawyer Magazine
and the Aware Prevention Magazine between 1982 to 1990.
Becky loves Manataka and all its people.
She carries the spirit of Manataka in her heart.
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Nominate someone you know who walks the path.
Spirit Award Nomination
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HEALTH
WATCH...
Action Alerts & Updates
Cloning of Animals for the Livestock Industry
In
mid-January, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a ruling permitting
the use of cloned animals for human food. Although the FDA asked that producers
voluntarily maintain a moratorium, the agency clearly gave a green light to
industry use of cloned animal progeny.
This decision flies in the face of what many animal protection and consumer
advocacy groups, as well as the public, have long lobbied against. The FDA has
chosen to favor industry interests while disregarding the 70% of Americans who
have spoken out against cloning. At a time when the American public is
increasingly concerned with factory farming’s effect on animal welfare and the
environment, the FDA has blatantly omitted consideration of the impact cloning
has on animals and opened the doors for more reckless expansion of factory
farming and agribusiness.
Cloning is another mechanism by which to treat animals as production units
rather than living, feeling and breathing beings. According to cloning
studies, only five percent of cloning attempts are “successful” (even in the
most optimistic scenario, no more than 20-30 percent of cloning attempts will
succeed) and those who do survive, commonly suffer from deformities,
stillbirths, heart, kidney, and liver disorders. The surrogate mothers used in
cloning research often suffer from fetal overgrowth, repeated surgeries and
pregnancy complications that have resulted in death.
Animal cloning is ethically and morally unsound—and once the technology gains a
foothold, there is no turning
back. And unlike drugs approved by the FDA, cloned animal products cannot be
recalled. Neither the FDA nor
the USDA plan to label cloned animal products.
Act Now
Sen. Barbara Mikulski introduced legislation in the Senate to urge further study
of the cloned animal issue. While this issue has been voted on, and passed by
the Senate, the House has yet to act. Please contact your federal representative
(locate your representative at www.vote-smart.org) and urge him or her to vote
“yes” on any legislation that places restrictions on cloning.
Regardless of pending legislation in your state involving cloned animals please
contact your state legislators today to express your concerns about cloning.
Your voice and those of your neighbors, friends, family and coworkers are
important. Please act on this critical issue today!
PLANT MEDICINE...
Sumac
(Rhus glabra)
Other Names: Dwarf
Sumac, Mountain Sumac, Scarlet Sumac, Smooth Sumac, Upland Sumac, White Shoemake,
Vinegar-tree, Red sumac
Used extensively by Native Americans
for food and medicine. Young shoots and roots are peeled and eaten raw. The
fruit is also eaten raw, cooked or made into a lemonade-like drink.
Habitat
A deciduous shrub native to North America found in all 48 mainland states of USA
and in southern Canada. Found growing in thickets and waste ground, open fields
and roadsides. Cultivation is easy, root cuttings are best long taken in
December, it prefers well-drained acid soil and full sun. Sumac is a shrub or
small tree from 6 to 15 feet high, with large pinnate leaves, each leaflet is
lanceolate, serrate and green on top whitish beneath. In the fall the leaves
turn a bright red. Flowers bloom in June and July they are in dense panicles of
greenish-red small five petaled flowers. The edible fruit is a large erect
cluster of small bright red berries. Gather edible young shoots in spring, roots
and berries in fall. Dry for later herb use.
Properties
Used extensively by Native Americans
for food and medicine. Young shoots and roots are peeled and eaten raw. The
fruit is also eaten raw, cooked or made into a lemonade-like drink. The active
constituents in Sumac are being studied for use in many diseases some possible
applications are in the treatment of TB, diabetes, and some cancers. The plant
contains Calcium malate, Dihydrofisetin, Fisetin, Iodine, Gallic-acid-methylester,
tannic and gallic acids, Selenium, Tartaric-acid, and many beneficial minerals.
An infusion of the bark or roots is alterative, antiseptic, astringent,
diuretic, galactogogue, haemostatic, rubefacient and tonic. It is used in
alternative medicine for the treatment of colds, diarrhea, fevers, general
debility, to increase the flow of breast milk, sore mouths and throats, rectal
bleeding, inflammation of the bladder and painful urination, retention of urine
and dysentery and is applied externally to treat excessive vaginal discharge,
burns and skin eruptions.
READ MORE....
FLUORIDE WATCH...
Fluoride-Gate,
naming names at Centers for Disease Control
By Dan Stockin, MPH
Americans'
distrust of societal institutions continues to grow, and now comes evidence
of yet another burgeoning scandal: Fluoride-Gate. A torrent of recent bad
news about the safety of fluorides has brought key names to the surface from
the murky alphabet soup of players in the fluoride game at EPA, CDC, FDA,
NIDCR, USDA, ADA, and AMA. The inevitable questions have begun about who
knew what, when, and why was certain information kept quiet.
The first ominous drumbeats started in 2006, when a National Research Council
committee recommended that the Environmental Protection Agency lower the
allowable amount of fluoride in drinking water - to an unspecified level. As if
that wasn't unnerving enough, the committee specifically stated that kidney
patients, diabetics, seniors, infants, and outdoor workers were susceptible
populations especially vulnerable to harm from fluoride ingestion.
READ MORE....
FUNNY
BONES
No offense intended for any individuals or tribes.
A Dog is a
Dog...
On a hot
summer day, a redneck came into town with his dog. He tied the dog
under the shade of a tree and went into the bar for a cold beer.
About 20 minutes later a policeman came into the bar and asked who
owned the dog tied under the tree. The redneck said that it was his.
The policeman said, "Your dog seems to be in heat."
The redneck replies, "No way dog's in heat---she's cool kawse I got
'er tied unner the shade tree."
The policeman says, "No! You don't understand-- your dog needs to be
bred.
.
"No way," the redneck says, "dog don't need bread, she ain't hongry,
kawse I fed 'ER beef jerky this mornin'.."
Now the policeman gets mad and yells out; "NO! You don't seem to
understand, your dog wants to have sex!"
The redneck looks at him with a long pause and says, "Go 'head I
always wanted a police dog!"
ANIMAL
RIGHTS... AND WRONGS
On
Thin Ice
By Simon Boyle,
The Guardian UK
Could "wild laws" protecting all the Earth's community -
including animals, plants, rivers and ecosystems - save our
natural world?
The 21 species of albatross are some of the world's most
majestic birds. An adult has a wingspan of up to 3.5 metres and
can circumnavigate the world in a single flight. Yet each year,
100,000 of them are killed by longline fishing, where nets up to
80 miles long with thousands of hooks are towed by fishing boats
catching birds as well as fish. As a consequence of this
indiscriminate slaughter, 19 of the 21 species are under threat
of extinction.
The solution, as shown by the RSPB, is relatively simple
and includes weighting the lines so they sink faster, and laying
the lines at night, when the albatrosses are not feeding. Thanks
to the work of the RSPB, changes are now under way. However,
there is no law that protects these birds or looks after their
interests. They can be slaughtered without a second thought.
READ MORE...
ENDANGERED SACRED SITES:
Native American Salt Song Singers will Travel from
across the West to Mourn Ancestors Housed in UC Berkeley Basement
Award-Winning Singers from 14 Indian Bands to Perform
Ancient Songs in UCB’s Sproul Plaza
BERKELEY, Calif, -- Tribal leaders and members of The Salt Song Project,
a program of the Native American Land Conservancy (Non-Profit 501.C.3),
conducted a historic Inter-Tribal ceremony at noon on January 22, 2008
in UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza. The ceremony mourned the thousands of
Native Americans whose remains are stored in drawers and plastic bags a
few hundred feet away in the gym basement adjacent to the Phoebe Hearst
Museum.
Traditional Salt Song singers from fourteen bands of Southern Paiutes
and Chemehuevi will traveled from Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Southern
California to sing the last four songs from a 142 song cycle. The Salt
Songs are mourning songs that traditionally begin at sundown and are
sung through the night and into the morning before sunrise. The last
four songs are extremely important for the purpose of the ceremony,
which is to send the spirits of the Hearst’s skeletal remains back to
their homelands and bring closure to their time here on Mother Earth.
The desecration of Native burial sites by archaeologists has violated
Native American ceremonial and religious beliefs about their ancestors.
“To me, the last four songs are the most important,” said Vivienne Caron
Jake, Kaibab Paiute, who co-founded the Salt Song Project with Matthew
Leivas, Sr., Chemehuevi. “The songs sing about the inevitable death and
also the excitement and desire to get to the other side and how these
individuals on the other side are waiting. The spirit that will soon
join them is drooling at the mouth in excitement and just tasting what
is referred to as the happy hunting grounds or heaven."
READ MORE...
Yucca Mountain Sacred Site to Become a Nuclear Waste Dump
Yucca Mountain
has been and continues to be a sacred and beloved site for thousands of
years to the Native Shoshone tribes. It is an herb gathering site, for
rituals, and as a part of their stories. Yucca Mountain is known in
Shoshone language as Snake Mountain. It is said that the snake was
headed north when it froze where it is.
It is also said
the mountain will move again and "flip around". Geologists say that
there are thirteen different fault lines running through the mountain.
Using the Yucca Mountain site to 'dispose' of nuclear waste is a very
risky and therefore an unacceptable choice as a nuclear waste
repository. There are serious risks associated with the 'disposing' and
transportation of nuclear waste. One of the most deadly waste materials
on earth, nuclear waste should be stored on-site, in retrievable casks,
and not transported across the country. There is an extremely high
likelihood that there will be adverse impacts to the drinking water
supply, impacts from truck transport of nuclear waste, socioeconomic
impacts, impacts to cultural resources, and environmental justice
issues.
A nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain is illegal and in violation
of human rights. There is ongoing litigation involving the United
States' violation of the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley with the Western
Shoshone which clearly defines territorial borders for their nation of
Newe Sogobia as well outside the proposed land withdrawal. This treaty
was fully ratified by Congress, and is legally "the supreme law of the
land". In April of 2004, the United Nation's Committee to End Racial
Discrimination upheld the Shoshone claim in a record decision, and their
declaration clearly identifies the Yucca Mountain Repository as one of
several ongoing serious human rights violations by the United States
against the Western Shoshone Nation. Corbin Harney condemned the
government's actions, particularly the Department of Energy saying, "It
is with blatant disrespect that the DOE continues to violate our Mother
Earth as well as disregard the Treaty of Ruby Valley." The truth "from
the beginning," he once said, is that "the people are going to have to
wake up to the problem and get a cleaner source of power, wind or solar,
that doesn't have waste.
"The eyes of the elders are on us. The fate of the unborn is rolling
toward the cliff, the voice of Corbin Harney is ringing in my ears,
"It's on your shoulders now...". ~ B Dyken.
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TO PAGE 3
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