DIVERSE SANCTUARY'S RAINBOW NATIVE TRIBAL CIRCLE Discussions - THE DIVERSE SANCTUARY NETWORK

"Indian women are victimized at astonishingly high rate"

2009-09-11T20:40:43.002Z

RE: "Indian women are victimized at astonishingly high rate"
MUCH PEACE & LOVE TO...
SAVE THE SACRED SITES
Date: Aug 6, 2007 3:51 AM

"Indian women are victimized at astonishingly high rates -
Posted by: "Shirley"
Reposted by Dave
Sun Aug 5, 2007 6:01 am (PST)
Women and children can't wait for justice
Friday, August 3, 2007

"Indian women are victimized at astonishingly high rates -- 2 1/2 times the
national average, according to Justice Department data. More than one-third
of all Indian women will be raped at least once during their lifetimes, and
nearly two-thirds will be violently assaulted. Nearly 90% of rapes and sexual
assaults involve non-Indian assailants.
To exploit the jurisdictional void, some pedophiles became teachers in
Bureau of Indian Affairs schools -- where they had little or no fear of
prosecution even after being caught molesting Indian kids. Non-Indian drug gangs have
discovered this legal loophole and have set up methamphetamine operations on
reservations. Other non-Indian traffickers have intentionally married Indian
women to establish themselves on reservations, where their risk of prosecution
is lowest.
Regardless of the cause, the most logical remedy is quite simple: Substitute
the word "persons" for the word "Indians" in one sentence of the Indian
Civil Rights Act.
That small change would allow tribes to prosecute anyone, Indian and
non-Indian alike, who commits a crime on Indian land. Tribal and federal prosecutors
could then work complementarily, just as state and federal prosecutors do.
Why should a non-Indian who molests an Indian child or rapes an Indian woman
be able to escape justice merely by committing the crime on a reservation?
Congress has fixed other jurisdictional voids created by Supreme Court
decisions. It should do so again, and soon. Indian women and children cannot
afford to wait another 30 years for justice."
Get the Story:
_Gavin Clarkson: Reservations beyond the law _
(http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-clarkson3aug03,0,1867347.story)
(The Los Angeles Times 8/3)

Amnesty International Report:
_Full Report_
(http://www.amnestyusa.org/women/maze/report.pdf) | _Press Release_
(http://www.amnestyusa.org/human-rights/page.do?id=1031002)

We Shall Remain: Teaching Native American Culture Within American History

2009-04-04T06:27:07.143Z

MUCH PEACE, LOVE, RESPECT & SUPPORT TO

SAVE THE SACRED SITES ALLIANCE
http:// www.myspace.com/savethesacredsites
Date: Apr 4, 2009 1:02 AM

We Shall Remain: Teaching Native American Culture Within American History
By Eric Langhorst - April 01, 2009

How do you teach Native American history and culture in the context of an American history class? Is the Native American content taught in separate components or woven within the framework of the remainder of the curriculum? As an 8th grade history teacher, I know that unfortunately in many textbooks Native American culture is compartmentalized and taught from an outside perspective. "We Shall Remain," the new documentary series from American Experience and PBS airing in April and May (check your local listings), is an invaluable resource for teachers who wish to teach Native American culture within the curriculum of United States history courses. The series includes five films, each offering a unique approach, depicting the role of Native Americans within the context of American history. The five episodes include: "After the Mayflower," "Tecumseh's Vision," "Trail of Tears," "Geronimo" and "Wounded Knee."

I recently asked my 8th grade American history students what immediately came to mind when I said "Native American." Several mentioned the help Native Americans provided the Corps of Discovery on their expedition to the West, a topic we recently discussed in class. Many of the responses, however, characterized Native Americans in militaristic terms - focusing on warfare, attacks and battles. Additional common responses included "Thanksgiving," "teepees," and "hunting bison." These responses left me disappointed, in part with the limits of my instruction. The history of Native Americans in North America is much richer and more fascinating than just these highly stereotypical glances.

The sheer volume of content - 7.5 hours - that comprises "We Shall Remain" can invoke two emotions in educators: excitement and intimidation. The content is incredible, as is to be expected from an American Experience production, but it can seem overwhelming to a classroom teacher with a curriculum already stretched thin. As I watched the series, I viewed the content from two perspectives: 1) personal content enrichment and 2) inclusion in the curriculum. I discovered that there are ample opportunities for both.

For example, I discovered that Episode 2 - "Tecumseh's Vision" - matches the curriculum for my class. I currently teach about Tecumseh in my junior high American history class, but our focus has traditionally been limited to general references to his historical importance in uniting several Native American tribes in defiance of the United States government. As I watched the 90-minute episode, I was captivated by the story of Tecumseh and his relationship with his brother. The episode shows Tecumseh as so much more than just a Native American leader who rebelled against the invading American settlers. Tecumseh is depicted as a natural leader with the ability to assemble a diverse group of cultures into a unified cause in an attempt to save their way of life. Leaders from both the British and United States militaries respected his leadership qualities. As a teacher, I can now describe with much more depth the story of Techumseh's life. This is an example of how teachers can use this series for personal content enrichment.

Showing the entire episode in class may not be possible for some teachers due to time constraints, but I do plan on using a segment from the episode in class with my students as well. The five-minute clip I will show is the dramatic meeting between eventual president William Henry Harrison and Tecumseh. With a proper lead in, the students will appreciate the tension and importance of this moment.

Additionally, I found that episode 1 - "After the Mayflower" - includes several segments describing the economic interdependence between the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims, which I can incorporate into my class. Many history teachers struggle with techniques to teach economic concepts in the United States history curriculum, so this film is a valuable new resource.

Episode 5 - "Wounded Knee" - describes the 1973 standoff between supporters of the American Indian Movement and United States Marshalls, which lasted 71 days. I think an excellent activity for a high school civics class would be a comparison of the Wounded Knee incident and other struggles for civil rights in American history.

"We Shall Remain" has an excellent companion website that offers a variety of resources, many of which can help teachers expand the discussion of Native American culture in your history classes. Many students have the misconception that all Native American culture has faded away. The website includes two resources to help your students make a connection with what it means to be a Native American in the 21st century. ReelNative is a collection of short - 5 to 10 minute - video documentaries depicting contemporary issues as seen through the eyes of Native Americans. The videos are available for viewing online and are a great way to generate discussion in class. Native Now, another section on the website, describes major issues affecting Native culture today, including language, sovereignty and enterprise. This section of the site includes video interviews, articles, and links to additional resources.

The website will also include a comprehensive Teacher's Guide with descriptions of individual episodes and chapters; comprehension, discussion and analysis questions related to each episode; activities to incorporate the films in class; and links to additional information.

Watching "We Shall Remain" has helped me reconsider the manner in which I teach Native American history in my own classroom. I found that I could do more to integrate Native American culture into additional units of study.

How do you teach Native American history and culture in your history classes? I encourage you to share your experiences. Please leave a comment on this blog and help us to create a month-long discussion of the topic featuring teachers with diverse perspectives.
Many more links at:

-----

Teresa Anahuy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FirstPeoplesNews

SUPPORT PINE RIDGE RESERVATION

2009-03-27T12:54:42.116Z

American Indian Movement on eBay 100% $ to Pine Ridge Rez!

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NativeProgress.org
Date: Mar 27, 2009 7:03 AM
Subject: American Indian Movement on eBay 100% $ to Pine Ridge Rez!

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NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY ~ AS IT IS BEING WRITTEN TODAY

2009-03-17T07:02:35.881Z

WITH WIKIPEDIA NOW NATIVE AMERICAN'S ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR SIDE OF HISTORY... AS IT IS BEING WRITTEN NOW...

REF. PAGE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_history_events#Battles_of_the_Native_Americas

Battles of the Native Americas

Survival Mistakes That Will Kill You

2009-02-21T07:58:22.248Z

REF. ARTICLE
http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/survival/warm-weather/2009/02/survival-mistakes?page=0%2C0
Article by Rich Johnson, February 18, 2009

1. Underestimating the risk

Survival situations often begin as nothing more imposing than a day hike in familiar territory. You take off down a pleasant path that you’ve hunted many times before, so you’re confident that nothing can go wrong. My file cabinet is full of stories that begin just like that … then something DOES go wrong (an unexpected snowstorm blows in, you step off the trail and twist your ankle badly, clouds descend and wrap everything in dense fog and you get disoriented, a snake bites, a cougar attacks, a bear steps out of the brush and takes a swipe at you, etc.), and the whole thing ends up in the headlines as a survival incident. Part of the problems is that we tend to overestimate our abilities. That’s because most of us have never been tested to the extreme, so we don’t really know what our abilities are. It’s the shortage of experience that leads to a lack of good judgment, and that leads to disaster. And the rest of the problem is that we underestimate the risks posed by an unpredictable lady called Mother Nature.

The solution to this problem is to always expect the unexpected. Have a plan of action to cover every contingency. If you’re in bear country, expect to encounter bears. Take precautions (make noise to alert bears that you’re in the area); use your nose, eyes and ears to alert you to the possible presence of bears; and learn how to respond to a bear confrontation.

The same goes for every other potential risk. Anticipate the worst, and carry appropriate survival gear to get you through a few unexpected nights in the woods, if conditions deteriorate or you become stranded for any reason.

2. Poor route selection

Choosing a poor route, as you move through the wilderness is a recipe for disaster. Outdoorsmen of little experience or poor judgment will sometimes opt for a shorter route between two points, even if it poses greater risk than would be faced if a longer route were chosen. This poor judgment is even displayed on TV these days, as the host of a popular program that touts itself as pitting man vs. the wild foolishly climbs down the face of a waterfall, using a vine as his rappelling rope, when he could have (and should have) hiked farther and taken a different route. Or he scrambles pell-mell down a scree slope, hooting and hollering like a child who has no understanding of the potential consequences. To top it all off, he boldly advises his viewing audience that he is showing them how to survive in an extreme environment. This is not good survival education, and it’s going to get somebody hurt.

In the wilderness, if you become injured, a survival situation has begun. You simply can’t afford an injury, especially if you are alone. And if you’re in company with others, your injury puts the whole group at heightened risk. It slows everyone down, and the contribution you would have been able to make, had you remained healthy, is diminished. Always search out and use the route that poses the least risk of injury.

A companion to choosing the best route is to move at a safe pace. On the aforementioned TV show, the host foolishly moves across the landscape as if he’s in a race, running through uneven terrain, jumping into space to grab a limb, leaping from boulder to boulder. Moving too fast is asking for trouble in the form of injury and/or exhaustion. Slow down, place your feet carefully, maintain your balance, relax so you don’t expend energy needlessly, and move at a pace that keeps you from sweating.

3. Inability to build a suitable shelter

The word commonly used by the media when describing someone who failed to survive an episode in the wilds is exposure, as in “The man died of exposure.” But what they’re really saying is that the victim died of hypothermia. That’s the big killer in the cool season. In hot weather, it’s some heat-related illness such as heat stroke. No matter which way it goes, whether in hot weather or cold, the reason people die is often because they lack the ability to erect a suitable shelter to protect themselves from the elements.

The truth of the matter is that if you get wet, there’s no way you’re going to stay warm. The effects of evaporation will make your wet clothing act like an air conditioner. So sheltering yourself from precipitation is a high priority. But even if you’re not wet, the wind can suck the heat right out of your body by means of convection — so sheltering yourself from the wind is almost as important as staying dry. If you sit or lie on something that is colder than your core body temperature (98.6 degrees F.) you will lose heat through conduction. That means sheltering yourself from contact with cold objects is also very important. If you fail to provide shelter against precipitation, wind, and contact with cold objects, you will be on your way toward hypothermia.

Likewise, in hot weather, if you fail to shelter yourself from the blazing sun, hot wind, and contact with warm objects, your body core temperature will rise, you will become dehydrated, and you will be on your way to a heat-related illness that could easily take your life. Among the most prevalent mistakes made by people stranded in the outdoors is the failure to build adequate shelter.

4. Inability to build a fire

One of the most comforting things in the wilds is a cheery campfire. Aside from all the other important functions performed by a fire, keeping you company on a dark and lonely night is among the most important. The companionship of a fire might help keep you from panic, which leads to disaster. So the ability to build and maintain a campfire is a top priority, and failure to be able to do this can be a nail in your coffin.

But besides being a cheerful companion on a gloomy night, a campfire performs vital survival tasks. Because pure drinking water is so important, the ability of a fire to boil water, thus killing all the organic contaminants, is one of the most critical functions. A minute of full rolling boil is sufficient to kill the worst of the bad bugs.

Signaling for help can be performed both day and night by a proper fire. Use the bright blaze at night to show searchers where your camp is located. Carefully feed green foliage into a strong fire to create smoke to show searchers the way to your camp during the day. If you have plastic, rubber, or oil available, burning those things will create black smoke that shows up for a long distance.

Cooking food is another prime function of a campfire, and one not to be taken lightly. By preparing a hot meal at least once per day, your spirits will remain higher and you’ll be putting warmth inside the core of your body to help ward off hypothermia. Hot beverages are also very useful in this regard.

Drying your clothes, and warming your body are obviously of great importance in a survival situation. Taking all these things in combination, it can easily be said that the inability to start and maintain a fire is one of the most severe mistakes that can be made in a survival incident.

5. Inability to signal for help

The worst thing you can do with a survival situation is stay in it as long as possible, just hoping to endure until somebody finds you. Unfortunately, many survival incidents drag on way too long because the individual is not equipped or knowledgeable about how to use signaling methods to call for help.

There are two low-tech types of signals — those you can see and those you can hear. Both employ methods of disrupting the natural environment to attract the attention of someone who is close enough to hear your audible signal, or is within range of a visible signal. A high-tech category of signal is electronic — using a radio or locator beacon to notify someone of your plight.

Store-bought equipment for the low-tech methods are a signal whistle, a mirror, colorful cloth panels, and fire starters. Natural resources that can be used for the same purposes include logs, rocks, branches, strips of bark, snow, the soil, and just about anything else you can find.

It’s obvious what to do with the store-bought gear, but don’t overlook the potential for using natural resources for making signaling devices. Passive visible signals can be created by disturbing the landscape — piling logs or rocks in a pattern that is unnatural, and will therefore attract the eye of a searcher. Trenching the letters SOS in the soil will accomplish the same result, aided by the shadow cast where the soil is piled up alongside the trench. That same method can be used by trenching in snow, or by positioning dark tree boughs on a white field of snow. Anything that disturbs the natural appearance of the ground will help.

6. Inability to purify water for drinking

The human body can survive a long time without food, but water is another story. Without a constant supply of pure drinking water, dehydration sets in quickly. Along with that come loss of energy, the onset of poor judgment, and the eventual loss of the will to survive. The victim just wants to lie down and not do anything. Dehydration is generally thought of as a warm weather problem, but actually it is easy to suffer the same malady during cold weather. In fact, it’s the very fact that the weather is cold that creates the problem. Cold air is dry, so every breath you take helps dehydrate your body. Being active at high elevation is worse than the lowlands, because of the arid air and the fact that you are working harder and sweating more. But the sneaky thing is that during cold weather you don’t normally feel thirsty, so you actually have to consciously remind yourself to drink.

During periods of hot weather, failure to drink enough water leads past dehydration to heat exhaustion and deadly heat stroke.

Water intake is vital to survival, but making sure the water you drink is pure is also important. Waterborne organisms such as giardia or cryptosporidium can cause severe illness that increases dehydration and reduces your ability to carry on your survival efforts. Boiling water at a rolling boil for a minute or more will kill the organisms. But it is easier to use a quality water filter than to have to stop and build a fire every time you need to purify water. Chemical purification is effective, but requires a period of time to allow the chemicals to do their work before you can drink. And if the water being treated is cold or turbid, extra time is needed.

If you have no way to purify water, you are stuck with the decision to take your chances with illness and drink the water, or refuse to drink and suffer sure dehydration. It’s best to avoid having to make that choice by always being prepared to purify the water you find.

7. Poor clothing selection

If you watch certain reality programs on TV, you might get the impression that a shorts and sandals make good survival clothing. The Hollywood concept of survival is that it’s more important to show off your sixpack abs than to wear a shirt. Nothing could be more wrong. Your clothing is your first line of defense against the elements. It’s your protection against injury from scrapes and scratches as you move through the brush, as well as from bug bites and sunburn. Clothing is your most fundamental shelter, so it must be chosen well.

One of the mistakes some folks make is in choosing the wrong material. There is no question that cotton is comfortable, but wool is more protective and durable. While cotton absorbs and holds moisture next to the body, wool wicks moisture away from the skin and continues to offer insulation value even when wet. This characteristic helps prevent hypothermia.

Outdoor shirts should be long-sleeved, and pants must provide full-length coverage for your legs. This is for protection, not fashion. The sleeves should be able to be buttoned around the wrists to prevent too easy movement of air during cold weather. It’s okay to roll the sleeves up during the heat of the day if there is no risk of injury to the arms, but be aware of the potential for sunburn and take precautions. Zip-off pant legs are handy for times in camp when you want to cool off, and the legs are not at risk of injury, sunburn, or attack by insects. When choosing fabric, remember that dark colors absorb heat from the sun, while light colors reflect the heat.

Head cover is important, and a wide brim hat offers the best protection. And finally, one of the most common mistakes by inexperienced outdoor enthusiasts is the choice of inappropriate footwear. Every move you make outdoors is done on your feet, so wear sturdy trail shoes or boots that fit perfectly and provide adequate support and protection. If your feet or ankles become injured or you come up with blistered feet, you’re done.

When it comes to outdoor clothing, choose practical over fashionable every time. The wilderness isn’t Hollywood, and nobody cares how good you look.

8. Being unprepared to spend the night (or longer)

A survival incident is not fluffy camping, but if you’re prepared with the proper survival kit and some basic knowledge you can at least improve the physical aspect of your living conditions. The basic items that should be carried in a survival kit include an emergency blanket or bivvy, fire making equipment, signaling devices (mirror and whistle), some high-calorie food (Power Bars, GORP, etc.), water filter or treatment chemicals, a good knife, some sturdy line such a paracord, and of course a map and compass.

That’s the hardware, but the software is even more important. In case you’re wondering, the software is in your head. This is the knowledge of how to survive, and the mental preparation for spending isolated time alone facing danger. Without the software, the hardware won’t take you very far. You can’t buy the software at the sporting goods store — it is only available by spending time outdoors practicing primitive survival techniques (that means using only natural resources to solve all your problems), and by gaining enough field experience that you become calm and confident in the wilds. That way, if you are unexpectedly thrust into a situation in which you must spend one or more night out (due to injury, being trapped by bad weather, or getting lost), you can settle into the routine of setting up a survival camp and spending the night panic-free.

9. Failure to file a trip plan — or deviating from a plan that was filed

One of the most common mistakes made by novices and experienced outdoor enthusiasts alike is the failure to prepare a trip plan and leave it with friends and loved ones back home. Those with little outdoor experience probably neglect this out of ignorance, and veteran outdoorsmen probably think they don’t need to go to all the trouble, because they are experts.

The reason to file a trip plan is to let people know where to begin a search operation, if you fail to show up on schedule back home or at work. When people notice that you’re not where you’re supposed to be, they can take a look at the trip plan and begin searching for you where you said you were going to be traveling.

After filing the trip plan, serious problems can develop if you deviate from the plan without notifying the folks to whom you gave the original itinerary. That can throw a search and rescue operation into confusion, as search teams begin the search in the wrong place, based on information in the trip plan.

When creating your trip plan, include the following information: your name, address, phone number; next of kin; where you’re going; the intended route of travel; whom you intend to meet up with or travel with, and their phone numbers and addresses; vehicle description; a description of your clothing and outdoor gear (including colors); pertinent medical needs (so searchers can bring necessary medications).

If you change your plans, always notify everyone who has been given your trip plan.

10. Not stopping to make camp when lost

A dangerous and potentially deadly mistake is to not stop and make camp as soon as you realize that you’re lost, thinking that if you just keep going you’ll get out of the survival situation sooner. The reality is that, when you’re lost you don’t know where you are. And that means you don’t know where anything else is, either. You have no idea which direction to go to reach safety, because you don’t know where you are in relation to that safe haven. So if you keep moving, you might inadvertently be traveling away from your hoped-for safe place. If a search team is on the ground looking for you, you might also be moving away from them, which prolongs and confuses the search. The rule is: when you realize that you’re lost, stop. Make camp and establish some signaling methods in an open clearing where they will be more easily spotted by searchers.

Even if you’re not lost, there is a closely related mistake that gets some folks in trouble. It is the error of not stopping early enough in the day to be able to set up camp before being overtaken by darkness. This leaves you stumbling around in the dark, which risks injury and/or confusion about location. By mid-afternoon, start looking for a good site to make camp on level ground, out of the wind, with an adequate firewood supply and water supply nearby. Get your shelter put together, then spend time gathering enough firewood to see you through the night. Collect and purify enough water for that evening and the next morning. Get a fire started, and then settle down for the night. If you give yourself enough daylight to accomplish all this at a casual pace, you’ll not only avoid injury caused by rushing around in a panic trying to get it all done as darkness is closing in around you, but you’ll also protect your internal energy supply and feel more relaxed.

Native Survival Medicine

http://www.survival-homestead.com/survival-medicine.html

ALSO SEE ATTACHED PDF

"SURVIVAL MEDICINE" DIRECTLY BELOW

RE: The TRUE Story of Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T09:22:28.547Z

MUCH PEACE & LOVE TO...
SAVE THE SACRED SITES ALLIANCE
Date: Nov 25, 2008 1:46 AM

The TRUE Story of Thanksgiving

First official document proclaiming
"THANKSGIVING"
As we know it today
Came after the event below

The year was 1637.....700 men, women and children of the Pequot Tribe, gathered for their "Annual Green Corn Dance" in the area that is now known as Groton, Conn.

While they were gathered in this place of meeting, they were surrounded and attacked by mercenaries of the English and Dutch. The Indians were ordered from the building and as they came forth, they were shot down. The rest were burned alive in the building.

The next day, the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony declared : "A day of Thanksgiving, thanking God that they had eliminated over 700 men, women and children. For the next 100 years, every "Thanksgiving Day" ordained by a Governor or President was to honor that victory, thanking God that the battle had been won.

Source: Documents of Holland , 13 Volume Colonial Documentary History, letters and reports form colonial officials to their superiors and the King in England and the private papers of Sir William Johnson, British Indian agent for the New York colony for 30 years. Researched by William B.Newell (Penobscot Tribe) Former Chairman of the University of Connecticut Anthropology Department

Mistakes, Lies & Misconceptions
about American Indian people

The Thanksgiving Myth

Let me begin by stating that thousands of years before the 'official'
Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed by Governor Winthrop of the
Massachussetts Bay Colony in 1637, North American Indigenous
people across the continent had celebrated seasons of Thanksgiving.
'Thanksgiving' is a very ancient concept to American Indian nations.
The big problem with the American Thanksgiving holiday is its false
association with American Indian people.The infamous 'Indians and
pilgrims' myth.It is good to celebrate Thanksgiving, to be thankful
for your blessings.It is not good to distort history, to falsely portray
the origin of this holiday and lie about the truth of its actual inception.
Here are some accurate historical facts about the true origin of this
American holiday that may interest you.........................................

'Thanksgiving' did not begin as a great loving relationship between the
pilgrims and the Wampanoag, Pequot and Narragansett people.In fact,
in October of 1621 when the 'pilgrim' survivors of their first winter in
Turtle Island sat down to share the first unofficial 'Thanksgiving' meal,
the Indians who were there were not even invited! There was no turkey,
squash, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie.A few days before this alleged
feast took place, a company of 'pilgrims' led by Miles Standish actively
sought the head of a local Indian leader, and an 11 foot high wall was
erected around the entire Plymouth settlement for the very purpose of
keeping Indians out! Officially, the holiday we know as 'Thanksgiving'
actually came into existence in the year 1637.Governor Winthrop of the
Massachussetts Bay Colony proclaimed this first official day of Thanksgiving
and feasting to celebrate the return of the colony's men who had arrived
safely from what is now Mystic, Connecticut.They had gone there to
participate in the massacre of over 700 Pequot men, women and children,
and Mr.Winthrop decided to dedicate an official day of thanksgiving
complete with a feast to 'give thanks' for their great 'victory'....

As hard as it may be to conceive, this is the actual origin of our current
Thanksgiving Day holiday.Many American Indian people these days do
not observe this holiday, for obvious reasons.I see nothing wrong with
gathering with family to give thanks to our Creator for our blessings and
sharing a meal.I do, however, hope that Americans as a whole will one
day acknowledge the true origin of this holiday, and remember the pain,
loss, and agony of the Indigenous people who suffered at the hands of
the so-called 'pilgrims'.It is my hope that children's plays about 'the
first Thanksgiving', complete with Indians and pilgrims chumming at
the dinner table, will someday be a thing of the past.Why perpetuate
a lie? Let us face the truths of the past, and give thanks that we are
learning to love one another for the rich human diversity we share.

(Written by John Two-Hawks)

http://www. nativecircle. com/mlmThanksgivingmyth. html

In peace & solidarity,
Tamra
www. NDNnews. com
www. protectsacredsites. org
www. protectbearbutte. com

PROTECT BEAR BUTTE!
"Providing news and information about Native American Issues & Causes"
"Helping to make a difference for our people in Indian Country, one day at a time.What will you do today to help make a difference?"

"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them.If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"
......excerpt from One Nation, One Land, One People by Tamra Brennan, 2006

TOTEMS ~ A LOOK INTO YOUR SOUL ~ OR MINE...

2008-10-07T20:15:03.601Z

THIS SITE EXPLAINS TOTEMS

http://wolfs_moon.tripod.com/birthtotembear.html

WHAT THEY ARE. HOW THEY COME TO YOU. WHAT THEY MEAN.
WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IS.

WHILE IT MAKES IT SIMPLE FOR YOU TO FIND YOUR OWN.

I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF THROUGH
LEARNING YOUR TOTEMS.

I MUST SAY... I KNEW MINE IN AWAY... I KNEW THAT THROUGHOUT MY LIFE THESE WERE THE ANIMALS THAT APPEARED TO ME AND SHOWED THEMSELVES TO ME THE MOST OR HAD THE MOST SIGNIFICANCE IN MY LIFE.

SEE ATTACHED "SHARE" FILE... BELOW THIS POST, TITLED "MY TOTEMS" TO KNOW ME A LITTLE DEEPER.

THE EXCERPTS I HAVE QUOTED HERE IN THIS FILE ON THE DIFFERENT TOTEMS ARE JUST A SMALL PART OF WHAT EACH TOTEM MEANS AND IT'S IMPORTANCE...

PLEASE VISIT THE SITE LINK INCLUDED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TOTEMS... AND HOW TO FIND YOUR OWN...

I KNOW THIS JOURNEY HAS VALIDATED WHAT I HAVE ALREADY KNOWN... AND EVEN HELPED IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT ALL.

HOPE IT HAS HELPED YOU SOME...

GOOD LUCK !!! ON FINDING YOUR OWN.

DONADAGOHAVI,(LATER)
MUCH PEACE & LOVE...
REV. MARY

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT TRIBAL CITIZENSHIP

2008-08-09T21:55:46.820Z

PLEASE PAST ANY TRIBAL INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE HERE IN THIS FOLDER

THANKS !

RE: The Facts on Cherokee Citizenship

MUCH PEACE & LOVE TO...
SAVE THE SACRED SITES ALLIANCE
Date: Aug 9, 2008 4:35 PM

This is a very informative video. I hope everyone getrs a chance to watch it and forwards it widely.
(Click on link below)
Dave

The Facts on Cherokee Citizenship

MIKECHEROKEE@aol.com .. Sat, Aug 9, 2008 at 7:08 AM
Reply-To: UNA-News-owner@yahoogroups.com
To: UNA-News@yahoogroups.com

Cherokees have the right to grant citizenship to individuals with at least one Indian ancestor

Like all other Indian tribes in the United States, the Cherokee have the right to grant citizenship to individuals with at least one Indian ancestor. The Freedmen controversy has generated a great deal of misinformation.
In case you have not seen the video on the Cherokee Nation website that explains the issue please take a few minutes to review it at: http://www. cherokeenationfacts. org/site/video/the_truth_about_the_freedmen_issue

Members of the U.S. Congress are usually careful not to let politics interfere with the judicial process. Unfortunately, some are doing just that with H.R. 2824 and other Congressional actions like amendments to reauthorization and appropriations bills, which target the Cherokee Nation because of a citizenship issue that is currently being litigated in U.S. and tribal courts. Urge your elected officials to oppose H.R. 2824 and similar amendments to reauthorization and appropriation bills. Tell them to let the courts decide.

On the same webpage above you will find an opportunity to let your Congressional representative hear your voice on this matter. You can tell them to let the courts decide this issue, and not Congress.

Go to: http://capwiz. com/cherokee/issues/alert/?alertid=11189521&type=CO

Stop Tribal Termination
Tell Congress to Say NO to H.R.
2824
The Facts on Cherokee Citizenship

MYTH: You need to have a large degree of Cherokee blood to be eligible for citizenship.

FACT: The Cherokee Nation requires no blood quantum. To be considered a Cherokee citizen, you need one Indian ancestor listed on the 1906 federal census of our people, known as the Dawes Rolls. With that one Indian ancestor, a person is part of our Cherokee family regardless of what other heritage he or she might have.
For eligibility information, please visit http://www. cherokee. org/Services/Registration/146/Default. aspx.

MYTH: The Cherokee Nation is kicking African-Americans out of the tribe.

FACT: The Cherokee Nation is among the most diverse of Indian tribes with thousands of citizens who share African, Latino, Asian, Caucasian and other ancestry, including more than 1,500 descendants of former slaves. All have at least one Indian ancestor on the Dawes Rolls. African-Americans with an Indian ancestor on the Dawes Rolls have been, and will continue to be, citizens of the Cherokee Nation. See for yourself -- watch a video of Cherokee Nation citizens.

https://www. meetthecherokee. org/videos/cherokee_citizens

MYTH: The March 2007 Cherokee Constitutional amendment election allowed adopted whites with no blood quantum listed on the Dawes Rolls to remain citizens.

FACT: First, the Cherokee Nation has no blood quantum requirement. To be a citizen, one must have a single Indian ancestor listed on the Dawes Rolls. Second, the Constitutional amendment affects the citizenship of all non-Indians who were granted citizenship rights under a 2006 tribal court ruling, regardless of their ethnic background.
This means that, in addition to affecting 2,867 descendants of those who were originally enrolled as non-Indian Freedmen, the amendment also affected nine descendants of Intermarried Whites

MYTH: Non-Indians who have long been Cherokee citizens are now being “disenrolled.
”

FACT: The March 2007 Constitutional amendment only affected certain people who were granted tribal citizenship under a 2006 tribal court ruling, which came down just one year before the amendment passed. This vote affirmed the people's passionate belief that you need one Indian ancestor listed on the base roll to be a Cherokee. Since the amendment's passage, in May 2007, Cherokee tribal courts temporarily reinstated those who had been affected by the amendment pending the outcome of the litigation over this issue.

MYTH: It is unfair to rely on the Dawes Rolls as the base roll of the Cherokees to prove Indian ancestry.

FACT: The Dawes Rolls are not perfect, but they are the best, most authoritative historical document we have to determine who our Indian ancestors were, going back 100 years.

The Truth About Our History

MYTH: The Freedmen and other non-Indians who were affected by the March 2007 Constitutional amendment had long been part of the Cherokee Nation.

FACT: The non-Indians who were affected by the March 2007 amendment became citizens only following a 2006 tribal court ruling. Since 1975, the Cherokee people have spoken several times that, to be a citizen, one must have one Indian ancestor listed on the Dawes Rolls.

MYTH: The Cherokee Nation is expelling all the descendants of their former slaves.

FACT: There are more than 1,500 descendants of former slaves who are Cherokee citizens today because they can find an Indian ancestor listed on the Dawes Rolls. The Cherokee Nation is offering free genealogical expertise to assist any descendant of Freedmen who wants to research whether they can find such an Indian ancestor and thus become a permanent citizen. That said, slavery was a grave injustice and a painful chapter in our nation's history, when 2% of Cherokees owned slaves. It should be noted, however, that the Cherokee Nation voluntarily freed these slaves in 1863.

MYTH: The Cherokee Nation has broken the Treaty of 1866.

FACT: The Cherokee Nation has fully honored its treaty obligations. Based on the history and the law, today's Freedmen descendants who cannot find an Indian ancestor on the Dawes Rolls have no right to Cherokee citizenship. Subsequent congressional action in 1902 closed the Cherokee rolls as of that year, limiting enrollment to those already born as of September 1, 1902. It was in 1975, with the new Cherokee Constitution, that the Nation sought to rejuvenate itself and once again define itself as a tribe made of Indians. Regardless of what anyone believes, federal and tribal courts are currently reviewing these issues.

The Truth About Legality

MYTH: The special election that the Cherokee Nation held on March 3, 2007 was illegal.

FACT: The election was legal, and not one complaint was filed in tribal court about its conduct. The Cherokee people cherish our democratic freedoms, and we paid dearly for them. These include the right to vote and to determine for ourselves the meaning of our Indian identity. The record turnout for this constitutional vote proved that Cherokee identity is an issue that is close to the heart of the Cherokee people.

MYTH: Voter turnout for the special election was extremely low.

FACT: More than 8,700 people voted, which was a higher turnout than the vote for the Cherokee Nation's Constitution in 2003.

The Truth About Our Motives

MYTH: Cherokees are motivated by racism to only want full-blooded Indians in the tribe.

FACT: This is a vicious lie. The Cherokee Nation welcomes every eligible Cherokee citizen regardless of his or her other racial heritage and embraces its thousands of citizens who share African, Latino, Asian, Caucasian, and other ancestry. Race has nothing to do with citizenship. If you have one Indian ancestor on the Dawes Rolls, you are eligible to be a Cherokee citizen.

MYTH: The Cherokee Nation wants to keep more gaming revenues for itself.

FACT: This issue has nothing to do with gaming revenues or other resources. The Cherokee Nation is one of the few Indian tribes that do not distribute gaming revenues to individuals. Instead, the money benefits the entire community beyond the Cherokees, as we invest gaming revenues in services like health care, education and public roads and bridges. Overall, this is about weaving together a great, multi-ethnic nation through one common thread – a shared connection to our Indian ancestors.

The Truth About the Political Context

MYTH: The March 2007 amendment was orchestrated by Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith and tribal leadership.

FACT: The amendment got on the ballot properly through a citizens petition with 3,000 signatures, according to tribal law. Cherokee Nation officials took no official position on either side of the vote, and the government never sought to influence anyone's vote. The Cherokee people exercised their cherished democratic right to determine for themselves the meaning of their Indian identity.

NATIVE NEWS FROM REV. MARY

2008-08-08T07:23:58.923Z

$455M award in Native American trust case
Ruling a fraction of that sought by plaintiffs, who claim the government swindled tribes out of $47 billion in oil, gas, grazing and timber rights.

August 7, 2008: 5:19 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge ruled Thursday that American Indian plaintiffs are entitled to $455 million in a long-running trust case, a fraction of the $47 billion they wanted.

But U.S. District Judge James Robertson did not say how the government should award the money, writing that his opinion "leaves for another day the question of how and to whom the award should be distributed.
"

Robertson's final number is close to government estimates and far from the billions sought by plaintiffs in the 12-year trial. The lawsuit - filed on behalf of a half-million American Indians and their heirs - claims they were swindled out of billions of dollars in oil, gas, grazing, timber and other royalties overseen by the Interior Department since 1887.

The judge said he will have to hold another proceeding to decide how the money will be awarded, hinting that he hopes for a settlement between the two parties before then.

"Perhaps it is not too much to hope that the announcement in this memorandum of a hard number will give rise to some off-line conversation between the parties in the meantime," Robertson wrote.

At issue was how much of the royalty money was withheld from the Indian plaintiffs over the years, and whether it was held in the U.S. Treasury at a benefit to the government.

Robertson said in the opinion that plaintiffs did not successfully argue that the money was of benefit to the government over the years, significantly reducing his final estimate of what the American Indians were owed.

Because many of the records have been lost or destroyed, it has been up to the court to decide how to best estimate how much the individual Indians - many of whom are nearing the end of their lives - should be paid.

During the course of the trial, plaintiffs reduced the amount they said they were owed based on documents that became available in the proceedings. They settled on $47 billion, down from their estimate going into the trial, which was $58 billion. Earlier estimates were as high as $100 billion.

Filed by Blackfeet Indian Elouise Cobell, the lawsuit deals with individual Indians' lands. Several tribes have sued separately, claiming mismanagement of their lands.
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Find this article at:
http://money. cnn. com/2008/08/07/news/am_indian_money. ap/index. htm?section=money_latest

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MY ELDER

2008-08-06T04:30:46.785Z

To the
powerful women I know - Keep the faith!!!

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders & says...

'Oh shit...she's awake!!'