From gars@speakeasy.org Tue Jul 23 23:34:50 2002 Date: 24 Jul 2002 00:33:46 -0000 From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews10.030 WOTANGING IKCHE -- Lakota -- Common News Kanoheda Aniyvwiya -- Cherokee -- Journal of the People Otapi'sin Atsinikiisinaakssin -- Blackfeet -- News for All the People Es'te Opunvk'vmucvse -- Creek -- People's New News Aunchemokauhettittea -- Naragansett -- Let Us Share News Ni-mah-mi-kwa-zoo-min -- Ojibwe -- We Are Talking About Ourselves Ha-Sah-Sliltha -- Ditidaht Nation -- News of the People Un Chota -- Susquehannic Seneca -- The People Speak Ximopanolti tehuatzin, inin Mexika tlahtolli -- Nahuatl -- For you we offer these words It-hah-pe-hah Ah-num pah-le -- Chickasaw -- Together We Are Talking Sho-da-ku-ye -- Teehahnahmah -- Talking Birchbark Acimowin -- Plains Cree -- Story or Account Dineh jii' adah' ho'nil'e'gii ba' ha' neh -- Navajo Nation -- What's Happening among The People News Native American News -- Language of the Occupation Forces Wotanging Ikche and Native American News Copyright c. 1996-2002 nanews.org ==>If you want your Nation represented in the banner of this newsletter<== email gars@nanews.org with the equivalent of "News of the People" in your tribal language along with the english translation O +-----------------------------+ O o O | Much more happens in Indian | O o O VOLUME 10, ISSUE 030 | Country than is reported in | O o o o o O | this weekly newsletter. For | O o O July 27, 2002 | For daily updates & events | O o O | go http://www.owlstar.com/ | O | dailyheadlines.htm | Pomo bakaichich/manzanita ripens moon +-----------------------------+ Cherokee nvda utsi'dsata'/corn in tassel moon <================<<<< >>>>================> This newsletter is produced in straight ASCII text for greatest portability across platforms. Read it with a fixed-pitch font, such as Courier, Monaco, FixedSys or CG Times. Proportional fonts will be difficult to read. <================<<<< >>>>================> This issue contains articles from www.pechanga.net; www.owlstar.com; www.indianz.com; TribalLaw, Chiapas95-English/Ciepac-b, Iron Natives and Indigenous_Peoples_Literature Mailing Lists; newsgroup: alt.native; UUCP email IMPORTANT!! ----------- In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, all material appearing in this newsletter is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for educational purposes. <================<<<< >>>>================> This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters who share our Spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the Red Road. ++ It may be subscribed to via email by sending a request from your own internet addressable account to gars@speakeasy.org ++ It is archived at http://www.nanews.org <================<<<< >>>>================> As historian Patricia Nelson Limerick summarized in The Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West, "Set the blood quantum at one-quarter, hold to it as a rigid definition of Indians, let intermarriage proceed as it had for centuries, and eventually Indians will be defined out of existence. When that happens, the federal government will be freed of its persistent 'Indian problem.'" "Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence." __ Mourning Dove (Christine Quintasket), Salish +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg- | | iance was first presented | I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the | to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat- | of the Republic | ional Congress of American | and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat- | borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI | Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the | as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian | States Constitution, | Nations. | so that my forefathers | | shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Journey | In the summer and early fall | The Bloodline | of 1998 the Treaty Unity Riders | | rode a thousand miles on horse- | For all that live and live by law | back, carrying a staff and | We Stand, we Call, We Ride | praying each step of the way. | For All that fear and fear by sight | | We Hear, we Listen, we Ride | These prayers were offered for | For all that pray and pray by strength| each of us, and that the Unity | We Feel, we Move, we Ride | of all Peoples might happen. | For all that die and die by greed | | We Hurt, we Cry, we Ride | Tatanka Cante forwarded this | For all that birth and birth by right | poem on behalf of all the Unity | We Smile, we Hold, we Ride | Riders that we might stop and | For all that need and need by heart | ask if the next words we say, the | We Came, we Went, we Rode. | next act we make is for the good | | of the People or is it from ego | Treaty Unity Riders | for self. +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! Those who have asked if they can contribute directly to the White Mountain Apache now have a way. http://www.silverbelt.com/display/inn_moccasin/Moc2.txt WMAT account helps fire, flood victims The White Mountain Apache Tribe has opened a bank account for those who have been affected by the Rodeo/Chediski fires and now flooding in the burned out areas from the monsoon rains. Donations to the fund will be used for families that have been directly impacted by the fires through loss of employment, relocation expenses, etc. Anyone who would like to donate to this fund can go into any Arizona Wells Fargo Bank and designate their donation to the WMAT-Rodeo/Chediski Disaster Relief Fund Account No. 1004051817 [For those not living in Arizona wishing to help here are some addresses of Wells Fargo Banks - just be sure you earmark your funds for the WMAT Rodeo/Chedeski Disaster Relief Fund, Account Number 1004051817 - gary] Wells Fargo Bank - Pinnacle Peak Wells Fargo Bank - Phoenix Main 23405 N. Scottsdale Rd 100 West Washington St Scottsdale AZ 85255 Phoenix AZ 85003 Wells Fargo Bank - Downtown Mesa Wells Fargo Bank - Apache Junction 305 East Main St 231 South Phelps Dr Mesa AZ 85201 Apache Junction AZ 85220 The entire White Mountain Apache Tribe wishes to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to all of those who have offered assistance and prayers during their time of need. Copyright c. 2002 Arizona Silver Belt. All rights reserved. -=-=-=- These Cherokee found a way to contribute their talent to the needs of the White Mountain Apache. I send my thanks. Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 10:55:58 -0400 From: "TIM, BETH & BEN TRUMAN" Subj: White Mountain Apache Benefit: concert date >To: "Gary Smith" [Editorial Comment: Band tour dates are not normally included in this newsletter. Commercial posts simply detract from the intended content. The exception is being made because Terry contacted me to help him make contact with the White Mountain Apache to setup a benefit concert in their behalf. This tour list, including that benefit - a giveaway, is why I gladly make this exception now. - gary] Gary: We have a confirmed date for the White Mountain Apache Benefit Concert. If you see fit, please share the date with anyone whom you think might be interested. Thanks for all your help. -Timothy Truman Mon. July 29- Mt. Joy, Pa. Green Party fundraiser at Bube's Brewery. Featuring Terry Strongheart, Tim Truman and Mike Diehm in an acoustic set. 7:00 PM - 11: PM. Sat. Aug. 24- Pottstown Pa., Southern Cherokee Confederacy Pow Wow, Memorial Park. Sat. Aug. 31- Harrisburg, Pa. Pow Wow on the Island Sat. Sept. 7- Muddy Run State Park, Quarryville, Pa., First Nations Fall Harvest Festival Pow Wow Sat. Sept. 14- . Ephrata, Pa., Ephrata Park Amphitheater behind Eicher Arts Center. SPECIAL EVENT: BENEFIT FOR THE WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBE, featuring the Terry Strongheart Band with the Jim Beers Band (Native American Music Award winner). All proceeds will be donated to the Apache tribe fire victims whose lands were devastated in the recent Arizona forest fire tragedy. This event is sponsored by Eicher arts Center and the Strongheart Band. ALSO IN SEPTEMBER: Terry Strongheart Band in concert at the Ephrata Playhouse. We'll have a time and date for the show soon. The Terry Strongheart Band is: Terry Strongheart- lead vocals, guitar; Tim Truman- lead and slide guitar; Mike Diehm- rhythm and lead guitar; "Buffalo" Chip Ames- bass; Jeff Chambers- drums; Erin and Tara Strongheart- backing vocals For more information about these concerts, the Terry Strongheart Band, or to acquire our CD, "Tears", please contact: Tim Truman email: t.truman@verizon.net or Terry Strongheart stronghearttf@aol.com or write to TSB c/o T.Truman PO Box 5321 Lancaster, PA 17606 phone: 717-569-0612 Dohiyi Ani Oginalii , , Gary Night Owl gars@nanews.org (*,*) P. O. Box 672168 gars@speakeasy.org (`-') Marietta, GA 30007, U.S.A. gars@olagrande.net ===w=w=== gars@sdf.lonestar.org ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- - Mario Juruna - Drought hits hard on O'odham Lands - John Joel (Uncle Joe) McTigue - White Firestarter - Crossings is cleared of Charges - Letter to the Editor: - Land Conflicts Learned Helplessness intensify in Chiapas - American Indian Studies - Aboriginal Group Director Dismissed files Court Challenge - Administration Criticized - Aboriginal Women speak out on management of Sacred Sites - Jury orders Probation - Sacred Land may outshine - Judges Wrongly excluded any Gold Mine Navajos from Juries - Zuni Salt Lake: - Three admit shooting up Native beliefs vs. Mines Tribal Town - Ruins at Wupatki vandalized - Leonard Peltier - Lewis and Clark Update and Action Alert made a Pit Stop Here - Native Prisoner - Riders push to end -- Letter from Standing Deer Peabody's pumping of N-Aquifer -- Alex Montana - Navajo Council OKs threatened by Officials Drought Relief Fund - Rustywire: Corn - Hopis offer to underwrite - Poem: Sweet Water Powell Pipeline - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days --------- "RE: Mario Juruna" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="MARIO JURUNA" http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/19/obituaries/19JURU.html Mario Juruna, Who Served in Congress in Brazil, Dies at 58 By SIMON ROMERO Mario Juruna, a chief of the Xavante Indians of central Brazil and the only Indian to serve in the Brazilian Congress, died on Tuesday in Brasilia. He was 58. The cause was complications from diabetes, said a spokesman for Santa Lucia Hospital. Mr. Juruna was elected to Brazil's lower house of Congress in 1982. A vocal critic of government policies, Mr. Juruna represented Rio de Janeiro State until 1986, when he lost a bid for re-election. Mr. Juruna was raised in the interior of Mato Grosso, where his tribe, the Xavante (pronounced SHA-vanteh), were known in the 1930's for their resistance against intruders. By the 1960's, however, Xavante lands were flooded with settlers. Many members of the tribe took refuge in villages under the administration of Funai, the Indian affairs bureau, as their society shifted from hunting and gathering to dependence on tractor-driven rice farming and outside assistance. Mr. Juruna, who learned to speak Portuguese only at 16, emerged as an advocate of Indian rights. In the late 1970's, he traveled to Brasilia to request an audience with President Ernesto Geisel to try to secure blankets and shoes for the Xavante. That effort failed, but Mr. Juruna remained in the capital. A folkloric figure, Mr. Juruna carried a tape recorder to register the promises of politicians. He collected these recordings in a book, "Juruna's Tape Recorder," published in 1983. In 1984, Mr. Juruna charged that an ally of a right-wing politician, Paulo Salim Maluf, tried to bribe him to vote in the electoral college for Mr. Maluf, who was running against Tancredo Neves. Mr. Maluf's campaign denied any bribery. Mr. Neves eventually won that vote, an important episode in the re-emergence of democracy after military rule. After losing his re-election bid, Mr. Juruna grew more resentful of Brazil's political system. He moved to a modest home in Guara, a poor satellite city near Brasilia, where he occasionally spoke to visitors on what he viewed as systemic corruption gripping Brazil. "Many men climbed higher on my shoulders," Mr. Juruna once said. "Many white men did this. After my term, I was abandoned." Mr. Juruna was married twice and is survived by his current and former wives, and by 12 children, the newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo reported. Copyright c. 2002 The New York Times Company. --------- "RE: John Joel (Uncle Joe) McTigue" --------- Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 06:41:34 -0400 From: "Jim Anderson" Subj: Uncle Joe McTigue [Editorial Note: Jim Anderson is one of those people in Indian Country who leads by beautiful example. If Jim Anderson can be so moved by an Grandpa's crossing you can be sure we have suffered a great loss here, and Creator has taken another trusted warrior home. And, yes, this post is with Jim's permission.... gary] Dear Friends, Relatives, Native Americans and Martial Artists: It is with unbelievable sadness that I type this e-mail to inform all of you that Sensei John Joel (Uncle Joe) McTigue known as a "Peaceful Warrior" in the Martial Arts, and crazy JJ in the Kiowa World, Uncle Joe to almost all, and Grandpa Joe to many, has passed from this Earth this evening around three and a half hours ago. Joe did not feel well this morning when Jim Charlton was visiting us. He said he was okay but did not feel like coming with Amy, Mike and I as we went to a double header basketball game in Citrus County. After the game we were going to my daughter Cindy's to celebrate her daughter Kaycee's and our son Michael's birthdays as they are only days apart and we have gotten together this way for the 11 years of Mikes life. Amy, Jim, Mike and I all felt that he just felt the trip, a double header and then a party was too much; and he just wanted to opt out of the long hard day. His last words were "I'll be all right don't worry." My last words were, "I will worry, it's what I do." However we all felt he was okay and left around 11:30 a.m. We had our day and were bringing a big thank you from Kaycee home to him for her gift and found him unconscious on our back porch. Paramedics and then at the hospital the doctors did all they could but he never regained consciousness and they let him go around 8:00 p.m. Amy, Mike and I are NOT okay so you need not ask, but we will be! Cindy, Brian, Kaycee and Amber just left after rushing down here from their Citrus County home so that we would not be divided and alone, you see someone had to stay with Mike or he had to go to the hospital too, so Amy followed the ambulance and I stayed with Mike until the other family members got here, then Brian stayed with the kids and Cindy drove me to the hospital where we met with Amy just as they told her he was gone! I know this is a lot put in this e-mail, but you should all know that Uncle Joe has lived here in Brooksville with us now for over four years and had well become our son Mike's best friend, Mike took Karate, so Joe took Karate, Joe became a Black Belt in Wa No Michi Ryu Karate and was appointed the Spiritual Advisor to the entire system by the Soke, Michael McGann 10th Dan and founder of the system. Mike plays baseball, so Uncle Joe pitched to him and let Mike pitch to him, Mike Plays basketball, so Uncle Joe played basketball with him. Uncle Joe waited at the bus stop for Mike to come home from school every day and made sure that when Amy or I did not have time to be with Mike that he was there doing what he called being an "Uncle" Every child on this block will cry when they wake in the morning and find from their parents Uncle Joe is no longer with us, for he was Uncle Joe to every kid in this neighborhood, and Uncle Joe to almost every school kid in this school district as every year for I believe five years now he has donned his straight dance regalia and gone with us to "show the kids" how "REAL" Indians danced and talked. Joe never asked for and never received one red cent for the educational experience he would take to the school kids each year. He was a member in good standing of The School Advisory Board of Brooksville Elementary School where even the Principal Mrs. Sue Stoops called him Uncle Joe! Uncle Joe was a Viet Nam Veteran and a member of both the American Legion and the VFW and very proud of his service to his Country. There are many people who do not have e-mail who would want to know of this loss, I think of Mary LaCroix in Jacksonville, Soke Mike McGann in Clearwater, Betty Lininger and half of the Kiowa Nation out in Oklahoma, if you can contact any one who should know of this loss and pass the word on for me I will be forever grateful. Amy, Mike and I would like a little time before we start dealing with the responsibilities of getting word to the people who will want to know the what, when, where and hows and be part of whatever is decided to be done. So please do not call the house or ask anyone else to call for a couple of days. The ME has told us that it will be well into next week before they have a next of kin report and have finished all they must do to release the body, therefore we will not have any information for anyone until we hear from them next week. Thank you for your understanding, and I ask that you each in your own way say a little Prayer for, or sing a special song for Uncle Joe as he goes to be with his wife Aunt Flo. In closing Amy would like to add to this long e-mail these words, "Uncle Joe was the kindest and most generous person she has ever known. He lived his life in such a way that he taught us all the definition of the word compassion." Jim Anderson --------- "RE: Crossings" --------- Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 08:10:52 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CROSSINGS" July 16, 2002 Alexander "Alex" A. Greywater Alexander "Alex" A. Greywater, Jr., Mihpiya Idi Nazi (Stops The Clouds), 63 of Fort Totten, ND, died on Friday, July 12, 2002 at his sister's home, rural Fort Totten, surrounded by his loving family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, St. Michael. Fr. Paul Ruge, OFMI and Fr. Charles Leute, O.P. will celebrate the mass and burial will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery. A wake service will be held at the Tekakwitha Center, St. Michael today beginning at 5 p.m. with a Rosary and Vigil Service at 8 p.m. Honorary pallbearers will be Brother Burnell, Josey Lawrence, Larry Greene, Buddy Longie, Skip Longie, Don Hart, Carl Walkingeagle, Merle Ironhawk, Faron Stensland, Neil Greywater, Delores Lohnes, Marie Baker, Bruce McKay, Vincent Walker, Charlie Walker, Butch Lohnes, Buzz Jenson, Jim Baker, Butch Kazena, Homer Whitebuffalo, Gordon Burdick, Victor Delong, Frank Charboneau, Allen Fassett and Francine Spotted Elk. Active Pallbearers will be Elton Greywater, Marty Greywater, Kieth Greywater, Chris Greywater, Cody Greywater, James Lenoir, Sheldon Greywater, Delvin Greywater, Robert Greywater, Jr. and Michael Greywater, Jr. Alexander Ambrose Greywater was born July 25, 1938 at Fort Totten, ND the son of Alexander Ambrose and Elizabeth Belgarde Greywater, Sr. He was reared and educated at Fort Totten. He attended Auto Body School in Omaha, Nebraska. On November 18, 1977, Alex was united in marriage to Audrey DuBois at Crookston, Minn. They made their home in the Fort Totten area their entire life. Alex worked area road construction and at the Nekoma Missile Site. He managed the Bingo Palace at St. Michael and also worked for Tribal Planning. Alex also worked for the Tribal Housing Authority and most recently was a driver for the Spirit Lake Casino. He also served on the Tribal Council. Alex enjoyed being a part of the church family. He also enjoyed playing Bingo and going to the casino. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Alex is survived by his wife, Audrey; mother, Elizabeth Robertson of Fort Totten; children, Lisa (Merle) Greywater of Fort Totten, Shirley (Faron) Stensland of Oberon, ND , Alex (Harriette) Greywater, III of Ft. Totten, Angela (James) Corveau of Bremerton, WA and Chris (Josy) Greywater of Missoula, MT; 23 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brothers, Michael "Mike" (Pauline) Greywater of St. Michael, Andrew "Chuck" (Mary Jo) Greywater, Robert "Bob" Greywater, Sr. and Kenneth "Knute" (Beverly) Greywater, Sr. all of Fort Totten; sisters, Delemma Greywater, Renae (James) Lenoir, Pam Greywater, Brenda Robertson and Barbara Robertson, all of Fort Totten and Bev LeBelle of Bismarck, ND; aunt, Mary Louise Simonson; mother-in-law, Violet DuBois; extended family, Verle Greywater, Eugene Hedine, Ivan Black Cloud, Sonta (Dean) Dauphinais, Della Belgarde and Terry Dean Iceman. He was preceded in death by his father; brother, Richard Greywater, Sr. and two infant brothers; and father-in-law, Edwin DuBois, Sr. Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, is in charge of arrangments. Copyright c. 2002 Devils Lake Daily Journal. -=-=-=- July 16, 2002 Kenneth W. Red Feather PINE RIDGE - Kenneth W. Red Feather, 40, Pine Ridge, died Friday, July 12, 2002, in Pine Ridge. Survivors include his mother, Katherine Red Feather, Pine Ridge; two daughters, Samantha Red Feather and Sandy Red Feather, both of No. Four Community; four bothers, Paul Red Feather and John Red Feather, both of Pine Ridge, Phillip Red Feather, San Carlos, Ariz., and George Red Feather, Oglala; one half sister, Delores Mills, Pine Ridge; and seven sisters, Thelma Red Feather, Lulu Walking, Vienna Red Feather and Linda Garcia, all of Pine Ridge, Mary Martinez, Kyle, Loretta Red Feather, Rushville, Neb., and Annabelle Picket Pin, Chadron, Neb. One-night wake begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pine Ridge. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 18, at the church, with the Rev. Steve Sanford officiating. Burial will be at Holy Rosary Mission Cemetery in Pine Ridge. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Austin L. Big Crow Sr. PINE RIDGE - Austin L. Big Crow Sr., 26, Pine Ridge, died Friday, July 12, 2002, in Rapid City. Survivors include his fiancee, Jamie Okuma, Pauma Valley, Calif.; one son, Austin Big Crow Jr., Pine Ridge; his parents, Diane Big Crow and Dennis Painte, Shields, N.D.; one brother, Rayjay Painte, Shields; and five sisters, Farrah Big Crow, Rapid City, Tina Painte, Martin, and Denise Painte, Deleena Painte and Janina Painte, all of Shields. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. today at Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge, with traditional Lakota prayers by Bob Lee and Laura Nelson. Burial will be at St. Anne's Catholic Cemetery in Wolf Creek. Collins L. Clifford MANDERSON - Collins L. Clifford, 81, Manderson, died Sunday, July 14, 2002, in Manderson. Survivors include his wife, Madge Clifford, Manderson; three sons, David Clifford, C.J. Clifford and Loren Clifford, all of Manderson; four daughters, Cleo Gates, Penny Wolfers and Angeline Clifford, all of Manderson, and Peggy Morgan, Bridgeport, Ill.; one brother, Tom Clifford, Rapid City; 25 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. One-night wake will be from 3 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, July 17, at Wounded Knee School in Manderson. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 18, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Manderson, with the Rev. Pete Klink officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Vestana Elk Boy PORCUPINE - Vestana Elk Boy, 59, Porcupine, died Sunday, July 14, 2002, in Rapid City. Survivors include two sons, Quentin Lone Elk and Brian Lone Elk, both of Porcupine; three daughters, Lucille Brave and Stacy White Face, both of Porcupine, and Vestana Clifford, Kyle; two brothers, Wyolind Iron Boy and Harvey Iron Boy, Porcupine; one sister, Yvonne Iron Boy, Porcupine; and eight grandchildren. Two-night wake begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at the Porcupine CAP office. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at the Porcupine CAP office, with the Rev. Cordelia Red Owl officiating. Burial will be at St. Alban's Episcopal Cemetery in Porcupine. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. July 17, 2002 Elizabeth L. Morrison INTERIOR - Elizabeth L. Morrison, 66, Interior, died Friday, July 12, 2002, in Interior. Survivors include three sons, Clifford Morrison Jr., Wilbur Morrison Sr. and Christopher Morrison, all of Potato Creek; six daughters, Stella Antelope, Arapahoe, Wyo., Edna Morrison, Lander, Wyo., Debra Frazier, St. Stephen, Wyo., Marion White Mouse, Wanblee, and Sarah Martinez and Cindy Antelope, both of Potato Creek; four adopted sisters, Patty Harvey, Interior, Martha Coble, Munising, Mo., Jeanne Lowe, Des Moines, Iowa, and Ramona Bonin, Potato Creek; one half sister, Ramona Meat, Wanblee; nine adopted children, Vincent Armont and Paul Foley, both of New York, Kim Dewhurst and Becky Dewhurst, both of Martin, Tim Phelps, Denver, Tom Casey, Porcupine, J.P. Sullivan, Boston, Al Miller, Phillipsburg, N.J., and Bob Stroup, Caputa; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Two-night wake begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Potato Creek. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at the church, with Kim Dewhurst officiating. Burial will be at St. Timothy's Episcopal Cemetery in Potato Creek. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Phoebe Grace High Bull-Morrison MARTIN - Phoebe Grace High Bull-Morrison, 25, Martin, died Sunday, July 14, 2002, in Martin. Survivors include one son, Dalton Morrison, Martin; one daughter, Morning Star Yellow Bird, Martin; her parents, Bonnie High Bull, Hisle, and Vernon Moves Camp, Springfield; three brothers, Terance High Bull, Sioux Falls, Garland Morrison, Long Valley, and Patrick Reddy, Hisle; three sisters, Candace Luby, Sioux Falls, Shilo Ghost, Manderson, and Wojape Moves Camp, Hisle; maternal grandparents, Arthur and Margie Morrison, Martin; and paternal grandmother, Ellen Moves Camp of Wanblee. Two-night wake begins at 1 p.m. today at the Martin CAP building. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, July 19, at the Martin CAP building, with Sonny Richards officiating. Burial will be at Hisle Cemetery. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. July 18, 2002 Jarred W. Red Cloud WOUNDED KNEE - Jarred W. Red Cloud, 14, Wounded Knee, died Sunday, July 14, 2002, in Pine Ridge. Survivors include his parents, Karen Boltz, Wounded Knee, and Manuel Red Cloud, Pine Ridge; three brothers, Merle Boltz, Wounded Knee, Michael Cuny, Manderson, and Case Red Cloud, Pine Ridge; one sister, Brittany Clifford, Manderson; his maternal grandparents, Mark and Lillian Fire Thunder, Lincoln, Neb.; and his paternal grandfather, Pedro Red Cloud, Pine Ridge. One-night wake begins at 3 p.m. Friday, July 19, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wounded Knee. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at the church, with the Rev. Jim Ryan officiating. Burial will be at Messiah Episcopal Cemetery in Wounded Knee. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Copyright c. 2002 The Rapid City Journal. -=-=-=- July 16, 2002 O.H. Hickman Graveside services for O. H. "Herschel" Hickman, father of Seminole resident Gary Hickman, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Seminole. Services will be under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh. Rev. Orville White will officiate the services. Hickman died Sunday, July 14, 2002 in Shawnee at the age of 95. He was born to Lewis R. and Myrtle June (Lightfoot) Hickman on June 29, 1907 in Sparks. Hickman was raised in Sparks, and attended and graduated from Sparks High School. He married Ann McCants on April 12, 1941 in Holdenville. Hickman worked in the oil fields after finishing school. He then purchased a cattle ranch in 1941, and continued operating it until 1974. Hickman was a long- time resident of Macomb. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann, on May 1, 1998; his parents; and one sister, Geniveve Nall. Hickman is survived by one daughter, Sue Cantrell, Shawnee; four sons, Harold Hickman, Woodward, Gary Hickman, Seminole, Robert Hickman, Oklahoma City, and Jay Hickman, Shawnee; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. July 17, 2002 Kelly Lee Haney Funeral services for Seminole resident Kelly Lee "Brown" Haney, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Hitchitee United Methodist Church in Strothers. Revs. Mike Harjo and Thomas Morris will officiate. Interment will follow at the Harjo Family Cemetery, under the direction of Stout-Phillips Funeral Home of Wewoka. Wake services for Haney will be tonight starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Hitchitee United Methodist Church. Haney died Monday, July 15, 2002 at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City at the age of 42. He was born to Robert "Bob" Haney and Jo Kay Underwood on Jan. 24, 1960 in Seminole County. Haney was reared in the Strothers area and attended school at Pleasant Grove. He was a member of the Hitchitee United Methodist Church. Haney was preceded in death by his father Robert "Bob" Haney. He is survived by his mother and step-father, Jo Kay and J.D. Berryman, Shawnee; two children, Sterling Royce Haney and Colton "Chubby" Haney, both of Toppenish, Wash.; and his brothers and sisters, Steve Haney, Shawnee, Shelly Hall, Oklahoma City, Bobbie Haney, Okmulgee, Andrea Henderson, Shawnee, and Cyd Wood, Oklahoma City. Pallbearers are Tony Perry, Rick Deer, Joe Deer, Ronnie Harjo, Jerome Isham, Bruce Harjo, and Nathan Harjo. Honorary pallbearers are Victor Underwood, Tecumseh Underwood, Ted Underwood, Willie Underwood, Jerry Haney, and Ernie Haney. Copyright c. 1999 - 2000 The Seminole Producer. -=-=-=- July 21, 2002 Dora Mae Herrera Dora Mae Dirt Herrera, 69, died Friday in Shawnee. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Cornerstone Indian Baptist Church, Little Axe, with the Rev. Bryce Scott officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Cooper Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Herrera was born Oct. 26, 1932, in Lawton to Wilber and Emily "Little Bear" Dirt. She lived most of her life in Shawnee and attended Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kan. She was a homemaker. She was a member and elder of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. She also was a member of the Cornerstone Indian Baptist Church. Herrera is preceded in death by her parents; one son, Robert Wayne Tyner, and a granddaughter, Keona Moletta Jordon. Survivors include her daughter, Arlene Herrera, Denver, Colo.; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Dan Tyner, Shawnee, Rudy and Frankie Herrera, Shawnee; four sisters, Jenny Lee Ross, Cordelia Maxfield, Dorothy Dirt, Alice Dirt; brother, Paul "Mutt" Day; four grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Copyright c. 1997-2002 The Shawnee News-Star. -=-=-=- July 15, 2002 PAUL E. 'JAP' NARANJO PAUL E. 'JAP' NARANJO , 45, of Santa Clara Pueblo died Saturday. He was an internationally known wildlife artist. He is survived by his wife, Ana Naranjo; his children, Alana Naranjo and Luciano Naranjo; one granddaughter, Aaliyah Naranjo all of Santa Clara Pueblo; his parents, Raymond and Lila Naranjo of Santa Clara Pueblo; three sisters, Marian, Mildred and Rhea Naranjo all of Santa Clara Pueblo; five brothers, Allen Naranjo and wife Kay of Virginia, Roger Naranjo and wife Nona of Ignacio, Colo., Daniel Naranjo and wife Rose, Gilbert Naranjo all of Santa Clara Pueblo, and James Naranjo and wife Isabel of Santa Fe; his godmother, Helen Sing of Utah; and many other relatives and friends. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. today at the Santa Clara Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Santa Clara Pueblo Cemetery. Salazar Family of Block-Salazar Mortuary. Copyright c. 1997 - 2002 Albuquerque Journal: Albuquerque, New Mexico. -=-=-=- July 16, 2002 Dorinda Lee (Ben) ANETH, UTAH April 30, 1964 - July 13, 2002 Dorinda Lee (Ben), 38, went home to her heavenly father July 13, 2002. She was born April 30, 1964, the daughter of the late Jimmie Lee Sr. and the late Almeida (Ida Mae) Lee, of Aneth , Utah. She was born to Bithnii (Folded Arm People); born for Tchii'nii (Red Running into the Water People). She is survived by her children, Kevin Ben of Farmington, Cassandra I. and husband, John, of Layton, Utah, Denton Ben Jr. and wife, Sophina, of Montezuma Creek, Utah, Leland Ben of Farmington, Elias Ben of Hatch, Utah, and Drew C. Merritt of Aneth; and two grandchildren, DeAndre Ben and McKayla Irene Gabaldon. She is also survived by her grandmother, Mary Jay of Aneth; five sisters, Betty Lee, Fannie Nez, Virginia Yellowman, Julia Redrock, Priscilla Herrera and Marcia Lee; and five brothers, Ernest Lee Sr., James Lee Sr., Jimmie Lee Jr., Angelo J. Lee and Martinez J. Lee, and their families; and numerous nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles. Funeral arrangements are pending with San Juan Mortuary in Blanding, Utah. Contributions and donations will be greatly appreciated at Marcia Lee's residence in Aneth. July 17, 2002 Everett H. Poyer Nov. 28, 1915 - July 15, 2002 Everett H. Poyer, 87, a lifetime resident of Shiprock, passed away Monday, July 15, 2002, at Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock. He was born Nov. 28, 1915, in Sweetwater, Ariz. Mr. Poyer graduated from high school in Albuquerque and was employed with the BIA for 31 years as a soil conservationist. He received emeritus hours for his work there. He had an experimental farm for the BIA and raised native plants. As a farmer, he won many prizes in the fair. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and loved the outdoors. He was a member of the American Legion and attended the Methodist Church in Shiprock. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ida Edith (Peshlakai) Poyer. He is survived by his son, David M. Poyer and wife, Ellen, of Shiprock, and daughter, Jennie Jimenez of Crystal; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 19, at First United Methodist Church in Shiprock, with the Rev. Paul West officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Farmington. Pallbearers will be David Hernandez, Matthew Jimenez, Eric Jimenez, Raymond Jimenez, Yinneyah Pioche and Henry Chee Dodge III. Honorary pallbearers will be Donald Dodge, Henry Dodge, James Kee, David M. Poyer, Danielle Poyer and Alton Halwood. Arrangements are with Cope Memorial Chapel of Farmington, 404 W. Arrington St., (505) 327-5142. July 21, 2002 Jimmie Lee MONTEZUMA CREEK, UTAH July 17, 2002 Jimmie Lee, 75, of Montezuma Creek, Utah, died Wednesday, July 17, 2002, following an auto accident in Shiprock. He is survived by his wife, Nellie Joe of the home. He is also survived by three sons, Delbert Begay and wife, Marie, of Aneth, Utah, Larry Lee and wife, Susie, of Montezuma Creek, and Lester Lee and wife, Nancy, of Monticello, Utah; four daughters, Nellie Dishface and husband, Calvin, Lillie Johnson, Sarah Torivio and husband, Byron, and Sharon White and husband, George, all of Montezuma Creek; and one stepdaughter, Diane Redhorse and husband, Leo. He has one half brother, Ervin Gould and wife, Marita, of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.; one sister, Evelyn Merritt of Aneth; and one half sister, Nellie Slowman of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz. His paternal grandchildren are Verissa Toney, Sophina Garcia, Natasha Lee, Shane Lee, Larson Lee, Jerrick Lee, Lesdrick Lee, Chelsea Lee, Tyler Lee, Tyrell Lee and Colton Lee. His maternal grandchildren are Calvin Dishface Jr., Delphina Dishface, Erik Dishface, Brandon R. Johnson, Shelton Johnson, Vaughn Johnson, Sapharino Torivio, Krystal Torivio, Krystallia Torivio, Kryleria Torivio and Lemitrius White. Six great- grandchildren also survive him. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lucy Lee, in December 1982; one son, Sammie Lee, in September 1979; his mother, Susie Lee David, in September 1973; and a granddaughter, Sharlise D. White, who died in July, 1992. Funeral services are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Monday, July 22, 2002, at the Church of Christ in Montezuma Creek. Pastor Ray Whaley will officiate. Burial will follow at the family cemetery in Montezuma Creek. Pallbearers will be Lester Lee, Jerrick Lee, Byron Torivio, Brandon R. Johnson, Shelton Johnson and Vaughn Johnson. Alternate pallbearers will be Arredondo Merritt and Jose Garcia. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Lee, Delbert Begay, Nellie Dishface, Lillie Johnson, Sarah Torivio, Sharon L. White, Peter Merritt, Harrison Merritt, Evelyn L. Merritt, Nellie Slowman and Ervin Gould. Funeral arrangements are with Chapel of Memories Funeral Home of Kirtland, (505) 598-9636. Copyright c. 1999-2002 MediaNews Group, Inc./Farmington, NM. -=-=-=- July 18, 2002 Nellie Mitchell Hamm Nellie Mitchell Hamm, 55, of Globe died July 14 at Cobre Valley Community Hospital. She was born in Cherokee, N.C., and had lived in Arizona 29 years. Mrs. Hamm is survived by her husband, Kenneth Hamm of Globe; two sons, Paul Hamm and Jason Hamm of Clarksville, Tenn.; one daughter, Katherine Barnes of Clarksville; her mother, Nell Lanive of Hopkinsville, Ky.; one brother, Doug Wallace of Oakgrove, Tenn.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Private services were handled by Lamont Mortuary. Copyright c. 2002 Arizona Silver Belt/Apache Moccasin. -=-=-=- July 17, 2002 Naomi Rehm Naomi Rehm, 77, of Parks died Sunday, July 7, 2002. She was born Aug. 31, 1924 on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Laveen, and had lived in Parks for more than 50 years. She worked at the Navajo Army Depot for 10 years. Survivors include her daughter Vivian Rehm of Parks; stepdaughter Elizabeth Rehm of Hermiston, Ore.; two grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren. Services will be held Friday, July 19, 2002, at 11 a.m. at Stewart Chapel, 117 S. Slagel St., WIlliams. Visitation will be one hour before the services at the chapel. Stewart Chapel is handling arrangements. Copyright c. 2000-2002 Arizona Daily Sun. -=-=-=- Golden Triangle On-Line Obituaries The following obituaries appeared in the Cut Bank Pioneer Press, Shelby Promoter or Glacier Reporter this week. July 17, 2002 William 'Bill' Adams, Sr. William "Bill" Walter Adams, Sr., 83, died at IHS in Browning on July 7, 2002, of natural causes. Rosary was said Wednesday at Glacier Homes Community Center. Funeral mass will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Little Flower Parish. Burial will follow in Holy Family Mission. He was born April 24, 1919, at Birch Creek. He attended school at Birch Creek through the eighth grade and Browning Public Schools through the 10th grade. He was in Co. B 306th Med. Bn., a member of the 81st Wildcat Infantry Division Army of the United States. He served June 11, 1942, to Nov. 29, 1945, when he was honorably discharged. He was a litter bearer during WW II and served at Southern Philippines, Fuzon. He was awarded the American Theater Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Bronze Service Star, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Medal. In 1945, he and Wilma Guardipee were married. Adams worked as a laborer, for the railroad, Anaconda mine in Butte and was a firefighter. He is survived by his wife, Wilma; daughters, Karen Adams and Reva Adams, both of Browning, Geraldine Charlo of Umatilla, Ore., Frances Adams and Allison Adams, both of Cut Bank and a granddaughter he raised as his own, Brenda Vielle of Salem, Ore.; sons, Eugene Dubray, Barry Adams, William Adams, Jr., and grandsons he raised as his own, Jeremy Adams and Tyler Heavy Runner, all of Browning; sisters, Violet Welch and Mary "Billie" Adams, both of Spokane, Wash., and Alpha Brown; 29 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Matthew and Mary Adams; sisters, Daisy Adams and Gertrude "Doody" Garry; and a brother, Sidney Adams. Day Family Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Kenneth Loring, Sr. Kenneth Lee Loring, Sr., 39, died at IHS in Browning on July 5, 2002. Rosary was said Tuesday at the Old Eagle Shields. Funeral mass was held at St. Anne's on Wednesday with burial at the Loring ranch. He was born Nov. 1, 1962, in Browning and attended Flandreau High School. He was a ranch hand and did carpentry work. Loring enjoyed breaking horses, fishing, hunting, basketball and family gatherings. He loved his family and enjoyed every minute he spent with them. Survivors include his partner, Cecilia; his parents, Wyena Loring and Bill and Loxie Loring; daughters, Trista, Tiana and Starla, of Omaha, Nebr. ; sons, Trevor, Travis and Little Ken; sisters, Dana, Tammy, Marla, Loxie Lynn and Dori; brothers, Harland, Bill Blue, Kelly, John and Justin; and his grandmother, Sisty Galbreath. He was preceded in death by a brother, Rusty. Day Family Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. July 18, 2002 Dallas Marceau Dallas Shantay Marceau, 14, died June 27, 2002, of injuries suffereed in a motor vehicle accident. Services were held July 2, 2002, in Heart Butte at St. Anne's Parish with Father Dan Powers officiating. She was born in Great Falls on Mar. 22, 1988 and graduated from Heart Butte Middle School in May. She liked hanging out with her group of best friends and enjoyed playing volleyball. She was her class secretary. She had planned to attend a seminar at a police academy in San Diego in August. She was also involved in Gear Up. Marceau is survived by her mother and stepfather, Julene Martinez and Yenrry Harris; her father, Edwin Lee Champine, Sr., and his wife, Rita Salois; sisters, Dara Kaye, Keenan and Fernele Marceau of Heart Butte, Rose, Christy and Marie Champine of Browning; brothers, Edwin Lee Champine, Jr., and Shay Dalton Marceau of Heart Butte; a sister, Melinda and brother, Bobby Lee of Rocky Boy; her grandmother, Zelma DuCharme; great- grandparents, Beatrice and Fred Marceau of Heart Butte, who also raised her as their daughter; numerous great-uncles and aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews; uncle, Thom and Gaye DuCharme of Browning; and aunt Jodi and uncle Emerald Spotted Eagle. She was preceded in death by her great-grandmother, Catherine "Caroline" Bear Shoe Calf Boss Ribs #1; great-grandfather, Frank Jerry Comes At Night; and Jack Makes Cold Weather, Sr. Copyright c. 2002 Golden Triangle Newspapers. -=-=-=- July 17, 2002 Kent Stevens LODGE GRASS - Kent A. Stevens from the "where gardens grow with no water" District of the Crow Reservation, passed on to the other side July 13, 2002. He was born Aug. 16, 1956, in the Hardin Hospital, to his Crow parents, Janet Schenderline (Piegan Clan) and Donnie Stevens. He was a member of the Piegan Clan and a child of the Ties the Bundle Clan. Kent is survived by his wife, Linda Edmo Stevens; his parents; two brothers, Dominic, Jr. (Linda Lee Havener) of "Home" District and Jeffery W. (Sheryl Rae Roth) of Off Reservation District; and two sisters, Donna (French) Dillon, Mighty Few District and Lois Stevens (Cyrus Gros Ventre); three sons, Kert (Andrea), Daniel of Reno, Nev., Thomas of Pryor; and a daughter, Alicia of Reno; four grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews; and his special nephews, Nic and Garrett Stevens. He learned at an early age how to ride horses, wrestle calves at branding time and trail cattle from the family ranch on the Lodge Grass to the Big Horn Mountain's grassy ranges in springtime conditions and bring them home again in autumn-winter conditions. Kent attended Lodge Grass Schools, loved the outdoors and the beauty of and from the Big Horn Mountains and enjoyed camping, four-wheeling, photography and welding. He was proficient in electronics, carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and raising horses. His grandparents preceded him in death. Kent married Linda Edmo Stevens on Aug. 15, 1992, and lived in Blackfoot, Idaho, and recently moved back to Lodge Grass. His Idaho family included his wife's parents, Maxine Racehorse Edmo and the late Kesley Edmo, Sr. (Casey); brothers, Leo C. Edmo, Kesley (Linda Lee) Edmo, Jr., Blaine Edmo, Gary (Janice) Edmo, Kevin (LeeAnn), Edmo (deceased); and sisters, Lorraine Edmo (Jerry) Cordova, Lucille Edmo, Louise Edmo Dixey (Clyde) and Lori Edmo-Suppah (Delson), Wesley (Nancy) Edmo and Linda's children, Casey Ellsworth and Rebecca Ellesworth and many grandchildren. All members of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes. Tribal traditional wake services will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at the Stevens Family ranch. Traditional burial services will be held 10 a. m. Thursday, July 18, in the Stevens family ranch on Lodge Grass Creek. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. James A. Wilson, Jr. HARDIN - James A. "Cactus" Wilson, Jr., 80, of Hardin, died Saturday evening, July 13, 2002, in the Heritage Acres Nursing Home. He was born Nov. 6, 1921, in Garryowen, a son of James Wilson, Sr., and Rose Old Bear. He was raised by Lena Old Bear while he received his education in Crow Agency and Pierre, S.D. Cactus was a cowboy and bronco rider who worked for the Antler Rancher and later as a house painter and maintenance man for the Montana Highway Department. He was married to Myrtle BigMan until the time of her death. He remarried and later divorced. He was a member of the Four Square Church, Greasy Mouth Clan and child of Big Lodge. Survivors include a son, Jerry Wilson of Crow Agency; and a daughter, Peggy Rising Sun of Hardin; his sisters, Alice Wilson of Hardin, Phoebe Dillon of Crow Agency, Jessie Halverson of Wyoming, Dora Johnston of Colorado and Agnes Old Bear of Benteen; his brother, David Yarlott, Sr. of Benteen; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Nora, Mollie, Harriett, Marie, Bertha and Susie Yellowtail; brothers, Bert, Henry and John; a son, Sherman. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, in the Crow Agency Four Square Church. Interment will follow in the Crow Agency Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. July 20, 2002 Frank Half Sr. LODGE GRASS - Frank Half, Sr., 38, of Lodge Grass, died Thursday July 18, 2002, in the Deaconess Billings Clinic of complications following surgery. Baaa'chiileckiassa (Known to be Fortunate) was born Aug. 31, 1963 in Crow Agency, a son of Robert Half, Sr. and Lorena Morning. He received his early education in St. Xavier, before attending Hardin schools and completed his education at the St. Labre Indian School in Ashland. While in high school he participated in basketball, football and wrestling and was an active member of the Rodeo Club, where he rode in saddle bronco events. Frank enjoyed horses and trained them at various racetracks in Montana, Wyoming and North and South Dakota. Frank married Michele Stops on Nov. 16, 2001, in Hardin and the couple made their home in Lodge Grass. He was a member of the Catholic Church, Piegan Clan and a child of the Bad War Deeds Clan. He worked on several highway construction projects, worked for the Crow IHS Hospital, Quick Mart, area farms and ranches and was recently employed as a concrete finisher for Swank Construction. His father, two brothers, Robert and Jasper Half and a sister, Brenda Half preceded Frank in death. Survivors include his wife, Michele of Lodge Grass; his five children, Clinton (CC) Half of Lodge Grass, Frank Half, Jr. of Crow Agency, Rena Mae Half of Washington, Nichole Half and Anita Bixby of Hardin; his mother, Lorene Morning Half of Crow Agency; five brothers, Etting (Jackie) Half of Pryor, Kenneth (Joclyn) Ward of Lodge Grass, Arnold (Gevy) Costa, Daniel (Elsie) and Greg (Dorcella) Half of Crow Agency; his five sisters, Mary Jane (Isaac) Birdinground of Garryowen, Corliss (Clinton) Iron of Hardin, Iva (Rudolph) Shane, Ruby (Al) Big Hair and Carlotta Half of Crow Agency; his adopted brothers, Hartford (Sylvia) Stops and Eddy Roundface; his adopted sisters, Donna Jefferson, Geraldine Big Day, Diane Not Afraid, Mary and Sandy Medicine Horse, Aretha Hoops, Deana and Zona Roundface; his grandfather, Keith Black Hawk, his grandmothers, Mae House, Myrtle Smart Enemy, Pearl Hogan, Annie Walks, and Laura Singer; two granddaughters, Frankie and Devene; his brother-in- law, Melville (Donya) Stops; his sister-in-law, Marilyn (Charles) Salway; his father-in-law, Melvin (Aurelia) Stops; his aunts, Phyllis Well Known, Darlene (Dwayne) Bixby, Carol (John) Bullinsight, Rita (Owen) Snell, Glenda Morrison, Johanna (Sonny) Reed) Jane (Wayne) Moccasin, Lucy (Bobby) Little Light, Tana (Max French) Olyette, Leda (Bernard Little Nest) Falls Down, Mary (Gale) Three Irons and Mary Hoops; his uncles, Jerry Hoops Wilson, Sam Hoops, Tommy Half, Dexter (Marclene), Adli (Norma), William (Donna) and Frank (Agnes) Falls Down, Jr., Maurice Mountain Sheep, Tyrone (Linda) Ten Bear, Clifford (Ardith) Birdinground, Arthur Alden, Sr., and Ronnie (Ruby) Big Man; his special friends, Randy Not Afraid, Domonic Costa, Manford Gardner, Elmer Yarlott, Jr., Randy and Cameron Three Irons, Curtis Real Bird, Robert Snell, George Couture, Sr., Allie Little Light and Mr. And Mrs. Walsh of Ashland, whom he lived with during his high school days. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive him. Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday July 22, in the Crow Agency St. Dennis Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Crow Agency Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. July 23, 2002 Sheran Ethan Strange Owl PABLO - Sheran Ethan Strange Owl was born Nov. 11, 1995, to Rufus (RJ) and Holly Smith Strange Owl at the Crow-Northern Cheyenne Hospital in Crow Agency. Our precious little angel died July 20, 2002, in Missoula, of injuries sustained in a car accident which occurred in Polson on July 19, 2002. He attended Headstart, Kindergarten and the first grade in Ronan. He enjoyed eating at various restaurants and fast food places, playing in the park and being in the company of his young brother, Malik, and younger sister, Des'Rae. He was a descendant of Chief Black Kettle and Chief Dull Knife. He was a member of the Bow String and Hereditary Chiefs Society. His great-grandmother, Grace Strange Owl; grandmother, Elaine Strange Owl; grandfathers, Gordon Strange Owl and Raymond Rising Sun; and uncle Johnny Strange Owl preceded Sheran in death. Survivors include his parents, RJ of Busby and Holly Strange Owl of Pablo; his brother Malika and sister Des'Rae of Pablo; his grandparents, Alfred (Jeanne) Strange Owl, Tom (Charlotte) Rockroads, Ed (Laretha) Grinsell and Irving Rising Sun of Busby, Don (Sylvia) Garcia of Polson, George (Rachel) Magpie, Don (Ruthie) Shoulderblade and David Strange Owl of Lame Deer, Mike (Florence) Running Wolf of Birney, Dayton (Ann Grace) Raben of Colorado, Jim (Eva) Lee of Wyoming and Alice Rising Sun of Billings; his aunts, Rachel Strange Owl, Shasta (Shane) Birdsbill, Alfreda (Hubert) Heart, Deborah (Joedy) Emerson, Sylvia (Lolin) Shorty, Ann (Dan) Booker, Juanita (Richard Foote) Weasel Bear and Angie Elie; his uncles, Wayne, Melvin (Roberta), Dayton, Aljo (Christine) and Frank Strange Owl, Phillip (Peggy) and Larry (Jolene) Rising Sun, Randy Big Head and Jo-Jo (Emily) Weasel Bear; as well as numerous cousins and relatives. We love you Sheran. We miss you greatly. You will always be a part of us because we will carry you in our hearts forever. "Dear Lord, I place my tiny hand in yours when I heard you call my name. I wondered then if I could stay, to laugh, to learn, to love, to play. Perhaps my time may seem to brief, I pray it does not bring undue grief. I pray that if my parting has left a void, help them fill it with remembered joy. Oh loving parents and family that I miss, I ask you now to remember this I asked the Lord, don't let them grieve, I'm following the path you laid for me. Do not stand at the grave and cry, I could not stay another day, God has better plan for me. In the hearts of this I love and from the Heavens up above, I'm sending you all my love." Author unknown. Wake service will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, in the Strange Owl Family residence in Busby. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, in the Busby White River Mennonite church with Rev. Joe Walks Along officiating. Interment will follow in the Busby Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. Copyright c. The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. -=-=-=- July 17, 2002 Calvin V. Clark Sr. WOLF POINT -- Calvin V. Clark Sr., 77, a former game warden, member of the Tribal Council and retired co-owner of Ost-Clark water hauling business in Wolf Point, died of natural causes Sunday at a Wolf Point hospital. A wake is 7 this evening at Oswego Community Hall. His funeral is 10 a.m. Thursday at Oswego Community Hall, with burial in Oswego Catholic Cemetery. Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include his wife, Tootie Clark of Wolf Point; sons Mitchell Clark, Calvin Clark Jr. and Ronald Jackson, all of Wolf Point, and Gerald Jackson of Poplar; daughters Judy Rodriguez of Gary, Ind., and Coleen Clark, Linda Clark and Ethel "Pie" Jackson, all of Wolf Point; sisters Bernadine Wallace of Frazer and Rita Track of Wolf Point; brothers Walter Clark and Donald Clark of Frazer; 34 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by sons Kermit, Rusty and Roland. July 19, 2002 Robin Wayne Walking Eagle RONAN -- Robin Wayne Walking Eagle, 40, died Tuesday in his home. Cause of death is under investigation. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar, with burial to follow in Riverside Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Lori Walking Eagle, and daughters, Natasha and Jesse, both of Ronan; brothers, Clarence, Myron and Kermit Walking Eagle, all of Brockton, Allie Walking Eagle of Springville, Utah, Melvin "Rusty" Walking Eagle of Alexandria, Va.; and sisters, Toni and Doris Walking Eagle, both of Brockton. He was preceded in death by sisters Sharon and Penny Walking Eagle; and a brother, Michael Walking Eagle. July 23, 2002 Keith C. 'Ike' Heavy Runner BROWNING -- Keith C. "Ike" Heavy Runner, 49, an Army veteran and former business manager at Blackfeet Community College, died of kidney failure Sunday at a Browning hospital. Rosary is 7 this evening at Little Flower Parish in Browning. His funeral is 2 p.m. Wednesday at Little Flower Parish, with burial in Ground Cemetery west of Starr School. Survivors include his parents, Eugene Sr. and Gertrude Heavy Runner of Browning; sisters Linda Warden and Gay Ann Spotted Bear of Browning and Iris Heavy Runner of Wolf Point; brothers Eugene Heavy Runner Jr. of Pablo, George Heavy Runner of Browning and Lyle Heavy Runner of Great Falls; and grandparents George and Angeline Old Person and John and Mary Ground. Ike worked at Blackfeet Community College for 20 years as the business manager. He recently went back to work at the college as a financial consultant. As one of the original staff members, Ike was able to experience the growth of the college starting from a one-house structure to a multi-million dollar facility that serves as the primary post- secondary higher educational institution on the Blackfeet reservation. He was an avid sports fan who enjoyed golfing, fishing and betting on the horse races. Although he had no biological children, Ike was very proud of the fact that he had a large part in the raising of his niece, Kathy Warden, and her children Lakota Weatherwax, Trae and Summer Kennerly. He had one godson, Kellan Hall. Ike was preceded in death by his brothers, David, Glenn, Duane, Carl and Kermit Heavy Runner; and a sister, Bonnie Heavy Runner. Copyright c. 2002 Great Falls Tribune. --------- "RE: Letter to the Editor: Learned Helplessness" --------- Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 21:40:31 -0700 From: "Theda Kresge" Subj: Query To: Subj: Fwd: VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM VICTOR ROCHA Mailing List: TRIBALLAW (triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu) ------- FORWARD, Original message follows ------- >Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 13:19:08 -0700 >From: "Victor Rocha" >Subj: VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM VICTOR ROCHA >To: "CIGN Daily Digest" DEAR INDIAN COUNTRY, Your assistance and letters needed. Please pass this information along. Thank you for your support, Victor Rocha www.pechanga.net ---------- July 19, 2002 Open Letter to the American Indian Community: Without notice or consultation, as of July 1, 2002, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) unilaterally removed Professor Duane Champagne (Chippewa) from his post as Director of the UCLA American Indian Studies Center (AISC). After 11 years of distinguished service to the American Indian community and UCLA, Professor Champagne was not recommended for reappointment to his position, despite his willingness to serve. The on and off campus Indian and Indian Studies community is confused, shocked, and dismayed with this abrupt change in leadership. His removal severely threatens the continuity of important AISC initiatives involving community-based research, advocacy, community service, student recruitment and retention, fund-raising, and the growth of American Indian Studies at UCLA. In fact, all community service efforts for the Native American community, in the name of UCLA, are rooted in the American Indian Studies Center and the American Indian Studies degree programs. UCLA has imposed their decision on the American Indian community. The American Indian Studies faculty, staff, students, and community were not consulted on this matter. Instead, UCLA has dismissed the idea of shared governance in the case of American Indian Studies and expects our community to accept silently their decision. We cannot afford to be silent. Over the past thirty years, Native people have joined with other communities to assert their right to self-determination at the University through the development of academic programming that is relevant to the conditions of our communities. The AISC and American Indian Studies interdisciplinary degree programs are nationally renowned programs providing real service to Indian Nations and people, and these beneficial programs are now threatened. Taking advantage of the low numbers of UCLA, the University has decided to choose our leadership for us! UCLA should affirm the will of our community in regards to the appropriate mission for the AISC. Many of you are familiar with all of the work and support that UCLA AISC has done to support us, and now we need to support it. UCLA needs to hear your voice. Indian nations, community organizations, student organizations, alumni, concerned individuals, future Bruins, youth organizations and all interested parties, please express your concern about their decision to not renew the appointment of Professor Champagne, without a vote of the American Indian Studies faculty and without consultation with students, faculty, staff, and tribal and community representatives. We deserve accountability, collegiality and respect from UCLA. Please write to UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale and include the following points in your correspondence: * Concern over the UCLA's lack of shared governance and consultation with the community regarding the Directorship of the UCLA AISC. * Request that Chancellor Carnesale meet with Professor Champagne in person, as soon as possible. * Request that Chancellor Carnesale convene a blue ribbon panel, comprised of impartial representatives from the various constituencies of the AISC (AIS faculty and staff, students, community members, etc.) who convene and investigate the matter in the name of shared governance and then provide actionable recommendations to the Chancellor within a short timeframe so as to minimally disrupt the Center's activities. Please send your letters to: Chancellor Albert Carnesale Office of the Chancellor 2147 Murphy Hall, UCLA MC 140501 Los Angeles, California 90095-1405 acarnesale@ucla.edu Victor Rocha C.I.R.C.L.E. for UCLA (Coalition for Indian Rights, Consultation, Leadership and Education) _______________________________________________ Triballaw mailing list Triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu http://thecity.sfsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/triballaw --------- "RE: Admin Criticized on management of Sacred Sites" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SACRED SITES" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.montanaforum.com/rednews/2002/07/18/build/tribal/sacredsites.php?nnn=6 Administration criticized on management of sacred Indian sites By ROBERT GEHRKE Associated Press Writer Thursday, July 18, 2002 WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is allowing mining companies to exploit sites sacred to American Indians, Indian leaders said Wednesday. "The very idea of placing a cell phone tower at the Wailing Wall, making a parking lot out of Notre Dame, or putting an oil rig in the Blue Mosque or Westminster Abbey is preposterous," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., "And yet, there are numerous Native American sacred sites ... that are currently being ravaged and destroyed in these very ways." Boxer is helping California's Quechan Tribe fight the effort by Glamis Gold Ltd. to develop a 1,600-acre open-pit gold mine on the banks of the Colorado River in Imperial County, Calif. For generations, the tribe's ancestors gathered at the site to perform funeral rites and cremate their dead. "This mine would rip the heart out of the tribe's religious center," Boxer said. Before leaving office in January 2001, the Clinton administration rejected the mine request because of cultural considerations. But in October, Interior Secretary Gale Norton rescinded the denial and is reconsidering the company's application. "We thought we won a victory and it was taken away from us before we had a chance to celebrate," Quechan President Mike Jackson said. "Our elders just shake their heads knowing this has happened too many times in the past." Norton has yet to meet with the tribe about the decision, Jackson said. Interior Department official Christopher Kearney said there are policies in place requiring the department to consider the cultural or religious significance of a location when approving land use and other rules are in the development stage. But when pressed by Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, Kearney could not give examples of cases where religious considerations affected the outcome of a mining petitions. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., challenged Kearney and the administration to do more than follow procedures, but to really do what is right. "We get too bogged down in doing things by the book and by the rules that we don't do enough by the heart," said Campbell, the only Indian in the Senate. Campbell said he and Inouye plan to add language to an upcoming Interior Department spending bill that would prohibit any action on the Glamis mine for at least a year while he works on a permanent solution. The Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico and Hopi tribe in Arizona are embroiled in similar disputes with the Interior Department. The Zunis are opposing plans for an 18,000 acre coal strip mine 10 miles from Zuni Salt Lake. The tribe fears the mining could affect the hydrology and damage the lake, which the tribe believes is home to Salt Woman, the tribe's central deity. Historically, it has been a sacred gathering place for the Zunis and other southwestern tribes. The Interior Department approved the mining plan on May 31 and construction could begin next spring. The Zunis have vowed to resist the project. "This area would probably harbor ... thousands of human remains," said Malcolm Bowekaty, governor of the Zuni Pueblo. "That is an abomination to our tribe." And in Arizona, Hopi leaders say the Interior Department has failed to protect the Navajo aquifer beneath Black Mesa by allowing Peabody Energy to take billions of gallons of groundwater and surface water for its mining operations. Copyright c. 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. Montana Forum: Copyright c. 2000 Ravalli Republic and Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: Sacred Land may outshine any Gold Mine" --------- Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 09:04:21 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="GOLD MINE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/bell/20020720-9999_1m20bell.html Sacred land may outshine any gold mine Diane Bell July 20, 2002 A battle is being waged in Washington, D.C., over a piece of Imperial County desert. It was the only area in the Western United States named last month to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2002. The dispute centers on federal land about 45 miles northeast of El Centro. It hosts a mother lode of ancient Indian trails, pictographs, prayer circles, spirit breaks and other sites sacred to the culture and religion of the nearby Quechan Indian tribe. But a Canadian-based company is eyeing different riches in the desert soil. Glamis Gold Ltd. wants to dig an open-pit gold mine up to 850 feet deep on 1,571 acres near Indian Pass, using cyanide to "wash" the gold flecks from the dirt. Then-Secretary of State Bruce Babbitt rebuffed the mining proposal after extensive environmental scrutiny and public input. The Quechan tribe had thought the matter was put to rest. But Gale Norton, Babbitt's successor under President Bush, has flung the door wide open. Last November she rescinded the denial, saying the Interior Department lacked the regulations to determine when something "unduly impaired" Indian culture. The war moves east On July 6, the History Channel aired a special, "America's Most Endangered," that focused on the tug of war over the territory. Among those featured was San Diego lawyer Courtney Ann Coyle, who joined the fray on behalf of the Quechan tribe. On Wednesday, in Washington, D.C., she argued before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, as did tribal council president Mike Jackson Sr. and tribal historian Lorey Cachora, who maintains: "Glamis Gold will destroy our way of life." California Sen. Barbara Boxer testified that the mine "would rip the heart out the tribe's religious center" and compared it to making a parking lot out of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, or building an oil rig in London's Westminster Abbey. Aside from destruction of archaeological treasures, opponents contend that the mining will sully air quality, deplete underground aquifers and contaminate the water supply. They also maintain that ore quality is so low grade that 422 tons of rock would be mined for each ounce of gold produced, leaving a massive hole and piles of waste rock as high as 30 stories. In previous testimony, the Glamis Gold folks estimated as much as $300 million in gold could be retrieved and contended that they have invested more than $14 million in the project. At the Wednesday hearing, two senators pledged to add language to an upcoming Interior Department spending bill that would prohibit any action on the proposed mine for a year while they search for a permanent solution. Then, on Thursday, Reps. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., and Dale Kildee, D-Mich., introduced legislation to protect sacred American Indian sites. A similar bill has passed the California state Senate and awaits Assembly action. Coyle is optimistic: "It was a very good two days for the tribe and for all Native American people." Copyright c. 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. --------- "RE: Zuni Salt Lake: Native beliefs vs. Mines" --------- Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 08:17:47 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ZUNI SALT LAKE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.daily-times.com/Stories/0,1413,129%257E6574%257E738477,00.html Zuni Salt Lake: Native beliefs vs. mines By Rebecca Schubert/For The Daily Times Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 1:15:51 AM MST ALBUQUERQUE Pueblo leaders, Intertribal allies and the Zuni Salt Lake Coalition met in at the Indian Pueblo Culture Center in Albuquerque, Tuesday, to discuss the abrogation of their rights by the U.S. government. "The Department of the Interior's (DOI) recent decision to approve mining (just north) of the Zuni Salt Lake violates the trust obligations of the U.S. government on four different accounts: the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, Bulletin 38, which protects Traditional Cultural Properties, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act," Pablo Padilla, Zuni Pueblo liaison, said. All of these rights are applicable not only to Native American nations, but to every U.S. citizen. In response to the approval of the state and federal permits by Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and Mining and Minerals director Glenda Owen, leaders from Zuni Pueblo are now traveling to Washington, D.C. where views of the 19 pueblos will be presented before the U.S. Senate's Indian Affairs Committee. Padilla explained that four new, independently-conducted studies by qualified hydrological firms conclude that the Fence Lake coal strip mine will use great amounts of the water which feeds Salt Lake, located just north of Quemado. This would drain the 5-foot-deep lake and destroy it. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is being used currently does not recognize these facts. Padilla said that after five years, it is the Committee of Environmental Quality's responsibility to conduct time- appropriate evaluations. "The EIS is outdated and stale," he said. "The first study was done in 1990, and the supplements were added in 96. They need to look at the recent work." This lake has been used by the Zuni people for at least 1,500 years as a source of salt used daily, as well as in sacred ceremonies. This uniquely gathered salt plays an intricate role in their culture, as well as those of other Puebloans and the Din. Wells Mahkee Jr., Zuni resident, said that this historical significance has been ignored by the DOI. "There has been no acknowledgement of any kind no visits, no letters. Secretary Norton needs to see what's at stake," he said. Mahkee explained that the Salt Lake is a vital part of the Zuni tradition. It was one of the reasons that their predecessors moved from their location in the Four Corners region; the sacred word for south in their language is "in the direction of the Salted Lake." He also referred to the religious rites that some young men must take part in that includes a pilgrimage to the Zuni Salt Lake. Zuni Governor Malcolm Bowekaty said that the committee traveling to Washington hopes to communicate "... the inconsistencies and failed processes of the federal government to protect sacred places such as Zuni Salt Lake." The scope of this issue reaches far and wide. The coal derived from these Bureau of Land Management lands would be refined in St. Johns, Ariz., and the energy used by people in Phoenix. The importance of the Zuni Salt Lake and surrounding discussion is also relevant to Grant County. William K. Featheringill, Silver City resident and business owner who has visited the Zuni Salt Lake, expressed his vested interest in its protection. He also said that numerous community members are extremely concerned about this abridgement of peoples' rights and have been actively pursuing the DOI to reconsider its decision. He referenced the solar alternative to coal energy that could be used in this situation. "There's a demand for solar power and a need for it. The technology is there and has been used for 30 years. It just continues to grow." Mary Liebhart, Western New Mexico University assistant professor reflected on the issue by asking, "Is there a difference in how the U.S. government defines sacred, and how the Zuni people define sacred?" She said that the U.S. "should be supporting and encouraging sovereign nations wherever invited," and believes that the Zuni Salt Lake and story behind it are very important. Liebhart will focus her fall graduate course, "Life and Literature of New Mexico," on the Zuni, their community and literatures. EDITOR'S NOTE: Schubert is a staff writer for the Las Cruces Sun-News, The Daily Times' sister newspaper. Copyright c. 1999-2002 MediaNews Group, Inc./Farmington Daily Times. --------- "RE: Ruins at Wupatki vandalized" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="WUPATKI RUINS VANDALIZED" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=44935 Ruins at Wupatki vandalized By MICHAEL MARIZCO Sun Staff Reporter 07/18/2002 The Lomaki Ruins at Wupatki National Monument were severely damaged by vandals sometime after 12:30 p.m. Monday and before 11 a.m. Tuesday. Stone walls around the pueblo structure were smashed and 800-year-old granaries, used for grain storage, also were damaged. "The granaries had original mortar," said Mary Blasing, a National Park Service law enforcement ranger. "Can we repair the granaries so they look authentic? Yes. Is the integrity of the structure gone? Yeah." The site, which contained remnants of an Anasazi village dating back to the 12th century, was closed by National Park Service rangers Tuesday afternoon because of the damage. "It could be weeks to months before we reopen," Blasing said. So far, archaeologists estimate the damage in the thousands of dollars. "The damage is extensive," said Blasing. "We're talking original stuff. Philosophically, it's irreparable damage." Blasing was conducting regular patrols Tuesday when she came upon the damage at the Lomaki site. "I walked the trail, which we always do and found this," she said. Handmade stone signs made by park rangers to blend in with the pueblo architecture also had been smashed. "They were made to keep people from going on to other unexcavated sites" she said. Blasing said Park Service investigators are searching the grounds for evidence. Usually, the Park Service will work with the assistant U.S. attorney out of Flagstaff, although it retains its own criminal investigators. Officers searched for tools that may have been used, but Blasing said her first impression was instruments had not been used at all. Instead, she speculated that hands and feet might have been used to kick in the walls, smash the stone signs and damage the granaries. It is believed as many as 100 to 150 visitors had gone through the area between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. "We've got no clues, nothing to go on," Blasing said. Wupatki National Monument remained opened even as forest closures prompted the closing of other sites like Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument earlier this summer. "With the forest closures, we stayed open so the public would have somewhere to go," Blasing said. The Lomaki site is the only site in Wupatki that will remain closed until further notice by the Park Service. Blasing said archaeologists will have to assess the damage, draw up plans to repair the site and receive approval from the State Office of Historical Preservation before they can repair the damage. Archaeological sites are protected under the federal Archaeological Resource Protection Act of 1979, the current law used to protect archaeological resources. Reporter Michael Marizco may be reached at mmarizco@azdailysun.com or 556-2257. Copyright c. 2000-2002 Arizona Daily Sun. --------- "RE: Lewis and Clark made a Pit Stop Here" --------- Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 09:04:21 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SACRED POOP" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.missoulian.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt July 20, 2002 editorial opinion from Owlstar Trading Post http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm [I'm cranky today, so bear with me. I read two stories -- one in the Missoulian, which, after I stopped laughing at the absurdity, really ticked me off. Because I knew...I knew... Sure enough, this afternoon, came the counterpoint. I don't think I even need to explain what I'm thinking when an archaeologist suggests that a latrine three sick explorers squatted over should be registered as an "historic site," and stresses the seriousness of that registry, while at the very same time, the Department of Interior refuses to protect an already designated historic site that is clearly an ancient Indian ruin of religious significance from becoming a cyanide-laced pit mine. Thank the Creator the congresscritters have a tad more sense. What WILL our great- grandchildren think when their archaeologists start digging into what we did in our lives.] See: Potty stop below from the Missoulian Potty stop LOLO - Lewis and Clark made a pit stop here. And this week, nearly 200 years after the explorers' history-making layover, archaeologists may well have found the pit. In a never-tilled meadow beside Lolo Creek, scientists dug a 1-by-1 meter square, looking for the latrine used by members of the Lewis and Clark expedition at the camp they called Travelers' Rest. Every 10 centimeters, the archaeologists stopped to test the soil for mercury, the presence of which is considered proof of the Corps of Discovery's presence. Whenever they felt poorly, soldiers on the 1804-1806 expedition took laxatives known as Dr. Rush's Thunder Clappers. The pills were 60 percent mercury, so induced immediate and lasting diarrhea which Philadelphia physician Benjamin Rush believed would cleanse the body of all infirmities. "It didn't matter what you had," said Dan Hall, a historical archaeologist for Western Cultural in Missoula. "Syphilis, constipation, a wound. If you were in need of medical care, they fed you Dr. Rush's pills." And in their journals, expedition leaders Meriwether Lewis and William Clark noted that three soldiers were sick during the expedition's encampment along Lolo Creek on June 30-July 3, 1806 - on their return from the Pacific Ocean. "So we know that for three days, three guys were sitting on the latrine," Hall said. "And that if this was the latrine, there should still be mercury in the soil and we should be able to find it." Twenty centimeters into this week's dig, the archaeologists saw the hoped-for change in the soil. Where the upper layer had undoubtedly been Lolo Creek gravel - rounded, unsorted cobbles of brown and gold - the new layer was a dark gray soil rich in organic material and cobble-free. But when they tested for mercury, the samples came up empty. Thirty- eight times. So the archaeologists kept digging. At 48 centimeters, the organic layer began to give way to another creek- bottom deposit. They kept digging and sampling and testing. On the last sample of the day Thursday, at about 50 centimeters, they hit pay dirt. Literally. Consultant Natalie Morrow saw the reading on her mercury vapor analyzer and started dancing: 0.004 milligrams of mercury per cubic meter of soil, a statistically significant spike. And just where you'd expect to find it: at the bottom of the latrine. "Mercury is a heavy inert element," Hall said. "It does not decompose. Water has a hard time moving it. So it would settle at the bottom, right where we found it." "We were all screaming," he said, "and dancing." Hall did another little jig Friday morning when Morrow arrived with the next bit of good news. The soil sample she took to the lab showed 0.0145 milligrams of mercury per cubic meter of soil, "another hit" from the same bottom-of-the-trench level. "Now we have ruled out equipment error or operator error," Hall said. On Friday, the crew began excavation of another test pit, looking to repeat the discovery. They'll do three excavations along the suspected trench. Then they'll collect soil samples from across the cottonwood bottom land, for purposes of comparison. If the suspected latrine is the only site with hits for mercury, they'll know - for certain - that they found THE latrine. Archaeologists used a similar mercury vaporizer analysis at Fort Clatsop, where the expedition spent the winter of 1805-1806, to verify the location of that campsite. The results there were "robust," Hall said, as the soldiers spent so many months in the same place and built an actual privy. The same sort of analysis may eventually be used to verify the location of the expedition's portage around the Great Falls of the Missouri. At Travelers' Rest, the documentation is particularly significant because the encampment is a National Historic Landmark - and has been for many years. But the national listing shows the camp at the confluence of Lolo Creek and the Bitterroot River, about 1 1/2 miles from its actual, upstream location. And in order to get the landmark expanded, or otherwise relocated to include the actual campsite, Hall and company need substantial documentation. Proof positive. "A National Historic Landmark designation is a recognition that not all sites are equal, that some are more important than others," Hall said. "So they must have a high degree of integrity. We don't change a landmark's location on a whim." This summer's archaeological work, which will also include excavation of a possible hearth, "will help us put a square on a map and say this is the place," he said. "That we know for certain." Remote-sensing work in recent years has repeatedly zeroed in on the grassy bench and cottonwood bottom land on the south side of Lolo Creek, land owned for 30 years by Pat and Ernie Deschamps and sold last year to the public, for management as Travelers' Rest State Park. Historians and archaeologists studying the site knew they were looking for a military style layout, as all field encampments of that era followed a regimen prescribed by Baron Von Steuben, a Prussian who came to Valley Forge and helped Gen. George Washington establish the revolutionary army's encampment. In his guidebook, the baron prescribed the location of a central cook fire, from which all other features were located: the soldiers' tents, the captains' tents, the sentries, the game-butchering area, and at a distance of 300 feet, the latrine. Earlier tests of electromagnetic conductivity, which show anomalies in the soil, located the likely site of the central cook fire at Travelers' Rest. The suspected latrine is 300 feet away, at the bottom of the bluff. Pinpointing the campsite's precise location should open more doors for funding and for protection of the area, said Beth Berlin, a Missoula County grants administrator assigned to the project. (The archaeological work is funded by $98,000 in grants from historian Stephen Ambrose, the White House, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service.) "It really helps with the money," Berlin said. "It legitimizes all of the efforts being undertaken on this property," said Philip Maechling, Missoula County's historic preservation officer. "Finding the subsurface trench was serendipity in the first place," said Hall, "because finding evidence of Lewis and Clark in a quickly developing community like Lolo is like looking for a needle in three haystacks." To find such strong evidence so quickly, after just two days of excavation, is amazing, said Berlin. "There were skeptics who said we'd never find anything out here, that too much time had passed, that mercury vapor analysis would never show anything. So this is pretty exciting." Said Hall: "It's about as much excitement as you can get standing over a 200-year-old latrine." If you're interested Travelers' Rest is managed as a state park by the Travelers' Rest Preservation and Heritage Association. Through Labor Day weekend, the park will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. For visitors headed south from Lolo on Highway 93, turn right on Mormon Creek Road, the first road after you cross Lolo Creek. The park is on the right-hand side, a quarter mile to the west. For security reasons, the archaeological excavation is not open to the public. There are, however, no artifacts to be seen because the excavation is looking for subtle changes in the soil and for evidence of mercury. Docents will be on hand to explain the site's history and significant throughout the weekend. Copyright c. 2002, Missoulian, Missoula, MT. A Lee Enterprises subsidiary. --------- "RE: Riders push to end Peabody's pumping of N-Aquifer" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="AQUIFER RIDE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.thenavajotimes.com/nation.html Riders push to end Peabody's pumping of N-Aquifer By Marley Shebala The Navajo Times WINDOW ROCK July 18, 2002 According to traditional Navajo history, the Navajo people are made from four elements of life and water is one of them. Nicole Horseherder, who took part in a 115-mile horseback ride from Forest Lake, Ariz. to the Navajo Nation's capital to protest the use of water by Peabody Coal Company, said on Monday that the people of Black Mesa have been going to the local springs to make their traditional offerings and prayers since the beginning of time. But now the elders don't see any water coming from the springs, Horseherder said. She said the young adults and youth from the community started gathering reports and research, including one from the Black Mesa Trust, a nonprofit group working to stop Peabody's use of the N-Aquifer, on what is causing natural springs in the area to go dry. Horseherder said they found out that Peabody is pumping 4,400 acre-feet of water a year from the Navajo Aquifer (N-Aquifer). That amount of pumping exceeds the natural ability of the N-Aquifer to recharge itself, she said. Horseherder said Peabody has been pumping out water for the past 30 years and that's contaminated and destroyed the aquifer. It can't be fixed, she added. Peabody mixes the water with coal from Black Mesa to transport the coal to the Mohave Generating Station in Laughlin, Nev., through a 270-mile slurry pipeline, she said. Marshall Johnson, who also rode from Forest Lake, made a comparison of Peabody's water use and the community's use. Johnson said residents on and around Black Mesa haul water in 55-gallon barrels. If Peabody used 55-gallon barrel to haul the 4,400 acre-feet of water that is taken annually from the N-Aquifer, they would need 26 million barrels. Horseherder said Peabody uses three times more water than all the communities around Black Mesa. She said one of their community leaders, Hard Rock Chapter President Percy Deal, advised them to educate other communities in the Navajo language about how Peabody's massive use of the N-Aquifer is drying up local springs and wells. Horseherder said the Black Mesa Trust recommended that they organize their informal group of young adults, youth and elders into an official association. They are now called To'nizh Oni'Ani', which means "water use for the future." She said the people, especially the elderly and the youth, were "moved" by their presentation. Horseherder said the people talked about what needed to be done to save their water and they decided that Peabody's water permit had to be terminated. She said the Hopi Tribe, after strong pressure from Black Mesa Trust and other Hopi people, recently terminated an agreement with Reliant Energy of Houston, Tex., for a proposed coal-fired generating plant on Hopi lands. Black Mesa Trust member Becky Masayesva said on Wednesday that Reliant reported that the proposed coal-fire generating plant would use less water than Peabody, but the people didn't believe that. Masayesva said the Black Mesa Trust was created by her husband, former Hopi Chairman Vernon Masayesva. She said the Hopi people also rely on the N-Aquifer and they are pushing the Hopi Tribe not to renew Peabody's water permit when it expires in 2005. Horseherder said Peabody is destroying a way of life, which is a violation of basic human rights. Johnson reiterated that the damage can't be reversed. He showed several color photographs of sinkholes that were growing larger and connecting. Horseherder said their research showed that Peabody's enormous pumping of water from the N-Aquifer was creating the sinkholes. She said what makes her really sad is she doesn't know how to comfort the elders, who used to see the springs flowing as they made their offerings. "I can't imagine what they feel," she said. Johnson is sponsoring proposed legislation to the Navajo Nation Council to terminate Peabody's water permit with support from the Chinle Agency Council and the chapters of Tuba City, Pinon, Forest Lake, Hard Rock, Low Mountain and Kayenta. The council is in their summer session, which is from July 15 to 19. Copyright c. 1999-2002 - Navajo Times/Navajo Nation. --------- "RE: Navajo Council OKs Drought Relief Fund" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="DROUGHT RELIEF" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.thenavajotimes.com/drought.html Council OKs drought relief fund The Navajo Times WINDOW ROCK July 18, 2002 The Navajo Nation Council on Monday appropriated $2.975 million for emergency drought relief and to victims of the Rodeo/Chediski fire. The money is to come from the tribe's savings account, which is supposed to remain at over $40 million in case of emergency. By a vote of 61 in favor and 7 opposed, the council voted to provide water, food, feed and other drought mitigation measures. About $50,000 will be provided to Navajos impacted by the Rodeo/Chediski fires. According to the Western Regional Climate Center Desert Research Institute, the Navajo Nation has been experiencing drought conditions for several months now and soil moisture conditions have become increasingly dry, with below normal precipitation levels. Copyright c. 1999-2002 - Navajo Times/Navajo Nation. --------- "RE: Hopis offer to underwrite Powell Pipeline" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="PIPELINE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=44950 Hopis offer to underwrite Powell pipeline By GARY GHIOTO Sun Staff Reporter 07/18/2002 As environmental activists open a new front in their battle to end groundwater withdrawals on Black Mesa, the Hopi Tribe has offered to help underwrite a $100 million pipeline from Lake Powell that would keep a coal mine operating and eventually fuel a new power plant owned by the tribe. The Hopi Tribe and Peabody Energy are working on a proposal to build a pipeline from Lake Powell to replace 1.3 billion gallons a year in groundwater used in a slurry line that carries coal to a power plant in Laughlin, Nev., said Claire Heywood, a spokesperson for the Hopi Tribe. The tribe is willing to help pay some of the costs associated with the estimated $102 million pricetag of the pipeline that would run from Lake Powell through the Navajo reservation to Black Mesa, she said Tuesday. The pipeline also would provide water for Navajo and Hopi communities and limit further pumping of the aquifer that also is being strained by expanding population in the region, said Hopi officials. Another plan that would tap Lake Powell and run a pipeline from Page to Cameron along Highway 89 is opposed by the Hopi Tribe because it would not solve the "water crisis" on Black Mesa, Heywood said. Tribal support for the Powell pipeline came as activists for the Black Mesa Trust told Congress Wednesday that the aquifer water is "sacred" and deserving of the same protection the federal government affords irreplaceable archaeological and cultural sites. (see related story) The Trust previously cited a study by a national environmental group that contended that surface springs were drying up because of water pumped by Peabody deep below the surface. Peabody's hydrological consultants say that surface springs are shrinking due to drought and that the aquifer is not being permanently damaged, despite the use of 1.3 billion gallons a year for the slurry line. According to Peabody Energy spokesman Vic Svec, mining on Black Mesa injects $2 million each week into the local Hopi and Navajo economies and provides 700 jobs. The Hopi Tribe says royalties from water and coal sales to Peabody make up 80 percent of its annual operating budget. But Peabody's coal lease on Black Mesa expires in 2005, and the Hopi Tribe, despite the revenues it receives from its deal with Peabody, is on record as opposing Peabody's application for renewal until an alternate source of water for the slurry coal line is found. The tribe has even considered closing the Black Mesa Mine and losing the revenue to preclude Peabody from using underground water resources, according to Hopi officials. Tribal Chairman Wayne Taylor says the water is "wasted in the slurry" and that "no more studies are needed to prove that the Tribe's natural water resources are now so threatened, so needlessly squandered, and so cavalierly managed." In addition to the pipeline from Lake Powell, Peabody says it is "working" with owners of the Laughlin power plant, the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation to use "untapped groundwater sources" or water from the Laughlin area to slurry the coal and leave the Navajo aquifer untapped. While Hopi officials and Peabody Energy consider plans for a pipeline from Lake Powell and other options, the tribe is still considering building its own power plant and exploiting coal resources on Black Mesa, said Heywood. After much publicity, the tribe abruptly dropped out of a partnership with Reliant Energy of Houston to construct a coal-fired plant on Black Mesa. Heywood said concerns voiced by tribal members that the plant would require 800 million gallons of water a year from the aquifer sank the plan. Black Mesa Trust, a grassroots organization about 2 years old, opposed the Reliant Energy deal and is also urging caution about the proposed Lake Powell pipeline. Vernon Masayesva of the Trust said he doesn't believe the Hopi Tribe should pay millions of dollars for the pipeline. A Hopi-owned power plant could generate $60 million annually for the Hopi Tribe and is still seriously being considered, said Heywood. But until a pipeline from Lake Powell is built to provide water for the power plant, the tribe is hesitant to move forward at this time, said Heywood. Copyright c. 2000-2002 Arizona Daily Sun. --------- "RE: Drought hits hard on O'odham Lands" --------- Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 08:19:19 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="O'ODHAM DROUGHT" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/20715Oodhamdrought2fjm2fmst.html Drought hits hard on O'odham lands Tucson, Arizona Monday, 15 July 2002 By Carmen Duarte ARIZONA DAILY STAR FRESNAL CANYON - Vast sections of Tohono O'odham lands remain parched, and tribal leaders hope more rains such as Sunday's can heal the land from this year's severe drought. An estimated 1,000 cattle have died since May on the Nation west of Tucson, from the U.S.-Mexico border up to Gila Bend and the Casa Grande areas, said Homer Marks, administrator of the tribe's range conservation and management program. The loss to ranchers is about $500,000, and the devastation may climb, said Marks, as his pickup traveled rocky terrain in the Baboquivari District. It is one of 11 districts on the reservation that covers an area about the size of Connecticut. Marks and Fred Narcho, a member of the district council who represents this remote canyon community of about 20 people, surveyed watering holes, known as charcos, and contaminated wells Friday. As they neared the two-acre Owl's Nest Charco, their eyes took in the carcasses of more than 30 cows and calves in the sunbaked hole. The carcasses will be left there for nature's scavengers to devour. "This is the first time I've seen this charco dry in over 40 years," said Narcho. "It has come pretty low, but it never has completely dried. "This hurts my heart," he said, his voice lowering as he looked out at death. "Some of my cattle are here. This drought is affecting so many ranchers." Tribal and district leaders are encouraging ranchers to sell off their cattle so they can cut their losses. They can rebuild their herds after the drought. While Narcho surveyed the area, about 20 cattle walked through the watering hole on their way in search of food. The herds munched on mesquite and palo verde trees, cholla cactus and ocotillo. Since 1999, mountain lions have come in greater numbers from Baboquivari Peak to hunt cattle because the dry spell is also affecting their food supply, Narcho said. Some ranchers have killed cougars to protect their herds. Narcho recently rescued 11 calves from the range after nine mother cows died. He is nursing them in corrals by his home. He lost three of the calves, but eight are in good shape and gaining weight with a diet of hay. "When the rains come, and as long as we get a little grass and other growth, the calves will return to the range. That's where they like to be," he said. Meanwhile, the tribe is using a 5,000-gallon tanker trailer on loan from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and three rental trucks to deliver water to this canyon community and two others in the Gu Achi District. The trucks, which travel hundreds of miles each week, also are delivering water to stock tanks for cattle. This is helping to prevent ranchers like Narcho from completely losing their herds. "Everybody is pulling together and trying our best with the resources that we have," Marks said. "We have crews grading roads and trails so the trucks can deliver to stock tanks. The weight of the water is making it hard on the trucks. There have been a lot of breakdowns, and that's why it is so important to make the roads passable." Marks said Tucson Electric Power Co. donated $15,000 to help the Nation during the drought. He said the money will be used to rent a fourth truck and buy another tank for water delivery, and to buy new blades for the road grader. Nearly 200 miles of dirt roads need to be graded for water delivery. Spotty rain has fallen in various parts of the reservation, which has about 270 livestock watering holes. It is estimated that 40 of those watering holes will be dry by the end of summer. The Nation's herd size is about 17,500 cattle and 2,650 horses. If the drought lasts through August, the tribe will need to spend more than $230,000 to provide relief to communities and ranchers, Marks said. "We're praying for rain, and we're looking for help from anyone who can help," said Ronald Ventura, chairman of the Baboquivari District, which is home to about 2,000 people. * Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at 573-4195 or at cduarte@azstarnet.com. Copyright c. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 AzStarNet, Arizona Daily Star and its wire services. --------- "RE: White Firestarter is cleared of Charges" --------- Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 08:11:18 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="WHITE FIRESTARTER" http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0718fire18-ON.html Crowd boos, walks out as firestarter is cleared of charges Brent Whiting and Mark Shaffer The Arizona Republic July 18, 2002 04:00:00 HEBER - No criminal charges will be brought against Valinda Jo Elliott, the stranded woman who set a signal fire that became the "Chediski" wildfire, authorities said Thursday. A federal prosecutor said there was no proof that Elliott acted with criminal intent. The facts, if anything, supported a defense that she acted out of necessity - to save her own life. The announcement at the Mogollon High School gymnasium in Heber, one of the communities most devastated by the monster blaze, drew boos from a crowd that walked out in protest. As Paul Charlton, the U.S. attorney for Arizona, explained that Elliott will not be prosecuted, one upset man tossed a burned ponderosa pine log from the stands onto the court. It landed near the foul line and broke in two. Navajo County Sheriff's deputies hustled the man out, prompting a number of area residents who lost homes in the fire to heckle the deputies. "You take him away but you won't do anything to this woman who ruined so many of our lives," yelled Carla Emmert of Overgaard. Dan Caivano of Heber also was incensed. "This is just ridiculous," Caivano said, chiding the arresting officers. "Who's going to follow any laws around here if you're not doing anything to her?" Meanwhile, Elliott and her attorney, David Michael Cantor, left for New York City, where they are set to appear Friday morning on CBS' The Early Show. Said Cantor, a Tempe lawyer: "When Miss Elliott started the fire, she did what any reasonable person would do after being stranded for three days with no food or water. Miss Elliott's actions were for her survival and not with any criminal intent." Elliott remains remorseful about what happened. "She feels bad for people who lost their home," Cantor said. The facts are expected to show that Elliott probably couldn't have survived another day, Cantor said. A spokeswoman for The Early Show said Cantor and Elliott are scheduled to appear in the first hour of the show, which begins at 7 a.m. (Arizona time) on Channel 5 (KPHO). Elliott had admitted setting a signal fire June 20 that quickly spread out of control and merged with another human-caused blaze to become the "Rodeo-Chediski" fire. By the time it was contained, 470,000 acres were burned and 423 homes destroyed, including widespread destruction in the Heber area. The fire cost more than $43 million to fight and forced the evacuation of about 30,000 people. Helen Grand of Pinecrest Estates, one of nearly 200 people who lost homes in the Overgaard subdivision, called Charlton a "total screwhead." "He does nothing, she walks away scot-free and our insurance company won't have anything to do with us," Grand said. "Boy, life is just wonderful these days." Helen Grand's husband, Ray Grand, said that the woman "should be brought up here by the police and have her nose stuck in every pile of ashes she's responsible for." Elliott had been lost for three days near Chediski Peak when she tried to catch the attention of a TV news helicopter with smoke signals. She was rescued by the Channel 5 news team, but her distress flames, lit in a fire-restricted area during a severe drought,, exploded beyond control. Her case has sparked intense debate, both inside and outside of the U.S. Attorney's Office, on whether criminal charges should be filed. It's a question complicated by smoky legal issues and political considerations because Leonard Gregg, 29, of Cibecue, a part-time firefighter, has been indicted on charges that he set the Rodeo fire near his home in order to get work. Some Native Americans have wondered if race was a motivating factor behind Gregg's arrest. Federal officials have denied that, saying Gregg was arrested and indicted after confessing he set the fire so he could make money. By contrast, Elliott offered a survival story that has been double- checked by investigators for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other agencies. Ransford Olmsted, a New River businessman who accompanied Elliott on the ill-fated trip, was at his north Phoenix lawyer's office when Charlton appeared on television to announce his decision. He said he absolutely agreed, because both he and Elliott were close to death after his pickup truck ran out of gas in the woods and they got separated. Olmsted, 45, who runs coin-operated pool tables in Young, a remote community below the Mogollon Rim, said he, too, might have lit a fire if it would have meant saving his life. "They made the right decision because we were out there innocent and we were lost and facing our lives," he said. "There is no more to say. I mean, those are facts." Reach the reporter at brent.whiting@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8543. Copyright c. 2002, azcentral.com. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Land Conflicts intensify in Chiapas" --------- Date: Tue 16 Jul 2002 0045 -0600 From: joewest Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="INDIAN ACT CHALLENGE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Indian-Act-Challenge.html Saskatchewan aboriginal group files court challenge to Indian Act changes July 18, 2002 REGINA (CP) -- The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, claiming aboriginals have not been properly consulted, has filed a legal challenge to proposed changes to the Indian Act. The lawsuit names Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault as defendants and claims new legislation would increase federal government control over aboriginal governments. "The plaintiff asserts that the defendants breached their fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the First Nations of Canada by not including the chiefs and councils of the treaty First Nations and representatives of the First Nations governance institutions in the drafting process," the statement of claim says. The challenge, filed with the Federal Court in Ottawa on Monday, asks for a permanent injunction stopping the changes from being passed in Parliament. The suit also asks for a declaration by the court that the government has breached its obligations to First Nations and needs to conduct "meaningful" consultations before any changes in the future. Calls to Nault's office on Thursday were not returned. The statement of claim claims the federal government is required to hold a constitutional conference with First Nations in regard to any changes in legislation. "The plaintiff asserts that the amendment of the Indian Act in the form suggested by the defendants will amount to a constitutional amendment," the claim said. Nault announced last year his government was going to overhaul the act which has remained relatively untouched for 50 years. The proposed legislation is designed to revamp election regulations for band members on and off reserves, tighten fiscal authority and improve administration. Nault has said the legislation would be an interim step toward self- government, but native groups complain they weren't properly consulted and the legislation would perpetuate a colonial approach to aboriginals. The new law would require native bands to develop codes to spell out how they choose their leaders, run their governments and spend their money. Bands would be allowed to develop their own laws in these three areas as long as they met certain minimum standards set out by the federal government. The federal government could impose default rules if the codes weren't developed within two years. The bill would also make the Indian Act subject to the Canadian Human Rights Act for the first time. Copyright c. 2002, Canoe, a division of Netgraphe Inc. --------- "RE: Aboriginal Women speak out" --------- Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 09:04:21 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ABORIGINAL WOMEN" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.canada.com/search/site/story [Editorial Comment: This article left me angry. The idea of this bureaucrat telling First Nations Grandmothers to sit quietly, toe the mark, do things his way, and he might throw them a bone was too much of the "same old stuff, different day" way of treating Indians.] Aboriginal women speak out CATHERINE SOLYOM Montreal Gazette Friday, July 19, 2002 Throughout three days of debate and resolution by aboriginal leaders from across the country, the face of the First Nations has been predominantly male - chiefs, veterans, band councilors. But what of aboriginal women, officially the most marginalized sector of the country's population? They continue to be ignored by both the federal government and their own chiefs, a group of women said yesterday at the Assembly of First Nations meeting in Kahnawake. First, they stuck it to the federal government: "We spoke to (Indian Affairs) Minister (Robert) Nault and he said the issue of discrimination is too complicated, too big," said Michele Audette, president of Quebec Native Women. "But he said if we signed on to governance, he'd listen. "That's blackmail." Flanked by Mohawk women denied access to housing and services in Kahnawake because they married non-aboriginals, Audette raised the longstanding controversy over Bill C-31, the subject of about 200 ongoing court cases. Introduced in 1985, the bill reinstated status to aboriginal women who'd lost it by marrying non-aboriginal men. But Bill C-31 stipulated that the children of those women could pass on their Indian status to their children only if that third generation married another status Indian. "If we were to ask white women who the father of their child was to determine whether that child could go to school, it would be a huge scandal," Audette said. "It's been 17 years." "At this rate, in a few years there will be no reserves, no inherent rights, and we will be totally assimilated," said Ellen Gabriel, a Kanesatake Mohawk. Alastair Mullin, a spokesman for Nault, said many of the women's grievances would be resolved with the First Nations Governance Act: it would bring the Indian Act, and hence Bill C-31, under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which currently does not protect 600,000 status Indians. The Governance Act also asks band councils to formulate mechanisms for redress in cases of discrimination, Mullin said. But Mullin denied Nault had cut funding to Quebec Native Women. They would have been paid $1.4 million for participating in Governance Act consultations, but they withdrew from the process. But if the women say they were denied a voice with Indian Affairs, they haven't found a more open forum with the AFN. "About 80 per cent of native women are victims of conjugal violence and almost 50 per cent have been sexually assaulted," Audette said. "The situation is exploding and we never hear about it. Yes, treaty rights are important, but we're dying here." Part of the problem is the overwhelmingly male makeup of the aboriginal leadership. Of 633 chiefs across the country, 80 are women. In Quebec, there's one female chief out of 42. The AFN agreed to set up a gender-equality secretariat, then disbanded it because of budget cuts, said AFN vice-chief Ghislain Picard. As for discrimination and violence against women within their communities, Picard said it's a long process of re-education to undo the "brainwashing" of the Indian Act. "But it's true, we can't talk about self-government if we don't make sure the base is solid enough to assume it." To that end, AFN National Chief Matthew Coon Come said there would be more women's participation in AFN meetings. "But I don't elect the chiefs. And if you go to a band-council meeting, you'll see it's mostly women, dealing with their children out of high schools with no jobs, without access to higher education, committing suicide. These are social issues we are trying to deal with, but then the government comes up with this legislation that we have to respond to." Indeed, much of the discussion inside and outside the AFN's 23rd annual meeting focused on the Governance Act, and in his closing statements yesterday, Coon Come reiterated the AFN's absolute opposition to the bill. It is now the job of aboriginal leaders to mobilize their communities to prepare for intense lobbying this fall when Parliament resumes, Coon Come said. But the AFN has an increasingly "social" agenda dealing with previously taboo subjects, thanks largely to the women, Picard said. In three days, 33 resolutions were passed, including on the following: - A long-term aboriginal healing fund to help residential-school survivors. - Increased funding for post-secondary education. - Establishing a First Nations housing council to deal with overcrowding on reserves. - Early-childhood development program funding. - Establishing a First Nations mental-health program. - Developing a strategy to deal with property division after divorce. - Developing a national aboriginal radio network. - Support for Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations participation in the bid to host the 2010 O Olympic Winter games. "The greatest challenge is moving our own agenda forward at the same time as we respond to the government's agenda," Coon Come said. Catherine Solyom's E-mail address is csolyom@thegazette.southam.ca Copyright c. 2002 Montreal Gazette. --------- "RE: Jury orders Probation" --------- Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 08:35:17 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="THEFT" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.yankton.net/stories/071702/new_20020717031.shtml Jury Orders Probation For Former Tribal Council Member Wednesday, July 17, 2002 RAPID CITY (AP) -- A former Oglala Sioux Tribal Council member was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $59,114 in back rent to the tribal housing authority. A federal jury in April convicted Gerald Big Crow of five counts of theft from a tribal organization. He was convicted of theft for falsifying income statements for 1995 through 1999. Court documents indicate Big Crow and his wife should have paid $472 monthly in rent based on their income, but paid $114 because of the false income statements. Big Crow faced a minimum of 50 months in prison and a maximum of 80 months under federal sentencing guidelines. U.S. District Judge Richard Battey instead granted Big Crow a "downward departure," which allowed for a reduced sentence. Battey said the case fell outside the "heartland" of normal theft cases and that he had struggled with whether failure to pay rent constituted theft. "I have an abiding conviction that perhaps this case should not have been tried in the posture of a criminal matter" but as a civil case, he said. Copyright c. 2002 Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan. --------- "RE: Judges Wrongly excluded Navajos from Juries" --------- Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 08:17:47 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="NAVAJO EXCLUDED" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.sfnewmexican.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2144&dept_id=461625&newsid Court Rules Judges Wrongly Excluded Navajos From Juries By BARRY MASSEY, Associated Press July 17, 2002 SANTA FE, N.M. - Trials should be postponed when no interpreter is available for a potential juror who has difficulty speaking English, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. The court, in an unanimous decision, ordered new trials in cases from Socorro and San Juan counties because judges wrongly disqualified potential jurors who primarily spoke Navajo. No Navajo interpreter was readily available at the Socorro County courthouse on the day of a trial, and in the San Juan County case a Navajo interpreter failed to appear in court as scheduled. The Supreme Court said a judge must "make every reasonable effort to accommodate a potential juror for whom language difficulties present a barrier to participation in court proceedings." That will mean continuing trials in some cases, the court said. The ruling expands on an order issued by the court in January 2000 that spelled out a procedure to court personnel for allowing non-English speakers to serve as jurors. The New Mexico Constitution says residents cannot be restricted from sitting on juries on account of an inability to speak, read or write English or Spanish. The court said there were 55 certified Navajo interpreters in New Mexico. "If an interpreter is needed and not available, the court is under a constitutional obligation to continue the trial for a reasonable time if the continuance will be effective in securing an interpreter," the high court said. The case from Socorro County was an appeal by Ernest Rico, who was convicted of misdemeanor counts of unlawful sales of alcohol and commercial gambling at a veteran's organization in Socorro. The San Juan County case was an appeal by Albert Shirley of a drug trafficking conviction. The Supreme Court vacated the convictions and ordered new trials in both cases Copyright c. 2002 Santa Fe New Mexican. --------- "RE: Three admit shooting up Tribal Town" --------- Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2002 11:41:48 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="KLAMATH SHOOTERS" http://www.pechanga.net/ http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story Three admit shooting up tribal town during water dispute Men made racist remarks, challenged Klamath Indians in Oregon to fight Jeff Barnard Associated Press KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Three men pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges they shot up the hometown of the Klamath Tribes to intimidate Indians at a time when tension was high over irrigation water being withheld from farmers to protect fish held sacred by the tribes. Dressed in T-shirts and jeans, the three men stood in Klamath County Circuit Court and described how they got drunk after being snowed out of goose hunting, and drove into the town of Chiloquin, where they stopped at a grocery store and bought a bag of chips, then drove around calling out racial slurs, accusing the tribes of stealing their water, and shooting signs and an outhouse. Deputy District Attorney Scott Carter filled in the gaps, telling Judge Roger Isaacson that the men harassed teenage boys on a school bus heading for a basketball game, singling out tribal members and calling them "stupid Indians." They also called out, "Sucker lovers come on out and fight." The taunt was a reference to the Lost River sucker and short nosed sucker, two endangered species of fish the tribes consider a sacred gift of the Creator. During last summer's drought, water was withheld from farmers to assure the fish would survive. George Curry, 23, a ranch hand; Richard Sharp, 26, a logger; and Adam Lee, 27, occupation unknown, each pleaded guilty to felony charges of conspiracy to commit criminal intimidation and unlawful use of a weapon, and misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. Sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 10. "This is one of the most terrifying episodes in the town's history," Klamath tribal chairman Allen Foreman said. "We believe the guilty pleas give a clear message that the Klamath County authorities do not tolerate this kind of behavior." Subject to approval by the judge, District Attorney Ed Caleb said the men will be required to make a public apology to be read in court and published in the local newspaper, do some sort of community service to benefit the town of Chiloquin, and undergo cultural identity orientation conducted by the Klamath Tribes. They also must serve 30 days in jail and pay fines and restitution. The arrests came on the heels of an Oregon State University draft report on last summer's water wars noting that "racism that mostly lies below the surface of social life in the basin emerged as some framed the issue as `Indians vs. farmers."' Many focused on the sucker fish even though it was water dedicated to threatened salmon in the Klamath River that tipped the balance away from farmers for the first time since the Klamath Reclamation Project opened in 1907. "Blaming us for the water shortage is unfair, and attacking our community is vicious and unexcusable," Foreman said. Copyright c. 2002 The Spokesman-Review. --------- "RE: Leonard Peltier Update and Action Alert" --------- Date: Saturday, July 20, 2002 2:21 PM From: "LPDC" Subj: LPDC Update/Action Alert - July 20, 2002 To: LPDC Update/Action Alert - July 20, 2002 Dear Supporters of Leonard Peltier, This update has several sections, and we at the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (LPDC) hope you can read them all. Two are updates, followed by three items that require action. Consider them, and budget your time in an effort to give these urgent situations your attention: 1. Leonard denied parole on July 9, 2002 2. Peltier Forum in Lawrence, KS to be webcast Sat., July 20, 2002 3. Urgent Action: Leonard's Health neglected by prison bureaucrats 4. Solidarity Needed: The Carson City Ten 5. FBI/CIA attacks Peltier attorney Jennifer Harbury + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - 1. Leonard denied parole on July 9, 2002 Leonard had for his interim parole hearing on the morning of Tuesday, July 9th, 2002. In attendance were his attorneys, Carl Nadler and former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, his daughter Marquetta Shields, former Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) teacher Paul Berg, and a paralegal. The examiner began by informing those gathered that a group opposing parole for Leonard had been given an earlier hearing that day. Ramsey Clark challenged the propriety of that, and was quickly instructed by the civil servant that he, Ramsey Clark, was only being allowed in the hearing as a representative of Mr. Peltier, not as his attorney. The group was informed that they would have been welcome to sit in on that phase of the hearing. That would have been difficult, though, as the government never told Leonard's legal team that the earlier hearing was scheduled, and, in fact, told the team not to arrive before 9:30 AM (presumably after the opponents had left). The Parole Commission examiner then began to interrogate Leonard regarding the specific events of the day of the shootout, June 26, 1975, in essence attempting to get Leonard to confess. Leonard maintained his position throughout, that he was on the Pine Ridge Reservation with AIM to support the traditionalists and defend the elders, women and children, and that he was innocent. Attorney Carl Nadler spoke, reiterating the long history of Leonard's model conduct, his human rights record, the fact that the Parole Commission was in violation of its own guidelines, especially relating the its failure to recognize the prosecution's admission that it does not know who shot the agents. He pointed out the close to 10,000 letters in support of parole collected from around the world, which were carried into the hearing room, in addition to being sent earlier to the Parole Commission in Maryland. Leonard's daughter, Marquetta, spoke eloquently of the loss her family has felt living without a father, and how her prayers have daily gone out to the families of Agents Coler and Williams. She described the history of violence on Pine Ridge, and how her father was there to defend the people of the Oglala Nation. Paul Berg, the former BIA teacher, described his personal experiences witnessing out-of-control FBI agents on Pine Ridge, around the Wounded Knee occupation and afterwards, and especially relating to the murders of traditionalists Sandra Wounded Foot, his student, and Hobart Horse, his friend. Both were violently murdered, and the perpetrators were given light sentences of several years, demonstrating the double standard of justice that exists with respect to indigenous people. Ramsey Clark spoke further of Leonard's character and the lack of justice in his case, as well as the necessity to seek healing and reconciliation with indigenous people, given the US government's role in ongoing genocide. He told the examiner that Leonard was the single-most well-known indigenous person globally, and that his release would do much to restore faith in US justice and the US government. The examiner was also provided a medical update provided by Doctor Monica Peek, who volunteers with the human rights group Physicians for Human Rights (http://www.phrusa.org) The report reiterated the findings in 2000, that Leonard's health continues to decline, and that he receives, overall, suboptimal care for chronic hypertension, hyperlipidemia, complications due to stroke and diabetes, and the painful bone spur in his foot and consequent inability to exercise. While the examiner mulled over the statements, Leonard enjoyed a few moments of laughter with Ramsey Clark, discussed his case with Carl Nadler, and spoke at length with Paul Berg about their shared time on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Paul and Leonard had never met in person before the hearing. The examiner summoned Leonard and his attorneys back to the room, where he announced that he would recommend no change in Leonard's status, indicating that an interim hearing would be scheduled for 2004 with the full hearing set for 2008. Leonard will appeal the examiner's decision. Leonard has had a habeas corpus suit filed with the District Court in Kansas since 1999, specifically challenging the US Parole Commission's failure to follow its own guidelines. Leonard's attorney's will pursue a hearing on this case very soon, as the Court appears reluctant to try it. 2. Peltier Forum in Lawrence, KS to be webcast Sat., July 20, 2002 The latest on the 30,000 pages of FBI documents just obtained Listen Live Sat July 20, 7:30 PM Central Time, at http://www.wbix.org While the parole hearing was disappointing but no surprise, such efforts are necessary to fully expose the inherent bias and corruption of the system. With the bad news, though, comes the good news that the FBI was forced to release close to 30,000 pages of documents relating to Leonard's case, called by the FBI "RESMURS," for Reservation Murders. The documents were released to Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), who said he was "only doing his job" by responding to constituent requests for the release of the documents. This is an excellent example of how sustained grassroots organizing, letter writing and lobbying can ultimately gain significant advances. While the efforts to get the withheld documents has been an ongoing campaign of the LPDC, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the FBI released these, technically, under an Executive Order issued by Pres. Clinton. However, the LPDC has a growing FOIA legal team, many members of which are convening on Lawrence, Kansas to assess the level of disclosure the FBI has made, to look for prospects for new openings in the case, and to strategize on how best to analyze these. As well, plans to go after the additional documents, which the FBI's lead FOIA agent says may number close to 100,000 pages, and to sue the FBI to force removal of much of the redactions, or "blacking out" of the documents, will be discussed. The group will speak at a public forum in Lawrence, Kansas, Saturday night, 7:30 PM Central Time, at 925 Vermont Ave, at the Plymouth Congregational Church. Thanks to dedicated community radio activists, the event will be audio webcast live at the internet radio site WBIX.org, short for WBAI Radio in Exile, http://www.wbix.org WBIX.org formed in 2001 when NYC's Pacifica station WBAI 99.5 FM was taken over by hostile management. This internet radio station is hosted by long-time Peltier supporters, and gives a great opportunity for people globally to tune in and enjoy the program. One aspect of the FOIA strategy will be to digitize the FBI documents and create a searchable database of all the documents that define the record of Leonard's case, from court transcripts, affidavits and filings to FBI teletypes and memoranda. This will be achieved with, first, the acquisition of a very high-quality scanner, and then with open source software being developed principally by a consortium of libraries globally to make digital archives available over the web. Look for sample documents on our website in the near future. The LPDC needs immediate donations in order to move this document archiving process forward. Please see below for details, or got to http://www.freepeltier.org. Please call or email if you have access to such a scanner that can be loaned, or if you have expertise in document digitization. 3. Urgent Action: Leonard's Health neglected by prison bureaucrats Three weeks ago the LPDC issued an alert about a painful bone spur in Leonard's foot that is causing him extreme pain, especially as he is forced to work in the Federal Bureau of Prison's UNICOR factory system. We thank the many people who wrote, called, and emailed the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, and who forwarded much valued medical advice and personal experience with bone spurs. In response to the public demand for attention to Leonard's condition, the Bureau of Prisons provided a new pair of what they describe as orthopedic shoes. While this has lessened the chronic pain that Leonard suffers, it is insufficient care, and we ask that you take the following action to continue pressing BOP Director Kathleen Hawk Sawyer for remedy. While she is reportedly out of the DC Headquarters of the BOP until July 24th, please direct your calls, emails and faxes to: Capt. Newton E. Kendig II, Medical Director Health Services Division Bureau of Prisons Phone: 202-307-3055 Fax: 202-307-0826 Email: nkendig@bop.gov Demand immediately at least the level of care recommended by their own clinician in Leavenworth to the painful bone spur that is currently causing suffering to Leonard Peltier, USPL #89637-132. Send a copy of your letter to: Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations complaint@jcaho.org Fax: (630) 792-5636 4. Solidarity Needed: The Carson City Ten 10 Young Native American Indians Are Facing Two Consecutive Life Sentences In A Racist Frame-Up In Carson City, Nevada. Trial Set for July 22, 2002 During the evening of August 22, 1998, Jessica Evans, a young Native American woman was assaulted by a member of a Carson City gang while attending a party at a local motel. Jessica notified the Sheriff's Deputies, but they refused to take action despite visible injuries to her face as well as blood stains on her sweatshirt. This inaction by the police reflects a long history of negligence in conflicts involving the Latino and Native American communities, which often leads to an escalation of hostilities between them. As a result, Jessica returned home where several of her family members and friends decided to confront her attacker at the motel. Local police arrived shortly thereafter. According to police reports the defendants had already left and the gang members were still alive. The reporting officers stated that they had to restrain Sammy Resendez, gang member, who later died from head injuries so severe that he would have been in no condition to struggle against the officers. Jessica Evans, her family members and friends who returned to the motel are now being charged with the murder of Resendez. There is no physical evidence linking any of the defendants to the crime. At the time of the incident, the Carson 10 ranged in age from 14-20, along with one 24 year-old. Six were under 18. In an effort to break solidarity among the defendants, the State of Nevada has split the m into four groups. Just yesterday, defendant Rocky Boice, Jr. was severed from his group of codefendants, and will now face the prosecution alone, with the State hoping to pit different defendants against one another. Rocky and his family had previously filed complaints against the Sheriff's department, which were ignored, and Rocky was continually harassed by Police. The Carson 10 American Indian Defense Committee has formed, and has asked the for the following support; - consider coming to Carson City, Nevada (30 miles south of Reno) to attend all or some of the trial. The trial begins Monday, July 22, and is expected to last three weeks. Local people have opened up a local gymnasium with ample padded floor space for sleeping, and arrangements are being made for solidarity meals and activities throughout the trial. - Make a contribution, payable to: Carson 10 Mail to 387 Colorado Street Carson City, NV 89701 - Contact the local government officials and voice your concerns regarding this case. Noel S. Waters District Attorney 885 East Musser Street, Room 2030 Carson City, NV 89701 (775) 887-2072 Email: Nwaters@ci.carson-city.nv.us Rod Banister, Sheriff 901 E. Musser Street Carson City, NV 89701 (775) 887-2020 ext. 1900 Board of Supervisors 2-1 North Carson Street, Suite 2 Carson City, NV 89701 (775) 887-2100 Email: mayor@ci.carson-city.nv.us Contact the Committee at c10aid@aol.com, 775-883-6505 in NV or cheruss@hotmail.com 415-648-5936 in California. 6. 5. FBI/CIA attacks Peltier attorney Jennifer Harbury We were very alarmed to receive this report from one of Leonard's attorneys. Jennifer Harbury. Jennifer is a renowned human rights attorney whose efforts exposed the role of the CIA in the torture and murder of her husband in 1992, at the hands of the Guatemalan military. She has tirelessly devoted herself to human rights work, and was a key legal strategist, organizer and spokesperson in Leonard's drive for executive clemency during Pres. Clinton's administration. Her call to action is at the bottom. She will appear at the July 20th forum (see above). July 10, 2002 Dear Friends, I am writing today because I would like all of you to be informed about some very disturbing information I received last week . September 11 was certainly one of the most horrifying tragedies we have ever witnessed on our own soil, but I fear it is being badly exploited by certain government officials in order to justify both human rights violations abroad, including torture, as well as extreme repression against our own citizens. Our civil rights are eroding with a speed which I find frightening. Given the situation, I have not been a bit surprised to find myself a target. Not long after Sept. 11, various government officials, including many of the CIA people exposed in Everardo's case, began to publicly insist that it was all my fault. When asked again and again if the tragedy did not represent the biggest failure of our intelligence system in U.S. history, they replied that I was to blame, that CIA operatives in the field had been afraid to aggressively seek out information from unsavory characters. In fact, the 1995 reforms simply required an operative to inform his superiors before hiring a known human rights abuser, and the CIA itself admits that permission has never been denied. Nevertheless the accusations were made again and again, especially on a lengthy BBC program. I took all this with a grain of salt and figured things would come out in the wash. They did indeed....I know that all of you have seen the lengthy disclosures about exactly how much the CI A and FBI did in fact know, but somehow never acted upon. Similarly, I have not been particularly upset by harassing phone calls or right wing articles which have appeared in remote publications. I was however, very taken aback by the most recent news I received, specifically, that an FBI official told an Amnesty International staffer that they consider me a top suspect in the death threats and assaults against Barbara Bocek. Barbara is the Amnesty worker who has received death threats for a year now and who has been assaulted twice, once in Guatemala and once in Washington state. All threats have made it very clear that she is being targeted for her work for Guatemalan human rights. The FBI has made it very clear that they do not believe her at all. As in the case of Sister Diana Ortiz, there seems to be a government effort to suggest that Barbara somehow, inexplicably, assaulted and threatened herself, not once but twice. I am sure most of you saw the recent New York Times article. Now, apparently, the story has shifted a bit to suggest that I have carried out the threats, to somehow make my own case stronger. In fact, as a matter of law, the assaults on her, so me ten years after Everardo's abduction, has a legal relevance of zero for my own case. I have, however, been outspoken in my support for her, which is evidently more than enough. I get the message : Shut up about the Guatemalan terrorists here in the US who happen to CIA links, or else suffer the consequences. Barbara first began receiving threats a year ago when she wrote an op ed piece about the Bishop Gerardi murder trial. When she went to Guatemala with a delegation in June 2001 she was assaulted outside her hotel room and left bound and gagged at the bottom of a stairwell. Her abductors were telling her she would be tortured and killed for her human rights work. Clearly, a warning was being sent to the international human rights community. Foreigners should not feel safe, even members of the highest level ngo's could and would be attacked and perhaps killed whenever the killers so desired. The Guatemalan response was predictable. It didn't happen, or else she did it to herself for whatever reason. The U.S. government response was a throwback to the not so good old days. No real action was taken and slowly but surely we began to hear insinuations that perhaps Barbara indeed was either fabricating the threats or staged the abduction. While this was going on, my own witness was having grave problems as well. He is living here in the US with his family, and began to receive very frightening death threats against himself and his children. His friends and family back in Guatemala too were having the same problems. Upon the request of an Amnesty staffer , we did go to the FBI offices to give them the details. The response was shocking. The officer read through a few lines of the police report and asked if the assertions were true. He then stated that no threats had been made, only obscenities. When we pointed out the portion of the report specifically describing the threats, he refused to accept them, stating that the witness should have mentioned them earlier in the interview. The witness, however, was never asked. Later, an FBI agent approached the witness at home, stating that he had spoken with local Guatemalans, and none had noticed any military types or death squad members around town. This was rather r laughable, and the witness asked that he not be contacted again. I was particularly incensed by this because it was more of the same from the mid-1990s. In the spring of 1995 just after the disclosures by Sen. Torricelli, the FBI arrived late at night on my doorstep in Texas to let me know that the Guatemalans were hiring a hit man to kill me. The iron security door of the Guatemala Human Rights Commission was torn off its hinges and left in the street. Only the answering machine was taken. A few months later, in January 1996 my lawyer, Jose Pertierra, had his car firebombed at his Washington D.C. home, and the religious community where I was living in D.C. was shot at by someone in a pickup truck with dark glass windows. The FBI agent in charge opened the case under potential international terrorism. We also received a tip from a high level insider, indicating a Guatemalan military person who fought in Vietnam, owned a car repair shop, a luxurious home, and had unexplained income. The FBI agent was very interested but was swiftly transferred off the case. None of us ever received any further communications from the FBI, although some truly foolish statements have come back to me through the grapevine. When I heard about the incipient smear campaign about Barbara, I immediately sent in all of this information as to the same or similar events to corroborate her story. The Guatemalan army clearly has a modus operandi of sending or hiring people here to terrorize human rights activists and witnesses living in this country. And our own government has a practice of looking the other way when the perpetrators happen to be working with the CIA. Things went from bad to worse. Barbara was attacked again, this time in the United States near her place of work. She was returning home one night and heard a grating sound beneath her car. When she got out to investigate, a car with its headlights off pulled up behind her and she was seized and tied up and told not to return to Guatemala for the investigation as planned, or she would be killed. The men spoke in Spanish. Her eyes were taped, she was gagged, and she was locked into her car where police found her later, semi-conscious. According to the New York Times article which followed, the police found her story questionable. Yet most of their questions could have been easily answered had they spoken with Barbara. But they failed to do so. Barbara was also sent to the FBI to give her story. As soon as she arrived it became clear that she was a suspect and not the victim. Her sister had accompanied her but was not allowed to attend the "interview". Instead, Barbara was given a hostile interrogation of many hours, and then told that she was probably fabricating the whole story. What on earth her motive would be has never been elucidated. Barbara is a quiet and mature woman who has a PhD from Stanford which she is too shy to mention, and who worked for several years in Guatemala. She then chose to return to the U.S. and do public service work for Native Americans in a remote northwestern reservation. This is clearly not a woman seeking attention for herself. This is a modest and courageous woman who has long dedicated herself to working for the human rights of others with little or no recognition for herself. Now I learn that because I have outspokenly defended her and offered up evidence of the same and similar events when her credibility was questioned, that I too have become a "suspect". Evidently these statements were made some time ago. It is clear to me that I have not only received an insult, but also a direct threat. Silence about these matters, or else. Since I am not too good at silence, I am considering my legal alternatives at this time. But most importantly, I wanted to keep all of us in the network fully informed. I have no doubt that more is coming. Should you wish to call anyone in Congress in this regard, I would recommend three Members on the Judiciary Committees who have been truly heroic on the issues of human rights : Rep. Conyers, Rep. Frank, and Senator Leahey. If you call them, please remember that they are our friends, and simply call their attention to yet one more example of abuse of power by government officials. They have long been very interested and supportive. The Congressional Switchboard telephone number is 202-224-3121. Abrazos, Jennifer + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + To make a donation of any size to the scanner project, please write your check to LPDC and send it to the below address. Donations of $250 or more are tax-deductible, and should be made payable to Global Exchange, with LPDC in the memo, and mailed to the below address. Thank you for your continuing support. Until Freedom Is Won! The New Leonard Peltier Justice Campaign Leonard Peltier Defense Committee PO Box 583 Lawrence, KS 66044 785-842-5774 http://www.freepeltier.org To subscribe, send a blank message to lpdc-on@mail-list.com --------- "RE: Native Prisoner" --------- Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 08:19:12 -0600 From: Janet Smith Subj: Native Prisoner ===== Date: Saturday, July 20, 2002 2:34 PM From: Brigitte Thimiakis Subj: new web address/Standing Deer Letter ------- FORWARD, Original message follows ------- From: Barbara Fortier Coordinator, IRONHOUSE/Support ironhousesupport.net POB 262, Villa Rica, GA 30180-0262 New IRONHOUSE/Support website address [w/ link to the Standing Deer Defense Committee archive website] ironhousesupport.net Letter from Standing Deer My name is Standing Deer. I am an elder of the Oneida and Choctaw Nations who was in prison for 25 years. I was released on parole in September of last year [2001]. I want to say some words about Barbara Fortier of IRONHOUSE/Support who ran the Standing Deer Freedom Campaign 2000. The campaign that Barbara did resulted in many letters of support being written to the prison officials. She set up Standing Deer Defense Committee on the web and helped keep me alive when I was very sick due to the medical neglect of the prison doctors. She wrote countless letters and made phone calls, plus she featured the criminal neglect of the prison doctors on our web page for all the world to see. Shining the spotlight on a prison's illegal behavior is the best way to make them stop killing or mistreating a prisoner. Prison people are like roaches who do their dirty work under cover of darkness but run for cover in the light of day. I did not make parole in 2000, but I made it in 2001. When I went before the parole interviewer he had four 6" files that contained mostly letters from supporters who were urging the parole board to grant me a parole. I am deeply grateful to Barbara for all she has done for me. She continues to help my grandson, Hawk, who is a good person who deserves to be free. She does all she can for the Indian prisoner. I pray that those of you who can write letters and or make a gift to IRONHOUSE/Support will do so. Thank you for listening. In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, Standing Deer 977 Bunkerhill Rd. #113 Houston, TX 77024 =================================== Date: Sunday, July 21, 2002 5:56 PM From: Brigitte Thimiakis Subj: Latest on Alex Montana From Valerie Scott - NAPS - narights@yahoo.com ===== Alex Montana (Eastham Unit) threatened by Officials On 8 July 2002, Mr. Montana was escorted to the Office of Captain Ross, who claimed to be investigating at Warden Stacks direction, an IOC dated 20 June from the Office of the Inspector General - Investigations Division, pertaining to Mr. Montana having provided their office with information by letter regarding CO Holloway (Hewett). (This was the IOC mentioned in our last update and the information referred to was requested by L. Truhlar, for the alleged review the Investigations Division was going to conduct into this case.) Mr. Montana's escort was CO Stephens, the brother of CS Stephens (who falsified Mr. Montana's disciplinary records and collaborated with other officers to produce fraudulent evidence). (A coincidence? No other guards to escort Mr. Montana?) Prior to entering Captain Ross's office, CO Stephens stopped to talk to his brother, and remained in the office during Mr. Montana's meeting (so you can be sure the details of that meeting remained confidential). During the meeting, Captain Ross advised Mr. Montana that he should just do the "little bit of time" he has left on the south end, since when he goes to "re-class" (re-classification), he'll get his "stuff" back, be on the north end and "things will be over with". In other words, Ross indirectly acknowledges their wrong-doing, but wants Mr. Montana to keep quiet and play along with their little game, then all will be well again. When Mr. Montana failed to respond to the above tactic, Captain Ross then advised him to leave the matter concerning CO Holloway (Hewett) alone. (Or else???) He also threatened to bring charges against Mr. Montana for "life endangerment" of the above officer, though he failed to explain how documentation provided to the Investigations Division would do this. (Mind you, another trumped-up charge would fit right in with this case.) Finally, Captain Ross claimed that Mr. Montana was merely retaliating against CO Holloway for her having "sent him south" (an interesting theory considering it was she who retaliated against Mr. Montana for his refusal to do illegal alterations to her uniform). For officials who claim to have done nothing wrong, they are certainly going to extremes, at all levels, to ensure that Mr. Montana's case is not investigated. Mr. Montana has sent a statement concerning the threats to Warden Stacks, as part of an informal resolution attempt, but has made it very clear that he does not intend to be threatened by officials, nor does he intend to leave matters alone pertaining to his case. NAPS still intends to send the petition concerning Mr. Montana to the Investigations Division, since they referred this case back to Warden Stacks and essentially gave him the "green light" to do as he pleases. And his response was to issue threats. Therefore, we would encourage you (and others) to sign the following petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/ajm40/petition.html Since this matter can still be resolved with intervention, we would ask that you continue to send letters to the following politicians, urging them to press for an independent, impartial investigation, especially in view of the fact that threats have now been issued. On behalf of Mr. Montana, we wish to thank you for your continued support. Valerie Scott, NAPS Officials to Contact: The Honorable John Whitmire State Senator P.O. Box 12068 Austin, TX 78711 Fax: 512-475-3737 E-mail: john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us The Honorable Rodney G. Ellis State Senator P.O. Box 12068 Austin, TX 78711 Fax: 512-463-0006 E-mail: rodney.ellis@senate.state.tx.us Mario Obledo, Staff Assistant Office of Senator Leticia Van de Putte 3718 Blanco Road, Ste. 2 San Antonio, TX 78212 E-mail: MARIO.OBLEDO@senate.state.tx.us ===== NAPS (Native American Prisoner Support) http://www.hri.ca/partners/naps/ --------- "Re: Rustywire: Corn" --------- Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 11:17:21 -0000 From: "Rustywire" Subj: Corn Mailing List: indigenous_peoples_literature@yahoogroups.com Sundance time is a couple of weeks away, the grass is dry and the air is hot. The streams are really low this year and it will be a tough Sundance this year. He asked me are you going up there. We stood under the shade arbor at the Pow Wow grounds, it was late afternoon and the ground was hot. We stood looking at the dancers and wondered how they could go out there in buckskins and dance under the hot sun. It was 102 in the shade. I told him, we will probably go up there. Some women go each morning and gather around the Sundance arbor and wait for the dancers to come out and watch them as they bless themselves with the rising sun, standing in the early twilight of dark blue skies, turning pink and gold then light blue as the sun rises to the East. You can hear the sound of eagle bone whistles as they greet the morning sun. Corn was one of them, he stood next to me, his arthritis has bent him and made it hard for him to stand. He was soft spoken and spoke of time he played in the fields at the Sundance ground where he camped with a family that took him in, and how he went each year and watched these dancers come out of the circle and greet the sun with parched lips. He then prepared himself to dance by running each morning building his stamina, and trying to ready himself by living a life so that he could stand in the circle and dance with these men. He went in with three brothers, who danced next to him for three days, suffering without water and seeking the shelter of the shade at noon day. Each wearing trail in the dirt where they danced back and forth. He leaned on his cane and and spoke about his children now grown and standing not too far off. His name in the traditional way of speaking is Coom-wee, it means Corn and that is how he is called. He stands with some difficulty in the sunlight, his hands gnarled with the pain of arthritis that swelled his knees. Most times he in a wheel chair but you can't get around the dirt at the pow wow grounds with a wheel chair, so he chose to make his way around slowly. His wife is a quiet woman and his son works for the tribes fish and game, and his daughter works for the deli dept at the tribal store. He stood for awhile and talked about the small things and the Sundance that is coming up. It is dry this year, and the thought of the taste and smell of rain filled out senses. You know he said, we don't think about it but we haven't had the sweet smell of rain, you know how it is when it is just beginning to rain. The air cools, and the clouds hide the sun, a slight breeze, a cool breeze comes up and you can feel the soft wind come over you and the smell of rain gently falling is not too far off. It is a good day when it rains like that he said. Standing there in the hot sun, I could see it and with that he shook my hand and went off to visit others as he walked away. He is Sundancer who is waiting to stand with those who will seek a vision and left with the soft taste of rain, for just a minute. They call him Corn and will greet the early morning sun singing the songs of his People in a few days as a singer in the arbor being prepared for them. Coom-wee he is called. Corn ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indigenous_peoples_literature/messages for: Indigenous Peoples Literature http://www.indigenouspeople.org/natlit/ --------- "RE: Poem: Sweet Water" --------- Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 13:42:08 GMT From: rustywire Subj: sweet water Newsgroup: alt.native thirst cracked earth land dry no wind blows sun rays beat down still air covers me taste of dust sweat and long days sky shocking blue has no end clouds of dust at my feet legs ache from the walk arms like lead flat lands ahead morning comes thirst thirst thirst want the taste of cool sweet water quench parched lips coolness on my brow rain rain from an empty sky to fall on my head to run over me a drop two more sweet water the taste of it i want to feel no rest no quench of thirst body aches no peace no quiet soul desolate of soft rain soft winds find me wandering feet carry me to distant mesas what is there beyond that place who waits for me there in the valleys on the plains and through mountains moving on walking running standing wondering how far is this place tell me where it is growing tired strife some say follow me follow me they say tell me straight heart plainly I go so tired so tired come they say come with us we are like you we talk the talk we dance we know you we restore you we save you we are you you are nothing without us hollow songs yellow eyes broken words crooked talk hidden hearts strangers in fine feathers chanting noise no rainbows heat waves empty nights faint stars emptiness thirst hunger come they say go on go on pass them by thirst thirst dry lips whisper sweet water sweet water where is sweet water -- rustywire www.geocities.com/rustywire --------- "RE: Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days" --------- Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 06:24:37 -1000 From: Debbie Sanders Subj: Hawaiian Book of Days A HAWAI`I BOOK OF DAYS, week of July 29-August 4 IULAI (July) (Hinaiaeleele) 29 My heart's wings give flight to my dreams. 30 The joy of the spirit is everlasting. 31 The clouds lie upon the mountaintops like sleepy children. AUKAKE (August) (Mahoe-mua) August was the season when the ohia fruit ripened abundantly. 1 All are strangers when they come here, until the spirit of this land claims their hearts. 2 Life is the only true magic. 3 The summer sunlight is rich honey poured upon the flowers. 4 To hear the bright laughter of even one child's joy is to hear the world. (c) Copyright 1991 by D. F. Sanders Me ke aloha i ka nani, ... Moe'uhanekeanuenue (With love and beauty, ... Rainbow Dream) --------- "RE: Upcoming Events" --------- Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 15:39:14 -0 From: Gary Smith (gars@speakeasy.org) Subj: Upcoming Events =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= EVENTS ARE FEATURED IN ODD NUMBERED ISSUES ONLY =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= ------------------------------------------------------------------------- --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//- Notice of Copyright Clearance by Contributors: The following have granted permission for their original articles to be reposted in order to help mend the Sacred Hoop: Tim Truman, Gary Smith, Jim Anderson, Theda Kresge, Martha E. Ture, Victor Rocha, Janet Smith, Brigitte Thimiakis, Valerie Scott, Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, John Rustywire, Debbie Sanders --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-