_ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' VOLUME 13, ISSUE 016 / /-< / /--/ /-- __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, WOTANGING IKCHE - Lakota - Common News Wotanging Ikche and Native American News Copyright c. 1996-2005 nanews.org Aboriginal/AmerIndian Perspective about the First Nations of Turtle Island April 16, 2005 Pomo chidodapuk/flowers moon Mvskogee Tasahcee-rakko/big spring moon Blackfeet matsiyikkapisaii'somm/frog moon +-------------------------------------------------------+ | Much more happens in Indian Country than is reported | | in this weekly newsletter. For daily updates & events | | go to http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm | +-------------------------------------------------------+ Otapi'sin Atsinikiisinaakssin -- Blackfeet -- News for All the People Ni-mah-mi-kwa-zoo-min -- Ojibwe -- We Are Talking About Ourselves Aunchemokauhettittea -- Naragansett -- Let Us Share News Kanoheda Aniyvwiya -- Cherokee -- Journal of the People O Es'te Opunvk'vmucvse -- Creek -- People's New News O o O Acimowin -- Plains Cree -- Story or Account O o O Tlaixmatiliztli -- Nahuatl -- News O o o o o O Agnutmaqan -- Listuguj Mi'kmaq -- News O o O Sho-da-ku-ye -- Teehahnahmah -- Talking Birchbark O o O Un Chota -- Susquehannic Seneca -- The People Speak O Ha-Sah-Sliltha -- Ditidaht Nation -- News of the People 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 Dineh jii' adah' ho'nil'e'gii ba' ha' neh -- Navajo Nation -- What's Happening among The People News Okla Humma Holisso Nowat Anya -- Choctaw -- People(s) Red Newspaper Hi'a chu ah gaa -- Pima -- The stories or the talk of the People s ch mA mL tL squee Lux -- Okanogan -- News from the People Native American News -- Language of the Occupation Forces ++>If you speak a Native American language not listed above, please send us your words for "News of the People." We'd rather take up this whole page saving these few words of our hundreds of nations than present a nice clean banner in the language of the occupation forces who came here determined to replace our words with their own. email gars@nanews.org with the equivalent of "News of the People" in your tribal language along with the english translation <================<<<< >>>>================> 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.owlstar.com; www.indianz.com; www.pechanga.net; Iron Natives Mailing List: 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 | | Once a language is lost, it is | | Limerick summarized in "The | | gone forever | | Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken | | * Of the 300 original Native | | Past of the American West... | | languages in North America, | | "Set the blood quantum at | | only 175 exist today. | | one-quarter, hold to it as a | | * 125 of these are no longer | | rigid definition of Indians, | | learned by children. | | let intermarriage proceed as | | * 55 are spoken by 1 to 6 elders;| | it had for centuries, and | | when they die, their language | | eventually Indians will be | | will disappear. | | defined out of existence." | | * Without action, only 20 | | "When that happens, the federal | | languages will survive the next| | government will be freed of | | 50 years. | | its persistent 'Indian problem.'"| | Source: Indigenous Language | +-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --+ | Institute | |http://www.indigenous-language.org| This issue's Elder Quote: + -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- + ======================== "Our stories teach us that we must always work for a time when there will be no evil, no racial prejudice, no pollution ... a time when spiritual, physical, mental and social values are interconnected to form a complete circle." __ Salish Culture Committee +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | 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! There are several articles in this issue that should not be here, but sadly are. Each is about how children - native children - our children - are being disadvantaged and lost. It would be sad and a source of anger if we could simply blame all this on the dominant society, but we cannot. I am asking each of you to read about how we are losing the precious gifts and search your heart for ways we can end this downward spiral. Begin with the first piece in this issue, "Crisis of Indian Children Intensifies", and understand the tragedy of children who are being raised by grandparents, uncles, and others because they have been abandoned by parents who cannot or will not raise them. Parents who should be guiding these kids are too sick, addicted, or incarcerated and have left them for others to raise. Throughout Indian Country we are seeing this breakdown of families. With each generation the crisis grows, and the resultant angry, lost souls this creates are survivors and little more. This is part of the sad legacy -- abandoned kids who themselves grow up so damaged that they repeat their own nightmare -- leaving their own children for relatives, or worse, strangers or the state to raise. In "GAO calls for better State Data in ICWA Cases" we find the General Accounting Office has reported to congress that the states are not providing the data required to fulfill ICWA guidelines. The purpose of ICWA is cited: "ICWA created important protections to prevent state child welfare agencies and courts from inappropriately separating American Indian children from their families ..." Given the facts cited in the first article you have to wonder why the GAO or anyone else cares whether children remain in Indian homes. The abandonment of our children is repeated like a pathetic litany. Then later we find Maine is now requiring schools to teach Indian history. There has been some resistance by the schools. My only hope is the treatment of our children doesn't become the tribal history being taught. As surely as we are our childrens' future, our children are our future. Fix this broken chain before we all wake up and discover we are all abandoned. Dohiyi Ani Oginalii , , Gary Smith (*,*) wotanging@bellsouth.net P. O. Box 672168 (`-') gars@nanews.org Marietta, GA 30006, U.S.A. ===w=w=== http://www.nanews.org ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ----------- - Crisis of Indian Children - Southwestern Tribes meeting Intensifies on Health Issues - GAO calls for better State Data - Cobell presented with in ICWA Cases National Leadership Award - BIA partnership - GOLTZ: Tribal Flags to tackle Teen Suicide at the Montana Capitol - Supreme Court to weigh appeal - Letter from Red Lake of Trust Lawsuit Urban Committee - Swimmer explains - MARK AMES: Red Lake Whitewash 'Sovereignty' Quote - Editorial: Ownership key - Fallout from Supreme Court for Native Americans ruling on Oneida - Editorial: Cuts in BIA Budget - Pipeline Firms get great deals 'unacceptable' on Indian Lands - NICK JANS: Red Lake: - Tribe wins in dispute A tragedy of denial at Snoqualmie Falls - JODI RAVE: - Tribe files Claim to take back Indian Education Specialist Chunk of Island - HARJO: Characteristics of - Rosebud Tribal Members the non-Indian Indians speak out against Hog Farm - Hydro Company accused of - CRST: A Water crisis looms paying off First Nation - Senate hears about water problems - Company can dip in New Mexico into Reserve's Bank Account - Bill now includes Landless, - Appeals Court enters battle Unrecognized Tribes over 'Redskins' Names - Maine Public Schools - Blackfeet criticize BIA, must teach about Tribes Feds on Law Enforcement - USDA Offers Tribal, - Judge rejects request Pacific Scholarships to release FBI Documents - Schools fail - Native Prisoner to meet Indians' needs -- Human Rights Commission - Utilizing Song and Film hears of alleged abuses to teach Hopi Language -- Two Penpal Requests - Educators work to teach - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days Lakota Language to Youth - Rustywire: - Expertise, Funds limit Baseball and Night Creatures Tribal Lands' Energy push - Rustywire Poem: Born in the Snow --------- "RE: Crisis of Indian Children Intensifies" --------- Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 08:28:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="INDIAN CHILDREN IN CRISIS" http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/national/05native.html?oref=login Crisis of Indian Children Intensifies as Families Fail By SARAH KERSHAW April 5, 2005 LUMMI INDIAN RESERVATION, Wash., March 29 - The very full house on Gumel Place was steeped in the usual loud weekend chaos when 14-year-old Cecilia Morris burst through the door. "Hey," she said. "Is Mom in jail?" No, said her uncle, Jasper Cladoosby, but her mother had gone back into drug treatment. Her father is the one in prison. Mr. Cladoosby, 27, who is raising four of his own children along with Cecilia and two of her sisters, is one of possibly hundreds of uncles, aunts, grandparents and others caring for children whose parents are unable to raise them because of dire poverty, alcoholism and epidemic drug abuse on this reservation on Bellingham Bay in Northwest Washington. Cecilia's four remaining siblings are being cared for by other relatives. "Their parents basically left them last summer," said Mr. Cladoosby, who works as a part-time crabber and mechanic but relies mostly on food stamps and his wife's salary and tips as a dealer at the new Lummi casino to care for his children and nieces. "It's pretty much overwhelming." Tribal officials here estimate that fewer than half of the 1,500 children on the reservation are living with a parent full time. A breakdown of the American Indian family, mirrored throughout reservations across the country, has been building for generations but is now growing worse, tribal and outside experts say. The crisis gained new attention this month after a troubled youth went on a shooting rampage on the Red Lake reservation in northern Minnesota. The broken family of the teenager, Jeff Weise, 16, who the police say killed nine people and then himself, is typical among Indians. With his father dead and his mother disabled by a drunken-driving accident, he was staying with his grandmother on the reservation, after living with his mother, before her accident, in Minneapolis. "The breakdown is huge," said Danita Washington, coordinator of Lummi's drug abuse prevention program, who is caring for three nieces and a nephew because her sister is addicted to heroin. "We're trying to find a solution." Lummi tribal officials say their roster shows that 11 percent of the children on the reservation have been placed in foster care or with relatives receiving foster care payments. Statewide, about 8 percent of Indian children are in foster care, Washington officials say. But like national statistics, those numbers tell only a sliver of the story. Even though tribes have made great strides over the last two decades in keeping children from troubled homes, a cascade of statistics paints a bleak picture of the roughly 850,000 Indian and Alaska Native youths, about half of them living on Indian reservations, according to the Census Bureau. Compared with whites and with other minorities, Indians have extremely high teenage suicide rates, are more likely to get into fights at school and carry weapons to school, and have high rates of substance abuse, several recent reports show. "It's not so much the idea of a traditional mother and father, but the concept of family, and the idea of supportive, safe and nurturing family is very important," said Dr. Jon T. Perez, director of the division of behavioral health for the Indian Health Service, the primary government agency responsible for providing health care to more than 560 federally recognized tribes. "And when you have generations of people for whom that has not been the case, it can be problematic." According to the latest federal statistics, nearly 10,000 Indian and Alaska Native children, or about 1.2 percent, are in foster care, living with relatives or others. (Indians and Alaska Natives make up 1.5 percent of the nation's population. ) The federal data, from the Department of Health and Human Services, show that about 1.8 percent of black children and about 0.5 percent of white children are in foster care. Terry L. Cross, executive director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association, based in Portland, Ore., said that at least 25,000 Indians under the age of 18, or 3 percent, were living in foster care or with relatives, although he acknowledged that his surveys, which do not include Alaska Native children, probably failed to take into account many more informal living arrangements. "I think Native Americans aren't really on anybody's radar," said Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, based in Alexandria, Va. "When people write federal legislation, they keep leaving the tribes out." While the shuttling of children between relatives is typical in inner cities and poor rural areas - and much public attention has been paid to the large numbers of black and other minority children in foster care - the crisis is growing more acute on the many isolated Indian reservations, several experts said. "Basic human needs are in very short supply," said Esther Wattenberg, professor of social work and an associate at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs at the University of Minnesota. "That is, food, shelter, income and a sense of having access and availability to services." As public assistance benefits have dried up under time limits for federal welfare payments, Professor Wattenberg said, Indians and their children who were living in cities have begun to return in significant numbers to their reservations. There, they may find space on a relative's couch and add more families to the roster of the desperately poor. Many experts say the crisis for Indian children stems not so much from living without their parents - the role of the extended family in child rearing is crucial in Indian culture - but from a lack of mental health services and recreation on reservations, some so destitute that there is no swimming pool or basketball court, let alone a counselor. Money for health and mental health care on reservations, which comes mostly from the federal government but is increasingly supplemented by gambling revenues, falls far short of the demand, many experts say. Here at Lummi Nation, the Silver Reef Casino opened in 2002 but has only recently begun to yield steady profits. The tribe has invested $2 million in a new home, scheduled to open April 13, that can hold 28 troubled children; a "safe home" for youths; and more counselors. Now, there are seven counselors available for the 1,500 children, well above the national average for Indians. But tribal officials acknowledge that Lummi families still bear the brunt of caring for neglected children and emotionally supporting them. Ms. Washington, the Lummi drug prevention program coordinator who is caring for her sister Geraldine's four children, runs a tight ship. The children, ages 9 to 16, sleep in the front room of Ms. Washington's three- bedroom home, along with another sister of Ms. Washington and the sister's teenage son. Their clothes are kept in makeshift dressers in the garage. Ms. Washington, 49, who is divorced but still lives with her ex-husband, has two children of her own, a son, 20, and a daughter, 24, who live with her. Her daughter is helping raise her boyfriend's 2-year-old daughter, who stays at the house every other weekend. Geraldine Washington's children were placed with her sister by the Lummi Tribal Court, which works with the state to arrange foster care; the state pays Danita Washington $647 monthly for their care. On a recent Sunday, Geraldine, 40, who is living with a relative, came to visit. Her children had not seen her in two weeks. Sitting on her sister's couch, she said she quit using heroin on Oct. 14, her daughter Hannah's 11th birthday. But Danita said she doubted that Geraldine was clean. "Nobody can really get you cleaned up," Geraldine said, as Hannah fiddled with her mother's rings and watch and grasped her hand tightly. "I was tired of going to jail. This round is really different. I have had enough." Danita Washington said she worried most about her nephew, Justin Zollner, who was to turn 16 on Wednesday, and who, she said, has an anger problem. The children's father, she said, has "been out of the picture" for a long time and has not come to see them in many years. Justin has uncles who live nearby, and they attend his football games and take him canoe racing, a passionate pursuit for the tribe. "My brothers and I talk a lot about this," Danita Washington said. "We made conscious choices. We can't change our sisters, but we can influence their children." Still, it is painful when Justin talks, fairly often, about missing his father, she said. "Mostly, every kid wants their parents," said Justin, who has the biggest mattress in his aunt's front room and plays football for the Golden Eagles at Ferndale High School near here. "Right now, I kind of wish my dad was still here because I've played football for like seven years now, and he never got to watch me." He was happy to see his mother, though he was not sure when he would see her again. "I think she's doing good now," he said. " She's trying. I can see it." And on this day, for his birthday, she was going with him, his aunt and his sisters to ride indoor go-carts. Eli Sanders contributed reporting from Seattle for this article. Copyright c. 2005 The New York Times Company. --------- "RE: GAO calls for better State Data in ICWA Cases" --------- Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 09:38:57 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ICWA CASES NEED BETTER STATE INFO" http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/007508.asp GAO calls for better state data in ICWA cases April 8, 2005 The General Accountability Office released its long-awaited study on the implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) this week, calling for greater oversight to ensure states are complying with the landmark law. More than two years in the making, the study was requested by House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-Texas) and two Republicans, including one with jurisdiction over child welfare programs. The lawmakers wanted to know whether the law works as intended -- to give tribes a greater role in decisions affecting the placement of Indian children. But due to the nature of the request -- DeLay was concerned that ICWA was hindering state courts -- tribal advocates feared the study could negatively impact Indian Country. The National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Child Welfare Association held sessions to discuss the pending study and encourage tribal input. The effort prompted GAO investigators to consult directly with tribes in five states and to take comments from more than 160 tribes and tribal organizations nationwide. The result is a 90-page study that calls for the federal government to seek better information -- from the states -- to ensure Indian children are being protected. "ICWA created important protections to prevent state child welfare agencies and courts from inappropriately separating American Indian children from their families," the GAO wrote. "More than 25 years after it was enacted, however, we know very little about the effect of this law on moving American Indian children in foster care to permanent homes in a timely manner, while ensuring their safety and well-being." The "scarcity of data" makes it difficult to draw concrete conclusions about ICWA, the report said. Discussion with tribal officials and a review of limited information from state agencies indicated some compliance problems, such as the identification of children who may be subject to the law, the GAO noted. But to find out for sure, the GAO recommends the Department of Health and Human Services take a more active role. The Administration for Children and Families should review information received from states and "require states to discuss in their annual progress reports any significant ICWA issues" in order to help states with the law, the report concluded. However, HHS didn't agree with the proposal. "ACF does not have the authority, resources or expertise to provide the level of effort to address the recommendations GAO identified," the department said in a March 21 letter. HHS called on GAO to assess tribal child welfare programs before moving forward. "While HHS does not have specific oversight authority with respect to ICWA, it is responsible for ensuring that states provide meaningful information about their ICWA compliance efforts," the GAO countered. The Interior Department responded with only a brief letter "The Bureau [of Indian Affairs] has no oversight authority for a state's implementation of the act," P. Lynn Scarlett, Interior's assistant secretary for policy, management and budget wrote on March 22. Due to the limited information collected by states, the GAO was only able to look at ICWA implementation in Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Washington. These five were the only states that could identify children who came under the law in fiscal year 2003. Based on the data, the GAO there was no way to determine, on a consistent basis, whether children subject to ICWA were treated any differently than those who weren't. The experience varied from state to state. According to the GAO, "children exiting foster care who were subject to ICWA in two states (Oklahoma and South Dakota) stayed in foster care for about the same period of time as Caucasian and other minority children." "In Washington, however, children subject to ICWA were less likely to leave foster care within 2 years compared to Caucasian and other minority children, while in Oregon children subject to ICWA and other minority children were somewhat more likely to do so compared to Caucasian children," the report noted. Indian advocates have long complained that states aren't properly implementing the law. In response, the state of Iowa recently adopted a plan to ensure Indian children are placed with Indian families. Statewide, Indian children are 0.4 percent of the population but 2.1 percent of children in foster care. Officials in Alaska, on the other hand, are trying to limit tribal control in child welfare cases. In November, the state's former attorney general issued an opinion that placed state law above ICWA and set out standards that limited the role of tribal courts. In South Dakota, tribal leaders demanded tougher laws to ensure state compliance although a proposed bill was whittled down to a study. However, the Legislature recently approved a bill to provide better notification to tribes and Indian families. Copyright c. 2000-2005 Indianz.Com. --------- "RE: BIA partnership to tackle Teen Suicide" --------- Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 09:38:57 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="TEEN SUICIDE" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://www.billingsgazette.com//30-bia-suicide-prevention.inc BIA starts talking about teen suicide prevention By BECKY SHAY Of The Gazette Staff April 8, 2005 Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement is breaking the code of silence and talking about one of the leading causes of death among American Indian youths. The agency has partnered with the Jason Foundation, a national teen suicide prevention and awareness organization. The partnership hopes to bring its programs to Indian Country in a manner that is culturally appropriate and sensitive. John Oliveira has dealt first-hand with youth suicide during his law enforcement career with the BIA, but Oliveira and his counterparts have not spoken much about it. 'Let it lie' "We tend to just let it lie dormant," he said. Not anymore. On Wednesday the BIA kicked off its partnership with the Jason Foundation during a conference in Billings. The conference, Family Violence and Teen Suicide Prevention, was attended by more than 50 tribal and social services leaders from Montana and Wyoming. After Oliveira heard Clark Flatt, the CEO of the Jason Foundation, speak last fall the men quickly agreed to try to bring the foundation's work to Indian Country. Oliveira is BIA law enforcement's National Child Abuse Coordinator and works in the Region Five headquarters office in Billings. Region Five includes Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. Talking about prevention "The partnership has started a dialog" about suicide and prevention, Oliveira said, that stretches from the offices of high-ranking federal officials in Washington, D.C., to Montana to small Alaskan villages. "There is a sense of excitement and hopefulness," one conference participant said. Flatt stressed that there are lots of American Indian kids who are not contemplating nor have attempted suicide. Suicide is the second highest cause of death among native youth, Flatt said, and that means there is an "urgent" need to talk about it. "The statistic is so high, we have to address it," Flatt said. "One of the toughest things is to start talking about suicide and to do it in a positive way." Teen suicide is two to three times higher among American Indian and Native Alaskan youths than among other ethnic groups and the general population. People in Indian Country recognize the numbers, Flatt said. "It's very refreshing to come into an area where I'm not having to convince them, 'it's your problem, too,'" he said. The clincher, Flatt said, is not just acknowledging the problem but starting to act. Flatt said he has been well received by tribal leaders and community members, including during a tour of the Crow Indian Reservation this week. "I really believe for a successful suicide prevention program you have to have a grassroots buy-in," he said. Ernie Bighorn, director of Indian Development Inc. in Miles City, has been working with native teens to develop suicide prevention programs around Montana. He agreed that local support is key but said it is even more important to involve youths in decision making and program development. Bighorn predicted BIA law enforcement and Indian Health Services' willingness to work with the foundation will lead to a turnaround in how teen suicide is approached in Indian Country. Specifically, Bighorn said, the foundation can help unite parents, schools, kids and community. "The Jason Foundation has connections and resources that could save us a lot of time," Bighorn said. Flatt's youngest son, Jason, committed suicide in 1997. Flatt said he was an involved parent, who joined PTA and learned about school violence and the threat of drugs and alcohol. No one, however, trained him about suicide - the third most likely way his teenage son could die. Flatt researched teen suicide, delved into the startling national statistics and established the nonprofit Jason Foundation within months of 16-year-old Jason's death. Based in Tennessee, the foundation has national supporters - both corporate and clinical - that provide funding and support to make its services free. That "purely altruistic" approach is welcomed, Oliveira said, in the face of tight budgets for federal agencies. Flatt did not recognize the signs and symptoms his son showed before committing suicide. He later learned that neither did the boy's friends and even when Jason spoke to them of killing himself, they were so confused and scared they froze and did not know how or where to seek help. The foundation now provides programs that include in-services for teachers, parent seminars, a school-based curriculum and a resource line. The foundation has ties to the American Football Coaches Association, which helps spread awareness. Flatt said he hopes to use those contacts to make inroads with basketball personalities who could bring the message to Indian Country. The federal agencies and foundation are working to make the services applicable to local needs, Flatt said. "Each native community is unique," he said, and its program must reflect local practices and culture. Until the programming is readily available, Flatt encouraged people at the conference to act and "do what we can to help address this terrible problem of youth suicide." Some behavior to watch for, Flatt said, includes the following: Girls, especially, may make funeral plans and give them to a best friend; kids will give away prized possessions, including drivers' licenses; if someone talks about suicide or wanting to die, talk to that person about his or her comment and seek professional help. "Not a single young person that I talked to after an attempted suicide wanted to die," Flatt said. "Without exception they wanted the same thing - they wanted the pain to stop. We need to identify the pain and how we can offer alternatives to stop the pain." How to help The Jason Foundation is committed to providing teen suicide awareness, education and prevention. Here are some signs adults and youths can watch for and should act on, according to the foundation: Depression, abrupt changes in behavior, mood swings, crying spells, recent grief or losses, changes in school performance, giving away treasured belongings, suicidal threats and expressions of hopelessness. "Suicide is a leading cause of preventable death," said Clark Flatt, foundation CEO. "It is not something we can't do anything about." More information is available on-line at www.jasonfoundation.com. Copyright c. 2005 The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: Supreme Court to weigh appeal of Trust Lawsuit" --------- Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 08:34:29 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="DoI's LATEST "BUSH-WHACK"" http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/007479.asp Supreme Court to weigh appeal of trust lawsuit April 7, 2005 Two years after losing an attempt to limit the federal government's fiduciary responsibilities, the Bush administration is back at the U.S. Supreme Court with another trust case. The Department of Justice has asked the high court to overturn decisions favoring two Wyoming tribes. The government was found liable for mismanaging oil, gas and other trust assets on the Wind River Reservation. But the administration's appeal has the potential to affect tribes elsewhere. Government lawyers are challenging an appropriations rider that has provided the basis for more than 20 historical accounting lawsuits currently in the federal court system. It could also affect the Cobell v. Norton lawsuit involving individual Indian trust funds. In briefs, the government notes that the federal judge handling the case has reinstated a broad historical accounting of billions in Indian money. The lower court decisions "will substantially increase the volume and complexity of Indian trust litigation, as well as the potential monetary exposure of the United States in suits alleging breach of the government's trust obligations," DOJ wrote on March 25. The appeal comes amid a request by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for more resources to fight the tribal trust lawsuits. In testimony to Congress last month, he asked for $7.4 million and 18 positions to defend the federal government. "The United States' potential exposure in these cases is more than $200 billion," Gonzales said. "Adequate resources are necessary to limit exposure and establish proper precedent for the United States." The testimony was given to a House subcommittee headed by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Virginia), who has inserted anti-tribal riders in appropriations bills in recent years. In 2003, he tried to redirect $3.1 million in Bureau of Indian Affairs money to the Department of Justice to fight the trust cases. Wolf's riders were removed from the appropriations bill but other lawmakers are already considering ways to respond to the lobbying of the Bush administration, at least on the Cobell case. "This is just not right," said Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Washington), who handles Interior's appropriations bill, when apprised of the situation by Interior associate deputy secretary Jim Cason. The rider at issue in the Supreme Court case dates to 1990. It states that the standard six-year statute of limitations on lawsuits against the U.S. does not apply to tribes or individual Indians until an accounting of their respective trust funds has been provided. The rider has been included in every single appropriations bill since then, and was the subject of a separate bill sponsored by former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado). "It is about avoiding litigation which I think is in everyone's interest," Campbell said at a February 2002 hearing. The bill was signed into law by President Bush a month later. Litigation has continued as the Interior Department has spent tens of millions on accounting projects for tribes and individual Indians. The Bush administration has taken a limited view of the effort, refusing to go back to the inception of the trust accounts and refusing to consider whether account holders received the proper amount of money for use of their land, minerals and other assets. That view plays into the Supreme Court appeal as government lawyers seek to prevent Interior from conducting an accounting going back decades and for mismanaging trust assets. Special Trustee Ross Swimmer has said any accounting should be restricted to monetary assets. The dispute is complicated somewhat because the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and the Northern Arapaho Tribe have asked the high court to determine whether they are entitled to the best price for their sand and gravel assets. The lower court ruled they had no claim on this point. The justices will consider the appeal at a conference meeting on April 15. They will announce whether or not they will take the case the following week. The last time the trust was at issue before the top court was in March 2003, when the justices refused to endorse the Bush administration's attempt to limit liability for alleged mismanagement. Copyright c. 2000-2005 Indianz.Com. --------- "RE: Swimmer explains 'Sovereignty' Quote" --------- Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 08:28:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SWIMMER EXPLIANS QUOTE" http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6266 Special Trustee explains the quote that angered NCAI's Hall Swimmer says he wants "real sovereignty" WASHINGTON DC Native American Times April 4, 2005 Special Trustee Ross Swimmer has responded to criticism he received from National Congress of American Indians President Tex Hall. In a fax addressed to the Native American Times, Swimmer defended a comment he made to a reporter from the Reuters news agency during a panel discussion at the Western Knight Center for Specialized Journalism's traveling seminar last month entitled "Covering Indian Country: Native American Issues in the 21st Century." Swimmer was quoted as saying: "Tribes today are not sovereign. You can't sit there and be a sovereign and be dictated to by another sovereign. There needs to be a whole new paradigm. We have to start over." In the fax, Swimmer said the comment was made during "a free ranging discussion with a variety of reporters." "I was asked to explain the history of the Federal trust relationship. The point was made that if the Federal government continues to dictate to tribes how they manage their trust assets, this effectively lessens tribal sovereignty," Swimmer wrote. "I have long advocated the need to look at new ways of increasing tribal sovereignty so that the federal government is not in the position of having to approve all the transactions of a tribe; in other words, replacing rhetorical sovereignty with real sovereignty." Swimmer said that he has "great respect" for Hall's leadership and "his extensive experience in Indian affairs. As well, I appreciate Mr. Hall's concern with the important issue of tribal sovereignty." Hall charged that Swimmer's comments, as they were quoted by Reuters, were "an insult." "Indian sovereignty is a reality, no matter what is happening on planet Swimmer. Indian Country knew President Bush wanted to put a man on Mars. We just had no idea that Swimmer was already out there in space," Hall said. Swimmer is the former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Hall has been a frequent critic of the tactics used by the federal government during the long-running Indian trust lawsuit. Native American Times. Copyright c. 2005 All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Fallout from Supreme Court ruling on Oneida" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 08:45:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="VULTURES CIRCLE" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard//news-9/111277672332643.xml Lawyer OKs collecting taxes on tribes Attorney for two counties in land dispute bases opinion on Supreme Court ruling. By Scott Rapp Staff writer April 6, 2005 Schools and municipalities in Cayuga County can start enforcing the collection of property taxes and any other regulations on land and businesses owned by two tribes in the Cayuga Indian land claim area, a lawyer said Tuesday night. William Dorr, who represents Cayuga and Seneca counties in the land- claim dispute, based his recommendation on the city of Sherrill's U.S. Supreme Court triumph last week over the Oneida Indian Nation of New York. In that case, the top court said the city of Sherrill could collect property taxes on ancestral land that the Oneidas reacquired after selling it more than 200 years ago. The Oneidas said they had sovereign nation rights on the land and refused to pay taxes, but the court said the property no longer qualifies as tax-exempt "Indian country." "Specifically, what (the ruling) means to us is that any of the land purchased by (the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York or the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma) is no longer 'Indian country,' and it is subject to rules and regulations and taxing authority of all the governmental entities under which it falls," Dorr told Cayuga County lawmakers. The New York Cayugas own a high-stakes electronic bingo hall, a combination convenience store and gas station, a carwash and 128 vacant acres - all in Union Springs. The Seneca-Cayugas have a 229-acre farm in Aurelius that they are trying to build a bingo hall on without following local regulations. Combined, the two tribes owe about $130,000 in back taxes on the properties, county records show. They have said they have sovereign nation rights on any land they acquire in the land-claim area. The county can foreclose on any Indian-owned property that is in arrears on its taxes for three years and it also can start testing the Cayugas' gasoline pumps for weights and measures accuracy, Dorr said. He urged the county to wait a few days before attempting to sample the gas pumps. "It might be that the Indians want to cooperate with us. This is the law of the Supreme Court. They should obey the law . . . let's see if they do it," Dorr said after speaking to lawmakers. In other action, county lawmakers unanimously approved lending $68,595 to the county Water and Sewer Authority so it could make a $223,536 bond payment this month. The loan was made contingent on the authority repaying the money with interest by year's end. The authority also has 60 days to submit to the Legislature a financial plan that corrects its cash-shortage problems. "By statute, it absolutely has to be repaid by Dec. 31 and by statute they have to pay interest on it . . . so it's not going to be a cost to taxpayers," David Pappert, R-Auburn, said. Pappert said authority members must share in the blame for not having agency finances in order. He said any corrective plan must address the issue of why the authority does not have adequate cash reserves to pay its bills. "This problem didn't happen overnight. I think everybody that's been involved with the authority since its beginning has to look in the mirror and say, 'Why were we approving budgets that didn't provide for adequate reserves?' " Pappert said. Copyright c. 2005 The Post-Standard. Used with permission. --------- "RE: Pipeline Firms get great deals on Indian Lands" --------- Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 08:20:27 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="PIPELINE COMPANIES ON INDIAN LANDS" http://www.gallupindependent.com/2005/apr/041105firms.html Pipeline firms get great deals on Indian lands By Kathy Helms Dine' Bureau March 11, 2005 FORT DEFIANCE - Pipeline companies operating on Navajoland allegedly are getting "sweetheart deals" on rights of ways, according to a December 2004 article published by SmartMoney.com. In August 2003, Alan Balaran, special master overseeing the Cobell v. Norton class-action lawsuit, filed a report in U.S. District Court alleging the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was giving pipeline companies "lowball deals" on Indian land being developed in the San Juan Basin. BIA has denied the charges. A Bureau of Land Management (BLM) spokesman told SmartMoney.com that the Farmington field office has approved more rights of way than any other field office in the United States. Last month, the U.S. House Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Minerals held a hearing to examine the growing global appetite for energy and its effects on the United States. The Energy and Minerals committee chairman introduced the North American Energy Freedom Act of 2005 to work toward U. S. energy independence by 2025. The act is expected to be included in this year's comprehensive energy bill package to be introduced in Congress by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. The Energy Freedom Act would create a 16-member committee representing the United States, Canada and Mexico to work for energy independence within 20 years through natural gas, oil, coal, renewable and alternative energy development. Domenici's previous energy bill, which did not pass Congress, would have provided more than $18 billion in tax incentives to boost development of oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear power, and an additional $20 billion for construction of a natural gas pipeline from Alaska to Chicago. Domenici and New Mexico's Sen. Jeff Bingaman are working on a new round of incentives to be included in this year's energy bill. A March 2004 report from the U.S. Department of Energy noted that the world's remaining conventional oil resources total 2.7 trillion barrels, not including North America's total of 3.7 trillion barrels, with about 2 trillion in U.S. oil shale found in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. The report also found that it would be possible to start an oil shale industry by 2011 that would produce 200,000 barrels per day initially and 2 million bpd by 2020, with direct economic value to the United States of about $1 trillion. Last November in an address to the National Coal Council, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said the nation has a 250-year domestic supply of coal. Abraham said Department of Energy (DOE) researchers and scientists are working with counterparts in other nations to develop new methods for using coal. The key is technology, he said. "They are developing the cutting-edge technologies that will permit not just us, but nations like Russia, China, Australia, and others, to burn coal cleanly and efficiently." He said that's why DOE has laid out a $2 billion commitment to the development of clean coal technology, with the first round of grants unveiled around 2002. The Clean Coal Power Initiative is a cost-shared program between government and industry. New Mexico is among the second round of grant recipients, with an unnamed project receiving $79 million to develop a multi-pollutant control process to remove 99.5 percent of sulfur dioxide, 89 percent removal of SO3 and nitrogen oxides, and 90 percent removal of mercury from plant emissions. The New Mexico project and others will contribute to the FutureGen program a cost-shared, $950 million project to create the world's first near-zero-emissions fossil fuel plant. FutureGen is made up of a national network of public-private sector partnerships including more than 150 organizations in 40 states, three Indian nations and two Canadian partnerships, Abraham said. Last November, The Wall Street Journal reported that Peabody Energy Corp. the world's largest U.S. coal producer and operator of the Black Mesa and Kayenta mines on Navajoland plans to double its annual production to 400 million tons by 2010. RAG Coal International, one of the leading privately owned international hard-coal producers, stated in a 2004 report that it had signed final contracts with Peabody Energy for the sale of RAG Australia Pty. Ltd. and the Twentymile mine in Colorado. RAG is the majority shareholder in STEAG AG, parent company of STEAG Power LLC, original developer of the Desert Rock Energy Project. Copyright c. 2005 the Gallup Independent. --------- "RE: Tribe wins in dispute at Snoqualmie Falls" --------- Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 08:28:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="SNOQUALMIE WIN SACRED DECISION" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com//2002231175_waterfall05e.html Tribe wins in dispute at Snoqualmie Falls By Sonia Krishnan Seattle Times Eastside bureau April 5, 2005 The Snoqualmie Tribe has made "a significant step" in its long-running legal battle with Puget Sound Energy to scale back the amount of water used to generate power at Snoqualmie Falls, a site the tribe considers sacred. The Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) ruled last month that Puget Sound Energy must decrease the amount of water diverted to its two hydroelectric plants at the falls in May and June. The tribe has been fighting to shut down Puget Sound Energy's Snoqualmie Falls operations since the early 1990s, but this latest move shows some respect for the tribe's religious beliefs, said Matt Mattson, tribal administrator. The mist from the waterfalls is considered sacred by the tribe, he said. "The tribe believes the mist connects heaven and Earth." The diversion of water flow to the power generators affects the falls' mists and spray and prevents the tribe from practicing its religion, the tribe argues. Water is diverted from the river into two power plants and funneled back below the falls. Puget Sound Energy has filed an appeal to FERC's ruling. "If you have less water at your disposal, it increases the cost of the output," said Roger Thompson, spokesman for the power company. "With a hydro-power project, water is your fuel; it's what makes your project turn." Puget Sound Energy sees the falls as a source of cheap power generation. But, he said, decreasing the amount of water to the generators will have a "very minute" impact on customers. "Snoqualmie is just one of a variety of sources of energy for PSE customers," he said. FERC's ruling found that increasing water flows for two months of the year would not be a financial hardship for Puget Sound Energy. The ruling ordered the company to increase water flow to the falls in May from 45, 000-90,000 gallons per minute to 450,000 gallons per minute. In June, the amount would jump from 90,000 gallons per minute to 202,500 gallons per minute. That would produce larger mists and offer the tribe a spiritual gathering place. "So now the 'church' is open only two months out of the year, but it's still better than nothing," said Mattson, who called the FERC ruling a "significant step" in the tribe's efforts to have more water sent down the falls. Puget Sound Energy has been operating the two plants under a 40-year license granted last June. Its previous, 37-year-old license expired in 1993, and until last year the company produced power through yearly licenses. The legal dispute between the tribe and Puget Sound Energy began when the company sought a long-term license in 1991. For the tribal members, decommissioning the plants would be ideal, but they are open to negotiating, Mattson said. This recent development "is substantially greater than anything FERC has ever done in the past," Mattson said. "If PSE agrees, we're willing to sit down and try to work through mediators to come up with a solution." Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com Copyright c. 2005 The Seattle Times Company. --------- "RE: Tribe files Claim to take back Chunk of Island" --------- Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 16:41:02 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="OTTAWA TRIBE of OKLAHOMA" http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=3173047&nav=5UaiYNqD Native American Tribe files Claim to take back Chunk of Island April 6, 2005 CLEVELAND (AP) - A lawyer for the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma claims the tribe wants to take back a chunk of North Bass Island on Lake Erie to fish, not to gamble. The tribe also wants damages for the loss of its island acreage for 172 years. North Bass Island lies 18 miles off Port Clinton, two miles south of the Canadian border. The Ottawa tribe is pressing a claim for 350 acres, more than half of the island. All of the 350 acres is owned by the state, which bought most of the sparsely-populated island for $17.5 million dollars in 2003. The tribe's lawyer insists the Ottawas aren't using the land claim to leverage a settlement for a casino, but a spokeswoman for Attorney General Jim Petro says he's very skeptical. The Ottawas controlled a large chunk of northwest Ohio in the 1700s and the tribe's lawyer says the Ottawas never ceded their rights to North Bass Island. Posted by AEB The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright c. 2000-2005 WorldNow and WTOL. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Rosebud Tribal Members speak out against Hog Farm" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 22:11:34 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ROSEBUD HOG FARM" http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6278 Rosebud tribal members speak out against hog farm Former Rosebud Vice-Chair Ike Schmidt says tribe made too many concessions ROSEBUD SIOUX RESERVATION SD Ruth Steinberger April 6, 2005 Grass roots activists are questioning what they call hasty movements by the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council to formalize agreements with Sun Prairie, operator of two hog houses on the northern edge of the reservation. A press release by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe announced a unanimous vote by the tribal council to tentatively authorize a settlement in Sue Prairie/ Bell Farms v. USA and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the pending case regarding the operation. At a recent council meeting, 24 people testified about their concerns regarding the facility. Many opposed the operation. Activist Alfred Bone Shirt said, "This is not a farm. The word farm implies clean water and open air; this is anything but that." Opponents say the Sun Prairie operation is a confinement operation in which tightly packed pigs live for approximately six months until they are shipped to slaughter. According to a complaint by the Humane Farming Association (HFA) filed with South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long, Sun Prairie workers were ordered to slam sick baby pigs onto the concrete to kill them. Undercover photos show animals being eaten alive. Sick or debilitated pigs are routinely denied veterinary care, food or water. According to workers at the plant, some pigs take over a week to die. Photos taken at the facility show piles of pig carcasses and according to the report the mortality rate can be as high as fifty-percent for the pigs. According to the HFA report, Long refused to take any action and, "Instead of obtaining a search warrant so investigators could conduct a surprise inspection, Long's office announced it was going to visit the facility, allowing Sun Prairie time to hide evidence," according to HFA's Chief Investigator Gail Eisnitz. According to workers management instructed them to remove sick and dying pigs and to kill debilitated pigs that had been left to die in alleyways. The recent agreement with the tribe would allow Sun Prairie to continue the operation as it is currently, but would not allow expansion that was included in the original agreement with the tribe. The lease also provides a "sunset," or closure process, however that process would be developed by Sun Prairie. Arcoren said, "Fear tactics have been used on the council. They have indicated that we could lose the whole tribe. This case has been filed with Judge Batty for over two years and now, why all of a sudden are they pushing to get it settled now? That is a question we would like to have answered. We laid the golden egg for Bell Farms. They got free water, free land, free roads and we got nothing out of it." Environmental attorney Jim Daugherty said the project originally was going to have thirteen sites containing 400,000 animals and now have only two of the thirteen sites and 91,000 animals. He said, "And it looks like that is as far as this will go. Right now there is a pending suit. Bell Farms has sued not only the federal government but also the tribe and that remains pending. Now there is talk of a compromise that would resolve that case. The feds have been stalwart defenders of the tribe and they have gone south on the tribe. We had prevailed on appeal and persuaded the court of appeals that Bell's suit was bogus. That was sustained by the US Supreme Court." Between the two rulings Bell Farms refiled a similar case, adding claims against the tribe. In 2002 they sued the tribe for the first time. Daugherty said, "These suits are mainly for tactical reasons to try to put pressure on the tribe to keep an umbrella of judicial protection over the hog farm in order to keep operating. Proof of that is the fact that nothing happened on that suit for over two years. They did not move for discovery, there were no motions filed, they did nothing, they just kept the suit on the books. Now there is a motion to resolve a couple of issues. Now, after several years of support for the tribe by the feds, they are saying they were wrong and are doing a complete turnaround and are filing a brief saying Bell Farms was right." Daugherty speculates Bell Farms used political pressure in North Dakota. A May 14, 2002, e-mail from Jerry Gidner, Chief of the Division of Environmental and Cultural Resources of the BIA was sent to then-BIA Director Neal McCaleb referencing a meeting that had taken place at the request of North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad. The meeting was to resolve concerns by hog farm investors from North Dakota. The e-mail from Gidner to McCaleb began, `Senator Conrad of North Dakota is very concerned about the status of the Hog Farm at Rosebud', and continues, `A former Governor of North Dakota has some financial interest in the hog farm, and called Senator Conrad with concerns about the Court of Appeals decision. Mr. Van Heuvelen stated that there was $100 million at stake, presumably for Bell Farms in total, and not just for the former Governor.' Conrad confirmed that the "former Governor" referred to former Governor George Sinner. Shortly before this project was unveiled, South Dakota voters passed a constitutional amendment prohibiting corporate ownership of corporate hog farms. Daugherty said, "This would have been illegal on private land, but of course the state constitution would not apply on the reservation and this circumvented that prohibition. And this effectively allows them to enjoy an exemption from state laws regarding environmental regulation, sort of a no-mans land for enforcement. "They have been an unbelievable trading partner with the tribe. They struck a one sided agreement. It showed the tribe would make money, but the way it defined profits, well...basically there was just no money there for the tribe. But there was an agreement to pay some of the profits and they also agreed to pay for the water they used. They haven't shared the profits, they haven't paid for the water, they got a special tax break as a potential employer, and this barely provided any jobs." Bell Farms alleges that the tribe violated the contracts clause of the US Constitution and in the suit have charged the tribe with unjust enrichment at the expense of Bell Farms. Daugherty said, "That's an old commonwealth claim. Since they have not paid the tribe a penny, how can they claim unjust enrichment? Now the federal government is getting ready to back Bell Farms." Eva Iyotte, Co-Chair of Concerned Rosebud Area Citizens (CRAC) testified at the council chambers, citing the sacred sites located at the location of the hog farm. She said, "And the sacred trails, our ancestors used those trails. Chief Hump, Chief Sitting Bull and Chief Spotted Tail, the Cheyenne. Oleeta had a grandmother who was born on that trail and other grass roots people stepped forward and said their stories were handed down to them from their grandparents who camped on those trails. An archeological study confirmed the presence of a village there...we don't know what tribe they were, but we know there were people living there and this is the raping of our ground." Noting photos taken inside the facility Iyotte said, "The whistleblowers put their lives on the line, maybe their grandfathers told them something. The claims have been substantiated by the photos handed over to the investigators." Former Rosebud Sioux Tribal Vice-Chair Vernon "Ike" Schmidt spoke at the hearing. Schmidt detailed some of the past costs of the project. He said, "We were fortunate to get the Min Wiconi water line project, which was primarily for safe drinking water. When they got water into White River, it was also diverted north to the hog farm. The lines were paid for by the Mni Wiconi project." He said, "We had to put in two pumping stations and it cost millions of dollars to put those lines into the hog farm. They started pumping water into the hog farm, which started out in 1999. To date, they pumped 332,350,900 gallons of treated drinking water into the hog barns. The tribe tried to impose a fee on that, and to date that fee would add up to $385, 797 but they have not paid a cent of that. They pretty much laughed the tribe off after that first billing." The tribe has a two percent excise fee on new construction; Schmidt said the farm was allowed to come in at one percent, costing a tremendous loss of revenue. Schmidt said, "We made all these concessions and it created a handful of jobs and they are not good jobs...a lot of the pigs die. This is not good for people. Schmidt said that overwhelming environmental issues have been overlooked and may affect the tribe's future. He said, "The sludge is another issue. At no time has our tribe adopted environmental regulatory controls for a hog confinement facility like this and the facility is not under state jurisdiction because it is on trust land. The EPA gives the regulatory authority to tribes if the tribe wants to assume it, so they have kept an arms length from it. The hog farm has never had an EPA regulatory discharge permit. Any time you discharge from a facility like that there must be a permit, but this is operating without it." An Environmental Assessment was in place prior to the opening. Schmidt said, "It says in the BIA Code of Federal Regulations that there must be a full Environmental Impact Statement (not an Environmental Assessment) in order to satisfy NEPA (the Natural Environmental Protection Act) and that has never been in place. This was potentially to be the second largest confinement facility in the world, and to let it go by without an Environmental Impact Statement, with just an EA, is an outrage." Under the CFR, there is supposed to be a review of a multi-year lease every five years in order to determine if the provisions of the lease are being followed and to see if the tribe is getting their fair market return on the lease, and to see if the environment is being protected. Now in the seventh year, no five-year review has been conducted. Schmidt said, "If there had been a five-year review a lot of atrocities would have come out like the fact that there is no environmental regulatory controls on the site, the tribe has received no monetary gain and we are pumping our clean drinking water to flush the barns out. At one point we were paying for the electricity for the pump houses. Schmidt would like to see the facility closed in an orderly fashion. He said, "We need infrastructure development on the reservation in order to develop our local economy and create good, clean jobs. We do not need industry that pollutes the reservation." Native American Times. Copyright c. 2005 All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: CRST: A Water crisis looms" --------- Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 09:38:57 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CHEYENNE RIVER FACING WATER DISASTER" http://www.argusleader.com//20050407/OPINION01/504070329/1052 A water crisis looms Cheyenne Reservation bordering on emergency as river dries up April 7, 2005 Sen. John Thune is pushing the Army Corps of Engineers to come up with a solution to the looming water problem in north-central South Dakota, but in the end, this will come down to the same bottom line as so many other problems - money. The water-supply intake serving 14,000 people on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation and in nearby communities could become useless by August if the drought continues. Even if it doesn't, the intake in the Cheyenne River is being plagued by a growing silt problem in the river. The corps could move the intake into deeper water, but silt still will be a problem. It's estimated that the Cheyenne River will be silted in by 2011. And the river can't be dredged, because that would stir up arsenic and heavy metals that came downstream from the Black Hills. And even if those weren't problems, the aging water system already is at full capacity. "This is an issue of great urgency," said Thune, who called the meeting of corps and tribal officials in Pierre. "I think we have to prepare for the worst-case scenario." The old water system aside, there seem to be two solutions to the intake problem: * Move the intake to deeper water. That's temporary. * Move the intake 12 miles away to the main channel of the Missouri River. That could cost as much as $76 million and take several years. The corps doesn't want to commit to anything right now, until it sees what water runoff from the snowpack might be. There should be some indication of that this month, but we already know upriver mountain snowpack only is about two-thirds of normal. The corps plans to finish its study by April 18. That study ought to include the two options most mentioned, as well as others, perhaps less expensive. That $76 million is a lot of money for 12 miles of pipe. "I know you have the study under way ... evaluating options and all that, but this isn't far away," Thune told the corps. "My gosh, if you have people without water ..." There's a real possibility that by the end of the summer there will be no safe drinking water. Rebecca Kidder, a lawyer for the tribe, said that could mean some people will drink untreated water and get sick, compounding the problem. Of course, this isn't exactly a new problem. It's simply reached the flash point. The corps already is dealing with the drought, shifting money to handle exposed water intakes, control weeds on the expanding shoreline, maintaining boat ramp access on reservoirs and preserving cultural resources uncovered by falling water levels. Lake Oahe, partly fed by the Cheyenne River, already is 28 feet below normal, the effect of six years of drought. All that strains the corps' budget. We already know the Bush administration is trying to cut costs in many areas of the federal budget, and finding money each year for other South Dakota water projects is a struggle. It's no secret where the solution to this will be found - in Congress. With Thune, with Sen. Tim Johnson and with Rep. Stephanie Herseth. First, we have to take care of the immediate needs, and that probably means temporarily relocating the water intake into deeper water of the Cheyenne River. But then we've got to take care of long-range needs, whether that means moving the intake to the Missouri River's main channel or something else. This isn't just some pork-barrel public works project. Water is life itself. Thune and the rest of our delegation have to make that point in Congress. They must make it quickly, and they must make it unequivocally. Copyright c. 2005 Argus Leader. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Senate hears about water problems in New Mexico" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 08:45:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="NM WATER PROBLEMS" http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=3175083 Senate hears about water problems in New Mexico April 6, 2005 State Engineer John D'Antonio says the federal government isn't involved enough in negotiating settlements to American Indian water rights in New Mexico. He says only one settlement with the Jicarilla Apache Nation has been reached. D'Antonio says many others are pending, including one that has gone on for decades. He says New Mexico will not succeed in negotiations without help from the federal government. D'Antonio made his comments during testimony yesterday before the U-S Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Washington, D-C. Copyright c. 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. Copyright c. 2002-2005 WorldNow and KVIA. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Bill now includes Landless, Unrecognized Tribes" --------- Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 08:28:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HISTORY LESSONS TO BE MORE ACCURATE" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002231137_teach05m.html Bill now includes landless, unrecognized tribes By Lynda V. Mapes Seattle Times staff reporter April 5, 2005 For too many kids, Indian Country is a place of cowboys and savages living in tepees. State Rep. John McCoy wants to change that. "Misinformation causes mistrust," said McCoy, D-Marysville, a member of the Tulalip Tribes, who has introduced legislation to encourage school districts to work with local tribes to include curriculum about the tribes' history, government and culture. "This bill is a beginning, to start building relationships between tribes and their local school districts in delivering the appropriate history, and culture, and not Hollywood's version," McCoy said. The bill, SHB1495, would give the state Board of Education the authority to consider requiring such instruction for graduation. The bill also encourages the state School Directors' Association to convene meetings of school boards and tribal councils to form better government-to-government relationships, and work on narrowing the gap between Indian and non-Indian students' success in school. "School districts have had 150 years to get this into the curriculum, and they haven't done it," McCoy said. "This will get the tribal leadership and the school boards to start getting together and building relationships." The bill imposes no instructional mandates - a concession McCoy had to make to get the bill moving. It has passed the House and is expected to be considered on the Senate floor soon. A provision has been dropped that would have excluded tribes that are not federally recognized or do not have reservations, such as Seattle's Duwamish. The bill does include one mandate, requiring the School Directors' Association to submit a report to the Legislature on school districts' progress. "We will give them a chance to do it voluntarily," McCoy said. "And if they don't, the Legislature will see that." The work some tribes already are doing with local school districts shows the innovative teaching - and learning - that's possible, for Indian and non-Indian students. When she teaches seventh- and eighth-grade social studies at Hood Canal School near Shelton, Mason County, Sally Brownfield, a Squaxin Island tribal member, offers for study not only the Constitution of the United States, but also the constitutions of the state of Washington and the neighboring Skokomish Tribe. Elementary-school students in the district are offered a supplemental Native American reading curriculum, based on storybooks and lesson plans that use the themes of the canoe, the drum, and hunting and gathering. The curriculum, created with content donated by tribal artists, writers and elders, has been popular with native and non-native students and is helping turn reading scores around. At Chinook Elementary in Auburn, kids from 31 tribes make up one of the highest percentages of Indian kids in any public school in King County. More than 65 percent of the fourth-graders are reading at state-standard levels - up from 43 percent the year before. The school features the supplemental Native American reading curriculum in an intensive after- school reading program for native students. The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe in Port Angeles is a pioneer in partnering with the local school district. The collaboration was born of necessity. Frances Charles, chairwoman of the tribe, said racial tensions among kids at school sparked tribal youth to work with their Tribal Council to reach out to the school district, inviting teachers, principals and community leaders to a potlatch with tribal schoolchildren. "We had it here at our tribal facility, and we turned the floor over to our youth," Charles said. A tradition was born: The tribe convened its ninth annual potlatch last month, with teachers, principals, school administrators, Tribal Council and City Council members and the mayor sharing the same tables to celebrate the responsibility they share for the kids in the public-school system. Lower Elwa tribal member Jamie Valadez - named Teacher of the Year this week by the Washington State Indian Education Association - began teaching Klallam language at Port Angeles High in 1999. Klallam is just one of several languages public-school students can take to fulfill their world- language requirement to graduate. Over the next three years, the tribe also is creating for the local public-school system nine units with 10 lessons each for third- and eighth-graders on local tribal cultural and history. While not a cure-all for social ills, bringing solid, accurate instruction about local tribal history and culture into the schools is working, Valadez said. Statewide, Indian student performance on standardized tests is improving. The number of students achieving the state standard on math went up from 14 percent to 42 percent between 1997-98 and 2003-04. The percentage of fourth-grade Indian students meeting the state standard in reading rose from 33 percent to 59 percent during the same period. "Things still happen, kids still get lost in the cracks, there are still problems. But we have in place more of an infrastructure to help kids be successful," Valadez said. "I believe it is making a difference." Building a relationship between the tribe and the school district is the key, Charles said. "Working together is the first step." Lynda V. Mapes: 206-464-2736 or lmapes@seattletimes.com Copyright c. 2005 The Seattle Times Company. --------- "RE: Maine Public Schools must teach about Tribes" --------- Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 08:28:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="MAINE SCHOOLS TO TEACH ABOUT TRIBES" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/1513278.shtml Teaching native culture By KEITH EDWARDS Staff Writer April 5, 2005 AUGUSTA - About a year ago, Rebecca Sockbeson's daughter came home from elementary school and described her day. Her classmates had played a game called "kill the Indians." The girl - like her mother a member of the Penobscot tribe - knew enough not to play along. She even had an explanation for her classmates' game, in which students designated as pirates pretended to chase and then kill students designated as Indians. "'Momma, they just don't know enough about us. That's why they want to kill us,' " Sockbeson said her daughter, Julia, told her that day. Sockbeson, director of multicultural affairs at the University of Southern Maine, related her daughter's story to a gathering of Maine social-studies teachers Monday in a workshop meant to convey the importance of the state's new requirement that schools teach students about the Wabanaki people and the history of Native Americans. Their history includes a time when the governing white people issued bounties on scalps of Penobscot men, women and children. "When this happened at my daughter's school, I explained to her: One time, this was a real game," Sockbeson told the gathering of teachers, many of whom reacted with surprise when told of government-sponsored bounties on Indians. LD 291, "An Act to Require Teaching Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine's Schools," was passed in 2001 and a special commission, The Wabanaki Studies Commission, recently issued a report in an effort to help schools begin complying with the act. The Wabanaki people include the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet and Micmac tribes. The state Department of Education will make exceptions to the new requirement if schools can show they do not have enough funding to bring such lessons to their classrooms. In a February letter to Maine schools, Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron said Wabanaki studies is not a course itself, but should be integrated into other courses at multiple grade levels. Richmond resident Donna Loring - former representative for the tribes in the Maine Legislature and the driving force behind LD 291 - said the bill is the nation's most innovative and comprehensive legislation on the teaching of native American history. Maureen Smith - director of Native American Studies at the University of Maine and chairwoman of the Wabanaki Studies Commission - said some lesson plans are available now and others are being developed. Teachers at the annual Maine Council for the Social Studies conference, held at the Augusta Civic Center, received a thick packet of suggested lesson plans. Smith encouraged teachers to be bold as the curriculum develops, even though it may be new to many of them. "As educators, I know you're struggling with this," she said. "We're so fearful of saying the wrong thing, we're almost driven to paralysis. It's hard. I find it difficult to explain to my own grandson what it means to be Indian today. But as we all learn, we convey it to our students. That's what teaching is all about." Keith Edwards - 621-5647 kedwards@centralmaine.com Copyright c. 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. --------- "RE: USDA Offers Tribal, Pacific Scholarships" --------- Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 08:34:29 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="USDA SCHOLORSHIPS" http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050406/sfw114.html?.v=2 USDA Offers Tribal and Asian Pacific Islander Scholarships Press Release Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service - Applications Accepted April 4 Through May 13, 2005 April 6, 2005 WASHINGTON, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Bruce Knight today announced that the 2005 Asian Pacific Islander (API) Scholars Program and the new Tribal Scholars Program application period is April 4 through May 13, 2005. "These scholarship opportunities strengthen the conservation partnership with state colleges and land-grant institutions and help attract outstanding students from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in agriculture and natural resource sciences," said Knight. "Workforce planning and scholarship programs help create a more effective government by providing the tools and experience these students need to perform at high levels and become quality employees." This is the first year of the Tribal Scholars Program, which was created to help the agency accomplish its workforce diversity goals and improve interaction with tribal partners and customers. Five scholarships will be awarded to U.S. citizens who are seeking a degree in agriculture or related natural resource sciences at a 1994 tribal land-grant institution. There are 34 tribal colleges and universities nationwide. The API Scholars Program awarded five scholarships last year and will offer five in 2005. The program is open to U.S. citizens at universities with high percentages of Asian and Pacific Islander students in California, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Pacific Basin. Both scholarship programs provide full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, use of a personal computer and software while on scholarship and room and board each year for up to four years. In addition to general eligibility criteria, each scholarship may have unique features due to differences in the target institutions or communities. NRCS also participates in two USDA-sponsored scholarship programs: the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program for students planning to attend an 1890 Historically Black Land Grant Institution and major in agriculture or natural resource related studies; and the Public Service Leaders Scholarship, which is a collaborative effort between USDA, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and the Hispanic College Fund, Inc. Detailed information on the Tribal and API scholars programs is on the Web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/scholarships or from Larry Holmes, NRCS Outreach Division Director, at 301-504-2229 or larry.holmes2@usda.gov. Information on the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is at http://1890Scholars.program.usda.gov . Information on the Public Service Leaders Scholarship is at http://www.hsi.usda.gov/Scholars/main.htm . Copyright c. 2005 PR Newswire. All rights reserved. Copyright c. 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Schools fail to meet Indians' needs" --------- Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 16:41:02 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS" http://www.desertsunonline.com//20050407/NEWS04/504070329/1006 Schools fail to meet Indians' needs, says educator Jennifer Larson The Desert Sun April 7, 2005 There may not be as many Native American students as Latino students in California's schools, but many California Indians believe those students' needs are not being met. Associate professor Joely De La Torre of California State University, San Bernardino, says California Indians and the educational community need to work together to cure shortcomings in education that have shortchanged Indian students. "Public education has really done a disservice to American Indians," she told a group of Coachella Valley educators and others affiliated with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians during a luncheon Wednesday in Palm Springs. The tribe agrees that something needs to be done. It recently started a new tutoring service as part of its tribal family services program, modeling it after a similar program run by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. "We can help the children (with school)," said George Robinson, director of Tribal Family Services. "If there are other issues for why the child is in tutoring we can offer our other services." De La Torre noted that a recent Harvard University study showed high dropout rates among black and Latino students in California. The graduation rates are 60 percent for Latino students and 56.6 percent for African-Americans. But they're not the only ones with graduation rates that need drastic improvement, she said. California Indian students have a high school graduation rate of only 52 percent. "To me, these numbers are horrific," she said. "We need to deal with this issue and deal with it aggressively." De La Torre called for the community to dissolve lingering stereotypes of Indians and promote more authentic images. She also said she believes that the tribes and the educational community should work together to change textbooks or portions of the curriculum that contain negative and incorrect images of Indians. Moraino Patencio, a member of the Agua Caliente tribe, agreed that it's important to emphasize education to young Indian students and how education played a crucial role in their tribe's history and evolution. "Make it culturally relevant for our Indian children to understand where they fit in," he explained. Local educators said that they are willing to collaborate and do what they can. Palm Springs Unified School District Superintendent Michael Sellwood said that his school district will work with the tribes to help those students who might otherwise fall through the cracks. "We will accept the challenge," he said. The vast majority of students in the Coachella Valley Unified School District are Latino, but the district also has a number of students from the Torres-Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla Indians, according to superintendent Tut Pensis. He agreed with Sellwood that collaboration is key to improvement. "I think it's the only way it's going to happen," he said. But Sellwood pointed out that the state's role in the public education system may present a few obstacles. For example, Sellwood said, the state dictates what textbooks school districts can buy - that is, if they want to pay for them with state funds. That limits what the local educational community can do to alter the textbooks that they use. Tony Signoret, principal of Cathedral City Elementary, acknowledged that it might not be possible to refine the curriculum but said there are other ways to identify and reach children who need help. "We're in it for the kids, so we're willing to do anything," he said. Principal Renee Loewen has a number of Native American students who attend her school, Cahuilla Elementary School in Palm Springs. She praised the Agua Caliente tutoring program as a step in the right direction. "Already my school has seen an impact," she said. Yolanda Robledo, education facilitator with tribal family services, has been tutoring a fifth-grader from Cahuilla Elementary with great success. Loewen said she plans to contact Robledo again when her Indian students can benefit from some extra help. Copyright c. 2005 The Desert Sun. --------- "RE: Utilizing Song and Film to teach Hopi Language" --------- Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 08:49:20 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="TEACHING HOPI LANGUAGE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://www.navajohopiobserver.com/P=1103147&S=392&PubID=13929 Utilizing song and film to teach Hopi language By S.J. Wilson The Observer FLAGSTAFF - Thanks to an unlikely partnership and the blending of modern media, Hopi youngsters, families and teachers have yet another teaching tool to preserve traditional culture and language. Ferrell Secakuku and Anita Poleahla have produced a popular CD called "Learning Through Hopi Songs." "We wanted to inspire younger children, to provide a way for them to hear the words, to put themselves into the Hopi language, to bring them back to speaking Hopi," Secakuku said. "We are working uphill - it's a challenge to bring back the Hopi language." This is important to Secakuku and Poleahla. Like all native cultures, the Hopi language is the root of Hopi culture and life, Secakuku insisted. Secakuku, a former Hopi Tribal Chairman, met Natasa Garic in a graduate level anthropology class at Northern Arizona University. Garic, a Serbian/Croatian from Slovenia, is an international student in the Anthropology Department. She is fluent in English and Croatian, and speaks Italian and German. Garic is a 2002 graduate of NAU, majoring in cultural anthropology. She said she has always been interested in ancient cultures and native people. She originally came to Arizona to study the Navajo and has worked closely with the Hopi. A professional volleyball player, Garic is passionate about archaeology, petroglyphs and the tracing of migration patterns. Garic's interest in Hopi culture led Secakuku and Poleahla to invite Garic to illustrate a song from their CD. Garic presented the finished product, "Hopi Maidenhood Ceremony," on the afternoon of March 17 during a colloquia at the Anthropology Department, where Secakuku and Poleahla joined her. A self-described applied anthropologist, Garic told the gathering that the intention of her work is to prove that "there are other ways to do anthropology." "I thought this would be a good way to inspire the younger generation - along with their parents and grandparents," Secakuku said. Garic, Secakuku and Poleahla chose the Hopi maidenhood ceremony, deciding to bring the experience into Hopi homes and classrooms. This would allow children who might not otherwise view the ceremony to share the experience. Rather than filming video footage of the ceremony, Garic decided to use still photographs. Garic began the presentation by explaining to fellow students and faculty members that traditional Hopi education is much different from that of the western world. "On Hopi, there are different ways of education. Girls learn how to grind corn and how to cook traditional foods," Garic said. "The men and boys meet together in the kivas during the winter for lessons. In this way they learn respect for tribal elders." Garic went on to explain that the learning style of Native American youth is experiential, and that culturally based, active experiences help engage their interest. "If you've never been to Hopi, let me tell you, the world there is not the same. The pace is different," Garic said. "The people hold a different philosophy of life." Garic described the journey of a young girl becoming a maiden, learning to make traditional foods like piki bread and somiviki, and the butterfly whorl hairstyle announcing the young woman's new status. She shared a brief explanation of the maiden's ritual and social roles, of receiving gifts of cornmeal and valuable advice for moving into adulthood. "I wanted children to associate the words of the song with the pictures. I wanted historic photos to represent cultural continuity," Garic said. "I tried to make it about the young woman represented in the pictures, and about her family. I hope that the experience [of viewing the presentation] will spark an interest in other cultural roles." As the chant of Poleahla and Secakuku pulsed resonantly, viewers were treated to a slideshow of vignettes of Hopi life - of the family of a young woman entering her maidenhood. The photographs were compelling, moving through vistas of skyline beyond the edge of ancient villages, historic photos, family gatherings and corn plants. So far the audience of the film has primarily been school children, as well as a showing to teachers at the summer session of Hopi Day School. Garic agrees with Poleahla and Secakuku that this medium is a great way to teach, but she believes that the youth themselves can bring their own productions to life. "Kids today have learned the technology," she said. Poleahla, the Hopi Language teacher at Hopi Jr/Sr High School, describes herself at the "grassroots" level of technology. "Forget about housework," she laughed. "This isn't really work, this is fun." Songs from "Learning Through Hopi Songs" has received a lot of play in northern Arizona. "We hear the songs everywhere," Poleahla said. "We hear them on the radio, students are singing them." "We are working on teaching material to accompany these songs. We are so fortunate to have Natasa to do this for us. This has been a new learning experience," Poleahla said. Secakuku and Poleahla's audience is asking for the next CD - and it is in the works. Entitled "Teaching Through Hopi Songs," fans of this duo can expect to see this new CD in late April or early May. Copyright c. 2005 Northern Arizona Newspapers, Inc. --------- "RE: Educators work to teach Lakota Language to Youth" --------- Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 08:49:20 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="TEACHING LAKOTA LANGUAGE" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://www.siouxcityjournal.com//16a9bebdc8ade4f986256fe0000ef720.txt Young American Indians strive to maintain traditional culture April 11, 2005 EAGLE BUTTE, S.D. (AP) - When Emanuel Red Bear and his friends wanted to learn the traditional songs of the Lakota Sioux, they turned to 76-year- old Burdell Blue Arm and his extensive knowledge of Lakota culture. "We were thinking about singing some songs, and Burdell said, 'Let's sing some old songs, traditional songs,"' said Red Bear, who lives in Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Along with Blue Arm and his nephews, Red Bear began a traditional drum group called "Wakpa Waste," pronounced WALK-pah WASH-tay, Lakota for "Good River." That is also how the tribe refers to its namesake, the Cheyenne River. "We try to sing the older songs (so) that the people will hear," Red Bear said. But preserving those songs, and American Indian culture in general, is becoming increasingly difficult as tribal elders pass away. For example, Blue Arm lives in a nursing home in Mobridge, more than 80 miles from Eagle Butte. He is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and is beginning to lose his memory. "That's the way my mind is - I forget now and then," Blue Arm said. As his memory fades, the tribe loses one of its most important resources. "Burdell is a living library of Lakota music," said his nephew, Steve Emery, a member of Wakpa Waste and a lawyer for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. For Red Bear, who teaches Lakota language and culture to students in Eagle Butte, keeping younger Indians interested in the ways of their people is a challenge. Many just don't care to learn the ways of their ancestors because of the allure of contemporary American culture, he said. "We have more influences of the modern society. Gangs, television, alcohol and drugs - everything's right here," Red Bear said. "We live in two worlds, the Lakota world and the non-Indian world." The Cheyenne River tribe passed an ordinance in 1993 requiring that Lakota language and culture be taught in reservation classrooms. But it is a struggle to capture students' interest, Red Bear said. "We have people, our own tribal members, who are ashamed to be (Lakota), and they don't want to learn the language," he said. "It's sad to see." Another problem are the differences in dialects between tribes, Red Bear said. The Rosebud, Pine Ridge, Standing Rock and Cheyenne River tribes all have different ways of referring to things and there are specific endings indicating the gender of the speaker. That means it's nearly impossible to reach a consensus on what needs to be taught, he said. "We're standing in one place spinning our wheels, arguing about who's right and who's wrong, and in the meantime we're losing our language," Red Bear said. But there is hope. Red Bear grew up speaking Lakota at home, and said learning such everyday phrases as "brush your teeth" and "go play" is crucial to saving the language. In outlying areas of the reservation, away from towns such as Eagle Butte, there are still families that speak Lakota at home, he said. Encouraging them to keep that up will help preserve the Lakota way, Red Bear said. "We still have a chance if we get the ones that live in the outlying districts," he said. In addition, Red Bear and others are spearheading projects such as a Lakota language immersion camp at the Cheyenne River reservation, which will be held for the second time this summer. Sponsored by the tribe, Si Tanka University and a bilingual education program, it involves language classes and instruction in such cultural activities as erecting tipis. The campers, mainly college students, are taught by members of the Cheyenne River tribe. Drum groups like Wakpa Waste also help by keeping people familiar with the older songs and exposing new people to them, Red Bear said. During the 2005 legislative session, Wakpa Waste took a drum to Pierre and sang in the South Dakota Capitol rotunda before a crowd that included lawmakers and Gov. Mike Rounds. For Blue Arm, the efforts of people like Red Bear and his nephews to learn - and preserve - the Lakota way are a beacon of hope. "It means something that they can speak the language. Maybe God is helping us," Blue Arm said. Copyright C. 2005 Sioux City Journal. --------- "RE: Expertise, Funds limit Tribal Lands' Energy push" --------- Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 08:34:29 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ENERGY REQUIRES ECONOMIC GROWTH" http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,,36~33~2802787,00.html Expertise, funds limit tribal lands' energy push By Steve Raabe Denver Post Staff Writer April 7, 2005 Oil and gas on tribal lands could be a key source of U.S. energy supplies - if the capital can be found to unlock them. "Tribes have some really excellent energy resources waiting to be developed," said former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado. "They can really be in the driver's seat." Yet only 25 percent of known oil and gas reserves on American Indian lands have been tapped, their development hindered by a lack of financing and technical expertise, Campbell and other analysts said. Campbell retired from the Senate last year and now works as an Indian affairs adviser for the Washington law firm Holland & Knight. He is scheduled to speak today at a Las Vegas conference titled "Tribal Energy in the Southwest." American Indian land is estimated to include 10 percent of U.S. energy resources, including 30 percent of the West's known coal reserves and 10 percent of the onshore natural-gas deposits. "There are a lot of resources and a lot of potential," said Tom Acker, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Northern Arizona University who has worked with several tribes on energy development. "It could really help a lot of these tribes." But American Indian energy development is hampered by two issues, according to Acker: a lack of technical expertise and a shortage of investment capital. Some tribes have used casino profits to finance startup energy initiatives, he said. The Rosebud Sioux tribe in South Dakota spent $1.2 million to erect a utility-scale wind turbine near the reservation's casino. It now is planning a 30-megawatt wind farm with 18 wind turbines that are expected to go online in January. Tribal officials said they believe selling wind power will be more lucrative and more reliable than casino revenues. The Southern Utes of Colorado have been a leader in natural-gas development. The tribe in the 1980s had received a trickle of revenue from royalties paid by companies drilling for natural gas on the Southern Ute reservation. In 1992, it launched its own gas production company, Red Willow, which has become a model for tribal energy development. "If we can get these productive resources put to work," Campbell said, "it would be great for the reservations and great for the country as a whole." Staff writer Steve Raabe can be reached at 303-820-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com. Copyright c. The Denver Post or other copyright holders. --------- "RE: Southwestern Tribes meeting on Health Issues" --------- Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 08:34:29 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HEALTH ISSUES" http://www.gallupindependent.com/2005/apr/040605health.html Area tribes meeting on health issues By Pamela G. Dempsey Dine' Bureau April 7, 2005 WINDOW ROCK - The Navajo Nation and other Southwestern tribes are meeting this week with the Department of Health and Human Services for their annual tribal consultation sessions. Obesity, federal funding, and self-determined health care are among some of the Navajo Nation's priorities. The tribe's top health care officials, Navajo Area Indian Health Service, and members of the Health and Social Services Committee have worked over the past few months to come up with a priority list. The Inter-governmental Relations Committee approved the Navajo Nation's position paper on Monday and appointed Anselm Roanhorse Jr., director of the Navajo Nation's Division of Health, to advocate on behalf of the tribe during the upcoming consultation sessions. Through these consultation sessions, now in their seventh year, tribes have a bigger input in how federal health care dollars are spent. The consultation sessions, the position paper stated, results in improved communication between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and tribes and increases opportunities to partner with federal agencies and surround state health departments. Since a report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has shed light on gross health care disparities between Native American tribes and other races, the Navajo Nation has pushed harder for increased federal funding. "Federal funding has not kept pace with factors such as the rising costs of health care, increasing costs of pharmaceuticals, and competitive salaries for recruitment and retention of qualified health care professionals," the paper stated. The lack of federal funding has spurred the Navajo Nation to add the following to its list of priorities: During 1996 through 1998, an annual average of 152 fatalities and 509 hospitalizations occurred on the Navajo Nation. Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among Navajos ages 1 years old through 54 years old. The Navajo Nation is requesting support of its trauma system development to reduce fatalities. Obesity in Navajo children has tripled in the past 20 years. The Navajo Nation is requesting support on school nutrition programs and government intervention to reduce cost of sugar-free drinks. Medicare Drug Cards can save Navajo Area Indian Health Service more than half a million dollars each year, money that can be used elsewhere. The Navajo Nation is requesting more training to implement the service. The national tribal consultation meeting to formulate the 2007 budget of the Department of Health and Human Services will be held in May. - To contact reporter Pam Dempsey call (505) 879-1707 or email pamelagdempsey@msn.com. Copyright c. 2005 the Gallup Independent. --------- "RE: Cobell presented with National Leadership Award" --------- Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 08:49:20 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="COBELL RECEIVES AWARD" http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/007513.asp Cobell presented with national leadership award April 11, 2005 Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackeet Nation of Montana who has led a nine-year long court fight to force the federal government to give individual Indian trust beneficiaries a full accounting of their holdings, has been honored by The National Neighborhood Coalition. "We are proud to salute Elouise Cobell for her commitment to communities that have been robbed of their most vital assets," said Anne Pasmanick, executive director of coalition, an organization that advocate for low- income people and neighborhoods. Cobell directs the Blackfeet Reservation Fund in Montana and is the lead plaintiff in Cobell vs. Norton, a class action lawsuit that seeks to hold the federal government accountable for lands and monies it held in trust for 500,000 individual Indians. Citing Cobell's fight to help Indians recover their lost assets, the NNC presented the Browning, Mt., resident with The Pablo Eisenberg Award for Neighborhood Leadership at a reception on April 7. Cobell's leadership has guided half a million Native Americans in their quest for accountability from the federal government, the NNC said. "A banker and activist, Elouise Cobell defies stereotypes and fills both roles with equanimity and enthusiasm," said Pasmanick. The National Neighborhood Coalition (NNC) was founded in 1979 as the national voice for neighborhoods. We provide common ground for the nation's leading advocates for lower-income neighborhoods. NNC is where national and local leaders come together to generate the resources, public policies and solution-oriented strategies that strengthen and sustain neighborhoods. NNC's Annual National and Neighborhood Leadership Awards Reception was sponsored by Freddie Mac, as well as, Citigroup, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation and Bank of America. Copyright c. 2000-2005 Indianz.Com. --------- "RE: GOLTZ: Tribal Flags at the Montana Capitol" --------- Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 08:34:29 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="INCLUDING MONTANA TRIBAL NATIONS" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111283577479300373,00.html Tony Montana By THOMAS GOLTZ April 7, 2005; Page A15 HELENA, Montana - Tribal flags billowed next to the Stars and Stripes, the smell of burning sweetgrass hung in the air, and the drumbeat from a half-dozen tom-toms was a tad insistent. Scores of Native American tribal members dressed in full war bonnets and chest-length braids intoned powwow tunes while modern-day cowboys and cowgirls, decked out in rented tuxedos and full-length gowns, bounced like pogo sticks in a traditional Native American victory dance. A loopy "re-enactment" of the past by some society of weird history buffs? Plausible, but incorrect. It was, in fact, freshman governor Brian Schweitzer's inaugural ball, on Feb. 12. Even while Democrats across the country were licking their wounds from November's crushing presidential defeat, there was celebration in Montana. Not only had the citizens of the nation's fourth largest state elected a Democratic candidate as governor for the first time in 20 years, they'd also rolled back GOP dominance to a 50-50 split in the state House, taken a 27-23 majority in the Senate, filled virtually every position of real authority in the state's higher offices with Democrats, and defeated referendums on re-allowing cyanide leaching in mining (despite millions of dollars of industry lobbying money promoting the idea) while approving of the medical use of marijuana. The only victories of consequence for the GOP were the re-election of Republican Denny Rehberg to our state's single seat in the House of Representatives and the passing of an amendment that defined marriage to be a contract made exclusively between a man and woman. Oh, and the re- election of President Bush. Red, blue or purple - color-coding Montana's patterns of voting is just too simplistic, and Brian Schweitzer fits the non-conformist mold to a T. A prosperous farmer/rancher from the area of Whitefish in the tony Flathead Valley country, Mr. Schweitzer cultivates a well-spoken, gun- owning, dog-loving, native-ritual-doing, shot-of-whiskey-drinking true- west style somewhere between that of Jeanette Rankin (a famously antiwar liberal Republican elected to the U.S. Congress before women's suffrage was passed) and Mike Mansfield (the conservative Democrat senator and former ambassador to Japan whose voting record, taken as a whole, was more liberal than that of George McGovern). After taking degrees in agro-science from Montana State and then Colorado State, Mr. Schweitzer shipped off to Saudi Arabia and Libya to work on agro-irrigation projects for almost a decade, learning functional Arabic in the process. His first stab at major public office came in 2000, when he made a surprisingly serious run from nowhere against the seemingly unassailable Sen. Conrad Burns, a man whose local ratings seem to go up with every gaffe reported in the D.C. press and who has, in the words of former Montana Congressman Pat Williams, "brought home more money to Montana than any other politician in state history." The decision to run for governor was Mr. Schweitzer's next obvious choice. Following a long reign in office, Republican Marc Racicot termed- out in 2000 with a phenomenally high popularity rating, only to fall foul of the electorate thanks to his association with the Enron scandal and the highly unpopular energy deregulation that has seen power bills almost double for Montana homeowners. His chosen successor was his lieutenant governor, Judy Martz, but she was almost a lame-duck before she took office, and wisely chose not to run for a second term and face certain defeat. Mr. Schweitzer, meanwhile, selected a running mate from across the aisle in Republican state senator John Bohlinger. The pair swept into office on a bipartisan ticket, leaving diehard Republican stalwarts reeling from their electoral defeat in Montana even while the national party claimed landslide after landslide. So now it is hardball time in Helena. Possibly goaded on by the GOP national leadership who fear a young star rising in the West, local Republicans are seeking revenge. Schweitzer-backed proposed laws designed to lure more Hollywood pictures to Montana by providing guaranteed rebates for money spent in-state, and another to raise an extra $20 million in taxes by conditioning who can and cannot sell real-estate in Montana's hot property market, seemed a sure thing until GOP state senators stalled the bills in committee. When he confronted the lawmakers, the meeting was described by a GOP e-brief blog as "Mount Saint Schweitzer Blows His Top" in an outburst akin to a "10- year-old's temper tantrum." Mr. Schweitzer was "an immature, egomaniacal control-freak who is just beginning to realize that there's some actual work that accompanies the title of governor." (The movie bill ultimately passed.) Adding fuel to the partisan fire is Mr. Schweitzer's request to recall some of the Montana National Guard and its water-bomb helicopters from Iraq in order to cope with the anticipated Summer-from-Hell fire season due to an eight-year drought in the state. This has been cast by the GOP as an expression of anti-war sentiment. How all this sorts itself out over the short term is anybody's guess, but Mount St. Schweitzer is certainly stirring things up - from driving himself around the state with his pet dog, Jag, to flying the tribal flags of the seven Native American Indian reservations in Montana in rotation above the rotunda in the capital, a unique symbol of the governor's maverick streak. That streak came to the fore at the annual state governors' meeting at the White House, where Mr. Schweitzer upbraided both President Bush and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. He likened the president to a bad cattle auctioneer and Mr. Leavitt to a cowpoke "riding for the brand." National Democrats swooned at the audacity of the freshman governor from the Mountain West. And some even started to whisper a number: 2008. Tribal flags at the White House? There's always a first time. Mr. Goltz is a Montana-based writer. Copyright c. 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Letter from Red Lake Urban Committee" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 08:45:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="RED LAKE URBAN COMMITTEE" http://www.rlnn.com/ArtApril05/RLUrbanCommLetter.html This is a letter written by the newly formed Red Lake Urban Committee March 31, 2005 Chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr. Red Lake Tribal Council Red Lake, Minnesota In times like this, as the tragic events unfold in our homeland, we as Red Lakers everywhere need to stand together as one against government agencies and media hype that is once again dividing us as a nation. Whether it be intentional or not, that will be the result unless we decide we won't play the media and "Information Leak", divide and conquer game that only fuels speculation and rumor. We need to stand strongly behind our tribal chairman at our time of need and support him just as strongly as he supports us. He was overwhelmingly elected last year and hasn't changed dramatically since, (Unlike what most people do when elected). We knew him, his morals and standards then and we know him now. Not one of us single or two-parent families can say we ever had complete control or knowledge of what our teenage children are thinking, and we shouldn't have to. Each of us need to be able to grow, think and act for ourselves and not be the mindless robots of our parents. We also need to stand behind our children, as Buck is rightly doing. No doubt it reflects on Louis's parents and it effects them deeply. But until conspiracy or whatever is being baked is acknowledged by the family, we need to affirm our support of Buck and his Family. We as urban Red Lakers, we are deeply affected and feel the hurt and pain of our homeland. Many of us left for our home (Red Lake) immediately to help and support in any way that we could, and will continue to do so. That week we saw Buck everywhere, tirelessly trying to do everything for the people, and was being a great leader. We need him to continue, and show our elected leaders to step up, front and center of meetings and ceremonies and show their leadership skills to support and help people of their districts. We cannot leave Buck out on a limb alone. We were starting to acknowledge the many issues we face, and this was a big wake-up call that we have a long way to go. We need to deal with the issues in the unique way that will work for us as a people. We can't allow ourselves to be second-guessed or arm-chair quarterbacked by a wider society with a different world view and those who have no idea and may not care how we survived and thrived as a people for thousands of years. We for sure have internal issues to deal with, but we need to work on them within our sovereign nation, not through media or governmental agencies. Once again, we ask all our nation to stand together and continue to pray for and support all of the many victims of this tragic event. Giga wabamin, mii gwich, mii'ue, The Red Lake Urban Committee Mike Loud Murphy (Joe) Parkhurst Johnny Smith Dave Loud Ona Kingbird Rosemary Mountain Jessica Loud Roger Oakgrove Copyright c. 2003-2005 Red Lake Net News. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: MARK AMES: Red Lake Whitewash" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 22:11:34 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="MARK AMES: RED LAKE" http://www.owlstar.com/dailyheadlines.htm http://nypress.com/18/14/news&columns/markames.cfm NEWS & COLUMNS Volume 18, Issue 14 April 6-13, 2005 Red Lake Whitewash By Mark Ames Red Lake Whitewash Amid all of the fake soul-searching in the aftermath of the recent Red Lake high school shooting, one question is hysterically avoided: Was Jeff Weise's massacre justified? The best argument for considering whether or not Weise was provoked comes from the hysterical official reaction: a cataract of lies, moral acrobatics, grotesque cliches and laughable contradictions all of which point to a giant cultural cover-up. The goal of this cover-up is to place all blame for the massacre on Jeff Weise's evil shoulders. Thus, every major news organization repeatedly describes Weise as a Nazi, a gore- obsessed goth who once gelled his hair into the shape of horns. The Nazi claim is the craziest of all. The obvious contradiction - Weise is a Native American, a child of one of the world's greatest Holocausts - is lost on the very culture that committed that Holocaust. Weise was acutely aware of his people's Holocaust, and he explicitly linked his rage and his urge to massacre to America's moral hypocrisy. On one posting, Weise described America as "a country founded on the deaths of millions of Native Americans." In another he wrote: "9/11 was Bush's Reichstag. 100, 000 Innocent Iraqis dead since the beginning of the war, is this what they mean by 'you must sacrifice one for the good of the many?'" His solution? "[O]ne day I'll gladly buy my sons (once I have them) assault rifles, pistols, shotguns, rifles, whatever. It's my right as an 'American.' God bless America, for killing billions of people world wide." Instead of trying to look for warning signs in Jeff Weise's twerpish behavior, we should look at the warning signs at the setting of the massacre. The most grossly unexplored factor is how Weise was reportedly "teased." The word "teasing" is one of those Orwellian misnomers that massively devalues the destructive effect of the act. How bad was the "teasing"? Weise left his school last year for home schooling - the reports imply that he was too stupid to keep up, but more likely Weise was driven out by a culture of brutality. Jeff Weise is the offspring of an exterminated nation whose people suffer from rates of alcoholism, poverty and early death usually found in African countries. His father committed suicide; his alcoholic mother regularly beat him until she crashed her car and wound up a vegetable. It is easy to imagine that Weise connected his personal misery to the larger misery of his people. No ideology is more dead than Nazism; evil has taken other, less obvious and far more acceptable forms. Tracy Flick from the movie Election - that is evil. Tracy Flick is real too: consider Minnesota's Education Secretary (Red Lake is located in northern Minnesota), Cheri Pierson Yecke, who caused a storm just over a year ago when she went on Minnesota public radio and declared that the Indian holocaust never really happened because "it wasn't intentional." She said this while being interviewed about her book on American education in which she argued that egalitarianism - including racial egalitarianism - was destroying America's schools. Just this past February, the hyper-ambitious Yecke published an Op-Ed in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune titled "Moral Case For War in Iraq: Preemptive Action Helped End a Great Horror" in which she compared Saddam Hussein's Iraq to, you guessed it, Nazi Germany. The rage becomes increasingly understandable when you begin to scratch the cultural surface. In fact, you'd really have to have been broken - a slave - not to seethe. In that sense, Jeff Weise looks more like an insurgent than a simple psychopath. But that is something way too dangerous to consider - which is why we'll be hearing a lot more about this Native American's evil plans to enslave humanity in the service of the White Race. Copyright c. 2005 New York Press. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Editorial: Ownership key for Native Americans" --------- Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 08:34:29 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="ECONOMIC SUCCESS" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://www.argusleader.com//20050407/OPINION01/504070302/1052 Editorial: Ownership key for Native Americans April 7, 2005 James Wolfensohn's tour of the Pine Ridge Reservation was symbolic of a growing awareness - in some quarters - of a real solution to many problems on Indian reservations. That is economic development. Wolfensohn, outgoing president of the World Bank, said private ownership is the key to easing world poverty - poverty illustrated on reservations around the United States. "The difficulties we're trying to solve around the world are to be found right here," he said. "The first is ownership. The second is lack of recognition. "To me, what I'm seeing here isn't the poverty, it's the chance to see new businesses that are being established and meet entrepreneurs that are taking their future into their own hands." Wolfensohn timed his visit to coincide with creation of the Global Facilities Fund for Indigenous Peoples, an international loan program he created with Rebecca Adamson, president of the First Nations Development Institute. He also wanted to promote other programs, such as the Lakota Fund, which helps reservation residents start and expand businesses. Economic development isn't the only answer. But it's vital and can pave the way for reforms in education and health care. Wolfensohn's tour helps bring needed attention to that. Copyright c. 2005 Argus Leader. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: Editorial: Cuts in BIA Budget 'unacceptable'" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 08:45:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="BIA BUDGET `BUSH-WHACK'" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://www.argusleader.com//20050406/OPINION01/504060319/1052 BIA needs more money Johnson, Thune must step up to restore funding for programs April 6, 2005 The United States' proposed fiscal year 2006 budget decreases funding to the Bureau of Indian Affairs by $108.2 million. A cut of this magnitude is unacceptable for a variety of reasons, but especially because of the area hit hardest: American Indian education. "If we're ever going to break the cycle of poverty in Indian Country, education is going to be a key part of the strategy," said Sen. Tim Johnson, who calls the budget plan "woefully inadequate." Under the plan, the BIA would receive $2.2 billion - $108.2 million less than the current fiscal year. One of the largest cuts would be in the school construction budget, which would be reduced from $263 million to $173 million - a $90 million decrease. Dan DuBray, Interior Department spokesman, said that although the school construction budget would be reduced, the Bush administration has made a "significant investment" in building schools during the past five years, allocating $1.4 billion for construction projects. However, many BIA officials scoff, saying only nine of 34 schools have actually been completed during that period, leaving 25 still in the design or construction phase. Under the proposed 2006 budget, only two construction projects would be funded: replacement of the Porcupine Day School in South Dakota and phase one of the replacement of the Crownpoint Community School in New Mexico. Another area of concern is that no increase in tribal college funding has been allocated. In fact, the only positive part of the proposed education funding is a $2 million allocation for a leadership academy pilot program at four BIA schools. The two poorest counties in the United States are located on South Dakota reservations. People there are among the poorest in the nation. If we want that profile to change, Johnson is right: we must start with improvements to education. And we can't expect good teachers to come to the reservations and good programs to be developed within the tribal schools if the facilities themselves are inadequate or unsafe. Additional tribal college funding is critical if we want to encourage Native Americans to seek higher education. There is a need not only for American Indian professionals to provide services on the reservations but throughout the state and nation. It is also imperative to create role models and mentors for American Indian youths. While the leadership academy pilot program is a good thing, it wouldn't be necessary if the Indian education system was adequate in the first place. And although education funding is the worst problem with the proposed BIA budget, it certainly isn't the only one. An increase of $64 million is proposed for Indian Health Services, but the IHS new construction budget would be cut by $85 million. Housing program funds would also be cut, including a $107 reduction in the Native American Housing Block Grant Program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development and a $46 million cut to the Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund. Certainly, there is a need to strengthen Indian trust programs, and part of the money being cut from other areas is being channeled in that direction. Under the Bush administration proposal, the Indian trust program budget would increase by $80 million, with $76 million of that amount used for an accounting project that would help trace tribal trust fund accounts. Sen. John Thune says the budget proposal demonstrates President Bush's attempts to reduce the budget deficit. But if that's done at the expense of cutting educational, health care and housing support for the poorest people in the country, it's wrong. Something must be done to restore some of the BIA funding, and it's going to be up to our senators - Tim Johnson on the Appropriations Committee and John Thune, an up-and-coming member of the majority party. They each have influence, and now is the time to use it. Copyright c. 2005 Argus Leader. All rights reserved. --------- "RE: NICK JANS: Red Lake: A tragedy of denial" --------- Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 08:28:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="NICK JANS: RED LAKE" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2005-04-04-redlake-denial_x.htm Red Lake: A tragedy of denial By Nick Jans April 4, 2005 The recent school shooting spree in Red Lake, Minn., seemed eerily familiar: An alienated teenage male apparently plots with others, goes on a murderous rampage, then turns his gun on himself, leaving behind a stunned, grieving community and more questions than answers. But the obvious parallels between the Red Lake and Columbine tragedies, right down to the black trench coat and red-laced combat boots that Red Lake shooter Jeff Weise wore, don't illuminate the darkness or depth of the wider story. As a teacher for 20 years in Native villages in bush Alaska, it is one that I know only too well. It's the story of a young Native fighting a losing battle with cultural ambiguity, poverty, substance abuse and depression - all ending in a violent death. Weise described himself on a Web entry as "nothing but your average Native American stoner" struggling with "accumulated rage suppressed by ... brief glimpses of hope ... faded to black." By this description, and by his early death, I've known 15 or 20 "Jeff Weises" in my life. Though each tragedy wears its own skin, in the end, only the faces and details change. I've known these kids, who shoot themselves as well as each other, who die alone with makeshift nooses around their necks or in 100-mph crashes. Others step through holes in the ice or are found frozen on a trail, eyes covered with frost. Code of silence broken If there's anything notable about the Red Lake tragedy, it's the awful scale and circumstances - enough to lift it past a tribal or clan code of silence into the discomforting glare of national scrutiny. Usually, there's scarcely a ripple beyond the victims' own families and communities. Most of the suicides and deaths of kids I knew didn't even make the papers in Fairbanks, just 250 miles away. But these ripples, gathered together, form a towering wave: * According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), injuries and violence - intentional or accidental - account for 75% of deaths in Native Americans younger than 20. * The suicide rate, especially among Native young men between 15 and 19, is horrific - far above the national norm. In certain areas, including Alaska and southern Arizona, teen suicides are six to eight times above the national average. * Among young Natives, 78% of firearm deaths are the result of a deliberate act. * Alcohol, other drugs and depression are factors woven into many of these tragic cases. The fact is, the perpetrators of the Columbine massacre and their victims - white, upper-middle-class teens - were statistical anomalies. On the other hand, Jeff Weise and most of those he is accused of killing or maiming came to an end so predictable for their demographic group that in a cold, pie-graph world, they scarcely raise a blip on the numerical radar. Other inescapable facts: Jeff Weise's father also killed himself. In the past five years, the U.S. attorney's office has filed charges in a dozen murders and seven cases of manslaughter on the Red Lake reservation (population roughly 5,000) - a place where suicides and attempts, violent injuries and early deaths are all too common. Young most vulnerable The toll of this negative environment seems intensified in the young. According to the results of a 2004 survey of 56 Red Lake ninth-graders, more than half admitted to marijuana use and said they'd been beaten or hit during the past year. More than half - a staggering 81% of the girls - claimed to have contemplated or attempted suicide. Of course, many in the Red Lake Nation would resent such negative statements, especially levied by a glib outsider. What could he know of the deep, inward bonds that exist, the web of love and care that radiates among their people? I bow my head to accept that rightful criticism; I've never been to Red Lake. I don't mean to deny the real love and sharing that I'm sure is a daily fact of tribal life, as it was in the villages where I lived. At the same time, I offer that I have grieved for many such Native children whom I taught. I wept at their funerals and helped bury them, until they became a collective blur and I became almost too numb to mourn. Denial and turning inward are tactics I'm all too familiar with. They solve nothing; in fact, they perpetuate this malaise. Meanwhile, this problem is too vital to be ignored. I have no solution to offer. If I said I did, I'd either be a liar or a wise man - and I'm neither. But there are first, difficult steps that must be taken. A truism of modern psychology, echoed by a far more eternal spiritual wisdom, is that a problem cannot be addressed, let alone solved, until it is recognized and owned - in this case, by all of us, for this is truly an issue that transcends race. Clearly, there is something dreadfully wrong among these children, upon whom the future of entire cultures depend. And finally, these young people, like this problem, belong to all of us. Answers - and surely they must exist - begin with that realization. ---- Alaskan writer Nick Jans is a member of USA TODAY's board of contributors. He also is author of the forthcoming book The Grizzly Maze, to be published in July. Copyright c. 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. --------- "RE: JODI RAVE: Indian Education Specialist" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 08:45:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="JODI RAVE: INDIAN EDUCATION CHALLENGE" http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/04/06/jodirave/rave52.txt Indian education specialist: 'I'm up to the challenge' By JODI RAVE of the Missoulian April 6, 2005 HELENA - When the Montana Senate's majority leader told educators Monday that every dollar marked for Indian education would be thoroughly examined, one man felt the pressure. "When Sen. Jon Tester said you will be scrutinized, I was wondering, 'Are you looking at me?' " said Everall Fox, an Indian education specialist for the state's Office of Public Instruction. "I thought, 'I'm up to the challenge.' " Fox, the only staff member in OPI's Indian education office, was among those listening as Tester addressed the Montana Indian Education Association, which held its 24th annual conference at the Red Lion Hotel. The four-day conference drew 400 registrants from across the state and ends Tuesday. Indian Education for All topped the conference's agenda and culminated in a rally Monday on the steps of the state Capitol. More than 200 people attended the event in which a handful of speakers - educators and legislators - spoke about the need for Montana to commit at least a minimal amount of money in recognition of a 1972 constitutional mandate. Montana has the only constitution in the country with a mandate calling on the state to preserve the cultural integrity of Native peoples through public education. The language affects all 438 school districts in the state. The law has been ignored since its inception 33 years ago. "It makes me feel bad, like they look down on us like we're nothing, like we don't exist," said Alicine Kindness, a 16-year-old student from Hardin High School, who sat on the Capitol steps during the rally. Participants carried banners and signs. Some read: "33 years too long," "No more broken promises" and "Show me the money." While it's up to legislators to fund Indian Education for All, it's up to the Office of Public Instruction's Indian education office to get material to teachers so they can comply with the constitution's Article X, Section 1, Subsection 2. The mandate prompted the creation of OPI's Indian education office 32 years ago. During that time, the state has provided money to pay for one staff position to meet the Indian Education for All needs of the state. Past employees have been a voice for Indian education, but they have never received funding to meet their two-pronged mission. One, they must close the achievement gap of Native students. Second, they must carry out the constitutional mandate to teach all students, no matter their race or ethnicity, about contemporary and historical Native issues. "The common misconception is that Indian Education for All is just for Indian students," said Mike Jetty, OPI's dropout prevention specialist. "It's for every Montanan." Terry Brockie, a language teacher at Hays Lodgepole School on the Fort Belknap Reservation, told rally participants about the bias he sees near his reservation. The Indian education funding bill, he said, would help educate tribes' non-Native neighbors and it could help strengthen Native children's school performance. "The children that are coming up, I see them, they are losing their role," said Brockie. "They're losing who they are inside their hearts. We need to educate them on who they are and where they come from, on their clans and their tribes." Rep. Dave Wanzenried, D-Missoula, said he sponsored a hiring preference bill this session that would have put more Native teachers in the classroom to serve as role models for Native students. Some non-Natives opposed his bill. The measure, Wanzenried said during the rally, resulted in "the most vile, hateful mail that I've ever received anywhere in my entire life. That underscores the need to do something about the bias and ignorance that's reflected in those letters." The issue of funding Indian Education for All has reached a pinnacle after three decades. That's because last November, the Montana Supreme Court released a unanimous opinion upholding District Court Judge Jeffrey Sherlock's April 2004 ruling declaring Montana's school funding system unconstitutional. In his ruling, Sherlock said: "To have any meaning, the Indian Education for All Act requires resources and programs, which in turn require funding ... In reality, the state appears defenseless ..." Said Wanzenried: "We've waited 33 years to seriously address Indian Education for All. Unfortunately, it took a lawsuit to get legislators' attention. It has arrived in Helena." Now state legislators are left to determine how much is needed for those resources and programs. Gov. Brian Schweitzer has budgeted $2 million for OPI's Indian education office. The money would benefit 156,442 children, and be used to develop model curricula, classroom material and provide professional development for teachers. "Two million dollars isn't a lot of money," said Fox. "It doesn't give us money to publish or print materials. A lot of this will probably have to be online." At best, the proposed budget would allow OPI to add three Indian education staff members, create an interactive CD-ROM, develop an online K-12 teacher's guide on curriculum content and add material to the OPI Web site on tribal peoples. Besides the governor's proposed budget, the Legislative Education Subcommittee on Appropriations approved an additional $1.4 million for Indian Education for All, for a legislative total of $3.4 million. Rep. Carol Juneau, D-Browning, recently led a House effort to add $6.1 million to Indian education, but her measure failed by three votes. "The state has $3.4 million in its budget for K-12 schools for Indian Education for All," said Juneau. "But this is not enough money. How many generations of Montana's children have lost the opportunity to learn about Montana's tribal nations since 1972?" Reach reporter Jodi Rave at 523-5299 or jodi.rave@missoulian.com Copyright c. 2005 Missoulian, a division of Lee Enterprises --------- "RE: HARJO: Characteristics of the non-Indian Indians" --------- Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 09:38:57 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HARJO: NON-INDIAN INDIANS" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096410704 Harjo: Identity, part deux by: Suzan Shown Harjo / Indian Country Today April 7, 2005 In l'affair Churchill, many non-Native people are amazed that there are non-Native people who take on the identity of a Native person. Pseudo-Indianism is a well-known phenomenon in Indian country. Pseudo- Indians usually have some useful skills, but their real talent is their ability to con kind-hearted, trusting people into validating them as Indians. Here are some familiar traits of pseudo-Indians. Eager beavers There are many legit Indian and non-Indian people who are enthusiastically, unselfishly, tirelessly helpful to Indian people and causes. These generous traits are welcomed by many Native people, especially those who are overworked, understaffed, impoverished, stressed out or under siege. Educator Norbert Hill, Oneida, gave Ward Churchill his first job at the University of Colorado - even though Hill recognized him as an Indian "wannabe" - because Hill's program needed help and Churchill was an eager beaver. Churchill and many pseudo-Indians initially act like eager beavers. The difference between Indian and non-Indian eager beavers on the one hand and pseudo-Indian eager beavers on the other is that the pseudo-Indians are the ones pretending to be something they are not: Indians. There are people who don't think that lying about being Native is a serious matter, or even a lie. It's more like a white lie, a pen name or a hobby. Actually, lying about being Native is more like identity theft, using a stolen passport or falsifying sworn documents. It is not victimless. Pseudo-Indians are masters of distraction. Churchill is a classic obfuscator, as evidenced by the way he has kept reporters in Colorado running in circles chasing his biography, which is an unbroken chain of white roots linking back to southern Illinois and northern Europe. When pressed, Churchill plays the "Indian" victim and makes a bid for sympathy. When pressed harder, he goes on the attack. These are typical reactive traits of pseudo-Indians. Weeping willows When asked about their Native nation or relatives, the weeping willows duck the answers and sob on the shoulders of peaceful folks about the mean "inquisitors" who hurt their feelings, when all the weepers are trying to do is to help the Indian people (as opposed to the mean Indians who don't do anything to help the people). Prickly pears These pseudo-Indians are defensive to the point of offensiveness. When asked about their identity, they strike out against the "accusers." The pricklies attack anyone who doesn't support their false claims about their Indian-ness, usually accusing the questioners of being pseudo-Indians. Spies in disguise This is a unique subset of pseudo-Indians. The spy's Indian persona is also calculated for effect, but the spy is on a particular mission and the non-spies are more random. All pseudo-Indians are mercenaries - adopting Indian disguises for profit - and it's often hard for communities to know what they're dealing with until and unless there is an unmasking. In Churchill's case, he says he's 1/16 Cherokee, although he's not been able to produce any evidence to support any claim to being any Indian of any nation. His mouthpiece, activist Russell Means, has defended Churchill in recent weeks by condemning one of his detractors as "only 1/8 Indian." Let's see, that would make Churchill's nemesis twice as much Indian by blood as Churchill. Churchill is not a citizen of any Native nation. That is to say, he is not recognized by any of the various peoples he has claimed. Muscogee (Creek) Nation says he is not a Creek citizen. Cherokee Nation says he is not a Cherokee citizen. The Keetoowah Band says he's not a Keetoowah citizen. When confronted with these facts, Churchill attacks the sovereignty of Native nations to determine their citizenship, much as Means has attacked the sovereign authority of Navajo Nation to prosecute him for abuse of Navajo citizens. Means says that it's what's in your heart that matters. But he knows well that his own Oglala people would laugh anyone out of the room who used that criteria for stepping into treaty deliberations, voting in tribal elections or obtaining kidney dialysis treatment. It is important for people who deal with affirmative action and the honor system in educational settings to understand that being a tribal person is not a matter of self-declaration or a racial matter. It is a political, legal matter. It is citizenship and only a Native nation can determine its citizens. Churchill and his supporters would substitute themselves for Native nations in deciding who are Native citizens, but tribal and federal laws say they can't do that. Churchill's lawyer is attempting to distract the University of Colorado faculty members who are examining this issue by raising the specter of Nazi racial purity. He, his client and Means are the only people talking about blood and pedigree, and Churchill is the only German in the debate. Cherokee Nation doesn't have a blood quantum standard for citizenship. Let us review. Churchill is not a citizen of any Indian nation, so he is not Indian by any known political standard based in tribal law, treaties, nation-to- nation dealings or federal Indian law. Churchill is not Indian by family. This is not a situation where a person cannot qualify for tribal citizenship, but has an Indian mother or father, or even an Indian grandparent. Churchill is not Indian culturally. He was raised by white people as a white person in white communities. No amount of bombast turns that into an Indian cultural background. At nearly 60 years of age, he has not connected culturally with any of the Native peoples he has claimed. This, by the way, is usually what people mean by "Indian at heart" - someone who sings, dances and takes part in the cultural life of a Native nation, even if that person is not Native. In Churchill's case, he has done none of that. Churchill is Indian by imagination. He is now concocting a tale that he believed he was Indian by family mythology, to which he applied zero critical examination. He then needs to explain how this thread became specific to varying Native nations and became a special tribal, cultural experience that gave him the edge in employment and publishing. ---- Suzan Shown Harjo, Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee, is president of the Morning Star Institute in Washington, D.C. and a columnist for Indian Country Today. Copyright c. Indian Country Today. All Rights Reserved. --------- "RE: Hydro Company accused of paying off First Nation " --------- Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 09:38:57 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="HYDRO PAY OFF" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://winnipeg.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=mb_keeyask20050407 Eyebrows raised over Hydro payments to First Nation CBC News April 7, 2005 THOMPSON, MAN. - CBC News has learned Manitoba Hydro has signed off on more than $14 million worth of expenses for a northern First Nation related to a hydroelectric dam, even though the community has not yet voted on the project. Four years ago, the Tataskweyak Cree Nation, formerly known as Split Lake, signed an agreement in principle with Manitoba Hydro to jointly build the 640-megawatt Keeyask dam at Gull Rapids on the Nelson River. If it goes ahead, the Keeyask dam would be exporting power to the United States by 2012. The dam would cost $3.5 billion to build and would flood 46 square kilometres of land. Manitoba Hydro needs the support of Tataskweyak Cree Nation for the project; community members are expected to vote on it later this year. But an audit obtained by the CBC shows Manitoba Hydro has already paid the band more than $14 million over the past two years for expenses related to preparing the community for Keeyask. More than half that amount, about $7.5 million, was paid to consultants; that works out to around $10,000 a day, every day, for those two years. Another $3.7 million was spent on travel, and $3 million more was spent on, among other things, wages, video production and administration. Amount spent shocks observers Former chief Emile Garson said all Manitobans should watch what's going on in the north because their hydro rates are paying the bills at Tataskweyak. "If this venture is still at its agreement-in-principle stages, why such a significant amount of money?" he asked. "Now why would anyone in their right mind decide to invest, if I may use the word, invest $14 million if this is not going to become a reality? That's a hefty sum of taxpayers' money that's being used to discuss a project that's simply at its [agreement-in-principle] stages." Peter Kulchyski, head of the University of Manitoba's native studies department, doesn't hide his opposition to a number of Hydro developments. As for the Keeyask dam, Kulchyski said it looks to him like Manitoba Hydro is trying to buy support for its project. "They've recognized that politically they need support of aboriginal communities. It's not feasible now, in this day and age, to go ahead with hydro development without the co-operation of the communities," he said. "So they appear to be trying to do whatever they can to try and get the communities on board and particularly find a leadership they can work with and make sure that leadership has some money coming in to it so that its loyalty is secured and, you know, see if they can, through that, get community support." As for the amounts being spent, Kulchyski said he couldn't believe the numbers: "Millions of dollars, on a project that the community itself hasn't ratified, at a time when we're being asked to pay more in hydro rates by the public utility ... is kind of shocking to me personally." 'A good investment': Hydro Tataskweyak Chief Norm Flett said that's what it costs to hire experts and reimburse band members for going to meetings about the project. "In order for the First Nations to be informed, somebody has to pay," he said. "In this case, the government of Manitoba instructed Hydro to pay." Bob Brennan, president of Manitoba Hydro, said building a dam is an expensive business. He said it costs millions to hire experts such as engineers, lawyers and environmental specialists to inform local people about the pros and cons of the dam, and his staff account for every penny spent at Tataskweyak. "We make sure the services they're asking to be reimbursed, you know, that there was some value there. We know that from the discussions we've had from the band and their consultants, and at the end of the day, if it's reasonable, we reimburse them," he said. "It's part of the cost of that facility. At the end of the day, this facility will make us a lot of money, and it'll keep your rates down, so we think it's a good investment." All the costs accumulating right now will add to the final cost of the project; as future co-owners of the dam, Brennan said the members of Tataskweyak would actually have to pay back some of that money. "Twenty per cent of their costs, if they're an equity owner of it they'll have to pay 20 per cent of the costs that they needed to get them informed about being part of the project," he said. Brennan said the dam is not a done deal and he awaits the results of the band's referendum, expected later this year. Copyright c. 2005 CBC. --------- "RE: Company can dip into Reserve's Bank Account" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 08:45:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="COURT: TAP INTO FN BANK ACCOUNT" http://winnipeg.cbc.ca//View?filename=mb_godslake-20050405&ref=rss Company can dip into reserve's bank account: court CBC News April 5, 2005 WINNIPEG - A Manitoba court of appeal ruling could have a major impact on how First Nations in this province do business. In February, the Manitoba Court of Appeal ruled in favour of McDiarmid Lumber, a Manitoba-based business owed more than $1.2 million from the Gods Lake First Nation. The ruling will allow the company to garnishee $550,000 from the First Nation's off-reserve bank account. Grand Chief Dennis Whitebird with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says people on the reserve will suffer as a result of the ruling. "Social benefits, education, health benefits are being impacted by this whole thing," he says. "If the First Nations do not have any money to provide social services to their people, that's a basic human right." However, others applaud the ruling, saying it will force First Nations to be more fiscally accountable. "Pay your bills. I mean, we all got to pay our bills," says Alan Isfeld, a construction worker from the Waywayseecappo First Nation. Isfeld says before this ruling, many companies refused to do business with First Nations because they worried they wouldn't be paid. "I think what this has done is it's going to make the chiefs and councils sit down, now, and be more accountable for the monies they receive and make sure that those dollars are administered and delivered in the fashion that they were meant to be delivered," he says. "The chiefs are going to lose a lot of their free discretion to do whatever they want with those dollars. They can't do that any more." Gods Lake plans to appeal the ruling, with support from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. Copyright c. 2005 CBC. --------- "RE: Appeals Court enters battle over 'Redskins' Names" --------- Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 08:49:20 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="REDSKINS IS DISPARAGING" http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/007535.asp Appeals court enters battle over 'Redskins' names April 11, 2005 The debate over the use of the Washington Redskins trademarks was back in court on Friday as Native activists and the nation's largest Indian organizations declared the symbols offensive to Native people. Led by Suzan Shown Harjo, Muscogee/Cheyenne, a group of seven Native activists of all ages filed a challenge to the team's names in 1992. They sought the cancellation of all Redskins marks under a federal law that bars the registration of symbols that disparage people. Several year later, the activists won a significant victory. In April 1999, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said Redskins names subjected Native people to "contempt" and "disrepute." But after lengthy delays caused by the Washington Redskins' litigation tactics, a federal judge in October 2003 reversed the decision. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said she would not endorse the team symbols but ruled that there wasn't enough evidence to prove they disparage Native Americans. That point was considered by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals during a 40-minute hearing on Friday. Two of the judges questioned the evidence submitted by the Harjo plaintiffs and the National Congress of American Indians, the National Indian Education Association, National Indian Youth Council and the Native American Rights Fund. But a more prominent issue was whether Harjo and others opposed to the name waited too long to file their case. All three judges on the appeals court panel focused much of their questioning on whether the passage of time weighed in the Redskins' favor. Even though the names have been registered since the late 1960s, "nothing was done about cancellation" until 30 years later, said Judge David B. Sentelle. Philip J. Mause, an attorney for seven activists, cited a number of cases from other circuits where trademarks were canceled despite even longer delays. "Registered marks can be challenged at any time, he told the court. He also pointed out that one of the plaintiffs -- Mateo Romero of Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico -- wasn't born when the first Redskins name was registered. "Is he guilty of undue delay?" Mause asked. Thomas Morrison, an attorney for NCAI and the other groups, said the battle represented a fundamental case of discrimination. He cited opposition to the team names as early as 1972 -- when a meeting between the Redskins and some tribal leaders occurred. "I don't think we would be having this debate were it a different ethnic group," he said. But Robert Raskopf said there was no evidence that the "Redskins" name was offensive when it was first registered in 1967. He said the team has been "proudly known as the Washington Redskins" for decades. There is a "problem of a connection" between the use of the name and evidence submitted by the Native activists and groups, he told the court. The judges appeared as troubled with this argument as they were with the issue of time. Judge David S. Tatel questioned Raskopf's claim that the use of "the N word" could be approved so long as it wasn't used in a disparaging way. The team has previously claimed that cancellation of the marks would be financially devastating. According to a Washington Post account from July 24, Redskins merchandise brings in $5 million a year. Pro-Football Inc., the corporation that owns the team, could keep selling items bearing the name and logo if the marks were canceled. The team just couldn't bring challenges to others who produce "Redskins" merchandise. It is not known when the court will issue a decision. After the hearing, Harjo said a negative ruling could produce a split on trademark issues among the circuit courts, making the case one for U.S. Supreme Court review. Copyright c. 2000-2005 Indianz.Com. --------- "RE: Blackfeet criticize BIA, Feds on Law Enforcement" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 08:45:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="BIA POLICE PROBLEMS" http://www.indianz.com/News/ http://www.greatfallstribune.com//20050406/NEWS01/504060301/1002 Blackfeet residents vent frustrations By KAREN OGDEN Tribune Regional Editor April 6, 2005 BROWNING - Pain and frustration spilled over Monday as residents of the Blackfeet Reservation met with federal officials responsible for fighting crime on their land. Two years after the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs staged a surprise takeover of law enforcement on the reservation - vowing to rebuild a broken police system - residents said they're as frustrated as ever with high crime rates, shoddy investigations and a lack of information in ongoing cases involving their relatives. "The BIA came in here like gangbusters and they were going to save us poor downtrodden Blackfeet and they haven't," said Connie Bremner, director of the Eagle Shield Senior Center in Browning. Bremner was among more than a dozen residents who vented their frustrations before some of Montana's most powerful federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials at the meeting Monday evening. Dozens packed the tribal council chambers for the first of four "Indian Country Community Forums" being held on reservations along the Hi-Line this week by U.S. Attorney Bill Mercer, of Billings. The U.S. Attorney's office is akin to the county attorney on all of Montana's Indian reservations except the Flathead, where felony crimes are prosecuted through state District Court. Joining him were top officials with the BIA, which polices the reservation, and the FBI, which investigates major crimes. Mercer said he organized the forums to gain feedback from residents and to explain the federal government's role in investigating and prosecuting crime in Indian Country. The per capita rate of violence for Native Americans is more than twice that of the general U.S. population, according to a 1999 report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice. One speaker after another hurled angry words - and sometimes insults - at the four-member panel. "The BIA is the biggest joke that ever hit this reservation ... the people are not satisfied with what's going on here," said Celestus "Buckwheat" Arrowtop, a former tribal court judge. "You guys are not doing your job, none of you guys," he told the panel. The officials refuted allegations of racist remarks in the courtroom and defended their agencies. But they also acknowledged residents' frustrations with the pace of the federal court system and agreed to look into some of the specific complaints. One of the deepest frustrations voiced by speakers was the length of time it takes to arrest suspects in violent crimes on the reservation. Grief was still raw in the voices of some speakers whose relatives were killed or victimized. Phillip Arrow Top Knot lost his 16-year-old son, Anthony, to a homicide almost a year and a half ago. He described returning to Browning to find his home circled by yellow crime scene tape. Arrow Top Knot said he approached police to get answers about what time the crime happened and other basic details. "They would not give me the time of day," he said. He went on to say that his son was once thrown in jail for being drunk, yet more than a year after his death his killer remains free. In Great Falls, suspects in violent crimes are jailed within days, he said, but "what is a life in Browning?" Indeed, the delays are an "unfortunate situation" said, Joe Thaggard, who prosecutes crime on the Blackfeet Reservation as assistant U.S. attorney in Great Falls. But he said the long waits are an unavoidable result of the Speedy Trial Act, which guarantees suspects a timely trial once they've been charged. Unlike cases in the state or tribal court systems, a federal case must go to trial within 90 days of the charges being filed. That means the investigation has to be nearly complete before an arrest is made so that prosecutors can defend their case in court, Thaggard explained. "It's very frustrating to anyone who's been through this and I'm sure there's many people in this room who have experienced this dilemma," he said. Others described contaminated crime scenes that have stymied cases or rude treatment by federal investigators or law enforcement officers. Arrow Top Knot said that his family found an unauthorized person at the crime scene while BIA officers slept outside after his son's murder. "What I'm talking about is the shabby work that was done here," he said. The FBI's Matthew Pryor, of Billings, offered to speak with Arrow Top Knot privately about the case after the meeting. Pryor is in charge of law enforcement for the BIA's six-state district that includes Montana. "I'm sorry about your child, I truly am," Pryor told Arrow Top Knot. Pryor has been on the job for only eight or nine months and is dedicated to change, Mercer noted. "The sort of thing you're describing is I know something he wants to avoid," Mercer said. "I really do think you're going to see some improvement." Dave McKean, acting supervisor of the FBI's Helena office, said he appreciated the criticism. He defended his agency's work. But he added that investigators are human; fatigue or other circumstances could cause clues to be overlooked at a crime scene, he said. "If that's ever happened I apologize," said McKean, who added that he would take specific complaints to his supervisors. "If there are training issues that need to be addressed we will address them," McKean said. He also urged residents to report any rude treatment by his agency's employees. Investigators must follow strict guidelines in discussing investigations, he noted. "But that is no excuse for rudeness or being short with anyone," he said. Jimmy St. Goddard, of the Blackfeet Tribal Council, noted that the BIA has not provided community police officers for each area of the reservation, as the agency said it would after the takeover. Pryor, with the BIA, urged him to take his concerns to Congress. "We're under-funded," he said. "There's no secret about that." The federal officials also asked reservation residents to help them by readily coming forward with crime tips. In the reservation's small, close-knit community "there's a reluctance to do that," Thaggard said. Without cooperation, he said, "the greatest crime scene in the world isn't going to solve 98 percent of the crimes." Tribal member Gabe Grant asked law enforcement to respond when residents do come forward with information. But he said that significant improvement in the reservation's crime rates will have to come from within the tribe. Electing quality tribal council representatives and setting high standards is key he said: "The things that we accept here on this reservation - and we all joke about it and have a good laugh - wouldn't be tolerated in Missoula. It wouldn't be tolerated in Great Falls." Reach Tribune Regional Editor Karen Ogden at kogden@greatfal.gannett.com or at (406) 791-6536 or (800) 438-6600. Copyright c. 2005 Great Falls Tribune, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: Judge rejects request to release FBI Documents" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 08:45:14 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="PELTIER CASE" http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/11326606.htm Judge rejects request to release FBI documents in Peltier case CAROLYN THOMPSON Associated Press April 6, 2005 BUFFALO, N.Y. - An attorney for imprisoned American Indian activist Leonard Peltier said Wednesday he will appeal a federal judge's ruling that allows the government to withhold documents Peltier supporters believe could help lead to his release. Peltier's attorneys are particularly interested in a 1975 message from the FBI's Buffalo office to the agency's headquarters indicating there may have been a government informant near Peltier's defense team, said attorney Michael Kuzma. The lawyer accused the FBI of misusing exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act to avoid releasing that and other documents that could reveal department misconduct. U.S. District Judge William Skretny, in a March 31 ruling, rejected the argument. Peltier attorneys are seeking tens of thousands of pages of FBI documents from field offices nationwide as they fight to have his conviction overturned. The FBI in Buffalo has released nearly 800 pages of material, but is withholding 15 pages, citing exemptions allowed under the Freedom of Information Act for national security concerns and to protect the identity of agents and confidential sources. In his ruling, Skretny did agree to review seven of the withheld pages, deferring a final decision on their release. Peltier, a North Dakota native, is serving two consecutive life sentences at the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., for the June 1975 killing of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Supporters have for decades campaigned to free Peltier, claiming he was unfairly targeted because of his political activism. Kuzma and attorney Barry Bachrach are scheduled to appear April 15 in a federal courtroom in St. Paul, Minn., where they will seek the release of roughly 90,000 pages from the FBI's Minneapolis field office. "We'll argue vigorously that all these materials should have been turned over at trial," Kuzma said. In the meantime, Peltier attorneys and the FBI have been discussing a deal that would have the FBI release all of its Peltier records to the National Archives to be made public. In exchange, Peltier's defense team would agree not to file additional lawsuits seeking their release. Peltier has been the subject of several documentary films and the best- selling novel "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" by Peter Matthiessen. His supporters plan to return to Pine Ridge June 26 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the firefight. Copyright c. 2005 Aberdeen American News, Knight-Ridder Publications, Inc. --------- "RE: Native Prisoner" --------- Date: Wed, 6 Apr Mar 2005 18:05:52 -0700 From: Janet Smith [owlstar@bellsouth.net] Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6281 Human Rights Commission hears of alleged abuses Activist says Native inmates have rights violated Native American Times 4/6/2005 American Indian grievances received an international airing as the Commission on Human Rights conducts its annual meting in Geneva, Switzerland. Lenny Forster, of the International Indian Treaty Council, told the commission that American Indian prisoners in the U.S. prison system are facing new restrictive policies on their religious and spiritual practices that made healing and rehabilitation in the traditional manner virtually impossible. Forster said the new restrictions included four-hour time limits on the sweat lodge ceremony that includes heating of the stones, and that rushing through an ancient ceremony is not respectful. Forster said deliberate attempt to shorten the hours and circumvent the ceremony are sacrilegious and undermined the seriousness and sacredness of the spiritual healing and blessings. The International Indian Treaty Council is a San Francisco-based organization of indigenous people from North, Central, South America and the Pacific. The Commission on human Rights was established in 1946 as an international forum to address alleged human rights violations. They meet every March and April. Indian issues as they relate to inmates have been in the news recently. In March a federal judge approved a settlement over the rights of Native prisoners to religious smoking, pow-wows and other cultural aspects. The settlement between the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and six American Indian inmates allows for greater leeway in practicing religion and also lets members of the Native American Spiritual and Cultural Awareness Club to hold staggered elections for club officers. In February the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a stricter review of California's policy of separating inmates by race. Native Americans comprise only one percent of California inmates. Native American Times. Copyright c. 2005 All Rights Reserved. -=-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2005 00:18:44 +0300 From: "Brigitte Thimiakis" Subj: Two Penpal Requests Mailing List: Iron Natives Greetings, Below are the requests of 2 Native American prisoners who would like to find some pen pals. They would appreciate it very much if their info and picture could be put on penpals sites and circulated on prison lists. Please help them to find penpals. They would love to get mail. A photo is available for each of them on request. Thank you very much in advance! Respectfully, Brigitte 1) Victor V. Kennedy AO# 2022339 MSP 700, Conley Lake Road, Deer Lodge, MT 549722 27 year old. Athletic, avid basketball player, weight lifter and artist. Will write anyone. Native American Cheyenne. Date of Birth 26 December 77 Height: 5 Ft 8 in Weight: 165 LBS 2) Loren Miller AO# 33607 MSP 700, Conley Lake Road, Deer Lodge, MT 549722 Loren is 33 year old. He is lonely and will write anyone. He is athletic and mature. Race: Native American Date of Birth: 8 October 71 Height: 6 ft Weight: 198 lbs --------- "RE: Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days" --------- Date: Monday, 11 April, 2005 01:42 am From: Debbie Sanders Subj: Book of Days A HAWAI`I BOOK OF DAYS, week of April 11-17 `APELILA April Welo 11 When man has come and gone, the land will remain. 12 Pele makes the land which is shaped by the ocean. 13 If you want to hear the secret voice of the wind, ka makani, you must first learn to listen. 14 In your time upon this earth, remember to walk with dignity. 15 Whale song calls me in my dreams. 16 The luminescence of the ocean at night glows like Pele's fire upon the sands. 17 The land is perpetuated in life. (c) Copyright 1991 by D. F. Sanders Me ke aloha i ka nani, ... Moe'uhanekeanuenue (With love and beauty, ... Rainbow Dream) --------- "RE: Rustywire: Baseball and Night Creatures" --------- Date: Tue, Jan 25 12:41:09 2003 08:12:44 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="RUSTYWIRE: BASEBALL" Navajo Spaceships - Laughing Road Baseball, Monsters and Night Creatures, Oh My! by Johnny Rustywire Baseball season at Shiprock High would be after school. My cousin Michael and I would play ball with the team. We lived in Toadlena, about 45 miles South of Shiprock. The school had an arrangement with the Trailways bus that stopped at Bonds & Bonds store, the old store by the bridge. Those kids who lived far away could catch the bus at 7:00 PM South toward Newcomb and Sanostee and get a meal at the cafe. We used to ride that bus to Burnham Junction, now there is a Thriftway gas station and laundry there, but then there was nothing. When we got off the bus we used to begin running home toward Toadlena 16 miles away. We used to run 150 white lines, it takes three strides to cover the distance between the lines and we had done it many times before. We would run like crazy then walk five lines. When the moon was out it was easy, we would run until someone came by and gave us a ride. Sometimes we got a ride sometimes we didn't. This one night when we got off the bus we started to run, it was about 8:00 and we kept going and no one was on the highway. There was no moon and we had a hard time seeing what was in front of us. All we could see was the lights way off in the distance looking like stars from miles off. We ran for a long time down the middle of the road it was hard to see the lines, it was so dark. After a while we settled in and realized we were going to have to cover the 16 miles home on our own. As we ran, we could hear some noises coming from the sage brush but couldn't see what was there. We thought this area is flat and no one lived around this spot, we knew all the families, the closest ones were the Jumbos and they lived South of the road across the wash about a mile. We would run then stop and listen. It was so dark. We did not show each other we were afraid, we couldn't do that, but man you could sure hear us breathing. We got past the road that went to Two Grey Hills and kept going. All of a sudden a big black shadow emerged in front of us, not on the side of the road but right there in the middle. We were running pretty good and it stood up in front of us. It was just big, black and we thought of monsters, a lost skin walker or that some creature of the night had finally found us. We stopped and it stood there silent, just a big hulking dark thing. We didn't say a word, just stood there and listened. Then we heard it make it's sound. It went MOOOO. We dropped dead in our tracks and started to laugh it was a cow in the middle of the road, and so we took off again and got home by 11:30 or so. Such was our brush with monsters that night... Copyright c. 1999, Johnny Rustywire, all rights reserved. --------- "RE: Rustywire Poem: Born in the Snow" --------- Date: Tue, Apr 22:09:25 2003 08:12:44 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="RUSTYWIRE POEM: BORN" Born in the Snow by Johnny Rustywire I make a concho today for my son. He was born yesterday. I took an advance, bought the silver. I am alone. No one is home. So I work, work, work. The pattern is from Bruce Harvey - Uncle Bruce - designed in 1948. Now it is yours. The stamps are from your grandfather to your uncle, to me, now to you. Conchos - how many will you need? Will you be like me? 12 is it, more or less? Tell me my son, how tall will you be? This is for you; each line is yours. Let me strike straight and true. This is for you, and your son and on it goes. The line goes on through you, so small, can you see it? It is beautiful. I have to make them slowly, the right way. One by one they are made. Align the mark, hit it hard and true, hit it straight. It is stamped, a simple design. File it, shape it, make it smooth. Conchos for my first born, my gift to you. You are me and I am you. Tonight dreams will come of designs made of silver made of turquoise. Copyright c. 2000, John Rustywire, all rights reserved. --------- "RE: Upcoming Events" --------- Date: Mon 11 Apr 2005 16:43:23 -0700 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: Gary Smith, Janet Smith, Brigitte Thimiakis, Johnnie Rustywire, Debbie Sanders --//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//- _ __ __ _ / | / /___ _/ /_(_) __ __ / |/ / __ \ __/ / | / / _ \ / /| / /_/ / /_/ /| |/ / __/ /_/ |_/\__,_/\__/_/ |___/\___/ ______ _ / ____/____ ___ __________(_)___ ____ _____ / / / ___/ __ \/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ \/ ___/ / /___/ / / /_/ /__ /__ / / / / / /_/ /__ / \____/_/ \____/____/____/_/_/ /_/\__, /____/ Volume 13, Issue 016 /____/ April 16, 2005 Native Crossings (c) is a separately emailed suppliment to Wotanging Ikche (c) Native American News (c) dedicated to the memory of those in Indian Country who have begun their spirit journeys It may be subscribed to via email by sending a request from your own internet addressable account to gars@speakeasy.org <================<<<< >>>>================> 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. <================<<<< >>>>================> 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. <================<<<< >>>>================> --------- "RE: George Kicking Woman" --------- Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 08:20:27 -0700 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="GEORGE KICKING WOMAN" http://www.billingsgazette.com//build/state/80-kicking-woman.inc 92-year-old Blackfeet spiritual leader dies Associated Press April 12, 2005 BROWNING - George Kicking Woman, holder of the Blackfeet Tribe's Thunder Pipe medicine bundle, has died at age 92. A wake is planned Tuesday at Browning Middle School and his funeral is set for Thursday. Kicking Woman, a spiritual adviser to the tribe, died last Thursday. "People came to George for advice, whether it be political, social or religious," Earl Old Person, chief of the Blackfeet Nation, said Monday. "And they came to him for his prayers." For more than half a century, George and Molly Kicking Woman cared for and prayed over the Thunder Pipe bundle, which was passed down through her family. She died in July 1999. The bundle, which Kicking Woman believed to be more than 400 years old, is opened in an elaborate, daylong ceremony after the first spring thunderstorm each year. In addition to the pipe, the bundle contains numerous smaller figurines. The ceremony included a song to go with each figurine. The ceremony provides a blessing for the Blackfeet, Kicking Woman said several years ago. "I know there's a power that goes out to help my people," he said at the time. A friend, Darrell Norman, described Kicking Woman as one of the last true, practicing shamans. "Owning a medicine pipe bundle means being totally open with everything," said Norman, owner of the Lodgepole Gallery. "They have to be willing to give to everyone and be willing to live humbly." An all-around athlete in his younger days, he remained a fan of local sporting events, said Old Person. Kicking Woman also was a leader in a number of tribal societies and was elected to the tribal business council several times. "George was called to take a leading role in all ceremonies involving the Blackfeet Nation and among other peoples," said Old Person. George and Molly Kicking Woman lived out traditional values in a modern setting, Norman said Monday. "They were like a bridge, carrying the old ways over into a new time and trying to reconcile those things," he said. The family is still determining who will be named the new holder of the medicine bundle, said Norman. Copyright c. 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. Copyright c. 2005 The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. --------- "RE: Crossings" --------- Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 08:10:52 -0600 From: Gary Smith Subj: NA News Item - - - - - - -- - - - - - - filename="CROSSINGS" April 8, 2005 Barbara M. Hunt LUMBERTON - Mrs. Barbara Mitchell Hunt, 57, of 111 Cardinal Ave., died Tuesday, April 5, 2005, in Southeastern Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hunt worked for Converse for 27 years. She was a longtime member of Riverside Church of God. Services: Funeral, 3 p.m. Sunday in Riverside Church of God. Burial in Lumbee Memorial Gardens. Visitation: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the church and at other times at the home. Floyd Funeral Services of Fairmont. Survived by: Husband, Lenwood; son, Ricky; daughter, Sandra; sisters, Dorothy Ransom and Lela Cummings; three grandchildren; and a great- granddaughter. Copyright c. 2005 The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. -=-=-=- April 5, 2005 Judy Bigmeat Reed Cherokee - Judy Rae Bigmeat Reed, 34, of the Wolftown community of Cherokee, died Saturday, April 2, 2005, at her residence. A native of Swain County, she was the daughter of John Ray Bigmeat of Cherokee and Marietta Sampson Toineeta of Cherokee. Judy was a member of the Qualla Arts & Crafts Co-op and an artisan in beadwork and handmade crafts. Judy loved all kinds of sports such as basketball, softball and swimming. She also enjoyed attending pow-wows and other cultural events. In addition to her parents she is survived by two daughters, Robyn Denise Reed and Sharon Marie Teesatuskie, both of the home; four sons, Samuel Enoch Reed, Spirit Wind Lossiah, Thomas Lyle Lossiah and Little Gary Teesatuskie, all of the home; her partner, Gary Teesatuskie of the home; two brothers, John Robbie Bigmeat of Cherokee and Damion Lyle Toineeta of the home; stepbrother, Gabe Simcox of Bryson City; half-sister, Missy Brady Payne of Cherokee; maternal grandmother, Lucinda Sampson of Cherokee; paternal grandmother, Golinda Lambert of Cherokee; paternal great-grandmother, Margaret S. Ratliff of Cherokee; father of her children, William Dennis Reed Jr. of Cherokee; and paternal grandparents to the children, William and Frances Reed of Cherokee. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Cherokee Wesleyan Church with the Revs. Patricia Crockett and James "Bo" Parris officiating. Burial will be in Oocumma Family Cemetery. The body will be taken to the church at 4 p.m. Tuesday by Crisp Funeral Home of Bryson City to await the hour of service. Copyright c. 2005 Asheville Citizen-Times. -=-=-=- April 4, 2005 LeRoy Whitefeather Jr. LeRoy Whitefeather Jr., 62, of Red Lake, died on Friday, April 1, 2005, at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D. A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Red Lake with Rev. Pat Sullivan officiating. A wake began Monday at the Little Rock Center in Red Lake and will continue until the time of service on Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Red Lake. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji assisted the family with arrangements. Honorary pallbearers will be John Johnson, Marvin "Jiggs" Green, Dale Neadeau, George "Moke" Holstein, Douglas "June Bug" Summers, Danny Hart, Eugene "Slug" Sayers, Gordon "Turk" Lussier and Cheyenne Lussier. Pallbearers will be Leroy Varney, Travis Varney, Tyrone Barrett, Daryl Barrett, Charles "Chip" May, Adrian Sayers and John Lussier. April 7, 2005 Marilyn Thunder Marilyn Thunder, whose Ojibwe name was Waasegaabawiik which means Sunshine Woman, 75, of Redby, died on Saturday, April 2, 2005, at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D. A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at St. Antipas Episcopal Church in Redby with Rev. James Speer officiating. A wake began Monday at the Redby Community Center and will continue until the time of service on Wednesday. Burial will be in St. Antipas Episcopal Church Cemetery in Redby. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji assisted the family with arrangements. Honorary pallbearers will be Mary Kingbird, Martha Smith, Margaret " Ladybug" Johnson, Shirley McNeal, Ina Mae McNeal, Bernadine Thunder, Edith Graves, Janet Roberts, Marlys Schoenborn and Carolyn Whitefeather. Pallbearers will be James Garrigan, Nicholas Garrigan, Ronald Thunder, Randy Thunder, Rex Strong Jr., Gerald Wind, Harold E. Graves Jr., Kenneth Graves, Lance Crowe, Dalton Good and John Graves. April 11, 2005 ALVIN "Alley" W. STILLDAY Alvin "Alley" Wayne Stillday, 52, of Ponemah, Minnesota died Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at his home in Ponemah, Minnesota. Cease Family Funeral Home of Blackduck is assisting the family with arrangements. Traditional Indian services were held Saturday, April 9, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. at the Ponemah Community Center in Ponemah, Minnesota with Spiritual Leader Thomas Stillday, Jr. officiating. A wake began on Thursday evening at the Ponemah Community Center and continued until the services. Burial was at the Family Burial Grounds in Ponemah, Minnesota. Active pallbearers were Dale Kingbird, Russell Kingbird, Alvie Stillday, Chris Cloud, Brian Stillday, Wesley Cloud, Sr., James Cloud, Jr., Elliott Cloud, Sr. with alternates, Jerry Stillday, Corey Whitefeather, Sr., Wilbur Stillday, and Francis Stillday. Honorary pallbearers were the Ponemah Head Start Staff. Alvin was born on October 16, 1952 at Red Lake, Minnesota the son of Warren and Alvina (Burns) Stillday. He was raised in Ponemah and attended school in Red Lake. He graduated from Red Lake High School. He worked as a commercial fisherman in the Red Lake Fishery for years. He had worked for Fingerhut in St. Cloud. He was a simple man that loved his family. He was a really gentle man and he was a very jolly person. He enjoyed going to Pow wows and spending time with family and friends. He is survived by his brother, Larry (Violet) Stillday of Ponemah; five sisters, Rose Cloud, Althea Johnson, Patricia Stillday, Betty Cloud, and Margaret (Mike) Jarski all of Ponemah; and numerous other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, two brothers, Warren J and Warren Stillday. Copyright c. 2005 Red Lake Net News. -=-=-=- April 7, 2005 Julie Nayquonabe/Nickaboine Julie Nayquonabe, 34, of Onamia, died Saturday, April 2, 2005, on the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation. Arrangements are pending with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Onamia (320) 532-3218. Copyright c. 2005 Mille Lacs Messenger/Isle, MN. -=-=-=- April 7, 2005 Alvin Wayne Stillday Alvin Wayne Stillday, 52, of Ponemah, died on Tuesday, April 5, 2005, at his home in Ponemah. Traditional Indian services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Ponemah Community Center in Ponemah with Spiritual Leader Thomas Stillday Jr. officiating. A wake will begin today at the Ponemah Community Center and will continue until the time of service on Saturday. Burial will be in Family Burial Grounds in Ponemah. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Blackduck is assisting the family with arrangements. Copyright c. 2005 The Pioneer/Bemidji, MN. -=-=-=- April 5, 2005 Sharon C. Dick Sharon Chleo (Thomas) Dick, 50, of Sioux City died Sunday April 3, 2005, at Matney Colonial Manor in South Sioux City from declining health. Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at the Alfred Gilpin Community Building in Macy, Neb. Burial will be in Omaha Tribal Cemetery. Visitation will begin today at the home of Judy Grant in Sioux City. Visitation will resume Wednesday at the Alfred Gilpin Community Building. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender, Neb. Sharon attended Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, S.D., from 1968 until graduating in 1972. She married Richard Dick in 1974, in Sioux City. She was a lifelong resident of Sioux City. Her last place of employment was with Winn-A-Bingo as a security guard before she entered the nursing home due to an automobile accident. She was a member of the Omaha Tribe, Honga clan. She was of the Presbyterian faith. She enjoyed beading and spending time with family and friends. Survivors include three daughters, Leannah Dick of Macy, Jamie Warner of Sioux City and Lynell Walker of Sioux City; two sons, Landon Dick and Rodney Dick; 11 grandchildren, Seann, Seanna, Brittany, Louis, Skyler, Maurice, "Q", Lyman, Lami, Dakota and Jason Jr.; and three sisters, Janice Saul, Carmen and Robert Wabasha and Judy Grant. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lorraine Thomas; and a son, Rodney Dick. Pallbearers will be Roland Thomas, Tirell Wabasha, Jordan Thomas, Devin Wabasha, Waylon Wabasha and Robert Grant Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Leannah Dick, Louis, Brittany, Skyler, Maurice, "Q", Jamie Dick, Seann, Seanna, Landon Dick, Judy Grant, Carmen Wabasha, Janie Saul, Carleen Thomas and Michael and Angel Thomas. April 11, 2005 Irene R. Wolfe-Spears MACY, Neb. - Irene R. Wolfe-Spears, 79, of Macy died Friday, April 8, 2005, at her daughter's home in Rosalie, Neb. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Alfred Gilpin Building in Macy, with Mr. Clifford Wolfe Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Omaha Tribal Cemetery. Visitation began Saturday and continues until the time of the funeral at Irene's home in Macy. Irene was born in Rosalie on Nov. 3, 1925, the daughter of John and Della (Robinson) Wolfe. After graduating from high school, she was married to Baxter Spears. Baxter died in 1989. Irene worked for the Omaha Tribal Police as a dispatcher for 39 years. Survivors include her children, Malcolm Bertrucci Sr. and his wife, Gayle of Macy, Marla Spears of Rosalie, Gregory Spears and his wife, Lena of Walthill, Neb., Mark Spears and his wife, Erica of Macy and Barbara J. Freemont of Macy; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as two children she helped raise, Primo Hallowell of Walthill and Montel Spears of Macy. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a daughter, Carmen Hallowell. Copyright c. 2005 Sioux City Journal. -=-=-=- April 9, 2005 James High Elk Jr. James High Elk Jr., 33, Green Grass, S.D., died April 5, 2005, at Green Grass. Services will be held at 10 a.m. MDT Monday, April 11, at H.V. Johnston Cultural Center, Eagle Butte, S.D. Burial will be at High Elk Family Cemetery, Green Grass. Oster Funeral Home, Mobridge, S.D. Copyright c. 2005 Bismarck Tribune. -=-=-=- April 9, 2005 James Robert High Elk Jr. Green Grass - Funeral for James High Elk, Jr., age 33, of Green Grass will be at 10 a.m. on Monday at the H.V. Johnston Cultural Center in Eagle Butte. Burial will be in the High Elk Family Cemetery in Green Grass under the direction of Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge, S.D. James High Elk passed away on April 5, 2005, in Green Grass, S.D. April 11, 2005 Rudolph Gabe Fort Yates, N.D. - Rudolph Gabe, 46, of Fort Yates, died Saturday, April 9, 2005, at the IHS Hospital in Fort Yates. Arrangements are pending with Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge. Copyright c. 2005 Aberdeen American News. -=-=-=- Welcome to the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe/Dakota Nation Sota Iya Ye Yapi On-Line, News from the Lake Traverse Reservation Volume 36, Issue 15 Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Funeral services held for Janet King Funeral services for Janet Dianna King, 41, of Sisseton, SD, were last Friday afternoon, April 8, 2005, at the Tribal community center in Agency Village, SD, with CLP Filmore Simon, Pastor Richard Felch, and Joe Williams officiating. Pianist was Mary Beth Kirk. Active pallbearers were Justin Cloud, Leonard DuMarce, Lyndon Haug, Luke Hanson, Lars Hanson, Mike Peters, Tim Peters, Terry Haug, Stanley Lufkins, Cedric King, Theodore King, Gary Dean LaBatte, Tracey Harwood, and Mitch Lufkins. Honorary pallbearers were be Leah Good Bird, Lolita Seaboy, Elizabeth Hosie, Dolly MacConnell, Barbara Mendoza and all of Janet's cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, her mother and father and her children. Wake services were held on Tuesday and Wednesday evening at Dakota Alliance, and all-night Thursday at the community center. Interment will be at a later date. The Cahill Funeral Chapel of Sisseton was in charge of the arrangements. Janet was born on February 4, 1964, to Narcisse Lufkins and Martha King in Sisseton, SD. She grew up and attended Sisseton School and Stephan School. After her education, Janet moved to Sioux Falls and lived there for several years. She then returned to Sisseton and started attending college at SWCC. Janet worked as a waitress for American Hearth, as a production line worker for Dacotah Inc., and as a blackjack dealer and in guest services for Dakota Sioux Casino. She loved to camp, ride horses, and care for plants. Janet also loved family activities with her children, traveling, and attending pow wows, where she was a dancer. Janet passed away on April 4, 2005, at the Tekakwitha Nursing Center in Sisseton after a lengthy illness. Janet is survived by eight children - Janelle DuMarce of Sisseton, Jennifer DuMarce of Jacksonville, FL, Luke Hanson of Sisseton, Lars Hanson of Sisseton, Diana Hanson of Sisseton, Danise Hanson of Sisseton, Elizabeth Hanson of Sisseton, and Elias Hanson of Sisseton; her parents, Narcisse Lufkins of Sisseton and Martha King of Sisseton; two sisters, Debbie Crossan of Rangeley, ME, and Marty Harmon of TX; one brother, David Peterson of IA; one half sister, Nanette Paul of Moorhead, MN; and two grandchildren. Janet was preceded in death by one brother, Michael, and her maternal and paternal grandparents. Funeral services held for Lee Robertson Funeral service for Lee Gordon Robertson, 46, of Sisseton, SD, were held on Thursday morning, April 7, 2005, at the Tribal community center in Agency Village, SD, with the Rev. John Edward Robertson, John Cloud III Senior Catechist, Rev. Morgan Redday, and Walter "Buddy" Robertson officiating. Pianist was Kaye Bursheim. Active pallbearers were Kevin Farmer, Ronald Hill, Byron Renville, Richard Bird, Del Ray German, John Hill, and Larry Barker. Honorary Pallbearers were all of Lee's friends. A family service was held on Tuesday evening at the Mission Center in Sisseton, and an all-night wake Wednesday at the community center. Interment is at St. Luke's Episcopal Cemetery in rural Veblen, SD. The Cahill Funeral Chapel of Sisseton, SD, was in charge of the arrangements. Lee was born on December 20, 1958, to Paul and Doris (Barker) Robertson in Sisseton, SD. Lee grew up and attended Sisseton Public School and graduated from Sisseton High School. After high school, Lee moved to Carmel, CA, and worked as a bartender. He then went onto college at Northwest Indian College in Bellingham, WA. Lee was a straight "A" student while at Northwest Indian College which earned him the National American Indian Higher Education Award. The award helped earn Lee a scholarship from Harvard University. Lee then went to Europe and backpacked around the countryside for a year. He moved back to New York after leaving Europe and eventually moved back to California. Lee then moved back to South Dakota and worked in Sisseton at the Connection as a telemarketer, at Dakotah Inc. as a quilt designer, and at Dakota Sioux Casino in Watertown, SD, as a bartender and blackjack dealer. Lee also worked in Hankinson, ND, at Dakota Magic Casino as a bartender. In his last few years, Lee lived at home in Sisseton and took care of his mother. Lee also took care of all of his nieces and nephews. Lee liked to read books, do bead work, and watch all kinds of sports. He loved animals and traveling. Lee passed away on April 3, 2005, at a hospital in Fargo, ND. Lee is survived by his mother Doris of Sisseton; five brothers - Donald and Reva Barker of White River, AZ, Anthony Barker of Sisseton, Jim and Loticia Barker of Sisseton, Gordie and Pam Robertson of Sisseton, and Glen and Allene Robertson of Shakopee, MN; one sister, Paula and Byron Renville of Sisseton; five aunts - Naomi Barker of Sisseton, Rosalie Owen of Waubay, Janice Robertson of Eagan, MN, Florine LaFourniase of Redwing, MN, and Delores Doonan of Sloan, IA; two uncles, Edward and Yvonne Williams, Jr. of Sisseton, and Walter and Lorene Robertson of Ortonville, MN; and eighteen nieces and nephews. Lee was preceded in death by his father, Paul, and one sister, Florine Marie Robertson. Services held for Scott Schommer, Granite Falls Scott Schommer, age 46, of Granite Falls, MN, died last Wednesday, April 6, 2005, while enroute by air ambulance to McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at the Pejihutazzizi (Pronounced: Pe gee boo to Zee Zee) Church on Hwy 67 south of Granite Falls. Visitation and wake services were held all day Saturday at the Multi- Purpose Building on the Upper Sioux Reservation. Wing-Bain Funeral Home of Granite Falls, was in charge of funeral arrangements for Mr. Scott Schommer. Scott L. Schommer "Caske" was born on March 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, MN, the son of Carolyn Cavender Schommer and Edward P. Schommer. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Lawrence church and attended Tuttle Elementary School in Minneapolis, MN. Scott then attended high school at Marshal U in Minneapolis. Scott was employed by Sears Inc. and worked at Best Buy Company's warehouse in Minneapolis. He was married to Debra Mesenbring and to this union a son, Corey "Caske" was born. Scott enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and playing his guitar. He was a fan of the Minnesota Vikings and NASCAR. He also loved spending time with his family and many friends. On Wednesday afternoon, Scott passed away while enroute to McKennan Hospital, following a sudden illness. He was 47 years of age. He is survived by his son Corey "Caske" Schommer; and Corey's mother Debbie Mesenbring Schommer; his parents, Carolyn Cavender Schommer and Edward P. Schommer; his brothers and sisters, Dawn Schommer Chase, Lisa Schommer, Karl (and Allen) Redwing and Matthew Schommer; nieces and nephews, Isabelle Hunts Along, Nicole Schommer, Karisa Chase, Mary Prescott, Deanna Chase, Starla Chase, Katrina Redwing, William Schommer, Edward A. Schommer, David Prescott, Garrick Chase, Jerome Hunts Along, Jr., and Nicolas Schommer; a grand nephew Kyle Chase; his special aunts Verna Ross, Naomi Cavender and Joan Pasillas; uncles Val (and Ardis) Schommer, Francis (and Millie) Schommer and John (and Barb) Schommer; many friends and extended family. He was preceded in death by an infant sister Mary Fern Schommer and his brother Edward G. Schommer "Ohiya Mani." Copyright c. 1999-2003 by C. D. Floro/Earth and Sky Enterprises. -=-=-=- April 5, 2005 Norma Lucille Mills HOT SPRINGS - Norma Lucille Mills, 77, Hot Springs, entered the Spirit World April 1, 2005, at her home in Hot Springs. As a young girl, Norma lived with her grandparents, Martin and Julia Red Bear in Wolf Creek. She attended school at the Holy Rosary Mission in Pine Ridge. In her teens she moved to Hot Springs, to live with her mother, Alice (Red Bear) Mills Waters and stepfather George Waters. In 1954, Norma married Archie LeBeau of Eagle Butte, and during their marriage they had eight children. In 1975, she began her 24-year career with the BIA/Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School cafeteria as a dishwasher and retired in 1999, as cook foreman at the age of 71. Norma was made an honorary member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and was very proud of this honor. She participated in the Habitat for Humanity Jimmy Carter Housing Project in 1994 on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. She volunteered her time by assisting with meal planning and supply ordering and was part of the kitchen crew that cooked and served three meals a day for 1,500 to 2,000 daily volunteers of the housing project. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking, listening to music, crossword puzzles and playing cards and board games with her children and grandchildren. Norma had a self-sacrificing love that was always kind, generous and compassionate. She always believed in the best of others. She also had a great sense of humor and a strong faith. Survivors include four daughters, Carla LeBeau of Hot Springs, Kathy LeBeau of Chugiak, Alaska, and Lori Stengl and Tisha Moran, both of Eagle Butte; three sons, Greg LeBeau and Michael Shane LeBeau, both of Eagle Butte, and Thomas Mills (Frenchy) LeBeau of Pacifica, Calif.; three cousins, Martin (Ida) Red Bear of Rapid City, Calvin (Delores) Mills of Pine Ridge, and Grace Bradley of Hot Springs; 35 grandchildren; 41 great- grandchildren; and her extended Tiospaye family which includes numerous nieces and nephews and their children. A one-night wake will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hot Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a. m. Wednesday, April 6, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hot Springs, with Monsignor James Mortimer officiating. Pallbearers are her grandsons, Travis LeBeau, Troy LeBeau, Everett Lesmeister, Rocklyn LeBeau, Jason Vanderheide, Derek LeBeau, Dathan Little Wounded, and Paul Returns. Interment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs. A memorial dinner will be held in Eagly Butte at the H.V. Johnson Cultural Center on Sunday April 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs is in charge of arrangements. Ernest White Hawk MANDERSON - Ernest White Hawk, 68, Manderson, died Friday, April 1, 2005, at Pine Ridge Hospital. Survivors include one son, Dean White Hawk, Manderson; two daughters, Trudine White Hawk, Manderson, and Cheryl Circle Bear, Rapid City; and 20 grandchildren. Two-night wake services begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, at St. Agnes Catholic Hall in Manderson. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Friday, April 8, at the hall, with the Rev. Harold Eagle Bull and the Rev. Joe Brown Thunder officiating. Burial will be at Messiah Episcopal Cemetery in Wounded Knee. Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Chancey L. White Wash PINE RIDGE - Chancey L. White Wash, 78, Pine Ridge, died Friday, April 1, 2005, at Gordon Memorial Hospital in Gordon, Neb. Survivors include one sister, Hazel Pumpkin Seed, Pine Ridge. Two-night wake services begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Mediator Episcopal Church in Kyle. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 8, at the church, with the Rev. Cordelia Red Owl officiating. Burial will be at Mediator Episcopal Cemetery. Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. April 6, 2005 Joseph H. Waters PINE RIDGE - Joseph H. Waters, 69, Pine Ridge, died Monday, April 4, 2005, at Bennett County Nursing Home in Martin. Survivors include five sons, Charles Waters, Wounded Knee, Alan Sheldon Waters and John Waters, both of Pine Ridge, Allen Waters, Tracy, Calif., and Leon Waters, Rapid City; six daughters, Wanda Waters, Spring Creek, Veda and Violet Waters, both of Pine Ridge, Harriet Twiss, Porcupine, Sherol Waters, St. Francis, and Francy Weasel Bear, Aberdeen; one adopted daughter, Carol Lakota, Pine Ridge; two brothers, Ernie Waters Sr. and Albert Waters Sr., both of Pine Ridge; one sister, Victoria White Magpie, Pine Ridge; 40 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. A two-night wake will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at Billy Mills Hall in Pine Ridge. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at Billy Mills Hall, with the Rev. Rhoda Mesteth officiating. Burial will be at Holy Cross Episcopal Cemetery in Pine Ridge. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. April 7, 2005 April 8, 2005 Dale Patrick Kruse TACOMA, Wash. - Dale Patrick Kruse, 52, Tacoma, formerly of Lead, has died. Dale was born in San Diego in 1953 to Tony and Rachel Kruse. Dale graduated from Lead High School in 1971. He joined the Air Force in 1974. Dale has lived in Tacoma since 1983, where he owned a trucking business. He belonged to the American Motorcycle Association; the Prodigies Motorcycle Club; and ABATE of Tacoma, where he was president and helped with benefits for needy children. He was also a member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe. Survivors include his father, Tony Kruse, Lead; two brothers, Tim (Cindy) Kruse, Whitewood, and Mike (Ann) Kruse, Lead; life-long companion, Lenora Olson, Tacoma; and two nephews, Jeremy Kruse and Troy Kruse. He was preceded in death by his mother, Raychel Redwing Kruse and numerous aunts and uncles. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 8, at the Deadwood VFW. April 9, 2005 James Robert "Baby Jim" High Elk Jr. GREEN GRASS - James Robert "Baby Jim" High Elk Jr., Tokeya Mani, 33, Green Grass, died Tuesday, April 5, 2005, in Green Grass. An all-night wake will begin at 7 p.m. MDT Sunday, April 10, at H.V. Johnston Cultural Center in Eagle Butte. Family and friends will gather at the 4-mile junction at 3 p.m. Sunday to follow in procession. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, April 11, at the cultural center, with the Rev. Norman Blue Coat, Deacon James Chasing Hawk, Deacon Dora Bruguier and the Rev. Violet Good Bear officiating. Burial will be at High Elk Family Cemetery in Green Grass. Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge is in charge of arrangements. Victoria R. Red Shirt-Grass PINE RIDGE - Victoria R. Red Shirt-Grass, 3 months, Pine Ridge, died Thursday, April 7, 2005, at Children's Hospital in Omaha, Neb. Survivors include her parents, Duffy Red Shirt-Grass III and Joann Red Shirt-Grass, Pine Ridge; two brothers, Joseph Grass and Dante Grass, both of Pine Ridge; two sisters, Amy Standing Bear and Toy Standing Bear; her maternal grandparents, Robert Red Shirt Sr. and Bonnie Richard, Pine Ridge; her paternal grandparents, Duffy Grass II and Doris Grass, Gordon, Neb.; her paternal great-grandmother, Edna Apple, Pine Ridge; and her paternal adopted grandmother, Florence Cross, Lincoln, Neb. A two-night wake will begin at 1 p.m. Monday, April 11, at Wakpamni CAP Office. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, at Wakpamni CAP Office, with the Rev. Steve Sanford officiating. Burial will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Pine Ridge. Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge is in charge of arrangements. April 10, 2005 Nevada Lee "Turtle" Twinn FORT YATES, N.D. - Nevada "Turtle" Lee Twinn, 18, Fort Yates, died Thursday, April 7, 2005, at his home. Survivors include his parents, Walter Twinn and Twyla Zuhn, rural Fort Yates. Friends and family will gather at Oster Funeral Home in Mobridge, S.D., at 4 p.m. CDT Tuesday, April 12, to follow in procession to Fort Yates. One-night wake services will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Long Soldier Community Building in Fort Yates. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, at the community building, with the Rev. Gary Benz, George Maufort and the Rev. Lindsey Dwarf officiating. Burial will be at Twinn Cemetery. April 11, 2005 Marcella Ann Demery MOBRIDGE - Marcella Ann Demery, 70, Mobridge, died Friday, April 8, 2005, at Mobridge Regional Hospital. Arrangements are pending with Oster Funeral Home in Mobridge. Rudolph Gabe FORT YATES, N.D. - Rudolph Gabe, 46, Fort Yates, died Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Indian Health Service Hospital in Fort Yates. Arrangements are pending with Oster Funeral Home in Mobridge, S.D. Francine Janis EAGLE BUTTE - Francine Janis, 39, Eagle Butte, died Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. Arrangements are pending with Oster Funeral Home in Mobridge. Copyright c. 2005 The Rapid City Journal. -=-=-=- April 5, 2005 Val Charles Eppler PERRY - Val Charles Eppler, resident of Morrison, died Sunday, April 3, 2005, in Morrison. He was 72. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 7, in Pawnee Indian Baptist Church with the Rev. Warren "Jr." Pratt officiating. Burial will be in North Indian Cemetery in Pawnee under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home. Val Charles Eppler was born July 4, 1932, in Pawnee, the son of Joe and Myra Lonechief Eppler. He lived most of his life in Pawnee. He attended Haskell Institute. He was on the track team. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was employed at Oklahoma State University as a baker. He was also a brick layer for several years. He was ordained as a minister in 1991 with Christian Agape Evangelistic Ministries. Survivors include three children, V. Thomas Eppler in Bethal, Alaska, Lesley Rice of Morrison and John Eppler of Morrison; two brothers, Joe Eppler of Severy, Kan., and Ted Eppler of Pawnee; a sister, Amelia Eppler of Pawnee; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson. April 6, 2005 Wilson Fremont Moore PAWNEE - Wilson Fremont Moore, resident of Pawnee, died Monday, April 4, 2005, in Stillwater. He was 73. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 8, in the chapel of Poteet Funeral Home of Pawnee with the Rev. Francene Biggoose officiating. Burial will be in Pawnee North Indian Cemetery. Wilson Fremont Moore was born Nov. 1, 1931, in Pawnee, the son of Colonel Moore and Dollie Sherman Justice Moore. He lived in Pawnee his whole life and was a full-blood Pawnee Indian from the Chaui, Pitahaureat and Kitkahki bands. He married Virginia Rattling Gourd in Fairfax on Jan. 31, 1956. He served in the United States Navy from March 20, 1951, until March 18, 1955, and was awarded the United Nations, Korean Service and National Defense ribbons. He served as leader of the Pawnee-Wichita visitation for several years. Survivors include two sons, Michael R. Moore of Hominy and Carroll D. Moore of Pawnee; three daughters, Oleta G. White of Anadarko, Catherine D. Keeling of Pawnee and Verona C. Moore of Pawnee; two sisters, Regina Wilson and Sadie Gonzales, both of Pawnee; and 11 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by his wife Nov. 15, 1993; his parents; children, Kimberly, McKinnley, Wilson Wayne, Martha DeAnn and baby boy Moore; three sisters, Verona Justice White, Elizabeth Justice Horsechief and Dena Moore Littlesun. April 7, 2005 Gary Lee Brown PAWNEE - Gary Lee Brown, resident of Red Rock, died Sunday, April 3, 2005, in Tonkawa. He was 50. The funeral will be noon Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Otoe-Missouria Cultural Complex in Red Rock. Burial will follow in Otoe-Missouria Cemetery under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home of Pawnee. Gary Lee Brown was born Aug. 13, 1954, in Pawnee, the son of John Brown and Ahnawake Hartico Brown. He lived in Red Rock and was affiliated with the Otoe-Missouria Baptist Church and Native American Church. He married Louella Rhoten Powers. Survivors include three daughters, Tia Powers, Senecca Powers and Alexendra Powers, all of Tonkawa; a son, Daniel Brown of Tonkawa; siblings, John Abbott Brown Jr. of Ruskin, Fla., Quincey Jase Brown of Red Rock, Mary Ella Brown of Phoenix, Ariz., Frank Sugar Brown III of Red Rock, Naomi Ann Brown Hartico of Oklahoma City, John Harry Brown of Cushing and Berry Estelle Brown Wilson of Guthrie; two grandchildren; and a number of other relatives. Copyright c. 1998-2005 The Ponca City News. -=-=-=- April 10, 2005 Ghlena Doris OldShield Graveside service for Ghlena Doris OldShield, 82, of Lawton, Oklahoma will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 11, 2005 at the Ninnekah Cemetery. Ghlena Doris OldShield was born February 28, 1923 in Ninnekah, Oklahoma the daughter of Vernon E. "Judge" and Kathryn (Marshall) Thornton and died April 7, 2005 in Norman, Oklahoma. Mrs. OldShield was a lifelong resident of Oklahoma. In 1946 she married Ernest OldShield, a Native American born in New York. They resided in Lawton, Oklahoma from 1955, and she remained in their home after his death in 1990. Mrs. OldShield attended Cameron College and began her professional career in 1967 at Fort Sill as a civilian employee. She retired in 1986 as a comptroller in D.I.O. For numerous years she was active in the federal civilian employees union, traveling extensively as a representative. She was preceded in death by her nephew, Carl Lake. Survivors include two children, Phyllis resides in Philadelphia with her husband John and three children J. Scott, David and Alison where she is an attorney, and Kenneth resides in Norman with his wife Kathy and is a respiratory therapist; two sisters, Kathryn Maxine Richardson of Oklahoma City and Jeanneane Lake of Gardnerville, NV; seven grandchildren, Shannon OldShield and husband Dick Baker of Greenville, TX, Sarah OldShield of Tahlequah, OK, Kendi OldShield of Oklahoma City, J. Scott, David and Alison McHale of Philadelphia, PA and Danielle Williams; four great grandchildren, Alexija, Fox, Campbell and Raimi OldShield of Greenville, TX; and nieces, Linda Noble of Gilroy, CA and Carol Johnson of Gardenville, NV. Interment will be in the Ninnekah Cemetery under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home. Copyright c. 2005 Chickasha express-Star. -=-=-=- April 6, 2005 Val Charles Eppler Val Charles Eppler, 72, Pawnee, died Sunday, April 3, 2005, in Morrison. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pawnee Indian Baptist Church, Pawnee, with the Rev. Warren "Junior" Pratt, officiating. Interment will be in the North Indian Cemetery, Pawnee, under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home, Pawnee. He was born July 4, 1932, in Pawnee, to Joe Eppler and Myra Lonechief Eppler. He lived most of his life in Pawnee and attended Haskell Institute, where he was on the track team. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. He worked at Oklahoma State University as a baker, and at one time, was the head baker. He also worked several years as a bricklayer for Richard Cartmell. He was ordained as a minister Oct. 13, 1991, with the Christian Agape Evangelistic Ministries. He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson, Zachary Rice and his nephew, Cy Eppler. He is survived by three children, V. Thomas Eppler of Bethal, Alaska, Lesley Rice of Morrison and John Eppler of Morrison; grandchildren, Alex Eppler of New Mexico, Marie Eppler of Pawnee, Thomasine Eppler of Pawnee, Dana, Theodore and Raven Eppler of Anchorage, Alaska and Thomas T. Rice Jr. , Myra Rice and Jacob Rice of Morrison; great-grandchildren, Rhonda and Zella Rice; two brothers, Joe Eppler of Severy, Kan. and Ted Eppler of Pawnee; one sister, Amelia Eppler of Pawnee, plus a number of other relatives and many friends. Copyright c. 2005 Stillwater NewsPress/Stillwater, OK. -=-=-=- April 5, 2005 Robert 'Chief' Lockart Sr. Graveside service for retired 1st Sgt. Robert "Chief" Lockart Sr., 70, Lawton, will be at 2 p.m. today at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin. Sgt. Lockart died Saturday, April 2, 2005, at his home. Burial with military honors will be under direction of Comanche Nation Funeral Home. He was born Oct. 21, 1934, in Ukiah, Calif., to Lorraine and Clarence Lockart. He married Gloria Southerland on Aug. 31, 1955, in Reno, Nev. He was a tribal elder of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California. He was a career artilleryman having served in Vietnam. He received several military decorations including the Silver and Bronze stars. After he retired from the Army, he was employed at Fort Sill, where he retired from civil service. He was a member of VFW Post No. 5263, the Retired Service Personnel Association, the Optimist Club and was a foster parent for many children. Survivors include his wife, of the home; three sons: Bob Lockart Jr. and his wife Audry, Lawton; Bobby Lockart and his wife Jennifer, Lawton; and George Lockart, Gilbert, Ariz.; a daughter, Tina Hinton and her husband Gary, Cincinnati; two sisters: Donna Schuler and her husband Ron, Willits, Calif.; and Leola Wright and her husband Clarence,Ukiah; four grandchildren: Nichole Lockart, Cooper Lockart, Christopher Hinton and Austin Lockart; two nephews: Dan and David Lockart, both of Ukiah; and many other relatives and friends. April 11, 2005 Henry W. Gooday By Kevin J. Shutt, Staff writer kshuttlawton-constitution.com Funeral for Henry W. Gooday, 83, Lawton, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Comanche Nation Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Reaves Nahwooks and Andy Kamphius officiating. Mr. Gooday died Friday, April 8, 2005, in Lawton. Burial will be at the Fort Sill Apache Cemetery under the direction of the funeral home. He was born Jan. 10, 1922, to Robert and Mary Pahoneat Gooday. He attended school at Boone, Apache and graduated from Fort Sill Indian School. He married Vera Tahah On July 10, 1944, in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was a member of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe, Teamsters Local No. 179. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and gardening. Survivors include his wife, of the home; seven daughters: Patricia and Dick Swift, Yukon; Delores Padilla, Cache; Janice Pahdocony, Lawton; Dorcas Berquist, Indiahoma; Mona and Michael Literski, Rockdale, Ill; Pamela and Robert Campos, Joliet; Jacquetta O'Hara, Rockdale; and Heneritta Beaver; a son, Henry W. Gooday Jr., Lawton; two sisters: Inez Motah, Lawton; and Thedora Martinez, Apache; four brothers: Lupe Gooday Sr. , Anadarko; Bob Gooday, Carnegie; Talbert Gooday, Owasso; and Wendell Gooday, Apache; 28 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Gooday III, his parents, a brother, Inman Gooday, and a sister, Flora Weryackwe. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Copyright c. 2005 The Lawton Constitution. -=-=-=- April 6, 2005 Clifford E. Fishgrab Waterflow Jan. 12, 1925 - April 5, 2005 Clifford E. Fishgrab, 80, of Waterflow, passed from this life on April 5, 2005, at his home. Clifford was born January 12, 1925, in Oklahoma. He was a retired Baptist pastor and missionary to the Navajo Nation for nearly 40 years. Clifford is survived by his wife, Elsie; sons, Don Fishgrab, Keith Fishgrab, Terry Fishgrab and David Fishgrab; daughters, Carla Hunt, Annita Ransburgh and Shari Nelson; 21 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at Chapel of Memories Funeral Home, 458 CR 6100 in Kirtland. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, April 8, at the Sunset Hills Baptist Church, No. 30, CR 6480 in Kirtland. He will then be laid to rest at the Waterflow Community Cemetery. Clifford is in the care of Chapel of Memories Funeral Home in Kirtland, (505) 598-9636. April 7, 2005 Raphael D. Yazzie Hogback May 30, 1922 - April 3, 2005 Raphael D. Yazzie, 82, of Hogback, passed from this life Sunday, April 3, 2005, in Blanding, Utah. Raphael was born May 30, 1922, at Red Rock, Ariz. His clan was the Tachinii and born for Kinilchiinii. He was one of the 29 Navajo Code Talkers who served in World War II in the 4th Marine Division at Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. Surviving Yazzie are his brothers, Bernard C. Nakai of Cove, Ariz., and Thomas L. Nakai of Fruitland; and a sister, Mary Lily Nakai of Fruitland. Yazzie was preceded in death by his wife, Melissa Yazzie; son, Darrell Yazzie; daughter, Carmelita Lisa Yazzie; father, James T. Nakai; mother, Mercedes C. Nakai; sisters, Agatha Garnenez, Theresa Nakai and Grace Nakai; and brothers, Michael Dine Yazhe and Stephen Nakai. Viewing will be from 2 to 6 p.m. today, Thursday, April 7, at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home in Shiprock. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 8, at the Christ the King Catholic Church in Shiprock, with Father John Sauter of St. Johns, Ariz., officiating. Interment will follow at the Shiprock Veterans Cemetery. Raphael is in the care of Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home of Shiprock, (505) 368-4607. Glinda Willie Nenahnezad June 8, 1982 - April 2, 2005 Glinda Willie, 22, of Nenahnezad, passed from this life, Saturday, April 2, 2005. Glinda was born June 8, 1982, in Shiprock. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 8, at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home and Chapel in Shiprock. Interment will follow at Shiprock Community Cemetery. Glinda is in the care of Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home of Shiprock, (505) 368-4607. Copyright c. 2005 Farmington Daily Times, a Gannett Co., Inc. newspaper. -=-=-=- April 5, 2005 Bennie Notah, Sr. FORT DEFIANCE - Funeral services for Bennie Notah, Sr., 81, were today, at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 5 at the Navajo Bible Church. Pastor Dean Baker officiated. Burial was in the Fort Defiance Community Cemetery. Notah, Sr. died April 1 in Gallup. He was born April 23, 1923 in Naschitti into the Towering House People Clan for the Ute People Clan. Survivors include his wife, Jean G. Notah of Fort Defiance; sons, Jay Notah of Fort Defiance, Bennie Notah, Jr. of Naschitti, Michael Notah of St. Michaels; daughter, Brenda Notah-Yazzie of Window Rock, Connie Ashley of Window Rock; 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Notah was preceded in death by her brothers, Noah Notah, Henry Notah, James Notah, Leonard Notah, Sr., Peter Notah and sister, Gertrude Becenti. Pallbearers will be Allen Yazzie, Don Williams, Norvin Notah, Gerald Notah, Kyle Anderson and Michael Warren. The family will receive relatives and friends at the Fort Defiance Chapter House. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. April 6, 2005 Wayne Plummer FORT DEFIANCE - Funeral services for Wayne Timothy Plummer, 38, will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 7 at the Fort Defiance Assembly of God Church. Leonard Kansewah III will officiate. Burial will follow at the Fort Defiance Community Cemetery. Plummer was born Nov. 21, 1966 in Fort Defiance into the Sleeping Rock People Clan for the Towering House People Clan. Plummer graduated from Window Rock High School in 1987. He worked for the BIA for 13 years with the forestry branch and was employed with P&M Mine. Plummer enjoyed arts and crafts, basketball and outdoor recreation. Survivors include his wife, Viola R. Plummer; son, Idonis H. Plummer; daughter, Vibekah Plummer; mother, Maggie T. Begay and four grandchildren, all of Fort Defiance. Plummer was preceded in death by his grandparents, Sam Tracy and Yilhazbah Tracy; brother, Vernon Capitan and father, Hugh Plummer. Pallbearers will be Curtis Begay, Jr., Manuel Lucero, Leroy Curtis, Wilfred Wilson, Jonathan Price and Roger Hubbard. The family will receive relatives and friends at the Assembly of God Life Center. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Helen Louise Benally KAYENTA - Funeral mass for Helen Louise Benally, 64, will be at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Burial was in the Chinle Community Cemetery. Benally died April 1 in Kayenta. She was born Feb. 20, 1941 in Keams Canyon into the Towering House People Clan for the Blackstreak Wood People Clan. Benally attended Chemawe Indian School and was a homemaker. Survivors include her sons, Kirk Benally, Nathaniel Benally, both of Gallup, Kevin Benally of Church Rock; daughters, Maureen Zamora of Moriarty, Doreen Begay, Noreen Begay, both of Kayenta; brothers, Earl Paddock, Roxie Nelson, Tex Nelson, both of Low Mountain, John Paddock of Auburn, Wash.; sisters, Mary Charley, Mary Begay, both of Low Mountian, Angie Yazzie of Gallup and seven grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Kirk Benally, Kevin Benally, Nathaniel Benally, Daniel Zamora, Paul Begay and Daniel Begay. The family will receive relatives and friends at Mary Begay's residence 7 1/2 miles east of the Low Mountian Chapter house. Raphael D. Yazzie RED VALLEY - Funeral services for code talker Raphael D. Yazzie, 82, will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 8 at the Christ of Kings Catholic Church, Shiprock. Burial will be in the Shiprock Veterans Cemetry. Yazzie died April 3. He was born May 30, 1922 in Hogback, N.M. April 7, 2005 Edison Albert HOSPAH LEASE - Funeral services for Edison James Albert, 49, will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 8 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Pastor Norman Chee will officiate. Burial will be in the Rehoboth Cemetery. Albert died April 1 in Albuquerque. He was Feb. 13, 1956 in Crownpoint into the Red Running into the Water People Clan for the Mud People Clan. Survivors include his brothers, Kee Albert of Cuba, Jimmie Albert of Ganado, Emerson C. Albert of Hospah, Emmett Valenski of Albuquerque; sisters, Anna McDonald of Two Grey Hills, Lucille C. Herrera of Torreon, Amie R. Ulibarri of Albuquerque; Mary R. Davis of Crownpoint, Elsie R. Albert of Gallup and Emma R. Albert of Rehoboth. Albert was preceded in death by his parents, Woody and Irene Albert; brothers, Frank Albert, Ernest Albert and Earl Albert. Pallbearers will be Lorne Ahkee, Jarod Ahkee, Latisha Vigil, James Sinnott, Brandon Atencio and Julian Vigil. Cope Memorial is in charge of arrangements. Sadie Johnson NASCHITTI - Funeral services for Sadie Johnson, 65, was at 10 a.m. this morning, April 7 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Father Joseph Redinbo, O.F.M will officiate. Burial will be in the Naschitti community cemetery. Johnson died April 2 in Gallup. She was born Feb. 7, 1940 in Naschitti into the Water's Edge People Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her brothers, John Johnson, Bob Johnson, David Johnson and eight grandchildren. Johnson was preceded in death by her father, Frank Johnson; mother, Rose Louise Johnson; sister, Marie Johnson-Begay and brother, Richard Johnson. Pallbearers will be Jesse Begay, Johnathan Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, Bob Johnson, David Peshlakai and Aaron Begaye. Cope Memorial is in charge of arrangements. Gary Roy Yazzie THOREAU - Funeral services for Gary Roy Yazzie, 24, will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 8 at the First Baptist Church. Glen Marshall will officiate. Burial will be in the Thoreau Community Cemetery. Yazzie died April 1 in Thoreau. He was born Aug. 19, 1980 in Gallup into the Two Who Came to Water/Water Flows Together People Clan for the Sagebrush People Clan/Salt People Clan. Yazzie attended Thoreau schools and received his GED at Kicking Horse, Mont. He did landscape, stucco and mechanics. Yazzie enjoyed horseback riding, hauling wood, and watching sports. Survivors include his wife, Luicetta Begay of Thoreau; sons, Jeriett Yazzie, Garisson Yazzie, both of Thoreau, Bruce Begay of Churchrock; daughters, LeAnne Yazzie, Rheanna Yazzie, both of Thoreau; stepdaughter Helen Jake; mother, Marie Saunders of Thoreau; father, Jerry Yazzie, Jr. of Haystack; brothers, Alton R. Yazzie and Rydell L. Wood, both of Thoreau; grandmothers, Helen Saunders of Thoreau and Etta Begay of Haystack. Yazzie was preceded in death by his sister, Alvina L. Wood; grandfathers, Buddy and Jerry Yazzie. Pallbearers will be Robin Wood, Berthum Jones, Larson Delgarito, Austin Emerson, Jr., Cornell Curley and Jonathan Wylie. The family will receive relatives and friends at the Thoreau Chapter House. Cope Memorial is in charge of arrangements. Jimmie W. Kalleco TWIN LAKES - Funeral services for Jimmie W. Kalleco, 64, was at 10 a.m. this morning, April 7 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Pastor Neil Forester officiated. Burial was in Standing Rock on family land. Kalleco died April 1 in Albuquerque. He was born Feb. 20, 1941 in Standing Rock into the Red Running into the Water People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan. Kalleco attended Standing Rock day school and Intermountain Indian School. He was a heavy equipment operator, auto mechanic and silversmith. Kalleco enjoyed traveling, being outdoors, watching wrestling and ranching. Survivors include his wife, May Kalleco of Twin Lakes; sister, Sue Troutan of Bloomfield. Kalleco was preceded in death by his father, Charlie Tso; mother, Mary Kalleco; grandmother, Begebah Calico; grandfather, Joe Calico and sister, Rose Mary Jim. Pallbearers were Floyd Morgan, Justin Morgan, Doyle Kalleco, Dorey Nez, Garry Jim and Alton Troutman. The family received relatives and friends at Betty Morgan's residence. Cope Memorial had charge of arrangements. April 8, 2005 Annette Amesoli ZUNI - Traditional wake services for Annette Marie Amesoli, 53, will be at 9 p.m. tonight, April 8 at the family residence, 64 Pine St. Burial will take place in the Quincy Panteah cemetery. Amesoli died April 7 in Zuni. She was born Aug. 1, 1951 in Zuni into the Eagle People Clan for the Tobacco People Clan. Survivors include her husband, John Bowannie; sons, Fergus Quetawki, Fabian Bowekaty, Elliot Bowekaty, Jr., Alfonso Ramirez; daughters, Suzette Quetawki, Angelina Ramirez; mother, Fannie Sanchez; brothers, Derrick Amesoli, Llyod Amesoli, Vince Sanchez, Sr.; sisters, Janet Amesoli, Jerilynn Amesoli, Rolanda Sanchez; 12 grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. Amesoli was preceded in death by her father, Blair Amesoli; grandparents, Jefferson and Ada Quetawki; brothers, Rudy Amesoli, Carlos Amesoli, and Delbert Sanchez. Pallbearers will be Alfonso Ramirez, Fabian Bowekaty, Elliott Bowekaty, Jr., Fergus Quetawki, Derrick Amesoli, Vince Sanchez, Sr., Terrance Quam, Jerrick Amesoli and Vince Sanchez, Jr. The family will receive relatives and friends at Pine St., House #64. April 11, 2005 Theodore Nez CHINLE - Funeral services for Theodore "Teddy" Nez, 73, will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12 at the Chinle Presbyterian Church. Roger Davis, Sr. will officiate. Burial will be on a family cemetery in Chinle. A visitation will be held this evening April 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. Nez died April 7 in Chinle. He was born Dec. 12, 1931 in Chinle into the Towering House People Clan for the Edge of the Water People Clan. Nez graduated from Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, Okla. He served in the US Marine Corps during the Korean War and was awarded the National Defense Medal, Korean service medal and the United Nations Service Medal. Nez worked as a heavy equipment operator and automotive mechanic. He enjoyed fishing, traveling, watching boxing and visiting with family. Survivors include his wife, Polly Sarlin Nez; sons, Christopher Nez, Elden Nez, Salvador Nez; daughters, Sandra Nez, Sharon Bitsoi, Gina Milford, Aili Haynes, Lisa Grevsmuehl; brother, Arthur Nez; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Nez was preceded in death by his father, Tapaha Nez; mother, Louise Gorman Nez; brothers, Wallace, William, and Robert Nez; brother, Earl B. Chambers; sister, Zonnie John; daughter, Deborah Nez; sons, Theodore Nez, Jr. and Jefferson Nez. Pallbearers will be Glen Stoner, Jr., Ryan Benally, Gerald Begay, Nalvin Haskan, E.L. Milford and Henry Gorman. The family will receive relatives and friends at Polly Nez' residence. Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Anderson Kee Joe CROWNPOINT - Funeral services for Anderson Kee Joe, 45, will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12 at 10 a.m. at the Gospel Lighthouse Assembly of God, Crownpoint. Pastor Jimmie Etcitty will officiate. Burial will be in the Crownpoint community cemetery. Joe died March 29 in Grants. He was born May 29, 1959 in Crownpoint into the Sagebrush People Clan for the Black Streaked Forest People Clan. Joe completed high school and was a carpenter. He enjoyed being outdoors, playing basketball and softball. Survivors include his sons, Kevin Joe, Jordyn Joe; daughters, Angela Joe, Amanda Joe; mother, Ruby M. Joe; brothers, Emerson Joe, Benjamin Joe, Tom Joe; sisters, Rose Cowboy, Annie Devore, Rosita Largo and 3 grandchildren all of Crownpoint. Joe was preceded in death by his father, Tom Kee Joe, Sr.; brother, Benson Kee Joe and sister, Victoria Ann Joe. Pallbearers will be Anselm Lewis, Brian Chee Scott, Armand Devore, Everson Kee Joe, Patrick Platero and Emerald Joe. Copyright c. 2005 the Gallup Independent. -=-=-=- April 7, 2005 Pauline Tsosie Holy Rosary for Pauline G. Tsosie, 78, was held on Monday, April 4, 2005, following the Mass of Christian Burial, which was held at 11 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church, Klagetoh, Ariz., with Father Will McQue as Celebrant. Interment was in Klagetoh Catholic Cemetery. Pauline passed away on March 30, 2005 in Winslow. She was born on February 7, 1927 in Klagetoh. Her survivors include her husband, Tom of Taylor, Ariz.; daughters, Maxine Tsosie of Taylor and Darlene Spegal of Concho, Ariz.; and sons, Dennison Tsosie of Alpine, Ariz., Danny Tsosie of Taylor and Lee R. Tsosie of Florence, Ariz. She is survived by seven grandchildren. Arrangements are under the care of Greer's Mortuary of Winslow. Copyright c. 2005 Tucson Citizen. -=-=-=- April 8, 2005 Louie Moses Louie went to be with our Lord April 5, 2005 surrounded by his family. Louie was born in Snoqualmie Falls, Washington, on January 6, 1930. He is the son of Albert and Anna Moses. He moved to the Tulalip Reservation in 1955. Louie worked with the late Harriet Dover to start the Salmon Ceremony and has participated every year since then. He took great pride in teaching his Stahobsh Language and teaching young ones how to make drums. He worked as a logger, at Welco for five years, and at Weyerhaeuser, as a planer, for 19 1/2 years. He then started working for the Tribe as a stream surveyor. His favorite hobbies were slahal stick games, drumming, traveling and going for rides. Louie's warm smile will be missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Mary Ann "Cookie" C. Moses. He leaves his daughters, Deloris Bill and Lynn Selam; sons, G. John Enick, Jr., Cliff Enick, Gene Enick and Michael Enick: sister, Irene (Wilson) Daniels; brothers, Delbert Moses, Earl Moses, Neil Moses and Floyd Moses; 32 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Viewing, 12 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2005, at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home in Marysville, Washington. Rosary, 6 p.m., on Friday, at the Tulalip Tribal Center, 6700 Totem Beach Road. Funeral service, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2005, at the Tribal Center, with burial following at Mission Beach Cemetery. Copyright c. 2005 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, Wash. -=-=-=- March 31, 2005 Sheldon L. Damon (Cheeto) FORT HALL - Sheldon Sonny Damon, 53, passed away at his home on March 24, 2005, after his long fight with a liver disease. Sonny was born on April 8, 1951, to Clyde Lincoln Damon and Josephine McKean in Owyhee, Nevada where he spent his happiest days under the care of his beloved grandmother, Minnie Winnemucca. He served the United States proudly in the Marine Corps from 1969 until 1973 when he returned honorably to Fort Hall where he met his best friend and eternal wife, JoAnn. They were wed three months later and spent their time traveling the country until he began raising Valarie at the age of four. In January of 1980, Sonny became the father of his first and only son, Brandon Lee. Later, he fathered Cindy, his "Little Bunny" in Minot, North Dakota where he worked across the Canadian border as an oil rigger. Sonny then moved the family to Boise where he could find a job that enabled them to spend more time together. There he had his second daughter, Laura or "Big WoWa," his "mean girl." Sonny's baby girl, Shannon, came as a surprise to him 11 years after Laura. Sonny had eight grandchildren and one more on the way and he loved every one of them dearly. Sonny was baptized to the L.D.S. church in 1977 in Blackfoot, Idaho, became LDS in 1999 and, finally, was sealed to his wife in July of 2001. Sonny kept his temple vows sacred and made many wonderful accomplishments in his life. He worked hard for his family and the country. Aside from the Marines and oil drigging, Sonny was a key member of the Sho-Ban Strike Team and worked in Sho-Ban Gaming, in the Fort Hall P.D. and as a participant of the Native Firework Show where the group called themselves "pyromaniacs." Damon is survived by his wife, JoAnn; his son, Brandon Lee, daughter-in- law, Sandy, and their children, Leroy and Sandra; his daughter, Cynthia Ann, and her son, Sheldon Zane; daughter, Laura Lee, and her daughters, Desiray Marsh and Sanae Ray Snipe; his youngest, Shannon Mari; and his step-daughter, Valarie Mestas, son-in-law Perry Howard Michael Rick. His aunt and uncle, Vivian and Albert Ballard, who were his adopted Indian parents; Whitney McKean Jr. and family also survive him, along with his sister, Charlotte Damon, her son Robert Damon and daughters Lisa Barr and Sheri Foote ; sister, Roberta McDaid, and her husband, James, as well as daughters, Christine, Nicole, and Michelle; sister, Rose Barrett, and her daughter, Stephanie; sister, Shirley Morin, and her husband, John, with children Shannell, Nicholas, and Drew; brother, Joe Murray; step-siblings, Sam, Katherine, and Jimmy Armas; and cousins, Vivian, Charlene, Velma, Marilyn, Ernest, and Joyce Wahtomy. The viewing was at the family home on Agency and C Street and burial was Monday, March 28, 2005 at Grove City Cemetery in Blackfoot, Idaho. The Fort Hall Veterans conducted graveside military services. Sonny will be greatly missed now that he has passed on to the Great Spirit, but more so, he will be appreciated for the wonderful life spent here with his loved ones. Copyright c. 2005 Sho-Ban News. All rights reserved. -=-=-=- April 11, 2005 Lenore Faye Shoyo FORT WASHAKIE - Funeral services for Lenore Faye Shoyo, 45, will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, April 9, at the family home, No. 5 Shoyo Spur, in Fort Washakie. Interment will follow in Sacajawea Cemetery. She died April 5, 2005, at Lander Valley Medical Center. Born Aug. 25, 1959, in Lander, she was the daughter of Dennison and Lottie (Longhair) Shoyo; and attended school in Fort Washakie and Wyoming Indian High School, where she played basketball. She was a certified nursing assistant in Fort Washakie and Jackson; Sacramento, Calif.; and Flagstaff, Ariz. An avid bead worker, she enjoyed all types of music; sang in the all- female drum group, Big Mountain Drum; and was featured in the book, "Song Prints." She was a past queen of Shoshone Indian Days and enjoyed being with her family. Survivors include eight sisters, Isabelle Chapoose and Carma Jack of Indian Bench, Utah, Alta Appeney of Fort Hall, Idaho, and Marieta Stacey, Zita LaRose, Evalita Shoyo, JoAnne Hurtado and Patricia Shoyo, all of Fort Washakie; four brothers, Gilbert Gardener and Alvin Longhair of Indian Bench, Dennison Shoyo Jr. of Fort Hall, and Lee Shoyo of Fort Washakie; an uncle; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and two sisters. Copyright c. 2005 Casper Star-Tribune published by Lee Publications, Inc., a subsidiary of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated. -=-=-=- Golden Triangle On-Line Obituaries The following obituaries appeared in the Cut Bank Pioneer Press, Shelby Promoter, Valierian or Glacier Reporter this week. April 6, 2005 Wayne Thomas Many Guns Wayne Thomas Many Guns, 53, a Glacier National Park Service employee for many years, died March 26, at Blackfeet Community Hospital due to heart failure. Wayne was born August 10, 1952, in Gleichan, Alta., to Margaret and Thomas Many Guns. He was raised in Browning and Siksika, Alta., and attended Little Badger School and Busby Indian Schools. He later served with the U.S. Army in the early 1970s. On November 30, 1973, he married his soul mate, the love of his life, Carol Ann Little Dog, and had four beautiful children: Thomas John (Rochelle) Many Guns, Rose Hosteneez, William (Starla) Many Guns and Julius Many Guns. His favorite activity was spending time with his grandchildren, Iverson, Margaret, Wayne Roy, Lashinta, Muriel, William Jr., Angel and Jasmine, as well as Pius and Holmes Jr. of Arizona. He was a wonderful father, husband, uncle, grandfather, brother and friend. Wayne is survived by his siblings, Donna (Byron) French, Billings; Jimmy Monroe, Alta.; Leonard (Nadine) Salway, Siksika, Alta.; and George (Rachel) Cardinal, Siksika. He cherished his wife's family - Julia Little Dog and family, Helen (Joe) Burdeau and family, Mike (Carol) Little Dog and family, Martina Little Dog and Gus Sharp and family, Florence (Jess) Spotted Bear and family, Betty Ann and the late Leo Bull Child Sr. and family, Loretta (Frances) Wild Gun and family, the late Johnny 'Boy" Little Dog and Mary Ellen Roundine and family. He had a close kinship with his nieces-Martina (Ray) Hart-Many Guns and kids, Rena Santio and family, Karen (Stanford) Three Suns and family, Siksika Alta., and his nephew, Les Munro and family. Wayne was preceded in death by his loving mother, Margaret Many Guns; father, Thomas Many Guns; sisters, Rose Marie Bear Robe, Edna Munro-Turtle and Lillian Many Bears of Siksika, Alta.; and the late John and Margaret Little Dog, Browning. Wayne was an avid fisherman, hunter, enjoyed camping, traveling to stickgames and powwow. He was a member of the Crazy Dog Society. He talked highly of his best friends - Joe Fisher, Donnie White, Wayne Juneau and Paul McEvers, Shawn Garrow and all his Park Service co-workers, North Dakota hunting buddies, and all his stickgame friends. A wake was held at Glacier Homes Community Building. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at the Glacier Homes Community Building, followed by burial with military honors in the Willow Creek Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel of Cut Bank is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent via the website www.whittedfuneralchapel-.com. April 8, 2005 Louis Andrew Lavarro Louis Andrew Lavarro, 81, a chemical dependency counselor, died Friday, April 1, at the Northern Rockies Medical Center in Cut Bank. The wake was held at College Homes Community Center in Browning, and rosary services were held Monday, April 4, at the same location. The funeral mass was Tuesday, April 5, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Heart Butte, followed by burial with military honors at St. Anne's Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com. Louis was born August 8, 1923, in Heart Butte and raised in the Blacktail area. He graduated from Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kansas, on April 27, 1943. Following graduation he joined the U.S. Air Force and served for 10 years as Aircraft Crew Chief during the Korean conflict. After his military career, Louis worked as a chemical dependency counselor in Sheridan, Wyoming, and Browning. Louis is survived by his two sisters, Yvonne (Sam) Spade and Wanda Bird; 25 nieces and nephews; as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Evans Choate, and his father Louis Lavarro. Also preceding him in death were his sisters, Leone Lavarro, Jeanne Running Wolf and Peggy Boy Chief. William Gordon Little Mustache William Gordon Little Mustache, beloved husband of Bonnie Little Mustache of the Auhami Nation, passed away suddenly near Brocket, Alberta, Canada, on Sunday, March 27,2005, at the age of 40. William "Billy" is survived by his wife, Bonnie; sons Bryce and Blain; daughter Emma Lou (Cory); two grandchildren, Mari Jane and Letesha Bad Eagle; his parents, Alphonse and Wilma Little Mustache; aunt Marjorie Bell; uncles Robert Lee, Stanley, Michael William, Christopher ( Esther) Tinsley and Benjamin Still Smoking; great uncles James L. Boy and Garner Lime; several cousins, the Still Smokings, Bad Marriages, Black Weasels, Boys, Little Dogs and Home Guns. The funeral was Saturday, April 1, in Brocket, Alberta, Canada. Donald Hudson Dubray Donald Hudson Dubray, 70, of East Glacier Park, a long time land surveyor for the Blackfeet Tribe, died Thursday, March 31, 2005 due an abdominal aneurysm while driving his vehicle in East Glacier. Funeral services were noon Tuesday, April 5, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Cut Bank, followed by burial in the Willow Creek Cemetery in Browning. Whitted-Day Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Survivors include special friend Patsy Whitford of Cut Bank; daughter Susan Quigley of Ketchikan, Alaska; sons Donald Dubray of Louisiana and Robert Dubray of East Glacier; sister Rita McFadyean of Billings; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchild, two nephews and a host of relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Danny; and infant sister Lola. He was born March 6, 1935, at Browning to George and Lavern (Hidson) Dubray. He spent his early childhood on various ranches where his father worked. He later ranched with his father in the Four Horn Lake area. He married Henrietta Laplant Sept. 11, 1961, at Lethbridge, Alberta; they later divorced. He later married Shirley Olson at Lewistown, Idaho, and they made their home at East Glacier. She passed away in 1985. Don had been recently sharing his life with a special friend, Patsy Whitford. He graduated from Browning High School and then attended two years of engineering school. In the early 70s he worked for the state highway department for five years as a technical construction engineer. Don had owned a bar in Valier and later went into business with the Sour Dough Red Harper at East Glacier. Don and Red were some of the early pioneers of the Indian gaming business. In 1978 he went to work for the Blackfeet Tribe as a land consultant and surveyor. He went on to manage five tribal departments and became director of the Blackfeet Tribal Land Department. After 20 years he retired in 2001 but continued surveying up until the time of his death. While working for the tribe, he wrote the first fish and game code. One of his accomplishments was the surveying of all the tribal recreational lots and commercial property at St. Mary Lake along with his good friend John (Dough Boy) Monroe. Donald roped as a team roper and calf roper with his father and friends. Don was an avid outdoorsman, who loved music, playing stringed instruments, specifically the mandolin and fiddle, and was a great storyteller. He was a good pool player and won many matches. He was a good golfer, and he and his friend, Bobby, were a tough team to beat. Copyright c. 2005 Golden Triangle Newspapers. -=-=-=- April 11, 2005 Moses Joseph Dionne Sr. WOLF POINT - Moses Joseph Dionne, Sr., 60, of Wolf Point, whose Indian name was MA-Tick-Ca-Me-O-Shik, an avid basketball player and coach, died Thursday at a Billings hospital of heart failure after a long illness. His funeral is 10 a.m. today at Immaculate Conception Church in Wolf Point, with burial in Greenwood Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at csmc@nemontel.net or . Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements. Survivors include his wife, Norma, of Wolf Point; a daughter, Michelle Groesbeck of Ethete, Wyo.; an adopted daughter, Francine Counter of Bettendorf, Iowa; an adopted granddaughter, Jewel Four Star of Wolf Point; sons Moses Duke Dionne of Harlem and Isaiah Dionne of Wolf Point; and 13 grandchildren Zachary, Joshua, Normandee, Mariah, Moses Neamiah, Maurice, Malyna Dionne; Vanessa, Brandi and Elliott King; K.J., Kaleb and Kalista Groesbeck. He was preceded in death by a great-grandson. Copyright c. 2005 Great Falls Tribune, a division of Lee Enterprises. -=-=-=- April 5, 2005 Einar Anderson Jr., 72 Anchorage Anchorage resident Einar T. Anderson Jr., 72, died April 3, 2005, at the Alaska Native Center, Anchorage. Visitation will be at 4:30 p.m., with a funeral at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday at Anchorage Friends Church, 2824 E. 18th Ave., off Lake Otis Parkway. The Rev. Sonny Russell will officiate. Arrangements are with Anchorage Funeral Home and Crematory. A full obituary will be published later. April 7, 2005 Fredrick Carroll, 58 Cordova Lifelong Alaskan Fredrick Cecil Carroll, 58, died March 31, 2005, at the Alaska Native Medical Center. A service was held Wednesday at The Little Chapel in Cordova. A celebration of life took place after the service at the Masonic Temple. Mr. Carroll was born Feb. 21, 1947, in Cordova. He was a self-employed fisherman. Mr. Carroll enjoyed mechanics, electronics, technology, reading, history and science, and construction projects. He is survived by his son, Jacob; daughters, Anya Kaufmann-Carroll, Jessica Pearlman; daughter-in-law, Rebecca Carroll; grandsons, Sebastian, Jacob and Matthew Carroll; sister, Pamela Skulstad; brothers, Eric Skulstad and Curtis Cochran; aunts, Sally Hottinger, Cy Hally and Olga Akerlund; uncles, Bill Barres and Kenneth Barres. April 9, 2005 Arnold Walker Sr., 65 Anchorage Anchorage resident Arnold Chase Walker Sr., 65, died April 7, 2005, at Alaska Regional Hospital. A visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E St., with services at 6 p.m. Additional services in Angoon will be announced. Mr. Walker was born Aug. 21, 1939, in Anvik to Gabriel and Hazel Walker. He graduated from Mt. Edgecumbe High School and earned certification as a heavy-equipment operator through Alaska Vocational Technical Center in Seward. He also served in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Walker had worked for Public Health Service-Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, retiring in 2001. He enjoyed fishing, logging, operating heavy equipment, hunting, cooking and pubs. His family wrote that he was a "very loving and caring grandfather, friend, father and husband. He was adopted into the Tlingit Dog Salmon Clan." Survivors include his wife, Charlene; sons and daughters-in-law, Arnold Jr. and Jan and Phillip and Lenora; daughters and sons-in-law, Anna and Antone Durgan and Sharon and Joe Zuboff, all of Juneau; son, Patrick; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Rob Helgeson of Oregon City, Ore.; sons, Ry Gabriel and Leonard, both of Anchorage; grandchildren, Justin, Kassandra, Jordan, Hannah, Chase, Sterling, Jonathon, Raymond, Clifford and Anasia; great-grandson, Ethan Maska; and brothers, John and Gabriel of Fairbanks. He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Leonard Menkie; sister, Elizabeth Kruger; and son, Jonathan. Arrangements were with Evergreen Memorial Chapel. April 10, 2005 Dolly Spencer, 75 Homer Lifelong Alaskan and longtime Homer resident Dolly Spencer, 75, died April 6, 2005, at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer. A funeral will be at noon today at Glacierview Baptist Church in Homer with visitation beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will be after at Hickerson Cemetery in Homer with a reception afterward at the church. Mrs. Spencer was born March 30, 1930, in Kotzebue to York and Grace Mendenhall. She was raised in the Cape Krusenstern area. During her young adult years, she cooked at a mining camp, waitressed and sewed mukluks and parkas for her children. She married James Spencer in Teller on Oct. 10, 1958. They lived in Wales, Fairbanks and Glennallen and moved to Homer in 1970. They traveled the Alaska Highway many times. Summers were spent fishing, clamming, boating and camping. They bought snowmachines in 1980 and enjoyed ice fishing at Caribou Lake. Mrs. Spencer recommitted her life to the Lord in 1967. She began making Eskimo dolls in the '60s. After moving to Homer, Jim suggested that she sew traditional furs and sinew thread on her dolls. In 1984, she went to the Smithsonian with other American Native artists to show her dolls. In 1996, she was recognized as a "Master Traditional Artist" by the National Heritage Fellowship. She gave skin sewing classes statewide and gave doll shows to many groups. Recently, she was tutoring her granddaughter Jessica in doll-making. Her family said: "Dolly always gave God the glory for her talent and often was able to share her testimony. Everyone Dolly ever met became her friend. She had a warm, beautiful smile that she shared freely. She leaves a wonderful legacy to her relatives, friends and family everywhere." Mrs. Spencer was preceded in death by her brothers, Collins, Ray, Petty and William Mendenhall; sisters, Dora Mulch and Mary Ahnangnatoguk; brother-in-law, David Spencer; and sisters-in-law, Virginia Kendrick and Norma Zile. Survivors are her husband, James Spencer; children, Perry Mendenhall, Terry Ann Plummer, Linda Kline, Dean Killingrock, Virginia Wise, Victor Spencer and James Spencer III; many grandchildren; brother-in-law, Allen Ahnangnatoguk; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Mendenhall and Myrna Mendenhall; 25 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements were by Homer Funeral Home. Copyright c. 2005 The Anchorage Daily News. -=-=-=- April 10, 2005 Dolly Spencer Lifelong Alaskan and longtime Homer resident Mrs. Dolly Spencer died Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer. She was 75. Funeral services will be at noon Sunday, April 10, at Glacierview Baptist Church, 960 East End Road in Homer. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will follow at the Hickerson Cemetery on Diamond Ridge Road in Homer. A reception will follow the burial at the church. Pastor Rick Wise will officiate. Mrs. Spencer was born March 30, 1930, in Kotzebue. She was raised in the Cape Krusenstern area, moving from camp to camp, gathering food to store for winter. One of her main chores was making sure the sled dogs had water. She got her first pair of shoes when she was 16. Her young adult years were busy with her children, cooking at a mining camp, waitressing and sewing mukluks and parkas for the children. She met her husband of 46 years, James Spencer, in Nome. They were married in Teller on Oct. 10, 1958. They lived in Wales, Fairbanks and Glennallen and moved to Homer on New Years Day, 1970. They traveled the Alaska Highway many times as a family. Summers were full of fishing, clamming, boating and camping. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer bought snow machines in 1980 and spent Saturdays at Caribou Lake ice fishing. Mrs. Spencer recommitted her life to the Lord in 1967. Mrs. Spencer started making Eskimo dolls in the 1960s and began using traditional furs and sinew thread on her dolls after moving to Homer. In 1984 she went to the Smithsonian with other American Native Artists to show her dolls. In 1996 Mrs. Spencer was recognized as a Master Traditional Artist by the National Heritage Fellowship. She gave skin sewing classed to adults and children across the state and has given many doll shows. Recently she was tutoring her granddaughter, Jessica, in the doll-making art. "Dolly always gave God the glory for her talent and often was able to share her testimony. Her favorite verse was Philippians 4:13, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.' Everyone Dolly ever met became her friend. She had a warm beautiful smile that she shared freely. She leaves a wonderful legacy to her relatives, friends and family everywhere," her family wrote. Mrs. Spencer was preceded in death by her parents, York and Grace Mendenhall; brothers, Collins, Ray, Petty and William Mendenhall; sisters, Dora Mulch and Mary Ahnangnatoguk; brother in-law, David Spencer; and sisters-in-law, Virginia Kendrick and Norma Zile. She is survived by her husband, James A. Spencer; children, Perry Mendenhall, Terry Ann Plummer, Linda Kline, Dean Killingrock, Virginia Wise, Victor Spencer and James Spencer III; grandchildren, Dan, Robin, Leslie, Frank, Eli Sigvan, Lisa, Roy, Linda, Roberta, Evelene, Jessica, Jacob, Janyce, Josiah and Matthew; brother in-law, Allen Ahnangnatoguk; sisters in-law, Mary Ann Mendenhall and Myrna Mendenhall; 25 great- grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements were made by the Homer Funeral Home. Copyright c. 2005 Peninsula Clarion Division of Morris Communications, Kenai, AK. -=-=-=- April 5, 2005 Marjorie Adele Longboat LONGBOAT Marjorie Adele nee: Bomberry - At her home on Monday, April 4, 2005 at the age of 71 years; beloved wife of William Longboat; loving mother of Debbie Longboat, Mary and Danny Musser, Leslie and Boyd Kronberg, and Shellie Marquette; dear grandmother of Danny, Amy, Karin, Amanda, Jillian, Annessa, Boyd, and Austin; dear great-grandmother of Colin, and Anthony; sister of Annie and Kenneth General, Shirley and the late George Carpenter, Sandra and Peter Powless, and Russ and Yvonne Bomberry; also survived by many nieces and nephews. Marge worked for 20 years at School #19, Buffalo in the cafeteria. A Memorial Service and burial of Cremated Remains will be held at Christ Church, Six Nations on Friday, April 8, 2005 at 11 a. m. Arrangements by STYRES FUNERAL HOME, Ohsweken. April 7, 2005 Elma W. Hill HILL Elma W. Born March 9, 1923 - Peacefully, at her home Wednesday, April 6, 2005, our dear Mother and Gramma has journeyed on to the spirit world, age 82 years of age; cherished loving mother of Wayne Allen and Carol, James and Gerri, Blanche and the late (Mitch VanEvery), Hubert and Penny, Cam and Sharon, Wanda, Dick and Hazel, Dave and Jackie, Brenda and Bill, Lonnie and June, Roger and Charlene, Brian (Mutt), and daughter-in-law Jackie, and Pam and Gary; survived by cherished sisters Myrna Hess, Dorothy Henhawk, Cathy Jonathan and (Stan), and cherished brother Terry and (Lorraine) Hill, and loving sister-in-law Dolly; special Gramma to 51 grandchildren, 71 great- grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren; also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Supportive and loyal friends Ethel Jacobs, Jan Longboat, Kitty Maracle, Jessie Maracle, Joy Hill, Alice Hill and Renee Thomas; also predeceased by her husband Aubrey I. Hill, sons Gerald and Tony, parents Alec (BaBa) and Gussie (Ma) Hill, brother Vince, sisters Inez and Birdie, grandchildren Kyle, Wade, Rachel, Eric and great-great-grandson Jessie Owen. Born and raised at Six Nations of the Grand River Territory belonging to the Mohawk Nation/ Turtle clan, Elma will fondly be remembered as a gifted seamstress and a dedicated member of the Mohawk Singing Group and cherished friend of Styres Funeral Home staff. The family will honour her life with visitation at the HYDE & MOTT CHAPEL, Hagersville after 11 a. m. Friday where Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Sunday, April 10, 2005 at 11 a. m. Interment Stumphall Cemetery. Evening Service 7 p. m. Saturday. April 11, 2005 Marie Helena GREENE Marie Helena - Marie Helena Greene, in her 81st year, born August 28th, 1924 entered into eternal rest after a short and courageous battle with cancer at the Jay Silverheels Complex in Ohsweken on Saturday April 9th, 2005. She leaves to mourn her passing her sister Jean, her best friend and life long companion. Marie also leaves niece Lori and Mark, great-nephew Steven, nephew Darryl and Janice, the family of the late Myrtle Smith plus many friends. Marie is predeceased by her parents Hugh and Alma (Martin) Greene, sister Wilma and her husband Harold Hill. Marie is a former employee of York Farms where she worked for over 30 years. The family will honour her life with visitation at the STYRES FUNERAL HOME, Ohsweken after 2 p. m. Tuesday. Funeral Service and Burial will be held at St. Paul's Anglican Church, Six Nations on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at 1 p. m. Evening Prayers 7 p. m. Tuesday. Copyright c. 2005 Brantford Expositor. -=-=-=- April 5, 2005 Mildred Ann Delorme DELORME MILDRED ANN - Mildred Ann Delorme of Yorkton and formerly of Cowesses First Nation passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2005 at Yorkton Sk. She was 47 years of age. Mildred was born on August 20, 1957 at Fort Quappelle, Sask. A daughter of Albert and Shirley (nee Cappo) Delorme. She has spent the last number of years living in Yorkton. She leaves to cherish her memory her partner Eugene Fleury of Yorkton. Her sons: Billy Jack (Jennifer), Bobby Joe and Gregory all of Cowesses. Her grandchildren: Shaine and Ian; Her father Albert Delorme of Cowesses; brothers: Leon of Calgary AB., Milton George (Venus) of Regina,SK., Bucky of Muscowegan First Nation; sisters: Bonnie of Yorkton, Anna (Todd) of Cowesses. She was predeceased by her mother Shirley in 2000, a brother Greg and her first husband Larry Goodon. Wake Services will begin on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 from the Cowesses First Nation Band Hall at 5:00 PM Funeral services will be held on Thursday morning April 7, 2005 from the Cowesses First Nation Band Hall at 10:00 AM with the interment to follow in the Cowesses Cemetery. Services directed by Bailey's Funeral Home 1 888 783 7552 Delbert Mcnab MCNAB - On Friday, April 1, 2005 Delbert McNab late of Regina, Sask., passed away at the age of 56 years. Delbert was predeceased by his step dad Bernard Peters. Delbert is survived by his mother Ramona Peters; children Mike (Kima) McNab and Amy Tootoosis; grandchildren Brendon Rabbitskin, Eldon McNab and Ayla Tootoosis-Weber; brothers John Lee (Delores) Demarais, Richard (Lorraine) Demarais, Michael Demarais, James McKnight, Bernard Allan Peters II; very special half siblings as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives. The Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. in the Gordon Gymnasium, Gordon First Nation with Rev. Arthur Anderson, officiating. The burial will follow in St. Luke's Cemetery. The Wake will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 4:00 P.M. in the Gordon Gymnasium. "We love you with all our heart and soul. " From your children and grandchildren. Arrangements are in the care of LEE FUNERAL HOME 757-8645. Copyright c. 2000-2005 Regina Leader Post Group Inc. -=-=-=- April 7, 2005 Annie Crazy Boy ANNIE CRAZY BOY of the Piikani Nation, passed away peacefully at home, after a lengthy illness, on April 1, 2005 , with her family at her side,at the age of 89 years. Annie was one of the oldest female members of the Piikani Nation. She was born September 18, 1915 on the Blood Reserve.Annie is survived by her children: Catherine, Evelyn, Hazel (Freddie), Betty Lou, Norris (Wendy), Sheldon,Joanne (Mickey) and Sherry (Kenny); several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; and by her adopted children: Alberta and Jim Miller, Leonard Bastien, Beverley/ Malsum Knowlton, Delma Sippola, Billy and Corrine North Peigan, Lorraine Albert, Russell, Small Eyes, Calf Robe, Bull Shields, Wolf Plume and White Cow families, George Weasel Bear, Melissa Prairie Chicken, Delphine Star Light and Jody Little Wolf. Annie was predeceased by her husband Mickey Crazy Boy (1973); her sons Ralph (2002), Gerald (1991) and Arnold (1989); her daughter Delores (1999); grandchildren: Duke (2000), Sunshine (1987) and Tashia (1986); her great grandson Rejean Big Plume; her parents; all her siblings; brother in-law Jackie Crazy Boy and by her sister in-law Mona North Peigan. Annie married Mickey Crazy Boy in 1935 and moved to the Piikani Nation, where she resided until her passing. Annie devoted her life to raising her children and grand children. Family and friends played and important role in her life. She had a very strong faith in God, and that faith carried her throughout the many challenges that she faced in her journey here on earth. Annie was very special to many people from the Blood Reserve, Crow Agency and Piikani Nation. She will be missed by many. Annie is truly a special lady and loved by all. Wake Service will be held at the home of Catherine Crazy Boy, Brocket, Alberta on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 beginning at 6:00 p.m and continue Wednesday. Funeral Service will be held at the Piikani Nation Community Hall, Brocket, Alberta on Thursday, April 7, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. with Archdeacon Sidney Black officiating. Interment in Brocket Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Edens Funeral Home, Pincher Creek, 627-3131. April 8, 2005 Terrance Across the Mountain/Hairy Bull TERRANCE ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN/HAIRY BULL, passed away in Cardston on Saturday, April 2nd, 2005 at the age of 40 years. The Wake Service will be held on Friday, April 8th at St.Mary's Catholic Church, Blood Reserve from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. and continuing at the Martin Hairy Bull Residence, Blood Reserve. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 9th at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Blood Reserve at 2:00 p.m. with Father Joly Celebrant. Interment in Pioneer Cemetery. Copyright c. 2005 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc./Lethbridge Herald.