A Sacred Fire is Burning at Eagle Rock

By Cynthia Pryor, Huffington Post.

Around the world, indigenous communities are defending their homelands and sacred sites from mining companies with more urgency than ever. With the fictional Avatar receiving so much media attention, it’s important to realize that very real battles between indigenous communities protecting sacred sites and corporations infringing on them are happening in the real world. And not just in exotic corners of the world, but right here in America, in the Great Lakes, where millions get their drinking water.

Rio Tinto has from the beginning played out the role of the big bad mining company in its plans to mine nickel and copper in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The project has been marred by a flawed approval process, with one expert hired by the state insisting the project could collapse on workers. Despite unresponsive regulators and politicians, a persistent grassroots movement has stalled the company plans by years already.

This seven-year battle between Rio Tinto and local citizens came to a head when I was arrested a couple weeks ago for “trespassing” on land the company wants to mine for nickel, copper and other precious metals. I was doing what I’ve been doing on a weekly basis for over a decade – walking with my dog to Migi Zii Wa Sin, or Eagle Rock, a sacred site to Anishinaabe tribes. Rio Tinto took my presence there as a threat and called local law enforcement to the scene. I was arrested and jailed for refusing to leave land the company still has no legal title to.

Communities Condemn Obama Administration for Militarization of Border

By Derechos Humanos. This first appeared on Censored News.

TUCSON – The Coalición de Derechos Humanos along with groups across the country, condemn Tuesday’s announcement that the Obama Administration will send 1,200 National Guard troops to Arizona and will request an additional $500 million to “secure” the Mexican border.

The decision by Obama to “up the ante” on the militarization scheme of over 16 years, not only follows his administration’s record of continued attacks on immigrant families across the nation since he became President but his own DHS 800 ICE agent military-style assault on the communities in Arizona on April 15, 2010. Last year, President Obama also sent more than 700 new federal agents to the border, at that time responding to cries of non-existent “spill-over violence,” feeding the continued growth of the militarization and of the anti-immigrant sentiment.

“Our communities have born the consequences of border security policies implemented since the mid-1990′s-thousands of migrants who have been funneled to their deaths along the Arizona-Sonora border, dangerous spikes in xenophobia and the growth of hate groups, negative economic impacts and other tensions for border communities, the eventual election of anti-immigrant politicians and the enactment of anti-immigrant laws” stated Isabel Garcia, member of Coalicion de Derechos Humanos. “Now this new decision will be felt increasingly and devastatingly across the country.”

Mohawk Nation News: 20 Years After Mohawk Oka Crisis

MNN. Sep. 15, 2009. July 11, 2010, will be twenty years since the Canadian military attacked the Mohawk Nation at Kanehsatake, Kahnawake and Akwesasne. We did not want the nearby town of Oka to extend its golf course over our ceremonial site and burial grounds. The Quebec police opened fire with automatic guns and tear gas on Mohawk men, women and children. For 78 days we faced the combined firepower of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Quebec Police and the RCMP.

We found ourselves fighting for our identity and defending ourselves against oppression by Canada and Quebec. The Mohawk defenders were brought to trial on criminal charges.

The following is a synopsis of the first day of the first year-long trial after the crisis. [MOHAWK WARRIORS THREE – The Trial of Lasagna, Noriega & 20-20]. This was followed by another year long trial of over 50 other Mohawks and our allies. We were all acquitted.

The trial started on Monday, October 21, 1991, in the St. Jerome Court, north of Montreal.

Our 3 Warriors/Rotiskenrakete faced 59 charges: assaults, mischief, mischief and theft, beating and mischief, and mischief against the Canadian Army. Generally, they were mischievous.

The 12 all-white English jury sat silent. The crown’s lies were totally confusing. The Quebec cops refused to speak English and had a squad of translators. Oui! Oui!

The Music of El Vuh

Nestor Makhno and Anarchist Myth Making

This article, orignally titled Anarchists in the Russian Revolution: The Makhno Myth, comes from International Socialist Review, the journal of the U.S.-based International Socialist Organization.

It tackles the history of the anarchist movement during the Russian Revolution which was lead by Nestor Makhno. I am posting it because this is an important point of reference among many anarchists, especially among the current known as Platformists (which includes organizations like the North East Federation of Anarchist Communists), but at the same time it has received very little critical attention from either academic scholars or other revolutionary trends. The following article does just this by presenting a detailed critique of both the myth-making around Makhno and the strategic conclusions anarchists have drawn from said semi-mythologized history.

By Jason Yanowitz, an activist in western Massachusetts.

Cuban Revolution Combats Homophobia

By Hamish Chitts, writing for Direct Action, the organ of the Revolutionary Socialist Party in Australia.

Revolutionary Cuba is a leader in Latin America in the battle against homophobia and is taking steps to become a world leader. Since 1994 the age of consent for gay and lesbian sex in Cuba has been 16 years, the same as for heterosexual sex — unlike Australia. Since the 1980s Cubans have been able to access sex reassignment surgery (SRS) as part of Cuba’s free healthcare system. This program was temporarily halted when the combined effects of the US economic blockade and the loss of vital trading partners with the collapse of the Soviet Union forced the Cuban government to make severe economic cutbacks.

Since late 2008, SRS is once again freely available. The Cuban National Assembly is considering what would be among the most progressive gay and transsexual rights laws in Latin America. The legislation would recognise same-sex unions, along with inheritance rights. It would also allow Cubans to change the gender on their ID cards, with or without SRS.

In the first years of the revolution, this was not the case. The revolution received much condemnation (from friend and foe) for its official homophobia in its early days, when it was still deeply influenced by the homophobia of the dominant Catholic culture and the homophobic attitudes from the Stalinised Soviet Union.

Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) Statement on the Royal Bank of Canada Firebombing

Ottawa, ON. In response to the recent firebombing of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Tar Sands Campaigner of IEN, Clayton Thomas-Muller released the following statement:

“The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is an Indigenous led environmental and economic justice organization that supports community led strategies that enable Indigenous Peoples to continue to maintain the sacred fires of our traditions and to protect our lands and cultures from corporate exploitation and toxic contamination.

First Nations in Canada’s Tar Sands have been waging an effective, transparent, non-violent campaign against RBC and their dirty investments. The Indigenous Environmental Network supports strategic non-violent direct action that is led by impacted communities.

We call on all people who recognize the need to stop RBC’s dirty investments to honour the leadership of frontline Indigenous communities.”

Tom Goldtooth Executive Director, IEN.

Clayton Thomas-Muller Tar Sands Campaigner.

Activists Lockdown and Occupy Border Patrol, Demand End to Militarization

H/t to Censored News

High resolution pictures and B-roll available at: http://www.oodhamsolidarity.blogspot.com/
Video link: http://oodhamsolidarity.blogspot.com/2010/05/video-occupation-lockdown-of-tucson.html

Press Statement

Tucson, AZ – At approximately 1:00PM Friday, May 21, 2010 more than a dozen people occupied the Tucson Headquarters of the US Border Patrol to draw attention to impacts of border militarization in Indigenous Communities. Six people, including Alex Soto a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation and a volunteer with the group O’odham Solidarity Across Borders, locked themselves together for up to 3 and 1/2 hours. “Indigenous voices have been ignored. In our action today we say NO MORE!” Said Soto.

Banners were hung, including one placed over the reception window that read, “Stop Militarization of Indigenous Lands Now”, traditional songs were sung and the group chanted, “Border militarization destroys Indigenous communities!” and “No raids, no deportations! No SB1070, no racist laws!” Approximately 30 Border Patrol agents flooded the lobby of the headquarters and scrambled to react. Roads to the headquarters and adjacent air force base were shut down. Tucson City Police were eventually called and began preparing an extraction of the peaceful resisters.

Undocumented Students Arrested at Protest at McCain’s Office

From Censored News

Raw video of protest:
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=12497415

KGUN: Illegal immigrant who takes part in sit-in at Senator McCain’s office speaks out Reported By: Steve Nunez

TUCSON, AZ (KGUN-TV) – Today a number of people from around the country, most illegal immigrants, converged in what could be a costly demonstration for the DREAM Act. The “Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors” is a bipartisan piece of legislation sponsored by Republican Senator Orin Hatch of Utah and Democratic Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois.

The DREAM Act aims to give people brought here illegally at a young age a conditional path to citizenship. It would give them 6 years to complete either a college degree or two years of military service. It is legislation now opposed by Arizona Senator’s Jon Kyl and John McCain.

The five activists, four who are illegal immigrants, took a stand by sitting down inside McCain’s Tucson office. Just before 6p.m. One of the illegal immigrants, Tania Unzueta, voluntarily walked out to speak for all who share her same story.

Movement Demands Autonomy: An O’odham Perspective on Border Controls and Immigration

From the O’odham Solidarity Across Borders Collective.

In light of the state’s new attack of SB 1070 on migrant communities, OSABC [O'odham Solidarity Across Borders Collective] would like to show a perspective and experience that is often overlooked in the immigration struggle, that being the indigenous impacts. Indigenous communities have, and still are being attack by the state (meaning the political entity, also called “government”) since the first migrants, European settlers, arrived to this hemisphere. But that, we already know. What OSABC would like to express is, WE ARE STILL HERE. As O’odham, we have seen our lands occupied by three colonial states (Spain, Mexico, and now the United States), and STILL, we have endured in the face of colonization. The very land that this bill was passed on, is still O’odham land! From the Phoenix Valley, to Scukson (Tucson is from an O’odham word), to Rocky Point, to the Sierra Madres in Mexico, this is O’odham jewed.

The passing of SB1070 leads us to the police state, and does not just affect migrants, it affects us all! SB 1070 like policies already occur on the Tohono O’odham Nation since the mid-90′s with the states push for immigration enforcement. Border Enforcement that would be a Berlin-like Wall through our lands to control movement. The current push for immigration reform by politicians and by reformist activists includes the push to secure “their” borders which would be the forced removal and relocations of all indigenous tribes that live in the border region (Yaqui, Lipan Apache, Mohawk to name a few). This dismissal not just shows the colonial attitude that both reformist activists and politicians have, but also the settler privilege that they evoke when constructing border policies.

We need to be asking the why in all this? Immigration Reform to us, means militarization of our homelands, so we dare to ask the politicians and reformist activists, how can reform for many, be at the expense of the original inhabitants of the land? We need to see it for what it is, and question neo-liberal projects, such as NAFTA, not just put a bandage on policies that affect everybody! We must challenge both the politicians and reformist activists that try to pit indigenous and migrant communities against each other in their “political” solutions! We are in this together, and must start at the root of the problem, in this case from an O’odham perspective.

From Noble Savage to Righteous Warrior

H/t to Intercontinental Cry.

Kanien’kehaka Educator, Author and Activist Taiaiake Alfred talks about the realities and challenges of nativism, decolonization and indigeneity in this lecture, entitled, From Noble Savage to Righteous Warrior: Regenerating and Reinscribing Indigenous Presence.

An internationally recognized Kanien’kehaka (Mohwak) intellectual and political advisor, Taiaiake Alfred is well known for his incisive critiques and groundbreaking work in the fields of Indigenous governance and political philosophy.

In the past, Taiaiake has served as an advisor on land and governance and cultural restoration issues for many indigenous governments and organizations, and he has authored several important books including Wasáse: Indigenous Pathways of Action and Freedom and Peace, Power, Righteousness. Currently, Taiaiake serves as a Professor of Indigenous Governance at the University of Victoria.

On March 6, 2010, Taiaiake was in Vancouver to deliver this welcomed lecture as part of the Global Encounters Initiative Symposium at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

Speaking for a little under an hour, Taiaiake takes the time to explore a number of essential observations concerning the realities and consequences of nativism, the process of decolonization on a personal and collective level, and the heart of what it means to be “indigenous.”

A big thanks to UBC for fixing this video. To see more great lectures from the Global Encounters Initiative Symposium, please visit http://www.youtube.com/user/UBC

Indigenous Alliance Without Borders: ‘We Are Now Living in a No Brown Zone’

Indigenous Alliance Without Borders urges solidarity in the battle against racism in Arizona, support Battle of Phoenix on May 29, 2010.

By the Indigenous Alliance without Borders/Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, h/t to Censored News.

Indigenous Peoples and immigrants have much in common, in particular the alienation and oppression we experience in U.S. society.

The U.S. Government fails to protect the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — A roll of the United States Supreme Court throughout history in the protection of the rights of minorities.

The Supreme Court has moved away from from the guideline principles called ‘canons of construction.’ Under those guidelines, the court would interpret treaties and Indian statues in favor of the tribes when they were unclear or uncertain. It is one area of law that has always been useful for tribes. Now, with the creation of Homeland Security, War Against the Poor, War Against Drugs, War Against Terrorism and Now, with the War Against Minorities in Arizona, Indigenous peoples will continue to be profoundly affected!

Many Indigenous peoples are intensely caught up in the current debate of issues. Individual Indians and groups in the Indian communities, while they may disagree on current tribal priorities and ways, must look beyond all current disputes and work together for the concept of Global Vision, Unity, Community Partnership and Coalition Building.

Once again Indigenous Peoples are being left out of the whole anti-immigrant, anti-people of color and anti-ethnic legislation and debate!

The long history of assimilation, termination, cultural genocide and genocide policies is not over for Indian peoples.

Its time to Organize, Speak Out, Join Forces with Other People of Color Movements to bring attention and fight for Indigenous Rights, Sovereignty Rights, Border Rights of Mobility & Passage, Cultural Rights and Environmental Protection of Mother Earth.

The privilege of citizenship were slow to come to the Indigenous peoples while the responsibility came right of way. The Navajo Code Talkers served at a time that Arizona was still denying them to vote.

Now, all of us Indians have to be careful about being brown in a no brown zone whether you are a veteran or not. Your children will not be allowed to learn about the contributions American Indians made to this great nation. Our children/grandchildren will not be allowed to learn about our elders, culture and ways. They will only learn about the good things the great “White Fathers” founders and builders did for this Nation and for all of us.

The is very much at the heart of the mission of the Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras: Calling attention to the people who have the least voice and to bring that conversation forward.

We must be part of the Pozole Event, The Call to Action, Support & PARTICIPATE the Battle of Phoenix ON SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2010!!!!!!

ALIANZA INDIGENA SIN FRONTERAS – INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS TOO!! SUPPORT AND JOIN US – PROTECT YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS & THE FUTURE OF YOU CHILDREN!

Mike Wilson: Tohono O’odham Chairman Lacks Moral Authority to Speak Against SB 1070

Mike Wilson and his life saving water

By Mike Wilson, writing for Censored News. Mike is a Tohono O’odham who puts out water for migrants, says Tohono O’odham Chairman Ned Norris has no moral authority to speak on behalf of migrants, since Chairman Norris and other elected O’odham officials encourage the deaths of migrants on a daily basis.

TUCSON — U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva, Dist. 7, had a protest rally in Tucson against SB 1070 at one of his campaign offices on Saturday morning, April the 24th.

Guess who was the first speaker? Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris, Jr.!

I’m insulted and angry that the Chairman was invited to speak, given the Tohono O’odham Nation’s fatal anti-immigrant history. The Tohono O’odham Nation has a 10 year demonstrated record of allowing hundreds of Indigenous and Latino migrant men, women and children to die by dehydration on tribal lands.

The Tohono O’odham Legislative Council, the Executive Branch, and specifically Baboquivari District, not only do nothing to prevent inevitable migrant deaths, but worse, continue to confiscate and/or destroy my 4 water stations in the Baboquivari District, the deadliest migrant trail in the U.S.

To destroy or remove life-saving water in the Sonora Desert is a deliberate, universal crime against humanity for which the Tohono O’odham Government and its leaders must be held accountable.

Mohawk Women Condemn Fascist Arizona Law

From Mohawk Nation News.

May 14, 2010. On November 7, 2007 the Women Title Holders presented the Mohawk position to the Indigenous ‘Border’ Summit held at the Tohono O’Odham Territory. A wall is being built through the middle by Mexico and the US. Arizona’s new illegal laws on racial profiling and censoring truth in Arizona is trying to declare war on Indigenous and international law. They are destined to lose.

TO: The invaders of Great Turtle Island, all their criminal agencies and their international terrorist allies.

RE: Rotino’shonni:onwe freedom to traverse Onowaregeh, Great Turtle Island, and beyond without hindrance from the invading aliens and their agents; and to conduct trade and commerce without interference.

PREAMBLE: Only we, the original peoples, have sovereign authority on Onowaregeh, Great Turtle Island. We cannot forfeit our natural birthright. We survived mass murder, chemical and biological warfare, starvation, physical and mental torture, lies, ignorance and genocide.

Fabricated colonial nations of Canada, US and Mexico and other corporate ‘franchises’ of Europe are squatting on Indigenous lands that leech off our peoples and resources.

WAMPUM 44 Kaianereh’kowa [our constitution]. We the Kohtihon’tia:kwenio – Women Title Holders – are the caretakers of the land, water and air of “Onowaregeh”; we have the duty to preserve and protect the land for the future generations.

a.WHEREAS the Two Row Wampum Agreement and Wampum 58 of the Kaianereh’kowa, the Great Law, stipulate that no one shall restrict our freedom of passage on our lands and beyond; these imaginary lines [borders] were created by foreign capitalist corporations named “Canada”, “US” and “Mexico”. They illegally usurped and divided up our lands and resources, without our knowledge or consent; and we will continue to assert our sovereignty and alliances among our nations as we have done since time immemorial.

The Top Ten Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legal

It is obvious to all but the most wilfully blind that there are millions of regular pot smokers in America and millions more infrequent smokers, all of whom have their own reasons for smoking, from health to just pure recreations. It should also be clear that smoking pot clearly has far fewer dangerous and hazardous effects on both the health of the individual and society than many drugs that are legal, such as alcohol.

However, it is also clear to all that the fight to legalize the consumption of marijuana has been an uphill one, to say the least. Things may begin to change though this fall with a referendum in California that is set to place the question of the legalization of pot before the voters. Current polls show more than than half (56%) of voters are in favour of the legalization and taxing of pot.

In honour of this here is High Times‘s top 10 reasons that marijuana should be legal, part of its 420 Campaign legalization strategy.

10. Prohibition Has Failed to Control the Use and Domestic Production of Marijuana.

The government has tried to use criminal penalties to prevent marijuana use for over 75 years and yet: marijuana is now used by over 25 million people annually, cannabis is currently the largest cash crop in the United States, and marijuana is grown all over the planet. Claims that marijuana prohibition is a successful policy are ludicrous and unsupported by the facts, and the idea that marijuana will soon be eliminated from America and the rest of the world is a ridiculous fantasy.