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O'siyo Brothers and Sister!
Let's be honest with ourselves. Neither of the
two major political parties in the U.S. care about Indian issues (nor,
for that matter, do
the major political powers Canada or any other country with indigenous
populations). They, like the major corporations, only care about how
they can use Indians and Indian resources.
If you need any evidence that any of the above is true, let's begin with
a few facts. The NCAI has publicly decried how the Republican steering
committee in Congress has deliberately blocked every single Indian
issue. The leading Democratic presidential candidates proved how much
they care about Indians and Indian by having turned their backs on "Prez
on the Rez". Bill Richardson did show and made some pretty impressive
statements. Few political pundits give Bill Richardson a real chance at
the top spot. If he ends up in a cabinet post for Obama, Clinton or
Edwards you can bet what will happen to his ideas.
In the meantime Indians continue to be dealt a very rotten hand. The
Blackfeet continue to see the headwaters for their water diverted for
use by non-Indian communities. The Ponca are watching ther children and
elders suffer killing respiratory illness due to carbon emissions from a
plant upwind from them. The Hopi and Navajo watched their aquifer being
drained for coal production. The Navajo are having to fight to prevent
uranium mining on their lands in spite of the fact they are sick of
watching their citizens suffer and die from radiation-related illness.
Do you honestly believe any of these terrible conditions would be
tolerated if the citizens suffering lived in Macon, Georgia or Lockney,
Texas or Hines, Oregon? I don't think so and I doubt you do, either.
Furthermore, I'm pretty sure the legislators from their districts,
whether Republican or Democrats would fight to protect those communities
with every legislative trick at their disposal, and state and federal
agencies would be investigating and prosecuting any legal infractions.
High-profile attorneys would be lining up to draft damage lawsuits. But
none of that ever happens when the victims live on Indian lands.
What if there were a political entity that did care about Indian issues?
Think about it. Would you support it? Indians have already proven they
can exercise political power in several states such as South Dakota and
Washington, so don't blow the idea off.
Consider whether, if there were a political movement that said, "We have
been watching as one theft after another has been allowed to happen to
Indian peoples, and we have come to say, 'No more'." Would you get
behind such a movement?
Think about it hard, because other people, Indian people, are, and they
believe the time has come to stop the bleeding off of our resources and
our ways. They want to exclude no one in the world who wants to see the
Indian, Aboriginal, Indigenous ways become the direction by which
countries are guided.
Think about it real hard.
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
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CONTENTS LIST OF ARTICLES IN
VOLUME 15, ISSUE 036
FOR ARTICLES GOT TO
WOTANGING IKCHE-Native American News
- Interior Whistleblower Faces Firing Threat
- Indian Landowners Excluded From Meeting
- Restore Recognition To Winnemem Wintu Tribe
- Human Rights Convention Moved To Mille Lacs
- Tigua Obtain Achievement Center
- IHS Pitches Sioux San Expansion
- Tribal-State Work Group Highlights Critical Issues
- Many Dates In Oklahoma Are Not Remembered
- Tears Shed For Chaco
- First Nations Center Opens
- Raytheon To Double Jobs, Space On Navajo Nation
- Nageezi Chapter Rises From The Ashes
- State, Tribes To Try Negotiating Over Culverts
- Breaking Down Doors
- Appeals Court Backs Climbing Ban At Sacred Site
- Blackfeet Certified As First NA One-Stop System
- Tribal Focus Underlies Firm's Mission
- Tribes Open First California's Off-Rez Hotel
- Graff: Indian Health Service Reforms Long Overdue
- Dr. Vainio: My College Grade Point Average Of 0.00
- Jodi Rave: Help Lacking For Hidden War Wound
- Graham: Judge, Jury & Executioner Of Cherokee Nation
- Giago: 'Commod Bods' Going Out Of Fashion
- Yellow Bird: Smoke-Free Casinos Would Be Good Bet
- Parker: Indigenous Nations Speak With One Voice
- Trahant: From Outside Narrow, Beaten Path
- Jodi Rave: Message Of Healing
- First Nations Center Opens
- Canada Seeks Passport Exceptions For Aboriginals
- Ottawa Wrong To Reject 'Unofficial' Forms
- Travesty Of Justice In Rezberry
- Court Set To Decide Graham's Extradition Fate
- Native Justice -- Questions Linger Over Child's Removal
- Rustywire: The 'Lectric
- Del "Abe" Jones Poem: The Wall
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"When I hear my granddaughter reply 'I am
Tsimshian' to the question who she is, my heart glows with pride. At
last I have lived to see my grandchildren grasp a part of my culture,
and it is very dear to my heart. All of my life I have tried to gather
all of the information about my tribe, so I can store it away in my
memory. Now finally I am giving my cultural gift to my granddaughters."
-- Teresa Bariquit, Tsimshian |