Native Village
Youth and Education News
June 15, 2005 Issue 154 Volume 3
“I have my community. Not to say that it is a
developed community, but it is true that we all live like the five fingers in a hand, which know how to join with each
other.”
— Panchito Ramírez
The American Indian IQ Quiz
The American Indian College Fund has posted an online test to determine
your knowledge of American Indian Issues. The "American Indian IQ Test" asks the following questions:
x 1.
Do Indians receive a free education from the government?
x 2.
How many tribal colleges are currently served by the American Indian College Fund?
x 3.
When did the majority of American Indians become American citizens?
x 4.
What are the Five Civilized Tribes? And why were they considered civilized?
x 5.
Do American Indians serve in the armed forces?
x 6.
How many Indian people reside in the U.S.?
x 7.
How many federally recognized tribes are there in the United States and Alaska?
x 8.
What role did Harvard and Dartmouth play in Indian education?
x 9.
Can individual American Indians own casinos?
x 10.
What were George Washington's agreements in the first treaty signed with the Delaware Indians?
Find the answers: http://www.collegefund.org/
Red tape? What red tape?
The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers has
identified the best way for tribes and federal agencies to discuss issues involving places of religious and cultural
significance. That information is outlined in a report completed by state, local, federal and tribal officials.
According to the National Historic Preservation Act, “tribal consultation is required by law and this study provides
the legal background, as well as a model protocol to follow for when federal agencies consult with tribes on projects
that will affect them,” said Sherry Hutt, one of the report’s authors. “Regardless of the desired result -- to
build bridges of communication or to proceed smoothly into a project -- this study shows that if tribal consultation is
not early and informed, a meeting is not consultation.”
Read the study: : www.nathpo.org/special_projects-Best_Practices.html
Native American Times
PELTIER HEARING TO ADDRESS
LAKOTA NATION SOVEREIGNTY
South Dakota: In 1975, Leonard Peltier and fellow warriors responded to a
call to protect Oglala Lakota people on the Pine Ridge Reservation. After a shootout with the FBI, Peltier was
blamed for killing two FBI agents for which he is now serving two consecutive life terms. Despite evidence from
documents, witnesses, or FBI cover-ups that attest to his innocence, Leonard remains in prison. Now Leonard's
defense team has been granted a hearing to correct his illegal sentencing. Their motion claims the United States
District Court lacked jurisdiction under the statutes upon which Mr. Peltier was convicted and sentenced. The statutes
in question require that the crime take place "within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the
United States." Since the agents died on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation which is neither "within the
special maritime [or] territorial jurisdiction of the United States," the Peltier defense team is asking the Court
to grant Mr. Peltier's motion and vacate the illegal sentences imposed upon him. The hearing takes place June 15.
Read Leonard's latest public statement: Statement
to Supporters June 10, 2005
http://mytwobeadsworth.com/LP605.html
Poor Little Rich Country
Bolivia: Quechuans in colorful ponchos are taking control of highways, and
tens of thousands of Aymara Indians are on the march. An American Indian majority is standing up to the light-skinned,
European elite and its corrupt relationship with the world. McDonald's closed its outlets here; demonstrators in
bowler hats forced out water privatizers; an income tax was blocked, and former president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozado was
ousted over his plan to export Bolivian gas to California. Many are calling the remarkable protests in Bolivia a
war against globalization. Today the country is paralyzed by blockades and protests to force president Carlos Mesa
and corrupt officials to resign. Highland and Amazon peoples compose almost two-thirds of Bolivia's population, the
highest proportion of Indians in the hemisphere. Yet still today,, Bolivian apartheid continues. Indians are barred from
swimming pools at some clubs, they are still "peones" on eastern haciendas, and Indian women are pushed off
city sidewalks. But as one Quechua said: "Our cultures have been blocked for 500 years. This is our
only voice."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/11/opinion/11powers.html?ei=5070&en=45749150b5bd2236&ex=1119153600&adxnnl=0&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=1118499002-En9QirgHLbfYtFrmf8hUpg&pagewanted=print
Native
Leader Tells Prince 100-year-old Agreement Is Not Being Respected
Ontario: England's Prince Edward met with First Nations leaders to mark
the 100th anniversary of The James Bay Treaty. The historic treaty, signed by Prince Edward's great-great grandfather,
created a peaceful alliance between the British Crown and First Nations people across much of Ontario. "It is a
great honour to be here in the centenary year of that treaty, basically a treaty from my family to the peoples of
the First Nations," Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation told Prince Edward that treaty is
not being respected. "Our forefathers made treaty on a nation-to-nation basis to co-exist peacefully in our
homelands," Beardy said. He said that while the treaty generated prosperity and wealth in parts of Ontario and
Canada, many indigenous northern communities suffer from terrible poverty, illiteracy and suicide rates.
"I think (Ontarians) need to know what's happening to us, their treaty partners..." he said. 'My
people are suffering. Some of my communities are still using outhouses. This is the year 2005. We've had people
walk on the moon and yet my people are still using outhouses. A lot of them can't even access basic education. That has
to change." The United Nations ranks living standards in the region as "squarely in the Third World
category," with extremely low levels of literacy and "terribly high" levels of suicide.
St. Catharines Standard Group Inc
State senators call for
action at Whiteclay
Nebraska: Fifteen Nebraska senators told the Oglala Sioux Tribe in
South Dakota that Nebraska needs to do more about the alcohol problems in Whiteclay. Alcohol is banned on the
5,000-square-mile Pine Ridge Reservation, home to 15,000 Oglala Sioux. Whiteclay, which borders Pine Ridge, has
only 14 residents and 3 liquor stores which sell thousands of cans of beer each week to the Sioux. Today, the
reservation has one of the nation's highest alcoholism-related mortality rates. Nebraska's lawmakers said
people who purchase and consume alcohol in Whiteclay must take responsibility for their actions. "We also
recognize the state of Nebraska's contribution to the misery caused in Whiteclay by its licensing of alcohol sales
within 200 feet of a reservation which allows neither the sale nor consumption of alcoholic beverages upon its
lands," the senators said. Tribal police will now help patrol the streets of Whiteclay.
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/06/09/nebraska/doc42a89153a9969005894477.txt
Talking elder issues
Oklahoma: Gary Kodaseet, a Kiowa elder from Oklahoma City, is the former
Executive Director of the National Indian Council on Aging. Kodaseet, 69, recently answered questions about elders'
issues.
What is the gap in funding between what the Indian Council on Aging asked for and what it actually
received?
The National Indian Council on Aging asked for at least
$100,000,000. Currently, the budget is $27,000,000. Many tribes don't receive services because they must have 60 elders
that are 55 and older, and a lot of tribes don't have that.
What are things that can be done to help Native American elders,
who are traditionally held in very high regard?
There needs to be more money for eating programs.
Transportation is also a big problem. Many elders can't get to the services they need, and the services can't come to
them.
Are there enough groups lobbying only for Native American
seniors?
We only have the National Indian Council on Aging. Some Indian
organizations have partnered with the NICA, including the Indian Health Board and also the National Congress of American
Indians. Some people are lobbying Congress to increase funding for tribal programs. One thing under President Bush is
the Medicare prescription drug benefit which requires seniors to get their medicines at regular pharmacies and not the
Indian Health Service. We need to have more education for the elders on how to apply for the new service.
What can AARP can do to help elders?
AARP has information centers. An elder should visit them, see
what different programs are available, and request printed
information.
Do you find that Indian young people are doing enough today to
take care of their elders?
As far as long term care, elders are taking care of the young
people. Grandparents are raising their grandchildren because their children are having problems. With the high cost of
childcare, grandparents have a needed role in the family.
http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6574
Home could be foundation
for Navajo enterprise
New Mexico: Mary and Kee Augustine are an elderly Navajo couple living on
the Navajo Reservation. For years they have applied--and been denied--housing assistance, even though their home was
literally falling apart around them. Now, thanks to an Arizona State University project, the Augustines will
receive a new home with the cooperation of the Stardust Center for Affordable Homes. A home will be designed and
built from FlexCrete — an energy-efficient, aerated concrete made from fly ash. Aerated FlexCrete has a lower
compression strength than concrete, thus making it easier to cut, cheaper to build and much more efficient than a
traditionally constructed home. The Navajo Housing Authority donated more than 1,500 blocks to construct the Augustines’
home, along with a week’s worth of labor to assist in laying the block. The home is designed like a traditional
hogan, with a typical Western rectangular design coming off the round structure to complete the home. A dedication
ceremony for the Augustines’ new FlexCrete home is set for July 3.
http://www.daily-times.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=121&num=18854
Mni Wiconi deadline looms
South Dakota: As Mni Wiconi project crewswork to deliver Missouri River
water to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, officials worry that Congress won't provide enough money to finish the
project. Last fall Congress approved $25,000,000 for construction during 2005, and this summer's work will
begin soon. For 2006 the U.S. House on passed a bill providing $22,000,000. But the $22,000,000 for Mni
Wiconi includes $7,000,000 for operation and maintenance, meaning less than $15,000,000 is available for actual
construction. "That's ugly," said Mike Kurle, manager of West River/Lyman Jones Rural Water Systems.
"If it stays at $15,000,000 for construction, it will set this project back four years." Oglala Sioux
Rural Water Supply System will operate Mni Wiconi's core line and water treatment. Head engineer Mike Watson said
about $285,000,000 has been spent on Mni Wiconi so far. He estimates the project needs about $142,200,000 to be
completed by the 2008 deadline. However, if the project is not finished by then, Congress must reauthorize it before
more funds can be provided. Once completed, Mni Wiconi will deliver Missouri River water to about 50,000 people on
three Indian reservations and nine counties. The project is now about 67% complete.
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/05/26/news/local/news03.txt
Klamath Fisheries Facing Closure
California: The Hoopa and Yurok tribes face drastic cuts to their annual
salmon harvest from the Klamath River. Over the past several years, they have harvested 30,000-70,000 fish--half the
total salmon population. This year, however, the total fish populations are only about 16,800 fish. In addition,
up to 80% of the fish are diseased. Mike Orcutt, Hoopa Valley Tribe's director of tribal fisheries, said the
tribe will likely only harvest enough fish for subsistence and ceremonial purposes and all but shut down any commercial
fishing. Many problems are blamed for the sharp decline in salmon including a five-year drought, and federal
management of the river which allots too much water to farmers. The Bush administration has been roundly criticized by
tribes, fishermen, and environmentalists for keeping the water flowing to the farmers at the expense of the salmon and
other fish species.
Indian Country Today
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