PRESIDENT SIGNS BACA BILL CREATING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY
2008
Washington, DC – The Friday after Thanksgiving will now be
designated as Native American Heritage Day. President Bush has
signed into law the legislation introduced by Congressman Joe
Baca. Native American Heritage Day honors Native people for
their many contributions to the United States. Americans of all
backgrounds are asked to observe the day through appropriate
ceremonies and activities. K-12 schools are also encouraged to
enhance Native American studies by focusing on Native history,
achievements, and contributions. "This law will help to
preserve the great history and legacy of Native Americans," said
Rep. Baca, (D-CA). "Native Americans and their ancestors have
played a vital role in the formation of our nation. They have
fought with valor and died in every American war dating back to
the Revolutionary War, and deserve this special
acknowledgement."
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/77628
US Supreme Court to rule
on Hawaiian lands
Honolulu:
Next spring, the The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on an
appeal made by Hawaii's Supreme Court. Hawaii ruling stopped the
state from selling or leasing 1,200,000 acres on Maui and the
Big Island once owned by the former Hawaiian monarchy.
They cited a pending vote in Congress that would grant Native
Hawaiians federal recognition and rights similar to those of
American Indians and Native Alaskans. This includes the rights
to traditional lands. Hawaiian Attorney General Mark Bennett
believe the Hawaiian Supreme Court was wrong. "Prudent
management of those lands for the benefit of all of Hawaii's
citizens must include, on occasion, the right to sell or
exchange land," he said. But Haunani Apoliona from the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs expects the high court to back up the Hawaii
court's ruling." We firmly stand behind the state Supreme
Court's opinion, which says the state should keep the ceded land
trust intact until Native Hawaiian claims to these lands are
settled," she said. Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs has
already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now awaits
a Senate vote. A decision is expected by June.
photo: http://www.edithkanakaolefoundation.org
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/02/ap5501663.html
Tribe Could Make History
Connecticut: On November 3, the U.S. Supreme Court takes on a
case to determine how tribes like the Pequots and the Mohegans
might expand their sovereign lands. The case revolves around
the return of 31 acres in Charlestown, R.I., to the Narragansett
Indians. In 1998, The Bureau of Indian Affairs, part of the
Department of Interior, placed the 31 acres into a trust for the
tribe. Both Charlestown and the state then sued the department,
and it's been in court ever since. The case is being closely
watched by states and tribes everywhere and could have an
enormous impact on tribal sovereignty.
http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=b189fb0c-3f19-456e-b17e-1d18686b5cd8
Japan Officially
Recognizes Ainu
Japan: In an historic breakthrough, Japan's Diet [legislature]
has unanimously passed a resolution to recognize the Ainu as
indigenous people. "We are thrilled," said a tearful Tadashi
Sato, director of the Ainu Cultural Centre in Hokkaido. "This is
the first time the government has recognized us as indigenous
people. We appreciate it." The resolution asks Japan to
officially recognize the Ainu as a people with a unique culture
and language. They also want Japan to create policies that
address their problems. If passed, the resolution would end
Japan's false claims that it has no minorities and is not practicing discrimination. "In fact, the treatment of
the Ainu over the past 150 years by the Japanese majority is no
different from the sad history of aboriginal peoples in the
U.S., Canada or Australia," said Andrew Horvat, a professor at
Tokyo Keizai University. About 200,000 Ainu live throughout
Japan. Most live on the northernmost island of Hokkaido.
According to a 2006 survey, the rate of Ainus living on welfare
is more than three times the national average. The proportion of
Ainu receiving higher education was 1/3 the national average.
Smithsonian's Ainu people online exhibit:
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/ainu/index.html
photo:
www.d.umn.edu
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/06/asia/AS-GEN-Japan-Indigenous-People.php
Brutal Crackdown on
Indigenous Protest
La Maria Indigenous Reserve, Columbia: DÌa de la Raza (Day of
the Race) falls on Oct. 12, the anniversary of Christopher
Columbus's arrival in the Americas. In La MarÌa, indigenous
groups and demonstrators blocked the Pan American highway, the
main north-south artery in Colombia. To clear the road, the army
and police went in with helicopters and armoured vehicles, and
opened fire with live ammunition. "It was terrible, and so
unfair. We had no weapons. We only have our ceremonial staffs
which symbolise authority. At this moment (Oct 15) they are
still shooting, although they have removed us from the Pan
American highway," said spokesperson Manuel Rozental.
Nevertheless, "the number of protesters is growing. More people
are coming down from the mountains to participate in the
demonstration, and we estimate there are at least 200,000
indigenous people involved throughout the country."
Active protests are taking place in 16 of Colombia's 32
provinces:
La Guajira, Curdoba, Sucre, Atl·ntico and ChocÛ, on the northern
Caribbean coast;
Norte de Santander, Boyac· and Casanare, in the east;
Meta, to the south of Bogot;
Risaralda, Caldas, Quindio and Tolima in the centre of the
country;
Cauca and Huila in the southwest;
and Valle del Cauca, in the west.
The indigenous organisations have a list of 12 demands that they
want to negotiate in direct talks with rightwing Colombian
President, lvaro Uribe. Since 2002, when the Uribe
administration took office, 1,253 indigenous people have been
murdered and at least 54,000 forced from their ancestral lands,
according to the National Indigenous Organisation of Colombia.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=44307
INDIA: TRIBE DANCES IN
MASS PROTEST AGAINST BRITISH MINING COMPANY
Dongria Homelands, India: Armed with traditional weapons,
hundreds of Dongria Kondh tribal members danced and sang through
Bhubaneswar to protest a British company's plan to mine their
sacred mountain. The company, Vedanta, has received approval
from India’s Supreme Court to mine aluminum ore on the Dongria’s
land. The mine would destroy the forests and streams the Dongria
depend on, and would turn their sacred mountain into an
industrial wasteland. "We will carry on our struggle to save
Niyamgiri at any cost," said Jitu Jakesika, a Dongria tribal
member. Stephen Corry of Survival International said. "If
further proof were needed that the Dongria Kondh are determined
to stop Vedanta, this would be it. The Dongria know that the
mine would destroy them. Vedanta must heed their voices and pull
out of this project." Vedanta is owned by London-based
billionaire Anil Agarwal.
photo: www.freewebs.com
www.survival-international.org
The National Children’s
Study
The National Children’s Study will follow 100,000 U.S. children
from birth to age 21. Researchers expect the study will help
them better understand how environmental factors affect
children's health and development. Ultimately, NCS will be one
of the richest research efforts in this field and could form the
basis of child health guidance, interventions, and policy for
generations to come.
Watch the National Children's Study video:
http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov/about/overview/Pages/video.aspx
http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Orchard serves as
health, educational tool for Hopi
Arizona: First Mesa Elementary School and Moencopi Day School
now have their own orchard of 40 trees. The trees include
apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, cherries, pomegranates,
persimmons and jujubes. The trees were planted by FruitaBü,
Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and Hopi Tutskwa PermaCulture.
They also built a drip irrigation system for the trees so the
orchard would build on the Hopi's historical agriculture. It
also supports and nurtures a healthy lifestyle, responsibility
and respect for plant life. First Mesa and Moencopi students are
responsible for learning about and caring for their organic
orchard. Three other community orchards were planted in the
village of Kykotsmovi. In all, 320 trees were planted.
http://navajohopiobserver.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=7251
Sled dogs could hold
clues to human health problems: researchers
Alaska: Most Alaskan sled dogs are lean -- they only weigh 20
-30 kilograms. Michael Davis believes when these genetics are
combined with the right diet and training, sled dogs are
arguably the greatest athletes in the animal world. "For their
size, their strength is substantial ... their capacity for
endurance is beyond anything that I've worked with," Davis
said. "I mean, these dogs are very resilient, very confident
dogs." Davis, who is from the Center for Veterinary Health
Sciences at Oklahoma State University, took blood samples from
Alaskan sled dogs to learn more about the dogs' physical
make-up. Davis said sled dogs can run thousands of kilometres
in temperatures as cold as 40 C. This ability to burn up to
12,000 kilocalories per day when racing may have implications
for human health. "If we can identify how they are better
equipped at dealing with high amounts of fat in their diet, we
may be able to find some metabolic strategies that can help
humans with obesity and Type 2 diabetes," he said.
Photo: AP
http://www.cbc.ca
Stop tranquillizing
polar bears for research, NTI says
Nunavut :Polar bear research is currently being done in Nunavut
hunting areas, including the Davis Strait, Foxe Basin and Hudson
Bay. Now Inuit elders, hunters and Nunavut leaders want
scientists to stop tranquillizing polar bears and other wildlife
until newer methods are developed. The Inuit worry about the
health of the animals and people who hunt and eat them as
subsistence food. Animals that have been drugged should not be
consumed for at least one year after being hunted.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/09/25/nti-bears.html
Newspaper receives
cancer group's award
South Dakota: Indian Country Today newspaper has received the Media Mark of Excellence Award in Print from the National Cancer
Society. ACS says a 2007 survey of South Dakota tribes revealed
their top health concern is lack of awareness about cancer
prevention and detection. Through its regular column in Indian
Country Today's newspaper and website, the American Cancer
Society can reach Native Americans with information they need.
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=9237938
Historic garden offers
glimpse into early Native American life
Virginia: The Powhatan County Historic Garden honors the 400th
anniversary of the establishment of Jamestown colony. The garden
plants include native species during pre-Columbus day. Some of
the medicinal plants include:
Bee Balm,: used for treating colic, fever and colds and to
simply enjoy
Columbine: the seeds were used for a tea to treat headaches.
Joe Pye Weed: used to cure typhus.
Turtlehead: to remove parasites and for other medicinal
purposes.
http://www.powhatantoday.com/index.php/news/article/historic-garden-offers-glimpse-into-early-native-American-life/17099/
