Southern Border Indigenous Peoples Roundtable Symposium

Southern Border Indigenous Peoples Roundtable Symposium

Earthcycles and Censored News will broadcast live!
Thursday, November 18 · 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
YWCA Frances McClelland Leadership Center
525 N. Bonita Ave Tucson, Arizona

Photo: San Xavier, remembering the migrants/Photo by Brenda Norrell

By Alianza Indigena sin Fronteras/Indigenous Alliance without Borders

For over a decade the Indigenous Alliance Without Borders has worked to be an international voice for traditional southern borderland indigenous peoples. The Indigenous Alliance promotes respect for indigenous rights, border rites of passage and recognition of our indigenous relative’s cultural affiliation with Southern Border Indigenous Nations from California, Arizona and Texas. To ease border crossings for all indigenous peoples residing in Mexico to attend ceremonies, social events and visit family.

Why a Roundtable Border Symposium?

For more than two centuries indigenous peoples have inhabited the southern border long before the establishment of the U.S. and Mexico Nations. Indigenous peoples have been impacted by policies set in the far off capitals of these two nations, but have continued to maintained their cultures and social networks despite these bad government policies indigenous peoples continue to maintain their way of life and address their every day needs; We have continued to maintain our ancient indigenous cultures and social networks within our traditional homelands now divided by the U.S. – Mexico international boundary.

Since 1990, our Indigenous brothers and sisters have been faced with legislation and restrictive border enforcement policies, militarization/border wall, heavy migrant and undocumented traffic, environmental destruction of indigenous borderlands, ceremonial grounds, and sacred sites. We need to educate and inform the general community on border indigenous concerns affecting the southern border indigenous peoples

Round Table Discussion:
•Recent Changes to U.S. Immigration & Border Policies could erode or affirm indigenous peoples rights to maintain their cultural connections across the U.S. – Mexico border;
•Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative does not apply to Indigenous Mexican nationals who are culturally affiliated by blood relative, language, ceremonies and traditions
•Affects of Racism and negative political climate in Arizona on indigenous communities
•Potential Regulatory Solutions and Strategies to promote Southern Indigenous Rights and Justice.

Navajo Water Rights: Free, Prior and Informed Consent

Immediate Release: Contact: Elouise Brown, 505-947-6159 or 928-401-1777
THE HUMAN RIGHT OF THE NAVAJO PEOPLE TO FREE, PRIOR AND INFORMED CONSENT TO APPROVAL OF THE NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT:

DOODA DESERT ROCK AND THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE SPEAK TO THE ISSUE
The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission adopted Resolution No. NNHRCOCT-8-10 on October 1, 2010. It recommends that the Navajo Nation Council should refer the approval of the Northeastern Arizona Water Rights Settlement Agreement to the Navajo People in a referendum.

The resolution is based on consideration of several important factors, and among them is the “world standard” for decisions by indigenous peoples on their resources made by “free, prior, [and] informed consent” (Resolution at Preamble No. 6).

The right of free, prior and informed consent is a right that belongs to all indigenous peoples, including the Navajo People as a collective right to be exercised in the electoral process. The existence of the right as an international human right has been confirmed by the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in a report to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations that was accepted by the Council. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Progress report on the study of indigenous peoples and the right to participate in decision making, ¶¶ 34-42, No. A/HRC/15/35 (23 August 2010); Human Rights Council, Human rights and indigenous peoples, No. A/HRC/RES/15/7 (5 October 2010).

The human rights principles are plain and clear:

• “Free” means done without undue influence or coercion and without regard to favoritism or promises and in an open and transparent way;

• “Prior” means done before the fact and without any binding obligation on the part of the Navajo People done by water negotiators, with side deals and promises that cannot be enforced or favors for approval by public officials;

• “Informed” means that those who make the decision, and it should be the Navajo People in a referendum vote, means that there is adequate, accurate information on the huge 400+ page document that Navajos or ordinary understanding, in their chapters and in the areas that will be affected by the agreement, know precisely what is being proposed and understand its implications and consequences as such impact their daily lives and futures; and

• “Consent” means a knowing act of freely making an informed decision about one’s own future and that of community and of Mother Earth in a meaningful way, namely a referendum vote.
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Hopi Chairman's Proposals Removes Religious Protections in Hopi Constitution

FROM THE HOPI RESERVATION
HOPI CHAIRMAN’S PROPOSALS REMOVES RELIGIOUS PROTECTIONS
IN HOPI CONSTITUTION

Press statement
Freedom to Practice Religion Infringed by Constitutional Changes Proposed by Hopi Chairman
Proposals Strip Religious Leaders Governmental and Religious Authorities Protected in Hopi Constitution
SHUNGOPAVI VILLAGE, Hopi – The right to practice religion is a fundamental right of freedom guaranteed by the Bill of Rights which is part of the U.S. Constitution. These rights according to Ronald Wadsworth, Director of the Hopi Traditional Office located on Shungopavi Village at the Hopi Reservation, are today threatened by Hopi Chairman Leroy Shingotewa.
Hopi Nation Director Wadsworth said “a recent call for the establishment of a ‘revised Hopi Constitutional amounts to the destruction and removal of existing religious and traditional practices effectively creating an environment hostile to religion and thereby ultimately forcing traditional religious practices underground.”
“The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right of the people to practice the religion of their choice. The Hopi Constitution also protects Hopi Religious practices and traditional religious leader’s practices; however, changes proposed by the Hopi Tribal Council Chairman to the Hopi Tribal Constitution reinvent the Hopi Constitution and remove the authorities and traditions of the Hopi people. Hopi Chairman Shingotewa’s so-called reforms intentionally destroy Hopi religion and practices which are the things that make us Hopi. These are the customs and practices of the Hopi people from time immemorial. The Hopi people consider the right to practice our religion a fundamental human right and a fundamental Hopi right. It is an embarrassment and an insult to the Hopi people that a Hopi Chairman who does not practice the Hopi religion leads the charge to remove those protections from the Hopi Constitution” said Ronald Wadsworth, Director of the Hopi Traditional Sovereign Nation Office located at Shungopavi Village on the Hopi Reservation.
“The Village of Shungopavi is a Traditional Village governed by a Kikmongwi since time immemorial and whose powers are inherent in the position of Kikmongwi through the traditional rite of succession. The Hopi Constitution although the creation of the white man’s government provides an additional protection of those powers which have been repeatedly acknowledged by Secretaries of Interior on behalf of the United States Government. In recent years former Secretary of Interior Manuel Lujan acknowledged the sovereignty of the Kikmongwi but also suggested the submission of a Government Plan which would further substantiate the right of Shungopavi Village to act as a sovereign entity without the involvement of the Hopi Tribal Council” said Hopi Nation Director Wadsworth. (See Albuquerque Journal report on meeting between Secretary Lujan and Shungopavi leaders.)
“The audacious and unconstitutional proposal of Hopi Council Chairman Shingotewa proposals eliminating the basic protections of the Hopi people’s right to practice the religion of their choice are unconstitutional and violate the intent and specific language of the Hopi Constitution. Chairman Shingotewa and those members of the Hopi Tribal Council who voted to support the changes to the Hopi Constitution are in violation of their Oath of Office wherein they promise to uphold and protect the traditions, culture, history, and religion of the Hopi people. This is cause for immediate removal and sanction for their actions which willfully violate the Hopi Constitution.”
“This is not only an infringement of the Hopi Constitution but in our opinion an infringement on the rights afforded all Americans in the U.S. Constitution. Hopi Chairman Leroy Shingotewa does not practice the Hopi Religion nor has he been forced to do so, however, his actions can only be construed as dictatorial and intended to subvert Hopi religion and practices leading to the destruction and obliteration of Hopi religion, custom, practices, culture, tradition, language and its history forever” said Hopi Traditional Nation Director Wadsworth.
“Chairman Shingotewa’s proposed amendments to the Hopi Constitution completely reorganize the current governmental system thereby placing the Hopi Tribal Council in a position of dictatorial and extreme power without a checks and balance system. Destroying Tradition and Religion leaves the Chairman and Tribal Council as the sole power at Hopi thereby making every individual subservient to the whims and dictates of the Tribal Council. There would be no accountability for expenditures or any other decision made by the Tribal Council. As it stands now the Tribal Council can oppose any decision of the tribal courts by merely convening itself into a Tribal Court and voting against the courts decision. Although, as it stands right now the Tribal Courts are funded by the Tribal Council and every Judge receives his salary through the courtesy of funds provided by the Tribal Council. The question of true Justice is at issue. Instead the system as devised is now a travesty of justice!” said Director Wadsworth.
“The Bureau of Indian Affairs is well-aware of the actions of the Chairman and Tribal Council but choose to sit quietly by and claim “gee, this is an internal matter and we can’t get involved.” That is nonsense! The Chairman and the Tribal Council are intentionally attempting to destroy Hopi religion and to install a government with exclusive powers and authorities. Of course, the BIA prefers a Tribal Council that will sign new coal leases without the input of the Hopi people. The BIA is responsible for the installation of the Tribal Council form of government for the purpose of easily acquiring permission to mine Indian lands” said Director Wadsworth.
“The Hopi people have not yet digested the fact that elected leaders of the Hopi tribe would have the audacity and temerity to wipe out the Hopi people’s religion. It is not often that religious rights are infringed upon by the decisions of the Hopi Tribal Council but today is a new day and unfortunately the actions of the Chairman require us to speak out on behalf of the protection of our religion and our religious leaders” said Hopi Director Wadsworth.
“We call on the Secretary of Interior to immediately take action to protect the Hopi people and our Hopi Religion. We call on all people to step forward and call the Secretary of Interior, the Assistant Secretary of Interior in Washington, D.C., and call your Congressman and elected leaders and ask them to help the Hopi Leaders stop the Hopi Tribal Council. We need the support of the media and the outcry of religious organizations to help us stop this atrocity from taking place” said Hopi Nation Director Ronald Wadsworth.

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For More Information Contact: Bertha Parker Bert9436@msn.com

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Los Angeles American Indian Film Festival

LOS ANGELES American Indian Film Festival
RED NATION CELEBRATION / ENTERTAINMENT

7th Annual Red Nation Film Festival – The Authentic Voice of American Indian Indigenous Cinema™
Founded American Indian Heritage Month in the city/county of Los Angeles
www.rednationfilmfestival.com
October 28 – November 9, 2010
Image: Artist: Monte Yellow Bird Sr.- Black Pinto Horse

LOS ANGELES - Red Nation Celebration and its founder Joanelle Romero began a 5 year long initiative to have the city/county of Los Angeles recognize “American Indian Heritage Month” in which Los Angeles has the largest American Indian Urban population in the country, is the Entertainment capital of the world, and is the second largest city in the United States. In 2006, Red Nation’s dream came true and American Indian Heritage Month was launch in the city/county of Los Angeles.
Read more ...
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2010/10/los-angeles-red-nation-film-festival.html

SAN FRANCISCO American Indian Film Festival

AMERICAN INDIAN FILM INSTITUTE

35th annual American Indian Film Festival
recognizes National American Indian Heritage Month
http://www.aifisf.com/home.php

Nov. 5--13, 2010

Image: Black Horse Woman • Terrance Guardipee ©2010

SAN FRANCISCO —National American Indian Heritage Month is celebrated every year in November to honor and recognize the original people of this land. The first “American Indian Day” was declared by the State of New York in 1916, but a month long recognition of Native Americans was not achieved until 1990. In that year President George H. W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating November 1990 as National American Indian Heritage Month.
The American Indian Film Institute (AIFI) encourages the broader community to recognize the significance of National American Indian Heritage Month and support organizations and events that foster historical and cultural values inherent to native peoples.
Since 1975, the American Indian Film Festival has presented over 2000 films providing inspiration and educational value to the community-at-large and support for Native film projects. AIFI encourages filmmakers to bring to the broader media culture the Native voices, viewpoints and stories that have been historically excluded from mainstream media; to develop Indian and non-Indian audiences for this work; and to advocate tirelessly for authentic representations of Indians in the media.
The 35th annual American Indian Film Festival, presented over nine days, will run Nov. 5-13 at the Landmark Embarcadero Center Cinema, One Embarcadero Center, Promenade Level; and conclude Nov. 11-13 at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon St. @ Bay Street. The American Indian Film Festival will premiere over 80 new feature films, shorts, public service, music videos and documentaries of USA American Indian and Canada First Nation communities.
Some highlights include: Feature Documentary, A Good Day to Die, a bio pick of AIM Activist, Dennis Banks on Nov. 11; AIFI’s Tribal Touring Program, a Summer Indian youth film workshop program supported by Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, CA; Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, CA; Nisqually Indian Tribe, WA on Nov. 12 at Pier 39 Theatre; AIFI’s American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show which honors filmmakers, actors and showcases contemporary Native American talent, on Saturday, November 13, 6:00 pm at the Palace of Fine Arts.
Complete Film Festival Schedule to be posted October 4th under the Film Festival section.
The American Indian Film Institute (AIFI) is a non-profit media arts center founded in 1979 to foster understanding of the culture, traditions and issues of contemporary Native Americans.

O'odham Ofelia Rivas speaks on Human Rights in Wisconsin

Tribal Elder Speaks about Human Rights

By McKenzie Badger

The Badger Herald
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 6:15 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, October 13, 2010 2:09:12 a.m.
A human rights activist detailed atrocities occurring right here in the United States to a University of Wisconsin audience Tuesday, from trucks running over teenagers to the exhumation of bodies. Ofelia Rivas is the Tribal Elder in the second largest reservation in the United States. About 20,000 citizens reside on the reservation she represents in the U.S. and 6,000 in Mexico, as their reservation crosses the border.
Read article ...
http://badgerherald.com/news/2010/10/12/tribal_elder_talks_a.php

Also see:

Indigenous grassroots women's delegation seeks sponsors for Cancun Climate Summit

Ofelia Rivas, cochair of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples at the Cochabamba Climate Summit in Bolivia, is among seeks sponsors for the summit Nov. 29 --Dec. 10, 2010:

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2010/08/grassroots-indigenous-delegation-seeks.html

Cochabamba Proposals will be brought to Cancun

Cochabamba Proposals Will be Brought to Cancun

Communique by the Plurinational State of Bolivia

Photo of Cochabamba Climate Summit by Michelle Cook, Navajo

(October 10, 2010 – Tianjin, China) The proposals of the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth have been maintained and expanded upon in the new negotiating text on climate change that emerged from the last round of negotiations in Tianjin, China.

Throughout the process in Tianjin, attempts were made to substitute the negotiating text, which contains the positions of all countries, with a text that would be limited to recognizing the principal elements of consensus for Cancun.
In some working groups, such as the one dealing with “various approaches for mitigation actions,” a proposal was presented which only contained the pro-market option. Following a long debate in which the right of all countries to have their proposals reflected in the negotiating text until a consensus is reached ultimately prevailed, a new text was agreed upon. That text now includes, among various options, the position of Cochabamba against the carbon market, and a passage asserting that the rights of nature must be recognized in mitigation actions.

Likewise, in the “shared vision” group, a proposal to consider the impacts of war on greenhouse gas emissions was introduced. Support was garnered among many delegations for a critique of market mechanisms related to forests and the need for a more integral view of forests.

In the last plenary, an intense debate took place due to the appearance of texts from facilitators of some groups that had not been previously discussed. It was made clear, though, that the entire negotiating text that emerged from Bonn, as well as the advances made in Tianjin, will continue to serve as the base for negotiations in Cancun.

The negotiating text that will be taken up in Cancun includes, among other elements, the following proposals from Cochabamba:

•Reduce emissions by more than 50% for 2017.
•Rights of Mother Earth.
•Full respect for human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples and climate migrants.
•Formation of an International Climate Justice Tribunal.
•No new carbon markets.
•6% of GDP in developed countries to finance climate change actions in developing countries.
•Lifting of barriers to intellectual property that facilitates technology transfer.
•No commodification of forests.
In Tianjin, advances were made in the institutional framework regarding financing, technology transfer and adaptation. However, on the principal issue of emissions reductions under the Kyoto Protocol, no advances were made with regard to the offers made by developed countries supporting a temperature increase of 3° to 4°C.

The situation ahead of Cancun is extremely worrying. There exists the very real danger that a text could be imposed at the last minute that was not negotiated and agreed upon by all parties. Similarly, there is the risk that the treatment of substantive themes such as emissions reductions and the maintenance of the Kyoto Protocol could be postponed until South Africa or beyond.

There is also enormous pressure by developed countries to give the green light to new carbon market mechanisms, particularly in relation to forests. In this context, the only way to advance toward a satisfactory result is by strengthening the organization and mobilization of social movements, environmentalists, indigenous peoples, women, intellectuals, artists, youth and the people as a whole behind the banner of the “People’s Agreement” of Cochabamba.

Also see:

Closing statement of ALBA countries at China Climate Summit:

http://pwccc.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/closing-speech-by-alba-countries-in-tianjin/#more-2450

VIDEO: Navajo Water Rights March

Read more at Censored News

Proposed Navajo Water Rights Settlement

Voting record from Sept. 29, 2010, including council delegates voting against tabling the settlement

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

VIDEO: Roscoe Pond's 'Natives in Hollywood: How Far Have We Come?'

The discussion is about Hollywood and the Native American. Filmmakers Sonny Skyhawk, Delanna Studi, Elena Finney, Tim Ramos, Victoria Regina, Mark Reed, Kathy Peltier, Marjorie Tanin, Cassie Melcher. It is still relevant in 2010. The Internet has changed everything though. Natives have found a voice on the Web and with Independent films.

Dooda (NO) Desert Rock says EPA action vindicates Dooda's position

DOODA (NO) DESERT ROCK SAYS AGENCY ACTION VINDICATES ITS POSITION
By Dooda (No) Desert Rock
Photo: Four Corners Power Plant
Elouise Brown, the president of Dooda (NO) Desert Rock, said today that the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to require the Four Corners Generating Station to reduce nitrogen oxide omissions vindicates its position on the plant and the other one nearby.
“President Shirley and his ‘yes’ men mocked me when I said that emissions from the two existing plants endangered Navajo health, but the decision to regulate this kind of greenhouse emission vindicates my position,” Brown said.

Read more ...

http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2010/10/dooda-no-desert-rock-epa-decision.html

Document: Proposed Navajo Water Rights Settlement (405 pages)

Proposed Navajo Water Rights Settlement
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Photo: Calvin Johnson, Navajo

Print or download the document:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2010/10/proposed-navajo-water-rights-settlement.html
Message: Please check out the link for the NE Arizona Water Rights Settlement 405 pages. Exhibit 14.1.1: Waiver and Release of Claims for Water rights, Injury to Water Rights and Injury to Water Quality, by the Navajo Nation on behalf of itself and its members and by the United States acting in its capacity as Trustee for the Navajo Nation and its members (but not its members in their capacity as allottees).
2.0 WAIVER AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS. 2.1 Except as provided in Paragraph 3.0 hereof, the Navajo Nation, on behalf of itself and its Members, and the United States acting in its capacity as trustee for the Navajo Nation and its Members pursuant to the authorization set forth in Section of the Act, hereby waive and release any claims against the State, the Hopi Tribe, or any other person, entity, corporation or municipal corporation under Federal, State or other law for all:
2.1.1 Past, present and future claims for Water Rights for Navajo Lands arising from time immemorial.

Bolivia: Press briefing UN Climate Conference China

Bolivia: Press briefing UN Climate Change Conference China
October 6, 2010
Watch video:
http://unfccc2.meta-fusion.com/kongresse/101004_AWG_China/templ/play.php?id_kongresssession=3106&theme=unfccc

American Indian Movement International Film Festival 2010

American Indian Movement International Film Festival, October 11-12, 2010
Written by Arthur Jacobs
Art design donated by artist Sal Garcia
American Indian Movement International Film Festival
October 11-12

San Francisco Bahai Center, 170 Valencia Street
Doors open at 12 noon first movie begins at 12:30 pm
Ticket donations at the door are $10 for one day and $15 for two days, nobody turned away for lack of cash, slide scale.
Wheelchair accessible. All children under 10 years are free! Refreshments and popcorn available.

The Film Festival is to help prepare for the Annual AIM-WEST Conference November 22-27, in San Francisco. AIM-WEST proudly presents the American Indian Movement (AIM) International Film Festival, October 11-12, 2010 in San Francisco, CA.
Films selected for this year’s festival exemplify the legacy and spiritual movement of resistance, and the fight for self determination found among Indigenous peoples throughout the globe. Held each year on Indigenous People's Day, the Festival offers an important educational alternative to the stories typically associated with Columbus Day and what it means to Indigenous Peoples throughout the Americas. The Festival also coincides with the United Nation's theme of “Indigenous Peoples and film making” declared at the 2010 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples held in New York.
Read more about the festival, with schedule:
http://aimwest.info/