O'odham Ofelia Rivas at Ward Valley -- 'Border Tower Construction Threatens Burial Place'

Ofelia Rivas and Earl Tulley at Ward Valley on Saturday. Photo courtesy Ofelia Rivas.

O'odham Ofelia Rivas at Ward Valley -- 'Border Tower Construction Threatens Burial Place'

Article by Brenda Norrell
Audio recording by Earl Tulley, Dineh
Censored News

WARD VALLEY -- Ofelia Rivas, O'odham, spoke at the Spiritual Gathering celebrating the Victory at Ward Valley, describing how the integrated fixed towers planned on the Tohono O'odham Nation will dig into a burial site of her people.
"We have been defending our land for a very long time," Ofelia told Mojave, Colorado Indian Tribes, and others gathered to celebrate the victory of halting a nuclear dump here 20 years ago.
Ofelia said defending the land is something one feels, and the people are not taught this.
"We are all sacred people," Ofelia said.
She said the destruction to the land is "very damaging to who we are."
O'odham used to be called Papago.
"We call ourselves, O'odham, the People."
"O'odham live on both sides of the international boundary."
Because they live on the international boundary, they continue to have to deal with the border and U.S. Border Patrol when they have  ceremonies, and go about their daily life.
Ofelia shared how she met Bradley Angel, among the organizers who helped halt the Ward Valley nuclear dump.
She described how sacred ceremonial grounds in Quitovac, Sonora, Mexico, were targeted with a chemical waste dump.
"We did stop that."
The O'odham elders, traditional people, depleted land permits and stopped this chemical dump on sacred land.
It was a traditional and ceremonial movement.
'It became a big movement through the borderlands community."
During the actions by traditional O'odham, the movement stopped traffic on the main federal road in Sonora, Mexico to make their point.
Describing O'odham land, she said the Tohono O'odham Nation has 74 miles of international border. Two districts are on the border.
"I come from one of those districts."
"We are the farthest from everything." She has to drive 136 miles just to get groceries.
She lives less than quarter mile from the international boundary.
"There's a lot of talk about a wall, a lot of talk about different things."
When they constructed the vehicle barrier near her house, "We told them not to disturb areas."
They disturbed an O'odham burial site and removed the remains of ancestors. Then, they back-dated the remains to be 1060 AD, attempting to say those remains were not O'odham.
"I am a direct descendant."
"We were able to get the remains returned and reburied."
Now, 15 integrated fixed towers are planned on the Tohono O'odham Nation.
The construction of these towers will mean digging 60 feet into that same burial site, where the ancestors were removed.
She said her district, Gu Vo District, is the only district opposing the 15 towers.
"We are being bullied by our own tribal government."
She asked for support to halt the towers.
Ofelia's website, The O'odham Solidarity Project will have a petition to stop the Environmental Assessment. It says the tower construction will have no significant impact.
http://www.solidarity-project.org/
Ofelia said she asked the U.S. Border Patrol how many towers are planned for the US and Canadian borders.
The Border Patrol said the plan is for only 15 towers on the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Ofelia closed by saying how happy she was to be here on Sacred Land to support the people here.

Listen -- Audio Ofelia Rivas speaking, followed by Black Mountain Birdsingers. Audio by Earl Tulley.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5_XTSYd3ZeWVTNpcVJGdng3czRPZzRVZUwybXRsZUlOZFlB/view?usp=sharing

Read more at Censored News:
A Nation of Bullies: US Israeli Spy Towers Targeting Sacred Tohono O'odham Land
.https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-nation-of-bullies-us-israeli-spy.html?m=1

New article on the tower structures 'Assessing Surveillance ...'
.https://archinect.com/features/article/150049769/assessing-surveillance-infrastructures-of-security-in-the-tohono-o-odham-nation

Background:
EPA knew of hazardous waste dump near U.S./Mexico border
by: Brenda Norrell (June 2006)
QUITOVAC, Mexico - While O'odham in Mexico were never told about a planned hazardous waste dump being permitted in their sacred ceremonial community of Quitovac, documents show the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency knew about the dump nearly one year before O'odham in Mexico were informed.
O'odham in Mexico did not learn of the hazardous waste dump near the United States border until April 2006. Mexico had already issued state and federal permits for the dump in 2005, without notifying O'odham.
The EPA, however, knew of Mexico's plan for the hazardous waste dump as early as the summer of 2005, according to EPA reports.
La Cholla Hazardous Waste Dump was later halted by protests and actions.

Article copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News

NRC Yucca Mountain Licensing Support Network Advisory Review Panel

NRC Yucca Mountain Licensing Support Network Advisory Review Panel

By Mr. Ian Zabarte
Censored News

The US Cold War against Native Americans continued today as proposals were sought by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restore 3.9 million documents for adjudicatory review of the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. The site owned by the Shoshone Nation under term of the Treaty of Ruby Valley in International Law, the Consolidated Treaty Series Volume 127 1863 and supreme by US law in the Constitution, an Article 6 treaty. The US Indian Claims Commission could not find a taking had occurred. All of the acts that the US relies upon to justify "taking" were contemplated in the treaty and could not constitute a taking outside of the terms of the treaty and could not effect ​extinguish​ment of Indian title including Shoshone ownership of Yucca Mountain. Stealing is not a term of the treaty. The Shoshone own all rights title and interest and the US sought to purchase specific interests, by treaty.

The Shoshone have experience radiation exposure in fallout from US/UK testing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD's), an increased involuntary risk of exposure to radiation. Because of our past exposure to radiation, mine as well, we cannot endure any increased burden of risk from any source, including US civilian or military nuclear waste, said Mr. Ian Zabarte, Principal Man, Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians. Again today, Mr. Zabarte called out the proceedings as unfair, " NRC wrote to inform the Native Community Action Council will not be funded by the NRC.. That is environmental racism," stated Mr. Zabarte on the record to the NRC Advisory Review Panel again today.
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TigerSwan's Propaganda for Dollars at Standing Rock, Part II

Militarized police attacked water protectors as a result of TigerSwan's propaganda, which is revealed in new articles.

TigerSwan's Propaganda for Dollars at Standing Rock, Part II

Article by Brenda Norrell
Censored News

TigerSwan's propaganda campaign for dollars -- including the so-called Billionaires Club and Rules for Radicals --  has been exposed in Part II of investigative reports by SOFREP, Special Forces Media.
TigerSwan's misinformation campaign is exposed by revealing two slide presentations that Tiger Swan used.
https://sofrep.com/100148/tigerswan-propaganda-masquerading-analysis/

The misinformation campaign -- targeting Indigenous Rising, Black Lives Matter, Bold Nebraska, the Ruckus Society, and many others -- resulted in lucrative contracts with Energy Transfer Partners' Dakota Access Pipeline. C. Danielle Bizier reports this in today's article 'TigerSwan Propaganda Masquerading as Analysis."

SOFREP writes that TigerSwan had no intention of dealing in the facts, or presenting solid research, which would have included minimizing bias and increasing precision.

"TigerSwan’s analysts had no intention of doing any of the above. Their job was to frighten potential clients with tales of billionaire bogeyman and renegade Russians. As stated in SOFREP’s expose, The Problem with TigerSwan: False Flags and Agents Provocateur at Standing Rock ..." writes SOFREP.

TigerSwan's propaganda to its funders included scare tactics, falsely targeting the Sudan, Palestine and Russia.

The Billionaires Club presentation by TigerSwan targeted environmental organizations, and their non-profit funders.
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Screenshot of slide by Censored News

These organizations below are targeted in TigerSwan's presentation Rules for Radicals. TigerSwan used the slide presentations to enrich itself with this propaganda. TigerSwan used images stolen from social media.

TigerSwan propaganda slide. 

Watch TigerSwan's presentations, with the images above, in SOFREP's article:

https://sofrep.com/100148/tigerswan-propaganda-masquerading-analysis/

Read article 1 from SOFREP

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/tigerswan-provoked-and-infiltrated.html

TigerSwan Targeted and Infiltrated Standing Rock Camps to Ensure Lucrative DAPL Contract, New Article Reports

On Nov. 20, 2016, water protectors at Standing Rock camps were shot with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons in freezing temperatures, after TigerSwan provoked the situation. Numerous water protectors were seriously injured, some critically.

TigerSwan Targeted and Infiltrated Standing Rock Camps to Ensure Lucrative DAPL Contract, New Article Reports

Article by Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Feb. 27, 2018

TigerSwan used military provocateurs and infiltrators in an attempt to  provoke water protectors, with the goal of extending its lucrative contract paid by Energy Transfer Partners' Dakota Access Pipeline, a new article reports.

The article -- exposing provocateurs and infiltrators at the Water Protector Camps in Standing Rock and Iowa -- is published in SOFREP, Special Forces News, Military Intelligence Spec Ops. The article, TigerSwan: Former Delta Operator sought to incite violence at the Dakota Access Pipeline, is written by Jack Murphy.

https://sofrep.com/99918/tigerswan-former-delta-operator-sought-to-incite-violence-at-the-dakota-access-pipeline/

On October 11, 2016, TigerSwan’s program manager, retired Delta Force Sergeant Major John Porter, met with Silverton security’s owner, Carl Clifton, inside a hangar at the Mandan Municipal Airport, the article reports.
"The hangar was initially used by Silverton security as a clandestine office for their intelligence cell that collected information on the protesters, self-described water protectors, at Standing Rock. The managers from the two rival private security companies had both been hired by Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) to manage the protesters at the Dakota Access Pipe Line (DAPL)."
The lengthy article describes how US military, both active military, which is a violation, and retired veterans, were used as provocateurs and infiltrators. This included Marines and Army Rangers.
TigerSwan's incentive was money -- to keep the conflict going as long as possible -- because DAPL was paying huge sums  to security contractors, the article reports.
TigerSwan and other security contractors were not licensed to work in North Dakota. Security contractors who were armed were illegally carrying weapons, the article states.
Provocateurs and False Flags
TigerSwan's retired military agent Porter, called out on his radio in  an attempt to provoke water protectors. 
Pretending to be a water protector, Porter would call out on his radio from the North Bridge of the Cannon Ball River:
"All warriors to the bridge!"
"Everyone to the bridge, all warriors to the bridge!"
Eventually, John Porter got exactly what he wanted.
On November 20, water protectors began gathering at the North Bridge.
On Nov. 20, water protectors were shot with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons in freezing temperatures.
Infiltrators 

TigerSwan security operatives were told not to ask about the infiltrator/provocateurs shown below. The two in the photo were TigerSwan's Special Mission Unit and were in Standing Rock and Iowa, according to this article.

The article also exposes security undercover agent Landon Steele, who denied that he was working for a security company while he was in camp.
Steele was shown with his dog at the time when attack dogs attacked water protectors on Sept. 3, 2016.
Steele denied that he worked for a security company, and he continued to be supported in camp.
This article says that he was a contractor for Silverton security, and his dog was a bomb detection dog. (Landon can be seen in the videos walking across the scene in Sept. 3, and is shown in the chart prepared by water protectors below.)
The article also describes the security agent who blasted into camp armed, Kyle Thompson, and states that he was a heroin addict.
Read more in the article at: 
https://sofrep.com/99918/tigerswan-former-delta-operator-sought-to-incite-violence-at-the-dakota-access-pipeline/

Part II in SOFREP'S series, published today, Feb. 28, 2018
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/02/tigerswans-propaganda-for-dollars-at.html

Read more at Censored News, with photos of security contractors at Standing Rock, in our previous coverage:
Here is the initial report by the people in camp investigating and exposing those responsible for the attack with dogs. https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2016/09/torchlight-mercenaries-identified.html

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Photos of security operatives at Standing Rock. https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2017/05/photos-tigerswan-mercenaries-hired-by.html

FBI paid infiltrator
Heath Harmon

The Intercept previously exposed FBI informant Heath Harmon, of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation in North Dakota. Harmon was a paid infiltrator in Standing Rock Water Protector Camp, and owned the firearm that Red Fawn is accused of having, when she was tackled by police.
Read more at Censored News:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2018/01/paid-fbi-informant-to-testify-at-red.html

Read the series at The Intercept
https://theintercept.com/2017/12/11/standing-rock-dakota-access-pipeline-fbi-informant-red-fawn-fallis/


Article copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News

Navajo Nation Cancels Wild Horse Hunt, February 2018

The Navajo Nation's Wild Hose Hunt Canceled After Successful Dine' Grassroots Campaign to Halt It

NAVAJO PRESIDENT -- FERAL HORSE HUNT CANCELED IN LIEU OF ALTERNATE CONSIDERATIONS

By the Office of Navajo Nation President and Vice President

Censored News

FEBRUARY 27, 2018
Article updated Feb. 28, 2018

WINDOW ROCK – The growing population of feral horses on the Navajo Nation is a problem that cannot be ignored, but it will not be resolved with a horse hunt, President Russell Begaye said.

“We understand the concerns of the people,” President Begaye said. “We know the issue of horses is an emotional one with strong feelings on all sides. My administration will not condone a horse hunt for controlling the overpopulation of feral horses. But we do need to implement a management plan to preserve and protect Navajo land for future generations.”

The president’s statement comes on the heels of a 2018 Horse Hunt Proclamation issued last week by the Navajo Department of Fish and Wildlife. That proclamation has been rescinded and the hunt has been canceled. Fish and Wildlife will pursue alternate methods of feral horse management.

According to a 2016 study conducted by Fish and Wildlife, there are as many as 50,000 feral horses on the Navajo Nation, with heavy populations in remote locations and winter range areas like the Carrizo Mountains. One horse consumes approximately 32 pounds of forage and 10 gallons of water per day. The Navajo ecosystem cannot support the number of feral horses that exist.

"The numbers are extreme when considering the amount of overgrazing that currently exists and the negative impact it has on the livestock and wildlife in the various ecosystems on the Nation,” Vice President Jonathan Nez said. “In addressing this issue, we are calling upon our Navajo citizens to bring forth their input to address feral horse management within their regions. We must also consider how factors like low precipitation will impact our grazing areas. We need to be prepared for the coming drought."

The Navajo Division of Natural Resources (DNR) has documented extensive damage to the land, wildlife habitat, vegetation and other natural resources caused by the overpopulation of feral horses on the landscape. Implementation of a horse management plan is critical to ensure a sustainable future while preserving the land and natural resources that sustain Navajo tradition and culture.

DNR has developed a multi-pronged Horse Management Plan that includes as other methods to address the population. Alternative approaches include trapping, castration, birth control and adoptions.

“All of these methods, together, will address the problem of overpopulation that is causing extensive damage to our ecosystems,” President Begaye said. “If we don’t take action now, the overgrazing will have major impacts on drought conditions that we anticipate in both the short and long term.”

The Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency Management on Monday approved a new State of Emergency Drought Declaration. The commission is anticipating large-scale drought conditions this summer, which will create a critical shortage of water and range feed for livestock, resulting in poor physical condition of livestock and an increase in disease.

Office of the President and Vice President
Mihio Manus, Communications Director
mmanus@navajo-nsn.gov
Antonio Ramirez, Sr. Public Information Officer
aramirez@navajo-nsn.gov
Alysa Landry, Sr. Public Information Officer
alandry@navajo-nsn.gov
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Updates by Censored News:

RED NATION 'Greater Chaco Is Not for Sale! Stop Trump's Colonial Land Grab'

Greater Chaco Is Not for Sale! Stop Trump’s Colonial Land Grab

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Shye Antonio stares at the face of death for her community: oil extraction. Photo by Kendra Pinto

by The Red Nation

https://therednation.org/2018/02/26/greater-chaco-is-not-for-sale-fighting-trumps-colonial-land-grab/

Reposted with permission at Censored News

Trump’s war on the planet and Indigenous peoples has now turned to the San Juan Basin, the Greater Chaco Region, and its Diné residents as another national sacrifice zone in the name of profit. Aggressively expanding Obama era policies to increase domestic energy production to drill the US economy out of the Great Recession, the Trump administration has fast-tracked the approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Keystone XL pipeline; has reduced the size of the Bears Ears National Monument, a sacred site to five Native nations, opening millions of acres for uranium mining; has opened billions of acres for offshore drilling; and now hopes to lease the remaining six percent of unleased lands in the Greater Chaco Landscape for fracking.

LISTEN Black Mountain Birdsingers at Ward Valley Spiritual Gathering 2018

Photo by Ian Zabarte, Western Shoshone

Listen to Black Mountain Birdsingers at Ward Valley Spiritual Gathering at Ground Zero, Feb. 26, 2018
Recorded live by Earl Tulley, Dineh
Censored News and Spirit Resistance Radio
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5_XTSYd3ZeWM20yT3hNQUVJT1IwSmhCbGYzMThaZ0prdWJZ/view


Song copyright Black Mesa Birdsingers
Photo copyright Ian Zabarte

Ward Valley Spiritual Gathering Photos by Ian Zabarte, Western Shoshone

Photos by Ian Zabarte, Western Shoshone

20th Annual Ward Valley 'Ground Zerio' Spiritual Gathering


"Today, off Water Road 20 miles from the Colorado River, one hundred people gathered, most were tribal members of the Lower Colorado River Tribes, to renew their inter-generational commitment to protect and defend Ward Valley from becoming a nuclear waste dump," said Mr. Ian Zabarte 

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Photos copyright Ian Zabarte

SAN FRANCISCO -- Wounded Knee Liberation Day Solidarity, Feb. 27, 2018

Ward Valley Triumphant -- 20 Years Later in 2018 -- by Ofelia Rivas, O'odham

Ofelia Rivas, O'odham, and Earl Tulley, Dineh, at Ward Valley today.

Photos by Ofelia Rivas, O'odham

20th Ward Valley Spiritual Gathering

'Ground Zero' Victory Celebration

Celebrating the Occupation that halted a nuclear dump here 20 years ago.

Today, Feb. 24, 2018

Radio interview with Earl Tulley by Govinda at Spirit Resistance Radio.

Spirit Resistance Radio -- Govinda Dalton's interview with Earl Tulley, Dineh, as Earl was on his way to the gathering at the Ward Valley Victory Celebration to support the Mojave and their occupation 20 years ago. Earl and Govinda discuss the defense of Ward Valley from the nuclear dump, which was led by the traditional wisdom keepers.

Earl describes the resources coming into the Navajo Nation, and encourages a return to root cellars and dry storage of foods.

Earl said there's a difference between an environmentalist and an activist. Earl said an environmentalist basically writes a proposal, and when it gets funded, those people become employees. On the other hand, the activists "go on their own dime and put their lives on the line."

Sharing the news of Dine' Citizens Against Ruining our Environment, Earl said their youths have grown up in the movement, and are now adults. 

Dine' CARE celebrates its 30 year anniversary on the Navajo Nation in June.

Listen to Earl on Spirit Resistance Radio:

.https://albireo.shoutca.st:2197/ondemand/standingrock1/earltully.mp3

Listen! Spirit Resistance Radio and Crow Voices are Live!

Listen! Spirit Resistance Radio and Crow Voices Radio are Live!

Listen Live! Govinda of Spirit Resistance Radio is broadcasting live at Crow Voices, at Center Pole in Montana. They have their new FM radio station broadcasting locally across the Crow Nation, and you can listen around the Earth online live!
Govinda is at the station and will be doing live interviews of the actions and gatherings.
Today's program includes The Last Oil, 26 incredible Natives, professors, activists and scientists, now at Albuquerque UNM. The symposium continues through Friday night, and video archives are online.
Radio call in number is 406-638-2820
Listen live:
Spirit Resistance Radio
http://spiresradio.com/listen/

http://142.4.217.133:9827/standingrock1
also at:
Crow Voices Radio
https://www.crowvoices.com

Hopi Farmers Market Roundtable Discussion

We're hosting a series of Hopi Farmers Market Roundtable Discussions at Hopi Farmers Market on Monday, Feb. 26, 6 to 8 pm, and at the Hopi Wellness Center, on Sunday, March 11, 9 am to 12 pm. We're inviting Farmers, Growers, and local food producers to join us and share your insights! Help us spread the word by sharing with others!

Gathering on the Homeland Feb 24 and 25 Manderson, Oglala Territory

Gathering on the Homeland Feb 24 & 25 Manderson, Oglala Territory

GATHERING ON THE HOMELAND   OGLALA TERRITORY FEBRUARY 24TH & 25TH You work with youth? Bring them to Manderson noon on Feb 25.  New frame of reference, meet new friends, learn some good stuff about Media, Front Line, What Is Movement?, free youth concert, free art workshop. and food! yea. Gathering on the Oglala Homeland. Cause in the real world life is not just about skateboarding, video games, fishing and having fun. They may have to defend their culture, their lands and waters someday. Help them learn how. WWW.OWEAKUINTERNATIONAL.ORG Copyright © 2018 Owe Aku International Justice Project, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are an ally in our struggle to preserve sacredwater Our mailing address is: Owe Aku International Justice Project PO Box 630212 Attn: Kent Littleton, CO 80163