ICT [2003/10/29] Sovereign traditional nations assert themselves

SEATTLE - American Indians began efforts for traditional sovereign governments to replace tribal governments resulting from the Indian Reorganization Act.

Oglala Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Sissteon-Wahpeton delegations told the United Native Nations that it is vital to act now.

Already, the Sisseton-Wahpeton and Northern Cheyenne have established traditional courts.

"We are starting to tell the truth of what America was doing yesterday and what it is doing today," said Tim "Night Bear" Lame Woman, Tsisistas Northern Cheyenne from Lame Deer, Mont.

"The government will come after us, because what we have is the evidence."

Lame Woman was among the speakers at the United Native Nations legislative assembly Oct. 13 - 17.

Guy White Thunder, Lakota elder from Pine Ridge, illustrated a traditional Lakota government. He diagrammed four elders in a box shape in the middle, with a circle of 12 people around them, and finally the people in the outer circle.

The sacred pipe is in the center to be smoked when a consensus is reached.

"The people are the decision makers. The people have the voice, we are working for them," White Thunder said.

Speaking of the Sisseton "People of the Star Nation," Darlene Pipe Boy said her people are the eastern door in South Dakota.

"We are a woodland, prairie people who have ties to medicine and spiritual mysteries."

Remembering her father and others, who traveled by wagon to Rapid City to struggle for land rights, she said, "They are very proud of who they are and who we are.

"Sisseton is a non-IRA tribe. My grandfather did not agree to a constitutional government."

Since the beginning, she said, the intent of the federal government was to eliminate traditional Indian governments.

"When our young people can no longer speak their language, then cultural genocide has taken place."

Richard Grass, Lakota, Dakota and Nakota elder said, "Reservations are prisoner of war camps and we are under military occupation."

George Samuel, Taanta Kwaan elder from Alaska, was among those who spoke on gaining and losing power. "If you take federal recognition, you lose your sovereignty because you empower them."

Speaking of wealth and materialism, Samuel said those who have gone away and return to the reservations, come back with the "bottom line syndrome," always looking at money and their percentage.

Rudy Al James, secretary-general of the United Native Nations, said the power of traditional Indian governments rests with the elders.

"The power goes back to the elders where it should have been all along."

Antoinette Red Woman, Tsisistas Northern Cheyenne, said sovereigns must defend the children, woman and elders being abused.

"Our traditional Native laws supercede state, county and federal law. We have a lot of power."

Dispelling myths about power in America, speaker Dennis Foisy, a banker, said it is not the federal government that wields the ultimate power and control.

"It is the banks," Foisy said, pointing out that the Federal Reserve is privately owned. "About 52 percent is owned by the Bank of England."

"We’ve all been duped," he said. Referring to the economic systems resulting in Americans living in debt, he said, "They’re ‘banksters.’"

"Exercise your power," he said, urging Indians to rid themselves of "prisoner of war" status and become truly sovereign nations.

Foisy said the attitude should be: "This is our land and we’re going to sue you for it."

Displaying an example of sovereign nation rule, Vincent Johnson, Onondaga, displayed his Onondaga passport for international travel.

Tlingit Paul Jackson explained the canoe ceremony held and the dance of the ravens and eagles held during the week-long assembly. "We want this song to pull the people together."

Jackson said his tribal elders left a box of knowledge with the instruction to take whatever is useful into the future.

Wayne Price, Tlingit, and Pike Powers, Native from Quebec, built the canoe in Alaska and Washington and rowed it to shore for the ceremony.

The canoe ceremony was held in a the rain to the sound of the Tlingit drum and whirl of Tlingit dancers, with a backdrop of the flags of many nations.

During the assembly, Calixta Gabriel from Guatemala said Mayans are petitioning the government to respect indigenous human rights and cultural identity.

But as the United Native Nations session was taking place, news came that Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu Tum was threatened and roughed-up, by those opposing indigenous rights, during a court hearing.

Ramon Nenadich, Taino from Puerto Rico and Ph.D. said in Central and South America, the murders of indigenous have been massive.

He also shared a vision: A relay walk from the Northwest U.S. to Chile and back up through Brazil to the north.

Expressing hope it will become a reality, in the vision he saw indigenous peoples walking south, heralded by horseback riders, in a relay walk through countries where indigenous peoples’ rights are violated. They were walking for Mother Earth, human rights and sovereignty.

Humberto Pagan Hernandez, Taino from Puerto Rico, said he learned a great deal from his brothers and sisters here: "The way you are, the way you do things, the way you relate to Mother Nature and the way you relate to the rest of humanity.

"That is something my people have been losing and that is something we must recover."

Lame Woman said it is time to fight back. "Everything that happens in Afghanistan and Iraq happens here to our people."

"Health disparity is the worst kind of genocide."

In solidarity with indigenous losing lands to cattle producers in Brazil, James urged the world’s 400 million indigenous people to boycott McDonald’s restaurants.

Now in its fourth year, the United Native Nations began after an alliance was formed in 1999 at D-Q University to promote sovereignty, advancement and honor.

During the session, the Seattle Times quoted W. Ron Allen, former president of the National Congress of American Indians. Allen said the majority of Indians "don’t buy into the breakaway philosophy" of the United Native Nations.

"The majority of tribes feel they are very much a part of the U.S. and have a unique relationship with the U.S. government," Allen told the Times.

However, at the United Native Nations tribal members from many regions found the comments revolting. Lame Woman said, "NCAI has never done anything for us."

David Bald Eagle, Tetunwun Lakota elder from Cheyenne River, S.D. serves on the United Native Nations Grand Council. He addressed Indian youths.

"Use the past, the traditional government with modern technology. Don’t look back, look ahead. Look forward with your new weapon, education."

The Sisseton delegation spoke on the racism of law enforcement and false imprisonment of Indian youth in South Dakota.

Pipe Boy said, "If you are real quiet you will hear the cry of the Red Man. That is why we have come here today, to hear the cry of the Red Man."