Most Americans can tell you that the United States Constitution is
the highest law of the land. But few can tell you exactly what it
says. Despite years of state-supported education, most of us are
quite unfamiliar with this most basic founding document of our
democratic republic.
Important rights and obligations are spelled out unambiguously by
the founders. The system of government, method of taxation, the
form of monetary exchange, the freedoms of speech, religion, the
press, and the right to bear arms are all contained within the
document and it's amendments. One of the provisions provides that
Treaties shall be honoured and enforced as the highest law of the
land.
In time since, we have entered into many treaties with other
Nations, such as France, England, Germany, the former USSR, and
the Ojibwas, Arikaras, Cherokees, and Blackfeet. These last four
share a common geography: North America. They are a few of the
many Native American Nations- with members numbered in the
millions, despite an American "past tense" cultural myth. Native
Nations no less sovereign than Mexico or Canada, yet subject to
genocide at the hands of Americans- continuing today at the hands
of Americans who publicly condemn Adolf Hitler for his barbaric
treatment of european Jews.
Despite treaty guarantees of peace and friendship, the US gov't
has consistently and wilfully broken every treaty negotiated with
Native Americans since 1776. This campaign of treasonous genocide
colours the attitude of our treaty partners in every negotiation
involving foreign nations, for the record is clear: the US honours
treaties when it is convenient, and breaks them when it is not, or
when the other party is militarily weak.
The question of Native Sovereignity is crucial for ALL Americans,
for, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshal stated
concerning the Cherokee rights case WORCESTER v. GEORGIA, our
freedom depends upon the fact that we are a nation governed under
constitutional law. If the treaty rights guaranteed to Native
Americans by the Constitution can be taken away arbitrarily, then
the other rights guaranteed to all Americans will be secure only
for as long as those who wield a monopoly on military power care
to indulge us.
What You Can Do:
Two local sovereignity efforts are of particular interest to
environmentalists. The INTER-TRIBAL SINKYONE WILDERNESS COUNCIL,
and the WESTERN SHOSHONE NATIONAL COUNCIL are involved in legal
battles and non-violent direct action protests to protect Native
rights and the wilderness ecosystems upon which traditional ways
of life are dependent. Stop by BAA to contact them and get
involved. Write your elected representatives, and remind them of
the rights guaranteed and the obligations incurred (including
enforcement of Native American treaties) under a Constitution
which they have been sworn to "preserve, protect, and defend".
"Treaties said, Indian Territory shall remain the
sovereign abode of the Red Man for as long as waters shall
run and grass is green-
we thought they meant forever, but they meant until winter
froze the prairie and they could get an Oklahoma flag
stitched up."
Will Rogers, Cherokee