"When you begin a great work you can't expect to finish it all at
once; therefore do you and your brothers press on and let nothing
discourage you till you have entirely finished what you have begun.
"Now, Brother, as for me, I assure you I will press on and the
contrary winds may blow strong in my face, yet I will go forward and
never turn back and continue to press forward until I have finished,
and I would have you do the same.
"Though you may hear birds singing on this side and that side, you
must not take notice of that, but hear me when I speak to you and take
it to heart, for you may always depend that what I say shall be true."
-- Teedyuscung, Delaware
+- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+
| Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg-
| | iance was first presented
| I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the
| to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat-
| of the Republic | ional Congress of American
| and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat-
| borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI
| Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the
| as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian
| States Constitution, | Nations.
| so that my forefathers |
| shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl
+- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+
Lunar Reminder: April 25 will be the next full moon.
O'siyo Brothers and Sisters!
The quote above by Teedyuscung and this reminder is for those who are
disheartened by events that thwart their efforts and dull the song in
their heart. No matter how good a thing is and no matter how a thing
is, all things change. Change and challenge are part of the weave of
our way. From our first steps on the Red Road we learn that balance
always comes. We seek harmony and balance. We know the wait may be
long and the answer in a different form than we might expect; but there
will always be an answer and there will always be balance.
Mitaquye Oyasin! Night Owl
------------------ clip here for news feature -- 8< -----------
--------- "RE: Lone Wolf has Heart Attack" ---------
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 94 01:24 -0500
From: J.AUDLIN James D. Audlin (Distant Eagle) <Invisible Band>
Subj: Lone Wolf has Heart Attack
GE Electronic Mail
O'siyo, brothers and sisters!
Stop the presses. NOTHING is so important than doing what we can for the
life of a brother or sister.
Grandfather Sings Alone tells me that Chief Lone Wolf had a heart attack
last night and is in the cardiac ICU "connected to all kinds of tubes and
machines". He is critical but stabilizing. They will move him to another
hospital tomorrow where they will do a heart catheterization and perhaps a
by-pass. A major artery was totally blocked. He had spent the day planting
corn and digging. By evening he was having indigestion and then his chest
"collapsed".
Folks, nothing is so important as this. Please keep him in your prayers! If
you carry the Pipe, you know what to do. If you don't, offer tobacco to the
Grandfathers and pray as hard as you can! I will appreciate it, Night Owl
and Spirit Walker, if you put a mention in \Wotanging Ikche\ and out to the
Invisible Band, and ask them to do the same. If people want to send cards,
send them to him at PO Box 801, DeLand, Florida 32721.
Wado! Love to all, Distant Eagle
--------- "RE: Mohawk Bashing in Canadian Media and Parliament" ---------
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 94 19:42
From: A.HOROVITCH Art Horovitch <Invisible Band>
Subj: Mohawk Bashing in Canadian Media and Parliament
GE Electronic Mail
"MOHAWK BASHING" IN THE CANADIAN MEDIA AND PARLIAMENT
Montreal, Canada
Mar 26, 1994
A disturbing trend of "Mohawk bashing " has arisen both in the
Canadian mainstream media and parliament in the last few months.
Recent articles in the Montreal Gazette and La Presse paint the
Mohawks of Kahnewake as a lawless and racist community. A survey by
the French SOM polling firm found that Quebecers envy natives
because ,"they pay no taxes,have easier access to government
handouts,make a lot of money smuggling cigarettes and don't pay
their electricity bills". These sentiments fly in the face of
recent studies showing that poverty, illiteracy, infant mortality
rates and suicide are higher than in non-native communities in
Canada. The Canadian Human Rights Commission said recently that
Canada's treatment of its aboriginal peoples is the country's
biggest human rights problem. The Quebec media, especially the
French press, appear to have gone out of their way to paint Mohawks
as high-rolling smugglers who thumb their noses at laws that govern
non-natives. French Quebec society, by contrast, is never painted
as lawless even though there are criminal elements within that
society. Negative press has been occurring for several months now,
primarily in the French media in Quebec, and it spilled over into
parliament last week. It started with a report that the Kahnewake
band council, under it's right to determine who is Mohawk and
therefore eligible for residence on the reserve, had called for the
eviction of 143 non-natives living on the reserve. These were
primarily people who had married Mohawk spouses, but were not of
Mohawk ancestry themselves.
The Montreal Mirror reports, in an recent editorial, that despite
reports in La Presse and Le Devoir, the Band Council did not in fact
order 143 people to leave. Although the presence of non-natives living
on the reserve is an issue, the number of people asked to leave is 13,
not 143. The community itself is divided on the issue. Some cite
overcrowding, lack of housing for new Mohawk families, and a fear of
dilution of Mohawk culture. Others say we have always welcomed outsiders
into our community, if they want to follow our way of life. In any case,
they are all still on the reserve, months after the request to
leave appeared in a pull-out announcement sheet in the "Eastern
Door" newspaper in Kahnewake. One of them is even challenging the
expulsion order under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Mirror claims the story ordering the expulsion is a
fabrication. The figure of 143 people was an estimate made by a
band councillor last fall about the number of non-natives living on
the reserve. A Radio- Canada television reporter picked up the
story several months later, and turned that figure into the number
of people ordered to leave. In Parliament, the opposition Bloc
Quebecois raised the issue, and it became a front page story in the
Toronto Globe and Mail on March 18. Buried in the second half of
the story several pages later came the admission that the figure
143 was a mistake, along with a denial of the expulsions by a band
councillor. The Globe got its denial from a Canadian Press story
out of Montreal. Most papers ignored the CP story. The Mirror
editorial goes on to ask why it is in the interest of the Bloc
Quebecois to brand the Mohawks of Kahnewake as racists, when the
Bloc itself is often accused by others as being racial purists in
its drive to achieve Quebec independence. The Mirror concludes that
pointing the finger at the Mohawks is clearly an effort to
deflect criticism away from the Bloc for it's own policies.
"Turning a distinct group into some kind of menace to Quebec society
is a cheap attempt to create a common enemy against which 'true'
Quebecers can unite. There has never been an expulsion order for
143 non-natives in Kahnewake".
In a further development, during the weekend of Mar 26-27, the
Federation des Journalistes Professionels met to consider claims
against some of their members that reporting on native issues was
biased and racist. Alain Saulnier, head of the organization
admitted that "in some cases there is racism" in coverage. The
Federation intends to look into the claims with a view towards more
even-handed reporting. Several natives were invited to the meeting
to express their point of view. Kenneth Deere, the editor of the
Eastern Door, gave several examples of biased reporting in addition
to the "expulsion" story. He recounted that when a shipment of some
2000 military type guns were confiscated at the Canadian border last
month, the French press reported that the guns in the shipment
"were of the type used by the Mohawks during the Oka crisis of
1990". The English media simply reported the seizure of a container
of illegal weapons coming from the US. He also cited other examples
of biased press coverage of the inquest into the death of Cpl
Marcel Lemay during the Oka crisis. The inquest is still
proceeding, almost 4 years after the event. Conrad Sioui. a council
member of the Innu nation of Quebec, wondered whether this biased
and sometimes racist coverage in the French press was not a
deliberate attempt to discredit natives because they are opposed to
Quebec independence. He asked what this type of coverage now means
for the native communities if Quebec does finally achieve
independence.
--------- "RE: Indigenous lists" ---------
Date: Mon Mar 28 13:56:43 1994
From: bedell@cse.bridgeport.edu (David Bedell )
Subj: Indigenous lists
via NetCom Internet e-mail
Attached are a short list which I put together, and then Art McGee's
longer list. You can get a guide to other Indigenous/Native electronic
resources (BBS, ftp sites, etc.) by fingering or mailing to his account
[amcgee@nyx.cs.du.edu].
David Bedell, University of Bridgeport <bedell@cse.bridgeport.edu>
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
BITNET/INTERNET LISTS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES updated 03/24/94
David Bedell, University of Bridgeport ELI <bedell@cse.bridgeport.edu>
ENDANGERED-LANGUAGES-L@COOMBS.ANU.EDU.AU
NAT-LANG@TAMVM1 ("Languages of Aboriginal Peoples")
NATIVE-L@TAMVM1 ("Issues Pertaining to Aboriginal Peoples") Information.
NATCHAT@TAMVM1 ("Issues Pertaining to Aboriginal Peoples") Discussion.
NAT-EDU@INDYCMS ("Educational Issues Pertaining to Aboriginal Peoples")
INDKNOW@UWAVM ("INDKNOW") Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
NATIVELIT-L@CORNELL.EDU Discussion of Native American Literature.
AZTLAN@ULKYVM ("Pre Columbian History")
GARS@NETCOM.COM ("Wotanging Ikche (Native American News)") Weekly news
excerpted from NATIVE-L, NAT-EDU, & other sources. Subscription
requests to GARS, not LISTSERV.
NIRI@GWUVM ("The National Indian Policy Research Institute Electronic
Clearinghouse") American Indian and Alaska Native affairs.
AMERICANINDIAN-L@CORNELL.EDU For Native Americans only.
NATIVEPROFS-L@CORNELL.EDU For and about the American Indian and Alaska
Native Professoriate; AIANP members only.
IROQUOIS@UTORONTO ("Iroquois Language Discussion")
NAHUAT-L@FAUVAX Aztec language & culture, in English & Spanish.
Subscription requests to MAILSERV, not LISTSERV.
PARAGUAY-L@CORNELL.EDU Discussion of Paraguay, its culture, & the
Guarani language.
========================================================================
This is a list of Internet/BITnet mailing lists and news services that
deal with or focus on Indigenous, Native, or Aboriginal people, culture,
and issues.
Please let me know of any updates, additions, corrections or suggestions
that you might have.
Thank you very much.
Peace.
Special thanks to Gary Trujillo of NativeNet for originally pointing me in
the right directions. :-)
[ You're welcome, David. There's also the NAT-HLTH list, which is about
matters of health. --Gary ]
The absolute latest versions of all my Indigenous/Native related lists
are always available via anonymous FTP from ftp.netcom.com in directory:
pub/amcgee/indigenous/my_indigenous_related_lists
The absolute latest versions of all my Indigenous/Native related lists are
also always available by sending email to or fingering the following account:
NativInfo: [amcgee@nyx.cs.du.edu]
Warning: all of the lists will come back to you as one concatenated file.
Remember: the above address is NOT for correspondence. If you want
anything other than a list sent back to you, use the email addresses
in my signature.
The absolute latest versions of all the Indigenous/Native related
lists are also always available on the BDPA BAC BBS(1-707-552-3314)
and on the Data Bits Online BBS(1-213-295-6094) in the following files:
NATVAPC.MSG = APC Conference List (not included in NativInfo mail file)
NATVBBS.MSG = BBS List
NATVMAIL.MSG = Internet/BITnet Mailing Lists
NATVNEWS.MSG = Usenet Newsgroups
NATVSITE.MSG = Online Information Sites (Dialup/FTP/Gopher/Telnet/WWW)
Note: These naming conventions also hold true for the FTP archive.
Note: The lists may also be available as bulletin items, so check
the bulletin menu on each system for descriptive listings.
This list is up to date as of FEBRUARY 17, 1994.
AISESNET | aisesnet@selway.umt.edu |American Indian Science/Engineering Soc.
CANTIBNET | ctn-editors@utcc.utoronto.ca |Canada Tibetan Network Newsletter
DATPERS | listserv@vm1.yorku.edu |Dalit and Tribal Peoples Resource Site
listserv@yorkvm1.bitnet
EIRP | almanac@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu |Extension Indian Reservation Program
HOOKUPS | unpublished |Building Native American/Alaskan/Hawaiian Networks
INDIAN-NE | almanac@esusda.gov |Cooperative Extension Indian Programs
(Note: The full/correct list name is INDIAN-NET)
INDIANNET | mxserver@spruce.hsu.edu |Indigenous Census Info & Computer Network
(Note: The full/correct list name is INDIANNET-L)
INDKNOW | listserv@uwavm.u.washington.edu |Indigenous Knowledge Systems
IROQUOIS | listserv@vm.utcc.utoronto.edu |Language(s): Iroquoian
listserv@utoronto.bitnet
NAT-EDU | listserv@indycms.iupui.edu |Educational Issues of Indigenous People
NAT-HLTH | listserv@tamvm1.tamu.edu |Health Issues of Native Peoples
NAT-LANG | listserv@tamvm1.tamu.edu |Languages of Indigenous People
NAT-1492 | listserv@tamvm1.tamu.edu |The legacy of Christopher Columbus
NATCHAT | listserv@tamvm1.tamu.edu |Indigenous Peoples Discussion
NATIVE-L | listserv@tamvm1.tamu.edu |Indigenous Peoples Information
NATIVELIT | listserv@cornell.edu |Native American Literature
(Note: The full/correct list name is NATIVELIT-L)
NATIVEPRO | listserv@cornell.edu |American Indian & Alaska Native Professorate
idoy@crux1.cit.cornell.edu
(Note: You must be a member of the American Indian and Alaska)
(Native Professorate or be sponsored by someone in that org.)
(Note: This list is not intended for use by the general public)
(Note: The full/correct list name is NATIVEPROFS-L)
NIRI | listserv@gwuvm.gwu.edu |National Indian Policy Research Institute
TIBET-L | listserv@iubvm.ucs.indiana.edu |Tibet Interest List
To subscribe, send a one line message to the appropriate address
that looks like this:
SUBSCRIBE NAME_OF_THE_LIST YOUR_FULL_NAME
Replace the corresponding list name and your name in the example
above.
To un-subscribe, send a one line message to the appropriate address
that looks like this:
UNSUBSCRIBE NAME_OF_THE_LIST
Replace the corresponding list name in the example above.
NOTE: Not all of the lists accept the simple SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE
commands, so read any information you receive back from the server
carefully when you signup.
NOTE: If you are on BITnet use the portion of the address just before
and just after the "@", for those lists that don't have an alternate
address on BITnet.
So, for example, in this email address: listserv@harvarda.harvard.edu
You would address it as: listserv@harvarda or listserv@harvarda.bitnet
Art "NWICO" McGee
NETCOM: [amcgee@netcom.com] (ftp.netcom.com in pub/amcgee for my "stuff")
CTP/CORE: [amcgee@ctp.org] or [amcgee@eis.calstate.edu] (CA Ed/Tech project)
PeaceNet: [igc:amcgee] (Best place for Development & Activism related info)
WELL: [amcgee] (What can I say about this system? It's definitely unique)
AfriInfo: [mcgee@epsilon.eecs.nwu.edu] (Email/Finger for Black/African Info)
NativInfo: [amcgee@nyx.cs.du.edu] (Email/Finger for Indigenous/Native Info)
BDPA BAC: [1-707-552-3314] to [Arthur McGee] (Co-Sysop. Lists are also here)
DataBits: [1-213-295-6094] to [Arthur McGee] (Co-Sysop. Lists are here too)
Voice: [1-310-320-BYTE] (Cool, eh dude? :-D That's 1-310-320-2983)
"The revolution will not be televised, but
the proceedings will be available online."
(c)1993 Arthur R. McGee & Associates
--------- "RE: Tuscarora Bingo Trouble" ---------
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 1994 14:40:57 -0700 (MST)
From: "Dave (Kayoshk)" <kayoshk@eros.unm.edu>
Subj: Tuscarora Bingo Trouble
via GEnie Internet e-mail
cc: Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us)
BINGO TROUBLE ON TUSCARORA
The Tuscarora Reservation outside of Niagara Falls N.Y. has avoided
development of bingo halls for some time until recently.
Joe Anderson, a Seneca living on Tuscarora Reservation, and owner of
several gas stations on the reservation recently opened a new bingo hall
against the wishes of the Tuscarora Tribal council. The Tuscarora
government has been opposed to Joe Anderson for years, along with the Clan
Mothers who have staged protests in the past on Anderson's stations.
The fate of the bingo hall is uncertain as it has been closed and
re-opened several times over the past month of its opening. Following up
on the Haudenosaunee resolution stating that all new businesses must go
through the Six Nations in order to receive utility service, the Tuscarora
Nation has been intermittently successful in closing the bingo hall.
Joe Anderson has delivered the last blow to the Tuscarora Nation, by
calling for U.S. intervention in Tuscarora and Six Nations affairs.
Anderson has also petitioned the BIA to come in and eliminate the current
council (which is still traditionally appointed by the Clan Mothers), and
establish an elected council. The majority of Tuscaroras are against this.
According to the Treaty of Canandagua (1794), the federal government
cannot interfere with the affairs of the Six Nations, or the Tuscaroras.
This decision was upheld in the 1959 Supreme Court decision (Tuscarora vs.
New York). However, the BIA has stepped in to mediate the disputes between
Anderson and the Tribal government. It is unclear of the status of
Anderson's petition to the BIA for elected government, since it was not
the council who asked for it.
Last year, a mass protest was staged on a piece of land on Tuscarora
Nation, after Joe Anderson started developing it. Many speculated that it
was going to be a bingo hall. Joe Anderson denied this to the press, and
to the Tribal government. Now the bingo hall is there. The protests last
year led to the closing of the west side of the reservation by New York
State Police, as many people were angry.
Chief Patterson's daughter is supposedly working at the new bingo hall
that her father is opposed to. She was quoted as saying: "I'm getting
tired of the chiefs always telling us what to do" (Buffalo Evening News -
3/27).
I will pass on any more news I receive on this matter.
_ _
Kayoshk @ @ Kayoshk@eros.unm.edu
Turtle Clan > Kayoshk@bootes.unm.edu
Seneca Nation (Cattaraugus) \__/ (bitnet) Kayoshk@UNMB
Haudenosaunee
--------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows" ---------
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 94 22:00 -0500
From: JANS Janet McNeely (Evening Star) <Invisible Band>
Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows
GE Electronic Mail
=Powwows=
I have strictly online sources this week for some unusual events.
It is terrific to have access to printed sources like
Indian Country Today, The Spike, and other newspapers, but I'm
glad to see a network building for powwow lists online! Please
drop me a line (or post on one of the Native feeds on Fido or
Internet) if you know of Native American events in your area.
Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us)
ABORIGINAL JUSTICE INTERNATIONAL GATHERING
Published in THE NATIVE CANADIAN Feb/Mar 1994
There is an invitation extended to the world's indigenous people to
gather in Vancouver on June 19-22 of this year. The address for
complete information is: Aboriginal Justice: Visions of the People,
Institute for Studies in Criminal Justice Policy, Simon Fraser
University at Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver,
B.C. V6B 5K3. You may also contact the Project Coordinator, Tanis
Dagert by phone at 604-291-5198 or fax 604-291-5213. The sponsors
of the conference are Simon Fraser University Institute for Studies
in Criminal Justice Policy and the University of British Columbia
First Nations Law Program under the direction of the National
Committee on Aboriginal Justice.
According to the literature on the conference, the purpose of the
gathering is to bring together grassroots organizers, leaders,
elders,and individuals committed to creating positive change in
their communities. The conference will deal with traditional and
contemporary ideas and practical applications of healing, harmony,
peace-keeping and conflict resolution in an atmosphere of dignity
and respect. Several forms of expression such as storytelling,
music, art, dance and film will translate the concepts of ideas of
justice.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
From: Frank Barillaro, Fidonet
THOMAS BANYACYA, Hopi Elder and Spokesman will be in Montreal on
May 21st.
He will be speaking on "The Hopi Prophecies" in a conference
that will be held at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza.
Thomas Banyacya will be one of many speakers presenting at the
"Transformation 94" conference.
The conference begins Friday May 20th and continues to Sunday
May 22nd. Over 30 speakers will address topics relating to
planetary transformation and personal spiritual growth.
You can obtain more information by contacting the Spiritual
Science Fellowship at (514)937-8359.
- Origin: Igloo Station (514) 632-5556 (1:167/502)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
From: clint <CLS164@psuvm.psu.edu>, Internet
Newsgroups: soc.culture.native
The Native American Indian Student Association of Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania Presents:
A CELEBRATION OF CULTURAL ENRICHMENT
Friday, April 15, 1994 112 Kern Graduate Building
9:45am: Opening Ceremonies
10:00am - 12:00noon: "Cultural Aspects" Open Forum
Panel: Native American graduates, undergraduates,
community members, PSU administrator and professors
1:30 - 3:30pm: "Indigenous Nations: Voices, Insights and New Directions"
delete line
- Sandra Fox, Ph.D - Branch Chief Monitoring and Evaluation,
Bureau of Indian Affairs
- L. A. Napier, D.Ed - Assistant Professor of Education
Administration, University of Colorado at Denver
- Grayson Noley, Ph.D - Associate Professor of Educational
Leadership, Arizona State University
- Jon Wade - Director, Office of Indian Education
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
101 & 102 Kern Graduate Building
7:00pm: NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE PERFORMANCE performed by the:
***ALLEGANY RIVER DANCERS***
Seneca Nation
Salamanca, NY
Traditional Seneca social dancing and pow-wow competition
dancing will be showcased.
Sponsors: Native American Student Association,Equal Opportunity Planning
Committee,American Indian Special Education Programs,American
Indian Leadership Programs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Newsgroups: alt.native
From: napa@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (Native Amer Peoples Alliance)
The University at Buffalo's Native American People's Alliance is
hosting the following conference:
Voices from Turtle Island: Issues of Contemporary Native Identity
Place: Fillmore 170 UB North Campus, Ellicott Complex
Dates: April 8-10
Speakers will include: Tom Porter, Janet McCloud, John Mohawk,
Katsi Cook and others
For more info, call (716) 645-3061
or E-mail napa@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (Internet)
napa@ubvms (Bitnet)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
From: Patrick Lucas, Fidonet
Event Location Date Time Phone
___________________________________________________________________
Pow Wow at the Turtle The Turtle 4/2-3/94 12:00 716-284-2427
Niagara Falls 5/7-8/94
New York
1.Competition Pow Wow Dancing
2.Native Foods and Crafts
___________________________________________________________________
Toronto Int. Pow Wow Toronto Sky Dome 4/1-2/94 416-870-8000
1 day pass / adult-$11.50 Cdn. (Tickets)
children(under 12)-$ 7.00 Cdn. 519-751-0040
2 day pass / adult-$19.50 Cdn. (Info)
Singing and Dance Competitions
Over 200 Native Craftsmen
Native Foods from across North America
The Host Drum will be Whitefish Bay
__________________________________________________________________
Native American Women's Recognition Event May 14,1994 12-3pm
University Of Rochester Faculty Club
Rochester. New York
Sponsored by the Friends of Ganondagan Adults $20.00
Students $15.00
Members $17.50
- Keynote Speaker- Principal Chief of the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation.
Wilma Mankiller
- Performance by - Oneida songwriter and singer
Joanne Shenandoah
- Luncheon Buffet served at noon
For more information please call or write: The Friends of Ganondagan
P.O. Box 239
Victor, New York 14564
1-716-742-1690
____________________________________________________________________
Other Events during June and July 1994
____________________________________________________________________
June 25-26 Grand River Days-Six Nations Reservation Ontario,Canada
519-445-4528
June 25-26 Black Creek Native American Festival
Verhulst Farm-Spencerport, New York
908-475-3872
June 25-July 6 Great Law of Peace Recitation
Jake Thomas Learning Center,
Six Nations, Ontario,Canada
519-445-4528
July 1-4 Black Creek Native American Pow Wow
Verhulst Farm-Spensorport, New York
908-475-3872
July 16-17 Keeper of the Western Door Pow Wow
Allegany Indian Reservation
Salamanca, New York
716-945-4971
July 23-24 Champion of Champions Pow Wow
Six Nations, Ontario, Canada
519-445-4528
Origin: CIRCUIT BREAKER,Canandaigua,NY (716)394-9164 14.4 (1:2613/513)
Send notices of forthcoming powwows, conferences and gatherings to:
jans@genie.geis.com
gars@netcom.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
--------- "RE: Statement of Leonard Peltier (March 1994)" ---------
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 94 21:53:57 -0500
From: LISA STALNAKER HELLWIG <lhellwi@delphi.com>
Subj: Statement of Leonard Peltier (March 1994)
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)
NNTP-Posting-Host: delphi.com
Statement of Leonard Peltier
Reprinted from Spirit of Crazy Horse
March-April 1994
Greetings to my friends and supporters,
As I stare outside at the snow slowly melting, I wonder about
many things. I wonder about my friends and my family and mostly, about
when I will be able to be with them again. I hope and pray that my
supporters are working to make sure that justice will be done in my case
so that I may one day meet them, shake their hands or hug them for doing
so much to help me, a stranger.
Despite the many disagreements and controversial arguments
surrounding the clemency campaign from both my enemies and those who are
supposed to be my allies and friends, we seem to be making a lot of
progress. I understand tens of thousands of people are mailing letters,
sending faxes and calling the White House weekly to urge the President
to grant me executive clemency. Knowing this is an enormous
inspiration to me, and it gives me the hope that I need to continue this
18 year old battle. Along with our many prayers, I sincerely believe
we can win, and we will win.
Of course, none of this can ever be taken for granted. Perhaps
all of this hard work is being done for nothing. We will never know
until the keys for my cage are turned and the steel doors opened and I
can walk freely among you. I do not wish to sound negative here, but I
do need to give a word of caution that we cannot celebrate yet. Please
continue doing what you have been doing in organizing more support,
getting signatures, making calls, writing letters and educating your
families and associates. I do believe we are organizing in the right
direction.
I recently returned from a 3 week stay at the United States
Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, MO. I dreaded
going there because I believed that I would be kept in the Hole, where
all maximum security prisoners are housed, with little, if any,
communications with the outside world, including my family, the
organizers for the clemency campaign and the LPDC staff. Thanks to my
attorney, Ramsey Clark, and the LPDC, Lisa, Michele, and Koen, and of
course, my many supporters, I was held in segregation for only one
night.
I was then moved to the surgical ward into a cell that had its
own private bath, a television set, and a hospital bed. And, get this,
I had a view of the front of the prison. I could se city lights and, in
the morning, the sun coming up in the east. The best luxury of all was
the bathtub. After 18 years, I was finally able to take a hot bath, and
in private, with all the time I wished to take. Finally, during the
last week, a phone was brought to my cell to use as I wished, or in this
case, as I could afford.
I was also allowed contact visits in the visiting room, the
atmosphere was very relaxed, so I could truly enjoy visiting with the
people I love, Lisa and my grandchildren. We were able to sit side by
side. At leavenworth we have to sit across from one another. The
little things that others don't even notice mean so much when they're
taken away.
But then, not all was comfort. I was shackled, with my hands
cuffed behind me whenever moving from one part of the prison to another.
I was also not allowed to leave my room. After three weeks, I began to
miss being able to take a shower and to move freely within the prison,
so I started becoming anxious for my return to Leavenworth.
The bad news from my stay at Springfield was that the doctors,
after examining me, told me that they could not fix my jaw. The injury
was too old, with too much scar tissue, to guarantee a successful
surgery. We, of course, intend to get another specialist's opinion
after I am released from prison. The good news is that I do not have
any tumors or diseases, and my heart is in good condition, healthy and
strong. They did tell me I need to lose some weight, which I already
knew. Some of the staff treated me fairly well. This, I am sure, was
due to my celebrity status (smile).
There are a number of benefit events being organized which will
bring awareness, media attention, and hopefully, some much needed funds
to the clemency campaign. This ongoing strategy has been an effective
tool in our long term plans. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has
denied me a new trial, or even a fair hearing, so I am asking you to
please support and promote these events, as the options for my release
are limited.
June 25 and 26 1994, Peltier Weekend, is promising to be a major
event. We are working with professional organizers and some of today's
most popular bands. This type of help is an enormous plus for us, and
will ensure our success.
I thank you very much for listening to my words and I thank you
very much for the support you have given me. And I hope and pray that
1994 will be the year during which we will finally celebrate a long
overdue victory.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Peltier