This message is to spread the news that in Geneyes-sur-Coffrane,
Switzerland, a conference of European support groups for North American
indigenous peoples started today, Sunday July 30. The conference is being
organized by Inocmindios, Switzerland, Big Mountain Action Group, Germany
and AKIN, Austria. These are the minutes I took during the opening session
this morning:
We officially welcome you to the Euromeeting '95 - the Planning Session of
Support Groups of North American Indigenous PeopleS. 24 organizations from
10 different European countries have already registered:
AKIN, Austria
Amnesty International, Germany
Arbeitskreis Indianer Heute, Germany
ASNA, Switzerland
Big Mountain Aktionsgruppe, Germany
For Mother Earth, Belgium
ATD Forth World, Switzerland
Society for threatened peoples, Germany
Hopi Arbeitsgruppe, Switzerland
Incomindios, Switzerland
Indian Support Group Cologne, Germany
Individual observer from Poland
Infoe, Germany
Nederlands Centrum voor Inheemse Volken, Netherlands
Innu Support Group, Netherlands
KWIA, Belgium
Nitassinan, France
Arawak Indians private observer, Great Britain
Ombre Rosse, Radio Onda Rossa radio station, Italy
Sacred Eye film production, Germany
Friend of people close to nature, Germany
Soconas Incomindios, Italy
Verein zur Unterstutzung nordamerikanischer Indianer,
Germany
In particular, we welcome the indigenous representatives from the US,
Canada and Hawaii. Dionys Zink: The indigenous representatives will
introduce themselves:
Mary Ellen, is from Heart Butte, Montana and she is here with Floyd Heavy
Runner
Mary Ellen: Good morning. My name is Mary Ellen Little Moustache. I do the
technical stuff when working for/with Floyd. It is good to see the
support, this is an experience.
Floyd Heavy Runner: My name is Floyd Heavy Runner. It all started in '89
in Geneva. We are representatives to protect our Blackfoot sacred lands,
to keep our land the way it is. We have battles against multinational oil
companies. People looking for fossile fuels damage the land. Since '89 we
hoped that it would get better, but it didn't. We have people pro western
development and people that want to keep the tradional ways.
Marlene Laroque: My name is Marlene Laroque. I live in Saskatoon, I am a
Cree indian. Do not only focus on Uranium minig, because there are many
issues connected to it.
Doreen Spence: My name is Doreen Spence, under which I am known in the
western world. My grand mother said, a time would come to speak out. When
I was little, this was not possilbly, because teaching was not possible.
So I became a volunteer on women issues and issues connected to
colonization. I work from a holistic perspective. One of the real issues
back home is the new regulations with gun control. This will affect many
people hunting.
Donna Johns from Hawaii: My name is Napua, Child of the Flowers. I came
here to observe my brothers and sisters here. After travelling thousands
of miles to Geneva, I figured it was not so hard to travel the addtional
miles here. In Hawaii, the women have the second biggest breast cancer
rate in the world. The US government denies us the right to self
determination, although they illegally took over the land.
My name is Samantha Rainbow. I am from South Dakota. I grew up in the
Black Hills Paha Sapa. I came on behalf of some elders that could not make
the journey, to look what is going on in the international arena. I study
water issues. Kevin Costner wants to pump a large quantity of water for a
golf course.
My name is Reinie Jobin from the Lubicon Cree. Daishowa, a japanese pulp
mill is going to destroy our forests. It is our land, we never sold it to
anybody. Unocal, an American gas and oil multinational, played havoc with
the health of our people. They opened a gas plant on our land. All issues
are still not resolved in the court system. We have racism in our country,
we had to stand up for the last 300 to 400 years. To this day the genocide
is not over. We are in a very sorry state. We need a lot of help, our
fight is not over. Even if we do a land settlement, we have to fight
Daishowa and Unocal.
Frank Dreaver and Michael Eckhardt representing Leonard Peltier Defense
Committee organization: I am Frank Dreaver and I am a Saskatchewan Cree.
We as Indian people are born into the struggle. That we are still the only
ones not recognized as peoples is proof of that. Leonard Peltier is an
extreme example of what happens when all things fail. We have highest
death rates, the highest this and that. All of us who are concerned of
what happens, are aware that to everyone could happen the same things that
happened to Leonard Peltier. It is important to continue the struggle.
Leonard Peltier represents all issues, including Uranium mining. We bring
our solidarity to Leonard Peltier. Leonard's case represents the last
stage before complete destruction. It's the priciples of our identity that
we are protecting here.
Greetings, I am Michael Eckhardt. I am a non-indigenous member of the
Leonard Peltier Defense Committe. I come from Ohio and I am responsible
for six states within the committee. We want to present Leonards case in a
way it has not been presented before. I come here with the knowledge to
dicuss the case. Our efforts which I hope will become common efforts, have
been stepped up. I come in the spirit of putting my motions, my feelings
and my heart in front of people I mostly do not know. The Peltier
struggle represent land rights, fishing rights, sovereignty among other
rights. We want to open up channnels of communication.
Edison Cassadore from the San Carlos Apache reservation is next.
I am here to talk about the defense of the sacred site of Mount Graham,
which is threatened by a consortium to build a telescope there, which
would be desecration. They never consulted the Elders, although they
claim that they did. The project - an example of neo-colonial domination
and white supremacy-thinking - is funded extensively with European money
(e.g. Max-Planck- Institute, Vatican and others). All issues are
connected, all of us here fight the same thing. We want to get the UN to
move during its decade of indigenous peoples. We should pressure the UN to
have a legally binding convention.
I am Robert Cruz, Papago. Indian prisoner rights are an issue. They are
being denied their religious freedom. A white person interpreting Indian
religion is not acceptable. Laws on land regulations are being changed by
Mexico because of NAFTA. North of Sonora, at the US- Mexican border, we
have to deal with seven different agencies (FBI, secret services, county
and sheriff departments...). But our law is still violated. Non- Indians
are being helped to get Indian lands. I want to help the Eurpean
supporters help us. I seems that we have been silent too long. We haven't
been so active after the 1970s and becoming more active will help people
back home.
My name is Daniel Zapata. I am Chicano-XiXimeka. This is the first time I
came here, and I represent the people of Black Mesa: The Dene communites
of Cactus Valley, Forrest Lake and While Willow. Among others, Peabody
coal is threatening the land and the people. For a long time, I have been
trying to help the community. The law for relocating the Dene people is
something that has to be questioned. The way to mine in the area by Lord
Hanson's company is something that has to be questioned. This is why Dene
elders have the right to question authority and travel to Lord Hanson
shareholders' meetings to express their view.
Monika Seiller: Euromeetings normally focus on specific cases to which the
European support groups plan actions and campaigns. However, we need an
overall direction of what is going on in North America. This is why we
have invited Tony Gonzalez , Sari (IITC) to give us a broad overview on
the situation of the indigenous peoples living within the borders of the
US.
US assessment report:
Good morning. A little bit of history first: As a result of Wounded Knee
Indian people came to Switzerland to seek assistance to gain world
attention. In 1977 there was the first indigenous conference and the IITC
was the first indigenous organization to receive UN-consultative status in
1977. Incomindios was the first support organization to be created by
native peoples using the logo of the IITC.The aim was to set up
international committees for the indians of the Americas (=Incomindios) in
all Eurpean countries. After I returned from Vietnam war, I had to do a
lot of healing. IITC helped and I was with them. I am still learning. The
IITC received a substantial grant to provide training and leadership on
international laws and standards of indigenous peoples in the Americas.
Now we are working out a program for this. Some of you might ask "what is
the International Indian Treaty Council"? We work at the UN to develop
standards for the protection of indigenous peoples, inventing mechanisms
for the implementation of these standards. Proceeds for complaints have
to be developed. We are achieving a lot of good work, but work has to be
looked over many years to see what acutally has been done. We are also
concerned with nuclear effects on people. High and low level radioactive
waste is a big problem today, as native reservations are targeted to
become the toxic and radioactive dump sites for the waste of white
civilization.
California: There has been a military base with Minuteman rockets, and
there has been fear that it would affect people. In New Mexico once a
bomber airplane crashed on the land, and the effects were drastic to the
neighboring Zuni people. The Mohave should take up nuclear waste which
would endanger the quality of the Colorado river. Alaska: An oil pipeline
was planned down to Valdez, which would threaten wildlife, namely the
arctic wildlife refuge. Currently there is a bill in Congress to open up
the country. Tourism may be the first stage of taking over the country
step by step. Developers sell real estate at higher prices where they know
artifacts may be some feet under ground. NAFTA absolutely removes all
sovereignty from indigenous peoples when it comes to resources. Sovereign
rights are being minimized. Chiapas: The Zapatistas in Chiapas have put
up an international questionnaire we like everyone of you to fill in. They
want to know whether they have the right to stand up as an independent
political force supported by the native population (revolutions are not
static, you have to keep on moving).
With regard to Mexico: Are you aware of the massacre in Guerrero? The
mexican army is being mobilized to get into the area of Guerrero, like in
Chiapas. Back in the US again, the US have signed the UN convention on
the rights of the child, but did not yet ratify it. It would reinforce the
Indian Child Welfare Act (73). It may positively affect the rights of
Indian childs, but the US may reduce these effects. In Montana there is a
strong militia force. In some area they are pro Indian, and in some they
are not. We have to be very conscious of those racist militias. Beware,
people that are talking of home stability are not indigenous.
Another topic: Mass media. After Dances with Wolves, which did serve some
good, there are many Hollywood productions that have problems portraying
Indians correctly. Unless we can write the script ourselves, there won't
be a correct representation. Disney currently has "Pocahontas" running,
which is a very racist movie.
The mascot issues is still going on. In the sports arena fierce looking,
racist mascots and logos (e.g. Redskins) are used, and this is just plain
racist. As you may be aware, in Round Valley a policeman was shot and an
Indian man being shot and killed. Now there is a massive man hunt for a
man known as Bear in his community. He may be a witness of the crime and
he now fears for his life, so he will be hiding. In the US affirmative
action is part of the Civil Rights Movement. People of colour are not
allowed to have equal opportunities. The positive action of this is to pay
back for the racism of the past, but conservative governments in many
states and Congress try to roll this back.
Low intensity conflict is a military strategy of insinuation, propaganda -
agencies enter organizations and create instability. It was created by the
US intelligence in the mid-60s and promoted by the CIA. The campaigns
were extended to Central and South America (=covered action against
civilian population in the so-called banana republics). Be aware, countries
around the world might adopt this policy. More police, additional
mobilization of military - there will be a presence of the government
everywhere, including dis- and misinformation, false accusals and
penetrating NGOs.
Kenneth Deer has also been working with the UN for a long time, mostly
because of the Mohawk conflict. He also is publisher of Eastern Door, a
paper focusing on indigenous issues. He will give also give us an
assassment report.
Canada assessment report:
Canada is one big lump made up of many little lumps sitting on top the
United States.
A liberal government came to power last year. The previous government
basically tried to reduce the self government of indigenous peoples. The
new governmenn claims to have a much broader definition for self
government of Indians. Brian Mulroney promised four major changes to the
indigenouse: Native people should be included in the legislation making
process for the constitution, but this of course did not happen. In BC
there was a negative court decision in the Gitksan case, saying that the
native people do not have a claim to the land, and that the Gitksan are no
people as such. But this is not the only racism. Oil drilling on native
land and clearcutting is also a prime issue. Changes are promised on
these issues, and this may give reason to hope for a better future. In
Manitoba, all action is being shifted from the Indian Affairs
administration towards the natives themselves. This can be used as a model
for indian control of indian programs for other provinces as well. Also in
Manitoba, urban indians are being accepted as a political factor. The
former Minister on Indian Affairs, Dan Goodleaf, a Mohawk that really was
a government man, has been appointed ambassador of Canada to some Central
American countries.
Another big issue is C31: Who can decide who is native and who is not? The
Human Rights Commission found that in the case of women losing indian
status after marriage is a violation of the Human Rights Bill. Still
governments can decide that someone is a member of a given community, and
that community cannot do anything against it.
In New Brunswick there was a blockade for the preservation of the salmon
fishing rights of the Micmaq. Native people had been arrested, and
blockades have been erected. To make things really silly: Fishing
department put a much bigger net in the river than the Micmaq, so to claim
that they are killing the fish is silly, because the fish cannot spawn
when they are blocked entry to the river.
The issue of Oka never seems to go a away. The Mohawk cemetary is now
full. Now recently unfortunately two Mohawks drowned. They had to be
buried on ground that is technically speaking owned by the municipality of
Oka.. The mayor tried everything to stop that, even sending the police,
which did not really enter the area, fearing a Mohawk trap.
Quebec separation: If the Quebecers hold a referendum, the Cree will do
their own referendum. The Mohawks try to keep out of an argument of two
parties on land they cannot even claim. In November we will all see what
is acutally happening in the separation issue, which by now they no longer
call it this way, they use some evasive terms nowadays. Misinformation
leads to great misconceptions in the public. A recent poll showed that 54%
of the Quebecois feel indigenous peoples live better than the average
whites.
The Cree and the Mohawk do not say that Quebec has no right to separate,
but the fight is over land that is not theirs. We don't know what will
happen to our inherent right of self determination.
-- Oliver Kluge Big Mountain Action Group Co-organizers of the Euromeeting