The following comes from Wotanging Ikche -- Native American News
Volume 06, Issue 002, 10 January 1998
--------- "RE: Rally For Justice Update" ---------
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 14:36:01 EST
From: AIMAZ AIMAZ@aol.com
Subj: Rally For Justice -- Update 12/29/97
UUCP email
Statement on the Rally for Justice
Update 12/29/97
My Relatives,
We, here in Arizona have done a great deal of discussing, and planning
for the Rally for Justice, 1998. After much thought, discussion and
prayer, we have come to the following decisions.
We have decided to postpone the Rally for 1 year. Making the new date,
the first work day, (Tuesday) after the "recognized" so-called columbus
day.
The reasons for this are varied and we wish to express them here, and
get your feedback on them.
- We see the Rally for Justice as a major turning point for Indian
people and all Indigenous peoples of the world, and think that holding it
just prior to the new millennium would have a greater impact and offer more
hope for Indigenous peoples for the future.
- There are hundreds of "small fires" burning throughout Indian country
and across the globe. In order to make any type of difference, we have to
stop playing the government's game of running around, trying to stomp out
all these "small fires" and turn them into one, huge "bonfire" that we can
attack successfully.
A. To this purpose we are asking for individuals/groups to take
responsibility for researching, in depth, details concerning the issues
facing Indian country on an individual basis. For example; Mr. Charles
Vargas of the San Carlos Apache Nation has kindly volunteered his time and
talent to research the issue of "Land grabbing and mining issues on Indian
land" on a national level. Anyone with information on land grabbing or
reservation mining issues in their area are asked to forward any and all
information they possess on this subject to Mr. Vargas.
He can be contacted via email at Asperidot@gila.net.
B. We are asking then, for all other individuals/groups to pick a topic
from the following list and act as a national collection site for any and
all information obtainable on these issues...please feel free to volunteer
for any other issue you see as important that may not have been listed
here...
- Anti-Indian Legislation (federal/state/local)
- Government Imposed Blood Quantums
- Child Protective Services and the ICWA.
- Grave Desecration/Repatriation (NAGPRA)
- Federal and State laws and compacts dealing with Indian casinos
- "Imported" Indian jewelry and art
- Cultural and Spiritual Theft
- Government intervention in tribal courts, councils, businesses
- Political Prisoners (including, but not limited to, Leonard Peltier)
- Indian domestic problems and lack of government assistance (ie alcoholism,
fetal alcohol syndrome, domestic violence)
- Education of Indian children in non-Indian schools
- Racism and mascots (including products/businesses such as Crazy Horse Malt
Liquor, Red Man Chewing Tobacco, etc. and School/Sports Mascots)
As was mentioned earlier, please feel free to choose a topic that may not
be listed here, but each individual and/or group is encouraged to select
only one as we are attempting to gather as much information as possible
and don't want to overwork anyone more than necessary. We believe that the
presentation of this documentation/information in one year's time would
necessitate the formation of a "Red Ribbon Court" to formally charge the
government and its members with crimes against the people.
- We wish to announce the planning of the 3rd Annual Concert for
Justice, for ALL Indian people to be held in Phoenix, Arizona in September,
1998. This will be the kick-off for the National Rally the following year,
and a time to gather the information together from the various groups and
individuals.
- Time must be allowed for all this to take place so that we do not go
to Washington, D.C. ill-prepared and unarmed. If this is truly to be a
turning point for Indian people, then it must be as effective as possible.
The following organizations have added their endorsement, support and
voice to the Rally for Justice...
- American Indian Movement
- AIM, Arizona Chapter
- AIM, Florida Chapter
- AIM, New York Chapter
- AIM Support Group - Arizona
- AIM Support Group - Central Indiana
- AIM Support Group - Massachusetts
- AIM Support Group - Northern Alabama
- AIM Support Group - Ohio/N. Kentucky
- AIM Support Group - Waco, Texas
- AIM Youth Council of Arizona
- Aboriginal Independent Newspaper - Australia
- A.I.S.I.A - France
- Aztlan Liberation Organization
- Brown Berets de Aztlan
- Collision Course Video Productions - San Francisco, California
- Concerned American Veterans
- Cesar A. Cruz
- For Mother Earth, Indigenous Working Group - Belgium
- KOLA, HQ - Belgium
- Lakota Student Alliance
- League of Indigenous Sovereign Nations
- Leonard Peltier Support Group - Augusta, Maine
- Leonard Peltier Support Group - Maryland
- Leonard Peltier Support Group - Metro Detroit, Michigan
- Minister Joel Muhammed, Nation of Islam, Phoenix Mosque
- News From Indian Country
- People Organized Working for Equal Rights
- Redhand Studios - Phoenix, Arizona
- Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
- "Smoke Signals", CHRW, 94.7 FM - UWO, Canada
- United American Indians of New England
- WOJB-FM, 88.9 - Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation
We have the support of the People in this. We are looking for more, from
the Nations, themselves, the Traditional Chiefs, Clan Mothers and Tribal
Councils as well as the NCAI and others. We feel that once they see the
ball rolling on this, that they, too, will join their voices with ours.
Please respond as soon as possible with your thoughts on this action,
your concerns, and volunteers to be the central resource point for one of
the issues listed above. As volunteers come forward, their contact
information and issue will be distributed so that people from across the
globe can begin sending information pertinent to that particular issue to
them.
Individuals and groups are also encouraged to assist in the planning of
the Rally for Justice, by volunteering to be responsible for one of the
categories below... Permits/Reservation of Mall area Staging/Sound Housing
(host hotels, families, churches etc.) We anxiously await your replies,
our relatives, as well as your support and assistance in this mammoth
undertaking.
In Struggle,
Vernon Foster
Southwest Regional Director
American Indian Movement
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