| Happenings |
| It is known that Raven brings hidden information from the darkness into the light. This is the reason for the symbolism here. There are things happening to the people out there that are NOT being covered by the media or anyone else. This is an effort to bring some of these things to light. The only access I have to this sort of information are people who care and send the info to me. It is informal, for the most part, and little I have to back it up since such things are rarely 'officially' reported. Therefore, take what is given and think what you will and. . .do what you can. It is only told here because I have yet to find another outlet for this type of information. Such treatment will continue until a 'voice' is heard. May it be loud. . .and soon. |
| E-mail received on 1/10/02: Source: Real TV: a home video of the recent horrendous treatment of the Mik'Maq Indians. The tribal members were trying to protect their sacred fishing grounds from fishermen. . .there was a small sized rowboat of Mik'Maqs. . .the Canadian authorities came out in two large amphibian-type motor boats which held at least 20 officials each. . .they deliberately ran over the Mik'Maq's boat and that wasn't enough, they came back and deliberately ran over the Indians in the water. There was another small fishing vessel (a white one) belonging to the Mik'Maq tribe that was accosted by these two large amphibian type motor boats, and they were attempting to turn over the small fishing vessel but it got away. This friend decided to write the Prime Minister about this Hitler-like treatment. I encourage you to do the same. |
| I welcome any such reports that can be placed here. If you know of any, please e-mail them to me at Roha14@aol.com. |
| Canadian Prime Minister: The Right Honorable Jean Chretien |
| E-Mail: WalkGently2, Mar 3, 2002: BOYCOTT URGED OF FLAGSTAFF'S ARIZONA DAILY SUN: Racism gains safe haven in the Southwest as editorial insults and demeans the sacredness of San Francisco Peaks. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz--Native Americans urged a boycott of the Arizona Daily Sun following an editorial demeaning native beliefs and the sacredness of San Francisco Peaks. Written in an insulting tone, the editorial included this statement, "Neither the Peaks nor the Moon is likely to be handed over to Native American control anytime soon." "I am ashamed of the newspaper. . .I have never felt so ashamed of a newspaper as I do now. Please have your editor resign," responded one online reader. The Flagstaff Action Network, which includes Native American activists in the region, said the Peaks are not just regarded by "some Native Americans as sacred," as the newspaper stated. "They are, in fact, sacred to thirteen tribes in this region and an important source of beauty, inspiration, and connection with nature for many thousands who arenot tribal members," said Roxanne George, director of the Network. "They are one of Arizona's few sky islands, providing water, old growth forest, rare mixed conifer and even rarer alpine tundra habitat for plant and animal species of concern, including goshawks, Mexican spotted owls, and Senecio franciscanus, a plant found nowhere else in the world." The Arizona Daily Sun used an insulting tone in its editorial, one inconsistent with the ethics of journalism and it's moral responsibility to honor what others hold sacred. The Sun wrote, "When it comes to the making of artificial snow at the Arizona Snowbowl with reclaimed wastewater, it's time that tribal activists confront some inconvenient truths. The first is that the San Francisco Peaks, although regarded by some Native Americans as sacred, are managed largely by the U. S. Forest Service. As such, they are 'off the reservation', just as is the Moon, which the Navajos also hold sacred (they oppose, among other things, landings and the spreading of Gene Shoemaker's ashes there). Neither the Peaks nor the Moon is likely to be handed over to Native American control anytime soon. The editorial went on, "Yet Navajos and other tribes continue to make claims on the Peaks that no other ethnic or religious group would get away with. There are no burial sites or settlement ruins on the Peaks. The Peaks are simply a part of a natural landscape that native peoples have elevated to unnatural stature and to which they have attemptedto extend a religious sovereignty." Meanwhile, American Indian readers were insulted and saddened by the lack of understanding of their oral legends to hold the Peaks and Mother Earth sacred for the protection of humanity. Reflecting the racism in bordertowns in Arizona, one reader wrote online, "I was very pleased to read this Editorial. I applaud the Daily Sun for the courage it took to publish this opinion. Many of us wholeheartedly agree, but recognize that stating such an opinion may lead to charges of racism." But many others responded this way: "How dare you trivialize the culture that was here long before you?" Klee Benally, Navajo from Big Mountain, said the editorial is no different than the signs of "No Indians or dogs allowed," or KKK placards. "This editorial is racist. It is appalling that in this day and age a 'progressive' newspaper, in such a diverse community, can condone any form of racism. This editorial is condescending, disrespectful and insensitive." The editorial was described as trivializing Native American religious practice and way of life. Far from leading to constructive dialogue, the editorial was seen as uncovering "some fo the hidden racism in the fabric of the community of Flagstaff," Benally said. Now, you might not be able to see in this article the clear picture of a white-sheeted KKK member beating an innocent Black person, nor might you be able to see the distinct image of a sign hanging in a Flagstaff business window that says. "No Indians or Dogs Allowed,' as there were up until 3 decades ago. "But if you look closely, you can see something that mirrors the racist psychological propaganda that Adolph Hitler used to dehumanize the Polish and Jewish Peoples before he started trying to wipe them off the face of this earth. If you can remember, Hitler used newspaper articles and films to trivialize their concerns and portray them as 'stupid' peoples, so when he invaded their countries, people paid little or no regard to what he was doing." Benally called for the editor to be fired and an apology made to Native Americans. Another reader responded to the newspaper's website, "How dare you trivialize the Native people of this area and the sacredness of this land? How dare you write such blatantly racist propaganda? You write as if this land was always controlled by the U.S. Forest Service . Have you forgotten that Native people never 'handed control' over to the U.S. Forest Service? The U.S. took control by the use of deadly force." Patricia Davis, Navajo, was among those responding to the verbal assault on Navajos for their belief in the Peaks as one of their Four Sacred Mountains. "Let us call racism what it is, EVIL," Davis wrote.. "Evil has no compassion or no mercy. In my travel in europe over the years, people there have told me that many countries loaded up ships to America with tehir criminals, thieves, prostitutes, and murderers. This is the reason there was no reverence for the People, the land, natural resources and the buffalo. Today, the descendentss of the Original Terrorists are arrogant in their attempt to police the world with bigger guns and bigger bombs, America is reaping and weeping its own karmic debt in the oklahoma city bombing and New York Twin Towers attack and still doesn't get it! This country was taken by murder and plunder. Plunder means THIEF. Then these descendents claim to be civilized, schooled and Christian. In fact, most have never 'confessed' to the Holocaust, Genocide and original Germ Warfare committed by their ancestors, when they issued smallpox infected blankets to the Indigineous people. I know that when people deny and defend their evil, they attack, for example, 'the war on terrorism.' I am saddened that so much evil still exists in a country that purports to be promoting equality, opportunity, peace and justice. I am not surprised that Coyote, the Trickster, is still telling lies, Mr. Randy Wilson." Native Americans pointed out that newspapers bend to the pressures of their advertisers and backroom political agendas. Now, more than ever, with the phobic nationalism of jingoism celebrated by racists in America, the news media has joined the hysteria. One reader said. "America's slogan should read 'Paved, plowed, plunder, pocketed." Author Mary Sojourner, a long time resident of Flagstaff, also responded online. "Shame on you for your intolerant, racist and ignorant editorial insulting Native American spiritual knowledge about the Peaks. Platt Cline, the grand old Flagstaff gentleman and journalist, once said to me, 'I don't understand why humans build churches when these (he pointed to the Peaks) are the finest place of worship. I'd love to know who wrote that editorial. The writer needs to go to the public and Museum of Northern Arizona libraries (or, imagine this!) talk with Native Americans about the spiritual knowledge they hold in their their hearts and bodies. Whoever wrote the editorial has not lived here very long, certainly not as long as the Navajo, the Hopi, the Havasupai, the Hualapai, and all the other tribes who hold the Peaks naturally sacred." Sojourner said among the manifestations of the editor's lack of knowledge was a suggestion that Native Americans should protest the Snowbowl ski area atop the Peaks. "Duhhh," many responded to the editor. "Do you live here?" Sojourner said, "Perhaps the writer's second greatest inaccuracy was the instruction to the tribes to protest the Snowbowl, itself. They have, they do, they always will. Join your community, Daily Sun, all of your community." |
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| Arizona Daily Sun: E-mail can be accomplished under the 'Opinions' Section. |