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walksalone11

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The United States continues to steal from Indians
« on: December 21, 2009, 04:25:25 pm »
http://www.republicoflakotah.com/2009/the-united-states-continues-to-steal-from-indians/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RepublicOfLakotah+(Republic+of+Lakotah)&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail


BILL MEANS

With all due respect to Elouise Cobell, lead plaintiff in a recently settled lawsuit over American Indian trust funds (”U.S. to pay Indians $3.4B,” Dec. 9), I think the United States is continuing a policy of “Indians are not humans.”

During the course of this long-running, class-action litigation, it has been documented that the United States owes Indian people more than $137 billion for mismanagement of trust accounts. That was established just by the documents that were presented.

The original federal judge on this case was Royce Lamberth, who held at least three secretaries of the Interior in contempt for not producing thousands of additional documents. Also, during the course of this case, hundreds of relevant documents were found in the trash by Interior Department employees, who reported this to the court and to Interior Department officials.

Those of us who own Indian land, heirs and the American public do not know the total amount owed to Indian people, because the government has refused to turn over all the documents ordered by the federal court. Lamberth was removed from the case; officials in the Bush administration argued that he was biased in favor of Indians.

This has rarely happened in the history of U.S. jurisprudence. Lamberth was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan and is a Texas Republican.

So basically, now, the U.S. government is saying that it has identified the thief of Indian royalties and resources as itself. It has allowed the thief to determine the value of the settlement and mostly has allowed the thief to keep what has been stolen.

Only in America if you steal something and hold onto it long enough does it becomes yours.

To add insult to injury, the government is clearing its conscience by paying back 2.48 percent of the so-far known value of what the United States stole in the first place. Paying $3.4 billion on a known debt of $137 billion is a national disgrace; this needs to be known by all Americans. Cobell should have at least held out until all the documents were presented or a final calculation of the debt was determined.

In the words of a great Oglala Lakota statesman Chief Red Cloud: “The United States made us many promises, but they kept only one. They promised to take our land, and they took it.”

Bill Means is a board member of the International Indian Treaty Council.
This article originally appeared in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

walksalone11

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Azanne07

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2009, 09:20:04 am »
I know the local tribe where I live is trying to stop paying state taxes. they are arguing that since they are federal they shouldnt have to pay the state.

Stealth3si

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2009, 09:25:27 am »
Why is this significant to you?

walksalone11

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2009, 10:30:33 am »
If the tribe is federally recognized then they are a country unto themselves and not an American community or state. That would be like asking Mexico or Canada to pay taxes to the IRS.

As for the relevance to me?
I am Tsalagi and any issues relevant to indigenous peoples is in turn relevant to any and all NDNs.


lancenweman1978

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2009, 10:48:10 am »
It is unfortunate to hear of the settler's progeny still at it with the original indigenous people of this continent.

This is but just a small fraction of the social and humane injustices happening around the world today.

Drugs, smoking, alcohol, religious and social persecutions, genocide, privatization, out-sourcing etc etc the list goes on.

I am pleased to hear that there are efforts to help correct (if possible) the wrongs that were done, although they can never be taken back.

I am quite thankful our forefathers came here and set up the D.O.I and B.O.R. and the protection and freedoms they provide but not under the conditions that they did.

Today I woke up and as everyday i realized that no matter what I did the previous day (within reason) that there are infinite opportunities for positivity and growth here in america. Many people have wronged me as i have wrong many people, and I hope that we all have the fortitude to forgive and forget and work together and individually to better ourselves and our environment as we all must co-exist even if it is at a distance.

Remember "The Secret"

trujillo33

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2009, 11:07:27 am »
I didnt know this was happening...I know some native people are getting mistreated!!

ahunter300

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2009, 11:38:15 am »
why, don't we all stop paying taxes - we are all native to the earth - besides the indians of america say they belong to the earth as we all do - IMHO >> In My Humble Opinion - The MUSEUM, Zazzle, deviantART, ArtFire, FineArtAmerica
Positive Prospective = Health, Happiness, Peace, Confidence, and Courage
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walksalone11

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2009, 12:01:36 pm »
I have a friend who was a member of the tribal police on the Yankton Sioux Rez in south eastern South Dakota.

When a company decided to build a commercial hog farm, the tribe decided to not allow them access across reservation land.

The company defied the tribes warning against trespassing and began construction.

The tribal members decided on peacefully blocking access to the site.

The local sheriff, who btw has no jurisdiction on the reservation, has a son who is an electrical contractor and had the contract to do all the electrical work on the facility.

So in the interest of his son's business, the sheriff went onto the reservation and began kidnapping(arresting) the blockaders.

My friend was ordered to participate in the arrest of even his own family members who were by this time peacefully protesting the sheriffs actions.
He had to make a decision whether to follow orders and protect one of the very very scarce job opportunities in the area, or stand with his relations in protection of their rights even though it ultimatly forced him to lose his home to foreclosure.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr8SM8-WQg8

walksalone11

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2009, 12:18:28 pm »
Oh yeah it continues.

We as NDNs have been out of sight and out of mind by design, but there are many of us who are making our voices heard once more in any and all forums possible, online and in the real.

You will be hearing more and more about some of these issues.

NDN wars are not fought with guns and arrows now days, education is the weapon that I feel has the best chance at positive outcomes for our peoples.

The following video is of Black Mesa and Big Mountain in Arizona where many Navajo including many tribal Elders are refusing to be forced off their lands in order for Peabody Coal Company to rape the mountain. If you support the theft of the land you can thank John McCain as your hero in this issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MypNJfb7mSM&feature=related


walksalone11

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2009, 12:43:12 pm »
More on Big Mountain,and the Navajo.

McCain's policies detrimental the Sioux Nations as well....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMP51DziLdE&feature=channel

walksalone11

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2009, 12:55:35 pm »
Russell Means Discusses the 51-month sentencing of Timothy Hotz, a man convicted for 3 prior DUI offenses who drunkenly killed two 20 year old Indians on Pine Ridge, while an Indian gets 3 years fo...   


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqb6NK0cpo8

acurtsinger2

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #12 on: December 22, 2009, 01:09:41 pm »
 the U.S. seems to think they have the God given right to take whatever, from whom ever, to get what they want.  It's been going on since we became a country almost 230 yrs ago. What can be done???? :dontknow:

walksalone11

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #13 on: December 22, 2009, 01:57:15 pm »
It is not only the US government.
Most NDNs I know think more in terms of "Turtle Island" which is the whole of the continent, as opposed to the idea of separate countries of America, Mexico, Canada, South America etc.

I wish I had an answer to the what to do question, I really do. There are a lot of people whom have a lot more wisdom in those areas then I do, that I network with and speak to regularly.

As I previously said, I think education is key.
I think there have to be a new way of people seeing the world we live in and a more active role in demanding justice for EVERYONE, not just the rich, powerful, certain statuses, religions or Race.

Everyone has equal rights to opportunities and everyone should be expected to live up to their agreements and have honor in dealings with one another.

 

walksalone11

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Re: The United States continues to steal from Indians
« Reply #14 on: December 22, 2009, 01:58:51 pm »
Another contemporary issue that goes unresolved, concerning our Relations to the north,the Mohawk.



http://www.pressrepublican.com/homepage/local_story_152221246.html




By DENISE A. RAYMO
Staff Writer

AKWESASNE — The Massena-Cornwall International Bridge was closed Monday after 400 St. Regis Mohawks camped out, protesting Canada's arming of its border agents.

Canadian Border Service Agency officials decided near midnight to close the Cornwall Island station, which is situated on Indian land in Canada.

Only emergency vehicles were allowed on the bridge Monday, although foot traffic can cross.

OFFICERS LEFT
The eight to 10 officers working inside walked south from their customs house to the American customs station and were returned to Canada without incident.

"It was the agency that made the decision that it was more prudent, from a health and safety point of view, to close the office and continue negotiations," said Ron Moran, the national president of the Customs and Immigration Union, told the Cornwall Standard Freeholder.

The U.S. Customs and Border Service also closed its station, and all travelers were being rerouted to either ports of entry in Fort Covington or Ogdensburg, Troop B State Police Capt. Mike Girard said.

"Everything's quiet," he said Monday afternoon. "I sent one patrol over the bridge to the end of the U.S. side."

Using binoculars, he said he could see only about 10 cars and no people visible.

"It was Canada's decision that the bridge be closed, and the Canadian authorities asked the U.S. side to do the same," Girard said.

"(State Police) will maintain a presence there until they tell us otherwise."

TRAVEL INHIBITED
Troopers sending vehicles to the alternate crossings are fielding complaints, especially from the Mohawks living on the American side, who use the bridge frequently.

"It's the people of Akwesasne who this is really hurting because they go back and forth to see their family," Girard said. "The people are upset, but they understand that it's not our doing. It's Canada's."

PEACE CRUCIAL
The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council offered its support for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs, saying that keeping the peace is the most important issue.

"Four peacekeepers have been appointed to monitor the situation and keep people calm," Chief James Ransom said. "They are all well respected community members who are level-headed and capable.

"Establishing a meaningful dialogue between the Akwesasne community and the Canadian government is going to be a key part of resolving the current situation," he said in a news release.

TREATMENT
Plans to issue a sidearm to agents starting June 1 only heightened an already tense situation, where past allegations of racial profiling and intimidation of some Mohawk people surfaced.

"We have had a variety of problems between some border guards and community members when they are crossing the border," Chief Monica Jacobs said.

"Complaints have been filed about how community members have been treated, and these issues need to be looked at so we can move forward."

Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief Tim Thompson said his government considered declaring a state of emergency during the protest and continues to call for negotiations with Canadian representatives.

OPERATIONS CENTER
"It has been and it will continue to be a peaceful demonstration in our community in opposition to the arming initiative for border agents on Akwesasne Mohawk territory," said Brendan White, communications director for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne on the Canadian side.

"There is an operations center set up where people can make arrangements for their immediate medical needs and appointments they have scheduled," he said.

"No vehicles are being allowed to cross the bridge except for emergency-response vehicles."

He said pedestrians can walk north across the Canadian span between Cornwall and Cornwall Island, "but they cannot carry any packages or groceries," White said.

Canadian conservation authorities have launched two boats into the St. Lawrence River near the bridge to monitor the situation, he said.

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