Indigenous Issues & Sacred Sites

Indigenous Issues & Sacred Sites

Have your VOICES HEARD to save this Sacred Site- Contact NAHC ASAP!

It only takes 5 minutes to make a huge impact-!
Please forward this message far and wide. Meetings were moved from Vallejo , California , city hall today to the Native American Heritage Commission. Other officials, possibly including the Justice Department, met there. No one knew of the change of venue!
Wounded feels that the Native American Heritage Commission does not understand that there are numerous supporters behind the protests on the site, and he asks for everyone to send all letters and e-mails that you have written to the commission to help them see that we all DO support the preservation of Glen Cove and are behind the protectors of that sacred place.
Please spread this far and wide!!!!! Here is the commissions e-mail and link to their website! Wounded Knee said to thank everyone who has helped and will continue to help!
website: http://nahc.ca.gov/
e-mail : nahc@pacbell.net
California Native American Heritage Commission
915 Capitol Mall, Room 364
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653-4082


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Slaughter Halted for Now, Actions to Take!









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Buffalo Field Campaign is the only group working in the field
and in the policy arena to protect America's last wild buffalo.










Buffalo Field Campaign
Yellowstone Bison
Update from the Field
April 28, 2011




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* Update from the Field ~ Take Action!
* News from Capitol Hill ~ Take Action!
* Urge Governor Schweitzer to Keep his Word ~ Take Action!
* Citizens Urge for Prosecution of Gardiner Buffalo Killer
* Volunteer with BFC this Summer!
* By the Numbers
* Last Words ~ Todd Wilkinson's Tribute Article to barb abramo

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* Update from the Field ~ Take Action!

Last week, up to 100 bull buffalo trapped inside Stephens Creek were at risk of being shipped to slaughter, but your persistent action has halted Yellowstone from taking such action! Thank you! BFC file photo. Click photo for larger image.

Your actions have again made a huge difference! Last week we learned that Yellowstone was considering sending up to 100 bull buffalo to slaughter. Shortly after we let you know and encouraged your action, the Park Service amended their decision. The latest word from Yellowstone is that no buffalo will be shipped to slaughter this season! The Park has said they will begin to release buffalo from the traps starting this week. At least eighteen calves have been born in confinement and hundreds of buffalo have been trapped since late-January. While we celebrate the Park's decision not to slaughter, we cannot let up until they are all set free! Please keep the pressure on the park to release all the trapped buffalo now. Thank you for your persistence and many thanks to our attorneys at Western Watersheds Project for their steadfast legal support! TAKE ACTION to keep the pressure on!

Chasing buffalo off of their chosen ground, especially in winter and spring, can cause great harm to buffalo, forcing them to use up the energy stores they so desperately need to survive. Here a DOL agent aggressively hazes buffalo across the cold waters of the Yellowstone River. BFC file photo. Click photo for larger image.

Nearly all of the hundreds of buffalo that were roaming in the Gardiner basin have been repeatedly chased off of their winter range and into the higher elevations of Yellowstone where the snow is still very deep and the grass is hard to find. Some buffalo have been returning to habitat outside the park where they are able to find life-giving grasses. During one recent hazing operation, BFC patrols tried to prevent buffalo from being hazed off our rental property in Gardiner. Volunteers formed a human barrier between the agents and the buffalo, trying to protect the bulls from the agents and letting the riders know neither we nor our landlords wanted the agents there. Ignoring this, the agents persisted in harassing the bulls by yelling and throwing rocks at them, and the bulls then ventured onto another property where the DOL was able to chase them across the Yellowstone River into the Park.

The calendar says it's spring, but here in the high country the buffalo are still feeling the strong grip of winter. West Yellowstone received another eight inches of snow the other night during a spring blizzard. Times are hard for our shaggy friends this year. BFC file photo by Stephany. Click photo for larger image.

Throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, winter has been intensely persistent, taking a heavy toll on all area wildlife. Montana wildlife officials have been quick to recognize that winter conditions are so harsh for elk that they are pro-actively taking steps to keep critical habitat closed to protect elk from human disturbances, yet these same agencies are actively engaged in displacing hundreds of buffalo from the Gardiner Basin.

Sometimes the path of least resistance is a dangerous one. Here a couple of tired and hungry buffalo walk down Highway 191 looking for any available grass along the way. BFC has been running highway patrols all day, every day, deep into the morning hours, putting up our "Buffalo Ahead" signs to warn traffic that the gentle giants are on or near the road. BFC file photo by Stephany. Click photo for larger image.

As it does in Yellowstone's interior, hard, crusty snow still covers most of the ground in the Hebgen Basin near West Yellowstone and spring storms continue to dump snow. The buffalo have long since used up their winter fat stores, but grass is still very hard to find. BFC volunteers have seen a fair amount of winter-killed buffalo and the living giants we encounter are clearly struggling to survive, moving slowly, looking very thin and sluggish. Many are simply not going to make it, yet Montana's livestock interests will nevertheless insist on forcing buffalo out of Montana.

This little baby buffalo and its family got to enjoy a little bit of warmth and sunshine a few days ago. The cold and snow maintain a stubborn presence, but slowly, the spring tides flow in, and none too soon. BFC file photo by Stephany. Click photo for larger image.

Regardless of winter's grip, south-facing slopes on Horse Butte are beginning to open up a little and calving season is upon us. Buffalo are giving everything they've got to reach these less-snowy hills of their western calving grounds. Every day smiles are brought to our faces as we spot a few more newborn buffalo. Buffalo mothers are having to work extra hard to find enough food to produce the rich milk their babies need to grow strong, but they are powerful animals and will do whatever it takes to protect and nurture their young. We celebrate the coming of the next buffalo generation and we hope with all our hearts that the waxing sun will prevail sooner than later, melt all the snow and bring forth the good grasses the buffalo are made of.

Roam Free!
~Stephany

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* Update from Capitol Hill - Take Action!

On Tuesday, April 26, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Rep. Mauice Hinchey and Rep. Raul Grijalva, sent a letter to NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis expressing the great concern that Congress has for the welfare and management of Yellowstone's wild buffalo herds. Specifically, the letter urges the Park Service not to send any buffalo to slaughter this year and to work toward replacing the current IBMP with a new plan "that places the conservation of bison and the end of invasive livestock practices, including the unnecessary hazing, capture and slaughter of bison, as top priorities." The letter further requests that NPS, "work closely with the current IBMP's Native American partners in the development and implementation of a new bison policy."

For many years the US Congress has taken a serious interest in this issue. Efforts have included letters to past NPS Directors, two Congressional bills requesting a moratorium on the hazing, capture, and slaughter of Yellowstone buffalo along with significant changes in management. Several attempts have been made through the appropriations process to restrict funding for the National Park Service to slaughter buffalo, the Government Accountability Office conducted an investigation and commissioned a report, and the buffalo slaughter was the subject of a recent Congressional Oversight Hearing.

Buffalo Field Campaign has played an instrumental role in these actions and with a consistent presence in Washington, DC, we will continue to encourage Congress to hold the Park Service and other federal agencies accountable. Your support is vital in these buffalo-protection efforts! Please contact your Members of Congress and keep the pressure on them to take positive action for America's last wild buffalo! TAKE ACTION!

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* Urge Governor Schweitzer to Keep His Word!

While Montana Governor Schweitzer has done the right thing by vetoing a handful of harmful bills that would have had dire impacts on wild buffalo, there is one bill - SB 212 - that he has amended, and that still adversely impacts wild buffalo by attempting to treat them like livestock. It would give Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks "shoot on site" authority. Please contact Governor Schweitzer to thank him for vetoing the bad buffalo bills and let him know that you oppose SB 212 and encourage him veto it as well. TAKE ACTION!

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* Citizens Urge for Prosecution of Gardiner Buffalo Killer

The Park County Attorney's office reports that they have been overwhelmed with phone calls from Gardiner-area residents who are asking for the prosecution of the individual who shot four bull buffalo on April 15th, killing at least two. A third bull buffalo was found dead earlier this week, but wildlife officials say necropsy findings were unable to connect this bull's death to the shooting incident. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials have completed their investigation and will turn over their case report and prosecution suggestions to Park County today. BFC commends the Gardiner residents who have taken a stand against such violence in their community and who have risen up as strong voices for the buffalo. We are hopeful that the Park County Attorney will prosecute this individual to the fullest extent of the law. If you would like to lend your voice, please contact Park County Attorney, Brett D. Linneweber at 406-222-4150 and insist that this individual be charged and convicted of these crimes!

Read a Reuters news story about the incident, which ran in papers as far away as the United Kingdom, and also an article from Montana's Billings Gazette.

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* Volunteer with BFC this Summer!

As the harsh winter snows begin to melt and the life-giving grasses start to green we can sense the approach of summer. We are forming our summer tabling crew and are seeking volunteers to come help us educate visitors to Yellowstone on bison issues and what we do as a Campaign. BFC provides food, lodging, camping in and near the Park, gear, and transportation to and from the park will be provided. We ask for at least a three week commitment in order to accommodate training and orientation. This is a great opportunity to get involved and advocate for the last of the American free roaming buffalo! If you are interested please contact me, Tony, at volunteer@buffalofieldcampaign.org and I can answer any questions you may have.

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* By the Numbers

AMERICAN BUFFALO ELIMINATED from the last wild population in the U.S. The last wild population is currently estimated at fewer than 3,600 individual buffalo. These numbers do not reflect winter kill estimates, which will be significant this year.

2010-2011 Total Buffalo Killed: 223

2010-2011 Government Capture: 659
2010-2011 Government Slaughter: 0
2010-2011 Died In Government Trap: 3
2010-2011 Miscarriage in Government Trap: 1
2010-2011 State & Treaty Hunts: 211
2010-2011 Quarantine: 0
2010-2011 Shot by Agents: 2
2010-2011: Killed by Angry Residents: 2
2010-2011 Highway Mortality: 5

2009-2010 Total: 7
2008-2009 Total: 22
2007-2008 Total: 1,631

* Total Since 2000: 3,934*

*includes lethal government action, trap-related fatalities, quarantine, hunts, highway mortality

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* Last Words ~ Todd Wilkinson's Tribute to barb abramo

"Horrified at how Yellowstone National Park bison were being killed for simply crossing an invisible line into Montana, [Phil] Morton and [barb] abramo were impressed by the fearless resolve of the younger people affiliated with the Buffalo Field Campaign. ... abramo knew BFC's strength came from the fact that it had defied skeptics, persisting all these years in calling attention to Montana's Draconian treatment of bison. By not going away, the organization has helped usher forth increased tolerance for the iconic animals and forced a re-examination of how brucellosis is approached."

~ Todd Wilkinson, from his tribute article about our beloved barb abramo, "Bison's kindred spirit to rise Mother's Day."

Do you have submissions for Last Words? Send them to bfc-media@wildrockies.org. Thank you for all the poems, songs, quotes, and stories you have been sending; you'll see them here!
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Media & Outreach
Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org

BFC is the only group working in the field every day
in defense of the last wild buffalo population in the U.S.

KEEP BFC ON THE FRONTLINES

Join Buffalo Field Campaign -- It's Free!

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ROAM FREE!







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Community alert: Convicted priest-rapist active in catholic church again in Ottawa, Canada - please post and take action!



Community Alert from The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State (ITCCS) www.itccs.org
Warning: Convicted priest-rapist active again in catholic church in Ottawa, Canada
In 1992, John (Jack) McCann, OMI, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two teenage girls and was sentenced to 10 months in jail by a New Westminster judge. ITCCS has just learned that today, McCann is a priest in "good standing" in the Archdiocese of Ottawa.
McCann officiates at church functions and conducts "Pro-Life Masses" in cities across the Province. He is a religious order priest of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) whose Ottawa residence is at 175 Main St. Web site: http://www.omilacombe.ca
John McCann has even "co-celebrated" Mass with Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast who granted him "faculties" or permission to function as a priest in the archdiocese.
http://archbishopterry.blogspot.com/2010/12/pro-life-mass-celebrating-our-lady-of.html
http://archbishopterry.blogspot.com/2010/06/last-mass-in-visitation-monastery.html
Prendergast has also given safe haven to disgraced Bishop Raymond Lahey who was arrested at the Ottawa International Airport in October of 2009 for possessing child pornography on his laptop. In addition to seizing his computer, authorities say that Lahey has made several trips to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand since 2005 - countries known for their active child sex trade.
This discovery of John McCann in active ministry is yet another example of the practice of Roman Catholic Bishops to quietly reinstate predator priests back into unsuspecting parishes. Those who sexually abuse children are difficult if not impossible to cure and their tendency to re-offend is high.
We call upon all Ottawa citizens to protest at the Catholic Archbishop's office, at McCann's church, and at the OMI headquarters in Ottawa, and demand that John McCann be banned from priestly and public functions. Keep your children away from this man and this church!
ITCCS Canada, April 28, 2011

Newspaper articles on John (Jack) McCann's trial and conviction, and a recent YouTube video:
"PRIEST CHARGED IN SEX OFFENSES" by Lori Pappajohn, Royal City Record/NOW, New Westminster, August 25, 1991.
"PRIEST RECEIVES FIVE CHARGES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT" Royal City Record/NOW, New Westminster, February 2, 1992.
"PRIEST PLEADS GUILTY" by Bessie Brown. Royal City Record/NOW, New Westminster, June 16, 1992, Vol. 9 No. 25.

YouTube Video from December 2010: At about 58 seconds into the footage, McCann appears on the left in priestly vestments: www.youtube.com/watch?v=r52Z55-OsT8


See the evidence of Genocide in Canada at www.hiddennolonger.com and on the website of The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State at www.itccs.org .
Watch Kevin's award-winning documentary film UNREPENTANT on his website www.hiddenfromhistory.org
"True religion undefiled is this: To make restitution of the earth which has been taken and held from the common people by the power of Conquests, and so set the oppressed free by placing all land in common." - Gerrard Winstanley, 1650
"We will bring to light the hidden works of darkness and drive falsity to the bottomless pit. For all doctrines founded in fraud or nursed by fear shall be confounded by Truth."
- Kevin's ancestor Peter Annett, writing in The Free Inquirer, October 17, 1761, just before being imprisoned by the English crown for "blasphemous libel"
"I gave Kevin Annett his Indian name, Eagle Strong Voice, in 2004 when I adopted him into our Anishinabe Nation. He carries that name proudly because he is doing the job he was sent to do, to tell his people of their wrongs. He speaks strongly and with truth. He speaks for our stolen and murdered children. I ask everyone to listen to him and welcome him."
Chief Louis Daniels - Whispers Wind
Elder, Turtle Clan, Anishinabe Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r52Z55-OsT8&feature=player_embedded

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Posted By: Tjay Henhawk
To: Members in First Nations & Aboriginal Rights
Voting as an Aboriginal Canadian: Conservative, Liberal or NDP?
I would think most aboriginals (the ones who live in the territories) oppose too much government involvement in their lives and want to be left alone. A great number of aboriginal Canadians living in the big cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton can make a huge impact on the voting poles.
There are currently four parties leading the pack, they include:
• CONSERVATIVES: I don’t believe the aboriginal community would support Harper's party in fear of budget cuts affecting services to first nation groups
• LIBERIAL: I don’t see too much affiliation with the Liberal Party
• GREEN: I don’t see some aboriginals voting Green because hunting for food is their way of life
• NDP: Too much government intervention could cause the aboriginal community not to vote
Nunavut (primarily Inuit youth) voted Conservative, but NWT (more non-Inuit aboriginals) voted NDP.
Are aboriginal Canadians truly happy with any one of the parties or should there be an Aboriginal Rights Party to itself much like the Bloc Party in Quebec?
Isn't there a movement for a Bloc Party for natives? Not a separatist party, just a party that's Anti-global warming but extremely Pro-Hunting?
Other ethnic groups prove that more political parties are needed.
First Nations already have political bodies that represent them:
• Locally
o Band councils
• Regionally - organizations such as the
o Union of Ontario Indians – http://www.anishinabek.ca/
o Grand Council of Treaty 3 – http://www.gct3.net/
o Grand Council of Treaty 8 – http://www.treaty8.ca/
o Mocreebec Council of the Cree Nation – http://www.mocreebec.com/
o Nishnawbe Aski Nation – http://www.nan.on.ca/
o Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs – http://www.manitobachiefs.com/
o Nationally the Assembly of First Nations – http://www.afn.ca/
NDP is the only Canadian party that have always included strategies to address First Nations issues and concerns.
No matter which party you do decide to vote for, it's important that your voice is heard! If not for yourself but for your family and your community!
ON MONDAY MAY 2ND HAVE YOUR SAY AND VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!!!!!
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As communities in Georgia work to recover from the devastating storms of the past few days, those affected are in our prayers.
If you've been affected by these storms, please call FEMA at (800) 621-3362 for assistance.
If you can pitch in to help, please donate or volunteer your time by visiting www.redcross.org.
Thank you,
Jim Messina
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Bear Butte: Brief on Oil Drilling & New Action Alert, Petition


Please take a moment to sign our petition listed at the end of the brief.
Thanks!
Tamra

April 29, 2011


Brief of Bear Butte Oil Drilling Issue
Written By: Tamra Brennan

Director/Founder Protect Sacred Sites
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com

Historical Background on Bear Butte

Bear Butte is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Bear Butte is sacred to many of the Plains Tribes, who continue to travel to the mountain each summer to pray and hold their annual ceremonies. This ritual has been followed since the beginning of time, and continues today.

There are three Tribes that have a vested interest at Bear Butte and are paying property taxes in Meade County. The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe owns 1080 acres on the east side of the mountain, Rosebud Sioux Tribe owns 40 acres on the north side, the Northern Cheyenne’s own three separate properties: 40 acres on the west side; north side property is 160 acres, and north-east side is 440 acres. Both are undeveloped properties.

Northern Cheyenne’s also share with several other Tribes in a land use agreement with Bureau of Indian Affairs, for the 120 acres on the west side of the mountain at the entrance of Bear Butte State Park.
The struggle to protect the serenity of Bear Butte from continual encroachment has ultimately developed into a religious freedom vs property rights issue.

The Cheyenne’s prophet, Sweet Medicine, received the covenants of the bundle and four sacred arrows from Bear Butte, also known to the Cheyenne as Noavose.

The Lakota people received their traditional way of life and star knowledge from Bear Butte.

These covenants hold equal reverence for native people as the Ten Commandments do for those from many other religions.

To Native people, Bear Butte is sacred ground, just as Mount Sinai to Hebrews or the Vatican is to Catholics.

The religious and historical significance of Bear Butte is also evidenced by the great Sioux chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse and Red Cloud, each traveling to the mountain for ceremonies throughout their lifetime. Historical encampments were documented, such as the 1857 camp that included many different bands of Lakota, all joining forces at Bear Butte to discuss the invasion of settlers on their homelands.

Bear Butte is a State Park with a National Wildlife Refuge protected by USFWS and also has four National Designations including;
• National Historical Landmark listed on December 21, 1981
• National Historical Places listed on June 19, 1973
• National Natural Landmark, listed on April 1965
• Registered National Trail (Bear Butte Summit Trail), listed on June 1,1971

Background on Oil Drilling Issue

On November 18, 2010, the Department of Natural Resources approved Oil and Gas Order # 17-2010 permit from Nakota Energy LLC for oil drilling just west of Bear Butte and within the boundaries of the protected Historical Landmark. The permit encompasses all of section 14 and the north half of section 23 in T6N, R5E, in which 360 acres are within the National Historic Landmark Boundary. View public notices and recommendations pertaining to oil drilling near Bear Butte on the DENR website.

DENR failed to provide proper notification of the proposed oil drilling permits near Bear Butte to all applicable agencies (State Parks, South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office, USFWS and Tribal Nations and the general public.

DENR violated South Dakota Codified Law, SDCL 1-19A-11.1 - Preservation of historic property--Procedures. The state or any political subdivision of the state, or any instrumentality thereof, may not undertake any project which will encroach upon, damage or destroy any historic property included in the national register of historic places or the state register of historic places until the Office of History has been given notice and an opportunity to investigate and comment on the proposed project.

Our organization, Protect Sacred Sites promptly began an email and calling campaign for the Protect Bear Butte efforts encouraging the public to contact DENR voicing opposition to this proposed oil drilling. An overwhelming show of support and action taken by SDHPO enviably forced DENR to temporarily restrict all oil drilling permits from Nakota Energy and re-open the case for public hearing and comments. The re-hearing was held on April 21st, 2011.

Five tribes intervened in the contested case hearing, including Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Northern Cheyenne, Santee Sioux Tribe and Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. The Sisseton-Wahepton Oyate also submitted an opposition letter for the contested case.

The remaining of the evidentiary portion of the hearing will be held on May 18th at 10:00am in Pierre, SD. At that time parties will continue to submit evidence and witnesses. Upon completion of the hearing, the Board will either make a decision or take it under advisement.

In our conversations with DENR, statements from their upper management such as “This is a conservation vs property rights issue” and several other statements supporting property rights, have great concern with the direction of their final decision making.

We are requesting DENR take into account the evidence provided and cultural and historic significance of Bear Butte, that revoke any and all oil drilling permits located near Bear Butte and within the Historical Landmark boundaries.

We would like to encourage the public to continue to support the efforts of NO Oil Drilling at Bear Butte and sign our petition today!
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-oil-drilling-near-bear-butte-south-dakota
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--
"When crazy people call you crazy, you know you're sane.
When evil people call you evil, you know that you are a good person.
When lairs call you a liar, you know that you are truthful.
Know who you are and don't let others tell you who you are." - Dave Kitchen