Charity Bingo's Revenue Shrinks - Blame Indian Casinos

Revenue from the game has shrunk in recent years, leaving many nonprofits in a pinch. Indian casinos are blamed.

Submitted by Sunshine Woman ArchambaultCenter For Civic Participation
sunshine@ccp.org

By Eric Bailey
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

LINCOLN, Calif. — On an oak-studded ranch east of town, the kids are getting healed on horseback. Johnny, a 4-year-old with cerebral palsy, ambles along with Bo, a veteran quarter horse. Michaela, tiny and developmentally delayed by a chromosomal abnormality, sways atop her mount, Rico. It's fun and therapeutic. Ride to Walk, the Placer County program is called, and it exists in no small part because of charity bingo.

But the nonprofit's flow of revenue from the local bingo hall has shrunk in recent years, a fate shared by many charities around California. Most blame the scores of Indian casinos that have sprouted across the state.

Ride to Walk saw its bingo profits plummet after the swank Thunder Valley Casino opened in 2003 just up the freeway, about 20 miles north of Sacramento. The casino and resort quickly became what gaming analysts say is the West's most prosperous Indian gambling emporium.

Before Thunder Valley, the charity's weekly bingo night at a bare-bones hall in suburban Sacramento fetched as much as $150,000 a year. Now its Tuesday night session runs in the red, and the organization suffered a net loss of $6,600 on bingo during the last fiscal year.

"It's fund-losing," said Pam Moore, assistant director of the therapeutic riding program. The obvious culprit, she believes, is Thunder Valley, which offers Vegas-style slot machines in a go-go atmosphere. Industry analysts confirm the connection. Though some Indian casinos have given generously to charity, analysts estimate that revenue from charity bingo in the state has been slashed nearly in half in some spots near Indian casinos.

A few halls that once were full of grandmothers and middle-aged bingo junkies have shut down altogether. Sacramento County, one of the few spots in the state that keeps tabs on charity bingo proceeds, has seen receipts drop 31% in the last dozen years.

In the early 1990s, Ernie Medeiros had 20 competitors selling bingo supplies — play sheets, machines, marking daubers — to halls across Northern California. Now, in an era of shifting demographics and jackpot expectations that make bingo seem passé, he has three.

"Slots attract people to the Indian casinos, and they have concerts and all that stuff," said Medeiros, a Bay Area vendor. "The older crowd dedicated to bingo is passing away, and younger people go for the bigger pot. We can't compete with that.

"That has been the story all over the country in regions where Indian casinos have opened. Connecticut, according to state figures, saw charity bingo proceeds drop 24% in the decade since the opening of the sprawling Mohegan Sun resort, the second of two mammoth Indian casinos that now dominate gambling on the Eastern Seaboard.

It's the sort of consequence California voters never imagined when they approved high-stakes gambling on reservations in 1998. When that decision — intended to help offset centuries of wrongs against Native Americans — was overturned by the courts, the electorate responded by overwhelmingly backing tribal casinos again in March 2000. In the years since, Indian casinos have become a $5-billion-a-year industry in California. While drawing persistent criticism from foes in local communities, they have become highly coveted donors among politicians.

During the 2003 recall, tribes were the dominant contributors, giving more than $9 million to gubernatorial candidates, and they have increasingly been viewed as a bountiful funding source for California's consistently needy state and local governments.Casino tribes also have given generously to hundreds of charities around the state. The Sycuan Indian band handed out $400,000 last Christmas, and the Morongo tribe routinely doles out $2 million a year to charity, along with 6,000 turkeys each Thanksgiving.

Thunder Valley's proprietors, the 235-member United Auburn Indian Community, joined with the nearby Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians to write a $1-million check toward tsunami relief. They've also funneled more than $2.4 million to charities in southern Placer County over the last two years, becoming what tribal spokesman Doug Elmets called the largest philanthropic organization in the Sacramento region.Elmets said casino tribes all over the state "have been willing to step up to the plate to help these nonprofits. "

Among those benefiting was Ride to Walk, which got $10,000 a year ago from the United Auburn tribe. Dr. Kris Corn, a physical therapist who founded the program two decades ago with a dream and a $100 Welsh pony named Freckles, said she was disappointed that Thunder Valley — now grossing about $400 million a year — couldn't ante up the $50,000 her group requested. "If you think about the money they're taking from the community, we didn't get much," Corn said. "They're trying to make it seem they're charitable-minded, but I don't think it's so. They could do so much more."

Tribal leaders were rankled a year ago when program leaders groused on a local TV news broadcast about the size of the donation. "We find it quite ironic that this charity would disparage the tribe's philanthropic gesture," Elmets said. But these are tough times for Ride to Walk. The program had to be shut down for a few months last year because of a revenue shortfall.

Leaders have tried other fundraising strategies, sponsoring a charity golf tournament that netted $12,000, but their struggles have continued. On a Tuesday night at a bingo parlor called the Palace, Mark Odenweller could see why. Odenweller surveyed a sparse crowd of about 150. Attendance was running less than half of what it was the year before Thunder Valley opened in 2003. " Used to be this place was packed," said Odenweller, whose 8-year-old son, Cole, has been a Ride to Walk participant for half his life. "Tonight is the worst I've ever seen."

Like other parents, Odenweller pitches in by volunteering at the bingo hall. He has seen his little boy — developmentally delayed with a mental age of 2 — prove wrong, with help from a horse, the dire prognosis of doctors. Medical experts had predicted that Cole would need to use a wheelchair for life, but these days he walks with the help of braces and a walker. The swaying motion of the horse provides therapeutic benefits that have made a difference.

But the time commitments of raising a special-needs child are "like having five kids," Odenweller said, making it all the more irksome to volunteer at the bingo hall every third week only to see the charity losing money. "We're out here spinning our wheels…. And it's directly because of the casino."

Across the hall's expanse of royal blue carpet, Sherry Rogers and Patricia Carrasco lined up their playing sheets and admitted they've visited Thunder Valley more than once. "It cut down on my bingo," said Carrasco, a retired waitress. "I'd rather play slots."

Rogers, a neighbor, is even more devoted to the Indian casino, with its 2,700 slot machines, nearly 100 table games and nine restaurants."I'm a VIP out there. I go there quite a bit," said Rogers, her Thunder Valley jacket draped over an empty chair. The casino has rewarded her devotion with an umbrella, hats, blankets, a coffee mug and T-shirts. "They're constantly giving you something to keep you coming back," Rogers said.

Out at Ride to Walk's ranch, folks are growing resigned to the realities of charitable bingo. Recently, members of the nonprofit's board voted to try to end their contract with the bingo parlor and perhaps run their own monthly game in Lincoln. But no one expects to reap the sort of revenue they enjoyed before tribal casinos arrived.

"I don't think there's anything we can do about it," said Wendy Mibach, watching as her daughter, Michaela, was led around the horse arena on Rico by three vigilant volunteers. "Indian gaming isn't going anywhere. And people are going to go where there's a better game.

"http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bingo29nov29,1,5935017.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Indigenous Nations Alliance For the Millions More Movement -
Presents –

THE EXHIBITION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BLACK AND THE RED:
HOW CLOSE WE ARE

Saturday, December 10th
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

MUI
7351 S. Stony Island Avenue
Chicago, Ill. 60649

FOOD AND ENTRTAINMENT
$5 per person
Children – 3-5 years – FREE

Keynote and address presentation by
Yonas Da Lone Wolf McCall-Muhammad
National Director of Indigenous Nations Alliance

Contact: Yonasdamuhammad@yahoo.com

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

New Group To Bolster Native Clout In Politics

After losing her race for a seat in Congress last year, Kalyn Free, A Choctaw from Oklahoma and a former Oklahoma State Attorney General, decided it was time to raise the political clout of the American Indian nationwide, so she founded Indigenous Democratic Network’s List.

INDN’s List plans to groom Democratic Indian leaders for political office beginning with the state level.

Free’s efforts follow aggressive voter registration drives by Democrats on Indian reservations during last year’s presidential election. The economic boom fueled by Indian gaming in recent years also has increased the political profile of some tribes which now have the means to hiure lobbyists to influence the political process at the national and local level.

Democrats are trying to capitalize on a current political scandal involving Jack Abramoff and his partner Michael Scanlon who are accused of defrauding Indian tribes of some $82 million.

“Indian country has pumped millions of dollars on both sides of the political fence, and what do we get. Free said during a gathering of Indian leaders in Tulsa. “We get Jack Abramoff and scandal.”

On July 14-16 Free was the speaker at a campaign camp in Prior Lake, Minnesota which drew more about 150 Native women to an intensive three-day conference which was hosted by WEWIN – Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations.

Mary Ann Andreas, vice chairwoman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Southern California said she could have ahd a better shot at winning a seat in the California State Assembly last year had NDN’s List been around to help her.

Andreas’s newly acquired political skills could help other American Indians who are thinking of running for office. One major lesson she learned – You may not win the first time, “But, you get your name out,” she said. “I didn’t win but I got almost 50,000 people to vote for me as opposed to the 200 when I ran for Tribal Council.” (I think the Republican candidate Bonnie Garcia from Imperial County won the seat. In fact, I remember seeing Andreas in her TV commercials.)

When Irene Folstrom of the Leech Lake Ojibwe Reservation in Minnesota decided to run for a seat, currently held by a Republican, she knew she could count on INDN’s List . The group has given her political advice, helped her put together a fundraising plan and network with people in the Democratic Party.
“I saw that tribal issues were not being adequately addressed at the state level in Minnesota. The obvious reason to me is that we didn’t have any representation at the state level”

Critics of the group say it does American Indians a disservice by focusing solely on boosting Democratic candidates. Gary Jones, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, said “Not all Indians are Democrats (Only the poor ones, Gary). Kalyn tends to be ultraliberal on the issues and it is not in line with what a large number of Native Americans in Oklahoma believe.”

Free dismisses the criticism saying the Republican Party has not done a good job representing American Indians.

Gus Frank, chairman of the Potawatomi Tribe on Wisconsin agrees with Free. His tribe recently gave the new group $25,000.

“As a Native American, the party that has shown us more respect is probably the Democrats. If we’re going to promote our interests, we need to support those who support our interests.”

Indigenous Democratic Network’s list has raised about $200,000 since it was established earlier this year. Free hopes to raise $1 million for the political races in 2006.

For more information on the Indigenous Democratic Network’s List contact them at: _NDN’s List, 406 South Boulder, Mezzanine Ste 200, Tulsa, OK 74103; Phone – (918)583-6100; Fax – (918) 513-6104; http://www.indnslist.org/; or e-mail - infor@indnslist.org.

This column has been edited for length and comment from a Gannett News Service article bylined Diana Marrero which appeared in the November 25th edition of The Arizona Republic; an Internet Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Press Release; and NDN’s List Network site.

Demo Bash In Phoenix
Thursday, December 1st
The Lucky Break - 2nd Street and Jefferson
(Only 2 1/2 blocks from the Wyndham)
8:00pm - 12:00am

Join many well known activists, politicos and elected officials for a night of relaxing, mingling, great live music, dancing, pool, eating and drinking.
Entertainment: Raza and Tim Reynolds
Speakers include: Rep. Raul Grijalva and Rep. Diane Watson
For more information email party@pdamerica.org or call (877) 368-9221

There will be a $5 cover which will be waived for PDA donors. $100 V.I.P. Room Access.
You can purchase tickets online: https://www.pdamerica.org/dnc-tickets.php

Host Committee:
Phil Johnson, Chair MA Democratic State Chair
Terry Lierman,Chair MD Democratic Party
Harry Mitchell, AZ Democratic Party Chair
Mimi Kennedy, PDA Advisory Board Chair
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep. Dianne Watson (D-CA)
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Alfredo Gutierrez, Fmr. AZ Senator
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, AZ State House, LD15
Rep. Ted Downing, AZ State House
Rep. Ben Miranda, AZ State House
Cindy Sheehan, Gold Star Families for Peace
Tom Hayden, Former California State Assembly
Janice Brunson, NationalCommittee Woman

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

The Invisible American --The American Indian

By Mark Reed
Indian Actor and former SAG Board Member.

Anglo’s have exploited American Indians for more than Six Hundred years. The American Indian has been an American citizen for just over One Hundred years. Until the U.S. Government exploited the American Indian in WWII, most people were unaware of the fact they were American citizens.

In the first films made about American Indians, they were portrayed as savages killing European settlers. For the next century this image remained the same, until the industry changed their roles to portray them as them defeated, drunken, noble savages. Today, the American Indian is invisible in prime time television, only to be seen when Hollywood decides to exploit the American Indian culture with little regard to accuracy.

The American Indian influence can be found in every part of America today. Indians can be found in our U. S. Government, local government, law enforcement, health care and our military. According to Jack D. Forbes, an emeritus professor of American Indian studies at the University of California-Davis, because of undercounts and other census quirks the total number of Indians in the United States today may be close to fifteen or even thirty million. In reference to the 2000 census data, Indians can be called America’s fastest-growing minority.

The American Indian community needs to unify, stand up, be counted and demand change. The entire community, Indian and non-Indian have to ask the question: Why is the American Indian Invisible? This question needs to be taken to the film industry – asked, then answered. Through the years the industry has created a negative stereotype image of the American Indian. It will take the pro-active involvement of the industry to reverse the damage they have created. It will take the constant voice of the community demanding this change. The community should boycott any network with the least improvement of the American Indian Image.

The recent Screen Actors Guild casting data report reported a loss of 48 roles for American Indians. In their press release, the Guild failed to present all the facts about the unemployment of American Indians. Approximately forty one thousand roles were cast and American Indians filled just over one hundred of them. In prime time television the American Indian is almost invisible. The Screen Actors Guild represents about fifteen hundred actors who happen to be American Indian. The way the Guild reports the unemployment of American Indians only exacerbates their problem.

The American Indian actor now suffers from romantic discrimination and exploitation in today’s media. The image of the American Indian needs to evolve into the twenty-first century. Contemporary roles need to be open to actors who happen to be American Indian. In order for this to happen, the image of leather and feathers has to be put aside.

This image overhaul will take a real commitment by the industry. Each of the unions will need to create an outreach program to organize all American Indian talent. The unions will need to unify in their commitment to involve the American Indian. The greatest change in the entertainment industry will be in the way in which talent (actors, writers, directors, producers) happen to be American Indians are hired. The studios and networks need to unify in their commitment to effect change.

The romantic discrimination and exploitation of the America Indian needs to stop. This may be the greatest challenge of the twenty-first century for our media giants. The American Indian is involved in every part of the American society except for media. The time for inclusion of the American Indian voice in American media is now.


Written by;
Mark S. Reed
11-16-2005


New Gila River Resort Manager Is Non-Indian

Todd Raessler , A native of Gettysburg, PA is the new manager of the Sheraton Wild Horse Resort and Spa which is owned by the Gila River Indian Community. In an interview with Stephanie Paterik, a writer for The Arizona Republic, he was asked several questions, two of which directly pertain to the Gila River Tribe.

“What appealed to you about the new job?

“What attracted me to move to the desert was the reputation of the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, Within Starwood (Hotels & Resort Worldwide, Inc.), it’s a well-known resort for being young, only four years old, very high service levels and a very unique integration of Native American culture within the resort. It has a very destination feel even though it is only 11 miles from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.

“Wild Horse Pass is unique in that it’s the only luxury resort in the state owned by a Native American tribe. How is it different working for a tribe as opposed to a corporation?

“As I would say what’s different first of all you need to understand the tribe, what’s important to them about their culture and their vision for the resort

“Their pace and focus is different than corporate America. They want to be very protective of their land and culture and move at a pace so that they’re not making any compromises along the way. They have great integrity. You have to really understand and respect that as you move forward, in how the resort is going to grow. They want to look at all sides of the coin.”

Raessler has been in the hospitality business for 23 years and has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

A Thanksgiving Message From John Two-Hawks

Acceptance.
Written by John Two-Hawks

Acceptance is a somewhat slippery concept. I am one who is very committed to following visions, reaching for dreams, and realizing possibilities. Like many, my life circumstances in the past were often so unsuited for happiness that it was necessary for me to develop a ‘non-acceptance’ approach to most things.

Besides being a method for success, it was oftentimes a means for survival. So, in my experience, there is something good to be said for not accepting some things as they are. It is good to not tolerate circumstances that are unacceptable. So, what about acceptance? Where does this concept fit in a goal-oriented, achievement-driven world? Where does it fit in a world wrought with struggle, hardship and pain? The short and simple answer is that acceptance fits into everything.

Acceptance is found in the moments. It is in that still small voice of Spirit which whispers calm into our soul in the midst of chaos, stress and struggle. That whisper is there in our pain, our frustrations, and in times of anguish. It whispers peace.... stillness.... quiet.... transcendence.... and love. So, even as we stretch and reach, rise and overcome, in each moment there exists the still small voice of acceptance.

There are things in life which we may not ever be able to change. Some of these things we may find we can change someday, and some we may never change. Acceptance is about finding what it means to be at peace with that. It is about existing fully in the moment.... each moment. It is about knowing that all good things take time to unfold. It is about seeing and beholding the beauty of a flower which has not yet bloomed. It is about being at peace with having to experience pain in order to ultimately heal.

Acceptance does not mean we do not feel. But it does mean we do not have to be controlled and driven by what we feel. Acceptance does not mean we do not care about things. But it does mean we do not have to be controlled and driven by the things we care about. Acceptance is an awareness.... An awareness of Spirit. It is a sign of wisdom. It is the surrender of control.... the release of fear.... the letting go of worry.... and the beginning of faith. May we all come to know what it means to experience acceptance in both the things we can, and cannot, change.... in each finite, and infinite moment.

It is in the ‘little’ things….
I have had some amazing things happen while in ceremony. Things that were mind blowing, powerful and profound. These occurrences are fascinating and can lend a faith increasing element to a sacred rite. They are the kinds of things that are tempting to tell others because they don’t happen every day.

However….
Let me get right to the point. The biggest ‘medicine’ of all is not found in the fantastic, but in the normal, everyday, seemingly mundane ‘little’ things.... the things that can go completely unnoticed. That short time you take to help the elderly grandmother pick up her bag of groceries.... The crying child you give a smile to when no one else is looking.... The patience you give a new employee at a cash register....

These are the things which carry the most amazing spiritual power. It is in these small acts that the greatest medicine exists. For in these brief moments, Spirit comes through and touches the human being with the greatest power - love - right where they are, in the midst of struggles, fears, confusion and stress. So, even though impressive things can and do happen sometimes in ceremony, remember that it is that kind word, gentle hand and genuine smile you give to someone when no one is watching that carries with it the most amazing power. Where Spirit is concerned, it truly is the ‘little’ things that count most....

Seize the day ….
So many times I have crossed paths with a special someone, not knowing that it would be the last time I would see them. What would I have said to them if I had known that this was it? Certainly I would have said the things that mattered, and skipped some of the meaningless small talk. In some cases, I would have been more gracious with my time and attention. Simply said, I would have been more of what I know I should be every day, every moment, with every person whose path crosses mine.

We must learn to embrace each moment as a sacred space. To see the bigger picture, while recognizing that the bigger picture exists fully and completely in each tender moment. For it is in the fleeting moments that the past, present and future pour into each other and become one.

So don’t take that chance meeting or casual visit for granted. And don’t pass by the kiss of the wind on your face, whispering for you to pause for just a moment of quiet tranquillity. Absorb it with a full awareness of what it is. It is everything. It is yesterday, given back to you today to embrace for tomorrow. Let it envelop you. Don’t let it pass you by unnoticed. Embrace it. Hold it in the hand of your heart and cherish it, for it is sacred.... and it is what love is really supposed to be....

John Two-Hawks is a world-renown Oglala Lakota. He is a flutist, musician, singer, teacher, speaker, author and artist. Check out his site at
http://www.johntwohawks.com/

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

Cobell Royalties Lawsuit at Impasse!

The issue of determining what is owed to Native Americans for royalties since 1887 calculated to be more than $100 billion has come to a standstill, again.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia decided on November 15th that it was unreasonable to require a detailed historical accounting of the money the government has been managing for Native Americans saying the bookkeeping chore would “take 200 years”. It sided with the government and Native Americans in their effort to block a lower court order for the tally for the money owed them.

The accounting was ordered some ten years ago by U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth who is overseeing Blackfoot Indian Elouise Cobell’s class action lawsuit for the oil, gas, grazing timber and other royalties managed by the Department of Interior.

In their appeals, the government and plaintiffs have argued the massive accounting called for by Judge Lamberth would have cost up to $13 billion. The three-judge panel agreed, overturning the accounting and calling Lamberth’s decision “ill founded” and an abuse of discretion that was not favored by either side in the lawsuit.

Earlier this year, Cobell and the plaintiffs offered to settle the case for $27.5 billion. Senator John McCain, (R- Ariz) Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee said the amount is too high and never would be approved by Congress.

On November 15th, House Resources Chairman Richard Pombo, (R-Calif) filed a bill to resolve the case. His bill is a companion to one filed earlier this year by Senator McCain.
Neither bill specifies a settlement amount.

This article was edited for content and length from a November 16th Associated Press Story bylined Jennifer Talhelm.

Indians Mourn Passing of Native Right's Advocate

Vine Deloria Jr., best selling author, historian and spokesperson for Native American causes has died at the age of 72. He was a Yankton Sioux born in Martin South Dakota, the son of an Episcopalian minister. Deloria earned a master’s degree in theology from the Lutheran School of Theology in Rock Island, Illinois in 1963.

He was the author of more than 20 books but his first non-fiction on government relations, “Custer Died For Your Sins – an Indian manifesto” written in 1969 launched his career as an influential historian and spokesperson for Native American rights.

On reviewing the book for Best Sellers shortly after is was published, J. A. Phillips wrote that Deloria “asserts the worth if not the dignity of the red man and blasts political and religious forces that perpetuate the Little Big Horn and wigwam stereotyping of his people.”

Following the book’s publication, Deloria became the executive director of the National Congress of American Indians. His leadership in lobbying in Congress, arguing for American Indian rights and issues plus written opinion pieces and other articles during his career established a change in the way society and the government viewed Indian policy.

Other books include: “We Talk You Listen”; “God is Red – a native view of religion”; “Behind the Trail of Broken Treaties”; “Red Earth-White Lies”; and “The Red Man in the New world Drama”

From 1990 to 2000, Deloria taught at the University of Colorado. He died in Denver on November 13th of complications from an aortic aneurysm.

This portion of the column was edited for length and content from a Los Angeles Times story in the November 15th issue of the Arizona Republic story bylined Myrna Oliver and The Internet Public Library.

Vine Deloria Jr. Passes Away

Submitted by Native Voter
Indian Country Today
November 14, 2005.
All Rights Reserved
by: Jim Adams/Indian Country Today
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?feature=yes&id=1096411932

TUCSON, Ariz. - Vine Deloria Jr., the intellectual star of the American Indian renaissance,
passed on Nov. 13, after struggling for several weeks with declining health. His immeasurable influence became immediately apparent in an outpouring of tributes from all corners of Indian country.

''I cannot think of any words I could possibly say that even begin to capture the significance of this man and his work among Native people and on our behalf for the past half century,'' said Richard West Jr., director of the National Museum of the American Indian in a message to his staff.'

"He has been our ranking scholar and intellectual light for all of those years.

"The NMAI was only one of many Native institutions that Deloria made possible or deeply influenced during his 72 years. From the activist end of the spectrum, a tribute on the Colorado AIM Web site said, ''It is safe to say that without the example provided by the writing and the thinking of Vine Deloria Jr., there likely would have been no American Indian Movement, there would be no international indigenous peoples' movement as it exists today, and there would be little hope for the future of indigenous peoples in the Americas."

Deloria wrote more than 20 books, starting with his best seller ''Custer Died for your Sins'' in 1969. His powerful, acerbic criticism made a deep impression on the dominant culture as well as the activist movement then erupting on the scene. But he has an even longer career working behind the scenes of Native organizations.

He was drafted, as he put it, to be executive directorof the National Congress of American Indians in 1964. He was a founding trustee of the NMAI when it consisted of the Gustav Heye collection in New York City and helped guide its sale to the Smithsonian Institution. He was a major thinker for the movements for sacred land protection, for treaty rights and for the protection and repatriation of Indian remains.

In spite of his trenchant criticism of European Christianity, he also served for a time on the executive committee of the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A. He was the fourth generation descendant of theYankton Sioux prophet Saswe, and his father and grandfather were both prominent Episcopal churchmen.

TIME magazine once called Deloria one of the 10 most influential theologians of the 20th century. This March he received the second annual American Indian Visionary Award from Indian Country Today.

In a self-deprecating acceptance speech abounding in anecdotes and teasing humor, Deloria gave credit to the remarkable generation of leaders that it was his privilege to work with, beginning with his service atthe NCAI.

Deloria was born in 1933 in Martin, S.D., on the border of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Although his lineage was predominately Yankton Dakota, his grandfather Philip,an Episcopal priest, had enrolled the family in the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, where he was stationed.

Deloria served in the U.S. Marine Corps and received a master's degree from the Lutheran School of Theology in Rock Island, Ill. After his stint at the NCAI, he pursued an academic career, culminating in the position of professor of history at the University of Colorado.

He remained an incisive writer and social critic to the end. He refused an honorary degree from the University of Colorado because he disapproved of its performance during an athletic scandal. During his last year, he was at work on a major book on the miraculous deeds ofAmerican Indian medicine men.

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

Voting Rights Act - Section 203 Should Be Reauthorized

Submitted by Daniel Levitas

Edited testimony of Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians before the House Judiciary Committee - Subcommittee on the Constitution, November 9th 2005

Thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee. On behalf of the National Congress of American Indians and Native American Rights Fund, I appreciate this opportunity to express our support for the reauthorization of all of the provisions in the voting Rights act that are scheduled to expire in 2007; and in particular, to testify today in support of the reauthorization of Section 203 and the continuing need for the minority language assistance provisions throughout Indian country.

Last week at the NCAI Annual Session in Tulsa, Oklahoma tribal leaders from across the nation passed a Resolution calling upon Congress to re-authorize the minority language provision of the Voting rights Act.

This resolution is attached and submitted for the record. Native Americans were an historically disenfranchised people. Although Native Americans have inhabited North America longer than any other segment of American society, they were the last group to receive the right to vote when the United States finally made them citizens in 1924.

Even after 1924, certain states with large native populations barred Native Americans from voting by setting discriminatory voter registration requirements/ For example, various states denied Indians the right to vote because they were “under guardianship” or Indians were denied the right to vote unless they could prove they were “civilized” by moving off the reservation and renouncing their tribal ties.

New Mexico was the last state to remove all express legal impediments to voting for Native Americans iun 1962, three years before the passage of the Voting Rights Act. In addition Native Americans have experienced many of the discriminatory tactics that kept African Americans from exercising the franchise.

With the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Congress took the first necessary steps to start the process of remedying the history of discrimination and disenfranchisement. While we have made tremendous progress in the last 40 years, we still have a long way to go.

In 1992, Congress moved again, passing the Voting Rights Language Assistance Amendments – the provision which are the subject of today’s hearings. Under the 1992 amendments, Congress strengthened the triggering mechanism of section 203 by adding a numerical threshold provision and by adding the so-called “Indian trigger” – wherein a state or political subdivision is “covered” if it contains all or any part of an Indian reservation where more than five percent of the American Indian or Alaskan Native voting age population are members of a single language minority and have limited English proficiency.

In passing the 1992 Language Assistance Amendments, Congress clearly recognized the need for language assistance in American Indian and Alaskan Native communities.

While significant progress has been made in enfranchising Native Americans, the need for section 203 has not diminished in the years since Congress added that section to the Voting Rights act. Historically disenfranchised, Native Americans continue to need and to use language assistance in the electoral process today. The value of Section 203 to Indian country cannot be overstated.

Today, according to the news determinations released by the Census Bureau in July 2002, eighty-eight(88) jurisdictions in seventeen (17) states are covered jurisdictions that need to provide language assistance to American Indians and Alaskan Natives.

While no one knows exactly how many Native American language speakers live in the U.S. today, the language provisions of Section 203 continue to be critical for many Native communities where tribal business is conducted exclusively or primarily in Native languages. Many Native people, particularly our elders, speak English as a second language.

Traditionally, voter participation rate by American Indians and Alaskan Natives have always been among the lowest of all communities within the Unites States. While voter registration and turnout by Native American voters is still below non-Native averages in many parts of the country, many Native communities have seen steady, even significant increases, since the passage of the Voting Rights Act. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the number of Native American candidates who are being elected to local school boards, county commissions and state legislatures.

We anticipate the substance of this report will provide, in part, the evidentiary basis underlying the need to strengthen and extend the Voting Rights Act. At its essence, the research shows a direct correlation between focused localized commitments to increasing voter participation rates in Native communities and the actual increases tha result. I submit to you that Section 203 is an essential component to ensuring the success of such focused localized commitments in our Native communities. Thank you.

NATIVE UNITY DIGEST- A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

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March To Give Homage To The Petroglyphs

Submitted by Laurie Weahkee

Dear Nativevoter,

As the City of Albuquerque commemorates its tricentennial, a celebration of our multicultural heritage, it simultaneously begins construction of the Paseo del Norte road extension through the Petrogyph National Monument, a Native American sacred site.

SAGE Council asks your participation in a "March to Give Homage to the Petroglyphs", to commemorate those who have fought this 10-year struggle and to acknowledge the difficult work of sacred sites protection here and elsewhere.

The event will take place Sunday, November 20th from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The March begins at Pueblo Montano Park at the entrance to the bosque open space just off Montano east of Coors.

The March will culminate with a rally at the Petroglyphs with speakers, prayers and song.

Stand With Us!

We ask our friends and allies to join us as we pay our respects to this sacred place, commemorate the years of struggle we have endured together and celebrate over 300 years of survival.

For more information, contact the SAGE website –
http://www.sagecouncil.org/


The Albuquerque Tribune
October 12, 2005

Paseo del Norte To Go Through Petroglyph National Monument

It has been more than a ten-year battle for Laurie Weahkee
to stop the extension of a road from going through a portion of the Petroglyph National Monument near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Weahkee is the executive director of the Sacred Alliance for Grass Roots Equality Council.

But on Tuesday, October 11th 2005 State District Court Judge Linda M. Vanzi ruled in a 40 page paper the city followed procedure in determining whether extending the West Side road through the monument is the best option in handling future traffic demands.

Albuquerque voters approved a bond package that included $8.7 million to extend Paseo 1.6 miles west from Gold Course Road through a portion of the Petroglyph National Monument which is considered to be sacred land to American Indians.

Weahkee’s SAGE Council and other opponents to the plan filed a lawsuit in February claiming the city didn’t comply with the state Prehistoric and Historic Sites Preservation Act.

Judge Vanzi said she was “troubled by the lack of any substantive discussion of Pueblo concerns.” She also wrote the city didn’t present enough evidence showing it met all the conditions needed to minimize any harm to the area.

This makes Weahkee optimistic. “We still have some options to consider. I think in the whole context of mitigation of harm, I feel we need to look into that a little more in terms of what is possible and what is realistic. " Weahkee added that the ruling means opponents must work to make sure the road construction doesn’t harm the monument.

Officials with the All-Indian Pueblo Council, a group representing pueblos across New Mexico voted against the project.

According to Martin Chavez, mayor of Albuquerque, groundbreaking on the continuation of Paseo del Norte across the National Monument is set to begin in December.

This segment of the column has been edited for length and content from the Albuquerque Tribune bylined Eric Siemers.

The following is a “letter to the editor” – Albuquerque Journal. Dated June 25, 2003 which points out Native concerns about the extension of the Paseo through the Monument.

Native Concerns Trampled By Paseo Extension

RE: "Paseo Road Extension Isn't About Race or Religion" by columnist Alan Reed

As chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council, ... I must respond and correct the public record. ...
Many leaders of the Native American community have consistently and publicly opposed the extension of Paseo del Norte through the Petroglyph National Monument, both collectively and individually.

The National Congress of American Indians, the All Indian Pueblo Council, the Southern Pueblos Governors Council, the Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, the Pueblo of Sandia, the Pueblo of Isleta, the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, among other tribes and interested groups, have officially adopted and issued joint resolutions and letters of opposition.

These efforts date back more than 10 years, and have continued throughout the period since. In light of such documentary evidence, how could anyone fairly ask: "Who knows what current responsible Pueblo officials think?" ...

Sacred areas such as the Petroglyphs are as important to some as churches, temples, and synagogues are to others. Members of our native communities share the same basic rights to religious liberty, personal privacy, and cultural respect as any other citizen. ...

The June 20 opinion piece made a number of demands based on dubious claims, cultural insensitivity, and a shallow interpretation of public debate. First, no one has the right to define the "appropriate rituals" for a so-called "major religion," as the writer asserts. Who among us would have the wisdom, knowledge, and range of insights necessary to do so for someone else's faith?

Additionally, in our free society, our individual spiritual beliefs and diverse cultural traditions are not subject to majority rule. It is unfair and arrogant to claim that "obstruction of the road at this point is simply incompatible with a belief in the democratic process."

After years of participation in the democratic process, reasonable alternatives and accommodations that might have fairly addressed religious and cultural concerns have been repeatedly ignored.

Finally, the area in dispute is publicly owned. ... All community members and taxpaying citizens retain the right to express their personal positions regarding ... the use of our public resources. ...

After years of difficult dialogue and debate about an issue so crucial to our whole community's heritage and future, we must not lose sight of the basic values we all share. These values include mutual respect for all of our religious liberties and all of our political freedoms.

AMADEO SHIJE, chairman
All Indian Pueblo Council

story copyright © 2004 by Albuquerque Journal, Journal Publishing Co.

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

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American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

FEMA Recruits Blackfeet For Hurricane Cleanup

Submitted by Ken Hughes

BROWNING (AP) - Cleanup from Hurricane Katrina is expected to provide temporary jobs for hundreds of members of the Blackfeet tribe.The Federal Emergency Management Agency has asked the tribe to train some 500 workers to help with cleanup efforts in the hurricane devastated Gulf Coast.

The jobs will pay $18 an hour and last for three months, said George Kipp, director of the Blackfeet Manpower Program.Tribal agencies and officials are scrambling to identify potential workers and help them meet a number of federal eligibility requirements, including helping some of them establish bank accounts. The work will be significant on the reservation, where the unemployment rate remains high, Kipp said.

"This is major,'' he added. The workers "will be able to have a good holiday season.''"They'll be able to buy school clothes, have a good Christmas, maybe buy a new vehicle and pay off some bills,'' Kipp said.

Tribal officials say FEMA first contacted them last month looking for workers.The tribe already was training dozens of members for emergency response work when the call came in, and now is helping to make sure those that are interested in the jobs meet all the requirements. The Native American Bank in Browning was open late Friday so workers could establish individual checking or savings accounts, which FEMA requires. "Most of these people have no accounts or anything, so the bank is going to help set up accounts,'' tribal Treasurer Joe Gervais said.

The Blackfeet Tribal Court also was open late Friday to run required background checks on applicants, and the tribal council agreed to provide collateral for a $500 loan to each tribal member who participates. FEMA requires workers to have enough money for a week's living expenses.

The loans will be made through the Native American Bank in Browning and deposited directly into the workers' accounts. The council also is providing a van to haul potential workers to Cut Bank to take the driver's license test.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has agreed to provide workers access to credit cards, which is another FEMA requirement. The BIA also will furnish staff members to travel with each worker group and help them get establishedFEMA will provide air transportation, meals and lodging for the workers. The first 50 could depart as soon as Sunday.

Last year, the tribe sent several dozen workers to Florida to help with hurricane cleanup there. About 30 tribal members made the 2,300-mile trip to New Orleans by van last month to take cleanup jobs with a private contractor.

Law Student Release 'Voting Rights' Report
Submitted by Daniel Levitas

By Joelle Dodge, For the Michigan Daily
November 11, 2005

Law students gathered in the Law Quad yesterday to release a report that they hope will convince Congress to renew key portions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which are set to expire in a couple years.

Under the supervision of Law Prof. Ellen Katz, the students involved in the project — known as the Voting Rights Initiative of the Michigan Election Law Project — have created a report that documents the history of problems at the polls since 1982.

Some provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a piece of legislation that is widely considered to have helped blacks gain equality at the polls, are set to expire this year, and the report that was presented last night aims to urge Congress to renew the act and continue to discourage segregation and other voting problems.

“The voting booth is the most segregated place in America,” said Nina Perales, an associate regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Problems with minority voting continue because of racially polarized voting and the persistence of discrimination, she added.

The report documents numerous instances of voting discrimination since 1982, which is the last time Congress renewed the act. Voting officials in South Dakota blocked voter registration of Native Americans, officials from Charleston County South Carolina harassed blacks who wanted to vote and Alabama’s Jefferson County would not hire blacks to work at polling cites in white districts, the report says.

Debo Adegbile, associate director of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, said discrimination will not go away without a law to keep officials in check.

“Voting officials will continue to justify these acts,” she said.

Among the sections of the Voting Rights Act set to expire is Section 5, which requires some state and local governments — mostly areas in the South with a history of voter discrimination — to obtain federal authorization before they can apply changes in voting procedures. State and local governments must prove that the change in voting procedures does not discriminate based on race.

The Michigan Election Law Project is composed of more than 100 Law School students under faculty direction. The group researched cases decided since 1982 dealing with violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting discrimination based on race, color or minority status.

The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 after a crucial event of the civil rights movement. Civil rights activists from Alabama planned to travel 50 miles to reach the capital, Montgomery, and demand equality in voting rights. The march stopped in Selma, Ala. after a violent clash with police. Immediately, President Lyndon B. Johnson called for a federal law to protect voting rights for every American.

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

Applicants Wanted For Paid Community Organizing Training

Submitted by Sunshine Woman Archambault
Center for Civic Participation
sunshine@ccp.org

Dear Service Learning Professional,

My name is Ben MacConnell. I am a community organizer working with a national network of local organizations working toward social justice called the Direct Action & Research Training (DART) center.

I am relaying information on a paid training program for those interested in launching a career in community organizing around common issues affecting low-moderate income communities like affordable housing, quality public education, living wage, youth services, crime, etc. (see full description of paid training below).

Our application deadline is right around the corner on January 1, 2006.The DART Center has been conducting a paid training program for those seeking a career in community organizing for the last three years, and has enabled dozens of people to launch permanent salaried positions in the field. It's an excellent opportunity for people interested in grassroots, community organizing.

Sincerely,
Ben MacConnell
Recruitment Director
Direct Action & Research Training (DART)
ben@thedartcenter.org
www.thedartcenter.org

DART is now accepting applications for the 2006 DART OrganizersInstitute, the paid, four-month field school for people interested in launching a career in community organizing. Participants will undergo a combined classroom and field training covering such topics as:
*Entering a community
*Identifying and training local leaders
* Strategic planning and issue cutting
* Relationship and community building
* Direct Action on community issues
* Fundraising

The DART Center, has built coalitions throughout the country that have won important victories on a broad set of justice issues including:
* Education reform in low-performing public schools
* Job Training
* Drugs and Violence
* Criminal Recidivism
* Living Wage
* Neighborhood Revitalization, etc.

The DART Organizers Institute combines a 7-day classroom orientation with 15 weeks of infield training at a DART host organization. This is a paid training program that includes: a $6,500 living stipend, transportation to the classroom orientation and host city, and mileage reimbursement during the infield training. Room, board, and tuition will also be paid by DART during the 7-day classroom training. After successful completion of the program, DART will work to place graduates into full time salaried positions.

Graduates from the four month DART Organizers Institute have gone onto accept Executive Director and Associate Community Organizing positions throughout the country. We continue to train the best of those working to build the power of low-moderate income communities to win victories on important issues in their community.

The program starts June 18, 2006 and runs through October 6, 2006. Host organizations are located in several cities throughout Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. Applications are being accepted now.

Although it may be helpful, no direct experience is necessary. Organizer Trainees (OTs) hired to participate in the DART Organizers Institute must demonstrate a desire to pursue community organizing as a long-term professional career. A master's degree or similar life experience is preferred though unnecessary.

*Candidates must have a college degree or be graduating prior to June 1, 2006. Also, candidates must display a workmanlike diligence, be driven to produce sustained results, have proven capacity to build relationships of trust, create and execute a plan, act professionally, feel comfortable working with congregations, be accountable and willing to hold others accountable, demonstrate disciplined thought and action, and work in a team setting.

*OTs must also have access to a car during their training and be flexible regarding relocation. Fluency in Spanish/English is a plus and people of color are encouraged to apply.

To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to send your resume to: Ben MacConnell, DART Network, 820 New York Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 or by email: institute@thedartcenter.org.


If you have any questions, please call: (785) 841-2680. Also, you can download applications or view profiles from previous OTs at the DART website: www.thedartcenter.org. The 2006 DART Organizers Institute.

Application Deadline is January 1, 2006.

Bilingual Ballot Up For Congressional Vote
Submitted by Daniel Levitas

November 9, 2005
BY JEFFREY MCMURRAY – Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Congress is considering whether to renew a 30-year-old requirement that large communities of people who speak limited English must have access to ballots in their native language.

In a hearing Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee's panel on the Constitution, some argued that lawmakers should expand the requirement to include more jurisdictions. Others urged them to scrap it as an unconstitutional and costly burden on states.

The bilingual ballot section, which was added to the Voting Rights Act in 1975, is one of two key portions of the law that expires in 2007 without congressional action. Also expiring is a requirement that states with a history of racial discrimination get federal approval to change their election laws.

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said that if most immigrants must prove they can speak English to become citizens, that should also be the test for voting.

However, defenders of the requirement responded that the question isn't whether most of these voters can speak basic English but whether they can adequately comprehend confusing ballot language.

They are American citizens, they are United States citizens, and they should be allowed to vote just like anybody else,'' said Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.).

Under the requirement, known as Section 203, local jurisdictions must provide bilingual ballots and election materials if more than 5 percent of the voting age population or at least 10,000 citizens fall into a certain language minority group. The illiteracy rate of the minority group must also be higher than the national average.


NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

Mothballing Generating Plant May Devastate N. Arizona

December 31st, '05 marks the day a good chunk of Northern Arizona may lapse into an economic slump if the Mohave Generating Station mothballs its operation.

Closure of the huge power plant will wipe out nearly a third of the Hopi tribe’s $21.5 million operating budget with major slashes in programs for youth and the elderly, a loss of more than 600 jobs in the Bullhead City area and a loss of 500 jobs in the north-central Navajo region.

Six years ago Southern California Edison agreed to install more than one billion dollars in equipment to clean up the emissions from their plant that pollutes the Bullhead City area by the end of this year. The anti-pollution devices have yet to be installed and the deadline is fast approaching.

With no more reason to stay in business, the Black Mesa Mine at the tip of Hopi land, supplies the coal Mohave uses to run its plant will close down. So will the Peabody energy Corporation which excavates and pulverizes Black Mesa’s coal. Both have contracts with Mohave. Peabody mixes the coal with water, the operating power of the Generating Plant, to send the blend some 300 miles to Laughlin at the rate of 650 tons an hour through an 18 inch buried pipeline.

The closures of these operations will create a domino effect that will cripple the productivity of the entire area. The Hopis will be the hardest hit and their economic options have already been diminished since tribal members have twice rejected proposals to build a casino. Much of Black Mesa’s mine tax money is channeled into the tribe’s 12 villages to retain traditional customs and overcome the rapid loss of the Hopi language among the young people of the tribe.

An 18 percent cutback in overall funding is what Hopi tribal officials are predicting come January 1st of ’06.

Peabody’s Black Mesa mine is located some 25 miles southwest of the Navajo Nation’s regional center of Kayenta which has lost most of the tourism since the September 11th terrorists attacks and the gas crunch, but the business community always had the mine to fall back on until now. Some 260 jobs that pay an average of $40,000 are at risk in the nation’s largest reservation.

Some 12,000 of Bullhead City’s 50,000 population work in the Laughlin casinos across the Colorado River but the highest paying jobs come from the Generating Station employees who average some $76,000 per year while casino workers only make about $18,000.

What tribal and business leaders are hoping for is that the Hopi, the Navajo, Black Mesa operators, Peabody Energy and Southern California Edison can set aside their differences to come to an agreement that can be taken to the state of Nevada and the environmental groups to ask for an extension that will allow them to raise the money for the anti-pollution “smokestack scrubbers” that will clean up the air around the Generating Plant.

An agreement will make the residents of Bullhead City happy with cleaner air and hold down the jobs for the Black Mesa miners and Peabody Energy workers.

This column has been edited for length and content from an article in the October 30th edition of The Arizona Republic bylined Mark Shaffer.


Peyote Use Not Harmful Study Says

Boston - A study of the effects of peyote on American Indians found no evidence the hallucinogenic cactus caused brain damage or psychological problems among people who frequently used it in religious ceremonies.

In fact, researchers from Harvard-afflilated McClean Hospital found that members of the Native American Church performed better on some psychological tests than other Navajos who did not regularly use peyote.

The study was conducted among Navajos. It compared test results for 60 church members who have used peyote at least 100 times against those 79 who did not regularly use peyote and 36 tribal members with a history of alcohol abuse but minimal peyote use.

Those who abused alcohol fared worse on the tests than the church members, according to the study.

Gila River 'Kids Voting Program' A Success.

Sacaton, Arizona – While the adult voters on the Gila River Indian Community cast ballots on the November 9th tribal general election, students throughout the community also cast their ballots in a historic "Kids Voting" election.

A record attendance of 1400 students in the community participated in the program. Their ballots favored Mary V. Thomas for Gila River Governor, Jennifer Allison-Ray for Lieutenant Governor, Victor Antone for Chief Judge and Linda M. Pablo and Anthony Hill for Associate Judges.

This is the fourth time in a tribal election that community members under the age of 18 have been allowed into the polls. Election officials have reportedly tied an increase in the adult voter turnout resulting from the Kids Voting Program over the 2002 tribal general election.

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

Hualapais,Tour Operators, Park Service Fight Over River

In the far western depths of the Grand Canyon, the mighty Colorado River is the lifeblood of the people of the Haulapai Indian Nation. Some 25,000 people take breathtaking helicopter and river tours over and through the Grand Canyon every year. Now, a bitter battle is raging as to who controls the river along the 108 mile northern border of the Reservation.

The Hualapais claim the federal government created a northern boundary for its reservation on the river with an executive order in 1883 signed by U.S. President Chester Arthur.

In 1999, a federal solicitor expressed the opinion during a water rights case the tribal boundary was actually at an undetermined high-water mark which would mean that during normal flow periods, the tribe would have no access to the River.

Every thing is coming to a head as the Park Service is trying to complete the Colorado River Management Plan that would regulate the number of people on river trips passing through the Grand Canyon.

The situation has reached the explosive stage. Angry tribal members have walked out of meetings attempting to negotiate a satisfactory agreement between the two groups. The tribe operates a five-hour $280 river trip over 36 miles of the best white water adjoining the reservation. About 12,000 tourists take the trip annually according to a tribal spokesman with none of the proceeds going to the Park Service.

According to Park service planning documents, the agency wants to cap the number of Hualapai river–runner pontoon passenger boats to 150 a day with the goal of protecting the river and keeping it ”in a wild and primitive condition”. The Hualapais want a cap of 960 a day.

In the midst of the controversy is the Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association, a consortium of river tour operators located in Flagstaff. Its executive director, Mark Grisham said, This is a very explosive situation. The Park Service is trying to manage the resource and they don’t know where the boundary is for sure.”

Grisham doesn’t think the Park service will back away from trying to manage the entire river through the Grand Canyon. He asserted the river-group tours would likely take the tribe to court if they attempt to “assert management authority over us.”

He added the Hualapais won’t work directly with us as we are not a government but maintained it would be risky for the tribe to take this to court as they could end up as losers with no rights at all to the river.

Editor’s Note - I remember way back in the 1940’s at the U of A when I first began to take courses in the exciting field of anthropology, the Hualapais were the most depressed tribe in Arizona. But times have changed over the years and wait ‘til you learn about the forthcoming attraction they have in store for world-wide tourism that is slated to open on New Year’s Day, 2006.

This column has been edited for content and length from an article that appeared in the October 13th edition of The Arizona Republic bylined Mark Shaffer.

Native American Youth Council Launches Project
Submitted by Chantlaca@aol.com

October 12, 2005
PHOENIX, AZ -- The Native American Youth Council of North High School today launched an Indigenous Peoples Geography Project on their organization website, making history by presenting in an educational format the unique history and geography of the ancestral territories of the Native Nations.

"All Indigenous Peoples see the land as sacred, and the history of the land is the history of our Nations,” said Tupac Enrique who is the Native American Student Advisor for the Youth Council. “Our intent is to open the eyes of our Native Students and the community at large to the validity of the native systems of geography and cartography, systems of knowledge which we still hold as valid in spite of centuries of colonization.”

In honor of the ancestral settlements in the Valley of the Sun of the Odham Nations, the first presentation on the website is of a map of Phoenix which describes the location and extent of the ancient settlements of the HuHukam Peoples in the area. The Huhukam are known to have inhabited the territory continuously for over 1,500 years and are considered the ancestors of the Odham Nations of today.

"I believe this project will allow more people to gain an understanding of the importance of the land they walk upon each and everyday here in the valley,” said Brian Bex, North High School student and member of the Dine Nation who serves as webmaster for the Youth Council website located at http://www.northhighnatives.com/

One of the objectives of this educational initiative is to create recognition and respect for the Sacred Sites of the Native Nations in the territory, by validating the indigenous geographic identities of the traditional altars of the land. Among these are locations that include the mountain ranges of South Mountain, Baboquivari Mountain, Vianom Doag, and others among a vast family of Odham Nation altars that extend into Mexico.

http://www.northhighnatives.com

Wilma Mankiller To Speak At Free Lecture

Wilma Mankiller, the first woman to serve as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation will speak on Wednesday Nov. 9th at 7 p.m. in the ballroom of the Erb Memorial Union at the University of Oregon. Her topic is "Context Is Everything: History and Culture in Contenporary Tribal Life."

On Thursday, Nov. 10th, Mankiller, the 2005-6 Wayne Morse Chair of Law and Politics, will join other tribal leaders and honored guests at a one-day symposium slated for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
University of Arizona legal scholar, Rebecca Tsosie will deliver the keynote address and Beverly Jacobs is to speak on "Aboriginal Women and Leadership.".

For more information:
http://morsechair.uoregon.edu/Women_Leadership.html
(541) 346-3700

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

Voting Rights Victory

In Victory for Voting Rights, Appeals Court Upholds Decision in Georgia Photo ID Case
Submitted by Daniel Levitas
dlevitas@aclu.org
www.votingrights.org

ID Restrictions Would Have Kept Voters from the Polls, Says ACLU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2005
CONTACT: Paul Silva, ACLU, 212-549-2689 or 2666; media@aclu.org

ATLANTA – Less than two weeks before Election Day, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a court decision blocking a controversial state law from taking effect that would have dramatically restricted the types of photo identification that may be used when voting.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the legal challenge with a coalition of voting rights advocates, applauded the decision.

“We are extremely pleased with today’s court decision,” said Neil Bradley, Associate Director of the Atlanta-based ACLU Voting Rights Project, and one of the attorneys in the case. “Two federal courts have now recognized the potential of this law to place an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote for thousands of Georgia voters, especially minorities, the elderly and the poor.”

Last week, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction to prevent the law from taking effect before the upcoming elections on November 8. The court held that the plaintiffs have a substantial likelihood of succeeding on the merits of their claims that the photo ID requirement is an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote and constitutes a poll tax. The injunction will remain in place while the legal challenge continues.

Georgia’s photo ID law (H.B. 244) reduces the various forms of identification that voters can use from 17 to six, and makes government issued photo identification absolutely required in order to vote. The ACLU and a consortium of voting rights advocates and private attorneys filed the lawsuit against state and local election officials on September 19 after the U.S. Department of Justice granted preclearance to the measure. Because of Georgia’s history of voting discrimination, the 1965 Voting Rights Act requires that any changes to election laws or voting procedures receive clearance from federal officials before going into effect.

Among other complaints, the advocates charge in the lawsuit that the law violates the Voting Rights Act, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Georgia Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit asks that the court declare the law “unconstitutional, null and void.


Morris K. Udall Foundation Program

Submitted by Sunshine Woman Archambault
Center For Civic Participation
Sunshine @ccp.org

The deadline is January 31, 2006 to enroll in a program of the Morris K. Udall Foundation http://www.udall.gov/ ), the Native American Congressional Internship Program provides Native Americans and Alaska Natives withan insider's view of the federal government.

The ten-week internship in Washington, D.C., places students in Senate and House offices, committees, Cabinet departments, and the White House, where they are able to observe government decision-making processes first-hand.

In 2006, the foundation expects to award 12 internships on the basis of merit to Native Americans andAlaska Natives who are college juniors or seniors, recent graduates from tribal or four-year colleges, or graduate or law students; and have demonstrated an interest in fields related to tribal public policy, such as tribal governance, tribal law, Native American education, Native American health, Native American justice, natural resource protection, and Native American economic development.

For program guidelines and application materials, visit the MorrisK. Udall Foundation Web site.RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/5000911/udall

For additional RFPs in Public Affairs, visit:http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_pub_affairs.jhtml

Indians File Voting Rights Lawsuit

Submitted by Daniel Levitas
By TOM MORTONStar-Tribune staff writer

The at-large method of electing Fremont County commissioners violates the voting rights of residents of the Wind River Indian Reservation, according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday against the five commissioners and county clerk.

So five reservation residents -- members of both the Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho tribes -- want the federal court to prohibit Fremont County commissioners from using the at-large method, and to not block an election for a redistricting plan for single-member districts, according to the complaint filed by the plaintiffs' attorneys Andrew Baldwin and Berthenia Crocker of Lander.

See the following from the Associated Press quoting ACLU Voting Rights Project attorney Bryan Sells and Scott Crichton, executive director ACLU of Montana:

Bryan Sells, staff attorney for the ACLU's Voting Rights Project in Atlanta, said Friday the ACLU already has successfully represented Indians in challenging at-large elections in Montana and South Dakota.

"I think it's undeniable that Native Americans are really becoming more interested and energized about their rights to vote. And this is part of that effort," Sells said of voting rights litigation.

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.

Indian Boot Camp Launches Candidates

Submitted by Ken Hughes

After flexing their muscles and wallets in the last two national elections, Indian tribes across the country say they're ready to do more, and they've picked Shakopee for their launching pad.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux hosted the tribes' first national Indian candidate boot camp that began October 13th. It was organized by INDN List, a potentially powerful new player on the national political scene dedicated to recruiting and training Indian political candidates.

The four-day camp was expected to draw nearly 200 potential candidates, campaign staff members and donors for an intensive grounding in the finer points of running and winning campaigns.

The Indigenous Democratic Network List (INDN List for short) is a political 527 group, named after the section of federal law that authorizes such groups. They raised and spent significant amounts of money in the 2004 election.

Kalyn Free, the president and founder of INDN List, said it has raised about $200,000 since its inception in February, but expects to raise much more. The money has come not just from the wealth of tribal casino gambling, she said, but from individual donors and organized labor.

Styled after EMILY's List, the first major group to endorse and support women candidates, INDN List wants to cultivate big givers, making those who give $1,000 or more to INDN List members of its "Warriors Circle."

The network will endorse only candidates enrolled in federally recognized tribes, Free said.
"We're on the cusp of something really big here," she added. "This is an opportunity to change the face of color and power in America. We've proved that we can turn out Indians to elect non-Indians. Now we need to turn them out to elect Indians."

Free noted that in Minnesota, heavy turnout on the Leech Lake Reservation helped elect state Rep. Frank Moe, DFL-Bemidji, and Indian turnout was credited with affecting several other House races in Minnesota. Nationally, tribes generated Indian turnout through Native Vote 2004. Free, a Choctaw from Tulsa, Okla., vied for a congressional seat in 2004 but lost.

Afterward, she said, she realized that Indian candidates needed the same type of grass-roots organization to recruit, train and fund candidates that EMILY's List had provided for women.The goal is to elect Indian candidates at every level of government.

Headlining the Shakopee boot camp was Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and comedian and radio host Al Franken, who is considering a run in Minnesota against U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman in 2008. Rep. Jim Oberstar was on hand for the Thursday opening. Why Minnesota?

"I chose Minnesota because tribal leaders in Minnesota are visionaries," Free said. "They have been so progressive in supporting tribal sovereignty across the country."

Free worked in the state during Native Vote 2004 for the Kerry-Edwards campaign."Your tribes here in Minnesota get it," she said. "You've already proven that you can turn out votes. Now we need to get you some candidates."

Wellstone Action was also a cosponsor of the event, and director Jeff Blodgett, former campaign manager for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, led sessions on building get-out-the vote operations.

This column was edited for content from the October 12th edition of the Star Tribune bylined Patricia Lopez. Phone, 651-222-1288 - plopez@startribune.com

Gila River Students To Cast Ballots In November Election
ubmitted by Alyssa Macy

Sacaton, Arizona – Last month educators in Gila River Indian Community schools began preparing students for the upcoming November 8th tribal general election through a program called “Gila River Kids Voting”.

Students will be able to accompany their parents or an adult to the polls and cast a mock ballot for all elective offices.

The purpose of the program is to make Gila River youth become more aware of their voting rights and responsibilities in the Community and to encourage their active participation in future tribal elections.

Another goal is to encourage families to participate so that parents and children discuss candidates and issues at home and vote together on election day.

Members of the Akimel O’dham/PeePosh Youth Council will recruit volunteers to work and staff the polls on Election Day. Youth Council members are also involved in getting voting materials to schools and providing resources for classroom teachers.

Gila River students will be the first in the nation to have Kids Voting experience in a tribal election. Gila River teachers developed a special curriculum based on the Gila River constitution that will be used with twenty-one schools and programs involved in the Kids Voting project.

Shonto Chapter Holds Special Election on Nov. 8th
Submitted by Alyssa Macy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeanette Brown
928-672-2910
E-mail shonto@navajochapters.org

Shonto Chapter will hold a Special Referendum Election on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 at the Shonto Chapter House. Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

There will be only one Referendum Question on the ballot: “Shall the Council of Nat’aa/Atsilasdai be adopted as the Shonto Chapter form of Governance?” All voters are urged to come to the polls to express their decision on this issue.

Until Friday, November 4, Shonto voters may cast absentee ballots by walking in to any Navajo Nation Election Office.

Office locations, with their toll-free numbers, are:
Crownpoint, 888-508-6870
Shiprock, 866-659-5842
Tuba City, 888-508-4970
Window Rock, 800-775-8683

Complete Special Election, Referendum, and voting information is available on the Chapter’s web site at www.shonto.org; at the Chapter House in Shonto Canyon; or by phone at 928-672-2910.

A community information session will be held on Sunday, November 6, at 1:00 p.m. in the Shonto Chapter House.

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

For news and information on Native American and First Nations actors, go to Annie's site at www.NativeCelebs.com and follow the threads.

American Indian Airways regularly broadcasts every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m.(Pacific Time) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angeles; FM 98.7 Santa Barbara; and by Internet with Real Media Player, Winamp and Itunes.