Yukon Circles is the inspirational story of how native people in Alaska and Canada joined together to protect the Yukon River.
The Yukon is the second-longest river in North America, flowing 2300 miles from its headwaters in Canada to its delta on the Bering Sea. But the river is threatened by pollution from military, mining, manufacturing and human settlement.
Rather than blaming the polluters or pointing fingers at the many entities that had dumped waste in their traditional territories, the tribes made a radical decision. They would assume the leadership and responsibilities for protecting their own lands, waters, animals, and fish.
They began by educating their own tribal members; they went on to form the largest Native international treaty organization in the world.
Director: Karin Williams
27 Minutes • USA • Documentary Short
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Oklahoma Land Steal?
By: Mark Francis
OKLAHOMA CITY—A group of Oklahoma Indians are on a quest to right history by conducting a parade to counter the state's celebration of the Oklahoma Land Run.
Organizers say they hope the April 12 parade here will raise awareness that Oklahoma history books are incorrect, along with history books in general, when it comes to Native Americans and the Great Land Rush of 1889.
The parade is sponsored by the Society to Preserve the Indigenous Rights and Indigenous Traditions (S.P.I.R.I.T.), made up of members of Native American tribes who support Native issues, families, personal education and human rights.
"We are looking for something to give our people to have pride in," said Brenda Golden, a Muscogee tribal member from Tulsa, Okla. "Some don't know who they are themselves, and the kids don't have anything to hold onto."
The parade, whose theme is "Honoring Our Past — Capturing Our Future," will take place the weekend before area land run re-enactments.
More than 2 million acres of land in Indian Territory were opened on April 22, 1889, for settlement during the first of five Oklahoma land runs. Up to 75,000 people surrounded the area to stake their claim for fewer than 12,000 homesteads between 1889 and 1895.
A S.P.I.R.I.T press release states that after the Civil War, tribes were forced to sell their land to the federal government for 60 cents to $1.25 an acre; the government said it would relocate other groups onto the land but never did. Many U.S. citizens regarded the lands as unassigned and, thus, public domain that should be opened for settlement.
Want to know more? Click here: http://www.reznetnews.org/article/feature-article/oklahoma-land-steal%3F
OKLAHOMA CITY—A group of Oklahoma Indians are on a quest to right history by conducting a parade to counter the state's celebration of the Oklahoma Land Run.
Organizers say they hope the April 12 parade here will raise awareness that Oklahoma history books are incorrect, along with history books in general, when it comes to Native Americans and the Great Land Rush of 1889.
The parade is sponsored by the Society to Preserve the Indigenous Rights and Indigenous Traditions (S.P.I.R.I.T.), made up of members of Native American tribes who support Native issues, families, personal education and human rights.
"We are looking for something to give our people to have pride in," said Brenda Golden, a Muscogee tribal member from Tulsa, Okla. "Some don't know who they are themselves, and the kids don't have anything to hold onto."
The parade, whose theme is "Honoring Our Past — Capturing Our Future," will take place the weekend before area land run re-enactments.
More than 2 million acres of land in Indian Territory were opened on April 22, 1889, for settlement during the first of five Oklahoma land runs. Up to 75,000 people surrounded the area to stake their claim for fewer than 12,000 homesteads between 1889 and 1895.
A S.P.I.R.I.T press release states that after the Civil War, tribes were forced to sell their land to the federal government for 60 cents to $1.25 an acre; the government said it would relocate other groups onto the land but never did. Many U.S. citizens regarded the lands as unassigned and, thus, public domain that should be opened for settlement.
Want to know more? Click here: http://www.reznetnews.org/article/feature-article/oklahoma-land-steal%3F
Port, tribe sign historic agreement
By: Meghan Erkkinen
The Port of Tacoma, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and two development entities signed what many called an historic agreement April 22. The agreement, which the parties hope will be an economic boon for the regional economy, calls for the port and tribe to exchange land and to work together to develop and widen the Blair Waterway.
As per the agreement, the port will transfer about 19 acres to the tribe and the tribe will transfer about 12.5 acres to the port. Both parties have agreed to a project to widen the Blair Waterway, which will be undertaken and managed by container terminal operator SSA Containers Inc. The parties also agreed to cooperate on intermodal rail, road infrastructure and other development opportunities.
The agreement is 20 years in the making, dating back to the 1988 Puyallup Indian Land Claims Settlement Agreement, signed into law by former President George Bush. The agreement transferred land to the tribe to enable it to diversify its economic investments.
“The Port of Tacoma and Puyallup Tribe of Indians enjoy a long history of economic cooperation dating back to the historic 1988 Puyallup Indian Land Claims Settlement Agreement,” said Dick Marzano, president of the Port of Tacoma Commission. “Today’s agreement assures greater cargo capacity for our region, which will create thousands of construction jobs and permanent, family-wage jobs when the terminals open.”
Get the rest of the story here: http://www.tacomaweekly.com/article/1876
The Port of Tacoma, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and two development entities signed what many called an historic agreement April 22. The agreement, which the parties hope will be an economic boon for the regional economy, calls for the port and tribe to exchange land and to work together to develop and widen the Blair Waterway.
As per the agreement, the port will transfer about 19 acres to the tribe and the tribe will transfer about 12.5 acres to the port. Both parties have agreed to a project to widen the Blair Waterway, which will be undertaken and managed by container terminal operator SSA Containers Inc. The parties also agreed to cooperate on intermodal rail, road infrastructure and other development opportunities.
The agreement is 20 years in the making, dating back to the 1988 Puyallup Indian Land Claims Settlement Agreement, signed into law by former President George Bush. The agreement transferred land to the tribe to enable it to diversify its economic investments.
“The Port of Tacoma and Puyallup Tribe of Indians enjoy a long history of economic cooperation dating back to the historic 1988 Puyallup Indian Land Claims Settlement Agreement,” said Dick Marzano, president of the Port of Tacoma Commission. “Today’s agreement assures greater cargo capacity for our region, which will create thousands of construction jobs and permanent, family-wage jobs when the terminals open.”
Get the rest of the story here: http://www.tacomaweekly.com/article/1876
Obama campaign kicks up Indian Country outreach
By: Jodi Rave
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in Montana kicked up its outreach efforts in Indian Country on Wednesday, with the announcement of its newly unveiled Montana Native Americans for Obama steering committee.
Tribal chairmen from the Crow Nation and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are co-chairing the committee, as well as a tribal councilman from the Chippewa Cree Tribe.The steering committee includes members from all seven reservations in Montana, urban areas and the Little Shell band.
“Federal prisoners of this country receive better health care than Indians,” said Crow Nation Chairman Carl Venne. “That’s not right.”
Venne said two of the greatest concerns in tribal communities are affordable health care and education. He noted that Obama co-sponsored the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to provide an additional $1 billion for the Indian Health Service to address problems facing Native communities.
“Obama also understands that quality education is the key to empowering tribal nations to build a better future. We cannot survive as Indian tribes if we’re not educated,” said Venne.
He is among two tribal chairmen in Montana to endorse Obama. Chairman James Steele of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes has also pledged his support.
Gay Kingman, Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association executive director, said the Illinois senator has also gained majority endorsements from all North Dakota tribal chairmen. And leaders of the two largest reservations in South Dakota - the Rosebud and Pine Ridge tribal chairmen - have also endorsed Obama.
Keep reading here: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/04/23/bnews/br67.txt
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in Montana kicked up its outreach efforts in Indian Country on Wednesday, with the announcement of its newly unveiled Montana Native Americans for Obama steering committee.
Tribal chairmen from the Crow Nation and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are co-chairing the committee, as well as a tribal councilman from the Chippewa Cree Tribe.The steering committee includes members from all seven reservations in Montana, urban areas and the Little Shell band.
“Federal prisoners of this country receive better health care than Indians,” said Crow Nation Chairman Carl Venne. “That’s not right.”
Venne said two of the greatest concerns in tribal communities are affordable health care and education. He noted that Obama co-sponsored the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to provide an additional $1 billion for the Indian Health Service to address problems facing Native communities.
“Obama also understands that quality education is the key to empowering tribal nations to build a better future. We cannot survive as Indian tribes if we’re not educated,” said Venne.
He is among two tribal chairmen in Montana to endorse Obama. Chairman James Steele of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes has also pledged his support.
Gay Kingman, Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association executive director, said the Illinois senator has also gained majority endorsements from all North Dakota tribal chairmen. And leaders of the two largest reservations in South Dakota - the Rosebud and Pine Ridge tribal chairmen - have also endorsed Obama.
Keep reading here: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/04/23/bnews/br67.txt
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