By: Brandi Grissom/Austin Bureau
AUSTIN -- Proposed border fencing in El Paso could cut off the Tiguas' access to parts of the Rio Grande the tribe has used for centuries to conduct sacred ceremonies.
"It is an infringement on our First Amendment right of freedom of religion," Tigua War Captain Rick Quezada said this week.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is working to build 670 miles of fencing along the border by the end of this year. That plan includes about 57 miles of barrier starting at Socorro and extending east of the Fabens port of entry.
Federal officials said they were meeting with the tribe and many other communities in Texas where opposition to the fence is widespread.
The Tiguas have been conducting sacred ceremonies in the Rio Grande for more than 300 years, Quezada said. It's where the tribe starts its calendar year, inducting elected tribal officers, and where they conduct naming ceremonies.
They use a section of the river that stretches from the Ascarate area to Fabens.
The Department of Homeland Security's fence plans would cut off the tribe's access to the river.
"That's one of the biggest concerns," Quezada said, "our continuous practice of our culture and our religion."
Keep reading here: http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9250035
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Campaigns continue to court Native vote
By: Jodi Rave
The Native vote continues to play a prominent role in both the Obama and Clinton campaigns, with Montana and South Dakota among the country’s last presidential primaries.
On Tuesday, both campaigns announced alliances and support among tribes and tribal leaders.
President Bill Clinton - who met with Montana tribal leaders over the weekend in Billings - is scheduled to go to South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation on Wednesday after speaking in Missoula.
Meanwhile, the Obama campaign picked up full tribal council endorsements from the Crow Nation and Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes.
“Senator Obama’s leadership qualities and commitment to issues of importance to Indian Country distinguish him from his opponents,” Fort Peck Chairman A.T. Stafne said.
“Our 12 voting members in the tribal council passed this endorsement resolution unanimously. I was personally impressed with his commitment to a true government-to-government relationship and his promise to appoint a Native American policy adviser in his White House,” Stafne said.
Said Crow Nation Chairman Carl Venne: “Senator Obama understands the challenges facing Native Americans in Montana. His record as a U.S. senator shows that he cares about Indian communities. He respects Indian sovereignty and is a strong advocate for Indian health care and education.”
With Montana’s June 3 primaries on the horizon, President Geri Small of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe announced last Thursday her endorsement of Clinton.
There's more to the story here: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/05/14/jodirave/rave68.txt
The Native vote continues to play a prominent role in both the Obama and Clinton campaigns, with Montana and South Dakota among the country’s last presidential primaries.
On Tuesday, both campaigns announced alliances and support among tribes and tribal leaders.
President Bill Clinton - who met with Montana tribal leaders over the weekend in Billings - is scheduled to go to South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation on Wednesday after speaking in Missoula.
Meanwhile, the Obama campaign picked up full tribal council endorsements from the Crow Nation and Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes.
“Senator Obama’s leadership qualities and commitment to issues of importance to Indian Country distinguish him from his opponents,” Fort Peck Chairman A.T. Stafne said.
“Our 12 voting members in the tribal council passed this endorsement resolution unanimously. I was personally impressed with his commitment to a true government-to-government relationship and his promise to appoint a Native American policy adviser in his White House,” Stafne said.
Said Crow Nation Chairman Carl Venne: “Senator Obama understands the challenges facing Native Americans in Montana. His record as a U.S. senator shows that he cares about Indian communities. He respects Indian sovereignty and is a strong advocate for Indian health care and education.”
With Montana’s June 3 primaries on the horizon, President Geri Small of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe announced last Thursday her endorsement of Clinton.
There's more to the story here: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/05/14/jodirave/rave68.txt
Tribe leaders seek more autonomy
By: Noelle Straub
WASHINGTON - American Indian tribes want to move toward more self-governance, but red tape and foot-dragging by federal agencies continuously throws a wrench in their attempts, tribal leaders testified Tuesday.
“It gets frustrating to me,” said James Steele Jr., chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation.
“I think the essence of self-governance is for us that are at this table and other tribes to not have to come to D.C. and to ask for this or ask for that. Keep the federal responsibility, it needs to be maintained,” he testified. “That’s a treaty right, that’s a treaty responsibility. But give us the tools to be self-governing.”
Twenty years ago, Congress first allowed trial projects in tribal self-governance. That effort has now expanded into a permanent program allowing tribes to contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service to carry out many services themselves, including law enforcement, education, welfare assistance, real estate services and natural resource programs.
Want to know more? Click here: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/05/14/news/state/32-autonomy.txt
WASHINGTON - American Indian tribes want to move toward more self-governance, but red tape and foot-dragging by federal agencies continuously throws a wrench in their attempts, tribal leaders testified Tuesday.
“It gets frustrating to me,” said James Steele Jr., chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation.
“I think the essence of self-governance is for us that are at this table and other tribes to not have to come to D.C. and to ask for this or ask for that. Keep the federal responsibility, it needs to be maintained,” he testified. “That’s a treaty right, that’s a treaty responsibility. But give us the tools to be self-governing.”
Twenty years ago, Congress first allowed trial projects in tribal self-governance. That effort has now expanded into a permanent program allowing tribes to contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service to carry out many services themselves, including law enforcement, education, welfare assistance, real estate services and natural resource programs.
Want to know more? Click here: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/05/14/news/state/32-autonomy.txt
Return to a hunting ground
By: Jeff Gearino
Bison have always been the source and center of spiritual life for the Plains Indian tribes.Sacred buffalo hunts were conducted for centuries around Jackson Hole and on the National Elk Refuge in northwest Wyoming by numerous tribes, including southeast Idaho's Shoshone-Bannock tribe.
For the first time since the refuge was created in 1912, Shoshone-Bannock members will return to the Jackson area for a limited ceremonial bison hunt.
The tribe recently entered into an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that will allow the killing of up to five bison on the National Elk Refuge as part of the tribe's traditional ceremonial activity.
Officials said the Shoshone-Bannock tribe -- located on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation about eight miles north of Pocatello -- is historically associated with the Jackson Hole area.
"The tribes are very interested in conducting this ceremony on the refuge, where they have historic ties," said refuge Manager Steve Kallin. "It's certainly a new activity and a new event on the refuge, and it should be interesting to see how it works out," Kallin said in a phone interview.
He said the private hunt will be closely coordinated with refuge staff and will be conducted sometime between May and December. The ceremonial hunt will be specific to bison and will not extend to other wildlife species.
Read more here: http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2008/05/12/news/wyoming/f6c590808775e10487257446002118d6.txt
Bison have always been the source and center of spiritual life for the Plains Indian tribes.Sacred buffalo hunts were conducted for centuries around Jackson Hole and on the National Elk Refuge in northwest Wyoming by numerous tribes, including southeast Idaho's Shoshone-Bannock tribe.
For the first time since the refuge was created in 1912, Shoshone-Bannock members will return to the Jackson area for a limited ceremonial bison hunt.
The tribe recently entered into an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that will allow the killing of up to five bison on the National Elk Refuge as part of the tribe's traditional ceremonial activity.
Officials said the Shoshone-Bannock tribe -- located on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation about eight miles north of Pocatello -- is historically associated with the Jackson Hole area.
"The tribes are very interested in conducting this ceremony on the refuge, where they have historic ties," said refuge Manager Steve Kallin. "It's certainly a new activity and a new event on the refuge, and it should be interesting to see how it works out," Kallin said in a phone interview.
He said the private hunt will be closely coordinated with refuge staff and will be conducted sometime between May and December. The ceremonial hunt will be specific to bison and will not extend to other wildlife species.
Read more here: http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2008/05/12/news/wyoming/f6c590808775e10487257446002118d6.txt
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