"Will you ever begin to understand the meaning of the soil beneath your very feet? From a grain of sand to a great mountain, all is sacred. Yesterday and tomorrow exist eternally upon this continent. We natives are the guardians of this sacred place." -
Peter Blue Cloud - Mohawk
Friday, August 3, 2007
Controversy flares over use of tribal pipe
By Peter Harriman
A simmering controversy over custodianship of the Lakota White Buffalo Calf pipe has ignited again as a Swedish film, "Spirits for Sale," is set for screening.
The film deals in part with the exploitation of Lakota sacred sites, items and ceremonies.
Arvol Looking Horse, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe whose family is the traditional keeper of the sacred pipe, has long been a source of controversy among some Lakota who question whether he is using the pipe for commercial purposes.
Alfred Bone Shirt, a plaintiff in a landmark voting rights lawsuit several years ago, is among those questioning Looking Horse about the pipe.
"We are asking for accountability for the marketing of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe," says Bone Shirt, a Lakota and South Dakotan.
Confusion about Looking Horse's treatment of the pipe "has caused a serious division among our Oyate," according to Bone Shirt.
It has exposed Lakota people to ridicule that the sacred pipe is being used in fundraising schemes, including bringing the pipe and accompanying sacred bundle to Sweden for a price, he says.
Annika Banfield, a member of the project team that produced the Swedish film, firmly denies the pipe will be used that way.
"There has never been a discussion between Arvol Looking Horse and me or the foundation about him receiving money for coming to Sweden. ... We would not try to buy a sacred object of a holy man. ...The sacred bundle will not be brought to Sweden. It stays with the Lakota people," she says.
The complete article is here: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070801/NEWS/708010325/1001
A simmering controversy over custodianship of the Lakota White Buffalo Calf pipe has ignited again as a Swedish film, "Spirits for Sale," is set for screening.
The film deals in part with the exploitation of Lakota sacred sites, items and ceremonies.
Arvol Looking Horse, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe whose family is the traditional keeper of the sacred pipe, has long been a source of controversy among some Lakota who question whether he is using the pipe for commercial purposes.
Alfred Bone Shirt, a plaintiff in a landmark voting rights lawsuit several years ago, is among those questioning Looking Horse about the pipe.
"We are asking for accountability for the marketing of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe," says Bone Shirt, a Lakota and South Dakotan.
Confusion about Looking Horse's treatment of the pipe "has caused a serious division among our Oyate," according to Bone Shirt.
It has exposed Lakota people to ridicule that the sacred pipe is being used in fundraising schemes, including bringing the pipe and accompanying sacred bundle to Sweden for a price, he says.
Annika Banfield, a member of the project team that produced the Swedish film, firmly denies the pipe will be used that way.
"There has never been a discussion between Arvol Looking Horse and me or the foundation about him receiving money for coming to Sweden. ... We would not try to buy a sacred object of a holy man. ...The sacred bundle will not be brought to Sweden. It stays with the Lakota people," she says.
The complete article is here: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070801/NEWS/708010325/1001
Tribes, firefighters cooperate to save sacred sites
By Jonathan Abrams
They were bleary-eyed from lack of sleep as they converged high in the San Bernardino Mountains at twilight.
While two lightning-ignited fires barreled toward Big Bear Lake last summer, the fire marshal and the Indian tribe member discussed their options on how to preserve ancient artifacts and still protect the community.
"We got knowledge there were 'dozer lines that went through and uncovered an archeological site," said James Ramos, cultural resource coordinator for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. "It's real important to preserve the culture because it's really part of the history of the whole area."
The early-morning meeting with San Bernardino County Fire Marshal Peter Brierty is emblematic of a burgeoning relationship between firefighters and Indian tribes, whose ancient burial grounds and ceremonial sites are often on land prone to wildfire.
In the past, tribal representatives were left in the dark about firefighting operations and fire officials had little clue of the historical significance of ancient sites threatened. Firefighters have bulldozed lines through terrain, unwittingly destroying sacred Indian burial sites, ceremonial grounds and villages. Tribe members now attend fire safety classes in hopes of helping bulldozers avoid sacred sites. Fire officials and archeologists say the cooperation has allowed them to protect artifacts on almost every major wildfire in the last few years.
Read full article here: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-tribefires2aug02,1,2564373.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true
They were bleary-eyed from lack of sleep as they converged high in the San Bernardino Mountains at twilight.
While two lightning-ignited fires barreled toward Big Bear Lake last summer, the fire marshal and the Indian tribe member discussed their options on how to preserve ancient artifacts and still protect the community.
"We got knowledge there were 'dozer lines that went through and uncovered an archeological site," said James Ramos, cultural resource coordinator for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. "It's real important to preserve the culture because it's really part of the history of the whole area."
The early-morning meeting with San Bernardino County Fire Marshal Peter Brierty is emblematic of a burgeoning relationship between firefighters and Indian tribes, whose ancient burial grounds and ceremonial sites are often on land prone to wildfire.
In the past, tribal representatives were left in the dark about firefighting operations and fire officials had little clue of the historical significance of ancient sites threatened. Firefighters have bulldozed lines through terrain, unwittingly destroying sacred Indian burial sites, ceremonial grounds and villages. Tribe members now attend fire safety classes in hopes of helping bulldozers avoid sacred sites. Fire officials and archeologists say the cooperation has allowed them to protect artifacts on almost every major wildfire in the last few years.
Read full article here: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-tribefires2aug02,1,2564373.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true
Sharbot Lake: Algonquin Alliance Statement Against Uranium Exploration and Mining
On June 28, 2007 leadership and members of Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation moved to secure the site of a proposed uranium mine in the traditional lands of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation near Ardoch Ontario. Frontenac Ventures Corporation, under the ownership of George White had been notified by mail to vacate the premises prior to the 28th with his equipment and staff. On the 28th members of the two Algonquin communities moved in and secured the site to prevent the drilling of uranium core samples which were slated to begin the following week.
Upon securing the site, the two communities established an alliance whose overall purpose was to prohibit access to the site and any proposed drilling within and around the site and all associated sites by Frontenac Ventures Corporation. The Algonquin alliance discovered through an initial search that multiple users had been granted access to the site and land surrounding the site by the MNR, Mining and Northern Development and private owners. At no time did any of these ministries or private owners contact or secure permission from Algonquin people to use the lands or resources in question.
The alliance is using a four-pronged approach to dealing with uranium exploration and mining which includes education of the larger community on the dangers of uranium exploration and mining and direct action in various locations in Algonquin territory to bring local, national and international attention to the issue. The two Algonquin communities who make up this alliance are also concerned with their responsibility as Anishinaabe people to examine prior usage of the land and resources by all users who have been granted access by the province of Ontario. Part of that strategy is to develop sound mechanisms for restoring balance to the land and waterways that have been impacted by their activities on the land and also create protocols of interaction that can be used with future users so that the same mistakes do not occur again.
To learn more click here: http://verbena19.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/sharbot-lake-algonquin-alliance-statement-against-uranium-exploration-and-mining/
Upon securing the site, the two communities established an alliance whose overall purpose was to prohibit access to the site and any proposed drilling within and around the site and all associated sites by Frontenac Ventures Corporation. The Algonquin alliance discovered through an initial search that multiple users had been granted access to the site and land surrounding the site by the MNR, Mining and Northern Development and private owners. At no time did any of these ministries or private owners contact or secure permission from Algonquin people to use the lands or resources in question.
The alliance is using a four-pronged approach to dealing with uranium exploration and mining which includes education of the larger community on the dangers of uranium exploration and mining and direct action in various locations in Algonquin territory to bring local, national and international attention to the issue. The two Algonquin communities who make up this alliance are also concerned with their responsibility as Anishinaabe people to examine prior usage of the land and resources by all users who have been granted access by the province of Ontario. Part of that strategy is to develop sound mechanisms for restoring balance to the land and waterways that have been impacted by their activities on the land and also create protocols of interaction that can be used with future users so that the same mistakes do not occur again.
To learn more click here: http://verbena19.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/sharbot-lake-algonquin-alliance-statement-against-uranium-exploration-and-mining/
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