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O'siyo Brothers and Sister!
This issue contains articles regarding
violence against Indian women, human rights from Indian perspectives and
the never-ending mascot issue.
I wonder - assuming anyone in the dominant society is even aware of
these issues - if anyone recognizes there is a convergence with these
three subjects.
The stereotyping and racism associated with Indian mascots, the misuse
of Indian women - largely by non-Indians, and the failure of the
dominant society to even try to perceive human rights from a native
perspective are each centered in and linked to a lack of respect for us
as a people.
This lack of respect goes right back to the Papal Bulls that the Vatican
refuses to recant to this day. Two Papal Bulls, in particular, set the
stage for European domination of the New World and Africa. Romanus
Pontifex, issued by Pope Nicholas V to King Alfonso V of Portugal in
1452, declared war against all non-Christians throughout the world, and
specifically sanctioned and promoted the conquest, colonization, and
exploitation of non-Christian nations and their territories." In Pope
Alexander VI's papal bull of 1493 (Inter Caetera), he stated his desire
that the "discovered" people be "subjugated and brought to the faith
itself." By this means, said
the pope, the "Christian Empire" would be propagated. These Papal Bulls,
or "doctrines of discovery", sanctioned Christian nations to claim
"unoccupied lands", or lands belonging to "heathens" or "pagans".
Those who refuse to acknowledge the mascot issue is demeaning and racist
are blind, stupid or both. Anytime any group of humans treats another
group as a mascot it instantly creates a caste system of user/used,
owner/owned. If it is so honorable, why is there no team named the New
York Hebes or Wops? Before you write me hate mail, these terms are no
less damning than Redskins. Fix the latter and the other references
won't need to be used for shock value.
The unpunished abuse of Native Women has finally come to light. It is no
longer able to hide in dark corners like the filth it is. I am praying
this will lead to both enactment of protective laws and enforcement.
The general view of Indians as extinct historical figures that have no
real relevance to today's society effectively steals Native peoples'
humanity and gives permission for them to be treated as pets and
whipping women. Human rights and dignity are only granted to those
respected as human beings, and until that happens, those ugly affronts
to our humanity will go on.
Dohiyi Ani Oginalii
Gary Smith (*,*)
wotanging@bellsouth.net
P. O. Box 672168 (`-') gars@nanews.org
Marietta, GA 30006, U.S.A. ===w=w===
http://www.nanews.org
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CONTENTS LIST OF ARTICLES IN
VOLUME 15, ISSUE 043
FOR ARTICLES GOT TO
WOTANGING IKCHE-Native American News
Editorial Section: . Disrespect For Indians As
People
- Indigenous Relatives Need Our Help
- Tribal Leaders: 'Flawed' BIA Process Has Worsened
- Cobell Hearing Brings Crucial Detail
- Apologies Needed For U.S. Wrongs
- Mascots Portray Racist Stereotypes
- Indians Go To Green Bay To Call For Respect
- Penobscots: Cleveland Insults Sockalexis
- Violence Against Native American Women
- Human Rights from American Indian Perspective
- Yellowstone Bison Receive Native American Prayers
- Navajo Nation Council Votes Down Immunity Bill
- Antell Speaks on Indian Education
- Cherokees Hire CBC's Former Director
- Mumpower Criticizes Status of Indian Tribes
- Cherokee Chief: Tribes are Not Special Interests
- Native Activist to Speak About Indian Struggles
- Virginia Tribes Gain New Ally on Recognition Bill
- Cocopahs Celebrate Heritage of Tribe, Neighbors
- Learning An Almost Lost Language
- Survey Shows Languages At Risk Of Extinction
- Sobering Reminders Of Reality Of Domestic Abuse
- Coleman: Bellecourt Helped Change Our Perception
- Norris: Change The Names Please!!!
- Jodi Rave: Indigenous Sami Embrace Their Heritage
- Newcomb: Western Shoshone Reaffirm Land Rights
- Giago: Remembering Vernon Bellecourt
- Human Rights Training During Border Summit
- Chief Acknowledges Aboriginal Protesters
- Feds Asked To Reintroduce Human Rights Legislation
- Appeals Court To Rehear Sacred Site Case
- Mother, Daughter Plead Not Guilty For Hate Crime
- Mille Lacs Band Law Enforcement Revocation
- Native Justice-- Minneapolis, Tribal Police Will Share Notes
- Rustywire: Navajo Sheep Camp Heros
- Lee Goins Poem: You Will Always Be My Little Boy
- Upcoming Events
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"Tribes live in different places where
different things happened in our history - in our case, Jim Crow laws.
You cannot standardize Indians and say that we are all alike and have to
be judged alike without regard for the places we have had to survive."
-- Ann Tucker, Chairman of the Muscogee Nation of Florida
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As
historian Patricia Nelson Limerick summarized in "The Legacy of
Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West...
"Set the blood quantum at one-quarter, hold to it as a rigid definition
of Indians, let intermarriage proceed as it had for centuries, and
eventually Indians will be defined out of existence. When that happens,
the federal government will be freed of its persistent 'Indian
problem.'"
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Once a language is lost, it is gone forever. Of the 300 original Native
languages in North America, only 175 exist today. * 125 of these are no
longer learned by children. * 55 are spoken by 1 to 6 elders; when they
die, their language will disappear. * Without action, only 20 languages
will survive the next 50 years. Source: Indigenous Language Institute
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