Action Alerts: There is much danger in this world. In this department we examine dangerous events in the Native American and other indigineous cultures struggling to survive in the modern world. We do not mean to exclude the many other problems experienced by other peoples. Suffering and struggling against unfair conditions and unfeeling circumstances is a universal burden. We hope to help spread the word that almost all surviving tribal cultures are continually exposed to horrible conditions. We believe many of these conditions would not be as severe if the attention of the American people is focused upon these issues. Most tribes have ineffective attorneys to help put their grievances forward, even when they have very good cases. Pressure from the ethical and impartial judicial community is one of the tribal cultures greatest needs. You can write letters and send faxes to your community Sheriff and Police departments; and of course let your state and federal elected officials know that you support positive and fair treatment of tribal peoples. The greatest weapon wrongdoers have is public apathy. Do not underestimate the power of your documented concern. ISSUE ONE: Current Danger: URGENT RACIST ATTACKS on Native People in KITSAP COUNTY, Washington. August, 1992 Poulsbo Washington. KKK and SKINHEAD (White Aryan Nations) target Saquamish Reservation and assualt tribal peoples. They are also burning crosses on native lawns. There have been many attacks on young people by white racists groups. Most of the white racists activists doing this terrible work in Suquamish are non-native residents living on or near the reservation. Many of them are young people. A big problem has turned up in the form of white community solidarity. Many of the white racists perpetrators are the children of life-long friends of the prosecuting attorneys, judges and police officers. On the other side, the Native Population has always been treated as a seperate place. Kitsap County Washington, like many smaller communities, does not like to prosecute severely the long-time residents or their relatives. Honorable court officers apply the law equally. This is far from the case in Kitsap County. I have talked with mothers and elders who are frightened and enduring a prolonged and escalating psychological fear that undermines their daily lives. Prolonged exposure to violently negative behavior is very damaging. This terrible problem could easily be resolved with fair and open public awareness. However, the Kitsap County media and the general public remain almost disgracefully uninvolved and uncaring about these horrible racists incidents. Thoughtful letters and faxes requesting severe and appropiate response by law enforcement to these hate crimes would be in the best and most productive interests of every person. PLEASE SEE: CONTACT LIST at the MAIN MENU (press ESCape for the main menu) for the relevant phone numbers and addresses. Turtle Heart Editor of Eartstone Press Papers. ISSUE TWO: Current Danger: URGENT 08-05-92 09:21 Message # 4370 Area : 23 Indian Affai From : John Burrows To : All Subj : Navajo Forests Crosspost from Usenet Alt.Native Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel) Topic: NAVAJO OLD GROWTH FOREST TO BE CUT Written 8:09 pm Aug 3, 1992 by ekemper in cdp:gen.nativenet HELP URGENTLY NEEDED!!! FOR NATIVE AMERICAN ACTIVISTS WORKING TO HALT OLD GROWTH LOGGING ON NAVAJO NATION We are seeking support for Native American activists working to preserve primary forests and halt abusive logging practices on the Navajo Nation. Navajo forests are being managed as industrial timber-producing forests with little regard for wildlife, sacred values or long-term sustainability. Cutting in the arid ponderosa pine forests of the Navajo Nation continues despite the tribal logging company being over $20 million in debt. The largest stand of remnant old growth pine is about to be cut in the headwaters of Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Navajo tribal elders and activists are protesting at the site. Legal assistance to halt the cutting and help for activists organizing political support is urgently needed. In the longer term, technical and legal expertise will be needed to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and monitor logging operations for compliance with environmental laws. Interested persons and those with grant information and knowledge of other Native American communities working on forest issues please contact Sam Hitt at Forest Guardians in Santa Fe, New Mexico 505-988-9126 or send an e-mail message to ekemper@igc.org. --- * Origin: *-=|The Quarto Mundista BBS|=-* V32b/V42b Olympia, WA (1:352/333) ISSUE THREE: Current Danger: URGENT 08-04-92 14:44 Message # 2853 Area : 23 Indian Affai From : Randy Edwards To : All Subj : INDIAN ELDERS FIGHT CASINO Via The NY Transfer News Service 718-448-2358, 718-448- 2683 Title: INDIAN ELDERS FIGHT CASINO ON RESERVATION INDIAN ELDERS FIGHT CASINO ON RESERVATION [Below are excerpts from an article published in a recent issue of the Yuwitaya Lakota newsletter.] By Judy Merritt LOWER BRULE, South Dakota -- When the elders and their supporters occupied the community center at Lower Brule Reservation last winter they were not just fighting to keep the center from being remodeled into a casino, they were fighting for their community. Now that the doors are open at the Golden Buffalo Casino, the elders are rallying to continue their efforts to oppose the location of the casino. But their voices could be easily drowned in the wind of a dictator government that plagues this small reservation.... According to the problems that the elders have been documenting since the opening of the casino three months ago, their people are not having fun. Alcohol-related problems are accelerating. Two suicides have occurred, one was a 15-year-old boy. Both were drinking before the event. A woman was raped after leaving the casino. One of the employees followed her and abducted her. Indian people spend their days and nights sitting at the bar drinking away the money that would normally go to feeding their families. Parents are afraid to let their children walk to their Teen Center or to friends' homes because of the increased traffic in the community. Many of the drivers leave the casino drunk.... [M]any of the people today look to Grassrope as their traditional leader. Grassrope simply states the problem, "It's genocide. That's what we're talking about. It's another example of the government getting inside Indian country and exploiting it, just like they've been doing since the time of the treaties. Alcohol and drugs kill our young people." The elderly were also deprived of their biggest fundraising operation shortly after the opening of the casino when the tribal council took over control of their bingo club. The bingo profits now go straight into the tribal coffers. It is money that the elders no longer have access to, to hire an attorney or to launch their own delegates in the upcoming tribal elections.... The three people who have been chosen to run for seats on the tribal council with the backing of the elders are already experiencing intentional harassment. Gayle Ziegler has been brought forward on false charges of aggravated assault and aggravated trespass... She also has experienced harassing phone calls and people pounding on her windows at all hours of the night. Ellen Wright has lost her job as the nutrition director for the elderly and is being charged with misuse of funds. Shirley Crane was taken to court for animal abuse through a complaint signed by [Tribal] Chairman [Michael] Jandreau's cousin.... They are fighting for more than the location of a casino. They are fighting a corrupt government that has replaced their tribal government. They are fighting for traditional values.... As for the problem of unemployment the Golden Buffalo Casino is supposed to have solved, "Management positions are held by non- Indians," Wright said. "Key positions are held by non-tribal members or Jandreau's friends and relatives... There are very few jobs held by registered tribal members." The traditional elders need help in their struggle. They need money for an attorney as well as campaign funds to try to get people elected who have a genuine interest in the needs of the community. Checks can be sent to Ellen Wright, P.O. Box 51, Lower Brule, South Dakota 57548. * Origin: Nuclear weapons? Kids should grow, not glow. (1:128/105)