Bush signs OK on land for tribes

Bush signs OK on land for tribes
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From Staff Reports
Saturday, October 11, 2008 | No comments posted.


They’ve waited for more than a century for the return of their sacred land.

On Friday, President George W. Bush signed the bill to authorize transferring 24 acres of land to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians. The property, which includes Chief’s Island and Gregory Point near Charleston, will be placed in trust for the tribes.

“These 24 acres have historical significance for the tribes, as they were the site of an Indian village and tribal cemetery,” said tribal Chairman Bob Garcia in a press release Friday afternoon. “Members of the tribes continue to pay respect to their ancestors and perform ceremonies there, including the annual Salmon Ceremony in August.”

The bill passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in September. The tribes credited Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., with championing the legislation through the Senate, with the help of Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., introduced a companion bill and worked for its passage the U.S. House. The Senate “yes” vote followed.

“Their endless support means that this culturally significant land, which is the burial site for many of our most admired tribal leaders and members, will be returned to those who care about it the most,” Garcia said.

The tribe will take over management of the land from the U.S. Coast Guard. Chief’s Island includes the decommissioned Cape Arago Lighthouse, which the tribes have agreed to maintain.

“We will care for this land with honor, respect and regard for its beauty, natural resources, and cultural values,” Garcia said.

The tribes have formally sought the return of the land since 1991.

http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/10/11/news/doc48f01e362de48946236308.txt

Meade commission OKs controversial liquor license

Hello everyone,

Well, its just more of the same, but we still made attempt. This hearing was held at a out of the ordinary timeframe, usually they are in December and June. It just came to our attention that the hearing was being held at the end of last week, so there was no time to put together a opposition letter writing campaign. They will have to re-apply again in December and June, so we will get a early start for the letter writing then.

This article is actually incorrect, there were four of us (all locals), that made oppositions at the hearing, not three. Sure wish that more folks would show up at these hearings to oppose, hopefully in December, we can get a better show of support!???? I see alot of posts on the comments section of RCJ, for this article, but nobody ever seems to show up to oppose in person.

There were two license issues held yesterday, a tranfer and a new license. All they are doing is shuffling corportations around. When asked about the status of the ownership transfer and Jay Allen's status, David Shoe, General Manager for Broken Spoke Campground stated that Corporate Officers of Target Logisitcs, Joe Murphy owns 10%, Bryan Lash owns 58%, Jay Allen owns 30% and David Shoe owns 2%. Jay Allens only involvement at this time is as a "promoter," he is in charge of the "entertainment." Shoe also stated that Broken Spoke Campground, LLC now owns everything.

We each opposed the location and charachter issue, the Meade County Commissoners refuse to acknowldege either as a issue. It was also brought up again, about the adult entertainment issue that occurs at these venues, that nobody in this county seems to acknowledge is happening.

Since the Commisoners continually state these venues do not effect Bear Butte. I brought up about the insanity that was brought out to Bear Butte with traffic and noise, with the three hours of gridlock traffic thru Sturgis, down Hwy 79 towards Bear Butte, that occured on the first day of the rally. That was brought by the KISS concert that occured at Glencoe, which is just one mile the opposite direction down hwy 79, and McCain being at the Chip, which is just off the junction of Hwy 79 & 34.

The Commissoners also continually state that the noise does not effect the mountain, that there are no issues with these venues and the lude behavior and disrespect they bring out to the mountain. We spent this summer filming it, which will released in our upcoming documentary "On Sacred Ground", which is for the protection of sacred sites, including Bear Butte. We got all the choas, noise, lude behavior and traffic all on film. I offered to show it to them to prove these things DO exist, but they blankly stared at me with no response....surprise, surprise.

Keep in mind that Broken Spoke has also stated that they will be opening year round effective in 2009. Shoe stated yesterday, they are a business and do what it takes to keep the business going. It could be various motorcycle events or something else, they would not committ to their intentions.

For more info about the ongoing efforts to Protect Bear Butte, please visit our website(s) at www.protectsacredsites.org and www.protectbearbutte.com

Thank you!
Tamra

Meade commission OKs controversial liquor license
By Jason Gross, Meade County Times Wednesday, October 08, 2008
2 comment(s) .

Meade County commissioners unanimously approved transfer of a retail on-off sale liquor license Tuesday afternoon to Broken Spoke Campground LLC. The board also approved a new retail on-off sale malt beverage license for the campground company, Bear Butte Sunsets LLC Sturgis County Line LLC.

The 600-acre campground and saloon has operated during the Sturgis motorcycle rally in August. There are several other rally-related businesses in the S.D. Highway 79/34 area east of Sturgis.

Commissioners heard from three local residents who opposed the transfer and application. They focused on the establishments' proximity to Bear Butte, which many Native American tribes consider sacred, but others consider the state park scenic.

"By statute, we're limited to either approving or denying the transfer based on location and character," Commissioner Dean Wink said. He said the Broken Spoke's location, while controversial and much-discussed at previous hearings, is far enough away from Bear Butte to not interfere with spiritual rituals.

The Broken Spoke Campground itself is two miles from Bear Butte, and the company's property boundary is a mile from the landmark, company attorney Jim Seward said.

The overall operation is owned by Target Logistics of Boston. Wink said nothing in background checks on the company or its officers would keep the commissioners from granting approval.

Managing member David Schuh said he is one of four owners. He said that although former owner Jay Allen holds 30 percent ownership interest in the campground, he is not the managing member.

Seward told the commission that the liquor license transfer follows through on a promise that ownership would become centralized. He cited tax and business reasons that a limited liability corporation was needed.

"Obviously, we'll be back here in two months on our renewal, and back again and again," Seward said. "The county will always have the right to say no."

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/10/08/news/top/doc48ec40fac1b5f059691306.txt?show_comments=true#commentdiv



In peace & solidarity,
Tamra Brennan
Founder/Director
Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com

"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"

Sacred Natural Sites Unprotected Within Protected Areas

Sacred Natural Sites Unprotected Within Protected Areas
BARCELONA, Spain, October 7, 2008 (ENS) - A mountain, a spring, a cave, a grove of trees - thousands of sacred natural sites are at risk around the world although many are within formal protected areas, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature warned today, releasing a new set of guidelines for managers of these special areas at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona.

More than 8,000 of the world's decision makers in sustainable development: from governments, nongovernmental organizations, business, the United Nations and academia are gathered in Barcelona through October 14 for the World Conservation Congress, which happens only once every four years.

The guidelines are a contribution from the IUCN Task Force on the Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas and UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program to support the efforts of faith groups and indigenous and traditional peoples for the conservation of their sacred natural sites - areas of land or water that have special spiritual significance.


The San Francisco Peaks in Arizona's Coconino National Forest are sacred to at least a dozen Native Indian Tribes. (Photo credit unknown)
"Natural areas that are held to be sacred by peoples are found all across the Earth," the guidelines state. "This is a widespread phenomenon to be found in almost every country. There are considered to be many thousands of distinct belief systems around the globe and many have ethics related to conservation."

"IUCN has become a key player in the effort to protect sacred sites and holy lands of the planet,” says Gonzalo Oviedo, IUCN senior adviser on social policy.

"We run projects in the field with custodians of sacred places, we support them at the policy level, we advocate for their recognition and support and we promote better understanding of their values," said Oviedo.

Entitled, "Sacred Natural Sites - Guidelines for Protected Area Managers," the book focuses on recognizing, planning and managing sacred natural sites within and near protected areas.


Natural Park of Serra de Montsant, Catalonia, Spain (Photo courtesy Parks of Catalonia)
"Sacred natural sites can be the abode of deities, nature spirits and ancestors, or are associated with hermits, prophets, saints and visionary spiritual leaders," the guidelines state. "They can be feared or they can be benign. They can be areas for ceremony and contemplation, prayer and meditation."

There are now 108,000 protected areas worldwide encompassing 11.75 million square miles, an area greater than the African continent, but the definition and practice of protection is not uniform.

"It must be acknowledged," the guidelines admit, "that many protected areas have been superimposed over the traditional use areas of local communities, indigenous and traditional peoples, and mainstream faiths. In setting up protected areas around the world, the values and importance of sacred places and traditional uses have often been ignored, thus affecting the fundamental rights of local cultures."


Grave markers in one of the sacred kaya forests of the Mijikenda tribes of Kenya. (Photo courtesy UNEP)
Indigenous peoples have been excluded or forcibly removed from their traditional territories and separated from the sacred natural sites they have cared for generations.

"This situation, sometimes based on opposing world views, has many times led to conflict and mistrust, and created obstacles to the development of constructive relationships and cooperation between indigenous or traditional peoples, local communities, faith groups and conservation agencies," the guidelines say.

The 44 guidelines and 16 case studies from around the world focus primarily on the sacred places of indigenous communities, yet they also are relevant for the sacred sites of mainstream faiths.

"From the ground up, working from place to place, we are building bridges with custodians of sacred lands of indigenous and traditional peoples as well as of religious and monastic communities,” said Oviedo.

"Alliances between many such groups and conservation are based on strong common values and a shared commitment for the planet," he said.

The guidelines were first drafted at an international workshop held in Kunming, China in 2003.

They were extensively discussed and revised at the World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa in 2003, and at the International Symposium on Conserving Cultural and Biological Diversity: The Role of Sacred Natural Sites and Cultural Landscapes, in Tokyo, Japan in 2005. Then they were restructured and supporting material was added to achieve their current format.

After four years of field testing they will be re-evaluated and revised.

Around the world there is growing interest in, and recognition of the importance of, sacred natural sites as critical elements to both biological and cultural preservation, in view of the accelerating loss of biocultural diversity as an unintended by-product of globalization, the IUCN said today.

At the Congress, four workshops will discuss enhancements to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. They will consider the role of UNESCO World Heritage sites in supporting management effectiveness, tourism and biodiversity conservation within protected areas. Side meetings will focus on World Heritage marine sites and cultural landscapes.

To view the new guidelines, click here.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2008/2008-10-07-01.asp

Chief's descendant calls for bluffland preservation

Chief's descendant calls for bluffland preservation
10/6/2008 11:00:48 AM
By John Weiss

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

ELBA -- The descendant of the Sioux chief whose people had their summer camp at Winona has called on those living there now to preserve the blufflands overlooking the city.

Leonard Wabasha, culture resources director for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, said he was asked by a group that is pushing for preserving blufftops from overdevelopment to put his thoughts in a letter. After his talk to students Friday at Whitewater State Park, he also talked about his people and his concern about preserving the bluffs.

His worry isn't so much for aesthetics but more about preservation of his people's burial mounds. Many of the mounds are on the crest of bluffs, the area groups are pushing to keep from being developed for houses.

Some part of his letter are:

• "From time immemorial, when the river valley was pure and pristine oak savanna, my people have lived here and along this great river we once called Wakpa Tanka. Everything we needed to survive and live life was and is still here."

• "But this land represents more than survival, it also represents an afterlife." They would gather bones of the dead and put them in mounds. "These mounds were placed overlooking the landscape, as is the case here along this river, on top of these bluffs. There are many mounds and many of them are undetectable. And so you see, these bluffs carry more than great beauty, they carry and protect the remains of our deceased."

Wabasha's fear is that the fighting over development is negative. Not only does that development not respect the dead of his people, but it also hurts the beauty of the land, he says.

He isn't trying to push himself into the bluff debate and hasn't given any proposals for preserving them. But he would like to see something put into writing. "I would like to see something more concrete than what is there," he said. There should be limits on the desecration of the pristine landscape.

Such a move would not only be good for those living there today but for those who lived there in the past, Wabasha said. "It's for the good of the whole," he said.

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=364950

Bear Butte ~ Rounds disappointed with tone of opposition

Rounds disappointed with tone of opposition
Seth Tupper , The Daily Republic
Published: 10/04/2008

Gov. Mike Rounds thinks antipathy toward American Indians may be complicating efforts to secure a protective easement near Bear Butte.

Rounds said in a recent phone interview with The Daily Republic that he has been disappointed by the tone of some of the opposition to the proposal.

“I don’t mind a good discussion about the economies or a discussion about the budget on a program or a discussion that’s based on whether or not it’s a good idea to protect parkland,” Rounds said. “But it really boiled down to, ‘You’re doing this for the Indians.’ And you know what? That kind of turns my stomach to have that become part of the debate.

“We shouldn’t be having a debate like that. We should be having a debate about whether or not this is good for South Dakotans in general, regardless of their race, and sometimes I think this has kind of turned a little bit in that respect.”

Rounds declined to identify the specific people or groups to which he attributed those attitudes.

Last winter, Rounds proposed spending $250,000 in state money to help fund an easement that would prevent development on land near Bear Butte, some of which already is protected by a state park designation. Legislators rejected the proposal, and some restated their opposition last week during a meeting of the Legislature’s Department of Game, Fish and Parks Review Committee.

When asked if he thinks racism is derailing the easement proposal, Rounds said “I don’t think there’s anybody in South Dakota that wouldn’t agree with the fact that racism still exists in South Dakota, and if we try to walk away and suggest that racism does not exist, we’re just hiding from it.”

“But once again, just because someone might disagree with my approach does not mean that they are a racist,” he continued. “There are folks that truly just believe the state shouldn’t buy more land, and I respect that. I disagree with it, but I respect it.”

http://www.northlandoutdoors.com/index_articles.cfm?id=29396&property_id=4

UC-Berkeley tree protest closes with ceremony

UC-Berkeley tree protest closes with ceremony
By Shadi Rahimi, Today correspondent

Story Published: Oct 3, 2008

BERKELEY, Calif. – After 649 days perched atop a redwood, the last tree-sitters surrendered their protest of University of California – Berkeley’s plan to chop down a tree grove to build a sports training center.

The world watched. As did such activists as Morning Star Gali, a Pit River member and community activist, with sadness and regret. It was not how she had hoped the standoff to end.

Gali and other Natives had been trying to negotiate with university officials. The old-growth tree grove was also the site of an Ohlone burial ground where UC-Berkeley anthropologists have documented evidence of two shell mound sites that contained 18 human remains.

The university is already a hotbed of contention among local Native tribes for continuing to house more than 17,000 sacred remains and objects in what Native groups charge is noncompliance of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

After 21 months living in redwood, oak and other trees, the last four tree-sitters had agreed to come down if university officials would include the community in future land-use decisions.

The tree-sitters had asked the university to donate $6 million to environmental and Native groups and provide Natives the stump from the 200-year-old “Grandmother Tree” in the 1.2-acre grove so that they could make a drum. But officials withdrew the offer of the stump after the tree-sitters descended, Gali said, and denied Natives access to the grove for prayer.

The university’s actions “are in violation of international law. The U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that indigenous people have the right to free, prior and informed consent before any actions are taken with regard to sacred lands,” Gali said.

A day before the Sept. 9 surrender, scaffolding was installed to reach the platform just beneath the 80-foot treetop, making it impossible for the tree-sitters to elude police or resist arrest.

The press widely reported the tree-sitters peacefully and voluntarily climbed down from the last remaining tree of 42 redwoods, oaks and other trees in the grove after four hours of negotiations with UC Police Chief Victoria Harrison. She spoke from inside a basket on a 200-foot-tall crane.

But Gali claims the police used Native demands as a bargaining chip and lied to the tree-sitters about the negotiations taking place on the ground. As 500 onlookers watched, the tree-sitters were arrested on misdemeanor charges of trespassing, violating a court order and illegal lodging.

“We’ve inspired millions of people around the globe,” said Ayr, one of the tree-sitters’ ground supporters, who camped out across the street. “We can hold our head high. But also, it is a loss.”

The protest and lawsuits had delayed the university’s construction of the $124 million center by two years. The tree-sitting protest began Dec. 1, 2006, when Native activist Zachary Running Wolf and a woman climbed into two oaks before the Cal-Stanford Big Game to protect the grove’s trees from being chopped down to build the athletic training center.

What followed was one of the longest tree-sits ever, with at one time more than a dozen people living atop ancient oak and redwood trees. They would slide on ropes between the trees and cook on camping stoves in their tree houses. Supporters slept on mattresses lined across the street.

A round table with a green cloth umbrella became the Treesit Café, “The real free speech café,” activists declared in blue paint on a piece of cardboard. Another long table became a booth where activists hung clipped newspaper photographs and placed books and protest materials, and where supporters left behind bags of bread and other donations and supplies.

An environmental group, the city of Berkeley and local residents filed lawsuits Dec. 20, 2006, alleging the project was not seismically safe because of its proximity to the Hayward Fault. In July, after an Alameda County superior court judge ruled mostly in the university’s favor, UC police began arresting tree-sitters.

Four protestors remained on a redwood. A state appeals court denied the plaintiffs’ request to delay construction Sept. 4 and the UC cut down 40 trees in the three days that followed. Negotiations between university officials and the tree-sitters failed. On Sept. 5, provisions of water and energy bars were cut off by police.

During a prayer ceremony Sept. 7, a man was arrested and Gali said she was “violently assaulted while holding my 2-month-old” as she laid tobacco beneath the tree. She said she was served an injunction notice and warned to no longer participate in supporting the treesit.

The day the last four tree-sitters climbed down from one of only two trees still standing near the stadium, the university chopped the ancient redwood down. The act brought visible relief to some Cal football fans and athletes. Some people even cheered as chainsaws tore down its branches.

But environmentalists and Natives mourned, burning sage in prayer and drumming. Five people were arrested for charges that included blocking traffic and battery on a peace officer.

After initially being denied permission by university officials, Gali, a dozen supporters and some tree-sitters held a ceremony two days later. She brought her baby son in an act of defiance after also being threatened by police with a call to Child Protective Services, she said.

Only 10 people were allowed inside the fenced area next to Memorial Stadium, where they formed a half-circle around the stump of Grandmother Tree, its roots still deep beneath
the ground.

The dozen supporters who were denied access stood in front of the double set of chain-link fence on a patch of concrete, praying with the group. Afterward, the 10 joined the others to form a circle outside the fence, passing around a ceremonial staff as Miwok elder Wounded Knee De Ocampo spoke.

“This is our country,” he said. “We had that, before they came here.”

They departed with handshakes and hugs that gloomy, gray morning, after sharing news of upcoming protests and vowing to continue pushing for environmental and tribal rights.

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/30292149.html

Tribal historic preservation officers lay out priorities for new administration

Tribal historic preservation officers lay out priorities for new administration
By Rob Capriccioso

Story Published: Oct 3, 2008

Story Updated: Oct 3, 2008

WASHINGTON – In a pre-emptive strike of sorts, the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers has laid out five key priorities for the next presidential administration, aimed at strengthening tribal historic preservation efforts.

They include:

• Supporting adequate federal funding for cultural preservation involving the Tribal Historic Preservation Officers program; tribal museums and cultural centers; grants to assist tribes with Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act activities; Native language preservation and rejuvenation; and sacred site protection;

• Helping achieve full voting membership for NATHPO on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation;

• Collaborating with NATHPO to conduct a national study to examine the actual needs and challenges facing Indian country’s cultural preservation;

• Implementing recommendations of the NATHPO-Makah report, released in August, which found that the National Park Service has used more than $3 million in tribal grants for purposes not covered by NAGPRA (It also found that several federal agencies, including the Park Service itself, have withdrawn public notices that tie held remains and objects to contemporary Natives); and

• Enhancing and promoting Native voices in all aspects of historic preservation at all levels of government.

The priorities were adopted Sept. 24 at the 10th annual meeting of the organization.

“Every day, Indian country fights for cultural and historical survival,” said NATHPO President D. Bambi Kraus. “There are many forces that are tearing apart our communities and families and disenfranchising us from our homelands, our ancestors, our sacred objects and places, and our unique way of living on this earth. Our priorities reflect our experiences of the past 10 years and we look forward to working with the next administration to support and recognize our unique cultures and contributions as Native people.”

“It’s very important that our tribal preservation concerns get the attention they deserve,” said Alan Downer, a tribal historic preservation officer for the Navajo Nation who helped develop the proposal.

He noted that tribal preservation concerns became part of the federal policy table relatively recently, with some laws in this arena coming into existence in just the last two decades.

“We participate in the federal system as sort of the poor stepchild,” he assessed. “That’s not going to change without considerable attention from the [next presidential] administration.”

Already, advisers with both campaigns of the major presidential candidates have said that Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are ready to take proactive oversight steps on federal preservation and cultural efforts involving tribes.

At a Sept. 23 NATHPO reception, both Loretta Tuell, an adviser to Obama’s camp, and Jana McKeag, co-chair of the American Indians for McCain Coalition, said their candidates want to make sure that cultural preservation is happening as it should in accordance with federal law.

Downer said he was happy to learn that both candidates want to take positive steps, but he noted that promises made during campaigns are often difficult to see implemented, especially for tribes.

“Once they get in office, they have 100,000 voices asking them for attention. And the bulk of money ends up going to federal and state interests – they definitely need more encouragement from tribal interests.”

Attention from the presidential campaign advisers is just one indication that tribal cultural preservation may play a heightened role in coming years on the federal level.

In recent days, leaders of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs told Indian Country Today that they support a federal investigation aimed at strengthening the implementation of NAGPRA.

As of late September, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was set to call for a report and study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office to explore federal government compliance and enforcement of the law. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, expressed strong support for the action.

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com:80/national/30284139.html