May 20, 2012 at 5:58 pm (art, culture, education, environment, life, nature, photography, random, Uncategorized, Writing)
Tags: art, business, carbon, culture, Economy, education, environment, funds, Green, land, life, nature, people, pollution, random, reclaimed, sponge, trees
The first name I gave the land was DREAMLAND, I still get my phone-bills from the PhoneCo-op addressed to DREAMLAND. It sure was and still is a dream to have this land and to make it into something very special. An example of how nature can go together with culture, no need to choose one or the other but have both.
April 27, 2012 at 8:40 pm (art, culture, education, environment, ethics, history, Indigenous People, journalism, life, Native Americans, nature, photography, politics, random, religion, Uncategorized)
Tags: "Water", art, AZ, Belonging to the Land, Ben Nuvamsa, Bonnie Jean Canyon, cover, culture, defiance, design, Donovan, education, environment, Facebook, Fort, Fort Defiance, history, Hopi, HR 4067, independent, Indigenous, Izilwane, journalism, legal, letters, life, meeting, nature, Navajo, Navajo Truth, news, Our Water Rights, people, Pete, Petition, photograph, photography, police, politics, religion, Renaldo Chapman, rights, SB 2109, SignOn. org, video, Writing, Zoe Kransey
Click image designed by Donovan Pete to use as cover on facebook.
Regarding Fort Defiance meeting to discuss SB 2109:
Posted on Navajo Truth SB 2109 facebook page along with the photos, links, observations and thoughts of many other people. http://www.facebook.com/#!/navajotruth
via Bonnie Jean Canyon:
The police presence at the Fort Defiance meeting was intense and intimidating. This was mentioned by more than one person when the public was allowed to address the NNVP and other officials. I feel it was uncalled for and excessive. Im still trying to figure out why they also needed 2 or 3 fire trucks and also 3-4 ambulances? They must know already just how strongly the people are opposed to this? All the emergency response vehicals took up so much space it was very difficult to find parking. There was a pretty good turn out but it was after 5 that people started showing up even though the meeting started at 4 and Im assuming its because most work until 5. They ran out of chairs and many remained standing for most of the meeting. I feel the power point slide show they presented was meant to sell the bill more than it was to educate and inform. The people present strongly opposed the bill and many who wished to voice their concerns and ask questions were not allowed to speak. I was very happy to see young people in attendence including 2 that came all the way from Phoenix to speak and also a student from Dine College. At least 3 people spoke up towards the end and called out to the NNVP that they had not been allowed to speak. Once again proof that more forums are needed and also that more time should have been given to the public to speak and ask questions. It seems that most feel, that despite the claims of all the uncertainties of letigation, most would rather continue the fight for water claims in court than to waive them and settle.
Photo from Renaldo Chapman–on Navajo Truth SB 2109 facebook–Security at Fort Defiance meeting.
For some insight into the land, people, history and political economics involved in this issue consider this article at – Izilwane –Connecting the human animal to theglobal ecosystem–
“Belonging to the Land, Part One: The Elders of Black Mesa” by Zoe Kransey
http://www.izilwane.org/belonging-to-the-land-part-one-the-elders-of-black-mesa.html
“Part Two: Big Mountain”
http://www.izilwane.org/belonging-to-the-land-part-two.html
“Part Three: We’re Still Here.”
http://www.izilwane.org/belonging-to-the-land-part-three-were-still-here.html
Our Water Rights has a hard copy letter writing campaign underway. For information on SB 2109 and HR 4067, and the addresses for snail mail visit www.ourwaterrights.org
SignOn.org petition to Stop SB 2109 http://signon.org/sign/tell-arizona-senators.fb9?source=s.fb&r_by=4272644
note: This information, quotes, photos, etc has been posted with prior permission-agreement with Navajo Truth in order to share information.
April 27, 2012 at 5:24 pm (art, culture, education, environment, ethics, exploring interconnectedness, food, history, Indigenous People, life, Native Americans, nature, politics, random, religion)
Tags: "Water", 2012, 28, April, art, AZ, culture, event, Flagstaff, food, history, Hopi, human rights, Indians, Indigenous, March, Native Americans, Navajo, Navajo Truth, news, people, politics, poster, rally, random life, religion, rights, SB 2109, Stop SB 2109
Click poster for more images at Navajo Truth SB 2109 on facebook.
Now this is what an alliance looks like. Take note of all the interconnected issues and groups involved in this event. Some people are getting together for mutual support. Something tells me this sort of bridge building is not taught in The Huppenthal Mind Control School Plan. But taking an axe to the Ethnic Studies programs in the state of Arizona sure might have thrown some serious fuel on this bonfire. Protecting Mother Earth is everyone’s common ground. Unless, of course, you’re McCain, Kyl, a Bush, BP, Shell, Chevron, Trans-Canada, Canadian PM Harper, Kinder-Morgan, Enbridge, Palin — whatever will it take to wake these folks up? Oil spills inside their homes? Mandatory gas masks for everyone? Water rationing?
Not in Arizona? Then spread the news cause I don’t think this rally will be aired on CNN, ABC, NBC or Fox news unless it’s a 5 second soundbite IF the police crack open some pepper spray.
April 22, 2012 at 9:51 pm (politics, culture, life, art, Indigenous People, photography, environment, random, ethics, exploring interconnectedness, nature, religion)
Tags: culture, politics, people, life, random, photography, nature, Ecuador, Earth, Haskell, video, Indigenous, Mother, network, law, Painted Hills, rights, interconnectedness, Conference, forests, day, Tar Sands, April, Environmental, Pachamama, Alliance, Patricia, Gualinga, Montalvo, spritual, Living Forests, Allies, Nature Conservancy, picnic, Sarayaku, IEN, Legalizing Rights of Mother Earth
Painted Hills, Grey @ eva wojcik
Earth Day musing: Yes, that little dark streak near the top is a human. We are much like ants on Earth. Unfortunately in many ways we’re lethal ants destroying everything in our path.
For those of you suffering from limited attention spans please do not let the length of this video deter you from hearing Patricia’s speech given at the Indigenous Environmental Network Conference on the Rights of Mother Earth Restoring Indigenous Life Ways of Responsibility and Respect. There are several important things well worth learning in her speech and replies to questions. One very significant element is how a village of 1,200 has developed international alliances for support of all kinds. I think it’s an art many others need to foster in their own communities. We need to make the most of our common ground in order to protect Earth. Respect, support, communication, tolerance for our differences are not easy to acquire. If the only thing we have in common is a love for Mother Earth–then we better make the most of it. Unlike the Nature Conservancy I think we need to do a great deal more than enjoy picnics outside in order to ‘celebrate’ Earth Day. The Tar Sands operation is just one hard harsh reality we need to face head on. Now, when it’s possible to picnic on the Tar Sands site then that would be something to celebrate indeed. We’re a long long way from that picnic. Presently I don’t think we’d be welcome at the Tar Sands site unless our baskets contained a few tons of solid gold currency.
Pachamama Alliance on fb https://www.facebook.com/PachamamaAlliance
Pachamama Alliance website http://pachamama.org/
April 18, 2012 at 6:07 pm (art, creative writing, culture, entertainment, environment, food, history, humor, Indigenous People, journalism, life, Native Americans, photography, politics, random, Uncategorized, Writing)
Tags: culture, history, politics, food, news, people, life, Writing, journalism, random, photography, creative writing, text, Issues, "Water", rant, rights, Petition, McCain, vent, AZ, Navajo, Hopi, Senate Bill, SB 2109, Kyl, Black Mesa Water Coalition, Little Colorado River, Anne Minard, Native News Network, Jihan Gearon, quote, change.org, Indian Country Today Media Network
RANT ALERT! Forewarning–feel free to skip the first paragraph vent if you’re easily offended by ranting that does not bother with being politically correct. Thank you for your patience, forbearance and understanding.
Ever find your patience dramatically challenged by the inability to read or comprehend the written text? Sometimes this is the result of a language barrier. Sometimes it’s the result of fatigue. Sometimes it’s the result of a cultural divide. Sometimes it’s the result of misunderstanding a word or phrase. Sometimes it’s just plain poor reading comprehension skills. Sometimes it results from psychological triggers unexpectedly being set off by a word or phrase. Sometimes it’s just plain ignorance. Sometimes it’s the result of stupidity–yes stupidity for lack of a more accurate politically correct word. Sometimes it’s the result of a mental or physical illness (I suspect my brother’s inability to comprehend simple rational concepts in English is the result of the former rather than the later impairment as he seems to be functioning on the physical level. But I could be wrong about this conclusion. A coin flip could decide the issue better than I. But it won’t stop me from sending him a visit from a straightjacket brigade when I have the funds to do so.) Sometimes it’s the result of a cunning plan to mislead and dissuade folks from realizing one’s intentions. Sometimes it’s just the nature of legal documents. I could go on with these “Sometimes” but I will spare you such speculations. But do feel free to share your own insights and expand my perspective by doing so.
Oh and let me attempt to make one thing very clear— I do NOT support passage of SB 2109. Second clarification: Links are to petitions to STOP SB 2109– NOT in support of it. Are we all chill now? If this is in any way still unclear– polite and civil requests for clarification will be politely and civilly answered to the best of my ability to do so.
The following is basically a list of some items of interest regarding the continuing saga of SB 2109 which involves a deviously ambiguously constructed senate bill introduced by Senator Jon Kyl and Senator John McCain of Arizona. Reading the full text of the bill might drive you over the edge with its definitions and legalese language. Have your favorite painkiller/food comfort readily available as you explore the contents. I needed two rounds of ibuprofen, more coffee than normally consumed and a quantity of dark chocolate that I will not divulge in order to wade through the damn thing. Yes, I do believe it was written to be confusing and hard to understand–deliberately. That’s right deliberately written for difficult reading. And that makes the easily comprehensible sections even more suspect in my paranoid brainpan. Gee, there’s a reason for writing that way–usually it’s to hide things in plain sight. O yes, asses need to be covered legally and writing such as this is great for covering asses like McCain and Kyl. I am so glad I am NOT a journalist with aspirations of total objectivity. I’d fail utterly as I am well aware of my limitations in this regard. But I’m not a reporter or journalist—soooooo ON with this blog show!
Virtual comfort food compliments of Yi-Ching Lin photography at http://yichinglin.com/2012/04/12/sweet-potato-pie/ Beware– Yi-Ching has a flare for food photos.
Follow whatever catches your interest. Thank you for visiting my blogcasa.
Following excerpt from Anne Minard’s article at Indian Country Today Media Network. In depth piece complete with decent map and some very wishy-washy verbal moves by the likes of Stanley Pollack. Gee, I wonder what motivates folks to write hard to comprehend legislature? Could it be in order to make it harder for people to comprehend and therefore oppose such legislation? OO never! (sarcasm).
Senator Kyl acknowledges in a public video about the bill that, “Legally, the Navajo Nation and Hopi tribe may assert claims to larger quantities of water [than are outlined in the settlement] but … they do not have the means to make use of those supplies in a safe and productive manner. “
Becenti disputes that. “In reality we do have a lot of water projects that we were talking about 30 years ago,” he said. “But every time we approach the United States government to approve them, they won’t.”
And Jihan Gearon, executive director of the Black Mesa Water Coalition, says the provisions that help shore up the future of the Navajo Generating Station are a direct affront to her group’s efforts to build renewable energy capacity across the reservation.
“As an organization, our goal is to shut down the Navajo Generating Station and transition to renewable energy development,” she said. The settlement, on the other hand, appears to be “part of this big strategy to keep the Navajo Generating Station going at the lowest possible cost. These things that they’re stipulating have nothing to do with who should be offered which water. Instead, they support unsustainable development that’s happening in northern Arizona
Read more:http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/04/14/little-colorado-water-rights-bill-met-with-protests-from-navajo-and-hopi-communities-108320 http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/04/14/little-colorado-water-rights-bill-met-with-protests-from-navajo-and-hopi-communities-108320#ixzz1sPGN2xcx
Link to petition at change.org U.S. Senate Remove S 2109 from consideration. This petition currently has 7,794 signatures of 10,000 goal.
http://www.change.org/petitions/u-s-senate-remove-s-2109-from-consideration
Link to full text of SB 2109 Navajo-Hope Little Colorado River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2012 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s2109/text
Link to the Native News Network http://www.nativenewsnetwork.com/ and link to Senate Bill 2109 Seeks to Extinguish Navajo Hopi Water Rigths by Ed Beccenti http://www.nativenewsnetwork.com/senate-bill-2109-seeks-to-extinguish-navajo-and-hopi-water-rights.html
Link to Native News Network on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/navajotruth/posts/388536937846648#!/nativenewsnetwork
Via Native News Network: People being turned away from meeting at Tuba City Charter Hall due to room for only 200 inside. Speakers were set up outside for those not able to enter. Click photo to visit Native News Network site. Apparently people were told to ask questions only in Navajo and some were not allowed to ask questions.
From National Native News:
The following is the schedule of public forums on the Little Colorado River Water Rights. All meetings are scheduled at 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the respective location indicated.
Take note that there are 110 Navajo communities–not just these 7 picked for meetings.
If you click on the colored sections of the map at the right of the page it will pull up the communities in each area – http://www.nndcd.org/
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/navajo-hopi-arizona-map/
Navajo Nation link for Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo_Nation
Navajo Nation Government site link http://www.navajo-nsn.gov/ Go on visit and put faces with some names.
Climate Connections’ link to KPFK Earth segment with Jihn Gearon, Director of Black Mesa Water Coalition http://climate-connections.org/2012/04/12/kpfk-earth-segment-jihan-gearon-director-of-black-mesa-water-coalition-on-proposed-arizona-legislation-that-will-have-drastic-effects-on-native-lands-and-the-region/
Beyond the Mesas link for Hopi statements http://beyondthemesas.com/tag/hopi/
O I am so sorry if we’re NOT having fun yet. Some days just don’t cooperate. Virtual self face slap is in order as I am now annoying myself…….
Please do let me know if any links are broken or not working. Thank you.
Now I need one of those sweet potato yum yums. I don’t deserve it. Just want one.
April 14, 2012 at 6:24 pm (art, culture, education, environment, ethics, exploring interconnectedness, history, Independent film, Indigenous People, journalism, life, Native Americans, photography, politics, random, religion, Uncategorized)
Tags: "Water", art, Black Mesa Water Coalition, business, coal, culture, Dine, Economy, education, environment, exploring interconnectedness, girl, Green, history, Hopi, Independent film, Indigenous Environmental Network, jobs, justice, kiss, Mother Earth, nature, Navajo, news, Paper Rocket Productions, Peabody, people, photography, politics, random, religion, Roberto Nutlouis, sustainable, video, weaving
Video by Paper Rocket Productions LLC
Please meet some of the people who form the Black Mesa Water Coalition. Roberto Nutlouis and others attended the Indigenous Environmental Network Conference on the Rights of Mother Earth in April. They’re deep into water issues in Navajo and Hopi Country and creating Green businesses to support their traditional communities working to develop sustainable economies. Since they are a part of these communities they have a vested interest in their future. We are all a part of the community of Earth. So we are all connected. We are all related.
Learn more on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/blackmesawc/info
Have you kissed Mother Earth today?
Link to Navajo language page http://library.thinkquest.org/J002073F/thinkquest/Language.htm
December 11, 2011 at 9:04 pm (art, creative writing, culture, education, entertainment, ethics, exploring interconnectedness, history, Independent film, journalism, life, music, poetry, politics, random)
Tags: 2011, culture, Curly, Dame Street, December, Dublin, Economy, entertainment, events, Foreign Lands, Ireland, life, livestream, March, Matthew, music, news, Occupy, Occupy Public Spaces, Peadar, Philly, poetry, politics, protest, random, song, Spectacle of Defiance and Hope, spoken word, Temper Mental Miss, video, Wells Fargo
A continuing complaint about the Occupy Movement is lack of focus and vague demands. Apparently some folks are hearing impaired and have serious trouble reading. Maybe that’s due to the lackluster education system in America? Or is it selective hearing and intellectual denial? Indeed none of this fits well into 30 second mainstream news coverage soundbites. Probably because the issues are too big and complex and hence mainstream news mentality FAILS dramatically with anything requiring their attention beyond 5 minutes viewing span. It’s clear many people still think this movement is a ‘joke’ that will vanish with winter snows and freezing temperatures. Well, even if the symbolic tents do disappear via snow or police action–the people involved have not and they will not be invisible nor silent — even if corporate controlled mainstream media continues their puppet plays.
While much protest music has come from the past, for example, John Lennon’s “Imagine”, there are new songs being written too.
Recorded LIVE at Occupy Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland December 10, 2011 “Foreign Lands” by Matthew. Thanks to Liam of The Fingals channel, for the video.
To protest the recent Budget Cuts on the backs of the people who did not create the continually swelling economic disaster The Spectacle of Defiance and Hope filled Dame Street with scarlet in many forms–including spoken word.
Spectacle march and proclamation
Temper Mental Miss Elayneous held nothing back on December 3, 2011.
Confused? Maybe Curly can help clear up a concept or two.
If that doesn’t work maybe Peadar O hlci ‘s song “Occupy Public Spaces” will do the trick.
Recently a “pigeon” delivered a letter of Solidarity to Occupy Dame Street from Occupy Philly. So it seems fitting to connect this post about Occupy Dame Street with a tip of the tubes to Occupy Philly with their fierce Foreclosure of Wells Fargo on November 18, 2011. If this action had aired LIVE on any television station in Philly as it did on Livestream—how could anyone who suffered foreclosure in Philly not have joined Occupy Philly at Wells Fargo?
Oh yeah, they stayed! And look who WAS watching:
That’s not an American accent, is it? O my, Occupy unites the world?
December 10, 2011 at 10:50 pm (art, culture, education, entertainment, environment, ethics, exploring interconnectedness, history, journalism, life, politics, random)
Tags: Economy, events, history, independent, information, journalism, life, livestream, longshoremen, media, news, Oakland, Occupy, people, politics, port, random, shutdown, solidarity, video, west coast
Yes, folks this is for real. Port Shutdown is coming all along the entire West Coast of the USA. The mainstream media may decline to cover it. The city mayors may try to prevent it. No talking heads will announce it on your local news stations. But Occupy Oakland’s action in Solidarity with the Longshoremen has been agreed upon from Anchorage to LA and beyond. This major mic check direct action fully intends to fly.
Check Occupy Oakland’s livestream for coverage on Dec. 12. http://www.livestream.com/occupyoakland
November 5, 2011 at 7:58 pm (art, culture, education, entertainment, ethics, history, humor, Independent film, Indigenous People, life, movies, Native Americans, random, Uncategorized)
Tags: American, Cree, culture, documentary, education, entertainment, film, genocide, heritage, history, independent journalism, Indian Country Today, Indigenous, life, movies, Native, Native Ground, Neil Diamond, news, people, random, Reel Injun, Sundance, The Only Good Indian
It’s November and that means “official” Native American Heritage Month in the US of A. Folks it’s time to get down with the genocidal history of the United States of America. Before the Japanese were sent to camps for being Japanese in America, the Indigenous people were forced onto reservations which I consider prisons without walls. Genocide in America is ongoing to the present for Traditional Indigenous people who have endured the theft of their land and children and destruction of their culture for several hundred years. Columbus Day does not engender warm fuzzy memories for everyone now living in the Americas north, south and in between.
To kick off my observance of Native American Heritage month here are two trailers and clip from a new film, “Reel Injun” by Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond. Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/11/native-american-film-festival-highlights-history/
We all love movies, don’t we? Think about how films have formed your view of Native Americans and history. Consider how those often called “the losers” view the same events–and the portrayal in films. For those of you who adore the movie “Dances With Wolves” ask yourself why you like the film? And please think about why “the Only Good Indian” never got on the national movie theatre circuit in the United States of America. Yes, you can find it in parts on the tube of you. Time to get beyond stereotypes and into reality.
Show time…..
October 20, 2011 at 2:58 am (art, culture, education, ethics, history, Indigenous People, journalism, life, Native Americans, photography, politics, random)
Tags: 3.4 Billion, black and white photography, Cobell, education, Elouise, history, Indian Country Today, Indigenous, journalism, Karen Kuehn, Lawsuit, life, Mother Jones, Native Americans, news, people, photography, poltics, random
karuna ki wakan tanka lapis lazuli buddha
