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Blackfeet Man Jailed for Speaking Out, Hits Back Harder

Adrian Jawort, ICTMN

Never one to stray from saying what he really feels, Blackfeet tribal member Byron Farmer actually spent five days in a tribal jail in July for speaking out against his divided tribal government’s alleged corruption. Farmer, the de facto leader of the Blackfeet Against Corruption group, said he was arrested over free speech violations as not once did he threaten anyone in his BAC Facebook post stating about a proposed parade float: “We promise it will be exciting and make headlines worldwide. And we can tell you we are not planning anything violent or illegal so they (tribal council) will not be able to stop us.”

Although Farmer’s actions are protected under the 1968 Indian Civil Rights Act, locally the Blackfeet Tribe deemed it a violation of the Blackfeet Ordinance 67 which protects council members against libelous “or misleading statements meant to harm, injure, discredit” them. Farmer’s attorney, David Gordon, writes, “They’re basically saying if you criticize the tribal council you’re going to go to jail and that’s frightening.”

Indian Country Today Media Network caught up with the always fiery Farmer to see what good jail did to him.

Was being arrested and jailed for five days over a free speech issue worth it?

I didn’t much like it. Our jails aren’t country clubs. I am a big guy so was never in danger, but I have to admit I was very angry. It was hardest on my family, but they understood the importance of BAC’s mission. But yeah, it did a firestorm of good. My five days in jail brought BAC millions of dollars in free national coast-to-cost advertising about what’s going on in our home. My arrest was the trigger that finally swung around the big national media spotlight to shine right on the Blackfeet Reservation, where it caught tribal leadership speechless, embarrassed, and scurrying. Ever since then the Blackfeet Tribal Council has been on the defensive and under non-stop media and legal pressure.

Where you surprised about the firestorm your arrest caused?

Americans may not understand the mysterious inner workings of Indian country, but they sure as hell understand what free speech is. So the national media immediately jumped on the news and printed my Facebook postings that triggered my imprisonment. Americans read my tame, innocuous comments and couldn’t believe that that sort of clearly Constitutionally-protected speech aimed at elected leaders could result in an arrest, let alone jail in America. People everywhere were really bewildered and angry and that fueled more media coverage. But I would have gladly done five months if that’s what it took to wake up the world to what is going on here.

What do you think of emerging as the BAC de facto leader?

I am not the leader of BAC, I am just one of many right-thinking Blackfeet that have been trying for years to push back the tidal wave of corruption that has engulfed the Blackfeet Tribe. Events and momentum may be on our side now, but for years we felt like tiny voices in the wilderness constantly being threatened and attacked. The reason my name is out there are four things that make my role possible. First, I live in Great Falls, beyond the reach of the BTBC and Tribal Police – I was on the reservation visiting family when they arrested me, so apparently they were waiting for me. Second, I am willing to loudly and relentlessly speak out, come what may. Third, neither I nor my immediate family depends on the tribe for a paycheck so they can’t use their favorite weapon – firing people – on me. Fourth, over time whistle blowers have come to trust me and BAC as a reliable, confidential outlet for things they want other Blackfeet to know. So, as anyone can see from BAC’s Facebook page, my inbox gets the goods almost every day and I never reveal my sources.

Most have to keep a low profile so they don’t lose their jobs or face other retaliation from the BTBC. Second, BAC doesn’t take credit for any of the good stuff that has been happening lately such as the indictments. All we do is keep up constant intense pressure on the bad guys with a steady drumbeat of reliable news, analysis, predictions, inside scoops, and the publishing of documents the BTBC want kept secret. Third, BAC will never give up and we have lots more to do.

Lushootseed Family nights

Students made hand trees as the craft activity for the night as plans were made for future Family Nights. Photo by Monica Brown

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News Writer

Lushootseed Family Nights are back for the next eight weeks and the language department is inviting anyone with the desire to learn the Lushootseed language to attend. This season’s first meeting took place at the Tulalip administration building on Wednesday, Nov 20^th and was organized to gaing ideas from students for the upcoming activities and lessons.

“We call ourselves language warriors and anyone who comes to help out is a language warrior too,” said Natosha Gobin during Wednesday’s family night. Family night events have been taking place since the early 90’s and are gaining momentum as more children and adults become dedicated to learning the language.

Lushootseed Family Nights provide the opportunity to learn the language in a comfortable and open environment. Photo by Monica Brown

Lessons teach basic phrases, words, songs and prayers that can be used in everyday conversations. All lessons and materials are provided at no charge and are open to anyone interested in attending. At the first two meetings, dinner is provided by the department but the following meetings will be potluck dinners. Future Family Nights will be held at Tulalip Hibulb on Wednesdays from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, regular attendance is not required.

Fall Lushootseed Family Nights Schedule

November 20, 27

December 4, 11, 18

January 8, 15, 22, 29

Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center is located at 6410 23rd Ave NE, Tulalip, WA 98271. For more information, please contact: Natosha Gobin ngobin@tulaliptribes-.gov 360-716-4499.

Simple words, phrases, songs, prayers that can be used in everyday conversation are taught during Lushootseed Family Nights. Photo by Monica Brown

Sweat Lodge Homicides Remorse: James Arthur Ray Says He Was Arrogant

Source: Indian Country Today Media Network

James Arthur Ray, the purported self-help guru who led a “Spiritual Warrior” weekend retreat outside Sedona, Arizona in October 2009 at the tune of nearly copy0,000 per participant that claimed three lives and hospitalized 18, is still remorseful, he told CNN’s Piers Morgan on Monday, November 25, months after his July 12, 2013, state prison release.

RELATED: James Arthur Ray Found Guilty of Negligent Homicide

Two Years for James Arhur Ray, Is It Enough?

Self-Help Shamster Behind Sweat-Lodge Homicides Released From Prison

“If I could trade places with any of the three, James, Kirby or Liz, I would do it,” Ray said.

Ray was found guilty of three counts of negligent homicide on June 20, 2011, and was sentenced to two years—concurrent sentences for each of the deaths. He was required to fulfill at least 85 percent of the term (20 months) and was ordered to pay $57,000 in restitution to the victims’ families

During the CNN interview, the 56-year-old author and former entrepreneur expressed anguish over his leadership of a sweat lodge ceremony that killed 38-year-old Kirby Brown of Westtown, New York, 40-year old James Shore of Milwaukee, and 49-year-old Lizbeth Marie Neuman of Prior Lake, Minnesota.

“I think the most difficult thing I can ever imagine is investing your entire life in helping people, and then finding them getting hurt,” Ray told Morgan. “It’s just the antithesis of anything that I had ever stood for or wanted. And so that anguish has continued every single day since that moment.”

According to prosecutors, participants in Ray’s spiritual retreat suffered dehydration and heatstroke at the hands of Ray’s urging them to remain in the sweltering sweat lodge without food or water for hours on end. Participants testified that they were told they would symbolically die and then be reborn in the sweat lodge ritual, CNN reported, and that Ray scolded them to overcome their weakness and stay inside. The 18 people who were hospitalized endured burns, respiratory arrest, kidney failure, loss of consciousness and dehydration. Several witnesses recounted people collapsing, vomiting, violently shaking and experiencing delusions. They contended Ray heard and ignored the concerns.

“Was I arrogant? Yes. I have that characteristic, I can be arrogant,” Ray told CNN’s Morgan. “And I think there’s a lot of hubris that comes in my former business. You know, people flying all over the world and asking me how to have a better life,” he said. “It tends to go to your head. You know? You tend to think you’ve got all the answers, and so you get humbled.”

Under his sentence, Ray is not barred from conducting self-help seminars or sweat lodge ceremonies. Family members of the victims have promised to monitor Ray should he try to reestablish his empire, CNN reported, but Ray says he has no intentions of trying to salvage his self-help business.

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/11/26/james-arthur-ray-admits-arrogance-expresses-anguish-sweat-lodge-homicides-152448

Lucille Echohawk to Hold Holiday Family Fundraiser in Nation’s Capital

By Rob Caprioccioso, Indian Country Today Media Network

Lucille Echohawk, executive director of the Denver Indian Family Resource Center (DIFRC), found herself this holiday season needing to be in Washington, D.C. for a board meeting of the National Museum of the American Indian, so she decided to turn the trip into a chance to do good for vulnerable Native children and their families.

“My travel was already paid for, so I couldn’t resist using the visit to D.C. to help raise awareness of our cause and to raise some funds for our work,” Echohawk said. “I’m very excited to rub shoulders with some old friends and to meet many new ones.”

Echohawk, a Pawnee Nation citizen and longtime Indian and tribal advocate, has been director of the DFIRC for about a year now. The organization was founded in early 2000 as a child welfare agency focused on meeting the needs of Indian children and families in the Denver area.

RELATED: Lucille Echohawk’s ‘Big Vision’: To Strengthen Communication Between Denver and Tribes

Echohawk said the goal of DFIRC is to assist families to avoid involvement with the child welfare system and to support and advocate for families already involved by offering services that build up the strength of Indian families. She said, too, that it provides assistance for other organizations who would like to do the same.

“Our practice model is in place for anyone who needs to use it,” said Echohawk, who added that she is so grateful to be able to be helping others. She’s long been committed to doing so, but it took on a renewed meaning for her after a scary experience last year when she was doing a water aerobics class at the local YMCA and her heart stopped. Since her recovery, those who are close to her say she has been even more enthusiastic and happy in both her life and work.

Still, there are challenges. Being the director of the non-profit organization in times of dwindling private and federal support requires constant outreach and fundraising, said Echohawk, who formerly worked several years for Casey Family Programs as a senior Indian Child Welfare Act specialist and strategic advisor.

“It’s a lot of work, especially in this funding climate, but we are doing it for the children and families who need the most help,” she said.

But she is not deterred. Having worked in D.C. in the 1970s and having many family members who have been involved in the world of politics – including the retired Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk at the Department of the Interior – she started listing names of folks she knows in Washington. She soon had an impressive list of invitees—some of whom turned out to want to help out as hosts and donors. LaDonna Harris soon helped make some connections, and fellow women warriors, like Kimberly Craven, Shannon Finley, and Rebecca Adamson were quick to follow suit, with longtime Indian advocate Ed Gabriel signing on to be committee chair. Invites have since gone out to many Indian-focused officials across Washington.

“Everyone has been so nice in helping out,” Echohawk said, noting this is the first time the organization has held an event of this nature outside of the Denver metropolitan area. “It shows how committed they are to caring for Indian children and youth.”

The reception, which Echohawk hopes will attract at least 50 guests with a suggested donation of $200, will be held at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse in downtown D.C. on December 2. To those who may be interested in attending, she suggested they contact staffer Diane Waters at dwaters@difrc.org.

Besides offering the opportunity to connect with Echohawk and friends, the event will feature a silent auction with the chance to purchase artwork by Navajo artist Pabilta Abeyta, Taos designer and Project Runway finalist Patricia Michaels, Pawnee/Ojibwe artist Raymond Nordwall, Crow artist Kevin Red Star, and Pawnee/Yakama Artist Bunky Echo-Hawk.

For those who can’t be in Washington for the event but who would like to help out, Echohawk pointed out that the organization is accepting donations through Colorado Gives. That effort is called the 7th Generation Campaign and is intended to increase understanding and support of Native families as they deal with today’s complex challenges and prepare for tomorrow.

“It would be nice to see a lot of goodwill at this time of year,” Echohawk said. “What a better holiday gift than to help Native children and families?”

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/11/27/lucille-echohawk-hold-holiday-family-fundraiser-nations-capital-152452

Small Business Saturday

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News writer

TULALIP, Wa -Thanksgiving has come and gone and with that comes plans for holiday gift giving. As you think up your gift giving list and begin planning for Black Friday sales and bookmarking Cyber Monday deals these are great days to score that one gift, if you know what you are looking for and are able to get it. But, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday, a day to shop local and support small businesses.

Along with having mainstream gifts, a majority of the small business shops will have that neat and perfect gift that that isn’t made in mass quantities and can only be found within a small business shop. The best part is, these small and local businesses support local artists and offer unique gift ideas that have been hand made.

Generally, the small business shopping districts are found in small towns and are located in the old part of town. If you decide to venture out the day after Black Friday to continue your pursuit for the perfect gift, a few local and semi-local towns have a good selection of shops.

Click town names to follow a link to the list of businesses within the area and directions to get there.

· For many years, Snohomish was known for their large antique district on First St. Even though it is mostly boutiques now; it still has plenty of antique shops and both have unique gift possibilities.

· First St. in La Conner has nearly everything in one condensed area, boutiques, odds and ends, antiques, local artists and hobby shops.

· In Anacortes, on Commercial Ave there are a few odds and ends shops with a good mix of antique shops.

· Pike St and the University District in Seattle have many various shops to suit all interests.

· Port Townsend has a large down town strip on Water St. with many small businesses that range from boutique and quirky items to local artistry.

· Near the ferry landing in Port Angeles on Font St and 1^st St are hobby shops, odds and ends and local artistry.

· Although it is far and over Steven’s Pass, Leavenworth has a large downtown shopping area that has a variety of small business shops.

Telling Tulalip’s Story

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News Writer

TULALIP, Wa – Tulalip’s Hibulb Cultural Center, on occasion, feature film screenings of films that star, are filmed by or are written by Native Americans, yet all tell one facet of the Native American life. Thursday, Oct 24^th’s featured screenings were of Jeff Boice’s work with the Tulalip Tribes. Jeff Boice, a videographer/editor, has been working with the Tulalip Tribes since 1990, has also done video shootings for large media companies such as The Discovery Channel and CNN.

The evenings screening were many short segments of the Walking Tour II with Ray Moses, History Minutes and a Williams Shelton’s segment. The Walking Tour follows Tulalip tribal member Ray Moses as he tells stories about significant locations on the Tulalip reservation. “He’s quite a historian. It was great working with Ray,” commented Boice.

History Minutes are under a few minutes, are produced for the museum and focus on one particular aspect of tribal life such as boarding school life or construction of summer homes that were used in the old days.

The William Shelton segment centered on the portion of William’s life when he carved the Sklaletut pole, a culturally important piece of artwork. Boice has a genuine interest in documenting the past of the Tulalip Tribes and states, “Our hopes are that this video will help generate enough interest to be able to do a longer documentary [on William Shelton] but not just that but to generate interest in preserving the Sklaletut pole.”

Most screenings events at the Hibulb are relatively intimate, are under a few hours and include a Q and A afterwards. For more about future film screenings at the Hibulb please visit their website or call 360-716-2600. To view the works of Jeff Boice, visit Boicetv.com.

November 27, 2013 syəcəb

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The Washington Redskins Had An Incredibly Awkward Tribute To Native American Veterans

Cork Gaines, November 26, 2013, Business Insider

The NFL is using the month of November to salute members of the military and veterans.

The Washington Redskins decided to use this as an opportunity to honor both the military and Native Americans during the Monday Night Football game.

During a commercial break, a video tribute (see video below) was shown honoring the Navajo Code Breakers of World War II. The video, which was only shown in the stadium and not on ESPN, included old clips of both President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush speaking about the veterans. After the video, four of the veterans were shown on the field.

The timing of the tribute raised a lot of eyebrows as it felt like a forced moment in the middle of the current controversy surrounding the team’s continued use of a name that many deem to be racially insensitive. The inclusion in the video of a Native American reciting “Hail to the Redskins!” felt scripted and the veterans on the field wearing jackets with Redskins logos added to the awkwardness of the moment.

Here is video of both the clip shown in the stadium and the scene on the field…

New Hope For An Endangered Deer

Source: Northwest Public Radio

Washington’s Columbian white-tailed deer have struggled to survive. In fact, their population fell so much they were once thought to be extinct.

Years ago, development claimed much of the Columbian white-tailed deer’s historical habitat. Most recently, a damaged dike threatened to burst and destroy one of their remaining refuges. (The Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer was established specifically to protect the species.)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service relocated 37 deer to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge 60 miles away and brimming with prime habitat.

Now, those efforts are paying off.

In its five-year review of the deer, the service is recommending the Columbian white-tailed deer be downgraded from an endangered species to a threatened one.

That’s one step closer – in a long series of steps – to removing the deer from the endangered species list. However, the recommendation is only that, a recommendation, which is not always taken.

But biologists are pretty confident that the Columbian white-tailed deer will one day be fully recovered.

“Finally after 40 years, with this particular population segment in the Columbia River, we really are on the right track. Things are going to move quickly from here,” said Rebecca Toland, a wildlife biologist with the service.

Ten years ago, the service removed another Columbian white-tailed deer population in Oregon from the endangered species list. Biologists say that shows, given the right conditions, the Columbian white-tailed deer can make their way off the list.

“There’s a precedence for recovering and reclassifying and, ultimately, delisting under the endangered species act. But particularly for this species. There is a track record of the service doing that when warranted,” said Chris Allen, fisheries biologist with the service.

If Washington’s population is downgraded to a threatened species, the doors are opened up for more biologists and wildlife managers to work to protect the deer. Under federal law, there are many research restrictions when a species is classified as endangered. The threatened classification loosens those restrictions.

The service had several specific goals for the Columbian white-tailed deer to meet:

A minimum of 400 deer across the Columbia River population;
Three groups of at least 50 deer living in three different locations;
Two of those three groups had to be on protected, secure habitat.

Now, Toland said, biologists can put a check mark next to each of those items.

After biologists moved deer away from the eroding dike in southwestern Washington, the new Ridgefield population has begun to flourish, Toland said. Biologists have spotted two fawns at the refuge.

“They’re taking to the habitat,” Toland said. “It’s supporting them, and they’re finding enough cover and forage, and the things that they need in their new home. It’s always a challenge moving species to a completely new environment that they’re not familiar with.”

The dike near the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge is also being repaired. A one-mile setback dike was built this fall to prevent the refuge from flooding if the dike were to burst. Parts of the old dike will be removed next year, which will restore tidal connection and fish access to the refuge.

The service will likely decide whether to accept this recommendation in 2014. If the downgrade is officially proposed the public will then be able to comment.

Recovering ‘The Lost Fish’

Source: Northwest Public Radio

Pacific lamprey are the oldest known fish in the Columbia River System. Fossils indicate they were here 450 million years ago.

A Pacific lamprey, caught
at Willamette Falls in Oregon.

But in mid-20th centrury tribal fishers started noticing their numbers dwindling. Rivers once clogged with lamprey reached a historic low in 2010, said Brian McIlraith, lamprey project leader at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

The toothy, eel-like fish are an important part of tribal diets and a good indicator of ecosystem health. But salmon and steelhead recoveries have overshadowed the decline of the lamprey, which some non-tribal fishers considered a “trash fish.”

To help raise awareness about the lamprey CRITFC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Freshwaters Illustrated have released a documentary about efforts to recover the Pacific lamprey — before the fish are put on the endangered species list.

The documentary travels to all the Columbia River tribes to highlight different lamprey projects, from harvesting lamprey at Willamette Falls — which I can tell you is a wet, slippery, exciting job — to trucking the fish around dams.

Right now, CRITFC is holding screenings for the tribes. The East Oregonian reports about 35 people came to a showing in Pendleton, Ore. Organizers hope to screen the documentary around the Pacific Northwest in the future.