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Love, Legacy and Action—Rising Up in Indian Country on February 14

All Nations Rising in Indian Country (Save Wiyabi)

Jessica Danforth, February 14, 2013; Source: Indian Country Today Media Network

February 14 has significance for many different people—Valentine’s Day, V-Day (a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls), and now 1 Billion Rising. But in Indian Country for more than 20 years, it’s always been a strategic day to organize, resist and unite in song to demand action.

The year 2013 marks the 22nd annual Women’s Memorial March, started in the downtown Eastside of Vancouver to honor the lives of missing and murdered women. Now with a global reach and ripples of determination to organize that can be felt across Turtle Island, the marches have become critical in ensuring violence from the state, including systemic, structural, and institutional violence, does not go unaccounted for.

Audrey Huntley, one of the founders of No More Silence who have been organizing the memorial marches in Toronto for the last 8 years shared this context on a recent blog for Battered Women’s Support Services: “We choose to come together at police headquarters in order to highlight the impunity that Canada affords killers of poor and marginalized women—women not deemed worthy of state protection and Indigenous women targets of the genocidal policies inherent to a settler state. We do not ask for the state’s permission in doing so and instead honour the sovereignty of the Indigenous peoples that have shared the caretaking responsibilities of this land for thousands of years.”

The need for the state to account for the violence it is also responsible for was all too clearly evident in the chilling 89-page report released yesterday from Human Rights Watch aptly titled; “Those Who Take Us Away: Abusive Policing and Failures in Protection of Indigenous Women and Girls in Northern British Columbia, Canada.” Women, families and communities have known for quite some time the direct connection between violence from the state, violence on the land, and interpersonal violence.

“Indigenous women remain targets for violence(s) as we have been since the European invasion. For me and for Families of Sisters in Spirit, the focus always starts with and goes back to the voices of Indigenous women and families and what is happening in our everyday lives under colonialism. We are the ones living it, and we are the ones who know what is best for our families, communities and Nations. It is meaningless if our actions are not led by us.” Colleen Cardinal, Plains Cree from Treaty 6, Saddle Lake Alberta, with Families of Sisters in Spirit (FSIS).

As Colleen Cardinal says, it is crucial that events on February 14 realize this historical legacy but also the long legacy of Indigenous women leading, organizing and mobilizing events to rise up against the violence. And with that, 2013 has also seen the creation of “All Nations Rising in Indian Country” started by the Save Wiyabi Project:

“My co-founder; Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, decided we needed to put out a call to action to Indian Country to rise on V-day, because what better way for us as people to stop violence against us than to dance it away. Dancing is how we heal, pray, socialize and tell stories so it’s important for us to include our voice in 1 Billion Rising. All Nations Rising was created so people could find out what events were happening in their community, or post their events for others to see.” Lauren Chief Elk, co-founder of Save Wiyabi Project.

Today our organization, the Native Youth Sexual Health Network is honored to participate and speak out with our sisters at events in Louisiana and Toronto. We also created this Valentine’s Card to send to our HIV-positive sisters as asked for by Love Positive Women: Romance Starts at Home:

So whether you’ve been marching for the last 22 years or are just beginning to dance this year, may the love, legacy and actions of February 14 be a time to remember that you are not alone. We’re rising with you.

Jessica Danforth is the founder and executive director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network that works across the United States and Canada in the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health by and for Indigenous youth.

Atlanta Braves Scrap the Cap

Indian Country Today Media Network Staff

The Atlanta Braves have announced that the team won’t be wearing hats featuring the “screaming Indian” logo in the upcoming baseball season after all.

When designs for the batting practice caps for all 30 Major League Baseball teams were released in December, the Braves’ cap instantly drew criticism for its use of a logo many Native Americans find offensive. The “screaming Indian” or “screaming savage” image had not been seen on a Braves uniform since 1989, and most baseball fans considered it retired, for understandable reasons.

Backlash over the hat was intense. Paul Lukas of uni-watch.com awarded it a failing grade in his review of the new gear — and soon afterward received a tip that the cap would be scrapped:

Word I’m hearing through the grapevine is that last week’s ESPN column on MLB’s new BP caps generated so much controversy and backlash against the Braves’ “screaming Indian” design that the team may end up switching to another cap logo. If that happens, expect MLB to issue lots of revisionist-history talking points about how the Indian design was just “one option we were exploring” and that it was “in development but never finalized” and that the Braves simply “opted to go in another direction” or some such. But take it from me: That design was (and, for now, still is) good to go. As of today, it’s listed in the MLB Style Guide. If the Braves ultimately abandon it, it’ll be because they responded to the backlash, period. Which, of course, is precisely what they should do. Here’s hoping.

An article posted to the Braves official site on MLB.com yesterday makes it official: The batting practice cap will be adorned with the script “A” logo, not the Indian head. Although the Braves did (as Lukas predicted) say that the design given to the sports press was not final, the MLB.com reporter acknowledged that the design was controversial. In a post at ESPN.com, Lukas says the Braves explanation “doesn’t ring true.”

Lukas also brings up another product that is bound to cause some consternation — a retro Cleveland Indians tee made by Majestic (official uniform suppliers of Major League Baseball):

United Way Lobby Day focuses on Kids, Food, Seniors and Housing

News Release, United Way of Snohomish County

(Everett, WA) — On Feb. 7, over 80 United Way volunteers and staff attended the 7th annual United Ways of Washington Lobby Day. United Way of Snohomish County had more than 20 volunteers and staff travel to Olympia to participate in the annual event. “This is going to be a challenging legislative session,” said Katrina Ondracek, Vice President of Public Policy and Community Initiatives for United Way of Snohomish County. “By lobbying, we are ensuring that our priorities are heard, and the issues facing our county are addressed.”
This year’s legislative agenda focuses on early learning, hunger, homelessness and seniors.
The group encouraged lawmakers to support several programs related to its agenda, including:

The Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS)
Increasing the number of ECEAP slots
Protecting and funding the Housing Trust Fund
Ensuring long-term care options for the aging population
Promoting financial education by creating financial education standards for the common core standards for English language and math

The delegation also urged lawmakers to maintain Senior Citizens Services Act funding, restore funding to State Food Assistance Program (SFA), and increase funding for Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP).
The delegation, in addition to Ondracek and United Way staff included Rich White, Patrick Pierce and Dennis Kendall, members of United Way’s Public Policy Committee; board members Josh Estes, Jackie Rae and Jim Litz; and community volunteers Tiffany Litz and Donna Wilson.
The group met with Senators Rosemary McAuliffe, Kirk Pearson, Barbara Bailey, Steve Hobbs, Nick Harper, and Paul Shin, as well as Representatives Norma Smith, Mike Sells, Hans Dunshee, Ruth Kagi, Derek Stanford, John McCoy, Elizabeth Scott, Cindy Ryu, Dan Kristiansen, Marko Liias, and Dave Hayes. The group also shared information with the legislative assistants for Sen. Maralyn Chase and Representatives Mary Helen Roberts and Mike Hope.

Bill would add potential drug test for welfare

Source: www.bellinghamherald.com

By RACHEL LA CORTE — Associated Press

February 13, 2013

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A measure modeled on a new Utah law would add a potential drug testing requirement to those seeking family welfare benefits in Washington state, but would allow them to continue receiving money while seeking treatment as long as they stay drug-free.

The bill will have its first public hearing before a Senate committee Thursday. It would require applicants whom case workers have determined have a drug problem to undergo a drug test and participate in a treatment program to receive the monthly cash grant that is part of the state’s temporary assistance for needy families program, known as TANF.

“I think taxpayers want to make darn sure the money is going for groceries for the kids and not for dope,” said Sen. Don Benton, a Republican from Vancouver who is sponsoring the Senate bill. “I think the taxpayers have a right to confirm that. “

Though the numbers vary year by year, as of June, between 121,000 and 134,000 people received an average monthly payment of $373 through TANF. To be eligible, applicants must either have a child or be pregnant and meet certain income requirements. For example, a family of three that has earnings of less than $955 each month would be eligible for cash assistance from TANF.

Washington is among nearly two dozen states that have introduced bills this year to require some form of drug testing for public assistance recipients, according to Rochelle Finzel with the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Seven states have such laws on the books, but some that have passed blanket welfare drug-testing laws have faced legal challenges amid constitutional concerns.

Florida passed a welfare drug-testing program in 2011, but it’s on hold after a challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing the case. The implementation of a law passed by Georgia last year also is on hold, with officials there saying they’re awaiting the outcome of the Florida case.

In 1999, a drug-testing program in Michigan was halted after five weeks and eventually ended with an appeals court ruling it was unconstitutional.

Additional states require individuals with felony drug convictions to comply with drug-testing requirements to be eligible for assistance. Others, including Washington State, have an interview screening process that does not include a drug test, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Republican Rep. Jan Angel of Port Orchard has introduced a companion bill to the Senate measure in the House. She said that because of the constitutional issues raised in other states, she modeled her bill on the measure approved last year in Utah, which requires only those shown through a questionnaire to have a “reasonable likelihood” that they’re using drugs to take a drug test.

As in the Washington state measure, applicants in Utah who fail the drug test can continue receiving benefits while seeking treatment. Utah’s law took effect in August.

“I look at this as two sides of a coin,” Angel said. “Help the family be able to meet their needs and feed their children, and get help to the person who needs it because of the drug addiction.”

Currently, the state Department of Social and Health Services determines during a face-to-face interview whether an applicant has a drug problem. If so, the applicant is given a referral they must attend where a determination on treatment is decided, said Babs Roberts, director of the DSHS community services division.

If the applicant fails to follow up with the referral or treatment plan, they receive reduced benefits for up to four months, during which time case managers continue to work with them. If they still don’t comply after four months, their benefits are terminated.

Roberts said some clients are drug-tested if they’re in a treatment program where testing is part of that plan.

Angel said that because there’s no state requirement for an initial drug test, “people can fall through the cracks.”

Under her measure, the Department of Social and Health Services must create a drug-testing program that would be paid for by the state.

If the applicant is assessed as having a drug problem and refuses to take the test, they are put on a probationary status and receive only a portion of their benefit for four months. After that, if they still refuse to take the drug test and receive treatment, benefits are ended and they can’t reapply for 28 days.

Applicants who agree to take the initial test and treatment would be subject to subsequent drug tests and face the same probationary period and possible termination of benefits if they fail or refuse to take the test.

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee opposes the measure, as does the state ACLU.

Alison Holcomb, drug policy director for the ACLU of Washington, said the bill is unclear on exactly what triggers the drug testing requirement, which she says raises questions about adequate due process.

Rep. Ruth Kagi, a Democrat from Shoreline who is chairwoman of the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee, wrote in a House Democratic blog post that the measure was a “solution looking for a problem.”

“Our state can and does cut people off assistance if they have a substance abuse problem and do not get treatment,” she wrote. “Adding an actual drug test would only add cost and bureaucracy – neither of which is in the taxpayers’ best interests.”

Because Angel said her bill would not receive a hearing in the Democratic-controlled House, Benton said he offered to introduce it in the Senate, which is controlled by a Republican-leaning majority coalition that includes two Democrats.

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The drug testing measures are Senate Bill 5585 and House Bill 1190.

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Online:http://www.leg.wa.gov Follow Rachel La Corte at http://www.twitter.com/RachelAPOly or http://www.facebook.com/news.rachel

Traditional plains sport comes to Tulalip

Members of the Washington Stealth lacrosse league introduce the game of lacrosse to members of the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club.

By Kim Kalliber TulalipNews writer; photo by Jeannie Briones, TulalipNews staff

The sound of clashing sticks echoed throughout the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club as kids, club staff and members of Everett’s Washington Stealth lacrosse league took part in the exciting sport of lacrosse. Members of Washington Stealth paid a visit to the club on February 11^th to teach the kids not only the game of lacrosse, but its history and Native American cultural identity, along with the importance of staying physically fit in order to combat obesity, an issue that is prominent in children across America.

The history of Lacrosse

Lacrosse, a word that means “stick,” is one of the oldest team sports in North America, and can be traced to tribal games played by eastern tribes and some Plains Indian tribes in what is now known as Canada. The sport was well established with Europeans by the seventeenth century, and was documented by Jesuit priests.

Traditional lacrosse games were often major events, lasting several days, with as many as 100 to 1,000 men from various villages or tribes playing against each other in a single game. These large number of players would swarm a ball, which could not be touched by hands, and maneuver it across an open field.

Medicine Men served as coaches and women traditionally served refreshments. Games were followed with a ceremonial dance and a large feast to honor the hungry players.

Early lacrosse balls were often made of wood or deerskin stuffed with hair, and the sticks resembled a giant wooden spoon, without netting. No protective gear was worn during traditional lacrosse games.

Blue Pony Lacrosse

Washington Stealth have partnered with Blue Pony Lacrosse, a program dedicated to rejuvenating lacrosse in Native American culture and teaching the history and importance of the game to Natives.

“It is grounded in tradition. It is an Indigenous Native sport, originally part of the medicine game of the Iroquois. We want to start a foundation of understanding more than just the sport, but the spiritually and cultural history behind the sport itself,” said Dave Waterman, Native American Liaison for Washington Stealth. “We will move on to contemporary lacrosse, which is what you see today. Hopefully this will initiate some interest in the youth and in the community.”

For centuries the Iroquois have played the “Creators Game,” sending the message that the game is a symbol of unity, health, and the power of the good mind; it’s message transcends territory, boundary and time, manifesting through the players, representing honor and respect of all people, generating a gift of healing so all people may have peace of mind.

Blue Pony co-sponsored a resolution at the 1996 National Congress of the American Indian, which designated “The Creator’s Game.” Part of this resolution states, “the involvement of Indian Lacrosse with young people may go a long way towards solving the problems faced by Indians in dominant culture schools, the lack of respect for Native culture and history, coupled with racism and an expectation of failure.”

Sticks 2 Schools

Not only are they working to teach the origins and culture of lacrosse, members of Washington Stealth are also educating children about the dangers of obesity, through a partnership with Sticks 2 Schools.

Sticks 2 Schools is a non-profit corporation that helps combat child obesity by motivating youth to increase their level of physical activity while learning to play lacrosse. Since many schools can’t afford additional physical education programs and equipment, Sticks 2 Schools, through corporate sponsors and private donors, has introduced co-ed lacrosse in over 100 elementary, middle and high schools in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area of California, and since 2010, twenty schools in the Greater Seattle area.

Tulalip Boys & Girls Club member Dakota Fisher has fun learning the game of lacrosse.

“The overlying message is to fight childhood obesity, but so much more comes out of it. They learn leadership skills and communication within their own peer groups,” said Chris Kelley, Manager of Service and Retention for Washington Stealth and lacrosse coach for Mukilteo High School.

“I think the game of lacrosse is a great outlet for the kids to promote the importance of an active, healthy lifestyle while celebrating the history and heritage behind the sport in Native culture,” said Chris

McElroy, Washington Stealth team member.

Let the games begin

Washington Stealth members arrived at the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club, packing equipment, knowledge and team spirit to share with Club kids and staff. Kids were taught the importance of wearing proper helmets and elbow and chin pads and were introduced to the latest sporting equipment. Thanks to modern technology, sticks now increase the pace of the game.

After a pre-game warm-up, the kids got to test their newly learned skills on the court.

Tulalip Boys & Girls Club member Andrea Parrish learns she's a natural at lacrosse. — Tulalip Boys & Girls Club member Andrea Parrish learns she’s a natural at lacrosse.

The objective of the game is to score by shooting the ball into an opponent’s goal, using the lacrosse stick to catch, carry, and pass the ball. The defense tries to keep the opposing team from scoring and to gain control of the ball through the use of stick checking and body contact or positioning. The game can be played on an outdoor field or indoor court.

“I was born to do this!” said Tulalip Boys & Girls Club member, Andrea Parrish, who proved to be a natural at the game.

As a special surprise, the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club received a gift of 50 lacrosse sticks. The sticks were originally donated to the Sticks 2 Schools program, which passed them on to Tulalip in order to increase the interest in lacrosse among Native American youth.

Unsure of what the future holds for lacrosse at the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club, Don Hatch III, Athletic Director for the club said, “I hope our kids grasp onto this sport; I want them to give it a shot. We are more than just a basketball club now; we have soccer, t-ball, baseball, and football.”

Gray whale sighted near Mission Beach

Watch for whales

Source: HeraldNet

A gray whale has been sighted near Mission Beach at Tulalip, about a month before the first of a group of migratory whales usually shows up.

Kathie Roon, who lives at the beach, said she saw a whale offshore Monday morning while walking her dog. Roon saw several spouts and the fluke come out of the water, she said.

Gray whales visit Possession Sound and Port Susan on their annual trip from Mexico to Alaska, usually between March and May, experts say. Normally about a dozen stop over, according to John Calambokidis of Olympia-based Cascadia Research. About six of them are the same whales every year and about six are different, as identified by photos, he said.

Mansion in Mukilteo recalled: The history of Mukilteo’s first mansion is the topic for a meeting of the Mukilteo Historical Society on Thursday.

The home’s current owner, Alan Zugel, is to talk about his house at the meeting, scheduled for 7:15 p.m. in the Fowler Room at the Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave. The house was built in the early 1900s for the manager of the Crown Lumber Co., according to the historical group.

The meeting is open to the public and refreshments are planned.

Alpacas on display: The Alpaca Association of Western Washington plans to hold their second annual Valentine’s weekend Herdsire Review from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave SE, Monroe. Some of the best alpaca herdsires available for breeding in Western Washington will be on display for local alpaca farms to observe and schedule breeding dates for their females.

This year’s event has expanded to include an Alpaca Pen Sale and Fiber Market so that the public can see and buy alpaca products as well as alpacas. Admission is free. For more information, go to www.alpacawa.org or call 206-510-0434.

124,000+ comments received for proposed Cherry Point terminal

Whatcom County, Washington Depart. of Ecology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
February 6, 2013

Source: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2013/043.html

The public provided more than 124,000 comments on the scope of an upcoming environmental impact statement (EIS) for a proposed bulk-cargo shipping terminal and rail spur improvements at Cherry Point, according to a preliminary count by the three agencies that conducted a recently-concluded four-month public comment period.

Form-letters or e-mails made up approximately 108,000 of the total, submitted by people who responded to 24 organized comment campaigns identified so far. The agencies received more than 16,000 uniquely worded comments. Work continues on a final comment count and breakdown.

The 121-day comment period ran from Sept. 24, 2012, to Jan. 22, 2013.

The official website, http://www.eisgatewaypacificwa.gov/, provides additional details about the scoping process, project proposals, and displays comments received.

Pacific International Terminals, a subsidiary of SSA Marine Inc. (SSA), proposes to build and operate the Gateway Pacific Terminal between Ferndale and Blaine. The terminal would provide storage and handling of exported and imported dry bulk commodities, including coal, grain, iron ore, salts and alumina. BNSF Railway Inc. proposes to add rail facilities and install a second track along the six-mile Custer Spur.

Whatcom County, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) together are conducting the EIS process for the proposed terminal projects and jointly will produce one EIS. Whatcom County and Ecology must follow the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and the Corps must follow the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Scoping is a preliminary phase of the EIS process when the agencies identify potential adverse impacts and decide which of these to analyze in the EIS. The three lead agencies gathered input from other agencies, tribes and the public. After considering comments, the lead agencies will decide what should be included in the EIS.

The EIS will evaluate a reasonable range of alternatives, potentially affected resources, significant unavoidable adverse impacts of various alternatives, and explore possible means to avoid, minimize and mitigate effects of the proposals.

The three co-lead agencies hosted seven public meetings during the comment period, which drew total attendance of more than 8,700. People at the meetings submitted 1,419 hand-written comments and 1,207 verbal comments. Of the verbal comments, 865 were given in front of audiences, and 342 were recorded individually.

The agencies consider all comments on an equal basis, regardless of how people submitted them.

The joint NEPA/SEPA EIS process enables the co-lead agencies to avoid duplicated efforts where the two laws overlap, while meeting each statute’s separate requirements. Parts of the joint EIS process described on the website apply to both statutes and parts apply to one or the other.

The scoping process does not address whether the proposal should receive permits. Scoping only helps define what will be studied in the EIS. Decisions about issuing permits to construct the proposed projects will not be made until after the EIS is complete.

The co-lead lead agencies plan to issue a scoping report in the next few weeks with a thorough assessment of the comments. Then, they will review that input and issue plans later this year for a draft EIS, which may take at least a year to prepare. The lead agencies will seek public comment on the draft EIS, and then produce a final NEPA/SEPA EIS.

VAWA passes 78-22

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News Writer, February 12, 2013

The VAWA bill has passed 78 to 22 today. It already had 62 co-sponsors which helped ensure its passage, but it picked up additional support from a handful of Republicans who weren’t already sponsoring it.

“Today the Senate took a major step forward to protect all victims of domestic violence across America,” Sen. Maria Cantwell said. “And because of the Senate bill, nearly 500,000 women in Indian Country will receive better protection if we can get this onto the President’s desk and signed.”

The reauthorization bill includes improvements to extend domestic violence protections to individuals, including women in Tribal communities, who suffer disproportionately from domestic violence due to complex jurisdictional loopholes.

The Senate’s reauthorization bill increases protection for 30 million women regardless of sexual orientation, immigration status, or residency on Tribal land. The bill authorizes $659 million over five years for VAWA programs and expands VAWA to include new protections for LGBT and Native American victims of domestic violence, to give more attention to sexual assault prevention and to help reduce a backlog in processing rape kits.

Senators voted on a few amendments to the bill. They voted 93 to 5 to include a provision that targets human trafficking, and 100 to 0 on a provision that ensures child victims of sex trafficking are eligible for grant assistance. They rejected the amendments by Sen. Tom Coburn (Okla.) to consolidate certain Department of Justice programs and to allow grants for sexually transmitted disease tests on sexual assault perpetrators.

“The Senate sent a very clear message that no matter where you live, you deserve to be protected,” Sen. Cantwell said at today’s press conference. “And the message was equally clear that you cannot escape accountability for committing crimes against women. So this final bill that we now move to the House of Representatives will help us close the gap in the legal system for prosecuting domestic violence on Indian reservations.”

“The clock is still ticking and over 160 million women across the country are watching and waiting to see if the House will act on this bill and finally provide them the protections from violence they deserve. And just like last Congress, we all know it will take leadership from Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor to move this bill forward. The fate of VAWA still lies squarely on their shoulders and too many women have been left vulnerable while they have played politics,” Sen. Patty Murray

The issue of tribal court is expected to be a hurdle as lawmakers try to reconcile the Senate bill with the eventual House bill. Two House Republicans, Tom Cole (Okla.), who is of Native American heritage, and Darrell Issa (Ca.) — have been pushing a compromise that would give defendants the right to request that their trial be moved to a federal court if they felt they were not getting a fair trial. Others have argued that those tried in Indian courts should have better defined rights to appeal to federal courts.

Seattle experiencing attacks on women

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News Writer

Seattle Police are currently investigating four separate attacks on four women since Friday Feb 8^th. The men have been described in their 20’s with thin to medium builds. Three of the women were able to escape with minor injuries but one was sexually assaulted. So far they have no leads as to whether the attacks are related. The Seattle times have constructed a map to view the locations of the attacks.

View the whole story here:

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2013/02/third-woman-reports-attack-in-north-seattle-all-since-sunday/

Brush up on your self-defense skills. Be safe and if you don’t have to, try not to go anywhere dark and/or unfamiliar alone.

10 BEST SELF-DEFENSE AWARENESS TIPS:

Source: http://www.attackproof.com/10-best-self-defense-tips.html

These 10 tips have been circulated for quite some time now. Guided Chaos Grandmaster John Perkins and Prof. Bradley Steiner have added to the original tips. This is a small list of things to be aware of but it should serve as a start for some folks who have not studied the topic.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

Brad Steiner: While this is a good point, it may not be the best tip for someone unskilled in karate. It does take a bit of dexterity and training before the elbow, per se, may be employed reliably as a weapon — especially by a woman in normal attire, against a large, strong male. I would recommend driving open and extended fingers-to-eyes, or using a chinjab followed by raising the elbow of the striking arm and then eye-gouging. BITING, if grabbed hold of, and kicking like crazy, is also good. Just opening the hand and whipping a surprise handaxe to the throat is also good. Head butting is effective. I would prefer these methods because, for the complete novice, they are more likely to be delivered with sufficient force and effectiveness to facilitate escape.

2. Learned this from a tourist guide. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you…. Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

Brad Steiner: Excellent general advice! Additionally, keeping a “throw away wallet” that is stuffed with junk or play money, etc. but that seems authentic, can be utilized with this ploy. While avoidance and escape is the best tactic, when possible, there may be contexts in which an appropriately prepared individual can feign compliance, reach for a handgun (or even a knife) under the guise of reaching for a wallet, and then . . . well, you can figure it out.

[Editor’s Note: There may be some risk however if you’re dealing with an angry psycho. It is possible that by throwing the wallet, he may just blow you away…and then casually retrieve the wallet. That being said, if he is that species of beast, he may have shot you no matter how compliant you were. All the more reason to never go with the attacker to crime scene #2 and to attack the attacker.]

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights, stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

Brad Steiner: With modern vehicles it is possible to extricate oneself from inside the trunk of a car if you keep a cool head. HOWEVER: the smart tactic is never to permit oneself to be locked inside a vehicle trunk in the first place. Pretending to comply, then suddenly knocking any weapon aside and attacking the abductor’s eyes/throat and then running, is — I think — a better tactic that offers a greater chance of survival, on balance. Obviously the abductor does not wish to kill the person whom he orders into the vehicle’s trunk, right away. I have always been a powerful advocate of NEVER permitting oneself to be taken from a primary crime scene, if humanly possible to offer resistance. Like escape-and-evasion in military contexts, THE SOONER AND FASTER ESCAPE IS UNDERTAKEN, THE BETTER! The escape from a vehicle trunk is good counsel; nonetheless, should one find oneself thus trapped, for whatever reason).

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, making a list, etc.) DON’T DO THIS! A predator may be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, Repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead, gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

(Steiner’s comment: Good advice. Also: Always lock your vehicle and secure it when getting gas and entering the office to pay for the gas. Criminals have been known to enter vehicles and lie in wait, in the back, for the woman to come back to her vehicle and drive away. THEN, they overtake their victim who is helpless. Also: KEEP YOUR GAS TANK FULL. Never stop at stations where there are odd individuals standing, or at stations in questionable neighborhoods. Do not fill your gas tank at night. Keep your vehicle well supplied — go to brightly lit gas stations in good areas, and in broad daylight. Note: I am not 100% sure of the “drive into something” advice with a gun to your head. One does not wish to cause the weapon to go off due to the criminal’s being shocked, or simply reflexively firing as the vehicle purches. On the other hand, I can see how this tactic could save a life.)

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

a.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor , and in the back seat.

b.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

c.) Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side… If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

(Steiner’s comment: THIS IS PERFECT ADVICE! WE HAVE BEEN TELLING THIS TO STUDENTS FOR DECADES! FOLLOW IT!)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. (This is especially true at NIGHT!)

(Steiner’s comment: This might be construed in the opposite, as well. Elevators can be risky. Personally, we have heard of more attacks inside elevators than we have heard of attacks in stairways. However, there is to the point made. We urge serious caution at all times, and being prepared to fight back ferociously and using the element of surprise — always with a WEAPON, if this can be done lawfully.)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zig-zag pattern!

(Steiner’s comment: GREAT ADVICE! Again, we have urged this for decades as a good tactic, and we see no reason to change the counsel. In fact, it is NOT likely that an armed criminal will in fact fire at you at all. He obviously did not wish to fire when he had you at gun point; and he can see that raising an alarm by firing when you run away will only attract attention to himself with little chance of hitting you.)

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP it may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked ‘for help’ into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

(Steiner’s comment: RIGHT! Again, we have been urging this for many, many years, and it is good advice!)

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her ‘Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door….’ The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, ‘We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.’ He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby’s cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby’s cries outside their doors when they’re home alone at night.

(Steiner’s comment: VERY, VERY VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT ADVICE!!!!)

10. Water scam! If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your outside faucets full blast so that you will go out to investigate and then attack. This was mentioned on America’s Most Wanted when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.

(Steiner’s comment: Again — very, very valuable advice!)

Statement by Billy Frank Jr. on selection of Sally Jewell as Interior Secretary

Source: Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

“We are excited about President Obama’s selection of Sally Jewell for Secretary of the Interior,” says Chairman Billy Frank of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. “We think she’s a great choice.”

Jewell, the former chief executive officer for outdoor gear giant REI, grew up in Washington state and knows the issues important to Indian tribes, Frank said. “She’s one of us, and we couldn’t be more pleased that she will be leading the Department of Interior for the next four years,” he said.

Frank said that Jewell brings a strong blend of business sense and a natural resources conservation ethic to the agency. “A healthy environment and a healthy economy can go hand-in-hand,” Frank said. “We can have both, and I think Sally Jewell will help make that happen.”

Frank praised Jewell’s knowledge of tribes and tribal issues, and respect for tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. “We are facing big challenges such as achieving salmon recovery, protecting water quality and adapting to climate change,” Frank said. “Our cultures, economies and treaty rights depend on a healthy environment and healthy natural resources.”

Because the Department of Interior also includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Jewell’s understanding and respect for tribal governments are critical to a good working relationship between the tribes and the agency, he said.

“I believe Sally is the right person, in the right place, at the right time,” Frank said. “We look forward to working with her, and thank President Obama for his wise choice.”