Category: News

Chief Theresa Spence will not attend Friday meeting without Governor General

Source: Rebecca Lindell, Global News

Wednesday, January 09, 2013 8:23 PM

Read it on Global News: Global News | Spence will not attend Friday meeting without Governor General

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence has pulled out of Friday’s meeting between First Nations leaders and Prime Minister Stephen Harper because Gov. Gen. David Johnston will not attend the gathering.

The Assembly of First Nations scheduled a meeting for Jan. 11 between Harper and some of its chiefs, including Spence, but on Tuesday Johnston’s office confirmed he would not attend because it is a “working meeting” with the government on public policy issues.

Spence responded by issuing this statement on Wednesday: “We have sent a letter to Buckingham Palace and requesting that Queen Elizabeth II send forth her representative which is the Governor General of Canada. I will not be attending Friday’s meeting with the Prime Minister, as the Governor General’s attendance is integral when discussing inherent and treaty rights.”

Read it on Global News: Global News | Spence will not attend Friday meeting without Governor General

United Nations speaks out about Chief Theresa Spence to Canada

Canadian authorities must start meaningful dialogue with aboriginal leaders – UN expert

 
Source: United News Centre
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43891&Cr=indigenous&Cr1=

 8 January 2013 – A United Nations independent expert today urged the Canadian Government to establish a meaningful dialogue with the country’s aboriginal leaders in light of recent protests.

“I am encouraged by reports that Prime Minister Steven Harper has agreed to meet with First Nations Chiefs and leadership on 11 January 2013 to discuss issues related to aboriginal and treaty rights as well as economic development,” said the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya.

He continued, “Both the Government of Canada and First Nations representatives must take full advantage of this opportunity to rebuild relationships in a true spirit of good faith and partnership.”

For weeks, aboriginal leaders and activists carried out protests referred to as ‘Idle no more,’ according to a news release from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It noted that the movement has been punctuated by the hunger strike of Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation, which began on 11 December.

“I would like to add my voice to the concern expressed by many over the health condition of Chief Spence, who I understand will be joining indigenous leaders at this week’s meeting,” the Mr. Anaya said.

The independent expert stressed that the dialogue between the Government and First Nations should proceed in accordance with standards expressed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration states that indigenous peoples have the right to maintain their distinct identities and cultures as a basis of their development and place in the world, to pursue their own destinies under conditions of equality, and to have secure rights over lands and resources, with due regard for their traditional patterns of use and occupancy.

In particular, Mr. Anaya highlighted one of the preambles in the Declaration which affirms that treaties, agreements and other arrangements are the basis for a strengthened partnership between indigenous peoples and States.

The Government affirmed a “commitment to continue working in partnership with Aboriginal peoples and in accordance with a relationship based on good faith, partnership and mutual respect,” when it released a statement supporting the Declaration on 12 November 2010, said Mr. Anaya, who has asked the Canadian authorities to provide relevant information on this matter, in accordance with the terms of his mandate from the UN Human Rights Council.

“I will continue to monitor developments as I hold out hope that the 11 January meeting will prompt meaningful and restorative action by the Government and First Nations leadership,” Mr. Anaya added.

Independent experts, or special rapporteurs such as Mr. Anaya, are appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

Lucky days for the Enlightened

Six Students Attribute Five-figure lottery winnings to Ramtha School Lessons

 SOURCE Ramtha School of Enlightenment,  www.ramtha.com.

YELM, Wash., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — A remarkable run of Washington’s Lottery winners, all from the Yelm area, have cashed winning tickets of $10,000 or more during the past two years.  The lottery champions gave credit to the Ramtha School teachings, claiming their winning numbers came to them after careful studying and discipline.

The winners include:

Patricia Everheart, $10,000 on Dec. 30, 2012

Ana Mihalcea and Laura Mooney, $10,000 on Dec. 11, 2012

Heather Singleton and Justin Wood, $10,000 on Oct. 8, 2012

Diana Hall, $12,365 casino jackpot at Red Wind Casino in Yelm on April 11, 2011

Michelle Enos, $10,000 on March 27, 2011

Heather Singleton, $10,000 on January 17, 2011

The stories from all the winners, along with official photos from the Washington Lottery, can be found at: http://www.rse-newsletter.com/category/lotto-winners/.

The Ramtha School of Enlightenment teaches students to capitalize on their natural mental abilities. According to Ramtha’s disciplines, we have direct control over how our lives play out. These lucky students attribute their winnings entirely to the techniques they mastered at RSE.

Heather Singleton is a two-time winner, with lottery jackpots cashed in January, 2011 by herself and on October 8, 2012 with her partner Justin Wood.

“Every day we participate in Remote-Viewing,” said Wood.  Remote-viewing is a practice that allows students of RSE to sense events and images that have not yet occurred. Heather Singleton and Justin Wood participate in a daily joint-viewing through the website remoteviewdaily.com, and their collaboration paid off this past October when they accurately viewed the winning numbers 14, 16, 12, and 4.

“The disciplines work,” remarked Singleton, who won her first jackpot after practicing Consciousness & Energy, the teaching that the mind can achieve realities which are seemingly impossible.

“I have always been a winner,” says Patricia Everheart , who won $10,000 after practicing Create Your Day®, a technique of beginning each day by focusing on the mind and the day to come. While mentally preparing for her day, she saw “four numbers came across my brain… I said okay, I will play those numbers.” Everheart is one of many Ramtha students to have cashed in the 4-foot long check recently.

In just the past 3 months, there have been 3 student winners of the Washington lottery, and luck had nothing to do with it. Rather, they deliberately chose the winning numbers after viewing them while practicing the techniques taught at RSE.

Anna Mihalcea and Laura Mooney observed their winning numbers while on a Neighborhood Walk®, a moment of light exercise to improve awareness and general health.

“We decided to start focusing on a set of numbers and become them… mind as matter… we are the number,” said the two women, who won the $10,000 prize this past December. “We chose our numbers and observed them in the Neighborhood Walk®, forecasting our future, and we walked right into them!”

Most students won by predicting the numbers in the “Match 4” game.  The students credit their training at the Ramtha School that taught them stillness and a present focus that caused the numbers to appear in their minds. The frequency of these winnings demonstrates these occurrences may have more do to with skill than luck.

 About Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment

Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE) was established in 1988 by Ramtha the Enlightened One as an academy of the mind that offers retreats and workshops to participants from all over the world and from all walks of life. Using ancient wisdom and the latest discoveries in neuroscience and quantum physics, RSE teaches students how to access the extraordinary abilities of the brain to “Become a Remarkable Life®.” Ramtha’s teachings are not a religion. They offer a unique perspective from which to view the mystery of life.

Nisqually Indian Tribe Awards $2.5 Million to Community Groups

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com

The Nisqually Indian Tribe has distributed approximately $2.5 million in grant funds to local groups to keep people safe, help children succeed, improve community health, honor veterans, preserve culture, protect the environment and support dozens of other critical community services and programs benefiting Indians and non-Indians alike.

“Philanthropy is deep in the roots of our culture and we are committed to helping needy families and individuals,” said Cynthia Iyall, chair of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, in a press release. “Through generous giving and strong community partnerships, the Nisqually Tribe is laying the foundation for generations to come and improving the quality of life for all of our neighbors.”

More than 140 local organizations will receive funds from the Nisqually Tribe. Charitable grant recipients include the Child Care Action Council in Olympia, Washington; Turning Pointe Domestic Violence Services in Shelton; the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group in Olympia; the YMCA of Pierce County; the Nisqually Land Trust; Safe Kids Thurston County; Operation Homefront; Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southwest Washington; the Mary Bridge Foundation; and the Tenino Food Bank Plus. Grants to government programs will pay for much-needed equipment and services including Eatonville Fire and EMS Department (to cover the costs of their fire engine), City of Lacey Parks and Recreation, and Thurston 9-1-1 Communications.

Every year the Nisqually Tribe awards money to local charitable and government programs through a competitive grant application process. Eligible charitable groups include 501(c)3, tax-exempt organizations that provide public safety, literacy, religious, educational, charitable or other community activities. Requests from scholarship funds and community groups are also considered. The local government fund supports police, fire, emergency services and other public safety needs.

Margaret Cho bringing new stand-up work ‘Mother’ to Tulalip

Margarwt Cho_TulalipBy Albert Rodriguez – SGN A&E Writer, http://www.sgn.org/

Margaret Cho is at it again! The Grammy-nominated comedienne has created a new production called ‘Mother’ and will unveil it during a brief 10-date tour, including a February 15 performance at Tulalip Resort Casino.

The freshly assembled show is said to be the comedy/TV star’s edgiest work ever, as it will give audiences an untraditional look at motherhood and an insight into maternal figures and strong women in Queer culture. It will also include laugh-out-loud examinations of race, sexuality, celebrities, politics, social culture, and everything in between. If you’ve seen Cho live before, you know that nothing is off limits.

Cho received a Grammy nomination recently for her recording Cho Dependent: Live in Concert, in the category of Best Comedy Album. She’s also a cast member of the TV sitcom Drop Dead Diva and will appear in an upcoming film titled Wedding Palace. A longtime supporter of the LGBT community and an open Bisexual, she’s performed at numerous Gay Pride celebrations around the world, aside from joining Cyndi Lauper’s ‘True Colors’ tour several years back.

Tickets for Cho’s show at Tulalip go on sale December 14 at www.tulalipresort.com (packages including accommodations and buffet brunch are also available). There is no direct shuttle service from downtown Seattle to the resort, but you can take the Bellair Charter (www.airporter.com) from Sea-Tac Airport to the casino and stay overnight, then return the next morning. Individual tickets are priced at $40.

Look for Cho to appear on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on January 10 and The Ricki Lake Show in mid-January.

http://www.tulalipcasino.com/

 

Cobell Settlement approved, claims must be filed by March 1, 2013

Claims must be filed by March 1, 2013 in $3.4 billion Indian trust settlement

 

What is this about?

The Cobell v. Salazar Settlement is approved. The Settlement resolves a class action lawsuit that claims that the federal government violated its duties by mismanaging trust accounts and individual Indian trust lands. Payments to the Historical Accounting Class are underway. The process of considering claims for the Trust Administration Class is ongoing.

 

Am I included?

The Trust Administration Class includes:

  • Anyone alive on September 30, 2009 who:
  • had an IM account recorded in currently available electronic data in federal government systems anytime from approximately 1985 to September 30, 2009 or
  • Can demonstrate ownership in trust land or land in restricted status as of September 30, 2009.
  • The estate (or hiers) of an deceased landowner or IM account holder whose account was open or whose trust assets had been in probation according to the federal government’s records as of September 30, 2009.

 

Do I need to file a claim form?

You must file a claim form if you believe you are a member of the Trust Administration Class and you have not:

  • Received IM account statements at your current address anytime between January 1, 1985 and September 30, 2009 and continue to receive statements; or
  • Received a payment as a member of the Historical Accounting Class. If you did, you will receive a second payment automatically as a member of the Trust Administration Class; or
  • Filed a claim form already using your current address. If you have, the Claims Administration will contact you.

You must fill out a claim form and mail it to Indian Trust Settlement, P.O. Box 9577, Dublin OH 43017-4877, postmarked by March 1, 2013 in order to receive a payment.

 

How much money can I get?

Members of the Trust Administration Class will likely receive at least $800 or more. The actual amount will depend on the number of claims and the costs of administration.

 

For a claim form or to update you contact information:

Call toll-free: 1-800-961-6109 or Visit: www.IndianTrust.com

12 killer whales trapped in sea ice

Marina Lacasse / Canadian PressKiller whales surface through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, Northern Quebec, on Tuesday.
Marina Lacasse / Canadian Press
Killer whales surface through a small hole in the ice near Inukjuak, Northern Quebec, on Tuesday.
Associated Press

MONTREAL — A community in Quebec’s Far North is calling for outside help to free about a dozen killer whales trapped under a vast stretch of sea ice.

Locals in Inukjuak said the mammals have gathered around a single hole in the ice — slightly bigger than a pickup truck — in a desperate bid to get oxygen.

Mayor Peter Inukpuk urged the Canadian government Wednesday to send an icebreaker as soon as possible to crack open the ice and help them find open water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said it is sending officials to assess the situation.

“Fisheries and Oceans Canada is assessing the situation and are exploring every possible option, but will only be in a position to determine what – if anything – can be done once our specialists arrive on site,” spokesman Frank Stanek said in a statement.

A hunter first spotted the pod of about a dozen trapped whales Tuesday at the hole, which is on the eastern shore of the Hudson Bay. Inukjuak is about 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) north of Montreal.

Dozens of villagers made the one-hour snowmobile ride Tuesday to see the unusual spectacle. They snapped photos and shot video footage of the killer whales surfacing in the opening — and even thrusting themselves skyward while gasping for air.

One woman who made the journey to the gap in the ice said even a curious polar bear approached the hole amid the commotion. Siasie Kasudluak said the bear was shot by a local hunter for its meat.

The trapped orcas appeared to be in distress, but locals were ill-equipped to help out.

Kasudluak said the hole appeared to be shrinking in the freezing temperatures. Inukpuk believes the sudden drop in temperature recently caught the orcas off guard, leaving them boxed in under the ice.

VAWA still standing

Article by Monica Brown

Sections of the 18 year old Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was built from grassroots and Human rights efforts, were left to expire during the 112th Congress that adjourned without reauthorizing the entire VAWA. The failure of Congress to pass the updates VAWA is due to different political oppositions on sections of the Act they deem to be without need. While the Republican-sponsored House version favors the reduction of services to illegal immigrants and LGBT individuals they have also refused many revised drafts concerning tribal courts ability to prosecute non-natives after committing acts of violence on Native Americans.

In a letter to Majority leader Eric Cantor from the National Congress of Indian Americans (NCIA) stated,

“Tribal leaders viewed the draft as a construct that would bolster the ability of abusers to game the criminal justice system, the very problem we are now trying to solve. The system outlined in the proposed draft would make a dangerous system even worse.” The proposed draft requires case referral to the U.S. Attorney in order to be tried as a felony while the U.S. Attorney, which currently declines 67 percent of sexual abuse and related cases may decide to prosecute, an event that takes months, or to send the case back to Tribal courts as a misdemeanor – where the defendant can immediately remove the case back to the U.S. Attorney for a dismissal.

The VAWA would protect women and men from self governed tribal reservations who are attacked on the reservation from non-tribal member offenders. The Act would also protect immigrants and homosexuals from domestic violence. Within the Act services and programs provided are:

  • Federal rape shield law limits a defendant’s ability to cross-examine rape complainants about their past sexual behavior. The term also refers to a law that prohibits the publication of the identity of an alleged rape victim.
  • Community violence prevention programs
  • Protections for female victims who are evicted from their homes because of events related to domestic violence or stalking
  • Funding for female victim assistance services, like rape crisis centers and hotlines
  • Programs to meet the needs of immigrant women and women of different races or ethnicities
  • Programs and services for female victims with disabilities
  • Legal aid for female survivors of violence

The 2005 version of VAWA is still in operation but the loopholes still leave many victims without a source of refuge or protection they can rely on. As the 113th Congress has been sworn in at the beginning of this year actions are being taken to draft a revised VAWA to be signed into place.

Proposed Road Usage Charge plan

The Washington State Transportation Commission met December 7, 2012 to review Traffic and financial reports and toll rate schedules for both the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and State Route 520. With the Toll fees bringing in a good amount of money they turn to the shrinking income from the gas tax. They discussed how to work a possible plan and budget which would introduce a Road Usage Charge (RUC) and in place of a gas tax. The RUC was proposed by the Road Usage Charge Steering Committee which is recommending a full investigation from 2013 to 2015 on how a the RUC work. The Commission’s study is assessing the feasibility of a future transition from the gas tax to a system that would charge drivers by the miles of road traveled, rather than by fuel consumption.

Weather Warning – Cold / Possible Snow

The Northwest Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Special Weather Statement for colder temperatures and a chance of lowland snow from tonight through the weekend

The Puget Sound Convergence Zone (PSCZ) is forming and we may see 0 to 3 inches of lowland snow (mainly above 400 foot level) accumulation late tonight through tomorrow.  NWS indicates this could impact from North Seattle along the I-5 corridor to Bellingham.

Areas at higher elevations and the further north/east in the region may see larger amounts of snowfall.  Also please note that accurate forecasting for snow relating to the PSCZ is very difficult; be prepared for some areas to receive amounts greater than 3 inches.

Drier conditions will move in behind these systems, but cold temps may keep any snow accumulations around as daytime highs will only make the mid-30s through Monday.

There also is a possibility of another round of snow on Saturday, but it really depends on which track this system takes.

Please be prepared for widely varied winter driving conditions throughout the County and allow extra time in your travels.