Spring 2009 News from Ndn Country

Spring News from Ndn Country



Lots of news this spring in Ndn Country from the tragic passing of our first Native American Judge Carol Vigil to the important work done by Valerie Taliman and the folks at the Indian Law Resource Center, a new petition President Obama to grant Clemency to our brother Leonard Peltier and the jury ruling in favor of Ward Churchill in his wrongful dismissal from Colorado University and violation of First Amendment Rights and Anishinaabe elder Josephine Mandamin from Thunder Bay who was "moved by the spirits" to speak out for the Great Lakes and has already walked 17,000 kilometres around the lakes alerting people to heal the water.

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Judge Carol Vigil's passing is a great loss to New Mexico and the legal community of Santa Fe.

Judge Vigil was loved for her compassion and wise judgment and was a warm and friendly presence that will be much missed. I will always remember her warmth and kindness.

Condolences to the Vigil family and the people of Tesuque Pueblo. The nation's first Native American judge will be missed by New Mexicans.



See - Nation’s first Native American female judge dies Indian Country Today National & World News

Source: www.indiancountrytoday.com

TESUQUE PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) – “The first Native American woman to be elected as a state district judge in the United States, who was also widely beloved for her compassion toward people dealing with domestic abuse cases, has died.”



Valerie Taliman, Editor and Director of Communications at Indian Law Resource center shares news of indigenous struggles in the Americas at Indigenous Notes Indian Law Resource Center

Source: www.indianlaw.org

“Welcome to the first edition of the Indian Law Resource Center's-newsletter, Indigenous Notes. We are pleased to share news about cutting-edge issues and information about our work in the Americas to seek justice for Indigenous peoples.”



Hope you will join me in signing this petition for Clemency for our brother Leonard Peltier.
Please read the message below from our sister Eda Gordon who has contributed greatly over the last four decades to the struggle.



Petition to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier
Dear Friends,

Please circulate this petition far and wide to all who may be committed to freedom for Leonard Peltier, after 33 years of imprisonment on the basis of specious evidence and coerced testimony. This is the Justice Department who may be poised to hear that a severe injustice has been done and act courageously and in good faith. Certainly there is a bigger opening than we have had in eight years to press the struggle. Thank you.

Eda

(Eda Gordon)

http://www.petitiononline.com/Clemency/petition.html



News organizations from the left to far right reported this week on the jury deciding in favor of Ward Churchill in his law suit against Colorado University. Check out http://www.wardchurchill.net/ for the man’s story first-hand.

Jury Verdict for Ward Churchill

“What was asked for and what was delivered was justice.” - Ward Churchill



On April 2, 2009 the jury returned a verdict for Professor Ward Churchill in his case against the University of Colorado.

The jury found unanimously that Ward’s 9/11 essay was a significant factor in the Regents’ decision to fire him, and that he would not have been fired but for his exercise of his First Amendment rights.”



The story was also covered by Democracy Now, Fox News and The New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/us/03churchill.html?scp=1&sq=&st=nyt in and article by titled “Jury Says Professor Was Wrongly Fired” published on August 3, 2009. DENVER — A jury found on Thursday that the University of Colorado had wrongfully dismissed a professor who drew national attention for an essay in which he called some victims of the Sept. 11 attacks “little Eichmanns.”



Whether you agree with what Ward Churchill really said about the U.S. bearing some responsibility for the attacks of 9/11 because of the violence of U.S. policy abroad, free speech is a zero-sum game. It is for everyone. The jury victory is a victory for First Amendment Rights and academic freedom.



Artist America Meredith shared this article by her cousin - "The Kiowa Clemente Course in the Humanities and Two Perspectives on Poverty”. This study examines the history of poverty among Oklahoma Indians and the crucial role reviving culture has in abating poverty.



Source: www.wce.wwu.edu




Thanks to Anishinaabe elder Josephine Mandamin for her journey of prayer, thanks and renewal to speak for the water. Josephine a Thunder Bay grandmother who was born and raised on Manitoulin Island eating fish and drinking water from Georgian Bay has walked 17,000 kilometres on her path to circle the lakes and tell people that "the water is sick ... and people need to really fight for that water, to speak for that water, to love that water." For Josephine’s inspiring story, go to

http://www.thestar.com/News/Insight/article/613541












In closing, I wish all those working for United Nations recognition of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas luck, perseverance and success in getting the wisdom and issues of our First Peoples to the world stage at this crucial time for all the people of the earth.



Charleen Touchette

April 5, 2009

www.TouchArt.net

www.OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com