A few days ago I posted an article about the Brazilian company Aracruz Cellulose and their efforts to invalidate, undermine, and steal from the Tupinikim and Guarani Indigenous People. Well, it turns out that on July 24 the Tupinikim and Guarani began a campaign to reclaim their land…

Much thanks to Robert J. Miller for posting the Open Letter on his website.

Open Letter to the population and Brazilian authorities dated July 24
By the Commission of Tupinikim and Guarani Chiefs and Leaders

“we start realizing several pacific actions with …

When the Oglala Sioux Tribe passed an ordinance separating industrial hemp from its illegal cousin, marijuana, Alex White Plume and his family glimpsed a brighter future.

Having researched hemp as a sustainable crop that would grow in the inhospitable soil of the South Dakota Badlands, the White Plumes envisioned a new economy that would impact the 85% unemployment rate on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

They never dreamed they would find themselves swept up in a struggle over tribal sovereignty, economic rights, and common sense.

From the hemp fields of Pine Ridge to the US Federal Court of Appeals, the one-hour documentary Standing Silent …

Well, the Tsawwassen vote came and went, with a 130 people choosing YES and 50 NO. Quite the difference from the previous vote, I must day. I guess bribery and misdirection does work!!!!

Now, it’s off to be ratified by the Federal and Provincial governments, which of course they’ll do hands-down. That is, unless some impressive pressure is put on them by all opposed to it… (see here for an article about the vote — but please hold any glorification you see in contempt.

Well, this Saturday another, similar vote is taking place. This one among the Huu-Ay-Aht, who will be …

Related to the previous post, here’s some commentary by Julienne Xene Cross—who’s urging Indigenous Nations to Unite, let go of colonial niceties, and become self-sustaining. Survival depends on it.

This was originally posted at Brenda Norrell’s blog

A pen conquered us and a pen can wipe us out as a Nation
by Julienne Xene Cross

We, Indigenous People of North America, “Indian Country”, are inherent speakers for our Mother the Earth. We need to come together with one heart and mind to protect the future of our Great Nation.

When the United States drafted the Constitution, the word conquered written …

Well. For some incomprehensible reason, the AFN has been invited to participate in a gathering next week to work out the details of a “United League of Indigenous Nations” Treaty. There’s only one thing to say about this, and I will emphasize it:

If such a League is to have any kind of legitimacy, it cannot have a Non-Governmental Organization sitting at the table.

That’s really all I have to say, though it’s great to see something like this being put forward. It really needs to come from the people though.

Invitation to Treaty of Indigenous Nation Meeting - Lummi Indian Reservation - …

Just a few days ago, Colombia celebrated 197 years of independence from Spain. And Yesterday, at dawn, some 5,000 indigenous people set off on an 800-kilometre journey to ask the government, “what independence?”

From IPS News - “We’re going to the national Congress to make it known that we do not agree with laws they’ve passed that seriously jeopardise national sovereignty and the autonomy of indigenous peoples,” Feliciano Valencia, an indigenous leader, told IPS.

Nasa (or Páez) and Guambian people started their journey in Santander de Quilichao, 100 km north of …

Here’s an urgent online petition to help protect Apache Leap and numerous other Sacred sites from desecration by copper mining. The land in question is part of the ancestral lands of the sovereign Native Nations of the Apache, Yavapai, Hopi, and O’Odham.

These Nations have not given permission for this land to be mined—and yet, there’s a bill in US congress about to pass which would grant the Canadian mining Company Resolution Copper, unmitigated access to the land.

In other words, the bill will make them exempt from all NEPA mandated …

The Mato Paha Forum is set to begin on August 5th, at the Mother Butler Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. As expressed in the media release below, this is the forum of it’s kind…

The Mato Paha Spiritual Forum: Religious Freedom and Human Rights will be held on Sunday, August 5, 2007 beginning at 1:00pm in the afternoon at the Mother Butler Center in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The Forum will gather Traditional Healers (Medicine Men) and Spiritual Leaders from the Oglala Band, Sicanju Band, Hohwoju Band of the Lakota Nation, …

Algonquin Representatives and others opposed to Uranium mining in the Sharbot Lake area met this week with representatives from the mining company. Clearly, Frontenac was hoping to buy the Algonquins out, but financial offer was flat out rejected. A Letter sent out by Janie Jamieson puts it all into perspective…

“No amount of money can ever compensate them for the likelihood of death, cancer, mutated births, still births, sterilization and other health risks that will arise as a direct result of uranium mining.

The health risks are too great for our future generations. The environmental damage will be substantial …

Nearing the beginning of July, twenty-one Gana and Gwi Bushmen were arrested for hunting on their traditional lands in Botswana. This despite the High Court of Botswana ruling that the Gana and Gwi have the right to live on their land, and that the government acted against the law when they were evicted from their lands in 2002.

From Survival International - Justice Phumaphi said in his ruling, ‘The simultaneous stoppage of the supply of food rations and the issuing of SGLs [hunting licences] [was] tantamount to condemning the remaining …