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ORIGINS
In early December 1996 Steve McCullough, a friend
from Indiana, mentioned there was a rider on
a piece of legislation that would limit access to the Black Hills to groups
comprised of smaller than 40 individuals, and a proposed "licensing" of
Medicine Men in the state of South Dakota. A meeting was scheduled
December 3 to discuss recent court cases involving Freedom of Religion
as well as these riders. An alert was sent out over the internet
via e-mail and a petition quickly set up at the First
Nation's site owned by Jordan Dill, within the next 48 hours
over 1,000 individuals responded with letters of support for the Lakota
people, letters supporting freedom to worship without restriction or licensure
in their ancestral lands. These original responses formed the basis
of the Native News Online service subscribers which transferred to a list
serve and recently found a permanent web based home on the internet.
Currently,an average of 700-800 members including
several FM radio stations, other online news services and print edition
news papers who utilize Native News Online as a news feed number among
our subscribers..
PHILOSOPHY
It is the firm belief of those who distribute news
over Native News Online and its sister lists
that increased information between our various nations allows for increased
realization of the commonality of issues facing us as Native people in
the twenty first century. We share many common goals and aspirations,
and common foes which include all who through various laws, disrespect,
misunderstanding and fear erode our land bases, culture and soveriegn status
among the nations of the world. It is the belief that increased knowledge
is necessary to bring about understanding among ourselves and with those
who seek to understand us as peoples.
ALERTS
From time to time as crises arise in land disputes,
tribal disputes and such Native News Online carries alerts and calls for
assistance. These calls for assistance represent fluid situations,
however, we as a society have become so accustomed to pre-digested news
scheduled each evening, that when there is ongoing coverage of a current
crisis, relayed by a person receiving news feed from those involved in
the situation, we fail to realize the dynamics. Crises are fluid
situations, ongoing that can change from moment to moment.. Who can fail
to recall national coverage of the past presidential election when first
one and then the other was the projected winner?
We strongly advise
our readership to always question sources provided in these alerts before
taking any action..always! Changes, updates and retractions (if necessary)
will continue to be posted over Native News as received ASAP.
Generally, a spokesperson
is chosen among those "in" the crisis to relay information to the internet
and news media. It is from these designated spokepeople that "alerts"
are received and distributed. Sources are checked and double checked
to ensure as accurate a report as possible. However, we prefer that
people check for themselves, and act as personally deemed necessary, than
that we hold alerts over long and fail to provide the information that
help is needed, perhaps to the detriment of all.
Barefoot Connections is a Native American Heritage Intiative [NAHI] and NDN Rights Project Affiliate
References:
Background
on the Petition
ACLU News on the Freedom of Speech issue which arose when South Dakota Gov Bill Janklow attempted to silence the voices of the people.
The following is released by The Dakota Territorial
Chairman's Council 12.18.96
located on Jordan's Dill's site:
Don Cetrulo [an investigator for the ACLU in the Dakotas working out
of the Bismark office] researched and found the rider attached to House
Bill # 385. As a result of a syllabus written by Diane Schafer Fleming
[and sent] to the State Attorney General's Office on March 6, 1996
[regarding] this rider entitled Certification of Pastoral Counselors, the
State Attorney General wrote an opinion OAG96-15 on March 5, 1996
(Atty. Gen. A.B. Chandler) [stating that] this legislation fails to state it
has nonsecular application only [hence] conflicts with First Amendment
Rights. [The rider] is currently under investigation by the ACLU.This rider would permit the governor to appoint a panel of five people
who would set the standards for determining who can practice as a
social worker, counselor, pastor or Medicine Man. They would review
all applications for certification, handle removal of certification and
renewals, charging a fee for this service. This rider also sets restrictions
on the number of people who can gather for public safety, sanitation and
historic site preservation purposes.In an earlier ruling the Eighth Circuit Court FOOLS CROW v. GULLET
[706 F.2d 856] determined that the Sacred Hills (including Bear Butte)
does not qualify for sacred site status and therefore falls under the
jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and the State forest people,
and the state transportation department.
The preceding documentation is [provided]
courtesy of the Dakota
Territorial Chairman's Council
and the basis for the earlier URGENT
request that was released over
the internet requesting support for the
free religious exercise on Bear
Butte.
Dakota Territorial Chairman's Council
Arvol Looking Horse
Joe Chasing Horses
Russel Eagle Bear
NOTE: the almost immediate contrary information released via some of the news outlets and the governor's office...and compare it to the proofs provided above. You decide.."hysterical internet petitioner"? or real?
