From: NiyaEagle@aol.com

This is a letter that I wrote last june upon waiting for Leonard's Parole 
hearing. It seems to again be appropriate as we wait now and I have been 
asked to once again send it out. The sentiments are the same..perhaps a bit sadder in the wait..but never less resolved in what we must do every day that Leonard is imprisoned.I have not written much..because I find no words these days..only the need for the smoke of the sage. Niay Wi
 

My Brothers and Sisters,

      "Richer are dreams without fear, filled with innocence and 
devotion.Don't search for absolution-for it is better to live while you are 
young." 
      These are the words of a warrior, Tate Wikuwa said to me well over 
twenty years ago. You know him as Leonard Peltier. They came after a friend of ours was murdered during his trial and I was upset that I could not stop all of the madness. I was a young woman then....and full of the promise of idealism. Funny that 25 years later...I still am.
      Today I sit by my window...waiting for the dawn to come and save this 
sleepless night. I am sure that Leonard is sitting in his cell much the same way. It will be a day of waiting..and prayer, smudging..and silence..as I walk in spirit beside my friend whose life is in the hands of a scale of justice that has had no balance for him. He was a young man in his twenties when he found the smoke of advocacy....a young man in his thirties when he found the fire of being a warrior of truth through militancy. No more would he watch our children and elders being terrorized by power hungry little men who would sell their people for the price of a badge. He was willing to give his life for his beliefs. Little did he know..that he truly would one day.
       Unfortunately, as many of us have experienced in our own lives..there was a set of two truths in our paths... The truth of what would be for most in this country of hope and opportunity...through the promise of democracy, and the truth of what was left for us who walked the red road.... meager survivalism and seperatism from the "free society". As Leonard once said to me..."It is not the survival of the fittest for us..it is the survival of the fastest". 
      All of these thoughts rush through me. It is not like a mother who 
watches glimpses of her child's life pass through her on their birthday. It 
is more like a person who is recounting periods of their life, to decide 
whether it has been a good one or not. Through all of this I have learned 
that taking time to be strong takes forever; it is all in the mirror that we 
carry. We can choose to see what is and try to change it, or we can choose to become prisoners of what was and live with it. In any case, still the road is long and hard. Through these passages of time I have come closer to my own heart... which honestly at times could be blind or prejudiced...but which at no time was ever allowed to rape another persons hopes..or kill another persons innocence. I learned that we are all made of string..which touches all sides of the four directions at once. We could be strong and taut..and hold together a nation..or we could bend and become slack...and watch a nation fall all around us like a house of cards.
 I have shuffled and reshuffled these cards over the lifetime since Oglala, and still there are no answers. Leonard is still in prison. We are still 
waiting for his release.
      I have pained at what I could possibly write to give you all a glimpse 
of this warrior...this "spirit of Crazy Horse"...and so I will give you parts 
of a letter from him last Thanksgiving time....I believe hearing his own 
words will be better than any I could choose.

 ....."I cannot, of course, see with my own eyes how many are here today.  So I hope that all who have committed themselves are standing and sitting and listening to my words are just as determined as the LPDC staff with this new energy to make something happen in my case. I still believe it can be done. 
As I sit here writing this, I still cannot understand that with the millions 
of people around the world demanding my freedom –the government can still ignore it all – and how my continued incarceration can be on a legal technicality. The Constitution of the United States says that this cannot be. One must be proven guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt. Yet I sit here and it doesn’t appear that my case will be opened any time soon. What an evil show of disrespect and dishonor this is for those, including my own family members, who have fought and died in foreign wars for equal and fair justice for all. Recently we learned that the FBI and prosecutors were caught lying tot he number one law enforcement officer, Janet Reno. This certainly was not a surprise tome or my supporters. We know this over 20 years ago in my case. 
Have you noticed anything about the silence of the mainstream media? What a joke that word is, mainstream media—on the Waco massacre. Nothing about it lately and that can only mean that there is another cover-up coming. Recently a Canadian Minister of Justice released a report on the investigation they did on my extradition. Yes, it was another cover-up. If you read it, you will see how much of a joke this review is. They claim that there was enough circumstantial evidence to extradite me. If this was so, why did they have to create and fabricate Myrtle Poor Bear? Come on! How ignorant do they believe we are? The fact is, I would not have been extradited on the South Dakota first degree murder charges if they had not fabricated Poor Bear as a witness. Those are the facts in a nutshell. I am not going to go into a lot of the legal and political issues involved in my illegal conviction. I have enough speakers who are more than qualified to cover everything there in the month of November. There is just too much to say and my time is very short. 
So I cannot speak on any of it today. I know that you as part of my family and supporters are growing tired of this battle to win my freedom. Yes, it 
has been a long hard fight for me too. I guess it would not be so bid if we 
could see a light at the end of the tunnel, when I was gong to be released. 
But as of late there is no such light so I cannot truthfully say, I will be 
seeing you soon. I can only say, I hope, my sister, that I will see you soon. 
I dream of the day that I can tell you all, thank you, in person. So in 
closing, I can truthfully say, that I will never give up. I ask you, never 
give up on me. We can and we will win this battle. That, I am very confident about. Let me embrace you with my love and friendship. Thank you, in this time of Thanksgiving for showing all the love you have.. In the Spirit of Crazy Horse .......Leonard "

      I know that Leonard does not belong in a world of concrete and 
steel.His world is on the top of the mountains where the pine trees grow and the wind blows. His imprisonment comes as the result of a "civil war " that existed at Pine Ridge in the seventies. The "goons" had been killing many people who sympathized with the American indian movement (AIM). Even children were shot. Homes were firebombed. We panicked when cars backfired. In this type of atmosphere on that horrible day in 1975, two FBI agents came to the Jumping Bull place, saying they were looking for a young man who had supposedly stolen a pair of boots. They knew where they were going. I personally believe they were also pawns in a greater drama that day. With everyone in a state of near hysteria..a shot was fired and all hell broke loose. The governemt was determined that someone...anyone would pay the price for what resulted. Funny that no one paid the price for our dead that day. Since you know the outcome I do not need to relive this for you. At the Grass Mountain Sundance in 1977, Myrtle Poor Bear stood under the Sacred Tree as 
related by my friend Archie Lame Deer, with the Sacred Pipe in her hands and tears streaming down her face and described how she was forced to give false testimony against Leonard.  Our people have long been the victims of a different methid of justice...intimidation. (I personally believe that is the method that organized religion came to us hundreds of years ago. That is why I do not honor it to this day.) Archie at one time was a spiritual counselor for Leonard when he was at Lompoc.His father was who named me. These are all strands in my storybelt.
      Leonard understood what brought him to this day. He has not understood what has kept truth from being served. But he has accepted it..and that is the strength of this man. His gratitude for all who have helped all of these years is genuine. His love is unbounding. But in this acceptance is also the fire and ferocious desire...to see that liberty is realized. 
      The dawn is breaking here and Grandfather Sky holds the Sun, Wi and the Moon, Hanwi...firmly in his hands. Soon the events of this day will become another bead in all of our stroybelts. I ask that all of you make this day one that will count. Keep love in your hearts...be kind to each other.... hold your families close, keep the silence of our prayer...and celebrate the freedoms that you do have. And in the moment..when life has taken over, and you are understanding the fragility of it all...remember our brother Leonard..and pray for his release. On this day I will offer one of the prayers of our Sundance.....hoping for good weather. In my case..I will pray it  with the understanding that the "good weather" is Leonard's release...so that we all may begin a life of peace. I also ask that you understand...that 
if Leonard is not released today..the determination will be even stronger for the tomorrow when he will.

                        Anpetu wi tanyan, hinapa nunwe
                        Maka ozazanyan tanyan,
                        Hinapa nunwe. 

                        May the sun rise well,
                        Brightly shining upon the Earth.
 

 My blessings to you all...Niya Wi
 

 If I approach the cliffs edge,
 Should I step over its limit?
 I have flown over the rivers
 And beyond the plains of this realm,
 But I have never fallen away.

 Until now.......

 I guess it was time.
 There is nothing more to say.
 I've seen more than I wanted to,
 I've said more than I should.
 And I have been chosen for
 Something I cannot dispute.
 It was meant to be that way--
 Because if I had known,
  I may not have come.

 The chance to change the course
 Of this river is tempting.
 The chance to change this dreamer
 Is long over due.

 The cliff edge is inviting...
 The ground below is in ruin.
 What difference would it make?
 It means more than I could fathom...
 For I have no choice with greater reason,
 And I have no wisdom greater than this challenge.

  I wish to be alone-
 Only because it means so much.
 And only because I am standing here,
 For no one else would know.

 It's too simple--
 I'll have to walk away.
 But I have seen the end of this dream.
 I know what lies ahead-
 For I created it years ago
 For just this day.....

 And I cannot deny it now.

 Thankyou for sharing this day with me...Niya Wi...I ask that you remember all of us in your prayers
-=<+>=-

Re: Gale Norton's Confirmation Hearing..Petition
Request: Re: Madeline, Louie and John Moose
Fund Raising for Native American Woman in Need of Kidney Transplant
Rosebud Elementary School Inauguration funding Assistance Request
OHIO: FW: 7th Anniversary of the Zapatista Uprising in Cinncinati
ACTION AT PEABODY COAL HEADQUARTERS IN ST. LOUIS,
MASCOT: Blacksburg mascot panel seeks public input
Confirmation Hearing: Dr. Rod. Paige
AUSTIN, TX: SUPPORT GRAVES  PROTECTION FOR UN-MARKED BURIALS,JAN 20..READ IT...
ALERT !! MNR imposing  buying ban on native catches..READ IT...
NEW PELTIER PETITION..HERE...
Stone Mountain GA: Petition to protect Burial Grounds..READ IT...
AIM FLA: CONTACT CHASCO SPONSORS..READ IT...
JAN 20 TX: Burial Protection,  A Call for Support!!..READ IT...
PETITION: Ban on inmate broadcast interviews..READ IT...

-=<+>=- HEALTH BRIEFS -=<+>=- .   Northwest tribes turn treatment center into national model FDA: While Pregnant, Limit Fish NYU School of Medicine: Internships US recommends adding two new vaccines for infants Vaccination Myths and Truths..1 of 2 Vaccination Myths and Truths...2 of 2 Health education coming to reservations Study finds diabetics at high risk of death AIDS: The Quiet Scourge 1st Annual Native American Substance Abuse /HIV Prevention Conference (CALIFORNIA) -- January 21- 23, 2001 President Clinton promotes cancer screenings READ IT... "Help for diabetes to start with test"  READ IT... UM-related project helps Indians with disabilities...READ IT... CINE-Centre for Indigenous Nutrition and Environment..READ IT... WEB SITE: CINE   CUMULATIVE DECEMBER HERE

-=<+>=-

-=<+>=-

PELTIER COVERAGE a railroad job is a railroad job -  once the destination has been predetermined, the process becomes one  of simply laying down the tracks so that the train can get to the  predetermined place it was meant to go ..Interlochen..a Peltier supporter RALLIES LPDC WEB SITE UPDATE LPDC Web Site Update: Congressional Briefing Audio Clips ARTICLES Leonard Peltier: FW: nym at border crossing UBCIC Support for Peltier's Clemency "Stenehjem asks Clinton to reject Peltier  clemency" LPDC: Peltier clemency update  LPDC  Leonard Peltier: City of Boston Resolution No justice for Peltier .by Kevin McKiernan LPSG, NH: Press Release..READ IT... Daschle opposes freeing Peltier REBUTTAL: Anne McLellan's letter to Janet Reno RE: Leonard Peltier Extradition Web Posted: Anne McLellan's letter to Janet Reno RE: Leonard Peltier Extradition LEONARD PELTIER: Petition Report UPDATE COLUMN: A pardon for Leonard Peltier?  Testimony of Bruce Ellison,AIM Attorney, Congressional Briefings, May 2000 LEONARD PELTIER: Petition Report Pardons being weighed as Clinton term ends..READ IT... VIEWPOINT: With lack of evidence, court today could not convict Leonard Peltier, READ IT... Activist's release sought before Bush takes office READ IT... Peltier: A Tug-o-War for Freedom, READ IT... Carol Mattern: Judge, others revise views of Peltier's case...READ  IT PELTIER:  Put a Close to This Sad Chapter.READ IT... FINAL  PETITION REPORT/ NEW PETITION..READ IT PELTIER PETITION NETS OVER 26,000  SIGNATURES..READ IT... Peltier Should Be Freed..READ IT... NPPA SITE ACCUSES IMDIVERSITY WRITER OF "LIBEL" / AND RESPONSE READ IT... Peltier: Utah Groups Seek Clemency for Activist Convicted of Killing Agents  THE SALT LAKE  TRIBUNE .READ IT... RELATED NEWS: Stand up to the FBI; Fw: Peltier Poll on vote.com READ IT... FAX A CLEMENCY REQUEST HOSTED BY GLOBAL EXCHANGE     CUMULATIVE DECEMBER...HERE LPDC Web site updates SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS  PREVIOUS ARTICLES

-=<+>=-  UN : GENEVA  -=<+>=-

CEFIC position on TK
2001 -- UN's Year of the Volunteer...READ IT...
Indigenous Knowledge Conference..READ IT...

Cultural Survival Quarterly-Intellectual Property Rights: Culture as Commodity

U.S. Signs Treaty for World Court to Try Atrocities
NYTIMES {requires registration}
READ AN EXCERPT HERE..
ALSO: HERE.. 

The tension rises as those who have been active in seeking Leonard Peltier's Clemency wait for an announcement of President Clinton's DECISION.  According to CNN, announcements on clemencies are expected to be made later today-this evening.

Speculation has risen that in some way the deal between the independent counsel investigating Clinton's prevarications under oath in the Monica Lewinski scandal may have hinged upon his clemency decisions concerning both Whitewater figures and Leonard Peltier.

Tension must be almost unbearable for Leonard  as he waits to learn whether he will ever walk free under wide skies with family or hope slam with finality.

The Staff of Native News joins supporters around the world in prayer as we await the White House announcement.

FAX IS STILL OPEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Free fax for Leonard Peltier(works with Explorer or Netscape or web TV)
(hosted by Global Exchange..Not LPDC)
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/usa/peltier/getInvolved.html
 
 
 

CHILDREN's BOOKS : By, about Native Americans,
review by Paula Giese

BOOK CORNER: One-Sided Take on the Old West
Grandpa Says : Stories for a Seventh Generation James BlueWolf
Sitting By His Bones James BlueWolf
Dancing On the Brink of the World
Bloodland :A Family Story of Oil, 
Treaty of Canadaigua 1794:200 Years of Treaty..,VG. PETER JEMISON
Garden in the Dunes,   Leslie Marmon Silko
Voices of Wounded Knee
Art of War - Indian Pictographs Tell Other Side
The Iroquois Book 2000
The Scapel and the Silver Bear"
The American Misadventure of Race
Reservation dreams and realities
Walking on the Land by  Farley Mowat
''The Meadowlands''
.Blue Jacket, Warrior of the Shawnees

Fwd: IEN: Indigenous Education Network hosts "Book Feast Launch"..Jan 16/2001

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