Ruffled Feathers

“There is heavy police presence in Deseronto, Ont., near Belleville, after an escalating land dispute in eastern Ontario calmed following a heated confrontation between native protesters and police. Members of the Mohawk First Nation who live on a reserve in the area occupied a chunk of disputed land Monday morning and refused to co-operate with police who asked them to leave when they arrived to remove a barricade blocking the road. Natives occupying the area say they are protesting in an effort to halt plans to develop land, which they say belongs to them.” (04/28/08)

http://tinyurl.com/42wesx

“Years of legal battle between the government and Northwest Indian tribes finally ended this week with the parties signing a 10-year, $900-million compromise. Idaho Rivers United Executive Director Bill Sedivy said four Native American tribes in Washington and Oregon had agreed to remain silent for 10 years on the issue of the four hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River. In exchange, federal agencies would expand tribal efforts to protect endangered and threatened fish in the Columbia River Basin, spending up to $900 million on hatchery improvements, stream restoration work, screens to protect fish and additional spillways on some of the dams.” (04/08/08)

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010578421

“The Australian government has ignited a fierce debate about indigenous rights by banning alcohol and pornography in some Outback Aboriginal communities as a response to child abuse. ‘This is another attack on Aboriginal people,’ said Charlie King, an adviser to the Northern Territory government on child welfare issues. ‘This is the big stick approach.’ John Howard, the Prime Minister, announced yesterday that his government plans to usurp some of the powers of the Northern Territory government in response to a report that found child abuse is rampant in indigenous communities on Australia’s tropical northern frontier.” (06/21/07)

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/australasia/article2692501.ece

“Martha Stewart’s attempt to trademark ‘Katonah’ — a move that has already riled some of her village neighbors — has now upset some American Indians because the name originally belonged to a 17th-century chief. Autumn Scott and Steven Burton, two members of the Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation — which claims Chief Katonah as its own — have joined the anti-trademark battle being waged by the Katonah Village Improvement Society. Other American Indian leaders yesterday said that Stewart’s trademark application was offensive. ‘If I wanted to trademark ‘Martha Stewart’ and put out a line of tea towels, she would have me in court very quickly,’ said Suzan Harjo, president of the Morning Star Institute, an advocacy group. Stewart’s company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSO), wants to trademark Katonah for home furnishings, paints and other products.” (05/30/07)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,276375,00.html

“Worldwide demand for nuclear power as an emissions-free source of energy has sparked a boom of sorts for uranium, as prices have multipled tenfold. But the promise of radioactive deposits worth millions of dollars has set off a debate on the southwest South Dakota prairie involving American Indians and energy developers over whether the payoff is worth the price if there’s a threat to the environment or people.” (05/15/07)

http://tinyurl.com/2purkk

“A wrench has been thrown into the Tsawwassen treaty. A native organization representing up to 40 per cent of bands in the province is urging the prime minister to hold off on ratification until another local band with overlapping claims is consulted. The Tsawwassen First Nation is expected to hold a ratification vote in July on the agreement initialed with senior governments last December. The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs’ president, Chief Stewart Phillip, as well as vice-president, Chief Robert Shintah, and secretary-treasurer, Chief Mike Retasket, signed the letter. The intervention is on behalf of the Hwlitsum First Nation and involves a number of issues, including land claims at Canoe Pass and fishing rights.” (03/17/07)

http://tinyurl.com/2ha74s

“Arizona volunteers are donating blankets, jackets and money to help snowed-in Indian villages in northern Mexico, where the Mexican government broadened a state of emergency on Tuesday. The relief supplies are bound for remote villages around the Copper Canyon, a popular tourist destination often likened to Arizona’s Grand Canyon. ‘We’re trying to save some lives and alleviate suffering,’ said Richard Fisher of Tucson, who is coordinating the effort. He said donors have pledged about 1,000 jackets and an equal number of blankets so far. Heavy snows have been piling up since early January in Chihuahua’s highlands, cutting off telephone lines and mountain roads. Some 200 villages have been snowed in, according to the state’s emergency-relief agency.” (02/07/07)

http://tinyurl.com/yobbz7

“A collection of significant First Nations artifacts purchased at a New York auction last fall, largely by Canadians, is coming to B.C. for exhibition this spring. Individual Canadians — including one Victoria woman — and Gatineau, Que.’s Museum of Civilization accounted for $6.6 million of the $7 million US the famed Dundas collection brought at auction. … The nine owners agreed that First Nations people in Tsimshian territory would be the first to view the collection, according to the museum’s Diane Dakers. Until then, media photographers are not even allowed to take pictures of the 36 artifacts, which are insured for $8 million.” (01/11/07)

http://tinyurl.com/y4npbk

“A native protester will stay in custody until his next court appearance later this month. 31-year old Trevor Miller faces charges of theft, robbery and assault in connection with incidents near the site of the Caledonia standoff this past August. … His supporters have described him as a prisoner of war.” (01/08/07)

http://tinyurl.com/unbc8

“Vincent Dale Ross said it doesn’t matter how many times he is found in contempt of court and ordered to serve jail time, he will not plea on charges against him in Kerr County Court-at-Law. On Tuesday, Ross again will face misdemeanor charges that he displayed fictitious license plates and was driving without a valid license. The 52-year-old man says he is a member of The Little Shell Pembina Band of North America, a sovereign foreign nation indigenous to the United States and Canada.” (01/08/07)

http://web.dailytimes.com/story.lasso?ewcd=83a5c0e79f67094f