Bush: Too little, too late for Native Americans

[govegan]

More Native American wisdom:


Thirty-nine days before the presidential election in November George W. Bush, facing a hotly-contested race to keep his job, finally got around to inviting a small group of tribal leaders to the oval office: A subtle nod to the fact that the Indian vote can make the critical difference in the outcome of the election in certain key western states. Proudly proclaiming it an historic moment, the President produced a weak and watered down version of former President Clinton's 1993 Executive Memorandum on the government-to-government relationship, so minimal in scope that a picture of a smiling George Bush surrounded by a handful of tribal leaders had to be inserted in order that the document might fill the entire page.

Having signed this document with ''pomp and circumstance-lite,'' George Bush would now with a straight face have us believe that his administration is committed to tribal sovereignty and the government-to-government relationship. Just in case we missed it, the point was repeated in four of the five paragraphs, sometimes more than once. The problem is that it was just about the only point made in the entire statement, other than to make clear that the document is not intended to be enforceable and doesn't create any substantive or procedural right. Actually, as it turns out, the legal disclaimer represents 20 percent of the document.

.....................................

John Kerry, on the other hand, has been a long-time ally of Indian country in the Senate. Tribal sovereignty isn't just a catch phrase to John Kerry, he understands its meaning, and equally importantly the federal obligations that attach to the federal Indian relationship. As Chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, John Kerry introduced the Native American Small Business Development Act which will create a permanent Office of Native American Affairs at SBA and will create a new grant program to assist American Indians and Alaska Natives. He understands the critical need for infrastructure and economic development in Indian country. More importantly, he knows what needs to be done and that it needs to be done in partnership with tribal governments.

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096409700

"so minimal in scope that a picture of a smiling George Bush surrounded by a handful of tribal leaders had to be inserted in order that the document might fill the entire page."

Talk about minimalist; a smiling picture of the putrescent poltroon himself!!!! Egads!

[AspenRose]

1. I saw a beautiful picture of Kerry receiving a feather blessing from

a medicine man from the Dine nation (Navajo) who also happened to be a marine.

I took that picture to my social work class and shared it with one of my Dine classmates, who agreed with me and thought it was great that Kerry has been so proactive.

We both agreed that we'd never, in a million years, see GWB offered (or receiving) a feather blessing.

[progdonkey]

5. feather blessing

What's the signifance of the feather blessing? I get that it's obviously a high honor, but what's the meaning behind it and is that the highest honor a non-Native American can receive?

[bigtree]

9. Each tribe associates different meanings and significance to feathers

As with most of these sacred rituals, most are reluctant to fully outline the meaning and ritual because of the potential for misinterpretation and exploitation. One constant though is that these 'blessings' have deep meaning and purpose to those who administer them. They are shared generously by indigenous cultures as they intend to help heal and protect the nation and those who would afford them the respect of listening to their concerns and commit themselves to their plights and causes, among them, the preservation of the earth and the People, and the defense of their sovereignty.


The Five Sacred Medicines

Read and listen to “The Five Sacred Medicines” story
http://www.pbs.org/circleofstories/storytellers/hoskie_benally.html
http://video.pbs.org:8080/ramgen/electricshadows/hoskie_final.rm


Mother Earth and Father Sky had their differences at one time. And Mother Earth was saying ‘Everything here on the ground and every living thing that walks on the ground belongs to me and are under my control’ and Father Sky said ‘If that’s the way it’s going to be, then everything from the air on up is under my control’. So they had their differences and they decided that they weren’t going to interact for four years.

And so they said there were four plants, there were four plants and a bird left. And they withstood all this dryness, lack of moisture, thin air. And so they went to Mother Earth and told Mother Earth, they said ‘You know because of the difference with Father Sky we’re the ones who are suffering.’ So Mother Earth said ‘We need to give message to Father Sky that we need to make amends and we need to bring things back to the way they were and make corrections on our own selfishness.’

And so they decided that’s what they would do. And so they sent this bird up to Father Sky. He flew way up, kept flying until he disappeared. And then about four days later, they say from the south direction, they saw a rain cloud and they heard thunder. And the second thunder got closer, third thunder came up almost above them and then fourth thunder right above them. And when they heard that thunder and saw that lightning, out of that lightning came this bird, flew back down to Mother Earth and brought rain, brought them moisture, brought the change in the air, in the atmosphere. And everything began to get moist again, everything began to breathe easy again, and all the creation that had been lost and had vanished began to reappear.

And so they said the ones that had survived was a cedar plant, a tobacco plant, a yucca plant and a sage plant. And then this bird they said was the eagle. And they said, so from that day on, the Creator and Mother Earth and Father Sky told these survivors that because of your ability to survive, because of your courage, your stamina, and your resilience you are going to be in the ceremonies of all the Indian people across all Indian land. And they said that’s why today we use the tobacco, cedar, yucca, sage and we use the eagle feather.

[progdonkey]

11. very interesting

Thanks for the link. I really should bone up on my knowledge; I grew up overseas and so know all kinds of customs of foreign cultures but am completely ignorant of this country's own indigenous peoples.

[knowbody0]

2. notice he was not wearing gift blanket

[AntiCoup2K4]

3. Considering the Fraudminsitration plans to suppress the Indian vote in SD.

....in order to get that piece of shit Thune in the Senate, nothing could be more hypocritical than this fucking asshole pretending to reach out to tribal leaders now.

Next thing you know the Dumbass will be claiming he's got a sweatlodge on the pig ranch in Crawford. Forked tongue motherfucker :grr:

[progdonkey]

6. ...and that he and Laura were really just passing around a peace pipe...

[AntiCoup2K4]

8. They were WHAT??

Now that is seriously fucked up! The old cowboy movie idea of a "peace pipe" is seriously distorted from what the pipe (chanunpah) actually means in the Native culture. It's as sacred to them as written scriptures are to Christians, Jews, and Muslims

[progdonkey]

10. sarcasm

The post I replied to said, "Next thing you know Dumbass will be claiming he's got a sweatlodge on the pig ranch in Crawford." I was referring to the Kelley book's allegations that Laura was a pot-dealer/smoker and Bush's cocaine use and applied it to the peace pipe stereotype.

I wasn't being serious! :-)

(though, I wish it were true... that would be really funny to see...)

[BrotherBuzz]

4. And to cement the deal

Bush* promised to return Geronimo's skull, the one his grandfather stole.

[cheshire]

7. Hope * has ears in here to see that truth. He acts like no one knows.