American Indian Holocaust Tribute in Los Angeles - Elizabeth Kucinich participates

[seemslikeadream]

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/11/american-indian-holocaust-tribute-in.html

American Indian Holocaust Tribute Draws National Attention
By Red Nation Celebration
LOS ANGELES -- Elizabeth Kucinich, spouse of presidential contender Dennis Kucinich, participated in the first American Indian Holocaust Memorial/Tree of Life Tribute, which was held on the eve of Thanksgiving in Los Angeles State Historic Park.
Kucinich, a member of the International Indigenous Sacred Women’s Council, the group who organized the tribute in partnership with Red Nation Celebration; took time from her West Coast campaign to be on hand for the planting of a memorial sycamore tree to acknowledge the millions of American Indians who died during the colonization of the United States.
Red Nation Founder Joanelle Romero painted participants’ feet red, “to symbolize the good Red Road, the path we aspire to walk with our children, their children and all peoples.”
An excerpt of the ceremony is currently airing on Congressman Kucinich’s national campaign weekly update. (To view, click here; then scroll in halfway to the 3 minute: 30 second mark.)Sean Woods, Director of State Parks in the Los Angeles area, stated, “It is befitting and appropriate that the symbolic tree was planted in Los Angeles State Historic Park.
The purpose of this Park is to preserve the public heritage of the landscape and more importantly to bring some of the tragic elements of our history to light, rather than shy away from them. We benefit by examining the complete history of Los Angeles, because we cannot begin healing until we recognize the mistakes of the past. The Park serves as a point of reflection for the public. The space was most recently slated for one million square feet of industrial development. From the old historic communities surrounding the park (which are predominately poor), the people rose up and secured the Park for open space. It is therefore a peoples’ park, and history continues to unfold here: Ten thousand years of Native history flows into the recent struggle of the community to make themselves a Park and into this American Indian Tribute to Life.”
Visit http://wwwjblfilms.com/red_nation_photos.html for more photos of the American Indian Holocaust Memorial Tribute to Life ceremony.


http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/24/18463197.php

This land - all of it belongs to the First People - and if we cannot acknowledge this - the rest is not worth saying anything about. Greed must stop somewhere and for some it goes on and on and on.

When such ignorant folks die - most of them do not contribute much to Society in the form of healing and Respecting Mother Earth. This is not being judgmental but a fact of life.

Witness those that respect Mother Earth - do not waste - live a simple life.

Respect others - do not pollute - are NOT focused on materialism - love their neighbors - are not hostile to the immigrants and the First People - these people matter - they bring peace to the Universe.

I admire people like Wounded Knee who has walked from Coast to Coast to bring a message of peace to the people living in America.

These many years he has fought hard - to save the Shellmounds and to gather women, children, and men of good faith - to bring about healing - all over the Bay Area.

Jenela, Corina Gould, Wounded Knee, Morning Star, Perry, and so many have carried on the tradition - walking 25 to 35 miles a day - stopping at the many Shellmound Sites - and doing what is right - paying their homage to the ancestors.

On another note - we know, that thousands of human remains - all First People - lie in Museums and in other vaults - all over California and these remains must be returned for burial - in a place that the Elders respect and honor.

Here are some photographs of the Sacred Shellmound Walkers - on their last day - being honored and enjoying a meal - at the end of the walk at 780 Valencia Street, in San Francisco.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/franciscodacosta/sets/72157603265236543/show/

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. The destruction of Indian culture continued into my lifetime

I have Choctaw friends who were punished if they spoke their native language; anyone trying to do ceremony was in big trouble. In fact, it wasn't until the 1970s that the US government decided that the Constitutional provision of freedom of religion includes the Native peoples.