Presentation dedicated in Presentation dedicated in memory ofmemory of

Pfc. Lori Piestewa , 23 Pfc. Lori Piestewa , 23 years old and a single years old and a single

mother of two children, a mother of two children, a Hopi Indian from Hopi Indian from Moenkopi, Ariz .Moenkopi, Ariz .

Killed in action after her Killed in action after her convoy was ambushed in convoy was ambushed in Iraq on March 23, 2003. Iraq on March 23, 2003. She was assigned to the She was assigned to the

507th Maintenance 507th Maintenance Company, Fort Bliss, Company, Fort Bliss,

Texas.Texas.

Native American’s are Native American’s are members of diverse members of diverse communities.communities.

Historically they are;Historically they are; Matrilineal: Children belong to mothers Matrilineal: Children belong to mothers

clan. Illegitimacy does not existclan. Illegitimacy does not exist Polytheistic; White Buffalo Woman, Polytheistic; White Buffalo Woman,

Changing Woman, White Painted WomanChanging Woman, White Painted Woman Religion is a part of daily life and Religion is a part of daily life and

significant. Relationships built on significant. Relationships built on extensive and complex clan relationshipsextensive and complex clan relationships

LanguageLanguage The word “I” and “me” does not exists in The word “I” and “me” does not exists in

most languagesmost languages The words Thank You and Please does The words Thank You and Please does

not exist in most languagesnot exist in most languages Why? Though and action is directed at Why? Though and action is directed at

the clan and community level. Individual the clan and community level. Individual rights do not existrights do not exist

Responsibility to your clan and Responsibility to your clan and community is primary factor community is primary factor

Puberty CeremonyPuberty Ceremony

Celebrates menstruation Celebrates menstruation 12 days long12 days long Elders, Men, Women and Children all Elders, Men, Women and Children all

participate and have specialized roles in participate and have specialized roles in celebration to perpetuate the future of the celebration to perpetuate the future of the entire community.entire community.

Ritual can not begin without the Ritual can not begin without the assistance of clan/community.assistance of clan/community.

The clan community rely on the young The clan community rely on the young woman woman

Western Contact and Western Contact and AssimilationAssimilation

Capitalism/Private PropertyCapitalism/Private Property DemocracyDemocracy ChristianityChristianity PatriarchyPatriarchy

““predatory individualism theorypredatory individualism theory””

Haunani Kay TraskHaunani Kay Trask

Women’s MovementWomen’s Movement Elizabeth Cady StantonElizabeth Cady Stanton Key IssuesKey Issues NOW's Top Priority Issues:NOW's Top Priority Issues: Abortion Rights / ReproductivAbortion Rights / Reproductiv

e Issuese Issues

Violence Against WomenViolence Against Women Constitutional EqualityConstitutional Equality Promoting Diversity / Ending Promoting Diversity / Ending

RacismRacism

Lesbian RightsLesbian Rights Economic JusticeEconomic Justice

1883 Code of Indian 1883 Code of Indian Religious OffensesReligious Offenses

1883 by Secretary of the Interior Henry 1883 by Secretary of the Interior Henry Teller as a means to prohibit Native Teller as a means to prohibit Native American ceremonial activity under pain American ceremonial activity under pain of imprisonment, reduced rations on of imprisonment, reduced rations on reservation, removal of children or other reservation, removal of children or other family members.family members.

Medicine men and women were Medicine men and women were arrested, imprisoned and died as a arrested, imprisoned and died as a result.result.

Indian religious traditions are Indian religious traditions are considered illegalconsidered illegal

Gertrude Bonin (Zitkala-Sa) (1876-Gertrude Bonin (Zitkala-Sa) (1876-1938) 1938)

Yankton Nakota Yankton Nakota writer, cultural preserver, orator, writer, cultural preserver, orator,

editor, musician and composer, editor, musician and composer, political activist political activist

In 1916 Zitkala was elected secretary-In 1916 Zitkala was elected secretary-treasurer of the Society of American treasurer of the Society of American Indian, also editing their journal, Indian, also editing their journal, American Indian Magazine. American Indian Magazine. In 1921 In 1921 she founded her own political she founded her own political organization, the National Council of organization, the National Council of American Indians. American Indians.

She attacked the BIA, and called for She attacked the BIA, and called for its abolition, because of its corruption its abolition, because of its corruption and paternalistic treatment of Indians and paternalistic treatment of Indians as incompetent wardsas incompetent wards

Of her literary works, "Why I Am a Pagan" Of her literary works, "Why I Am a Pagan" perhaps best explains her religious beliefs.perhaps best explains her religious beliefs.

It was first published 1902It was first published 1902 Coupled with a chapter - "The Big Red Coupled with a chapter - "The Big Red

Apples" - from Impressions of an Indian Apples" - from Impressions of an Indian Childhood, the essay makes a case against Childhood, the essay makes a case against traditional and religious Christianity.traditional and religious Christianity.

The two works express the indignations The two works express the indignations suffered by the Native Americans at the suffered by the Native Americans at the hands of Christians. hands of Christians.

#1#1

(Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee)(Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee) Executive Director, Morningstar InstituteExecutive Director, Morningstar Institute helped Native Peoples recover more than helped Native Peoples recover more than

one million acres of land and numerous one million acres of land and numerous sacred places. sacred places.

developed key federal Indian law since 1975, developed key federal Indian law since 1975, 1978 American Indian Religious Freedom Act1978 American Indian Religious Freedom Act the 1989 National Museum of the American the 1989 National Museum of the American

Indian ActIndian Act 1996 Executive Order on Indian Sacred 1996 Executive Order on Indian Sacred

Sites, Sites, the 1990 Native American Graves Protection the 1990 Native American Graves Protection

and Repatriation Act, and the. and Repatriation Act, and the.

The American Indian The American Indian Religious Freedom ActReligious Freedom Act

1978 United States federal law and a joint 1978 United States federal law and a joint resolution of Congress which pledged to resolution of Congress which pledged to protect and preserve the traditional religious protect and preserve the traditional religious rights of American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, rights of American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians.and Native Hawaiians.

The Act led to a number of changes in The Act led to a number of changes in government policies, the Act is not enforced government policies, the Act is not enforced and that additional reforms are still needed.and that additional reforms are still needed.

However, the legislation has not However, the legislation has not guaranteed the access to or guaranteed the access to or protection of sacred sites.protection of sacred sites.

There continues to be a lack of There continues to be a lack of religious freedom today.religious freedom today.

#2#2 #3#3 #4#4

Rebecca RoblesRebecca Robles

Native American Sacred Sites Task ForceNative American Sacred Sites Task ForceSierra Sage/South Orange Co. Sierra ClubSierra Sage/South Orange Co. Sierra Club

13 sites designated in Orange County13 sites designated in Orange County

Laura Miranda, Laura Miranda, PechangaPechanga

The California Native American Heritage Commission The California Native American Heritage Commission maintains an official list of about 1,500 Indian cultural maintains an official list of about 1,500 Indian cultural and religious sites. and religious sites.

Only about 300 of them are religious sites, with an Only about 300 of them are religious sites, with an average size of one-fourth of an acre, reports Laura average size of one-fourth of an acre, reports Laura Miranda, a Pechanga Indian and senior staff attorney Miranda, a Pechanga Indian and senior staff attorney for the California Indian Legal Services. for the California Indian Legal Services.

The Burton bill (2005), however, would allow Indians to The Burton bill (2005), however, would allow Indians to add more sites to the list by presenting oral histories or add more sites to the list by presenting oral histories or other evidence to support their claims.other evidence to support their claims.

November 1, 1878 Captain November 1, 1878 Captain Richard H. Pratt opened the Richard H. Pratt opened the Carlisle Indian School at an Carlisle Indian School at an abandoned military post in abandoned military post in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

Pratt’s goal was to "kill the Indian, Pratt’s goal was to "kill the Indian, not the man."not the man."

Children removed Children removed as young as age as young as age five and five and “acculturated” “acculturated” through age 18.through age 18.

““Marginal Theory”Marginal Theory”

““Lateral Violence Lateral Violence Theory”Theory”

Violence

Addiction

Suicide

IndianWestern

In 1977, roughly a third of In 1977, roughly a third of reservation children were still reservation children were still attending the same system of attending the same system of boarding schools.boarding schools.

In 1973, 33,672 Native American In 1973, 33,672 Native American children lived in federal boarding children lived in federal boarding schools rather than at homeschools rather than at home

Last Boarding school closed in Last Boarding school closed in 19891989

Child Welfare League of America Child Welfare League of America funded by a federal contract from the funded by a federal contract from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Children’s Bureau, the Indian Children’s Bureau, the Indian Adoption Project lasted from 1958 Adoption Project lasted from 1958 through 1967. through 1967.

nationwide studies conducted nationwide studies conducted between 1969 and 1974 showed that between 1969 and 1974 showed that 25-35% of Indian children who were 25-35% of Indian children who were removed from their homes were removed from their homes were placed in non-Indian foster or placed in non-Indian foster or adoptive homes.adoptive homes.

State courts and welfare agencies State courts and welfare agencies continued to act in these cases with continued to act in these cases with no consideration for cultural no consideration for cultural connection. connection.

Native Americans viewed it as a form Native Americans viewed it as a form of cultural genocide.of cultural genocide.

1960s and early 1970s, Native American 1960s and early 1970s, Native American activists challenged Indian Adoption activists challenged Indian Adoption Project Project

They denounced the project as the They denounced the project as the most recent in a long line of genocidal most recent in a long line of genocidal policies toward native communities and policies toward native communities and cultures. cultures.

Tribal advocates worked hard for the Tribal advocates worked hard for the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act

Many communities are engaged in long Many communities are engaged in long legal battles to have the ICWA enforced. legal battles to have the ICWA enforced.

Indian Health Service sterilized Indian Health Service sterilized between 25 – 50% percent of Native between 25 – 50% percent of Native American women who were between American women who were between the ages of fifteen and forty-four the ages of fifteen and forty-four during the 1970s. during the 1970s.

Native American doctors and hospital Native American doctors and hospital personnel from Oklahoma and New Mexico personnel from Oklahoma and New Mexico sent letters to Senator James Abourezk of sent letters to Senator James Abourezk of South Dakota, chairman of the Senate South Dakota, chairman of the Senate Interior Subcommittee on Indian Affairs Interior Subcommittee on Indian Affairs about sterilization abuses.about sterilization abuses.

Government Accounting Office (GAO) Government Accounting Office (GAO) conducted an investigation on both Indian conducted an investigation on both Indian sterilization and the experimental use of sterilization and the experimental use of drugs on reservations on 30 April 1975. drugs on reservations on 30 April 1975.

Dr. Connie Pinkerton-Uri, Dr. Connie Pinkerton-Uri, Choctaw/Cherokee Physician study #5 & #6 Choctaw/Cherokee Physician study #5 & #6

Bertha Medicine Bull, Northern Cheyenne #7Bertha Medicine Bull, Northern Cheyenne #7 Mary Ann Bear Comes Out, Northern Mary Ann Bear Comes Out, Northern

Cheyenne #8Cheyenne #8 Marie Sanchez, Cheyenne Tribal Judge & Marie Sanchez, Cheyenne Tribal Judge &

Mary Crow Dog, Lakota activist #9Mary Crow Dog, Lakota activist #9 ““Debra” #10Debra” #10

The Women of All Red Nations state that The Women of All Red Nations state that "the real issue behind sterilization is how "the real issue behind sterilization is how we are losing our personal sovereignty" we are losing our personal sovereignty" as Native Americans. as Native Americans.

Members of the organization assert that Members of the organization assert that communities having large numbers of communities having large numbers of sterilizations lost the respect of other sterilizations lost the respect of other tribal communities because of their tribal communities because of their inability to protect Native American inability to protect Native American women.women.

Loss of Reproductive Loss of Reproductive FreedomFreedom

Devastating loss in terms of clan, community and Devastating loss in terms of clan, community and cultureculture

More important than any issue raised by mainstream More important than any issue raised by mainstream Women's movement to Native American community.Women's movement to Native American community.

Tribal communities lost much of their ability to Tribal communities lost much of their ability to reproduce, the respect of other tribal entities, and reproduce, the respect of other tribal entities, and political power in the tribal councils. political power in the tribal councils.

The population of a community reflects the number of The population of a community reflects the number of representatives it can elect to the tribal council and to representatives it can elect to the tribal council and to national pan-Indian organizations.national pan-Indian organizations.

Finally, a tribal community that suffers a great number Finally, a tribal community that suffers a great number of sterilizations can lose the respect of other tribal of sterilizations can lose the respect of other tribal communities because of its inability to protect its communities because of its inability to protect its women. women.

Historically, Native American Women have Historically, Native American Women have not been given basic human rights and as not been given basic human rights and as a result have not gravitated in large a result have not gravitated in large numbers towards the mainstream numbers towards the mainstream Women's Rights MovementWomen's Rights Movement

In many cases they have developed a In many cases they have developed a cultural nationalist perspective seeking a cultural nationalist perspective seeking a long list of basic human rights including long list of basic human rights including Religious & Reproductive freedomReligious & Reproductive freedom