January 2002 Newsleter
Phil Konstantin
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Start of the Newsletter
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Greetings and Happy New Year,
It has been an eventful year. Don't worry, though. I won't be doing a
twenty page retrospective. I am sure you have seen plenty of those. I
did more vacation traveling in 2001 than in any previous year. I suspect
I will be staying closer to home in 2002, unless I win the lottery, or
my book sells several 100,000 copies.
For the newer subscribers, my full-time job (which supports my other
full-time job of writing these pages, my websites, etc.) is as a
California Highway Patrol Officer. I am assigned to do public affairs
duties in San Diego. I cannot let this opportunity go by without
offering some advise for New Year’s Eve partiers.
· If you are hosting a party, please have some non-alcoholic beverages
available.
· If you think another partier looks like they have had too much to
drink, you are almost always right, when it come to the legal limits for
alcohol. The vast majority of people are legally "under the influence"
long before they think they have had too much to drink. To repeat the
phrase I am sure you have heard, "Friends don’t let friends drive
drunk."
· A designated driver is always a good idea for a group going to the
same party. This does not mean that person should drink less than the
others, but that they should not have any alcoholic beverages. When I
was still on road patrol, I arrested many designated drivers. Drinking
less is no guarantee that you are under the legal limit. The designated
driver should also be picked BEFORE the party.
· If you have any doubt about your sobriety, don’t drive.
I received several e-mails from people about my Christmas note. Many
said they were unaware of my wife’s automobile crash. What happened to
her can serve as a warning to others about driving when you are tired.
You can read the entire story at this address:
http://philkon.tripod.com/sleep.html
Someone else asked me about my educational background. They assumed I
was a history professor. I ave always loved history. Then again, lots of
things interest me. I married young, and had a child the next year. So
it was several years after high school before I went to college. History
was one of my minors in college, along with Geology. My majors were
Political Science, Sociology and Behavioral Sciences. While I attended
Rice University, I completed the PoliSci and Sociology requirements. I
only needed one more class for the BehSci major. Unfortunately, I ran
out of money before I had completed all of the electives I needed to
graduate. I quit to go back to work full-time & save more money.
Fourteen years later, I finally went back to college. In 1991, I
graduated from San Diego State University (twenty years after graduating
from high school). I do not recommend this method. It had never occurred
to me to have a major in history. My original plan was to be a
constitutional attorney defending the oppressed. A degree in history was
not recommended as a precursor for law school. So, history was always
just for fun, even though I loved it. The CHP might seem like an odd
choice for a career. I tried working for some cutting edge companies, in
hopes of getting in on the ground floor of a growing company.
Unfortunately, none of these high-potential companies lived up to their
promise. I also worked in the media: radio, TV and print. On more than
one occasion, I was laid off when the station changed formats, or they
just wanted all new faces or voices. This became too much of a risk for
someone trying to raise a family. My father was in law enforcement for
most of his working life. I noticed that this was a very stable job with
good pay and benefits (health & retirement). If you kept your nose clean
(an old expression which has nothing to do with drugs), you had a job
for life. If the economy got so bad that cops were laid off, no job was
secure. So, I decided to go that route, and it stuck. I have been with
the CHP for over 16 years.
I mentioned above that I probably won’t be taking as many trips in 2002.
I will be going to Baja California in February 2002. I will be returning
to San Ignacio Lagoon to visit the gray whales who spend the winter
there. It is a 600 mile trip from San Diego. It is an amazing experience
to have a 40 ton wild animal swim up to you and let you pet them. This
will be my fourth trip there. If you plan on being in the area, I would
be happy to show you around. You can see some of the pictures I took on
one of my previous trips at this address:
http://philkon.tripod.com/Rphotos.html
Here is the address of a picture of me petting one of the whales:
http://philkon.tripod.com/PhilPetting97s.jpg
Former Cherokee Chief Ross Swimmer is the subject of one of the news
stories mentioned below. Seeing this article reminded me of when I
interviewed him in 1977. He was still chief then, and I was a radio
talk-show host in Texas. It was a real kick for me to be able to talk
with him. This was many years before my family could "prove" to the BIA
that we were really blood relatives of my Cherokee grandfather. We
discussed the difficulties of dealing with the BIA and several other
subjects during the one hour interview. You can get some idea of my
wacky sense of humor by my answer to a question from a listener. The
caller agreed that the Cherokees had been cheated out of their lands
throughout most of history. He wanted to know what could be done now. I
immediately jumped in and said: "You could give us Georgia back!" We all
had a good laugh.
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The Link of the Month for January 2002 is Tribal Court Clearinghouse.
TCC has a wide variety of resources. You can find an extensive listing
of court cases, law review articles, info on treaties, alcohol and
substance abuse programs, and many, many more subjects. It also has
links to many more sites. I highly recommend a visit to this very well
laid out website.
http://www.tribal-institute.org/
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Some recent news & websites:
Bush administration plans major BIA restructuring - Appears to be a
return to the policies of the Reagan administration
http://www.indiancountry.com/?2862
Ross Swimmer Tapped to Head Implementation Team for New Office of Indian
Trust Transition Source:
http://www.waterchat.com/News/Indian/01/Q4/ind_011127-01.htm
Guatemala apology belated but welcome:
http://indiancountry.com/?1009574510
Census Information:
American Indians By the Numbers From Census 2000
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aihmcensus1.html?promo=n57
American Indian Tribes with Populations Greater than 10,000 (1990 U.S.
Census figures)
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762159.html
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Treaty of the Month:
TREATY WITH THE KALAPUYA, ETC., 1855 - Jan. 22, 1855. | 10 Stats., 1143.
| Ratified, Mar. 3, 1855. | Proclaimed, Apr. 10, 1855.
This treaty was signed in Dayton, Oregon Territory on January 22, 1855
by the United States and "the confederated bands of Indians residing in
the Willamette Valley"
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler/vol2/treaties/kal0665.htm
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Random historical events for January:
January 1, 1877: Colonel Nelson "Bear Coat" Miles, and his forces from
Fort Keogh (near modern Miles City, in eastern Montana), are moving up
the Tongue River in search of Crazy Horse, and his followers. They have
their first skirmish with Indians. According to army reports, there are
600 lodges on the Tongue River, which are abandoned as Miles moves
through the area.
January 2, 1848: Peter Skene Ogden arranges for the release of captives
during the Cayuse attack on the Whitman Mission.
January 3, 1895: On November 25, 1894, a group of nineteen Hopi
"hostiles" were placed under arrest by the army for interfering with
"friendly" Hopi Indian activities on their Arizona reservation. The
nineteen prisoners are held in Alcatraz prison in California from
January 3, 1895 to August 7, 1895.
January 4, 605: Palenque Maya Lord Ac - Kan ascends the throne according
to the museum at Palenque
Photo at: http://philkon.tripod.com/mayae.html
January 5, 1806: Sacajawea tells Lewis and Clark she wants to see a dead
whale which has washed up on the beach in Oregon.
January 6, 1706: The Spanish are trying to improve relations with the
Pueblos of modern New Mexico. Governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdez and
"Protector General for the Indians" Captain Alfonso Rael de Aguilar meet
with leaders of all the nearby tribes. Among the Indians is Don Domingo
Romero Yuguaque. Yuguaque is Governor of the Tesuque Pueblo.
January 7, 1781: The Mission San Pedro Y San Pablo De Bicuner is
established, in modern Imperial County, California, where the Anza Trail
crosses the Colorado River. This is on land claimed by the Quechan
(Yuma) Indians.
January 8, 1700: Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, establishes a fort
and trading post on the Mississippi River a few dozen miles south of
present day New Orleans. It is his hope to establish friendly relations
with the lower Mississippi valley Indians to keep them from allying
with the English or the Spanish.
January 9, 1790: Spanish and Indian forces under Commanding General Juan
de Ugalde attack a group of 300 Lipan, Lipiyan, and Mescalero Apaches at
what they called the Arroyo de la Soledad. The Spanish soundly defeat
the Apache. The Spaniards name the battlegrounds the "Cañón de Ugalde"
in honor of their commander. Modern Uvalde, Texas gets its name from
this spot.
January 10, 1839: John Benge, and 1,103 other Cherokees arrive in the
Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). They started their trek with
1,200.
January 11, 1851: As a part of the "Mariposa Indian Wars" in California,
Sheriff James Burney leads a force of settlers against the local
Indians. The battle is a draw.
January 12, 1880: Major Albert Morrow, and elements of the Ninth Cavalry
"buffalo soldiers," find, and attack Victorio, and his Warm Springs
Apaches, near the source of the Puerco River, in southern New Mexico.
The fighting lasts for about four hours, until sunset, when the Indians
escape. One soldier is killed, and one scout is wounded.
January 13, 1729: Measels are spreading through "New Spain." It has
struck the Pima workers at the mission San Ignacio de Caburica. The
priest, Father Campos, baptizes twenty-two Pimas "in periculo mortis"
because they are so close to death. This epidemic kills many Indians.
January 14, 1971: An election which adopted of a Constitution and Bylaws
for the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana is ratified by the Assistant
Secretary of the Interior, Harrison Loesch. The election is held on
November 7, 1970.
January 15, 1832: The Chickasaw meet at their council house to discuss
the removal proposal of President Jackson. They decide to approve the
removal, but they will not cooperate with any efforts to have them share
lands with the Choctaws.
January 16, 1805: The Mandans parlay with the Minnetarrees according to
Lewis and Clark.
January 17, 1800: Congress passes "An Act for the Preservation of Peace
with the Indian Tribes." One of its provisions was: "That if any citizen
or other person residing within the United States, or the territory
thereof, shall send any talk, speech, message or letter to any Indian
nation, tribe, or chief, with an intent to produce a contravention or
infraction of any treaty or other law of the United States, or to
disturb the peace and tranquillity of the United States, he shall
forfeit a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars, and be imprisoned not
exceeding two years."
January 18, 1870: From a marker in the Fort Buford (North Dakota)
cemetery: "He That Kills His Enemies - Indian Scout- January 18, 1870 -
Died of Wounds ... in a quarrel with a fellow scout on the 5th inst.
received a penetrating (arrow) wound of the pelvis and abdomen. ...
Death occurred January 18, 1870. An autopsy could not be obtained owing
to the feelings of the relatives."
January 19, 1777: A group of Oneida chiefs meet with Colonel Elmore at
Fort Schuyler. They want the army to tell the Mohawks that the great
council fire of the Onondagas as been extinguished.
January 20, 1830: Red Jacket (Sagoyewatha) is a Seneca Chief born around
1779. While he is often called a coward in war, he is respected as a
great speaker, and for his refusal to adopt white ways. Following the
way of many before him, he eventually becomes an alcoholic. He dies
today.
January 21, 1731: Natchez Indians, led by Chief Farine, have built a
fort in Louisiana near the Red River. French and Tunica forces, led by
the governor of Louisiana Etienne de Perier, attack the fort. The
fighting lasts for three days. While the Natchez kill many of the allied
forces, they are at a disadvantage because the French have a cannon.
After three days of fighting, the Natchez promise to surrender the next
morning. Many of the Natchez escape during the night, including Chief
Farine.
January 22, 1855: The Treaty of Point Elliot (12 Stat. 927) is signed .
The Tulalip, the Kalapuya, the Swinomish, and the Snoqualnoo Tribe of
Whidbey Island, Washington are among the signers.
See the "Treaty of the Month section above for a copy of the treaty.
January 23, 1689: Saco, in southwestern Maine is attacked by Abenaki
Indians, one in a series of attacks on the settlement. Nine settlers are
killed in the fighting.
January 24, 1835: The Mexican Governor Figueroa in Monterey, California
writes a letter to the Alcalde of San José. He warns the local ranchers
not to mount punative expeditions against the local Indians. Some
Indians have been raiding ranches to steal the horses. One more than one
occasion, the Mexicans have killed innocent Tulare Indians in their
efforts to punish the thieves.
January 25, 1968: The United States Indian Claims Commission, decrees
that the Mescalero Apaches of New Mexico should receive $8,500,000 for
lands taken from them in the 1800s. The Mescaleros refuse the largesse
because, by law, they cannot share the money with the Lipan, and
Chiricahua Apaches. A future ruling allows this.
January 26, 1716: Cherokee Chief Caesar has told the English in South
Carolina that he will never fight them. He also tells the Europeans they
have nothing to fear from the Creeks, because they want peace, too. He
offers to arrange for leading Creeks to go to Charles Town to arrange a
peace. Today, sixteen Creek and Yamassee representatives arrive at the
Cherokee village of Tugaloo in northeastern Georgia. The Creeks and the
Yamassee know of the Cherokee's desire to remain neutral, or at peace.
Rather than talking about peace, the representatives urge the Cherokees
to join them in their plan to attack the South Carolina settlements.
This so angers the Cherokees that the representatives are killed.
January 27, 1863: General Patrick Connor, and almost 300 California
volunteers fight Bear Hunter's Northern Shoshone on Bear River, north of
the Idaho-Utah boundary. The soldiers report 224 of the warriors are
killed in the fighting, including Bear Hunter. Other sources put the
number nearer to 400, including many women and children. Connor is
called "Star Chief" by the Indians. This is called the "Battle of Bear
River" by the army. Others call it "The Bear River Massacre." Most
sources says this happens on January 29, 1863.
January 28, 1908: As listed in Executive Order Number 744, the lands set
aside for the Navajo Indians in New Mexico conflict with the lands set
aside for the Jicarilla Apaches by Executive Order on November 11, 1907.
This will be corrected.
January 29, 1881: The Eight lodges of Iron Dog and sixty-three of his
followers surrender to Major George Ilges' forces near the Poplar River
in Montana. Thirteen horses, and five guns are seized by the troops. The
weather remains bitterly cold.
January 30, 1838: Seminole Chief Osceola dies at Fort Moultrie, in
Charleston, South Carolina. It is believe he has some sort of throat
disease, others say malaria, other say he dies of a broken heart.
January 31, 1833: The Mi’kmaq Waycobah First Nation reserve of
Whycocomagh #2 is established in Nova Scotia, according to the Nova
Scotia Councils.
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I am sure I have forgotten something, but that is it for now. Have a
great and safe New Year,
Phil
http://americanindian.net
newsl-@americanindian.net
phil-@rocketmail.com
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End of the January 2002 Newsletter
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