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Start of Phil Konstantin’s April 2005 Newsletter – Part 1
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Greetings,
I have been very busy the last couple of weeks trying to put things
together for Drowsy Driver Awareness Day in California on April 6th. My
wife died when she fell asleep behind the wheel on April 6, 1999. I have
been trying to educate the public about the dangers of driving while
drowsy, sleepy or fatigued.
One of these efforts was to have the anniversary of my wife's death be
declared "Drowsy Driver Awareness Day." On March 10th, the California
Senate passed the resolution I wrote. Today, the California Assembly
also passed it. It will be come law in a few days. You can read more
about the resolution on the link below to my "Link of the Month."
I have also been working with the California Highway Patrol to produce
some educational material about drowsy driving. You can find a photo of
the brochure on these pages:
http://americanindian.net/DDADCHPE.html -- English
http://americanindian.net/DDADCHPS.html -- Spanish
On the 6th, I will be holding a press conference with the CHP in San
Diego. We will discuss some of the warning signs and how to prevent
drowsy driving.
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My final working day as an officer with the California Highway Patrol
will be the last day of this month. I have had to fill out tons of forms
to set up my retirement. I am still looking for a job here in San Diego.
I have not had any good offers, yet. If you know of any exciting jobs
out there, let me know....
So, as you can imagine, I have been pretty busy lately.
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I was very saddened to hear about the shooting on the Red Lake
reservation. We had a similar situation here in San Diego a few years
ago. I can imagine how much of a tragedy this is for the folks up there.
I send out my deepest sumpathies to all of the involved people.
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Featured Link of the Month for April 2005
The "Link of the Month" for April is a bit different. April 6th is being
declared "Drowsy Driver Awareness Day" in California. I created this
website to address some of the issues related to this matter. Please
visit this page if you would like to know more about the dangers of
driving while drowsy, sleepy or fatigued; learn what some of the warning
signs are; how to avoid the problem; see long lists of statistics
related to drowsy driving; and photos and brochures.
http://drowsydriverawarenessday.com
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Treaty of the Month:
TREATY WITH THE CHIPPEWA—RED LAKE AND PEMBINA BANDS, 1864.
Apr. 12, 1864. | 13 Stat., 689. | Ratified Apr. 21, 1864. | Proclaimed
Apr. 25, 1864.
You can see a transcript of it at:
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler/Vol2/treaties/chi0861.htm
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My American Indian Student Essay contest is ongoing. Please let all of
the students you know about the contest. To see all of the details,
please go to my website at:
http://americanindian.net/contest.html
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Here are some random historical events:
April 1, 1621: Massasoit, Quadequina, Samoset (a Pemaquid), Squanto,
and sixty warriors visit the Plymouth colony with great ceremony. They
freely give lands to the pilgrims. According to some calendars, this
happens on March 22nd or April 2nd.
April 2, 1873: Captain Jack, and several of his Modoc warriors and
women, meet with several of the peace commissioners about halfway
between the soldier's and Jack's camps in northern California. After
the meeting on March 21, instead of moving the soldiers away, Canby
brings in reinforcements. Captain Jack questions Canby on this action.
Canby says the soldiers make him feel safer during councils with the
Modocs. Captain Jack asks for them to go away. They discuss the matter
of the Hooker Jim killing of the white settlers. A sudden rain storm
interrupts the meeting, and both parties leave without resolving any of
the issues.
April 3, 686: Maya King Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ak' (Jaguar Paw Smoke) takes
the throne of Calukmal.
April 4, 1805: Lewis and Clark send many objects they have collected so
far, including Indian goods, to President Jefferson.
April 5, 1800: William Augustus Bowles, the self-proclaimed "Director
General and Commander-In-Chief of the Muskogee Nation,” declares war on
Spain. Some sources state this occurs on May 5, 1800.
April 6, 1854: Fort Phantom Hill, north of Abilene, Texas, is
abandoned. The fort is often visited by the local Comanches,
Lipan-Apaches, Kiowas and Kickapoos.
April 7, 1781: General Daniel Broadhead, and 300 troops, attack a
peaceful Delaware village at Coshocton, Ohio. The town is burned to the
ground. After the fighting, the soldiers murder fifteen prisoners,
earning the Delaware's wrath.
April 8, 1880: Colonel Edward Hatch, with 400 Ninth Cavalry, sixty
Infantry, and seventy-five Indian scouts, attacks Victorio's fortified
camp in Hembrillo Canyon, the San Andreas Mountains of New Mexico.
According to the Army report, Victorio's force included Warm Springs
Apaches, Mescaleros, and Comanches. Three Indians are killed in the
fighting. Captain Henry Carroll, Ninth Cavalry, and seven other
soldiers, are wounded. Twenty-five of the soldiers' horses and mules
are killed.
April 9, 1682: The expedition of French and Indians under la Salle
reaches the mouth of the Mississippi River, based on his expedition
along the Mississippi from its juncture with the Illinois River, la
Salle claims the Mississippi valley, and what becomes Louisiana, for
the French.
April 10, 1758: As of today's date, British General John Forbes reports
he has gathered 500 Indians at his fort, in present day Bedford, in
southwestern Pennsylvania. He hopes to make use of the Indians in his
maneuvers against the French, however, delays caused many of the Indians
to leave.
April 11, 1862: Twenty members of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe enlist in
the Confederate Army. One of them, John Scott, eventually becomes Chief
of the tribe.
April 12, 1676: As a part of King Philip's War, 500 Indians attack
Sudbury, Massachusetts. Most of the settlers escape into fortified
structures. The Indians burn many of the outlying buildings. Hearing of
the attack, three relief forces consisting of a total of approximately
100 men from Concord, Watertown, and Marlborough, converge on the
settlement. In one battle, the Indians start grass fires to strike at
the Europeans. At least, thirty whites are killed in the fighting, and
much of the town is destroyed before the Indians withdraw.
April 13, 1851: As a part of the “Mariposa Indian Wars” in California,
California soldiers attack a Chowchilla Indian village. While much of
the village is destroyed, most of the Indians escape.
April 14, 1524: Spaniards under Pedro de Alvarado are welcomed as they
enter the Cakchiquel (Kaqchikel) Maya town of Iximche’, Guatemala.
April 15, 1715: Many European settlers have moved onto Yamassee lands
without permission. The Yamassee have also been cheated by many
traders. The British authorities have ignored almost all of the
Yamassees complaints. Yamassee Indians attack settlements near the
southeastern Georgia-South Carolina boundary. Several hundred settlers
are killed. Among the dead are Indian Agent Thomas Naire and trader
William Bray who has been engaged in a conference at the Indian village
of Pocotaligo. Bray had settled, without permission, on Yamassee lands
and established a trading post. After amassing debts, which they can not
pay, Bray suggested the Yamassee pay their debts by giving him slaves
from other Indian tribes. This slave trade, and Bray's habit of
capturing Indians and selling them as slaves, is a significant factor in
the war.
April 16, 1519: According to some sources, after landing on the Mexican
mainland, Hernán Cortés and his army start their travels toward
Tenochtitlán (modern Mexico City).
April 17, 1868: According to army records, members of the Twenty-Third
Infantry fight with a band of Indians at Camp Three Forks near the
Owyhee River in Oregon. Five Indians are reported killed, and three are
captured.
April 18, 1754: With a force of 1,000 French and Indians, Captain
Contrecoeur demands the surrender of Fort Trent on the Ohio River. The
unfinished fort is defended by forty militia, and they promptly
surrender. This is one of the first actions of the "French and Indian
War." The French complete the fort and name it Fort Dusquesne. It is
later called Fort Pitt. Some sources say this happens on April 16th.
April 19, 1786: Near Louisville, Kentucky, the Chickamaugas have been
attacking the local settlements. Militia Colonel William Christian,
with twenty men, cross the Ohio river to find the Indian warriors. They
come across a war party led by Chief Black Wolf. During the fighting,
both Black Wolf and Christian are killed.
April 20, 1519: Shortly after arriving in Mexico, Hernán Cortés meets
with a representative of Montezuma, in the Yucatan. The representative,
Teudile, delivers Montezuma’s best wishes and some gifts. Cortés says he
represents the ruler of most of the world (the King of Spain). He
demonstrates the might of his soldiers. Teudile is impressed by the
power of the conquistadors. Some sources say this happened on April
19th.
April 21, 1864: Based on the Congressional Act of April 8, 1864, Austin
Wiley, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the state of California,
proclaims the proposed establishment of the Hoopa Valley reserve, on the
Trinity River. Located in Klamath County, California, settlers are
advised not to make further improvements to their properties, or to move
into the area. This proposal requires Presidential approval.
April 22, 1847: Punnubbee, and 342 Choctaws from six towns in
Mississippi, arrive at Fort Towson, in southeastern Indian Territory
(present day Oklahoma).
April 23, 906: Uxmal is a Maya ruin in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.
A dedication ceremony is held for one of the buildings, according to an
inscription in the building.
April 24, 1885: The Fish Creek fight takes place between Canadian
forces under Major General Frederick Dobson Middleton and 150 Metis
under Gabriel Dumont. This is one of the more significant fights of the
“Riel Rebellion.”
April 25, 1890: Blackfeet Chief Isapo-Muxika (Crowfoot) dies on a
reserve near Gleichen, Alberta, Canada. He is one of the signers of
Treaty 7.
April 26, 1778: Last month, Captain James Cook anchored his two ships,
the H.M.S. Discovery and the H.M.S. Resolution, in Nootka Sound. He has
worked on the ships and traded with the Nootka since then. Today, he
leaves the area of British Columbia.
April 27, 1774: Still trying to instigate a war with local Indians in
Kentucky, with hopes of seizing their lands as spoils of war, Michael
Cresap, and some followers, attack a party of peaceful Shawnees
returning home from a conference at Fort Pitt. They "frontiersmen" kill
several of the Indians. This is one of the fights which eventually leads
to what is commonly called "Dunmore's War." This series of battles is
occasionally called "Cresap's War."
April 28, 1659: The Quinebaug Indians live in Connecticut. Chiefs
Allumps, Ma-Shan-Shawitt and Aguntus, sell their lands in the area
around modern Plainfield and Canterbury. There is a provision in the
deed to allow the tribe the privilege of "hunting, fishing and
convenient planting" forever.
April 29, 1842: After losing most of their provisions during a fight
near Lake Ahapopka, Florida, ten days ago, Mikasuki Seminole Chief
Hallack Tustenuggee, and his followers are starving. Hallack comes to
the camp of Colonel William Worth for talks. Worth offers food and
alcohol to any Seminoles who come into the camp. Many of the Seminoles
come into the camp. At a signal, soldiers capture forty-three warriors
and seventy-one women and children. The Seminoles are force to leave
Florida for Oklahoma.
April 30, 1598: Don Juan de Oñate claims all lands in modern New
Mexico, including those of the resident Pueblos, for Spain. The event
known as “La Toma” takes place near San Elizario.
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If you plan on doing any online shopping, you might check out the links
on my store page. it will cost you the same, and I get a small
commission if you get to their website through my link. So much for the
hard sell...thanks.
~~|:-)
http://americanindian.net/store.html
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That is it for now. I’ll have more later.
Stay safe,
Phil
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End of Phil Konstantin’s April 2005 Newsletter – Part 1
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Greetings,
This is just a brief note to let you know that the NASA channel is
currently running a program on astronomy done by American indian groups
in historical times. The NASA channel (on cable & satellite TV) often
repeats their programs, so you might have a couple of chances to see it
today.
Also, I have only has a very small number of essays submitted for my
student contest. This is the last week for entries. If you know someone
who was interested, please ask them to get their entry in soon.
http://americanindian.net/contest.html
Best wishes,
Phil
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Start of Phil Konstantin’s April 2005 Newsletter – Part 2
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Greetings,
Today marks the beginning of my last week as an officer with the
California Highway Patrol. May 1 will be my last official day, but April
29th will be the last day I actually put on a uniform.
My career with the CHP has spanned almost 20 years. I have experienced a
wide variety of things with the CHP. Obviously, I have seen lots of
speeders, “drunk” drivers and collisions. I worked as a patrol officer
for almost 5 years. During that time, I arrested over 600 people for
driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. I received special
recognition by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers for my activities. I
received the CHP’s 10851 vehicle theft arrest/recovery award seven
times. I was also the prime investigator for several vehicular
manslaughter cases. I was even shot at once.
For the last 15 years, I have been working as a “spokesperson” for the
CHP. As my daughter Sarah likes to say, for the last part of my career,
I have been driving a desk. I have appeared in several documentaries,
hundreds of TV news programs talking about traffic safety and literally
thousands of TV and radio traffic reports. I have written many speeches,
press releases, newspaper and magazine articles, and even a “find a
word” puzzle on traffic safety.
Perhaps the best part of my job is that I have worked with many
hard-working, dedicated people. I started at the CHP Academy in August
1985. After graduation, I was transferred to the Santa Fe Springs office
in the Los Angeles area. My first day on the job as an officer was New
Year’s Eve in L.A. Now that was an experience! After a year and a half,
I was finally able to transfer to San Diego in order to be closer to my
daughters. I spent most of my time on the road working the overnight, or
graveyard, shift. This was my preferred shift. During this time, I
decided that I would go back to college to finish up my degree. It
wasn’t for work, just for personal satisfaction. I dropped out in 1977
just one class short of being a senior because I was out of money. A
change in my shift’s start time required me to miss even more of my
evening classes. In August of 1990, I applied for a job in the Public
Affairs department so I could keep regular hours and finally finish
college (which I did in 1991!). And, there I stayed until today. I have
worked with so many great people, and I have lots of good memories.
Parting ways with these folks will be the worst part of retiring.
This is one of my favorite jokes:
How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?
Only one, but the light bulb as to want to change.
Like that light bulb, I just wanted a change. I have mentioned in
previous newsletters that I had two major options. I could sell my house
here in San Diego’s rapidly expanding real estate market. The profits
would allow me to pay cash for a nice home somewhere else. I could then
afford to live on my pension. The other option was to stay in San Diego
and get another job, in order to pay my mortgage. Fortunately, I have
found a new job. I will be doing TV traffic reports on KUSI (channel
51/9). I’ll be working the morning news shift. This is not my favorite
time to be awake, but the pay is good. It is also only a four hour
shift. This will give me more time to work on the many projects which
have been piling up on my desk. For example, I REALLY need to update the
websites links on my links pages.
I am looking forward to this change in my life.
I have posted several notices below. You might want to check them out.
Phil
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My youngest daughter Sarah has arthritis. Each year she participates in
a walk to raise money for Arthritis research. If you would like more
information, or make a pledge to help (no amount is too small), please
visit this secure website:
https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=99055&supId=76660529
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Since 1960, the University of Minnesota, Morris, has waived tuition for
its American Indian students. This population makes up 7.2 percent of
students on the Morris campus; nationally, American Indian students
comprise only one percent of undergraduate population.
See the story at
http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Dedicated_to_the_Native_American.html?enewsemail
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Online Master's Degree in Community Developmentwith Native American
Focus
The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and the North
Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD), representing
An alliance of Midwestern universities, is pleased to announce the
Community Development Online Master's Degree Program with an emphasis in
Native American communities.
The Working with Native Communities specialization track is designed
for students working within or in partnership with Native communities.
This track helps students understand the unique characteristics of
Native communities, culture and governance, which affect community
development.
This track incorporates a variety of methods for understanding and
working in Native communities, including historical analysis, case
studies, asset-based approaches, talking circles, narratives, GIS and
other mapping techniques, and Appreciative Inquiry. Students will use
team learning and cross-cultural comparisons throughout the track.
Topics covered in one or more courses include partnerships within
Native communities, effective community development strategies within
Native communities, and wellness approaches to community economic
development. Special topics may include youth, natural resources, and
health.
The core courses include the principles and strategies of community
change, community organizing, community analysis, natural resource
management, and economic policy and analysis.
Applications for enrollment are now being accepted for the Fall 2005
semester. For more information, see the attached brochure and contact
John Phillips, USDA/AIHEC, 202-720-4366, jphil-@aihec.org, or Susan
Fey, NCRCRD, 515-294-6250, susa-@iastate.edu.
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This e-mail is from Sharon:
Hi Phil,
l.
I love getting the word out about our program, SEA Semester, as you
know. (We're accepting applications for this summer's program (TONS of
financial aid available) and have launched our NEW website at
www.sea.edu . Check it out!
On a different note, the Woods Hole Diversity Initative Committee sends
me stuff and here's something that may be of interest to your newsletter
subscribers:
2005 Minority and Indigenous Fellows Program:
http://biotech.newcitymedia.com/programs/minority_fellows_program.html
PDF Info is here:
http://www.woodsholediversity.org/img/Fellowsapp_PHILA_final.pdf
Seesquanakeeswush Wunne ! Happy New Year!
Thanks so much!
Aquene,
Sharon
PS Did I mention we have great financial aid available?
Sharon Sky Hawk Reidy
Enrollment Assistant
http://www.sea.edu
SEA Semester
PO Box 6
Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
800-552-3633
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Guest Exhibit from Kumeyaay Indians- JUNE-JULY 2005
Beginning in June, visitors to the San Diego Archaeological Center will
be able to view the Jamul Indian Village traveling exhibit "Bringing the
Past to Life". The 20-panel display will be installed by the tribal
members and be available for viewing through July 2005.
In an effort to keep the Kumeyaay culture alive for future generations,
the Jamul Indian Village created this portable educational display. This
exhibit chronicles the history and present-day accomplishments of the
Kumeyaay people. Each panel includes information on topics such as
tribal ceremonies, legends, food gathering and art forms, just to name a
few. Archaeological collections curated at the San Diego Archaeological
Center will be used to complement the learning experience of the
viewers.
Since October 2000, the Jamul Indian Village has been sharing this well
received exhibit with San! Diego area schools, universities, museums and
other venues. More than 8,000 students, instructors, and others have
already viewed the public friendly display panels. In addition to the
historical panels, the tribe has produced an accompanying workbook and
CD-ROM. Arrangements have been made for a Jamul tribal member to make a
presentation for July's Second Saturday program. If you know a school or
organization that would enjoy hosting this display, please call (619)
669-1002 or email
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From Pinecone Basham"
Phil anyone who can't make the Gathering of nation Powwow in New Mexico
the last of this month can watch it on their computer
http://www.gatheringofnations.com. If anyone needs info about the powwow
they can go to powwow.com
The 22nd Annual Gathering of Nations, Miss Indian World, & Indian
Traders Market April 28-30, 2005 in Albuquerque at UNM "the Pit"!
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I received the follow e-mail. If you want to help, please contact them
directly:
Can you refer me to a website or organization that can give me a list of
tribes or individual native Americans who are either healers, shamans or
chiefs and who an speak Spanish? I have been asked by some friends in
the Sierra Madre mountains to help them make this contact.
These are Arawaks from the Sierra Nevada and Sierra Madre mountains in
Colombia, SA. They are having a terrible time of it with the
guerrillas, multi-national corporations and the government persecuting
them for their lands. So one of their goals is to re-esablish contact
with their brothers to the north, as in days of old, so they can raise
awareness among native tribes about their plight. They also have
products that they would like to distribute and would like help with
that as well. The person I am touch with is a "Mamo" or medicine man
and he belongs to a national congress of indigenous people.
Thank you for your prompt response, Phil: your help would be greatly
appreciated. Noemi
Noemi Santana
TANA Communications
407 Hunter Avenue
City Island, New York 10464-1332
Mobile: (917) 593-9650
(347) 275-1098 FAX (718) 885-3348
tana-@aol.com
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Indian Country Today Editorial
Indian disunity is Indian dysfunction
States seize on the lowest common denominator
Just what is the New York State Indian leadership
waiting for to come together in the common front
that is the only way not to lose the present
opportunity, as well as the only way to successfully
defend inherent rights? Is it waiting for the state
to slowly boil it to death or to finally kill it, as
per the grand old plan, with "a thousand small
cuts?" Is the disunity among the leadership of the
various nations so completely dysfunctional that
substantial danger is irresponsibly allowed to
threaten the future generations? And, especially
this round, where oh where are the Mohawk? Usually
the most stalwart among those of the fabled Iroquois
Confederacy, the Mohawk this round are dancing
second-fiddle to the governor's jig. They are not
alone but are the most surprising, because they are
an established "in-state" tribe not protesting the
knife to the throat on taxation issues.
Answers to these questions remain to be settled, but
the Pied Piper of internecine competition when it
comes to the egos of too many Indian leaders,
certainly makes it near to impossible to achieve the
point of common self-interest. Unity becomes a myth
as elusive as the wind. This is a principle that
applies to tribes within every state where there
resides more than one tribe. Within New York, as
within South Dakota, California and many other
jurisdictions, the governor's office, municipalities
and various non-Indian associations are moving fast
to coalesce a movement that could end up so
resoundingly slamming the political doors shut that
tribes won't know what hit them.
The anti-Indian argument works to jiu-jitsu the
positions of tribes as true historical victims
relative to the mammoth powers of the state and of
federal impositions; this is presented in a new
image that pictures the tribes as unruly behemoths
and paints with victimhood the townships and
municipalities adjacent to the tribes. Talk about
rewriting history. With those smaller jurisdictions
doing the out-front challenging, the state and
national politicians can simply follow the trend,
which is gaining momentum, to besmirch Indian
communities and to make Indians look like
"super-citizens." The negative image of the tribes
as "super-citizens" emerges always the moment the
tribes begin to win their just historical and legal
causes and achieve a fuller measure of justice in
their own self-determined hands and most often
within their own lands. Other sovereignties and
cultures surrounding Indian reservation communities
often produce substantial hateful overtones in their
dealings with Indians. As we have seen from Bishop,
California to Central New York, white supremacist
thinking blends into and is prone to capitalize on
such conflicts.
It could not be more plain to the eye, that as
Native nation leadership concentrates on scrambling
each other's national missions, the big bullies of
the block — the states that want to tear up the
Indian economies and tribal powers — cut and paste
together all manner of scurrilous agreements meant
to primarily pillage and overturn the sovereign
rights of its in-state tribes. It used to be that
Indian leadership worked hard to maintain their
focus on principles, but increasingly, the focus has
simply turned to casino profits.
Within New York, the governor's office dangles
carrots in front of Indian eyes, and the
sovereign-mindedness required to confidently and
competently negotiate with the state begins to
erode; the Indian leadership sways and wavers. Every
Indian leader operates always with some sense of
dread that another tribe will get out in front by
accepting degrading terms from the state negotiators
without care for the impact of their decision on the
collective welfare of their related peoples.
The state plays this game to the hilt, although in
New York, Gov. Pataki seems to have overstepped his
strategy. When negotiations with savvy Native
leaders turned sluggish, the impatient New York
governor rammed through very objectionable deals
over the heads of the tribes within his own state.
While some tribes scrambled to settle land claims
and are wavering on taxation issues in less than
advantageous terms, the U.S. Congress is moving
ahead to monkey-wrench the whole basis of most of
the state's offerings, with legislation coming to
prohibit the kind of reservation-shopping required
in the Pataki formula.
The point of this missive, for New York and
elsewhere, is that there must always be a way for
the main offices of tribal leaders to sustain an
open conversation and dialogue. Even in those cases
where leadership does not like each other, even
where they are bitter enemies, they must recognize
their many important common objectives relative to
the powers of their respective states, and they must
develop intertribal protocols for building and
sustaining intertribal relations. In New York, even
very conservative politicians, such as Alfonse
D'Amato, have admonished the Indian leadership for
their disunity. If Indians would only come together
first, the message goes, the tribes could dictate
their own formula to the state. Instead, as Indian
leadership markedly avoid common strategies on many
important issues, the state cuts and pounces, with
scary ability to refine its age old techniques of
divide and conquer. And is it not a sign of
colonized immaturity that American Indians would
rather trust and cut deals with non-Indian
governments rather than themselves?
Believe it that these currents are lining up.
Believe it that the Indian position in support of a
separate and sovereign tax base for Indian
governments is hardly ever represented in the
regular media. Within New York State, for example,
the Buffalo News and other papers routinely advocate
directly the position of New York State in its
conflicts with any and all Indian tribal
governments. Yet the tribal governments, all of
them, from the Seneca Nation of Indians (a republic)
to the Onondaga Longhouse (a clan-based government)
to the Oneida traditionalist council, to the elected
St. Regis Mohawk Tribal government – a wide array of
governmental structures to be sure – all are charged
with meeting the needs and demands of their
member-citizens, and all are charged with sustaining
their communities' self-governments and expected to
support these through successful economic
strategies.
New York State, as with all states that host Native
tribal enterprises within their borders if not
within their own jurisdictions, must be taught
proper conduct and procedure with Native
governments. This could be done respectfully but
firmly, but only after a fluid and consistent
conversation among Indian governmental offices is
established throughout the state.
Intellectual debate must be encouraged that will
draw out ideas and discussions from the broadest
range of advocates in our communities, from the best
research, to the most practical analyses. The
leadership can sit in, listen in, participate at
will or simply incorporate the range of the
discussion, but it would agree to consider the
currents and to consider common, common
draw-the-line points in negotiations with the state.
No doubt, there are honorable people in the offices
of the State of New York, and many among those who
oppose tribal gaming development areas are sincere
in their beliefs, however, they have objectives that
challenge and intend to diminish or even destroy
tribal sovereignty as the inherent right of American
Indian peoples in sustaining their nations. The
state would rather not destroy gooses that lay
golden eggs, but it clearly would pretend to own
them. It is the nature of the state sovereignty to
increasingly control the Indian jurisdictions.
Tribal leaders cannot and must not lose sight of
this important line of demarcation.
All the tribal entities within any state stand to
win substantially from squaring off with the state
in as much unity of purpose and position as
possible. No one would suggest this can happen
easily anywhere, but let us not abdicate the
responsibility for facilitating all such dialogue,
anywhere and any time it can happen. This point has
already been confirmed within New York where
concessions on taxes by out-of-state tribes and the
once powerful Mohawk, has sparked a full frontal
assault by the Governor on the sovereignty of all
Native nations within the state.
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Help us honor Native American Journalists
NAJA’s Media Awards entry forms are now being accepted.
Deadline for entries is May 8, 2005.
Please see the NAJA website for entry forms,
categories, and regulations: www.naja.com
Click on the red convention box at the top of the
homepage.
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Info from Ruth Garby Torres
For more information:
http://www.fvtc.edu/tp2.asp?ID=Criminal+Justice&pix=033
National Indian Youth Police Academy Class #5 (Junior)
July 11-23, 2005
Washington State Patrol Training Academy
Shelton, Washington
Academy Requirements
• Must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.
• Must be 14 - 16 years of age on or before July 6, 2005.
• Must currently be in school or actively working on a GED.
• Must obtain 3 letters of recommendation stating why you would benefit
from attending the Academy.
• The letters must be from:
o A Tribal teacher, counselor or school resource officer.
o A Tribal official (i.e. Tribal council member, Tribal police official,
Tribal government official).
o A Tribal member at large (any adult who is a Tribal member).
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Young Native Scholars Summer Academy 2005, San Diego
“Holistic Approach to Education” is now accepting Applications for
High School (9-12) Student Acceptance & for Mentor & Counselor Positions
Mentors must be College Undergrads or Graduates
Counselors must be Graduate Students or higher: with preference to
those working in Counseling or Education Graduate Programs.
Program will be from July 16-24th at UC San Diego, San Diego State
including overnight experiences on San Diego Reservations.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Deadline is June 7th. Limited
space. Downloadable Applications and information are available on-line
at www.NativeScholars.org
or contact
Marc Chavez
mcha-@nativescholars.org 858-688-2624
http://www.nativescholars.org/
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That’s it for now.
Stay safe,
Phil
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End of Phil Konstantin’s April 2005 Newsletter – Part 2
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