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Mid October 2002 Newsletter update
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START OF UPDATE
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Greetings,
I thought I would pass along a couple of news releases and some
information on my book...
For those of you who have ordered copies of my book through Buy.com or
Amazon.com (Thank you!), they are being shipped now. The book is also
starting to appear in several of the major book stores (Barnes & Nobel,
B.Dalton, Waldens & Borders, that I know of for sure). So far, most of
the bookstores seem to be selling it at full retail price ($35). The
better prices still seem to be on the internet ($22.05 US and up). This
is still expensive for a book, so you may want to go by a bookstore to
look at it to see if you want it enough to order it online, or through a
bookstore.
I will be happy to autograph anyone's copy. If you had one shipped
directly to me to be signed, please make sure you have mailed me the
proper amount to ship it to you, after I have signed it. Please contact
whatever company you want to ship it, (FedEx, UPS, US Post Office, etc.)
to find out how much it will cost to ship it to you from San Diego. You
can mail me a check for the shipping costs to
Phil Konstantin or Phil Konstantin
P.O.Box 17515 7183 Opportunity Rd.
San Diego, CA San Diego, CA
92177-7515 92123
Oddly enough, I still do not have a copy of my own, yet. The publisher
is supposed to give me a few free copies. They are handling the paying
customers first. The number of people (family and close friends) I would
like to give copies to far exceeds the number the publisher is sending
me. Oh, well...
Thanks again to everyone who has ordered a copy through my website.
http://americanindian.net/store.html
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PRESS RELEASE
Calvert’s Divestment From Liz Claiborne Praised By Indigenous Leaders
Tuesday, October 15, 2002 -
The American Indian Coalition on Institutional Accountability (AICIA)
applauds the Calvert Social Investment Fund's (CSIF) divestment of Liz
Claiborne. American Indian leaders and representatives of the Estate of
Crazy Horse have been in a long-standing struggle with Liz Claiborne and
J.C. Penney over their misuse of the "Crazy Horse name.
Claiborne has refused to desist using the name on labels for sportswear
and J.C. Penney; a retail store that sells the product for Liz Claiborne
refuses to talk to representatives of the Estate of Crazy Horse. "Crazy
Horse" a revered spiritual and political leader should not be used in
such a manner. It is a desecration of a historic leader and his legacy,"
states Chris Peters, Executive Director of the Seventh Generation Fund.
Sammy Toineeta, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe adds, "the Crazy
Horse name is so sacred to the Lakota, that we don't even give his name
to our children.Liz Claiborne has offered only cosmetic changes such as
pluralizing horse to horses, or putting crazy horse in lower case
letters. Claiborne agrees doing this with other cultural and spiritual
icons like: Gandhi or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., would not disguise
their identity, yet this is what the Company proposed to the Crazy Horse
family as a compromise. The Company told the American Indian leaders
that there was never a relationship with their "Crazy Horse" product and
"the Lakota Sioux leader." "We found this statement insulting and
disrespectful to the American Indian leaders in the room," says Dr.
Charlene Teters, a member of the Spokane Tribe.
The Estate of Crazy Horse is presently suing the owners of Arizona's Ice
Tea, who also make "Crazy Horse Malt Liquor" in federal court in South
Dakota. Just recently British Petroleum became the third major
corporation to discontinue using the Crazy Horse family name. The giant
oil company renamed its project, the largest oil reserve in the Gulf of
Mexico, to Thunder Horse when the company heard about the family's
objections.
Each of the three companies who have stopped using the name, Stroh's
Brewing Company, A & P Grocery Stores, and British Petroleum, have
resolved their issue with the family in a traditional settlement. A
traditional settlement has consisted of compensating the Rosebud Sioux
Tribe and the Estate of Crazy Horse with a few braids of sweet grass and
tobacco. "This is clearly not about money," according to Gary Brouse,
Director of Equality and Indigenous Issues at the Interfaith Center on
Corporate Responsibility, "the family is looking for something more than
monetary compensation. It is looking for good corporate ethnical
behavior and respect for American Indian culture, tradition and
spirituality."
For more information use the American Indian Coalition on Institutional
Accountability’s “Press Contact list.”
American Indian Coalition on Institutional Accountability
Gary Brouse
212-870-2316
Cyng-@cs.com
Pohlik-lah & Karuk Chris Peters Executive Director
Seventh Generation Fund Arcata, California 707-825-7640
Cpet-@genfund.org
SPOKANE Charlene Teters Vice President National Coalition on Racism in
Sports and Media
Santa Fe, New Mexico 505-820-7874 Cteters@org
CHEROKEE Rebecca Adamson Executive Director First Nations Development
Institute
Fredericksburg, Virginia 540-371-5615 Rada-@firstnations.org LAKOTA
Sammy Toineeta Acting Minister for American Indian Relations United
Church of Christ
Cleveland, OH 216-736-2194 216-736-2103 fax toin-@ucc.org Shinnecock
Marguerite Smith Msma-@aol..com 518-789-8026
Estate of Crazy Horse Bob Gough, attorney Rosebud, South Dakota
Rpwg-@aol.com
Crazy Horse Defense Fund Phyllis Frederick
Minnespolis, Mn. 612-879-9165 Phyllisf-@email.com
Dr. Tink Tinker Professor of American Indian Cultures and Religious
Traditions, Iliff School of Theology (303-! 765-3182) Annisbae Obijway
Vernon Bellecourt (612-721-3914) ( HYPERLINK
"mailto:aim-@worldnet.att" aim-@worldnet.att)
The Morning Star Institute Suzan Harjo Washington, DC 202-547-5531
(sha-@cris.com).
Calvert Social Investment Fund Calvert’s Press Secretary Elizabeth
Laurienzo 301.657.7047
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mark LeBeau
September 30, 2002 (202) 225-4671
PALLONE INTRODUCES BILL TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF NAMES AND SYMBOLS OF
SCHOOLS THAT ARE OFFENSIVE TO NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), a senior member of the House
Resources Committee and a member of the Congressional Native American
Caucus, introduces the Native Act to Transform Imagery in Various
Environments (NATIVE) in the House of Representatives and submits
corresponding opening statement into the Congressional Record.
"Representative Frank Pallone, Jr.
Introducing the Native Act to Transform Imagery in Various Environments
(NATIVE) Act
September 26, 2002
"I rise today as a member of the Native American Caucus to introduce the
Native Act to Transform Imagery in Various Environments (NATIVE) Act.
This bill would provide funding for the establishment of an incentive
program for schools to eliminate the use of names and symbols that are
offensive to Native American people.
"Many elementary and secondary schools across the country use words and
symbols representing their schools that are demeaning to Native
Americans. Nationally, more than 1,200 schools inappropriately use such
offensive names or nicknames, often these become mascots. In addition,
these names or symbols are used at athletic games for mascot characters,
chants and other antics.
"While I believe the intentions of these school communities is not to
disrespect or harm Native Americans, that is the end result of allowing
these offensive terms to continue in these educational institutions.
"Once this bill is signed into law, the Secretary of Education would be
authorized to make grants to eligible schools to assist such schools to
discontinue use of a derogatory or discriminatory name or depiction as a
team name, mascot, or nickname. Funding would be provided to schools to
change their names and symbols on all equipment and apparel throughout
the institution, including on team jerseys, signs, stationary, walls,
fields and gymnasium floors. Schools participating in the program may
also qualify for construction or renovation funds.
"Given that the president's No Child Left Behind education plan does not
include construction and renovation funding (with the exception of
immediate danger areas), this would be a major incentive for schools to
replace their offensive names and logos. Because of the federal
government's trust responsibility and obligations to tribal governments,
tribally-controlled schools would be eligible for construction or
renovation funds, regardless of whether or not they alter their names
and symbols.
Page 2 / Opening Statement
"The legislation would also provide for the establishment of a Committee
of American Indian Relations to conduct cultural proficiency trainings
at schools participating in the program to further assist the school
communities with understanding and changing their behavior. The
Committee would also assist the Secretary with reviewing proposals
submitted by schools for eligibility determination and funding of grant
purposes. The Committee would be headed by a Director, selected by the
Secretary in consultation with tribal governments.
"This program would receive federal funding for five years. During the
first two years of the program, some funding would be devoted to
establishing the Committee, identifying schools interested in
participating and then working with those schools to actually change the
offensive names and symbols. Over the remaining three years, funding
would be devoted to any necessary construction and renovation required
at the school sites.
"I have developed this legislation in consultation with representatives
from the National Indian Education Association, the Indian Teacher and
Educational Personnel Program, the Capital Area Indian Resource Center
and the California Rural Indian Health Board and would like to thank
these tribal organizations and their staff for their commitment to
bringing this bill to fruition.
"The idea for this legislation came from a similar bill proposed in the
California state legislature. The California bill would have mandated
that all schools in the state with offensive Native American names and
symbols change their identifying features in order to continue receiving
state funding. This bill failed to receive the votes necessary to
become state law.
"I believe that forcing educational institutions to adhere to a new
procedure without preparing them for such a change can have negative
consequences. Educating the school community about why such change is
important, and gradually gaining their support can make the transition
easier and oftentimes leads to positive results.
"This is why I am introducing this bill that would not mandate schools
change, but instead provide incentives and activities building awareness
in school communities as to why these names and symbols are not
appropriate in educational environments.
"I urge my colleagues to support and vote in favor of the Native Act to
Transform Imagery in Various Environments (NATIVE)."
------------------------
FYI, there are now over 1400 people who are getting this newsleter. WOW!
That's it for now,
Phil
phil-@rocketmail.com ;
or
newsl-@americanindian.net
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END OF UPDATE
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