Battle Cry

Let's face it...

• We are fighting a group of investors who can smell the profit they're making by selling this land.
  
  
• We are fighting one or more buyers who can smell the money they hope to make off the condominiums or any other development they dream up to put on top of it.
  
  
• We are fighting the apathy of dominant society on this and all other issues involving American Indians and other people of color.
  
  
• We are fighting the assimilation and loss of hope by our own people who have been through and lost this kind of struggle so many times in the past that they are weary of taking up the fight one more time, and fighting for our enrolled cousins who cannot stand by our sides because this is just one of the many issues they must battle daily.
  
  
• We are fighting the misconception of our unenrolled cousins that being Indian is only talking about it, going to "fun" Indian events, buying/wearing a patch, t-shirt, cap, or period clothing, or that waging such a battle is somehow "political."
  
  
• We are fighting for ancestors whose names have long been forgotten, but who were entrusted into this final resting place.
  
  
• We are fighting for what is good and decent and right no matter who lies at rest in this piece of earth or any other.

This is not only a battle, it's one of the hardest kind there is to fight because it is not blatant, it is not as visible, it is not fought with guns, knives, bows, arrows, bombs or on a recognizable battle field, and its casualties are either already dead or are, through our own apathy, an invisible minority.

Our weapons are our hearts that hear the cry of those resting here and the call of warriors long past to join them in standing against this foe, our hands that wave and hold protest signs and write letters and send e-mail, our written words that speak and beg and plead for assistance, support, understanding, and some show of respect, and our voices that call out constantly to the heavens for strength, for guidance, for help, and for the softening of the hearts of those we battle.

This is our battle cry. This is a call for prayers to soften the hearts of those who stand in our way, awaken the hearts of those who misunderstand or don't take the time to learn, and to place a burden on the hearts of those who continue to work against us.

This is our call to all of you.

• If you wear a cap that says Native PRIDE ... prove you mean it. STAND with us.
• If you wear a patch or t-shirt that says American Indian Movement ... be it. STAND with us.
• If you proclaim your American Indian heritage as forefront ... live it. STAND with us.

Too many of us have or do those things and too many of us only do this when it's easy or fun or non-threatening. The ones of you that claim to be a part of this culture, a part of those organizations that have long worked to preserve and fight for the culture and the rights of Native people ... this is your chance to really be what you claim to be, to really walk the talk you've been making. Being Indian is not being in a social club. It's a way of life. Most times a very hard way of life. As Leonard Peltier said, "Our life is our sacrifice for our people, and our life is our sundance." Stand with us.

Redhawk Says ...

To allow these graves to be desecrated goes against the traditions and the spirit in the heart of our people. The ancestors sacrificed and died defending these traditions for the next generation to come. The next generation is here. It is now our responsibility as Native people to pave the road for the next generation after ours. It is time for people to walk the talk.

Have our people lived among the white man so long and been assimilated so much that they forgotten what is sacred and holy? One of the common traditions of all 500 nations is that Indians do not dig up Indians. So many people claim a heritage as a descendent of the Ancestors. What good is it to gain the whole world, and end up losing your immortal soul?

 

If people are going to claim to walk as traditional, proud people, then they must walk all the traditions they claim to walk, not just those that are convenient or easy. They must be willing to stand up for those nations with which they claim affiliation. While they live and work in a non-Indian world, they must make a choice to embrace fully the traditions of their ancestors' nation or choose to be non-Indian. It is impossible to be both.

For those non-Indians who choose to stand by us in our struggles and our battles, they must also choose to accept our traditions, our beliefs, our word that this is what is right for all our people present and past, and stop advising us to compromise those values because it would be easier or faster or better. It may not be better in our eyes. It may violate what we believe, what we hold sacred, what we hold dear.

Did Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Geronimo, Tecumesh,
Tsali or Dragging Canoe carry a card? No, they did not. Those that believe that you can only be Indian because you carry a government-blessed or BIA card have forgotten that it was the government that formed the BIA to control Native people. Those people have forgotten what being Indian is all about. It is not about a card.
It is a way of life, heart, and spirit all the time, not just on weekends, not just for powwows or festivals or parades or school assemblies, not just when its affordable. It's a way of life, heart and spirit even when life is hard, your heart is broken, and your spirit is sad.

Redhawk Mason, Chiricahua Apache

Scenes from the Front ...

Pictures from the Sept. 18 protest.

A small but mighty protest was held from noon until 4 p.m. Protestors kept things friendly, waving and smiling at the passing motorists many of whom returned the favor with horn honking, thumbs up, peace signs, and waves. Some protestors had never met, and others knew each other only slightly.

Breaks in the traffic gave us time to visit, get to know one another better, and to share words of encouragement and ideas. Left, Lee, Val, Lawrence and Redhawk share some Indian humor. Right, Val and Redhawk rest some weary legs and talk over plans for the next protest.

More scenes from the Front Line:

Protesters included Tushka Hill (Choctaw), Lawrence Sampson (EBCI), Lee & Tom Vest (Monacan), Redhawk Mason (Chiricahua Apache), Teri Ellenwood and children (CNO), Soco Cody (CNO) and daughter, and Val Ohle (Delaware Descendent - not pictured).

Redhawk and Lawrence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traffic was nearly non-stop and slow moving for the duration of the protest. Passing motorists had no problem reading the signs and banners.

 

 

 

Lee Vest, Soco Cody, and Tom Vest

 

 

 

 

 

Another view from the front and the miles and miles of cars that traveled by.