Thursday, November 20, 2003

Gov. Dean in Indian Country FEATURED ARTICLES - The National Women's History Project Bio of LaDonna Harris - Radio Interview with LaDonna Harris - Americans for Indian Opportunity - Who is Wilma Mankiller? - Wilma Mankiller Talks Straight but Makes Mischief, too - Rebuilding the Cherokee Nation - Governor Dean Issues Native American Platform QUOTE OF THE DAY My values and the values of my campaign are the same as those of Native Americans--advancing the cause of youth, caring for our elders, ensuring equal opportunity, providing quality health care, and creating jobs by building basic infrastructure and planning for future generations - - Governor Howard Dean (11/19/03, National Congress of American Indians) KNOW YOUR HISTORY - NOVEMBER 20th 1817 -- An attack by settlers on Florida Indians starts the Seminole Wars, during which, the most culpable architect of U.S. Indian policy & work-arounds, General Andy "Old Hickory" Jackson of Nashville, Tennessee, invades Spanish East Florida. Seminole Tribe History: http://www.seminoletribe.com/history/indian_removal.shtml 1969 -- The 19-month occupation of Alcatraz begins when 78 Indians from 20 tribes (including Seminole, Winnebago, Cahuilla, Lakota, Innuit, Luiseno, Cherokee, Choctaw & Mohawk) take over the island saying it belongs to them "by right of discovery." They intend on making it into a cultural center, and offer to purchase the island from the federal government for $24 worth of glass beads & red cloth. "Alcatraz Is Not An Island" : http://www.pbs.org/itvs/alcatrazisnotanisland RHINO HERE: Governor Howard Dean visited the National Congress of American Indians on Wednesday morning & Rhino was in the house. Dr. Dean first spoke intimately with about 50 Dean supporters, then to the full Congress. His clear understanding & support of the sovereignty of American Indian Nations, and his choice of Indian political community advisors LaDonna Harris and Wilma Mankiller, shows the Rhino that the Doctor has done his research well. Today's BOTTOM LINE is the DeanForAmerica.com coverage of the event & a bullet-point summary of the good doctor's Native American Platform. Before that, I offer some inspiring reading on the 2 women role models, who will be serving as Howard Dean's Indian advisors. Enjoy. The National Women's History Project Bio of LaDonna Harris LaDonna Harris embodies her Comanche heritage and is one of the most influential, inspired, and determined Native Americans in politics. Since 1970, she has served as the president of Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO), a national multi-tribal organization devoted to developing the economic opportunities and resources of American Indians throughout the United States... MORE: http://www.nwhp.org/tlp/biographies/harris/harris_bio.html Radio Interview with LaDonna Harris Native America Calling, 1/19/98 Native American Public Telecommunications Board Chair LaDonna Harris devotes her life to building coalitions, organizations, and working relationships that create change. An NAPT board member since 1994, Harris is a consistent and ardent advocate on behalf of Tribal America and she is active in the movements for civil rights, the environment, women's issues, and world peace. She is a founding member of Common Cause and the National Urban Coalition and is an ardent spokesperson against poverty and social injustice... ...Welcome to NAPT's Media Archives. Browse the topic and guest categories to listen to classic episodes of our favorite talk show in Indian Country, Native America Calling http://www.nativecalling.org/archives/guests/harris.html Americans for Indian Opportunity http://www.aio.org Who is Wilma Mankiller? Wilma Mankiller became Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1983. Two years later at the young age of thirty-one she became Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation. This was the first time a woman had held this position. Mankiller grew up on a reservation in Oklahoma. The Bureau of Indian Affairs moved her family and others to San Francisco as part of their tribal relocation program in 1956 so as to "urbanize" poor rural native people. During her time there she participated in the women's movement. A 1969 demonstration by Indian college students who took over Alcatraz Island inspired her to dedicate her life to the uplifting of her people.... IT'S ALL AT: http://www.fl.essortment.com/wilmamankiller_rsly.htm Wilma Mankiller Talks Straight but Makes Mischief, too by Mark Trahant, Seattle Times Columnist Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America - June 3, 2000 "Wilma Mankiller is someone I feel I've known in this lifetime and many lifetimes before. I recognize in her the greatest beauty, dignity, and truthfulness. An honesty that embraces. A candor that heals. A radical love for people and empathy with the earth. - - Alice Walker "A young man once asked Wilma Mankiller what he should call her. She was then principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, and twice elected as the leader of some 200,000 people. But this young man was uncomfortable with what he called a "male" term. "Should we address you as chieftainess?" he asked. Mankiller didn't say a word. Then, after hearing the suggestion "chiefette," she responded. "I told him to call me 'Ms.-Chief' or 'misChief.' " Mankiller still makes mischief. She's no longer leader of the nation's second-largest Indian tribe, but she travels across the country writing and speaking about American Indians, stereotypes and racism... MORE: http://www.turtletrack.org/Issues00/Co06032000/CO_06032000_Mankiller.htm Rebuilding the Cherokee Nation A speech by Wilma Mankiller, Former Chief of the Cherokee Nation , Sweet Briar College , April 2, 1993 http://gos.sbc.edu/m/mankiller.html 8:20:22 AM    comment

RHINO'S BOTTOM LINE - Governor Dean Issues Native American Platform FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, November 19, 2003 Contact: Press Office, 802-651-3200 Governor Dean Issues Native American Platform Fostering Tribal Sovereignty, Furthering Self-Determination and Fulfilling the Trust Responsibility ALBUQUERQUE--Speaking today at the National Congress of American Indians, Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D., announced a variety of policy proposals aimed at ensuring that the government treats Native American nations as governments, not special interest groups. As president, Dean said he would support tribal sovereignty and government-to-government relations between the United States and federally recognized tribes. "Traveling across the country during this campaign, I've met so many Americans who are struggling. The truth is, the government is only working for the interests of a privileged few-and the people are being left behind. In tribal communities, it's been happening for 200 years," Dean said. "Too many Native American communities are lagging behind and it is because the United States has not followed through on promised services. President Bush's administration has created an environment that undermines Tribal America's forward progress," Dean continued. "He has allowed the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian health services, and the Administration for Native Americans to languish for months without leadership. This has fostered challenges to the sovereign rights of tribal governments, which undercuts a tribe's ability to provide for the well-being of its people. The attack on tribal sovereignty must stop.":... READ THE DEAN N.A. PLATFORM AT: http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&;id=10594&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1301 "RHINO'S BLOG" is the responsibility of Gary Rhine. (rhino@kifaru.com) Feedback, and requests to be added or deleted from the list are encouraged. SEARCH BLOG ARCHIVES / SURF RHINO'S LINKS, AT: http://www.rhinosblog.info RHINO'S OTHER WEB SITES: http://www.dreamcatchers.org (INDIGENOUS ASSISTANCE & INTERCULTURAL DIALOG) http://www.kifaru.com (NATIVE AMERICAN RELATIONS VIDEO DOCUMENTARIES) Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of international copyright law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html All copyrights belong to original publisher. Tell a friend about Rhino's Blog 7:05:30 AM    comment

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