bttbjournal

Day · Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:42 am Post subject: Daylight 3/06 Windy Moon

March '06 (A-nv-yi) Windy Moon

Daylight:

There are two things in the news now that affect us as Native Americans, and I'd like all of you to take the time to respond.

"When Governor Mike Rounds signed HB 1215 into law it effectively banned all abortions in the state with the exception that it did allow saving the mother’s life. There were, however, no exceptions for victims of rape or incest. His actions, and the comments of State Senators like Bill Napoli of Rapid City, SD, set of a maelstrom of protests within the state.

Napoli suggested that if it was a case of “simple rape,” there should be no thoughts of ending a pregnancy. Letters by the hundreds appeared in local newspapers, mostly written by women, challenging Napoli’s description of rape as “simple.” He has yet to explain satisfactorily what he meant by “simple rape.”

The President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Cecilia Fire Thunder, a former nurse said she would personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on the tribal land within the Pine Ridge Reservation. To her it is a question of sovereignty.

The other major story of the week is the movement for immigrant rights. Nearly a million people throughout the country have marched, demonstrated or been active in some way to beat back H.R. 4437, the immigration bill that would

• make it more difficult for legal immigrants to become citizens,
• Disrupt American communities and put all Americans at risk by broadening the definition of smuggling to include anyone who aids or transports an undocumented immigrant.
• Make everyone who comes to the U.S. to work subject not only to deportation but also imprisonment.
• Disrupt the U.S. economy by creating an employment verification system without creating legal channels for needed workers to work lawfully.

The House of Representatives also passed amendments to the bill that would authorize construction of a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, than will affect Southwestern Native tribal peoples.

What are your ideas and comments on these two major stories? As always, Native people are rarely included on the talk shows that discuss policy. And forget about the views of our Traditionals.

How do these issues affect you, or your people? Do we as Native peoples have a point of view that is different than the majority; in any way? For instance, through the years our people from Pine Ridge have had trouble receiving regular health care; and have had serious problems with children and teens such as suicide and drug abuse.
Poverty itself has been a major issue; every year there are appeals to help keep the elders warm through the winter. President Cecilia Fire Thunder is filling a need; but is that the greatest need on the reservation?

Likewise, I fully support our Mexican brothers and sisters from the south; who are not "illegally crossing a border" but are crossing an artificial border created by European occupiers to lands that were once part of their traditional homelands. They are coming here now primarily because the conditions in Mexico, created, continued or exacerbated by the U.S. force them to leave lives of poverty in their own nation to seek employment here.

While acknowledging this; it pains me to hear that the jobs immigrants are doing are jobs that none of us want. I know too many people who have done those jobs.. I have members of my family who have done them. I've read from some of your letters that you, or your relatives have done them; these low skilled, low-waged but "off the books" jobs.

I myself have done them. I've been a factory worker. I've been a babysitter. I've done demolition for renovating buildings. I've peddled Native American crafts in the street. I've done kitchen work in restaurants. I haven't done agricultural work; but I know many Indian people who have. And they would now, rather than see their families go without. So as we show support for our brothers and sisters in their struggle, take the time to challenge that stereotype, that lie, that we would prefer to be lazy Indians rather than to accept certain jobs.

Let's hear what the rest of the BTTB family thinks about these issues. Post your comments in the comments section, Send your comments to BTTB, BOX 527-524, Flushing NY 11352-7524 or email me at bttb_journal@att.net

Walk In Harmony,
Day Starr