Daily Archives: April 21, 2013

Chief Arvol Lookinghorse’s Message for May 2013

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Mitakuye Oyasin!

My Grandmother shared with me a powerful time when the people came together for prayers during the Dust Bowl in the 1930¹s. She accepted a C¹anupa to bring out the White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle to end the drought and bring healing to Mother Earth. Even the non-native farmers heard of this prayer time and offered a cow to feed for the ceremony. The prayer was answered!

Recently I accepted tobacco from a Grandmother – Anpao Wic¹ah¹pi Was¹te Winyan of the Ihanktowan Oyate. She had a dream of bringing People together at the bundle to pray for a healing of the biggest cancer that is spreading upon Mother Earth; caused from the Tar Sand efforts with XL pipeline that is threatening to come through our territory and our Sacred Sites.

Our Nation who is known as the Pte Oyate (The Buffalo People) will be praying with Sacred Bundle on May 18, 2013. Please bring food for feast and tobacco offerings.

I am asking ³All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer¹ to help us during this time of this gathering by praying with us on this day where ever you are upon Mother Earth.

We need to stop the desecration that is hurting Mother Earth and the communities. These recent spills of oil are affecting the blood of Mother Earth; Mni wic¹oni (water of life).

Chief Bernard Ominiayak of the Lubicon Lake First Nation of Canada is also asking for prayers and to let the World know of his People¹s stand against the Development that is happening against his People. They sit on 70% of oil; those that are after this oil are threatening their lives. His concern at this moment is of non-members, without their consent, signing away their rights and negotiating with Corporations that will forever affect their way of life – to live off the land – handing them a death sentence. At this moment there are too many of their people dying from cancer. When they hunt, they are finding maggot-infested moose. When they fish they are finding two headed fish. The people are dying from trying to survive in a traditional way in their territory. The UN has submitted a statement in support of Lubicon Lake Nation¹s stand to live in Sovereignty and live in their tradition.

We have many concerns at this time. Along with the First Nations whose territory is within the Tar Sands desecration; with their lives being threatened and also the high death rates of cancer, along with the sickness of the land and animals.

Many other Nations are committed to praying with us on the day of our ceremony. For those that cannot attend, Chief Wic¹ah¹pi To Wambdi is helping with his sister¹s dream representing the Ihanktowan Oyate, by asking those that cannot attend to send him tobacco ties and flags so he can carry them for the People to the Bundle.

I have also been contacted by People who will have another gathering outside the UN at Isaiah¹s Wall in NYC, they are committing to support and pray with us on May 17th at noon.

In a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no ending and no
beginning!

Hec¹el oinipikte (that we shall live)

Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the
Sacred White Buffalo Pipe

For More Information:

http://www.lubiconlakenation.ca

Address of Chief Wic¹ah¹ipi To Wambdi, 30702 Eggers Road,
Wagner, South Dakota 5738

Chief Phil Lane Jr- On Protecting the Sacred. 4-21-2013 5pm

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Hereditary chief of the Ihanktonwan First Nation Phil Lane Jr. said the treaty reinforces First Nations obligations to defend the environment based on ancient laws, now and into the future.

“This is part of a much larger global campaign called Protect the Sacred. The sacred is not limited to stopping tar sands projects. It’s a global Indigenous movement with allies around the world that are going to focus very specifically on issues that are negatively impacting Mother Earth and Indigenous peoples and humanity, all members of the human family.”

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/sustainability/international-treaty-protect-sacred-tar-sands-project-signed-first-nations-s-dakota

photo from:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1076707-first-nations-target-pipelines

Nancy Shippentower-Games on “Make No Bones About It. 4-21-2013 4pm

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Nancy’s parents are Donald & Janet McCloud, we grew up on the banks of the Nisqually River, my father’s parents are Willie Frank & Angeline Tobin, my mother’s are Mamie McCoy & John Renecker – I have 7 siblings, 6 children and 10 grandchildren. I live in Yelm, WA., by my parents home..

Janet is a Tulalip Tribal Member, Don is a Puyallup Tribal member.

Nancy grew up in the fishing wars on both the Nisqually & Puyallup River – we seen, heard and felt the anger of the sportsmen, game agents and the state government.

Nancy graduated from college at Evergreen College under the direction of Mary Hilliare.

Nancy worked at the Puyallup Tribe off and on for over 30 years – I like Natural resources jobs,. Nancy has been on Tribal Council during the Land Claims Settlement.

Signed the Centennial Accord & Puyallup Tribal Land Claims.

Nancy is very vocal when it comes to telling the truth of the fishing rights, or protecting our natural resources.

Nancy said we were very luck our parents took us around d the United States to visit other nations, participate in their ceremonies and learn different traditions and cultures.