Nathan Blindman
Nathan is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Band from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD. Nathan’s paternal grandfather Charles Blindman at the age of 10 survived the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 with his mother and younger brother. February 2013 a local native owned newspaper headlined a story that the current deed holder (a non-Indian) was asking 3.9 million dollars for part of the massacre site. Two of the Wounded Knee Massacre descendants of survivors Linda Hollow Horn and… Nathan Blindman stepped forward to address the sale, which was using the massacre as a commercial selling pitch. In researching the original sale (to non-tribal members w/non-Indian investors) in 1930, Nathan discovered that important information about the land was not mentioned anywhere in the documents. Because the original sale took place 83 years ago, which some would consider it to be an “old stale file.” Or for that matter it doesn’t have any merit and what forum would you present it in? Nathan feels that the omission of important information about the original land sale is suspicious, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs who handled the land sale should audit every aspect the 1930 sale, which includes the investors and the bank who gave the loan to purchase the land.

Nathan Blind Man of Pine Ridge, South Dakota has done extensive research about the proposed sale of the site of the massacre that took place at Wounded Knee in 1890. He is a descendant of survivors of that massacre and for him and his people it is a sacred site. In Lakota culture, sacred artifacts, places and items cannot be sold. Please stand with Nathan and the Oglala Sioux who say that this land belongs to the Lakota people

Louie Gong is an educator, activist, and artist who was raised by his grandparents in the Nooksack tribal community. He is the past President of MAVIN, co-developer of the Mixed Heritage Center, and a former child and family therapist. Louie is also the founder of Eighth Generation, through which he merges traditional Coast Salish art and icons from popular culture to make strong statements about identity, such as his highly sought-after, hand-drawn custom shoes. Louie’s latest creation is called “Mockups”, a DIY art toy based on his work with youth and his desire to a make the experience of personalizing a pair of shoes more accessible.

Louie is proud to have represented his family and community through keynote level presentations and custom shoe workshops around the world, as well as in media such as NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, MSNBC.com, and Indian Country Today. His unique merger of art and activism is the subject of UNRESERVED: the Work of Louie Gong, a Longhouse Media film that was selected to screen at prestigious film festivals around the world, including Festival De Cannes and National Geographic’s All Roads Film Festival.

In 2012, Louie began an artistic partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian called Design Yourself: I AM NMAI, and a collaboration with Manitobah Mukluks that led to the “LG Gatherer”, a limited edition boot that has already sold out of it’s first 3 runs.

Louie was recently honored by being named to Native Max Magazine’s list of the “Top 10 Inspirational Native’s: Past and Present” and received the Seattle Indian Health Board’s Adeline Garcia’s Community Service Award, through which the nation’s largest Urban Indian Health Clinic recognizes community leaders for volunteer service.

http://eighthgeneration.com/

Mitakuye Oyasin!
My Grandmother shared with me a powerful time when the people came together for prayers during the Dust Bowl in the 1930′s. She accepted a C’anupa 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 Wic’ah’pi Was’te 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 ‘All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer’ 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 wic’oni (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 Nation’s 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 Wic’ah’pi 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 Isaiah’s 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!

Hec’el oinipikte (that we shall live)
Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the
Sacred White Buffalo Pipe

photo from: http://www.aaronpierre.com

Justin Finkbonner (Lummi Nation)Program Coordinator …
Justin,Enrolled Lummi Tribal Member,community activist for the Lummi Reservation.Justin pursued his higher education at Northwest Indian College and later Huxley College of Environmental Science at Western Washington University . Justin has received Fellowships from NASA, Udall Foundation in DC 104th Congressional Session under Senator Max Baucus, EPA, AIHEC Member, AISES, and Student Congress.
…
Prior to joining Potlatch Fund in August of 2005, Just…in held a variety of positions: Janitor at Youth Rec. at Lummi Nation (1yr), NWIC Accounting Dept. (1yr), Boys and Girls Club Coordinator – Lummi Nation (1yr), Project Coordinator Semiahmah Project (burial desecration) Lummi Nation (1yr), Office Administrator at 29 Palm Band of Mission Indians- California (1yr) and Director of the Funding, Statistics and Research Dept. at Lummi (5 yrs).

Lillian Pitt is a Native American artist from the Big River (Columbia River) region of the Pacific Northwest. Born on the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, she is a descendent of Wasco, Yakama, and Warm Springs people.
She is one of the most highly regarded Native American artists in the Pacific Northwest. Her works have been exhibited and reviewed regionally, nationally and internationally, and she has been the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions. Her awards include the 2007 Earle A. Chiles Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the 1990 Governor’s Award of the Oregon Arts Commission, which declared that she had made “significant contributions to the growth and development of the cultural life of Oregon.”

Primarily a sculptor and mixed media artist, Lillian’s lifetime of works include artistic expressions in clay, bronze, wearable art, prints, and most recently, glass. The focus of her work draws on over 12,000 years of Native American history and tradition of the Columbia River region. Regardless of the medium she chooses to use, Lillian’s contemporary works are all aimed at giving voice to her people.

“Everything I do, regardless of the medium, is directly related to honoring my ancestors and giving voice to the people, the environment and the animals. It’s all about maintaining a link with tradition, and about honoring the many contributions my ancestors have made to this world.”

Lillian’s works are found in personal collections, art galleries and museums. They are also found in numerous public spaces including parks, schools and cultural institutions throughout the region. Her most recent public works are featured at the Vancouver Land Bridge, one of the seven “confluence” projects along the Columbia River, designed by internationally renowned architect Maya Lin.

http://www.lillianpitt.com/artist/AboutLillianPitt.pdf

Yes, our life energy must be a gift for our future. Your life, my life, everybody’s life must follow your given path. So pray or meditate. Follow your inner path and learn just how powerful you are and learn that you are a leader for your people, your family, your children, and the Mother Earth.

-Chief Arvol Looking Horse

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