September 9, 2013
My dear friends and family,
There is a lot being said about the scheduled "Leonard Peltier
International Tribunal on the Abuse of Indigenous Human Rights" on
October 2-4, 2013, on the Oneida Reservation in Oneida/Green Bay,
WI. I want to express support for and appreciation to my team for
all of the hard work they are putting in to make this a documented
historical event. My team and I feel the time has come to address
the many years of abuse suffered by Indigenous people all over the
world. We cannot afford to sit back and wait for justice and equal
treatment for our people. We cannot sit back and wait for change and
"hope" that conditions will get better. We have to get involved in
making that change happen.
International Tribunal on the Abuse of Indigenous Human Rights" on
October 2-4, 2013, on the Oneida Reservation in Oneida/Green Bay,
WI. I want to express support for and appreciation to my team for
all of the hard work they are putting in to make this a documented
historical event. My team and I feel the time has come to address
the many years of abuse suffered by Indigenous people all over the
world. We cannot afford to sit back and wait for justice and equal
treatment for our people. We cannot sit back and wait for change and
"hope" that conditions will get better. We have to get involved in
making that change happen.
We have to develop the resources for our children and grandchildren
using education as a tool. We need Indigenous doctors working side
by side with our Medicine men using traditional knowledge to heal
our communities. We need Indigenous attorneys who aren't motivated
by money to represent the overwhelming number of Natives who are
locked in prison cells. We need Indigenous teachers who are willing
to encourage, support and motivate our many gifted and talented
children. We have to take charge of our destiny.
using education as a tool. We need Indigenous doctors working side
by side with our Medicine men using traditional knowledge to heal
our communities. We need Indigenous attorneys who aren't motivated
by money to represent the overwhelming number of Natives who are
locked in prison cells. We need Indigenous teachers who are willing
to encourage, support and motivate our many gifted and talented
children. We have to take charge of our destiny.
The goal of our Tribunal is to document our many struggles with
the U.S. government. The government was involved in outlawing every
freedom we valued, from the way we talked to the Creator with our
ceremonies to the way we parented our children. Don't ever forget
the spiritual, emotional, physical and mental damage that came
from ripping Native children as young as 3 and 4 years old from
the arms of their parents and putting them into the hands of cold,
hard matrons in the boarding schools. Men who normally provided
for their families by fishing and hunting found themselves on the
wrong side of the law and hunger became common. Acres and acres of
beautiful gardens in Native homelands were destroyed for the harvest
of uranium flowing through the veins of our Sacred mother earth.
the U.S. government. The government was involved in outlawing every
freedom we valued, from the way we talked to the Creator with our
ceremonies to the way we parented our children. Don't ever forget
the spiritual, emotional, physical and mental damage that came
from ripping Native children as young as 3 and 4 years old from
the arms of their parents and putting them into the hands of cold,
hard matrons in the boarding schools. Men who normally provided
for their families by fishing and hunting found themselves on the
wrong side of the law and hunger became common. Acres and acres of
beautiful gardens in Native homelands were destroyed for the harvest
of uranium flowing through the veins of our Sacred mother earth.
I am a prime example of what happens when you try to stand up and
protect the elders, babies and communities from corruption and
disruption of our sacred way of life. The very justice system,
supposedly designed to uphold the laws of our land, will use
any method necessary to get the outcome they want. Intimidating
witnesses, manufacturing or withholding evidence, and judge shopping
are all tactics used to achieve a conviction. These conditions are
unacceptable. While the current Administration has done more for
our people than any in recent history, we can not stand idly by. We
must be involved with bringing about the change we need. If we don't
demand accountability from the very government entrusted with our
future, who will? If not us, then who? If not now, then when??
protect the elders, babies and communities from corruption and
disruption of our sacred way of life. The very justice system,
supposedly designed to uphold the laws of our land, will use
any method necessary to get the outcome they want. Intimidating
witnesses, manufacturing or withholding evidence, and judge shopping
are all tactics used to achieve a conviction. These conditions are
unacceptable. While the current Administration has done more for
our people than any in recent history, we can not stand idly by. We
must be involved with bringing about the change we need. If we don't
demand accountability from the very government entrusted with our
future, who will? If not us, then who? If not now, then when??
We as Indigenous people have always supported each other. We
have a history of Native trade between Nations in all four
directions. We didn't create or recognize borders. We communicated
internationally. That is the goal we now have in front of us. We
want to re-establish that relationship. As Indigenous peoples, we
must never forget that we are all related. The time has come for us
to come together again, to mend the sacred hoop that forever keeps
us as one mind in one family. Let no man divide us forever. Please
join us as we begin the healing process.
have a history of Native trade between Nations in all four
directions. We didn't create or recognize borders. We communicated
internationally. That is the goal we now have in front of us. We
want to re-establish that relationship. As Indigenous peoples, we
must never forget that we are all related. The time has come for us
to come together again, to mend the sacred hoop that forever keeps
us as one mind in one family. Let no man divide us forever. Please
join us as we begin the healing process.
I am very humbled that this Tribunal has been named after me.
I promise to do my very best to be worthy of this honor.
Doksha.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Peltier
Launched into cyberspace by the
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
N5679 Skylark Drive, DePere, WI 54115
http://www.
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
N5679 Skylark Drive, DePere, WI 54115
http://www.
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