Dear friends, allies, and supporters of Leonard Peltier,
Many of you contact us with very creative ideas on how to get Leonard's story out and win the hearts of the people. In an effort to truly make this a collective struggle, from time to time, we will feature your ideas and your stories. This is one of those cases. Each of you has a story on how you got involved on Leonard's case and why you still stand firm by him when so many have come and gone. Gerry Foley's story comes from the heart and that's how it's touched us. He is 58 and lives in Liverpool, UK. He describes himself as an Irish Scouse socialist. He says he was told by his parents that the Native Americans suffered the same as the Irish, that the Irish are the European Indians, starved, poisoned, thrown off their land, their language banned. He adds I want to see Leonard free before I die, I always had 100% support from my wife, whom I lost in April, she wont let me go to her until Leonard is free.
LEONARDS PRISONER NUMBER PHOTO CONTEST
Gerry Foley has proposed a campaign to get Leonards prisoner number out in public places/events covered by the media, like sports matches, public celebrations etc. He has started a contest for the best/most ingenious display of Leonards number. Every entry will receive a special key ring and the winner, to be decided January 2006, will get U$ 100, and the photo will be posted on our official website. Send your photos via e-mail to [1]ghostshirt2003@yahoo.co.uk
Hay hombres que luchan un dia y son buenos, hay otros que luchan muchos anios y son mejores, pero hay los que luchan toda la vida y esos son los indispensables.
Indigenous Resistance Day Date: 10/12/2005 From: paulaostrovsky@hotmail.com
VENEZUELA: Justice for indigenous people for the first time
Lara Pullin
On October 12, most countries in Latin America will celebrate Dia de la Raza, or Colombus Day, which in 1492 marked the beginning of the Spanish empires destruction of millions of years of the continents indigenous history in just a few decades. Yet in Venezuela, the day is now commemorated as the Day of Indigenous Resistance, and to participate in public discussion about the impact of colonialism on indigenous communities and what can be done to redress this.
President Hugo Chavez, leader of Venezuelas Bolivarian revolution, is himself a proud descendent of mixed indigenous and African cultural heritage, con un pocito de blanco. There are 36 distinct indigenous cultures in Venezuela, all of whom have been participating in the Guaicaipuro Mission, launched by Chavez just under two years ago. Chief Guaicaipuro, leader of the Caracas and Teques people, fought off the first Spanish coloniser-settlers for a decade in the 1560s, and eventually preferred death to conceding his territories.
According to the national census, Venezuela has about 500,000 identified indigenous people, many living in 2300 distinct autonomous communities. While there have been many gains made over the past six years, perhaps the most significant occurred on August 9 this year, when on ancestral lands in Santa Rosa de Tacata, Anzoategui, Chavez issued formal land titles over traditional lands to representatives of the Karina peoples.
Noheli Pocaterra, indigenous activist and member of the Pesidential Commission Guaicaipuro, said at the ceremony: Simon Bolivar, the first liberator, gave back the lands, the best lands, to the original inhabitants. But President Chavez is the first president to ever do this to dispossessed Indigenous. According to Pocaterra, recognition of ancestral lands was a precondition for advancing the missions with indigenous communities. For the first time in Venezuela there is justice for our people. These lands have a great magic and spiritual feeling for our indigenous peoples, land is life for us.
Venezuelas Bolivarian constitution devotes its entire eighth chapter to indigenous rights, outlining land rights and the states obligation to promote indigenous cultural values and to consult with communities regarding activities such as mining and development. There is a guaranteed presence of three indigenous members in the National Assembly and one state governor. There are also indigenous deputies in state parliaments and in the ministries, such as the National Youth Institute. The Bolivarian state also recognises traditional medicine and complementary treatments, and protects collective property, knowledge and technologies.
When handing over the land titles, Chavez also announced a US$130 million assistance package, which according to Pocaterra, will go a long way towards increasing economic productivity (mostly food production), leading to self-sufficiency in Venezuela. The revolution has arrived for us. Now its not just words, its concrete actions. And now our first peoples rights are acknowledged not the rights of the coloniser. Indigenous people can truly participate.
Hay hombres que luchan un dia y son buenos, hay otros que luchan muchos anios y son mejores, pero hay los que luchan toda la vida y esos son los indispensables.
Paula Loud Hawk called to discuss dads situation Monday evening. Surprisingly, things looked very positive, he needed surgery to repair and prior to this new information, dad was in a no-win situation meaning whether he had surgery or not his prognosis was the same: eminent. The surgeons said his heart was very strong and gave him a prognosis of 66% chance of survival and this was, of course, dependent upon other extenuating factors. Surgery started at 6:45 AM this morning (Tuesday, October 11th) and lasted for at least 4 hours. It was extremely succesful, he is now even able to stand up and walk (with help)!!!
The doctors are amazed at the strength of his heart and lungs, and I'd add his spirit. We called on all the Lakota Akicita in the Spirit World to help him recover, and prayed to Tunkasila to keep him safe and free from suffering. We know many of you joined us with prayers and good wishes for this man and this family, so central to the indigenous movement, that has suffered so much. Many of you also helped out with donations which have been (and still are, since he must remain hospitalized for 2 more weeks) essential to keep the family by his side.
On behalf of the Loud Hawk family I want to give you my most heartfelt thanks.
