I received some response back from the post I sent out yesterday on the Washington State GOP's Resolution on terminatation of the First Nations (see article below), some people understood the true meaning of that resolution, others viewed me as an alarmist and still others took a "what does this have to do with me" attitude. So I am going to answer people's concerns.
I realize that if you have not kept up with the racist anti-tribal campaign you may not see the GOP Resolution in the same way that I do. There have always been anti-Native racists, but here in the state of Washington a new breed came into being over 30 years ago as a reaction against Native fishing struggles. The two most outfront anti- tribal leaders came to be Slade Gordon (a Washington State U.S. Senator and Jack Metcalf (a member of the U.S. House of Representatives). Both have called for the same type of termination politics as does the GOP Resolution and both are leaders of the Washington State GOP.
The AREAN has resisted the anti-tribal campaign in the State of Washington for the last five years. The following list is of those that have actively supported the anti-tribal campaign in words, deeds and money; the "Wise Use" Movement, white organized groups of sport hunters, sport and commercial fishing interests (Gordon made his money off a family run fishing company that has his family name on it), The Center for Defense of Free Enterprise, The Multiple Use Strategy Conference (which Louisiana-Pacific, Boise Cascade and Exxon are among its members), The American Freedom Coalition, The Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, The Interstate Congress for Equal Rights and Responsibilties, Protect Americans' Rights and Resources, The Joseph Coors Foundation, The Heritage Foundation, The Alliance For America, The United Property Owners of Washington, The Defenders of Property Rights (a group that includes James Watt, Ed Meese, Robert Bork, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Sen. Larry Craig), The Christian-Patriot Movement, The Christian Coalition, Builders Industry Association of Washington, The Liberty Lobby, The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (who has issued a call for the elimination for First Nation's treaties and works with Gordon and Metcalf) and other eco-racist groups.
I should also pointout the Gordon was one of George W. Bush's early supporters and his main man in Washington State. Would Bush support the Termination Resolution? When he was asked about his views on Native issues he responded by saying that it was a matter for the States to deal with. But as we all know, the treaties and most everything else dealing with the First Nations fall under federal control. Either Bush is dumb as hell (which is very possible) or he supports the elimination of the treaties.
As to the question of "what does this have to do with me?", the answer is very simple. It does not matter what community you come from, it does not matter what issue you are active in, we who are not of the rich powerful class are all faced with the reality of today's world of increased global corporate expansionism. This has meant lost jobs that move away, a threat to the environment, a threat to human and labor rights, and as this threat seeks to control the profitable resources of the world this has meant a direct threat to the Indigenous People throughout the world and here at home.
We all understand that acts of the forces of greed are nothing new. In that realization we can also look to history to answer the question. One of the reasons why many of the treaties were signed was that, at that time, the U.S. Military could not fight all the First Nations at the same time and also the military, in those days, were fighting another foe, that being organized labor. The same General Sheridan that fought the Lakotas was recalled from that war to marched on Chicago to put down a worker's strike, the same General Miles who fought the First Nations throughout the west, also led troops against workers in the Pullman Strike. If you see no connection between struggles let me ask you but one question: How many miles separate the Sand Creek Massacre of the Cheyennes and the Ludlow Massacre of mine workers and their families? Both massacres were carried out by the Colorado State Militia.
The so-called justification for the GOP Termination Resolution is one that we all have heard before. It was used against affirmative action, it was used by the "English Only" movement, it has been used against the rights of organized labor, it has been used against the rights of women and it has been used against the passage of hate crime laws. Though they try to use the justification of "equal rights", the reality is all they want are the rights of racism, sexism and the right of the powerful elite to exploit everything that there is profit in exploiting.
Some feel that the resolution will have no power because it is not legal. I ask you this; how often has the forces of greed and hate violated the laws that even they have created? History is but a long line of such illegal actions. Just take a look at the events that happened at Pine Ridge in the '70s and the illegal emprisonment of Leonard Peltier.
I have been asked what people should do about this situation? I nor the AREAN are leaders of the struggle, we are just some among the many resisters. But it is clear that the GOP needs to be targeted throughout the country and that this issue should be included in all struggles against this new wave of corporate expansionism.
How long must we allow this to continue? Shall we wait until more blood stains the ground? People of today's world like to say that they are not responsible for the crimes against humanity that their ancestors commited and that they feel remorseful for them and we ask how they could of done such things? But that is only valid in the understanding that must go along with that; we are the ancestors that the future generations will ask the same question of. Shall we repeat that which was done in the past so that the future generations must ask why? Or shall we raise up and resist this next step of genocide?
In The Spirit Of Total Resistance
Arthur J. Miller
AREAN--Tacoma Office
Subject: Resolution would end tribal sovereignty
This was covered on CSPAN earlier today.. from Victor Rocha..
Resolution would end tribal sovereignty If Indians don't like it, send in troops, GOP delegate says
The Washington state Republican Party has passed a resolution calling
for the abolition of tribal governments.
"We do not recognize them as sovereign nations, as governments," said
John Fleming, the Skagit County delegate who was a main author of the
resolution. It calls on the federal government to "immediately take
whatever steps necessary to terminate all such non-republican forms of
government on Indian reservations."
"We think it can be done peacefully," Fleming said. But if tribes were to
fight the effort, "then the U.S. Army and the Air Force and the Marines
and the National Guard are going to have to battle back."
The action comes at a time of growing discontent over reservation rules
that affect non-Indians, ranging from hunting privileges to liquor sales.
The backlash against tribal governments has become so strong that
human-rights activists have labeled it "racist."
Tribal leaders call the GOP resolution outrageous and an affront to their
rights under treaties signed by Congress.
"It's absolutely the reverse of what Republican principles stand for_ to
protect all rights and to uphold the integrity and honor of this nation and
all of the commitments it makes," said Ron Allen, chairman of the
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.
Allen is vice president of the National Congress of American Indians. A
Republican, he was surprised to hear about the resolution approved June
17 during the Republican state convention in Spokane.
"The Republican Party nationally has been making some effort to
improve its image with regards to its relationship with the Indian
nations," Allen said. "This is polarizing. It's the opposite of what they
should be doing."
Beth Jensen, chairwoman of the GOP platform committee, said she had
no idea how the writers of the resolution intend for termination to be
carried out.
Her committee sent seven resolutions to the 1,300 delegates with a "do
pass" recommendation. Among other resolutions were ones calling on
the federal government to preserve hydropower dams and to drop its
lawsuit against Microsoft Corp.
Although some resolutions were heavily debated, the one dealing with
tribal governments was barely discussed, Jensen said.
"I was so unfamiliar with the issue that I wasn't totally focused on what
the debate was. It seems like what was being said was, there were acts
by the tribal governments that weren't the way we do government in
America," she said. "A couple of people gave examples to people who
didn't have a clue, and it passed."
The committee considered 29 resolutions in two hours' time, she said. "I
wish we had the luxury, the time to discuss them."
Fleming lives within the Swinomish Reservation. He refers to tribal
governments as "non-republican" because non-Indian reservation
residents can't vote in tribal elections. That makes them illegal under the
U.S. and state constitutions, he contends.
In 1994, Fleming began trying to persuade the Republican Party in
Skagit County to pass a resolution. This year he succeeded.
"Out of 250 delegates, only two people said no. They were tribal
members or the mother of tribal members," he said.
The Skagit delegates to the state convention championed the cause in
Spokane. Now, Fleming wants Washington's delegates to work the idea
into the national GOP platform.
Supporters of the cause hope that a class action eventually will find its
way to the U.S. Supreme Court and that the court then would rule tribal
governments illegal.
"The key to this is making people aware," Fleming said.
Fleming has written many essays attacking tribal sovereignty. He is
active in regional and national organizations that oppose treaty rights.
Asked if he is anti-Indian, he replied: "Oh my God, no."
The Northwest Coalition for Human Dignity has concluded that efforts to
abolish tribal government are racist. Coalition researcher Robert
Crawford called the GOP resolution "disturbing."
"I wouldn't say it's a majority view. It's in line with the hard core of anti-
Indian folks within the party such as (Sen.) Slade Gorton and (Rep.)
Jack Metcalf," he said.
Termination was the focus of the government's Indian policy in the mid-
20th century, he noted.
"In the 1950s and '60s we rampantly violated the rights of tribes,"
Crawford said. "We can do better than this."
The resolution
Terminate tribal councils
Here is the resolution passed at the Washington state Republican Party
convention June 17:
Whereas Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution guarantees every
state a republican form of government, and this guarantee to each state
is a warrantee to protect the citizens of that state; and
Whereas the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs is currently aiding and
abetting Indian tribes to regulate and collect taxes, injure property rights,
withhold due process and grant unequal protection under the laws to
some citizens, for the benefit and advantage of other citizens; and
Whereas these same Indian tribes, with the support and advice of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, organize and operate tribal governments that
are not republican in form, and in fact prohibit certain citizens from voting
for the representatives who enact such measures and laws and injure
the citizens being denied representation;
Therefore be it resolved that the executive and legislative branches of the
federal government immediately take whatever steps necessary to
terminate all such non-republican forms of government on Indian
reservations, and compensate those citizens who have wrongly suffered
loss due to denial of their constitutionally guaranteed rights to be
governed by a republican form of government.
http://www.spokane.net/news-
story.asp?date=070300&ID=s821704&cat=section.Tribal_news
Subject: Your resolution to abolish tribal governments
John Flemming, Delegate
Skagit County
[email protected]
To Delegate John Fleming,
Regards the resolution you authored calling on the american
government to abolish tribal governments, by whatever steps
necessary to terminate all such non-republican forms of
government on indian reservations.
A news story has you stating ..."then the US Army and the
Air Force and the Marines and the National Guard are going to
have to battle back."
What you have said and what you intend to do is going to
be reported around the world. You clearly have plans for the
native people of Washington state and those plans are for the
destruction of even more human beings.
You are a Republican party delegate and so you speak for
that party in this matter. It appears plain to me and to many
others who have read the news story concerning this concept
that you would try to unleash american military force upon the
citizens of Washington state.
John Fleming, you underestimate the american indian. You
can not threaten humans with extinction without having it
exposed to the world.
Are you prepared to order in the military ? I bet you are.
You willing to set americans against americans ? You clearly are.
Why is that ? How can a person holding such a position
in the Republican party have such a racist mindset ? How did
you come to have that position ?
This attempt by you to tear down the indian nations will just
stir up a big mess for you. That is the certain result.
I will do everything in my power to assure your comments
about using the american military against american indians is
broadcast around the world.
http://www.indians.org/Resource/FedTribes99/fedtribes99.html
Letters of protest for Washington State Republican Resolution
State Chairman: Dale Foreman
John Flemming, Delegate
Network Services, Online Services
Same ploy as in 97-98 except they started at the top with Slade
Gorton, this time they started in a small county with only what it
seems, 11 delegates, one who wrote the resolution. Someone
needs to launch a protest at the Republican National Convention
in Philadelphia at the Comcast-Spectacor�s First Union Center,
a $210 million state-of-the-art high-tech sports arena. That is
most likely where the Washington State republicans will try to get
their resolution passed at the national level. We should work on
stratiges now to combat this before it gains any more support.
The date of the Republican National Convention
is July 31-August 3, 2000
Sandra
James R. Burnes
Cherokee
Marina, California
Send Faxes to Tribes in your areas of letter below and
letters of support
http://ishgooda.nativeweb.org/racial/tribal.htm
http://www.dickshovel.com/trbindex.html
Republican National Committee
310 First Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202.863.8500
Fax: 202.863.8820
E-mail: [email protected]
Republican National Committee Membership Washington
National Committeeman: Honorable Ron Carlson
National Committeewoman: Gretchen Horton
Republican Party of Washington
Executive Director: Cary Evans
16400 Southcenter Parkway
Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98188
V/ (206) 575-2900
F/ (206) 575-1730
[email protected]
Chairman Senator Don Benton
(206) 575-2900 [email protected]
Vice-chair Arlene Hilmer
(206) 575-2900 [email protected]
Skagit County
[email protected]
Political Analysis
Phone: 202-863-8670
Fax: 202-863-8851
Email [email protected]