And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
From: "Keith and Michelle Pounds" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: July 4th Gathering, Montgomery
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 10:02:00 -
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Priority: 3
Ish, this was very difficult to write!Keith
Indians from among the Gulf states joined in a peaceful gathering at the
State Capital in Montgomery this July 4th.
As early as 9 a.m, there were about 100 people gathered on the lawn of the
Capital in Montgomery, but as the morning drew on, and into the afternoon,
many others, including non-Indians visiting the capital, stopped to listen
to heartfelt speaches, and prayers and music.
Jim Windwalker, of Cragford, Alabama opened the gathering by welcoming
people from Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He spoke of the need for
Indian people in the southeast to come together in brotherhood, and
encouraged the audience to support the idea of holding a July 4th gathering
every year. He gave special thanks to the Craney Creek Singers, from
Philadelphia, Mississippi, for traveling to the gathering to sing. The
drumgroup traveled from Mississippi to Alabama knowing that no monetary
payment was guaranteed. Windwalker commended the group for offering there
music for such a special event.
Among others, those who spoke included Harold Comby, Captain, Choctaw
Police in Phildelphia, Mississippi. Comby spoke of Nanih
Waya(choctaw-productive mountain), a place in Mississippi where the Choctaw
and many Nations from the southeast originated from. Comby reminded that
the Choctaw were the last of the Indian people to arise from the mound, and
were told by Creator, that, if they ever left, the Choctaw would cease to
exist. Throughout the day Comby led several prayers for the nations of the
southeast, and urged people to remember those protestors in Pine Ridge, S.
Dakota.
Others to speak included Ron Etheridge, former commissioner, Alabama
Indian Affairs, who encouraged Indian people to work together. Other
speakers told of the history of the U.S Constitution, and it's ideas of
equality and freedom being taken for the Great Laws of Peace of the
Iroqouis Confederation, explaining, " all people had a voice in government
before Columbus arrive, all women had a voice before Columbus arrived."
Michelle Pounds, Louisiana, gave the latest information concerning the
protest march to WhiteClay, Nebraska, by those from Pine Ridge Reservation
in S. Dakota. She read excerpts from the recent Dept. of Justice report on
Racism, then her words turned to the issue of how Indian mascots were
related to stereotypes and racist attitudes towards Indian people.
Of the many uplifting moments of the day, the most inspiring were the
words of Allen Chickaway, of the Craney Creek Singers drum. Chickaway, is
a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw, in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
He gave an emotional speech about the effects of alcoholism among Indian
people. Saying that he had lost several family members to alcoholism, he
added that he knew few people who did not have at least a few family
members who suffered from the disease. As Chickaway spoke of his three
brothers that have passed on, many in the audience, hung their head, and
the entire lawn fell silent. With an emotional ending to the speech, he
added, - It's hard, man!" - as the audience teared up with emotion. He
called on tribal leaders to step up efforts to help in the fight against
alcoholism. Harold Comby returned to the stand to lead the audience in
prayer after Chickaway spoke.
Throughout the day, speeches were interrupted by requests for prayer, and
the Craney Creek Singers offered prayer songs. After a short lunchbreak
the drummers continued singing as the gatherers joined together to further
discuss issues faced by Indian people. Much of the conversation was
directed towards the speech made by Chickaway, and it's relevance to the
happenings at Pine Ridge, S. Dakota.
Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
doctrine of international copyright law.
&&
Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
&&
