#lakota — Public Fediverse posts

Honoring the #Movements and People who Inspire us. #Warriors, #Writers and #Dreamers -- A Thread Runs Through Them. #CensoredNews 20th Anniversary.

'Know who you are, and never let anyone take your power from you.'

By #BrendaNorrell, Censored News, August 30, 2026

"We're coming up on our 20th anniversary at Censored News, and we are honoring the warriors, leaders, writers and dreamers who make Censored News possible.

When the Mohawks came for the border summit in 2006 and 2007, it was, as they say in the movie Casablanca, the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Along with the Mohawks, leaders, writers and dreamers through the years became a sort of collective which makes Censored News what it is, a service to #IndigenousPeople and #HumanRights.

We lost many of our best, #Lakota Warrior Woman #DebWhitePlume, our longtime friend #KleeBenally, our French translator #ChristinePrat, and many more. But thanks to those who keep sharing their work, we keep Censored News going. This summer our page views increased by millions, thanks to their labors of love.

Today, we celebrate the movements and people who inspire us, as we celebrate our 20 Year Anniversary at Censored News."

Read more:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/08/honoring-movements-and-people-who.html

To donate - [email protected] via PayPal. Link to donations page:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2019/08/donate-to-censored-news.html

#IndigenousNews #ReaderSupportedNews #MicheleCook #OfeliaRivas #FloydWesterman #TohonoOodhamNation #BorderPatrol #Diné #Navajo #IndigenousActivists #LandDefenders #WaterDefenders #LandIsLife #WaterIsLife #MniWiconi #Marcos #Mexico #Chiapas #Maori #Aotearoa #IndigenousResistance #NoBorders #LeaveItInTheGround #StandWithStandingRock #StandingRock

:stargif: 𝑳𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝑳𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒔 :stargif:

Desde la distancia podía parecer una cama de madera elevada sobre cuatro postes.
Para un viajero europeo era una imagen extraña, incluso inquietante.
Pero para quienes la habían construido no era un espectáculo ni una forma de abandonar a sus muertos.
Era un lugar sagrado, un espacio donde el recuerdo seguía vivo y donde la muerte no rompía del todo el vínculo con la familia.

Durante siglos, distintos pueblos indígenas de las Grandes Llanuras practicaron un tipo de enterramiento que sorprendió a los primeros exploradores occidentales.
En lugar de depositar el cuerpo bajo tierra, lo colocaban sobre plataformas de madera o entre las ramas de un árbol, cuidadosamente envuelto en pieles de bisonte, mantas o túnicas.
La altura protegía los restos de los animales carroñeros, pero también tenía un profundo significado espiritual.

No fue una costumbre exclusiva de un solo pueblo.
Lakotas, dakotas, nakotas, cheyennes, crow, assiniboine, blackfeet, mandan y otras naciones indígenas desarrollaron variantes propias.
Cada comunidad tenía sus ceremonias, sus creencias y su manera de despedir a los difuntos.
No existía un único ritual, sino muchas formas diferentes de entender el viaje hacia la otra vida.

Cuando el paisaje ofrecía árboles resistentes, el cuerpo podía colocarse entre sus ramas.
En las inmensas praderas, donde apenas había bosques, se levantaban plataformas con postes y travesaños.
Algunas eran sencillas; otras estaban cuidadosamente construidas y podían verse desde bastante distancia.

Junto al fallecido era habitual dejar objetos personales.
Un arco, una pipa ceremonial, un cuchillo, herramientas, alimentos, tabaco o incluso el caballo del difunto en algunos casos.
No eran simples ofrendas.
Aquellos objetos representaban su vida, su identidad y, según las creencias de cada pueblo, podían acompañarlo en el camino que iniciaba tras la muerte.

Lo más llamativo es que, para algunas comunidades, aquella plataforma no era el destino definitivo.

Entre los mandan, por ejemplo, cuando el paso del tiempo había dejado los huesos limpios, estos se recogían para un nuevo ritual.
Los cráneos de algunos familiares se colocaban cerca de la aldea y los parientes acudían a visitarlos.
Les hablaban, les contaban lo que ocurría en la comunidad e incluso les pedían consejo.
La muerte no significaba una separación absoluta; el vínculo con los antepasados seguía formando parte de la vida cotidiana.

Una de las imágenes más famosas de esta costumbre fue realizada en 1834 por el pintor suizo Karl Bodmer, que acompañaba al naturalista alemán Maximilian de Wied-Neuwied durante su expedición por el río Misuri.

Cerca de Fort Pierre, Bodmer dibujó la plataforma funeraria de un importante jefe sioux.
El cuerpo descansaba dentro de un travois, la estructura de madera que normalmente se utilizaba para transportar cargas.
Debajo continuaba la vida: tipis, niños jugando, humo saliendo de las hogueras y familias realizando sus tareas diarias.
Para ellos, el difunto seguía formando parte de la comunidad.

Décadas más tarde llegaron las cámaras fotográficas.
Algunas de aquellas imágenes muestran plataformas funerarias todavía en uso a finales del siglo XIX, poco antes de que muchas de estas tradiciones comenzaran a desaparecer.

Pero esas fotografías también deben interpretarse con cuidado.

La mayoría fueron tomadas por militares, exploradores, comerciantes o antropólogos europeos y estadounidenses.
Muchos describieron estas prácticas desde su propia visión del mundo, sin comprender el significado espiritual que tenían para las comunidades indígenas.
Lo que para ellos era una simple forma de evitar que los lobos desenterraran un cadáver, para las familias representaba un complejo ritual lleno de simbolismo.

A finales del siglo XIX, la creación de reservas, las políticas de asimilación forzosa y la presión de los misioneros cristianos transformaron profundamente las costumbres funerarias de numerosos pueblos indígenas.
Poco a poco, las plataformas fueron sustituidas por cementerios convencionales o enterramientos adaptados a las nuevas circunstancias.

Sin embargo, muchas creencias sobrevivieron.

El respeto por los antepasados, la importancia de la memoria y la idea de que los muertos siguen formando parte de la comunidad continúan presentes en numerosas naciones indígenas de Norteamérica.

Quizá por eso aquellas estructuras de madera impresionaban tanto a quienes llegaban desde Europa.

No eran tumbas construidas para ocultar a los muertos.

Eran lugares levantados para que nunca dejaran de formar parte del paisaje... ni del corazón de quienes regresaban una y otra vez a hablar con ellos.

▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣

#historia #curiosidadeshistóricas #indígenas #nativosamericanos #grandesllanuras #lakota #sioux #mandan #antropología #rituales #arqueología #tradiciones #culturanativa #ecosdelpasado

Doug Good Feather – Lakota Sweat Lodge Ceremony Songs
#Lakota #NativeAmerican #SweatLodge #World #indie #indigenous #Lyons
CC BY-NC-ND (#CreativeCommons Attribution Non Commercial No Derivatives) #ccmusic
https://spirit-horse-nation.bandcamp.com/album/lakota-sweat-lodge-ceremony-songs

Traditional #Wojapi Recipe – #NativeAmerican Berry Sauce Made Simple

By Corinne Griffith
June 4, 2025

"Wojapi (pronounced WO-jah-pee) is a cherished Native American berry sauce rooted in #Lakota and #Dakota traditions. Made from wild berries and gently sweetened, this rich, velvety sauce was traditionally served with fry bread but today pairs beautifully with pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal, and even ice cream.Dairy & Eggs

"Whether you’re exploring Indigenous cuisine for the first time or rekindling a family favorite, this simple recipe is a perfect introduction to the beauty of ancestral cooking.

Why I Love This Recipe

"There’s a deep simplicity and warmth to Wojapi that makes it feel like a hug in sauce form. It’s naturally sweet, full of bold berry flavor, and comes together in minutes using fresh or frozen fruit. What I love most is that it’s endlessly versatile—use it as a topping, a dip, or even a glaze.

"It’s the kind of recipe you can make in one pot, with five ingredients or fewer, and still have something that feels rich with history and meaning. It has the same joyful, flexible vibe as Caramel Apple Nachos, but with deep cultural roots.

Ingredients

- 2 cups fresh or frozen berries
(traditional choices: #blueberries, #chokecherries, or #blackberries)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1–2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thicker consistency)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for brightness)

Optional Swaps & Tips

- Sweeteners: Maple syrup adds a subtle woodsy note, but honey is more traditional in some versions.
- Berries: Mix and match what you have. #Raspberries and #strawberries work too, but for authenticity, lean toward wild berries.
Cornstarch: Skip it for a thinner, more rustic sauce. Use it if you want a pudding-like consistency.
Citrus: A touch of lemon juice balances the sweetness and brings out the berry flavors."

Source:
https://chefmaniac.com/traditional-wojapi-recipe-native-american-berry-sauce-made-simple/

#SolarPunkSunday #WildBerries #IndigenousFoods #NativeAmericanFoods #BerrySauce

Just bought tickets to see #StellaStandingbear ! Who wants to come with me? 🥳
(for free -- donations welcome! 😅)

I hope I get a chance to talk to her. Wish me the best! 😻

https://www.stellastandingbear.com/offthereztour

#Indigenous #IndigenousMusic #Lakota #womenofhiphop #VIP #SKODEN

Victory for #Lakota Youths Protecting Sacred #PeSla

Company withdraws from controversial Black Hills exploratory drilling project

"We stopped the drilling, this is a victory for the #OcetiSakowin," Lakota youths said as the drilling rig drove out of #SacredLand.

By Seth Tupper, May 8, 2026 via @bsnorrell.blogspot.com

"A company that’s being sued for exploratory drilling near a culturally significant site in South Dakota’s Black Hills is withdrawing from the project, according to a letter shared with project opponents.

"The opponents include the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, which posted a copy of the letter and a statement Friday on social media.

" 'This is a testament to the people, organizations, and tribal governments who showed unified action, determination, and courage in the face of what seemed to be overwhelming odds,' the alliance said.

"The letter from Pete Lien & Sons to the U.S. Forest Service references the #RapidCity-based company’s project near Pe’ Sla, also known as #ReynoldsPrairie, which is a high mountain meadow in the central #BlackHills. "

Source:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/05/victory-for-lakota-youths-protecting.html

Read more:
https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/05/08/company-withdraws-from-controversial-black-hills-exploratory-drilling-project/

#IndigenousResistance #ProtectTheSacred #LakotaYouths #BlackHillsCleanWaterAlliance

#Minneapolis: #Dakota and #Lakota #Oyate Set Up Lodges Outside #WhippleBuilding

By #NiskíthePrayerCamp, #CensoredNews, Feb. 10, 2026

"Niskíthe Prayer Camp is honored to have been asked to share our tipis for this endeavor and we plan to work to supply our Dakota relatives in Minneapolis with supplies that they will need to continue this occupation and fulfill their demands for the return of #FortSnelling.

"Despite being visited yesterday by both state park rangers and Minneapolis police, our Dakota relatives survived their first night in the tipi encampment at Fort Snelling, a former internment (read 'concentration') camp for Indigenous people upon which the federal #ICE detention center in the Whipple Building is now situated. The Dakota want it back, and we plan to help them!

The Red Lake Nation said, 'The Dakota and Lakota Oyate have set up lodges outside the Whipple Building.' "

Source [keep an eye out for updates]:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/02/minneapolis-dakota-and-lakota-oyate-set.html

#CensoredNews #Occupy #Resistance #LandBack #HonorTheTreaties #IndigenousNews #ResistICE #IndigenousResistance

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/01/oglala-lakota-president-refuses-ice.html#more

#Dakota #FirstNations #ICE #Journalism #Lakota #Minneapolis #Minnesota #Oglala #Sioux

#OglalaLakota President Refuses #ICE Manipulation and Deal -- as Three #Lakota Remain #Disappeared at #FortSnelling

By #BrendaNorrell, #CensoredNews, Jan. 15, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS -- "ICE's violence continued on Wednesday night with another #ICEShooting. Three #Lakotas arrested by ICE remain disappeared at Fort Snelling, the long time site of the genocide of #Dakota people.

"In the search for the three disappeared Lakotas, Oglala Lakota President #FrankStarComesOut says he refuses to cut a deal with ICE, which ICE is demanding to release more information.

"Meanwhile, a whistleblower has leaked the secret ICE operations underway -- including the targeting of #activists, recruiting informants in jail, and 'Operation A' exploiting migrants for intelligence.

"Both the #TohonoOodham Nation government, and #Navajo President #BuuNygren, play roles by recruiting and promoting ICE agents."

Read more:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/01/oglala-lakota-president-refuses-ice.html

#ICESucks #ReadersupportedNews #ResistICE #Authoritarianism #CharacteristicsOfFascism

The Enduring Harvest: Reshaping Food Systems on Turtle Island

Posted on November 13, 2025

"On Turtle Island, the land now largely known as North America, traditional food harvesting is far more than a means of sustenance; it is the very bedrock of cultural identity, spiritual connection, and sovereign resilience for Indigenous peoples. For millennia, before the arrival of European colonizers, communities across this vast continent thrived on intricate systems of hunting, fishing, gathering, and agriculture, guided by a profound understanding of the land and its cycles. This #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge (#TEK), passed down through countless generations, represents a sophisticated science of sustainability, reciprocity, and interconnectedness that continues to shape modern efforts to reclaim and revitalize Indigenous foodways.

"The concept of Turtle Island itself is rooted in creation stories shared by many Indigenous nations, where a giant turtle forms the foundation of the world. This narrative underscores an inherent and sacred relationship between people and the land—a relationship that mandates stewardship rather than domination. Traditional harvesting practices are not merely about taking from the land, but about participating in a continuous cycle of giving and receiving, ensuring the health of both the ecosystem and the community.

A Tapestry of Traditional Foods

"Across Turtle Island, the diversity of traditional food systems reflects the continent’s varied ecosystems. In the Pacific Northwest, the #salmon run is not just a seasonal event but the pulse of life itself. Nations like the #NezPerce, #Kwakwakawakw, and #Haida have relied on salmon for thousands of years, developing complex fishing techniques, preservation methods, and ceremonies that honor the fish as a sacred relative.

" 'Salmon is our first food, our medicine, our economy, and our culture,' states a representative from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. However, the construction of #dams, #logging, and #IndustrialPollution have severely impacted salmon populations, disrupting a lifeline for these communities. Despite these challenges, nations are actively working on habitat restoration, dam removal advocacy, and culturally informed fisheries management to bring the salmon home.

"On the vast plains, the #bison (or buffalo) was once the lifeblood of nations such as the #Lakota, #Cheyenne, and #Blackfeet. Millions roamed freely, providing not only food but also shelter, tools, and spiritual guidance. Every part of the animal was utilized, embodying a profound respect for its sacrifice.

"European #colonization, driven by a deliberate policy to destroy Indigenous economies and cultures, led to the near extinction of the bison, reducing their numbers from an estimated 30-60 million to a mere few hundred by the late 19th century. Today, through initiatives like the InterTribal Buffalo Council, Indigenous nations are reintroducing bison to tribal lands, a powerful act of cultural and ecological restoration. 'Bringing the buffalo back is bringing our people back,' remarks Ervin Carlson, former president of the InterTribal Buffalo Council. "It’s healing, it’s hope, it’s sovereignty."

Read more (archived version):
https://archive.ph/BLZiA

#SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalFoods #TribalFoodSovereignty #NativeAmericanMonth
#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
#NativeAmericanFoodSovereignty #DecolonizeYourDiet #AnimalProducts #BuffaloHarvest

#Blackfeet and #Lakota Prepare to Feed the People During #GovernmentShutdown

By #BrendaNorrell, Censored News, Oct. 25, 2025

"The #BlackfeetNation in #Montana is preparing to feed the people during the government shutdown by distributing buffalo meat and organizing an elk hunt. In #RapidCity, South Dakota, Lakota are
organizing #MutualAid, to feed the people in a region of great need.

"The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council said it has authorized the culling of 18 buffalo from the Blackfeet Nation herd. 'The processed meat will be distributed directly to community members to help
sustain food access during this period of uncertainty.'

"In Rapid City, mutual aid will soon be underway, with a planning session on Oct. 29. '#SNAP looks like it will not be issued in November. Let’s get organized,' said #WotakuyeMutualAidSociety (Meals for Relatives Rapid City COVID Response).

"The Blackfeet Nation said, 'This proactive measure is part of a broader effort by the Council to safeguard essential food distribution programs, particularly as the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remains uncertain.'

" 'While Governor Greg Gianforte’s Office continues working to ensure SNAP benefits remain available to all Montanans, including those in Blackfeet Country, the Council’s decision reflects a commitment to meeting community needs.'

"The Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department and the Blackfeet Commodity Office are coordinating an elk harvest to further supplement food distribution efforts. Processed elk meat will also be made available to community members in the coming weeks.

"'With federal restrictions and the shutdown disrupting vital resources, the Blackfeet Nation is turning to its own natural resources and community partnerships to ensure that families continue to have access to food,' the Blackfeet Nation said."

Source:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2025/10/blackfeet-and-lakota-prepare-to-feed.html

#ReaderSupportedNews #CensoredNews #FoodInsecurity #FoodSovereignty #NativeAmericanNews #FirstNations #SNAPCuts

Trash.
https://masto.ai/@Nonilex/115268389298095536
[email protected] - Defense Secy #PeteHegseth has announced that he has decided that the 20 soldiers who received the Medal of *Honor* for their actions in 1890 at #WoundedKnee will keep their awards in a video posted to social media Thursday evening.

#WoundedKneeMassacre #NativeAmerican #Lakota #Sioux #SouthDakota #PineRidge #massacre #USArmy #WhiteSupremacy #genocide #EthnicCleansing
https://apnews.com/article/wounded-knee-hegseth-soldiers-medal-of-honor-0310c47952ad7aeabb176f94d8af4d52

While the events of that day are sometimes described as a battle, historical records show that the #USArmy, which was in the midst of a campaign to *repress* the #tribes in the area, killed an estimated 250 #NativeAmericans, including #women & #children, of the #Lakota #Sioux tribe, while attempting to *disarm* #NativeAmerican fighters who had already surrendered at their camp.

#WoundedKneeMassacre #SouthDakota #PineRidge #massacre #WhiteSupremacy #genocide #EthnicCleansing

#Hegseth’s predecessor, General #LloydAustin, ordered the review of the awards in 2024 after a Congressional recommendation in the 2022 defense bill — itself a reflection of efforts by some lawmakers to rescind the awards for those who participated in the bloody #massacre on #SouthDakota’s #PineRidge #IndianReservation near #WoundedKnee Creek.

#WoundedKneeMassacre #NativeAmerican #Lakota #Sioux #massacre #USArmy #WhiteSupremacy #genocide #EthnicCleansing

Defense Secy #PeteHegseth has announced that he has decided that the 20 soldiers who received the Medal of *Honor* for their actions in 1890 at #WoundedKnee will keep their awards in a video posted to social media Thursday evening.

#WoundedKneeMassacre #NativeAmerican #Lakota #Sioux #SouthDakota #PineRidge #massacre #USArmy #WhiteSupremacy #genocide #EthnicCleansing
https://apnews.com/article/wounded-knee-hegseth-soldiers-medal-of-honor-0310c47952ad7aeabb176f94d8af4d52

Dispatches from Joye: The Beginning of #Resistance to #DakotaAccessPipeline, Spring of 2016

By #BrendaNorrell, #CensoredNews, Feb. 25, 2025

MANDAN, North Dakota -- "We travel back in time to the beginning of the resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Jury selection is underway in the case of #EnergyTransfer v #Greenpeace and #RedWarriorSociety, and oral arguments are to begin tomorrow, in #NorthDakota District Court.

"Energy Transfer, the owner of Dakota Access Pipeline, seeks to erase the fact that this is, and has always been, an #Indigenous-led movement, Greenpeace said.

"On March 29, 2016 -- five months before hundreds, and then thousands arrived at the Standing Rock camps -- #JoyeBraun, #CheyenneRiverLakota, sent Censored News the announcement of the resistance.

"'It must be stopped,' Joye said in the media statement.

"#LaDonnaBravebullAllard, working then in the #StandingRock #HistoricPreservationOffice, released the statement with Joye.

"The headline read, 'Tribal Citizens Rise Up Against #BakkenOilPipeline: #HorseRide and #SpiritualCamp to be Held Along Proposed Route of Dakota Access Pipeline.'

"With the dateline of Cannonball, the statement says, 'On April 1st, 2016, tribal citizens of the #StandingRockLakota Nation and ally #Lakota, #Nakota, and #Dakota citizens, under the group name
Chante tin'sa kinanzi Po will have a #HorseRide to celebrate the founding of a #SpiritCamp that will be erected along the proposed route of the Bakken oil pipeline, Dakota Access."

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2025/02/dispatches-from-joye-beginning-of.html
#StandWithStandingRock #WaterIsLife #NoDAPL #KelcyWarren #Trump #StandWithStandingRock #BigOil #CorporateColonialism #BigOilAndGas #EnvironmentalRacism #StandingRock #SLAPPs #NoDAPL #WaterIsLife #SLAPPsLawsuits #SilencingDissent #ACAB #EnergyTransfer #UnicornRiot

#Taos #ReggaeBand #IrieBellion Releases Powerful Single Advocating #ClemencyForLeonardPeltier

By Native News Online Staff
January 07, 2025

"Six-piece reggae band IrieBellion, based in #TaosNewMexico, has released a new single to advocate for the release of #LeonardPeltier, a #NativeAmericanActivist who has been imprisoned for nearly 50 years.

"'Leonard Peltier’s Song' features Grammy-winning flutist #RobertMirabal of Taos Pueblo and a traditional drum group composed of singers from several Indigenous nations. Through this collaboration, the band hopes to amplify calls for President Joe Biden to grant clemency to Peltier.

"The song blends IrieBellion’s reggae-inspired rhythms with Robert Mirabal’s signature flute playing and the traditional Indigenous drumming and singing of #JohnSwiftbird (#Lakota), #ChaskePacheco (#Dakota / #SantaDomingoPueblo), and #BrysonSanchez (Dakota / #SanFelipePueblo).

"The song makes a direct #PleaForJustice, with Davis crafting a chorus —'Do the right thing, let freedom ring/ ​It's been so long, let's right this wrong' — that appeals to #PresidentBiden to take action and right what the band views as a longstanding wrong.

"The musical advocacy for Peltier's case has a rich history in popular music. #RobbieRobertson (Mohawk), the legendary guitarist and songwriter of The Band, created a particularly powerful statement with his song 'Sacrifice', which incorporated Peltier's own voice through a recorded prison phone call with Robertson. Little Steven (#StevenVanZandt), known for both his work with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and his solo career, also contributed to this musical legacy with his own 'Leonard Peltier,' which, like IrieBellion's new release, used Caribbean rhythms to carry its message of justice.

"Peltier, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of #Chippewa Indians, became involved in the American Indian Movement (#AIM) in the 1970s, a time of tension between Indigneous communities and the U.S. government.

AIM advocated addressing issues such as police brutality, treaty violations, and systemic inequality affecting Native Americans.

"Peltier’s case comes from a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where two FBI agents and a young Native man were killed. The shootout occurred during a period of violence on the reservation, often referred to as the '#ReignOfTerror,' when residents faced threats and attacks for their ties to AIM.

"Peltier was convicted in 1977 of killing the agents, but his trial has been widely criticized. Key evidence was withheld by the prosecution, including ballistics reports that could have supported his defense.

"Eyewitness testimony used to extradite Peltier from Canada was later recanted, with the witness stating they were coerced by the FBI. Even the U.S. attorney who handled the case has since admitted that no one knows who fired the fatal shots.

"Peltier has maintained his innocence for nearly five decades, and his case has been condemned by numerous human rights organizations, including #AmnestyInternational. Calls for his release have grown in recent years, with Peltier now in his late seventies and facing health challenges.

"'Leonard Peltier’s Song' is available on streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music, and can also be found on IrieBellion’s HearNow page. The band encourages listeners to not only enjoy the song but also take action by learning about Peltier’s case, signing petitions, and contacting officials to advocate for his release.

"For those who want to learn more, organizations such as the International #LeonardPeltierDefenseCommittee provide resources and updates on efforts to secure his freedom."

https://nativenewsonline.net/arts-entertainment/taos-reggae-band-iriebellion-releases-powerful-single-advocating-clemency-for-leonard-peltier
#ACAB #FBI #AmericanindianMovement #PineRidge #FreeLeonardPeltier #AmnestyForLeonardPeltier #ClemencyForLeonardPeltier

#Sundance2025 Lineup Highlights Powerful #Indigenous Stories, Including '#FreeLeonardPeltier’ and ‘#ElNorte'

By Kaili Berg, December 17, 2024

"The Sundance Institute recently unveiled the lineup for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, which will showcase 87 feature films and six episodic projects that promise daring storytelling and global perspectives.

"Among the films in this year’s lineup are powerful portrayals of Indigenous experiences, including El Norte and Free Leonard Peltier.

"Sundance Institute Senior Programmer Heidi Zwicker told Native News Online that the selection of films underscores diverse narratives in Native films.

"'The films that we have this year indicate how much you can’t define what an Indigenous film should be like,' Zwicker said. 'There’s such multiplicity in the stories and worlds these filmmakers present, even within a single community.'

"The Festival will take place from January 23 to February 2, 2025, with screenings in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as a curated online program accessible to audiences nationwide from January 30 to February 2.

"Free Leonard Peltier, co-directed by #JesseShortBull (#Oglala #Lakota) and #DavidFrance, is a documentary that dives into the life and legacy of Leonard Peltier, a leader of the #AmericanIndianMovement who has been imprisoned for 50 years following a controversial conviction.

"Zwicker described the film as 'rich, well-researched, and deeply emotional,' emphasizing its timeliness as Peltier’s case gains renewed attention in the fight for clemency.

"#GregoryNava’s El Norte follows Indigneous siblings Rosa and Enrique as they flee #Guatemala after their family is murdered in a government-led massacre during the #GuatemalanCivilWar. Their journey to the U.S. becomes a struggle for survival amid the realities of #immigrant life.

"Profits from ticket sales directly support Sundance Institute’s year-round initiatives, including labs, residencies, fellowships, and educational programs through Sundance Collab. These programs empower thousands of artists annually.

"Sundance’s Indigenous Program, led by #AdamPiron (#Kiowa / #Mohawk), is a vital part of this mission, providing ongoing support to #NativeFilmmakers."

Read more:
https://nativenewsonline.net/arts-entertainment/sundance-2025-lineup-highlights-powerful-indigenous-stories-including-free-leonard-peltier-and-el-norte
#AmnestyForLeonardPeltier #ClemencyForLeonardPeltier #ReaderSupportedNews #IndigenousFilmmakers

What's going on in #IndianCountry?!!

Joy Rides into the Stratosphere, and #MilitaryIntelligence: Helium Balloons over #Navajo and #Lakota Nations, Indian Country

"#WorldView also announced a partnership with the military defense contractor #SierraNevada for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, for the U.S. military using its balloons. One of these balloon flights was for the U.K. defense department in the Grand Canyon."

By #BrendaNorrell, #CensoredNews, Sept. 5, 2024

"Joy rides into the stratosphere, and military surveillance, are two of the purposes for the helium balloons over the #NavajoNation, #LakotaNations in #SouthDakota, and most of Indian country, according to the owners of the helium balloons.

"#TheGuardian exposed the helium balloons #spying platforms and the #ACLU in South Dakota warned of this #surveillance. The balloons are capable of video recording vehicles traveling to #protests, and can reveal where the vehicles arrived from. It's spying without a warrant.

"The balloon owners, Aerostar and World View, have U.S. military contracts for recovering payloads, as was the case with World View's experimental payload recovery in the #GrandCanyon for England's defense department. These balloons can also carry out ground surveys.

"Aerostar is based near #SiouxFalls, South Dakota, and World View is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona."

Read more:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/09/joy-rides-into-stratosphere-and.html

#WarrantlessSpying #NativeAmericanActivists #AntiProtestLaws #BigMining #ClimateActivists #HumanRights #ClimateJustice #Environment #AntiProtest #MilitaryIndustrialComplex #SpyBalloons

#LakotasForPalestine Attacked in #HateCrime in #RapidCity

#Lakota Statement, via #CensoredNews, July 24, 2024

RAPID CITY, South Dakota – "On Saturday, July 20th, we traveled to Mni Luzahan to support the International #Indigenous Youth Council for a peaceful rally for #Palestine.

"The rally was co-sponsored by ally group #SD4Pal. Within 5 minutes of our arrival, this worker began heckling us from the lawn of City Hall, where she was working.

"Wearing a neon t-shirt with a USIC logo, she carried a large power spray paint gun and wielded another large metal tool that she was carelessly swinging around near our youth and elders. My comrade Boyd Andrew Catt began filming her, as did I.

"She continued to spew slurs at our youth and elders. Andy and I followed her to document anything that she might do to our group. She turned around and began indiscriminately spraying paint in Andy's face!

"Our youth were just walking on the sidewalk nearby and were scared that they were going to be sprayed next with the chemicals.

"The aggressor played victim for the cops of course.

"Although my comrade was covered in orange spray paint, the cop said he didn't see it happen so what could he do?!
He then informed me that I could make a citizen's arrest, to which I did.

"#SaraStarkowski was cuffed and arrested. Her initial charges are Destruction of Private Property and Disorderly Conduct (Class II misdemeanor). The goal is to elevate this charge to ASSAULT!

"Starkowski was on the clock when chose to incite violence on our #IndigenousYouth and #IndigenousElders that day. She is employed by #USIC, an Indiana-based utility line locating company who prides itself on 'safety as a core value'.

"We hope that her employer USIC, Rapid City Mayor #JasonSalamun and Pennington County Prosecutor's office will take swift action on this type of malicious behavior against innocent citizens that are exercising their right to free assembly.

"This small inconvenience is the least we can suffer for all of the suffering happening in Palestine."

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/07/lakotas-for-palestine-attacked-in-hate.html

#FreePalestine #GazaStrip #SolidarityWithPalestine #RightToProtest #InternationalIndigenousYouthCouncil

‘We were birthed from the Earth’

#TwoSpirit #activist stands up for #Native #reproductiverights

"We were birthed from the Earth. We have become the protectors of the sacred, the protectors of this land, the protectors of our lives — and that means we get to choose what is best for our lives.

"It is our choice, our bodies, our rights, our lands that have been stolen. Our elders and ancestry, our culture, our language has been stolen, and now our Indigenous sovereignty has been stolen when you take our reproductive rights from us,"
-- Candi Brings Plenty (they/she).

Tuesday, June 25, 2024
By Acee Agoyo

"A chaotic and heated scene played out here in the nation’s capital as a #NativeActivist advocated for tribal #sovereignty on the steps of the highest court in the land.

"Candi Brings Plenty (they/she), a Two Spirit #WaterProtector and land defender from the #OglalaSioux Tribe, opened an event marking the unprecedented loss of women’s reproductive rights with remarks in the #Lakota language. But several counter-protesters — all of them non-Native — repeatedly tried to disrupt the gathering that was held on the second anniversary of the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Yet #BringsPlenty, who was a prominent figure in the movement against the #DakotaAccessPipeline, stood their ground. Holding an eagle feather fan and a sign in defense of tribal rights, they able to acknowledge the ancestral lands of the #Nacotchtank and the #Piscataway peoples who have lived in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas since time immemorial — even as one non-Native went so far as to try and block others from witnessing the Women’s Strike event."

https://indianz.com/News/2024/06/25/we-were-birthed-from-the-earth-two-spirit-activist-stands-up-for-native-reproductive-rights/

#RoeVsWade #NativeAmericanActivist #Activism #NonBinary

#Lakota #MamaJulz Locked Down, Arrested, in Jail, Fighting Appalachian #Pipeline

"Without water there in no life. Violence against #MotherEarth is violence against our sisters."

By Brenda Norrell, #CensoredNews, Feb. 2, 2024

"'Find your Warrior Spirit,' said Mama Julz, Lakota, who locked down, was arrested, and is now in jail, for fighting the pipeline in #Appalachia."

Read more:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/02/lakota-mama-julz-locked-down-arrested.html

#MountainValleyPipeline #MountainValleyPipelineLLC #NoPipelines #WaterIsLife #NativeAmericanActivist #SilencingDissent

UPDATE - 12/29/2023: "The #WoundedKnee descendants group has decided not to burn artifacts stolen from mass graves of #WoundedKneeMassacre victims after officials from the #CheyenneRiverSioux Tribe requested that they not burn those artifacts."

Wounded Knee descendants group plans ceremony for artifacts

A group of Wounded Knee descendants is planning to burn recently repatriated artifacts on December 29

by Amelia Schafer
Dec 25, 2023

RAPID CITY, S.D. – "Last November, more than 150 items stolen from mass graves of Wounded Knee massacre victims were returned to a group of descendants, the Si’Tanka Ta’ Oyate O’mniceye (Descendants of the Si’ Tanka Nation). Now, a year later, the group plans to burn the artifacts to mark the end of the one-year traditional bereavement period called wasigla.

"In 1890, more than 300 Lakota men, women and children were killed by the #UnitedStatesMilitary. The military had been sent to #PineRidge to stop a potential 'Indian uprising.' Instead, they encountered a band of #Mniconju Lakota led by Chief Spotted Elk (nicknamed Big Foot by the military). The military misinterpreted the group’s ghost dance songs as an intent to attack and opened fire on the band. Now 133 years later, the descendants of those who survived the massacre are working to preserve the memory of what happened that day.

"Mixed in amongst the artifacts are items from other tribes, Ojibwe moccasins, Dakota and Cheyenne beadwork and other items from other tribes were scattered in. Those items will also be burned.

"All repatriated items came from the #WoodsMemorialLibrary’s Founders #MuseumCollection in #BarreMassachusetts. The museum qualifies as a private collection.

"The Founders Museum did not respond to a request for comment. It is unclear if the museum’s entire 'Native American Collection' was given to the Wounded Knee descendants or just the Wounded Knee-related items.

"Some Wounded Knee survivor descendants claim they were left out of the process [to make the decision to burn the items]. The group said there are more than 500 descendants of Wounded Knee survivor James Pipe on Head alone, the grandson of Chief Spotted Elk.

"Broken Nose said just in Oglala, South Dakota over 30 families descend from Spotted Elk. This specific group is comprised of descendants who have met since 1980.

"Calvin Spotted Elk, a citizen of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, said he feels the descendants have not been properly included in the decision-making process, especially those who live out of state. Spotted Elk lives in California."

https://ictnews.org/news/wounded-knee-descendants-group-plans-ceremony-for-artifacts

#Genocide #Lakota #NativeAmericanHistory #WoundedKneeMassacre #NeverForgetWoundedKnee
#IndianWars #GhostDance #Repatriation

The American Buffalo:
#SittingBull and the #WoundedKneeMassacre

Clip: 10/17/2023

"U.S. concern over a new #GhostDance ceremony prompted the arrest of the #Lakota #ChiefSittingBull. Dozens ended up dead, including Sitting Bull. Several hundred Lakotas headed toward the #BlackHills to end things peaceably with the #USArmy. En route, they camped at a creek called #WoundedKnee. The next morning, more than 250 Lakotas – mostly #women and #children – were killed by #US soldiers."

https://www.pbs.org/video/sitting-bull-and-the-wounded-knee-massacre/

#Genocide #NativeAmericanHistory #WoundedKneeMassacre #NeverForgetWoundedKnee #IndianWars

This Day in History - Dec. 29, 1890: Wounded Knee Massacre

Native News Online Staff
Thu, December 28, 2023

"On the morning of December 29, 1890, some 150 #Lakota men, #women and #children were massacred by the US #7thCalvary Regiment near #WoundedKneeCreek on the #PineRidgeIndianReservation. Some estimate the actual number closer to 300.

"Snowfall was heavy that December week. The Lakota ancestors killed that day were left in brutal frigid wintry plains of the reservation before a burial party came to bury them in one #MassGrave. The photograph of #BigFoot’s frozen and contorted body is a symbol for all American Indians of what happened to our ancestors."

https://news.yahoo.com/day-history-dec-29-1890-051500747.html

#USArmy #WoundedKnee #NativeAmericanHistory #Colonialism #Genocide #LandBack #History #PineRidge#NeverForgetWoundedKnee #Resistance #Genocide #IndianWars

[paywall] Centuries of resistance, from #WoundedKnee to #RedNation

By Justice Ramon Ocasio III
December 27, 2023 3:05 PM

"The 133rd anniversary of the #WoundedKneeMassacre, the deadliest #MassShooting in American history, falls on Dec. 29. On the fourth day after Christmas in 1890, #USArmy troops massacred as many as 300 #Lakota men, #women and #children near Wounded Knee Creek on the Lakota #PineRidgeIndianReservation in #SouthDakota."

https://www.chicagolawbulletin.com/ramon-ocasio-anniversary-of-wounded-knee-20231227

#Resistance #Genocide #CivilDisobedience #NativeAmericanHistory #WoundedKneeMassacre #NeverForgetWoundedKnee #Genocide #IndianWars

The #Lakota #GhostDance and the Massacre at #WoundedKnee

How the American drive to force Indian assimilation turned violent on the plains of South Dakota.

April 16, 2021 | Louis S. Warren

"For Americans, then, the challenge of #assimilation was the great social question whirling at the center of the Ghost Dance of 1890. A millennial enthusiasm for assimilating others, as well as a deep anxiety that they might refuse to be assimilated, explains much of what made the Ghost Dance so troubling. To most #WhiteAmericans, the dance itself was proof that assimilation had failed to dampen the savage impulse and that America’s irresistible conquest might prove resistible after all. In this light, the dances in South Dakota were more than just dances, and more than another Indian uprising. For Americans, something more, much more, was on the line."

Read more:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/american-oz-lakota-ghost-dance-massacre-wounded-knee/

#Resistance #Genocide #CivilDisobedience #NativeAmericanHistory #WoundedKneeMassacre #NeverForgetWoundedKnee
#Genocide #IndianWars

The #OoomakaTokatakiya, Porcupine to #WoundedKnee

Day 14, December 28, 2023

Photos by Ken Marchionno and Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-oomaka-tokatakiya-porcupine-to.html

#NativeAmericanHistory #WoundedKneeMassacre #NeverForgetWoundedKnee #Genocide #StandingRock #IndianWars #Lakota

[Photos] Ooomaka Tokatakiya, Kyle to Porcupine, The Ride to #WoundedKnee

Photos by Ken Marchionno and the Future Generations Teen Photojournalism Project

December 27, 2023

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2023/12/oomaka-tokatakiya-kyle-to-porcupine.html

#NativeAmericanHistory #WoundedKneeMassacre #NeverForgetWoundedKnee #Genocide #StandingRock #IndianWars #Lakota

[Photos] #OomakaTokatakiya, The Badlands to Kyle, The Ride to #WoundedKnee

December 26, 2023

https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2023/12/oomaka-tokatakiya-badlands-to-kyle-ride.html

#NativeAmericanHistory #WoundedKneeMassacre #NeverForgetWoundedKnee #Genocide #StandingRock #IndianWars #Lakota

Stories from #WoundedKnee 133 years later

Chief #SpottedElk/#BigFoot descendants gather to discuss Wounded Knee

Amelia Schafer
Dec 21, 2023

"On December 29, 1890, around 300 #Lakota men, women and children including infants were gunned down by the #USArmy. Today, the massacre’s #Indigenous survivors live on through their descendants, who work to preserve the memory of what happened that day.

"Troops from Nebraska were sent to #PineRidge to curb a potential “Indian uprising” on the reservation. Instead, the troops found a band of #Mnicoujou Lakota led by Chief Spotted Elk (Si’ Tanka).

"The band was told they would be relocated elsewhere. Many had contracted pneumonia along their journey south, including the chief. The band was weak and exhausted. Some began to sing #GhostDance songs, which the military interpreted as war songs. Soldiers began firing at the Lakota. They chased some up to five miles from Wounded Knee Creek."

Read more:
https://ictnews.org/news/stories-from-wounded-knee-133-years-later

#NativeAmericanHistory #WoundedKneeMassacre #NeverForgetWoundedKneee #Genocide #StandingRock #PineRidge #IndianWars #ChiefBigFoot

#NativeAmericans Ride to Remember #WoundedKneeMassacre

by Cecily Hilleary, December 21, 2018

WASHINGTON — "Dozens of #Lakota and other #NativeAmericanAllies are about to converge on #Bridger, South Dakota, for a pilgrimage they've made every December for the last 32 years: a 300-kilometer journey on horseback, retracing the historic journey, of a Lakota chief and 350 of his followers, that ended in a massacre.

"#AlexWhitePlume, a former president of the #OglalaSioux on the #PineRidge Reservation, is a founding member of the ride, which he organized in 1986 on the advice of his uncle, a spiritual interpreter.

"'My uncle said that we had to do some grieving over the historic #genocide of our people," said White Plume. 'As Lakota, our whole purpose is to be pure from trauma, ill feelings, guilt. But the historic genocide weighed so heavily on us that we couldn't think past it.'

"His uncle told him they had to bring back the grieving ritual, which Lakota no longer practiced. And to do that, White Plume needed to go back to the place where the Lakota's collective grief began.

Massacre at Wounded Knee

"In mid-December 1890, acting on government orders, tribal police arrested and killed Hunkpapa Lakota leader #SittingBull outside of his cabin on the #StandingRock reservation. His death came at a time when the government was on edge, worrying that #PlainsTribes were plotting rebellion against the abysmal conditions on reservations.

"Fearing for his people's safety, Sitting Bull's ally, #Minneconjou Lakota leader Spotted Elk (dubbed "Big Foot" by the cavalry for the size of his shoes), fled south to the Pine Ridge Reservation with about 350 Lakota, most of them women and children.

"The Army intercepted the travelers, who submitted peacefully and made camp along Wounded Knee Creek in Pine Ridge. On the morning of December 29, the Army began a search for weapons. A shot rang out — who fired and why is still not clear.

"The #USArmy opened a barrage of rifle, pistol and revolving cannon fire.

"Spotted Elk was among the first to fall, and 30 minutes later, as many as 300 Lakota lay dead — adults, children, and even infants. It wasn't until three days later that Army contractors gathered the dead and buried them in a #MassGrave at the rate of $2 per body.

"The massacre marked the end of the #IndianWars, ushering in an era of subjugation, forced assimilation and broken treaties..."

Read more:
https://www.voanews.com/a/native-americans-ride-to-remember-wounded-knee-massacre/4707716.html

#Genocide
#NativeAmericanHistory #NeverForgetWoundedKneee #WoundedKneeMassacre