Smoke Signal News - September 2007 Page 2

One time, as Coyote was returning from a long and unsuccessful hunt for game, he passed the home of his old friend Turtle. Being weary and hungry and in no hurry, he decided to stop and make Turtle a visit. Turtle invited
him in and offered him something to eat, as Coyote had hoped that he would.

While Coyote ate, Turtle stretched himself out to rest, saying, "I am tired out. I have just come back from the races."

Coyote asked "what races." "Our people have been having foot races down by the river. Have not you heard of them?" Coyote smiled at the thought of Turtle's racing and said that he had not heard of the races, and if he had he surely would have been there. "Who won?" he asked.

"I have never been beaten either. I wonder how a race between us would come out." "The way to find out is to have a race," Turtle said.

They determined to run the race two days hence. In the meantime Coyote had finished eating, and so, promising to come on the second day to run the race, he departed.

READ MORE...

For many years Native American elders and wisdom keepers have been saying that we must care for the Earth if we expect the Earth to care for us. Now, the threat of global warming is no longer a threat…it is a reality. Today, more than ever, we need the wisdom of our indigenous elders to guide us in our actions.

Native peoples worldwide have always understood that humans do not somehow exist separately from the rest of creation – regardless of our ethnic or religious upbringing, our fates are intertwined. What we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves. Our actions matter. They have impact not only upon ourselves, but on the generations to come.

We need to take responsibility for our actions…for our health, for our planet’s health, for our children and for our children’s children. We need to come into balance with our finite resources and protect them. We need to act in ways that create a sustainable future.

Cultures that are aware of this balance have always existed, but they have always faced and often fallen to the pressures of the more “civilized” dominant societies; societies often out of balance with themselves and their relationship to other living things. When we talk about preserving and promoting Native American culture, we are talking about something much larger than powwows, or dancing, or learning ancient songs. We are talking about keeping alive the teachings that guide us in healthy ways to relate to other beings, human and non-human, and instruct us on how to care for our Earth so that the Earth can continue to care for us.

Indigenous cultures are not immune to the effects of the dominant societies they are surrounded by. We struggle with complex issues; what is sacred, what is marketable, and where to draw the line. We carry the additional burden of understanding that, while we must live in a society which dictates success in terms of wealth, our hunger for amassing wealth must be tempered with the teachings we know in our hearts are right and good. We know a different kind of prosperity exists; one which is inseparably connected to the health and well-being of all living things, one which has very little to do with money, property and prestige.

For native peoples worldwide, cultural preservation is about survival; personal, emotional, spiritual and planetary survival. We stand on the brink of environmental catastrophe now. The wisdom of our elders and the right relationship of ourselves to all other beings is perhaps more vital now than ever. Many of us were not raised traditionally. We have had to re-learn that wisdom which keeps us in balance.

We are in the process of revitalizing our songs and ceremonies, not for public display, but for something much greater; our survival as nations, as a species and as a living ecosystem, inter-related on all levels, from the smallest microbe to the distant stars. Our elders understood this, and they knew what was coming. It is time now for us to come forward and preserve not only our diverse and vibrant cultures, but the knowledge upon which they have been built.

Manataka receives dozens of letters each week. Space does not allow us to publish all letters but we make a concerted effort to

print letters that are representative of a majority. Let us know if there is a topic you feel needs to be addressed.

American Indian Probate Reform Act

Dear Manataka,

We want every tribal members to try to prepare an estate plan.

We need to work toward saving our "too many heirs to divide" lands from being sold at such alarming rates, and often times without even notification to the "heirs" to the land. When the white people gave us trust land, I say it is because they trusted that they would get it all back anyway.

They had put a stipulation that if the land became too divided so that each person could not get 1 1/4th
acres each. It became fractioned, having too many heirs on it, then it reverted back to them and they
could sell or settle on it. They did this knowing two things.

1. That Indians did not believe in making wills because they thought it meant that they were making a will to die...and would die.
2. The Indians could not even speak English any ways and it would take a long time before they would get
educated enough to realize what was happening. My own grandmother could not speak English.

Then in 2004 President Bush signed the American Indian Probate Reform Act. This act protects the many heirs. It also protects non Indian spouses, it also protects the Not registered heir...i.e: if you are under 1/4 my tribe you can not be a member...This law protects them if they inherit land. So let's get involved and learn
to not let them keep stealing our lands... However, many tribes are not following the act.

My tribal real estate officer told me that they had not even been trained in the procedures of this new.. (four
year old) act. They also just told me that unless I was heir to the land that they sold, I had no right to even get any information about such sales...I told her as a tribal member I have the right to know if our reality office
was operating according to the law. I asked if the department was operating the same as they always had
and she said yes...So this was an admission that they were not complying with the law... She also told me that the regional agency in Anadarko told them not to talk to anyone about this matter. So of course, I went public with this information...LOL

So I have enclosed attachments of this act and would like for you to post it on your website to inform our
people to make good decisions.

Angel Ann Bayliss, Oklahoma

NAGPRA AT BERKLEY

Dear Manataka,

I wanted to give you a brief update on the UCB NAGPRA dispute. As you may already know, five tribes, representing coalitions of 18 additional tribes, have joined forces to form the Native American NAGPRA Coalition (NANC). Monday, August 6, NANC delivered a letter to Chancellor Birgeneau formally asking that he immediately stop the Museum reorganization, reopen the review process, and meet with the Coalition to discuss the future of NAGPRA at Berkeley. NANC requested a reply by August 17, and we are waiting for his response. If he ignores or rejects the Coalition’s request, we will escalate our protest dramatically, and call for legislative actions, major demonstrations, etc. Let’s hope the Chancellor is willing to be fair and reasonable. If you get a chance, email him a message at chancellor@berkeley.edu asking him to respond favorably. Since he already knows the issues, the message can be very brief, e.g. "Meet with the Native American NAGRPA Coalition."

Thanks for all of your help, and we’ll let you know as soon as the Chancellor replies.

Best regards,

Corbin Collins

DIRTY LAUNDRY

Manataka,

The August 2007 issue of Smoke Signals posted the excellent article "The Dirty Problem with Laundry Supplies" submitted by Sheri Burnett. http://www.manataka.org/page1676.html

Eco-friendlier laundry products and equipment that have less of an impact on the health of people and the environment can readily be found:

--Front loading/energy saving washing machines: I just purchased a Kenmore HE 2Plus front loading automatic washer from Sears, and it uses 15 gallons of water per load vs the 40 gallons of water per load that conventional top-loading washers use. It is marked as an Energy Star/High Efficiency washer, using approximately 161 kilowatts/year electrical energy, compared with the average of 680 kilowatts/year conventional washer. The washer was expensive--$700 on sale, including free delivery and hauling away of the old machine (to be recycled for scrap metal) but I get a total of $135 in rebates from my water company and gas company, making the cost comparable to a high-end conventional washer, and I will be saving money on water and energy costs over time. I figure that this is well worth the investment, especially if I use the washer for an expected 10 years or more. There are many brands of front-loading washers.

--Cold Water Wash: Save energy by doing all of your wash in cold water rather than using warm/hot water, and waiting until you have a full load to do the wash rather than several small loads.

--Clothes line: Hang all or at least some of your laundry to dry outside, or if you have allergies (pollen clings to the laundry and you will bring it into the house with you when you take your dry laundry in) hang the clothes on a line inside your house. This saves on energy used by your dryer.

--Environmentally friendlier laundry products: There are many companies who sell laundry products that have a lower impact on the environment and people's health.

My favorite is Seventh Generation, as their laundry detergent products are biodegradable and free of perfumes, dyes, chlorine bleach, phosphates, optical brighteners, and animal-ingredients, are vegetable based vs. petroleum based, and are safe for septic and greywater systems. They also make low-sudsing products for front-loading washers, and chlorine-free bleach. The liquid products comes in #2 recyclable plastic containers, and the detergent comes in recyclable cardboard containers with a #1 plastic recyclable scoop.

--Simply don't use fabric softeners and dryer wipes as they coat your clothes with toxic chemicals and perfumes. Dryer wipes can also lower the efficiency of your dryer by coating the lint traps, also creating a fire hazard. I use baking soda added in with my laundry soap as a laundry aide; you can use less soap and detergent, and your clothes come out cleaner, whiter, brighter, and scent-free without chemical contaminants.

For more product and eco-friendly cleaning information, see: http://www.manataka.org/page1931.html

~Lauren Zack

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE...

Hello Manataka,

Most of us live in a comfort zone not willing to subject ourselves to change. Sometimes that comfort zone is unpleasant and makes us truly miserable. If we can leave that comfort zone internally, what we will discover is nothing but wonderful. What you will and can discover is yourself. Who you really are. Cherish your visions and your dreams; as they are the children of our souls; the blueprints of our ultimate achievements. All the wonders we seek are within ourselves. The only thing that can stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you.

It is never too late to be what you might have been. People often say that this or that person has not yet found themselves. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. We are our own individual selves. No one makes your heart beat, your ability to breath in and out, your kidneys, liver, etc. to function. They all work on there own and no one can stop them or change the way they work. So why allow someone to change your mind. How you think and what you think. Who owns your mind, your thoughts, your brain. Only you. Let no one take control of your thoughts and change who you really are. Would you allow them to change the beat of your heart? Obviously not.

Your mind is the most powerful body part we have. It controls all. Physical and mental. Don't let anyone screw with it. Be yourself take back control of your life by controlling your thoughts, your desires and your dreams. Dreams can come true. Don't ever stop believing. The day you give up on your goals and dreams you basically cease to exist. The more goals you reach the more you will attempt to reach. The best goal to have is one that can never possibly be reached. But never give up trying. This is how one becomes a survivor and an achiever in life.

If you think you're to small to make a difference, you haven't been in bed with a mosquito. We are all gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege, our adventure, our destiny to discover our own special light or gift per say. Who we really are and what we can do within ourselves to make ourselves truly happy and make this world a better place. Everyone around you as well as everyone that comes in contact with us will see the gift pretty quick and it will bring a smile to their face and to their heart. You will be amazed at the smile and the joy you bring to yourself.

Rich R

CALLS FOR SUPPORT AT BLACK MESA, ARIZONA

Manataka, Greetings from Black Mesa Indigenous Support (BMIS),

We have several calls for support that we want to relay on behalf of The People on 'The Land' (Black Mesa). You may have heard that the decades-long 'Land Dispute' has been resolved. Indeed, there have been messages coming from the political establishment that are quite a bit different from the daily life of the People on The Land but this is nothing new. The Dine' (Navajo) families that we work with are still struggling under Federally backed Hopi/Bureau of Indian Affairs jurisdiction.

Native peoples in the Black Mesa area have been living under relocation laws that have devastated their community for over 30 years. Dine' home sites and camps are subjected to a "Property Dismantling and Disposal Project," where families' property and physical history are hauled away to "return the land to its original condition, protect natural resources, environment, and interests of the Hopi Tribe and the Hopi People" (Office of Hopi Lands website). These "interests" include the expansion of Peabody Western Coal
company's 100+ sq. mile strip mine.

Dine' communities have refused and resisted repeated orders from the federal government to vacate their ancestral homelands of Black Mesa. Elder resisters have been acknowledged as heroic and their efforts have generated worldwide support. But the Dine struggle for autonomy on Black Mesa is not over. Even with all the increasing awareness about man-made climate change and advocacy for environmentally friendly living that 'leaders' such as Al Gore are raising globally, coal-mining continues to threaten the people, their ancestral homeland, and culture. Al Gore has urged fans at the recent Life Earth concerts held around the world to commit to a seven-point pledge to cut carbon emissions and to lobby governments and employers
to do more to "save the planet". This pledge states: "To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new Generating facility that burns coal Without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2. These companies have waged a campaign to green-wash their image by now using a "Clean Coal Technology".

We know from the traditional inhabitants on The Land and from scientific fact that there is nothing clean about coal. Regardless of the burning process, coal extraction is devastating to the environment and to communities. As long as coal mining for massive energy consumption in the US (on Black Mesa there are many communities threatened by coal mining) is sanctioned, the threat to Dine people and their lands remains. It is a threat based on economics, it is based on the racist presumption that only white people deserve a clean and healthy environment and it is based on the colonialist arrogance that wishes to forget the critical line between indigenous and the recently arrived, even in the name of democracy and the
environment.

Our interest as support has been to make connections with these families trying to hold on to the land they live on. It is their ancestral homeland and they are the ones who hold the stories of that land, knowledge about the sacred sites, and the right way to live on that land. As it goes, everything shifts to property lines and economic use-value. So we support the original inhabitants of these areas on an individual basis and in
their community-oriented organizing; wool buys, work parties, gatherings, ceremonies, etc.

PLEASE SUPPORT:
Traditional Elder Ida Mae Clinton, the Greyeyes family and many others requests sheepherders for the months of August and Sept.; Jenny Paddock's family is looking for a work crew to help with a Hogan; and Louise Benally is looking for help organizing a wool buy.

We invite all of you reading this to consider again at this time who you are and how you are connected to and responsible to Black Mesa and the people who have lived there since time immemorial. If you've been there before, you can come back with the skills you have learned. Maybe you got pretty good with an axe, or you know how and when to put mud on the hogan. Consider too, what an opportunity and an honor it is to walk among the resisters at Black Mesa, the keepers of the old ways. What that connection could bring to your community, whether it is a community of resistance now or whether it is one waiting to be--we are all
threatened by the madness going on today. You are probably already "plugged in" to Black Mesa by the computer you are using because it is likely to run on electricity provided in part by coal mined from the mesa.

-Verna Clinton- Star Mountain
Ahehee* for taking the time to read this, (*Thank you, in Dine') Black Mesa Indigenous Support
http://www.blackmesais.org

OUR VISIT WAS MUCH DIFFERENT

Dear Manataka,

I just got back from a trip to Indian Country, Oklahoma. While heading west on I-40, we saw a sign for Hot Springs National Park and could not resist taking a short detour to take a look. We visited the area the first time several years ago and loved learning about Indians who called the area sacred. This time, our visit was much different.

As we strolled Bath House Row we ran into a Park Ranger who was very nice until my kids asked questions about Indians. This man turned downright ugly and snarled there is no evidence Indians considered the hot springs and the area sacred. He snipped off every question my daughter had about Indians with a nasty racist remark. While inside one of the display bath house buildings, we noticed the large area upstairs that once housed a large area about Indians was gone. I asked a Ranger why the Indian museum area was gone. He turned equally rude and ignored my wife's questions about Indians. Wow! What happened to the these people that they should be so angry?

As we toured the large display area in the observation tower on top the Hot Springs Mountain, we saw a display that said the story of Manataka is a myth! We thought it odd barely a mention was made of thousands of years of native occupation as the huge display area focused only on white settlement over the last two hundred years.

The next day we took a hike on the Hot Springs Mountain and ran into a Indian-looking man who was praying at the foot of a large boulder. Not wanting to disturb him, we quietly continued past down the path. Forty-minutes later, we found ourselves on the other side of the mountain. As we came around a bend in the path, there was the same Indian man holding his hands out deep in prayer. As we started to pass, he turned and said, "Forgive them, they are blind. They can not hear nor can they feel."

My wife offered the man an apple from her pack and he said, "You are giving food for the body, so food for the soul will be given to you." We all sat down on a rock ledge and he told us two beautiful stories that this family will never forget.

Yes, this time, our visit was much different.

- Rodney Begay and Family

Stop giving Indian money to anti-Indians and their backers

by Suzan Shown Harjo / Indian Country Today

One Nation United and its cronies took their anti-Indian agenda to Capitol Hill the week before Thanksgiving. At a time when most Americans are saying nice things about Native peoples, ONU's lobbyists focused on how to
undermine tribal rights and federal Indian policies.

ONU leaders met with members of Congress, who have gotten piles of Indian monies from treaty rights and tribal enterprises opposed by the anti-Indians.

None of the congressional offices issued statements disagreeing with ONU's goals: to stop Native nations' land claims, recognitions, gaming, retail businesses, environmental protection and sovereign immunity.

ONU's conference featured lawyers and other local organizers against Native rights in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington and elsewhere.

Some speakers came from academia - the University of Illinois, San Diego Law School and The Manhattan Institute - and others represented trade associations of convenience stores, petroleum marketers, crab fishermen and Western states sheriffs, as well as the National Federation of Republican Assemblies.

Members of ONU have teamed up with regional groups that have demonized Native peoples for decades. Several operate in organizations that have been discredited and disbanded, only to reemerge under new monikers with combinations of the same words: "citizens," "community," "equal" and "rights."

READ MORE...

STUDY OF THE MONTH:

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS KILLING 13 MILLION CHILDREN PER YEAR
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released the most extensive research to date on the impacts of environmental toxins on children's health. The report indicates that over 30% of childhood diseases can be linked to exposure to environmental toxins. According to WHO researchers, 13 million deaths could be prevented annually by improving the environment. The vulnerability of children is increased in degraded and poor environments. The report states that due to environment-related diseases, one in five children in the poorest parts of the world will not live longer than their fifth birthday. The Organic Consumers Association's "Appetite for a Change" campaign is focused on implementing policies and practices that can one day provide a safe environment for our children.
Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/afc.cfm

GOOD OR BAD?
TALK ABOUT IT IN OCA'S WEB FORUM
COCA-COLA AND CARGILL TO MARKET NATURAL SWEETENER
The beverage and food industries have sought the "perfect sweetener" for decades. It's no secret that standard table sugar (sucrose) and its even worse cousin, high-fructose corn syrup, rots teeth, leads to obesity, and is a major contributor to diabetes. So chemical companies have concocted an armada of synthetic sugar alternatives such as saccharin and aspartame that have been linked to everything from cancer to neurological disorders. Now Coca-Cola and Cargill have announced they have "developed" the perfect natural sweetener. The sweetener is stevia, a zero calorie plant-based sweetener that has been used for hundreds of years. In Japan, 40% of the sweeteners consumed are from stevia, so it can't really be called a "new" sweetener. But here in the U.S., likely due to lobbying of the FDA by synthetic sweetener producers, stevia has been hidden in the shadows by strange labeling requirements that keep the average consumer from even understanding what stevia can be used for. Coca-Cola and Cargill plan to bring a patented version of stevia to the mainstream as the perfect natural sweetener by removing some of the bitter aftertaste. Is this good news or bad news? What's your opinion? Share your thoughts in OCA's web forum. It's easy and quick to sign up and join the online organic community:
http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php

CONSUMER TIP OF THE MONTH:
DON'T JUST BUY LOCAL -- BUY IN SEASON
More and more consumers are beginning to understand the incredible environmental and economic benefits of buying local. Industrial agriculture and long distance food transportation and processing now generate up to 25% of all climate destabilizing greenhouse gases. Farmers Markets across the country are reporting record attendance and sales. Massive amounts of CO2 are produced when the average, often highly processed and wastefully packaged store-bought food item travels 1500-2500 miles from farm to fork. You know you're doing the planet and our climate a favor when purchasing items grown by farmers in your area. This week's tip is a reminder to consumers that buying foods in season can be as important as buying locally. A bag of tomatoes grown locally may have less of an energy impact than those shipped up from Chile. But grow those tomatoes out of season in a heated greenhouse and its energy impact can exceed the imported option. Of course, the moral of the story isn't to buy your tomatoes from Chile in the winter time, but rather to look for foods that are growing locally in season or were grown and canned/dried/preserved locally. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_6358.cfm

This article is brought to you by ORGANIC BYTES, from Organic Consumers Assoc. http://www.organicconsumers.org/

Caution !!!: It must be remembered that these plants are very valuable as medicines because of the great chemical powers they contain. At the same time, these chemicals can be potentially dangerous if used in the wrong way. American Indian herbalists have great experience, and have gone through extensive training and observation. Novice herbal practitioners are advised to seek out and develop a close relationship with a trained and experienced herbalists to learn how to use these medicines properly.

Blackberry

One of the herbs known the longest time for soothing stomach problems is the backberry. Using a strong tea from the roots is helpful is reducing and soothing swollen tissues and joints. An infusion from the leaves is also used as a tonic for stimulating the entire system. A decoction from the roots, sweetened with sugar or honey, makes a syrup used for an expectorant. It is also healing for sore throats and gums. The leaves can also be chewed fresh to soothe bleeding gums. The Cherokee historically use the tea for curing diarrhea.

Gum (Black Gum)

Cherokee healers use a mild tea made from small pieces of the bark and twigs to relieve chest pains.

Hummingbird Blossoms (Buck Brush)

This herb is used by Cherokee healers by making a weak decoction of the roots for a diuretic that stimulates kidney function.

Cat Tail (Cattail)

This plant is not a healing agent, but is used for preventative medicine. It is an easily digestable food helpful for recovering from illness, as it is bland. Most all parts of the plant, except for the mature leaves and the seed head, are edible. Due to wide-spread growing areas, it is a reliable food source all across America. The root has a very high starch content, and can be gathered at any time. Preparation is very similar to potatoes, and can be mashed, boiled, or even mixed with other foods. The male plant provides a pollen that is a wonderful source for protein. You can add it as a supplement to other kinds of flour when making breads.

Mullein - Tobacco-like Plant

This is one of the oldest herbs, and some healers recommend inhaling the smoke from smoldering mullein roots and leaves to soothe asthma attacks and chest congestion. The roots can be made into a warm decoction for soaking swollen feet or reducing swelling in joints. It also reduces swelling from inflammation and soothes painful, irritated tissue. It is particularly useful to the mucous membranes. A tea can be made from the flowers for a mild sedative.

Qua lo ga (Sumac)

All parts of the common sumac have a medicinal use. Mild decoctions from the bark can be used as a gargle for sore throats, and may be taken for a remedy for diarrhea. A tea from the leaves and berries also reduces fevers. Fresh bruised leaves and ripe berries are made into a poultice which soothes poison ivy. A drink from the ripened or dried berries makes a pleasant beverage which is a good source of vitamin C.

Big Stretch, or Nuyigala dinadanesgi utana (Wild Ginger)

The Cherokee commonly recommend a mild tea of this herb, made from the rootstock which is a mild stimulant for the digestive system. It can also help colic, intestinal gas, or the common upset stomach. A strong, hot infusion of the roots can act as an expectorant in eliminating mucus from the lungs. Fresh wild ginger may be substituted for the regular store-bought ginger roots as a spice for cooking.

What Rabbits Eat, or Jisdu unigisdi (Wild Rose)

The ripe fruit of the Wild Rose is a rich source of Vitamin C, and is a reliable preventative and cure for the common cold. The tea from the hips is a mild diuretic, and stimulates the bladder and kidneys. When the infusion of the petals is used, it is an ancient remedy for sore throats. Cherokee healers recommend a decoction of the roots for diarrhea.

Squirrel Tail, or Saloli gatoga (Yarrow)

Yarrow has many uses. The best known use is to stop excess bleeding. Freshly crushed leaves can be applied to open wounds or cuts, and the properties of the herb will cause the blood to clot. A fresh juice of yarrow, diluted with spring or distilled water, can held internal bleeding such as stomach and intestinal disorders. The leaves, prepared as a tea, is believed to stimulate intestinal functions and aid in digestion. It also helps the flow of the kidneys, as well as the gallbladder. A decoction made of the leaves and stems acts as an astringent, and is a wonderful wash for all kinds of skin problems such as acne, chapped hands, and other irritations.

Looks Like Coffee, or Kawi Iyusdi (Yellow Dock)

This plant is not only a medicinal herb, but also a food. It is much like spinach, but believe it or not, contains MORE vitamins and minerals. Because of the long taproot, it gathers nutrients from deep underground. The leaves are a source of iron, and also have laxative properties. Juices from the stems, prepared in a decoction, can be made into an ointment with beeswax and olive oil, and used for itching, minor sores, diaper rash, and other irritations. Cherokee herbalists prescribe a warm wash made from the decoction of crushed roots for a disinfectant. Juice from the root, not prepared in any certain way, is said to be a cure for ringworm.

Information provided by the Cherokee Nation Cultural Resource Center. ok to use permission from Cherokee.org.

~Submitted by Carol Spirit Dove Henderson

FLUORIDE WATCH...

From Crystal Harvey, MAIC Correspondent

Fluoride Action Network

End Fluoridation, say 600 Physicians, Dentists, Scientists, and Environmentalists

New York – In a statement released in August, 2007, over 600 professionals are urging Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted. They cite new scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. (http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html)

Signers include a Nobel Prize winner, three members of the prestigious 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel that reported on fluoride’s toxicology, two officers in the Union representing professionals at EPA headquarters, the President of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment, and hundreds of medical, dental, academic, scientific and environmental professionals, worldwide.

Signer Dr. Arvid Carlsson, winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine, says, “Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It's really obsolete.”

Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director of the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), announced that an Online Action Petition to Congress in support of the Professionals' Statement will soon be available at FAN's web site, www.fluorideaction.org.

“The NRC report dramatically changed scientific understanding of fluoride's health risks," says Connett. "Government officials who continue to promote fluoridation must testify under oath as to why they are ignoring the powerful evidence of harm in the NRC report,” he added.

An Assistant NY State Attorney General calls the report “the most up-to-date expert authority on the health effects of fluoride exposure.”

The Professionals’ Statement also reference:

-- The new American Dental Association policy recommending infant formula NOT be prepared with fluoridated water.

-- The CDC’s concession that the predominant benefit of fluoride is topical not systemic.

-- CDC data showing that dental fluorosis, caused by fluoride over-exposure, now impacts one third of American children.

-- Major research indicating little difference in decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.

-- A Harvard study indicating a possible link between fluoridation and bone cancer.

-- The silicofluoride chemicals used for fluoridation are contaminated industrial waste and have never been FDA- approved for human ingestion.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a DC watchdog, revealed that a Harvard professor concealed the fluoridation/bone cancer connection for three years. EWG President Ken Cook states, “It is time for the US to recognize that fluoridation has serious risks that far outweigh any minor benefits, and unlike many other environmental issues, it's as easy to end as turning off a valve at the water plant.”

Contact: Dr. Paul Connett 802–338-5577 paul@fluoridealert.org

Fluoride Action Network http://www.FluorideAction.Net

http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-09-2007/0004642508&EDATE=

FUNNY BONES

No offense intended for any individuals or tribes.

Three Holy Men and a Bear

A priest, a Pentecostal preacher, and a rabbi all served as chaplains to the students of Northern Michigan University in Marquette. They would get together two or three times a week for coffee and to talk shop.

One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn't really all that hard. A real challenge would be to preach to a bear. One thing led to another, and they decided to do an experiment. They would all go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert it. A month later, they all got together to discuss their experiences.

Father Flannery, who had his arm in a sling, was on crutches, and had various bandages on his body and limbs, went first "Well," he said, "I went into the woods to find me a bear. And when I found him, I began to read to him from the Catechism. Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began to slap me around. So I quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and, Holy Mary Mother of God, he became as gentle as a lamb. The bishop is coming out next week to give him first communion and confirmation"

Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, had one arm and both legs in casts, and had an IV drip. In his best fire-and-brimstone oratory, he claimed, "WELL, brothers, you KNOW that we don't sprinkle! I went out and I FOUND me a bear. And then I began to read to my bear from God's HOLY WORD! But that bear wanted nothing to do with me. So I took HOLD of him and we began to wrestle. We wrestled down one hill, UP another and DOWN another until we came to a creek. So I quickly DUNKED him and BAPTIZED his hairy soul. And just like you said, he became as gentle as a lamb. We spent the rest of the day praising Jesus."

The priest and the reverend both looked down at the rabbi, who was lying in a hospital bed. He was in a body cast and traction with IVs and monitors running in and out of him. He was in really bad shape. The Rabbi looked up and said, "Looking back on it, circumcision may not have been the best way to start."

~Submitted by Bobby Joe Runninbear

Contents:
PAGE
2	Legends of Old:		Coyote And Turtle Run A Race - Caddo
2	Feature Story:		Cultural Preservation – Why It Matters
	In the News:		World Drum coming to Manataka
2	Letters to the Editor:		Black Mesa, Indian Probate Reform and more
2	Politics:		Stop giving Indian money to anti-Indians
2	Organic Consumers:		Tips, Warnings and Studies
2	Elder's Meditations:		Pontiac, Odawa Nation
2	Member Recognition:		Bobby Joe Runninbear - A Great Man!
2	Health:		Pesticide - Autism Link
2	Herbs:		Nine Great Herbs of Healing
2	Fluoride:		End Fluoridation, say 600 Physicians, Dentists, Scientists, and Environmentalists
2	Animal Rights and Wrongs:	A	Urban Wildlife—Our Wild Neighbors
2	Sacred Sites:		Clarksville Burial Mound


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Goals of the World Drum Project

Stop giving Indian money to anti-Indians and their backers

by Suzan Shown Harjo / Indian Country Today

Bath foam that triggers headaches. Shampoo full of cancer-causing chemicals. And shower gel that attacks your skin. As experts warn of the chemicals in our toiletries, we reveal the health hazards in your bathroom cabinet.