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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1983)
May 6,1983 Page 5 SPILYAY TYMOO Warm Springs Speaker Series Barsh stresses the time is now. . by Pat Leno American Indian nations have a choice of exactly what role they may play in world affairs today, according to attorney Russel L. Barsh. Barsh explored three roles in a presentation he gave at the W a rm S p r in g s A g e n c y Longhouse on April 14. He presented to local people what directions are available to them as an Indian Nation during his talk on “The Role of Native America in the World Today.” B arsh is an a sso c ia te p r o f e s s o r o f B u s in e s s , Government and Society at the University of Washington in Seattle, and the co-author of a book, The Road. Indian Tribes and Political Liberty. He also works with the Mikmaq Indian Tribe as a legal spokesman in the United Nations. According to Barsh there are three definite roles available to Indian nations, (1) to become a sovereign state within the world; (2j to become a state within the United States or; (3) to continue on they present course and to be eventually assimilated into the main stream of America. Each of the roles will cost Indians and Barsh feels that all Indians need to be aware of these choices and what the cost will be. “Way to true Sovereignty” The only way that Indian nations can retain a true sovereignty would be to give up all U.S. federal monies and assistance. Barsh stressed this could be a reality. The Indian nation would seek recognition as a nation from other world countries. It would mean that the Iridian nation Would have present road which he feels will eventually lead to the tribe losing its identity and its culture for it is this road that will lead to assimilation. Barsh expressed concern over tribes just continuing as they are because the present policy of the government appears to be headed in a direction of less and less assistance to Indian people. The present course of relying on the federal government for monies each year is financially dangerous. Barsh stated that Indians may not be aware that the problems they face today"are faced by many tribal peoples in the world and it is this common bond which gives the Indian nation the opportunity to seek recognition as a world state. The United Nations addressed this in its document of Human Rights Covenants act stating that people have the right to “ L im ite d s o vereig n ty determine their own destiny. th r o u g h S ta te h o o d " So many people in the world The second alternative of have an understanding of seeking statehood within the the problems that Indians face. United States would be the The rest of the world has Indian nation on a co-equal become aware of Indians and governmental plateau with the how their problems are being rest of the states in the United dealt with by the federal States. With this choice, the government. The rest of the Indian nation would remain in world continues to view the the present framework but treaties of American Indians would increase the power of the and the U.S. government as a Indian. It would not take away prime example of just how the any of the monies or assistance United States lives up to its from the federal government. word. So many foreign nations Barsh feels if a tribe doesn’t take the Indian and his word, want to seek the status of a thus Indians have a great deal world nation that this would be of creditibility in world affairs. Barsh said if Indians choose the best step to take and would give a tribe a limited sovereign to enter the politics in the world they need to remember they state. hold a creditibility and their carries weight. “Continue on the present word Barsh reviewed why the course” Indian nations have gained such a foothold in world The final choice for a tribe as affairs. He stated that in as late described by Barsh is for the as the 1970s many countries in Indian to continue on the the world were not aware that to be able to sustain itself and would probably result in the Indian nation being a poor but independent country. Barsh said this would be the only way to a tta in true sovereignty, but it would put the Indian in true control of his own destiny. There are several Indian Nations which are looking to this choice and they are preparing to sign the H um an R ights C ovenants (HRC), a statement of the United Nations. This step means no longer accepting the United States as having the f in a l s a y o n th e se l- determination of an Indian nation. The United States takes the stand that they have “plenary (complete and final) powers over Indian tribes as a result of treaties and executive orders.” 1 there were American Indians living on reservations in the United States. The issue of de colonization of all colonies in the world became a major goal of the United Nations. Indian resevations are viewed by many world nations as colonies of the United States and Canada. The United States held the position that the Indians of their country are not colonies but a minority within their society. The United States apparently resents any interference by other countries and the United States has not signed the HRC act, said Barsh. Since there are countries that will recognize an Indian tribe as a nation which meets certain qualifications, such as having a land base and a culture, the possibility of declaring its independence is there for Indian nations. decided by the U.S. Congress and this law is not always in accordance with international law. So the rest of the world is watching and learning about a major power in the United Nations and its integrity. “a high stakes game” Declaring independence is a high-stakes game if a tribe chooses to go the road of becoming a world nation. It would cost the tribe monies which they presently receive from the United States. The Indian nation would have to be able to feed itself. They could not be dependent on a mother nation or they would soon lose their independence. “free to make a choice” “They would end up selling the future to pay for the present,” stated Barsh. But if Indians want to be free to say what they want and be truly independent, the choice is The w orld nations are theirs. The real enemy is fear looking at the United States to and it is this fear of not being see just how they are treating able to make it without the the Indian and the treaties they United States that will not stop m ade with Indians. T he most tribes from entering the treaties made by the U.S- and arena of world politics. It Indian tribes are recognized as remains for the Indian tribes documents made by interna and their people to make a tional law, they are termed as choice, according to Barsh. Barsh was the third speaker a g re e m e n ts betw een tw o nations. It is this very issue of in the Warm Springs Speaker treaties and their treatment by Series which is sponsored by which the other nations are Central Oregon Community judging the U.S., according to College and the Lewis Pitt Sr. Barsh, the very fact that so Memorial Funds. Cassettes many Indian nations feel their tapes of the presentations can treaties have been violated and be purchased from Lewis Pitt not lived up to becomes an Jr. for $3.00 for the two-tape issue with the world nations. set. Barsh expressed his Who can trust a nation that approval of the speaker series does not live up to its and its goals as being of great service to the Warm Springs agreements. Indians are ruled by Indian people. It is a good program, Federal Law, which is law according to Barsh. “World views the treaties as exam ples of U .3 f. integrity” Warm Springs students attend Indian youth conference by Ron Pinkham Last week fourteen students left for Seattle, Washington to attend the Eighth Annual N o rth w e st In d ia n Y o u th C onference. A bout 1,000 students from Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Nevada attended the conference. The 9th Annual conference will be held in P e n d le to n , O re g o n . T he evaluation by students stated the conference was a great success, but there were too few evening activities for the youth. There was an Incentive Essay award contest held by the conference committee, judged by outstanding Indian writers o f S e a ttle . C o m m u n ity in v o lv e m e n t, a t h l e t i c s , academics, and traditional were the four categories of the essay contest. Raydine Spino won first in the traditional category and Merrit Y oung- deer, Jr. won first place in the a c a d e m ic c a te g o ry . E ach received a cash award of $50. The Alternative Education students received sixth place in the banner contest. All clubs and groups were asked to make a banner to identify themselves. Alternative Education’s sixth place won them a $5.00 check. Congratulations to all our students for their efforts. Pink slips will be mailed this w eek. If you have any questions, please call me for an appointment with the teachers. SUBSCRIPTION TO SPILYAY TYMOO SEND SUBCRIPTION TO SPILYAY TYMOO P.O. Box 735 WARM SPRINGS, OR 97761 NAME______________ _____ ______________________ _____ ADDRESS__________________________ ___ ,______________ C IT Y _ _ _ ____ _______ ____STATE_______ ZJP_________ SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ONE YEAR $6.00 R ay dine Spino and M errit Youngdeer, Jr. earned $50 each in an essay contestal the Eighth Annual Northwest Indian Youth Conference held in Seattle, Washington. R a y dine won in the traditional category while M erritt took first place in the academic category. All Warm Springs tribal members will receive the Spilyay Tymoo at no cost. Spilyay Tymoo is published bi-weekly by the Confederated Tribes o f Warm Springs.
