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.
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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.