This is the best comment that I could come up with for the postings done by @Ikwa and @Shining_Garnet. @Ikwa posting “Upset” http://ikwa.xanga.com/770315003/upset/ and @Shining_Garnet posting “Canada’s Prime Minister Violating Treaty Rights”. http://shining-garnet.xanga.com/770349946/canadas-prime-minister-violating-treaty-rights/ I’m also posting this to my FB site so my friends there can check out those postings for themselves.

Christmas is called the season of cheer, but for many it still remains
anything but that. This is the time of year many celebrate God’s
goodness and love to all, but to others…. It reminds them of a time
when all that they loved and held dear was torn from them.

You…. a people from other lands came to this land searching for
freedom and peace. With no means of survival, we became teacher to you.
We saw your people…. women, children, and the aged starving, and cold.

Food and blankets, we shared with you. What knowledge we had, we shared
with you. You learned how to plant, sow, and hunt. We taught you how
to survive.

You shared with us too, but…. your gifts, we could have better
survived without. The gifts you bore were greed, selfishness, and
contempt for your fellow man. But those are not the worst of gifts born
by you…. the intruders.

The one whom you called God, you brought to us. He was called a God
of justice, mercy, love, and peace. With your mouths, you taught He
loved everyone, but…. your actions did not reflect the words you
spoke. Harshness was returned for kindness… hatred for love… war
for peace… and death for life.

I know God. We call Him the Great Spirit. He is all the things that
you taught that He is. But there is one variation between what I know
and what you say you know. I know that I must live what I teach to
others before they will believe and embrace it.

“Peace on earth good will toward men“. This is what God offered to all
mankind. He sent his only Son for the redemption of all. But have
those of you, who call yourselves His children, conducted your lives in
a manner of this precious Gift of redemption and peace? I hardly think
it so.

So very few lived…. or live now as we should. Not just this
season…. but all seasons should be treated as He meant for them to
be. Now is always the time for caring, helping, loving, and healing.
All must do this for there to be true Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward
Men!


Let It Begin With Me,

T.W. Martindale
(Sagwu Usdi)
http://www.nativetech.org/yonah/cheer.html

I will play “The Devils Advocate” by say that most of the world does not care what happens to the Indigenous People in their home lands. They have no representation in the UN.  They are a “Lost Voice!” A thing of the past! Something that only belongs in the history books! Even here in the U.S.A. there are places that don’t recognize Indigenous People as they should be. PA doesn’t have any reservations, so Indigenous People that live there are not taken into count by the government of PA. As far as PA is concerned they don’t exist and are nothing but people from history. Indigenous people have no voice in PA government as a group. So the precedent has been set for Canada and other nations to deny them of their civil rights. This will be the future for all Indigenous People, all over the world!

My true feelings are that we need these people and their way of life! They know more about living “One with the Earth” than any other nation! But who will fight for and with them? They have no weapons of mass-destruction, because they are the True People of Peace! They know the teachings of the Creator and live their life according to His law.

Superstorm Sandy sent residents along the East Coast running for cover this week. For those households that count animals among their family members, the storm brought an extra worry: What do I do with my pet?

The Swobodzien family of Wall Township, New Jersey, was faced with that potentially life-altering question as the storm approached.

The Swobodziens’ 5-year-old cockapoo, Penny, is black with a white chest and, at only 12 pounds, the runt of her litter. “She is also my fourth daughter,” said Arletta Swobodzien. The family’s neighborhood was one of the first in the area to evacuate before Sandy hit, so they searched for options to keep Penny with them while they cleared out.

“We went to the first shelter and I told them, ‘We have a dog at home, can she come here?’ They said no. Make sure she has food and water, leave her,” said Arletta. “When they said leave her, I just couldn’t help it, I cried.”

Gulf Coast residents faced the same dilemma seven years ago. Hurricane Katrina left countless family pets dead, stranded or homeless. When faced with the decision to leave their animals behind, some people decided to stay, and some may have perished because of that choice, said Tim Rickey of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“People would never evacuate a home and leave behind their children or their spouse,” said Rickey, senior director of field investigations and response at the ASPCA. “Pets are family members. Society continues to evolve, and local governments know now that if they don’t consider the animals, they may be putting residents in danger.”

Lessons learned on the Gulf brought about the 2006 Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act. The PETS Act made it mandatory for local and state governments to include plans for pets in their emergency procedures and opened the gates for FEMA funds to be put toward the welfare of animals in disaster zones.

“After Katrina and with the PETS Act, we have tremendous support now from the USDA, FEMA and the federal government that just did not exist in 2005,” said Rickey.

Niki Dawson of the Humane Society of the United States said local governments have been encouraging people to take pets with them when they evacuate, which helps prevent some of the dangers pets faced during Katrina.

Both animal welfare agencies applauded New York City for mandating that all city shelters and transit allow pets entrance leading up to and during the superstorm. “It is a model that we hope the rest of the nation follows in the future,” said Rickey.

The PETS Act gives first responders and pet owners more to work with, but ultimately local governments must decide what provisions to put in place. That could mean anything from relying on local animal shelters to investing in mobile pet rescue units.

“Most animal shelters run at 100% capacity even when it is not a disaster situation, which means they couldn’t possibly take in private pets. But under the PETS Act, that state will have fulfilled their obligation,” said Dawson.

The second line of defense comes in the form of volunteer networks and non-government groups. The ASPCA, in partnership with Petsmart Charities, has set up a distribution center in Syracuse, New York, and contributed more than 4,000 supplies to local rescue groups, primarily in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. In New York City and on Long Island alone, the ASPCA now has more than 400 owned animals sheltered in 40 evacuation centers.

In addition to shelter assistance, helping animals means getting out in the field. The ASPCA has two transport trailers and three water rescue teams on standby. The Humane Society has responders in New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Delaware. They are joined by hundreds of other organizations and many dedicated volunteers.

When animal rescue groups can’t get out in the field, they increasingly turn to social media. In Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, storm refugees could find pet-friendly shelters by following the Humane Society on its media platforms. Twitter has allowed for quick communication.

When the Humane Society found out via Twitter that a Connecticut town instructed residents to leave pets behind during a mandatory evacuation, the society sprung into action and persuaded local officials to open up an animal shelter to owned pets and change the evacuation notice.

“That community and those officials should be commended for turning on a dime to accommodate the needs of their community,” said Dawson.

Local response to the PETS Act may vary, but there are universal guidelines that all pet owners should follow during a storm, said Rickey: “Keep your pets on a leash and close to you. There may be contaminated water and spoiled food. It is critical that pet owners should have a backup number outside of your region available. Make sure you have a crate and leash, so you can always move quickly.”

Back in Wall Township, Arletta Swobodzien eventually found a shelter for her whole family, including Penny. As the clouds gathered overhead, a volunteer piled the family into his car to retrieve their dog, just before the worst of the storm hit.

“I don’t know what we would have done,” Swobodzien said. “When the girls got to see her, it was amazing.”

Quick posting before I have to go to work. We got our electrical power back on at 3:25 pm today. I hope that it was done by somebody making a major stink over the amount of deaths caused by “Super Storm Sandy”. Because electrical crews were / are being sent to the East from all over this country to get the power back on. I can only guess that it is really  because of New York City and Jersey being in such a mess that this has happened. Whatever, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, I’m just happy that something is getting this done much sooner than later.

Sorry that I have not been online, can’t spend too much time on the computer. I hope and pray that all my friends were kept safe from Sandy! We have not had any electrical power since Monday 7:00 pm, PPL says we might get it back on Sunday at 11:00 pm. We are using a small generator mostly to keep the refrigerator and freezers running. I have two small electrical heaters we are running at night to keep the house warm, about 50 degrees. All and all we are doing Ok, no major damage to the house. Just one of my butterfly bushes became uprooted, I think I’ll be able to replant it. Camping equipment helps with cooking, because we have an electric stove, and keeping warm with sleeping bags. I’m always glad that we like to go camping because that equipment becomes useful when the power goes down. I can only think about all of the other people that don’t have it as well as we do. So I just keep praying for them!

This opinion is my own, and in no way is it meant to offend anybody! I am just one voice in the wilderness and have no real power to change things; except by voting for who I think will see the unfairness and is willing to make that change.

The past 8 postings were done to tell a story (the history) of the Indigenous People of America. This history was posted in part because of a problem brought to my attention by @Ikwa.

Who is or are citizens of the United States of America? With regard to the Indigenous People there is no clear definition. On one hand they are an autonomous nation, separate from the United States, by the very treaties that were made with them. But on the other hand the United States no longer looks at those treaties as being valid, making them citizens. What was the cause, the main reason why, the United States would wish this for the Indigenous People of America? That question can be answered with one word “Land”! The plight of the Indigenous People has been and always will be over the land, Mother Earth. Laws have been and are being passed that are not valid by our own Constitution, only the majority of the citizens of this nation don’t realize it. How can Congress pass a law that is to take place in some other nation? Example: if the United States Congress passed a law (taxes for one) that would have to be enforced in any other nation (pick one) around the world, how would that be valid to the citizens of that nation? The laws passed over and for the governing the Indigenous People are in direct violation with the treaties signed by both nations. As history records the events of the struggles between the United States and the Indigenous People, the Indigenous People lost the war. But did they really? They lost many battles, but in the end they still controlled some of their homeland by right of treaties, making them an autonomous nation outside of the U.S. boundaries, Nations within a Nation! Some will even argue that the Indigenous People’s nations are a protectorate of the United States, like Guam, Porto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, etc. This thinking is far from the truth, if you have ever read what is in those treaty documents. I’m not saying that being given citizenship was the wrong thing to do, but is it really what the Indigenous People wanted? They were never given that choice! Even with that granted, there are still state governments (i.e. Delaware) that require the Indigenous People to apply for and get a “Green Card”! If you are a citizen of the United States, why would you need a “Green Card”? To my knowledge, The Indigenous People of America are the only group of citizens that are being required to do this. Where is the justice in a law of that making? I say none! This nation is overly concerned with the rights of “illegal immigrants”, but the rights of the Indigenous People are being violated all the time!

As election time nears, I, for one, have not found any candidate worth voting for! The problem is, with that choice you have to pick the lesser of two evils, or not vote at all. We can’t vote our voice with a choice of “None of the Above”! I believe that if the citizens of the United States were given that choice, all of the elected officials would be run out of office! Sorry, I got political here, but isn’t this a political subject to begin with? The political challenge is finding somebody who will look into the struggles and problems of this nation in regard to the Indigenous People; and not somebody who is looking for personal gain and notoriety! The Indigenous People are a forgotten people, “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”! They (Indigenous People) are too few to be concerned about, and in the eyes of most citizens should be forgotten to the point of being an ancient history subject. Their problems are real and they are part of this Nation! All that is thought about them is nothing but being a tourist attraction; a side-show or something you will find in a museum! They are people, human beings, with hopes and dreams for a better future for themselves and their people. I say now is the time for the rest of the citizens of The United States to take a stand and give support to The Indigenous People!!! As ABC news keeps trying to tell us “Buy American!”, if you purchase something made by an Indigenous Person, how much more American can that product be? There are many places where products made by Indigenous People are available and with the purchase of those products will help them. One is a catalog I get, titled “Southwest Indian Foundation” and their web site is www.southwestindian.com. Another way is to subscribe to the “Native Peoples” magazine or The National Museum of the American Indian. Both of them advertise mainly Indigenous People’s products and services. As the holiday season is approaching, this would be one way to spend money on gifts, not just for the ones you love, but to help those in need. At Southwest Indian Foundation, you can send money to help those Indigenous People on the reservation. A Christmas food basket costs $58.60, a half basket is only $29.30. This is just one way of helping. There are other ways if you visit their web site. There are also Native American schools that will take donations to help further the education of those stuck on the reservations.

Knowledge is the Key to a Better Way of Life! This is what the Indigenous People are lacking most. Our government wants them to be kept dumb and living in the past!!! Let them (Indigenous People) all die out and the problem will be solved! Where do you think the Nazis came up with the final solution for the Jews? From our own American history, that‘s where! In the end, if our government has its way, there will be no more Native Americans; and then the Land will belong to The United States of America. Only then will the whole Native American problem be solved, so says our government, behind closed doors! To your face they will say something different! For if the government truly cared about The Indigenous People, things would be much better for them. The problem is the “Vanishing Nation” refuses to “Vanish”! I for One, hope that never happens (them vanishing)! My wish (dream) is that the Native Americas will outlive The United States of America, and all the land from sea to shinning sea reverts back to The Indigenous People. This is the only real hope for the future of this Nation! I say now is the time for “The Rainbow Warriors” to make their presence known to the world! The Knowledge they hold is the Key to the Future of the Earth!

I know I have strong personal and political opinions toward and about the Indigenous People of America. Mostly, I have tried to keep those opinions to myself. I’ve read and studied as much as I can about their past and present lives, and in doing that, I see the injustice that has and is being done to them. On October 8, 2012 this nation once again will honor a man who has caused all of this to come about. His landing in the Caribbean and return to Europe caused the domino affect that brought hardship, annihilation, and more to the Indigenous People of the American Continents. I can only ask myself, “Why do we honor such a man?” A man whose only thought was looking for riches and fame, with no regard for the suffering he caused to the people he met there. He, and those that followed him, had only one thought on their minds, and that thought was “How rich and famous can I become?” Some claimed they came for religious freedom, but did not accept the rights of the people that were here centuries before them. Once their (Indigenous People‘s) usefulness was no longer needed, the foreigners set about to remove the Indigenous People from their presence. This from people who claimed to follow the teachings of Christ! I can only call those people hypocrites! Yes, there were good people that came, but they were few, and could not undo the damage done to the Indigenous People. The trust was broken between the Indigenous People and the foreigners, and to this day that trust has never returned, fully. Too many lies have passed the lips of those foreigners and their descendants for a full trust to come into being ever again. This saddens my heart greatly! For I am of two worlds, with ancestry in both. I’m considered a White man, but I have the mind and heart of an Indian. I see the beauty of the way of The Red Road, but can not find my way into the world of a White man, and I don‘t belong to the world of the Red man. The white man’s world of greed and excess has no place in my world. I work to provide for my family, but not to the point of ever becoming rich. I keep telling myself I was born in the wrong century, I want to live a simple life, being one with nature. This Is Me, A Man Without a World!

There is so much more I could write, but then I am not really a political man! Wishing to keep my opinions to myself, mostly!