I walked 5 miles yesterday morning. Who would have thunk it? I haven’t walked that far since I was a kid in Waipahu; walking from one end of Waipahu - Wigwam(?), GoodyGoody Drive Inn - and back down across da “use to be new” high school. Those days it was rare for kids to have cars so most of the time we walked to where ever we were going.
Well yesterday morning I participated in the Sovereignty Day celebration of the Ft McDowell Yavapai Nation. This walk commemorates an incident/a standoff that happened on May 12, 1992. Background information:
During the early 1990’s, several tribal casinos, including Ft McDowell, were in operation in Arizona. In accordance with the provisions of the federal 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the tribes were waiting to sign gaming compacts with the state government. At the time however, the governor opposed Indian gaming and called upon the US Attorneys’s office for support. Unannounced raids by FBI agents on five Indian casinos wer ordered. At the first light of day on May 12, 1992; the agents invaded the Ft McDowell casino seizing the community’s 349 gaming machines and loading them into moving trucks. Community members witnessing the raid took immeidate actiion. They called other community members, tribal leaders and the news media. Soon, using every available car, truck and heavy machinery; a blockade of the casino’s access road was organized. The violence, a three week standoff between the trive and government ensued. The Arizona governor ultimately was persuaded to sign a gaming compact with then Ft McDowell Yavapai Naiton Presdient Clinton Pattea, paving the way for Indian gaming in Arizona.
There was a lot of people. It was a leisurely pace, not a race and it was led by the Veterans color guard. There was three rest stops/breaks where there was water and fruits provided and the porta potty. There were people of all ages, all races and there was a horse drawn wagon at the very back filled with the elderly. There were kids on bikes and razors, babies of all ages being pushed in their strollers. It was a really nice morning. Not too hot and not cold, it was good day to walk 5 miles. We walked from the Casino to the Recreation Center. At the Rec Center they had a short program and they fed us Indian Tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs and a really huge, ono cake. Whatever pounds we lost walking five miles, we gained it right back eating lunch.
FYI: Indian Tacos: A fry bread (flat puffy deep fried bread usually the size of a dinner plate - yes cholesterol) topped with beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese and salsa &/or chilies. (In New Mexico they usually ask if you want red or green chili) Very ono and fattening.
They also had a raffle. They had some awesome prizes. The main prizes were 2 sets of tickets to the DBacks game. Also one of the prizes was tickets for two to all of the Casino’s special performances/concerts/shows for the rest of the year. No, I did not win anything, shoots. The also had a bunch of other neat prizes.
Some community members spoke of their experience of May 12, 1992. They said that there were FBI agents with their sniper rifles on the roof of the casino pointed at the people. People credited the women for organizing the community. They said it was a very spooky three weeks because there was always guns pointed in their direction and they were thankful that there weren’t any casualties. More so they spoke to the children and told them the reaction of the community and its positive outcome is the definition of sovereignty. The community standing up to the government was an example of exercising the Tribes sovereign rights. Because of this Tribes actions they have set a precedence that other native communities & the state of Arizona have benefited from.
Sovereignty is a hard word to explain. The best explanation I think was this book my professor used in Pol Sci class, it was a book written by somebody Kicking Bird, I think. Anyways - the explanation of sovereignty that I understand is that - its like a bundle of sticks. One stick you can easily break but a bundle of sticks is not easily broken at all. To me its the opposite of divide and conquer.
So while I’m on this subject I may as well put in my 2cents worth about Hawaiian Sovereignty.
As long as the Hawaiian people are divided in as many factions that there are, the people will be dominated/conquered by dominate society. Meaning notting going change. It is important to BE TOGETHER as ONE sovereign nation. Not nationalist, seperatist, Ainokea-ist, different island, west side, east side, LEEWARD side baybee, nah nah nah. But do you know what I’m saying?
As a local wahine born raised ova deya in da aina and as a person who has lived on three different Indian reservations - I was thinking the Hawaiian people have a lot of good examples of sovereign nations. There are lot of good things to be learned and many mistakes could be avoided. And granted the Hawaiian people are not Native Americans. They are not of the Americas. They are of Polynesia. Hawaiians should be/are a class of its own, having been wrongfully & illegally overthrown. Yet they constantly get “lumped” in as Native Americans, Indians whateva you like callem.’ Sometimes the government is like, ok Hawaiian are Native Americans so den we going give you funding from the Indian monies and the NDN’s are like eh, wait dey not Native Americans. You guys wen illegally kakaroach from dem and now you including us. Wotsupwit dat?
As long as there is IN-fighting and or factions among the Hawaiian peoples themselves, there will not be a sovereign Hawaiian nation because get way too much huhu there’s no pono-ness. Peoples blaming each ada, dem da one NOT you guys da one; dey dis, dem dat blah blah blah. Y’all need to ho’oponopono, get it together, get your land base, your social services, medical care; there needs to be a UNITED infrastructer. Stay all chop suey now, lets make one strong Nation first anden if you like beef - go for it. First things first, ho’oponopono and get it together. Easier said den done yeah. I mean come on now - get real, you not going kick out all da haoles. Da tourist maybe….LOL oh wait we need dem fo’fill da hotels. Eh wait comeback, juss make shua you go home doe and no buy house ova hea. Stay ova deya…
Sometimes I think da Hawaiian people are being played. Because as long as there are these factions - moe powa to da powas dat stay awreddy. Notting going change. The major change that needs to be done is aquiring land base and having a sense of solidarity. But hey wot da hell do I know, I live mainland. Too bad so sad. Lucky you live Hawaii anden!
Entries (RSS)