Post by Okwes on Dec 21, 2006 13:40:52 GMT -5
Tribal elders urge young people to fight for native rights The two men
also push to protect the environment
Statesman Journal November 30, 2006
www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611300327
<http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611300327\
> Native American activ-ists Billy Frank Jr. and Hank Adams blazed
the trail for establishing Indian fishing rights and protecting natural
resources. But the pair said more work is needed and urged young
people to continue to fight for native rights and a way of life that
doesn't damage the environment. The two spoke to more than 150 people
Wednesday night at Willamette University. Frank and Adams spoke as
part of the university's Indian Country Conversations. The tribal elders
were leaders in the movement to protect treaty-guaranteed fishing
rights. Frank was arrested more than 50 times during acts of civil
disobedience in the Northwest to defend his community's right to fish.
Adams was a "strategist," finding legal and political ways to protect
Indian rights. The struggles continue, Frank and Adams said. "We are
still allowing permits to pollute," said Frank. "We haven't stopped the
bleeding." Salmon are a casualty of the pollution and habitat
degradation, the elders said. The decline is devastating to native
peoples. "From the time you are born, you are eating salmon," Frank
said. "You eat salmon all year round. The salmon is in your bloodstream.
Ceremonies are all about the salmon. We talk to the salmon." Native
Americans have always wanted to keep the salmon population healthy.
"Salmon are so important to all of our people," he said. "Salmon is our
life. ... When the river smells of salmon, you know that is a healthy
watershed."
also push to protect the environment
Statesman Journal November 30, 2006
www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611300327
<http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611300327\
> Native American activ-ists Billy Frank Jr. and Hank Adams blazed
the trail for establishing Indian fishing rights and protecting natural
resources. But the pair said more work is needed and urged young
people to continue to fight for native rights and a way of life that
doesn't damage the environment. The two spoke to more than 150 people
Wednesday night at Willamette University. Frank and Adams spoke as
part of the university's Indian Country Conversations. The tribal elders
were leaders in the movement to protect treaty-guaranteed fishing
rights. Frank was arrested more than 50 times during acts of civil
disobedience in the Northwest to defend his community's right to fish.
Adams was a "strategist," finding legal and political ways to protect
Indian rights. The struggles continue, Frank and Adams said. "We are
still allowing permits to pollute," said Frank. "We haven't stopped the
bleeding." Salmon are a casualty of the pollution and habitat
degradation, the elders said. The decline is devastating to native
peoples. "From the time you are born, you are eating salmon," Frank
said. "You eat salmon all year round. The salmon is in your bloodstream.
Ceremonies are all about the salmon. We talk to the salmon." Native
Americans have always wanted to keep the salmon population healthy.
"Salmon are so important to all of our people," he said. "Salmon is our
life. ... When the river smells of salmon, you know that is a healthy
watershed."