School can’t oust Lipan Apache boy over braids
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Needville (Texas) Independent School District can’t punish a Lipan Apache boy for wearing his hair in braids. Kenney Arocha and Michelle Betenbaugh had argued that their son’s hair, which has never been cut, conforms to their Native American religious beliefs, according to the Houston Chronicle, here.

Federal disaster declaration for Rocky Boy’s Reservation
President Barack Obama yesterday declared the Rocky Boy’s Reservation a disaster area, making it eligible for federal money for repairs. Flooding on the reservation broke water lines, leaving hundreds of members of the Chippewa Cree tribe without water for two weeks and causing millions of dollars in damage, according to this Associated Press story.

Navajo Nation Supreme Court says no third term for president
The Navajo Supreme Court has denied President Joe Shirley Jr.’s quest for a third consecutive term, the AP reports here. “I respect the decision of our Supreme Court justices,” Shirley said. “They had the final say. They decided and now I know that this is the end of it.”

Report details abuse of indigenous people in Peru
A report by the Missionary Indigenous Council takes a look at the treatment of indigenous people in Brazil. The report shows they are dealt abuse by police and landowners, lack proper nutrition and health care, and crowded out of their homelands by vast public works such as the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam in the state of Para. Read more in this Agence France-Presse story.

New Nez Perce National Historic Trail map released
A new map of the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail is now available at Forest Service and National Park Service offices and online through Discover Your Northwest, the National Forest Store and the USGS Store, according to the Char-Koosta News, here. The map details locations along the 1,170 mile trail. Or, you can see it online here.

Aboriginal warrior’s remains, once displayed in museum, are reburied
A 19th century Aboriginal warrior named Yagan whose severed head once was displayed in British museum, has been reburied with proper ceremony in western Australia. The Associated Press reports here that the private ceremony was held yesterday by the Noongar Tribe, and coincides with the opening of the Yagan Memorial Park outside of Perth.

Gwen Florio

Tags: 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, aboriginal, Belo Monte dam, Brazil, Chippewa Cree Tribe, Disaster aid, Discover Your Northwest, indigenous, Joe Shirley Jr., Lipan Apache, Missionary Indigenous Council, National Forest Store, National Park Service, Navajo Nation, Navajo Supreme Court, Nee-Me-Poo, Needville Independent School District, Nez Perce, Nez Perce National Historic Trail, Noongar Tribe, President Barack Obama, Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, U.S. Forest Service, USGS Store, Yagan, Yagan Memorial Park

James Cameron took a lot of heat (see previous post, here) for the way his blockbuster 3-D film “Avatar” seemed something of a rip-off of indigenous culture.

Now the Hollywood director has traveled to the Amazon on behalf of indigenous people who are fighting Brazilian government’s huge Belo Monte dam project — a cause, he says, that’s inspiring work on an “Avatar” sequel. He says he’s planning to go back this week with actress Sigourney Weaver and at least one other member of Avatar’s cast, the New York Times reports here.

The Times says of the project:

It would be the third largest in the world, and environmentalists say it would flood hundreds of square miles of the Amazon and dry up a 60-mile stretch of the Xingu River, devastating the indigenous communities that live along it. For years the project was on the shelf, but the government now plans to hold an April 20 auction to award contracts for its construction.

Stopping the dam has become a fresh personal crusade for the director, who came here as indigenous leaders from 13 tribes held a special council to discuss their last-ditch options. It was Mr. Cameron’s first visit to the Amazon, he said, even though he based the fictional planet in “Avatar” on Amazon rain forests. Still, he found the real-life similarities to the themes in his movie undeniable. …

Mr. Cameron, 55, first encountered the cause in February, after being presented with a letter from advocacy organizations and Native American groups saying they wanted Mr. Cameron to highlight “the real Pandoras in the world,” referring to the lush world under assault in his movie.

” We have to try to stop this dam,” says Cameron, who’s writing to Brazil’s president, seeking a meeting and urging him to stop the dam. “Their whole way of life, their society as they know it, depends on it.”

Gwen Florio

Tags: "Avatar", Amazon, Belo Monte dam, Brazil, buffalo post, Gwen Florio, indigenous, James Cameron, Native American news

Rock star Sting is speaking out on behalf of indigenous people in Brazil, who feel their way of life is being threatened by a project to build the third-largest hydroelectric dam in the world, according to the BBC, here.

“This is the heart of the Amazon and what happens here affects the whole world,” he said at a news conference in Sao Paolo, where he was joined by indigenous leader Raoni Metyktire, who worked with him in a similar campaign 20 years ago.

Sting says the issue takes on new urgency in light of climate change.

“This was my intuition but now the science is backing that up, I mean substantial science is saying this is true,” he says. “We need to save this forest. It is the biggest contribution to greenhouse gases – deforestation. Way beyond industrial pollution, way beyond the burning of fossil fuel for transport, or heating.”

Chief Raoni says he doubts claims by government officials that a smaller-than-planned area will be flooded, and that indigenous areas will be protected.

“The authorities never called a meeting with us, with our leaders to explain this, to have a consultation over Belo Monte.”

The BBC report says a decision on an environmental approval for the Belo Monte dam is said to be imminent.

Gwen Florio

Tags: Belo Monte dam, Brazil, buffalo post, Indigenous people, Native American news, Raoni Metyktire, Sting