Declaration a way to show unity

by Sharlene Irete

sirete@recordcourier.com

Art George Jr. has worked for years putting together a three-page Declaration by Indigenous People.

Each of the 10 articles begins, "We Acknowledge and Honor." Creation, liberty, sacred grounds, the continuation of life, creativity and expression are among the principals acknowledged and honored in the Declaration by Indigenous People.

The declaration is a compilation written by William Blair, an environmental auditor from Eugene, Ore., who has worked with indigenous people for 40 years.

"We came together to make the declaration just as the six nations of the Iroquois had when the founding fathers created the Declaration of Independence," said George of Blair, with whom he's worked for the past three years to create the declaration.

"In my life I've always seen that there's been a problem of people segregating themselves. We all have to live together so we have to figure out a way to do it.

"I've been waiting my whole life for a document," George said.

There is no target date or minimum amount of signatures to be collected for the Declaration by Indigenous People.

"People can get the declaration and get signatures themselves," said George. "Foreign indigenous can sign with indigenous. Nobody's left out. We've got to get together."

Receive a copy of the Declaration of Indigenous People by contacting George at realwasho.com or P.O. Box 311, Gardnerville, NV 89410

The Real Washo Web site offers information about Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Washoe culture and traditional stories.

"The purpose of the declaration is as a reminder to governments that we recognize our rights and responsibilities to our country," said George. "There's a place on the document to declare your own declaration if you'd like to add to it.

"By signing the Declaration by Indigenous People, it shows a unified position. It will go to the Secretary of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, other government agencies, and the United Nations.

"Beyond that, this document is for our grandparents," he said. "When Columbus hit the rock, if indigenous people had this, they would have been included this whole time. It's putting us back into the equation by letting all people of this country know we're all in this together.

"We're all indigenous and will find common ground to help us to become the great country we proclaim. This document physically tells us we can be."

"We Acknowledge and Honor creation, sovereignty of spirit, mind and body keeping each natural person free to live, have values, beliefs, enjoy individual personality and attributes of life." Article I of the Declaration by Indigenous People

Editor's note:

The following is a guest column by Art George that appeared in The Record-Courier on June 26, 2009.

Washo people survive and will thrive

by Art George

We, Art George and Allen Garcia, partners in AG Industries & Associates, are the founders of realwasho.com and also organizers of the Indigenous/Washo outreach program with TheTahoeFoundation.org. Our goals are to bring about education in a series of stages through the compilation of years of observing the system discussed. The research that is created through this form of delivery is then archived and stored for future intent.

Our hope is to tell all here in the Valley, in the foothills, up at the Tahoe Basin and throughout Washo territory that we Washo have survived. We survived the onslaught of persecution and have been given the opportunity of this survival to give our meaning in life structure again. Today we are affording to you and our original population the knowledge, skills, and understanding to obtain a way of life the native populations have enjoyed for thousands of generations. Here is my dilemma, our dilemma: the reality is what may be but the solution will always remain the same. That is the truth of why our existence is so complex and, if explained, we would be here for a while - so much history, trauma and pain.

In 2008 the Washo elders came together to protect the sovereignty of individual liberty and spiritual cognitions at the sacred grounds of Lake (Da'aw) Tahoe, ahgah'ah (the edge of) after being separated from that connection we had for hundreds of years. Research shows this historic moment of our elders' return in time was, and is, still ignored by "front leaders" (my father's term) - those who would endorse the elders and their valuable input into tribal support, as well as their willingness to be included as Washo themselves. Just because the structure our elders evolved from is like the original form of traditional Washo governance where any inclusion is by the freedom of choice, honor and its integrity, and each and every aspect and entity involved was considered in any decision, making our land, animal, air, water and spirit and making the outcome equal for us all.

In 1934, the Indian Reorganization Act said to the tribes: "use this document or be left out, unrecognized." For those years we were under considerable duress. When we were given this opportunity under a form of government that we could get better control of our own circumstances, with what knowledge we had of the whites (dahboh'oh), knowing his character, we (Indian nations) thought (and I know this for sure) that our trusted and perfected (traditional leaders) knew we would be able to work with this opportunity, just as long as Washeshu survived.

What else could you or anyone do if one was left with such limited and restrictive choices? Had our elders known back then that they had the ability to structure themselves to be completely independent I believe it could have happened. For example, my family personally has been literally lied to, stolen from, and promises broken by everyone under the sun (Goi') and to this day seen nothing but greed and no conscience for the environment, our sacred estates being run over repeatedly, our graveyards used as shooting ranges or burials for animals "because Indians love animals equally." So it's real difficult to believe and trust anyone. We Washos declared, in 2007, our sacred homeland with a document titled "Declaration of Sacred Estates," (held in the land) filed in Douglas County, Nevada and in Placer County, California, and filed it with the President of the United States, Department of Interior, B.I.A. (Bureau of Indian Affairs) and also with the United Nations. And still, the ones who should at least be helping are being unsupportive, uncooperative, and to us, the helpers of the elders, very disrespectful. As we've witnessed, AG Industries has documented 2 years of unmanageable operations, and among the unsupportive and uncoopratives, visually camcorded a dysfunctional system first-hand. Our purpose at AG Industries & Associates is to provide you with a clear view of objectives, where they are positioned, ad how to advance toward ultimate goals. Our lives, businesses (in harmony with nature) whenever possible, can be brought to a place where we all can learn to accept what we cannot change and determine where we can make a meaningful difference in establishing an order of balance.

The Traditional Washo Elders Congress had 11 gatherings (councils) at both the Sierra Nevada College at North Shore, and at Western Nevada College in North Carson. The T.W.E.C. meetings (usually potluck) will be at the Sierra Nevada College. Meetings are open to all members-at-large. Non-members, speakers and presenters may contact Art George or Allen Garcia for information. The helpers of the elders are very sensitive to stressful, confrontational situations that may be harmful to our elders and we ask that this highly-esteemed group be given a certain level of respect. It's important that the elder be completely informed on all issues and that the elder not be ignored. This will help to strengthen pre-elder (apprentice)/elder (teacher) relationships.

This letter is submitted so that my people, friends, family, strangers, and all who may be interested or supportive to our survival may be aware of our concerns.

Our Washo traditions, beliefs, decisions, practices and customs derive from ancestral information handed down from time immemorial. All that is said and disclosed to the public is for personal growth, family organizing, and is privileged knowledge direct from my ancestors and my Washo People. Thus, our responsibility is to the extended Washos who are not here to defend their positions. Following is an example of what AG Industries and Associates has to offer.

For thousands of generations the Washo have survived. Every Washo family had their place, their ways and their differences. When a situation threatened any Washo within the Washo aboriginal family's homeland, differences were set aside so as to resolve and seek remedy to those problems that might infect or affect other parts of our homeland structure. Part of AG Industries is to help insure that the united resources of all toward peace and prosperity throughout Washeshu homelands perpetuates.

Art George is a partner in AG Industries & Associates of Gardnerville.