Resisting The Racist Anti-Tribal Campaign

A Public Statement by the Northwest Leonard Peltier Support Network. Please Distribute Widely.

The Northwest Leonard Peltier Support Network (NWLPSN) was established five years ago at the request of Leonard Peltier and the national Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. The NWLPSN is made up of support groups and members at large throughout the Northwest, and though the main focus of the NWLPSN is justice for Leonard Peltier, it is also our desire to be helpful to the local communities within our region.

It has become evident that there is an ongoing anti-tribal campaign being conducted by extreme right wing elements, in many cases using individuals and groups who remain unaware of the hidden agenda. Because of the broad purpose and goals of the NWLPSN, we feel that it is our duty to help build a network of resistance to the elimination of tribal sovereignty.

Leonard Peltier himself sets the direction of his vast support network, and has often urged his supporters to assist both Native and non-Native peoples. He has given the following statement about Sen. Slade Gorton's bill to do away with tribal sovereign immunity (which Gorton has misleadingly titled the "American Indian Equal Justice Act"):

This is the beginning of a step toward genocide of my people. It is important that everyone be aware of the seriousness of it, and contact local senators and congress people to show their disagreement.

Since Sen. Gorton's bill is a major part of the anti-tribal campaign, it is the duty and responsibility of the NWLPSN to take Leonard's direction and help build resistance to the anti-tribal campaign and its' racist backers.

Out of our support and respect for tribal sovereignty, the NWLPSN will not be directly involved in internal tribal issues, unless our aid on a particular problem is requested. Rather, it is our intent to help build resistance to the interference and attacks upon tribal sovereignty and treaty rights by research, education, public rallies, direct confrontation, and networking with all communities, human rights, labor and social justice organizations.

The following important issues have led us to our decision to help build a resistance network:

1. The long conflict over fishing and shell-fishing treaty rights between property owners, sport and commercial fishers, and the state of Washington, vs. the tribes.

2. The conflict over treaty hunting rights.

3. The interference of non-Native groups and individuals in the right of the tribes to their self-determination in developing economic enterprises that benefit their people on sovereign tribal land.

4. The claims of some non-Native people that they are not obligated to follow the health, safety and environmental regulations of the tribes while they are on sovereign tribal land, and that the tribes have no jurisdiction over the conduct of any non-tribal people on sovereign tribal land.

5. The continuing efforts of politicians at the state and national level (Slade Gorton and Jack Metcalf being the most prominent in this state) to pass legislation to eliminate tribal sovereignty and Native treaty rights.

6. The efforts by the State of Washington to impose state taxes on sovereign tribal land.

7. The lack of objective and informative media coverage: the daily print media and the TV news have consistently portrayed the conflict(s) as being Native vs. non-Native, without showing that many -- possibly even a majority -- of non-Native people in this state are not anti-tribal. The media portrays non-Native property owners, hunters, and fishermen as victims of Native tribal treaty rights, while never pointing out all that non-Natives have gained because of the treaties.

The anti-tribal movement has become very vocal the last few years in Washington. Some of their public actions have been:

1. The picketing by whites of a tribal smokeshop in Tacoma, when nearby were several white-owned stores selling the same products.

2. The white opposition to the Muckelshoot amphitheater by more people than will ever be affected by it.

3. The elk hunters' rally in Olympia where the leader of the 500 white hunters stated that "if the state did not deal with the Indians, they would".

4. The congressional hearing held in Tukwila on Gorton's bill, where the "White Rights" crowd came out in force, yelling racist slurs at Native people, and threatening some with violence.

The anti-tribal movement is well organized and funded. The following elements are known to be a part of this campaign. We will begin with those who have the most to gain.

The `Wise Use' Movement

Major timber, energy, mining, development and fishing corporations that put their profits ahead of environmental concerns, and want to open up all public and tribal lands for exploitation helped created, direct, and fund what is called the "Wise Use" movement. Ron Arnold, vice-president at Alan Gottlieb's Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise (CDFE) in Bellevue, is one of the movement's originators. The term "Wise Use", as applied to land and resource use, came out of the Multiple Use Strategy Conference in Reno, Nevada in August 1988. The conference was sponsored by the CDFE. Among those in attendance were Exxon, Louisiana-Pacific, Boise Cascade and several right-wing extremist groups such as the American Freedom Coalition and the Citizens Equal Rights Alliance (CERA), a national alliance of anti-Indian groups. The Wise Use Agenda, a movement handbook that was published after the Reno conference, lists 25 goals including the immediate development of oil resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the opening of all national parks and wilderness areas to mining, and the systematic harvest of "decaying" (read "old growth") trees on national forest lands. The CDFE, as sponsor and backer of "Wise Use", advocates overturning or severely restricting the Endangered Species Act, wetlands preservation, the establishment or continuance of National Parks and forests, game and bird preserves, planned growth management, and in general any restriction on corporate activity, regardless of the cost to the environment and the public at large.

"Wise Use" can be considered as the anti-environmental arm of the larger extreme right-wing agenda (with overlap into the "property rights" arm of the movement -- see below), which encompasses the entire anti-democratic spectrum of issues: the fight to destroy affirmative action, limiting (non-white) immigration, union-busting, civil rights, and in general the campaign to destroy any protection that the government provides individuals and communities against corporate power and greed.

National Anti-Treaty Rights Organizations

While anti-treaty rights organizations operate in many states, they are linked both independently and through two national organizations -- the Interstate Congress for Equal Rights and Responsibilities (ICERR) and Protect Americans' Rights and Resources (PARR). ICERR, founded in 1976, linked on- reservation non-Native landowner opposition to tribal governments with off-reservation non-Native sport and commercial fishermen opposed to tribal treaty protected fishing rights. The organization has received funding from the Joseph Coors Foundation, an extreme right wing organization whose head is also a board member of the Heritage Foundation. PARR, a Wisconsin- based organization formed in 1987, has called for boycotts of Native-owned businesses, opposition to any legal or political decision that would recognize treaty rights, and was active during the Wisconsin and Minnesota spearfishing rights struggles, during which many Natives were subject to racial slurs, physical attacks, and injuries. An independent Wisconsin environmental organization characterized PARR's stance during the spearfishing fight as "blatantly racist". PARR has friends in the extreme right-wing coalition Alliance for America, which also supports abolishing tribal sovereignty and "Wise Use". PARR staff member Larry Peterson is also on the board of the Citizens Equal Rights Alliance (mentioned above under "Wise Use").

National 'Property Rights' Organizations

The cutting edge of the extremist right wing anti-government agenda at federal, state, and local levels. From the top levels of the Heritage Foundation, Alliance for America, etc., to state and local groups, the "Property Rights" agenda is to restrict or abolish all regulations and restrictions on private property ownership and use. The movement bills itself as the friend of the individual property owner, and has undertaken and funded numerous legal cases and political campaigns against government "interference"; however, not one of the hundreds of "Property Rights" advocacy and funding groups in the United States has ever, to my knowledge, represented individual property owners against corporate interests.

United Property Owners of Washington (UPOW)

Where the "Wise Use", "Property Rights" and organized anti-Native movements converge most strongly in Washington State. UPOW, formed in 1989, was formerly known as the Steelhead and Salmon Protective Association and Wildlife Network (S/SPAWN), which the Environmental Working Group called "an anti-Indian organization disguised as a fishermen's group". UPOW is a coalition of groups and individuals, some of whom have been actively involved in organized anti-Native and anti-tribal activities for years. The group headed the legal and political fight against tribal shell-fishing rights, along with their co-counsel, the Defenders of Property Rights (DoPR). DoPR is a extremist right wing "property rights" advocacy and funding group whose board members include James Watt, Ed Meese, Robert Bork, Sen. Orrin Hatch, and Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho, and is associated with the Heritage Foundation, the Alliance for America, and other right-wing organizations.

The 'Elk Hunters'

This group first made a public appearance when approximately 500 of them held a rally at the steps of the state Capital in Olympia. On that occasion they held signs calling for the elimination of all treaties with the tribes, "White Men Have Rights Too" and other prefabricated slogans. The leader of the group, Mark Smith (who calls himself "a modern day Indian fighter") issued the threat "if the state does not deal with the Indians, we will!" Two weeks later, this group showed up -- along with UPOW protesters -- at the congressional hearing in Tukwila, where they placed their people on the roads leading to the hearing site and at the entrance to the hearing. Many Native people who had to pass them were met with racist slurs and other insults. Inside the hearings an angry crowd responded to the sound of a Native drum outside by jumping to their feet to sing the Star Spangled Banner, and moments later stood again to shout the Pledge of Allegiance despite the lack of a flag being present to pledge allegiance to. When the Senate Committee entered the room, Sen. Campbell admonished the crowd and told them that any further disturbances would lead to their removal. Outside, members of the NWLPSN maintained a vigil in support of tribal sovereignty, where we were greatly outnumbered, and at times surrounded by the racists. The situation became tense several times: once when they argued with a Lakota activist, another time when some of them verbally abused a Native Elder and NWLPSN member, and later when they tried to block all view of our vigil by walking a picket line in front of us. At one point Mark Smith yelled into his bullhorn "do you know who is the chairman of this hearing? He is an Indian, and we must stop that Indian". As the hearing broke up many Native people joined our vigil, including a number of school kids. A drum was set up and the racists tried to drown out the drumming by singing the national anthem. Once the Native people out numbered the racists they left. At another Rally outside Fish & Wildlife Commission hearings in Olympia, the crowd (again, 500 strong) chanted anti-Native slogans and carried signs reading "State: Stop The Tribes Or We Will" and "New Treaty Or Nothing."

Right Wing So-called Christian Movements

It is nothing new that far right wing racists use Christianity as a cover for their agenda. In the anti-tribal campaign using Christianity is rather easy given the historical role that many Christian churches had in the eurocentric conquest. Even today that role continues. The Christian-Patriot Movement seems to be the most active in the anti-tribal campaign. They basically believe in the rights of conquest of the White Christian Nation. They are active in the "Wise Use" movement, and actively helped organize far right wing rural militias. When one of these militias in this state was organized (with the help of the Montana Militia) they stated their anti-tribal beliefs. Next, the Christian Identity Movement, this is the most extreme of the right wing groups. Among their white supremacist ideas, is the idea of the creation of an Aryan Nation, of white people only, here in the northwest. Needless to say such an Aryan Nation would mean the forced removal of the people of the Native Nations. The Christian Identity Movement has been actively recruiting in the South Puget Sound area. Then there is the Christian Coalition. This organization, which is very strong in Washington, openly sides with the "white property owners" and is very active in the overall right wing agenda. Randy Tate, who is now the head of these groups, was part of the right wing campaign to control congress a few years back. He was an ally of Jack Metcalf and Slade Gorton. In his congressional campaigns he openly sided with the "white property owners".

The anti-democratic, extremist, racist right wing is like a spider web with many connections between groups. The various front groups are joined by shared memberships and ideology. All the organizations and movements listed above, along with many others, share the common goal of the elimination of tribal sovereignty and treaty rights.

What Can Be Done

The NWLPSN is committed to help build a resistance to the racist anti-tribal campaign. We are seeking support, mutual cooperation, and ideas from organizations and individuals with an interest in tribal sovereignty, human rights, the environment, labor, anti-racist issues, or any other area. Some of our immediate concerns are:

1. Slade Gorton's bill that seeks to do away with tribal immunity. It is a direct attempt to wipe out the tribes, and if it passes it will open the tribes up to an orchestrated campaign of lawsuits that will drain the tribes' financial resources. Sen. Gordon stated to the press after the Tukwila hearing that his goal is the elimination of tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. This bill is a major step in that direction. Please write letters opposing the "American Indian Equal Justice Act" to:

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Chairman, Select Committee on Indian Affairs, 380 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC. Fax: 202-224-1933; E-Mail: administrator@campbell.senate.gov

And to Sen. Slade Gorton, 730 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510. Fax: 202-224-9393; E-Mail: Senator_Gorton@gorton.senate.gov

And Sen. Patty Murray, 111 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510. Fax: 202-224-0238; E-Mail: senator_murray@murray.senate.gov

Those who live in other states please write letters to the senators of your state. Those who live outside of the U.S. please write letters to the U.S. Embassy in your country.

2. The NWLPSN has begun a mobilization network called "THE ANTI-RACIST EMERGENCY ACTION NETWORK" (AREAN). The purpose of AREAN is to respond quickly to the public actions of the racist anti-tribal campaign, for example the situations in Tukwila and Olympia. (We would also like it clearly understood that the NWLPSN is only responsible for the mechanics of the network: we have always, and will continue to, invite all individuals and organizations to participate in AREAN on a purely democratic decision-making basis.) Write NWLPSN to sign-up for AREAN.

3. Come out and help spread the word about the May 9th, SUPPORT TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY / "WASHINGTON GATHERING TO FIGHT RACISM" in Olympia, WA. This is just the first public demonstration in our mobilization of resistance to the anti-tribal campaign.

4. To be placed on our mailing list and/or to give a much needed donation please contact: NWLPSN, 5201 Capital Blvd, Ste 119, Olympia, WA 98501. For more information: NWLPSN, P.O. Box 5464, Tacoma, WA 98415-0464, e-mail, arthurmiller50@juno.com. Or visit our web page at: http://members.aol.com/TurquoisWm/index.html

The NWLPSN is committed to doing all that it can to resist the racist anti-tribal campaign. We know that there are people of all communities who do not agree with the goals of the right wing extremists and their agenda. We also understand that the racists seek to isolate our communities in their individual attacks, and that when they are successful in any one of their agenda issues all communities lose. Thus we call for a united stand against racism and the right wing agenda by all communities and social justice organizations. "An Injury to one is an injury to all!"

In Solidarity,

Arthur J. Miller and Al Regan
NWLPSN

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[posted April 25, 1998]