Morning Glory Foundation
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S NEWS
509 a.c. (after columbus)
CLINTON FAILS; FREES DRUG ADDICTS AND THIEVES INSTEAD OF INNOCENT PELTIER
Indigenous people were shocked to hear that Leonard Peltier - unjustly
imprisoned for 25 years, was not on president Clinton's pardon list. "I gave
Clinton the benefit of the doubt on Peltier's case but it appears that
there's no difference between democrats and republicans when it comes to the
FBI," said Reva Barta, the National Secretary of the American Indian Movement
(A.I.M.). "Now, I'd like to see A.I.M. take the 'american' out of their name
and I will vigorously strive to abolish the misnomer 'native american' as
acceptable terminology or 'labeling'".
Also, Peltier should not have been tried as a 'u.s. citizen', which is part
of the reason for his imprisonment, claims Barta. "He's Indian," she said.
Peltier, when released, will need to sit down with the Sioux City A.I.M.
group to really find out the situation of Indian affairs in the midwest and
across the nation.
"Most people don't have a clue what traditional General Council - female
inclusive - governing of Indigenous nations is all about. And they don't
know what a document like the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie is all about
either."
Reva became active in Indian rights struggles in 1969 after meeting and
working with Theodore "Theo" Means, mother of AIM leader, Russell Means, at
the Sioux City Indian Center. Reva's husband, George Barta, coordinated
support efforts to supply AIM with food, clothing, weapons and ammunition
during the siege at Wounded Knee in 1973. It was during these times that
Reva met Leonard Peltier.
"Leonard was very dedicated, honest and sincere, a common person, totally for
the Indian people - not himself, that's for sure. He was one of the best
guys I knew in AIM."
Peltier was convicted on murder charges for the deaths of two FBI agents who
had - under orders from superiors - stormed "guns ablaze" onto an elderly
Lakota couple's property on the Oglala Sioux Pine Ridge Indian Reservation,
which had been closely monitored via FBI satellite and heavy ground
surveillance for two months. Of course, the agents drew fire from the armed
family and AIM members who had camped there during the summer of 1975
protecting the elders from the corrupt tribal government, resulting in the
deaths of the agents - as well as the murder by gov't agents of a young
Indian man, Joseph Stuntz. Reva and Leonard both say "not one government
agent has spent a single day in jail for Joe's murder."
"Noble Red Man" author to join Morning Glory Foundation
Harvey Arden, former Senior Writer for National Geographic Magazine and
Author of "Noble Red Man", the new "Prison Writings" Leonard Peltier book,
and "Wisdomkeepers", announced recently that he will accept an appointment to
a seat on the Morning Glory Foundation's Board of Directors beginning
February 1, 2001. Mr. Arden, speaking from his Washington, DC office,
accepted the position after a conversation with Reva Barta, MGF Board Member.
"We are honored to have Harvey Arden, such a well respected and known author
- an expert writer, continue to serve the Indigenous Community of Great
Turtle Island through his membership on the Morning Glory Board." said Scott
Barta, international spokesperson for Morning Glory Foundation.
Mr. Arden traveled the country for years to document and record the wisdom of
the Indigenous elders of the many great Indigenous Nations of Great Turtle
Island, including famous Oglala Chief, "Noble Red Man", a.k.a. Mathew King.
He is familiar with the 1851 TREATY OF FOR LARAMIE and the female inclusive
"General Council" still practiced only by the Yankton DaNakota and Crow
Nations.
CHIEF'S GRAND SON MAY VISIT BRITAIN
"Inyan", a.k.a. Inyan Eagle Elk, twelve year old Great Great Grand Son of
Ho Cank Chief "Morning Glory Woman", may be traveling to England in May. He
may also perform on the conga and bongo drums at a concert with his cousins,
the famous blues/rock band "Indigenous", who will be performing at the annual
Bishopstock Blues Festival in Exeter, Britain on May 26, 2001.
"I like to travel" said 12 year old Inyan, whose name means "rock" in the
Nakota language. Inyan is a percussionist from Nakota Hills (Sioux City,
IA). He mastered the conga drums in just a year and a half at the age of 10.
His Grandmother, Reva DeCora Barta - the National Secretary of the American
Indian Movement (A.I.M.) - bought him his first set of drums. Inyan's cousin,
Horse, of the band "Indigenous" remains Inyan's percussion master mentor.
With "Indigenous", Inyan has performed throughout the Midwest with musical
greats such as "Double Trouble" and the "Chris Duarte Group".
Inyan is also a world champion Jr. Boys Traditional Indigenous "Indian"
Dancer, and remains the reigning champion three consecutive years at the
Winnebago (Nebraska) Homecoming Celebration Pow-Wow held the last weekend of
July each year in Winnebago, Nebraska, USA.
It is anticipated that once "Indigenous" performs in Europe, their popularity
will explode, similar to how the "Beatles" rose to superstardom in the u.s.
during the 1960's.
For more information on Inyan contact, Scott Barta
For information on "Indigenous", contact Indigenous Rocks
Morning Glory Foundation
The Morning Glory Foundation may open a new office in Nakota Hills (Sioux
City, IA) this spring. The location would feature an Indigenous Indian
store, selling Indigenous made products, a pottery gallery featuring local
artists, and an information/communications center which would coordinate
publishing of Indigenous newsletters, radio programming and television/video
services.
Board of Directors members include North Dakota historian Bruce Dralle,
A.I.M. National Secretary Reva Barta, and Nakota Nation Ambassador and
International Spokesperson, Scott Barta.
The Morning Glory Foundation assists Indigenous peoples with employment and
trade opportunities and training, as well as provide educational awareness
with regard to the 1851 Treaty of Long Meadows and the U.S. Constitution,
specifically Articles I & VI.
If you are interested in supporting the efforts of Morning Glory Foundation,
contact Scott Barta
"INDIGENOUS" BLUES-ROCK BAND READY
TO PLAY SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
The producers of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" comedy show could announce a
2001 guest musical appearance by the popular blues rock band "Indigenous", a
family group of musicians from Nakota Nation Homelands, Marty, "SD"
(southeastern "South Dakota-Occupied Territories").
Indigenous has appeared with such greats as BB King, Dave Mathews Band,
Bonnie Raitt, and a brief performance by lead guitarist Mato Nanji with
Carlos Santana in October of 2000. They appeared also on the "Conan O'Brien
Show" in September of 1999. Their latest CD entitled "Circle", was produced
by Doyle Bramhall, a musician and songwriter/collaborator with the late
Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble.
Indigenous' popularity has risen during the past two years since their CD
release "Things we do" with the Pachyderm record label of Minnesota.
Their latest single from the Circle CD climbed high on the charts and their
next release is expected to also do well.
The lead guitarist, Mato Nanji -often compared to Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray
Vaughn, would be honored to have the opportunity to share Indigenous music at
such a great venue, his entire family having been great fans of SNL since
childhood.
Indigenous consists of two brothers, their sister on drums, and their "first
cousin", Horse, on percussion.
As well as being a spiritual advisor and Chief Spokesperson for the Nakota
Nation, their father, Greg Zephier, was a musical genius and taught the kids
how to play each instrument. In the late 60's, Greg taught his three
brothers to play all the instruments of a band, touring briefly as the
"Vanishing Americans".
"Upon this Earth that we walk on, no one can sell it." Tasunke Witko ("Crazy
Horse")
Clinton leaves "sour" legacy for "Indians"
Fortunately for Indigenous Nations, former u.s. president Clinton failed in
his attempts to inflict an across the board 40% tax on all Indian casino
profits. Ironically to many, it was republicans McCain and Dole who removed
the illegal tax attempt from the bill.
Scott Barta, a Ho Cank/DaNakota from Nakota Hills had secured the help of the
law offices of Johnny Cochran to fight the bill had it passed. Barta had
planned to sue Clinton for violation of the '1988 Genocide Act'. Had the
president been found guilty of the genocide charges, he could have faced
fines up to a million dollars and life in prison. Barta, understands,
however, that the u.s. court systems-favoring corporate, government
interests- would unlikely find any president guilty despite overwhelming
evidence.
"Many 'Indians' attempt to be 'american' - usually 'democrat' - and try
'voting', etc., thus throwing away their own Indigenous citizenship," says
Barta.
"It's like trying to make an Eagle into a chicken," said 12 year old "Inyan"
of Nakota Hills, Barta's son.
Barta works toward the educational awareness of "Oyate Omniciye" (General
Council) practices and international legal rights issues pertaining to the
1851 Treaty.
For more information, contact Barta and Inyan at Scott Barta
IKCE WICASA - "Common Red Man"
The men of the Nakota Nation try to be "Ikce Wicasa" as their life progresses
towards old age and, hopefully, towards wisdom. Ikce Wicasa are humble and
respectful. Ikce Wicasa appreciates Grand Mother Earth and Grand Father Sky
and "All That Is". There is no word for "warrior" in the Nakota language,
simply because the Nakota did not "war" with themselves or others. Within
Indigenous Nations, women and men share balanced roles to insure peace and
happiness.
"Western Nebraska" site of 1851 Treaty signing
After three weeks of 'Nakota-English' language interpretations during the
first three weeks of September 1851, over 50 thousand Indigenous peoples,
representing seven Red Nations and authorized members of the United States
government, signed the historic 'Oyate Omniciye mandated' 1851 TREATY. The
Treaty is most significant, representing democracy in its purest sense. The
female-inclusive Oyate Omniciye 'General Council' was practiced for millions
of years by the Nakota Nation to govern their local, national and
international affairs.
Only the Ihanktunwan DaNakota ("Yankton") and the Crow Nation continue to
preserve 'General Council', which is simply an open gathering of all adult
nation citizens who decide and take action upon the issue at hand through
consensus.
"Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our
children." Tatanka Iyotake ("Sitting Bull")
Contents
Revised August 10, 2002
Please Note: This information and News from the Morning Glory Foundation, was republished here from My Two Beads Worth's Archives out of respect for Reva Barta and her family. It shows what a unique and strong woman she was and how she raised her own children and grandchildren to be strong, independent and persistent in the fight for the rights and justice of the people.
She was and she shall remain, an outstanding and honorable role model for all Indian women of Turtle Island.
August 2007 Reports
Last updated on August 11, 2007