“Oregon” Department Fish And Wildlife. Killed 2 wolf pups from a helicopter and issue kill orders for more. The wolves were from a pack called “lookout pack” by colonists. The rancher has the permit until August 21. This is a few years after scientists walked out of ODFW meeting in protest. Now even the colonists are calling to abolish wildlife services calling them unfit and able to site countless reference as to why. U.S.F.W.S kills up to 35,000 wild animals a year and with tax payer money for what thats worth. This is a good time to remind ODFW and the world our intentions to seize control over wildlife on our own continent. This is just another step in getting control over our own destinies on our own land. By our land we means the entire continent of turtle island including pacific islands such as Hawaii back in the control of the #rightfulstewards.
We do not seek to destroy property as some groups do. We view Fish And Wildlife, B.L.M, Department Of Natural resources to be in fact our and its up to us as the rightful stewards to see fit how to use them in a benevolent way under indigenous rule. We must also report that these agencies fear that kind of political analysis far more than they fear vandalism believe that. At Illahee Spirit Runners we understand how to wield the truth as a weapon. Sometimes its all we have and often its all we need. The lightning coming out of the mouth of the wolf is a symbol of truth that belongs to Illahee Spirit Runners. We also want to be clear that we are against neo colonialism and will not fall for the empire serving antics of Deb Haaland or other petty bourgeoisie sellouts to confuse the issue. We are not fooled here. We are insulted at the repeated attempts to fool our people with neo colonialsim. We mean as stated in our group rule number one the full restoration of pre colonial indigenous governance. If the killing of these wolves angers you and makes you furious then you are friends of ours. I want you to take action with your anger this time though. We want to encourage you to join Illahee Spirit Runners indigenous resistance. We are recruiting coast to coast across the entire Turtle Island. Do not waste your anger. It is precious and sacred. Channel it towards total resistance.
Indigenous led. All races welcome. Contact Mko Vieux
No neo colonialism: We do not seek to be mayor or president but by self-determination, install and build a fledgling pan indigenous government. More info: So much of our cultures are invisible to non-natives and they may not know we still have governance and organizations still in place today that predate the arrival of Europeans. If we had cities like Cahokia, then we surely had governments. Politics separate from Europeans Some of those groups may include but not limited to Iroquois Confederacy, Three Council Fires. Smaller representations may include tobacco societies. In fact, it was “America” and Russia that stole pieces of Turtle Island political systems then altered them and passed them off as their own. Furthermore, the restoration aspect of this also includes restoring our indigenous spirituality from the damage caused by missionaries, doctrine of discovery, residential schools that nearly destroyed our nations and remain a daily barrier to decolonization and the ability for indigenous peoples to get control over our own destinies on our own land. Neo colonialism is plaguing Turtle Island sellouts we got natives running for president of the empire and a native in the department of the interior. This undermines indigenous governance. We view colonial government and government agencies as illegitimate. Neocolonialism is the empire creating a sub class of petty bourgeoisie that look like colonized people but serve the empire by allowing them to exploit from a distance. We are not fooled by identity politics, and we intend to seize power for ourselves. Let’s build power and an apparatus for decolonization. Let’s get things done while these neo-colonial sellouts with the blood of their own people on their hands try to run for office.
No tone policing/ peace policing: You can be as angry as you want to be as long as you don’t incriminate yourself or others in the group. Anger is an appropriate catalyst for change. People have been programmed to tone police. Indigenous people have been tone policed so long that we now tone police each other normalize it and try to pass it off as traditional. This is incorrect when I speculate about the source of this, I think it must be the residential schools. The nuns don’t have to smack our hands with a ruler anymore because we do it to each other. Quelling righteous anger does the work of the oppressor for them, it merely enforces the status quo. Tone policing is liberalism. Angry slaves and so hostile natives were first to be punished. I.S.R is a place for constructive anger. Be angry, be safe. Let’s get things done while other people are tone policing the crap out of each other into impotence.
No anti Africa: We seek to unite with African and other oppressed groups and will work with anyone who agrees with indigenous rule. We recognize that anti African sentiments within the indigenous community are rampant. We find it a barrier to unity. The oppressor benefits from frictions between our two groups. We seek afro indigenous membership. We believe in indigenous rule and will work with anyone who believes in indigenous rule regardless of race. We are convinced that indigenous rule will unite the races on Turtle Island. We want to get things done while other people fight each other.
No colorism: There’s a lot more to being native than blood quantum. Colorism is another barrier to unity in the movement. It stinks of the colonial practice of disenrollment. This becomes exasperated when settlers are trying to decide who is native and who is not. At Illahee Spirit Runners we will have none of this. We will accept low blood quantum natives, mixed race natives. Sometimes there are full bloods who can’t speak the language or can’t play any songs etc. then you find someone who is 1 1/16 who knows both. So, we do not engage in colorism. We learned from historical materialism that we need light skinned members to win. We have been made aware that African militants have been denied membership to African militant spaces for having European mothers. We see colorism as a barrier to unity. We are concerned with developing a winning politic. Colorism serves white supremacy and colonialism We get things done while others fight over blood quantum.
No gender sparring: We understand that there are up to seven genders and all of them are sacred. We seek the balance and unity of all seven genders. We became aware from Lakota star knowledge that there are up to 7 genders and all of them are sacred. We seek to keep gender balanced and seek the participation of all 7 genders. Threats to the planet and our races and nations are paramount. Gender sparring is seen as unproductive use of time while we still haven’t won the revolution. Gender sparring is discouraged and can eventually after several warnings result in being asked to leave the organization. We refuse to let the overall movement spend this next decade fighting over the bathroom. Climate catastrophe deem that we are out of time. At Illahee Spirit Runners we get things done while others are fighting over gender. We understand we need all genders to win.
No astroturf: We understand that many groups including indigenous ones are now funded by corporations such as ExxonMobil and the Koch bros or even the two-party system. We seek to remain true grassroots independent of corporatocracy and the non-profit industrial complex. This is one of the great deceptions in the movement. Controlled opposition. Corporations so big they can create fake grassroots organizations. Many times, these organizations have better advertising and also are skilled at fundraising and will remove all resources from a community on a topic before benevolent actual grassroots organizations can respond. Some of these are even indigenous orgs. and N.G.Os. world bankers, and corporations. Are the same ones starting water wars around the planet funding your favorite N.G.O? Were they involved in eugenics? And for whom do they want to protect the environment for? At Illahee Spirit Runners we will have none of this. We will remain grassroots and hustle art, and tacos if we have to before we will ever sell out. We get things done while other people are selling out}
No Militarism: We understand that the u.s military is the largest polluter on the planet, and one cannot claim allegiance to the earth and support the military. We seek to venerate land defenders not veterans of oil wars and empire. Now they are trying to make new mines for lithium, and they are using up all the biofuel in Brazil on their aircraft carriers. They have to diversify fuel sources because they use so much it would deplete entire fuel sources. Clearly this is a contradiction to anyone trying to defend the land. Furthermore, there is not currently a draft. There is a restoration element to this because many of our ancestors including my many of own have been forced into fighting wars for the oppressor. It has caused us unmeasurable trauma that has rippled through our generations. We’re not talking about it were showing you how. Heal this generational trauma and correct this pattern by no longer venerating veterans of wars of oil and empire. Venerate land defenders now. Tell the youth to emulate the land defenders. Furthermore, we must acknowledge and bolster the ancient warrior societies that are older than the so-called united states. The ones venerated at the pow wow each year are too busy waving the flag of the oppressor trying to get a leg up with them that they can’t even defend our missing and murdered indigenous. Venerating military vets undermines our warrior prowess and keeps us in a place of disrespect as a people. We will have none of that either and we always seek to venerate pre-colonial and contemporary warrior societies and land defenders. We want to get things done while someone else salutes the flag of the oppressor.)
Water protection camp Saturday 11 a.m. That is the plan. Was thinking..my little backyard, humble and true. My corner of the universe. The climate change really kicking our asses. Soy beans and corn leaves curling to retain moisture. Farmers, local station, anxious about their crops. ( KOWS , 100.9) The winter snow was sparse . Yellow grasses in January and February. Most snowless winter I have ever seen. Now, more brown and yellow grass. Barely any rain. Cannon river appears to be drying up. Drought exacerbated by Climate change Still, the cardinals and wrens fly around, happy when I turn on the sprinkler. They swoop and in, fly away, and circle back again The fire flies come out just after dark Baby waboos in my garden.
Squirrels red and grey Crows. Noisy noisy crows Some bigger than my cat. 5 a. Saturday 6/ 26 So much birdsong. Will these pipelines be the death knell to all life? I have read that were in the 6th extinction. We lose 200 species a day. Climate change,is just one aspect of environmental degradation. ( What every Environmentalist needs to know about Capitalism) . ( Fred Maghoff / John Bellamy). Capitalist systems are the problem. Pipelines emit the pollution of 50 coal fired plants? The people that allow this to transpire are grotesque and wicked. This beautiful land will be barren. My goal, to be in the shower at 6 a.m. Not feelin this. Hopefully the day improves. Squished raccoons on the side of the road Big ass boats everywhere Big cars RV’s EV / Al fuel corridors. Don’t get green washed, ya’all. All I really want to do is clutch my children to my chest. They are to old for that bs. We are at a pivotal moment in history. And, I dont have a generator.. I need to save rain.
The corporate is state here to gobble my kids and grand kids up. The so called war on drugs was intentional. That is code for war on the poor. But, my kids are young Americans. Proud of their wage labor efforts. Loving what little material comfort they have. What choice do they have? 60’s scoop Boarding schools. Pregnant nuns. Drunk priests. My grandmother told my auntie. The English, it is said, had a grim life to escape. So it is that they did escape and became some of those who settled here on Turtle Island. Lice. Fleas. Rodents. Bear Baiting was mere entertainment. Chain the bear up. Set dogs on him/ her. That is how the English lived. The black river of loss, beckoning Jump in . I have a big knot of pain in the middle of my chest. I get exhausted thinking about it The evil blasphemous bastards that would rape us and kill a river.
Subjects to research
1855 treaty territory State land Private land Unceded Prayer lodge in the path of Enbridge. Where the drill site is, There was a STOP WORK order. They went ahead and started anyway. The DNR approved the watering permits. In the middle of a drought. Its extreme extraction. The corporate state is coming for everyone and all beings. Many beautiful homes in these small communities. There signs read ” Go line 3″.
Whats happening to the Mississippi, is comparable to rape. The technology is called ..its grotesque. Horizontal Directional Drilling. One city council meeting in Duluth, 2018. A raucous bunch said ” NO MEANS NO” One council member shut them down and put them out for being so rowdy.
The ” welcome water protectors” welcome center, Palisade, Mn. After a short introduction, I was instructed to park my vehicle down the road about a quarter mile. Nice jaunt. Resistance to Enbridge in Palisade Minnesota, is prayerful if not subdued. Allies to Native or indigenous communities support the prayer lodge. I missed all of the stuff that got people arrested. One fellow was lumped up by the cops . They had to send for an ambulance ” A small robust community” is what I see The sign reads ” We are here for the future” Mainly young people. Maybe 5 people close to my age. I am 61. Skate boards. Young, being people under 40. lol Keep that beautiful diversity. A small house in the center. A cook tent. Dish washing right outside. NO
PLASTIC WASTE OF ANY KIND. I had a traditional dinner on real china. 3 sisters soup. Wild rice pattie. Some kind of a pudding made of raspberries and blueberries. Yummy. Gardens. Someones growing rasberries! Nice, friendly people. As always, mellow dogs hanging out. One person appeared disgruntled, refused to look at me or say Hello. Eye roll. Just one out of about 48 people.
A walk to the Mississippi afterwards Through the wooded area at dusk. Numerous hand painted signs. Many signs in Ojibwe. ” Dragonfly” “Turtle” ” Waawaskeshi” is deer. Different notes of bird song. A tent community of about 40. Quiet. Private land. Would be impossible to make accusations of rabble rousing, drinking and heavy metal here. The most important thing is to pray for the river. Mucky. Water down about 10 feet. Drought in Minnesota. Rope swing. The river is to shallow now. Docks. Small boat. Insects skimming the water as if on jet skis. Beetles. I dipped my hands in and watched the ripple. The river is a living entity. She is weak but hanging on. There is a concert going on there today. The Indigo Girls. I want to go back. Well prepared.Need a cot and a visit to the chiropractor.
Unlike other resistance camps,there’s no coffee available 24/ 7.No disposable coffee cup waste. Except for the security personnel. They can have coffee and chocolate. They stay up all night, like shifts, and guard the camp. No tresspassing sign easment near the powerlines. Large swath of tree relatives removed. Bulldozer in the background and police cars on the side of the road. Several cops standing around babysitting Enbridge
Sinkholes are created by groundwater depletion. It has been brought to my attention about sinkholes in other places such as Florida (Creek/Seminole) territory also having sinkholes from groundwater depletion and from drinking water being salinated in other areas like San Francisco from groundwater depletion. Often agriculture is the cause and we have been learning that agriculture is one of the causes of slavery and patriarchy. Huge irrigators are sucking up all the aquifers. It is inevitable that more sinkholes will appear possibly near Line 3. Chemicals from modern agriculture are also making the water unsafe to drink. The water is cloudy, it smells.
Written by leadership of newly formed Illahee Spirit Runners East.
April 11 2021. Regional indigenous resistance set out to demonstrate a different tactic for protecting Siletz river from biosolids. Going to the source, the wastewater treatment plant itself. A narrow road in a forested area leads up to the site off of Hwy 101. The state is trying to figure out through “science” how much they can abuse the river without collapsing all biodiversity. Its the epitome of the colonial mindset. Biosolids are not only sewage but also has industrial and medical waste in it as well. This is being put into the Siletz river one of the west coast last great salmon rivers. Its being dumped now by two cities. Newport and Lincoln city. This is happening because farmers are being sold this product as a cheap fertalizer and its being done by the E.P.A a government entity that people are mislead to believe is acting to protect the environment as the name implies. Invisible Warrior show you the invisible. We are hoping that the current political climate around this is such that after 7 years of destruction of the river the people are finally willing to entertain an escalation of tactics besides the endless city hall meetings designed to wear people down until they capitulate. We are hoping that the people are ready to get angry about the river they love to take action. So we didn’t talk about it we went and did it. Now all that is to do is for the people to embrace it and then we repeat. We ask that the youth of Siletz, Grand Ronde rise up in defense of the sacred salmon. We dedicate this to Grandmother Agnes Baker Pilgrim who always told us to be the voice of the voiceless and defend the salmon. Agnes could not be persuaded to act out of muddled interests because she worked directly for the great mystery. She would say that the salmon cannot speak we will have to speak for them. the river is dying and actions speak louder than words. We seek not to convince you. We intend only to show you this resistance and that time is short. Four of us went to the site and did and seen the physical strength of the situaltion as given by the terrain and contoures of the land, proximity to the forest ect. That it could be a good time to demand the end to these acts of environmental degredation and environmental racism. Time to with all do respect to those who have put in work the last 7 years to escalate in tactics. To stop asking from a place of pleading in a building of white power and start doing and demanding from a place of #RedPower. I ask that the youth rise in determination and deny previous attempts by community and politics to quell their rightious angst over the death of Siletz River. Restoration granted by Ronald Reagan of the Republican party and lands being held in trust by the federal government has leveraged tribes to allow the decimation of their resources by outside resource exploitation projects. Much of indian country do not own their own means of production. Amerikka has become the wealthiest country in the world at the expense of indigenous resources period. It is time to remedy this. We are treated with great daily disrespect because we have allowed ourselves to be put on a handout system on our own land. We must struggle for greater self determination and take control over our own destinies. I implre the indigenous youth to question those who have asked them to remain out of the resistance. Question their motives. For those forests, those sacred foods, for the salmon. It is us who are now tasked with protecting west coast salmon before they become extinct like the so called atlantic salmon on the east coat. The demise of the pacific salmon will further lead to our demise. Rise up! Demand the removal of the dams. To see Celilo restored. To end the use of biosolids. To flex our tribal soverighnty to build composting toilets saving millions of gallons of water. Confront colonization. Be the remedy. Reverse the curse. Escalate tactics. The resistance is capable of shutting down Hwy 101 if it comes to that. Protect the Siletz river now!
Message from the indigenous resistance: March 5 2021. Today was warm. We started off the day going over good habits and undoing bad habits. We took care of camp chores, more shoveling of snow and dealing with mud. An elder explained what the people call this place but he was more of a bully than an elder. The history is that the cavalry attacked Paiute people that were here and spread their intestines out from sage brush to sage brush. It translates something like ” the rotten crescent” for the smell of the rotting intestines and the bowl shape of the valley. I learned from the Apache that these valleys and bowls are feminine places and that the mountains are masculine. Nearby mountains that are Male are providing for the places that their water flows down to. Lithium Americas already has water rights to a nearby mountain that the people also consider sacred. They will rob all the life that mountain has to give and put it into the lithium mine. I think a man here told me his family I is that mountain. It the mine is built the runoff will be toxic. But I think this place is feminine where the site of the mine will be if its built. Is your understanding of gender causing you to fight each other? Cause my indigenous understanding of gender leads me back to defending the land. We talked about indigenous foods and the yompa, coos, wild onions, lomatium. These places are a source of indigenous foods that are essential to the restoration of our nations. I learned about nearby gold mines and mercury mines, I learned about the mining law of 1872 that turns indigenous lands over to the U.S for the good of the invading nation. So we are coming together. Our presence my presence in particular has inspired a revival in the people here. I was told this by the people themselves. Come to find out an elder here is AIM and related to other AIMs. He revealed this to me today. Some of you should be here with me. We planned our ceremonies. Today we did friendship dance. We took turns singing our songs while playing the drum . We danced.
Message from the indigenous resistance. Send support to Thacker Pass. Now is the time. Construction could start as soon as April. We do not need fair weather activists. We do not need ally theatre. We need those disciplined. Those ready to learn. We need those strong ones with fortitude. We need you to be present. Do not wait for something to be popular. Make an unpopular decision to protect the plantmet. Disregard popular. Disregard the flock. It is they who go along with the destruction of earth. I would not want to ever be popular if that’s what it means. Think for yourself and make a choice to defend the land. Prepare. Send people immediately. Message from the indigenous resistance. March 6. Today I woke up and my tipi was blown over. The first part of the day we were getting pounded by 60 to 100 mile an hour winds. Someone vandalized our signs at the bottom of the hill. Spent time organizing. I listened to stories and told one myself. People are speaking their languages and telling their stories. I spent most of the day with a Sundance leader. After talking a few hours we set up the tipi one more. The people keep bringing me food. I am honored. I can’t eat all this food I must refuse at some point. I am grateful. I heard more about a mercury mine up here they left a 3 mile crater in the earth. Runoff from mercury can make your teeth fall out. Cancer. Word is spreading by word of mouth and we are getting people tricking in. I encourage people to come. Send pipe carriers. #RespectTheSacred Send warriors. #RedPower Send #RightfulStewards #ProtectThackerPass Message from the indigenous resistance: March 7th 2021. I have increased security in response to the destruction of our safety signs. Today was spent again organizing. More and more people from the community came to express their support for the effort to #ProtectThackerPass. They brought more fruit and water, we got a couple ndn tacos and the fry bread was very good. Fluffy and not greasy. People were learning or practicing putting up the tipi. Lots of laughter today. Indigenous people in numbers out on the land. It’s happening. #LandBack After that happened we seen B.L.M spying on us from a hillside on the other side of the rotten crescent. Clearly they don’t understand us even though I told them. Were returning to the land. A.I.M were still here. American Indian Religious Freedom Act. #RedPower > “green” energy. Eagles > lithium mines. #RespectTheSacred #RightfulStewards Ancient sparks rekindled. Lightning comes from the mouth putting nitrogen in the ground causing things to grow.
Message from the indigenous resistance: March 8 2021. Today the wind pounded us again. Wind whips the A.I.M flag around but we’re still here. More of the snow has melted and roads are drying out. I can see more of the exposed ground towards where they want to make the mine. I seen the golden eagle today. One came out and called at me. Eagle sees Invisible Warrior. I ate some wonderful cod fillets someone brought for me. I am grateful. Time spent here is a learning experience for everyone involved some even just learning what camping like this is really like. Others see or continue revival. Part of being here is to be present for the land, the indigenous people and wildlife. Today was quiet. I was watchful. Present. #RightfulStewards. Eagles > lithium mines. Requesting prayers. I am sensing the usual spiritual warfare around the issue and ask that you pray at home to stop the mine and for the protection of the land/water defenders involved. There are sinister forces putting their energy into the destruction of the earth and we must rally our spiritual defenses as well. We continue to struggle for control over our own destinies on our own land. #LandBack #RedPower I learned the Paiute word for wolf. #RespectTheSacred
Message from the indigenous resistance: March 9 2021. Today I seen a ladybug all the way up here. The season is changing. I spent most of the day visiting and doing some camp chores. The wind came to a complete stop for the first time I can recall in all my days up here however brief. The A.I.M flag relaxed. Were still here. I played flute today. Songbirds, 2 or 3 different kinds. Songbirds > dumptrucks. Today we pray for indigenous youth to get off drugs and alcohol and join the struggle. Thinking of the stories we heard about little people in caves and a red headed giant. #ProtectThackerPass. #RedPower > “green” energy. Eagles > lithium mines. Bedbear put cedar on the fire and prayed for an elder who passed away. #RespectTheSacred We are reviewing books and trying to use our time well. Building good habits constantly in this culture of resistance. A tribe from the north is considering sending a few people. Perhaps your tribe should send a few people. The coyotes are yipping and howling. A few days ago I sang the wolf song. #RespectTheSacred. Wondering if a wolf would sound back. A single coyote feeling sure of himself answered and played along. Wolves have been removed from the land here and we will have to be removed as well before they can build this mine. Send support. A small group of land defenders stand in between a Canadian mining companies green genocide and wild habitat.
Message from the indigenous resistance: March 10, 2021. Today there was snow on the ground but it didn’t stick. I seen an eagle dive and catch food. Eagles > lithium mines. #ProtectThackerPass. I spoke briefly with a local colonial rancher. He said “they been treating us like mushrooms . Keeping us in the dark and feeding us full us shit for so long”. A reminder that colonialism even hurts colonists. #RedPower > “green” energy. Kept the fire going. Physically and metaphorically. Potowatomi, keepers of the fire. A.I.M were still here. Briefly spoke with another indigenous spiritual leader. Still out here on the land. #LandBack. Played the trail song for all those on their way or thinking about traveling here. Put down tobbacco here and there as instructed by one of the elders. #RightfuStewards American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978. Habitat. #RespectTheSacred
Message from the indigenous resistance: March 11. Woke up to more snow. I shoveled snow and got a road clear. Sun come out and dry the rest. Wind chill feels like its 15 degrees outside all day long. I found jackrabbit tracks in the snow. Ravens flying around. The reflection of the sunset makes the mountains shine pink. The wind vibrates the vehicles making it sound like one of those drum n bass CDs that just goes on forever. Simple things matter like keeping your feet dry. Another day at #ProtectThackerPass AIM we’re still here. Share the Illahee Spirit Runners FB page and help cultivate #RedPower. Invite your friends by pushing the invite button under the community tab. Were hoping to get some media going soon. I’m hoping people see what I’m doing on days like this. There’s never any shortage of people talking shit and naysayers when one is a serious land defender. I think this is part of why the suicide rate is so high amongst indigenous youth is the bullying that goes on when we try to be about something and do better in life. I ask the youth to rise up and be land defenders too. They will really only bully you a decade or so then it will get better. Somewhere there are people talking while I am doing. Sometimes as a Spirit It was Chief Joseph of the Nimipu who said “I am tired of words that come to nothing”. I am grateful for those who can see me. Actions speak louder than words that’s why I’m standing in defense of this indigenous land against the largest lithium mine in so called North America. #RespectTheSacred #RightfulStewards
Update: I exposed a sundance leader who was a predator. They replaced him with a woman beater. I do not condone white supremacists opperating under the guise of environmentalism. I have since distanced myself from Paiute Twilight zone.
The energy of the full wolf moon took us thru a epic snow storm all the way to Thacker Pass in Goshute, Paiute, Western Shoshone territory. An intense energy coming off the moon daring me to take risks and focus. I came to stop the mine and am feeling that nothing changes unless we apply pressure. After arriving i realized this place is wolf habitat and that they are absent only by their removal from the landscape as they were hunted to extinction by 1953. I must emphasis that the lithium mine and other resource extraction projects are green genocide. Indian removal. The tribes are still being terrorized for their resources. This is an ongoing legacy. While at the camp i used each day as if i was in ceremony. Using specific songs for specific things. It was cold and my feet would freeze. I thought about my grandfather in the Korean war who suffered frostbite on his hands and feet. A golden eagle appeared out of the sky as if it had been summoned by my flute when i played a song. The wolf brothers Cody and Cloud played in the snow. The whole world was Cody’s popcicle. Stay dry, stay clean is the mantra. Food getting cold before you can eat it. Eating tuna out of packets to keep our caloric intake up. I made manoomin wild rice. I wanted to cook Potowatomi food.
Feb. 5 2021 Some hunters came up the hill but are gone now. The desert is a source of food. One can find pieces of obsidian on the ground and i am told that flintnaping happened near hear. Wind is blowing. Trying to stay warm. The stars are bright at night. I miss that about living in the desert. Honor goes to us for making it out here early. I will sing us an honor song. Its is a completely necessary thing to get on board with things before they are popular. To build and shape. To influence. Doing my part. Like John Trudell would say its ” natural energy properly used”. I have made a callout for land defenders to join me. Waiting for that to take shape in reality. Wild habitat. The desert is always looked upon as a wasteland. This is a colonial understanding. The desert is filled with life. Edison Chiloquins name is mentioned and the need to stand with the land and defend it with more than just our words. “I am tired of words that come to nothing”. Chief Joseph. Were all afraid its how we act on it. Be epic. Send warriors, send pipe carriers. Red Power and Indigenous Rule > Identity politics. Golden Eagles > lithium mines. Come to pray. Come to stay. Together this mine will never be built. A miles long crater in the ground is not green. Come to Goshute, Shoshone, Paiute Territory.
Feb. 6 2021. Today I seen 2 eagles flying. Flying with a powerful glide. Snow is melting. We are reading the book Viet Cong In Wounded Knee by Woody Kip a veteran of Wounded Knee 73 and we are almost finished. We are at the part where they take over the B.I.A building. A few new people in camp today. Mud is the obstacle today. Sage and cedar were used. In the book we are reading they spoke about knowing the power of the drum and being in a bond with the drum. I sand the American Indian Movement Song a song that continues to give purpose and inspire unity in resistance. I sang Sundance piercing song. Piercing song like sacrifice in defending the land and the pain of the natural world being destroyed by colonialism. Sundance song for continued strength and endurance. American Indian Religious Freedom Act. 50 years later. Another day on the front lines sitting in between life and the would be ecological crime scene. Golden Eagles > lithium mines. Wolf habitat. #RedPower > “green energy”. A.I.M Were Still Here!
Feb. 7. 2021 Campers are hiking and gathering around a fire. Some visit with Cody and Cloud the wolf brothers. I again sing the wolf song. I spoke to Blackfeet Holy Man on the phone. Blackfeet had the largest traditional home range in this side of Turtle Island even larger than the Paiute. I am Blackfeet on my father’s side. The Holy Man reminded me that our spiritual efforts to protect bears and wolves are becoming law in some places. Change? Efforts to appease us? Progress? Crumbs. Were going all the way. Even beyond sovereignty. Decolonization. I am “police” warrior society and we will have to ultimately enforce those Ideals that become law such as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 because nobody else will enforce it. We may have to enforce indigenous law with the war club again one day. Will we get grizzly bears reintroduced into the northern cascades and other places? How wild can we get? Sitting here in what would have been wolf habitat before colonists made them extinct in 1953 watching the sun reflect brilliantly off the side of a mountain. Later I sing a peyote song. Focus. Healing. Waiting for the descendants of Chief Paulina the renegade chief to rise up again. But they were decimated to 38 members. Waiting for root and bannock people. Bison n rice people posted up a little longer. Tobacco is placed on the alter near the golden eagle carving. A.I.M WERE STILL HERE! Golden Eagles > lithium mines. Until we have #RedPower and control over our own destinies on our own land we will have to watch everything we love die.
Feb. 8, 2021. I seen an eagle again. Spent some time shoveling remaining snow to keep the road from getting muddy. 2 people leave. 2 more arrive. Reporters come to interview us for a magazine. It’s good to have firewood. Last night I had a dream about salmon. A biologist is in camp recording wildlife tracks and sightings. Today was quiet. Another day on the front lines. Golden Eagles > lithium mines. A.I.M Were Still Here!
Feb. 9 2021. People leaving and more people came in last night. B.L.M showed up today with guns and body armor acting benevolent while enforcing the their 14 day rule. I told them that “public lands” was code for “white lands” and that his 14 day rule was designed to to keep indigenous people from returning to the land. The officer replied I never see any indigenous people. A clerk at a nearby store when asked about indigenous people also replied “I never see any”. Clearly we are dealing with a society that cannot see indigenous people. A society that claims to be formed on religious freedom enforcing theirs with violence but refuses to this day to respect our freedom of religion as first people. I told him that this is Goshute, Shoshone, Paiute Territory and that it is time to have a nation to nation conversation. I told him I was a member of an ancient warrior society and that I am here to pray. I will leave when I’m done praying and that they cannot interfere. They said “we don’t have to agree”. I know I shouldn’t talk to cops but their untruths stir my warrior spirit. B.L.M is illegitimate. They masquerade as the #RightfulStewards when it is infact only us the indigenous of Turtle Island who have the authority. We struggle to gain control over our own destinies on our own land. Open your mind to seeing not only wolves but indigenous people on the landscape. Undo indian removal. Reverse the curse. #RedPower > green energy. Golden Eagles > lithium mines. American Indian Religious Freedom Act.
Feb. 10, 2021 Today I sang spirit leaving song. I went to a hot spring and soaked after 2 weeks without a shower camping in the snow and mud. Sitting there in 107 degree healing water; the kind you can smell but not sulfer. I looked at the snow covered mountains around me. Marsh plants. Tule or cattails. Seed eating birds that linger here. Hungry, I ate giant burrito. And more burrito. Golden Eagles > lithium mines. #redpower > “green energy”.
Some closing thoughts. I see it advantageous to build traditional shelters and hold ceremonies on the land. I will continue to raise awareness and encourage Paiute, Shoshone, Shopai, Goshute peoples to return to the land and to stick up for their resources. I feel compelled to look into the bullying and threatening of the indigenous peoples in the area. I will look at the indigenous foods in the area. I will continue to support indigenous peoples taking their LandBack. To be continued.
Update: After playing probably the largest role in starting the movement at Thacker Pass i have since distanced myself from it. I do not support white supremacists in the environmental movement. I exposed a sundance leader who was a predator and they replaced him with a woman beater. I have since left Paiute Twilight Zone. Anyone still involved can have my leftovers.
Dec. 25, 2020, Illahee Spirit Runners answer the call to help transform dream into reality by newly forming AIM wolf Pack. People made the journey and put their collective energy into a prayer at a concentration camp that is holding indigenous relatives captive. Luv The Messenger spoke about what this meant to him. How it came to him in a dream. How the path we would walk would make a pattern representing the sun and the moon. We learned about the people inside and how demonstrations outside had caused the prison to restrict the prisoners. We learned about how the people inside did their own hunger strikes. We learned about letters written to the prison regarding the prisoners. This is a time many people spend with their families. We chose to spend it with our relatives here at the concentration camp. It was our belief that we could be heard from inside. We sang our sacred songs from many nations. Tobacco was offered in a sacred way. We brought our flags together. An eagle staff was sent by Fred Short a spiritual leader within American Indian Movement. Peoples from both Eagle and Condor nations were unified. We were met with large amounts of law enforcement from a sheriff department and prison staff themselves. One unit was seen putting on gas masks and had limited riot gear in a scouting mission before the walk. We were being trailed constantly by numerous units who new we were coming and never let us out of their sight. I had a security role and was putting my body as a buffer between police. I remained vigilant the entire walk so that prayer walkers could concentrate on the prayer. Sheriff even chased us thru the dessert on dirt bike motorcycles. At one point one of their motorcycles got stuck and even though we were in prayer it made us laugh. The rider tried to pretend he wasn’t stuck and was seen pushing his bike up the ruts and banks of the dessert. Clearly and as usually we note how they fear our prayer. After the day was coming to an end and the sun was starting to go down we formed a prayer circle, i sang our Anishinabe wolf song as we formed a huge circle on the land. Drummers drumming ended the song exactly as i did and we were in perfect unison. We put our drums and our medicines together. Many people including elder Bruce Gali spoke eloquently. In Anishinabe the word for wolf maiingan means family. This prayer exemplified family. The concept was deeply demonstrated as well as understood.
I have been asked to write a letter to someones grandchildren for the solstice. I think this fitting since i have no children. Sometimes i think of the movement as my children and is certainly a consideration when devoting to this path. 7 generations.
To all the grandchildren i have this message for you. As some of you know the world is in dire condition. Many of you have been born into a world where your existence and quality of life is questionable. Despite this please try to rise to the occasion and meet the challenges of your generation head on with dignity and determination. Defend you communities and the natural world. Challenge yourself to learn your roots. It helps to know where your coming from to know where your going. Try to get back to your roots before industrial civilization. Form sustainable habits. Find ways to give back to the earth who truly is our mother and source of your true power. Benefit and restore the her whenever possible. Stick up for people. Stick up for all the creatures of the world the swimmers, the four legged, those crawlers and those who fly. Extinction is a major issue you will face in your lifetime. It will be difficult. Do it anyway. More people are coming to join you because there is no turning away from this truth. You will face climate catastrophe. Over 200 species go extinct each day. In the Anishinaabe wolf story it explains that what happens to the wolf will also happen to human kind. Remember not to be so worried about what people think of you that it prevents you from making a stand. On difficult days try to remember the animals and forests you fought for. Your causes. Put some water or tobacco on the ground from time to time.
If there was any wisdom i wanted to leave the youth was that we set out to prove wolves are sacred to the tribes of Turtle Island and they are. Wolves like humans in their ancient forms are what science calls a keystone species. This means they benefit the natural world around them. Its a compass telling you where to go. where to return to. How to find your way home.
Regularly study martial arts. One of the most useful things you can do for this world. Keep your self capable, and fortified. Do this for the planet so you can respond in defense of her, do this for your community, your family, lastly do this for yourself. This way you can protect. Solve problems as they arise. Build your mind and your spirit by building your body. Do this so your as a responsibility to pull your own weight. Be your own security. This is especially important for women so you don’t have to run to a man or the system for help, you can handle it right there on the spot. This is a huge and overlooked solution to many of the problems we face today.
At times it will seem difficult to work with other people and the people will be divided. Seek unity and collaboration where you can and hold it in high regard. The wolf teaches us to work together. That we are strong together. Community. This is the same for humans. Individuality is a lie. Contribute to the lives and well being of others. Seek to deeply understand the meaning of family in life. Be present for them. This is a very important time to be alive. Embrace it.
Wishing you the best winter solstice.
From The Invisible Warrior
Regional American Indian Movement, Regional Idle No More, “Oregon” United Urban Warrior Society, Akicita Heyoka member.
Illahee Spirit Runner want to pay respect and honor Eddie Benton Benai who recently crossed over to the spirit world at the age of 89. Eddie grew up on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation. He was the spiritual leader for American Indian Movement. Eddie was the author of the Mishomis Book. Eddie played a major role in getting the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 passes. This ended a period of time where our indigenous religions were banned for 100 years. It was AIM and Eddie who primed us for the revival of the Sun Dance and other ceremonies continuing today. We want to honor Eddie for using Ojibway spirituality to get wolves reintroduced in the wild in the so called state of Wisconsin.
A poaching spree in Illahee has killed 2 wolves. One was a male and one was female. One in September and one in November. There was also a black bear found decapitated with pieces removed. This is completely unacceptable. First because indigenous peoples should be in control of their resources including wildlife, a culturally significant resource. Second because its illegal even under even their own illegitimate colonial standards. One of the wolves was killed on a logging road. The loss of wildlife is directly tied to loss of habitat. There is saying in the so called northwest that there are enough forestry service roads to stretch around the moon. Roads lend themselves to colonists extracting from us.
We do not expect colonists to have reverence for our wildlife this is why the anti colonial focus that we maintain. We struggle to regain control over our own destinies on our own land. This should be up to the indigenous leaders including the warrior societies of Turtle Island. Currently tribes have to be consulted on wildlife. This is not happening in an authentic way. Many traditionals including spiritual people have not been consulted. Furthermore the meetings to decide these decisions about wildlife the colonists claim belongs to the public are not public. Theyve been held in hotel conference rooms where first amendment activities are restricted. The wildlife in fact belongs to the #RightfulStewards and it is our inherent right to protect them. This supercede every colonial law ever written. In actuality poachers should be turned over to the warrior societies.
We view the wolf killings as a hate crime because by now the wolf killers also know that wolves are sacred to many tribes. Ive seen them on their wolf killing pages saying “im gonna kill every wolf and wolf hybrid in the state including their native americans”. These ignorant statements confirm our thought that killing wolves is the equivalent of a hate crime. They are aware on some level. “the only good wolf is a dead wolf” the wolf killers will say. They are the relations of those who said and are still saying in their interactions with us “the only good indian is a dead one”. This thought process is traumatic and it will take time to undo 3000 years of colonial propaganda.
This is just another example of why Fish And Wildlife should be handed over back to the #RightfulStewards. We maintain that their offices, vehicles and computers be turned over to us intact and in good condition immediately. We ask for early moral adopters who believe in indigenous rule to assist in making this process a reality.
Illahee Spirit Runners 