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.
A gathering of the underground met at the place where the two rivers converge upon the request of the indigenous resistance. As it was becoming night and shrouded by darkness the people began to plant a plant relative known today as Blue Elderberry. As the area commonly known today as Corvallis was colonized the the food sources and what sustained those peoples were also removed. Early colonizers in the area including the Masons were fearful of the Kalapuya. Times they were especially fearful was when the Klamath would come north for marriage ceremonies. Colonists are fearful of our presence. This is what caused them to build underground near the Chepenefu (The Place Where The Elderberries Grow). This is the real reason that the starbucks downtown is underground. Have you ever asked yourself why they would build down in an area that floods? Now you know they were digging in. Upon the completion of indian forced removal the university was built. The university is a monument to colonization. O.S.U = Indian removal.
4 Blue elderberry plant relatives and 3 native razor grass relatives were returned to the land.
The Chepenefu was a great place where bands of indigenous people would gather to fish and pick berries. We pray for the restoration of this place and we take action.
The place of the two rivers meet is the place of the origin of our prayer for the wolf. “Like Willamala (The River With No Banks) our prayer for the wolf is unstoppable”. Invisible Warrior. We were asked to do this by a little known female indigenous leader. We in touch with the true authority on Turtle Island indigenous matriarchs. Part of why this was done hidden from view is a response to a 400 year pattern of colonial co-optation starting with the Irish co opting the Metis in the east. The indigenous resistance take credit restoring Chepenefu. Special thanks to members of Deep Green Resistance Eugene for backing us up on this project. Thank you to members of the rewilding community also for their contribution. The indigenous resistance defended the Chepenefu from development in past years. The irony is that we did this on so called veterans day by the colonist. We are the veterans of theses struggle for the land and water. Those ones who nobody knows our names. The ones the people no longer dance for. Perhaps put a little tobacco down for those who have dedicated their lives to it. Today was also the day we heard that Debra White Plume crossed over. Say a prayer for her and her relations. We encourage others to continue this effort with us and on your own in a good way. Fill all your holes, and leave something for the people who seek shelter in this last wild and sacred place. Illahee Spirit Runners dropped off 3 large boxes of fire wood on our way out to a woman standing near a place where fire is sometimes made for people to warm themselves.
Illahee Spirit Runners take action in two northern locations on the anniversary of the Battle Of The Wabash. A battle that occurred Nov. 4 1791. St. Clair who was the governor of what colonists were calling the Ohio territory. St. Clair tried to lead 1400 troops against a confederacy of indigenous tribes whos forces were 1000 to 1200. St. Clair became over confident. The indigenous confederacy was able to form a crescent moon shape around the u.s army killing almost all of the troops leaving them only one direction to retreat. The indigenous confederacy took minimal loses. The indigenous forces included Little Turtle of the Miamis, Blue Jacket War Chief of the Shawnee who forever turned his back on the whites and proved himself under the leadership of Tecumseh, also present were Delawares, and the Potowatomi.
The restoration continues. Quietly waiting for the right time to go forward honoring our ancestors and seeking their favor. Groups in the west and the east devoted time to checking in on our relative the wolf. We brought our stories back around so the people will not forget them. Kalapuya Wolf Story, Paiute Wolf Story, and Anishinabe Wolf Story. These stories prove without a doubt that wolves are sacred to many tribes. A deity, a creator figure, in some cases. We ask that the wolf be protected as a culturally significant animal. We bring this message:
Message from the indigenous resistance to Fish And Wildlife/Department Of Natural Resources: 2020 In response to a colonial pattern of extinction that is leaving a trail of devastation wherever the colonist goes. This pattern began in Europe with the extinction of the great auk, the wiset and countless species has spread to Turtle Island. In response to colonial wildlife agencies failing to protect wildlife from colonialism. In response to interfering with the abilities of the rightful stewards of this continent, the indigenous of Turtle Island to have control over our own destinies on our own land. In response to interfering with the restoration and free exercise of our freedom of religion by way of protecting our culturally significant animal the wolf. This is an intervention. A pattern of extinction follows you and it must end now! We the rightful stewards who have inherent authority over these lands superseding every colonial law ever written hereby ask that you relinquish all Fish And Wildlife/Department Of Natural Resources offices to the rightful stewards. This includes all vehicles, tools, and computers. These items and the lands they are on which are in fact ours by inherent authority are to be turned over intact and in good condition. This process should begin immediately.
We see this as a reparation a restoration. We hope that early moral adopters will see this as a righteous undertaking and that they should agree that for the healing and well being of the entire planet, the entire human family but also the four legged, the swimmers, the winged, the insect and nation those who crawl. By relinquishing control over all wildlife conservation on Turtle Island back to the rightful stewards. People like the wolf can be keystone species that benefit all others. I performed a pipe ceremony and i again prayed for the wolf. The wolf canupa {sacred pipe} i used was a gift from The great grandson of Pontiac the leader of a Potowatomi warrior society. We hope to convey to the world with this blog that we are united across the north on the subject of wolves.
Furthermore we seek to persuade tribal governments to turn their current lands into no kill zones for wolves as several tribes have done already including White Earth, Eastern Shoshone and Fond Du Lac. This should include a 30 mile buffer which is as far as a wolf can travel in a day. This is a chance to flex tribal sovereignty and give indigenous people a greater say in what happens to wildlife on our own lands. By protecting the land we protect the people. That which we are restoring will further restore us. We are the land and land is power.
Illahee Spirit Runners went and spent time with the prayer staves from Peace And Dignity Journeys. I sang the wolf song. I prayed for every staff and all the tribes and people involved with each one. I spoke about the environment, the physical manifestations of our prayer, how colonists are fearful of it and trying to build a wall at their imaginary border that will only delay us from our inevitable unification the need for ceremony for the resistance, covid and its connections to the animal world and addressing the imbalances the world is going thru. I talked about colonialism and its effects on wildlife. The need for indigenous led wildlife conservation. I spoke about protecting wolves as a culturally significant animal. I spoke about fire, this years sacred prayer for fire, the wildfires. The fires in the cities. I spoke about the #RightfulStewards being in control over fire prevention. Fire is a purifier. Fire is sacred. Fire is a necessary part of the natural world. Just like I said about pow wow the covid canceled our plans so we would have to focus on the imbalance and how to gain restoration and healing. We have been asked to keep a prayer for fire continuing. Let us keep the unification of the eagle and the condor in our minds and in our prayers. I was happy i was able to attend to this prayer and fulfill my obligations to it. It helped me to remember how I’ve been a living part of this prophecy.
Illahee Spirit Runners 