Illahee Update

Many things have happened since we last entered in our blog. I would like to briefly share some of those things for our supporters and just to record some of our outreach attempts.

  1. We were present for the Indigenous/African unity march in so called Portland in July. I participated in security, keeping the people safe.
  2. We attended and provided trainings in self defense, cpr, first aid, security culture, security, food security, survival.
  3. We gathered nettle and blackberries.
  4. We were able to get food and horticulture supplies including close to 100 plant starts, seeds, planter boxes, ducks for meat. We delivered to the Siletz reservation.
  5. We have been engaged in and are supplying constant political education.
  6. We have continued to organize from coast to coast for the protection of wolves as a culturally significant animal.
  7. We have continued to expand our collaborations and increase our political power on and off the reservation through unity as the rightful stewards the indigenous resistance.
  8. We completed a sock drive for Tokala Warrior Society and Native Youth Movement.
  9. We provided security for an indigenous person who was a victim of domestic violence.
  10. We confronted a group of colonists who have taken over and are hoarding a geothermal hot spring and demanded indigenous people have access.
  11. We raised awareness exposing the proposed Verizon drone site in “Portland”
  12. We confronted Sierra Club and 350.org in “Portland” for their corruption and collaboration with the very corporations destroying the planet. We have officially told these groups to their faces that they are not welcome here on Turtle Island. That they must disband and leave the continent. They have been made clear of their abuses and have been explicitly told they have no consent to be organizing over and at the expense and sometimes the very lives of the indigenous resistance. They have been informed of their collusion and wrong doings in regards to wolves and other non human organisms, those swimmers, crawlers, those who fly. The eugenics and white supremacy of the NGO are not welcome on our continent. Do as they have done to us and leave nowhere comfortable for them to rest.

Electric Strawberry Moon

Indigenous resistance reclaim movement against the police killings of oppressed peoples by police. As you know by now members of invader culture are hijacking the movements of African and Indigenous peoples. Nowhere is this a greater issue than the so called pacific northwest. After an attempt to pass out fliers regarding indigenous resistance led to angry outbursts of white fragility and hate speech and invader culture members ripping up fliers and throwing the litter on the street yelling “Fuck native americans” we decieded to really step up our attempts to lead what was a mess of colonists and a mish mash of N.A.A.C.P type affiliates not yet radicalized who are unaware of the indigenous resistance because of the gate keeping of whites and fear of participation and lack of unity from our own indigenous community. It was the full strawberry moon and we took action. It was electric. We had observed for days the group standing in the designated free speech area for a week. They cant get out of the free speech area but act as if we are unable to organize for ourselves…. Like we need Kevin Costner to save us….Radicals here were making trips to other citys to participate in uprisings because kkkorvallis is so gatekept into impotence by white liberals nobody had the strength to wrestle control away from them. Were just too tired. I get it. Being indigenous resistance leader and head of so many organizations and having rank in so many other epic oganizations including an ancient warrior society older than the united states i used my inherent authority as ogitchidaw to initiate a march. On short notice i organized those loyal to the #RightfulStewards to back me up for a march. I spread the word so we would know to take over the march and people to rally behind the indigenous resistance. Some people outraged at the racism from the liberal whites against the indigenous resistance broke from white solidarity and switched sides to bolster the indigenous resistance. I got on the mega phone. I explained my authority and some background on the actions we have done so far. All the political rhetoric in the world does not replace action so i spoke of the action done. the sacrifices made. I gave a pep talk. I spoke of my grandfathers contributions to this community having built their schools and started soccer program that is huge now. I asked the people who have benefited from these things to show us love now. This is also to make people think. Every single person present had benefited from the indigenous resistance. It is my wishes that people meditate on that and show due respect. It is my wishes that people from outside the culture understand to treat me like your talking to 3 indigenous nations and all of my ancestors. When you speak to me consider it a nation to nation conversation. We will tolerate zero disrespect from invaders. I seen some people who believed in me in the crowd. I knew they had indigenous family members or in some way were loyal to the resistance. I organized well and i am thankful because the crowd was thick with loyalists of the resistance. We began to march. I had people spread out a bit because we are marching during a pandemic. The group who had lingered in the free speech area was actually marching. We headed straight to the police station because that is the goal. No frills, no fluff just headed right there. We began circling the block. People who seen us coming gave us a wide birth. I was sizing up to police station and checking their response. I wanted to demonstrate the courage lacking from liberals here so i led the group for a pass through the police station middle. Our whole group passing safely we made a second loop. I did Apache trail song and ask the group to howl when i howl so the ones inside can feel our wolf medicine and feel our power. Flex organization in a place of no organization. On our way back around feeling brave i stopped the group by the front door of the police station. The same doors i walked through to turn myself in for defending my own family almost 20 years ago. I stared into the office and i began to play the A.I.M unity song. Allies from the group could not help their excitement and came to stand by me also looking into the exposed glass windows and doors of the police station. We went from standing on the sidewalk to being one step away from taking over the police station in a day under my leadership. The unity song rang out and echoed from the concrete overhangs. Satisfied this being the climax and having some children present we went to wrap up at city hall. I made an epic speech. I told stories of indigenous people and Africans brutalized by the police in kkkorvallis. I sang a song for our head of security who was killed by police neglect. We wrote the names of those killed by police violence on the ground in front of city hall. I spoke of the unity of Indigenous and African people and our struggles for liberation. Both of us have been made invisible. People have been programed not to see us. I see you. You see me. The only thing this so called country fears is indian uprising and slave revolt. A perfect storm is happening. We have the authority you got the people power. Lets take this shit over so our kids don’t keep going through this suffering. Leave a mark this time. A forever mark. The sacred prayer this year was for fire. Flip it upside down and purify it. #LandBack.

Month Of Mutual Aid

For the last four Saturdays Illahee Spirit Runners and Deep Green Resistance Eugene have collaborated on a mutual aid effort in Kalapuya territory. One of the Spirit Runners spent days on a sign that read ‘Mutual Aid Free Market’. Members of both groups stepped up in a huge way to bring. Heirloom tomato starts, squash, mint, cherry trees, oak trees for acorns for replanting oak savannah, and many plant starts of various kinds. Many kinds of seeds including indigenous purple popcorn. Some of our locations gave out ducklings. Week one was “Eugene” where we hoped to attract radicals and had done some advertising on the internet. Week two was Siletz reservation where we continued reaching out to the Save Our Siletz River group and the greater Siletz community. We set up our tipi in Toledo the fishing community next to the rez and continued to encourage people to embrace resistance. Indigenous youth came and took trees and plant starts. Week three was “Corvallis” where we set up near the homeless shelter which is closed down for the summer. We were able to give planter boxes to the homeless shelter and a resistance hub that has indigenous and African people trying to survive under colonialism. In “Corvallis” a Potowatomi/Dakota elder was given heirloom tomato starts as he requested. Week four we were back in “Eugene” where we ran into Peace And Dignity Journeys organizer Mel Huey of all people. The Great Mystery sent him our way so we hooked him up with fresh veg. At every location we passed out fliers and info on how to hook up with both groups. We put effort into reaching out to the most effected. Feeling like weve done well to solidify the culture of resistance and gained in strength during historic Covid pandemic. We look to begin martial arts training in Karate/Jiujitsu. We will be collaborating again with DGR to bring in the direct action training that our constituency is starving for. This will offset the fact that trainings in Illahee have been going mostly to white dominated orgs who had in some cases admit to never intending on using the training in direct action they received. An agreement has been made that if the state opens up wildlife offices we will be trying to shut them down again in defense of wolves which Illahee Spirit Runners observe their sacredness and paramount importance to the restoration of indigenous ways of life. We continue to prepare to express self determination for the protection of this animal on OUR own lands as we are the inherent rightful stewards.

Boycott Shell

March 5th Illahee Spirit Runners take action against Adair Village Fish And Wildlife to protect wolves as a culturally significant animal. The federal government is seeking de listing for wolves which will open lands to further resource exploitation by way of logging, miming, clear cuts, fracking and pipelines. We are still asking for protection for wolves under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. We are still asking that tribes flex tribal sovereignty and turn their current lands into no wolf hunting zones with a 30 mile buffer. Illahee Advisor is asking tribal people especially tribal youth to pressure their own tribal departments of natural resources to protect wolves. Illahee Advisor played Anishinabe Wolf Song and Sun Dance Piercing song a song of pain as wolves the top predator has taken the brunt of ecological devastation and colonialism for centuries. Leaving before law enforcement could show up we moved on to two more targets. These would be Shell gas stations. It was chosen to target shell because they are benefiting from the proposed pipeline in Wetsuweten territory. Additionaly Illahee region has a history with Shell and we want to still up regional hostilities that exist between land defenders and shell in the so called pacific northwest. We instigate and support boycott passing out fliers. You can print your own fliers here. https://itsgoingdown.org/flyers-wetsuweten-outreach/

WE STRONGLY URGE THE ANIMAL RIGHTS SECTOR TO EMBRACE THE WETSUWETEN STRUGGLE TO PROTECT LAND AND WATER ON THEIR UNCEDED TERRITORY.

Wetsuweten territory is habitat for Pacific Grey Wolves and The Spirit Bear.

We are asking anti colonial indigenous groups take action across the continent for wolves March 19th. Spring Into Action For Wolves! Connect with Illahee Spirit Runners to find a location near you or if you are a anti colonial indigenous leader who is willing to rise up in your area and answer our call for solidarity. We encourage all A.I.M groups to consider these words as it was A.I.M spiritual leader Eddie Benton Benai who helped get wolves reintroduced in “Wisconsin” by citing Anishinabe/Ojibway religion. It is up to us to carry on now and these issues take constant upkeep.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Religious_Freedom_Act

Women’s March And Wetsuweten Solidarity Rally

Illahee Spirit Runners journey to whats commonly known as Portland for Indigenous led Womens’s march followed by Wetsuweten Solidarity Rally. When we arrived we seen the Native American center where Medz Hawk played in 2014 and the PSU building where i taught a workshop at Resistance Ecology. As i started to orient myself as “Portland” is always too urban for me i find it over whelming being raised between a valley with what used to be a little college town and a rainforest in the foothills of the coastal mountain range i seen the courtyard. The courtyard had speakers and canopies set up. People moving about and more coming. A few speakers took turns. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/People was talked about at length. I am always pleased to see revolutionary concepts reaching mainstream and the youth. Things we fought for are becoming reallity in the revolutionary culture. Like the concept of indigenous led marches. That was a huge focus of Illahee Spirit Runners. It had great pushback from the movement. It took several years of confrontation, education and negotiation to arrive at where we are today where indigenous people are leading marches on our own land and not in a tokenizing way but to at least start the road to the mainstream left following indigenous leadership. To improve from here is to bolster and cultivate anti colonialism. In the future indigenous youth will be in a world where they wont have to fight for that because we laid the groundwork. American Indian Movement and others laying the groundwork of getting the American Indian Religious Freedom Act passed and having patrols to protect indigenous women as early as the 1980’s in Minneapolis. March went great. I marched behind a Klamath Yahooskin Idle No More PDX leader i know to support our Idle No More crossover with Illahee Spirit Runners. It was good to hold the A.I.M flag high and carry on the A.I.M tradition of my grandfather and great uncle. A.I.M/Idle No More were in collaboration for this march which was clearly visible. I was also able to do an extra layer of security from my position looking after the front of the march. I exchanged words of unity with greater elements of A.I.M within the region. Dirty Mocs did and honor song for elder Grandmother Agnes Baker Pilgrim that made me cry. Theres very few like her because she worked for the great spirit, thats how she was rewarded and interacted with the world, how she was in favor by the great spirit. Not like some other leaders who shall remain nameless who are still being rewarded by greed and colonial assimilation. We did not attend her service we were taking action and applying her quote “Be the voice for the voiceless” the same day of the service. I chose taking action and applting her teaching as she specificly asked me to was the best way to honor her. A few weeks ago at a Direct Action Training we hosted in Siletz with Deep Green Resistance we put tobacco on the graves of Agnes as well as Chief Depoe. It has been a tradition of Illahee Spirit Runners to offer tobacco for the chief because our cofounder is the Chickasaw grandchild by marriage of Chief Depoe. We now extend the tradition to include Agnes. At this point the march was winding down and we scrambled to the Wetsuweten solidarity rally around the way. Several people spoke. Christopher Fransisco who led the Longest Walk 3 Reversing Diabetes Northern Route was present to speak and spoke eloquently. I was able to meet with Brown Berets and honor our alliances from decades ago in the civil rights era. Its apparent that we are circling back around to unite against racism and colonialism. When i spoke of collaboration the speaker on the mic also said the words collaboration at the same time like we were on the same vibration. I met with anti colonial elements, radical elements and we passed out fliers. The aztec dancers danced for the second time that day and its nice to see people regaining cultural dance. Some kind of racist trolls showed up but Antifa scared them away. Blessings and prayers to Antifa. Doing security for indigenous leaders is a righteous act and you are noticed for your courage and participation. At this point i had hoped we were going to take over the bridge and shut it down but one can only dream. They never had the intention of direct action so thats where we come in. Like the American Indian Religious Freedom Act indigenous rights rarely get enforced unless we take action and pressure those involved to change. Change being the meaning of revolution. Understanding that political change requires force we prepare for more action. Some for Wetsuweten as long as they can hold out. And we will persist in efforts to protect wolves as a culturally significant animal. We pray for Wetsuweten Chiefs to stay true. We pray for Mohawk and other warrior societies who are activated. Much respect to Cree Warrior Society for being ever vigilant. Respect.

Wetsuweten Solidarity

Feb. 25, 2020 Illahee Spirit Runners Sneak up on a rural wildlife office and make it inside. Illahee Advisor was present and did Anishinabe Wolf song. Staff locked up the repair garage and left a newbie staff member to watch us. They said they were going to get someone to talk to us. We know that there is nothing left to talk about. Wolf is sacred and will be protected. We left before law enforcement came and moved on to another target. We met up with elements of DGR for a demonstration at a near by Shell gas station. Royal Dutch Shell is on a list of corporations benefiting from Coastal Gas Link who is trespassing on unceded Wetsuweten Territory. We passed out information. Illahee Advisor had a huge sign reading “Native Land”. It seemed to really anger people in cars. I find it profound that the thing i most want to say to the public is the very thing that angers them the most.

At this point we went north to The Place Where The Elderberries Grow and waited to see who would show up for the march. Elements of A.S.A.P and Democratic Socialists Of America and Deep Green Resistance showed up. We performed a traffic slow down that was radical for the very tame liberal political climate of the area. We chanted “Coastal Gas Link! R.C.M.P! Out Of Wetsuweten! We continued on our march to Bank Of America another supporter of Coastal Gas Link. When we tried to enter we noticed that they had just closed not too long before and we just missed them. Rain check B.O.A. We then marched to an indigenous area where the two river meet. A sacred site to the Kalapuya. Illahee Advisor has blocked construction on this piece of land in the past making it a last little wild place in the city. We attempted to reach colonial youth but to our dismay we found them unreachable. We then marched on to the railroad crossing on the sacred site. Our two wolves joined in at this point and i am reminded of an old meme. The one that says “When wolf and warrior become one, Idle No More From Shore To Shore”. We were joined by a member of Illahee Spirit Runners. Illahee Advisor initiates railroad blockade in solidarity with Tyendinaga Mohawk. A ceremony using the sacred pipe gifted to us by Potowatomi Warrior Society Leader was used to initiate railroad blockade. People in the area are encouraged to join in the blockade. The will of the people and current people power was such that we are choosing to take action again next week. As indigenous resistance leader im making a call out to Illahee Region, whats commonly known as (Oregon, Washington, western Idaho) to rekindle the flame of the Shell No Movement. It was Illahee Advisor who journey to”Portland” to reach out with prayer and inspire and instigate the Shell No Movement that confronted Shell for trying to drill the arctic. Illahee Spirit Runners threw down on that for arctic wolves and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is actually an indigenous sacred site. Every indigenous uprising should rekindle. Additionally i would like to remind people that pacific grey wolves that have a rare adaptation to eating fish are in Wetsuweten territory as well as the Great Spirit Bear the pure white black bear. Illahee Spirit Runners speak for the nonhuman organisms threatened by colonialism and resource exploitation. “Its Time to Stand Up For Our land!Our Water! Our Homelands! SHUT DOWN AMERICA! Flashmob! Everywhere, sing Loud! Dance Hard! Prayer Hard!” LaDonna Brave Bull-Allard

Photos by Illahee Spirit Runners and Max Wilbert

Wetsuweten Solidarity

February 13 2020. In response to attacks by the R.C.M.P against Wetsuweten unceded lands. Illahee Spirit Runners supported by Deep Green Resistance and others confront Chase bank. 3 locations were visited. Illahee Advisor sang the wolf song at the first location. Confrontation went smoothly. We left before police moved in on us. Sheriff responded with a few SUV’s. Quickly moving to the second location we were denied entrance and staff told us they were having a “lockdown drill”. This indicated that we made a large enough disruption that one branch of Chase called another branch and told the to lock their doors. Thus we shut down Chase bank. Quickly we moved to a third location for another confrontation. Again Illahee Advisor sang the wolf song. Staff at the bank called the police. They then made a point of letting us know the police were on their way. I shrugged a little and kept singing. It was funny to see him think we would scare easy. Fliers were passed out. Onlookers were encouraged to move their money to a credit union. I was happy that i got much needed participation and help to fulfill my obligations as regional indigenous resistance. Weather was rainy. It was good practice and its good to stay sharp. Awareness was raised for upcoming much needed direct action training on the reservation. I am grateful that 15 or 16 people responded to the urgent situation by expressing solidarity for Unistoten, Wetsuweten.

M.L.K 2020

Illahee Spirit Runners join Black Lives Matter “Portland” and others for march with no permit that runs down M.L.K Blvd. As people gathered i could see some indigenous people in the crowd and i think later some of them chose to march around the A.I.M flag which Illahee Advisor was carrying. Black Block was present and did a good job of protecting people and keeping the march safe from right wing fascist elements and selfish drivers. Black Block was a blessing and a joy to watch. Children were chosen to lead the march carrying a large banner. This was a frustration for myself because the children are introduced as most impacted but i don’t see any of our children present. It makes me think when we are in this unfcomfortable position of having to say “whose children”? It reminded me of a time i seen a progressive city try to build a playground on a sacred site. I couldn’t help think its a new way of co-optation and is being used since the youth climate strike. However being M.L.K march we let it roll for now to be discussed in the movement at a later day. Black Lives Matter “Portland” Had a good system going and have experience in the streets of P town. A few drivers did freak out and try to drive into the crowd or jump curbs to go around. Every time they were made to wait. We must inconvenience people for the way we suffer as oppressed people everyday we go unnoticed. Well together when we act as a team like the wolf shows us we get noticed. In addition to repping Illahee Spirit Runners which is A.I.M/Idle No More/Decolonize/United Urban Warrior Society ect. ect. We were also repping Poor Peoples Campaign and showed up in a disciplined way to help with the burden. PPC took the front left going into oncoming traffic so we took one of the hardest details. Black Lives Matter seemed relieved that A.I.M/PPC took and held this spot down for the duration of the March. Both our wolves joined the march so we had the participation of brother maiingan. The wolf nation. It was a good chance to raise awareness for these non human organisms. At one point Cloud who is 110 lbs and Illahee Advisor took up most of a lane. Imagine a decked out indigenous warrior with a 110 lbs wolf coming at ya. Might want to go around. We were happy to make a appearance in P town since Portland acts like its the center of all activism in the area. Good to remind them they are not. Seen a couple people i hadn’t seen in years. Happy to collaborate. We were training a new member who it was her first big march. We gathered to listen to a recording of the I have a dream speech by M.L.K on a loudspeaker. It was evident why he was killed. His ability to bring people together. I was interviewed by Black Lives Matter Media. Weather was good for January. This was our first notable action of 2020 and it was a epic start to what is going to be without a doubt absolutely legendary.

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/01/portland-groups-gather-march-in-honor-of-martin-luther-king-jr.html

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

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