Indigenous Group Activism

The Centre for Indigenous Sovereignty
http://www.cfis.ca/

The concept behind the Centre For Indigenous Sovereignty is to create an avenue to assist First Nation peoples in developing and implementing initiatives for the positive rebuilding of Indigenous communities, nations, governments and organizations. As Indigenous peoples we are impacted by the changing society around us. External societal influences, largely political or financial in nature, often result in our peoples being placed in situations we might not otherwise choose to be in. Our daily and short-term needs seem to force us to compromise our long-term visions and aspirations for the future. Our resources tend to focus on foreign concepts and external influences. As a result, little of our time and energy is available for the rebuilding of our nations and the development and implementation of change and control from within. CFIS is committed to ensuring a better tomorrow for our future generations. We believe that this is possible through a process of regeneration and positive change. Sustained change in the lives of our peoples requires education, commitment, awareness and leadership. Nation-building is at the core of what we do. To achieve this goal for First Nations, we rely on the diverse talent pool of First Nations people. The depth of skills and experience in the First Nations communities and beyond is impressive. Some of the services we provide include: Facilitation and Dispute Resolution, Business and Marketing Plan Development, Consultancy, Communications and Public Relations, Research, and Graphic Design

Native Sovereignty Threatened
http://www.pathshop.com/camp_sovereignty/

The Sicangu Lakota (Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota) in its struggle to avoid becoming the home of the world's third largest hog farm. The first phase of 24 barns is already in place and in spite of tribal opposition and legal intervention by several organizations, Bells Farms (Sun Prairie) continues construction on the second phase. When completed, there will be 13 sites, of 24 barns each. The waste disposal digestor at site #1 is not properly functional, as predicted. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe is valiantly battling the matter in the judicial system, with its sovereignty in serious jeopardy. Meanwhile, they are establishing a vigilance camp, to be called Camp Sovereignty, in the vicinity of the hog farms. They say that they can no longer tolerate the severe corporate oppression of Bell Farms or tolerate the threats to our environment, to the quality of justice, and to their sovereignty.

Shundahai Network
http://www.shundahai.org/

Shundahai Network was formed at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site in 1994, by a council of long-term nuclear disarmament activists, at the request of Corbin Harney, a Western Shoshone Spiritual Leader. It has evolved into an international network of activists and organizations bridging the gap between the environmental, peace and justice and indigenous land rights communities. Shundahai Network, a steadily growing alliance of multi-cultural activists, is dedicated to "breaking the nuclear chain" by bridging the gaps between the environmental, peace, justice, indigenous and civil-rights communities. Through helping build and organize strong alliances with native and non-native communities, activists and organizations working on common goals and strategies of local and national importance, they continue to seek long lasting social change.

Their staff and volunteers work on a wide range of community outreach, education and public action campaigns. Through our events and campaigns, Shundahai Network helps train activists in community organizing and the use of nonviolent direct action to generate public awareness and apply political pressure on nuclear and indigenous rights issues. They strive to uphold the principles of Environmental Justice and insure that Indigenous voices and concerns are heard in the movement to influence U.S. nuclear and environmental policies.

Most recent activism object: Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The Department of Energy (DoE) is taking the next step to make Yucca Mountain, Nevada, a permanent high-level radioactive waste repository. Study flaws: Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff discovered errors in the Energy Department's scientific work at Yucca Mountain. The areas of concern include:

· Missing data and calculation errors: NRC scientists could not find basic information in DOE's reports concerning radiation exposure, volcanic events and how fast water flows through Yucca Mountain.
· Radiation exposures: Estimates for radiation and its effect on humans and the environment at Yucca Mountain were not consistent.
· Chemical reactions: Because minerals in ground water could corrode buried waste containers, more study is needed.