Related ContentTaliman: Stop the racist attacks on our children
By
Valerie Taliman, Today correspondent
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| It’s a classic hate crime, carried out for the sole purpose of inciting racism and hate against indigenous peoples. |
The message is clear: Native people are like pests or vermin, and can be disposed of by simply calling a free service to have them “extracted.”
It was the cyberspace equivalent of a “Wanted” poster, reminiscent of bounties once paid for Indian scalps in the old West. And in my view, it’s a classic hate crime, carried out for the sole purpose of inciting racism and hate against indigenous peoples.
First Nations leaders from Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak said they want police to investigate the ad as a hate crime. They are joined by an outcry from Native leaders in Washington state and Indian country at-large who know that hate often translates to violence.
Ironically, the photo that UsedWinnipeg.com posted on its site was stolen from Longhouse Media, a nonprofit arts and media organization based in Seattle, Wash., with a stellar record for making quality films about Native people by Native people.
Those three minors labeled as “pests” actually won awards for their first documentary film, “March Point,” which tells their poignant coming of age story in a Native American community near Seattle poisoned by industrial pollution. The photo was part of a copyrighted media kit created to promote the film, and clearly showed their faces.
Tracy Rector, Longhouse Media executive director, said the use of their photo in such a “hateful and demeaning way was deeply hurtful to these young men and their families, and to the Native community as a whole.
“This ad could intimidate and incite violence against indigenous youth in North America, and we are joining with Manitoba chiefs to call for an end to hate crimes such as these. We want to see the perpetrators brought to justice.”
Author and poet Sherman Alexie, a founding board member of Longhouse Media, called for collective action. “As much as the world has changed for indigenous people in good ways, there are still many violent and hateful folks out there who seek to harm us, and we must condemn them in print and in action, and we must do this together.”
While the legal rights of these young men were violated, UsedWinnipeg.com is protecting the identity of the racist person who placed the ad. The online publication admits that while they monitor their sites, “this ad slipped through the cracks.”
| Not a single person thought there was something horribly wrong with this ad? No one? |
As a former newspaper editor, I can tell you that’s a shoddy excuse. Does no one read the content before it is published? Sales representatives, copy editors and managing editors are responsible for their content. Not a single person thought there was something horribly wrong with this ad? No one? Clearly, the editorial staff needs some cultural sensitivity training.
People who minimize the impact of the racist ad are ignoring the fact that hundreds of Native women have gone missing or been murdered in Canada. The Stolen Sisters project, with the help of Amnesty International, exposed this dark side of Canada’s human rights record in 2004 with a scathing report.
More than 500 aboriginal women have been murdered or gone missing in Canada over the past 20 years. A Native woman in Canada is five times more likely to die a violent death than a woman of any other race. In the U.S., one in three Native women will be raped in their lifetimes, according to Justice Department statistics.
Yet Canadian officials have done little to help. If 500 white women had been kidnapped and brutally murdered, you can bet there would be a national outcry.
Walter Lamar, a twice-decorated FBI special agent and former national director of law enforcement for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, said it was hard to imagine why a news organization would publish such a sinister advertisement.
“Those willing to demonstrate their hate publicly are equally capable of violence,” said Lamar, who now owns a firm that specializes in helping to reduce violence and drug abuse on reservations. “As a former FBI agent and Blackfeet Nation citizen, I have seen firsthand the carnage left by those consumed by racist hatred. History can produce example after example of racist hatred being translated to violence.”
He ought to know – Lamar’s career includes working crime scenes for the 9/11 terrorist bombings, the hunt for Green River serial killer in Washington, the Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh, and the fiery siege of the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas.
Walt and I grew up on the Navajo Nation, where hate crimes have been commonplace for more than 100 years. In towns bordering our reservation like Gallup and Farmington, N.M., brutal crimes against our people date back to the 1870s when white residents used Navajos for target practice.
The worst of these crimes occurred in the 1970s, when three Navajos were found bludgeoned, mutilated and burned. They had been tortured with firecrackers in their noses and private parts by three white Farmington teenagers. The history of hatred and attacks on our people was chronicled in Rodney Barker’s book “Broken Circle.”
In 2006, yet another Navajo man was beaten to death in Farmington by three white men in a racially-motivated hate crime. They were eventually convicted, but most often we do not see justice for crimes committed against us.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recognized the problem and proposed a large-scale investigation of racism and hate crimes in border towns of seven states in 2003, but the Bush administration refused to fund it.
| More than 500 aboriginal women have been murdered or gone missing in Canada over the past 20 years. |
In response, the Navajo Nation recently formed its own Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission and is moving forward to document these crimes, and to foster greater public awareness and improved relations with border towns.
Everyone who believes in human rights must speak out against hate crimes and demand an end to the racism, hatred and violence. Our silence is our consent.
Valerie Taliman, Navajo, is president of Three Sisters Media, which offers publishing, social media and public relations services. She is also an award-winning journalist specializing in environmental, social justice and human rights issues. She is based in Albuquerque, N.M. Contact her at valerietaliman@gmail.com.
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Axel Burgheim said on Monday, Apr 5 at 5:46 AM
THIS IS YOUR LAND! Everything in it, above it, including the oceans that touch it is yours!ALL the oil, the coal, the minerals,the gems, the gas, the fish, the game, the timber, the beauty, the peace that comes from it all! ALL IS YOURS!! IT BELONGS TO YOU! Make it yours, all of it, by law, enforce the law! Make the anglosaxons pay! Just like anywhere else!! You want something? You pay for it white man! Especially since he has a track record of over 1000 years of stealing, deception, religious fanatism and destruction of people, earth and water! Lets bring the drum back into our children hearts, all our hearts, lets protect them from the real scum. Yes! The real scum! I know i am one of them, i can really see it now that i get older! Our ways are like a disease that spreads across the planet. Everywhere and in everything just look at our child molesting priests, look at our greed for oil that motivates everything we do. We are killing everything, who is going to stop us if not You!!
40649447Wildebeest said on Thursday, Apr 1 at 1:23 PM
You are worse than South Africa! I once wanted to live in Canada for my future and my children's future but the more I read about this country the more I am glad that I am from somewhere else! Are you a democracy with equal chance for all?
40462199LF @ LA said on Thursday, Mar 25 at 9:55 PM
it is not right that our native youth are considered "vermin" and yah, maybe some are punks, in my own family there is alcoholism, drug abuse, gang violence, but that doesn't mean all native families have issues like this....no, there are plenty good native youth....it is still not right...what are we agreeing upon??? that it is okay to practice violence on native youth....why not take a pro-active approach...why do we still have to put up with this behavior toward native youth or any other natives...I have experienced a similar situation when I was younger and still on the Rez...and no one stood up for me...I think it was because we historically have always been silenced and fear of reprecussions from "authority" It's still not right I don't care how you slice it, it's not right.....it will never be right and if we stay silent we are accepting it!!!!!!!
40042041Margaret-ann Joseph said on Tuesday, Mar 23 at 5:04 PM
Hate crimes like this is sickening. Just wanted to shed light on another incident here in Vancouver, two young girls died recently, cause has not been released yet, but someone on Facebook has created a Group, on it they posted a picture with drugs on one side and a picture of the two young girls on the other side, the captions reads "Drugs 2, Girls 0, meaning that the drugs won! On this very same facebook group, the person who created the group says "Get well soon, and names the girls!! Now thats sick and twisted, the families have been through enough, as well as a lot of the youth who were friends with these two young aboriginal girls. I've tried reporting it to Facebook, but they have not deleted the Group. There's no way I can communicate to Facebook directly. I shall not give up, I've now contacted an Aboriginal Policing Society and am reporting it as a Hate Crime.
39871806C LLANO said on Tuesday, Mar 16 at 4:01 PM
Fwd this to Dr. Joe Leonard at USDA and see if he can do something or bring it to light
39411211cb in nd said on Tuesday, Mar 16 at 10:15 AM
The person who printed and ok'd the article need to be fired also. They had the power to stop it and not print it but they choose to.
39313694Les Johnson said on Tuesday, Mar 16 at 12:55 AM
I haven't heard of any of the big news outlets carrying this story. Most stories concerning racism and First Nations, are not printed in most of the big newspapers or they are given low profile. It makes me wonder if those working for the big news outlets are not allowed to print it? If they do print it or report on it, they may find themselves out of a job. This also makes me wonder if it's all part of a plan to silence First Nations?
39298621APACHE LADY IN MESA, AZ said on Monday, Mar 15 at 7:48 PM
DON'T FORGET THEIRS ALSO INDIRECT RACISM THAT WE AS NATIVES HAVE TO FACE ON A DAILY BASIS. ITS ALL AROUND US, WE NEED TO GET EDUCATED ABOUT THESE ISSUES. THAT WAY WE GET GET RID OF THE IGNORANCE ALL AROUND US.
39286459MUCKLESHOOT.NATIVE said on Monday, Mar 15 at 12:16 PM
HOW MANY YEARS DO NATIVES THE TRUE PEOPLE THAT WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE NEED TO KEEP HEARING FROM WEAK AND SAD PEOPLE OF THERE NEGATIVE WORDS AND HURTFUL WAYS IM THANKFUL TO MY ELDERS TEACHINGS TO IGNORE THAT KIND OF MEAN PEOPLES WORDS LET GO AND LET THE CREATOR DEAL WITH IT.IN A GOOD WAY
39259664Native Grandpa said on Monday, Mar 15 at 12:36 AM
Small towns across the midwest are full of young white kids that have a place on mainstreet to park, do drugs and drink alcohol. All in full view and knowledge of local police. When have you ever heard of these kids getting arrested or discouraged from gathering. Native youth are not allowed such privileges and are hauled off to jail, sometimes innocently. Natives have never been allowed the "boys will be boys" excuse like whites, so where is your outrage? Natives from all age groups have been raped, beaten and even killed and you want to place the word "thug" on every young native?
39239949rhinoe said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 5:06 PM
education is so important,an needed.On something of this magnitude, change will only take place by example.It's to easy an human to justify our actions based on what we feel...just cause you feel your right doesn't mean you are.It's time in this day an age to label wrong as wrong an right as right not because of race or culture.my parents taught me,there is only one true right an one true wrong...an feelings don't change that.there is strength in numbers...let's choose to be one where we are.
39226301Big Sister's Friend said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 3:19 AM
tolerance.org or contact the Southern Poverty Law Center. They are very good friends to have.
39205666Redboy said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 12:53 PM
The problem in the Canadian media is that this type of blatant racism is encouraged. Go to the CBC website where the story about Aboriginal people being left on the side of the road by a Greyhound bus driver is and read the comments. Canadians saying that those people were "looking for handouts" and that they got what they deserved. Look up the HST protests on the Globe and Mail website and see the comments there. More of the same. These are national media outlets, one Government owned, and they don't discourage that kind of inciteful, racist language directed at us.
39182774Dakota said on Friday, Mar 12 at 7:04 PM
To Axel Burgheim: I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being a person of honor. I know there are many non-Natives who do understand and do have honor...I just wish there were more like you! Aho! And just so you know...we will never give up the fight!
39151921Madelaine said on Friday, Mar 12 at 11:12 AM
The problem is the generalization. There might be problems with individuals. No matter if it is white, indians, french, men, women, christians or islams. The problem starts by putting mankind into boxes and ignoring the fact that all of us are of one kind... we all are humans. People who generalize and say all indians or all rich or all christians are already start the process as they do not take the time to get to know a person but unload their prejudice on them before they even gave the person a chance.
I agree that this ad seriously looks like racism and propaganda against indian youths and it has to be stopped.
Just stop it the right way or sooner or later innocent will die on both sides.
In my opinion only education leads to understanding and tolerance. Unfortunately education is an expensive luxury these days.
Mankind tends to fight things they do not understand and is driven by greed and fueled by hate.
39120694Karen said on Friday, Mar 12 at 5:17 AM
Big Native says "If we do something about it we will look like a bunch of cry babies"?And what will you say if something happens to them because we did NOTHING?It is too late then.
39107964Axel Burgheim said on Friday, Mar 12 at 1:29 AM
I am of german origin, i am proud to be married to a lady of the yupik tribe. I am 47 and the older i get the more disgusted and enraged i get when it comes to the white race my race. What we have done to the natives of the americas and still doing we now continue to do to the people of the middle east. We kill and dominate them were ever and how ever we can and take their land. I ask all of you not to stand down never to forgive and to never ever give up the fight for justice. Some of us know and are with you!!
39103734Just Disgusted, Again said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 9:05 PM
It's bad enough youtube allows people to post demeaning and derogatory videos about Natives.
39093496samia Goudie said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 8:06 PM
This is shocking and appalling to me , this should be followed up to the highest level and those who used these images illegally should be prosecuted to make others realise what they have done and also be made to make a public apology and private one to the boys and to Longhouse media. The film made by the youth is outstanding and the work of Longhouse media is nothing short of remarkable and to see this kind of blatant racism in your country is so sad and makes the world see the USA in a backward light. something needs to be done.
39090841Turtle Island/Loveitorleaveit!! said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 7:50 PM
The "Fool" that did this thing NEEDS to be tried and hopefully convicted of a hate crime because that is exactly what this is! There is no reason, no excuses for this to happen in this day and age!! It doesn't matter "if" there are "bad" kids on your Rez' because no one has the right to treat anyone else like that!! Alcohol,drugs, gang activity!! get real!! that happens EVERYWHERE in this country! I am totally outraged by this story and I am passing this on to anyone who I think gives a d@#m! Morons who believe "punks" are an excuse to treat Natives this way!!
39089979Hope said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 5:23 PM
This is very sad, that a white man can judge the native american people and yet they share a bed with a native american indian and have children, maybe they should take a good look in the mirror and judge there own kind, they are the worst,and have the law on there side at all times,maybe they should be picked up and put back on the boat they came from.
39081234Rocky Barrera said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 4:17 PM
Unfortunately until this country reinvents it's educational system by disgarding the tools of conquest and indoctrination(ie., Eurocentric curriculm), and celebrates our diversity, unaffraid to tell the complete and true story of our country, then we will continue to see the ugly ignorance raise it's head. We must demand a new view of the world be taugh to our children
39076876Debra Rincon Lopez said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 3:14 PM
Nobody nowhere has the right to make such sickening accusations and put picture's of Native American Youth on a poster, there are alot non-Native youth that make trouble everywhere just as much if not more. Does that mean we can put their picture's on a poster and make a service and round them up like vermin. That's just another White Man's way of saying we are nothing still these day's to them! Were renegade's and devil worshipper's and heathen's and wild Indian's in their eye's. We have more right's than they have to live here. This is our Country, they are the foreignor's.
39072746Annabelle said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 2:59 PM
How shocking.Always is to me, to realize that such mentalities still exist. A reminder for us that there is still a lot to do to educate people. This does qualify as a hate crime indeed, incitement to racial hatred is a crime. This won't help neither the "bad apples" nor the community at large. These people should be sued by the tribe. And of course, the mainstream media does not advertise about the good things going on with the first nations. The big lies goes on.
39071766AGH said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 2:04 PM
The point is-this act reminds us of how we have always been made to feel, by those who don't understand us..or by stereotyping us as a people. We have to remember that regardless of color or nationality. We all are one. The Human Race. This remimds us that the pen is strong, but our hearts and will are stronger. Children are children, and learn from us-the adults. We have no one to blame but our selves for not showing them the proper ways of our peoples. This is a hate crime for the advertisement to be published. WE dont need to fight against another, but become united. They say the pen is mightier than the ink... well I think OUR voices are mightier than the pen... Enjoy the day we have...
39067909Nadine Vaughan said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:56 PM
When I first heard about this ad, I was certain I heard wrong. As a psychologist and a person who has lived many years, I have seen and heard many things over the years. But this really jolted me! Really, are there people out therewho are still so ignorant that they see an ad like that as innocent humor?
39067346Tom Jones said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:28 PM
Children need to be educated, not "relocated".
39065589Clark said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:23 PM
The ad sucks, and so does the newspaper that published it. That said, i noticed this article focuses only on racism against Native Americans. Why did they not include a discussion about the racism and despicable acts perpetrated by Native Americans against non-Natives? Racism is bad wherever it is found, but you will always find it in a few individuals regardless of race, color, or creed.
39065249Anonymous said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:05 PM
For someone to be calling himself "the big native" doesn't understand the issue. He's trying to cause problems here. I know that their are punks of all race, white, native, black, asian...need i go further for you to understand that this ad was offensive to 3 young men who were trying make a difference not 3 little hood rats! You see the difference?? I don't understand racism because of the fact that not one person in the US is a full blood white person. How can that be? Dutch, Irish, German, Jews.... When a "white" person is in need of blood is that person going to ask if this blood is pure white person blood or is he going to use it because it'll save his/her life? I give blood and i'm a mixed Native with Irish & Italian in me so does that mean "white" people are racist that they couldn't accept our blood. Just a comment. Think before you decide whether "pest's" should be Taken care of. We are all Human an many humans make excused not just Native American's!
39063779different anon said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 12:38 PM
@the big native - a "troll" is someone who deliberately posts a message online in order to cause disruption or start an argument. I can't believe you would jump to saying "You probably paid your "medicine man" too much if trolls are part of your traditional beliefs" - way to miss the point completely.
39061884Anonymous said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 12:12 PM
big native, i think your heart is in the right place. my remarks about colonization come from my belief that our young should know their history, not just the chronicle of the conqueror. This knowledge is not to create apathy but hopefully empowerment, over having survived. i applaud your work with the youth and think perhaps there are two issues here; the despicable ad which we as adults should condemn, and our youth, who could use all our help. And yes, many of us need to get off the bottle/sofa/twinkie/pipe and do a better job.
39060016the big native said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 11:56 AM
what is a troll? is that something that urban/watered down indians see? You probably paid your "medicine man" too much if trolls are part of your traditional beliefs. i actually coach boxing on a reservation. i teach the kids accountability, to work hard, and to not make excuses. alot of the kids grew up around people that tell them its ok for them to be bad or underachieve because of their various problems. No parents, no money, discrimination etc..Giving them a crutch doesn't help them. It just gives them a good excuse to drop out of high school or get a DUI. It doesn't help when somebody comes in and talks about colonization mentality because it just rationalizes their self pity.
39058994Anonymous said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 11:12 AM
This smacks of neo colonization, and reflects prevailing similar, perhaps subtler, attitudes still out there by countries in denial/indifference/defensiveness of their despicable origins. This is not a reflection of the indigenous youth,but rather the author of the ad and everyone who was indifferent to it's hateful implications. the "white people are watching us" mentality of big native is an unfortunate by product of the experience of dehumanization.
39055941Commentator said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 9:55 AM
to the big native - you have a history of seeing the worst in Indian people and making it even worse as you post your blogs. It's clear that your agenda is nothing positive, and much negative. Are you a troll?
39050261moggycatross said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 7:04 AM
In this day and age it is beyond my minds understanding that such acts continue,if the younger element of our society is doing these deeds ,one wonders what examples are being upheld in these homes. This is deplorable
39043444BJ Squirrell said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 6:49 AM
@the big native and anyone that believes this kind of deplorable racism is OK in any way - so what are you doing to empower and encourage the native youth you see harassing the white folks? are you working with the people trying to provide positive outlets for them - are you mentoring or contributing to your community's youth - the poster IS a hate crime - it encourages those that have only hate for other human beings and validates their violent actions as they go off the deep end and commit unimaginable suffering and death... so stop supporting them and do something positive for our youth.
39043196melissa lin said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 2:27 AM
As an Asian American, I am all too familiar with threats like this against members of my own community. These threats, when ignored, often end in violence or even death. And contrary to stereotype, we have at-risk youth in the Asian community as well. At the same time, honest, responsible Asian American kids get targeted by cops as "gang members" because they are stereotyped as such. Just because a few people do bad things is no excuse for targeting an entire group.
39039519Raz'n Cain said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 2:18 AM
We are painfully aware of the issues that plague Indian Country. Suicide, high infant mortality rates, alcoholism, drug abuse, illiteracy, rape, hunger, disease, extreme poverty... The problem is not our children; their behavior is a result of the problems within Indian Country and America's lack of concern or interest in assisting us with programs to help our youth. What was posted, by definition is a hate crime. It is a crime as it offered the forced removal (kidnapping) of persons based upon their ethnic identity, in this case Native Americans. Enough apathy and ignorance already surrounds our people, our cultures, our traditions, our religions, and our ways of life. Ads such as this one only perpetuate the stereotypes we fight to abolish and put our already struggling youth at an even higher risk for failure, addiction, suicide, and crime. Be a part of the solution. Stop the hate.
39039374melissa lin said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:56 AM
So if it were white kids harassing Native, Asian, African, or Latino elders, would you support a proposal to round up all the white youth and deposit them somewhere else? Any threat targeted against an entire group, regardless of what individuals in that group may or may not have done, is a hate crime. Think of all the hard-working, honest, non-violent Native kids who are also targets of this ad. Do you want them rounded up too? Think of the three Native youth whose picture was illegally used in the ad. They are responsible, hard-working young men who made a film about environmental issues on the reservation where they live. Their reward is apparently to be threatened with extermination like vermin. How is that right in any way?
39038994tired said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:54 AM
Every cultural group has issues with at risk youth. Remember much of what plagues our communities comes from the injustices imposed upon us, not that this is an excuse, it is a valid reason to remind us that we are in a time of healing. By allowing our youth to be put down and say that other people's racism and hate is the fault of our kids is only perpetrating further violence.
39038929the big native said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:49 AM
wake up! some of the little natives are little punks or pests. by denying it you are just making problems worse. gangs, alcoholism and drugs are plaquing our communities. if we don't acknowledge it, somebody else will. apparently, these white guys noticed it before us. now its time to face reality. i don't see this as a "hate" crime but rather as an observation. if we make a big deal about this "ad" we will look like a bunch of cry babies.
39038829Kateri said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 12:21 AM
@the big native... Not to sound insensitive but your comment is simply idiotic. Yes, some children and youth are out of control - watch SuperNanny and you'll see tons of out of control children, so what? That really isn't the issue here. And as soon as you write "no pun intended" you're admitting you know the double entendre in your words and are making the CHOICE to use them regardless. It's not funny or clever. I'm so sick of people defending racism against First Nations people. The ad compares First Nation youth in Winnipeg to vermin! By extension, it says the same about their families and communities. How can any of that ever be acceptable?
39036491Rob Schmidt said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 12:19 AM
Actually, you haven't seen "these little punks," since the boys in the ad are filmmakers in Washington state, not gang members in Manitoba. That's exactly why the ad was so offensive: for stereotyping all Native kids, even the best ones, as hoodlums.
39036414the big native said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 11:38 PM
not to sound insensitive but some of these youngsters are little punks. every stereotype has some truth to it. we as parents/grandparents have to admit some of our children are out of control and do something about it. ive been to walmart plenty of times and seeing these little punks harrasing white people while indians adults/elders will just walk past and ignore them. These few bad apples(no pun intended) are ruining it for good kids.
39034851rp said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 6:21 PM
Thank you for bringing this issue to light, I will write, email, or telephone and say this is really an awful & preventable crime. Respectfully, R
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