Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

July 14, 2013

Long Walk 4 readies for Sunrise Ceremony July 15, 2013

Long walker Lisa Peake.

 Affirmation of Sovereignty of the Indigenous People of the Western Hemisphere

Longest Walk 4 Return to Alcatraz


By Longest Walk 4
Censored News

Update Monday, July 15, 2013

"Today there was a Ceremony at the place where the original The Longest Walk ended in 1978. From there a Sovereignty Staff and Women Staff were carried twenty one miles in very hot and humid conditions." 
"We did 21 miles in 93 degree, 100 humidity. Fun had by all."

WASHINGTON DC -- The Longest Walk 4: Return to Alcatraz begins tomorrow morning, July 15, 2013, with a sunrise Ceremony from the place where the original The Longest Walk 1978 finished.  At this time, as we prepare for our journey bringing the Sovereignty Staff to Alcatraz, we would like to remember the spirit of all those that helped bring that spiritual message across the land, and the words that reflected this in The Longest Walk 1978.  It is called an Affirmation of Sovereignty of the Indigenous People of the Western Hemisphere.  When we Walk we start with this affirmation in our thoughts and prayers.

This Walk is not just for the Indian Nations of the United States.  This Walk is for all Indigenous Nations and Peoples that continue to seek and assert affirmations of sovereignty compatible with their spiritual and cultural beliefs and values.  We are hoping that those, whether they be Indigenous Nations, groups, individuals or non-Indigenous allies, that  believe in Indigenous Sovereignty will take the time to read the original The Longest Walk manifesto, and will also write us a message of their own issues relating to Indigenous Sovereignty so that we might include them in our journey.
Women's Walk to Sand Creek Massacre site Long Walk 2

At this time we would like to acknowledge the Oskapewis (Helpers) Walk toward the mountains of what is called Alberta.  They too have been walking in their own way to support the Indigenous understanding of Treaties and affirming the traditional sources of Indigenous Sovereignty.  We acknowledge and honor the Two Row Wampum Renewal PeaceWalk and Canoe happening in the territories of the Haudenosaunee, who have long upheld their Haudenosaunee vision of sovereignty, based on their spiritual ways and embodied in the Great Law of Peace and recognized by European nation-states, as a form of legal sovereignty.

It is our hope that those reading this will extend their support to all of these endeavours and those on the front lines in protecting the practice of Indigenous Sovereignty, from the Micmaw,trying to stop fracking, to those trying to stop the desecration of the tar sands and resultant pipelines in Great Turtle Island, to those in Amazon blockading mining development on their lands, to those in Aotearoa trying to stop oil drilling in their waters, and everywhere else that Indigenous Peoples are trying to protect their lands, waters and ways.

Updated Long Walk 4 Schedule:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/07/longest-walk-4-return-to-alcatraz.html

Photo: Among the walkers: Long walker Lisa Peake, Anishinabe/Pomo, will walk across America for the third time. Lisa Peake is joined by walkers Mark Blue and Kyle Guthrie form Minnesota. Photo Long Walk 2/Brenda Norrell.

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