Roy Track
Anti-Bias Law has
Backfired at Berkeley
Communications pioneer, pow wow voice, and
friend passes away
By Loren Tapahe©Copyright
Arizona Native Scene
May 2, 2005
Commentary: By Robert J. Birgeneau,
Los Angeles Times, March 27, 2005
PHOENIX—He was a forerunner in the print
and broadcast business and a pow wow icon as
thousands of Native Americans throughout the
country have read his words or has heard his voice.
Communications pioneer Roy Charles Track,
Jr., 63, and popular master of ceremonies at pow
wows passed away early Sunday morning, April
24, 2005.
His wit, his contribution to the community,
his jokes and how no one was immune to his
teasing, will be missed by the many people who
were enriched by his presence.
The ribbon shirt, the colorful vest, and the
dark sunglasses were his regalia. His jokes and
teasing were his way of showing love and respect
for you. If he laughed at you, he cared about you.
His work spanned many decades and his
friendship to many people had no boundaries as
friends from Montana, Oregon, Washington, the
Dakotas and neighboring states, as well as all over
Arizona came to attend the funeral services on
April 30, 2005.
Roy is Assiniboine Sioux of Fort Peck,
Montana and the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde of Oregon. He was born in Nevada, then
moved to Wolf Point, Montana where he was raised
by his grandmother.
Stuart Day, who is the same age as Roy and
played with him when the two were growing up in
Wolf Point, said, “We use to carry tires up the
mountain and roll them down the hillside. We
didn’t have much then or any store-bought toys.
We used tree branches as guns. Our fathers and
grandfathers were close friends,” he said.
Roy graduated from Parker High School in
Parker, Arizona in 1959 and later attended Brigham
Young University in Provo, Utah in 1960. He took
classes in communications for two years and that’s
where he met Nita who he married in Salt Lake
City, Utah in 1962.
Later after his college days, he moved back
to Parker where he worked for a couple years with
the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He then moved to
Phoenix in the early 1960’s to work for ATT, but
felt that job did not give him enough opportunity
to work in the Indian community as he wanted.
His lifetime friend, Clyde Cornelius who
hired Roy as an accountant in Parker, said,
“working as an accountant didn’t give him an
opportunity to help his people. His mission was
always to help Indian people.”
In his late 20’s the opportunity Roy longed
for came as he helped develop programs for Native
Americans in Phoenix with noted names as Pete
Homer, Jr., Ernie Steven, Sr., Lee Cook, Gabriel
Sharp, and Syd Beane. Each, in their own way were
instrumental in creating opportunities for Native
Americans throughout the country and Roy was
no exception.
They were known as, “the young Turks,” said
Reverend Joedd Miller of the group of young men
who had ambitions to improve the quality of life
of Indians in Phoenix.
In the early 70’s, Arizona State Employment
director Juana Lyons called the young group
together to start an organization to train young
Native American leaders and to develop needed
programs for Indians in the valley.
One of first Indian programs in the valley in
the early 70’s was a housing program that Roy
worked with, commented Syd Beane, who has
known Roy since 1969.
“Roy was probably the first Indian to own a
house in Phoenix,” said Syd. Syd moved to
Minneapolis for a new job in 1983 but often stayed
Continued on page 6
Physicist Robert J. Birgeneau became chancellor
of UC Berkeley in September 2004.
Nine years ago the people of California passed
Proposition 209 in what I believe was a sincere
effort to foster nondiscrimination in the state.
However, 209’s supporters do not see what I see
every day as the new chancellor at UC Berkeley.
Instead of ensuring non-discrimination,
Proposition 209 has created an environment that
many students of color view as discriminatory.
That’s because minority representation has
dropped appallingly, and where there should be
camaraderie across cultural lines, I have seen too
much alienation, mistrust and division.
Proposition 209 has had its biggest impact on the
enrollment of Latinos, Native Americans and
African Americans. The situation for African
American students is truly at a crisis point.
Freshmen enrollment at UC Berkeley, for instance,
has gone from 260 black students in 1997 to just
108 students this year. That’s too small a number
to form a supportive student community, and many
of Berkeley’s black freshmen view themselves as
struggling against a hostile environment.
They tell me how difficult it is to be the only
African American in a class when an issue
involving multicultural-ism comes up and all eyes
turn to you; how much pressure it puts on an 18year-old to be re-garded as the sole re-presentative
of her race; and why it is a tragedy for California
when there are only dozens of African American
men in a freshman class of 3600.
Sarah James, Gwich’in Nation from Arctic Village sings and fashions her dress wearing her traditional beaver skin gloves.
OIL ON ICE: Envision the Arctic Village
Sarah James gave a presentation at UCR
in the International Lounge on April 21,
2005. She spoke about Alaska oil spills
and the effects it has on the wildlife and
people.
Sarah James is a Neets’aii Gwich’in Indian who lives in Arctic Village, Alaska.
She was raised in a traditional nomadic
way, with the porcupine River Caribou
Herd. Sarah is a board member of the
Gwich’in Steering Committee, the International Indian Treaty Council, and has
served as a member of the Arctic Village
Traditional Council. Sarah also participated in the Peace and Dignity Journey
2004, a run for peace and recognition of
the indigenous people of America. Two
groups of runner from Chickaloon, Alaska
to Panama City, Panama, while another
group ran from Argintina to Panama. The
run started in May 2004 and ended in October 2004.
Proposition 209 assumed that considering race or
ethnicity in the admissions process would allow
undeserving students into Berkeley. But it is
significant that the graduation rates of African
Americans before and after the proposition’s
passage have stayed virtually the same. Far from
weeding out students who could not succeed, the
elimination of race as a consideration in
admissions has actually prevented many of
California’s most able students from the
opportunity of a Berkeley education.
Sarah showed a video entitled Oil On Ice
highlighting the controversies surrounding the pursuit of the oil drilling in Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge,. This documentary illustrates the controversial linked issues at stake in the conflict between conservation and energy extraction interests.
In my view, it is unrealistic to think that one can
judge a person’s likelihood of success at Berkeley
without taking into account his race and gender. I
spent many years on the faculty at MIT. For
decades, women
were significantly under-represented in the
undergraduate student body there. So MIT
aggressively recruited young women and in the
admissions process explicitly took into account
negative environmental effects on their SAT scores.
We found that it took at most two semesters for
More information on back page
Continued on back page
Native American Student Programs 114
University of California, Riverside
224 Costo Hall
900 University Ave.
Riverside, CA 92521
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Riverside, CA.
Permit No. 131
Indian Times, Spring Quarter 2005, Page 2
From the desk of the Director
CAMPUS
NASP Support Staff
UC
American Indian Counselors/Recruiters
Association
Campus Representatives
Berkeley
Bridget Wilson
Native American Community Relations Office of
the Undergraduate Admission
110 Sproul Hall, #5800 Berkeley, CA 94720
(510)643-7902, (510) 642-7333 (fax)
[email protected]
Earl Sisto wears many hats running
the NASP office.
Greetings,
Now and the coming year is a very exciting time for the Native American Student
Programs with the number Native American undergraduate admitted escalating to
a new number for the Fall Quarter 2005. I
would like to congratulate those students
that made to the Spring Quarter, and especially those that will be graduating. You
did a great job!
We also have new exciting programs in
the coming school year beginning with the
Summer Residential Program: Gathering
of the Tribes. The program will be implemented in August 2005. Middle and High
school students will reside on campus for
a week. The program will be filled with
classes, motivational activities, and fun
games. The student will have the opportunity to experience college life. New staff
will be hired to help with the activities.
We are also planning and organizing an
American Indian 5k run next spring so
plan to take part in the fund-raising event.
There will be prizes and awards for the
winners. We are reintroducing the famous
chicken scratch dance to the area. On May
7, 2005, the Mario Bros. from Arizona will
come to UCR campus to perform. This
effort is to reach out to the Chicano community as a culture exchange and compare similarities.
The NASP office will again begin the Indian Times publication beginning with the
Spring Quarter 2005 issue. I know many
of you are calling asking about the paper.
We will begin publishing on a regular
bases. The NASP website at
www.nasp.ucr.edu will also duplicate the
paper.
The Native American Student Association
continues to be very active this year. They
are working on the Medicine Ways Conference. They will not have the Pow Wow
this year, but will have and entertainment
night with several good performances.
Come join them and participate.
Until Fall Quarter 2005, have a good summer and drop by to see us sometime.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Earl Dean Sisto
Paloma Hernandez, NASP Student Assistant for
over two years and took a break for half a year for
study abroad in France. She will be graduating
Spring Quarter 2005, work for UCR summer
residental program, and again, return to France to
teach English. Paloma gave NASP joy and happiness with her kindness and courtuality to all, especially the students. She was very helpful to the students. She helped make NASP a pleasant place to
be. Paloma is a fine dancer. She will be missed in
the NASP office.
Ruth Hopper
Native American Studies, Undergraduate
Advisor, 506 Barrows Hall, # 2570
(510) 642-6613, (510) 642-6456 (fax)
[email protected]
Davis
Jacquelyn Ross
Native American Outreach, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services
One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8507
(530) 752-3743, (530) 752-1280 (fax)
[email protected]
Michelle Villegas-Frazier
Outreach Officer School of Medicine
MedSci 1COne Shields Avenue, Davis, CA
(530) 752-8387, (530) 754-6252 (fax)
[email protected]
Irvine
Vacant
Los Angeles
Josh Gonzales, NASP Program Assistant started
recently to handle program activities. He has
brought in Sarah James from Alaska to talk about
oil spills and Caribou survivals. He graduated from
UCR in Spring of 2004. He was very active with
the UCR Track team and in fact participated in
the 2004 Peace and Dignity Journey Run from
Alaska to Panama. He ran from Pomona, CA to
Panama.
Dwight Youpee
American Indian Studies Center
3220 Campbell Hall, Box 951548, Los Angeles,
CA (310) 206-7511, 206-7060 (fax)
[email protected]
Yolanda Leon, Director
American Indian Recruitment
220 Westwood Plaza Ste. 106
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 825-3844 [email protected]
Merced
Vacant
Riverside
Earl Dean Sisto, Director
Native American Student Programs
224 Costo Hall, UCR, Riverside, CA 92521
(951) 827-4143, (951) 827-4342 (fax)
[email protected]
Ralph Bravo works for the UC American Indian
Counselors/Recruiters Association and California
Student Aid Commission. There are three other
individuals in the same position in the state covering Northern, Central, and Southern California.
Ralph outreaches to high schools, and provides
financial aid and FASFA presentations. He works
out of the NASP office and provides assistance as
needed.
San Diego
Geneva Lofton-Fitzsimmons, Coordinator
American Indian Early Academic Outreach
9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093-0305
(760) 749-1410 ext. 5278, (760) 749-1564 (fax)
(858) 775-7072 (cell) [email protected]
Alternate address for Fitzsimmons:
California Native American Research for Health
(CA-NARCH), P.O. Box 406
Pauma Valley, CA 92061
San Franciso
Vacant
Santa Barbara
Cuca Acosta
Office of Admissions, UCSB
1234 Cheadle Hall, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
(805) 893-2307, [email protected]
Santa Cruz
Vickie Unruh, Senior Evaluator
Hahn Student Service, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
(831) 459-4191 [email protected]
Dennis Tibbetts, Ph.D., Director
American Indian Resource Center, Ethnic
Resoruce Center, UC Santa Cruz
1156 high St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064
(831) 459-2881, (831) 459-4409 (fax)
[email protected]
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Barbara Grimes
American Indian Education & Employment
Outreach
P.O. Box 1663, Mail Stop A117
Los Alamos, NM 87545
(505) 665-5121, (800) 508-4400, (505) 665-4411
(fax) (505) 699-0653 (cell) [email protected].
UC Office of the President
Ramona Willson, Director
MESA Schools Program
300 Lakeside Drive, 7th floor
Oakland, CA 94612-3550
(510) 987-0221 (voice), (510) 763-4704 (fax)
[email protected]
Website: www.ucaicra.org
Interested
in attending
UCR?
Contact:
Earl Dean Sisto, Director
Native American Student Programs
(951) 827-4143
(951) 827-4342 (FAX)
[email protected]
California
Summer Residential Program
at the University of
Calfiornia, Riverside (UCR)
Page 3, Spring Quarter 2005, Indian Times
University of California, Riverside
The Native American Student Programs and the
UC American Indian Counselor/Recruiters Association will cosponsor the first Summer Residential Program: Gathering of the Tribes. The
8-day program will motivate students to consider education after high school and provide
them with the opportunity to acquire writing and
computer skills. In their writing class they will
produce an article that will be posted on the
NASP website and will be printed in a summer
program publication. In addition students will
have fun activities , such as field trips, sports
tournaments, and a beach BBQ party. They will
also learn basket weaving, various Indian
dances, and songs. They will be inundated with
various motivational speakers. The students will
have a good view about how life is on University campuses.
The program will begin with an orientation luncheon with a keynote speaker and then they will
be assigned into groups. Team work will be
very important in the program. During the
morning, writing and computer classes will be
conducted. In the afternoon, they will be involved in various fun activities, and in the
evening, demonstrations will be provided. The
program will end with a recognition/awards
dinner and students will be given certificates.
Only 40 students will participate in the weeklong program divided into 20 males and 20 females. Two coordinators, will oversee the program with 4 residential assistants that will constantly guide, advise, and monitor the students. Any misconduct will result in immediate
dismissal from the program.
The deadline to apply is May 16, 2005. Decisions will be made by June 15, 2005 , with an
option for reconsideration by June 30, 2005. Beginning July 1, 2005, applicants will be notified and letters of acceptance and denial will be
mailed. The program will be free to all students. Apply to this once in a lifetime opportunity. Find out for yourself what college life is
really like, with your parent’s or guardian’s permission, of course.
Check the flyer to the right to obtain more important information. Check out our website at
www.nasp.ucr.edu for more information and to
download the application.
Continued from front page
Roy Track
at Roy’s home when he came to Phoenix on
business.
“Roy ended up working in the media,” said
Syd. “It was his love.” Syd co-hosted the 21st
Century Native American Show with Roy for 10
years before he left the valley.
Roy, at one time was a co-owner of a radio station
and sold his interest to work full-time on his
projects. “He had a strong entrepreneurial spirit,”
proclaimed Syd.
“Roy was a strong example of an Indian
family and being part of the community as well,”
commented Syd, “he set precedence [in the media]
which now is opening up.”
“He was there in the beginning before
anything was there,” Syd proudly declared of his
friend.
Heather Rae Evanston (Left) and Amanda Medrano (Right both
from Mohave Valley, Arizona at College Inforamtion Day at UCR
on November 19, 2004.
Gathering of the Tribes
Summer Residential Program
for
American Indian High School Students
**********
A week of classes,presentations, and fun activities
**********
For information
Call (951) 827-4143 or e-mail [email protected]
To apply
www.nasp.ucr.edu/Gathering
Summer Residential Program: Gathering of the Tribes
Native American Student Programs, University of California Riverside, 224 Costo Hall Riverside, CA 92521
One of Roy’s early projects was a radio
program he produced in a church room donated
by Rev. Miller. “Roy was hired to produce a 15minute student radio program once a week to be
aired on a radio station at Phoenix College,” said
Rev. Miller.
“It was great to hear positive news about
Indians—someone standing up for good things,”
said Miller. “He really worked to help Indian
people keep their ties with their culture.” He
sometimes however, played Pink Floyd as
background music, Rev. Miller remembered.
Roy constantly encouraged others, including
his good friend, the late Ray Boley, founder of
Canyon Records. He helped Ray get the record
label started. Canyon Records produces Native
American music and has launched the careers of
many Native music artists in Arizona including the
popular group Clan/Destine, who have always
given free concerts at the opening of the Mesa Pow
Wow as repayment for his assistance.
“We loss a caring communicator,” said Rev.
Miller, “who worked very, very hard to help Indian
people. A good spirit. And, we need to celebrate
this gift.”
Roy started his career in journalism as a
freelance writer in the Phoenix area writing for
Indian newspapers.
A time he was very proud of while working
in print journalism was when he took photographs
of the Fort McDowell Indian Community in the
80’s when the Yavapai community was going to
be flooded.
His pictures helped convince the public and
politicians who saw the pictures that “these poor
people in the middle of nowhere . . .[they] were
being driven off their land” he said, according to
an interview in 2002 at Grand Ronde, Oregon.
As a result, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
will be celebrating their 24th Annual Orme Dam
Victory Days this year to commemorate their
victory that stopped construction of a dam that
would have flooded their ancestral homeland.
Soon after, he moved into the broadcast
business and had a opportunity to be the first
Native American television reporter in the early
70’s for KOOL-TV in Phoenix, but declined as he
wanted to learn more about the technical aspects
of broadcast rather than being in front of the
camera.
His choice proved historic as he launched his
new television show, “21st Century Native
American” in the early 1970’s which was still in
Continued on page 6
Indian Times, Spring Quarter 2005, Page 4
Activities
Dario Rodriguez, giving a hang-ten sign while enjoying
his coffee at the UCR American Indian Alumni Banquet
held at the Soboba Indain Reservation in 2004.
Angel Lopez has graduated now and has gone on to the
next phaze in his life, the job market. He misses college
life so much he is now looking for a graduate program in
education.
Ralph Bravo and Professor Robert Perez wait outside at
the UCR College Information Day. Robert Perez’s team
place first and Ralph’s team came in second at this year’s
Juegos de Aztlan Bowling Tournament.
Carrie Garcia of Soboba and a student majoring in American Indian Studies enjoying the
Erskine Smith, 6 foot 4 Wagon Burner outfielder slugging at the evening at the 1st Annual UCR American In2004 Juegos de Aztlan Softball Tournment. Wagon Burners made dian Alumni Fund Raising Banquet at the
the Championship in 2004 and unfortunately placed 3rd in 2005. Soboba Band of Mission Casino on February
18, 2004.
Erskine Smith checking out the bull
ride for safety while Tashina MirandaOrnelas and Lisa Morales (front) look
on with approval.
From shoot #1, Jose Chavez the famous
Bull Rider in the Sky, in a death grib
rides the bull. Jose is very active in
NASP & NASA activites.
Raymond James Naylor- Hunter, Paiute, an undergraduate sudent majoring in Native American Studies. He is contemplating Law school.
Right:
Gregorio
Cervantes, Legislative
Assistant,
Cabazon Band of
Mission Indians of
Indio, CA attending
the UCR American
Indian Alumni Association Fundraising
Banquet on February 18, 2005 at
Soboba Casino. Mr.
Cervantes has been a
good friend to NASP
and is instrumental
in obtaining funds for
the UCR Cabazon
Scholarship program. The scholarship program helped
many students in
need that otherwise
would have dropped
out of school. Many
thanks to you and
Chairman
John
James for helping
UCR students.
Julio Meza, a natural Champion
Rider, Biological Science major, member of UER, and from the Coachella
Valley learned his stuff from a ranch
in Mexico.
The beauty and the beast. Wendy
learned on the spot and had it under
control throughout the entire ride.
Surely she must come from a ranch.
Getting on the bull is half the ride
for some. Noel Huizar_ completed
the ride successfully. He is a member of UER a UCR Student organization.
Activities
Page 5, Spring Quarter 2005, Indian Times
Roy Cook, Michael Moreles, 4th Education Youth Coor, at TM, Paul Cuero,
Jr. 5th Chariman of Campo, Steve Banegas, 6th, Ralph Bravo (far right)
Huichol Nation, outreach assistant at NASP joins the Bird Singers at the
California Conference on American Indian Education in San Diego, CA on
April 12, 2005. Campo and the Young Birds Singers.
Paul Miranda and Ralph Bravo singing California Bird
songs during lunch hour in front of the NASP office.
Heather Medart, Quechan Indian from Winterhaven,
CA dances proudly to a California Bird song at the
California Conference of American Indian Education
Conference in San Diego, CA on April 12, 2005.
Carrie Madrigal enjoying the
evening at the UCR American
Indian Alumni Association
Fundraiser Banquet at Soboba
on February 18, 2005.
Erick Ulin , not too tall, but a whiz in
spiking a volleyball. Erick played for
the Organizacion Estudiantil
Universitaria De Espanol (OEUE)
team of UCR that won this year’s
Juegos de Aztlan Volleyball TournaIsrael Gonzales in Northern Traditional regalia in the clouds. ment.
Left to Right: Israel Gonzales and Josh Gonzales performing the famous hoop dance at the American Indian
Schalorship Fundraising event on February 24, 2005 at
the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA.
Sherman Indian
School Brothers
Attending theUCR
Alumni Banquet
Left: Hugo Marcias affirming
the Banquet was indeed marvelous.
Right: Eagle Manning. I could
make a song about this event.
Eagle is the Head singer for
Sherman Indian High School
singing group.
The 2004 Peace and Dignity Journey
Left to Right: Delphine John, Dine from Wheatfield, Earl Sisto, Jose Luis Lujano a graduate
student in social work at Cal State San Bernardino, Enrique “KIKE” from El Monte, CA works
for a youth program, Calvin Black, Pamela Black, director of the Foster Grandparent Program in
San Carlos, and Caroline Cody, prominant leader of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The Peace and
Dignity Journey run forked out into various routes in Arizona in August 2004 . One of the routes
ran through the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. This particular photo was taken in front
of the San Carlos Apache Tribal office on August 7, 2004. Pamela Black was gracious in providing housing and feeding the runners. Mr. Dickson Dewey, a medicine-man prayed over the runners for a safe journey to Panama. Many thanks to the staff of Foster Grandparent Program:
Pamela Black, Louise Kinney, Ailene Dude, Sarah Bush, Victoria Martin, Ocelia Johnson, Betty
Bullis, Sylvia McIntosh, Therlene Ramos, Madeline Stevens, and Ray Curtis.
UCR Ballet Folklorico performed at Discover Days at UCR. A day of welcoming new incoming freshmen.
Indian Times, Spring Quarter 2005, Page 6
Border Terrorism
Militias: Another face of
terrorism
What seems to be at work is that
these militias are providing cover,
or better yet, leverage for an
administration that is using fear to
By Roberto Rodriguez, April 25,
balloon the military and
2005
“homeland security” budgets. A
death at the hands of one of these
The introduction of extremist and extremists will trigger an
armed militias on the Arizona- international outcry… but the
Mexico border is sending administration will cleverly parlay
shockwaves worldwide. The it into a call for the further
message: that extremist anti- militarization of an already highly
Mexican militias, supported by militarized border.
other racial supremacists, are
A death at the hands of one of these
welcome there.
extremists will also be parlayed
And it’s not that these extremists into passing the president’s
are saying anything unusual. proposal to create a massive “guest
They’re actually just echoing the worker” program that will result
administration’s rhetoric about the in a permanent subclass
border having something to do (subhuman) of workers, without
with “the war on terror”… as if the basic rights afforded all human
the 911 terrorists had all come beings. For instance, these
workers will not be placed on track
from, or through, Mexico.
for legalization, much less U.S.
Something isn’t right. This is the citizenship. Nor will they will be
same administration that goes to allowed to bring over their families
war, and calls for permanent war, nor the right to unionization.
under false pretenses, sanctions
torture and military “targeted This inhumane scheme is in
assassinations” and schemes to complete contradistinction to
consolidate all power in the hands practices in Europe. There,
of the president, minus any checks workers from member nations of
the European Community can
and balances.
work in any other member nation
If the presence of these extremist - without a loss of rights,
militias isn’t violating state or citizenship or humanity. Here,
national laws, then perhaps the with a trilateral agreement
tacit governmental support of between the United States, Canada
these militias may be placing the and Mexico, the government
United States in violation of pretends that “illegal aliens” are
several international human rights sneaking in to take peoples’ jobs.
conventions, including possibly (Best right wing excuse is that they
the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe are taking jobs from African
Hidalgo. They are supposed to Americans. The question is, who
protect the human rights of all awarded a patent for the worst U.S.
people, including migrants, while jobs to African Americans?). The
the treaty - which is still in force truth is, big business and
today — is supposed to guarantee government have always been in
the rights and safety of Mexican cahoots. The existence of “illegal
aliens” means exploitable noncitizens.
unionized labor - one that is forced
If their concern is terrorism, why to live in fear and in shadows aren’t they on the Canadian always with the threat of economic
border? And it’s not as if these and sexual exploitation and
militias are overgrown boy scouts. deportation.
Amnesty International, Human
Rights Watch and the American Can the United States adopt an EC
Friends Service Committee have labor-type arrangement with
tracked vigilante violence along Mexico? Absolutely. Will it? Of
the border for decades. So why course not. (The border patrol
then is the administration allowing would be unemployed and
this new militia effort - heavily multinational corporations would
supported by other known not be able to enjoy the fruits of
supremacists - to “take the law into extreme exploitation).
their own hands?” Beyond the law,
Militias on the border? That’s but
it’s the message.
a manifestation of a larger problem
Since 1848, there have been - the systematic creation of legal
untold deaths along the border by and illegal human populations. If
Texas Rangers, U.S. Border Patrol we want to get rid of these
agents and vigilantes alike. And extremist kooks on the border, the
we’re not talking ancient history. first step is to eliminate the greatest
Every year, migrants turn up dead source of dehumanization; the
on the border as a result of existence of legal and illegal
drownings, exposure or vigilante human populations. Failure to do
violence. Court cases against so will lay the groundwork for a
vigilantes are not unusual. What’s future society based largely on
unusual is justice. Rare is the hunter and hunted populations.
punishment for the death of a
Mexican.
COLUMN OF THE AMERICAS
What’s also unusual is to
somehow link terrorism with
Mexicans.
BY ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ &
PATRISIA GONZALES
2005 [email protected], 608238-3161 or PO BOX 5093,
Madison WI 53705.
California
University of California, Riverside
Native American Student Association & Native American Student Programs
invite you to
The 24th Annual Medicine Ways Conference:
Educating Generations Through Traditional and Contemporary Experiences
Friday, May 20, 2005 **** Terrace Rooms A-C **** 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Guest Speakers in Commons Cafeteria: Entertainment at the Bell Tower:
Jack Forbes
Darryl Babe Wilson
Juanita Dixon-Majel
Others: TBA
California Bird Singers
Ohlone Dancers
Sherman Gaan Dancers
The Cruisers
*Breakfast, Lunch, and BBQ will be provided
*Parking $6
For more information please contact Native Aemrican Student Programs
Phone: (951) 827-4143 or e-mail [email protected]
Continued from page 3
Roy Track
production at his passing. The show has
been running over 30 years as hundreds
of Phoenix Native Americans have
appeared on his show.
Roy Track has the longest running
Native American public affairs show in
Arizona according to Channel 3 where
his show was aired every Sunday
morning at 6:30 a.m. for thirty years and
recently moved to every other week this
past year.
In a tribute to Roy by Channel 3,
which aired last Monday, April 25th
station personnel spoke of his
contributions to the Native community,
his tireless efforts to introduce the
general community to Native culture,
and to inform Native Americans on
contemporary issues through his TV
program.
For his work in broadcast, Roy was
informed two weeks prior to his passing
that he received the coveted “Silver
Circle Award” from the local chapter of
the National Academy of Television and
Arts Sciences for his long-time work in
broadcast journalism. He was to receive
the award in person on Monday, April
25th at a luncheon in Phoenix.
This award is given to persons who have
demonstrated commitment to excellence
in broadcast for 25 years or more. A
long-time friend and associate to Roy,
Neil Miller graciously accepted the
award on his behalf at the ceremony.
There was also a moment of silence
at the luncheon to honor Roy.
One of Roy’s many friends, Wanda
K. Frenchman talked about her first
memory of him.
“One of my first memories is waking
up early at my Grandma’s house to
watch his TV Show. My Grandma
always said it was important to have
someone in the community that would
promote Native American issues on
TV.”
Michael Lopez, who worked with
Roy in producing his show at Channel
3 Studios was his audio man in the early
days and later became the engineer
operations manager. “He was the voice
of the Native American people,” said
Michael, “and his show had a crossover
effect on Latinos and other minority
groups.”
“He gave me a lot of advice,” said
Michael, “He will be truly missed,”
“He put Native Americans on the
map,” some would say of Roy as he
always found a way promote the
lifestyle of America’s first people.
Roy taped his show during the
week for the following Sunday morning
airing. Sometimes scheduled interviews
would call thirty minutes before the
taping and say, “my car broke down,”
said Dave Montour, founder of the band
Clan/Destine. Dave can’t remember
how many times he played on Roy’s
show. “We were the backup when
someone canceled.”
Dede Yazzie Devine, CEO of the
Native American Connections of Roy
said the same thing as he often called
her to fill in when someone canceled.”
Hey Dede, my guest speaker canceled
can you show up in about an hour at
the studio,”
“I would get to the studio and he
would show up 30-seconds before the
shoot. Pull on a ribbon shirt over his Tshirt and brush down his hair and they
would stick a microphone on him and
he would be ready to go!” said Dede.
But that was the way he was,
always ready to go and to do something
and to say something positive to
enlighten and uplift the community.
In the early days, while he was involved
with the community he played
basketball for local teams. He played
with a team called Phoenix “Chiefs”
for a while, then he formed his own
basketball team called the “21st Century
Native American” and traveled the
southwest and the west coast to play and
coach at the same time. He played and
later coached his team for over twenty
years. His brothers and sons, Hawk and
Chad played along side him for many
years. He was always very proud of sons
and their athletic ability. He also was
avid bowler and golfer.
“He was a good ball player,” said
Paul Smith, from Salt River and longtime friend and who use to referee ball
games that Roy played in. Roy even
learned to referee and then turned
Continued on page 7
National
Page 7, Spring Quarter 2005, Indian Times
Powerful Words
From Lavern Dennison,
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
DARRELL SCOTT TESTIMONY
You seek for answers everywhere,
And precious children die.
And ask the question “Why?”
Photo by Paloma Hernandez
Front left to right: Wendy Pineda, Alejandro Urias, Anna
Leon. Back: Yvonne Garcia and Erskine Smith. Thanks to the
girls for making fry bread at sales and other activities. Boys,
thanks for being supportive of the Native American Student
Programs & Native American Student Association.
Continued from page 6
Mr. Track
around and taught other kids. “That’s
the way he was,” said Paul.
One of the kids Roy taught to
referee gave Roy a technical foul in one
of the games up in Warm Springs,
Oregon. “Roy played hard and just like
many players would get overly
involved,” remembered Paul.
Also in the tribute to Roy on
Channel 3, they also commented Roy
was involved with organizing and
emceeing many pow wows in Arizona
and throughout the country.
This aspect of his life everyone knew.
He emceed many pow wows around the
country and was to be the co-emcee at
this year’s Gathering of Nations Pow
Wow in Albuquerque, one of the largest
pow wows in the country.
Well-known pow wow announcer
Sammy ‘Tone-kei” White said Roy was
the “roving emcee” at the Gathering last
year and was to be there again with him
and Dennis Bowen and Vince Beyl.
“They had a big song in his memory,”
he said.
Tone-kei, as he is known throughout
Indian country also had a Native
American public affairs show around
the same time as Roy in Anadarko,
Oklahoma.
Tone-kei first met Roy at a conference
thirty years ago in Oklahoma City when
Roy was a promoter for the band
Redbone. “We became friends
instantly,” he said, “he had a quiet way
but had authority.”
This year will mark the 20th
anniversary of the popular Mesa Pow
Wow that Roy started on a “shoe string
budget,” he would say. The pow wow
was always free and open to the public
as he wanted to give the “White people”
an opportunity to experience the Native
American culture.
He helped many tribes begin their
first pow wow on their land. San Carlos
Apache and Gila River Indian
Community are two the many he helped
get started.
“He started them,” said Artis
Vasquah, “sometimes with only $500.”
Artis sang an honor song for Roy at the
Visitation for the times he helped him
learn about pow wows. “He was a
teacher to me,” he said with tears
welling up in his eyes.
Before Roy became known as
a pow wow announcer, he was the
popcorn seller. He traveled the country
with his popcorn machine and could set
up in a matter of minutes for raise gas
money or funds for a project.
“I know I was getting close
to the pow wow because I can smell the
popcorn,” Clyde overheard a group
saying while attending a pow wow.
Yolanda Frenchman, who
assisted Roy with tabulating results at
a competition pow wow said Roy taught
her how to use the popper.
“When I was a teenager he
taught me how to work his popcorn
popper and he videotaped a group of
Phoenix Indian Center youth who went
on a cross-country trip in the summer
of ’85. We went to learn about pow
wows in Oklahoma and Montana and
the popcorn that we sold helped pay for
the video, “Pow Wow Country Comes
to the City.”
Amid the all the memories of
Roy, perhaps the most remembered
characteristic will be his ability to make
dry jokes funny and how no one escaped
his teasing.
Anne Susan, who became
Miss Indian America in 1985, was not
spared from his teasing. “Roy teased
me about my crown not being able to
fit after a few months as Miss Indian
America,” she said.
The jokes even were about
cultures and Vietnam Veteran Jeff
Begay recalls an original one Roy told
at a pow wow.
“What does a White Ghost
say? You know, Casper the Ghost.”
“Boo!”
“What does an Indian ghost say?
“
“Boo! Aaaay.”
Lucy Cooyama, a Hopi who lives
in Phoenix told of how Roy like teasing
people of all tribes but seemed to target
Hopis.
“I attended high school in Parker
with Roy and knew his family,” Lucy
wrote, “ Even back then he was a comic
and already had “funnies’ about us short
Hopis. He was a wonderful friend
during my high school days and I will
truly miss his “Short Hopi” jokes. I
could always count on him to cheer us
up with those jokes at pow wows and
gatherings.”Some people might say dry,
some might say funny, some might say
dry and funny, but he could find a way
to make people laugh and to have fun.
With all his experience in
emceeing pow wows Roy found time
to write about the history of pow wows
and compiled a dictionary of pow wow
terms to help educate the general
population.
He described the various
traditional dances and defined phases
associated with pow wows, however, as
it was Roy’s nature, he had to include a
Happy Birthday Sadie Yanabaa
(Warrior Woman) Tososie. Yanabaa
is Winnibago, Apache, and Navajo.
She frequently visits the NASP office.
little teasing in a few of the descriptions.
“SNAG: (noun) A girlfriend or
boyfriend; SQUEEZE: Of the same
nature as a Snag (noun) but to a more
serious extent and reflective of a longer
standing relationship, i.e...‘my main
squeeze.’”
Roy also produced many music
CD’s in his career, the latest being, “Pow
Wow Music to Snag By,” with Randy
Woods.
Dale Phillips, a basketball buddy
of the early days and traditional singer
of Cocopah songs said at the Visitation
on Friday night that Roy, “recorded over
300 Cocopah songs” using the old reelto-reel recording equipment. “Roy made
them into CDs,” he said, “for all of us
to enjoy.”
Dale is the former Chairman of the
Cocopah Tribe and now sits on the tribal
council.
Roy was one of the first to get into
the video production business as he was
often called upon through the years by
John Lewis, director of the Inter Tribal
Council of Arizona to produce videos
about current issues Indian Tribes were
facing at the time.
“He will be truly missed,” said
Lewis, “He was a good man with a good
spirit.”
He had a gift of communicating
with people in the general population
and that gift was never more evident
than when he met with people
sometimes society forgot—our brothers
who were recovering from alcohol
abuse.
“For over 15 years,” Dede Devine
wrote in a tribute, “Roy Track
volunteered on Tuesday mornings to
lead a group at the program on 3rd
Avenue [Phoenix]. Yes, I mean once a
week for two hours for 15 years!! The
only time he missed was if he was
traveling on the pow-wow circuit. He
didn’t talk about addiction or
alcoholism—he talked about life using
his communications skills, cultural
connections to the community, and his
humor. He came as an equal, somebody
who had lived his life in a circle ready
to give back to the circle. The men loved
him.”
Roy would sometimes be a keynote
speaker at Native American graduations
and would always tell of what his
grandmother told him at an early age,
which became his driving force to work
in the community.
“Give back to your community,” he
would say. “As you succeed, remember
all the people who got you there and
give back to them and the community.”
One person who is a success in her
career that received early professional
nurturing from Roy is Mary Kim Titla,
San Carlos Apache and Channel 12
News Reporter.
Continued on back page
Guess our national leaders didn’t
expect this, hmm? On Thursday,
Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel
Scott, a victim of the Columbine
High School shootings in Littleton,
Colorado, was invited to address the
House Judiciary Committee’s
subcommittee What he said to our
national leaders during this special
session of Congress was painfully
truthful. They were not prepared
for what he was to say, nor was it
received well. It needs to be heard
by every parent, every teacher,
every politician, every ociologist,
every psychologist, and every socalled expert! These courageous
words spoken by Darrell Scott are
powerful, penetrating, and deeply
personal. There is no doubt that
God sent this man as a voice crying
in the wilderness. The following is a
portion of the transcript:
“Since the dawn of creation there
has been both good & evil in the
hearts of men and women. We all
contain the seeds of kindness or the
seeds of violence. The death of my
wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy
Scott, and the deaths of that heroic
teacher, and the other eleven
children who died must not be in
vain. Their blood cries out for
answers.
“The first recorded act of violence
was when Cain slew his brother
Abel out in the field. The villain
was not the club he used.. Neither
was it the NCA, the National Club
Association. The true killer was
Cain, and the reason for the
murder could only be found in
Cain’s heart.
“In the days that followed the
Columbine tragedy, I was amazed
at how quickly fingers began to be
pointed at groups such as the NRA.
I am not a member of the NRA. I
am not a hunter. I do not even own
a gun. I am not here to represent
or defend the NRA - because I
don’t believe that they are
responsible for my daughter’s
death. Therefore I do not believe
that they need to be defended. If I
believed they had anything to do
with Rachel’s murder I would be
their strongest opponent.
I am here today to declare that
Columbine was not just a tragedy-it
was a spiritual event that should be
forcing us to look at where the real
blame lies! Much of the blame lies
here in this room. Much of the
blame lies behind the pointing
fingers of the accusers themselves.
“I wrote a poem just four nights
ago that expresses my feelings best.
This was written way before I knew
I would be speaking here today:
Your laws ignore our deepest
needs,
Your words are empty air.
You’ve stripped away our heritage,
You’ve outlawed simple prayer.
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!
“Men and women are three-part
beings. We all consist of body, soul,
and spirit. When we refuse to
acknowledge a third part of our
make-up, we create a void that
allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to
rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual
presences were present within our
educational systems for most of our
nation’s history. Many of our
major colleges began as theological
seminaries. This is a historical
fact. What has happened to us as a
nation? We have refused to honor
God, and in so doing, we open the
doors to hatred and violence. And
when something as terrible as
Columbine’s tragedy occurs —
politicians immediately look for a
scapegoat such as the NRA. They
immediately seek to pass more
restrictive laws that contribute to
erode away our personal and
private liberties. We do not need
more restrictive laws. “Eric and
Dylan would not have been stopped
by metal detectors. No amount of
gun laws can stop someone who
spends months planning this type
of massacre. The real villain lies
within our own hearts.
“As my son Craig lay under that
table in the school library and saw
his two friends murdered before his
very eyes-He did not hesitate to
pray in school. I defy any law or
politician to deny him that right! I
challenge every young person in
America, and around the world, to
realize that on April 20, 1999, at
Columbine High School prayer was
brought back to our schools. Do
not let the many prayers offered by
those students be in vain. Dare to
move into the new millennium with
a sacred disregard for legislation
that violates your God-given right
to communicate with Him. To those
of you who would point your finger
at the NRA - I give to you a sincere
challenge. Dare to examine your
own heart before casting the first
stone!
My daughter’s death will not be in
vain! The young people of this
country will not allow that to
happen!”
INDIAN TIME
Radio Program
KUCR, 88.3 FM
Thursdays, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
AMERICAN INDIAN
Music*News*Interviews*Discussions
HOSTS:
Paul Miranda * Robert Perez
John Smith*Carrie Garcia
continue from page 7
Roy
“I started my career in TV news at KTVK
when Roy Track was hosting the public affairs
show 21st Century Native American,” she writes
in an email in her tribute to Roy.
“I don’t think Roy realized how much I
looked up to him. There were no role models for
me in the industry except for people like Roy and
Tone-kei White who hosted public affairs shows.
Urban Indians including myself looked forward
to watching his show every weekend. I worked
mostly behind the scenes in the newsroom at
Channel 3 and Roy was gracious enough to allow
me to host his show so I could gain some on-air
experience. I will be forever grateful to Roy for
being the first person to put me on the air!” wrote
Mary Kim, “I will remember Roy for having a great
sense of humor and for always giving back to the
Native American community,”
At the Visitation, Mary Kim said,
“Sometimes on his Sunday morning show [6:30
a.m.] he would tease those watching by saying,
‘Good morning to those just getting up or just
getting in,’” according to Mary Kim.
She turned to the family and said, “He will
surely be missed,”
Patty Talahongva, of Native America
Calling (NAC) was another who got her start
with Roy’s help. Patty worked with Channel 3
for many years as a newscast producer until
beginning her own video company in 1998, then
joining NAC last year.
Patty said, “Roy continued to befriend me
[early 80’s]... and then one day we both ended
up working at KTVK-TV... he was already
doing his program at that time. I timidly wrote
and edited a story about Native actors and
offered it to him to air in his show. I wasn’t sure
if he would...but he did and then he asked if I
had more! That was my first on-air gig. I kept
turning stories for him and he kept demanding
more, it was funny. Some nights I would find
myself at Channel 3 until three in the morning
working on story for his show!”
That was the kind of man he was,
innovative, caring, and always a positive thinker.
The self-proclaimed “freelance hustler” as he
said in the 2002 interview. He use to say and
that he would do just about anything in the
communications field to make a buck.
“While he may have never made that
fortune from all the hustling,” said Yolanda,
“Roy left us and all of Indian Country a very
rich community, rich with all the things he
touched and created while he was here.”
Roy would often say to those seeking his
advice about what to do in life, “Find what you
like to do and just do it, I did.”
David A. Lester, a friend since the first year
in college in 1959 who spoke at the funeral said,
“He’s not limited now. He can be with all of us
now. His voice is not silenced. It’s up to us to
make the dreams come true.”
Noted San Carlos singer and flute player
Ken Duncan, Sr. remembers his favorite phrase
of Roy’s, “It’s time to pause for the cause,”
which was a usual line used in his show when it
came time for a commercial break. Ken
remembers driving back from San Carlos with
Roy and asking how he came up with that line.
“Just heard it one day and decided to use it,” he
said as he slipped on his dark sunglasses. Ken
remembers they looked “cool” as they drove
down the highway.
Now, it’s time to pause and pay tribute to a
man who touched the lives of many. He was the
first at many things and blazed a wide trail for
others to find their success in life as he did.
After the church services, Roy was carried to
his final resting place by the men who knew him.
They took turns carrying Roy 20-yards at a time
to the gravesite located one-third mile away from
the church. A drum group followed Roy and sang
honor songs to keep him company on his journey.
Whether he was helping Redbone or Clan/
Destine get their start, or nurturing young
television reporters like Mary Kim or Patty, or
talking with alcohol abusers, or sitting on a board
with the Phoenix Indian Center, Roy treated all
walks of life equally with respect and generosity.
Roy’s friends told how he always gave his time,
talents, and energy without asking anything in
return.
Continued from front page
Anti-Bias
these women to catch up to their male peers. Most
important, by the time of graduation the failure or
withdrawal rate of these women was significantly
less than that of their male classmates.
Although the situation is not directly parallel, I
believe that at Berkeley we are similarly missing
out on exceptional African American, Latino and
Native American students who can not only
succeed here, but whose participation can improve
the education the university offers all its students.
Minority inclusion is a public good, not a private
benefit. Indeed, the president of the University of
Mexico once said to me that the single most
important skill that a 21st century student must
master is ”intercultural competence” - the ability,
best learned via ex-perience with and appreciation
of other cultures, to navigate successfully in
today’s global-ized society.
California’s business community understands this.
That is why several leaders from private industry
have anonymously funded private academic
preparation programs to identify and deepen the
pool of eligible minority candidates for UC and
UC Berkeley. We applaud this effort. Many
Berkeley students are engaged in private efforts
to recruit more students of color. This month we
are opening a multicultural center on campus to
bring students together to help overcome mistrust
among races and ethnic groups at Berkeley.
We need, however, to do much more. As the
premier public teaching and research university,
we know we must lead the discussion on the
unintended consequences of Proposition 209. I am
initiating a broad-based diversity research agenda
at Berkeley to study this and a myriad of related
issues. Our goal is to find innovative ways to make
this campus the inclusive and welcoming environment to which it aspires.
This call to action extends the efforts of previous
chancellors and others at Berkeley. As the current
chancellor, I feel a moral obligation to address the
issue of inclusion head-on.
Ultimately it is a fight for the soul of this
institution. Inclusion is about leadership and
excellence, principles that California and its
leading public university have long represented
and might again.
At the gravesite, Jim Red Eagle said it was
Roy’s grandmother who gave him his
traditional clan name, “Flying Hawk.” Jim lives
in Long Beach, CA and is originally from Fort
Bellnap, MT. He first met Roy at a pow wow in
California while working at his popcorn stand
and discovered they were related by clan.
While people were placing flowers on the
grave, several people noticed five Black Hawk
helicopters flying overhead at a low altitude. It
seemed they made a detour around the cemetery
flying from the Southeast to the West towards
Luke Air Force Base.
Dale and Ivan Makil, former President of
the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian
Community joked about the Black Hawks.
“It would be just like Roy to order a
military fly-over at his own funeral and because
Drilling in the Arctic Refuge
Gwich’in Nation Asks for your Help!
THE ILL-ADVISED ENERGY BILL IS
UP AGAIN IN THE HOUSE-CONTACT YOUR
REPRESENTATIVES TODAY AND ASK
THEM TO STRIKE ARCTIC DRILLING FROM
THE ENERGY BILL!
Submitted by Gwich’in Steering Committee
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge continues
to be the topic of conversation around the halls
of Congress. The last few weeks the Arctic Refuge has been discussed in the context of the budget bill and while it is still very important to let
our elected officials know that we do not want
Arctic drilling included in the final budget; this
week we have a slightly more urgent issue to take
action on - the House’s ill-advised energy bill.
Once again proponents of drilling in the House
of Representatives are poised to include provisions to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling in their energy bill. In order to
keep this misguided energy plan from going forward, Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and
Nancy Johnson (R-CT) will offer an amendment
to strike Arctic drilling from the energy bill. Last
Wednesday, April 13, the House of Representative Ed Markey(D-MA) was to remove the Arctic drilling provision out of the energy bill, but
now your Representative will have the opportunity to vote for this amendment and prevent
drilling in the Arctic Refuge.
TO TAKE ACTION NOW:
1. Email your members--send a message to your
Representative urging them to support the
Markey/Johnson amendment to strike the Arctic
drilling provison from the energy bill.
2. Call your members--share this message with
your Representative via the telephone.
3. Be an Organizer--Ask your family and friends
to email and call their Representatives too! The
more emails and calls we can generate the more
likely we are to win this battle and protect The
Sacred Place Where Life Begins.
The simple fact is that drilling in the Arctic Refuge will not do anything to boost national energy
Calendar of Events
May 20, 2005
Medicine Ways Conference
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA, (951) 827-4143
[email protected]
May 20-22, 2005
UCLA Pow Wow
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 825-7315
May 21-22, 2005
HO’OLAULEA, 2005 Natives for Nature
San Dimas, CA, (909) 599-7512
June 12-15, 2005
National Congress of American Indian Mid Year
Conference
Green Bay, WI, (202) 466-7767
July 29-31 , 2005
Southern California Indian Center Pow Wow
Pomona, CA, Fairplax Fair Grounds
(714) 962-6673
July 1-3, 2005
Pechanga 10th Annual Pow Wow
Temecula, CA
(951) 676-6810
August 20-27, 2005
Summer Residential Program: Gathering of the Tribes
UC, Riverside, Riverside, CA
www.nasp.ucr.edu, (951) 827-4143
[email protected]
July 15-17, 2005
The 10th Annual All Nations Pow Wow
Los Vaqueros Rodeo Arena, Big Bear City, CA
(909) 797-1593 or (909) 584-7114
October 6-9, 2005
The 36th Annual National Indian Education Convention
Denver, CO, (703) 838-2870, (703) 838-1620 (FAX)
he was an urban Indian, he used military Black
Hawks instead of the real ones,” they joked.
“That’s Roy,” Ivan said, “still working his
magic.”
Roy is survived by his wife Nita of 43 years
and his two boys, Hawk and Chad; brothers
Kenton, Don, and Gale Track and sister Dana
Runsabove; and seven grandchildren, Rose,
Colby, Taylor, Cedric, Frances, and Talia; and
one great-granddaughter, Mikela.
Nita is a member of the Salt River
Pima Maricopa Indian Community where Roy
was laid to rest.
Please send cards and donations to: Nita
Track, P.O. Box 645, Phoenix, AZ 85001.
——End of Story——
Loren Tapahe©Copyright
security. The United States consumes 25% of the
world’s oil, yet we only own 3% of the proven oil
reserves. We could drill in every wild pristine place
in the country and still be heavily dependent on
imported oil. By 2025, the US is projected to be
importing 70% of our oil. According to the
government’s own Energy Information Administration, even if we allow drilling in the Arctic Refuge and ruin the area permanently, oil from the
Arctic Refuge is projected to offset our imports
by only $%, leaving us still importing a whopping
66% of our oil. The price just isn’t worth it, especially when you consider that merely increasing
our fuel efficiency by several miles per gallon
would save us far more oil, and sooner, than drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge.
Drilling in America’s Arctic Refuge isn’t about
jobs, it isn’t about lowering gas prices, and it isn’t
about reducing dependence on foreign oil. Take
it from Tom DeLay (R-TX) who says that “it’s all
about the precedent”. Drilling in America’s Arctic
is just the first step to being able to drill in all
pristine places around the country, whether in the
Rocky Mountain Front or off-shore from Florida,
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the doorway to all of them.
We need to tell our Representatives that drilling
in America’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge just
doesn’t make sense for us now or in the future and
that they should support the Markey/Johnson
amendment to strike the Arctic drilling provision.
We live in the 21st century and our elected leaders
need to stop pushing 20th century ideas. We simply cannot drill our way to energy independence.
Take a moment and let your Representative
know how you feel about this issue.
Gwich’in Steering Committee
122 First Avenue, Box 2
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907) 458-8264
www.alaska.net/~gwichin
www.alaskacoalition.org
www.alaskawildernessleague.org
INDIAN TIMES
The opinions and views expressed in
the INDIAN TIMES do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the
University of California’s Regents,
UCR’s Faculty, staff or students. The
opinions expressed are exclusively
those of the author of the article.
INDIAN TIMES is coordinated by the
Native American Student Programs
Office at the University of Califonria
Riverside.
Editor - Earl Dean Sisto
Proof EditorsPaloma Hernandez
Josh Gonzales
INDIAN TIMES
Native American Student Programs
224 Costo Hall, Riverside, CA 92521
(951) 827-4143
(951) 827-4342 (FAX)
[email protected]
www.nasp.ucr.edu