Most Censored Indigenous Issues of 2007: A year marked by escalating challenges to Indigenous rights and sovereignty, 2007 witnessed a disturbing trend of silencing and marginalization of critical issues facing Indigenous communities across North America and beyond. This article delves into the most censored topics of that year, as identified by the Censored Blog poll, shedding light on the struggles faced by Indigenous peoples and the barriers to their voices being heard.
Silencing of Indigenous Spiritual Leaders: A Targeted Campaign
The year 2007 saw a troubling rise in attempts to silence Indigenous spiritual leaders and traditional knowledge keepers. Elected tribal councils in the United States and band councils in Canada were implicated in suppressing dissenting voices within their own communities. This censorship manifested in various forms, including the distortion of news, the suppression of information, and even direct threats and acts of oppression against those who dared to speak out.
Reports from across North America detailed a pattern of intimidation and harassment directed at Indigenous activists. Tribal police engaged in tactics such as tailgating and surveillance, creating an atmosphere of fear and stifling open dialogue. Threats of physical harm and even expulsion from tribal membership were used as tools to silence opposition and maintain control. This systematic silencing of traditional voices represented a direct assault on Indigenous self-determination and cultural preservation.
Nuclear, Uranium, and Coal Genocide: Poisoning Indigenous Lands
The second most censored issue in 2007 was the ongoing "nuclear, uranium, and coal genocide" inflicted upon Indigenous lands. Throughout the Americas, Indigenous territories have become prime targets for resource extraction, with devastating consequences for the environment and the health of Indigenous communities. Coal, uranium, copper, and gold mining operations, along with the dumping of toxic waste, have led to widespread pollution of air, water, and land, threatening the very survival of Indigenous cultures.
The Navajo Nation, in particular, faced a multitude of environmental challenges. The proposed Desert Rock power plant in New Mexico sparked fierce opposition from local communities, who already bear the brunt of pollution from existing power plants and unreclaimed uranium mines. While these power plants generate electricity for non-Indigenous communities, many Navajo families lack access to electricity, forcing children to study by the dim light of lanterns. The Navajo Nation Council, heavily reliant on revenue from energy leases, found itself at odds with community members fighting to protect their land and health.
Beyond the Navajo Nation, other Indigenous communities faced similar threats. The Algonquin, Pueblos, Navajo, and Lakota nations battled new uranium mining projects, while the Goshute and Western Shoshone fought against nuclear waste dumping on their ancestral lands. In Sonora, Mexico, the Yaqui people suffered the devastating consequences of pesticide use in agricultural fields, resulting in deaths and birth defects. Indigenous communities from Guatemala and Peru, facing similar challenges from copper, gold, and coal mining, joined forces with Navajo, Acoma Pueblo, and Western Shoshone representatives to build solidarity and resistance. As resource extraction intensified in the Americas, mining corporations began targeting communities in Africa, further expanding the scope of this environmental injustice.
Janice Gardipe, a Paiute-Shoshone activist, poignantly asked, "Where are the warriors?" at the Alcatraz Sunrise Gathering in November 2007, calling for a renewed wave of resistance against Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dumping and the destructive gold mining operations plaguing Western Shoshone lands. The melting of Arctic ice, exacerbated by pollution from power plants, threatened the homelands and lives of polar bears, walruses, and seals. The Bush administration’s attempts to capitalize on this environmental disaster by claiming the thawing Northwest Passage for oil and gas drilling further underscored the disregard for Indigenous rights and environmental protection. This issue is a key point in understanding the Most Censored Indigenous Issues of 2007.
Border Deaths and Abuse: Racism and Injustice at the US-Mexico Border
The third most censored issue in 2007 centered on the border deaths, abuse of Indigenous peoples, and pervasive racism in border news. The increasing xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment fueled by television news coincided with a surge in funding for private prisons to incarcerate migrants. The T. Don Hutto prison in Taylor, Texas, which held migrant and refugee infants and children, became a symbol of the inhumane treatment of vulnerable populations.
In Arizona, Mohawks joined Tohono O’odham at the US-Mexico border on Tohono O’odham land in November 2007. Mohawk activists intervened in the arrests of Mayans on O’odham land, challenging the actions of the US Border Patrol. Kahentinetha Horn, a Mohawk leader, ignited a new wave of thought by stating, "These are your people. As the Great Law says, you don’t ask for permission to save someone’s life." Her words highlighted the moral imperative to protect Indigenous lives and uphold the principles of humanitarianism.
Mike Wilson, a Tohono O’odham activist, continued to provide water for migrants and search for the bodies of those who perished in the harsh desert environment, including Mayan women who died seeking a better life for their children. His dedication underscored the human cost of border policies and the need for compassion and respect for human dignity. "No one should die for want of a drink of water," Wilson said.
The most censored news articles at the border included the desecration of O’odham ancestral graves during the construction of the border wall, the deployment of federal spy towers in border communities, and the corporate profiteering by US and foreign corporations. Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, subcontracted by Boeing under the Secure Border Fence contract, and Wackenhut, whose buses transported migrants, exemplified the financial interests driving the border security apparatus.
In 2007, the media largely ignored the fact that environmental laws and federal laws protecting American Indian remains were waived by Homeland Security to expedite the construction of the US-Mexico border wall. Dozens of endangered species faced increased risk as Homeland Security disregarded court orders, citing national security as justification. This is a great example of Most Censored Indigenous Issues of 2007.
Endangered Species and the Border Wall: Environmental Devastation
The construction of the border wall in Arizona had detrimental effects on endangered species, including the jaguar, which migrates between Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, and the Sonoran pronghorn, which cannot jump fences. The addition of a new barbed wire fence alongside the border wall on O’odham land further threatened the survival of these vulnerable species.
The destruction of habitat, particularly in the San Pedro area of Arizona, where Homeland Security voided all laws, posed a grave threat to fish and migrating birds. The disregard for environmental protection and the prioritization of border security over the well-being of endangered species highlighted the ethical and ecological costs of border policies.
Leonard Peltier: A Symbol of Injustice
The case of Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist imprisoned for the 1975 shooting deaths of two FBI agents, remained a censored issue in 2007. Despite ongoing legal challenges and widespread support for his release, Peltier’s story continued to be marginalized by the mainstream media. A theater production of his life in Boulder, Colorado, served as a reminder of the injustice he has endured and the need for continued advocacy on his behalf.
Indigenous Religious Rights: A Fight for Freedom of Practice
The denial of religious and ceremonial rights to American Indian inmates was another censored issue in 2007. Despite legal protections for religious freedom, Indigenous prisoners often faced obstacles in practicing their traditional beliefs and accessing sacred items. Efforts to ensure the religious and cultural rights of Indigenous inmates remained a critical but often overlooked aspect of Indigenous advocacy.
Police Brutality and the Targeting of Indigenous Youth
The injustice perpetrated by police and courts against Indigenous communities was widespread in 2007. The arrests and racism of police in border towns near Indian communities continued to fuel anger and resentment among Indigenous youth. Prisons continued to be filled with American Indians, and the US military continued to target American Indian youths, considering them as "expendables" to fight and die in Iraq. The systemic discrimination and targeting of Indigenous youth highlighted the need for comprehensive reforms in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
American Indian Delegations in Venezuela: Building International Solidarity
The fifth most censored issue, according to Censored Blog readers, was the "American Indian delegations in Venezuela." Indian delegations from North America met with Indigenous leaders in Venezuela to forge solidarity in action. Vernon Bellecourt, a prominent Indigenous activist, attended in a wheelchair and in frail health, marking his last act of service before his death. These gatherings underscored the importance of international collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and experiences among Indigenous communities worldwide. This is another key element in the Most Censored Indigenous Issues of 2007.
Zapatista Meetings at the US-Mexico Border: A Gathering of Resistance
The sixth most censored issue was the "Zapatistas meetings at the US-Mexico border." Subcomandante Marcos and the Mayan Comandantes held meetings near the US border as part of the Other Campaign, beginning in April 2007. These meetings, held just two hours south of the Arizona border, brought together O’odham, Cucapa, Yaqui, Mayo, Seri, and other Indigenous communities in northern Mexico. The International Intercontinental Encuentro in the Yaqui Pueblo of Vicam, Sonora, served as a powerful symbol of Indigenous resistance and solidarity.
While the media in the United States largely ignored these issues in 2007, alternative national media and international online media provided coverage, shedding light on the struggles and triumphs of Indigenous communities. The Indigenous Peoples’ Border Summit of the Americas 2007, covered by international online media, upheld the right of Indigenous peoples to freely pass in their ancestral territories and opposed the US-Mexico border wall, militarization of border lands, and new passport requirements. The summit also condemned corporate profiteering at the border for the border wall, private prisons, and private security firms.
Lakota Freedom Delegation: Declaring Sovereignty
The international media extensively covered the Lakota Freedom Delegation’s announcement of withdrawing from treaties and declaring sovereignty on Dakota lands. The Mohawk warriors responded in support of the Lakota Freedom Delegation, and Kahentinetha Horn defended her position as being on the side of traditional Indigenous people, not tribal council sell-outs and those who do the bidding of their "masters." She stated, "I am not neutral. I am on the side of the traditional Indigenous people… I will never support illegal and genocidal federal Indian law."
While the media in the United States continued its manipulated news coverage, the international media covered the fact that the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand voted against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Seizure of Private Lands in Texas: Eminent Domain and the Border Wall
A new censored topic emerged in 2007: the seizure of private lands of Apaches and other residents in Texas for the US-Mexico border wall, using the law of eminent domain. Texas mayors and residents mobilized to stop the border wall, militarization, and occupation of the Texas border.
Bill Means, cofounder of the International Indian Treaty Council, spoke of the fire of resistance and resilience at the Alcatraz Sunrise Gathering in November 2007, reminding people that Indigenous cultures are thriving in America. This year’s issues and actions represent key points in the Most Censored Indigenous Issues of 2007.
The events of 2007 serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities in the face of censorship, environmental destruction, and systemic injustice. By bringing these issues to light, we can help amplify Indigenous voices and advocate for a more just and equitable world.