ARTICLES Back to top   The Gathering Expressed Fear Fear Terrorism, where is it? Life as adaptation… Authentic Indian Standing Tall From the Four Directions The Gathering BY LOU REEVES I prefer to refer this “march” as a gathering. A gathering is a term frequently used by Native peoples to describe a meeting, a coming together of people, a celebration, a happening. When I think of “march”,  I think of a massive movement of people such as THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON,1963: “WE STOOD ON A HEIGHT” when Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” address.   This “gathering” will take place on May 9, 2005, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building, in Washington D.C. A number of key figures in the United States will be invited to address the gathering. There will also be a number of activities that participants will be able to take part in, all of which are being arranged.   This gathering will focus on the topics of peace and “freedom” and what it means in its many dimensions, in particular to Leonard Peltier who has been in prison for 10, 598 days, for a crime that many believe was never committed. Thirty years ago, two FBI agents were shot and Leonard was charged with the crime. Fearing that he would not receive a fair trial, he fled to Canada. It is believed that illegal and false affidavits were used to have him extradited from Canada.   Many individuals and organizations have sought a new trial or a pardon for Mr. Peltier. It had been hoped that President Bill Clinton would have issued a pardon before he left office. Might there be hope for a pardon before George Bush leaves office?   If Mr. Peltier’s “consecutive” life sentences were made “concurrent” he would be able to apply for parole. The gathering will demonstrate that many individuals continue to support the freeing of Mr. Peltier. Many articles and letters have been written, many phone calls have been made now there will be a physical coming together in the name of peace and freedom for Leonard Peltier. Back to Articles Back to top   Expressed Fear   BY LOU REEVES   There has been an expressed fear by some Indians (Natives) of the American government's reaction to a the International Leonard Peltier Gathering that will take place in Washington D.C. on May 9. This may be understandable when history is reviewed.   Now, the government is very concerned about international coverage of news events. For example, the news coming out of Iraq was rather controlled for the press was often embedded with the troops or under the influence of the editors of their papers.   In other countries, America is not in control of their presses.  America is "concerned" about what is thought by people in Europe and around the world; the government does not want to have negative press in those countries.   The gathering will prove to be peaceful and the press will be positive. Much good will come from the gathering. There should not be any negatives there.   The Indians are open, they share their ideas, nothing is hidden, and there is no hidden agenda. There can be no criticism of peoples who search for truth, peace and freedom. What else should America be all about?   Yes, Indians are sensitive to history. They do not bury their heads in the sand. But times do change. They should put the maximum of positive spin on what they write, say, think and do. They are united in doing what is right, they believe in what is right and fair and that is the why of the International Leonard Peltier Gathering.   Back to Articles Back to top   Fear BY LOU REEVES   Many years ago I recall a discussion in a high school classroom with a friend about the controls that one is subjected to in society. To me the paramount factor was fear. The fear of loss is ingrained in one’s personality as one expects from birth such elements of life as warmth and comfort which includes food and being taken care of which later translates into love.   Later, the need for comfort is affected by the feeling of pain. A child learns early that discomfort and pain are not nice and will cry to have these taken care of by a protector or a guardian. The mother is the key person to provide those basic necessities to the infant. Later other humans assist and a feeling of trust is developed.   Fear of discipline comes early at home and later outside the home, and in particular within organizations within which the child participates. These external authorities to the home are increased and intensified through the school years.   There is the fear of being criticized before ones peers, the fear of being punished for improper activities which would include not doing whatever was expected by the school’s authorities. Then, the fear of the police which can be intensified through comic books, stories, film, TV and sometimes through actual contact.   Fear of failure has caused many individuals to avoid participating in activities for example, some students early in their schooling were unwilling to read in school before others as they were subjected to ridicule. Some were actually traumatized. A few teachers even frightened some students to the point of they would lose control of their feeling and understanding of what was going on. Some would actually faint. These early fears would cause blockages in the individual’s development. In fact, some Americans are illiterate as a result of these early schooling experiences.   After schooling came employment. For some individuals finding that first job and keeping that job was difficult. Then the fear of survival in the workplace developed. The need for money was there. The fear of not having enough money for survival became a controlling factor.   Then, the ever present state would dominate the person’s existence. The welfare system, the judicial system, the religious system and other systems all served to control the individual. To break any rules and regulations could result in punishment. Fear of potential punishment had a strong controlling influence on the individual.   My conclusion at that time was that we were all controlled by fear. We were all influenced by war and fighting the enemy. At home we had air raid practices and air raid shelters for there was a fear of an enemy attack using aircraft. Later missiles were included and national defense was strongly oriented towards protection from these potential intrusions.   Now, additional legislation for the protection of our way of living has been introduced; we have different measures of “security." North America needs to be protected not just from any external attack but from the internal. Now, not only is there the fear of some nation doing something to jeopardize our peace and security, we are faced with the possibility of some groups or individuals doing something that would cause physical harm to our society.   We can’t get away from these fears. What is most disturbing is the reduction of freedoms that we have. Big brother is ever watching. Incarceration now is possible if one is suspect, with the withholding of former legal entitlements for contact with the “outside." We do not even know what all of these are. Some organizations are questioning these new laws, their interpretation and their execution.   There is a lingering fear of the American military and other agencies of government that have unquestioned power and control. Homeland security covers so much that our older freedoms are in jeopardy.   We have lived in fear, and fears are increasing. How will American society adapt to these new fears?   Back to Articles Back to top   Terrorism, where is it? BY LOU REEVES   Following 9/11 attacks on the World trade Centre in New York and on the Pentagon in Washington D.C., the Canadian Government passed the Anti-Terrorism Act. Though I, along with many other Canadians must believe that the act was passed to protect Canadians for attacks from Terrorists, to date only one person has been detained under the provisions of the act.   Because of state secrecy we do not know if any terrorist activities have been prevented. We do not know the nature of governmental activities or how the potential for terrorists activities is measured. But, the Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan has stated that the threats are worse now than they were at the time of 9/11. What is the nature of these threats, where are they coming from and who might be making these threats? We should learn about the why of these threats. What have Canadians done to warrant becoming targets for the terrorists?   Are the potential threats being eliminated one by one? If there are eliminations going on, these have not been reported, why not? To say that the threats are worse now than before 9/11 days leaves much explaining. That statement requires verification.   Of course now is not the time to divulge what activities have been entered into nor is it the time to be jubilant. Perhaps Canada has passed the Act to please the Americans. They have wanted an improvement in all activities that relate to the Canadian people so that any threat coming from the north side of the border will either be eliminated or significantly reduced.   Canadians do have a role to play in continental defence and in the maintenance of security of the people. How far does the act go in these regards?   Back to Articles Back to top   Life as adaptation… BY LOU REEVES   From the moment of birth, if not before, life is a serious of adaptations. One’s total physiology is a continuous serious of multiple and miniscule adaptations. These occur without any thought; they are frequently interdependent and automatic. They are a part of one’s total system for living.   At a conscious level, we adapt to our total environment and thus survive. For example, if we do not adjust our behaviors to what is expected of our particular society, we are doomed to rejection, suffering and possibly to an earlier than would be the case, death.   Many individuals have suffered from persecution, hatred, prejudice, discrimination, and many social ills as well as being dominated by those who were more powerful or in control of the government. Life was often lived in fear. Survival demanded adaptation.   Adaptation did not mean a total surrendering of beliefs or customs. Away from public scrutiny, behind closed doors, individuals, families and communities continued to not only exist but at times did flourish.   Minor adaptations could be called compromise. We learn to compromise within the family, with friends and very much so in school. In many respects we had to compromise our behaviors to the rules and regulations of organizations. These compromises, these adjustments to the environment taken together can be viewed as adaptation.   Adaptation means living; animals and humans learn to adapt and if they do not, they do not survive. Let us continue on the path of adaptation and survival for tomorrow may be the day when the larger community will become accepting of that which had been frowned upon, discouraged or absolutely rejected. It has taken democratic society many years to set aside slavery, to grant voting rights to women, to reduce discrimination in many of its forms yet other changes are still required and will be made.   Today, we are faced with new forms of control, for example, the laws, rules and regulations relating to our security. Security from attack from external and internal enemies to our way of living is of paramount concern. We often refer to those “enemies” as terrorists. Terrorists, they are called because they induce fear to the point of terror. It is the fear of the unknown that controls us. To this fear, we are adapting, to the control of the “security” forces we are adapting, to the external wars, we are adapting, to the suffering of peoples, we are adapting. We may not like any of these adaptations but they are necessary and we do adapt.   Life is adaptation!   Back to Articles Back to top Authentic Indian Standing Tall   Authentic Indian, stand tall to be counted. Stand tall with your self-respect and dignity. Stand tall before your family and friends in your respect of nature. Stand tall in your respect of your culture, your spiritualism, justice, creativity, music, art, literature, sports, history and all those things that might define you as Native. Stand tall against racists and those detractors who show no respect for other human beings. Stand tall in your love, respect and appreciation of humanity. Stand tall with your ability to guide youth for they will learn, in their turn, to stand tall.   Authentic Indian, stand tall for you know who you are! © 2005 by Louis Henry Reeves   Back to Articles Back to top From the Four Directions From the Four Directions, We shall gather, In the name of Leonard, We unite, in Spirit, Thought and word, In ceremonies, In prayer, In fellowship, In respect, In understanding, Voices of ancestors heard, It is our day, It is our time, United we stand, We have a vision, A free Leonard! © 2005 by Louis Henry Reeves   Back to Articles Back to top