PHOTO/TRACIE DOUGLAS
Lois Kane believes teaching young Native American children to be proud of their heritage is imperative. Dolly Padilla and Colby Astor listened while Kane talked about the important role Idle No More plays by bringing the native people in Reno together to support issues important to both Shoshone and Paiute traditions.
Speak up The Toastmasters organization claims public speaking is the most universal phobia on the planet. Mouths dry up, knees knock, hands shake, voices squeak. It’s almost time for the Nevada State Legislature to begin, and it’s important to know that everyone has the right to testify before a legislative committee about proposed bills and laws. Here are 12 tips for speaking before legislators. 1. People don’t have to be lobbyists to speak before the legislature. Nevada has an open meeting legislative process, and folks can attend any or all committee meetings. Public testimony is allowed at most hearings. 2. Find out when and where the bill will be heard. Go to www.leg.state.nv.us or call the Legislative Message Center at (800) 9782878, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 3. Get copies of everything beforehand and thoroughly study all relative information. Copies of bills, resolutions and journals can be picked up in the Public Bill Room on the first floor of the Legislative Building, Room 1201, or by calling (775) 684-1387. 4. Be on time. Sign in upon arrival and indicate on the sign-in sheet an intention to testify. One small but important detail, make sure to print so it’s easy to read. 5. Arrive with copies of the testimony for the committee members, so they can read it later. Spoken comments should just be the highlights of the testimony to save time—no one is allowed to speak for hours. 6. Be patient. The bill’s sponsor will be allowed to speak first and then testimony will be heard in the order on the sign-in sheet. 7. Begin by addressing the chair and the committee members and then give your name. For example: Madam Chair, members of the (actual name of the committee) Committee, my name is John Longwinded from Reno, Nev. I am representing myself, and I am/am not in favor of this bill because ... 8. Be courteous and brief. Try not to repeat testimony that someone else already provided, and remember to hit salient points. Leave the history to the written statement. 9. Be prepared to answer questions, but don’t worry if you don’t have an answer. Just say you don’t know. 10. Demonstrations, applause or addressing the committee members or witnesses from the audience are prohibited. 11. Committee members will come and go during these meetings. Don’t take offense. Members might have another meeting to attend. 12. Don’t expect any action to be taken right away. If the chair doesn’t announce a date for a vote or for further meetings, first go to the internet and search for that bill. If that doesn’t help, check back with committee staff or the Legislative Message Center at (800) 995-9080 or (800) 978-2878 toll free, or direct at (775) 684-6789 for locals.
UNR farm meeting moved The Reno City Council was slated to vote on rezoning 104 acres of the University of Nevada, Reno farm station on Jan. 30. That item has now been moved to March 27. Farming activist Wendy Baroli and other proponents see this as another opportunity to reach out to council members to let them know that there are strong feelings against this proposal in Reno. “It’s so much more than just a parcel of land— it represents the legacy of farming and ranching in Nevada, and it is the best use of open space in that area,” Baroli said. “Please tell the Reno City Council how you feel about the UNR farm station right now, today!” The mailing address to reach the Reno City Council is P.O. Box 1900, Reno, NV 89505. Letters can also be faxed to (775) 334-2097. Email addresses: Mayor Robert Cashell: cashellr@reno.gov Hillary Schieve: schieveh@reno.gov Jenny Brekhus: brekhusj@reno.gov Sharon Zadra: zadras@reno.gov Oscar Delgado: delgadoo@reno.gov Dwight Dortch: dortchd@reno.gov Neoma Jardon: Jardonn@reno.gov
—Tracie Douglas
Silent no more Members of the Northern Nevada Native American community join a worldwide movement
“We respect our Canadian brothers and sisters, and we want them to know that we love them, that they are one of us, by Tracie Douglas and that we support them” said Lois Kane, local Native American activist and supporter of Idle No More Reno. “But that’s just the beginning step of what Idle No More (INM) is doing for all Native American people.” Following the grass-roots model set in Canada, Kane is excited by the ability to use INM to bring her people together to help explain issues facing all Native Americans and indigenous people worldwide. What began with four women in Canada has now traveled around the world,
“It really should be called Silent No More. We’ve been silent for way too long. We need to make our wishes known and provide feedback on all issues, especially those that may harm the Earth and the people. We are a peaceful people—we will always deliver our message in a peaceful way, and we have been inspired to stand up together.” Lois Kane
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providing other indigenous people with the tools to come together to act, teach, and stand strong for the principles of their cultures. Kane, a Paiute and Shoshone, and a resident of the Hungry Valley Reservation, explained that most of the history of Native Americans isn’t written in books and is becoming lost. “It’s time for us to stand up and encourage our people, and especially our kids, to be proud of their heritage and language—to be proud of who we are,” Kane said. Kane was there for the first INM flash mob of about 200 people that was held at Legends in Sparks. When approximately 350 supporters showed up to sing and dance at Meadowood Mall on Dec. 26, 2012, they were faced with harassment from mall security. “They tried to intimidate us into leaving by telling us we were trespassing,” said Kane. “At first no one knew what to do, because we are not combative people. Then I started singing, and everyone started to join in singing, drumming and round dancing.” After the round dance, they left the mall without further issue. The round dance comes from Nevada Paiute, Wovoka, who prophesied a peaceful end to white expansion while preaching goals of clean living, an honest life, and Native Americans working together. Tony Vail, general manager for
Meadowood Mall, said, “Meadowood Mall is private property, and all people are invited to Meadowood Mall to enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment. Activities that disrupt mall business or threaten the safety of persons or property are not permitted in the mall. Flash Mobs are not allowed at the mall, and the participants in the Flash Mob on December 26th were simply asked to disband and discontinue their activity.” Idle No More Reno held its latest event near the downtown Reno Arch, on Jan. 19, where they felt welcomed. “The Reno Police came out and told us they were glad we were there and that they supported us—it was a much nicer welcoming than we got at Meadowood Mall,” said Kane. Just as Occupy Wall Street ignited an international protest movement against social and economic inequality, INM is giving indigenous people a platform to gather together to speak out about the importance of protecting the planet. Idle No More was started by four Canadian women in November 2012 as a way to start rallies and teach-ins about a Canadian bill called C-45, which could conceivably make changes to the Indian Act, and could alter land and waterway use. The movement quickly grew with the use of social media and flash mobs of dancing and singing native people. Eventually, huge groups marched on Parliament, asking for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to meet with chiefs of the native tribes in Canada. One outspoken woman, Chief Theresa Spence, even began a hunger strike on Dec. 11, 2012, as a way to bring attention to C-45, as well as other issues facing all Indian people in Canada. Spence ended her hunger strike on Jan. 24 and is currently hospitalized until she regains strength.
Support comes in different forms
Shayne Del Cohen has long been an activist for Native American rights, and has been adopted by local Shoshone and Paiute tribes. She has watched as INM quickly spread and is pleased to see Native Americans come together. Del Cohen, a Jewish woman from Oakland, Calif., points out that air, water and animals don’t recognize borders, and that INM is bringing indigenous people from all over the world to work together. She explains
