Shelley Brant: Why Julian Fantino Must Go

Shelley Brant: Why Julian Fantino Must Go!


It’’s far from an issue about threats and wire-tapped conversations, it’s about the precedent he has now set for the state of Policing in Ontario.



1) A wiretap was issued for not just Mr. Brant’s cell phone but 4 other phones including his brother who is a lawyer, although allowed under the criminal code only in extreme circumstances without judicial authority (meaning by a Judge or Justice of the Peace) this wiretap although stated to be an emergency wiretap by Julian Fantino, which would require authorization by a Judge or Justice was done under section 184.4 which is a wiretap without judicial authorization. This means if the police say it is an extreme circumstance…they will just go and wiretap whatever they like and it could be your phone next. The irony is that it takes reasonable and probable grounds to get a wiretap and nobody in the judicial system will authorize a wire-tap without those grounds and some proof that those grounds exist. There has been a dangerous precedent set here because extreme cases are meant to be cases such as a acts of hostage taking and kidnapping which involving imminent death etc. This also brings into question of break and enter, because the only one who can authorize entry into a dwelling legally for installation of these devices is a judge or justice and does so under certain conditions which is no longer than 60 days after which time an extension has to be applied for before the court. Apparently justice and the law is not to be relied on anymore, and neither are procedures or police protocol or anything of the likes.



These were the Commissioner of Police of Ontario’s Reasonable Probable Grounds and emergency circumstances for invading the privacy of an individual in Ontario and 4 other people including a lawyer. The Police Commissioner testified under oath that he holds the ultimate responsibility for these wire-taps whether he had direct knowledge of them at the time or not.


Taken Directly From the Court Transcripts and Testimony of Police Commissioner Julian Fantino:


Defense - Q. No guns were used and you have no knowledge of any guns being present, in fact, do you?

Julian Fantino - A. Uh, my state of mind then and still today is that guns were there.


Q. Yes, they were in your mind, but they weren’t - there’s no evidence that they were actually there. Isn’t that fair to say?

A. My state of mind is that they were there.





Q. And it would be your responsibility to ensure that wire taps were not instituted by your officers unless it was pursuant to law, right?


A. Ultimately it would be accountable, yes.



2) Threatening people including family members is not out of the question either as long as it comes from the Police Commissioner himself and the last time I looked threatening and coercion were against the law. Yet there it is in plain black and white, the Police Commissioner of Ontario not only threatening Shawn Brant, who was speaking very politely and respectfully by the way, but who also threatened Mr. Brant’’s brother who had not involvement in anything. This is right in the transcripts of Commissioner Fantino’s own testimony at Shawn Brant’s preliminary hearing and at no point did he deny contacting Shawn Brant’s brother nor the words he used. So there you have it, people of Ontario, this is acceptable policing in this province because Dalton McGuinty has said so by backing up his man. The man whom he personally appointed himself. So the next time you have involvement with any member of the Ontario Provincial Police, just remember these are the standards that have now been set for policing in Ontario and nobody is immune to them.


Defense - Q. Well, you say and you with him, didn’t you tell him during that very first conversation, “I don’t want to get on your bad side, but you’re going to force me to do everything I can within your community and everywhere else to destroy your reputation.” Did you tell him that?


Fatino - A. Yes.


Q. Was that being respectful to him?

A. Absolutely. Under the circumstances, yes. I felt that he needed to know what was at play ...


Q. Okay.

A. ... and the consequences.


Q. I’d like your opinion, upon reflection, if this sounds respectful, first, if you said it, and then secondly, if you feel that it was respectful to Mr. Brant. “You know, if you pull this off, I’m liable to say that your issues are critical and they’re important and I’ll speak to that, but if you don’t, then I’m going to go the other way, and I’’m going to say that you’re just destroying, and you’re abusing, and you’re using the people, and you’re actually being a mercenary about it, using the suicide of children and all those legitimate issues, and you don’t want that because I think I can play the media routine like you do.” Did you say that to him?

A. I did.


Q. Was that being respectful?

A. Under the circumstances, absolutely.


Q. “Shawn, your whole world’s going to come crashing down on this issue.” Do you recall those words in the conversation, Sir?

A. Those words were said, yes.


Q. I’m telling you for the sake of all that’s decent and holy, and the things you’re trying to achieve, and to ensure the reputation and the credibility of First Nations people, which I think has been very severely damaged, I’m now telling you to pull the plug or you’ll suffer grave consequences.”, he said, “Okay.”, you said,

““Okay.”

Mr. Brant said, “Thank you, Sir.”, you said,

““Thank you.”, Mr. Brant said,

““Bye now.”, you said,

““Bye.”

Is that correct?

A. Yes.


Q. A stalling tactic. I see. And then in your first conversation, I put it to you that throughout the first conversation, in fact throughout all the conversations you had with Mr. Brant, he was very respectful of you in his speech. Is that true?

A. Yes, he was, and I of him.


Q. Now, you did, on June 28th, or thereabouts, try to contact Mr. Brant’’s brother.

A. I did speak with his brother.


Q. And you did speak to him actually?

A. I did.


Q. And you wanted him to somehow restrain Mr. Brant, right?

A. I appealed to a lot of people to have Mr. Brant be respectful of the laws of the land, and try to avoid violence.


Q. And when Mr. Brant’s brother indicated he didn’t want to become involved in his brother’s activities, you told him, you have no choice, right?

A. That’s the way I put it to him, yes.


Q. Yeah, was that respectful?

A. Absolutely.


Q. What did you mean you have no choice? Wasn’t that a threat?

A. No, not at all. I was urging a brother to intercede with another brother who was in effect heading for disaster.


Q. When the Commissioner of the OPP says to a citizen of Ontario, you have no choice, you don’t understand that, Sir, as a threat?

A. Not at all.



Q. I see.

A. I think I was being perceptive, and I think I was caring enough to do everything I could to have Mr. Brant listen to voice of reason and sanity.


Q. I see. Mr. Brant’s brother is a lawyer, right?

A. Legally trained, I believe so, yes.


Q. And didn’t you threaten that he might be charged with charged with somehow colluding in his brother Shawn’s activities?

A. If he was harbouring or abetting him, I may have said that, yes.


Q. Yes, you said something about that even, didn’t you?

A. I said I may have said something along those lines.


Q. Yes. But you weren’t threatening him in any way, were you?

A. I thought I was setting out the potential outcomes very clearly, honestly, and in a forthright manner.


Q. I see.

A. And as you know, Mr. Rosenthal, that’s always a possibility when an individual engages in harbouring or engaging in a support of criminal activity. That’’s always a possibility.


Q. So, you were saying to Mr. Brant’s brother, you have no choice about becoming involved in this, and if you don’t become involved, you might be charged with some involvement?

A. No, that’s your interpretation. I implored upon him as a brother, as a family member, to exercise influence over Mr. Brant, and also the fact that his brother was a legally trained person, he would know the ramifications of what was taking place.


Q. Now, with respect to the Chief and the Band Council, you also gave them the understanding that if they didn’t distance themselves from Mr. Brant, themselves from Mr. Brant, they might be investigated for some criminal involvement?

A. No, not at all. What I did say to them is that Mr. Brant’s law breaking and holding people hostage would work against the cause of First Nations people.


3) It is now acceptable for snipers, the tactical team and for the federal police to be on standby at peaceful protests involving small groups of 50 or less people that include unarmed men, women, children and elders and to allude to the fact that you have firearms in your possession based on thought and not evidence or fact and to deploy these units based of the same. It is also acceptable for the police commissioner to make it appear as if you are violent using these same tactics again based on thought, not on fact or evidence.





30-hour blockade of the CN rail line near Deseronto in April. 2007


Defense - Q. I see. In April did you hear about arms?

Fantino - A. Uh, probably not.


Q. What I am suggesting to you, Sir, that it was known for months that this event would take place, and the conclusion that you came to from what you read in the papers, as you told us, about possible arms and violence from Mr. Brant, was a conclusion you came to way before June 28th.

A. Not way before, Sir. I think it was within a very short time of June the 29th.


Q. And then at 1809 it says, ******* - or maybe it’s ****** - ****** prepared to go hard tack at 1845, right?

A. Yes, Sir.


Q. So, that meant that at 1809 there was, you know, preparations to suit up appropriately for advancing on the protesters at 1845, right?

A. Putting an end to the blockade, yes.


Q. So, the idea would’ve been that the plan was that the officers would approach the people on the track and would somehow leave an exit for those who wanted to exit, and that exit was at lower Slash Road. Is that - am I reading this correctly?

A. Well, that’s what it says, but my understanding was that there were women and children and elderly people there as well, and we were concerned about their safety so, I think that’s it, what that talks about.


Q. Yes; and - but I did interpret correctly in that respect, that you’d be ....

A. I believe so, yes.


Q. At 1826 hours here, there’s an entry, in the event of lethal force, order back withdrawal. Any display of long guns and we go back, right?

A. Yes, and again, there was a concern about firearms being there at play, and that’s always been a concern ...


Q. There were both TRU and Public Order officers on site on April 20th?

A. Yes, and I believe we had other police agencies involved as well, but I can’’t tell you who they were right now.


Q. And the TRU team includes teams that are informally referred to as sniper teams, right?

A. I believe they have a component, yes, of - well, they do, yes.


Q. So, there’s an indication of a report that the persons occupying the tracks were probably going to move out. There seemed to be discussions going in that direction, but it will be closer to dark than we were then, right?

5

A. It appears to be so.


Q. There’s an entry, Commissioner to ********, ****** to *** ****** - something, but then - well, **********, I guess it is, we don’t want to fight at night. You don’t want to fight at night, right? Is that what that says?

A. Uh, that relates to information that came to our attention that the occupiers were looking for a fight and that they were prepared for a fight, and that’’s why we backed off as well.


The protesters stated twice that they were leaving both around night time and then at 6 am and Commissioner Fantino testified to that, yet after admitting that Commissioner Fantino says they had information the protesters were looking for a fight. The fight they were talking about in the dark was their fight, the fight of the O.P.P. true and tactical teams, not the protesters.


4) It has become acceptable for the police to promote racial stereotypes and police as such based on those stereotypes and deem you violent for being a certain race, not just blacks, but natives as well. Which group is next in this multi-cultural province and country??????


Q. Right. Now, with respect to Mr. Brant, I gather you learned something about him during April and then you had more direct interaction with him in June, right?

A. Yes.


Q. Prior to April, you had not had any interaction with Mr. Brant personally?

A. That’s correct. I didn’t have any interaction with him in April personally either, Sir.


Q. Yes, but you hadn’t even - prior to April, you hadn’t even had indirect interaction with him such as you had in April, right?

A. No, I knew quite a bit about Mr. Brant prior to April.



Q. I see. You had been informed by others and perhaps done some googling research or something, and learned something about Mr. Brant prior to April?

A. I knew who I was dealing with, yes.


Q. It says, ********** arrow Commissioner. It suggests that you were there, but didn’t some other officers indicate it wasn’t a question of bravery - Mr. Brant is very brave - but it’s a question of he’s somebody who’s trying to avoid violence?

A. He has a funny way of going about it.



Mr. Fantino knew Mr. Brant was Mohawk and therefore must be armed and dangerous, although admitting he heard nothing of weapons in April Mr. Fantino still says he had his armed tactical and sniper teams ready to deploy against unarmed men, women, children and elders because of the fear of weapons. Mr. Fantino testified also that the protesters were ready to leave the site, once closer to dark and then at 6 am, yet also testified that the entry made in relation to “we don‘t want to fight at night” was because they received information that the protesters were ready for a fight and that’s why they backed off. I firmly believe that the only reason the O.P.P backed off at all was because of potential repercussions from Six Nations/Caledonia and that’s what the entry concerns over Caledonia meant.


The portrayal of Native people in Ontario should be of major concern, given that this stero-type has fueled and will continue to fuel with near deadly consequences the reaction of the Police Commissioner himself in being prepared to employ deadly use of force at peaceful protests concerning Native people. This is the same portrayal that led to the cold-blooded murder of Dudley George at Ipperwash, and always with the same justification from the Commissioner himself that there is weapons present, without any proof or reasonable grounds to believe so. There were also undercover agents used in the April blockade of the railroad tracks, yet they obviously did not have any proof or information pertaining to weapons because the Commissioner himself testified under oath that he did not hear of any weapons in April, yet he was present at the scene. The only justification that Commissioner Fantino has for deploying such a heavy armed and deadly team against such a small group of people at a protest would be if there were weapons present. There were none and nothing to suggest there was, no probable grounds and no proof and no information in April because the commissioner testified under oath to that himself, yet contradicted his own testimony when saying there was a concern about weapons, weapons that were only in his mind.


5) It has become acceptable to live in a police state, whereby laws, rules, procedures and protocol no longer mean a thing, just what it takes to get the job done, including threatening and coercion, inventing weapons that don’t exist, the full force of armed police units and issuance of wire-taps without judicial consent because you know no judge in Ontario would grant you one.


1. No authorization for intercepted communications without reasonable probable grounds can be obtained. Mr. Fantino had none and I submit that if he or any member of the O.P.P went to any judge or Justice of the Peace with information about a statement being made in the media and un-named police sources who told them things without anything further to back it up, that they would never get one let alone 4 especially in the case of Shawn Brant’s brother who is a lawyer and that is the reason why section 184.4 of the criminal code was used, the section used normally for such things as kidnappings and hostage takings because they knew they could never obtain authorization.


There were no emergency or exigent circumstances that warranted these type of wiretaps, because they were well aware of the date of June 29th months ahead a time and Mr. Brant’s plans for that day through media coverage.

If there would have been grounds to obtain a judicial authorization, they had plenty of time to do it.


2. Threats and intimidation.


3. You have a weapon if the Police Commissioner says you have a weapon and you are aiding and abetting if the Police Commissioner says you are. It has nothing to do with laws, or the Charter of Rights in this country or province, it has to do with what the Police Commissioner says and what he can make it look like. Exigent circumstances are now what the Police Commissioner deems them to be and so are probable grounds. Never mind the legal and common law definitions, they don’t matter anymore.


6) Blue-Print to Ipperwash:



1. Ipperwash: The ERT and True teams were both dispatched based on false unverified information that the protesters were armed…Reports were they were in possession of hunting rifles and semi-automatics weapons…they then considered these false weapons a threat to public safety: the final report verifies there were never any weapons found after the shooting of Dudley George either in the vicinity of the park or the parking lot.


2. Ipperwash: Both sides fear a major event based on each others movements: O.P.P. dress to move what was escalated at one point to at least 15-20 men in a parking lot outside the Provincial Park….it was verified later by the final report that there was

only 6 men present in the parking lot and 25 protesters inside the park.


3. Ipperwash: Both the True team and the ERT team consisting of 4 teams of O.P.P. officers “The criteria for calling in the True Team is a threat to life” They were also sure they had the men n the parking lot for committing mischief and also for weapons dangerous because they had been spotted with baseball bats.


4. Ipperwash: “The O.P.P. should have communicated with the protesters that they should remain in the park and that the O.P.P. would not attempt to enter the park.” As I discuss in the following chapter the Aboriginal occupiers firmly believed that the O.P.P’s intention that night was to march into the park and arrest any protester who refused to leave the park”




5. Ipperwash: O.P.P. press releases full of misinformation after the shooting of Dudley George and those statements were never retracted. According to O.P.P. press releases at the time Dudley George was present on a school bus that began firing at officers as it left the park. A weapon was spotted in Dudley Georges hands by an officer who open fired. In actual fact as proven by the final report: Two teenagers were driving the bas and Dudley George was no where near the bus, there were also reports by officers of actually seeing muzzle fire on the bus, but no weapons were ever found on the bus or anywhere else. Dudley George was in fact outside and kneeling down at the time of his shooting and was unarmed. The bullet trajectory or entry point proved that for Dudley George to have been in a standing position that someone would have had to shot him from someplace above him like a tree. Officers maintained throughout their testimony etc that there was bullet fire in their direction and that was the reason they opened fired. As stated earlier when they area and the park were searched there was never one weapon found to verify their evidence which can be verified by the final report.



7) In both the April and June 2007 incidents weapons were the word of the day by Julian Fantino to justify his actions. This can only mean that should there be death at anyone of his death marches he has already set up the justification, just as it was set up for Dudley George the day he was murdered in cold blood by an O.P.P. sniper. Yet the only weapons n existence were in “Fantino’s state of mind” as he puts it. This is a life and death matter, which is already being set up by Fantino himself, otherwise why place weapons at a scene that you have no proof or evidence of???? Dudley George was unarmed and so were the protesters inside Ipperwash if you recall and yet there was a cover-up by the O.P.P. to say he and other protesters were armed to justify the deadly deployment of force on that night and also to justify his murder. It was only years later that the truth came out that no weapons were ever found inside the park or near Dudley George. Yes this is a blueprint and I think you have a Police Commissioner who has said clearly in all his actions and despite his words who wants another Ipperwash. Despite hearing early on that this would be a peaceful protest, Police Commissioner Fantino was fully prepared to send in armed tactical squads backed up by snipers into a group of men, women, children and elders for the sake of 30 hours of inconvenience of people riding a train and tangible goods that might spoil.


Q. And on the first phone call to you, didn’t Mr. Brant tell you that Mr. Fontaine had expressed his desire for a peaceful day and you know that’s our mandate, that’s what we’re trying to do? Didn’t he tell you that?

A. Uh, probably did.


Q. Yes, right early on, right?

A. Yes.



Q. At 1826 hours here, there’s an entry, in the event of lethal force, order back withdrawal. Any display of long guns and we go back, right?

A. Yes, and again, there was a concern about firearms being there at play, and that’s always been a concern ...


Q. Well, didn’t he, in fact, with respect to firearms - let’s deal with that. Didn’t he simply say that if the police came after us, or words to that affect, we could respond?

A. Uh, I don’t know if I can agree with that in total. My state of mind at the time was that firearms were at play and available, and that there was a predisposition to using those firearms against the police.


Q. What specifically led you to have the state of mind as you’ve - are you talking about April as well as June, or just June?

A. I’m talking about June primarily, yes.


Q. Okay. What gave you that state of mind as you prepared to participate in the June incident?

A. Uh, information that was provided to me, and information that I gleaned from the media as well, rhetoric attributed to Mr. Brant.


Q. I see. Well, what gave you that state of mind, Sir?

A. Uh, the information that was made available to me, even from the media, from Mr. Brant’s own reported rhetoric in the media.


Q. So, there were some discussions that you were a party to about how you would deal with violence?

A. I was briefed on the existence of firearms, the intent to use firearms against the police, those kinds of issues. I was aware of those situations, yes.


Q. Do you have any notes in your notebook, or otherwise, as to when you learned that Mr. Brant might possibly use weapons?

A. Or his followers. I believe it was on or about the 28th.


Q. Do you have any note I asked you, Sir?

A. No.


Q. And what you read in the media was to the affect that if police officers attacked the protesters, there might be guns near by, right? That’s what you read in effect, right?

A. My understanding was that guns were in fact going to be used on the police officers.






Q. Approximately how long?

A. My recollection is that I became intimately aware of the potential use, or the intended use, of firearms on our police officers on or about the 28th.


Q. Did you note anything about weapons, Sir?

A. Uh, no, I don’t believe so.


Q. In your notes?

A. Uh ....


Q. You didn’t? Would that not be one of the most crucial things to note, Sir?

A. It may have been.


No guns were used and you have no knowledge of any guns being present, in fact, do you?

A. Uh, my state of mind then and still today is that guns were there.


Q. Yes, they were in your mind, but they weren’t - there’s no evidence that they were actually there. Isn’t that fair to say?

A. My state of mind is that they were there.


Q. Yes.

A. ... however, we were under tremendous pressure because of not only the inconvenience to people, but also some safety issues, perishable goods in travel, and all those kinds of issues so, we had to make our decisions based on the greater public good and do the best we could to resolve the situation peacefully.


Q. And with respect to the June incident coming up, did you look at any of the recommendations of that inquiry?

A. I was well briefed and versed in the recommendations and the context, and I feel very strongly that we acted in the true spirit and intent of those recommendations, and in our situation on the 28th and 29th of June, and since.


So Mr. McGuinty this is the state of policing in Ontario that you are supporting and when there is death that occurs at this mans orders, are you going to take full responsibility for it, because the blood will also be on your hands???????



Shelley Brant

Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

Tucson: End Right Wing Radio

Coalición de Derechos Humanos
Call to Action! End Right-Wing Radio!
Dear Derechos Humanos ally,
As we told you in yesterday's post, we have begun a campaign to end right-wing radio here in Tucson. In less than 24 hours since we sent out this alert, many of you have stepped up and joined us in this struggle.So far, the following previously listed sponsors have informed us of their intention to immediately withdraw their support of 104.1 FM:
Main Gate Square
Patio Pools & Spa
The Auto Body Shop
Advanced Recon
Aung Foot Health Clinics
Sol CarsInterestingly, many of them were not even aware that their "package" deal with Journal Broadcasting Group meant advertising on 104.1 FM, and most were not aware of what they were supporting, and would not choose to support intolerance. In addition, the following companies have expressed concern about this issue, and have assured us that they will be looking into the matter immediately:
El Parador
Allstate Insurance
State Farm Insurance
The Wildcat House
Maloney's Tavern
Progressive Plumbing
Axiom Drafting and Design
Integrity AutomotiveThus far, 104.1 FM has removed the listing of their sponsors from their website, and the YouTube Webisodes of the Jon Justice show were removed, particularly the offensive one that some of the sample letters below. One of them has been reposted at the following YouTube link: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Zy9J3h4QGbwSXR0jC-PLV_hOtYE03buW2bV25Kqfd54VdM2aZp-cwC4-UC64cCEX34yvnod9Fk_vfxm6vqrRaFy9WxzLLHiUJXIHcefhX_D7bPQLvZS7W8HdRDwYlmVhr2v5IxPK5cM=. We invite you to judge the content for yourselves.Join us in this effort to rid the Tucson community of the intolerance and xenophobia that is promoted on the local radio station, 104.1 FM. We ask that you contact any of the businesses listed below to encourage that they withdraw their support of right-wing media. We have also provided a few sample letters that we invite you to use as samples in drafting your letters to sponsors.
In Solidarity,Coalición de Derechos Humanos

Sample letter 1To Whom It May Concern,I am writing to express concern over the fact that I have just been informed that your company is a supporter of 104.1 FM, and is listed on their website as a contributor. As a consumer, I would like to let you know that I am very alarmed about this, and I am opposed to the hate and xenophobia that I have heard expressed on these programs. It concerns me that your business would be in support of such displays of intolerance.One example is a recent YouTube post of one of their programs, The Jon Justice Show. In it, he has created a piñata of a local female community leader. In it, he caresses and holds the piñata, and murmurs about wanting to take it home with him, that it "feels so good" and such. I was highly offended by this, and do not believe that he would have done such a thing were this community leader not a woman. In addition, he makes a comment in this video that I believe to be racist-he comments about the piñata being light because "chorizo isn't that fattening," places a sombrero on her head, and speaks in a high pitched attempt at a Mexican accent.I invite you to take a look at it at the following link to judge for yourself:http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Zy9J3h4QGbwSXR0jC-PLV_hOtYE03buW2bV25Kqfd54VdM2aZp-cwC4-UC64cCEX34yvnod9Fk_vfxm6vqrRaFy9WxzLLHiUJXIHcefhX_D7bPQLvZS7W8HdRDwYlmVhr2v5IxPK5cM=I believe that you and your company believe that tolerance and acceptance is of the utmost importance in the Tucson community. I hope that your company was unaware of the kinds of messages and rhetoric that has been put forward by 104.1 The Truth, but I trust that you will withdraw your support of them when you see what they have been promoting. If you do not, I would like to let you know that you can count on losing my support as a consumer.Sincerely,
Sample Letter 2To Whom It May Concern,I am writing to inform you that as I have recently been informed that you are a supporter of 104.1 FM, a radio station I regard to be an offensive, xenophobic media outlet that has created division in our community, I intend to discontinue my support of your business.I was saddened and shocked to learn of the history that a particular radio host, "Jon Justice," has in creating scandal, division and intolerance. This includes a recent YouTube post where the host makes both sexist and racist comments. I invite you to view this for yourself at: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Zy9J3h4QGbwSXR0jC-PLV_hOtYE03buW2bV25Kqfd54VdM2aZp-cwC4-UC64cCEX34yvnod9Fk_vfxm6vqrRaFy9WxzLLHiUJXIHcefhX_D7bPQLvZS7W8HdRDwYlmVhr2v5IxPK5cM=. Perhaps you do not know that Mr. "Justice" created a community outcry in Grand Rapids, Michigan (his previous home) when he pretended to drown a dog on the air. I invite you to look at the links at: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Zy9J3h4QGbxv1uGleox84LHqbwe_lsc3TM2tnqlQxrj32QpjxxDz7g9UFx00x1mYcZeAL8jFfkTgkvemBV5Q3yuWuZUvp6UOmbpFZq1eExtmoh1m7TQBzqUtZflf7UutRZ2MlHRqpeDUH8GimnVChQ== or http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Zy9J3h4QGbwX2j73tLZqbe2fgGVFlNxeF_aLw4LaDrff9rPhDqLydYq-cCsrucmdRb2OfQzcTsf-O2jWyTHd-VznpZLhEtdMSs7eICVC4YNljkYrdceB7bkdOV_ChWMdwrfSxjp_3uqzzpmRrHf16zbURvMY0JiXR82Pb5iErbEB2kxwdln_C5_0Cbneu-kdEbRs8-fR6kc=. I believe that you and your company believe that tolerance and acceptance is of the utmost importance in the Tucson community. I hope that your company was unaware of the kinds of messages and rhetoric that has been put forward by 104.1 The Truth, but I trust that you will withdraw your support of them when you see what they have been promoting. If you do not, I would like to let you know that you can count on losing my support as a consumer.Sincerely,
Sample Letter 3To Whom It May Concern:As I am sure you are already aware, sponsorship comes with both benefit and responsibility. I am bringing to your attention the fact that your sponsorship is allowing Jon Justice to incite and churn hate in our communities. I am appalled that Jon Justice feels it is acceptable to personally attack Isabel Garcia and members of Coalicion de Derechos Humanos, as a means of increasing his ratings. Jon Justice has gone so far as to make his own piñata in the image of Ms. Garcia and proceed to make sexual innuendos and racist remarks. Does your company support hate speech? Is your company willing to accept the actions of Jon Justice, as a paid employee on business time, as representative of your company's values? I am sickened and horrified that the airwaves of Tucson are being used to promulgate the agenda of a select population. Furthermore, your company's sponsorship of 104.1 The Truth, and Jon Justice, helps ensure that those who can effectively "Ruffle Feathers" for ratings using biased, twisted and factually devoid information will continue in Tucson. If your company chooses to continue sponsorship, you are making the decision to sponsor the division of our community, its members and condone the presentation of opinion based content as fact and credible news. Your sponsorship of 104.1 The Truth must end if we are to come together as a community. Sincerely,
Sample Letter 4Dear Sir or Madam:I would like to express concern for your company's sponsorship of 104.1 The Truth. Less than a week ago, The Truth's morning talkshow host, Jon Justice, began a campaign in opposition to Pima County legal defender Isabel Garcia. While I recognize Justice's first amendment right to free speech, I find his decision to engage in hateful, divisive speech reprehensible. As a person of color, I can neither accept nor condone Justice's campaign which has been marked by both sexism and racism. For example, in a video link on the The Truth's website, Justice gropes a piñata of Garcia while expressing a desire to "take it home with me". Justice subsequently goes on to mock Garcia by adopting a "mexican" female's accent. These outrageous actions unquestionably contradict principles of acceptance and tolerance for diversity. It is my hope that your company will stand in opposition to the appalling hate speech which Jon Justice has exemplified. I ask that you will remove your sponsorship from 104.1 The Truth and in doing so stand in support of principles of multiculturalism and diversity. I look forward to your reply and seeing my concerns addressed. I can be reached at the above address or at my (home or office number with area code). Sincerely, Your Name

International Indian Treaty Council Human Rights Training

International Indian Treaty Council Capacity-building & Human Rights Training Program for Tribes and Indigenous Communities

Summary
The International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), founded in 1974, is an organization of Indigenous Peoples working for human rights, environmental justice and self-determination for Indigenous Peoples and the recognition and protection of their human rights, treaties, traditional cultures and sacred lands. In 1977, IITC was the first Indigenous organization to receive Consultative Status to the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council.
The IITC’s Human Rights Training and Capacity-building Program provides training and capacity-building for Indigenous Peoples, Tribes, grass roots communities, networks and organizations. Its focus is to expand awareness and build the active, informed use of international standards and mechanisms in support of local human rights issues, struggles and campaigns. Consultations, trainings and workshops take place by invitation in tribal communities and gatherings, as well as through dissemination of educational materials, technical and legal assistance for filing cases and urgent action communications, “training trainers” in communities and mentorship at international fora.
Objectives
The objectives of program activities are to: 1) increase the direct, effective participation of Indigenous
representatives in the development and implementation of international human rights standards; 2) expand
their ability to use international standards, bodies and procedures to defend and exercise their human rights
and address their local/tribal concerns; 3) build awareness about local impacts of international policies; 4)
increase understanding of their human rights under international law; and 5) understand the full impact and
opportunities presented by recent new developments at the UN, in particular the adoption in September 2007
of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly.
The program also provide educational workshops and training for non-Indigenous organizations, nongovernmental
organizations (NGO’s) and government agencies interested in building their understanding about
the human rights concerns, struggles and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples and build greater diversity and
collaboration in human rights campaigns.
Training draws upon IITC’s long-standing “hands on” experience and expertise in the international human
rights arena and use experienced Indigenous trainers. They can be structured from a half-day to two days in
length, or arranged in a series focusing on different themes. Follow up sessions, mentorship and/or technical
assistance can be provided upon request.
Updated 06/2008
For more information contact:
International Indian Treaty Council
Andrea Carmen, Executive Director
456 N. Alaska Street
Palmer, AK 99645
P 907-745-4482
F 907-745-4484
E andrea@treatycouncil.org
or visit IITC online at www.treatycouncil.org
IITC Training, Waimanalo, Hawaii, January 2003
International Indian Treaty Council
Capacity-building & Human Rights Training Topics
Training can be offered in one or more of the following primary areas, based on needs and requests of the host
community/tribe. Additional topics can be included upon request.
1. A practical overview of the United Nations system and structure, including:
a. UN areas and bodies focusing on Indigenous Peoples, human rights and environmental justice.
b. Key terminologies: “UN-speak” and what it really means.
c. Overview and history: How Indigenous Peoples can use the UN to defend their rights.
d. Setting realistic objectives based on understanding the UN system and its bodies.
e. Using the international arena as an effective component of community-based justice campaigns.
f. Requirements and procedures for participating in different UN bodies and sessions.
2. What are Human Rights? How has the international understanding of human rights evolved with the input
of Indigenous Peoples? What are “Self Determination”, “Free Prior informed Consent”, “Collective Rights”,
“Peoples” and other key human rights concepts and how do they apply to Indigenous Peoples?
3. Using and applying UN Conventions and Declarations including the Universal Declaration on Human
Rights, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
International Labor Organization 169 and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial
Discrimination, among others.
4. Treaties, Agreements and Constructive Arrangements between Indigenous Peoples and States:
International recognition and legal impacts; developing new models and mechanisms for addressing Treaty
and land rights violations, reparations and restitution using international standards and oversight.
5. Using UN bodies and complaint procedures to address local/tribal human rights concerns and create
pressure on countries to change their actions and policies. Filing cases with UN bodies and “Rapporteurs”
addressing issues such imposed, non-sustainable development and environmental destruction, racial
discrimination, threats to subsistence rights and food security, land appropriation, prisoners’ rights, women
and children’s rights and threats to traditional cultural practices and sacred sites.
6. Building Effective participation in international “multi-stakeholder” and “major group” dialogues,
coalitions and processes; information-sharing and networking opportunities among Indigenous Peoples
from other regions, “NGO's”, UN agencies and issue-based organizations in key areas of shared concern
including food security, biological diversity protection and sustainable development.
7. The Organization of America States and how it can also be used to defend Indigenous Peoples’ human
rights (i.e. The Inter-American Human Rights system, the draft American Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples).
IITC Training, Southern Illinois University, May 2008
IITC's Human Right and Capacity Building Training
Program includes presentations and small group
discussions as well as individualized technical
assistance. IITC training materials are available in print,
video and power point formats and cover a number of
topics including: Right to Food and Food Sovereignty,
Right to Water, Protection of Scared Sites,
Environmental Protection, Impacts of Toxics and
Pesticides on Humans, Racial Justice and the
Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial
Discrimination, the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, Treaty Rights and the Right to Free
Prior and Informed Consent to name a few. Some
materials are available in both Spanish and English.

Call to Action: Arpaio's racist media targets Isabel Garcia

Contact:
Coalición de Derechos Humanos P.O. Box 1286Tucson, AZ 8570Office: 520.770.1373or 1.800.682.4280Fax: 520.770.7455
http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/
Coalición de Derechos Humanos is a grassroots organization which promotes respect for human/civil rights and fights the militarization of the Southern Border region, discrimination, and human rights abuses by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials affecting U.S. and non-U.S. citizens alike.
Call to Action!
Defend Isabel Garcia!---Defend our First Amendment Rights!---Demand Accountability from those who would support Hate media! As many of you are aware, a protest last week of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio last week has had some ugly backlash. As a community, we set out to let Arpaio know that there were many who did not welcome him into our community. As part of this protest, and in a symbolic expression our disagreement with Sheriff Arpaio, his policies, and his promoting of his xenophobic and narrow-minded perspective in his recent book, an empty piñata with the likeness of Sheriff Arpaio was hit by local youth. As a result, the right-wing radio talk show host, Jon Justice (104.1 The Truth) has launched a campaign to have one of our Co-chairs, Isabel Garcia, fired from her position as a Pima County Legal Defender. Many do not know that 104.1FM is associated with local news channel KGUN 9-we would like to ask KGUN 9 about their support of such divisive views as those expressed on 104.1FM. Since last Friday, our office has received numerous hate calls, and Jon Justice has posted a YouTube video of himself with a piñata with Isabel's likeness, caressing it and making comments about "wanting to take it home with me," among a few other comments about "chorizo" and "viva la raza." You can see this video at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTR20jav2RA
We ask you, as community allies, to step up with us in defending Isabel Garcia, demand accountability from 104.1FM and KGUN 9, and that hate speech not be given a platform in our communities.
It is our First Amendment Right, and our duty as members of this society, to denounce anything that goes against the basic human and civil rights that ALL posess. To try to silence those that would condemn torture and raciscm is contrary to the rights of us all! Please help us to spread the word, and take up the following action items:
1. Contact Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry in support of Isabel Garcia. 520.740.8661 or e-mail chh@pima.gov 2. 3. Contact the Journal Broadcast Group, expressing your opinion of Jon Justice and the tactics of 104.1FM, and your concern that local KGUN 9 would be associated with an outlet that is so obviously NOT an objective media source. Contact Julie Brinks: 520.290.7600 or e-mail: jbrinks@journalbroadcastinggroup.com 4. 5. Contact the Board of Supervisors, voicing your support of Isabel Garcia, who has broken no rule or regulation as a Pima County employee.
Pima County Board of Supervisors 130 West Congress Street, 11th FloorTucson, Arizona 85701 Receptionist - (520) 740-8126 Fax - (520) 884-1152 Ann Day, District 1Ann.Day@pima.gov (520) 740-2738 Ramón Valadez, District 2district2@pima.gov (520) 740-8126 Sharon Bronson, District 3district3@pima.gov (520) 740-8051 Ray Carroll, District 4district4@pima.gov (520) 740-8094 Richard Elías, Chairman, District 5district5@pima.gov (520) 740-8126 We need your support! Please spread the word on this Call to Action! Defend our First Amendment rights!

IEN Conference Agenda Western Shoshone 2008

INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK (IEN)
15th PROTECTING MOTHER EARTH CONFERENCE
Sponsored by IEN and Hosted by
WESTERN SHOSHONE DEFENSE PROJECT
July 17-20, 2008
“Answering Mother Earth’s Call for Healing –Reaffirming Our Roots”
AGENDA
Camp Set-Up – Tuesday and Wednesday, July 15-16th
Day One – Thursday, July 17th (LAND)
5:30 Sunrise Ceremony – Lighting of the Sacred Fire
7:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Opening Ceremony of the Conference
Prayer
Grand Entry of Indigenous Participants
Welcome by IEN/WSDP leadership
Western Shoshone Traditional Leadership, Local Tribal Officials
10:00 Big Circle: Western Shoshone History of the Struggle
Raymond Yowell, Former Chief, Western Shoshone National Council (WSNC)
Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone Grandmother and WSNC
Mary McCloud, Western Shoshone Grandmother and WSDP Board Member
12:30-2:00 Lunch Break
2:00 Big Circle: History of the Indigenous Struggle of Turtle Island and Presentations on Original
Instructions, Traditional Systems, Traditional Economies and Trade Routes
· Oren Lyons, (Onondaga Nation), Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Six Nations, New York
· Louise Benally (Dine'), Traditional Dineh Sovereignty Nation Big Mountain, Struggle to Define
Mother Earth, Arizona
· Speaker from the South (Abayala TBA)
· Arthur Manuel (Secwepemc Nation) Indigenous Network on Economics and Trade, British
Colombia, Canada
4:30-6:30 Big Circle: History of Colonial Laws against Indigenous Peoples, Doctrine of Discovery
· Steven Newcomb (Shawnee/Lenape), Indigenous Law Institute, California, Columnist Indian
Country Today, recently released a book entitled, “Pagans in the Promised Lands”.
· Tupac Enrique Acosta (Xicano Peoples), Tonatierra Instutute and Tlahtokan Aztlan, Phoenix,
speaking on the Confederacy of the Eagle and the Condor, liberation from colonial boundaries.
· Andrea Carmen (Yaqui), International Indian Treaty Council, California/Alaska, speaking on the
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
6:30 Evening Meal
6:45 Youth Orientation and Youth Caucus Meeting and other Caucuses – Border Justice Caucus
8:00 - Performer (Robby Romero (Apache)/Trinidad Goodshield (Lakota))
8:00 – Video & Films TBA
9:00 - Traditional Round Dance
Purification Ceremonies available in the evening
Day Two – Friday, July 18th (AIR)
5:30 Sunrise Ceremony
7:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
9:00-9:30 Opening Ceremony (Traditional Teaching - North)
9:30-12:30 Big Circle: Indigenous Struggles on Extractive Industry: Mining the Sources of Life - Voices
from the North and South - Moderated by Robert Shimek (Anishinaabe), Minnesota. Speakers: Carrie
Dann (Western Shoshone), WSDP; Samuel McKay, (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwu) (Big Trout Lake) First
Nations, Ontario, Canada; Gonzalo Guzmán Demetrio , Natural Resources Secretary, Ecuadorian
Federation (ECUARUNARI) & CAOI (Association of Andean Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations), Ecuador,
South America; and others TBA.
9:30-12:00 and 2:00-4:30 On-Going Demonstration/Training Projects
1. Composting Toilet Construction - Pennelys Goodshield (Anishinaabe), Sustainable Nations
Development Project
2. Solar and Wind Power, Jeff Tobe Solar Energy International and John Shimek (Anishinaabe
Youth), Honor The Earth organization and White Earth Land Recovery Project
12:30-2:00 Lunch Break
2:00-4:00 Small Circles (Workshops)
1. Water Healing and Protection with Virginia Sanchez (Duckwater Shoshone), Nevada; Rick
Spilsbury, (Ely Shoshone), Nevada; and Felicia Bertin
2. Mineral Extraction – Strategies and Solutions (Part 1) for communities impacted by mining and
mineral extraction
3. Beginning Steps in Organizing 101 (Part 1) – Native Trainers: Indigenous Peoples Project (IP3) -
Ruckus Society
4. Climate Change 101 and Solutions: Trainers, Jihan Gearon (Dine’), IEN Native Energy and Climate
Program, Arizona; and Kandi Mossett (Mandan, Arikira, Hidatsa), IEN Tribal Campus Climate
Challenge, North Dakota, IEN
5. Using CERD as a Human Rights Tool to Address our Issues with Alberto Saldamando, Legal
Counsel, (Chicano/Zapoteca), International Indian Treaty Council, California and Julie Fishel,
Legal Counsel, Western Shoshone Defense Project. Newe Sogobia (Nevada)
6. Youth Activity: Elder and youth discussion on history and spirituality
7. Traditional Food and Plant Discussion led by Shoshone elder
4:00-4:30 Afternoon Break – Music Stage
4:30-6:30 Small Circles (Workshops)
1. Mineral Extraction – Strategies and Solutions (Part 2) for communities impacted by mining and
mineral extraction.
2. Organizing 101 (Part 2): IP3 Ruckus Society Native Trainers
3. Wisdom and knowledge of traditional teachings, understanding spirituality and mythology, with
Walter Porter (Tlingit) mythologist
4. Toxics Policy: The Need for Aggressive Action, with Shawna Larson (Ahtna Athabascan/Sugpiaq),
Alaska Community Action on Toxics and IEN/REDOIL, Alaska and Andrea Carmen (Yaqui),
International Indian Treaty Council, California/Alaska
5. Youth Activity: Archery
6. Traditional Food and Plants Discussion (led by Shoshone elder)
6:30 Evening Meal
6:45 Youth Caucus and other Caucuses: Sacred Areas Caucus
8:00 Talent Show – Performances from the Struggle
Purification Ceremonies in the evening
Day Three – Saturday, July 19th (WATER)
5:30 Sunrise Ceremony & Water Ceremony
7:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
9:00-9:30 Opening Ceremony (Traditional Teaching - East)
9:30-12:30 Big Circle: Energy Road of Destruction and Climate Change
Moderated by Clayton Thomas-Muller (Mathias Colomb Cree), Canada, Speakers: Nuclear: Ian Zabarte
(Western Shoshone), on Yucca Mountain, a proposed site for radioactive nuclear waste; Geothermal and
Sacred Area: Radley Davis (Pitt River) on Medicine Lake, California; Fossil Fuels from Top of the World:
Faith Gemmill (Gwichin Alaska), REDOIL, oil drilling, Alaska; Tar Sands: Eriel Deranger (Fort Chipewyan
Dene) on tar sands in Alberta Canada; Fossil Fuels Gas and Oil Pipeline: Melina Laboucan-Massimo
(Lubicon Cree), British Colombia; Fossil Fuels Oil Refinery: Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca) on oil refinery,
Oklahoma; Loren White Jr. (Hidatsa) on oil drilling and proposed refinery in North Dakota; Coal Fired
Power Plant and Coal Mining: Elouise Brown (Dine’), Dooda Desert Rock, New Mexico; Fossil Fuel, Coal
Mining, Energy Policy: Enei Begaye (Dine’/ Tohono O'Odham) Black Mesa Water Coalition on fossil fuel
energy development on the Navajo Nation, Arizona.
9:30-12:00 and 2:00-4:30 On-Going Demonstration/Training Projects
1. Straw Bale Wall (House) and Earth Plaster Construction - Pennelys Goodshield (Anishinaabe),
Sustainable Nations Development Project, California
2. Solar and Wind Power, Jeff Tobe Solar Energy International, Colorado, and John Shimek
(Anishinaabe Youth), White Earth Land Recovery Project and Honor The Earth organization,
Minnesota
12:30-2:00 Lunch Break
2:00-4:00 Small Circles
1. Campaigning on Energy Issues (Part 1) – Strategies and Solutions with communities impacted by
energy and climate policies and development.
2. Direct Action Training Part 1 with IP3 – Ruckus Native Trainers
3. Corporate Campaign Development: Trainer, Miho Kim, Data Center, California
4. Toxic Waste Burners and Gasifiers: Trainer, Bradley Angel, Greenaction, California
5. Youth Activity: Traditional Foods and Plants Walking Tour
6. Cultural Resources Research and Reporting for Environmental Assessments: Monique Sonoquie
(Chumash/Apache). California, Ian Zabarte (Western Shoshone), WSNC, Newe Sogobia, and
Micheal Nixon (Seneca)
7. Indigenous Sustainable Economies: Arthur Manuel (Secwepemc Nation) Indigenous Network on
Economics and Trade, British Colombia, Canada and others TBA
4:00-4:30 Afternoon Break – Music Stage
4:30-6:30 Small Circles
1. Campaigning on Energy Issues (Part 2) – Strategies and Solutions with communities impacted by
energy and climate policies and development
2. Direct Action Training (Part 2): IP3 Ruckus Society Native Trainers
3. Well-Being: Healing Our Mind and Bodies of Contaminants: Renee Gurneau (Red Lake
Anishinaabe), Minnesota, Kathleen Tsosie (Dine’) New Mexico, and Jeanne Shenandoah,
traditional midwife, (Onondaga), New York
4. Indigenous-Centered Education: Nurturing the Next Generation of Indigenous Leadership with
Deb Harry, Kooyooe Dukaddo (Pyramid Lake Paiute), Nevada, Emerging Indigenous Leaders
Institute
5. Sacred Areas: Struggles of the Heart to Protect the Sacred: Sonny Weahkee, SAGE Council, New
Mexico, interactive session
6. Youth Activity: Making Dream Catchers
6:30 Evening Meal
6:45 Youth Caucus and other Caucuses
8:00 Drum and Dance Celebration – Grand Entry – Participants in Traditional Outfits – Honoring
8:00 Video and Films TBA
Late Night Purification Lodge Ceremonies
Day Four – Sunday, July 20th (FIRE-SUN-SPIRIT)
[Field trip this morning to a mining impact zone. (Approximately 2 hour round trip) – People who sign
up.]
5:30 Sunrise Ceremony
7:00 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:00 Departure on Field Trip
9:00-9:30 Opening Ceremony (Traditional Teaching - South)
9:30-12:30 Big Circle: Ethno Stress, Internalized Oppression and Healing: Renee Gurneau, (Red Lake
Anishinaabe), Minnesota and Dr. Eduardo Duran (invited), co-writer of the publication, “Native American
Postcolonial Psychology, California.
12:30-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30-3:30 Big Circle: Strategies for a Sustainable Indigenous Community and World
Original Instructions
· Community/Global Well-Being – Spirit, Environment, Economy, Culture – Speaker, Mato
Awanyankapi, Dine’/Dakota, Indigenous Environmental Network, Minnesota
· Protecting Cultural Heritage in a Globalized World – Speaker, Debra Harry, Kooyooe Dukaddo
(Pyramid Lake Paiute), Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism, Nevada
· Next Generation Leadership - Speaker, Evon Peter (Gwichin), Native Movement, Alaska
Statements for Commitment
4:00 Closing Ceremony – Putting the Fire to Rest
.
Camp Take-down
6:00 Evening Meal