#7

Traditional Native American legends recount how the Great Spirit gave the Stars power to watch over mortals on earth and impart to them extraordinary blessings of beauty, warmth, protection and healing. The Star Quilt is given as a token of this belief, especially in sacred ceremonies.

Star Quilts are never discarded. They are used with care and cherished forever. As the years pass, they become more valuable. To Indian people, to give a Star Quilt is to show the utmost respect, honor, and admiration to a person.

The most painful wound suffered by Native Americans is the wound of conquest. Whether the invader was Columbus, Cortez, or the United States government, this wound of despair still runs deep among tribes.

Years of frustration have created many social problems on and off reservations and perhaps the most dreadful outcome is that the feelings of hopelessness are perpetuated from one generation to the next.

In the 1950s, many Native Americans were forced by the government to leave the cities where they could assimilate into mainstream America. Not only did they face the loss of their land and homes, they faced difficulties adjusting to urban life. Though the policy was discontinued in 1961, those Indians continued to suffer from the ramifications with extreme poverty, deprivation and struggles to simply survive.

My own tribe, the Pawnee, lived in what is now called Nebraska for many years before the first white men came. At that time, the Pawnee tribe numbered about 10,000 members. Through a series of treaties in the mid-1800s, my people were forced to surrender their homeland for a reservation along the Loup River.

Despite losing their country, the Pawnee still served as faithful courageous scouts for the U.S. Army during the Indian wars and never made war against the United States as other tribes did. By 1876, they had been forced to leave their Nebraska reservation and move to Indian Territory.

The Pawnee reservation is now part of Oklahoma and the remainder of the Nation living there is less than 3,000 Indians. For the Pawnee - and so many other Native tribes - the suffering and battles to regain our traditional ways of life and legal human rights continues today.

Officials in all branches of government must respond to pressure for equal treatment that is long overdue to Native Americans whose ancestors lost much of their land, their culture, their identity and their rights to live as sovereign nations recognized by our government as they were promised.

Legal rights and laws don't mean anything without lawyers to enforce them. That's why our staff of attorneys handle up to 50 cases at any given time, and work to set precedents and establish important principles of Indian law.

Litigation requires a great deal of research, time and resources, and often takes many years to resolve. Yet NARF is dedicated to providing legal advice and representation to Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide who otherwise might not have access to the justice system.

Because you have a deep and profound respect for Native Americans I am appealing to you for help once again. Your continued involvement is critical to resolving issues affecting Native Americans - your fellow brothers and sisters - who are often denied the basic rights that other Americans enjoy as U.S. citizens.

Tribes must be able to live according to their Native traditions and culture; to ensure their independence on reservations and to protect their sovereignty. Our government must live up to its promises, treaties and commitments to Native people.

Please help NARF blaze the trail for justice to preserve the traditional way of life for all Native Americans today. The future existence of the remaining Indian tribes in this country depends on your concern.

Each day is a challenge, but we welcome it with courage because of the possibility of victory for what is right. Together, we can give more dignity, honor and hope to Native Americans.

Please take this time to register to become a part of our E-Action Network at www.narf.org. The site promotes the ongoing development of Indian law and educates the public about Indian rights, law and issues.

John Echohawk
Executive Director