US spies on Tohono O'odham land

Photo: The US spies into Tohono O'odham homes. Photo credit: Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham.

Don't be too impressed with the hoopla about tribal border crossing IDs. The question to ask is if Yaqui and O'odham born at home, in their traditional territories on both sides of the border, who do not have birth certificates, will be issued the new border crossing IDs. If not, not much has been accomplished.

This photo illustrates the snuggly relationship between the BIA/tribal government and Homeland Security, where the US Border Patrol is allowed to spy into Tohono O'odham homes in Arizona.

Since there is no freedom of the press, and news reporters are not allowed in Tohono O'odham Legislative Council sessions, the tribal government continues to oppress the O'odham. Many Indian Nations, like the Navajo Nation, do allow news reporters into tribal council sessions and provide press releases of their actions, in order to be accountable to their people.

While the Tohono O'odham Nation has lucrative casinos, and continues to donate its funds to non-Indian charities, most of the Tohono O'odham living on the border are desperate for housing, jobs and even food.

Meanwhile, the Tohono O'odham police and Homeland Security's Border Patrol continue to militarize the Tohono O'odham Nation, oppress the people and violate all their human rights.

-- Censored News