Tribal Court Judgment upholds Northern Paiute Gathering Rights

Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court issues declaratory judgment upholding gathering rights of Northern Paiute 'Kwassuh' Wesley Dick

Article copyright by Brenda Norrell

Censored News

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Update on charges in Nevada: Picking charge dropped, trespassing charge remains

TACOMA, Wash. -- The Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court in Tacoma, Washington, issued a declaratory judgment in the case of Northern Paiute traditional gatherer Wesley Dick vs. the United States. The combined court of judges from across Indian country issued the judgment upholding the right of Wesley Dick, Kwassuh, to gather tules in the traditional way, after he was cited and fined $800 by US Fish and Wildlife in Nevada.

Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court Lead Judge Rudy Al James and judges from across Indian country issued the declaratory judgment on July 20. The legal citations include laws that uphold the authority of tribal courts and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. The US Code which prohibits genocide and discrimination of culture and religion is included in the legal citations.

"In the matter of Wesley Glen Dick, Jr., vs. The United States ... It is the judgment of the Court that the United States violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which says, 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.' The right to freedom of religion was denied to Mr. Dick by restricting his right to practice his religion, by preventing his harvest of plants necessary to carry out his religious practices. The Native American Free Exercise of Religious Act of 1993 protects the religious use of animal and plants necessary to carry out one's religious practices. Therefore it is the judgment of this Court that all charges and fines must be dismissed against Mr. Wesley Dick, Jr., on this 20th day of July, 2011."

Kwassuh told Censored News, "This is the reason why my family and I traveled 1,000 miles from home, to get fair justice served from a Tribal Court concerning Tribal matters. I appeared before the very knowledgeable Tribal representatives of the Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court. Tribal Court Judge Rudy Al James did an outstanding job recognizing every detail of my case and more. There needs to be more Tribal Courts like this one that fully represents all of our Indigenous Nations of peoples."

After enduring the financial burden of the 1,000 mile trip, Kwassuh said Thursday, "My full faith will get us home safely. We are all thankful for the support of the people who made it possible for us to make this very important trip. I plan on sharing how we possess our sacred Indigenous right with others who want to listen and put an end to the overbearing domination by the U.S. Government that's been taking place too much, as well the encroachment of our lands."

Kwassuh said his people refer to themselves in terms of their traditional foods.

"My people in the area of Nevada are known as the Numa. In the Paiute language, that means 'the Native People.' In Nevada the identity of the Numa is what they are known for eating the source of food in a certain area.

"Pyramid Lake Numa, outside of Reno, is a Paiute. Numa are known for the fish in their area Cui-ui Ticutta (fish eaters). The fish is a rare species that only lives in Pyramid Lake. Fort Bidwell Paiutes, Numa, are known as Kida Ticutta (groundhog eaters).

"Fallon Stillwater Paiutes, Numa, are known as the Toi-Ticutta (cattail eaters). Because of the various uses the Toi-Ticutta makes use of the tule plant."

Kwassuh said he knows of at least 20 uses of this plant. "What people don't recognize is that before there were any non-Native people in the Toi-Ticutta area, the people lived very well"

Referring to a historical marker, Kwassuh said points out that the United States is well aware of the history of his people here. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of the Interior, and the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe are well aware of our existence from our people today, and the past, in order to produce this sign, that is located in the area where I was cited by the U.S. Game Warden."

"Ancient human remains were discovered in a cave in the local area and the Nevada State Museum in Carson City is knowledgeable. Also the Toi-Ticutta are aware that he is my ancestor and is claimed to be one of the oldest ancient Native Americans in the Western United States. He was dated as 10,650 years old, an estimate by the Nevada State Museum archaeologists," Kwassuh said.

"I am a member of a federally recognized tribe, the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe. I am a Toi-Ticutta."

In Tacoma, the Kuiu Kwaan Combined Traditional Tribal Court cited the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the Indian Tribal Justice Act, which uphold the authority of tribal courts. The tribal court also cited US Code, Chapter 50A, Section 1091 on Genocide which prohibits discrimination of culture and religion and prohibits genocide.

The judgment is signed by Kuiu Kwaan Lead Tribal Judge Rudy Al James; Jack McCloud of the Nisqually Nation; Dr. Betty Case, Tribal Judge of the Cherokee Nation; Walter Harding, Associate Judge of the Wampanoag Nation; Eric Brewer, Associate Judge of the Nisqually Nation; Steve Brown, Associate Tribal Judge of the Concow Nation; Hadassah Baht Yisrael of the Yisrael Nation and Leroy Rose of the Cherokee Nation.

UPDATE July 27, 2011:
"The charges of picking the plant were dropped but they are still holding on to me trespassing.  It's crazy because I'm due in Reno District Court on October 11, 2011.  I'm being charged with trespassing on my own aborigional territory; the court date is the day after Columbus Day." Wesley Dick

COMMENTS

Janice Gardipe, Paitue/Western Shoshone:

"Numu Grace Dick We need to support our young people when they have an old Indian spirit in them that wants to keep our Paiute Traditional Cultural Ways of Life of our ancestors. We also need to protect our native plants and use them for what they were used for in the old way, the ways that were given and taught to our people by the Creator, for our survival as a people. These Ways of Life are our inherent rights as Native people in our In digenous homeland territories of the Numu Teepa(our peoples earth). We need to gather our native plants for food, medicine, basket materials, tule duck decoys, etc., when the time is right. There are some of us that are still practicing this Way of Life of our Numu people. We go out every year to gather all types of native plants for food including our sacred pine nuts (Tuba'a) from our sacred tree, the Pine Nut Tree (Tubape). This is what we grew up doing and we continue to practice and live this way of life because it is who we are as Indian people. We are the stewards of the earth in this country and our ancestors have been the caretakers for thousands of years and they did not have permits, only offerings, prayers, and they gave thanks at large gatherings which included traditional food, round dancing and Paiute songs.(i.e.,Pine Nut Dance)."

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Paiute traditional gatherer takes case to Kuiu Kwaan Court in Tacoma

Kuiu Kwaan Court in Tacoma, Wash., supports traditional Paiute craftsman gathering tules

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Update July 19, 2011, 8 pm

TACOMA, Wash. -- Northern Paiute traditional gatherer Wesley Dick, "Kwassuh," and his family traveled more than 1,000 miles from northern Nevada and appeared before a tribal judge in Kuiu Kwaan Court in Tacoma, Washington on Tuesday.

Kwassuh, traditional craftsman, took his case of gathering tule to Kuiu Kwaan Tlingit Tribal Judge Rudy James in Tacoma, after Kwassuh was charged and fined $800 by a Nevada game warden while gathering tules in May.

Kwassuh said on Tuesday night that a declaration is being prepared to protect Indigenous gathering rights. "This is a new movement," Kwassuh said.

Kwassuh, one of the few remaining traditional gatherers and craftsmen of the Northern Paiute, said he is fighting for the rights of all Indigenous Peoples as traditional gatherers.

After appearing before the Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court, on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in Tacoma, he said, "They do respect Indigenous culture, traditional lifeways, and acknowledge our sacred religious freedom -- all that I am trying to keep alive."

At home in Stillwater, Nevada, Kwassuh is a member of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Indian Nation. However, he said two tribal council members want him to give into policies, limitations and regulations. In the struggle to retain Indigenous culture and lifeways, Kwassuh said he and other traditional people refuse to give into the council's restrictions and authority. 

Kwassuh was gathering tule in the ceremonial way when he was cited by a Nevada game warden and given fines of $800 in May. For the past 18 years Kwassuh, 45, has worked an average of 170 hides a year of deer, moose, elk, buffalo and antelope in the traditional style of brain-tanning. Many items are made for powwow dancers, including moccasins, fan handles and hair wraps. He also makes items for ceremonies such as various sized hand drums. No chemicals are used, only natural elements such as the sun, water, brains, fire and stretching the hide by hand. This direct hands-on experience keeps him in touch with the spirituality of the animal hide that he works with.

Hide work is not a hobby, it is a way of life, he said.

Hunting and plant gathering are very sacred to Kwassuh and the tanning of the hide is the end result in giving an animal honor by using it for nutrition, clothing, tools and ceremonies. These traditional ways were taught to him by elders, friends and relatives who shared stories with him when he was a child, as well as many experiences from his youth into adulthood. Living on the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Indian Nation, Kwassuh has seen and experienced the loss of Native culture among his people and other tribal people at a drastically growing rate.

Demonstrations and workshops are the best way that he can reach many people at one time. He is always willing to teach whoever is willing to listen and learn. All ages have been successful and all the hard work and experience make it all worthwhile.

From start to finish, each hide is different and has its own individuality. Kwassuh has learned the dangers and extreme physical work that is needed in all seasonal conditions throughout the year. Full faith in the Creator has kept him safe and much thanks is given to the traditional people in his life that he has learned from.

Kwassuh shares his story:

On May 14, 2011, my son and I went to gather the tule plant in order to make some tule duck decoys for my youngest son’s elementary class demonstration. I was going to share the importance and use of what the Northern Paiute people did in the past and allow the class to realize and experience the importance of today’s usefulness of the tule plant. Also, to see and hear from a real “Toi-Ticutta” descendant (this means cattail eaters in the Northern Paiute language.)

At the end of gathering the tules on Saturday afternoon, we were confronted by a U.S. Fish and Game warden. When he asked, I let him know why I was out there. The officer ignored everything I said and proceeded to write his citations. I stated to the officer that there were no signs in sight indicating NO PLANT PICKING or DESIGNATED ROUTES ONLY. The officer still ignored what I said and proceeded with his citation writing.

I asked the officer if he acknowledged the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. The officer said "NO." I also asked the officer if he understood the Native culture, the officer said, "NO." I then let the officer know several times that a majority of the tules that I gathered were picked on the Stillwater Indian Nation and was still ignored.

I then advised the officer that he was interrupting the ceremonial tule plant gathering methods that were taught to me by my people. The end result was that the officer confiscated my bundle of tules -- which also included the bundles that was picked on Indian land. He then gave me two citations: “Take any animal or plant without authorization,” with a fine of $625.00 and “travel off a designated route,” with a fine of $175.00.

I have always known of this traditional area, by my grandmother and other elders, of a place where we can come and get what we need. Now I find that my aboriginal rights are being disregarded and this area has been taken over by non-Native people. Now, the tourists are more welcome. The non-Natives recognize my ancestors of the past. But now I face a punishment for doing as I was taught and am also being punished for traveling on my own aboriginal home territory.

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