Border Wall Endangers Indigenous Peoples Culture and Ceremonies (fwd link)

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Border Wall Endangers Indigenous Peoples Culture and Ceremonies

Posted by Brenda Norrell - July 19, 2008 at 1:47 pm

Yaqui ceremonial leader Jose Matus describes the crisis at the US/Mexico border,
where the border wall and Homeland Security's increased restrictions violate
lifeways present since time immemorial

By Brenda Norrell

SOUTH FORK, Nevada -- Jose Matus, Yaqui ceremonial leader and director of the
Indigenous Alliance Without Borders/Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, said
Homeland Security's increased border restrictions are interfering with the
Yaquis ability to preserve their culture and ceremonies.

Matus, speaking at the Indigenous Environmental Network’s Protecting Mother
Earth Conference on Western Shoshone lands, said Yaqui in the United States are
faced with the loss of their language, Hiaki. The declining number of Yaquis
speaking the language is affecting the Yaquis ability to maintain their
ceremonies.

Matus said one of the ways Yaqui maintain their ceremonies is by bringing in
Yaqui from Mexico who are well-versed in the Yaqui language, knowledge and
ceremonies.

Access full article below:
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/brenda-norrell/2008/07/border-wall-endangers-indigenous-peoples-culture-and-ceremonies