Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

June 27, 2012

Trail of Broken Promises reaches DC from Kansas

WALKERS END JOURNEY IN WASHINGTON, DC,
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF SACRED PLACES

 
By Millicent M. Pepion 
Minipah@msn.com
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

LAWRENCE, Kansas -- On May 13, students from several universities left Kansas on a two-month journey to Washington, DC, to save the Wakarusa Wetlands, Lawrence's only remaining indigenous wetland prairie, from becoming the South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT). They call the journey the Trail of Broken Promises.

Tomorrow, Thursday, June 28, they will walk from Arlington Cemetery at 9 am, to the White House, ending at the steps of Congress where they will endorse the Protection of Native American Sacred Places Act, a draft piece of legislation which will protect sacred places.

The primarily on-foot trek attempts to address the difficulty of preserving sacred places within Indian Country by raising awareness of the WakarusaWetlands. Prompted by the proposed highway construction through the wetland behind Haskell Indian Nations University campus, the students traveled 21 days on the 1838 Potawatomi Trail of Death route to show appreciation to communities maintaining markers of remembrance.

The Trail of Broken Promises led them through 9 states ending in Washington D.C. 

The draft piece of legislation the students carry would amend the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, "to provide a right of action for protection of Native American Sacred Places," such as the WakarusaWetlands. It has been approved by the National Congress of American Indians.
The wetlands adjoin Haskell Indian Nations University, and have been used for ceremony, prayer, and education since Haskell's founding as a boarding schoolin 1884.

"Fighting to save the Wakarusa Wetlands extends beyond our campus," Mike Ofor, a student on the walk said. "Our journey recognizes all Native Americans and all sacred places left vulnerable to developers' agendas."

The Trail of Broken Promises needs help returning home from the capitol with donations for gas and provisions. All donations can be sent through Paypal to minipah@msn.com.
Here are links to articles that document their progress and ToBP2012 websites:
http://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/haskell-students-to-visit-washington-promoting-site-preservation
http://www.nativetimes.com/news/environment/7212-students-walk-to-protect-native-sacred-places
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/14/3612652/students-protest-south-lawrence.html
http://www.lexington-news.com/LN_detailheadline.asp?key=16491&itemNumber=0&fb_source=message
http://www.richmond-dailynews.com/?p=10519&fb_source=message
http://www.kmzu.com/native-americans-walking-to-d-c/
http://www.moberlymonitor.com/news/x624589963/Twelve-Kansas-students-on-Trail-of-Broken-Promises-Tour-in-Moberly-Saturday
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/may/16/haskell-ku-students-walking-underscore-environment/?print&fb_source=message
http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/news/index.php/2012/05/students-walk-to-protect-native-sacred-places-in-midwestern-united-states/
http://www.whig.com/story/18563261/trail-of-broken-promises-focuses-attention-on-desecration-of-sacred-native-american-places
http://www.whig.com/story/18623655/students-advocates-for-cultural-rights-tour-indian-mounds-park-as-part-of-tour-on-the-trail-of-broken-promises
http://commercial-news.com/local/x1647290843/Walkers-call-attention-to-rights
http://www.purdueexponent.org/city/article_5dfbde68-f9a5-510c-a8ff-f8b97abf400d.html

These websites allow you to follow them on our journey digitally:
Facebook Page-- https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Trail-Of-Broken-Promises/300284686671395
Youtube Page--- http://www.youtube.com/user/ToBP2012
Twitter Page---- https://twitter.com/#!/ToBP2012
Tumblr Page---- http://trailofbrokenpromises.tumblr.com/
Flickr Page------ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobp2012/

From Shirley Willard, Rochester IN:
Brenda – please add to your list of news about the Trail of Broken Promises:
www.potawatomi-tda.org –which is Potawatomi Trail of Death Assn.,  see Trail of Broken Promises Walk and click.
www.americanindiancenter.org – which is American Indian Center of Indiana.
I have written several stories for the Rochester Sentinel but you have to be a subscriber to see the eEdition. However I put all my articles in www.potawatomi-tda.org.
Thanks.

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