Deferred (In)Action: Where's the solidarity with indigenous people facing militarization?

To all those unaware of the fine print of Obama's immigration plan: 

First and foremost, it will direct more resources to border security. Meaning...further militarization of Indigenous communities who are divided by the so-called border, such as my home community of the Tohono O'odham Nation. Our O'odham him'dag (way of life) will once again be attacked by settler border politics, as it was in 1848 and 1852 when the so-called border was illegally imposed. Attacked like we were in 1994 when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was enacted. These borderland policies are being devised and implemented without any settler consciousness to the Indigenous peoples who will be most negatively impacted by such policies. The Indigenous nations who pre-date so called Mexico and the United Snakkkes end up almost voiceless.

Basically Obama's 2014 Immigration plan = border militarization = 21st century colonization.

So in light of Obama's latest immigration plan, I'm writing this to say "DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE". The plan is anti-Indigenous and anti-Migrant. Please look at the bigger picture (NAFTA). Please see the trade off. Please see the state's 2014 divide and conquer tactics.
Then ask yourself, what does an anti-colonial migrant/Indigenous response to this all look like? What does a world without NAFTA borders look like? What does collective liberation look like in O'odham lands? Lipan Apache Lands? Yoeme Lands? Kickapoo Lands? Indigenous homelands which are now in the so-called border region?

Where's the solidarity with Indigenous people facing militarization?

I recognize this is a complex issue. I do not want fellow Indigenous migrants coming from the southern hemisphere to be criminalized by racist laws. I do not want families to be separated, loved ones to be deported, or for them to ever have to walk the hot desert in the first place, just to have a "chance" in this neo-liberal, NAFTA world we are forced to slave in. But at the same time, I do not want my homeland to be a police state. I do not want our ceremonies to be disrupted. I do not want our jewed (land) destroyed by border security apparatus. I do not want our sky to be polluted by more Border Patrol helicopters, cameras placed atop rotating cranes as tall as skyscrapers, or drones. I do not want freedom of movement for O'odham to be granted only to the holders of bio-metric colonial passports. I do not want CANAMEX/NAFTA corridors scarring our lands with freeways (Loop 202/Interstate 11). Ultimately I do not want, in the words of my late grandfather, who saw the Berlin Wall with his own eyes while being stationed in Germany, "an O'odham Berlin Wall" built at the border. 

These are just a few thoughts I have at this time. Overall I maintain my hopes we can all get our shit together. We just have to weather the neo-colonial, mainstream migrant rights industrial complex funded by the creator knows who (but is worth a longer analysis), Dream ACTors and at the same time, we also have to weather the settler state, while empowering our own community. Either way, we got this... because we have to.

-Alex Soto

Komkch'ed e Wah 'osithk (Sells) 

Tohono O'odham Nation

#ourdreamisyournightmare

#attacktheROOTnotEACHOTHER

#OodhamRiseUP

#eeewhatBorder

#browningofamerikkka

#akathebrowningofwhitesupremacy

#smash21stcenturyColonialism

#eeewhatReform

#dontbelievethehype

#sayingtheshitthatyoucantsay

For additional resources please check:

http://www.indigenousaction.org/comprehensive-immigration-reform-is-anti-immigrant-anti-indigenous/

http://oodhamsolidarity.blogspot.com/2010/04/movement-demands-autonomy-oodham.html

http://oodhamsolidarity.blogspot.com/2011/06/border-patrol-headquarters-occupation.html

http://inaborderworld.org/2014/03/13/colonization_immigrant_rights/http://survivalsolidarity.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/a-call-to-action-pdf1.pdf

http://stopcanamex.blogspot.com/

Border Patrol Headquarters Occupation Protesters to Fight Charges Group Calls for Further Action Against Border Militarization

Tucson, AZ— On February 23, 2011, 2:00 PM at Tucson City Court, five of the six protesters who locked-down and occupied the US Border Patrol (BP) – Tucson Headquarters on May 21, 2010 are going to trial fighting one count each of “criminal trespassing”.

The action was taken, in part, to demand that BP, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), their parent entity, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Obama administration end militarization of the border, end the criminalization of immigrant communities, and end their campaign of terror which rips families apart through increasing numbers of raids and deportations.

Alex Soto, one of the arrestees and member of O’odham Solidarity Across Borders states, “As we did not enter the BP headquarters alone but with prayers of O’odham elders and community supporters, we are asking for support once again for our continued stand against border militarization. Our messaging is the reality for everyone that is forced to feel the pain that borders inflict upon us in our daily lives. The Border Patrol is not the only agency responsible for the militarization of the border – and it’s subsequent destruction of Indigenous and migrant communities – or the only benefactors of border militarization.” Soto states.

In a previous release O’odham Solidarity Across Borders and O’odham elders stated, “The development of the border wall has lead to desecration of Tohono O’odham ancestors graves, it has divided communities and prevents O’odham from accessing sacred places. Troops and paramilitary law enforcement, detention camps, check points, and citizenship verification are not a solution to “issues” of migration. Indigenous Peoples have existed here long before these imposed borders, elders inform us that we always honored freedom of movement. Why are Indigenous communities and the daily deaths at the border ignored? The impacts of border militarization are constantly made invisible in the media, the popular culture of this country and even the mainstream immigrants rights movement which has often pushed for “reform” that means further militarization of the border, which means increased suffering for Indigenous communities. Border militarization destroys Indigenous communities.”

Since the creation of the current U.S./Mexico border, 45 O’odham villages on or near the border have been completely depopulated.

According to the migrant support group No More Deaths, from October 2009 to Sept. 2010 there have been more than 250 deaths on the Arizona border alone.

For the full press release and additional resources please see the

AGAINST BORDER MILITARIZATION page

….Calls for Further Action Against Border Militarization

Actions toward ending border militarization and the decriminalization of
our communities:
- Immediately withdraw National Guard Troops from the US/Mexico border
- Immediately halt development of the border wall
- Immediately remove drones and checkpoints
- Decommission all detention camps and release all presently held
undocumented migrants
- Immediately honor Indigenous Peoples rights of self-determination
- Fully comply with the recently signed UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples
- Respect Indigenous People’s inherent right of migration
- End NAFTA, FTAA and other trade agreements
- Immediately repeal SB1070 and 287g
- End all racial profiling
- No BP encroachment/sweeps on sovereign Native land
- No raids and deportations
- Immediate and unconditional regularization (“legalization”) of all people
- Uphold human freedom and rights
- Support dignity and respect
- Support and ensure freedom of movement for all people

Put this message in action and help end the attack on Indigenous and migrant communities. Take these messages to the street where you are. If you can, join us inside and outside the court room in Tucson at
2:00pm. on February 23, 2011. Tucson City Court is located at 103 E. Alameda St. Tucson, AZ.

For the full press release and additional resources please see the

AGAINST BORDER MILITARIZATION page

SAVE THE PEAKS July 14 Final Clean Up of Grounds

O'odham Solidarity Across Borders Collective is putting a call out for immediate support for the upcoming Thursday, JULY 15/16, Save the Peak's Taking Action for Healthy Communities
dinner and discussion At Serena Juste Padilla Residence (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community). A few last minute tasks need to be completed on the grounds in preparation for the dinner.

At this time, we are asking for individuals to help support us with preparing the site.

Support looks like:

Picking up trash
Raking
Basic yard work

This is most immediate need of support as of now. Additional support will be announced late this week.

These preparations will help ensure the space to host Thursday dinner and discussion around taking action for healthy communities. Part of healthy communities is supporting each others needs. In the past OSABC, has given and received solidarity/support in working towards community awareness/ empowerment. In an effort to make the most welcoming environment for our friends up north, OSABC is asking for individuals who have helped in previous solidarity efforts with indigenous people.

Lets come together for a healthy community of support.

We plan to start on:

July 14
Wednesday Morning
6:00 am - ???
(YES, WE KNOW ITS EARLY, BUT HEY, WE LIVE IN THE DESERT, MEANING WE NEED TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN BEFORE IT GETS HOT!)

Don't forget to bring water

So if you are interested, email us at:oodhamjeved@gmail.com
or call 602-881-6027

So we can help coordinate with transportation and direction to the site.

(***additional ground work may be need Thursday as well***)

If you are unable to attend, you can support by attending Thursdays dinner/gathering and Fridays ralley.
For more info, please go to: www.truesnow.org/