- Australian sovereignty vote
- The Voice,” to change the constitution
- inheritance is still running through
Photo of Abya Yala known as the “Americas” taken at the Somos Abya Yala 2016 Encuentros Continentales in “Guatamala.” Photo credit Danilo Zuleta.
ustralian sovereignty vote
(“Australia”) On October 14th, Australians overwhelmingly voted no on the controversial referendum, known as “The Voice,” to change the constitution, which would have potentially led to the creation of a parliamentary advisory body on policies affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Even many Indigenous people were split on
the referendum as some supported it as a path forward towards reconciliation, while others deemed it colonized and racist.
“80,000 plus years of culture & sacred inheritance is still running through our veins as it was on Friday. As it was Yesterday. As it is Today. As it will Always…Regardless of colonial recognition,” wrote musician and community based activist, Neil Morris (Yorta Yorta) also known as Drmngnow, after the vote.
Sánchez de Lozada to pay damages(“U.S.”) The former president of Bolivia, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, and his former defense minister will pay damages to the families of eight people killed during a 2003 massacre of more than 60 people in El Alto. The murders were perpetrated by the army to squelch the Indigenous-led movement against a proposed natural gas pipeline.
The lawsuit was brought in civil courts in the “U.S.” by eight Bolivian families whose relatives were killed in the massacre. This case could have serious future implications for international Indigenous and human rights cases.
Women’s World Cup
(International) In separate incidents, videos were released online showing the Holland and Spain women’s football teams mocking the Māori haka ahead of the Women’s World Cup,held in Aotearoa “New Zealand” and “Australia.” The haka is a ceremonial Māori dance traditionally practiced when parties meet. This often includes athletic competitions, including the Black Ferns, women’s “New Zealand” rugby team, fixtures.
Pueblo shooting
(“Espanola, New Mexico, U.S.”) On September 28, 2023 Jacob Johns, an
Indigenous activist and artist, was shot in the chest at a vigil in opposition to the decision by the Rio Arriba County Commissioner’s office to reinstall a monument of Juan de Oñate, the Spanish colonizer responsible for the 1599 Acoma Pueblo massacre of 800 Acoma people. The shooter, Ryan Martinez, wore a Make America Great Again hat that is synonymous with white supremacy and fascism in the “U.S.” Martinez has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
“It’s unfortunate that during a prayer filled ceremony that an individual was seriously harmed over this issue,” said All Pueblo Council of Governors (APCG) Vice Chairman Jerome Lucero, the former governor of the Pueblo of Zia, in a press release. “This shows that the historical trauma and pain inflicted on our Pueblo people by Oñate is still here. As tribal leaders, we are very concerned about the possibility of continued violence against Native people who vehemently disagree with the commission’s decision,” Lucero said in the release.