Phoenix Pozole Pachanga

Agustí Nicolau i Coll

En el proceso de redefinición de una nueva cultura de la ciudadanía, hay que preguntarse cual es el lugar de la dimensión comunitaria, en tanto que esta es una dimensión constitutiva de la identidad de todo ser humano. Sin ella este último no existe como tal, ya que le falta su fundamento y su razón de existir. El ser humano es de entrada un ser comunitario y podríamos afirmar que esta dimensión comunitaria es transcultural: es decir presente en todas las culturas.

Esta es la realidad más sólida y viva a través de la cual, desde siempre y en las culturas más diversas las personas comparten y construyen su vida con los otros seres humanos, así como con el cosmos y las divinidades.

Por el contrario, la ciudadanía es una realidad relativamente nueva, aparecida en un momento concreto de la cultura occidental moderna (la Revolución Francesa). Podemos asimismo señalar que en el mismo seno de las culturas occidentales la importancia dada a la ciudadanía puede variar mucho de una cultura a otra. Ha devenido un punto de referencia mayor en la cultura francesa pero lo es mucho menos, por ejemplo, en Cataluña. Si salimos del espacio occidental observamos también que la importancia de la ciudadanía, como punto de referencia para organizar la vida de las personas es muy relativa, cuando no (claramente) nociva.

Sin negar las consecuencias positivas que los conceptos de ciudadanía y ciudadano han podido aportar a la sociedad, estamos forzados a aceptar que estos no son los únicos parámetros válidos para asegurar una vida digna y plena a las personas.

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ALIANZA INDIGENA  & YOEME COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

                                  DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY

Position Statement of the Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras and Yoeme Commission on Human Rights - Greetings to the conveners of the good National Day of Action Against SB-1070, greetings to the 100s of 1,000s of Marchers and to our traditional Indigenous Peoples who came together in unity to support immigrant rights and fight against racism in Arizona on Saturday, May 29, 2010.

 “May the Grandfather give you many blessings, May you continue to be the dreamers of this life, continue to be the person who imagines new possibilities, Who long for what others cannot perceive, and say in your minds “why not?” May the Grandfather defend all of you from ridicule and harsh criticism, from self-doubt and lack of faith in your dreams, and give you a strong spirit to prevent you from giving up and put forth a determined effort to make improvements, and never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can make changes.”

Thank you for being well

My relations:

As Arizona and the U.S. governments seek to “get tough” on illegal immigration by implementing anti-immigrant, racist laws and continued militarization of the southern border; indigenous peoples are obvious victims of the system.

The vast majority of the undocumented immigrants of the southern border region are indigenous peoples or mestizos (mixed bloods) from Mexico, Central and South America, while the rest are mostly Asians and Haitians. In fact, a high percentage of indigenous peoples from Mexico (Yaquis, Pimas, Mixtecs, Purepeches, Zapotecs and others) are forced to cross the border illegally because they know that to obtain a U.S. Travel Document (Laser Visa) is not possible – much less a work permit from U.S. Department of State. These relatives will not qualify as legal entrants or workers because they don’t have the financial resources to pay the application fee, and not able to satisfy the financial solvency requirements including proof that they are employed, have utility bills or proof of place of residency, proof they will not abandon their country. U.S. Department of State does not recognize or respect cultural participants or letters of ceremonial leaders who invite them to participate in ceremonies in Arizona.

SB 1070 Now, Transform immigration problem into racial profiling, race issue and threatening the daily lives of all people of color in Arizona and the potential for more abuse of authority and violation of human/civil rights by law enforcement authorities is evident; it is an anti-immigrant measure that creates division, fear, and hate in our communities, and will only serve to put our human rights and civil liberties of the poor and people of color on trial.

The potential rise of hate crimes in Arizona against people of color – especially, indigenous and immigrant individuals, a group or, society – all brown people will be targeted.

The Alianza Indigena and Yoeme Commission on Human Rights strongly support and will unite with all community organizations and individuals in the fight for Indigenous rights, racial justice and immigrant rights. It’s a critical task that we all should undertake because it not an automatic process.

We must continue the fight against the Southern border militarization, especial the McCain Amendment and President Obama’s push to deploy 1, 200 to 6, 000 National Guardsmen to the border. Border enforcement policies have created fatal tragedies on Indigenous borderlands that have taken the lives of innocent people and indigenous youth. The abuse of authority and violations of indigenous human/civil rights will continue with impunity.

We stand behind our immigrant relatives. We seek to ensure that people are not mistreated, that our constitutional rights and indigenous rights of mobility and passage are protected, we urge that that the governments on both sides respect and recognize indigenous peoples of the Southern Border.

For the sad reality is, both in Phoenix and Tucson and across the nation of diverse people will still be profoundly affect by discriminatory policies and practices that promote institutional racism and xenophobia. We further believe that “Civil Liberties” and “human rights” are difficult to understand – until we are able to educate our grassroots communities and community at large about the human tragedies of loss lives or ruined on indigenous borderlands and non-indigenous communities, families torn apart or not able to participate in traditional Indigenous ceremonies, being harassed every day by U.S. Border Patrol or other Law Enforcement officials, by being stopped, questioned, detained, or deported.   

Therefore, the Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras and Yoeme Commission on Human Rights, two Indigenous human/civil rights advocacy grassroots organizations hereby strongly affirm their support to join and collaborate with all individuals, community organizations and all immigrant rights locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to counter unjust laws and practices against indigenous peoples, the poor and communities of color. We must promote social and racial justice in Arizona, regionally, nationally and internationally! We join and support the efforts of the ACLU and the Mexican American Legal Defense League in their litigation to stop SB 1070   

My relations:

Respect should be given to those indigenous nations who still carry their ceremonies; still following the ancient laws of nature with songs and ceremonies.

We cannot give up the fight. We must follow the spiritual law set down for us so long ago, We are not defeated if we do not allow ourselves to be manipulated like yo-yos on a string by racist politicians whose interest are not for the natural world or the people.

So, my relatives, friends and colleagues, here we are in this time and history with a task that we cannot leave to our children.

To All My Relations, Friends and Supporters:

With a choice that takes courage, fortitude and commitment – We leave it in the hands of the Great Spirit and in your hands!

Jose Robles Matus, Yaqui Ceremonial Leader

& Executive Director

Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras