Indians present manifesto

Press, 18 July 1978, Page 8

Indians present manifesto

NZPA Washington Indian demonstrators headed for Capitol Hill to protest against almost a dozen “anti-Indian” bills and to present a “Native American Manifesto” calling on Congress to honour treaties. A spokesman for “The Longest Walk” which brought hundreds of the Indian activists to Washington over the week-end, said Coretta Scott King (widow of the slain civil rights leader, Dr Martin Luther King) and jthe black activist, Jessie Jackson would lead the (marchers to the Capitol to greet a delegation of Congressmen. The Indians are concerned about several bills which would eliminate their rights to land, water, and fishing and hunting. Congress has not seriously considered any of the measures. The group is particularly concerned by the Native American Equal Opportunity Act, sponsored by representative Jack Cunningham (Republican, Washington), which would eliminate all treaties and reservations and shut down Federal programmes for Indians, such

as hospitals, schools and housing projects. Leaders of the march said the bill is an attempt to rob them of the resources such as coal and uranium which lie on their reservations. Mr C nningham says the bill will put Indians on an equal footing with other citizens and eliminate their special privileges. The manifesto, based on one issued in 1972, calls on Congress to honour treaties, to re-establish Indian treatymaking ability, and to protect tribal sovereignty and land.

The march, symbolising the forced marches Of Indians westward, began on February 11 on Alcatraz Island, off San Francisco and ended with a rally at the Washington Monument grounds. Most of the demonstrators camped at the Greenbelt, Maryland, National Park, about 20km from the centre of Washington, where the Gctvernment provided tents, field kitchens, portable showers, 500 g “water buffalo” tanks, refrigerated trucks, and buses to transport demonstrators between city activities and the camp site.