Sidney, others want apology after comments

By Kathy Helms
Staff Writer

KYKOTSMOVI — Former Hopi Tribal Chairman Ivan Sidney has joined American Indian Genocide Museum in Houston and other Native groups demanding Houston Mayor Pro Tem Michael Berry apologize to American Indian tribes for insulting their history and contributions to America.

Berry, a three-term city councilman who also hosts a radio talk show in Houston on "TalkRadio 950 KPRC," apparently makes it a practice to provoke listeners. And in his March 27 broadcast on slavery and Indians, he did just that.

According to a transcript of his remarks, Berry said, "We need to stop wasting all this time and energy apologizing to the American Indians, which we continue to do ... We do it with incredible resources from our Treasury. Our entire Department of the Interior, practically, is the Department of Indian Affairs."

Berry said, "We continue to give land you know, at the Grand Canyon this group that got a private developer to come in and put this $30 million glass Skywalk out over the Grand Canyon, which I will go and see, I admit it, as tacky as it is why are we still giving Indians exclusive rights to gamble, exclusive rights to print money, which is also known as a casino?"

Mayor Berry said he has read the treaties involving American Indians. "First of all, the treaty involved land and sovereignty. It did not require that we continue to pay for education. It did not require welfare programs. It did not necessarily mean we had to grant them casino licenses ... "

Berry told listeners that if they're against apologizing for slavery, "then you gotta be against giving welfare to the American Indians because of the fact that 200 years ago they were whipped in a war. And let's just call it what it is: They lost a war."

Berry said the United States doesn't continue to give aid to the Germans, the Italians and the Japanese "because they sit around whining about a war from 200 years ago. ...We conquered them, that's history. Hello!"

Promoting racism
Former Hopi Chairman Sidney said, "Comments insulting American Indians serve only to promote racism and diminish the heritage and contributions of the American Indian to this great nation that belongs to all of us."

Sidney said American Indians have served the country admirably and have given their lives to protect all Americans, "including Mayor Berry's right to freedom of speech, however, Mayor Berry's statements do not depict the true plight of the American Indian."

In an open letter to Berry, Sidney said, "Mayor Berry, we are not all conquered nations. First, the Hopi people did not fight a war with America. Second, the Hopi people do not have a treaty with the United States. Third, the Hopi people do not have casinos. Fourth, the Hopi people do not ask for handouts. Fifth, we are a proud nation of people as are all American Indians.

"As Native people we live within the confines of another nation (the United States) with unfulfilled commitments resulting in establishing casinos on reservation lands for the purpose of sustenance and the creation of jobs," Sidney said.

Unfortunately, the history of Native people includes the relocation to sparse areas of land with little hope or opportunities for economic development, he added. "Native tribes were herded into spaces away from the general population to areas called 'reservations.'

"These lands were considered undesirable and were set aside for the 'renegade' Indians, as we are commonly called, by those who are unfamiliar with the history and settlement of America. After centuries of suffering tribes finally found a way to survive in these barren areas through the exercise of sovereignty and the establishment of casinos.

"Yet, today, there are those who continue to tell us to become self-sufficient while on the other hand decry our efforts at self sufficiency," Sidney said.

Hopi not newcomers
The American Indian has lived in this country before the days of Christopher Columbus and the Conquistadors, he added. "The Hopi have occupied this land since time immemorial and are not the newcomers."

Sidney said the Grand Canyon was not discovered by Christopher Columbus. "The Grand Canyon was discovered by the Hopi people. We, Hopi, have many sacred places in the Grand Canyon which have been used in our religious practices for centuries before the arrival of the Conquistadors and others."

The Hopi people are recognized in the International Agreement between Spain, Mexico and America, yet, to date, their recognition in that international agreement has not been fully acknowledged or adhered to by the American government, he said.

"It is for that reason the Hopi Tribe continues to acknowledge the Country of Spain, and it is the reason Spain continues to acknowledge the Hopi people as a sovereign nation."

The former Hopi chairman challenged Houston's mayor pro tem: "Mayor Berry, if you are truly interested in learning the history of the occupation of America, please feel free to contact me directly. We will show you the Hopi Reservation and teach you about our history and the contributions our children have made to the security of our great nation.

"We, the Hopi people have lost many of our children in the protection of our great country. Overall, the Native American has served in greater proportions than others in this nation. We only ask that you treat us with dignity and respect.

"We, the Hopi people, are respectful of others and will treat you with dignity and respect," Sidney said.

"We have just concluded our winter ceremonies wherein we pray for all mankind, including Mayor Berry. We will continue to pray for your prosperity and long life."

For information: http://www.950KPRC.com or http://www.950kprc.com/pages/berry.html or http://www.michaelberry.com