12-25-09 Christmas is a time to remember NDN People in the struggle_ and our troops

For the last two weeks or so we have been covering the Can-do.org folks who have joined up in a historical ride that started from the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota- where CCTribal Chairman Brandon Sazue has taken a stance against the IRS. There are other ways that all these folks could spend the holidays, but many feel that the IRS has to be held to answer & stopped from auctioning off the over 7000 acres of prime land that will be used for Wind Generated Power- a life saving project for the people of Crow Creek. Members of this tribe are riding to honor 38 of their Dakota ancestors, who were hung by President Abraham Lincoln, they are joined by others who are riding alongside them numbering close to 100, representing other tribes & nations and some are non-native like Eric Klein- CEO/Founder & director of Can-do. The ride will end Saturday in Mankato, MN.at the site where the hanging happen. There are reports there were others hung as well. In another part of SD, a group of riders took their annual ride, called the Big Foot Ride, lead by Percy & Alex White Plume & other adults. This ride has been a life changing experience as well, especially for the youth - both male & female.They too ride to honor their ancestors as well. And overseas, our minds are also on the war in the middle east that rages on. Many hoped that the troops would be returning, but President Obama has opted for a surge. As he is spending time w/ his family in Hawaii on Christmas is he thinking about broken treaties, land grabs, and families making sacrifices for our country? The burning question is, why are we there when treaties need to be honored here? And who protects the Native people from Corporate America & the IRS? In between Christmas & other music, I will be taking phone calls...thoughts , prayers & comments welcome! Shout out your loved ones wherever they are! Call in line (718) 508-9165l