Brothers, sisters, in the spirit of peace and harmony, we are here again to condemn more than 500 years of disregard and criminal pardon given by the Catholic hierarchy to adventurers to the new world, thereby, seeking to justify the immoral slaughter, the maiming, the enslavement of our native ancestry, including millions of people throughout the western hemisphere.

In short, for those who do not understand or feel the magnitude of our reprehension, we are simply here to uncommemorate "Columbus Day." Surely, our stand here today will draw criticism from some, especially those who love legends like that of the infamous Christopher Columbus or Captain Cook, and wish to forgive any immoral culpability that these characters may have had in gruesome encounters with our native ancestry. Indeed, this is exactly why we are here, to bring attention to the naivete, and how the edicts of the Catholic Church given by its Pope, professing to have a sanction from God, printed on round documents, the bulla, more commonly known as the papal bulls, which authorized these crimes before they were even committed.

In essence, the Catholic Church is responsible for unleashing those ravishing dogs upon our people. The Church instigated a holocaust bigger and greater than any holocaust--our holocaust--the native peoples of the Americas. Do we simply forget or do we, as we are doing, continue to strive for a system of education that recognizes our right to honor the native souls who came before us, their courage, their achievements, their wisdom, their gifts to us, of custom and culture, and their horrific, honorable sacrifice.

Are these things that a knowing, caring and complete human person can just walk away from? I think not. I think we have a right to pursue a greater perspective on the world around us, and glorifying symbols of hate, butchers and scoundrels is not a greater perspective.

Did you know that Pope John II recently issued a new papal bull establishing the year 2000 as a year of religion, calling for atonement and a greater understanding between religions. This is proof that we are on the right course. It is also proof that the Catholic church has an ongoing responsibility, if not all churches, to not forget the plight of our native people.

The papal bulls are not a thing of the past. They continue to be issued. The Church is continuing. And we as a native people are continuing. Thus, our living memory and perspective on our past, our history, calling attention to these injustices, ingrained in the Church, and ingrained in our educational system, must also continue.

In closing, let me say that having a culture to rely on, such as burning of sage, or having learned some traditional dance steps, such as hula, the American Indian dance, or having learned a few chants, a few native chants, is not enough to preserve a native identity. Just look at all the problems continuing in the world today: wars, floods, earthquakes, famine, nuclear accidents, threats of nuclear war.

We're talking about the earth, our mother earth. The earth is a magnificent being. As a native people, we relate to her and the harmony around us. We need to look deeply in ourselves, our dreams, our vision, and we must at times, in our lives, take a stand, to make the world a better place.

Put it all together my friends, the circle of Life is not complete by simply overlooking the falsehoods and injustices of the past. That's like saying grandfather and grandmother, and their grandfather and their grandmother, and their grandfather and their grandmother, did not matter. It is not so.

Such things do matter. Knowing and continuing to be aware of your world view as a native person, as a human being, is vital. It serves to shed some light on the spirit path we're all on, and help to return those native souls which were lost in the wind, both living and dead, from the land of the midnight darkness. I encourage all of you to continue, continue your quest for the truth, continue your quest for pure and greater knowledge. In spite of all adversity, reconnect the native circle, reconnect the great hoop, bring peace to the world.   Aho.

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