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El Laberinto, 1971-1987
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THE LONGEST WALK [Photo caption]"The road of life for a Native person practising his traditional beliefs and spirituality is ever reaching and unending and sometimes referred to as The Longest Walk." [2 emblems] The Longest Walk in defense of Indian rights was completed July 15, 1978. The 3000-mile trek from Alcatraz Island ended in Washington, D.C. with the demand by tribal people for the rejection of a dozen congressional bills that would wipe out all treaty rights. The legislation, sponsored mainly by congressman Jack Cunningham (R-Wash.), provided for the abrogation of all treaties and acquisition of Indian land, mineral, and water rights. These laws also entailed the closing of Indian hospitals, schools, housing projects. All reservations, in effect, would no longer exist. However, at the time The Longest Walk arrived in the capitol, the legislation--the most recent attack against Native people-- was already a moot question: the bills had been bottlenecked in committee where they eventually died. The persistant appearance of such proposed laws by congressmen as Cunningham represents an overt political strategy to legislate Indians out of existence. While the extreme aspect such laws entail were not approved in committee, a reworking of the bills, with essentially the same result--ending the sovereign relationship between Indian nations and the federal government and thus the Native culture, lifestyles, and customs-- were reintroduced into the legislative process. Over 300 persons participated in The Longest Walk, which began February 11, 1978, symbolizing the forced walks Indians have historically had to undertake as part of their dispossession as a people. 1
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THE LONGEST WALK [Photo caption]"The road of life for a Native person practising his traditional beliefs and spirituality is ever reaching and unending and sometimes referred to as The Longest Walk." [2 emblems] The Longest Walk in defense of Indian rights was completed July 15, 1978. The 3000-mile trek from Alcatraz Island ended in Washington, D.C. with the demand by tribal people for the rejection of a dozen congressional bills that would wipe out all treaty rights. The legislation, sponsored mainly by congressman Jack Cunningham (R-Wash.), provided for the abrogation of all treaties and acquisition of Indian land, mineral, and water rights. These laws also entailed the closing of Indian hospitals, schools, housing projects. All reservations, in effect, would no longer exist. However, at the time The Longest Walk arrived in the capitol, the legislation--the most recent attack against Native people-- was already a moot question: the bills had been bottlenecked in committee where they eventually died. The persistant appearance of such proposed laws by congressmen as Cunningham represents an overt political strategy to legislate Indians out of existence. While the extreme aspect such laws entail were not approved in committee, a reworking of the bills, with essentially the same result--ending the sovereign relationship between Indian nations and the federal government and thus the Native culture, lifestyles, and customs-- were reintroduced into the legislative process. Over 300 persons participated in The Longest Walk, which began February 11, 1978, symbolizing the forced walks Indians have historically had to undertake as part of their dispossession as a people. 1
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