From dbain@interchange.ubc.ca Tue Jul 18 10:26:17 2000 Received: from mxu1.u.washington.edu (mxu1.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.8]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW00.05/8.9.3+UW99.09) with ESMTP id KAA124568 for ; Tue, 18 Jul 2000 10:26:15 -0700 Received: from priv-edtnes03-hme0.telusplanet.net (fep.telus.net [199.185.220.236] (may be forged)) by mxu1.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW00.02/8.9.3+UW99.09) with ESMTP id KAA28405 for ; Tue, 18 Jul 2000 10:26:14 -0700 Received: from interchange.ubc.ca ([209.52.76.60]) by priv-edtnes03-hme0.telusplanet.net (InterMail vM.4.01.02.11 201-229-116-111) with ESMTP id <20000718172555.MQSZ569.priv-edtnes03-hme0.telusplanet.net@interchange.ubc.ca>; Tue, 18 Jul 2000 11:25:55 -0600 Message-ID: <397492B2.C299D084@interchange.ubc.ca> Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 10:24:04 -0700 From: Don Bain X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.73 [en] (Win98; U) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Public Policy and First Nations Relations Subject: [Fwd: Protecting Knowledge: Articles of Interest 071700] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit "UBCIC Research (Don Bain)" wrote: > Hello All, > > In this email you will find the following articles of interest: > > * INFO: Abstracts Submitted For The International Conference On > Medicinal Plants, Traditional Medicines And Local Communities In > Africa: Challenges And Opportunities Of The New Millennium. > Nairobi, 16-19 May, 2000 > * ARTICLE: No Patents On Biotechnology Products > * ARTICLE: Goat Becomes Gardener - New Environmental Ombudsman Centre > Begins Work This Month > * INFO: International Conference On Conflict Resolution, > Peacebuilding, Sustainable Development And Indigenous Peoples > * ARTICLE: National Parks Say That Theft Of Protected Artifacts Is > Soaring > * ARTICLE: Remains Of Two Ottawa Indians, That Were Unearthed For > Construction, Given New Resting Place In Township Cemetery > * ARTICLE: National Holiday For Native American Press Release > * ARTICLE: 2 Stories On Saving Sacred Sites > > Feel free to browse our website at http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/protect.htm > and also view the PROTECTING KNOWLEDGE email archives at > http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/protect_archive.htm. > > If you have any questions or would like to submit an article, please > email research@ubcic.bc.ca. > > Yours truly, > > Don Bain > UBCIC Research > > (NOTE: your e-mail “Edit” menu on the toolbar may offer a “Find” option > which will enable you to rapidly locate the subjects of interest to you > by inserting the subject item.) > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > This is an email distributed through the Protecting Knowledge conference > email distribution list. If you would like to be added to this list, > please send an email to with the words "Subscribe > Protect" in the Subject line. If you would like to be taken off this > list, please send an email to with the words > "Unsubscribe Protect" in the Subject line. > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Subject: [Phytomed] Abstracts submitted for the International Conference > on Medicinal Plants, Traditional Medicines and Local Communities in > Africa: Challenges and Opportunities of the new Millennium. Nairobi, > 16-19 May, 2000 > Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 00:11:44 +0300 > From: Ernest Rukangira > Reply-To: Phytomedica@egroups.com > Organization: ENVIRONMENT LIAISON CENTRE INTERNATIONAL > To: Phytomedica@egroups.com > > Abstracts submitted for the International Conference on Medicinal > Plants, Traditional Medicines and Local Communities in Africa: > Challenges and Opportunities of the new Millennium. Nairobi, 16-19 May, > 2000 > > ****************** > Conservation and Development of Medicinal Plants in South Asia: Growing > Potentials for Knowledge Sharing with African Countries. > > By: > Madhav Karki > Regional Program Coordinator > IDRC/MAPPA, New Delhi > E-mail:< mkarki@idrc.org.in > (madhav karki) > > Context > > More than 80% of Asian population relies upon traditional medicines for > primary health care. Asia is the cultural and geographical home of all > the worlds’ formal traditional medical systems, from the Chinese system > in China and Southeast Asia; to Jamu in Indonesia; Ayurveda, Unani and > Siddha in India; the Tibetan system in Asian countries, and Kampo in > Japan. In the South and east Asian countries such as China and India, > systems of medicines, more than 5,000 years old, continue to be a source > of health and well-being for more than 80% of people, especially those > living in the rural communities. They also provide a source of income > and employment that rivals and often exceeds that of allopathic > medicine. > > Central to the performance of these traditional systems, and with their > importance in allopathy and homeopathy also, are medicinal plants. > Ranging from well-known traditional remedies such as ginseng to recent > modern discoveries such as taxol, medicinal plants have an important > role to play in health care worldwide, and in the economies and > populations of Asia especially. In South Asia alone, more than 7,000 > species have known uses, and the largest part of the continent’s > floristic wealth has yet to be explored for the benefit of people’s > livelihoods and health care. > > However, the Medicinal Plants sector in South Asia is facing several > challenges. Topping the list is the unsustainable utilization of the > resources and imminent threat to biodiversity and sources of precious > raw materials. Due to increasing pressure to meet the new demand for > medicinal plants, the natural supply from forests--where more than 95% > of the plants continue to be harvested--has dwindled. Deforestation, > increasing populations, and increasing demand for natural products both > in domestic and international markets, have all contributed to a decline > in both quantity and quality of supply and a number of distortions in > the market forces and systems. The result is a medicinal plants sector > on the verge of crisis: with the largest volume of the trade illegal and > undocumented; adulteration and spurious materials entering the market; > indigenous knowledge being lost along with the plants; unfair trade > practices penalizing the poorest of the poor; and unsustainable > harvesting decreasing supplies even further. > > MAPPA’s approach & initiative in Asia: > > Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Programme in Asia (MAPPA) supports > research on medicinal plants reflecting Centre’s corporate strategy > Empowerment through Knowledge by building scientific and technological > capacity, responding to local needs, promoting gender-equity, and > building communication and information networks within and between > regions. IDRC currently supports research projects, networks, and other > activities on medicinal plants in Asia, Africa, and Central America. > A multi disciplinary approach integrates key issues in health, > conservation, indigenous knowledge, and local economic development. > > IDRC’s support for research and development on medicinal plants in Asia > has been ongoing since 1994, and is currently managed through the > Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Program in Asia (MAPPA) sponsored by the > Sustainable Use of Biodiversity Program Initiative (SUB PI) of the > Centre. MAPPA is a program of strategic research, networking and > collaboration to comprehensively address critical research issues > related to the sustainable and equitable use of medicinal and aromatic > plants in the South and South East Asia regions. Initially, MAPPA is > focusing its research and development efforts in South Asia region only. > Through collaboration and partnerships with GOs, NGOs, CBOs, national > research institutes (NRIs), universities and private sector agencies, > the program aims to coordinate a production to consumption/marketing > based holistic research activities that cannot only address major > research issues but also follows a regional approach to these issues. > MAPPA is thus well positioned to formulate a program which will > complement and build on other related research and development > activities in South Asia. > > Objectives: > > The general objective of the MAPPA is to enhance the sustainable and > equitable use of medicinal and aromatic plant resources in South Asia > through the promotion of strategic research, networking and > collaboration among key relevant organizations in the region. Some of > the specific objectives are: a) to support strategic research on > community-based initiatives for genetic conservation and sustainable > management of medicinal and aromatic plants; b) to promote innovative > resource utilization and management strategies involving local people, > especially rural poor and tribals, to derive more equitable benefits > from medicinal and aromatic plants and derived products; c) to support > strategic research on improving access to, and use of, medicinal and > aromatic plants as a means of safe and effective primary health care; d) > to support better access to, better quality of, broader distribution > of, and greater utility of information about, medicinal and aromatic > plant resources through networking and communication; and e) to promote > partnerships, capacity building and institutional commitment to > sustainable use and production of medicinal and aromatic plants through > enhanced regional cooperation, training and research in the South Asian > region. > > Research Strategy: > > Through strategic research, collaboration, and networking, MAPPA plans > to develop strategies, methods and options for sustainable conservation > and use of MAP resources. The research work expects to build on previous > research and networking activities in the region funded by both IDRC and > other organizations. Identified research areas include locally-based > conservation methods, sustainable and equitable commercialization > strategies and technologies, and improved options for safe and effective > health care systems. Research activities will strive to complement and > build on ongoing research work to more comprehensively address research > problems, generate more effective research results, and accomplish > greater impact. Developing complementary and synergistic research > partnership with other donor agencies, national programs and research > partners will be given special priority under the partnership building > activity of the project. > > Opportunities for collaborations between South Asia and Africa: > > MAPPA actively seeks national, regional and global partnerships and > promotes different kinds of mutually beneficial collaborative linkages. > It is my feeling that between South Asian and African communities, there > is wide scope for sharing knowledge, especially in traditional medicinal > knowledge systems, basic as well as applied research experiences, > networking based on information sharing and partnership development and > collaboration on mutually beneficial programs. Through IDRC’s regional > programs such as Southern African Medicinal Plants Network in the > Southern African countries as well as the global programs such as > Medicinal Plants Global Information Network (Medplanet), MAPPA is > already linking Asia and African partners. > > However, increasing interests shown by global communities in the > medicinal plants and traditional health care systems of Asian highlands > and rainforests have raised important policy, technical and ethical > issues. The increasing potential and demand on resources have also > pointed to vital gaps that exist in terms of knowledge about medicinal > plants, their uses, and the status of the natural resources from which > they are derived. These issues include: > > Health - the need for standardization, quality control, and monitoring > of herbal medicines to ensure treatments are safe and effective. > Biodiversity conservation and management - loss of medicinally useful > species and genetic diversity from deforestation and other types of > habitat destruction such as non-sustainable levels of harvest from wild > populations and inadequate attention to medicinally useful species in > biodiversity conservation policy and action. Social and cultural - > erosion and loss of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants developed > over many generations; the threat to such traditional knowledge of > diminishing access to particular natural environments; the relationship > between increasing poverty, decreasing local controls, and the > diminishing ability of local communities to manage natural resources > sustainably. Economic - the reliance of local economies and a large > component of national health care on medicinal plant resources that are > increasingly threatened by extinction, and the equitable sharing of > benefits from increased trade and commercial development of medicinal > plants with local communities and developing countries. > > Clearly, the diversity of stakeholders involved and the multi-sectoral > nature of these issues and opportunities will require collaboration and > cooperative research. > > Research Focus: > > MAPPA supports research activities in medicinal plants that are > community-based but that can influence national and international policy > objectives, principally in the following areas: > > Biodiversity conservation - by documenting the uses of medicinal > plants, their taxonomy, and relative abundance, identifying those which > may be endangered, and establishing community-based conservation > practices. Where in-situ conservation requires support of ex-situ > conservation measures, collaboration with local institutions such as > national botanic gardens and herbaria is encouraged. > > Improved access to health care - by promoting collaboration between > health care institutions and traditional medicine practitioners to > undertake research leading to safe, effective, affordable, and > culturally appropriate treatments and practices. Research efforts aimed > at standardization, quality control, and toxicological testing of > medicinal plants are of particular importance to meeting health care > needs. > > Use of indigenous knowledge - by supporting collaborative research > between local communities and scientific institutions using > participatory research methodologies. Documentation and development of > medicinal plants based on traditional knowledge must ensure that local > communities have control of, access to, and benefits from research > through intellectual property rights (IPR) legislation, protocols, and > other mechanisms. MAPPA has recently published two documents on tribal > and folk medicine and on partnership between rural communities and > medicinal plants industrys: Tribal and Folk Medicinal Plant Resoruces of > South Asia and The Role of Medicinal Palnts Industry In Fostering > Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Development (Editors: Madhav Karki & > Radhika Johari 1999). > > Marketing and employment opportunities - by identifying potentially > marketable medicinal plants as a source of income and employment for > local communities. The development of standardized production, quality > control, and sustainable harvest methods are emphasized. Research on > the potential impact of cultivation and trade in medicinal plants on > local economies is a priority. > > Networking - by facilitating linkages and exchanges within and between > regions that enhance local access to information and benefits from > research and development opportunities. Improved access to information > and communication technologies can amend inequalities in access to > information on medicinal plants, and help to foster national, regional, > and international collaboration. > > Conclusion: > > Medicinal plants are an important natural and cultural resources of the > poor and indigenous people living in Asian and African countries alike. > These plants are the rich repositories of both biological and cultural > diversity that exist in these regions. Increased pressures, especially > from commercial concerns, have created serious threats not only to the > integrity of the ecosystem resources but also to the preservation of > cultural heritage. South Asian countries with their age-old and diverse > resource as well as knowledge management skills and African countries > with their rich and still unexplored traditional systems of medicine > have tremendous opportunities for mutual learning and sharing. We hope > that through new and bold initiatives such as Asia-Africa Partnership in > Medicinal Plants Research and Community Health Development which I > propose this forum endorses, the knowledge sharing and cooperative > research work will soon start and flourish to conserve not only the > vital medicinal plants biodiversity but also the rich repositories of > traditional medicinal knowledge and practices in the two continents. > > ****************** > > STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF PHYTOMEDICINES IN MANAGEMENT > OF ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) IN THE LAKE VICTORIA REGION > OF KENYA > > By Professor Philip Aduma > > The author is a Viral Pharmacologist with interest and current work in > use of phytomedicines in management of viral diseases and in > conservation of medicinal plants. He is presently Head, department of > Zoology, Biomedical Science and Technology at Maseno University, P.O. > Private BAG, MASENO, Kenya > His e-mail address is irmaseno@africaonline.co.ke. > > ABSTRACT > > The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the aetiological agent of > acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In the Lake Victoria region > of Kenya, transmission of the virus occurs primarily by heterosexual > intercourse, from mother to baby and to a lesser extent through > transfusion of blood and through occupational risk factors. HIV-1 is the > most common cause of AIDS in the region. The epidemic is continuing to > explode and most hospitals in the region now have 50% bed occupancy with > AIDS patients in the mid-terminal to terminal stages of the disease. The > expansion of AIDS is thus posing great challenges and concerns on the > very existence of the people of this region. As the disease ravages > throughout the region, a general state of poor health has set in. This > in turn has reduced life expectancy, slowed down productivity and > inhibited growth. The rural poor who already do not have access to > adequate health facilities are most severely affected. The required > costs in diagnosing and treating the infection and its associated > syndromes are well beyond the per capita expenditures on health. The > production losses associated with the epidemic have caused a negative > impact not only on the people’s health but also on the environment in > which they live. The main problem experienced with current approaches to > control is the limited ability to stop or reduce infection rates in the > region, treat those who are already affected by the disease and resolve > issues of nature conservation on one hand and poverty and food security > on the other. This paper recognizes that antiretroviral drugs are beyond > the reach of over 90% of HIV positive patients in the region. It further > recognizes that the communities of the lake region have in the past > employed local medicinal plants as sources of traditional medicines in > the management of infections many of which are opportunistic in AIDS. > Our own studies as well as studies elsewhere have shown that in deed the > biological activities of some of these plants can be authenticated in in > vitro and in vivo studies. To this effect the development of traditional > medicines by value adding as phytomedicines should be encouraged and > supported. By linking medicinal plants’ resource utilization to > conservation, the recent loss of biodiversity of the lake region can be > reversed and ecosystem stability restored. This would serve to support > health care delivery and poverty alleviation in the lake region. > > 1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION The lake Victoria basin of Kenya covers > several districts some of which like Migori, Homa bay, Suba, Rachuonyo, > Nyando, Kisumu, Bondo, Siaya and Busia are contiguous to the lake while > others like Kisii, Nyamira, Kuria, Kericho, Nandi, Vihiga and Teso form > part of what is referred to as the catchment areas of the lake. The > population of the basin by 1999 census is about 7 million. The > multiethnic communities of the lake region comprises severally the Luo, > Suba, Teso, Kalenjin and Bantu-speaking peoples. > > A major problem facing the communities of the lake region is their poor > economic status; rampant poverty, malnutrition and devastation caused by > chronic and often debilitating diseases notably AIDS. Currently AIDS > ranks as the most important infectious disease facing people of the lake > region in the 21st century. This region is now part of the global > epicenter and therefore the epidemic will continue to have upward trends > in the region. > > In the last 30 years there has been a shift of emphasis from traditional > varieties of food crops to cash crops like sugar cane and rice which > require heavy emphasis in terms of fertilizer and herbicide > applications. This has resulted in alteration of structure and > functioning of ecosystems. The consequences have been a 40-50% fall in > production value of land. Overall people’s income has fallen drastically > over the last 30 years. This has been compounded by a falling health > services provision. In most parts of the lake region, there are few > functional health centers especially in the rural areas. > > A recent survey of health provision in the lake communities revealed > that the average distance people have to travel to a health center is > 10-30 km in Rachuonyo district, 10-50 km in Homabay district and 10-80 > km in Suba district. It was also observed that the health centers are > inadequately equipped and some are inaccessible due to a devastated > infrastructure largely attributed to the 1997 El-Ninho rains. Several > cases of AIDS or AIDS-related syndromes were encountered both through > interviews with traditional healers and in actual visits to hospitals. > Many of those in rural areas had been unable to get proper treatment at > local health centers or had been discharged to “ come and die at home”, > to quote a term used by the local people. The survey was based on > interviews with more than 50 traditional healers and custodians of > indigenous knowledge. It revealed a total of 48 diseases or clinical > conditions treated or managed traditionally using medicinal plants. > These included some of the most common opportunistic infections in > patients infected by the HIV-1 namely; (1) > > -Oral thrush ( Candidiasis) > -Tuberculosis and Pneumocystis carinii > -Non-hemorrhagic chronic diarrhea (gastritis and gastroenteritis) > -Pneumonia and chronic persistent coughs > -Herpes zooster and Disseminated herpes simplex > - Generalized wasting and weakness > - Partial or complete loss of sight ( due to human cytomegalovirus > retinitis) > > During the last part of 1999, the government of Kenya declared AIDS a > national disaster when statistics revealed an average mortality of 500 > persons per day from AIDS. This figure is higher in the lake region > where presently 50% of hospital bed occupancy is with AIDS patients in > the mid-terminal to terminal stages of the disease. From a typical AIDS > progression pattern one can deduce that many of these patients had > contracted the virus in the early to mid-1990s.(2). Along the various > landing beaches of lake Victoria where fish trade is high and in the > peri-urban sugar cane growing zones (where population densities are > higher than in rural areas), there is a very high infection rate largely > attributed to a large number of migrant workers. > > 1.1 The Health and Productivity of the lake people It is well > established that a positive correlation exists between health of > individuals and their income and between their health and productivity. > This correlation is usually assumed to indicate a relationship that runs > upwards from income to health but we know that health and productivity > is also related in an upward trend. This is explained by the fact that > because healthy people generally tend to be strong physically, mentally, > spiritually and have a positive attitude to life, they therefore have a > higher productivity. Poor health caused by the AIDS epidemic has > therefore greatly reduced growth capacity in the lake region. Many > people are chronically sick and are a burden to their families, friends > and colleagues. Orphaned children have to be cared for by an already > impoverized family or have to fend for themselves. With more than 80% of > the AIDS cases occuring amongst the working age group of 25-49 years, > the income and productivity losses due to the disease are alarming. > > 1.2 Problems encountered in containing or controlling the spread of > HIV/AIDS in the lake region Traditionally, intervention strategies in > AIDS management have consisted largely of treating opportunistic > infections and to a lesser extent use of antiretroviral drugs especially > amongst the upper class members of the society.(3). AIDS awareness > campaigns have been mounted with intensity yet all these approaches have > failed to stem the spread of the disease. In the majority of > opportunistic infections, treatment failure is attributed to; > > - Cases being presented when the conditions are advanced > -Lack of proper diagnosis as most diagnostic centers are ill equipped > -Lack of finances to buy expensive prophylactic and curative drugs. With > regard to antiretroviral drugs, all of them are beyond the reach of over > 90% of HIV-positive patients . > > ? Frequency of appearance of viral mutants with altered sensitivity to > drugs is high even with combination drugs, thus making treatment even > more expensive.(4,5). > > ? Generalized energy, protein and micro-nutrient lack especially amongst > the low class members of the society. This contributes to a low or > deficient immune function > > Consequently a large percentage of patients have resorted to consulting > traditional medical practitioners with varying degrees of success. The > traditional healers use medicinal plants either singly or in > combination. Thus their knowledge, accumulated over the years on what > plants to use and how to use them is commendable. For example > preliminary evaluation of some of the plants used; such as Chaemacrista > nigricans in gastritis and gastroenteritis of bacterial origins or Aloe > wallistoni in herpes virus infections show a sound pharmacological basis > for use of the plants. Further more their knowledge of potential > toxicity of the plants is equally sound. For example the plant > Phytolacca dodecandra whose toxicity is well established in veterinary > studies is used by the healers in milligram quantities to treat a number > of conditions such as snakebites. (1). > > This region has a rich biological diversity in plant, animal and > microbial life forms some of which are now threatened with extinction as > most ecosystems and habitats are degraded or destroyed in order to > create space for short-term development. This is being done at the > expense of conservation-oriented strategies that would best serve the > communities in the long run. (6). > > 2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM AIDS is the main health issue affecting the > lake region, causing so much suffering and poverty. There is limited > ability of current measures to; > > - Stop or reduce infection transmission rates > - Treat those who are already affected by the disease > - Resolve the issues of nature conservation on one hand and on the other > hand food security and poverty alleviation. > > To address these problems, a workshop was held at Maseno University ( > which is situated in the lake region ) from 18 th to 21stApril 1999. The > Participatory workshop on “Medicinal Plants and Biodiversity in the Luo > and Suba communities of lake Victoria.” brought together a total of 90 > participants comprising of traditional healers, biomedical scientists, > clinical workers, social scientists and other custodians of indigenous > knowledge from the Luo - Suba communities of western Kenya and from > Uganda. The main objective was to address issues relating to exchange of > knowledge, conservation, preservation, awareness, acceptability of > medicinal plants in AIDS treatment and reclamation of degraded areas for > ecological restoration (7). The following presentation is based > partially on recommendations of that workshop. > > 3. PHYTOMEDICINES FOR MANAGEMENT OF HIV/AIDS In developing strategies > for use of phytomedicines the following questions should be answered > > a) Are there medicinal plants in the lake region which have a curative > or prophylactic effect in inhibiting the virus or treating opportunistic > infections? > > i) Our own studies amongst the Luo and Suba communities show that > several medicinal plants have effect in health management.of people with > AIDS. Plants indicated for the medical condition is/are listed if at > least three users similarly prescribe for the same condition. However > their efficacy and therapeutic indices have yet to be established in > controlled studies (1). > > ii) Studies elsewhere show that certain plants have molecules that are > inhibitory to key metabolic pathways in the HIV-1 replication process > (8).Examples are; > > -Ancistrocladus korupensis ( Michelamine B ) > - Castanospermum australe ( Castanospermine ) > > Although these two plants are rare in this region, relatives who are > likely to contain similar chemicals are likely to be present. > > iii) A plant with high content of Quercetins is currently used by a > traditional healer in the region for treatment of other viral > infections. Quercetins are known to inhibit viral RNA polymerase > > b) Why phytomedicines and not medicinal plants or pure active molecules > from plants? > > i) Phytomedicines are medicinal preparations that have been extracted > with solvents from plants. Solvents used are as close as possible in > polarity to solvents used by traditional healers. They should provide > immediate remedy to patients with AIDS. > > ii) High molecular weight compounds such as tannins are removed and > extract tested to ensure biological activity is still present > > iii) They are processed by several concentration and other procedures > such as freeze-drying or dried in a rotavapour, then reconstituted in an > appropriate vehicle, usually for oral or topical administration. > > iv) Safety, efficacy, standardization, processing and quality assurance > are maintained on a batch to batch preparation > > v) The extracts are sold directly to the consumers and without doctor’s > prescription. > > vi) There are less regulatory requirements in marketing of > phytomedicines > > vii).They are less expensive to produce than pure active molecules and > are more acceptable by doctors and consumers than plants or plant parts. > Cash from sale of phytomedicines is then used in activity-guided > purification active molecules. > > c) What are the research issues essential for developing medicinal > plants into phytomedicines? > > i) Inventory and population biology of plants used for particular > conditions followed by data base development. We have done this > partially for the southern districts of Nyanza province of the lake > region; duration 6 months > > ii) Enlisting the support and cooperation of traditional healers and > custodians of indigenous knowledge, through seminars and training > workshops; the 1999 Maseno University workshop is an example. > > iii) Initiation and support of community-based cultivation and > conservation of the plants. This will be done in collaboration with > University–based researchers to assist in agronomic practices. This also > ensures supply of raw materials. We are now exploring the possibility of > growing selected plants for AIDS management. The main beneficiaries here > will be women who form over 60% of healers in this region, who will be > involved directly in plant growing. > > iv) Standadisation of extracts to include; > > -Botanical definition, including plant parts ie reference material; > duration 3-6 months > -Toxicological assessment to include acute and chronic toxicity in > laboratory animals, using route of administration and dosage as used by > healers and 5x and 10x dosage ; establish LD 50 duration 6 months > - Tests for carcinogenicity and mutagenicity; duration 6 months > -Chemical reference or a type of fingerprinting to ensure consistency in > preparation; duration 3 months > -Pharmacological investigations; specifically cell culture assays to > establish IC 50, ED 50 MTC and TI; for HIV-1 eg. Lymphoid cell line > protection assays (XTT, RT, p24 antigen, inhibition of syncytium > formation); for HSV and HCMV monolayer cell culture assays (plaque > reduction and virus yield reduction assays),; duration 12 months > -Microbiological screening to determine spectrum of activity against > common opportunistic bacteria and fungi associated with AIDS and also to > establish level of microbial contaminants (common sensitivity tests on > agars); duration 3 months > v) Pharamaceutical preparations, quality assurance, heavy metal > determination, preservation and good manufacturing practice must be > maintained > vi) Clinical prospective or cohort studies; randomization and comparison > with standard drugs such as Zidovudine or Nevirapine. Must have baseline > data on all patients before onset of trials ( eg. p24 levels, CD4 > counts, ) Cooperation with clinicians must be ensured.; duration 12 > months > > Total duration from stadardization to completion of cohort studies is > approximately 24 months because some procedures overlap one another. > This is five times sorter than it would take to develop and test pure > molecules. > > d) How to create awareness and acceptability in the use of proven and > standardized phytomedicines? > > i) Lake Victoria Regional Initiative on Phytomedicines for Management of > HIV/AIDS (RIPHA); a kind of a regional server as was proposed in the > Maseno workshop. A similar proposal on “networking on medicinal plants > and traditional medicine in Africa” was discussed at the recent Abidjan > workshop. RIPHA is to be dedicated to work on catastrophic diseases ; > notably AIDS and Cancer. > > ii) Local chapters or affliates to the RIPHA; or a kind of local area > network comprising; traditional healers, custodians of indigenous > knowledge, clinical workers and biomedical scientists iii) > Popularisation through radio, TV, barazas, seminars, agricultural shows > > iv) Training of traditional healers > > v) Therapeutic strategies with an industrial partner > > e) How to ensure sustainable supply of raw plant materials? > > i) Initiation and support of community-based conservation plots and > gardens. Current sites have been identified on basis of soil types, > rainfall availability and most needed and endangered species. These are, > Kabwoch in Homabay district, Kaswanga in Suba district, Kapwonja in > Kisumu district and the sacred sites of Got Ramogi in Bondo district and > Ndere island in lake Victoria > > ii) Plant tissue culture for plants, culture media and cells as sources > of extracts > > iii) germ plasm bank and genetic resources preservation ;seeds, tubers, > cuttings, tissues and single cells > > f) How local people, TH, CIK Scientists and IP will share in commercial > benefits arising from such enterprises . > > i) University-based researchers as brokers in forming a bridge between > local communities and industrial partners > > ii) Contracts and agreements only for a specified time > > iii) Payments to traditional healers and custodians of indigenous > knowledge to include all expenses in collection and handling > > iv) Research and screening should maximally be done in home institution > to enhance capacity building > > v) 7.5% of royalties to local communities from which plant was derived > to support development activities such as rural health, schools, > conservation plots. 2.5% to individual TH or CIK > > vi) Co-authorship and patent rights to scientists, participating home > institution and industrial partners to be determined on basis of > contributions and value added to final product. These patents may cover > production processes, chemical structure, use, applications and > modifications on the structure to make synthetic or semi-synthetic > derivatives. The source of the original material must be acknowledged > > vii) Where an industrial partner uses knowledge obtained from the > supplied extracts to derive synthetic or semi-synthetic analogs, > recognition should also be given by payment of royalties to TH, CIK, > Scientists and participating home institution. > > 4. CONCLUSION > > AIDS has become a tragedy of immense proportions in this region. We > recognize that in this region, like most African countries, medicinal > plants continue to serve as man’s weapon against the disease As most > affected people can not access western drugs it is our request that this > conference supports the Regional Initiative On Phytomedicines For > Management Of HIV/AIDS. This paper has proposed linkage between > ethnobotany, health care and biodiversity conservation as a way forward > in combating AIDS and alleviating poverty. > > 5. REFERENCES > > 1. Aduma P.J. (1998). Medicinal Plants and Biodiversity in the Luo and > Suba communities of lake Victoria. IDRC technical report 1 > > 2. Aduma P.J. (2000). Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome in Africa: > Perspectives and Challenges in control. IRPS reprint series No 6. Maseno > University > > 3. Aduma P.J. (1995). Steps in the viral replication process:Potential > targets for antiviral drug development. Discovery and Innovation > 7(2).125-137 > > 4. Aduma P.J., N. Bischofbergerand A. Fridland . Development of > resistance and cross-resistance to anti-HIV compounds. Unpublished > > 5. Hammer S.M.. (1996). Advances in antiretroviral therapy and virus > load monitoring. AIDS 1 :SI-SII > > 6. Aduma P.J. .(1998). Biological Diversity of the lake Victoria region > with emphasis on ecosytems that contain plants and microorganisms of > industrial concerns. Kenya National Academy of Sciences Public lecture > on :Environment and Development”. Jan 29 1998 > > 7. Aduma P.J (1999). Participatory workshop on Medicinal plants and > Biodiversity in the Luo and Suba communities of lake Victoria; April > 18-21, 1999, Maseno University.IDRC publication report 2 > > 8. Yarchoan R, H. Mitsuya and S. Broder (1993).Challenges in the therapy > of HIV infection. TIPS Vol 14;196-202. > > 9. Aduma P.J., Connelly M., Bischofberger N, and A. Fridland. (1994). > Comparison of anti-HSV activity and metabolism of acyclic nucleotide > phosphonate analogs. Antiviral. Res. 23 (suppl 1) p 41 .7th > International conference on antiviral research, Charleston S.C february > 27-march 4, 1994 USA. > > Subject: [Phytomed] The Nairobi Conference abstracts & papers > Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 14:48:24 +0300 > From: Ernest Rukangira > Reply-To: Phytomedica@egroups.com > Organization: ELCI / Phytomed Network > To: Phytomedica@egroups.com > > Papers and abstracts submitted for the International Conference on > Medicinal Plants, Traditional Medicines and Local Communities in Africa: > > Challenges and Opportunities of the new Millennium. Nairobi, 16-19 > May, 2000 > > Abstract 08/17.7 > ************* > > The Potential for African Healing Practices: Bridging the Indigenous and > the "Modern" > > By: > Tanya A. Pergola, PhD > Terrawatu@hotmail.com > 5520 Canfield Pl N. > Seattle, WA 98103 USA > Phone: 206.226.3882 > Fax: 206.229.1283 > > The rapid and widespread popularity of natural healing remedies and > practices in the United States during recent years provides fertile > ground for the preservation and sustainable development of traditional > medicines and healing practices of indigenous communities in Africa. In > many instances, manufacturers and marketers of natural products in the > US (including many large-scale pharmaceutical companies) have not > "gotten the story" right in terms of processing the remedies and > educating the public in how to integrate these healing practices into > their daily lives. The majority of these products and services are > manufactured and sold in the same manner as standard synthesized > medicines (often as quick-fix, Band-Aid solutions to illnesses). > > As the number of illnesses and "unwell" people are increasing in the US, > many are searching for authentic healing remedies. Ones that are > embedded in cultural traditions that have long-term knowledge and > experience of using indigenous medicines. The opportunity for African > healing cultures to share their experience and educate Americans about > health care is enormous, especially regarding how to integrate medicinal > plants into the social, cultural and spiritual aspects of everyday > life. It has been well documented that Americans are currently > searching for "stories" when they consume products and services in > today's world. This paper includes findings from consumer research in > the US regarding the development, marketing, and use of herbal remedies > with specific reference to Native American products. > > This paper highlights some of the barriers and facilitators towards > preserving and sustainably developing indigenous healing plants and > remedies in Africa with respect to their dissemination in the United > States. Barriers include the difficulty in educating and convincing > those who have the power to slow destruction of lands where native > plants grow of the importance of preserving these areas. Another > barrier is the difficulty in educating consumers about the importance of > the lifestyle that surrounds traditional healing practices (e.g. > inserting shea butter in small amounts into an expensive French body > cream that a woman quickly spreads on her hands is very different from > the ritual use of shea butter by the Igbos of Nigeria). Facilitators > include the increasing interest and awareness of Americans regarding > authentic traditional healing practices and the increasing resources > being dedicated towards sustainable development. Concrete examples of > how to bridge indigenous knowledge of healing practices in Africa with > modern "Western" science techniques include: 1) incorporating ritual > into modern American life, and 2) Web resource of integrated medicine- > state-of-the-art antibiotics and surgery techniques combined with > recovery using herbal remedies and spiritual techniques. > > ***** > > Dr. Tanya Pergola is an environmental sociologist and writer from > Seattle, Washington, USA. She have worked as a consultant for the > natural products industry in the United States researching and writing > about the cultural shift towards American's search for "wellness". She > is the founder of Terrawatu, a research and consulting group focused on > sustainable development. One of the goals of this group is to bring > Americans to Africa to educate them about indigenous cultures while > helping local communities in Africa develop long-term sustainable > development projects in the area of natural resources. Tanya is > currently working with the MacArthur foundation and ICLARM on a project > on Population and Environment in Coastal Areas of Africa and Asia. > ============================================================= > THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE HEALING PLANTS FORUM > ------------------------------------------------------------- > .Please feel free to send your input to: > Healing Plants > .Please join by sending a blank e-mail to: > phytomedica-subscribe@egroups.com > .To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > phytomedica-unsubscribe@egroups.com > .Primary languages used: English, Français and Español > ------------------------------------------------------------- > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Subject: NO PATENTS ON BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS, July 2000 > Resent-Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 16:22:17 +0200 > Resent-From: diplo@orwell.bok.net > Resent-To: dispatch@london.monde-diplomatique.fr > Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 16:08:26 +0200 (MEST) > From: Le Monde diplomatique > To: "English edition dispatch" > > Le Monde diplomatique > July 2000 > > NO PATENTS ON BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS > > Africa defies licences for life * > > by FRANCK SEURET and ROBERT ALI BRAC DE LA PERRIÈRE > http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/07/16patent > > No country is self-sufficient in biodiversity. The WTO is seeking an > appropriate legal framework to encourage trade. But appropriate for > whom? There's the rub. The intellectual property system, which champions > the breeders' interests, is becoming an instrument of neo-colonialism. > The Organisation of African Unity, offering an alternative that is in > the public interest as well as its own, has taken the lead in new > thinking about the exploitation of life. > Translated by Barbara Wilson > > Protection or exclusion > > Translated by Wendy Kristianasen > > ______________________________________________________________ > For more information on our English edition, please visit > http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/ > > To subscribe to our free "dispatch" mailing-list, send an (empty) e-mail > to: dispatch-on@london.monde-diplomatique.fr > To unsubscribe from this list, send an (empty) e-mail to: > dispatch-off@london.monde-diplomatique.fr > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Subject: [FPCN_NEWS] Goat becomes Gardener > Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000 22:44:05 +0300 > From: wildnet@ecoterra.net > Reply-To: discussion@fpcn-global.org > > The goat promotes itself as gardener. > > IUCN is an international green smokescreen and figleaf provider for its > member governments. > > -----------------orig.msg------------------ > > New environmental ombudsman centre begins work this month > > A new centre for mediation and advice on environmental and sustainable > development issues is beginning work this month. The new International > Ombudsman Centre for the Environment and Development (OmCED) is being > established in response to problems brought about by globalisation. > > Founded by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and the Earth Council > Foundation, the organisation is designed to identify, advise on, > investigate and mediate in international disputes over the environment, > natural resources and sustainable development. It will seek to open up > avenues by which conflicts can be avoided, and to assist in obtaining > redress for victims. > > “More and more seemingly legitimate economic activities have the > potential of conflict between those who benefit from them and those who > are affected negatively, often being separated by national borders,” > Frans van Haren, the Principle OmCED Advisor, told edie. “In many cases > these involve the poor and disadvantaged who are least able to protect > their interests or assert their rights.” > > Issues which the OmCED aim to assist in include trans-boundary impacts > of development projects, or problems that may arise from the management > and development of ecosystems which extend across more than one country, > such as trans-boundary waters, or the exploitation and management of > migratory species. Some issues, says van Haren, may be caused by > investment initiatives which involve intensified pressure on > traditionally shared resources, resulting in the displacement of people, > or affecting their traditional way of life. > > “Some cases can be dealt with through the legal system of the > jurisdiction in which the victims or beneficiaries reside or through > recognised arbitration organs depending on the disposition of the > parties involved,” said van Haren. “But in many instances, such > conflictive situations can be more expeditiously and effectively > investigated and/or dealt with through a non-adversarial and > non-judicial mechanism, involving all stakeholders.” > > The idea for an international ombudsman was originally conceived at the > 1992 Rio de Janeiro conference, where a need was established for an > objective international mechanism for anticipating, preventing, > investigating, and mediating in contentious issues regarding the > environment and development. > > The creation of OmCED has been assisted by the experience of the IUCN in > environmental mediation, and the mandate of the United Nations > University for Peace. In its initial pilot phase, the OmCED will be > working in close co-operation with its founding organisations and the > staff of the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica, where > its headquarters will be based. > > All complaints should be in English, Spanish or French, and a > notification of receipt will be sent out within two working days, says > the OmCED. Complaints can be emailed to ombudsman@ecouncil.ac.cr. As of > August 1st, 2000 the centre will be located at the University for Peace > campus, P.O. Box 319-6100, San Jose, Costa Rica; Tel: (506) 205 1600; > Fax: (506) 249 3500. Though confidentiality will be honoured, the OmCED > stress than anonymous complaints cannot be accepted. > > The OmCED will be evaluated after two years, coinciding with the next > Earth Summit. > ------------ > ECOTERRA Intl. > Nairobi Node > http://www.ecoterra.net > http://www.ecoterra.org.uk > > ECOTERRA - FIRST PEOPLES & NATURE FIRST ! > SURVIVAL & FREEDOM for PEOPLE & NATURE > ----------- > > Check it out at: > You are recieving this email because you are subscribed to FPCN's news > list. > To unsubscribe (or subscribe to other FPCN mailing lists) please go to: > http://www.fpcn-global.org/general/mlcontrol.html > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Subject: [sovernspeakout] International Conference on Conflict > Resolution, Peacebuilding, Sustainable Development and Indigenous > Peoples (fwd) > Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 16:11:44 GMT > From: "Katiuska hanohano" > Reply-To: sovernspeakout@egroups.com > To: sovernspeakout@egroups.com > > From: richard n salvador > Reply-To: kanakamaoliallies-l@hawaii.edu > To: Hoomau Pacific Link > Subject: International Conference on Conflict Resolution, Peacebuilding, > Sustainable Development and Indigenous Peoples (fwd) Date: Fri, 14 Jul > 2000 10:22:28 -1000 > > Aloha Friends, > > FYI: The Tebtebba Foundation, Inc. (Indigenous Peoples' International > Centre for Policy Research and Education), which sponsors this > conference, is in the Philippines and is the organization that our good > friend and Indigenous peoples' leader, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, is the > Executive Director of. Should your paper abstract be accepted, you won't > have to worry about funding, as they will pay for all expenses. There is > an attachment in MS Word and an email version. > > mahalo, richard salvador > > Subject: International Conference on Conflict Resolution, > Peacebuilding, Sustainable Development and Indigenous Peoples > > 14 July 2000 > > Dear Friends: > > Please find attached the latest communication regarding the > International Conference on Conflict Resolution, Peacebuilding, > Sustainable Development and Indigenous Peoples. This conference will be > held on November 24-26, 2000 in Metro Manila, Philippines. > > For inquiries, please get in touch: > > The Conference Secretariat > Tebtebba Foundation > e-mail: tebtebba@skyinet.net > > Yours sincerely, > > Raymond de Chavez For the Conference Secretariat > > Tebtebba Foundation, Inc. Indigneous Peoples' International Centre for > Policy Research and Education > > CALL FOR PAPERS > > INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION, PEACE-BUILDING, > SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES > > To be held on November 24 - 26, 2000 in Metro Manila, Philippines > > THE CONFERENCE AIMS TO ANALYZE THE PROCESSES AND SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES IN > RESOLVING CONFLICTS INVOLVING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES. > > PAPERS SHOULD MEET THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: > > * Review, synthesize and draw lessons from the experiences of a specific > ethnic group/minority group/indigenous peoples vis--vis nation-States > and/or multinational/transnational corporations; > > * Identify the dynamics and processes involved in peace-building > initiatives; > > * Describe and analyze the actual conduct of peace building initiatives; > > * Identify and describe indigenous methods used in resolving conflicts; > > * Evaluate the implementation of the peace agreement/accord or other > such agreements; > > * Recommend measures or mechanisms for the attainment of a just and > lasting peace in indigenous peoples' territories. > > Please submit abstracts of not more than 500 words with a working title > to indicate clearly its relevance to the conference theme. Authors who > are selected will be notified not later than end-September 2000 and > invited to submit full papers to be submitted not later than 30 October > 2000. Those selected will have their participation to the Conference > funded. > > DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT: 15 September 2000 > DEADLINE FOR FULL PAPER: 30 October 2000 > > Please submit papers addressed to: > > The International Conference Committee Tebtebba Foundation P.O. Box 1993 > 2600 Baguio City, Philippines > > Or e-mail to: tebtebba@skyinet.net > > For further information, please contact: > Tebtebba Foundation Tel. No: (63) 74 4439459 Fax No: (63) 74 4447703 > E-mail: tebtebba@skyinet.net > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Subject: National parks say that theft of protected artifacts is soaring > > Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 14:04:45 -0400 > From: KOLA > Reply-To: Public Policy and First Nations Relations > > To: FNR_PUBPOL@YORKU.CA > > <+>=<+>KOLA Newslist<+>=<+> > [from Lona. Thanks!] > > http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/national/thev14.shtml > > National parks say that theft of protected artifacts is soaring last > year's record attributed to looters and souvenir-seekers > > Friday, July 14, 2000 > By RICHARD POWELSON > > The national parks are attracting record numbers of nature lovers -- and > nature thieves. > > A record 287 million people visited the 379 national park units last > year, and thefts of protected fossils, Native American pottery and Civil > War relics, plants and animals rose 46 percent since 1998 to nearly > 20,000 known violations. The extent of undetected violations is much > higher, officials said. > > "The National Park Service takes resource thefts very, very seriously," > spokesman Gerry Gaumer said, noting fines and prison time for more > serious offenders. > > Among stolen items in recent Park Service reports: > > a.. An estimated 12 tons of petrified wood from the dinosaur era about > 230 million years ago, mostly in small pieces, is stolen annually from > Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. > > b.. Two men illegally hunting in Cape Hatteras National Seashore in > North Carolina were caught with seven dead deer that had been shot. One > man, a previously convicted felon, was sent back to prison for 12 > months, fined $1,500 and barred from the park during five years of > probation. > > c.. At Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas, a man with a > metal detector was caught with 18 artifacts, including 15 bullets from > the Civil War. He later surrendered 81 other artifacts that he had > stolen on previous visits. Damage was estimated at more than $37,000. > > d.. At the South Florida Parks, Native American remains were looted > from the Everglades. A Virginia man trying to sell Indian remains was > arrested in a sting for violating federal law protecting Native American > graves. Agents recovered two human skulls, a pair of human feet and bead > necklaces. He was indicted on multiple charges. > > "Logic tells you that national park status protects America's priceless > wild and scenic areas from human degradation," said Thomas Kiernan of > the National Parks Conservation Association. "But that logic is wrong. > Like liberty itself, the protection of America's natural and historic > heritage requires eternal vigilance on the part of U.S. citizens." > <+>=<+> > KOLA Information: http://users.skynet.be/kola/index.htm > KOLA Petitions: http://kola-hq.hypermart.net > KOLA Greeting Cards: http://users.skynet.be/kola/cards.htm > <+>=<+> > if you want to be removed from the KOLA > Email Newslist, just send us a message with > "unsub" in the subject or text body > <+>=<+> > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Subject: [NativeNews] Remains of two Ottawa Indians, that were unearthed > for construction, given new resting place in township cemetery > Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 18:47:47 -0400 > From: ishgooda@voyager.net > Reply-To: NatNews-owner@egroups.com > To: NatNews@egroups.com > > Remains of two Ottawa Indians, that were unearthed for construction, > given new resting place in township cemetery > > By Pat Shellenbarger > The Grand Rapids Press > July 15, 2000 > > ADA TOWNSHIP -- Their names are unknown, but two of Ada's early > residents, disturbed from their graves decades ago, will be reburied > next weekend on a hillside overlooking their former village on the Grand > River. > > A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. July 23, at the Ada Township > Cemetery near where the two -- both believed to be Ottawa Indians -- > were unearthed in the 1940s and 1950s. The Ada Township Board voted to > donate four lots in the cemetery to the Grand River Bands of Ottawa > Indians to rebury those remains and any others that come back to the > tribe in the future. > > "The cemetery lots are for residents," said Township Clerk Deborah > Ensing Millhuff. "It only makes sense to me that the original residents > should be able to be buried in the cemetery." > > Normally the four contiguous lots, totaling 24-by-32 feet, would sell > for $200 each, but the Township Board voted to donate them after > learning the tribe was looking for a piece of land near the former > Indian village to rebury the remains. > > The village site apparently was occupied many times, perhaps as early as > the 1st century A.D., and as recently as the early 19th century. It is > near where Rix Robinson, the first white man to settle in Kent County, > opened his fur-trading post in 1821. > > One set of remains, about 40 percent complete, is believed to be an > Indian woman who died between the ages 45 and 60. Those bones were dug > up in the 1950s where the Amway plant now stands and were kept by a > woman in Ada for many years. The second set -- including vertebrae, a > jaw, teeth and ribs -- were found at the same site in the late 1940s by > an Indian man, who placed them in a cigar box and kept them in his attic > near Howard City. > > Both sets were turned over to the Grand River band several months ago. > > In the 1950s, the remains of other Indians apparently were removed from > the site, once known as the Thornapple Forks Village, nestled in the > confluence of the Grand and Thornapple rivers. Some went to museums, > some into private collections. > > Ron Yob, chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawas, said he expects > more remains will be turned over and buried in the Ada cemetery. > > "I know there are others out there that are on their way back," he said, > estimating that perhaps a dozen eventually may be buried on the four > lots. > > A 1990 federal law -- the Native American Grave Protection and > Repatriation Act -- requires any agency that receives federal money, > such as a museum or university, to turn over Indian remains to the > appropriate tribe. Most Michigan tribes signed a statement agreeing any > remains must be reburied as close as possible to where they were dug up. > > That's why Yob drove out to Ada some months ago looking for an > appropriate burial ground near the bygone Indian village. The tribe, > which has applied for, but not yet received federal recognition, had no > land of its own and no money to buy any. The township cemetery, on a > hillside on Grand River Drive west of Fulton Street, happened to have a > view of the former village. > > "This is perfect," Yob said, standing in the cemetery. "It's like all > the pieces of the puzzle were there, and we put it all together." > > Yob built two small cedar boxes to hold the remains. A tribal elder will > be asked to speak at the reburial service. The service will include a > traditional tobacco offering and a burning of sage, Yob said. Afterward, > the tribe will host a potluck feast across the Grand River in Chief Hazy > Cloud Park, named for a former Ottawa chief. > > "We've never done this before," Yob said. "The only thing we can do is > whatever we think is respectful." > > The reburial, which Yob called a "memorial service," will be open to > everyone. > - - - - - - > > "Native American Day' is scheduled > > Deanna Evans > c. Examiner-Enterprise > July 14, 2000 > > Bartlesville - Washington Park Mall and the Delaware Tribe of Indians > will play host to a "Native American Day" on July 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 > p.m. > > Native American Day will feature performances by the Delaware Tribe at 1 > p.m. and 4:00 p.m. There will be displays of Delaware Tribal Child Care > and One Stop Services, storytelling, dancing, singing, booths of > jewelry, leatherworker, bead work, western art, basket weaving, gourd > art and much more. > > Michael Pace, of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, notes, "I am excited > about this opportunity to bring public attention to education, services > and the many talents of Native Americans." > > Washington Park Mall, located at the intersection of Price Road and > Highway 75, is owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Inc., the > nation's second largest owner, manager and developer of regional > shopping malls. General Growth currently has ownership interests in, or > management responsibilities for, a portfolio of 136 regional shopping > malls in 39 states. > > A publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), General Growth > Properties is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol > GGP. For more information on General Growth Properties, visit the > company Web site at www.generalgrowth.com. > > - - - - - - > > <<<<=-=-= Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) =-=-=>>>> > The preceding message has been > distributed courtesty of Native News Online. > Ishgooda > Managing Editor > <<<<=-=-=FREE LEONARD PELTIER!!!=-=->>>> > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Subject: [NativeNews] NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR NATIVE AMERICAN PRESS RELEASE > > Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 11:03:06 -0400 > From: ishgooda@voyager.net > Reply-To: NatNews-owner@egroups.com > To: NatNews@egroups.com > CC: dipity@onelist.com, ndn-aim@onelist.com, triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu > > United Native America was informed by the American Indian caucus in > Washington DC. by Kimberly Teehee that the Indian caucus would take up > the issue of the National Holiday for Native American in August 2000. > Mike Graham founder of United Native America was told the holiday bill > would not make any references as to changing Columbus Day. Congress will > decide how to handle the issue when it's brought before them. United > Native America has long advocated changing Columbus Day to Native > American Day as to creating a whole new holiday. Columbus Day should be > moved back to it's traditional day the second Wednesday of October and > not be a Federal tax paid holiday, it should be viewed as ST. Patrick's > Day and Octoberfest not with our tax dollars. U. N. A. will offer full > and complete support to the Indian Caucus concerning this issue, We > applaud their decision to take up this issue and hope there will be a > true and honest effort to bring a Holiday Bill before Congress. In > talking with several Senators and Congressmen they have expressed that > this issue should be brought forward to Congress and stand on it's own > merits. The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma excepted Mr. Grahams request to > pass Resolution # 91-93 calling on the Federal Government to bring about > a National Holiday for Native Americans. The Government to Government > relationship, countless contributions and distinguished leaders in the > Indian community that stood up for Indian civil rights enduring the > worlds longest and most costly in human life holocaust more than > deserves a Federal National Holiday. This is not Europe, Africa, Middle > east or Asia, Americas true roots can only be found within the Native > Americans. there is not one group of people in this country or on the > face of this planet that has suffered or endured more hardship to live > in peace and self govern than the Native Americans. In the year 2000 > there has never been an Indian appointed to the supreme court or worked > for the court, no appointments to top federal jobs, racial exclusion of > Native Americans in the movies, television, music and sports industries. > At this time there is not one Indian playing for the teams that use > Indian heritage to boast the image of their team. The NAACP and Jesse > Jackson's Rainbow coalition have not addressed this issue. If there were > no African Americans playing on these teams I'm sure they would not > hesitate to bring it to the nations attention. We ask for support of all > Americans to help bring about change for Native Americans. Respecting > one another's heritage and as individuals is what Americas all about. > United Native America would like to thank the Cherokee Nation for its > resolution and the thousands of Americans who took the time to respond > to our National Holiday petition. They have been sent to the Indian > Caucus in Washington, DC each and every one of you have made a > difference on this issue. > > Congressman Dale Kildee of Michigan and the Indian Caucus number is > 202-225-3611. > Mike L. Graham > RT. 6 box 243 > Muldrow, Okla. 74948 > > 918-427-9894 > > E-mail address > mgmikelgraham@gateway.net > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Subject: [NativeNews] 2 stories on saving sacred sites > Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 10:45:39 -0700 > From: "Martha Ture" > Reply-To: NatNews-owner@egroups.com > To: NatNews@egroups.com > > Saving the Sacred > > Jul. 15, 2000 | 11:36 a.m. > > By The Associated Press The Association on American Indian Affairs > estimates that hundreds of sacred Indian sites face destruction or > desecration by land managers, commercial enterprises and tourists. Some > recent controversies: > > MEDICINE WHEEL, WYOMING > > The Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark lies nearly 10,000 feet > above sea level in the Bighorn National Forest in north-central Wyoming. > The wheel, constructed of limestone rocks, is roughly 80 feet in > diameter and has 28 spokes radiating from a center cairn. The wheel and > surrounding lands are visited annually by more than 80 Indian tribes > from the United States and Canada for religious activities such as > prayer offerings and vision quests. In 1996, the U.S. Forest Service > created an 18,000-acre ``area of consultation'' in which activities that > detract from the spiritual values of the landmark may be banned. In > 1998, Wyoming Sawmills filed suit against the Forest Service arguing the > policy violates the separation of church and state and restricts it from > logging in the forest. A court ruling is pending. > > DEVILS TOWER, WYOMING > > Devils Tower, an 867-foot butte in northeastern Wyoming, became the > country's first national monument in 1906. The tower is considered > sacred to more than 20 Plains Indian tribes but is also acclaimed as one > of the premier technical climbing areas in North America. In 1995, the > National Park Service began asking rock climbers to voluntarily refrain > from scaling the tower during the month of June, when Indians hold > religious activities at the site. Several climbers filed suit, arguing > the provision violated separation of church and state. In March, the > U.S. Supreme Court allowed the voluntary closure to stand. The number of > people climbing the tower in June has dropped an average of 85 percent. > > RAINBOW BRIDGE NATIONAL MONUMENT, UTAH > > The 275-foot-long sandstone arch, the world's largest natural bridge, is > located at the base of Navajo Mountain -- just north of the Arizona > state line and 259 miles south of Salt Lake City. The Natural Arch and > Bridge Society this year sued the Park Service over a policy that asks > visitors to voluntarily refrain from walking beneath or going too close > to the bridge because of its religious significance to the Navajo and > other tribes. > > MOUNT GRAHAM, ARIZONA > > Members of the San Carlos Apache tribe and environmentalists are > fighting construction of a power line to a University of Arizona > observatory on Mount Graham, a 10,400-foot mountaintop 120 miles > northeast of Tucson. The mountain is a place of worship for the tribe. > > PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT, NEW MEXICO > > The 7,236-acre monument in Albuquerque, N.M., was established in 1990 to > protect more than 20,000 ancient rock etchings, largely done by Indians > in volcanic rocks. Indians have opposed a proposed road through the > monument to serve development on Albuquerque's west side. Opponents say > the road extension would harm land held sacred by New Mexico's Sandia > Pueblo and other tribes; proponents say the road is essential to ease > congestion. > > WHITE VULCAN PUMICE MINE, ARIZONA > > Environmentalists and Indians are working to block a proposed expansion > of the 100-acre White Vulcan pumice mine, on the flanks of the San > Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Ariz. The peaks, which contain Arizona's > highest point at 12,633 feet, are sacred to the Navajo Nation and other > Indian tribes. The tribes are supported by the Forest Service and > Interior Department. > > GLAMIS IMPERIAL PROJECT, CALIFORNIA > > The Bureau of Land Management is weighing plans by Glamis Imperial Corp. > to develop an open-pit gold mine and processing facility among three > mountains 45 miles northeast of El Centro, Calif. The Quechan Indian > tribe opposes the project on grounds that it would destroy cultural and > religious sites. The mine would operate on 1,625 acres of BLM land, > producing about 120 jobs and millions of tax dollars for Imperial > County, Calif. > > BADGER-TWO MEDICINE, MONTANA > > The Forest Service has proposed a 20-year ban on hardrock mining along > the Rocky Mountain Front, where a decade-long moratorium on new oil and > gas leases was imposed three years ago. The Front, where the Rockies > meet the plains in northwestern Montana, lies just south of Glacier > National Park and includes the Badger-Two Medicine area -- held sacred > by the Blackfeet Indians. The Forest Service cited several reasons for > the proposed ban, including the fact that Indians use the area to > perform religious ceremonies, gather sacred herbs and practice other > traditional customs. > > AP-CS-07-15-00 1217EDT > > The fight to save sacred Indian sites pits religious traditions against > modern-day interests > > Jul. 15, 2000 | 11:35 a.m. > > BIGHORN MOUNTAINS, Wyo. (AP) -- A frozen wind blew high atop the Bighorn > Mountains. Along a chain-link fence caked with snow and ice even in > June, leather pouches and colorful cloth bundles twisted in the breeze, > their red and yellow hues like bursts of sunlight. > > Inside the fence lay a collection of limestone rocks: a giant center > cairn and hundreds of smaller stones stretching into 28 spokes. Outside > lay a sign containing the words of an Arikara Indian: ``Eventually one > gets to the Medicine Wheel to fulfill one's life.'' > > On this mountain range rising 10,000 feet above the sea, the Medicine > Wheel stands as a testament to what American Indians hold sacred. It is > where Earth meets sky, where the secular and the ethereal converge. > According to legend, Nez Perce Chief Joseph fasted at the Wheel after > his people fled the U.S. Army. Crow Chief Red Plume received medicine > and feathers here to protect his people from harm. > > Today, more than 80 tribes make the 1.25-mile trek to the Wheel to lace > their colorful bundles around the fence and pray for loved ones, for > wisdom, for strength. > > ``The Medicine Wheel,'' explains Crow elder John Hill, ``is a chapel in > the wilderness.'' > > The chapel was deserted on a recent cold afternoon -- silent, but for > the wind and an occasional bird. Through the clouds, the view stretched > for miles across snowcapped pines and valleys of wildflowers. > > There was no sign of the struggle over this and dozens of other Indian > religious sites across the country. There was only serenity. > > Once hailed as a model for how federal land managers and Indians can > work together to protect sacred Indian sites, the Medicine Wheel has > become a battleground in a fight over how to balance traditional Indian > religion with modern interests such as logging, mining and tourism. It > is a fight, Indians believe, fueled by the ignorance of a society that > places the almighty dollar above the Almighty. > > ------ > > Keith Harding frowns as he maneuvers his pickup across the Bighorn > National Forest in northern Wyoming. Where others see beauty, Harding > finds blemishes: lodgepole pines infested with disease, dead and > splintered Douglas firs, overgrown patches of spruce that are a fire > hazard. > > ``If you don't have the tools to manage for that,'' he grumbles, ``these > trees are all going to die.'' > > Harding sees a forest in decay -- and millions of dollars down the > drain. > > Harding is chief forester for Wyoming Sawmills Inc., based on the > eastern edge of the Bighorn Mountains. The sawmill, employing 100 > people, was founded in 1964 after the U.S. Forest Service solicited > companies to help manage timber in the forest. > > ``The Bighorn has always been our base,'' says mill President Ernie > Schmidt. ``That's why we're here.'' > > And that's why Schmidt and Harding are worried. > > In 1985, the Forest Service approved a management plan that set aside > 264,000 acres of land in the Bighorn for logging. Four years ago, the > agency amended the plan to create an 18,000-acre ``area of > consultation'' around the Medicine Wheel. The policy requires the Forest > Service to consult with Indians about any activity within the zone that > might harm the spiritual value of the wheel, including logging. > > As Schmidt sees it, the Indians ``would have veto power over anything > that happens in this area.'' > > The sawmill has sued the Forest Service to do away with the area of > consultation, arguing the idea violates the constitutional separation > between church and state and has cost them millions of dollars in > potential business. A federal court ruling is pending. > > The battle over sacred sites dates back more than a century, when the > government forced Indians onto reservations and ordered them to abandon > their religion for Christianity. After Congress passed the American > Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978, Indians returned to their > religious sites -- many on government-owned lands -- to find some > damaged by commercialism. > > ``The federal land managers were destroying these sites quite > frequently,'' says Jerry Flute, executive director of the Association on > American Indian Affairs. > > The tribes fought back, filing lawsuits when the government wanted to > construct a logging road through a sacred area or allow a ski resort to > be built on a sacred mountain. Yet time and again, courts ruled the > religious freedom act did not prevent the government from doing as it > pleased on its lands. > > The tide has begun to turn in recent years, due primarily to a 1996 > executive order requiring land managers to consult with tribes about > activities that could damage sacred sites. > > Lawsuits persist today, although plaintiffs now include businesses such > as Wyoming Sawmills, tourists -- even rock climbers who accuse land > managers of unlawfully restricting access to public places by > implementing policies that sacrifice individual rights in the name of > religion. > > ``What we have to do is balance it,'' says Kolleen Bean, a Forest > Service heritage resource specialist who works at the Medicine Wheel. > ``We are directed to allow timber sales, mining, grazing, and we're also > directed to allow certain areas to be set aside for traditional use. If > both sides are mad at us, we're probably doing the right thing.'' > > The battles are particularly intense in the West. In Utah, a group of > bridge enthusiasts sued the National Park Service over a policy that > asks visitors to refrain from walking under Rainbow Bridge National > Monument because of its religious significance. In Arizona, members of > the San Carlos Apache are fighting construction of a power line to an > observatory built on Mount Graham, a sacred peak. > > And just a few hundred miles east of the Medicine Wheel, near the South > Dakota border, they're fighting over what to call -- and whether to > climb -- a hulking butte known to visitors as Devils Tower. To American > Indians, it is Bear Lodge. > > ------ > > They had pretended to be tourists, only they held religious offerings > instead of cameras and came to worship rather than gawk. When they were > ready to leave, they dug up a cottonwood to take back and plant on the > reservation. The tree, it was said, could protect one from evil. > > Charlotte Black Elk was just 7 years old when her parents brought her to > Devils Tower to pray. She had been to the butte before, but this journey > was different. > > ``I knew that I would have to remember everything to pass it on,'' says > Black Elk, an Oglala Lakota. ``It was a place that had to be honored and > respected.'' > > It was 1952 and the tower, the country's first national monument, was a > popular tourist stop on the Mount Rushmore-to-Yellowstone route. > Climbers also flocked to scale the 867-foot rock column. > > But long before the tourists and climbers arrived, Northern Plains > Indians lived and worshipped at Bear Lodge, named after an Indian legend > that says the tower was formed when seven girls jumped on a rock to > escape a bear. The rock shot upward as the bear clawed its side, thus > creating the deep crags that line the butte. > > When white settlers arrived, the Plains tribes were relocated to > reservations far from Bear Lodge and ordered to abandon their religion. > Those who wanted to keep their sacred practices alive did so in secret. > > Even into the 1950s, when the Black Elks made the 190-mile trek from the > Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota to Bear Lodge, they did so > as tourists -- not Oglala Lakotas coming to pray. > > Black Elk returned every year, but it wasn't until after the Indian > Religious Freedom Act was passed that she stopped pretending. She and > other Indians went to the National Park Service and, in 1985, began > holding an annual sundance at Bear Lodge. > > By then, visitation had risen after the tower was featured in the film > ``Close Encounters of the Third Kind.'' When Indians held ceremonies, > says Black Elk, visitors stared as though they were a stop on a tour. > > ``They stand at the edge of the tower and will look. We've had some > clownishly dancing,'' she says. > > Signs were erected asking tourists to respect the religious nature of > the tower and in 1995, following more consultation with the tribes, the > Park Service began asking climbers to refrain from scaling the tower in > June, when the sundance is held. > > The number of June climbers has dipped an average of 85 percent. > However, several climbers sued the Park Service arguing the policy > violated the separation between church and state. Earlier this year, the > U.S. Supreme Court let the closure stand. > > Black Elk, now 48, calls the policy a triumph in the fight to protect > sacred sites, although tribes are still working to formally change the > name of the butte to Bear Lodge. These days, her children help organize > the sundance and practice Lakota religion without fear of retribution. > > ``Their attitude is very different from my father's generation,'' she > says. ``He was quietly Indian. My children are openly Indian.'' > > Still, Black Elk worries that sacred sites will remain threatened until > the public understands that Indian religion and the land are > inextricably linked. > > ``The American attitude is that everybody has a God-given right to be > entertained and to get wealthy while they're being entertained,'' she > says. ``The attitude with natural resources is not that they need to be > respected, but rather how they can be protected for the benefit of > humans.'' > > ------ > > >From mountains to medicine wheels, bridges to waterfalls, sacred sites > all across the country are entangled in similar disputes. There have > been winners and losers on both sides, but the only point all seem to > agree on is that Congress or the courts will have to determine future > management of these sites. > > ``We need a simple law to protect American Indian cultural properties, > particularly where they are known sacred sites that have been used by > tribes for millennia,'' says Indian activist Flute. > > Until then, the fight will be fought case by case -- as it was at Devils > Tower, as it is at the Medicine Wheel. Until then, concludes Flute: > ``This contention will continue.'' > > ------ > On the Net: > > http://honorearth.com/infonet/sacredsites/sacredsites.html > http://www.indian-affairs.org/sacred.cfm > http://conbio.rice.edu/nae/sacred.html > ------ > EDITOR'S NOTE -- Pauline Arrillaga is the AP's Southwest regional > reporter, based in Phoenix. > > AP-CS-07-15-00 1216EDT > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > This is an email distributed through the Protecting Knowledge conference > email distribution list. If you would like to be added to this list, > please send an email to with the words "Subscribe > Protect" in the Subject line. If you would like to be taken off this > list, please send an email to with the words > "Unsubscribe Protect" in the Subject line. > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .