National disgrace? Marlene Bird attacked, burned but not national news

A march was held for #MarleneBird today in Prince Albert, SK.

Edward Henderson, Chief of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation announced the band will be offering a reward for anyone who has information about her attacker.

More to come on www.cbc.ca/aboriginal

Photos by Bonnie Allen, CBC Reporter (5 photos)

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Attack victim Marlene Bird a soft-spoken, caring woman who lived a transient life

A 47-year-old homeless woman viciously attacked in Prince Albert, Sask., two weeks ago, is described by family and friends as soft-spoken, kind and caring.

Marlene Bird is a mother of two adult children and was living a transient life in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan's third-largest city, known for a nearby national park and a federal penitentiary.

Her aunt Lorna Thiessen told CBC News she believes Bird struggled with alcohol abuse but nothing more serious.

"I don't think she was involved in drugs or prostitution," Thiessen said. "Her personality type was very mild. She was kind. She cared for the people on the street."

• Marlene Bird assault: Fear grips Prince Albert in unsolved case

Bird, from the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, has nine brothers and sisters and spent several years in the residential school system.

Thiessen believes those experiences played a major role in Bird's life.

"She didn't get the support system that she needed," she said. "So she started drinking and fell on some hard times and became transient."

Friends in Prince Albert, who came to know Bird from hanging out in the downtown area, describe her as a kind-hearted person.

"I've got nothing bad to say about her," Wesley Yooya told CBC News, adding Bird was always very nice. "I knew her from hanging around downtown. Had coffee with her."

Wesley Yooya knows Marlene Bird from visits over coffee in downtown Prince Albert. (CBC)

Another friend, Camilla Morin, knows Bird through church services at the Prince Albert Full Gospel Outreach Center.

"She's a funny woman," Morin said. "She's really nice. She's quiet."

In Edmonton hospital burn unit

It's not clear how Bird was injured. Police in Prince Albert have asked any businesses with security cameras of the downtown area to contact them.

According to family, she was discovered with severe burns at around 10:30 a.m. CST on June 1.

She was transferred to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, and then to a special burn unit of the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton.

It is not clear if the burns are from fire or a corrosive chemical. Family members say Bird has been through two amputations of parts of her legs, and suffered a facial laceration.

"It's a sad sight to see," Chief Edward Henderson, of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, told CBC News Friday.

He says it was difficult to control his emotions when he saw her in the hospital.

"It's hard to stand there and try to keep your calm and not show your emotions as she's lying there, trying to stay strong," Henderson said.

"I think maybe [she was] just at the wrong place at the wrong time ... She was a kind, loving person. Never harmed anybody. Was caring. I don't know why somebody would do that to her."

The band has stepped up to cover any hotel costs incurred by Bird's family in Edmonton. Her 77-year-old mother and aunt are staying in a recreational vehicle and Henderson said the band will reimburse them for gas and food.

The YWCA has also stepped up to raise money for the family and for Bird, who will need considerable support. The YWCA has also been helping with gas and grocery gift cards for the family while they're staying in Edmonton.

As of Friday, Bird's condition was described as stable.

Difficult future

Thiessen has been keeping notes on what has happened, in case Bird has any questions.

"I have kept a daily diary of all the happenings," Thiessen said. "I will show her that when she wants to see it."

Thiessen says she was able to ask Bird if she could take pictures, explaining she had been through a serious trauma. Bird was able to nod her agreement.

"In case she wants to see later [when she asks], 'Why did they cut my legs off?'" Thiessen said. "I'm doing a whole diary for her. What they had to do for her day by day, what decisions. So when she goes back, she'll know this is what she went through."

Related Stories

Marlene Bird assault.Fear grips Prince Albert in  unsolved case

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    The vicious assault of Marlene Bird in a Prince Albert, Sask., parking lot has put the city on edge, leaving many residents fearful that no one has been arrested after the homeless 47-year-old suffered burns so severe that both her legs had to be amputated.
• 
  Horrific attack on Prince Albert woman spurs march against violence
  A 47-year-old woman is in hospital undergoing treatment following a violent assault where she suffered severe burns and had to have a leg amputated. The attack spurred friends and family in Prince Albert to organize a march against violence.

Note: 

Anyone wishing to send a card or note 

to Marlene Bird, the hospitals information 

is listed below.

University of Alberta Hospital

   Burn unit

   8440 112 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P4


Phone number:  (780) 407-8822

Our Children Are Sacred.. Please become a member and speak out against state run child trafficking.

Help end the illegal seizures of ‪#‎Lakota‬ children by the state of‪#‎SouthDakota‬.

Join our Circle!

‪#‎OurChildrenAreSacred‬

Learn more and Become a Member at: http://lakota.cc/1kvf8ka

1862 Dakota Massacre

Orpheus

Boxing day week is the celebration of the 1862 Dakota massacre. It was the largest execution death sentence. 4000 civilians cheered as 38 Sioux’s were hung, thefederal government failed to honor there promises; the rope was cut into small pieces and distributed to the spectators. 307 warriors were condemned to die but 38 were sentenced to death by rope.

Between 1805 and 1858, treaties made between the U.S. government and the Dakota nation. These treaties had significant impact on the lives of the Dakota people and the European-Americans. 

The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 lie in those treaties. Minnesota has been the main home land for the Dakota for thousands of years. The real truth behind the Massacre goes back before 1862. Dec 26th is the week of boxing day week. The celebration week of the hanging was on Dec 26th of 1862 which carried on though to Dec 31st.

When Minnesota became a state on May 11, 1858, representatives of several Dakota bands led by Little Crow traveled to Washington, D.C., to negotiate about enforcing existing treaties. 

The northern half of the reservation along the Minnesota River was lost, and rights to the quarry at Pipestone, Minnesota, were also taken from the Dakota. The United States Senate deleted Article 3 of each treaty

which set out reservations, during the ratification process. On August 15, 1862, they were rejected food and supplies. 

Payments were guaranteed; the US government was often behind or failed to pay. Most land in the river valley was not arable, and hunting could no longer support the Dakota community. 

The Dakota became increasingly discontented over their losses: land, non-payment of annuities, past broken treaties, plus food shortages and famine following crop failure. Tensions increased through the summer of 1862. 

This broke out into a war where 38 Sioux’s were hung and there land was taken.

http://www.historicfortsnelling.org/history/us-dakota-war

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakota_War_of_1862

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GLOOSKAP CREATES THE EASTERN WORLD.... Please visit "Native Stories on Video" to hear more stories about native life.

Long, long ago, in the great past, there were no people on the earth. All of it was covered by deep water. Birds, flying, filled the air, and many huge monsters possessed the waters.

One day the birds saw a beautiful woman falling from the sky, Star Woman. Immediately the huge ducks held a council. "How can we prevent her from falling into the water?" they asked. After some discussion, they decided to spread out their wings and thus break the force of her fall. Each duck spread out its wings until it touched the wings of other ducks. So the beautiful woman reached them safely.

Then those of the deep waters held a council to decide how they could protect the beautiful being from the terror of the waters. Most beings of the deep water decided that they were not able to protect her, that only a Giant Turtle was big enough to bear her weight. So they asked the turtle and she volunteered, and Star Woman was gently placed upon her back. The Giant turtle magically increased in size and as she paddled, her legs moving the dirt from the deep of the ocean soon became a large island called Turtle Island also known as Earth Mother

After a long time, the Earth Mother gave birth to twin boys. One of them was the Spirit of Good called Glooskap. He made all the good things on the earth and caused the corn, the fruits, and the tobacco to grow. The other twin was the Spirit of Evil called Malsumis or Wolf-Lox. He created the weeds and also the worms and the bugs and all the other creatures that do evil to the good animals and birds.

As Glooskap went about his business one day he reduced beaver and squirrel to their present size and they were not happy. So they spied on Glooskap and heard one night when he was talking to the stars and was telling them how he could be killed by a flowering rush. No sooner did beaver hear this he ran to the camp of Malsumis and informed him of the secret of how Glooskap could be killed. In return for sharing this secret beaver requested to have wings like a pigeon and Wolf-Lox refused and beaver got furious. Beaver went and told Glooskap what he did.

Glooskap then hid in the bushes near Malsumis camp and learned how he could be killed by a fern root when he was talking to the stars. Glooskap fearing for his life jumped out of the bush and killed his brother at once with a fern root and turned him into a mountain where he sleeps to this day like a huge hill.

Then Glooskap went on ruling the eastern north and felt very lonely. He took out his bow and arrow and shot at the ash tree for many days. Where the arrows hit there came out of the bark the first man and woman whom he called Indian - the Children of the light, for they live near the sunrise. Then the animals were created, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea. He gave them each a name in ceremony.

After a while Glooskap saw that the human feared the animals so he made the animals smaller and gave his people power over the animals so that the greatest and strongest creature would be man. The animals became his friends and the friends of his people. Two great wolves became his dogs. They guarded his tent and followed him about. The loons of the beach became his messenger and kept him well informed. The Eagles created the wind in his hair. Each creature had a specific task.

Trademark board rules against Redskins name

Board strips Washington Redskins of trademark protection due to 'disparaging' name

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Patent Office ruled Wednesday that the Washington Redskins nickname is "disparaging of Native Americans" and that the team's federal trademarks for the name must be canceled.

The 2-1 ruling comes after a campaign to change the name gained momentum over the past year. The team doesn't immediately lose trademark protection and is allowed to retain it during an appeal, which is likely.

Redskins owner Dan Snyder has refused to change the team's name, citing tradition, but there has been growing pressure including statements in recent months from President Barack Obama, lawmakers of both parties and civil rights groups.

The decision means that the team can continue to use the Redskins name, but it would lose a significant portion of its ability to protect the financial interests connected to its use. If others printed the name on sweatshirts, apparel, or other team material, it becomes more difficult to go after groups who use it without permission.

The case involves six registered trademarks that involve the use of the word Redskins, but it does not apply to the team's logo.

The decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board is similar to one it issued in 1999. That ruling was overturned in 2003 in large part on a technicality after the courts decided that the plaintiffs should have filed their complaint soon after the Redskins registered their nickname in 1967.

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Larry Brown, football player for Washington Redskins, breaking a Carl Lockhart tackle, football play …

The new case was launched in 2006 by a younger group of Native Americans, and was heard by the board in March of last year.

The group argued that the Redskins should lose their federal trademark protection based on a law that prohibits registered names that are disparaging, scandalous, contemptuous or disreputable.

Suzan Shown Harjo, one of the plaintiffs who testified at last year's hearing, said she was "thrilled and delighted" with the decision. Snyder declined to speak to reporters as he walked off the practice field, but the team said it planned to release a statement later in the day.

In Washington, lawmakers who have pushed for a name change applauded the decision. In May, half of the Senate wrote letters to the NFL urging the team to change its name.

"Daniel Snyder may be the last person in the world to realize this, but it's just a matter of time until he is forced to do the right thing and change the name," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has said previously he will not attend home games until the team changes its name.

Pagan High Priest Claims Discrimination by City Officials in Beebe

BEEBE, AR - High priest Bertram Dahl's dream is to open Seekers Temple and a small spiritual goods shop in the garage and shop behind his Beebe home.

"When they knew we were going to open a church, it wasn't an issue," Dahl said. 

According to Dahl, he was well on his way, with help from the mayor. 

"We explained to him [the mayor] the house had a building that we could open the church in, and he had no problem," Dahl added. 

But when the city found out Dahl and his fellow temple members weren't Christian, but Pagan, he said officials began persecuting him. 

"We were basically given a cease and desist you know -- shut down. We hadn't even unpacked. We aren't even open -- how are we getting this," he said. 

The order was issued the same day the city's code officer received a letter from Mayor Mike Robertson, expressing his opinion that no conditional use or special use permits should be issued on Dahl's property for a worship place or shop. Dahl hadn't even applied yet. 

"It's zoned as residential," said City Attorney Barrett Rogers. "It's not zoned commercial, which is what's required for a place of worship or a retail business."

Rogers referred us to the city zoning code for provisions regarding R-2 properties, which Dahl's is qualified as. 

"Whatever the zoning code said is allowed is allowed," he said.

According to the city's code, though, places of worship and private nonprofits, which Seekers Temple is, are allowable in R-2 areas, with conditional and special use permits. 

"I haven't seen any of that paperwork. My understanding is he has not asked to be given the paperwork," Rogers said of Dahl's permit application. "Had he asked for the paperwork it would have been provided." 

Dahl insisted he had asked for permit application paperwork from the mayor's office, though he alleges he had been advised it wouldn't be approved. 

"I told them I understand you're not going to give me the permit, but can you give me the paperwork. We don't give paperwork," Dahl said. 

The mayor opted not to go on camera with us, referring us to the city attorney for an on camera interview. But when we asked questions about the permit paperwork Dahl would have to fill out, Robertson told us "there was no permit he could apply for."

According to Dahl, he wasn't looking for a fight. He simply wanted to provide a place for like-minded Pagans to call home. 

Several home businesses operate on the stretch of road where Dahl lives. While home occupation is allowed there, selling things isn't, which would restrict Dahl's shop.

Dahl claimed he also reached out to his alderman regarding city policy, but when we spoke to the alderman, the only comment he wanted to make on the record was "that man's God isn't my God." 

Chief Arvol Looking Horse Speaks of White Buffalo Prophecy

National disgrace? Marlene Bird attacked, burned but not national news

Jo Ann Lawrence | June 13, 2014

First Nations woman Marlene Bird will have both legs amputated

A YWCA director wants to know why a horrific attack June 1 on First Nations woman Marlene Bird in the northern Saskatchewan city of Prince Albert isn’t national news.

Marlene Bird, First Nations woman and victim of a vicious assault June 1 in Prince Albert, Sask. Photo: Handout.

Marlene Darlene Bird was assaulted and burned in an attack outside a community centre in the city of 35,000 that is home to a large aboriginal population. The aunt of the homeless woman says her niece has been upgraded to stable condition.

Lorna Thiessen said that Marlene Bird was to have her second leg amputated on Thursday because it was “burned to the bone.”

Thiessen said Bird is in a critical burn unit and has extensive burns all over her body and has had several skin grafts.

Marlene Bird, who is 47, was first taken to hospital in Prince Albert, then transferred to Saskatoon and then to Edmonton’s University of Alberta Hospital.

Prince Albert YWCA executive director Donna Brooks said it’s appalling that Bird’s story hasn’t received attention outside of Prince Albert.

“If this attack would have happened to a middle class woman in a suburban Toronto neighbourhood, I guarantee you it would have been on the national news, I guarantee you that,” she said.

“But, because it happened in Prince Albert, it happened to an aboriginal woman who is a part of the homeless community, because of all those factors I don’t think it received the media attention it should.”

Police continue to investigate and have asked anyone with video surveillance footage of the area where Marlene Bird was found to hand it over to them.

Marlene Bird is conscious and Thiessen said she has been speaking, but is heavily sedated most of the time.

“When she comes out, she’s going to need living accommodations, she’s going to need support for probably prosthetics, and probably maybe a scooter, or things in that line.”

She said Marlene Bird will also need a place to live and a support system around her.

YWCA staff is collecting letters of support and financial donations for Bird and her family, and has mailed the first batch to her in Edmonton.

“It’s very important to show her that she matters, that what has happened to her has saddened a lot of people in our community and that she is important and there are a lot of people who care about her,” Brooks said.

The Edmonton YWCA has also stepped up by helping Bird’s family during their stay in the Alberta city.

On June 6, more than 100 people marched through downtown Prince Albert in Bird’s honour and against violence. The march culminated in a prayer at the spot where Marlene Bird was found.

With file from the Canadian Press