|
Introduction
The Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center
|
March 1999: Tribute to a Warrior Woman
|
Ingrid Washinawatok 1957-1999
|
As a Menominee, Ingrid experienced at a young age the struggle
to retain her indigenous identity. Faced with the selling of tribal
lands for large-scale tourism development, as well as the termination
of the Menominee nation, the nation's successful struggle to retain
their tribal recognition and regain their reservation landbase
provided Ingrid with the impetus to devote her life to the Indigenous
struggle. She has said, "The movement is a result of that intergenerational
connection of our peoples and the struggles they were experiencing…It
evolved out of crises, frustration and anger…people just couldn't
take it anymore. Our people were dying, our land was stolen, our
rights were being trampled, situations were happening where our
people were being beaten down by a bureaucracy, they were beaten
down by force and you finally say, 'That's it; no more." Ingrid has led the struggle for Indigenous rights. In her work
as Executive Director of the Fund for Four Directions, she has
observed and supported the struggles of native peoples in international
and local arenas. Her activism on behalf of the U'Wa people of
Colombia reflects her lifelong commitment to recognizing and preserving
the rights and beliefs of Indigenous Peoples. On February 25, we received word that our sister Ingrid Washinawatok,
the Co-Chair of the Indigenous Women's Network and Lahe'ena'e
Gay and Terence Freitas, two other members of a humanitarian delegation
to the U'Wa people of Colombia were kidnapped by FARC, a left-wing
paramilitary group. It was during the end of their visit that
our sisters and brother were kidnapped by hooded men in civilian
clothing from the car they were traveling in. The three were part
of a delegation that had been invited by the U'Wa People to join
in prayer and solidarity. The purpose of the trip was to assist
the U'Wa People in establishing a cultural education system for
their children and support their continuation of their traditional
way of life. The morning of March 5th, the U.S. Embassy contacted the families
of Ingrid, Lahe'ena'e and Terence informing them their bodies
had been found in Venezuela about 30 yards from the border of
Colombia. They had been bound, blindfolded, beaten, tortured and
shot numerous times. It was through Ingrid's credit cards, which
were still in her possession that they were able to trace their
identity so rapidly. Earlier in the week, the family had communicated to the State
Department their concerns over Janet Reno, from the Justice Department,
going to Bogota to deliver $230 million dollars to the Colombian
government to escalate the war against FARC. An immediate attack
on FARC forced by the Colombian government resulted in 70 dead,
the largest number in recent history of the war. Also, army warplanes,
helicopter gunships, and heavy artillery were utilized for the
first time, marking a significant change in the tactics utilized
by the Colombian government against FARC. The family had transmitted
to the State Department that they believed these U.S. actions
were putting the lives of the hostages in dire jeopardy. As a
consequence of these U.S. actions, the family and the Menominee
government believe that they resulted in the hostages being brutally
beaten and killed. In losing her life to the movement, Ingrid Washinawatok has left
a legacy for us: that though we can be beaten down by force, the
spirit of Indigenous Peoples cannot be beaten down, stolen, or
killed. The spirit and identity of Indigenous Peoples will always
transcend a force, a group, or a government. For our roots extend
beyond time, and history has shown that. Ingrid Washinawatok will
live on in our work, in our cry to regain what is rightfully ours:
our identity. Ingrid Washinawatok, warrior woman, you have said 'no more.' Your
cry will not be forgotten. |
