From: Alan McGowen <alanm@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: alt.native
Date: 26 Sep 92 00:29 PDT
Subject: Re: NativeNet Chat's Direction
Nf-ID: #R:9209230814.AA02915@mamia.uucp:-1112169643:cdp:1308200069:000:3420
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!alanm    Sep 26 00:29:00 1992



Peshe writes:


>I too would like a forum where these things can be posted and also discussed.
>I found that due to the non-focussed mandate of nn.general that the huge
>volume of items not as specific as what Andrew talks of above forced my
>non-reception of nn.general in favor of the two way communication
>of the nn.chat discussion group.
>
>I know American Indian people are hungry for a forum dedicated to their own
>interests, as expressed above by Andrew. 

Then you must have one. And it must be one which *you* control 
absolutely. There is no reason why this cannot happen. I and 
others have dedicated our lives to the furtherance of computer 
communications technology precisely because we believed that it 
would empower the powerless. Here is an acid test. The 
infrastructure already exists. Either a UseNet group dedicated
to the political empowerment of American Indians should be 
formed, or possibly some group in the APC networks could be 
formed: that is the private network system which includes EcoNet, 
PeaceNet, and other networks, and which was used by the United 
Nations as its electronic forum for the UNCED conference in Rio.

>NativeNet is great for the more general worldwide picture as 
>envisioned by its moderators. But
>since our interests are necessarily of a lesser role within that mandate,
>(as was recently explained), it's probably not possible to serve North
>American Indian interests completely with the current nn lists.

Damn straight, so don't exclude yourselves from other options. I 
agree with the poster who begged you to continue posting to 
natchat, but *please* explore other possibilities for networking: 
you have only scratched the surface with natchat. I'm 
not denigrating its importance, but the idea of a network *of* 
Native Americans, controlled *by* Native Americans, exclusively 
*for* Native Americans, makes the heart leap. And it is *not* 
impossible. Try UseNet, try the APC nets for starters. Use 
Natchat to organize. Don't accept "no" for an answer! 
[...]

>It's not impossible to set up a list focussed primarily on North
>American Indian concerns (nn.amerind or a more separated list) but
>it would be most helpful to have assistance with some of the
>technical details from the nn list moderators.
>
>Who would be interested in such a list, and what form should it take?
>Awaiting your replies!


Not a list, damn it!, a whole Native American network! Don't set 
your sights where the existing systems allow, set them where your 
hearts point! There is plenty of capacity, existing and coming, 
to handle your needs. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. 

I'm working on systems capable of allowing a Disney Channel 
subscriber to order a movie to start on demand. That takes 
gigabit networks running on a fiber optics communications 
"fabric" layed over the planet. That fabric could carry *you* 
just as well as Donald Duck!

Sorry, I'll calm down. No, it's not impossible to "set up a list 
concerned primarily with North American Indian concerns." And you
should do it -- you *can* do it.

But let's not forget South American Indians, or people in 
Indonesia or Africa. They are voiceless, and have far less power 
than you do. They have no modems to interface with internet. And 
when we have tricked them into dependence on such things, their 
culture is already destroyed. Please think about that.

------------
Alan McGowen
   

Newsgroups: alt.native