USA PATRIOT Act

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas

     The USA PATRIOT Act is an acronym. It stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. This Act came in shortly after 11 September 2001. This Act created a major change, adding significant surveillance power and search power to the intelligence agencies. President George W. Bush signed it into law in October 2001. Two years later in 2003, the USA PATRIOT Act was amended. Several changes took place to existing statues. Some related to a person’s privacy on the telephone, as well as a person’s privacy, via electronic communications. The amended Act gave further definitions to several new crimes. Some of the current crimes incurred increased penalties with the new amendment. The USA PATRIOT Act amendment also adds more details to define money laundering and operation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. On the surface, the USA PATRIOT was presented to the citizens to be proactive in the fight against both local and global terrorism. This Act added new requirements for financial institutions to adhere to relating international transactions coming from both US citizens and foreigners. The USA PATRIOT Act required banks and other financial institutions to report, any time there was suspicious activity on an account that looked like money laundering; money used for terrorist involvement; and/or money used for criminal activity. The USA PATRIOT Act added measures to prevent people from using the financial system for personal gain when suspected of transactions being used for terrorism or other criminal activity with foreign officials being involved. The Act made allowances for repatriation of those that were identified as having their assets acquired via illegal activity (USA PATRIOT, 2023).

     The Bush Administration presented to the United States Congress a legislation proposal to give the US government more power. The power specifically requested allowances for more surveillance, more investigative liberties, and free rein to detain all suspected terrorists. The issue is in the wording. Any citizen of the United States could be labeled as a suspected terrorists simply because they talked to a person that may have looked like they came from a country that supports terrorist activity. A neighbor could call with information stating that their neighbor looks suspicious and may be a terrorist, because they keep to themselves, pay cash for things, or come home at odd hours. By 11 October 2001, the Uniting and Strengthening America ACT was passed via a US Senate bill. Things were moving seemingly at warp speed, since the next day on 12 October 2001, the United State House passed the Senate’s Uniting and Strengthening America Act. In less than a couple weeks, on 23 October 2021, the House introduced a compromise bill, which became the USA PATRIOT Act. The Senate agreed and adopted the USA PATRIOT Act without any changes and two days later (25 October 2001), President George W. Bush signed the House Measure into United States law (History Editors, 2023).

     The timing was perfect for the United States government to take power away from The People, as emotions were high and without full disclosures the passed the PATRIOT Act and the Homeland Security Act, in the name of “Security” and “Revenge.” Few people spoke up against it and the United States citizens surrendered more freedom and privacy in the name of “Global War on Terrorism.” It seemed like a small price to pay for peace of mind. “Let Uncle Sam take care of Business.” The United States was going through a change and would mirror the power of communism. There were a lot of questions from agency leaders about jurisdictional overlap, conflict of law, conflict of interest, specific boundaries of agencies and oversight regulations. Prior to the USA PATRIOT Act, back in 1978, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was passed as a foundation for a legal framework on surveillance. It covered both physical surveillance and electronic surveillance of foreign entities/agents. FISA detailed the United States intelligence agencies the rights and power to use surveillance on suspected terrorist and suspected persons involved in espionage. FISA also gave way for a court to supervise the intelligence agencies requests for surveillance use and surveillance warrants at a federal level.  The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court maintains secrecy to the public, so few are in the know as to who and how many are being monitored. All in the name of the protection of its citizens and national security. During the Nixon Administration, surveillance abuse was suspected so Congress passed FISA to investigate any government surveillance abuse. FISA has been amended several times since then. One of the FISA amendments was the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (say that five times fast). A bit too long so we now simply call it the USA PATRIOT Act. For those that paid attention, the USA PATRIOT Act quickly added surveillance permissions to include its own citizens. In Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act there is a provision, known as the “Business Records” that allows investigative agencies to obtain a court order in secret. It also allows telephone companies and other communication companies, including AT&T, Team Mobile, Comcast, and others to hand over phones records. Security video footage can also be requested. Prior to this the agency would have to show a burden of proof in criminal cases with probable cause. Section 215 requires little to no burden of proof for the government to invade privacy and acquire personal phone records and video footage. Ther is no need for probable cause (PC) attached to criminal activity (Evanko, 2023).

Summary

     The goal of the Homeland Security Act (HSA) was to prevent terrorist attacks against the citizens of the United States. HSA was created to decrease damage of terrorist attacks if they do occur. Another objective of the HSA was to recover quickly after a terrorist attacks. Finally, the HSA also focused on being proactive and reducing the susceptibility of attacks. HSA Officers have the power to do their own investigations as they see fit to collect data to prevent terrorist attacks. The goal of the USA PATRIOT ACT was to overlap some of HSA with their focus on deterring terrorist attacks and punishing terrorist, locally and globally. Wire Taps GPS Taps, Video Taps are “free game” under the USA PATRIOT Act. Personal information is no longer private, and citizens can be watched for even the slightest possibility of being involved or are in any way connected with possible terrorist, terrorist groups or even if a citizen looks at a website that has some potential connection to terrorism (Bill of Rights, 2023).

References

Bill of Rights. (2023). Department of Justice Summary of the PATRIOT Act, Retrieved from,

-https://billofrightsinstitute.org/activities/handout-a-department-of-justice-summary-of-usa-patriot-act

Evanko, L. (2023). FISA and the USA PATRIOT Act: Reforms and Legal Implications.

     Retrieved from,

-https://legaljournal.princeton.edu/fisa-and-the-usa-patriot-act-reforms-and-legal-implications/

History Editors. (July 27, 2023). PATRIOT Act. Retrieved from,

-https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/patriot-act

USA PATRIOT. (2023). USA PATRIOT Act. Retrieved from,

-https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-regulations/usa-patriot-act

 

Customs and Border Protection

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas

 

Department of Homeland Security Operating Agencies

     There are many agencies that operate under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Many of these agencies have been shuffled around. Some agencies have been given additional responsibilities and some agencies have had some of their primary responsibilities taken away or given a higher or lower priority. A lot has happened since the Department of Homeland Security was formed, shortly after explosions on United States soil, that were witnessed on 11 September 2001. The president and congress gave authorization for DHS to have a budget more than one hundred billion dollars (passed on to taxpayers). The overall main reason presented for the unprecedented budget was in the name of United States safety for its citizens and commerce. To keep everyone safe to include transportation safety and infrastructure, the DHS needed additional agencies to assist in being prepared for terrorist attacks, terrorist threats, natural disasters, and other major emergencies.  Responsibility is shared by multiple agencies for border security, commerce (trade) safety, transportation safety and protection from targeted terrorist violence. To give the United States (US) citizens peace of mind when it comes to national safety and financial security of the US currency, the Department of Homeland Security oversees several agencies to support this level of safety and protection. All the agencies and sub-agencies play a role in this mission. They all are important agencies, but when it comes to the massive miles of border protection and tracking down the illegal aliens that aim to undermine the United States federal laws and take advantage of the United States welfare and medical system, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) takes on a huge part in this responsibility (US CBP (a), 2020).

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

     The Ethos of the United State Customs and Border Protection states that CBP is the guardians of the United States borders as they are the US frontline protectors. The CBP will safeguard the homeland at the borders and beyond. The CBP protects the United States citizens against terrorist and their instruments of terror. The CBP enforces the nation’s laws, while fostering the United States economics security, via lawful international trade and travel. The CBP aims to serve the United States citizens with integrity, professionalism, and vigilance (US CBP (a), 2020).

     The United States Customs and Border Protection has been around since 4 July 1789. The First Congress established a tariffs system on imported goods way back then. It started as the United States Customs Service. After the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was established with the merger of the United States Customs Service. CBP also merged major elements of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Immigration Inspections Program, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as well as elements of the United States Border Patrol. After these mergers, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) then added the Air and Marine Operations Division (AMOD). Prior to this, AMOD was a part of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In recent years, the CBP also took on select elements of the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT). The CBP became very powerful in its reach, once all these agencies and elements of agencies became a part of the CBP, as it became the United States most comprehensive border security agency. The mission, goal, metrics and objective focused around securing the United States borders and facilitating legal trade and travel. The challenges of the CBP become apparent as they needed more community support and enough funding to do their mission well. There isn’t enough money released to the CBP to properly secure the borders with walls, towers, tunnel detection equipment, drones, manpower, K-9 support, jail facilities, flights, and other transports to deport quickly, and community support. To summarize the Mission of the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the CBP’s goal is to protect the United States citizens; protect the nation’s economy; safeguard and manage the United States land, air, and maritime borders. The CBP protects the US citizens with vigilance, unyielding integrity, and selfless service to protect the public from dangerous people and dangerous materials. The CBP aids in enhancing the United States economic competitiveness around the world via enabling legitimate trade and travel.

     The United States Customs and Border Protection has a vision to be a global leader in promoting the strongest security and trade partnerships that foster safety, security, and a prosperous United States with a strong global community. To accomplish its vision, CBP will continue to leverage global partnerships, modern technology and using an entrepreneurial approach to enhancing a fully integrated and effective Federal law enforcement agency. The CBP aims to be the premier law enforcement agency that evolves and improves the United States safety, security, and prosperity. The three main approaches the CBP will use will be integration, innovation, and collaboration. With this approach, the agency can address terrorist threats and border protection challenges (US CBP, 2020).

     I recommend that congress and the president of the United States to be on board with the mission and vision of the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). I recommend that the government stop sending billions of dollars in foreign aid and redirect funds needed to secure our border properly and afford incentives to recruit quailed officers as a top priority. Additionally, I recommend all equipment to be upgraded to include patrol boats, patrol vehicles, drones, trackers, buses, communications, and other items in need of repair or replacement. I also recommend funding be released to make sure all employees receive the best training available to do their job safely and effectively. The results will show the justification for the allocation of funds. Having a solid tall security wall along the northern and southern borders of the United States, the number of illegal crossings will decrease by thousands. Having funding to locate tunneling and then sealing off those areas, will result in thousands more not being able to illegally cross. The amount of dollars saved from not having to process thousands of people that cross illegally will make up for the investment in border security. United States citizens get assaulted, injured, and killed each year from those that cross the borders illegally. The United States judicial systems attest to this fact. Since we can save lives and protect our citizens with better border security, the investment will be worth it (DHS (a), 2023).

     To give you an idea of the numbers of those arrested each year that crossed the United States border illegally that already had a prior criminal conviction, here is some analysis data. In the fiscal year 2017 there were 8,531 prior convicted criminals that crossed illegally. In 2018 it was 6,698; in 2019 there was 4,269; in 2020 there was 2,469; in 2021 there was 10,763; in 2022 there was 12,028; and in 2023 there was over 15,267. Keep in mind that these numbers only reflect those caught and convicted. The number of those not caught is unknown but we know that everyday many elude law enforcement officers. Every person that crosses the United States border illegally has committed a crime, so once they cross, they become a criminal. After they cross illegally and commit this crime, the additional crimes committed are unknown, however the number of convicted criminals that cross the border, that have been caught, is sadly, a very large number. Thousands of United States citizens become victims to the violent crimes that could have been prevented with better secured borders. Illegal aliens that were convicted of violent crimes in 2023 were in the thousands. In 2023, those convicted of assault, battery, domestic violence was over 1,254. Those convicted of burglary, robbery, larceny, theft, and fraud were over 864. Keep in mind that the District Attorneys (DA), most the time, drop several charges and offer a plea bargain with the inmate, so we are not hearing about many additional charges that got dropped. Illegal aliens also accounted for over 2,493 convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in 2023.  There were over 29 United States citizens killed (homicide or manslaughter) in 2023. Over 2,055 illegal aliens were convicted of illegal drug possession and trafficking in 2023. Illegal aliens convicted of sexual offenses accounted for over 284 in 2023 and there were thousands of other crime conviction outside of the those mentioned above (US CBP (b), 2023).

     The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) does overlap some areas covered by other agencies, but they also collaborate and share information among those agencies. Illegal aliens undermine the integrity of the United States Federal laws, as well as the United States immigration system. Illegal aliens also undermine the laws by staying in the United States passed their authorized time. Illegal aliens pose a threat to the safety of US citizens and the US security system. CBP, ICE and other agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have a responsibility to arrest, incarcerate and deport, as needed, those that break the federal law[s]. The goal is to eliminate or minimize those that abuse the United States systems and laws. The goal is accomplished by border walls, tracking devices, biometric scanning and identification measures, trained officers, functional tools, equipment to deter and capture, and other means to aid in the protection of United States citizens from abuse, threats, harassment, intimidation, trafficking, drug smuggling, burglary, robbery, murder, manslaughter, assaults, and other violent crimes (DHS (b), 2023).

References

Department of Homeland Security (DHS (a). (2023). DHS FY2024 Budget in Brief. 

     Retrieved from, 

-file:///C:/Users/snake/Downloads/2024%20DHS%20Budget%20in%20Brief.pdf

Department of Homeland Security (DHS (b). (2020). FY2020-2024 DHS Strategic Plan. 

     Retrieved from, 

-file:///C:/Users/snake/Downloads/2020_2024%20DHS%20Strat%20Plan%20(1).pdf

US CBP (a). 2020. US Customs and Border Protection Vision and Strategic Plan 2020.

      Retrieved from,

-https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CBP-Vision-Strategy-2020.pdf

US CBP (b). (2023). Criminal Noncitizen Statistics 2023. Retrieved from,

-https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/cbp-enforcement-statistics/criminal-noncitizen-statistics

 

 

Analyzing Threats, Terrorism, and Hazard Risks

(Colorado Citizens Concerned)

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas

 

The legal basis of current DHS Jurisdiction, mission, and responsibilities

The legal basis of current DHS jurisdiction, mission, and responsibilities will be covered first. DHS stands for Department of Homeland Security. DHS is part of the United States government, and it is an internal agency. DHS is responsible for keeping the United States citizens safe. To do this. DHS must pay close attention to the borders around the United States. DHS has a role to monitor and control the borders and prevent border crossing. DHS must enforce laws and policies regarding immigration and illegal crossings. DHS must also respond to natural disasters and natural catastrophes. DHS must protect the US citizens from terrorist attacks, both foreign and domestic. The borders around the United States are not just on land but also on the surrounding waters and airspace. Monitoring of those traveling and moving commerce are a huge responsibility of the DHS. DHS protection allows for a striving tourist market and businesses. Integrity is key for all employees of DHS to have, given we are dealing with the highest level of security for the nation. DHS must also react to domestic emergencies. DHS must investigate and respond to acts of threats and terrorism, as well as to enforce policies and laws regarding those that break immigration laws. The United States policymakers and congressional commissions realized there were multiple gaps that needed to be addressed among the intelligence community. There was a need for a Fusion Center and intelligence sharing among various agencies (LII, 2023).

The legal definition of hazards, including man-made or technological and naturally occurring hazards

     The legal definition of hazards is objects that have the potential to damage human life. Objects are interchangeable with agents. When a hazard is from a direct result of human intervention then it is called a man-made (or woman-made) hazard. Humans are not perfect; therefore, the human element opens up the possibilities of neglect and incompetence, which can lead to catastrophes. Human error can create billions of dollars in damage. Examples could be a person throwing a cigarette out their car window and an entire forest being destroyed. A captain of a ship can miscalculates a route and sink an oil transport vessel.  Errors in technology can also lead to disaster. A user may make a mistake and push the wrong controls and a ship may ram the pier. A technological hazard involves such dangers. Technology can miscalculate a flight pattern and a pilot might not notice they are flying into a precipice. Technology can also be hacked. Industry and technology have created a lot of pollution. Large power plants can let off radiation. Manufacturing plants and transport vessels and trucks can spill chemicals. The United States experiences natural hazards each season, as the landmass is vast and there are various terrains, plus we have coastlines, fault lines, and a few volcanos. Natural hazards can lead to natural disasters coming from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, hurricanes, excessive snow, hail, and rain, as well as floods and fires (CDHS, 2023).

Legal definitions of terrorism, both domestic and foreign

     The legal definition for terrorism can come in the form of violence or threat of violence against a group of people. Terrorism aims to intimidate, panic, scare, or induce dread in a population. Terrorism reacts with violence towards a group based on differences in religion, political party, moral codes, national origins, demographics, past rivalries/family feuds, language, and/or skin tone. There are two categories of terrorism. One is local/domestic terrorism and the other is international or global terrorism. Domestic terrorism occurs inside one’s boundaries or borders. These can be physical borders or mapped out (imaginary borders).  Domestic terrorism can come from one group within the same borders of another group[s]. International terrorism can be a violent act upon a group that is supported by a group overseas. An example would be someone from Mexico crossing the border and committed terrorism in Texas before fleeing back to Mexico and being supported by El Capo’s drug cartel.

Review of Colorado law and statues as they apply to hazards and terrorism.

Colorado defines terrorism as an unlawful act that is dangerous to people, and which is intended to intimidate or coerce a group of people and/or a government or its subsets. The result from a terrorist would be to furthering the terrorist’s political agenda. The state of Colorado has a department called the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC). CIAC serves as a link for receiving, analyzing, and sharing threat-related information among private and public sectors, groups, and affiliates. CIAC’s priority is terrorist prevention. As a Fusion Center, CIAC’s goal is the decrease or eliminate terrorist hazards, by being a centralized resource of data collections and share that information with certain private sectors, state departments and federal stakeholders. The CIAC Fusion Center is a multi-agency, multidisciplinary network that is part of the Department of Public Safety. CIAC’s mission is to protect Colorado citizens and prevent potential acts of terrorism. CAIC is one of many fusion centers in the United State network of fusion centers. CAIC also falls under the umbrella of United States Department of Homeland Security. CAIC coordinates its information gathered via the Information Gathering and Analysis.  Next, CIAC will handle the receipt, the review, the analysis and handle the dissemination. Once all involved parties have the information, homeland security intelligence will add it to the correct file. CIAC is the one-stop-shop for information, which can be shared among the private sector, county, state, tribal (if available in the area), state and federal partners, with the goal to prevent major terrorist crimes, threats, and other acts of terrorism. They help prevent hazards and terrorist acts via its best practices. CIAC submits reports to law enforcement, as well as other groups, as needed, in a timely manner. CIAC shares information about criminal acts and threats that may relate to other acts or threats of terrorism in the FBI database (FBI, 2023). For international terrorist leads, CIAC could share with Immigration too, as needed (ICE, 2023).

Summary

     In conclusion, the state of Colorado helps with counter terrorist measures via CIAC and its ability to analyze and share information to the National fusion center and helps link crimes and criminals, as well as threats and terrorist. There was also a need for DHS to gain control over the safety and security of the United States borders, transportation system and certain other infrastructures. DHS was a key agency taking over responsibility for conducting laboratory testing, as well as technology development. The purpose of this was to increase the ability to detect threats and prevent security threats. It was beneficial for DHS to take on the responsibility for disaster response management by merging with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, 2023).

Recommendation

     My recommendation would be to have one criminal data system and one terrorist leads system that all agencies can update in real time. I recommend all large cities have an education center like The Cell in Denver to educate the public on how to be proactive and look for warning signs of suspicious items or activities (The Cell, 2023). 

References

The Cell. (2023). Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab. Retrieved from,

-https://thecell.org

Colorado Division of Homeland Security (CDHS). (2023). Retrieved from,

-https://dhsem.colorado.gov/info-center/readycolorado/colorado-hazard-information/terrorism

Denver International Airport Police (DIAP). (2023). Retrieved from,

-https://www.countyoffice.org/denver-international-airport-police-substation-denver-co-ad0/ 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (2023). What We Investigate. Retrieved from,

-https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, 2023). Retrieved from,

https://www.fema.gov

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (2023). Retrieved from,

-https://www.ice.gov/careers

Legal Information Institute (LII). (2023). Homeland Security Act of 2002. Retrieved from,

-https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/homeland_security_act_of_2002

THE 4TH & FINAL GENERATION

The 4^th & Final Generation

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas

Four generations ago, many Apache elders from various tribes came together on a night when the full moon bled with the color of blood.  They had many disturbing visions and foretold of a time to come. It was foretold from their visions that in the end times, Turtle Island would spew back the blood that stained and stench its core. The red moon would shift and the seasons would reverse.  Turtle Island would swallow up many people and others would die from its falling mountains. The smell of death would over power the smell from the blossoms of flowers.  The reign of the land kingdom creatures and sky kingdom creatures would turn on mankind with both violence and disease.  The red men from Underworld would unite once again and the ancient ancestors would regain their spirits.  The Apache elders foretold of much struggle and lose of land by the Invaders and the Pale Face.  The elders spoke of the forth generations being the last to see the vengeance of the One Creator and the final destruction of Turtle Island and all that roamed it.  The final signs would be told by the bear, the wolf, the coyote, the frog, the eagle, the hawk, the owl, and the raven. They would warn the Apaches, and speak to them, as they did in the past.  The old ways would return, but it would be too late to smoke the peace pipe.      

I have heard many variations of this prophecy over the past twenty years, from both Apache and other Natives.  Some recall visions being the same or similar to those of the ancient elders.  We are the fourth generation, since the oral stories go back as far as the 1600s.  One hundred tribes living one hundred years are considered one generation of the four great Apache Regions.  History speaks of at least seventy tribes of Apache bloodline and about thirty tribes being wiped out prior to that count.  I receive continuous communication from around North and South America with stories of visions and signs that speak of such things.  Below is a common recent communication from a native named Spirit Wolf about his signs and his visions; read without prejudice:

 “Since November 2013, we have been hearing some rather strange sounds which we believe is coming from Mother Earth. Usually, no matter the temperature outside, I sleep with the window open.  Last month in December, I did notice that the sounds began again, on the full moon. The sounds have a horn type sound to them, and another has a type of a howl tone to it.  I had found out those sounds have been heard all over the globe, so I became very interested in finding out what they could be. We have been in this area for 15 years, always sleeping with a window open, even through hurricanes, not once had we heard those sounds. Even a 97 year old elder said she had never heard such a sound.  Now if you listen to the scientist, they say it is not coming from earth, sky, or space; the latter two I agree with, however we could actually hear the sound rising up from the ground.  Once it is in the air, it seems to surround you and is very hard to tell where it is coming from. I have found two sources that have the same sounds.  One is harmonic quakes sounds.  A friend asked me why they would deny the fact that earth is making the sounds. I believe they know that Earth is speaking, but don't want to send people into a panic and cause them to lose control of their prepping needs.  Very soon people will have to learn to live as the people once did in order to survive the new life.   In visions for the past two years, I have seen three bears. First, only walking on the road, later they began to come in and turn to elders. They spoke to me; showed me things I believe are to come.  I saw death of many people. This bothered me and left me feeling heavy; then I saw those who survived working together as they once did.  In one vision, I saw what looked like snow.  A bear came and told me it was from a volcano.  The bear came in as we prepared things to keep the ash out.  The bear turned to me and said we must hurry; the time is close.  I was thinking the bear meant to hurry with the task we were doing. I said, “We are almost done,” and the bear put his hand on my shoulder and said, “No, the time is close.” I said the sounds began in November and we have been cutting down trees for fire wood.  In one of those trees we cut, was a shape of a bear.  As I said I have listened to recordings of sounds like this--many of them. I studied them closely and what was being said. Some people may think it is UFOs.  Some even think they are big foot sounds.  However, if they listen carefully to each sound, one can tell it is of the earth!  Harmonic quakes, of course, usually come with lava moving. I am still reading about them so at this point it could also simply be moving of the plates.  We also heard a sound that was much like a howl. I know what coyotes sound like.  This was not like them.  I often listen to them. I love the way they sound.  It is not a wolf.  There is none here. I have traveled to many countries. I have stayed in some foreign places a year--others longer. I have heard the rumble of quakes coming and these sounds are not like that.  However, it does fill the air with a scent, as of those from the smell of mold, old roots, or minerals, but it didn't come from such.”

Some say there is craziness to such nonsense talk.  Some believe something very close to these old stories will come to pass.  Some don’t know what to believe.  Before you discredit such old Native stories from the past elders, hold fast your tongue and wait and see.  For those that hear what I’ve heard from many people around the Americas, and for those that have shared the visions of our great ancestors as I have—Prepare my friend, prepare!

DRAGON, DRAGON SLAYER, THUNDERBIRDS, AND PURITY IN WATER

Apache Knife Fighting & Battle Tactic 10

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas

 

Dragon, Dragon Slayer, Thunderbirds and Purity in Water

Many moons ago, when Dragon waged a series of wars against the Apache Nation, the Apache people prayed for aid from the One Creator.  The Apaches had played drums and flutes, danced, sang, and meditated for blessings from above.  During the first four seasons of war, the One Creator sent the Great Eagle to teach and aid the Apaches in battle.  For a time and a season, the Apaches and the sky creatures kept Dragon and the land creatures at bay, beyond Blood Valley.  For a time, there was peace.  Then Dragon came back with vengeance and he had taught the land creatures to make many violent sounds, for the land creatures had forgotten how to speak as the Apaches did.  Dragon had forbidden such language to be spoken shortly after they had arrived from Underworld to Turtle Island.  The day of Dragon’s return was once again upon the Apaches in a battle that destroyed not just many Apaches, but many of the sky creatures and the forest, which sheltered the Apache’s home front.  The giant red trees were being destroyed which awakened the great Thunderbirds.  The Thunderbirds began battling Dragon and his land creatures, but Dragon made a great trap with the torn bushes and fire which killed every one of the Thunderbirds.  Although the Thunderbirds and the Apaches never were allies, the Apaches honored their memory by placing their images on the rocks and in their pottery after this battle.  Dragon and the land creatures had chased the Apaches to the edge of a precipice and the Apaches were about to be slaughtered.  The Apaches knew their end was near, and formed a great circle, held hands and began to dance as one.  They submitted to the will of the One Creator who had control of everyone’s destiny.  This submission pleased the One Creator and he sent His Son, the one they called Dragon Slayer.  Dragon Slayer came down from above and appeared in the circle of the dance, as the Dragon was approaching.  Dragon Slayer pointed to the mountain, and the mountain moved.  The mountain was covering a great mass of water.   Then the water, which was no longer contained by the great mountain, flowed at Dragon and the land creatures.  The great water pushed Dragon until he came to the opening, from which they came up from Underworld.  Dragon fell into Underworld, as the waters subsided.  The Apaches covered the entrance with many stones including gold and silver, which sealed it up.  The Apaches rejoiced and water was known as the purity of salvation, given from above.   The water of Turtle Island would be the cleansing of many illnesses and wounds.  Water would take away many impurities, including impurities in the spirit world.   

When going to bed, some Apaches place a cup of water next to their bedding.  At night, as impurities of the spirit world set in to influence the mind, the purity in the water pulls it in and holds it in the cup.  When the Apache wakes up, fine particles are seen in the cup, which are representative of the impurities.  The Apache then throw out the water to South Wind to take away.  The practice is similar to the concept of the Dream Catcher, which many Native Americans place above their bed.          

In modern times, the Apaches would take portions of lakes and rivers and place spikes and spears at the bottom of the waterbed and place un-passable barriers around the entrapment.  The Apaches would lure their enemies into such areas to meet their end.  As the entrapment destroys the enemy, so the water drowns out the impurities of the battle, and covers the wrongdoings of mankind.