Broken Lands

by Boaz Klachkin

  “As many of you BAM members know, I have been preaching the great words of Tree, that great tribal leader who arranged our movement’s codes and ethics, without whom we would not be gathered here to commence on our journey towards the realization and rejuvenation of our Indian nation. Along with its pride and heritage, we will blossom forth and create a new era of conservation whose main course shall be to respect all, on a people-to-people basis, but also the total unification with nature and all its resources. God created this planet as a seed. This seed has sprouted forth an abundance of living variations. Each has a right to survive, to be respected, and if need be, get as much aid as it needs in order to continue to flourish, to be fruitful and to multiply; as was planned from the beginning. Now we can only wait and see if the same drive and commitment for human rights and justice shall be implemented and bequeathed upon our native people. Let no one see our desperate act as an act of terror. On the other hand, if you wish, you can conceive it as a wake-up call. If the foreign terrorists in certain nations look upon us as their comrades, let them heed our movement. Ours is one of justice, not of anarchy; whole truth and not evil.

  “Thank you all for giving me your time, and let’s hope for a brighter more peaceful tomorrow.” There was a deafening roar from the crowd. Moses waved to the crowd for a few minutes and then slowly walked off the stage, shaking a raised victory fist in air.

  The hail of applause went on and on, with cheering inspired by the words that had charged them up. After the din of the crowd dissipated to a low frequency buzz that emanated from the many conversations in progress, the participants gradually and slowly dispersed; each hostage, accompanied by his or her own escort, left the main hall calmly. Everyone was curious to find out about Tree, and Tom was already thinking up a barrage of questions for upcoming inquiry.

  While they walked, Tom got Little Wing’s attention, by poking him lightly with his elbow. “Who is this “Tree” character that was being referred to?” he asked.

  “Later, I will explain it all to you,” he stated, “but for now let me savor the stream of energy from that enlightening speech. I have waited for so long for these special moments. We have a meeting to attend to, so please be patient with me.”

  Moses and all the escorts knew that there would be curiosity about Tree, but made sure to divulge only specific information. When Tom stepped into his room, he looked at the posters. Strangely now, they seemed to have come alive and he could sense the rage and frustration which was expressed in the faces of these historic figures. Too many thoughts were lurking in his mind as he reclined on the bed and shut his eyes. He reached over to grab the net-phone that was provided for each of the hostages.

  Tom waited excitedly for his moment with Little Wing. He wanted to satiate his curiosity with as much information as possible. There was a lot that he would have to write about, and he intended to make his report the best journalistic work of the decade, if not the century.

  In the evening, the sun with its glowing halo set behind streaks of clouds which spanned across the desert skyline, embellished by all the colors of the rainbow. Tom had dozed off when suddenly there was a knock on the door. He was startled at first, but realized that it must be Little Wing. He opened the door and greeted him. Little Wing cordially invited Tom to sit with him by the coffee table.

  “Thank you for meeting me,” said Tom. “I am all ears and very excited to know about Tree, your plans going forward, and the future expectations you have for your people.”

  “I want to help you understand everything in a detailed manner. Let’s start at the beginning. Tree is the short name for ‘Tree of Life.’ He was my great-great-grandfather. His saga began in the western part of the USA, during the period when the territories were attacked and stripped by the white man. We, the people on the west, were made up of many different tribes: Klickitat; Yakama; Wishram; Tenino; Molala; Wanapam; Klamath; and Modoc. The unity among us was very strong unlike all of the other tribal territories. We had tribal committees as governing bodies and a judicial system similar to that of the US State and Supreme Courts. The traditional elements of our culture were deeply embedded in every aspect of our existence, but there were very basic rules in our society that were based on the Ten Commandments. These rules were laid out to us by Tree.

  “Our lives had been serene, filled with the joys of raising families and sharing our pleasures and friendships. We were close to nature, living in a virtual Garden of Eden, living off the land and respecting it for its value. We were self-sufficient and bartered for the produce, meat and other items that we needed. The salmon, still uncontaminated by man and his disrespect for purity, swam and spawned happily in our streams. We hunted in a controlled way; always taking into account the balance between the fish, fowl, deer and buffalo populations in any given area; always allocating and limiting our dietary intake. Everyone had an equal share of what was available. Our animals lived in our enchanting forests in a free-spirited manner, eating fresh foliage, pure and clean of pesticides and drinking from toxin-free water supplies. Yes, there were some disagreements about borders and trading routes, or some discord between quarreling lovers that caused some strife among our tribal connections, but the conflicts were mostly resolved in a traditional, peaceful manner. Nevertheless, just as the sun rises and brings with it a new day, the darkness of evil came upon us as quickly as do the rains of a threatening thunderstorm. Our lives changed when the news about the presence of gold in our woods, rivers, and streams was reported in hundreds of periodicals all over the United States. The Gold Rush brought about an unruly madness and made people uncontrollably greedy. Basic laws and human rights were irrelevant to those who rampaged through our lands, terrorizing our camps, killing anyone who stood in their way. They butchered us, even our children, and took pleasure in raping our women. Tree lost his wife and two children during one of those raids. From that day on, he was a different man whose punctured spirit transformed into a battering ram aimed at revenge.

  “When the Nez Perce tribe was defeated by the US cavalry, Chief Joseph was offered land in the North West as a sympathetic gesture. But again, when the rumors spread of the possibility of gold in those lands to which the Nez Perce had relocated, they were soon pushed elsewhere. Many of those who revolted were massacred and some were hung from tall trees as a warning to anyone else that might think about resisting the swarm of settlers being protected by the US army at that time. We were treated like wild animals; hunted and slaughtered everywhere we set camp. These are some of the horrid tales that have been passed on from generation to generation.

  “They came and charged through our grounds and stamped over us as if we were just pebbles scattered about; we were unwanted human barricades that were obstructing their path to wealth and prosperity, on their road to riches – and human life was worthless.”

  “I guess things haven’t changed much for many indigenous or powerless people around the planet,” exclaimed Tom. “Tell me what had happened after the army began to scatter your peoples in the West, and what about Tree?” Tom asked curiously.

  “We attempted to fight back with vehemence as often as possible, and attacked many troops that had been brought in to protect the settlers. In retaliation, army personnel came after our freedom fighters, and in one particular attack, Tree killed the Cavalry General and escaped unharmed. The “WANTED: DEAD or ALIVE” posters describing the killing of a US Cavalry General by an Indian named Tree were hanging in every military camp, town and village all over the west. As a result, Tree fled the area. He decided that the only way to survive was to leave the west and go east, until a more appropriate time would come for him to return. He knew that for him to stay in America would be his end, and planned to leave and gather his energies for the next battle. He was a self-taught, learned man who read almost everything that was available in print at arm’s reach. His favorite readings had to do with philosophy, theology and history.

  “Muc
h of the writings had come down to him from the many visiting tribes who had travelled the length of the Americas from North to South. There was a Rabbi who had settled with one of the neighboring tribes. He had been on the move his whole life escaping persecution. Tree had asked him about a scroll he received, wanting to know if he was familiar with the writing. The Rabbi, whose name was Aaron, was so overjoyed to see a Torah in the middle of nowhere. Aaron was inspired by Tree’s curiosity to learn about the Jewish Bible and the meaning behind the holy scriptures. They sat for hours every day as Rabbi Aaron patiently taught and explained to Tree about the foundations of the Jewish religion. They sat together many times during each day and in time, Tree learned about the Jewish heritage and learned to read and speak the Hebrew language. All these facts had been noted by Tree in the diary he kept. We have that diary in our possession and are guarding it and preserving it as an inspiration for our future generations.

  “When Tree was still on the east coast, he developed an immediate bond with the Zionist movement the minute he had learned about its rise. He saw the significance of the movement and the timing of its course, and related it to that of our own people. The content of the Books of Genesis and Exodus was the inspiration that compelled him to travel to the Holy Land. He wanted to breathe the Jerusalem air and see the mystical scenery, whose majestic glory he could only envision through the words he read.

  “When he was in the Middle East in 1896, he travelled around the land, enjoying the historical settings and he fell in love while visiting Jerusalem.” Little Wing looked deeply into Tom’s eyes, and measured the level of his comprehension.

  “He fell in love? With whom?” asked Tom.

  “Her name was Yocheved,” answered Little Wing.

  Yocheved was the name of Moses’s mother.” Exclaimed Tom with inflection

  “I see that you are quite in tune with the Bible,” added Little Wing

  “Are you telling me that you and your relatives are connected in some way with the Jewish heritage?” asked Tom in a surprised tone.

  “Yes, we are related in a way that you couldn’t ever have thought to be possible,” answered Little Wing. “Moses, our leader, was actually named with Tree’s loved one in mind. When you meet with Moses, he will give you more details.” But for now, let me explain the main issues at hand. The world political arena, as we know it today, is still separatist in its policymaking, regardless of the treaties and agreements about trade and technology. The emphasis is on power and the money. These are the forces that are behind the momentum to dominate and control. If we are to achieve the focal point of our movement, we have to use the working models of the status quo, but as an added element we must have the judiciary rights as our footing. This foundation will give us the credibility to make all the other necessary demands and required mandates that will suit our needs and provide us with the essentials for creating an independent Native American State.”

  “Do you mean to tell me that you’ll send these missiles into populated areas in the US if you don’t get the response you are demanding in order to achieve your goals?” Tom seemed perturbed to be absorbing all this at one shot. Little Wing took a deep breath and answered him with a sense of impatience that stemmed from the repetitiveness of the having explained these things to some of the other hostages.

  “Tom. If we won’t get a reasonable response to our demands, we plan on sending the warheads straight into the Western tip of Alaska, close to the Russian border. The technological adjuncts that we have assimilated will keep any anti-ballistics program from interfering with the missiles from reaching their intended targets.”

  “You’re out of your minds,” Tom cried out. “That would start a chain reaction that could bring Doom’s Day knocking on heaven’s gate. You won’t get anything accomplished by planning such an eventuality, unless you don’t give a shit about the consequences.”

  “On the contrary, we feel assured that the US government will see things our way, and that the US, including its global super-power partners, will have much more to lose, should they decide to ride out our storm. We have a special defensive mechanism as a first alert should the US government decide to bomb the base. You are all here as hostages not only to be enlightened by our movement, but also as a protective dome for our leadership, should any assaults arise against this venue. Manipulation through power has been a very widely used tool by the Western societies. They have imposed their wrath and power on many nations, while validating their actions as a guard for their own ideals and constitutions. We feel that based on all the injustices that have permeated the political movements on this pathetic planet for countless of centuries, there is plenty of room to justify our goals to rebuild and rejuvenate our Native American heritage.” Little Wing’s posture, his head held high, exemplified the level of his arrogance and self-righteousness.

  “I have already postulated our role as abductees in all this,” Tom interjected. “You want us to persuade the authorities to relinquish their powers over your lands, thus giving you full legitimacy over the territories you are demanding. Is that correct?”

  “Apparently, we were right on the money about choosing you as one of our hostages-turned-hostage-guest. We were sure that your account of our actions, in our setting, will render us as a peaceful group, willing to negotiate, holding hostages under good conditions and provisions, while at the same time emphasizing the seriousness of the matter. If the Israelis and Palestinians could get a homeland, regardless of all the wrongdoings that had been employed, certainly we too can demand the rights that are most assuredly and justifiably ours to demand. Their conflict is certainly not over by a long shot, but I understand from our Israeli friends that there are some major steps being advanced in order to bring about a true peace. I am sure you have heard of the Inkasar party which is partnered by good people. They are currently in the process of getting rid of corrupt politicians and extremists who have been in power for the last decades.”

  “I’d like to respond to your statement and say that I’m completely honored,” expressed Tom with a big smile, “but right now, I would have preferred to be munching on some Buffalo wings, somewhere in Boon Dock, USA.” He had noticed that Little Wing was smiling as well.

  Just then, an announcement came over the main intercom. ‘All Operation Agents must gather in their designated briefing rooms. T minus 48:00:00’

  “Holy shit! . . . ‘and counting!?’ . . . You guys are locked on target and ready for launch,” exclaimed Tom. “I guess you really do mean business,” he said solemnly, shaking his head as if it would help him comprehend and unravel the complexity and disarray of the details running loosely in his tangled thoughts.

  The telephones were ringing endlessly at the Israeli Foreign Affairs Department. Once the word got out that there had been diplomatic and strategic assistance given to BAM by the Israeli government, the media was relentlessly trying to get some input about the connection. The news hit every bulletin on the planet.

  Shlomo Ben-Zvi, the Israeli Council General, was busy talking with some of the staff members of the US State and Defense Departments. He had with him a representative of the Indian American Movement who came dressed in traditional Indian American attire. Chief Sandstone was one of the top committee members of the IAM, that had been formed in the 60’s. It was IAM’s operatives who were successful in gathering the old treaties which had been hidden in the archives at the American Indian Affairs office in Washington, D.C.

  All who were present at the meeting had severe looks on their faces and the conversations that were being carried o were communicated in a very serious tone.

  “Where have all of you been living for the last decades?” Shlomo Ben-Zvi asked the members of the State Department staff, glancing occasionally at some of the army staff that was also present, sitting there with scornful expressions.

  “It was the Europeans’ and your nation’s policies and methodologies that cre
ated the concept that there are rewards for threatening populations. Have you so quickly forgotten the pressure you and the world leaders so vehemently imposed on us to draw back our troops and allow the Palestinians statehood, regardless of their terrorist activities and rocket attacks? This is why we still exist in a state of daily alert, far from the promised peace that had been negotiated. While we were scorned by your government and the European Union for putting up protective walls on our borders, your own nation was busy building walls and fences all along your southern border.” Shlomo Ben-Zvi turned to Chief Sandstone and conveyed, “Chief. Please continue from here and share your thoughts.”

  “Gentlemen, I don’t have to explain our position other than the fact that we recognized the oppression and lack of justice we have undergone at the hands of a government that preaches democratic rights and supposedly opposes colonialism. As far as I am concerned, you ought to do some major soul searching and come up with your own conclusions about righteousness. We are a people just like the people of Israel, a nation that is a bold example of fortitude; we are just like these Jewish people, survivors after thousands of years of humiliation and death. You and the superpowers are the cowboys who have run around shooting freely wherever you have roamed. The Israelis have taken back most of what had been taken from them in a continuous flow of conquests at the hands of the Persians, Greeks, the Crusaders and the Ottoman Empire throughout time. There have been many other manifestations of colonialism all over Europe, Africa and the Middle East. But now the Jews have a home, and it is theirs to keep, and quite righteously so. Now it is deservingly and righteously our turn to get back what was ours.”

  The staff and all present assistants were speechless in reaction to his firmness, as they looked at one another in amazement. “And the worst of all has been the landings by European colonialists looking for a ‘New World,’ only to find an ‘Old World’ that they destroyed in order to set forth their conquests and dominations which was mainly founded on contentions and fallacies.