From: Blume, Art
To: SRindi svisit2017@amai
Ce: Kee Straits
Bee: Blume, Art
Subject: Documents relevant to circumstances at Standing Rock (US) from Society of Indian Psychologists
Date: Sunday, February 26, 2017 1:08:00 PM
Attachments: New York Times Letter.pdf
Dear UN Special Rapporteur Advocating for Indigenous People,
My name is Art Blume, President of the Society of Indian Psychologists, representing the Indigenous
people of the Americas. You have been communicating with one of our members, Dr. Kee Straits,
about the events and abuses that have occurred against the Water Protectors at Standing Rock
Reservation in the U.S. She requested that we send to you a number of documents highlighting the
psychological abuses that have occurred and our concerns for further psychological trauma related
to current events in the context of historical acts of trauma and oppression.
Documents attached to this message include editorials in the New York Times written by me and Dr.
Susan McDaniel, President of the American Psychological Association; an editorial to Indian Country
Times, a national Indigenous media entity commonly referenced by Native American people and
read by officials in Washington, DC; correspondences from our organization to the previous U.S.
administration; and correspondence by the American Psychological Association as a result of our
strong lobbying efforts encouraging them to speak out on behalf of Standing Rock. In addition, | have
included two position statements by our organization in reference to recent events in our nation
that also are related to current events that have unfolded at Standing Rock related to trampling of
treaty rights and utter disregard for Native American religious practices and sacred spaces.
As an organization representing the psychological and physical well-being of the Indigenous people
of the Americas, we freely offer our cooperation and support to you in order to improve the health
and well-being of our people. We appreciate your advocacy on behalf of our people.
Very best regards,
Art
Art Blume, Ph.D. (Cherokee/Choctaw}
President, Society of Indian Psychologists
Associate Editor, Addictive Behaviors
Professor, Department of Psychology VCLS 208L
Washington State University
14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98686
Phone: 360-546-9414
Fax: 360-546-9038
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