FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Contact: Phillip Pierce, Democracy Unlimited (720) -261-1151 or phil@duhc.org
LOCAL GROUPS LAUNCH HONOR TAX TO RECOGNIZE  NATIVE SOVEREIGNTY. OFFICIAL LAUNCH DURING ARTS ARCATA
ARCATA – As part of a campaign to acknowledge native sovereignty in Humboldt County, Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development and Democracy Unlimited Humboldt County are partnering to launch their Honor Tax project at Arts Arcata on Friday, November 13. The art installations at the Seventh Generation offices and the Arcata City Hall Arcata Spot will display art and provide information around the theme of “Honoring Where You Live”. Staff and volunteers from Seventh Generation and Democracy Unlimited will introduce and discuss the Honor Tax with the public.
The Honor Tax is a voluntary tax paid by individuals, organizations and businesses in order to recognize and respect the sovereignty of Native Nations and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. “I participate in the Wiyot Honor Tax as a way of direct reparation to the people on whose land I now live,” says Paul Pitino, former Arcata City Council Member. “Almost all of us live on traditional Native homelands, and by paying our Honor Tax we are showing that we acknowledge the local tribe.”

In most of Humboldt County we reside on traditional Wiyot Land and each of us is occupying their territory. “As a member of a neighboring Tribal Nation, I have a cultural obligation to acknowledge Wiyot homeland and pay respect to the Wiyot People for living on their traditional territories. The Honor Tax provides a way to fulfill my responsibilities as a Yurok person,” stated Christopher Peters (Yurok/Pohlik-lah) President of Seventh Generation Fund. 

The Honor Tax provides a space for discussion and self-reflection. “As we contemplate tribal sovereignty, the history of genocide, and territorial occupation, we are led to re-evaluate not only whose land we live on, but additionally culture wars, oppression and ways to respectfully move forward. The Honor Tax allows us to reflect on our cultural past while simultaneously providing for direct action,” said Phillip Pierce, an intern with Democracy Unlimited. 
The Honor Tax was not in any way initiated by the Wiyot Nation, although they have formally agreed via their Tribal Council to accept the Honor Tax. The Honor Tax was initiated by individuals, organizations and businesses who want to actively recognize the sovereignty of the Wiyot tribe and their right to their traditional land.
Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development is dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native peoples and the sovereignty of tribal Nations. Democracy Unlimited Humboldt County educates citizens about the illegitimate seizure of our authority to govern ourselves and implements grassroots strategies that exercise works to secure grassroots democratic power. for we the people. For more information visit www.http://honortax.org or contact Democracy Unlimited at info@duhc.org or 269-0984
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