Chief Greg Pyle, Choctaw Nation:
“That was very tragic. Certainly the Choctaw Nation wishes to put out their condolences to all. Since Oklahoma City is a similar situation, this is more dramatic and much larger than Oklahoma City. We had Choctaws who died in that tragedy, we had other people that we worked with on a day-to-day business in those offices; we knew them personally and had dinner with them.
This is a reflection of what happened in Oklahoma City, I am basically in shock as is the nation. Such a shock. We have already started coordinating a blood drive. We will have it scheduled here in a few days that we will have a large blood drive because we are told that blood can only last a few days. We will do anything we can do. We’ve been through this in Oklahoma, here in our own back yard. Heartfelt sympathy to those survivors of the aftermath and to the people who have lost. There are so, so many people who are lost up there.
I agree this is a second Pearl Harbor. You look at the parallels there, it is a surprise attack on America.”
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Chief John Froman, Peoria Tribe:
“It was probably one of the most horrendous crimes against the United States Government that has ever been committed by a foreign nation.
I personally consider it an act of war against the entire United States. Our thoughts and prayers are going out to each individual who has been affected by this. Not only the victims and their families, but the survivors, the rescue workers, each and every individual who has been involved in trying to help.
Here in our local community there will be a local blood drive. I have just issued an executive order that any employee who participates in that blood drive will have administrative leave for this afternoon.
We have lowered all our flags to half mast and will continue to do so and to keep those individuals in our hearts and our prayers.”
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Chairwoman Tamara Summerfield, Quapaw Tribe:
“We are all shocked, we didn’t get much done yesterday. We actually have an employee who is actually in Alexandria, Virginia right now. She is two miles from the Pentagon, she is a little shaken up right now. She said she could feel the explosions in her hotel room and she is basically trapped there now so we are concerned about her and getting her home.
We’re all just shocked to see that. We sat in the library watching it; some people cried ? it was terrible.
Even my little children cried and cried, they said they were sick to their stomachs. We are all just shocked right now and we are worried about our employee and her safety.”
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Chairman Badger Wahwasuck, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation:
“This is the most appalling act of terrorism by any person or group against innocent civilians and the prayers of our tribe are with the families and friends of those killed or injured.
It is a very sad thought that our country may be going to war somewhere in the world because of these actions.
It sees that we as Indian People are still suffering from our losses from Viet Nam, many of our younger people do not have fathers with us because of war, many of our elders are still sad because they have lost sons in combat for this country.
We as Native People to this country know too well the sorrows of war. Because of war we have Reservations to live on in a country that was once ours to live where we wanted. But that is in the past, we still love our country, this is still our mother earth, our home, our history, our culture, our heritage. In World War I our people were not even citizens of the United States, we could not vote, but our Indian men volunteered to fight in the war to defend our country.
My personal comment about the terrorist activities, this has to be the most cowardly people in the world to strike at children, elders and women, I only hope the United States does not retaliate in the same fashion against innocent people.
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation will be making a one hundred thousand dollar donation to the American Red Cross for the rescue efforts in New York City at 3 p.m. Wednesday 9/12/01 at the Red Cross office in Topeka.
Also since we have a fire department and know the sacrifices and dedication the fire fighters put into their work, my condolences go out to the families of the fire fighters and police that made the ultimate donation, their lives.”
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Allen Lawson, Chairman San Pasqual:
“I condemn anybody who did this and anyone who supports them. This is nothing short of an all out war against the United States and we need to retaliate immediately and in kind. That is what I think. Bush’s father had the guts to hit these guys and I hope that he’ll do it too.”
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Mark Macarro, Chairman Pechanga:
“Been chatting with the board about this horrific tragedy that I wouldn’t want to happen to anyone. Our prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones. We’ve been discussing, though it’s not official yet, to ask other tribal leaders to join with us in considering sending supplies to the Red Cross. We had a huge fire at Pechanga last year and the Red Cross came on the scene and helped our people when they were in need.”
“We’re just in shock here because the magnitude was so great. The violence, the suddenness, the cowardice, it’s just unbelievable.”
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Ron Allen, Chairman Jamestown S’kallam:
“I’m in Washington D.C right now with about 300 tribal leaders. The attack happened not far from where we were meeting at the Hyatt here. We were stunned and without a doubt in mourning. That kind of terrorism is appalling. I can’t believe that people would take such drastic measures. We have serious problems in Indian country but I’m not sure we can measure it against the loss of all those lives, tens of thousands of lives. All this to make some kind of international statement. It defies rationality.”
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Richard Milanovich, Chairman, Agua Caliente:
“Naturally I’m shocked and we’re all shocked. When I saw this on TV my heart goes out to all those innocent people. This is so broadly spaced and has touched us all. My son has a friend who was flying back from Boston today and we’re not sure if he was on that flight. We haven’t heard anything from him yet.”
