American Indians end walk across U.S.

Trek targeted climate change, loss of lands

By | Saturday, July 12, 2008

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Some 500 American Indians gathered near the U.S. Capitol Friday to mark the end of an 8,300-mile walk across the nation.

The trek from Washington aimed to bring attention to the impact of global warming on the environment.

Organizer Ricardo Tapia says the Longest Walk 2 also was an effort to spotlight concerns among American Indians, such as the destruction of sacred sites by developers.

Organizers planned to present a manifesto of American Indian concerns to Rep. John Conyers Jr., Michigan Democrat.

Actor and civil rights advocate Harry Belafonte was to appear at a traditional pipe ceremony at the Capitol.

The walk began Feb. 11 and marked the 30th anniversary of the first such journey. That 1978 effort gathered support to defeat congressional bills that American Indians said threatened their sovereignty.

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