We have but one chance - Francisco Da Costa 

Goans as I have mentioned before have contributed a lot to many a nation and many still do all over the world. Some times it is a paradox that at home in Goa, we Goans cannot unite to build a progressive front and some times to oppose and nib some element in the bud, when it affects all Goans and others negatively. 

Right now we have in Goa many groups, especially environmental groups that are moving in the right direction. Our Goan politicians are just coming of age and now realize that their performance is watched not only at home but world wide. Cyber space has allowed very quick dissemination of information and many a time we can contact our Goan representatives in Goa and make stuff happen. 

I was born in Nairobi, Kenya and lived in Goa and many parts of India. I often meet Goans here in San Francisco, some from South America, Canada, England, and here in the United States who have not had a chance to visit Goa. I often invite them to visit Goa via cyber space and share our ideas. I was a teacher and have students all over the world, this allows me to inter act with my Goan students and others and share a lot of what is happening in today's small world. Most people know a lot about San Francisco. 

When I came here I was very interested in knowing about the Native Americans from the San Francisco Area and was told again and again that they were all killed and none existed. I was shocked. I came to know that until 1924, one could get a reward if one killed a Native American and produced a scalp. Yes, right here in the United States. 

I pursued my research and found out that over 500 Native Americans of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe belonging to the San Francisco Area and the Bay Area were still alive. They were recognized until 1927 and then illegally removed from the Federal Register. I fought and am still fighting for them. 

A Federal Judge just order the Bureau of Indian Affairs to reinstate the Muwekma Ohlone by the end of this month, after all these years. 

I am a Goan and I am proud of behalf of all Goans all over the world to have contributed to bring justice to the Native Americans in the U.S.A. and to the Native Americans here in the Bay Area. We Goans should fee proud that we have Goa but that we can share our unique ability to work, play, and fight for causes all over the world and in Goa too. 

Francisco Da Costa  July 2000

http://www.muwekma.org.