DESTRUCTION OF SACRED SUNDANCE SITE

By Lone Bear

"Respect" was the keynote of the six-member, all-Indian panel that met
at the Little America conference center in Flagstaff, Arizona, Wednesday
evening to discuss the desecration earlier this month of a Sundance site at
Big Mountain, Arizona, by the Hopi Tribal Land Team.

Respect for the rights of Indigenous People to live on their ancestral
homelands. Respect for the constitutionally guaranteed rights of all
people to worship their Creator as they choose. Respect for sacred sites
such as Big Mountain, as well as all others. Respect for Mother Earth and
all life.

In a clearly articulated and sometimes emotionally charged manner, Navajo
Sundance Overseer Alan Jim told the gathering, "It is a very sad day when
we see our own brothers destroy such a sacred site. My heart is concerned
for those who asked for this action to happen, and for those who carried
it out. They have violated a Sacred Road to the Great Spirit." Louise
Benally, caretaker of the desecrated Sundance site, said "to desecrate such
a sacred site and feel good about it is a sign of a sickmind."

Traditional Navajo Medicine Man, Jones Benally, said, "We don't want to be
destroyed. We respect and do not destroy any one else's way. Even when the
white people came to this country and built their churches, we did
notdestroy them. We must carry on as brothers and sisters."

Lakota Chief and Sundance leader Bill Crazy Bull said he was "appalled
at the assault on the Sundance way of life and the assault on the Lakota
Nation."

Kee Watchman, a Traditional Navajo and delegate to the United
Nations,noted that the U.N. has passed resolutions urging governments to
protect sacred sites and still the Hopi Tribal Council, the Bureau of
Indian Affairs and the U.S. government do not respect or protect their
sacred sites.

On Aug. 17 at 5:30 a.m., the Hopi Tribe's Land Team, aided by the BIA and
the Navajo County Sheriff's Department, raided the Camp Anna Mae Sundance
site with up to 60 officers, a bulldozer, a backhoe, chainsaws and other
equipment. Heavily armed for their assault, they brought along
ambulances,apparently expecting bloodshed.

Without warning or warrant, the ceremonial site was invaded. The Sundance
Tree of Life, its eagle feathers and prayer offerings as well as the
Arbor, were cut down and shredded, and the entire site was bulldozed,
including the sweat lodges. Two people were arrested and taken to jail for
trespassing.

After the site was cleared, a posted notice declared that the area was
closed to anyone without permission from the Hopi Tribe. According to the
sign, the site is closed "for natural resource development
purposes".Exploration has disclosed that the site sits on one of the
largestremaining coal deposits in the country.

Members of the panel pointed out that the Hopi Tribe does not intend
to live on the disputed ancestral land, They only want to mine it. Such an
action, to the Navajo and most other Native people, is considered an
egregious lack of respect for their Mother Earth as well as a violation of
the Creator's laws for harmonious living.

Black Mesa Indigenous Support P.O. Box 23501, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002  Message Voice Mail: 928.773.8086 Email: blackmesais@yahoo.com