| FIRST NATIONS, FIRST RESISTANCE—
SUPPORT THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL AT BIG MOUNTAIN, BLACK MESA, AZ.
On behalf of their peoples, their ancestral lands, and
future generations, more than 350 Dineh residents of Black Mesa continue
their staunch resistance to the efforts of the US Government-- acting
in the interests of the Peabody Coal Company—to relocate the Dineh
and destroy their homelands. This land is the basis for the Black Mesa
peoples' traditions, livelihoods, and spirituality.
At this moment the decision makers in Washington D.C.
are planning ways to seize tribal lands to extract mineral resources.
The coal companies are funding both the Republican and Democratic parties
because they have huge interests at stake. Presidential candidate John
McCain recently sponsored forced-relocation legislation targeting these
Dineh families; Peabody Coal, the world's largest coal company, currently
has plans to expand its strip mine operations and to seize more deep aquifers
beneath these indigenous lands. Peabody Coal Company has completely dug
up burials, sacred sites, and shrines designated specifically for offerings,
preventing religious practices. Not only were the principal concerns of
the communities directly affected by the legislation never addressed,
those communities were not even notified.
"The Big Mountain matriarchal leaders always believed
that resisting forced relocation will eventually benefit all ecological
systems, including the human race." Bahe Keediniihii, Dineh organizer
and translator states. "Continued residency by families throughout
the Big Mountain region has a significant role in the intervention of
Peabody's future plan for Black Mesa coal to be the major source of unsustainable
energy, the growing dependency on fossil fuel, and escalating green house
gas emissions. We will continue to fight to defend our homelands."
LIFE FOR RESIDENTS OF THE BIG MOUNTAIN REGION IN
2008:
Institutional racism fueled neglect and abandonment of public needs such
as water, maintenance of roads, health care, and schools. Daily life for
Big Mountain residents hasn't changed too much over the years, except
that more of them have become elderly and now need additional help. Due
to lack of local job opportunities and federal strangulation on Indian
self-sufficiency, extended families are forced to live many miles away
to earn incomes and have all the social amenities which include choices
in mandatory, American education. It is increasingly difficult for families
to come back to visit their relatives in these remote areas due to the
unmaintained roads and the rising cost of transportation.
ANNUAL SPRING PLANTING PROJECTS NEED
EXTRA SUPPORT THIS YEAR
The consistent rain and snow this past winter have been hard on many of
the families living on Black Mesa, especially the elders. Because of the
roads being impassable for such a long time, supply and medical trips
were limited, as well as visits from extended families. (Black Mesa is
a remote area in the high desert, rich with canyon lands and soft dirt
that turns to clay when it gets wet.) But the desert thrives on water;
there are many healthy new lambs and baby goats, as the life and land
continue to cycle and regenerate. The families are thankful and excited
about spring planting and there is much work to be done!
This spring, many fields left fallow will be planted.
April is the time for preparing them for planting. This involves fixing
fences, clearing out brush, and fixing water damage. May is the season
for shearing the sheep and planting the fields with corn, squash, melons,
etc.
BRING YOUR TOOLS:
Hand shears for sheering sheep, steel files, shovels, picks, axes, mattocks,
posthole diggers, a roll of barbed wire, fence posts, leather gloves,
heavy duty hoes, fencing pliers, and some single-axe & shovel handles.
BMIS WILL HELP YOU COME TO BLACK MESA PREPARED!
You are invited to come to Black Mesa any time of the year, not just spring
and fall. You can come alone or as a pair for a longer duration, or as
an organized work crew for a shorter time. Since establishing a routine
is demanding on the host family, folks are encouraged to stay a minimum
of three weeks. If you are not able to make this time commitment, check
in with BMIS about organizing a work crew to stay a minimum of several
days to a week. Guests are expected to be adequately prepared prior to
staying with families on Black Mesa, which is a very remote area in a
high desert terrain. Thoroughly read the Cultural Sensitivity & Preparedness
Booklet and fill out the supporter application form. ( http://www.blackmesais.org/cultural_sen.html
) Email or snail-mail it to us. Contact BMIS as far in advance as possible
so that we can support you in your visit to Black Mesa, answer any questions
that you may have, and so that we can make arrangements with your host
family. We can also be reached by our voicemail, 928-773-8086.
FALL '08 CARAVAN TO BLACK MESA IS IN THE WORKS!
Thank you. May the resistance of Big Mountain and surrounding
communities on Black Mesa always be remembered and supported!
Black Mesa Indigenous Support
P.O. Box 23501, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002
Voice Mail: 928.773.8086
blackmesais@riseup.net
http://www.blackmesais.org
Black Mesa Indigenous Support is a small grass-roots all-volunteer
group organized to work with and support the issues of traditional, indigenous
peoples of Black Mesa who are impacted by the coal mining and forced relocation
policies of the US government.
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