Anti-immigration bills such as SB 1070 rest on the “securing” of the borders in order to manage the flow of migration. This securing includes and is not limited to a physical wall to be made on Indigenous land (Tohono O’odham/Lipan Apache to name a few). The state’s power to waive pre-existing laws (such as NEPA, NAGPRA) in the name of security, directly attacks Indigenous autonomy/sovereignty. The “political” solution will bring forced removal and relocation of the many Indigenous nations that span “their” borders by means of a reinforced physical barrier. In addition, the peoples who will be primarily targeted for racial profiling will be Indigenous peoples on both sides of the U.S/Mexico border. The passage of HB 2281 further contributes to the cultural genocide of Indigenous peoples by criminalizing the histories of Indigenous peoples in our own lands within the Arizona public school system. The immigration struggle is also an Indigenous struggle.

PROTEST

US Immigration Court

160 North Stone Avenue

Tucson, AZ 85701-1584

Friday, 5/21

11am – 1pm.

For those attending the NAISA conference, please gather in the lobby of Westin at 10:15am.

For more information on the protest, contact:

NAISA members: contact Mishuana Goeman, Southern California Native Feminist Group, at mishuana@gmail.com
Support the following Indigenous groups organizing against SB 1070:

O’odham Solidarity Against Borders Collective
http://oodhamsolidarity.blogspot.com/

Lipan Apache Women’s Defense http://lipanapachecommunitydefense.blogspot.com/

O’odham Voices Against the Wall,
http://www.solidarity-project.org/

Council Advocating an Indigenous Manifesto
indigenize@gmail.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2010

Indigenous and American Indian Studies Scholars Speak Out Against SB1070, Call for an Economic Boycott of Arizona

TUCSON—Indigenous and American Indian studies scholars are condemning Arizona Senate Bill 1070 and related legislation.
“Clearly, and bluntly, the state law is racist and discriminatory against so-called ‘illegal immigrants’ crossing the borders from the South, namely from Mexico,” said Simon Ortiz, a Native American studies professor at Arizona State University, in reference to SB 1070. “Many of the border crossers are Indigenous peoples who are directly affected. Without any doubt, the law is wrong-headed; it targets people who fit a certain profile.”

Indigenous and American Indian Studies scholars say that SB 1070 and the recent passage into law of HB 2281, which bans the teaching of ethnic studies in public schools, are violations of human rights. Scholars from nearly 50 universities and communities have signed a statement calling for an economic boycott of Arizona.

“As Native intellectuals, it is important that we not enable this legislative activity,” said Julia Good Fox, who signed the statement. “I’m disappointed in the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association officers because they have chosen to disregard the boycott. SB 1070 and HB 2281 are dangerous for Indian Country so I hope that Tribal governments and organizations will honor the boycott and put pressure on Arizona to overturn these laws.”

These scholars are not alone in calling for a boycott. Since the passage of SB 1070, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the oldest African American Greek-lettered fraternity, has moved its July 2010 meeting out of Arizona. SACNAS, an association of Hispanic/Chicano and Native American scientists, has formally removed Phoenix from its shortlist of potential 2012 conference sites. In addition, the cities of San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles have approved boycotts of Arizona until the new law is overturned.

Scholars who reside in Arizona or neighboring Tribal Lands plan to attend the “Indigenous Peoples Against SB 1070/HB228” rally scheduled for 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Friday, May 21, 2010 at the U.S. Immigration Court, 160 North Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ. This event is open to the public.

(Attached: “Indigenous and Native Studies Scholars of Conscience Statement.” Signatures are in the following order: Name, Institution and/or Community, and Date.)

INDIGENOUS AND NATIVE STUDIES  
SCHOLARS OF CONSCIENCE STATEMENT
We, scholars in Indigenous and Native studies, vigorously protest SB 1070, its amendment HB 2162, and HB 2281, a law that prohibits ethnic studies.  Because these Arizona laws instigate vicious attacks on the human rights of Indigenous, immigrant, and peoples of color communities, we seek to honor the economic boycott of the state of Arizona.
Name, Institution and/or Community, Date
1. Joyce Rain Anderson, Bridgewater State College, May 14, 2010
2. Dr. Elizabeth Archuleta, Arizona State University, Women & Gender Studies, May 14, 2010
3. Sonya Atalay, Indiana University Dept. of Anthropology/Anishinabe-Ojibwe, May 17, 2010
4. Laura Beebe, UC San Diego, 05/14/2010
5. Tammy Bluewolf-Kennedy, Syracuse University, Oneida Nation, Wolf Clan, Haudenosaunee Confederacy, May 14, 2010
6. Kevin Bruyneel, Associate Professor of Politics, Babson College,  May 14, 2010
7. Anne Carter Walker, PhD Candidate, Claremont School of Theology, May 14, 2010
8. Venida S. Chenault, Prairie Band Potawatomi/Kickapoo, May 14, 2010
9. Dr. Glen Coulthard (Yellowknives Dene First Nation), First Nations Studies Program and Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia, May 14, 2010
10. Jennifer Nez Denetdale, Ph.D.. Diné, Associate Professor, Northern Arizona University, May 15, 2010
11. Dr. Joanne R. DiNova, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, May 16, 2010
12. CJ Dosch, Syracuse University, May 14
13. Qwo-Li Driskill, Texas A&M University, May 15, 2010
14. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Professor Emeritus, Department of Ethnic Studies/Native American Studies, California State University East Bay
15. Larry Emerson, Diné  , Diné (Navajo) scholar, artist and farmer, May 14, 2010
16. Michelle Erai, Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
17. Paul GhostHorse, May 16, 2010
18. Inez GhostHorse, May 16, 2010
19. Zae GhostHorse, May 16, 2010
20. Julia Good Fox, Indigenous and American Indian Studies scholar, Pawnee Nation, 14 May 2010
21. Bryan James Gordon, MA, Joint PhD Program in Linguistics and Anthropology, University of Arizona, 5-16-10
22. Benjamin Grimshaw, Unemployed Scholar in Detroit, 5-15-201
23. Rev. Clyde E. Grubbs, Unitarian Universalist Minister, May 14, 2010
24. Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee), President, The Morning Star Institute, Washington, DC, May 14, 2010
25. Mattie Harper (Anishinaabe – Bois Forte Band), UC Berkeley, May 14, 2010
26. George Hartley, Ohio University, May 14, 2010
27. Patricia Penn Hilden, Professor Emerita, Native American History/Comparative Ethnic Studies,  University of California, Berkeley, May 16, 2010
28. Dr. Robert J. Hill, University of Georgia, Institute of Native American Studies, May 16, 2010 
 
29. Lynne Horiuchi, Visiting Scholar, Institute of Governmental Studies, University of California at Berkeley May 16, 2010
30. Michelle Jacob, University of San Diego/Yakama, 5-14-10
31. Daniel Morley Johnson, University of Alberta, 14 May 2010
32. Val Natonabah Jones, University of New Mexico (NAS/BUS), 5/15/10
33. Neal Keating, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, SUNY Brockport May 14, 2010
34. Penelope Kelsey, Associate Professor, English Department, University of Colorado, May 15, 2010
35. Lloyd L. Lee, Ph.D.. University of New Mexico, May 15, 2010
36. Amy Lonetree, University of California, Santa Cruz, Ho-Chunk Nation, May 14, 2010
37. Sarah Lozo, Syracuse University, May 14
38. Scott Richard Lyons, Syracuse University, May 14
39. Glenabah Martinez, Associate Professor of Education, University of New Mexico College of Education, Taos Pueblo and Navajo Nation, May 14, 2010
40. Erin McCarley, May 15, 2010
41. Lily Mendoza, Oakland  University, May 15, 2010
42. Michael Miller, Syracuse University, May 14, 2010
43. Angela Morrill, PhD Candidate, Ethnic Studies Department at UC San Diego, 5/14/2010
44. Jenell Navarro, Claremont Graduate University, May 16, 2010
45. Jose Navarro, University of Southern California, May 16, 2010
46. Lucia Orth, Indigenous and American Indian Studies scholar, May 16, 2010
47. Simon J. Ortiz, Arizona State University, May 14, 2010
48. James W. Perkinson, Intercultural Communication Studies , Oakland  University, May 15, 2010
49. Renya Ramirez, Native American Studies, UC Santa Cruz, May 16, 2010
50. Debbie Reese, Nambe Pueblo, Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies, University of Illinois
51. Michelle Richmond-Saravia, Anishinabek Nation, M’Ed. Candidate, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada, May 15, 2010
52. Kimberly Robertson (Muscogee) , University of California, Los Angeles
53. Dylan Rodríguez, Professor and Chair, Dept. of Ethnic Studies, University of California, Riverside, 5-14-10
54. Kimberly Robertson, UCLA, May 17, 2010
55. Dean Itsuji Saranillio, University of California, Riverside, May 16, 2010
56. Dr. Jeffrey P. Shepherd, University of Texas at El Paso, May 16, 2010
57. Michael W. Simpson, Citizen of the Universe, Brother to All beings, May 15, 2010
58. Andrea Smith, Media and Cultural Studies/Ethnic Studies – UC Riverside, May 14, 2010
59. Dr. Lisa Tatonetti, Associate Professor, English Department, Kansas State University, May 16, 2010
60. Daphne Taylor-García, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Santa Barbara, May 15, 2010
61. Christopher B. Teuton, University of Denver, Citizen of the Cherokee Nation, 5/14/2010
62. Patricia Torres, UCLA Urban Planning PhD Student, INCITE! LA member, 5/14/2010
63. Dr. Edward Valandra, (Sicangu Lakota Oyate), Associate Professor and Chair, American Indian Studies, University of South Dakota, May 14, 2010
64. Myla Vicenti Carpio, Jicarilla Apache, Arizona State University, May 15, 2010
65. Jace Weaver, Cherokee, University of Georgia, May 14, 2010
66. Laura Adams Weaver, Department of English and Inst. of Native American Studies, University of Georgia, May 15, 2010
67. Tisa Wenger, Assistant Professor of American Religious History, Yale University Divinity School, May 17 2010
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UPDATE: COURT DATE MOVED TO JULY 16 - Read the News Release Here.

Phoenix, AZ—At 1:30 p.m. (MST-AZ) on Monday, June 14th a U.S. District Court Judge will hear oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging the proposed use of treated sewage effluent on the San Francisco Peaks located in Northern Arizona. This case  addresses whether or not a private, for-profit business, Arizona Snowbowl Resort Limited Partnership (ASR), which operates on public land managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS), will be permitted to make fake snow using treated sewage water. The current legal challenge has forced the ski business to agree not to begin development.

The case known as The Save the Peaks Coalition, et al. v. U.S. Forest Service will be heard before Honorable Judge Mary H. Murguia. The suit asserts, among other things, that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) prepared by the USFS ignores the possibility of human ingestion of snow made from treated sewage effluent.

According to Howard Shanker, attorney for the Save the Peaks Coalition and the other plaintiffs,
“The Forest Service failed to adequately consider the impacts of potential human ingestion of snow made from reclaimed sewer water as required by applicable law. Our government should not be approving such projects without some sort of understanding of the anticipated impacts. By approving treated sewage effluent for snow making without adequate analysis, the government essentially turns the ski area into a test facility with our children as the laboratory rats. That is unconscionable.” Mr. Shanker, a former congressional candidate in Arizona Congressional District 1, represented a number of tribes and environmental organizations in prior litigation over Snowbowl’s proposed expansion and threatened use of treated sewage effluent.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality regulations allow A+ class treated sewer water to contain fecal matter in three out of seven daily samples (R18-11-303 2a). Moreover, studies done by Dr. Catherine Propper, Professor of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University, on this same treated sewer water have concluded the waste water contains pharmaceuticals, hormones, endocrine disruptors, industrial pollutants like pesticides and herbicides, and narcotics. Additionally, according to biologist Dr. Paul Torrence the treated sewage effluent may also contain antibiotics, such as triclosan and triclocarban which can break down into bio-accumulating cancerous dioxins when exposed to the high altitude sunlight of the peaks. There have also been documented cases of treated sewage released into the Colorado river that have caused numerous outbreaks of norovirus among Grand Canyon rafters. Plaintiffs involved in this ongoing  lawsuit have consistently insisted that the USFS take a hard look at what might happen to the people when they come in contact with or ingest snow made from treated sewage effluent.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act, the USFS is obligated to consider these types of potential impacts on the quality of the human environment. In 2007 a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court found that the USFS failed to adequately consider the possibility of human ingestion of snow made from treated sewage effluent. In Judge William Fletcher’s opinion, he concludes “the FEIS does not contain a reasonably thorough discussion of the risks posed by possible human ingestion of artificial snow made from treated sewage effluent, and does not articulate why such discussion is unnecessary.” The holding of the three-judge panel was later overturned on a technicality by an en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit.

Despite these public health threats and widespread public opposition to ASR’s proposed development, the City of Flagstaff maintains a contract to sell up to 180 million gallons of treated sewage to ARS. Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl have also attempted to pressure the USFS to move the plans forward. McCain even threatened to roadblock Obama appointees to the Department of Agriculture if ASR was not allowed to begin construction for snowmaking with reclaimed sewer water immediately.

“It’s disturbing to know that our elected officials care more about a single for profit business’ interests than public health, ecological integrity, and religious freedom” said Berta Benally, a plaintiff in the case and a volunteer supporter of the Save the Peaks Coalition. Berta Benally continued, “These politicians are completely disconnected from our community. Would they endanger their own children’s health by putting them at risk of being immersed in fake snow made from recycled sewage?”

Even Arizona Congresswoman (CD1) Anne Kirkpatrick’s endorsement of using subsidized taxpayer funds to divert scarce freshwater resources toward snowmaking has come under criticism from local environmental groups and Indigenous Nations.

“The City of Flagstaff is trying desperately to find a new water source based on projections that there will not be enough fresh water to sustain us by 2050. I wonder if it is smart choice for Representative Kirkpatrick to subsidize the theft of clean drinking water from our grandchildren’s mouths” said Avi Henn, Graduate Student in Environmental Sciences at NAU.

Volunteer supporters of the Save the Peaks Coalition are organizing a caravan from Northern Arizona, and rally and march at the Sandra Day O’Conner Federal Court House in Phoenix on June 14th.

“We want to build public awareness and participation in the protection of public health and ecological integrity of the Holy San Francisco Peaks” stated Alberta Nells, a volunteer supporter of the Save the Peaks Coalition. “We are working with local environmental groups, Indigenous Nations and concerned citizens to promote a unified voice for environmental justice, cultural survival and sacred sites.” The San Francisco Peaks are held holy by more than 13 Indigenous Nations from throughout the Southwestern United States.

For a full background, legal documents, photos, and further information on the Save the Peaks Coalition please visit: www.savethepeaks.org.

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