Video & Updates at: www.azresistsalec.wordpress.com

TEMPE, AZ — Indigenous Dine’ (Navajo) and O’odham elders and supporters are taking direct action by occupying Salt River Project (SRP) headquarters today at 10am. This action is occurring while the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) holds their “States & Nation Policy Summit” in Scottsdale, AZ. SRP is on ALEC’s corporate board.

Louise Benally, a resident of Black Mesa impacted by SRP’s operations, is delivering a letter to SRP that outlines critical concerns of her community. She expressed that “My community is heavily impacted by Salt River Project’s coal and water extraction activities. SRP has extensive ties to Peabody Energy’s massive mining operations and the Navajo Generating Station which they co-own. Coal mining has destroyed housands of archeological sites and our only water source has been seriously compromised. Their operations are causing widespread respiratory problems, lung diseases, and other health impacts on humans, the environment, and all living things.”

“…We demand that SRP & Peabody meaningfully involve the indigenous communities they are impacting, and that they convert to non-fossil fuel based energy sources and address the health impacts on our communities.”

“…ALEC, acting in the corporate interests of SRP & Peabody Energy, continues policies & operations that are not only devastating whole communities and ecosystems, but greatly de-stabilizing our planet’s climate for the profit of a few, the so-called 1%.” stated Benally.

Ray Aguilar stated that “the air conditioning and power we enjoy and water we drink comes at the suffering caused by SRP and Peabody’s exploitation of the land and people. When will we realize that our privileges our based on this? We must take further action. I just spent one week doing direct, on-land support with Black Mesa residents assisting with basic essential human needs.  That’s why I’m here today. This critical situation would not exist if not for these greedy corporations.”

Peabody Energy, also an ALEC member, is the world’s largest private-sector coal company. With 2010 sales of 246 million tons and nearly $7 billion in revenues, Peabody creates 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

Since 1974 more than 14,000 Dine’ families have been forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands due in large part due to U.S.-backed tribal councils and cola mining.

To protest the deadly legacy of environmental and cultural destruction caused by the company’s collusion with Peabody Energy the protest has stated the following:

Big Mountain Sovereign Dine’ Nation

P.O. Box 23501

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Salt River Project

1521 N. Project Drive

Tempe, AZ 85281

David Rousseau, President

John R. Hoopes, Vice President

CC:

American Legislative Exchange Council

Ben Shelly, Navajo Nation President

LeRoy N. Shingoitewa, Hopi Tribe Chairman

Barack Obama, United States President

Jan Brewer, Governor of Arizona

Gregory H. Boyce, CEO, Peabody Energy

Peabody Energy Corporate Headquarters

Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission

Ben Nuvamsa, Former Chairman, Hopi Tribe

Black Mesa Water Coalition

Black Mesa Trust

Forgotten People

Gila River Indian Community

Zuni Salt Lake Coalition

Indigenous Environmental Network

Center for Biological Diversity

International Indian Treaty Council

To the Owners, Operators, & Beneficiaries of Salt River Project,

We are a community that is heavily impacted by the Salt River Project’s coal and water extraction activities. We are particularly impacted by Peabody Energy’s mining operations to which you have extensive ties, the Navajo Generating Station which you co-own, and the exploitation of the water that underlies our ancestral lands. We wish to formally bring before you some critical concerns of our community.

The Navajo Generating Station and Peabody’s mining operations cause widespread respiratory problems, lung diseases, asthma issues, other health impacts on humans, the environment, and all living things. We don’t have access to health insurance. The plants and animals are also impacted and there are no studies on that. There is no remedy for that for now.

Peabody is an extremely disrespectful company, they’re tearing up everything for the coal. Mother earth and our cultural resources such as sacred sites are not at all respected. Back in the mid-nineties, grandmothers were defending the land when the mine was being expanded more and more, and we witnessed peoples’ graves being totally bulldozed. They have been exploiting and destroying sacred places, and that is not being talked about.

And the coal ash that they’re trying to dump on our lands now—it’s really no different than the uranium that we have suffered from for so many years. It’s toxic and poisonous, and there’s no safe place to store the coal ash.

The mining needs to stop. Until then, we demand that you honor the clean air act and the EPA’s highest standards by installing the best retrofit technology available on the Navajo Generation Station to reduce pollution from mercury, arsenic, and other toxic pollutants being released in to the air.

Our water is being exploited and our aquifers have been depleted for decades, causing springs to go dry and vegetation to change. Salt River Project needs to stop manipulating the Navajo and Hopi tribal governments, coercing them to sign agreements without consent from tribal members. Our water resources are not replenishable, and without the water, we cannot continue our way of life.

The beneficiaries of the energy and water you sell must realize that our suffering is a direct result of their consumption. They must also understand that the continued taking of finite “natural resources” is creating imbalances that threaten the survival of everyone’s future generations.

These issues are not being heard: Stop exploiting and destroying our ancestral homelands. Stop poisoning us. Stop meeting behind closed doors. Stop greenwashing your unfair and harmful practices. Recognize that you have a unique ability and thus a responsibility to put an end to these things, and that by not­­­­ doing so you are also harming yourselves.

For background information: http://www.blackmesais.org

For information on ALEC protests: http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com and

http://www.alecexposed.org

by Brennan Lagasse

On October 12, 2011, indigenous elders and medicine people came together on a conference call with several representatives of the federal government. The purpose of the call was to continue an ongoing dialogue centered on the protection of indigenous sacred sites that continue to be comprised under federal leadership. It was a very relevant exercise in where the modern day power culture of the federal government still stands in regards to respect for the well-being of indigenous peoples.

Although several governmental representatives took part in the call, the clear and salient message received by those not affiliated with the federal government was, firstly, that sacred site protection is not important enough for Secretary Tom Vilsack to be a part of the call—the one whom all indigenous elders and medicine people were planning on being involved. And secondly, that it is not important enough to honor the request of those who hold these places as central to their well-being and way of life, to hold this conversation in person.
What progress has been made in the many years of working to protect sacred sites through executive orders, rules, laws, regulations, policy, and court cases if the present-day reality remains the same today for indigenous peoples as it has since any repatriation work first began?
When will the federal government respect that in order to seek a lasting solution to this dire problem, that dialogue must happen in person, and those that make the ultimate decisions, like Secretary Tom Vilsack, must be present and fully engaged in order for lasting work to take place? Without representation like his, as was articulated to indigenous elders and medicine people that he would at least be on this important phone call, what message does this ultimately send? That any “progress” will be filtered through other representatives, continue as non-binding, and that overall, this engagement is merely business as usual.
What more can indigenous peoples do to have non-Native leaders understand their perspective? It has been articulated time and time again, and does not stray in any way from the following system of beliefs as articulated last March:
“The Creator gave the Aboriginal Indigenous Nations of the People Laws to follow and responsibilities to care for all Creation. These instructions have been passed down from generation to generation from the beginning of Creation. It is the Law that no one can overpower the Creator’s Law, you are a part of Creation, thus if you break the Law, you are destroying yourself.
We speak on behalf of all Creation: the four legged/those that swim/those that crawl/those that fly/those that burrow in the Earth/the plant and tree Nations. This one life system includes the elements of fire, water, earth and air, the living environment of ‘Mother Earth.’
The Sanctity of the Creator’s Law has been broken. The balance of life has been disrupted. You come into life as a sacred being. If you abuse the sacredness of your life then you affect all Creation. The future of all life is now in jeopardy.
We have now reached the crossroads. As Aboriginal Indigenous People we ask you to work with us to save the future of all Creation.”
—Aboriginal Indigenous Nations of the People’s Message (March 11, 2011)
The perspective of those fighting is to save their sacred places, the most holy places on earth, is clear and succinct. It has been since day one. What must be honored is this path, as a way forward to try and help agencies like the US Forest Service understand the sincerity and importance of this dialogue, and to prevent future desecration to these places that have been compromised spiritually and environmentally for years.
Indigenous elders and medicine people have asked that the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People be included in any binding documents moving forward. How is that not clear at this moment in time? Furthermore, without mentioning the Creator’s Law in such documents, a Law that is binding to indigenous peoples that speaks to all life and creation being sacred, oppression continues. This Law cannot be altered or manipulated and is unchangeable from the perspective of indigenous peoples. Again, it can’t be much clearer than that.
The federal government continues to respond to indigenous concerns in a manner that does not honor the merit of indigenous peoples’ respect and connection to their sacred places. It can’t be said much more simply, that there are no lasting, meaningful safeguards in place to protect sacred places. Even still, a path of unsustainability continues under a guise of “progressive conflict resolution.”
Harmony can and must be achieved, but respect of perspective, tradition, and spirituality must be acknowledged for its profound and lasting nature if actual balance between “public land” and sacred sites is to be realized.
If federal entities are to truly accept the wrongs of the past, but cease to take meaningful steps forward, how can indigenous peoples trust not only their role in the process, but be led to believe ultimately that cultural genocide by way of killing language, traditional ways of living, and holy places to pray are not going to continue as they have for hundreds of years?
Many efforts have been made to heal from the past, but if you listen to indigenous peoples, they will tell you that not only are they still feeling the burdens of the past, but their way of life also continues to be undermined by current work that is viewed by federal entities as “progression.” This is a glaring, major issue that consistently gets glossed over.
Much work is still needed, and even with all that has happened on indigenous sacred lands in years past, elders, medicine people, and all vested stakeholders continue to be willing to attempt to find a sustainable solution now, and for future generations to come. That is of the utmost concern and directly reflects the Creator’s Law, that when formally acknowledged and honored by federal entities, may allow for a solution to come forth.
Perhaps the most amazing fact in this ongoing issue is that indigenous people continue to be willing to sit down and work on solutions, even with continued acts of disrespect, like Secretary Vilsack skipping out on the vitally important March 2011 phone conference. However, no future progression can happen without honoring these words. A meeting must be set, to take place in person, where face-to-face dialogue will ensue between indigenous nations and the leaders of federal entities like the USDA that have the power to create legislation that can honor the concerns, traditions, and beliefs of indigenous peoples.
The federal government’s modern culture continues to disrespect indigenous culture. People of modern culture, even those who wield power, do not have to be so oppressive and disrespectful to argue their perspective of “modernity” to those that live differently from the status quo. The only question that remains is, will the USDA and others involved accept this invitation, and will they actually come to the table with an open mind and an open heart, ready to listen and make the necessary changes all parties know must come forth in order for work on the ground to be felt by those most affected?

Brennan Lagasse is a writer and environmental consultant living in Lake Tahoe, CA. He is also the backcountry reporter for Unofficial Networks, www.unofficialnetworks.com. Brennan can be reached at brennanlagasse@hotmail.com.

Snowbowl Pipeline Desecration

WINDOW ROCK, NAVAJO NATION — Navajo Council Delegate Walter Phelps (Cameron, Coalmine Canyon, Birdsprings, Leupp, Tolani Lake) has introduced Legislation 0420-11 “An Action Relating To Resources And Development And NAABIK’IYATI’; Supporting The Use Of Groundwater For Snowmaking On Dook’o’oosliid (San Francisco Peaks).” You can read the legislation here: http://www.navajonationcouncil.org/Legislations/2011/Oct/0420-11.pdf

The legislation was introduced on October 7th, over a 3-day weekend, with the comment deadline ending on Oct. 11th.

Below is my response and a press release from the Hopi Tribe.

RE: Navajo Nation Legislation 0420-11 – Supporting The Use Of Groundwater For Snowmaking On Dook’o’oosliid (San Francisco Peaks).

Greetings,

The Navajo Nation has previously taken very serious stands to protect the Holy San Francisco Peaks with numerous resolutions including one in 1998 calling for the dismantling of the ski area and litigation.
It would be contrary to all previous positions that the Navajo Nation has taken to now support use of groundwater for snowmaking on the Holy San Francisco Peaks.

The proposed legislation sends the message that desecration of Dook’o'oosliid is approved by the Navajo Nation.

Additionally, supporting groundwater snowmaking at this time would threaten to UNDERMINE two current legal cases; the Save the Peaks Coaltion v. Forest Service and the Hopi Tribe v. City of Flagstaff.
This is a serious consequence that the Navajo Nation should consider prior to any decisions regarding this proposed legislation.

The writers of this legislation did not consult or engage in dialogue with litigants, NGOs and individuals who have long been actively engaged in the issue.

At minimum the Navajo Nation Council should convene a meeting with these stakeholders prior to considering an action of this nature.

This proposed legislation further demonstrates that the sponsors and writers are out of touch with the grassroots people who have been working on this issue for more than a decade.
There are a number of alternative means that the Navajo Nation Council can use to effectively address desecration of Dook’o'oosliid that do not include supporting a piece of legislation that: 1. supports Snowbowl’s further desecration of Dook’o'oosliid. 2. undermines two current legal cases. 3. ignores and undermines grassroots work and strategies. 4. betrays previously held unified positions with other tribal entities.

Ahe’ hee’,
Klee Benally – Protect the Peaks Activist
Forest Lake Chapter

###

PRESS RELEASE: The Hopi Tribal Council Does Not Support Navajo’s Proposal to Use Groundwater for Snowmaking on Nuvatukyaovi

Contact:
Public Information Office
Phone: (928) 734-3104
Fax: (928) 734-6665
www.hopi-nsn.gov

October 11, 2011

###

“The Creator gave the Aboriginal Indigenous Nations of the People Laws to follow and
responsibilities to care for all Creation. These instructions have been passed down
from generation to generation from the beginning of Creation. It is the Law that no one
can overpower the Creator’s Law, you are a part of Creation, thus if you break the
Law, you are destroying yourself.
We speak on behalf of all Creation: the four legged/those that swim/those that
crawl/those that fly/those that burrow in the Earth/the plant and tree Nations. This one
life system includes the elements of fire, water, earth and air, the living environment of
“Mother Earth”.
The Sanctity of the Creator’s Law has been broken. The balance of life has been
disrupted. You come into life as a sacred being. If you abuse the sacredness of your
life then you affect all Creation. The future of all life is now in jeopardy.
We have now reached the crossroads. As Aboriginal Indigenous People we ask you to
work with us to save the future of all Creation.”

Aboriginal Indigenous Nations of the People’s Message 3.11.2011

The message above was brought forth, by Indigenous Elders and Medicine Peoples, at
the threatened sacred mountain of the ancestors of the Huhugam. This message
presented an opportunity to the United States of America for direct face-to-face
dialogue with Indigenous Elders and Medicine People, which is necessary to assist and
educate the Forest Service on how to conduct their activities to prevent damage,
destruction and desecration to places held sacred by Indigenous Peoples.

As the Original Stewards of this Land, we are offended by the lack of sensitivity being
shown to our position and we are discriminated against by having to respond in black
and white with a foreign language that is not ours and does not convey the full depth of
our concerns. We maintain the inherent responsibility that was given to us by the
Creator to care for all Creation and to speak for our relatives that cannot be easily
understood by the newcomers. We are united under the Creator’s Law to protect and
extend Life for our future generations. Today, your understanding of a sacred site does
not reflect what Indigenous Peoples know to be true about the places that we hold
Sacred and Holy.

The “Report to the Secretary – USDA and Forest Service Policy and Procedures
Review: Indian Sacred Sites” is without spirit and fails to provide meaningful and
effective direction for the development of policies for the protection of Indigenous
sacred places. There is nothing in the report that offers any new or real mechanisms to
protect sacred places that create the foundations of our Way of Life as Indigenous
Peoples. The activities of federal agencies continue to damage, destroy, and desecrate
these sacred places. For instance, there is no mention in the report of how the Agency
is going to protect sacred places from special use permits, third party contractors or
resource extraction. And, there is no recognition of the fact that the United States has
treaty, agreements and statutory obligations to Indigenous Peoples; these obligations
surpass the Agency’s mission to provide multi-use activities. Recreational activities on
our sacred lands do not reach the same threshold and should not be weighed equally
with our Way of Life as Indigenous Peoples particularly when actions may result in
negative consequences to the natural system of life.

Protection of what we hold Sacred as Indigenous Peoples surpasses domestic and
international laws; it also requires adherence to the Creator’s Law, a Law that is
indivisible and creates the spiritual foundations for Indigenous Nations and our Way of
Life. For this reason, we specifically asked that the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples be included in the document and noted as “a minimum
standard”. This specific request was not included in the report. And, there is no
mention of the Creator’s Law in the report. As Indigenous Peoples we do not separate
ourselves from the Creator’s Law. The Creator’s Law is that All Life is Sacred, All
Creation is Sacred. That is the Natural Law we cannot change or challenge.

The Forest Service states it cannot delegate decision-making authority for actions on
National Forest System land to entities outside the federal government. However, the
Creator never delegated the right of Creation and Destruction to the Forest Service.
Yet, the Forest Service continues to destroy and desecrate the natural function of these
lands, while trying to create new uses for these lands that have held their sacred
purpose since the beginning of Creation. We, the Indigenous Peoples, have obligations
and responsibilities that go beyond man-made domestic and international laws. We
must adhere to the Creator’s Law and protect and maintain these sacred places and
honor their sacred purposes. The Creator’s Law does not change so our obligations and
responsibilities have not and will not change.

The report speaks of keeping sacred sites confidential for their protection, yet the Forest
Service continues to move forward with its plans to damage, destroy, pollute and
desecrate known and identified Holy places with telescopes, treated sewage effluent,
resource extraction, further development, recreation and other damaging activities. As
a result it is not prudent for Indigenous Peoples to provide federal agencies with
information on sacred places and knowledge until a mutually acceptable and fully
responsible system has been established for protecting the sacred places that have
already been identified. Our knowledge is for us to protect and not for federal agencies
to abuse. Only when a sacred area is threatened or revealed will it be interpreted by the
Indigenous Elders and Medicine Peoples. Direction will then be given to the Forest
Service on how to conduct their activities to prevent damage, destruction and
desecration. Those born into this way of life understand that it is our responsibility not
to give away the inherited rights of our future generations to those who do not value
and understand our Way of Life. The only way to legitimately include authentic
indigenous knowledge is to include the Indigenous Peoples, who are the true keepers of
that spiritual knowledge throughout the entire process especially when decisions are
being made. So you must come to the Indigenous Peoples, face-to-face, in order to get
our free, prior and informed consent before plans are initiated that may affect
Indigenous Peoples and the Creator’s Creation.

When you decide to move forward in a correct manner (that is with respect and dignity
as human beings), then you will come to the Indigenous Peoples to consult face-to-face
with an understanding that we need consensus before proceeding. Anything less falls
short of developing a working relationship that is necessary with Indigenous Peoples to
address critical issues and to benefit all Creation. The Forest Service has indicated that
it wishes to engage in co-management of these lands with the Indigenous Peoples.
However, the Forest Service has failed to recognize that our obligations and
responsibilities go beyond the limitations of man-made laws. Our responsibilities
include an obligation to speak on behalf of all Creation, to protect that sacredness that
has been given to us by the Creator. The word “co-management” itself is inappropriate,
because we don’t view our role as managers, but rather to protect and to live in
harmony with all Creation. Once these foundational principles are understood and
respected, we can begin discussions on how this balance can be achieved.
The Forest Service needs to understand that it is fully responsible and liable for the
activities and actions that it allows and undertakes on our sacred lands and which
negatively impact Indigenous Peoples and our Way of Life. The report singles out
Forest Supervisors as having final authority for these decisions, but we remind you that
all administrators and staff within any given line of authority will be held responsible
for fulfilling obligations to all domestic laws, international laws and the Creator’s Law,
which protect the Creator’s Creation and our Indigenous Way of Life. Line officers are
not the only staff that require performance measures for this to work; these measures
must be required of all public servants from the President, Members of Congress,
Supreme Court Justices, USDA Secretary and all Forest Service line officers, especially
since there is such a strong record for violation of and past inconsistent implementation
of policies listed in the report. There is a need to immediately enforce and synthesize
all current laws, policies and procedures and to create legitimate consequences for those
who fail to follow these protocols.

We all need a healing. The report does not address how your Agency is going to right
past wrongs and restore past damages that your Agency has caused. As Indigenous
Peoples we strive to maintain balance and harmony with all Creation. Many years ago
we received the message that this harmonious balance had been disrupted. We have
sent messages of all types to every governmental body around the World including your
Agency that we must begin to heal activities of the past that have led to damage,
destruction, and desecration. To begin this healing process we must first stop these
damaging activities to allow the natural healing process of Mother Earth to begin. The
healing cannot begin until your Agency formally confronts the legacies of injustice to
the water, air, land, plants, animals, trees, and all of the Creator’s Creation that you
have damaged, destroyed and desecrated, including the Indigenous Peoples.

A healthy relationship between our Nations needs to be created. We noted your nondiscriminatory
statement but also noted the omission of our spiritual way of life and
sacred holdings in that statement. The United States of America has not honored its
agreements to the original inhabitants of this land since the beginning of our
relationship. This same lack of commitment to the agreements being made with the
Indigenous Peoples continues to this day. For that reason we as Indigenous Peoples
recommend that the Secretary as a first step towards reconciliation conduct an
independent investigation into past and current human rights and environmental
violations, including discriminatory practices, under both domestic and international
law. The findings from this independent investigation should be made public and
should include recommendations and plans to restore past damage and to prevent future
harms to the Creator’s Creation and our Way of Life. Your laws get outdated and do
not respond effectively to emerging threats such as treated sewage effluent, invasive
species, antibiotic resistant genes and all other types of emerging and existing threats to
the natural system of life. The United States’ 1872 mining law, for example, does not
adhere to your best available science and does not adhere to the Creator’s Law. It must
be changed if your laws as a Nation are to be taken seriously. Your science is flawed as
it cannot predict with absolute certainty how Mother Earth will respond to your
activities. Because you are blinded by laws and science that are economically driven,
Indigenous Peoples, as the Original Stewards of this Land, must be involved in every
aspect of your actions – planning, development and implementation– to ensure the
protection of our Way of Life and to fulfill our obligations to the Creator and all Life.
Another concern stated in the report is that the Agency lacks personnel, knowledge and
funding. This means you lack the resources to fulfill your obligations to your laws,
international laws and the Creator’s Law and should not be allowed to proceed with any
plans until you are ready and able to be responsible for your actions and to fulfill all of
your obligations.

We, as Indigenous Peoples, have a great responsibility to our children and all Life that
must be honored and upheld. The covenant we have with the Creator requires us to
consider the impacts of our decisions on the Creator’s Creation and the impact these
decisions will have on the future of life. The Indigenous Elders, Medicine Peoples,
Spiritual Leaders, Wisdom Keepers, Spiritual People and Those Who Carry Great
Responsibilities for Their People will continue to fulfill their responsibilities to provide
a future for the coming generations of Life and must be included in all planning and
decisions affecting the natural system of life.
In order for us to move forward meaningfully we must first create a base understanding
between us, to ensure that we are agreeing to speak about sacredness in a manner that is
appropriate, respectful and with the dignity it requires. Otherwise, these discussions
will fail to address the concerns of the Indigenous Peoples and to honor the Secretary’s
request to create more effective policies for the protection of Indigenous sacred places.
We have much more to share with you outside of this very limiting and discriminatory
process, a process that does not reflect who we are as Indigenous Elders and Medicine
Peoples. We want to be very clear that this is not consultation. True consultation
requires those with decision-making authority to be willing to come to us formally, and
sit with us face-to-face. Then we can initiate a true dialogue on how to proceed
honorably to provide a future for All Life.

We are united under the Creator’s Law. We are from various Indigenous Nations and
are spiritually related. We have been placed on our lands as Aboriginal Indigenous
Nations of the People with sacred instructions and responsibilities placed within us by
the Creator to follow the Laws of the Creator. Your Agency uses terms like federally
recognized and federally unrecognized. We see this as your way of dividing the
Indigenous Peoples. We are united under the Creator’s Law, as United Indigenous
Nations, to protect and extend Life for all future generations.

We have worked through the Senior Advisor to Secretary Tom Vilsack to set up a two
and a half hour meeting on October 12, 2011. The Indigenous Elders and Medicine
Peoples intend to begin dialogue with Secretary Vilsack during this phone conference,
rather than continuing to have these discussions filtered through his representatives. The
Secretary is the representative for the United States regarding their position on the
protection of our Indigenous Sacred Lands. The Secretary’s participation or lack of
participation on this phone conference will reflect the United States commitment to
creating a working relationship with the Indigenous Elders and Medicine Peoples to
realign their way of life with the Creator’s natural system of life.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COUNCIL
Chief, Arvol Looking Horse
19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
Spiritual Leader
Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Nations
Bobby C. Billie
Clan Leader and Spiritual Leader
Council of the Original Miccosukee
Simanolee Nation Aboriginal People
-ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES TO FOLLOW

ORAL STATEMENT DELIVERED TO FRED CLARK, DIRECTOR OFFICE OF
TRIBAL RELATIONS ON OCTOBER 4, 2011

PUBLIC HEARING
On the Use & Preservation of Dook’o'osliid (San Francisco Peaks)

Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at City Hall, 5 p.m. in Flagstaff, AZ
open to the public

facebook.com/nnhrc

Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission will hold a public hearing to give Navajo and Non-Navajo citizens and other indigenous peoples’ an opportunity to give oral testimony about Dook’o'osliid as they relate to use, need for preservation, protection and all other issues.

Sponsored by the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission

www.nnhrc.navajo-nsn.gov

Aerial photos of the Holy San Francisco Peaks desecration.
Taken by John Running on Sept 7th.

Dated: Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Havasupai Tribe, Klee Benally, an activist Dineh (Navajo) youth, and the International Indian
Treaty Council, filed an Urgent Action / Early Warning Complaint with the United Nations (UN)
CERD Committee, on the desecration of Sacred San Francisco Peaks, Arizona. The complaint, filed late
Wednesday, August 17, 2011, focuses on recent actions by the Arizona Snowbowl’s clear-cutting of 40
acres of pristine forest and the laying of over 5 miles of a waste water pipeline in furtherance of a US
Forest Service and City of Flagstaff project to spray artificial snow made of waste water effluent on San
Francisco Peaks. On Thursday, August 18th, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, in representation of 20
recognized Indian Tribes and Nations1 filed a letter asking that they also be named in the complaint as
co-petitioners.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, known internationally as the CERD
Committee is charged with monitoring compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination
of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

The United States ratified the ICERD on 21 October 1994, and has an internationally legally binding
obligation to respect and not violate the human rights recognized in the ICERD, and to ensure that it
is not violated by third parties, including its agency the US Forest Service, the City of Flagstaff, and
private interests such as the Arizona Snowbowl.

Up to 1.5 million gallons of treated sewage effluent would be sprayed on Holy San Francisco Peaks
every day or more than 100 million gallons over the course of the winter ski season. And the city
of Flagstaff, Arizona, would profit by selling 180,000,000 gallons of its treated sewage to Arizona
Snowbowl for this purpose.

“Neither the courts nor the public fully understand our spiritual ceremonies and practices and our
spiritual relationship to the Earth,” said Klee Benally, the Navajo youth petitioner. “We have no
guaranteed protection for our religious freedom as Indigenous Peoples in the US. The Holy San
Francisco Peaks have been sacred to us since time immemorial, thousands of years before there was a
Columbus or a United States. The desecration of this Holy site is an act of cultural genocide.”

“The actions committed by the Arizona Snowbowl Inc., and the USFS reflect a perpetual disregard and
disrespect, as well as a gross violation of Indigenous peoples First Nations fundamental human rights
to live in accordance to their traditional and sovereign ways of life,” said Shannon Rivers, a Gila River
Native Community activist. “The Indigenous Nations who deem this sacred land and place a sacred
site will not sit idly by while Sacred San Francisco Peaks and our cultural and spiritual practices are
violated. All remedies, international as well as national must be used.”

“The international community and international law do not discriminate between religions; all are to
be respected equally under international law,” said Andrea Carmen of the International Indian Treaty
Council, an Indigenous Non-Governmental Organization with consultative status at the United Nations
and one of the petitioners. “For every skier enjoying the fake, sewage effluent snow, there is a Native
American who feels the desecration of this Sacred Place.”

The CERD Committee is expected to formally communicate the complaint to the United States and ask
for a response as to its position on the matter and make a decision soon thereafter.

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From Truesnow.org:

Silent Vigil August 23 – 4PM – City Hall

Water is Life, Don’t sell ours to Snowbowl!

Wear tape or a cloth or something covering your mouth to show how the council has forced silence on this issue!

On Tuesday August 23 we will hold Silent Vigil in front of City Hall and subsequently in city council meeting. It is time to stop for a moment and pay our respects to the plants, trees, animals, and insects who died or lost their homes in the clear-cuts that are taking place up on the mountain at the hands of Arizona Snowbowl.

It would only take four city council members with courage and vision to end this entire treated sewage effluent fiasco forever. With their simple vote to end the contract it could put an end to anger and racism and outright desecration and begin the healing process. It would also keep 180,000,000 gallons of water a year filtering through 1200 feet of volcanic rock back into our own aquifer, instead of dumping it directly above a perched aquifer on the peaks and uphill from the Hart Prairie aquifer. Flagstaff water for Flagstaff, don’t sell it to Snowbowl.

Please join us in the City Council meeting and let them know what their silence feels like. The council chambers can likely hold about 200 people, so come on down and help us fill the room. Let them know that water is life, don’t sell ours to Snowbowl.

By Klee Benally – www.IndigenousAction.org

On Saturday, August 13th 2011, after a prayerful gathering on the Holy San Francisco Peaks, my friends Mary Sojourner, Rudy Preston and I were arrested by “law-enforcement” agents for standing against desecration and eco-cide caused by Arizona Snowbowl ski area.
Since June 16th, 26 arrests have been made during protests when Snowbowl started furthering desecration and eco-cide on the Holy Peaks.

As a Snowbowl hired excavator operator tore into sacred earth, plants and boulders to extend the wastewater pipeline trench further up the Holy Mountain, 40 people gathered in prayer in a meadow directly across from the excavation. At times, bulldozers and the excavator were no more than 200 feet from the gathering, so the machinery made it nearly impossible for elders to speak. The noise completely disrupted statements and prayers made by those in attendance.

Although I am not sure how it started, shortly after the prayer gathering a group of 30 people started pushing rocks and dug-up dirt into the pipeline trench. As I watched from a distance, every rock being placed back in the trench–to heal the scarring of desecration–appeared more powerful than any petition I’ve ever read.

Two Forest Service agents, who had apparently been monitoring the prayer gathering, emerged from the woods as the spontaneous action unfolded.

At that point I approached the excavator operator and stated, “Stop. You have interrupted and interfered with our prayers. You must stop.” I then chained and handcuffed myself to stop the excavator.
I was joined by more than 30 people who began chanting and singing. We sang in a way that was a continuation of our prayers. I was chained to the machine for approximately 2 hours.
Forest Service and Coconino County Sheriffs ultimately cut me out after Louise Benally, from Big Mountain, agreed that it was OK for me to do so. I was charged by a sheriff for “trespassing” and “disorderly conduct.”

How can I be “trespassing” on this site that is so sacred to me? This is my church. It is the Forest Service and Snowbowl who are violating human rights and religious freedom by desecrating this holy Mountain. Although an appeal is in the court system Snowbowl is attempting to undermine judicial process. Additionally, Snowbowl and the Forest Service are violating the 2004 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that was signed with Indigenous Nations. This MOA stipulates consultation must occur prior to any construction, this has not meaningfully occurred, if at has occurred at all. Not to mention, the Forest Service and Snowbowl are in violation of the Environmental Impact Statement, as they have followed none of the mitigation measures either. Their actions are far beyond “disorderly.”

After my arrest and release, Mary Sojourner who is a local author and activist, confronted Forest Service and Coconino County Sherrifs. She walked up to the excavator in an effort to stop pipeline construction and was immediately cuffed and put into a police van.

Mary stated, “I took action not just for the Mountain, but for my friend, Klee Benally, who I saw chained to a monstrous extractor, the pipeline trenching machine that had been ripping into the mountain and the peaceful morning air as thirty of us prayed for the Mountain; and so that older women and men would see that one doesn’t have to be young to stand up for a place and community that you love.”

Rudy Preston, local Peaks advocate, was also arrested and charged with two counts of “disorderly conduct” and “trespassing”.

Rudy offered this statement, “I feel like the world changed forever yesterday. Our actions on Nuvatukya Ovi (San Francisco Peaks in Hopi) have led to me seeing the true horrors perpetuated on the Indigenous cultures of our community every single day. Even without sewer water on the mountain, the desecration is a systematic perpetuation of genocide on local peoples for centuries and it is just as strong now as when peoples were forced onto the Longest Walk. My eyes will never again close to this injustice. And my body will not perpetuate it.
”
All that has happened in the last month was made possible by like-minded individuals taking action of all kinds. I hope that others move out of their comfort zone a bit and create actions that reflect their part in this. Not everyone can march in the streets, not everyone can lock down, not everyone has a car. But we all love the mountain and you don’t need to wait for a ‘known organizer’ to tell you what to do next.”

As I, Klee, was chained to the excavator I said, “This is not a game. This is not for show. This is not for media. This is to stop this desecration from happening.”

While construction was only stopped for just about 2 hours, it was stopped nonetheless. This is power.
This is a power that we all share. If one person, three, six, or nine, can stand in the way of machinery and say “enough,” imagine what would happen if it was every one of us who cared?

What is at stake is our prayers, our ways of life, our cultural survival. This is why this has to stop. This is why we say, ‘No desecration for recreation, protect the peaks!’

For more info, action and to donate for jail support: www.indigenousaction.org or www.truesnow.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
protectpeaks@gmail.com
www.truesnow.org

Blockade Halts Ski Resort Destruction & Desecration of Holy Mountain

Flagstaff, AZ — August 8th, 2011. Nine people took direct action at 5:00 AM on Monday morning, blockading the ongoing destruction and desecration of the Holy San Francisco Peaks.  Nine individuals directly confronted the ecocidal actions of Arizona Snowbowl, halting their daily clear-cutting and pipeline excavation plans for eight hours. Responding sheriffs deputies immediately arrested the group’s police liaison, who was ensuring the safety of demonstrators. More than 50 law enforcement officials used industrial saws and a jack hammer to forcefully break apart the blockade.

“The action we took today is one part of a series of events with the intent to stop Snowbowl, the US Forest Service, and other corporations from further desecrating the Holy San Francisco Peaks,” stated Haley Coles after being released from jail. “The pipeline will not be tolerated. Spewed waste water turned into artificial snow will not be tolerated. Clear cuts, slash piles, and burning of hundred-year old trees will not be tolerated. The Holy mountain will be defended, and the desecration will be stopped; at whatever cost. We have the mountain on our side,” said Coles.

Stephen Zavodynik, also arrested during Monday’s blockade, stated, “Today, a small group of people decided that they had enough of wealthy investors, cultural genocide, and privileged white people who are indifferent to the destructive impacts of their recreational activities.  We decided to take matters into our own hands and you can too. Whatever you feel is sacred, defend it with all your heart and take a risk, because our future generations will not forgive inaction.”

“As a snowboarder, I support an immediate reversal of all construction related to the expansion and spreading of treated sewage on the sacred San Francisco Peaks. It is our obligation to act immediately to prevent ongoing cultural genocide and environmental destruction just miles from where we live, where old growth forest is culled using slash and burn foresting techniques while huge, diesel-powered machines cut into the earth in preparation for the import of hormones, carcinogenic chemical compounds, and fecal matter onto the highest reaches of the San Francisco peaks. Allowing Arizona Snowbowl to buy treated sewage from the City of Flagstaff is an absolute failure of our elected representatives to protect the civil rights of indigenous members of the Flagstaff community. I will continue to use any means necessary to protect the peaks and support my friends and community members.” stated Kennedy.

Jenna Tomasello, who was also part of the action, stated that “Almost all of our options have been exhausted. The US Supreme Court failed to protect religious freedoms of Native peoples.  The Flagstaff City Council has failed to meaningfully listen to its constituents who have consistently vocalized their opposition to Arizona Snowbowl development for decades.  And the US Forest Service has failed to protect the public from the environmental impacts of treated sewage effluent.  It is time for more people, wherever you are, to open your eyes. Respect the land of which we are dependent on and the people that the land has been stolen from.  The only choice for us is to take action against those who threaten Indigenous cultures, the environment and our future.  It’s frustrating that we had to do this in order to make this point clear.” stated Tomasello.

“For those of us who have chosen to fight the colonial strongholds, we have also chosen to fight for the minds that hold this power.  If harmony is to prevail, all beliefs attempting to control nature must be liberated.  We belong to the Earth; the Earth does not belong to us.” stated Tom Lang, who was part of the action.

All 10 arrested were released within hours due to strong outpouring of community support.

17 people have been arrested during a community “Week of Action to Protect the Peaks.” 23 arrests have been made since June 16, when 6 people locked themselves to Snowbowl excavators and inside sewage pipeline trenches.

“This was an autonomous action planned by those who took part. It was beautiful and powerful and very responsible. We took every measure to ensure our safety. Nobody was unwillingly put in the way.” stated Rudy Preston, the arrested police liason for the group. “The Civil Disobedience roadblock on the mountain was not a family event or publicized with the rest of the legal actions planned for the ‘Week of Action.’” stated Preston.

Since May 25, 2011, the owners of Arizona Snowbowl, with the support of the U.S. Forest Service and the Flagstaff City Council, have laid over five miles of a 14.8 mile wastewater pipeline and have clearcut over 40 acres of rare alpine forest. A current lawsuit against the Forest Service focusing on the human health impacts of wastewater snowmaking is still under appeal in the 9th Circuit Court.  The individuals involved in today’s action are separate from the Coalition involved in the lawsuit.

The San Francisco Peaks are Holy to more than 13 Indigenous Nations.
They are a place of worship, a place where deities reside, a place where offerings are made, where herbs are gathered, where emergence has occurred, and a location where other sacred religious practices take place .

Monday’s blockade to protect the Peaks joins four decades of sustained resistance to desecration of the Holy Peaks. Over the past three weeks since Snowbowl began clear-cutting, dozens of protest camps have been established on the mountain and solidarity actions have occurred in Phoenix and Los Angeles.

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CONTACT:
protectpeaks@gmail.com
www.truesnow.org

Flagstaff Police Aggressively Disrupt Protect the Peaks March
Six Arrested at Peaceful Protest

Flagstaff, AZ – August 7^th, 2011. More than one hundred people, including families with children and elders, marched through downtown Flagstaff on Sunday in protest of the destruction and desecration of the San Francisco Peaks by Arizona Snowbowl. Demonstrators first gathered at Wheeler Park where they were immediately ordered to leave the public park by the Flagstaff Police Department.  As the march wound through downtown Flagstaff demonstrators were met with positive responses and support while dozens of police – many out of uniform — harassed the demonstrators.  Police cars drove alongside the marchers.  As the protesters passed out flyers and carried banners through Flagstaff’s Southside, police violently disrupted the march, grabbing those who were closest to the street and arresting them.  As six marchers were handcuffed, the remaining demonstrators continued to yell demands for an end to the Peaks’ destruction.

“As long as Arizona Snowbowl, the Obama Administration’s Forest Service and the City of Flagstaff continue this ecocide and cultural genocide, we will not stop,” said Klee Benally (Dine’), one of the arrested marchers. “We will pray, march, protest, and take whatever action is necessary to ensure that our basic human rights, dignity and environment are safeguarded. Today’s unjustified force from the Flagstaff Police Department demonstrates that they are not on the side of justice or healthy communities. The Forest Service and City of Flagstaff are on the side of corporate interests that are destroying our communities.”

Since May 25, 2011, the owners of Arizona Snowbowl, with the support of the U.S. Forest Service and the Flagstaff City Council, have laid over five miles of a 14.8 mile wastewater pipeline and have clear-cut over 40 acres of rare alpine forest. A current lawsuit against the Forest Service, focusing on human health impacts of wastewater snowmaking, is still under appeal in the 9th Circuit Court.  The individuals at today’s march are separate from the Coalition involved in the lawsuit.

Sunday’s march joins four decades of sustained resistance to desecration of the Holy Peaks. Over the past three weeks since Snowbowl began clear-cutting, dozens of protest camps have been established on the mountain.

“The Week of Action is a culmination of efforts to directly address the lack of political will of the Forest Service and City Council to safeguard the community, public health and cultural rights,” said Nadia Del Callejo who was arrested while simply video taping the incident.

“The same profit driven push that has desecrated the Peaks, is the same sickness that has lead to the militarization of the border and is now trying to desecrate South Mountain, which is sacred to all O’odham.” said Alex Soto (Tohono  O‘odham ) who was also arrested, “Sacred sites are under attack, but today we said no. Our solidarity in these struggles is re-establishing our traditional networks of support ”

Demonstrators invite everyone to join them Monday, August 8, 12:30pm at the United States Coconino National Forest Service Office at 1824 S. Thomson St, Wednesday, 12:30pm at High Desert Investment at 504 E Butler Ave and Wednesday, 4:00pm at Flagstaff City Hall.

Protesters vowed to not stop until the desecration of the Peaks stops.  “I am not afraid of what will happen to me if I protest, what I am more afraid of is what will happen if I do not stand up for what the Peaks are,” Stated Del Callejo.

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50 Take Streets of Flagstaff, Police Abduct One

On Friday, August 5th, more than 50 people marched through the streets of downtown Flagstaff to raise awareness of Arizona Snowbowl’s eco-cide and desecration of the Holy San Francisco Peaks. The march was part of a week of action to bring community members together to protect the Peaks.

On May 25th 2011, authorized by the the Obama Administration’s Department of Agriculture and US Forest Service, owners of Arizona Snowbowl began further destruction and desecration of the Holy San Francisco Peaks. Since then Snowbowl’s crew of a handful of workers has laid over 5 miles of the planned 14.8 mile wastewater pipeline. They have cut a six foot wide and eight foot deep gash into the Holy Mountain.  Snowbowl is currently in the process of clear-cutting more than 30,000 trees and burning slash-piles.

Before the march began Flagstaff Cops kicked protestors out of Hopi Square, demonstrators continued nearby flyering and engaging in a spontaneous community forum about the issue.

Carrying banners that read, “Stop Snowbowl Cultural Genocide” and chanting, “Community Health Over Corporate Wealth!” marchers walked and took the streets for more than two hours distributing flyers.

A member of Youth of the Peaks, an Indigenous youth organization, witnessed Flagstaff Police Department Officer Simpson badge #41 texting “dealing with mother f–kers.” A crowd erupted in protest as he was reprimanded by a superior officer. An “official” report of misconduct was later filed against him.

A 2-story banner reading, “Environmental Degradation, Cultural Genocide, Racism, Public Health Threat. Don’t Regret Today. Destroy Snowbowl,” was hung over the square where hundreds of people were gathered during Flagstaff’s monthly Art Walk.

At approximately 7:30PM, as the crowd of 50 marchers crossed Aspen St., a Flagstaff cop grabbed one person from behind and arrested him for “obstructing a public thoroughfare.”

“Native Rights, Human Rights, Public Health, and respect descend on the heiarchy of social perception; while big brother and businessmen exchange hand shakes, lady liberty smiles oil, uncle sam perpetuates environmental disorder, and effluent water delivers the slope of tears.” stated Ron Thompson, who was arrested and released less than 3 hours later. “I had no descrepancies being selected in the school of fish by the shark to represent the voice of the unheard. That voice is the civic duty of the free society and the fines of tyranny will always cost more than obstruction of public thoroughfare.”

Some protestors creatively contributed political

art to “Art Walk” by hanging signs that read, “I love eating poop snow.”

Messages such as, “Your Silence Doesn’t Stop the Truth” were also projected onto buildings along with images of Snowbowl’s recent clear-cutting of the Holy Mountain.

Indigenous youth also held a “Zombie March” with over two dozen young people dressed as Zombies symbolizing the public health threat sewage effluent snowmaking poses.

From August 4-9, 2011 events are planned in Flagstaff, Arizona to protest Snowbowl ski area and the Obama administration’s US Forest Service sanctioned desecration of the holy San Francisco Peaks.

Upcoming Events:
Sun. 7th – MARCH FOR THE PEAKS! – 12:30PM
Meet and start in Wheeler Park downtown Flagstaff, AZ. Bring banners and signs.

Mon. 8th – RALLY AT USFS OFFICE! – 12:30PM
At Coconino Forest Service Office – 1824 S. Thompson St. Flagstaff, AZ (Near AZ Daily Sun off of Old Rt. 66)  Come on your lunch hour.  Bring banners and signs.

Tues. 9th -PROTEST HIGH DESERT INVESTMENT & CITY HALL!
PROTEST HIGH DESERT INVESTMENT – 12:30PM
504 E Butler Avenue (across from New Frontiers)

PROTEST CITY HALL – 4:00PM
Meet at Flagstaff City Hall on Rt 66 side.  Bring banners and signs, drums and song.

BACKGROUND:

Although a current legal battle is under appeal, Snowbowl owners have chosen to undermine judicial process by rushing to construct the pipeline.

Encampments have been established on the holy Mountain in protest of the destruction and desecration.

All are welcome to camp and bear witness to Snowbowl’s desecration.

For more than a dozen years Indigenous Nations, environmental activists, and concerned community members have worked together to protect the holy site and surrounding area from further ecological destruction, public health threats, and spiritual desecration.

Arizona Snowbowl’s development plans include clear-cutting 74 acres of rare alpine habitat that is home to threatened species, making new runs and lifts, adding more parking lots and building a 14.8 mile buried pipeline to transport up to 180 million gallons (per season) of wastewater to make artificial snow on 205 acres. The Peaks are central to the ways of life of more than 13 Indigenous Nations.  The use of wastewater undermines internationally recognized rights of Indigenous people; rights that the Forest Service and administration is obliged to protect.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Converge on the Mountain!
Join an established base camp or start your own.
More info: www.truesnow.org

Contact Flagstaff City Officials and urge them to RESPECT the environment, Indigenous culture, and protect public health by finding a way out of their contract to sell Snowbowl wastewater!
PHONE: (928) 779-7600
EMAIL: council@flagstaffaz.gov

Contact Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and express concern that there was no meaningful public process when the agency approved wastewater for snowmaking. File a complaint and demand full public review!

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
1110 West Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
(800) 234-5677 – Toll Free

Northern Regional Office
1801 West Route 66, Suite 117
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
(877) 602-3675 – Toll Free

www.azdeq.gov/function/compliance/complaint.html

Contact the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which heads the Forest Service, and urge them to revoke the Special Use Permit for Arizona Snowbowl for greater public interest.
The USDA has been holding hearings on protection of sacred places due to the Peaks controversy. Urge the USDA to immediately place an administrative hold on all development on the San Francisco Peaks!

CALL CRAIG JOHNSON USFS TRIBAL LIASON IN FLAGSTAFF, AZ AT: 928 525 6578.

Tom Vilsack
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250

Phone: 202-720-3631

Email: TribalSacredSites@fs.fed.us

Send Letters to the Editor of your local papers.
Arizona Daily Sun: rwilson@azdailysun.com

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How long will we allow the destruction and desecration to continue?
Take action for Sacred Sites, Human Rights, Environment, Public Health, Community, Respect!

PROTECT THE PEAKS!
WEEK OF ACTION
August 4-9, 2011
Flagstaff, AZ

ALL EVENTS RAIN OR SHINE!
(Please come prepared with rain gear)

Thurs. 4th – BANNER MAKING – 5:30PM
At Taala Hooghan Infoshop – 1704 N 2nd St.

Fri. 5th – AWARENESS MARCH – 5:30PM
Meet at Heritage Square downtown Flagstaff. We will walk through downtown and hand out flyers.

Sat. 6th – DAY OF PRAYER – ALL DAY
Organized by Youth of the Peaks. Pray where you are.
A gathering will also be held near Snowbowl parking lot by Humphrey‘s Trail at 11AM.

Sun. 7th – MARCH FOR THE PEAKS! – 12:30PM
Meet and start in Wheeler Park downtown Flagstaff, AZ. Bring banners and signs.

Mon. 8th – RALLY AT USFS OFFICE! – 12:30pm
At Coconino Forest Service Office – 1824 S. Thompson St. Flagstaff, AZ (Near AZ Daily Sun off of Old Rt. 66)  Come on your lunch hour.  Bring banners and signs.

Black & White printable flyer

Tues. 9th -PROTEST HIGH DESERT INVESTMENT & CITY HALL!
PROTEST HIGH DESERT INVESTMENT – 12:30PM
504 E Butler Avenue (across from New Frontiers)

PROTEST CITY HALL – 4:00PM
Meet at Flagstaff City Hall on Rt 66 side.  Bring banners and signs, drums and song.

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO TAKE ACTION:

Join the encampments!
Join a current camp or start your own.
Come camp for a day or more, or just visit to support the encampments.

Donate supplies or funds.

MORE INFO: www.TrueSnow.org
Contact: protectpeaks@gmail.com
(928) 600-0856

Dear friends, family, neighbors, and allies,

The time is now!  We are the people we’ve been hoping for!  Join us in support of protecting the Holy San Francisco Peaks from further desecration and destruction.

A group of us, calling ourselves the Cook Shack, are starting a base camp in support of the current encampment and convergence on the Holy San Francisco Peaks on Friday, July 15th.  We are an affinity based group who believe that the destruction and desecration must end now for the physical, emotional, and spiritual dignity, health and well-being of all people in the present and in future generations.

CookShack goals are very simple:

Join us for a few hours, a day, a week or a month: If you find yourself in affinity with us and would like to join us or support us and other base camps, please stop by Taala Hooghan Infoshop (1704 N. 2nd St. East Flagstaff AZ 86004) or e-mail us at PTPcookshack@gmail.com to drop off supplies and/or get more info.  Connect with us before Friday morning and go with us to the mountain to set-up camp!!!

We remind folks that this is a drug/alcohol/hater free encampment, and we support a diversity of tactics and strategies.  Please come as self sufficient as possible.

We encourage everyone to answer the calls to action and start their own affinity groups and their own base camps!!! Please visit www.truesnow.org for the latest info.

We need the following… please remember we’re camping when making your donations!

To be able to survive:

To be able to camp:

To be able to cook:

To be able to document and communicate:

To be able to support each other:

If you think of something else that isn’t on this list that we or other base camps might need, please don’t hesitate to donate.

We thank you for all your love, support and spirit!

The CookShack Base Camp!

E-mail us – ptpcookshack@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter – @ptpcookshack
Friend us on Facebook – Peaks CookShack