Manataka American Indian Council
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/culutral_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.