Contact: Klee Benally, Save the Peaks Coalition, 928-380-2629
coalition@savethepeaks.orgwww.savethepeaks.org
Tribes and Environmental Groups Join in Legal Defense of Sacred Mountains
Save the Peaks Coalition Caravan and Vigil in Pasadena, California
Flagstaff, AZ - December 11th, 2007 the legal battle to determine the fate of a Northern Arizona mountain held holy by more than thirteen Native American Nations, will come to a Pasadena, California courtroom. On October 17th, 2007 the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the U.S. Forest Service and an Arizona ski resort the opportunity to challenge a previous decision by the court, which had blocked the ski area from making fake snow from treated sewage effluent on the sacred San Francisco Peaks, and expanding some areas.
The Save the Peaks Coalition (STPC), a volunteer group, formed in 2004 to protect the Sacred Mountain, will join with youth and elders from Navajo, Hopi, Apache, Havasupai and other nations to caravan from Arizona to attend the court proceedings in Pasadena, CA.
“We call upon all those who value respect, community health, cultural diversity and human rights to stand with us.” Said Francis Tso a volunteer with STPC. “Our way of life is in danger. The mountain eco-systems are in danger. The economic interests of one private business operating on public lands are pitted against environmental integrity, public health and cultural survival for Indigenous Peoples.”
The Save the Peaks Coalition and tribal representatives will be holding a prayer vigil and rally at the Pasadena courthouse during the proceedings. All are invited to attend.
Other events are also being organized internationally and nationally to support the tribes and environmental groups efforts to protect the sacred Peaks.
The Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort, located on the sacred Peaks, is attempting to expand its development, clear-cut acres of old growth trees, and make fake snow from wastewater, which has been proven to have contaminants. A coalition of tribes and environmental groups have filed lawsuits against the U.S. Forest Service, which leases the public land to the Snowbowl, to stop this proposed development.
Lawyers in the case will present oral arguments on December 11, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. at the US Court of Appeals located at 125 South Grand Avenue in Pasadena, California.
"The decision of the Ninth Circuit to rehear this case is regrettable. It means that the Court will reconsider the case - not that it has reversed any decision at this point. It is, however, even more regrettable that our federal government seems to place the profitability of a privately owned, non-destination ski area, that operates on federal land, over the deeply held religious and cultural convictions of hundreds of thousands of Native Americans living in the southwestern United States." said Howard Shanker, of the Shanker Law Firm, PLC, representing the Navajo Nation, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the Yavapai-Apache Tribe, the Havasupai Tribe, Rex Tilousi, Dianna Uqualla, The Sierra Club, The Center for Biological Diversity, and the Flagstaff Activist Network. Shanker, who is running for Congress in Arizona’s Congressional District 1, further provided that, "this situation is indicative of the fact that we need better laws and lawmakers who
are willing to stand up and be counted in the face of this type of injustice. The continued pursuit of the use of reclaimed waste water to make snow on the San Francisco Peaks should be an affront to all people of conscience everywhere."
On March 12, 2007 the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court decision and ruled in favor of the tribes and environmental groups. The court determined that the proposed ski area development would violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
In the 9th Circuit ruling, Judge William A. Fletcher stated, “We are unwilling to hold that authorizing the use of artificial snow at an already functioning commercial ski area in order to expand and improve its facilities, as well as to extend its ski season in dry years, is a governmental interest of the highest order.” The court also stated, "If Appellants do not have a valid RFRA claim in this case, we are unable to see how any Native American plaintiff can ever have a successful RFRA claim based on beliefs and practices tied to land that they hold sacred."
The 9th Circuit decision had been hailed as a victory for Religious Freedom, Environmental Justice & Cultural Survival.
21 Arizona tribes had passed a resolution calling on the Bush Administration not to appeal the 9th Circuit ruling and to repair damage done to tribal relations due to controversy created by the proposed ski area development.
"Why in 2007, do we as America's first people have no guarantee for protection of our religious freedom?" said Jeneda Benally a volunteer with the Save the Peaks Coalition. "The case to protect the Holy San Francisco Peaks demonstrates the need for further protection of Native American religious freedom and rights in this country. We will continue our dedication to save the Peaks until we have our human rights fully upheld."
“If you desecrate this sacred mountain it is like destroying the Mormon chapel or other churches through out the world, even Mecca a holy place, what will be next what if it's your place of worship?” Said Avery Denny, a member of the Dine’ (Navajo) Hataali Association which is involved in the lawsuit to protect the holy Mountain.
The Save the Peaks Coalition is also calling for a national day of prayer for the Peaks.
“We recognize that there are many people who cannot join us in our efforts so we urge them to pray where they are.” Said Jeneda Benally. “We all must take action in order to protect sacred sites and defend human rights for our future generations.” Said Benally.
The Save the Peaks Coalition will also be holding a Flagstaff vigil to support the protection of the Sacred Mountain on Tuesday, December 11th at 4:00 p.m. at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff, AZ.
The caravan will depart for Pasadena, CA from Flagstaff, AZ on Monday, December 10th at 8:30 a.m. If you are interested in joining the caravan or organizing an event please email us at coalition@savethepeaks.org or call (928) 527-1431.
For information, updates on events or to donate for travel expenses please visit: www.savethepeaks.org.
November 21, 2007
Saami action for human rights
Saarivuoma Saami Village: http://www.saarivuoma.se/
Norway is violating International Law in their conduct against the Saami People in Sweden – Nobody is taking any action!
Demonstration/protest in Stockholm November 23, 2007 against the judicial assaults on the Saami People. Norwegian arrogance and superiority, and swedish passiveness work together when Norway runs over the swedish Saamis on their traditional summer reindeer- grazing areas. The norwegian state has during the last years, been allowed to terrorize the swedish Sami People in a multitude of different ways, when they have been on their reindeers summer-grazing areas in Norway.The swedish authorities has not lifted a finger, when the norwegian state has torn down reindeer-nouns, unlawfully driven away large herds of reindeers and continually expressed repeated threats of heavy fines for Saami villages situated on the swedish side of the nationstate border. Now the Saami villages react against the passiveness of the swedish government in this matter, knowing how quick both Norway and Sweden usually reacts, when other countries violates human rights and international laws.This is the reason why Saarivuoma Saami village, along with other Saami villages and Saami organisations, now has been forced to take this drastic measure, to make the world listen. - This is totally unreal. We cannot live with a state that terrorizes and hunt us, inspite of that we are on our own lands that we have lived on and cultivated in thousands of years – long before there was a norwegian state, says the Chairman of Saarivuoma Saami village mr Per-Anders Nutti. - We have to draw attention to this matter. We cannot fight against a hostile state, on our own. This is why we are going to Stockholm now, to show our intentions and hand over protestletters to both the swedish Foreign Ministry and the Norwegian Embassy. The today, still valid Border treaty between Norway and Sweden, the so called Lappkodicills of 1751, confirms the strong rights that swedish reindeerhusbandry hold in Norway.The Lappcodicills, were earlier regulated with the Reindeergrazing convention, between the countries.The latest convention went out of effect in 2005 and there has not yet been any agreement made, on a new convention. Norway has since then, singlehandedly decided to regulate the Saami Peoples customary rights lands, with their own so called convention law. This law is created in violation of human rights and international law, beacuse it does not follow the Lappkodicills which presupposes and agreement between the two states. The Swedish Government has admittedly declared that the new norwegian law is in violation of the Lappkodicills, and therefore violates international law. But Sweden still has not taken any action in this matter, which is very strange, since both Sweden and Norway are staunch defenders of human rights and international law, when other contries violates them, and often react very fast on such violations. - Sweden usually reacts very fast to defend human rights and international law, on the international arena. It is now time, to defend your own Indigenous Peoples at home, aswell, says Mr Nutti. For more information contact: Per Anders Nutti, Chairman of Saarivuoma Saamivillage. Cellphone: 0046 – (0)70-213 58 41 Henrik Johannes Blind, Saarivuoma saamivillage and acting traditional Saami security officer according to the Lappkodicill regulations. Cellphone: 0046- (0)73-089 86 83 Olov J Sikku, responsible for presscontactsolov.sikku@same.net0046-(0)70-171 80 34 FACTS: THE LAPPKODOCILLS OF 1751 The Lappkodicills of 1751 is the still today valid Border Treaty between Norway and Sweden. This treaty confirms the strong rights that the swedish reindeer husbandry has in Norway.The Lappkodicills has the status of law, both in Sweden and Norway, and is in its current form not possible to dismiss.The Lappkodicills has in more detailed form been regulated by the Reindeer grazing convention, that was negotiated between the two states.Since 2005 there are no Reindeer grazing convention in effect, which means that the Lappkodicills regulations alone are in effect. 1972 YEARS REINDEERGRAZING CONVENTION 1972 years Reindeergrazing Convention resulted in that the swedish Saamis were pushed away and restrained from use of 70% of their customary rights lands in Norway, during a timeperiod of 33 years. Saarivuoma Saami village were shut out from the Altevann area. This has resulted in the loss of millions of swedish crowns, that the Saami people has had to pay in fines and additional surveillance costs, beacuse of these unnatural borders that have been imposed on them. The Reindeergrazing Convention of 1972 was established against the will of the Saami National Association and a number of Saami Villages clearly expressed rejection.No compensation has been payed out to the swedish Reindeerhusbandry for their loss of these lands. NORWEGIAN CONVENTION LAW – is in violation of international law and human rights Norway decided on their own, their new so called “Convention law” of 2005 to regulate the lands included in the Lappkodicills. The former Minister of foreign affairs, Mrs Laila Freiwalds, in May 2005, that the attitude of the swedish government towards Norways newly founded convention law, was that it violates the Lappkodicills and therefore violates international law and human rights. Also the current Swedish Government agrees to this same attitude, but has up to this date remained passive. None of the highest Saami political entities has acted, either. THE ALTEVANN CASE of 1968 Saarivuoma and Talma Saami villages were awarded an on private rights founded ,reindeerhusbandry right in the Altevann area in the region ( fylke) of Troms in Norway, in a fixed ruling of Norways Highest Court, in 1968 – the so called Altevann case ( April 20 1968 L. Nr 42 nr 8/1966 )The case concerned the regulation of water in the Lake of Altevann. http://www.saarivuoma.se/
Norway is violating International Law in their conduct against the Saami People in Sweden – Nobody is taking any action!
Demonstration/protest in Stockholm November 23, 2007 against the judicial assaults on the Saami People. Norwegian arrogance and superiority, and swedish passiveness work together when Norway runs over the swedish Saamis on their traditional summer reindeer- grazing areas. The norwegian state has during the last years, been allowed to terrorize the swedish Sami People in a multitude of different ways, when they have been on their reindeers summer-grazing areas in Norway.The swedish authorities has not lifted a finger, when the norwegian state has torn down reindeer-nouns, unlawfully driven away large herds of reindeers and continually expressed repeated threats of heavy fines for Saami villages situated on the swedish side of the nationstate border. Now the Saami villages react against the passiveness of the swedish government in this matter, knowing how quick both Norway and Sweden usually reacts, when other countries violates human rights and international laws.This is the reason why Saarivuoma Saami village, along with other Saami villages and Saami organisations, now has been forced to take this drastic measure, to make the world listen. - This is totally unreal. We cannot live with a state that terrorizes and hunt us, inspite of that we are on our own lands that we have lived on and cultivated in thousands of years – long before there was a norwegian state, says the Chairman of Saarivuoma Saami village mr Per-Anders Nutti. - We have to draw attention to this matter. We cannot fight against a hostile state, on our own. This is why we are going to Stockholm now, to show our intentions and hand over protestletters to both the swedish Foreign Ministry and the Norwegian Embassy. The today, still valid Border treaty between Norway and Sweden, the so called Lappkodicills of 1751, confirms the strong rights that swedish reindeerhusbandry hold in Norway.The Lappcodicills, were earlier regulated with the Reindeergrazing convention, between the countries.The latest convention went out of effect in 2005 and there has not yet been any agreement made, on a new convention. Norway has since then, singlehandedly decided to regulate the Saami Peoples customary rights lands, with their own so called convention law. This law is created in violation of human rights and international law, beacuse it does not follow the Lappkodicills which presupposes and agreement between the two states. The Swedish Government has admittedly declared that the new norwegian law is in violation of the Lappkodicills, and therefore violates international law. But Sweden still has not taken any action in this matter, which is very strange, since both Sweden and Norway are staunch defenders of human rights and international law, when other contries violates them, and often react very fast on such violations. - Sweden usually reacts very fast to defend human rights and international law, on the international arena. It is now time, to defend your own Indigenous Peoples at home, aswell, says Mr Nutti. For more information contact: Per Anders Nutti, Chairman of Saarivuoma Saamivillage. Cellphone: 0046 – (0)70-213 58 41 Henrik Johannes Blind, Saarivuoma saamivillage and acting traditional Saami security officer according to the Lappkodicill regulations. Cellphone: 0046- (0)73-089 86 83 Olov J Sikku, responsible for presscontactsolov.sikku@same.net0046-(0)70-171 80 34 FACTS: THE LAPPKODOCILLS OF 1751 The Lappkodicills of 1751 is the still today valid Border Treaty between Norway and Sweden. This treaty confirms the strong rights that the swedish reindeer husbandry has in Norway.The Lappkodicills has the status of law, both in Sweden and Norway, and is in its current form not possible to dismiss.The Lappkodicills has in more detailed form been regulated by the Reindeer grazing convention, that was negotiated between the two states.Since 2005 there are no Reindeer grazing convention in effect, which means that the Lappkodicills regulations alone are in effect. 1972 YEARS REINDEERGRAZING CONVENTION 1972 years Reindeergrazing Convention resulted in that the swedish Saamis were pushed away and restrained from use of 70% of their customary rights lands in Norway, during a timeperiod of 33 years. Saarivuoma Saami village were shut out from the Altevann area. This has resulted in the loss of millions of swedish crowns, that the Saami people has had to pay in fines and additional surveillance costs, beacuse of these unnatural borders that have been imposed on them. The Reindeergrazing Convention of 1972 was established against the will of the Saami National Association and a number of Saami Villages clearly expressed rejection.No compensation has been payed out to the swedish Reindeerhusbandry for their loss of these lands. NORWEGIAN CONVENTION LAW – is in violation of international law and human rights Norway decided on their own, their new so called “Convention law” of 2005 to regulate the lands included in the Lappkodicills. The former Minister of foreign affairs, Mrs Laila Freiwalds, in May 2005, that the attitude of the swedish government towards Norways newly founded convention law, was that it violates the Lappkodicills and therefore violates international law and human rights. Also the current Swedish Government agrees to this same attitude, but has up to this date remained passive. None of the highest Saami political entities has acted, either. THE ALTEVANN CASE of 1968 Saarivuoma and Talma Saami villages were awarded an on private rights founded ,reindeerhusbandry right in the Altevann area in the region ( fylke) of Troms in Norway, in a fixed ruling of Norways Highest Court, in 1968 – the so called Altevann case ( April 20 1968 L. Nr 42 nr 8/1966 )The case concerned the regulation of water in the Lake of Altevann. http://www.saarivuoma.se/
Alcatraz Island Sunrise Gathering Thursday
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Please double click to enlarge to read about special guests.Indigenous People's Sunrise Gathering and Community Feast at Intertribal Friendship House
The Indigenous People's Thanksgiving Sunrise Ceremony commemorates the 1969-1971 occupation of Alcatraz Island by the "Indians of All Tribes."
This event is one day, Thursday, November 22, 2007.
Ticket sales and boarding begins at 4:00 am. The first departure from Alcatraz Landing is at 4:15 am with 5 additional departures leaving Alcatraz Landing approximately every 15 minutes. The last departure from Alcatraz Landing will be at 5:30 am.
Boats begin returning from Alcatraz Island at the conclusion of the Sunrise Gathering Ceremony. Participants are welcome to stay on Alcatraz to take the award-winning cellhouse tour beginning at 9:00 am. The cell-house tour is not offered before 9:00 am.
Tickets can be purchased:http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/sunrise-gathering.aspx
or by calling 415 981-7625 or at the Pier 33 Ticket Booth.
The ticket booth opens at 4:00 am on Thursday, November 22, 2007. Tickets are $12.00 per person. Children 5 and under are free.
Free community dinner to be held afterwards at Intertribal Friendship House
Dinner is from 1:00- 4:00 PM. Bring a side dish to share!523 International Blvd. Oakland, CA 94606
Volunteers to set up/clean up cook and serve are still needed.1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
If you would like to volunteer come before 12:00 noon to help serve and we need help to clean up!
If you would like to contribute please contact Morning Star Gali at: mstargali@gmail.com
Sheriff Arpaio says its an honor to be compared to KKK
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says it's an HONOR to be compared to KKK
Check out this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFTUQ71Aq0o
Contact the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to demand accountability.
Fulton Brock (R) District 1 fbrock@mail.maricopa.gov
Don Stapley (R) District 2 dstapley@mail.maricopa.gov
Andrew W. Kunasek (R) District 3 akunasek@mail.maricopa.gov
Max W. Wilson (R) District 4 mwwilson@mail.maricopa.gov
MaryRose Wilcox (D) District 5 http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mrwilcox@mail.maricopa.gov
!Take Action!
Black Friday Boycott Racism Protest
Friday November 23rd1:00 PM to 4:00 PM35th Street and Thomas
In front of Pruitts Furniture Background:
http://www.barriozona.com/pruitts_store_confrontantion.htmlhttp://www.barriozona.com/
Check out this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFTUQ71Aq0o
Contact the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to demand accountability.
Fulton Brock (R) District 1 fbrock@mail.maricopa.gov
Don Stapley (R) District 2 dstapley@mail.maricopa.gov
Andrew W. Kunasek (R) District 3 akunasek@mail.maricopa.gov
Max W. Wilson (R) District 4 mwwilson@mail.maricopa.gov
MaryRose Wilcox (D) District 5 http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mrwilcox@mail.maricopa.gov
!Take Action!
Black Friday Boycott Racism Protest
Friday November 23rd1:00 PM to 4:00 PM35th Street and Thomas
In front of Pruitts Furniture Background:
http://www.barriozona.com/pruitts_store_confrontantion.htmlhttp://www.barriozona.com/