Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

February 11, 2016

Native Americans Oppose Gas Leases in Southwestern Colorado


.


Native Americans oppose gas leases: Statement to BLM 'Fracking threatens water and archaeological sites'

Posted at Censored News
English and Dutch

February 11, 2016
By Hand Delivery
Ruth Welch
Director
Colorado State Office
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
2850 Youngfield St.
Lakewood, CO 80215
Re:   Tribal Concerns with Federal Fossil Fuel Leasing in Colorado
Statement of Concern
We, the undersigned individual Tribal Members and representatives of Independent Native American Environmental movements from the Four Corners Area, have been asked for our input regarding recently proposed Federal Gas Leases outside our current “Reservation” Boundaries, but on lands traditionally used by several tribes in Dolores County, Colorado.
Since the 1950’s the Four Corners area has been termed a “National Sacrifice Area” which allowed for unchecked mining of uranium and coal. There is a well-documented history of health problems among our people which can be directly connected to the mining and milling of uranium and the mining and burning of coal.
Recently the fracking boom has brought massive changes to our country with hundreds of new well-pads, roads, storage tanks, pipelines, and open venting of methane gasses on an unprecedented scale. The effects of this boom have been enormous and always adverse.
We know that aquifers are affected by injection wells and have had our share of water problems already from the recent boom. In Counselor, New Mexico the water has already been cut off to residents and the school due to fracking concerns.
Dolores County has more known archaeological sites than any other county in Colorado and these sites, although currently under control of the United States, have always been held in great reverence by our Native People. When we go near these old ruins we do so with respect. Our elders tell us not to pick up artifacts and children are told to be quiet and not play on the ruins because the “Old Ones” are still present there.
Native people have been at the forefront of climate change solutions. We have participated in international discussions on climate change in New York and in Paris where the United States agreed with every other country on Earth that we need to urgently address climate change.
Therefore, we believe that it would be unwise to continue allowing extractive industries to take any more fossil fuels from Federal Land. When and if these sacred places are returned to Native People, we would like them not to be ruined.
Our children, both native and non-native will inherit this earth together. Our collective future is not mutually exclusive and we believe that we are all related. We borrow this earth from our grandchildren and it would be tantamount to child neglect to ruin this land for short-term financial gain.
Keep it in the ground.
Signed:

Organizations:

Black Mesa Water Coalition

Diné Citizens Against Ruining the Environment

Dooda Desert Rock

Dooda Fracking

Dyspatch

Nihígaal bee liná

Individuals:

Adam Dolezal, Diné Nation
Berkeley, California

Alison McCabe, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Anita McCabe, Diné Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Audrey Cooper, Lenape Nation
Ithaca, New York

Aurora Truijillo, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Carol Johnson, Diné Nation
Durango, Colorado

Cheyenne Antonio, Diné Nation
Pueblo Pintado Chapter, New Mexico

Chili Yazzie, Diné Nation
Shiprock, New Mexico

Dallas Bitsue, Diné Nation
Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Daniel Tso, Diné Nation
Aztec, New Mexico

Desiree McCabe, Diné Nation
Fruitland Chapter, New Mexico

Dirius Jim, Diné Nation
Chinle Chapter, New Mexico

Ed Becenti, Diné Nation
Window Rock, Arizona

Elouise Brown, Diné Nation
Burnam Chapter, New Mexico

Ira M Vandever, Diné Nation
Baca-Pruitt Chapter, New Mexico

Jihan Gearon, Diné Nation
Flagstaff, Arizona

Joshua B Nelson, Cherokee Nation
Norman, Oklahoma

Joshua J Concha, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Joyce L Barkley, Saint Regis Mohawk Nation
Akwasasne, New York

Kenneth Augustine, Diné Nation
Nageezi, New Mexico

Kim Howe, Diné Nation
Shiprock, New Mexico

Kim Smith, Diné Nation
St Michaels, Arizona

Larry W Emerson, Diné Nation
Tsedaak’aan, New Mexico

Laura Red Elk, Diné Nation
Pueblo Pintado Chapter, New Mexico

Lori Goodman, Diné Nation
Durango, Colorado

Louise Benally, Diné Nation
Flagstaff, Arizona

Lyla June Johnston, Diné Nation
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Maria Jim, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Mercury Bitsuie, Diné Nation
Houck Chapter, New Mexico

Naki Lewis, Diné Nation
Pinedale Chapter, New Mexico

Nick Ashley, Diné Nation
Black Mesa, Arizona

Patricia McCabe, Diné Nation
Taos, New Mexico

Remy Fredenberg, Diné Nation
Forest Lake, Arizona

Scott Perez, Akwasasne Mohawk Nation
Mancos, Colorado

Scott D Peters, Akwasasne Mohawk Nation
Akwasasne, New York

Shaine Degroat, Diné Nation
Fort Defiance, Arizona

Shell Shorty-Floyd, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Thomas Johnston, Cheyenne Nation
Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Whitney Mauer, Piscataway Nation
Ithaca, New York



Cc:    Barack Obama, President of the United States of America
        Sally Jewell, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior
Brian Deese, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States
Neil Kornze, Bureau of Land Management Director
        Diana DeGette, Congresswoman Colorado District 1
        Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Colorado District 7
        Russell Begaye, Navajo Nation President

Dutch translation by Alice Holemans, NAIS


Home » Nieuws » * Native Amerikanen nemen stelling tegen gas leases in zuidwest- Colorado

Leave.jpg

* Native Amerikanen nemen stelling tegen gas leases in zuidwest- Colorado


Verklaring van Native Amerikanen aan Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Fracking bedreigt water en archeologische sites in zuidwest- Colorado!

February 11, 2016
By Hand Delivery
Ruth Welch
Director
Colorado State Office
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
2850 Youngfield St.
Lakewood, CO 80215
Re:           Tribal Concerns with Federal Fossil Fuel Leasing in Colorado
Statement of Concern
We, the undersigned individual Tribal Members and representatives of Independent Native American Environmental movements from the Four Corners Area, have been asked for our input regarding recently proposed Federal Gas Leases outside our current “Reservation” Boundaries, but on lands traditionally used by several tribes in Dolores County, Colorado.
Since the 1950’s the Four Corners area has been termed a “National Sacrifice Area” which allowed for unchecked mining of uranium and coal. There is a well-documented history of health problems among our people which can be directly connected to the mining and milling of uranium and the mining and burning of coal.
Recently the fracking boom has brought massive changes to our country with hundreds of new well-pads, roads, storage tanks, pipelines, and open venting of methane gasses on an unprecedented scale. The effects of this boom have been enormous and always adverse.
We know that aquifers are affected by injection wells and have had our share of water problems already from the recent boom. In Counselor, New Mexico the water has already been cut off to residents and the school due to fracking concerns.
Dolores County has more known archeological sites than any other county in Colorado and these sites, although currently under control of the United States, have always been held in great reverence by our Native People. When we go near these old ruins we do so with respect. Our elders tell us not to pick up artifacts and children are told to be quiet and not play on the ruins because the “Old Ones” are still present there.
Native people have been at the forefront of climate change solutions. We have participated in international discussions on climate change in New York and in Paris where the United States agreed with every other country on Earth that we need to urgently address climate change.
Therefore, we believe that it would be unwise to continue allowing extractive industries to take any more fossil fuels from Federal Land. When and if these sacred places are returned to Native People, we would like them not to be ruined.
Our children, both native and non-native will inherit this earth together. Our collective future is not mutually exclusive and we believe that we are all related. We borrow this earth from our grandchildren and it would be tantamount to child neglect to ruin this land for short-term financial gain.
Keep it in the ground.
Signed:

Organizations:

Black Mesa Water Coalition

Diné Citizens Against Ruining the Environment

Dooda Desert Rock

Dooda Fracking

Dyspatch

Nihígaal bee liná

Individuals:

Adam Dolezal, Diné Nation
Berkeley, California

Alison McCabe, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Anita McCabe, Diné Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Audrey Cooper, Lenape Nation
Ithaca, New York

Aurora Truijillo, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Carol Johnson, Diné Nation
Durango, Colorado

Cheyenne Antonio, Diné Nation
Pueblo Pintado Chapter, New Mexico

Chili Yazzie, Diné Nation
Shiprock, New Mexico

Dallas Bitsue, Diné Nation
Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Daniel Tso, Diné Nation
Aztec, New Mexico

Desiree McCabe, Diné Nation
Fruitland Chapter, New Mexico

Dirius Jim, Diné Nation
Chinle Chapter, New Mexico

Ed Becenti, Diné Nation
Window Rock, Arizona

Elouise Brown, Diné Nation
Burnam Chapter, New Mexico

Ira M Vandever, Diné Nation
Baca-Pruitt Chapter, New Mexico

Jihan Gearon, Diné Nation
Flagstaff, Arizona

Joshua B Nelson, Cherokee Nation
Norman, Oklahoma

Joshua J Concha, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Joyce L Barkley, Saint Regis Mohawk Nation
Akwasasne, New York

Kenneth Augustine, Diné Nation
Nageezi, New Mexico

Kim Howe, Diné Nation
Shiprock, New Mexico

Kim Smith, Diné Nation
St Michaels, Arizona

Larry W Emerson, Diné Nation
Tsedaak’aan, New Mexico

Laura Red Elk, Diné Nation
Pueblo Pintado Chapter, New Mexico

Lori Goodman, Diné Nation
Durango, Colorado

Louise Benally, Diné Nation
Flagstaff, Arizona

Lyla June Johnston, Diné Nation
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Maria Jim, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Mercury Bitsuie, Diné Nation
Houck Chapter, New Mexico

Naki Lewis, Diné Nation
Pinedale Chapter, New Mexico

Nick Ashley, Diné Nation
Black Mesa, Arizona

Patricia McCabe, Diné Nation
Taos, New Mexico

Remy Fredenberg, Diné Nation
Forest Lake, Arizona

Scott Perez, Akwasasne Mohawk Nation
Mancos, Colorado

Scott D Peters, Akwasasne Mohawk Nation
Akwasasne, New York

Shaine Degroat, Diné Nation
Fort Defiance, Arizona

Shell Shorty-Floyd, Tewa Nation
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Thomas Johnston, Cheyenne Nation
Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Whitney Mauer, Piscataway Nation
Ithaca, New York


Cc:            Barack Obama, President of the United States of America
                Sally Jewell, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior
Brian Deese, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States
Neil Kornze, Bureau of Land Management Director
                Diana DeGette, Congresswoman Colorado District 1
                Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Colorado District 7
                Russell Begaye, Navajo Nation President

No comments: