YOU are invited to join the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Greenaction and other friends and allies at the 27th annual celebration of the 113-day occupation of federal land at Ward Valley that stopped plans for a nuclear waste dump on indigenous sacred land in an environmentally sensitive area near the Colorado River.
On February 12, 1998 as federal police were assembling to arrest tribal membes and supporters occupying the proposed dump site, the five Native Nations along the lower Colorado River, Greenaction, and many others peacefully occupied the land, placing barricades in the road as the Indigenous spiritual leaders, Elders and members began ongoing ceremonies. The standoff began at midnight, as hundreds of us led by the Elders and other tribal members and leaders blocked the police from entering, and we held the land for 113 days until the White House backed down. This was one of the most awesome, powerful, and beautiful victories in the history of the Environmental Movement.
The celebration will take place Saturday, February 15th starting 8 am California time (the flyer says 9 am as the Mojaves use Arizona time) at Ward Valley which is about 22 miles west of Needles, California, off the Water Road exit on Interstate 40. It will start promptly on time, kicking off when the Mojave Spirit Runners arrive at the site and the Ft. Mojave tribal band starts playing. There's plenty of places to camp, and
lodging in Needles.
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