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27th Annual Ward Valley Victory Celebration and Spiritual Gathering For the Desert Tortoises, Sacred Running Trails and Future Generations By Bradley Angel, Greenaction |
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By Bradley Angel, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice
Censored News, Feb. 21, 2025
WARD VALLEY, California -- Two hundred members of the Fort Mojave, Quechan, and Colorado River Indian Tribes were joined by allies on February 15th for the 27th Annual Ward Valley victory celebration and spiritual gathering. The annual celebration commemorates the 113-day tribal-led occupation of federal land at Ward Valley that began February 12, 1998 to stop industry and government plans to build a nuclear waste dump on environmentally sensitive land that is sacred to many of the Native Nations along the lower Colorado River.
The 113-day occupation ultimately forced the White House to drop plans for the nuclear waste dump, an epic and historic victory that the river tribes and environmental justice and indigenous supporters continue to celebrate each year.
This year’s celebration was once again hosted by the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, and the tribe’s band kicked off the events along with a Youth Spirit Run. In front of the sacred fire, Mojave Bird Singers sang as dozens of women and girls in traditional dress danced in celebration. The event’s MC and speaker was Ft. Mojave Councilwoman Celina Reyes, and other speakers included tribal leaders from Fort Mojave and Quechan, Mojave youth, Preston Arrow-weed from Quechan, Greenaction Director Bradley Angel, and Jane Williams of California Communities Against Toxics.
While the participants proudly remembered and celebrated this great victory that protected Ward Valley, the desert tortoise, and the nearby Colorado River, everyone was aware that there are new threats from the Trump/Musk administration that is trying to eliminate regulations and laws that are supposed to protect the environment, civil rights, and Indigenous sacred lands and rights Participants called for continued unity in the face of these new threats to Mother Earth.
WARD VALLEY, California -- Two hundred members of the Fort Mojave, Quechan, and Colorado River Indian Tribes were joined by allies on February 15th for the 27th Annual Ward Valley victory celebration and spiritual gathering. The annual celebration commemorates the 113-day tribal-led occupation of federal land at Ward Valley that began February 12, 1998 to stop industry and government plans to build a nuclear waste dump on environmentally sensitive land that is sacred to many of the Native Nations along the lower Colorado River.
The 113-day occupation ultimately forced the White House to drop plans for the nuclear waste dump, an epic and historic victory that the river tribes and environmental justice and indigenous supporters continue to celebrate each year.
This year’s celebration was once again hosted by the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, and the tribe’s band kicked off the events along with a Youth Spirit Run. In front of the sacred fire, Mojave Bird Singers sang as dozens of women and girls in traditional dress danced in celebration. The event’s MC and speaker was Ft. Mojave Councilwoman Celina Reyes, and other speakers included tribal leaders from Fort Mojave and Quechan, Mojave youth, Preston Arrow-weed from Quechan, Greenaction Director Bradley Angel, and Jane Williams of California Communities Against Toxics.
While the participants proudly remembered and celebrated this great victory that protected Ward Valley, the desert tortoise, and the nearby Colorado River, everyone was aware that there are new threats from the Trump/Musk administration that is trying to eliminate regulations and laws that are supposed to protect the environment, civil rights, and Indigenous sacred lands and rights Participants called for continued unity in the face of these new threats to Mother Earth.
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