Celebrating Stopping a Nuclear Waste Dump in the Mojave Desert
28th Annual 'Ground Zero' Spiritual Gathering
Photos by Molly Johnson, Censored News, Feb. 21, 2026
Fort Mojave Rez Life Bird Singers joined by Bird Singers from Chemehuevi, at the 28 Annual Ward Valley Spiritual Gathering on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026
Nora McDowell, Fort Mojave, chair of the tribe during the Save Ward Valley fight, is a protector of cultural and natural resources along the Colorado River. Dave Harper, Colorado River Indian Tribes, was one of the liaisons between the Tribes and the encampment during the occupation. Photo by Molly Johnson
Fort Mojave Rez Life Bird Singers joined by Bird Singers from Chemehuevi. Photo by Molly Johnson
Fort Mojave Rez Life Bird Singers. Photo by Molly Johnson
Merial Scott, Colorado River Indian Tribe, Nora McDowell, Fort Mojave, Sue Senn, Peace and Dignity Journeys, and Molly Johnson.
Honoring the grave of Stormy Williams: California Communities Against Toxics, Phil Klasky and Ward Young, BAN Waste Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition, forever protecting this Sacred Land. Photo by Molly Johnson
Thank you Molly Johnson for sharing your photos with Censored News.
The People Stopped a Nuclear Waste Dump
Censored News
The Bird Songs once again guided those who have lived in the Mojave Desert since time immemorial, home to a safe haven.
Llewellyn Barrackman, Mohave elder, said, "The Mojave have no place to go. This is our home."
'The Birdsingers Rhythmic Journey Home'
Llewellyn Barrackman, Mohave elder, said, "The Mojave have no place to go. This is our home."
"We are the Pipa Aha Macav, the people along the river, instructed by the Creator to protect it." Barrackman's words, before he passed to the Spirit World, were at Ward Valley, during the 113-day Occupation which halted a nuclear waste dump on sacred land in 1998.
Here, led by Mojave, Chemehuevi, Quechan, Cocopah and Colorado Indian Tribes, the Occupation faced off law enforcement, and not only survived in the desert, but celebrated a victory here.
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Photos copyright Molly Johnson
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