Dine' Medicine Men's Formal Objection to Desecration of Dook’o’oosliid, San Francsico Peaks

DINE’ MEDICINE MEN ASSOCIATION FORMAL STATEMENT OF OBJECTION 
December 4, 2019 
US Forest Service and Arizona Snowbowl Agassiz Chairlift Replacement and Upgrade Proposal

To: Cal Joyner, Regional Forester, 333 Broadway Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Responsible Officials: Calvin Joyner, Regional Forester
Laura Jo West, Forest Supervisor Coconino National Forest
Previous Comments: Dine’ Medicine Men Association
provided previous comments on August 30, 2019

We are continually discriminated against by federal agencies as they require us to reply in black and white, with a foreign language that is not our own and does not convey the full depth of our concerns.

Background

The Dine’ Be’ Nanagha’ Yee’ Da’Aho’ta’ (Dine’ Medicine Men Association, Inc.) is an established non-profit organization incorporated with the Navajo Nation since the early 1970s. We are an established and recognized organization of the Navajo Nation, we neither function with remuneration, nor as an established operation with specific sites. We are a membership of traditional apologists, spiritual Dine’ hataalii (healers), prophets, cultural educators, wisdom keepers, medicine people, elders and traditionalists who have come together willingly to maintain, protect and promote the Dine’ way of life, intellectual knowledge, right to self- determination and the fundamental right to worship the Great Spirit according to our sacred (holy) protocols.

Arizona Snowbowl protest photos: Today at DEW event

News as it happens from Censored News: Protest of Arizona Snowbowl, sewage water snow on sacred San Francisco Peaks, at today's DEW event in Flagstaff, Arizona. Thank you to Dawn Dyer for sharing photos with Censored News!
French translation by Christine Prat

Read more: Flagstaff police harass activists before Dew event:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2014/02/flagstaff-police-harass-activists.html

Dine' youths' 'Doo'ko'oosliid' on Link TV

Doo'ko'oosliid : 

San Francisco Peaks 

The most viewed film today at the Green Film Festival, Culture Unplugged!

Watch online:

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/12271

Camille Manybeads Tso

Director: Camille Manybeads Tso and Kira Butler | Producer: Rachel Tso
Genre: Documentary | Produced In: 2011 | Story Teller's Country: United States

Tags: Americas, Earth As Mother, Indigenous Rights, Spiritual Awareness, United States

Synopsis: Dine' youth explore their, and their community's, relationship with Doo'ko'osliid, the San Francisco Peaks in Northern Arizona. Film made by Dine' youth during the Peace and Film 5 Day Peer Leadership Summer Camp. An example of Place-Based Media Arts.

Peaks Tree Sit Rally and March, Tues., Aug. 21, 2012

Photo by Dawn Dyer/Thank you from Censored News!

Tree-sit Halts Snowbowl Pipeline Construction

Rally and March from City Hall to be Held

Video Interview with James Kennedy: http://youtu.be/I2XMtLiX1pk

ALERT TUESDAY
Protesters locked to tree arrested, tree sitter remains
‎10:41am - TREE-SIT UPDATE: SUPPORT NEEDED. James' (tree-sitter) life in danger! They are trying to move his anchors which are his life lines.
‎10:00 AM - TREE-SIT UPDATE: Cops, detectives, fire department arrived.
8:30 am: Two people have locked down to protect tree sitter!
7:30 am: Machinery cutters arrived to cut out tree sitter.
Support needed!
WHAT: Rally and March from City Hall to Tree-sit to address environmental & public health threats
WHEN & WHERE: Meet at City Hall at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, and then walk to Thorpe Park to rally, drum, sing, and express support for the tree-sitter defending public health and the Peaks at 6:30 PM.
WHO: Concerned community members, tree-sitter James Kennedy and ground support crew.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz -- On the morning of Monday August 20th, 2012 a tree-sit was established to protect our community and our children from the City of Flagstaff’s sanctioning and use of hazardous treated sewage, which contains antibiotic resistant genes, in our public spaces. The ropes securing the tree-sit stretch across the projected path of the City of Flagstaff’s and Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort's treated sewage effluent pipeline, currently under construction on Mars Hill near Thorpe Park.


James Kennedy Peaks tree sitting
Photo Protect the Peaks

NAU student and Flagstaff community member James Kennedy climbed into a large ponderosa pine tree early in the morning securing himself to pipeline trench digging equipment with a "lifeline" that, if moved, would threaten his life.

"Today was nothing short of amazing, I think we have sent a clear message on the urgency of protecting our communities and environment," stated James. "I am not sure how a city that sells millions of gallons of water to corporate interests will respond, but with so much recent research indicating the dangers of contact with wastewater, i am optimistic. I will be here until I see tangible results to the listed demands, however long it takes until this rigging is unsafe to use." James said.



Photo by Dawn Dyer

According to the Arizona Daily Sun Lt. Lance Roberts, of Flagstaff Police Department stated, “We’re not going to go up there and get him at this time… We’re just going to let them do their thing and hopefully it won’t rain today.”

At approximately 3:00 PM five Fire Department officials arrived on the site. They carelessly ignored ground supporters who cautioned them not to touch a "lifeline" that connects the tree-sitter to a large machine used for digging pipeline trench.

Tree-sitter and ground crew need the continuous presence of supporters throughout the day and night to bare witness and ensure the safety of this peaceful act of resistance. People are welcome all day, please visit www.ProtectThePeaks.org for directions and for more ways to support.

We invite those of you who believe in the safety and health of our children, the sanctity of our environment, and the protection of public water to demand that:

- The City of Flagstaff rescind the wastewater contract with Snowbowl!
- An immediate moratorium on the City of Flagstaff's use of treated sewage effluent in public spaces where any person may come in contact with reclaimed wastewater, until new research and technology is available to mitigate long-term environmental & community health risks.
-The use of public water in this desert climate of Flagstaff with only a projected 25-38 years of water left for people’s consumption, should be cleaned and used for people to drink, not for a private corporation to make a profit.
-President Obama fulfill campaign promises to protect human rights and sacred sites.

City of Flagstaff Mayor and Council:
PHONE: (928) 779-7600
EMAIL: council@flagstaffaz.gov

Peaks Contact:
Contact: Ariana Sauer (602) 388-3726
Xander Vautrin@ (847) 334-7212
protectpeaks@gmail.com
www.protectthepeaks.org

Tree Sit Halts Snowbowl Pipeline Construction

Tree-Sit Halts Pipeline Construction

Protester Demands Clean Water and Clean Snow

Contact: Ariana Sauer

Xander Vautrin

protectpeaks@gmail.com

Directions to tree sit below

THURSDAY: Tree Sitter makes emergency descent due to lightning
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/08/peaks-tree-sitter-makes-emergency.html

This morning we erected a tree-sit to protect our community and our children from the City of Flagstaff’s sanctioning and use of hazardous treated sewage, which contains antibiotic resistant genes, in our public spaces. The ropes securing this tree-sit stretch across the projected path of the City of Flagstaff’s and Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort's treated sewage effluent pipeline, currently under construction on Mars Hill near Thorpe Park.

After years of construction delays, court challenges, and resistance from community members, a 14-mile sewage pipeline that Snowbowl would like to see carrying millions of gallons of treated sewage effluent yearly from the City of Flagstaff to Snowbowl is near completion. Snowmaking is scheduled to begin at the end of November, when a combination of pharmaceutical, industrial, commercial, and household discharge will be sprayed from snow machines onto the San Francisco Peaks.

“If they choose to continue construction, they must publicly account for my life among the diversity of human and non-human beings their ecocide threatens.”said James Kennedy, the NAU student who currently sits atop the more than 75ft tall ponderosa pine tree. “For the purity of our water, for the safety of our community, and for the health of a fragile alpine ecosystem, we must halt this pipeline!”

Xander Vautrin, an on the ground supporter of the tree-sit believes “The City of Flagstaff, the Forest Service, and the Snowbowl Corporation are recklessly disregarding the safety of the greater public, of wildlife, our water and our environment by refusing to consider the long-term impact of exposure to wastewater. “


Recently published research conducted on treated sewage effluent in Flagstaff has found antibiotic resistant bacteria after completion of the treatment process. Though reduced by treatment, the bacteria “dramatically rebounded at the point of use.”¹This pipeline constitutes an urgent public health risk, as antibiotic resistance renders modern drugs ineffective against dangerous bacterial infections. This threatens the life of those in our community already at risk: the elderly, the sick, and the very young.

Additional research recently published in the Flagstaff Noise demonstrated a clear danger to plant life irrigated with wastewater, illustrating a serious threat to Groundsel, an endangered plant found only on the San Francisco Peaks.

“All water is connected. It is illogical and dangerous to believe that the effects of antibiotics, contraceptive hormones, industrial contaminants, and microbial pathogens —all found in Flagstaff’s treated sewage effluent—will be limited to a few runs on Snowbowl or to the Lowell Observatory grounds,” stated Derek Minnobloom another on-the-ground supporter of the tree-sit.

“Our public officials have failed all of us - not only to ensure our public safety, a clean healthy future for our water and our children - but also to protect the rights of indigenous peoples whose land we’re on,” stated Ariana Sauer, a volunteer with ProtectThePeaks.org and a tree-sit supporter. “This action is in solidarity with the thirteen indigenous nations who hold this mountain sacred.”

We invite those of you who believe in the safety and health of our children, the sanctity of our environment, and the protection of public water to demand that:

- The City of Flagstaff rescind the wastewater contract with Snowbowl!

- An immediate moratorium on the City of Flagstaff's use of treated sewage effluent in public spaces where any person may come in contact with reclaimed wastewater, until new research and technology is available to mitigate long-term environmental & community health risks.

-The use of public water in this desert climate of Flagstaff with only a projected 25-38 years of water left for people’s consumption, should be cleaned and used for people to drink, not for a private corporation to make a profit.

-President Obama fulfill campaign promises to protect human rights and sacred sites.

—Protect People - Clean Water, Clean Snow! –

 Note to Editor and Reporter:

Interview with James Kennedy, NAU student and tree-sitter, available upon request.

High resolution video and photos available
DIRECTIONS TO TREE-SIT have arrived!:

Come show your support! Bring signs, banners, and friends! The tree sit is located just off of Mars Hill Road, on the way to Lowell Observatory. From Thorpe Park, walk up Mars Hill Road approximately 1000 feet to a dirt shoulder on your right, at the beginning of the first horseshoe curve, where boulders block access to a dirt road. Follow the dirt road 300 feet north to large (incapacitated) machinery.

IF police are present, best bet is to stay off roads, within park boundary--i.e. out of Lowell Scientific Preserve private property. Walk in trees to right of Mars Hill Rd til you come to dirt road, then follow to your right, staying on the park side of the fence.

Forest Service abuses Native ceremonies in Arizona and California

July 8, 2012 at 1:57 pm

Chief Arvol Looking Horse present as Forest Service desecrates
 sacred fire on San Francisco Peaks. Photo by Libby Williams

Forest Service desecrates sacred fire on San Francisco Peaks, after similar abuse of Winnemem Wintu ceremony in California

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Thank you to Indigenous Action Media
http://www.indigenousaction.org/
and Winnemem Wintu


French translation: Thank you Christine:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.fr/2012/07/forest-service-abuses-native-ceremonies.html
http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=882
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Armed agents from the Coconino Country Forest Service and Coconino County Sheriffs enforced desecration of the sacred fire of Native Americans holding a ceremony for the San Francisco Peaks on Friday.
Lakota Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, was among the medicine people present when the sacred fire was desecrated.
Speaking on the importance of the sacred fire, Native medicine people said, "We have been placed on our lands as Aboriginal Indigenous Nations of the People with sacred instructions and responsibilities placed within us by the Creator to follow the Laws of the Creator."
Although the ceremony had received a permit, apparently the head of Coconino Forest Department changed his mind. Indigenous Action Media reports that law enforcement agents arrived armed with a K-9 unit and one person was issued a citation.

Chief Caleen Sisk issued citations.
Photo Winnemem Wintu

The action of the Forest Service in Arizona was similar to the abuse and trickery of Forest Service agents just days before, during a ceremony of the Winnemem Wintu in California.
A permit issued for a river closure to protect the sacred Coming of Age ceremony, was used against the Winnemem Wintu, who were cited.
"Acting Regional Forester Becki Heath told us before the ceremony that law enforcement wouldn't use our river closure against us. Instead, our chief received two citations for holding ceremony like we always have," Winnemem Wintu said in a statement today.  http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/07/forest-service-issues-citations-to.html )
On San Francisco Peaks in Arizona, U.S. Forest Service officials threatened Indigenous spiritual leaders, medicine people, and elders with legal implications if they kept alive the sacred fire at a ceremony on San Francisco Peaks, sacred to 13 area Native American Nations, including Navajos, Havasupai, Hualapai, Hopi and Pueblos.
Native Americans gathered issued a statement about the desecration. The desecration violated Native American religious freedom laws.
“Although a voluntary closure order for the Traditional Cultural Gathering was previously granted by Coconino Forest Supervisor M. Earl Stewart, Stewart apparently changed his position and issued the threat as the four day ceremony was initiated on July 4, 2012."
“When confronted by Forest Service officials, members of the Indigenous Elders and Medicine Peoples Council, the group hosting the Traditional Cultural Gathering, invited Forest Service officials to sit with elders to resolve the Forest Service’s concerns with the ceremonial fire. Coconino Forest Supervisor Stewart stated in a letter dated July 5, 2012, ‘non-compliance will result in citations for having a fire during restrictions and/or camping in a closure area without a special use permit.’”
Indigenous Elders and Medicine Peoples Council had worked to inform the Coconino National Forest of this ceremony since December 2011 and again met with Coconino Tribal Relations on February 27 and June 21 of 2012 to answer questions and to make sure the Forest Service was fully aware of the Council’s activities.
On May 17, 2012, the Forest Service was notified that a sacred fire was central to the Traditional Cultural Gathering.

Native Americans and medicine people issued this formal statement about the ceremony:
“The Creator gave the Aboriginal Indigenous Nations of the People Laws to follow and responsibilities to care for all Creation. These instructions have been passed down from generation to generation from the beginning of Creation. It is the Law that no one can overpower the Creator’s Law, you are a part of Creation, thus if you break the Law, you are destroying yourself.
“The Creator gave the Aboriginal Indigenous Nations of the People Laws to follow and responsibilities to care for all Creation. These instructions have been passed down from generation to generation from the beginning of Creation. It is the Law that no one can overpower the Creator’s Law, you are a part of Creation, thus if you break the Law, you are destroying yourself.
We speak on behalf of all Creation: the four legged/those that swim/those that crawl/those that fly/those that burrow in the Earth/the plant and tree Nations. This one life system includes the elements of fire, water, earth and air, the living environment of “Mother Earth”.

The Sanctity of the Creator’s Law has been broken. The balance of life has been disrupted. You come into life as a sacred being. If you abuse the sacredness of your life then you affect all Creation. The future of all life is now in jeopardy.

We have now reached the crossroads. As Aboriginal Indigenous People we ask you to work with us to save the future of all Creation.”

The Holy/Sacred Ceremonial Fire unites us as Aboriginal Indigenous Nations of the People on our threatened Holy/Sacred Mountain (San Francisco Peaks) on July 4-7th 2012.

The holy/sacred ceremonial fire renews our connection to all Creation, it carries our prayers and represents all life. When it pertains to our ceremony or ceremonial fire it is imperative for the Forest Service to acknowledge that the Indigenous Peoples are the sole authority on our culture and way of life and any decisions that do not attain our free, prior and informed consent are not consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

A great urgency is in our midst with the wind, water and fire showing it’s power because of the imbalance from over management. As these fires burn, throughout the west and around the world, they are forever disrupting and destroying not only homes of the two-legged, but also many lives and homes of the animal, plant and tree Nations.

After much time spent on educating the Forest Service on the importance of our role as the Original Caretakers of this Land. We feel great sadness for the Forest Service as they have given the Indigenous Elders and Medicine Peoples Council no choice. The choice to violate our own cultural protocols or face legal implications is not consistent with creating a working relationship with Indigenous Peoples. The holy/sacred fire will continue. We refuse to participate in this atrocity; it is up to the Forest Service to determine whether they will disrupt these prayers. We will have no part in this act! Our prayers are to protect the sanctity of the threatened sacred/holy mountain including forgiving those that continue to desecrate life. We are spiritual people and we maintain peace through our ceremonies.

We are united under the Creator’s Law. We are from various Indigenous Nations and are spiritually related. We have been placed on our lands as Aboriginal Indigenous Nations of the People with sacred instructions and responsibilities placed within us by the Creator to follow the Laws of the Creator. Federal agencies use terms like federally recognized and federally unrecognized. We see this as your way of dividing the Indigenous Peoples. We are united under the Creator’s Law, as United Indigenous Nations, to protect and extend Life for all future generations.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COUNCIL
Chief, Arvol Looking Horse
19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
Spiritual Leader
Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Nations
Bobby C. Billie
Clan Leader and Spiritual Leader
Council of the Original Miccosukee
Simanolee Nation Aboriginal People
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Contact to repost Censored News articles in full: brendanorrell@gmail.com
Photos are copyrighted by the photographers.

Hunger Strike for San Francisco Peaks Protection

Destruction of San Francisco
Peaks/Photo John Running/
Indienous Action Media

Flagstaff community members begin Hunger Strike for Protection of the San Francisco Peaks

Also: Resistance Trial for Klee Benally on June 12, 2012

By Joseph Sanders
Jessica Beasley
Posted at Censored News
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/06/hunger-strike-for-san-francisco-peaks.html
FRENCH TRANSLATION:

http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=769

http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=763

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Two young Flagstaffians announced the beginning of a hunger strike to call attention to human rights violations sanctioned by the US Forest Service and perpetrated by Arizona Snowbowl and the City of Flagstaff on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at a Flagstaff City Council meeting.  The announcement was made to current council members and mayor as well as incoming council members.
 
“We will begin our hunger strike today and continue until we have justice,” stated Jessica Beasley. “We are calling for community members to join us in our struggle for freedom and equality. We will be attending Flagstaff City Council meetings and encourage others to attend as well, until our voices are meaningfully heard.  We hope that other concerned individuals will also join us on the lawn at Flagstaff City Hall to publicly protest the aforementioned human rights violations.”
 
The hunger strikers are also urging everyone who cares about the desecration and destruction of the San Francisco Peaks to call or write Flagstaff City Officials and the US Forest Service to make their complaints known.
 
The statement read at the city council meeting is presented below in its entirety:
 
Until Snowbowl and the City of Flagstaff put the red-hot iron into our sides we were normal people leading normal lives.  The aforementioned parties either do not know, or do not care how much misery, strife and terror they are causing for a significant portion of the community.
As there has been a massive, decades-long outpouring of opposition, from a remarkably diverse cross-section of the community, to the expansion of Snowbowl and their plans to make artificial snow, it seems absurd that the aforementioned parties could actually be unaware of the devastating effects their decisions have had on certain members of our community’s ability to pursue life, liberty and happiness.  This is what causes us to believe that they do not care.
There are signs on the side of the roads as you enter Flagstaff stating, “We are building an inclusive community."
There are signs downtown urging us to use every drop of water “wisely”. There is nothing “wise” about using our already perilously limited water supply to pollute a pristine ecosystem in honor of lining Eric Borowsky’spockets.
There is nothing inclusive about defiling a place held sacred by the indigenous peoples of this area to make more room for a European leisure activity.  The cultural callousness of Snowbowl’s plans,and your allowance of their continuation is appalling.  We believe this to be a dereliction of your responsibility to serve the community as a whole.
We are sick and tired of elected officials the world over acting as though profiteering psychopaths like Eric Borowsky have some sovereign right to destroy what others cherish; to terrorize others simply because they control vast amounts of money and desire more.  There is no question in our minds about whether or not those who hoard money should be allowed to dominate the culture of a place or people.  We are fighting for equality and freedom.  Eric Borowskyis fighting against us.  What does this tell you about Eric Borowsky?
In closing, we are here to announce the beginning of a hunger strike for the San Francisco Peaks, the cessation of which is dependent upon the appeasement of three requests:
1.    The cancellation of the wastewater contract withSnowbowl.
2.    Snowbowl’s removal of the pipeline and remediation of areas damaged by their expansion.
3.    The creation of an agreement with the city of Flagstaff that there will be no further destruction of the San Francisco Peaks by Arizona Snowbowl, or any others.
Contact:
Joseph Sanders
jsanders4477@yahoo.com
Jessica Beasley
jrbeasley23@yahoo.com
Resistance: Trial for Klee Benally on June 12, 2012
Ya'at'eeh,
Trial has been set for Klee Benally's case in resistance to Forest Service sanctioned desecration of Holy San Francisco Peaks.

A bench trial will be held on June 12, 2012 at 3:30pm at Flagstaff Justice Court (located at the corner of Birch & San Francisco St.).
Please help us pack the courtroom!
This trial will be addressing charges from the August 13, 2011 action. Read more here: http://www.indigenousaction.org/direct-action-to-protect-holy-peaks-continues/
Additionally, you can contribute funds to support actions to protect the Holy San Francisco Peaks at www.indigenousaction.org.
Visit: www.truesnow.org or www.indigenousaction.org for more info.
Protect the Peaks! The Struggle Continues!
--
Klee Benally
indigenousaction@gmail.com | www.twitter.com/eelk
www.indigenousaction.org - Independent Indigenous Media
New: www.etsy.com/shop/Benally
Check out my jewelry and other items for sale on Etsy!
www.oybm.org - Indigenous Youth Empowerment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2F85d7iGX8
www.taalahooghan.org - Flagstaff Infoshop

Censored News: Best of five years of publishing

Bolivian President Evo Morales; United Native
Americans at Occupy United Nations in San Francisco:
Bad Bear's photo of Peltier rally in Reno on Saturday.

Censored News passes its 1 million hits mark, with these incredible stories

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Censored News, now in its sixth year, has passed its 1 million hits mark. Today, we're sharing some of the best of the best, the most popular articles, with the most hits, over the past five years.

The all time top story at Censored News:

Wikileaks revealed US espionage of Indigenous Peoples
Best of the Best 2011 #1 Wikileaks revelations
"In the Censored News pick for the Best of the Best in 2011, Wikileaks claims first prize. Wikileaks exposed the US corporate schemes, espionage, promotion of mining and efforts globally to halt passage of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."
Censored News exposed a coalition of five countries promoting mining in Peru, as Indigenous Peoples died defending their lands, as exposed in the US cables. Further, Censored News, with research by publisher Brenda Norrell, published the US cables exposing spying on the Mohawks, Mapuche, Bolivian President Evo Morales, Indigenous activists in South America, and more.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/12/wikileaks-revealed-us-espionage-of.html

Number 2: Banning of Books signals revolution in Tucson
With a list of the books seized by Tucson schools, Censored News reporter Brenda Norrell and columnist, professor and banned book author Roberto Rodriguez, both in Tucson, provided breaking news on the banning of America's top Chicano and Native American authors by Tucson schools, after Mexican American Studies was forbidden in January. Even the lies of Tucson school officials to NPR couldn't halt the impact of this article and those that followed.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/01/banning-of-books-signals-revolution-in.html

Number 3: Wikileaks: Canada's unauthorized wiretaps of Mohawks:
Before the release of the trove of US cables, this revelation was the first of many cables exposing illegal spying by the US and Canada on Mohawks:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2010/08/wikileaks-canadas-unauthorized-wiretaps.html

Number Four: Locked Down: Protests halts destruction on sacred San Francisco Peaks
Thanks to the Save the Peaks youths, who sent photos as it happened, the lock down to heavy equipment by Navajos and other Native Americans, and their supporters, on sacred San Francisco Peaks, near Flagstaff, Ariz., was a hit with readers at Censored News in 2011. The lock down, and the protests that followed, were largely ignored by the local Arizona Daily Sun, which continued to promote the corporate development and destruction caused by Arizona Snowbowl. The Snowbowl plans to make snow from sewage water on the mountain, where Native medicine people hold ceremonies and gather healing plants for medicine. San Francisco Peaks is sacred to 13 area Indian Nations.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/06/locked-down-protest-halts-snowbowl.html

Number Five: Lakotas to Diane Sawyer: Let Lakotas tell their story
While some Native Americans said they appreciated Diane Sawyer's "Hidden America, Children of the Plains," others said it was pathetic and paternalistic. Readers of Censored News said Lakotas must tell their own stories, rather than allowing a corporation to spoon-feed a contrived program of sugar-coated sympathy that refuses to document US colonization.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/10/lakotas-to-diane-sawyer-let-lakotas.html

This week's top story: Bad Bear's photos of Leonard Peltier rally in Reno, Nevada:
Carl 'Bad Bear' Sampson, Western Shoshone, shares photos from Saturday's rally for justice for Leonard Peltier in Reno, Nevada. Bad Bear walked across America twice in his twenties, on the Longest Walk northern route in 2008 and with the Renegade Walkers for Diabetes in 2011. Thanks to Bad Bear for sharing three years of his cellphoneography with Censored News.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/02/bad-bears-photos-reno-rally-for-leonard.html

FEB 8, 2012: Today's top story:
Native American Forum on Nuclear Issues: Feb. 27-29, 2012, Las Vegas
Speakers at the Native American Forum on Nuclear Issues, Feb. 27--29, include Margene Bullcreek, Goshute, who helped halt a toxic dump on Goshute land in Utah and Ian Zabarte, Western Shoshone, who is fighting the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump, while struggling to protect Western Shoshone lands from ongoing nuclear testing and desecration.
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/02/native-american-forum-on-nuclear-issues.html

Also topping today's hot list at Censored News:
Anons hack white supremacist network:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/02/anons-hack-white-supremacist-network.html
AIM West urges support for Navajo Apache victim of hate crime:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/02/aim-west-urges-support-for-navajo.html
Inequality between rich and poor highlighted by UN panel
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/02/inequality-between-rich-and-poor.html
US spies freak out over 1973 Wounded Knee photo, as they spy on Occupy Austin and Deep Green Resistance:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/01/us-spies-focus-on-wounded-knee-1973.html
Video: Indigenous Resistance: Occupy the United Nations
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/02/video-occupy-united-nations-2012.html
The Launching: Chumash book is history and medicine
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/02/launching-chumash-book-is-history-and.html
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Brenda Norrell, a news reporter in Indian country for 30 years, created Censored News after she was censored, then terminated, by Indian Country Today, after serving as a longtime staff reporter. During the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation, she was a news reporter for Navajo Times and a correspondent for AP, USA Today and other media. Today she is blacklisted by all the mainstream media and publishes Censored News without advertisements.
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LOCKED DOWN: Protest halts Snowbowl destruction on San Francisco Peaks

NEWS ALERT:
ACTIVISTS LOCKED DOWN TO EQUIPMENT TO PROTEST DESTRUCTION ON SACRED SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS

Article updated Saturday.
New photos posted Thursday night:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/06/photos-san-francisco-peaks-lock-down.html
French translation of this article:
http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=92

Protest Halts Snowbowl Pipeline Development Thursday

Six people were arrested and one taken to the hospital for heat exposure after they locked themselves to heavy machinery to protect sacred San Francisco Peaks from Snowbowl development. Five adults and one juvenile were arrested. Another juvenile was taken to Flagstaff Medical Center for excessive heat exposure.

Native Americans are protesting pipeline construction to the Snowbowl ski resort, which would carry sewage water for snowmaking. Native American medicine men gather herbs for healing on the mountain. Since time immemorial, the mountain has been sacred to 13 area American Indian Nations.

Kris Barney, Navajo, 22-year-old, was among those arrested. "Today, I took it upon myself to put out a message to the world about the importance of protecting Dooko'o'sliid, the Holy San Francisco Peaks. I was raised and taught to respect this mountain and all that lives and makes its home on her.

"With my involvement in physically attaching myself to an excavator I put my own health at risk in order to speak and act on behalf of all those who cannot speak for themselves: the birds, the plants, our Holy People and those yet unborn.

"This is a continuation of years of resistance, prayers, legal battles and with this action it is my hope that all Indigenous Peoples and others throughout North, East, South and West come together to offer support to the San Francisco Peaks and help put a stop to the Arizona Snowbowl's plan to further destroy and desecrate such a sacred, beautiful and pristine mountain. Our warriors I call all of you, wherever you are, to step up," Barney said.

On Thursday at sunrise, Navajos and others released a statement as they began this action.

"Today we take direct action to stop further desecration and destruction of the Holy San Francisco Peaks. We stand with our ancestors, with allies and with those who also choose to embrace diverse tactics to safeguard Indigenous People’s cultural survival, our community’s health, and this sensitive mountain ecosystem.

"On May 25th 2011, sanctioned by the US Forest Service, owners of Arizona Snowbowl began further destruction and desecration of the Holy San Francisco Peaks. Snowbowl’s hired work crews have laid over a mile and a half of the planned 14.8 mile wastewater pipeline. They have cut a six foot wide and six foot deep gash into the Holy Mountain.

"Although a current legal battle is under appeal, Snowbowl owners have chosen to undermine judicial process by rushing to construct the pipeline. Not only do they disregard culture, environment, and our children’s health, they have proven that they are criminals beyond reproach.

"Four weeks of desecration has already occurred. Too much has already been taken. Today, tomorrow and for a healthy future, we say 'enough!'" the group said. (See entire statement below.)

Those arrested were: Nadia del Callego, 27, Kristopher Barney, 22, Evan Hawbaker, 22, and Elizabeth Lavely, 28, Hailey Sherwood, 20, and two 16 year old juveniles. One of the juveniles was taken to the hospital for heat related illness.

Activists are protecting sacred San Francisco Peaks from Snowbowl pipeline construction, which would carry sewage water for snow. Native medicine men gather herbs for healing on the mountain, sacred to 13 area Indian Nations.

Photos: Rally Thursday afternoon in support of the Snowbowl action.

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Here's the statement of the defenders, before they locked themselves to heavy machinery and were arrested today:

Thursday morning, June 16, 2011
Contact: Beth Lavely
Tel: 928.254.1064
protectpeaks@gmail.com

*PROTECT THE PEAKS – STOP DESTRUCTION AND DESECRATION NOW!*

Today we take direct action to stop further desecration and destruction of the Holy San Francisco Peaks. We stand with our ancestors, with allies and with those who also choose to embrace diverse tactics to safeguard Indigenous People’s cultural survival, our community’s health, and this sensitive mountain ecosystem.

On May 25th 2011, sanctioned by the US Forest Service, owners of Arizona Snowbowl began further destruction and desecration of the Holy San Francisco Peaks. Snowbowl’s hired work crews have laid over a mile and a half of the planned 14.8 mile wastewater pipeline. They have cut a six foot wide and six foot deep gash into the Holy Mountain.

Although a current legal battle is under appeal, Snowbowl owners have chosen to undermine judicial process by rushing to construct the pipeline. Not only do they disregard culture, environment, and our children’s health, they have proven that they are criminals beyond reproach.

Four weeks of desecration has already occurred. Too much has already been taken. Today, tomorrow and for a healthy future, we say “enough!”

As we take action, we look to the East and see Bear Butte facing desecration, Mt. Taylor facing further uranium mining; to the South, Mt.

Graham desecrated, South Mountain threatened, the US/Mexico border severing Indigenous communities from sacred places; to the West, inspiring resistance at Sogorea Te, Moana Keya facing desecration; to the North, Mt. Tenabo, Grand Canyon, Black Mesa, and so many more… our homelands and our culture under assault.

We thought that the USDA, heads of the Forest Service, had meant it when they initiated nationwide listening sessions to protect sacred places. If the process was meaningful, we would not have to take action today.

More than 13 Indigenous Nations hold the Peaks Holy. The question has been asked yet we hear no response, “what part of sacred don’t you understand?”

For hundreds of years resistance to colonialism, slavery, and destruction of Mother Earth has existed and continues here in what we now call Arizona.

The United States recently moved to join the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, evidently the US has not currently observed and acted upon this declaration, otherwise we would not be taking action today. This document informs our action, we also assert that UNDRIP supports the basis for our action.

Article 11, 1: Indigenous peoples have the right to practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artifacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.

“Article 11, 2: States shall provide redress through effective mechanisms, which may include restitution, developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples, with respect to their cultural, intellectual, religious and spiritual property taken without their free, prior and informed consent or in violation of their laws, traditions and customs.”

“Article 12, 1: Indigenous peoples have the right to manifest, practice, develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies; the right to maintain, protect, and have access in privacy to their religious and cultural sites; the right to the use and control of their ceremonial objects; and the right to the repatriation of their human remains.”

“Article 25: Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard."

For nearly 4 decades, resistance to desecration and destruction of the Peaks has been sustained. Prayer vigils, petitions, lobbying, protests, and many diverse tactics have been embraced. Historic court battles have been fought.

We continue today resisting Snowbowl’s plan to spray millions of gallons of wastewater snow, which is filled with cancer causing and other harmful contaminants, as well as clear-cut over 30,000 trees. The Peaks are a pristine and beautiful place, a fragile ecosystem, and home to rare and endangered species of plants and animals.

Our action is a prayer.

We invite those of you who could not join us today and who believe in the protection of culture, the environment and community health to resist destruction and desecration of the Peaks:

- Join us and others in physically stopping all Snowbowl development!
- Honor and defend Indigenous Peoples’ inherent right to protect Sacred Places
- Resist colonialism and capitalism! Embrace diverse tactics to end Snowbowl’s and all corporate greed
- Demand USDA end Snowbowl’s Special Use Permit
- Demand that the City of Flagstaff Mayor and Council find a way out of their contract to sell wastewater to Snowbowl
- Demand that Arizona Department of Environmental Quality change its permission allowing wastewater to be used for snowmaking.


Also see:
Snowbowl and racism in the media:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/06/media-watch-snowbowl-and-racism-in.html
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More photos, video and news at
CENSORED NEWS HOMEPAGE:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Petition to Supreme Court to protect San Francisco Peaks

Tribes & Environmental Groups Petition Supreme Court in Appeal to Protect Religious Freedom & Environmental Integrity of Sacred Mountain

By Klee Benally
indigenousaction@gmail.com
http://www.savethepeaks.org/
Photo by Chuck Seiverd

FLAGSTAFF, AZ – On Monday, January 5th 2009, Tribes & environmental groups in Arizona filed a unified petition for the U.S. Supreme Court to hear appeals in a precedent setting legal battle to protect religious freedom and the ecological integrity of the holy San Francisco Peaks.

The slopes of the holy San Francisco Peaks, located in Northern Arizona, have been at the center of a historical and lengthy battle that has pitted economic interests on public lands against environmental integrity, public health and cultural survival. Arizona Snowbowl, a small private ski business that leases land from the U.S. Forest Service, is attempting to expand current development and use millions of gallons of recycled sewage water to make fake snow.

“This is an important case for the Supreme Court to hear. The Supreme Court, in a split decision, previously deprived Native Americans of First Amendment rights vis-à-vis sacred sites under the control of the federal government.” said Howard Shanker, who represents Navajo Nation, Havasupai Tribe, White Mountain Apache Nation, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, and the Flagstaff Activist Network. “This case represents the last, best chance for Native Americans to have some substantive protection of sites that they hold holy or sacred through application of existing law.” stated Shanker.
”In a country that supposedly values the free exercise and accommodation of all religion, it is unconscionable that Native American religious and cultural beliefs have essentially been relegated to second-class status by the federal government. The Supreme Court now has an opportunity to right this wrong.” Shanker said.

Tribes' primary arguments have focused on religious freedom issues by utilizing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which they had hoped would provide the necessary legal protection where other laws such as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act have failed.

“The proposed development at Snowbowl, particularly the use of treated sewage effluent for snowmaking, would have profound effects upon the ability of several tribes to engage in vitally important religious practices at the sacred San Francisco Peaks.” said Jack Trope of the Association on American Indian Affairs who is working together with DNA Legal Services, representing the Hualapai Tribe, Navajo medicine practitioner Norris Nez and Hopi spiritual practitioner Bill Preston. “The en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit’s narrow interpretation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in this case, which rejected the claims of the tribal plaintiffs, conflicts with the intent of Congress and the interpretation of the law by other Circuits. For these reasons, we have asked the Supreme Court to review this case in order to clarify the law and interpret it in a manner that would require the government to show a compelling interest in this case (and similar cases) before it can implement its land management decision. We do not believe that the government can show that approval of the Snowbowl development is in fulfillment of a compelling governmental interest.” Trope said.

The Forest Service manages the San Francisco Peaks as public land and has faced multiple lawsuits by the Navajo Nation, Hopi, White Mountain Apache, Yavapai Apache, Hualapai, and Havasupai tribes, as well as the Sierra Club, Flagstaff Activist Network, Center of Biological Diversity, and others after it initially approved the proposed ski area development in 2005.

In a recent ruling, a 9th Circuit Court “en banc” panel overturned another 9th Circuit decision protecting the holy place. The divided en banc panel found that using recycled sewer water to make snow for skiing on an admittedly sacred site posed no 'substantial burden' on the Plaintiffs' exercise of religion in this case. According to the Court, the "only effect of the proposed upgrades is on the Plaintiffs' subjective, emotional religious experience. That is, the presence of recycled wastewater on the Peaks is offensive to the Plaintiffs' religious sensibilities…the diminishment of spiritual fulfillment – serious though it may be – is not a 'substantial burden' on the free exercise of religion." The Court dismissed Plaintiffs' religious beliefs as calling them mere "damaged spiritual feelings."

It is not clear on when the Supreme Court will decide whether it will hear the case or not.
Pending a decision, Snowbowl is legally barred from development on the holy mountain.

While the current appeal focuses on RFRA, many citizens and environmental organizations continue to be concerned with potential health implications of the use of recycled sewage water upon the fragile mountain ecosystem and the untested impacts that would occur if humans ingested the artificial effluent snow.

“This case should concern everyone who values religious freedom, human rights, public health and environmental integrity.” said Klee Benally, a volunteer with the Save the Peaks Coalition. “This issue also isn't just about one mountain, there are a number of sacred places located on public lands that are being threatened by development right now; Mt. Tenabo in Nevada, Medicine Lake in Northern California, Bear Butte in South Dakota, Mt. Taylor in New Mexico, for example. We are asking for everyone to call their Congressional representatives to hold hearings and to enact new legislation that guarantees protection for Native American sacred places.”

The City of Flagstaff still maintains a contract with the ski area to sell up to 180 million gallons of treated sewage effluent during the winter seasons. Without the contract for the treated sewage effluent, it would not be possible for the business owners of Snowbowl to attempt their desecration.

“A ski area should know better than to attempt to make fake snow from treated sewage effluent and dominate Mother Nature in the high desert, especially in the face of global warming. It's not only unsustainable, it's insane.” said Rachel Tso, a volunteer with the Save the Peaks Coalition.
“The question is, what do we value more: a healthy community, ecological integrity and the cultural survival of more than 13 Indigenous Nations, or the interests of a single for profit private ski business?”

For more information and to read the Petition for a Writ of Certiorari, visit: http://www.savethepeaks.org/
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United Native Americans: Unite for freedom from oppression

By Quanah Parker Brightman

Vice President United Native Americans, Inc.

United Native Americans, Inc Supports World Peace. US support of Israel Must Come to An End. Israel has received US financial and military assistance in a combined total of about $3 billion, divided into $1.2 billion in economic assistance and $1.8 billion in military aid.

Since 1948 the Indigenous People of Gaza have had Jews Illegally Occupy their Home Land. Now is The Time For All The Indigenous Peoples Around Mother Earth to Unite In order to Achieve Freedom From All Forms of Oppression.

Photograph of the protest against the Israeli massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, held on Dec. 30, 2008 in San Francisco as part of the National Day of Action.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t291/LehmanBrightman/640_free_palestine_protest_12_30_2.jpg Respectfully,
Quanah Parker Brightman
Vice President of United Native Americans, Inc.

AIM-West to Join Palestinian March in San Francisco

AIM-WEST endorses the rally event and action scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2009 at Civic Center in San Francisco

By Tony Gonzales

Photo: Palestinians on Alcatraz at Sunrise Gathering 2006/Photo Brenda Norrell

The American Indian Movement (AIM)-WEST calls out to all our relations, allies and supporters to join the marches; form a contingent in every city, town or village, with flags, drummers and singers, dancers, banners, Elders and youth, to identify who we are, and that we stand in solidarity with the heroic peoples of Gaza!
AIM-WEST, will have a speaker to express the sentiment of the American Indian community, and call to end the killing and bombing of the people Gaza, in Palestine. We will also have spiritual advisers who can also convey words of healing and strength for both our peoples.
We Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, the living memory of our ancestors, share a common enemy with Palestine; racism, poverty and colonialism. Palestinians are the Indians of Palestine! American Indians are the Palestinians of the Americas! Long live Palestine! Long live American Indians and their homelands!
Call AIM-WEST for additional information at 415-577-1492, and http://www.aimwest.info/
Tony GonzalesAIM-WEST-Director
eltonyg@earthlink.net

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NCAI urges new means of protecting sacred places

By Brenda Norrell
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report

PHOENIX – The National Congress of American Indians urged the US Congress to create a statute that would protect Native American sacred places from the onslaught of development, intrusion and desecration and to strengthen existing laws to protect Native Americans' freedom of religion, in a resolution passed during its 65th annual convention.
The American Indian Religious Freedom Act was enacted into law 30 years ago in 1978 to protect the religious freedom of Native people. However, the Supreme Court ruled 20 years ago that neither the Act, nor the US Constitution, provided for a course of action to truly protect Native Americans right to worship in their traditional manner. The Supreme Court said Congress would need to enact a statute for that purpose. Congress has not done so.
The American Indian Religious Freedom Act states that "it shall be the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and exercise the traditional religions of the American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiians, including but not limited to access to sites, use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through ceremonials and traditional rites."
Native Americans say, however, there is no current mechanism to ensure protection of sacred places or religious rights in court. Further, they say there is too little prosecution of violators of sacred places, burial places and cultural items.
Recently, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act failed to protect two sacred places in court, San Francisco Peaks and Snoqualmie Falls. In the case of San Francisco Peaks, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed its earlier decision and ruled that sewage water could be used for snowmaking on the mountain sacred to 13 American Indian Nations. On this sacred mountain, one of Four Sacred Mountains to the Navajo or Dine’, medicine people hold ceremonies and gather healing plants. Hualapai and Hopi spiritual leaders were among those speaking out against the desecration.

Klee Benally, Navajo, with the Save the Peaks Coalition in Arizona said, "The struggle to protect Sacred Places from corporate interests is a critical struggle for a livable planet and our cultural survival as Indigenous Peoples. There are hundreds of threatened Sacred Places located on lands held by Federal Agencies such as the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. We have no guarantees that these agencies will not allow desecration of Sacred Places because there are no laws that ensure their protection."

Benally saying there is an increasing hostility in the courts.
"Congressional action to protect Sacred Places is necessary because we have no religious freedom when it comes to Federal land management decisions. We keep ending up in courts that are historically hostile towards Indigenous Peoples rights. We have very little options, this is why we must also have a broad-based grassroots movement to take action and address this cultural and environmental crisis," Benally said.
NCAI said, “It is time for Congress to enact a right of action for tribes to defend sacred places. Unless tribes can sustain lawsuits, they will not have a seat at federal negotiation tables and agencies and developers will continue to disregard existing consultation requirements. Meaningful consultation and respectful negotiations can obviate the need for litigation. However, if negotiated accords cannot be reached, tribes must be able to protect their holy places in court.”
The NCAI resolution also pointed out that universities are violating Native American graves, in development and museum content.
The NCAI resolution said, “Burial places are also sacred places. At present, there are entities subverting existing laws designed to protect our burial places and our ancestors. These entities include, for example, prominent universities in the University of California system and other federal and federally-assisted educational institutions, museums and agencies.”
Although the resolution does not name the exact institutions, the resolution follows the action of the University of California-Berkeley which recently desecrated an Ohlone burial ground for development, destroying oaks that were hundreds of years old. UC-Berkeley has also been protested for callously storing thousands of Native American remains in a rodent-filled basement. The Smithsonian Institute is among the museums that have long housed thousands of human remains of Indian people, including Native American skulls collected by bounty hunters in racist studies of intelligence.
NCAI’s resolution fails to point out the recent violation of graves and US federal laws in construction of the US/Mexico border wall. On the western portion of Tohono O’odham land in Arizona, the graves of the ancestors of the Tohono O’odham were dug up by Homeland Security’s contractor Boeing, in secret. The remains were removed from O’odham land, before being returned and reburied. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff waived all federal laws to construct the border wall.
Across the United States, Native Americans, including the Paiutes struggling to rebury “Spirit Cave Man,” in Nevada, are engaged in lengthy court battles. The desecration at the University of California-Berkeley, the plight of Spirit Cave Man and the threat to sacred San Francisco Peaks were among hundreds of issues brought to the Longest Walk, as Native Americans walked across America in 2008, from Alcatraz to DC, for the protection of sacred places and Mother Earth.
As liquor bars and helicopter rides threaten sacred Bear Butte, Yankton Sioux are faced with a large scale hog farm in the middle of their community in South Dakota. A new wave of profiteering uranium mining threatens Lakotas and Navajos. With power plants, coal mining and oil and gas drilling increasing, and the Arctic ice melting, Native Americans walked across America for five months to signal the nation and the world of the danger, while offering prayers for protection.
While burial places are desecrated across the nation, Native Americans ask, “How would you like it if your grandmother was in a museum? How would you like it if your grandfather’s grave was dug up and robbed?”
On the national level, NCAI said that Native Americans must be involved in the federal consultation processes and serve on boards that govern land use.
Further, NCAI said the Native American Graves Protection Repatriation Act must be strengthened in several ways. First, NAGPRA’s definition of Native American needs to be clarified and state that “Native American” means “of, or relating to, a tribe, people, or culture that is or was indigenous to any geographic area that is now located within the boundaries of the United States.”
NAGPRA needs increased penalties for violations of burials and burial grounds, human remains and cultural items. NAGPRA needs to be specifically strengthened with tools for improved law enforcement and prosecutions, NCAI said in the resolution.
In related resolutions, NCAI passed resolutions supporting a moratorium on exploration and oil and gas drilling in the Galisteo Basin of New Mexico; supporting protection of the Zuni Salt Lake in New Mexico and supporting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted Sept. 13, 2007, by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

In its resolution of support, NCAI said, "the declaration by the United Nations supports and reinforces the respect and protection of full self-determination rights by and on behalf of US Tribal Nations as well as the protection of tribal lands and treaties as a matter of international law and policy and is therefore in the vital interests of all US Tribal Nations."
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NCAI resolutions:
http://www.ncai.org/index.php?id=105&selectpro_resid=41

Photo: Snoqualmie Falls