Hopi and Dine' to Peabody Coal 'Halt theft of burial places'

Hopi and Dine' tell Peabody Coal that the era of misery and exploitation ends now

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Photo by Indigenous Action Media

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- When Peabody Coal seized the land at Black Mesa for the dirty coal industry -- with the aid of corrupt attorneys, Arizona Congressmen, tribal politicians and the media -- Peabody Coal robbed the burial places and looted the cultural items of Dine' and Hopi. 

The coal mining and the power plant that brought destruction and disease for Navajos and Hopi, delivered electricity to non-Indians in the Southwest. Today, Hopi and Dine' told Peabody, the state of Arizona, and the US government, that this cycle of misery and exploitation ends now.

Vernon Masayesva, Hopi of Black Mesa Trust, told a Cultural Review session today, “The grassroots people now are awake. They know the regulations. They know the laws.”

“We are no longer going to be silent,” said Masayesva, promising that the questions of grassroots people would guarantee that the process of completing an environmental impact statement for Peabody Coal on Black Mesa would be delayed.

The first Cultural Review meeting for the Kayenta Mine Navajo Generating Station Permit by the Arizona Bureau of Reclamation was held today, Oct. 30, 2013.  It is the first in a series of meetings for regulation and protection of sacred sites in the mining areas leased by Peabody Energy.

Bahe Katenay, Dine’ of Big Mountain, said scientists attempted to have a secret meeting today without notifying grassroots and traditional Dine’ or Hopi.

“The threat is the elimination and erasing of our history, all of that is being withheld from us.”

“We are going to have a broken link if that happens.”

Bahe said archaeologists are hiding historical information from the Dine’ people. “They still consider us savages and barbaric people. These attitudes are institutionalized.”

Norman Benally asked the Critical Review session what would happen if the people of the US had their cemeteries bulldozed. Among those present at the review were the Bureau of Reclamation and Peabody Coal representatives.

Bahe pointed out that Peabody Energy withheld and restricted documentation that pointed to the relocation of more than one million Indigenous items taken from Black Mesa. The Black Mesa Archaeology Project, which includes 1.3 million so-called "artifacts," currently is being held in cardboard boxes at two American universities.

Photos and videos by Klee Benally and Indigenous Action Media in Flagstaff: 
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/10/photos-peabody-coals-theft-from-black.html

For permission to repost this article: brendanorrell@gmail.com

Protest: Non-Indian holds Pyramid Lake Paiute cultural items hostage

Good afternoon,

My name is Wayne Burke, member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.

Attention Holymen, Warriors, Dancers and all our neighbors from all cultures, races, and religious backgrounds who support Indigenous Rights and Native Resistance.

The Pyramid Lake Tribal Governing Body entered into a 10 year lease agreement (during a previous tribal administration) with Thomas Bobella, owner of High Desert Recreation. The lease pertains to the Sutcliffe Marina and surrounding property.

However, the lease does not give Thomas Bobella the right to have in his possession Tribal artifacts, and sacred cultural items that belong to the Paiute Tribe. He is using Our Tribal artifacts and sacred items as "bargaining chips." He and his staff have no right to handle, or have in their possession sacred cultural items. It is my concern these items are being mishandled, sold, and or given away by "outsiders."

Mr. Bobella's disrespect and discrimination of Tribal Members is unacceptable. Mr. Bobella has refused services to some Indians, and has directed Tribal Elders and Tribal Leaders to vacate "leased property."

The Paiute Tribe has the rights and freedoms to peaceably assemble, the freedom to roam, pray and worship on OUR HOMELANDS. These rights and freedoms did not come for free, Our Ancestors and Elders fought hard to secure Our Nation.

The lease agreement was a poor decision, however both parties should honor the agreement and terms and conditions of the lease.

WE STAND IN PROTEST OF THE DISCRIMINATION AND DISRESPECT THOMAS BOBELLA HAS SHOWN THE PAIUTE PEOPLE.

WE STAND IN PROTEST OF THOMAS BOBELLA HOLDING "HOSTAGE" OUR TRIBAL ARTIFACTS AND SACRED ITEMS. THOMAS, OUR CULTURE IS NOT HERE FOR YOU TO EXPLOIT AND USE AS A "BARGAINING CHIP." SURRENDER WHAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU!
WE ARE SHOWING A PRESENCE AND STANDING FOR OUR RIGHTS TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE, THE FREEDOM TO ROAM, PRAY AND WORSHIP ON OUR HOMELANDS.

Protest Rally: Sat., January 17, 2009 from 11:00am to 12:00pm, at the Sutcliffe Marina. Protestors and Supporters will meet above the Marina Parking lot and march to the protest site. Any questions, call Wayne Burke @(775) 232-1764
email: onetomtomtwo@hotmail.com
website: http://www.holymenwarriorsdancers.com/
Photo: Pyramind Lake Tribe website