CENSORED NEWS

July 22, 2011

Doo'ko'oosliid Dine' youth film: Sacred San Francisco Peaks

Censored News: Most censored topics

The most censored, most popular, at Censored News
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Photo: Remembering migrants by Brenda Norrell

The most accessed articles at Censored News for the past year expose unauthorized wiretaps on Mohawks; protesters locked down to protect San Francisco Peaks; US Marines patrolling the Arizona border stalking migrants, and a hate crime against Reno Sparks Indian Johnny Bonta and his family in Fernley, Nevada.
This week’s most popular article at Censored News exposes an oil spill into the Cutbank River on the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. Intrepid Blackfeet reporter Destini Vaile was the first to expose the spill and shared it with Censored News. The mainstream media then limped behind her report.
In breaking news, Indian country judges issued a combined declaratory judgment in support of traditional gathering rights in Tacoma, Washington. Citing the law that prohibits genocide and discrimination, Kuiu Kwaan Lead Judge Rudy James and Indian country judges issued the judgment in support of Northern Paiute Wesley Dick, Kwassuh. He was fined by the US Fish and Wildlife Service while gathering tules, cattails, in May.
The devastation of Peabody Coal on Black Mesa, and its impact on draining the region’s water supply, is exposed in a new report by Navajos and environmental organizations.
Read more at Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Most popular between 2010 and 2011:
Wikileaks: Canada’s unauthorized wiretaps of Mohawks:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2010/08/wikileaks-canadas-unauthorized-wiretaps.html

LOCKED DOWN: Protest halts snowbowl destruction on San Francisco Peaks
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/06/locked-down-protest-halts-snowbowl.html

Hacked data reveals US Marines as contract killers on Arizona border
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/06/hacked-data-reveals-us-marines-contract.html

Reno Sparks Indian beaten in Nevada hate crime
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/06/reno-sparks-indian-beaten-in-nevada.html

July 21, 2011

Navajos: Peabody Coal Mine Draining Region's Water Supply

New Report: Peabody's Black Mesa Coal Mine draining
region's water supply

By Black Mesa Water Coalition, Dine' CARE, To' Nizhoni Ani, Center for Biologial Diversity and Sierra Club
Photo by Leslie Mano Cockrum
July 20, 2011

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- A massive coal-mining facility on Black Mesa has a much more damaging effect to a vital local water supply, according to a new report released today. A hydrology study, prepared by Dr. Daniel Higgins (PhD in Arid Lands Resource Sciences from the University of Arizona) program demonstrates that after four decades of coal mine groundwater withdrawals, mine-related impacts to the Navajo Aquifer (N-aquifer) far exceed those that have been acknowledged or recognized by the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), the lead Regulatory

Authority for Peabody Coal’s massive mining facility on Black Mesa. The N-aquifer is an important source of water below Black Mesa that feeds sacred springs and is used by thousands as drinking water.

"Despite what these models predicted years ago, I think any reasonable person who looks at the

data would conclude that the rates of water level decline at Kayenta and spring discharge decline

at Moenkopi are directly related to Peabody's groundwater withdrawals,” said Higgins, who

studies the interactions of complex social-ecological systems and spent more than five years

investigating Black Mesa’s groundwater development – the focus of his dissertation research.

"This report reaffirms the fact that coal industry continues to materially damage our aquifer

with impunity," said Marshall Johnson of the Navajo grassroots organization, To’ Nizhoni Ani,

Beautiful Water Speaks. "The truth is that Peabody has yet to prove that the mine is not

damaging the aquifer and OSM has yet to hold Peabody accountable. Instead of addressing the

health of the aquifer, OSM works on creating new standards each time that have been exceeded

so for us, it's disappointing watching a federal agency deliberately sidestep its responsibilities."

Wahleah Johns of the Black Mesa Water Coalition said, “OSM should not award Peabody a

permit renewal until a thorough investigation is conducted on the findings of this report on the

N-Aquifer.”

“Dr. Higgins’ report comes at a critical time while OSM is preparing an Environmental

Assessment to analyze the impacts of the Kayenta Mine. OSM officials now need to address

and respond to this report before they let Peabody off the hook for damage to the Navajo

aquifer,” said Nicole Horseherder of To’ Nizhoni Ani and a Black Mesa resident where she

depends on the N-Aquifer for her home and ranch. “The Obama Administration needs to restore

environmental justice for local communities and hold Peabody accountable for damaging that

most basic human right—the right to drink in perpetuity pure, clean water.”

“We have known for a long time that water withdrawals have been impacting local springs and

wildlife but this report puts the burden on OSM to demonstrate to local communities why mine

operations should be allowed to continue,” said Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological

Diversity.

Higgins’ report was submitted by the OSM by Black Mesa Water Coalition, Dine CARE, To’

Nizhoni Ani, the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club as a supplement to comments

previously submitted to the agency in 2010. OSM is preparing an Environmental Assessment

that will be available for public review in August of 2011. The groups have asked OSM to hold

a meeting within the next 30 days to discuss the report’s findings.

Contacts:

Daniel Higgins, PhD, 520-243-9450

Wahleah Johns, Black Mesa Water Coalition, 928-637-5281

Andy Bessler, Sierra Club, 928-774-6103

Anna Frazier, Dine CARE, 928-401-0382

Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity, 928-310-6713

###

Tribal Court Judgment upholds Northern Paiute Gathering Rights

Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court issues declaratory judgment upholding gathering rights of Northern Paiute 'Kwassuh' Wesley Dick

Article copyright by Brenda Norrell

Censored News

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Update on charges in Nevada: Picking charge dropped, trespassing charge remains

TACOMA, Wash. -- The Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court in Tacoma, Washington, issued a declaratory judgment in the case of Northern Paiute traditional gatherer Wesley Dick vs. the United States. The combined court of judges from across Indian country issued the judgment upholding the right of Wesley Dick, Kwassuh, to gather tules in the traditional way, after he was cited and fined $800 by US Fish and Wildlife in Nevada.

Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court Lead Judge Rudy Al James and judges from across Indian country issued the declaratory judgment on July 20. The legal citations include laws that uphold the authority of tribal courts and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. The US Code which prohibits genocide and discrimination of culture and religion is included in the legal citations.

"In the matter of Wesley Glen Dick, Jr., vs. The United States ... It is the judgment of the Court that the United States violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which says, 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.' The right to freedom of religion was denied to Mr. Dick by restricting his right to practice his religion, by preventing his harvest of plants necessary to carry out his religious practices. The Native American Free Exercise of Religious Act of 1993 protects the religious use of animal and plants necessary to carry out one's religious practices. Therefore it is the judgment of this Court that all charges and fines must be dismissed against Mr. Wesley Dick, Jr., on this 20th day of July, 2011."

Kwassuh told Censored News, "This is the reason why my family and I traveled 1,000 miles from home, to get fair justice served from a Tribal Court concerning Tribal matters. I appeared before the very knowledgeable Tribal representatives of the Kuiu Kwaan Tribal Court. Tribal Court Judge Rudy Al James did an outstanding job recognizing every detail of my case and more. There needs to be more Tribal Courts like this one that fully represents all of our Indigenous Nations of peoples."

After enduring the financial burden of the 1,000 mile trip, Kwassuh said Thursday, "My full faith will get us home safely. We are all thankful for the support of the people who made it possible for us to make this very important trip. I plan on sharing how we possess our sacred Indigenous right with others who want to listen and put an end to the overbearing domination by the U.S. Government that's been taking place too much, as well the encroachment of our lands."

Kwassuh said his people refer to themselves in terms of their traditional foods.

"My people in the area of Nevada are known as the Numa. In the Paiute language, that means 'the Native People.' In Nevada the identity of the Numa is what they are known for eating the source of food in a certain area.

"Pyramid Lake Numa, outside of Reno, is a Paiute. Numa are known for the fish in their area Cui-ui Ticutta (fish eaters). The fish is a rare species that only lives in Pyramid Lake. Fort Bidwell Paiutes, Numa, are known as Kida Ticutta (groundhog eaters).

"Fallon Stillwater Paiutes, Numa, are known as the Toi-Ticutta (cattail eaters). Because of the various uses the Toi-Ticutta makes use of the tule plant."

Kwassuh said he knows of at least 20 uses of this plant. "What people don't recognize is that before there were any non-Native people in the Toi-Ticutta area, the people lived very well"

Referring to a historical marker, Kwassuh said points out that the United States is well aware of the history of his people here. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of the Interior, and the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe are well aware of our existence from our people today, and the past, in order to produce this sign, that is located in the area where I was cited by the U.S. Game Warden."

"Ancient human remains were discovered in a cave in the local area and the Nevada State Museum in Carson City is knowledgeable. Also the Toi-Ticutta are aware that he is my ancestor and is claimed to be one of the oldest ancient Native Americans in the Western United States. He was dated as 10,650 years old, an estimate by the Nevada State Museum archaeologists," Kwassuh said.

"I am a member of a federally recognized tribe, the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe. I am a Toi-Ticutta."

In Tacoma, the Kuiu Kwaan Combined Traditional Tribal Court cited the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the Indian Tribal Justice Act, which uphold the authority of tribal courts. The tribal court also cited US Code, Chapter 50A, Section 1091 on Genocide which prohibits discrimination of culture and religion and prohibits genocide.

The judgment is signed by Kuiu Kwaan Lead Tribal Judge Rudy Al James; Jack McCloud of the Nisqually Nation; Dr. Betty Case, Tribal Judge of the Cherokee Nation; Walter Harding, Associate Judge of the Wampanoag Nation; Eric Brewer, Associate Judge of the Nisqually Nation; Steve Brown, Associate Tribal Judge of the Concow Nation; Hadassah Baht Yisrael of the Yisrael Nation and Leroy Rose of the Cherokee Nation.

UPDATE July 27, 2011:
"The charges of picking the plant were dropped but they are still holding on to me trespassing. It's crazy because I'm due in Reno District Court on October 11, 2011. I'm being charged with trespassing on my own aborigional territory; the court date is the day after Columbus Day." Wesley Dick

COMMENTS

Janice Gardipe, Paitue/Western Shoshone:

"Numu Grace Dick We need to support our young people when they have an old Indian spirit in them that wants to keep our Paiute Traditional Cultural Ways of Life of our ancestors. We also need to protect our native plants and use them for what they were used for in the old way, the ways that were given and taught to our people by the Creator, for our survival as a people. These Ways of Life are our inherent rights as Native people in our In digenous homeland territories of the Numu Teepa(our peoples earth). We need to gather our native plants for food, medicine, basket materials, tule duck decoys, etc., when the time is right. There are some of us that are still practicing this Way of Life of our Numu people. We go out every year to gather all types of native plants for food including our sacred pine nuts (Tuba'a) from our sacred tree, the Pine Nut Tree (Tubape). This is what we grew up doing and we continue to practice and live this way of life because it is who we are as Indian people. We are the stewards of the earth in this country and our ancestors have been the caretakers for thousands of years and they did not have permits, only offerings, prayers, and they gave thanks at large gatherings which included traditional food, round dancing and Paiute songs.(i.e.,Pine Nut Dance)."

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