Indigenous protest abandoned uranium mines at US EPA

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NEWS ADVISORY

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Thursday, January 28, 2016

By Klee Benally

Clean Up The Mines, organizer
cleanupthemines@gmail.com

Photos by Tommy Rock: Delegation in DC
www.cleanupthemines.org

15,000 Abandoned Uranium Mines to be Protested at DC EPA Headquarters

'We are the Miner's Canary': Indigenous Organizations Call for Clean Up of 'Homegrown' Radioactive Pollution Crisis

Editors: Indigenous organizations will make statements and representatives will be available for interviews. Large banners saying "Radioactive Pollution Kills," "Clean Up The Mines" & "Clean Nuclear is a Deadly Lie." Signs with numbers of mines in significantly impacted states.

Washington, DC — On Thursday, January 28 at 12:30 PM, representatives of Indigenous organizations from the Southwest and Northern Great Plains will protest radioactive pollution caused by 15,000 uranium mines posing a toxic threat in the US. The demonstration will be held at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters. The groups charge that the EPA has been negligent in ensuring clean up of abandoned uranium mines that severely threaten public health, lands, and water ways.

What: Indigenous organizations and supporters protest for clean up of   15,000 uranium mines abandoned throughout the US. 

When: Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 12:30 PM.

Where: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

Who: A delegation of Indigenous People from the Southwest and Northern Great Plains including; Clean Up The Mines, Defenders of the Black Hills, Diné No Nukes, Laguna and Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment & Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment, & Indigenous World Alliance.

Why: In 2015 the Gold King Mine spill was a wake-up call to address dangers of abandoned mines, but there are currently more than 15,000 toxic uranium mines that remain abandoned throughout the US. For more than 50 years, many of these hazardous sites have been contaminating the land, air, water, and national monuments such as Mt. Rushmore and the Grand Canyon. Each one of these thousands of abandoned uranium mines is a potential Gold King mine disaster with the greater added threat of radioactive pollution. Representatives will also address how and why "clean nuclear" is a deadly lie.

"Native American nations of North America are the miners' canaries for the United States trying to awaken the people of the world to the dangers of radioactive pollution", states Charmaine White Face from the South Dakota based organization Defenders of the Black Hills.
South Dakota has 272 Abandoned Uranium Mines (AUMs).

Indigenous communities have been disproportionately impacted as approximately 75% of AUMs are located on federal and Tribal lands. A majority of AUMs are located in 15 western states with the potential to impact more than 50 million people.

The Clean Up The Mines! campaign is focused on passing the Uranium Exploration and Mining Accountability Act through Congress. The legislation would ensure clean up of all AUMs.

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California Rally for Clemency for Leonard Peltier

Media Contact:

Corine Fairbanks
American Indian Movement Southern California aimsocalifornia@ymail.com

Carolfrances Likins
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace cfljustice@gmail.com

On Feb. 6, 2016, on the 40th anniversary of Native American political prisoner Leonard Peltier's arrest, a broad coalition of organizations will hold an important event in Los Angeles to demand the immediate release of Native American political prisoner, Leonard Peltier.
"Much of the government's behavior at the Pine Ridge Reservation and its prosecution of Leonard Peltier is to be condemned. The government withheld evidence. It intimidated witnesses. These facts are not disputed."
10th Circuit Court of Appeals

WHO: A coalition of solidarity scholars, educators, community organizers and activists is organizing the event. The list includes American Indian Movement Southern California (AIM), Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP), Act Now to Stop War & End Racism (ANSWER), International Action Center (IAC), Idle No More Los Angeles, and Native American Caucus SEIU local 721.
KPFK Radio is a proud media sponsor.

In addition to attached flyer highlighting speakers and performers added the following-

Key Speaker: Danny Blackgoat, Dineh Black Mesa- Retired Educator, Activist, Long time advocate for Leonard Peltier

Kat High- Cultural Education and Environmental Education, former Director of the Haramokngna American Indian Cultural Center, board member Gabrielino/Tongva Springs Foundation, CISA, American Indian Scholarship Fund of Southern California, videographer & recording engineer

Julia Bogany is a Elder of the Tongva Nation/ Gabrielino Band of Mission Indians. Board President to the Gabrielino/Tongva Springs Foundation, educator, director and activist for over thirty years fighting for equal rights for all Native Americans.

Matt Sedillo, Indigenous Poet, and a two-time national slam poet, grand slam champion of the Damn Slam Los Angeles 2011 and the author of For What I Might Do Tomorrow published by Caza De Poesia 2010

Julio Rodriguez The Conga Poet- Puerto Rican-Panamanian, Conga player,writer, poet and lyricist since 2010.

WHAT: In solidarity with international actions to demand clemency and freedom for Leonard Peltier on this date, a full day is planned in Los Angeles, with speakers, musical performances, traditional Native singing and drumming, a children's corner, and food. Over 15 community-based organizations are planning to participate to bring awareness and education in how the incarceration of Peltier indirectly affects the issues that neighborhoods and communities are facing today. "Today, even behind bars, Peltier is recognized internationally as an advocate for human rights and the environment," says Corine Fairbanks, Director of the American Indian Movement Southern California. "Ironically, this is what he was standing up for when he was arrested."

This is a family-oriented, free event; donations will be appreciated and happily accepted at the door. Tribal elders and spiritual leaders will be ending the day with a Candlelight Vigil and Prayer ceremony at 8:30pm.

WHEN: Saturday, February 6, 2:00 – 9:00 PM

WHERE: Chuco's Justice Center, 1137 E. Redondo Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302

WHY: Peltier, declared by Amnesty International to be a political prisoner, has been incarcerated for 40 years. He is in bad health and has been denied proper medical treatment. Education, awareness and signatures are needed to pressure President Obama to grant clemency to Peltier before the end of his presidency.

"It is not just about ending an unjustness to one individual," stated Carolfrances Likins of the ICUJP. "Leonard was targeted by the FBI for defending his people and the land from energy companies. Our solidarity with Indigenous people, and the defense of the environment, needs to include his freedom."

For up-to-date information on event, copy paste here for event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1102023893171939/


For information about his case: http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info
  

Tó Bei Nihi Dziil Opposes Council’s Passage of Utah Water Rights Settlement

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Tó Bei Nihi Dziil Strongly Opposes Navajo Nation Council’s Passage of Utah Water Rights Settlement Legislation

By Colleen Cooley,

tobeinihidziil@gmail.com

Censored News

Window Rock, Ariz. – On January 26, during Navajo Nation Council’s 2016 Winter Session, delegates approved the controversial Utah Water Rights Settlement Legislation 0412-15, despite criticisms that the Navajo public was largely uniformed about the details of the lease.

“It’s not required by law,” said Navajo Nation Assistant Attorney General Stanley Pollack to Council Delegate Jonathan Perry (Crownpoint) who asked him about the lack of public participation last Friday during a workshop on the settlement.

“Given the significant implications of any Navajo water settlement, Tó Bei Nihi Dziil demands accountability, transparency, and engagement with ALL Navajo stakeholders—not only the seven Utah Chapters,” said Colleen Cooley, coalition organizer.

“The coalition encourages all Navajo citizens to protect Navajo water rights by requesting our Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye to VETO Legislation 0412-15,” said Cooley. These demands are bolstered by the rights to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) and the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (1989).

The Navajo Nation Council reached its 13-7-4 decision without much discussion and raised several critical concerns about the claims of the legislation and the ambiguity of the political process to reach the decision.

The loose coalition of activists and organizers, Tó Bei Nihi Dziil strongly opposes the passage of this legislation due to the subordination of Navajo water claims to existing non-Native water users in times of shortage.

“In an era of climate change, water shortage is a strong possibility in the Southwest and the settlement doesn’t address this increasingly important ecological phenomenon” Cooley said. “Climate change is affecting how we think about Indian water settlements and our lawyers need to ensure that our priority rights to the water reflect this reality.”

Within the legislation, there are several problematic claims Tó Bei Nihi Dziil identified:

1) the settlement only claims 81,500 acre-feet/year for Utah Navajo residents; 2) there is NO clear quantification of the percent of surface water and groundwater; 3) NO clear definition of “permanent homeland”; 4) NO accounting for other connected water sources and waterways—lying outside the geopolitical boundaries of Utah—such as Chinle Wash, Oljato Wash, and Laguna Wash; and 5) the Settlement only provides $5 million for agricultural water development to serve 2,500 acres--a rather low funding estimate.

Prior to this work session, Tó Bei Nihi Dziil advocates researched and compiled an informational packet outlining the unresolved issues in the legislation.

Though many delegates were receptive to these concerns and pressed Pollack to clarify these issues, they were not introduced for full Council discussion prior to the vote on late Tuesday afternoon.

The legislation passed WITHOUT adequate deliberation by the Council.

Only 10 delegates were present for the work session discussion: Benjamin Bennett, Herman Daniels, Jr., Davis Filfred, Jonathan Perry, Leonard Pete, Walter Phelps, Tauchoney Slim, Jr., Raymond Smith, Jr., Leonard Tsosie, and Dwight Witherspoon. Delegates who voted in favor of legislation passage on Tuesday include: Kee Allen Begay, Jr., Mel R. Begay, Norman Begay, Benjamin Bennett, Nathaniel Brown, Seth Damon, Herman Daniels, Jr., Davis Filfred, Lee Jack, Sr., Walter Phelps, Tauchoney Slim, Jr., Otto Tso, and Leonard Tsosie.

The full legislation was not posted on the Navajo Nation Legislative Services website until January 21, 2016, one day before the Naa’bik’iyati’ work session and one month after the Legislation opened for public comment period.

“The late distribution of the draft Legislation 0412-15 and the lack of deliberation demonstrates a questionable process of accountability to the Navajo people and to the Navajo political procedure,” Cooley said.

Please visit www.facebook.com/tobeinihidziil for more information.

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O'odham Voice against the Wall Distinguished Speaker Series Feb/March 2016

O'odham Voice against the Wall features activist John Zerzan, professor and author Dr. Julian Kunnie, O'odham poet Ruben Cu:k Ba'ak, Navajo poet Laura Tohe, Acoma Pueblo poet, professor and author Simon Ortiz and O'odham human rights activist Ofelia Rivas

Feb. 27 -- March 26, 2016

Cat Mountain Lodge, Tucson, Arizona