Native Americans Oppose Gas Leases in Southwestern Colorado

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Native Americans oppose gas leases: Statement to BLM 'Fracking threatens water and archaeological sites'

Posted at Censored News
English and Dutch

February 11, 2016

By Hand Delivery

Ruth Welch

Director

Colorado State Office

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

2850 Youngfield St.

Lakewood, CO 80215

Re:   Tribal Concerns with Federal Fossil Fuel Leasing in Colorado

Statement of Concern

We, the undersigned individual Tribal Members and representatives of Independent Native American Environmental movements from the Four Corners Area, have been asked for our input regarding recently proposed Federal Gas Leases outside our current “Reservation” Boundaries, but on lands traditionally used by several tribes in Dolores County, Colorado.

Since the 1950’s the Four Corners area has been termed a “National Sacrifice Area” which allowed for unchecked mining of uranium and coal. There is a well-documented history of health problems among our people which can be directly connected to the mining and milling of uranium and the mining and burning of coal.

Recently the fracking boom has brought massive changes to our country with hundreds of new well-pads, roads, storage tanks, pipelines, and open venting of methane gasses on an unprecedented scale. The effects of this boom have been enormous and always adverse.

We know that aquifers are affected by injection wells and have had our share of water problems already from the recent boom. In Counselor, New Mexico the water has already been cut off to residents and the school due to fracking concerns.

Dolores County has more known archaeological sites than any other county in Colorado and these sites, although currently under control of the United States, have always been held in great reverence by our Native People. When we go near these old ruins we do so with respect. Our elders tell us not to pick up artifacts and children are told to be quiet and not play on the ruins because the “Old Ones” are still present there.

Native people have been at the forefront of climate change solutions. We have participated in international discussions on climate change in New York and in Paris where the United States agreed with every other country on Earth that we need to urgently address climate change.

Therefore, we believe that it would be unwise to continue allowing extractive industries to take any more fossil fuels from Federal Land. When and if these sacred places are returned to Native People, we would like them not to be ruined.

Our children, both native and non-native will inherit this earth together. Our collective future is not mutually exclusive and we believe that we are all related. We borrow this earth from our grandchildren and it would be tantamount to child neglect to ruin this land for short-term financial gain.

Keep it in the ground.

Signed:

Organizations:

Black Mesa Water Coalition

Diné Citizens Against Ruining the Environment

Dooda Desert Rock

Dooda Fracking

Dyspatch

Nihígaal bee liná

Individuals:

Adam Dolezal, Diné Nation

Berkeley, California

Alison McCabe, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Anita McCabe, Diné Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Audrey Cooper, Lenape Nation

Ithaca, New York

Aurora Truijillo, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Carol Johnson, Diné Nation

Durango, Colorado

Cheyenne Antonio, Diné Nation

Pueblo Pintado Chapter, New Mexico

Chili Yazzie, Diné Nation

Shiprock, New Mexico

Dallas Bitsue, Diné Nation

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Daniel Tso, Diné Nation

Aztec, New Mexico

Desiree McCabe, Diné Nation

Fruitland Chapter, New Mexico

Dirius Jim, Diné Nation

Chinle Chapter, New Mexico

Ed Becenti, Diné Nation

Window Rock, Arizona

Elouise Brown, Diné Nation

Burnam Chapter, New Mexico

Ira M Vandever, Diné Nation

Baca-Pruitt Chapter, New Mexico

Jihan Gearon, Diné Nation

Flagstaff, Arizona

Joshua B Nelson, Cherokee Nation

Norman, Oklahoma

Joshua J Concha, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Joyce L Barkley, Saint Regis Mohawk Nation

Akwasasne, New York

Kenneth Augustine, Diné Nation

Nageezi, New Mexico

Kim Howe, Diné Nation

Shiprock, New Mexico

Kim Smith, Diné Nation

St Michaels, Arizona

Larry W Emerson, Diné Nation

Tsedaak’aan, New Mexico

Laura Red Elk, Diné Nation

Pueblo Pintado Chapter, New Mexico

Lori Goodman, Diné Nation

Durango, Colorado

Louise Benally, Diné Nation

Flagstaff, Arizona

Lyla June Johnston, Diné Nation

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Maria Jim, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Mercury Bitsuie, Diné Nation

Houck Chapter, New Mexico

Naki Lewis, Diné Nation

Pinedale Chapter, New Mexico

Nick Ashley, Diné Nation

Black Mesa, Arizona

Patricia McCabe, Diné Nation

Taos, New Mexico

Remy Fredenberg, Diné Nation

Forest Lake, Arizona

Scott Perez, Akwasasne Mohawk Nation

Mancos, Colorado

Scott D Peters, Akwasasne Mohawk Nation

Akwasasne, New York

Shaine Degroat, Diné Nation

Fort Defiance, Arizona

Shell Shorty-Floyd, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Thomas Johnston, Cheyenne Nation

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Whitney Mauer, Piscataway Nation

Ithaca, New York

Cc:    Barack Obama, President of the United States of America

        Sally Jewell, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior

Brian Deese, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States

Neil Kornze, Bureau of Land Management Director

        Diana DeGette, Congresswoman Colorado District 1

        Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Colorado District 7

        Russell Begaye, Navajo Nation President

Dutch translation by Alice Holemans, NAIS

Home » Nieuws » * Native Amerikanen nemen stelling tegen gas leases in zuidwest- Colorado

* Native Amerikanen nemen stelling tegen gas leases in zuidwest- Colorado

Verklaring van Native Amerikanen aan Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Fracking bedreigt water en archeologische sites in zuidwest- Colorado!

Bron: Censored News:http://bsnorrell.blogspot.be/2016/02/native-americans-oppose-gas-leases-in.html

February 11, 2016

By Hand Delivery

Ruth Welch

Director

Colorado State Office

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

2850 Youngfield St.

Lakewood, CO 80215

Re:           Tribal Concerns with Federal Fossil Fuel Leasing in Colorado

Statement of Concern

We, the undersigned individual Tribal Members and representatives of Independent Native American Environmental movements from the Four Corners Area, have been asked for our input regarding recently proposed Federal Gas Leases outside our current “Reservation” Boundaries, but on lands traditionally used by several tribes in Dolores County, Colorado.

Since the 1950’s the Four Corners area has been termed a “National Sacrifice Area” which allowed for unchecked mining of uranium and coal. There is a well-documented history of health problems among our people which can be directly connected to the mining and milling of uranium and the mining and burning of coal.

Recently the fracking boom has brought massive changes to our country with hundreds of new well-pads, roads, storage tanks, pipelines, and open venting of methane gasses on an unprecedented scale. The effects of this boom have been enormous and always adverse.

We know that aquifers are affected by injection wells and have had our share of water problems already from the recent boom. In Counselor, New Mexico the water has already been cut off to residents and the school due to fracking concerns.

Dolores County has more known archeological sites than any other county in Colorado and these sites, although currently under control of the United States, have always been held in great reverence by our Native People. When we go near these old ruins we do so with respect. Our elders tell us not to pick up artifacts and children are told to be quiet and not play on the ruins because the “Old Ones” are still present there.

Native people have been at the forefront of climate change solutions. We have participated in international discussions on climate change in New York and in Paris where the United States agreed with every other country on Earth that we need to urgently address climate change.

Therefore, we believe that it would be unwise to continue allowing extractive industries to take any more fossil fuels from Federal Land. When and if these sacred places are returned to Native People, we would like them not to be ruined.

Our children, both native and non-native will inherit this earth together. Our collective future is not mutually exclusive and we believe that we are all related. We borrow this earth from our grandchildren and it would be tantamount to child neglect to ruin this land for short-term financial gain.

Keep it in the ground.

Signed:

Organizations:

Black Mesa Water Coalition

Diné Citizens Against Ruining the Environment

Dooda Desert Rock

Dooda Fracking

Dyspatch

Nihígaal bee liná

Individuals:

Adam Dolezal, Diné Nation

Berkeley, California

Alison McCabe, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Anita McCabe, Diné Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Audrey Cooper, Lenape Nation

Ithaca, New York

Aurora Truijillo, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Carol Johnson, Diné Nation

Durango, Colorado

Cheyenne Antonio, Diné Nation

Pueblo Pintado Chapter, New Mexico

Chili Yazzie, Diné Nation

Shiprock, New Mexico

Dallas Bitsue, Diné Nation

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Daniel Tso, Diné Nation

Aztec, New Mexico

Desiree McCabe, Diné Nation

Fruitland Chapter, New Mexico

Dirius Jim, Diné Nation

Chinle Chapter, New Mexico

Ed Becenti, Diné Nation

Window Rock, Arizona

Elouise Brown, Diné Nation

Burnam Chapter, New Mexico

Ira M Vandever, Diné Nation

Baca-Pruitt Chapter, New Mexico

Jihan Gearon, Diné Nation

Flagstaff, Arizona

Joshua B Nelson, Cherokee Nation

Norman, Oklahoma

Joshua J Concha, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Joyce L Barkley, Saint Regis Mohawk Nation

Akwasasne, New York

Kenneth Augustine, Diné Nation

Nageezi, New Mexico

Kim Howe, Diné Nation

Shiprock, New Mexico

Kim Smith, Diné Nation

St Michaels, Arizona

Larry W Emerson, Diné Nation

Tsedaak’aan, New Mexico

Laura Red Elk, Diné Nation

Pueblo Pintado Chapter, New Mexico

Lori Goodman, Diné Nation

Durango, Colorado

Louise Benally, Diné Nation

Flagstaff, Arizona

Lyla June Johnston, Diné Nation

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Maria Jim, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Mercury Bitsuie, Diné Nation

Houck Chapter, New Mexico

Naki Lewis, Diné Nation

Pinedale Chapter, New Mexico

Nick Ashley, Diné Nation

Black Mesa, Arizona

Patricia McCabe, Diné Nation

Taos, New Mexico

Remy Fredenberg, Diné Nation

Forest Lake, Arizona

Scott Perez, Akwasasne Mohawk Nation

Mancos, Colorado

Scott D Peters, Akwasasne Mohawk Nation

Akwasasne, New York

Shaine Degroat, Diné Nation

Fort Defiance, Arizona

Shell Shorty-Floyd, Tewa Nation

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Thomas Johnston, Cheyenne Nation

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Whitney Mauer, Piscataway Nation

Ithaca, New York

Cc:            Barack Obama, President of the United States of America

                Sally Jewell, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior

Brian Deese, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States

Neil Kornze, Bureau of Land Management Director

                Diana DeGette, Congresswoman Colorado District 1

                Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Colorado District 7

                Russell Begaye, Navajo Nation President

Carrie Dann Tribute by American Indian Genocide Museum

Photo L to R: Samuel, Cheryl, Carrie, Steve and Marah

A visit with Carrie Dann and reflections on American Indian Genocide: 'The deliberate and systematic destruction of a people'

By Steve Melendez
Pyramid Lake Paiute
President, American Indian Genocide Museum
Censored News

February 9, 2016

An open letter to Carrie Dann,

My family and I certainly enjoyed our recent visit with you and your family in Crescent Valley this past December. You are such an inspiration to us that we just had to come and see you. We are aware that for coming generations and for all eternity our people will be able to look back at your life and say, "This is how they criminalized our people and this is how genocide happened. It was not war. It was the deliberate and systematic destruction of a people-- genocide".

The exhibit at the University of Nevada in Reno is very powerful. They have the video, American Outrage playing constantly. All of our people, especially our youth should see this exhibit, if only for the ambiance of seeing your story portrayed as art, history and law in an institution of higher learning.  

It was amazing to see one of the bills the government sends you each year. The one for the amount for $5,044,253.23 was dated April 26, 2005. The title of the exhibit, "WHOSE LAND IS IT?" really states the great American dilemma at the heart of the matter. Perhaps you should personally send the government a bill for that same amount which would accrue interest until they address the Treaty of Ruby Valley of 1863. The elephants in every American courtroom are the hundreds of treaties which were made with the Indians and which they continue to ignore. It was interesting to hear you say that you didn't think you were trying to sue the government for the last thirty years, you were just trying to get your treaty enforced.

I was able to order a copy of the five million, forty four thousand, two hundred and fifty three dollar bill from the University of Nevada Special Collections Department and plan to enlarge it into poster size. I believe it perfectly illustrates the colonizers criminalizing the landowners.  Another good title for the exhibit would be, "Are Treaties the Supreme Law of the Land?"   In your trek through the U.S. court system , you kept hearing, "The Indian Claims Commission determined this, and the Indian Claims Commission found that".  What I would like to know is, how is a panel of cowboys deciding the fate of the Indians, due process of law?

Thank you for everything and most of all for saying that you will never accept any of their blood money.

                                                                                                Your fellow board member,

                                                                                                Steve Melendez

                                                                                                American Indian Genocide Museum

Calif. Gov. Brown Receives Cold, Dead Fish Award Four Years in a Row

Photo of Jerry Brown by Joe McHugh, California Highway Patrol.

Governor Jerry Brown Receives Cold, Dead Fish Award Four Years In A Row

By Dan Bacher

Censored News

The year 2015 will become infamous as the one when many California fish populations reached record low levels, largely due to poor water management by the state and federal governments.

The Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Water Resources continued to drain Trinity, Shasta, Oroville and Folsom reservoirs to record low levels during a record drought to supply subsidized water to corporate agribusiness interests, Southern California water agencies and oil companies conducting fracking operations.

The good news in an otherwise disturbing outlook is the first El Niño storms that arrived at the end of the year to start recharging reservoirs depleted due to mismanagement by the agencies.

California Oil Lobby spent a record $22 million in 2015

Photo meme of State Capitol courtesy of Stop Fooling California.

California Oil Lobby spent a record $22 million in 2015

by Dan Bacher
Censored News

The oil industry spent a record $22 million lobbying California legislators and officials last year, allowing it to largely determine which bills passed and which bills didn't pass through the Legislature. 

This "gusher" of lobbying money in 2015 yielded alarming results: every environmental bill opposed by Big Oil was shelved, or in the case of SB 350, a climate change/green energy bill, was amended under pressure from the oil industry.

The 2015 lobbying brought the total expenses by the oil and gas industry to a whopping $127 million over the past 10 years, according to a report from the American Lung Association in California written by Will Barrett. The report data is obtained from the annual reports filed with the California Secretary of State. (www.cadelivers.org/...)

The record $22 million spent amounts to $60K spent per day on oil lobbyists. 

The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) spent a record $11 million ($10,949,150) on lobbying, making it the number one spender in California for the fourth year in a row. Of the WSPA's $11 million, $9 million - 82% - was reported in the uncategorized "other" spending category.