Remembering our Heroes: Reporter Cate Gilles and Dine' Leroy Jackson

Photo by Cate Gilles. Big Mountain and Black Mesa protest at Navajo Nation Council chambers.
Dine' protested the genocide by the Navajo Nation government, which signed leases with Peabody Coal to mine coal and use the water on Black Mesa for Peabody's two coal mines. The Navajo government also signed the lease for the Navajo Generating Station, the coal-fired power plant on the Navajo Nation near Page, Arizona, that used the coal. The power plant was one of three coal-fired power plants on the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico that supplied electricity to Southwest cities that the Navajo government received royalties from -- while many Dine' were left living without running water and electricity.

Remembering our Heroes: Reporter Cate Gilles and Dine' Leroy Jackson

Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Censored News would not be what it is today without the lives, and deaths of two people, news reporter Cate Gilles and Dine' Leroy Jackson. Cate was a reporter covering relocation and Black Mesa and exposed radiation dangers from uranium mining in the Grand Canyon.

Cate was working in public relations for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe when she was found dead hanged by her dog chain. Her death was ruled a suicide. However, just before her death, she told news reporters that she had documents on corruption, involving a casino, that she was taking to the authorities.

Defenders of the Sacred on the Frontlines: With Thanks from Censored News

Defenders of the Sacred: Through the years, defenders of the sacred, on the frontline, have shared their stories with us. Here are a few of them. James Main, Chief Johnny Jackson, and Thomas Banyacya gathered on the Navajo Nation in Dilkon and gave birth to a new movement upholding inherent rights and defending the sacred. Robert Free, shown on horseback on left at Wounded Knee, brought heating oil to Indian country from Venezuela. It was Robert's tipi on Alcatraz. Red Warrior Debra White Plume, Lakota, gave the Lewis and Clark Expedition a symbolic blanket of smallpox in South Dakota, as the American Indian Movement told the pretenders to leave. Carter Camp, Ponca, at Wounded Knee. Kahentinetha, publisher of Mohawk Nation News, and Thomas Square, Mohawk Warriors on the southern border.

Border Nation featured in Environmental Film Festival

Border Nation featured in the Environmental Film Festival

 Brenda Norrell

Censored News

'Border Nation' is featured in the powerful Environmental Film Festival in Washington. The film follows Ofelia Rivas from her home on the Tohono Oodham Nation to the United Nations, as she describes the abuse by the U.S. Border Patrol and the construction of spy towers in her community, built by Israel's Elbit Systems.

Ofelia is the longtime founder of O'odham Voice Against the Wall, and spokesperson for traditional O'odham elders protecting the culture and sacred places.

Watch 'Border Nation' by Jason Jaacks, and other great Indigenous environmental films, free and online at

https://dceff.org/watchnow/

O'odham Voice Against the Wall Holiday Toy Drive

Holiday Toy Drive

To benefit children in communities on southern O’odham lands for Children 2 to 15 years old. Only, gender-neutral toys, No weapons, No Barbie dolls.

All donations deadline: December 21, 2022, at Noon

Call message number: 520.308.9904

Email: 4oodhamrights@gmail.com

Also donate to O’odham Rights: www.oodhamrights.org

O’odham VOICE Against the WALL

P.O. Box 1835

Sells, Arizona 85634

Censored News reader and supporter Lloyd Vivola encourages others to join him and support the toy drive. Lloyd sent this letter to his friends.