Updates and Spring Work Parties

Date: 3/18/2006 5:54:45 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: Black Mesa Indigenous Support

Greetings friends,

The fate of Senate Bill 1003, the relocation bill sponsored by AZ Senator John McCain is still not known. Nearly 2,500 of us have taken action in support of the Dineh opposing this bill, sending over 120,000 faxes and emails to our senators/representatives in Congress as well as to the Senate Committee On Indian Affairs and the House Resources Committee! People continue to send letters to representatives and grassroots media have been spreading the word by interviewing Dineh who affected by this bill. Many thanx goes out to everyone for your support to the families who are actively opposing this bill.

Katherine Smith, an elder on Big Mountain, has requested that people spread her message as far and as wide as possible. You can find her statement below.

Stay posted for updates and for statements coming from the land and please consider joining the caravan to Black Mesa this spring.

If you haven't yet sent a letter opposing S.1003, please do so before Congress decides on it.

Urgent Support Needed!

Thank you,
BMIS

Statement by Katherine A. Smith, Elderly resident of Big Mountain, Arizona.

"To The United States Government: My name is Katherine Smith, a citizen of the Navajo Nation and also a resident of land known as the Hopi Partitioned Lands (HPL) since 1977--because of Public Law 93-531. According to our oral historical traditions, from the beginning of the Fifth World, the Holy People- placed us "the Dineh" with Natural Laws-here within the six sacred Mountains, between the Male and Female Rivers...."

Read More

Grassroots Mobilization for Sacred Sites and Human Rights in Flagstaff, Arizona March 25th. Over a thousand people are expected to converge in Flagstaff to march for Sacred Sites and Human Rights on March 25th. See the flier and NEWS RELEASE By Native Movement:

Native Movement March

Spring Caravan to Indigenous Resistance Communities, Black Mesa, Arizona May 26-June 6th.

Join the caravan to Black Mesa to support human rights! A caravan of work crews will be converging from across the western states and spending a week with families affected by mining and relocation laws on Black Mesa. Hands-on projects will demonstrate how these communities are actively shaping their future and assures cultural survival.

Caravan coordinators are located in Prescott, Flagstaff, Tuba City, and Big Mountain Arizona; Appalachia, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Humboldt County in Northern California or contact us for info to help you coordinate a work crew(s) in your region.

We encourage you to get back with us early for further details and to participate in regional meetings.

Spring Caravan

Work Party for Big Mountain Leaving April 8th, Returning April 15th.

Come to Arizona and be a part of work party who will repair homes, roads, water systems, and livestock areas for those Dineh (Navajo) elders and families who are resisting relocation.

We will have a meeting beforehand to plan caravan, discuss cultural sensitivity, and organize. Please be prepared to be self-sufficient-with your own camp gear, food, water, etc. We will discuss this more at our meeting. Please call to confirm you are coming. Darlene at 530-265-8561 Darlene

Each spring Clan Dyken organizes a caravan to plant gardens with families on Black Mesa, in the Sand Springs community: "It's also time to start thinking about a planting trip to the Big Mountain, Black Mesa, Sand Springs areas of the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. If you don't know about our work on the rez check the Beauty Way page of the web site Beauty Way for some stories. There is alot to do...."

This year's Clan Dyken spring caravan is also end of May/beginning of June. Visit their website their dates are to be announced.

Source Black Mesa Website

Contents

March 2006 Reports

Last updated on March 25, 2006