Call in to stop the City of Flagstaff's sale of wastewater to Snowbowl for Snowmaking!

Please call:

City of Flagstaff Mayor Joe Donaldson Telephone: (928) 779-7600

Suggested talking points:

1. The Coconino National Forest Service's Environmental Impact Statement recognizes that there will be "adverse impacts" to the cultural integrity of the San Francisco Peaks if the Snowbowl development is permitted. Snowbowl's plan would not be possible if the City did NOT sell wastewater to Snowbowl. Let him know how you personally feel about the preservation of ancient living cultures.

2. Scientific studies have found contaminants in the wastewater that could be dangerous to the environment and humans. With this information, the City must also address its use on parks, school fields and golf courses. Urge the city council to take these scientific findings seriously!

3. The City of Flagstaff's economy benefits greatly from neighboring Native American Nations and from heritage tourism year round. The sale of wastewater to Snowbowl will continue to be detrimental to the City's reputation and relations with these tribes that oppose further desecration of the San Francisco Peaks.

4. Snowbowl's wastewater plan and the City's involvement are contributing to racial division in the community.

5. Urge the Mayor to allow the community to decide if it should sell wastewater to Snowbowl.

Stop the sale of contaminated wastewater to Snowbowl! Respect our Cultural and Natural Heritage!

Save the Peaks

DNA's Honor Native Rights Online Auction DNA-People's Legal Services

Diné Beiiná Náhiilna Be Agha’diit’ahii

“Attorneys who contribute to the revitalization of the people”

WHAT: Online Auction to support DNA's vital services to protect the Sacred San Francisco Peaks!

Please support this auction!

WHERE: On EBAY at

EBay

WHEN: NOW! There will be more listings Monday evening 7pm Pacific Time.

Supporting the ideal of “justice for all”, DNA People’s Legal Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm offering free legal assistance so those who cannot afford to pay for legal expertise can have a voice in our justice system. DNA is an acronym taken from the Navajo phrase Diné Be’iiná Náhiilna Be Agha’diit’ahii, which translates to “attorneys who work for the economic revitalization of the people”.

We are hosting an Honor Native Rights Auction DNA Legal Services this site has more item images to raise funds that will support legal work on behalf of a Navajo Medicineman, a Hopi Spiritual Leader and the Hualapai Tribe, who oppose a recent U.S. Forest Service decision to allow a ski area on the San Francisco Peaks in Northern Arizona to make artificial machine-made snow using 100% reclaimed sewage effluent (wastewater). If allowed, it would become the first and only ski area in the world to do so.

The Peaks are sacred to over 200,000 Native Americans living in the region, as a home of many deities and medicinal plants used in traditional healing ceremonies. The land itself is sacred, as the Peaks are host to blessing and healing ceremonies practiced by spiritual leaders for untold centuries. Sewage effluent would desecrate this sacred land, and disrespect the traditions and beliefs held by tens of thousands of Native Americans.

Many oppose the snowmaking project for environmental reasons as well. The project would clear hundreds of acres of trees and introduce reclaimed sewer water to its delicate ecosystem. Effects of the use of reclaimed sewer water have not been widely tested, particularly in the sensitive alpine areas in which the water will be applied. The Peaks are home to a listed threatened plant, San Francisco groundsel, which is exclusively found in the San Francisco Peaks' talus slopes in the alpine zone.

Further, the proposed reclaimed sewer water pipeline passes near habitat of the Mexican spotted owl, an endangered species.

The use of reclaimed sewer water for public contact, as in skiing, has also not been widely tested.

Our work on behalf of Native Americans extends beyond major impact litigation to address the most critical issues that face individuals and families living in poverty. DNA attorneys and tribal court advocates provide assistance in state, federal and tribal courts, to help resolve issues that if unchecked often force families further into poverty. Our legal work helps secure and sustain critical needs - safe housing, protection from violence, employment, healthcare and public benefits. With our help, families can avoid or resolve crises caused by poverty, such as homelessness, loss of employment or benefits, and financial abuse from consumer fraud. And, victims of domestic violence can escape their abusers and establish safe, stable and independent lives.

Each year we serve nearly 4,000 economically vulnerable individuals, 75% of whom are Native American. We are the sole provider of free legal aid in a rural and geographically isolated region the size of Michigan, where over 125,000 residents are income eligible for our services. One half of the population is Native American, with 40% living at or below the federal poverty level and 50% unemployed. In the Navajo Nation, the country’s largest Indian reservation, 70% percent of residents lack domestic and municipal water for everyday use and 60% lack telephone service. 78% of public roads are dirt-based, with little or no gravel.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Kathy Gallagher
Director of Development
DNA-People's Legal Services
201 East Birch Avenue, Suite 5
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 774-0653 ext. 4806
(928) 774-9452 FAX
DNA-People's Legal Services

Check out DNA's Honor Native Rights Online Auction!

DNA's Honor Native Rights Online Auction

DNA-People's Legal Services
Diné Beiiná Náhiilna Be Agha’diit’ahii
“Attorneys who contribute to the revitalization of the people”

Special thanks to Teresa Ana-hoo-ey for sending this on!

Contents

March 2006 Reports

Last updated on March 20, 2006