Meskipun tanggal telah berlalu untuk kelompok doa listing ini menunjukkan kepada kita Situs Suci banyak yang membutuhkan perlindungan kita dan doa. Ini mungkin baik untuk mengirim doa ke situs paling dekat dengan Anda dan fokus pada daerah itu. Kemudian mengirimkan doa Anda ke semua lokasi lainnya. Bersatu kita kuat ......... bersatu kita benar .... bersatu kita menciptakan keseimbangan ...... terima kasih, Miriam

THE MORNING STAR INSTITUTE
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Berita Pernyataan Untuk Segera Diterbitkan

16-24 Juni SET UNTUK HARI NASIONAL 2.012 DOA TEMPAT SUCI

Washington, DC (6/15/12)-perayaan dan upacara akan diadakan di seluruh tanah dari tanggal 16 sampai 24 Juni hingga menandai 2012 Days Doa Nasional untuk Melindungi Tempat Suci asli Amerika. Ibadah di Washington, DC akan diselenggarakan pada Rabu, 20 Juni di 8:30 am, di Amerika Serikat Capitol Grounds, West Front Area Grassy (lihat rincian di bawah daftar, Washington DC dalam daftar abjad oleh negara pada halaman berikut ).

Deskripsi dari tempat-tempat suci tertentu dan ancaman yang mereka hadapi, serta waktu dan tempat untuk peringatan umum tercantum di bawah ini. Beberapa pertemuan disorot dalam rilis ini adalah forum pendidikan, bukan upacara keagamaan, dan terbuka untuk masyarakat umum. Lainnya adalah seremonial dan dapat dilakukan secara pribadi. Selain mereka yang tercantum di bawah ini, akan ada perayaan dan doa yang ditawarkan di tempat-tempat suci lainnya yang berada di bawah ancaman dan pada mereka yang tidak terancam saat ini.

"Orang asli dan non-asli nasional berkumpul saat ini untuk upacara Solstice dan untuk menghormati tempat-tempat suci, tapi semua orang bisa menghormati para tanah berharga dan perairan sepanjang waktu dengan hanya menghormati mereka dan kehidupan mereka mendukung dan tidak memungkinkan mereka untuk dirugikan, "kata Suzan Tampil Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee). Dia adalah Presiden dari The Morning Star Institute, yang menyelenggarakan Suci Nasional Hari Doa Places. "Upacara sedang dilakukan sejauh terlalu banyak Peoples asli Amerika yang terlibat dalam perjuangan hukum dengan badan-badan federal yang sisi dengan pengembang yang membahayakan atau menghancurkan tempat-tempat suci asli," kata Ms Harjo.

"Karena keputusan Mahkamah Agung AS pada tahun 1988 bahwa tidak ada alasan konstitusional atau undang-undang tindakan untuk mempertahankan tempat suci asli, penduduk asli Amerika adalah orang-satunya di Amerika Serikat yang tidak memiliki pintu ke gedung pengadilan untuk melindungi tempat-tempat suci atau situs -spesifik upacara, "kata Ms Harjo. "Itu hanya harus berubah sebagai masalah keadilan dan pemerataan. Bangsa pribumi telah cobbling bersama perlindungan berdasarkan pertahanan dimaksudkan untuk tujuan lain. Beberapa lembaga mungkin mengizinkan tempat di meja ketika pembangunan sedang dipertimbangkan, tetapi kebanyakan tidak dan Masyarakat asli tidak dianggap serius karena instansi dan pengembang tahu bahwa Mahkamah Agung tidak muncul cenderung untuk mendengar tuntutan hukum yang tidak memiliki hak tailor-made tindakan. "

Selama kampanye presiden pada tahun 2008, kemudian-Senator Obama berbicara mengenai masalah ini sebagai bagian dari platform kebijakan Native American nya untuk kebebasan beragama, hak budaya dan sakral perlindungan tempat: "Asli tempat suci Amerika dan spesifik lokasi upacara berada di bawah ancaman dari pembangunan, polusi , dan vandalisme. Barack Obama mendukung perlindungan hukum bagi tempat-tempat suci dan tradisi budaya, termasuk kuburan nenek moyang asli 'dan gereja. "

Masyarakat asli Banyak mendukung Calon Obama karena posisinya di tempat-tempat suci asli, namun telah putus asa pada kesenjangan yang tumbuh antara apa Calon yang didukung dan apa Administrasi Presiden telah dilakukan pada tempat-tempat suci. Dinas Kehutanan, Biro Pengelolaan Lahan, Departemen Kehakiman dan lembaga federal lainnya secara aktif membahayakan tempat-tempat suci dan memerangi Masyarakat asli yang berusaha untuk melindungi tempat-tempat suci dalam proses peradilan dan administratif.

Kongres Nasional Indian Amerika, organisasi tertua dan terbesar nasional India, telah menyerukan Kongres untuk memberlakukan undang-undang yang akan memberikan penyebab tindakan, bagi Presiden untuk memperbarui dan memperkuat Executive Order yang ada di Situs Suci India dan untuk Hutan Layanan untuk memanfaatkan hukum dan kebijakan untuk melindungi tempat-tempat suci asli Amerika. Pada saat yang sama, Dinas Kehutanan telah disebut-sebut sebagai keberhasilan bagi tempat-tempat suci draft laporan, yang terus terang dikecam di negara India, dan laporan direvisi itu adalah menjaga rahasia, bertentangan dengan posisi Administrasi pada konsultasi suku.

"Presiden telah meminta secara langsung untuk meminta Kongres untuk membuat hak tindakan sehingga kita dapat mempertahankan tempat-tempat suci kita, untuk meningkatkan Executive Order untuk Situs Suci India dan untuk menghentikan Dinas Kehutanan dan lembaga lain dari terus selama puluhan tahun serangan mereka terhadap tempat-tempat suci asli, "kata Ms Harjo. "Saya masih optimis bahwa Presiden dapat dan akan melakukan hal-hal, bahkan jika Kongres tidak dapat membuat kemajuan dalam ini atau daerah manapun. Sekali lagi, kami berdoa bahwa ini akan menjadi tahun terakhir kita mendapatkan keadilan oleh Cabang Eksekutif, Legislatif dan Peradilan. "

Pelapor Khusus PBB tentang Hak-hak Masyarakat Adat telah merekomendasikan bahwa AS mempertimbangkan menarik izin federal yang memungkinkan sebuah resor ski swasta untuk menggunakan air limbah daur ulang untuk membuat salju di atas Peaks San Francisco, yang suci bagi Bangsa Pribumi banyak di barat daya. Pelapor Khusus juga telah meminta AS untuk berkonsultasi dengan dan kembali tempat-tempat suci bagi Masyarakat asli.

"Masyarakat asli Amerika mendorong bahwa Presiden mengubah posisi AS dan mendukung Deklarasi PBB tentang Hak-hak Masyarakat Adat, dan berharap untuk aplikasi untuk hukum AS dan praktek," kata Ms Harjo.

Deklarasi ini mencakup pernyataan berikut mengenai tempat-tempat suci:

"Pasal 11, 1: Masyarakat adat memiliki hak untuk berlatih dan merevitalisasi tradisi budaya dan adat istiadat. Hal ini meliputi hak untuk mempertahankan, melindungi dan mengembangkan manifestasi masa lalu, sekarang dan masa depan dari budaya mereka, seperti situs-situs arkeologi dan sejarah, artefak, desain, upacara, teknologi dan seni visual dan pertunjukan dan sastra.

"Pasal 11, 2: Negara akan melakukan pemulihan melalui mekanisme yang efektif, yang mungkin termasuk restitusi, dikembangkan bersama dengan masyarakat adat, dengan rasa hormat pada kekayaan budaya, intelektual, agama dan spiritual yang diambil tanpa persetujuan bebas mereka, sebelum dan atau yang melanggar dari, mereka tradisi hukum dan kebiasaan. "

"Pasal 12, 1: Masyarakat adat memiliki hak untuk mewujudkan, praktek, mengembangkan dan mengajarkan tradisi spiritual dan agama, adat dan upacara, hak untuk mempertahankan, melindungi, dan mempunyai akses dengan privasi ke situs mereka agama dan budaya, hak untuk penggunaan dan kontrol benda seremonial mereka,. dan hak untuk repatriasi jasad manusia mereka "

"Pasal 25: Masyarakat adat memiliki hak untuk memelihara dan memperkuat hubungan spiritual yang khas dengan mereka secara tradisional atau dikuasai dan digunakan tanah, wilayah, air dan pesisir pantai dan sumber daya lainnya dan untuk menegakkan tanggung jawab mereka terhadap generasi mendatang dalam hal ini."

Tahun 2012 adalah perayaan kesepuluh dari Hari Doa Nasional untuk Melindungi Tempat Suci asli Amerika. Hari Doa Nasional pertama dilakukan pada tanggal 20 Juni 2003, pada Grounds Capitol AS dan nasional untuk menekankan perlunya Kongres untuk memberlakukan penyebab tindakan untuk melindungi tempat-tempat suci asli. Itu kebutuhan masih ada.

Doa akan ditawarkan untuk tempat-tempat suci berikut, antara lain:

Antelope Hills. Apache Leap. Badger Two Medicine. Badlands. Bear Butte. Bear Lake. Beruang Medicine Lodge. Black Hills. Black Mesa. Blue Lake. Boboquivari gunung. Bunchgrass gunung. Cave Rock. Kepala Cliff. Pesisir Chumash Sacred Lands di Pantai Gaviota. Cocopah Pemakaman dan Upacara Grounds. Coldwater Springs. Colorado River. Columbia River. Rusa Kedokteran Rocks. Dzil Nchaa Si An (Gunung Graham). Eagle Rock. Everglades.

Fajada Butte. Ganondagan. Besar Mound (Bawah Mound). Teluk Meksiko. Haleakala Crater. Hatchet Mountain. Hickory Ground. Gunung Suci. Bangsa Hualapai bentuklahan di Truxton dan Canyons Crozier. Indian Pass. Kaho'olawe. Kasha-Katuwe. Katuktu. Kituwah. Klamath River. Kumeyaay Band Pemakaman dan Upacara Grounds. Danau Superior. Luiseno Landscape Ancestral Asal. Mauna Kea. Maze. Medicine Bluff. Lubang Medicine. Medicine Lake Highlands. Kedokteran Roda. Migi zii wa dosa (Eagle Rock). Mokuhinia. Moku'ula. Gunung Shasta. Mount Taylor. Gunung Tenabo. Nine Mile Canyon.

Ocmulgee Old Fields dan Monumen Nasional. Onondaga Lake. Palo Duro Canyon. Petroglyphs Monumen Nasional. Pipestone National Monument. Puget Sound. Puvungna. Pyramid Lake Batu Ibu. Quechan Pemakaman dan Upacara Grounds. Rainbow Bridge. Rattlesnake Island. Sungai Rio Grande. San Francisco Peaks. Serpent Mound. Snoqualmie Falls. Sweetgrass Hills. Sutter Buttes. Tse Whit Desa Zen. Tsi-Litch Semiahmah Desa. Valley of Chiefs. Valmont Butte. Wakarusa Wetlands. Berjalan Tempat Perempuan. Woodruff Butte. Wolf River. Yucca Mountain. Zuni Salt Lake. Suci tempat semua Bangsa Pribumi dihapus. Semua Waters dan Wetlands.

Arizona: Gunung Graham, Dzil Nchaa Si An

Gunung Graham adalah suci kepada orang-orang Apache Barat dan dikenal ke San Carlos Apache sebagai Dzil Nchaa Si An. Ini adalah lanskap suci di mana Gaan atau Spirits Gunung berada dan leluhur sisanya Apache. Ini adalah tempat upacara dan tanaman obat-obatan, dan rumah bagi tupai Gunung terancam punah Graham merah. Pegunungan Pinaleño atau Gunung Graham adalah harta ekologi yang unik. Ini adalah gunung tertinggi di selatan Arizona dan meliputi enam zona kehidupan yang berbeda dari lantai lembah ke puncaknya pada 10,720 ft Disebut "Sky Island" ekosistem, hutan pertumbuhan tua di puncak Gunung Graham adalah setara Arizona hutan hujan. Mata air berlimpah dan padang rumput dataran tinggi telah menawarkan rezeki dan sumber penyembuhan orang Apache yang tinggal di padang pasir. Karakteristik lembab dingin gunung telah dipelihara 18 tanaman yang berbeda dan hewan tidak ditemukan di tempat lain di dunia.

Pada 1980-an, University of Arizona dan para mitranya pada saat itu, termasuk Vatikan dan Smithsonian Institution, memilih Gunung Graham sebagai situs untuk membangun sebuah observatorium dengan tujuh teleskop besar yang dikenal sebagai Proyek Columbus. Dimulai pada tahun 1988, delegasi kongres Arizona berhasil mendapatkan pembebasan untuk proyek dari spesies langka, lingkungan, pelestarian sejarah dan hukum lainnya. Pada tahun 1989, University of Arizona diberikan ijin penggunaan 20-tahun khusus oleh Coronado National Forest dan Dinas Kehutanan AS, dan pengendara apropriasi terus proyek siram dengan manfaat publik tanpa harus mematuhi undang-undang federal atau peraturan, termasuk federal India hukum dimaksudkan untuk melindungi kebebasan beragama, kuburan dan sifat budaya. Juru bicara Vatikan menyatakan bahwa Gunung Graham bukanlah tempat keagamaan atau sakral. Karyawan universitas dan pelobi berusaha untuk merusak reputasi para pemimpin agama Apache dan praktisi, dan dipertahankan setidaknya satu San Carlos resmi suku untuk bersaksi bahwa gunung itu tidak sakral atau signifikan terhadap masyarakat Apache.

Selama beberapa dekade, Masyarakat Apache, ilmuwan, konservasionis dan mahasiswa telah menolak University of Arizona keputusan untuk membangun teleskop di puncak Gunung. Meskipun awan sering membuat teleskop melihat marjinal dan Gunung Graham menduduki peringkat ke-38 dalam sebuah studi dari situs astronomi di AS, delegasi kongres Arizona dan Universitas telah bertahan dengan proyek. Saat ini, pembangunan teleskop dan penutupan federal yang dihasilkan dari atas Gunung yang menodai Gunung dan hubungan tak tergantikan dengan Apache Peoples.

Perjuangan terus melindungi warisan alam dan budaya Gunung Graham dari kehancuran preseden masih disebabkan oleh Universitas dalam membangun observatorium pada Gunung Graham. Upaya perlindungan budaya dan organisasi lingkungan dan Suku terkena dampak untuk melindungi kesucian Gunung Graham terus berlanjut.

The University of Arizona kini mengoperasikan observatorium tanpa izin menggunakan berlaku khusus. 20-tahun izin federal berakhir pada tanggal 19 April 2009. Universitas telah meminta Hutan Coronado Nasional untuk izin baru, tetapi, pada Juni 2012, keputusan tentang apakah akan memberikan izin belum dibuat. Dinas Kehutanan telah menetapkan bahwa perlu mempersiapkan Pernyataan Dampak Lingkungan (EIS) untuk mengumpulkan informasi mengenai pro dan kontra pemberian izin baru. Universitas telah menolak keras ke EIS baru. Dari apa yang sedikit informasi Koalisi Gunung Graham dan San Carlos Apache Tribe telah belajar, Dinas Kehutanan dan pengacara Universitas adalah "dalam diskusi" untuk menentukan bentuk akhir dari proses perpanjangan izin.

Ada sejumlah alasan untuk Dinas Kehutanan untuk menolak izin baru. Izin murtad memiliki sejumlah syarat dan ketentuan yang dilanggar oleh Universitas. Banyak dari kondisi ini seharusnya menyebabkan pencabutan izin tapi tidak. Semua pelanggaran ini perlu dipelajari untuk menentukan apakah Universitas dapat mengikuti aturan izin baru.

Kondisi Gunung Graham telah berubah secara substansial sejak izin diberikan dan observatorium bahkan kurang kompatibel dengan pentingnya agama dan ekologi Gunung Graham. Karena izin itu diberikan, "bentuk" Gunung Graham telah dianggap memenuhi syarat untuk penempatan pada daftar nasional tempat bersejarah. Selain itu, Dinas Kehutanan sekarang mengakui bahwa Gunung Graham adalah Properti Budaya Tradisional kepada orang-orang Barat Apache dan telah mengambil langkah-langkah untuk berkonsultasi (meskipun memiliki jalan panjang untuk pergi) dengan Apache tradisional tentang sifat kudus dari gunung dan bagaimana melindungi itu. Universitas mungkin pergi ke Kongres untuk lain pengecualian untuk kebebasan beragama dan undang-undang lingkungan dan memaksa Dinas Kehutanan untuk mengeluarkan izin baru. Pendukung Gunung Graham akan menjadi yang terakhir untuk mendengar setiap lobi sepanjang garis-garis dan harus selalu waspada untuk menghentikan hal ini terjadi.

Untuk ini dan banyak alasan lain, penting bagi pendukung Apache masyarakat dan Gunung Graham mendesak Dinas Kehutanan untuk menolak Universitas izin baru dan membutuhkan bahwa teleskop yang ada di Gunung Graham dihapus.

Setelah 20 tahun konstruksi, proyek teleskop besar masih belum lengkap dan pertanyaan yang sangat serius tetap tentang, utilitas pentingnya dan fungsi dari perspektif astronomi. Apa yang TIDAK dimaksud adalah pelanggaran yang terus menerus untuk Rakyat Apache Barat. Sama jelas adalah status berbahaya dari tupai Graham asli Gunung merah. Survei terbaru yang dilakukan oleh para ahli biologi memperkirakan bahwa hanya sekitar 214 spesies ini unik, ditemukan sekarang di mana pun di bumi, tetap. Telah diidentifikasi oleh para ahli biologi sebagai salah satu mamalia paling mungkin untuk punah di Amerika Serikat dalam waktu dekat.

Beberapa kebakaran menghancurkan puncak Gunung Graham di masa lalu. Mereka berjuang untuk melindungi teleskop lebih dari ekosistem dan, sebagai akibatnya, banyak kerusakan dilakukan ke Gunung yang bisa dihindari. Dinas Kehutanan telah memutuskan untuk mengencerkan hutan dan sebaliknya memanipulasi ekosistem untuk mencoba untuk melindungi apa yang tersisa dan untuk mengembalikan apa yang telah rusak. Kebakaran saat terbakar di timur dan selatan Arizona memperkuat bahaya bahwa tindakan lebih lanjut akan diambil melindungi struktur atas nilai-nilai spiritual dan satwa liar.

Doa dan ketekunan yang dibutuhkan sekarang lebih dari sebelumnya untuk Mount Graham. Ekosistem berada di bawah ancaman serius dari perubahan iklim dan pola lainnya dari kerusakan, ada peluang bagi Dinas Kehutanan untuk menolak izin baru untuk teleskop dan membutuhkan mereka dihapus, dan ada kesempatan untuk melindungi ekosistem yang ada dan mengembalikan beberapa dari apa yang telah hilang. Dan, kesucian Gunung Graham terus ditantang dan, sementara Gunung mampu melindungi dirinya sendiri, pendukung dapat membantu untuk melindunginya.

Untuk informasi lebih lanjut, hubungi Koalisi Gunung Graham, Roger Featherstone, Presiden, pada greenfire@featherstone.ws, atau Dinah Bear, Sekretaris, di Bear6@verizon.net

Arizona: San Francisco Peaks

The San Francisco Peaks yang suci untuk Apache, Hopi, Hualapai, Navajo, Yavapai dan Bangsa Pribumi lainnya. The San Francisco Peaks adalah rumah bagi makhluk suci banyak, tempat obat-obatan dan tempat asal. Berbagai upacara yang dilakukan di sana untuk penyembuhan, baik siklus menjadi, keseimbangan, peringatan, dan bagian-bagian air dunia dan kehidupan.

The San Francisco Peaks berada di tanah federal dalam Hutan Nasional Coconino. Memang, Dinas Kehutanan AS telah mengindikasikan bahwa San Francisco Peaks yang sakral dan suci bagi lebih dari tiga belas suku di barat daya Amerika Serikat.

Meskipun sebelumnya, Dinas Kehutanan dan resor ski Snowbowl swasta, yang terletak di puncak San Francisco, berencana untuk memperluas area ski dan menggunakan limbah daur ulang untuk membuat salju buatan. Perluasan dan limbah-ke-salju rencana bisa memiliki dampak buruk pada agama-agama asli dan orang-orang dan di atas air dan kesehatan dari seluruh wilayah. Perkembangan rekreasi merayap telah bersangkutan pemimpin spiritual asli suku dan pejabat selama beberapa dekade, namun rencana saat ini jauh melebihi kegiatan masa lalu di resor.

Rencana Snowbowl untuk jelas 74 hektar habitat alpine langka yang merupakan rumah bagi spesies terancam, membuat berjalan ski baru dan lift, menambahkan banyak parkir lebih dan membangun pipa 14,8 mil terkubur untuk mengangkut sampai 180 juta galon (per musim) air limbah untuk membuat salju buatan pada 205 hektar. Meskipun protes yang sedang berlangsung dan mogok makan, Snowbowl telah memulai pembangunan pipa air limbah untuk snowmaking, dengan persetujuan dan perlindungan oleh Dinas Kehutanan dan Departemen Pertanian AS.

Navajo Nation Komisi Hak Asasi Manusia Ketua Duane H. Yazzie bersaksi di depan Komite Senat pada tahun 2011 pendengaran Negeri India 'pada pelaksanaan AS Deklarasi PBB tentang Hak-hak Masyarakat Adat: "Mengintegrasikan Deklarasi ke dalam hukum yang ada akan fokus substansial pada nilai dari situs suci daripada menempatkan beban yang tidak semestinya pada prosedur. Juga, Deklarasi akan menekankan kebijakan internasional, bukan mengandalkan kebijakan domestik saja. Legislatif menangani yurisprudensi hukum India akan memperbaiki perampasan hak-hak penduduk asli Amerika ke situs suci. "

The Pelapor Khusus PBB tentang Hak-hak Masyarakat Adat direkomendasikan pada tahun 2011 bahwa "Pemerintah Amerika Serikat terlibat dalam kajian komprehensif dari kebijakan yang relevan dan tindakan untuk memastikan bahwa mereka sesuai dengan standar internasional dalam kaitannya dengan Peaks San Francisco dan lainnya asli situs sakral Amerika, dan bahwa mengambil tindakan perbaikan yang tepat .... Pemerintah harus reinitiate atau melanjutkan konsultasi dengan suku-suku yang praktek agama dipengaruhi oleh operasi ski di puncak San Francisco dan berusaha untuk mencapai kesepakatan dengan mereka pada pengembangan ski daerah. Pemerintah harus memberikan pertimbangan serius untuk menangguhkan izin untuk modifikasi Snowbowl sampai perjanjian tersebut dapat dicapai atau sampai, dengan tidak adanya kesepakatan tersebut, penentuan tertulis dibuat oleh otoritas pemerintah yang berwenang bahwa keputusan akhir tentang daerah ski modifikasi sesuai dengan kewajiban internasional Amerika Serikat 'hak asasi manusia.

"Pelapor Khusus ingin menekankan kebutuhan untuk memastikan bahwa tindakan atau keputusan oleh instansi Pemerintah sesuai dengan, bukan hanya hukum domestik, tetapi juga standar internasional yang melindungi hak penduduk asli Amerika untuk berlatih dan menjaga tradisi keagamaan mereka. Pelapor Khusus menyadari program-program pemerintah yang ada dan kebijakan untuk berkonsultasi dengan masyarakat adat dan mempertimbangkan tradisi keagamaan mereka di pemerintahan pengambilan keputusan sehubungan dengan situs suci. Pelapor Khusus mendesak Pemerintah untuk membangun program-program dan kebijakan agar sesuai dengan standar internasional dan dengan demikian untuk membangun praktek yang baik dan menjadi pemimpin dunia bahwa hal itu bisa dalam melindungi hak-hak masyarakat adat. "

Bangsa pribumi dan organisasi lingkungan telah berusaha untuk melindungi San Francisco Peaks di pengadilan. Pengadilan Negeri memutuskan untuk pembangunan pada tahun 2006. Pengadilan Ninth Circuit Banding membatalkan keputusan pengadilan yang lebih rendah pada tahun 2007 dan memerintah selama Suku Hopi, Navajo Nation dan lain-lain. Sebuah panel tiga hakim dari Ninth Circuit memutuskan bahwa Dinas Kehutanan melanggar Undang-Undang Kebebasan Beragama Restorasi dan Undang-Undang Kebijakan Lingkungan Nasional dalam memungkinkan Resort Snowbowl untuk memperluas lebih dari 100 hektar ekosistem alpine langka, bagian dari wilayah yang dianggap suci oleh penduduk asli masyarakat.

Pemerintah federal menantang bahwa keputusan dan mengajukan petisi kepada Ninth Circuit untuk rehearing en bertamasya. Petisi tersebut jarang diberikan, namun MK mengabulkan satu ini. Kasus ini berargumen di depan panel hakim-11 bertamasya en dari Ninth Circuit di Pasadena pada bulan Desember 2007. The Ninth Circuit mengeluarkan keputusan en bertamasya panel pada tanggal 8 Agustus 2008, yang berkuasa dalam mendukung pembangunan. Para Bangsa Pribumi mengajukan surat perintah certiorari untuk Mahkamah Agung AS. Pada tanggal 8 Juni 2009, Mahkamah Agung menolak untuk meninjau kembali keputusan tersebut.

Suku berusaha untuk mencapai semacam akomodasi administrasi dengan pemerintahan baru, namun upaya tersebut belum membuahkan hasil. Save the Koalisi Peaks kemudian mengajukan gugatan terhadap pemerintah federal pada isu NEPA bahwa Dinas Kehutanan gagal memadai mempertimbangkan konsumsi air selokan reklamasi. Ini adalah hukum yang sama dan fakta bahwa tiga hakim panel sebelum dipertimbangkan dalam menemukan bahwa Dinas Kehutanan telah gagal untuk mematuhi NEPA. Putusan sebelum itu, bagaimanapun, diberikan non-precedential oleh en bertamasya pengadilan dalam kasus Navajo. Meskipun penalaran sebelum Ninth Circuit, Hakim Mei Murguia dari Pengadilan Distrik AS memutuskan terhadap Simpan Koalisi Peaks pada semua penting. Tak lama kemudian, diangkat oleh Obama ke Ninth Circuit dikonfirmasi. Save the Koalisi Peaks mengajukan banding atas putusan tersebut.

Sebuah panel tiga hakim terbuka bermusuhan Ninth Circuit tidak hanya memutuskan terhadap koalisi, namun menyatakan bahwa Koalisi Save the Peaks dan pengacara mereka telah menyalahgunakan proses peradilan - tanpa dasar dukungan untuk tuduhan mereka. Snowbowl saat ini terjadi setelah para penggugat dan pengacara pro bono mereka, secara pribadi, untuk kerusakan dalam jumlah sekitar $ 280.000. Tiga hakim yang sama mendengar gerak Snowbowl itu.

Untuk sementara, Snowbowl sedang mengejar penuntutan pemrotes damai dan mencari "pembalasan" dari mereka. Beberapa anggota komunitas Flagstaff telah memulai mogok makan. Sebagai masalah hukum dan praktis, bagaimanapun, Snowbowl kini bebas untuk menodai Kudus San Francisco Peaks dengan impunitas.

Untuk informasi tambahan, hubungi: Howard M. Shanker, The Law Firm Shanker, PLC, di Tempe dan Flagstaff, Arizona, di (480) 838-9433 atau howard@shankerlaw.net

California: McCloud River - Winnemem Wintu Tribe Siapkan untuk Balas Chonos

The Winnemem Wintu Suku California Utara untuk mempersiapkan Balas Chonos, Kedatangan Upacara Age, meskipun oposisi oleh US Forest Service. Kaum telah meminta Dinas Kehutanan untuk menutup 400 meter dari Sungai McCloud untuk pelaut motorik rekreasi selama empat hari dari Upacara tersebut, 30 Juni-3 Juli. Dinas Kehutanan mengklaim bahwa mereka sedang terhalang oleh Biro kebijakan pengakuan pemerintah federal Negeri India 'dan tidak bisa menutup sungai karena Kaum tersebut tidak diakui federal.

Kaum mengatakan bahwa pengakuan federal hanya salah satu dari hubungan federal dengan suku-suku asli. Di California, 90% dari suku yang tidak termasuk dalam daftar pengakuan yang sangat singkat, yang diterbitkan tanpa peringatan selama pemerintahan Reagan. Bahkan mereka dengan hubungan historis yang panjang tercatat sebagai suku dengan pemerintah AS - mereka yang penandatangan perjanjian yang belum diratifikasi dan orang-orang di Roll Penghakiman California, misalnya - dikeluarkan dari daftar itu pengakuan. Beberapa 300.000 orang tradisional dan hak asasi manusia mereka untuk upacara terpengaruh karena kebijakan ini. Menurut Undang-Undang Kebebasan Agama American Indian, semua lembaga federal memiliki kewajiban untuk melindungi dan melestarikan tempat-tempat suci asli Amerika dan upacara, dan untuk berkonsultasi dengan para pemimpin agama tradisional asli, terlepas dari status pengakuan federal atau non-federal mereka.

The Winnemem Wintu Kaum menegaskan haknya untuk upacara adat bagi perempuan berdasarkan Pasal 11, 12 dan 25 dari Deklarasi PBB tentang Hak-hak Masyarakat Adat. Winnemem Kepala Caleen Sisk adalah meminta penutupan wajib Sungai McCloud untuk Kedatangan Upacara Usia untuk Marisa Sisk, siapa yang akan menjadi Kepala Winnemem berikutnya. Meskipun Wintu Winnemem akan lebih memilih untuk fokus pada selebran, Kaum mengatakan itu "harus terus di jalan panjang ke pengadilan, mendidik dunia sebagai tentang apa artinya menjadi tradisional di Amerika Serikat."

Setelah pertemuan dengan para pejabat memuaskan Dinas Kehutanan, Kepala Sisk menyerukan Tari Perang, atau Chonos H'up, upacara yang dilakukan ketika tidak ada yang dapat dilakukan kecuali berdoa. Lebih dari 200 orang datang dari sejauh utara Olympia, Washington, dan sejauh selatan Los Angeles untuk mendukung Winnemem dengan penutupan non-kekerasan, berkomunikasi dengan pelaut tentang fakta ada upacara dan meminta mereka untuk menghormati itu. Seratus persen dari pelaut rekreasi hormat berbalik.

Kaum mengatakan bahwa gangguan "ini hanya untuk upacara non-kekerasan adalah US Forest Rangers, yang setiap hari datang melalui dalam dua kendaraan, salah satu yang menjadi unit anjing, dan berdengung kami dengan perahu mereka, yang didukung oleh Pengawal Pantai tambahan; pada hari ketiga (Dinas Kehutanan) sewenang menutup upaya penutupan kami. "

Winnemem mengatakan bahwa Dinas Kehutanan menyangkal penutupan, meskipun memiliki: 1) bukti yang jelas dari pelecehan ras, gangguan, dan kesehatan dan membahayakan keselamatan dengan mabuk, pelaut ngebut yang mengabaikan "penutupan sukarela" Dinas Kehutanan itu; 2) Farm Bill yang memberikan wewenang untuk menutup daerah dan sungai untuk upacara, 3) Deklarasi PBB tentang Hak-hak Masyarakat Adat; 4) California AJR 39 resolusi bersama, yang menyatakan bahwa negara bagian California mengakui Wintu Winnemem dan mendesak Kongres AS untuk mengenali Suku, 5) sebuah jajak pendapat informal oleh surat kabar lokal Redding, yang menunjukkan bahwa masyarakat mendukung menghormati hak untuk upacara, serta internet dukungan yang luar biasa, dan 6) resolusi dukungan dari para pemimpin adat di Forum PBB 2.012 Permanen pada Hak-hak Masyarakat Adat.

Kaum memanggil unjuk kekuatan dan masalah pengakuan federal "asap dan cermin, dan ketika asap membersihkan, Kaum mencurigai bahwa US Forest Layanan di bawah pengaruh Biro Urusan India dapat bertindak atas nama kepentingan khusus - Biro Reklamasi dan Air Westlands, perusahaan air terbesar di dunia, yang memiliki wilayah yang suci bagi Winnemem tersebut. "Westlands menginginkan Shasta Lake Proyek Bendungan, yang akan meningkatkan bendungan oleh beberapa meter. Kaum mengatakan proyek "akan menenggelamkan semua tempat-tempat suci yang saat ini keluar dari air selama beberapa minggu setiap tahun, seperti Tempat Penyembuhan Perempuan dan Rock Pubertas, dan mereka akan hilang selamanya."

Kepala Sisk mengatakan rencana Winnemem untuk "maju dengan Upacara yang bermartabat, ditopang oleh doa Perang Tari dan didukung oleh janji 300 - 400 pendukung kembali tanggal 29 Juni hingga menutup 400 meter dari McCloud selama empat hari untuk Marisa Kedatangan Usia. Hal ini penting bagi Marisa untuk mengetahui apa yang dia perlu dilakukan di masa-masa sulit sebagai seorang pemimpin. Tampilan waktu tidak damai, sehingga upacara damai dan bermartabat tidak bisa menjadi tujuan hilang. Tujuannya adalah untuk melakukan yang terbaik yang bisa dan tidak pernah menyerah Winnemem menjadi.

"The Wintu Winnemem meminta doa dari semua orang baik berkumpul untuk Doa Nasional Sacred Lands untuk hak manusia untuk upacara tanpa perbedaan antara federal diakui dan tidak diakui, dan khusus untuk hak bagi perempuan suku untuk upacara. Wanita adalah pusat kehidupan suci. Kami meminta doa bahwa Shasta Lake Dam tidak akan terus ditingkatkan dan untuk perlindungan dari Sungai suci Winnemem kami, tempat kedokteran wanita suci itu, Rock Pubertas dan Rock Anak, serta aman kembali dari salmon Suku ini dari Selandia Baru ke perairan rumah mereka di atas bendungan. Kami meminta doa bahwa cara Winnemem kehidupan akan melanjutkan. Hee Chala Bes-ken! "

Kontak: Winnemem Wintu Kepala Caleen Sisk di Joo caleenwintu@gmail.com atau Misa di misa@misajoo.com

California: Medicine Lake Highlands dan Hatchet dan Bunchgrass Pegunungan

Medicine Lake Highlands merupakan daerah suku yang sangat penting yang terletak sebelah timur laut dari Mount Shasta di pegunungan bagian utara California. Sungai Pit, Modoc, Shasta, Karuk, Wintu dan suku lainnya menghormati daerah untuk kekuatan alami penyembuhan dan untuk koneksi terhadap sejarah lama Suku mereka. Misalnya, suku Sungai Pit percaya bahwa Pencipta dan putranya bermandikan Medicine Lake setelah mereka menciptakan bumi, dan Sang Pencipta disampaikan rohnya ke perairan. Karena kesucian Danau itu, suku dari pantai California ke Pegunungan Rocky menggunakan daerah sekitarnya sebagai tempat pelatihan bagi orang-orang kedokteran. The Highlands juga dicari oleh perusahaan-perusahaan energi panas bumi yang telah diterapkan untuk izin pembangunan dari Biro Manajemen Tanah (BLM) dan US Forest Service (USFS), yang mengelola daerah.

Sejak 1990-an, Pit Sungai Tribe, Klinik Stanford Hukum Lingkungan dan pendukung lain dari perlindungan Medicine Lake suci Highlands di timur laut California telah menantang kegagalan BLM dan USFS untuk melakukan tinjauan lingkungan yang memadai dan konsultasi suku untuk industri skala pengembangan energi di dataran tinggi. On November 6, 2006, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the BLM and USFS original extension of Calpine Corporation's geothermal leases in the Highlands violated both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The agencies should have prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before renewing the leases and should have included a “no action” alternative. Because the agencies violated NEPA and NHPA, both the five-year lease extensions and the subsequent 40-year extensions were undone. The Court also said that BLM and USFS violated their fiduciary duty to the Pit River Tribe by failing to complete an EIS before extending the Calpine leases.

When the case was sent back to the trial court to implement the Ninth Circuit's decision, the trial judge ruled that, notwithstanding the invalidation of the lease extensions, the 1988 leases were still intact. In response, Stanford Environmental Law Clinic (SELC) filed an appeal challenging the lower court's interpretation, which went directly against the original Ninth Circuit ruling. At the new hearing on March 10, 2010, the SELC attorneys maintained that the leases, originally issued in 1988 for a duration of five years, and renewed once, expired by their own terms when the 1998 renewals for 40 years were declared null and void by the Ninth Circuit judges.

In August 2010, the Ninth Circuit Court Order indicated that while the Fourmile Hill lease extensions and the project decision remain unacceptable, the underlying leases themselves, granted to Calpine in 1988, continue to be in force. The Federal Agencies (Forest Service and BLM) will need to do a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) involving more environmental review and consultations with the Tribe in order to evaluate whether or not these leases should be extended.

The court ruled that the agencies retain full discretion regarding the Fourmile Hill lease extensions. Therefore, all parties, the Pit River Tribe, BLM, United States Department of Justice and Cal Pine Energy Corporation continue negotiations on how a new EIS will look.

The culturally-important Hatchet and Bunchgrass Mountains and the surrounding lands in Traditional Pit River Indian Territory are in jeopardy of being destroyed, due to a plan to build 49 monolithic windmill energy turbines and related roads and ancillary, interconnections, operations and maintenance facilities in the heart of this region. Hatchet Ridge Wind Company, an affiliate of RES America Developments and Renewable Resources, is initiating its windmill construction project. The project would significantly and negatively alter over 100 acres of this natural region and include up to 49 turbines on steel towers with a height of up to 503 feet. Ancillary facilities would include a substation, an overhead transmission circuit, a switching/interconnection facility and a control room/operations and maintenance building. Access roads would be built, including 6.5 miles of 20-foot-wide permanent roads, and one mile of additional roads.

The project would have severe negative impact on sacred and cultural places, as well as on the winged and four-legged beings. Native people could no longer access particular ceremonial plants on Hatchet Mountain as part of their cultural practices and they do not support the project. The visual impact of the towers on the ridge destroys the integrity of the setting of this sacred area. Birds traditionally important to the local tribal culture, such as eagles, ospreys, ducks and geese, cross the ridge and would be shredded by the blades. Migration routes of deer across the ridge could be disrupted. Sound quality issues would also affect the serenity and isolation of the ridge, disrupting human experiences in the area.

Bunchgrass Mountain is just north of the area impacted by the project. An ancient trail runs along the top of the ridge top, connecting the Pit River to Goose Valley and sites downriver; in addition to regular travel, this trail is used to reach remote areas during vision quests and such quests continue among some young men. Clearly, the proposed windmill project will have severe negative impacts on the natural world, as well as the well being and cultural rights of Native peoples. Although these turbines have been built and are up and running, we are firm that this project is in violation of federal law and the Advocates for the Protection of Sacred Sites and their allies have protested against the project, will continue to do so and will not sit idly by and allow the destruction of important sacred and cultural regions to take place.

For more information on the efforts to protect the sacred Medicine Lake Highlands and Hatchet and Bunchgrass Mountains from the building of massive energy power facilities, contact the Advocates for the Protection of Sacred Sites: Radley Davis, Pit River Nation, 530-917-6064; Mark LeBeau, Pit River Nation, 916-801-4422; and James Hayward, Sr., Redding Rancheria, 530-410-2875

California: Needles – Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe, at the Topock Maze area
Saturday, June 23, 2012, at 6:00 am

The Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe remains in urgent need of prayer to protect the Maze and surrounding sacred areas along the Lower Colorado River. The Maze is both a physical manifestation and a spiritual pathway for the afterlife. It has always been, and will always be, an integral and significant part of the Mojave way of life, beliefs, traditions, culture and religion. The Mojave will observe the Prayer Day at the Topock Maze site.

Pacific Gas & Electric, by its ownership and operation of the Topock Natural Gas Compressor Station near Needles, California over the last 50 years, has polluted the groundwater under and around the Maze with hexavalent chromium, a toxic chemical that can cause numerous human and ecological health problems. PG&E, BLM and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control proceeded with Interim Measures to contain and investigate the contamination, which included the construction of a new Treatment Plant within the Maze area and the drilling of about 150 wells in California and Arizona, on either side of the Colorado River.

These, taken together, create continuing cumulative adverse impacts to the Mojave people, its sacred landscape and tribal religious beliefs.

In 2005, Ft. Mojave filed a state lawsuit seeking the removal of the plant, total restoration of the sacred area, an environmental baseline of prior to the plant's construction and any other actions that could serve to remedy the desecration. Settlement negotiations concluded in November 2006 aimed to achieve each of these goals and secure other remedies including repatriation of portions of the sacred area to tribal ownership, sensitivity training for PG&E employees and contractors, a written public apology and reimbursement of past and future Tribal costs.

In 2011, during selection of the Final Groundwater Remedy, DTSC made a finding that the Topock Cultural Area is an historic resource under state law and the BLM determined that a Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) or property of traditional religious and cultural significance within a 1,600 acre Area of Potential Effect is eligible for listing on the National Register under Criterion A, as part of what tribes have identified as a larger area of traditional and cultural importance.

Yet, DTSC and BLM failed to consult with the Tribe on the final mitigation measures, assuming they knew what was best for all the Tribal Governments along the Lower Colorado River and how the sacred area could be best protected. DTSC's failure to complete a legally adequate environment document, and failure to live up to certain terms in its settlement agreement with the Tribe, is the subject of a second lawsuit brought by the Tribe under state environmental laws. In its approval of the Final Groundwater Remedy, BLM has continued to put off dealing with mitigation for the continued impacts of up to 170 new wells and related infrastructure into the Tribe's sacred area, putting the sustainability of the Tribe's cultural and spiritual practices of the Tribe at further risk for decades to come.

Prayer is needed:
1) for DTSC and PG&E to swiftly bring to conclusion their settlements with the Tribe, and recognize the sovereignty of the tribal government and the agency's public policy goals of truly inclusive and transparent decision making,
2) for BLM and DOI to follow through on promises to require meaningful mitigation for tribal cultural concerns during groundwater and soils remedy design and to improve its management of the area,
3) for additional sacred land in this area to be repatriated to the Tribe and
4) to ask for forgiveness for any continuing desecration that may occur until the offending facilities, including the interim measure treatment plant, are finally removed and until other required restoration of the landscape occurs.

This issue is national in scope: the Maze has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978 and is formally recognized as nationally significant. Moreover, the failure of state and federal agencies to fully consider direct, indirect and cumulative impacts to Native Sacred Places during pollution remediation activities remains a national problem requiring Congressional Oversight. Pray that this oversight occurs at the highest levels.

Contact: Nora McDowell-Antone, Tribal Topock Project Manager, at (928) 768-4475, NoraMcDowell-Antone@fortmojave.com, or Courtney Ann Coyle, Tribal Attorney, at (858) 454-8687, CourtCoyle@aol.com

California: Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, Luiseño Ancestral Origin Landscape

Pechanga is in need of urgent prayer to continue to assist it in protecting the Luiseño Ancestral Origin Landscape from the Granite Construction Company's proposed Liberty Quarry. The proposed quarry would be located on a sacred mountain within the Luiseño People's sacred place of origin. Parts of this Origin Landscape have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973 as the Murrieta Creek Archaeological Area (exva Temeeku) and are also listed in the state's Sacred Lands File Inventory.

After many public hearings before the Riverside County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, the quarry was DENIED this year! However, the Board on a 3:2 margin voted to APPROVE the inadequate environmental document under CEQA, potentially laying the groundwork for Granite to come back in the near future with a revised application to mine. This unusual turn of events means that the Origin Area is still at risk.

Granite wants to blast out the mountain, home to the Kammalam (ancestors in the form of rocks), so that it can produce aggregate. The quarry could operate for 75 years and, even after reclamation, would remain a permanent scar within the sacred landscape. It would also be located at the headwaters of the Santa Margarita River, the last remaining free flowing river to reach the Pacific Ocean in southern California, and be adjacent to the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, which also includes part of the Origin Landscape.

The quarry would kill the mountain and forever disturb the sanctity of this incredibly beautiful and scenic area, located next to the reservation and at the doorstep of the City of Temecula.

In addition, the quarry would also pose environmental hazards to the Pechanga Community: air and water quality, visual and noise impacts, fire and emergency response, as well as sever a key wildlife linkage to and from the reservation. The Tribe was not consulted by the County of Riverside on these impacts during environmental review.

Pechanga respectfully requests prayer that:
1) Efforts to permanently prevent mining in any form at this location are successful and that
2) Tribal efforts to have this Origin Landscape formally recognized and protected will be successful.

For more information on the efforts to protect the Luiseño Ancestral Origin Landscape from the Liberty Quarry, contact Paul Macarro, Pechanga Cultural Coordinator at: pmacarro@pechanga-nsn.gov or (951) 770.8102 or Jacob Mejia at: jmejia@pechanga.com or (951) 770.2595.

California: Redlands – California-Pacific Committee on Native American Ministries of The United Methodist Church at the University of Redlands, Saturday, June 16, at 7:15 am

The California-Pacific Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) of The United Methodist Church will have prayer for sacred places on the Quad at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. The public is welcome to join on Saturday, June 16, at 7:15 am

Contact: Suanne Ware-Diaz at soozware@yahoo.com or (571) 236-7274 for more information.

California: Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians – Burial & Ceremonial Grounds –
Traditional Mourning Ceremony, Saturday, June 23, Ocotillo Area, 7:00 pm

For over two years, the Viejas Band has been waging legal, political and public relations battles to save tribal burial grounds and ceremonial sites from destruction by local and federal agencies. Viejas has positive news to report one on front and heartbreaking news to report on another.

Padre Dam Site:

Over this last year, with your help, we made much progress towards protection and repatriation of a burial ground and ceremonial site on Padre Dam Municipal Water District property, which sought to develop a reservoir and pumping station on the site.

Settlement of the litigation is close at hand in which the site would be restored, protected in perpetuity and the land repatriated to the Tribe. Viejas is deeply grateful for the support it has received from the local community, Governor of California, Native American Heritage Commission and the Courts, which have sided with the Band on many different levels.

Viejas respectfully requests prayer for:
1) An appropriate alternative location for the project to be secured by the District,
2) The soils previously taken off site by the District to be returned to the property in as gentle a manner as possible and as quickly as possible, and
3) Forgiveness that the impacts occurred and that they will never happen again.

Ocotillo Express Wind Farm:

Meanwhile, Viejas and other tribes have been forced to defend our ancestors from further attacks and potential destruction of tribal cultural resources, sacred places and burial grounds by a number of major renewable energy and other utility projects in the local mountains and deserts that would forever alter the Cultural Landscape of the Kumeyaay Nation. These include: the Sunrise Powerlink Project, Tule Wind Project, Ocotillo Wind Express Project, Eco Station Project, Imperial Solar Project and others.

Just last month, over the strong objections of Kumeyaay Bands and the Quechan and Cocopah Peoples, local community members, environmental groups, unions, recreationists and state park supporters, the massively destructive Ocotillo Wind Express Facility was approved by the County of Imperial and the BLM. Ocotillo Express (Pattern Energy) wasted no time and immediately began clearing, scraping and destroying the area and would not agree to hold off on construction until a TRO could be heard.

The so called “Refined” Project would include 112 industrial-sized wind towers up to 460 feet high, 42 miles of new roads, 81 miles of undergrounded fiber optic cable, a 31-acre substation and switchyard, operation and maintenance building and other infrastructure such as parking, ponds and laydown areas that were not part of the NEPA and CEQA documents. The project Right of Way is across about 12,000 acres of federal public land and is surrounded by designated wilderness, Cultural Preserves, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and shares a 5-mile border with Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

The project is within a valley that slopes from the mountains to the desert, and is mostly undeveloped Class L (Limited Use) lands. One ceremonial site, the Spoked Wheel Geoglyph, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2003, long before any wind project was proposed, and includes the whole viewscape from the site. The valley is ringed with sacred mountains — Coyote, Signal, Sombrero and Pinyon — and is used as a teaching area for tribal youth. Over 35,000 person hours were spent surveying and recording the massive amount of physical archaeology present at the site. The BLM relied solely on archeological values during the survey and only at the end of the NHPA Section 106 process acknowledged that the project area is a TCP within a larger TCP. Tribal Values considerations were an afterthought in the environmental documents and consultation was severely rushed due to arbitrary deadlines set by BLM to meet federal wind subsidy deadlines currently set for the end of 2012.

On June 23, Viejas and other Kumeyaay Bands will be holding a traditional Mourning Ceremony in the Ocotillo Area. The ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm and continue through the morning. The tribes will grieve for what has been lost and bring attention to efforts to save what is left of the area where the ancestors are laid to rest.

Viejas respectfully requests prayer that:
1) Preliminary Injunctions will issue to halt the destruction,
2) The BLM accepts historic human remains detection dog teams as a legitimate tool for identifying and avoiding ancestral cremation areas,
3) Subsidies and loans from federal and other entities are NOT granted for the project,
4) The Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) is NOT extended by Congress, and
5) That something good for the Tribal Peoples of our region comes out of this experience in the form of UNITY, DOCUMENTATION and RESPECT for traditional religious practices.

For more information, please contact: Robert Scheid, Viejas Public Relations Director, at (619) 659-2316 or by email at: rscheid@viejas-nsn.gov

Colorado: Boulder – Native American Rights Fund – Sunrise Ceremony, Wednesday, June 20
Please join us for a Sunrise Ceremony beginning at 7:00 am, on Wednesday, June 20, on the front lawn of the Native American Rights Fund, 1506 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado. The program and prayer service will last about one hour, followed by a potluck breakfast. Community members have been invited to speak, as well as other NARF staff. Speakers will be followed by a moment of silence to show concern for the sacred places that are being damaged and destroyed today.
In the United States, Native Americans are more closely tied to the land than any other group, yet the increasing exploitation of natural resources and population expansion has caused previously undisturbed tribal sacred places to become vulnerable to destruction. As part of its mission, the Native American Rights Fund has long advocated for sacred site protection, religious freedom efforts and cultural rights. Recently, NARF's Board of Directors has asked us to expand our efforts to protect lands that are sacred and precious to Native Americans.
Please show your solidarity for the protection of sacred places by joining us for the June 20 program. We ask you to bring food and/or beverages to share at the completion of the program.
Silakan bergabung dengan kami! If you have any questions please contact Rose Cuny at 303-447-8760.

Kansas: Lawrence – Wakarusa Wetlands, Haskell Medicine Wheel – Open to the Public
Wednesday, June 20, at SUNRISE

Haskell Wetland Preservation Organization (WPO) and Save the Wakarusa Wetlands will observe National Prayer Day at SUNRISE, June 20th, beside the Wakarusa Wetlands at the Haskell Medicine Wheel, south of Lawrence, Kansas. Haskell WPO is a Native student organization. Save the Wakarusa Wetlands, Inc., is an association of local supporters, including Haskell Indian Nations University, Washburn University and Baker University alumni, students and supporters from all parts of the Lawrence community.

The ceremony will be held at the medicine wheel, where participants will erect a lodge pole at sunrise to mark the exact position of the Summer Solstice.

The event is open to all who wish to add their prayers to save this sacred place from the highway builders. Participants will ask for the protection of the Wakarusa Wetlands (aka, Haskell-Baker Wetlands), threatened by an eight-to-ten lane highway project approved by the Army Corps of Engineers, but delayed by a federal law suit filed by WPO and a consortium of supporter groups, including Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Jayhawk Audubon, Kansas University Environs, Save the Wakarusa Wetlands, Kansas Sierra Club and KU EcoJustice.

Update:
On January 20, 2012 a panel of federal appeals court judges heard oral arguments challenging the state's efforts to construct 8-10 lanes of traffic across wetlands that once served as the primary refuge for Native children resisting cultural genocide. The written opinion could come at any time, but may not be released before mid-summer. For more than two decades, Haskell students and their allies have managed to block efforts to pave this sacred place, which was “surplussed” away from Haskell during the Eisenhower termination era. More than two thirds of Haskell's campus was “given away” by BIA officials at the time.
Last year, Republican Governor Sam Brownback announced that $192 million in Kansas taxpayer funds was being allocated for completion of the South Lawrence Trafficway. The SLT began as a scheme to help local developers turn the southern edge of Lawrence into a regional shopping mecca. In recent years, the SLT project has been hijacked by trucking interests that dream of turning two nearby closed military bases into national hubs for NAFTA product distribution. Thus, the SLT has mushroomed into an eight-to-ten lane behemoth promoted as key infrastructure. This latest version of the old frontier booster fable that the metro area is destined to be “the next Chicago” has all the officials of nearby towns clamoring for completion of the SLT.

Ironically, while in Congress, then-Senator Brownback sponsored a US apology to Native Americans for past egregious actions, but it specifically prohibited Native Peoples from taking any legal action that would provide redress or remedy for any of the actions, causing many Native people to call it a “hollow apology.”

About 600 acres of the Wakarusa Wetlands were located directly south of the dorms at Haskell Institute, the nation's largest and most tribally diverse federal off-reservation boarding school. This last major remnant of the wetlands was a crucial refuge where Native children from all across the country survived sustained government efforts to exterminate their cultures. Indian students took refuge in the Wakarusa Wetlands refuge — where they could speak their languages, sing their sacred songs and conduct ceremonies and dances that were federally punishable with starvation and jail time — and refused to let school authorities “kill the Indian” in them.

Parents and other tribal leaders camped, sometimes for weeks or months, beside these wetlands on the north bank of the Wakarusa. They were awaiting permission from school officials to let them reclaim or at least visit their children. These elders used the Wakarusa Wetlands as an outdoor classroom to pass on final lessons about healing and other traditional knowledge.

The wetlands quickly became the most essential place where Haskell students could get news about family and friends. The wetlands was where they heard about what was happening back home in the crucial era of allotments and the “surplussing” of their homelands. The wetlands also provided the least censored opportunity to send messages home whenever someone speaking a related language arrived in camp. Otherwise, the children had to learn enough English to send a letter home by way of school censors, and then further screened by the Indian agent when it reached their reservation, and again modified when the interpreter read their message to parents who often could neither read nor speak English. This place is soaked in Indian history, layered with the stories of Native elders and is the last resting place of some who came to Haskell in its darkest days. Spirit release ceremonies and clandestine burials took place in these wetlands. The disappeared and runaways are remembered here.

This sacred wetland, a place between land and water, is the largest intact trace of the original Wakarusa Bottoms, an 18,000-acre prairie wetland environment. It existed for thousands of years before white school officials obtained federal funds to drain it. Before Haskell opened, this place supplied Native Peoples of the region with valuable medicinal plants, important ceremonial items, waterfowl, furbearers and other relatives central to their ways of life.

Elders have said the Creator caused the course of the Wakarusa River to go directly east toward the rising sun, in sharp contrast to the other rivers in the region, as a sign of the abundant gifts to be found there.

Despite massive efforts to drain the wetlands in the early twentieth century — and Haskell's loss of all but a few acres of this property during the termination era — the Wakarusa Wetlands, like Haskell Indian Nations University itself, has survived and flourished. The entire historic Haskell campus, including the Wetlands, is being considered for designation as a National Historic Heritage area, but should have been declared a Traditional Cultural Property long ago.

Contact: Cleta Labrie cletalabrie@gmail.com President of Haskell Wetlands Preservation Organization (WPO); Dr. Dan Wildcat (WPO faculty adviser) at dwildcat@sunflower.com; or Michael Caron at (785) 842-6293 or by email at mcaron@sunflower.com with Save the Wakarusa Wetlands, Inc. Friend the Wetlands Preservation Organization on FACEBOOK.

Nebraska: Lincoln – National Congress of American Indians, Mid-Year Session
Nebraska State Capitol Grounds, North Plaza
Tuesday, June 19, Sunrise Ceremony

The National Congress of American Indians will sponsor a Sunrise Ceremony on Tuesday morning, June 19, at the Nebraska State Capitol grounds on the North Plaza. The NCAI is conducting its 2012 Mid-Year Session in Lincoln, Nebraska, June 17-20.

The NCAI Sunrise Ceremony will be held as a part of the observances and ceremonies during the National Days of Prayer to Protect Native American Sacred Places, from June 16 through June 24.

The public is invited to attend NCAI's respectful observance to honor sacred places, sacred beings and sacred waters, and all those who care for them and protect them from harm. Participants are asked to arrive no later than 7:00 am

For information about NCAI's Sunrise Ceremony, contact NCAI Deputy Director Robert Holden, 202.466.7767, email: rholden@ncai.org

New York: Ganondagan State Historic Site, at the Great White Pine Tree of Peace
Wednesday, June 20, at Noon

At Ganondagan State Historic Site in New York, there will be a Gahnonyoh (Thanksgiving), starting at Noon, on Wednesday, June 20, to protect sacred places and to promote world peace. “We invite spiritual leaders and the general public to join us on that day as we offer words of Thanksgiving or Gahnonyoh in Seneca,” says G. Peter Jemison (Seneca), who is the Caretaker of Ganondagan.

“We will gather before noon near the Great White Pine at the head of the Trail of Peace to offer words of Thanksgiving to the Creator,” says Jemison. “The event is open to the general public and all are welcome, but no photography, please.”

Ganondagan is the site of the seventeenth century town, once the capitol of the Seneca Nation, which was destroyed by the French in 1687. Today, it is the only historic site in New York dedicated to a Native American theme. Ganondagan is sacred to the Seneca People because nearby are the remains of Jikonhsaseh the Mother of Nations, who was the first person to accept the message of Peace brought by the Peacemaker, who united the Haudenosaunee or Five Nations: Seneca Nation, Cayuga Nation, Onondaga Nation, Oneida Nation and Mohawk Nation.

Contact: G. Peter Jemison at (585) 924-5848 or by e-mail at mailto:pjemison@rochester.rr.com

New York: New York City – Prayer of Remembrance for Sacred Places
Thursday, June 21, 1:00 pm
Hudson River at Bethune & West Streets

A Prayer of Remembrance for Sacred Places will take place on Thursday, June 21, at 1:00 pm The group will gather at the Hudson River in New York City at Bethune and West Streets.

The event is sponsored by Spiderwoman Theater, The Silvercloud Singers and the American Indian Community House.

Contact: Murial Borst-Tarrant at mborst1@msn.com or 551-208-3536.

Ohio: Peebles - Serpent Mound, Rabu, 20 Juni 10:00-09:00
Newark – Newark Earthworks, Great Circle entryway, Thursday, June 21, 6:00 am/8:00 pm
Chillicothe – Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Mound City
Thursday, June 21, 7:00 pm
Oregonia – Fort Ancient Earthworks, Saturday, June 23, 5:30 am

In Ohio, there will be gatherings at the four major remaining earthworks sites to honor the brilliant achievements of the Indigenous Peoples who lived in the Ohio Valley 2,000 years ago and built enormous earthen architecture. Gatherings will occur near Peebles, in Newark, near Chillicothe and near Oregonia to acknowledge the original landscape, what has been lost and all that continues into the future. The public is invited to observe the National Day of Prayer to Protect Sacred Places at these places.

Two thousand years ago, Indigenous Peoples built more than 600 groups of earthworks, each group consisting of several large earthen geometric shapes with specific purposes. The earthworks were built by design, near creeks and rivers. Many of the earthworks are enormous, measuring from 20 to more than 50 acres in area, with walls varying from 3 to 30 feet tall and connected by walled earthen roadways; the design guided the Peoples through the earthworks along a ceremonial road. Large circles with entryways facing the east, squares with rounded corners and entryways, octagons with eight entryways, huge rectangular flat-topped or oval mounds, tall conical mounds and ceremonial roadways mark the Ohio Valley as a sacred landscape. In addition to using geometric forms to convey meaning and purpose, the builders used a standard unit of measure and other mathematical consistencies in the spacing of the earthworks. Distances between earthworks at Newark can be measured in multiples of 1,054 feet.

The Newark Earthworks consisted of four large earthworks built 2,000 years ago over a four-square mile area by the Peoples of the Hopewell Culture. Two remain preserved. The Octagon Earthworks is an astronomical calendar tracking the 18.6-year lunar cycle, marking the lunar standstills in spectacular moonrises. It was built in the shape of a circle and an octagon connected by a walled ceremonial road. The nearby Great Circle is itself nearly 1,200 feet in diameter and possibly had many uses, as a ceremonial center, for formal games such as stickball and as places of gathering. The Ellipse was a walled cemetery with many burial mounds and contained a number of earthen circles open to the east before it was excavated to clear the land for canals, railroads and heavy industry. The Wright Square stood between the Great Circle and the Ellipse cemetery, but has been destroyed by development.

Of the four major remaining sections of the Newark Earthworks, all but one have been acknowledged as sacred places and have become state parks/monuments. However, the Octagon Earthworks are leased to a private country club and open to the public only four days per year. The Ellipse cemetery is owned privately and currently being prepared for sale as an industrial park.

Serpent Mound is one of two effigy mounds in Ohio, and one of the largest anywhere in the world. Its iconic aerial outline is known far beyond the borders of this state. Nearly a quarter of a mile long, the undulating coils made of three foot tall earthen walls curve from a spiral tail to a head pointing across the Brush Creek valley at the point on the southwestern horizon where the sun sets on the summer solstice. Recent scholarly work points to a construction of this unique mound at about 1070 CE, later than many of the more geometric enclosures around Ohio. The landscape is also marked by geological interest. A “crypto-explosion” crater cradles the arc of the valley where Serpent Mound lays on a bluff; the result of a meteorite that folded the crust of the earth when it struck 250 million years ago. This bluff of sandstone also has interest, as a visitor may walk down to creek side and look back up at the point where the “serpent's head” ends, and see a snake headed prow of stone poke out over the water below.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is made up of five sites in and around the city of Chillicothe, Ohio, where once could be seen the largest concentration of earthworks complexes anywhere in the world. Mound City is the name for the central enclosure, a rounded-cornered square that was one of the ancient cemeteries alongside the Scioto River where the National Park Service has its visitor center. Almost entirely destroyed during World War I by the construction of training camps and industry to support the war effort, it was rebuilt from the original foundations and above surviving parts of mounds during the 1930s and in another major effort during the 1960s and 1970s. An alignment along three of these reconstructed mounds, pointing towards a southwestern corner gateway of Mound City, is a dramatic view, and casts the entire complex into vivid contrast. The possible astronomical alignments for this and other units, such as the Hopewell Mound Group west of the city, are still being studied, using both old maps and surveys, and non-intrusive studies that can trace where walls and their associated clays still can be seen.

Fort Ancient is a vast, irregular enclosure with three miles of wall atop a pair of plateaus next to the Little Miami River valley. Military language was attributed to this location by early European occupants, who named features “North Fort” and “South Fort,” but later studies show that combat and conflict seem to have been entirely absent from this sacred site. Fort Ancient is the archaeological label used for a later cultural phase in Ohio, but much of the site was built around the same time as Newark and Chillicothe. Reflecting pools of water were built into the site to create a sense of place – world above, world below. More recent surveys have shown that four compass aligned stone mounds in the “North Fort,” were built alongside the traces of a circle, perhaps a “woodhenge” where posts in a circle aided in astronomical calculation and prediction. Fires were built on top of stone mounds into the historic era. From one of those stone mounds, on mornings near the summer solstice, a particular entryway to the northeast pours a path of light across the leveled plaza, until it paints the surface of the mound.

Many of the major earthworks in Ohio are now under consideration for designation as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and a proposal is being prepared. For additional information about the Earthworks, see: http://whc.unesco. org/en/tentative lists/5243/. For more information about Solstice events see: www.AncientOhioTrail.org

Tennessee: Muscogee “Creek” Citizens Gathering, The Great Mound of Mound Bottom, Saturday, June 23, 10:00 am
Sellars Farm State Archaeological Area, Lebanon, Wilson County
Sunday, June 24, 2:00 pm

A Muscogee “Creek” Citizens Gathering will take place on Saturday, June 23, at 10:00 am, at The Great Mound, Mound Bottom archaeological site, in observance of the National Sacred Places Prayer Days. “This gathering will be ceremonial to honor and lift up the Mound,” said Melba Checote-Eads (Muscogee), who is organizing the gathering. “We will observe a day of prayer, singing, gifting and feasting at Mound Bottom, as is Muscogee tradition. Water will be furnished by Muscogee Citizens.”

Ms. Checote-Eads asks people to reserve a space by calling her at 615-765-5854, to bring a bag lunch and beverage, to wear hiking boots and to meet in the picnic area: “We will meet at the picnic area near the Harpeth River beside the Mound. We will walk one mile to the Mound and transportation will be provided for those unable to make the walk.” The group will tour the Mound at 10:00 am with Ranger Gary Patterson.

Mound Bottom is located in Cheatham County along the horseshoe bend of the Harpeth River. Mound Bottom is approximately one mile north of the point where US Route 70 crosses the Harpeth River, on the outskirts of Kingston Springs, Tennessee. The site is managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as part of Harpeth River State Park. The Great Mound of Mound Bottom dates to the Mississippian era (900 AD-1300). Mound Bottom is about 100 acres and is nearly surrounded by the Harpeth River.

The flat-topped embankment that dominates the view from Mace Bluff is the largest of at least 14 Mounds that remain. The Great Mound stands 25 feet tall and 47 square feet in area; the remains of an earthen ramp leading from the plaza to the top of this Mound can still be seen. The entire complex, which is believed to have included hundreds of houses, was surrounded by an earthen wall topped with a palisade of upright logs. Mound Bottom likely began as a ceremonial meeting place around 950 AD and grew to become a fortified city with a population numbering in the thousands. Mound Bottom was part of a vast trade network that extended to Native Peoples in the Great Lakes area, Gulf Coast region and the Appalachian Mountains.

There also will be a gathering at the Sellars Farm on the following day, Sunday, June 24, at 2:00 pm The Sellars Farm State Archaeological Area is located in Wilson County: off Hwy-70 left at Poplar Rd., in Lebanon, Tennessee. The group will tour the Mound area and walk the path around the Mound, which is near Spring Creek, a tributary of the Cumberland River. Participants are asked to bring a bag lunch.

Ms. Checote-Eads describes the Mound site as covered with trees, grasses and wild flowers. It was a large village and trade area during the Mississippian Period. In 1939, a farmer dug up four statues, which were made between 600 and 800 years ago. Two of the statues are in the McClung Museum at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and have been featured on a US postage stamp.

For additional information, contact: Melba Checote Eads at melbaceads@dtccom.net or 615 765-5854.

Washington, DC: United States Capitol, West Front Grassy Area
June 20, Wednesday, at 8:30 am

The observance in Washington, DC, will take place at the US Capitol on the West Front Grassy Area on Wednesday, June 20, at 8:30 am The public is invited to attend this respectful observance to honor sacred places, sacred beings and sacred waters, and all those who care for them and protect them from harm. The observance will take the form of a talking circle.

All are welcome to offer good words, songs or a moment of silence for all sacred places, beings and waters, especially for those that are being threatened, desecrated or damaged at this time.

This observance is organized by The Morning Star Institute, a national Native rights organization founded in 1984 and dedicated to Native Peoples' cultural and traditional rights, including religious freedom and sacred places protection. The observance will be conducted by Mary Phillips (Omaha & Laguna Pueblo).

Contact: The Morning Star Institute at (202) 547-5531, Suzan Shown Harjo at suzan_harjo@yahoo.com or Mary Phillips at trumpetnative@aol.com or 510-205-4501.

Washington: Snoqualmie Falls, at the Cedar Tree, Friday, June 22, 11:30 am

Water is universally a Sacred Being, part of sacred ceremonies in all faiths and religions.

Snoqualmie Falls in Washington State is a place recognized as Sacred for thousands of years. For the Snoqualmie and other Tribes of the Puget Sound region, this is the Transformer's gift to the People.

It is a 268-foot waterfall listed on the Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property. Over two million people come from all over the world to visit Snoqualmie Falls annually. Puget Sound Energy owns and operates a hydroelectric facility there. Snoqualmie Falls is impacted and desecrated by diversion of a significant portion of the water from the river by a hydroelectric facility before it can complete the Sacred Cycle of reaching the base of the falls and creating a healing connection by its transformation to legendary mists that connect worlds, carry prayers, and deliver blessings.

Puget Sound Energy, a public utility, owns and operates a public park located there. A popular hiking trail down to the viewing area near the base of the falls continues to be closed to visitors until sometime in 2013. Access to the base of the Falls, specifically a spiritually powerful location, is blocked.

On Friday, June 22nd, at 11:30 am, there will be a gathering, rain or shine, at Snoqualmie Falls.

We welcome anyone who would like to respectfully join together in Spirit for observance of our Sacred Places across the globe that are in need. Join us and others that are gathering to pray, each in our own way for their protection.

“When one is uplifted, we all are uplifted”.

“We give thanks for the teachings of the Sacred. We give thanks that we are still here. We give thanks for the breath of the Spirit”.

We pray for one another.

In the Spirit of Snoqualmie Falls, Lois Sweet Dorman.

Contact: Lois Sweet Dorman, Snoqualmie, at nightfishes@qwest.net.

World Peace & Prayer Days – Gray Horn Butte (Devil's Tower), June 16
Medicine Wheel, June 17
Grand Tetons, June 18 – 21
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 21

Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe: “Once again I am sending my voice to all Nations upon Mother Earth, those who can hear my sincerity with their hearts – - unite together at our Sacred Sites creating an energy shift of a great healing on this June 21st. We need to see and listen to the wamakas'ka (the animals) who are more than ever now showing their sacred color of white, there are so many. This color represents the direction of when physical life now goes into the spirit journey. They are trying to warn us to pay attention to our responsibilities as a Global Nation. In order to protect the remaining sacredness that is trying to survive upon Mother Earth, which includes even our own children, we now have no choice but to unify and make positive decisions together.

“To honor the birthplace of World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites where it all began in 1996, we will gather at Gray Horn Butte, aka “Devils Tower” on June 16th. Peace Riders who made the '96 journey from Canada to
Gray Horn on horse back, will join us and offer prayers as well and plant a Peace Pole reading “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in 4 different languages. We will do the same offering on June 17th at Medicine Wheel. On June 18th we will gather at the Grand Tetons to begin one of the many events of WPPD throughout the world. The Grand Tetons will be the beginning of a four day event to bring attention for the need to protect the last of the true wild Buffalo (bison) that exist in Yellow Stone National Park, they are in constant danger of being massacred when caught off park property.

“On June 21st I will pray with thousands of People at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development or Rio+20 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As part of the various gatherings and celebrations that will be held as part of the Sacred Earth Gathering in Aldeia Nova Terra during the month of June parallel to the conference, there will be a very special ceremony to celebrate World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites along with various representatives of the Brazilian indigenous tribes and spiritual leaders from different nations. The intent is to honor this day not only in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but to also invite the participation of other WPPD activities worldwide to join though simultaneous acts of prayer and song so as to be united spiritually on this June 21st to celebrate the 2012 World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites. Onipiktec'a (that we shall live).”

Contact: Paula Horne-Mullen, Wolakota.org http://wppd2012.com/

The Morning Star Institute, 611 Pennsylvania Ave., SE #377, Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-5531