[IPSM] Black Mesa Indigenous Support update

[hhazel at gmail.com]

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. http://blackmesais.org/urgent_action0206.htm

Thank you,
~BMIS

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* 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...."
http://blackmesais.org/ksmith0306.htm

** 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:
http://www.nativemovement.org/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.
http://blackmesais.org/spring_caravan06.htm


**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 popeye859 at yahoo.com


**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
http://www.clandyken.com 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.


http://www.blackmesais.org
###

--
actz of rebellion inspire me
--
you just can't know what you imagine until
you make it come true