Run supports Sacred Sites

By Mervyn Tilden
For The Independent

GALLUP — The Dineh Bidziil Coalition, comprised of 23 Navajo organizations, is collaborating with several tribal and other organizations to bring the "Abalone Mountain Run: Journey to Protect Sacred Sites" from Albuquerque to Flagstaff. The runners stopped in Gallup Sunday and were scheduled to depart today.

From the east, the Sage Council is hosting runners from the Rio Grande Pueblo Nation Runners that include youth from the Acoma, Isleta, Laguna, San Felipe, Taos, Zuni, Apache and Diné tribes.

From the south, the San Carlos, White Mountain, Gila River and Yavapai Apache are joined by the To'hono O'Odham, Pascua Yaqui and Tonto tribes.

Runners from the Havasupi and Hualapai converge from the west.

Hopi runners, from the north, will meet with more runners from the Diné tribe and the tributaries from across the Navajo reservation will continue to the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff.

"We invite everyone to participate and to unify as one mind, one voice and one prayer for the protection of all sacred sites, for the future of indigenous nations, the wellness of Mother Earth and Universe our Father, the sacred elements and our families," said Hazel James, DBC organizer.

Some of the sacred sites mentioned are the San Francisco Peaks (also known as Dook'o'osliid, which means "Abalone Mountain" in Diné), Mount Graham, the Zuni Salt Lake, the Petroglyphs (a national monument) sacred to the 19 Pueblo tribes and "Mother Earth." All of these sites have been or are under threat from economic ventures by cities, multi-national corporations and a religious institution.

The SAGE Council (www.sagecouncil.org), formed in 1996 to protect the largest collection of petroglyphs on the U.S. continent, is currently in litigation with the City of Albuquerque to address the development of Paseo del Norte, a four-lane access road that will cut through the pilgrimage path used by the 19 pueblos and other tribes.

Reckless and uncontrolled development of urban sprawl that does not consider long-term consequences and the desecration of spiritual places are factors that the SAGE Council says brought it to common ground with the San Francisco Peaks issues.

Sonny Weahkee, organizer said they were forced to challenge Albuquerque because it was not adhering to federal historic preservation laws that are supposed to protect the petroglyphs sites.

"The city tried to fly under the radar and got Wal-Mart to apply for a 404 drainage permit but got caught," Weahkee said. "The (19 Pueblo) tribes were in meetings all week and they (Albuquerque) tried to go before the cultural property review board to say they were consulting the tribe. This is ceremonial season for us; so I guess they were hoping that no one would show up, but five tribes did, and now there has been a delay probably until mid-September."

Wal-Mart subsequently backed down and withdrew its permit request.

"This is mostly a prayer run, to bring us together and strengthen our fight with our small victories combined," Weahkee said.

The San Francisco Peaks remains under threat from the U.S. Forest Service and the City of Flagstaff, who want to use wastewater to make artificial snow for a ski resort called "The Snowbowl", according to DBC organizers.

"We agreed to support each other and our sacred sites," Robert Tohe said. "The Navajo Nation allowed us to use its ranch, otherwise we would have had to go to private lands which would have made it much harder."

Tohe said the tribes' official support made a difference in their efforts to protect Dook'o'osliid and that Snowbowl attorneys agreed to no construction until October.

Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. recently said in a prepared statement to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization "The Navajo Nation and Diné individuals have repeatedly expressed deep concern over the lack of tribal consultation on the part of all the governmental and commercial interests involved in expanding commercial activity on Dook'o'osliid.

"The Diné as a whole strongly objects to the outrageous and profane violation of the sanctity of this holy place through artificial snowmaking using reclaimed wastewater," Shirley said. "Consequently, the Navajo Nation will challenge the desecration of this holy sanctuary with all means possible."

The run schedule will be as follows:

• Saturday: Opening ceremony at Petroglyph National Monument (volcanoes on Paseo del Volcan), run from Albuquerque to Grants began.
• Sunday: Opening ceremony, run from Grants to Gallup.
• Today: Opening ceremony, run from Gallup to Window Rock, Ariz., began at 6:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, 6:30 a.m.: Opening ceremony, run from Window Rock to Ganado.
• Wednesday, 6:30 a.m.: Opening ceremony, run from Ganado to Dilkon.
• Thursday, 6:30 a.m.: Opening ceremony, run from Dilkon to Winona.
• Friday, 6:30 a.m.: Opening ceremony, run from Winona to the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff, Ariz.

The Navajo Nation ranch is located West of Highway 89, 16 miles North of Flagstaff. Signs will be posted directing the way.

The Abalone Mountain Run participants will stay overnight at the KOA Campground located at 3900 East Highway 66.

More information can be obtained by contacting SAGE Council at 505-260-4696 or Dineh Bidziil Coalition at 928-606-1891 or 928-774-6103.