Shirley testifies on Peaks
President likens snow proposal to child seeing its mother violated

Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. told a U.S. District Court on Wednesday that proposed development of the sacred Dook'o'sliid would be like having a child witness the brutal violation of its mother, leaving it emotionally and psychologically scared forever.

According to Communications Director George Hardeen, the President testified, "It's like someone coming in and violating and raping our mother. It hurts me. She's already got scars."

In the fifth day of testimony in Navajo Nation et al vs. the U.S. Forest Service to prevent the desecration of the San Francisco Peaks, President Shirley said the Navajo people regard the Peaks as their mother.

Seeing one's mother brutally violated would incalculably harm a person, according to the President.

"It affects the mind, it affects the psyche," he said.

Coconino National Forest Supervisor Nora Rasure approved a plan last March that would allow the use of reclaimed wastewater to make artificial snow for winter skiing at the Arizona Snowbowl as it expands its ski resort.

"A Navajo person like myself is raised on the mountain," President Shirley said. "It's very much an integral part of our lives. We're taught songs, we're taught to respect it. It's our home ... it's our essence."

Shirley said he would oppose the project even if fresh water were used. "The whole mountain is sacred. The teaching is that you cannot just voluntarily go up on this mountain at any time. It's the holiest of shrines. You have to sacrifice. You have to sing sacred songs, do offerings," he said.

Attending the trial with President Shirley were Council Speaker Lawrence Morgan, several delegates and dozens of Navajo people, many of whom had to wait outside the courtroom due to lack of space.

Navajo Nation Vice President Frank Dayish Jr. and several other delegates arrived by motorcycle. First Lady Vikki Shirley and her parents also accompanied the president.

Dozens of demonstrators who support the Navajo Nation and other tribes' position against the desecration of the Peaks chanted on the Prescott Courthouse Square across the street from the federal building, Hardeen said.

Attorney Howard Shanker who represents three of the six tribes suing the Forest Service, has challenged the decision, saying it violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act which prohibits government from burdening a person's exercise of religion.

During his testimony, President Shirley sang two verses of the Navajo Blessingway to illustrate how Dook'o'sliid is intricately tied to the culture and beliefs of the Din and has been for generations.

"This is a song that says everything is holy, and everything was put in this world harmoniously. These (four sacred) mountains are part of one another. They are all related. They see each other. They talk to each other," he said.

"We use the teachings found in these songs to navigate through life, to take on challenges in life. I'm very much afraid that there might be irreparable harm done to her that she might not be able to help me anymore," Shirley said.

During a noon press conference, the President and Speaker Morgan thanked those who traveled to Prescott to attend the hearing and protest.

Morgan told them, "We are all supporting the sacred mountain. Not only the mountain, not only the site, but rejuvenating our sacred belief. That's why we're all here."

Whatever the outcome, he said, Navajos believe things happen for a reason.

"It is difficult for me to say, much less believe, that the court case will decide our fate once and for all. This case should not define our destiny. Our destiny should be defined by what we are and what we believe in," Speaker Morgan said.

President Shirley told those Navajos present, including many elderly, "It gives a lot of strength to have you here in numbers. I think it's very important to be together on this. We need to let the world out there know that Navajo people are together in protecting the San Francisco Peaks."

Shirley said that when Navajo veterans go to war to protect other Americans' freedoms, it's unfortunate that Navajos must go to court to protect the Navajo way of life and spirituality.

"Why are we even talking about protecting, pleading, begging not to do an expansion of the ski lift already there on Dook'o'sliid?" he asked. "We shouldn't even been talking. It should be a given that our way of life is protected."