Dineh Warrior/Brother of the Big Mtn. Survival Camp Passes into the Spirit World

To All Our Relations, my Brother/Fellow-Warrior. Your footpaths and prayers on the LW2 will always be remembered.

My favorite image of the Bro which reminds me so much of the busy and intense times at the Survival Camp.

"Brothers at the 'Camp' were like the Last of the Dineh, Dog Soldiers.." -One of Willie's last comment:

Willie joined the resistance outpost at Big Mountain in the early 1980s when he came out from the Bay Area with some non-Indian supporters. He got along with all the brothers and sisters of any nations and nationality. He always enjoyed leading the songs when we gathered around the drum. He never talked bad about anyone EVEN if 'we' talked negatively (in front of him) about someone else. He never delayed himself for a detail that needed to be carried out and was always willing to be up front at the frontline. "It is hard to be an Indian!" back in the 80s and it is still that way, today. Willie was the bodyguard for all the traditional elders at Big Mountain and he was loved as a Son by them as well. Willie was Willie, but he brought about that nice, calm atmosphere to the Camp kitchen and to the bunkers. We will miss many things besides your warrior spirit like the best fried bread that you use to make.

Now, you are with the brothers who left us also and who have served as warriors for the Sovereign Dineh Nation. Most of all, you are now with your two uncles that you often talked about and whom you most admired, but were suddenly and tragically Killed in Action in Vietnam during the American invasions. We will do our best to continue our fights for Dineh Liberation. --Haa'goh'ne'h, Sh'k'si' (Chief Loner on behalf of SDN Patrol)

On the Longest Walk 2 of 2008, Willie was an inspiration to everyone on the walk especially to the young ones. He was there for the young ones that came to this spiritual walk and who were somewhat new to their own Indian World, and Willie gave guidance to them about 'what it means to be an Indian.' Beside being a Sun Dancer, he was Keeper of the Drum and he taught these young people how to sing the songs. He was so happy and energic during the Longest Walk 2, and he looked forward to returning to help the indigenous nations, Sun Dance again, and return to Big Mountain where he most felt the elders needed his help. --Mitakiye Oyasin, (Patty)

***Hear Willie during the Longest Walk 2 of 2008: http://www.earthcycles.net/journal/index.php?14

(Recorded by www.earthcycles.net on the Longest Walk in Miwok's Shingle Springs, Calif.)

Big Mtn. Productions: Documentary-Video Shoots Continue Despite Zero-Budget

Third weekend of documentary-reinactment shoots at Big Mtn:
"Attempting 'wild west,' roughrider style takes with two cameras." SDN Media & BM Productions director was inspired by the vanishing stories told by Big Mtn. elders and as sad and tragic the stories are, director Chief Loner hopes these reactments will help reinforce the stories of elders in resistance.
"The young warrior who escaped was cornered but he had to make his stand even though he was outnumbered by U.S. government-supported, tribal mercenaries...""A much greater fear was instituted by the American Army epecially during Colonel Kit Carson's 'sorce the earth' campaign against the Dineh. Evidence of survival and hiding places are still preserved throughout the Big Mtn. areas...."

© Sheep Dog Nation Media & Minoan Agapi Films, 2009

Defeat! at San Francisco Peaks, No Celebration...

Ndns & Environmentalists Defeated! - At San Francisco Mtns. Ski Resort, the Snow(toilet)bowl

[Author’s note: I am not going to elaborate so much though would like to very much, but you as readers can determine for yourselves why I present Arizona Daily Sun news excepts along with specific word meanings. I’ll pose a couple of questions: How feasible is it for so-called Native Americans to rely of corporate-based laws to ‘protect’ their ‘limited’ rights? As indigenous peoples of western hemisphere, do we even value Our ancient belief systems as to unite, gather spiritually, and ask the great sacred mountain for forgiveness and allow the sacred to decide rather than some ‘judge’ at the supreme court? Will ‘our’ tribal governments maintain an agency to fulfill and monitor the outlined agreements with the AZ State Historic Preservation of 2004? –SDN2009]

June 9th, 2009: “The religious objections of Indian tribes can't stop the operators of Snowbowl from using recycled sewage to make snow on the San Francisco Peaks, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled by default Monday…”

Without comment, the justices left intact a ruling by the full 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that rejected the claims of several tribes that the use of artificial snow will decrease the "spiritual fulfillment" they get from practicing their religion on the mountain. The tribes argued to the high court that the decision by the U.S. Forest Service, which owns the land, to permit snow to be made from treated sewage runs afoul of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act which governs activities on public lands. That 1993 law requires government agencies to use the "least restrictive" means of interfering with any religious practice when considering projects built on federal land.

But the justices, by leaving that 9th Circuit decision undisturbed, adopted the conclusion by that court that putting treated sewage on the mountain does not place a "substantial burden" on anyone's free exercise of religion, the test under that 1993 law to determine whether government plans must be modified. Specifically, the appellate court said nothing about putting the effluent on the mountain stops anyone from practicing his or her religion.


[The American Language]

Religion:
a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Pagan:
1. One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
2. One who has no religion.
3. having, being, or relating to religious beliefs, esp. ancient ones, which are not part of any of the world's major religions

Spirituality: preoccupation with what concerns human inner nature (especially ethical or ideological values)

Legality:
1. The state or quality of being legal; lawfulness.
2. lawfulness by virtue of conformity to a legal statute
3. the quality of conforming to law
4. unlawfulness by virtue of violating some legal statute

[Extra news excerpt]But attorneys for multiple tribes are considering further possible legal or other action to block it.They have the option of asking the Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, to undo snowmaking approval, of going to Congress to get laws changed, or of appealing another point of the case.

In essence, the tribes and environmental organizations raised multiple arguments in court about why snowmaking should not be allowed at Snowbowl. (Visit Save the Peaks Coalition at http://www.savethepeaks.org/STPrelease_june8.html)

They included assertions that the U.S. Forest Service had not properly met with all the affected tribes, despite meetings held, and that snowmaking could harm the environment.

Environmental arguments were introduced at the 9th Circuit, but were set aside for procedural reasons.

Tribes could also approach Congress or the Obama administrationto ask for a law specifically aimed at protecting Native American beliefs, said Shanker.

Arizona State Historic Preservation, 2004:

-- The Forest Service will protect plants considered important by the tribes.

-- The agency also agreed to: provide periodic inspections by tribal members to examine specials sites on the Peaks, guarantee access to tribal members, ensure special sites are avoided during development, protect these sites as confidential, give tribes reports detailing impact of snowmaking on plants and animals, and give an annual report to tribes on development at Snowbowl.

With no litigation in any court at this time, construction at Arizona Snowbowl could start this year, say Snowbowl executives.

What's proposed for construction:

-- 205 acres of snowmaking

-- 10 million-gallon snowmaking water reservoir near the top terminal of the existing Sunset chairlift, and a pond below the Hart Prairie Lodge

-- 14.8-mile reclaimed water pipeline between Flagstaff and the Snowbowl

-- 3,000 to 4,000-square-foot snowmaking control building in the vicinity of the existing maintenance shop

☼News excerpts from Arizona Daily Sun of Flagstaff

Update: Big Mtn. Productions Video Shoot On-Location

These scenes being shot are reactments based on a few elders' stories about "historial events at Big Mtn., how they grew up, and the expectancy of Dineh future based on their traditional up-bringing." The documentary production has been in the making for over ten years by a solo project headed by Yours Truly. The highlighted accounts of these stories will be told in the context of the current struggle for survival where there is resistance against the federal government and Peabody's relocation policies.
"Ancestors of today's Big Mtn. resisters have experienced atrocity prior to the Long Walk.." Image shows Yours Truly directing a Comanche scout who leads Pueblo Indians to attack families who were merely picking pinons during the mid-1800s. Zhonnie Aatsaa is the character playing the matriarch of family groups facing a day that turned horrible.
"Several clans came together and traveled for two days to seek pinons on Big Mtn..." Zhonnie and her little ones before bedding down for the night."The matriarch tried to escape but was eventually run-down and had to face the attackers..."


©Sheep Dog Nation Media & Minoan Agapi Films, 2009

ELDER & YOUTH CIRCLE begins June 8th, and A BIG MTN. SPRINGTIME

The Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth

JUNE 8TH – 13TH, 2009 AT SWEET WATER, BIG MOUNTAIN: PAULINE WHITESINGER’S LAND

The Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth is a spiritual circle open to all Indian people. It constitutes the continuation of an ancient practice of joint council among the most respected leaders of Indian nations. Its purpose is to nurture a grassroots renewal of traditional values and worldviews among Indian peoples, to ensure the continuity of Native wisdom, and to bring that wisdom to bear on important issues facing all peoples of the earth.

Projects and annual gatherings of the Traditional Circle reinforce and strengthen traditional values within participating delegations and extend them to Indian communities as well as across cultures.

The Circle is organized in the traditional Indian way. There are no signatures, no hierarchy of officers, and no membership restrictions or limitations. Those who come to Circle gatherings on a regular basis represent grassroots communities and are empowered by consensus to speak on behalf of their people. They have the respect, trust, and support of those whom they represent. Their guiding principles are moral, not legal in origin.

The Circle gathers for six days each year at an encampment hosted by an Indian Nation. Every Circle gathering includes:

• Elders who, because of their experience and commitment, speak on behalf of their people from the perspective of a traditional, spiritual worldview;

• "Runners" who have not yet achieved "Elder" status but whose commitment to the Circle is unquestioned, and who do "leg work" for the Elders;

• Young people who may sit with the Elders in the councils as observers, and who also help maintain the camps. Youth also meet separately during the gathering to discuss common issues. They are invited to present their perspectives to the Elders' Circle where they are respectfully considered.

• Family members and children of all ages who participate to the extent of their capacities and interests. Inclusiveness is an ancient Indian tradition that insures the cultural and spiritual continuum of Indian people.

NOTE: The last Circle Gathering held on Black Mesa was near Mesquito Springs which is just southwest of Rocky Ridge General Store: in August 1982 at Dan R. Yazzie’s Ranch near Dove Springs, Black Mesa.

→ ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL, DRUGS OR WEAPONS ALLOWED

→ FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: blackmesais@riseup.net and in Subject-line state, ATTN “TCE&Y CONFERENCE,” or CALL B.M.I.S. VOICE MAIL AT: 928-773-8086

REMOVED HUMAN POPULATION, NATURE ABOUNDS WITH FLOWERING & INCREASED PREDATORS:

The lands of Big Mountain has perhaps returned to its "once upon a time" natural state. Dineh pastoral lifestyles have been depleted and wide areas are now teaming with coyotes, foxes, wolves, deer, elk, and cougars. The diverse vegetation of this high-desert, woodlands are now free from sheep and cattle grazing --"thanks" to the U.S. government's inhumane energy policy of 1974. The lands seem very peaceful in many aspects while you immerse yourself in that month of May's time of flowering, if the winter climate was near normal.

Elder matriarch of Sweet Water Stronghold has just returned with her grandson from checking on the few cattle she still owns. She is dressed for work but not your usual ranch lady as she wears a well dirt-stained apron, scarf, sweat shirt, the traditional skirt, and good walking shoes.

"We covered a big area to see where all the cattle were," she says in the Dineh language. "One cow had a newborn calf but she is without it today so, we drove around more and only found tracks of her and her calf from days ago. My grandson said he noticed fresh cougar tracks. Maybe the mama-cow eventually lead her newborn into the 'mouth of that pedator...'

Some of the few hardcore, elder resisters to the relocation policies have lost their livestock to the these predators particularly the cougar, a skilled and daring hunter. The transformation in the last 15 years is all too real and if Big Mountain people had access to all the monies and revenues that were all stolen by Mr. Peabody, the Dineh would hire ecologist and anthropologists that can explain with much merit the effects of human removal and how nature reclaims the ecosystems. Then this being all temporary because it will all be stripped for the coal and aquifer reserves to meet America's energy needs.

It does feel that this is only temporary even though you behold the beauty of tall green grasses, the white stacks of yucca flowers, and the intense-coloured flowers shooting out of thorny cactuses. Maybe only prayers and more deep searches for understanding by current conscience individuals will help save and restore the endangered ancient lifeways at Big Mountain.

Sheep Dog Nation Rocks, 2009