Demonstration Set for Tomorrow at US Forest Service California Office

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

Thursday, August 25

VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA - August 25th marks the third month since owners of Arizona Snowbowl, with the support of the US Forest Service and the Flagstaff City Council, began work on a planned expansion of Snowbowl's private ski area. The expansion plan calls for clear-cutting 74 acres of rare alpine forest and laying pipelines for the transportation of 180,000,000 gallons of recycled wastewater per year from Flagstaff for artificial snowmaking.

Indigenous activists and supporters have stopped work on the development several times in the last few months, and continue to defend the mountain. The San Francisco Peaks are a place of worship, a place where deities reside, offerings are made, herbs are gathered, and other sacred religious practices take place.

“Many scared sites across this country are being desecrated. It is time that it comes to a halt,”

said Norman "Wounded Knee" DeOcampo, Miwok, who is one of the organizers of the demonstration. Wounded Knee was a key leader in the recent victory at Sogorea Te, commonly known as Glen Cove, to stop the erection of two toilets and 15 parking spots on that sacred burial site.

San Francisco Peaks Near Flagstaff, Arizona

WHAT:     On Thursday, August 25th, a demonstration will show solidarity with those defending the Peaks, and deliver a letter to the Forest Service demanding they respect sacredness by immediately halting work on the Arizona Snowbowl project.

WHEN:     Thursday, August 25, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm pdt

WHERE:     Pacific Southwest Regional Forest Service Office 1323 Club Drive, Mare Island, Vallejo, California

WHY:     This is an emergency demonstration in solidarity with the struggle to protect the holy San Francisco Peaks in Northern Arizona. Warriors at the Peaks have asked for support in putting pressure on the Forest Service's regional offices this week, to demand an immediate halt to the desecration of the mountain that is sacred to 13 indigenous nations.

posted August 24, 2011 9:30 am edt