And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>From BIGMTLIST
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 13:04:09 EST
Event: Dineh (Navajo) Big Mountain Resisters Benefit -
The Celebration of Hope
Date/Time: Saturday, February 20, 1999; 7:00 PM
Place: Lake Street Church of Evanston Community Center
607 Lake Street (Corner of Lake and Chicago)
Evanston, IL
Donation: $10.00
Contact: James Yellowbank 773 - 561 -6155; Kathy Quasey 847 - 446 - 9595
The Evanston Ecumenical Action Council’s Interfaith Task Force, the Midwest
Buddist Temple, the Anawim Center, Urban Natives of Chicago and the Lake
Street Church of Evanston are sponsoring a benefit performance for the Dineh
Resisters from the Big Mountain area. Big Mountain is located in the Four
Corners region outside of Flagstaff, Arizona.
Big Mountain is considered to be a sacred site of the Dineh. The Dineh have
resided in this area as traditional shepherds and farmers since the 10th
century. They believe that the CREATOR has asked them to perform ceremonies to
protect the earth through spiritual intervention. For the past thirty years,
due to mining company pursuits, specifically, Peabody Coal, the Dineh have
been forced off their sacred land. Only a handful of resisters, non -
signers, are holding fast to their spiritual doctrines.
Big Mountain is rich in marketable minerals including uranium and coal. Multi
- national mining companies have secured mining rights to the area. There has
been much environmental degradation including radiation and acid poisoning of
the water and soil.
Genetically mutated children have been born and many elders have died as well
as their animals. Increasingly severe restrictions have been instituted
including prohibiting the Dineh from maintaining their hogans (homes),
confiscating Dineh sheep accompanied by expensive retrieval fees, and limiting
fire wood gathering, as well as general harassment and constant surveillance.
Worse yet, the non - signers have received a 90 day eviction notice!!
Thousands of Dineh have already died due to relocation.
The Dineh are asking all U.S. citizens to call for repeal of Public Law 93 -
531 of 1974 which mandates their removal from their sacred land. They believe
that if they are relocated, there will be a heavy price to pay by all of us
because they will not be able to perform their ceremonies.
Their prophecies say that there will come a time when non - Indians will come
to assist them in their struggle. The Dineh are in dire need of legal and
financial assistance in their crucial battle to save their traditional way of
life. Supporters of the Dineh believe that in this country, founded for
preserving religious freedom, there is a way to ensure that the Dineh can
maintain their sacred way of life.
Traditional rug weavers and non - signers, Sarah Begay and Laverna Shorty,
will be present at this event which will feature performances by Nitty Hill
and friends, James Yellowbank, Nation of Natives, rap artists, Jeanne
LaTraille, Julietta Satter, and Ted Aliotta.
Big Mountain was the subject of the 1986 Academy award winning documentary,
Broken Rainbow, which will be shown at this event which will take place on
Saturday, February 20th at 7:00 pm at the Lake Street Church of Evanston
Community Center, 607 Lake Street, (corner of Lake and Chicago), Evanston,
Illinois.
Dineh women weavers, Sarah Begay and Laverna Shorty, will be available for
media interviews the week prior to and after the event.
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Also, for great internet tools please visit:
http://www.msw.com.au/cgi-bin/msw/entry?id=1271
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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