Last night I attended a screening of “Youth on Fire, The power of Youth in the Fight for Environmental Justice,” by young filmmaker David Cruz.The clip above was part of the screening. It was an evening of performance, speeches, song and freestylin. The crowd was amazing, literally on fire. As a media maker it’s proof to me that the power of video is now in the hands of the people. That it is, and will continue to grow as a tool for justice and one that will unite us. As writing changed the world so will the camera. The power to reflect our stories back upon ourselves, to force us to examine our actions as a collective people is great.
The youth who spoke and sang and shared their stories and talents that evening are also evidence that when people come together and persist, there is nothing we can’t do.
I wrote him some garbled email then after I sent it, the reason why clicked in my brain. Let me just say there were a lot of reasons why the trip was amazing – I got to see Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, I spent time with some beautiful people who are all working on issues that need much attention and I got to film – which I love. There was a thundering experience for me though, that really amounts to fully understanding that we can do anything – and if there is something in the world that speaks to your heart you can do it. If you want world peace then go out there and be a leader for world peace. If you want to be a great cook, then take classes, travel and learn new ways to cook and bless the world with the best you-cook that you can possibly be. And if we all took this great reponsibility of being the best versions of ourselves that we could be – which means discipline and reaching out when we’d rather sit at home and be lazy, then this world would tip over onto a brighter pathway – hands down. What I fully understood was this Hopi Elders words, (below) that have been running around the internet, since I think they were on the film – The 11th hour - which I didn’t yet see but I’m planning to. I realized fully and completely - as one friend said to me recently – you make your own magic in this world.
A Hopi Elder Speaks
“You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered . . .
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.”Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, “This could be a good time!”
“There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly.
“Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water.And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. “The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from you attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
In Albuquerque, the Women’s Earth Alliance – Transformative Advocacy 08 group said our goodbyes over searing enchiladas that brought tears to my eyes and cleaned out my sinuses. The heat made me feel alive. To say goodbye we played a game. Each of us had to share what quality of the others had stood out in our minds. It was like a mirror of encouragement reflecting back at you, urging you to be your best version, because that’s who you really are.
On the plane back home I met a man who had just flown out to New Mexico to learn about earthships. He was planning to build one on his land in New Mexico. We raged on about the changes we wanted to see, the ills and goods of American society, and then parted ways.
Although I may never see many of these ladies again, I feel strengthened to know they are out there. And, I think this trip has changed me in ways I don’t yet understand.
For me – now, the editing of the footage has begun. I’m aiming for the end of the year or the beginning of 2009 for a finished film of the trip. I’ll post a note here when its complete.
In New Mexico we met with two very distinct organizations. In the morning we met with members of Dineh CARE (Dineh Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment) who came out in force. Many elders attended, and the meeting was led by Lori Goodman and Dailan Long. The group was well presented and well prepared with an impressive power-point presentation.
Both groups are working to put a halt to a pulverized coal-burning power plant that is scheduled to begin construction in Burnham, New Mexico on the Navajo Nation by next year.
Navajo Nation leaders, including Joe Shirley, Navajo president, support the project for the jobs and revenues it could potentially bring the tribe.
Although the plant is being advertised as a clean coal-fired plant, the facility would add to CO2 emissions in the area (that already has two existing power plants), emit mercury, (estimated at 117-161 pounds per year minimum), pollute the water, and generally add further credence to the designation of the Four Corners area as a “National Sacrifice Area.”
I was impacted by the dedication of Dine Care and Dooda Desert Rock Coalition. Elouise’s extreme level of commitment extended to sleeping in her car or walking miles just to spread the word about what is happening in her community. Dine Care was very forward thinking with a vision for the future of their lands and for using renewable energies to empower tribal members and sustain Navajo cultural values.
Our last day of meetings with Native American environmental leaders who are pioneering the way for all of America ran short again.
We followed Elouise part way on our long drive to Albuquerque, stopping off to have a quick and late dinner together. She drove away fast, with much to do. I could hardly believe the journey was coming to its end.
We met with Louise Benally who I first encountered in the award winning documentary film Broken Rainbow. Our time was very brief. We met outside the office building of the Black Mesa Water Coalition and the Indigenous Environmental Network with great plans for the day, although our first obstacle was a three hour drive out to Black Mesa and the Big Mountain community.
Louise quickly explained her story in the parking lot; in 1974 a congressional act called public law 93531 (or the “Bennet Freeze”) passed, which called for the removal of over 10,000 Navajo’s (Diné) from their land. The US congress decided that the land belonged to the Hopi, although the Navajo and Hopi had been living there in peace for centuries and manufactured a disagreement between the tribes to better sell the idea, which was in essence plotted to free up 62,000 acres for expanded mining operations.
Those who did not want to move were faced with starvation as the following the Bennet Freeze, a federal court ordered an “85 to 90 percent reduction in their livestock herds, and banned new construction or even repairs to existing structures.”
Our plan for the day was to go out and meet with a Dineh elder still protesting the move and to view the mining site, but a flash flood stopped us short and then time ran out.
As we drove to our next destination we listened to the first presidential debate through a crackling radio with shifting reception as the sun disappeared in the sky. It felt like the world was shifting from all that I had learned.
I strongly encourage you to watch the academy award winning Broken Rainbow or “Vanishing Prayer”, pasted below to learn more about this topic.
The sun was low and distinct strands reached out to the earth at the San Francisco Peaks part of the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona. The feeling of solemn humbleness grew in me as I felt my small self blend into the greater landscape. I don’t have the history or teachings about this landscape embedded inside of me but I could feel its amazing presence. I could feel that this place is a source of strength and no wonder 13 different tribes hold it to be holy and 22 tribal nations consider it culturally significant.
Save the Peaks formed in 2004 to protect cultural and spiritual rights and is now fighting a new challenge. The courts recently approved the use of reclaimed sewer water to be used to make snow for skiing on the Peaks. You don’t have to be an extremely bright bulb to figure that skiing on sewage water is not a cool idea. As Rachel Tso pointed out in our meeting, no one falls, no one eats snow while they ski, no one scoops snow up in their water bottle for drinking, right?
The Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort plans to clear cut 74 acres of forest to add additional ski lifts, create a 14 mile pipeline up to the San Francisco peaks to a 10 million gallon pond where fake snow will be made out of the waste water. As we all know, anything that goes into a toilet ends up in waste water. That’s not a very nice thought. There is also a catchment pond at the bottom of the ski area which will only keep a small percentage of the waste water from getting into the water table.
Aside from the obvious reasons for why you might not want sewer water on an area where people ski, there are culturual and spiritual reasons for the many tribes that hold the peaks sacred. For example, the Navajo use the area for gathering medicinal herbs which are used in healing ceremonies and there is concern about not only the health aspect of the herbs but the a question spiritual integrity of contaminated medicine bundles that are used for reviving health and the spirit.
In our meeting Jeneda touched all of our hearts with her eloquence, I ‘ll leave you with her powerful words about the courts ruling and what that means to her. Bear in mind the battle is not over, there are plans to take this ruling to the Supreme Court.
“This last court decision for us, told us that our cultural belief, our spiritual belief is not a valid religion. It’s subjective spiritual feelings. For traditional people, who have grown up with our identity and who carry on these ways of life, since the beginning of time and want to ensure that our children have these spiritual connections as well, to be told that your ways of life, your culture, is a spiritual subjective feeling is one of the most painful, painful feelings that I think anybody could ever feel, is to be told that your culture is not valid. What you believe, what your ancestors have fought for, what they’ve carried on, what they’ve died for is not valid.”
We shared a pancake breakfast at Ihop in Flagstaff with Valencia Herder, who is involved in numerous grass roots organizations (though she said she’s learning to say no) including North Leupp Family Farms, a sustainable agriculture project in Leupp Arizona. Valencia grew up on the Navajo reservation with sheep, cattle, horses and farming. Now she works in sustainable agriculture centered around
topics like health information (free range grass fed animals), reinvigorating farming, and plants as medicine, with her focus moving towards water, such as how to set up water catchment systems, how to restore erosion, and control erosion.
She said about 60 to 70% of her community in hard rock Arizona do not have running water and 10% do not have electricity although there’s a coal mine 30 miles away. At home, Valencia, her family and fellow community members travel long distances for water. The well is 10 miles from her home and she has to haul water in 55 gallon drums over a 10 to 15 mile radius to water their crops, which are largely corn, beans and squash.
Her sisters work along side her to bring sustainable economics to their communities. One of her sisters, Nicole Herder is featured in the film Weaving Worlds, that explores weaving as it relates to Navajo identity and the way the artists are being taken advantage of by the traders who sell the rugs.
The meeting was brief and left me and the Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA) group with a strong desire to see including North Leupp Family Farms and to see where Valencia grew up, to learn more. No doubt WEA will have to go back soon!
I went to the grand canyon in a bus full of tourists, with a driver named Tye who was part of 5 documentary’s as an animal trainer. After the overwhelming beauty filled my heart with wonder and peace I slept awaking the next morning with catastrophic nightmares that included floods and earthquakes. The nightmare shook me. It took me by surprise. If anything I had expected good dreams after such a wonderful day. I didn’t know what to think until later (in Verse 7) when Jeneda Benally shared that she had a wonderful dream that the mother earth would provide and take care of her. In a flash I felt I understood what my own dream meant – those close to the earth would know how to react in times of change in our environment and land. Although, this may be a very logical thought, I feel it is a powerful message for white folks like myself, living in our little urban clusters. It felt like a warning. And it makes me think of the Tsunami in 2004; because of their kinship with the land, the indigenous people in the areas affected, were able to avert disaster.
