Tribes get New Mexico mountain summit listed as protected

Mount Taylor
(Original Ceremonial Name: Tsoodzil - meaning is obscure)
(Sacred Name: Dootl’izhiidziil - Turquoise Mountain)



Mount Taylor is the "Turquoise Mountain" and "Sacred Mountain of the South" to the Navajos. It is a high mountain peak with an elevation of 11,389 feet, located on the southwestern part of the San Mateo Mountains, midway between Albuquerque and Gallup, New Mexico, and about 15 miles northeast of Grants, New Mexico from interstate highway 40.

Mount Taylor was originally called "San Mateo", to be renamed after General Zachary Taylor of Mexican War fame (and later 12th President of the United States of America). It is visible from points in the Navajo country as far as Chuska Peak, 100 miles west. Projecting to the south and north-east are large lava flows which sheer off from their forested tops in irregular and ragged escarpments. The peaks retain their snows until late in the spring.

Mt. Taylor has a couple of Navajo mythology and ceremonies associated with it. Navajos refer to Mount Taylor as their "Sacred Mountain of the South", and to indicate their legal southern boundary of their old country. Mt. Taylor, is in Navajo legend, the "Turquoise Mountain" fastened from the sky to the earth with a great flint knife and decorated with turquoise, dark mist, female rain and all species of animals and birds. Here is the home of Dootl’izhii ‘Ashkii (Turquoise Boy), Naadá’áltsoii ‘Át’ééd (Yellow Corn Girl), and Hashch’éghaan (meaning unknown). It is also important in the Blessing Side ceremonies and the ‘Anaa’jí (Enemy Side) Ceremony. Mount Taylor was once the home of Yé’iitsoh (Chief of the Enemy Gods). Mt. Taylor does not have the sacred significance of the other sacred mountains of the cardinal directions: San Francisco Peaks (Dook’o’oslííd), Mt. Hesperus (Dibé Ntsaa) of the La Plata Mountains, and Sierra Blanca Peak (Tsisnaasjini').

http://www.lapahie.com/Mount_Taylor.cfm



Tribes get New Mexico mountain summit listed as protected

Mount Taylor is temporarily listed as a cultural property so it won't be touched in an expected uranium mining boom.
From the Associated Press
June 15, 2008


ALBUQUERQUE -- A state committee has approved a proposal from five American Indian tribes to give central New Mexico's Mount Taylor temporary protection as a cultural property at a contentious meeting.

The state Cultural Properties Review Committee voted 4-2 Saturday in Grants for an emergency listing of more than 422,000 acres surrounding the mountain's summit on the state Register of Cultural Properties.

The Navajo Nation, the Acoma, Laguna and Zuni pueblos, and the Hopi tribe of Arizona asked the state to approve the listing for a mountain they consider sacred to protect it from an anticipated uranium mining boom, according to the nomination report.

The listing lasts for a year, after which the committee is to determine if it should be listed permanently.

Opponents of the temporary listing say it will open the door to more government control of natural areas across the country.

http://www.latimes.com:80/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mountain15-2008jun15,0,3953051.story

In peace & solidarity,
Tamra
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