URGENT ACTION ALERT! Protection of Sacred Sites issue

Please forward to your contacts and lists, in it's entirety.


September 3, 2008


Hello everyone,

I received a phone call this morning from Shawn Mulford, from the organization The Indigenous Youth Experience (IYE) Council www.stopsnowbowl.com. Their organization has been working diligently on the efforts to protect the San Francisco Peaks, in Arizona. They are currently coordinating a formal meeting on October 9th, with the Forest Service and elders from many different Nations, to come together to discuss how the Forest Service can prevent their actions from adversely affecting the Indigenous People’s access to, ceremonial use of, or the physical integrity of sacred sites. The Regional Forester Corbin Newman, had previously committed to working with the IYE Council and agreed to attend a meeting outdoors with the elders on behalf of the Forest Service, he is now stating he will not be attending this meeting. The Forest Service should be held accountable, Mr. Newman needs to be at this meeting. Arrangements have been in motion for this meeting for quite some time now, elders have already made travel arrangements and are planning on being in attendance.

We would like to encourage everyone, to please send the sample letter below to all of the contacts listed. We need to put pressure on the Forest Service for Mr. Newman, to personally fulfill his commitment by attending this meeting.

If you have any questions, please direct them to Shawn Mulford at 630.963.7341 smulford@comcast.net

We need to flood their emails, faxes and phones supporting the efforts of IYE, holding Forest Service accountable to follow through with their obligation, to be in attendance as previously agreed on March 20, 2008

Time is of the essence here folks, we need to get these letters emailed and/or make these calls immediately. Please send them ASAP. This is a important issue, we need everyone's assistance on this. ALL of your efforts are greatly appreciated! Please send this to all of your contacts and lists, help spread the word!

A critical part of protecting these sacred sites, is working together on these issues and standing up for the cause.


In peace & solidarity,
Tamra Brennan
Founder/Director
Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com

"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"

Please take a moment to send the email to the following people. Please make sure to send the letter to all of these contacts in the "to" box of your email. We want them to see each of the department heads this is sent to. This way, they know we mean business!

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
328A Senate Russell Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Attn: Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman
(202) 224-2035


U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Attn: Ed Schafer, Secretary of Agriculture
AgSec@usda.gov


USDA Forest Service
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-0003
Attn: Abigail R. Kimbell, Chief of Forest Service
(202) 205-8333
akimbell@fs.fed.us


Corbin Newman
Regional Forester
Southwest Region
333 Broadway Blvd. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 842-3300 (505) 842-3110 fax
cnewman02@fs.fed.us


Dan Meza, Tribal Relations
Southwest Region
3rd Floor, Room 320
333 Broadway Blvd., SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 842-3424
(505) 842-3165 fax
dmeza@fs.fed.us


Fred P. Clark
Director, Office of Tribal Relations
201 14th Street SW
Yates - 2nd Floor, Central West Wing
Washington, DC 20250 – 1138
202.205.1548
fclark@fs.fed.us



SAMPLE LETTER


September 3, 2008

To: (please insert all of the names and email addresses listed above in the "to" box of your email)


RE: Request to U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester of the Southwest Region to attend The Indigenous Youth Experience (IYE) Council’s meeting “Indigenous Consultation on Sacred Sites” on October 9, 2008.

Corbin Newman, Regional Forester

We respectfully request your presence as the Regional Forester of the Southwest Region of the US Forest Service at an indigenous consultation meeting on sacred sites. To fulfill your verbal commitment to the Indigenous Youth Experience Council, that you gave on March 20, 2008. This meeting is scheduled to take place on October 9, 2008, in Bapchule, Arizona. We believe as a Regional Forester of the Forest Service you are a vital part of the decision making process that affects the Indigenous People of North America.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide the USDA Forest Service Chief and department heads with direct face-to-face consultation with Indigenous Leaders from across North America on the cultural, moral and ethical considerations as it pertains to Indigenous sacred sites. The principle objective of the Indigenous Youth Experience (IYE) Council’s meeting “Indigenous Consultation on Sacred Sites” is to acknowledge the special relationship that exists between the USDA Forest Service and Indigenous communities. The IYE Council expects to provide the USDA Forest Service with an opportunity for a meaningful consultation regarding Forest Service decisions that may diminish cultural resources and how this may adversely affect the Indigenous People’s access to, ceremonial use of, or the physical integrity of sacred sites.


Respectfully,

CC: Abigail Kimbell, Chief of Forest Service

Ed Schafer, Secretary of Agriculture

Tom Harkin, Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture