Action Needed: To Protect the San Francisco Peaks and Indigenous way of life

For more info please contact Shawn Mulford at shawn@obtpd.org



June 15, 2009



Everyone that honors the Earth,

Thank-you for your previous support to protect the San Francisco Peaks from contamination with treated sewage effluent (reclaimed wastewater). Your action along with thousands of others was felt by the US Forest Service. We would like to ask the indigenous people, environmentalist, skiers, snowboarders and all those that would like to pass on this beautiful mountain to our next generation without being contaminated or destroyed to take the time to send the following letter to President Obama and his administration. Time is of the essence so please submit the letter as soon as you get it. We also ask that you forward this message to everyone on your contact list. Thank you for your continued support on this effort to protect this sacred mountain.

Click on the following link: www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/
Fill in your information in the required fields
Subject field select “Other”
Copy and paste the letter below in the Message field
Then Submit
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Letter to the President for Protection of Indigenous Sacred and Holy Areas

In your recent campaign and acceptance speeches, you have committed to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples of this land. You have committed to addressing the sad history of persecution and oppression of Indigenous peoples and to protect and uphold their sovereign status, their holy and sacred areas, and their spiritual way of life.

In the area of protecting the Earth, you have recently made bold decisions on the issue of our Earth’s daunting challenges of global climate change (e.g., 80% CO2 reduction by 2050). Indigenous peoples have been witnessing and experiencing the impacts of climate change for decades and have persistently called for more aggressive actions. We are concerned that only certain aspects of this massive problem we are all facing – the desecration of the Earth, its resources and subsequently its people—are being addressed. We know that all of Earth’s resources, inhabitants and sacred landscapes are interconnected and cannot be dealt with piece by piece.

Your desire for the United States to lead the world’s effort to find workable technologies to offset the challenges and impacts of climate change is encouraging. To be true to this message that seeks to honor the Earth and those that honor the Earth, we ask that you overturn policies of the last Administration that would allow the destruction of Dook’o’oosliid (San Francisco Peaks), an indigenous holy and sacred mountain located in what is now northern Arizona. At present, a private company, supported by the previous Administration supports the clearing, grading and use of 1.5 million gallons of treated sewage effluent per day on federal land for recreational purposes. The treated sewage effluent would be used to make snow for recreation on this sacred mountain. Such behavior is intolerable to the indigenous way of life and the natural environment. We can not allow another beautiful natural resource to be destroyed for the next generation.

Thus, to honor and fulfill your commitment to Indigenous peoples of this land, we urge you to:

Do not let the destruction of Dook’o’oosliid continue. We urge you to have the U.S. Attorney General through the Office of Solicitor General to file a brief on behalf of the United States supporting the Indigenous Nations and individual Citizens’ efforts to protect Dook’o’oosliid (San Francisco Peaks) and the Indigenous way of life. Taking the lead and standing with the Indigenous Peoples will result in a cleaner and healthier environment while promoting sustainability. We need you to take bold action and demonstrate your commitment to move from a sad history to a promising future not only for the environment but also the Indigenous Peoples.

Immediately stop all activities that would desecrate and destroy Dook’o’oosliid (San Francisco Peaks) and other holy and sacred areas. Work to amend the special use permit issued by the USDA Forest Service to include measures that protect and strengthen support of traditional, cultural, and ceremonial rites and practices of the Indigenous way of life and the natural environment. The Dook’o’oosliid mountain and its forest have recently been stressed by pine bark beetles widely known to be caused by climate change. Unnecessary activities that further stress this critical and important environment must be stopped.

Meet with Tribal Leaders and Indigenous Spiritual Leaders at the White House to facilitate a fair resolution relating to the governments action on federal lands that will adversely affect access to, ceremonial use of, and physical integrity of Dook’o’oosliid and other sacred and holy places. This White House meeting would fulfill your commitment to having annual meetings with Indigenous peoples. Stopping the desecration of sacred places such as Dook’o’oosliid would go a long way to building trust and strengthening this relationship.

Place individuals in leadership roles at the federal level who are committed to addressing the challenges brought on by global climate change. This global battle against climate change and protection of the environment, including preserving natural snow, must be placed above the U.S. Forest Service’s multi-use policy and the federal government’s interest in profitability of any privately-owned company’s commercial interest on federal lands, especially when these actions are detrimental to the Earth and our future.



Respectfully,