by S.J. Wilson
The
Navajo-Hopi Observer
31 March 2005
FLAGSTAFF
— At a protest held at City Hall the evening of March 18,
non-natives present outnumbered Native Americans against
artificial snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl.
Internationally
famous Navajo artist Shonto Begay made an appearance at the
protest against snowmaking on San Francisco Peaks held March 18 at
Flagstaff City Hall.
Allison
Israel moved from Washington DC to Flagstaff 11 years ago. Her
husband and son, Lance and Angelo, accompanied her to voice her
concerns about the environmental impacts of the Snowbowl.
“We are
here because we need to protect the next seven generations, and
making snow is not the way to do it,” Israel said.
Kim Smith
stood in the crowd, holding a book about Native American tribes.
“I
brought this book along to illustrate that this is another chapter
to our history of American Indians.”
Smith
said that she had heard about a celebration being held at Arizona
Snowbowl that same afternoon.
“I
think it’s ridiculous,” Smith said. “I’m glad that they
planned it for this same day, because everyone will drive right by
us here as they are leaving.”
Some
skiers did come by—some yelled angrily, but others indicated
their support.
S.J.
Wilson/Observer
Lisa
Kirkwood said she and her daughters Zia and Shannon Pynes support
Native American beliefs regarding the San Francisco Peaks.
A young
man in full ski regalia stood along Route 66 holding a sign
protesting artificial snowmaking. Will Lee has been skiing for the
last 16 years.
“This
will be the last year buying a pass if they make snow,” Lee
said. “I’ ll buy a pair of snow shoes and walk up somewhere if
I have to. I won’t support the destruction of the peaks.”
Three
sisters from Hardrock, Sherry, Karen and Lovelda Chase, held a
sign together.
“We’re
standing against the Snowbowl,” Sherry said.
Bess
Bennett stood at the top of the grassy knoll overlooking the
street holding a megaphone.
“We
didn’t come here to stomp on them [the tribes].” Bennett said.
“Our culture does not value money over the pleas of 13 tribes.
Snowmaking is hurtful to them and to the plants and animals. I’d
hate to look back and say, we could have stopped them but we did
not. I don’t want a coulda’, woulda’, shoulda ’ situation—it’s
just a mess up.”
S.J.
Wilson/Observer
Will Lee,
a veteran skier of 16 years, said that this would be his last year
buying a pass if artificial snow is made at the Arizona Snowbowl.
Bennett
said that she grew up in Long Island and has lived in Flagstaff
for seven years.
Lisa
Kirkwood has lived in Flagstaff “four years, going on five.”
She said that she and her daughters Zia and Shannon came to brave
the cold because they believed it was important to show their
support for the 13 tribes who hold the San Francisco Peaks sacred.
The son
of the late Navajo activist Roberta Blackgoat, Danny Blackgoat
said that he is carrying on the road his mother took and called
artificial snowmaking a totally insane concept.
“The
Holy People and the Katsina make snow. Man cannot make snow,”
Blackgoat said. “We [Native Americans] come from humble origins.
Water Woman gives us moisture. The dominant society is hell-bent
on grabbing the last dollar—and that is now happening to our
young people. They are beginning to behave like white people. They
don’t adhere to our ideology.”
Blackgoat
described issues like artificial snowmaking as “cultural
genocide at its greatest height.”
Reacting
to reports that pharmaceuticals found in reclaimed water have
caused the feminization of frog tadpoles, Blackgoat said that he
personally didn’t want to become feminized. He pointed out that
not only will Flagstaff residents face such a danger, but also
people in the Verde Valley, Prescott and elsewhere.
“We
need to change the concept of the dominant society, to become more
respectful of the natural ways,” Blackgoat said.
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