Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

March 24, 2012

Sacred Water: Native Nations Water Rights Symposium photo



Native Nations Water Rights Symposium
PHOTO:At the Native Nations Water Rights Symposium in Tucson hosted by Red Ink magazine. Ofelia Rivas, O'odham Solidarity Movement, Dr. Karletta Chief, Dine' hydrologist, Debra White Plume, Lakota, Owe Aku, arrested at blockade of megatrucks on Pine Ridge, and Simon Ortiz, Acoma Pueblo poet, author and professor at Arizona State University. (Photo Brenda Norrell/Censored News)

"Someday the earth will weep, she will beg for her life, she will cry with tears of blood. You will make a choice, if you will help her or let her die, and when she dies, you too will die." John Hollow Horn, Oglala Lakota
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
(Saturday, March 24, 2012, University of Arizona, Chavez Building downstairs, all day)
The Native Nations Water Rights Symposium is now watching a preview of the film, "Crying Earth Rise Up," about uranium mining on the Lakota Nation. In the film Elisha Yellow Thunder, Lakota, speaks on the uranium mining, and the water she drank when she was pregnant. Her daughter is on dialysis and needs a kidney transplant. Debra and Alex White Plume are among the Lakotas interviewed in the film:
http://www.prairiedustfilms.com/cryingearthriseup/
Debra White Plume of Owe Aku, arrested blocking the megaloads on Pine Ridge, speaks at 12: 45 pm. Debra is among the Lakotas who has filed a federal lawsuit to halt uranium mining in Lakota territory. She was also arrested at the White House in protest of the tarsands and Keystone XL pipeline.
Speaking on Yaqui water rights in Sonora before noon: Thalia M Gomez Torres "The Beauty of Resistance" Yaqui Homeland and Contemporary Water Rights. Gomez described the theft of Yaqui water rights in Sonora, and the highway blockades by Yaqui in protest.
Carrie Nuva Joseph, Hopi, spoke on her dissertation research on uranium contaminants in Indian country.
At the reception last night, Simon Ortiz read his poetry. Ortiz' read powerful memory poetry of his father speaking five languages. He also remembered the uranium mining at Laguna and Acoma Pueblos responsible for grinding to death one of the Native workers.
Dr. Karletta Chief, hydrologist, Dine' from Black Mesa, spoke on climate change and impacts to Southwest Indian Nations, and the Colorado River water rights this morning.
Watch for extensive upcoming coverage on Censored News. http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

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