Ward Valley Showdown Approaches

by Dan Hamburg

The federal environmental testing had been trying to determine whether the waste -- to be dumped in unlined dirt trenches above an aquifer -- would migrate to the Colorado River, twenty miles away. Ward Valley defenders maintain that even testing would desecrate land sacred to the Indian Nations of the Colorado River area.

The occupation of Ward Valley has definitely caught the attention of people all over the world. This is an issue of sovereignty, environmental justice, sacred sites, religious freedom, and the protection of Mother Earth. It is also an issue of contamination of the Colorado River and the future of an already threatened species, the desert tortoise. The future of millions of people and of the very planet itself will be affected by what happens here; and the world is watching.

On June 17, 1998 a very important hearing will take place in Washington, DC. in U.S. District Court. The court will hear a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by CA Department of Health Services against the Interior Department asking the court to transfer the land at Ward Valley into the hands of the State of California. The finding of the court could have a tremendous affect on the proposed radioactive waste dump at Ward Valley. This could be the victory we have been waiting for!

Since the occupation began on February 12, many developments have taken place. Here are some of the highlights:

• After years of the CRNNA demanding nation-to-nation consultation with the U.S. Government, the Department of Interior has finally begun serious negotiations. Although the tribes have not been granted their request of meetings with Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt or President Clinton, they have been meeting with Secretary of Indian Affairs, Kevin Gover. There have been offers and counter-offers but no agreements have been solidified at this point. On one point the 5 Tribes of the Lower Colorado River have themselves perfectly clear: "The occupation will stay in place until we are assured that no further desecration will be done to this land which is sacred to us!"

• Democratic leaders of the California Legislature have issued a report which questions the legality of a land transfer of Ward Valley into the hands of CA DHS. State Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D - San Francisco), Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D - Los Angeles) and Speaker Pro Tem Sheila Kuehl (D - Santa Monica) have raised serious questions regarding the land transfer, a $500,000 "gift" from U.S. Ecology to pay for the land, and apparent attempts by Gov. Pete Wilson and DHS to circumvent legislative process.

• Largely because of the aforementioned report the federal government has asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit that DHS and U.S. Ecology filed against the Department of Interior in January, 1997. The lawsuit asks for the immediate transfer of Ward Valley from the Bureau of Land Management to the State of California. The court will hear the motion to dismiss the lawsuit on June 17, 1998.

• On June 16 a traditional ceremonial gathering will take place at Ward Valley to send prayers to Washington, D.C. Everyone, Native and non-Native alike are invited and encouraged to join in this very important event. Elders, spiritual leaders, singers and dancers, and tribal members are needed to make this ceremony one that will send many powerful prayers to Washington, D.C. and into the heart of the judge hearing the case before him.

Things are looking a little better now but the fight is far from over. There are still those, like Senator Murkowski of Alaska, who are pushing for the construction a radioactive waste dump in Ward Valley. Corporations like PG&E and Southern CA Edison would love to continue to pawn off responsibility for the waste generated by their nuclear power plants to the public.

WALKING WITH SPIRITS
by Michael (Blondie), resident of Silyaye Village

As I awaken each and every day I pray
I pray for the sacred ground that I walk upon for the same beautiful Mother Earth that rocks me to sleep at night

I pray for the Sacred Mother Creator that has blessed us with lovely creatures that walk with us on our walk I pray to Spirit Mountain
so close you can almost touch it if you tried I pray for the sacred fire that provides us strength, hope, love and understanding
and carries our prayers to the Creator.

All this and more I do each and every day here on this land
as I walk with Spirits.

WHY WE ARE HERE AT SILYAYE AHEACE
by Dennis Randolph Scott and John Stevens, residents of Silyaye Village

We have both been doing guard duty at Red Pony (the first checkpoint into Ward Valley). Dennis has been here for two months while John has been here for four months. We have both been here basically 24-hours a day, 7 days a week through sickness, conflict, lack of sleep, freezing rain, and personal tragedy.

Why do we stay here when it would be so much easier to go back to our creature comforts?

Why, because we both the guardians and the gatekeepers of Silyaye Aheace. It is no longer a thankless job, but a duty to guard what is sacred in this valley.

Once you stay here for awhile you begin to understand why this place is sacred.

We live here with the tortoise (Kah-Pet). We have both grown in spirit realizing that we are living on the back of the tortoise. It the planet is the tortoise shell, then we are living on one very special plate of the shell. Ward Valley is the plate and the mountains are the growth rings.

We are the guardians and we will NEVER let a nuclear dump be put here!

WHAT YOU CAN DO!!! JOIN THE OCCUPATION!! Supporters are asked to join Elders and tribal members in the occupation to protect religious ceremonies continuing at the site. We act with the guidance and direction of the Tribes and Elders in the village of Silyaye Aheace. To find out how you can become a resident of Silyaye Aheace (even if for just a short time) contact Save Ward Valley at 760/326-6267. SUPPORT THE VILLAGE! Food, supplies and money are always needed. Some of the things needed especially now are: 1 or 2 2-channel UHF radios, propane or solar-powered refrigeration, shade cloths, extra tents, sleeping bags, hats. For a more complete list contact Save Ward Valley. CALL, E-MAIL, FAX OR WRITE: WHITEHOUSE COMMENT LINE 202/456-1111 Let the government know that you support the Tribes in their struggle to protect sacred land, the Colorado River and the threatened desert tortoise. Remind them that every dump operated by U.S. Ecology is leaking, that the Hayden report very clearly showed that another radioactive waste site is not needed, and that by looking at the latest USGS reports from the U.S. Ecology site at Beatty, NV they can see what is most likely to happen at Ward Valley. Encourage them to do the right thing and call off this insane project once and for all!