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Field Report: The Navajo Nation's Shiprock Fair
By Andy Bessler
The Sierra Club is a proud supporter of Dooda Desert Rock, a Navajo grassroots organization dedicated to stopping the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired Power plant in New Mexico.
Here are some pictures of DDR's parade float and tent for the Shiprock Fair that took place on October 3-5th. I was proud to be there to help on behalf of Sierra Club.
The float was amazing. I wish the wind turbine could have been turning…it was so windy that day! Elouise Brown, President of DDR, pulled off a great event with a concert and info table at the Fair. She collected many petition signatures for her campaign. A big "Ahe'hee" and thanks to all the volunteers from Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona who came together to help build the float and volunteer their time to get petition signatures and handed out "Dooda Desert Rock!" bumper stickers, fact sheets and music. "Dooda" in Navajo means NO!!!
It was rain and mud at the Fair, but worth it.
There was a huge crowd. I would estimate the 2 mile parade route PACKED shoulder to shoulder for the full 2 mile route at 60,000. DDR hosted a 3-day music festival at the Fair as well and educated thousands of local residents about the dangers of building another coal plant to the 4-corners region.
Here are some pictures I took from the great event:
Hank Dixon of DDR at the wheel of the DDR float during the Shiprock fair parade. A live band played on while volunteers handed out candy and bumper stickers and got petition signatures.
DDR leaders with their recycled purses and bags after the parade.
Apache Ga'an Dancers passing us by.
Rainy concert and info tables at the Shiprock Fair.
A big thanks to Elouise Brown and everyone at DDR for their leadership in keeping the pressure on to say no to coal and yes to green jobs through a clean energy future with wind and solar!!
They still need our support, so be sure to help out with funding or volunteering by contacting Elouise below:
Elouise Brown
President, Dooda Desert Rock
PO Box 7838
Newcomb, New Mexico 87455
505-947-6159
www.dooda-desert-rock.net
thebrownmachine@hotmail.com
Click here to read the latest article on Just Transition in Sierra Club's national newsletter, The Planet.
Members of the Just Transition Coalition including the Sierra Club's Partnership Program presented their plan to the California Public Utility Commission in January, 2005. Since then, The Sierra Club's Partnership Program has been working with tribal partners to educate tribal communities and their leaders about the need for a Just Transition from the closure of the West's dirtiest coal-fired power plant, the Mohave Generating Station and the Black Mesa coal mine. Click here for more information.
Just Transition Coalition members include (L to R): Marshall Johnson and daughter of To' Nizhoni Ani, Roger Clark of Grand Canyon Trust, Wahleah Johns of Black Mesa Water Coalition, Enei Begaye of Indigenous Environmental Network, Robert Tohe of the Sierra Club's Environmental Justice Program, Leonard Selestewa of Black Mesa Trust, Nicole Horseherder of To' Nizohni Ani and Andy Bessler of the Sierra Club's Partnership Program.
IN THE NEWS:
Click here for the latest articles!
Just Transition Coalition secures first step towards a sustainable economic future for Navajo and Hopi people
In the wake of the shutdown of the Mohave Generating Station, California energy regulators approved a request by the Just Transition Coalition to track and accumulate revenues from the sales of sulfur credits from Mohave's primary owner, Southern California Edison, for possible future distribution to the tribes once determination of Mohave's future operation is made.
Read the entire press release
Sierra Club SW Partnership staff and tribal partners presented the "Just Transition Motion" to the CPUC in Dec, 2005. Just Transition has been a response to the closure of the Mohave Generating Station, a 1500 megawatt coal-fired power plant and relic of the past. Thanks to the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations, the dirtiest power plant in the west was closed on December 31, 2005. Since then, Navajo and Hopi communities have been hit economically due to lost coal and water royalties. To help replace these lost revenues, the Just Transition Coalition is proposing a plan to transfer pollution credit funds from Mohave's owners to the tribes for renewable energy development and a stronger and sustainable economy.
WHO WE ARE:
Andy Bessler is the Partnership's Program Representative for Tribal Partners.
WHAT WE DO:
The Sierra Club partnership program works with tribal partners across Indian Country to bring powerful protection to Mother Earth. Some of the work we do includes:
- Time for a Just Transition from dirty coal to clean renewable energy.
- Assisting the Navajo and Hopi tribes to build strong tribal economies with clean renewable energy like wind and solar energy development.
- Strategic empowerment through training and providing information to tribal activists working for environmental protection.
PROTECTING OUR NATURAL HERITAGE:
- Protecting Sacred Lands: Homeland Security since 1492! The Partnership Program assists the EJ program with the Save the Peaks Campaign.
- Organizing events with tribal partners like the Mother Earth Gathering in the Grand Canyon with the Havasupai Tribe.
- Consulting with Sierra Club groups, chapters and other Sierra Club programs to build stronger tribal partnerships troughout the country.
- Working on the Rez and beyond….Reaching out to tribal communities on environmental education and building bridges with the Sierra Club. This includes trainings and support for grassroots organizing in tribal communities.
- The Partnership Program has helped organize Paatuwaqatsi Runs (Water is Life Runs) on Hopi's First Mesa. These long distance runs visits traditional springs and educates the Hopi public about their traditions surrounding water.
- Sierra Club works with tribal partners for environmental protection. Visit their websites here.
LINKS:
Here are web links to our tribal partners in the Southwest and tribal organizations doing great work!
- To' Nizhoni Ani (Beautiful Water Speaks)
- Native Movement
- Indigenous Environmental Network
- The Black Mesa Water Coalition
- The Black Mesa Trust
- The Paatuwaqatsi Run Committee
- Arizona Ethnoboantical Research Association
- The Save the Peaks Coalition
- The Youth of the Peaks
- Sierra Club home page
- Grand Canyon Chapter
- Global Warming facts
- Wind siting policy of Sierra Club
- Sign up for SC currents
- SW Environmental Justice Program
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