Mount Taylor Wins Reprive
As reported in the New Mexico Independent, Mount Taylor in New Mexico has been granted temporary Cultural Property Status. This came after being listed as a National Trust Most Endangered Places. We hope that the site gains permanent status and is protected from mining and recreational development projects. Mount Taylor was listed on the National Trust Most Endangered List because of its significance to the Acoma who call the sacred mountain, Kaweshtima.The mountain, in addition, is considered sacred to more than 30 American Indian Nations.
The Navajo call the mountain, Tsoodzil; it as part of their creation story as one of four sacred mountains created by First Man and First Woman. It is the sacred mountain marking the southern direction. Navajo singers traditionally went to the mountain to gather medicinal herbs used in healing ceremonies.The mountain has been abused over time as it was exploited for uranium, a pursuit legal because oil, gas, mining leases are allowed regardless of a site’s cultural or spiritual significance to native people. It is sadly ironic that a place of healing is now contaminated.In addition to mining, the people of Grants, New Mexico, approved the building of a female penitentiary, which sits on a place of healing, happiness and well-being to native people. Now, with preliminary preservation status, native people must be consulted before leases are granted for the desecration of their holy mountain. We hope the mountain will be granted permanent preservation status.