Urgent Action Needed to Protect Wampanoag Sacred Sites

Posted January 19, 2010 By Nancy and has no comments yet.

Nantucket Sunrise is Sacred to Wampanoag

The Wampanoag Indian Tribe of Massachusetts have spiritual practices that require them to visit sacred sites with a clear view of the rising sun when they perform special ceremonies on the solstices and upon the death of elders. The Cape Wind project would compromise the natural integrity of a sacred site for the Wampanoags by industrializing their view of the rising sun.

The Cape Wind Farm’s plan is to build 130 wind turbines, each over 400 feet tall. The project would be several miles from the Cape Cod shoreline covering a 25-square-mile section of federal land.

Action is urgently needed before February 29, 2010. Please write to Secretary Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, Department of the Interior, 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240; or email Secretary Salazar at feedback@ios.doi.gov; or telephone the Department at 202-208-3100.

Please make the following points:
1. The Wampanoag, People of the First Light, require an unobstructed view of Nantucket Sound in order to view the rising sun on solstices when they perform their sacred ceremonies and upon the passing of elders.
2. Wampanoag ancestral remains are buried in the Sound and the wind turbines would dis

For more information contact: the Wampanoag.

Other resources, including an excellent photo of the sound with proposed Wind Turbines, can be found at: The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound.

Categories: Environmental, Letters Needed, american indian, preservation
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Wampanoag Sacred Sites & Rituals Threatened

Posted November 11, 2009 By Nancy

The Wampanoag of Massachusetts are known as the People of the First Light because of their sacred rituals that require an unobstructed view of the sunrise. These rituals are performed at secret sacred sites at key dates such as summer and winter solstices.

A proposed off-shore wind farm is proposed several miles off of Nantucket Sound and the Wampanoag are protesting the proposal as interfering with tribal religion. The development project calls for 130 wind turbines, each over 400 feet in height. The Mashpee and Aquinnah Wampanoag claim the turbines will block their view of the sunrise and interfere with their ancestral burials on Horsehoe Shoal.

The Wampanoag are hoping to get Nantucket Sound listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property. Such a designation would come with new regulations preserving views of the sun rising over the Nantucket Sound horizon thus assuring the continuance of their sacred practices.

You can read more about this in the San Francisco Chronicle article “Tribes Upset Over Wind Turbines.

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What is a Native American Healing Garden?

Posted November 8, 2009 By Nancy

Someone in Berkeley recently told us about a local church that wants to build a Native American Healing Garden as part of their sacred space. The project seems to be based on the idea that all Native America culture is the same and that all Native American communities regard the same plants as having healing properties. Perhaps the design of this garden will incorporate Native American sacred symbols and forms?

This project makes many assumptions that are not based on fact. Each Native American Nation and Tribe is unique, having their own identity based on centuries of oral history, based on the environments in which they live and based on their sacred ceremonies, spaces and symbols. Taking these elements out of their cultural context leaves them devoid of their fundamental meaning. Native Americans from one tribe usually do not consider using the sacred plants of another tribe to perform their ceremonies; so why do Christians believe that it is appropriate to do so?

We have spoken over the years with many Native Americans who consider cultural appropriation disrespectful and deeply hurtful. Why not design a healing garden based on western forms and western healing plants? There are many sacred forms such as the labyrinth that could form the basis of such a garden and endless choices of healing plants historically used in Western Culture.

Recommended resources: Sacred Objects and Sacred Places: Preserving Tribal Traditions by Andrew Gulliford (a benefit of Membership in Sacred Sacred International at the $50 level). We also recommend the excellent book by architect and Sacred Sites Board Member, Tony Lawlor, The Temple in the House.

Categories: Environmental, Resources, american indian
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Looting Native American Graves

Posted June 16, 2009 By Nancy

The Los Angeles Times and numerous other news sources have reported the arrest of 24 people who were charged with looting Native American grave sites in the United States Four Corners region. Artifacts stolen include ceramic bowls, woven baskets, tools and a rug made with turkey feathers. Looting Native American graves is a great concern to members of all Indian Nations. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush, signed into law the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, providing sanctity for graves on public land and the return of human remains and grave goods to their tribes from any museum receiving federal funds. NAGPRA, as it is called, does not prevent looting, but it means that looters will be prosecuted. 

We worked on an urban site that was a cemetery and ritualistic site. The Native American descendant assigned to the site decided to leave the site alone and allow a commercial development to be built on top of the burials. Considerations were as follows: it is better not to disturb ancestral burial sites; grave objects should remain with the dead and it protected the site from looting. The subject is dealt with in an excellent book, Sacred Objects and Sacred Places by Andrew Gulliford. It is a benefit of membership in Sacred Sites International at the Donor Level. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush, signed into law the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, providing sanctity for graves on public land and the return of human remains and grave goods to their tribes from any museum receiving federal funds.

Categories: american indian, preservation

Sacred Mountain Wins, Another Loses

Posted June 10, 2009 By Nancy

This week has been a provisional wind for the sacred Mount Taylor, in New Mexico and a loss for the sacred San Francisco Peaks in Arizona.The San Francisco Peaks, located in Northern Arizona, are sacred to the Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai, and Apache Nations as home to their deities. As reported in the Arizona Republic, the San Francisco Peaks, lost a long court battle when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case filed by the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation contended that using artificial snow made from wastewater, was akin to dumping sewage on their sacred mountain. The Ninth Circuit Court had previously ruled against the Navajo and in favor of the management of Arizona Snowbowl.One major problem in the San Francisco Peaks case concerns mandated multiple uses of federal land by the public. The court ruling said religious use can not trump the mandated mixed use of federal lands. The Arizona Snowbowl is a permitted use within the Coconino National Forest.In the 1970s-1980s, a coalition of Native Americans and environmentalists had fought Snowbowl in court to prevent the resort’s owner from making “improvements.” That case was also lost in appellate court and the Supreme Court refused to hear the case.For more background information on these sacred mountains, consult Edwin Bernbaum’s Sacred Mountains of the World.  

Categories: Sacred Mountains, american indian, preservation

Mount Taylor Wins Reprive

Posted June 9, 2009 By Nancy

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.

Categories: Mount Taylor, american indian, preservation

Mixed Use at Sacred Sites Problematic

Posted September 3, 2008 By Nancy

Many sacred sites in the U.S. are part of National, State, and Regional Parks. These sites are mixed use, meaning that people can hike, fish, practice New Age rituals, rock climb, picnic, ride horses, and mountain bike.We often see conflict at sites like Cave Rock, Nevada, Hueco Tanks, Texas, and Mato Tilpea (Bear Tower in Lakota), commonly known as Devil’s Tower. Rock Climbers scale the face of this National Park located in Wyoming and Native Americans gather at the site every summer to practice their religion by performing ceremonial rites. Rock Climbers are asked not to scale the rock during this period, however, many do, thus disturbing the Native Americans.Sacred Sites International has developed some Guidelines for Visiting Sacred Sites. Please visit our website: www.sacred-sites.org/preservation.Sacred Land Films has produced an excellent film on the subject of  conflict at sacred sites: www.pbs.org/pov/pov2001/inthelightofreverence/resources.html. The film highlights: Mt Shasta in Northern California, Devil’s Tower and the Colorado Plateau.

Categories: american indian, preservation
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Red Clay Park

Posted April 19, 2008 By Nancy

We received a hand-written letter alerting us to a conflict for Cherokee Indians at Red Clay State Park in Tennessee. A new substation is being placed next to their sacred council grounds at Red Clay State Park by the Tennessee Valley Authority. This will have “a lot of lights and emit loud cannonball blasts when it shifts gears.” The project appears to be up and running since 2007, however, we think some sort of communication with Cherokee and the TVA might help alleviate the problem during council meetings. What do readers think about this problem?

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Obama’s American Indian Policy

Posted April 7, 2008 By Nancy

Barack Obama was in Montana on Saturday and, if elected, he promises to make a high-level appointment for an advisor on Indian issues. He has a detailed policy for “Stronger Tribal Communities” on his website.

Categories: american indian, obama, policy
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