Urgent Action Needed to Protect Wampanoag Sacred Sites

Posted January 19, 2010 By Nancy

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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SSIF Joins Cultural Resources Preservation Coalition

Posted January 15, 2010 By Nancy

Sacred Sites International has been invited to join the National Trust for Historic Preservation Cultural Resources Preservation Coalition for sites on Federal Public Lands.

The Cultural Resources Preservation Coalition (the Coalition) is a group of historic preservation, tribal, archaeology, anthropology, trails, recreation, business, and place-based organizations, led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Coalition advocates for the protection of irreplaceable cultural resources located primarily on federal public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the National Park Service (NPS).

For more information visit the National Trust website: Cultural Resources Preservation Coalition

Categories: Uncategorized
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Urgent Action Needed for Lascaux Cave

Posted November 9, 2009 By Nancy

Lascaux Bulls

The magnificent prehistoric painted cave of Lascaux, located near Montignac, France, is in serious danger of being destroyed. The paintings are deteriorating from an overgrowth of black spots from fungus and bacterial growth. You can read more about this at the International Committee for the Preservation of Lascaux.

Urgent-Action Letters are desperately needed to urge the French Minister of Culture to work with the International Committee for the Preservation of Lascaux. Send letters to: Mr. Frederic Mitterand, Minister of Culture, 3 Rue de Valois, 75033 Paris Cedex 01, France.

Please send polite letters making the following points: 1) Please convene a committee of international experts to develop a study on the causes of the damage. 2) An effective scientific treatment must immediately be developed and employed to stop the proliferation of black fungus. 3) There must be scientific supervision of the cave; this is immediately needed and needs to be part of the ongoing management of the site. 4) An overall management plan for the cave should be developed and implemented with independent expert monitoring.

Categories: Lascaux Cave, Letters Needed, Uncategorized, World Heritage Site, letter writing, policy, preservation
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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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