The Wild Hunt » John McCain

There’s No Sacred Land in Arizona

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:28:38 +0000

It is becoming increasingly clear that government officials and politicians don’t believe any piece of land in Arizona is sacred. At least if that land is considered sacred by Native Americans. First, a coalition of Native tribes and environmental activists lost a long legal battle over the controversial expansion of the Snowbowl ski resort on the San Francisco Peaks (though some are pressing on), a move that involves creating snow from treated wastewater, what they see as a desecration that would be “like putting death on the mountain.” Now, U.S. Department of the Interior office of hearings and appeals have rejected the latest appeal to a proposed shooting range in the Mohave Valley, despite challenges from the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and the Hualapai Tribal Nation.

“After 13 years, the attempt to secure a shooting range in Mohave Valley is drawing closer to reality. The U.S. Department of the Interior office of hearings and appeals rejected the latest appeal from two Tri-state Indian tribes. The federal Bureau of Land Management will transfer a 787-acre parcel to the Arizona Game & Fish Department, which has set aside approximately $2 million for construction. Of the total acreage, 470 acres will be used as a buffer zone. Game & Fish would own and maintain the facility, located on Boundary Cone Road, eight miles east of Highway 95. Bills have been introduced in Congress that would end further appeals by the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and the Hualapai Tribal Nation, which maintain the land is sacred to them.”

Which Arizona politicians are introducing bills in the House and Senate to cut off any further appeals? Rep. Trent Franks, a hardline social (Christian) conservative who made headlines in 2009 for jumping on the “birther” bandwagon, and Sen. John McCain, who also pushed hard for the Snowbowl expansion. While these Arizona politicians seem to care a great deal about expanding how many days in the year they can ski, or creating a new shooting range, they don’t seem to care all that much for the welfare of Natives living in their state. Not that this is surprising, in Arizona unemployment among Natives in rampant, and their issues all but ignored. When American politicians do listen to the concerns coming from Indian Country, they are just as likely to be attacked as praised for their efforts.

Last week, the “Director of Issues Analysis” for the Christian conservative American Family Association, Brian Fischer, wrote a blog post claiming that “President Obama wants to give the entire land mass of the United States of America back to the Indians. He wants Indian tribes to be our new overlords. Perhaps he figures that, as an adopted Crow Indian, he will be the new chief over this revived Indian empire,” Fischer wrote. “But for the other 312 million of us, I think we’ll settle for our constitutional ‘We the people’ form of government, thank you very much.”

The reason for this hyperbole and outrage? Obama’s willingness to support the (not legally binding) United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. While Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States initially rejected the declaration, all have changed course in recent years. The United States was the last hold-out country to do so.

“While not legally binding, the declaration “carries considerable moral and political force and complements the president’s ongoing efforts to address historical inequities faced by indigenous communities in the United States,” the department said in a statement.”

One can see why some groups and politicians would fear any move that would give Tribal Nations more “moral and political force” to their efforts to protect and preserve what little they have left. To politicians like McCain and Franks, American Indians are simply obstacles. Irritants to be legislated into complete irrelevance. In their minds, there’s no such thing as sacred land in Arizona. Especially if it is not sacred land they can control. As the next generation of Native leaders emerge, we can only hope that a new respect, a new paradigm for relations, can be established.

U.S. DoA Approves Ski Resort Expansion on Sacred Mountain

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:15:07 +0000

Despite a long legal battle that went all the way to the US Supreme Court, and despite secret talks held between the Department of Agriculture and Flagstaff city officials to find a last-minute compromise, it looks like the controversial expansion of the Snowbowl ski resort on the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona has been approved and is going forward.

“Well, it finally happened. Despite objections from a number of tribes throughout the Southwest, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently approved Arizona Snowbowl to continue with their expansion efforts, which will undoubtedly include artificial snowmaking. It’s no surprise that Snowbowl owner Eric Borowski was thrilled, adding that he would make a request to the Flagstaff City Council to use potable water to make artificial snow since tribes had previously complained about the use of reclaimed sewage effluent to make artificial snow. But if left with no choice, he was prepared to use reclaimed wastewater.”

As I’ve reported here on this blog before, a coalition of 13 Native American Tribal Nations who consider the land sacred ground have been fighting to stop what they see as a desecration that would be “like putting death on the mountain”. Sen. John McCain has been pushing for this expansion approval, despite the protests, questionable economic benefits, and concerns over public health. A new organization, True Snow, has now formed to continue the fight against expansion and the prospect of pumping treated wastewater snow onto the peaks.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmtz4J6W6Q0

New court appeals are already in progress to challenge the use of treated wastewater, and to block the use of drinking water for the purposes of making artificial snow. As Wells Mahkee Jr. at the Najavo-Hopi Observer points out, if we ignore the warnings of the sacred deities, if we desecrate the sacred land simply so people can ski longer, what message will they send next?

“…as a compassionate human being, I instead implore Mayor Presler and members of the Flagstaff City Council and all other elected officials and supporters of Arizona Snowbowl to rethink Snowbowl’s request to use either potable water or reclaimed wastewater for the purpose of creating artificial snow. If the near-record snowfalls of earlier this year and the recent wildfires were any indication, our sacred deities are attempting to send you a message. It’s quite simply a matter of supporting the tribes and saying “no artificial snow.” If we’re not careful, our deities may choose to send us a few more messages - and this time, they may not be so subtle.”

Native leaders and activists are standing firm, blasting the Obama administration for what they see as a betrayal, and vowing to never give up fighting to stop further encroachment and destruction on their sacred mountain.

Former Hopi Chairman Ben Nuvamsa stated, “We Hopit (Hopi people) will always believe in the sanctity of Nuvatukyaovi. That is why we must fight … to preserve Nuvatukyaovi even if the legal and political odds are stacked against us. This is our way of life. Our tradition and ceremonies are the basis of our existence and they will continue. We will always pray to Nuvatukyaovi for the blessings it brings us.”

This issue isn’t over by a long-shot, and you can be sure I’ll be covering this story as it continues to develop.

Starhawk and the RNC Police Raids

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:16:00 +0000

As St. Paul, Minnesota, gears up to host the Republican National Convention, local law enforcement agencies are engaging in a series of draconian crack-downs on local activist centers and homes (including the local homeless-feeding Food Not Bombs chapter) in hopes of intimidating groups planning to protest the convention. Pagan author and activist Starhawk, who is there with the Pagan Cluster to protest, files this report on the raids.

“One by one, protesters trickle out. Now we get more pieces of the story. The cops burst in, with no warning. They pulled drew their guns on everyone—including a five year old child who was there with his mother, forced everyone down on the floor. It was terrifying. They had a warrant, apparently, from the county, not the city, to search for ‘bomb making materials.’ They were searching everyone in the building, then one by one releasing them as they found nothing. They continue to find nothing, as we wait through long hours … And now it’s morning. I wake up to the news that cops have been raiding houses where activists are staying, bursting in with the same bogus warrant and arresting people, including a four year old child. They’ve arrested people at the Food Not Bombs house—a group dedicated to feeding protesters and the homeless. They’ve arrested others, presumably just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Looking at the latest from progressive news-wires, it is clear that a campaign of harassment and intimidation is being employed to stifle protest, and find members of the anarchist “RNC Welcoming Committee” that are planning to “crash” the convention on the first day. Bruce Nestor of the National Lawyer’s Guild says the raids are politically motivated sweeps that are unique in Minnesota’s history.

“We’re not in this country yet where we’re having mass detentions of people like this, so it really is about sending a message. I think what it really is designed to do is to send a message to people who agree with some of the viewpoints of people organizing activity and to say – you know what? You can write an email, it’s okay to write a letter, to vote, but don’t go out in the street, don’t organize public activity, because do you want us bursting into your house? Do you want to be associated with people who are getting arrested? It’s designed to somehow say these aren’t citizens engaged in the exercise of political freedom, but that they’re kooks, they’re freaks, they’re dangerous, stay away from them, don’t get involved.”

Starhawk is asking people to call the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul to protest the treatment of non-violent protesters by law enforcement officials. If things keep going in this direction, it may make the actions against protesters in Denver look quaint by comparison. Are these harbingers of the McCain/Palin ticket? After all what does a president who cozies up to Christian conspiracy theorists, equates his opponent with the Antichrist, and appoints a VP with dominionist ties care if some Pagans, anarchists, hippies, and progressives get locked up, harassed, and have their civil rights suspended?

Ready To Spread Those "Secret Pagan" Rumors?

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:26:00 +0000

Tired of the “Obama is a secret Muslim” rumors? Starhawk has (jokingly) proposed that we fight fire with fire and start claiming that McCain is a secret Pagan.

Senator McCain? Is that you under there?

“You don’t have to be a Pagan to win my vote–in fact, I’d advise you not to be a Pagan if you want to win an election. Hmmn, perhaps we don’t make enough use of unpopular religions. Since there’s a widespread internet lie that Obama is really a Muslim, perhaps we should counter with the rumor that McCain was seen dancing naked in the moonlight, wearing goats’ horns. Really–it’s true. I’ve seen it myself. Okay, it was a vision–and what a vision! I had to dose myself with ibuprofen and valerian tea afterwards to recover. But my visions are rarely false.”

Who are we to say that Starhawk’s visions aren’t true? She also seem eager to offer her services as an advisor to the politically powerful. A Pagan version of Rick Warren if you will.

“How I would love to advise the candidates on religion! I believe I’m eminently qualified as a political strategist, on three key points: I’ve been in trouble more times than I can count for protesting one thing or another, generally some form of war; I’ve watched five seasons of West Wing on DVD; and I’m psychic.”

So keep your eyes open for stag-horned crowns, or secret Pagan hand signals, at the Republican National Convention*. And if you happen to see any suspicious looking groups in robes heading out into the moonlight, check to see if any of them are secret service.

* If McCain were a “secret Pagan”, if would explain why the RNC is being held in Paganistan.

Ready To Spread Those “Secret Pagan” Rumors?

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:26:00 +0000

Tired of the “Obama is a secret Muslim” rumors? Starhawk has (jokingly) proposed that we fight fire with fire and start claiming that McCain is a secret Pagan.

Senator McCain? Is that you under there?

Who are we to say that Starhawk’s visions aren’t true? She also seem eager to offer her services as an advisor to the politically powerful. A Pagan version of Rick Warren if you will.

* If McCain were a “secret Pagan”, if would explain why the RNC is being held in Paganistan.

A Christian Nation, A Christian President

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:20:00 +0000

Republican Presidential hopeful John McCain caused controversy this week by stating his belief that America was founded on “Christian” principles, and that he would hesitate to elect a non-Christian to office.

“I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles…. personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith … I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation. But I say that in the broadest sense. The lady that holds her lamp beside the golden door doesn’t say, “I only welcome Christians.” We welcome the poor, the tired, the huddled masses. But when they come here they know that they are in a nation founded on Christian principles.”

While the criticism towards this rather narrow view of American history is warranted, Heathen blogger Hrafnkell points out that a large number of people believe exactly what McCain said:

“McCain only represents a very visible manifestation of a much more serious and widespread problem. That 55% of Americans think the United States was founded as a Christian nation and cite the Constitution as proof of this, we are in trouble. And this demonstrates how effective the big lie can be.”

Sadly, McCain’s Christian-centric view of America isn’t unique from either party. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton is a member of the overwhelmingly conservative (and secretive) Christian organization “The Fellowship”, which seeks to bring Jesus back to Capitol Hill, and Christian-oriented “God-talk” has been a dominant theme in the race to the White House.

“This effort is apparent on the stump, where many of the Democratic candidates speak openly of religion and God and present moral justifications for their policies. It’s also going on behind the scenes, with presidential campaigns hiring strategists to coordinate their outreach to religious communities and holding weekly conference calls with religious leaders.”

We still live in a country where the election of a Muslim Congressman who doesn’t want to swear in on the Bible causes controversy, where Pagans who do participate in the political process risk being “outed” by their political opponents, where a Hindu is shouted down in the Senate and not a single candidate decries the action, and where a debate on indigenous issues is blown off by all of the Democratic front-runners. The message to religious minorities is clear: you aren’t valued, and we will pander almost exclusively to Christian voters in order to win.

None of this is to say I expect Obama or Giuliani to start pressing flesh at Pagan festivals. I understand that a clear majority of people in America identify as Christian, but I do want to see more talk about the Separation of Church and State and less talk about how awesome they think Jesus is. Otherwise, it becomes difficult to know who is merely expressing a personal belief, and who is establishing a mandate for a Christian-led society. It is clear we will be electing a Christian President in 2008, but we must be ever-vigilant that it won’t be as the executive of a “Christian Nation”.