BIG MOUNTAIN SUPPORT

WOMEN IN RESISTANCE: TEXTILE INDUSTRY of the SOVEREIGN DINE’H NATION

The Dine’h live atop one of the largest coal reserves in the Western Hemisphere. The Dine’h of Big Mountain, Black Mesa are currently threatened with removal from their traditional homeland so that a mining operation can be established. The mining, refining and transportation of coal and uranium has proven to be incredibly devastating to Black Mesa. 14,000 Dine have already been relocated from Black Mesa to radioactive ‘New Lands’ where an estimated 80% have died from cancer, violence, alcoholism, homelessness and poverty. Since the mining began, it has caused two times the national average of both birth defects and leukemia in the Dine population. The mining has already depleted the Navajo Acquifer by 2/3, causing extreme drought. The US has acknowledged that it is willing to mine this region until it is completely inhabitable and deem it a “National Sacrifice Area.” Dine’h believe the coal is the liver of the Earth. No living thing can live without it’s liver. Many Dine’h warn of ill fate for Earth and her children if her liver is cut out. 3,000 Dine’h are under threat of relocation from Big Mountain.

The resistance at Big Mountain has been rooted in the practice of traditional ways of life, arts and culture. Each rug is a prayer woven in the traditional way with natural dyes and wool from sheep raised by the women and their families. Through their traditional crafts, they have supported economic autonomy and resistance to the threat of relocation from Big Mountain. The collective has involved four generations of weavers, cultivating pride in traditional crafts and passing down this ancient art for future generations of Dine’h. The women meet quarterly to discuss and determine the direction of the collective and their resistance. BIG MOUNTAIN SUPPORT is a sustaining force in continuing traditional life at Big Mountain.

Original Art: Gus Walker. A “National Sacrifice Area”?

Your support for this economic resistance is part of a critical momentum in helping to turn the tide in this struggle for the immediate End and Reversal of Relocation to preserve Dine’h culture and Black Mesa

Areas that need to be Addressed:

Repeal & Reverse PL 93-531!
End Mining on Black Mesa!
End Livestock Impoundment!
Stop depleting the Navajo Acquifer!
Preserve the Black Mesa/Big Mountain region with sustainable grazing & agriculture!
Return relocatees to their traditional homeland!
Rectify and compensate relocatees injured by relocation!
Rectify & Compensate families of people killed by relocation!
Immediate Superfund Cleanup of region!
Immediate implementation of all environmental regulations!

Immediate Actions:

Contact BMISG and get a short or long-term placement at Big Mountain.
Call or Write:
Attorney General Reno, US Dept. of Justice, Constitution Ave & 10th St., NW Washington, DC 20530.
Bruce Babbitt, US Dept. of interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington DC 20240.
President Bush, White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20500
Senator Kyl, 724 Hart Senate Building, Washington D.C., 20510, (202) 224-4521.

Immediate Needs:

Hay and clothing for the current season.
Non-perishable food.
Healthcare and healthcare supplies.
Legal.
Public Education and Awareness.
Media.
Funding, donations, money.
On-the-land support for non-signers and all resisters.
CB's.

Chief Blanket

Weaver with her loom

Eye Dazzler

Spirit Lines

Design of the Land

Squash Blossom

Storm Pattern

RUG ORDER FORM If you are interested in purchasing a weaving, please specify design and price by checking the following: Design: Squash Blossom__________ Storm Pattern_____________ Eye Dazzler_____________ Design of the Land_________ Spirit Lines______________ Approximate Size: Price: Check One Small (Prayer Rug) $60 _________ 1' x 1' $120 _________ 2' x 1' $240 _________ 3' x 1' $360 _________ 3' x 1.5' $360 _________ 3' x 2' $480 _________ Approximate Size: Price: Check One 3' x 3' $600 _________ 3' x 4' $720 _________ 3.5' x 4' $1,200 _________ Each rug is a prayer. Each rug is handmade and unique in design. All orders require a 50% non-refundable deposit. Balance due upon delivery. SPECIAL ORDER: Chief Blanket (Indigo) $1,200 - $2,400. Order takes about 6 months. Price negotiable. Requires total payment in advance. Include Name, Address, Phone and E-mail with all orders. Email elijah@solfoundation.org