Ward Valley Victory Gathering

In reference to the:

Ward Valley Victory Gathering to Celebrate
the Defeat of a Proposed Nuclear Waste Dump
February 17, 2001
Ward Valley, California

Tribal Chairwoman Helton,

The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) staff, board and affiliated tribal organizations extend our handshake to your Tribal Nation for the strong position you made in fighting the siting of a low-level radioactive waste dump in the backyard of your traditional homelands, known to the modern world as "Ward Valley." Regretfully, no one from IEN is able to attend the Ward Valley gathering this Saturday, February 17, 2001 celebrating your victory over the nuclear industry and their allies. Your hard work and dedication stopped them in their tracks from using your traditional land as a nuclear dumping ground.

Our previous visits to Ward Valley were very fulfilling and to this day are cherished memories. We were honored to participate and lend our support. Some of the people from our organization that have been there throughout the years are IEN board members, Chief Johnny Jackson of the Cascade Band of Yakama and Mr. Wilbur Slockish, Jr, of the Klickitat Band of the Yakama Nation from Washington state. Both are members of tribal communities that have experienced first hand the effects of radioactive contamination of their homelands. Others were, Dine' (Navajo) tribal members from Dine' Citizens Against Ruining the Environment (CARE), which is one of the founders of IEN and Mr. Jim Main, Sr., an IEN board member and elder from the traditional White Clay Society of the Gros Ventre Nation in Montana. Mr. Main and his son offered support with their traditional songs. Mr. Main is also a board member of the International Indian Treaty Council and member of the Grand Council of the American Indian Movement. Other tribes and tribal organizations we work with offered their support at Ward Valley in many ways, some standing on the front lines with you and some supporting behind the scenes.

I applaud the Fort Mojave Indian tribal government and all the other tribal governments along the Colorado River that stood in solidarity with their tribal grassroots members and elders to say NO! to nuclear waste dumping in your traditional homelands that are rich in history and culture. I applaud the tribal elders from Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Quechan and Cocopah who offered their wisdom and support. It was so strong with them standing at "ground-zero" at Ward Valley with all of us that traveled many miles to be there at various times during the past years.

I especially applaud the staff of the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance that was formed to provide a unified voice of all the Tribal Nations along the lower Colorado River. Their presentations at the United States EPA National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) meetings provided federal record of the issues confronting the tribes of the Alliance. They also traveled to the IEN annual Protecting Mother Earth gatherings, along with elders from the Colorado River Indian Tribes to educate Native peoples from throughout the country on what was happening at Ward valley.

Incorporating the importance of your traditional ways and the use of the sacred Fire as the foundation for guidance and resistance as we fight for environmental justice and Native rights was proven successful at Ward Valley. This is something IEN has always incorporated as an organizing strategy in our work with Native communities across North America on environmental justice struggles. We give thanks for the many Native and non-Native supporters that stood guard over the Fire and kept it going all through the struggle - day and night - through cold and heat - and even through a tornado that came one night while I was there. I give thanks for all the cooks that kept the supporters fed.

I applaud the many non-Natives from the peace movement to the anti-nuclear movement and the global human family that raised the consciousness of the world that the sacred tortoise and the ecology of a desert environment must not be sacrificed anymore by the whims of the nuclear waste industry. I witnessed the coming together of the non-Native supporters and the Colorado River tribal communities and Tribal Nations in an historical moment where everyone agreed to fight together with one mind and one spirit to defend the sacredness of the Mother Earth and to defend the sovereignty of the Fort Mojave Tribal Nation.

Thanks to the members of the Save Ward Valley coalition that brought many non-Native and Native groups together. There are many other individuals and groups that have contributed to this victory. They are many, from the Bay area of California to Washington, DC. I also applaud the Native and non-Native youth that came to lend their support in the best way they knew how. The Fort Mojave youth runners and the non-Native young people that formed a human-chain to prevent governmental entrance to the sacred site must be commended.

I apologize to the elders for not being able to attend the victory celebration. During all my visits there, I still cherish the memories of the stories that were told through the Birdsongs that explained your sacred connection to the land that has sustained your tribes since time immemorial. On the day you will be celebrating your victory I will offer some tobacco as a thanksgiving offering and sing a victory song here, near the headwaters of the Minnesota River in honor of your celebration and in honor of those that have gone on to the spirit world.

All My Relations,

Tom Goldtooth
National Director
Indigenous Environmental Network
PO Box 485
Bemidji, MN 56619 - USA
(218) 751-4967
email: ien@igc.org www.ienearth.org

Press Release on the Event:
Colorado River Native Nations Alliance & Ward Valley Coalition

Contact: Nora Helton, Chairperson, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe (760-) 629-4591
Bradley Angel, Greenaction (415) 252-0822; cell (415) 722-5270
Phil Klasky, BAN Waste Coalition (415) 752-8678; cell (415) 531-6890

Native Nations & Environmental Allies To Tell New Federal Administration to Abandon Any Thoughts of Reviving Dump Plan

Needles, CA -- After a decade-long struggle to stop the proposal for a nuclear waste dump at Ward Valley, California, hundreds of environmental and Native American activists will celebrate their victory this weekend at the desert valley.

Ward Valley is located 22 miles west of Needles, California, one mile south of Interstate 40 (take the Water Road exit). The Ward Valley issue assumed national proportions and involved mass protests, direct action, court battles and clashes in state and federal legislatures.

The celebration will begin at noon on Saturday, February 17 and last into the evening with traditional Native American song and dance.

"We are coming together to celebrate this historic victory over the nuclear power industry and their allies in government. At the same time, we are sending a message to the new administration in Washington, D.C. that we remain strong and united and that we are not going away," said Nora Helton, Chairperson of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe.

Three years ago, environmental activists and Native Americans joined forces in an occupation of the proposed dump site at Ward Valley in response to attempts by the federal government to conduct tests which would have desecrated land considered sacred by Indian tribes. After a 113 day occupation, federal rangers retreated in response to an overwhelming show of resistance. US Ecology, the company attempting to construct the dump, has failed in a number of court battles on the federal and state level. U.S. Ecology has a track record of leaking nuclear dumps in Washington, Kentucky, Illinois and Nevada. Plans were to bury long-lasting and highly-dangerous radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants in shallow, unlined trenches, above an aquifer, in critical habitat for an endangered species and just 18 miles from the Colorado River. The protracted battle brought together a broad coalition of environmental and social justice activists, Native Americans, economists, scientists, community groups and elected representatives.

"This victory shows that ordinary people can win against overwhelming odds to protect our health and environment," said Bradley Angel, Director of Greenaction. "We are also sending a message to President Bush that any attempt to revive the Ward Valley dump project will be met with fierce resistance. We will never allow a dump at Ward Valley."

"Ward Valley is the worst place and shallow land burial is the worst way to deal with radioactive wastes. We will fight against irresponsible nuclear waste dumps anywhere in California," said Phil Klasky of the Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition.

Pictures and other information from the February 17, 2001 Victory celebration will be posted on the IEN web page www.ienearth.org "Ward Valley" and on the Greenaction web page www.greenaction.org