Christmas at the Desert Rock Blockade
Spending Christmas huddled around a campfire and protecting our land is not something that we, resisters, had originally planned. Most of us expected large family dinners, Christmas tunes, and gift exchanges. We are being watched by the police 24 hours/day and every time a vehicle comes by, they charge over and scare the elders and medicine people visiting the Resisters’ Vigil.
But feeling the cold wind against our faces at this Doodá Desert Rock Vigil is not something that we regret. It is a time for us to continue standing upfor what is right. We are reconnecting with our ancestors through prayer and we are learning, re-learning about our traditional, cultural, and spiritual roots.
This past Friday, Grandma Lucy butchered a sheep and the youth supporters learned the techniques of meat cutting and learned of the various dishes that mutton can make. Lucy walked around proudly because it was a time for all of us to build bridges between the young and the old. She taught the younger ones the importance of our fight. They now know what it means to be part of this land; not only as an individual but as a community protecting what is sacred and what is rightfully ours.
Money is not the center of Christmas here. Our gifts to each other here are the stories from the past and the cultural substance that exists amongst our elder folk. At the center of the elder’s stories is the knowledge of the Land. From this land is where our identity lies. In this land is where knowledge dwells and the spiritual deities live.
Altogether, we are reminded of why we are here and where we come from.
The warriors of this vigil are the elders and, despite us telling them to go home and rest for a while, they will not leave. Their priority is to protect this area for all of its richness and its beauty. “For the grandchildren of the future,” is what Grandma Lucy says, “we protect this place.”
The patriarchal arm of the Navajo government is challenging, attempting to, and doing all that it can to eradicate the matriarchal roots of the Navajo culture. The grandmas are only doing what we all know is right: standing up. They are not afraid and because of them, we are not afraid.
The challenge for you is to help us in protecting our land and culture.
Our Navajo Nation President has sold us out for pennies but we are not walking around with dollar signs stamped on our heads. No amount of coal and pollution can put a price on our livelihood.
Call, email, fax, write, and use whatever method to tell President Shirley that he needs to do what is culturally right by rejecting this project.
We are calling upon all native people, tribes and descendants to stand with us. We carry the blood of warriors and this is our call to action.
Write to your senators, newspapers, television stations etc. Your voice is heard (even if it’s a few sentences) but you must step up just as we have stepped up. Will you help us in protecting Native culture? This is our wish for this Christmas season.
Elouise Brown, President of the Doodá Desert Rock, Burnham NM
Please see the website:
http://www.desert-rock-blog.com
Spending Christmas huddled around a campfire and protecting our land is not something that we, resisters, had originally planned. Most of us expected large family dinners, Christmas tunes, and gift exchanges. We are being watched by the police 24 hours/day and every time a vehicle comes by, they charge over and scare the elders and medicine people visiting the Resisters’ Vigil.
But feeling the cold wind against our faces at this Doodá Desert Rock Vigil is not something that we regret. It is a time for us to continue standing upfor what is right. We are reconnecting with our ancestors through prayer and we are learning, re-learning about our traditional, cultural, and spiritual roots.
This past Friday, Grandma Lucy butchered a sheep and the youth supporters learned the techniques of meat cutting and learned of the various dishes that mutton can make. Lucy walked around proudly because it was a time for all of us to build bridges between the young and the old. She taught the younger ones the importance of our fight. They now know what it means to be part of this land; not only as an individual but as a community protecting what is sacred and what is rightfully ours.
Money is not the center of Christmas here. Our gifts to each other here are the stories from the past and the cultural substance that exists amongst our elder folk. At the center of the elder’s stories is the knowledge of the Land. From this land is where our identity lies. In this land is where knowledge dwells and the spiritual deities live.
Altogether, we are reminded of why we are here and where we come from.
The warriors of this vigil are the elders and, despite us telling them to go home and rest for a while, they will not leave. Their priority is to protect this area for all of its richness and its beauty. “For the grandchildren of the future,” is what Grandma Lucy says, “we protect this place.”
The patriarchal arm of the Navajo government is challenging, attempting to, and doing all that it can to eradicate the matriarchal roots of the Navajo culture. The grandmas are only doing what we all know is right: standing up. They are not afraid and because of them, we are not afraid.
The challenge for you is to help us in protecting our land and culture.
Our Navajo Nation President has sold us out for pennies but we are not walking around with dollar signs stamped on our heads. No amount of coal and pollution can put a price on our livelihood.
Call, email, fax, write, and use whatever method to tell President Shirley that he needs to do what is culturally right by rejecting this project.
We are calling upon all native people, tribes and descendants to stand with us. We carry the blood of warriors and this is our call to action.
Write to your senators, newspapers, television stations etc. Your voice is heard (even if it’s a few sentences) but you must step up just as we have stepped up. Will you help us in protecting Native culture? This is our wish for this Christmas season.
Elouise Brown, President of the Doodá Desert Rock, Burnham NM
Please see the website:
http://www.desert-rock-blog.com