Speaking during a noon press conference, Zuni Pueblo Councilman Dan Simplicio said a proposed coal mine of the Salt River Project has already resulted in the removal of nine of his people from their graves.
"Those are our ancestors that were never intended to be disturbed," Simplicio said.
The proposed Fence Lake Project is in the vicinity of the Zuni's sacred salt mines in New Mexico. Simplicio said salt has properties that sustain life, while coal mining robs the earth of life.
"A basic ingredient that gives us life is salt," he said. "Mining takes away life."
Sarah James of the Gwich'in Steering Committee in the Arctic spoke of the need to protect the Porcupine Caribou Herd and the sacred place known as "Where Life Begins," from proposed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-Coastal Plain.
"Those are our ancestors that were never intended to be disturbed," Simplicio said.
The proposed Fence Lake Project is in the vicinity of the Zuni's sacred salt mines in New Mexico. Simplicio said salt has properties that sustain life, while coal mining robs the earth of life.
"A basic ingredient that gives us life is salt," he said. "Mining takes away life."
Sarah James of the Gwich'in Steering Committee in the Arctic spoke of the need to protect the Porcupine Caribou Herd and the sacred place known as "Where Life Begins," from proposed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-Coastal Plain.