Save the Peaks Coalition!

Prayer Run & Ceremony Held to Stop Proposed Sacred Mountain Desecration

Phoenix, AZ - A traditional alliance of Indigenous Peoples held a Prayer Run and Ceremony in support of efforts to protect the San Francisco Peaks, a mountain located in Northern Arizona held sacred by over 13 tribes. The Arizona Snowbowl ski area is proposing to expand their development on the mountain, clear cut 74 acres and make snow with 180,000,000 gals of wastewater per season.

Up to 25 people including members of the Acoma, Zuni, Navajo, To'hono O'Odham and Nahuatl tribes gathered on Sunday, February 20th at South Mountain, which is also sacred to the O'Odham Nations, to begin the run.

"We are here to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are struggling to protect the San Francisco Peaks from ski resort development" said Tupac Enrique, Xicano Nahuatl Nation "All of these sacred mountains are connected across the continent and the earth and we must protect them all."

Ernest Moristo, a traditional Nukutham of the Tohono O'Odham Nation who participated in the day long event, spoke of the defense of O'Odham sacred sites in the territory such as South Mountain in Phoenix and Baboquivari Mountain on the Tohono O'Odham Nation. "They belong to each other," he said as he made the connection to the San Francisco Peaks to the north.

Runners of all ages carried staffs adorned with eagle feathers on their 8-mile journey to Nahuacalli, Embassy of Indigenous Peoples in the heart of Phoenix.

Jones Benally, Navajo traditional medicine practitioner who currently works at the Winslow Indian Health Service clinic, joined the run.

"We run so that way [people] understand we live with nature", said Mr. Benally, "we want to protect the sacred mountain, we don't want wastewater put on the top."

The San Francisco Peaks are part of public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which includes winter recreation in its mission by leasing out 777 acres of the mountain to the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort. According to the Arizona Snowbowl approximately 75% of the winter recreationists to the current resort come from Phoenix and the Valley area.

The runners offered prayers at Nahuacalli and then continued to walk with more supporters to the Heard Museum where a panel discussion on the issue and special screenings of the new documentary, "The Snowbowl Effect" were held. Over 300 people attended the days event including Corra Max, aid to Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr., representatives of the Save the Peaks Coalition, and the director of the film, Klee Benally.

"I don't think that the average skier in Phoenix is aware that the Forest Service says its considering this development on their behalf," said Klee Benally, "would they want this expansion knowing the negative impacts to the environment and our religious beliefs? Would they want their kids playing in this wastewater snow?"

A decision on the proposal to expand the ski area and make snow with wastewater by the Coconino Forest Service is anticipated by the end of March.

For more information on the issue and the documentary "The Snowbowl Effect," visit www.savethepeaks.org .

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