Snowbowl decision violates our cultural and spiritual relevance

Rosenblatt has upheld the decision of the Coconino National Forest to allow artificial snow-making on the San Francisco Peaks)

The Navajo Nation Council is very disappointed with the decision that has been handed down by Judge Paul Rosenblatt regarding commercial development on the San Francisco Peaks. With this decision, a mountain sacred not only to the Navajo Nation, but to many other tribes in Arizona as well, will continue to be desecrated. The sanctity of our cultural and spiritual relevance has been violated. The U.S. District Court has now seemingly underscored this without hesitation.

Although decisions are made by those in authority, those decisions do not supercede the natural laws of what is in existence. As Diné people, it is our sacred role to honor and protect the environment in which we live. The natural law that compels us to protect our sacred mountain – Dook’o’osliid – will continue. It has been in existence since the beginning of time. It will not end. We will continue our advocacy to protect what is already in perfect order.

Even though there is a ruling, we will not be silenced. The Holy People know that we continue to hold strong to our values and that we will teach those values to our children. Our values as Diné and our roles as stewards of the land on which we live will continue.

The Navajo people continue to oppose the desecration of Dook’o’osliid. There are other avenues that may be explored such as taking this issue to the international arena. We have vowed to uphold the fundamental laws given to us by the Holy People and we will continue in our opposition.

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