Statement by Bahe Y. Katenay

Greetings Relatives,

I would like for you to take a moment and remember that the
traditional indigeneous resistance still continues on Black Mesa. This
resistance has obviously, in previous decades, been an extreme
expression of a fight for liberation. It is of course not your typical
subtle expression of a politically, opinionated protest that involves
basic environment or heritage issues. This traditional resistance has
been a continuation of the very core of a land-based, indigenous
society’s struggle for survival. A society that has up to recent times
lived off-the-land: growing crops, hunted and gathered, raised
livestock, maintained their own natural springs, practiced the complete
essence of religious rituals, and maintained a unique language and clan
system of deep ancestral origin. Today, the world’s largest coal mining
company, Peabody Western, continues to encroach as they are backed by
the U.S. government’s forcible-relocation policies. At the forefront of
this encroachment is the B.I.A.’s Indian policies which initiate tribal
government activities that undermines these traditional entities of
sovereignty. Your prayers and support is very much needed! I have been
approached by individuals who are concerned for the welfare of these
resisters. And because of the lack of a stable network and
volunteer/support personnel, we are unable to make a complete
assessments of the situation in the regions of resistance. It is assumed
that other elder and younger residents are experiencing hardship at this
time. Currently, there are two critical hardships taking place. Read more