New Voice Emerging- Press Release

Native Youth Media Coalition- Press Release
February 15, 2006- For Immediate Release
 
New Voices Emerging
 
“ If you desecrate and destroy the Peaks, you’re doing away with a way of life. When is that going to be understood? That’s killing Native American Nations. That’s killing us.”
-Joe Shirley Jr. Navajo Nation President
 
The San Francisco Peaks are sacred to more than 13 Indigenous Nations. They are located just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. Presently, a Ski Resort called Arizona Snowbowl is disrespectfully located on the Peaks. There is an on-going battle to stop the Arizona Snowbowl from expanding its resort. Arizona Snowbowl plans on desecrating the Peaks using reclaimed waste-water to make artificial “snow” on this Holy and Sacred Mountain. Not only is it a powerful spiritual place, it is also the home to more than 200 species of mammals and birds that are dependant on the regions unique environment.  The Youth of the Peaks are standing up for the preservation of this mountain.
 
The Youth of the Peaks was formed in the spring of 2005. Since their birth they have respectfully built a strong movement of Indigenous Youth to stand up and protect the sacred San Francisco Peaks against the destruction by Arizona Snowbowl and the City of Flagstaff. The Youth of the Peaks made a callout to Elders and Young people from all over Arizona to come to the New Voices Emerging Summit held in Flagstaff, February 10-12th. The Youth of the Peaks organized the summit to bring Youth and Elders together for two days to build alliances, dialogue, plan and strategize around the issue of protecting the Peaks.
 
Over 70 youth attended the summit. There was a beautiful presence of youth groups supporting the struggle, such as, T.R.U.T.H.F.U.L. from Hopi, The Indigenous Youth Alliance (IYA) from Gila River/Phoenix, the Native Youth Media Coalition, E.C.H.O.E.S from Flagstaff, and the Native Movement Collective. By the end of the Summit, strong alliances were created amongst the youth who now felt as family.  Leaving back to their own communities the youth did not say good-bye,  rather they said,  "we will stop the snowbowl! ". The weaving of their collective strength has begun and their determination continues. 
 
“This is what it takes to talk to the earth, so that it can understand you. These ways are being forgotten, that’s why were where we are. And in some cases, they are not forgotten, but they are being forced to not be practiced. This is what they are doing to you, by denying you this sacred sight. We don’t need to tell no white man in a black gown that this is our sacred sight…we don’t’ ”
-Dine Elder

“Us as youth we have concerns too, especially as Indigenous Youth, who hold these peak’s sacred. The people need to know that it’s not just the Elders, the Medicine men, and the older ones who are concerned about this mountain, its also us youth.” – Youth of the Peaks
 
“ We need to help the future generations that are to come. What our future people are going to be like depends on what we as people are going to be, what we are going to do. I’m here for my people, I’m here for all people…” -Young woman from T.R.U.T.H.F.U.L.

“ The Youth of the Peaks and other organizations here at the summit really have a long-term vision, not just in terms of a plan… but really what we are engaged in is a process of building hope... of cultivating hope...” – Youth of the Peaks
 
Get involved in the struggle to protect the San Francisco Peaks!
Stop Snowbowl!
 
For more information on the ongoing battle to protect the San Francisco Peaks:  www.savethepeaks.org
 
For more information on Youth of the Peaks: www.savethepeaks.org/youth