Western Shoshone Defense Project

Western Shoshone Defense Project, P.O. Box 211308,
Crescent Valley, NV 89821
775-468-0230, http://www.wsdp.org

Western Shoshone and Allies Challenge Department of
Interior Decision to Open Spiritual and Cultural Area
to Further Destruction by Gold Mining

November 30, 2004, Crescent Valley, NV. On Friday,
November 26, the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone
Indians, the Western Shoshone Defense Project, and
Great Basin Mine Watch joined forces and filed a
petition for review with the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM)’s State Director Robert Abbey.

The Petition challenges BLM’s decision to approve an
expansion of mining exploration activities by Cortez
Gold Mines in and around Horse Canyon. Horse Canyon
is located at the center of Western Shoshone territory
and immediately adjacent to the sacred Mt, Tenabo. BLM
approved the expansion despite Western Shoshone
protests and BLM recognition of the area as a site of
Cultural and Religious Importance under the National
Historic Preservation Act. The area continues to be
used by Western Shoshone for hunting, gathering,
religious and cultural purposes. As explained in the
petition, these traditional uses will be adversely
affected, if not destroyed, by the approved
activities. Unfortunately, BLM failed to adequately
consult Western Shoshone about its decision. As such,
the petition requests that the project be stayed and
that the State Director remand the decision to the BLM
for full compliance with federal law.

Horse Canyon is part of the same area where hundreds
of horses belonging to Mary and Carrie Dann, Western
Shoshone grandmothers, were seized last year by
federal agents under the auspices of the Department of
Interior.* Now the only “horses” heading toward the
canyon are metal “horses” in the form of drill rigs
and bulldozers as Cortez Gold Mine, a joint venture of
Placer Dome, Inc. (Canadian-owned) and Kennecott
Minerals (Australian-owned) rides in on BLM’s
approval.

Jody Abe, Western Shoshone and Te-Moak Tribal Council
member explained, “we are outraged. Once again, the
Tribes have been left out of decision making process
that affects our people and our environment. The
Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone has an interest in
the preservation and protection of our homeland. The
issue of our title as recognized by the 1863 Treaty of
Ruby Valley is still intact and federal court action
and other actions are ongoing, the Department of
Interior and the mining companies know this and must
begin taking these issues seriously.”

Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone grandmother likewise
explained,“I will never understand it, for years we
used our best efforts to educate and stop further
destruction of our people and those things that are
sacred to us. And yet, it is this federal
administration who claims ’moral values’ and these
companies who claim to be socially responsible that
have shown nothing but disrespect for the ways of the
Shoshone people. What good are museums for Native
Americans and cultural centers if our culture is
destroyed? We are not artifacts in the past - we’re
here, we’ve always been here and we will always be
here. We were placed here on this land by the Creator
as caretakers – our voices must be heard in decisions
affecting all that is sacred, which includes the
land.”


For further information, contact Nicole Rinke of
Western Mining Action Project (775) 337-2977 (WMAP is
a non-profit environmental law firm specializing in
mining issues).

A full copy of the Petition for Review is available
upon request.


*For additional information on the horse & cattle seizures go to
http://www.wsdp.org.

Western Shoshone Defense Project
P.O. Box 211308
Crescent Valley, NV 89821
(775) 468-0230
Fax: (775) 468-0237
http://www.wsdp.org