On Thursday, September 14th, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in a legal battle that, many believe, could decide the future of American Indian religious freedom and the ecological integrity of the San Francisco Peaks. The mountain in question is located in Northern Arizona, and is held sacred by some 13 Native American nations. Tribes and environmental groups have united to halt development plans to expand the current Ski Resort and to use treated sewage effluent to make artificial snow on the sacred Peaks.

A coalition of tribes and environmental groups has filed lawsuits against the Coconino Forest Service, which leases the public land to the Snowbowl, to stop the proposed development. Plaintiffs represented in the case are; the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the Yavapai-Apache Tribe, the Havasupai Tribe, the Hualapai Tribe, the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Flagstaff Activist Network, Rex Tilousi, Dianna Uqualla and other tribal individuals. Read more

Several events were held in San Francisco on the 13th and 14th. Video and Audio | (Full-color poster) On Wednesday, September 13th, a ceremonial gathering and traditional welcoming of a caravan from Flagstaff, AZ was held at Yerba Buena Park (there was also a vigil in Flagstaff that day). That evening, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, there was a free evening dinner reception and discussion at the American Indian Friendship House in San Francisco. On Thursday, September 14th, there was a 6am Morning Prayer Vigil at Dolores Park, followed by a march to the 9th Circuit Courthouse, and a vigil outside of the proceedings. At 12pm, there was a press conference outside of the courthouse, at 95 Seventh Street.

Find out more about this issue and the Save the Peaks Coalition on the Save the Peaks website.