More than 25 Tribal Leaders, from four states, will gather in Las Vegas to issue a joint statement asking the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to deny the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) proposed groundwater pipeline project application.
Imagine your life without water. Tribes throughout the West may not have to imagine it much longer – if the ill-advised SNWA’s pipeline project is approved it will become their reality.
Substantial scientific information shows the SNWA’s proposed pipeline project would catastrophically disrupt the hydrological and ecological systems of tribal aboriginal lands, resulting in wide ranging groundwater problems that would trigger profound negative impacts on the environmental, economic, cultural and spiritual aspects of the tribal way of life.
The federal government has abandoned tribal concerns in the pipeline decision-making process. The federal government's trust responsibility to Indian tribes mandates that a thorough government-to-government consultation occur as part of any decision making process that impacts tribal interests. This consultation has not occurred for the SNWA pipeline project.
The tribes were, and continue to be, left alone to defend their water and cultural resources.
Tribal Leaders will visually demonstrate the appalling lack of inclusion by the federal government regarding the SNWA’s groundwater pipeline process. Leaders from several tribes will be available to discuss how the project will affect their tribes, lands and future.
WHO:
Tribal Leaders from:
Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation, California
Colorado River Indian Tribes of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, Arizona & California
Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Nevada & Utah
Death Valley Timbi-Sha Shoshone Band of California
Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation, Nevada
Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada
Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Arizona, California & Nevada
Hualapai Indian Tribe of the Hualapai Indian Reservation, Arizona
Kaibab Band of the Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona
Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians of the Las Vegas Indian Colony, Nevada
Moapa Band of Paiute Indians of the Moapa River Indian Reservation, Nevada
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (consisting of Cedar City Band of Paiutes, Kanosh Band of Paiutes, Koosharem Band of Paiutes, Indian Peaks Band of Paiutes, and Shivwits Band of Paiutes)
Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada
Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada (consisting of the Battle Mountain Band; Elko Band; South Fork Band; and Wells Band)
Yomba Shoshone Tribe of the Yomba Reservation, Nevada
Additional Tribes
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
12:30 p.m.
WHERE:
The Springs Preserve
Desert Living Center Conference Room
333 South Valley View Blvd
Las Vegas, Nevada
(on Valley View between U.S. 95/I-515 and Alta Drive)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 22, 2012
Contact: Marla Kennedy, 801-541-3941
http://www.greatbasinwater.net/news/news_display.php?id=640
http://www.goshutewater.org/
Original: Tribal Leaders gather in Las Vegas to oppose SNWA water pipeline