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In the States, Navajo leaders have recently
expressed their unhappiness with developments at Arizona resort
Snowbowl in the San Francisco peaks.
Snow made from treated wastewater
The Forest Service's recent decision to allow the use of treated
wastewater to make snow at the resort amounts to a form of "genocide,"
according to Joe Shirley Jr, the president of the Navajo Nation
says.
"That's our cathedral, that's our church, " Shirley said. The tribe
considers the peaks sacred. "(When someone) puts s**t on you, how
can you talk to your children about pride?" an angry Shirley said
of the tribe's struggles to maintain its identity.
Financial losses due to less snow
Snowbowl wants to be able to make snow to ensure reliable ski and
snowboard seasons and consistent business. Because of the prolonged
drought, the ski area has lost money five of the past 12 seasons.
Snowbowl occupies 1% of the peaks and snowmaking would occur on
less than a third of that. But Shirley said the resort area is part
of the tribe's essence and likened it to his eyes being a small
percentage of his body.
Home of the spirit messengers
"It's like gouging my eyes out.It's still causing irreparable harm",
he said. "The peaks are the home of the Katsinam (spirit messengers)
and the focus of our prayers for rain and snow," he said. "The use
of reclaimed water on such a sacred site can only be described as
sacrilegious."
[Source: The Arizona Republic]
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