Musicians and activists on February 3rd Rumble on the Mountaina benefit concert held at the Orpheum Theater to raise awareness of the mining threats facing indigenous communities near the Grand Canyon.
Rumble on the Mountain began in 2014 as a response to Arizona Snowbowl's use of recycled water to make snow on the mountain, which is considered sacred by more than 13 tribes. Hopi musician and event organizer Ed Kaboti named the benefit after the earthquake that struck Flagstaff four days after the Snow Bowl opened in December 2014.
“The first show was a shout out to the mountains,” Kaboti said. “The first show was education about reclaimed water, the cultural perspective, the scientific perspective…this was the focus of the show as well as the music. I felt like this program evolved into the native voices of the highlands. Masu.”
Kaboti said the focus of Rumble on the Mountain has changed over the past 10 years. Initially focused on the Snowbowl, organizers expanded the scope to include indigenous and environmental issues in the Colorado Plateau region.
The 10th Rumble centered on Pinyon Plain Mine, formerly the Canyon uranium mine. On January 8, Pinyon Plains extracted uranium ore for the first time seven miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Construction of the mine began in 1986, but was not fully completed until 2022.
my Production began in January rear Increase in international demand Regarding nuclear energy, 28th place United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28). However, the mining process has raised concerns from nearby tribes, particularly the Havasupai, about negative health effects and environmental damage.
In addition to Flagstaff-based 10 Rumbles, Kaboti rumble on the rim Located near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. rumble on the mesa At the Ramble in the Hills of Bluff, Utah and Washington, D.C.
Kaboti said the goal of the event has always been “edutainment,” a combination of education and entertainment. Rumble brought awareness to Indigenous peoples while providing music and dance.
The evening began with an acoustic performance by Kaboti, who was joined by violinist and NAU junior Kylie Jim.The gym is Diné received statewide recognition after performing . performance Singing the national anthem at a Phoenix Suns game in November.
Cavotier introduced the Havasupai delegation led by Deanna Sue Whitedub Uquala and Carletta Tirussi. Uquala and Tilusi have been on the front lines of the fight against uranium mining near the Grand Canyon for decades.
Their argument is that Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni — Ancestral Footprints at Grand Canyon National Monument This led to the presidential designation in August to protect approximately 1 million people. Acres of federal land surrounding the Grand Canyon. A Havasupai delegation delivered opening remarks when President Joe Biden visited Arizona to sign the monument designation.
The monument will prevent new uranium mines from being built in the Grand Canyon's north and south preserves, but will allow mining from existing sites. This includes the Pinyon Plain, which has claims dating back to B.C. Mining Act 1872.
Before performing a protest song and dance, the delegation discussed: negative impact The mine will be mined by the Havasupai people, who live within the Grand Canyon and use the Colorado River as their water source.
Since then, Havasupai report The U.S. Geological Survey is working on potential pathways of radiation exposure from mine operations.
Includes multiple environmental organizations wild arizona, grand canyon trust and Hole no!, hosted the event. The latter organization is an Indigenous-led advocacy group that has been involved with Rumble since 2017.
Hole no!Co-founder Leona Morgan says mining has historically been settler colonialism.
“Mining was a tool of manifest destiny,” Morgan said. “In order to expand the country, mining claims were the process of taking ownership of land, essentially legitimizing the death of our land. Especially in the case of uranium, a radioactive element. There are also health effects associated with uranium extraction and processing.”
Morgan said the main concern is long-term genetic issues. effect Uranium-contaminated water can affect future generations.
“In all the different parts of the nuclear fuel chain, from uranium mining to milling to the waste that follows, much of the pollution is happening in the environmental justice community,” Morgan said.
A table near the entrance to the Orpheum contained brochures, stickers and petition information from event sponsors. Wild Arizona representatives encouraged participants to sign. petition They appealed to Governor Katie Hobbs to shut down the mine.
Other tables offered art and merchandise created by Summit Dub Squad band B-Dub the Artist. Ta Yorty's as a raffle prize.
grammy award winner Radmila Cody sang traditional dinnerThey performed songs accompanied by drums and connected their meaning to the theme of the event. Before playing,4 essential elements” Cody thanked the organizers and participants.
“To stand up is to say no, to say no, to defend our divine mother, to defend our divine father, to defend our sacred atmosphere. , our sacred elements, and our non-human relatives. For the future of our children,” Cody said.
Cody grew up near Grand Falls on the Navajo Nation and raised livestock with his grandmother, who he said taught him the importance of sustainability.
In between songs, she emphasized the usefulness of music and performance as a form of advocacy.
“There's so much we can learn through music, through art, through what's being expressed today,” Cody said. “As we perform today, we will share our message and share what is in our hearts. Think about what it means to be a good relative.”
Sage Bond, Diné metal singer carnegie hall Last March, we received a powerfully sung, politically charged rock song. Bond later joined Kabotee's reggae rock band, the Ta Yorties, and sang “''.Genocide'' criticized the government's treatment of indigenous peoples.
Kaboti emphasized that Rumble aims to uplift indigenous peoples as a collection of individual cultures, rather than as a monolith.
“It's important for people in Flagstaff to realize that they don't have Native Americans around them,” Kaboti said. “They’re all around the Apaches. Diné, Hopi, Zuni, Havasupai, Hualapai, Yavapai, and Paiute. we are not the same. We have very different languages and cultures. You're dealing with 13 self-governing First Nations. ”
Kaboti said a key problem with events and organizations that center on indigenous struggles is that non-indigenous people are appointing themselves spokespeople for a culture to which they do not belong. Kaboti allays that concern by featuring a variety of indigenous activists and performers.
Rumble on the Mountain is an annual event typically held at NAU's Orpheum Theater or Native American Cultural Center. For more information, please visit Ta Yorty's Social media.
