PUEBLO INDIANS - ALLIES IN THE WAR

.

.

The Coalition of Six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos

is another of the many "PROTESTANTS" in the legal

battle against the WATER GRAB.  The Pueblos have

"senior" water rights, also called "prior and paramount"

water rights, on Rio Grande water.  Since the San Augustin

Plains aquifer has subterranean connections to both the

Rio Grande as well as the Gila River, the tribes are taking

the WATER GRAB very, very seriously.

The Pueblos of Acoma and Zuni are now

 joined in as "PROTESTANTS" as well.

.

.

Historically of course,

 the Pueblo Indians have a great deal

of experience with people trying to rob or

 cheat them out of what is theirs. 

 They are a good ally to have.

.

The sepia tone photos were taken early in the 20th century

 by Edward S. Curtis, when he traveled through

 the New Mexico pueblos,

working on his monumental project

THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 For the pueblos, the river is more than

 the source of water rights.
It is considered sacred and plays a central role in spiritual life.
    "Moving water and clean water are central to some

 of the fundamentals of our view of the world and our

 connection to our deities," said Les Ramirez, lawyer for

Santa Ana Pueblo. "We don't just drink it or use it for crops,

 we immerse ourselves in it and are immersed by it."
 .

.  
Stephine Poston, a spokeswoman for Sandia Pueblo,

 said tribes generally don't talk about how they use the river

 in cultural ways.
    But she said, "The pueblo has extremely high regard for

 the river, the land, the resources.

 We view that the Rio Grande is a life-giver."

.

.

.

. 

.

.

.

.

 The Coalition of Six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos also is

 worried about water depletions "caused by the ever-increasing

 demand for, and use of, water to meet the rapid growth which

 has taken place in the basin over the past 50 years,"

 Roy Montoya of Santa Ana told a group meeting

on water issues recently.
    "The state and its subdivisions have ignored pueblo water

 rights in granting new water use permits and

 encouraging growth.

  This century has seen water replace land as the

 Indian asset most craved by non-Indians."

.

. 

STOP THE WATER GRAB!

"He who is present at a wrongdoing

And lifts not a hand to prevent it,

Is as guilty as the wrongdoers."

ESTAMAZA (Iron Eyes) - Omaha Tribe

 1818-1888

.

.

.

Note - When you call the number above you reach the

 Governor's "Constituent Services" office -

 very easygoing, nice folks who are there to

 simply answer the phone lines

 and make note of your opinion on a state

 issue of importance.

The Governor, you can be sure, hears about

 what issue is getting traffic volume -

the number of folks calling in.

This is how a politician can get not just

reelected - but RESPECTED, across

the state.

If they have some smarts, and some kind

of genuine love for their people, and this

incredible land that we live in,

then maybe they'll act.

Maybe they'll stand up.

.

Ask the Governor to make her position clear.

Ask her to STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!

Please call, if you haven't already.

E-mail your legislator.  Write a letter to

the editor of your local paper. 

 Do something.  Stand Up!

Thanks!

.

.

.