PUEBLO INDIANS - ALLIES IN THE WAR

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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.

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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.

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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.

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 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."
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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."

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 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."

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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

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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.

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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!

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CASE HEADED TO COURT OF APPEALS

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The WATER GRAB is headed to the

New Mexico Court of Appeals.  Three justices
 hear Appelate cases - three of those folks above.

Who you get is probably luck of the draw.

The case could easily take a year before it

actually goes to court - assuming the court doesn't
 refuse to hear it - which happens,

according to the New Mexico Environmental

Law Center, who represents the Good Guys.

Lots and lots of paperwork goes on now.
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This is the same application,
with vague or non-existent answers
about a number of things, such as
what the water specifically is to be used for,
and where it's going to be utilized,
(a seven county region is mentioned). 

This app has been floated through
the decision process twice so far,
turned down, and now we have Round 3.

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The Modena Organization is "buying time"
 it looks like - dragging the mess onward,
 which ends up costing everyone,
 and is probably part of a strategy
to wear down the opposition,
 and keep the issue in a "holding pattern." 
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Perhaps they figure that either eventually
 they'll somehow, some way, get approval,
 or, maybe interest someone in 
buying them out.  Who?  What?
Big-dollar environmentalists and a Texas
 ranch operator working together? 
Don't laugh....in Maine the Modena Boys
proposed a nightmare development in a
pristine coastal area,
and it ended up being a timber company
along with some fat-wallet Sierra Club-types
that saved the day.
And they bought off Modena and his "investors,"
 and the problem disappeared.
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  The Italianos got paid what has been called an
 "exorbitant" amount of cash;
and if this whole story is actually as bizarre
 and Soprano-like as it sounds,
 I have no doubt there's a lot of intrigue here.
It seems like a whole new form of EXTORTION.
There's more about the  story of these
Italianos and their "investors" -
 and their scheme in Maine -
 further below on the
TELL THE GUMBA NO AGUA post:
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http://stopthewatergrab.blogspot.com/2013/01/tell-gumba-no-aqua.html.
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 It seems like anything's possible.  Beware.
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COOL WATER
by Bob Nolan
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All day I face the barren waste
 without the taste of water,
Cool water.
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry

and souls that cry for water,
Cool, clear, water.
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The night are cool and I'm a fool

 each stars a pool of water,
Cool water.
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn
 and carry on to water,
Cool, clear, water.
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(Chorus)
Keep a movin' Dan, don't you listen to him Dan,
 he's a devil not a man
and he spreads the burnin' sand with water.
Dan can't you see that big green tree
where the waters runnin' free
and it's waiting there for me and you.
Cool, clear, water.
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The shadows sway and seem to say
tonight we pray for water,
Cool water.
And way up there He'll hear our prayer
 and show us where there's water,
Cool, clear, water.
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Dan's feet are sore he's yearning for
 just one thing more than water,
Cool water.
Like me, I guess, he'd like to rest
where there's no quest for water,
Cool, clear, water.
Cool, clear, water.
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STOP THE WATER GRAB!
"When the well's run dry,
then we know the worth of water."
Benjamin Franklin
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COME DANCE & SEND A SHOUT TO SUSANA!

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COME DANCE FOR A CAUSE!

SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 2, 6:30-12 at

THE GOLDEN SPUR SALOON

US HIGHWAY 60

MAGDALENA, NEW MEXICO

Things will kick in at 6:30 -

when Bernie Romero & Friends will be

playing Spanish and Western (unplugged).

It'll be a time to talk WATER and enjoy some

 free snacks courtesy of The M & M Grill!

At 8 BARTENDER4MAYOR PLAYS!

STAND UP AND DANCE! 

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A BENEFIT FOR THE

SAN AUGUSTIN WATER COALITION!

$10 minimum donation - all proceeds going to

the coalition for their Water War!

 

INFO, MUNCHIES, MORE!

Must be 21

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COME DANCE

AND SEND A SHOUT TO SUSANA!

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There will be laptops available with folks

to help out, so you can send a message about the issue -
 what you think - directly to

Governor Susana Martinez's office.

If you can't make the dance but would

like to send the Governor your thoughts,

here's the link to the simple form from her

office website - you don't have to fill much out -

 only your name is actually required -

 if you want to personalize it with your home address,

 town, e-mail, phone, whatever - it's up to you.

There's a space for you to write your

message near the bottom - you'll see it.

http://www.governor.state.nm.us/Contact_the_Governor.aspx

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Or Call!  The number above is to

Governor Martinez's office, directed to

the "Constituent Services" folks, the ones

who listen and make note of your position -

opinion - wishes - whatever!  Very easy going,

nice folks - no hassle!  Business card size

"fridge magnets" identical to image above
  will be available at the dance.

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We'll begin with Governor Martinez,

and move on to other "powers-that-be"

as time goes by.  These people have a moral

and legal obligation to serve the best interests

of New Mexicans - not foreign investors!

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STOP THE WATER GRAB!
 "The primeval element of "water"
 is not only the embodiment of everything
 that flows, or is capable of change and alive,
but since the dawn of time,
 it has had a divine aura."
From the BRITA.net website

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Update
And here's a wrap-up of how the event played out:
http://goldenspursaloon.com/memories.html
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