"Is anyone listening?" の集い 昨年4月に亡くなったビッグマウンテン・ディネ主権国の代表であり、長年、精神的な支柱の一人であり続けた伝統派長老女性、ロバータ・ブラックゴートの精神を受け継ごう、という集いが開かれました。 |
"Is anyone listening?" と題されたコンサート/集いがフラッグスタッフのある高校で開かれました。集いは、今は亡き伝統派の長老の甥にあたるジョーンズ・ベナリーの祈りの言葉でスタートしました。ベナリーはとうもろこしの様々な色の意味について、そしてそれが偉大なる聖霊からの贈り物であることについてを語りました。 "Is anyone listening?" とは、「私の言葉に耳を傾ける者はいるのでしょうか?」という意味で、ロバータ・ブラックゴートが亡くなるまで、いつもそのスピーチの最後に繰り返してきた言葉です。集いは(息子である)ダニー・ブラックゴートと彼の妹、シーラとヴィチの三人によって主催されました。ダニーはそのスピーチで、近頃、地域の環境や人権運動の勢いが落ちており、既存のグループがばらばらに存在し、互いにコミュニケーションが薄れているのではないかと言いました。そこで全てのグループや個人を一カ所に集めるための集いが必要だと感じたといいます。彼の母親もまた、全ての人と協力することを信じて努力してきた女性です。ブラックゴートは、「私はただ単に母の人生と功績をたたえるための集いとコンサートを開くのではなく、この集いで様々なグループが集まり、情報交換をし、ふたたびつながり始めるきっかけになるではないかと感じました」と語りました。 長年ネイティブの抵抗運動をひっぱってきた、ロバート・ナカイディネ、ノーマン・ブラウン、ヘーゼル・ジェームスも、ビッグ・マウンテンとブラック・メサの抵抗運動への支持を示すために参加していました。アラバマ州モンゴメリーで1960年代に起きた公民権運動の写真で知られる著名な写真家、ダン・ブドニックもまたロバータとディネ・ホピの抵抗運動を讃えるためにフラッグスタッフまでかけつけてきてくれました。また、Black Mesa Water Coalition、 Dineh Biziil、Save the Peaks!、Black Mesa Indigenous Support、Cameron/Rio Puerco Uranium Victims Advocacy、 HPL/NPL Stop the Peabody Pumping of the N-Aquiferといった先住民による環境団体が一同に集まり、ワークショップやパネル・ディスカッションを行いました。すべての団体が、この集いは、ネットワークを強化し、多国籍企業や部族政府に圧力をかけるための戦略的なプロセスについての議論を固めるための実りの多い機会であったと言っています。 バヒ・キャダニー
Flagstaff, AZ (UAP) The Concert and Gathering at a high School auditorium began with an invocation by Jones Benally, a nephew to the late traditional elder leader. He explained the meaning of the colours of the corn and how they are a gift from the Great Spirit. The Great Spirits in the beginning had provided to the ancient Dineh the colours of corn for not only as food, but for it to represent culture and religion. The instructions to the Dineh were to nourish the variety of corn as they would their culture in order to maintain balance on Earth and in Sky for generations to come. The event was titled, "Is Anyone Listening?" a quote that Roberta continuously repeated after her speeches before she passed on. Danny Blackgoat along with his sisters, Sheila and Vici, coordinated and organized this gathering. Danny stated that he had noticed lately "The regions environmental and human rights activism has been too quiet and that existing groups seemed very scattered and all not communicating. So, he thought that some kind of event was needed to try and bring all parties together, and that his mother's efforts and beliefs were to work with everyone. 紵nstead of just having a Gathering and Concert to honor my mother's life and work, maybe, this can facilitate an opportunity for the various groups to come together and exchange information and reestablish contact, Blackgoat stated. Presenters throughout the gathering spoke of how Roberta Blackgoat was an inspiration with her great wisdom, her simple mannerism and pleasant personality. Former Vice Presidential candidate for the Green Party, Winona LaDuke, decided that Roberta was one strong, indigenous woman leader to honor. And that is why she took the time out of her other important schedules to travel from Minnesota and be in solidarity with Dineh and Hopi activist in the Spirit of Roberta Blackgoat. Long time veterans of native resistance like Robert Nakaidineh, Norman Brown, and Hazel James were on hand to show support for the Big Mountain and Black Mesa struggle. Renowned photographer, Dan Budnik (Montgemry Alabama Civil Rights Marches, 1960s) had to also travel to Flagstaff to honor Roberta and the Dineh/Hopi struggle. Indigenous environmental groups like the Black Mesa Water Coalition, Dineh Biziil, native group for Save the Peaks!, Black Mesa Indigenous Support, Cameron/Rio Puerco Uranium Victims Advocacy, and "HPL/NPL" Stop the Peabody Pumping of the N-Aquifer group were all present for workshops and panel discussions. All these groups found this event to be a productive opportunity to solidify the discussion of networking and to focus on a more strategic process in keeping pressure on multinational corporations and tribal governments. The concert/gathering concluded with Dineh musicians singing songs of revolution as a unity-round dance was performed which formed into a circle. Incense from a small bundle of white sage was passed around as a Dineh-Blessing Way Chant was sung. Everyone shook hands and long hugs with good-byes were exchanged. Danny Blackgoat asked if this should be done again, and everyone approved for another similar gathering to bring activist groups and traditional leaders together in the near future. By Bahe Y. Katenay |