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Ward Valley Victory Commemoration Saturday, February 15, 2003 10 a.m. Ward Valley, California Celebrate the fifth anniversary of the 113 day occupation that stopped the proposed nuclear waste dump! Sponsored by the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and Colorado River Native Nations Alliance. All people who care about environmental justice, Indigenous rights and protecting sacred sites, the Colorado River and the beautiful desert are invited! See Also:
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113 Day Occupation Saves Ward Valley! On February 12, 1998, the five Tribes of the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance and the Save Ward Valley Coalition began an occupation of "Ground Zero" at Ward Valley, the site of a proposed nuclear waste dump. The State of California and the nuclear industry had hoped to build a nuclear waste dump at Ward Valley on land that is profoundly sacred to the area's Indigenous peoples. Long-lasting and highly radioactive waste would have been dumped in unlined dirt trenches above an aquifer with numerous potential pathways to the Colorado River. Ward Valley is also critical habitat for the threatened desert tortoise. At noon on February 12, 1998, just twelve hours before a federal order for the tribes and coalition members to vacate Ward Valley was to go into effect, the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance and the rest of the Save Ward Valley Coalition peacefully took over Ward Valley - defying the federal order. The federal police planned to clear the area of protesters to allow test drilling for the dump - drilling that would have desecrated the sacred land at Ward Valley. The tribes and supporters announced we would defy the federal order, and the tribes announced they would begin ceremonies at the site. The tribes and supporters then barricaded the road into Ward Valley as tribal spiritual leaders began ongoing religious ceremonies to protect the land and river from the nuclear threat. With armed federal police poised to move in, the occupation refused to move despite threats of arrest and intense storms. Indian Elders, spiritual leaders, tribal officials and children - joined by supporters - were on the front line to stop the police from entering Ward Valley. Together we protected Ward Valley day and night to defend it against a police assault and desecration. The occupation lasted for 113 days until the federal government dropped their eviction notice and cancelled the test drilling planned for the proposed dump site. The occupation directly led to the ultimate victory that saved Ward Valley! Greenaction was honored to be at Ward Valley with the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance and all the supporters in this historic struggle and victory! |