Bearing Witness to Extractivism, Colonialism: Day 4

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Interfaith Power & Light New Mexico & El Paso and Sisters of Mercy of the Americas are co-sponsoring an immersion retreat through some areas of New Mexico to bear witness to the damage #extractivism has inflicted on the people and the land of our state.  Tbe accounts and pictures come courtesy of Heather Scott-Molleda, senior director of communications for Mercy Sisters of the Americas.   Read Accounts for Days 1 and 2 and Day 3

Day 4: Bosque Redondo

The pilgrimage has bought us in the fourth day to a painful place in US history: Bosque Redondo. The US government forced 10,000 Diné (Navajo) and Ndé (Mescalero Apache) to walk hundreds of miles to a concentration camp. The aim was to eradicate the native people. Hundreds died of starvation, disease and exposure. The Ndé eventually escaped. The Diné stayed until they signed a peace treaty allowing them to return to what was left of their sacred lands. The memorial museum here was created as the result of a letter from visiting Diné school children who wanted the true story of the hardship inflicted at Ft Sumner told.

Bearing Witness to Extractivism, Colonialism: Day 3

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Interfaith Power & Light New Mexico & El Paso and Sisters of Mercy of the Americas are co-sponsoring an immersion retreat through some areas of New Mexico to bear witness to the damage #extractivism has inflicted on the people and the land of our state.  Tbe accounts and pictures come courtesy of Heather Scott-Molleda, senior director of communications for Mercy Sisters of the Americas.   Read Accounts for Days 1 and 2

Day 3: A Visit to Navajo and Pueblo Lands

We began our third day of our pilgrimage reflecting on the harm done to the Native people and the Earth by colonialism. But the Navajo and the Pueblo and other indigenous people have not been erased and continue to struggle to protect their land and traditions despite ongoing attempts to strip the resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3: Laguna Pueblo

We spent our third day at the Laguna Pueblo witnessing the sacred dances for their feast day, where young and old participate in the traditions. We also learned from one of the Laguna leaders about the canes given to them by various colonizers to denote their authority as a sovereign people. There has been a lot for the group to process and reflect on during the pilgrimage.

Bearing Witness to Extractivism, Colonialism: Days 1 & 2

/in , , , , /by

Interfaith Power & Light New Mexico & El Paso and Sisters of Mercy of the Americas are co-sponsoring an immersion retreat through some areas of New Mexico to bear witness to the damage #extractivism has inflicted on the people and the land of our state.

The retreat starts on Sept. 17 in the northern part of the state, including Los Alamos and the Four Corners. Pilgrims will eventually make their way to the Permian Basin in Southeat New Mexico, concluding on Sept. 23.

Tbe accounts and pictures come courtesy of Heather Scott-Molleda, senior director of communications for Mercy Sisters of the Americas.

Day 1: We Begin a Pilgrimage

We are beginning our pilgrimage through New Mexico to bear witness to the damage #extractivism has done to the people and the land.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2: Los Alamos and Red Water Pond

As we begin the second day of our pilgrimage through the #sacrificezone of #NewMexico we are grateful for the blessings of Pueblo women elders who joined us at Los Alamos, where the nuclear complex is expanding even as people fight to protect the land and water.

 

 

 

 

 

We closed day 2 of our pilgrimage with a visit to Red Water Pond on Navajo land, which in 1979 suffered the biggest spill of radioactive waste in US history. It was one of the biggest in the world, behind Chernobyl and Fukushima. This was land where their sheep grazed and their children played. Community leader Edith Hood told us they are still waiting for that site and contamination from the closed uranium mines to be cleaned up, while Diné people suffer the health consequences. There is a connection between colonialism and #extractivism
We were very fortunate to receive a Navajo blessing for healing of Mother Earth.