Republican racists leaders want piestewa peak back to squaw peak.

[Gache]

PHOENIX - Tribal leaders urged Arizona legislators Tuesday to stand by a decision that renamed a Phoenix mountain after Lori Piestewa, a Hopi who was the first servicewoman killed in combat in Iraq (news - web sites).



"If the Legislature rolls back the Piestewa Peak name, there will be a polarization of the state and tribal relationship such as has not been seen since territorial days," Hopi Tribe Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr. said.


Rep. Phil Hanson, a Republican, is leading a drive to restore the peak's original name, which was changed at the urging of Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano.


A state panel last year renamed Squaw Peak after Piestewa, a resident of Tuba City who was fatally wounded when her Army unit was ambushed in Iraq in March.


A bill introduced by Hanson and 38 other Republican lawmakers would have legislative leaders, rather than the governor, appoint a majority of the members to the panel. Hanson has said he would want a newly constituted board to return the peak's original name.


"This should have been a nonpolitical decision, and it was made a total political decision," Hanson told The Arizona Republic.


He did not immediately return a call for comment Tuesday.


Napolitano said recently it was appropriate to rename Squaw Peak after Piestewa while using other means to honor other Arizonans killed in the war with Iraq and subsequent fighting.

[Gache]

man this just burns me up.

[Homalosa]

Don't know what's worse. The notion of reverting back or that they dare to say this as we near the anniversary of Lori's death.

[injunboy]

the state legislature in arizona had native american day this past wednesday or tuesday. the nice part happened when a handful of legislatures showed up..... according to our prez it was like the tribes gathered to talk to themselves. just wonderful huh..? they invited all these tribes and then turned their backs by not showing up... Pft!!!

[uniquek3]

this gets me so mad,,,thats a digrace,,i just found out this morning my friend sent me an email,,i'll post here if you'll like

:Yell

[uniquek3]

PHOENIX - Arizona Indian leaders warned Arizona legislators from the
floor of the House of Representatives that changing the name of
Piestewa Peak back to Squaw Peak would cripple tribal and state
relationships, returning them to conditions of territorial days.

"The term is degrading and racist," said Fort Mojave Chairperson Nora
McDowell, among Arizona Indian leaders speaking on Indian Nations and
Tribes Legislative Day.

McDowell refused to even say the word in her address to the state
legislature.

"I'm not going to say it because it is offensive to us as Native
American women," said McDowell, president of the Intertribal Council
of Arizona.

With a united voice, tribal leaders said Hopi Pvt. Lori Piestewa of
Tuba City killed in Iraq, represents all Arizonans fighting for this
country.

Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr., said the state legislature has
already chosen to honor Piestewa as the first American Indian woman
killed in action.

"Damaging and offensive," is how Taylor described the word "squaw."

"Such action does not speak well for Arizona." He said if the name is
reversed it would affect future successes between the tribes and the
state, resulting in a fractured relationship that the state and
tribes have not seen since territorial days. We cannot afford this
step backward," he told the state legislature.

Rep. Jack Jackson Jr., D-Window Rock, described the bill he has
presented, H.B. 2500, which prohibits places in Arizona from being
named "Squaw." This includes geographic features, landmark historical
sites, highways and publicly-funded facilities. Any place currently
named Squaw would have to be changed by 2007.

Earlier, Rep. Phil Hanson, R-Peoria, and 38 other legislators
presented a bill which would revamp the board that changed Squaw Peak
and Squaw Parkway to Piestewa Peak and Piestewa Parkway.

If Hanson's bill, H.B. 2007, passes, the legislature instead of the
governor would make most appointments to the board and most state
employees would be unable to serve. Currently, one American Indian
board member serves on the board and is employed by the Arizona State
Museum.

Navajo President Joe Shirley spoke against renaming Piestewa Peak.

"Native Americans from throughout the state of Arizona felt very
proud when they decided to make the change from Squaw Peak to
Piestewa Peak.

"It stands for something. It makes the Native American citizenry
proud." Shirley said Navajos have fought for this state and country.

"We have gone to battle for its sovereignty, its greatness. That is
what it signifies," he said. "Please continue to listen to us and
keep the name of Piestewa Peak."

Meanwhile, speaking of the Hopi Tribe's economic struggle, Taylor
told the legislature that the issue of taxation must be addressed as
well as the water crisis.

Currently, the State of Arizona receives $15 million a year from
Peabody Coal's two mines on Black Mesa in northern Arizona. It is
more than the Hopi Tribe receives from Peabody for the sale of its
coal based on the lease.

With Hopi springs drying up, Taylor also pressed the state to assist
in identifying an alternative water source for Peabody Coal, which
uses N-aquifer water on Black Mesa to slurry coal to Nevada for
electricity production. An alternative water supply must be found
before 2005, he said.

That is the date set by the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation for
Peabody to halt the use of the N-aquifer water or cease operating
mines on the tribes' lands, he said.

Speaking to the legislature, Tohono O'odham Chairperson Vivian Juan-
Saunders said gaming is allowing her tribe in southern Arizona to
become self-sufficient. "Tribes have become major economic engines
for the economy."

The Tohono O'odham Nation is now the 10th largest employer in its
region. Yet, she said, Tohono O'odham still have 40 percent
unemployment and many O'odham live in substandard housing without
running water and electricity.

Juan-Saunders said the tribe's funds are being drained by protecting
the border of the United States and Mexico and repairing Highway 86,
the major highway that runs east and west through Tohono O'odham land.

Since the attack of Sept. 11, the United States has tightened
security at ports of entry along the international border. It has
created a funnel effect, with 1,500 immigrants daily entering the
United States through Tohono O'odham land. The funnel effect has also
increased the threat and number of drug traffickers.

"Our gaming dollars should be used to address poverty and
unemployment."

Further, she said the international border dissects Tohono O'odham
lands. The 1,700 O'odham living across the border in Mexico are
suffering because it is more difficult now for them to come across
for health care with tightened security.

Senate President Ken Bennett extended a warm welcome to tribal
leaders, councilmen and tribal members who packed the House of
Representatives for the joint session with tribes, followed by Indian
taco lunches on the lawn and joint committee meetings with tribal
leaders.

Bennett said he grew up with Yavapai at Prescott and neither he nor
his friends made distinctions. "We just thought of each other as
friends."

Speaking to legislators, he said, "Everything we do should be done
under the auspices of the great word `neighbor.' We greet our
neighbors at the front door, not at the back door."

Addressing tribal leaders, he said, "Thank you for being here today
to move that effort forward."

Rep. Sylvia Laughter, I-Kayenta, said she has presented six bills,
seeking health care reform and funds for Indian senior centers,
education opportunities for children in juvenile detention centers
and highways in rural areas of Indian lands.

Taylor implored lawmakers to change state laws requiring autopsies,
which conflicts with the Hopi custom of burying their dead within 24
hours. Further, Hopi tradition requires that all organs be intact for
the journey.

While Arizona landscapes on Indian lands are beautiful, Taylor
pointed out that Hopi have no gaming revenues and are in need of
jobs. "Many of our reservations lack the raw materials of industry.

"Tribal dollars need to circulate several times on the reservation
before going off."

Taylor also urged swinging wide the doors of opportunities for
education for Hopi youths and improving the road conditions of Route
60 which endangers school children in northern Arizona.

Rep. Jackson said he is working toward an executive order for a
government-to-government relationship between tribes and the state.
He praised Gov. Janet Napolitano for appointing 14 American Indians
to boards and commissions.

Gov. Napolitano has also voiced support for the naming of Piestewa
Peak.

[DANCINGEAGLE]

Guess I'll be changing my political party now. I've been a hard nosed Republican for years, from being in the military. But, it looks like I may have to rethink everything. This has really made me upset now :( .

[Blackbear]

Sounds more like bullying than it does an issue don't it?

Why should it be changed back to it's old name when they had been discussing for years what to change it to.. now it has a name that carries with it alot of love and respect and because someone felt left out of the decision they want it changed back? Ok at least that is how it sounds to me...

[traci_m]

What a bunch of bullshyt. What kind of a moron would advocate changing the name--much less changing it BACK to that horribly degrading word! Someone needs to clue this guy in to what he's saying. What a jackass.

How the hell do these people get in office???? :Yell

And that Jessica Lynch "person" gets lost and had to get her *** rescued and gets ALL KINDS of attention and honors for it. And someone has laid down her life for her country and her people and jerks like this have to squabble over it. Man, like Gache said, this does burn me up as well.

[Roobz]

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