1.03807

Mt. Taylor New Mexico

Item is a photograph of Grandfather David of the Hopi Nation talking into a microphone on a stage. The photograph is a snapshot of the man standing on stage by two loudspeakers and several other microphones on stands. There is a Hertz truck parked beside the stage with a person inside it and two people standing behind the stage in the background of the image as well. Also on stage behind Grandfather David is another man who is waiting to speak. These people are taking part in a demonstration that was organized by The American Indian Environmental Council to protest the mining companies that had been destroying the land and the lives of the people who live in New Mexico in the United States.

Taylor, Mount (N.M.)

American Indian Environmental Council

Monongye, David

The American Indian Environmental Council organized a demonstration from April 28th to 30th, 1979 to protest mining companies such as this one which have caused much destruction of land and lives in New Mexico. The protest took place at Mt. Taylor, New Mexico. The event had special significance for the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) who sent staff to attend the protest and listen to what people had to say since it was the mandate of the UBCIC to oppose the development of uranium mines in British Columbia. The protest was very relevant to events happening in British Columbia where mining companies encroaching on B.C. lands was a very real possibility. In fact, concerns about the dangers of mining were heightened in the Spring of 1979 and community hearings were held as part of a Royal Commission into uranium mining. At this time, UBCIC staff were actively gathering information and raising awareness on the issue so that bands in B.C. would be aware of the dangers being faced by the prospect of uranium mining.

1 photograph : b&w acetate negative ; 35 mm

Image and related article appeared on pages 9 to 10 of UBCIC News vol. 2, no. 2 (May 1979), entitled "Uranium Mining: Pitting Jobs Against Life?". Caption on page 10 in UBCIC News reads "Grandfather David, Hopi Nation: Don't let anyone dig anything from this sacred mountain. I heard that they'll be planning another war and if they make war, they're gonna use some of those resources to kill the people. I don't like any of the people to be killed with the things that are digged from under our Mother Earth. We all know that mother cannot kill any of her children, and we are all her children. We must all hold hands together and fight even if other people don't like us to come together. When it comes to lives like this, we should spread our message all over the world so people will hear about it and help us."

Day, Linda (photographer)

Copyright held by Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs

Title transcribed from label on page protector containing contact sheet

Date is between Apr. 29 and 30, 1979.

August 15, 2024