Seri honored as 'Pillars of the World'

Posted by Brenda Norrell - October 27, 2012 at 12:27 am

Indigenous in Sonora, Mexico, struggle to maintain culture and language, while battling mining, dams, water theft and drug trafficking

By Brenda Norrell

Photos by Brenda Norrell: Seri honored Friday; Guarijio facing relocation from a dam, with their baskets.

BE' CHUK' (HERMOSILLO, Sonora, Mexico ) -- Today, Amacia Astorga and Adolfo Burgos, Comca'ac (Seri) were honored as Pillars of the World during the Second Reunion of the Spiritual Guides of the Region.

The discussions center on the spiritual well being of Sonora, including water, land, medicines, and all that is part of the culture, said Sonoran Studies Professor Alejandro Aguilar Zeleny.

The issues confronting Indigenous in Sonora  include water diversion of Rio Yaqui; a dam project that will relocate the Guarijio; drug trafficking impacting Los Pimas; gold mining and mega agricultural development in the O'odham ceremonial community of Quitovac; and tourism development along the sea coast of the Comcaac (Seri) of the Gulf of California.

 The Traditional O'odham government supported the Guarijio fighting a dam and released the following resolution of support.

Cu:Wi I-Gersk, Sonora, Mexico -- The Traditional O’odham Leaders of Sonora, Mexico are again astounded that the Mexican Government at this time of technological advancement has not acquired the basic principles of honesty and civilized decency in existence with the natural world. As within our region time and time again development is being permitted without respect or proper consultation to the local population. Development moves forward without transparent compliance to the cultural, environmental and biological statutes enacted by the government of Mexico.

The Traditional O’odham Leaders of Sonora, Mexico represent the O’odham communities of northern Sonora, Mexico, and are recognized as the official representatives sanctioned by the O’odham community members, and recognized by the State and Federal government of Mexico.
Having discussed the impacts that the proposed LOS PILARES / BICENTENARIO dam project on the upper River Mayo in southeast Sonora state, northwest Mexico the Traditional O’odham Leaders of Sonora support the objections of the Guarijio:

The Guarijio have not been properly informed or afforded proper consultation with respect to transparent information regarding detailed project plans of the Los Pilares / Bicentenario dam project on the upper River Mayo in southeast Sonora State and the Guarijio have not been properly informed or afforded proper consultation of studies outlining negative impacts that will interrupt their livelihood. 

Read entire resolution http://bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/traditional-oodham-leaders-support.html

Live blog and video clips at www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

For permission to repost in full brendanorrell@gmail.com

More coverage by Brenda Norrell of this week's Reunion of Spiritual Guides in Sonora and Comca’ac (Seri)

Video interview: O’odham Ofelia Rivas on Comca’ac (Seri) land, at the sea

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-oodham-ofelia-rivas-on-comcaac.html

Sonora’s Indigenous unite to protect Mother Earth

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/sonoras-indigenous-unite-to-protect.html

Photo Comca’ac (Seri) reclaim ancestral land near Kino Bay, Sonora

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/photo-comcaac-seri-reclaim-ancestral.html

Video interview Guarijios battle dam and relocation in Sonora, Mexico

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-interview-guarijios-battle-dam.html

Photos of today's Indigenous Gathering of Spiritual Guides in Sonora
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/photos-sonoran-indigenous-spiritual.html

Yaqui battle theft of Rio Yaqui water
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/yaqui-battle-corporate-greed-to-defend.html

Traditional O'odham leaders support Guarijio fighting dam
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/traditional-oodham-leaders-support.html

 

 

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About Brenda Norrell

Brenda Norrell has been a news reporter in Indian country for 31 years. She is publisher of Censored News, focusing on Indigenous Peoples, human rights and the US border. Now censored by the mainstream media, she previously was a staff reporter at numerous American Indian newspapers and a stringer for AP, USA Today and others. She lived on the Navajo Nation for 18 years, and then traveled with the Zapatistas. She covered the climate summits in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and Cancun, Mexico, in 2010.

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
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About Brenda Norrell

Personal Website
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Biography

Brenda Norrell has been a news reporter in Indian country for 31 years. She is publisher of Censored News, focusing on Indigenous Peoples, human rights and the US border. Now censored by the mainstream media, she previously was a staff reporter at numerous American Indian newspapers and a stringer for AP, USA Today and others. She lived on the Navajo Nation for 18 years, and then traveled with the Zapatistas. She covered the climate summits in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and Cancun, Mexico, in 2010.