On March 29, Traditional O’odham leaders and International Supporters gathered in the small village of Quitovac in Sonora, Mexico, to organize against a toxic waste dump that threatens one of the O’odham’s most sacred Ceremonial sites.

“The gathering in Quitovac represented yet another chapter in the fight to stop the building of the toxic dump proposed to be built by the Mexican company CEGIR,” wrote the O’odham Solidarity Project shortly after the gathering came to a close.

“Since early in 2006 the traditional O’odham residing in the occupied territories of Northern Mexico …

This message comes from the Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment and Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice:

On June 20, 2007 the Gila River Indian Community Tribal Council voted unanimously 14-0 to reject signing the draft US EPA permit that would have allowed Romic to keep operating their hazardous waste facility on tribal lands. The vote by the tribal council means that by law the US EPA must deny the permit, although EPA is dragging its feet.

The Bad News and Why You Must Take Immediate Action: A giant …

Romic “Environmental” Technologies Corporation, has for years been running a waste management facility at Gila River (O’odtham Land). Leasing land from the Tribal Council, Romic had been trying to obtain a full permit for 18 years, unsuccessfully.

Throughout this time, Romic developed for itself an extensive history of legal violations and repeatedly put people’s lives in danger—thanks no less to a disturbing ‘care-free’ attitude they held (which I must say , seems to be an industry standard. see above link).

Nevertheless, the Gila River Tribal Council proved yesterday that they …

From Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment (GRACE), via bsnorrell.blogspot.com - A toxic waste treatment facility called Romic Southwest sits in the Gila River Indian Community next to Chandler [in Arizona] .

The U.S. EPA refuses to fine this company despite serious and repeat violations and the people who live and work in the community have little means to do anything about it. That is why [on March 24] dozens of people came out to demand the toxic waste facility be shut down .

People lined …

Tthe following is (presumably from the end of October) by Brenda Norrell, UN Observer and International Reporter

MAGDALENA, SONORA, Mexico – Subcomandante Marcos was welcomed as a hero of the indigenous rights movement, as Tohono O’odham, Mayo, Navajo and other indigenous told of the oppression that threatens their survival.

During the northern Indian borderlands tour of the Other Campaign, Marcos listened as Tohono O’odham opposed encroachment on their lands in Mexico, the Bush administration’s planned border wall which is threatening the survival of their ceremonies and a proposed hazardous waste dump and the cancer it would bring.

O’odham in Mexico Lt. Gov. …

By Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos
The Other Mexico
October 26, 2006

Bueno, Compañeras and Compañeros:

First we just want to thank the Monroy family, who is receiving the Sixth Commission and the Karavana’s compañeros, who are giving us lodging here, in… Rancho el Peñasco is it called? Thank you Compañeros and Compañeras. And thank you to all of you who have endured the six hours that we have been here, and I hope you have a little patience for what I am going to say.

We especially want to thank the traditional O’odham authorities. Don José, Doña Ofelia – I don’t see …

By Brenda Norrell - SAN XAVIER DISTRICT, TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION, Ariz. — Indigenous at the Border Summit of the Americas opposed a border fence that will separate Indian communities in their ancestral territories and contribute to the Bush administration’s plan for corporate profiteering.

Without compromise, Indigenous called for a halt to the militarization, oppression and psychological terrorism created by the military industrial complex along the US/Mexico border.

Mohawks from the northern border united with Tohono O’odham from the southern border and demanded a halt to the militarization of their lands by the US Border Patrol, National Guard and federal agents.

Mohawk Mark Maracle, …