Mount Tenabo, Sacred to the Western Shoshone, Violated by Barrick Gold.
This article is by Susan Kingsley and Christina Miller, Co-Founders of the Ethical Metalsmiths. This is one more example of why jewelers and consumers must demand that their gold comes from recycled or fair trade sources. Susan and Christina publish a great newsletter which you can subscribe to at [email protected]. ~ Marc Choyt, Publisher
Mount Tenabo – Photo courtesy of Ethical Metalsmiths
Mount Tenabo is a place in northeastern Nevada that is central to the world view, cultural and spiritual practices of the Western Shoshone. The mountain and valley below have been used by the Shoshone since beginning of time. It is their ancestral homeland and the heart of their religion. Today it is where Western Shoshone people come together for prayer ceremonies, gathering food and medicinal plants, fasting and vision quests.
You would think that the US Government would uphold the rights of Native Americans before it granted mining rights to a foreign company.
That is not the case. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is allowing the world’s largest gold mining company, Barrick Gold to devastate Mount Tenabo, dismissing its religious and cultural values, putting profit above religious freedom.
In addition violating human rights, there are unanswered questions about the mine’s environmental impacts. The 2,000-foot deep open-pit heap leach mine project would cover 6,700 acres and lower the water table by 1600 feet. On January 27th the Western Shoshone and Great Basin Research Watch were denied the injunction they filed against Barrick to halt mining.
As part of Ethical Metalsmiths 2007 ROAD TRIP Christina and Susan visited Crescent Valley and Mount Tenabo. While there, we climbed a nearby mountain and watched thePipeline Mine (a portion of the open pit Cortez Mine ~ editor), in full operation. We observed de-watering, cyanide heap leaching, 250-ton loaders dumping waste rock, vast piles of tailings, blasting and dust, dust, dust. The enormous scale of this kind of mine is impossible to describe.
The Open Pit Cortez Mine – Photo courtesy of of Western Shoshone Defense Project
The next day we met with Julie Fishel of Western Shoshone Defense Project (WSDP) who introduced us to Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone grandmother. They took us to Mount Tenabo and Horse Valley, where the proposed “Cortez Expansion (mine)” is located. We were deeply moved by the experience. This mountain belongs to the Western Shoshone. Human rights are more important than profit. Mining this land for gold, for 15 years, does not justify its destruction forever.
Stay informed on this issue by visiting the Great Basin Resource Watch Action Page and the Western Shoshone Defense Fund.
