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- Zinke Postpones Chaco Fracking
Zinke Postpones Chaco Fracking
“After hearing from tribes, Senators Udall and Heinrich, historic preservation experts and other stakeholders, I’ve decided to defer the sale that was scheduled for later this month,” Zinke said, referring to the state’s Democratic senators, Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich. “I’ve always said there are places where it is appropriate to develop and where it’s not. This area certainly deserves more study.” http://wapo.st/2CYWjlw – Washington Post
Despite the Encouraging News, Chaco Is Still at Risk
We cannot allow our cultural legacy to become islands in a sea of development, with the surrounding landscape and communities little more than sacrifice zones to the administration’s “energy dominance” policy. With tribes still confronting a legacy of chronic poverty and very limited economic opportunity, there are no simple black-and-white answers. As U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., recently said in a speech at the National Congress of American Indians, “the federal government is literally leasing the federal minerals out from underneath tribal lands without meaningful tribal consultation. That is unacceptable.” http://bit.ly/2CZ9O4K – Albuquerque Journal
High Country News Shares the Story of the Growing Resistance to Oil and Gas Drilling on the Navajo Nation
On the warm, pre-monsoon night of July 11, 2016, fire broke out among a cluster of six newly drilled oil wells near the small Navajo community of Nageezi, New Mexico. The residents of nearby homes fled to the highway, where they watched huge curdling balls of orange flame boil up into the vast bowl of dark sky above their corner of the Greater Chaco Region. When someone texted Kendra Pinto, who lives several miles away, she raced to join the frightened spectators and watched, stunned, as the conflagration engulfed all of WPX Energy’s equipment, setting off a series of explosions that shook the earth and sent up thick clouds of burnt hydrocarbons. http://bit.ly/2CWF1pn – HCN
Despite Public Input, and the Betrayal of 5 Native Nations, the Administration’s Shredding of Bears Ears Appears to Have Been a Foregone Conclusion
Even before President Trump officially opened his high-profile review last spring of federal lands protected as national monuments, the Department of Interior was focused on the potential for oil and gas exploration at a protected Utah site, internal agency documents show. The debate started as early as March 2017, when an aide to Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, asked a senior Interior Department official to consider shrinking Bears Ears National Monument in the southeastern corner of the state. Under a longstanding program in Utah, oil and natural gas deposits within the boundaries of the monument could have been used to raise revenue for public schools had the land not been under federal protection. http://nyti.ms/2FUcB2w – New York Times
Hopi Tribe Wins Appeal on the Snowbowl’s Use of Effluent on the San Francisco Peaks
A lawsuit filed by the Native Nations of Flagstaff over a decade ago, regarding the use of reclaimed water at Arizona Snowbowl, has been brought back into the spotlight. A new lawsuit filed by the Hopi Tribe in 2010 against the City of Flagstaff alleges that the selling of reclaimed water to Snowbowl violates the religious uses for Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation, Havasupai Tribe, White Mountain Apache Nation and Yavapai-Apache Nation. http://bit.ly/2FaFR3B – NAU Lumberjack
“That’s Not How Any of this Works”: Utah Senate Seeks Nullification of Antiquities Act
Following an intense public hearing on Monday evening, members of a Senate committee advanced a resolution asking Washington to exempt Utah from future National Monument designations under the Antiquities Act. House Joint Resolution 1 now only needs to clear the full Senate to be sent to the governor’s desk for a signature. KCPW’s Roger McDonough reports. http://bit.ly/2CY1pid – KCPW
Dr. John Welch Partnering with Archaeology Southwest’s Preservation Outreach Eforts
Archaeology Southwest is pleased to announce that longtime collaborator and supporter John R. Welch of Simon Fraser University (SFU) will be guiding the Tucson-based nonprofit’s heritage site and landscape preservation program. He will assist Archaeology Southwest as it transforms its signature Priority Planning process to better amplify Native American voices and incorporate tribal sovereignty. http://bit.ly/2CYvAFQ – Archaeology Southwest
Editorial: A Skeptical View of Tucson’s Rio Nuevo and the Upcoming Meeting with O’odham Nation
“If the Tohono O’odham people were to take possession of the land, that would be hugely symbolic. How often, if ever, have the original inhabitants of S-cuk Son been able to retake their stolen lands?” he said, using the indigenous name of the Tohono O’odham village that existed at the foot of “A” Mountain and from which Tucson derives its name. http://bit.ly/2FfZwzr – Ernesto Portillo via the Arizona Daily Star
Verde Valley Archaeology Center Hosts Paul Dyck Art Exhibition
The Verde Valley Archaeology Center has announced the opening of the Paul Dyck Art Exhibition on March 3. Paul Dyck (1917-2006) was a local artist and descendant of Sir Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641). While in southern Alberta, his family lived with the Blackfoot Tribe, a situation that began Paul’s life-long interest in the Plains Indian culture. During his lifetime, he lived among the Cheyenne, Blackfoot, Crow, Pawnee, Kiowa, Comanche, Zuni, Navajo, Hopi and Apache. Paul was well known for his paintings depicting Native American life… He largely painted on board in the Old Master tradition or utilized the Japanese Sumi-e ink techniques, but he also worked with acrylics and watercolor. http://bit.ly/2FdqzLw – Camp Verde Bugle
Call for Nominations for the 2018 Tucson-Pima County Historic Preservation Awards
Each year the Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission recognizes individuals, firms, groups, and/or organizations that have demonstrated their interest in, or contribution to the preservation, conservation, or interpretation of local history, architecture, or historic preservation in Tucson or Pima County. Nominations must be received by Noon on Thursday, March 29, 2018. For more information on the awards and nomination process, please refer to https://www.tucsonaz.gov/clerks/boards?board=61
Archaeology Society of New Mexico’s Annual Meeting is Scheduled for May 4th
The Archaeological Society of New Mexico Annual Meeting, hosted by the Albuquerque Archaeological Society, will take place May 4–6 at the Nativo Lodge. The theme is “Chaco Culture: In and Out of the Canyon.” Conference events begin on Friday evening with registration opening at 4:00, “meet and greet” social hour from 5:00 to 6:30, and dinner buffet and program 6:30 to 9:00. The Friday evening speaker is W. H. (Chip) Wills, whose presentation is “Chaco Legacies: New Research Built on Deep Foundations.” Saturday morning presentations will be theme-related, with Saturday afternoon slots available for volunteered papers on other topics. Saturday night social hour 5:00 to 6:30 and Awards Banquet 6:30 to 9:00. The Bandelier Lecture “Reexcavating Room 28 at Pueblo Bonito: The House of the Cylinder Jars” will be delivered by Patricia L. Crown. Six field trips are offered Sunday morning. More details, registration forms, hotel reservation information, call for papers, posters, and vendor/information table applicants are posted on the ASNM and AAS websites (abqarchaeology.org and newmexico-archaeology.org). Online registration is not available.
Meet Archaeology Southwest at the Tucson Festival of Books
Once again, Archaeology Southwest will have a booth at the renowned Tucson Festival of Books, Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Stop by booth 419 and say hello to our team members, be amazed by Allen Denoyer’s flintknapping skills, and acquire a few issues of Archaeology Southwest Magazine you might have missed. The Festival is held on the University of Arizona campus mall.
Archaeology Southwest’s Field School Opportunity
Join Archaeology Southwest and the University of Arizona this summer for the 2018 season of our Preservation Archaeology Field School. Learn excavation, survey, lab analysis, and experimental archaeology techniques while investigating how ancient communities formed during an era of migration and social change in beautiful southwest New Mexico. Funding is available for qualified undergraduate students. Applications due March 5 for priority consideration; for more information, see http://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/field-school
Lecture Opportunity – Cave Creek
Desert Foothills Chapter – AAS presents on March 14th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at no charge, R.E. Burrillo. The Bears Ears National Monument encompasses one of the greatest archaeological assemblages in the world, stretching contiguously from the upper Pleistocene to the arrival of Euro-Americans. The monuments name derives from a pair of buttes (8,700 feet). Early exploration and investigations, modern research efforts, and the successes and challenges facing its protection all make for intriguing stories. This talk broadly summarizes some of the biggest elements from all three topics. The meeting is held in the community building (Maitland Hall) at The Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, 6502 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (near the Dairy Queen). http://www.azarchsoc.wildapricot.org/desertfoothills
Reminder – Phoenix Archaeology Cafe
On March 6, 2018, we welcome geoarchaeologist Gary Huckleberry for “The Salt River and Irrigation: 1,000 Years of Bringing the Valley to Life.” Dr. Huckleberry is currently involved in several archaeological projects in the Phoenix metropolitan area that involve evidence for prehistoric water management. He will share more regarding the latest understanding of these sophisticated systems.Archaeology Café is an informal forum where adults can learn more about the Southwest’s deep history and speak directly to experts. We gather at around 5:30 p.m. at the Changing Hands Bookstore (300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix AZ) to visit and enjoy food and beverages. The program begins at 6:00 p.m. This program is made possible, in part, by The Smith Living Trust and Arizona Humanities. http://bit.ly/2sEkE03 – Archaeology Southwest
Lecture Oppportunity – Santa Fe
The Santa Fe Archaeological Society (SFAS), Archaeological Institute of American, is pleased to present John R. Hale, AIA Joukowsky Lecturer, University of Louisville on Tuesday March 20, 2018 at 7:30 pm at the Pecos Trail Cafe, 2239 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, NM. His subject is “Viking Longships: Wolves of the Sea,” a presentation of the remarkable archaeological artifact that dominated European history for three centuries, 800-1100 A.D.
Lecture Opportunity – Taos
The Taos Archaeological Society is pleased to present John Pitts, Research Associate NM Museum of Indian Art and Culture in Santa Fe who will lecture on “When Lightning Strikes Twice: A Relationship between Lightning Strikes in the Southwest and the Indigenous World View” on Tuesday March 13, 2018 at 7 pm at the Kit Carson Electric Board Room, 118 Cruz Alta Road, Taos. Contact Rebecca Quintana at 575-770-7460 for further information.
Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
National Park Service Superintendent Butch Farabee gives a free presentation “El Camino del Diablo, The Devil’s Highway” for Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s March 15, 6-8:30 p.m. “Third Thursday Food for Thought” dinner at El Molinito Mexican Restaurant, 10180 N. Oracle Rd., Oro Valley, Arizona. El Camino is a brutal, 200-mile long, prehistoric and historic route from Sonora to Yuma, Arizona, and the California missions. Reputedly 400 to 2,000 lives were lost traveling this isolated and wild part of the international border. No entry fee. Guests may purchase their own dinners. Reservations required before 5 p.m. March 14: 520-798-1201 or info@oldpueblo.org.
Lecture Opportunity – Tucson
The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society (AAHS) is pleased to present Peter Boyle and Janine Hernbrode on Monday, March 19th at 7:30 pm in the University Medical Center’s Duval Auditorium (1501 N Campbell Ave, Tucson 85724), who will discuss, “Sights and Sounds of the Cocoraque Butte Rock Art Site.” Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit the AAHS website: http://www.az-arch-and-hist.org/, or contact John D. Hall at john.hall@terracon.com with questions about this or any other AAHS program.
Lecture Opportunity – Winslow
On Wednesday, March 14th, the Homol’ovi Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society presents Eric Polingyouma of the Bluebird Clan, on “Hopi Migrations and Other Interesting Topics.” Eric has been researching this for many years, and has much to share on the topic. This talk has been rescheduled from January. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Winslow Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (Historic Lorenzo Hubbell Trading Post), 523 W. Second St in Winslow. You can also join us and the speaker(s) for dinner at 5 p.m. at the Historic La Posada Turquoise Room (on your own tab).
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