PROCLAMATION TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE SÍPÀAPU  

WHEREAS, we, members of independent self-governing villages of Lower Moencopi, Upper Moencopi, Hotevilla, Bacavi, Oraivi, Kykotsmovi, Shungopavy, Shipaulovi, Mishongnovi, Walpi, Sichomovi, Tewa, and Spider Mound hereby call upon the National Historic Landmark Program (NHLP) to officially designate Sípàapu as a Traditional Cultural Place (TCP); and

WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of all people, societies and communities living on the Colorado Plateau to protect the rich ecological, cultural landscape for foreseeable time; and

WHEREAS, the Colorado Plateau is facing industrial-governmental degradation and genocidal destruction of Native American historic sites, graves, and artifacts so that they may profit from vast coal, water uranium and oil resources; and

WHEREAS, Colorado Plateau is home to Hopi and twenty-two (22) different tribal groups who have cultural, historical ties to the region: and

WHEREAS, Sípàapu is central to Hopi religious beliefs and practices which are protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and other relevant acts of U.S. Congress; and

WHEREAS, Sípàapu is crucial to the repository of our memories, and serves as living knowledge that provides comfort and reassurance as a rooted place between past and future and as a seedbed for historical insight and knowledge and as a catalyst of hope for the preservation and revitalization of Hopi civilization; and

WHEREAS, Sípàapu, the heart of Colorado Plateau— birthplace of the Fourth World of the Hopi nation—is dying due to the impounding of waters in the Little Colorado River Basin by corporations, The State of Arizona, northern Arizona county governments and towns; and

WHEREAS, the Arizona State court ruling in Re: The General adjudication of “All rights to Use Water in the Little Colorado River System and Source” could be disastrous to the health of  Sípàapu; and

WHEREAS, it is essential that the U.S. government, which serves as trustee of natural resources of all tribal nations, affirms the continuity of Hopi heritage and memories by protecting and preserving Sípàapu as a living component of Hopi culture and a living symbol of our right to carry on our religion; and

WHEREAS, Orayvi, a thousand year-old village, considered to be the oldest continuously occupied community in north America is listed on the registry of NHL and is historically and culturally connected to Sípàapu; and

WHEREAS, the office of NHLP is responsible for nominating, conducting studies designating and coordinating landmark monitoring; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hopi Tribal Council expeditiously support the Peoples’ Proclamation by enacting a resolution; and

NOW THEREFOR BE IT RESOLVED, we, members of the Hopi tribe and independent villages, respectfully request NHLP to act expeditiously to protect Sípàapu the ancient shrine as a traditional Hopi cultural place using the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the American Antiquities Act of 1978, the International Treaty agreement between United State and Republic of Mexico (the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848) and the U. N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this Proclamation is made in memory and honor of the ancestors who brought us here to a safe place, and created a sanctuary for all mankind; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that we call upon the United Nations to adopt The Declaration of Right to Historic Cultural Memory to the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.