Outlasting the Uranium Boom, Petuuche - Building Bridges: Pt. 4

The next day would take us to Acoma Pueblo lands to meet with Petuuche Gilbert, Eagle Clan and elder of the Acoma. He would share with us the magic, stories and shrines of Acoma Pueblo, from valley to mountain top, past and present to future. He had a whole lotta story about the history of the uranium and settler boom in the area lol. It was this area that experienced and still suffers from both. The day was big on travel and experience as the culture and awareness is ever present and the spirit is strong here. This would be proven by Petuuche as he shared details of each place we crossed paths with. Many of which he and his family and community had direct ties to. Whether it was pilgrimages to these sacred shrine sites historically and currently or working in the uranium mines, he knew. Talk about heavy and enlightening!

The day with Petuuchhe was going to be a big one. He is a leader in his community and of many long standing groups that protect the lands, build movements to resist further colonization, and strengthen relationships between people in the mix. We were going to pick him up at his home there on the Acoma rez and then do a big circle seeing a few big mine sites then Kaawheeshtimaa (Mt. Taylor). Mt Taylor is considered sacred ground by the Dine and The Pueblo people and it has felt the impacts of mining, its uranium included. Also it is the southernmost sacred mountain for the Dine called Dootliizhii Dziil (Turquoise Mountain). We had planned to take a couple hours once we were up on the mountain to do a little strategy work around the indigenous part of the nuclear abolition and the support network we are weaving together. This was the plan, it worked out far better than what we planned for.

Once again we were straining for time on the schedule we had created for the trip. Lol one thing we didn't include was extra extra time for the unexpected when traveling with elders on their home turf and remaining in alignment with principles of care. Petuuche moved at his pace and that was ok. We took the time for the stops he needed to make and places extra he advised us to see. It started with him needing to go to the tribal government building, who he once worked for, to get something he had left there. This was a decent stop for us because we were helping and felt special because we were invited to help with this important errand. As we pulled into the tribal complex he pointed out the tree he was telling Leona about that he had planted some years ago and we began inside. As I followed him through the building I kept my mask on and it never dawned on me to ask what it was we were looking for and I soon began to wonder what we were there for. After checking a couple locations and getting a couple stares from people who were working, lol because this was during regular business hours. I asked what it was so I could really just better know what it was we were looking for. He said, when he came the night before to use the exercise area of the complex he had left one of his “red handkerchiefs” there. We kinda laughed but didn't know what significance they held to him so of course we took it seriously. I imagined it held some importance because Leona had just brought him a little stack of red styles so I knew he had more of them at home. After some conversation around letting it go for the day and using one of the other ones she had given him the day before, he asked us if we wanted to see some “shines” of the Pueblo people and maybe go to a place of acknowledgment before we made our travels. I was obliged. We then traveled into a giant valley where, along the way, Petuuche pointed out places and shared stories of the land and the history of the people. We arrived in one location at the foot of a fairly large mesa that sat tall and alone like that in that part of the valley. This place is and has been the place of pilgrimage and held in high esteem by many local peoples. After a conversation and some good words and tobacco smoke we began our journey to Kaawheeshtimaa (Mt. Taylor).

Traveling passed the Jackpile Superfund Site first. Jackpile Mine was one of the sites Petuuche show us and shared the story about first as we began our trek towards the mountain. 30 years people worked there at the mine, Petuuche only came there a few time while it was open. He said the elders remember stories from their grandparents of how grand the area was and how important it was to the people before the mining started. The mine created a source of jobs, and a percap for Laguna Pueblo. This helped the tribes that took the deals but also suffered capitalism and more colonialism because of it.

After that we went to the mountain and attempted to drive to the top, but at the park station we were told our vehicle wouldn’t have the clearance to make it up there. This had to do with big rains that had recently happened. We did have a back up plan and it was to go to Gooseberry Spring, a location on the mountain about 8000 feet up, so we did. Petuuche was a heck of a guide, even though there was no service, and we made it to the spot where we could park to walk the rest of the way. From there we trekked another 1000 feet or 2 in search of what we would find, a dried up area with barely a puddle to be noticed. I walked up another 1000 feet at least to check things up and came across another dried up little spring, smoked a little tobacco, put some down and bounced back down towards where Leona, Petuuche and Jenn were at so we could make our next move. We found a place to sit and we had intent on doing some planning for our work but it felt like a real spiritual moment which was really on par for the course so far and then Petuuche and leona had good words to share again and soon that led to how the people got there and the stories and Petuuche told how the mines got there and peabody coal and the water usage and the springs just being a sign of how all the waters have dried up to different extents. The time up there was short but what was experienced can be carried a lifetime and the story needs to be shared. There's been much written and studied on the uranium issues and I wanted to share more than that. I wanted to share what's really happening.

On the way back completing our circle and tour Petuuche showed us the mine near Grants where he worked and told us the stories of that place as well, after dropping him off we headed back to Albuquerque to prepare for the next day. Which would take us into Arizona and deeper into Dinetah. The mining, uranium and nuclear issues are current throughout the Four Corners. In the next story I will share about Black Mesa, Pinion and some folks experiences there and with the issue.

Support Petuuche and them here,

Wado

Jesse

Wild yarrow and mullein on Mt. Taylor. Petuuche says they are medicine, I agree.

CRAFTApril 11, 2023