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Another reason to save our sacred Petroglyphs -- they have a voice!
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Yvonne
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Dec 02, 2005 11:58 PST
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Hello Friends,
Even though the city of Albuquerque and
developers may believe they have prevailed in
this case for the extension of Paseo del Norte
through the Petroglyphs National Monument, there
are those of us who don't believe we must ever
just give up. (See www.sagecouncil.org for a
history of this battle to preserve the
Petroglyphs.) The more I delve into the beauty of
this place, the more unique and mysteriously
wonderful and sacred it becomes. The following
article is one of those gems.
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9461/conservpnm.doc
The researcher, Dr. Stephen Waller, has taken
acoustical readings at hundreds of petroglyph and
rock art sites around the world and at the PNM
here in Albuquerque. It is fascinating to read
about the direct correlation Waller has found
between the rock art sites locations and
different echoing sounds in the canyon. Native
people, of course, knew this and utilized it. It
is a common practice found all over the world.
That feature may well be lost forever if the
street is extended. His article indicates as
much.
You may be a fan of westside development; you may
even own property on the westside and find the
idea of easing your drive quite a boon; you may
hate the idea of setting aside any more open
space when that land could be turned into
perfectly good homes. Yet, consider the
impermanence of any house we are constructing
today versus the abilities of our ancestors to
locate, design and utilize for various
reasons--some are still a mystery and that isn't
a bad thing--this extremely unique region for
thousands and thousands of years. The religious
connection between the tribal and pueblo people
of this century and the creators of these rock
pictures remained unbroken--until now.
And so I ask: is this the best we can do? Is
this all that the city can come up with--more
roads and more houses and less beauty? Is that
the legacy we leave to our children and their
children? A monument to our sheep-like mentality
that knows only to destroy and desecrate sacred
land to pay homage to the automobile gods and
the developers? Is that really the best the city
council and the mayor could come up with? I
don't believe that is the best we can do. I
think we have all been cheated out of a more
creative, sane, sacred and visionary approach to
this situation. And the lack of intervention will
create a permanent scar on our land---and our
hearts.
I believe we should not stop asking our elected
officials and those entrusted with the integrity
of the National Monument--the National Park
Service--why? Why didn't they do better at
envisioning a quality of life that does not
involve killing a fragile ecosystem and the
"music" of the petroglyphs? What does it take to
stop the bulldozers from smashing the voices in
the rocks forever? When will they be satiated
with urban sprawl? Is there no end to it?
Ask them. I am. I'd like to know why the only
resolution to our issues of uncontrolled growth
is more of the same--roads, ticky tacky houses
and destruction of the environment.
Is this what we want to leave to our children and
grandchildren?
If it isn't you know what to do--send emails,
letters, contact people you know and ask them the
same. Send an email to your city councilor if
you live in Albuquerque (see www.cabq.gov); the
mayor of Albuquerque, Martin Chavez:
may-@cabq.gov; to the Governor of NM, Bill
Richardson:
http://www.governor.state.nm.us/emailchoice.php?mm=6;
and to Dr. Joseph Sanchez, Superintendent of the
PNM: FAX# 505/899-0207,
to tell them you know what is about to happen
and what a travesty it is. I cannot help but
compare this destruction with the Bamiyan
Buddhas in Afghanistan which the Taliban
dynamited. We have just as little respect for
our native people and those who share the
sacredness of the Earth but we decorate it in
terms of "economic development." Is this the best
we can do? For all our sakes, I hope not. For
the sake of this region, I hope you do something
with this information. Thank you.
In the shadow of the sacred mesa,
Yvonne Scott
505/907-9070
Rio Rancho, NM
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