Mission Statement

Black Mesa Water Coalition is dedicated to preserving and protecting Mother Earth and the integrity of Indigenous Peoples’ cultures, with the vision of building sustainable and healthy communities. BMWC strives to empower young people while building sustainable communities.

History

Black Mesa Water Coalition (BMWC) was formed in 2001 by a group of young inter-tribal, inter-ethnic people dedicated to addressing issues of water depletion, natural resource exploitation, and health promotion within Navajo and Hopi communities. BMWC continues to be led by young people while relying on an inter-generational support network. As young people working with elders and our communities, we work to protect Mother Earth and the integrity of Indigenous Peoples’ cultures with the vision of building sustainable and healthy communities.

BMWC organizing roots began around Peabody Energy, one of the largest coal mining companies in the world. In 1967, Peabody Western Coal Company began operating two strip mines on Black Mesa – the Kayenta and Black Mesa mines. Collectively, these mines constituted the most extensive strip mining operation in the United States. Until very recently, Peabody Coal Company was pumping over 4,500 acre-feet of pristine groundwater from the Navajo-Aquifer. Peabody used this sole source of drinking water simply to mix with crushed coal, creating “slurry” for transportation. This “slurry transportation” system sent coal and water through a 273-mile pipeline, from Black Mesa to Mohave Generating Station in Laughlin, Nevada. Every second, 50 gallons of pristine drinking water was permanently lost. For decades Peabody Coal Company has disrupted the lives of the Hopi and Diné people, causing political separation and dispute. Energy & Water >

The effort to protect our lands and waters is connected to so many facets of life and living. The problems our communities are facing are deeply tied to a history of colonization and a growing reliance on an unsustainable culture and lifestyle. The roots of these problems are not always easy to see and many times cannot be easily remedied. BMWC has grown into an organization that is not only reactionary when needed, but also proactively working to build stronger, more sustainable communities. Therefore we work on topics such as:

• Environmental Justice, Energy & Water;
• Climate Justice;
• Youth leadership Development;
• Building local sustainable economies with Navajo Green Job initiative and,
• Just Transition Campaign.

The exploitive practices of unsustainable industries extend far beyond Black Mesa. Throughout the Southwest, Indigenous Peoples are experiencing an increased attack on our land’s natural resources and sacred sites. In the four courners area of the Navajo Nation, plans are underway to build a third coal-fired power plant, called the Desert Rock power plant (www.dooda-desert-rock.net). Proposed uranium mining looms just off Navajo borders in New Mexico (www.sric.org). Outside of Flagstaff, AZ, a major ski company, Arizona Snowbowl, plans to further disrespect a mountain sacred to the surrounding 22 tribes (www.savethepeaks.org). Coal-bed methane projects are popping up throughout Indian Country. The list could go on and on, and one simple fact remains the same: the continued destruction of Indigenous Peoples’ traditional homelands is endangering the cultural survival of the people, it is adding to the many challenges our young people face, and it is significantly contributing to the global climate distresses that we all face.

Enei Begaye is Táchii’nii clan and born for Tódích’ií’nii clan. She is of the Diné (Navajo) and Tohono O’odham Nations. Enei grew up on the Navajo reservation. She is from the community of Shonto, AZ and went to high school at Monument Valley High School in Kayenta, AZ. Enei is a recognized advocate of Indigenous Peoples rights, youth, and the environment. She is an active speaker, strategist, writer, and organizer. Her experience includes work within the United Nations as well as national and local governments, representing Indigenous and environmental interests. Enei is a co-founder of the Native Movement Collective, a non-profit organization working to build community and healthy relationships between all people. She has worked as the water campaigner for the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), where she worked with Indigenous communities throughout the U.S. to protect their water resources. Enei serves on the board and steering committee of a number of national networks. Among other recognitions, Enei has recently been presented with Arizona’s Native American “Woman of Our Community” award as well as the Southwest’s “Water Guardian” award. Enei studied Geological and Environmental Sciences with a focus in land and water management at Stanford University. Enei is currently based out of Flagstaff, AZ, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.

Wahleah is Salt clan born for Red Bottom People, her maternal grandparents are Manygoats and her paternal grandparents are Towering House. She comes from the Navajo (Dine) tribe that is located in northern Arizona. She is from the community of Forest Lake, which is one of several communities atop the Black Mesa region. Her community is one near the operation of Peabody Western Coal Company’s Black Mesa mining operations. Wahleah has grown up seeing the harsh effects of coal mining on her community - from the relocation of her people to the present issue of groundwater depletion and land exploitation. She has been working with Black Mesa Water Coalition from its beginning. She is a strong advocate for indigenous peoples’ rights, environmental justice and restorative justice. Wahleah is also a part of a number of climate and environmental justice networks who are addressing global climate change and environmental racism in indigenous and people of color communities all over the world.

A Diné woman from Cedar Springs, AZ, Chelsea graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Environmental Science. Chelsea is using her teachings from the university to run the Campus Climate Challenge program. She is helping reservation schools create innovative solutions to combat climate change under this program.

Nikke Alex is Salt clan born for the Tangle People clan. Her maternal grandparents are of the Big Water clan, and her paternal grandparents are of the Red Bottom clan. She is from Gallup, New Mexico, and has studied in California, Arizona, Guatemala, Spain, France, and Italy. She has worked in various social movements and has worked extensively with Indigenous communities around the world. Nikke has carried out independent research in both uranium mining and coal mining on the Navajo Nation. She is a recent graduate from the University of Arizona and holds a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in environmental racism.

Gordon Isaac is a Navajo veteran (USMC) from the Navajo Nation. He is from the community of Tonalea, Arizona. He is also the President of KEYA Earth Corporation, a mostly Native-owned sustainable development company. He believes in the people’s visions, culture, and their way of life to offering solutions to solving the new environmental challenges of the world. KEYA Earth offers sustainable development with culture in mind, incorporating the newest innovations and integrating old techniques to devise tangible real world solutions to combating housing issues, sparking economic development, and “Reawakening a Nation.” He is passionate about building self-sustaining communities and bringing world-class development to all Native communities.

Picture and Biography Soon

Picture and Biography Soon

Picture and Biography Soon

Picture and Biography Soon