the san francisco peaks

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In 1629, a group of Franciscans stationed at the village of Oraibi named the giant mountains they saw San Francisco, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi . Opinions over the use of the peaks by Native tribes and this new influx of culture are as far apart as the names they call the mountain itself. At over a mile high, the San Francisco Mountains tower over the predominantly Anglo town of Flagstaff to the south. The mountain range was actually formed by a volcano that is now inactive. These peaks have long been considered sacred ground by thirteen Native American tribes, including the Hopi and the Navajo. As the importance of the use of the peaks has intensified among both recreationally and economically for the city of Flagstaff so too has the controversy generated more heat among Native tribes. Opening in 1937, the Arizona Snowbowl is one of the oldest running ski resorts in the country. Since that time the Snow Bowl has created adversity everywhere from environmentalists to Native Americans. The only way to understand the legitimacy of these Native American claims is to take a closer look at how the peaks relate to their religion and way of life. This will be done through the two most dominant voices of the battle, the Navajo and Hopi. This comprehension is necessary in order to fully understand the hardships and tribulations many spiritual Natives have endured in trying to protect their sacred land, even when the law is seemingly on their side. Evidence produced by archeologists suggests that the Hopi have inhabited their sacred mountain for well over a thousand years. These mountains hold sacred spirits to the Hopi called kachinas. These spirits are essential in the Hopi religion serving as a medium between the Hopi a... ... middle of paper ... ...rest Service didn't have a very hard time in allowing the development of the peaks. Similar results were found in 1981 when part of the Hopi tribe, the Navajo Medicinemen's Association, went to Washington to fight these decisions. Judge Charles Richey made the first interpretation of the new Act in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This was quite a blow for the tribes, with the Court of Appeals upholding Richey's decision stating that AIRFA doesn't require "Native traditional religious considerations always to prevail to the exclusion of all else." After years of delay and multiple owners, the Native cause to stop the expansion on Snow Bowl failed. While AIRFA wasn't necessarily a success for the Native people, the fight would continue to be raged on in spite of cultural differences and an inability to see eye to eye on the issue.

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