OneWorld Magazine: Deserts

from the
LINDA BROOKOVER
ARCHIVE

The Blue Lake Victory
(Continuation)
by Linda Brookover
Paintings by Lawrence W. Lee

All Paintings Copyright © Lawrence W. Lee - All Rights Reserved
Paintings published by special permission of The Electric Gallery
Web Production and Design, OneWorld Magazine.

The government first offered money, a sum of just $297,684.67 for over 500,000 acres surrounding Blue Lake and also, in exchange, a larger parcel of land in and around what is known as the town of Taos. This rich valley land which had once belonged to the Indians, but had been settled by whites was now being offered back to the Taos Pueblo in trade for their holy lake shrine. The people of Taos Pueblo accepted an offer to relinquish rights to the township in exchange for their lake and surrounding land. The former was put into effect immediately while the latter was not achieved until over forty years later.

The National Council of Churches recognized the significance of preserving Blue Lake as a place of worship which had been in use for longer than the great cathedrals of Europe and joined the fight. Meanwhile, the Forest Service was willing to release the barren western slopes to the Indians, but was holding on to the fertile eastern side valued for its springs and timber. Eventually in five separate bills during a final two-day debate, the senate voted to restore the sacred land and lake to the people of the Taos pueblo.

Today, more than 20 years later, Taos Pueblo continues in much the same way as it has for hundreds of years and provides inspiration for other native people to maintain their spiritual and natural heritage. The victory of the Taos Pueblo in regaining tribal land has set the precedent for other Indian land disputes across the nation. Some tribes have been compensated as a result of the Taos legislation and others are seeking the return of sacred relics and ancestral remains that are housed in museums.

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