Native American Leaders Share Concerns About Sacred Sites

ABC NEWS | KSTP
By Scott Theisen

NEW MEXICO---The Obama administration on Monday began reaching out to Native American political and spiritual leaders to address concerns over the protection of sacred sites on federal land. Tribal leaders said they're frustrated. Representatives of the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation complained Monday about renewable energy projects on federal land being fast-tracked by the administration without adequate review of potential effects on sacred sites. Mandatory consultation meetings have not resulted in any protections and the tribe feels it is being "stonewalled" by high-level federal officials, said John Bathke, the tribe's historic preservation officer. Meetings on sacred sites are also planned later this month in Montana, Minnesota and Connecticut. [link]