Tribal members gather for sacred sites prayers

Mohave Daily News

NEEDLES - Members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe gathered Thursday morning to participate in the National Prayer Day for Native Sacred Sites. The gathering took place at the Topock Maze, a Mojave sacred area along the lower Colorado River.

According to Mojave beliefs, this area is both a physical manifestation and a spiritual pathway for the afterlife. The Maze is an integral part of the Mojave way of life, beliefs, traditions and culture.

While the Maze has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978 and is formally recognized as nationally significant. It recently received national attention as the subject of a settlement agreement between the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) over the location of PG&E water treatment facilities within the Maze area.

Even though settlement was achieved, those gathered prayed for further understanding by PG&E and other agencies as to the nature of this cultural landscape.

Some prayed for forgiveness for any desecration that may occur until the facilities are removed and a final remedy is selected that respects the sacred area.“This has been a long struggle,” said Linda Otero of the Fort Mojave Tribal Council.

“It is a battle that we continue to fight and today we pray for continued guidance, preservation and national support to defend this sacred area.”