National Park Service Ranger Tases Diné Relative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Julia Bernal, Alliance Director

julia.f.bernal@gmail.com

December 29th, 2020

A Collective Statement from Pueblo Action Alliance to condemn the National Park Service Rangers who assaulted a Diné relative while they were at the Petroglyph National Monument to Pray 

On December 27th, 2020 a Diné relative was terrorized by two National Park Service rangers at the Petroglyph National Monument in Tiwa Territory so called Albuquerque, NM. The rangers accused them, their sister and dog of going off trail, but were there to pray to the land and to the Pueblo ancestors of Tiwa Territory. The family felt like there was no reason to justify them being there and the rangers took excessive force. 

This was a forceful removal of an Indigenous relative as they tazed the relative multiple times while their sister and dog witnessed the attack and recorded it. The video has now gone viral and is circulating anger and disgust amongst the community here in Tiwa Territory and beyond. 

Our staff and members at Pueblo Action Alliance are extremely angry and demand the National Park Service condemn the rangers that assaulted and traumatized this relative while they were enjoying the landscape as they rightfully should. 

In the past, a few of our staff members have worked with agencies and bureaus under the Department of the Interior (DOI) like the National Park Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management; while these agencies preach narratives to pay respect and homage to the Indigenous people and their generations of stewardship and conservation this act of terror isn’t an reflection of that. What this tells us, is that this land isn’t ours and that individuals who work under DOI don’t see exercising Indigenous spirituality as a sovereign right. 

Public lands are stolen lands. Indigenous people have the right to enjoy themselves on the lands of their ancestors. It is a shame that the National Park Service will not acknowledge this relative and their right to pray but rather see them as violating National Park Service enforcement and law. 

To take action, call staffers at the Petroglyph National Monument and demand the condemnation of these rangers and a rightful apology to the Diné family and the community that stands behind them.

Petroglyph National Monument Visitors’ Center:

(505) 899-0205

Superintendent Nancy Hendricks:

nancy_hendricks@nps.gov

Chief of Administration Leigh Ferrell:

(505) 595-5458

leigh_ferrell@nps.gov

Administrative Technician Lorenzo Lucero:

(505) 238-1875

lorenzo_lucero@nps.gov