[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PROTECTING SACRED NATIVE AMERICAN SITES

  (Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, just yesterday we had a 
hearing in the Committee on Resources dealing with a parcel of land 
belonging to the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians in Riverside County, 
California. The Tribe is trying to protect the land because it contains 
several sites sacred to the tribe, including the largest living oak 
tree in the United States.
  This magnificent tree is over 1,500 years old and has been the site 
of tribal ceremonies for generations. Believe it or not, this tree is 
in danger of being felled by an order to construct transmission lines.
  We are often faced with the perception that Native American sacred 
sites are not worthy of protection somehow because they generally are a 
part of nature and not brick and mortar buildings with a large bell 
towers. One look at this tree, however, and the majesty of it comes 
across to even the most cynical.
  While I believe we will be able to preserve this particular Native 
American site through the hard work of the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Issa), Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein, dozens of other 
similar areas are threatened with desecration. The Glamis Mine in 
California and the Valley of the Chiefs in Montana are in danger of 
being lost forever by the presence of gold mining and the sights and 
sounds of oil drilling.
  The time has come for us to stop running around trying to cherry-pick 
certain Native American sacred sites to save. We need to act and have 
one strong policy and procedure, backed up by the laws of this country.

                          ____________________