I did not know this was going on... But I thought a lot about #KleeBenally yesterday, and I hope you all did as well.
Klee Benally's family honors and remembers him
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/12/klee-benallys-family-honors-and.html
#RestInPowerKleeBenally #RIPKleeBenally
From #Wikipedia: #KleeBenally was an Indigenous activist, author, musician, and environmentalist from #NavajoNation.
Early life
"Benally was born in Black Mesa, Arizona to Jones and Berta Benally. He was from the Tódích’íi’nii and Wandering People clans. His father, Jones, was a traditional Diné and his mother, Berta is of Russian-Polish Jewish descent. Klee grew up with the traditions of his father. During his childhood, Klee's family was forcibly displaced due to a land dispute that resulted in thousands of Navajo people losing their homes. Benally spent most of his life in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Activism
"Klee used his works to advocate for #AntiColonial #IndigenousResistance. In his book, #NoSpiritualSurrender, Benally argues for#IndigenousAnarchy to achieve total liberation of #Nahasdzáán (#MotherEarth). He also created the game #BurnTheFort, where each player takes the role of an Indigenous warrior fighting to stop #colonization of their land.
"In 2014, Benally protested outside the Super Bowl against the use of Washington Football Team's name "Redskin", which some considered offensive to Native Americans. The name was changed in 2022.
Environmentalism
"Benally advocated fiercely against the expansion of the #ArizonaSnowbowlSkiResort and the use of treated wastewater to make snow, arguing that it was destroying the local ecosystem. He also protested against pumice and #UraniumMining and transport in the area, advocating the clean up of mines from the Cold War Era. Klee typically framed the struggle for #environmental rights in the context of religious freedom for Indigenous peoples, stating that:
"'This is a struggle for cultural survival — the struggle to protect sacred spaces.'
Music
"In 1989, when Benally was 14 years old he founded the punk rock band Blackfire with his siblings, Jeneda and Clayson. The band mixed traditional #NavajoChants and music with #ProtestSongs about the oppression of Indigenous people. Benally was the band's guitarist. The band's first EP called# Blackfire was released in 1994 and produced by CJ Ramone. In 2002, the band released its first album, #OneNationUnder.
Personal life
"Klee was married to Princess Benally. Klee died at the age of 48, on December 30th, 2023 in a hospital in Phoenix. He is survived by his siblings, wife, and parents."
The #SiouxsieAndTheBanshees' song #CitiesInDust is one of my favorite songs of all time. Listen to this powerful rendition by #KleeBenally!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdUZK-4e_0U
#RestInPowerKleeBenally #RIPKleeBenally #BurnTheFort #BurnYourVillageToTheGround #NativeAmericanActivists #NativeAmericanMusicians
#Blackfire - "Common Enemy" (LIVE at the Grass Roots Festival of Music & Dance, in Trumansburg, NY - 2022)
Posted Dec 22, 2024
"Navajo (Diné) activists Jeneda (guitar & vocals, Klee (percussion) and Clayson Benally (guitar & vocals), perform together as 'Blackfire' at the GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance, in Trumansburg, NY."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iiIoOK4v6Q
#RestInPowerKleeBenally #KleeBenally #RIPKleeBenally #NativeAmericanActivists #NativeAmericanMusicians
Over the Edge/In Reverence - #KleeBenally
Premiered Nov 22, 2019
"I'm not sure if you got my letter
I could resend it but it just said,
let’s push it over the edge, again and again…
sometimes it's best not to make plans
there’s an art to crashing in
let’s push it over the edge again
we invoke this
disavow this
pledge no allegiance
did you see the future came and went
it was everything we made it
pushed it over the edge again and again
caught up in the moment
forgot where it began
let’s push it over the edge again
we invoke this
disavow this
pledge no allegiance
actions are our prayers
when we live our lives
in reverence
(and this feels just like, coming home)
disharmonious
the discordance
in the shadow of irreverence
what else can
bring justice when
nothing will grow and
what else can
bring justice when
the bullets are lodged so deep in
we invoke this
disavow this
pledge no allegiance
actions are our prayers
when we live our lives
in reverence"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoxxSr5jfMY
#RestInPowerKleeBenally #RIPKleeBenally #IndigenousActivists #IndigenousMusicians
#KleeBenally, Navajo advocate for #IndigenousPeople and #environmental causes, dies in Phoenix
Klee Benally was among the most vocal opponents of snowmaking at #ArizonaSnowbowl ski resort in #Flagstaff.
AP, January 1, 2024
PHOENIX — "Klee Benally, a Navajo man who advocated on behalf of Indigenous people and environmental causes, has died, his sister said. He was 48 years old.
"Benally died Saturday at a Phoenix hospital, Jeneda Benally said. His cause of death was not disclosed.
"Klee Benally was among the most vocal opponents of snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl ski resort in Flagstaff. At least 13 tribes consider the mountain on public land to be sacred.
"He protested #PoliceViolence and #RacialProfiling and was among activists who gathered outside metro Phoenix’s NFL stadium in 2014 to denounce the offensive team name previously used by the franchise from Washington, D.C.
"Benally advocated for the cleanup of abandoned #mines, where #uranium ore was extracted from the Navajo Nation over decades to support U.S. #nuclear activities during the #ColdWar.
"He also spoke out against an ordinance that, in a bid to address the problem of #homelessness, had banned camping on public property in Flagstaff.
"'There is no compassionate way to enforce the #AntiCamping ordinance,' Benally said in 2018 when officials declined to alter the 2005 ordinance. 'Life is already hard enough for our unsheltered relatives on the streets.'
"Benally was also a guitarist, and played with his sister and brother in the Native American punk rock band #Blackfire."
Source:
https://www.12news.com/article/life/people/klee-benally-navajo-advocate-for-indigenous-people-and-environmental-causes-dies/75-51b35e37-1a11-4853-8e2a-320fb4da7766
#RestInPowerKleeBenally #RIPKleeBenally
#KleeBenally, cultural advocate and land defender, dies at 48
By Kianna Joe | Dec 31, 2023
"KINŁÁNÍ-DOOK’O’OOSŁÍÍD
Klee Benally died Dec. 30, 2023. He was 48.
"Benally was the son of Jones and Berta Benally. Klee Benally was from Dziłyíjiin, Arizona. He was Bi’éé’ Łichíi’ii and born for Tódích’íi’nii. His maternal grandfather is Polish and Jewish, and his paternal grandfather is Naakaii Dine’é. He lived in Kinłání, where he proudly stood tall with Dook’o’oosłííd.
"In his last interview with the Navajo Times on Dec. 7, Benally credited his father, a respected and known hataałii, who shared the Diné traditions and culture with him.
"Klee Benally’s teachings growing up laid a foundation for who he was as a Diné and led to him fighting for the sacred Dook’o’oosłííd.
"'For Diné people, it represents a part of our cosmology and being,' Benally said on Dec. 7. 'Each mountain is a part of our creation account set forward for our boundaries, Diné Bikéyah, where we walk around.'
"Benally described the mountains as leaders that hold and share teachings for Diné.
"Countless comments from people who knew and followed Benally shared their sudden sadness but described Benally as a 'one-of-a-kind' wise son, brother, uncle, or grandpa.
"Along with fighting for sacred elements, Benally was an artist in many mediums, writer, musician, and filmmaker.
"On Thursday, Dec. 21, Benally launched his book, '#NoSpiritualSurrender, Indigenous Anarchy in Defense of the Sacred,' at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Flagstaff. However, the book was released in November with physical copies only available at Bookmans in Flagstaff or online at #DetritusBooks website.
"The book delves into Benally’s experience fighting for sacred places and why he does it to protect #nahasdzáán.
"Benally recounted the many times he had been arrested, along with tying himself to heavy machinery to send a message that he wasn’t going anywhere for the land’s sake.
"In a post shared on Benally’s Instagram page, he shares his full circle moment having done shows with his band #Blackfire at the #LeftBankBooksCollective bookstore in Seattle, Washington, where he was able to drop a few copies of his book off at.
"His music with Blackfire was fueled with the same messages he shared in his book, justice for Indigenous people and the land.
"Blackfire was created in 1989 with Benally and his siblings, Jeneda and Clayson Benally.
"Benally’s work reflected his dedication and understanding of fighting for land and its Indigenous peoples.
"Benally was a part of many organizations working to support and fight for land like '#HaulNo!' and '#ProtectThePeaks.'
"Benally worked endlessly for the community and land, which are grateful to have been protected by a dedicated #Diné."
https://navajotimes.com/reznews/klee-benally-cultural-advocate-and-land-defender-dies-at-48/
#RestInPowerKleeBenally #RIPKlee #RIPKleeBenally #NoUraniumMining #DefendTheSacred
[Thread] The next installment from #KleeBenally 's book, #NoSpiritualSurrender
“The devastation of #NuclearColonialism, which permanently destroys #Indigenous communities throughout the world, is outright ignored by some of the most devout #ClimateJustice advocates. They claim #NuclearEnergy production is also a #GreenSolution to the #ClimateCrisis. More than 15,000 abandoned #UraniumMines are located within the so-called US, mostly in and around Indigenous communities, permanently poisoning #SacredLands and waters with little to no action being taken to clean up their deadly toxic legacy. There are currently 93 operating #NuclearReactors in the so-called US that supply 20% of the country’s electricity. There are 60,000 tons of #HighlyRadioactive spent waste store in concrete dams at #NuclearPowerPlants throughout the country with the waste increasing at a rate of 2,000 tons per year.
“In 1987 the ‘US’ Congress initiated a controversial project to transport and store almost all of the US’s #ToxicWaste at #YuccaMountain located about 100 miles northwest of so-called #LasVegas, #Nevada. Yucca Mountan has been held holy to the #Paiute and #WesternShoshone Nations since time immemorial. In January 2010 the #ObamaAdminstration approved a $54 billion taxpayer loan in a guarantee program for new nuclear reactor construction, three times what Bush previously promised in 2005. In April 2022, the #BidenAdministration government bailout to ‘rescue’ nuclear power plants at risk for closing. A #Colonial government representative stated, ‘US nuclear power contributes more than half of our #CarbonFree electricity, and President Biden is committed to keeping these plants active to reach our #CleanEnergy goals.’
“They, along with Climate Justice activiists, cite nuclear energy as necessary to combat #GlobalWarming, all while ignoring the devastating percent impacts #IndigenousPeoples have faced. There is nothing clean about energy produced from nuclear colonialism. From its weapons (including #DepletedUranium) to its #Mining and its waste; Indigenous bodies, lands, and waters continue to be sacrificed to heat water with radioactive materials which creates steam that moves generators to change batteries made from #Lithium extracted from other Indigenous sacred lands so #Teslas can mo you forward into a ‘just’ climate future.
“A green economy sustains and advances colonial progress, which means mitigated selective and ongoing destruction of #MotherEarth.”
Pages 139-140
#IndigenousAnarchy
#Ecosystem #HaulNo #DefendTheSacred
#CorporateColonialism #NoDAPL #CriminalizingDissent #WaterIsLife #ClimateDefenders #NoCopperMiningWithoutConsent #NoLithiumMining #CorporateColonialism #NoMiningWithoutConsent #LithiumMining #CopperMining #Greenwashng #NuclearWeapons #RestInPowerKleeBenally #RIPKleeBenally #StopCanyonMine
Update on Fundraisers for #kleebenally -- via #IndigenousAction
The family of Klee Benally thanks you for the donations!
"The family extends their appreciation for the fierce outpouring of support. We cannot thank you enough. Ahééhéé. If you would like to support some of the work that still continues, please consider a donation to #HaulNo. And we know you really want to go out and do some rabble-rousing. Don’t just do it for Klee, do it for you! Do it for the future. All our lives depend on it.
Donations for Haul No!
Klee was deeply involved in Haul No! to stimulate actions of resistance against #EnergyFuels #PinyonPlain / #CanyonMine #UraniumMine, Energy Fuels’ #WhiteMesaMill, and related transport.
Continue the protection and fight for #MotherEarth & #HumanRights that Klee passionately fought for.
To donate:
https://haulno.com/donate/
Source:
https://www.indigenousaction.org/donations-accepted-for-the-family-of-klee-benally/
#RestInPowerKleeBenally #RIPKleeBenally #IndigenousActivist
#MutualAid #LandBack #Fundraisers #UraniumMining
#NoUraniumMining #NoUraniumProcessing #EnvironmentalRacism #DefendTheSacred #NoMiningWithoutConsent
