Nuclear and Indigenous Items of Interest: Corbin's Harney Burial 10 July 16th, 2007 at Battle Mountain,

Monday, May 5, 2008

Corbin's Harney Burial 10 July 16th, 2007 at Battle Mountain,

Western Shoshone leader dies at 87

Corbin Harney, spiritual leader of the Western Shoshone passed away yesterday of cancer, on Turtle Island, Santa Rosa, California. Harney led the successful resistence to stop the Divine Strake, a nuclear testing plan on Shoshone Lands in Nevada earlier this year.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/07/11/18434696.php
An honoring of Corbin & discussion on how UC Berkeley has been in violation of NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act) & excluding Indian people from related dialogue happening behind closed doors. UC Berkeley is holding captive thousands of remains of Native ancestors. Bay Native Circle radio show, KPFA by Maya Orozco, Morning Star Gali, and Tony Gonzalas.
---------------------------------------

Harney, a fixture at anti-nuclear rallies, died Tuesday of complications from cancer near Santa Rosa, Calif., where he had hoped to finish a book, according to his family.
“We have truly lost a lot,” said his nephew, Santiago Lozada, who was with him when he died.
“He was someone who just had this gentle spirit but a steely resolve that people should do the right thing,” Hager said. “He thought people would eventually come around and realize the harm people were doing to Mother Earth.”
“He picked up the remains and gave them a decent burial,” Hager said. “He took a lot of flack from Western Shoshone leaders who said he should have nothing to do with the U.S. government. But I always respected Corbin for doing what, to the Western Shoshone, was not politically correct but in his mind was the right thing to do.”

The family is completing funeral plans, but burial services will be at Battle Mountain Indian Community, where his wife, Marge, is buried.

No comments:

Public Statement by Corbin's Immediate Family

July 10, 2007 (TurtleIsland). Corbin Harney Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone Nation crossed over at 11:00 a.m. this morning in a house on a sacred mountain near Santa Rosa, CA (Turtle Island). He had dedicated his life to fighting the nuclear testing and dumping.

That battle claimed his life through cancer.

According to witnesses present, in the morning fog, the spirits of four Shoshone dog soldiers were outside on horseback before Corbin’s passing. But then one of the Shoshone present, Santiago Lozada, yelled “Tosawi Tosawi!” (White Knife). And then the fog shifted and there were thousands of spirits waiting.

Corbin passed peacefully at the end. He was only worried that he still had more to do. When he finally let go and went with the dog soldiers, Red Wolf Pope, grandson of Rolling Thunder, was present and sang him the Tosawi death song to call the dog soldiers to come take him home. Golden eagles continue to circle the house hours after his crossing.”

True to form Corbin joked around several days ago that he was going to go at 11:00, and kept his promise.

Over his lifetime, Corbin traveled around the world as a speaker, healer and spiritual leader with a profound spiritual and environmental message for all. He received numerous national and international awards and spoke before the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Corbin also authored two books: “The Way It Is: One Water, One Air, One Earth” (Blue Dolphin Publishing, 1995) and a forthcoming book, “The Nature Way”. Numerous documentaries have been made about his work and message.

In 1994, Corbin established the Shundahai Network to work with people and organizations to respond to spiritual and environmental concerns on nuclear issues. He also established Poo Ha Bah, a native healing center located in Tecopa Springs, California. He will be missed but always honored for his work and dedication to traditional ways.

Corbin Harney is descended from generations of Newe (Shoshone) traditional healers and was always grateful for the many extraordinary teachers who shared their knowledge in his lifetime.

Corbin is survived by his daughter Reynaulda Taylor; granddaughters Ann Taylor and Nada Leno; grandsons Keith, Jon and Joel Leno and William Henry Taylor; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and his sister Rosie Blossom’s family and many cousins and other family members as well as many, many friends around the world. Corbin was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, grandparents, uncle, great granddaughter, cousins, and friends. A very special thanks to Patricia Davidson, Corbin’s caregiver in his final months; Dominic Daileda, Corbin’s friend and companion for his support and compassion in hard times, and the family of Dixie and Martin van der Kamp for opening up their home and their hearts to Corbin and his family and friends during his time of need.

Dates and times for services are being made with official announcement to follow. Three day services are planned at the home of Larson R. Bill, So Ho Bee – Newe Sogobe (Lee, Nevada –Western Shoshone Territory) with burial services at Battle Mountain Indian Community, Battle Mountain Nevada.