Nuclear and Indigenous Items of Interest: Nuclear waste foe sought burial at Yucca Mountain

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Nuclear waste foe sought burial at Yucca Mountain

STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Joe Egan Attorney, who died May 7, wrote waste would be "buried here only over my dead body" -- Combative to the end, the attorney who led Nevada's legal fight against nuclear waste said his ashes would be scattered at Yucca Mountain.

In an obituary he wrote before he died on May 7, Joe Egan said he arranged for his remains "to be spread across the volcanic terrain."

The scattering, he wrote, would be accompanied by a eulogy: "Radwaste buried here only over my dead body."

Egan, 53, died of gastro-esophageal cancer, his family said, after he battled the disease for more than two years. A memorial Mass and a remembrance service are scheduled for May 22

Egan was Nevada's lead attorney since 2001 in lawsuits against the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. The obituary is posted at www.nuclearlawyer.com, the Web site of the firm, Egan, Fitzpatrick & Malsch, PLLC.

A spokesman for the firm said when or how Egan's wishes would be carried out was unclear. The Department of Energy, which controls access to the Yucca Mountain site, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, had no comment.

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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.