Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Advocates for clean water have reached a settlement with a north Idaho business over stormwater that’s discharged into a tributary to the Spokane River.
Spokane Public Radio’s Steve Jackson reports.
CHS Incorporated deals with transporting fertilizer and agricultural chemicals.
The company was found to have violated a stormwater permit, by allowing runoff that contained excessive sediment, and minerals such as copper and zinc, to flow into Rock Creek, a tributary of Hangman Creek.
The Coeur d Alene Tribe and the Spokane Riverkeeper told the company they planned to sue, and after negotiations, a settlement was reached.
Spokane Riverkeeper Jerry White says CHS agreed to modify a basin where the stormwater is collected.
The company also agreed to put $152,000 into a fund that aids Coeur d’Alene Tribe environmental projects.
“The Coeur d’Alene tribe is doing amazing work, and will do amazing work with this fund to intercept and stop pollution with the creek restoration they are doing above this facility.”
White says the work will help benefit chinook salmon and redband trout.
Both types of fish were hurt by the sediment and minerals in the plant’s runoff.
Courtesy: History Colorado
A Cochiti Pueblo artist is showcasing his latest work at a museum in Colorado, using contemporary art to blend historic events with futuristic elements.
Emma VandenEinde of the Mountain West News Bureau has more.
The year is 2180.
The New Mexico pueblos are under attack by Spanish invaders.
Two leaders in metallic combat gear – Omtua and Catua – are going to each Pueblo to share the news about an uprising.
That’s the premise of Virgil Ortiz Revolt 1680 2180: Runners and Gliders.
The new exhibit at Denver’s History Colorado museum blends augmented reality and futuristic fashion with more than 800-year-old pottery.
It’s an artistic expression that’s based on the true story of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
“It’s America’s first revolution, but it’s not called that or taught that because of the bloodshed.”
That’s Virgil Ortiz, lead artist on the project.
His ancestors told him about how tribal runners coordinated the revolt against the Spanish using knotted deer hide.
“At each pueblo, they dropped off a knotted cord to all the leaders and they instructed them to untie one knot every morning. So on the the day when the last knot was untied, then all the people rose up and pushed out the invaders.”
Experts call it the most successful Indigenous uprising in North American history, even though it has rarely been taught in schools.
“So I’m trying to educate globally about what happened to our people, the atrocities of bloodshed and eventually the peace that came after it, but using art.”
But this isn’t your average exhibit.
It explores the concept called Slipstream, where events in the past, present and future are occurring at the same time.
Wren Batista modeled for the exhibit.
“I’ve got this awesome silver crocodile skin patterned chest piece on with a spiky sort of headdress coming out of the back. And it’s all very sci-fi and transformative.”
The exhibit also features a projection room with colored lights, Indigenous symbols and characters searching for artifacts.
Batista says the layout of the exhibit shows that Indigenous history transcends time.
“That heritage has survived on despite the violence, despite the colonialism against them. And so to see it finally being socially relevant, to see voices like Virgil’s being highlighted by history centers is such an awesome turn of tides.”
Tune in to our next episode for part two and hear how the exhibit has made an impact on visitors
Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our newsletter today.
