Isn't it a shame how modern convenience can destroy pre-modern culture?

I know the rock he's talking about. The building of a road through the Petroglyphs was a tradjedy. It should have never happened. We as Native Americans understand that what the non-Indians want they usually take by legislation or force, never mind that the Petroglyph Monument enjoyed protection as a national monument. But because Martin Chavez wanted a road through the monument it was distined for removal. Mayor Martin Chavez said he consulted with tribes. I find that hard to believe. Our nation (Jicarilla Apache) agreed to consultations with the city of Albuquerque thinking that the city was really intent on consultation. My view is that for a consultation to be a legal consultation both sides must be able to compromise. That was not the case, the city of Albuquerque had already decided there were going to build a road through and they told us what they had planned. Our delegation (Jicarilla Apache) informed the city of Albuquerque that that one of the rocks we considered sacred and should not moved. Mayor Martin Chavez said that was possible. We then suggested the city move the pathway of the proposed roadway over to the south about a hundred yards to avoid removal of the petroglyphs and rocks we cnsidered sacred. I told city officials that rerouting the road wouldn't add maybe three seconds to the commute to the West Side. There were very few petroglyphs in the area we suggested to the city but city officials already had their plans laid out and wouldn't be deterred. We had our religious leaders with us and they told us of dire consequences that would occur if the rocks were moved. It really sad the rocks had to be moved, we tried to inform the city but they were not in a consultation mood, they told us what they were going to do and made feeble attempts to consult. I told Martin Chavez that he was defacing our church. I said, " What would you do if I rammed a bulldozer into the side of San Francisco De Neri church?" He said, " That would never happen." It's sad that non-Indians can destroy our religious sites and not blink twice about it. Pete Domenici owns a lot of land on the west side and he stands to make a killing out of the developments planned. That's why he advocated that the Petroglyph Monument be taken out of national park protection. It's also sad that the city wouldn't even entertain our ideas about moving the path of the roadway a hundred yards to the south and we wouldn't have had a problem with it. Ultimately, we would have preferred not having a highway through the monument. We've experienced the rath of the Europeans when they want something. They usually take by force and in this case legislation.

In response to David Velarde - I visited Petroglyph Park for the first time June 9, 2006. I was moved by the history and sacred nature of the site. As an immigrant from Ireland ( 30 years ago) I have deep respect for all native peoples, having seen many sites, including Chaco and Hovenweep and Acoma. I have also stayed in Dulce, Kayenta, and the Mescalero reservation. My point is that it is not European against Indian, it is money and power against everyone. Here in Chicago, Mayor Daley is about to pave over a cemetary to build a new runway at O'Hare. There is opposition, but no one doubts it will get done. Our only recourse is the ballot box.

Maybe I was too simplistic and I apologize for that, but all over the world it seems to me that those in power are doing most of the getting and the Natives are getting the shaft. I'm glad you were moved by your visit to those places but don't you think those places would be sacrificed if it weren't so remote and stood in the path of progress, we suggested to Mayor Martin Chavez that he move the path of the road a hundred feet to the south but this action was totally ruled out. I guess they wanted our consultation as a rubber stamp for their degradation.