Dinè CARE Citizens Against Ruining
our Environment
Dinè
CARE (Dinè is the Navajo word Navajos use to refer to themselves)
is an all-Navajo (except me, but I'm only a consultant) environmental organization,
based within the Navajo homeland. Dinè CARE strives to educate and
advocate for Navajo traditional teachings as they protect and provide a
voice for all life in the Four Sacred Mountains. Dinè CARE promotes
alternative uses of natural resources that are consistent with the Dinè
philosophy of Beauty Way. Our main goal is to empower local and traditional
people to organize, speak out and determine their own destinies.
One
of our current projects is mapping the Sanostee region of the Chuska Mountain
forests. Although our GIS database is incomplete we have created some preliminary
maps showing vegetation and hydrography of the Sanostee forest landscape.
Our Sanostee data includes a 1993 Landsat satellite image, which when classified
will show the most recent view of vegetation land cover. Hydrography, forest
stands, roads, GAP, DEM and boundaries are also included. We are receiving
a new, detailed digital soils layer from the BIA. When completed, the land
cover map will be more detailed and updated then what the NN Forestry Department
is currently using. This project is important to the people of Sanostee,
who are challenging Navajo forestry's assessment of the forest's condition.