Treading on a Shrine - Sand Mtn.

[Crowdog]

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar.../508140301/1053

 

Treading on a Shrine

 

Sacred site now an ATV playground

 

Maxim Kniazkov

For the Coloradoan

 

Rochanne Downs, a member of the council of the local Paiute-Shoshone tribe, says that for tribal members, the mountain is the same as a church. She says the tribe does not demand the return of the dune, just a suspension of ATV traffic for two months every year.

 

SAND MOUNTAIN, Nev. - Rochanne Downs has trouble explaining it even to her own children.

 

If going to the mountain is a big taboo, how come hundreds of total strangers careen every weekend over it in their buggies and all-terrain vehicles?

 

"I really have not been able to come up with a credible explanation," she shakes her head in disbelief.

 

Is it because most of them don't believe in God? Or because their God may not the same as the one worshipped by Paiute people?

 

No answer. Either from the riders, or the Paiutes, or the mountain. When strong wind whips up its white sand, the dune emits just a monotonous, high-pitched wail.

 

"Yes, it can sing. But it's not really the mountain," Downs explains. "It's Kwasi the serpent hissing."

 

It lived with the Paiute people centuries ago, when western Nevada was just emerging from under massive Lake Lahontan, a remnant of the ice age, the legend goes.

 

The serpent came out of a burrow in the Stillwater Mountains and traveled with his spouse all around what is now western Nevada

[Crowdog]

More Details and Boycott Fox Peak Info Edited August 15, 2005 by Crowdog

[Bansh88]

Fuckin rediculous. Will someone call up the Chief and let him know the Stone Age is over! Bloody Savages.

[Travis's Banshee]

If it generated cash for them, they'd want to keep it open. Maybe they should change the name to Casino Mountain.

 

Seems like no ground is sacred here in Oklahoma if its eligble for a Casino.

[Cotton eyed Joe]

Revving up their engines, they rush to the top of the dune, make a breathtaking U-turn practically at its crest, and plunge back down the slope, leaving a mini-sandstorm in their wake.

 

On long weekends, the mountain located about 25 miles east of Fallon, resembles an anthill, with several hundred vehicles mercilessly plying its sides and clusters of

agitated watchers cheering below.

 

 

OH SWEET JESUS!! My dad has joked about this for years, but it almost sounds like someone is pissed that we are ruining the fucking sand.

Fuckin sand.

 

"Its popular, so lets stick our hands in it too. See if we can make some money." is what I got out of the article.

 

The thing at the end about one day there might be a casino there...

fuck...he knows thats what he's after. Thats why he thinks he shouldn't be saying this. He's giving away what they plan on doing.

[Crowdog]

Indian land in Nevada isn't worth as much for casinos....

[DIABLO BANSHEE]

these indains or the dumbest mother f-ckers i've heard of.if they closed sand mountain,half the economy in fallon would drop,what,do these dumd shits think people drive all the way to fallon to go to the casinos when reno is 1.5 hours closer to anything.ya way to go Tonto.

[Travis's Banshee]

these indains or the dumbest mother f-ckers i've heard of.if they closed sand mountain,half the economy in fallon would drop,what,do these dumd shits think people drive all the way to fallon to go to the casinos when reno is 1.5 hours closer to anything.ya way to go Tonto.

406449[/snapback]

 

Tell us how you really feel

[Bansh88]

Indians crack me up. They wont shut up about how the white man came in and destroyed the land. The talk about the "oneness with nature" that the Indians have.

First chance they get, they bulldoze the place, put in a 4,000 car parking lot, giant casino, cause traffic congestion, light up the night and then become "self-reliant" off the gambling habits of others.

[Ducman]

I'm sure the indians did pray there... Pray that they could make it past that area with out dieing of thirst or starving because there aint shit out there and indian could eat or drink. I call B.S. on the sand church for indians. If anybody has had a religious experience there is was me, the first time I climbed the steep ass main mountain on the banshee and went over the razor on top to go down the other steep ass side. I prayed like a Nun in church that I didn't get stuck before I went over the razor. Put a hotel casino there so I dont have to drive 25 miles back to town, drain my wallet, and fuckin call it even bitch!

[SANDSTAR]

Is sand maountain on a reservation?

 

If not, they don't stand a chance.

[fast500#12]

no it's not on the reservation. i go out there all the time and have never seen any indians out there to pray or what ever other than shooting thier fat asses up the hill right beside me on thier quads. then again i don't think that they wear feathers any more.