O’odham Elder and a group of supporters deliver letter demanding HDR Engineering firm do not move forward on Loop 202 until Gila River Indian Community voice is heard.

April 26, 2011

O’odham elder Lori Riddle and a group of supporters delivered a letter demanding HDR Engineering firm do not move forward on Loop 202 until Gila River Indian Community voice is heard.

Please Call HDR and demand that they do not move forward on the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway until the O’odham voice is heard.

HDR, Inc.

(602) 522-7700

3200 East Camelback Road
Suite 350 & Suite 250

Phoenix, AZ85018-2311

US

Here is the statement that was read earlier today:

Dear HDR

South Mountain is a sacred site to the O’odham people, the original people to this land. In both the years 2000 and 2005 the Gila River Indian Community passed resolutions stating that they are against the construction of this freeway. The Community is now working to pass a referendum for a vote and have their opinion on this proposed freeway heard.

We are here today to demand that you do not move forward on this project until the voice of the Gila River Indian Community is heard. We demand that you help assert the Community’s right to a vote on the freeway’s construction and ultimately we demand That you and ADOT be transparent about GRIC’s opportunity of “no build” as an option!

We also demand that you you take your role in completing the Environmental Impact Statement Report for the proposed construction of freeway Loop 202 and your association with the Arizona Department of Transportation seriously. We urge you to strongly consider the environmental and health risks.