Over a Decade of Resistance - Dedicated to Breaking the Nuclear Chain
Shundahai is a Newe (Western Shoshone) word meaning "Peace and Harmony with all Creation"

Who we are

Our story – over a decade of resistance

This page is under construction. The text has not been updated since 2002. Please check back soon.

Shundahai Network is a collective of dedicated activists who work with a broad network of people and organizations to respond to pressing environmental, nuclear, and Native issues and to ensure that Native voices are heard and heeded in the movement to shape US nuclear and environmental policies.

Shundahai Network was formed at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site at the request of Corbin Harney, an Elder and Spiritual Leader from the Newe (Western Shoshone) Nation. Corbin is also a traditional healer and grass roots political activist, who has experienced first hand the results of decades of radioactive fallout and contamination from the nuclear weapons testing program.

The Nevada Test Site is located in Newe Sogobia, the sacred ancestral lands of the Newe Nation. On these sacred lands over 1000 nuclear weapons test were conducted and continuously nuclear waste shipments are being dumped in unlined trenches In these times of growing apathy towards political activism, Corbin's honest words serve to inspire and motivate people. He says " All living things need us, the water needs us, the rocks need us, the plant and animal life need us to work together, pray together, laugh and cry together for the healing of our Mother Earth." It is important that we continue helping Corbin in spreading this vital message, urging a unified response to many current environmental, economic, political and spiritual crisis's. Corbin's committed work inspires people to put aside their differences and work together to protect Mother Earth.

History

In November of 1994, Corbin saw a need for a watchdog group group, initially based in Washington D.C.,to strengthen the network of activists working on nuclear, environmental and indigenous sovereignty issues. While in Washington beside nuclear issues, Shundahai Network was also involved in human right, labor, environmental, and peace organizations.

We moved to Nevada at the end of 1996. With the recent signing of the "Comprehensive" Test Ban Treaty , starting of sub critical nuclear weapons tests and many developments in the nuclear waste arena, we feel that it is important for us to be based in Nevada. If funding allows, we will keep a desk at a shared office in Washington DC to facilitate our continued work with the groups based on the East Coast. Over the last few years, we have enjoyed close working relationships with many organizations and individuals in Washington, DC. We will work to maintain these ties within the nuclear abolition community

After almost three years in Las Vegas, Nevada, Shundahai Network is in a better position to further our year 2000 goals. We look forward to working on outreach and tours as well as being more active in the grass roots organizing with local Las Vegas people and groups.

We have a window of opportunity in Las Vegas we will work to bring together the existing local anti-dump sentiment with the anti-testing movement. The most nuclear activity at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) is the transportation and dumping of radioactive waste and the continued testing of nuclear weapons and public opinion strongly opposes this!

A huge percentage of people now living in Las Vegas have moved there since the last full scale nuclear weapon test in 1992 and few are aware of the current subcritical nuclear weapons tests.

What is needed is a concerted, energized public education and action campaign connecting the issues of nuclear waste transportation and the current plans of continuing nuclear weapons "subcritical" tests at the NTS. Just as important is the stopping of the Yucca Mountain high level nuclear waste repository and the planned transportation on high level nuclear waste through 43 states on our major highways and railroad systems.

We need to honor the Newe (Western Shoshone) demand to participate fully in all future decisions regarding the Test Site. We need to close the Nevada Test Site.

 

Corbin Harney Out Reach

Since the release of his first book The Way It Is, Corbin has continuously been on the road leading Healing Ceremonies and participating in a diverse range of conferences and events. He has given presentations to hundreds of groups around the world, including the White House, various US government agencies and the British Parliament.

Corbin Harney has just recently completed his second book, "The Nature Way", in which he shares the traditional knowledge that his people, the Newe, have followed since time immemorial. "The Nature Way" gives deeper insight into Corbin's early life, the teachings of his grandmother and the ways in which he learned to rely upon nature for his survival.

By talking about the importance of all life on this Mother Earth, Corbin inspires us to return to "the nature way," so that we can "start taking care of the land, beautifying our land, helping each other, sharing things together, then we can do a beautiful thing"

Visits to Russia, Kazakhstan, England, Okinawa, Germany, Puerto Rico have allowed Corbin to learn first hand of the effects of the Nuclear Chain on people of many countries. The late 90's  and 2000 through 2002 saw visits to Tahiti ,Japan, Holland and Germany along with visits 200 other events all over US. Corbin is currently preparing for 2003's extensive travels ,gatherings and actions.

1999 also saw the realization of Corbin's dream to create a traditional healing center. Poo-Ha-Bah a Native American Center for Traditional Healing in Tecopa, CA. was realized with help from the Seventh Generation Fund The projected opening date has not be determined at this time due to extensive renovations work. Poo-Ha-Bah is a Shoshone word meaning "Doctor Water". Corbin also appeared on the Tribal Waters Cd with his Sunrise Ceremony "Water Song" If you would like to schedule an event please contact us.

Shundahai Network Accomplishments

• Arranged for Corbin Harney to attended conferences as a keynote speaker and conduct speaking tours in Puerto Rico, Okinawa, Japan, Tahiti, Germany, Finland, Holland, and logged over 30,000 miles in the United States.

• Organized 1996 International Nuclear Abolition Summit at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Peoples Nuclear Abolition Summit in 2002

• Coordinated the 1996 East Coast and West Coast "Don't Waste America" Nuclear Waste Cask Tours which were held at the same time

• Hosted numerous Indigenous delegations from Big Mountain, Arizona, Ward Valley, California, Australia, and Taiwan. We are a rest stop in the desert for traveling elders and activists.

• Opposed D.O.E's Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program to modernize the nuclear weapons industry. We are currently involved with a coalition of 39 organizations which won the lawsuit against D.O.E. to stop this plan. The D.O.E. has agreed to establish a $6.25 million fund for outside reviews of the agency's nuclear weapons site cleanup programs .Shundahai Network was one of the original plaintiffs

• Fiscal sponsor for the 1999 - 2001 Indigenous Anti-Nuclear Gatherings at Yucca Mountain

• Worked with Seventh Generation Fund, Indigenous Environmental Network,The Western Shoshone National Council, Citizen Alert Native American Project, and the Western Shoshone Defense Project to provided logistical support for:
  • 1997- 2000 Indigenous Anti-Nuclear Gatherings at Yucca Mountain
  • 1997-2001 Spring Western Shoshone National Council Gatherings in Northern NV
  • 1998 & 1999 Indigenous Environmental Network National Gatherings
  • The 1999 Gold, Greed and Genocide Conference in Grass Valley , CA

• Conveners in US Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons for the Direct Action Group and Indigenous Peoples Organizing and Concerns Group

• Organized a gatherings,action training camp and encampment at Nevada Test Site Peace Camp every year since 1997

• Provided logistical support and outreach for the Native-led occupation of the proposed Ward Valley nuclear waste dump. Ward Valley has been declared a victory, when the governor's withdrawing the land permit

• Strengthen by providing logistical and organizing resources for the gatherings at NTS.

• Held five consecutive annual "Nuclear Fools Day Parade's" in Las Vegas.

• Supported and assisted in the creation of Las Vegas Food Not Bombs to serve food to the homeless and promote social spending over military build up. Food Not Bombs has been serving the homeless for two years .

• Sent crews of activists with Corbin and the mock nuclear waste cask to Utah to support the Native coalition to resist a nuclear dump on the Goshute-Shoshone Reservation. We also traveled to New Mexico and Arizona in support of local organizations doing public education on nuclear waste transportation fallacies

• Developed a strong local coalition to oppose the subcritical nuclear weapons tests. Direct Actions, demonstrations, and public education campaigns have accompanied each test.

• Created and maintain a world-class web site. Began and have maintained an Action Alert E-mail list .

• Won an permanent injunction in the Federal lawsuit against the City of Las Vegas to pass political flyers, get petition signatures and to be able to table and do public outreach in Downtown Fremont St Experience. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against the city of Las Vegas. The civil rights group argued that a 1995 ordinance creating the pedestrian mall and giving downtown casinos broad control over the area is unconstitutional.

• Participated in numerous TV and Radio talk shows and 20professional documentary films on nuclear issues. In the past , Corbin Harney and other Shundahai Network representatives have appeared on NBC Nightly News, in over 70 local TV news stories, 175 newspaper articles, and are featured regularly in several magazines.

• Attended numerous public meetings, scoping activities, environmental impact statement and citizen advisory boards.