Roberta Blackgoat

Roberta Blackgoat (1918-2002) was a traditional Navajo grandmother and matriarch who lived her entire life near Big Mountain in northeastern Arizona. Her hogan was located on the present day Hopi reservation in an area where coal has been mined for over a century.

For several decades, Roberta was at the forefront of the movement to resist the forcible expulsion of the native people from their traditional lands put in place by a “relocation” bill (authored by John McCain in 1974) that through the years has resulted in over 15,000 Navajo and Hopi being evicted in order to provide increased access for Peabody Mine coal operations (maneuvers still being executed today).  Roberta believed that she was placed on the land by the Creator at the altar of the sacred San Francisco Mountains and that the coal is Mother Earth’s liver, not to be disturbed for any reason.  As she told numerous officials, “Only the Creator can relocate me!” and traveled worldwide to further her people’s cause.

On March 31, 1997, Roberta Blackgoat spoke at a vigil, explaining that she and all her children were born in the place where she was currently living. “I know each tree, each plant that grows right there. And they know me. The children, grandchildren, great grandchildren need to be right there. We need them to get back to the land and live on our ancestors’ land.” She said that the “relocatees” [sic] die of “worrines,” [sic] missing their traditional food and not knowing where to go to pray. About the “Accommodation Agreement and Relocation”, Blackgoat said, “As long as I live, I’m not going to sign.”

Roberta indeed never signed and - against all odds - lived on her land until the day she died.  In a tribute following her demise the Arizona House of Representatives proclamed - “Roberta Blackgoat traveled throughout the world telling about the plight of Navajo families who wanted to stay on land they were born on. She also talked about civil, religious and human rights of the indigenous population. In the end, Roberta Blackgoat could be stopped by the passage of time, but not by any government. She always said that someday we are going to be called back, and when the call comes, we will return back to Mother Earth. Now, she's back with Mother Earth and her Maker. She walked in beauty through her life. We praise her life.”

I accompanied Roberta in many of her travels for over a decade and often visited her hogan - bringing food, clothing and goods collected by friends on her behalf. On one of these visits Roberta asked for eagle feathers and cedar, (both powerful medicine of her people) as she had prayers to make to the Creator. (Although the eagle is protected by the Bald Eagle Protection Act, federally recognized Native Americans are able to possess these feathers inveterate to their culture). I returned a few days later with both.

Roberta’s hands reached for and encircled these magical objects, and I suddenly saw a rare photo opportunity. I asked if I could take a picture of her hands holding the eagle feathers. She replied in her soft, raspy voice “Yes, but after I get them blessed by a medicine person, you can’t again - that camera will turn off the medicine like a light.” and then gestured her hand as if a light switch was being turned off. I was blessed to capture a most powerful image of an extraordinary woman, which I entitled “Prayer for Mother Earth”.

Through my years with her, I made just a few other images, one of which – “Headed Home” – is Roberta leading her flock of sheep back from the watering hole – nine miles away. (All of the watering holes closer to her hogan had been depleted through the years by the mines, the water used for pumping coal slurry through the pipeline). You’ll notice a person on the horse trailing behind Roberta – this was a young college student working with her for the summer (who couldn’t quite walk the 18 mile round trip)…

Roberta’s non-violent, steadfast resistance became an example…and a symbol of hope, struggle, and justice for people throughout the world. She was broadly recognized for her humanitarian efforts, including the receipt of the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Award “I Have a Dream” on behalf of the Sovereign Dineh Nation.

In 1994 Roberta was named "America's Unsung Woman" by the National Women's History Project, for her 20 year leadership in the environmental and human rights struggle on Black Mesa.

Roberta Blackgoat died in 2002 - an extraordinary woman, possessed of a heart which outshone the sun and the determination of a warrior. Yet her energy is still very much present, revealed in these photographs - and in the efforts of all of those courageous enough to champion for human rights and environmental preservation. It is my hope that these images inspire your life as Roberta Blackgoat inspired mine.