Tribe Wants Ohio Mound Protected From Wind Farm
Published: October 12, 2009
DAYTON, Ohio
An Indian tribe tells state regulators that plans to build a commercial wind farm in western Ohio pose a threat to an ancient burial mound and steps must be taken to protect it.
The tribe has filed a motion with the Ohio Power Siting Board to intervene in a case involving EverPower Wind Holdings Inc., which has proposed the 70-turbine farm near the city of Urbana.
Gene Park, an elder of the Alabama-based Piqua (PIK’-wah) Shawnee Tribe and an agent for the tribe in Ohio, says the mound was built by ancestors of the Shawnee. He says the state should erect a barrier to protect it from construction of the wind farm.
Michael Speerschneider, director of development for EverPower, says the company is aware of a mound in the area and has no plans to disturb it.
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Reader Reactions
I have a question to pose for all.
Would you like to have these wind turbines built in the following areas:
1. your back yard?
2. at a state park?
3. In a cemetery?
4. At your church?
5. At the horseshoe stadium?
Please answer these questions honestly. I know that I would not like to see them in some of these places. Should locations for these things be determined by what we are interested in? what we don’t like? what we do not understand? How about a nuclear power plant? these are energy producing plants. Should we build them near schools? churches, hospitals? why or why not? Why should it be any different placing turbines near a Native American burial site? These are sacred areas. Just because it is not a Christian based religion shouldn’t it still be recognized? Judisum, Islamic, and many other religions are understood why shouldn’t Native American’s beliefs be?
It all comes back to Baba Dioum and his saying “In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.“
When does it stop? When do we do what is right by others? This is my whole issue with this subject. Until everyone stops thinking only of themselves and takes a minute to look around them for more than just money and what they want, this world will be a sad place to live.
I do not mean to offend anyone but I would like to open the eyes of others and myself included.
Please check out this site for more info on this subject.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OH_WINDMILLS_BURIAL_MOUND_OHOL-?SITE=OHMOU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
it seems that the Natives are more worried about the site being disturbed so they want a wall erected. What would the harm be with that? It would show that the company placing the turbines is interested in preservation of historical sites.
The tribe spokesman also said “I’m not upset about turbines, but they dig great big holes and pour concrete. They have to have an enormous amount of concrete,“ They are going to have earth-movers messing the whole place up.“ I think he is worried about what will become of the mound and the effects of these heavy movers. Just my opinion here though.
Are you sure that the real objection is them being seen? Where did you hear this from? Is it a reliable source? I am no expert on wind turbines but from what I do know there are minimal risks to the environment. Yes, the do have a lubricant in them and a liquid insulation but these items are contained within them with rarely a problem. Wind turbines cause more bird and bat mortality than anything.
In defense of the Natives though, I do not know about this burial site but usually there are more than one mound built in the area around a buried mound. Not all mounds are burial, there is a temple mound and sometimes platform mounds where the people built their homes and lived everyday life. I wonder if maybe the tribe thinks that there are more mounds or remnants of mounds in that area. I also wonder if the Natives are more worried about the land being taken once the first set of turbines are in place(it wouldn’t be the first time land was taken). Another thing about the mound itself that could be an issue is the machinery that is ran in the area and even the erosion issues from moving the soil around. Machinery is heavy and does shake the earth if large enough, this could cause the inner chamber of the burial mound to colapse internally without anyone knowing. Usually a chief or a high priest is buried in an inner chamber and it is air tight. If heavy movement or air enters the chamber it will easily fall inward. This can destroy the body and the artifacts within.
Maybe the tribe is worried that more people will start digging into the mound (this happens all of the time and is ilegal) if the area is opened up to turbines.
I do not know what the case is here but it has piqued my curiousity and I think that I might look into it a little more.
Say what? The turbines will effect the burial site? NO not if they are not built on the land where the site sits which is exactly what the story says. This is someone’s attempt to halt what could be progress in energy by using Indian Mounds as an excuse. No one sait anything about placing them ON an Indian Mound. Just near enough to it for the turbines to be seen. These things can be seen for miles they are pretty tall. That’s what the objection is really about.
As for the bat issue please check out this study.
http://www.batsandwind.org/pdf/ar2004.pdf
Are you guys really serious? It sounds like you are prejudice against Native Americans and bats. I agree that we need to advance with alternate technologies such as wind and solar power. We are behind many different countries in this area. Everyone needs to take a step back and think of what is happening here. If wind turbines are placed in this location it will effect the burial site. These turbines have to be put in place, correct? This means people will be walking, digging, running machines, etc on this site. Once the intial mess is made then the turbines need maintained. If something happens then we will have to walk, dig, run machines on this area again, over time this site will be ruined. If you read the article all the elders want is a barrier constructed around the burial ground to protect the site. He is not saying, no do not build here.
I have an idea!
How about we tear down every church and grave yard and place the turbines there? Why not? A burial ground is very sacred place to a Native American, just as it is to Christians. Maybe instead of tombstones in a graveyard we can place a turbine with the name and dates of the person who died on them. How about if we place these turbines on every sports field or every state or national park? Instead of going to see the Buckeyes play or enjoy a day at Tall Grass Prairies we will just watch the turbines go around and around. It does not make good sense does it? No! A better idea would be to pirchase these old unused farm fields and turn them into turbine areas instead of letting companies purchase them and converting them into subdivisions. The larger picture to be seen is once the burial sites,historical areas, state or national parks are gone we cannot get them back. Let me quote my favorite saying for everyone to think about “In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.“ Baba Dioum
Now with this in mind please take the time to learn a little about things before you start making comments.
I want to let you know that I am a naturalist by profession and have worked with the Forest Service and with the states of Ohio and Indiana. I have worked at Angel Mounds Native American site in Evansville Indiana and I want you to know that you would be very surprised as to what affects a buried ground. Thanks.
I agree with Big Rick. This sounds like just another attempt by those crazy people in Champaign and Logan County to stop Wind Turbines. What are these people thinking? We need wind power to make/keep America strong! There is absolutely no way this wind farm is going to disturb any ancient burial site, just like there is no way any dumb bat in Logan County is going to be affected by using wind turbines there. What do these crazy people want? Another Coal Burning power plant in their back yard? Crazy people like this get away with this crap because others let them. Let’s all get behind wind power, solar power and other new energy methods now before it is too late.
A wind turbine won’t effect the burial grounds. These “tribes” have become big business. Just look at the casinos.
If somomone slides them a check under the table they won’t protest this any longer and will say ancestors have blessed the “Big Wind”.
It’s all about MONEY.
I would be the first to want to protect these burial grounds, but no one seems t have made a compelling case as to why these wind turbines would harm these mounds. It sounds to me like someone just doesn’t want tthese turbines put up.
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