Peace-lovers gather in N.M. forest
Hunter Riley
Issue date: 6/29/09
In an economy like today's, people will do almost anything for extra business.
Cuba, N.M., is going to get a boost from the thousands of people who
are traveling across the country for Rainbow Gathering in the Santa
Fe National Forest, about 30 miles from Cuba.
So far, the gathering has brought 3,000 people from all over the
state and the country to celebrate life, love, world peace and happiness.
According to the Rainbow Gathering's Web site, the Rainbow Family
began gathering in 1972. The first gathering was in Colorado, and
since then it has been held every year in a different national forest
around the country.
The Rainbow Gathering will host a peace celebration on July 4. There
will be prayer and drumming circles along with live music and free, fresh food.
If you plan to go to the gathering, you should come prepared with
food and goods to trade with other Rainbow gatherers.
Noah Kessler lives in Albuquerque and said he is going to attend the
Rainbow Gathering.
"I have been to a couple of the gatherings," Kessler said. "I went to
one in Utah up in the mountains and I went to one in Nevada. My
parents are total hippies so they were into the whole spiritual,
loving and sharing aspect of life, and I guess Rainbow Gathering
really shares those characteristics."
The Rainbow Gathering is a unique festival in that there is no
spokesperson, no organizer, no organized musical shows and no money
involved. According to the Web site and testimonials from many
Rainbow Tribe members, the gathering is a huge effort by attendees to
set up and prepare for the gathering.
Garrick Beck, a member of the Rainbow Family, wrote a piece in 1998
about why people make the effort to attend the gatherings.
"Why should anyone trudge through the woods, shovel in hand, digging
compost pits, or stand long hours in dark miserable weather,
flashlight in hand, directing cars toward parking places, or lug food
in boxes and heavy sacks over mountainous terrain, or scrub large
pots?" Beck wrote. "I mean why would anyone want to do this? And for
no monetary profit?"
"Because it is our great pleasure to live - even briefly - together
in a state of expanded freedom," he wrote. "Because only when we take
personal responsibility for the needs of each other - water, food,
security, fuel, healing, child care and recycling - do we take mature
responsibility for our lives."
Denise Ottaviano, Santa Fe National Forest public affairs officer,
said the Rainbow Family and the National Forest have been planning
and organizing the event since last fall.
"We started meeting with them about potential locations many months
ago," Ottaviano said. "The reason we do that is we want to make sure
the location they choose is one that's not going to damage an
archaeological site, or is an area that has any endangered species or
wild habitats."
The Rainbow Tribe decided at the end of last year's gathering that
the 2009 event would be held in New Mexico, Ottaviano said.
"And in the spring they sent out scouts to look at different places
and different national forests," she said. "They look for a place
that is going to have a water source, and a big open meadow. They
tend to want to be remote because they don't want to be near a town
that they might bother."
Ron Sorrow, owner of Del Prado restaurant in Cuba, said he hasn't
noticed a significant influx of people coming through the town.
Sorrow said law enforcement officers warned business owners there
might be a large increase in customers.
"My cousin owns the Safeway and he is having booming business because
he is the only grocery store in town," he said. "And for the most
part he said it is mostly food stamp purchases. And I think that is
why we're not seeing them in the restaurants, because the type of
individual who is coming out, they don't have any money so they are
purchasing things like camping supplies with food stamps."
Sorrow said there have not been any big problems in Cuba because of
the increased traffic.
"I think we are looking at it just like everything else," he said.
"You have your good and your bad. There is an element of them that
have caused problems in town. I haven't seen any problems, but
panhandling and that type of stuff, but we already have that element
in town anyway."
Sorrow said since most of the visitors go straight up to the camping
grounds in the mountains, he doesn't see most of them.
"I haven't seen an invasion the way (the law enforcement) kept
explaining it," he said. "We haven't had any issues with it, and the
people that we have gotten are like any other customer and that is
how we treat them. The ones in their 30s and above, you can't tell
them (apart) from anyone (else). The younger generation you can tend
to tell more because a lot of them have dreadlocks."
Kessler said people at Rainbow Gathering can join in drumming
circles, prayer circles, dances and other community activities.
"I haven't been to the gathering for four or five years, but I expect
it to be up in the woods and there will probably be some smoking and
drugs," he said. "There are some drugs, but it's also a lot of people
trying to come to their center and discover themselves and their
spirituality. There's an aspect of drugs, but it's not at all a central theme."
Kessler said while there is some drug use at the gathering, many
drugs are frowned upon, such as alcohol and hard drugs like cocaine.
Beck also said in his story that getting to Rainbow Gathering is not
the only trouble the Rainbow Tribe faces.
"(We) face the disapproval of relatives and peers, who see us pouring
whatever economic gain we make during the rest of the year down some
rainbow-colored drain, traveling long distances, dealing with vehicle
problems, supporting a donation cause that feeds and cares for a
multitude; and to what end?" he wrote. "To what purpose for a great
big party in the woods? So some people can go naked and skinny dip?"
Rainbow Gathering
Santa Fe National Forest
outside Cuba
July 1 - 7
Free
For more info visit
welcomehome.org/
--------
Rainbows have permit this year allegedly
http://www.subletteexaminer.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1205
Posted: Monday, Jun 22nd, 2009
BY: Derek Farr
The Rainbows are back.
Not in Sublette County this time they are congregating in central
New Mexico, and this time they have a permit.
Every year, members of the Rainbow Family of Living Light drive,
bike, walk and hitchhike to the North American gathering during the
first week of July.
Last year approximately 7,000 anarchic, nomadic family members
gravitated to the southern Wind Rivers near Big Sandy for the event.
This year's gathering is being held near the quiet ranch town of
Cuba, N.M., elevation 6,906, population 800. The Forest Service (FS)
estimates 600 Rainbows have already arrived in the Santa Fe National Forest.
Last year, many Sublette County residents complained when a U.S.
Department of Agriculture official allowed the Rainbows to stage a
gathering without a permit.
Family members claimed no Rainbow member had the official authority
to take responsibility for the group because the family has no formal
organization or hierarchy.
But this year things have changed, according to FS Public Information
Officer Lawrence Lujan.
"We are following our Forest Service policy to require a commercial
use permit for 75 participants and above," Lujan said. "And (the
Rainbows) have secured a permit."
Lujan said his agency was informed of the site selection less than
three weeks ago. The signed non-commercial permit was issued on June 13.
Lujan refused to name the permit holder, saying the information was
being withheld to protect the individual's privacy.
But California Rainbow member Karen Zirk speaking for herself, not
as a Rainbow representative says no one Rainbow can vouch for the family.
"The group did not file for a non-commercial group-use permit," she
wrote in an email. "We have no way to engage in any legal contact as
a group anymore than people attending a football game can decide to
enter into a legal contract."
She named a Rainbow who was granted a permit "over the objections of
many gathering participants" as the person who signed for the permit.
Last year, Bush administration's Department of Agriculture
Undersecretary Mark Rey allowed the gathering with an operating plan
in lieu of a permit.
But Lujan said the rules are different this year.
"The direction from former undersecretary Mark Rey regarding Rainbows
… pertained to 2007 and 2008."
In fact, since the administration change, there is no Department of
Agriculture undersecretary.
A new year
Last year, FS representatives met with Sublette County residents and
Rainbow Family members two weeks prior to the gathering.
Aside from the permit issue, residents were indignant to learn the
Rainbows' site interfered with a Boy Scout Order of the Arrow project
in the same location. The Scouts had planned their project many
months in advance while the Rainbows made their site selection in the
second week of June without consulting the FS.
Ultimately, the Boy Scouts were forced to abandon their Southern Wind
River project location.
This year's pre-gathering meeting, which attracted 154 people, was
less controversial.
"It turned out very, very well," Cuba Village Clerk Vandora Casados commented.
She said the FS put on a PowerPoint presentation and the Rainbows
gave a talk that "alleviated a lot of fear."
She said some rancher permittees voluntarily moved their cattle to
accommodate the Rainbows.
She also reported that FS law enforcement officers (LEOs) were
present as well.
The perennial enemies of Rainbows, LEOs are typically attached to the
Type 2 Incident Command Team assigned to the gatherings.
Last year, Rainbows and LEOs butted heads in an area known as the
Kiddie Village during an attempted arrest of a family member
suspected of carrying marijuana.
After 10 officers apprehended the suspect, a group of about 400
Rainbows began to harass the LEOs, according to FS reports. Those
reports claimed Rainbows hurled rocks and sticks at the officers but
a series of YouTube videos did not collaborate those reports. Instead
the videos showed LEOs firing pepper-ball rounds into the angry crowd.
John Twiss, then director of Forest Service Law Enforcement and
Investigations, was among those officers.
Labeled a riot, the incident gained considerable notoriety.
But FS Spokesman Lujan said that was in the past.
"This is a new year and a new event," he said. "Our objective is to
ensure a safe event for all involved."
Regardless, not all hatchets have been buried. Rainbow rumors of law
enforcement checkpoints at this year's gathering site have already germinated.
"The LEOs have been escalating their level of violence towards us
year after year," Zirk said. "They have done this for many years
running, so if past behavior is any indicator, I'll guess they're
doing it again."
One year later, Twiss and Rey have moved on to other endeavors, the
Southern Winds are the quiet domain of critters, campers and hikers
and the roads are relatively free of hitchhikers.
And the anarchic gatherings continue just two states away.
--------
Rainbow Family gathering results in citations
http://www.kdbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10575589&nav=menu608_2_3
June 22, 2009
CUBA, N.M. (AP) - Law enforcement officers have recorded more than
370 incidents, including 120 violation notices, over the past week as
people flock to the Santa Fe National Forest for the Rainbow Family
of Living Light's annual gathering.
Forest officials said Monday that 1,500 participants are camped in
the Parque Venado area east of Cuba. In all, between 10,000 and
12,000 people are expected to attend the gathering from July 1-7.
Forest Service spokesman Lawrence Lujan says most of the violation
notices handed out since June 14 are related to alcohol, and drug and
traffic violations. Some of the people who were issued notices were
required to appear Monday in federal court in Albuquerque.
Lujan says officers will continue to monitor the event.
--------
Rainbow family members claim harassment by police
http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S991003.shtml?cat=517
06/22/2009
By: Stuart Dyson
Some attendees of the Rainbow Gathering in the Jemez Mountains say
authorities ruined their vibe when they started handing out citations.
About 80 people who attended the counter-culture event had their day
in court Monday. Most faced citations for minor violations.
Law enforcement officers have recorded more than 370 incidents,
including 120 violation notices, over the past week as people flock
to the Santa Fe National Forest for the Rainbow Family of Living
Light's annual gathering.
Rainbow man Stephen Principle said the crackdown hurt the morale of
some attending the event.
"They start feeling harassed and oppressed - and that vibe starts
building. instead of peace and harmony," he said.
Forest officials said that 1,500 participants are camped in the
Parque Venado area east of Cuba. In all, between 10,000 and 12,000
people are expected to attend the gathering in July.
Forest Service spokesman Lawrence Lujan says most of the violation
notices handed out since June 14 are related to alcohol, and drug and
traffic violations.
Rainbow woman Rozella Bowen says she was unfairly targeted by police.
"I honestly think it was unreasonable because I was pulled over to
the side of the road and when I opened up my door that's what they
cited me because my door was over the road, and they said I was
obstructing traffic," she said.
Authorities say they weren't out to ruin anyone's timethey just want
to keep everyone safe.
Rainbow people say the official start of the gathering is July 1 and
ends July 7, with the big group events on the fourth.
Authorities say they'll keep an eye on the activities.
--------
120 citations, seven arrests at Rainbow gathering
Attorneys say several charges filed by Forest Service agents were
dropped in federal court
Staci Matlock | The New Mexican
6/22/2009
The U.S. Attorney's Office agreed to reduce fines and drop criminal
liability charges filed Monday against more than 50 people attending
the annual Rainbow Family gathering in the Santa Fe National Forest
near Cuba, N.M., according to one of the pro bono attorneys
representing the defendants.
Since June 14, Forest Service law-enforcement officers reported 320
incidents at the Rainbow gathering, including seven arrests and 120
notices of violation for offenses ranging from drug possession to not
wearing seat belts, according to Forest Service spokesman Lawrence
Lujan. The rest were warnings.
Some of the people arrested were local residents from nearby
communities, however, and not Rainbow gatherers, according to
Albuquerque attorney John McCall, who represented some of the defendants.
"We had some local ranchers who were driving their trucks, chasing
down their cows, an open (alcohol) container between their knees and
not wearing their seat belts," McCall said.
McCall said some of the people cited for marijuana possession had
medical marijuana cards. Others were cited for leaving their dogs
off-leash, riding in the back of pickups and leaving a fire unattended.
Garrick Beck, a Santa Fe business owner and public-information
volunteer for the Rainbows, said the citations were an excuse for the
officers to search Rainbow family vehicles and "harass them." The
Rainbow family has no official spokesperson or leader. Instead, it
manages its gatherings through volunteers.
Beck said it was unfair to require the Rainbow gatherers to drive 240
miles round-trip for the hearing when they could have simply paid the
fines by mail.
An estimated 1,500 people were already camped in the Parque Venado
east of Cuba by Monday afternoon, with more arriving daily. Between
10,000 and 12,000 people are expected for the main Rainbow Family
gathering July 1-7.
Beck said the tickets were handed out by a "rogue" group of Forest
Service law-enforcement officers. According to some gatherers, he
said, "this comes as a slap in the face after several months of
successful cooperation between (Rainbow) volunteers and Forest
Service resource officials to assure a safe and legal event."
But Lujan said Beck's take on what happened doesn't match what he's
seen and heard from the campers at the gathering. Lujan noted an
interagency "incident command team" is enforcing federal rules and
regulations at the gathering with cooperation from Rainbow security
volunteers. "They're policing themselves," Lujan said.
McCall was among several attorneys who offered to represent, free of
charge, members of the Rainbow Family and other people cited near the
gathering. He has attended Rainbow gatherings several times in the
last 20 years and wrote his master's thesis in anthropology about the
Rainbow Family and alternative communities in Northern New Mexico.
"The vast majority are wonderful, kind people, kind of like hoboes of
the 1930s," McCall said.
But the gatherers who roam the nation's roads can have problems when
they are busted for an infraction. "One of the issues is that every
year they have a gathering, they have almost no legal representation.
A lot of them live on the road. They don't qualify for a federal
public defender," McCall said.
He said a fresh batch of cases from the Rainbow gathering will be
heard in federal Magistrate Court next Monday.
Beck was among the original group of people at the first Rainbow
gathering in 1972. Thousands of people come together on public lands
each year during the event to pray for world peace and harmony,
according to Beck and unofficial Web sites about the Rainbow Family.
The gatherings attract a variety of people from various backgrounds
and ages. "Some people at the camps are street families and some are
people who have made millions of dollars," Beck said.
The lack of structure and official representatives has put the group
crosswise with the Forest Service in the past, such as who would
negotiate a special-use permit for the gatherings on their behalf.
Beck said from his perspective, his fellow Rainbows are trying to
prove a volunteer community can work. "That is the idealistic
question," Beck said. "Can a group of people come together, feed
their children and manage their hygiene without having any kind of
hierarchy? The Rainbow Family thinks it can."
When something needs to be done at the camps, like chopping firewood
or building a water system, someone asks for volunteers. "No one does
it because they have to, and no one is getting paid," Beck said. "At
camps, you will see teens chopping wood, cleaning dishes, helping
older folks carry packs without being asked. Why? Because we're
teaching them community values, and America needs that."
--
Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.
.
0 comments:
Post a Comment