Watch Native American Activists Literally Chase John McCain Off Navajo LandBy Derrick Broze The governor and senator were also meeting with local Navajo officials to discuss their concerns about a new proposal regarding the Little Colorado River rights. Navajo Nation President Russell Begay told the Navajo Times that water was going to be a part of the talks. Were going to talk about it, he told the Times. The message we want to convey to Arizona is a discussion. We want to begin dialogue on securing our claim. McCain has recently received criticism for his role in passing the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange bill as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015. The law allows for the sale of the Oak Flat campground to international mining company, Rio Tinto. Oak Flat is historically important to the San Carlos Apache. MintPress News recently wrote: The Apache Stronghold formed in December in response to a last-minute legislative provision included in the the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015. The provision at issue in the annual Defense Department funding bill grants Resolution Copper Mining, a subsidiary of Australian-English mining giant Rio Tinto, a 2,400-acre land parcel which includes parts of the Tonto National Forest, protected national forest in Arizona where it will create the continents largest copper mine. Some of those lands are considered sacred by multiple Native American communities, including the Oak Flat campground. The area is not recognized as part of the San Carlos Apache Reservation, but it has historically been used by the Apache for trading purposes and spiritual ceremonies. While McCain met with Ducey and the Navajo nation, activists with the Apache Stronghold and other groups and nations rallied outside the museum, holding signs that read McCain = Indian Killer and McCains Not Welcome Here. Eventually, the activists made their way inside the building, locking arms and chanting, Water is life! Inside the museum, John McCain was rubbing elbows with Navajo leaders and snapping photos with the community. One person decided to take an opportunity to confront John McCain with a message about Oak Flat. That person was Adriano Tsinigine. Tsinigine, a high school senior carrying a Protect Oak Flat card, walked up to McCain for a picture. Tsinigine told the Phoenix New Times about his experience: I pulled out my [Protect] Oak Flat card, he says. When McCain noticed it, He took it, looked at it, and threw it back at me. How disrespectful to me and to the Apache people. I fully respect McCain as a veteran . . . and as a POW and for sacrificing [what could have been] his life, but I do not respect him as a U.S. senator. As an elected official, he should listen to all of the voices of people, [even] the people who are protesting against him. Senator McCain would later be interviewed about the Oak flat controversy. Historians have attested to the facts that Oak Flat is not anything to do with sacred grounds, he told 12 News. Several historians have attested to that. I respect peoples right to disagree. As McCain attempted a backdoor exit, the activists chanted in the hallway with their arms linked. Once they noticed McCains convoy making an escape, the group began chasing on foot. They were temporarily blocked by law enforcement but eventually made their way out of the building, chasing the cars as they exited the Navajo nation. Once news reports began circulating that John McCain was chased off Navajo land, the senators office released a response to the Phoenix New Times: Senator McCain was honored to be invited by the Navajo Nation to meet with tribal and community leaders and to speak at the celebration of the Navajo Code Talkers on Friday. It was a great visit and he received a very warm reception from the Navajo community in Window Rock. He certainly wasnt chased off the reservation this small group of young protesters had no practical impact on his productive meetings with top tribal leaders on a range of key issues, including the EPAs recent Gold King Mine spill which threatens to contaminate the Navajo Nations water supply. Despite the senators office denying that the protesters had any practical impact on his meeting, it is clear that a new community of Native activists is on the rise. This is only the latest in the reemergence of an active resistance to the colonization of Native peoples and First Nations. Derrick Broze writes for TheAntiMedia.org. Tune in! The Anti-Media radio show airs Monday through Friday @ 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific. Image credit: Donovan Shortey. Help us fix our typos: edits@theantimedia.org. Shame they did not scalp him, but not much hair. A totally sold out and disgusting excuse for a human. Admiral McCain John, (spawn of Admiral). 2 perfect examples of political prostitution. My pet name for that ball-o-dough? The incredible invisible POW. The fact that mongrels of their ilk virtually die in office speaks volumes about our elections. Mine is Songbird, John McShame. McCain and Ducey shoulda been there to GIVE THE NATIVE AMERICANS BACK ALL THEIR LAND! The only sacred right religious conservatives believe in is the right not to serve cake to gays. They could care less about Native Americans beliefs. Besides, when the money is great enough, most throw their morality and ethics out the window. J McCain nearly sank a US Aircraft Carrier by hot dogging his jet engine while on the deck, causing the loss of 100+ sailors lives, tremendous damage to the ship and then was quickly transferred to another ship.his father being an admiral in the Navy..the man belongs in Jail, not where he currently isand thats only one incident of his..Hero background..what a loser.and a rotten smile to go with the truth..The man is pure fictiona fake. Correct.he actually destroyed 5 jetsHe is responsible for ending the hunt for POWswhy? those who served with him stated as soon as the Vietnamese fisherman picked him out of the waterhe told him, my father is an admiral I the US navyis that why he didnt want to find the POWS who would out him. Damn straight it is. If there are any in this brand-new oligarchy who wonder why were circling the drain, look to the Bidens, McStains, Liebermans. The sewer called a government is so purely evil and corrupt you only get the job based on who you blow not what you know. NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS MATTER.TOO. Natives across this country are still being terrorizedterrorized since 1492rise up and support native americans, Hispanics, blacksall the minorities and poor in this country. Vote for Bernie Sanders..the only candidate who can change this billionaire, corporate capitalist system. The Navajo leaders conveniently forgot his role in the Peabody Mine company strip mining Black Mesa, eh? The video is another example of the police carrying out a role that is opposite to their charter. The Navajo should have their own Navajo police force who escorted multiple-treasonist, senator McCain from Navajo territory. One suspects that his continued presence in congress suggests the falacy of voting machines that are programmed. Keep up Native Americans, now if we can all ban together and act as one so we can set this POS Government straight THEY WORK FOR US not WE WORK FOR THEM!!! Its getting to be a great feeling to see so many WAKING UP TO THIS Slave driven POS Gov. we have had for decades. 