Yerington NV – September 30, 2026
Northwest Mason Valley, Nevada — At the foot of the Singatse Mountains in northwest Mason Valley, a group of tribal members from Yerington, Schurz, South Dakota and AIM American Indian Movement began gathering yesterday, September 29th, in response to what they described as the disturbance of a culturally significant site during construction work associated with NV Energy’s Greenlink West transmission project.
Vernon Rogers, respected Elder with the Yerington Paiute Tribe, explained that the area contains sacred and archaeological objects associated with the ancestors of the Yerington Paiute Tribe and has long been known to local tribal members as one of many important cultural areas.
Rogers said tribal representatives had previously notified developers about cultural concerns in the area and had asked that consultation take place directly with the tribe.
According to Rogers, construction activity began in the area Tuesday, with no notification to the tribe. Seeing this, several tribal members drove to the site where an access road had been cut. They placed flags at a location to “stop work” beyond the flags and explained this to the contractors there.
Rogers said that after his group left the site temporarily to attend to paperwork, they returned and found that additional earthwork had taken place. “We told them that we didn’t want them to proceed anymore, but they went ahead and did it,” Rogers said.
Following the discovery of sacred objects at the site, Rogers said he contacted the lead archaeologist for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and explained what had occurred. Rogers said he told the archaeologist that tribal members intended to conduct a seven-day ceremony at the site and wanted construction activity stopped during the ceremony.
According to Rogers, the work was subsequently shut down and equipment was left at the site.
“We’re here in direct action opposing what they’re doing,” Rogers said.
A Place of Cultural Significance
The exact nature of the objects at the site was not discussed in detail during the interview. Rogers referred to archaeological objects in the surrounding area and said tribal members have known about them since childhood.
He said tribal members have asked that cultural objects discovered during development be returned to the tribe rather than placed in storage or museums.
“We’d rather take care of it ourselves,” Rogers said.
Rogers and other participants also discussed the tribe’s efforts to establish a cultural center and museum where returned cultural materials could be cared for and where members of the broader community could learn about Native American culture.
The Seven-Day Ceremony
Josh ‘Numu’ Dini, is the executive director of the nonprofit organization Prayer Horse, Inc., a Native-led nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Indigenous cultural traditions, sacred lands, and environmental health in the Great Basin and across the United States.
Dini lives in Schurz, Nevada where the Walker River Paiute Tribe is based, and has relatives in other tribes including the Yerington Paiute Tribe. He emphasized the importance of cooperation among tribal communities in Nevada and beyond, noting that members of different tribes have family and cultural connections extending across traditional territories.
The seven-day ceremony is intended to connect the land, the people and the elements. “The four sacred elements are fire, water, wind, and earth,” Dini said.
Dini explained that the ceremony is not simply a response to construction activity, but part of the community’s responsibility to continue prayer, cultural practices and protection of sacred places.
He said that even when development cannot be stopped, tribal members can continue to conduct ceremonies and protect cultural knowledge.
“We here to do our part,” Dini said.
Flags, Tobacco Ties and Prayer
At the site, colorful flags and tobacco ties had been placed. Vernon Rogers explained that the colors and materials have cultural & spiritual significance and represent elements of the Earth. A small fire burns during the ceremony, watched carefully by individuals.
Dini said tribal members had gathered for sunrise prayers earlier in the day and planned to remain at the location for the seven-day ceremony.
The gathering included tribal members, cultural advocates and others who described themselves as allies.
Greenlink Projects
The location is part of the larger Greenlink West transmission project, which is being developed by NV Energy.
Across the valley, transmission infrastructure and the Walker River Substation is being constructed next to the existing Fort Churchill Substation.
Greenlink West, which has been under construction since February 2025, will connect the Northwest Substation north of Las Vegas, to the Walker River Substation near Yerington, Nevada, and the Mira Loma and Comstock Meadow Substations near Reno, Nevada.
Separately, Greenlink North, which has not been approved by the Bureau of Land Management, will connect the Robinson Summit Substation near Ely, Nevada, to the Walker River Substation.
Neither of these projects will connect to a data center in the Yerington, Nevada area.
The immediate concern for this group was the ground beneath them and what they said could be disturbed as construction continues.
Dini said cultural monitoring will remain important as work progresses through other valleys and areas containing potentially significant sites.
“There’s going to be other sacred objects and sites over these next few valleys,” he said.
A Broader Concern
The conversation eventually expanded beyond the immediate construction activity to the broader question of how development projects affect tribal cultural resources, water, land and traditional practices.
Rogers said tribal members have repeatedly found themselves having to educate government agencies and outside companies about the cultural importance of the land.
He said tribal governments can change leadership over time, making cultural education an ongoing process.
Dini said organizations such as Prayer Horse, Inc. are intended to help bridge those changes and bring tribal communities together around common concerns.
He said the organization works with tribes throughout the region and has also connected with tribal communities elsewhere in the country facing similar issues.
The participants said their concerns extend beyond any single project.
For them, the Greenlink West construction is part of a much larger transformation taking place across the Mason Valley and surrounding areas.
“This all ties together,” one participant said during the discussion.
Looking Toward the Future
Despite the frustration expressed at the site, the gathering also focused on preserving cultural knowledge for future generations.
Rogers said plans for a cultural center could provide a permanent place for tribal members to care for cultural materials, teach younger generations, and help members of the surrounding community better understand the area’s history.
The participants also emphasized that tribal members and community allies can continue working together even when development projects move forward.
As construction equipment remained idle nearby, the group continued its prayers and ceremony.
For those gathered beneath the Singatse Mountains, the seven-day ceremony represents more than a response to one construction site. It is also an effort to maintain a connection between the land, cultural traditions and the generations who came before them.
From Josh Numu Dini on Day 2 Thursday, October 1, 2026:
Prayer Horse Direct Action Camp: morning earth teachings and ceremony.
Sunrise prayer at 6:30am and holding down camp for the rest of the day! Thank you all for all your support and I want to thank those who came up and sat with us! – Numu
From Josh Numu Dini on Day 3 Friday:
Schurz Education Department and kids came out today to support and hear stories about the land, another beautiful day at the Prayer Horse Direct Action Camp!
A grandfather brought his grandson out to see the tipi and the camp! Tony wanted to show his grandson that it’s ok to stand up for what you believe in and the protection of your land. Thank you Tony for coming out.
Prayer Horse Direct Action Camp:
Vernon ‘Birdman’ Rogers shares a li’l story and singing the earth song!
From Josh ‘Numu’ Dini on Saturday, October 3, 2026 – Day 4:
Pesa awamooa’a E Numudoo’e
Prayer Horse – Direct Action Camp
Today’s wind teachings and ceremony.
Humans today take wind/ air for granted, we have to remember that’s our breath of life! Calling on our surrounding communities to come out and pray with us, our stand is for survival for all humanity and our next generations, thank you all for your prayers and support!
From Josh ‘Numu’ Dini on Sunday, October 4, 2026 – Day 5:
Prayer Horse Direct Action Camp -The next few days we’ll be praying for the land, the water and the people for healing and protection on all our ancestral lands. Surrounding communities – come out and pray with us, together we’re stronger!
Yerington Paiute Tribal Elder Vernon ‘Birdman’ Rogers singing our grandfather’s aka ghost dance song.
Horse relatives came to help with our prayers to protect and heal our lands.
It was beautiful to have the horses present.
Sunset at the Prayer Camp, October 4, 2026. Photo by Sheri Potts.
Monday, October 5, 2026 – Day 6:
Daily, Sheri Potts travelled from Reno to Mason Valley for the Prayer Camp.
Sheri wrote:
Pesa awamooa’a e numudooe sootuhi.
Pulled over side of road to share the blessed moment of the sunrise com’n up prayer/song. A’ho.
Monday traffic delayed me in my way of travels today. Then hwy patrol pulls up behind me. I tell him I’m enjoyed the sunrise com’n up ‘n I thanked him for checkin’ on me.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 – Day 7:
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – Day 8:
Thursday, October 8, 2026 – Day 9:
Yerington Paiute Tribe Elder Vernon ‘Birdman’ Rogers explaining what the Yerington Paiute Tribe YPT is standing up against, and requesting/demanding consultation with YPT BEFORE any ground is ever broken. Rogers emphasized that consultation is a direct, face-to-face meeting between planners & developers INCLUDING tribal leaders…not an email.
YPT Elder Birdman. Photo & video by Gabbi Gourdin.
From Hoka Wicasa on Friday, October 9, 2026 – Day 10:
“CALL TO ACTION – YERINGTON PAIUTE TRIBE – PRAYER HORSE INC
DAY 10 of the direct action
TODAY THE CAMP WAS HONORED BY COUNCIL-MEMBERS WITH THE FLAG!
We are still here!! As long as the grass grows and the rivers flow this here land is our home!!”
Saturday, October 10, 2026 – Day 11:
From Numu Dini: Prayer Horse Inc. stands in solidarity with the Yerington Paiute Tribe LAND BACK.
Bureau of Land Management stop selling or giving away our Numu lands. We say no to Green Link energy, AI Data centers, and flock cameras. We are here to protect our lands of the Great Basin and our history for the next generations. Thank you all for your prayers and support.
West Wabuska cultural site action camp:
Sunrise prayer was beautiful this morning.
Prayers up against the destruction of our Numu lands for profit, LAND BACK.
– Numu Dini
Sunday, October 11, 2026 – Day 12 at the Prayer Horse Direct Action Camp:
Gabbi Gourdin reports (and shared photos): On Day 12, we are here standing strong for the ancestors.
From Josh ‘Numu’ Dini on Monday, October 12, 2026 – Day 13:
At Direct Action at west Wabuska cultural site: Prayer Horse Inc. standing in solidarity with Yerington Paiute Tribe and standing strong in prayers for the land, water, people and the next generation. If you can and are able to come out, come offer your prayers! I love each and every one of you, my relatives. – Numu
Hoka Wicasa offers prayer through song. Photo by Numu Dini.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 – Day 14 at Prayer Horse Direct Action Camp in Mason Valley NV:
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 – Day 15:
From Hoka Wicasa: CALL TO ACTION -YERINGTON PAIUTE TRIBE -NORTHERN NEVADA
DAY 15 OF MAN VS MACHINE
Today we get national attention on our fight against the data company and their subcontractor, who without a permit and no consultation with tribal sovereignty, started to dig on a “district of artifacts” over hundreds of documented artifacts…too many to document. So the archaeological firm labeled the site as a “district”. Now upon our own investigation we discovered burial sites! Only a true Paiute know what to look for, stones formed in a certain pattern all around the base of the foothills. Elders said it was how they buried their dead.
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