Three days before Christmas, John Grant Yusak was evicted from the closest thing he'd had to a home in months.
It was a storage locker.
It was the end of a six-month journey that took Yusak from his truck to an airport waiting room to an all-night bus circuit, as he tried every option he could find to avoid ending up at a #homeless shelter after a previous bad experience.
This hits home for me. I worked with Klee's family and provided #MutualAid when I was reporting on #BigMountainResistance years ago. My heart goes out to the Benally family and all those whose lives he touched. #RestInPower Klee. Link to fundraisers via #IndigenousAction at the end of the post.
"Our hearts are broken by the sudden passing of our friend Klee Benally. Reflecting on Klee's life, we remember the words of #CheGuevara that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.
"Klee never surrendered, he never surrendered to #capitalism, the media, or the forces of conformity that sought to change who he was.
"Ultimately, Klee taught us to regain our power, regardless of the road that led us to the present.
"#LouiseBenally, #Dine' of Big Mountain, said, 'Klee was our spokesman and leader. His departure only means we have to rise and carry on the work for justice for #nature and humanity. I will miss him Greatly and Honor him highly.'
"His roots come from Big Mountain, grandson of the late #RobertaBlackgoat.
"'He was an honorable young leader, well respected and moved with a lot of compassion. My nephew brother and my leader. A truly beautiful and amazing person who really lived up to his beliefs, and was not driven by money but by needs and concern, a real warrior.
"'He was our shining Star, he will continue to shine on us from the other side.
"'He always honored me, I will miss that,' Louise said.
"#MichelleCook, Dine', said, "We are deeply saddened and shocked by the news of the passing of our beloved warrior Klee Benally. We ask for prayers for his family during this time. For decades Klee led an uncompromising position, for the liberation of our peoples and lands developing and synthesizing an embodied praxis of #Indigenous-based political, economic, and social resistance against all forms of #SettlerColonialism that degrades people and the planet.
"Klee was our North Star guiding with his heart and mind. While some may not have shared his positions, no one can question his dedication, determination, and sheer drive to protect his people despite the risks and danger.
"He risked his life through forms of #CivilDisobedience and #DirectAction to protect our Dook’o’oosłiid, #HolyMountain, from development to maintain our ceremonial practices and way of life.
"Klee taught us all to be brave to fight against #genocide, the co-optation of our movements by the non-profit #IndustrialComplex. To be steadfast in what is right and wrong. To honor our ancient law and the sacred teachings of our ancestors and Grandmothers. His departure leaves a void in #DinehNation and #IndianCountry," Michelle said.
"Now with his absence from this material plane, we have no choice but to pick up his work, pick up the slack, carry on, and continue our journey as Dineh in a beautiful way.
"Klee's development and articulations of Indigenous peoples and archaism remain relevant for social movements within and outside of #TurtleIsland.
"He will forever remain in our hearts and minds as a guiding light and a growling voice, screaming freedom, for our earth and peoples. We love you Klee.
"Rest now our sacred warrior. Your work is done. We are so proud of the legacy you cultivated and left for this world. Journey well our sweet warrior until we meet again in the great Star Camp beyond," Michelle said.
"Klee passed to the Spirit World on Sunday, after being hospitalized.
"We send our sincere condolences to his family, his wife Princess, family Jones, Berta, Jeneda and Clayson, and all those who knew and loved him.
"From locking down in U.S. #BorderPatrol headquarters in Tucson, to chaining himself to equipment in defense of Sacred San Francisco Peaks, to battling the auctioneers of the sacred ceremonial items in Paris, and leading the #HaulNo movement to protect the #GrandCanyon region from #UraniumMining, to feeding the #unsheltered in Flagstaff, and standing strong for #Palestine, Klee's powerful actions remain a moving force to resound, and rivet us all, to struggle for a world without compromise.
"Klee recognized that the non-profit industry was designed to water down the resistance and turn the sacred movements into an ATM machine for a select few.
Those who received the $750 monthly #stipend were less likely to remain #unsheltered and closer to having enough #money to meet all of their #basicNeeds as compared to a control group who accessed usual #homeless services.
More importantly, the initial findings dispels this #myth that people will use money for #illicit purposes.
Only about 2% of the $750 per month was spent on #alcohol, #cigarettes, or #drugs; the majority of that money was spent on cigarettes.
A human rights group is expressing concern that its #CourtApplication to pause the City of #Edmonton’s dismantling of #homeless#encampments won’t be heard until the new year, well after #winter weather has settled in.
“We are disappointed that the injunction hearing was scheduled for mid-January and another holiday season will pass while the city continues to regularly #displace#unsheltered people,” said Sam Mason, president of #Coalition for #Justice & #HumanRights.