Press Contact: Julie Ann Fishel, Western Shoshone
Defense Project
775-468-0230 or 775-397-1371
(wsdp@igc.org)
Las
Vegas Review Journal Article
Public Statement
by Corbin's Immediate Family

July 10, 2007 (Turtle Island).
Corbin Harney Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone
Nation crossed over at 11:00 a.m. this morning in
a house on a sacred mountain near Santa Rosa, CA
(Turtle Island). He had dedicated his life to fighting
the nuclear testing and dumping.
That battle claimed his life through cancer.
Before he passed, he said to remember: We are one
people. We cannot separate ourselves now. There
are many good things to be done for our people and
for the world. It is important to let things be
good. And it is important to teach the younger generation
so that things are not lost.
According to witnesses present, in the morning
fog, the spirits of four Shoshoni dog soldiers were
outside on horseback before Corbin's passing. But
then one of the Shoshone present, Santiago Lozada,
yelled "Tosawi Tosawi!" (White Knife).
And then the fog shifted and there were thousands
of spirits waiting.
Corbin passed peacefully at the end. He was only
worried that he still had more to do. When he finally
let go and went with the dog soldiers, Red Wolf
Pope, grandson of Rolling Thunder, was present and
sang him the Tosawi death song to call the dog soldiers
to come take him home.
Golden eagles continue to circle the house hours
after his crossing.
True to form Corbin joked around several days ago
that he was going to go at 11:00, and kept his promise.
Over his lifetime, Corbin traveled around the world
as a speaker, healer and spiritual leader with a
profound spiritual and environmental message for
all. He received numerous national and international
awards and spoke before the United Nations in Geneva,
Switzerland. Corbin also authored two books: "The
Way It Is: One Water, One Air, One Earth" (Blue
Dolphin Publishing, 1995) and a forthcoming book,
"The Nature Way". Numerous documentaries
have been made about his work and message.
In 1994, Corbin established the Shundahai Network
to work with people and organizations to respond
to spiritual and environmental concerns on nuclear
issues. He also established Poo Ha Bah, a native
healing center located in Tecopa Springs, California.
He will be missed but always honored for his work
and dedication to traditional ways.
Corbin Harney is descended from generations of Newe
(Shoshone) traditional healers and was always grateful
for the many extraordinary teachers who shared their
knowledge in his lifetime. Corbin is survived by
his daughter Reynaulda Taylor; granddaughters Ann
Taylor and Nada Leno; grandsons Keith, Jon and Joel
Leno and William Henry Taylor; seven great-grandchildren;
two great-great grandchildren; and his sister Rosie
Blossom's family and many cousins and other family
members as well as many, many friends around the
world. Corbin was preceded in death by his mother,
father, sister, grandparents, uncle, great granddaughter,
cousins, and friends. A very special thanks to Patricia
Davidson, Corbin's caregiver in his final months;
Dominic Daileda, Corbin's friend and companion for
his support and compassion in hard times, and the
family of Dixie and Martin van der Kamp for opening
up their home and their hearts to Corbin and his
family and friends during his time of need.
Dates and times for services are being made with
official announcement to follow. Three day services
are planned at the home of Larson R. Bill, So Ho
Bee – Newe Sogobe (Lee, Nevada –Western
Shoshone Territory) with burial services at Battle
Mountain Indian Community, Battle Mountain Nevada.
Donations may be made either to the immediate family
through:
Reynaulda Taylor
P.O. Box 397
Owyhee, Nevada 89832
Or, to:
The Corbin Harney Way
6360 Sonoma Mtn. Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
No other individual, organization or entity is
authorized to receive donations on behalf of Corbin's
immediate family or Corbin Harney.
Visit
Corbin's page on the Shundahai Network website |