Westwin Resistance Calls on Concerned Community Members to Attend Lawton City Council Meeting and to Contact Refinery Construction Company
Monday, 12 February 2024, Lawton OK – Following Saturday’s sunrise ceremony that temporarily shut down construction of the Westwin Elements pilot refinery, and in support of recent tribal Resolutions against the refinery by Comanche Nation and Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, Westwin Resistance calls on concerned community members to attend the Lawton City Council meeting at City Hall tomorrow at 2pm (weather permitting). In a possible violation of the Open Meeting Act (OMA), Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes 301-314, Mayor Stanley Booker has instituted a last-minute rules change limiting Audience Participation. The mid-day meeting time may also be in violation of the OMA.
Westwin Resistance further invites concerned people everywhere to contact T&G Construction Inc. – the main contractor for Comanche Nation – to demand they reject working with Westwin Elements and respect the recent tribal Resolutions. The proposed refinery is slated for Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Wichita, Caddo, and Delaware lands in Lawton, Oklahoma, and would be the first-ever cobalt refinery in the United States.
UPDATE: APACHE TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA PASSES HISTORIC RESOLUTION AGAINST WESTWIN ELEMENTS COBALT REFINERY PILOT PROJECT
On February 7, the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma unanimously passed Resolution ABC - 2024 - 05, Resolution to Officially Oppose and reject the Westwin Elements Cobalt Refinery Pilot Project which is located within the jurisdiction of the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache tribes of Oklahoma. This historic action followed Comanche Nation’s February passage of Vice-Chairman Cornel Pewewardy’s Resolution 23-2024 opposing the Westwin refinery and an attempt on the same day to suspend Chairman Mark Woommavovah for endorsing the project without consulting his fellow tribal members and other Comanche Business Council (CBC) members.
UPDATES: COMANCHE NATION CHAIRMAN AND HIS WIFE FILE LEGAL ORDERS AGAINST TRIBAL MEMBERS OPPOSING WESTWIN; CHAIRMAN UNSUCCESSFUL IN REMOVING DISSENTERS FROM TRIBAL COUNCIL; CHAIRMAN FACING POSSIBLE SUSPENSION
Referencing “lies” posted to her Facebook page following the February 3rd CBC meeting, Chairman Woommavovah’s non-native wife Amber Woommavovah referred to Comanche Nation tribal members as “crazy,” “ghetto,” and “ignorant.” Subsequently, she filed extraneous and unfounded ex parte (emergency) protective orders with the state against several tribal members, including Comanche elders. The Chairman also filed restraining orders against his own tribal members in Comanche tribal court.
A Special Tribal Council Meeting to suspend Chairman Woommavovah is scheduled for February 24, 1:30 pm at Watchetaker Hall, and will be livestreamed on the Comanche Nation facebook page. The meeting was called for on February 6th by four members of the CBC, two of whom – Vice-Chair Dr. Cornel Pewewardy and Committeeperson Hazel Tahsequah – survived February 8th recall votes requested by the Chairman. Recall votes were not attempted against the other three committee members – Alice Kassanavoid, Jordan Fox, and Ross Kahrahrah.
The Woommavovahs’ use of social media, political and legal means could be construed as a response to criticisms arising after Westwin Resistance uncovered a series of lies regarding their direct involvement with start-up company Westwin Elements, and on the heels of Comanche Nation’s passage of Resolution 23-2024. Amber Woommavovah appears to be the newest member of The FISTA Board of Directors. FISTA facilitates the fast-tracking of new defense-oriented business ventures for Lawton – like the proposed Westwin refinery – and includes city council members and realtors.
Westwin Resistance members are concerned the Woommavovahs’ numerous legal orders and public outbursts could be an effort to bully, silence and intimidate Comanche Nation tribal members who have been vocal about protecting their lands from the experimental Westwin cobalt refinery. Not only do the Woommavovahs’ actions risk being perceived as an attempt to silence dissent from the very citizens they serve, they also run the risk of misdirecting taxpayer resources intended to address domestic violence. Oklahoma was ranked the highest in the nation for domestic violence in 2023 according to a report from the Young Women’s Christian Association, which states at least 50% of Oklahomans will experience domestic violence at some point in their lifetime.
Westwin Resistance supports the tribal Resolutions and community members challenging Westwin Elements’ risky refinery. We will not back down. We will continue this fight. For the land, for the people, for the ancestors, and for all future generations.
Email westwinresistance@gmail.com,
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