Monument Valley closed due to ‘cult activity’

By Krista Allen
Special to the Times

OLJATO-TSÉBII’NDZISGAII, Utah

Monument Valley Tribal Park has closed after a group was filming without a filming permit, leading to a demonstration, according to law enforcement officials.

The group was ousted while filming for “Witness in the Desert,” a project led by Derek Broes, a “gnostic luciferian,” better known as “Global Witness.”

Broes describes his film project as a “YouTube event like any other in history.”

“Multiple channel hosts that represent more than 2 million subscribers will participate in a live event that will be broadcast live from multiple locations in the ancient locations of tribal lands in and around Monument Valley, Arizona,” he said.

The Navajo Nation’s Parks and Recreation Department authorized the closure of the park today (Nov. 29) until further notice.

“We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused for all visitors and community members,” the agency posted on its Facebook page. “Your understanding and cooperation are very much appreciated.”

Oljato Chapter President James F. Adakai told the Navajo Times that due to high level of potential threat to the health and safety of the public in the Oljato area, the chapter is seeking the assistance of law enforcement to escort Broes and his group out of tribal lands.

“Further, we are very concerned that this type of escalating movement or riot may potentially cause unrest disorder or disharmony or may even cause violence or harm to the community,” Adakai wrote in a memo to the Navajo Nation Public Safety Department and local sheriff’s departments.

“The local authorities of (the tribal park) and local Oljato officials … have learned that the … group … is carrying out an unauthorized cult-related activity,” he wrote.

Law enforcement officers at the scene reported that at least 50 individuals protested against the closure saying doomsday is near, but many were delighted to have spent time in the park before it closed.

“One lady was walking in the middle of the road with a baby and a Bible and was yelling, ‘God forgives you!’” one officer, who did not want to be named, told the Times.

“It seems they have shut down the entire park to prevent us from going in,” Broes said in his latest video on his YouTube channel Global Witness.

“We’ve been told that we cannot go into the park,” he said. “In fact, they didn’t just shut it down for us, but they shut it down for everybody – people going to the hotel, you name it. So it’s been quite an adventure.”

Broes said his group is not a cult.

“We are not here to worship any demons, we are not bringing any demons,” he said. “We are only here to learn what secrets of the earth holds of our past, of our ancient past.

“Obviously, the monuments here have an ancient history,” he said. “And the ancient peoples here … obviously have some of those things. They’ve written about these extensively throughout their prophecies. So, that’s all we’re here for.”

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