The purpose of these trips are to connect with people in rural communities of the Great Basin in hopes to gain a better understanding of the issues of concern that these communities have in regards to industrial development and resource extraction projects such as mining in and surrounding their communities.  After we make initial contacts, we will be traveling to these communities so that we can listen to and discuss any concerns that the people in these communities might have.  We are hoping there will be enough interest in and surrounding affected communities so that a constructive gathering can take place where opinions and issues of concern can be shared, thus enabling GBRW to better serve our rural communities.

GBRW will focus on areas where projects are both well under way (Jerritt Canyon located in the Independence Range near Elko, NV) as well as just beginning (Mount Hope, a proposed molybdenum mine north of Eureka, NV).  We intend to have Terry Dempsey, a photojournalism student at the University of Nevada, Reno, photograph these areas and the people living within them.  The purpose of this is to show how people have a connection with the land in remote areas of Nevada.  Specifically, show how industrial development and resource extraction projects have both negative (environmental) and positive (economic gains during booming times) impacts on these rural communities.  Ideally, Terry Dempsey will be able to compile a photo-journalistic publication that captures the connections people have with their lands, and describes the issues of concern and the over all opinions people have with industrial development and resource extraction projects in and surrounding rural communities of northern Nevada.

Tentative stops on our Voices of the Great Basin Listening Tour include, but not limited to: Fallon, Yerington, Silver Springs, several Nevadan Indian Reservations (Summit Lake, Fort McDermitt, and Duck Valley Reservations), Tuscarora (Jerritt Canyon Mine), Eureka, Ely, Wells, Baker, and Duckwater.  If you would like to participate in this event or have any suggestions as to other communities GBRW should visit, please let us know by contacting our Outreach/Program Coordinator, Jon Cheek at 775-348-1986 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We will be releasing a more concrete itinerary in the near future.  We hope to see you during our 2010 summer tour!