Salina Begay
P.O. Box 893
Kayenta, AZ 86033
September 2, 1997

To: Navajo Tribal Council, Navajo Hopi Land Commission, Grazing Committee

The lady that took Roy Parker's place on the Grazing Committee came to my home two weeks ago at 12:38 PM. She came in and shook my mother's hand and stood in front of her. There was also a white lady there that is herding sheep for us. She said she had to see the Navajo lady because our sheep were outside of Hopi Partition Land (HPL). She said they were grazing there and eating up all the grass and if you keep doing this I'll report you and the police and rangers will come out. They have guns and that is how people get hurt from that. She said she would report it to Window Rock. She stood over my mom like she was going to attack her. She was threatening to get Navajo police after us. And she kept repeating that the police and rangers have guns.

My mom explained how everyone treated each other as relatives and that the people used the land together and we have permission to use the land for generations. My mom said that we never thought young people would say such things and threaten older people. My mom said this land and water was used by our family as winter and summer camps and we have had squaw dances there. It is our customary use area. Now you come and threaten me. I want to know whoever is sending you around. I get harassment from the Hopi rangers but I never got any harassment from Window Rock or the Grazing Committee, now you come here and threaten me. This is the first time. My mom said you are supposed to have respect for your elders, you are supposed to shake hands and sit down but you just came in and spoke in a raised voice with mean words.

We have heard that she drinks a lot and she drinks with her husband. How can people elect a drunk lady to serve on the Grazing committee. She drinks and people that drink have no fear. If she is drunk and angry she needs to stay away from us. She has a homesite lease next to John Benally near the intersection of Big Mountain boulevard and the road that goes to Pinon, by the curve. She has her land. She is doing this to me. She needs to have more respect for her elderly and her people. It is out of concern for my mother and my family that I am saying this. We have the right to not have her enter our home. She should be fired. She is with the Forest Lake Chapter House. Every Chapter has a Grazing Committee. She says she has nothing to do with people living inside of HPL because of where they live. But we are here still. Our social security number is under Window Rock under the Navajo tribe, our census is under the Navajo tribe and this is supposed to be our Chapter House.

We should have our own land separate from the Navajo land if this is how the Navajo tribe is going to treat us after giving us no services and allowing a freeze for 31 years on repairs to our homes and no ability to build new homes.

 

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Salina Begay