OFFICIAL NOTICE:
WALK FROM CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE, TO BIG MOUNTAIN, ARIZONA, TO
BENEFIT THE DINEH AND ALL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
WILL TAKE PLACE AS SCHEDULED
FOLLOWING A UNIFICATION RALLY AND PRAYER SERVICE
by Al Swilling
The Southeastern Native American Alliance (SENAA) invites
local and national news media, all Indigenous people, and
supporters of Native American issues who are able, to attend
a Unification Rally and Prayer Service beginning at 7:00
p.m. at Tinsley Park in Cleveland, Tennessee, on 1 June
1999. Following the prayer service, I will begin the more
than 1,800-mile trek from Cleveland, Tennessee, to Big
Mountain in Arizona.
The rally will consist of a release to the public via the
news media, wherein I will give the details of the walk, and
discuss the importance of all indigenous people coming
together and standing united on issues that concern us all.
The prayer service will begin with prayer for the Dineh
people and for the success of this walk in generating
national public and political support for the Dineh. When
the prayer for the Dineh is complete, each individual
present at the rally will be given the opportunity to pray
for any group, project, or individual that he or she feels
will benefit from the power of the group prayer.
This will be a peaceful gathering.
Following the prayer service, anyone willing to give a
donation to help pay travel expenses and/or provide needed
supplies for the Dineh people will be given the opportunity
to do so. ALL money remaining after travel expenses will be
used to help the Dineh people at Big Mountain.
At the end of the gathering, I, Al Swilling, will begin the
journey to Arizona. I will travel the first mile alone as a
symbol that all Indigenous Americans are united as one in
our efforts to end the injustices suffered by Dineh people
and create a better future for all Indigenous Americans.
After the first mile, anyone who so desires is welcome to
join me at any point on the journey for as long as he or she
wishes. The length of time one spends on the journey is not
important. It's the support of and participation in the
event that matters. I will keep a list of those who
accompany me for any length of time, and all names will
become part of the record of the event.
CONTRIBUTIONS:
SENAA is a 501(c)(3) Native American cultural and
educational organization. In accordance with U.S.501(c)(3)
regulations for nonprofit organizations, all SENAA members
contribute time and efforts on a strictly voluntary basis.
No one, including the Executive Council and President,
recieves wages or any other financial considerations from
SENAA except, in some cases, the reasonable reimbursement of
expenses incurred during fund-raising or other charitable
activities. ALL contributed money exceeding travel expenses
will be used to benefit the Dineh people in the most
beneficial ways.
Anyone wishing to make financial contributions to help with
travel expenses or to aid the Dineh people should send
checks or money orders to:
Al Swilling, President
SOUTHEASTERN NATIVE AMERICAN ALLIANCE (SENAA)
2324 GEORGETOWN ROAD NW, APT 602
CLEVELAND, TN 37311-1268
All contributors will receive a receipt from SENAA by return
mail.
Accompanying this notice is a reprint of my previous
message, which contains suggestions for helping to generate
public and media support and persuade the government to
right the wrongs that it has committed against the Dineh
people.
I beseech you to get involved and do all that you can to
support the Dineh people and help them--and ALL indigenous
people--put and end to the human rights violations being
perpetrated against the Dineh and finally get justice from
the U.S. government.
My heartfelt thanks goes out to all who have been and
continue to be supportive of the Dineh people.
Thank you
Al Swilling
SENAA President
senaa@excite.com
THE DINE'H PEOPLE AND I ASK FOR YOUR HELP. HELP US FIGHT THE
INHUMAN TREATMENT OF THESE PEOPLE. HELP RECOVER FOR THEM THE
DIGNITY AND RIGHTS TO "LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS" THAT WERE STRIPPED AWAY FROM THEM BY THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT.
REPEATEDLY CONTACT THE MEDIA.
REPEATEDLY CONTACT EVERY CONGRESSMAN.
REPEATEDLY CONTACT THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.
REPEATEDLY CONTACT THE UNITED NATIONS.
DEMAND that the American public be made aware of these
crimes perpetrated against the Dine'h people by the U.S.
government.
DEMAND that Public Laws 93-531 and 104-301 and S1973 The
Navajo Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996, signed into
law by Bill Clinton, be REPEALED.
DEMAND that ALL civil, Constitutional and human rights be
fully and immediately restored to the Dine'h people.
DEMAND that the Dine'h people be compensated by the U.S.
government for the extreme hardship that it has inflicted
upon the Dine'h people.
DEMAND that the Dine'h people have all livestock returned to
their possession in healthy condition.
DEMAND that rebuilding, repair, and renovations of the
Dine'h homes begin immediately so these people can live
decent, healthy lives.
DEMAND that Peabody Coal Company be made to comply with
federal mining regulations and replenish the water supply
taken from the aquifer that lies beneath the Hopi and Dine'h
dwellings so that the Hopi and Dine'h will once again have
sufficient water for themselves and their livestock.
DEMAND that Peabody Coal Company (PCC) and the Mojave
Generating Station (MGS) be ordered by the EPA to clean up
the air, water and soil that they have contaminated since
their openings in Arizona and keep their pollution to an
absolute minimum.
DEMAND that PCC and MGS abide by the Dine'h people's rights
to free expression of religion, including the preservation
of their holy sites such as Big Mountain and others.
DEMAND that a thorough clean-up be conducted of the area
contaminated by uranium mining and that it be done in such a
manner that contamination levels in the streams will return
to levels at or below the recommended "safe" level of
radiation.
THE RIGHTS OF EVERY INDIGENOUS AMERICAN HANGS IN THE
BALANCE!
WE MUST UNITE AND ACT AS ONE TO HELP THE DINE'H PEOPLE!
IF WE ALLOW THESE ATROCITIES AGAINST THE DINE'H TO CONTINUE,
IT WILL TIP THE SCALES TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT WE MAY NEVER BE
ABLE TO RECOVER.
GO TO: http://members.xoom.com/senaa/index2.html NOW.
READ ABOUT IT AND GET INVOLVED.
WE HAVE A PAGE WITH ALL THE SENATORS' E-MAIL ADDRESSES. JUST
CLICK THE LINK, KEY IN YOUR MESSAGE, AND CLICK SEND.
(Copying your message to the clipboard and pasting it into
your e-mail message saves a lot of time.)
THE E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR THE MAJOR NATIONAL NEWS NETWORKS
ARE:
CNN: on-air@turner.com
48HOURS: 48hours@cbsnews.com
FOX NEWS: comments@foxnews.com
NBC NEWS: nightly@nbc.com
ABCNEWS(ONLINE FORM):
http://abcnews.go.com/service/abc_contactus.html
20/20 (ONLINE FORM): http://abcnews.go.com/onair/email.html
Thank you for your support of this vital issue.
DON'T FORGET:
TO UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE, I REAFFIRM
THE FOLLOWING PLEDGE:
IF, by 1 June 1999, the national media have not aired
and/or published anything about Big Mountain and the
ongoing struggle of the Dine'h people,
SENAA asks of all indigenous Americans of all tribal
affiliations and ALL Native American organizations who
read this notice that you join us at Tinsley Park in
Cleveland, Tennessee, on Tuesday, 1 June 1999, for prayer
for the Dine'h people, a unification rally designed to
bring us closer together, and a press release.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESS RELEASE will be to announce the
beginning of the more than 1,800 mile walk from Cleveland,
Tennessee, to Big Mountain, Arizona.
I, Al Swilling, Will begin the journey alone to
symbolize that all Native Americans are united as one in our
efforts, will, and prayers for the healing and restoration
of the Dine'h people.
After the first mile, anyone who so desires is welcome to
join me on this trek. I will see the journey through to its
end, providing I don't break a leg. Any who wish to travel
part or all of the way with me is welcome.
I will travel approximately 25 miles per day and should
arrive in Arizona on or around 14 August 1999, taking
approximately 75 days for the entire trip.
The only thing I ask of anyone who chooses to join me
on this walk is that you prepare for your own food and
water. I will be traveling on a very tight budget and will
be carrying only the gear absolutely necessary for the trip.
If I could, I would provide for as many as want
to join me; but the simple fact is, funds are very limited.
I simply can't afford to finance anyone other than myself.
This is strictly a voluntary undertaking.
I hope that I can count on your support and your help
between now and 1 June 1999. If the march becomes
necessary, I ask that you take the time to come to the
gathering for prayer on this and other important issues
before the journey begins. I will give each person who comes
to the gathering the opportunity to offer a prayer
concerning any issue or individual that he or she feels that
the group's prayers will benefit. If it takes all day and
night to get to everyone, then that is how long it will
take.
In the meantime, please remember me in your prayers and
pray that the Creator will give me the strength to
complete the journey and that the Creator will also give me
the correct words to say and the opportunity while on the
road to unite indigenous people at each stop.
Looking forward to praying with each of you, I remain
Yours sincerely
Al Swilling
SENAA President/Founder
senaa@excite.com
ARIZONA-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT IS CURRENTLY HELPING THE
DINEH AT BIG MOUNTAIN WITH FOOD, VOLUNTEER HELP, AND OTHER
NEEDED SUPPLIES NEEDS A RELIABLE, Y2K COMPLIANT COMPUTER TO
AID IN ITS EFFORTS. YOUR HELP NEEDED.
There is also a need for a new, Y2K compliant, IBM
compatible computer; printer; scanner; digital imaging
equipment; and software which will be used by an Arizona
based organization that is currently helping the Dineh with
volunteer help, food, and other needed supplies. The
computer would be used to aid in generating help for the
Dineh and to keep the Indigenous community apprised of the
Dineh people's situation. A single computer could make a
major difference in the outcome of the Dineh people's
struggle.
Besides being Y2K compliant, the PC should have at least
80Mb RAM (expandable); a Pentium II or equivalent
microprocessor; sound card; V.90,K56/flex, data/fax modem; a
6Gb or more hard drive; a CD-ROM or CD recorder/player; and
a 1.44Mb 3.5" floppy disk drive. Software needs include such
programs as: MS Office 97 or MS Office 2000, Paint Shop Pro
5, MS FrontPage 98, MS Publisher 98 or PageMaker 6.5,
OmniPage text scanning software, ACDSee 2.4, Peachtree or
Quickbooks bookkeeping software, and any software that
anyone can suggest that will enable the recording of 30
minutes to one hour audio files.
If you or someone you know is willing to donate the much
needed items, please contact Al Swilling at:
senaa@excite.com