Rena Babbitt Lane
P.O. Box 539
Tonalea, AZ 86044
December 13, 1999
To: Hon. Eldridge Coochise
Hearing Officer
Hopi Tribe
8565 W. Granada Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85037
Dear the Honorable Coochise,
Re: The Hopi Tribe, Petitioner vs. Marsha Monestersky, Respondent
in the
Hopi Tribe Exclusion Process, Hopi Indian Reservation, Kykotsmovi,
AZ
I am submitting this statement to support the continued work
and presence of
Marsha Monestersky on what is known as Hopi Partition Land (HPL)
in the Black
Mesa region of Arizona.
My husband, John Lane and I do not understand the English language
and cannot
read any official documents which concerns the relationship between
my family
and the Hopi Tribe. A lot of times, we are not able to respond
to the Hopi
Tribe in an official capacity since we only speak the Navajo language
and
have no way to communicate. We cannot even recognize our written
names in
the English language.
For the past several years I have needed and depended upon
the services of
Marsha Monestersky as our legal assistant on numerous occasions.
Without the help of Marsha Monestersky, I would be concerned
for my health,
well-being, and the continuity of my livelihood on my own land.
Her legal
assistance is the only thing I have to count on and affirm that
her presence
here on HPL is essential to me and the survival of my family and
my people. I
fully support her and her work on our behalf.
It is my hope you will exempt her from exclusion because she
serves me and
the Dineh people as legal assistant. Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Rena Babbitt Lane
Translated and witnessed by: ____________________________________________
cc: Joe Washington, Esq., counsel for Marsha Monestersky
Scott Canty, Esq., counsel for the Hopi Tribe