Dear Big Mountain Supporters,
1. 9th Circuit Court hearing:
We have now heard two possible dates for an upcoming 9th Circuit
Court
hearing, on August 12 and August 13. I am currently checking
whether the
hearing will be an open session or a closed session. If it is
an open
session then I am certain that some people will want to travel
to San
Francisco. If this is the case we will need to raise funds quickly
to
help
with gas and food expenses? Perhaps support people in San Francisco
can
help
with lodging.
I am currently inquiring whether there is anything on the docket
at the
9th
Circuit Court of Appeals for July 12 or 13. We also need to see
if the
session will be an open or closed. Please feel free to call the
Court
House
in San Francisco to find out. I will let you know as soon as
I find out.
If it is an open session we will need to quickly raise some
funds for Dineh
that will want to attend this session in San Francisco. If you
can help
us
raise some money for this please contact our fiscal agent and
make your
check
payable to SDN, earmarked for the 9th Circuit Court hearing.
---------------------------------
2. Update on the meetings with the feds:
It has just been confirmed that the 1st in a series of 3 two-day
meetings,
addressing BIA grazing issues and livestock confiscation has been
rescheduled. We believe it is because the feds found out the
people were
planning on attending the meetings. We have heard these meetings
will
instead be held on August 19 and 20.
Having people attend these meetings would hurt the propaganda
line of the
government which states that everyone is happy and only a few
people are
being troublemakers. But first the feds informed us, after they
heard
that
the word was out about the meetings that there was only a 50/50
chance
they
would come at all. At the same time we were told that the locations
for
the
meetings were switched, and the Hardrock Chapter meeting would
be on Friday,
July 30 rather than on Thursday, July 29 and the Teesto Chapter
meeting
would
be on Thursday, July 29th rather than on Friday, July 29. I guess
this
is
the power of outreach.
We were also just told that the 2nd in the series of 3 meetings,
we believe
the meeting to address Hopi governance issues will be held on
September
23
and 24. The dates for the 3rd in the series of 3 meetings, addressing
religious issues has not be given yet. I wonder if these dates
will also
change.
-----------------------------------------
3. Update on the Winslow Tract:
We have been working with a Vet. that has been visiting the Winslow
Tract.
He is documenting the lack of adequate water and forage for cattle.
The
water is salty and the cattle are not drinking it. The land has
been
devastated by drought and is devoid of vegetation. There is not
enough
food
and water to keep the cattle alive. It is critical that the
Navajo Nation
provide supplementary hay, feed and water for the cattle. Last
Spring
this
area was declared a state of drought emergency by the State of
Arizona
and
the US Department of Agriculture. There are greener pastures
like Big
Bow
Ranch which the Navajo Nation owns. Please pressure the Navajo
tribe to
ensure the safety and well being of these cattle. These animals
deserve
shade, fresh water and good vegetation. And if the Navajo cannot
ensure
the
well-being of these animals then provide hay and feed to make
sure they
do
not die. If this is not possible then let them return home to
Black Mesa
where they were healthy and well cared for granted sovereign immunity
from
the BIA. Not left there as many have said, to die.
Please contact Roman Bitsuie, Executive Director of the Navajo
Hopi Land
Commission, The Navajo Nation, P.O. Box 2549, Window Rock, AZ
86515, Phone:
(520) 871-6277
and
Jonathan Hale, Assistant to Kelsey Begaye, President, The Navajo
Nation.
P.O. Box 9000, The Navajo Nation, Window Rock, AZ 86515, Phone:
(520)
871-6000
You should also put pressure on the US Department of Agriculture
as this
land
has not been turned over to trust lands and they have jurisdiction.
Tell
them to apply in Washington, DC with the US Department of Agriculture
for
supplementary hay, feed and water funds. It is their responsibility
to
do
this since they have declared this area a state of emergency.
Please contact: Donna Carstens, Badge 75, US Department of
Agriculture,
Animals Services Division, Livestock Department, 1688 W. Adams,
Phoenix,
AZ
85007. Phone: (1-800-294-0305).
and
Please contact: Wilbert Goy, he has oversight of the Winslow Tract,
Navajo
Hopi Land Commission, Box 2549, Window Rock, AZ 86515. Phone:
(520)
871-6441 and (520) 853-1147.
Appeal for Help:
If the Navajo Nation refuses to purchase hay for the cattle on
the Winslow
tract and the corralled animals on HPL then please help by donating
money
that we urgently need to raise. We have been informed that the
Navajo
Nation
can purchase alfalfa hay at a reduced price due to the drought
emergency
for
$65-$80/ton rather than the usual price of about $165/ton. If
the Navajo
Nation won't help the Dineh people on a humanitarian level then
we appeal
to
you to help them.
Please send your donations to our fiscal agent with a note
that the funds
be
earmarked for the hay and feed program.
-----------------------------------------------------
4. How to send money to help:
Please send your tax-deductible contributions to:
Steve Sugarman, Executive Director
Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE)
20110 Rockport Way, Malibu, CA 90265-5340
phone: (310) 456-3534, Tax ID number 95-4116679
Please make your check out to Sovereign Dineh Nation (SDN)
and specify whether your funds are for general use or for a specific
project
Thanks for your support and help.
Yours sincerely,
Marsha Monestersky
E-mail: dinetah29@aol.com
Web sites: http://www.solcommunications.com and
http://www.theofficenet.com/~redorman/pagea~1.htm