From: Phin08@aol.com

As John McCain and his "straight talk express" campaign barrell across the
United States, Navajo elders (Dineh in their native language) are being
evicted off of their anscestral homeland mandated by a bill sponsored by
Senator McCain.

NOW is a crucial time to confront McCain on this issue! Listed below are his
scheduled campaign stops, a brief breakdown of McCain's involvement in the
Dineh relocation and a list of questions to ask him EVERYWHERE HE GOES!

Check out the list, read up on his involvement and make up some question
flyers to pass out at McCain appearances, rallies and debates! And don't
forget to ask him when you see him, what he's doing to stop the Dineh
relocation.

In solidarity,
Erica Hamilton

McCain campaign schedule:

SOUTH CAROLINA
Newberry Town Hall Meeting
Speaker: Senator John McCain Wed, February 16, 2000
Time: 8:30 a.m. Newberry Opera House

Furman University Rally
Speaker: Senator John McCain Wed, February 16, 2000
Time: 12:00 p.m. The University Center - Furman University

Faith of My Fathers Book Signing
Speaker: Senator John McCain Wed, February 16, 2000
Time: 4:00 p.m. The Open Book

Clemson University Rally
Speaker: Senator John McCain Wed, February 16, 2000
Time: 7:00 p.m. Amphitheater (Next to Cooper Library)

Greenville Rally
Speaker: Senator John McCain Thu, February 17, 2000
Time: 12:00 p.m. Wuche Pavillion

Columbia Rally
Speaker: Senator John McCain Thu, February 17, 2000
Time: 6:00 p.m. McCain 2000 Columbia Headquarters

Election Night Victory Celebration!
Speaker: Senator & Mrs. John McCain Sat, February 19, 2000
Time: 6:00 p.m. Embassy Suites and Convention Center - Exhibit Hall A

CALIFORNIA
John McCain Reception
Speaker: Senator John McCain Thu, February 24, 2000
Time: 6:00 Grand Hyatt- San Francisco

John McCain Reception
Speaker: John McCain Fri, February 25, 2000
Time: 11:00 a.m. The Beverly Hilton

GENERAL DATES
February 12, 2000 Delaware - Election Day
February 19, 2000 South Carolina - Election Day
February 21, 2000 Arizona Rally
February 22, 2000 Arizona & Michigan - Election Day
February 29, 2000 North Dakota, Virginia, Washington - Election Day

TO FIND OUT WHEN AND WHERE MCCAIN WILL BE IN YOUR STATE:
go to <A HREF="http://www.mccaininteractive.com/">http://www.mccaininterac
tive
.com/</A> , select your state and then click on "calendar" - I'll continue
posting his whereabouts, but please also check this site

Background:
In 1996, Senator John McCain sponsored Public Law 104-301. This law mandates
February 1, 2000 as the final deadline for the Navajo (Dineh) relocation
order that was made law in 1974. This original relocation order was written
by John Boyden, a lawyer for Peabody Coal (the mine near the Dineh land) and
was pushed through congress by rich energy interests. With these same
interests funding John McCain (***Moderator's Note: The only direct
contribution so far found by Peabody Coal to the McCain campaign is $1000.
However, "soft money" contributions are harder to trace, as are deposits to
Swiss bank accounts, and although this
is just my opinion, don't be supprised to find a very lucrative position
waiting for McCain with Peabody or one of the other Lehman Brothers
corporations, when his political career is over. See my page,
http://www.theofficenet.com/~redorman/mccain/mcc0.html, Senator
McCain--The Dark Side),and the Dineh people
still remaining on the land, McCain sponsored Public Law 104-301. This law
requires the Dineh
people remaining on the land to sign leases, ceding their property and civil
rights (and agree to harsh restrictions on their livestock and religious
practices). If the Dineh do not sign leases, they are considered trespassers
in their own homes as of February 1, 2000 and are currently being served
eviction notices. McCain's actions do not reflect his claims that he supports
Native Americans and is not influenced by corporate interests. Let's get the
word out there!

QUESTIONS FOR MCCAIN
1) PL 104-301, which you sponsored in 1996, authorized the forcible
relocation as of February 1,2000, of Navajo families who did not sign
leases with the Hopi Tribe. A number of families have refused to sign
these leases. Do you feel that the forcible relocation of native people
who are living on their traditional land is a good way for the US
government to open the new millenium ? Does this reflect the way
that you believe the US government should treat its Indigenous peoples ?

2) PL 104-301, which you sponsored in 1996, ratifies a settlement
agreement under which the Navajo families who sign leases are not
allowed to vote or participate in the government which rules them.
Why do you feel that Native Americans are not entitled to vote or
to have civil rights ?

3) PL 104-301, which you sponsored, authorized $25 million for the
Hopi Tribe if they could obtain the signatures of 85% of the 112 Navajo
families on leases. Did you anticipate that placing a $260,000 bounty
on each signature would lead to abuses in the process through which
these signatures were obtained ? Are you familiar with reports from
the Navajo families that signatures were obtained under the threat of
jail or immediate eviction ? Do you feel that signatures obtained under
these circumstances constitute an endorsement of your policy ?

4) PL 104-301, which you sponsored, set up a livestock permitting
system for Navajo families that left many of the families without
protection for their herds. Many of them are elderly people who
depend on these herds for their survival. Do you believe that the
confiscation of the sole means of survival of elderly people benefits
the US government ?

5) PL 104-301, which you sponsored, completes the settlement of
a land title dispute between the Hopi and Navajo Tribal
governments. The key figure in the history of the land dispute
was an attorney named John Boyden, who formed the current
Hopi government and obtained BIA recognition for it in 1953,
and who was the architect of the original relocation legislation
back in the 1970's. Boyden was also working for the Peabody
Coal Company. Do you believe that it is appropriate for Congress
to continue policies that are based on land title established by a
coal company ? Are you willing to consider legislation that revises
the land title to reflect the traditional occupancy and use ?

6) Most other nations now recognize the right of Indigenous people to
remain on their traditional land. S1973, which you sponsored, requires
the relocation next year of people whose families have occupied the land
for hundreds of years. Why do you believe that the US should not
recognize their right to remain on their land ?