Sovereign Dineh Nation
Pauline Whitesinger
P.O. Box 1073, Hotevilla, AZ 86030
Cellular phone 520/614-0459
March 9, 1997
Mr. Jose' Ayala-Lasso, High Commissioner for Human Rights
Division of Human Rights, U.N. Office of Geneva
Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax # 011-401-22-917-0118, 907-0123
and
Dr. Purin Quisinbing, Centre for Human Right, U.N., Room S-2914
New York, NY 10017 Fax # 212/963-4097
Dear Mr. Jose' Ayala-Lasso and Dr. Purin Quisinbing,
Re: Request for emergency intervention before March 31, 1997 deadline
I am an Dine' Elder with grandchildren living in Big Mountain. We are descendants of the Anasazi. The Navajo word for Anasazi is Nihizazeh. That is how long our generations go back. I am writing to express our concerns about the upcoming March 31 deadline being imposed upon us by the Hopi Tribal Council and the US government to either sign the 75-year lease agreement or face forced eviction by Hopi Rangers and US Marshals.
It was on behalf of the March 31 deadline, that we went to the Phoenix Federal Court House for a Fairness hearing February 11-14, 1997. During that process I felt it was not in my favor because the life on Hopi Partitioned Land (HPL) has been oppressed with Hopi Rangers. At this time I am being harassed during religious ceremonies and affected by livestock impoundment's. My concerns are not being addressed by the Hopi Rangers. The Hopi Rangers have denied us water for livestock and for people. Our windmills have been fenced off for their own benefit after bring in Hopi cattle.
The concept to the 75-year lease is "if you sign the Accommodation
Agreement (AA) you will live on HPL and if you don't sign it you're
life is threatened starting March 31, 1997 deadline." The
Navajo Nation Council on February 7, 1997 passed a Resolution
opposing the 75-year lease because it is not a permanent solution
and does not address our civil and religious concerns. I have
faith towards the Navajo Nation Council for their
efforts in opposing the 75-year lease. But when the Navajo Nation
Council requested a meeting with the Hopi tribal council they
were denied. I blame Senator John McCain, President Clinton and
President Hale, The Navajo Nation for validating S. 1973, the
Navajo Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996, P.L. 103-401.
I hold them accountable for the unrest at this time and for all
its effects on HPL. Our people served in the armed forces and
are veterans. Some gave up their lives to serve their country.
Navajo Code Talkers helped to give us freedom. But when those
that survived came home they found out that their land was no
longer theirs and they had no right to build homes for their families.
Pauline Whitesinger, Sovereign Dineh Nation
Letter to Mr. Jose' Ayala-Lasso and Dr. Purin Quisinbing
Re: Request for emergency intervention
March 9, 1997
Page 2
At Rocky Ridge School, August, 1994 we rejected the Agreement-In-Principle (AIP) 250-1 against. We know that it died on its own terms having been rejected also by the Navajo Tribal Council. Since that time we never approved the AA. It was also never approved by the Navajo Tribal Council, the Hopi Tribal Council or the Hopi people. President Hale broke his own vows to help his people when we voted for him to be President of the Navajo Nation. It is time now that we the people of the Navajo Nation deal with President Hale's conduct.
At the Phoenix Federal Court House Fairness Hearing I took a vow to tell nothing but the truth and I raised my right hand. After that process Judge Carroll cut me off from speaking before I could fully explain why I do not approve of the AA. I feel my rights were violated. And for that reason I feel that Judge Carroll broke his own judicial process in that way. Judge Carroll showed no compassion for my traditional people on Valentines Day. Rather he brought tears to our eyes. I would like to go to Judge Carroll again with a delegation to express that we weren't given due process and are not allowed due process under the terms of the AA even if it has to take ten days for us to communicate our concerns.
We don't live according to Anglo laws. All we have seen is a long trail of broken promises. We live according to the Creator and since the Creator is still present we feel we have not lost yet. And even though this is the reality I will not sign because I do not trust the lease agreement.. It is because the future generations are threatened with land loss and displacement.
We have exhausted all remedies in the US judicial system and request emergency intervention by the United Nations before the March 31, 1997 deadline because we are being threatened with forced eviction. There is no respect for us as Native Americans in the US even though we are citizens of this country. That is the reason why the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations and its Special Rapporteurs with due authority must intervene at this time. This is my position. Please help us.
Sincerely,
Pauline Whitesinger
Big Mountain resident
Witnessed and translated by
Bonnie Whitesinger