I'll try to answer some of your questions to the best of my ability.
I have been reading a lot about the Big Mountain issue recently and the
issue is being played out in my backyard, but I am certainly no expert.
I apologize for any inaccuracies in my responses:
>I have a few questions about the Big Mountain situation and would like to hear
>some opinions (and second opinions) on the following questions. I have been
>of the opinion that all of the following questions can be answered YES.
>
>
>Did the 1974 act occur after the Navajo Tribal Council would not lease the
>land to Peabody Coal and/or Standard Oil?
I'm not quite sure about the timing of the 1974 law in relation to
considering these lease issues. But, while the relationship between
the 1974 act and energy issues/leases may exist, it is less clear that
the relationship exists today. I don't think its fair to characerize
the Big Mountain issue today as being driven by the interests of
Peabody Coal. Mining still takes place in the area, but we are no
longer in the midst of an energy shortage. Concerns about mineral
rights appear to be secondary today.
>Did the Hopi Tribal Council (whom Congress wanted to give control of the land)
>agree that they would lease the land?
The Hopi Tribal Council has been more sympathetic to leasing the land. This
position is not universally shared in Hopi. Navajo has its mineral leases
too.
>Was the "land war" between the Hopis and Navajos that was given much attention
>in Congressional discussions faked?
This is a difficult question to answer. The conflict between Navajo and
Hopi over control of this land is more than a century old. The federal
government has been a party to this conflict from the beginning. The
conflict is thus real, but the conflict has been perpetuated, if
not initiated, by federal government involvement.
>Is it a fact that Peabody Coal made a key government official a vice president
>after this individual successfully worked for the land transfer?
Yes, a couple of government officials involved in this issue have moved
into Peabody Coal positions.
>Aren't there some Hopi Traditionals who want the Navajos off the land?
Hopi traditionals, for the most part, appear more sympathetic to the
plight of the Navajo resisters than does the Hopi tribal council. Part
of this stems also from the questionable legitimacy of the Hopi
Tribal Council within Hopiland.
>Was Wayne Owens (former UTAH Congressional Rep) involved in the passage of the
>1974 act? Wasn't he involved legally with John Boyden who represented Peabody
>Coal?
I don't know.
There are two books that I have found to be informative sources on this
issues.
Catherine Elston-Fehrer's, _Children of Sacred Ground_ was published a
few years ago. This book contains a lot of information but it is
slanted toward the Hopi perspective. Elston-Fehrer today is editor
of the Hopi newspaper.
Emily Benedek's _The Wind Won't Know Me_ was just published. Benedek's
book is full of information from a more neutral perspective.
Fred Solop
***********************************
* Fred Solop ***
* Dept. of Political Science ***
* Northern Arizona University ******************************************
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