An unusual concentration of eight County Sheriffs' vehicles in the small
town of Crescent Valley, Nevada, on the evening of April 9, 1992, indicated
a showdown to begin in the continuing struggle for Western Shoshone land
rights.
For 17 years, the Western Shoshone sisters Mary and Carrie Dann had been in
litigation over the right to graze cattle on their ancestral lands. On
June 6, 1991, a court order allowed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to
confiscate the Dann livestock, ruling that Western Shoshone title to their
land, recognized by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley, had been extinguished.
On friday morning, a crew of cowboys hired by the BLM and escorted by five
sheriffs deputies entered the Dann's grazing area by a back road. The
members of the Dann Band and volunteers of the Western Shoshone Defense
Project were prepared. Supporters on horseback worked to disperse the herd
and push the cattle higher into the mountains. The experienced round-up
crew, however, succeeded in driving the herd into a corral.
Meanwhile, Carrie Dann had discussions with the BLM law enforcement ranger
and Eureka County Sheriff Ken Jones. She asserted that the title to her
homeland had never lawfully been passed to the U.S. Government. The U.S.
claims the Shoshones lost the land, and have attempted to pay the Western
Shoshones compensation for the purported loss by having the Secretary of
the Interior put money into his own treasury on behalf of the Shoshones.
The Secretary's action stopped the title question from being discussed when
the BLM's suit against the Danns, U.S. v. Mary and Carrie Dann, reached the
U.S. Supreme Court.
Carrie asked the BLM ranger and County Sheriff, "Can the taking of land be
legal?" adding, "Only tyrants and dictators take what is not theirs. Is
this a democratic country, or is it a tyranny?"
When preparations were made to load cattle onto the trucks, the peaceful
resisters showed their willingness to interfere, but waited for Carrie Dann
to start the action. She then climbed the railing into the loading chute
connecting the corral holding the rounded-up livestock to a waiting
livestock trailer. The BLM ranger attempted to forcibly restrain her, but
realized he could not do anything, and let her drop into the chute. The
sheriff tried to convince her that this action was useless. Carrie,
instead, went on questioning the authorities and the legality of their
operation.
Do you consider the Western Shoshones to be nonhumans, or imbeciles, such
as your Secretary of the Interior has the right to act as our trustee? If
he is supposed to be our trustee, how can he sell our land, the source of
our livelihood? What is about to happen here is wrong -- totally wrong --
and you know it."
After consulting his colleagues, Sheriff Jones did not arrest Carrie Dann.
Rather, the contractors opened the gates and released the cattle. The
round-up did not succeed -- this time. The confiscation of the herd is
still pending. The BLM has show no indication that it is ready to fulfill
a commitment it made in September 1991 to enter into meaningful
negotiations with the Western Shoshone National Council regarding grazing
issues.
The Western Shoshone National Council is calling on your help to defend the
Western Shoshone Nation. Nonviolent actionists and supporters are needed
to come to the Dann Ranch. Contributions are needed. Phone calls and
letters to key officials are needed. Send to:
Sen. Daniel Inouye, Chair, Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs
U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20515 Tel(202)224-3934 Fax(202)224-6747
Rep. George Miller, Chair, Committee on Insular Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515
Tel(202)225-2095 Fax(202)225-5609
Rep. James H. Bilbray (NV), 319 Cannon House Office Bldg.
First & Independence Ave, SE, Washington, D.C. 20515
Tel(202)225-5965 Fax(202)225-8808
Sen. Harry Reid (NV), U.S. Senate, 324 Senate Hart Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510 Tel(202)224-3542 Fax(202)224-7327
Sen. Richard Bryan (NV), 346 Russell Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510
Tel(202)224-6244 Fax(202)224-1867
Cy Jamison, Director, Bureau of Land Management
1849 C Street, NW, RM 5660, Washington, D.C. 202240
Rep. Barbara Vucanovich (NV), Committee on Insular Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515
Tel(202)225-6155 Fax(202)225-2319
Julian Burger, Center for Human Rights, Palais de Nations
CH-1211, Geneva 10 , Switzerland
Contact the WESTERN SHOSHONE DEFENSE PROJECT for more information.
WESTERN SHOSHONE DEFENSE PROJECT
General Delivery, Crescent Valley, NV 89821
ph (702)468-0230
---------------------------- -END- --------------------------