Western Shoshone Defense Project (702) 386-9834
c/o American Peace Test Hotline: (702) 386-9831
P.O. 26725 FAX: (702) 386-9335
Las Vegas NV 89126
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Dec. 5, 1992
On Dec.3rd, Senator Daniel Inouye met with representatives of the
Western Shoshone Tribal Council to begin outlining a strategy to
resolve the current land rights struggle. Although on the surface,
it seems that the United States is negotiating with indigenous
peoples, the U.S. is merely dealing with a tribal government it has
created with the enactment of the Indian Reorganization Act. The
Western Shoshone representatives invited to the meeting do not
include Western Shoshone National Council members, the body
attending the to the current conflicts on the Dann land in Northern
Nevada. Daniel Inouye and the Tribal Council have agreed to
continue to negotiate and have decided on a meeting process for
these future talks.
It is possible that members of the Western Shoshone National
Council will get a chance to voice our views which differ radically
from those held by members of the tribal government. "Our
understanding is that after Senator Inouye has met with the Bureau-
of-Indian-Affairs-installed government among the Western Shoshone,
he will also meet with what has been termed 'other interested
parties'," said Stephane Luchini, coordinator of the Western
Shoshone Defense Project. "Our demands have not changed," continued
Luchini, "we will continue resistance until the U.S. government
enters into direct negotiations with the Western Shoshone National
Council."
According to Chief Raymond Yowell of the Western Shoshone National
Council, the Indian Reorganization Act "was passed in 1934 to bring
councils under U.S. control. Up until that time, they had operated
as they had when Columbus came. Unfortunately, many Indians
embraced the concept. Inouye is attempting to divide and conquer by
speaking with only one group of Shoshone, which is an entity set up
by the U.S. The Secretary of the Interior has total veto power."
Chief Yowell hopes that everyone will unite under the Western
Shoshone National Council to uphold the Treaty of Ruby Valley of
1863. As of this writing, the United States government has failed
to produce any evidence of documents giving them title to the
land.
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We are seeking your support to avert the illegal seizure of the Western
Shoshone nationalized livestock. We urgently need your help. You can
help by:
* Sending a tax deductible donation to the Western Shoshone National
Council at the above address to buy food, blankets and other supplies
for the resistors;
* Organize a food & clothing drive in your area to be sent to the
resistors in Cresent Valley, Nevada (we need nonperishable food and
warm clothing);
* Come to Cresent Valley, NV and stand with the Western Shoshone people.
For directions contact the Western Shoshone Defense Office at +001 (702)
468-0230 for directions and details, or write Western Shoshone Defense
Office, General Delivery, Cresent Valley, NY 89821 (be prepared for
rough high desert conditions);
* Contact you local media. Write letters to the editor. Call in to radio
talk shows and raise the Western Shoshone issue. Contact national media
talk shows and raise the Western Shoshone issue.
* Donate non-perishable foods, warm clothing, camping equipment, ham
radio & CBs or a base station and office equipment (computers &
printers, typewriters, copier, supplies). Bring with you or send to the
above address;
MAKE A DIFFERENCE! BE A PART OF HISTORY AND HELP END THE <undecipherable>
AND OPPRESSION. YOU CAN ALSO:
* Create a petition and circulate it. Make sure that your petition
contains the address of where it should be returned or sent to after it
is signed. We would also appreciate a copy, if possible.
* Write to your political leaders and demand that the roundup stop
immediately! Call for negotiations as an alternative to begin
immediately with the Western Shoshone National Council of the Western
Shoshone Nation.
President George Bush President Elect Bill Clinton
The White House Arkansas Governor's Office
Washington, DC 20500 Little Rock, AR 72201
Ph: +001 (202) 456-1414 Fax: +001 (501) 399-7096 [is this phone?]
Fax: +001 (202) 456-2461 Fax: +001 (501) 372-2292
-Senator Daniel Inouye, HI-Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs
Fax: +001 (202) 224-6747 or +001 (202) 547-2803
-Senator John McCain, AZ-Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs
Fax: +001 (202) 224-8938
-Senator Harry Reid, NV-Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs
Fax: +001 (202) 388-6829
-Senator Richard Bryan, NV Fax: +001 (202) 388-6501
-Congressman George Miller, Co-Chair, Interior & Insular Affairs Comm.
Fax: +001 (202) 225-5609
-Congressman Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Interior & Insular Affairs Comm.
<no contact info given - can someone provide it?>
-Congressman John Lagomarsino, CA-Interior & Insular Affairs Comm.
Fax: +001 (202) 225-0714
-Congressman James Bilbray, NV Fax: +001 (202) 225-8808
-Congresswoman Barbara Vucanovich, NV-Interior & Insular Affairs Comm.
Fax: +001- (202) 225-0714
-Congressman Eni F. H. Falemavaega, American Samoa-Interior & Insular
Affairs Comm. Fax: +001 (202) 225-8757
Write them at:
(Senator's Name) (Representative's Name)
US Senate US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
Also write:
Secretary of the Interior Secretary of State
Manual Lujuan, Jr. Lawrence Eagleburger
18th & C Street, NW 2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240 Washington, DC 20520
Fax: +001 (202) 208-6956 Fax: +001 (202) 647-6434
Governor Bob Miller
Nevada State Capitol
Carson City, NV 89710
Fax: +001 (702) 687-4486
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Michele Lord + If you have come here to help me,
+ you are wasting your time.....
Alpha Institute + But if you have come because
+ your liberation is bound up with mine,
milo@scicom.alphacdc.com + then let us work together.
Aboriginal Woman
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