Phone calls and letters to key officials are important!
1. Demand a halt to the U.S. government's actions against the Western Shoshone
Nation, including the BLM's threat of a roundup of Western Shoshone
nationalized Dann Livestock.
2. Urge the United States to enter into direct and meaningful negotiations
with the Western Shoshone National Council, the traditional governing body
of the Western Shoshone Nation and the proper authority through which to
resume negotiations of the Western Shoshone land rights issue.
3. Notify the BLM officials listed that you intend to be at the Dann Ranch in
case of an attempt by the BLM to roundup Western Shoshone livestock, if
applicable. Tell them either you will be there to witness this unjust act,
or that you will directly intervene to defend the Western Shoshone Nation.
Significant congressional interest could stop the BLM and help initiate
negotiations. Significant international interest will help the Western
Shoshone Nation gain recognition as a sovereign nation.
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! The following is a list of people directly responsible for, or who can !
! influence, the U.S. Government's position. Please write to these officials !
! and express your desire to see a peaceful and just solution to the conflict !
! in Newe Segobia. !
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U.S. President Bill Clinton If the U.S. is serious about negotiations
The White House with the Western Shoshone Nation, the chief
Washington, DC 20500 executive must call off the BLM. Clinton
(202) 456-1414 Phone promised to work with Native Americans
(202) 456-2461 Fax. during his campaign, and he should follow
through by working with the Shoshone.
U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher
2201 C St. N.W. The U.S. State Department must be in the
Washington, DC 20520 negotiating party with the Western Shoshone
(202) 647-5291 Phone National Council, as this is an
(202) 647-6434 Fax. international matter. The WSNC has informed
the U.S. through this office of the
nationalizing of the Dann herd and the
issuing of Western Shoshone passports.
Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
United Nations The United Nations should recognize the
1st Ave & 46th St. sovereignty of the Western Shoshone Nation.
New York, NY 10017 The WSNC has established a diplomatic
(212) 963-1234 Phone presence with the European Parliament which
Dial "0" and ask for the office the U.N. should recognize.
of the Secretary General.
Human Rights Commission
United Nations Press this international agency to
1st Ave & 46th St. investigate the injustice perpetuated
New York, NY 10017 against the Western Shoshone People
(212) 963-1234 Phone
Dial "0" and ask for the office
of the Human Rights Commission.
U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye
Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs
U.S. Senate The chairman has been working on setting up
Washington, D.C. 20510 negotiations between the U.S. and Western
(202) 224-3934 Phone Shoshone tribal governments, but has failed
(202) 224-6747 Fax to include the Western Shoshone National
Council. Be clear with him: the WSNC, the
traditional governing body not controlled by
the U.S., is the proper authority with which
to resume negotiations on the Western
Shoshone land rights issue.
U.S Representative George Miller
Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives Thank him for correctly perceiving that
Washington, D.C. 20515 there was no concensus regarding the
(202) 225-2095 Phone distribution of the Indian Claims Commission
(202) 225-5609 Fax award for damages for the so-called taking
of Western Shoshone Land, and for not
considering H.R. 3897, the Western Shoshone
Claims Distribution Act (1992), in
committee. He needs to know that not only is
there not a consensus, but that the clear
majority of Western Shoshone don't want a
few thousand dollars pay off, but want a
future for their people that comes with the
land that is, and always has been, theirs.
U.S. Senator Harry Reid
United States Senate This Nevada Senator has requested Senator
Washington, D.C. 20510-6025 Inouye's assistance in intiiating
(202) 224-3542 Phone negotiations, although his commitment and
(202) 224-7327 Fax interest is limited.
U.S. Senator Richard Bryan
United States Senate The other Nevada Senator, who has also
Washington, D.C. 20510-2804 requested Senator Inouye's assistance.
(202) 224-3121 Phone
U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Vucanovich
206 Cannon House Office Building This Nevada representative keeps introducing
Washington, D.C. 20515 pay-off bills like H.R. 3897 without
(202) 225-6155 Phone consulting the people who would be affected.
She hasn't even contacted the IRA tribal
governments, which the U.S. recognizes.
Tell her: please don't introduce another
one.
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbit
U.S. Department of the Interior Babbit has promised to work with Native
18th & C St. N.W. Americans; now is the time for him to prove
Washington, D.C. 20240 his words were true. Urge him to halt the
(202) 208-7351 Phone BLM actions against the Shoshone and to
(202) 208-6956 Fax promote a negotiated solution to the
conflict.
Jim Baca
National Director Given his scope of responsibility, he needs
Bureau of Land Management to become aware of and must prioritize this
1849 C St. N.W. conflict as one to be addressed immediately.
Washington, D.C. 20240
(202) 208-5717
(202) 208-4152
Billy Templeton
Nevada State Director His office will call the shots on when to
Bureau of Land Management start a roundup. He continually defuses the
850 Harvard Way issue with his unfounded claims that the
P.O. Box 12000 Danns are overgrazing. Although he is not
Reno, Nevada 89520-0006 likely to change his mind, flooding his
(702) 785-6590 (State Director) office with phone calls and faxes,
(702) 785-6402 (BLM Main Office) especially during a roundup, will make his
(702) 785-6411 Fax job harder.
Rodney Harris
Districe Manager His office and staff will directly
Bureau of Land Management participate in a roundup operation.
P.O. Box 831
Elko, Nevada 89801
(702) 753-0200 Phone
(702) 753-0255 Fax
Dave Cottoor
P.O. Box 289 Although not a key official, Cottoor is the
Nephi, Utah 84648 private contractor hired by the BLM to
(801) 623-2415 conduct the round-up of Western Shoshone
nationalized livestock at the Dann Ranch.
His outfit conducted the failed round-up
attempt on April 10, 1992 and the November
1992 round-up of horses. Perhaps he isn't
aware of the public support for the Danns
and Western Shoshone people. To him, of
course, it's just a job.
Your Congressperson:
U.S. Senator __________________ Raise their interest in the issue, and ask
U.S. Senate them to not participate in any legislative
Washington, D.C. 20510 solution until negotiations have been
completed. Especially important are those on
U.S. Representative ___________ either of these committees:
U.S. House of Representatives Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs;
Washington, D.C. 20515 or House Committee on Interior and Insular
affairs. Find their local office in your
telephone directory.
For more information or to offer assistance:
WESTERN SHOSHONE DEFENSE PROJECT
General Delivery
Crecent Valley, Nevada 89821
(702) 468-0230 Phone
(702) 468-0237 Fax