Report on the so-called Navajo-Hopi "land dispute":
November 16, 1993
My name is Jon Norstog. I work, and for the last six years or so
have worked, for the Navajo Nation, Navajo-Hopi Land Commission
Office in Window Rock. This is the Navajo Nation's Office that
deals with all aspects of the so-called "land dispute", including:
Support of the Dine' resisters living on the Hopi-partitioned lands
(HPL). This is done in a number of ways, including provision of
information, advocacy before the Navajo Nation Council and the
U.S.Congress, through financial assistance, by helping out with
ceremonies, and by attending and meeting on the HPL where we are
asked to be present. We also assist an observe in confrontation
situations, trying always to prevent violence from taking place. We
have field staff in Teesto, Hardrock (Big Mt. area), Pinon, Forest
Lake (Cactus Valley area) and Tuba City.;
Working to find a settlement of the "land dispute" which returns
those parts of the HPL still occupied by Dine' families to the
Navajo reservation, or which otherwise guarantees to those families
permanent rights to occupy and use that land, and to practice their
religion in complete freedom;
Settling the 1934 "land dispute", getting the construction freeze
lifted, and rehabilitating those areas which were "frozen" for 27
years;
Mitigating the impacts of relocation and displacement of people
from the HPL into other reservation areas, especially the Navajo-
partitioned lands (NPL);
Addressing the impacts of the construction freeze which was in
effect in the NPL from 1964 until 1967 as a result of Healing v.
Jones;
Helping the thousand or more families left homeless because they
left the HPL and were either denied relocation benefits or have not
received them because by leaving the HPL they put themselves into
the lowest priority group for receiving benefits;
Assisting relocatees who have been screwed over by the relocation
program, either in their benefits or by being provided defective
housing;
We also build houses, and have provided about 50 homes to the
worst-housed families in the former "Bennett Freeze" area and the
NPL, mostly in our "spare time".
We also work with non-Indian support groups and other outsiders who
are interested in various Navajo-Hopi issues, providing accurate
information when and as we are able.
You can contact us through the Peacenet at navajonation. Or call
(602) 871-6441, fax 871-7297, or write P.O. Box 2549, Window Rock
AZ 86515. Roman Bitsuie is the Executive Director.
TODAY, November 16, 1993:
Yesterday I drove past the BIA livestock impoundment corral at
Keams Canyon. I saw two horses there, plus all three of the BIA's
livestock trailers. We had earlier gotten a call from Larry Nez to
pay impoundment fees for one of Jack Hatathlie's (Coal Mine Mesa
HPL) horses which had been taken in before November 1. This has
been done so I don't think either of the two I saw was his. We
have not received any calls about other HPL livestock impoundments.
As far as I know, the BIA and Hopi Rangers have been all over the
HPL taking notes and pictures, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO LARGE-SCALE
LIVESTOCK IMPOUNDMENT.
This afternoon I talked to Elmer Clark (Teesto) and Wilbert Goy
(Hardrock). Neither of them have seen any livestock impoundment or
other unusual activity. Wilbert said that the Hopi Rangers had
been around but they seemed to be looking for "illegal"
woodcutting, rather than livestock.
Meanwhile we are trying to make our case to Ada Deer and Janet
Reno, saying that mediation is not over, there are at least four
proposals on the table (land exchange, allotments, modified lease
and land for water) and that there is no need to reduce HPL
livestock and livestock impoundment will only make negotiations
more difficult. Judge McCue and Senator DeConcini also have come
out against the impoundment.
In any case, the Hopi elections are all messed up. Last week the
Hopi Tribal Council voided their primary election over voter
registration issues. HTC meets tomorrow to decide whether to hold
a new primary election or accept a compromise offered by the Hopi
election board. If the compromise is accepted, the general
election could be held on Nov. 24. Otherwise there will have to be
a new primary and the general election might be any time from mid-
December to mid-January. (Articles in Gallup Independent,
11/16/93) Until the elections are completed, there is really no
way to continue negotiations.
There are families at Sand Springs and Coal Mine Canyon who want to
discuss a modified lease with the Hopi Tribe. As long as those
requests for continued discussion are in effect, it is hard for
anyone to say (as the feds did) that mediation is over.
I was at a meeting at Violet Ashike's house (Big Mt. North) where
Katherine Hazard, the federal team's field person stated that she
WOULD impound livestock. Mae Tso said in that public meeting that
she would protect her livestock. Others - there were about fifty
HPL residents present - more or less agreed or supported that
position. I was also told by an HPL resident in private discussion
that she and her friends would take out some fences if there was an
impoundment.
There is a very good possibility that the Chambers Ranch, now part
of the so-called "new lands" will be made available to HPL
resisters for their "excess" livestock. Until 1988, about 22
resister families had cattle and horses there, but then the BIA
impounded all of it. Dan Jackson was involved, there was a heavily
armed SWAT team sent in, some elders were roughed up. It took
place while we were all down in Prescott for the Manybeads hearing.
At this time the Chambers Ranch can carry abut 660 cattle or 2500
sheep. If we get access to this ranch, it will allow those
families who wish to shift some of their over-permit livestock off
the HPL.
The alternative is to keep "excess" livestock penned and feed them
hay. The BIA cannot take livestock which are in a pen or corral,
only from open range. Families who wish to do this -- probably the
best option for those who have sheep -- will need hay. Supporters
who want to help out this way can buy hay in Cortez, Farmington or
someplace like that. It is a lot cheaper than buying locally.
I will try to keep providing updates weekly, or if there are any
serious problems. I will also try to respond to requests for
information when it is possible.