NAVAJO-HOPI "LAND DISPUTE" UPDATE: 12/21/93
IMPOUNDMENT
On Dec. 14, the BIA took four cattle belonging to Mrs.
Pauline Yazzie and Mr. Billy Begay of the southern Big Mountain
area (Range Unit 257). I talked to Eugene Secakuku at BIA Land
Operations (the livestock police) in Keams Canyon. He told me
that he had released to cattle to the owners who had told him
they were getting ready top sell them. He let the cattle go with
no fee charged, and asked that they show him the sales receipt.
I thanked Mr. Secakuku for his act of common decency, an all too
rare thing in the situation we are facing.
The BIA also picked up three cows and a steer in the Sand
Springs vicinity. These were "slicks" (unbranded) and Mr.
Secakuku thought they were probably Hopi cattle. He says the
Hopis are paying the same extreme fees that the Navajos are. He
says people are keeping their livestock out of sight or penned up
a lot more, mainly because of the radio announcements about
impoundment activity.
MEETING AT SAND SPRINGS
Yesterday I was out at Sand Springs in the southwestern part
of the HPL. This is an area where Dinnebito wash has water in it
all year round, also there are some big springs and a gigantic
old cottonwood tree. John Yazzie is sort of the headman there,
he has a huge extended family, 25 children, lots of
grandchildren, etc. Most of them are gone during the week but
maintain their domicile at Sand Springs. Mr Yazzie and his
relatives have about 150 acres under drip irrigation, they have a
big orchard, grow lots of crops. No electricity, but they do
have running water at some of the houses.
President Zah was scheduled to visit the family after an
engagement at Leupp. The Sand Springs community wants to
continue the mediation and has said they are willing to talk
about a lease arrangement, provided it protects their religion
and way of life. They were going to ask President Zah to call
Judge McCue to keep the mediation going.
The President never showed up. I found out later he was
running late at Leupp and had a third engagement after Sand
Springs, so decided to skip the long drive out on bad roads and
get on with his itinerary. So we ate all the food ourselves.
Mr. Yazzie and the other families are going to send a letter
to Judge McCue through Lee Phillips, essentially saying they are
willing to discuss the lease concept. They are pretty firm in
opposing the Hopi lease because of its harsh terms, but are
willing to talk otherwise. We are providing them with some
technical support, but their legal counsel remains Lee Phillips,
and he is the person who will decide how, when or whether to hand
the Sand Springs letter over to Judge McCue.
On the way out I ran into Patsy Yazzie and Mrs. Louise
Begay, the spokesperson for the Jeddito resister community. She
said she was going to send a similar letter, also there are about
four families at Low Mountain who want to go in with jeddito if
there are going top be talks.
This is a good development, provided the attorneys and the
Judge know what to do with it. The report to the Judge which was
written up following the Flagstaff meetings has not been
circulated yet. We are expecting to get a copy this evening or
tomorrow.
One of John Yazzie's grandchildren is this two-year old who
looks like a miniature weightlifter. His name is Dominic but
they call him Dammit. Every time someone opened the door he
would make a break for it, then someone would yell, "Dammit, you
get back here.." He walked through the room while we were
talking, just like he owned the place, swaggering with his head
high, kicked a chair twice on his way past, the chair flying up
off the ground each time. I hope he always has a home at Sand
Springs.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The answer to that will depend on whether the mediation is
extended. If the mediation goes under the Hopi Tribe will
certainly press for eviction of all Navajos from the HPL lands,
and the courts will also probably take measures against the
Navajo Nation. I believe we can document the U.S. government's
actions well enough to make a case for human rights violations.
The foreign support groups may be able to help greatly in helping
bring this issue up in the UN and other international fora.
good night,
Jon Norstog