Thank you for your support. It has been a while since our last update. We
have had a dry Winter. Not much rainfall at all. We believe in Summer the
drought will continue and cause hardship for our livestock, our people and
our food crops.
CALL FOR PEOPLE TO COME: We need help with people to eyewitness harassment,
we need help with livestock, sheep herders, and people to help on the land.
Sheering season is coming and planting season. Please write for more
information and bring your cam corders, cameras, film, binoculars and food.
Also food runs and material aid drives would be most helpful.
CURRENT STATUS: We, the Big Mountain and Cactus Valley communities have
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and tribal police visits all the time, trying
to provoke us to action. About once a week someone has their livestock
confiscated. We are facing aggressive livestock impoundment with a release
rate 10 times the past rate. What used to take $100.00 to release our
livestock now takes $1,000.00. and the Navajo Hopi Land Commission says that
it has no money to help us out. We are being punished for not accepting the
Agreement-In-Principle (AIP), (75-year lease) and for voting against it
last August 5, 1993 by a vote of 250-1. In the Low Mountain area especially,
people are facing wood confiscation and wood cutting tool confiscation.
MEDIATION. We have been participating in the mediation meetings. We as a
sign of good faith fulfilled the 10 demands, pre-conditions. In return they
gave us an Agreement-In-Principle (AIP), (75 year lease) that we rejected
last August 5, 1993 because it was not good for our people. Our demands
concerning our natural ways and religion were never listened to. Our civil
rights have been violated. While we have been participating in these
meetings, we have continued to be denied home improvement, we have endured
harassment, an agressive campaign of livestock impoundment, wood confiscation
and wood cutting tool confiscation. We have received no support to stop
this. We have been asked to map our sacred sites.
We are responding that every inch of this ground is sacred. We want to
withdraw from the Mediation meetings as nothing new has been put on the
table since last August and the Babbis brothers (family of Interior
Secretary Bruce Babbit) pulled to CO Bar Ranch out of the AIP without
putting anything in its place. Also, there is no Congressional support for
this agreement. What we want to see is a sign of support and good faith
bedore we return to the mediaton process. We as resistors are facing a
Water Crisis. We have our aboriginal rights to go places where our livestock
can get water and that means being able to move our camps (Summer and
Winter camps). This is our traditional way. We need to be able to build wells
for people that need it. We need to be able to water harvest, build swells
& gabions. We need to be able to fix our homes & build new homes as needed.
We are abused, harassed & subjected to environmental racism. We need our
human and civil rights respected.
We are not part of the proposal & maps that cam out with last August 5,1993.
We were never notified about any of the details of this proposal. We will
not continue with the mediation meetings until we are heard. We cannot map
our sacred sites and define our borders because we love the land and hold
all the land as sacred. We believe in a borderless land. We will remain here
on this land so that we can preserve the beauty and natural way on the
whole Black Mesa.
In our demands we said if our demands were not met we would take down the
fence, rebuild our hogans ourselves and withdraw from the mediation until
we are heard. We stand behind this as resistors.
TELL THEM TO REPEAL P.L. 93-531. NO RELOCATION!
Please support us by sending letters to:
Senator McCain and Rep. Bill Richardson
111 Russell Native American Affairs Sub-committee
Senate Office Building 2349 Rayburn
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax # (202) 228-2862
Navajo Hopi Land Commission Attorney General Janet Reno
John Norstog 10th and Coinstitution Ave Room 4400
PO Box 2549 Washington, DC 20530
Window Rock, AZ 20530 Fax # (202) 415-4371
Fax# (602) 871-7297
Senator Daniel Inouye Hon. Ada Deer
Senate Select Committee Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
on Indian Affairs BIA 1849 C. St. NW Interior Bldg
Hart Senate Office Bldg Mail Stop 4140
Suite 722 Washington, DC 20240
Washington, DC 20510 Fax# (202) 208-6334
Fax# (202) 224-6747
Senator Joseph Biden, Chair Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt
Senate Judiciary Committee U.S. Dept of the Interior
221 Russell 18th and C St. NW
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20240
Fax# (202) 224-0139 Fax# (202) 208-6956
STRUGGLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: We are presently fighting for
enforcement of the law against OSM obstruction of justice that has allowed
Peabody Coal Company to operate illegally for years. We have learned that
we have rights against serious violations of the law. We have also learned
that we have strong citizen's rights provisions in the Surface Mining Coal
Reclamation Act (SMCRA).
We have been helped a lot. October 9-12, 1993 Water Information Network,
(WIN) sponsored some technical experts and Citizens Coal Council (CCC) to
attend a conference on the land. CCC told us about permit violations by
Peabody Coal Company and taight us how to do Citizen's Complaints to call
for enforcement of the law and to hold Peabody Coal Company accountable.
CITIZEN'S COMPLAINTS:
Since this conference over 270 local people have signed these complaints.
We have been joined by Citizen's Coal Council (CCC), Water Information
Network (WIN), Peabody Watch, and Dine' Hopi Alliance who have formally
signed on. The citizen's complaints are for Peabody's un-permitted
coal-water slurry line, railroad and access roads, wells and water quality
and reclamation/revegetation. The UNPERMITTED coal-water slurry line is the
only one in the country in a desert aquifer. It is pumping over one billion
gallons of water every year. These illegal practices by Peabody Coal
Company has gone on for years and for various reasons the Office of Surface
Mining (OSM) has allowed this to happen.
SUPPORT LETTERS NEED TO BE SENT: In Washington, DC letters to Sec Bruce
Babbitt and various officials and our citizen's complaints about illegal
practices by Peabody Coal Company has prompted an investigation of OSM by
the House Committee on Natural Resources. Please send letters to Interior
Sec Bruce Babbitt (see above) and to:
Robert Uram, Director
Office of Surface Mining
1951 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20240
Fax# (202) 208-2882
PLEASE SUPPORT US AND SEND LETTERS NEW DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
TO REVERSE THE DECISION OF ANNE SHIELDS TEMPORARY ACTING DIRECTOR OSM, WHO
MADE A HASTY DECISION ON THE COMPLEX TRANSPORTATION ISSUES BROUGHT FORTH IN
OUR CITIZEN'S COMPLAINTS. Anne Shields decided to deny the need to require
permits for the slurryline, railroad and access road. These transportation
facilities should be permitted. OSM allowed Peabody Coal Company to operate
illegally without the proper permits for years. This can cause our people
significant environmental harm. We have a water crisis and slurrying
potable drinking water to carry coal is unconscionable.
These transportation systems have been under investigation in response to
our citizen's complaints, and rather than correct past mistakes they are
trying to pretend that slurrying coal in a desert environment will not cause
any significant harm.
The slurry line is an environmental disaster, pumping over one billion
gallons of precious drinkable water every year; over 26 billion gallons
of water already pumped, in a desert environment. USGS has recently come
out with a report that their reason to believe that the water supply may be
in question for our future survival. The Hopi and Navajo tribal councils
have come out against the slurry line saying there is a water crisis. Tell
Robert Uram, Director OSM that it is up to him, not Anne Shields temporary
acting director leaving her position to decide on such an environmentally
critical and complex issue. Tell Robert Uram that he must show us a sign of
good faith in his intentions to fulfill his new position to truly exercise
OSM's trust responsibility to every citizen in the coal fields. We want to
know that he is working in the best interests of the people in the coal
fields and not working for the energy companies who were his only supporters.
We need to demand accountability by our government office and exorcizes
officials and exercise of their trust responsibilities.
Also, Robert Uram must reverse Anne Shield's decision to uphold Robert
Hagen's, OSM's Field Office Director, Albuquerque, NM, non-enforcement
order. Robert Hagen has violated a federal directive not to interfere with
the job performance of his field office inspectors and has told them not to
write up violations against Peabody Coal.
We want our Individual citizen's complaints about water quality, water
quantity, air quality, diseases in livestock and people to be adequately
addressed and investigated. We call for inter-agency cooperation between
OSM and the EPA to ensure equal protection for Native and non-native people
and for Native and Non-native lands.
PLEASE SEND LETTERS AND FAXES TO:
Robert Uram (see above)
and
Rep George Miller and Staff
House Natural Resources Committee
Longworth Bldg Room 1324
Washington, DC 20515
Fax# (202) 225-1931
WHAT WE ARE DOING: We are presently traveling with OSM field inspectors
and providing translators, who have been conducting investigations into our
Citizen's Complaints. In addition to the initial complaints filed with
OSM we are now working with many people here and filing complaints
about air quality, sicknesses in our livestock and people, and toxics in
our environment.
WASHINGTON DC TRIP TO ATTEND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SYMPOSIUM: Recently
some people went to Washington, DC to attend an environmental justice
symposium. It was a great learning experience. There were a lot of people
there, grassroots, low income inner city people. They were of all colors
and nations. We had an opportunity to join other people and address Carol
Bronner, head of the EPA at an open mike session. At this time we also
formally submitted to the EPA a call for enforcement of their 1984 Indian
Policy and for them to take the action they are legally mandated to in
protection on Native Lands.
PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: During
the conference, President Clinton issued and signed an Executive Order for
Environmental Justice. In a press statement issued by Attorney General
Janet Reno and Ms. Carol Bronner, head of the EPA, they state that they
have been told by President Clinton to make environmental justice a
priority.
INDIGENOUS RESPONSE TO EXECUTIVE ORDER: Even though no one partipated in the
drafting of the order at this conference, we formed an Indigenous response
to the executive order to address our concerns in being able to be involved
on a grassroots level with implementation of this policy. We are now
creating a response to the executive order dealing with mining concerns.
WHO WE ARE WORKING WITH: We are presently developing channels of
communication with the EPA in Washington, DC, Navajo EPA, and Region 9 EPA,
calling for a full and immediate investigation into our complaints. We also
had an opportunity to meet with the staff people of the House Committee
on Natural Resources and thank them for investigating on our behalf. We
also met many new allies and friends to help us return to Washington, DC
in early May.
PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO CAROL BRONNER, ADMINISTRATOR, ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY, AND TO ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO: Request that the
implement the 1984 EPA Indian Policy and take immediate and effective
action on the BLACK Mesa Mining Complex issues, ensure inter-agency
cooperation with respect to the Environmental Justice Executive Order
recently issued and signed by President Clinton to make environmental
justice a priority. Also request that the meet with our delegation when we
come to Washington, DC, and come to the land to meet with us. Please write
to:
Carol Bronner, Administrator and Elizabeth Bell
Environmental Protection Agency American Indian Affairs
401 M Street SW Office of Environmental Justice
Washington, DC 20460 Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street SW
Attorney General Janet Reno Washington, DC 20460
(see above) Fax# (202) 260-0852
BIG MOUNTAIN, CACTUS VALLEY, RED WILLOW AND FOREST LAKE DELEGATION WILL
TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON DC MAY 1994: About twenty grassroots residents
from the communities of Big Mountain, Cactus Valley, Red Willow and Forest
Lake with EPA and Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt set for confirmation
as soon as we know specific dates.
WHY THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO GO TO WASHINGTON DC: We feel that especially in
light of the recent Executive Order signed by President Clinton we are in a
good position to be heard. We request immediate and effective action be
taken by OSM, EPA, and other agencies for situations that can cause us
significant environmental question why there are different laws for
protection of Native and non-Native people and Native and non-Native land.
We request equal protection for Native and non-Native people and
environmental justice for all people of color. We will be coming to
Washington DC to speak for ourselves, hearings scheduled with Congressmen
and Senators, and OSM.
WHAT WE ARE DOING: We have letters being signed to the head of the EPA,
EPA officials, grievance against the head of the OSM office in Albuquerque,
NM for violating a federal directive to not interfere with the performance
of their OSM inspectors ability to do their job. This is directed to
Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. We are also in communication with various
organizations and people in Washington, DC that will be helping us to make
the most of our cross-country trip.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THE DC TRIP A SUCCESS: Please help us to make this
trip to Washington, DC in early May a success. We are asking the Navajo
Nation for two vans, but we still need a gas credit card, or gas money,
motel along the trip for 4 nights for 10 rooms, a few airplane tickets for
Elders to fly, money for food and metro fares. We have already found a
place to stay while we are there.
BIG MOUNTAIN DINE' SPRING GATHERING, APRIL 21-24, 1994: We are presently
making preparations for the Spring Gathering, April 21-24, 1994. April 21,
Earth Day we will be having a demonstration in front of Peabody Coal
Company office, 1300 S. Yale, Flagstaff, AZ at 1:00 PM walking to the Black
Mesa Pipeline office, 1590 E. Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ. April 22-24, 1994
will be at Camp Ana Mae. Please join us (see attached flyer). We are calling
upon people from the four directions to attend the Spring Gathering.
At the Spring Gathering we will be discussing water issues, Black Mesa
Mining Complex issues, permaculture, accountability training sessions to
hold with key officials, drumming, there will be updates from other land
struggles in the Southwest... Please join us and bring your camping
equipment. Some of us will be leaving for Washington, DC from there.
THERE IS A SUN DANCE CEREMONY COMING UP: In the beginning of Summer we will
be needing help. Also other personal ceremonies are coming up. Please come
and help us with food, cooking, and cultural exchange.
HELP SUPPORT OUR OFFICE ON THE LAND: We now have an office on the land and
need your support! Please help us by sending money to pay for postage
for support materials, office supplies, copies, gas money for transportation
to visit people, meetings, and monthly electricity bills. We need a phone
system and due to the remoteness of the area, we need to purchase a phone
system that we can use here. We will also need help with monthly telephone
bills, so we can communicate directly with our voice to the outside world.
We need to communicate with our technical and strategic advisors, schedule
meetings in Washington, DC, work with OSM, EPA, etc.
WHERE TO SEND DONATIONS: Please send all donations of money for this
office and the trip to Washington, DC to: Don't Waste Arizone for Dine'
Alliance: They have a 501(c)(3).
Stephen M. Brittle
Don't Waste Arizona Inc.
6205 South 12th Street.
Phoenix, AZ 85040
Phone # (602) 268-6110
Fax # (602) 268-0915
CLEARING HOUSE FOR INFORMATION: We wish for this office to be a clearing
house for information about our struggle. We ask all support organizations,
individuals, and groups to help support and maintain our office until we
are able to fund ourselves in part by grants and foundations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact us here for all Big Mountain
information, updates, food and material aid drives, and write to us if
you wish to receive a full information packet. We are asking $10.00
donation to cover copies, postage, and help the struggle. Also, any help
with the cost for this mailing would be most appreciated.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE SPRING GATHERING!
THANK YOU,
John Benally and Louise Benally
Box 773 Box 1042
Hotevilla, AZ 86030 Hotevilla, AZ 86030
or call Seeds of Peace at 602-774-3645