Sovereign Dineh Nation
Office: PO Box 30453
Flagstaff, AZ 86003
sdn@primenet.com
Website: http://www.primenet.com/~sdn
Telephone (520) 522 - 8683
Fax (520) 522 - 8741
For Immediate Release and Distribution
Multi-Denominational Vigil For Big Mountain Resistors
March 31st and April 1st
Contacts: Sam Tso, MaryKathrine Smith
On the 31st of March the Navajo resistors in the Big Mountain land dispute
will face the final deadline for them to sign the Accommodation Agreement.
Many of the resistors believe the agreement to be unfair, restrictive and
intolerant of their traditional religious practices. Among other
restrictions the Accommodation Agreement would force Big Mountain
residents to give up their freedom of religion, leave them un-represented
in decisions affecting their land, and make it impossible for them to
provide care for their elders in a traditional manner. Residents who
refuse to sign by the deadline on the 31st will be served federal eviction
notices. This will allow the Hopi Tribal Council to begin removing people
from their land within 90 days.
For twenty - three years the residents of Big Mountain have been facing a
campaign aimed at relocating them from their traditional land. Working
through the Hopi Tribal council and the federal government, "big business"
has been trying to clear the land in order to open it up for the
exploitation the largest unexplored coal mine in the continental U.S.
With the passing of Public Law 93-531 in 1974, the former Hopi-Navajo
Joint Use Area was divided by the U.S. government. Unfortunately, this
division of the lands were based upon coal deposits instead of matching
with traditional land use of the native residents. The Dine' resistors
have suffered basic human rights violations throughout the dispute,
including restrictions on housing construction and repair (known as the
Bennett Freeze), forcing many extended families to be split up due to
overcrowded living quarters. Harassment by Hopi Tribal Police or Rangers
has become commonplace.
On March 31st a multi-denominational vigil will be held within the Big
Mountain area in conjunction with the signing deadline. The Traditional
Elders have asked for you to lend your prayers to the Big Mountain
resistors by attending the prayer vigil at Big Mountain or organizing a
vigil in your own community to coincide with the signing deadline.
Donations of food, animal feed (grain and hay) and money are also urgently
needed. For more information please contact the Sovereign Dine' Nation
Office.
Sovereign Dineh Nation
POB 30453
Flagstaff, AZ 86003
http://www.primenet.com/~sdn/
sdn@primenet.com
The following official statement from the Navajo Nation speaks for itself:
From: rezman@infomagic.com (George Joe)
Subject: Re: Navajo Statement on Land Dispute
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 16:03:12 GMT
The following statement was released by Navajo Nation President Albert
Hale on Wednesday March 26, 1997. This statement addresses some concerns
about a deadline for Navajo families to sign an agreement with the Hopi
Tribe that would allow them to remain on lands partitioned to the Hopi
Tribe by congress in 1974. This lease is for 75 years.
Please PASS THIS ON TO OTHERS.
_____________________________________________________________________________
NAVAJO NATION NEWS RELEASE March 26, 1997
Contact: Annette Brown - Press Officer (520) 871-7919
George Joe, Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office (520) 871-7289
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MARCH 31ST DEADLINE
By
Albert A. Hale
Navajo Nation President
Unfortunately, as we near the critical March 31st deadline for Navajo
families who live on Hopi Partitioned Lands (HPL) to enter into a
75-year lease with the Hopi Tribe, there are misunderstandings about
what will take place.
First, I assure you that there will be no evictions taking place on
April 1, 1997. The Hopi Tribe and the United States have also assured
the individual families that no immediate evictions will be taking place.
Instead, the truth is that beginning April 1st, or soon thereafter,
the federal relocation office in Flagstaff, Arizona, the Office of
Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation Commission (ONHIR), will begin
visiting Navajo families on HPL who have not entered into an
Accommodation Agreement with the Hopi Tribe.
These families will be given a 90-day notice by ONHIR to choose
whether they will voluntarily relocate from HPL or not. At this stage,
it may take ONHIR anywhere from one to three months to reach all
affected Navajo families on HPL. A particular family's 90-day notice
may end at a different date from their neighbor's. At the end of the
90-day period, ONHIR will categorize individuals and families into those
who will voluntarily relocate, and those who will not
For those individuals and families who agree to voluntarily relocate,
they will go through the normal process with ONHIR to receive relocation
benefits.
By agreeing to voluntarily relocate after the March 31st deadline,
these families will still have a choice of where to move and what type
of house they want built.
On the other hand, for those families and individuals who refuse to
relocate away from HPL after the 90-day notice, the Hopi Tribe and US
government has indicated that they may have waived all their rights in
deciding where to move and what type of house to live in.
By law, the US Government and the Hopi Tribe cannot evict a Navajo
who is otherwise eligible for relocation benefits until a house is
constructed on the New Lands for that person.
Therefore, contrary to the misinformation being circulated, no one, I
repeat, no one at this time will be evicted on April 1, 1997 or very
soon thereafter. If eviction occurs, it will be done according to the
process I have outlined here. I am doing everything I can to prevent us
from ever having to face evictions.
Secondly, I have begun to hear statements that the Navajo Nation
Council has not yet agreed to pay the required rental under the
Accommodation Agreement. This statement is used to confuse HPL
residents at this critical time. The truth is that the Navajo Nation is
already required by federal law to pay the Hopi Tribe for Navajo use
(homesite, grazing and farming) of HPL.
This federal law does not require the consent of the Navajo Nation
Council. I repeat, the Navajo Nation Council has already stated that it
is a matter of individual choice whether to sign the Accommodation
Agreement. I assure every HPL resident that I will maintain my position
that the Navajo Nation is morally and legally obligated to pay the rent
on behalf of HPL residents. My administration will also continue to work
on a settlement with the Hopi Tribe as to how this rental can be paid.
I call upon all Navajo people to join me and say a prayer for peace,
understanding and a return to harmony for those families who are faced
with a difficult choice, and who are facing the March 31st deadline.
Let us also pray and give thanks for the beautiful sunrise the Holy
People will bring on April 1st. May the Holy People continue to bless
and guide each and every one of us.
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