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Mesa Indigenous Support
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Arrests of Dine at Camp Anna Mae Sundance July 2001 |
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Though
Joe Washington, attorney, is moving for dismissal of charges, the presiding
Judge at Hopi Tribal Court entered a plea of Not Guilty and set a pretrial
date for September 18th at 9 a.m. At that time there will
be a "pretrial"conference which could result in dropped charges.
The defendants can still challenge the jurisdiction of the court.
Hopi Tribal Council Court Joseph
Chasing Horse, Anna Mae Sundance Leader, speaks
about his experiences. Including the road blockades by Hopi tribal police, excluding water, food and medicine needed by the people. He also talks about the history of the Sundance at Big Mountain. This was recorded by Agnes Patak. Statements
by Elders, Dine and witnesses to the arrests and events at Big Mountain
Sundance July 2001, recorded by LeeAnn Lebar, on Wed. July 18th and
orginally posted on Thursday July 19th
Amy Goodman of Democracy
Now radio interview 'Traditional
Elders At Big Mountain Arrested For Holding Religious Ceremony'
August
17th Monday July 30th Big Mountain, a coming home experience for Navajo Monday July 25th Big Mountain Sun Dance proceeds following arrests Indian Country Today Friday Morning July 21st Due to the flood of phone calls coming in to Gale Norton's office at the Department of the Interior, they contacted Leonard Benally directly asking "what do you want us to do?" There was a formal request made that she visit the land and meet with families on Big Mountain before October 12th. It would be a good idea to KEEP IT UP! Perhaps with the addendum that she meet that request Gale Norton
U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C. Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Thursday Morning July 19th Big Mountain Under Siege Hopi officials, Navajo resisters' views of sun dance incident clash Audio
statements by Elders, Dine and witnesses to the arrests and events
at Big Mountain Sundance 7/2001: These are mp3 files, recorded
by LeeAnn Lebar, on Wed. and orginally posted on Thurs. Open
letter to Chaiman Wayne Taylor, Jr. from Prof. Harald Ihmig Hamburg
Germany Wednesday Afternoon
************* The Hopi
and Navajo "official" points of view are expressed in these
two Navajo-Hopi
Observer articles: Hopi
Position:
/ Navajo
Position: Wednesday Morning July 18th This is
a message from Elvira Horseherder from Big Mountain. Tuesday Afternoon July 17th Sundance ceremony leaves Hopi and Navajo communities bitter Correction: The email source was incorrect which stated the supporters were arrested. There were not 20 supporters arrested, but instead citations were given out. The arraignment for the 5 Dine women is July 30th, in Hopi court. The arraignment for the supporters is in state court Monday Evening July 16th President Begay on Arrest of 5 Navajos Monday Big
Mountain Sundance concludes - Indian Country
Traditional dance further frays relationship between Navajos, Hopis -Arizona Republic Sunday Afternoon An Dine' phone messager who wishes to remain anonymous just sent word that there will be a meeting between the Sundancers & the Resistors at Camp Anna Mae. This is open to the media. Monday July 16th,8 - 11 am "indian time" Leonard
Benally Letter to Editor - Navajo
Hopi Observer Sunday Morning July 15th Hopi's arrest 5 Navajos for trespassing - GallupIndependent Letter
to the Editor from Vernon Masayesva -
Navajo Hopi Observer Saturday Morning July 14th Ceremony on Hopi land raises fear of conflict with Navajo resisters Navajo Nation Press Release on Anna Mae Sundance Freedom of Religion is supposed to be guaranteed to everyone, regardless of race, color or creed. It is a basic fundamental right, not something that should require a permit to conduct. Contact list of appropriate public officials ************************* Friday Night This is
what was reported to us this evening: Water wells
have been cut off for two days Friday Evening I recieved another phone message from Big Mountain today, folks who had snuck out of the dance to get supplies. This is their latest update: The Sundance began as scheduled with the Tree of Life planted in the arbor, Thursday morning about 6:30 a.m. The five ladies were detained while on their way to meet with Wayne Taylor(Hopi Tribal Council Chairman). Apparently they are all doing fine. I was told that a certain resident of Big Mountain is being targeted for being vocal and the tribal police is asking for them by name. People are not being allowed to leave and return to the Sundance grounds. Those who leave and choose to return face fines of $500 and up depending on how many times they leave and re-enter. But they wanted us to know that everyone is praying, and the Sundance is on. Sharon
Lungo The Hopi
tribal police are handing out this notice to everyone seeking to enter
Big Mountain, the Dine' that live there and their supporters:
This is the same notice that was give out in 1999 . Read Paul Bloom's 1999 Sundance Report Local residents say the road is blockaded and police are giving copies of the NOTICE to everyone. Friday Morning July 13, th 6:30 am - Democracy Now has done an interview Traditional Elders At Big Mountain Arrested For Holding ReligiousCeremony listen to it now. Thursday 11:15 AM PST Five Elders arrested at the Anna Mae Sundance have been released on their Own Recognizance. After spending the night in Hopi jail. Freedom
of Religion is supposed to be guaranteed to everyone, regardless of race,
color or creed. It is a basic fundamental right, not something that should
require a permit to conduct. Arrest of Elder Navajo Women By Hopi Police At Sundance Ceremony Near Big Mountain Brings Quick Response From Lakota Medicine Man
They were charged with Trespassing and No Permit. Louise Benally will issue a statement soon.
BMIS received this message Thursday morning, July 12th Dear Supporters of the Dine at Big Mountain, My name is Eve Schaeffer.
Thursday AM Robert Dorman received a phone call from Grace Smith. Five Dineh
elders have been This won't solve the problem, she says. These people must be released.
StatementsStatement from Chief Arvol Looking Horse:
The Sacred White Buffalo Calf Bundle that I care for consists of the Seven Sacred Rights and one of them is the Sundance. Because of this responsibility, my work is toward World Peace and Global Healing, as our ceremonies are connected to the Sacred Mother, including her well being preserved for generations to come. The Sacred Tree represents all life upon Mother Earth. A very important protocol in putting up the Sacred Tree with it’s offerings of prayers for all life including health for our relatives, is that the ceremony and energy must not be broken or stopped. This ceremony has been with Sacred Bundle for nineteen generations. We have shared this ceremony for health and well being with other Indigenous Nations to bring spiritual awareness and strength back to Nations. When I heard of the Hopi Nation’s attitude and violations to a spiritual ceremony, I had to realize that it was not the Hopi Nation, but rather a group of people who have been affected by the “disease of the mind”. This disease that has spread throughout Turtle Island to many Honorable Nations that have made decisions affecting relationships toward their own “brothers and sisters” of Indigenous Nations, including the violation toward our Mother Earth. In my Peace works I was honored to sit with many Hopi Traditional Elders, including the late Thomas Banyanca, who had the most deepest respect for all ceremonies, as we shared the Sacred C’anupa together. We understood that our work and message was the same. His concern for his people violating their own culture and traditions was the same as mine. There are many other “Traditional Hopi” who understand the proper protocol to ceremonies and would not think and do anything toward violating one another in interrupting a Sacred Right. So this
brings my thoughts to those who do not understand who they are as a Hopi,
a person that holds a bloodline to their Ancestors that walked in honor
and in harmony. Many Nations, have these kinds of people that are not
aware of the blood that carry in their veins and responsibility to bring
honor to their people by making wise decisions based on compassion, understanding
and respect. This makes me realize that the people making these decisions
have another motive based on the material world, which brings unbalance
to our Mother the Earth. They only need to understand that these prayers
made at all ceremonies are for their children’s health as well. Prayers
need to be offered to “our people” that have become lost in
their spirit and identity as an Indigenous Nation of this Turtle Island.
Our prayers are strong and to react the same as them will not resolve
anything, but bring more division and confusion. My prayer is for this
issue to be resolved in a most Peaceful way and Mitakuye
Oyasin (all my relations), Statement from Crowdog July 12, 2001 Thursday PM
By the human rights of the world great law- we are sick and tired of thatkind of treatment. We have the right to stand on our tribal relations federation enterprise.immediately we want them to release the elders! We are 3000 people heredemanding the release. Arrestees Ruth Benally, Pauline Whitesinger, Elivira Horseherder, Louise Benally, and Joella Ashki. Express concern to the Hopi government. 520 738-2233
Statement from Corbin Harney, Western Shoshone Elder & Spiritual Leader: (07/13)
Then you people have come along and interrupted our traditional way of life.This is what we are going to have to do from now on and before you people would really understand you should be understanding our ways because the law came upon this part of the continent not too many years ago and you took it upon yourself to interrupt our way of life. Our way of life is very important, just like your life but I wish you people would never interfere in our ceremonies, our spiritual ceremonies because this is the way we have healed each other and we are going to have to continue. This is the way our forefathers have taught us, this is what the nature have taught them, not only as a human but all the living things that provide us with all the nature way of life. I hope you understand that you are doing the wrong thing by interfering in our ways. We, the nature people have never interfered with your religion, never have and never will cause that's your way of life, so leave the people alone. This is a sad thing that you people have been doing since 1492. You have put this against us and this is something that we don't want to deal with. We have never harassed your people in your way of life, that's your religious way of life so I would say this is the way it's going to have to be. I hope you understand what you're doing and what I'm trying to say to you. Friend of Nanish Shontie, Holland (07/13)
Christ Unity Churches and their followers It is with much sadness and heartache that we have read the statement from Chief Leonard Crowdog, regarding what has taken place at the Sundanceceremony.
THE NAVAJO NATION Office of the President and Vice President (Window Rock, Navajo Nation, Arizona)For Immediate Release July 16, 2001 Contact: Merle Pete (520) 871-6352 merlepete@visto.com PRESS STATEMENT
THE NAVAJO NATION (1999) Office
of the President and Vice President (Window Rock, Navajo Nation, Arizona)
To our knowledge, the five individuals who had been detained have been released on their own recognizance. We understand the incident may be a result of enforcement of requirements noted in Accommodation Agreements signed by individual Navajo families. The Accommodation Agreements require Navajo families to secure approval by the Hopi Tribe to conduct certain ceremonial practices. From our understanding, the Sundance ceremonial performances (the incident in question) have been taking place in the Big Mountain region for quite some time--for more than 10 years now--and were not always part of the ceremonial practices requiring Hopi approval. However, in more recent years, the Hopi Tribe has required approval for the Sundance ceremony to occur. Since the incident did occur, it is now the responsibility of the President of the Navajo Nation to discuss such matters with the Hopi Tribal Chairman. President Begaye and Chairman Taylor discussed the incident, though not in great detail, at their regular monthly meeting, which took place in Flagstaff, Arizona, today. We must note that under the specifications of the Accommodation Agreements, there is a judicial process that now has to be followed. We have to allow that process to take its course. This incident is now under review by the Office of the President and Vice President, and we will report further as comprehensive information becomes available.
Prof.
Harald Ihmig
FIAN-Gruppe
Hamburg
Prof. H.
Ihmig |
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Mesa Indigenous Support (BMIS) works to support the sovereignty of indigenous
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Real Audio
I,
Chief Leonard Crowdog representing 262 tribes received a message a moment
ago- we ask for the release of the elders. We don't want that Hopi jail
to be historically marked in the eyes of the world. if it is marked we
shall look into the violation of the 1934 reorganization act - how weare
come to be citizens of the united states. 
I
would say that I'm making a statement against what the tribal government,
the Bureau of Indian Affairs have done to the Indian people. This is something
that we have done for thousands of years before you people have made a
law. This is something in our tradition, this is the way that we, the
people survived for probably a million years on this earth of ours because
that's working with the nature. The nature is providing us with all kinds
of healing from different kinds of sickness.