URGE PRESIDENT JOE SHIRLEY TO DO AN INVESTIGATION!
Office of the President of the Navajo Nation
Joe Shirley, Jr.
| Staff Assistant Gloria Bowman gbowman@opvp.org Phone: (928) 871-7915 Fax: (928) 871-7005 |
Administrative Assistant Phone: (928) 871-7916 Fax: (928) 871-7807 |
Communications Director George Hardeen georgehardeen@opvp.org Phone: (928) 871-7917 |
|---|
ATTN: President Joe Shirley, Jr. - Elder Assaulted by BIA Rangers on "HPL"
Dear Sir,
My name is Bahe Katenay and I am a Dineh from Big Mountain. Since the
late 1970s I have been volunteering and translating for the traditional
community members in their efforts to resist the relocation policy, PL
93-531. Though, I am classified as 'landless' I spend most of my days on
Big Mountain on the so-called "Hopi Partitioned Lands," and I continue to
help convey the traditional peoples' message while no official agency
choose to recognize or act upon their wishes.
Today, Mr. President, I want to bring to your attention to an incident
that took place this past Monday (Nov. 6th) on Black Mesa in the former
Red Lake Chapter area. You very well know that we still have some of our
elder Dineh out there in the remote parts of the "HPL" and are in great
despair: trying to survival day-to-day, and pray that it will be another
peaceful day because they continuously live with the threats of their
animals being impounded, being physical relocated, their winter supply of
firewood being confiscated, and to be served a warning for multitude of
violations related to the Relocation Law and the Hopi Agency Land
Management Ordinances.
On behalf of my Dineh Relations at Big Mountain and throughout the
so-called, "HPL,"
I demand an immediate investigation into this federally-sponsored elder
abuse and harassment of an individual(s) who still have no understanding
of the modern American laws, and
I demand that the Navajo Nation make an inquiry to the BIA Hopi Agency
and its Land Management Office about their justification for this
incident of intimidation and physically shove or thrust a lone and fragile
elder around, and
I further demand that the Navajo Nation immediately convene its council
members and the Office of the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission to facilitate
the much needed testimonies from the residents of the "Hopi Partitioned
Lands" and begin to address the escalating Human Rights violations within
the forementioned region.
Let it be resolved that, the traditional Dineh families and their
elderly
matriarchs and patriarchs are highly valuable for the future of the Dineh
Nation and that honor is due to them for their years of defiance against
the illegal mandates implemented upon their lives in the name of energy
exploitation. Furthermore, if the Dineh continue to dismiss the situations
at Big Mountain and throughtout the "HPL," a geninue part of Dineh-Hopi
prehistoric experiences will be obliterated as their ancestral lands
become the wastelands of energy developments.
Finally, I wish to bring your attention to the report below and a
message from Rena Babbit Lane, herself.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Bahe Y. Katenay
Big Mountain Sovereign Community of Dineh