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Hopi offer no apology for Sun Dance destruction

Posted: August 22, 2001
by: Brenda Norrell
Indian Country Today

KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz. -- The Hopi Tribe responded to Navajo President Kelsey
Begaye's stern reproach and refused to apologize for destruction of the
Big Mountain Sun Dance grounds, stating that Navajos resisting
relocation will be evicted.

"There will be no apology," said Cedric Kuwaninvaya, chairman of the
Hopi Land Team. "These people are trespassers and they will be evicted."
President Begaye warned the destruction of the Sun Dance grounds at Big
Mountain damaged the relationship between Navajo and Hopi tribal
governments.

Demanding an apology, Begaye said the destruction of the Sun Dance tree
and arbor was a violent act.

"The actions of the Hopi government have cast a long shadow over all the
Navajos who reside on the Hopi Partitioned Lands, as well as put
chilling effect on the relationship of our two nations," Begaye said.
Kuwaninvaya said Hopi have received no apologies and would issue none.
"When a Hopi was arrested for carrying out his religious duty of eagle
gathering by the Navajo police a couple of years ago, there was no
apology from the Navajo Nation leadership.

"When a shrine was destroyed by Navajos during a Hopi pilgrimage, there
was no apology. When Hopi pilgrims were fired on by the Navajo, there
was no apology.

"There will be no apology from the Hopi now.

"Apologies are appropriate only when a wrong has occurred and from the
Hopi point of view the wrong is on the hands of the Navajo resisters and
their non-Hopi supporters.

"To them we say: leave Hopi land. It is irresponsible to undermine and
risk tearing down the pillars of the 1996 Peace Accord for the sake of
political expediency."

However, President Begaye said the action of bulldozing a ceremonial
site was too extreme.

"The Hopi government appears to be persecuting these families for their
religious beliefs, as well as for their heartfelt desire to stay on
their ancestral lands and to continue their traditional ways."

Responding to Begaye's statement that tribal relationships have been
damaged, the Hopi Tribe said Navajos who chose to sign 75-year-lease
accommodation agreements with the Hopi Tribe need the support of the
Navajo Nation in order for it to work.

"The Hopi and Navajo people who chose peace offered by the accommodation
have the support of the Hopi, they need the support of the Navajo
Nation.

"The 1996 Navajo-Hopi land Dispute Settlement Act needs the support of
the Navajo Nation administration. Without this support, the message
becomes very clear -- crime and irresponsibility pays." Kuwaninvaya said
Hopi have entered into peaceful negotiations with Navajo to resolve the
land dispute.

"No single issue has consumed more valuable time and irreplaceable
resources than the century-old dispute between the Navajo and Hopi over
Hopi ancestral land.

"In spite of the turmoil, the Hopi have been steadfast in their belief
that peace between our two people can best be achieved through mutually
agreed upon solutions and agreements.

"Our actions have repeatedly borne this out. The Hopi Tribe is a small
tribe whose history speaks volumes of its patience and dedication to
peace and harmony."

Kuwaninvaya said the Hopi Tribe offered a peaceful solution in 1991 to
the Navajo-Hopi Land dispute through the accommodation agreement to
Navajo families desiring to stay on Hopi Partitioned Lands.

He said Navajo families that remain on Hopi Partitioned Lands who did
not sign the 75-year-lease agreements would be evicted.

"These people are trespassers and they will be evicted.

"The Hopi will never again tolerate a situation where our lands are
stolen, our people abused and our laws ignored.

"When so-called religious ceremonies become little more than political
rallies, both the Hopi and the Navajo lose. The actions of the resisters
do not support peace between the two tribes."

Black Mesa Indigenous Support P.O. Box 23501, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002  Message Voice Mail: 928.773.8086 Email: blackmesais@yahoo.com