Below is a notice received by one of the Dineh. There are a number of
people receiving these at this time. A message from Carol Halberstadt
below the notice tells what the individual Dineh family can do about
such a notice.

Relocation/Livestock Impoundment Information Alert

(this notice was recieved by a Dineh (Navajo) woman at Big Mountain who
has signed the so-called accomodations agreement):

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
Superintendent Land Operations
(520) 738-2249 Ext. 239

Hopi Agency
P.O. Box 158
Keams Canyon, Arizona 86034

FIVE DAY NOTICE LETTER

CERTIFIED NUMBER: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Dear Xxxx Xxxx, Census no. XXxx

Our records show that your grazing permit is for______Sheep, 7 Cows, and
______Horses), for a total of 28 SUYL's. During the Accommodation
Agreement negotiations you may have increased your livestock numbers in
the expectation that you might receive an increase in the number of
livestock you would be authorized to graze. All Accommodation Agreements
have now been signed and all Accommodation Agreement permits have been
issued.

Due to the drought conditions and the fact that the number of animals
being grazed is in excess of the number authorized in the Accommodation
Agreement, we will be diligently enforcing the Hopi Partitioned Lands
Grazing Regulations, 25 CFR 168. The animals described in the following
paragraph are in excess of your permitted numbers and in accordance with
Part 168.14(e), Title 25, Code of Federal Regulations ar in trespass. If
these excess livestock are not removed within (5) days form the date of
receipt of this notice, these animals will be impounded. Violation of
permit provisions may cause your permit to be canceled.

The following livestock 24 Sheep, 4 Cow(s), and ___Horse(s), bearing
brand -Xxx were observed grazing at large in Range Unit 262 and have
been determined to be in excess of your permitted numbers. According to
the Navajo Brand Book and/or our records, this brand is registered to
you.

Your cooperation in this matter will be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Superintendent

Byron Clemens
Journalism/Publications Adviser
Gateway Institute of Technology
St. Louis Missouri, 63110
(314) 776-3300 ext. 4250
FAX:(314) 776-8267
===================================

Livstock Impoundment at Big Mountain

The BIA has been sending out 5-day impoundment notices, and the Black
Mesa Weavers for Life and Land are doing everything we can think of to
forestall the impoundments. The notice sounds accurate. The Hopi Tribe
was holding meetings yesterday and today to explain Hopi Ordinance #43 9
(which goes into effect October 21), so I haven't been able to reach
anyone at the BIA or Navajo Nation the last two days. But I'll be in
touch with people again tomorrow and Friday (unless they're gone for the
week).

Individual Dine' who receive such notices can go into Keams Canyon and
appeal, on several grounds, to forestall confiscations: (a) the notice
isn't correct as to the animals, their brands, etc. (b) they may request
a "cow for sheep" swap if they prefer to protect their sheep or goats.
The Navajo Nation and the BIA will help people move cattle (or any other
animals) to Navajo Nation grazing lands. A permit holder can relist
other animals in place of the ones on a permit. (c) they may move
animals to relatives on NPL or elsewhere if possible. (d) they can keep
"excess" animals corraled, and they will not be confiscated.

This permit holder, for example, seems to have 7 cows on her/his permit.
That equals 28 sheep (according to the BIA criteria, although the USDA &
BLM count one cow as 5 sheep, not 4 sheep). If this person wishes to
forestall confiscation, he or she can substitute 24 sheep and one cow
for the 7 cows, if willing to have the cows moved onto Navajo Nation
land. Not an ideal solution, and not the one we're working for, but
until things change this would at least keep the sheep from being
impounded.

Carol
Black Mesa Weavers for Life and Land

P.S. The individual might also appeal on the basis of the drought
conditions having ended...

-- Carol S. Halberstadt, Migrations (carol@migrations.com)
Native American art and crafts /
Black Mesa Weavers for Life and Land
http://www.migrations.com

 

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