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Black
Mesa Indigenous Support
P.O.
Box 23501, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002 Message Voice Mail: 928.773.8086 Email: blackmesais@riseup.net Newsletter:blackmesais@lists.riseup.net |
Indian Country Today
KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz. - Black Mesa Trust asked the Hopi Tribe to investigate
alleged federal corruption of attorney John Boyden and whether the
attorney's actions invalidate the Hopi Tribe's coal and water leases with
Peabody Coal.
''Our worst fear is that Peabody over the past four decades has mined 400
million tons of coal and 40 billion gallons of non-renewable drinking
water, natural resources of which the Hopi people are stewards, based on
leases that are not valid because the Hopis' lawyer, John Boyden, was
working for Peabody at the same time he was supposedly representing us,''
said Black Mesa Trust Executive Director Vernon Masayesva.
''This would constitute a massive illegal depletion of Hopi assets that
the Department of Interior was and is required to hold in trust for the
Hopi people.''
After three blocked attempts to deliver the petition signed by Black Mesa
Trust Board members to the tribal council, Masayesva took it to tribal
headquarters and requested that it be read into the council record.
''We're hearing this will happen in December, and we will be extremely
disappointed if the council does not act before Dec. 15. We are asking the
tribe to hire attorneys who specialize in legal ethics to look at the
events that took place during the negotiations for the original leases,
and to stop all current negotiations with Peabody until this matter is
resolved.''
In the late 1960s, the Department of Interior attempted to investigate
Boyden's actions, but closed the investigation in the mid-1980s for lack
of evidence. Since then, however, new evidence has come to light.
Charles Wilkinson, professor of law at the University of Colorado,
discovered records showing that the late Boyden had represented Peabody in
another matter at the same time as he was representing the Hopis in their
negotiations with Peabody.
Then, in August of this year, Group Executive for Peabody's Southwest
Operations John Wasik, in a letter to Black Mesa Trust, acknowledged that
John Boyden did do work for Peabody in the 1960s, but said that the work
was done after the coal lease negotiations were approved.
However, in November 1967, Boyden wrote a ''Personal and Confidential''
statement of work to Peabody 'for work done to date.' The statement of
work went back three years to 1964 during the height of coal lease
negotiations.
The petition states, ''Coal lease negotiations between Hopi and Peabody
started on Aug. 5, 1963 and continued through 1964 and 1965. Hopi Tribal
Council approved the coal lease with Peabody on May 16, 1966,'' reads the
petition.
''We believe that the investigation we are requesting will also bolster
the tribe's position in the RICO (Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations) case against Peabody that it is currently pursuing with the
Navajo Nation,'' Masayesva said.
''That lawsuit alleges that Peabody and the Department of the Interior
colluded in the mid-1980s to give the Hopi and Navajo Tribes a lower coal
royalty rate than they were entitled to receive. The lawsuit seeks to
invalidate the 1987 lease amendments and asks for triple damages of more
than half a billion dollars,'' he said.
Black Mesa Trust is dedicated to preserving the N-aquifer for future
generations of Hopi and Navajo children and to working for the
preservation and equitable distribution of fresh water resources around
the world.
Santa Fe's Native American artist program accepting applications
SANTA FE, N.M. - The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts announced
that applications for the 2005 Native American Artist Fellowship Program
are now available. Native American artists, age 18 and over, are
encouraged to apply.
Caren Gala, SWAIA programs coordinator, said, ''The Fellowship Program is
a wonderful vehicle which provides financial assistance to help further
artists' careers. In addition to the cash award, artists receive
heightened publicity through events and special features leading up to
Indian Market. I would encourage all Native artists to apply.''
The SWAIA Fellowship program supports the careers of Native American
artists by providing a $3,000 grant to assist with supplies and career
development and a booth at the world famous Santa Fe Indian Market. In
addition to the application itself, applicants must provide a resume,
current slides and tribal documentation. There is no fee to apply. In
2004, SWAIA awarded six fellowships to artists from a broad range of
artistic and tribal backgrounds.
Completed applications must be postmarked or hand delivered to the SWAIA
offices no later than 5 p.m., Jan. 14, 2005 in order to be eligible.
To request an application, or for more information, call (505) 983-5220 or
download an application at: www.swaia.org/fellowapp.php.
Outstanding American Indians honored in Phoenix
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Native American Recognition Days recognized Enei Begay,
Navajo director of the Black Mesa Water Coalition, as their Woman of the
Year. Ivan Makil, former president of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community, was named Man of the Year.
The awards, presented on Nov. 4 at the Heard Museum, focused on the areas
of education, health and community.
Outstanding Native American students were recognized at three levels which
were: Middle school, Leathan Dayish, Rough Rock Community School; high
school, Joy Richline, Metro Tech High School and university, Dennis
Eagleman, ASU West.
The Excellence in Native Well Being Award, an individual award, was
presented to Marc Harrison, CEO, Native American Community Health Center,
Inc. The organization award was captured by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa
Indian Community Diabetes Program.
Native American Recognition Days was founded in 1982. Its mission is to
celebrate the diverse traditions and achievements of Native Americans in
Arizona. This annual event is designed to foster pride and wellness in our
cultures and communities, and to nurture a healthy relationship between
the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and the Native American community.
Results are available at www.aznard.com
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096409968