The Navajo Nation tribal government has been long involved in the relocation processes since the Relocation Mandates set by U.S. Congress in 1974. The Navajo Nation (NN) has always tried to present itself as the appropiate and the humane representative of the people in resistance. Today, in conglomerate with the BIA Hopi tribal Agencies, the Phoenix BIA Area Office, and the BIA's (armed) Range Technicians have been bringing more fear upon the traditional resistors on the HPL. Despite, that this Relocation Law is an intent to "resolve a land-dispute" between the two said Indian Nations, the implementation of the final policies are still violating human rights, as well as Treaty Rights. Just imangine for a moment that your elder parents or grandparents are being serve notices to forfeit there cultural belongings, foods, religious practices, to stop all family activities in order to conform to a new era and finally on top of that, these Orders are presented to them in some strange and foreign language.
We would assume that the Navajos (Dineh) themselves would take a position to protect the rights and cultural interest of their elders who are resisting. Certainly, the resistors would have made much progress in: the courts, at the community levels, influencing the local district councils, and international diplomacy (without the intervention by the US State Dept.), and such progress would have been possible if the NN would have provided such financial and political supports. However, one must understand how and why tribal governments were set up during the 1930s when post-depression industrialization began in the southwestern US. Interior Secretary, John Collier, of that time reinstated a very settle method of "Scorge the earth campaign" or another phase of Genocide. This anti-Indian policy, the Indian Reorganization Act took various harsh and brutal stages, and it also outlined ways to stablize the "Washington designed" Tribal Council. In the Tribal Constitutions (written by White Anglos), nothing states the protection or the enhancement of the existing centralized, cultural and religious societies of the Dineh. Thus, the sole purpose of the NN or the Hopi Tribal government is to alter and eliminate the powers of the religious and traditional leaderships. What is occuring in northwestern Big Mountain is the final stages of assimulation, and it is carried out without the conciousness of the American public (and with the ignorance of those that know about it in Arizona). Furthermore, it is conducted in away to disturbed traditional lives by humiliation and isolation. Northwestern Big Mountain is probably no different than the rest of the HPL, but what is occuring now is just example of the helplessness that these last aboriginal community is feeling. The Accomodation Agreement (AA) of the 1997 was forced into their face despite their opposition and claiming they were being represented by a lawyer, Lee Brook Phillips, who had no interest in their sovereign status, but had interest in the BIA Tribal Constitutional's "rational" dicussions. Most of the resistors were coherced that the court will issue them continued residency and that, their lives could resume to a normally state like before the Relocation Act of 1974. Now, those who have signed the AA see steel markers and brass-topped markers that has enclosed them within a 3 to 6 acre plots. They have been also informed that they must immediately built or move all their property into these plots. Also, all excess cattle, horses and sheep have to be sold or hauled off the reservation with the assistance of the BIA, and any other unauthorized livestock is subject to impoundment. Some of the signers to the AA were told to seek new plots because they were too close to an archaelogical site. All other homesites, cornfields, corrals and religious grounds have to be dismantled, and if the residents can't do that the BIA Hopi Agency will have their personnel do the tearing down and disposing of these structures. There are those elders who did not sign the AA, and they are subject to forcible eviction by, perhaps early 2000. The NN's representatives are currently acting as mediators and "the good sumaritians" to assure that their traditional elders have an idea of the processes and to abide by the Relocation Laws.

Currents and Outcome of Last Incident:

We had discussed previously that, Mayze Katenay Begay was harassed and that their animals were about to be hauled off. Though, this is sort of a voluntary situation her and her family still have the privilege and protection of International Human Rights. She does not want the BIA acitivities to suddenly or distruptly enter her resident without notifying her in a timely manner. She would like to cooperate in having the excess animals hauled, but should be done on her time and without abuse to the cows or horses (e.g. compacting them where some get injured or crushed). Since Oct. 16th when the BIA's rescheduling to haul on the 22nd, the BIA Range Technicians just came back to remove the defaced stock trailer (Mrs. Begay insisted a message be written directly on the trailer since her two page letter wasn't adhered to). They simply took the trailer without the excess animals, and they just said the weather might make their future efforts inaccessible. Ye! Mother Nature, she did it again. Also, these resistors need encouragements, like showing them they have the right to state their feelings, and that such feelings be adhered to. However, it is not over. Lets continue to build awareness and support for on land coordinators but make sure that such support produces feed back. Preparation is very essential for the planning of responses to the intensification of the final removal and displacement of the resistors. The elders still ask for helpers, witnesses or periodic scheduling of monitoring tours. Please, stay tuned and keep in contact with your nearest Support Networks.
Again, Thanks for all the various aspects of support this year, and do understand that the elders are most grateful for your contribution and
Prayers.

Signed, Bahe Y. Katenay

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