And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>X-Authentication-Warning: garcia.efn.org: isco owned process doing -bs
>Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 00:03:47 -0800 (PST)
>From: Indigenous Support Coalition of Oregon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: Undisclosed recipients: ;
>Subject: Meeting with Pauline Whitesinger, Dine'h Elder (fwd)
>
>(Sent to me by Bahe Yazzie Katenay):
>
>Following is some excepts from my meeting with Pauline Whitesinger on
>Thursday, November 26, 1998 at her home in Wide Ruin/Sweet Water Canyon
>area. As the American world were feasting for their so called,
>"Thanksgivings," she was out and about in the nearby woods looking for
>firewood so that a couple of supporters can chop. When she returned back
>to her little cinderblock house that sits next to her traditional hogan,
>she seemed not to be her very cheerful self, but she greeted me with a
>quiet and gentle hand shake.
>
>I mentioned what many of us have heard concerning the, Eviction Notice,
>she immediately invited me inside her little house. Her one room house
>seemed to hold everything she own, as well as, everything that has been
>important to her in her life. The Navajo Nation's only AM radio station
>was blurring on top of a high stack of cases next to a weaving stand that
>she is nearly finish with. I squeezed myself into a worn-out chair at the
>table which was taking up what little space it had.
>
>NOTE: This conversation with Pauline Whitesinger was all conducted in the
>Dineh language, and I have translated this dialogue to the very best as to
>fit into how the language is spoken. Much of the English I used do not
>adequately interprete certain phases she said in Dineh. However, the full
>intent of her statment is well projected in this article.
>
>She brought out her stitched up nap-sack and unrolled a bundle of papers
>and started putting out what each sheet pertained to.
>
>"This is what I received (Eviction Notice), and I immediately seek someone
>to do a response, but I ended up going to Betty Tso. She typed this up for
>me, and Sarah Begay's son read all these for me, and he told me that the
>written response did not sound like what I wanted to say to the Relocation
>Commission (NHIRC) and the Navajo Nation (NN)."
>
>BK: I read it, again and told her that it states,"I (Pauline) was informed
>by the NHIRC to consider Benefits to Relocate within 30 days, and this was
>presented to me without the presence of my attorney. I would like to
>request an immediate consultation from an appropriate attorney who can
>represent my concerns relating to the said notice."
>
>Pauline: "To hell with such words! I have never requested an attorney.
>What is wrong with those people out there? I requested that the NHIRC
>personally meet with myself and other non-signers, here, at my residence.
>I wanted Chris Bavasi (Director of NHIRC and Major of Flagstaff) and
>Joseph Shelton (Dineh informat to the NHIRC) to also personally come here
>and justify to me why I should accept relocation. I never wanted that
>attorney from Flagstaff (Lee B. Phillips) or any other attorneys. No
>lawyer will ever adequately represent my concerns.
>
>How would they represent the ancient conditioning that my great
>grandmothers set forth for me and us on these lands? Is a lawyer able to
>interprete the Supreme Chants that my father, a medicineman, provided to
>the sacred shrines throughout this land? I'm not interested in allowing
>them (lawyers) to attempt this again. When those lawyers from Flagstaff
>used to come out here they use to say, 'Yes, we will take your religious
>concerns before the highest American courts,' but instead they begin to
>work with Window Rock (NN capitol) and the BIA Hopi Tribe. What have they
>accomplished? The only accomplishment was that many of our community
>members have signed the Lease Agreement, and now, we are more divided."
>
>Pauline: "It has been horrible, grandson, I'm like a chicken who has been
>attack continuously, and I feel like the feathers on my back are all
>nearly plucked out. I sit here in my house alone and never before have I
>been afraid of the darkness and being by myself. I'm afraid sometimes
>thinking that they will eventual show up to harass me more or to take me
>away."
>
>"But you know, the world out there thrives and is completely numb to the
>harshness of the injustice makes up our environment, out here. I just know
>that there is a higher power like, the Great Wind Spirits, known to be the
>most powerful, will return in due time to cleanse the earth. I've heard
>about the prophecies from my dad and grandmothers. Such an event will be
>very likely if we Dineh choose to be guided by the choices of
>"relocation." That radio station talks of progress, modernization, care
>for the elders, have peace, eat lots of turkeys, and worst of all, it kept
>stating that we (Dineh) have no use for Sovereignty. They state, 'lets
>erase the sacred Rainbow that embraces our nation.'"
>
>"Myself, Sarah Begay and her elder mother, Irene Yazzie have discussed and
>agreed that our only choice in any recourse is to maintain a position of
>Sovereignty. We talked of the earlier days of the resistance when our
>communities were strong and the youth helped us confront the many aspects
>of the BIA intrusions. We realized our people will laugh at us and say we
>are so old --'how can you manage such Sovereignty?'
>
>We just say, that's just an example of the people's lost of pride, and
>thereby, they rather accept the leisure of having warm shelters,
>electricity plugged into those shelters and let the television accompany
>them. We might be old, but our vows and obligations of the sacred ways is
>to protect the placements of the offerings, the ancient chants and
>sacrifies at all the sacred shrines which surrounds Great (Big) Mountain.
>The modern belief might suggest a evaluation upon elders, but we are the
>non-signers to the AA because, we have to sustain the rules of the Sacred
>Rainbow that Encircles Us.
>
>[In the origin stories of the Dineh, Great Spirit specified the areas of
>the land base or aboriginal homelands. These were outline by four sacred
>mountains to the four cardinal points and by four sacred rivers each with
>having a gender. The outer perimeter was a rainbow , and Creator placed
>this for the purpose of Sovereignty. In Dineh, the term 'land' is only
>translated as: Area beneath the Soles of Thy Feet, so they say, Ke'ya.
>Today, some traditionals would normally refer to Sovereignty as, The
>Rainbow that Encircles Us. This can be notice, also in the sacred Sand
>Paintings and often, appears in other religious illustrations.]
>
>"December 8th meeting which I requested to be held at my residence should
>be an important aspect of the resistance for the final stages of the
>relocation process. I hope this would be finally a new start for meetings
>of resistance discussion especially for those who never signed the Lease
>Agreement. The participation of those who've signed will have to be
>limited because of the backing that the NHIRC or the NN might aspect from
>these signers."
>
>"It is difficult to suggest this to the people, but it must be understood
>what the interests of 'Window Rock' is, as we have seen with the
>ill-consultation that has come about from Roman Bitsui. He is apart of the
>leadership of the NN besides being from this area, and he has participated
>in the undermining of our resistance. He has been out here only to visit
>those who have signed the AA and continously consulting, and I don't know
>what he discusses with them. I had just a suspicion when I heard one
>signer say that the non-signers are infering with the Lease Agreement
>processes. This person who signed stated that the BIA is dealing with the
>non-signers first instead of them getting the approval for building their
>new house. "
>
>"My feelings at this point is tremendously great with anxiety. If the day
>comes when they drag me from this beloved Ke'ya I will not allow myself to
>be placed among those relatives who have relocated. That will make me feel
>as a conquered being and to be completely subjected to the Laws of the
>District of Columbia. I say, NO! If I am to be confined let me be detained
>within the facilities of the BIA jails. Perhaps there, I will feel there
>was a purpose for my detention, and it is because I or we have fought
>hard to up hold the Supreme Laws of the Creator. I might just be happy
>there also, if this BIA-U.S. government jail shares their land title with
>me. So, I can walk around inside with the title stuffed between my sash
>belt. These are my current thoughts as I still remain, here."
>
>
>Before I left Pauline, my grandmother (great aunt), to tend to other
>chores back at my parents I paused with her outside the little house. I
>watched her as she looked out into her ancestors' beloved Ke'ya. My
>thoughts led me back to the earlier days of the Big Mountain Movement when
>her physical composer stood out more than any aspects of herself. The
>times when she'd hike over the Big Mountain ridge and come to the
>meetings. She was a strong individual. Some would just fear her because of
>her instincts or her straight forwardness. Now, I see this little and a
>much older grandmother standing her ground in this part of the world so
>that, every life on earth can heal and continue in peace.
>
>Thank you to all for your unyeilding support to save Black Mesa/Big
>Mountain from the destructive hands of the energy corps. and Peabody Coal
>Company. Lastly, I apologize for not being able to keep up with bringing
>forth updates from the land, and I apologize for lack of personnel to
>assist me in my efforts on behalf of the resistors.
>
>
> Until we speak, again. In the Spirit of
> Chief Barboncito, Bahe
>
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is
distributed without profit or payment
...http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
`"` `"` `"` `"` `"` `"`
