And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
The following information provided by the poster below is unverified..Ish
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X-Originating-IP: [199.4.126.250]
From: "Kate mine" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Big Mt. Arrests
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 19:54:39 PST
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Greetings Supporters,
Following is written by me so please excuse any typos or spelling that I
may have written. Also, the struggle has just begun. Of course it is
overwhelming but the efforts need to continue. What else can we do in
order to stop the precursors of the escalating global corporate madness?
In the Spirit of Chief Barboncito, Bahe Yazzie Katenay
[The Weaving for Freedom is an organization of the Dineh weavers who are
also resisting relocation. They have at least 4 to 6 meeting a year to
discuss sales, support outreach work and future goals. Arlene Hamilton
and other volunteer staff members have been doing support work under the
directives and guidances from these traditional weavers. This had been
a regularity scheduled meeting but there were additional pleas made by
the elders for non-Indian supporters to intervene as American citizens.]
INCIDENT REPORT
RE: Supporters intervene BIA impoundment
On March 15th at approx. 11:30 AM, two non-Indian supporters, Arlene
Hamilton and Swaneagle, and a Dineh supporter, W. Lonewolf Scott went in
to the BIA Hopi Agency Office at Keams Canyon. At the request of the
gathered weavers and HPL community members to request an immediate halt
to the livestock impoundment activities. These Dineh weavers and
families expressed a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety. These
supporters realized the was a state of panic created by the amount of
excessive force being shown by these impoundment operations. Supporter
Arlene Hamilton states,"This is what I personally witnessed, referring
to over 10 BIA Police that had been escorting Ranger personnel. It left
me to be seriously concerned about the mental and physical health of the
Dineh mothers, grandmothers, and the children."
Inside the Agency office, the supporters asked for Fred Chavez, the
director overseeing the impoundment, but he was unavailable and that he
was out in the field. However, another director, Eugene Secakuku, was
willing to meet with Arlene, Mr. Lonewolf Scott and Swaneagle. There
was a formal introduction by the supporters about who they were and had
only peaceful intentions to discuss the concerns for the health welfare
of HPL residents. There was nearly a four hour discussion in which
several requests were made by the supporters to Mr. Secakuku to call
officials at the Phoenix BIA Area office. Some of the officials were
reached like Mark Bradford, BIA Area Office attorney David----, and
Robert Caroline, but these officials show no concern. Furthermore, Mr.
Caroline stated, "NO ONE HERE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOOKING OUT FOR THE
MENTAL OR PHYSICAL HEALTH OF THOSE RESIDENTS."
After these support delegates attempted to asked in a respectful manner
for some concerns on the BIA's part, the BIA official began rejecting
their requests in an agitated manner. At his point, the formal meeting
turned towards other means of convincing the officials to stop the
livestock impoundment. Ms. Hamilton describes the event, "So, I laid
myself down on the floor behind Fred Chavez's couch, and Swaneagle sat
on the floor also next to me. We told them (the officials) that we will
refuse to leave unless they begin showing some concerns." The Agency
security personnel came to remove them as Swaneagle cooperatively
allowed to be escorted out, and Ms. Hamilton had to be carried out.
Outside the Agency office they were handcuffed and place under arrest,
and they were charged with criminal trespass. They were held at the BIA
Law Enforcement compound for over 3 hours and finally, released.
March 16, 1999 Incident:
On this day, Arlene and the others were driving about in the Big
Mountain area while resuming to the coordinating with the Weavers, and
they were stopped by another group of supporters. Gloria, who was with
some members from the Black Mesa Indigenous Support Network, reported to
them of an impoundment in progress. Also, there was a request for
additional witnesses for this impoundment that was taking place at the
residence of Jessie and Ruby Biakeddy. As they drove towards the
residence, they encountered a long row of police units and impoundment
trailers on the main dirt road that leads up to the Peabody mines.
There was two unmarked white cars parked alongside this line of police
vehicles.
These BIA police caravans were all stopped near the entrance into
Katherine Smith's residence. The supporters then parked there, as well,
and proceeded to walk up to one of the officers to attempt to begin
another dialogue concerning the activity. "We proceeded in a kindly and
peaceful manner to ask them why there was a show of so much force just
to count a small herd of sheep?" asked Arlene. while this question was
being presented the Lands Operations director suddenly appears out of
one unmarked car and walks up with at least 8 uniformed officers.
Immediately, they surrounded Arlene and Ms. Swaneagle, and one officer
was recording with a video camera and another taking still photos.
Arlene turned to Mr. Chavez and asked about the promises made by him
about not scaring or intimidating the traditional residents.
Arlene further describes, " I told him that what he is allowing now
seems as placing the traditional people under siege. I also referred to
a binder on his desk that I noticed the day before. In that binder
there was a page that listed families whose names appeared with dates of
scheduled impoundment, and this listed schedule implies a state of
siege. He denied that such a list existed."
At this point, the officers asked Ms. Swaneagle to step aside and then,
proceeded to grabbing Arlene. She had not intended to be arrested and
tried to pull her arms away form the officers. The officers all teamed
up and forced her arms behind her and put on the cuffs. Mr. Chavez
claimed that she is being disorderly, and Arlene was placed in the
police truck. She then was transported to the BIA police headquarters,
and without being ever booked she was held while the police tried to
locate another booking facilities or police agency. Finally, she was
detained, again at the Keams Canyon headquarters where she was processed
through normal booking. After about 4 hours, she was again released,
however this time she nearly left without ever knowing the exact
charges.
So, she inquired about her charges but the police supervisor only
indicated that a warrant will be served for her arrest in the near
future. Arlene said she responded, "Well then, I should just stay and
remain detained. Just how are you going to locate me and issue a
warrant?" The supervisors response was just simply that they knew
exactly about her whereabouts. Arlene describes the supervisors
reaction to all this, "He was sweating, he looked nervous and he was
sweating beads of sweat from his forehead."
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[NOTE: TO ALL THAT CARE ABOUT THE INDIGENOUS SURVIVAL IN THE WESTERN
HEMISPHERE, AND TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE TRADITIONAL DINEH AND ARE NOT
SUPPORTING FOR THEIR OWN SATISFACTIONS. The factual information is very
serious whether it was used as an excuse of that it actual occurred.
Director of the Land Operation who is responsible for executing all
ordinance and HPL Law enforcement, Fred Chavez indicated in his response
to the intense BIA Police presence was , "Well, Marsha Monestersky
threaten us. She has made numerous calls stating, 'Alright this will be
warfare form here on!' We are concerned for the safety of our law
enforcement officers and Ranger technicians. We feel that she has
somewhat referring to the ever presence of outside supporters." Mr.
Chavez stated this when being questioned about the 'invasion-type
method; being used on the traditional Dineh livestock owners. He also
stated that the last time Ms. Monestersky call she again mentioned
something to the effect that the solution is going to have to be 'war.'
What supporters' intention should be is we ask that they confer in the
best way possible with their Dineh elder hosts about the needs to
remained and practice the cultures. The elders DO NOT ask to threaten
the government officials, but that supporters are needed but must adhere
to the direction from the traditional elders. This individual (Ms.
Monestersky) is becoming more of a problem and that she has seemed to
initiate her own agenda and that, the Dineh whom she says to represent
or work with are not aware of her writings and presentations. Others
out there must understand and become aware of her activities.
This will pose further safety issues for any other supporters planning
trips to help the Dineh resistors. Also, there had been two incidents
by non-Indians on the Hopi and Navajo reservation who have committed
arson. These two individuals whose affiliations are currently unknown
have damaged public facilities and nearly endangered incident lives. It
is obvious that law enforcement officers will always use certain
prefabricated situations, but we mist think of the defenseless dineh
populations who have relatives still resisting or that they themselves
are resistors.]
Yaa'a'tee'h Supporter,
I am Mary Katherine Smith. On march 16th (1999) the BIA conducted a
livestock count, and to my surprise I was allocated 30 and not 33 like I
was originally told, earlier. The reason for my numbers being reduced
was another family wanted more!
The BIA were armed and overstaffed for my non-violent and gentle spirit.
Thank You, Marsha, for the threatening the BIA Police by saying you
had, 'an army waiting'. There is no army. She created a big problem
for the grandmothers. The police officers wanted war, but the lady (who
made threats) of course, wasn't there to take the heat for her selfish
causes.
I heard of the so called 'food run' from LA. However, we have heard
supporters got botchulism for contaminated goods.
Marsha, please leave my mother Katherine alone. I definitely object to
your verbal threats and to your self appointed egotistical anxiety and
suppressed activism.
[signed] Mary Katherine,
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