And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >From BIGMTLIST [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 13:13:37 EST Subject: Post to Your Supporter lists-The Freedom Mission Dear Big Mountain supporters, Re: As Jewish people all over the world celebrate Passover they remember the ancient words which join all their people with all who are in need, knowing that their redemption is bound up with the deliverance from bondage of people everywhere. The prayers state that "We are all still in bondage, Next year may all be free." The Jewish people left Egypt with their herds, their sheep and their donkeys. This is how they survived in the desert. On the eve of Passover a miracle occurred on Black Mesa - the animals belonging to Anna and Ella Begay were redeemed from public auction and tomorrow, Anna and Ella will be bringing their animals back home to a friend so that they will not be confiscated again as the BIA threatened to do. The BIA says this area is a disaster area because of the prolonged drought and if the animals are not removed from the range land it will be destroyed permanently. If this is really a disaster area why doesn't the US government treat it as such and provide hay and feed for the animals rather than denying people their sole source of survival? This issue is not about range management. The people have used this range for hundreds of years with 10 times the amount of animals that are currently grazing. The elders that are suffering believe that this is just an excuse for the BIA to conduct a campaign of terror against them. I wish to send special thanks to Carol Halberstadt who gave $500.00 to Anna and Ella Begay to pay for the return of their animals, 2 donkeys and 1 slick philly at auction. Western Union transactions were negotiated and several phone calls were placed to Valley Livestock auction to make sure the animals were not sold before they arrived, because they slowed down by a sand storm that was so bad I-40 was closed down for a couple of hours. Carol says, "I reached the woman at Valley Livestock auction and I told her who I was and that Anna Begay and her niece Phyllis Widehat would be coming to redeem the animals but were delayed - there were so many obstacles on this freedom trip. But the woman at Valley Livestock understood and bid in Anna's name for the animals that Carol guaranteed up to $500.00. So this is what happened. Anna and Phyllis showed up with the money after the auction and were able to pay for their animals. Today there is a snow storm so Valley Livestock said they would hold the animals for another day and will treat the animals well as they await their journey back home. Carol adds, "I was able to begin my Sedar last night remembering as each Jewish person does, how we were delivered from slavery to freedom and how each one of us has an obligation to help in some way." I also wish to send special thanks to Mauro Oliveria from SOL Communications for laying out the money as Carol was enroute to visit family in celebration of Passover. Mauro also worked with great dedication to ensure the success of the mission. He will be coming again with a food caravan this weekend and always lifts the spirits of the people when he is here. What is most unfortunate, is that all of this would have been unnecessary if the BIA had just returned the animals. In fact, when we approached the BIA to see if they would accept the $500.00 that was raised in settlement of the costs of the hay and food given to these animals-the BIA said no. They said, "If you want these animals buy them back from auction but if you bring them back to HPL we will just confiscate them again." As you know from previous postings, these were animals that the BIA seized from inside Anna and Ella's corral. And they must have acknowledged at least some culpibility on their part because they did return 1 horse at no cost to Anna and Ella last weekend. If you would like more information about Anna and Ella Begay, please check out the web site for an article with photographs entitled "Genocide on Black Mesa". This and previous press releases detail much of the story. The web site address is: http://www.theofficenet.com/~redorman/welcome.html And even though Anna and Ella Begay were able to get their animals back from public auction what will happpen when 100 families have their animals seized? We need your help to ensure that the US government investigate this tragedy perpetuated by the BIA, investigate their permit issuance process, and their starvation policies. We believe that the money spent for the purchase of these animals at auction should be refunded to the individuals and the US government should investigate all allegations made of wrong doing. Please keep the pressure up on the BIA. There are supposed to be protections in this country against elder abuse. The Freedom Mission was successful. Now we need to look ahead to Geneva and hope that this redemption is a sign of good things to come. Any financial assistance you can give us towards our expenses in Geneva would be most greatfully appreciated and is still desperately needed. Thank you for your continued support. Yours sincerely, Marsha Monestersky Consultant to Sovereign Dineh Nation (520) 673-3461 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ******************************************** You are on the BIGMTLIST, a moderated mailing list of Big Mountain relocation resistance information (not discussion or debate). To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe" in the subject header. For non-list members receiving this post as a forwarded message, you may subscribe by emailing [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word "subscribe" in the subject header. For Big Mountain and other activist internet resources, visit "The Activist Page" at http://www.theofficenet.com/~redorman/welcome.html Also, for great internet tools please visit: http://www.msw.com.au/cgi-bin/msw/entry?id=1271 ******************************************** &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
