UAP
Northern Arizona
28 September 2004
The deadline for the Navajo-Hopi Indian
Relocation Commission to evict all remaining Dineh residents
of the so called, "HPL," was to have taken
place in July of 1986. In April of that year, the Big
Mountain resistance movement held the 6th Annual Spring
Survival Gathering where the late matriarch, Roberta
Blackgoat, spoke to the Women's circle. She said, "I
don't know what our future holds. We will certainly
stay on our lands but someday the federal government
will declare Us history. They will take all the elements
of our history and put them in a glass case. We must
not let that happen. Our religion and ways should never
be locked up in some museum and that the indigenous
world is declared something of the past."
It is hard to imagine where the original native resistance
is headed. Most of indigenous Red Nations have looked
towards progress. Recently, when indigenous protestors
tried to stop the "Lewis & Clark Reenactment"
they were told by a puppet tribal chairman, "Hey,
let them be. This is not the old days. (We) are in modern
times..." Indian soldiers like "Code Talkers"
and service personnel in Iraq are considered real 'warriors.'
The poor reservation communities are bombarded with
reminders to register to vote and that there is a choice
between two great white fathers. Here, in northern Arizona,
it is the same. The congressional race has Paul The
Pioneer Grabbit-Indian Land versus Red Neck Rick, and
the Indians are all driven to choose.
Contrary to the idea of "practice your right to
vote," how would someone whose lands has been stolen
in the name of mineral interest vote? What about someone
whose relatives have all been forcible evicted and lives
along with daily threats from the federal BIA police?
How would they vote? Who would they choose? Not only
are these elders but there are a few who are a bit younger
who have been through the hells of the government boarding
schools. To add to that experience, they also face relocation
and federal harassments through the BIA. No matter who
they might have voted for in the past it has always
been the same 'pale' faces that have done EVERYTHING
for Peabody Western Coal Company!
Now, 20,000 Indians just celebrated the nailing of the
coffin at the Native Amerikan Museum in Washington,
District of Columbus. Perhaps, majority of the Indian
societies have accepted the "reality" of being
conquered, and now, we must move forth as Bush stated.
"..This museum will now housed the incredible history
of your PAST. Also, it will hold your current achievements
like the tribal governments..."
Yes, no more hostiles. This reiterates words of the
past: 'Kill the Indian and Save the Man!'
Perhaps, the traditional resisters of Black Mesa and
elsewhere should just conform and become "Americans."
In the 1970 and 80s, the traditional grandmother resisters
of Big Mountain use to say, "(They) can drag me
off this land but I will get back up and return to where
I was born." These words of leadership have been
instilled in some younger minds. The hope is: yes, progress
can be great but it should be done without erasing the
dignity and sovereignty and not accept the brainwashed
thought of being conquered. The nail that Bush and this
fellow Feds think is the final nail must be pulled out.
The same nail must be taken to the Black Hills and use
it to post a note that says, "The Red Nations Will
Never Be Conquered!" on G. Washington's forehead.
Meantime, has anyone been paying attention to Nature's
weapons of mass destruction? Well, you heard about the
hurricanes but where is global warming at? Where it
is at is that this one is Man-made and it is going strong.
Asteroid 4179 Toutatis that is about a mile and half
long and over half mile wide will cruz by Earth on September
29th at 35,000 km per hour. The drought is not only
disastrous on Black Mesa but the recreation area at
Lake Powell is too low that boat priers and the coal-fired
power plant have to chase after the receding water.
Keep your spiritual ways on the ancient path. Remember
the Elder teachings that this Path should not be severed
by referring to it or accepting it as the past. Honor
the Elders in resistance. Honor Mother Earth, Water
Spirit and Father Sky.
All Traditional Dineh and Hopi Resisters of Black Mesa
for Presidents and Congressional Members!!!
[ Written by Bahe Y. Katenay. Dineh from Big Mountain.
(UAP) Unpopular Activist Page 2004]
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