Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Dear Big Mountain Supporters,

Things have been very hectic in Big Mountain, Tonalea, Coal Mine Mesa, Star Mountain and other resisting communities. We are fighting to stop the invasion of Dineh lands by the US government's Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Rena Babbitt Lane, Ella and Anna Begay had their animals confiscated on Monday, February 22 and Tuesday, February 23, 1999. According to the BIA in Washington, DC and Keams Canyon, no impoundments took place this past week. But as history has demonstrated, things can change at any time.

Rena Babbitt Lake had her horse returned from the impoundment yard at no cost. They illegally seized it out of her corral. She says what the BIA is doing "psychological warfare." They were expected to come up with $883.00-the figure based on what it costs the BIA to send a 13 member armed police squadron to confiscate one horse.

The BIA says the reason they need so many police is because they fear for their lives. But meanwhile the elders sit and wait for the BIA to come, living in terror, wondering if this will be the day that the US government decides to destroy them. Many elders in several communities have received impoundment notices and wonder why the US government wants them to starve.

Ella and Anna Begay's 3 donkeys and 2 horses are still in the impoundment yard. The BIA is claiming that the animals were out of the corral grazing so they had the legal right to take them. But Ella and Anna left them in the corral. Photographs we have taken reveal the evidence, track marks from the impoundment vehicles in front of the corral. If these animals are not released before Wednesday, March 10, they are scheduled to be sold at public auction. We need you to put pressure on the BIA in Washington, DC and Keams Canyon to make sure while they investigate this case the animals are not sold at auction. Tell the BIA to return these animals and stop the confiscations. This is not range management, this is elder abuse....

Everyone is expecting the caravan from LA bring food and is looking forward to their arrival.

Yours sincerely,
Marsha Monestersky
Consultant to Sovereign Dineh Nation

Members of the press are strongly urged to come to Black Mesa and to witness what the US government is doing to the poorest and most vulnerable people in this country. When an institution as powerful as the US government embarks upon a program of genocide, the media has a responsibility to make these actions known to all.

Subscribe to the Big Mountain Email List:
A moderated mailing list of Big Mountain relocation
resistance information (not for discussion or debate).

Subscribe by emailing redorman@theofficenet.com
with the word "subscribe" in the subject header.
For Big Mountain and other activist internet
resources, visit "The Activist Page".