Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Brigham City, Utah - Monday night, November 8, several people gathered at the Brigham City Library to discuss Public Law 104-301, which calls for the relocation of 3,000 Dineh people off of Black Mesa, AZ., by February 1st, 2000. The Peabody Western Coal Company, which strip mines coal on the reservation, is behind this call for relocation. Peabody needs more coal rich land and the Dineh stand between them and the land.

The Dineh religion forbids strip mining, which they believe is a violation to mother earth. The mine leaves the people living in the area with clouds of black dust and frequent blasting. It also poisons their surface water and has destroyed sole sources of sacred and medicinal plants.

The Peabody Western Coal Company has destroyed thousands of ancient Anasazi cliff houses, burial and sacred sites, Dineh cemeteries. The residents are jailed if they try to stop any of this. The coal mining has caused many health problems and so has the relocation onto radioactive sites. There were 15 people present at the Brigham City meeting, about half were caucasian and the other half Dineh (Navajo) and Hopi.

Mont Ogden of Ogden said "the fifth amendment gives us the right to property, that can't be taken away without due process of law." It was also said during the meeting that perhaps the "Cain and Able" story is told backwards; that Cain was cursed with a white skin. In looking back at history, white society destroys native peoples. All agreed that in this modern nation the persecution of minorities needs to stop.

The documentary video " Vanishing Prayer: Genocide of the Dineh" was shown. It presented the position the Dineh are in. Afterwards the group was silent, some crying, until someone spoke up and said, "I'm ashamed this is happening."

Then Ray Lopez, full blooded Dineh and retired Brigham City educator, told the group of the many hardships his people have had to endure. He said he knows many there who live the traditional ways without electricity or running water. These Elders have no say, the Tribal government and agents make decisions with out the support of their people. Ray also said the people should be allowed to stay there. He believes the conflict is all over money. "It is pitiful and sad to look at it" he said.

Winona Shupla, Hopi of Roy, spent last year with her grandmother on the Hopi Reservation. She graduated from the high school there and talked about many of the challenges she faced in living the traditional way. Her grandmother did not have running water. Winona said there are problems between the Hopi and Dineh but they are working to make relations better. She said in school they talked about the Peabody Coal Company, who they believe is trying to take away their land. Not only did the Hopi and Dineh that night talk about the relocation. They also talked about the challenges they feel are present by living in Northern Utah. They all agreed they do not always feel accepted here.

Shupla said she did not feel at home here so she went to live with her grandma on the Hopi reservation. However, while there, the kids teased her because she was not like them, they called her a "White Indian". Lopez answered, saying "we the Urban Indian, don't make any effort among ourselves." Ogden mentioned this must "cause quite an identity problem for the Urban Indian."

Brigham City resident Leon Sorenson said it has been especially hard for him being half white and half Indian, and that he didn't quite know where he fit in. Norma Shupla, Winonas' mother, finished off the meeting with a sobering thought. "It don't matter who they are, how they look. Get along because someday you'll have to lean on each other."