From hecate_themoon@hotmail.com Mon Mar 22 19:55:23 1999 Subject: Big Mt. Arrests 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." ---------------------**************************--------------------- [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, --------------------*************************-------------------- Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com Mail?