Native American Persecution Continues

“The Navajo Livestock Reduction was imposed upon the Navajo Nation by the federal government in the 1930s. [1] During the 1920s and into the 30s, the Federal Government decided that the land of the Navajo Nation could not support the increasingly large flocks of goats and sheep and the herds of cattle and wild horses. Land erosion was observed in many parts of the Nation. Many federal officials concluded that the only solution was to drastically reduce the livestock. In 1933, John Collier was appointed Commissioner of what is now called the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Almost immediately, he set out to drastically reduce the livestock on the lands of the Navajo Nation with little to no input from the Navajo people.[2] The government established a quota for different types of livestock on specific areas of the reservation. The reasons given for the policy was overgrazing of the reservation by livestock. The government slaughtered a majority of the livestock to reach the quotas it established, without Navajo agreement. The livestock quota system is still being used today.”

“Confiscation of Black Mesa Herd

ALERT!!!

Livestock Impoundment crews are confiscating horses and calves belonging to several Dineh people of Big Mountain/Black Mesa, Arizona right now. These livestock impoundments constitute human rights violations against traditional Dineh (Navajo); they take away one of their major food sources and one of the main sources of their livelihood.

Please stay on alert.  We have contacted the office of Land Range Management; if they do not respond by tomorrow, we will ask you to flood their lines and say that the elders need their animals to survive and these confiscations are WRONG, that we are watching, and that we see this ongoing harassment as part of cultural genocide.

Eight calves and multiple horses were impounded because the Elders did not have correct permits. One permited calf was taken from an elder and put on Navajo Partitioned Lands (NPL). The ranger told the elder to go ahead and get the calf herself if she wanted it back. Let’s make sure they don’t get away with this.

We’re collecting funds to pay for livestock reclamation. We know it will be at least $500. The amount increases daily.  You can go here to donate nowhttp://blackmesais.org/donate/ !

Many Thanks for Your Support. Stay in touch!

Hallie, Berkley, Liza, Derek, and Tree

For more about Black Mesa, visit Black Mesa Indigenous Support”

“The Navajo (Navajo: Diné or Naabeehó) of the Southwestern United Statesare the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America.[2] The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members.[1] The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the Four Corners area of the United States. The Navajo language is spoken throughout the region, although most Navajo speak English as well.”