[IPSM] [shundahaialerts] Urgent! Shoshone Bill goes to Bush- Stop it!

[Devin Butler]

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Congress Passes Bill to Force Payment on Western Shoshone Land Struggle -- A 
Sad Day for the Rule of Law in the United States, but the Fight’s not Over 
Say the Western Shoshone.

June 25, 2004.  Crescent Valley, NV.  As of this morning, the Western 
Shoshone Distribution Bill has passed both houses of Congress and is on its 
way to the Bush Administration for signature.  The bill would authorize an 
alleged payoff of approximately 15 cents an acres for tens of millions of 
acres of disputed lands in Nevada, Idaho, Utah and California.  A majority 
of tribal councils, representing approximately 80% of the population, the 
Western Shoshone National Council and all the traditional people strongly 
oppose the bill, they are supported by the National Congress of American 
Indians and Amnesty International.  This formal opposition was apparently 
ignored however and an undocumented, unverified straw poll was used instead 
by the Bush Administration and Nevada legislators to justify the 
legislation.

White House staffer Jennifer Farley, Deputy Associate Director of the White 
House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, informed one Shoshone Tribal 
Chairman that the bill was “red hot”.  The significance of the issue to the 
White House is apparent:  Copies of Assistant Secretary of Interior Stephen 
J. Griles’ calendars reflect meetings with Interior Department legal staff, 
including Bush’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals nominee, William Myers, 
regarding “Western Shoshone Trespass (Dann Sisters)”  just six months before 
the Department of Interior started military-style seizures of livestock 
owned by Western Shoshone traditionalists, including grandmothers Mary and 
Carrie Dann.

The land base at issue is the third largest gold producing area in the world 
and cited by a 1999 Interior report as the number one investment opportunity 
for extraction companies.  It is also the site where the nation’s nuclear 
waste repository would be located, Yucca Mountain, and the home to the 
Nevada Test Site and Federal Counterterrorism Facility where the Bush 
Administration has talked of reopening nuclear testing.  Both Bush and his 
political advisor Karl Rove, have made personal visits to Nevada in the last 
thirty days.

“I am utterly disappointed.  It’s unbelievable that the U.S. body that makes 
the laws has acted in this manner.  The fight is not over.  A fraud is a 
fraud  - Individuals cannot sell out a nation and the bill, although a 
threat politically, does nothing to change our inherent  rights or our 
Treaty rights.  Congress was informed of all the facts that touch upon this  
issue.  We will use the Treaty of Ruby Valley to stop Yucca Mountain and to 
protect our lands.  Our title is still intact.”  Stated Raymond Yowell, 
Western Shoshone National Council.

"The self-described, private group who pushed for this money are not members 
of any federally-recognized council and have no authority to speak on behalf 
of our Tribe or the Western Shoshone Nation.  The Nevada legislators and the 
Bush Administration have been well-advised of this fact.  The way this 
legislation was handled makes an absolute sham of the stated government to 
government relationship and responsibility of the U.S. government.”  Stated 
Hugh Stevens, Chairman of the Te-Moak Tribe of the Western Shoshone Nation.  
“Senator Reid has made numerous public commitments regarding resolving land 
issues for our communities.  We will be looking for him to stand by that 
commitment in an expeditious fashion.  We demand that our land issues be 
resolved in good faith in the same “hot line” fashion as the distribution.”  
He added.

Mary Gibson, Western Shoshone states:  “It’s not over, we still exist and we 
still have our rights to our land.  It makes me sad and angry that myths 
continue to cloud the Truth in this country.  This struggle isn’t a Shoshone 
v. Shoshone battle, the underlying issue here is the U.S. responsibility and 
accountability for a Treaty with the Western Shoshone Nation.  As long as 
the people in the U.S. allow this to happen it will continue to happen.”

For additional info, contact the Western Shoshone Defense Project at 
775-468-0230.


Western Shoshone Defense Project
P.O. Box 211308
Crescent Valley, NV   89821
(775) 468-0230
Fax:  (775) 468-0237
www.wsdp.org

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Shundahai is a Newe (Western Shoshone) word meaning  "Peace and Harmony with 
all Creation"

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========================================================
It's in our back yard... it's in our front yard. This nuclear contamination 
is shortening all life. We are going to have to unite as a people and say no 
more! We, the people, are going to have to put our thoughts together to save 
our planet here. We only have One Water...One Air...One Mother Earth."

Corbin Harney -Newe (Western Shoshone) Spiritual leader, Founder & Chairman 
of the Board of The Shundahai Network

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