View From The Hogan #16 Changing season month ( October 2000)
Notes from Big Mountain continued:
This second statement comes from Leonard Crowdog. The document is dated August, 2000, and is signed by Leornard Crowdog and 19 other signatures. The document is notarized.We the Nation of our Tribes of Internation Tribes of Declaration of our Original Peoples, we truly understand, for the matter of the record, by the evidence of the Four Sacred Mountains. We are the code dreamers, we see for the generations, theses are the remains of our ancestors territory, we are the caretakers of the elements of this sacred land.
We the Chiefs will ratify and endorse the enclosed document that we
clearly are the understanding of the Balance of the Land that is sacred to
the Dine' Nation.Before the Dine nation the Natural Proceedings of the Beginning of the
Creation there were the Natural Laws and Natural order of life.Dues to the safety of the Dine Nation unborn and born, we have invited the Dine Nation to Rosebud, South Dakota to secure Indigenous Rights.
We hereby stand in alliance with the Dine Nations rights, both Human
Rights and Religious Freedom Rights to ensure their Religious Ties to their
Territory and Sacred Homelands.Declaration of the Council of Chiefs at Crowdogs Sundance.
This final statement comes from a traditional Hopi from Hotevilla. The author wishes to remain anonymous. Unfortunately, this has now become the norm in Hopiland. Critics of the ruling Junta fear recrimination.
The Hopi are a sovereign nation within the boundaries of the United
States. We have never signed a treaty with the United States, nor did we
fight any offensive war with them. We are one of a few groups of Indians who did not abandon our traditional ways. Therefore we claim not to be subject to the laws of the United States.The existence of the Hopi people is being threatened by policies of the
US government and the Peabody Coal Company, which have been exploiting the Hopi land for some time. The Hopi are against any form of violence, however the Hopi people have asked several organizations to exercise pressure on the US and Peabody Coal Company. Not only the nature of Hopi land is being threatened, but a whole People as well, because we have held to traditional ideals. Hopi who adhere to the old traditions must obey only the laws of our creator, Maasauu. This is awkward since although we live within the boarders of the United States we cannot live by conflicting American laws. The American government would like to see it otherwise, giving rise to greater problems. The Hopi live from agriculture. For this water is needed, but Peabody Coal Company uses millions of gallons of Hopi water each day to transport coal to a distant power plant, and thereby sucks life's blood from our sacred land. The government also found other minerals to be useful, such as uranium and oil. These should not be taken out before the hearts of all people are in harmony, but it is not sure that the government will wait such a long time. The US government is greedy for those minerals, and they have a good tool for obtaining them: The Hopi Tribal Council (HTC). The HTC exists without roots, only because it favors the American government. The government in return says that the HTC represents all Hopi people. This is not true.
Our existence is a difficult one with the coming of industrialization and
other events of the past 150 years. And so it happened. The HTC agreed to
sell a major part of Hopi land to the US for $5 million (Docket 196). The
person to ask is President Carter. The date chosen by the US for a vote was
one on which the traditionals would hold a religious ceremony. No other day was possible. Thus, the decision was left to a minority. (Only about 250 out of 6,000 voted on that day.) To tell of all these malpractices of the US against the Hopi people would only make a lot of noise.The difficulties began with Hopi people who adopted the white man's ways. This was followed by the split of Oraibi and the founding of Hotevilla in 1906 to carry on the ways of the creator. These problems continue to exist. We traditionals do not approve of the policies of the US government or its presidents. In the past they have ignored invitations to visit Hopi Land. The Hopi see the US as a neighboring country. Part of the problem is because the HTC doesn't think much of traditionals since they only hold old fashioned ideas. For those reasons our elders stood firm on their beliefs, and so, have stood in solidarity with the Dine people of surrounding areas.
Since the Hopi are in serious trouble, the US government has promised to do everything possible to help out, to stop damaging our sacred land. This is not easy, because now the Hopi are divided. Two worlds are in conflict. In the USA we are known as the Hopi Tribe; a government comprised of a people who speak the Hopi language, but this does not exist. We exist, as we have always existed, as autonomous villages. Each village has to speak for, and protect it's own Clan lands, and has its own headman. Recently, the HTC has appointed fake religious headmen to make necessary agreements and to sign on issues concerning village matters. These new fake elders have made a deep cut through Hotevilla village to install the sewer and water pipes to most of the homes last year, before the deadline to take away US funds. This has been a disaster to Hotevilla people because the traditionalists do not accept running water or electricity from the government. All land is sacred and the only way to maintain our way of life.
The US government offered a lousy $5 million for this land, which the HTC now says now has built up to $28 million. Minority rules: Rule is in the hands of the few who want to live in the white man's way.
A recent sign made for Hotevilla village indicates that every white
visitor is under Hotevilla jurisdiction. This is nonsense. We have no
borders, as our stone tablet testifies that we claimed this land for Maasauu,
its original owner, to protect it as our mother.We Hopi traditionals are in our right when we are against the Peabody
Coal Company and their abuse of the Earth. We have been waiting for this
help from the Navajo, Paiute, and all peoples who respect The Land.We will have to break away from this system of one will pay and one will not.
So we are at this stage; the temptations still stand.
To be chosen - You and I will decide.
May 13th 2000
Back in the real world, things have been muddy, muddy, muddy. Lots of late rain, and then some early snow. The reaction of most people has been to smile. Much of this moisture will stay in the ground through the winter and
cause a blooming, green spring. It also means that things slow down a little.
When its muddy, the "roads" are muddy, so people don't attempt to travel
much. Also means we don't get visitors. This time of the year, if you do
drive anywhere, then you travel with a shovel, axe, and blanket. The shovel
to dig yourself out of the snow or mud. The axe to cut brush to get you out
of the mud or snow, and the blanket because sometimes even with a shovel and axe you aren't going to move, so you need to spend the night in the vehicle. Contrary to what the commercials tell you, American Express and Visa can be left at home. They will be of no use whatsoever.
When I say that things slow down some, I refer to a pace of living that is already remarkably slow compared to "out there". I keep hearing how the "pace of life" is increasing out there, but is this really so? Last time I checked, it still took 24 hours for the earth to revolve around its axis giving us the rhythm of day and night. It still takes 365 days (approx) for the earth to circle the sun, giving us the cycle of the seasons, and it still takes nine
months for a human baby to develop and be born. So I don't think its the pace of LIFE that is increasing.... rather the machine, or even more correctly,
the computer.Of course , over in the headquarters of the Corporate Hopi, the rain is
causing them some problems. The supposed "drought" has been the excuse they use to justify their snatching of people's animals. Without that excuse they will have to come up with another excuse. I have no doubt they will.
But then, what the hell do I know,... I'm just a sheepherder."What we accept, we teach."
Thanks for giving me your time by reading this
Your prayers, support, and correspondence are invited
For all my relations
BoPeep
(unclejake74@hotmail.com)
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