October 19, 2008

Yaa’at’eeh A’ahnol’t’so’, (Good Greetings Everyone)

Ever since I was the custodian of the Big Mountain Survival Camp (1981 to 1993), I have wrote to support groups, the Feds, and my Dineh relatives. Most of the time I spoke with the Dineh directly and what I have always expressed was: redefining the direction of our struggle in terms of outside activities that were taking place within the political and judicial arenas and that which might be directed at us.

Years later, a very few of us from the land may still do this or something similar to this. Time has really changed and we all are aware of that. Most of our Chiefs are gone. Not many of the youths are that interested in “making a stand” with us like we were determined to do so back in the 70 and 80s. And perhaps for some of you, you think about the near future when the real traditional elders are no longer providing us encouragement and directing our will to resist and survive as indigenous peoples.

Basically, we all need to catch up and touch base with each other. We have dragged ourselves through much turmoil internally and externally, but that is not what we need to catch up on. The changed situation and conditions are here, now, since a few of us have sat in the council of elders, and it is time to council among ourselves and there is no other way. Non-Indian support can only do so much and lawyers will only care about being paid and play into that “legal game.” We, the Dineh of the land, are the answers. We are to project what the elders have demonstrated for us all these years, and that should be projected into the future.

Now, I want to share with you some important agendas along with a little of my “radical” thoughts. The BMIS Caravan of Support will take place in November during the turkey-eating ritual holiday week. (As much as I want to say that one of the Dineh taboo was to never eat turkey…) Other upcoming issues are the Peabody mine expansion which might reach into the steps of the Big Mountain summits, and the possible re-introduction of S.1003 or McCain’s ultimate relocation policy. Further items, I like to share are holding an International Day of Prayer for the traditional Dineh resistance to relocation, which will be peyote ceremonies to complete a peyote ritual that took place and began in 1977. Also, there is a discussion of commemorating the first Big Mtn. Survival Camp Summer School. These two events are planned for mid-May to early June 2009. A new announcement has also come forth about the 43th Annual Indian Elders and Youth Circle that is being proposed to take place in our country of Big Mountain in early June 09.

I like to see, and I dream that all these plans of action belong to all of us, and that means all of us not only take some responsibility for but to help in participating as guides and instructors. In looking at this traditional Dineh struggle as a whole and how the Caravan may best support, I want to suggest the repair of our roads like the main road over the southern Big Mtn. pass and one road that goes out to Thin Rock area. These routes are vital for us to continue networking within our community and so that we can transport our elders for visits. I personally will do my best to try and get a work crew to help repair the southern pass. I am not saying that “I will take care of it all!”

So, sh’di’ Dine’eh (my peoples) doh’ sh’ K’ee’h (my clan relatives), the important thing I want to ask here is: can we rebuild our nation and reclaim our country at Big Mountain and other areas affected?

I am sure that all of you have plenty on your minds about the state of our struggle to help our elders and maintain our aboriginal claims to the ancestral lands. Then we think about how best the non-Native support can help us, everything from our immediate personal needs to the needs of our family units. But most importantly, we should also think about the overall needs for rebuilding our nation, to inspire the youths for the future leadership, preservation, and the ultimate need to unite to face the time of force relocation.

In Dineh bi’zaa’d, it would be said “ts’e’de’ aayiisii Gal’ do’ leeli’gii!” --The most important and the most crucial Endeavor to be initiated. We should have a council among ourselves, asap. How can we resolve the need of helpers and sheepherders for the matriarchs and eldermen? How best to commit to the efforts of national and international support? Can some of us become the indigenous delegates and diplomats? There is more on our plates and much we can do within these changing worlds of human instability and environmental degradation.

So, for now, if you can help me or better yet, I will work with you, and let us rebuild the rough spots on this / these roads.

Thank you for reading and understanding.

Haa’go’h ne’h,

Kat (L’Baahii)

P.S. And by the way, a Happy Dineh New Year. May we all be blessed with prosperity and good active health in the many more seasons to come. Aho! (“Gh’anji’n’, October, means Up Towards Its Zenith or Summit, and when it is the beginning of a new year, the first frost come, snow on the summits of peaks, antlers of deer and elks are full, and crops are harvested as their stalks lay frozen and dead.” –Big Mountain documentation, Sheep Dog Nation Rocks)