Old Indian Land
by
"John
Rustywire"
Yesterday a tribe received the largest single piece
of land returned
to any tribe in over a hundred years. It was a news
story about the
return of the 87,000 acres of land returned to the
Ute Tribe
yesterday by Bill Richardson. There were alot of people
there all
ready for the signing of a document, some posturing
and posing for
pictures congratulating each other on the work they
did to ocmplete
the transfer. There were people from all the Utah
congressional
offices, people from BLM, some Senator, people from
the State of
Utah, Cheeses from the BIA and the Department of Energy
and some
folks from Bruce Babbitt's Office.
The tribal council was there with the BIA Superintendent
for the
agency. The head of DOE, Bill Richardson made introductions
and spoke a little bit about the efforts of all those involved, the tribal
chairman spoke as well talking about the vision of
tribe's leadership
in seeking the return of the land. There was a color
guard of Indian
veterans, a tribal elder who offered a prayer and
gray haired tribal
senior citizens brought over from the nursing home
to sit in the
front row.
At the back of the auditorium leaning against the doorway
stood a man who listened for a little bit and then left. Everyone in the
building
was there, the offices were all empty. All the workers
were there to
get something to eat in the foyer and were sitting
inside the
auditorium. There was free coffee and donuts.
A thought came to mind about a time six years ago.
At the national
archives a box of old records, one of many were being
studied to find
some documents on the Old Uncompahgre Reservation.
There on the
papers were signatures of Ute Indians, Uncompahgres
who had consented to the allotments given to them along the White River,
they names and X marks were all similar. What was it about things remembered
that the older Utes over the years had said that their people did not agree
to the opening up of the reservation to settlement in 1905.
This was the land where they were driven to, when gold
and silver
were found in the mountains of Colorado, there would
be no longer
hunts for buffalo on the plains East of Denver, nor
winter at a
valley still called the Garden of the Gods. Only the
names of the
peaks bear the names of their old leaders like Shavano.
The story of
their lives are etched in the rivers, valleys and
springs there.
They left that place over Blue Mountain pursued by
settlers looking
to fight Indians and came to the Uncompahgre in 1880.
They lived in
places like Bitter Creek, Rabbit Mountain, and Hill
Creek. Then it
too was taken away.
It is like that some things just won't fade away, they
live on. The
taking of Indian land is like that, Indians remember.
They call their
land Noohrahvoop. The taking was on these papers.
In the silence of a
quiet corner notes and taking the time to read and
study them took
place. Page by page they were copied. In those the
story of how the
Uncompahgres lost their land and later the oil rich
Naval Oil Shale
Reserve was taken as well.
The documents spoke about how this was done and the
lands were taken by the government. Old files have strange things in them,
old, faded, tatters sometimes with odd notes and bits of paper. It is like
a
puzzle, one sits there and studys them and from earlier
research
realized that there the oil shale reserves taken by
the US for the
Navy in 1912 and 1916 were taken from the Utes themselves.
Later on another trip to the Federal Record Center
it was found the
by statute, federal and state law that any lands taken
from Indians
could be returned to them when it was considered "excess
property". I
had read an article that the Navy was going to turn
over Naval Oil
Shale reserves all over the country to the BLM and
Dept. of Energy.
There were two that dealt with former Ute Lands, one
West of Denver
and the other in Northeastern Utah. A third which
would have gone to
the Wind River Arapahos and Shoshones had already
been transferred to the BLM.
Thoughts came to mind on what were the guidelines used,
what
priorities were there involving the federal agencies
and what if any
claim would those tribes have to reacquire the lands.
What would be
the genesis to get these lands back to the tribes.
A research folder
called Naval Oil Shale Reserve was added to a box
containing
jurisdiction research issues on tribal lands where
the tribes were
involved in a 17 year court fight with the State of
Utah over
jurisdiction involving lands, taxation, criminal and
civil
jurisdiction which would have significant impact on
pending
legislation on their indian water rights claims involving
150 million
dollars or more. It was November and the snow was
falling as these
files were studied while eating a box of chicken on
a motel bed along
I-70 in Denver.
Later while surveying a tract of land for a friend,
a Ute Indian who
was running for tribal councilman a break was taken
in the high
country, a place called the Little Water Valley where
the forest
meets the cedars and there are high plains of grass.
It was while
tracing out an Indian land boundary that there was
some talk over hot
coffee and a sandwich about the old reservation boundaries
and the
happenings surrounding the loss of the Old Uncompahgre.
The loss this Ute knew well from his own family history. There are some
things that
remain long in the memory of a family when they talk
about the old
places they used to roam and they were taken.
"You know I found some things about what happened back
then when they took the land, but not just that...about the possibility
that the
land could be returned back to the tribe. if there
was an effort to
do so. It would take someone on the council, the business
committee
of the tribe to do this..."
The day went on and the survey stakes were put on the
ground, the
Indian land was reclaimed from the neighbors who were
watching from
their windows far off. The possibilities were discussed,
the way the
land was taken, the fact the US was getting rid of
the reserves,
their first priority was to sell them. It would take
an effort to
enter in and make a claim for the land, that it would
be restored. At
nightfall he said, "If I get on the council I will
remember this
talk..."
In Salt Lake after working late the two had dinner
late and a friend
joined them an elderly man with White Hair and gray
eyes. They three
were friends who had worked on different projects
together from time
to time. This White Hair had gone to school with some
boys who were
now were Senators and he spoke to them by first name.
As the
conversation went on the subject of the oil shale
reserves came up
and the Old Uncompahgre. They talked about the possibilities
the
money from royalties would have with the tribe, a
boon for education,
resource protection and source of income where gambling
in a state
where such things were outlawed. White Hair asked,
"Do you have the
paperwork to back up what you are talking about?"
The researcher
said...yes.
The Ute from Little Water Valley got on the council
and worked for
the tribe to seek a resolution to acquire the property.
As time went
on the folder got thicker, and the idea took form
and shape. White
Hair used his influence and contacts in Washington
to arrange a
meeting with DOE. An opening during the holidays provided
the tribe
with a half hour slot to meet with Richardson to discuss
the return
of the land. Whitehair made a number of calls and
an audience was
arranged with support from congressional staffers.
A long red eye
flight of tribal leaders to pitch the idea when to
Washington and
Richardson listened. That was two years ago.
The Ute from Little Water Valley did not get re-elected
but his
efforts to restore the lost lands went on. A new group
stepped in and
the claim to the old lands became a reality. The thoughts
and visions
that were diagramed out on sheet of yellow paper in
a motel room on a
winter night became a reality yesterday. Standing
at the back of the
room the speeches went on and in looking around Whitehair
was not
there nor the man from Little Water. The last one
stood at the door
turned around grabbed a cookie and stood outside.
The sky was blue
and on the distant horizon he could see the land way
over on the
horizon, that place; it is Indian land again.
RELATED NEWS ARTICLE:
U.S. Deeds Land Back To Tribe
By: BRENT ISRAELSON
"The Salt Lake Tribune" - Dec. 5, 2000
FORT DUCHESNE -- "Throughout much of U.S. history,
if the government ever wanted more land, it usually took it from the American
Indians.
On Monday, the government gave some of it back.
In a ceremony at Northern Ute tribal headquarters,
Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson signed an agreement that deeds to the
Utes about 85,000 acres of energy-rich land that Congress took from them
84 years ago."........
READ
THE STORY
FRONT PAGE DEC 4, 2000
From:
Staff Native News
SEASON GIFTING...help our list of helpers grow
GREETINGS,
It is that time of year again when we begin to think
of winter cold and those in need. For many of our Elders and children
it is a time without the basic necessities, for others it is a struggle
day to day with nothing left for any amenities whatsoever.
The Staff of Native News will be compiling a list of
recipient organizations and individuals known and trusted who have participated
in years past in assistance to our people.
For instance, is there a heating fuel fund for heating
costs? Current funds in some areas cover far less than the cost of
one month in a season already much colder than last.
HEATING FUND
Emergency heating funds....the weather has turned sharply
colder and it appears that it will be a much colder winter than the last
few we have experienced creating an incredible hardship for many.
Checks and money orders sent to the Grass Roots Oglala
Lakota Oyate will be distributed (or paid on account) for those in need
of heating assistance. In effect we will be creating a "voucher"
system. Your donation may be of any amount and several put together
to meet minimums necessary for orders.
HEATING FUND
PINE RIDGE
Checks or money orders should be
mailed to:
GRASS ROOTS OGLALA LAKOTA OYATE (GROLO)
P.O. BOX 51
PINE RIDGE, S.D. 57770
PROPANE/HEATING OIL:
Make the check out to
(Choose One):
PTI Propane (in Pine Ridge)
Bennett County Coop (in Martin,
SD)
BluGas Co. (in Rushville,
NE)
GROLO Says: For immediate needs, PTI is the
nearest. The only
"drawback" about this is that the minimum amount they'll
deliver for is $100.00.
WOOD VENDORS:
Leave "To" blank...will be dependent upon location...
make a notation that the check or money order is for
wood heating fund.
GROLO Says: Wood vendors are from the outlying
districts and since we don't know WHO from WHERE will need wood, it might
be better that way. Just the same, the "log" I'll keep will list the person
sending the check/money order, check/money order number & amount, who
received it and who the wood vendor is. I see from the wood vendor's list
that most charge from $120. to $175.00; I imagine that amount is for an
entire pickup load of wood (a cord). Some deliver half of a pickup load
for $50.-75.00.
Thank you....; we're thankful to those who are
and will be a part
of this effort, especially for the elders and those
w/ babies and little
children. It's supposed to drop to ZERO (give or take
a few degrees) all
next week so it seems we're timing it just right.
Again, pilaunyapi. Wopila
tanka heca.
-==<+>==-SEASON OF GIFTING LIST-==<+>==-
You can help feed those in need this Holiday season
with
just a click of your mouse. Visit the Donate Page
by
clicking
this link:
Once there, click on the Meals On Wheels logo
and
CoolSavings will donate $1 to a fund to feed the elderly
and homebound.
Please spread the word to your friends so they can
contribute as well!
Happy Holidays!
Mike Graham
-==<+>==-
Here are the addresses again of the Red Cloud Building
and Sioux Nation
Grocery Store:-)
UPS....Red Cloud Building, Tribal
Building
PIne Ridge SD
Mail: GrassRoots Oyate
P,O, Box 51
Pine Ridge, SD
57770
Ph:
1-605-867-5821-------can call for the best directions to get there. There
are often different people there at different times............schedules.
Sioux Nation Grocery
Ask for Dan..............manager
605-867-5183....................at the end of message press 0 for manager
The store is across the street and half a block down from the Red Cloud
Building.
Erth
-==<+>==-/\-==<+>==-
The Sioux YMCA, #1 YMCA Street, Dupree, South
Dakota 57623. The phone number is: (605)
365-5232.
Here is another address to send clothes:
Pine Ridge Sioux Indian Reservation
ATTN: Michele Means
Porcupine Day School
Porcupine, SD 57772.
thanks, colleen
-==<+>==-
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Property & Supply
CO: Rocky LeCompte
Box 590 Main St.
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
605-964-4767 ask for Rocky
Thank you again,
Gregg J. Bourland
-<+>-
The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program
(not to be confused with the now defunct "adopt
a Grandparent" program}
exists to create a bridge of hope between Native Americans
and other cultures. It allows us to reach out to one another, share our
gifts, and mend the broken circle of our relationship with the Land and
the Native Americans who hold it in sacred trust.
The Program supports the traditional Elders who live
in the cultural and spiritual traditions of The Dine' People. Most live
in remote portions of the Dine's (Navajo) reservation. Many live in traditional
hogans, and some raise sheep as a means of maintaining themselves. The
Program provides food, simple medicines, clothing, fabric and yarns to
help these Elders live on the Land in their traditional lifestyle. As they
have become elderly, it has become more difficult for them to support themselves
on the Land in their traditional ways...
-==<+>==-
The Internet
angel tree is up and running for 2000. Please stop by if you can.
-==<+>==-/\-==<+>==-
Please send information to contact other individuals
and organizations who are sending much needed supplies and funds where
needed. Let us know if you have worked with them before successfully.
Many of our people face a bleak season far from
home behind bars in the federal prison system..please send names, reading
interests and contact information for a book drive. Notice..in most
cases "books" must come directly from the publishing companies.
thank you,
Staff Native News
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