Update & Alert
Update on Western Shoshone Distribution Bill:
Bill Removed From Congressional Voting Calendar as People Across the Nation Support Western Shoshone Land Rights – Vigilant Watch Kept for Reintroduction
Crescent Valley, NV, June 2, 2004. In what may be only a day’s reprieve, the Western Shoshone Distribution Bill (S 618/HR 884) was taken off the Congressional voting calendar late yesterday afternoon (June 1, 2004). Opponents of the bill, which include both Western Shoshone and thousands of supporters across the nation, are keeping a vigilant eye however as Congressman Gibbons’ office threatens rescheduling of the bill as early as today, June 2, 2004. Reports from legislative staffers reveal that Senator Reid spent the memorial day holiday “lobbying” House Democrats to support his bill despite heavy opposition from the Western Shoshone. Members of Congress received thousands of letters, emails, phone calls and faxes reflecting a national outcry for a good faith resolution of this decades long land dispute.
Opposition to a forced payout of the Western Shoshone and support for governmental accountability is coming from Tribes and Individuals across Indian Country, native and human rights organizations (including Amnesty International, Oxfam America and the Petra Foundation) and thousands of individual American citizens. At stake are tens of millions of acres of Western Shoshone land, recognized by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley. Competing with Western Shoshone interests are billions of dollars in gold, energy production and nuclear waste and weapons industries. Who will prevail in this modern day “manifest corporate destiny”? The next several weeks may tell all.
“The Public is speaking, secretive actions and legislation based on misrepresentations to members of Congress will not be tolerated. The same thing happened in the buildup to the war in Iraq. There are clear signs to members of Congress that there is something wrong with this bill. It’s the same pattern – who’s leading the charge and who is going to take responsibility? Who gets hurt and for what purpose? This government must learn from history - if history repeats itself, it is because the government didn’t learn the first tme.” Larson Bill, Western Shoshone.
“I, for one, honor treaties and I will raise the one empowered voice I have to appeal to those who represent me in government to do the same. Those who opposed slavery expected more, those who professed that separate was not equal expected more--because those practices were based on racial discrimination. So is the US practice of not honoring treaties made with Indian nations. We must expect more from our government than that.” Keli Lovejoy, Indigenous Rights Watch.
For more information: Contact Western Shoshone Defense Project at
775-468-0230, http://www.wsdp.org or http://www.westernshoshone.com .
Again, WHAT TO DO: Go to http://www.peaceforallnations.com/wsdpNOW.htm
1. Contact your local media and the media you listen to – they should be covering this! Especially shows like Democracy Now! With Amy Goodman, NPR, etc.
Democracy Now! http://www.democracynow.org/contactus.pl
NPR http://www.npr.org/contact/
2. Send the alert and the press release to your lists of friends and supporters – this should be a national movement to stop abuses against the native peoples of the United States. Get your organization(s) involved in this issue!
3. Contact your local Representatives (House number: 202-224-3121), http://www.house.gov and the following:
Speaker of the House: J. Dennis Hastert - 202-225-0600
Majority Leader: Tom DeLay - 202-225-4000
Democratic National Committee - 202-863-8000
(Why isn’t this a national campaign issue?)
Republican National Committee - 202-863-8500
(Why isn’t this a national campaign issue?)
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley
439 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-3119
http://www.house.gov/berkley
(Nevada Congressional Representative who has not yet supported or opposed the bill - but does oppose Yucca Mountain. Her opposition to the bill would add tremendous weight.)
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich
Progressive Caucus Chair
1730 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-5745
http://www.house.gov/kucinich/info/contact.htm
(The Progressive Caucus could take a stand against the bill.)
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Progressive Caucus Co-Chair
1724 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: 202-225-9817
barbara.lee@us.house.gov
(The Progressive Caucus could take a stand against the bill.)
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings
Black Caucus Chair
1632 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-3178
(The Black Caucus could take a stand against the bill.)
Congressman John Lewis
Black Caucus
34 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: 202-225-0351
(The Black Caucus could take a stand against the bill.)
Hispanic Caucus and Native American Caucus – Contact info available at http://www.peaceforallnations.com/wsdpNOW.htm or http://www.house.gov .
And anyone else you may think could be persuasive in this issue.
Thank you for your continued support – what affects the native/indigenous peoples affects us all.
Western Shoshone Defense Project
P.O. Box 211308
Crescent Valley, NV 89821
(775) 468-0230
Fax: (775) 468-0237
http://www.wsdp.org
Please also see:
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO HELP STOP THE LARGEST INDIAN LAND THEFT IN MODERN HISTORY ?
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1708&blz=1
U.S. - URGENT - Western Shoshone Payoff Bill Is On The Move Again !
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1699&blz=1
What affects the native/indigenous peoples affects us all.
Update on Western Shoshone Distribution Bill:
Bill Removed From Congressional Voting Calendar as People Across the Nation Support Western Shoshone Land Rights – Vigilant Watch Kept for Reintroduction
Crescent Valley, NV, June 2, 2004. In what may be only a day’s reprieve, the Western Shoshone Distribution Bill (S 618/HR 884) was taken off the Congressional voting calendar late yesterday afternoon (June 1, 2004). Opponents of the bill, which include both Western Shoshone and thousands of supporters across the nation, are keeping a vigilant eye however as Congressman Gibbons’ office threatens rescheduling of the bill as early as today, June 2, 2004. Reports from legislative staffers reveal that Senator Reid spent the memorial day holiday “lobbying” House Democrats to support his bill despite heavy opposition from the Western Shoshone. Members of Congress received thousands of letters, emails, phone calls and faxes reflecting a national outcry for a good faith resolution of this decades long land dispute.
Opposition to a forced payout of the Western Shoshone and support for governmental accountability is coming from Tribes and Individuals across Indian Country, native and human rights organizations (including Amnesty International, Oxfam America and the Petra Foundation) and thousands of individual American citizens. At stake are tens of millions of acres of Western Shoshone land, recognized by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley. Competing with Western Shoshone interests are billions of dollars in gold, energy production and nuclear waste and weapons industries. Who will prevail in this modern day “manifest corporate destiny”? The next several weeks may tell all.
“The Public is speaking, secretive actions and legislation based on misrepresentations to members of Congress will not be tolerated. The same thing happened in the buildup to the war in Iraq. There are clear signs to members of Congress that there is something wrong with this bill. It’s the same pattern – who’s leading the charge and who is going to take responsibility? Who gets hurt and for what purpose? This government must learn from history - if history repeats itself, it is because the government didn’t learn the first tme.” Larson Bill, Western Shoshone.
“I, for one, honor treaties and I will raise the one empowered voice I have to appeal to those who represent me in government to do the same. Those who opposed slavery expected more, those who professed that separate was not equal expected more--because those practices were based on racial discrimination. So is the US practice of not honoring treaties made with Indian nations. We must expect more from our government than that.” Keli Lovejoy, Indigenous Rights Watch.
For more information: Contact Western Shoshone Defense Project at
775-468-0230, http://www.wsdp.org or http://www.westernshoshone.com .
Again, WHAT TO DO: Go to http://www.peaceforallnations.com/wsdpNOW.htm
1. Contact your local media and the media you listen to – they should be covering this! Especially shows like Democracy Now! With Amy Goodman, NPR, etc.
Democracy Now! http://www.democracynow.org/contactus.pl
NPR http://www.npr.org/contact/
2. Send the alert and the press release to your lists of friends and supporters – this should be a national movement to stop abuses against the native peoples of the United States. Get your organization(s) involved in this issue!
3. Contact your local Representatives (House number: 202-224-3121), http://www.house.gov and the following:
Speaker of the House: J. Dennis Hastert - 202-225-0600
Majority Leader: Tom DeLay - 202-225-4000
Democratic National Committee - 202-863-8000
(Why isn’t this a national campaign issue?)
Republican National Committee - 202-863-8500
(Why isn’t this a national campaign issue?)
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley
439 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-3119
http://www.house.gov/berkley
(Nevada Congressional Representative who has not yet supported or opposed the bill - but does oppose Yucca Mountain. Her opposition to the bill would add tremendous weight.)
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich
Progressive Caucus Chair
1730 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-5745
http://www.house.gov/kucinich/info/contact.htm
(The Progressive Caucus could take a stand against the bill.)
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Progressive Caucus Co-Chair
1724 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: 202-225-9817
barbara.lee@us.house.gov
(The Progressive Caucus could take a stand against the bill.)
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings
Black Caucus Chair
1632 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-3178
(The Black Caucus could take a stand against the bill.)
Congressman John Lewis
Black Caucus
34 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: 202-225-0351
(The Black Caucus could take a stand against the bill.)
Hispanic Caucus and Native American Caucus – Contact info available at http://www.peaceforallnations.com/wsdpNOW.htm or http://www.house.gov .
And anyone else you may think could be persuasive in this issue.
Thank you for your continued support – what affects the native/indigenous peoples affects us all.
Western Shoshone Defense Project
P.O. Box 211308
Crescent Valley, NV 89821
(775) 468-0230
Fax: (775) 468-0237
http://www.wsdp.org
Please also see:
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO HELP STOP THE LARGEST INDIAN LAND THEFT IN MODERN HISTORY ?
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1708&blz=1
U.S. - URGENT - Western Shoshone Payoff Bill Is On The Move Again !
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=1699&blz=1
What affects the native/indigenous peoples affects us all.