Counting friends in Washington

Posted: March 16, 2006
by: Brenda Norrell / Indian Country Today

CRESCENT VALLEY, Nev. - Western Shoshone National Council Chief Raymond Yowell praised a U.N. committee for intervening to halt the United States' seizure of Western Shoshone lands for nuclear underground testing, nuclear dumping and gold mining, while criticizing the United States for manipulating federal laws as it claims to champion international human rights.

''This country claims to be the highest supporter of human rights around the world, but now this has come back to bite these same people,'' Yowell told Indian Country Today.

Yowell praised the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination for issuing a stern warning to the United States to halt the abuse of Western Shoshone and the illegal seizure of their lands.

Pointing to the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump planned for the Western Shoshone's sacred mountain in Nevada, Yowell said Western Shoshone never gave up the right to their land at Yucca Mountain.

Yowell sent a message and a warning to the United States: ''The first thing you have to have is this: You have to show that you own the land.''

The Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Bill of 2004, he said, has shown the Western Shoshone who their friends are in Washington, and who they are not. On this roster are two legislators: Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., masterminds behind the passage of the distribution bill.

''Senator Reid claims to help Indians in Nevada. We dispute this. What he has done has not helped us, it has harmed us. We are not among those who support him.''

Then, there is Gibbons on the House side.

''Gibbons used tactics that were unethical. He moved this legislation secretly when it was not even on the calendar to be acted on, a lot of arm twisting went on.''

Ultimately, there was President George Bush.

''Of course, the president signed it with a smile on his face,'' Yowell said.

Western Shoshone said the distribution bill attempts to authorize an alleged payoff at about 15 cents an acre for tens of millions of acres of disputed lands in Nevada, Idaho, Utah and California.

Yowell said before passage of the distribution bill, Western Shoshone rights to this land were used as leverage to continue negotiations with the United States. However, after the bill's passage, Western Shoshone turned to the United Nations for intervention.

''That is when we put a heavy emphasis on international action.''

When the U.N. committee announced its decision to intervene, Yowell praised the Western Shoshone delegation to Geneva for their skills and expertise and the committee for its decision.

''I'm glad that they did it finally. We have been sending delegations over there for a long time.

''The National Council will meet and take action. What we might hope for is that the United States will take this opportunity to resolve this.''

Yowell said one primary issue is encroachment. Western Shoshone refute the United States' assertion that their territory was lost by encroachment.

''The encroachment on Western Shoshone territory by United States citizens is not a lawful way to take land.''

Yowell said the Western Shoshone message to the United States has always been, ''If this is a law, we would like to see the statutes.'' But when the United States is asked to provide the statute of law, Yowell said Western Shoshone always receive the same response.

''They just say that they took the land.''

Yowell pointed out that only 14 percent of Nevada is today privately owned and the majority of this land is located in Las Vegas and Reno. He said that the claim of land loss by encroachment of private citizens just does not stand up. If private citizens had taken over 55 percent of the Western Shoshone territory, it would be different; but that is not the case, he said.

Listing U.S. laws, including the 1787 Northwest Ordinance, Yowell said U.S. law and the Treaty of Ruby Valley of 1863 protects Western Shoshone rights to their territory.

''It shoots down the 'gradual encroachment' theory.''

The United States has not honored the Treaty of Ruby Valley, he said.

''What we have is the United States, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Park Service and Atomic Energy agencies taking over Western Shoshone territory.''

Yowell said the Treaty of Ruby Valley was a treaty of peace and friendship and the Western Shoshone did not agree to give up their territory.

''We have not found where we have given consent to be included in the territory of Nevada.''

Praising the action by the U.N. committee, he said, ''This means we have been right all along. It is very disturbing - this nation is supposed to be a nation of law.''

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Last updated on March 20, 2006