Bu$h Steals More Land From Indians

[Zorra]

Bush signs Western Shoshone legislation
Tribal leaders views bill as massive land fraud

Posted: July 09, 2004 - 10:37am EST
by: Jerry Reynolds / Washington D.C. correspondent / Indian Country Today

WASHINGTON - One of the largest ongoing seizures of Indian land in modern times will move forward following President George W. Bush’s signing of the Western Shoshone Distribution Bill on July 7.

Under provisions of the bill, Western Shoshone claims to 24 million acres of land in Nevada, Utah, California and Idaho, based on the Ruby Valley Treaty of 1863, are officially subsumed through payment by the U.S. government. The bill will forcibly distribute approximately $145 million in funds awarded the tribe by the Indian Land Claims Commission. Most of it will go to 6,000 or so eligible tribal members, with a separate revenue stream set aside for educational purposes.
snip
The Ruby Valley Treaty lands are rich in resources, including gold, water and geothermal energy. Multinational mining companies are standing by to operate within the Ruby Valley lands through "privatization" bills brought forward by Gibbons. Gibbons and Reid are among Congress’ leading recipients of mining company contributions.

In addition, President Bush has designated Yucca Mountain, a site within the Ruby Valley lands, as the nation’s nuclear waste repository.

http://www.indiancountry.com/?1089383970

[gmoney]

1. $6 an acre? Count me in...

Gee, suppose *I* can buy some of this land for $6 an acre?

Or just mining interests and big repub contributors need apply?

Of course, we shouldn't be stealing this land (again) in the first place.

[Renew Deal]

2. This is outrageous.

And I don't know how many times I have said that in the last 3 years. We should respect the Indians and their territory. Bushler doesn't respect anything.

[OneBlueSky]

3. we could also learn a lot from Native American spirituality . . .

particularly its respect for the land and for nature . . . that acreage would be far better off in their hands than in those of corporate rapists . . . this is really sad, and yet another reason to kick BushCo the hell out of office . . .

[acmavm]

4. Hmmm. The land is rich in minerals including gold, water, and geothermal

energy? The question that has to be asked now is who profits from this land grab? Gee, I wonder if it's possible any bush* supporters will end up with their names on the title to the land soon? What big corporation will end up with the mineral rights?

Stay tuned for further developments in the continuing saga of the 'BFEE Loots America'.

[Zorra]

8. Yeah, this is really bad

Congress OKs massive theft of Native land
snip

At stake are 60 million acres of Western Shoshone land recognized by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley. Competing with Western Shoshone interests are corporations seeking billions of dollars in profits from gold, energy production, nuclear waste storage and weapons industries. The land produces two-thirds of the gold in the U.S., making it the third largest gold-producing area in the world behind South Africa and Australia.

Last year, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, in its final report on the case of Dann v. U.S., found that with regard to the Western Shoshone, the U.S. is currently in violation of rights to property, due process and equality under the law. It is the first judicial review of the United States law and policy regarding indigenous peoples within its borders.

Carrie Dann said it is domestic terrorism designed to steal the dignity of the people. “Economically we were a self-sustaining people. With these recent actions stealing our livelihood we are now facing economic starvation designed to remove us from our lands. To me, that is terrorism. Domestic terrorism. This behavior is designed to steal our dignity, our honor and to make us feel that we are less than or lower than human – we are treated like animals. We are being dehumanized.”

In a November 2003 letter sent to Secretary of Interior Gale Norton, Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) raised serious concerns about the real intent of the Distribution bill and the involvement of the federal government and mining, energy and nuclear industries in presenting a misleading picture of the issues to the public and to members of Congress. In the letter he raises concerns that the bill may be contrary to federal policies with regard to treatment of Native Americans and may conflict with the Interior Department’s position as trustee and its obligation to uphold the laws of the United States. A copy of the letter and more information on the bill is available on the Western Shoshone Defense Project’s website at www.wsdp.org.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/5449/1/222

[Fridays Child]

5. Thank you for posting this.

:kick:

[FreedomReload]

6. To Quote A Shirt I Saw:

My heroes always killed cowboys.

[Melodybe]

7. Thanks for posting this, their greed knows no bounds.

God! Are they seriously TRYING to become the most evil men in history?

Man, I just wish that the mainstream media would go nation wide with this.

[Union Thug]

9. Wow.. I want that shirt!

Where Can I get one?

[DivinBreuvage]

10. It was just two weeks ago yesterday....

that marked the 128th anniversary of the day the Lakota and Cheyenne settled their account with "Yellow Hair" on the banks of the Little Bighorn.

[no_hypocrisy]

11. Step Two: build a wall and wait for the World Court to condemn.

[thecrow]

12. KICK KICK KICK!!!!!!!

:kick:

[SpiralHawk]

13. Same as it ever was

But this election year, BushCo is also going all out to try and get the Indian vote -- since it could be the swing in many western states.

But, I think not. Come to my Hogan tonight. We will watch pirated copy of f/911, and then sit in council. Pass the talking stick. Find a way to PUT A STOP TO BUSHCO MADNESS.

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when men (and women) are afraid of the light." - Plato

[Deja Q]

14. Sick.

The exploitation of others to further one's own greed.

And we like to call ourselves "evolved". x(

[MidwestMomma]

15. Bottomline, Bush wants his Yucca Mountain waste site

According to the article:

"We will use the Treaty of Ruby Valley to stop Yucca Mountain and to protect our lands. Our title is still intact."

But I can't just blame Bush. According to the article, Democratic Senator Henry Reid persuaded his colleagues to pass the bill. Why is he supporting the stealing of this land and enabling the creation of the waste site. I thought the people of Nevada were against the Yucca Mountain waste site? Anyone from Nevada care to enlighten me?