Navaho-Hopi Joint Use Area
Dove Waterflow, Arizona
August 27-29, 1982

COMMUNIQUE NO. 6

Peter MacDonald, Chairman
Navajo Tribal Chairman
Window Rock, Arizona

Chairman MacDonald:

Greetings from the Elders Circle which represents the interests of the traditional Native people of the Dine, Lakota, Haudenosaunee, Hopi, Muskogee, Cree, and other Native Nations. The Elders Circle demands that the Navajo Tribal Council support the position of the traditional Dine and Hopi to continue the joint use of their lands. The continued enforcement of Public Law 93?531 and amendments has a disastrous effect upon the traditional Dine and Hopi who are forced to relocate from their homelands. We support all the communities within the joint use area in their efforts to uphold the natural laws.

We are concerned about the impact this forced removal has upon the harmony and balance of traditional Dine and Hopi life. Forced removal of the people from their sacred lands is causing severe disruption to the spiritual center of the Dine. Reduction of livestock is destroying the self?sufficiency of the people. In effect, these violations of the social, spiritual, and economic way of life of the Dine will totally destroy their people. The Elders Circle is committed to continuation of the spiritual way of life of all Native people. We view the forced relocation of the Dine and Hopi as an act of genocide.

As Chairman of the Navajo Nation, it is your responsibility to insure the well?being of the Dine. Acceptance by the tribal council of this federal mandate will assure that approximately 9,000 Dine, with whose lives you are entrusted, will be destroyed. Should the Navajo Tribal Council permit this act of destruction, it will be a violation of the greatest responsibility of your office ? the happiness and well?being of the Dine people.

The Traditional Elders Circle demands that the Navajo Tribal Council move to halt the suffering which the Dine and Hopi are being forced to endure. We urge you to consider our words.

In support of the Dine and Hopi, we are respectfully,

The Traditional Circle of Elders