Post by Okwes on Feb 7, 2007 12:43:53 GMT -5
Hopi government responds to reported mistreatment allegations of Rena
Babbitt Lane
KYKOTSMOVI - Recent articles appearing in the Gallup Independent (Nov. 24
and Nov. 27) reported allegations made by Rena Babbitt Lane, a Navajo
resident
of the Hopi Reservation, concerning a Nov.4, 2006 Hopi Law enforcement
investigation into repeated illegal fence cutting occurring near her home.
According to the Independent articles, Lane has alleged, "three BIA federal
rangers...broke into her home, dragged her from her bed, threw her
around..." and
engaged in other questionable behavior.
The Hopi Tribe denies and denounces Lane's allegations as false. Lane's
allegations are a complete fabrication of what actually occurred and a
blatant
attempt on her part to focus attention away from her own illegal grazing
activities.
The three officers Lane refers to were not BIA officials, but were in fact
officers of the Hopi Resource Enforcement Services (HRES), the Hopi agency
responsible for enforcing grazing laws on the Hopi Reservation, Contrary to
Lane's account, HRES officers are not heavily armed and carry only approved
standard department issued duty gear.
An HRES officer initially came upon Lane's residence while investigating
reports of repeated cutting of a range unit boundary fence located within
200
yards of Lane's home. Tracks leading to and from the cut fence led the
officer
to Lane's home, The officer-knowing that Lane could not speak or understand
Hopi or English-called another HRES officer who speaks Navajo to respond.
The
Navajospeaking officer learned from Lane that she was responsible for
cutting
the fence and allowing her sheep and goats to cross over into the next range
unit. The officer informed Lane that it was illegal to cut the fence and to
allow her animals to graze in a unit for which she does not have a permit.
In
fact, Lane has allowed her grazing permit, issued within the unit where she
lives, to lapse for several years now, and she thus is grazing illegally
under any circumstances.
Lane told the officers she will continue to cut the fence regardless of the
law and the possibility that her animals would be impounded after which she
insisted that she be arrested and taken to jail immediately. Lane even got
into the back of one of the officer's pickup trucks and sat there refusing
to
move and insisting that she he taken to jail. The officers refused to arrest
Lane but instead asked her to get out of the truck. Lane refused to exit the
truck and the officers proceeded to knock on the doors of and enter the two
houses at the location in order to secure their own safety and see if there
might be someone else at home who could assist them with an obviously
obstinate
Lane. It was only then that Lane got out of the truck in order to follow the
officers to the houses, allowing the officers to recover their vehicle-minus
Lane-and drive away.
The Hopi Tribe will continue to enforce its grazing and criminal laws across
the Hopi Reservation, including the impoundment of trespassing animals and
the prosecution of fence cutters.
Babbitt Lane
KYKOTSMOVI - Recent articles appearing in the Gallup Independent (Nov. 24
and Nov. 27) reported allegations made by Rena Babbitt Lane, a Navajo
resident
of the Hopi Reservation, concerning a Nov.4, 2006 Hopi Law enforcement
investigation into repeated illegal fence cutting occurring near her home.
According to the Independent articles, Lane has alleged, "three BIA federal
rangers...broke into her home, dragged her from her bed, threw her
around..." and
engaged in other questionable behavior.
The Hopi Tribe denies and denounces Lane's allegations as false. Lane's
allegations are a complete fabrication of what actually occurred and a
blatant
attempt on her part to focus attention away from her own illegal grazing
activities.
The three officers Lane refers to were not BIA officials, but were in fact
officers of the Hopi Resource Enforcement Services (HRES), the Hopi agency
responsible for enforcing grazing laws on the Hopi Reservation, Contrary to
Lane's account, HRES officers are not heavily armed and carry only approved
standard department issued duty gear.
An HRES officer initially came upon Lane's residence while investigating
reports of repeated cutting of a range unit boundary fence located within
200
yards of Lane's home. Tracks leading to and from the cut fence led the
officer
to Lane's home, The officer-knowing that Lane could not speak or understand
Hopi or English-called another HRES officer who speaks Navajo to respond.
The
Navajospeaking officer learned from Lane that she was responsible for
cutting
the fence and allowing her sheep and goats to cross over into the next range
unit. The officer informed Lane that it was illegal to cut the fence and to
allow her animals to graze in a unit for which she does not have a permit.
In
fact, Lane has allowed her grazing permit, issued within the unit where she
lives, to lapse for several years now, and she thus is grazing illegally
under any circumstances.
Lane told the officers she will continue to cut the fence regardless of the
law and the possibility that her animals would be impounded after which she
insisted that she be arrested and taken to jail immediately. Lane even got
into the back of one of the officer's pickup trucks and sat there refusing
to
move and insisting that she he taken to jail. The officers refused to arrest
Lane but instead asked her to get out of the truck. Lane refused to exit the
truck and the officers proceeded to knock on the doors of and enter the two
houses at the location in order to secure their own safety and see if there
might be someone else at home who could assist them with an obviously
obstinate
Lane. It was only then that Lane got out of the truck in order to follow the
officers to the houses, allowing the officers to recover their vehicle-minus
Lane-and drive away.
The Hopi Tribe will continue to enforce its grazing and criminal laws across
the Hopi Reservation, including the impoundment of trespassing animals and
the prosecution of fence cutters.