Navajo Nation’s Official Position On the Recent Sundance Arrests
THE NAVAJO NATION Office of the President and Vice President:
Window Rock, Navajo Nation, Arizona) July 13, 2001
STATEMENT BY STAFF COUNSEL KAREN BERNALLY
“President Begaye has been briefed on the incident that recently occurred in the Big Mountain area. To our knowledge, the five individuals who had been detained have been released on their own recognizance.
We understand the incident may be a result of enforcement of requirements noted in Accommodation Agreements signed by individual Navajo families. The Accommodation Agreements require Navajo families to secure approval by the Hopi Tribe to conduct certain ceremonial practices.
From our understanding, the Sundance ceremonial performances (the incident in question) have been taking place in the Big Mountain region for quite some time– for more than 10 years now – and were not always part of the ceremonial practices requiring Hopi approval.
However, in more recent years, the Hopi Tribe has required approval for the Sundance ceremony to occur.
Since the incident did occur, it is now the responsibility of the President of the Navajo Nation to discuss such matters with the Hopi Tribal Chairman. President Begaye and Chairman Taylor discussed the incident, though not in great detail, at their regular monthly meeting, which took place in Flagstaff, Arizona Friday, July 13, 2001.
We must note that under the specifications of the Accommodation Agreements, there is a judicial process that now has to be followed. We have to allow that process to take its course.
This incident is now under review by the Office of the President and Vice President, and we will report further as comprehensive information becomes available.”
SUBMIT FEEDBACK
Click Below to: