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Show THE ZEPHYRAPRIL 1991 PAGE 24 - Utah with Wolves Dancing Style Shanaman by Nancy seconds remaining In the 1991 session, the Utah State Legislature passed HB 394, a bill designed to reorganize Indbn affairs throughout the state. With an historic coalition of former opponents, Including the Governor's Office, Rep. David Adams, Commissioner Mark Maryboy, Navajo Tribal Council Delegate AndrawTso, the Utah Intertribal Coalition, and various other entitles representing tribal concerns, the bill was passed, mandating complete reorganization of the Utah Division of Indian Affairs as well the creation of the Utah Dine Committee, a body that will oversee and disperse funds from the Navajo trust fund royalties. It began as the good guys versus the bad guys, depending upon which side you are on. It ended as an unholy alliance. It was Dancing With Wolves and It was often unclear Just who were the wolves. An unlikely coalition was formed and It ended In a victory for Indian rights and representation, hard work and cooperation. I spent the last two weeks of the legislative session tramping the hard marble floors of the state capital, dancing with the wolves, who In this case were various persons and organizations opposed to the efforts of San Juan County Navajos to gain self determination and representation, especially regarding the oil royalties collected from their home lands. The bill could not have been passed If It were not for the groundwork laid last fall when an all Native American Democratic slate ran for office In San Juan County. Although most of the candidates were defeated, the Nlha Whol Zhllzh campaign raised public consciousness of the political Impact of Utah Navajos. At almost midnight, with only 30 22091 week I have been up at the state capital lobbying for the passage HB 352. means parking miles away, tramping through wet lawns, having sore feet from the Lobbying miles 4) marble corridor that make up the capital. It also means hours of waiting, vital All and this time It passed. There has been some fast politicking. Depressed, we meet with the state auditors, concerning the UDIA and Navajo trust fund audK. They are simply amazed at the scope of this forthcoming audit 22591 This Is the week of the session. The hours spent at the Capitol lengthen, until Wednesday when I will be there for 18 hours. We arrive early to meet with various Senators. I am waiting In the enormous marble room directly under the Capitol dome. I look up to the celling murals - full feathered Indians passing the peace pipe to pioneers. Everywhere I look the murals are mute evidence of the "great western expansion of the white man. Fresh faced Mormon pioneers gaze out beyond their covered wagons to the Great Salt Lake. In truth It Is all about land acquisition homesteading, a powerful statement of taking from the Indians. The whole building feels like three piece suits, power and Influence. Old fashioned brass lamps give subdued lighting, while red lights blink off and on, accompanied by an ear piercing whistle each time a vote Is taken. Debate continues who really represents the Indians? The Governor's Office, under the leadership of Enid Green, and David Adams, Insist that they do. We feel we represent the people, through their elected officials. There Is a life-si- ze replica of the Liberty Bell Just outside the House doors. The Inscription reads "Dedicated to you, a free citizen In a free land. I remember how Buddy Red Bow said: "Land of democracy, but not for you or for me. We have a long meeting with Enid Green. At Issue Is Integrity and trust The position of Luke Duncan, Chairman of the Ute Tribe becomes critical. Luke Is In Washington D.C. and various persons seem to be speaking for him. Strangely enough It Is directly contradictory. UTAH STATE EfTTCR UG3SL AT ysUR UJ RISK me unu Kune er of state politics. conversations, hope mixed with disillusionment and the raw money-powHB 352 and leads the campaign to get It Jean Melton, Utah Intertribal Coalition, has written passed. It Is presently locked up In Rules Committee chaired by David Adams. Rep. Adams Is sponsoring the Governor's bill HB 394, and has little Interest In letting our bill out of his committee. Paranoia Is rampant and every day Is like being on a roller coaster, high with hope, then down with disillusion. We request and receive a meeting with Craig Moody Speaker of the House. He candidly states that he does not want to be enmeshed with the politics of southeastern Utah. He opposes both bills, feels they are premature, considering there Is a state audit In process Investigating alleged mishandling of royalty funds. He mentions Navajo and Anglo Indictments which may follow. He promises that If the bill comes to the floor he will personally step down from the podium and speak against It What we do not know at the time Is that he will be facing his own problems. His close ties to a major lobbyist, In real estate, will be exposed by TV news the last day of the session. There are more than eight of us lobbying for HB 352, sponsored by freshman We are a coalition representing various tribal Representative Vem Borgeson I am Mark groups. Maryboy as his tribal legislative assistant Bonnie representing Rainbow Coalition, Harry Johnson, the Kayelll Dines, Rodger Kllgannon represents the Williams and Ladybird Jack, Intermountain Navajo Association, Dora Van, the Mixed Blood Utes. (R-SL- C) ls). 22191 Not much happens until 4:15 when Rep. Borgeson electrifies us with the news that Adams' bill Is out of Rules and on the floor of the House. Moody moves for adjournment and we decide to work to kill I with Indians. I think that no The discussion revolves around one here really knows how to listen to Indian leaders. "Yes, we want your opinion, they say, but almost never have the patience to wait for It We all agree that the bill Is very close to what we all hope for. Enid wonders If Mark Maryboy can be split off from Luke. Mark now becomes a pivotal point "Sounds like, I say, "the same old strategy, divide and conquer. 22691 Gradually we are deciding to support the Governor's bill. In actuality It now In bill our addition Enid promises that our other contains almost everything that proposed. concerns will be addressed by Rulemaking Procedure once the new Utah Indian Cooperative Council Is created. This becomes a strange new alliance. We have a long talk with Dave Adams, and decide to create the Outreach Subcommittee for the Mixed Bloods and Urban Indians who represent more than half of Utah's Indians. Luke Is adamant that the Mixed Bloods not sit on the same board with full blood Utes. All of us realize that we hold a responsibility that we did not want Largely on our now hinge passage of the bill, leading to total reorganization of state-trib- al will efforts relations. We spend the evening phoning our constituencies, explaining the new alliance. the bill. and AndrawTso come up from the Navajo Reservation. Things are onto comes the floor of the House attended with much uninformed debate. 352 wild. No one can refute Adams, whom the other Representatives seem to look to as their "Indian expert No one realizes that his facts are not all correct Representatives sympathetic to our cause Introduce amendments to the bill, that reflect our concerns: the Integrity of the trust fund Is protected, Mixed Blood Utes and Skull Valley Goshutes are added to the bill. With the additional amendments we are closer to a compromise. The electronic vote Is taken. Surprisingly, the bill Is defeated. Relieved, unwisely, we all go to lunch. An hour later we climb the broad stairs to the cluster of dark suited men and women gathered around the central door. We leam that Adam's bill has been reintroduced Mark Maryboy HB can do so you will support the Governors bill, she states. never Is or now This never, you'll get a better chance. We dont want another (Indian) march on the Capitol. There Is Just no trust, replies Jean Melton. My Integrity has never been more on the line. Truth Is what I stand for, continues Enid. "Just tell me what 22791 The entire last day is spent speaking with Senators. We are feeling coalition-suspicio- us among ourselves. Often on the verge of splintering, by 5 p.m. we are united In supporting the bill. The next 7 hours are a blur of conferences, explaining, cajoling, persuading. Dora and I call out Sen. Dixie Leavitt Utah). Rather than come out he Invites us Into the Senate Inner sanctum, carpets, easy chairs, dark wood panels. He Is all gracious smiles and exclaims "How fine It Is that you guys are finally getting Involved In our political system. He, too, agrees to support the bill. A critical moment comes as we are talking with Sen. Alaric Myrin, and Rep. Beverly Evans from Luke Duncan's district They do not want to offend Luke, and Luke has refused to support the bill under any circumstances. Enid offers to write a letter outlining the scope of the new Utah Indian Cooperative Council. It will expressly exclude Issues of Intertribal |
