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Land grab in Indian reservationIn a controversial bill, the American Congress has approved the transfer of 40 500 hectares of Ute land to the government to mine. Ute tribe says 26% of their land will be mined Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Shaun Chapoose, chairman of the Ute Tribe, is meeting with top officials from the Obama administration this week in an attempt to gain support for blocking what the Utes call a “modern day Indian land grab.”
At issue is HR 5780, the Utah Public Lands Initiative, which would transfer 40 500 hectares from the Ute reservation to the State of Utah.
“I have an obligation as a tribal leader to stand and protect my tribe,” Chapoose said.
The bill, introduced by Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, was rushed through the process, Chapoose charged.
Recent actions on Capitol Hill backed up Chapoose’s assertion.
In a controversial hearing on 14 September, the bill was passed by Republicans over the protests of the Democrats on the committee. The Utes were not allowed to speak during the hearing.
“There sat us, the Ute Tribe, residents of Utah, not allowed to speak,” Chapoose said.
For his part, Bishop takes exception to the tribe’s claim of a “land grab.” He said he found the term “personally offensive”.
Bishop said the tribe refused to respond to his staff for a year as they sought input from the tribe.
Chapoose said that is simply not true.
Bishop’s bill would transfer more than 40 500 hectares acres from the tribe’s 1.8 million hectare reservation to the state.
The plan has been in the planning for four years – with some 1 200 meetings held – but the Ute Indian Tribe had not been part of the discussions. The tribe’s release said it had only learned of the plan in January.
In addition to taking the land, Bishop’s bill would impact the tribe’s sovereignty by creating things like “scenic rivers,” “recreation areas” and a “utility corridor” on the reservation.
The initiative also would include the controversial Bear’s Ears area. But, tribal leaders said, the bill is tilted in favour of mining companies.
With support from the Obama administration and environmental groups Democrats believe HR 5780 faces a difficult road. The Democrats also pointed out that the session of the 114th Congress is swiftly winding down.
In any event, President Barack Obama could blunt much of Bishop’s bill by simply naming Bear’s Ears a national monument.
The US has not made a treaty with a Native American nation since the 1800s, but a proposal for Eastern Utah is bringing back feelings of mistrust from tribes.
The proposal would remove federal protections from 18 million acres of land and could allow them to be turned into oil and gas drilling zones that are exempt from environmental protections, Telesur reported.
Clik here to view.
Land grab in Indian reservationIn a controversial bill, the American Congress has approved the transfer of 40 500 hectares of Ute land to the government to mine. Ute tribe says 26% of their land will be mined Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Shaun Chapoose, chairman of the Ute Tribe, is meeting with top officials from the Obama administration this week in an attempt to gain support for blocking what the Utes call a “modern day Indian land grab.”At issue is HR 5780, the Utah Public Lands Initiative, which would transfer 40 500 hectares from the Ute reservation to the State of Utah.
“I have an obligation as a tribal leader to stand and protect my tribe,” Chapoose said.
The bill, introduced by Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, was rushed through the process, Chapoose charged.
Recent actions on Capitol Hill backed up Chapoose’s assertion.
In a controversial hearing on 14 September, the bill was passed by Republicans over the protests of the Democrats on the committee. The Utes were not allowed to speak during the hearing.
“There sat us, the Ute Tribe, residents of Utah, not allowed to speak,” Chapoose said.
For his part, Bishop takes exception to the tribe’s claim of a “land grab.” He said he found the term “personally offensive”.
Bishop said the tribe refused to respond to his staff for a year as they sought input from the tribe.
Chapoose said that is simply not true.
Bishop’s bill would transfer more than 40 500 hectares acres from the tribe’s 1.8 million hectare reservation to the state.
The plan has been in the planning for four years – with some 1 200 meetings held – but the Ute Indian Tribe had not been part of the discussions. The tribe’s release said it had only learned of the plan in January.
In addition to taking the land, Bishop’s bill would impact the tribe’s sovereignty by creating things like “scenic rivers,” “recreation areas” and a “utility corridor” on the reservation.
The initiative also would include the controversial Bear’s Ears area. But, tribal leaders said, the bill is tilted in favour of mining companies.
With support from the Obama administration and environmental groups Democrats believe HR 5780 faces a difficult road. The Democrats also pointed out that the session of the 114th Congress is swiftly winding down.
In any event, President Barack Obama could blunt much of Bishop’s bill by simply naming Bear’s Ears a national monument.
The US has not made a treaty with a Native American nation since the 1800s, but a proposal for Eastern Utah is bringing back feelings of mistrust from tribes.
The proposal would remove federal protections from 18 million acres of land and could allow them to be turned into oil and gas drilling zones that are exempt from environmental protections, Telesur reported.
