Chapters protest roundups Marchers oppose Nation’s action By Vida Volkert Staff writer eastnavajo@gallupindependent ROCK SPRINGS — A dozen protesters in their vehicles and horses marched Wednesday afternoon from the Rock Springs Chapter to Chee Dodge Elementary to oppose the Navajo Nation’s efforts to reduce the horse population on the reservation. The march was organized by Boe and Natalia Reeder, of Tsayatoh Chapter, where a resolution against horse roundups was recently passed by the community. A roundup is scheduled to take place in Tsayatoh Thursday. Boe Reeder said he hopes that rangers and volunteers respect the wishes of his community and do not proceed with the scheduled roundup. The Iyanbito Chapter passed a similar resolution on Monday, according to Leeland Grass, a horse rights advocate. During an interview Sept. 10, Navajo Nation Resource Enforcement Chief of Rangers Leonard Butler said that with or without a resolution in favor of the horse roundups his department’s responsibility includes control of the horse population. He cited Title 3 as the authority. “All the rangers feel empathy for what’s going on, but we gotta do our duty,” Butler said. “It would have to be a court injunction to have us stop operations. Resolution really does not have the muscle I guess, legally, to stop the roundups.” Title 3, Section 1311 establishes equine round up procedures and requirements on the Navajo Nation. It gives authority to grazing officials and the chapter membership. It states: “By resolution, the chapter will identify a team to coordinate round up activities ... The chapter will designate a lead person for this team ... The members shall also coordinate the roundup with the Resource Enforcement Department ... Chapter members and livestock owners shall be given 10 day notice of the dates, times, and location of the round up.” Extreme drought conditions were cited on July 18 in the passing of Navajo Nation Council Resolution CJY 44-13. About $1.3 million was allocated to the N.N. Department of Agriculture for feral livestock round-ups and $202,761 to the Department of Resource Enforcement for Livestock round ups. Between July 29 and Sept. 10, about 1000 horses were rounded up and seized from about 27 chapters, reported Butler.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 11:33:16 +0000