The National Congress of American Indians and the Navajo Nation are backing a controversial horse slaughtering plant in New Mexico.

The Valley Meat Co. received a permit from the Department of Agriculture to slaughter horse meat for consumption. Tribes say the facility offers a humane way to reduce wild horse populations in Indian Country.

"They’re eating up the land and drinking all the water,” Erny Zah, a spokesperson for Navajo President Ben Shelley told New Mexico Watchdog. He estimated there are 20,000 to 30,000 wild horses on the reservation.

The Mescalero Apache Nation of New Mexico, the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and the Yakama Nation of Washington also support permits for horse slaughtering facilities.

Get the Story:
Navajo Nation will support NM horse processing plant (New Mexico Watchdog 7/31)
Navajo Nation joins other tribes in supporting New Mexico horse slaughterhouse (AP 7/31)

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