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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2002

With the Senate poised to pass a bill to distribute $138 million to members of the Western Shoshone Nation, opponents are rallying support.

Yomba Shoshone Chairman James W. Birchim asked tribal leaders to oppose the bill. Oglala Lakota President John Yellowbird Steele said the legislation sets a bad precedent.

"We are still fighting the same fight - it’s about taking Indian land," he told Indian Country Today.

Activist Winona LaDuke is lobbying against passage, in addition to international organizations. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has said the bill jeopardizes the land rights of tribal members, who live in Nevada, California, Utah and Idaho.

Get the Story:
Shoshones want negotiated land settlement (Indian Country Today 10/15)
Human rights panel: Return Dann cattle (Indian Country Today 10/15)

Get the Bill:
S. 958, A bill to provide for the use and distribution of the funds awarded to the Western Shoshone identifiable group.

Relevant Documents:
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Report | Cover Letter | Summary of Conclusions

Relevant Links:
Dann Cattle Auction - http://www.nv.blm.gov/danns/danns.htm

Related Stories:
BLM auctions seized Shoshone cattle (10/7)
U.S. asked to halt Shoshone auction (10/4)
BLM to auction seized Shoshone cattle (10/2)
Shoshone activists to stage protests (9/30)
Senate panel approves Shoshone payout (9/26)
Shoshone cattle seized, horses feared next (9/24)
Shoshone 'renegades' resist land payout (8/26)
Senate panel debates Shoshone payout bill (8/5)
Western Shoshone are 'homeless' (8/2)
Report finds human rights violations (8/1)
Shoshone land 'not for sale' (7/22)