Carrie Dann Speaks of Shoshone Land Struggles
Shanna L. Rasmussen Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/20/05 Section: News
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Native Americans have been fighting for their rights since Columbus first landed in America.
Carrie Dann, a Native American advocate, came to campus to explain the modern-day struggles of the Shoshone tribe.
Dann and her assistant, Julie Mitchell, came to campus on Thursday Oct. 6 to speak in a lecture open to students, teachers and the general public.
Dann and Mitchell took turns speaking about the problems that the Shoshone face as they try to reclaim the 60 million acres that were illegally taken from them by the United States government.
"Shoshones continue to use and occupy this land," said Mitchell.
Mitchell explained that the United States gave non-Indians permission to use some of the land owned by the Shoshone for mining, ranching, building roads and railroads.
The government also agreed to compensate the Shoshone for the use.
"The U.S. agreed to fairly compensate the Western Shoshone for any uses, damages and minerals taken," said Mitchell, "Both sides agreed to peace."
According to Dann and Mitchell, the government has claimed 90 percent of the Shoshone land. Both Dann and Mitchell do not believe the Shoshone have been properly compensated.
"The United States is currently claiming that the Western Shoshone are trespassers on their land," said Mitchell.
The Shoshone land is spread across Nevada, California, Idaho and Utah. The government allows it to be used for mining and nuclear testing.
It is estimated that about 10 million ounces of gold lies in the mountains of the Shoshone land. The mountains are being destroyed by mining, while the Shoshone are extremely upset. The mountains are a place of burial and the topic of many tribal stories.
"It is a spiritual and cultural area for the Shoshone," said Mitchell.
Mitchell clarified that the Shoshone territory is the second largest gold producing area in the world. For this reason, the United States government is very set on having the mines utilized.
Carrie Dann, a Native American advocate, came to campus to explain the modern-day struggles of the Shoshone tribe.
Dann and her assistant, Julie Mitchell, came to campus on Thursday Oct. 6 to speak in a lecture open to students, teachers and the general public.
Dann and Mitchell took turns speaking about the problems that the Shoshone face as they try to reclaim the 60 million acres that were illegally taken from them by the United States government.
"Shoshones continue to use and occupy this land," said Mitchell.
Mitchell explained that the United States gave non-Indians permission to use some of the land owned by the Shoshone for mining, ranching, building roads and railroads.
The government also agreed to compensate the Shoshone for the use.
"The U.S. agreed to fairly compensate the Western Shoshone for any uses, damages and minerals taken," said Mitchell, "Both sides agreed to peace."
According to Dann and Mitchell, the government has claimed 90 percent of the Shoshone land. Both Dann and Mitchell do not believe the Shoshone have been properly compensated.
"The United States is currently claiming that the Western Shoshone are trespassers on their land," said Mitchell.
The Shoshone land is spread across Nevada, California, Idaho and Utah. The government allows it to be used for mining and nuclear testing.
It is estimated that about 10 million ounces of gold lies in the mountains of the Shoshone land. The mountains are being destroyed by mining, while the Shoshone are extremely upset. The mountains are a place of burial and the topic of many tribal stories.
"It is a spiritual and cultural area for the Shoshone," said Mitchell.
Mitchell clarified that the Shoshone territory is the second largest gold producing area in the world. For this reason, the United States government is very set on having the mines utilized.