Carrie Dann Speaks of Shoshone Land Struggles

By: Shanna L. Rasmussen Staff Reporter

Posted: 10/20/05

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.

The tribe is distraught at the fact that much of the gold being mined is under the water table. Water, which is a sacred resource to the Shoshone, must be pumped out, and therefore it is wasted and is often contaminated.

The tribal land is also used for nuclear testing. Mitchell showed pictures of a place where geysers once erupted that is now a nuclear power plant.

After Mitchell spoke, Dann took over.

"You don't learn about these things we're going to talk about in the educational system," said Dann.

Dann spoke about her feelings towards the government of the United States. She explained her concern for the future of the Western Shoshone tribe.

"You may think of Democracy as freedom," said Dann, "I, as an indigenous person, don't think of it in those terms."

Dann feels as though her tribe was wronged. Throughout the lecture she elaborated on the points given by Mitchell.

One of Dann's most prevalent concerns was the nuclear testing being done so close to the tribal people.

Dann warned the audience about the dangers of nuclear waste.

The land is the site of the Counter Terrorism Facility where nuclear and biological warfare is tested and developed. It has been used for nuclear-related activity for more than 30 years.

"I have a son who is mentally retarded and slightly deformed," said Dann, "Nuclear radiation causes deformities."

Dann believes that her son's health problems are the result of radiation caused by nuclear waste stored on the Shoshone land.

"Nuclear waste is live and active for thousands of years," said Dann. "It's real scary to have a nuclear waste dump in my back yard and your back yard."

"I learned how the U.S. government can run around their own laws to get their way," said Mike Smith, senior, Canton, Mass. "It made me upset."

Dann and Mitchell aim to spread their truth to the public as they travel around the country.

They urge everyone to write to their state representatives with their thoughts on the situation of the Shoshone Native Americans.

"I thought the way [Dann] talked was very powerful. She's a very powerful woman. She's very brave," said Alex Parisi, freshman, Fairfield.

Anyone interested in helping save the Shoshone land is encouraged to visit wsclp.org and nodirtygold.org. Dann stressed that every little bit of help counts.