Fawn Sharp, President of the Quinault Indian Nation, "If such a land transfer provision seems out of place in a defense bill, that’s because it is. If the idea of transferring the ownership of federal forest lands to foreign mining companies seems absurd, it’s because that’s true, too,”
Regardless, the The Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act is highly unusual and if the land swap is a fair and legitimate action then it must follow the traditional method of being approved through the administrative channel. By including it as a rider on the NDAA is very suggestive that Congressman Paul Gosar is attempting to subvert the established process with no valid reason voiced.
You can sign the petition here ->
Stop The Native American Land Grab
There are currently ~90,000 signatures as I post this at December 14, 2014 10:00 AM EST
Related Stories about the land grab:
- 57 Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Urge Senate to Nix Sacred Land Giveaway
- House Approves Bill to Give Apache Lands to Foreign Corporation
http://lastrealindians.com/house-approves-bill-to-give-apache-lands-to-foreign-corporation/
- Dream Snatcher
A good overview of the situation from Snopes
- The Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act
Congressman Paul Gosar 4th District of Arizona write up and summary of the bill. He does not articulate though why this land exchange requires a legislative transfer (i.e. being attached as a rider to a bill that has to pass, the NDAA) as opposed to going through the more common method of land transfer, which by public vetting through the administrative channel.
http://gosar.house.gov/southeast-arizona-land-exchange-and-conservation-act
- 57 Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Urge Senate to Nix Sacred Land Giveaway
https://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/tags/southeast-arizona-land-exchange-and-conservation-act
- Federal Land Exchanges: A Primer for Local Citizens and Planners
Policy Brief: Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy The University of Montana. July 28, 2010
http://www.cnrep.org/documents/filestorage/Federal_Land_Exchange_policy_brief.pdf
- H.R. 4355
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr4435pcs/pdf/BILLS-113hr4435pcs.pdf