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Bureau of Land Management
Robert Abbey, State Director
Reno, Nevada
Fax 702-785-6601

Dear Mr. Abbey,

there is rumor, that the BLM will confiscate lifestock among Western Shoshone communities, especially at the Dann Ranch, without issuing as required, a Notice of Tresspass and then the Notice of Impoundment. This gives the impression, that the BLM wants to make sure that the Western Shoshone ranchers are unprepared.

I am urging you to halt these plans and instead to seek a negotiated solution that is acceptable for the rightful owners of so called "public lands" within the treaty boundaries of Western Shoshone territory.

President Clinton as well as former US presidents have confirmed over and over, that the government-to-government relationship between the USA and Indian Nations shall be respected and President Clinton has signed executive orders, requesting to consult with Indian Nations on this basis. The BLM however has constantly ignored or twisted laws which make consultations obligatory.

On the other hand, the Western Shoshone have every right to refuse to pay grazing fees for using their own land. Throughout history it has never been the Western Shoshone Nation which broke the law, it has always been the USA which has broken treaties and laws in order to get the land which was owned by Indian Nations.

I urge you to think for a moment like a human being and to consider that the Western Shoshone ranchers will be ruined, because the quality of grazing land on their small resevations is unsufficient to sustain them.

Please stop all plans of lifestock confiscation and make arrangements for a negotiated solution with the Western Shoshone National Council.

Sincerely

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