CHAD PATTESON/Emeratd
Beth Newberry speaks to community members during a candlelight vigil in the Eugene park-blocks Monday.
Organizers held the event to raise awareness of the plight of Navajo Indians on the Big Mountain Reserve.
Vigil held to show support for Navajo
■ oULlUAml Y: borne Navajo
residents of the Big Mountain
area refuse to leave homes
By Eric Collins
Community Reporter
Although the history behind
the relocation of Navajo Indians
in northeastern Arizona is com
plex, the significance of a candle
light vigil Monday night was sim
ple: the well-being of the resisting
Navajo people.
About 35 local residents and
members of the Big Mountain/Na
tive American Support Group
gathered at the Eugene park
blocks near the Lane County
Courthouse to pray on behalf of
Navajo Indians who faced a dead
line Monday night to sign an ac
commodation agreement or be
governmentally forced to move.
The Navajo are being told to
leave over a 20-year-old dispute
over a joint-use area traditionally
shared by the Hopi and the Nava
jo.
However, Beth Newberry, a
member of the local affiliation of
the Native American support
group, believes there should be
protection of the Navajo’s burial
grounds, way of life and religion.
“What we are talking about is a
loss of a way of life here,” Beth
Newberry, a member of the local
affiliation of the Native American
support group said. “We want to
make the government know the
public doesn’t support the forced
eviction, genocide or ecocide.”
Newberry said Monday’s vigil
was a part of the International
Day of Spiritual Solidarity, with
groups throughout the world
marking the occasion.
On this night, supporters of the
cause prayed and sang for the
Navajo people, but many people
within the support group have
taken a hands-on approach to the
problem by forming food and
clothing drives for the use by the
Native Americans.
Many supporters have provid
ed food, blankets and moral sup
port for the Native American fam
ilies refusing to move off the
reservation site.
One UO Survival Center mem
ber, Michael Turaski, took part in
a food and clothing drive in May
or 1996, bringing pounds of food
and raw wool to the Navajo peo
ple. Although the support group
was able to give the donation,
Turaski said Hopi Rangers en
forced a strict policy of allowing
no citizens on the disputed reser
vation land. “That was one of the
worst things about the trip be
cause we couldn’t talk to the peo
ple,” Turaski said.
Kevin Treacy, a member of the
Big Mountain/Native American
Support Group in Eugene, said
he believed the majority of Indi
ans maintaining residence on the
disputed land of the reservation
are the elder members of the
tribe. “All [the elder Navajo peo
ple] know is they’ve been told to
get off the land,” Treacy said.
“The Navajo believe if they leave
the land, the Navajo nation will
die.”
Stein said the Native American
support group will be observing
an International Day of Mourning
today at noon near the Lane
County Courthouse at 8th Av
enue and Oak Street with a press
conference and subsequent rally
and march.
Come See The Only
Mechanical Bull
gene/Springfield
Country Music *
'txl to Sat.
Karaoke *
tin. to foes.
Live Entertainment *
7 days a week
535 Main 5t.
Springfield
747-0307
Oregon's BEST College Students
Deserve Oregon's Best Sandwiches
HOMEMADE BREAD
\ f)tn&
• Soup * Salads
/ • Baked Goodies
nmAe frresA AMy!
75' OFF
) ANY 12"SUB
Limit one per coupon. Expires 5/1/97
NOT GOOD WITH ANY OTHER OFFER
10 E. 13th • 344-1949 (Across From U of O Bookstore)
. 50* OFF
) ANY 8" SUB
Limit one per coupon. Expires 5/1/97
NOT GOOD WITH ANY OTHER OFFER
80 E. 13th • 344-1949 (Across From U of O Bookstore)
“33 years of Quality Service’’
Mercedes • BMW
Volkswagen • Audi
2025 Franklin Blvd.
Eugene, Oregon,97402
Spring Term Blues & Jazz Guitar courses by Don Latarski
Ml
W
U
H
Each course is worth 2 credits.
For more information, call 343-8184 or email: latarski@oregon.uoregon.edu
13:00
Sp. St. Jazz
Guitar II
MUP199
36674
13-13:50 MW
rm. 105, music
14:00
Sp. St. Beg.
Blues Guitar
MUP199
36673
14-14:50 MW
rm. 111, music’
J&M
'Basic Pert.
Jazz Guitar
MUP108
33854
15-15:50 UH
rm. 192, music
16:00
Sp. St.
Guitar Theory
Basics
MUP199
35480
16-16:50 MW
rm. 105, music
Sp. St. Blues
Guitar II
MUP199
33925
16-16:50 UH
rm. 192, music
‘not listed in spring term class schedule
NEED MONEY?
Here's your chance to earn money and
help the growing need for plasma.
A plasma donation earns
up to $130 every month.
$20 on your first donation!
Bring in this ad for an additional $2.00
J-Mar Biologicals
a Seramed BioCenter
1 Block east of 8th and Garfield
1901 West 8th Ave., Eugene
683-9430
UNLIMITED LTD
BUS SERVICE
is an optional student fee. That means refunds are available.
Keep in mind, however, that your student ID now enables you
to ride the bus any time, anywhere, all term! Also remember
that by suppbrting unlimited bus service you’re helping
alleviate traffic, reduce air-pollution, ease the campus parking
problem, and provide transportation for thousands of students.
But if you still want a refund, come to the EMU Ticket Office
during normal business hours March 31-April 4.
Also available at the LTD Customer Service Center during
normal business hours March 31-April 11.
For more information call: 687-5SS5 (Voice) or 687-4865 (TTY)
© Spring 1997 LTD Wfe ’TO gOlRg JO UT Way! ':_j£|Tr