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Show Zuni, tribal leaders placed great emphasis on the importance of Kolhu/wala:wa. Again, the Zunis described the import of the shrines there, their recent troubles with Mr. Piatt over gates left open along the trail, and the need to have the area 172 protected for them. Indeed, the Zunis' Governor had lobbied for passage of the Indian Religious Freedom Act in hopes of having his people's sacred area protected. 173 During the past decade, the Zunis' continual pressure on federal officials has resulted in Congressional action. During the same year that the Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed, the Zunis* land claim was finally admitted to the 174 U.S.Court of Claims. Legislative implications demanded that the Zunis decide exactly which lands inside their traditional, aboriginal boundaries they believed had been taken from them, and which lands had not. Zuni religious and civil leaders met in long deliberations, also deciding what religious information could be revealed and how the public litigation should be pursued. Of all of their aboriginal lands not now within the reservation, there was only one parcel of land (along with access to and from such parcel) to which the Zunis claimed a right to title-Kolhu/wala:wa. The Zunis believed they should not take compensation for this land and so this area, along with its attendant access, were withdrawn from 172. United States, Department of the Interior, "Consultation Meeting Before the Task Force to Implement the American Indian Religious Freedom Act," Transcript of Proceedings, Volume II, June 23, 1979, taken at the Zuni Recreation Center, Pueblo of Zuni* 173. Ferguson, T. J. "The Impact of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act: A Case Study of Zuni Pueblo," Haliks'i: U.N.M. Contributions in Anthropology, University of New Mexico Press; Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1983; pp. 2-4 and 8-9. 174. Public Law 95-280, May 15, 1978 (92 STAT. 244). - 119 - |
