| OCR Text |
Show 98-892) held by the Select Committee on April 9, 1984. Ben Kallestewa, the "Komosona," testified in person representing religious leaders, as did Zuni Governor Chauncey Simplicio. The Governor of the Zuni Tribe testified, and all of the living former governors provided written testimony. Mr. Kallestewa, who travelled to Washington for the hearing, also brought with him a statement from other prominent religious leaders. Other testimony came from Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, from local ranchers, and from the Chairman of the Navajo Tribe. This author provided an historical summary and Keith Kintigh submitted a report on some of the archaeology in the area, and the recent "pot-hunting" that had been discovered there. In the report issued May 14 (S. Rpt. 98-441), the The Bureau of Indian Affairs had some concerns, but did not object to the legislation in Senate. The report concluded that Zunis had made the pilgrimage "as long ago as 1540." The Senate Select Committee voted unanimously to approve the bill, the report stating: The enabling legislation would, upon successful negotiations with the private land owners involved, and the transfer of the federal lands, allow approximately 11,049 acres to be held in trust for the Zuni Indian tribe of New Mexico. The lands in question are 14 miles northwest of the city of St. Johns, in Apache county, in northeastern Arizona; approximately 3,727 acres of BLM administered lands; 5,881 acres of private lands, and 1,441 acres of State lands. Neither the Congressional Budget Office nor the BIA had opposition to the bill, even though the budget office seemed to believe the government was buying the - 122 - |
