By Bahe Katenay, August 20, 2026
An unimaginable cruelty of animal abuse that is so horrific, and what is more frightening is how the individual or individuals that committed this crime might be sending out a threatening message. The source that set the course for this kind of mentality and tribal division of the once coexisting tribes goes back to the 1974 U.S. Public Law 93-531 or the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act. In response to that Executive Order, hundreds of traditional Díneh (Navajo) organized in 1977 to resist the forced removal and land partitioning law. Some Hopi traditional representatives also came to Big Mountain to show their solidarity and to clarify that, it was the U.S. backed Hopi tribal council who were claiming all of Big Mountain and wanted Díneh to move out.
52 years later, today, the traditional movements are gone, a few extended Díneh family groups remain, modern native societies including Hopi have abandoned the deep cultural ties to land and the neighborship system. Furthermore, there has been the white washing and propaganda that has reset history with the idea that, "Navajos have always been the problem." This new mood of native thinking perceives the future with limited old time religious values, but instead to forge on to modernism that will bring better wealth and industrial opportunity.
The 1977 land partitioning mandate "awarded" Hopis 900 million acres which is mostly empty of humans except for about a hundred Díneh relocation resisters.
These resisters are made up of original resisters and extended families and all are disdained by both the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribal governments, as lawless and non-citizens.
The growing acts of hatred have also been demonstrated by both Navajo tribal officials and Hopi tribal law enforcement personnel. Navajo officials at the community level known as Chapter headquarters prohibit "Hopi partitioned lands" branded resisters from participation. Hopi authorities in the past have manhandled and even injured elder resisters when they tried to stop the confiscation of their animals. In 2014, late resister Etta Begay's over the "legal" limit of the number of sheep were forceably confiscated and later she stated as she wept, "the Hopi police were throwing the sheep, sometimes kicking them, and throwing them on top of other sheep when the stock trailer got too full."
Civilians are now adding to the already escalating hate toward the condemned, remaining Díneh resisters. On June 26th of this year, resisters-extended-family members returned home in Mesquito Springs and saw some smoke coming from the sheep corral. When they approached where their 22 sheep lived, they saw all the sheep partially burnt and dead. The corral's wooden log fence had burnt to the ground. The family had always realized that that ultimate day might come for their final forced removal. They stayed because of their late parents who resisted the relocation laws and have upheld the ancient Dineh tradition and rituals. Despite all those memories of strength coming to their minds, the still determined siblings must have dropped to their knees and wept.
This incident of burning sheep alive was a crime and the perpetrator or perpetrators need to be convicted. Hopi tribal police have been out to the crime scene and no updates from the police, as of this writing.
The remaining Díneh relocation resister homesites are scattered miles apart across the western margin of Big Mountain. A few are alone with their small sheep and goat herd, and the dedicated sheepdogs. Horses and cattle are long gone due to forced confiscation or forced to sell. Resisters as they are referred to are native holdouts, still clinging on to indigenous life with some little hope, still praying and singing prayer songs occasionally, and nothing to really think about or plan for because the ceremonies and cultural gatherings have long vanished, too. They just live on and graze the animals even though they have no representation or so-called rights and protection. Prior to the burning of the sheep, families have reported suspicious activities like individual trespassers near homesites and what seemed like stalking on residents And the family that lost 22 sheep are rebuilding another sheep corral and hoping to replace their loss of the precious churro sheep.
This report should not be taken lightly just because the whole country and the world is becoming unsafe. A stop can be made to: the growing hate and violence in this pristine and isolated holy lands of Big Mountain even though it is not on an urban street setting. It can become the atoning to bring back balance and perhaps, harmony. Archaeological science thus far has no evidence that ancient Dineh and historic Dineh (not modern Navajos) never waged wars, but only until the recent foreign colonizers' aggressions. Perhaps based on the Hozhon beliefs, Dineh might have been a sinless culture. "Lambs of the Gods" who took humanity's punishment upon themselves but now, it is enough.
Help the unprotected resisters to Genocide. Responsible agencies to call, demand full investigation and arrest those that committed these acts in Mesquito Springs. The NH Land Commission Office are responsible as well and are still funded through the U.S. Office of Navajo-Hopi Indian Relocation.
Hopi Law Enforcement - 928-734-7344,
BIA Law Hopi Agency - 928-738-2228,
Navajo Hopi Land Commission:
Executive Director, Windowrock - 928-357-6904,
Tuba City SubOffice - 928-283-3000
Support network for Díneh resisters does exist. Requests include volunteer home stays and manual labor help, sheepherders, water hauling, seasonal organized support projects, and donations of basic essential needs. DM for more Info.
