P.O. Box 656, Sparks, Nevada 89432 - 775-352-8262, 775-356-0727

www.nevadafullstatehood.org

January 15, 2003

Mary and Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone sisters from Crescent Valley, Nevada have been told that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), this weekend, January 18 and 19th, 2003, will gather their horses from their range. The Nevada State Brand Department will then give the horses away for $50 a head (if two or more are purchased) to federally-funded horse conservation groups.

The Dann sisters have been trying to sell their horses but with the State of Nevada undercutting the worth of the horses to $50 a head, "it is very hard to find any buyers," said Carrie Dann.

The Conservation Horse groups however, in their Internet "chat-rooms" have no such qualms about reselling the horses to make a profit at the Danns’ expense. One "chatter" was expounding on how the horses could be resold for $600 to $800 or more, according to Julie Fishel, spokesperson for the Western Shoshone Defense Project, who has been monitoring the Internet for the Danns. The "chatters" talk about "what nice horses they are and what good shape they are in," said Julie. She notes that the BLM has provided pictures of the Danns’ horses on their web site, for the groups. "The Dann sisters have put blooded studs with their horses for years to keep them upgraded," said Julie Fishel.

"The BLM and State Brand Department are now working hand in glove in another raid, to rustle the Danns’ horses, while they themselves have thousands of horses that need to be picked-up off of federal and state lands. The BLM has horses grazing and over-grazing almost everywhere in Nevada, eating feed that is for live stock and wildlife. The State has feral horses in Silver Springs, Nevada that should be gathered. This intentional government mismanagement has gone on for years. The Danns have been denied due process, while at the same time the government horse thieves prepare to steal their horses, which are private property. This is pure hypocrisy and worse, we don’t buy it, and no one else should," stated Janine Hansen Executive Director of the Nevada Committee for Full Statehood.

"It is obvious that the BLM and state of Nevada have no one to police their actions, they are willing to spend $1000 per head of taxpayers dollars to round up horses that belong to the Danes and sell them for $50 each. Besides this terrible waste of tax dollars, this deflates the market so the Danns can’t make any money if the Danns tried to sell their own horses. The BLM and State of Nevada are as corrupt a couple of outfits as there ever have been. When are they going to take care of the real horse problem in Nevada, and let the Danns’ sell their horses to the highest bidder?" said O.Q. Chris Johnson from Elk.

David Holmgren, Ranching Representative of the Nevada Committee for Full Statehood from his ranch in Gabbs Valley commented that, "The real issue is possession, the BLM with our own state officials are dispossessing legitimate ranchers from their range. Do not think for a moment that once the Dann horses are gone nothing will replace them. The BLM has already dropped off ‘wild’ horses just over the hill from the Danns and they will be coming to take the places of the Dann sisters livestock."

"Of course, there will never be enough money to gather the ‘wild’ horses. They always have enough money to gather the rancher’s live stock. They are already controlling much of Nevada’s rangeland by taking possession through horses, elk and soon the sage grouse while trying to push private ownership out. The BLM is literally trying to eat us out of house and home," said Holmgren.

"The ranchers’ have vested rights in water and forage and the Indians also, not to mention a piece of paper called the Ruby Valley Treaty which should be a lesson to us all of us on why we can’t trust the government," concluded David Holmgren.

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For further information contact: Janine Hansen775-352-8262, David Holmgren 775-530-5313, O.Q.Chris Johnson 775-934-6302, Carrie Dann/Julie Fishel, Western Shoshone Defense Project 775-468-0230

Directions to the Dann Ranch: Take I 80 to Beowawe/Crescent Valley Exit, proceed 30 miles to the town of Crescent Valley, cross cattle guard at edge of town take immediate left, stay on gravel road for 15 miles, take a left at the "T" in the road (an old car is at the "T") proceed one mile to Dann Ranch.

CALL: Attorney General Brian Sandoval: 775-684-1100

Jim Connelly, Nevada Department of Agriculture, Brand Division, 775-738-8071

Bob Abbey, BLM Nevada State Director, 775-861-6400

Governor, Kenny Guinn, 775-684-5570

Message: Give the Danns a chance to sell their own horses and take care of the government creates wild horse problem.