Getting permission to hunt Native American reservations

[Highmountain]

This tends to be a tricky process and leads to an automatic 'No!' if you go through what appears to be the official channels for submitting the request. Generally it qualifies as something entirely out of the question.

However, with the huge Navajo lands in the Four Corners area, the Laguna Reservation, the Alamo Reservation north of Magdalena, and a number of others there are ways to get written permission for what you want to do sufficient to keep you out of trouble with any tribal police who challenge you [though they might demand you desist and leave the Rez]. However, most encounters and challenges on the Rez will come from tribal members, and while most mightn't 'approve' the permission document you present to them, they'll acknowledge the veracity to the extent of shaking their heads and leaving you alone to do what you came to do.

The technique has worked well for me over a long period and I've no reason to believe it wouldn't work for anyone, be it photographers, treasure hunters, or just curiosity seekers. I can't speak to whether it would work for reservations where it hasn't been tried.

Anyone who's interested in discussing the approach feel free to contact me by PM.

Jack

[Roadquest]

Hello Jack,

You got my attacion. I would like to talk with you and learn some of the
other ways to get permission to do a project site search on Navajo lands.
I would really like to not get shot, or locked of while being on Navajo lands.

I see you are from New Mexico, may I ask are you a Navajo? My great grand mother
was Navajo, but I did not know her very well. I would be happy to share 50/50
any finds I made, To get the permission.

I have researched my project, and know the area I want to search.

Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you.....Roadquest

[olepossum]

i belive that any form of treasure hunting the native american reservations is bullcrap our ancestors screwed them bad enough why should we keep doing to them it is hard enough to get thier trust as it is and you wanna go and blow smoke up thier butts man you might as well go to church and piss on the pulpit during morning service that is as bad as wanting to metal detect a grave yard would you want the rez to come dig up your yard not me .and yes i am a scottish and cherokee descendent from rossdhu coutny in scottland and the anawi clan from the blueridge cherokee and a very business oreinted american we have plenty of open country to hunt on with out having to get permission and when we do rubbing it in the noses of the people that rightfully own the land so you take this any way you want to and yes i have asked what other members thoughts about mding in a active cemetery and mding the land where one used to be and i got the same response form everyone and it is the same thing i think LEAVE IT ALONE.

[Roadquest]

Olepossum, Who peed in your Cheerios's, No one is talking about searching in a cemetery. What we are talking about is getting permission to search on land that know one is living on, or using.
Most of the time permission comes with a contract, and a contract comes with a percentage of any finds.
In which case everyone comes out with something.
By the way, have you ever heard of the man that protest to much?
I don't know what you are smoking, but, you have convinced me to kill my weed garden.
Jack, PM me and we can talk...Roadquest

[Highmountain]

Olepossum, Who peed in your Cheerios's, No one is talking about searching in a cemetery. What we are talking about is getting permission to search on land that know one is living on, or using.
Most of the time permission comes with a contract, and a contract comes with a percentage of any finds.
In which case everyone comes out with something.
By the way, have you ever heard of the man that protest to much?
I don't know what you are smoking, but, you have convinced me to kill my weed garden.
Jack, PM me and we can talk...Roadquest

Roadquest: I'm tied with a lot of things at the moment. I will be until September. If you're still interested by September send me an email and I'll go into it in loving detail.

As for the other guy, opinions are worth what a person pays for them. That one came without anyone even asking, so it's worth less than nothing.

Good luck
Jack

[olepossum]

that is just it they might not live on every bit of the land but it is thier home it is all they have and we owe them every bit of privacy to do with thier land as they please so what if little pissing wolf met a girl there 200 years ago it is thier place and they can consider every square inch of it sacred or holy its thiers leave it be

[cosmic]

There are no native americans!! Their ancestors came across the Bearing land bridge.. I was born here so I'm a native american!! Why can't I get special treament, casino's and a resevation.. Its BULL!!! Even though there is no one alive on either side that went through it.. Yet the taxpayer pays out the #ss for it!! Get permission and have fun!!

[boogeyman]

Olepossum, Who peed in your Cheerios's, No one is talking about searching in a cemetery. What we are talking about is getting permission to search on land that know one is living on, or using.
Most of the time permission comes with a contract, and a contract comes with a percentage of any finds.
In which case everyone comes out with something.
By the way, have you ever heard of the man that protest to much?
I don't know what you are smoking, but, you have convinced me to kill my weed garden.
Jack, PM me and we can talk...Roadquest

Wise man said "It can't hurt to ask, worse case you get a NO"
If everyone gets a cut that they're happy with, what's the harm?

[heepiepow]

I kind of agree with olepossum.

But more that anything you find on a reservation should be turned in to the historians on it, and not kept for personal gain/interest.

AFAIK reservations are also NOT a part of the United States, they are their own nations. As such I think treasure-seekers should be "ambassadors" to these nations, being sure all the time that their intentions will reflect positively as a citizen of the US. And, it's the moral thing to do.

[Cpt.Buzzkill]

I am confused about the 'Possum's hypocrisy?? I agree staying clear of cemeteries...but regular land, come on man To be honest..depends on the rez and tribal cops. Some are on the "take" and instant cash gets instant privileges. Tribe councils do this with business' all the time. Some call it a "shake down", however, in many parts of the world its called, business. To bring the ancient ancestor bs is too funny. They fought a war...and LOST. You are now at the mercy of the conquerer like every other war from every other century. In this case, the NA is the most well taken care of conquered people of all time!!! This comes from a "people" that routinely slaughtered each other's tribes for hunting territory. So...cut your own deal, metal detect where you want to go and don't let them burn your wagon.

[Treasure_Hunter]

If you get permission from the tribal council or from someone with the actual authority to give permission then go for it Get permission and have fun!!

.

There are no native americans!! Their ancestors came across the Bearing land bridge.. I was born here so I'm a native american!! Why can't I get special treament, casino's and a resevation.. Its BULL!!! Even though there is no one alive on either side that went through it.. Yet the taxpayer pays out the #ss for it!!

The American government did not wipe out 99% of your entire ancestors or uproot and force you ancestors to walk and move thousands of miles, leaving their homes, graveyards and land they lived on for hundreds or thousands of years to live in a different location, usually worthless under the threat of death or starvation, then move you again because someone found gold, silver, oil or what ever they decided was valuable.. The U.S. government also has not made treaties with you or your family, nor delcared war on you or your families, both of which are done on or against foreign nations........

The U.S. Government has recognized the American Indian as Native Americans since day 1 of American Government....