Rena Babbitt Lane

Yá'át'ééh. Its is with a heavy heart but an inspired spirit that I share the sad news of Rena Babbitt Lane having passed recently. My name is Sky and for the past 30 years I have been fortunate enough to be a grandson to Rena Babbitt Lane. The family has asked me to create this fundraiser because of they are in need of help and direct support.

After 100 years, Rena Babbitt Lane has recently left this world to return to the Holy People. If you know her, or of her, and the remarkable life she lived, then you will understand the great loss that we all have incurred. And if not, I invite you to take a little time to hear some of her story. There are no words that can truly describe the influence that she has had and will continue to have on many of us, and my attempt to honor her and her long life with words will inevitably fall short. We have lost a living treasure and the world truly will not be the same without her.

Rena Babbitt Lane lived on Horse Look Out in the Tonalea area on top of Black Mesa on the Navajo Nation. Rena’s family goes back ten generations on Black Mesa. Her early memories are of a time of large herds of livestock, community cornfields and plentiful rain. At age six Rena learned how to weave and make her own weaving tools as she traveled with her family throughout Black Mesa, living in sheep camps and caring for the land, plants and animals. Herding sheep and weaving was her life and continued to be from then on. As a young woman, Rena was taught the art of being a Hand Trembler. She was also an expert herbalist and people traveled from far and wide to seek her advice and wisdom. She married John Lane in a traditional marriage and was a loving mother to 7 children. She is survived by her children, Zena, Bruce (deceased), Jimmie, Jerry, Mary, James and Phillip along with 25 grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren.

Rena is known worldwide as a master weaver and an outspoken "resister" against forced relocation by the US government. After the Relocation Act was passed in 1974, up to 15,000 extended families were forcibly evicted from their ancestral lands…but not all. She endured hardships of a wide variety, including consistent threats, physical injury, denial of basic needs, impoundment of livestock and more. Yet none of this forced her to give up her dedication to maintaining a traditional life on the land she was born to protect. She stood her ground, inspired others to do the same and helped lead the battle against multiple forces that did everything in their power to destroy her, her family and her traditional way of life. She fought and she won, and lived her last days on the land she was born on and the land that she loved fiercely.

She will be remembered as a:

Loving matriarch, mother, grandmother and great grandmother;

Traditional elder, resister, warrior, rebel and courageous leader;

Master weaver, expert herbalist;

Teacher, guide and mentor for many;

Woman whose stoic presence was a source of inspiration and reverence;

and a symbol of living a life in balance and harmony with the natural world.

In addition, over the decades of “the resistance” there were many supporters that traversed the long and rough road to her rural home site, were touched by her generosity, gentle courage and acceptance. Many were inspired on a deep level and returned to their homelands with a change in their heart and a new definition of the word ‘courage’.

This courage continues to be embodied by her children who remain at the traditional home site, and continue to herd sheep and weave.

Rena Babbitt Lane is gone in body - but her spirit, her story and her inspirational life continue on within each and every one of us.

Here are some links:

Forgotten People

Net Roots Nation

Intercontinental Cry

'Cursed by Coal Documentary' movie – interview with Lane family starts at 9 mins.

'Vanishing Prayer' documentary

Funds raised here will go directly to the family to cover funeral costs (including viewing and burial) and travel expenses for family (specifically her granddaughter, who was by her side, lovingly caring for her in the final weeks, to fly out from the east coast and back, twice.)

$6,400

Fuel and vehicle costs: The Lane residence is 15 miles one-way on a rough dirt road from the small town of Tonalea. Over the past months Rena was in and out of multiple hospitals as far away as Phoenix (520 mile round trip). The nearest hospital and large grocery store is an 80 mile round trip. With all the visitors and hosting a meal for the funeral guests, we have had to make more trips to the store in Tuba City and Flagstaff for supplies, along with hauling all water for people, animals and the vegetable garden due to the water theft incurred by Peabody Coal during the 70’s and 80’s. Even with the coal slurry shut down now, they still continue to have to haul water for drinking, cleaning and for the livestock. The wear on the trucks is costly with suspension parts and tires in constant need of replacement. The cost of gas and maintaining the vehicles has been a burden on the family’s finances.

$1,600

In addition, the main income for the household came from the job of taking care of Rena. There is a program set up to provide a family member with an income to care for our elders. The program works at keeping families together instead of having to leave to go find jobs in cities. This income has now ceased and there are monthly expenses that are now due for the vehicles payments, insurance, fuel, solar power equipment rental, and basic expenses. Funds will help give the family the ability to keep the homesite going through the coming winter until another source of income can be created.

$2,000

It has been a very difficult time for the family and any amount donated is helpful and appreciated. “Many hands make the load lighter” as they say and your donation will greatly help the Lane family as they continue to carry on living on Black Mesa in the traditional way.

We are also seeking a long-term supporter to come and herd sheep, chop wood and carry water (literally) and/or help with cooking, cleaning, carding wool, tending to the animals, etc. Please contact Mary or myself if you are interested, or know of someone whom you feel could help support.

*And in a most recent event, the eldest daughter Zena has just had a bad fall and broken both her right leg and wrist. This untimely event has created an even greater need for on-land support and financial assistance.

The funds donated to this are linked to the eldest daughter's bank account. 100% of the funds go directly to the family.

If you are more comfortable with sending a check you can send it to:

Mary Lane

POBox 539

Tonalea, AZ 86044

along with any other correspondence, cards or gift cards.

Ahéhee' / Thank you