Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 10, 2006 14:17:39 GMT -5
Navajos Approve Thawing of Bennett Freeze Despite Lack of Funding
Posted by: "Mark" deschinny@yahoo.com deschinny
Wed Oct 4, 2006 10:45 pm (PST)
'40 years too late'
Council approves Bennett Freeze deal
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK �" The Navajo Nation Council passed historic legislation
during a special session Tuesday, approving the Navajo-Hopi
intergovernmental compact and possibly ending decades of litigation.
"We're 40 years too late," Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr.
said during a press conference following the 75-3 vote. The event was
attended by council delegates, members of the 1934 Subcommittee,
chapter officials from Bodaway-Gap, and people living in the Bennett
Freeze area.
Shirley said the Navajo Nation wanted the freeze "out of the way (and)
the land thawed out ASAP after it was frozen. That was over 40 years ago."
"I'm just glad that we did it today. We will continue to send our
prayers to the deities that the Hopi Nation council will acquiesce
what the Navajo Nation Council has done." Shirley said he will be
signing the compact "as soon as I get the legislation."
The compact could put an end to a decades-old freeze on any
development on land in the Bennett Freeze area.
Navajo Nation Attorney General Louis Denetsosie said the compact will
now go to the Hopi Tribal Council. "The Hopis have to approve the same
version of this. After that, tribal officials get to sign off, along
with the Secretary of the Interior. Then we submit a stipulation to
the federal court as soon as that happens" for their signature.
Denetsosie said Hopi attorneys along with their negotiating team will
present the compact legislation to the Hopi Tribal Council; however,
he did not know how soon it is likely to be addressed. "The ball's in
their court," he said.
President Shirley said, "We will continue to send our prayers to the
deities that (Interior) Secretary Kempthorne will sign off
expeditiously, and so will the judge. ... The land should not have
been frozen to begin with."
Delegate Evelyn Acothley, a member of the 1934 Subcommittee, said,
"This is the people's victory." Tribal officials at the press
conference agreed.
Despite allegations by some council delegates that the
intergovernmental compact is mere election-year politicking,
legislation sponsor Duane Tsinigine said there was no timeline to have
the compact approved by council.
"Fortunately, it was done at this point in time. Unfortunately, it was
done during a political season. But it had to get done," he said,
adding he originally planned to introduce the legislation during the
past spring session.
"This is a humanitarian issue where we're dealing with the lives of
people. As a leader, I want the people to live in harmony and the
Beauty Way, without mental defect or hindrance. That's what Navajo is
all about.
"It's my job to help people. In a political world, nothing is ever
going to be perfect; so, you have to make decisions on some parts on
these types of issues. A small percentage won't agree, but that's our
duty and our job to push these issues," he said.
Tonalea Delegate Leslie Dele, vice chairman of the 1934 Subcommittee
lives in the affected area. Dele said that when he returned from the
military he found himself in the midst of the Bennett Freeze.
"I had a homesite lease that I had withdrawn, and then I was told to
wait. I found out that the homesite lease that I was going to
withdraw, it was cut right in half. One side was Bennett Freeze, the
other side was NPL (Navajo Partitioned Land) area."
He had to move his homesite, and now, "I'm right on the fence," he said.
No funding
Even if all parties sign off on the intergovernmental compact, that
does not mean that Bennett Freeze residents automatically will receive
a fistful of dollars for renovations; however, Acothley said the
subcommittee is working on the rehabilitation trust fund.
"We already have a legislation working with Rick Renzi; so, once this
is approved, the process will continue. The process of getting the
reauthorization of rehabilitation funds is in the works," she said.
Currently, those involved are trying to work with all affected
chapters to come up with their assessments. "Based on that, we're
trying to get those funding amounts included," Acothley said.
It will be up to the next Navajo Nation Council to sponsor legislation
to acquire rehabilitation funds, according to Tsinigine, "but the
congressmen are looking for this legislation."
Amos Johnson, one of the three delegates voting against the
legislation, had planned to make an amendment to the compact
legislation, requesting funding for the Bennett Freeze area, when
Speaker Lawrence Morgan called for the vote.
"No one really addressed the issue of appropriated funds," he said.
"People out there have suffered many years without electricity or
infrastructure, like all the people on NPL as well. The amendment I
was going to propose was to immediately identify funding for
infrastructure on Bennett Freeze.
"The council has passed the legislation to support lifting the freeze,
but now there's no funding," Johnson said.
Delegate Hope MacDonald-LoneTree said the "irrevocable" compact
contains language which prevents the Navajo Nation from seeking
damages from the United States; therefore, she questioned whether
residents of the Bennett Freeze would ever see any rehabilitation funding.
Delegate Alice Benally also raised a funding issue. "How fast will the
process be for these people to gain the homes, the road improvements,
the infrastructure, when there's no funds addressed? And the process
of the red tape, the bureaucracy that exists for such assistance from
the Navajo Nation they're backlogged as it is with requests. How soon
are these people going to get their houses addressed?"
People's victory
Benally said she viewed the passage of the compact not as a victory
for the president and his bid for re-election, but "a win for the
actual people that reside in that area that are in need of
infrastructure, that are in need of homes, that are in need of
improvements to their homes, that are in need of roads.
"That's what it is for, not for the president's re-election," she said.
President Shirley said going after rehabilitation funding is a matter
of priority. "Of course, everything is a priority. We're trying to get
this thing finalized and get the land thawed out. ... The Hopi Tribal
Council, the Secretary and the judge, when they sign, that's when the
land's going to be thawed out, and then we talk about monies."
Delegate Dele said subcommittee members had met with U.S. Sen. John
McCain's staff on rehabilitation funding. "They said, settle your
dispute first before we can talk. They wanted to separate the two
legislations. That way, he can introduce a legislation to fund this."
Delegate Orlanda Smith-Hodge said she would like to see residents get
the needed infrastructure. "I hope they get the development that they
have always wanted to do. I think that was mostly what the council was
looking at when they were discussing those issues. It's a great
opportunity for them."
According to Delegate Omer Begay Jr., the compact "is in the best
interest of the Navajo Nation as a whole." Begay anticipates the
agreement will result in water lines, power lines and homes for people
in the Bennett Freeze area, including power for one veteran who has
been handicapped since returning from the service.
"He had some severe trauma and has a hard time staying afloat. Now
that guy is going to have his power," Begay said.
Wednesday
September 27, 2006
Posted by: "Mark" deschinny@yahoo.com deschinny
Wed Oct 4, 2006 10:45 pm (PST)
'40 years too late'
Council approves Bennett Freeze deal
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK �" The Navajo Nation Council passed historic legislation
during a special session Tuesday, approving the Navajo-Hopi
intergovernmental compact and possibly ending decades of litigation.
"We're 40 years too late," Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr.
said during a press conference following the 75-3 vote. The event was
attended by council delegates, members of the 1934 Subcommittee,
chapter officials from Bodaway-Gap, and people living in the Bennett
Freeze area.
Shirley said the Navajo Nation wanted the freeze "out of the way (and)
the land thawed out ASAP after it was frozen. That was over 40 years ago."
"I'm just glad that we did it today. We will continue to send our
prayers to the deities that the Hopi Nation council will acquiesce
what the Navajo Nation Council has done." Shirley said he will be
signing the compact "as soon as I get the legislation."
The compact could put an end to a decades-old freeze on any
development on land in the Bennett Freeze area.
Navajo Nation Attorney General Louis Denetsosie said the compact will
now go to the Hopi Tribal Council. "The Hopis have to approve the same
version of this. After that, tribal officials get to sign off, along
with the Secretary of the Interior. Then we submit a stipulation to
the federal court as soon as that happens" for their signature.
Denetsosie said Hopi attorneys along with their negotiating team will
present the compact legislation to the Hopi Tribal Council; however,
he did not know how soon it is likely to be addressed. "The ball's in
their court," he said.
President Shirley said, "We will continue to send our prayers to the
deities that (Interior) Secretary Kempthorne will sign off
expeditiously, and so will the judge. ... The land should not have
been frozen to begin with."
Delegate Evelyn Acothley, a member of the 1934 Subcommittee, said,
"This is the people's victory." Tribal officials at the press
conference agreed.
Despite allegations by some council delegates that the
intergovernmental compact is mere election-year politicking,
legislation sponsor Duane Tsinigine said there was no timeline to have
the compact approved by council.
"Fortunately, it was done at this point in time. Unfortunately, it was
done during a political season. But it had to get done," he said,
adding he originally planned to introduce the legislation during the
past spring session.
"This is a humanitarian issue where we're dealing with the lives of
people. As a leader, I want the people to live in harmony and the
Beauty Way, without mental defect or hindrance. That's what Navajo is
all about.
"It's my job to help people. In a political world, nothing is ever
going to be perfect; so, you have to make decisions on some parts on
these types of issues. A small percentage won't agree, but that's our
duty and our job to push these issues," he said.
Tonalea Delegate Leslie Dele, vice chairman of the 1934 Subcommittee
lives in the affected area. Dele said that when he returned from the
military he found himself in the midst of the Bennett Freeze.
"I had a homesite lease that I had withdrawn, and then I was told to
wait. I found out that the homesite lease that I was going to
withdraw, it was cut right in half. One side was Bennett Freeze, the
other side was NPL (Navajo Partitioned Land) area."
He had to move his homesite, and now, "I'm right on the fence," he said.
No funding
Even if all parties sign off on the intergovernmental compact, that
does not mean that Bennett Freeze residents automatically will receive
a fistful of dollars for renovations; however, Acothley said the
subcommittee is working on the rehabilitation trust fund.
"We already have a legislation working with Rick Renzi; so, once this
is approved, the process will continue. The process of getting the
reauthorization of rehabilitation funds is in the works," she said.
Currently, those involved are trying to work with all affected
chapters to come up with their assessments. "Based on that, we're
trying to get those funding amounts included," Acothley said.
It will be up to the next Navajo Nation Council to sponsor legislation
to acquire rehabilitation funds, according to Tsinigine, "but the
congressmen are looking for this legislation."
Amos Johnson, one of the three delegates voting against the
legislation, had planned to make an amendment to the compact
legislation, requesting funding for the Bennett Freeze area, when
Speaker Lawrence Morgan called for the vote.
"No one really addressed the issue of appropriated funds," he said.
"People out there have suffered many years without electricity or
infrastructure, like all the people on NPL as well. The amendment I
was going to propose was to immediately identify funding for
infrastructure on Bennett Freeze.
"The council has passed the legislation to support lifting the freeze,
but now there's no funding," Johnson said.
Delegate Hope MacDonald-LoneTree said the "irrevocable" compact
contains language which prevents the Navajo Nation from seeking
damages from the United States; therefore, she questioned whether
residents of the Bennett Freeze would ever see any rehabilitation funding.
Delegate Alice Benally also raised a funding issue. "How fast will the
process be for these people to gain the homes, the road improvements,
the infrastructure, when there's no funds addressed? And the process
of the red tape, the bureaucracy that exists for such assistance from
the Navajo Nation they're backlogged as it is with requests. How soon
are these people going to get their houses addressed?"
People's victory
Benally said she viewed the passage of the compact not as a victory
for the president and his bid for re-election, but "a win for the
actual people that reside in that area that are in need of
infrastructure, that are in need of homes, that are in need of
improvements to their homes, that are in need of roads.
"That's what it is for, not for the president's re-election," she said.
President Shirley said going after rehabilitation funding is a matter
of priority. "Of course, everything is a priority. We're trying to get
this thing finalized and get the land thawed out. ... The Hopi Tribal
Council, the Secretary and the judge, when they sign, that's when the
land's going to be thawed out, and then we talk about monies."
Delegate Dele said subcommittee members had met with U.S. Sen. John
McCain's staff on rehabilitation funding. "They said, settle your
dispute first before we can talk. They wanted to separate the two
legislations. That way, he can introduce a legislation to fund this."
Delegate Orlanda Smith-Hodge said she would like to see residents get
the needed infrastructure. "I hope they get the development that they
have always wanted to do. I think that was mostly what the council was
looking at when they were discussing those issues. It's a great
opportunity for them."
According to Delegate Omer Begay Jr., the compact "is in the best
interest of the Navajo Nation as a whole." Begay anticipates the
agreement will result in water lines, power lines and homes for people
in the Bennett Freeze area, including power for one veteran who has
been handicapped since returning from the service.
"He had some severe trauma and has a hard time staying afloat. Now
that guy is going to have his power," Begay said.
Wednesday
September 27, 2006