By: NP Staff | The Navajo Post | June 11

A dawn of a new era reaches Navajo Nation…Thirsty?

WINDOW ROCK – On April 5, the day two senior Senators came to the Navajo Nation and pitched the S.B.2109, also known as the Navajo-Hopi Little Colorado River Water settlement Act of 2012, sponsored by both McCain and Kyle.

Speaker of the Navajo Council, Johnny Naize came out and called for unity on the controversial issue. The Nation President threw his support behind the Water Bill and urged the council to pass the water bill. Late last week, D.O.J chief Harrison Tsosie, came out for the controversial water bill.

The public doesn’t see what the Navajo leaders do, which is outside courts deciding the fate of the Navajo people. Was there a lack of community information and communication, could that be why the public is outraged?

“The Navajo Nation did a very poor job in streamlining this information, they should have hired a professional Public Relations Rep, right now there is a video of the President telling protestors to shut up, that is not very presidential nor should it have been said.” says one Public Relations rep from Holeman Group in Phoenix.

The President said in his letter “The time has come for the Council to make a decision. I know this settlement is complex. I know it is controversial. But I ask that you consider our alternatives if we don’t settle our water rights claims to the Little Colorado River…”

Environmental groups were upset with the President support of the water bill, but no one has really showed exactly what this water bill will do? Bring water to small communities to some of the most impoverished areas of the reservation. Some people still have to haul water for many miles, sometimes in barrels used for chemicals.

S.B. 2109 is expected to pass, despite opposition and political division among Navajo Leaders. The speaker said “It is imperative that we move past this issue as a united Diné people, whether the legislation is accepted or not. As your Speaker, I feel that I have the responsibility to bring this highly contested issue to a civil conclusion.”

Currently, the legislation 0230-12 brought to the public attention for comment is set to expire on June 14. You can send your comments to comments@navajo-nsn.gov