Navajo Nation Hires Lobbying Firm to Sell Water Rights Legislation to Congress

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA – In this week's edition, "The Navajo Times" is reporting that the Navajo Nation has engaged the services of the Denver-based lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to work for passage of "The Navajo-Hopi Little Colorado River Water Rights Settlement Act."

The legislation, most commonly referred to as Senate Bill 2109, would settle Navajo Nation water rights claims to the Little Colorado River, among other things. Senate Bill 2109 was introduced by US Senator Jon Kyl, R-Arizona.

There is strong opposition to Senate Bill 2109, as evidenced by protests and social media efforts to completely halt passage of the legislation. As reported in the Native News Network earlier this week, former tribal leaders from the Navajo and Hopi Tribes are actively working to ensure the legislation does not pass Congress.

Navajo President Ben Shelly has previously voiced his support of Senate Bill 2109, but last week stated he wants to hear from the Navajo people before making a final decision. Last week he also announced he will conduct seven public forums within the Navajo Nation which are due to begin next week.

"The Navajo Times" reports Stanley Pollack, the Navajo Nation's water rights attorney, said the firm was hired…

“specifically to assist our legislative efforts to secure Congressional approval of legislation to authorize a settlement of the Navajo Nation's water rights claims in the Little Colorado River adjudication in Arizona and to authorize the construction of various drinking water infrastructure projects benefiting the Navajo people,”

posted April 13, 2012 7:10 am edt