Navajo President Shelly Disappointed in Water Settlement NO Vote

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

WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA – Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly voiced disappointment after the Navajo Nation Council's failure to approve legislation that would've brought running water to thousands of Navajo homes.

President Ben Shelly

“I'm very disappointed that the Navajo Council didn't pass the legislation today. I wanted it to be approved with amendments to portions of the legislation the Council didn't like,”

President Shelly said.

The Navajo Council voted down Legislation 0230-12, which would have approved the Navajo-Hopi Little Colorado River Water Settlement. The settlement would have protected the river from new development and provide money to build water lines for thousands of Navajo people.

“I want to thank the six delegates who voted in favor of the settlement. They showed courage and vision by electing to think of the entire Navajo Nation and our People,”

President Shelly said.

However, the President added that he is pleased with his efforts to maintain transparency and efforts to build water infrastructure.

“I said from the beginning that my administration was going to have transparency. The people had the opportunity to learn the details about this complex issue from the day it was brought into public. We didn't hide anything. I also stood by my promise to get water infrastructure to the People. We need to get them running water and this LCR Settlement was a good way to do so,”

President Shelly said.

Though the Council voted against the settlement, President Shelly said he is going to explore other ways to get running water to Navajo citizens.

“We will move forward as a Nation and continue to work to bring water to our People. Our communities need water,”

President Shelly said.

posted July 6, 2012 8:59 am edt