Water Settlement Has Not Been Approved by the Navajo Nation

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

GANADO, ARIZONA – The Navajo Nation leadership held its third public forum on the Little Colorado River Water Settlement on Thursday.

Large crowds continue to attend the Public Forums.

President Ben Shelly continues to try to attempt to convince Navajo Nation citizens that he has not made up his mind on the pending legislation known as Senate Bill 2109 and that the measure needs approval of the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe before it is finalized.

His message is basically the same as he continues to hold a total of seven public forums.

“The water settlement has not approved by the Navajo Nation,”

President Shelly said on Wednesday night in Pinon, Arizona adding that concerned people can also speak to their Council Delegates, in addition to speaking at a water settlement forum.

He added that the water settlement has to go through the Navajo Nation Council first, before it comes to the President office.

“There is a process,”

President Shelly said.

The President urged Navajo people concerned about the settlement to learn about it and proactively suggest solutions and recommendations for the settlement.

“We want to see you have a voice in the settlement,”

President Shelly said in his closing remarks after a four and half hour long town hall style meeting at Pinon Chapter House Wednesday.

Caroline Johnson speaks to Vice President Jim.

The chapter house was filled to capacity of about 150 people, but as people left the meeting, people in a line awaiting entrance to the chapter house were allowed to enter the building, bringing the total number of attendees to about 300 people.

About 20 people spoke after an hour and half long 44 slide power point presentation regarding the settlement. Navajo Nation Water Commissioners Ray Gilmore and Leo Manheimer gave the presentation.

Most of the people spoke against the settlement.

“You're saying 'no,' we understand that,”

President Shelly said, while asking for solutions and recommendations from the attendees.

Some people spoke out against the presentation saying that is was too long, but the President responded.

“We wanted to make sure the people have a full view of the presentation,”

President Shelly said.

However, about a dozen young people in the audience were openly upset about the format of the meeting.

Each person addressing the leaders was given a few minutes to speak, and the speakers had to sign in to speak.

The younger crowd grew restless as the meeting entered its last hour, the two of the young people began to raise their hands to speak.

Bessie Yellowhair-Simpson, who moderated the meeting, reminded the audience of the process to speak at the meeting and asked the people to quietly wait their turn.

An elderly woman from Pinon, who offered the opening prayer, spoke to the audience in Navajo and some English and pleaded with the young people to be respectful of the speakers.

“Is that what they teach in school?”

the woman asked the young people.

“You need to listen, you need to listen to your elders.”

Most of the young people sitting together talked among each other while the elderly woman spoke to them. During her pleading, some of the young people snickered.

After she spoke for a few minutes, the meeting started closing with some closing remarks from President Shelly and Vice President Rex Lee Jim.

After the meeting, Vice President Jim met with some of the young people who said their voice wasn't being heard.

Vice President Jim said that he is interested in meeting with the young people further. Some of the youth said the leaders are out of touch with the young people.

“The youth are very important,”

Vice President Jim said.

The following is a schedule of remaining water settlement forums all of which are scheduled to start at 4 pm and end at 7 pm.

posted April 20, 2012 9:59 am edt