Keams Register

This has become a strange twisted road to what could be a good thing for the Navajo residents of the Graymountain and Cameron areas of the reservation.  Once again, the “leaders” of the tribe are going through more contortions to further muddy the issues, hopefully some positive action will take place soon:

Council overrides Shirley’s veto of wind project
By Noel Lyn Smith
Navajo Times
Window Rock,  Nov. 24, 2010

The Navajo Nation Council approved an override of President Joe Shirley Jr.’s veto of legislation that would have started lease negotiations for a wind energy project on Gray Mountain, near Cameron, Ariz.

The override passed, 64-8, during a special session of the Council on Nov. 23. It initially failed but was recalled.

In order to pass the override, the Council needed to muster 59 votes in its favor.

Bobby Robbins (Coalmine Canyon/Toh Nanees Dizi), one of the bill’s sponsors, told the Council that the project has been four years in the making.

“We have been in front of a lot of barriers in getting this initiative off the ground for our communities,” Robbins said in Navajo.

Jack Colorado (Bodaway-Gap/Cameron/Coppermine), another bill sponsor, said the wind energy project would bring much needed economic development to the area, along with revenue for the tribe and scholarships for students.

“Although the action of the president indicates he has disrespect for the delegates who voted on these initiatives,” Colorado said.

Shirley vetoed the bill Nov. 8 after the Council approved it Oct. 21 during the fall session.

(more…)

Contributed by Native Unity (Reporter)
Saturday, July 03, 2010 10:37
Resolution To Restrict NTUA Fails
By Kathy Helms
Dine Bureau
Gallup Independent

WINDOW ROCK – A resolution which would restrict Navajo Tribal Utility Authority from providing services such as water and natural gas to off-Navajo Nation enterprises failed to gain approval of the Resources Committee last week.

Sponsor Bobby Robbins and To’ Nanees’ Dizi Chapter Vice President Robert Yazzie presented concerns Thursday regarding NTUA possibly selling water to the Hopi Tribe, stating that the chapter objects to NTUA entering into a contract with the Moenkopi Hopi Economic Development Corp. to provide water and natural gas to the $13 million hotel and conference center just across U.S. Highway 160 from Tuba City.

Presenters cited the Navajo Nation’s pending water rights settlement in Arizona, drought conditions and lack of water for Navajo residents in the Cameron, Tuba City, and Grand Canyon area as major factors.

“In Tuba City, how severe is the water shortage,” Vice Chairman Curran Hannon asked. Robbins said that when the water is low, NTUA shuts it down. The water shortage is such that many residents suffer on a daily basis from not having ready access to adequate, clean water, they said. (more…)

And so it goes, along with all the other projects that have died before becoming reality.  It seems that the Wind Project highly anticipated and hoped for in the Gray Mountain and Cameron area has been put on hold.  What  a surprise!

Given what we now know about how the Gulf Oil Spill has been handled, it’s not surprising that our little section of the reservation will not see the Wind Project come to fruition anytime soon, if ever.  It comes as no surprise that when Politicians become involved without taking into account the wishes and voices of the people that are affected, obstacles begin appearing and all too often will derail what is needed most.

What a disappointment to all the people who spent so much time putting together proposals, conducting the studies, attending meetings and providing input.

It’s a real shame.

http://nativeunity.blogspot.com/2010/06/navajo-wind-project-on-hold.html

It is always interesting to me how something potentially good can be completely turned around and wasted because of greed and a desire for power and control.

My family has been telling me that there is a potential to have windmills installed on the mountain on our part of the Navajo reservation in the Gray Mountain, and Cameron areas.  They had attended several meetings at our local Chapter House to discuss the various aspects of the project.  It seems the original promoters (Sempra) may be suddenly pushed aside by others who think they can do the project “better.” 

Unfortunately for my family, their neighbors and the community in the two small townships, the inconsistencies between what they originally were told and what the new groups want to do are far different than they had agreed to and were expecting.  My appreciation and deep respect go to Sempra for the way they worked with the Chapter leadership and the residents of the area.

(more…)

Desert Rock energy debate continues and reaches far and wide.  Recently, Desert Rock opponents claimed a small victory when the EPA rescinded the Air Quality permit issued to the developers.  This may be only a temporary victory, depending on the steps next taken by the developers and the Navajo Transmission Project.

Interestingly, even President Obama and his administration are now part of the commentary.  While Obama is keen on expanding wind and solar energy for our nation, it seems that what actually transmits and delivers that energy is what is at the root of the problem. In addition to the disturbing information of how much pollution would be brought to Desert Rock and the surrounding areas, it is equally disturbing to realize that no plans have been made to share that energy with the great number of households that are in that area that currently have no electricity.  In fact, it seems the majority of the energy would be transmitted to more “deserving” large cities in the west.

Although it is very important to share thoughts about a particular subject, I find that this one leaves me at a lost for words.  All I can do is provide links to various sites that will provide you with a more in-depth picture of what has taken place so far.

What I can say is that it leaves me nauseated and unbelieveably scared that this could happen at all.  May your leaders take better care of you in your part of the world.  (more…)

When I first saw some of the stories, I was shocked.  After thinking about my childhood at the school nearby, I was angry. 

I attended Tuba City Boarding School from the time I was six years old until I was 14.  I distinctly remember the truant officer coming to get me from my home because my parents had not re-enrolled me in school after I had to leave halfway through my kindergarten years because I became very ill and spent a lot of time in the hospital. (more…)

Do we feed and shelter our family or protect our homeland? Do we stay on our homeland to earn a living by working with coal or do we move away and work in a profession that does not deal with coal?  Do we stay and fight those that work with coal?  Do we leave and not look back, never thinking about what is left behind? (more…)

Have you heard about Dine’ CARE, or Desert-Rock-Blog, or Question of Power websites?  When I first heard the terms from a friend of mine, I had no idea the projects were as organized as they were.  There are areas on the Navajo Reservation that are so impacted by environmental concerns, the voice of the everyday people gets lost in the government policies and agendas.  It is good to know that the organizers of these programs make every effort to restore power to those that have often been overlooked and ignored during the decision making process.  (more…)

While I was doing some research on the types of natural resources that are currently mined on the Navajo Reservation, I came across a research report that was done by Erin Klauk as part of educational materials that she was gathering for the University of Montana and the Science Education Resource Center (SERC).  Her studies and research helped me to gain a better understanding of the Uranium mining that has taken place and impacted the health of not only the Navajo People, but the livestock they raise and the crops they grow. (more…)