Twin Arrows casino moves forward on Council vote

The Navajo Nation Council has approved annexing land east of Flagstaff for development of a major casino-resort development.

Leonard Chee (Birdsprings/Leupp/Tolani Lake) sponsored the legislation to place 405.61 acres into trust for the tribe and annex the land into Leupp Chapter.

The Council passed the bill 63-2 during a special session Nov. 23.

"In order for development to occur, the Navajo Nation Council needs to pass this resolution," Chee said. "The federal government has already taken its action to put this land into trust status for the nation."

Larry Echo Hawk, assistant secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, announced Nov. 10 that the land was placed into trust to conduct gaming activities.

The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise purchased the land, located near Interstate 40 in a rural area known as Twin Arrows, earlier this year but needed approval from the federal government before gaming could be conducted there.

Federal law allows tribes to put casinos only on trust lands. The Interior Department placed the land into trust using the Navajo Hopi Settlement Act of 1974 and the Hopi Indian Relocation Amendments Act of 1980.

Besides a gaming establishment, other development plans include a conference center, golf course, hotel and spa.

In a resolution attached to the legislation, both Leupp and Birdsprings chapters approved the land acquisition.

Leupp has been involved with the annexation because provisions in the Navajo Nation Code require a chapter to approve gaming and alcohol sales inside its borders.

During the Council session, both Leslie Dele (Tonalea) and Katherine Benally (Dennehotso) supported the bill.

"I believe we need to support this legislation because it will provide revenue for the Navajo people and we have worked on this initiative for many years," Dele said.

"They (Leupp) stand to gain a lot through employment at the local level," Benally said.

Lorenzo Curley (Houck/Lupton/Nahata Dziil) voiced concern because of opposition by the Forgotten People, an association of survivors of the Navajo-Hopi Land dispute.

In August the group sued the Navajo Hopi Land Commission, the Navajo Hopi Land Commission Office, the Navajo Nation and others in connection with the proposed Twin Arrows development.

The plaintiffs question the use of $7.4 million from the Navajo Rehabilitation Trust Fund, was used to purchase the Twin Arrows parcel.

The fund was established to help residents of the former Bennett Freeze and Hopi partitioned land, and Forgotten People members say the casino will not do that.

In other Council action, a measure passed that would increase the meeting stipends paid to chapter officials. Chapter presidents, vice presidents and secretary/treasurers would be paid $500 each for one regular chapter meeting and one chapter planning meeting per month.

Charles Damon II (Bááháálí/Church Rock) sponsored the bill, which passed 41-14.

Under current Navajo law, chapter officials are compensated for only the number of meetings provided for in the annual tribal budget.

According to the Division of Community Development, chapter officials are paid for attending regular meetings and planning meetings along with quarterly agency council meetings.

Ben Curley (Ganado/Kinlichee) asked the Council not to support the bill because there was no evidence of support from chapter members.

"This legislation has no supporting resolution from the chapters," Curley said.

Kenneth Maryboy (Aneth/Mexican Water/Red Mesa) spoke in favor of it.

"I think this legislation is a positive move for our local leadership and I want to say they do a lot of work," Maryboy said.