Food vendors, chapter clash over selling area

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Tuba City police arrested a local man following a disturbance Tuesday between roadside food vendors and chapter officials just days before the annual Tó'Nanees'Dizí Fair.

The incident happened when vendors ignored a notice to cease selling food at a location not officially approved by the chapter. The notice they were served was dated May 11, 2006.

"I told them this is our land and we have the right to sell under the laws of Manuelito," explained Dennis Bowen Jr.

He said he was charged with stealing chapter property because he took fence poles from the back of a chapter truck.

"It was unrelated to the vending," said Tuba City Police Lt. Clifton Smith. "It was a matter of theft."

The incident is still under investigation, Smith said.

Bowen, a food vendor and spokesman for the Diichili (Abalone Shell) Cooperative, said he is due to appear in Tuba City District Court on Nov. 13.

The incident began as chapter security and Navajo Nation Police attempted to fence the vendors out of the area adjacent to Westerner's Variety Store on Main Street.

The vendors say they prefer setting up there rather than at the flea market, as the chapter wants, because Main Street gets more traffic and the flea market is only open four days a week.

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"The grassroots food vendors are looking at the U.S. economy and wars around the world," Bowen said. "People are talking about freedom but here in Tuba City the chapter is waging war against the vendors, posting signs wherever we sell stating: 'No Vendors Allowed.'

"We are selling food to provide a livelihood for our families to promote a balanced and positive economy and environment," he said.

"There are no Diné laws or statutes saying vendors can't (sell) food so why is the chapter denying us the right to a livelihood?" he said. "Is it because they want us to pay hundreds of dollars to set up at the Tuba City Navajo Nation fairgrounds or the flea market when we have seen no benefits, vendor booths or sanitation facilities?"

"Why is Tuba City Chapter being so dictatorial towards its own people when they are trying to sustain themselves?" asked Arlinda Saganitso, another food vendor.

"We set up at the flea market and paid hundreds of dollars in fees," she added. "Then we were told the flea market was only going to be open four days a week. We don't want to set up at the flea market, out of sight of traffic, paying hundreds of dollars that is used to line the pockets of the embezzlers."

Chapter security officials attempted to erect a fence to keep the food vendors apart from their potential customers, and then waited for more than four hours for Tuba City Chapter President Max Goldtooth to show up before police arrested him, Bowen said.

Goldtooth and Tuba City Chapter Manager Priscilla Littlefoot could not be reached for comment by press time Wednesday.

"They want to collect vendor fees so they can pocket the money for travel to Las Vegas and for other purposes," Bowen charged. "I believe if the chapter wants to prosecute me the chapter should be investigated and prosecuted for collecting thousands of dollars in vendor fees without providing any improvements, water, electricity and permanent vendor booths."

The dispute goes back to June, when chapter officials posted new regulations barring the vendors. Bowen said he took the notices down.

"We are looking at our little ones and the children that have not been born yet. How are the chapters going to treat them?  Will they have a chance to make a living?" Bowen added. "I was arrested for standing up for my rights and will have to appear in Tuba City District Court in 30 days."

If the chapter intends to prosecute him, Bowen said he wants the prosecutor's office to do an investigation of what the chapter is doing with all the money they collect in vendor fees and fair revenues.

The theme for this year's fair is "The journey of life begins with love," and food vendor Chris Jefferson finds that ironic.

"If the journey of life begins with love, the chapter is our heart but where is the love?" Jefferson wondered.

Food vendor Marcelino Baca agreed.

"The whole purpose of being here is to keep traditional values and help us preserve traditional nutrition," he said. "This is our livelihood. This is how we make a living. It has nothing to do with politics. The chapter should appreciate our desire to earn a living and work with us."

Anthony Nez, a spokesperson for Diichili Cooperative said, "We need community awareness so we can come together. No other city has this problem. The flea market they want us to set up at is inaccessible and out of the way to people."

Local resident Robert Begay said the grassroots group Forgotten People stands with the vendors and supports their right to "get off welfare and provide for their families."

The chapter should support them and encourage them, Begay said.

"There are millions of dollars in tourism coming into Tuba City but our chapter does nothing to promote tourism," Bowen said. "There are no jobs for our people. We need jobs. What we are doing here is economic development so why are we being denied a livelihood?"

The Diichili Cooperative is asking for public support of the members' right to sell traditional Navajo food adjacent to the Westerner's Variety Store on Main Street. The cooperative urges supporters to attend Bowen's Nov. 13 hearing at Tuba City District Court.

"We're going to get everyone out of the chapter house," Bowen said. "We're going to be rocking and rolling."

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