Letters: Escalade Project creates false hope for people

My response is to Bodaway/Gap Chapter President Perry Slim’s Jan. 14 letter. He called current Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye an empty politician and accused him of promoting false hope to young, suicidal Navajos. He then pointed to the Grand Canyon Escalade as a solution, claiming that the “Escalade will create 3,500 jobs for Western Navajo families and build a new paved road along with water and power infrastructure for community.”

However, in spite of this claim, I believe the proposed project, which seeks to drop a tram into Grand Canyon eastern rim for tourists, has created false hope for Navajo people seeking jobs.

In the summer of 2012, Slim, Arizona Rep. Albert Hale, Scottsdale political consultant Lamar Whitmer and Michelle Crank shrouded and fostered a cloud of false hope, starting with a misleading and politically driven campaign crafted to convey a “dream” project in the Escalade. Throughout, Whitmer, a Scottsdale public relations expert, preached messages about the project to the Bodaway/Gap community via newspapers and website, citing the number of jobs the Escalade would allegedly bring to the area.

One ad in the newspaper even pushed the number of jobs up to 3,500 from 1,500 in over two years, in spite of two resolutions opposing the Escalade Project.

Additionally, Whitmer and the Confluence Partners, LLC, hosted a pre-emptive and poorly timed job fair promising 2,000 jobs at Bodaway/Gap Chapter. The event promoted false hope for local people who were told jobs such as accounting and administration, human relations and personnel, information technology, security, emergency medical technician, tram operations, grounds and facilities maintenance, purchasing and stores, public relations and marketing, visitor relations, ticketing, food service, janitorial, and gift shops/retail sales, would be available immediately.

By the fall of 2012, when Bodaway/Gap Chapter voted to approve the Escalade Project, with a scheduled groundbreaking in January 2013, I read jobs were available for local people then, too.

However, when January rolled around, there was no groundbreaking event nor were there jobs. The only person who gained a job that year was Mr. Slim, and he was elected chapter president thanks to a heavily-touted and Escalade driven platform campaign.

Today, I hear the partners are circling the Navajo Nation Council with their plan once more. I hear the partners plan to put a legislative Escalade bill before the council during the spring session. I also hear about Rep. Hale lobbying delegates and I read about Whitmer pressuring Navajo leaders to approve the project.

I hope people will cut through the smokescreen for jobs and research other tribal and similar resorts to find out how many jobs are available, what type of jobs exist, and who is employed.

Also, somewhere beneath the thick, built-up false hope, the Confluence Partners and Slim buried the economic feasibility study that Bodaway/Gap Chapter approved for the Escalade. The public was never informed of whether or not the project was doable or suitable for the environment.

I’m positive anyone will find the partners failed to follow tribal/federal regulations for development. This includes getting the green light from the area’s grazing permit holders and conducting an environmental and cultural impact study.

I also believe the nation should study the long-term effects and consequences of jobs. Look at how big employers impacted Navajo citizens: Uranium mining hurt our people, strip mining destroyed the land and we are still breathing bad air spewed from the Navajo Generating Station in Western Navajo.

I say, march the partners off the rez, because their idea is not suited for the area. The project is an idea sold by a Bilagaana public relations savant from Scottsdale, who spins false hope with the twist of Hale and Perry Slim. By promising jobs in other people’s use area, and in an area held sacred by many people, they set up a conflict that has divided the community.

Delores Wilson-Aguirre
Tuba City, Ariz.

Response to Phoenix New Times story on ‘prez mistress’

Recently, in the Phoenix New Times (See full story) dated Feb. 19, 2016, “Navajo President Accused of Favoritism with Alleged Mistress in Power-line Hookup,” has created a sensational story that has many constituents questioning the motives of the Navajo president. In response both parties issued explanations to explain the action that resulted in a single home getting access from the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority. Despite this our president’s honor is now in question, however, the Navajo people should not jump to conclusions about the Navajo president’s personal relationships with people.

Is it right to toss the first stone without first having proof? Does anyone one really know the exact relationship the Navajo Nation president has with people?

The people need to keep in mind the Navajo Nation president was a church preacher and perhaps he was comforting the “lady” as he referred to her as.

It’s a very hard life on the Navajo Nation and we are behind the rest of the United States when it comes to infrastructure, roads, and life in general. We are still reliant on gas stations to provide produce in some areas of the reservation. Our elders are finding themselves growing older while their children are out in the world trying to earn a living because it’s hard to find a great paying job on the nation. A lot of elders do not have the means any more to provide for themselves. Every day activities we take for granted like chopping wood or hauling water, some cannot even make it to their outhouse and have to rely on younger relatives to have them take care of them.

It’s a shame that 32 families did not receive electricity and it’s understandable these families are upset. As a leader sometimes you’re put into a difficult situation where you’re limited on your actions. I am sure the Navajo Nation president is compassionate enough to want to give all 32 families electricity, however, if he had to only pick one he must have really looked at the needs of the people and determined an elderly man with cancer perhaps needed the electricity the most.

I do not know what the nature of his relationship with the “lady” is however it’s best not to judge lest you be judged yourself. When I was a child, my elderly grandmother told me to never make fun of old people. I asked her why? She said someday you’re going to be old.

We are all going to grow old and might need help someday. The right action and right speech goes a long way and the second kernel of wisdom she imparted was if you are going to run for any office, people will try to pull your skeletons out of your closet if you have none. They will do anything and everything to undermine the good you might be trying to do.

Recently, the Navajo Nation president used his line item veto to stop the purchase of aircraft that we as a nation do not need and cannot afford. In response to action his power of line item veto was questioned.

Our people need to ignore pictures and tabloids that sensationalize a “mistress” with no proof other than some photos and focus on the good our leader is trying to do and accomplish.

Sean A. Begaye
Fort Irwin, Calif.

One man’s vision of the Code Talker museum

I have churned over in my mind time and again as to why a Navajo Code Talkers Museum has not been vigorously pursued. As I see it, the zenith for a capital campaign was ideal during the five years prior to the release of the “Windtalkers” (2002) movie and the five years that followed. Then, the iron was hot to strike a plan and hammer into shape a funding plan, approving construction blueprints, and inclusive of a business plan so that when its doors eventually opened, there was professional staffing and stable operational funding.

Looking back, one can readily recall the numerous Navajo Code Talker exhibits on display whether it was in a nationally-known museum, regional cultural center or educational institute. And not to mention the tremendous amount of publicity these courageous veterans received each time they participated in a major special event or momentous occasion. It goes with very little explanation that the countless documents and items related to this all-too-important part of U.S. history should be housed and preserved for posterity. The rightful place is in a Navajo Code Talkers Museum near the tribal headquarters, not in the storage room of another museum with its broad collection and displayed whenever an opportunistic occasion arises. One of the primary objectives of all museums is to educate. I envision the radios and military equipment, countless books, magazine articles, maps, videos, lectures, and any number of publications published that will be a part of the experience in visiting the Navajo Code Talkers Museum.

A capital campaign is one of the most effective tools to lay a foundation that allows a wide swath of support to bring about results. As an example, the states that encompass the Navajo Nation could be approached through their legislative process for budgetary consideration. The state and federal congressional representatives of Navajo or any tribal heritage for that matter should put this on their list of legislation to pursue. However, the Navajo Nation must step up to the plate first with a resounding monetary amount. This is not meant to take away from the abiding unmet needs in communities in the form of schools, hospitals, roads, and jobs. The tribe has millions of dollars lying in its coffers. What would it take to shake some loose and invest into a facility that will vividly share one preeminent story of the greatest generation?

The Navajo Code Talker Museum could very well be a multi-use facility that includes a professional collection storage area, administrative wing, exhibit galleries, retail shop, and ample meeting spaces. Perhaps by means of a research and study, we may find that visitors would be willing to trek off the interstate to tour a Navajo Code Talker museum, see the world-known Window Rock formation and make time to shop and sample prepared native food. The fact is World War II remains the greatest historical time of the 20^th century and today’s younger generation are still fascinated by it.

Sadly, none of the Navajo Code Talkers in their lifetime will ever see the doors open to a museum honoring their sacrifices as well as those of their families. That then leaves us the question we must ask ourselves, “When will the Navajo Nation be ready and willing to confer and commit to an historical institution that will house and educate the public of its own military heroes at its own doorsteps or will it continue to remain a myth?”

Isaac Curley
Tempe, Ariz.

‘Our children are worth the investment’

As our great state of New Mexico faces a serious shortfall in revenue due to the drop in oil and natural gas, now, more than ever, we need to think about our next generation and how our kids’ future is intrinsically tied with the economic investments we make today in our students, teachers and our schools.

My eyes were opened to the challenges facing our schools when I taught a third grade class as a substitute teacher. I was introduced very quickly to the complexities and challenges facing our teachers and kids as I provided instruction with limited textbooks, very limited classroom supplies, and far too few computers with access to the Internet for students. Every passing year it seems that schools have to do more with less. Once again our students will suffer the brunt of those cuts to no fault of their own. Our children are innocent and rely on us to provide the best foundation possible.

We have to do more for our children. I introduced legislation during the 2016 Legislative Session that would have brought in revenue from the taxation of tobacco products, which harm our children’s health. This revenue would have helped fill some of the gaps in our budget so that our children could learn with the best resources available to them. By raising taxes on tobacco products by just a few percentage points, our state would have brought in $50 million in new revenue, with many of these dollars dedicated to education and cancer research.

Our children are worth the investment. High school students should not have to go without textbooks or pencils. It is my belief that each and every student who dreams of attending higher education, whether it be NTU, Dine College, a state university or a trade school, should be given a fair chance to get ahead. A student’s future should be determined by their dedication and hard work, not their lack of access to resources.

Education provides limitless opportunities for our children and young people, and in return increasing prosperity for our communities. Times are still tough for too many families, and overlooking our kids – our future, is not an option.

Our kids grow fast, they desire and deserve a strong foundation in life and cannot wait any longer.

Wonda Johnson
New Mexico State Representative, House District 5
McKinley and San Juan Counties
House Democrat
Church Rock, N.M.

‘Regionalization is a backward plan’

Responding to Leonard Tsosie’s Guest Column of “Regionalization: Think before you stamp it out”. Tsosie, a councilman that has oversight over our natural resource and all tribal enterprises. This is where millions and millions of our Navajo people’s money is lost, stolen, and mismanaged.

Mr. Tsosie does not hesitate to help funnel millions of dollars to any of these corrupt and mismanage tribal enterprises. Council has been trying funnel more than $100 million dollars to a corrupt Navajo Nation Oil and Gas, but they have successful funnel hundreds of million dollars to losing money to tribal enterprises like Navajo Mine (aka NTEC, NTUA, NAPI) and other enterprises and other projects like a half million dollars to renovate gas stations with new gas pumps sitting in the sun making no money near Mr. Tsosie’s chapter house. There have been billions of dollars wasted on projects that Council think were great investments.

Another example would be the Glove Manufacturing Plant. They spend $6 million dollars and more every year to maintain that unprofitable building. Another one is Flour Mills, BCDS Inc., and OnSat. The list is huge. Navajo Tribal Enterprises were established 46 years ago to bring in huge revenue, create jobs and small Navajo businesses. Sadly, that has not happened. Not one enterprise has contributed a penny into our tribal account. Tribal enterprises only became a money laundry operation for our corrupt leaders and it’s a dead weight to our economy and why we live in poverty and have no jobs on the rez.

Navajo Central government spends over $600 million dollars a year to operate and another half billion dollars of federal funds for direct services, but because our Council is so corrupt we don’t see any improvements for decades. Another billion dollars down the drain. This year, for that reason, we will still be hauling water on unimproved rough dirt roads next year. This has been going on for more than 40 years now. Central government has complete control of who gets home-site leases, business leases, business loans, who gets water, and determines which chapter house should not be rebuilt and let it fall apart.

Mr. Tsosie recently participated in a $36 million dollar discretionary fund scandal. Navajo Council actually passed a law claiming with this $36 million dollars they would help any grandma and grandpa on the spot if they needed financial help to replace their broken window or door. As soon as the Council members got their checkbooks, they became needy themselves and wrote checks to themselves and families.

Today, you see Lorenzo Bates, Navajo Nation Council Speaker, let any council member waive any tribal law to get what they want, like they would motion to suspend floor rules or waive certain tribal laws that would stop their illegal legislation. Are these techniques couched by Honorable Lorenzo Bates and Tsosie? And here, Leonard Tsosie said, “Just blaming Window Rock, don’t work no more.”

Regionalization is a backward plan. The Local Governance Act was the right plan, but Navajo Nation Council never supported it, because it was a gateway to self-determination for chapter houses that would have authority to issue home-site leases, business leases, and work straight up with federal and state governments, make its own decisions that would lead up to a prosperous future in the next generation where all 110 chapters would have libraries, family parks and recreations, post offices, paved roads, and all the good stuff. All 110 chapters would become like towns or cities with its own unique economy, which means local businesses and jobs. That’s what you would call self-determination.

We don’t need another corrupt politician to tell us what we should do. We are the people. We are the government.

Lester Begay
Crownpoint, N.M.

 

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