50 Years Ago | Federal court rules in favor of Diné in dispute with Utes

Everyone on the Navajo Reservation in 1972 knew about the century-old land dispute between the Hopis and Navajos but there was another dispute between the Navajos and Utes over oil-rich land in northwestern New Mexico.

Chet MacRorie, managing editor of the Times, said he had never head of the dispute until he received a call in mid-March from Bruce Babbitt, who was a member of the Navajo Tribe’s general counsel.

Yes, that was the future governor of Arizona. He served as the tribe’s lawyer on land issues for several years before running for office.

Babbitt called the Times to tell MacRorie that a three-member federal panel had ruled in their favor.

Not only did this settle the dispute, but it resulted in the federal government releasing $6 million it had been holding in escrow. These were royalties paid by oil companies who had drilling operations on the disputed lands.

“I believe the Utes realized from the very beginning that they did not have the supporting evidence to show ownership of the land,” said Navajo Tribal Chairman Peter MacDonald.

There were four oil operations in the 25-mile square of disputed land but MacDonald knew that there was a lot more oil that would attract companies for decades.

He also explained that the dispute centered around the Navajo boundary rights in that area. He said the Utes may have had an interest in the land but the boundary lines were drawn in the Navajo’s favor.

He suggested that the Utes may have a basis for a lawsuit against those who drew up the boundary.

The decision by the panel was so important that the Times reprinted the complete ruling over three pages.

This decision also paved the way for tribal officials to get more aggressive in their talks with oil companies. There were reports the following week that it companies were standing in line to talk o MacDonald about future endeavors.

Big sports story

The big sports story this week centered Ion Les Begay, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Begay.

The Times reported that he had signed a letter of intent to play football for Wichita State University.

In 1971, Begay, at 6 feet, 1 inch and 203 pounds, had played tackle and was a rusher for the Arkansas City Bulldogs, which won the district championship that year in part because of Begay’s ability on the field.

He was the leading tackler on the defensive unit of the Bulldogs. As a fullback, he had rushed 155 times during the season. He was also the leading scorer with 36 points.

As a linebacker, he had 95 unassisted tackles and was in on 43 others.

He was also a wrestler with a record in his first year of 10 wins, four losses and one tie.

First voter registration day

Speaking of MacDonald, he announced that the tribe plans to hold its first voter registration day in Arizona on June 25.

All the chapters in Arizona will have registrars available from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in an effort to get as many members of the tribe as possible to register for off-reservation elections.

The tribe is planning a similar event in New Mexico in July. Both registration days are being held in the summer in the hopes of getting college students who are home for the summer to register.

He said the tribe is hoping to get 10,000 or more people to sign up that day. If that happens, the tribe will almost double the number of reservation residents who would vote in county, state and national elections.

A number of local and state candidates for off-reservation elections are planning to show up to help with the registrations. Some are hoping to get new voters to sign their candidacy petitions.

One of these is Delos Ellsworth, a state senator who represents the he Coconino County area. He is hoping to find 69 Republicans to sign his petition.

That may not be easy even in Tuba City since most Navajos are expected to sign up as Democrats since the tribe has been pushing members to vote for Democratic candidates in off-reservation elections.

That was part of a deal MacDonald made with the Teamsters’ Union last year. The union agreed to lobby on behalf of Navajos in Congress in their land dispute with the Hopis. In exchange, MacDonald agreed to urge tribal members to vote for Democrats.

Chester Yazzie, who was in charge of the registration drive, told chapters to find ways to make the day festive to attract Navajos who lived in remote areas of the chapter.

---