Letters: ‘Don’t like the road conditions? Move out’

I am writing about a concern that is in reference to the North Mesa Road, west side of Ganado Lake, in Ganado, Ariz. It is the worst road that you can imagine, washboard, potholes, and very bumpy. It is called a bus route, but it is not being maintained properly and regularly by the BIA. School buses have been seen driving on the side of the road to avoid the bumpy washboard roads with potholes. This is an unsafe practice for commuting the children back and forth to their homes and schools. The area is in the boundaries of the Apache County District.

The North Mesa Road is a BIA road and should be maintained and maintenance by BIA. They have repeatedly been contacted, especially during the winter months. When called, the BIA office has no consolations and surely no future plans to pave or better the roads on North Mesa Road. Rather they have said bluntly, “If you don’t like the road conditions, move out, BIA will not maintenance the roads until it gets dry.”

For years, students, parents, school buses, elderly, and low-income people have struggled with the North Mesa Road, which is a dirt road that is mostly clay. People living in this area have hardships, such as basic needs of getting to school, getting firewood, water, and groceries for their families. This road has been neglected for years. Some fortunate people have jobs that are indispensable, they are the health providers of the Diné people who work holidays, weekends, day and night. Others are executives, teachers, hospital staff, and so on.

I would think the Ganado Chapter House president would make this a priority, to pave the North Mesa Road. We reserve the right to have decent roads. There was a similar road condition at Manuelito Canyon Road in Manuelito, N.M. The Manuelito Chapter House worked with the state to resolve this problem. Now there is a paved road and the residents are happy.

During the snow and rainy seasons, vehicles attempt to drive on these roads, when suddenly the vehicle will fall into a watery hole. These are sunken holes underneath the roads, vehicles fall suddenly into watery holes, damaging vehicle axles, transmissions, motors, tires, and frame of vehicles. Snowdrifts hide the sunken holes. Every year, this is a common disaster area for us. Ganado Chapter and Apache County Roads are aware of the problem. The Apache County Road Department suggested that the people should make a petition and bring in the signatures of the people in concern. When will this problem be resolved and by whom?

Maybe this is the time for the newly elected Ganado Chapter president to address this problem immediately and efficiently before winter starts this year. This letter is written for the concerns of all the people living on the North Mesa Road in Ganado.

Herbert Leo Kirk
Ganado, Ariz.

‘Hope’ is not enough in addressing suicide

There are many challenges facing the Navajo people, but none are as difficult and heartbreaking as suicide. Nothing tears at our families like the despair of those driven to such a desperate end.

Last week was the first semi-annual Navajo Nation Suicide Prevention Week, as ordered by President Begaye. I am grateful the president has chosen to designate two weeks a year as Navajo Nation Suicide Prevention Week, as well as his initiative of providing social media networks and workplace posters by “Building Communities of Hope”.

“Hope” is not enough. Instead of “hoping” away despair, we need to actually build “healthy communities”, communities with water and power infrastructure, paved roads, and most importantly, job creation. To have a healthier community, majority in Bodaway/Gap Chapter are supporting the Grand Canyon Escalade project. Escalade will create 3,500 jobs for Western Navajo families and build a new paved road along with water and power infrastructure for community.

If the Navajo Nation’s goal is “to welcome a new dawn by empowering individuals, families and communities to make positive choices to restore hope, self-sufficiency and determination”, and to provide “our Navajo people with the means to cope with life’s challenges,” then the Grand Canyon Escalade should be approved immediately and built as soon as possible, or we can continue in despair being told empty promises by empty politicians.

Perry J. Slim Sr.
President
Bodaway/Gap Chapter
Gap, Ariz.

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