Letters: Leaders pick and chose which issue to care about

The response to the Animas River contamination has been unexpected as our officials seem to make bold claims like “taking legal action” to the EPA and having them accountable for the process on trying to get the river back to normal. Unexpected, because there was no outcry from our officials when the Navajo Nation purchased a coal mine. A mine that will not only put pollutants in the air and kill our people even more, but will have no economic benefit as has been for years and years.

On top of that, our leaders have not spoken on the illegal drilling on the eastern region of the Navajo Nation. Where you have the same scenario of toxins being pumped into the ground that affect Navajo citizens’ lives. There is no outcry and if anything the Navajo Nation officials have encouraged this deadly practice.

This is a problem to me, because there is still vast pollution on the Navajo Nation and yet somehow our leaders pick and choose which one to care about, along with making deals that does not benefit our people in seven generations or beyond.

Do not get me wrong, in no way do I believe they have all the answers, but they were elected to find the answers. I am more frustrated to even learn that our leaders were meeting with Sen. John McCain, a man who has had a history of disregarding indigenous people and even has made public comments to demean our existence. I understand the need to be cooperative with neighboring governments. Yet what I do not understand is continuing to communicate to people and entities that do not respect us, that do not care for us and who definitely do not understand us.

I write not because I have a feeling our officials will read this and get a sudden change in heart, no. I write this because I know there are others who feel the same way and who are thinking the same thing; that are frustrated to see the perpetuation of oppression and are not clouded by this so-called “nationalism”. You want to see change and see our people thrive. Share your ideas on how the Navajo Nation can be better, what should change and what should not be accepted by us.

Again, do not think I am unaware of past attempts of reform. I know the struggle it has been for us to unite and come ahead of oppression. But I was told that we are all the answers to the prayers of families that suffered during Hweeldi. It is that reason that I write to you. You may be far away from home. You may have even never been to home. You may have been denied to stay home. You may have been chastised because you are home. But all these things are struggles that define us and make us stronger. These events that have happened in the past year or so are on a track to continue, let us change that by having our minds come together as one.

Enoch Endwarrior
Tsa Daa Kaan (Hogback, N.M.)

No “awakening,” and many “dawns” have come and gone

It seems there is a lot to be said about third place. Last year, I voted in the Navajo Nation presidential primary and the field was narrowed down to two candidates who, according to tribal law, advanced to the November general election. Then, I voted for a candidate who I felt had the leadership and authority to command an executive. But, the Navajo Supreme Court ruled one candidate invalid and order that we begin considering other candidates who were not even the first choice of the Navajo electorate. Yes, No. 3, Russell Begaye, was elected by the Supreme Court to advance and be added to the ballot. Still not my choice and only a handful felt him qualified — hence the low turnout.

Fast-forward one year, No. 3 is at the helm of what he considers “Big Navajo.” Last we heard that term was when the nation was embattled in the Big Boquillas land deal. And, leadership and authority were void when that decision was made. So, the nation now is “Awakening to a New Dawn.” There seems to be nothing “new” to this “dawn,” but a crazy nightmare, which could propel the nation into a long and costly battle over an accident caused by the federal government when it dumped contaminants into the Animas River, which flowed into our lifeline — the San Juan.

Today, this third-rate administration is advising the nation we are to battle the federal government, but is not offering its farmers and ranchers any immediate solutions. I really would like to think that Navajo government had so much to offer, even after making a deal with all its branches, seemingly to agree to cohesion by signing: “One Nation, One Voice.” But, this agreement is void of one voice – the people. And, it appears that the “One Voice,” is the only voice from third place. After hearing that the executive has dealt alone in “secret meetings” with heads of federal government agencies and legislative leaders, the notion of cooperation was sold out to Begaye wanting to singularly bask in the dim spotlight.

As a son of a farmer along the San Juan, I am watching our crops wither today. Our family has been to many meetings in the past week and yet, no “awakening” has happened and many “dawns” have come and gone. All around the nation, communities have been given the go ahead to irrigate and pull water from the San Juan, but “Big Navajo” just sits idly by as a vital and precious resource washes by. Granted the federal government has caused this catastrophe, I am told by this administration, which I see as listening to third-rateÊadvisers, that theÊnation will sue and recoup the losses.

Our family is losing today. We are hurting today. Today’s crops cannot await the outcome of what could be a costly and untimely battle with the federal government, which will move at a glacial pace. I may be missing the logic from this strategy, but who am I to question graduates from Harvard?

So, my family is considering Plan B or C, because this administration cannot rise above third place and give us first place leadership and authority.

James Paul
Shiprock, N.M.

Navajo law does not allow a judge to be appointed as chief justice

What is becoming of our government? When did we stop following Navajo law?

Two delegates of the Law and Order Committee just appointed a district court judge to the Supreme Court. Navajo law states the acting chief justice is to be an associate justice, not a judge. Navajo law also requires the Supreme Court to be comprised of the chief justice and two associate justices. The law does not allow a judge to be appointed as the chief justice.

Where is our government headed when only two delegates decide for the people? Where is President Begaye in this? It’s his job to appoint the chief justice.

Mary B. Tsosie
St. Michaels, Ariz.

One of the four most sacred rivers

The San Juan River is one of the four most sacred rivers to the DinŽ, like the tribal members it has a sacred name that is used in prayers and songs. To the people it is alive and when one crosses it, the river is offered a prayer and corn pollen. In the old days, the people did not carry the aghal across the river for the Ndaa’ ceremony because they respected it.

The living river provided precious water to the people, the land, animals, wildlife and fish. I wept silently for the San Juan River because contrasting the aborigines (one of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a country or region) some want to kill it.

Kill all the living land, animals, wildlife, birds and fish living in the river and along its beautiful winding shores.

My grandson and I stood with tears trickling down our cheeks along the shore of the great river that supported our little farm not knowing if our corn, squash, beans, and melons will survive or that we will be able to plant our crops next year or in the following years afterwards. This killing of our river hurts to the very bottom of our hearts. It seems like no one knows how long the contamination will last in the forthcoming future.

It would seem to us little guys, if you as an official are aware of the potential danger that abandoned mines presents to the communities downriver, then the officials in charge of taking care of the impending hazard, there should have been a plan already in place? Now instead of instant communication to the public, we only heard of the incident twenty-four hours later.

It was mentioned at the Aneth Chapter that there are close to 300 more abandoned mines, with similar hazardous chemical on the brink of bursting another 3,000,000 gallons (Three million gallons) of contaminated water into the Animas River again just like this one did. Times like this, it is very hard to find the truth.

Sure you can drink the water from the river on television but how do we know the politician scooped it from the river? Trust has to be earned.

Loren Crank
Montezuma Creek, Utah

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