Navajo Hopi Land Commission buys land housing liquor stores

WINDOW ROCK

The Navajo Hopi Land Commission has purchased the property, locations, and liquor licenses of four establishments, including Ole Red Barn.

According to a March 2 resolution, the commission unanimously voted to authorize $650,000 to acquire land generally known as Ole Red Barn, Lee’s Liquor and High Country along with their liquor licenses.

The commission, via the Navajo-Hopi Indian Relocation Amendment of 1980, has the legal authority to purchase lands for the benefit of Navajo relocatees and communities, such as those in Nahata Dzil, Ariz.

Under the law, the commission is allowed to purchase some 12,000-acres of land that remains in the settlement for the selection and conversion to trust status. The commission is know to buy land and convert it to trust, just like it did to operate the Twin Arrows Casino Resort.

The property, locations and liquor license of the three establishments is about 3.5-acres, meaning that the tribe via the commission can buy other lands and convert to tribal status if it chooses to.

The fact that the tribe authorized purchase for these establishments’ property, locations and liquor licenses means that the Navajo Nation is serious about bordertowns’ dependence on Navajo alcohol abuse to sustain their towns, said Leonard Gorman, executive director for the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission.

“The Navajo Nation Hopi Land Commission stepped up to the plate and become a vehicle to purchase the land,” Gorman said, noting it was vital to buy the package of the property, location and liquor licenses.

If the tribe didn’t, then that would have allowed for the possible reopening of Ole Red Barn, which had been closed since mid-January.

The closure of Ole Red Barn was in response to the community mobilizing of the Nahata Dzil Hope for Renewal Taskforce, which was pivotal in denying Gary McDonald’s liquor licenses and transfer of liquor licenses to George Ryan.

McDonald, who was recently sentenced to a term of one year and three months for felony drug charges, owned the liquor licenses, property and location to Ole Red Barn.

Lauren Bernally, policy analyst for the human rights office, said that the purchase of property, locations and liquor licenses rest solely with the commission.

“It was a no brainer they could do this,” Bernally said about the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission.

Bernally has been working with the Hope for Renewal Taskforce since it filed a complaint with the human rights office, and credited the community for organizing to bring the pressing issue of alcohol abuse from the liquor establishments to the forefront.

“This is how serious the Navajo Nation is,” added Jennifer Nez-Denetdale, who serves as a board commissioner that oversees the human rights office.

Denetdale added that the tribe’s purchase is important for other bordertowns like Gallup, Farmington, Winslow, Flagstaff and Page among others that the Navajo Nation means business with fighting against alcohol.

“Navajo people can make a difference and mobilize,” Denetdale said about members of the Hope for Renewal Taskforce.

Ina Noggle, a vocal member of the grassroots taskforce, said the community of Nahata Dzil and surrounding Navajo communities appreciate the teamwork effort that closed Ole Red Barn.

“I think its great the Navajo Hopi Land Commission is purchasing these lands because Navajo relocatees were promised economic development and were also promised bars would be closed,” Noggle said. “It took quite sometime, but it happened. Were very grateful for that.”

Since Ole Red Barn has been closed in January, Noggle added that her community is “very quiet, peaceful.” There have been trash pickups being organized to clean up after the alcohol industry that has impacted her community since the 1960’s.

She also noted that people in Nahata Dzil are also seeking help with three alcohol recovery programs in the area.

“The community is beginning the healing process from this long-time victimization from these alcohol establishments,” Noogle said.

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