Water rights continue to be focus of discussion for council
WINDOW ROCK
Water rights continue to be a major subject of discussion in the Navajo Nation Council, according to the speaker’s report presented this week.
On April 18 the council passed the 2016 Spring Council Session Speaker’s Report without discussion, but on breaks in between sessions some council delegates shared their thoughts on the importance of issues highlighted in the report.
Council Delegate Raymond Smith Jr. (Houck/Klagetoh/Lupton/Nahata Dziil/Wide Ruins) identified the portion of the speaker’s report that addressed water rights as an area of interest to him, his constituents, and the entire citizenry of the Navajo Nation.
LoRenzo Bates
Smith spoke about U.S. Sen. John McCain’s role in an effort to reach an agreement between the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe on water rights.
“McCain wants to open the water rights and have the Hopi and the Navajo Nation come to an agreement,” he said. “That’s going to be one of the big issues that’s going to be coming up shortly.”
According to the report, a March meeting led to an agreement between the two that they would enter negotiations on water rights with Arizona and the U.S. Department of Interior after reaching an agreement between Navajo and Hopi leaders.
Speaker LoRenzo Bates stressed in his report that no one “will disagree that water not only gives life, but it also allows our communities to thrive economically.” The speaker said for business, public safety, homes, and other components to serve as the foundation of the community infrastructure such as electricity and water have to be in place.
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