Thursday, March 28, 2024

Council names new water rights subcommittee

Council names new water rights subcommittee

WINDOW ROCK

A five-member subcommittee will negotiate the Little Colorado River water rights settlement with the Hopi Tribe, the Naabik’iyátí’ Committee decided during its regular meeting on Thursday.

The vote to form the committee was unanimous.

LoRenzo Bates

LoRenzo Bates

“This is a priority for the 23rd Navajo Nation Council,” said Navajo Nation Speaker LoRenzo Bates in an interview with the Times.

The new team includes Navajo Nation delegates Walter Phelps (Cameron/Coalmine Canyon/Birdsprings/Leupp/Tolani Lake), Otto Tso (To’Nanees’Dizi), Lee Jack Sr. (Dilcon/Indian Wells/Teesto/Whitecone/Greasewood Springs) Dwight Witherspoon (Hard Rock/ Forest Lake/Piñon/Black Mesa/Whippoorwill) and Alton Joe Shepherd (Jeddito/ Cornfields/Ganado/Kinlichee/Steamboat).

Previous negotiations were done by a negotiating team formed by an executive order by President Russell Begaye, but ultimately there was an impasse. According to Bates, who sponsored the legislation creating the subcommittee, the Hopis had requested a different team.

“It was told to council that there has been an impasse between Hopi and (the President’s) negotiating team,” said Bates. “They request to talk leadership to leadership.”

Bates said that he sent a letter to Begaye notifying him about the legislaion and asking if anyone from his administration would be interested in joining the negotiation team. As of press time, he hadn’t heard back on that.

The legislation states that the team will comprise five members of the Naabik’iyátí’ Committee, three members from the Office of the President and Vice President, one member from the Department of Justice, one member from the Division of Natural Resources’ Water Management Program, and one member from a community along the LCR.


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About The Author

Arlyssa Becenti

Arlyssa Becenti reported on Navajo Nation Council and Office of the President and Vice President. Her clans are Nát'oh dine'é Táchii'nii, Bit'ahnii, Kin łichii'nii, Kiyaa'áanii. She’s originally from Fort Defiance and has a degree in English Literature from Arizona State University. Before working for the Navajo Times she was a reporter for the Gallup Independent.

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