by Tammy Gray-Searles
Arizona Journal
14 October 2009
More controversy broke out last week over coal
mining and development of the Desert Rock Energy Project on the
Navajo Nation as President Joe Shirley Jr. criticized
environmental groups, and the Black Mesa Water Coalition responded
to his remarks.
“I stand with the Hopi Nation. Unlike ever
before, environmental activists and organizations are among the
greatest threat to tribal sovereignty, tribal self-determination
and our quest for independence,” Shirley said on Sept. 30. “By
their actions, environmentalists would have tribes remain
dependent on the federal government, and that is not our choice. I
want the leaders of all Native American nations to know this is
our position, and I would ask for their support of solidarity with
the Hopi Nation in the protection of their sovereignty and
self-determination, as well as ours.”
According to Shirley, the Hopi Tribal Council
recently approved a resolution that stated “environmentalists have
worked to deprive the tribe of markets for its coal resources and
the revenue it brings to sustain governmental services, provide
jobs for Hopis and secure the survival of Hopi culture and
tradition.”
The Hopi council identified four specific
groups, as well as any group associated with them, that are “no
longer welcome” on Hopi land. Those groups include the Sierra
Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Parks
Conservation Association and the Grand Canyon Trust.
Included in the resolution is an accusation
that the environmental groups have purposely spread
“misinformation concerning the water and energy resources of the
Hopi Tribe in an effort to instill unfounded fears into the hearts
and minds of the Hopi public.”
Shirley stood alongside the Hopi Tribe, noting
that he supports the goals of some environmental organizations and
has worked closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to protect Navajo lands, but he believes that certain
environmental groups are working to undermine financial
independence of the Navajo Nation.
“Environmentalists are good at identifying
problems but poor at identifying feasible solutions,” Shirley
said. “Most often they don’t try to work with us but against us,
giving aid and comfort to those opposed to the sovereign
decision-making of tribes. They support tribes only when tribes
are aligned with their agenda, such as our opposition to renewed
uranium mining in the Grand Canyon and on Native land.”
Shirley went on to accuse environmentalists of
causing the closure of a sawmill at Navajo, N.M., resulting in the
loss of 600 jobs, and preventing the development of the Desert
Rock Energy Project, which could bring up to 400 jobs.
The Black Mesa Water Coalition, which
identifies itself as an “indigenous non-governmental organization
that is dedicated to preserving and protecting mother earth and
the integrity of indigenous peoples’ cultures,” fired back,
accusing Shirley of being out of touch with his people.
“We are troubled by the recent statements of
the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley,” said
Black Mesa Water Coalition Co-director Enei Begaye. “They
demonstrate a disregard for the real concerns of Navajo and Hopi
people about coal development which is harmful to the land, water
and all forms of life.”
Begaye went on to note, “We regret the loss of
jobs for our people from the closure of the Black Mesa coal mine.
However, more than money has been lost in the past four decades
from mining operations in our backyards. Our communities our
grandparents, our children and grandchildren have sacrificed our
sole source of drinking water the air we breathe and a chance to
put food on the table for our families without having to tear
apart our sacred relationship with the earth.”
According to the Black Mesa Water Coalition,
more than 10,000 Navajos were “forcibly removed” from their homes
in 1974 for the Black Mesa coal mining operation, and 4,700 acre
feet of water was used for the operation annually for 30 years,
resulting in loss of drinking water for Navajo and Hopi families.
“Today these issues go unresolved,” said
Co-director Wahleah Johns, “and yet big energy companies like
Peabody Coal Company, Sithe Global and Salt River Project get away
with exploiting our lands and resources for their billion dollar
profit. And when these companies leave our lands, our communities
are left to deal with the irreversible damage of mining.”
The Black Mesa Water Coalition has called for a
sit-down discussion with leaders of the environmental groups
called out by the Hopi Tribe.
“We eagerly await the call from Carl Pope,
Sierra Club’s executive director, to sit down and talk,” said
Begaye.