A formal gesture of the Navajo Nation
president introduced a contract that has been in motion
for the past two years without the knowledge of the
Navajo people.
It
is without confidence that the contract, titled "intergovernmental
compact," assures the heavy controversial lands
of Bennett Freeze to be lifted.
It
amazes me how unethical our president can be without
informing the public of his intentions. We have council
delegates who are supporters of this contract and I
hope they understand what they are supporting is yet
another intrusion of promises that is not welcomed.
The
scandalous actions of the Navajo Nation president demonstrates
betrayal, disloyalty, weakness, and lack of compassion;
for our president has shown a great initiation to promote
a contract that will eradicate all rights of victims
of the horrible descriptions of the Bennett Freeze lands.
People
who are affected from such dramatic circumstances deserve
their voices to be heard because they are still experiencing
the harsh realities of the controversial land issues
between the Hopi and Navajo tribes.
It
is not fair for this contract to be hidden behind closed
doors, when if at all should be legitimate, then the
Navajo pep ole should have been informed since the birth
of the negotiations.
I
truly believe money again is the motivation, which leads
to greed and that is exactly how you would describe
such leaders of the Navajo Nation.
The
U.S. government and the Hopi Tribe came together to
undermine the Navajo Nation and we have our Navajo leaders
gullible to accept the contract in hopes the Bennett
Freeze will be lifted.
The
Bennett Freeze will not be listed because it clearly
states the Hopi Tribe will continue to restrict areas,
will require once again the Navajos be relocated, will
require to collect monetary damages back to 1966, meaning
a huge portion of the money promised to the Navajo Nation
belongs to the Hopi Tribe and, last but let me note,
that religious practices of the Navajo Nation will be
limited restrictively.
Conclusions
of the contract will still impose the controversial
lands to be continuously frozen since this hole intergovernmental
compact is not at all equal.
I
am sad and embarrassed that the supporters of this contract
is allowing to proceed an effort by informing the public
that Bennett Freeze lands will be lifted without properly
addressing the issue step by step.
Without
proper education, mistakes are prone to be made and
we, the Navajo Nation, will look like fools when the
Hopi Tribe collects their promise of a fruitful future
when the Navajo Nation continues to struggle the consequences
of the Bennett Freeze lands.
This
intergovernmental contract is unfortunately one of the
greatest insults to the history of the Navajo Nation
government, culture and sovereignty.
Kee
Jackson Jr.
Tuba City, Ariz.