Dine' CARE opposes Kyl, McCain, legislation on water claims

Diné CARE Opposes Kyl, McCain legislation settling water claims with Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe

By Dine' CARE

Censored News

French translation: http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=648

Dilkon, Arizona (Navajo Nation) -- Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment, a Navajo organization, strongly condemns the Big Business Salt River Project (SRP), Navajo Generating Station (NGS) and Central Arizona Project (CAP) bill portrayed as providing water to the Navajo Nation and Hopi to make life better.

In reality this is a death sentence where the Indigenous Peoples will be forever giving up their water rights to Lower Colorado River.

The bill will “occur if and when the tribes agree to extend the leases and other agreements associated with the Navajo Generating Station.” “It brings us one step closer to addressing the significant water needs of impoverished areas on the Navajo and Hopi reservations, while also providing certainty for non-Indian communities trying to plan for their water future.” Stated Sen. Jon Kyl, R-AZ, when he introduced the settlement Tuesday from the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Dine' CARE gathering

Translation:  "The 1970s Salt River Project lawyer, Senator Jon Kyl, is still carrying out SRP and CAP’s priorities to take the water rights from aboriginal water owners in northern AZ.  To add insult to injury, not only has the Navajo Tribe suffered from receiving discounted value for water but suffer from consequences of pollution from Navajo Generating Station, who provides power for SRP and ensuring that Navajo Nation provide cheap electricity. A fair value is needed in this deal to not steal Navajo water and condemn the people to poor health from NGS pollution.

The Navajo Nation is already an energy and water colony for Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, and southern California. If passed, signed, and enacted, Kyl bill would guarantee 34,000 plus acre-feet a year to NGS for the proposed extended life of the power plant. It also favors Peabody Coal Company since its Kayenta Mine fuels NGS.

And of course, the Winter's Doctrine water rights of the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe would be extinguished.

Diné CARE opposed the Kyle and McCain’s legislation because it has no mercy for the Dine and Hopi people. Instead, it will continue the “improvised state” created by Kyl and his corporate partners on the Navajo people.

“It is important for native communities to unite and oppose this legislation”, said Dine’ CARE president Adella Begaye. “We cannot afford to be idle as our future generations are robbed of their heritage and lifeline.”

In sum, the KYL bill must be KILLED before it KILLS us.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Contacts: Anna M. Frazier (928) 401-0382 E-mail: frazierannm@gmail.com

Lori Goodman (970) 759-1908 E-mail: kiyaani@frontier.net