Sanostee’s plan may mean new delegate, growth

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

SANOSTEE — This community of 5,000 residents in central San Juan County could receive a second Council delegate soon. The Transportation and Community Development Committee approved the community land use plan proposed by Sanostee Chapter officials, paving the way for the expansion.

Seventy-five percent of the homes at Sanostee have water, with 81 percent having electricity but only 5 percent have phone service.

Transportation and Community Development Committee Chairman Samson Begay urged the community to pursue its five-management plan and move on toward certification.

The chapter’s land use plan is “one of the finest I’ve seen,” said Roger Joe of the Shiprock Local Governance Support Center .

Transportation and Community Development Committee member David Rico agreed. “It looks like you’ve been doing a lot of work,” he added.

Sanostee’s plan will not affect any archaeological or environmentally sensitive sites, said Chapter Vice President Dorothea Redhorse.

Transportation and Community Development Committee unanimously approved the LUP.

“This is an occasion that will long be remembered,” said Delegate Jerry Bodie. He represents Sanostee Chapter and sits on the TC/DC. “You are witnessing a history-making day for this community.”

The CLUP committee has worked hard for five years to get this plan together, Bodie said.

With more than 313,000 square acres, Sanostee is one of the largest land bases among the 110 chapters, he added.

Sanostee has some 5,000 residents and it will ask for a second Council delegate, said Chapter President Emil Benally. The grazing official is kept on the go, with nearly 200 grazing permits to keep track of, Bodie said.

“He’s busy eight days a week, that’s how busy he is,” Bodie said.

Eddie Mike, president of the CLUP committee, said each generation is responsible for doing something to better the community.

“As we develop our land use, we want to protect wildlife,” added CLUP member Raymond Fulton.

Cal Curley represented U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, and said the congressman wanted to express his congratulations to the chapter.

“This is a historic occasion,” Curley said. “Now, the sky’s the limit – go for it!”