Nuvamsa refuses to give in

By Kathy Helms
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — Ben Nuvamsa says he does not have to submit his old driver's license to those questioning his residency and has no plans to do so.

Several current and former members of the Hopi Tribal Council filed a challenge last week, contesting the election of Nuvamsa as Hopi Tribal Chairman based on residency requirements contained in the Hopi Constitution.

The Constitution states that a candidate must have lived on Hopi for two years immediately preceding his announcement of candidacy.

Speaking Friday from the KIVA Institute, a consulting company he established in Pinetop, Ariz., Nuvamsa said, "The issue is this: The residency requirement is provided for in the Constitution, in the election ordinance, and in the Election Board's policies that have all been satisfied."

The proper authority to determine whether he met the residency requirements in Article 4, Section 9 of the Constitution is the Election Board, he said.

"They've been authorized by the Tribal Council to hold these special elections. So, case closed," Nuvamsa said.

Asked whether there was any reason why he would not submit the driver's license he held prior to Jan. 8, 2007, as requested and put an end to the residency question, Nuvamsa said, "The reason is, I don't need to."

"Everything is done. The matter is closed. It's ended. It's done," he said. The Hopi Tribal Council authorized the election to proceed, and it was held Wednesday, Feb. 7.

"There is no reason for me to continue to justify to whoever comes about and asks for this and that. It's already done. I am being held to standards that are higher than any of the other candidates, and there is no reason why I need to be," he said.

Rather than beating a dead horse, Nuvamsa believes the Hopi Tribe needs to focus on the issues at hand, such as resources, Black Mesa, and water, as well as lobbying against federal budget cuts.

"The Bush Administration for the FY2008 budget is slashing Indian programs by about $700 million. Those are issues that we need to be talking about, not this thing about residency," he said.

"We are Hopis, we are always going to be Hopis. This is where we're from. We're always going to be here, and when we pass on, this is where we come home to," he said, referring to the Hopi homeland.

"That's simple. People need to understand that. To me it's a non-issue, and to a large degree, the people on the reservation know that it's a non-issue."

Voice of experience
Nuvamsa, whose expertise is in the area of federal 638 contracts, said, "One of the main issues is who is best-qualified to lead our people. Who has the experience, the knowledge, the professionalism to be able to represent our people professionally? That is the issue."

In December 2004, according to a White Mountain Independent newspaper article, Nuvamsa was notified that he was being transferred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs agency in Pima after serving 16 years as the BIA superintendent for the Fort Apache Agency.

Nuvamsa, who was identified as living in Pinetop-Lakeside, had had differences with the tribal administration over 638 contracts managed by tribal entities, and other financial matters. Nuvamsa alleged the tribe owed the federal government more than $13 million.

According to the KIVA Institute, Nuvamsa has more than 25 years of specialized experience in the Indian Self-Determination Act. He assisted in the development of Indian Self-Determination regulations and policies for the BIA, and in the formulation of the BIA's Contract Support Cost Policy.

A "Tribal Leaders Directory" produced by the U.S. Department of the Interior, shows that on March 1, 2005, Nuvamsa was listed as Acting Superintendent of Pima Agency in Sacaton, Ariz.

Time for change
Politics aside, Nuvamsa said he is looking forward to serving as Hopi Tribal Chairman, and doesn't think he's the only one who wants to see him take office.

"I don't think it's necessarily just me; it's the people. The people want change. They want an open government. They want to be able to participate in their government. And that's what our campaign is about.

"That's the way our democratic process works. It's 'for the people and by the people,' " he said.

Following his election, Nuvamsa told a Gallup Independent reporter that one of his top priorities as chairman will be to revise the Hopi Constitution to make sure the tribe has open government.

He said his challengers "have chosen to continue to resort to smear tactics and sensationalism. The general public are not aware of the real issues. They're (challengers) all working on their emotions," Nuvamsa said.

"I've been involved in the national level with the National Congress of American Indians, with the different Indian consortia. I've dealt with and I know tribal leaders throughout the United States.

"I believe I have something to offer. It's a matter of people trying to sway attention away from what I bring to our people," he said.

Wanted: New election
Donald Humetewa of Kykotsmovi, a former Hopi Tribal Council member, sent a letter dated Feb. 15 to the Council, stating, "It was a sad day when the Hopi Tribal Council failed to uphold the law of the land that they swore to protect, namely the Hopi Tribal Constitution.

"During the special meeting that was held Feb. 5, 2007, the residency rule was completely ignored by the representatives, who voted to continue the election for the chairman of the Hopi Tribal Council."

In doing so, Humetewa said, these representatives neglected their duty.

"As a concerned member of the Hopi Tribe and a former representative to the Hopi Tribal Council, I know our government can work if we respect and uphold the laws of the Hopi Tribe. Now, the Hopi Tribal Council must regroup and make right the wrong done to our tribal Constitution.

"My recommendation is to nullify the primary and general election, eliminate those candidates who fail to meet the residency requirement, and set another special election. I believe this would give the other candidates a fair election," he said.

"I am disappointed in those of you I know should know better."