Shirley says Navajo casino most lucrative in New Mexico

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley said that the tribe’s Fire Rock Casino is the most successful in the state of New Mexico during his state of the nation address delivered to the Navajo Nation Council the first day of its spring session Monday.

“We are moving forward with development plans and feasibility studies for casinos at the Pinta Road site at Nahata Dziil, the Twin Arrows site at the Leupp Chapter, and near Farmington at the Upper Fruitland Chapter,” Shirley said.

He added that preliminary work is also being done at a possible site in Tohajiilee and Class II feasibility studies are being conducted in Chinle and Tse Daa K’aan.

Shirley called the Desert Rock Energy Project “the most important economic, environmental, and energy project the Navajo Nation has ever undertaken.”

He noted that New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry requested a meeting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss concerns regarding the biological assessment for Desert Rock and that the Fish and Wildlife Service plans to issue its opinion in June.

“I am very concerned, as you should be, that New Mexico’s 11th hour meeting request is an attempt to delay the project and upset the ongoing federal consultation process,” Shirley said.

The president said he is also concerned that Curry has not attempted to contact the tribe on the matter and that he has asked Fish and Wildlife Service to involve the Navajo Nation in meetings such as the one proposed by the state.

While renewable energy is encouraged, “renewables are merely a fraction of the equation,” Shirley said.

He added that in the United States, coal produces nearly half of all electricity produced.

“Fortunately, President Barack Obama has stated his support for research and development of technology to capture and sequester carbon emissions from plants like Desert Rock, and for the Navajo Nation to become a global leader in energy production, all that’s needed is federal support,” Shirley said.

Shirley said that he believes it is now the time to begin the process of getting the Secretary of Interior out of the business of managing the tribe’s land and resources.

“We were able to do this with our business site leases, and we should take the next steps to do the same for all our natural resources,” he said.

Shirley further said he will establish a task force to work with the Resources Committee during the exploratory phase for the initiative.

Shirley’s remarks were in response to the ruling issued by the U.S. Supreme Court April 6 against the Navajo Nation’s claim that the federal government breached its trust responsibility.

“This heartbreaking decision denies critical resources in the amount of $600 million to the Navajo Nation,” he said.

Shirley said he has appealed to President Barack Obama to evaluate the facts and circumstances of the case.

“It is unbecoming of a superpower like the United States to treat the Nation’s First People, our Dine, in this way,” he said.

Shirley expressed appreciation for a different decision by the federal court system. He praised the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that the land within the boundaries of Church Rock Chapter is a part of the Navajo Nation.

The president also had praise for Stanley Pollack, the water rights attorney for the tribe. Shirley presented Pollack with a plaque in appreciation for his work.

Shirley said that his office is exploring the use of the Permanent Fund income to address budget shortfalls. A draft proposal has been developed and Shirley is hoping to present it to the Council at a later date, he said. Use of the income requires a five-year plan.

Shirley announced that he has appointed Arvin Trujillo, executive director of the Division of Natural Resources to coordinate the tribe’s efforts related to competitive and block grant funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“This includes reassigning staff from various executive branch divisions and departments, working closely with the Navajo Nation Washington Office to obtain all essential information about funding opportunities in an expedited manner, and to oversee the development, implementation and monitoring of all Navajo Nation proposals that seek funding through the Stimulus Act,” he said.