Navajo Nation Council tables Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement

The Navajo Nation Council met yesterday to vote on the proposed settlement revolving around the Navajo Nation’s water rights in the Lower Colorado River Basin. A while back, the tribe, represented by Stanley Pollack, sued the federal government claiming that it breached its duty to the tribe (and continues to do so) when it approved of the Colorado River Compact.

Proponents of the settlement state that it would affirm the rights of the Navajo Nation to millions of acre-feet of water that it has been shut out of obtaining since the inception of the Compact. Opponents state that the Navajo Nation is not getting its equitable share and that the Council should vote no.

Yesterday, protesters marched to the Council Chambers and, after hearing their protests, the Council tabled the settlement 49-32 for nine days in order for the public and Council to be better informed of the particulars contained in the settlement.

The Navajo Times has several articles in today’s paper about the settlement, Council’s desire for education and input, and the protestors. The Dine' Water Rights coalition did a majority of the organizing for yesterday’s protest and their facebook page with pictures can be accessed here and their website here.

More to come in nine days.

-Carolyn