I wish that there were a simple way to get around the
difficulties created by Peabody Coal in Arizona. However,
roughly fourty percent of the revenue of my tribe comes from
coal mining royalties. We can't just "kick Peabody out". That
money is used for the actual functioning of the tribal
government as well as for the college education of young Hopis
(like myself- part of that money is putting me through school
so that I can study mining and water issues, alternatives,
regulation, and legal issues). I have no doubt that someday
the coal will be gone and Hopis will have to switch to a
different source of revenue, however it would be devastating to
my tribe to do this now all at once. Such a transition can
only be made over the course of years. We as Hopis must first
get educated and then explore other industries before we can
even think of getting peabody out. People with an
enviornmental agenda must be cautious in their efforts lest
they destroy the economy, thus the livelihoods, thus the
culture of the very people they claim to help. I don't know
how dependent the Navajo tribe is on mining revenue (I assume
they are becomming quite dependent on it)...they may be in the
same boat that we are.
If non-Hopis and non-Navajos truley want to help they will
stop focusing ALL their energies on relocation (this is a
band-aid for a few Navajos only- don't believe that there are
10,000 of them in the previous joint-use are). We need help
exploring alternative industries. We need help and councel with
capital and how to invest it. We simply lack information and
the funds to invest. I do believe that with a great deal of
creative energy and sound long term thinking...as well as help
and advice from trusted non-Hopi allies...it is possible over a
reasonable amount of time to move our economy in a healthier
direction.
I have been on Native net almost a year now. I have seen
notices on the relocation come and go. I usually avoid
commenting since I honestly believe that my energies are more
productively spent working at the root of the problem rather
than getting caught up in the hype- the Navajo tribe hired a
very expensive public relations firm to publicize relocation
from the joint use are. I honestly believe that there is a
better way to understand and deal with both the issues of the
Navajo-Hopi land dispute and the issue of mining on our
reservations...OTHER than protesting. There may be a day and
time for that too but at the momenent we have an over abundance
of well-meaning uninformed protester and not enough developers,
engineers, or just interested hard working people who are
willing to pursue grass roots projects. I apologize if my
previous remarks offended...they were not directed at anyone in
particular. Sometimes I get frustrated being on of the few
reservation Indians in this setting. I just see things sooo
differently. I always trust my experience over my "education".
Thanks for listening. Please feel free to comment.
----------Pat