Voicing Native American issues<br><br>

Taylor’s comments

Hopi Chairman Taylor said the Hopi people, like many Arizona tribes, continue to struggle to meet their needs with limited resources.

He noted that the unemployment rate on the Hopi Reservation is 49.2 percent. He said this is caused by a lack of economic diversification.

Chairman Taylor also called it unfair that the state receives $50 million in taxes from Peabody Coal Co. operating on Hopi land each year. That is much more than the Hopi Tribe receives each year from Peabody royalties.

“Most cash leaves the reservation, and this causes an unnatural dependence on off-the-reservation,” he said.

Taylor noted that Hopi doesn’t have its own bank, and if they had one they would be able to chart their own destiny.

He said the three key issues the tribe and state need to work together on are taxation, education and water resources. He said the Peabody situation, where the

state makes more than the tribe off an operation on tribal land, is fundamentally unfair.

“We must find a way to eliminate the inequity,” he said.

Taylor has been disappointed that a state taskforce was established to look at tax reform without any Native American input.

“I hope you invite us, so far we’ve been uninvited,” he said.

Regarding education, Taylor said many native students have to travel large distances to get to and from school. He said the reservation roads that they must

travel on are often not in good shape. He is most concerned about Rt. 60 and is glad that Arizona State Rep. Sylvia Laughter is pushing a bill that would fund

paving the road.

Regarding water, Taylor said Hopis use a lot less water than those off the reservation, but the water in the area also is not the best quality. He said the state needs to help bring alternative water sources to the Hopi Reservation.

Chairman Taylor found the proposal to change Piestewa Peak back to Squaw Peak offensive.

“This is blatantly offensive to many people and would not speak well of Arizona,” he said. “It would cause a polarization. It would show utter disrespect (for Native Americans).”

Taylor said it would hurt the productive working relationship that the state and tribe have with each other.

“We cannot afford a step backward,” he said.

Taylor said the state cannot progress without the tribe and vice versa.

“We each have to respect each others sovereignty,” he said.

Taylor said the state needs to respect the tribes’ religious laws. Specifically, he said the state’s autopsy laws are insensitive to Hopi beliefs. Hopi’s believe that bodies should be buried intact within 24 hours of the death. State laws mandate autopsies in certain situations, and give no exemptions for Native Americans.

“Those left behind should not suffer because of insensitive laws,” he said.

Taylor commended Arizona Rep. Jack Jackson Jr. for pushing a bill that would give tribes that exemption.

Tribal Legislative Day has been held for years, but many view it as flower dressing without substance. Taylor said he hopes that’s not the case this year.

After the session, Taylor said this year’s gathering has a lot of potential for the state and tribes to follow up so they can work on mutual goals.

“I believe the leadership within the legislature is genuinely concerned,” he said.

Taylor said all of the District 2 legislators (Rep. Jack Jackson Jr., Rep. Sylvia Laughter and recently retired State Sen Jack Jackson Sr.) and Arizona Rep.

Tom O’Halloran can be relied on for helping Arizona’s tribes.

He also praised Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

“Gov. Napolitano has taken the leadership and stayed true to her commitment,” he said.

Taylor noted that the governor has held native summits about health, education, water and tourism.

Taylor said he hopes Arizona State President Ken Bennett will help with legislation that Native Americans want this coming session.

(Stan Bindell, former Observer editor, is journalism and radio teacher at Hopi High School.)

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