Letter: Hopi and Tewa Sinom voted out of concern for future

To Hopi and Tewa Sinom:

We take this opportunity to thank all of you who attended our educational forums on the proposed Hopi tribal constitution, Draft 24A. We visited the Hopi and Tewa villages and off-reservation locations to inform and educate tribal members on the proposed constitution. We not only shared our analysis of Draft 24A and its potential impacts on our governments, but we also provided a brief history of our 1936 tribal constitution and how it was developed.

We talked about the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and common constitutional principles. We also talked extensively about the value of the recent Hopi Appellate Court's Final Answer to the Bacavi Village's Certified Question. Most importantly, we talked about the villages' "inherent aboriginal sovereignty" and explained the awesome powers that our villages have. Many of you spoke from your heart, explained to us your knowledge of our Hopi and Tewa teachings, and through that dialogue, we also learned from you. And for that, we are forever thankful.

We hope that we have been able to expand your knowledge about our tribal government and where its delegated powers come from. We hope that we were also able to explain why our village and tribal sovereignty are very important and why we must do what we can to protect and preserve it. Please know we are available to provide additional forums if you so desire.

It was hard and tiring work but it was very gratifying as well. The result of the vote is a testament that you voted based on informed decisions and your concern for our future. This was an historic event and our future generations will benefit from your decision. Some of us have worked on tribal constitution revisions before and we know of no other instance where voters rejected a proposed tribal constitution or revision. So this is an historic event in Indian Country. But this event also gives us an opportunity to work together in the true spirit of cooperation to make needed improvements to our 1936 constitution.

On behalf of our small coalition, we say Kwakwha and Asquali. Pai ovi lolmani.

Benjamin H. Nuvamsa

Village of Shungopavi, Ariz.

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