Hopi Tribe revisits Moenkopi NRCD

Hello! This letter is a follow-up in regards to information that again needs to go out to my Hopi Tribal farmers and ranchers in hopes of support of a Hopi Tribal Council Resolution, H-051-2004. It will aid in the development of our Hopi Tribes Natural Resources in the area of croplands and rangelands now and in the future.

Since the mid-’90s when the Moenkopi NRCD was first conceived, officially recognized through tribal resolution and subsequently through agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)—in particular the Natural Resources Conservation Service—the Moenkopi NRCD has provided access to USDA’s programs to those individuals who have interest in obtaining cost share and incentive based funding available to them through our NRCS staffed field office in Kykotsmovi.

To date, the Moenkopi NRCD has been very successful in bringing in money to supplement our existing departments within the Hopi Tribes Department of Natural Resources in those areas mentioned above.

However, the cost share programs require participants to provide not only their portion of cost-share but also the upfront monies associated with the entire cost of materials involved. Thus, a problem has arisen for many NRCS contract holders who not by their fault cannot meet the financial aspects of these contracts.

As mentioned, agreements exists whereby the Hopi Tribe is a signee. The problem of funding and fulfilling the contract obligations is now being addressed to take the appropriate action in regards to this matter through a tribal resolution that I have put forth.

It was addressed on March 16 at in Hopi Council Chambers. However, the time given this matter was very short (30-40 minutes) and the council felt that more time was needed for questions and answers of the district’s intent with the resolution; and therefore, it has been rescheduled for further discussion.

So far the reception of the district’s resolution is getting positive feedback from the council but more time was needed to answer their questions.

The new date and time certain is now Friday, April 9 at approximately 1:30 p.m. and should last two hours.

The resolution will basically do two things. First, it will establish a revolving account to help cover the related expenditures such as material costs associated with all NRCS contracts.

Second, it will give those Hopi farmers and ranchers the option to turn over their individual contracts to the Hopi Tribe to fulfill the contract obligations. This would eliminate any undo hardships or possible penalties to those participants of the USDA programs.

Leonard A. Selestewa

Board President

Moenkopi NRCD

Tuba City, AZ 86045

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