Sees property rights as crucial to Diné future

We as Native Americans and primarily Navajos possess knowledge and pride in the hopes and dreams of the future for our youth and in what lands our people are left with.

I definitely feel for the tribes and nations that are struggling to establish a better future for their people.

Meanwhile, here upon our own nation, the largest of its kind in the United States, we suffer at the hands of many who would deem us incapable of establishing our people as a self-reliant and self-preserving nation.

To this end, we as the Navajo Nation must move forward to remove the yoke of our bondage. I don’t think that God will allow us to pronounce plagues of biblical proportions upon our captors, but in a sense, we need to be set free as a people from economic bondage at the hands of the federal government.

All around us, we see our white brothers and sisters prospering and building cities that are fueled by our disposable income. Have you ever wondered why this doesn’t happen upon our land?

Take a look at how the United States was formed. Basically, Europeans arrived here and settled—pushing the natives out of their ancestral lands. With the westward movement, European colonists were once again squatting and claiming lands for themselves.

I guess I need to present the politically correct term—not squatters—pioneers. This informal claim of lands, previously held by Native Americans, was divided and catalogued, and as such, given legal descriptions, which in turn formalized land claims with the U.S. government.

In the Navajo Times this past week, Council Delegate Lawrence Platero (To’Hajiilee), stated that “…the Navajo voters just have to vote ‘yes’ [for gaming], and the nation’s economic problems will be over.”

This is not true! There are better, far more lucrative avenues for economic growth, which do not allow us to leave our moral character behind.

If you haven’t guessed by now, property rights. We as a people need to demand of the federal government and the Bureau of Indian Affairs that we want property rights. This is the only way that we as a nation can start building for our future!

In a recent article out of Forbes magazine (February, 2004), the Editor-in-Chief, Steve Forbes spells out how the Middle Eastern country of Egypt is on the verge of economic growth. According to Mr. Forbes, property rights and the establishment of laws that protect the businesses is the key to the success of Egypt. In any economic model, land is an integral part of the model analysis.

Take a look and you will see that for the average entrepreneur (someone willing to take the risks of starting a business) there is no leverage—a business site lease does not guarantee success. Businesses cannot take loans out on the land, nor does the land actually become a permanent asset to the business.

The standard term for a business site lease is 20 or so years. The guaranteed minimum annual rent (GMAR) is collected for the life of the lease. There is no buy down, no equity accrual, and at the end, any permanent structures are lost to the leaseholder, with no compensation. That is how it has been presented to me. Some may argue that there has been reform. My question or, rather, retort would be, “When?” The BIA still hands us a piece of paper that shows we we’re a part of their approval process. We are still subjects to servitude.

Until the Navajo Nation awakes to the desperate needs of our people, we will continue to be in this state of servitude. Sovereignty indicates, or rather should dictate, that we as a people have sovereign control over the use of our lands and natural resources. Sure, we may stumble along the way, and, if so, we would have only ourselves to blame. Instead, we continually blame our lack of progress to the lack of casino gaming.

It is only the federal government and the BIA that holds us in servitude. I thank Almighty God that He has given us the opportunity, ability and the intelligence to recognize that there can be a better future.

Our Navajo Nation President Shirley has stated that education is a priority. I believe that seeking to improve secondary and post secondary education is a key. Knowledge is power. To this end, I would suggest the following: the creation of satellite programs with accredited colleges and universities. I envision online universities that will enable our people to complete their education in an unrestricted and positive atmosphere. Those that are employed could continue their education without interruption. Communities that have internet service could easily be served with this type of educational system.

I feel that the Navajo Nation could seek colleges and universities that are willing to partner with them to establish a clearinghouse for such services. Providing incentives toward tribal employees to better themselves can only increase the literacy rate and allow many to obtain higher education without the need for being in a classroom setting.

Lastly, concerning education, this may seem harsh, but for those who succeed, it would be reward enough. My suggestion concerning educational scholarship would be to withhold scholarship funding until the person has received a degree. This is where the Navajo Nation could provide final funding in a lump sum to pay for the outstanding loans. This would, not only provide incentive to graduate, but also ensure that only those who are truly determined to graduate with a degree would be compensated.

Once the literacy rate increases, our people will know for a surety that our economy is in the hands of others who do not always serve our best interests. Then our people will understand that the key to our success is, not only education, but also the right to use our lands as we see fit. Only then will we flourish and blossom as a rose.

Tim Nelson

Winslow, Ariz.

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