InterTribal COALition to sponsor forum on coal and water issues for all Hopi and Navajo members

HOPI, Ariz. - Peabody Coal Company wants Hopi and Navajo water and coal, but most tribal community members have not been informed of either financial compensation or even the details of long term leases surrounding the money or the long term permit contracts that will affect tribal decision making regarding these precious natural resources by either Hopi or Navajo top government entities.

The Intertribal COALition is hoping that a half-day, cost-free forum on Saturday, at the Hopi Veterans Memorial from 11 a.m.-4p.m., for all Hopi and Navajo tribal members will provide education and insight into the water rights agreements, water quality issues, Navajo Generating Station issues, Peabody coal issues and what options that Hopi and Navajo tribal members have that can maximize their fullest benefit for their tribal resources both monetarily, environmentally and culturally that can be directed to their individual tribal councils for formal enactment.

One of the highlights of the half-day forum will be a chance to hear Dr. Daniel Higgins' formal report on the "affects of Peabody's pumping of the N-aquifer" and be able to ask questions regarding the current depletion of Hopi and Navajo ground water.

The Intertribal COALition is comprised of both Hopi and Navajo grassroots tribal members, with former Hopi Tribal Chairman Ben Nuvamsa and Navajo Nation advocate Tulley Haswood and Milton Bluehouse Sr., former Navajo Nation President in COALition leadership roles.

By joining together in this particular water and coal issue, the COALition has made headway into informing Hopi and Navajo tribal members on various issues, including the recently defeated coal-sequestration storage project and Black Mesa water contamination concerns during this past spring.

Hopi and Navajo students are especially invited to join in on these tribal discussions, with a special invitation from the Intertribal COALition going out to Hopi High School and Tuba City High School student populations. The forum is being held specially on a Saturday to be able to accommodate younger tribal members to participate in these tribal resource decisions and information.

During the half-day forum, a highly detailed power point presentation will be shown along with the screening of film-short titled "Voices from DziliJiin (Black Mesa)" as well as a free Hopi traditional meal for all forum attendees.

The Intertribal COALition feels that both tribes are at a "cross-roads" regarding these natural resources, their environment, culture and economy and that public, factual information is critical right now to educate both tribal memberships of what is at stake for future generations to come regarding Hopi and Navajo water and coal.

The goal for the COALition half-day forum is to inform community members so they can impress upon their tribal central government leadership to make the best, most educated decision on their behalf and to work together tribally, in unison on these particular resource issues for future generations.

Tribal council representatives from both Hopi and Navajo are especially encouraged to be at this forum, since to date, there has been very little to none documented public exchange of information between Hopi or Navajo council delegates-representatives to include average community members of their governmental decisions.

Also slated for discussion will be the Northeastern Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement and what provisions it contains.

This forum is open to all Hopi and Navajo members, but non-native community members are also very welcome to attend.

For more information call (928) 221-7001.