Hopi Tribal Council rejects SB 2109 in 11 to 4 vote
Historic day for Hopis concerning water and village sovereignty

The Hopi water grassroots advocacy group headed by former Hopi Tribal Chairmen Benjamin Nuvamsa, Ivan Sidney and Vernon Masayesva are flanked by four former Hopi Tribal Vice Chairmen Clifford Qotsaquahu, Col. Caleb Johnson, Todd Honyaoma and Phillip Quochytewa. The seven-member group presentation was supported by formal approval vote of Vice Chairman Herman Honanie in the final hour.

The Hopi water grassroots advocacy group headed by former Hopi Tribal Chairmen Benjamin Nuvamsa, Ivan Sidney and Vernon Masayesva are flanked by four former Hopi Tribal Vice Chairmen Clifford Qotsaquahu, Col. Caleb Johnson, Todd Honyaoma and Phillip Quochytewa. The seven-member group presentation was supported by formal approval vote of Vice Chairman Herman Honanie in the final hour.

KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz. - June 15 will go down in Hopi history as the day that Hopi people, traditional Hopi leaders from each village and a Hopi political water advocacy group headed by Ben Nuvamsa, Ivan Sidney, Vernon Masayesva, Clifford Qotsaquahu, Phillip Qouchytewa, Col. Caleb Johnson and Todd Honyaoma saved "Hopi Kuuyi" (water).

Concerned Hopi tribal members gathered with traditional leaders and village representatives to pressure the Hopi Council to formally reject Senators Jon Kyl and John McCain's Senate Bill 2109 and its settlement agreement.

In the end, 11 council representatives voted to approve Nuvamsa's action item No. 065-2012 with four voting against.

The 11 council members who voted to approve the action item to reject SB 2109 were Vice Chairman Herman Honanie, Davis Fred Piqosa, Gayver Puhuyesva, Nada Talayumptewa, Carlene Quotskuyva, Rebekah Masayesva, Danny Honanie, Bruce Fredericks, Leroy Sumatzkuku, Wayne Kuwanhoiyoma and Danny Humetewa. Voting to continue with SB 2109 and approve legislation for the Little Colorado River (LCR) water rights settlement were Alph Secakuku, George Mase, Cedric Kuwaninvaya and Leroy Kewanimptewa.

The final vote approved Nuvamsa's action item, No. H-065-2012. It is specific to do several things. One, it rejects SB 2109. Two, it prohibits any further negotiation of SB 2109 by Hopi Chairman LeRoy Shingoitewa, Water Energy Team Chairman George Mase, the Hopi Water and Energy Team and the Hopi Tribal Council.

Three, it requires that Shingoitewa inform Kyl, Congress, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the Department of Interior of the vote and final rejection by its tribal members. Four, it requires that if another water rights settlement comes before the Hopi Tribe, that it will only be decided on by members of the Hopi Tribe through a voter referendum (not the Hopi Tribal Council) after a full and open consultation and through the participation of the villages and tribal members.

The daylong session was not without controversy. Both Shingoitewa and Mase tried to introduce Mase's own opposing action item, No. 053-2012, which proposed to endorse and approve SB 2109 for the Hopi Tribe.

It was the swift objection from Kykotsmovi Council Delegate Nada Talayumptewa that Mase's action item was questioned and stopped.

Then the Hopi chairman wanted to exclude all media and non-Hopi tribal members from the Hopi Chambers. There was a large crowd of Hopis and interested non-tribal members who had been turned away at the front doors of the Hopi executive building because the Hopi Council Chambers is limited to only 40 community people.

A motion by Sipaulovi Representative Cedric Kuwaninvaya was made to move the council meeting to a larger facility to accommodate the waiting crowd and seconded by Kykotsmovi Representative Rebekah Masayesva. This unanimous vote by the council moved the meeting to the village of Hotevilla's Youth and Elderly Community building.

Once the council meeting re-convened at the village of Hotevilla, there was another attempt by Shingoitewa to exclude all media from attending and reporting on the Hopi water controversy. Former Vice Chairman Clifford Qotsaquahu and former Hopi Tribal Secretary Mary Felter demanded the water meeting be transparent and informative. Another vote was taken by the Hopi Council to allow the media to stay and record, photograph and take notes on the high profile meeting. This vote was seven in favor to allow the media to stay and five against.

The final formal Hopi rejection of SB 2109 would have settled Hopi claims to the Little Colorado River in exchange for three Hopi groundwater projects.

Former Hopi Tribal Chairman Ivan Sidney was very happy with the final outcome and vote.

"The bill is now dead and this vote from Hopi was a critical lynchpin for Kyl to get full approval to move this forward in Congress," said Sidney. "Because all parties must agree to this settlement for it to go forward, there is essentially no way for this to happen, and I'm hoping our Navajo neighbors and relatives can breathe a bit easier knowing how hard everyone at the Hopi and Navajo grassroots level has worked together in the past six months to get this disapproved by both Hopi and Navajo councils."

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