WINDOW ROCK – In a historic moment of unity, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren joined leaders of the Hopi Tribe, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, members of the Navajo Nation Council, and officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior on September 4 to discuss next steps on the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act. The agreement is considered the largest Indian water rights settlement in terms of cost, while also being the least expensive on a per tribal member basis.
Meeting in the State Room at the Office of the President and Vice President, President Nygren explained how past discussions in Washington with the Trump Administration, along with collaboration from tribal leadership, helped build momentum. He noted that moving the settlement through Congress now requires formal sign-off from the federal Office of Management and Budget.
“This is the largest water rights settlement that will serve the most amount of people,” President Nygren said. “Leasing water is an important part of the deal, including leasing water intra-state by providing stability to the Navajo Nation and to the basin.”
The Department of the Interior delegation included Scott Cameron, acting assistant secretary for water and science; Janel Broderick, principal deputy assistant secretary; Sarah LeFlore, acting director of the DOI’s Indian Water Rights Office; David Palumbo, acting commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation; and Nate Watson.
Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma stressed how vital the settlement is for his people, especially in addressing long-standing water quality challenges.
“I can’t express enough from the Hopi Tribe how important it is that this water settlement gets done through this Congress,” Chairman Nuvangyaoma said. “We have three tribes coming to a settlement on this and it is the least expensive settlement we are bringing to the table.”
San Juan Southern Paiute President Carlene Yellowhair also shared the importance of moving the legislation forward, noting that reliable access to clean water is essential for the survival and sovereignty of her people while creating a permanent homeland for the San Juan Southern Paiutes.
Speaker Crystalynne Curley and Navajo Nation Council Delegates Brenda Jesus, Otto Tso, Casey Allen Johnson, Vince James, Carl Slater, Germaine Simonson, Helena Nez Begay, Curtis Yanito, Cherilyn Yazzie were also in attendance to advocate for continued support of the settlement on behalf of various Navajo communities in Arizona.
According to the settlement, the Navajo Nation would secure 44,700 acre-feet per year (AFY) of Arizona’s Upper Basin Colorado River allocation, 3,600 AFY of fourth-priority Lower Basin Colorado River water, all Little Colorado River flows that reach the Nation, and recognized rights to the Navajo and Coconino aquifers.
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