WASHINGTON – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren today launched a critical phase to ensure a secure water future for the Nation.
On Wednesday, he briefed Bryan Newland, assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, high-ranking Interior Department officials, and the Arizona and New Mexico congressional delegations on two recently-approved water rights settlements – the New Mexico Rio San Jose Water Rights Settlement and the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement.
The President detailed how these settlements fulfill the water needs of three Arizona tribes.
“Water is life,” President Nygren told federal officials. “It is essential for the survival of our people, our livestock and our crops. Without it, we cannot sustain our way of life. We urge Congress to recognize our rights and help us protect this vital resource for our future generations.”
The President continued with a full day of meetings with U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly of Arizona, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Arizona Congressmen Paul Gosar, Greg Stanton, Eli Crane, Juan Ciscomani, Arizona Congresswoman Debbie Lesko and New Mexico Congresswoman Teresa Leger-Fernandez to explain critical elements of the settlements.
The President continued with a full day of meetings with U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly of Arizona, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Arizona Congressmen Paul Gosar, Greg Stanton, Eli Crane, Juan Ciscomani, Arizona Congresswoman Debbie Lesko and New Mexico Congresswoman Teresa Leger-Fernandez to explain critical elements of the settlements.
Notably, Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma, former Hopi Tribal Chairman LeRoy Shingoitewa, San Juan Southern Paiute President Robbin Preston, Jr., and San Juan Southern Paiute Vice President Johnny Lehi, Jr., joined President Nygren, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley and Council Delegates Shawna Claw, Germaine Simonson and Cherilyn Yazzie to advocate for the Arizona settlement.
Speaker Curley emphasized the cultural and spiritual significance of water.
“For our people, water is sacred,” she said. “It is intertwined with our ceremonies, traditions and everyday lives. It ensures our water rights is not just a legal issue. It is a matter of preserving our identity and way of life.”
The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement proposes allocations crucial for the three tribes. The terms include 44,700-acre feet per year of the Arizona allocation of Upper Basin Colorado, 3,600 AFY of fourth priority Lower Basin Colorado River Water, and all the water from the Little Colorado River, Navajo Aquifer and Coconino Aquifer that reaches or underlies the Navajo Nation.
The meetings with federal officials represent a significant step forward in the combined efforts of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe to secure vital water resources.
This unified collaboration demonstrated the collective recognition of the importance to secure water for the health, economic vitality and cultural preservation of each tribe.
In a time of an epochal 25-year-long Southwestern drought, water scarcity is one of the more critical issues for these and other tribes. Tree-ring data indicates that the last drought of this severity and duration likely occurred in the late 13th century when the region experienced a prolonged drought that likely lasted several decades.
Precipitation deficit, the Palmer Drought Severity Index, streamflow and reservoir levels, vegetation health indices and hydrological models suggest today’s drought is exacerbated by climate change and increasing water demands of more than 40 million people.
This makes access to reliable and clean water sources more vital than ever, and these water settlements more timely than ever, said Justin Ahasteen, executive director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office.
Discussions with DOI officials and Arizona and New Mexico congressional members bring hope for future legislative support, he said.
“The commitment expressed by federal officials to work with these tribes on these matters is a positive sign that the urgent need for sustainable water resources may soon be addressed,” Ahasteen said. “The Navajo Nation, along with the Hopi Tribe and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, remains positive that these concerted efforts will lead to the passage of vital legislation to ensure a sustainable and secure future for their communities.”
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Note: Updated 6/5/24 5:46pm MDT. Updated 6/5/25 6:40pm MDT.
