Finally, video and photos are here!

We sure had a lot of fun at the Western Navajo Fair, and raised public awareness of our issue significantly. People who have “liked” this website via Facebook jumped by 200 after the fair.

Here are some highlights:

“Rowdy” float gets attacked by President Ben Shelly’s staff, who tried to get signs protesting development at the Confluence torn off the float. They failed after we argued that Navajo Nation Bill of Rights guarantees free speech. Parade officials also objected to the float, but were told to stand down by a top official, who said we paid our parade dues.
Grand Canyon Trust set up a booth, and circulated petitions opposing The Escalade proposed development. We need to count up all the signatures, but we’re pretty sure we have more than the opposing side’s petition.
Milton Bluehouse, a former Navajo Nation President, tossed his support to our effort, and was the technical advisor on the float’s construction.
We noticed no official Bodaway/Gap float in the parade. What happened?
Did we mention that neither the developers behind The Escalade project, nor the Bodaway/Gap chapter were nowhere to be found during the parade?

Navajo vendors sell pinons before the Western Navajo Fair parade starts Saturday in Tuba City Arizona.
Several horse back riders guide a horse through the parade route at the Western Navajo Fair Saturday.
A parade goer shows off the remains of her breakfast burrito consumed at the Western Navajo Parade in Tuba City Saturday.
A parade goer chooses a healthy breakfast at the Western Navajo Fair Saturday.
Sisters Nora and Vera wait for the Western Navajo Fair parade to begin in Tuba City Saturday.
Families rekindle relationships while they wait for the Western Navajo Fair parade to start in Tuba City Saturday.
The Western Navajo Fair parade honored veterans.
Grand marshals of the 45th Western Navajo Fair wave in Tuba City Saturday.
A sign announces grand marshals, Wanda MacDonald, Wesley Bilagody and Joe Ellis, Sr., at the Western Navajo Fair Saturday.
The Navajo Nation band participates in the Western Navajo Fair parade Saturday.
Caps are given out during the Western Navajo Fair Saturday.
Navajo Nation Council delegates ride horses in the Western Navajo Fair parade Saturday.
A vendor sells T-shirt at the Western Navajo Fair in Tuba City Saturday.
Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler and husband George Hardeen greet the crowd at the Western Navajo Fair parade Saturday.
Two young girls carry the banner for the Navajo Code Talkers at the Western Navajo Fair parade Saturday.
Navajo Codetalkers wave to the crowd at the Western Navajo Fair in Tuba City Saturday.
A candidate for Congress walks the Western Navajo Fair parade route in Tuba Cty Saturday.
A young princess walks the Western Navajo Fair parade Saturday.
A parade float honors veterans at the Western Navajo Fair in Tuba City Saturday.