FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2012
Contact:
Tyrone Tsosie: 480- 577-0623
Francis Martin: 928-814-1177
A coalition of landholders and grazing permit owners on the western Navajo Nation are opposing an effort by the Navajo Nation to use a trio of individuals who gained favor with Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly to develop a tourism-based economy near the East Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Shelly signed a memorandum of understanding with Fulcrum Group, LLC to explore the feasibility of building a tram from the rim to the Colorado River, an airport and other tourism amenities.
Most affected are objecting to the proposed development because both the tribe and the private development group are refusing to work with them, and have stated that they have no intention of helping the people benefit from any economic development.
The area near the East Rim was impacted by The Bennett Freeze for about 50 years. Under the freeze, no development could occur. Residents who remained on the land have lived in Third World conditions with no running water, electricity or other basic infrastructure. Many others were forced by the lack of development to leave their homelands for more than a generation in order to survive.
When the Freeze was lifted in 2009, many started to return home. Many were just beginning to get re-acquainted with the land when Shelly and the Fulcrum Group stepped in. Both the President’s Office and the Fulcrum group are now threatening to evict those attempting to come home by using eminent domain.
The people believe the tram project is being rammed down their throat by President Shelly. Some have heard about the tram project but a majority of people with legal ties to the land do not understand the project or they never heard of it.
Others are upset about President Shelly’s abrupt decision to sign the MOU, which they believe puts the tram project on a fast-track schedule.
“I want to be kept informed,” said Tyrone Tsosie. “I feel like we are being pushed aside by our own government without our consent. This is wrong and it is stressing my mother and my extended family.”
The Confluence people, in addition, have not been given a copy of the MOU. The Confluence stakeholders can only speculate that Fulcrum Group LLC, and Navajo Nation are holding the MOU hostage because they want to deceive investors into thinking that residents, homesite lease owners, and grazing permit holders support their project. This is not true.
The Confluence stakeholders never endorsed Fulcrum Group’s proposal.
The land users, such as grazing permit holders and homesite lease owners, have not signed paperwork approving Fulcrum Group’s proposal.
Others, such as Francis Martin, are baffled by Shelly’s flip-flopping on the Confluence issue.
Francis Martin remembers when Shelly visited the people of the Confluence on June 4, 2011. The president, speaking in the Navajo language, told the group, “I’ll stand behind you.”
In this defining moment, the President said “no” to development at the Confluence. Many people took the message to heart.
Shelly even stood high above the rim for more than a half hour, praying to the Holy People, Martin remembered.
“Then, he said, ‘it was a sacred place. It’s a beautiful place,’’’ Martin said. “Today, it’s something else. I feel he backstabbed us because he changed his mind. I don’t know what changed his mind. I thought he was going to be behind us all the way.”
Shelly never returned to tell the Confluence people about his new stance.
Fulcrum Group LLC include Scottsdale consultant Lamar Whitmer, Arizona Lawmaker Albert Hale, former Apache County Superior Court Judge Michael C. Nelson and Ivan K. Gamble. Hale is former Navajo President. Nelson is former general counsel to the tribe.