Bodaway/Gap chapter officials last Sunday, Dec. 16, heard an informational report on the proposed Escalade tourist development for The Confluence.
We were prepared for yet another “illegal” vote to be called unexpectedly, at the last minute, this time. An estimated 50 opponents of the controversial project showed up, ready to cast opposing ballots.
But, no vote happened. We expect the chapter will try to spring a surprise vote in favor of the development before their terms of office expire Dec. 31. Stay tuned.
Background: On October 3, Bodaway Gap Chapter continued with an illegal meeting from Sept. 26 that was closed down by the police and ended by the chapter president.
At 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, the chapter leaders had planned to hold another vote to “reaffirm” support for The Escalade, a tourist development that would cut through homesites, grazing areas, sacred sites, and mar prayer spots with a gondola/tram from the eastern Rim of the Grand Canyon down to The Confluence. It is not known why that vote was not held. But, historically, the chapter leaders have cancelled plans for votes if they believed opponents would outnumber supporters of the development. They would then reschedule the vote at the last minute, usually at midweek, leaving no time for voters to get off work in order to cast a ballot.
The Sept. 26 meeting ended in chaos, and on October 3, chapter leaders forced a 59-52 vote “in favor” of the tourist debacle.
They did so by counting a visiting Hopi official as a voting Navajo chapter member, claiming he was a legitimate voting member in favor of the very development that the Hopi Tribe intends to file a lawsuit to prevent from happening. The official was there to observe the proceedings and report back to the tribe, and says he intends to file a complaint against the chapter.
At the same time, chapter officials refused to count the votes of homesite lease owners, who are registered chapter voters, if they opposed the project. Finally, chapter officials went outside of the building to collect “yes” votes, but told those standing outside the building who wanted to vote against the development that they had to be inside the building for their votes to be counted. There was no room inside the building for them. This video documents much of what happened that day.