Number: 1976-23
WHEREAS, the United States Congress passed Public Law 93-531 for the purpose of providing final settlement of the conflicting rights and interests of the Hopi and Navajo Tribes to lands lying within the joint use area of the reservation; and
WHEREAS, the conflicts cited to Congress exist only between the respective Tribal Councils and not between the some 10,000 Navajos and 3,000 Hopis, many of whom have over the years intermarried and who have lived in harmony on the joint use lands for generations; and
WHEREAS, Public Law 93-531 directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Navajo Tribe not exceeding 250,000 acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management within the States of Arizona or New Mexico at its fair market value as determined by the Secretary; and
WHEREAS, the Navajo Tribal Council has requested 250,000 acres of the House Rock Valley-Paria Plateau area of the Arizona Strip and Congress has been asked to appropriate public funds to effect the purchase of these public lands; and
WHEREAS, the lands requested by the Navajo Tribal Council are fragile, without adequate water to sustain more than the limited use by wildlife and the small amount of livestock maintained by ranches, some ranches having been maintained in the same families for as many as four generations; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation has steadfastly opposed the use of public lands in the settlement of Indian claims, and has consistently maintained vigilance to prevent the needless loss or destruction of wildlife habitat;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 19-21, 1976, in Louisville, Ky., supports the Navajos and Hopis who live on the joint use lands in their struggle to stay in their homes and on their own lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the Secretary of the Interior to deny the Navajo Tribal Council’s request for the House Rock Valley-Paria Plateau area of the Arizona Strip.