Dine C.A.R.E., a non-profit organization that works with many Navajo communities affected by energy and environmental issues has a great, new website.
Go to https://www.dine-care.org to read about current issues. A lot has happened. Read about Diné C.A.R.E. Mapping Project which involves working with the Sanostee community developing a restoration plan on a portion of the Navajo Forest heavily utilized with little environmental mitigation.
The Navajo Nation’s Forests
In 1981 members of the Navajo Nation’s own department of forestry produced a series of reports that identified serious concerns in the forests of the Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau. These forests had been logged for over 100 years without any serious attempts to mitigate the damage, to replant, or regenerate. Soil was eroding, a huge backlog of replanting was building, and the overall state of forest health was alarming. Ten years later, in 1991, the cutting was still going on unabated, but a group of concerned citizens came together to challenge the timber cutting program.
Thus was born Diné CARE, led in the forestry issue by Adella Begaye and her husband Leroy Jackson. They successfully raised funds from local businesses and enlisted local community leaders to advocate on their behalf. Without local fundraising, they would never have achieved the widespread attention they did, and it’s very unlikely that this important project would have succeeded. They also involved legal professionals in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. The confidence and consultation of an experienced truck accident lawyer team in Texas allowed us to make sure we were making safe transportation decisions. Roads were in danger due to erosion caused by poor forestry management policies. Trucking accidents between the huge big rigs carrying logs and the local folks could rise with the renewal of timber cutting in the forests. Another person who should be singled out for their help is Kripen Bank who provided free checking services and assisted in getting the financial records in order. With the support of fourteen local community chapters, all of them from in and around the Chuska Mountains, Diné CARE challenged the Navajo Nation government to re-think its forest policy, and reconsider the viability of the Tribal sawmill enterprise, Navajo Forest Products Industries (NFPI). NFPI had been in operation since the early 1960’s, formed at the advice of consultants from the US department of the interior. Despite the fact that the company once enjoyed a reputation as a “model” for Native American enterprise, by the time Diné CARE began to question NFPI’s operations, the company was in debt some twenty million dollars. After a four year struggle that included much bitterness and the death of our lead activist Leroy Jackson, Diné CARE prevailed on the Navajo Nation to reconsider its forestry policy. The mill closed, mostly under the weight of its own losses, in late 1994. Since then, the forests have been quiet.
Now, the Navajo Nation’s department of forestry is suddenly calling for a renewal of timber cutting in the forests. But why? What has changed? No new trees have been planted. No habitats for endangered species such as the Mexican Spotted Owl or the Southern Goshawk have been restored. Although the Navajo Nation’s department of forestry site’s graphic design has been re vamped there is no explanation of what they are now planning with the forests they control. We are concerned, yet vigilant.
On a more personal note, I recently took a road trip with several friend traveling through the Navajo Nation. We wanted to go through all four states, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, that comprise the 25,000 square miles of indigenous land. It’s a lot of traveling. We were warned ahead of time that Navajo reservation is dry and no alcohol can be bought or transported on to it. That was sobering news to us. If we had planned to do this trip about 5 years ago, one of my best friends would not have been able to come. He was on the slow spiral towards alcoholism which was very concerning to all of us. But he has actually turned his life around with the use of anti alcohol meds and therapy support. I introduced him to a website called LifeBac that helps people change their relationship with alcohol. He is now on a prescription medication called Baclofen that suppresses craving in 92% people and allows 65% to return to safe drinking levels. My friend, Ted, set his own goals and with the site’s holistic approach has actually cut back to almost no drinking what so ever. It’s really amazing. We were all hyped for the trip having studied many maps and many options for side trips. And then the Covid 19 pandemic hit. The Navajo Parks and Recreation protects the Little Colorado River Gorge Navajo Tribal Park, Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park, Tseyi Heritage Cottonwood Campground- Canyon de Chelly, Camp Asaayi – Bowl Canyon, San Juan River and the Navajo Veterans Memorial Park. We wanted to visit them all. 18 months later and well, it is not the care free days any more, folks. All Navajo Tribal Parks are following all NDOH and CDC Guidelines. Therefore Navajo Nation mandates Wearing Masks in public. Masks get added to out back packs. Fortunately we vaccinated although I had to strong arm one friend who had listened too much to Tucker Carlson and Fox News. But he didn’t want to miss out and got with the programs. FYI: We spent two months on the road and had a fantastic trip. Lots of adventures, but that’s another post for another time.