Indian
tribes in Phoenix: Is anybody listening?
Ariz. governor praised
by tribes
Miss Navajo Nation Marla Billie enjoys a front row seat Tuesday
at the House of Representatives in Phoenix Arizona. Tuesday
was Indian Nations and Tribes legislative day at the Arizona
state Capitol. (Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent)
Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Tribal leaders throughout Arizona gathered
Tuesday at the Arizona State Capitol Building to accomplish
just one thing: Have their voices heard.
"We're not going to go anywhere, we're here to stay,"
said Vivian Juan-Saunders, chairperson of the Tohono O'odham
Nation.
The annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day, inspired
by now-retired state Sen. Jack Jackson, brings together statewide
tribal communities and the State of Arizona to encourage communication
between the governments.
"The main part is to hear our voice," said Mary Martin,
Ms. Navajo Nation Elder and an observer of Tuesday's events.
Politicians looking for a vote from the American Indian population
should pay attention to issues surrounding it, such as health
care, education, and housing, Martin said.
Although the gallery was full of observers and tribal leaders,
the House floor was absent of many legislators as a few tribes
were given a chance to address Arizona's representatives.
House and Senate committees met with tribal delegations throughout
the day to hear input on education, natural resources, and agriculture,
among other issues as representatives met individually with
tribal leaders.
"(With the) efforts of a man who taught us to judge a man
not by the color of his skin but by the contents of his character
(we are here today)," said Ken Bennett, Arizona's senate
president, in reference to Martin Luther King Jr. "Good
neighbors can have fences, not to keep each other out, but to
keep the kids from causing trouble."
Gov. Janet Napolitano was praised many times by tribal leaders
for the quarterly tribal summits she held in 2003 at the Grand
Canyon, Pinetop, Sells and Yuma to personally meet with tribal
delegations to address issues affecting tribal education, health,
housing and economic development.
"Thank you for getting us involved," Navajo Nation
President Joe Shirley Jr. told state representatives. "There's
a myriad of challenges facing all of us, we are in this together."
Napolitano cited the creation of Arizona's first full-time Policy
Advisor for Tribal Affairs in her office as increasing communication
between tribes and the state.
"This strengthened relationship benefits both the tribal
communities and the State of Arizona," she stated in a
letter to participants.
Hopi Tribal Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr., while reiterating issues
from other tribes, emphasized two issues pertaining to Hopi
tribe.
"We want to deal with the State of Arizona as one government
deals with another," Taylor said.
He indicated his intention to address state laws concerning
autopsies on the Hopi people, which lengthens the burial days
although Hopi beliefs require burial within 24 hours of death.
He also addressed dual taxation.
"When the state exercises its taxing authority within boundaries
of a reservation, it removes the tribe's taxing authority,"
Taylor said. "This results in dual taxation."
As an example, Taylor used Peabody Coal Mine, which he said,
is currently paying $50 million in state taxes to Arizona, less
than it pays in royalties to the Hopi tribe.
"When the state explores amending its tax codes, invite
the tribe's input," Taylor said.
The absence of many legislators did not go unnoticed.
Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council Lawrence Morgan said the
delegation "shied away."
"The Indian nations spoke to each other," he said.
