Navajo, Hopi work together to improve road's condition

By Kathy Helms
Staff Writer

KYKOTSMOVI — Members of the Hopi and Navajo Transportation Task Teams met in joint session at the Hopi Tribal Council Chambers recently to discuss a $1 million appropriation earmarked to begin Phase 1 of the Low Mountain Junction Road from U.S. Highway 264 to the Navajo Reservation.

Funds from the federal budget have been earmarked for planning and design of the road project, which began as a grassroots effort that quickly gained momentum after U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi's vehicle received a flat tire while traveling the dirt road from Navajo to Hopi.

Rep. Renzi , R-1st District, quickly sought and received support from fellow Arizona legislators to earmark funds for the road. The joint efforts of the Arizona delegation headed by Renzi resulted in the appropriation for Hopi and Navajo, according to Hopi Tribal Chairman Ivan Sidney.

"This time a flat tire had positive results," Sidney said, jokingly.

Navajo County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jesse Thompson was the first to be successful in soliciting financial support for the project from fellow supervisors, Sidney said. "The financial support from Navajo County certainly helped prioritize the funding request."

The project was allocated $20,000 by unanimous vote from District 2 special project funds. "This project is unique and the first of its kind and we are hopeful the joint efforts will continue," Thompson said.

Navajo Nation Delegate Samson Begay (Jeddito/Steamboat/Low Mountain) said the team assembled included both the Navajo and Hopi tribes, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Arizona Department of Transportation, Navajo County Board of Supervisors, local villages, chapter houses and other communities which saw the need to improve the road from Low Mountain to Polacca.

"By working together we can accomplish many things to help our people," Begay said.

Chairman Sidney said the grassroots efforts of the Hopi people and Hopi Junior-Senior High School officials in presenting safety issues regarding students attending Hopi schools helped justify the immediacy of the funding need.

Begay said, "I am glad the two tribes are beginning to hold these coordinated meetings again so we can complete much needed projects. These projects are very beneficial to the two tribes. It's beginning to happen. The two tribes can do a lot of joint efforts together for the two people."

Aneth Delegate Mark Maryboy, chairman of the Navajo Transportation and Community Development Committee, told the group, "This is a historical meeting for me. This is the first time I have ever met with a Hopi delegation."

Maryboy said the two teams have made some progress and have scheduled another meeting for April 4.

"At that time we will address a memorandum of understanding or some agreement to work together on this project. We will also begin planning for our trip to D.C. We plan on having a joint meeting with our congressional delegations in Washington," Maryboy said.

The joint Navajo-Hopi transportation team plans to look at completing the Turquoise Trail, the primary road to the high school and airport, according to Chairman Sidney. The Navajo team is developing its list of needs as well.

The teams are hopeful that Chairman Sidney and Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. will travel to Washington in April to work toward acquiring additional funds to complete the joint efforts.