By L. Parsons In a landmark act, the Navajo Nation approved $54 million for heavy equipment and water infrastructure needs. Last month, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez made a statement on his Facebook page announcing the approval by the Navajo Nation Council. Funding for the various projects will come from the Nation’s Sihasin Fund, a $58.4 million fund awarded to the Navajo Nation as a result of a case filed in 1990 against the United States Department of the Interior over the federal government’s failure to pay on a contract to support costs to tribes. The fund was established for the purpose of improving infrastructure, community and economic development, and educational initiatives on the Navajo Nation. The tribe will secure heavy equipment to meet local needs and for water infrastructure projects meant to bring clean water to many Navajo families. In Nez’s statement he explained that various funding streams have been added to the Sihasin Fund to make the improvements possible. “Through CARES Act funds, NTUA (Navajo Tribal Utility Authority), NECA (Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority), Division of Community Development, and others, we have made progress and completed 719 power line connections to homes and additional waterlines, water cistern systems, bathroom additions, (as well as) other projects that have helped many elders and disabled in remote areas,” stated Nez. The deadline to spend CARES Act funds was formerly Dec. 31 of last year. However, due in part to bipartisan efforts by United States Senators Mark Kelly (D, Ariz.) and Lisa Murkowski (R, Alaska), the deadline was extended through the end of the 2021 calendar year. Nez continued, “Some of the projects were not completed and those funds then helped our people through the Hardship Assistance Program. With the $54 million that we signed and approved today, many of those water projects will be completed and we are also empowering the chapters to fulfill many local needs with the purchase of heavy equipment including graders, backhoes, utility vehicles, flatbeds, and other equipment. This was a collaborative effort that involved the chapters, so they now have to take on the responsibility of maintaining the equipment and ensuring that elders, disabled, and many others are assisted as much as possible.” The funding of these infrastructure improvements has also allowed for the hiring of many Navajo businesses and contractors to complete them. Nez said, “In addition, tax revenues and jobs were created and will carry forward with the funds that we have approved today for water projects.” Water, power and broadband improvements have been a topic of discussion regularly on the Navajo Nation, but more pointedly recently due to the pandemic. It is estimated that 15,000 homes on the Nation are without running water or electricity. Nearly 75 percent of homes without electricity nationwide are on the Navajo Nation, according to newly appointed Director of Indian Energy under the U.S. Department of Energy, Wahleah Johns. Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer shared an anecdote that reflected the need for ongoing improvements. “Recently, our administration received a letter from an elderly Navajo woman who received running water and a new bathroom addition thanks to the CARES Act dollars. She expressed her appreciation and stated that she no longer has to haul water many miles to her home and can now do her laundry and take a warm shower in her home. Those are the positive changes and improvements that we don’t hear much about, but they are happening and lives are being improved.” According to the post on the administration’s Facebook page, Nez did veto some line items proposed in the bill. It noted that Nez used the line-item veto authority to overstrike approximately $8.7 million for several items including $75,000 for a new baseball field, the Gold King Mine damage assessment and other projects that could be funded with other funding sources. Nez stated, “We carefully evaluated each item and with each of the seven items that were line-item vetoed, we support the intent, however we believe the funds can come from other sources other than the Síhasin Fund, which is intended for infrastructure, economic development and other specific purposes that are outlined in the Síhasin Fund policy.” Ground breaking on the various projects has already begun and an entire list of the heavy equipment purchased can be found at www.navajonationcouncil.org.
