Photo. Navajo
blanket.
According to the
Arizona
Republic (Shaun McKinnon,
17 March 2003 - website: www.azcentral.com), the
Navajo Nation has sued the federal government over the tribe's claims to
Colorado River water. It's the
first volley in a legal battle that could drag on for decades and force the
courts to rethink the way the West manages its most valuable
resource.
The tribe did
not seek a specific amount of water in the complaint, but asked a federal judge
to block the Interior Department from allocating any uncommitted water from the
river, a move that could unravel dozens of agreements between Arizona,
Nevada,
California and other Indian tribes.
Chief among
the casualties if the Navajo tribe prevails: Arizona's interstate
water banking program and a fragile deal that would allow
Nevada and
California to take
more than their legal share of the river while they develop alternate
sources. The tribe wants its claims on the river quantified, even if that
means taking water from Arizona's allotment.
Stein Morten Lund, 25 March 2003
Additional
information
Read more about
the Navajo's origin and culture on our website.
In July 2001,
Navajo Code Talkers (29 persons), many of whom have died, were given the U.S.
congressional Gold Medals for using their native language,
Navajo, to transmit military messages by
telephone and radio in a form the enemy could never decode.
The medal is U.S. Congress' highest expression of appreciation for achievement
and service. It's also made a movie about these great heroes. Their contribution
was crucial for winning several battles during the Second World War.
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