Grazing worries gnaw at Navajo Rangeland plan brings fear, confusion July 2, 2014 By Vida Volkert Staff writer eastnavajo@gallupindependent TSAILE — A new rangeland management plan has Navajo ranchers on their toes. The plan, currently under review by the Navajo Nation Resources and Development Committee as the Navajo Rangeland Improvement Act of 2014, calls for new strict regulations to renew current grazing permits on the reservation. The intent is to better manage the land — which has been long degraded by drought, overgrazing and erosion. The plan has been in the works for several years now, and it had been presented to about 61 chapters across the reservation prior to its presentation at a public hearing at Diné College in Tsaile Monday. The community, however, is still confused about it, fearing a negative impact. “People are scared, elderly folks are scared, that their permits are going to be taken away from them. The permits are a very valuable thing for them,” said Irene Nez Whitekiller, the president of the Lechee Chapter during a break at the hearing in Tsaile Monday. “My mom went to court when she was very young and had to battle for (her grazing permit). She is now 83. Every elder has a connection with the land. Each rock, bush, there’s a story for those. It’s very sacred to them.” Nez Whitekiller said there about 36 grazing permits in Lechee and most are held by elders. “Whoever established this (Act), initiated this, has never been to our chapter. The elders are saying, ‘are we going back to how we were treated, like the old days?” Livestock reduction Nez Whitekiller was referring to the John Collier livestock reduction years, when the majority of the Navajo livestock was slaughtered to reach the quotas established in the 1930s to protect the land from similar challenges, including overgrazing and drought. The Navajo people were not consulted then, and the strict policies were enforced on them. Julia Smith-Zlitni, of Burnham, said her family has endured many challenges to secure a grazing permit that was inherited from her grandfather. The family has battled the court system for decades. They have been harassed by neighbors, and even been involved in a shooting with the same neighbors over land disputes, she said. The family doesn’t want to risk losing the permit now. “We always had coal issues, drought, dry land, no water, feed issues. We are the new heirs. We disagree with this act because it’s being forced on us. They are saying to us, shove it up in your mouth. Shove it up in your b-t h---e,” Smith-Zlitni said. “The people should have a say. That’s why I say they should have it on the ballot.” The membership of the Shiprock Chapter shares the same concerns. About two months ago, members passed a resolution to oppose the proposed act, said Chili Yazzie, the president of the Shiprock Chapter, adding that they might not be entirely against it. They are against the way it is being imposed. “They voted against it because they are not adequately informed. They need to know the proposed intent and implications (of the act),” he said. “They are trying to enforce it onto the people.” Not all ranchers are against new regulations and are looking forward to see laws protect the range and keep ranchers from violating their quotas. “With the climate, the way it is and undergoing drought, there probably needs to be some adjustment. There’s a lot of livestock, horses. Open range is going down,” D.C. Cattlechaser, of Tonalea, said. “You can have all the regulations you want, but if there’s no enforcement, it is useless.” Cattlechaser also complained about wild horses, and packs of stray dogs that go around chasing and killing cattle and sheep. “We had 13 sheep mauled by wild dogs,” he said. “There’s no enforcement. We reported it to the grazing official. We tried animal control, even Navajo P.D. Now, we just shoot the dogs.” NN Resources and Development Committee Chair Katherine Benally and committee member Leonard Tsosie said they are considering a referendum to let the people vote on it. “You know who is going to vote,” Tsosie said. “The young people.” About the people’s fears, and about complaints and allegations that the act resembles the Collier reduction plan, Benally said, “There’s no livestock reduction at all. It’s about improving range management.” “It’s illegal to have more than what you are allowed,” Tsosie said referring to livestock, and Benally finished his sentence, “or what the land can hold.” If approved, this act will give the NN Department of Agriculture the sole authority to renew current grazing permits. Currently, grazing on the Navajo rangeland is governed by federal regulations developed in the 1950s. Roxie June, principal planner with the NN Department of Agriculture, said about 61 presentations on the proposed act have been conducted in chapters across the reservation. She shared the list with names of all the chapters. Lechee, located adjacent to Lake Powell recreational area, was not included. There are currently 10,926 grazing permits in existence on the Navajo Nation, according to the NNDOA records. “These permits are currently held by only 3.6 percent of the Nation’s enrolled population,” the proposed act reads.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 00:53:40 +0000
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