The Hopi Vision

Item Type Article

Authors McCoy, Jan

Publisher College of Agriculture, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

Journal Arizona Land and People

Download date 02/10/2021 22:56:59

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/295616 The help of agencies outside the tribe will be critical to the development of the Hopi agricultural future. The Hopi Vision BY JAN McCOY

The Hopi Tribe is looking New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. Taylor says. "When they leave, toward development of Since 1943, the Hopi Tribe has these areas will be turned over to agriculture, new commu- lived within the 650,013 acres of us, but during this period we are nities and recreation on Land Management District 6. The still working to bring the ranges up land they have been fighting for district was set aside for exclusive to par." more than a century to regain from Hopi use by the Commissioner of These include ranges overgrazed the Navajo Nation. Indian Affairs as a result of the by Navajo animals, and those in Arnold Taylor Sr., has been over- Indian Reorganization Act and their own Hopi District 6, which, seeing the plans since becoming Navajo expansion. Taylor says, a BIA survey reports is manager of the tribe's department After nearly 100 years of protest 200 percent overgrazed. of natural resources in April 1989. over Navajo encroachment on their Taylor says he has been drawing Taylor received a bachelor's degree land, the Hopis finally appealed to on a group of old friends from UA in agriculture from The University the U.S. Congress in 1958. Congress Cooperative Extension for help of Arizona College of Agriculture authorized a lawsuit designed to with the range restoration. He says in 1973. determine ownership of that part of Bob Racicot, the Navajo County "Until now, there's not been the Hopi reservation occupied by director, has lent invaluable much done on our land as far as Navajos. assistance to the Hopi Tribe. agriculture is concerned," Taylor In 1962, the Court ruled the But it's just the beginning. says. "The impetus to do this has "Navajos had squatted on Hopi Taylor says one project that may always been there; it's just taken the lands, and because the Secretary of start as early as this spring, is right people to start it. The Hopis Interior had never taken any action development of a 200- to 250 -acre are known to be farmers, but some- to remove them, they had acquired test plot near the northwest corner where along the way we lost that 'squatters' rights' to a one -half in- of the reservation (range unit No. heart of the Hopis as we became terest in the Hopi Reservation...." 255). The agricultural development modernized." In 1974, Congress passed legislation project will be a cooperative, with The Hopi reservation was created providing for a settlement of the individual farmers growing from in 1882 through an executive order differences between the Hopis and five to 25 acres of various products. signed by President Chester Arthur Navajos. "There's already a well there that that gave the Hopis 2.5 million The agreement gave the Navajos was drilled by the BIA about five acres of land in what now is eastern 911,000 acres of Hopi land, and years ago," Taylor says. "We've had Coconino and northern Navajo later in 1980, 400,000 acres of public a soil analysis done for the whole counties. At that time, about 300 land for relocation. The federal area and we know it would support Navajos lived within the Hopi res- government also has supplied a good agricultural program." ervation boundaries. But because of millions of dollars in direct Taylor says the cool climate of the the numbers of Navajos occupying relocation aid to the Navajos. Hopi area will support apple and peach public land, the U.S. government land now totals 1.5 million acres. orchards, and alfalfa fields. Corn began to expand the boundaries of Final settlement of the agreement and beans already grow well there. the original Navajo reservation. The still is in progress. The first priority of any Hopi Navajo reservation was established Although the Hopis have yet to agricultural program, Taylor says, is on 3.5 million acres in northwest recover much of their land, it is to help supply food and feed for the New Mexico and northeastern being turned over to them gradu- tribe. He says the Hopis must now Arizona in 1868. Continued Navajo ally by the U.S. Bureau of Indian travel to Winslow, Flagstaff, or expansion resulted in today's Affairs. Gallup, N. M., for supplies. reservation now totaling more than "There are Navajos still living in Another site in the southwest 16 million acres of land in Arizona, those areas awaiting relocation," corner of the reservation also is

Arizona Land & People /6 Navajo NORTH Sire Indian ; ,A Pastures i 254 ,'\, Reservation Tonalea 252 ; 263 '\<' /.----- / 261 --- , . Forest Lake s \ /, Planned . . \\ // ,. _/ ,% 260 \' Communities 262 g_u'- 253 / ,'\ I / \ 251 \\ r-----/ \ , \ Agricultural 4. 259 \ \ 1 .. Developments \ toi \ Piñon

\\\ 257 as and No. 566) have been approved 255 ,1 351 by the Hopi Resources Committee 258 , //:/ for use as permanent sire pastures. , , A third area also is being consid- ,'West ,' i' \ 1 Dinnebito i North Oraibi <\ 451 ered. Taylor says the plan is a move \ Hardrock -S 1 I / n. ' \ to educate Hopi cattle owners in l_/ 1 Upper Polacca I \ ., 573 1 . i , , successful livestock management 551 1 \_ .' East /_ , ,\\ Dinnebito techniques. South 572 "We're also trying to make sure Torvea \ , \ (Oraibi , all the individual operators join one > Five Houses ,- - . 570 ,- ; Sh

0 5 10 15 ElHopi Reservation future, Taylor predicts. He has been

I t I I calling on UA College of Agriculture Scale in Miles ElLand Management District Six administrators and the heads of other state agencies to request assistance in their areas of being considered for agricultural from the mines, Taylor says. The expertise. development (range unit No. 552). tribe plans to develop two new "We know we can't do this all by The site also has an existing well. communities, one on the northern ourselves," he says. "Fortunately, I "We've still got some Navajos in end of the reservation for easier got my education through this this area," Taylor says. "These access to the mines, and the other system, and I know the assistance Navajos have demonstration plots in the eastern corner of the is there." there established by an Israeli reservation. It's an exciting time for Taylor. consultant who was impressed While most of the tribal members "There are just so many with the land. We've got a more still live within District 6 opportunities out here," he says. "I elaborate plan for that area, but boundaries, Hopi planners are love my job." we'll have to deal with that later." hoping the new developments will Many members of the tribe also encourage members to relocate Contact Taylor at the Hopi Tribe must travel long distances to work from the district into the newly Department of Natural Resources, P.O. at the Black Mesa and Kayenta acquired land. Box 123, Kykotsmovi, Ariz., 86039, mines the Hopis co -own with the Two areas on the northwest and (602) 734 -2441, Ext. 415. Navajos. About 80 percent of the southeast corners of the Hopi Hopi Tribe's income now comes reservation (range units No. 251

Arizona Land & People /7