Native America Issues
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Unemployment rates exceed 40 percent in both the Hopi and Navajo communities.
The Hopi and Navajo nations, while rich in natural and cultural resources, struggle to create a diversified economy that is on par with modern America.
During the twentieth century, most federal economic proposals on reservations promoted natural resource development as an economic engine. Even today, the Hopi and Navajo governments receive more than one-third of their revenues from natural resource extraction.
Private enterprise has been no better — many potential business proposals are presented to the nations, but they fail for a variety of reasons, including a lack of experience and/or desire to work within Navajo and Hopi guidelines. Developers refuse to work through tribal law or submit to the jurisdiction of tribal courts. They are often unwilling to show respect to the rich cultural traditions of the tribes or disinterested in understanding and working within the value system set forth by the Native American communities. Tribal members are rarely allowed to engage in project development or to evaluate a potential project’s long-term consequences on the region’s ecology and culture.
Over the past 3 years, the Grand Canyon Trust has worked to change this picture. At the moment, we’re working with Shonto, Sipaulovi, Leupp Family Farms, and the Navajo Nation Green Economy Coalition to develop alternative sustainable economies.
Your donations and membership dues make our work with the Navajo and Hopi Tribes possible.
