It seems
like we try to pack every moment of every day full with new experiences on our
trip to the Navajo Nation. Today included an 8 hour work day at our placements,
a lunchtime tour of the Navajo Nation Museum and Zoo, and an after work hike to
the top of Window Rock, the rock formation for which the Nation’s capital is
named.
In addition
to the physical beauty that surrounds us from dawn until dusk (and after, with
the starlit sky), I have been impressed by the natural grace of the Dine’
(Navajo People) themselves. Upon overhearing our group struggle with directions
or general confusion, on more than one occasion perfect strangers have come up
with suggestions for restaurants with vegetarian options, offers of directions,
and even a ride for a few stranded students. At the Navajo Nation Museum, I was
particularly struck by a mural by Nanibah Chacon entitled “Against the Storm
She Gathers Her Thoughts.” Our museum tour guide explained that the process of
tying one’s hair up into the traditional low bun worn by Navajo women signified
the reigning in of thoughts. A traditional Navajo blanket motif surrounds the
woman with the four sacred mountains and four directions as her windswept hair
whips around her face. Serving as a transition from the museum room depicting
and commemorating the Long Walk — the forced march and deportation of the Dine’
from the United States — to the room expounding upon the Navajo notion of Hózhóogo
'liná: A Beautiful Life, the felt the painting express the dignity with which
Navajo people have endured, persisted and maintained their culture.
I feel
privileged to have been able to spend a week here with the Dine’ and to learn
about their traditional culture and still maturing government and legal system.
In my placement at the Navajo Nation Department of Justice Natural Resources
Unit, I have worked to develop the legislative framework to implement the new
Navajo Nation Energy Policy of 2013 and create a new Energy Office. Historically,
coal and oil have been the Nation’s most valuable resource, and have accounted
for nearly 100% of its revenue. Under pressure from the United States federal
government and President Obama, the Nation faces pressure to reduce or slow
fossil fuel development and to move towards more renewable energy sources.
Though one goal of the new 2013 Energy Policy is to jumpstart renewable energy
(wind and solar) development on the Nation, the government is faced with a
difficult balancing act, where 50% unemployment rates and widespread poverty
across the Nation force increased development on coal, oil and wet and dry
natural gas extraction. The Navajo Nation is struggling to streamline their
energy project development approval processes as well as reorganize authorities
delegated to specific Divisions (the equivalent of U.S. federal agencies).
In this
situation, I see parallels between the Navajo Nation’s current position and of
that taken by less-developed countries in numerous international environmental
negotiations. The Navajo Nation is attempting to strike a balance between
exploitation of its natural resources in order to facilitate much needed
economic and social development and sustaining the natural balance of its
resources and protecting the environment. Furthermore, conservation and respect
for natural resource is deeply reflected in Navajo culture and religion, and
Navajo fundamental law (Diné Bi Beenahaz’áanii) requires respect of those
resources. Acknowledging that such resources are depletable, the Navajo Nation
already maintains a permanent fund to save money for and grow new resources for
the Nation’s future. I am grateful for the opportunity of the small role I play
in creating this delicate balance, and am very hopeful that the new energy
policy will bring balance between economic and social development and
sustainable resource use and conservation on the Navajo Nation.
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