9367 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9367
• Author: Colorado Water Workshop.
• Title: Proceedings
• USFW Year: 1992.
• USFW - Doc Type: Colorado Water Workshop July 22-24, 1992.
• Copyright Material: NO

Questions for George Arthur

Question: I was wondering what kind of interests are there among the
ten tribes for expanding their own agricultural production besides
possible water marketing to other places for other uses?

Arthur: As far as the Utes tribes are presently engaged in
developing, they have pretty well accounted for their water rights,
in terms of farm development. I believe Mr. Peabody may go into this
as well. In the lower valley, I think, as far as the tribes are
concerned, there is a limitation of land. They are pretty well maxed
in respect to their farm and agricultural activities. There are some
alternatives. In reference to the Navajo, the Navajo by law are
entitled to 110,000 acres. At the time that the Navajo negotiations
were going to be implemented, the San Juan Chama was also to be
developed. The San Juan Chama has been built and we are looking at
60,000 acres. Hopefully, the additional 50,000 acres will be
developed wi thin the Navaj 0 . Also, Navaj os have several other
farmable lands that are more or less run individually on small plots
along the river. We have two major projects called the Fruitland
Project and the Hogback Project. Combined, they are in the
neighborhood of 30,000 acres. The Navajos also have lake farms.
There are three major lake farms consisting of approximately up to
25,000 acres. We do have lands that we want to develop, but there is
some question concerning endangered species.

Question: The question about the initiative, if any, amongst the
tribes regarding the young people that you mentioned. How do the
Indian nations approach the idea, or concept of the credibility and
expertise with regard to dealing with this major water issues problem
that we are all involved in? Is there going to be a continuity, a
building of expertise within the Indian nations to carry out whatever
agreements are reached.

Arthur: From the Navaj 0 standpoint, the nation has now begun to
develop within their own people. There is expertise, as they say.
Certainly, we are many years behind. As I pointed out, Bernadine is
one of the, in fact the only Navajo that has been assigned to this
particular resource area. She is valuable to us. We do have
individuals within the tribes that are hydrologists, agricultural
engineers, agronomists, biologists, and marketers. We do have young
people that are all of these, with the exception of lawyers. As far
as agriculture development is concerned, the Native American feels
that natural resources have been on the back-burner up until recently.
Most of the efforts have. been towards education, teachers, legal,
health representatives, and doctors, but we have just now begun to,
emphasize natural resources, and the need for careers and expertise
in that field.

Question: I just have some comments. Mr. Arthur is right the Anasazi
are extinct on the Navajo Reservation. However, I come from one of
those bands that migrated out of the Four Corners area a few hundred
years ago. Ms. Potter, from the Sierra Club, pointed out yesterday
that in order to develop our water resources, money, capital, and

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