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Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly urges Utah senators to include Navajo voice in public-land planning
Summary
President Ben Shelly of the Navajo Nation addressed the Utah Senate in a Committee of the Whole, asked that Navajo people be invited to participate in public-land planning for sacred areas (described as 'Nebecaya'), and emphasized cultural, historical and community ties to San Juan County lands.
In a Committee of the Whole convened during the Senate special session, President Ben Shelly of the Navajo Nation told Utah lawmakers Navajo communities want and deserve a seat at the table for public-land planning around sacred sites.
Introduced by Senator Kevin Van Tassel, Shelly described ‘‘Nebecaya’’ (his term for sacred Navajo land) as the land between the four sacred mountains and said Navajo people use public lands for ceremony, gathering herbs and hunting. He told the Senate that Navajo leaders recently addressed the United Nations and that tribal elders and communities should be invited into planning discussions. ‘‘We deserve the opportunity for input of how the histories of our people have been here long before others,’’ Shelly said.
Shelly said Utah Navajo ‘‘make up 57% of San Juan County’’ and appealed for collaboration between state and tribal leaders so that planning respects culturally important sites. He described long-standing grievances about the historical relationship between Navajo people and federal and state governments and framed his remarks as a call for change and partnership.
The Senate received copies of a book Shelly and his delegation brought to explain Navajo perspectives on public land. After his remarks the Committee of the Whole was dissolved by unanimous voice vote and the Senate thanked President Shelly and his delegation for visiting.
Quotes
‘‘Our people are being invited to the table around the world right now... We just returned from United Nations where we addressed the assembly hall,’’ Shelly said, describing recent international engagement. ‘‘It is time for change. Navajo people need a voice in public lands.’’
Context and next steps
Shelly’s remarks were delivered as a guest address in a Committee of the Whole; the Senate expressed appreciation and recessed to allow other committee business. The speech does not itself change policy but formally registers the Navajo Nation’s request for meaningful consultation on public-land planning in Utah.
