Sovereignty directly related to the Sacred Peaks
By Lawrence T. Morgan
Speaker: Navajo Nation Council
On Monday, April 25, the Navajo Nation celebrated Sovereignty Day.
Sovereignty Day commemorates the landmark court victory of the Navajo
tribe in Kerr-McGee v. Navajo Tribe. In Kerr-McGee, the U.S. Supreme
Court acknowledged the right of Indian tribes to tax members and
non-members.
The acknowledgement that we have the power to exercise sovereign
authority was so important that we as a tribe now take time to celebrate
our status as a sovereign nation. This is especially important in this
day and age when tribal sovereignty continues to be challenged in courts
and administrative decisions at the state and federal level.
Sovereignty is a sacred principle, and one that we on the Council floor
discuss at great length as we consider legislation. For example, the
Navajo Nation Council has just finished up with the spring session. Our
sessions are a true exercise of sovereignty where the Navajo Nation
exercises self-governance.
Our entire Navajo government structure—from the local Chapter leader
The Navajo Nation Council took action that exercises our sovereignty,
especially in respect to protection of our natural resources and our
sacred sites, during our most recent spring session. The Council voted
to pass the Diné Natural Resources Protection Act, which bans uranium
mining and uranium processing on the Navajo Nation.
The Council also unanimously voted to pass emergency legislation
reaffirming the Navajo Nation’s opposition to the further desecration
of our sacred mountain—Dook’o’sliid—the San Francisco
One of the most significant actions taken by the Navajo Nation
Council—with regard to sovereignty and protection of our sacred
sites—was by resolution CN-69-02, the Fundamental Laws of the Diné.
This fundamental law is important to our sovereignty and to maintaining
the integrity of our culture.
The Navajo Nation Council adopted the Diné Natural Law wherein the six
sacred mountains, Sisnajinni, Tsodzil, Dook’o’oosliid, Dibé Nitsaa,
DzilNa’oodilii, Dzil Ch’ool’i’i, and all the attendant mountains
must be respected, honored and protected, “for they, as leaders, are
the foundation of the Navajo Nation.
The Diné Fundamental Law acknowledges our purpose in life and the right
to life, wherein each creation has its own design and laws, and has
rights and the freedom to exist. We know that the integrity of such a
holistic system is meaningful and must be upheld and protected. As
individuals, our responsibilities are so prescribed. As Navajos, we must
uphold our responsibilities.
Accordingly, we, the Diné people are the designated stewards to
preserve and protect the foundation of ceremonies and our Diné way of
life. While we aggressively convey this message, the federal government
has been unresponsive to Native tribes in our advocacy for protection of
our sacred sites, such as in the case of the decision to proceed with
artificial snowmaking on the San Francisco Peaks.
As you can see, political issues continue to be raised, whether relevant
or not, that challenge our social order. These issues are raised in the
name of prosperity and development, while Indian nations fight to defend
cultural and religious integrity. In this day and age, our anguish
continues, while our unique identities remain strong.
We must begin our discussions now, make plans and carry out action so
that we as Navajo people will have the ability to create a sustainable
environment and to protect our natural resources.
I must point out here that we are a whole nation that includes the
significance of our environment. Our sacred environment makes us a whole
person and a whole nation. We are never disconnected from our Mother
Earth. We have a living bond to all of creation. It is a sacred bond.
This is our true identity as Diné people. This is the reason that we
must protect the integrity of our environment.
Our sovereignty then is directly impacted by the Sacred Mountains, and
we must continue in our efforts to preserve them.
In this respect, it is important that we continue to advocate for
international recognition of our most basic human rights. As indigenous
people, we must demand that our rights to cultural integrity and
environmental justice be recognized and respected by all governments,
including the United States government.
Link to Report
April Reports
Last updated on April 30, 2005