Hopis, Navajos say they’ll suffer if coal-fired plant closes

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | February 6, 2018 | ABQ Journal/AP

[CedarDave]

PHOENIX — Hopis and Navajos who work at a coal mine near the Arizona-Utah border said Tuesday their family lives and earning power will suffer greatly if the power plant fed by the mine is shuttered as planned.

The Navajo Generating Station in Page is set to close at the end of 2019 unless a new owner can be found. That’s considered a long-shot, but the company that owns the supply mine says it has identified investors interested in one of the largest coal plants in the West.

More than 200 workers, their family members and supporters in blue T-shirts, holding up signs that said “Yes to NGS,” rallied outside the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix to call for the power plant’s life to be extended. The coal industry is a major source of revenue for the Navajo and Hopi tribes, with hundreds of jobs held by tribe members.

[CedarDave]

From an earlier story:

The Hopi Tribe derives at least 80 percent of its revenue from the sites. On the other hand environmentalists are calling the closure of the plant important and an opportunity to find new sources for jobs that are better for the environment. Jihan Gearon of the Black Mesa Water Coalition said the plant’s water pollution and heavy mining of coal hurts the environment and harms citizen health.
Tribes expect job losses after closure of Navajo coal plant

[trebb]

Does that mean Warren will come out in favor of coal or does she want other Indians to suffer?

[robroys woman]

Apparently they forgot the meaning of koyaanisqatsi.

[Jeff Chandler]

“The relationship between Native nations and their environment is sacred. It is the foundation of their cultures and worldview.”

—U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka

[Jeff Chandler]

Together we can end the holocaust against the environment.

—Haida Gwaiil Traditional Circle of Elders

[GnuThere]

Tough decision! Pocahontas be painted into teepee corner!

[Jeff Chandler]

When all the trees have been cut down,
when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted,
when all the air is unsafe to breathe,
only then will you discover you cannot eat money.

—Cree Prophecy

[trebb]

Tepee corner - remind me of the old redneck joke that had someone telling another, "In the corner Hoss", hearing, "Ain't no corner." and responding, "Find one"...

Might keep her busy for quite a while....

[CedarDave]

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[trebb]

So much to learn from those who lived off the pristine land. I visited Sequoia National Park once and remember thinking that vistas like that whole area gave one a sense of why the Indians were so spiritual.

[Nifster]

She doesn’t claim these tribes

[Pox]

Too bad Native Americans.

The left has deemed your plight insignificant in the overall scheme of their desires.

All I hear from the left concerning your misgivings is “get back on your reservations and STFU”.

[Nifster]

They ain’t Hopi or Navaho

This group is self appointed important folks

[Lurker]

“Endeavor to persevere.”

L

[Jeff Chandler]

“At first sight of an Indian camp, what you think is, ‘I see their dump. Where’s their camp?’”

Jack Crabb, Little Big Man

[trebb]

She might as well claim those tribes - she’s as related to them as the one(s) she does claim....

[Jeff Chandler]

They ain’t Hopi or Navaho

I doesn't matter to the leftists.

The correct narrative is that of the Noble Savage who is spiritually superior to the White Man, and therefore reveres the Earth as a living, breathing being. To them, mining is rape.

My posts on this thread intend to illustrate the irony of their hypocrisy.

[trebb]

At least we can assume it was mostly biodegradable....

[Jeff Chandler]

At least we can assume it was mostly biodegradable....

"Don't panic, it's organic!"
-Gypsy Boots

[redcatcherb412]

All I hear from the left concerning your misgivings is “get back on your reservations and STFU”.

As long as there's power to run the Ute, Hopi, Navajo casinos in the 4 corners, the 4 big power plants can turn to dust as far as they're concerned. The decades old native hiring preference enforced on those companies will of course be felt hard by the tribes as they're forced to close.