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New Navajo Leadership Opposes Escalade Project At Grand Canyon

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Published Date

May 15, 2015

One proposed development that conservationists feared would appear next door to Grand Canyon National Park now seems unlikely to materialize, as the new leader of the Navajo Nation has gone on record opposing the Grand Canyon Escalade project that envisioned a tram from rim to river.

On Tuesday, Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye expressed his opposition to the project, saying, “The Begaye-Nez administration will vet and evaluate each project and determine whether the project will be in the best interest of the Navajo Nation and our people. As for the project, Grand Canyon Escalade, this Administration has already stated it does not support the Grand Canyon Escalade project and that position has not changed ... it is not in the best interest of the Navajo Nation and the Navajo people.”

Earlier this year, American Rivers listed the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon as America’s Most Endangered River because of a battery of threats surrounding the Grand Canyon. One of these threats was the proposed Grand Canyon Escalade project, which "would create a massive development and tramway with noise, trash, and pollution scarring the heart of the canyon," the group said

Earlier this year the governors of Zuni Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo and the Hopi Tribe expressed their unanimous opposition to the Grand Canyon Escalade Project..

“The Grand Canyon should be protected for all of us, for all time. We applaud President Begaye’s stance against the Escalade project and support his efforts to bring economic development to the Navajo Nation while safeguarding one of our nation’s irreplaceable natural treasures,” said Bob Irvin, president of American Rivers.

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Comments

Submitted by Jim Burnett on May 15, 2015 - 7:46am.

An encouraging development. Let's hope it in fact sidelines this proposed project. Sounds like from news reports his predecessor wasn't above a tricky maneuver that sounds more like a Washington political stunt. A news story says:

Newly inaugurated Navajo President Russell Begaye stood before hundreds of people at his inauguration ceremony and signed a document stating he would pursue development of an aerial tram at the Grand Canyon.

A day later, on Wednesday, Begaye issued a statement saying he's opposed to the project and always has been. His spokesman Eric Descheenie said Begaye was blindsided by the agreement and didn't actually read what he signed.

Begaye's predecessor, Ben Shelly, presented the agreement to Begaye on stage and said the signatures by the two leaders would showcase a continuity of leadership and commitment to the prosperity of the Navajo people.


Submitted by rmackie on May 15, 2015 - 9:54am.

Good news.


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