The Navajo Nation’s top elected leaders have joined with the All Pueblo Council of Governments in voicing concern over fracking and drilling near Chaco Canyon National Historical Park in New Mexico.
On Thursday, Navajo President Russell Begaye and Vice President Jonathan Nez met with the All Pueblo Council, which represents 19 New Mexico Pueblos and one in Texas. It was the first-ever meeting between all the sovereign governments. In a release, Begaye said the Navajos’ ancestors came from the Chaco Canyon area and they are spiritually connected to the lands. Nez said the Navajos still suffer the after-effects of historic uranium-mining, and fracking may cause further environmental damage. In January, two bidders bought four parcels in the Chaco Canyon area during a controversial Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease sale.
