More than 200 families on Navajo Nation in Arizona get power

[Judi Lynn]

Source: KTAR

Share
BY KTAR.COM
MAY 21, 2019 AT 4:15 PM



(Salt River Project photo)

PHOENIX — Hundreds of Native American families on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona now have electricity for the first time.

The 228 families were among the 60,000 residents who were provided electricity on the 27,000-square-mile reservation that lies in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

Salt River Project crews were directly responsible for connecting 42 of the families as part of the “Light Up Navajo” project, according to a press release.

“There are so many things we take for granted like running water and power, but families we helped to energize had never had either,” Kory Nichols, SRP manager of field maintenance, said in a statement.

“It is very humbling that people are living like this in northeastern Arizona – in our own backyard.”

Read more: https://ktar.com/story/2583317/more-than-200-families-on-navajo-nation-in-arizona-get-power/

[democrank]

1. Good news here but I have never understood why

the continued mistreatment and neglect of Native Americans isn’t a front-page story every day.

[cstanleytech]

2. Because they are not rich nor a major voting block that needs to be courted.

If they were either of those things then things would change very quick.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Same here. It was horrendous seeing even these simplest needs hadn't been met,

considering the First citizens were shoved off onto land the government didn't need at the time, or want, and forced into poverty, after being forced out of their ancestral way of life, forced to speak
English, wear "proper" clothing styles, etc., and stay out of the way of "progress" so heavily armed greedy ####s could claim the entire continent for themselves, even slaughtering the plains buffalos, piling them in mountains, taking photos of themselves standing on huge hills of skulls, breaking down the flesh and bones, sending the bones on trains to Canada to be ground into bone meal for fertilizer, and all that destruction JUST to be able to remove millions of these animals from the plains, deprive the citizens of food, shelter, clothing, etc., etc., etc. Just one avenue taken during the genocide, while the hatred, filthy abuse, torture, and murders continued to this day, perpetrated by the descendants of the people who stole their land from them.

Unforgivable.

The fact they are being introduced to electricity and water, in some cases will do so much for people who have been forced to live in hideous circumstances all their lives, while so many others lived with more than they could ever use, and died surrounded by luxury.

[Bayard]

5. Well said

Most people don't realize (or just don't care), that we have people living like this in this country. I'm sure the hopelessness is a big contributor to the alcoholism rate.

Thanks for posting, Judi Lynn.

[Judi Lynn]

12. It would have helped the human race in the US if children were actually taught the truth in school

while their attitudes are forming, and they weren't encouraged to believe fairy tales about the amazing goodness of white anglo -saxon protestant people, and how unworthy everyone else has been.

It would crush the spirit of anyone in that position. The people dishing out the hatred would crumble in no time at all, being weak, and shallow, and consumed by their own hatred.

Thank you for your comments, Bayard.

[Duppers]

13. AMEN!

I confronted a history teacher in my sons

[Duppers]

14. Amen.

I confronted a history teacher in my son's school once - it didn't go well.

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. Part of that is that there are still a lot of Native

Americans who wish to keep to the old, traditional ways.

Art one time the BIA built houses on the reservation for families to live in. But houses were not livable during the hot summer months. The People put chickens in them.

The traditional hogans have doors facing the East. They have very thick walls to keep them warm in winter and cooler in summer.

These people don't have a lot of money so some things will simply not be used because they can't afford them.

But I think the younger generations are more willing to accept some Western conveniences like electricity and running water.

I just hope the traditionals can hold on to the very special aspects of their ancient cultures. And still be able to use some modern conveniences.

[SunSeeker]

4. No electricity AND no running water? Wow.

How did they live with that? Even campgrounds have running water.

Sickening that we let it happen for so long.

[csziggy]

6. They lived where the US Government forced them to live

In a stinking desert with few resources. "We" put them there, hoping they would not survive and they did survive.

[csziggy]

7. I'm glad the SAlt River Project is in charge of this effort

While much of the electricity that will be distributed is still coal generated, SRP is working on renewable power:

SRP takes a balanced and measured approach to adding renewable energy sources to meet sustainable energy targets while continuing to deliver affordable power reliably. The Board of Directors has responsibility for setting renewable energy goals and approved a new framework in October 2017 to guide the process. This framework, the 2035 Sustainability Goals, focuses on creating a sustainable future and builds upon the Sustainable Portfolio plan, which set renewable energy goals through 2020.

<SNIP>

More than clean air

Did you know that renewable sources reduce carbon emissions, conserve water and use waste as fuel? Learn more about how the sources in SRP's portfolio support a healthy environment.

Biomass: The Novo BioPower Plant in Snowflake, Arizona uses combustion fuel, like wood, to generate power. The plant is required to obtain the majority of its fuel from forest thinning, which reduces the amount of unusable wood going to the landfill and contributes to healthy forests.
Solar and wind: Both solar and wind generation take advantage of nature as an energy source using significantly less water than conventional power generation. Last year, SRP saved nearly 1.9 billion gallons of water by conserving energy and relying on these less-water-intensive types of generation.
Geothermal: Using no fuel and producing almost zero emissions, geothermal takes advantage of the heat produced by superheated water reservoirs below the Earth's surface to generate electricity. It also recycles the steam and water used by injecting it back into the Earth, renewing the geothermal resource.

More: https://www.srpnet.com/environment/renewable-energy.aspx

[healthnut7]

8. OMG!!!

How is this even possible!! Pretty sad!

[jgmiller]

9. I've driven the Navajo reservation

and it's really like going to a different country in parts. I could be wrong but I think the story missed something, they probably have electricity already but it's from generators so it's not like they lived by candle light for the last 150 years.

As I said it's really kind of sureal in places on that reservation you feel like you've gone to the poorest country in the world just by driving 100 miles and its disgraceful how we've treated them. At the same time the Navajo reservation has some of the largest deposits of coal and the largest mines in the country. They also have power plants that produce more than enough to power the entire reservation. Like any group of humans the rich don't always take care of the poor even on the reservation.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. It is considered unseemly for anyone to appear to

Last edited Wed May 22, 2019, 02:55 PM - Edit history (1)

own more than anyone else. Indians aren't big on owning stuff and you certainly don't want to flaunt it. You don't drive a truck that is fancier than anyone else's truck. You don't live in a house that is grander than the other houses.

Things there may not be what they seem.

[Judi Lynn]

15. So much to be said for simple respect and concern for others. Very glad to see your post. n/t

[leftyladyfrommo]

16. They also don't interrupt when someone else

is speaking. They wait until the person is done before someone else speaks. Sometimes they wait a long time before a story is finished or a point is made.