OCR Text |
Show THE NAVAJO AS A NATION 167 money also paid for a sawmill. A utility commission was formed, and sewage and water projects were planned. Tribal Government Mining had a more important effect. It was mining that first showed the need for tribal organization. Only a group that could speak for the tribe as a whole could grant leases to the mining companies. The first attempt to organize was at a general meeting held at the San Juan Agency in 1921 to approve land leases for oil and gas drilling. Then, because there was no other group to do it, three important Navajos formed a Business Council in 1922 to deal with the oil companies. Chee Dodge, Charlie Mitchell, and Dugal Chee Bekiss sat on the council. Later, Commissioner Burke drew up a plan for Navajo government. It called for a "Commissioner of the Navajos" who would be chosen by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Delegates from six local districts would form the council. This group first met at Fort Defiance in 1923 and elected Henry Chee Dodge as chairman. The delegates were Robert Martin, Deshna Cahcheschillige, Jacob C. Morgan, Todeschene Bardony, Hosteen Usahelin, Louis Watchman, George Bancroft, Zagenitzo, Hosteen Begoiden Bega, Hosteen Nez, Becenti Bega, and Hosteen Yazzie Jesus. But, in those early years, most Navajos thought the council was a puppet of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other whites. And the People did not trust a representative government to speak for the whole group on an issue. Who would speak for the minority? they asked. Such an idea had real dangers. Because of these fears, the Navajos did not use the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This act called for tribal constitutions and elections so that tribes could make a start toward self-government. Each tribe could vote to accept or reject the act. The Navajos, for their part, chose to try their own plan of government. Besides, at that time, the People feared that the act would give the government more control over stock reduction. The tribe wanted to allow for the opinions of the small groups on the outskirts of the reservation. So they divided the area into chapters. Each chapter would elect members to a central tribal council. Local government would take place at the chapter level. The plan was a compromise, and it worked well. The first chapters were formed at Leupp, near Flagstaff. Others were soon set up all over the reservation. |