Monday, Sep 19 2011 4:35PM
Navajo Nation director upset with Congress' lack of support
Washington's top Navajo Nation transportation official has submitted a formal complaint to Congress for allegedly unfair lending of funds for transportation upgrades and repairs, The Arizona Republic reports.
According to the new source, Paulson Chaco, director of Navajo Division of Transportation, said that Congress failed to supply his tribes with a sufficient amount of funds for the creation of new roads, and are seemingly treating his people as "second-class citizens."
"Our nation still finds itself being held to different standards and in many regards as second-class citizens," Chaco said.
Furthermore, the news source suggests tribes can only attain government funds sparingly and the majority of granted funds come in partnership with a state-government request, which often aids the state more so than the tribe itself.
Chaco stated the Navajo Nation's rural roads span more than 25,000 square miles of land across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, some of which require maintenance. However, John Baxter, associate administrator for federal lands, noted that the Navajo Nation received a $31 million grant, which helped connect the local tribes to Colorado.
Still, Homer Vela, director of public works for Navajo County, said that Navajo children aren't able to go to school due to unsafe roads, according to the news source.