The prompt this week is "everybody hurts sometime".
In 1966, Robert Bennett, then commissioner of Indian Affairs, stopped
all development on 1.6 million acres of tribal land in Arizona that was claimed
by both the Navajo Nation and the Hopi tribe.
Bennett imposed the ban to stop either tribe from taking advantage of
the other while they negotiated ownership.
The ban became known as the Bennett Freeze and initially affected
approximately 8,000 Navajo tribal members.
No development meant no new homes, no home expansions and no home
repairs. They were not even allowed to
fix roofs or windows. They could not
start any type of businesses and they were not allowed new schools, paved
roads, electricity, gas or water.
The United States government flew helicopters and planes over the area
and if any development or repair work was discovered they were made to take it
out.
The area and the Navajos that live there have also been adversely affected by industrial mining operations for coal and uranium.
There are approximately 1300 uranium mines located within the Bennett
Freeze area, most of which have been abandoned without proper cleanup,
resulting in soil and water contamination.
Here are some of the statistics from the area.
- Average
unemployment of Navajo Nation is 65%... former Bennett Freeze area is 95%
- 77% of
homes are considered uninhabitable by U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs
- 97% of
the homes of DO NOT HAVE electricity
- 90% of
the homes DO NOT HAVE running water
- 10% of the
populace must make a daily trip someplace for uncontaminated water
- Cancer
rates among teenagers living near mine tailings are 17 times the national
average
- Reproductive-organ
cancer in teenage girls is 17 times the national average
- Infant
mortality rate is 7.5 times the national average
- Area has
high rate of teenage suicide
Yes, we all hurt sometime, but these people...wow
I just read a book written by 2 Lakota women around the time of the great re-location of numerous tribes....it totally disgusted me, and, after reading your important information, I have got to wonder: how can this happen in America - land of the free???
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DeleteThese facts are truly incredible. I don't know all the history and politics that are responsible for this situation, much less understand why aggressive action isn't being taken to correct the situation.
ReplyDeleteWow Grizz, that is just terrible. I feel for them.The trials that aboriginal people face to stay on their patch of earth is the same all the world over. AND it is wrong.I am so pleased that you are trying to do your bit to help.You should be proud.
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