Rep. Eli Crane (AZ-2) | Rep. Eli Crane/Facebook
Rep. Eli Crane (AZ-2) | Rep. Eli Crane/Facebook
This week, Rep. Crane (R-AZ) introduced the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribal Homelands Act, which ratifies a treaty that extends exclusive property and water rights to the federally recognized San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
The San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe is currently the only federally recognized tribe in Arizona without its own land, having partially shared its ancestral homeland with the Navajo Nation.
While the Diné people of the Navajo Nation and the Paiute people of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe have a long history as neighboring communities, they are a separate and culturally distinct Tribe deserving of the rights to their homeland.
In 2000, both tribes entered a treaty to provide a permanent homeland on 5400 acres for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe but have needed ratification from the United States Congress for the official transfer of land rights to take effect.
“Congress should not stand in the way of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe’s self-governance for the sake of overburdensome oversight and legalism. This is a classic example of a small community that has been overlooked for far too long,” said Rep Crane. “Last year, former Rep. Tom O’Halleran introduced this legislation in the 117th Congress, and I strongly believe that it is worthy of reintroduction this Congress.”
Today, Rep. Crane visited Tuba City to highlight the legislation with leaders from the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
View the original press release here.
Alerts Sign-up