Commissioner of Indian Affairs Glenn L. Emmons today commended the Navajo Indian Tribe for its “statesmanship” in appropriating tribal funds for projects which the Federal Government would normally carry out.
The appropriations included $545,000 to build major law and order facilities at Tuba City and Chinle, Arizona, and Shiprock, New Mexico, and small detention facilities at Bitter Spring and Lupton, Arizona, and Tohatchi, New Mexico.
In ordinary circumstances, the Department of the Interior would pay for such projects, Commissioner Emmons' November 12 letter to Tribal Chairman Paul Jones applauded the tribe's recognition that the Department’s limited funds for construction work have had to be used almost entirely for expanding badly needed school facilities.
“Under these circumstances," he wrote, "it seems to me that the tribe deserves high credit for stepping into the breach and using its own funds to provide facilities that are required for a more effective law enforcement program."
The tribe appropriated the money under a September 18 resolution.
Mr. Emmons also praised the tribe for providing $30,700 to activate a department of farm and range management in the tribal government. He wrote that it showed "a commendable readiness on the part of tribal organizations to take on increasing responsibilities in the important field of resource development and utilization.”
