Benefits accruing to the Navajos go beyond. the physical rehabilitation features of the long range program and reach many people through employment opportunities, Allan G, Harper, Navajo Area director reported.
Director Harper also reported to a recent meeting of the Navajo Tribal Council that Navajos have received $2,157,911.66 in wages since the inception of the long range program three years ago. This is 64.7 per cent of the total amount expended for wages. Harper compared this to $1,030,594.59, or 30.9 per cent, which has been paid to non-Indian employees. He also said that Indians of other tribes have received 4.4 percent, or $146,751.34.
"These figures disclose," he said, "that Navajos are receiving more than twice the amount paid to non-Indians. It is indicative of the large measure in which the educated Navajos are rapidly finding opportunity once denied them because of lack of skills."
The Area Director's report revealed that long-range appropriations during 1951 and 1952 totaled $15,320,620. Personnel costs, resources development, engineering, administration and community services have taken $3,335,257.59 of the sum.
In his report of employment by hourly wage and race, the trend was shown toward the higher brackets for· Navajo employees. 290 Navajos receive from $1.30 to $1.39 per hour and 275 Navajo workers get $1.40 to $1.49. The breakdown shows two Navajos receiving $3.00 per hour.
Total employment on the Navajo-Hopi Reservations is 21,200. This is made up of 1,119 Navajos; 212 Hopis; 169 Indians of other tribes and 620 non-Indians. Bulk of employment is in education, health and engineering, Administration employs 166 persons.
Mr. Harper's report included a test run" for seven, four and six pay periods on the Shiprock school construction, the Gamerco warehouse construction and the Ft, Defiance road improvement with the follow1.ng results:
At the Shiprock school during seven pay periods, Navajos received $46,909.20; other Indians. $5,400 and non-Indians $30,556, At the Gamerco warehouse during four pay periods Navajos received $11,204, other Indians $696.60 and non-Indians $5,440, The Ft. Defiance road job paid Navajos $31,522, nothing to other Indians and $6,873.60 to non-Indians. Percentages were 64.7 for Navajos; 4.4 for other Indians and 30.9 for non-Indians.
"These figures prove that 69.l percent of the payroll is going to Indians." Harper said. "I would like to increase that percentage in favor of the Indians and we can do so if we work together," he told the councilmen. "I believe on-the-job training and apprenticeship training, more high school graduates going on to college to learn technical trades, will change the picture even more in favor of the Indians."
Harper also reported on the critical shortage of nurses in the Navajo-Hopi hospitals. Only the Winslow hospital is fully staffed, he said. 100 tuberculosis and 100 regular patients at Ft. Defiance are being nursed by only 11 nurses on a 24-hour basis. Everything is being done to recruit nurses, but the Navajo isolation is not attractive. He said he has orders from Washington to reduce hospital load in order that patients will continue to receive good, professional care.
Mr. Harper pointed out that the Arizona legislature will consider a measure, creating an Arizona Commission for Indian Affairs made up of 11 persons, including five Indians. He recommended that the Council pledge its cooperation to this proposed commission.
The Area Director proposed construction of a new Tribal Motel at Canyon de Chelly as a tribal industry.
Division of the waters of the San Juan River will be discussed at Santa Fe, January 24, Harper reported. Another conference at Cheyenne, Wyoming, January 29, can determine the fate of the Navajo reservation in relation to development of the great San Juan-Shiprock irrigation project, He said the Tribal case will be strongly presented at both conferences.
The Area Director reviewed the 1954 long-range budget as recommended to the Congress by the President this month. The President has asked the Congress to appropriate a total of $13,931,500 for the Navajo-Hopi program. Of this amount, $9,272,000 would be used to build new schools and hospitals.
Under the proposed budget, day schools would be converted to boarding schools at Cove, Crystal, Dennehotso, Greasewood, Huerfano, Lake Valley Naschitti, Pinon, Standing Rock, Steamboat, Tolani Lake and Polacca. The new budget also includes funds for the Shiprock boarding school, the new Shiprock hospital, Ft. Defiance sewage improvements, Keams Canyon utilities distribution system, quarters for nurses and teachers at Tuba City.
For highway improvement, the budget set up $1,500,000 and for irrigation projects, $756,000.
