Grand Canyon Trust to support Protect the Confluence Coalition efforts

October 02 2012

Ted Grussing

by Roger Clark, Grand Canyon Director

The Grand Canyon Trust has accepted an invitation from the People of the Confluence, an organized group of local families and voters from the Bodaway/Gap Chapter, to join their campaign to oppose the proposed Escalade development at the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado rivers. The People of the Confluence are adamantly opposed to the development being pushed by Confluence Partners, LLC and have launched a campaign against the development because it is culturally insensitive to the traditional lifestyle led by many Navajo families, and will potentially harm sacred sites and prayer offering locations.

In a letter dated September 21, 2012 the People of the Confluence extended a formal invitation to several nonprofit organizations, coalitions, local tribal nations, and grassroots organizers to collaborate as the Protect the Confluence Coalition and assist them in their efforts to oppose the development.

“The Confluence Partners, LLC has vigorously pushed their proposed development on the Bodaway/Gap community and across the Western Agency of the Navajo Nation,” stated the letter from the People of the Confluence to invited coalition members.

“The Confluence Partners, LLC’s inappropriate actions in our community have disrupted family, community relationships, and altered the balance of K’e (kinship).”

Well-financed outside interests

Registered voters in the Bodaway/Gap Chapter have voted twice against the Escalade development on May 20 and July 22. However, despite the resolutions, Confluence Partners, LLC have resorted to highly inappropriate tactics to push the development. Furthermore, the People of the Confluence believe they have been misrepresented by the Confluence Partners, LLC and well-financed outside interests pushing their agenda. Because their strategies have created divisiveness and hostility within the community, the People of the Confluence have requested the assistance of neighboring allies to assist them in mobilizing as a coalition to help organize public outreach and education, among other things.

Culturally appropriate business opportunities

The Protect the Confluence Coalition members currently include Diné Medicine Man Association, Inc., Forgotten People, Next Indigenous Generation, and the Grand Canyon Trust, as well as several grassroots organizers. The coalition is expected to expand as invited members officially accept the invitation as collaborators.

The Grand Canyon Trust and its Native America Program look forward to participating in the coalition to stop this development and help identify other business opportunities within the chapter community that are compatible with cultural traditions and respect the will of the affected people.

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Comments (4)

Steven Scott says:

Feb 20, 2015

How can private interests, even with approval by the Navajo Tribe leaders, develop a project in a National Park? This is not only an unconscionable action, but it also sets an unacceptable precedent.

Lael Willingham says:

Feb 27, 2015

First, I wholeheartedly support the efforts of the Protect the Confluence Coalition. With that said, in answer to your question above about developing within the national park...this area is just outside the park boundaries, making it vulnerable. It is a shame that corporations that have no heart or mind can make a statement like "there are no sacred sites here"...like they would know the meaning of the word sacred. I hope this does not come to pass. As someone else pointed out, there are already many ways to experience the Grand Canyon, a hotel here is NOT needed and will only serve corporate interests and further destroy our wilderness areas.

Mike Nelson says:

Jul 7, 2015

The proposed Escalade tram and river-level facilities would be immediately adjacent to a territory called a National Historic Landmark. On June 30, 1956, two airliners collided in midair at the far eastern end of the Grand Canyon, and both of them crashed in the canyon as a result. 128 people lost their lives in that disaster, which at the time was the worst airline accident that had ever happened, anywhere in the world. One of the planes crashed at the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers, and it would be the most blatant disrespect and sacrilege to bring thousands of gawkers and innocent spectators a day to right across the river from the crash site. It would be like building a carnival right outside the fence of a cemetery. Many victims were never found and are still there, somewhere. The butte on which they died is their natural mausoleum; it is their cemetery. No more beautiful a natural resting place could ever be found, and it is my sincerest hope that that beauty be preserved for them. That area is sacred, and if we still have any integrity as a nation, we will disallow the proposed Escalade. Somewhere, we have to stand for something, and not allow ourselves any more compromises, and not allow anything more of real worth to be taken from us, or we will eventually end up having nothing and being nothing. Sincerely, Mike Nelson

Erik Seineke says:

Oct 16, 2015

The November issue of Arizona Highways informed Me of this pending issue…perhaps the parent investment company (based in Italy according to the Smithsonian Magazine) would be better off to ply those funds back into their own country and help their citizens and their economy. I had the acute pleasure of rafting the Colorado from Lee's Ferry (270 miles) to the take-out @ Diamond Creek…one of many experiences (side trips) was the opportunity to hike up the canyon to a designated point and float down to the confluence to resume our adventure. The photos I took while floating (water shoes in the foreground) along with many others will give Me lifelong pleasure that others may only imagine…until they too "jump in with both feet". Thank You for this space to add to the cause…Erik Seineke Prescott,AZ

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