Save the Confluence Coalition Leads Alternative Economic Development Planning

The Escalade project continues to occupy the minds of many families wanting to save their sacred area, the land where many generations settled to raise livestock and live a peaceful existence. The development group continues to push the project forward in an attempt to get major approvals completed before the August 2014 elections for tribal president. To compound the issues, several candidates have expressed their support for the project. The campaign manager and current chief of staff for President Ben Shelly has been the main champion for the project. We expect the project to be presented at the July Summer session of the Council in some form.

The Trust continues to assist the families, organized as the Save the Confluence Coalition, with their campaign to raise awareness among the Navajo Nation, ranging from the nearby chapters to the Navajo Nation Council.

While helping the Confluence families stop the project, our team also has worked very hard to help craft alternative economic development strategies and recently formed the Navajo Nations first inter community owned Social Entrepreneurship Venture. This is a landmark move for the Grand Canyon Trust as it means that we will work with 7 communities, including Cameron, Bodoway Gap, Leupp, Coalmine Mesa and others to initiate major projects ranging from working towards a stronger Navajo Nation Parks system, helping launch a social entrepreneurship venture that will assist its community members to plan for, secure investment, and incubate local tourism ventures, meat and farm producing processing centers, create businesses to service the Twin Arrows Casino, and create major hub projects such as sustainable destination resorts. The important aspect of this initiative is that it offers the opportunity to create permanent solutions to ensure the peoples of the Confluence and nearby communities create the acumen and momentum towards economic self sufficiency.  The work is just beginning and we will update you on some of the unique solutions and ventures that get created in the coming months.