As wildfires threaten tribal lands, Navajo President Nez meets with Biden about aid

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez met with President Joe Biden and other New Mexico leaders on Saturday to discuss the wildfires burning across the state. Nez was the only tribal leader invited to the meeting.

Biden visited New Mexico to address the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire that has burned about 319,841 acres. He said there would be 100% funding from the federal government for protective measures.

The full funding will be in place for 90 days as a bridge between emergency operations and the potential passage of the pending Hermits Peak Fire Assistance Act. That legislation would require FEMA to establish a claims office to enable individuals to apply for a broader range of assistance than what is now available, the White House said.

As drought and excessive heat persist in the Southwest, Navajo Nation forest lands have been a concern for Nez. The Navajo Nation has 600,000 acres of forest consisting of ponderosa pine and higher elevation firs and spruces. The Navajo Nation also holds 4.8 million acres of lower-elevation piñon and juniper woodland forests.

Nez said that during discussions with Biden and New Mexico officials, he learned of resources that are available for wildfire prevention. To improve fire management and safety on the Navajo Nation, Nez said, "We need to start thinning our forest on Navajo. Especially with the bark beetle problem and the dying trees that we have a lot of. In order to do that we need the local community's support. We can't have people saying, ‘That’s my land.' We need to thin the forest area.”

In 2014, the Assayii Lake Fire in the Chuskai Mountains was declared the largest fire on Navajo, with over 14,000 acres burned. Dry and windy conditions made containment more challenging and at the peak of the wildfire, over 800 fire personnel were working on the fire.

There had been 24 crews, 24 engines, 10 helicopters and four bulldozers used to fight the flames. The fire was determined to have been human-caused.

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Navajo Nation needs to be prepared

“The last big fire in the Chuska wasn’t too far from where I grew up. My family and I, we’re up the mountain, cutting fences and getting all animals to safety,” said Loren Anthony, Chizh for Cheii founder. “The fire was negligence but it exposed the need for response and action.”

Chizh for Cheii is a mutual aid effort to help supply firewood to Navajo elders, but the group has also helped in other efforts, such as land conservation and home repair, as well as food and supply donations.

Anthony believes when it comes to fire prevention, Navajo Nation “is never prepared.” Still, he said, Navajo Nation Forestry has done its best over the years with programs for tree planting, which brings in revenue to go toward reforesting areas that were affected by wildfires.

“Our Chizh for Cheii team is always cautious and mindful of our traditional ways and being stewards of the land,” Anthony said. “The work we do as Chizh for Cheii not only just helps elders with free firewood but it helps with land conservation, wildfire prevention and land restoration.”

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In June and July 2020, Navajo Nation also dealt with the Wood Springs Fire, which is the name of the community where the fire had originated near Ganado. It was a lightning-caused fire that burned over 12,000 acres.

“From Ganado over to Window Rock you see all those dead trees,” Nez said. “One match can just devastate that area and it's like that all across. We need to be proactive.”

In May, Navajo Nation leaders were worried about the chances of the Tunnel Fire spreading onto tribal lands near Flagstaff. Although it did not make it that far, it did affect Navajo families living in the area and it destroyed a Navajo family's home completely.

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Fire restrictions imposed

On May 23, the Navajo Nation put in place Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibiting ​​building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, and coal fires outdoors, except campfires and charcoal used in developed sites where fire rings or grills are provided.

Possession, manufacturing, sale or use of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices were also banned and officials said using a firearm or incendiary devices without a valid permit would result in fines of up to $5,000.

Other Arizona tribes have also imposed fire restrictions. The San Carlos Apache Tribe went into Stage 2 Fire Restrictions effective June 7, prohibiting campfires, charcoal, target shooting and discharging of firearms.

The Fort Apache Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Forestry and Wildland Fire Management said on June 10 that even after a recent storm, the forests are still dry, and reminded people that Stage 2 fire restrictions are still in place for the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

Gila River Indian Community has restricted open burning due to hot and dry weather conditions.

The Lost Lake Fire started May 26 on the Colorado River Indian Reservation 14 miles southwest of Parker. The fire burned along both sides of the Colorado River in California and Arizona. At the fire's peak, 150 fire personnel responded. On June 6, it was 100% contained after burning 5,856 acres.

It’s not only fire that worries Nez. Drought conditions on Navajo have for the most part been severe, and he said there is an incentive program for ranchers to reduce their herds.

“If they reduce their herds there is funding that they can receive,” Nez said. “We need the Navajo people’s help to do that. We can't force them to but we are trying to give them an incentive to do that because their animals are going to run out of water.”

Arlyssa D.Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com. Follow on Twitter @abecenti.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Navajo Nation President Nez meets with Joe Biden on wildfire aid