Press Release: The Hopi Tribe

Initial Date of Release: September 2, 1998

Cave Creek, Arizona-- The Hopi Tribe expressed deep disappointment upon learning that the U.S. National Forest Service had withdrawn its support of the Spur Cross land swap proposal.

 "We were looking forward to an opportunity to share our concerns about Spur Cross at the Scottsdale City Council meeting next week," stated Hopi Tribal Chairman Wayne Taylor.   "The Hopi Tribe has learned through the press that Eleanor Towns of the U.S. Forest Service has written a letter to Governor Hull stating that because they fail to see the trade's potential benefits, the Forest Service is unwilling to commit large blocks of National Forest lands or assets to the proposed exchange. This is very unfortunate news to the Hopi people who know the site as one of its ancestral migration sites."

The letter from Towns to Governor Hull has had a domino effect. The Scottsdale City Council upon hearing of the news pulled Spur Cross off their Council agenda and developer John Land has also thrown in the towel by announcing that he will move forward with plans to develop the 2,150 acres of land including riparian habitat and archaeological ruins.

"I knew this would happen when I realized that the proposal was getting too fat. Everyone wanted something in the exchange. It makes me cry to think that Spur Cross, an archaeological resource for all Arizonans, will be destroyed. I am hopeful, however, that someone will revitalize the exchange of Spur Cross on a much smaller and simpler scale. Its a long shot, but maybe this is an opportunity to start over," said Lenora Lewis, Chairperson of the Hopi Tribe's Land Team.

The Hopi Tribal Council had just unanimously passed a resolution on August 3, 1998 supporting the protection and preservation of cultural resources on Spur Cross and adjoining State lands. The news came as a shock to many Hopi residents who felt the exchange, while complex, could be worked out between the parties.

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