Monday, September 7, 2009

Hopi Politics: Direct Action?

History of the Global Now
Current Event Reflection
Terese Howard
9/7/09

The Hopi Tribal council at second mesa has been going through major political upheaval the past couple of years. In October 2008 “Chairman Nuvamsa was forced to resign amidst a barrage of malicious criminal prosecutions that were later shown to be unfounded” (Hopi Organizational Political Initiative). Along with four other leads were fired or forced out. Just following this, the men who put the allegations against Nuvamsa and the others forth, gained domination over the council. Mr. Porturica, was promoted to “acting” Chief Tribal Prosecutor. The Hopi Organizational Political Initiative states, “the Hopi Tribe now has no legitimate head-of-state, no appellate court, the Tribe’s sovereignty has been squandered, and an unconstitutionally formed “interim” government has seized power” (HOPI).
Yet the action did not stop there. “On August 11, 2009, allegedly due to a stalemate in contract negotiations, Mr. Porturica was suddenly locked out of his office” (HOPI). Those who locked him out then refused to let him bring his allegations against their allies to Tribal Council even though they had encouraged allegations to be brought against Nuvamsa.
Does democratic bureaucratic government work for peoples who are accustom to taking direct action? Should it work?

Hopi Organizational Political Initiative Press Release – “Second Mesa, Arizona – September 8, 2009 – Tables turn against Tribal Prosecutor - Suddenly Persona non grata in illegal Hopi Tribal Council.”

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