Agency Representatives
NAVAJO NATION WATER RIGHTS COMMISSION
Advertisement to Secure Qualified Candidates for Five Vacancies
Chinle Agency Representative
Shiprock Agency Representative
Fort Defiance Agency Representative
Eastern Agency Representative
Western Agency Representative
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Members of the Navajo public residing or registered to vote within the five Navajo Regional Agencies are encouraged to apply for positions on the Navajo Nation Water Rights Commission (“Commission”).
The Commission is comprised of seven (7) members: The Attorney General; the Director of the Department of Water Resources; and five (5) members appointed by the Navajo Nation (“Nation”) leadership to represent the Navajo public. The President appoints the Commissioners for the Shiprock agency (1-year initial term) and Chinle agency (3-year initial term), the Speaker appoints the Commissioners for the Ft. Defiance agency (4-year initial term) and Eastern agency (1-year initial term), and the Chief Justice appoints the Commissioner for the Western agency (3-year initial term). Upon selection by the appropriate Branch Chief, the candidate’s name will be submitted to the Resources & Development Committee (“RDC”) for approval. Appointed Commissioners may be reappointed, and after the expiration of the initial terms, all terms shall be for four (4) years.
The purpose of the Commission is to ensure that the water rights of the Nation are vigorously pursued and effectively coordinated, and to enhance the communication between all entities engaged in water rights efforts on behalf of the Nation. The Commission must conduct a regular meeting once a month, meet with the Navajo general public once a quarter, and may conduct special and emergency meetings as necessary.
Examples of the duties of the Commission include: report to the President and RDC on the progress of advancing the Nation’s water rights claims and implementing water rights settlements; establish objectives and priorities for the Nation’s water rights efforts; approve budgets and expenditures from the Water Rights Claims Fund; disseminate information to the public regarding water rights issues; and lobby in support of the Nation’s water rights efforts, as more fully described in the Commission’s Plan of Operation.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Be a member of the Navajo public with demonstrated ability to represent one of the five agencies of the Nation. Five of the seven Commissioners shall be enrolled members of the Nation;
- Willing to make the work of the Commission a priority and regularly attend Commission meetings;
- Be able to effectively communicate with all parties/entities involved with water rights issues, including the general public, and advocate to secure and protect the Nation’s water rights;
- Shall not hold any elected position with any state, county, federal, city or tribal government.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- General understanding of water resource development and the means of securing water rights;
- Experience in the fields of engineering, economics, hydrology, natural resources law; or similarly related fields;
- Previous service as a public official;
- Ability to speak the Navajo language.