Resolution of Decades-Old Land Dispute Marks New Era for Hopi Tribe
In a significant development for the Hopi Tribe, Governor Katie Hobbs announced a resolution to a tribal land dispute that has persisted for nearly 30 years. This agreement will facilitate the transfer of thousands of acres of state land into trust for the Hopi people.
The transaction involves the Arizona State Land Department, which oversees over 9 million acres of state trust lands. The Hopi Tribe will compensate the department approximately $4 million to bring close to 21,000 acres in Coconino County—located south of Interstate 40 near Winslow—under trust. This equates to a cost of about $185 per acre.
Ultimately, the Hopi Tribe plans to invest over $20 million to integrate approximately 110,000 acres of fragmented properties in Coconino and Navajo counties, which are adjacent to their tribal lands.
By incorporating these lands into trust, the Hopi Tribe aims to expand its reservation, which currently spans 1.5 million acres in northeastern Arizona. The tribe is encircled by the vast 17-million-acre Navajo Nation. This agreement is a continuation of efforts to resolve tensions stemming from the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act, which was enacted in 1996 to conclude the conflicts between the two tribes.
Coverage of tribal natural resources is supported in part by Catena Foundation
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