New pieces by Ron Henry

There are many new pieces by Ron. Check them out at http://tribeazure.com/specialItemlist.asp?Type=New+Pieces&MainGroup=Jewelry&CustID=. He can create these pieces in any stone combination you prefer.

Navajo Nation

Navajo Nation
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Navajo
Total population
298,215 as of 2000 census
Regions with significant populations
United States (New Mexico, Utah, Arizona)
Language
English, Navajo
Religion
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The Navajo Nation (Navajo: Naabeehó Dine'é) is a sovereign Native American tribe traditionally known as Diné. The Navajo Indian Reservation covers about 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometres) of land, occupying all of northeastern Arizona, and extending into Utah and New Mexico, and is the largest land area assigned primarily to a Native American jurisdiction within the United States.
The 2000 census reported 298,215 Navajos living throughout the United States, of which 173,987 were living within the Navajo Nation boundaries. 131,166 lived in Arizona. 17,512 of these lived in Maricopa County, which includes the city of Phoenix. Because the Navajo Nation encompasses land in three states, its Division of Economic Development extracts census data for the Navajo Nation as a whole, and sends a representative to the Census Board. Another group lives on the Colorado River Indian Tribes reservation along the Colorado River in California and Arizona.
Each tribe establishes its own requirements for being an enrolled tribal member, which is usually based on "blood quantum." The Navajo Nation requires a blood quantum of one-fourth for a person to be an enrolled tribal member and to receive a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB). In comparison, some tribes require a one-thirtysecond blood quantum for issuing a CIB. Recently, the Navajo Tribal Council voted down a proposal to reduce the blood quantum to one-eighth, which would have effectively doubled the number of individuals qualified to be enrolled Navajo tribal members.
continue this article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo_Nation

McCain races to solve tribal funds dispute

McCain races to solve tribal funds dispute

Billy House Republic Washington Bureau Jul. 28, 2006 12:00 AM
WASHINGTON - The next few days may be Sen. John McCain's last best opportunity to resolve 10-year-old litigation against the federal government over billions of dollars in mineral royalties and land leases long denied to Native American landowners.
With time running out on the congressional session as well as on McCain's chairmanship of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, the Arizona Republican has set a hearing for Wednesday to finalize details of his bill to settle the class-action dispute.
The effort to bring together the opposing sides is a test of McCain's political pull and power of persuasion as he eyes a possible run for the presidency in 2008. advertisement
He needs to forge a settlement that satisfies Native Americans while it overcomes objections from congressional opponents who worry about the costs to taxpayers, including funds for retracing and verifying individual accounts and money owed. That is a goal that no one to date has managed to accomplish.
The case could linger for years longer in the court system if McCain's bill cannot solve the matter.
"I'm taking him for his word that he would work as hard as he could to get justice for Indian people," Eloise Cobell, a Blackfoot rancher and banker from Montana who filed the class-action lawsuit in 1996, said Thursday.
The lawsuit, Cobell vs. Kempthorne, seeks to force the government to account for billions of dollars held in trust for as many as 500,000 American Indians and their heirs. It alleges that royalty payments the federal government was supposed to distribute to thousands of individual Native Americans have been mismanaged for more than a century.

$100 billion in dispute

Cobell's lawyers have asserted that the Department of the Interior owes the landowners at least $100 billion, much of it tied to royalties for farming, grazing, mining, logging and other activities on tribal lands.
In Arizona, thousands of Native Americans and their heirs could be owed money.
Last summer, McCain and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., top Democrat on the Indian Affairs Committee, filed a bill to resolve the long-standing lawsuit. It called for creation of a settlement fund and an overhaul of how the Interior Department manages land and money for tribes and individual landowners.
But before unveiling that legislation, McCain warned at a March 9, 2005, hearing that although he promised as Indian Affairs Committee chairman to make reforming the trust fund a priority, he would give the effort "only one good shot."
"If it looks like we're not getting anywhere, if the tribes, the government or other interested parties cannot come to terms on a settlement of the lawsuit and what trust reform should be, then I will leave that task to a future Congress and the courts," McCain said.
If Republicans retain control of the Senate, McCain is widely expected to become chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee next year when Sen. John Warner, R-Va., steps down after his six-year term ends. If that happens, McCain would not continue as Indian Affairs chairman.
'One good shot'
Cobell said she believes the upcoming week is McCain's self-described "one good shot."
McCain's communications director, Eileen McMenamin, had no comment Thursday on the senator's efforts.
But one of Cobell's lawyers, Keith Harper, said the dollar amount McCain proposes for the settlement fund and other specifics of the bill will be key to whether Congress will have a real chance to settle the issue this year.
Given Congress' scheduled recess, Aug. 7-Sept. 4, and midterm elections, any further delays likely would mean an end to the bill, Harper said.
Last year, plaintiffs in the long-running lawsuit offered to settle the case for $25 billion despite their claims that the amounts owed by the Interior Department to Indian landowners exceeded $100 billion.
But Cobell and her lawyers say they have learned McCain's bill would put the settlement amount to be paid by the government even lower, at $8 billion .
"We haven't commented on that," McMenamin said.
Dorgan's office did not return a call Thursday seeking comment.
"It's much less than what we wanted," Cobell said. "I don't think it's fair."
But as lead plaintiff in the case, Cobell said she must consider that rejecting that amount would result in the bill's likely death and continuing court battles.
She said many of the would-be beneficiaries are elderly and are going to die before a settlement.
Cobell said the Indian plaintiffs would prefer to settle and move on. But she said she also doesn't want to just discard hard-fought District Court victories that have validated claims that the government's handling of the accounts was a breach of trust.
"We've got to hope that McCain will take up our cause in a rightful way," Cobell said, adding that what also is at stake is how the trust accounts will be managed in the future.
Catherine Aragon, a lawyer for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, was among those in Washington, D.C., on Monday expecting to review new details of McCain's bill. She and others were surprised to learn that the bill still was being worked on.
"It's important to us, not just the settlement of claims but the overall trust, responsibility issue," Aragon said.
She would not comment on how many Salt River tribal members might be owed money under the lawsuit or whether the anticipated $8 billion settlement figure would be acceptable to the tribe's leaders.
But that amount is not pleasing everyone.
"The amount offered, as we understand, is lower than expected. Is that equitable?" asked Sharon Clahchischilliage, executive director of the Navajo Nation's Washington office.
Interior Department spokesman Shane Wolfe said that officials there would not discuss specifics but that they have been working on a settlement with McCain, Dorgan, and others.
"And we continue our work toward that goal," Wolfe said.
Reach the reporter at 1-(202)-906-8136.

Navajo Nation fires 15 after Head Start background checks

Arizona / West
Navajo Nation fires 15 after Head Start background checks
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona Published: 07.12.2006

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation has fired 15 employees from its troubled Head Start program after doing background checks.
Federal funding for the tribe's Head Start program was suspended May 2 by the Administration for Children and Families, which said the tribe failed to perform background checks and that an investigation turned up dozens of employees with criminal records.
Darren Tungovia, human resources manager for the Navajo Head Start Program, said 594 employees have been cleared through background checks and 104 still need the checks.
Twenty-four workers have resigned and 19 are on 90-day probation, Tungovia said in a news release.
The figures come as Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. met with Head Start officials, including Director Channell Wilkins, who traveled from Washington, D.C., to the reservation.
Shirley said the Navajo Nation presented its corrective-action plan to the federal officials.
"We're all on the same side, trying to do right by the children, the parents," Shirley said. "We've been working very hard under stressful conditions."
Under the plan to correct the deficiencies in the program, the Navajo Nation has directed the program's human resources manager to ensure that fingerprinting and background checks are done in a timely manner.
The Navajo Justice Department has provided five training sessions to staff members on how to perform the background checks.
The Navajo Nation said it has been difficult to correct the problems when no Head Start employees have been paid due to the federal suspension of funds. Volunteers have filled the gap, the news release said.
The federal government partially lifted the funding suspension in mid-May, clearing the way for the program to begin its summer session.
Shirley has created a task force to ensure the nation is in compliance with the federal regulations.
The program serves more than 4,000 children.
http://www.azstarnet.com/news/137529
http://tribeazure.com/Itemlist.asp?SubGroup=Pendants1&MainGroup=Jewelry&CustID=321863012

Mohave Facility Won't Be ReopenedEdison says it can't find a profitable way to operate the heavily polluting power plant

Mohave Facility Won't Be ReopenedEdison says it can't find a profitable way to operate the heavily polluting power plant.By Marc Lifsher, Times Staff WriterJune 20, 2006
After months of negotiations with two Indian tribes and the world's largest coal company, Southern California Edison Co. said Monday that it couldn't find a profitable way to reopen its heavily polluting Mohave power plant on the California-Nevada border.
Edison mothballed the giant coal-fueled generating station Jan. 1, a deadline imposed by a settlement in an environmental lawsuit that required the installation of about $1 billion of pollution-control equipment.
ADVERTISEMENTSince then, the Rosemead-based utility and its minority partners, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, have been working to cut deals that would reopen the plant — even as recently as Friday. Edison needed to secure coal to operate the facility and water to push pulverized coal through a 270-mile pipeline from a mine in northeastern Arizona to the plant's Laughlin, Nev., location.
"It's simply not feasible to move forward at this time," Edison Senior Vice President Richard Rosenblum said.
Edison, a subsidiary of Edison International, told more than 200 workers at the power plant Monday that they would be laid off.
Edison abandoned plans to revive the Mohave plant for a combination of reasons, including the possibility that California would begin capping emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, Rosenblum said. Another factor was the 2026 expiration of contracts with Nevada for Colorado River water to cool Mohave's turbines, he said.
Edison's 56% share of Mohave's 1,580 megawatts provided low-cost electricity to about 7% of the utility's 13 million customers. However, the company said Mohave's loss shouldn't threaten Southland electricity supplies because Edison recently began operating a new natural-gas-fired power plant in Redlands.
Edison hasn't decided whether to decommission or sell the Mohave plant, Rosenblum said.
Edison's announcement that it wouldn't push to reopen Mohave "caught us by surprise … and is not good news for the Navajo Nation," tribal spokesman George Hardeen said. The California utility had given no indication of its change of stance during negotiations with the tribes Friday, Hardeen said.
The co-owners of the coal, the 250,000-member Navajo Nation and the 7,000-member Hopi tribe, are expected to lose hundreds of high-paying mining jobs and about $40 million in annual royalty payments and other revenue from the mine's operator, Peabody Energy Corp.
But environmentalists said they weren't surprised that Edison gave up efforts to retrofit a plant that was one of the West's dirtiest. Mohave spewed an average of 2,000 tons of soot a year in 2002 and 2003, obscuring views of the Grand Canyon, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mohave also annually released an average of 19,000 tons of nitrogen oxides and 40,000 tons of sulfur dioxides during the same period, the agency said.
"We were doubtful that Edison would be able to keep the plant open," said Roger Clark of the Grand Canyon Trust in Flagstaff, Ariz., which sued Mohave under the federal Clean Air Act in 1999, along with the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Assn.
Clark said he hoped that Edison and other utilities would invest in wind and solar power projects to provide California ratepayers with clean energy and compensate the Navajo and Hopi tribes for lost jobs and tax revenue.
Shuttering Mohave is a step toward meeting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from forecasted levels by 2020, said Bernadette Del Chiaro, a statehouse lobbyist for Environment California, a group backing a bill that would set caps on carbon dioxide pollution.
"When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging," she said.
According to a survey released by Environment California on Monday, carbon dioxide emissions in the United States nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, with volume increasing dramatically in the 1990s.
California's efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions should make Mohave unattractive to potential buyers, said Rob Smith of the Sierra Club.
"The new owners would have the same problems as the current owners," Smith said. "Edison has had a hard time saying that Mohave is a bad idea, but everyone else says that we have to move on."
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-edison20jun20,1,2684650.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true
http://tribeazure.com/showitem.asp?ID=290&MainGroup=Jewelry&SubGroup=Rings%2DWomen

Mohave Facility Won't Be ReopenedEdison says it can't find a profitable way to operate the heavily polluting power plant

Mohave Facility Won't Be ReopenedEdison says it can't find a profitable way to operate the heavily polluting power plant.By Marc Lifsher, Times Staff WriterJune 20, 2006

After months of negotiations with two Indian tribes and the world's largest coal company, Southern California Edison Co. said Monday that it couldn't find a profitable way to reopen its heavily polluting Mohave power plant on the California-Nevada border.
Edison mothballed the giant coal-fueled generating station Jan. 1, a deadline imposed by a settlement in an environmental lawsuit that required the installation of about $1 billion of pollution-control equipment.
ADVERTISEMENTSince then, the Rosemead-based utility and its minority partners, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, have been working to cut deals that would reopen the plant — even as recently as Friday. Edison needed to secure coal to operate the facility and water to push pulverized coal through a 270-mile pipeline from a mine in northeastern Arizona to the plant's Laughlin, Nev., location.
"It's simply not feasible to move forward at this time," Edison Senior Vice President Richard Rosenblum said.
Edison, a subsidiary of Edison International, told more than 200 workers at the power plant Monday that they would be laid off.
Edison abandoned plans to revive the Mohave plant for a combination of reasons, including the possibility that California would begin capping emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, Rosenblum said. Another factor was the 2026 expiration of contracts with Nevada for Colorado River water to cool Mohave's turbines, he said.
Edison's 56% share of Mohave's 1,580 megawatts provided low-cost electricity to about 7% of the utility's 13 million customers. However, the company said Mohave's loss shouldn't threaten Southland electricity supplies because Edison recently began operating a new natural-gas-fired power plant in Redlands.
Edison hasn't decided whether to decommission or sell the Mohave plant, Rosenblum said.
Edison's announcement that it wouldn't push to reopen Mohave "caught us by surprise … and is not good news for the Navajo Nation," tribal spokesman George Hardeen said. The California utility had given no indication of its change of stance during negotiations with the tribes Friday, Hardeen said.
The co-owners of the coal, the 250,000-member Navajo Nation and the 7,000-member Hopi tribe, are expected to lose hundreds of high-paying mining jobs and about $40 million in annual royalty payments and other revenue from the mine's operator, Peabody Energy Corp.
But environmentalists said they weren't surprised that Edison gave up efforts to retrofit a plant that was one of the West's dirtiest. Mohave spewed an average of 2,000 tons of soot a year in 2002 and 2003, obscuring views of the Grand Canyon, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mohave also annually released an average of 19,000 tons of nitrogen oxides and 40,000 tons of sulfur dioxides during the same period, the agency said.
"We were doubtful that Edison would be able to keep the plant open," said Roger Clark of the Grand Canyon Trust in Flagstaff, Ariz., which sued Mohave under the federal Clean Air Act in 1999, along with the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Assn.
Clark said he hoped that Edison and other utilities would invest in wind and solar power projects to provide California ratepayers with clean energy and compensate the Navajo and Hopi tribes for lost jobs and tax revenue.
Shuttering Mohave is a step toward meeting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from forecasted levels by 2020, said Bernadette Del Chiaro, a statehouse lobbyist for Environment California, a group backing a bill that would set caps on carbon dioxide pollution.
"When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging," she said.
According to a survey released by Environment California on Monday, carbon dioxide emissions in the United States nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, with volume increasing dramatically in the 1990s.
California's efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions should make Mohave unattractive to potential buyers, said Rob Smith of the Sierra Club.
"The new owners would have the same problems as the current owners," Smith said. "Edison has had a hard time saying that Mohave is a bad idea, but everyone else says that we have to move on."
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-edison20jun20,1,2684650.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true
http://tribeazure.com/showitem.asp?ID=290&MainGroup=Jewelry&SubGroup=Rings%2DWomen

Police plan raises ire on panel

Police plan raises ire on panel
By John Christian HopkinsDine Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The issue is a political hot potato, one that critics claim is half-baked and causes others to boil. No potato has fried the nerves of a politician this much since the infamous Dan Quayle spud. It's the controversial restructuring plan for the Navajo Nation's police force, a move proposed by Navajo Nation Chief of Police Jim Benally and Public Safety Division Director Samson Cowboy. The legislation if passed by the full Navajo Nation Council would eliminate the position of captain within the Nation's police force. The current officers with a captain's rank will have a simple decision to make: Accept the lesser rank of lieutenant or find another job. It's that lack of redress that concerns Delegate Hope MacDonald-Lonetree, chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee, that passed the measure by a 3-2 vote. The deciding vote was cast by the bill's sponsor, Delegate Lorenzo Curley. Such blanket demotions seldom have much appeal for those who must hash out a deal under the sharp scrutiny of the public. This issue, in particular, seems to have mashed personalities and politics all during an election year. Delegate Harry H. Clark honestly hoped the issue would remain off the table until after the election. Too many people will use it to score political points, he feared. The controversial restructuring plan had been on tabled status for the past three or four PSC meetings. The PSC had sought reports on the plan from the Office of Budget and Management and the Department of Justice. An even as the PSC recalled the issue this week, there was an uneasy pause before a motion was made to recall the legislation. There was that same awkward, uneasiness later in the week when the legislation found its way onto the Government Services Committee's agenda. Curley did not appear at Government Services a threat he had hinted at to induce some action by the PSC. "He's here, I saw him outside," said Ervin Keeswood, the chairman of Government Services. "I guess we move on then. I don't see any great objections." There were several sighs of relief inside the North Conference Room. With Public Safety taking action on the legislation, it may not have needed any action by Government Services. The DOJ report to the PSC caused a sharp exchange between MacDonald-Lonetree and Curley, who had suggested that if PSC didn't act he'd take the bill himself to Government Services. MacDonald-Lonetree grilled Curley on what he intended to do if the PSC voted against or deleted his legislation. Curley noted that DOJ attorney Frank Seanez issued an opinion that he could bring the legislation to the Government Services Committee regardless of what the PSC decided. "So you'd be in favor of setting a precedence and overriding the Public Safety Committee's opinion?" snapped MacDonald-Lonetree. "Seanez says in this area Government Services has authority," Curley said. "The law is written that way." Delegate Harry Brown, of the PSC, readily agreed that maybe opinions should be given by the other standing committees. "Why did this come up? There must be something wrong, somewhere," Brown said. As the Government Services Committee meeting neared its close, Delegate Leonard Teller ventured a routine question, "Is it a dead issue now?" Keeswood admitted that he didn't know. It sounds as if a lot of internal conflicts have become embroiled in politics, Teller said. "I don't like that," Teller offered. "I wish it hadn't been on the table. I've gotten phone calls from some other delegates, they don't want this to come up." "It doesn't matter how we feel personally," Keeswood said. "We must consider it, if it comes to the table." Teller gave a sigh. "It's become a political issue now." But it could become a legal issue later. "The way I see it the Navajo Nation will be setting itself up for something beyond disagreeable," said MacDonald-Lonetree. She foresaw a lawsuit, but Curley disagreed, saying the PSC was only doing its constituted duty by voting on this issue. Chiding the committee, Curley asked MacDonald-Lonetree if the DOJ was now making decisions for the Public Safety Committee? "This legislation has caused too much controversy," said Clark. "I still sense at this point in time it's still not a good legislative act. It's embarrassing to our law enforcement. We can't keep having people sweeping things under the table." Lt. Clarence Bilagody of Shiprock Police District resigned his position in April so he could speak out on the plans to eliminate captain positions, which was a part of this restructuring package. At the time Cowboy denied there was any such plan. Bilagody also went onto charge that Benally had created a hostile work environment and he suggested that the restructuring may be more about personalities than policies. Bilagody also claimed that Cowboy flipped him the middle finger. At the time, Shiprock Chapter President Duane "Chili" Yazzie expressed concern over the "forced resignation" of Bilagody. "It is not a good reflection on the department, the division or the Navajo Nation if the forced resignation resulted more from personality politics and less from substantiated cause," Yazzie said.
John Christian Hopkins can be reached at 1-505-371-5443, or by email at Hopkins1960@hotmail.com.
http://www.gallupindependent.com/2006/jun/061506irepnl.html
http://tribeazure.com/Itemlist.asp?SubGroup=Bracelets2%2DInlay+&MainGroup=Jewelry&CustID=71122516

Navajos declare state of emergency over wildfiresResidents evacuated

Navajos declare state of emergency over wildfiresResidents evacuated, blazes blamed on droughtSam Lewin 6/14/2006
Responding to a rash of wildfires on their sprawling reservation, two officials with the Navajo Nation have declared a state of emergency.A total of nine blazes are currently scorching tribal lands. The fires, which have led to the evacuation of some residents, are all blamed on severe drought conditions. Lighting has sparked some of the fires while the causes of others are still under investigation.Navajo president Joe Shirley, Jr., and Navajo Commission on Emergency Management head Herman Shorty jointly signed a resolution calling on all branches of Navajo government to plan for the worst and prepare to activate emergency funds.“The current and continued drought conditions in the Southwest, including the Navajo Nation, are such that [they] pose a substantial risk for wildland fires,” the resolution states.The blazes are centered on the Arizona/Utah border, including a 2,000-acre fire on Navajo Mountain. More than 30 people were evacuated from their home in the Arizona town of pine Springs, while a separate fire is threatening homes near the town of Heber, about 140 miles northeast of Phoenix. Perhaps the biggest scare came when tribal officials ordered 70 people living in the Navajo capitol of Window Rock to leave their homes and take refuge in an area school when flames from a 1655-acre wildfire came within a half-mile of the community. Several people were hospitalized, including two suffering from smoke inhalation. You can reach Sam Lewin at sam@okit.com
http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=7926
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Ceremonial seeks money to boost attendance

Ceremonial seeks money to boost attendance
By Zsombor PeterStaff Writer
GALLUP — In a bid to boost attendance during the city's Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial this year, coming up at the end of the July, Louis Bonaguidi will be asking the City Council for $15,000 Tuesday evening. According to a memo to the council from the City Clerk's Office, the Ceremonial Association's board of directors decided the $15,000 should be used for free admission to its Friday night show instead of free livestock feed this year and is requesting the city's permission. If approved, it will come in addition to the $25,000 the council agreed to award the event out of the city's lodgers tax revenues. Although the council is reluctant to subsidize established events it prefers using its funds to help nascent events get off the ground and asking them to stand on their own after a few years the Ceremonial provides a big boost to the local economy without fail every year. According to the state, it's the fifth largest tourist draw in New Mexico. And even though the event will be marking its 85th anniversary this year, the Ceremonial has been struggling to make ends meet since losing state sponsorship a decade ago. It's hoping for better days again now that the New Mexico Legislature has agreed to create an office for the Ceremonial within the state's Tourism Department and appropriated $125,000 for operational costs this year. During a recent visit to Gallup, Gov. Bill Richardson also spoke of his efforts to find a new director for the association. The council will also consider awarding a bid Tuesday for the construction of at least 30 new homes in the $100,000-$150,000 price range. City officials have called the shortage of affordable housing one of the main obstacles to economic development in Gallup. To entice reluctant developers, the city is offering free land, main water and sewer lines installed at its own expense, and $50,000. It hopes of recouping most of the $400,000 it will have invested in the endeavor, the city plans on placing a $10,000 lien on each home to be added to the final price tag. The city expects the homes to be completed within two years. They'll be built on a 6.8 acre plot by Patton and Dairy Drives the city bought for $300,000 to settle a lawsuit. After dealing with the Ceremonial, the council will consider another funding request by Teen Time's John Stewart. He's asking for $11,000 to purchase an air compressor for the paintball park he opened earlier this year behind the Larry Brian Mitchell Recreation Center. Stewart's mission isn't just fun and games. He started Teen Time, and the paintball park, to give local youth safe, recreational alternatives to using drugs. He's using the revenue from regular paying customers to subsidize the play of young substance abusers. Stewart's hope is that they'll stay clean for the privilege of playing every week for a nominal price. The council may also accept a deed for an 0.8 acre of land Tuesday from Gallup McKinley County Schools for the construction of a westside fire station near Gallup High School. City officials have been talking about building a fire station in the area for the past few years and won a $200,000 appropriation from the state this year to help make it happen. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. inside the City Council Chambers.
http://www.gallupindependent.com/2006/jun/061206crmnl.html
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Desert Rock gets land lease

Desert Rock gets land lease
By Kathy HelmsDiné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Council voted Friday to lease 591 acres for the Desert Rock Energy Project despite opposition from the heads of Resources Committee.
Council approved the lease between the Navajo Nation and Din Power Authority and a sublease between DPA and Sithe Global Power LLC by a vote of 66-7 with 15 delegates either absent or not voting.
Among Resources members, Nelson Begaye, Herman Daniels and Harry Goldtooth voted to give the project the green light. Committee Chairman George Arthur and Vice Chairperson LaVern Wagner voted red, along with delegates Alice Benally, Jerry Bodie, Edison Jones, Ervin Keeswood and Ida Nelson.
Resources members Norman John II a DPA board member and prime sponsor of legislation related to the project along with Amos Johnson and Larry Noble, were among those not voting.
Upper Fruitland Delegate LoRenzo Bates, who voted for the project despite concerns about lack of an Environmental Impact Statement and the Navajo Nation taking a back seat in the project rather than ownership, said he also heard from Sithe that they encourage Navajo to be a partner.
"Yet when I read the memorandum from the president of the Navajo Nation, it doesn't state anywhere that the Nation is even considering that, other than the language in the document," he said. Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. sent a memorandum to delegates endorsing the project and asking for their support.
Bates told constituents, "It's important to me, and it should be important to us as a Nation that we become an owner right now. And I would like to make a plea to DPA to work in that direction, as well as the president, or even the next administration. Then we'll see how serious we are."
He also brought up concerns regarding water issues discussed Thursday and the eleventh-hour approach. "According to presenters, they have until June 7. It's a take-it-or-leave-it," Bates said.
"So it's come down to this, members of the council: 'Trust me. Trust me that this a good deal. Trust me that these issues are not going to be of concern. Trust me that we'll work toward. ...'"
Bates said he was giving his vote in favor of the project "because it's an opportunity that I hope this Nation works toward in terms of ownership." However, he added, "That's the only reason I'm giving a green vote. Because I've seen, in the course of the four years that I've been here, opportunities come and go. We don't act. This is an opportunity for the Navajo Nation."
Conflicting languageBates also offered an amendment to language in the resolution regarding a limited waiver of sovereign immunity. He asked that the words "expressly and unequivocally" be deleted from language stating: "The Navajo Nation hereby expressly and unequivocally waives sovereign immunity from suit with respect to any dispute under the lease or sublease ..."
Inserted in its place was language stating, "The Navajo Nation hereby approves a limited waiver of sovereign immunity." In making the motion, he said, "The way it's written, it grandstands the fact that we're waiving sovereign immunity, and I have a real problem with that. We as legislators should also have a concern with that."
Though counsel approved Bates amendment, Chief Legislative Counsel Ray Etcitty said the amendment did not change language in the lease itself. "The lease languages were drafted by the Department of Justice, Steve Begay with DPA and Sithe Global and those are the languages they have negotiated," he said.
Also helping put the lease together were representatives from the Division of Economic Development and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which assisted in ironing out areas where their involvement and action might be required in processing and approval of the lease/sublease.
Following the final vote, Sanostee Delegate Jerry Bodie said "My constituents were very disappointed at how the council voted. One of the comments from my constituents was, 'These council, all they're looking for is money. Money, money, money - that's all.' They were saying that there was no consideration for the human factor of what's going to be involved."
Bodie said there is no proof that the new plant will have relatively clean air. "I asked for it: 'Where is that plant that has the clean emissions?' Nothing," he said.
He was concerned with Etsitty's comments regarding the limited waiver of sovereign immunity. "We only changed the resolution where it said 'grant a limited waiver.' But the lease was not changed. That's still in effect.
"So the Navajo Nation, in an essence, has waived its sovereign immunity with this DPA and Sithe Global. So we're in a very dangerous situation where we have given up our sovereign immunity. That's where my constituents are very concerned because we're the ones who are going to be affected.
"Even George Arthur, who at the beginning was in support of it, the more documents he read, the more dissatisfied he became, and that's why he voted against it too," Bodie said.
"It's our health that the council has put in jeopardy. It's going to be very detrimental to the community people, and that's where we're looking for an alternative as to how to maybe stall this until we revisit the lease. Even though the Nation has approved it, it's very damaging the way we did it."
Don't read, just voteBodie said his constituents also were very concerned that council did not really read the whole lease. "It was just given to us as the presenters were coming on (Friday), which makes it very difficult to listen to those people and read at the same time.
"There were two packages that were given to us," Bodie said, rather than the inch-thick binder they received during Thursday's work session. "Neither one of us, any of us, had any time to read it and comprehend it thoroughly to make a wise decision. I may be wrong, but I think that it was a very unwise decision," he said.
Resources' Arthur represents three chapters: his home chapter of San Juan; Burnham, where he was born, and Nenahnezad. "Two of the communities, Nenahnezad and San Juan primarily Nenahnezad supported the project. Burnham said no and has been saying no for a period of time," he said.
Arthur's vote against the power plant wasn't so much a matter of support vs. non-support, as it was a matter of business structure regarding the way the business plan and terms and conditions were put together.
"If you read it, and they explained it yesterday, there are three major segments of this Desert Rock. There's tax, then there's water, and then there's land. Each one of these three segments were negotiated separately, having no inner communications. There's no interaction, no inner communications amongst the negotiators on behalf of the tribe.
"The same way with water. The water was negotiated off on the side in some corner. We've been apprised of it periodically, status and procedures. That also has its own terms and conditions. Then comes the land lease. The land lease was negotiated somewhere. I don't know who negotiated the business withdrawal.
"Now, if you put all three of them together in a clear overhead-projection type letter, and laid them on top of one another and put down a line and find out a timeframe, where it begins and where certain things happen, and where it ends,"none of the lease periods are the same," Arthur said.
"Tax is 25 years with a 15 year revisit. Water is 40 years. This particular document that we just approved is 50 years with a revisit at 25. The question is, what happens to the water at the end of 40 years for the water agreement?
"They themselves also have stated that the lifetime of the plant is 40 years. So why would you want to extend beyond the lifetime of the plant? That's a concern that I have."
Arthur said he told Sithe representatives in the presence of Din Power Authority that he would vote against it if they did not change the lease to coincide with the water lease agreement. "And I just did that," he said after the vote.
"That was what my amendment was going to be when I kept saying I needed to make an amendment. I didn't get recognized, but I guess that's the way the ball bounces at times. But I don't think it was in the best interest of the Nation, as far as business terms and conditions are concerned."
The lease does have conflicting languages which will be problematic somewhere down the road, he said."The only way the matter can be revisited is if someone introduces another legislation and council moves forward with that."
Sithe is now in the process of obtaining an air permit, according to Arthur. "Then there's the BHP coal supply. Those are probably the next two items of business activities that they're going to have to deal with. The air permit eventually that has to come back to Resources," he said.
http://www.gallupindependent.com

Worldstock

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. and SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --President Joe Shirley, Jr. of the Navajo Nation reported today thatWorldstock(TM), the department within Overstock.com(R) (Nasdaq: OSTK) thatsupports social entrepreneurship, is now one of the largest sources of privateemployment on Navajoland, an area which spans 27,000 square miles across Utah,Arizona and New Mexico. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030520/LATU020LOGO-a) Navajo Nation President Shirley said, "As one of our largest job-creators,Worldstock purchases goods from 584 Navajo artisans who earn a living and carefor their families, while preserving the traditions of our culture. We aregrateful for Worldstock's support in protecting our Nation's independence." Patrick Byrne, president of Overstock.com, founded Worldstock in Octoberof 2001 to reduce global poverty. Unlike traditional charities or relieforganizations, Worldstock does not provide handouts. Worldstock contracts withskilled craftspeople in developing countries and helps them establish long-term businesses for selling their products through the Worldstock tab athttp://www.overstock.com. On average, artisans receive 60 to 70 percent of whatconsumers spend in Worldstock. Worldstock sells the Navajo Nation's handcrafted Native American jewelry,clothing, accessories, artwork, baskets and rugs, which are certified asauthentic by the Counsel for Indigenous Arts & Culture. Worldstock will alsostart selling hand-sewn Pendleton wool pillows from women in shelters acrossthe Navajo Nation. Byrne said, "Crafts from the Navajo Nation are world-renowned for theiraesthetic beauty, and yet their history and significance are equallyfascinating. We're honored to sell them and privileged to work with theartisans who make them." About Overstock.com Overstock.com Inc. is an online "closeout" retailer offering discount,brand-name merchandise for sale over the Internet. The company offers itscustomers an opportunity to shop for bargains conveniently, while offering itssuppliers an alternative inventory liquidation distribution channel.Overstock.com is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ NationalMarket System, headquartered in Salt Lake City, and can be found online athttp://www.overstock.com. Overstock.com is a registered trademark, and Worldstock is a trademark, ofOverstock.com, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respectivecompanies. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within themeaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include, butare not limited to, statements regarding eradicating global poverty, thenumber of people employed, and such other risks as identified in our asidentified in our 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and all oursubsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which containand identify important factors that could cause the actual results to differmaterially from those contained in our projections or forward-lookingstatements.
SOURCE Overstock.com, Inc.Web Site: http://www.overstock.comPhoto Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030520/LATU020LOGO-a APArchive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk,photodesk@prnewswire.com

Renzi says his opponent should beg to debate him

Renzi says his opponent should beg to debate him
Cyndy ColePolitical Roundup11/20/2005
U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., likes Gila Valley best and won't debate Democrat challenger Jack Jackson Jr., a former state representative from Window Rock, anywhere but in Gila Valley, he told people at a Nov. 11 fundraising dinner.
"I am going to make Jack Jackson, Jr., beg me for a debate," the Eastern Arizona Courier quoted Renzi as saying. "When he does, I will only agree to a debate if it is held here in Gila Valley at EAC (Eastern Arizona College.) If he doesn't agree to come, I won't debate him."
Renzi received an award from the Safford Mine and toured the area with Department of Agriculture official Mark Rey.
"I have openly said, more than once, that the Gila Valley is my favorite part of this district," said Renzi, who owns a house in Flagstaff.
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National Energy Corridors May Impact Navajo Reservation Land

National Energy Corridors May Impact Navajo Reservation Land Environment News Service - USA... western states surrounding the Navajo Nation, appear to be building toward a legal takeover of Indian land through rights-of-way agreements the tribe could be ...
Tribe Azure Jewelry

The Navajos turn sights on schools

Navajo Nation steps forward and creates its own department of education
By Deborah Bulkeley
Deseret Morning News

For many American Indian youths, the educational outlook is bleak. In some cases, youths are more likely to drop out of high school than to graduate.
San Juan School DistrictStudents are bused in to Monument Valley High School, located on the Navajo Indian Reservation south of Blanding. The Navajo Nation has taken a step towards putting education into its own hands by creating a department of education.
Leland Leonard, Navajo tribal education director, said there hasn't been much improvement for Navajo youths since No Child Left Behind became law in 2001. In 2004, the State Office of Education reported that just under 71 percent of American Indian youths in Utah graduated from high school.
"The states and the (Bureau of Indian Affairs) are not doing it," Leonard said. "This is an initiative of exercising our sovereignty, our inherited right to reform the educational system on the Navajo Nation."
Leonard said in July the Navajo Nation amended its Title 10 education code to create its own department of education and is also establishing a school board. The department will look at the "unique language and culture and incorporating those into the curriculum" over the next decade at about 180 schools in the Four Corners region.
"The Navajo language and character development, those are all essential tools our kids need to learn," he said.
Shirlee Silversmith, Indian education specialist at the State Office of Education, said the Navajo Nation already had an education director, and the restructuring provides more authority in areas such as accessing data.
"There would be a greater direction for cooperation as well as collaboration," she said. "A lot of this is based on sovereignty rights of tribes. It puts our American Indians in a unique status that will allow tribes to establish themselves as state departments of education."
Many tribes, she said, conduct their own research and analysis of data so they can better assist students and parents.
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Peyote Use by Native Americans Doesn't Damage Brain

By Amanda GardnerHealthDay Reporter,
FRIDAY, Nov. 4 (HealthDay News) -- In an example of modern science catching up to ancient wisdom, researchers have found that Native Americans who use peyote as a regular part of their religious practices show no evidence of brain damage or psychological problems.
Quite the contrary, these individuals scored higher on several indicators of mental health than members of the same tribe who did not use peyote and who were not members of the Native American Church.
Navajo experts expressed delight at the findings.
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Fears behind FALSE FASHION by Kacy Carr

False Fashion is it for you? What you have to bear in mind when keeping up with all the newest trend is, that never once were you in the designer/s thoughts when putting his/her creation together.
How many times have you cringed at styles knowing at the back of your mind how hideous you would look dressed in what was designed for the catwalk?
Top designer labels do not come cheap and can be quite expensive leaving you broke because you want to keep up with the Jones's Ever felt stupid when attired up to nines to stop the jibes from your friends, keeping up with fashion is all well and good, but if you are not comfortable with your appearance then do something about it. Start by ignoring nasty remarks, true friends do not pass judgement unless in your favour.
It makes sense to put your own fashion ideas to use and into the bargain cost effective. Design your own label? Who knows may be your friends will want a piece of the action. Top designers started this way.
When out shopping; find a shop selling quality gear for half the price of what it would cost to dress in designer gear. You will find similar or duplicated designs to the latest craze in most stores. Is the content of your wallet/purse holding you back from making a purchase. Then get yourself to the local second hand shop and pick up a bargain.
Stick with the trend by wearing the colours in fashion. Charity shops donate to good causes, so as well as looking a million dollars you help the starving people of the world.
Uneasy with the new boob tube where the bare fleshy stomach is on full view, then narrow it down to a glimpse for the onlooker, add a little lace tassels or beads.
Belts do not do down well for the pleasantly plump, okay so we find an alternative. Gather leather strips, braid/plait them together then hang the twisted menagerie loosely around the waist add a little glitter to spice it up, this will not only look effective but complement your size.
How to get away with no boots if money is tight
Buy a closed in shoe then get a matching pair of coloured knee/ankle length socks and hey presto from a distance a pair of boots How good is that?
What is the point of expensive designer labels when the only person that gets to see that new outfit is you? all because the bank balance states 0.00 where you do not get to party till your next payday, and by then with the fashion industry as it is, the oufit may well be past its sell by date.
False fashion is what it is. Your height, weight, skin type was never taken into account by the designer unlike the rich stars. How on earth can you look your best by other folks choices? Think about it if anyone knows what will suit you? is you.
You may find allaboutonlineeducation.com is a great place to start if you were thinking about dressmaking or looking for information on teaching yourself the in's and out's of getting on in this life.
About the Author
Unless you marry a footballer or born with a silver spoon in your mouth then don't expect to be wearing designer knickers as well. A win on the lottery may change all that. http://www.pick3today.com

Advanced Leather Repair By Jake Berlin

Cracks in Leather The only way to un-crack leather is to replace it. One approach that leather repair specialists use is to clean the leather and then re-color it. The result is that the leather will have a uniform appearance. The cracks will still be there but will be less apparent. You can also have a leather repair professional replace the cracked areas and match the new leather to the original color. This works best when you are working with a panel of leather, for example on a car seat or the surface of a furniture cushion. Dog and Cat Scratches If you own a dog or cat, do not allow them on your leather furniture – PERIOD! For dogs, most damage occurs while climbing on and jumping off. If you are a cat owner, leather fillers or tanner’s resin will cure the symptoms but not the problem. You might consider buying your cat a scratching post and put it near the area where the cat is scratching before using the filler. Spray water on the scratch and cover it with a small square of 1000 grit wet sand paper from the hardware store. Sand very lightly until the surface is smooth and you cannot feel the tear from the scratch anymore. You may end up needing to re-color the furniture if the scratch damage is extensive. That would be a job for a pro. Leather Repair Kits If your leather has a tiny tear and it's not highly visible, (and if the color is black) any leather repair kit should be sufficient if you follow directions. However, there are a couple of things to be aware of in case you run into problems. The repair material may not bond well with the leather. This happens if the leather is old or if the heating element supplied with the kit (if it's included) is not hot enough. Usually, a leather repair kit will contain grain papers that you rub over the repaired area to imprint a grain-like finish. The idea is that the grain will resemble that of the original undamaged leather as much as possible. Some grain papers are also pigmented. It's difficult to match color but it's even more difficult if the leather is old. Experts say that unless the leather color is black, the repair will show. You may need to place a small piece of cloth and padding under the tear to help hold the edges together. You can place a piece of material under the tear and glue it with the edges to be repaired as close together as possible. Hold the edges together while the adhesive dries, or use a hair dryer (very carefully) to speed up the process. Using a leather repair kit will usually hide the tear and hopefully prevent further damage. The problem with using a leather repair kit is the damaged area will always be weaker. The other thing you can do of course is have someone replace the damaged section of leather and match the color professionally. Stuck Leather If you have a leather item with sides, such as a purse that appear to be stuck together, look inside to see if you can tell exactly where the sides are sticking. You should be able to see if it is sticking in a couple of places or if the leather is completely stuck shut. Hold the item over a pot of boiling water – not too closely and do not allow the purse to get soaked. The heat and humidity will expand the pores in the leather and might allow you to work the sides free, just do not force them if they will not budge. You could also try to work some leather cleaner in between the sides. If there is dirt or other grime that's holding the sides together, this may loosen it. Finally, if getting the sides separated doesn't look easy, take it to a cobbler for repair.
About the Author: *** Hey! Want To Make Something Out Of Leather? *** Discover How To Make Leather Crafts for Fun and Profit Click Here ==> http://www.leathercraftsecrets.com

12 Creative Ways To Recycle Your Christmas Cards!

By: Lindsay Small
Don't throw your Christmas cards away! There are so many creative ways to use your Christmas cards, many of which you can do with your kids. We have brought together some ideas below. Christmas jigsaw game: Make a Christmas jigsaw game. Gather 10-20 cards and cut each one into 3 or 4 pieces, using straight lines. Shuffle them up and lay them out on a flat service such as a dining table or the floor – then put them back together again! Store the cards in a shoebox for next time. This is fun on a quiet family evening at the beginning of the season as it helps to get everybody into the Christmas spirit! Christmas tree ornaments: Make cinnamon stick ornaments for the Christmas tree. Wrap a small bundle of cinnamon sticks together with a pretty ribbon tied in a bow (leave a loop for hanging). Using a small dab of glue, attach a pretty shape cut from a Christmas card with pinking shears to the centre of the ribbon bow to finish the ornament off. These look pretty and smell delicious too! Scented sachets: Make scented sachets to give as gifts or fragrance your own home. Simply glue the bottom and side edges of the card together and then slip a small amount of potpourri (or a cotton ball on which you have dropped a little Christmas essential oil) into the space. Use a hole punch to make two holes on the top edge, through which you can thread a pretty ribbon before tying a bow. If you leave a loop in the ribbon, the sachets can be hung on door handles, coat hooks or radiators (the heat will help to release the scent, but it won’t last as long) to create a welcoming, Christmas atmosphere. Christmas mobile or “string”: Cut shapes out of the cards in matching pairs. Hearts work nicely, as do simple Christmas tree shapes and even plain squares and circles. Stick the cards back to back and laminate them, then punch a hole in them and use to make a colorful and child-friendly mobile or “string” to decorate next year. You could add to this every year. As a variation, you could back each shape with a plain-colored piece of card or construction paper and write on it the date and name of the person who sent the card. Christmas card game: Cut playing-card shapes out of the cards, stick a piece of plain card over any writing if necessary, and use to make a Christmas game or quiz for your children to play next year. Laminate to protect. Gift tags: A traditional activity, but one which never fails to amuse the kids, is making gift tags for next year's presents. Use pinking sheers, a hole punch, and leftover ribbon Gift bags: Make gift bags for next year by saving smart paper bags. Cut a nice shape out of each card and stick it to the front of the bag (covering any shop labels if necessary). Sometimes one Christmas card will yield many different bag decorations! Add a little ribbon bow just above the card and wrap your present in tissue paper before putting it into the bag. This looks lovely with brown paper bags and tartan ribbons. Miniature Christmas cards: Some Christmas card designs can be cut and folded into miniature Christmas cards for the kids to give next year, or for decorating the dolls house. Christmas screensaver: Scan your favorite cards into the computer – and some of your favorite messages from inside the cards as well – and make them into a Christmas wallpaper or screensaver with a photo program. Children love this and it is a great memento if you do it each year. Lacing card: Cut out the pictures on the larger cards, punch holes around the edges with a hole punch, add a shoelace or brightly colored yarn (with sticky tape wrapped around the ends) and you have a cheerful and cheap lacing card for little ones. If they are particularly popular you could laminate them to make them last longer. Christmas confetti: Make some Christmas confetti to use next year (scatter it on the Christmas table, or put a pinch inside your Christmas cards and gifts!) Use either a plain hole punch or a special Christmas one (both together look great) and choose the most colorful areas from each card to cut. Gold and silver looks very effective, especially mixed in with red and green. Small scraps of leftover wrapping paper can be used too. You can keep the children busy with this for hours!
About the Author: Lindsay Small is the owner of Activity Village, packed full of fun and educational activities for kids. Do you have children aged 2-10? Visit http://ww.ActivityVillage.co.uk to find free kids crafts, printables, educational resources, worksheets, coloring pages and puzzles, jigsaws, Sudoku for kids and much more!

Ooooh Scary!! By: CASSIE MORGAN

With Halloween just around the corner, why not consider doing some ghoulish crafts with your children? One of my favorite crafts to do with the kids is Halloween candle making. Your kids will love it, and it is appropriate for any age group. You will need the following supplies to get started:
1. A pillar candle. 2. Some “cut and carve” wax. 3. Some wax adhesive. 4. Halloween cookie cutters. 5. A shallow pan.
Heat your “cut and carve” wax, and pour it into the shallow pan. Be sure that you fill the pan approximately 1/4 inch., and try to ensure your pan is on a level surface. Allow the wax to cool, but not until it has completely hardened.
After the wax has cooled somewhat, use your cookie cutters to produce your scary shapes. We like to use quite a variety of shapes and sizes. Try to arrange your shapes to maximize the use of the wax.
You can use other tools to produce different shapes. For instance, you can use drinking straws to produce eyes for your creepy monsters. Or you can use a small paring knife to make free form shapes. As always, be extra careful using sharp objects around the children.
Remove the cookie cutters, and allow the wax to harden completely. This will ensure that your cut-outs maintain their shape when you are working with them.
When the wax has cooled, start removing your shapes. Do this in the same manner as you would if you were making cookies. Feel free to use a spatula or another household utensil to assist. Do not worry if the excess wax breaks up….you can always reheat it!
If you are using a round candle, you will need to shape the wax cut-out to fit the contour of the candle. We like to use a hair dryer to soften the wax enough to be pliable, but not enough to melt it. Place it directly on the side of the candle to shape it, but be careful not to break it.
Using your wax adhesive, cover the back of the cut-out. You can also use clear candle wax, but try to work fast because the wax will harden quickly. You can use a paint brush to apply the melted wax.
Now you are going to apply the cut-out to the candle. Try to place it in the correct spot on the candle. The cut-out will be difficult to move once the wax has started setting, and the candle may get damaged. That’s it! You’re finished! Trick or Treat!
About the Author: Cassie Morgan is a mother of three, and loves doing crafts with her little ones. When she is not playing with her children, she writes freelance articles for websites such as http://www.candlesandcandlemaking.com – a website dedicated to all things wax, featuring information on candle making techniques(http://www.candlesandcandlemaking.com/ ).Source: www.isnare.com

Giclee Printing - A True Fine Art Print Process? By Steve Feasey

The association of giclee printing with its conceptual cousin - inkjet printing - has led some people to question the validity of this printing medium as a true fine art system. To address this, I think that it is first important to look at the history of fine art printmaking and see if giclee printing fulfil the parameters set out therein. Fine art printmaking has traditionally been based on the concept of creating a master plate - known as the matrix - from the original and using this to reproduce a predetermined number of 'editions' of the original artwork. Historically, the matrix was then destroyed by the artist, producing a set of truly limited edition prints. The more traditional printing techniques such as etching, lithography and linocut have evolved into art forms themselves and required a huge degree of expertise to reproduce the original to the artist’s precise demands. Nowadays, the production of a printing matrix is no longer necessary as the high quality scanning techniques employed by printing companies results in a perfect facsimile of the original painting or photograph. Giclee printing offers incredibly high degrees of fidelity and richness of colour when compared to other 'traditional' printing methods and because no screen or other mechanical device is used, there is no visible dot pattern. The expertise that is employed involves the careful monitoring of the colour system through the use of colour profiling techniques and the understanding of the colourspace that the machine operates within. The print-on-demand nature of the printing process enables photographers and artists to maintain full control over the artistic integrity of their work which, coupled with the proven archival permanence of giclee prints (when coupled with specifically designed output media and inks) ensures that the artist's work will be enjoyed for decades. Naturally, the understanding between the artist and their customers that the edition is truly limited must be maintained. The matrix is no longer destroyed, but the original scanned file must be deleted or removed from circulation upon reaching the defined number of released editions, but this has always been the case and the advent of giclee printing has no impact on this mutual understanding. Giclee printing is indeed a fine art printing technique and one that is truly liberating for photographers and artists wishing to share their work with the widest possible audience whilst achieving a quality that was hitherto unobtainable without huge expense.
About the Author: Steve Feasey is a co-director at Iconic Imaging Ltd, a company specialising in canvas prints and fine art printing for artists and photographers. For more information on the giclee print services they provide, visit http://www.iconicimaging.co.ukSource: www.isnare.com