HIS148 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Navajo Nation, Navajo
Document Summary
This is a critical time for the navajos. 1920s - start of a period of intense political, social and economic transition for the navajo people. Political changes were most obvious and immediate, however social and economic changes began at this time. Had an equally important effect on the tribe"s immediate future. During the 1920s, the newly formed navajo tribe council would annually hold a regular session. Primary business was to decide best interest. To lease land to oil companies or not. Oil companies wanted to drill on the reservation. Council members studied each proposed lease carefully. Increasingly demanded that their people receive a fair royalty or pct of oil company profits. Small amount of oil was being obtained from the few producing wells. This was a disappointment to the oilmen and navajos. Oilmen had turned away from the navajo lands. Whatever profits navajos had, they chose to put this in a general tribal fund.
