Probe sought over archaeological sites
Four Native American legislators call for firing
Four Native American state lawmakers have called for criminal investigations of state Parks after
reported this week that the agency may have bulldozed archaeological sites in a rush to develop state parkland.
Sen. Jamescita Mae Peshlakai and Reps. Eric Descheenie, Wenona Benally and Sally Ann Gonzales also called on Gov. Doug Ducey to immediately fire Parks Director Sue Black to prevent further harm to Native American archaeological sites on state parklands.
The lawmakers asked in letters sent Tuesday that acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Strange and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich to investigate alleged violations of the state Antiquities Acts, which outlines how archaeological and paleontological discoveries on state land should be reported and handled. It prohibits defacing protected sites and artifacts.
In a letter to Ducey, the lawmakers, all Democrats, also asked for a separate state investigation of the allegations and that it be publicly released to restore “any trust lost among the tribal nations of Arizona.”
Black did not return calls to her cellphones.
The state on Monday launched its fourth investigation of Black. The probe followed report in which former Parks archaeologist Will Russell said he repeatedly cautioned Parks officials, including Black, that the agency’s development work on cabins and trails might violate the law and destroy Native American artifacts. Russell provided records to support his allegations.
Russell said that in one case, Parks unearthed ancient stone tools and caused “irreversible” damage to a site dating back 12,000 years, according to agency memos.
“There are dozens of archaeological sites that have been wrecked” because Parks officials didn’t want to delay development plans, Russell told The Republic.
Russell left his job with Parks on Oct. 15 and now works for another state agency.
A high-ranking administrator in Ducey’s administration appeared to share Russell’s concerns in a July 25 email obtained by The Republic, but those concerns were ignored. That administrator was then transferred to another state agency.
Peshlakai, Descheenie and Benally are members of the Navajo Nation. Gonzales is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. The lawmakers are also members of the Arizona Indigenous People’s Caucus.
While the lawmakers are in the minority party in the Legislature, they carry significant clout with their tribes.
The governor has pointed to his strong relationship with Arizona tribes as one argument for his re-election.
His campaign, however, declined to answer questions about Black. Daniel Scarpinato, Ducey’s campaign spokesman, said the issue was not campaignrelated and referred questions to the Governor’s Office.
Daniel Ruiz, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office, did not return calls.
The governor has repeatedly stood behind Black, despite three investigations
“There are dozens of archaeological sites that have been wrecked” because Parks officials didn’t want to delay development plans. Will Russell Former state parks archaeologist
into allegations she has mistreated staff.
Russell claims that under Black’s direction, the agency:
❚ Built a garden in an archaeological site at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, north of Payson, after being told to wait for an archaeological investigation. Russell noted in an April 14 memo to three Parks executives that the damage affected historic properties and “is irreversible, was not authorized, and was not monitored by a qualified archaeologist.” The memo also says work at the site exposed artifacts including “two lithic tools.” The site likely has “been visited or occupied over the span of 12 millenia or more,” and could have provided information about Apache subsistence and demography that has “thus far eluded Southwestern archaeologists,” he wrote.
❚ Expanded a picnic area into a historical homestead site at Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon, north of Sedona. In a March 16 memo, Russell noted a historic roadway ended at a large area that had been bulldozed and unauthorized development work had been done, causing “land disturbance.” “This is a serious violation of several statutes, policies and acceptable practices,” Russell wrote. “If an ancestral Native American sited had been damaged, it would have added considerable liability.”
❚ Built a trail in 2016 at Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park near Yarnell that went through a Native American archaeological site after being warned not to. Russell said when he tried to address the problem, Black rebuffed his efforts and removed him from his role as tribal liaison.
Black during her tenure has faced numerous allegations of inappropriate and disrespectful behavior, including berating employees in front of other staff, disclosing confidential information, using racial slurs, getting drunk and belligerent while representing the agency at conferences, and trying to circumvent the state procurement code.
The only discipline imposed by Ducey was to have an aide give her a verbal reprimand to treat staff better.