ST. GEORGE — Hope Silvas sums up one objective of the Shivwits Band of Paiutes in simple terms.
“Self-sufficiency is the ultimate goal,” the Shivwits Band chairperson said.
And to achieve that, she said she knows the tribal council must build up their economy in business, health care, building upkeep and technology of current times. This includes the process of being self-reliant in providing energy to her people.
The U.S. Department of Commerce granted the Shivwits Band a $500,000 grant for a research study involving the design and engineering of a solar farm and hydroelectric power plant. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan, developed as a result of COVID-19.
Angela Martinez, regional director of the Denver Regional Office for the Economic Development Administration, which falls under the umbrella of the Department of Commerce, told St. George News “the purpose of the grant was to provide $100 million designated for Indigenous Peoples out of $3 billion under the COVID rehabilitation plan nationally.”
Some $60 million was requested for the grant, and $11 million was earmarked for Indigenous Peoples. Applicants from all 10 states within the Denver Region submitted requests.
Martinez then received recommendations from an investment review committee.
“This shows this project, in particular, was seen as very competitive and rose to the level of being needed for funding and importance,” Martinez said.
The design is for a “small-scale” solar plant, Silvas said.
“It will be about 20-25% the size of a normal solar power plant and one of two on native lands within the state,” Silvas said.
The tribe has potential sites picked out – one is just west of the main community of the Shivwits tribe, a hill with no name. The other spot is just north of that hill.
The last couple of years has seen the public fight against implementing solar power plants within communities, such as the Red Butte Solar Project in Dammeron Valley and the former Battle Born Solar Project in Moapa Valley, Nevada.
The residents of those areas have made claims of research showing the toxicity of waste from solar farms, damage to the local environment, and the selling of public lands as why the residents do not want the solar plants nearby. Click here for more about claims of damage to the environment by the residents.
“For us, we are more concerned about our native plants, our native animals, specifically tortoises,” Silvas said. “That is why it is more scaled-down, and surveys, as well as studies, will be taken and performed before we decide on a permanent location.”
The solar plant will create “some” jobs, Silvas said, including general labor and culture monitor positions. The culture monitor will ensure the plant does everything to protect the local environment and community.
The tribe has formed a partnership of “support” from Utah Tech University, and the college will be providing the specialists essential for the study.
“Our band is all about becoming self-sufficient,” Silvas said. “I know we’ve been taking advantage of all of the funding opportunities that are being thrown out there. If we can potentially benefit from those fundings, we’re applying for them.”
Silvas added they do not have any distrust for the government, but part of the reason for a desire for self-sufficiency is the amount of paperwork and “red tag” involved with government procedures, and ost importantly, the time consumption.
“If we see something, a need for our community, we want to be able to do it then and there. Not having to wait,” Silvas said.
One of the shortages is a lack of housing. The Utah Paiute Tribal Housing Authority oversees the housing situation for all of the five bands in the housing partnership of Shivwits, Cedar, Koosharem, Kanosh, and Indian Peaks.
“There is a desperate need for more housing,” said Silvas, adding that what puts the Shivwits at the forefront of all the tribes in Utah is economic development. The tribe owns five businesses, including insurance, health and a convenience store.
The tribe is adding 12 fuel pumps and has formed a partnership with the Utah Youth Soccer Association, which will put in soccer fields on 19 acres known as Legacy Fields. A remodeling of their administration building is coming soon as well.
They also have formed a partnership within the last two years with the Kayenta Arts Festival. This helps raise funds for scholarships for members to further their education. They went from raising under $4,000 raised in the first year to over $10,000 in the second year .
“When I first started, not a lot of things were happening … but there has been a lot of growth,” Silvas said. “We don’t just have a tribal council but an economic board that oversees all of our economic development.
“The Shivwits Board Corporation has been a huge help to our progression. That is exactly what we are working for, self-sufficiency.”
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