Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly issued a statement in support of a water rights settlement in Arizona.

The settlement resolves the tribe's claims to the Little Colorado River. Shelly said the deal will spark economic development on the reservation, resolve decades of litigation and create a better future for the Navajo people.

"Communities and businesses will have the opportunity to grow and prosper without being held back by limited water supplies," Shelly said in a statement.

The statement came after Johnny Naize, the speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, introduced a bill to approve the settlement. He said the Navajo people should debate the issue in the open.

"My role as your Speaker is to ensure that the people who oppose and the people who support the water rights settlement have this important conversation," Naize said in a statement.

S.2109, the Navajo-Hopi Little Colorado River Water Rights Settlement Act, was introduced in February. It also settles the water rights of the Hopi Tribe.

Get the Story:
Navajo president backs water rights settlement (AP 6/12)

Related Stories:
Harrison Tsosie: Water rights an exercise of Navajo sovereignty (6/4)
Chris Clark-Deschene: Water rights deal good for Navajo Nation (6/1)
Students: Water rights settlement won't benefit Navajo people (5/23)
Jihan Gearon: Cities in the desert are thirsty for Navajo water (5/11)