I am the lead author of SB1653, sponsored by Senator Wendy Rogers. SB1653 is calling for a Study Committee and Funding for a Boundary Examination to determine if my idea for Sitgreaves County is feasible and in the best interests of all concerned.
I am a veteran, published writer, working musician, and filmmaker. I’m also a Native American and a former Mormon. Politically, I identify myself as a progressive democrat.
On October 20, 2016, I invented “Sitgreaves County” as a fictional set for my film “In the Land of Good Oaks”. At that time, which was the beginning of the Trump era, I was doing a Borat-style publicity stunt in the hope that it would get me and the movie noticed.
I played every stereotypical role I thought would work for me, depending on my audience. During this time there were no limits for me because I justified that everything was just “for the show”.
But while I may have deceived some, others found me out and cried badly from the start. To keep them at bay, I kept my personality and until now referred to them as “enemies of the movement”. I said many unjustifiable things in my materials and private messages about Indians (especially Navajo), Mormons and other groups, firstly to be shocking and controversial in hopes that it would attract the press and secondly, about the Conservatives to make that I had targeted I look awful and ridiculous.
My meeting with representative Walt Blackman was a turning point. I gave up my personality and he encouraged me to come up with a real plan that would be beneficial to both the entire region and the tribes. So that was the direction I was going.
When the news got out, I became the “real” leader of the local grassroots movement in Sitgreaves County. When the coronavirus pandemic began, we helped feed local communities, including local tribes, through the Southern Navajo County’s Community Feeding Collaborative. I also worked with Desert Mountain Energy Corporation to secure the future of northeast Arizona as the helium capital of the world. Their population has grown 657% since then.
After testifying in favor of SB1653 during the Senate committee hearing, I even targeted and attacked lobbyist Barry Aarons who opposed the bill by posting viscous memes about him on the internet and his email address Passing it on to my supporters would bother him.
Because the 2017 materials are fake in the way that they were intended to be used as a publicity stunt for my film and are still around … including the fact that it was read against the bill during the COW in the Senate and online against the Bill Conversation County has now led Navajo Nation President Nez and Vice President Lizer to issue a formal letter to Governor Ducey against the bill alleging that proponents of the bill were racists.
I tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire that I started for more than a week because of causing so much pain. The only productive conversation I had was with Lizer, Vice President of the Navajo Nation, with whom I spoke at the behest of Senator Rogers, where I explained all of this. Going forward, we agreed that whatever happens of this whole fiasco, all parties must work towards a cure.
I understand that all sad words from someone who has been so dishonest for so many years will sound insincere at best, and that each and every individual affected by my actions must decide for themselves whether they are willing to accept my apology. But I am saddened by the pain I have caused so many people. Regardless of what good came or might come from my actions, the good does not excuse my bad behavior. I take full responsibility for the wrong I have done. I hope, not for my sake, but for the sake of everyone who has been hurt by my actions, that they can all forgive me.
In the best interests of all, I will no longer be involved in this matter. However, I sincerely hope that we can all come together as Arizonans and Americans, regardless of ideology or race, to find ways to transform these events into something that will heal, rather than aggravate, these terrible and poisonous divisions in our country and our communities, for which I am also responsible due to my prejudices and actions. I promise to work with a professional to understand my own pain and anger so that I too can forgive and not bring it into the world by hurting others again.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I pray that this apology will bring greater peace and understanding to everyone who receives it.
Jesse Michael-Geronimo Valencia
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