OPVP Inaugural Newsletter
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Office of the President and Vice President INAUGURAL NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019 FIRST EDITION IN THIS ISSUE Inauguration Day Page 2 Advocacy for the Navajo People at the Arizona State Capitol Page 3 Proclamation in honor of the late Navajo Code Taker Alfred K. Newman Page 3 Offi ce of the President and Vice President 100 Parkway Meeting with Congressman Tom O’Halleran Page 4 Post Offi ce Box 3440 Window Rock, Arizona 86515 President and Vice President call for an end to the government shutdown Page 4 Phone (928) 871-7000 Fax (928) 871-4025 Honoring the Life of Milton Bluehouse, Sr. Page 5 For the latest news from the Office of the President and Vice President, 2019 Navajo Nation Inauguration Picture Highlights Page 6/7 please visit www.nez-lizer.com Food Drive Flyer Page 8 email [email protected] or find us on Facebook and Twitter. 1 President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer officially take office Joined by their families and thousands of Diné • Division of Community Development Dr. Pearl Yel- citizens during an Inauguration Ceremony held on lowman Tuesday, Jan. 15, Jonathan Nez officially became the • Division of Transportation Executive Director Gar- youngest Navajo Nation President as he and new Vice ret Silversmith President Myron Lizer were administered the oath of • Division of Economic Development Executive Di- office to assume the Navajo Nation Office of the Presi- rector JT Willie dent and Vice President. • Division of Public Safety Executive Director Jesse Navajo Nation First Lady Phefelia Herbert-Nez Delmar and Second Lady Dottie Lizer stood at their side, as • Navajo Nation Washington Office Executive Direc- Navajo Nation Chief Justice JoAnne B. Jayne admin- tor Santee Lewis istered the oath of office at noon at the Bee Hółdzil • Division of General Services Executive Director Lo- Fights Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona. mardo Aseret In his inaugural address, President Jonathan • Division of Human Resources Executive Director Dr. Nez focused on Unity, Hope, and Resilience for the Na- Perphelia Fowler vajo people, individually and collectively. He also ad- • Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency dressed the need for positive change within the Navajo Executive Director Oliver Whaley government. • Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office Executive “Our team ran a grassroots campaign in which Director Robert K. Black, Jr. towns and commit to staying home and deliberately we welcomed and embraced our people from every • Department of Veterans Affairs John King making all purchases locally!” corner of our great Nation and beyond. We met many • Division of Natural Resources Executive Director First Lady Phefelia Herbert-Nez and Second people with unique perspectives who brought a wide Dr. Rudy R. Shebala Lady Dottie Lizer also addressed the audience. The variety of matters to our attention, but it was appar- First Lady delivered a passionate address in which she ent that they had one common notion in mind when it “We set out to have our team in place by Inau- encouraged Navajo families to show compassion for came to our Nation’s leadership and our Nation’s gov- guration Day. Today, we are proud to announce that we one another and for parents to love their children, and ernment – the need for change. I believe that’s why we have our team in place, and that we are ready to get to to strengthen their families through prayer. see so many new faces among the leaders who took work to bring change to the Navajo Nation!” President “Prayer has the power to clear obstacles, to the oath of office with us today,” said President Nez. Nez stated. change us, to protect us, and to give us breakthroughs He also called for the Navajo Nation govern- Vice President Myron Lizer focused on support- in our lives. As a parent, I encourage all parents to pray ment to be more fiscally responsible, especially when ing small business development and Navajo entrepre- with their children. Let your children see that it’s a time the Nation may face a sizeable decrease in annual rev- neurs who are aspiring to become business owners. to spend time with God,” said First Lady Phefelia Her- enue in the coming months. In addition, he said that “As a business person, I want to help our Diné bert-Nez. working together, the Nation can move in a positive entrepreneurs who are working hard to create econom- Second Lady Dottie Lizer also emphasized the direction if we also focus on making positive changes ic opportunities through their own ingenuity, creativity, importance of family, while also focusing on issues im- as individuals. and dedication. Historically, our people have proven to pacting Native American women and called for the re- “Change presents opportunity – the oppor- be self-sufficient and self-sustaining and today, many authorization of the Violence Against Women Act by tunity to work together to strengthen and empower of our young Navajo people are striving to carry that Congress. ourselves as individuals and as communities. Along the forward by developing businesses and by testing the “The issue of domestic violence and violence way, we talked with many elderly, youth, single parents, limits of their potential. As Vice President, I will make it against women needs to be addressed. By taking a working families, students, and many others seeking the a priority to help our small business owners and entre- stand, the victims, survivors, their children, families, change that we all deserve and desire,” added Presi- preneurs,” stated Vice President Lizer. friends, and communities can heal and our Diné society dent Nez. “What I saw was hope. Despite the many He also put forth a challenge to the Navajo would have the capability to break the cycle,” she stat- challenges we face, our people still have hope – a hope people to commit to buying locally during the week of ed. for a better tomorrow for all of us as Diné people!” Navajo Sovereignty Day in the month of April. Following the Inauguration ceremony, Presi- President Nez used part of his Inaugural Ad- “I am a strong advocate for “Buy Navajo, Buy dent Nez and Vice President Lizer met with key cabinet dress to recognize cabinet members for the Nez-Liz- Local.” The Navajo people are an economic giant. We members to begin implementing a path forward for the er Administration who were seated in the audience. are an economic force when you look at the amount Navajo Nation. Among the new and returning appointees in atten- of dollars that we pour into border towns outside of The Nez-Lizer Administration also congrat- dance included the following: the Navajo Nation. We need to change that mindset ulates members of the 24th Navajo Nation Council, and support our Navajo entrepreneurs!” stated Vice Navajo Nation Board of Education, Navajo Board of • Chief of Staff Paulson Chaco President Lizer. “Come the week of April 22nd, as our Election Supervisors, and Kayenta Township Commis- • Attorney General Doreen Nanibaa McPaul Nation recognizes Navajo Sovereignty Day, let us all be sioners who were also sworn-in to office. • Department of Health Executive Director Dr. Jill Jim challenged to resist the long trips to our nearest border 2 Advocacy for the Navajo People at the Arizona State Capitol On their first full day in office, Navajo Nation the new administration. help small business owners on the Navajo Nation,” President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron “We all know that water is life. Water is essen- added Vice President Lizer. Lizer were joined by First Lady Phefelia Herbert-Nez, tial for everything in our daily lives and it’s important The Nation’s new leaders were also part of as they attended the 24th Annual Indian Nations and that the Navajo Nation have a seat at the table when the ceremony held during a joint session in the Senate Tribes Legislative Day at the Arizona State Capitol on Arizona water allocations are being discussed at any building, which brought together many tribal leaders Wednesday. level of government,” stated President Nez. from across the state to address issues important to all Major discussion items with state legislators in- Vice President Lizer said infrastructure devel- tribes. cluded the need for water rights for the Navajo Nation. opment is vital for every part of Navajo Nation in order President Nez and Vice President Lizer were During his inaugural address on Jan. 7, Arizona Gover- to development community housing, to create small each recognized during the joint session at the 24th nor Doug Ducey emphasized the need for the state of businesses, and other initiatives. He offered his coop- Annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day. They Arizona to secure water as soon as possible. eration to partner with state leaders to help Navajo en- congratulated new Navajo state leaders Representa- During several meetings with State Legislators, trepreneurs through grants and other avenues. tive Arlando Teller, Representative Myron Tsosie, and President Nez and Vice President Lizer said securing “I am a big supporter of ‘Buy Navajo, Buy Lo- returning Senator Jamescita Peshlakai as well. water rights for the Navajo people is a top priority for cal’ and we’re going to push that notion in order to Proclamation in honor of the late Navajo Code Talker Alfred K. Newman On their second full day in office on Jan. 17, Wood People Clan). He was born on July 21, 1924, their sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice Pres- at Rehoboth Hospital in Gallup, N.M. and resided in comrades, and community members during a funeral ident Myron Lizer issued a proclamation honoring and Kirtland, N.M.