100 Parkway Drive, Window Rock AZ OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 86515 AND VICE PRESIDENT P.O. Box 7440, Window Rock AZ 86515 Phone: (928) 871-7000 AGENCY REPORT March 23, 2019 Prepared for: NORTHERN NAVAJO AGENCY COUNCIL FIRSTLY AHEE’HEE’ On behalf of the Administration, we look forward to building a positive and productive working relationship with each of the local governments for the benefi t of our people and the Navajo Nation. Most importanly, we thank our people. Without you, we would not be in the position to lead our Nation and help our people today. We have met many people with unique perspectives who brought a wide variety of matters to our attention and the need for change. Thank you chapter offi cials and staff for taking the challenge of serving our people and your communities. I assure you that the Nez-Lizer Administration will work with you to create a better future fo all of our people. God Bless each of you, and God Bless our great Navajo Nation! JONATHAN NEZ NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT AGENCY REPORT CONTENT DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY 4 INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT 5 SENIOR CENTER TRANSPORTATION 5 NAVAJO CODE TALKER MUSEUM 6 DENNEHOTSO MARKET 6 AGRICULTURE INSURANCE INVESTMENT 7 NAVAJO GIRLS SCOUT VISIT 8 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION 8 FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM 9 BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 10 UNITED VOICE AT THE ARIZONA CAPITOL 10 PUBLIC SAFETY ADVOCACY 11 MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN 12 NAVY SHIPS 12 POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATION 13 N.M. CAPITAL OUTLAY 14 ANIMAS AND SAN JUAN RIVERS 15 #BUYNAVAJO #BUYLOCAL 16 Office of the President and Vice President 3 NAVAJO NATION DECLARES EMERGENCY DUE TO WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS On Feb. 19, President Jonathan Nez and Vice The Office of the President and Vice President President Myron Lizer signed a declaration of emergency The EOC advise all chapters to submit all cost issued by the Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency summaries relating to the 2019 Navajo Nation Winter Management due to severe winter weather conditions Storm operations to the Navajo Nation Department of on the Navajo Nation. The declaration allows for local/ Emergency Management Director Harland Cleveland at chapter funding to be used to assist those in need with [email protected] and Lavina Willie-Nez at supplies such as fire wood, food, and other resources in [email protected]. anticipation of the Nation receiving as much as 12-inches of snow. “Throughout the monoth, we encourage chapters to carefully assess local needs to ensure the efficient and effective use of emergency funds to help those that are truly in need,” said President Nez The 110 chapters are each required to have an emergency response plan to implement in situations such as adverse weather conditions. Many chapters also have Community Emergency Response Teams in place to help local community members. President Nez said that maintaining accurate documentation is essential to obtaining assistance through federal entities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He noted that the Navajo Nation may be eligible for reimbursements through FEMA if damages exceed a $250,000 threshold, in accordance with the federal Stafford Act. On March 6, President Nez and Vice President Lizer met with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to advocate for the reimbursement of emergency funds for the Navajo Nation, resulting from the recent Declaration of Emergency due to recent heavy snowfall. Since the declararion, the Navajo Nation Division of Transportation deployed personnel to clear snow over 3,000 miles of roadways in coordination with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo, Apache, McKinley, San Juan (N.M.), and San Juan (Utah) County. The Navajo Department of Health, Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources, and the Navajo Nation Divison of Public Safety have been working collaboratively to address the strom issues within the 110 communities. On March 13, approximately 60 chapters have declared a stand down due to the stabilization of the snow storm. However, the chapters were advised to continue to monitor, coordinate, and assist community members as needed during the stand down. “This has been a team effort and we communicated with counties, states, and other entities as well. The declaration was a step in the right direction in being proactive to mobilize resources ahead of time before more storms reach our communities,” added President Nez. 4 http://www.opvp.navajo-nsn. ADMINISTRATION THANKS ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR JOINING THE DEFENSE OF THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice finding ICWA unconstitutional would drastically impact President Myron Lizer commended Arizona Attorney the lives of American Indian children, including Navajo General Mark Brnovich for his recent announcement that children. Arizona is part of a bipartisan coalition of 19 states that Vice President Myron Lizer added that the Indian filed an amicus brief in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Child Welfare Act was enacted to protect the best interests to defend the Indian Child Welfare Act in Brakeen v. of American Indian children and to avoid displacement of Zinke. children from birth families and their tribes. In Oct. 2017, the state of Texas and a non-Indian The states of California, Alaska, Colorado, foster family in Texas filed a complaint, in federal district Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, court, which challenged the constitutionality of the act Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New and the 2016 ICWA regulations. The complaint was later Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington are also amended to include the states of Louisiana and Indiana part of the coalition that filed the amicus brief in the Fifth and additional foster families in Nevada and Minnesota. Circuit Court. President Nez said the lower court’s decision SENIOR CENTERS RECEIVE NEW TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY VANS President Jonathan Nez and officials from the menu consultation, and the new vehicles. Navajo Nation Division of Aging and Long-Term Care “Over the last several years, programs for elders Support celebrated the arrival of new transportation vans have been chronically underfunded and often bear the and food delivery vehicles for senior centers in Window brunt of any shortfall in funding. This was an opportunity Rock on Feb. 13. The vans will be delivered to the five to provide more funding for essential services like food Navajo agencies to help Navajo elders that benefit from and especially vans for our seniors to be safe and to have senior center services. reliable transportation and the ability to have access to President Nez said the gathering is the food and resources. It’s about working together with culmination of the collaborative efforts between the leadership to prioritize our elders,” said Delegate Crotty. Navajo Nation Department of Health, Division of The funds allowed the Nation to purchase 36 General Services, Division of Aging and Long-Term new vehicles, which are gradually being delivered to the Care Support, and the Navajo Nation Council. He added central Fleet Management office where they will undergo that the new vans ensure that Navajo elders travel in safe inspections before being delivered to the five agencies and reliable transportation, and helps to provide meals to across the Navajo Nation. They will also receive food Navajo elders in their homes who are unable to travel to delivery vehicles, referred to as “hot shots,” that will senior centers. “Senior centers throughout the Nation provide door-to-door services and transportation to the senior centers for lunch, social gathering, or special events. Many of the existing vehicles have high mileage and in need of repairs,” said President Nez. “Our senior centers need these vans to provide effective services for our elderly population.” In April 2018, the 23rd Navajo Nation Council approved legislation sponsored by Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, which provided $2.8 million from the Navajo Nation’s Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance to the Division of Aging and Long-Term Care Support to fund needs assessments, equipment, food Office of the President and Vice President 5 be used to deliver meals to elders at their homes – each resources and services for them,” added President Nez. vehicle can hold up to 150 cold and hot meals. He also noted that the Division of General “The Nez-Lizer Administration recognizes that Services will develop policy to ensure that senior centers our Navajo elders play an important role in our families receive vehicle repairs and new vehicles on a periodic and communities. They carry on the knowledge of our basis to ensure the continued safety of Navajo elders and way of life and they bring us joy and comfort within the availability of food delivery services. our families,so we must continue to provide adequate SUPPORT OF NAVAJO CODE TALKER MUSEUM President Jonathan Nez was joined by Vice President Myron Lizer on Jan. 31, as he provided testimony before the New Mexico Senate Indian and Cultural Affairs Committee in support of Senate Bill 365 sponsored by State Sen. John Pinto (D-Dist. 3), which seeks an appropriation of $1 million from the state to assist with the design and construction of a Navajo Code Talker Museum and Veterans Center in the state of New Mexico. “The Navajo Code Talkers served courageously also passed a resolution supporting the funding request on in World War II in defense of the United States. It is behalf of the Navajo Nation. President Nez also presented only right that we honor and support them through this the committee members with a letter signed by him and appropriation. Many of our Code Talkers have passed on, Speaker Seth Damon outlining the position of the Nation. and it is important that this museum and veterans center Honorable Pernell Halona and Honorable Daniel be constructed to honor their memory,” said President Tso were also in attendance and spoke in support of the Nez.