Volume 2, Issue 2 February / March 2007 Window Rock, Arizona 86515

When should you use 9-1-1? • In an emergency situation only when immediate when and how to call for help when us- assistance is needed from police, fire or medical emergency personnel. ing emergency 9-1-1. The students were joined by two • A call to 9-1-1 should always be a call for HELP!! special guests. The first guest was Presi- • It is free to call 9-1-1 from a payphone. dent, Dr. Joe Shirley, Jr. who told the students that calling 9-1-1 on the telephone is to save a life in danger and they should not use it for prank calls. They watched the President read aloud the Proclamation for Red E. Fox to be adopted as the Students from Hunters Point and Teecnospos L to R: Red E. Fox, Lt. Francine Bradley , Buckle Bear, Boarding School waiting to see Red E. Fox and Ashkii Happy, Gruff the Crime-fighting Dog, Darren the official 9-1-1 mascot for learn about Emergency 911 while other schools D.A.R.E. Lion with Nation President, Dr. Joe and wit- were shut down due to the snowy weather. Shirley Jr. at Navajo Nation 9-1-1 for Kids Day. nessed him signing it. He On January 31, 2007 at the Navajo Nation told the students that Red Museum in Window Rock, the Navajo Nation E. Fox will be your friend welcome it’s newest Public Safety mascot, Red. and your teacher on how to E. Fox. Students from TeecNosPos Community use 9-1-1 when there is an Miss Navajo, Jocelyn Billy entertains the children & attendees emergency. School, Hunters Point Boarding School and local Navajo song to help children remember 9-1- Finally, Red E. Fox made his official areas were part of the Navajo Nation 9-1-1 for 1 using their five senses: hear, smell, feel, entrance on stage. The audience ap- Kids Day event. The children received coloring taste and see. plauded his entrance and the students books, bags, pencils, balloons, etc. Lieutenant Students, parents and attendees also yelled in unison “Red E, Red E. Red E.” Francine Bradley, Navajo Department of Law watched a 15 minute video program on how The second guest was Miss Navajo, Enforcement was the Mistress of Ceremony. She to use the telephone when calling 9-1-1. Jocelyn Billy. She talked to the students talked directly to the students on when to use 9-1- Red E. Fox will be visiting schools on the on the importance of learning how to call 1. The students responded to all her questions on Navajo Nation to educate students on the for emergency help. Then she sang a proper use of 9-1-1.

On February 1, 2007, the Tohajiilee and the overall schedule. Pilot Project kick-off meeting took place Clint Wedel, SDR presented the require- in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There ments and methodology for the Tohajiilee were representatives from the Navajo Pilot Project. The Navajo Nation is re- Nation Enhanced 9-1-1 Task Force, To- quired to appoint an Addressing/GIS Map- Students waiting to learn about 9-1-1 at Navajo Nation hajiilee Chapter officials, Navajo Hous- ping Coordinator to oversee the rural ad- Museum. Snow did not keep the students away from en- ing Authority, Bernalillo County, City of dressing initiative. Additional project plan- joying the 9-1-1 for Kids Day. Albuquerque, State of New Mexico 9-1- ning meetings will be scheduled for Ad- 1 Office, Ron Whinery Consultants, and dressing and GIS Mapping to establish a INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Spatial Data Research (SDR). The meet- comprehensive addressing plan. Page ing was intended to facilitiate the face- The group agreed to use the Bernalillo Sacred Winds Communications 2 to-face meeting of some of the key pilot County Rural Addressing Standards for the project members. They reviewed and pilot project. The Tohajiilee Chapter se- Rural Addressing Prioritization 3 discuss various agreements, the scope of lected a local committee known as 9-1-1 Planning Committee 3 work, the roles and responsibilities of “Tohajiilee Community Action Team” to individuals, teams, and organizations, serve as the rural (Continued on Page 4) 9-1-1 Kids Program 4 NAVAJO NATION 9-1-1 P AGE 2 9-1-1 Community Day in Tohajiilee, NM Tohajiilee 9-1-1 Community Aware- The task force members have extended ness Day is scheduled for March 10, 2007 an invitation to the following organizations from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the De- to participate: Public Safety, Health, Toha- sidero Center. The E9-1-1 Task Force jiilee Community Action Team (TCAT), members and Tohajiilee Chapter staff are Department of Early Childhood, Head Start, working closely on coordinating activities Tohajiilee Indian Health Service, Crown- for the Awareness Day. point Police Department, Bernalillo County The E9-1-1 Task Force will dissemi- Communication Department and SDR to nate information to the community mem- provide information on their programs. 9-1-1 for Kids attendees bers on 9-1-1, Rural Addressing and the The 9-1-1 Public Education is designed 9-1-1 for Kids Program. The 9-1-1 Public to provide the community members, chapter Education program is designed to increase officials and council delegates the opportu- the awareness and educate the Dine’ on nity to find out how these programs are inte- the proper use of dialing the 9-1-1 emer- grate in helping the communities. Lunch gency number to save lives and property. will be served to the public. There are three basic plan messages: when to call 9-1-1, how to call 9-1-1 and what to say in the case of a police, fire, and medical or poison emergency. LeAnn Goy, GIS Analyst, NDOT

erations this past December 2006. This has allowed the Company to begin pro- viding Qwest customers to be con- verted to Sacred Wind Communica- tions. According to the Sacred Wind Presi- E9-1-1 Task Force Members posed with dent, very little change in phone service Attendees eating pizza lunch with two Ashkii Happy & Public Safety Mascots will be experienced. Qwest will con- camera shy students tinue to carry current telephone traffic from Sacred Wind local copper wire Sacred Wind Communications systems to its switches in Gallup, Ft. Wingate, Thoreau, Aztec, Farmington, and the Federal Communications Commis- Kirtland, Bloomfield, and Albuquerque sion (FCC), they began operations. west to the outside world. Sacred Sacred Wind Communications (hereafter Wind will be building a state-of-the-art Sacred Wind) is a privately-owned; New wireless telecom network and is ex- Mexico based company, dedicated to im- pected to have the foundation com- prove telecommunications service to rural pleted by September 2007, at which areas within New Mexico. They have pur- time more advanced services will be chased from Qwest Corporation its local available to their customers. telephone facilities serving portions of Na- Phone rates for services provided by vajo lands and lands in the northwest, Four Sacred Winds will not be different from Corners, and Tohajiilee (formerly Canon- Qwest rates until Sacred Winds com- Sacred Wind Communications Team cito) areas of the state. pletes its network development. The Focused mainly on introducing basic tele- current and future rates are approved by Sacred Wind Communications pro- phone services to the many thousands of un- the NM Public Regulation Commis- vided an interesting presentation at the served homes on the Navajo Nation, Sacred sion. But once Sacred Wind’s new E9-1-1 Quarterly Task Force Meeting on Wind also has the intent and mission of pro- system is in place, it will follow the January 30, 2007. Mr. Gil Arviso, Presi- viding the most advanced services; includ- established process for any rate dent of the Company and a resident of St. ing, high speed Internet services, to changes. However, Sacred Wind will Michaels Chapter community shared in- and non-Navajo residents, governmental keep in mind the Navajo Nation cus- formation on his unique company that entities, and businesses in their territory. tomers by promoting the FCC’s Tele- was recently established in September, They have received all required New Mex- phone Assistance Program and the Na- 2005. After a lengthy process of filing ico and FCC authorizations to acquire tive-American oriented Tribal Lifeline their application with the New Mexico Qwest Corporation’s network located in the program which guarantees eligible Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) areas described above and have begun op- (continued on page 4) V OLUME 2, I SSUE 2 P AGE 3 9-1-1 Planning Committee In order to qualify for state 9-1-1 fund- vices; Henry Wallace, Department Manager, The Navajo Nation is one step closer in ing, a public or private safety agency or Department of Emergency Medical Services accessing state E9-1-1 funds from Arizona any group of agencies shall establish a 9-1- and Pearl Lee, Program Manager, Navajo Na- and New Mexico and bringing those funds 1 Planning Committee to develop 9-1-1 tion Communications & Utilities Department. back to the Navajo Nation to implement an emergency telephone service plans for the The committee shall, upon formation, submit a effective 9-1-1 system on the Navajo Nation. specific geographic area for which the service plan as outlined in Arizona Administra- agencies shall be providing service. tive Code R2-1-403, Submission of a Service The Navajo Nation E9-1-1 Task Force Plan. Once the plan is approved by State of has identified the following members: Arizona, the State of New Mexico has commit- Ervin Keeswood, Chairperson, Govern- ted that they will accept the same plan. In addi- ment Services Committee; Hope McDon- tion, the service plan will be provided to the ald-Lonetree, Chairperson, Public Safety State of Utah. They have set aside $150,000 for Committee; Kenneth Peterson, Division Navajo Nation E9-1-1 implementation. Director, Division of General Services; At this point, the Service Plan is ready for Samson Cowboy, Division Director, Divi- review and comment by the E9-1-1 Planning sion of Public Safety; Jim Benally, Chief Committee. Once approved by the Committee, of Police, Navajo Nation Department of the service plan will be submitted through the Law Enforcement; Larry Chee, Chief of 164 Review Process for approval by the appro- Dr. Joe Shirley, Jr., NN President addresses Fire, Navajo Nation Fire & Rescue Ser- priate oversight committee (s). area students on 9-1-1 Kids Day

Rural Addressing Prioritization and Roll-out

Rural addressing is a prerequisite for vance of the project initiation, with payments enhanced 9-1-1 service. going directly to the vendor as the work is com- The Navajo Nation Enhanced 9-1-1 pleted. Arizona reimburses for expenses in- Task Force has been developing presenta- curred after the project is successfully com- tions and guidelines to assist the chapters pleted. and planning the prioritization and roll-out As a community member, you can assist by of rural addressing Navajo Nation-wide. making sure your chapter is included in the The first major step by chapters to dem- rural addressing roll-out. There are enhanced 9- onstrate their readiness to move forward 1-1 and rural addressing presentations and guidelines available to help educate and in- Kids from area schools posing with Buckle with rural addressing is to adopt a resolu- Bear, McGruff and Red E. Fox at 9-1-1 for crease awareness of community leaders and tion to support enhanced 9-1-1 and rural Kids Day addressing. Once there is a resolution, the members. Contact and discuss with Valcita next steps are following the guidelines Thompson at 928-871-7742. Once discus- recommended by the Task Force, which sions are initiated between the chapter and staff includes: identifying members and assem- members, a set of recommended guidelines will bling their chapter addressing committee, be furnished that should help your chapter reviewing and proposing road and street organize the initiative. names for their community, and commit- ting to accompanying field crews when they are in the community performing field verification. The current philosophy for rural ad- dressing roll-out will start with the TóHa- jiilee Pilot Project as a demonstration pro- ject. The expectation is to learn from and refine the processes and guidelines devel- oped. Then, the roll-out will continue from east to west, starting in New Mexico and ending in Arizona. Much of the field work has already been completed for San Juan County, Utah, so it will be scheduled to fit into the roll-out during the latter portion of the New Mexico phase. Funding methods available from the Red E. Fox and Lt. Francine Bradley, states has dictated the roll-out philosophy. Red E. Fox with his new pals Mistress of Ceremony at 9-1-1 for Kids Day The New Mexico phase is funded in ad- Event LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY P AGE 4

Navajo E9-1-1 Newsletter welcomes letters Upcoming Events from readers on the Navajo Nation who have COMMUNICATIONS & UTILITIES DEPARTMENT used 9-1-1 for help. Tell us your experience. Pearl Lee, Program Manager: [email protected] Letters should be limited to 120 words or less. Tohajiilee 9-1-1 Community Day, March 10, 2007

Valcita Thompson, Community Involvement Spec. Letters libelous or slanderous will not be Tohajiilee, NM [email protected] accepted. Letters must have writer’s true name E9-1-1 Planning Committee Meeting, April 3, 2007 (no fake) with address and telephone number in Quality Inn, Window Rock, AZ E9-1-1 Task Force Members the event we must contact you. Newsletter Editor/Public Education: E9-1-1 Task Force Meeting, April 4 & 5, 2007 Address: NN Museum, Window Rock, AZ General Distribution E-mail: Editor, Navajo E9-1-1 Newsletter [email protected] COMMUNICATIONS & UTILITIES DEPT. P.O. Box 2928 We’re on the Window Rock, Arizona 86515 Web! (Continued from page 2 “Sacred Winds”) www.e911.navajo.org families to receive the lowest rates avail- able anywhere. (Cont. from page 1 “Tohajiilee Kick off meeting”) ad- The uniqueness of Sacred Wind is their dressing committee. This committee, along 9-1-1 For support of the culture of the Navajo Nation with the addressing coordinator, will be respon- Kids by facilitating communications between sible for assigning road names and house num- Program Navajo customers and the rest of America. bers, and accompanying the field crews when The operations and form of customers in- they are performing field verification work terface will reinforce the values important within the chapter. The Navajo Nation Enhanced 9-1-1 to the Navajo customers. In fact, Mr. Ar- SDR will be utilizing some existing center- Task Force recognized the need to viso stated they will hire and train bilingual line roads and house dwelling data furnished by educate children about the proper use Navajo staff to meet the service needs of the Navajo Department of Transportation and of the telephone and of 9-1-1. The the People. They will establish land use Sacred Wind Communications. The existing Task Force decided to team with “9-1- agreements for Fixed Wireless Local Loop data will go through the quality assurance- 1 for Kids,” which is a nonprofit char- technology communications towers and quality control process using the 2005 digital ity organization established to provide poles; employ “distance-friendly” technol- aerial photography as a reference map layer to comprehensive 9-1-1 education to ogy, and new construction conducive to the see if realignments are needed. Field verifica- children ages 4-7 years of age. environment. tion will be done by SDR personnel accompa- The Task Force contracted with the The planned commitments by Sacred nied by a member of the addressing committee “9-1-1 for Kids” organization to util- Winds will bring the quality of life re- in April 2007 to verify centerline road data, ize the Red E. Fox mascot and collat- sources to the Navajo Nation. They will location structures, resident information, and eral materials. The mascot and collat- establish computer training in partnership business information. Field verification and eral materials will be used to deliver with Navajo Technical College (formerly collection of additional routes and house loca- consistent public safety messages to Crownpoint Institute of Technology), tions will take approximately two weeks. children. It is essential that children at Dine College, Navajo Health Services, and Along with field verification, the field crew an early age understand that the tele- high schools. Computer discounts and or will collect information from community mem- phone is not a toy, but that it is okay donations may be provided also. It is the bers to be used for addressing information. to call 9-1-1 when they need police, mission of Sacred Winds that more Navajo Tohajiilee Chapter president, Tony Secatero, fire or medical assistance. The Navajo homes will be serviced with telephone recommended that the Tohajiilee Council Dele- Nation E9-1-1 Task Force, in partner- communications and one that is high qual- gate Lawrence Platero sponsor a resolution to ship with the Navajo Nation Law En- ity and affordable. Other items include lobby for additional funding for installing and forcement Department, the Navajo greater technological opportunities for the maintenance of road signs and house number- Nation Fire & Rescue Services, and People by having access to education, eco- ing tags. the Navajo Nation Emergency Medi- nomic advantages, and E9-1-1 security and The Navajo Nation E9-1-1 Task Force cal Services, will increase 9-1-1 access to health care services. members have volunteered a significant amount awareness and education throughout Mr. Arviso stated, the name given to the of time to help increase public awareness and the Navajo Nation. Communications company, “Sacred Wind educate the community members about this The Navajo Nation Enhanced 9-1-1 is the primary drive to introduce telecom pilot project. The task force, in collaboration Task Force will use the “9-1-1 for services to the thousands of isolated Na- with local government entities, is dedicated to Kids” educational program and the vajo families,… Sacred Wind brings the successfully implementing and completing this mascot, Red E. Fox to educate the breath of life to humankind and is the con- pilot project to further assist the Tohajiilee children within the Navajo Nation. duit for communicating,… Sacred Wind community to have a complete enhanced 9-1-1 With approximately 200 children Communications intends to breathe new system. There is a “Tohajiilee E9-1-1 Commu- present at the January 31st presenta- life in the communications system that our nity Day” scheduled for March 10, 2007 to tion, Dr. Joe Shirley, Jr. read and customers will depend on for safety, edu- provide additional public awareness for the signed the proclamation whereby the cation and economic growth.” pilot project. Red E. Fox will be at the commu- Navajo Nation adopted Red E. Fox, For more information call the interim nity event as well. For more information on the National “9-1-1 for Kids” mascot customer service center at their toll free this event, please contact Valcita Thompson, to educate our children in the proper number: (877) 259-2944 or (505) 722-3300 Community Involvement Specialist, Communi- use of 9-1-1. or visit their website at: cations & Utilities Department at (928) 871- www.sacredwindcommunications.com. 7742.