24th Navajo Nation Council Holds 2019 Fall Session The Fall Session of the 24th Navajo Na- Council approved $22,903,539 in funding tion Council concluded Wednesday, Octo- through four legislations: ber 23, 2019 at the Navajo Nation Council 2019 1. $19,297,576 to the Division of Eco- Chamber in Window Rock, Arizona. The nomic Development for Church Rock Navajo Nation Council received three oral Industrial Park projects. reports on its rst day in session from the Navajo Nation O ce of the President and 2. $205,963 to the Division of Aging and Fall Session Vice President, the Bureau of Indian Af- Long Term Care Support. fairs, and the Navajo Nation O ce of the 3. $3 million to Tonalea Chapter, which Legislative Branch News Chief Justice and a written report from the lacks a physical building. O ce of the Speaker. 19 total legislative actions were considered at the Council’s 4. $400,000 for the Tohatchi Area of Op- quarterly session, including amendments portunity and Services, Inc. for 8 vehi- to the Navajo Nation Code: cles to serve Navajo children with spe- cial needs. 1. Title 13 was amended through the “Ac- cessible Public Restrooms Act” which The Council also made three appoint- requires public service entities to pro- ments: Dana L. Bobro¡ , Chief Legislative vide clearly indicated restrooms. Counsel; Kimberly Dutcher, Navajo Nation Deputy Attorney General; Crystal Cree, 2. Title 2 was amended to grant the Nav- Commissioner on Navajo Government De- ajo Nation Human Rights Commission velopment. more options in addressing human rights grievances. Council took several other actions during the Fall Session: 3. Title 21 was amended to increase the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority’s debt • A $50 million Navajo Nation Schol- limit from $500 million to $1.5 billion. arship Endowment proposal was re- ferred to the Budget and Finance Com- 4. Title 11, the Navajo Election Code, was mittee. amended to clarify appointment and special election provisions; to amend • Navajo Nation Energy Policy of 2013 removal provisions and O ce of Hear- amendments were tabled for no longer ings and Appeals procedures; and to than Winter Session. change the date of the Navajo Nation • Also tabled was legislation terminat- primary election to the rst Tuesday in ing the general indemnity agreements August. granted for NTEC. The plan of operation for the Diné Urani- um Remediation Advisory Committee was amended to adjust membership and to add language pertaining to technical assistance for the commission. # Contents Page 24th Navajo Nation Council holds 2019 Fall Session 1 A special note from the Speaker of the Navajo Nation 2 Moments from Q4 ‘19 MMIW-MMDR: Delegate Crotty leads Missing & Murdered Diné Relatives, Women & Girls eff ort 3 Recap: Council allows $1 billion to NTUA debt limit 4 Transportation: Bonding proposal under development Recap: $50 Million Scholarship Work-Loan Proposal Sent to B&F Delegates set state legislative priorities 5 Council approves Churchrock Industrial Park funding Voting rights focus of Legislative Branch 2019 Fall Session Voting Results 6 2019 Fall Session Honorees 8 Photos: Opening day participants Council switches from Ustream to Vimeo Supporting Diné veterans 9 Energy offi ce to follow Navajo Energy Summit Diné Bizaad Subcommittee Photos: Appointments Navajo Counts! 2020 Census 10 PHOTO: 24th Navajo Nation Council Delegate stresses the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act importance of Social Services funding for women and chil- Funding: Tribally Controlled Schools dren at the 2019 Special Budget Session. Window Rock, AZ. USNS Navajo underway 11 2 NAAT’ÁJÍ NAHAT’Á HANE’: FALL 2019 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH NEWS A special note from the Moments from Q4 ‘19 Speaker of the Council Approves Navajo Nation Fiscal Year 2020 Comprehensive Budget Navajo Nation The FY2020 budget passed in record time thanks to the dil- á’át’ééh, shik’éí dóó shidine’é. igence of the branch chiefs, standing committees, division Thank all of you for joining me directors, program managers, and chapters. these past few months in con- Y 9/3/19. tinuing steady progress towards better- ment for our Diné people. PHOTO: Council Delegates Edmund Yazzie, Mark Freeland, President Honorable Carl Roessel Slater Elected Nez, Delegates Wilson Stewart, Jr., and Raymond Smith, Jr. gather to break ground on the future Crownpoint Hotel. Crownpoint, N.M., 9/27/19. Together, we conducted the a¡ airs of Carl Roessel Slater resigned to run for Hon. Nelson S. Be- the Nation and succeeded in provid- Gaye’s seat. He joins us now as the Council Delegate from ing a resounding response for our Diné Round Rock, Arizona. people during the busy fair season. Ea- ger to get on to the business of policy 10/10/19. creation and revision, we passed our FY 2020 budget in record time. (For this, Navajo Nation Fairs we commend the work of the Execu- The O ce of the Speaker teamed up with Legislative Branch tive and Judical Branches in delivering programs. Our « oat stuck to the core message of advocating solid budgets). for Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives. PHOTO: City of Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans and Council Delegate Thom- It is no mystery that our scal year as Walker, Jr. following the declaration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Flag- begins in October - Gháájí’. This is the Summer ‘19. staff . Flagstaff , AZ, 10/15/19. time of renewed beginnings and har- vest and this 24th Navajo Nation Coun- Senator Martha McSally Visits cil is evidence enough of the changes Senator Martha McSally honored us and the Navajo Code our nation is facing. Talkers with a visit during our annual celebration. She spoke ardently on supporting Native American veterans. In keeping with our heritage and with the resilience we inherit from our an- 8/14/19. cestors, forefathers, and foremothers, PHOTO: 2019-2020 Yavapai Apache Nation Tiny Tot Boy Wyatt Jackson (Diné/Yavapai Apache) waves from his fl oat in the 2019 Navajo Nation Fair we embrace change because our future Parade. Window Rock, AZ, 9/7/19. Congressman Tom O’Halleran Visits depends on it. The Congressman from Arizona visited and gave an address It is my hope that, with this report, you to Delegates of the 24th Navajo Nation Council. He visited will see the results of an ongoing e¡ ort Diné Bikyéyah, including Leupp, Bodaway, Page, and more. to shiª underlying processes and inter- nal systems to re« ect what is best about 8/16/19. the Navajo work ethic: we are willing to rise to the challenge and adapt new First Nations Voting Rights tools and ideas. The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission and the PHOTO: Contestants take part in the Grand Entry of the 2019 Navajo Na- tion Fair Song and Dance event. Window Rock, AZ, 9/7/19. I can con dently report that we are Utah Rural Project hosted the First Nations Voting Rights building a strong position for the not conference in Salt Lake City to discuss securing Native just the coming years, but the coming American voting rights. decades. The changes I have challenged 9/26/19. each person within the O ce of the Speaker to bring about are stepping Navajo Code Talkers Week stones to a more accountable future for The three branch chiefs issued a proclamation for Navajo our people. Code Talkers Week from August 12-16, 2019. The Navajo Na- tion continues to honor the valor and sacri ce our Navajo The next steps we take will be well-po- Code Talkers made in WWII. sitioned and coordinated. 8/14/19. PHOTO: Speaker Seth Damon and Offi ce of the Speaker staff donated pumpkins to the Saint Micheals Association for Special Education and The O ce of the Speaker and the entire Hoghan Hozhóní Childrens Home. St. Micheals, AZ, 10/7/19. Legislative Branch shares this newslet- Candlelight Vigil for Victims of Murder ter with you and we hope that you will An emotional vigil organized by Delegate Crotty was held nd it informative and demonstrative at the Navajo Nation Council Chamber in remembrance of our nation’s steady progress. of victims of murder. 19 victims were remebered by loved ones. 9/25/19. RECA Advocacy Trip Leadership undertook a non-stop advocacy trip to Wash- ington to take the words of the Navajo people directly to PHOTO: Council Delegates Pernell Halona, Daniel Tso, and Paul Begay Seth Damon Senators and Representatives on the Radiation Exposure stand with students from the Many Farms Community School. Window Speaker, 24th Navajo Nation Council Rock, AZ, 10/15/19. Compensation Act. 9/12/19. WWW.NAVAJONATIONCOUNCIL.ORG NAVAJO NATION OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER, 24TH NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL 3 PHOTO: Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty organized an emotional candle light vigil to remember victims of murder and to pro- vide a space for friends and relatives to help each other heal. Window Rock, AZ, 9/25/19. MMIW MMDR Delegate Crotty leads Missing & Murdered Diné Relatives, Women and Girls eff ort Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, while chair of the Sexual Assault Prevention Subcommittee in the 23rd Navajo Nation Council, initiated a project to facilitate pol- icies and protocols that begin to address the underreported epidemic of missing and murdered Diné relatives and wom- en. Through this e¡ ort, Delegate Crotty has led multiple events across the Navajo Nation. Th O ce of the Speaker has as- sisted Delegate Crotty by continuing to support the mes- PHOTO: Empty chairs draped with red and yellow fl oral fabrics symbolize missing and murdered Diné relatives, sage of ghting for increased funding at tribal, state, and women, and girls at the candle light vigil. Window Rock, AZ, 9/25/19. federal levels for the issue.