2017 Spring Council Session Recognitions
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Naat’ájí Nahat’á Hane’ Legislative Branch News 23rd Navajo Nation Council Spring Council Session - April 2017 Navajo Nation Council votes to replace current NHA board members By Jared Touchin On April 20th, the Navajo Nation Council vot- CJA-13-17 stated that the changes would take effect ishgish, Tse’ii’ahi, Whiterock) said a change in board ed 16-4 in support of Legislation No. 0145-17, which 120 days after the President signed it on Feb. 10th. members is necessary to improve NHA and to provide would effectively remove the current Navajo Hous- The legislation passed on April 20th would more homes for Navajo people. ing Authority board of commission members, if the change the effective date to state that the changes Accordng to the legislation, NHA completed resolution is approved by President Russell Begaye. would take effect “immediately” after the President 26 homes in 2016, 50 homes in 2015, and 21 homes in The emergency legislation was added to the Spring signs it into law. If signed into law, the resolution 2014, while failing to expend large amounts of annual Session agenda by a vote of 17-1. would immediately remove the current board mem- federal funding. In January, the Council approved resolution bers. Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie (Baca/ CJA-13-17 to lower the number of NHA board mem- In his opening remarks to Council, legislation Prewitt, Casamero Lake, Counselor, Littlewater, Ojo bers from eight to fi ve members and to increase and sponsor Council Delegate Jonathan Perry (Becenti, Encino, Pueblo Pintado, Torreon, Whitehorse Lake) improve the qualifi cation criteria for board members. Crownpoint, Huerfano, Lake Valley, Nageezi, Nahod- spoke in support of the legislation, adding that the See “NHA BOARD”, Page 2 Navajo Nation Council honors high school state basketball champions By Crystalyne Curley During the Spring Council Session, the ication and for winning state championships for their Council recognized and congratulated high school schools and the Nation,” stated Speaker LoRenzo girls basketball teams from St. Michael Indian School, Bates (Nenahnezad, Newcomb, San Juan, Tiis Tsoh Sanders Valley High School, Tohatchi High School, and Sikaad, Tse’Daa’Kaan, Upper Fruitland). Shiprock High School for winning state championships The St. Michael Indian High School girls in their respective divisions. The 23rd Navajo Nation basketball team won the 2016 – 2017 1-A division Council presented each player and coach with plaques Arizona state basketball championship, the Sanders and medallions as they received a standing ovation on Valley High School girls basketball team won the 2016 the Council fl oor. – 2017 2-A division Arizona state basketball champi- “We are honored to have our youth with us at onship title, the Tohatchi High School girls basketball the Spring Council Session to recognize their accom- team won the 2016 – 2017 3-A division New Mexico PHOTO: (above) Council Delegate Jonathan Hale recognizing plishments and success. On behalf of the 23rd Navajo state basketball championship title, and the Shiprock the St. Michael Indian High School girls basketball team during Nation Council, we congratulate them for their ded- High School won the 2016 – 2017 4-A division New the 2017 Spring Council Session on April 18, 2017. See “BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS”, Page 3 Offi ce of the Speaker If you would like to receive Like us on Facebook: Post Offi ce Box 3390 press releases, news, and other information Window Rock, Arizona 86515 www.facebook.com/navajonationcouncil via email, please email: Phone (928) 871-7160 Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: [email protected] Fax (928) 871-7255 @23rdNNC www.navajonationcouncil.org 1 NHA Board / cont. from Page 1 lack of proper management at NHA has led to waste- a letter to the current board members outlining their the Navajo Nation. ful spending and a severe shortage of homes for concerns and disappointment with the current state of Since the Council approved the changes to students, elderly, veterans, and families. NHA, and requested the immediate resignation and/ the NHA board in January, the board positions have “When you have people living in storage units or removal of NHA’s managing officers. been advertised and approximately 30 individuals that is a testament to the mismanagement at NHA,” Delegate Shepherd serves as the chair of the have submitted applications. President Begaye stated stated Delegate Tsosie. Resources and Development Committee, which has that interviews are ongoing and that he wants to have The Council was also informed that congres- oversight authority over NHA. new board members selected by the end of the week. sional members and staff recently visited the Navajo Prior to taking action on the legislation, the Prior to voting on the legislation, the Council Nation and shared their concerns over the perfor- Council met with President Begaye who said he fully also approved an amendment directing NHA to en- mance of NHA and noted that the Navajo Nation supports the legislation, adding that he has met many sure the safety of all official documents due to con- could face one of several repercussions including people throughout the Navajo Nation who have told cerns with the questionable practices of NHA and the having the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban him that they have “given up” on trying to obtain possibility of NHA destroying, damaging, or removing Development take over the housing program, having housing through NHA. He added that many times documents and property. a cap placed on federal funds that the Navajo Nation housing applicants are told that their documents have The Council approved Legislation No. 0145- receives, or having a freeze placed on NHA funding. been misplaced and many have been on waiting lists 17 with a vote of 16-4. President Begaye will have ten Speaker Bates, President Begaye, and Council to receive housing for years. He also noted that many calendar days to consider the resolution once it is sent Delegate Alton Joe Shepherd (Jeddito, Cornfields, Navajo people are now resorting to purchasing and to the Office of the President and Vice President. Ganado, Kin Dah Lichíí, Steamboat) recently issued living in storage units due to the lack of housing on “Diné Nation” legislation fails to garner enough support By Crystalyne Curley On the second day of the Spring Council Ses- “The name change would only reflect the vajo Nation Office of Controller to the Council, stated sion, Legislation No. 0395-16 failed to garner enough Navajo Nation government. Other non-governmental that in order to replace calendars, promotional items, support from the Navajo Nation Council. The bill entities would not be affected by the change, such as stationery, stationery supply forms, and office supply sought to amend Title II of the Navajo Nation Code the Navajo Code Talkers. This was the request of our promotions would cost the Navajo Nation government for the purpose of changing the designated name of youth,” stated Delegate Hale. approximately $57,000. the “Navajo Nation” to “Diné Nation.” The legislation states that all correspondence, In support of the legislation, Council Dele- During the Winter Council Session in January, stationary, and letterheads of Navajo government gate Davis Filfred (Mexican Water, Aneth, Teecnos- the Council tabled the legislation along with a direc- entities would use “Diné Nation” rather than “Navajo pos, Tółikan, Red Mesa) stated that the name change tive to hold a work session to hear perspectives from Nation.” would be a positive change for the Nation. others such as the elderly and the Navajo Code Talker Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie (Baca/ “The word ‘Navajo’ is not our people’s word. Association. Council members also requested cost Prewitt, Casamero Lake, Counselor, Littlewater, Ojo The term is not apart of our traditional language. The estimates on implementing the name change, chapter Encino, Pueblo Pintado, Torreon, Whitehorse Lake) Spaniards and the federal government gave us that resolutions to assess the public’s input, and additional opposed the name change, stating that it would cre- identity as ‘Navajo’. Diné College has created a pos- research on the origin of the word, “Diné.” ate confusion and frustration among Navajo citizens itive model for us to follow. One day, we will change Legislative sponsor Council Delegate Jona- and non-Navajos. our name like the college,” stated Delegate Filfred. than Hale (Oak Springs, St. Michaels) stated that the “I thought there was a main intent for the Council Delegate Tom Chee (Shiprock) stated name change would only apply to the Navajo Nation name change, but it would only apply to the tribal that the name change would not promote a compre- government including departments, divisions, agen- government, not everyone. This will confuse and hensive purpose and meaning. cies, entities, and enterprises. frustrate many people. We should be discussing more “I do not support the name change because important things on the Council floor to- it is a mixture of two languages. The word ‘Diné’ is a day, such as the obstacles and the needs traditional term and ‘Nation’ is an English term. ‘Diné of the Navajo people,” stated Tsosie. Nation’ is not a complete thought and it would only During Tuesday’s discussion, Council create more confusion for our youth,” stated Delegate Delegate Norman M. Begay (Alamo, Ra- Chee. mah, Tohajiilee) proposed an amendment Council Delegate Walter Phelps (Cameron, to exempt the communities of Alamo, Coalmine Canyon, Leupp, Tolani Lake, Tsidi To ii) rec- Tohajilee, and Ramah from the adopting ommended that the Navajo public through a referen- the name change, stating that the chap- dum election vote on the proposed name change. ters did not have enough time to discuss “They have the right to decide how to address and consider the name change. themselves and the tribal government.