SEPTEMBER 2016 Diné Justice A Newsletter of the Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation Peacemaking Program graduates nearly 100 youth apprentices INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The inspiration for beginning the He stuck his head back in and Student interns 2-3 Peacemaker Youth Apprentice- told the Dine people to never lose ship Program came from tradi- their teachings and language. List of youth appren- 6 tice graduates tional Dine stories. One involves With the help of the Peacemak- the first Talking God as he per- Re-entry discussed 8 ing Program and a federal during seminar formed the first Blessingway Cer- grant,from the Office of Juvenile emony. The story goes that at the Justice and Delinquency Pro- conclusion of the ceremony, the grams, nearly 100 young Dine other deities left the Hogan and from across the Navajo Nation Talking God was the last to leave. Cont’d on p. 4 Devin Pooyouma, Harvey Tsinigine, Chief Justice Allen Sloan and Lavina Tsinigine at the graduation cere- mony for youth apprentices. PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 2016 Student interns My experience working for the Judicial Conduct Commission Kiana Ferris is a recent graduate of Navajo Preparatory School and is attending Fort Lewis College in the Fall 2016 semester. By Kiana Ferris Throughout my time working for the Judicial important wording is within all of the laws so that Branch as an office technician, I have been able to there are not any loop holes. personally see how our Navajo Nation government It amazes me how much Navajo traditional think- works. Before this experience I never knew a ing is able to be incorporated in our policies and whole lot about our government system besides way of thinking, and it made me realize how im- what I read in the newspapers. However, transcrib- portant having harmony within the entire Navajo ing the audios from the previous Judicial Conduct Nation is. It means a great deal to me that our Commission work session held in June gave me a leaders are not only thinking for the present day sense of what our Navajo Nation leaders discuss but for the future of the Navajo Nation as well. and how they operate as a system. Attending the Through working here, it has broadened my last Judicial Conduct Commission meeting held in knowledge of government systems in general. It’s August really let me experience how much discus- definitely been a great learning experience and has sion goes behind each decision. I also realized how me thinking about going into law. ● DINÉ J USTICE PAGE 3 College interns assist Supreme Court By Kiana Ferris Both native to the community, Cheron Laugh- ing and Warren Scott are experiencing a taste of what the workforce is like at the Office of the Chief Justice located in Window Rock, Arizo- na. Originally, the job was supposed to last to July 22; however, both received an extension to work until late August. Laughing attends Dart- mouth College in New Hampshire, where she is pursuing a double major in Comparative Poli- tics and Political Geography, with a minor in Arabian. Her current career goals include work- ing for American Indian Law jurisdiction or the State Department with International Relations. Cheron Laughing Scott is a recent graduate from Window Rock High School, planning to attend Mesa Commu- nity College. He is planning on earning an As- sociate’s Degree in computer science. Scott’s main interest is working with computers. He hopes to become a programmer or computer assembler. Although their job at the Chief Justice’s office was temporary, both gained new experiences throughout their time working. Scott says that it has definitely helped with time management, because he now has to work with deadlines with paperwork. Laughing states this experience has “reawakened interest in American Indian law, as well as the relationship between tribal, state and federal courts.” Their tasks and responsibil- ities at the Chief Justice’s Office included mak- ing edits for reports and inserting citations on documents that will be a part of the anthology of Navajo Nation Supreme Court decisions. They were also able to attend a recent Supreme Court hearing to learn more about the Navajo Warren Scott Nation judicial system. ● PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER 2016 Youth apprentices Cont’d from p. 1 completed the curriculum as part of the The Tsinigines couldn't hide the pride they Peacemaker Youth Apprenticeship Program have in their grandson, who is Dine and Hopi. and learned more about their culture and tra- "He gets into things on his own," Lavina said. ditions. Dozens attended the graduation cere- "He pushes himself. He took Navajo classes. mony at Dine College on Friday, July 29, He tries to learn more about his Navajo side." 2016, where they were honored with a lunch- eon, certificates, backpacks and a letter from What Devin learns in school or through the the Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation. program, he brings home, Lavina said. She added that she really didn't know what peace- The youth came from far and near. The making was until she attended the graduation group from To'hajiilee, N.M., left at 5 a.m. to ceremony. attend the event. Others came from Ramah, Tuba City, Dilkon, Aneth, Chinle, Window "I thought it was sitting in court," she said. "I Rock and Shiprock. would want him to learn more, keep going." Many attended with relatives. Devin During remarks, OraSheila Altsisi, from Pooyouma was there with his grandparents Dilkon, Ariz., explained that the modern jus- Harvey and Lavina Tsinigine. Pooyouma, 17, tice system, such as the courts, uses a verti- is a recent graduate from Tuba City High cal approach to dispute resolution while tradi- School. tional peacemaking uses a horizontal ap- Shaynee S. Bileen shakes hands with Traditional Program Specialist Ray Deal upon graduating the youth apprentice program. DINÉ J USTICE PAGE 5 proach where those involved in the dispute Brenneih Nelson, 13, attends To'hajiilee Com- are able to come together to discuss the con- munity School. She participated in the pro- flict and come up with a resolution together. gram in hopes of becoming more informed Altsisi said that the students in the program about the Navajo culture. Subjects such as learned about Navajo traditional stories, the the Navajo star constellations, history of clans circle of life, ceremonies and medicine man and the history of the six sacred mountains songs. She said, "I feel like I've just absorbed are just of a few of the subjects that Nelson all of the teachings." said she gained the most from. The youth at Window Rock went to class The curriculum for the program was devel- each day at the Staff Development and Train- oped largely by the Peacemaking Program's ing Center. Elaine Henderson, the traditional bi-cultural training manager Roger Begay. program specialist for Window Rock's Peace- "We started with a document that was all making Program, called the youth "the cream Western presentation and it was mostly about of the crop." Cont’d on page 7 Among them, Natauel Topaha, 11, was one of her star students. "He was really patient. He really listened," she said. Natauel is a sixth grader at Ganado Middle School. He said that he joined the program so he could learn about his culture because it is important to him. "I learned that some people are relat- ed to me and what tools are used for different kinds of ceremonies," he said. Jessica Denetdeal, 16, from Ganado, went to the orientation for the program at Dilkon after learning about it from a friend. "It was really interesting because we learned a lot of traditional stuff," she said. "I wanted to learn about my own culture because I didn't know that much." Jessica said that her group learned traditional stories, what the cradle board represents and how to make blue corn mush, but her favorite part of the program was taking part in horse therapy. "We got to see a real horse and gen- tle it down," she said. Dustin Hosteen introduces himself at the ceremony recogniz- Another graduate of the program, ing youth who completed the apprentice program. P AGE 6 SEPTEMBER 2016 GRADUATES OF YOUTH APPRENTICE PROGRAM WINDOW ROCK Caitlyn Begay Desiree Aurora Begay TUBA CITY Wade Dixson Keilah Dixson Nashiona M. Redking Cheyne Herder ANETH Ariam Redking Van-Garrett G. Johnson Riley Dishface Makaylee Twohatchet Colleen Lee Alyzea Benally Acacia Williams Natauel Topaha Charity Bedonie Anthony Neztsosie Caitlyn Wauneka Faith Bedonie Lyrissa George Krystyonna Wauneka Morning Rain Joe Tyler Williams Kyle Weaver Nicole Blackwater Rhiannon Worker Jaden Plummer Shimaya Billie Daniel Alvin Honahni Tiyawna Owens SHIPROCK Cauy Manygoats Julius John Logan H. Salaba Emily Kitseallyboy Arviso Casuse CHINLE Riley Salaba Shia Deale Cali Hicks Lydell Poleahla Honesty Caceres Ryan McDonald Lepedro Harvey Aaliyah Brown Francisco Caceres Todd Mc Donald Yedibah J. Tsosie Brett Nez Andrew McDonald RAMAH Chance Thomas Shawndean Bigman Monte Diswood Colette Chee Shyanne Smith Beau Tanner Manygoats Alexander Diswood Janell Chee Kyler C. Smith Nahshon Desmond DILKON Erin Butler ALAMO/TO’HAJIILEE Sharmaine Chee Ashley Davis Khaleah Long Andraya Cavanaugh Shania Hosteen Alexandria Denetdeal Colin Long Shaynee S. Bileen Taye Johnson Elizabeth Denetdeal Kendrick Long Kaylee M. Bileen Adriano Pino Shaun Altisisi Brenneih Nelson Elena Edison Eryann Montehermoso Dustin Hosteen OraSheila Altsisi Yannah Nizhoni Battiest Iziah K. Shenale Ronisha Apachito Alana Johnson Lanisha Jim Ryan Bruce Chloe Desmond Justin Thomas Lakayla Jim Joaquin Billy Dimitri Desmond Raeshawn Greenwood Lakisha Jim Shondiin Billy Drewvis Filfred Jessica Denetdeal J. Aguirre Nathan Monte Titus Filfred Arthello Neal Davin Pooyouma Manuel Monte DINÉ J USTICE PAGE 7 Cont’d from p.