GOLDEN RULE DAY THOREAU RAILHEAD SALUTING A NAVAJO HERO Vice President Rex Lee Jim hosted Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly President Shelly honored Navajo Navajo Nation Golden Rule Day for broke ground for the Thoreau Police Officer Alex K. Yazzie, who the second year in Window Rock, Industrial Park Railhead before was killed in the line of duty so that page 2. finishing his term of office, page 7. the lives of others could be saved, page 11. Hózhoojí Nahat’áh Baa Hane’ May 2015 Executive branch News A Publication of the Navajo Nation Volume 1, Issue 3 www.navajo-nsn.gov President Shelly attends Zoo Fest, approves eagle aviary funding WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.— can be found across the Navajo Parents and children came out Nation.” in droves. He noted that the zoo operates On May 2, Navajo Nation on donations from the general President Ben Shelly attended public and tribal departments the 8th annual Navajo Nation and entities that adopt animals. Zoo Fest. Guest speakers, Entities adopting an animal entertainment, a play area for provide funding for food, repairs kids and animals were featured for their enclosures and other at the free event. needs. The tribal zoo features more Upon taking office in 2011, than 50 different species of President Shelly and First Lady animals indigenous to the Navajo Martha Shelly adopted a golden Nation. It is also the only zoo in eagle that could not fly because the country owned and operated it was missing a wing. Shellie the by a Native American tribe. golden eagle is one of the many “A small but dedicated staff animals on display at the zoo. takes care of the animals in our In 2011, President Shelly also zoo. If you see them, please made the commitment to fund an take a moment to thank them for eagle aviary exhibit at the zoo. Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly attended the 8th Annual Zoo Fest and noted it was the fifth time he has attended the event since taking office in 2011. Early on in his administration, he adopted a golden eagle and made the commitment to construct their service,” President Shelly The project will give the birds an aviary for the magnificent birds. The aviary will be constructed after President Shelly approved more than $400,000 for the said. “From the black bears to more room to fly and provide the project. (Photo by Rick Abasta) the golden eagles, these animals SEE Eagle >> Page 11 President Shelly celebrates groundbreaking ceremony for Thompson’s Covenience Store in Church Rock he junction of N.M. Highway convenience store,” President better location to stimulate his T118 and Highway 566 was a Shelly said. “The Navajo business. The perfect location hotbed of activity on the morning Nation, through the Business for the proposed gas station will of May 9. Improvement Development undoubtedly generate traffic, as Navajo Nation President Fund, contributed $1.5 million his business is directly across Ben Shelly celebrated the for this project. from “Campaign Hill.” groundbreaking ceremony for “The new business will Thanking the staff of Thompson’s convenience store create 20-plus new jobs for the DED, Business Improvement and gas station in Church Rock. community,” he added. Development Fund and the Navajo businessman Alvin Financial partners in the Eastern Regional Business Thompson, council delegate project include the DED, Navajo Development Office, President Edmund Yazzie, Division of Division of Transportation, Great Shelly noted that breaking Economic Development director Western Bank and personal funds ground for a new business on President Shelly praised the groundbreaking ceremony for Thompson’s Convenience Store in Church Rock recently. Located at entrance of Church Rock, he said the Albert Damon, chapter president from Thompson. the Nation is always cause for business will be a success. (Photo by Rick Abasta) Johnny Henry, representatives The new store is a response celebration. from the city of Gallup and to the community needs for “Thank you Mr. Thompson for of regulations from federal, tribal, successful,” President Shelly state of N.M were also on hand food, gas and other supplies. not giving up during the lengthy state and county laws is not only said. to break ground for the new Thompson has operated a store process involved in establishing tedious, but complicated as well, Once the business is off the business. in the heart of Church Rock for a new business. It’s not easy, I he said. ground and fully operational, “Today we are here to many years. know this reality firsthand,” “The Navajo Nation continues the Navajo Nation will receive break ground and celebrate the In business since 1964, President Shelly said. to grow. We must enable our revenue from leasing, rental construction of a new $4 million Thompson made the move for a Negotiating the bureaucracy small business owners to be space and taxes. PRESIDENT SHELLY’S MESSAGE NAVAJO NATION GOLDEN RULE DAY Yá’át’ééh! Today, if you want a survival for the Welcome to the job with the Navajo generations ahead. final issue of Hozhoojí Nation, you must have Take care of your Nahat’á Ba Hane’ a college degree. elders and check up for the Shelly-Jim Our young and on them to ensure administration. educated Navajos they have enough On behalf of Vice can now return home food, water and other Navajo Nation Vice President Rex Lee Jim is the Golden Rule Ambassador for the Navajo Nation. He hosted the 2nd Annual Navajo Nation Golden Rule Day in April 2015. (Photo by Rick Abasta) President Rex Lee Jim to participate in the necessities. They are and I, we want to thank tribal government. living treasures and o unto others as you must walk in their shoes Education and Human you for the opportunity We worked with our hold the rich history Dwould have others do for a mile or two, or three. Services Committee. Vice to serve as your leaders tribal legislators to of our great Navajo unto you. “The whole idea is to President Jim provided the for the past four-plus accomplish this shift in Nation. The premise of the promote peace,” he added. keynote address. years. It was a blessing hiring practices. Take care of each Golden Rule is simple: Golden Rule Day is Milissa Tatum, research to serve the Navajo In direct contrast other and bring our treat others as you would observed globally on April professor of law at the people during this time to the previous Nation back into like to be treated. This 5, with 120 nations across University of Arizona, in office. administration, we harmony. We will basic teaching has been the globe participating. also spoke and provided The Navajo Nation have worked hard with move forward with around since biblical times Ambassadorship is an hour-long presentation is going through a our Navajo Nation peace and unity for our and maybe even longer. awarded to leaders on “Culture Clash: paradigm shift and our Council and in doing Navajo people. It’s human nature to internationally who have Turning Confrontation into tribal government is so, we achieved many Again, thank you disagree with others, but exemplified the Golden Cooperation.” changing. Our young accomplishments on for allowing us to finding the proper way to Rule in their everyday With lunch provided Navajos are returning behalf of the Navajo serve the great Navajo resolve such conflicts in a lives. by the Casey Foundation, home educated and people. We must work Nation. It has been a positive manner was the For the 2015 Navajo participants spent the day determined to make the together, that is the key privilege and an honor premise of Navajo Nation Nation Golden Rule Day, at the museum to learn necessary changes for to getting things done. to be your leaders. Golden Rule Day, which festivities began with a about conflict resolution, the future generations Please respect May the Holy People was celebrated on April fun run and walk hosted negotiations and difficult to come. your tribal leaders bless the Navajo 4 at the Navajo Nation by the Navajo Nation conversations from a faith- I always believed in and your elders. We people and continue Museum for the second Special Diabetes Program. based perspective. giving our young and have gone the other guiding us for the road year. The fresh air and exercise Ama Doo Alchini educated Navajos a direction from our ahead. On July 3, 2013, the prepared participants for a Bighan, Inc. also presented chance to serve in this traditional teachings Ahe’hee! Golden Rule International day of guest speakers and information on domestic government. When we and this is not good. selected Navajo Nation information. violence and the need to took office, I appointed The preservation of Honorable Ben Shelly Vice President Rex Lee Jim Living a healthy life has protect Navajo children a 29-year-old Navajo language and culture NAVAJO NATION Golden Rule Ambassador been a mainstay in Vice from unhealthy home man to serve as our was a mainstay of our PRESIDENT for the Navajo Nation. The President Jim’s term of environments. chief of staff. This administration and we GRI and Committee of the office, as he ran across the Vice President Jim was an unprecedented pray this continues for Interfaith Peace Building Navajo Nation for all four encouraged all to make the move. the future. Initiative selected him as years of the administration. extra effort to treat others During our Diné bizaad is ambassador. Not just a marathon, either. with respect and positivity, administration I also Navajo sovereignty. “We want to treat others We’re talking hundreds of regardless of the situation.