November Combined

November Combined

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly shares Thanksgiving message Let us be thankful for our budget cuts, but this living, beautiful language – Diné breathing document guarantees bizaad – our shield and protector the government responsibilities countering the countless and obligations to our people, incursions against our people regardless of the current and our land. Let us be thankful economic climate. for our Navajo Nation, the largest Before the conquest of tribal nation throughout Indian discovery and invasion of the Country, at over 16 million acres. New World, over 100 million Our Navajo Nation grew more Native Americans from hundreds than five times the original 3.5 of tribes thrived and lived in million acres granted to our North America. Today, there are ancestors, upon their return only 5 million Native Americans home from Hwéeldi to our in the country. Let us be thankful traditional homelands between that we have survived and that the Sacred Mountains. we continue to survive the odds Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly addressed chapter officials and staff Let us be thankful for the that have been stacked against us. during the recent Navajo Division of Transportation Chapter Work Session protection of our Sacred I wake up every day thankful in Albuquerque. President Shelly wishes all a happy and safe Thanksgiving Mountains – Tsisnaasjini’, for the Navajo people. holiday. (Photo by Rick Abasta) Tsoodzil, Doko’oosliid, Dibe’ You give me reason to do WINDOW ROCK–Yá’át’ééh with the pilgrims. Our Native Nitsaa – for keeping us safe my very best to represent our Keshmesh Yazhi! American brothers and sisters and providing us with a point Navajo Nation with pride, honor Happy Thanksgiving. We are have been celebrating the harvest of reference of where we come and dignity. I am thankful for all truly blessed to celebrate this season and its bounties for from and who we are. Let us also you, the voting body of the holiday season on the Navajo countless generations spanning be thankful for Dzil Na’oodilii, Navajo people, for electing me Nation. back to time immemorial. Ch’oolii, and Naatsis’aan for as your leader. We will continue Each year, we celebrate The same is true for the Navajo guidance and reverence in our down this road of innovation and Thanksgiving with a big feast Nation. Our grandmothers songs and prayers. elevation of our Navajo Nation and reflect upon the many and grandfathers gave thanks The Navajo people are for the generations to come. blessings in our lives. We are through sacred prayers and songs survivors and we identify Ahe’hee. given time off from our jobs to that have brought us to where ourselves to our Navajo deities -30- celebrate the holiday with family. we are today: a thriving tribal every morning when we rise Thanksgiving is a time of family, nation setting the bar for the rest to greet the day with exercise friends, food and football. of Indian Country. and reverence. Our songs and Let us not forget the many We have much to be thankful prayers have brought us from the brave Navajo men and women for. time of Emergence into the 21st who cannot be with us today Let us give thanks to our century of today and they will because they are out in the Navajo Nation leaders that carry us well beyond into the world, defending our freedom came before us – Manuelito, future and guide our children and and standing up for our Navajo Barboncito, Ganado Mucho grandchildren with the ancient sovereignty. We salute these and others – for they brought wisdom that could never be Veterans and may they be blessed our people home from the brink replaced. with a safe return home to Diné of extinction. Hwéeldi was a Let us be thankful for our bi Keyah. Let us also give thanks harsh experience for our Nation Treaty of 1868, Naltsoos Sani’, to our Navajo Code Talkers, true and we lost many lives, but we outlining the trust responsibilities American heroes that saved the have persevered and survived the of the U.S. government to world from war and destruction. systematic attempt to terminate our Navajo Nation. We live Thanksgiving did not begin our language and culture. in a time of sequestration and nd 22 NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL | Office of the Speaker MEDIA CONTACTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jared Touchin | 928.221.9253 November 27, 2013 Krista Thompson | 928.637.5603 Jolene Holgate | 928.871.7160 [email protected] Naabik’iyátí’ Committee approves bill supporting and recommending an agreement to settle bus transportation issues affecting Navajo students WINDOW ROCK –During a meeting held on Tuesday, Naabik’iyátí’ Committee members approved Legislation No. 0301-13, supporting and recommending a cooperative agreement between the Navajo Nation, McKinley County, San Juan County, and the New Mexico Public Education Department in an effort to resolve bus transportation disputes that have affected dozens of Navajo students living in or near the community of Naschitti. Over the last few months, the Central Consolidated School District which includes Naschitti and the Gallup-McKinley County School District which includes Tohatchi, have met with state and tribal officials to resolve the boundary issues and have yet to come to an agreement to allow Gallup-McKinley buses to cross boundary lines to transport students living in San Juan County. Legislation sponsor Council Delegate Jonathan Hale (Oak Springs, St. Michaels) explained that students living in the vicinity of Naschitti are often forced to walk miles to meet Gallup-McKinley County District buses at the county boundary line to be transported to their school in Tohatchi, located approximately 18 miles from Naschitti. “Sometimes students had no ride from the drop-off point to their home so they walked,” said Delegate Hale. “That has been an issue that has been in existence with the State of New Mexico for over 30 years.” Delegate Hale further explained that the legislation calls for action by the New Mexico State Legislature to bring this issue to a resolution. According to the legislation, road construction is currently underway on U.S. Highway 491, making safety concerns a major problem for students walking to and from the county boundary. Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie (Baca/Prewitt, Casamero Lake, Counselor, Littlewater, Ojo Encino, Pueblo Pintado, Torreon, Whitehorse Lake) proposed an amendment to add language to the legislation for the inclusion of “other Navajo Nation chapters or communities” when addressing transportation issues that are found in other communities as well. “We’re appreciative that Naschitti is raising the issue,” said Delegate Tsosie. “Here is an opportunity to work with the legislature and the school board to address transportation all over.” Naabik’iyátí’ Committee members voted 15-0 to approve the amendment. Several delegates also voiced concerns over possible restrictions over the use of county bridges by school buses due to county boundaries and weight limits that cause parents and students to drive longer distances to meet their school buses. Following the meeting, Delegate Hale who also chairs the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee said he is working with school officials to identify and address transportation policies that may help to resolve issues involving the usage of bridges in Navajo communities. Naabik’iyátí’ Committee members also approved an amendment by Council Delegate Mel Begay (Coyote Canyon, Mexican Springs, Naschitti, Tohatchi, Bahastl’a’a’) to add language to further outline and define the language and intent of the proposed cooperative agreement. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Naabik’iyátí’ Committee approved Legislation No. 0301-13 with 17 supporting and 0 opposing. The Naabik’iyátí’ Committee serves as the final authority for the bill. ### For news on the latest legislative branch activities, please visit www.navajonationcouncil.org nd 22 NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL | Office of the Speaker MEDIA CONTACTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jared Touchin | 928.221.9253 November 25, 2013 Krista Thompson | 928.637.5603 Jolene Holgate | 928.871.7160 [email protected] Budget and Finance Committee approves the restoration of Conditions of Appropriations to the Nation’s 2014 Comprehensive Budget WINDOW ROCK – During a special meeting held on Monday, the Budget and Finance Committee approved Legislation No. 0337-13, to amend Resolution CS -47-13, the Navajo Nation’s FY 2014 comprehensive budget by adding Conditions of Appropriations. On Sept. 9, the Council adopted the Nation’s FY 2014 comprehensive budget along with a total of 29 COA’s. However on Sept. 27, President Ben Shelly line-item vetoed 21 of the 29 COA’s, all of which stipulated that five-percent of specified individuals’ salary be withheld if the COA’s were not met by specified deadlines. Legislation sponsor and BFC chair Council Delegate LoRenzo Bates (Nenahnezad, Newcomb, San Juan, Tiis Tsoh Sikaad, Tse’Daa’Kaan, Upper Fruitland) said President Shelly’s main concern was the five-percent salary stipulation. “The only concern that [President Shelly] had was as long as the five-percent didn’t exist, he was good with the COA’s,” said Delegate Bates. Language in the bill replaces the five-percent salary stipulation with new wording that restricts compensation for business travel outside of the Navajo Nation if the COA’s are not met by the end of the second quarter of FY 2014. BFC vice chair Council Delegate Jonathan Nez (Shonto, Navajo Mountain, Oljato, Ts’ah Bii Kin) expressed caution as it relates to setting precedence, adding that more COA’s are likely to be added to the bill. “I take it this will set precedence for future budgets. Next year I would anticipate no COA’s being attached to the comprehensive budget and COA’s being done differently,” said Delegate Nez.

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