Skinwalkers and Halloween

There is an article out of White Mountain about Navajo skinwalkers, "Skinwalkers and other evil creatures".  They talk about a scary story about a Yeenaldloshii, a horse running around on two legs.

Or the Valley man, Russ Dunham 23, of Mesa, who was up here on a summer retreat when he was a child. His group were guests of the Navajo Nation and were horrified when during a dark night around a fire in a remote area, when a horse chased one of them. Not unheard of, but the horse was running upright on its two back legs — like a human.Amazing speed is one of the characteristics of a skinwalker.

Yikes!  What the hell is that!  I know that it's Halloween, but I believe these things really do exist.  We need some education about them.  The Dayish Production recently interviewed some people at the Western Navajo Fair.  They asked the question, "Are you a skinwalker?".  One interviewee pointed out a "Brian Yazzie" as a skinwalker.  It's kind of funny, but on the serious side, this is nothing to joke about.

Council Delegate Slater schools Speaker about maintaining decorum

Council Delegate Slater was just recently sworn in as the representative for Tsaile/Wheatfields, Lukachukai, Round Rock, Tséch'izhí and Rock Point. In his first appearance at a Council Meeting last week, on Day 2 of the Council Session, he told Speaker Seth Damon that he has a duty to maintain decorum during Council Sessions.  (At 6:54:36) Slater told Damon that Slater was personally offended when another Council Delegate (who was not named) said, "If you are going to play that game, then we'll play that game.".  Slater told Damon that Damon needs to start enforcing the rules of decorum.  

For too long, this unprofessionalism has been going on in the Council. The Council Speaker allows the male politicians to bash the female politicians. In a previous council meeting, the Navajo President was outright condescending toward Council Delegate Charlaine Tso. Nez told Tso, "I used to sit in your seat..." As a leader of the Legislative Branch, Damon needed to protect his Council members, but Damon did not say anything to President Nez. Since the Speaker did nothing about President Nez's demeaning remarks, Tso took it upon herself and commented about Nez's smug appearance. At that time Speaker Damon told Tso to be respectful. What hogwash! He needed to say that to President Nez. After all, the setting was a Council meeting, not a President's meeting. There are many instances of woman bashing that have occurred among the Council Delegates and Speaker Damon condoned it. Now that Delegate Slater is on the Council, Slater demanded that Damon exercise his authority to maintain decorum. For that, Bravo to the new council delegate. Damon needs to step up his game as a Speaker and start acting like one.

Byron Shortly saves the day for putting Council Meeting on Social Media

It makes me glad that the Navajo Nation Council is being broadcasted live on YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo.  Thanks to Mr. Byron Shorty (Navajo Word of the Day).  I heard that it is him to make this possible.  If we put the right people in place, we can accomplish a lot of good things.  Right now, there are a lot of intellegent Dine that should be in leadership positions, but the same old people keep going into politics and bumping out the real intelligent people.  We need to put the right people in these key positions.

Council needs to dissolve NTEC and Council Delegates shouldn't own NTEC shares

Under President Nez’s watch, the Navajo Transitional Energy Company has purchased three coal mines in Montana and Wyoming without the knowledge of the Navajo Council. According to an article in the Navajo Times, the purchase is very risky and it could bankrupt the Navajo Nation. The NTEC seems to have gone forward with waivers of sovereign immunity which protects the nation without Council approval. I heard that the Navajo DOJ Attorney April Quinn was blocked by security guards when she attempted to enter the NTEC meeting. First, the demand for coal is going down throughout the United States. Coal companies are struggling to stay afloat. Second, the federal law requires coal companies to clean up. Experts believe this will cost billions of dollars (with a "b"). If Navajo Nation becomes the owner, then Navajo Nation is responsible and becomes liable for the costly cleanup. I guess that’s what happens when you put unvetted Bilaganas in control of tribal enterprises. Council Delegate Otto Tso said the Navajo Council should not scrutinize the company and let the company operate like it should. Well, at this point the company seems to be operating illegally and going rouge. I heard the board members are avoiding the Council Delegates. With that type of under-the-door dealings, the very high risk, the illegal operation, and the blatant disrespect, I think it’s best just to dissolve the company before it does more damage. It may be too late. I am disappointed that our leaders have allowed this to go this far. This is why it is important not to elect uneducated leaders. They make multi-million dollar decisions for the people.

We should also be concerned about some council delegates (Nathaniel Brown and Eugenia Charles-Newton) who own shares in these companies and at the same time serve as council delegates for the people. First, shouldn't they be required to disclose to the people their interest in these companies from the get-go? Second, isn't there a conflict of interest? They put their personal business interest ahead of the Navajo people's interest. At the very least, there is a good chance of getting interests mixed up. These council delegates should not be allowed to be shareholders and serve on the council at the same time. They need to choose one or the other. There is too much chance for corruption.

To stop council delegates from seeking other sources of income to sustain their families, the Council needs a pay increase. Currently, the Council Delegates make about $25,000 per year. In this inflating economy, that is not enough for the real work that some of the council delegates do. I know that they get paid stipends and that amount needs to be published also. The current salary does not attract educated and professional Dine.

Finally, along with the pay increase, it would be good to increase the qualifications for Council Delegates. If they are going to be making major policy decisions that involves billions of dollars, we the people need some guarantee that they will at least be making informed educated decisions. Right now, the Council seems to be overlooking everybody else, but nobody is overseeing the Council.

Deshawn Yazzie on the run

Anybody seen this guy? There are a lot of dangerous people on the rez. This guy is one of them. He's wanted on attempted murder charges for a shooting at a skate park in Gallup, New Mexico.

Best steam corn stew

Aaaah.. the fairs are finally all over.  Many folks claim the Western Navajo Fair was the best fair in the Navajo Nation this year.  Here is a clip about the best steam corn mutton stew at the fairs this year.  Three of a Kind, the Rodeo wild horse race group, finds the best stew came from a Tuba City vendor.  The meat-to-corn ratio was just right.  In Window Rock, there wasn’t enough meat.  In Shiprock, the taste just wasn’t there.  I’ve never heard of a criteria for mutton stew, but these guys came up with one.  I thought it was pretty good.

Do you care Churchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Smith Lake, Thoreau?

Council Delegate Edmund Yazzie represents the communities of Churchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Smith Lake, and Thoreau. Do any of these communities care that he is depriving them of representation by not attending his committee meetings?  Yazzie is on the Law and Order Committee. He ran to chair the committee, but the committee members voted Eugenia Charles-Newton as the Chair and Otto Tso as the Vice-chair. Since then, he has been naachxo' and has not been attending the meetings. That is immature, childish, and unbecoming of a Nat'aanii. For not going to the meetings, he is not representing his constituents, but it seems like they don't care.