Tax season is here - avoid T&R and Ellis - they are part of deceptive businesses caught

(article: Settlements reached in cases against Ellis Tanner, T&R)

When reservation basketball teams play surrounding white bordertown communities, cheerleaders from bordertown communities chant, "We pay taxes yes we do!  We pay taxes how about you?!"  A lot of white Americans think that Native Americans don't pay taxes.  They think we get things for free.  Well, the fact is that Navajo Indians pay their taxes just like other American citizens.  We have to pay income tax to the federal government.  Federal income taxes are due April 15 every year.  Recently, two popular tax outlets in Gallup, New Mexico that serve the Navajos with tax preparation services were sued for cheating their Navajo customers.  An attorney, Nicholas Mattison, sued Ellis Tanner and T & R Tax Services for deceptive practices against 15,000 Navajo customers.  Those deceptive practices include charging a higher amount than what was stated in the contracts.  The two companies reached settlements to pay back the money to their customers totaling in the millions of dollars.  This is wrong at many levels.  

Ellis Tanner prides himself as "Ayehe yazhi", or 'the small inlaw'.  I thought as an inlaw, your responsibility was to help your spouse's family, not lie to them, cheat them, and steal from them by the millions.  I would says that Tanner and T & R have been doing this for decades.  It is just now that they got caught.  I would say that that is the normal practice by traders and businesses in the surrounding bordertowns.  Like the payday loan companies and the car dealerships and the Indian jewelry stores, they prey on the illiteracy and lack of education of Navajos.  After all, Gallup is the "World's largest Indian trading center". 

Many of our people still speak limited or no English.  Many of our people don't understand business sales tactics or contracts clauses.  We don't realize that these companies are sharks, they have come to prey on us, they smell blood, and we walk right into their bait.  This includes the alcohol industry that is ran by state politicians.  It is only recently that we Navajos have started becoming educated and started doing something about our situation by starting counter efforts like the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, by suing payday loans, Wells Fargo, etc.  Shame on these non-Navajo people for preying on our women and stealing our money, property, and resources.  It is not good when you are the victim of manifest destiny, all the land grab and exploitation of natural resources.  No wonder a lot of our people fall into hopelessness and become homeless, alcoholics, and some commit suicide.  I am glad for those council delegates who have voted down the mining of fossil fues in Black Mesa.  This is just a short victory, we still have all the Ellis Tanners, the T & R Markets, alcohol retailers (like Sagebrush) in the checkerboarded parcels that keep the surrounding reservation intoxicated, and all the greed for fracking in our Dinetah.  They are hungry.  I don't think the King Gold Mine spill and contamination of heavy metals into the San Juan River was an accident.  The list goes on and we have to keep vigilant and fight on for our Dine people.

Daan biyi' hwooleel

D77 47 k'ad T'aachil biyi' yiizi[.  D77 k'ad dadeesk'aazy65 yaago 1t'88h.  Ch'il y1zhi hadahaans44h daaleeh.  Ch'osh ch'7daha'n65h[e. !1d00 na'ash0'ii a[d0' ch'7n1kah.  !1d00 shash a[d0'.  T'00b7y0 t'ahnidii nidaa[k'aas[e.  K'os nidaakei[eh, ch77l y1zhi 'n7l0 dit['id' woly4ego yee ak'ida'dile'[e.  D7igo at'4ego 0oly4 T'aachil.  H0zh00n7yee'go 0oly4.

Nabik'iyati' Committee votes down NTEC legislation - Compensation for Second Generation Relocatees

Charlaine Tso shows us a copy of the Navajo Times

The Navajo Nation Council has decided its most controversial issue so far, says one Council Delegate.  'I am not going to sell out', says another.  The Nabik'iyati' Committee, which consists of all the Council Delegates, met last week and voted down, 11 to 9, any hope of giving any life to the dying Navajo Generating Station.  Lake Powell News was the first to report on it, probably because the bordertown's lifeblood depends on the coal powerplant.  Now that the powerplant is going to decommission, what is going to happen to the Page economy?  Furthermore, what is going to happen to the Navajo and Hopi tribal nations?  These tribes derive a substantial portion of the their revenues from the coal power plant that also use to fuel water and power to southwestern cities like Phoenix and Tucson.  I thought female council delegates Charlaine Tso and Eugenia Charles-Newton did a real good job advocating for the grass roots.  Ms. Tso really focused on the health and safety of the People.  She really spoke on behalf of the people.  Ms. Charles-Newton also said that she does not want to see Navajo People wearing masks like they do in China, to protect people from the bad air quality.  Charles-Newton focused on the Council's fiduciary duty to the people, to make sure that the Council is informed when they make decisions.  She told the People that oppose her decision to blame NTEC for not submitting the required documents for the Council to make an informed decision.  I have heard that NGS-SRP did not want to make a full disclosure to the NTEC because there may be some illegal activities to uncover.  What illegal activities were covered up?  I am glad that the council did not assume the closing powerplant owner's liabilities to clean up and restore the area.  Federal law requires the land to be restored to pre-coal-operation conditions.  Council Delegate Otto Tso called for a discussion on who to "send home" referring to layoffs.  So far there is no plan from the President Nez and Lizer team except to resort to the permanent trust fund.

The Navajo Times ran an article on their cartoonist, Jack Ahasteen, his family losing their  land in the Navajo-Hopi land removal due to the Peabody coal operations. ("Now you know why I draw") The coal workers that are losing their jobs don't seem to realize that a lot of people lost their land so that the coal workers can have a job all these decades. Now that the coal operation is going to be shut down, are the Navajos that lost their land going to get their land back? Mr. Ahasteen states that many  first generation people from families who lost their land qualified as "head of household" and were compensated with alternative housing and property.  He says that the second generation children have nothing and would like to see a class action lawsuit against the federal government.  I would like to see the Navajo families move back to their traditional homelands.  That would be the least bit of fairness for the second generation children of families that loss their lands.

Hueston in Time Magazine

Kinsale Hueston is part of Time Magazine's 'People Changing How We See the World'. (here) She is Tachiinii born for Bilagana, 18 years old, attending Yale University, and a poet. She is a role model. Way to go Shi Dine'e!

Council delegate issues apology

It is sad to hear about one of our Council delegates engaged in sending out pictures of his private parts. (here)  He had to send an apology to his constituents.  Is this the type of leadership we have to settle for?  Neither Seth Damon nor Jonothan Nez has anything to say about that.  Not even Delegate Crotty who has complained about sexual harassment in the past.  It is a sad day.

IHS failing to protect Native Americans from pedofile doctors

There is a scandal in the Indian Health Services.  No I am not talking about the government shutdown a few weeks ago.  The IHS is hiring doctors that come to the Indian reservations to sexually assault child tribal members.   ("A Summary of Ongoing Indian Health Services Scandal").  I have heard about doctors and nurses trying to exploit our tribal ceremonies and medicine people for their knowledge bases.  This issue of sexual assault by IHS doctors is emerging.

The IHS is a part of the federal government.  We as Indian Nations have treaties with the federal government.  We the Indian Nations agreed not to make claims on the lands that is now the United States, now occupied mostly by non-Natives.  In return, the United States agreed to provide health care and American education.  We did not agree to sexual abuse by doctors or priests, yet, that is what we are getting.

("Predator on the Reservation" Video)

All Roads lead to Chaco - 2nd Annual

This  seems like an interesting conference about economic development.  

2nd Annual All Roads lead to Chaco Canyon Conference

March 13-15, 2019

Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisianna

It would makes sense to locate the conference near the Navajo rez.  According to the conference website: 

This conference shifts the conversation from protection of Native Nations to empowerment by showing them how they can use their sovereignty to create business opportunities, establish business friendly environments, and become participants in the global economy. Moreover, this conference explores uncharted territory—international trade. The following topics are on the agenda:

• Nation Building
• Historic Tribal Trade and Economic Practices
• Creating Private Sector Economies on Reservations
• Removing Barriers to Entrepreneurship in Indian Country
• Inter-Tribal Trade
• Tribal-State Business Partnerships
• Business Transactions and Enforcing Contracts in Indian Country
• Native Nations Engaging in International Trade

Conference Organizer, Joseph Austin

Council Committee Assignments

Budget and Finance Committee

Amber Kanazbah Crotty from Northern Agency
Jamie Henio from Eastern Agency
Elmer Begay from Fort Defiance Agency
Jimmy Yellowhair from Central Agency
Nathaniel Brown from Western Agency
Raymond Smith Jr. from Fort Defiance Agency

Health, Education and Human Services Committee

Charlaine Tso from Northern Agency
Daniel E. Tso from Eastern Agency
Pernell Halona from Fort Defiance Agency
Edison Wauneka from Fort Defiance Agency
Nelson BeGaye from Central Agency
Paul Begay from Western Agency

Resources and Development Committee

Rick Nez from Northern Agency
Mark Freeland from Eastern Agency
Wilson Stewart Jr. from Fort Defiance Agency
Kee Allen Begay Jr. from Central Agency
Thomas Walker Jr. from Western Agency
Herman Daniels Jr. from Western Agency

Law and Order Committee

Eugenia Charles-Newton from Northern Agency
Edmund Yazzie from Fort Defiance Agency
Vince James from Fort Defiance Agency
Eugene Tso from Central Agency
Otto Tso from Western Agency

Question and Answer session with Prez Nez in Washington DC

https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/news/five-ideas-from-the-navajo-nation-washington-should-pay-attention-Ni97L4r-l0-LqTrLScdOOg/

Land Department website

For people who want to establish a homesite lease.

Dine Bikeya website

Navajo business website

For people who are trying to start a business on the Navajo reservation, this site is a good resource.

Build Navajo website

Trying to revive the Navajo Generating Station - The problem with Navajo tribal enterprises

Are the Hopis behind this?  Some Navajos and the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC), a Navajo enterprise, are still trying to gain support to revive the Navajo Generating Station.  (Navajo Energy Officials Say NGS Purchase Will Economically Benefit Tribe).   They believe that they could make the plant profitable by controlling the price of fuel.  However, under the study of economics, the economy is what drives the price of fuel.  Their plan does not address the mining of coal as a profitable operation in this market.  The new plan is not a viable business plan.  It's a dead horse. 

Someone also put an ad in the Navajo Times showing the NTEC board's lack of qualifications.
What happened to Navajo preference when hiring positions for tribal enterprises?  Are the Navajos so uneducated that we couldn't find any qualified Dine to fill these board positions?  I don't believe so.  The Navajo Preference law is probably one of the most violated Navajo laws that go under the table.  I wish the new Attorney General would make this issue a top priority and start investigating tribal enterprises such as NTUA, and Navajo Gas and Oil.  A lot of non-Navajos, from the officers, to the board members, to the lawyers who advise these boards, dictate these organizations that affect Dine lives.   

As for the NTEC tribal enterprise, it would be interesting to see who is all involved in the creation of this tribal enterprise.  Which council delegate sponsored the legislation?  Who appointed the CEO?  Like with the Naat'aanii corporation, my senses tell me there is corruption.  

February snowstorm on the Rez

A snowstorm has hit the Navajo reservation.  These are pictures of the summit area.  Drive safe.

ADOT Roadcam - Highway 264 (Summit)

  

Council Committee Assignment

There have been a few amendments to the council committee assignments.  The amendments will be posted as soon as possible.

Walking in beauty in broken glass

Sometimes it is hard to walk in beauty when the reservation is littered with glass all along the roads and paths.  If you look on the ground with the sun reflecting, sometimes you can see thousands of sparkles from all the broken glass in the dirt, asphalt, or concrete.  The alcohol drinkers are usually the ones who litter the land with all their alcohol bottles.  Sometimes kids find the bottles and break the glass for a thrill.  Either way, they don't value the land. They probably don't realize that others have to use the same roads and pathways and breaking glass poses a danger towards others.  They don't realize that they might go down the same path and injure themselves.  Those broken glass shards hide in the dirt and are razor sharp and can easily cut flesh.

Sharp as a knife

Most of the time, the alcohol drinkers are probably miserable in their lives and to cope with that misery, they need to drink.  Then they share their misery with others by polluting the environment and to make others miserable.  Why hasn't any tribal politician address this problem yet?  We have yet to find a solution to pick-up all the millions of broken glass shards that litter our Dine Bikeya.  It's just another indicator that we as a society have a bigger problem.

Navajo Executive website is up and running

The new administration has their website up and running.  (here)  Great picture.

Time to banish the Christian Churches from Dine Bikeiya

Like the crisis in the Catholic church about priests sexually abusing boys, there is a series of lawsuits against the LDS church on Navajoland.  Many adult Navajos are filing claims in tribal court that they were sexually abused by LDS church officials while these Navajos were on the church's placement program decades ago.  In the most recent of lawsuits, a woman, identified only by initials, "BN", claimed that she was sexually abused while in the placement program in Utah.  She filed her complaint against the LDS church in the Navajo Nation courts.  The church tried to settle the lawsuit by offering the woman hush-money.  The woman rejected the church's money.  Now the church filed a writ in the Navajo Supreme Court to keep the tribal court lawsuit from proceeding.   The church claimed the tribal court did not have the authority to hear this dispute against the church because the alleged incidents of sexual abuse occurred off reservation.  The Navajo Supreme Court rejected the church's claim.  ("Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints v. Window Rock District Court and Concerning BN, Real Party in Interest, Opinion")  Now the church is running to the federal court in Utah claiming the tribal court has no jurisdiction.  ("Church sues Navajo woman over settlement in abuse cases")

If the church is dodging the tribal court's jurisdiction, then it is appropriate to expel the Christian church from the Navajo reservation today.

Our Navajo Nation leaders crucially need education on the role of the Christian church in the Navajo People's history.  We need education on the role of the church in the genocide of Native Americans, especially Navajos, in American history.  We need to learn about the Church's role in the legal history of the United States.

When we become educated and aware, we learn that these instances of genocide and racism, rooted in Christianity, continues and persists today.  For instance, a Navajo woman in New Mexico claims racism in the Albuquerque Public Schools. ("Parents call for APS overhaul at first community forum").  A boy got his long hair cut by a school official.  This was the practice in boarding schools when children were kidnapped from their Navajo families and their hair was cut off.  The boarding school policy is based on the Christian Doctrine of Discovery.  In Utah, a former Navajo Council delegate keeps facing challenges to his residency in attempt to keep him off the County Commission which involves a lot of the racial politics of southern Utah and Utah Dine.  ("Judge rules that Greyeyes does indeed live in Utah, affirms Navajo Dems spot on San Juan County Commission").  The purpose of these challenges is to keep the commission majority white and LDS.  This is not to mention the recent national incident of the Christian Covington boy staring down at a Native veteran activist Nathan Phillips. America has a problem with race rooted in Christianity.
The woman from New Mexico articulately puts it, "It's hard to heal when the knife is still in your back."

It is well known, and documented, that Christian churches have targeted Native Americans as a part of the colonization and assimilation process, to destroy the Native American language, culture and way of life, and replace that with English language, and Christianity.

If our tribal leaders have courage, they would learn about and acknowledge the church's negative impacts on our Dine people, and start removing their influence by banishing church officials from the reservation and vacating their land withdrawals, especially now, since the church refuses the law and order provided by our Window Rock District Court and Navajo Supreme Court.  If the church is going to operate in the Navajo Nation, then it is only logical that the church accept the tribe's jurisdiction.  It is not right that members of the Christian chuch sexually gratify themselves while harming our Dine People, and then walk away without consequences.  Our Dine People are suffering this historical trauma and deal with it by resorting to alcohol, drugs, and violence.

2019 Winter Session Branch Reports

Here are the reports from each branch of government.  This is a part of the "transparency" that we all want from our government.  See what they are reporting on:

Legislative Branch report

Executive Branch report

Judicial Branch report

Naat'aanii Nidinoobiili - 2019

Ya'a't'eeh.  Nihi naat'aanii naadinoobiilii.  Nizhonigoshii niha dahwono'aah dooleel.  Ya'at'eehgo nihi Dine'eba dahwiinoo'ah dooleel.  Dii biniye nahat'a nihaah nidaasya'.  Dii biniiye ni Dine nihik'idiil'nii'.  Ya'at'eeh.

Diidi naats'iilid nihinazt'i'agii baanitsidaakeesgo nahwiino'aah, Shi Naanit'a'i.

Congratulations Speaker Seth Damon

Congratulations to Seth Damon for winning the election for Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council.  Good luck.  

Navajo Nation Cabinet Members

Congratulations to the new cabinet members selected to help lead the Dine nation.

Congratulations President Jonathan Nez

Congratulations to Jonathan Nez for winning the election for Navajo Nation President.  He is a Navajo speaker, and rumor is he participates in the Navajo culture and ceremonies.  He has a Master's Degree from NAU in public administration.  We have yet to see how he handles leading the nation.  In his previous tribal employee positions that has led to his presidency, he has mostly been dormant.  I hope he is able to effectively address the looming crisis of decreased revenues which, if not addressed, will result in substantial loss of tribal employee jobs.  He picked Myron Lizer for Vice-President.  Good luck.

Nansy Pelosi for President of the United States

I champion the head of the Democratic Party for doing what many people are too chicken to do, stand up against President Donald Trump.  (How Nancy Pelosi Broke Trump)  I would vote for her if she ran for President Of The United States otherwise known as POTUS.  She broke the dictatorship type of government envisioned by Trump and his supporters.  The American framers designed the American government as a system of co-equal branches with checks and balances.  America is not a kingdom runned by a tyrant who forces people to work for free.

Season of Rabbit Tracks

Tis the season of the rabbit tracks.  Our ancestors did the gah naalzheeh.  They went out hunting for rabbits.  Have any of you in the modern times hunted rabbit?  I have hunted rabbit one time.  It really was not a hunt, but we followed and chased a gahlbahi.  We ran after it.  It went into a hole.  We tried to catch it.  We failed.  That was my one experience.  So that might qualify me to say that I have hunted rabbit.  Tis is the season of hunting rabbits.  With all the polluted lands of today, I am not so sure that hunting rabbits is safe.  Companies like the international energy giant, Peabody Coal Company, have polluted our lands and left their ash.  They don't even want to be responsible and clean it up.  Former Navajo Nation Council Delegate Lorenzo Bates was trying to get NTEC, the Navajo Nation enterprise, to purchase NGS to save the company from extinction.  (NTEC in negotiation to take over NGS)  I guess they have not heard that the market for coal energy has waned.  No more NGS.  I think its good for the Dine.  The shutdown makes us re-evaluate the decisions of our past leaders, and how those decisions were not always the best decisions.  A lot of those decisions were made with pressure from outside politicians.  But on the other hand, I guess we can be grateful for those decisions because those decisions have allowed us as Dine to exist into the present.  As for the rabbit hunt, I hope that we can return to a time when our children hunt rabbits again, not necessarily to subsist, but for the teachings and culture associated with the rabbit hunt.  After all, a rabbit hunt is just not a rabbit hunt.

It's been a while

It's been a while since I have blogged.  I decided to take a little time off to myself.  I have been doing a lot of reflecting and decided that I will try to update my blog.