American government works for energy companies, not the People

Many of our elected politicians get their campaigns financed by energy companies, such as oil and gas, coal, fracking, and uranium corporations. When these politicians get elected, they don't represent the People. Instead they advocate for the interests of the energy companies. The energy companies go further and lobby the politicians to pass pro-energy legislation, legislation that favors the energy companies and not the people. 

A good example is the proposed legislation to end Chaco Canyon drilling. I bet the energy company in the area is already lobbying the New Mexico politician who represents the San Juan Basin. 

It is also the reason why the oil companies got their way with the DAPL. Obama could do nothing. 

Trump is on his spree to ravage everything. 

This system of campaign financing is one reason the American government does not work for the People. There is no democracy. 

This is also the reason our Navajo council delegates are targeted by the energy companies to favor the pro-energy legislation. I wonder how many of our council delegates got money from the energy companies for the recent decision on Navajo Generating Station?  From the Navajo Times, here was how the council delegates voted:

"Delegates who voted against the bill were: Elmer Begay, Kee Allen Begay Jr., Nelson BeGaye, Eugenia Charles-Newton, Mark Freeland, Vince James, Raymond Smith Jr., Wilson Stewart Jr., Charlaine Tso, Daniel Tso and Jimmy Yellowhair.

Delegates voting for the bill were: Paul Begay, Nathaniel Brown, Herman Daniels, Pernell Halona, Rickie Nez, Eugene Tso, Otto Tso, Thomas Walker Jr. and Edison Wauneka.

Not voting were Amber Kanazbah Crotty, Jamie Henio and Edmund Yazzie."

I would be worried if your council delegated voted to keep NGS open.

Here is a list of the top contributing energy companies. Some of these companies operate on or near the Navajo reservation. The Republican party is getting most of these contributions with more than 3/4 of the $84 million going to the Republicans. Source: opensecrets.org.

Total to Candidates and Parties	Indivs	PACs
1	Koch Industries	$10,568,089	$2,908,064	$1,203,589	$1,704,500
2	Marathon Petroleum	$6,241,278	$2,090,613	$423,778	$1,667,000
3	Chevron Corp	$5,112,100	$1,445,205	$558,405	$887,000
4	Stewart & Stevenson	$3,475,609	$1,725,609	$1,725,609	$0
5	Crownquest Operating	$2,536,000	$205,000	$205,000	$0
6	Exxon Mobil	$2,272,336	$2,257,703	$903,631	$1,364,950
7	Magnolia Oil & Gas	$2,179,878	$889,878	$889,878	$0
8	Energy Transfer Equity	$2,112,624	$2,012,624	$1,837,974	$174,650
9	Pilot Corp	$2,041,080	$691,080	$691,080	$0
10	Berexco Inc	$1,860,305	$1,790,305	$1,790,305	$0
11	UOP Russell	$1,720,570	$970,570	$970,570	$0
12	ConocoPhillips	$1,673,555	$421,665	$239,255	$182,500
13	Occidental Petroleum	$1,520,336	$370,336	$107,086	$263,250
14	Valero Energy	$1,506,195	$881,195	$183,695	$697,500
15	Valero Services	$1,504,514	$4,264	$4,264	$0
16	Continental Resources	$1,442,060	$364,400	$201,650	$162,750
17	Otis Eastern	$1,099,729	$964,729	$964,729	$0
18	Red Apple Group	$1,047,354	$942,354	$942,354	$0
19	Geosouthern Energy	$1,032,743	$32,743	$32,743	$0
20	Parman Capital Group	$968,118	$718,118	$718,118	$0

Here is the list for the top recipients of energy money.  In Arizona, Representative Martha McSally received more than half a million from energy companies.  Donald Trump was close to making the top 20 with $352 thousand received from energy.  

1	Cruz, Ted (R-TX)	Senate	$974,513
2	McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA)	House	$902,900
3	Barrasso, John A (R-WY)	Senate	$801,350
4	O'Rourke, Beto (D-TX)	House	$744,669
5	Heller, Dean (R-NV)	Senate	$724,298
6	Cramer, Kevin (R-ND)	House	$669,777
7	Heitkamp, Heidi (D-ND)	Senate	$655,565
8	Walden, Greg (R-OR)	House	$642,600
9	McSally, Martha (R-AZ)	House	$604,173
10	Brady, Kevin (R-TX)	House	$593,884
11	Scalise, Steve (R-LA)	House	$560,200
12	Hurd, Will (R-TX)	House	$549,794
13	Blackburn, Marsha (R-TN)	House	$535,858
14	Ryan, Paul (R-WI)	House	$485,603
15	Hawley, Josh (R-MO)		$417,736
16	Shimkus, John M (R-IL)	House	$405,650
17	Cornyn, John (R-TX)	Senate	$392,859
18	Scott, Rick (R-FL)		$380,430
19	Upton, Fred (R-MI)	House	$375,965
20	Rodgers, Cathy McMorris (R-WA)	House	$370,334

Navajo Chief of Police Francisco quits

Navajo Times reports that Navajo Chief of Police Francisco quit his job and handed in his badge during a Law and Order Committee meeting. ("At Stormy Meeting, Police Chief Quits") Based on the article, it sounds like certain council delegates (Raymond Smith) were not letting Francisco respond to questions posed at Francisco.  The tribe is probably going to have a hard time finding a replacement.  That position was vacant for a long time.  It will probably be vacant for a long time again. There's not enough police officers on the rez, and now they are without a leader again.

No longer supporting designer Shayne Watson

There has been a lot of guys coming out accusing Navajo designer Shayne Watson of being a gay sexual predator. More than one man has come out saying Watson, when hiring for male models to showcase Watson's clothing line, has sexually harassed the male models in a homosexual manner. We may be talking about a gay Dine Harvey Weinstein here. A lot of straight people hate gays because of sexual predators which Watson is being accused of here.  In response, there are "Stop the Hate" campaigns from the LBGT community. Maybe if the sexual predators stop, the hate can stop too. It is sad that our Dine men are forsaking their roles of being straight husbands, fathers, and role models.  Back a while, Tribal Employee supported Watson's work because he was an up-and-coming Navajo designer and Tribal Employee wanted to support our Navajo entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, with all the negative accusations coming out, Tribal Employee no longer supports Watson's brands.

Tuba City shows the Navajo Nation how to run an Independence Day celebration

The Community of Tuba City is doing well with creating an exciting Fourth of July celebration this year.  Their leadership is strong and well and shows the rest of us Navajos how it is done.  Window Rock, Shiprock, Chinle, Dilcon and Crownpoint cannot even match the Tuba City event.  So far they have brought Nellie and an exciting dance contest that I enjoyed watching.  Natalie Frankin did a good job MCing the event.

Dayzie charged second degree murder in Phoenix for drunk driving.

On June 27, 2019, 26-year-old Kensley Cody Dayzie, a Dine man, ran a red light and hit a concrete structure in Phoenix. ("PD: Man arrested, woman dead after car crashes into Phoenix canal ") He had a BAC of .199. The female passenger, 27-year-old Daria Quimayousie, in his vehicle died. Her family is trying to raise money on gofundme. Dayzie has been charged with second degree murder.  It is sad and tragic.  Don't drink and drive.

Staying safe on the dangerous rez

Prior to the treaty of 1868, it was dangerous for women to be out herding sheep.  There was a market for Dine women.  Many of our female ancestors were taken to Mexico, and to other tribes.  With the advent of a European style criminal justice system and public safety, women continued to be in danger of sex trafficking and other crime.  It is so bad now that even men go missing presumably to be sold in the sex trafficking.  

I say our tribal government start fighting back by setting up bait traps for these guys.  Come on Navajo government, it's time to get creative to start fighting back.  

The people also need to start fighting back.  We need to prevent these occurrences by having safety rules such as:

• Don't travel at night
• Avoid remote roads and areas
• Don't travel alone
• Always tell someone where you are going 
• Don't trust friends
• Monitor social media activity
• Stop reckless behavior

You cannot rely on reservation law enforcement to show up quickly, much less show up.  Most of the time, there are not enough police to patrol the vast Navajo reservation.  I would suggest taking and learning self-defense classes such as marshal arts, boxing, kick-boxing, even learn how to operate and start carrying a gun.  Our society has become that bad.  Our people, especially females, need to take care of themselves and stop the reckless behavior such as meeting up through social media, hitchhiking, and partying it up with "friends".  A lot of the time, recovered women report that it was their so-called "friend" that led them to being abducted.  I would even go so far as to say not to trust relatives.  It has become that bad. 

Missing Navajo women and men

More sad news about Navajo women missing.  Cecilia Fiona from Farmington is the latest to be missing.  (story) I heard there was blood spatter at her house below the porch and on the gravel the day that she went missing.  I'm sad to say, but I think she probably already died.

There has been a lot of marches throughout the reservation for missing and murdered Navajo women. Even with these marches and protests, women are still going missing.  It is a sad situation.

Tompkins becomes first Navajo Board of Trustee of an Ivy League school

The first Navajo to become a United States Solicitor, Hilary Tompkins of Zuni, New Mexico, recently became the first Navajo to become a member of a Board of Trustees for Dartmouth College, an ivy league institution founded for the education of Native Americans.  (The Board of Trustees is the governing board of the college.)  The school also honored her an honorary doctorate for her legal work.  She assisted with the $554 million dollar Cobell settlement that the United States government agreed to pay the Navajo Nation for the Settlement.  Some of the money went into the Navajo Nation's infrastructure such as roads and water lines.  Way to go Tompkins!

Horseherder On The Rise

Navajo Nation's Nicole Horseherder of Big Mountain, Arizona has made Elle Fashion Magazine's "27 Women Leading the Charge to Protect Our Environment."  Horsehorder is the CEO of the non-profit, To Nizhoni Ani.  Horseherder is being recognized for helping the Navajo Nation wean from the dependence on the coal industry that was once Peabody Coal Company into a 100% renewable portfolio. She is also trying to make sure the company cleans up its waste before it leaves the Black Mesa region. (here)  She is up in the ranks with women like Shailein Woodley.   Way to go Nicole!

New Navajo tourism website selling culture

I like the new Navajo Nation tourism website's efforts to increase tourism.  (https://travelnavajoonline.com/) But it shows foreign tourists how to participate in an authentic Navajo ceremony.  The article reads:

"In addition to the well-known destinations on Navajo, the site has stories about lesser known destinations, including things to know about the Navajo culture, how and where to watch an authentic ceremony, travel and safety tips, Navajo foods and where to buy, authentic Native American jewelry, hiking opportunities and others. A user can also access a Google map to each of these locations."

Navajo ceremonies are for Navajos.  Navajo ceremonies are not for outsiders.  The author of the new Navajo Nation tourism website should  not be selling out our Navajo ceremonies.  If anything, our own young Dine people need to be participating and relearning these ceremonies, not foreigners.  There is a reason why our ceremonies are private.

Naltsoos Sani copy being returned to Dine

I heard a copy of the Navajo Treaty has been donated to the Navajo Nation.  This is wonderful news.  A family in Massachusettes had the treaty in their possession in their attic.  The document keeper stated, "My heart knew right away that it should go to the Navajos..."  (here)

Congresswoman asks about Navajo prostitution in New Mexico

Council Delegate Daniel Tso told Congresswoman Deb Haaland that the fracking industry in New Mexico is soliciting Navajo women for sex.  (story)  Congresswoman Deb Haaland brought this issue up at a meeting in Santa Fe where she was met with silence.  Congresswoman Haaland is leading the cause for missing and murdered Indigenous women.  The New Mexico oil and gas association is striking back at the congresswomen accusing her of raising an issue without any evidence.  It is their way of trying to silence her.  However, assuming that Delegate Tso is telling facts, it would be very difficult to disclose who said what because of the nature of the crime.  I don't think the Navajo women who were solicited would come forth and say anything.  If anything, the third parties who saw the solicitations would have to be the witnesses.  Even more, the oil and gas industry is a very powerful industry.  Most people are afraid of them that they do not want to talk against them, just like the mafia of the previous century, or the cartels of Mexico.  The oil and gas industry is huge and they are connected to, and in many cases, are the same as, the American politicians.  Most of the American politicians are heavily lobbied by the  natural resources industries.  We saw this during the DAPL protests, we've seen it time and time again with other natural resources industries like coal and uranium. It would be good if Council Delegate Tso and the witnesses come forward and substantiate their claims.  This issue needs to be addressed.  I'm glad that Congresswoman Haaland is raising this issue because many of our Native sisters are going missing.  They need to be protected.  If it's our own Navajo women who are engaging in prostitution, then this also need to be addressed since they perpetuate the missing Native women crisis.

Leetso Na'altseed Naatsoos

D77 4iy1 [eetso haag44d doodah ha'n7n7g77 bi naaltsoos 1t'4h.  T1diin d00 n1h1st'47 n11haiy65d33' 1lyaa' n7t'66'l1.  Dool0’ n7zaadg0 nahashzhiizhda nihi k4iya baahwiin7t'7igo.

2019 Dine Sustainability Conference

Here is another conference on sustainability.  Sounds interesting.

Climate change workshop

This is an interesting workshop on climate change.  It would be interesting to attend:

Community information: Climate elders tell stories of change

Mayor Coral Evans, rancher Jim Babbitt, Navajo artist Shonto Begay and river rafter Donnie Dove tell their stories

Learn how climate change has affected the ranching community and the presence of springs in the forest, how it is changing river rafting and outdoor adventure business, how lakes have dried up and fishing is harder, how climate change has affected housing needs, how gardening in Flagstaff is different, how new climate has brought changes to snow on the mountain and grass in the valleys, how higher temperatures are adding stress to people’s lives and many other stories.

More information is available by contacting NAZCCA community organizer Liane Giunta at liane.nazcca@gmail.com or Dr. Stefan Sommer at Stefan.Sommer@nau.edu.

Come and hear the stories of Mayor Coral Evans, who has lived in Flagstaff all her life, rancher Jim Babbitt, whose family has been ranching in this region for three generations, Navajo artist Shonto Begay, whose roots run deep in northern Arizona, and river runner Donnie Dove, who has made a living connecting people with river experiences in our region.

Rising temperatures, along with new snow and rainfall patterns, have affected people in Flagstaff and northern Arizona in many ways. Come and hear the stories.

Elders can give us a deeper perspective on change. Each of us has formed a baseline of how things are in Flagstaff based on how things were when we first got here. Sometimes it is hard to see how things have changed, especially if you have only lived in a place for a decade or less.

Enrich your perspective on climate change by listening to the stories of climate elders, who have deeper experiences to share.

Exclusion of Non-Dine off reservation lands

There has been a lot of talk about border walls and illegal immigration.  Similarly, our Dine Nation has a law under Title 13 that allows for exclusion of non-Dine for illegal activities.  There must be an exclusion proceeding in the courts.  Reasons for exclusion include:

   a. Unauthorized prospecting, mining, collecting or gathering of or for oil, gas, coal, uranium and other minerals, water, petrified wood, antiquities or artifacts;  or

   b. Entry into any Navajo home without the consent of the occupants;  or

   c. Interference with or unauthorized photographing of any Navajo traditional ceremony or other religious ceremony;  or

   d. Unauthorized trading or peddling;  or

   e. Recruiting Navajo labor without permission of the Office of Navajo Labor Relations;  or

   f. Unauthorized entering of an area of the Navajo Nation closed to nonmembers;  or

   g. Removal from the Navajo Nation of any member of the Navajo Nation under the age of 18, or under guardianship, except by Order of the Courts of the Navajo Nation or in conjunction with a nonsectarian program administered by the Navajo Nation or the Bureau of Indian Affairs;  or

   h. Unauthorized timber cutting or plant gathering;  or

   i. Unauthorized surveying;  or

   j. Damaging property of any resident of the Navajo Nation or using such property without permission.


Imagine how different things would be if all Indian nations had this type of law back in the 14th century.  We might all be writing in Dine now. 

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.