Sacred Mountain Fire is a Sign

The sacred mountain to the west, Dook'osliid, recently went up in flames.  ("Museum Fire") About 2000 acres of the mountain burned before the rain contained the fire.  Many Dine are worried about the sacred mountain burning.  I think the mountain caught on fire because of all the negative energy in our society today.  There is a lot of bad stuff going around, including the numerous people who continue to go missing.  There is also the majority of Navajos who no longer have any real connection to anything Dine, no language, no culture.  There have been other sacred mountains that have caught fire, but nobody knows that they are even sacred anymore.  The flames on Dook'osliid is just a sign of our Dine declining out of existence.  We are spiraling out of control and nobody seems to know how to regain control.  It's a sad day.

Navajo on death row to be killed in December

Lezmond Mitchell, a Navajo on death row, will be put to death by lethal injection for killing a Navajo elder woman and her grandchild.  In 2003, Mitchell was picked up as a hitchhiker when he killed the woman stabbing her 33 times.  He forced the granddaughter to sit next to the deceased grandmother for half an hour before cutting her throat and killing her.  After that he went off to rob a store.  The Navajo Nation and the victims’ family were opposed to the death penalty. Recently, under the Trump Administration, the US Attorney General  reinstated the death penalty in federal prison.  Unless there is a successful legal challenge, Mr. Mitchell will be be executed in December 2019.  (story)

Karis Begaye pleads guilty to DUI

The daughter of former President Russell Begaye has pleaded guilty to DUI in the Flagstaff crash that totaled the tribal vehicle last year. Karis Begaye pleaded guilty last month to misdemeanor impaired driving and criminal damage, and to a felony count of endangerment. She was sentenced to three years probation and must pay restitution to the tribe. The felony count may have ruined her career.

This is a wake up call for some of tribal employees who are battling alcohol addiction.  Recently, some of our Navajo police have been involved in DUI deaths in the Flagstaff and Phoenix.  Our society is struggling with alcohol addiction.  The tribe is dry.  The Dine people get their alcohol from the surrounding bordertowns.  It's just not the "drunks", it's also the working people including the professionals such as lawyers.  Some of the alcohol is consumed in the bordertowns which causes the towns to be filled with "Indian drunks".  Some of it is smuggled back into the rez where it is bootlegged to the people.  The alcohol contributes to the crime and poverty and dui deaths.  The alcohol industry benefits from the alcohol sales that make the manufacturers wealthy, and that keep the politicians in place.  The alcohol severely weakens the Navajos and keeps our society dependent on outsiders.  It's a strong cycle that our society can't seem to kick.  

Official Navajo religion

It was surprising at the Summer Council Session how the resigning Council Delegate, the Speaker, and the President all cite to the Christian Bible. Discussing a verse from the bible, the council delegate talked about sitting at the table with his enemies. Is he calling the other council delegates "his enemies"?

President Nez defends Christianity by saying we should respect each other.  But Christianity confuses our children.  If all Navajos become Christians, then the tribe will be effectively destroyed.

The opening prayer was done by a Dine medicine man. The branch leaders also held a traditional ceremony for the Navajo leadership. They said they will start holding traditional ceremonies for the Navajo leadership periodically. This is a great idea, but aren’t all the branch leaders Christian?

It is time for our Navajo Nation to declare an official religion. A recent foreign one, or one that has defined our ancestors for time immemorial?  Our children are confused.  How about that?

2019 Summer Session Navajo Council

Farmington Daily Times photo.

The 2019 Summer Session of the Navajo Nation Council opened up with the announcement by 

Nelson Begaye that he will be resigning his position as Council Delegate due to health concerns.  He represented Lukachukai, Rock Point, Round Rock, and Rough Rock for 15 years.  

NT Editor Beyal calls President Nez 'a cutout cardboard box'.

More and more people are starting to think that President Nez is an ineffective Navajo president. In an editorial, Navajo Times Editor Duane Beyal called President Nez a “cutout carboard box." Beyal observes President Nez just appears for photo opportunities and compares Nez to President Trump who just tweets in this age of Social Media. (Editorial: No to a Photo-op Prez). 

No plan

Council Delegate Charles-Newton and Delate Charlayne Tso have also criticized Nez for being a photo-op prez,

“I’m wondering when we’re going to start addressing some of the issues,.... It’s good that you’re showing up for these events and photo opportunities, but I think it’s time that we start working together... When are you going to start working with Council and judicial? The way I see this Council is doing heavy lifting and you are just along for the ride.” (Delegates blast Nez for not working with them)

President Nez has not come up with a plan to address the budget shortfall that will be caused by Navajo Generating Station (NGS) closing in December 2019.

VP Lizer

Nez is looking toward his Vice-President, the entrepreneur with some local experience, but nothing is coming from Vice-President Lizer either.



J.T. Willie

Nez also chose J.T. Willie to direct the economic development division, but the only thing coming from Willie is to "Buy Navajo". The Navajo Times Cartoonist made fun of Willie's campaign and changed the slogan to "Bye Navajo," emphasizing all the dollars that leave the reservation for the bordertowns. I thought Ahasteen's joke was clever, but I don't think losing a third of the tribal revenue is a joking matter. I would like to see more positive cartoons coming from our Navajo elder. A lot of people criticized J.T. Willie's plan that the Navajo entrepreneurs need to learn customer services for Navajo People to buy their services and products. Customer service is a major factor to whether I buy Navajo or not.

Permanent Trust Fund

With these two options (Lizer and Willie) not working out, Nez is looking to the permanent trust fund, money that was set aside by former President Zah in the 1980s. (We're in the future now)

In 1985, the Navajo Nation won a law suit against Kerr-McGee for $217 million for unpaid Navajo taxes for the non-Indian company conducting business on the Navajo reservation. The case went to the United States Supreme Court who decided that that the tribe could impose taxes against non-Indians for conducting business on the Indian reservation. (Navajo permanent trust fund history) Then-Navajo-President Zah put that money judgment into a trust account called the 'Permanent Trust Fund'.

That fund has accrued interest and everybody, non-Indian businessmen and politicians, to tribal and non-tribal attorneys, to Jonathan Nez, is looking toward that swelled-up bag of cha-ching. At the end of 2017, the amount was $3.28 billion. It is probably more now. President Nez says this money was put aside because Zah knew that the natural resources would eventually dwindle along with the income it generates.

Cobell Settlement

There was also another recent lawsuit under President Shirley and President Shelly that earned hundreds of millions, $554 million to be exact. The tribe claimed the U.S. government has mismanaged funds and natural resources on the Navajo reservation for decades. The Navajo Nation won a settlement against the United States government requiring the government to pay the tribe $554 million for violating its trust responsibility to the tribe. (US to pay largest Indian settlement in US history)

However, the previous Navajo Nation Council has raided this fund down to nothing. A lot of the funds went into infrastructure and economic development. (Tribe starts planning to spend the $554 million settlement) But a lot of the funds also went to chapters and fairs where a lot goes unaccounted for.

Throwing in the towel

Out of all of this, it would be a pity if we allow President Nez to raid this Permanent Trust Fund to nothing. This Nat'aanii was elected because people thought that he was creative, smart, hard-working and able to get us out of this bind that the previous Nat'aaniis overlooked, and put us in. But so far, we have not seen anything. I feel like Nez has given up when he says, "We're in the future now". By making such a statement, Nez is already throwing in the towel. He cannot find a replacement for the lost NGS revenues.

Untackled issues

When Nez won the election, he stated, "It feels great. I see that the Navajo people have spoken — overwhelmingly — for change, and that's what this campaign is all about,.. I think after tonight, I ask for all of us to come back together as one Navajo family and start tackling the issues that we heard throughout the Navajo Nation." In the seventh month of his administration, President Nez has not started "tackling the issues". There is no plan on how he is going to tackle the issues, especially the big issue of beeso aden. He wanted the job, he got the job. Now, he needs to deliver. But we're not seeing it.

"Lacks ability"

When former President Russell Begaye endorsed Candidate Joe Shirley Jr. in the 2018 elections, Begaye essentially stated that Nez was incompetent. (Begaye endorses Shirley) Begaye said, “This is a very, very critical election,” Begaye said, emphasizing that the Navajo Nation will be facing the loss of about a third of its revenue with the 2019 NGS closure. “The vice president doesn’t have the capacity to replace that revenue …" Begaye said that Nez lacks the ability to negotiate contracts and to conduct meetings with officials. "Over the last four years, I've seen (the) vice president not having the capacity or capability of thinking at this level," Begaye said.

Hopeful

Was former President Begaye correct about Nez? After all, President Begaye has worked with Nez for four years. He (Nez) has not shown us otherwise. At least, until now, we can say that Nez has not delivered anything near his people's expectations. I hope to see Nez improve his performance for the nation. If we don't see any improvement, then I'm afraid Begaye's words would come to pass, and our tribe would continue its path toward dire straits. 

Navajo Chief of Police Francisco quits - UPDATE

Great picture Navajo Times

Update articles have been published by the Navajo Times and the Farmington Daily Times. ("Chief: Not quitting, just frustrated") Both articles clarify that Francisco's response to article that he quit is that he denies ever quitting. He says he was frustrated and walked out of the meeting, but he had no intent to quit his job. The Navajo Nation may still have a Chief of Police.

One comment I agree with is that it is troubling that Francisco put his badge on the table and walked out and said 'good luck in finding a replacement'. Those actions and words, if factually true, say to me that he quit. However, his bosses, whoever that may be, may just look the other way and not do anything about his actions and words.

Throughout the confusion, it seems like the masses were in support of Francisco and critical of Council Delegates Charles-Newton and Smith. Through the discussion, there was some good points made:

Chief of Police Francisco

• He was professional for being courteous. 
• He was not professional and unbecoming of a leader for losing his bearing by getting mad and walking out.

Delegate Charles-Newton

• As chair of the committee, Charles-Newton did not keep her meeting under control by allowing Smith and Francisco to disrespect each other and cut each other off into a talking match.
• The Council Delegates should not be micro-managing the police and other departments.
• She kept saying "listen to the tape" but she did not realize that 'listening to the tapes' mean jumping through a lot of fire hoops for the people (driving to Window Rock from wherever the person wanting to listen to the tapes is, some hours away, going to the Office of Legislation, and going through their requirements to actually listen to the tape). It would have been good if she accommodated her suggestion by posting the audio online.

Delegate Raymond Smith Jr. 

• He is disrespectful and should not have been allowed to bash Francisco.

Delegate Otto Tso 

• He just shrugged his shoulder. I don't expect anything more from him.
• He is always absent from his law and order meetings, but he has time to go to Washington D.C. He is neglecting his duty.

Delegate Edmund Yazzie 

• He is always absent from his law and order meeting. He's only attended two meetings so fare. He is neglecting his duty as a delegate to his people. 
• He should not be commenting on the law and order meeting if he is going to miss the meeting. 

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.