Greetings Relatives/Frens/Humans, the 25th NNC is having a Naabik’iyati Committee meeting today, Thursday, 1.19.23. I wonder if they’ll talk about the Impact of the Severe Winter Weather on the Dine’ People, livestock, electricity/NTUA, Navajo Nation Emergency Management Commission declaring Winter Emergency, etc, etc, etc…
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Call-in Number: (669) 900-6833
Meeting ID: 928 871 7160
Passcode: 86515
Livestream will be available online at:
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May Peace Prevail on Mother Earth!
10:30 am, 1.19.23, DELEGATE AMBER KANAZBAH CROTTY How will 25th Navajo Council select Speaker? Please get this information out to the Council & the Dine’ people, including an Update on Selection of Speaker.
SPEAKER OTTO TSO All that information is codified in Navajo law & it will be shared.
10:40 am, 1.19.23, Delegate Herman Daniels asks for a report from the Navajo Emergency Management Commission and whether the NEMC will declare a Snow Emergency. People on Black Mesa are stranded. My chapters of Tsah Bii Kin, Navajo Mountain, Shonto, Oljato.
NOTE – President Buu & Vice President Montoya have not issued ONE press release regarding the impact of the severe winter weather across the Navajo Nation.
Delegate Rickie Nez supports Daniels’ request for Declaration of Emergency. Nez says a female elder contacted him; she needs wood. With the Emergency Declaration, funds can be released to purchase and deliver wood and propane. There are emergency funds at each of the chapters.
10:47 am, 1.19.23, Delegates Eugenia Charles-Newton asks for a report from Navajo Tribal Utility Authority on why NTUA raised its UTILITY RATES without notice.
Delegates Germaine Simonson, who represents the chapters of Hard Rock, Forest Lake, Pinon, Black Mesa, and Whippoorwill, and George Tolth, who represents the chapters of Littlewater, Pueblo Pintado, Torreon, Whitehorse Lake, Baca/Brewitt, Casamero Lake, Ojo Encino, and Counselor, also reported that their communities are facing critical winter weather conditions.
10:57 am, 1.19.23, Council Delegate Brenda Jesus, who represents the chapters of Oaksprings and St. Michaels, reminds the Council that the chapter president can reference Title 26, which allows chapters to declare an emergency at the local level.
11 am, 1.19.23, Delegate Steven Arviso, who represents chapters of Churchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Smith Lake, Thoreau, says that many chapters’s emergency funds are in the red because of their response to COVID.
Speaker Otto Tso says he’ll ask Navajo Division of Community Development for update on balances of emergency funds for each of the 110 chapters. Tso says there was legislation to replenish chapters’ emergency fund but the Council did not get to that legislation before time ran out. Tso says he can ask staff to revive that legislation.
11:10 am, 1.19.23, The 25th Navajo Council votes 23 in favor, 0 opposed to hear reports from Navajo Emergency Management Commission regarding Declaration of Emergency.
STEVEN ARVISO Green; LOMARDO ASERET Green; HELENA NEZ BEGAY Green; NORMAN BEGAY Green; EUGENIA CHARLES-NEWTON Green; SHAWNA ANN CLAH Green; AMBER KANAZBAH CROTTY Green; CRYSTALYNE CURLEY Green; SETH DAMON Green; HERMAN DANIELS Green; VINCE JAMES Green; BRENDA JESUS Green; CASEY ALLEN JOHNSON NoVote; ANDY NEZ Green; RICKIE NEZ Green; NATHAN NOTAH Green; SHAADIIN PARRISH Green;; GERMAINE SIMONSON Green; DANNY SIMPSON Green; CARL SLATER Green; GEORGE TOLH GREEN; CURIS YANITO Green; CHERILYN YAZZIE Green
11:11 am, 1.19.23, Council Delegate George Toth says he is asking for help for chapters that are trying to establish Health Command Posts. Torreon is experiencing a high number of positive COVID cases. Tolth makes Amendment to hear a Report from the Navajo Division of Health regarding positive COVID cases on the Navajo Nation. Second by Delegate Crystaline Curley
Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty asks Tolth to amend his Amendment 2 by adding Update Audit on Speaker’s Office. NOTE – Of course, Tolth denies Crotty’s request.
11:23 AM, 1.19.23, Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty makes Amendment 3, which is to hear an Update from the Navajo Nation Auditor General regarding an Audit of the Speaker’s Office. Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton seconds Crotty’s moton.
Delegate Danny Simpson says it would be more appropriate for Report to go before Council. We have 24 delegates here. I ask Crotty to withdraw her Amendment 3 and have Report heard at Council Winter Session.
NOTE – Delegate DANNY SIMPSON showed his Good Ole Boy Position.
Delegate Amber Crotty reminds the Naabik’iyati that the Council requested an audit of the speaker’s office in the Fall 2021, which President Nez signed, and so she denies Delegate Simpson’s request.
Delegate George Tolth asks the Naabik’iyati Committee to vote down Delegate Amber Crotty’s request.
NOTE – Delegate George Tolth showed his Good Ole Boy Position.
Delegate Norman Begay says if there is a way for a brief update on what is to be audited? Why is there an audit?
11:30 am, 1.19.23, Speaker Otto Tso says that the request from Delegates Crotty & Charles-Newton for an Update on audit “imposed” on Office of the Speaker, includes An update report on the audit, which is being emailed to Council delegates. That is the latest update. The auditor general is working on audit.
Delegate Amber Corty says memo dated Dec. 7, 2022, and there is no movement since May. And don’t know why Eastern Agency not wanting to hear report. I ask to respect work of previous Council. This report could be update with Office of Speaker for Council Winter Session also. Dec 7, 2022, memo from auditor general is in writing and when memo released to council, there was no time for committee to ask questions. I believe this amendment is in order. The auditor general’s office is severely understaff and the auditor general has been temporary for two years.
11:36 am, 1.19.23, Delegate George Tolth repeats that it is more appropriate to hear this Report from Council and not disrespecting previous Council. I think more appropriate to hear from Council.
NOTE – Delegate George Tolth is Ole Guard.
The Naabik’iyati votes 18 in favor, 5 opposed on Amendment 3 to hear Update Report from AUDITOR GENERAL regarding AUDIT of OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER.
STEVEN ARVISO Red; LOMARDO ASERET Red; HELENA NEZ BEGAY Red; NORMAN BEGAY Green; EUGENIA CHARLES-NEWTON Green; SHAWNA ANN CLAH Green; AMBER KANAZBAH CROTTY Green; CRYSTALYNE CURLEY Green; SETH DAMON Green; HERMAN DANIELS Green; VINCE JAMES Green; BRENDA JESUS Green; CASEY ALLEN JOHNSON Green; ANDY NEZ Green; RICKIE NEZ Green; NATHAN NOTAH Green; SHAANDIIN PARRISH Green;; GERMAINE SIMONSON Green; DANNY SIMPSON Red; CARL SLATER Green; GEORGE TOLH Red; CURIS YANITO Green; CHERILYN YAZZIE Green
11:44 AM, 1.19.23, Nabik’iyati Committee voting on adopting their agenda with three amendments.
The Naabik’iyati votes 23 in favor, 0 opposed to adopt their agenda.
STEVEN ARVISO Green; LOMARDO ASERET Green; HELENA NEZ BEGAY Green; NORMAN BEGAY Green; EUGENIA CHARLES-NEWTON Green; SHAWNA ANN CLAH Green; AMBER KANAZBAH CROTTY Green; CRYSTALYNE CURLEY Green; SETH DAMON Green; HERMAN DANIELS Green; VINCE JAMES Green; BRENDA JESUS Green; CASEY ALLEN JOHNSON Green; ANDY NEZ Green; RICKIE NEZ Green; NATHAN NOTAH Green; SHAANDIIN PARRISH Green;; GERMAINE SIMONSON Green; DANNY SIMPSON Green; CARL SLATER Green; GEORGE TOLH Green; CURIS YANITO Green; CHERILYN YAZZIE Green
12:11 pm, 1.19.23, Delegate Amber Crotty says she received documents with attachment B, tribal preferred ranking tool, and forumultion timelilnes. What not seeing is to ask questions of Bureau of Education school construction. Cud we get fiscal 2024 ranking for Navajo on decreasing or increasing funds. And there is a need to negotiate with other tribes. I see BIE consistently ranks scholarships high.
BIA just finished their report on annual federal BIA & BIE budget process for the Navajo Nation and other tribes.
2 pm, 1.19.23,
The Naabik’iyati votes 22 in favor, 0 opposed on accepting Report from the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding annual FY 2025 Indian Affairs Tribal Budget Formulation –Preferred Program Ranking Tool and Timeline. Report presented by Gregory Mehojah, BIA Regional Director, Raeleva Sanchez, BIA Budget Officer, and Vanda Cervantes, BIE Budget Analyst
STEVEN ARVISO Green; LOMARDO ASERET Green; HELENA NEZ BEGAY Green; NORMAN BEGAY Green; EUGENIA CHARLES-NEWTON Green; SHAWNA ANN CLAH Green; AMBER KANAZBAH CROTTY Green; CRYSTALYNE CURLEY Green; SETH DAMON EXCUSED; HERMAN DANIELS Green; VINCE JAMES Green; BRENDA JESUS Green; CASEY ALLEN JOHNSON Green; ANDY NEZ Green; RICKIE NEZ Green; NATHAN NOTAH Green; SHAANDIIN PARRISH Green;; GERMAINE SIMONSON Green; DANNY SIMPSON Green; CARL SLATER Green; GEORGE TOLH Green; CURIS YANITO Green; CHERILYN YAZZIE Green
2:30 pm, 1.19.23, Navajo Dept of Transportation Garrett Silversmith reports that BIA and surrounding counties helping. Still moving snow removal on BIA roads and shifted services from dirt roads. All chapters requesting assistance and we are working with chapters on developing community maps, road clearing area. Today, motor grader at Sawmill, Crystal, Whiteclay, Whitecone, Klagetoh, Blue Canyon. Two graders N-16 Inscriptiong House. Snow plow in Forest Lake. Grader in Pinon and working on Buffalo Pass. Grader Rough Rock. Snow removal in Black Mesa, Az. Those are activities we are doing today. We have schedule for tomorrow too. Staff working 12 hours. Tachee-Blue Gap on our schedule that we are working. Sawmilk, Crystal received two to three feet snow and puts a lot of weight on our graders. This morning met twice with Dept of Emergency Management. The latest from this morning is Buu-Montoya Admin working on Declaration of Emergency. Other divisions/programs at meetings are the Navajo Division of Community Development, Navajo Dev, Natural Resources, Apache County, navajo police
Slows us down when had to pull grader out in Black Mesa. But that is expected. Some chapters are calling constantly. It will be like this for a week. And then two feet of snow will melt and leave a lot of mud. We are doing our best to respond to remove snow off roads and reduce mud. But there will be a lot of residential roads impacted cuz we can’t get to everyone.
And stockpiling of supplies, such as wood and water, at each chapter has started.
Motion by Delegate Steven Arviso and Seconded by Delegate Nathan Notah
2:45 pm, Delegate Carl Rossell Slater informed Navajo Dept of Transportation/NDOT that with Two to three to four feet of snow across Navajo, where is the Declaration of Emergency for the Navajo Nation, which would assist Navajo Transportation Dept to remove snow from residential areas. The localized/chapter Declarations of Emergency do not provide enough emergency assistance.
Black Rock residents need cancer treatment. It’s disappointing not to hear the names of communities where NDOT is working. Our families need to leave their homes to get to work, the hospital, schools, grocery stores. Schools will start dropping bus route cuz school bus route are not being maintained.
We have no info on where NDOT & BIA have removed snow. NDOT needs to be Central Command Center for roads/transportation.
Everytime there is a storm, wifi goes out. And so how do community people contact NDOT?
Rules need to be lossened to help elders, families.
Remove CDL requirement for the transportation of graders.
3 pm, 1.19.23, NDOT Director Garrett Silversmith explains to the Naabik’iyati Committee that Work on Paved highways first and remove as much snow and ice as possible. From there work on dirt roads that have high traffic, such as bus routes. After that we move to residential but drivers told to also blade residential roads in the areas where they are working. Normally don’t do residential roads cuz if have 2 to 3 feet of snow, can’t see where water meters, shallow gas lines, shallow water lines, etc. So we are very careful with residential roads.
Once Declaration of Emergency issued, it will release funds at chapter level.
In response to Delegate Slater, Garrett says that NDOT needs to take a more uniform position. CDL requirement is under Navajo Personnel.
We are working with CHRs in Tsaile area and other areas. We try to give a specific time to do snow removal but issues, such as a grader getting stuck, can change that schedule.
We will continue to have a presence out there, including Ganado. We will do priority residential roads. We have been addressing snow this weekend.
3:53 pm, 1.19.23, NDOT director Garrett Silversmith says his first response is To answer questions from Delegate Cherilyn Yazzie – NDOT has 23 operators and 20 workers in roads and maintenance assigned to snow removal. We keep track of inventory, such as tracking dirt roads, bridges, etc, and coordinate with BIA. Every year, changes & updates presented to Resources & Development Committee by NDOT and then submitee
975 miles of dirt road
1,700 paved
195 bridges
Chapters shud have created Emergency Plan with Navajo Division of community development. We have one in how we respond, such as Monsoon season. Right now with snow fall, we are falling our plan. BIA has plan too.
NOTE – NDOT director Garrett Silversmith did not answer Delegate Cherilyn Yazzie’s question regarding whether NDOT’s emergency plans address Climate Change’s Severe Weather.
Silversmith answers questions from Delegate Branda Jesus: You mentioned N-28, N-23 and others. They are bus routes and high priority. N-12 also being addressed; Old Red Lake road to Navajo – a motor grader got stuck and we are still trying to respond.
N 12 to I-40 to Tsile wheatfields to Round rock was main priority route and paved and first route addressed Saturday.
We have grader on Pine Springs roads and that road does get a lot of snow.
We have Five motor graders in Black Mesa, Forest Lake, Pinon. We are getting lot of requests from Black Mesa area.
4:40 pm, 1.19.23, NTUA deputy CFO of Finance Gerard Curley reports to Naabik’iyati that NTUA has not increased its rate. Last rate increase for electricity was several years ago. And now I’d like to talk about Outstanding Bills by NTUA customers.
4:56 pm, 1.19.23, Speaker Otto Tso announces that Navajo Nation IT dept informed him that they are resetting IT across the Navajo govt at 5 pm and so Naabik’iyati will have to continue their Q&A of NTUA during the Council’s Winter Session next week. Delegate Lomardo Aseret motions to adjourn and Delegate Brenda Jesus seconds Aseret’s motion to Adjuorn.
The Naabik’iyati votes 20 in favor, 0 opposed to ADJOURN.
Unofficial Naabik’iyati voting tally:
STEVEN ARVISO Green; LOMARDO ASERET Green; HELENA NEZ BEGAY Green; NORMAN BEGAY Green; EUGENIA CHARLES-NEWTON Green; SHAWNA ANN CLAH Green; AMBER KANAZBAH CROTTY Green; CRYSTALYNE CURLEY Green; SETH DAMON EXCUSED; HERMAN DANIELS Green; VINCE JAMES NoVote; BRENDA JESUS Green; CASEY ALLEN JOHNSON Green; ANDY NEZ Green; RICKIE NEZ Green; NATHAN NOTAH Green; SHAANDIIN PARRISH Green;; GERMAINE SIMONSON Green; DANNY SIMPSON NoVote; CARL SLATER Green; GEORGE TOLTH Green; CURIS YANITO Green; CHERILYN YAZZIE Green
NOTE – Interesting how an UPDATE report on an Audit of the Navajo Nation Council Office of the Speaker just happened to be the One Report that Naabik’iyati does not HEAR.
APPROVED NAABIK’ÍYÁTI’ COMMITTEE OF THE 25th NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
(VIA TELECOMMUNICATION)
Call-in Number: (669) 900-6833
Meeting ID: 928 871 7160
Passcode: 86515
Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)
Thursday, January 19, 2023 – 10:00 AM
APPROVED AGENDA
PRESIDING CHAIR: Honorable Otto Tso, Speaker Pro Tem, 25th Navajo Nation Council
COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE
Hon. Steven R. Arviso Hon. Lomardo Aseret Hon. Norman M. Begay Hon. Helena Nez Begay Hon. Eugenia Charles-Newton Hon. Shawna A. Claw Hon. Amber Kanazbah Crotty Hon. Crystalyne Curley Hon. Seth Damon Hon. Herman M. Daniels Hon. Vince R. James Hon. Brenda Jesus Hon. Casey A. Johnson Hon. Rickie Nez Hon. Dr. Andy Nez Hon. Nathan Notah Hon. Shaandiin Parrish Hon. Germaine Simonson Hon. Danny Simpson Hon. Carl R. Slater Hon. George Tolth Hon. Curtis Yanito Hon. Cherilyn Yazzie
- CALL MEETING TO ORDER; ROLL CALL; INVOCATION
- RECOGNIZE GUESTS AND VISITING OFFICIALS (2 Minute Limit per Delegate)
- REVIEW AND ADOPT THE AGENDA
(m) Hon. Steven Arviso (s) Hon. Shawna Claw (v) 23-0 (cnv) - REVIEW AND ADOPT THE JOURNALS: NONE
- RECEIVE REPORTS:
A. Update Report and Presentation on the FY 2025 Indian Affairs Tribal Budget Formulation –Preferred Program Ranking Tool and Timeline. Report presented by Gregory Mehojah, BIA Regional Director, Raeleva Sanchez, BIA Budget Officer, and Vanda Cervantes, BIE Budget Analyst.
(m) (s) (v)
B. Update Report from the Navajo Nation Department of Emergency Management and/or the Navajo Division of Transportation regarding Inclement Weather Preparation and Road Conditions.
(m) (s) (v)
C. Update Report from the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority regarding the Increase in Utility Rates and the Lack of Notification to the Navajo People.
(m) (s) (v)
D. Update Report from the Navajo Division of Health on the Status of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation.
(m) (s) (v)
E. Update Report from the Navajo Nation Auditor Generals Office regarding the Audit of the Office of the Speaker.
(m) (s) (v) - OLD BUSINESS: NONE
- NEW BUSINESS: NONE
- CLOSE OF MEETING; ANNOUNCEMENTS; ADJOURNMENT
Livestream will be available online at:
VIMEO: www.vimeo.com/navajonationcouncil
YouTube: www.youtube.com/navajonationcouncil
NNC Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/navajonationcouncil/
NAABIK’ÍYÁTI’ COMMITTEE OF THE 25th NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
(VIA TELECOMMUNICATION)
Call-in Number: (669) 900-6833
Meeting ID: 928 871 7160
Passcode: 86515
Livestream will be available online at:
VIMEO: www.vimeo.com/navajonationcouncil
YouTube: www.youtube.com/navajonationcouncil
NNC Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/navajonationcouncil/
Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)
Thursday, January 19, 2023 – 10:00 AM
PROPOSED AGENDA
PRESIDING CHAIR: Honorable Otto Tso, Speaker Pro Tem, 25th Navajo Nation Council
COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE
Hon. Steven R. Arviso Hon. Lomardo Aseret Hon. Norman M. Begay Hon. Helena Nez Begay Hon. Eugenia Charles-Newton Hon. Shawna A. Claw Hon. Amber Kanazbah Crotty Hon. Crystalyne Curley Hon. Seth Damon Hon. Herman M. Daniels Hon. Vince R. James Hon. Brenda Jesus Hon. Casey A. Johnson Hon. Rickie Nez Hon. Dr. Andy Nez Hon. Nathan Notah Hon. Shaandiin Parrish Hon. Germaine Simonson Hon. Danny Simpson Hon. Carl R. Slater Hon. George Tolth Hon. Curtis Yanito Hon. Cherilyn Yazzie
- CALL MEETING TO ORDER; ROLL CALL; INVOCATION
- RECOGNIZE GUESTS AND VISITING OFFICIALS (2 Minute Limit per Delegate)
- REVIEW AND ADOPT THE AGENDA
(m) (s) (v) - REVIEW AND ADOPT THE JOURNALS: NONE
- RECEIVE REPORTS:
A. Update Report and Presentation on the FY 2025 Indian Affairs Tribal Budget Formulation –Preferred Program Ranking Tool and Timeline. Report presented by Gregory Mehojah, BIA Regional Director, Raeleva Sanchez, BIA Budget Officer, and Vanda Cervantes, BIE Budget Analyst.
(m) (s) (v) - OLD BUSINESS: NONE
- NEW BUSINESS: NONE
- CLOSE OF MEETING; ANNOUNCEMENTS; ADJOURNMENT
AGENDA SUBJECT TO CHANGE: The public is advised that the Navajo Nation Council Agenda and the Agendas of the Standing Committees are not final until adopted by a majority vote of the Navajo Nation Council or the Standing Committee at a Navajo Nation Council or a Standing Committee meeting pursuant to 2 N.N.C. §§163 and 183, Navajo Nation Council Rule of Order No. 7, and Standing Committee Rule of Order No. 8. Livestream will be available online at:
VIMEO: www.vimeo.com/navajonationcouncil
YouTube: www.youtube.com/navajonationcouncil
NNC Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/navajonationcouncil/
