Navajo Council unanimously approves LEGISLATION 0094-21: An Action Relating to Health Education and Human Services, Budget and Finance, and Naabik’íyáti’ Committees and the Navajo Nation Council; Enacting the Navajo Nation Cares Fund Phase II Hardship Assistance Expenditure Plan; Allocating Navajo Nation Cares Fund Investment Earnings Thereto (2/3) with TWO AMENDMENTS
Unofficial VOTE, 23-0, 5:14 pm
Unofficial Voting Tally:
Elmer Begay Green; Kee Allen Begay Green; Paul Begay Green; Nathaniel Brown Green; Eugenia Charles-Newton Green; Amber Kanazbah Crotty Green; Herman Daniels Jr Green; Mark Freeland Green; Pernell Halona Green; Jamie Henio Green; Vince James Green; Rick Nez Green; Carl Slater Green; Raymond Smith Jr Green; Wilson Stewart Jr Green; Otto Tso Green; Charlaine Tso Green; Daniel Tso Green; Eugene Tso Green; Thomas Walker Jr Green; Edison Wauneka Green; Edmund Yazzie Green; Jimmy Yellowhair Green
It’s now 9:06 am, 6.25.21, and the Council live stream abruptly Stopped as Delegate Daniel Tso was talking about his LEGISLATION 0102-21: An Action Relating to an Emergency for the Navajo Nation; Requesting the Governors of the States of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah to Declare States of Emergency for the Drought Occurring Across the Southwest.
I guess that’s it for me…Have a Most Peaceful & Restful Night & Ahe’hee for Keeping an Eye on our Navajo Government and knowing what they are doing in our Names/Navajo People.
May Peace Previal on Mother Earth🌻
Navajo Council unanimously approves LEGISLATION 0104-21: An Action Relating to an Emergency for the Navajo Nation Council; Repealing Resolutions Related to or Responding to Emergency or Extraordinary Enactments Pertaining to COVID-19 Mitigation and COVID-19 Pandemic Operational and Preparedness Procedures; Authorizing the Opening of Navajo-Owned Businesses to Navajo Citizens and Non-Navajo Tourists and Visitors; Authorizing In-Person Instruction at Schools Operating Within the Navajo Nation. Four AMENDMENTS
SPONSOR: Honorable Carl R. Slater
VOTE, 23 in favor, zero opposed, 0094-21 Approved, 8:58 pm, 6.25.21
Elmer Begay Green; Kee Allen Begay Green; Paul Begay Green; Nathaniel Brown Green; Eugenia Charles-Newton Green; Amber Kanazbah Crotty Green; Herman M. Daniels Jr Green; Mark Freeland Green; Pernell Halona Green; Jamie Henio Green; Vince James Green; Rick Nez Green; Carl Slater Green; Raymond Smith Jr Green; Wilson Stewart Jr Green; Otto Tso Green; Charlaine Tso Green; Daniel Tso Green; Eugene Tso Green; Thomas Walker Jr Green; Edison Wauneka Green; Edmund Yazzie Green; Jimmy Yellowhair Green
Navajo Council fails to get 16 “yes/green” votes on LEGISLATION 0078-21: An Action Relating to Naabik’íyáti’ Committee and the Navajo Nation Council; Overriding the Navajo Nation President’s April 14, 2021, Veto of Navajo Nation Council Resolution CMA-18-21, Navajo Council Resolution Amending the Charter of Diné College, at Title 10 of the Navajo Nation Council. §§ 2001 – 2023(2/3) SPONSOR: Honorable Daniel E. Tso
Navajo Council VOTE, 12 in favor, 10 opposed. MOTION FAILS because needed 16 votes, 5:23 pm, 6.25.21
Elmer Begay Red; Kee Allen Begay Red; Paul Begay Green; Nathaniel Brown Green; Eugenia Charles-Newton Green; Amber Kanazbah Crotty NoVote; Herman M. Daniels Jr Red; Mark Freeland Green; Pernell Halona Green; Jamie Henio Red; Vince James Green; Rick Nez Green; Carl Slater Green; Raymond Smith Jr Red; Wilson Stewart Jr Red; Otto Tso Green; Charlaine Tso Green; Daniel Tso Green; Eugene Tso Red; Thomas Walker Jr Red; Edison Wauneka Green; Edmund Yazzie Red; Jimmy Yellowhair Red.
Nez & Lizer stated in their April 14, 2021, veto message to the Council regarding their veto of the Council’s amending of the Dine’ College charter:
We understand Dine College’s motivation to revamp their Charter to incorporate fresh concepts in the operation of the College. We are; however, concerned about the revised Charter language which is confusing and will lead, at a minimum, to misinterpretation or, at the opposite side, gridlock for the College administration and Board of Regents.
In reference to the Board of Regents, the appointment sections in the Charter are not clear on the confirmation authority or the removal process, the term describing the Board of Regents is
inconsistent throughout, and the fiduciary duty obligation is conflicting. With regard to the establishment of for-profit and non-profit entities, the amended Charter does not give specific
authority to the Board of Regents.
The increase in borrowing limit to $50,000,000 is not explained and no financial report is provided. We are concerned .Vith the qualification of the Board of Regents in which a Regent cannot have a conflict of interest with the College President or member of the Executive Management Team; this change is not in keeping with Navajo relationships or maintaining harmony.
As the to direct amendment of current Board of Regents taking specific positions created by the amendments to the Charter, we believe the proper action is to amend the appointment resolution
of each Regent once the Charter is officially approved. To amend the Regent’s position in CMA18-21 has the potential of challenge.
We ask the College and the Navajo Council to take a second look at the Charter to address those matters stated here and other concerns raised by the student community and College staff. In its
present form we cannot support the amendments to the Chaiter. CMA-18-21 is vetoed.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Nez, President
Myron Lizer, Vice President
Greetings Relatives/Frens/Humans: The Navajo Council’s Naabik’iyai Committee gave a Do Pass to Legislation 0094-21, which seeks Council approval of the enactment of the Navajo Nation CARES Fund Phase II Hardship Assistance Expenditure Plan, and Allocating Navajo Nation Cares Fund Investment Earnings.
This 2nd Round of Hardship Assistance is sponsored by Delegate Eugene Tso, and CO-SPONSORED by Delegates Kee Allen Begay, Jr., Eugenia Charles-Newton, Mark A. Freeland, Pernell Halona, and Carl R. Slate
The PHOTO is of the Council’s Budget & Finance Committee, Resources & Development Committee and the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources meeting at the Wolf Creek Ranch in southern Colorado for two days last week. The committees voted to support $1.7 MILLION from American Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief aid funds for two tribal ranches in Colordao. I posted a story about B&F and the RDC supporting the $1.7M a bit further down in this blog post.
According to 0094-21, this SECOND ROUND of HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE is ONLY FOR APPLICANTS WHO DID NOT RECEIVE ASSISTANCE THE FIRST TIME. There will also be a SECOND HARDSHIP APPLICATION PERIOD for Individuals who have not received a HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE CHECK.
And according to 0094-21, there is an estimated balance of $23.5 Million in the Hardship Assistance Fund and there are about 92,000 Dine’ People who applied for Hardship Assistance and allegedly Missed the Deadline. The sponsoring Delegates are also estimating that there could be more UNSPENT CARES DOLLARS that could go into the Hardship Assistance Fund if there are still entities out there that have not turned in their UNSPENT CARES DOLLARS. Interesting, since the DEADLINE to turn in all UNSPENT CARES DOLLARS was Dec. 28, 2020.
I think that based on that bit of INFORMATION that UNSPENT CARES DOLLARS could still be in the Hands of Entities, Navajo and non-Navajo government entities because those entities IGNORED the Dec. 28, 2020, deadline that the Dine’ People should be given the SAME TREATMENT and the COUNCIL MUST APPROVE AN APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENSION for the FIRST ROUND OF HARDSHIP ASSSISTANCE and ALLOCATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS for the FIRST ROUND of HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE so that every Dine’ man, woman, child, baby, teen receive what everyone received in the First Found of Hardship Assistance.
The Council must THEN APPROVE a SECOND ROUND OF HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE for every DINE’ MAN, WOMAN, CHILD, BABY, TEEN. And I think that there should NO AGE DISCRIMINATION, which means every CHILD, BABY, TEEN ALSO RECEIVEs $4,000.
I mean if the BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE, the RESOURCES & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, the Nez-Lizer Division of Natural Resources can travel all the way to SOUTHERN COLORODO on the Dine’ People’s Money/Public Funds to decided to SUPPORT $1.7M for TWO NAVAJO GOVERNMENT BUSINESS RANCES in Southern Colordo. The ranches are the Wolf Creek and Boyer Ranchers. The B&F, RDC, legislative staff, and Division of Natural Resources attended a two-day meeting at the Wolf Creek and Boyer Ranches, which are about 60 miles from Pueblo, Colorado.
According to Council press release, the Wolf Creek and Boyer Ranchers are expected to generate about $723,793.39 in 2021, and both ranches generated $862,874.13 in revenue for 2019 and $751,402.50 in 2020.
Here’s the story about the Budget & Finance Committee and Resources & Development Committee and Division of Natural Resources traveling to Wolf Creek and Boyer Ranches.
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation Council Budget and Finance Committee and Resources and Development Committee support $1.7 million in emergency drought assistance for the Navajo Nation’s Wolf Springs and Boyer Ranch in southern Colorado.
The Budget and Finance and Resources and Development Committees gave their support for the $1.7 million to come from the Navajo Nation’s $1.9 billion in American Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief aid after the committees held a two-day joint work session at the Wolf Springs and Boyer Ranch in Colorado to hear reports from the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources.
“You really have to be here at Wolf Springs Ranch to appreciate all of what it has to offer,” Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Jamie Henio, who represents the chapters of Alamo, Ramah, and Tóhajiilee, said in a Wednesday press release. “You really don’t get an idea until you see it for yourself, the magnificence of the pristineness and heritage it brings to our people.”
Resources and Development Committee Vice Chairman Mark Freeland, who represents the chapters of Becenti, Lake Valley, Náhodishgish, Standing Rock, Whiterock, Huerfano, Nageezi, and Crownpoint, included a directive to the Division of Natural Resources to make the proposed $1.7 million an emergency budget a priority and to give an update within 15 days on the status of the progress of draft legislation for the $1.7 million to the Budget and Finance and Resources and Development Committees.
Kyron Hardy, spokesperson for the Navajo Nation Office of the Speaker, said the Division of Natural Resources Department of Fish and Wildlife requested to the Budget and Finance and Resources and Development Committee that their $1.7 million ARPA budget proposal for the Wolf Creek and Boyer Ranches in southern Colorado be used to operate the ranches.
Budget and Finance Committee member Jimmy Yellowhair, who represents the chapters of Black Mesa, Forest Lake, Hardrock, Piñon, and Whippoorwill, said, “We should not only take care of the ranches but advance its ranch operations to expand the possibilities for economic development. We need to plan for the development and processes of timeline and how to reach those milestones.”
Hardy said the Wolf Springs and Boyer Ranch, which are both located about 60 miles west of Pueblo, Colorado, and have a combined 28,855 acres. are established as Navajo Nation government businesses under the Division of Natural Resources.
Hardy recalled that Wolf Springs and Boyer Ranches General Manager Samuel Diswood, who is also a Navajo Nation fish and wildlife manager, and Gloria Tom, Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife Department director, provided a report in July 2016 outlining the purchase history of both ranches and the 2018 Fund Management Plan.
Diswood reported that both ranches generated $862,874.13 in revenue for 2019 and $751,402.50 in 2020.
He noted that although the 2021 revenue is projected to be $723,793.39, it may not be enough to address the additional costs caused by the ongoing drought conditions and COVID-19.
“With no production of hay within the last year, along with crop and forage shortages, most of the budget went into purchasing forage and hay for the livestock and bison,” Diswood said. “This in turn short ranged the cost for equipment. Drought, water shortages, lack of rainfall and impacts of COVID-19 led to low market costs, resulting in anything that would have went to market, such as processing the animals, was at least a year behind due to the pandemic.”
Hardy said tribal fish and wildlife department staff reported to the joint committees that they are working on a drought management plan with the ranch programs from Colorado to assist in forage and livestock feed for the lost revenue and for future drought conditions that might affect the ranches’ operation.
He added that the tribal fish and wildlife department also reported that they are also currently working with federal Natural Resources Conservation Service to research efficient needs for forage recovery and land under the Cover Crop Program.
The United States Department of Agriculture also provided some assistance for electronic ID program from both bison and cattle to help with sales and revenue, Hardy said.
Rudy R. Shebala, Division of Natural Resources executive director, who informed the joint committee that he supported the drafting of Council legislation for his fish and wildlife department’s request for the $1.7 million for the Colorado ranches.
Shebala noted that the $1.7 million request was also included in the Navajo Nation 2022 Navajo government operating budget and in the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“This legislation request is out of emergency for the Wolf Springs and Boyer Ranch Enterprise expenses, which include but are not limited to heavy equipment and equipment that came with the ranch are at least over 20 years old and tractors that need new transmission and engine repairs,” Shebala emphasized to the committees.
APPROVED AGENDA OF THE 24th NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL
SPECIAL SESSION VIA TELECOMMUNICATION, Friday, June 25, 2021, 1 PM (DST), Navajo Nation Council Chambers, Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)
Call-in Number: (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 928 871 7160, Passcode: 86515
PRESIDING: Honorable Seth Damon, Speaker, 24th Navajo Nation Council
- CALL MEETING TO ORDER; ROLL CALL; INVOCATION
- RECOGNIZE GUESTS AND VISITING OFFICIALS TO THE NAVAJO NATION
- REVIEW AND ADOPT THE AGENDA
(m) Hon. Herman M. Daniels, Jr. (s) Hon. Nathaniel Brown (v) 20-0 (snv) - REPORTS: NONE
- OLD BUSINESS: NONE
- NEW BUSINESS:
A. LEGISLATION 0094-21: An Action Relating to Health Education and Human Services, Budget and Finance, and Naabik’íyáti’ Committees and the Navajo Nation Council; Enacting the Navajo Nation Cares Fund Phase II Hardship Assistance Expenditure Plan; Allocating Navajo Nation Cares Fund Investment Earnings Thereto (2/3)
SPONSOR: Honorable Eugene Tso
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Kee Allen Begay, Jr.
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Eugenia Charles-Newton
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Mark A. Freeland
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Pernell Halona
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Carl R. Slater
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Jimmy Yellowhair
(m) (s) (v)
B. LEGISLATION 0078-21: An Action Relating to Naabik’íyáti’ Committee and the Navajo Nation Council; Overriding the Navajo Nation President’s Veto of Navajo Nation Council Resolution CMA-18-21 (2/3) SPONSOR: Honorable Daniel E. Tso
(m) (s) (v)
C. LEGISLATION 0104-21: An Action Relating to an Emergency for the Navajo Nation Council; Repealing Resolutions Related to or Responding to Emergency or Extraordinary Enactments Pertaining to COVID-19 Mitigation and COVID-19 Pandemic Operational and Preparedness Procedures; Authorizing the Opening of Navajo-Owned Businesses to Navajo Citizens and Non-Navajo Tourists and Visitors; Authorizing In-Person Instruction at Schools Operating Within the Navajo Nation
SPONSOR: Honorable Carl R. Slater
(m) (s) (v)
D. LEGISLATION 0102-21: An Action Relating to an Emergency for the Navajo Nation; Requesting the Governors of the States of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah to Declare States of Emergency for the Drought Occurring Across the Southwest
SPONSOR: Honorable Daniel E. Tso
(m) (s) (v)
- CLOSE OF SESSION; 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/
PROPOSED AGENDA OF THE 24th NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION VIA TELECOMMUNICATION, Friday, June 25, 2021, 1 PM (DST), Navajo Nation Council Chambers, Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)
Call-in Number: (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 928 871 7160, Passcode: 86515
PRESIDING: Honorable Seth Damon, Speaker, 24th Navajo Nation Council
- CALL MEETING TO ORDER; ROLL CALL; INVOCATION
- RECOGNIZE GUESTS AND VISITING OFFICIALS TO THE NAVAJO NATION
- REVIEW AND ADOPT THE AGENDA
(m) (s) (v) - REPORTS: NONE
- OLD BUSINESS: NONE
- NEW BUSINESS:
A. LEGISLATION 0094-21: An Action Relating to Health Education and Human Services, Budget and Finance, and Naabik’íyáti’ Committees and the Navajo Nation Council; Enacting the Navajo Nation Cares Fund Phase II Hardship Assistance Expenditure Plan; Allocating Navajo Nation Cares Fund Investment Earnings Thereto (2/3)
SPONSOR: Honorable Eugene Tso
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Kee Allen Begay, Jr.
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Eugenia Charles-Newton
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Mark A. Freeland
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Pernell Halona
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Carl R. Slater
(m) (s) (v) - CLOSE OF SESSION; ANNOUNCEMENTS; ADJOURNMENT
THIS AGENDA IS 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/
