Based on the Navajo Council agenda, the Council is now on Legislation 0010-15: An Action Relating To Budget And Finance, Naa’bik’iyati’ And The Navajo Nation Council; Approving Supplemental Funding From The Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance In The Amount Of $317,891 For The Navajo Nation Election Administration, Business Unit #101021, To Fund The Continuing 2014 Navajo Nation General Election.
MOTION BY DELEGATES LEONARD TSOSIE AND BEN BENNETT TO SUSPEND COUNCIL FLOOR AND ALLOW MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES FOR EACH DELEGATE TO DEBATE.
VOTE IS 9 IN FAVOR, 11 OPPOSED
MOTION BY DELEGATES LEONARD TSOSIE AND NATE BROWN FOR AMENDMENT:
1. ON PAGE 1, LINE 15, STRIKE THE WORD “GENERAL” AND PLURALIZE THE WORD “ELECTION”; 2. ON PAGE 2, LINE 3, INSERT A NEW PARAGRAPH AS FOLLOWS: g. THERE BEING SO MANY NAVAJO VOTERS WHO ARE CLAIMING THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF THEIR VOTES AS A RESULT OF NAVAJO SUPREME COURT DECISION AND THE PRESIDENT REQUESTING THAT THE QUESTION OF “FLUENCY OF NAVAJO LANGUAGE” REQUIREMENT BE RESOLVED BY THE NAVAJO PEOPLE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE NAVAJO PEOPLE DECIDE WHETHER TO AMEND 11 N.N.C. SECTION 8, A, 4 AS FOLLOWS: SECIION 8. QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE. A. QUALIFICATIONS FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT ARE: 4. MUST BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND UNDERSTAND THE NAVAJO AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE; AND THIS ABILITY SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE NAVAJO VOTER WHEN HE/SHE CASTS A BALLOT. 4. ON PAGE 2, LINE 18, INSERT A NEW PARAGRAPH AS FOLLOWS: AFTER THE CERTIFICATION OF THE REFERENDUM VOTE BY NAVAJO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, THE SPEAKER SHALL CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR NAVAJO NATION OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. 5. RENUBMER OR RELETTER SUCCEEDING PARAGRAPHS OR SECTIONS ACCORDINGLY, IF NECESSARY; AND THIS AMENDMENT SHALL SUPERSEDE INCONSISTENT LANGUAGE CONTAINED IN ANY OTHER COMMITTEE AMENDMENT, WHICH SHALL BE CONFORMED TO THE INTENT OR LANGUAGE OF THIS AMEMDMENT.
SPEAKER LORENZO BATES RULES DELEGATES LEONARD TSOSIE AND NATE BROWN AMENDMENT OUT OF ORDER.
DELEGATES LEONARD TSOSIE AND EDMUND YAZZIE CHALLENGE SPEAKER’S DECISION.
AFTER MUCH DEBATE, THE COUNCIL VOTES 12 IN FAVOR, 8 IN FAVOR TO OVERRULE SPEAKER’S RULING. AND SO THE COUNCIL RETURNS TO DEBATING THE AMENDMENT FOR A REFERENDUM.
COUNCIL FINALLY VOTING ON AMENDMENT – 12 IN FAVOR, 8 OPPOSED
It is now 4:07 p.m.
DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
I think we gave relief to the Navajo people. The Supreme Court cannot strike down. This is about democracy. those people running for office need to be patient. we are not denying Joe Shirley Jr. and Russell Begaye. Life will go on. i don’t think that people outside should mock navajo people. i would urge world not to laugh at us. this is about democracy and navajo people making decisions. this is our survival. this is healing. we have given remedy to people. the supreme court only interprets law approved by council and up to President Shelly if he wants to back track on his words to allow people to decide. I think that Shelly will sign. i ask him to sign by tomorrow. i ask lawyers to do a good referendum ballot. i urge election office to organize debate from both sides and invite me. let’s go to agencies and educate. please don’t be spiteful of each other. all we have done is give decision to people. when say survival, i’m talking about youth and whether we will allow them a seat at the government.
i don’t diminish Navajo language. i urge the council to fund immersion schools where medicine people could also share traditional teachings. I also ask Dale Tsosie and Hank Whitethorne not to challenge. we need to heal our navajo people today. people out there will be able to get on that course, to be good to each other. i believe that our people will say that our leaders heard us. and election office please explain this in good way. if No vote, that’s okay. but Yes vote would change the law..
