STILL HERE AT NAVAJO COUNCIL NAABIK’IYATI COMMITTEE
LEGISALTION 0256-18: AMENDING TITLE 1 ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES AT TITLE 1, NAVAJO NATION CODE, SECTIONS 701, 702, 752 AND 753
SPONSOR, DELEGATE AMBER CROTTY
Had executive sessions with individuals cuz cases sealed so looked at enrollment for alternative way to become Navajo citizen. Average one to two individuals a year. Language is clean up and assist individuals with citizenship
DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
See that creating standards – automatic and if not then provide additional documents. Also see screening by Attorney General and there is also involvement by Office of President and Vice President. Same with Investment Committee, Attorney General provides advice and then puts on hat as Committee members and votes. Office of Vital Records shud be there and pple from Agency Census Office so address in more fair manner.
Both candidates are not full Navajo. They are 50 percent Navajo and no problem with that. But what about candidates who are 25 percent Navajo and we have allowed them to become Navajo citizens. So why are we doing this? Is enrollment declining? We need to do more studies.
DELEGATE LEONARD PETE Told story of sheep herder who heard baby crying. Went to road and there was baby in paper sack. Later they adopted. And they had ceremony for baby and gave clan of mother and father and grandparents. What do in that case? Looks like Navajo.
Another time, baby just dropped off by mother who then returned to Denver. What do in that case?
DELEGATE WALTER PHELPS Your enrollment is based on blood and not about whether clan or residency. The Indian Child Welfare Act was overturned by federal court in Texas. That is huge blow to children placed in foster care or adoption homes. This does not coincide with ICWA. I fully disagree with the way this is worded. My recommendation is we send this back or have sponsor withdraw cuz I don’t think this is right angle to come from. Legislation talks about ICWA but haven’t read how tied in. But I cannot support this.
DELGATE OTTO TSO We are thinning out blood quantum. Seen how Cherokees increased their population by reducing blood quantum.
LEGISLATIVE SPONSOR, DELEGATE AMBER CROTTY We have children in 50 states, military families.
DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE I understand courts cite all sorts of things but not that correct. Indian Nations displeased with Texas decision and will be appealed and hope overturn. But then again, what do federal courts know about Indian kids. That was view of Indian Nations but federal judge said read based on Constitution.
But what is scary is white pple know they will in minority soon so protect white nominee who will be there for 50 years or more. And did that when blacks became citizens. There is litigation in North Dakota. Some pple call white pple dominant. Stole all the land and then gave rights to Natives and treated them as non citizens without rights to litigate. After stole all land then declared Native citizens. Texas worst. Scary thing is when maintaining control over pple of color. Revolution is good now and then and there will be revolution soon. Why say Constitution works and I have always disagreed. And now president says I can do what I want using Constitution. We don’t have three rooms in Hogan.
Remember Russell Means saying George Washington was his father because that was what he was told until he saw picture of Washington and then Means said no way is that man my father.
Never hear how situations occur such as Twin Arrows Round About and recognition that half of Round About is Hopi and now Hopi writing letters saying Navajo shud pay them money for transporting liquor.
Rather then adopt, refer to Work Session for the adoption of policy regarding citizenship for non-Navajo doctors, teachers based on how they helped us. In Eastern Agency we gave census number. I call Stanley Pollack Navajo tribal leader, over 30,000 acre feet of water. I adopted him as my tribal leader. That is where I’m coming from.
VOTE, 4-9, BILL FAILS
