Greetings Relatives/Frens/Humans,
The 25th Navajo Nation Council is scheduled to convene the first day of its annual five-day Winter Session in the Navajo Nation Council chambers in Window Rock, Ariz., at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
Day one of the 2024 Navajo Council Winter Session is when the Navajo Council hears the State of the Navajo Nation Address from President Buu Nygren. The Navajo Council Naabik’iyati Committee heard a report from Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch, who was politically appointed by Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya, regarding Nyren’s memo that calls for the resignation of Vice President Montoya because she has allegedly failed to perform her duties and assignments as his vice president. Naabi held its special meeting on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
The Naabik’iyati Committee officially consists of the chairperson and vice chairpersons of the Navajo Council’s four standing committees, but committee members are also welcome to attend, debate and vote. The Naabi Committee did not vote on whether to accept or not accept the attorney general’s report because Naabi lost quorum late in the afternoon. Nygren’s 2024 Winter Session State of the Navajo Nation Address, which is followed by a question-and-answer session between the president and Navajo Council, should prove to be very lively – if Nygren shows up on time to present his SONN address.
Nygren, for some unknown reason, does not attend the Navajo Council’s opening ceremonies for its annual five-day quarterly sessions. Nygren has been arriving late to the Navajo Council chambers for his SONN, which has resulted in the Navajo Council voting to accept Nygren’s SONN without hearing from Nygren.
Nygren did not attend the Naabi special meeting when Branch was giving her report to Naabi regarding his memo to Montoya to resign. I’m posting Nygren’s Oct. 15, 2024, Media Packet regarding his invitation-only press conference regarding his announcement for Vice President Richelle Montoya to resign because she signed a petiton to recall Nygren. Nygren also accused Montoya of failing to fulfil her vice presidential duties and assignments. Nygren’s media packet includes the memo that was the focus of a report to the Navajo Council Naabik’iyati Committee by Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch on Oct. 19, 2024.
I’ll post the 2024 25th Navajo Council Winter Session written reports that I receive. And I’ll be posting the proposed legislation on the Navajo Council proposed Winter Session agenda. When the Navajo Council convenes on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, they can amend their proposed agenda by adding or deleting agenda items. The Navajo Council can amend its agenda anytime after it adopts its agenda on day one. The Navajo Council can adopt its agenda on day one with a majority vote. But to amend its agenda after it’s been adopted, requires a 2/3 vote or 16 “yes” votes.
And an FYI regarding Legislation 0135-24, which is titled as an appropriation of $450,000 from the Navajo Nation Sihasin Fund for the Crownpoint Senior Center. When the Navajo Council Naabik’íyáti’ Committee met on Oct. 14, 2024, they voted to approve an amended 0135-24. The amended 0135-24 seeks Navajo Council approval for the appropriation of $148 million from the Síhasin Fund for infrastructure improvements at senior centers across the Navajo Nation. Navajo Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty lead the motion for the $148 million to fund repairs at senior centers.
I’m also including a post by Noel Smith. The following is a bio of Noel produced by Inside Climate News:
Noel Lyn Smith is a Diné (Navajo) reporter. Her maternal clan is Honágháahnii (One-Walks-Around Clan), and paternal clan is Hashtł’ishnii (Mud Clan). Her reporting has focused on all aspects of the Navajo Nation. Her favorite topics include the tribal government and the environment. She reported about the Gold King Mine spill, water issues, threats to sacred sites and coal mining, including the tribe’s purchase of the Navajo Mine. She looks forward to expanding her understanding of Indigenous communities while working for Inside Climate News as part of a year-long fellowship funded by the Outrider Foundation and the Scripps Howard Fund. Noel was a staff reporter with the Farmington Daily Times in northwest New Mexico and with the Navajo Times in Window Rock, Arizona. Her work has also appeared in ICT, formerly Indian Country Today. She took a break from her career to earn a master’s degree in investigative journalism from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Noel is the first recipient of a partnership between the Cronkite School, the Indigenous Journalists Association and ICT to complete a master’s degree program at Cronkite. Her bachelor’s degree is in journalism from Northern Arizona University.
·
This is Noel’s post regarding 0135-3: The Navajo Nation Council starts the fall session on Monday. The proposed agenda has a bill to repeal the tribe’s ban on same-sex marriages. If the repeal is supported, it would also update the tribe’s laws on common law marriages and marriage licenses issued by Navajo courts. Abolishing the ban will not change who can marry by way of the traditional Navajo wedding ceremony. This ceremony would remain between a man and a woman. “Keeping the traditional Navajo wedding the same will not prohibit nor deny same-sex marriage because there are other methods available for marrying under 9 N.N.C. 4,” the bill states. The last few words are a reference to the section of tribal law for “domestic relations.” The council’s bill tracker shows that the last time this legislation was debated was in October 2023. At that time, the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee tabled it and called for a work session to be held. The work session would discuss two matters – whether a referendum would go to voters or whether input needs to be collected from officials who represent chapter governments. There are 110 chapters on the tribal land.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PROPOSED AGENDA OF THE 25th NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL FALL SESSION
October 21 – 25, 2024, 10 AM, Navajo Nation Council Chambers, Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)
Livestream will be available online on YouTube: www.youtube.com/navajonationcouncil
Join Zoom Meeting: https://navajonationcouncil-org.zoom.us/j/9288717160?pwd=T3k3VE1uV3JYQ3JaQnZPbkJUWmRRZz09&omn=82363808113
Call-in Number: (669) 900-6833
Meeting ID: 928 871 7160
Passcode: 86515
PRESIDING: Honorable Crystalyne Curley, Speaker, 25th Navajo Nation Council
- CALL SESSION TO ORDER; ROLL CALL; INVOCATION
- RECOGNIZE GUESTS AND VISITING OFFICIALS TO THE NAVAJO NATION
- REVIEW AND ADOPT THE AGENDA
(m) (s) (v) - RECEIVE THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAJO NATION
(m) (s) (v) - RECEIVE REPORT FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE NAVAJO NATION
(m) (s) (v) - RECEIVE REPORT FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL
(m) (s) (v) - RECEIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE CONTROLLER
(m) (s) (v) - ORAL REPORTS
A. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) (m) (s) (v)
B. Indian Health Services (IHS) (m) (s) (v)
C. Attorney General (m) (s) (v)
D. Navajo Nation Youth Advisory Council (m) (s) (v) - WRITTEN REPORTS
A. Standing Committees (m) (s) (v)
B. Boards and Commissions (m) (s) (v)
C. Bureau of Indian Affairs (m) (s) (v)
D. Indian Health Services Area Director (m) (s) (v) - OLD BUSINESS:
(A) LEGISLATION 0138-24: An Action Relating to the Resources and Development, Budget and Finance, and Naabik’íyáti’ Committees, and the Navajo Nation Council; Approving $4,897,200 from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance (“UUFB”) to the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources for the Hogback Pumping Station Rebuild Project
SPONSOR: Honorable Rickie Nez
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Amber Kanazbah Crotty
(m) Hon. CJohnson (s) Hon. CSlater (v)
09/16/24 – Motion to Table Legislation 0138-24 to allow for the finalization of a draft amendment and bring back within a period not to exceed 60 days; Motioned by Hon. Otto Tso; Seconded by Hon. George H. Tolth; Vote: 17 in Favor, 00 Opposed (Speaker Curley not voting). - NEW BUSINESS
(A) LEGISLATION 0135-24: An Action Relating to the Resources and Development Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee, the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee, and the Navajo Nation Council; Approving $450,000 from the Síhasin Fund to the Navajo Nation Division of Community Development for the Crownpoint Senior Center; Approving the Related Expenditure Plan 2/3 SPONSOR: Honorable Danny Simpson
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Norman M. Begay
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Amber Kanazbah Crotty
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Crystalyne Curley
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Casey Allen Johnson
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Carl R. Slater
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Lester C. Yazzie
(m) (s) (v)
(B) LEGISLATION 0220-24: An Act Relating to an Emergency for the Navajo Council; Rescinding CJA08-24 which Amended Campaign Expense Provisions of the Navajo Election Code at §§ 201 through 209 and § 404
SPONSOR: Honorable Brenda Jesus
(m) (s) (v)
(C) LEGISLATION 0149-24: An Act Relating to the Law and Order Committee, the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee, the Resources and Development Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee, and the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee, and the Navajo Nation Council; Establishing the “Navajo Nation Environmental Remediation Fund” and Approving a 2% Annual Set-Aside from the General Fund to Pay for Remediation Activities at Contamination Sites Located on the Navajo Nation
SPONSOR: Honorable Andy Nez
(m) (s) (v)
(D) LEGISLATION 0145-24: An Act Relating to the Health, Education, and Human Services, Law and Order, Budget and Finance, and Naabik’íyáti’ Committees, and the Navajo Nation Council; Amending the Tobacco Products Tax at 24 N.N.C. § 800 – § 810 and Enacting the Electronic Smoking Products Tax at 24 N.N.C. § 1001 – § 1016
SPONSOR: Honorable Carl R. Slater
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Helena Nez Begay
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Shaandiin Parrish
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Curtis Yanito
CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Lester C. Yazzie
(m) (s) (v)
(E) LEGISLATION 0139-23: An Act Relating to the Health, Education and Human Services, Law andOrder, Budget and Finance, and Naabik’íyáti’ Committees and the Navajo Nation Council; Repealing 9 N.N.C. § 2(C) of the Diné Marriage Act of 2005, to Uniformly Recognize All Marriages Within the Navajo Nation; and Amending Other Provisions in Title 9 of the Navajo Nation Code Related to Marriage Within the Navajo Nation
SPONSOR: Honorable Eugenia Charles-Newton
(m) (s) (v)
(F) LEGISLATION 0224-24: An Action Relating to the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee and the Navajo Nation Council; Approving the Reinstatement of Colen Nicklis Atene as a Member of the Navajo Nation SPONSOR: Honorable Herman M. Daniels, Jr.
(m) (s) (v)
(G) LEGISLATION 0225-24: An Action Relating to the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee and the Navajo Nation Council; Approving the Reinstatement of Cleve Eagleheart Atene as a Member of the Navajo Nation SPONSOR: Honorable Herman M. Daniels, Jr.
(m) (s) (v)
(H) LEGISLATION 0226-24: An Action Relating to the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee and the Navajo Nation Council; Approving the Reinstatement of Nicola L. Atene as a Member of the Navajo Nation
SPONSOR: Honorable Herman M. Daniels, Jr.
(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 on YouTube: www.youtube.com/navajonationcouncil
Join Zoom Meeting: https://navajonationcouncil-org.zoom.us/j/9288717160?pwd=T3k3VE1uV3JYQ3JaQnZPbkJUWmRRZz09&omn=82363808113
Call-in Number: (669) 900-6833
Meeting ID: 928 871 7160
Passcode: 86515
