Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye & Vice President Jonathan Nez present STATE OF NATION ADDRESS.
Council reconvened at 1:35 pm
Nation needs to assess resources while building communities. Happy New Year 2018. Focus on year, great start other than federal government shutdown. marks 150th year since ancestors signed treaty and returned from Hweeldi. not celebration but recognition of their endurance.
one of the big conversations in indian country is shutdown. BIA continjes road maintence, grading and so quire number of BIA employees furloughed. Navajo Department of Transportation take over roads. Inidan Health hospitals moving forward. Navajo has 6 hospitals. we spent testimony on water rights, health, education. this past week, secretary advisory committee on heath and human service and advocated for funding for special diabetes, rectuitment, substance abuse, medical coerage. many of our pple self employed – make jewelry, wood cutting, etc. we advocate for coverage for them. we are asking for waiver and for pple selling jewelry, hauling wood and see as employed so continue to receive services.
in june, we will welcome treaty for display at Navajo Museum. Manny Wheeler, museum director, working years to bring back. all branches working on event to recognize treaty and teach children about navaoj people strength to never give up. when ancesters returned, land drasitcially reduce by federal gofenment and settlers. this reduction of land continues with cuts to Bears Ears. but we have tripled size to about 17 million acres. as navaos we have preserved over 150 years and we will continue to flurush.
we are working to protect resources and increase land. asked congress stike down 85 percent cut to Bears Ears, which is sacred to many indian tribes. what is being proposed is not reduction not destruction.
acquired 30,000 acres of land in Colorado to reclaim ancestral lands. for first time, own over 900 heads of bison and vaccinated. division formulating management plan and others for cultural use. land exchange more than 30,000 cres on eastern borders, checkerboard region and stopped economic growth which was assisted by Delegates Leonard Tsosie and Ben Bennett.
we have been meeting with veterans advisory council on release of funds to build 200 homes with priority to women. veterans are heroes. served with distinction over 200 years. our heroes volunteered Navajo freedom and all americans and ask federal government to respect. when Navajo stands up for veterans that does not remove responsilbity of federal government ot veterans.
lot of pple, thousands, suffered when forcible removed from Navajo and Hopil land and as removed, they were prlmised, quality homes, roads, clinics, economic develpmed, etc and promises not kept. now fedral government saying close Navajo Hopi Office. we saying no to close Office of Navajo Hopi Relocation Office. Thank Delegates Raymond Smith and Dwight Witherspoon for their work.
Youth priority and thank Delegates Amber Crotty and Jonathan Hale for their work. we opened dorms for Navajo students. as of today 23 Navajos student housed. looking at getting dorms for Fort Lewis College and found apartment. Thank Delegate Seth Damon. today tuition very high and this is effort to reduce student loans.
asking for training for students, such as Navajo Technical University, to increase workforce. have MOA with Az Colege of Medicine and have 9 medical students attending.
Former Bennet Freeze Area we are pushing for development and 36 homes, 56 homesite leases, etc. What doing now canot fix 40 years of damage and can not be done overnight.
we are doing a lot of firsts. we are first nation with managed care. we are assuming own managed care organizaoitn which create jobs. very innovative and decrease unemployment and bring revenue. Thank you for addressing Council.
WHEN PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT STARTED STATE OF NATION, SPEAKER BATES INFORMED THEM THAT THEY HAD 15 MINUTES TO PRESENT STATE OF NATION ADDRESS.
DELEGATE SETH DAMON motions accept STATE OF NATION, seconded by Delegate Raymond Smith.
COUNCIL VOTE ON STATE OF NATION ADDRESS, 11-9, 2:07 PM
