This is Second Part of HEHS Committee meeting. HEHS voted unanimously to go into executive session from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm regarding personnel matters related to HEHS Agenda Item B. Department of Aging and Long-Term Care Services – Navajo Dept of Health: ➢ Staffing of Senior Centers, ➢ Personnel Issues. Presenter(s): Ms. Valerie Jones, Health Services Administrator, Dept of Aging & Long-term Care Servces (DALTCS), Jill Jim, Ph.D., Executive Director, Navajo Department of Health
The Navajo Council Health, Education & Human Services Committee has gone behind closed doors again to discuss Personnel Issues regarding School Board Reapportionments, starting at 1:46, 4.13.22, for 45 minutes.
It is now 2:28 pm, 4.13.22, This is HEHS continuing their meeting after Second Executive Session, from 1:46 pm to about 2:15 pm, 4.13.22. The HEHS continues to Listen to Reports. Legislation 0054-22, the Same-Sex Marriage Legislation, has not gone before the HEHS.
It is now 3:26 pm, 4.13.22, and Health, Education & Human Services Committee Chairman Daniel Tso calls on Delegate Eugene Tso, who is sponsoring Same-Sex Marriage legislation.
It is now 3:10 pm, 4.13.22:
“We’re discriminating against part of our Family,” Navajo Council Delegate Eugene Tso said 4.13.22 before the Navajo Council Health, Education & Human Services Committee as he introduced his Legislation 0054-22, which seeks Council approval of Same-Sex Marriage. “When are we going to stop discriminating.? It hurts. Some families have denied their own children.”
Jennifer Denetdale, chairwoman of Navajo Human Rights Commission, says i am long time advocate of Two Spirit relatives. My research took me to Women’s Leadership, which is acknowledged historically. Her research also took her to history of “nádleehí”, who were accepted and respected. History tells Dine’ that “nádleehí” were discriminated against due to colonialism through western education, Christianity. Ahe’hee to Delegate Eugene Tso for saying “It is the right thing to do” to Repeal Discriminatory Marriage Act.
Health, Education & Human Services Committee Vice Chairman Carl Salter says he supports 0054-22 because there are children who go to bed thinking and feeling that their govt doesn’t respect them, want them. This is not a Dine’ cultural issue, Christian issue. It is a Health issue. I reviewed comments very carefully and we need to frame this as Public Health Issue cuz we know how our children & elders have been made to feel ‘less than” which leads to suicide, substance abuse, life long mental health issues. we have opportunity to right wrong 17 years ago. Ahe’hee Delegate Eugene Tso for having the courage to sponsor 0054. Everyone entitled to own beliefs. No one telling churches how to run their service or telling Hataaliis how to run their ceremonies.
It is now 3:45 pm, 4.13.22, and Council Delegate Charlaine Tso says that some LGBTQ+ were physcially beaten by their families. This is not about religion. How people Love each other has nothing to do with me. There is no sickness among LGBTQ+. Some say that maybe those LGBTQ+ need to read the Bible more, have a traditional ceremony done. What is wrong with the commitment our LGBTQ+ relatives make to be married, share their lives? We say let’s be better people, so let us start today. I fully and wholeheartedly support this legislation and will fight for it.
It is now 3:50 pm, 4.13.22, and Navajo Council Delegate Edison Wauneka says he opposes Same-Sex Marriage. This is causing conflict among our people, Waunkea says. The LGBTQ+ are getting married on the outside. Everything was working fine. I don’t care what President United States says, we have no right to go against Heavenly Father.
Navajo Council Delegate Nathaniel Brown says, “We are born nádleehí, It is not a choice. I have been beat up and I don’t know how I am alive from abuse.
It is now 3:50 pm, 4.13.22, and Navajo Council Delegate Edison Wauneka says he opposes Same-Sex Marriage. This is causing conflict among our people, Waunekea says. The LGBTQ+ are getting married on the outside. Everything was working fine. I don’t care what President United States says, we have no right to go against Heavenly Father.
Navajo Council Delegate Nathaniel Brown says, “We are born nádleehí, It is not a choice. I have been beat up and I don’t know how I am alive from abuse. I’m thinking about young mother who cried uncontrollably over the suicide of her son, who hung himself his closet because he was bullied at school for being gay. The next day, her son’s fren took his life in the same way. I experienced The hatred, shame and look of disgust from my own family I have worked with multiple organizations nationally and internationally. I know elders interviewed. There is a sense of urgency to pass 0054-22. Recently, NDOJ attorney left cuz Navajo Nation didn’t recognize his Same-Sex Marriage and so he could not get insurance coverage for his spouse. Even with this HEHS debate on 0054, our children are listening. We do not want to show them that we are pushing them away.
It is now 4:20 pm, 4.13.22, and Navajo Council Delegate Paul Begay takes Forever saying that he Opposes 0054.
Navajo Council Delegate Pernell Halona says Those that are different will continue to be tormented by their families and others. Approving 0054 won’t change that, that much. All those abused thus far; that won’t change. i don’t believe make anything better for children. He’ll have to explain why he is in a Same-Sex Marriage. I couldn’t put a child thru that, that its a right way of living. US approved Same Sex Marriage for insurance, visit at hospital, act on their behalf. But i don’t believe it’s going to make life any better for anyone out there. there has to be some way to represent them and protect them with laws other than 0054.
Halona goes Silent in mid-sentence…Halona comes back on and says he supports the Military’s idea of Don’t Tell cuz it would help children to face how to tell frens that their parents have a Same Sex Marriage. or that they’re gay, or how they have sex. No child shud go thru that “torment,” Halona says.
It is now 4:57 pm, 4.13.22, and the Navajo Council Health, Education & Human Services Committee votes 2 in favor, 3 opposed on Legislation 00540, which moves before Budget & Finance Committee, and then to Law & Order Committee. After Law & Order, 0054-22 goes before Naabik’iyati Committee, and then Finally to Navajo Nation Council.
The UNOFFICIAL HEHA Voting Tally on 0054-22:
Paul Begay Red, Pernall Halona Red; Carl Slater Green; Charlaine Tso Green; Edison Wauneka. Red. (A RED vote is No; a Green vote is Yes)
Legislation 0054-22: An Act Relating to Health, Education and Human Services, Budget and Finance, Law and Order, and Naabik’íyáti’ Committees and the Navajo Nation Council; Repealing 9 N.N.C. § 2(C) of the Diné Marriage Act of 2005 to Acknowledge and Recognize Marriage Equality Among All People; Amending Common-Law Marriage Criteria at 9 N.N.C. § 4(E); Amending Marriage License Form to be Gender Neutral at 9 N.N.C. § 7; Amending Husband and Wife Section at 9 N.N.C § 201 et. seq. Sponsor: Council Delegate Eugene Tso
Co-Sponsors: Council Delegates: Charlaine Tso; Eugenia Charles-Newton and Nathaniel Brown
PROPOSED AGENDA HEALTH, EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE 24th NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING, April 13, 2022, 10 AM
PRESIDING : Honorable Daniel E. Tso, Chairperson, Honorable Carl R. Slater, Vice-Chairperson
PLACE : Via Telecommunications: Call-In Number: 1-669-900-6833, MTG ID: 979-985-0956, Passcode: 86515
Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)
[ ] Paul Begay, Jr. [ ] Charlaine Tso [ ] Pernell Halona [ ] Daniel E. Tso [ ] Carl R. Slater [ ] Edison J. Wauneka
- CALL MEETING TO ORDER; ROLL CALL; INVOCATION; ANNOUNCEMENTS
- RECOGNIZE GUESTS AND VISITING OFFICIALS
- REVIEW AND ADOPT AGENDA
m: s: v: not voting: - REVIEW AND ADOPT THE JOURNAL(S):
m: s: v: not voting: - REPORTS:
A. Report: Tuba City, Arizona, Regional Health Care Corporation; Tuba City, Navajo Nation (AZ)
➢ Funding to develop a long-term care and skilled nursing services and support for the existing cancer treatment center receiving $8 million through the remainder of FY2022.
Presenter: Lynette Bonar, CEO Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation
m: s: v: not voting:
B. Department of Aging and Long-Term Care Services – Navajo Dept of Health
➢ Staffing of Senior Centers
➢ Personnel Issues
Presenter(s): Ms. Valerie Jones, Health Services Administrator, Dept of Aging and Long-Term Care Services (DALTCS)
Jill Jim, PH.D., Executive Director, NDOT
m: s: v: not voting:
C. Department of Personnel Management – Background Investigations:
➢ Coordination of Background Checks of School Board Members – DHR
• Department of Dine’ Education
• U.S. DOI Bureau of Indian Education
o Requirements
o Coordination
Presenter(s): Jolene Etsitty, Delegated Supervisor, Office of Background Investigations, Division of Human Resources Perphelia Fowler, Ph.D., Executive Director, Department of Human Resources (DHR)
m: s: v: not voting:
D. Navajo Department of Justice:
➢ School Board Apportionment Update
Presenter(s): Louis Mallette, Attorney – Litigation Unit; NDOJ
Harrison Rice, Attorney; Human Services & Government Unit; NDOJ
DesiRae Deschine, Attorney; Human Services & Government Unit; NDOJ
Available for Presentation: Dana Bobroff, Chief Legislative Counsel
Chad Abeita, Attorney, Legislative Counsel
m: s: v: not voting:
E. Navajo Nation Office of Management and Budget; and Office of the Controller:
➢ Fiscal Year 2020 and 2021 Carry Over Budgets
• Navajo Nation Veteran’s Advisory Council
Presenter(s): Dominic Beyal, Executive Director – Office of Management and Budget
Elizabeth Begay, Controller – Office of the Controller
m: s: v: not voting:
F. Project Presentation: “Navajo Employee Health Improvement Project”:
➢ Three Year Term of a Wellness Project – Navajo Employee Health Improvement Project
Presenters: Tony Skrelunas, MBA, Tribe Awaken
Dr. Jay Sutliffe, Professor, School of Health, Northern Arizona University
m: s: v: not voting: - NEW BUSINESS:
A. Legislation 0054-22: An Act Relating to Health, Education and Human Services, Budget and Finance, Law and Order, and Naabik’íyáti’ Committees and the Navajo Nation Council; Repealing 9 N.N.C. § 2(C) of the Diné Marriage Act of 2005 to Acknowledge and Recognize Marriage Equality Among All People; Amending Common-Law Marriage Criteria at 9 N.N.C. § 4(E); Amending Marriage License Form to be Gender Neutral at 9 N.N.C. § 7; Amending Husband and Wife Section at 9 N.N.C. § 201 et. seq
Sponsor: Council Delegate Eugene Tso
Co-Sponsors: Council Delegates: Charlaine Tso; Eugenia Charles-Newton and Nathaniel Brown
m: s: v: Not Voting:
B. Legislation 0058-22: An Action Relating to the Health, Education and Human Services and the Naabik’íyáti’ Committees; Supporting United States President Joseph R. Biden’ Nomination of Roselyn Tso to be Confirmed by the United States Senate as the Director of the Indian Health Service
Sponsor: Council Delegate Carl R. Slater
Co-Sponsors: Council Delegates Kee Allen Begay, Jr. and Pernell Halona
m: s: v: Not Voting:
C. Legislation 0060-22: An Act Relating to the Health, Education, and Human Services, Resources and Development, Budget and Finance, and Naabik’íyáti’ Committees, and the Navajo Nation Council; Approving $4,000,000 from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance (“UUFB”) for the 110 Navajo Nation Chapters’ Summer 2022 Youth Employment Programs; Waiving 12 N.N.C. § 820(E), § 820(F), § 820(J), and § 820(L) to Allow Use of UUFB Funds for Recurring Chapter Expenses
Sponsor: Council Delegate Eugene Tso
Co-Sponsor: Council Delegate Wilson C. Stewart, Jr.
m: s: v: Not Voting: - OLD BUSINESS: None
- CLOSE OF MEETING; ANNOUNCEMENTS; ADJOURNMENT NEXT MEETING(S):
m: s: v: Not Voting:
THIS AGENDA 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 Committees 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 Rule of Order No. 8.
