Hozhoojí Nahat’á Ba Hane’ - Navajo Nation

1 $19 MILLION FUNDING FOR $554 MILLION TRUST $1 BILLION ABANDONED. CHAPTERS LITIGATION SETTLEMENT URANIUM MINE CLEANUP. President Shelly signed off on The Navajo Nation litigation against The bankruptcy settlement from the legislation to provide chapters with the federal government for breach of Tronox Inc. litigation has provided $19 million from the Undesignated, trust responsibilities resulted in a $554 more than $1 billion for cleanup of 49. Unreserved Fund Balance, page 9. million settlement, page 20. abandoned uranium mines, page 21. July 2014. Hozhooj Nahat' Ba Hane' A Publication of the Navajo Nation Executive br anch News Volume 1, Issue 1 Navajo SOVEREIGNTY. WINDOW ROCK, in foster care with a stated Joo Yeun Chang, Ariz. Quality foster recent decision by the associate commissioner care is important in Administration for of the Children's Bureau. keeping children safe Children and Families On June 27, President and providing a stable (Children's Bureau) to Shel ly pen ned the living environment.

2 Execute a direct funding agreement into law, along On June 24, Navajo agreement with the with representatives from Nation President Nation . the Division of Social Ben Shelly received We applaud the Services, Judicial branch , a letter from the Navajo Nation 's efforts in Legislative branch and Department of Health bringing approval of this Children's Bureau. and Human Services plan to fruition that, once The Navajo Division stating that the Nation implemented, should of Social Services is the was approved to begin help further strengthen first tribal program in the their Title IV-E plan, the safety, permanency, country to administer President Ben Shelly and Vice President Rex Lee Jim celebrated Navajo sovereignty on June 27, when effective Oct. 1, 2014. and well-being outcomes the Title IV-E program, . the Navajo Nation Title IV-E Agency Plan and Child Welfare Partnership Agreement were signed into The Navajo Nation for your most valuable President Shelly said. law. The Navajo Nation is the first tribal Nation to administer the entire Title IV-E program through a set a new precedent children and families, SEE Navajo on page 14.

3 Direct funding agreement. (Photo by Rick Abasta). $34 million Kayenta Justice Center opens new detention facility, police headquarters KAYENTA Navajo departments. overcrowding will fi nd The construction team Nation President Ben This new justice some relief with the new created carve outs' of Shelly will tour the center will provide the facility, President Shelly construction projects to new $34 million justice Nation with needed added. maximize participation facility in Kayenta on i n f r a st r u c t u r e fo r Other touches to the new by community laborers, . Tuesday, marking the detention services and a center include culturally Gabel said. The result substantial completion of suitable headquarters for beneficial healing areas was an 80 percent Navajo the American Recovery our Navajo Police in the for a sweathouse, teepee worker participation rate Reinvestment Act funded area, President Shelly ground and a hogan. throughout the project.. project. said. The facility will The Navajo Nation He noted that his team He will be signing the allow our public safety Department of was honored to be a part official acceptance of the officers to continue Corrections emphasized of the project, especially center from the Bitco- direct services to the t he i mpor t a nce of the cultural immersion, Kitchell project team on Navajo people.

4 Maintaining family which increased their June 20 at 10 The facility is located connections and cultural knowledge of Navajo Designed by Sloan next to the Kayenta values in facility, which traditions and customs. Architects, the 54,000 District Court, which they believe will help Bitco is a leading Navajo square foot building is another benefit. The incarcerated members owned constr uction consists of 84 beds, a location cuts down on rehabilitate and transition m a n a ge m e nt f i r m . shor t-ter m hold i ng travel distance because in back into society. Kitchell is a Phoenix- facility for male and the past, families had to Brad Gabel, a based const r uct ion female inmates, and a travel to other detention partner from Bitco- company with more than 13,500 square foot support facilities in Tuba City or Kitchell, said the joint 60 years in business. Navajo Nation Vice President Rex Lee Jim toured the Kayenta building that will house Window Rock to visit venture maximized job detention facility in April 2014 and met with the construction crew, dispatch, police and incarcerated relatives.

5 Opportunities for local many of which were Navajo employees. The facility opened in criminal investigation Detention facility workers. June and includes a police headquarters. (Photo by Rick Abasta). PRESIDENT SHELLY'S MESSAGE. ASAAYII LAKE FIRE DONATIONS. TSE BONITO, affected by the fire have the case of the donations, . Navajo Nation been under tremendous Whitehair said. The fire chapters, including Local stress worrying about has flared the emotions Governance Act certified their homes, livestock of many, but it must be chapters, are a sub-unit and the condition of the understood that we are of the tribal government. land. in compliance with tribal As such, they are required Compounding law. to follow the policies and their worries is the The donations are procedures set forth by inconvenience of having being accounted for and the tribal government. to live in temporary provided as necessary, . The Navajo Nation shelters for an unknown she added. Commission on amount of time.

6 This The Navajo Emergency Management increases their level of Transportation Complex Y ' t' h! especially for the 110 are making tremendous was established under frustration and anger h a s b e e n h o s t i ng Welcome to the chapters that submitted headway on behalf of the Title 2 of the Navajo from the emergency teleconference briefings fi rst issue of Hozhooj prioritized projects over Navajo people and we Nation Code, under situation. at 6 since June Nahat' Ba Hane'. the years. In cooperation have a vision to continue Article 4, Section 881. An obvious outlet 20 at the Emergency There are many with the 22nd Navajo moving forward. As such, they are for many to vent these Operations Center. issues facing the Navajo Nation Council, this Thanks to the efforts mandated by the Council frustrations have been The purpose of the Nation today and the major achievement was of Sen. John Pinto, Gov. to lead Navajo Nation social media sites such briefings is to share stories provided in this completed.

7 Susana Martinez, NM efforts, in protecting as Facebook, where they activities out in the field newsletter are only a Working together Dept. of Transportation from all hazards and have let loose a litany with stakeholders in the glimpse of some of the and communicating Sec. Tom Church and threats by coordinating: of diatribes and blame tribal government, from current challenges. effectively between our Navajo DOT director preparedness, protection, on the Navajo Nation such areas as natural One such story is branches of government Paulson Chaco, we will prevention, response, President Ben Shelly resources, transportation the court settlement is the only way we see the completion of recovery, and mitigation, and the Department of and public safety. for the Navajo Nation will move our Nation four-lane construction to provide effective and Emergency Management. During the June 22. trust litigation against forward. We cannot fall on Route 491. This eff icient emergency These have included briefing, news of closures the federal government back into the rut we were tremendous undertaking management services.

8 Several death threats. at the Newcomb High for breach of trust. The in five years ago, when is f u nded th rough Additionally, they The need for School and Tohatchi $554 million settlement nothing moved, except per for mance bonds are granted general and a ccou nt abi l it y of High School was shared. is a victory for the Nation petty news releases issued by NMDOT, enumerated powers donations is mandated Both locations will no and will go a long way slinging mud between which was approved by under Section 884. by the Navajo Nation longer serve as shelters to addressing needs with the branches. Gov. Martinez. This includes ensuring Code, which specifically for displaced residents or infrastructure, housing, Vice President Rex There's much happening the accountability by relegates these authorities provide meals. academic scholarships Lee Jim launched the on the Navajo Nation . establishing specific to the NNDEM. The Newcomb location and providing services Navajo Nation Golden Take a peek inside and policies, procedures The Department of will continue to serve to our disabled tribal Rule Day in April.

9 As read the latest news and guidelines for the Emergency Management fi refighters battling the members. ambassador for peace affecting your chapters use of funds, goods, has been in compliance blaze. We recently and recipient of the and communities. Read services or any type with all applicable celebrated the Treaty Peace and Humanities about how the Shelly-Jim of assistance intended tribal laws, policies and In operation still is the of 1868, which brought International Golden Administration has been for use in meeting the procedures since the start Naschitti shelter location, our Navajo ancestors Rule International Award, making a difference to requirements of the of the Asaayii Lake Fire, which has a total of 10. b a c k h o m e f r o m Vice President Jim will improve your quality of people in any declared said Rose Whitehair, people at that location, Hweeldi. It is because be hosting this annual life. emergency. director of NNDEM. eight adults and two of their sacrifice that we Golden Rule event.

10 Ahe'hee. Recent media accounts She noted that the children. Many families survived to become the His fi rst effort brought about donations from negative comments and were given the green thriving, 300,000-plus peacemaking, effective Ben Shelly, President the Asaayii Lake Fire innuendo posted on light to return to their powerhouse of today. We communication and THE Navajo Nation being taken without social media sites have homes today. must never forget them or difficult conversations cause are untrue. These been erroneously taken the treaty. to the forefront of tribal sensationalized news as fact by several news The NNDEM will have For the first time in consciousness. stories have been based outlets reporting on the hard numbers on the more than 14 years of We have also on Facebook posts from fire. number of displaced trying, the Navajo Nation provided an update displaced residents Reporters are residents tomor row, has approved the Capital from the divisions, on affected by the Asaayii supposed to be objective i ncludi ng act ual Improvement Projects major accomplishments Lake Fire.