Navajo Council back in session and listening to State of Nation Address from President Ben Shelly.
NAVAJO NATION PREZ BEN SHELLY
recently Council allocated supplemental funding to various programs. these funds have as i have stated, if funds allocated are not in compliance then i have responsibility to veto. we are to be accountable and lawful. i have legal counsel to advise me. when i do veto legislation, i normally attach justification for veto and ID areas for correction. Some delegates work on correction. there was a five year capital improvement plan approved by council and i approved that plan. we use CIP plan to make sure projects are shovel ready and so ready for funding. we have returning funds to Reserves and under my administration, we have funds in Reserves and those funds are already earmarked for certain projects. I also signed $500,000 for Oljaito Chapter technical services to design multi-purpose building. There was also $500,000 to finish Naha’dziil shopping center. that plan has been in works for many years and they have said that the project is shovel ready. $500.000 also for Tonalea demolition project. Cameron Chapter will receive $100,000 for multi-purpose and $600,000 for new bus for Navajo Transit system. $920,000 for local government elected officials…on Dec. 11, 2014, Vice President Rex Lee Jim traveled to Paris, Francis for the return of Yei Bei Chai masks that were put up for auction. a private collector put them up for auction. Navajo Human Rights Office and Historic Preservation Office joined Vice President for return by bidding $7,000 for 7 masks. Before auction, there was special blessing for return of Yei Bei Chais.
The Navajo Nation has been working with Homeland Security to ensure that sacred properties are returned to the navajo nation.
we have also been working with Gallup, NM, Detox Center on epidemic of alcoholism with Mayor of Gallup. our navajo people are dying of exposure in Gallup on a regular basis and so we have been meeting with city officials regularly. The Gallup Detox Center doesn’t have enough money for staff to keep the people at center for more than 12 hours.
There is also a Native American Energy Bill that would benefit us.
Over the weekend, we had a visit from a Congressional delegation concerning Navajo Hopi relocation. as many of you will remember, Navajo Hopi Accomodations Agreement occurred in early 70s and there was a lot of suffering.
THE PRESIDENT IS FINISHED WITH HIS STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS AND THE COUNCIL IS VOTING TO ACCEPT IT, WITHOUT QUESTIONS AND DEBATE. THE VOTE IS 20 IN FAVOR, 0 OPPOSED. IT IS NOW 4:19 PM.
