NTEC meets Navajo Council Resources & Development Committee, 8 am, Albuquerque, 3.29.22

Greetings Relatives/Frens/Humans,
The Navajo Council Resources & Development Committee is once again having their Meetings, Work Sessions, Leadership Meetings Away from the capitol of the Navajo Nation, Window Rock, which is where the Navajo government is headquartered. The Resources & Development Committee uses the Navajo Dept of Transportation meeting rooms, but lately the RDC & the Navajo Council have been spending our Dine’ Money on the Navajo govt’s Business/Enterprise, Twin Arrows Casino & Resort, which is near Flagstaff, Arizona. Flagstaff is about a three hour drive west of Window Rock.

The Council’s Naabik’iyati Committee had a Two-Day Work Session on the nez&lizer $1.1 Billion ARPA Spending Package on March 24 & 25. The RDC, which has Rickie Nez as its chairman and Thomas Walker Jr. as its vice chairman, stayed an additional day, Marcy 26, for Leadership Meeting with CKP Insurance and the Navajo Division of Natural Resources Department of Agriculture to discuss the Pasture Rangeland and Forage Policy Update and how the 2021 Policy Ended. RDC members are Kee Allen Begay, Herman M. Daniel Jr., Mark A. Freeland, and Wilson Stewart Jr.

On Tuesday, the RDC travels to Albuquerque, NM, for a Work Session with another Navajo Govt Enterprise, Navajo Transitional Energy Company, at the Double Tree by Hilton Downtown, 201 Marquetter Ave NW, to Work on “issues related to the land surrender applications of a parcel of the Navajo Mine. Presentation on the Land Surrender Applications of a Parcel of the Navajo Mine and Update on NTEC Analysis and Review of the Land Surrender Applications.”

According to the RDC agenda, the meeting starts at 8 am, but there is no end time. And so RDC could meet for a couple of minutes & get paid a full day of work or the RDC could work until 11:59 p.m. And the RDC agenda lacks any information regarding who from NTEC will be presenting, and if anyone from Navajo Mine will be presenting.

But on Wednesday, March 30, the RDC will return to their nest, the Navajo Dept of Transportation for another Leadership Meeting, and this one will start at 2 p.m. Maybe the 2 p.m. meeting start time is to soften the jet lag for the RDC traveling between Albuquerque and Window Rock. According to the RDC agenda, Wednesday’s Leadership Meeting is with the NDOT to discuss suitable road funding for maintenance services and to hear a Presentation by NDOT on Adequate Funding Coverage for the Expanded and Suggested Routes for Road Maintenance Services as Recommended by San Juan County, Utah, and on Having Enough Funds to Cover Expanded Road Maintenance Services.

And on Thursday, March 31, the RDC will return to the Navajo Dept of Transportation for Another Leadership Meeting. This one will start at 9 a.m. be with the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources, Navajo Division of Natural Resources Department of Agriculture, Navajo Nation Office of the Controller, and Navajo Nation District Grazing Committee to discuss streamlining the stipend process to prevent non- and late payments to Grazing Officials.

And then on April 1, Friday, the RDC is hosting Another Leadership Meeting and this one is with the Navajo Nation Department of Minerals to discuss issues related to the Minerals Department’s Primacy Initiative for its Surface Mining Program. According to the RDC agenda, the Discussion will Focus on the Federal Government Delegation of Regulatory Authority of Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Activities, which will be presented by Mineral Dept Director Rowena Cheromiah.

RDC’s Discussion will Include Waiver of Navajo Nation Sovereign Immunity with regard to the Navajo Nation Surface Mining and Reclamation, and Enacting the Navajo Nation Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act.

I find it Very Strange that RDC’s Leadership Meetings are ALL In-Person and Virtual, But for the Leadership Meeting with the Navajo Minerals Dept, the RDC is telling the Dine’, the Public, “This is an In-Person Work Session. Due to Social Distance Requirement, Public Access will be Limited to Telephonic Participation.” I wonder if the RDC is Afraid of the Dine’, Public because the RDC knows how the Dine’, Public feel about their Navajo Govt Public Servants promoting Fossil Fuels Projects instead of Alternative Energy Project, such as Solar & Wind, during a Drought, Climate Change, COVID-19 Pandemic, 40% unemployment, and Lack of Running Water & Electricity, Housing, Public Transportation, Grocery Stores, Domestic Violence Shelters, Rape Centers, Safe Houses for Children & Teens, Police Officers, Burial Assistance, Ambulances, Emergency Fire Services, Mental Health Assistance, Social Services, Scholarships, Youth Centers, School Clothing, Fitness Centers, Roads, Day Care Centers, Safe Playgrounds, Rehabilitation Centers, New Schools, Libraries, Wifi, Cell Coverage Across Navajo Nation, Art Centers, Modernized Flea Markets with Space for Musicians/Bands, Respect for traditional Dine’ Way of Life, Etc, Etc, Etc, Etc.

I’m also wondering How much Dine’ Money was Used to Pay the RDC for meeting Three Days straight from Marcy 24 to 26 at Twin Arrows Casino & Resort, And then for meeting for Four Days straight from March 29 to April 1.

May Peace Prevail on Mother Earth!

RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Work Session with Navajo Transitional Energy Company, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 8 a.m.
AGENDA

PRESIDING: Rickie Nez, Chairperson, Thomas Walker, Jr., Vice-Chairperson
LOCATION: DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Albuquerque 201 Marquette Ave. NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102

  1. Welcome; Roll Call; Invocation; and Introduction
    [] Rickie Nez (C) [] Thomas Walker, Jr, (VC) [] Kee Allen Begay, Jr. [] Herman M. Daniels, Jr. [] Mark A. Freeland [] Wilson C. Stewart, Jr.
  2. Purpose of the Work Session: The Resources and Development Committee will be conducting a work session with Navajo Transitional Energy Company (“NTEC”) to discuss issues related to the land surrender applications of a parcel of the Navajo Mine.
  3. Presentation/Discussions:
    a. Presentation on the Land Surrender Applications of a Parcel of the Navajo Mine and Update on NTEC Analysis and Review of the Land Surrender Applications.
  4. Questions/Recommendations/Follow-Up
  5. Conclusion of Meeting and Adjournment

RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Leadership Meeting with the Navajo Division of Transportation, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 2 p.m.
AGENDA

PRESIDING: Hon. Rickie Nez, Chairperson, Hon. Thomas Walker, Jr., Vice-Chairperson
LOCATION: Navajo Nation Division of Transportation, #16 Old Coalmine Road, Mentmore, New Mexico 87319

  1. Welcome; Roll Call; Invocation; and Introduction
    [] Rickie Nez (C) [] Thomas Walker, Jr, (VC) [] Kee Allen Begay, Jr. [] Herman M. Daniels, Jr. [] Mark A. Freeland [] Wilson C. Stewart, Jr.
  2. Purpose of the Leadership Meeting: The Resources and Development Committee will be conducting a leadership meeting with the Navajo Division of Transportation to discuss suitable road funding for maintenance services for the Navajo Nation.
  3. Presentation/Discussions:
    a. Presentation by the Division of Transportation on the Adequate Funding Coverage for the Expanded and Suggested Routes for Road Maintenance Services as Recommended by San Juan County, Utah. i. How Much will Navajo DOT Provide to this Proposal Suggested by San Juan County, Utah?
    b. Presentation by the Division of Transportation on Having Enough Funds to Cover Expanded Road Maintenance Services.
    i. Where will Funding Come from on the Expanded Road Maintenance Services? General Funds? Federal and State Government? Grants?
    c. Discussion on Suitable Road Funding is Available for Maintenance Services and Expansion for the Navajo Nation.
  4. Questions/Recommendations/Follow-Up
  5. Conclusion of Meeting and Adjournment

RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Leadership Meeting with the Division of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Office of the Controller, and District Grazing Committee Thursday, March 31, 2022, 9 a.m.
AGENDA
PRESIDING: Hon. Rickie Nez, Chairperson, Hon. Thomas Walker, Jr., Vice-Chairperson
LOCATION: via Telecommunication: Call-In Number: 1-669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 732-628-2566, Passcode: 86515

  1. Welcome; Roll Call; Invocation; and Introduction
    [] Rickie Nez (C) [] Thomas Walker, Jr, (VC) [] Kee Allen Begay, Jr. [] Herman M. Daniels, Jr. [] Mark A. Freeland [] Wilson C. Stewart, Jr.
  2. Purpose of the Leadership Meeting: The Resources and Development Committee will be conducting a leadership meeting with the Division of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Office of the Controller and the District Grazing Committee to discuss streamlining the stipend process to prevent non- and late payments to the Grazing Officials.
  3. Presentation/Discussions:
    a. Presentations by the Department of Agriculture on the Stipend Process, the Grazing Officials on the Payroll Cycle, and Submittal of Documentations.
    b. Presentations by the Office of the Controller on the Cause of Non- and Late Payments.
    c. Discussion on Simplifying and Streamlining the Stipend Process. Can the Stipend Process be Contracted Out to an Outside Entity?
  4. Questions/Recommendations/Follow-Up
  5. Conclusion of Meeting and Adjournment

RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Work Session with the Navajo Nation Department of Minerals, Friday, April 1, 2022, 9 a.m.
AGENDA

PRESIDING: Hon. Rickie Nez, Chairperson, Hon. Thomas Walker, Jr., Vice-Chairperson
LOCATION: Navajo Nation Land Department, 2B Taylor Road, Building #8966, St. Michaels, Arizona 86511
via Telecommunication: Call-In Number: 1-669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 732-628-2566, Passcode: 86515
*** This is an In-Person Work Session. Due to Social Distance Requirement, Public Access will be Limited to Telephonic Participation.

  1. Welcome; Roll Call; Invocation; and Introduction
    [] Rickie Nez (C) [] Thomas Walker, Jr, (VC) [] Kee Allen Begay, Jr. [] Herman M. Daniels, Jr. [] Mark A. Freeland [] Wilson C. Stewart, Jr.
  2. Purpose of the Work Session: The Resources and Development Committee will be conducting a work session with the Navajo Nation Department of Minerals (“Department”) to discuss issues related to the Department’s Primacy Initiative for its Surface Mining Program.
  3. Presentation/Discussions:
    a. Discussion on the Federal Government Delegation of Regulatory Authority of Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Activities. Presenter: Rowena Cheromiah, Director, Department of Minerals
    i. Discussion Includes Waiver of Navajo Nation Sovereign Immunity with regard to the Navajo Nation Surface Mining and Reclamation.
    ii. Discussion Includes Enacting the Navajo Nation Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act
  4. Questions/Recommendations/Follow-Up
  5. Conclusion of Meeting and Adjournment

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