Delegate wants funds to rebuild Klagetoh

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Delegate Orlanda Smith-Hodge asked for $1.1 million from the Undesignated, Unreserved Fund to help rebuild Klagetoh, following the devastating fire recently that destroyed thousands of acres.

"I feel for you," said Delegate David Shondee.

A lot of the delegates felt for the victims of the Klagetoh blaze but they balked at the $1.1 million.

"I know the $1.1 million will not pass," said Dennehotso Delegate Katherine Benally. She motioned to amend the legislation to $204,000.

Delegates bantered about various dollar amounts, until it became a little confusing.

"I, myself, am a little confused as to what's going on," said Delegate Peterson Yazzie. "This is just causing confusion."

Delegates were unclear if Benally wanted to increase the $1.1 million by $204,000; or give the $1.1 million, but mandate that $204,000 of that be set aside for public assistance.

"It is confusing," added Delegate Elmer Milford.

She wanted to change the dollar amount in the legislation from $1.1 million to $204,000; and change the wording on the use of the funds from "recovery services" to "public assistance."

Though no homes were completely destroyed, some suffered damage including smoke damage, Smith-Hodge said.

Delegates were unsure about the bill, though.

So far, only one family all from the same home had come forward to request aid, Delegate Omer Begay Jr. said.

"There were 46 families affected, not just one, all from the same house," Begay said. The legislation was not getting "to the meat of the problem," he added.

In an emotional soliloquy, Shondee expressed his pain for the suffering of the people.

"We are all five-fingered people, and this is Mother Earth; the Navajo people have been hurt, and the animals and the earth," Shondee said, speaking Navajo. "I am very concerned."

But it is the way of nature that the Earth cleanses itself, he said. The vegetation that has burned away will regrow, and the land will return to use, better than it was, he explained.

"We must not just make arbitrary decisions," Shondee said.

Delegate Ervin M. Keeswood Sr. agreed. "It's kind of a gray area," he said.

Smith-Hodge's legislation does not say how the money would be used, and who was eligible for it. There is no documentation to show cost estimates for rebuilding, he added.

"There will be new growth, that's how nature works," Keeswood said.

One individual has come forward so far, but there are other homes that were damaged, Benally said. Rather than just turn down the chapter completely, she thought providing a small amount would help the affected families recover, she added.

Benally's amendment passed 51-9, and the main motion providing $204,000 for Klagetoh was approved, 61-6.

In other business, legislation sponsored by Fort defiance Delegate Larry Anderson Sr. to extend council terms from four to six years was rejected by a 6-60 tally.

Delegates also defeated a proposal to give the president a line-item veto on the annual budget by a 41-25 vote. Twenty-two delegates did not vote.

President Joe Shirley Jr. had written a letter to the council seeking its support for the measure, which he said was in the best interest of the Navajo Nation. The debate on the measure, sponsored by Delegate Raymond Maxx, centered around differences in opinion between the council and the president over how the tribe should spend its money.

"Show us where we spent Navajo money unwisely," Maxx said.

But, Keeswood countered that Maxx is assuming his colleagues were engaged in "unwise spending."

The debate is really over fiscal responsibility, which is not solely the council's problem, Delegate Pete Ken Atcitty said.

He also said the main concern seemed to be the so-called UUF, a sort of emergency fund the council regularly taps, as well as protecting revenue that comes into the Navajo Nation. The council would still have the opportunity to override any veto, Atcitty added.

George Hardeen, the President's Office communications director, said Council delegates were not happy about some of the language in the legislation that referred to spending. However, he said, the legislation was written by the Council's attorney, not Shirley's office.

"The president's office can't write legislation, they have to have someone on the Council do it," Hardeen said.

Also, Arbin Mitchell was confirmed as the new director of the Division of Community Development by a 38-11 vote.

Mitchell, the son of Wide Ruins-Klagetoh, Ariz., residents Fannie and Robert Mitchell, belongs to the Tdch'i'nii, born for Ashiihi. His maternal grandparents are Kinyaa'nii and his paternal grandparents are Honghahnii.

Mitchell previously served as an executive staff assistant to Navajo Nation Presidents Albert Hale, Kelsey Begaye and Joe Shirley, Jr. During 2000, Mitchell served as the Navajo Nation Census 2000 manager.

Mitchell currently serves on the Nation's Investment Committee, Retirement Committee an as an ex-officio member of the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority Board of Directors. He is also president of the Wide Ruins Community School Board. He has served and continues to serve as an integral part of the national Bureau of Indian Affairs task force where strategies are devised and discussed on monies allocated and approached for all of Native Americans in the United States.

In honor of his late uncle Johnny Hale, Mr. Mitchell attributes his leadership practices to honesty, integrity and unconditional commitment to the Navajo people.

The Navajo Nation Council also confirmed Jerry L. Frank to a two-year term as a legislative branch representative to the Commission on Navajo Government Development.

Other appointments made by the council include affirming Robert Yazzie, Toh Nanees Dizi Chapter vice president, to the Western Navajo Agency Representative on the Navajo Government Development Commission; and Sam Begay and Mae Horseson to the Commission on Navajo Government Development.