Delegate says Shirley’s acts hurt Navajo

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Federal officials in Washington have heard the charges of mismanagement and wasteful spending being levied by President Joe Shirley Jr. against the Council, Judiciary Committee Chairman Kee Allen Begay said.

“Mr. President Shirley and Mr. Press Officer (George Hardeen), have you not realized that your misleading and deceptive press releases have made their way to the U. S. government in Washington, D.C.?” Begay said. “Your office has been sending e-mails directly to several U. S. congressional officials and some have made comments on your ‘allegation’ of the Navajo Nation Council’s misspending of Navajo Nation funds. Why not just write an official letter from you to each of the senators and congressmen?” Begay said.

Begay was in Washington to lobby for funding for the Navajo Nation Supreme Court Building, which has been in the process for the past three years.

He was also there to submit an InterGovernmental Services Committee resolution, “The Submission of a Memorandum to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on the Proposed Indian Country Crime Bill from an InterTribal Workgroup comprised of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation,” to Sen. Bob Dorgan’s office, Begay said.

“The Judiciary Committee and the Legislative Branch are working continuously on these and other numerous important issues at the federal level and we are making every effort to represent the Navajo Nation effectively at every level of government,” Begay said.

Shirley’s so-called reform is not helping, Begay suggested. The president’s initiative has created another layer of obstacles for the Navajo Nation to navigate if it hopes to receive more funding from Washington, he added.

The U. S. government will make Shirley’s claims the center point in arguing against more funding to the Nation, when its own president has charged the Navajo Nation Legislature of misspending funds, Begay predicted.

“Would you say that’s the reason why Navajo BIA 2009 budget was cut 30-40 percent across the board for direct service to the Navajo people? I wouldn’t be surprised if more funding will be halted or decreased from the U. S. government due to the negative publicity over allegations against the Navajo Nation Legislative Branch,” Begay said.
Shirley has damaged the Navajo people, and also its tribal sovereignty, Begay said.

“Are you going to address the Navajo people why less funding will be coming forth for their direct services, or are you just going to continue blaming the Legislative Branch?” Begay wondered of the president. “I hope you will fix the crisis you have created before you make a bigger error with your supposed champion triumph Navajo Nation Government Reform Initiative.”