Miss Central Navajo —
is she or isn't she

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — A member of the committee that was put in place by LaSasha Ross defended Ross and said that she has not violated any policies relating to Miss Central Navajo. Ross won the title during the pageant held at the Central Navajo Fair in August but the title was later revoked.

Ross was removed by the Central Navajo Fair Board in September and first runner-up Renalda Gonnie was named Miss Central Navajo for 2008-2009, board President Irene Bahe told the Independent.

But Willander Charley said that the Miss Central Navajo committee, of which he is vice president, is complying with proper procedures and both the committee and Ross have appeared before the Chinle chapter and gained a chapter resolution in support of Ross continuing the role of Miss Central.

“The fair board cannot interfere with our portion in planning for Miss Central Navajo to do her appearances,” Charley said.

Charley said he was named to the committee by Ross on Aug. 24. The title holder typically puts a committee in place for her reign. The committee ensures that the title holder follows policies, schedules appearances and arranges for chaperones for those appearances.

However, Bahe said that the committee that Charley is a part of is not recognized by the fair board. Because Ross is not Miss Central, the committee she would have named is not valid.

She added that the committee that Miss Central puts together must come before the board, but that has not happened in this case.

“She is not in compliance with what the regulations say,” Bahe said.

Charley also said that the committee is supposed to meet with the fair board every month.

Charley doesn’t agree that Ross has been removed as Miss Central, and asked what rule Ross violated to justify removal. He said that the policies and regulations are being followed.

“Nothing has happened yet during the time of her reign,” he said.

“We make sure we do enforce that to ensure that none of the section is being violated,” Charley said.

The disagreement between Ross and the fair board continues. Though the fair board contacted the fairs across Navajo, Bahe said that Ross went to some fair parades carrying the Sept. 14 resolution passed by the Chinle chapter, but the chapter has no authority over the fair board.
The Chinle chapter is also not supposed to interfere with the Central Navajo Fair, Bahe said about the resolution.