Shirley wraps up business in speech
President promises support for business in State of the Nation

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — To help small businesses on the reservation, Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. will issue an executive order to the Division of Economic Development to waive the requirement for surety bonds to get a business license.

This action comes after discovering that most insurance and bonding companies refuse to bond small businesses on the reservation, Shirley said during his State of the Nation address on the opening day of the council’s winter session.

“The refusal of bonding companies to issue bonds for small businesses within the Navajo Nation hurts our small business owners and the Nation’s ability to foster economic growth,” Shirley said.

Instead of surety bonds, Shirley will order the economic development division to accept certificates of deposit, letters of credit and cash deposits.

Plans are also moving steadily forward on the gaming front, the president said. He said that so far more than 250 Navajo applicants have applied for the expected 200 jobs at the temporary casino in Churchrock.

It’s a good indication that when the Nation moves into gaming, it will provide needed jobs for tribal members, Shirley said.

“Only economic development will put us on a path to the self-sufficiency we once knew as a people,” Shirley said.

“At long last, this is the year when the deep and common desire of our people to stand on their own again will be fruit, and we, as a Nation, take the first true steps to return to independence.”

Meanwhile, the Nation invited other Arizona gaming tribes to bid on its excess machines. Those bids should bring in almost $8 million a year for the next 18 years, Shirley said. That deal still requires council approval.

The president also expressed gratitude to generous friends of the tribe that helped many Navajos enjoy a special Christmas.

Patrick Byrne, the CEO of Overstock.com, donated $25,000 to the Nation to purchase turkeys and Eddie Basha, of Basha’s Diné Markets, gave 500 turkeys, valued at about $8,000, to the Nation.

In addition, the Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation donated $5,000 to buy clothes and toys for Navajo children, Shirley said.

First Lady Vikki Shirley and her staff were also involved with the “Shop With a Cop” event, which was coordinated this year by Vanessa Holiday and Sherry Begay, of the Navajo Department of Behavioral Health Services, and Sgt. Tyrone Benally of the Kayenta police district.

The Nation has also been working with the State of New Mexico Department of Transportation to ensure needed improvements to U.S. 491, Shirley said. The president announced that the Nation has received an “unconditional commitment” from the state to expand the north segment of 491.

Shirley praised the hard work of Vice President Ben Shelly for his work with the state DOT.

The Navajo Agricultural Products Industry has also been a steady success, Shirley said. In the past six years, NAPI has had steadily increasing profits, Shirley said.

A the end of Fiscal Year 2007, NAPI showed a $4.8 million profit, he added.

On a sad note, Shirley ended his address by remembering the late Arlene Luther, who he described as “a true protector of our land.”

Luther, department manager for the Navajo Environmental Protection Agency’s waste regulatory compliance department, passed away earlier this month.

“She worked tirelessly for the Navajo EPA for 27 years,”

Shirley said. Luther, from Coppermine Canyon , was among the first generation of Native American environmentalists, the president added.

John Christian Hopkins can be reached at hopkins1960@hotmail.com