2003 top ten stories (Navajo)

1. Lori Piestewa becomes the first female and first Native American to be killed in the Iraq war, which generates recognition of the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe, women in general, especially mothers, in the armed forces and debate again about the word "squaw" leading to the renaming of Squaw Peak to Piestewa Peak. Overall, however, all of Indian Country joined the United States in mourning.

When war erupted in Iraq, the sons and daughters of the Navajo Nation answer the call. Similar to the Navajo Nation response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Diné display flags and demonstrate for and against the war but mostly in support of Navajo servicemen and women.

2. President Joe Shirley Jr. made news with a string of controversies, including: a $200,000 inauguration party; the hiring and then forced resignation of his wife; an ethics complaint regarding nepotism and questionable travel that is languishing at the ethics office; a request for $100,000 for an Office of the First Lady and $125,000 for a new presidential house; a council attempt to remove his attorney general arising from a dispute with the Education Committee and Intergovernmental Relations Committee over the Kayenta School; and staff uproar in the Navajo Nation Washington Office.

3. The Navajo Nation, after two referendums opposing gaming, one in 1994 and the other in 1997, and two council votes, approved its first gaming compact with New Mexico on Aug. 29, which Shirley signed on Nov. 19 and Gov. Bill Richardson signed on Sept. 7. The council approved gaming only for Tohajiilee.

4. Dustin Rockmen, a young artist who won art awards for his drawings, became a young people's hero. Rockmen, who lost the use of his arms and hands, taught himself to paint and draw with his feet. His story revealed the living conditions of his family who lived in a one-room shed. A house donated by the Southwest Indian Foundation is now under construction.

5. Claudeen Bates Arthur was named the first female chief justice of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court. This followed the removal of the first female associate justice, Marcella King-Ben.

6. The voice of the people from Big Mountain, Black Mesa and the Hopi Reservation was finally heard by the Navajo Nation Council which voted to request that Peabody Coal Company's use of the Navajo Aquifer to transport coal to the Mohave Generating Station near Laughlin, Nev. be stopped by 2005. The effort was led by youth of Black Mesa and Hopi and a young Navajo couple, Nicole Horseherder and Marshall Johnson.

7. President Shirley's $500 million bond proposal, despite a chapter to chapter campaign to garner support, has yet to receive approval from the Navajo Nation Council. A major question is the $30 million a year the nation must pay for 30 years if the proposal is approved.

8. Nine Navajo Code Talkers or their families receive Congressional Silver Medals in a ceremony at the Window Rock Sports Center Nov. 11. The presentation was the highlight of a two-day celebration sponsored by the speaker's office, Department of Navajo Veterans Affairs, the Navajo Blue Star Mothers, and Miss Navajo Marla Billey.

9. Livestock, especially horses, faced the threat of the West Nile Virus. The council provided funding for horse vaccinations. There were no human deaths and casualties among livestock were limited.

10. In the only move towards reform, laws regarding referendums were changed to give voters a chance to approve measures that come before them. Previous law stated that a referendum can only pass if 50 percent plus one of all registered voters vote in favor. This made it impossible for voters to approve anything, rendering referendums meaningless. The new changes state that a referendum can be passed if a majority of qualified voters vote in favor. The Navajo Nation Council, during the summer session, also approved amendments to Title Two of the Navajo Nation Code, which eliminates the notorious Section 164 review process inherited from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

According to the speaker's office, the amendments provide for a new legislative process and allow for much-needed changes in Navajo law, such as enhancing presidential powers to sign legislation into law. According to the president's office, the amendments continue a trend of reducing his power. For example, the president cannot propose new laws, only a council delegate can. Also, the president's office was a regular reviewer of proposals under Section 164, but is now removed. The amendments become effective Jan. 1, 2004.

They seemed to have overlooked one of the native American's greatest legacies - the Becky Red Earth-Villeda voter fraud. Although this happened in 2002, I believe she was conviced in 2003 -

"The FEC records revealed that Becky Red Earth-Villeda got 18 paychecks totaling $12,867 allegedly for administrative costs or voter drives. One of the checks in the amount of $3,500 was racked up as travel expenses."

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Becky Red Earth is a Dakota Sioux from South Dakota (Red Erth, actually, is how it is supposed to be spelled.. One of these years they'll actually legally correct the misspelling.)

Hardly something that the Navajo Times would consider to be a top ten event for the Navajo people, which the list is highlighting.

President Joe Shirley Jr. made news with a string of controversies, including: a $200,000 inauguration party; the hiring and then forced resignation of his wife; an ethics complaint regarding nepotism and questionable travel that is languishing at the ethics office; a request for $100,000 for an Office of the First Lady and $125,000 for a new presidential house;

As if American Indians didn't have enough problems ... I suppose the situations where the leaders aren't out to steal everything that isn't nailed down just don't make the news.

Dustin Rockmen ... taught himself to paint and draw with his feet. His story revealed the living conditions of his family who lived in a one-room shed. A house donated by the Southwest Indian Foundation is now under construction.

I saw some of his work in "Native Cultures" magazine recently. It's very good, by any standard. SWIF (www.southwestindian.com) is an outstanding organization which we've supported for at least 15 years. Their catalog is full of terrific Indian and Southwestern stuff.

Hardly something that the Navajo Times would consider to be a top ten event for the Navajo people, which the list is highlighting.

LOL sorry. 9th grade social studies was sooo long ago :)

These same leaders who rob the people blind are the same ones who pump up the Democrat party each election cycle.. I still say that there is nothing in the world like Indian politics, everything else is just so tame...

I support Walking Shield, which is based here in Southern California. They've done some amazing things over the years - bringing surplus military houses from Montana to South Dakota was just one of the accomplishments from last year.

I support Walking Shield, which is based here in Southern California.

That's not one I'm familiar with, although we've received solicitations from a variety of American Indian charities. So many are worthwhile; I wish we could do more! We buy a wood stove for the Navajo poor each Christmas through SWIF.

Indian politics puts everything else in the shade, except maybe Louisiana :-). (We lived in Oklahoma for 8 years, and my husband is Cherokee.) So many colorful illustrations of human nature, good and bad ...

Walking Shield (http:www.walkingshield.org) doesn't have the financial or people resources to send out mailers. I was really impressed with our customers this year - one couple brought in a 27 inch television and DVD player and other customers brought in kids videos. Including bikes, trikes and other large toys, it took four van trips to haul everything away..

Why did they do this? To help rebuild a daycare center down near San Diego that was destroyed in the fires. (On one of the non-gaming reservations.)

Every year, we collect hundreds of backpacks for the back to school drive, and the 'Christmas in March' program continues to be a wild success.. (Some of the reservations they serve are inaccessible during the winter months.)

Anyway, there are loads of great groups out there, and we all have our favorites.

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