Post by Okwes on Nov 27, 2006 11:24:20 GMT -5
Navajos look ahead to working with federal government
By FELICIA FONSECA, The Associated Press
Nov 8, 2006 8:46 PM (1 day ago)
www.examiner.com/a-388012~Navajos_look_ahead_to_working_with_fede\
ral_government.html
<http://www.examiner.com/a-388012~Navajos_look_ahead_to_working_with_fed\
eral_government.html> WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - Navajo Nation President Joe
Shirley Jr. steps out of his home office, sits down on a leather ottoman
and puts his glasses on as he prepares to give his weekly radio address.
He looks through the notes given to him by his spokesman. English-only
won. Democrats picked up 28 seats in the U.S. House, leaving them firmly
in control. "Twenty-eight seats, we really went to town," Shirley said.
Celebrating the first day after securing a second term in the Navajo
general election, Shirley began thinking about how a
Democratic-controlled House would help the tribe. "We're going to have a
lot more friends in Washington," Shirley said. "I'm very much looking
forward to continuing on with my quest as president and for more funding
for our hospitals, for our schools, for our social services, for our
health services, for the different things we get help with (from) the
federal government." Shirley said working with a Republican-controlled
House has been an uphill battle and compared it to "trying to get blood
out of a turnip." "It's a lot harder to get the resources we need," he
said. He cited President Bush's intention to eliminate the
Johnson-O'Malley grant program for American Indians in his 2007 budget.
Tribes nationwide objected, and the funding was reinstated, Shirley
said. The grant provides the Navajo Nation with $4 million annually for
its students attending public schools. "Democrats have always been real
friendly to us, always willing to go the extra mile to help us out,"
Shirley said. On a wall in Shirley's house is a poster that reminds him
of the ultimate goal he strives for as president. The poster depicts the
time when Navajos were forced to become dependent on the federal
government, and Shirley said it angers him. "When you really come down
to it, you're talking about a sovereign nation," Shirley said. "The more
money, the better off we are almost immediately. But in the long term,
we need to get back on our own two feet, and revenue and jobs is what
can do (that) for us." Although hopeful the Democratic-controlled House
will help the Navajo Nation, Shirley said he's disappointed English is
now Arizona's official language. The Navajo reservation extends into New
Mexico <http://www.examiner.com/Topic-Mexico.html> and Utah, but the
majority of the land lies in Arizona. Shirley said the Arizona
<http://www.examiner.com/Topic-Arizona.html> ballot initiative that
passed Tuesday will discourage Navajos from speaking their native
language. "If that's not genocide, I don't know what is," Shirley said.
"We have our language, we have our color, we have our culture, our way
of life, and we need help to preserve and protect that." Shirley started
Wednesday with an appearance at a ceremony to honor veterans in Fort
Defiance. Children from Window Rock Elementary sang the Navajo flag song
and recited the pledge of allegiance in Navajo. Students in Selena
Johnson's second-grade class already knew about Shirley's re-election.
"I like Joe Shirley," said Tristan Harvey, after he was given permission
to speak in English. 'He's our favorite president. I see him
everywhere." Johnson's students are in a language immersion class where
unless she gives the OK, they speak in Navajo. After the ceremony,
students snaked around the gymnasium, shaking the hands of veterans,
whom Shirley says have guaranteed freedom for all Navajos. Services for
veterans currently are provided through the Navajo Department of Human
Resources, but Shirley said he's working to create a separate division
for veterans services and for the elderly, which could be complete in
six months.
By FELICIA FONSECA, The Associated Press
Nov 8, 2006 8:46 PM (1 day ago)
www.examiner.com/a-388012~Navajos_look_ahead_to_working_with_fede\
ral_government.html
<http://www.examiner.com/a-388012~Navajos_look_ahead_to_working_with_fed\
eral_government.html> WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - Navajo Nation President Joe
Shirley Jr. steps out of his home office, sits down on a leather ottoman
and puts his glasses on as he prepares to give his weekly radio address.
He looks through the notes given to him by his spokesman. English-only
won. Democrats picked up 28 seats in the U.S. House, leaving them firmly
in control. "Twenty-eight seats, we really went to town," Shirley said.
Celebrating the first day after securing a second term in the Navajo
general election, Shirley began thinking about how a
Democratic-controlled House would help the tribe. "We're going to have a
lot more friends in Washington," Shirley said. "I'm very much looking
forward to continuing on with my quest as president and for more funding
for our hospitals, for our schools, for our social services, for our
health services, for the different things we get help with (from) the
federal government." Shirley said working with a Republican-controlled
House has been an uphill battle and compared it to "trying to get blood
out of a turnip." "It's a lot harder to get the resources we need," he
said. He cited President Bush's intention to eliminate the
Johnson-O'Malley grant program for American Indians in his 2007 budget.
Tribes nationwide objected, and the funding was reinstated, Shirley
said. The grant provides the Navajo Nation with $4 million annually for
its students attending public schools. "Democrats have always been real
friendly to us, always willing to go the extra mile to help us out,"
Shirley said. On a wall in Shirley's house is a poster that reminds him
of the ultimate goal he strives for as president. The poster depicts the
time when Navajos were forced to become dependent on the federal
government, and Shirley said it angers him. "When you really come down
to it, you're talking about a sovereign nation," Shirley said. "The more
money, the better off we are almost immediately. But in the long term,
we need to get back on our own two feet, and revenue and jobs is what
can do (that) for us." Although hopeful the Democratic-controlled House
will help the Navajo Nation, Shirley said he's disappointed English is
now Arizona's official language. The Navajo reservation extends into New
Mexico <http://www.examiner.com/Topic-Mexico.html> and Utah, but the
majority of the land lies in Arizona. Shirley said the Arizona
<http://www.examiner.com/Topic-Arizona.html> ballot initiative that
passed Tuesday will discourage Navajos from speaking their native
language. "If that's not genocide, I don't know what is," Shirley said.
"We have our language, we have our color, we have our culture, our way
of life, and we need help to preserve and protect that." Shirley started
Wednesday with an appearance at a ceremony to honor veterans in Fort
Defiance. Children from Window Rock Elementary sang the Navajo flag song
and recited the pledge of allegiance in Navajo. Students in Selena
Johnson's second-grade class already knew about Shirley's re-election.
"I like Joe Shirley," said Tristan Harvey, after he was given permission
to speak in English. 'He's our favorite president. I see him
everywhere." Johnson's students are in a language immersion class where
unless she gives the OK, they speak in Navajo. After the ceremony,
students snaked around the gymnasium, shaking the hands of veterans,
whom Shirley says have guaranteed freedom for all Navajos. Services for
veterans currently are provided through the Navajo Department of Human
Resources, but Shirley said he's working to create a separate division
for veterans services and for the elderly, which could be complete in
six months.