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Yá'át'ééh,
This week saw leaders from across the Nation came to Washington, DC to learn and advocate for the Navajo people.
The first major event was NAFOA’s DC conference, which was attended by Delegate Parrish, Slater, and Damon, as well as a representative from the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development. NAFOA was founded over forty years ago as the Native American Finance Officers Association with a focus on ways tribal finance can help in developing economic opportunities for tribes. They typically host two large conferences each year, with experts presenting on a wide variety of issues that can impact tribal economies and governance. Federal officials are frequently among the presenters, including Secretary Granholm, from the U.S. Department of Energy, who encouraged tribes to apply for clean energy grants that have fast approaching deadlines. Other presentations included an update from the U.S. Treasury, an analysis of how the current U.S. Supreme Court could impact tribal sovereignty, potential tax reforms being debated by the U.S. Congress, and practical reviews of issues from foreign trade, cannabis production, and cybersecurity.
At the same time as the NAFOA conference, Speaker Curley joined the Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT), of which the Navajo Nation is a founding member, for their quarterly meeting. The COLT meeting has several federal representatives who provided information on sources of funding that tribal communities have access to, including a USDA grant for traditional animal slaughter. Speaker Curley also facilitated a meeting with Secretary Haaland, Delegate Simpson, and several constituents, to discuss the future of Chaco Canyon. Meanwhile President Nygren testified on behalf of the Nation at our court hearing on Little Colorado River.
Finally, the Navajo Nation was represented in a coalition of tribes committed to protecting the Grand Canyonby the Director of the Heritage and Historic Preservation Office, Richard M. Begay. The group first met with Secretary Haaland at the Department of the Interior and later with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Brenda Mallory, to argue for enhancing protections that would prevent the mining or uranium near the Grand Canyon, and give tribes a stronger voice in managing this significant site.
That’s a lot of work for one week, but it is only a beginning. We expect many more conversations with our federal partners to move forward the work of the Navajo Nation.
Ahéhee’
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