Shirley envisions new casino
President discusses sovereignty in State of Navajo Nation address

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — A director for the Navajo Nation's newly developed gaming office should be in place within the next few weeks and a casino could be in the building stages by summer.

At least that's the scenario, according to Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr.'s State of the Navajo Nation address given on Monday during the winter session of the Navajo Nation Council.

In his remarks, Shirley remembered the late Claudeen Bates Arthur, the first woman Navajo Nation Supreme Court Justice as well as the accomplishments of the Office of the First Lady, which included an award for Toys for Tots, the hope to establish a Navajo Nation Mother's Against Drunk Driving Chapter as a separate office and a literacy program First Lady Vicki Shirley plans to soon initiate.

Shirley asked for the council's support of the proposed Navajo Sovereignty in Education Act of 2005, on this session's agenda, and his bond financing proposal, which, Shirley said, will be pushed towards the spring session.

Shirley also told the council, after commending Tuba City Chapter on its recent Local Governance Certification, the processes to fully implement the Local Governance Act will be addressed within the Division of Community Development.

"Because of the lack of uniformity, each agency office has discretion to decide matters which have direct and potentially negative impacts on our chapter governments," he said.

Shirley's executive order to limit off-reservation travel for trainings, conferences, and workshops is an effort to keep Navajo dollars on Navajo, he said.

"I believe that the Navajo Nation government must actively contribute to and support the private business sector on the Navajo Nation," Shirley said. "Through this concerted government effort, we can enhance the Nation's economic well-being and promote economic growth."

Mentioning the efforts of Vice President Frank Dayish Jr.'s involvement with the Inter-governmental Relations Committee's Gaming Task Force, Shirley said he hoped "we can fast track this process so that we can begin to realize our revenue-generating potential."

"My administration is in the process of procuring the services of a gaming consultant to advise us on the most feasible areas within the Navajo Nation for gaming establishments," he said. "But the profits of gaming must benefit the many, not just the few. This means we must be absolutely clear that, for purposes of expanding gaming throughout the Navajo Nation, the central government is the only entity that can negotiate and enter into gaming compacts with the states of New Mexico and Arizona."

Shirley also talked about government reform and a recently established, albeit informal, advisory council on the issue.

"I plan to meet with former Navajo Nation leaders to discuss these issues," Shirley said. "With their knowledge, leadership, and guidance, I believe we can formulate a governing document that enhances protection of individual rights, separation of powers, checks and balances, and represents that all powers of the government exist because of the Navajo people."

Shirley's brief, 20-minute report didn't do much to satisfy the curiosity of council members, who questioned Shirley for nearly an hour after hearing his report.

Because questions initially focused on the issues Shirley didn't address in his report, such as the still-closed Boys and Girls Clubs of Navajo Inc. and the salary of newly appointed press officer George Hardeen, Council Delegate Ervin Keeswood interjected.

"While I understand it can be open season on the president, in the past we've stuck to the report," Keeswood said.

Council Delegate Lawrence Platero said the "whole Navajo Nation" was waiting for a gaming regulatory office.

"We're not moving forward on this quickly enough," Platero said.

Shirley also received a little criticism from Council Delegate Curran Hannon on the $100,000 he donated to tsunami relief efforts.

"You want to keep money on Navajo, yet you want to send money to Thailand," Hannon said. "I'm sure no one in Thailand voted you in."

Shirley said, in response to the council's questions and comments, that his office is considering the issues they raised, like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Navajo Inc.

"There are (funds) to give to the Boys and Girls Clubs," Shirley said. "Once we get all of the kinks out. I'm not sure going for appropriations legislation is wise."

Shirley also said Hardeen was "already proving himself" and the salary offered was comparable to that in off-reservation jobs.

The council accepted the report, with a few directives by some delegates to hurry along Shirley's $500 million bond proposal and a decision on the closure of Peabody Mine.

— To contact reporter Pam Dempsey, call (505) 879-1707 or email pamelagdempsey@msn.com