Sage Memorial Hospital board refuses to accept new member

The appointment of Samuel Joe to the board at Sage Memorial Hospital in Ganado, Ariz., by the Klagetoh Chapter has gone unrecognized. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — What started out as a complaint against one Sage Hospital Board member has sparked a struggle between the Klagetoh Chapter and the hospital's board of directors.

The Klagetoh Chapter voted to remove its hospital board representative, Ronald Hale, after receiving several complaints. They replaced him with Samuel Joe.

Sage's board of directors has yet to recognize the new appointment.

Samuel Joe, who was appointed in September, said he has since attended three board meetings as the new representative and has been "ignored" at every one.

"I feel like a visitor watching a ball game," Joe said. "I feel I have enough experience behind me to work with this hospital."

According to documents, the board turned to its attorney, David Jordan, for advice.

Jordan, in a letter to the board, advised the board not to recognize Klagetoh's appointment.

The reason, he said, was that the chapter's election of Joe violated the Navajo Nation's anti-nepotism laws.

He based his opinion on interviews he conducted with Ron Hale and Klagetoh Chapter officials Laverne Joe, Nancy Chee, and Rebecca Baker.

According to Jordan, Joe's sister, Laverne Joe, was originally nominated for the position, but she declined.

Jordan said that, based on his interviews, Joe nominated her brother for the position.

Both Joes said this wasn't true.

They say that once Laverne declined, Samuel stood up and volunteered to be Klagetoh's representative on the board.

Jordan also had concerns about the chapter resolution.

Both Nancy Chee, the chapter president, and Laverne Joe, the chapter vice president, signed the chapter resolution that recommends Samuel Joe to the Sage Memorial Hospital board.

The chapter secretary, Nancy Baker, did not.

Jordan questioned the "validity of a resolution ... which has not been signed by the secretary/treasurer."

Jordan said in an interview on Thursday that the problem could be remedied two ways: the chapter could conduct another election in which Laverne Chee abstains or elect another representative.

Klagetoh Chapter has said that if the board continues to refuse to recognize its latest appointment, then it may seek its health care at the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital.