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Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent

New posse to help in searches
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

BURNT CORN — The Navajo County Sheriff is looking to start up a volunteer posse for search and rescue efforts on the Navajo Nation portion of the county.

There are currently five posses in Navajo County, and this new one would be the first from the Navajo County sheriff on the Navajo Nation.

“The closest one we have (to the Navajo Nation) is out of Holbrook,” Deputy Commander Kent Bradburn said. “To get a quicker response for search and rescue, we’d like to have one formed up on the Navajo Nation.”

Sheriff K.C. Clark made the announcement seeking volunteers in a news release on the search for 76-year-old Roy Etsitty from Burnt Corn.

Clark, the White Mountain Sheriff’s Posse and the County Mounties Posse conducted the search all day Saturday, which was unsuccessful, in cooperation with Navajo Nation police.

The sheriff’s office directed questions regarding the status of the search for Etsitty to Navajo Nation police. As of Thursday evening, Chinle District police did not provide an update on the search.

The search began with a tip from Navajo Nation Council delegates Raymond Joe and Tom LaPahe, Tachee/Blue Gap/Whippoorwill, according to the Navajo County public information office.

To volunteer:
(928) 524-4450.

New act may improve relations
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation Vice President Ben Shelly said that the State-Tribal Collaboration Act will strengthen New Mexico ‘s relationship with the state’s 22 pueblos and tribes.

State agencies and tribal leaders from the All Indian Pueblo Council and the pueblos of Zuni, Laguna, Tesuque, Acoma and San Ildefonso also expressed support for S.B. 196 during the hearing, according to the Navajo Nation president’s office.

The bill is being sponsored by state Sen. John Pinto to improve New Mexico’s government-to-government relationship with the tribes and to ensure that state agencies collaborate with them on matters related to state services.

The state legislature’s Indian and Cultural Affairs committee voted in favor of the proposed bill 5-0. It then goes to the Public Affairs Committee.

The passage of the law would require an annual summit between the governor and tribal leaders, a tribal liaison designated by each agency and training on tribal government and cultural competency for key state employees.

Houck man gets 40 months in jail
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Nelson Wesley, 23, of Houck was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 40 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty Oct. 21 to assaulting his mother with a meat cleaver in May 2007.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Police Department, the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the FBI in Gallup. The prosecution was handled by Heather H. Nelson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, for the District of Arizona in Phoenix.