Complaints against tribe's public safety director include whistle-blowing

By Bill Donovan
Special to the Times

WINDOW ROCK, April 24, 2013

Yvonne Gorman, a principal accountant for the division, said in her complaint before the Navajo Nation Labor Commission, she has been troubled by some of the actions that Billison took using the police budget. She thought that some were illegal.

For example, Billison ordered a transfer of $56,486 from the police department's personnel fund to operations for use to purchase supplies and equipment.

These funds were provided to the tribe, she said, under a federal contract that required it to be used solely for personnel and it was unlawful to use for any other purpose.

Gorman said she denied the request and later sent a memo to the Office of the President and Vice President alerting them of what Billison attempted to do.

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly never responded to the memo, she said.

In another incident, she reported that Billison had used her p-card - a sort of tribal credit card given to employees to use to purchase items needed for their job - without her permission.

When she investigated the charges, she learned that they were for hotel charges and that her name had been forged on the hotel forms by Billison.

She said she immediately wrote a complaint to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor to look into credit card fraud and forgery. No action was taken against Billison but Gorman said her p-card was suspended and has continued to be suspended.

Gorman said that since she began bringing up these issues, Billison and others in the police department have been undertaking a series of mistreatment against her, which includes intimidation, humiliation and sabotage of work performance.

As a whistle-blower, Gorman said she felt that she deserved some protection from Billison and others but instead, she received two complaints alleging that she had committed wrongdoing and was the focus of an Internal Affairs investigation. She said she has also been interviewed by the FBI.

Gorman said she was told by a co-worker that Billison said the charges were filed because Billison knew she was preparing to file a complaint against him and when she did, he could counteract and file charges against her.

Billison has refused to comment on the charges made in the complaints against him.

Sihasin, Native Roots among groups to perform on Stage 49

By Shondiin Silversmith
Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK — The Sihasin duo, made up of siblings Jeneda and Clayson Benally, will perform for the first time on Stage 49 at this year's Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque alongside at least 25 other bands.

The Benally's, who are former band members for Blackfire, formed last May "Sihasin," which means hope in Navajo. This will be the first time Sihasin will be perform at the Gathering of Nations.

Of what people can expect to hear when they see Sihasin perform, Clayson said, "The style and technique that we are using, Jeneda on bass and myself on drums, creates this unique distinctive sound. We're not quite as hardcore with the punk rock stuff but we still have the energy."

Clayson said he uses traditional drums and a western style drum set that allows him to create a different beat that is different from his former band.

Sihasin is scheduled to perform twice on April 26 at 11:15 a.m. and 4 p.m., and on April 27 at 1:45 p.m.

Other performers on Stage 49 include native reggae band Native Roots, Native American Basketball Entertainer Jerrickson "J-Stylez" Hosteen, and rock duo Scatter Their Own.

Information: www.gatheringofnations.com.

Winner of congressional art contest from Kirtland Central

In a reception April 20 in Rio Rancho, N.M., U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, a democrat from New Mexico, announced that Crystal Jackson, a student at Kirtland Central High School, is the winner of this year's Congressional Art Competition, according to a news release.

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.

Students submit entries to their representative's office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

Jackson won for her entry "Polar," which is a mixed media piece, depicting a polar bear set against a red background with birds flying through a multicolored sky.

Her winning entry will be displayed as part of an exhibit in the United States Capitol for one year while the pieces of art that finished in second to fifth place will be displayed in Luján's district offices across Northern New Mexico.

In a statement released from his office, Lujan said, "I would like to congratulate Crystal for winning this prestigious honor and I look forward to welcoming her to Washington, D.C. as we honor all of the nation's winners."