50 Years Ago

As 1969 ended, the Navajo Times printed a story that would become its first controversy of 1970 – a decision by the board for Navajo Tribal Utility Authority to raise its rates by as much as 21 percent.

Today, the Navajo Nation employs more than 40 attorneys and spends millions of dollars on legal expenses. Back in 1969, the total cost of the tribe’s legal affairs was $100,000, according to a report to the Navajo Tribal Council.

The Navajo Tribal Council, 50 years ago this week, spent most of a day trying to decide what to do about a problem that came up at the Navajo Police Department.

As 1969 came to a close on the Navajo Reservation, the one thing that seemed to be on everyone’s mind was the next year’s election for chairman.

Fifty years ago last week, the Navajo Times reported that members of the Navajo Tribal Council, during a special session, discussed approving a retirement plan for tribal employees.