Letter | End the turmoil

End the turmoil

Editor,

The turmoil now happening in Window Rock has been brewing for months as evidenced by reports in the Navajo Times. This turmoil must stop before it gets worse.

What have we learned from the riot of the Navajo Nation government unrest in Window Rock in1989. This was one of the saddest happening of our Nation. Many people were hurt and two lives lost. Let’s not go that far with the current unrest.

We have the wisest and smartest Navajos currently serving in the three-branch government (Executive, Legislative and Judicial) of our Nation. Wise and smart people know how to resolve conflicts and move forward in harmony and happiness.

Navajo leaders get together in a hogan (Navajo Nation Council Chamber) or a designated hogan with a medicine man, in a teepee with a road man, or in a church with a priest and resolve issues at hand. The healing may begin.

Work together and serve the Navajo people, appropriately. Restore the funds vetoed by the president, Dr. Buu Nygren. All sides need to compromise on issues, and all sides need to forgive, smile, and move on. Working together and understanding are “keys” to working in harmony and creating a happy environment for our nation.

The Navajo Nation is said to be the largest (Native American) tribe in America. The Navajo Nation set examples for other Indian nations in the country. The infighting about “power and money” are not good examples. Navajo people in general and children are wondering what’s happening in Window Rock. Right now, it’s a very sad “state of affairs” going on.

Our nation’s history has suffered enough as evidenced by the 1860s Navajo Long Walk, the sickness epidemic of the 1920s, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Many Navajo loved ones were lost. I lost a family member during Covid era.

The Navajo Nation employees need their jobs to provide needed services. The Council committees and chapters need funds. According to news reports by the Navajo Nation Council Budget and Finance Committee the work has been done over many months to research and prepare the budget. The funds are available. Restore the line-item vetoes and the nation can serve the Navajo people in harmony.
The three Navajo Nation government branches of the Navajo Nation work together, walk across the street, visit one another and discuss how you can best serve the Navajo people.

Finally, do not “fire people” for retaliation. Our Nation has excellent workers in the NN government providing services. Praise them for good work, but no firing of personnel. We need a controller that knows the complex system of the finance department. Who is paying the bills?

I encourage our leaders to resolve conflicts in the Navajo Nation government as soon as possible. Shake hands with k’é and work in harmony.

Eugene Charley
Kayenta, Ariz.

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