Letters: 41 years later, same problems exist with Navajo police dept.

I retired as a law enforcement officer for the Navajo Nation of 36 years of public service.

I started in 1974.

Since then, the Navajo Police Department problems were lack of manpower, lack of overtime pay, no police equipment, outdated police building, lack of civilian staff, lack of police vehicles, over-mileage vehicles, lack of training, crisis management, outdated firearm range, lack of sufficient funding, and so much internal personal management disputes.

Forty-one years later these problems continue to exist.

Other programs that deliver public safety is facing the same problems include: Emergency Medical Service, Criminal Investigation Service, Fire Service, courts, prosecutors office, probation office, Correction Service, and Public Defender Office. These are very critical programs to deliver services to our people.

All these years I heard lip service by so many administrations and leaders. Nothing is happening but the problems are getting worst. How many police officers are we going to lose before our leaders would truly seek sufficient funds to provide real public safety service, reservation wide.

Recently, one officer’s life was taken and two officers were wounded. Maybe if they had bulletproof helmets, rifles, night vision equipment, and enough manpower responding, the officers would have been safe. This should be a wake-up call in the Navajo Nation Council Chambers.

To solve these problems, administration needs to appoint an educated public safety director, hire outside chief of police and chief of criminal investigation. Navajo Nation has been without a permanent chief of police for about 20 years. Chief of police provides guidance and direction.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs needs to truly deliver their treaty responsibilities to Navajo public safety. The $18 million budget cannot successfully run a public safety program. We need triple this amount.

We have the $554 million funds mismanagement settlement. Hire more police officers, criminal investigators and support staff. Build public safety buildings, fire stations, correction buildings, police academy, and fire academy. These are long-term investments.

Sammy Ahkeah
Shiprock, N.M.

We need to come back together

The condition of our Navajo Nation is greatly troubling, we are in a state of shifting situations. There are erratic changes happening that are not positive that could have lasting detrimental impacts. Before it gets worse, we should slow down, perhaps stop and see where we are and where we are going. Looking around in this chaotic scenario, we see our relatives, those of us who call our beloved lands our home, we who are not going anywhere. And we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge that there may be external non-Diné forces interfering and helping create the chaos.

There are different forces pulling on our troubling situation, each fighting to get the advantage. There are maneuvers, strategies and counter moves and with each new decision it’s a different situation with new circumstances. The overall situation does not get clearer, it only gets more complicated. It is dangerous because a potential course could result in physical confrontations. All the new “solutions” are not bringing us closer together, we are drifting farther apart. Is healing of the nation possible in this unsettling and continuously changing condition with the many strong dynamics where some will lose?

People have taken opposing sides and are standing strong with their positions. Each is right in some respect and each says the other is wrong. If each is right and the others are wrong, who is right and who is wrong?

We are in a difficult, complicated, pitiful and tenuous condition. This is not who we are supposed to be, we are not acting the way a family should. We have to determine how we got here and what our way out is. It must be done objectively, responsibly and honorably; sooner than later.

The reasons why we must do this are clear; our children are watching, the world within our realm is watching. Our politics, our government may be in disarray but the bigger world out there is in a bigger mess; we are all headed for hard times. We, who are grandparents have limited time on this earth, our children have a lifetime ahead of them. We are a resilient people with a wonderful land base, it is urgent that we come back together. All that we do determines the future of our children.

Duane Chili Yazzie
Shiprock, N.M.

Designer stole Yei design

In the Navajo Times article “Tribute or Theft?” by Shondiin Silversmith, reports that the London-based KTZ owned by Marjan Pejoski debuted a fall/winter clothing line in which a Diné Yei was used as a design. The concern around this issue is sacred deities like the Yei are used only in ceremonies among the Navajo people. In Navajo culture a ceremony has to be performed to get ordained to use these designs. Through this special ceremony it allows a person to create these designs for healing purposes only during winter.

I am upset with what Marjan Pejoski has done. He stole and created his own design using the sacred Yei bi cheii for his own way of becoming famous. In the fashion world Native American designs have been popular and what is trending now. I believe this designer knew that he would make good profit to design a Yei bi cheii dress. Pejoski does not realize that he has upset many of our “primal” women and men. Navajo designer, Irene Begay, has respect for our sacred Yei bi cheii and would not disrespect our sacred deities by making clothing as Pejoski did.

The issue with “Native-inspired” many tribes throughout the United States are trying to protect. Not only culture being stolen, but also a lot of traditional artifacts are being sold and bought by non-natives to display in museums. Native American jewelry is also an example. Navajo people are very artistic with silversmith and non-natives in bordering towns pay cheap for jewelry, and later priced higher to get a richer profit.

Navajo Nation leaders need to come together and place a copyright law. Non-natives can’t take something culturally sacred and make it their own to get a personal gain outcome. This can prevent another imitating designer trying to use a strict sacred design and parading it down the runway.

Tarictin S. Yazzie
Lukachukai, Ariz.

Walk against domestic violence

How many words is it going to take to describe the word “Help!?”
The ugly, huge and foul-smelling monster “domestic violence” does not rear their black, prickly heads once a year. The Navajo victims are living in absolute fear. No money for the precious little children whom are struggling everyday in school.

The children grow up and do not appreciate the hard sacrifices we have to endure. Other families and friends are also infected with this deadly and decrepitating issue. Children of infidelity are torn between mom and dad.

We have executed the long process of: 1) Consult family for intervention; 2) Family counseling; 3) Report severe personal injuries to the local hospitals; 4) Report affliction to authorities; 5) Obtain a lawyer; 6) File charges in court; 7) Protection/Restraining Order granted; 8) Protection/Restraining Order violated; 9) Social Services intervenes for child endangerment or abandonment; 10) Victim commits suicide; 11) Victim is murdered. We unfortunately start the entire violent circumstances all over again.

Yes, personally I am currently trying to “help” my cousin-sister in Shiprock. It is my business because I care. It hurts and I cry to see her struggling everyday for six months or longer.

The night of March 19, Shiprock Navajo Police Officer Alex Yazzie, a 14-year veteran of the police force was shot to death. This same night my sister was viciously attacked by her husband in the home.

She filed a police report. Police Officer Herbert Frazier, 41, responded to another domestic violence abuse incident by my sister’s husband of black and blue injuries one week prior in the front yard in public. These heroic men and women in blue uniforms deserve our honor for the services they render with their lives everyday. What can we do to show our victims and officers we care as people?

We can walk together to show support. We as Navajo people will not let domestic violence control our destination. Get back up and stand up for our resiliency to conquer abuse. Our beauty way is our Navajo culture to live in harmony.

Nicole Walker
Gallup, N.M.

Stop desecrating Navajo culture

In the Navajo Times article “Tribute or Theft?” Shondiin Silversmith illustrates the outcome that made controversy towards Navajo people when a model walked down the runway in a dress with the Navajo Yei design printed on it during the fall/winter 2015 New York Fashion Week.

I agree that white people should stop desecrating Diné culture for fashion designs is a point that needs emphasizing since designers seem to find it amusing to use the Navajo Yei for their collection. The image represents Navajo culture and tradition; it’s a spiritual deity who restores health for a patient during a ceremony.

You have to be a Navajo in order to understand this and what they represent, but for a non-Native designer, his/her understanding by what it stands for and to them, it’s just a form of art.

When white people do these kind of thing, it’s ignorant on their part because their actions are what are causing Natives to start an argument over non-Native designers using Navajo Yei as a clothing product.

In order to solve this problem, fashion designers need to start respecting our culture. To them, all they see is art and not acknowledging on what it represents to the Navajos. It’s inappropriate and disrespectful to be thinking that it’s OK that they could use indigenous imagery as a trending design for clothes.

Any other non-Native designer that likes to steal ideas from Natives to use in their collection should acknowledge and understand our culture because Native designers find their inspiration from these designs and to see white people using it is very upsetting. I appreciate the fact that designers want to take inspiration from our culture, but Navajo tradition is something we take serious as our way of life.

Khalid Honie
Round Rock, Ariz.

EFDA is vital

I would like to respond to Ms. Benally-Marcell’s letter regarding my letter for a dental therapist. It seems that the dental therapist is being confused with the Expanded Function Dental Assistant, or EFDA’s.

The EFDA’s are an extremely valuable asset to our dental health care profession. Ms. Benally-Marcell is absolutely correct in her comment that there are many talented EFDA’s providing services for the needs of the American Indians. During the years that I worked as a dentist with Indian health, the EFDA’s were invaluable to the service in our clinic.

The bill for a dental therapist in New Mexico allows the dental therapist to do much more than the EFDA, with considerably less training. This bill allows a therapist, and I quote directly from the bill, to perform: “administration of local anesthetic” (numbing), “extractions of permanent teeth that are not impacted”, “pulpotomy of primary teeth” (root canals on baby teeth), “cavity preparation”, “preparation and placement of preformed crowns”, “dispensing and administration of analgesics, anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics” (writing prescriptions). These are just a few of the 33 listed allowable procedures.

A dental therapist, initially, must be supervised by a licensed dentist, but still may work when the dentist is not in the office, and within a few years the dental therapist can work independently of a dentist.

I hope this clarifies the difference between the highly respected EFDA, and a dental therapist.

Canada has tried dental therapists for over 30 years. Their last dental therapy school closed in 2012 because the concept failed.

The vacancy rate for dentists in the Navajo IHS Service Unit is one of the lowest of all health professions. Having a board certified dental graduate is always best when you get dental treatment. Thank you.

Lidio Rainaldi, DDS
Gallup, N.M.

---