Letters: Over half parent participation at Ganado parent-teacher conference

There was a 60 percent increase in parent participation during the Ganado High School parent-teacher conference on April 28, 2016.

Thank you to parents and community stakeholders for supporting parent involvement in education. Ganado High School staff, Cornfields Chapter, Ganado Chapter, Steamboat Chapter, St. Michaels Chapter, Council Delegate Kee Allen Begay Jr., Apache County Sheriff Dedman, Earl’s Restaurant, Tractor & Supply, T&R Market, Sage Hospital, Northern Arizona University, Navajo Nation Scholarship-Chinle, Navajo Nation Peace Maker Program, and Tséhootsooí Wellness Center & Public Health programs.

Marilyn Tracey
Ganado, Ariz.

Government fell short in helping young girl

It is with great sadness I write this letter. Although I don’t live close to the horrific incident that occurred early last week, but the connection I have to my homeland and people, I feel somewhat responsible that I didn’t do enough to help the young girl and her family.

In the age of high tech and social media, how can we allow this to happen?

Our nation needs to catch up with the times when it comes to the safety of our people. How many more tragedies have to occur before our leaders open their eyes and realize we need an emergency plan that works for the nation?

Whether it be abductions, fire, heavy snowfall, fugitives running loose, etc., we need a plan to protect our people.

At the end of the day, it’s not about jobs, politics, who’s embezzling from the nation, etc. It’s about the safety of our families and our extended families across Diné Bikeyah. We all know how vast our reservation stretches. It doesn’t take a research group or a private consultant to tell us our public safety officers are far and few covering many miles alone.

We need a top-notch search and rescue team equipped with a helicopter that can be dispatched within minutes. With a search and rescue team, tragedies can be prevented and limited. I can assure you it will be money well spent that we all can agree on.

As for my part, I implore the Speaker of the Council Bates, Council delegate representing San Juan Chapter, and President Begaye to make this a priority so no more families will experience a loss so devastating again. It is a travesty of our government we fell short in helping this young girl. I hope you all do the same and address this with your Council delegate. Remember, life is precious! Give you kids and loved ones a big hug and tell them you love them.

Randall Benally
Rio Rancho, N.M.

Leadership: ‘We put them in office, we can take them out’

Here is my advice to the Zuni Tribal Council and to my family, the Zuni people.

Lately, I have learned the positions of leadership, governor, lieutenant governor, and the four council members who have become a faction. Their constitutional oath withdrawn by the cacique and his aides. Without authority they continue to stay in office showing their character of disrespect to our faith and to the Zuni people who voted for them. Voters have the right to know the honest truth. Being dishonest and deceptive has made them dysfunctional. This behavior is very dangerous and toxic for our Zuni Tribe.

In the Federal Handbook of Indian Law, it states that if or when the tribe continues to be dysfunctional, jurisdiction can be handed over to the state. That means termination. When tribal sovereignty is lost, we’ll lose our families, culture and tradition, our Zuni Reservation, and most of all, our future as a Zuni Tribe.

Today, we exist on federal land, govern ourselves under federal law, and the Zuni Tribal Constitution. Traditional and customary law is relevant and important in guiding the overall well being of our tribe. The elected officials who represent us in the executive, legislative and the judicial departments have limited powers. No one has complete authority to dictate suspension on the other. This is a serious constitutional violation depriving the voters’ right for representation.

My people, why are we waiting for officials to resolve their problem?

We can correct our dysfunctional leadership. We put them in office, we can take them out. We need good leadership to reach our highest potential to prepare a foundation for future generations.

Robert Eustace
Zuni, N.M.

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