Letters | Waking the sleeping giant

Posted by Navajo Times | Jan 30, 2025 | Letters |

Waking the sleeping giant

Republicans, Democrats, Independent, and first-time voters educated themselves of the Democrat Machines local, county, state, and federal Biden Administration progressive socialist corrupt party. They all voted Republican 2024. Even on the Navajo Reservation, both McKinley and Navajo counties saw huge increases in younger Navajo voters voting Republican.

The Democrat margin in these counties are greatly decreased but still maintain a slight majority of voters. Republican Navajo voters are younger, issued educated, pro-life, pro small business, energy development, anti-inflation, and pro-job for-profit voters, and strong family values to mention a few key issues. They also see a corrupt Democrat Navajo Nation central government and leadership in president, Council and local chapters.

America is a country of many races, beliefs, cultures, traditions, etc. When this nation wakes up it closes ranks, unifies, to combat evil, and straight out its way of life. A Republic, a Constitution, free enterprise, Bill of Rights, God our Creator, and one man, one woman only. The Democrats have awaken a sleeping giant and thank God voters are now seeing it. This is why Trump won, the American voters have spoken.

When Trump left office, the federal debt was $1.4 trillion dollars in four years of his presidency. When Biden left office $33 trillion dollars in four years and 15 million illegal aliens were allowed to enter America. Many anti-American countries emptied their prisons, sending them illegally to enter America with terrorists, cartel, gangs, murderers, child abusers, etc.

The Democrat Congress, Biden’s Executive Order to fund illegals with free housing, education, medical, etc. Our homeless veterans were still overlooked by the U.S. government for badly needed services, too.

Lastly, President Buu Nygren incorrectly addressed the off-reservation round-up of illegal aliens. Priority in deporting goes to the worse of worse first: criminals, gangs, terrorists, etc.

Any Navajo who chooses to get involved on their own in law enforcement doing their job, you’re on your own. Navajo Nation absolutely has no responsibility to help you when you get in trouble. All illegal aliens have broken the law to get here illegally, period. Should a Navajo get involved, you’re breaking the law, too.

Law enforcement has a monster job ahead of them, 15 million illegal aliens need to be deported as soon as possible and it’s going to take a lot of time. They’re here in my country illegally, it’s time for them to go back to their own countries.

My tax dollars are needed for Americans overlooked by the Biden Administration and the Democrat Congress mess.

Republicans did not, will not go quietly in the night to the Democrat Machine and media. We fought the Democrat Party nation-wide, reservation-wide, and won by a landslide.

Gary Bernally
Hogback, N.M.

A good feeling

Editor,
More than 70 Teec Nos Pos community members visited the Apache County Democrats Clothing Giveaway at the Teec Nos Pos Chapter House on Friday, Jan. 24. They took home approximately 90 items of clothing provided by St. Johns area community member Sandee Mac as well as games and toys provided by the Teec Nos Pos Chapter.

ACD First Vice Chair Priscilla Weaver organized and facilitated the event, and ACD member Tim Rooney helped Sandee cram the bundles and bags of clothes into her Subaru for the drive to Teec Nos Pos. The clothing items were set up in the chapter house by 10 a.m., and already there was a line of people waiting to shop around.

While parents and grandparents combed the clothes for winter coats and sweaters to fit their children and grandchildren, the kids searched through the games and books.

By 2:30 p.m. the Apache County Dems were packing up the remainder of the clothing and putting away tables and chairs, when a couple straggled in, so the donor Sandee went back through the bags jammed into her car and found a couple of nice blankets and coats for the man and his wife. He said that when he was a child, his family was so desperate for clothing they traveled to the Cortez, Colorado, landfill looking for clothes. It was a good feeling all the way around.

John Watts
Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.

Tribal membership and recognition

Editor,
I am honored to submit my article, “Fast-tracking recognition: Trump, the Lumbee Tribe, and the federal government’s role in defining tribal citizenship”, for your consideration in Navajo Times. As an educator, water protector, and advocate for Indigenous rights, I bring a depth of experience and perspective to issues surrounding tribal governments and their intersection with policy, treaty rights, and sovereignty.

My background as a descendent of Kagayosh, a principal signer of the 1836 Treaty, informs my understanding of the historic and contemporary challenges faced by tribal nations. My father, Mike Wright, was the founding editor of Nishinabe News, the Great Lakes region’s first Indigenous newspaper, which fostered my lifelong commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices and addressing issues of tribal governance.

In 2021, I helped organize one of Michigan’s largest water protector events, which drew over 500 attendees to the Mackinac Straits in defense of water sovereignty. This effort included meetings with the president, garnered the interest of the Michigan lieutenant governor, and highlighted the importance of Indigenous treaty rights. My role as a water protector and educator continues to influence my work in engaging communities on critical issues such as wild rice preservation, environmental stewardship, and tribal governance. I was also on the front lines at Standing Rock when the dogs attacked.

Last year, I was honored to participate in Vancouver, BC’s historic trade mission, the first-ever event focused exclusively on Indigenous and Native Nations products. These experiences, combined with my two decades of facilitating tribal government forums for the Sault Tribe, have deepened my understanding of governance structures, policy development, and the unique challenges faced by Indigenous nations.

The submitted article delves into the complexities of tribal recognition and membership through the lens of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe and the Lumbee Tribe, examining how federal involvement and unique pathways to recognition can impact tribal governance and cultural integrity, providing readers with a nuanced exploration of the balance between tribal sovereignty and federal oversight emerges as a central theme. Questions are raised about governance models, ethical integrity, and potential political exploitation, both within tribes and by federal leaders. My aim is to shed light on these critical topics due to Trump’s recent announcements, offering insights that resonate with tribal communities and inform a broader audience about the intricacies of tribal governance.

Nathan Wright
Petoskey, Mich.