‘Education is the ladder’ But is it enough? NNWO staffer leaves Nygren team

WINDOW ROCK – Obtaining a job without degrees seemed a lot easier. However, when former government and legislative affairs associate Lincoln Mark resigned from his position at the Navajo Nation Washington Office, it was a different ballgame.

Mark publicly announced why he resigned from the Washington office a week ago. He posted his announcement on social media.

According to Mark, he resigned due to many issues in the workplace environment, how his role did not pertain to what he went to school for, and mistreatment from his former supervisor and elected officials.
Does the Navajo Nation uphold its end of the bargain regarding management supervision and hiring young, educated, aspiring employees to grow the Nation?

Like many young Diné, Mark says, “We were told, ‘Go to school, get your degree, and come back and work for the people.’”

However, most find themselves at the tail end of resigning because of a hostile work environment, bullying, and harassment.

At least for Mark, who, according to his former supervisor Justin Ahasteen, the executive director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office, the office was grateful for Mark’s work as he contributed to many successes within the “public safety and justice” and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments portfolios.

‘Very good’ work ethic

Ahasteen described Mark’s work ethic as “very good” and was pleased to have him in the office.

However, this was not the case for Mark, so he resigned in October 2023.

Within the eight months while employed at the Washington office, Mark encountered many mistreatments from Ahasteen and elected officials whenever they met with U.S. senators, representatives, and other entities.

Mark recalls during these meetings, he was advised to sit in the corner and take notes and not to speak. He was called upon only to capture a photo with an important person or hand out paperwork.

“Never have I ever was given a chance to give my policy recommendations or questions that would help my portfolio,” Mark said. “That was kind of like the frustrating part.”

Undermining recommendations were what the 33-year-old was concerned about when he sat in those meetings and had conversations with Ahasteen.

According to Ahasteen, he strongly fosters a relationship where his staff can engage in open dialogue, attributed to his training as a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I understand the concepts of small unit leadership and make it a personal point to address any staff concerns that are brought to my attention,” Ahasteen said.

However, Mark recalls a few conversations where he would receive criticism and not constructive feedback.

“It just felt like, ‘Oh, don’t say this because this person might hear,’ ‘Don’t tell these delegates this,’ or ‘Don’t tell the president this,’” Mark said, regarding what he and his colleagues were told by their supervisor.
According to Mark, one delegate known to be vocal, Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton, threatened Mark because he could not meet the delegate’s expectation of meeting with a senator.
This led the delegate to demand Mark do his job, and if he crossed her line again, she would “destroy” him.

Other delegates witnessed this, and Mark said one delegate, whom he did not name, pulled him aside and asked if he was OK. Mark’s response was to muster up and not allow it to affect him.

According to Charles-Newton, she directs request through the legislative branch’s designated lobbyist, not the Washington staff, to arrange meetings with senators and representatives. Charles-Newton recalls on one occasion that she did ask Mark if coffee was available as she did not know her way around the Washington office.

Whenever Charles-Newton did speak with Mark, it was always in the presence of Ahasteen or via text or email because of concerns regarding her safety. Mark said he applied for the deputy executive director position and informed Charles-Newton about it. However, he was not selected, which Charles-Newton said he shared with her he was disappointed, and she encouraged him to get more experience before applying for another position.

“He once asked for advice for running for office to which I provided constructive criticism. I felt he didn’t appreciate that much,” Charles-Newton said. “My recommendation was to work on the level of his professionalism. I told him we all can work on that and improve on it, even me.”

According to Mark, during his encounters with Charles-Newton, he described her as very vocal when things do not go her way.

Read the full story in the Dec. 14 edition of the Navajo Times.

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