Late delegate’s aide sworn in to fill seat

Posted by Arlyssa Becenti | Oct 25, 2018 | News |

WINDOW ROCK

Olin T. Kieyoomia was sworn in Thursday as Council delegate for the communities of Coyote Canyon, Mexican Springs, Naschitti, Tohatchi, and Bahastl’a’a’.

Kieyoomia is taking the place of the late Steven Begay, who passed away earlier this month. Kieyoomia worked as Begay’s legislative district assistant.

“I’m going to be picking up where my late honorable delegate left off,” said Kieyoomia to the Times. “It’s two months of hard work just to finalize and finish some of the smaller project he started.”

Originally from Naschitti with a wife and two children, he is Tábaahá, born for Bit’ahni; his maternal grandfather is Kinyaa’áani, and his paternal grandfather is Tsé Nabahilnii.

Speaker LoRenzo Bates said four of the five chapters recommended Kieyoomia to take over as their representative until Jan. 6, when a new delegate will take office with the next Navajo Nation Council.

“The only chapter that didn’t recommend Olin was Tohatchi,” said Bates. “So because they didn’t recommend Olin we had to go through a 10-day grievance period for challenges. There was no challenges and based on that fact I made a decision.”

Bates said as LDA for Begay, Kieyoomia “is even with the game” and has already done most of the groundwork for the projects that the late delegate had started.

Kieyoomia said there are 10 to 15 items that Begay had started that need a delegate’s authority to move forward. He also wants to provide guidance to the next delegate who is elected Nov. 6. Pernell Halona was the only candidate running against Begay.

“It’s giving the chapter a little more authority up here as far as representation and vote,” said Kieyoomia. “Lastly, it is just to provide guidance to the next delegate that will be coming in in January.”