Weekly Edition | March 2, 2012 | By: Editor

“Rather than wait for the BIA to present its plan as to how our programs will be reduced or eliminated, it is time for the Navajo Nation government to decide, for itself, what areas to prioritize as a reflection of our values and our vision for the role of our government.” Justice Herb Yazzie. 

Navajo Nation Supreme Court Justice, Herb Yazzie. Photo Courtesy of ASU

Window Rock, Ariz. – Honorable Chief Justice Herb Yazzie, urges the Navajo Nation to begin a comprehensive planning for its program goals and budgets for FY2013. He also issued a stern warning, that the Nation needs a centralize system for Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act or known as P.L. 93-638 funded programs to improve the way they handle Federal funded programs. Herb Yazzie currently serves in the Navajo Nation highest court in Window Rock, Ariz.

A released that came in his annual message, in which the Justice describes the needs and accomplishments of the Navajo Justice system for 2011 and urges the Navajo Nation to plan for what could be up ahead.

Justice Yazzie highlighted the insufficiency of funding which this year resulted in the termination of a grant-funded case management program for youth in detention and the laying off of staff. Which, he hopes new legislation will revive the program.

Two tribal court houses are also failing in infrastructure, the Chinle court house roof is in need of repairs and Window Rock court house is said to be ridden with asbestos and with new legislation Justice Yazzie said it is ‘underway’ and will be fixed.

Implementation of a automated justice information sharing and records keeping system is also underway, the type of software was not given nor the type of technology that will be used. Currently, there is 19 peacemakers that qualifies them to provide traditional counseling, education and peacemaking services to children in after-school programs. These peacemaker records will also need to be updated and implemented said Justice Yazzie.

Justice Yazzie draws the line in the sand. 

The mission, Justice Yazzie made it clear and said the Navajo Nation needs to begin comprehensive planning for its program goals and budgets. With the U.S. Economy on life support the Justice said there is two reasons why this would be needed: Firstly, imminent cuts will be made, starting in Fiscal Year 2013, to governmental funding under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, or P.L. 93-638. These cuts are mandatory and projected to be in place for the next ten years. If the Navajo Nation does not comprehensively plan for these long-term cuts, decisions regarding reducing or eliminating programs may be left to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Justice Yazzie said, U.S. Tribes are now required to submit single applications for all courts and justice programs when seeking federal grant funds. In this single application, programs must work together and the purposes of the applying programs must be focused in a single strategic narrative.  Now, programs have only used P.L. 93-638 and grant funds on an ad hoc basis.

The Chief Justice said it is time for the Navajo Nation government to provide an overall policy-driven plan for the impacted programs. Regarding P.L. 93-638 funded programs, he stated, “Rather than wait for the BIA to present its plan as to how our programs will be reduced or eliminated, it is time for the Navajo Nation government to decide, for itself, what areas to prioritize as a reflection of our values and our vision for the role of our government.”

Justice Yazzie said the Navajo Nation neither has a central planning body nor a coordinating office with abilities to comprehensively plan or negotiate P.L. 93-638 contract funding, ensure program compliance with numerous rules and requirements, or draft and submit a comprehensive single tribe grant application.