OCT 31 - DBHS Halloween Open House, Ft Defiance AZ

OCT 31 - DBHS Halloween Open House, Ft Defiance AZ

NOV 16 -Fun Walk, Run, Hourseback Ride, & Bike Ride

NOV 16 - 9th Annual 4 Directions Fun Walk, Run, Hourseback Ride, & Bike Ride, Tsaile, Nazlini, Rough Rock, Pinon AZ

Halloween Fun Night

Navajo President Delivers the State of the Nation Address

For Immediate Release
October 15, 2012



Navajo President Delivers the State of the Nation Address

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly outlined recent
accomplishments from the Shelly/Jim administration during his quarterly State of the
Nation address Monday at the opening day of the Navajo Nation Council's fall
session.

President Shelly started his 17 minute speech by stating a recent $43 million
agreement between the Navajo Nation and Department of Interior to give financial
assistance to the Navajo Nation to build portions of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply
Project waterline.

The money plans to be spent to build portions of the lower access of the Cutter
Lateral. The funding plans to help design and construction of 43 miles of water
pipeline, a pumping station and four water storage tanks.

The overall NGWS project is expected to cost $1 billion, build 280 miles of
waterline to 43 chapters and create more than 600 jobs during construction.

"This project is a result of the Navajo Nation Water Rights Settlement in the San
Juan River Basin in New Mexico," President Shelly said.

President Shelly also spoke about an agreement that strengthens Navajo sovereignty.

The Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency will oversee the clean up of a
mine in District 17 in New Mexico, according to a "Temporary Access Agreement" with
Hydro Resources Inc.

The agreement calls for the mine in District 17 to follow Navajo Nation standards.

For the first time, the NNEPA will ensure clean up follows the standards in the
Navajo Nation Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of
2008.

President also relayed information regarding uranium mine cleanup in Cove, Ariz.,
Casamero Lake, New Mex., and Church Rock, New Mex.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that $7.5 million would be spent
to cleanup mines in those communities.

To help with the cleanup, President Shelly said job training would be available
through the Navajo Nation Superfund Job Training Initiative.

"As we look ahead, the U.S. EPA is predicting that another $44 million could be put
toward cleaning the Northeast Church Rock Mine. With training available now, future
mine clean ups could employ hundreds of Navajos in the future," President Shelly
said.

President Shelly also said he is confident that Navajo Head Start, which has had
non-compliance issues for several years, is headed in a good direction.

"In August, we brought on Sharon Singer, who became the first licensed
superintendent to lead Navajo Head Start. She brings years of teaching and
administrative experience. With Ms. Singer's proven leadership we are committed to
bringing the program fully into compliance with more than 2,800 federal standards,"
President Shelly said,=.

President Shelly stated that he intends to create a task force to find solutions to
issues Navajo residents who live on Hopi Partitioned lands including building some
homes for relocated Navajo families on Turquoise Ranch near Winslow, Ariz., which
was recently established into trust status.

"These issues are complicated and I'm going to look towards creating a taskforce to
look at what the executive branch and other stakeholders can do for planning and
developing the Navajo-Hopi Partitions Lands," President Shelly said.

President Shelly visited nearly eight homes in the past few weeks that were on Hopi
Partitioned Lands.

President Shelly also updated the Council about recent progress in the Red Dog
Gravel project. The project involves partnerships between the Navajo Nation, Navajo
County, chapters, Peabody Western Coal Company, and others.

Red dog gravel is being delivered to 10 chapters in the Black Mesa area, where the
gravel is found.

"We are in the process of graveling roads in these areas and have delivered more
than 40,000 tons of red-dog gravel. We have plans to continue graveling roads for
these areas. This project is working because we all have worked together," President
Shelly said.

President Shelly also announced the implementation of a new project to revamp the
hiring process within the Navajo Nation government.

The pilot project gives more authority to divisions and programs to have input on
hiring for new employees, so they may find candidates that are best suited for their
programs.

"Our goal is to bring the most qualified people to our workforce, including our
valuable children. We need to have jobs for them when they want to come home,"
President Shelly said.

The State of the Nation address also covered topics such as the budget and coal
revenues.

For President's speech in its entirety please visit
http://www.president.navajo-nsn.gov and look for "State of the Nation" under the
"Constituent Services" tab.

Forest fires near Four Corners

Forest Service reports several new fires in Four Corners area

The Durango Interagency Fire Dispatchis reporting several new fires in the Four
Corners area Tuesday.

To access this story, copy and paste this url in your browser:
www.kob.com/article/stories/s2801831.shtml?cat=504

Running for Stronger and Healthier Navajo Nation

information regarding the 2nd Annual Running for Stronger
and Healthier Navajo Nation scheduled for October 21-28, 2012.  Runners needed to
run from Newlands (Sanders, AZ) to Nazlini on October 22-23.  Schedule is attached. 
Hope to see some of you out there.  Have a great day everyone.

Cheryl Toledo
Department of Behavioral Health Services

OCT 25 thru DEC 27 - MSPI Cultural Nights, Ft Defiance AZ

You and your families are invited to the Tsehootsooi Medical Center's (TMC)
Methamphetamine & Suicide Prevention Initiative Project's (MSPI) Cultural Nights at
the Hogan (located immediately north of the hospital).  Please see the flyer for
dates, times and topics.  On November 1, 2012, we have replaced "Kinaalda" with
"Traditional Food Preparation" by Louva Dahozy.  Our program staff will provide a
small meal for people in attendance.  We ask that you please forward this flyer to
all you think might be interested.

Thank you and we hope to see you all there!

Janet Deschinny
TMC MSPI Community Involvement Coordinator