# ~Est. 1987 • OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE HOPI TRIBE • NEWS SOURCE FOR THE HOPI PEOPLE~

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Ahopi_arizona%3Ac4f6b43477feac3d

## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

Volume 31
Number 2
38˚/15˚
Sunny

WEDNESDAY
JANUARY

18, 2023
~Est. 1987 • OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE HOPI TRIBE • NEWS SOURCE FOR THE HOPI PEOPLE~

Telephone connections prompt PSAs
from local Tribal Departmens/telephone/
cellphone compaDetails...PG 2- 3
nies...

JANUARY is
National
“Dry January
Month”...

PG 6

COLUMN

Page 17

LARRY’S CORNER

See the problem is...
Read more about it

COMMUNITY

Page 3

Hopi Behavioral Services
Warns Community about
Group Home Targeting...pg. 7

Pictured above: Two Arizona Native women, Renae

Mahkewa - Hopi-Tewa and Tiffany Bahnimptewa Hopi, sang the National Anthem at the Phoenix Suns
Game in Phoenix, Ariz. on Sunday, January 8, 2023

HOPI TUTUVENI
PO BOX 123
KYKOTSMOVI, AZ 86039
1110-01600-7460

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

2

Public Service Announcement

Hopi
Law Enforcement Services
Currently Experiencing
Phone Lines Issues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Submitted by: LaVaun Dyer,
Police Administrator, Hopi Law
Enforcement Services
Kykotsmovi, Ariz. – December
2, 2022 Hopi Law Enforce-

ment Services is currently
experiencing issues with our
phone lines.

Hopi Law Enforcement Services

Emergency Services Phone
Line Issues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Or if at all possible, call Kykotsmovi, Ariz. – January 4, 2023 Hopi Law Enforcement Services
from a landline phone to 928- (HLES) continues to experience issues with receiving incoming phone
calls from cellular phones (regardless of the cellphone provider) to
734-7340.
the HLES landline phone number (928)734-7340.

HLES
Alternate Number:
928-497-1493

Incoming calls from cellu- We apologize for this inconlar phones are being received, venience and are working to
however, the caller cannot get this issue resolved.
hear dispatch on the other end.
Please use the HLES alternate number if you experience
this issue.

Public Service Announcement
January 4, 2023

The Department of Public Safety and Emergency Services is aware of
this issue and is working in coordination with Tribal Leadership, Hopi
Tribal Information Technology Department, CellularOne and Hopi
Telecommunications, Inc. (HTI) to resolve this issue.
On June 30, 2022, CellularOne notified the Hopi Tribe Information
Technology Services and stated their roaming partners were shutting
off their 3G network and upgrading to the Voice over LTE or VoLTE.
CellularOne described VoLTE as “high definition voice” because call
quality is significantly better when using LTE. CellularOne recommended to customers to contact their customer care representatives
to upgrade. CellularOne customers can contact the customer service
line at 1-800-730-2351 for additional information.
When calling for emergency services, HLES recommends using a landline phone to call (928)734-7340. In addition, if you currently have
Wi-Fi connection via HTI set up in your home, HTI recommends the
homeowner to hook up a home landline in case emergency calls need
to be made. HTI customers may contact the customer service line at
(928) 738-4674.
If a landline phone is unavailable to use and only a cellular device is
available, call HLES at (928) 497-1493, for emergency services. Please
share and save this alternate phone number on your cellular devices.
We apologize for this inconvenience and are working on solutions to
get this issue immediately resolved.

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

3

Public Service Announcement
January 11, 2023

Hopi Telecommunications, Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Keams Canyon, Ariz. - January 11, 2023 In light of the recent
Public Service Announcements
regarding cell phone issues, emergency calls to HLES and general
calls made using a cell phone;
Cellular One has come to Hopi
to work in resolving issues. They
continue to work on their issue
with connectivity.
Hopi Telecommunications is the
local landline and internet provider. Calls made from a landline
aka home phones to any other
landlines are secure. Some choose
not to plug in a landline phone
which is up to the customer but
due to the recent cell phone issues,
having a home landline is still a

necessity on Hopi and surrounding
areas to connect reliably.
It has been determined the cell
phone issues do not stem from
HTI and HTI is not responsible for
any issues if using a cell phone to
make calls.
The cell phone issues to HLES
are present when using a cell
phone but if calling from a landline the call will be connected.
Any issues with landlines or
internet can be reported to Hopi
Telecommunications at 928-7384674 or at HOPI TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. P.O. Box 125,
Keams Canyon, AZ 86034.

Public Service Announcement for
Hopi Tutuveni Newspaper

Cellular One Says
Hopi Safety is a Top Priority
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Submitted by: Cellular One

Showlow, Ariz. - January 12,
2023, A Public Service Announcement (PSA) issued by the Hopi Tribal
Emergency last week stated that:
Hopi Law Enforcement Services
(HLES) continues to experience
issues with receiving incoming phone
calls from cellular phones (regardless of the cellphone provider) to the
HLES landline phone number (928)
734-7340.
“First and foremost, our priority
is supporting the safety of the Hopi
people. If mobile callers on Hopi are
having trouble reaching Hopi Law
Enforcement Services (HLES), we
view this as an urgent problem,” said
Cellular One CEO Judd Hinkle.
“In fact, over the last four months
we have responded to every concern
about call connections. Our actions
have included directing calls over
different routes, ordering and implementing additional circuits, call testing, and call tracing. With the close
cooperation of technicians at Hopi
Telecommunications, Inc. (HTI), we
anticipate a quick resolution to the
matter.”
Also, regarding the PSA issued
January 4, 2023, by HLES, the Cellular One team would like to point
out that the announcement blended
two unrelated telecom topics into one
communication to the public. This
has caused concerns that the message
may be misinterpreted by the public.
In the middle of the PSA, there are
a handful of sentences excerpted from
a letter that Cellular One sent to its

customers on June 30, 2022, about
the fact that the carrier’s roaming
partners were turning down their 3G
networks and pivoting voice service
entirely to VoLTE (voice over LTE).
This migration to VoLTE technology
has been in the works for years.
Unfortunately, taken out of context,
this verbiage from Cellular One’s
letter to its customers may unintentionally mislead members of the
Hopi public into thinking that this
milestone has something to do with
the current challenges some mobile
phone users are facing when trying to
make a call to the Hopi Emergency
Services landline.
To clarify: VoLTE and the current
public safety issue are not related.
“We completely believe that no one
intentionally created misinformation,
but we wanted to help bring clarity,”
added Hinkle.
“Also, we wish to emphasize again
that our team is ready to work in concert with HLES and HTI to resolve
the issues with some mobile phone
calls not always connecting through
to the Hopi Emergency Services landline. Hopi safety is a priority!”
RESOURCES: Per the PSA
issued by HLES: If a landline phone
is unavailable to use and only a cellular device is available, call HLES
at (928) 497-1493, for emergency
services.
If Cellular One customers have
questions about VoLTE, they are
encouraged to call Customer Care at
1-800-730-2351.

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

4

HOPI TRIBAL COUNCIL
1st Quarter Session
December 1, 2022
Month of January 2023 AGENDA
X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Discussion and possible action – Letter dated March
31, 2022 Re: Village of Shungopavi’s request for information regarding land lease, including ownership of the property comprising the Hopi Cultural Center – Craig Andrews,
Vice Chairman, Hopi Tribe – Tabled
2. Discussion and possible action - Letter dated by
September 19, 2022 RE: Survey conducted by Hopi Elections Office from Dale Sinquah, Tribal Council Representative, First Mesa Consolidated Villages – Tabled
3. Action Item #090-2022 - Intergovernmental Agreement between the State of Arizona and the Hopi Tribe –
Author/Donovan Gomez, Hopi Senom Transit – Tabled
4. Action Item #093-2022 – To amend the Rules of
Order for the Hopi Tribal Council to provide a streamlined
process of the Tribal Council parliamentary procedures that
will be followed during meetings of the Tribal Council –
Author/Marilyn Fredericks, Tribal Council Representative, Village of Bacavi – Tabled
XI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Action Item #007-2023 – To accept grant award
from the U.S. Department of Justice in the amount of
$719,669.00 – Author/Tanya Monroe
2. Action Item #010-2023 – Bureau of Land Management Grant Award Title: Utah Bears Ears Land Management Through the Lens of the Hopi Tribal Government,
Hopi Elders and Hopi Youth – Author/Stewart B. Koyiyumptewa, Hopi Cultural Preservation Office
3. Action Item #013-2023 – To approve a Hopi Tribal
Housing Authority Residential Lease Agreement for Lucietta Wytewa – Author/Michele Honanie, Realty Specialist, Office of Real Estate Services – Dale Sinquah, Tribal
Council Representative, First Mesa Consolidated Villages
- *Time Certain, Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
4. Action Item #014-2023 – To approve a Hopi Tribal
Housing Authority Residential Lease Agreement for Shelly
Talas – Author/Michele Honanie, Realty Specialist, Office
of Real Estate Services – Dale Sinquah, Tribal CouncilRepresentative, First Mesa Consolidated Villages - *Time
Certain, Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
5. Action Item #015-2023 – To approve a Hopi Tribal
Housing Authority Residential Lease Agreement for Adri-

enne Talaswaima – Author/Michele Honanie, Realty Specialist, Hopi Real Estate Services – Dale Sinquah, Tribal
Council Representative, First Mesa Consolidated Villages
- *Time Certain, Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
6. Action Item #16-2023 - To approve a Hopi Tribal Housing Authority Residential Lease Agreement for
Tracy Billy - Author/Michele Honanie, Realty Specialist,
Hopi Real Estate Services – Dale Sinquah, Tribal Council
Representative, First Mesa Consolidated Villages - *Time
Certain, Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
7. Action Item #017-2023 – To approve a Hopi Tribal
Housing Authority Residential Lease Agreement for Mary
Talayumptewa – Author/Michele Honanie, Realty Specialist, Hopi Real Estate Services – Dale Sinquah, Tribal
Council Representative, First Mesa Consolidated Villages *Time Certain, Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
8. Action Item #018-2023 - To approve a Hopi Tribal Housing Authority Residential Lease Agreement for
Candace Ami - Author/Michele Honanie, Realty Specialist,
Hopi Real Estate Services – Dale Sinquah, Tribal CouncilRepresentative, First Mesa Consolidated Villages - *Time
Certain, Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
9. Action Item #019-2023 – To approve a Hopi Tribal
Housing Authority Residential Lease Agreement for Susan
Ross – Author/Michele Honanie, Realty Specialist, Hopi
Real Estate Services – Dale Sinquah, Council Representative, First Mesa Consolidated Villages - *Time Certain,
Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
10. Action Item #20-2023 - To approve a Hopi Tribal
Housing Authority Residential Lease Agreement for Darlene Mahle - Author/Michele Honanie, Realty Specialist,
Hopi Real Estate Services – Dale Sinquah, Tribal Council
Representative, First Mesa Consolidated Villages - *Time
Certain, Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
11. Action Item #021-2023 – Walpi Housing Management Agreement – Author/Fred Lomayesva, General
Counsel, Office of the General Counsel
12. Action Item #022-2023 – To appoint Trevor Reed
as Appellate Justice of the Hopi Appellate Court – Author/
Raymond Namoki, Member, Hopi Law & Order Committee

Continued pg. 5

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

5

HOPI TRIBAL COUNCIL
1st Quarter Session
January 2023 AGENDA, contin...
13. Discussion & Possible
Action – Letter dated September 2,
2022 from Ronald Honahni, Governor, Upper Village of Moenkopi; RE:
Request to Explore Gaming in the
Upper Village of Moenkopi – Leroy
Sumatzkuku, Tribal Council Representative, Upper Village of Moenkopi
– Referred to Hopi Gaming Committee
14. a. Letter dated October 6,
2022 from Archie Duwahoyeoma,
Bear Clan Elder/Village Leader,
Mishongnovi Village; RE: Musangnuvi Village Elections – Rosa Honani, Tribal Council Representative,
Village of Sipaulovi
b. Letter dated November 16,
2022 from Archie Duwahoyeoma;
RE: Request for appearance for the
purpose of updating the Council on
the current governmental situation of
Mishongnovi Village – Rosa Honani, Tribal Council Representative,
Village of Sipaulovi - **Time Certain
- January 3, 2023 - 9:30 a.m. (both a
and b)
15. Letter dated November
23, 2022 from Robert Charley; RE:
Resubmission of Letter of Interest for
Re-appointment in current position as
Hopi Tribal Housing Authority Board
of Commissioners – William Charley,
Tribal Council Representative, Upper
Village of Moenkopi
16. Letter dated November 18,
2022 from Dwayne Secakuku; RE:
HTHA BOC Member Resignation
– Danny Honanie, Tribal Council
Representative, Village of
Kykotsmovi
17. Presentation of Special
Master’s Report & Hopi Tribe’s
Objections to Final Report concerning the Little Colorado River (LCR)
litigation by Osborn Maledon – Dale
Sinquah, Water/Energy Committee
Member

18. Letter dated December 8,
2022 from Rachel Hood, YavapaiApache Nation, Deputy Political
Director, Arizona Democratic Party – Rosa Honani, Tribal Council
Representative, Village of Sipaulovi
- **Time Certain – January 24, 2023
from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
XII. REPORTS
1. Office of the Chairman
2. Office of the Vice Chairman
3. Office of Tribal Secretary
4. Office of the Treasurer
5. Office of the Executive Director
- Updated Report – Directive – HTC
Resolution H-058-2021
6. Office of the General Counsel
7. Land Commission
8. Water/Energy Committee
9. Transportation Committee
10. Law & Order Committee
11. Investment Committee a.
Moencopi Developers Corporation b.
Walpi Housing Management Agreement communications c. Updating of
the Hopi Tribe’s Investment Policy
d. Status of Moenkopi Developers
Corporation Hopi Loan
12. Health/Education Committee
13. Building Communities Update
on status and objectives of Joint
Village Strategic Planning - Letter
dated November 9, 2022 From Brian
Cole – William Charley, Tribal Council Representative, Upper Village of
Moenkopi
14. Pandemic Recovery Committee – Narrative written programmatic
report and financial status regarding
the recovery efforts undertaken utilizing said funds – Wallace Youvella, Jr.,
Tribal Council Representative, First
Mesa Consolidated Villages
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
*Hopi Tribal Council may go into
Executive Session on any agenda item
**Time Certain Requests

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

6

January is National “Dry January Month”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By: Bernadean Kachinhongva, HSAPC Mentor
Kykotsmovi, AZ – December 27, 2022 The month of January is National “Dry January
Month”. The HOPI Substance Abuse Prevention Center (HSAPC) would like to raise awareness
of Dry January. This is a public health campaign designed to educate people on the increase of
alcohol and substance use throughout the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has played a role in
the increase of alcohol consumption.
Dry January was observed in the United States in 1920 after the eighteenth amendment was
proposed by the United States senate in 1917. It went dormant for a while, the awareness has
been increasing as of 2014. Individuals who recognized an increase in their alcohol consumption
made the change by exercising this awareness. This awareness can be challenging for some individuals. If you are unsure of your relationship with alcohol consider asking yourself the following questions:
Am I using alcohol as a tool to cope with stressful situations?
Do I find myself stressed out without it?
How many alcoholic drinks per day or week have I consumed?
Has my alcohol consumption impacted my personal and/or professional relationships?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, please consider exercising this awareness.
HSAPC staff encourages you to seek help and continue to abstain from alcohol and substance
use. You are a valuable individual and we see your value.
The HSAPC staff would like to share some encouraging exercises that may be helpful in your
journey with “Dry January”. First, create an environment where you’re going to succeed. Hide,
throw away, and pour out your alcoholic beverages. Out of sight out of mind!! Second, recruit a
friend, family member, and supportive individual to the challenge to assist you with your efforts.
You can encourage each other and possibly recruit others to join the exercise/challenge. Third,
schedule things that you enjoy doing. Examples can be cooking with loved ones, taking walks
with loved ones, starting a new hobby you’ve been thinking of trying, or spending time with an
elderly. Do your best to keep busy in a positive way. As a grant recipient of the Arizona’s Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family’s - Trauma Informed Substance Abuse Prevention Program (funds provided through SAMHSA), the HSAPC staff receive trauma informed care training and utilize strategies in our services. HSAPC mentors help individuals work through their
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing journey. “We believe in honoring ourselves by
living an honest, sober, balanced life”. Healing begins with you!
HSAPC mentors provide one to one mentoring services for youth and adults, group classes,
community presentations, supportive programs for local schools, and cognitive restructuring for
a positive recovery journey. All HSAPC services are free of charge, as we are a non-profit organization. We encourage all who are in their recovery journey to take it one day at a time; sometimes it’s one moment at a time. If you feel comfortable reaching out to HSAPC mentors, call
928-734-0300. You can also call Hopi Behavioral Health Services at 928-737-6300 to schedule
an appointment, or call your local Behavioral Health facility.

The Hopi Tutuveni
Team
sends out positive
energy to all during
the NEW YEAR 2023!

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

7

Public Service Announcement
THE TOP RED FLAGS FOR UNETHICAL TREATMENT
FOR NATIVE AMERICANS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Submitted by: Hopi Behavioral Health Services
Kykotsmovi, Ariz. – January 13, 2023 If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorders and/
or alcoholism please seek help from your local behavioral health provider, ER, primary care physician or detox facility. With the rise in kidnappings and human trafficking on and around the reservations, follow these tips to keep you
safe:
1. Avoid getting into unmarked passenger vans or SUVs. They can vary in color but are typically silver, white, black, and in some cases, red.
2. Never get in a vehicle with someone who is offering you alcohol, food, money or free housing. This is enticement, and not only is it dangerous, it’s also illegal.
3. Always ask the driver for a business card with the company name and phone numbers and share with a relative or peer. Also get at least a
business card that has an address for where you’ll be taken. Reputable treatment centers DO NOT send drivers or “recruiters” to pick up patients
on the reservation, from jails, bus stops, homeless shelters, on the roads, or off the streets in border towns.
4. Beware of a 30-day blackout period. While there is some value and benefit to cutting you off from drug dealers, gang members and your
family, there is also an increased chance that you will be reported missing. If they take your phone or sim card away and tell you that you can’t
speak to anyone, this is NOT the place for you. Most treatment center have a 7-day blackout period and this is discussed with your support network or the agency that referred you.
5. Always obtain a business card, a website address, and brochure. If a case manager or discharge planner can’t find them by doing a simple
internet search, they are probably NOT an ethical treatment center.
Should you choose to go off the reservation for treatment, here are some of the top red flags to look for once you’ve been admitted into the treatment facility or sober home:
1. Were you in fact admitted? Reputable treatment centers have a formal intake process that includes at least three assessments: screening with
an admissions rep, an assessment by a nurse or behavioral health rep, and an assessment with a behavioral health provider or clinician. If you
weren’t assessed, you’re probably not going to get treatment and you’re just there to help the “recovery house” earn a check.
2. Are you being given the basic necessities like food, hygiene products and a safe shelter? These are all things that should be included in your
care. Unethical providers often times don’t provide any of these.
3. You should never be asked for you CIB, SNAP benefits or access to any of your banking information for any reason. Do not sell your information. Unethical providers offer to buy your food stamps in hopes that you’ll take the money and keep you trapped in their care.
4. They may offer you money to stay. This is body brokering and it’s illegal. If someone offers you money to stay or bring in more patients, they
are doing this to collect more money from AHCCCS. Should the government find out about this activity, you may be prosecuted to the fullest
extent of the law.
5. If zoom meetings are the only services they offer, this is not treatment. An ethical provider will offer a full curriculum of services including
group therapy, individual therapy, family counseling, traditional healing, case management, outings and activities.
6. If you can drink at the house or use drugs, you are being taken advantage of.
Call Hopi Behavioral Health at 928-737-6300 and ask for a Case Manger to get help with placement, transportation or to inquire about a facility
that you may be interested in.
Original flyer created by Reva Stewart, Navajo Nation.

8

HOPI H.E.O.C UPDATES

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

Hopi Tribe Department of Health and Human Services Covid-19 Emergency Response August 26, 2022
Report (REPUBLISH)
Due to transitions occurring in DHHS the August 26, 2022 COVID 19 report was the latest
data being provided for the public. Until DHHS and Tribal Leadership determines roles of the
Public Health Authority, no reports will be submitted to Hopi Tutuveni. Hopi Tutuveni will
continue republishing this last and latest Covid-19 Report received from DHHS. Although Hopi
is still under Pandemic status and there are active COVID cases on Hopi, until the Hopi DHHS
provides an update this is the only data Hopi Tutuveni has to report to the Hopi public.
KYKOTSMOVI, AZ – July20, 2022
This data is updated on the Hopi Tribe’s website “COVID-19 Response and Resources” page.
Hopi Health Care Center – Community COVID-19 Testing & Vaccination Information
COVID-19 vaccines are available in the afternoons on Mondays and Wednesdays for the
month of July for those 6 months and older. To schedule an appointment call (928) 737-6148 or
737-6081.
Appointments are required. For questions about COVID-19 vaccines please call (928) 7376198 or 737-6197.
COVID-19 Testing Drive-up Testing schedule: Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 AM – 9:00
AM. Enter at the west entrance & drive around back. Mask must be worn by everyone in your
vehicle. Please stay in your vehicle at all times. To schedule for testing or for more information
please call (928) 737- 6187 or 6233.
A COVID-19 Hotline has been created by the Hopi Health Care Center to assist with all
COVID-19 related questions and service requests. The hotline is open Monday–Friday from 8
AM – 5 PM. To contact the COVID-19 hotline please call (928) 737-6187.
WHEN USING AN AT-HOME TEST IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU REPORT
YOUR RESULTS TO THE
COVID-19 HOTLINE AT HOPI HEALTH CARE CENTER OR TUBA CITY REGIONAL
HEALTH CARE CORPORATION SO THAT ACCURATE DATA IS PROVIDED TO THE
COMMUNITY.
VACCINE UPDATE:
On June 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized emergency use of
the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention
of COVID-19 to include use in children down to 6 months of age. For more detailed information
please visit www.cdc.gov
TUBA CITY REGIONAL HEALTH CARE CORPORATION (TCRHCC) COVID-19 TESTING & VACCINATION INFORMATION:
Testing, and now vaccinations, at TCRHCC are being held at the outdoor tent Monday – Friday
from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Daylight Savings Time. Rapid and CEPHEID tests can take approximately 3 hours. Send out tests can take 2-3 days. The address for Tuba City Regional Health Care
Corporation is 167 N. Main Street, Tuba City, AZ. For more information regarding Tuba City
Regional Health Care Corporation’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic and testing, please call 1-866976-5941. TCRHCC has at-home COVID-19 test kits available for the community. To request a
test kit please go through the drive up tent from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Daylight Savings Time or go
to the pharmacy drive up window after hours.
FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS:
You can now order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government at covidtests.gov
by calling 1-800-232- 0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). Only 4 tests come in an order and only two
orders per household. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Please do not wait to order your tests
when you have been exposed or become symptomatic as the tests will not arrive in enough time
for you to be tested. So please order them now so that you and your loved ones can be prepared.
Households that did not place their first two orders of test kits, can now place their first, second,
AND third order. They must complete the ordering process above three (3) times to place both a
first, second, and third order (for a total of 16 test kits; 4 kits for first order, 4 kits for second order,
8 kits for third order).
FREE N-95 MASKS: The CDC now has a resource on their website where you can see a list
of local pharmacies that have free N-95 masks by using your zip code. Click here or call 1-800232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION CALCULATOR:
The CDC now has a Quarantine and Isolation calculator that helps determine how long you
need to isolate or quarantine.
SYMPTOMS, QUARANTINE, AND ISOLATION:
Watch for Symptoms - people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported –
ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to

the virus and can range from mild to severe. The following are COVID-19 symptoms that people
may experience:
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
•New loss of taste or smell
•Sore throat
•Congestion or runny nose
•Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we
learn more about COVID-19. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious
complications from COVID-19 illness.”
Currently, the local health department and HHCC are implement the previously recommended
CDC guidelines which is a 10 day isolation for those who test positive and a 14 day quarantine
for those exposed to an infected individual.
(GLOSSARY ON PG. 5)
Be aware that when someone tests positive they became contagious 2 days before they developed symptoms, or if they are not experiencing symptoms 2 days before they tested positive not
the day they received their results. If someone was less than 6 feet away from a potential positive
case for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period they would be considered
a close contact regardless of whether or not both parties were wearing masks. For example, Molly
was within 6 feet of Craig on Thursday night for 10 minutes and on Friday morning for 5 minutes.
Craig developed symptoms Saturday evening, was tested for COVID on Monday, and received
their results on Wednesday. Because Molly was within 6 feet of Craig for a total of 15 minutes
over a 24 hour period within the 2 day timeframe she is now considered to be a close contact. If
you have been identified as a close contact you may or may not need to quarantine depending on
your vaccination status.
If an unvaccinated individual that is not positive is having to take care of someone that is infected, they will need to quarantine for 14 days beginning on the infected person’s 10th day of
isolation, with that day being Day 0 and the following day being Day 1. That means the caregiver
could potentially be out of work for 24 days. If a vaccinated person that is not positive is having
to take care of someone that is infected, they will not have to quarantine but will need to get
tested 5 days from the 10th day of the infected person’s isolation. If a vaccinated person develops
symptoms while caring for an infected person they will need to get tested as soon as possible and
remain at home until they receive their results.
Re-testing of COVID-19 Positive Employees. Per guidance and alignment with HHCC, CDC,
state and local health departments, and OSHA workplace guidance for COVID-19 re-testing of
positive or suspected COVID-19 employees before they return to work, nor providing letters to
go back to work is not recommended.
The recommended reason for not re-testing is an individual may continue to test positive on
a viral test long after they are recovered from COVID-19. These dead viral particles will turn
viral tests positive even though they cannot cause disease in others. The Hopi Health Care Center
strongly encourages employers to use the CDC’s symptom and criteria below even if they continue to test positive. Once they meet the three criteria, they are no longer considered infectious
to others. However, if the employee was severely ill (hospitalized) or in immunocompromised,
plead advise them to visit their primary care provide before returning to work.
The “checklist” below has been updated as of the most recent COVID-19 guidelines from the
CDC and will be used by employers to determine when an employee with confirmed COVID-19
may return to work safely. For additional questions, please call the Hopi Health Care Center
COVID-19 hotline (928) 737-6188.
□ It’s been at last ten days since I first had symptoms or received my positive diagnosis if I’ve
not had symptoms (please note date of first symptoms: (________)
□ Overall my symptoms have improved and I am feeling better.
□ It’s been at least 72 hours since I last had a fever without using fever-reducing medicine.
If you checked all three boxes, you are no longer a considered at risk to infect others and can
go back to work!

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

HOPI H.E.O.C UPDATES

Hopi Tribe Department of Health and Human Services Covid-19 Emergency Response, Cont. (REPUBLISH)

9

10

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023
AHCCCS Alerts Members to Targeting Activity

AHCCCS is aware of individuals targeting American Indians/Alaskan Natives who reside on
tribal reservations by recruiting and transporting them to live in what they are calling sober living
homes or behavioral health residential facilities in Phoenix. Some are NOT licensed health care providers who are NOT following through with promised services.
We encourage AHCCCS members to be extremely cautious about getting into vehicles with
individuals they do not know, and to advocate for your own health care services before accepting treatment. Ask questions and obtain as many details as possible, including the company name and address,
name of individual, facility address, whether the facility is licensed, vehicle license plate number (if
applicable), and date and location of contact.
Report Fraud
AHCCCS actively investigates all reports of fraud, waste, and abuse against the Medicaid program. Anyone can report provider or member fraud on the Report Fraud web page or by calling:
Report Provider Fraud. In Arizona: 602-417-4045 Toll Free Outside of Arizona Only: 888-ITS-NOTOK or 888-487-6686
AHCCCS Members Have Rights
If you are approached by someone offering housing assistance, know your rights. You have the right to
know whether the provider is licensed, what services they will provide, and how they will ensure your
care. Ask questions before agreeing to health care services.
Report Concerns About the Quality of Care Received
AHCCCS is committed to ensuring that all members receive quality health care and are able to access
services. If you or any AHCCCS member has experienced a barrier to getting health care services or
have concerns about the quality of services received, please report it to Clinical Quality Management
(CQM) using this online form, by calling (602) 417-4885, or by emailing CQM@azahcccs.gov. All submissions are confidential and protected by Arizona State statute. Contact: Christine Holden - AHCCCS
Tribal Liaison at christine.holden@azahcccs.gov

The Hopi Tribe P.O. Box 123 Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039
Ph: (928) 734-3281 • Ph: (928) 734-3283
Editorial Board of the Hopi Tutuveni
Wilma Dengavi , Gary LaRance, George Mase
Hopi Tutuveni Staff
Managing Editor - Romalita Laban
RLaban@hopi.nsn.us

ARTICLES:
The Hopi Tutuveni welcomes
original articles reporting on
local, state and national news
items on issues related to Hopi
or of interest to Tutuveni readers.
We are especially interested
in articles reporting on issues
impacting the Hopi community or on events and activities
involving members of the Hopi
Tribe. Articles should not exceed
750 words and should follow
Associated Press (AP) style and
formatting. The Managing Editor
reserves the right to edit articles
for style, length and clarity. If
significant editing is required, the
Managing Editor will communicate with the author prior to
publication.
PRESS RELEASES:
Press releases must be submitted
on official letterhead and include
the name of the organization,
contact person, telephone
number and email address. Press
releases should not exceed 500
words and submissions may be
edited for length and clarity at
the discretion of the Managing
Editor.
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR:
Letters should not exceed 250
words and must include the
name of the author and complete
contact information (address,
phone number or email address)

CIRCULATION

PH: (928) 289 0974

porturica@gmail.com

and the headline and date of
the article on which you are
commenting. Anonymous letters
and letters written under pseudonyms will not be published.
The Tutuveni Editorial Board
reviews all submissions and
reserves the right not to publish
letters it considers to be highly
sensitive or potentially offensive
to readers, or that may be libelous
or slanderous in nature.
OPINION EDITORIALS:
Submissions must be exclusive
to Hopi Tutuveni and should not
exceed 1,000 words. Include with
your submission your name and
complete contact information,
along with a short 2-3-sentence
bio.
SUBMISSION
INSTRUCTIONS:
All press releases, articles, letters
to the editor and Opinion Editorials electronically as a Word
document or as plain text in the
body of an email to the Managing Editor, Romalita Laban. Articles, press releases and editorials
that include photographs must
be in high resolution, 300dpi
or more and must be your own.
All photographs must include
photo credit and a caption for
each photo listing the names of
all persons included in the photo
and description of what the photo is about. (call 928-734-3283
for deadline schedule).

The Hopi Tutuveni is published twice a month, with a circulation
of 2,500 copies throughout the entire Hopi Reservation. The paper
is delivered on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month to the
following locations: Moenkopi Travel Center, Moenkopi Legacy
Inn, Hotevilla Store, Kykotsmovi Village Store, Tribal Government
Complex, Hopi Cultural Center, Hopi Health Care Center, Polacca
Circle M, Keams Canyon Store.

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

11
Hopi Tribal Council
Timothy L. Nuvangyaoma,
Chairman
Craig Andrews
Vice Chairman
Judith Youvella
Tribal Secretary
Nada Talayumptewa,
Tribal Treasurer
Alfonso Sakeva,
Sergeant-At-Arms
Village of Upper
Moenkopi
William Charley
Danny Humetewa Sr.
Leroy Sumatzkuku
Michael Elmer
Village of Bakabi
Marilyn Fredericks
Vacant
Vacant

Kalle Benallie and Pauly Denetclaw
ICT
FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Before he was sworn in Tuesday afternoon, the new president for one of the largest tribes
in the country looked confident, maybe a little nervous.
Buu Van Nygren was wearing his signature outfit, a navy blue suit with a light blue button up and a red coral necklace,
as he paced the hallway, located just off the main stage. He shook his arms and shoulders before turning around to walk
back up the hallway.
He was minutes from being introduced on stage alongside his wife, former Arizona state representative and attorney,
Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren.
Nygren’s name was announced and thousands cheered at the Bee Hółdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona. He walked out with a wide grin and waved at his constituents.
When he addressed the crowd, Nygren focused on a simple but powerful message that he used during his campaign,
“We have one mission, let’s get basic services for the Navajo people,” he said in his inauguration speech. “We need water.
We need roads. We need broadband. We need better public safety.”
Many of those who watched the Navajo Nation presidential inauguration had never been to an event like that before, but
few said they particularly went to the event because Nygren is making history.
Nygren, at 36, is the youngest Navajo Nation president elected. His vice president, Richelle Montoya, is now also the
first female vice president in the tribe’s history.
Nygren selected Richelle Montoya, one of his volunteer campaign workers, to be his vice-president. Nygren heard the
Navajo people’s calls for a woman to be selected as vice-president and said this was important to him.
Montoya was previously chapter president of Torreon/Star Lake Chapter in the eastern agency of the Navajo Nation.
Lenell Francisco, Navajo, described the event as “lots of people — traffic was crazy. Gave me a reason to dress up toContinued pg. 15
day. I thought everything went well,” she said.

Village of Kyakotsmovi
David Talayumptewa
Gary P. Kelhoyouma
Danny Honanie
Herman G. Honanie
Village of Sipaulavi
Rosa Honanie
Anita Bahnimptewa
Raymond Namoki
Village of Mishongnovi
Pansy Edmo
Delores Coochyumptewa
Mervin Yoyetewa
First Mesa Consolidated
Villages
Albert T. Sinquah
Dale Sinquah
Wallace Youvella, Jr.
Vacant

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

12

Hopilavit - Everyday words
K
A
N
S
U
L
M
O
N
G
W
I
T
A
V
U
N

Are you into drawing

COMICS?

Submit your comics to
rlaban@hopi.nsn.us
Or
Call 928-734-3281
To find out more

Drawing comics is a great way to show your
drawing skills and your side of Hopi Humor.
If you have the skill and the humor to draw comics
for the Hopi Tutuveni
DISCLAIMER: Comics submitted will become property of Hopi
Tutuveni. Name of artist will be
displayed and not edited when submitted. Hopi Tutuveni has
the right to publish submitted comics.

Y
W
I
I
K
I
Y
M
A
W
K
O
U
N
M
Y
H

E
F
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N
A
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T
A
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P
W
X
U
B
O

S M I S M
T U M A L
J U T P A
S P J P C
D I L T O
F T V M A
I A A A P
Y N S W V
O A P O V
H K O A I
O T A K A
T S U Q P
I Y T A B
I K A V O
Y T A L A
O Q E H I
P I
I Q A

U
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R
V
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A
K
L
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N
R
I
T

Y A W
Y A B
A Q N
U A P
N W O
D I
I
Y S G
T T F
U O A
K H J
O G O
P K A
N I W
A Q O
I K I
H I K
S I N

A
D
X
M
K
N
G
A
H
U
T
S
A
P
S
O
O

G
Z
O
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N
W
I
S
T
P
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N
Q
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S

N
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K
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A

A
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K
H
F
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S T
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A U
Q Q
O A
P Y
Q I
O W
T A
R Y
H U
A M
J A
N A
O Y
P K

HOPI WORDS

Kyesmismuyaw - December

Wiiki’yma - Guide (Singular)

Tuwi’yta - Able (skillful)

Pö’i’yta - Debt (Have)

Sivaqöpqö - Heater

Yuki’at - Accomplishment

Öqala - Determined

Hopiiqatsi - Hopi Way of Life

Tukopna - Accuse

Alögö - Different

Nù’okwa - Kind Hearted

Hintsakpi - Activity

Hötsiwa - Doorway

Ngahu - Medicine

Pu’ason - Afterward

Hiihiko - Drink

Muytala - Moon Light

Qe’ti - Back out of

Nan’ip - Each (of two)

Tömö - Season (Winter)

Novaki - Bakery

Tutuqayiw - Education

Nuvati - Snowed

Tuptsiwni - Belief

Töövu - Ember

Nawini - Suggestion

Kwusiva - Bring

Tumal’aya - Employee

Tsangaw - Thank Goodness

Pàato - Burst

Tunatya - Endeavor

Kyaamuya - Winter (Solstice)

Pitanakts - Cap/Hat

Naatsiki - Factionalize

Hihìiyà - Wow!

Sikiki - Car (Auto)

Qöpqö - Fire place

Kansulmongwi - Chairman

Saavu - Fire wood

Namora - Choice

Tuuqayta - Fluent

Iyoho’ti - Cold (Weather)

Qalaptu - Get Over (Recover)

TICK-TACK-TOE

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

13

Larry’s Corner

See the problem is...

Growing up on the reservation taught me that everything out here is tough to accomplish. I mean, living on
the reservation…life is hard. You would have to work for
everything from food to education and everything in between.
But when I was growing up, I don’t think I ever paid attention to how life was for me then. When you’re a mush
head kitten, it seems you ignore the bad things in your
childhood. Of course, we all have scars, but look at us
now; we’re entirely “NORMAL.”
When you’re a mush head kitten, you don’t think about
the bad things in the “now” REZ life, like drugs and alcohol. Back then, energy, as a simple force, was accessible.
All you had to do was wait till your parents called you
into the house. Or, you could eat at someone’s house, and
they would take you home afterward, right?
As kittens, we knew that there were drugs and alcohol
in the village, but it was never a bother because it was
frowned upon. We would make fun of the village drunks,
and they would cower in shame for what they did. But
nowadays, the entire village seems to be one big drunk
person. And it’s easy to be one big intoxicated person because you can buy alcohol and drugs on the reservation.
All you must do is go next door and ask. Even the “grandma” next door will say, “$20 for a bottle”… it’s that easy.
It’s strange because, in a short amount of time, drugs
and alcohol have shaped and impacted the Hopi community drastically. The drunks we use to make fun of that
cowered in shame seem to have no shame at all. When
did that change? Now we don’t make fun of them anymore. We say, “Daha is drunk again,”…and we go back
to our daily business.
Younger kids already know what a drunken person
looks like even before their first birthday. It’s like we
have engrained drugs and alcohol into our Hopi culture
now, and we accept that it’s part of our everyday tradition.
With drugs and alcohol now seeming to be part of our
culture, killing and stealing acts are followed closely.

See, when I was growing up, I thought that killing and
stealing were only on TV or in the big city. I would have
never thought that those types of words would ever be
used on the Hopi reservation because it was never part of
our vocabulary when I was growing up. But now we hear
that every day in the community and on Facebook. Of
course, we have a legal system that tries to improve our
“problem” but even that is broken and when you have an
entire reservation full of drugs and alcohol, the problem
seems to be growing from generation to generation.
So how can we solve this reservation-wide problem?
That is one question I don’t have a solution for. It’s like
trying to solve a division problem that we haven’t seen in
over 20 years. We cannot solve it, but that doesn’t mean
there isn’t a solution. It just means that this problem is
something that the entire reservation must come up with
and not just a single person or group.
Of course, in schools, we teach our children about
the dangers of drugs and alcohol by showing them what
could happen to them if they do “go down that path.” And
it seems somewhere down the road, they will eventually try drugs and alcohol, and some will become addicted
and others will not, but I guess it’s how we are all raised.
Do we accept that drugs and alcohol are part of the Hopi
culture now? Or do we put a barrier between us to not see
the absolute truth?
When I think of the word “STEAL,” it seems that it
is always used on Facebook. Every time I read it, it will
say something like, “Someone stole my Hopi belt” or
“Someone stole my grandma’s walker.” We are getting
to the point where “BIG CITY” problems are becoming
our problems. Why don’t we do anything about it? Well,
I say it’s because we know that person’s grandmother,
grandfather or relative and they are good people. We are
all scared to accuse someone of stealing because of the
thought of what might happen if we accuse someone for
stealing.
I’m pretty sure that a long time ago, when a Hopi per-

Want to send Larry something? Send to: PO BOX 123, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039
Want to send Larry email? Send to: rlaban@hopi.nsn.us

son was caught stealing, it was dealt with in a village
setting where the person who stole something would do
something to work off their debt to the community. Or
that person would be shamed into not stealing anymore
by having their behavior corrected by the village and not
just an individual. But it’s not like that anymore; we are
a close community, yet we are miles apart because we
don’t know who our neighbors are anymore.
Of course, we have several groups who educate the
community about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and
I applaud them for that. At least they are trying to make
a change for our Hopi people. But, when you have just a
simple group trying to make a change, it is not enough
to make a dent, but they try, and they will continue to
educate the Hopi community about the dangers of drugs
and alcohol. Every Hopi family here on the Hopi reservation has a person who drinks those lives with them, and it
seems that we are forced to accept them as they are.
So, let me ask, is it ok to do that? Is it ok to treat them
like this is part of our culture now? So, what can we do?
I guess that’s something we must “individually” come
up with as a solution. Sometimes we will try to come up
with answers like rehab centers or more PSA’s about the
“DANGERS OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL,”… but are
they working? How can we keep the dangers of drugs and
alcohol away from kids?
I advise you that drugs and alcohol are touchy subjects
on the Hopi reservation. Some will not want to look at the
truth of this epidemic, and some will try to improve the
problem. Educating our younger generation about these
problems is one thing. Eventually, they will not be mush
heads anymore, so they will have to be the ones to come
up with their solution to this problem. All we can do is
try to make sure we are all adults and show our younger
generation that there is still hope in this Hopi world of
ours and one without so much of an impact from drugs
and alcohol if we could just choose not to use either one,
even for one day at a time.

14

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

Lack of firewood for home heating continues to trouble Hopi people

By: Melissa Sevigny, KNAU Newstalk –
Arizona Public Radio
Flagstaff, Ariz. – January 10, 2023 This

is the fourth winter since the Kayenta Coal Mine
closed and left Hopi residents without a reliable
source of heat for their homes. Many tribal members have switched from coal to wood to keep
warm, but the transition hasn’t been easy. KNAU’s
Melissa Sevigny reports, nonprofits have stepped
up to help.
When word came of a firewood giveaway in
Flagstaff, Matt Honanie woke at 4 am to make the
two-hour drive from Hopi and get in line. He and
his wife waited for hours, only to be turned away.
“On the drive home, being sad and all,” Honanie
remembers, “she kind of came up with an idea,
why can’t we help our own people?... When my
wife has an idea, I just got to make it happen for
her.”
That was the birth of Koho4Hopi, a grassroots
nonprofit to supply firewood to Hopi people. It’s
one of sixty organizations that partners with Wood
for Life, a collaborative initiative including the
National Forest Foundation and Coconino National
Forest designed to pair forest restoration work with
tribal firewood needs.

who we give it to… It’s hard thing to think about,
because a lot of the elders are the ones really suffering,” he says.
Elders like Patricia Selestewa, who lives in the
village of Hotevilla with her 13 and 14-year-old
grandsons. Many homes here don’t have electricity,
including her own.
“Since I can’t burn coal, I have to buy wood, but
with limited income, and it costs a lot…” she says.
She worries about running out of firewood before
this winter is over, “especially if we don’t have no
trucks or no chainsaws… and my grandsons are
too young, I don’t think they would be able to use a
chainsaw.”

work is funded by donations and grants, though she
hopes more money will come from the Inflation
Reduction Act. “Our dream is like—imagine if we
could just do everybody. The hundreds of people
we have our wait list. Everybody gets a stove if
they don’t have electricity, if they do, they get a
mini-split,” she says.
Mini-split heaters are ideal, since there’s no need
to chop wood, no risk of chimney fires and no
health hazard from breathing in smoke. Red Feather installed 52 mini-splits on the Hopi and Navajo
Nations last year, with funding from Arizona Public
Service.
Laurel Poleyestewa got one. “I really, really like
it,” she says. “It’s awesome. It’s like my prayers
were answered, all I have to do is click a button
and it gets warm in here.”
Poleyestewa used to hang up plastic sheets and
hole up in her bedroom to stay warm. Now she
doesn’t worry her grandkids will be cold when they
come to visit. But she says she still feels a bit hopeless. “For a while there, everyone was scrambling,
and it just seems like now nobody’s thinking about
it, and people are still trying to stay warm.”
She says many community members and outsiders have stepped in to help, but there’s still so few
resources and so many people in need.

Patricia Selestewa heats her home in Hotevilla
with a wood-burning stove. Photo by: Melissa
Sevigny/KNAU

Matthew Honanie pictured above. Photo by:
Melissa Sevigny/KNAU
In Kykotsmovi Village, volunteers cut and stack
logs that will be sold at a steep discount or given
away. “For myself and my wife,” Honanie explains, “it’s not really working for that money, it’s
more working for the smiles, the thank you’s, the
askwali’s, the kwah’kwa’s.”
The pine trees now on the chopping block were
killed by recent wildfires. They’re huge but Honanie says the wood won’t last long. “It’s just one
of those things where we have to pick and choose

The woodstove in Selestewa’s home was a gift
from Red Feather Development Group. The nonprofit has swapped out about sixty outdated coal
stoves for EPA-certified wood stoves. It also hires
contractors to add insulation and plug up holes.
Alfred Lomahquahu is a program coordinator. He
says, “One of the major problems on Hopi is the
lack of employment. So a lot of the younger generation are moving off. That leaves a lot of older
generation to try to fend for themselves.”
Plus, the tribal government lost more than 80 percent of its revenue when Kayenta Coal Mine shut
down in 2019. The pandemic hit just months later.
“The services are really declining on what they
can do for the people, each village, so that compounds everything,” Lomahquahu says. “So now
you see a lot more nonprofits stepping up.”
Kiera Coughlan, also of Red Feather, says their

Laurel Poleyestewa stands beneath her new
wall-mounted mini-split heating/AC unit. Photo by:
Melissa Sevigny/KNAU

Hopi Tutuveni January 18, 2023

15

Navajo Nation swears in historic president, vice president…contin., from pg. 11,
Contin., from pg. 11
She voted for Nygren and hopes to see a change
happen.
Other attendees were from Nygren’s hometown
and wanted to see his success story as it unfolded.
Ada Haskan, Navajo, took note of Nygren’s challenging background. He was born into a single-parent household, raised by a grandmother and had
little money.
“I’m very happy for him, really happy,” Haskan
said. “He’s like our next-door neighbor, a little way
from our home.”
Nygren is an alum of Red Mesa High School
which Haskan’s children attended and grandchildren now attend. Her children were classmates with
Nygren and told her how he talked about one day
being president.
The school is located in the upper northeast of Arizona, just below the Utah state line.
Haskan thinks he will be a good leader.
She was joined by her daughter Vernall Molton,
Navajo, who said she’s inspired and humbled by
Nygren’s accomplishment at such a young age.
“The way I look at it is like they say when you’re
40 or 50, that’s when you realize life, you understand life,” she said. “He’s young. I say ‘How does
that happen?’”
Molton said she’s now interested in what he plans
to do in the future and will keep an eye on Navajo
Nation politics moving forward.
“I went to school in Red Mesa, and I didn’t think
anybody would be somewhere here like this,” she
said. “I guess the teachers are doing a good job.”
The Nygren administration’s sole focus is streamlining services and systems for the Navajo people.
For instance, in October, he told ICT that he would

revamp information technology on the Navajo Nation to make the high-tech processes more efficient.
He also said he wants the Navajo Nation to focus
internally, before developing a dependency on the
federal government.
“Right now we don’t truly understand the core development issues within the nation if we don’t clean
house first,” Nygren said. “In order for us to really, truly understand how the federal government is
holding us back, let’s figure out and make ourselves
efficient, effective first. Most of the time, it’s internal Navajo Nation laws and internal Navajo Nation
policies and procedures that’s holding us back.”
Commission President of the Naschitii Chapter Rhonda Herbert, Navajo, said she thought the
ceremony was beautiful and well organized. She
worked with him when he was the chief commercial
officer at the Navajo Engineering and Constructing
Authority and he visited their chapter.
Nygren had previously ran as a vice-presidential
candidate alongside Joe Shirley Jr., who was seeking a third term in 2018. The pair lost by a huge
margin to Jonathan Nez.
For the last four years, many wondered and even
asked Nygren if he would be running for president.
He kept the answer close until 2022 when he left
his job at the Navajo Engineering and Construction
Authority to start his campaign.
Herbert said he visited many elders and those
who were in need. She said he coordinated scattered
water lines and power lines together to provide services to rural homes.
The Navajo Nation is broken into five agencies
that contain 110 local government subdivisions, or
chapters, that have their own chapter house.
She added that her 14-year-old daughter was very
interested in attending the event and feels that stu-

dents, especially high school students, who aren’t
into politics may want to follow the political landscape of the Navajo Nation due to Nygren.
Dwyane Francisco, Navajo, didn’t vote for
Nygren but attended the inauguration anyway because he wanted to support the new administration.
“I came to support and have respect and see how
it goes,” he said.
He grew up in Denver and Texas and voted for the
first time for the 2022 presidential election, which
was in part due to just being in the area.
He said after attending the inauguration he’ll be
more involved in what’s happening on the Navajo
Nation.
Nygren announced across his social media his appointments for division directors on Monday:
• Ethel Branch is coming back to serve again as
attorney general,
• Micheal Anderson is the division director for the
Department of Public Safety,
• Tony Skrelunas, former head of commerce for
the Navajo Nation, will lead the Division of Economic Development,
• Justin Ahasteen is the executive director for the
Navajo Nation Washington Office
• and Kimberly Yazzie will head the Navajo Department of Health.
“We have chosen a team of executive directors
that will carry out the fullest vision of building a
more resilient and independent Navajo Nation,”
Nygren said in a press release. “I have also committed my support for their immense wealth of institutional knowledge that will allow us to hit the ground
running. This is the team that will lead us forward
as a Nation.”

Hopi Tutuveni August 17, 2022

16

Weatherization
Assistance program
No-cost, energy-efficient
home improvements

APS customers who own a home on Navajo or Hopi tribal land may be eligible for no-cost,
energy-efficient home improvements that could help lower your energy bill, including:
• Air sealing
• Improved insulation
• Heating, cooling and air quality
The energy-efficient improvements are made through Red Feather Development Group.
To learn more and see if you qualify, call Red Feather at 928-440-5119.

More ways to save on your energy bill
Our Energy Support program offers qualified customers a 25%
discount on their energy bill every month. To see if you qualify
and find other assistance resources, visit aps.com/assistance.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Ahopi_arizona%3Ac4f6b43477feac3d. Public record. Not legal advice.