White House COVID-19 exposed staff met with Navajo Council, dedicated Navajo school where there was uncontrolled community spread

Navajo Vice President Myron Lizer met with federal officials at Navajo Nation Council on Oct. 27.

White House COVID-19 exposed staff met with Navajo Council, dedicated Navajo school where there was uncontrolled community spread

Update Nov. 14: Coronavirus spread through White House at election night gathering.

White House spread of virus

Update Nov. 7: White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and five others, have tested positive for coronavirus, as the virus continues to spread through the White House. On Oct. 27, senior White House officials were at the Navajo Council Chambers, hosted by the Council and Vice President Myron Lizer. The White House delegation dedicated a Navajo school at Birdsprings the next day. On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Navajo Nation reported a surge in coronavirus cases, with 158 new cases. Now, 591 Navajos have died from the virus.

Read more: Washington Post: Six new coronavirus infections at White House around Election Day.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

Nov. 4, 2020

While the coronavirus spread through the White House, a White House delegation met with the Navajo Nation government and attended a dedication of the Little Singer School at Birdsprings on the Navajo Nation, where there is an uncontrolled community spread of COVID-19.

After the Trump family was infected with COVID-19, the coronavirus spread through the White House. During the days before the White House staff came to the Navajo Nation, five of Vice President Pence's staff were infected on Oct. 24, CNBC reported.

Instead of observing quarantine for exposure, the White House staff came to the Navajo Nation Council on Tuesday, Oct. 27. There was "uncontrolled spread" of coronavirus in 29 Navajo communities, as revealed in a statement today.

Today, in a delayed press release, the Navajo President's Office revealed uncontrolled spread in Navajo communities from Oct. 16 -- 29, including Birdsprings, located in Arizona in the southwest corner of the Navajo Nation. The media did not receive the statement until today, Nov. 4, after the election.

The White House staff and Navajo Nation officials were at Birdsprings community for the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Little Singer Community School completed earlier this year.

From the White House, Assistant to President Trump Jennie Lichter was among those who spoke at the school dedication on Oct. 28, the Navajo Nation Council said in a press statement.

Although masks can help prevent the spread of coronavirus, masks are not 100 percent protection from contracting coronavirus.

The delayed press statement on the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in Navajo communities for Oct. 16 --29, was released to the media today by the Navajo President's Office, on  Nov. 4, after the election.

Now, there is an upswing in both cases of coronavirus and deaths on the Navajo Nation.

There were 72 new cases and two more deaths Tuesday on the Navajo Nation. On Wednesday, there were 131 new cases of coronavirus.

Now, 586 Navajos have died from the virus. More than 4,300 Navajos have the virus and have not recovered as of today, the Navajo Nation reports.

Hardship assistance results in more hardship

Meanwhile, Dine' desperate for assistance struggled to apply for hardship assistance. First, Navajo elderly and disabled were turned away in the cold at chapter houses due to the lack of paper applications. Then, when the online applications began on Nov. 2, the website crashed. 

Although $714 million was received by the Navajo government five months ago in CARES ACT emergency virus relief funds, it has not been distributed to Navajo in need. 

Now, with time running out to spend the funds, the Navajo government has allocated $49 million of this amount for hardship relief. The amount is $1,500 for adults, and $500 for children. It is not enough to stretch to 300,000 enrolled Navajos. The deadline to apply is Nov. 30.

The Navajo government gave $24 million of the CARES Act virus relief funds to its casinos in August.

Meanwhile, there is no uniform delivery of food and water by the Navajo government to the homes of Dine' in quarantine, Navajo elderly or those too sick to care for themselves. There is no widespread visiting home health care for the dying in the 110 Navajo chapters.

The Navajo Police Department set up road checkpoints over the weekend. While the Navajo government told Navajos to lock down and stay home, there is no uniform delivery of food and water to the homes of those in quarantine or to those too sick to care for themselves.

White House COVID-19 exposed staff met with Hopi and Salt River leaders

The White House said in a statement that Trump's senior staff and the federal delegation met with leaders of the Hopi Tribe to announce a water quality project and met with leaders of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to tour the construction of the River People Health Center, on Oct. 28.

The White House delegation met with Hopi leaders in Flagstaff on Oct. 28. Read article.

Delegation put lives at risk

At Little Singer School, the Navajo Nation Council said the delegation from D.C. included Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine Sullivan, Indian Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development Mark Cruz, Assistant to the President and Director of White House Intergovernmental Affairs Douglas Hoelscher, Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Benefits Paul R. Lawrence, Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan, Indian Health Service (IHS) Director RADM Michael D. Weahkee and Navajo Area Indian Health Services deputy director CAPT Brian K. Johnson, according to the Navajo Nation Council.

White House list of delegation

The White House listed the Navajo Nation Government leaders who participated in Tuesday’s meetings included:

Myron Lizer, Honorable Vice President, Navajo Nation
Dottie Lizer, Second Lady, Navajo Nation
Seth Damon, Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council
Delegate Daniel Tso, Committee Chair, Health Education and Human Services, Navajo Nation Council
Delegate Eugenia Charles Newton, Committee Chair, Law and Order Committee, Navajo Nation Council
Delegate Jamie Henio, Committee Chair, Budget and Finance Committee, Navajo Nation Council
Delegate Rickie Nez, Committee Chair, Resources and Development Committee, Navajo Nation Council
Delegate Amber K. Crotty, Committee Chair, Sexual Assault Prevention Committee, Navajo Nation Council
Delegate Kee Allen Begay Jr., Committee Chair, TIBC Transportation Committee, Navajo Nation Council
Federal Government leaders who participated in Tuesday’s meetings included:
Doug Hoelscher, Assistant to the President & Director, White House Intergovernmental Affairs
Jennie Lichter, Deputy Assistant to the President, White House Domestic Policy Council
Eric Hargan, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
Paul Lawrence, Under Secretary, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Tara Sweeney, Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
Jeannie Hovland, Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Affairs (ACF), HHS
Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee, Director, Indian Health Service (IHS), HHS
Katie Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, Co-Chair Designee Lady Justice, U.S Department of Justice (DOJ)
Mark Cruz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development, Indian Affairs, DOI

Copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News. May not be republished/reprinted without permission. Please share our links.

Navajo elderly turned away in cold, waiting for hardship applications

Nenahnezad, New Mexico Chapter House Today

Throwing peanuts at Navajo elderly is demeaning

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Pence's staff tests positive for coronavirus as Navajo Council and White House plan virus super spreader event for today, Tuesday, Oct. 27

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/24/politics/mac-short-coronavirus-positive-test/index.html

Navajo elderly waiting in the cold today found out that the Navajo chapters only received 20 to 30  applications for hardship assistance. Some chapters received no applications, said Navajo family members as disabled elderly were being turned away.

The Navajo Nation had promised that today was the day for the elderly and disabled to apply for hardship relief of up to $1,500. It was the day for Dine' ages 65 and older, and disabled, to apply. But they were turned away in the cold due to the lack of applications. 

While Navajo elderly were being turned away in the cold today -- the Navajo Council announced that a policy team from the White House will meet with the Navajo Council tomorrow, Tuesday. The public is not invited.

Navajo Nation's non-Indian attorney gives away Utah Navajo water rights

Photo Goosenecks San Juan River, Utah

Navajos urge veto of Utah Navajo water rights settlement ramrodded through the Navajo Nation Council

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News copyright
Dutch translation by Alice Holemans, NAIS
http://www.denaisgazet.be/nieuws/niet-indiaanse-advocaat-van-de-navajo-nation-geeft-utah-navajo-waterrechten-weg

WINDOW ROCK -- The Navajo Nation's non-Indian water rights attorney is once again giving away Navajo water rights. Navajos are urging the Navajo President to veto a water rights settlement for Utah Navajo water rights, ramrodded through the Navajo Nation Council on Tuesday. 

Ed Becenti, Navajo, is urging Navajo President Russell Begaye to veto the Utah Navajo water rights giveaway.

"Another bad water deal for the Navajo Nation is being pushed through by 'our' own water lawyer and 13 Navajo Nation council delegates. They rushed this legislation through in less than a month's time without informing all the community members that it really impacts," Becenti said.

"The deal was rushed through in less than a month with no community education. If this is a good deal for the Navajo Nation, why are they rushing it through?"

The Navajo Nation has employed the same non-Indian water rights attorney, Stanley Pollack, since the 1980s. Pollack has spearheaded the loss of Navajo water rights in the three states of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, where the Navajo Nation is located. The negotiations have involved extensive secret negotiations and closed sessions of the Navajo Nation Council.

Pollack has intervened to prevent the Winter's Doctrine from being used to ensure future Navajo water rights. The Winter's Doctrine would ensure sufficient water to meet the needs of future generations of Navajos.

Becenti said the Utah settlement was approved by less than 3 percent of community members.

"There were no public hearings!" Becenti said not all of the chapters impacted have even been informed about the settlement or given the opportunity to vote.

The Associated Press reports that the Navajo Nation approved the legislation Tuesday. AP refers to it as a "settlement" of the Navajo Nation's claims to water in the upper Colorado River basin in Utah. 

"The bill passed 13-7 Tuesday without any debate and with few people in attendance at the Navajo Nation Council chambers in Window Rock. Lawmakers debated the settlement in executive session Monday and held a work session last week. The settlement would give the tribe 81,500 acre-feet annually of Utah's unused share of water. The Navajo Nation could draw the water from aquifers, and the San Juan River and its tributaries. It also could divert water from Lake Powell, although it has no plans to do so," AP reports.  http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/27/the-associated-press-navajo-lawmakers-approve-water-rights-settlement-with-utah.html

The pattern of non-Indian water rights attorneys ramrodding Indian water rights settlements has been occurring throughout the west.

Becenti said this deal is a terrible one for the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation, population 300,000, is only claiming 81,500af per year while the Uintah-Ouray Utes, population 1,200, won over 470,000af. 

"The Navajo Nation should claim at least that much," Becenti said. He said the leasing of 57,000af of water per year is valued at over $100 million while the settlement only gives the nation $5 million for water projects.

Update from Censored News:
It seems no one can answer this question: 'Why is a non-Indian water rights attorney still employed by the Navajo Nation after 30 years?'
This is happening all over the west.
Here is one question to ask all those non-Indian attorneys now pushing the so-called 'water rights settlements.'
The question is: 'Does this new settlement prevent the use of Winter's Doctrine in court in the future?'
The Winter's Doctrine ensures Native Americans will have all the water they need for future generations.
The non-Indian attorneys are working to negate the Winter's Doctrine. They are working in the interests of the states, US government and corporations.
Many of these non-Indian attorneys pushing these water rights settlements in Arizona and DC knew each other in Window Rock, Arizona. They worked together when employed by the Navajo Nation and took part in the removal of former Chairman Peter MacDonald. This happened after MacDonald told the United States government that he would use the Winter's Doctrine to ensure water rights.

Read more on Navajos urging veto:

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2016/01/to-bei-nihi-dziil-opposes-councils.html?m=1

Becenti urged Navajos to contact the Navajo Nation and tell them to VETO legislation 0412-15.

Russell Begay's email: russellbegaye@navajo-nsn.gov , russellbegaye@gmail.com

Jonathan Nez: jonathannez@navajo-nsn.gov

Other executive staff to message: rjoe@navajo-nsn.gov, rjoe.opvp@gmail.com

Staff Assistant's # 928-871-7915


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