MENTMORE – President Russell Begaye gave the welcome address and provided a status update before the New Mexico Indian Affairs Committee July 19. The New Mexico Indian Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Representative Sharon Clahchischilliage and Sen. John Pinto both in attendance along with other members of the Committee.

Committee member Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, has question for President Begaye after the welcome address and status update on Transportation, which was the agenda topic for this session.

Although, transportation was the topic Lundstrom provided additional information regarding the New Mexico States’ Gold King Mine clean up initiatives. Within the update...

Wild Thing Championship Bullriding revenue provides loving help for local youth

Imagine this: You turn 11 years old and are cut off from the last person you could have distantly called family. You are alone and you feel like no one wants you. No positive future seems to await you after school — that is, if you can finish it by yourself.

Eventually, opportunities to experiment with drugs and other risky behavior, and to enlist the help of gangs for safety become daily occurrences.

This story is a story with no fairy tale ending for many of New Mexico’s youths. However, local community members and 65 volunteers from other states have partnered together to provide these young...

Official: Outcome not impacted

The canvassing related to the June 28 Navajo Nation Council Delegate seat for District 14 went well, except for a ballot snafu at the Tohatchi Chapter House voting poll, officials said.

Edison Wauneka, director of the Navajo Nation Election Administration, said 11 ballots were needed at the Tohatchi Chapter House because that location “just ran out — they ran short of ballots.”

Officials said the ballots ran out in the late afternoon.

“I’m disappointed. The fact of the matter is that it should never have happened,” Wauneka told the Sun this week. “The polling president could have called us prior to the closing of the polls and we could...

10-day appeal contemplated

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - The Navajo Nation Office of Hearings and Appeals has dismissed a grievance filed by a challenger to the council delegate seat vacated by Mel Begay.

Theresa Becenti-Aguilar, who was one of 13 candidates to run for the vacancy, filed the grievance July 5. The election to fill the remaining year-and-a-half of Begay’s seat was June 28 and was won by Steven Begay of Naschitti.

Joe Aguirre, a hearing officer with the Office of Hearings and Appeals, responded to Becenti-Aguilar’s written claim on July 6. Aguirre wrote that the matter is “dismissed for lack of sufficiency.” The document suggests the dismissal was with prejudice.

“…...