Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly's Two Year Accomplishment Report

1. N AVA J O N AT I O N
E X E C U T I V E B R A N C H
2013
B U I L D I N G
A
N AT I O N
O F F I C E O F T H E P R E S I D E N T
A N D V I C E P R E S I D E N T

2. Ya'at'eeh shik’ei doo shidine’e,
I am thankful for these past two years that you have allowed me to serve as the President of
the Navajo Nation. Two and half years ago, I spoke of change in the areas of infrastructure,
economic prosperity, health, education and creating an open and accountable government. I am
pleased to bring you this report of the accomplishments that my staff and I, along with the Vice
President and his staff, have completed in the two years we have been in office.
Since I was sworn in as you President, I have taken on many challenges from cleaning up uranium
mines, to providing better roads, and practicing sound fiscal responsibility. I have put Navajo
issues on the minds of county, state, and federal leaders. We are moving forward and creating
progress. But we aren't done. We have more accomplishments to look forward to.
Navajo Nation President I assure you that as we look ahead, we are going to create more positive changes for our People.
Ben Shelly Change is good and we need to embrace it.
“Our Navajo Nation is strong and
we are growing stronger. We are the Ahe'hee'.
Navajo Nation. ”
P R O G R E S S
AND
PROSPERITY
Ya'at'eeh shik’ei doo shidine’e,
I share the following accomplishments as few examples of what we have worked
on in the office of the Navajo Nation Vice President. We faced many challenges that
tested our patience and skills and we did what we needed to do to advance possible
solutions. We also embraced many opportunities to advance our education, health,
economic prosperity, and advocacy agenda. While we continue to fight for our
rights, we also simultaneously fight for the human rights of indigenous peoples.
Our accomplishments for the Navajo Nation would not have been possible without
your support, commitment and prayers. Thank you for your confidence in the
President and I to lead the Navajo Nation. We shall continue to build a stronger
and more effective and transparent government. We also shall continue to protect Navajo Nation Vice President
our precious children and build strong families and communities.
Rex Lee Jim
I encourage everyone to stay the course as we begin a new year. Let us commit ourselves "Our strength comes from the wisdom
of our People. Their thoughts are
once more to healthy, strong and prosperous lives for all our people. Ahe'hee'
important to our administration."

3. K e e p i n g Th e N a v a j o N a t i o n F i r s t
During the past two years, we strengthened and created new partnerships with key tribal, state
and federal officials. We met with the state governors of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, cabinet
members of President Barack Obama's administration, including President Obama himself, and
other tribal leaders in Indian Country.
Our leadership continues to ensure that many issues on the Navajo Nation are addressed. We are
protecting jobs on the Navajo Nation and funding for Navajo programs and projects. We are ensuring
the voice of the Navajo Nation was heard loud and clear.
We will continue to maintain our strong presence in every area of government from chapters to the
White House.
Cultural Town Hall Meetings
Strength
When we took office, we promised we would listen to the voice of the Navajo People. In the first
Each project and initiative has two years, we organized more than 25 town hall meetings throughout the Navajo Nation. We lis-
maintained roots to the strong tened to the voice of the people about important issues that affect Navajo veterans, our energy, the
culture of our People. Whether it's the Navajo sales tax, the Little Colorado River settlement and the Navajo Utah Trust Fund. We brought
Narbona Growth Fund, government
the issues to the forefront so our people could be informed about matters that are affecting them.
policies or protecting our land and
rights in courts, or continuing to We exercised transparency by being open with the issues and presenting them to the people in an
teach Navajo language in classrooms, open format.
we have always worked to preserve
and protect the way of life that was
bestowed upon us from the Holy
People. Each project and initiative
has the strength of our culture and
the power of our future intertwined.
Saved Navajo
Head Start
Just over a year ago, Navajo Head
Start was scheduled for terminiation
by the federal government, meaning
the federal government would've
taken over the program. We held a
tribal consultation with the Head
Start director and kept the program
in Navajo hands. We are restructuring
the program. We made bold
changes to the program including a
restructuring plan that was recently
approved. We kept the $27 million
program as a Navajo program so
we can teach our youngest children
what we as Navajo People want our
children to learn.
Strong Leadership

4. Solid Waste
Management agreement
We worked to resolve issues with Coconino County in Arizona
that both saved the Navajo Nation money and created a way
for our Navajo people in Coconino County to dispose of their
trash in a way that keeps our lands beautiful. With our new
agreement, we save the Navajo Nation $1 million. We also
worked with San Juan County in New Mexico to implement a
countywide recycling program.
land development
The Navajo Nation Sales Tax Redistribution Act created an
avenue in which we will be able to "pre-develop" land to make
the business sites more appealing to investors and small busi-
nesses. This will also help with local infrastructure.
$52 Million in New
projects $3 MillioN For Navajo
We secured more than $52 million in community development traNSit
funding to start and complete 52 projects on the Navajo Nation.
The money was used to renovate or construct nine senior centers, Navajo Transit serves nearly 200,000 Navajo people a year
providing transportation to destinations throughout the
build four multi-purpose complexes, pave six parking lots, and
Navajo Nation. We secured nearly $3 million in funding to
build additions and complete chapter renovations. Strong leader-
build a maintenance and administration building and to begin
ship is needed to secure funding in a time of dwindling funds. a pilot project to use a zero emission electric bus that will be
maintained by trained Navajo mechanics.
infrastructure

5. red dog gravel projeCt
More than 40,000 tons of high quality gravel was delivered to
gravel 25 miles of roads in 10 chapters in the Black Mesa area.
We partnered with Navajo County to create safer roads.
direCt FuNdiNg
agreeMeNt For roadS
New projects will begin in 2013 with $10 million
designated to the Navajo Nation for roads. This is the
beginning in which we are aiming to get more direct
funding for roads. We can now target areas that need road
improvements or construction the most.
Municipal Water line
This project is nearly completed and will provide nearly 4,700 Navajo gallup Water
acre-feet of water to Shiprock from Farmington. This will al-
low Shiprock to continue growing and make water available for
Supply project
many projects in the future. The water will be enough to serve In June, we broke ground on this critical water line project that
about 47,000 people. The water came from the San Juan River will deliver clean and safe drinking water to more than 43 chap-
Water Settlement. We need to keep our future in mind. ters. The entire project is expected to cost nearly $1 billion dol-
lars. The project will bring about 600 jobs as we construct 280
miles of water pipeline. In addition, we worked hard with the
Department of Interior to make sure the project was on Presi-
dent Barrack Obama's priority list. Our Navajo people in New
Mexico will have cleaner and safer water to drink. The water
for this project comes from the Navajo Nation's approval of the
San Juan River Water Settlement with the state of New Mexico.
infrastructure

6. Safer Communities
We added 41 new first responders, 20 new police officers and
21 new fire fighters. We are working to add more qualified
people to the ranks of agents who protect our way of life.
New justice Centers
We have nearly completed construction of three new
judicial complexes in Kayenta, Tuba City and Crown-
point. We secured the funding to ensure the buildings
were constructed. When fully operational, the centers
will help shorten response times for emergencies.
viewing Bennett Freeze and Hpl residents
For far too many years, our people in the former Bennett Freeze and Hopi/Navajo Partitioned Lands have lived
without new infrastruture. We have visited more than a dozen homes in both areas. Now that we have a first
hand understanding of the situation of our residents, we can formulize solutions that will responsibly help our
people. We will continue to work to bring these homes and lands into new prosperity.
governance

7. Social Media and Web
transparency
Cfu
We have opened our government by creating a new website and creating
social media profiles. Through these tools, we update our Navajo People
about our projects, our whereabouts and what we are working on. This has
allowed us to be more transparent and open with the People so they can find
out what their leaders are doing.
National labs Mou's
In 2012, we signed Memorandums of Understanding with
Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratories. They
will help us protect and safely develop our natural resources.
Navajo id Cards
In November 2011, we launched the Navajo Identification Card. Our Navajo tribal members
can now get a Navajo Identification Card through the Office of Vital Statistics after paying a
fee. The cards have been cleared to serve as identification for airport travel, cashing checks
and travel to Mexico and Canada. Our partnerships with the federal Department of Homeland
Security made this possible.
governance

10. Navajo gaming
The future for Navajo gaming is getting brighter. This year we
opened Northern Edge in Upper Fruitland, N.M., which joined
Fire Rock and Flowing Water gaming establishments. Northern
Edge created more than 300 new jobs and the Twin Arrows Ca-
sino and Resort will open by summer of 2013. Twin Arrows will
create about 800 new jobs for the Navajo Nation.
Workforce development
We secured more than $7 million from the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act to help train Navajo workers throughout
Workforce Development Department. We created 80 jobs, and
trained more than 800 Navajo workers.
Bringing New technology
energy policy
Secured a $32 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment
We have written an Energy Policy to guide the Navajo Nation Act funding to build a 4G broadband network on the Navajo Na-
into the future. From coal to renewable energy, once the Nava- tion. Soon homes and wireless data will be as fast as large cities.
jo Nation Council approves the policy, we can formally lay the
foundation for Energy Policy to guide the Nation as we expand
our energy portfolio.
economic prosperity

11. tax Credits
We have made it easier for new businesses to have the oppor-
tunity to get loans with the assistance of tax credits. The New
Markets Tax Credit and the EB-5 program allows for tax credits
up to 20 percent, making it easier for new Navajo business to
attain loans.
Business retention
program
Every year, between $700 million and $1 billion dollars created
on the Navajo Nation leaves the Navajo Nation to stores and busi-
nesses off the Nation. We need to keep that money here on the
Navajo Nation so we can build a stronger economy. This program
will develop methods to keep Navajo money on the Navajo Nation.
Coal Mine ownership
This will help spur business growth and lead to the creation of
new jobs.
tur quoise ranch We have an opportunity before the Navajo Nation to possibly
become one of the first Indian tribes to own a large scale mine.
We put 375 acres into trust to build homes for Navajo People who We are exploring the possible acquisition of Navajo Mine near Tiis
were relocated. Tsoh Sikaad, N.M. Our leadership and ability to work together
has brought this never before seen project to the Navajo Nation.
Owning a coal mine could bring more revenue to the Nation and
protect our jobs on the Navajo Nation.
economic prosperity

12. reduCiNg drug traFFiC
The Department of Public Safety has seized $3.7 million of
illegal drugs and $530,000 in drug money. Less drugs on the
Nation means a safer place for our children to grow up and
continue practicing our Navajo culture.
proteCtiNg our WoMeN, CHildreN
aNd diSaBled
This year, we passed and signed the Alchini Bi Beehazaanii Act, the
Vulnerable Adult Protection Act and the Violence Against Women Act. All
three acts have strengthened our Navajo Codes to protect our precious
relatives.
SoCial ServiCe pl aN oF operatioN
The Navajo Division of Social Services launched a new plan of operation that will better serve our People.
The plan calls for more field offices, a unified record keeping system and more frontline workers. We created
34 new jobs and will soon be opening an office for the Department of Family Services in Aneth, Utah.
W W W. p r e S i d e N t.
N avajo-NSN.gov
Website of the Office of
the President and the
Vice-President of
Health
the Navajo Nation.

13. HealtH C are FaCilitieS
Our people deserve access to health care no matter where they live
on the Navajo Nation. Our leadership has assured construction of five
health care centers remain a priority for Indian Health Services. Good
leadership makes sure we get funding for important projects at the
federal level.
MediC aid FeaSiBilit Y StudY
This study will explore the possibilities of the Navajo Nation
taking control of Medicaid for the Navajo People. The Shelly/Jim
Administration has advocated for our own Medicaid office so we can
better help our people. The study is a first step in attaining stronger
sovereignty for the health of our People.
2Nd aNNual ruNNiNg For a StroNger aNd
HealtHier Navajo NatioN
Vice President Rex Lee Jim and the Navajo Nation Special Diabetes Project organized a 400 mile run
that encouraged our people to return to our teachings of waking at dawn and running. This past year,
more than 1,200 people participated in the run that started in Pine Hill, N.M. and ended in Aneth,
Utah.
W W W.
N avajo-NSN.gov
Navajo Nation
Government website. All
Navajo Nation divisions,
Health
departments and programs.

14. Enhancing Navajo
Culture in Schools
We signed two Memorandums of Understanding that give our
Navajo children attending off reservation schools the opportunity
to learn Navajo language and culture.
$3 Million for Navajo
Scholarships
We passed and signed the Navajo Sales Tax Redistribution Reform
Act, which creates up to $3million of funding for Navajo scholar-
ships. We met with students from area universities in town hall
formatted meetings. We pushed this legislation because we know
our Navajo students need funding for secondary education.
Education

15. Keeping a district together
Last year, Central Consolidated School District in the Four Corners area had a non-reserva-
tion group who wanted to split the district in half. The new half didn't see Navajo cul-
ture classes as a priority even though 80 percent of the school children were Navajo. We
worked together and spoke with New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and Public Edu-
cation Secretary Hannah Skandera about the splitting of the school district. Our efforts
helped keep the school district unified.
Keeping Schools open
When Gallup McKinley School Board voted to close middle schools in Navajo, Tohatchi
and Crownpoint, we actively sought meetings with New Mexico Gov. Martinez and Sec.
Skandera. The state decided to keep the schools open because of the school board didn't
adhere to the Indian Education Act. Our children's education determines how bright our
collective future is.
providing Better data to Help
our Children
We entered into an agreement with the state of New Mexico so they can
share test scores with the Department of Diné Education so we can find
new ways to help our children succeed.
education

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B e N S H e l lY reX lee jiM
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New initiatives for the Coming Year :
Human resources pilot NgS lease
project Finalizing the lease amendment for Navajo
Generation Station which will yield the Navajo
Giving divisions more control over hiring practices within Nation a significant increase to lease and tax
the Navajo government, allowing for a qualified workforce. payments already being paid to the Navajo Na-
tion.
Narbona growth Fund 10 Ye a r H e a l t h a n d
This would be a Navajo owned holding company that will Wellness plan
allow for the creation of a development fund to increase
business growth and create tax breaks as a federal charter. Complete a 10 year Health and Wellness Plan
that would guide the Navajo Nation to cost ef-
fective and efficient health care on the Navajo
Nation.