Guided Forward

Today, the Resources and Development Committee held a public hearing on Title 26, the Navajo Nation Local Governance Act (LGA), to present proposed amendments to the code and listen to feedback from community members.

Navajo Nation Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for the Chapter Unit Rodgerick Begay, a Chinle High School alumni, presented an overview on the LGA, impacts to the LGA since it’s been implemented, proposed amendments, and differences in the proposed models.

Chapter officials from across the agency attended to listen and engage in discussion.

Begay informed the attendees that his presentation was on proposed amendments to the LGA and not on Navajo Nation Government Reform which is another initiative that is organizing public hearings as well.

Much of Begay’s presentation concerned how the proposed amendments would impact chapter governments pertaining to the Five Management System, chapter supervision, contracting and procurement, and chapter government structure.

The public hearing is the third that the RDC has scheduled to bring the proposed amendments and discussion directly to the chapter level.

The Many Farms Chapter provided a lunch of vegetable mutton stew and frybread. The chapter house coffee was pretty decent but I had already had two pour-overs before getting to the meeting. Because I’m vegetarian, I didn’t have stew but the frybread was excellent as Central Agency’s bread is always on point.

Begay likened his responsibility in presenting to the chapter as if he was presenting to his mother. “I see my mom’s face in all the chapter officials and think, ‘How would I protect my mom and how would I advise her?’,” Begay said.