Exercising your right to vote

Ya’at’eeh. This letter is to express my sincerest appreciation to everyone who exercised his or her right to vote at the national, state, county and Navajo Nation level. It is with utmost esteem for my community-family, relatives, friends and the community-at-large that I petitioned for Tonalea Chapter Council Delegate candidacy early this year.

Fortunately, on Nov. 5, Election Day, with a majority vote I was once again voted to occupy the Tonalea Chapter Council Delegate position. Consequently, with immense determination and integrity, I will impartially promote the true needs of my people in concurrence with the local people.

In addition, a tribute to all fellow candidate’s who won or lost, within the county and Navajo Nation Elections, who similarly took the initiative to facilitate progression towards a greater nation for the prosperity of present and future generations.

Hence, consider this a handshake of both Ya’at’eeh. Doo ‘Ahehee’ to everyone — in English, “Hello” and “Thank You.”

Leslie Dele

Tonalea, Ariz.

Senator Daschle’s planned amnesia

As I listen to Senator Daschle complain about unfair tactics taken by Republicans as they pushed the Homeland Security Bill, I could only wonder if he thought all Americans had amnesia, or just those reporting on the event. Does he not understand that many of us do have our memory intact and desire to keep in mind various tactics the soon-to-be Senate minority leader and his party cohorts implemented over numerous months they led?

As the Democrats complain about special interest groups being rewarded in the bill, many of us are sure that Senator Bird and Senator Inouye and their like would have a difficult time stating with a straight face that they know very little about special interest groups.

In addition, it will be hard for many of us to forget tactics used on Senator Thurmond by the “man of his word” Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy who took Judge Dennis Shedd nomination off the committee agenda after promising Senator Thurmond the nomination process would go forward.

As Democrats are soon to be placed in a similar situation as Republicans have been, will they remember a senator’s word is no longer to be honored?

If only an anti-amnesia pill could be produced that would prevent such calculated lapses in memory. However, unfortunately there are two problems one can see immediately with having such a remedy given for amnesia. One being it would be the American citizens that would desire to remember and the politicians who would have a hard time swallowing the pill. And secondly, some would make sure it was taxed so heavily that

American citizens would not be able to purchase it and the producers would be demonized in such a way as to see that it would most certainly not be “politically correct” to take it.

Shelley Aamodt

Menomonie, Wis.

SIPI sports and educational info

I am continually in the process of attempting to reach American Indian tribes and communities about the athletic opportunity in the sport of running that we offer here at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. I hope that you will provide space in your newspaper to let the current or future running enthusiasts in your circulation area be aware of SIPI’s nationally accomplished running teams and/or educational opportunities.

I honestly feel the accomplishments that our student athletes here at SIPI have achieved could be a source of inspiration and awareness to your readers. The opportunity also exists for those who may want to continue in the sport of running after high school to be aware of our excellent program.

SIPI can also provide a quality education at no cost to qualified American Indian tribal members regardless if they are involved in sports activities or not. This would include room and board, books and tuition.

The running program at SIPI was established in the fall of 1990. Since that time, SIPI has won eight national team titles, seven national runner-up team titles, 10 individual national champion awards and 43 all-American honors. The SIPI student athletes have also been successful in the classroom. Fourteen runners from our program have been awarded academic all-American honors while five teams have been bestowed this honor as well.

SIPI, which is located in beautiful Albuquerque, N.M., is a NCA accredited two-year institution that offers associate arts science degrees in both technical and vocational training, as well as associate art degrees in liberal arts. It is the mission of SIPI, a National Indian Community College, “to provide quality technical and higher education opportunities that meet the dynamic needs of federally recognized tribes.”

For more information about SIPI’s athletic program, please contact Coach Michael Daney at 505-346-2336. For general information about SIPI, please call 1-800-586-7474.

Michael Daney

SIPI Coach

Albuquerque, N.M.

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