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Stan Bindell, for the Navajo-Hopi Observer

Stories by Stan

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Lacey Tewanema, a graduate of Hopi High School, earned a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma May 17 at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

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The Hopi Election Board will announce the names once they have cleared all the screening process, which might take a few weeks.

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Hopi Health Care Center (HHCC) continues to provide COVID-19 testing on a daily basis, vaccination clinics at least once every week and Community Vaccination Events (CVE) in several Hopi villages to increase vaccination rates.

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Arizona State Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai (D — Window Rock) is seeking $5 million for the Tuba City branch of Diné College, $3 million for a laboratory at Navajo Technical University in Chinle and more money for education funding in general, but it is too early in the budget process at the state legislature to tell if these proposals will be approved.

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A Navajo activist is working with a group lobbying the United Nations so that nuclear power is not part of the strategies to fight off climate change.

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Arizona State Rep. Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren (Dem.) points to successes this year since she took over her seat from Arlando Teller, who was appointed to the transportation department in the Biden-Harris administration.

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Navajo guitarist Sir Harrison Begay, like other musicians throughout the state, is happy that live music is returning to bars and other entertainment venues so he can get back to work.

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The deadline to return packets is 5 p.m. May 14 at the Hopi Elections Office.

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Hopi High cancels spring sport season
Hopi Jr/Sr High remains in remote learning mode

While much of the state begins to ease restrictions implemented because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hopi Jr/Sr High School has decided to cancel its spring sports season.

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Navajo Nation Special Diabetes program focuses on prevention
10 percent of Navajo people have diabetes; prevention and treatment strategies help

The Navajo Area Special Diabetes program uses both prevention and treatment strategies to help clients with diabetes.

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As a boy, Arlando Teller would be herding sheep at his home in Chinle when he would hear and see airplanes flying above.

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Dariel Yazzie, Environmental Assistant Director for the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) takes a deep breath when asked about why the cleanup of uranium mines on the Navajo Nation is important to him.

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U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly has received his committee assignments and said he will be in a position to help Native Americans on many issues such as veteran’s affairs, the environment and the elderly.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Feb. 11 three contract awards for cleanup efforts at more than 50 abandoned uranium mine sites on and around the Navajo Nation, including at least 10 sites in Arizona and others in New Mexico.

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Officials at Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC) said there is hope as vaccines are available for the community and the number of people with the coronavirus has been dropping for the past week and a half.

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U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said Native Americans played a significant role in the recent election, including his win in Arizona.

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Micah Lomaomvaya, realty officer for the Hopi Tribe, said while the pandemic has changed the way his office does business that several projects are in the works.

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Badlands, petrified wood, the colorful Painted Desert and Native American influences make the Petrified Forest National Wilderness one of the most unique and beautiful wilderness areas in Arizona.

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Hopi High cancels winter sports seasons
Arizona AIA cancels high school athletics because of hospital capacity

Hopi Jr/Sr High School Athletic Director Ricky Greer said canceling winter sports is particularly tough on student athletes because sports is a part of their daily routine.

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U.S. Democratic Rep. Tom O'Halleran, (CD-1), who represents constituants of the Navajo and Hopi reservations, witnessed the incident in the nation's Capitol Jan. 6 and said it was terrifying.

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Journalism students from a New Jersey high school recently interviewed four Hopi High students about their thoughts on schools using Native American names as mascots.

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O’Halleran says $900 billion relief bill will benefit tribal lands
Bill approved by Senate and House, Trump signed bill Sunday

U.S. Rep. Tom O’ Halleran voted to approve funding for the $900 billion coronavirus aid bill. The measure passed the House of Representatives and Senate, and President Donald Trump signed the bill Dec. 27.

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U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran credits his reelection to a record Native American voter turnout that also impacted the presidential race, other races and has the potential to impact the state and nation in the future.

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Melvin Consulting is a Native American owned company, based in Flagstaff, providing engineering and management consulting, founded in 2016 by owner Daryl Melvin. The firm has grown to five employees and continues to expand.

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Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF) is promoting tribal self-sufficiency through solar projects that help communities with energy and jobs as well as encouraging community participation in solar projects.

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The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Navajo voting rights in an Oct. 15 decision that has drawn national attention.

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Barbara Karkula said it is a great honor to serve as the first Native American board president for the Museum of Indigenous People in Prescott.

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Bluesman Mike and the Blues Review Band, which has performed fundraisers for Hopi High School journalism department in the past, has a new CD out, "Knee Deep Into These Blues."

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Pit house site at Prescott's Granite Dells face possible destruction
Developer says study is being conducted before moving forward

Native Americans have a chance to save ruins in Prescott's Granite Dells, but those chances may be missed because of the difficulty in getting in touch with workers at the various tribes' cultural preservation offices. Those offices may be closed because of the coronavirus.

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U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran won the Democratic primary for District 1 beating Eva Putzova as the incumbent. O’ Halleran garnered 38,812 votes, while Putzova received 27,086 votes.

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Native American small businesses have had to adapt to survive economically during this pandemic and Aconav, an award-winning Native American fashion brand and designer, has done precisely that.

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Nolan Reidhead will face Tiffany Shedd in the Congressional District 1 Republican primary Aug. 4. The winner will go up against the winner of the Democratic primary, either incumbent Rep. Tom O’Halleran or Eva Putzova.

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Tiffany Shedd and Nolan Reidhead will square off in the Republican primary Aug. 4 for a House seat in Congressional District One, which includes the Navajo and Hopi nations.

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Almost forgotten during the coronavirus, a primary election will be held Aug. 4 for federal and state offices in Arizona.

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There used to be many ways of life that we took for granted before the corona virus hit our state, nation and world.

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Northern Arizona University's (NAU) communications department, known as the Media Innovation Center, made itself known on the national scale in two ways as it opened an esports center and won national awards for its news broadcast program.

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Red Rock State Park is not as busy as the other state park in Sedona. Slide Rock State Park is better known for kids sliding down the rocks in the stream during the summer.

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Many hikers find the Flagstaff area too cold to hike this time of year, but don’t want to go to Phoenix — Sedona is a great alternative.

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“I feel accomplished, but I’m not done with my education just yet,” she said.

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The Seminole Tribe in Florida has pulled off one of the largest economic development projects in American history.

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The Yavapai Apache and Hopi tribes continue to use Tavasci Marsh in Cottonwood, Arizona for harvesting.

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30-year cross country reign of Hopi and Flagstaff runners ends
Hopi High and Northland Prep fall to North Phoenix Prep at state cross country championship Nov. 16

North Phoenix Prep claimed the championship with 55 points, Hopi grabbed second with 95 points and Northland Prep took third with 117 points.

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Hopi High School boys cross country grabbed second and the Lady Bruins took fifth in the Division 4 Section 2 regionals Nov. 8 at Hidden Cove Golf Course in Holbrook.

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Elsie Yoyokie has been helping people in need for years, but on Sept. 27 she retired from the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) as the North Region 2 program manager.

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Hopi Tribal Councilman LeRoy Shingoitewa said the tribal government needs to look at what they have and utilize that to cover the tribe’s ongoing operational expenses.

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Native American guitarist Sir Harrison’s Band won the band section of the Northern Arizona Blues Alliance and will compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, Jan. 28-Feb. 1.

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Glenn Gilman, former longtime principal at Hopi High School, passed Sept. 27 due to an illness. Gilman’s life was celebrated by family, friends and colleagues Oct. 5 at Flagstaff Nordic Village following his funeral.

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Bear droppings are plentiful along the trail. One hiker told me he was on the trail with his four dogs when he came within 50 feet of a bear.

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Micah Hines, a member of the Yavapai Apache Tribe, attended the Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards Sept. 14 at the Omni Resort in Scottsdale.

Page High School won the boys race and Ganado High School won the girls race at the Hopi High Cross Country Invite.