Navajo Nation Washington Office

Yá'át'ééh!



This week marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The NNWO staff remembers that day and sends their thoughts and prayers to the families who have lost loved ones during the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001 and those still dealing with the trauma of that terrible day.

We delve deeper into the issue of suicide and tell more about how the Navajo Nation is joining forces with the federal government to prevent suicide and address depression and other mental health issues.

We honor outgoing Miss Navajo Nation, Shaadin Parrish who served two terms as the pandemic prevented the Navajo Nation Fair and the pageant last year. She stepped into her role with distinction and and assisted during the Nation's most challenging moments throughout the past two years.

With that, I wish you and yours wonderful weekend. Enjoy the some beaut and please stay safe. 

Best regards,

Santee Lewis

Photo courtesy of Office of Miss Navajo Nation

Navajo Nation Proclaims Suicide Prevention Week

Photo Courtesy of Office of Navajo Nation President and Vice President

On September 4th, President Nez and Vice President Lizer signed a proclamation recognizing September 5th - 11th as “Navajo Nation Suicide Prevention Week” in coordination with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. The proclamation states that the Navajo Nation supports the efforts of the Divisions, Departments, and Programs as advocates for life by promoting resiliency, culture, traditional values, direct services, and public education for creating avenues in the reduction of suicide cases.

The CDC estimates that suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States (and the eight highest cause of death for American Indians) with 47,500 deaths in 2019. According to the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), American Indians and Alaskan Natives have a higher suicide rate than other ethnic groups, but due to several limitations in the date, including the failure of the NVDRS to record tribal affiliation, it is hard to get an accurate picture of how much suicide affects Native communities.

To combat the high rates of suicide in Indian Country, the Navajo Nation is an active participant in the Zero Suicide Initiative (ZSI), a program launched in 2012 by the Indian Health Services. ZSI, also known as Iiná Ayóó’oo’nii: Embrace Life Project, is designed to provide evidence-based training on culturally informed suicide interventions to staff in primary care, urgent care, behavioral health, and emergency services. Within the Navajo Nation, the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility (including two off-site clinics in Pinon and Tsaile, AZ) and the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board (including another clinic in Sanders, AZ – Nahata’Dziil Heath Center) participate in the ZSI program. The Gallup Indian Medical Center, which serves 16 Navajo communities, has also joined in the ZSI program.

There have been several attempts in recent years to increase suicide prevention resources. For example, in the last Congress, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced companion bills into the Senate (S. 467) and House (H.R. 1191) that would have required greater collaboration between state suicide prevention programs and federally recognized tribes. In May of 2021, Representative Chris Stewart (R-UT) reintroduced the Suicide Prevention Act (H.R. 2955), a bill that would establish two grant programs to prevent self-harm and suicide. Though the above bills are not yet law, the American Rescue Plan was able to secure significant funding to help with suicide prevention, including $20 million for youth suicide prevention and $80 million for mental health and substance use disorder training for health care professionals and public safety officers. It is our hope that these efforts at the federal level will bring more awareness to the issue so those most at risk will be able to find the help they need.

Remembering the 9-11 Terrorist Attack

Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress

Saturday will mark 20 years, to the day, since terrorists hijacked four commercial planes to launch attacks on the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Virginia, with one plane crashing in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. An estimated 2,996 people died in those attacks that led the United States to invade Afghanistan hunting for the main organizer, Osama bin Laden--an invasion that turned into a 20-year war and largely failed attempt at nation-building. The fall of Kabul in the last few weeks sparked a refugee crisis as those fearing the Taliban takeover tried desperately to get out of the country. Many were received at Dulles International Airport, just a short drive from our offices.

The effects of this day are not limited to the residents of large eastern cities and coastal elites. Close to 24,000 American Indians serving in the U.S. military at any given time, including many Navajos, fought in the wars that were sparked by this latest round of American involvement overseas. Many came away with a deeper faith in the human spirit and a desire to bring freedom to those who suffer under tyrannical governments. Others can’t help but notice the similarities between the modern practice of nation-building and the older methods of colonization.

For those who didn’t serve, there is a constant debate as to how much freedom should be sacrificed to provide greater security. Some of the changes are mostly harmless, though perhaps annoying, such as increasingly intrusive security checks at airports. Others are more pernicious such as warrantless spying and racial profiling to fill terrorist watch lists. Whatever the right balance, it seems clear today that America will never be the same.

But despite all of the disagreements we now have as a country, there is something that we sometimes forget. On the day after the September 11th attacks, Americans were united. We put our differences aside, and for a moment, our hearts and minds were turned toward helping our neighbors. People held blood drives to help the victims, and blood banks had to turn donors away because they couldn’t store the extra amounts. People donated time and money to charities to help clean up the wreckage of that day.

To honor the fallen victims of that day and all those who have died in the wars since we ask you to remember not what happened on September 11th but what happened on the next day. Find someone in need, whether a family member, a neighbor, or a total stranger, and share a kind word to make their day just a little bit better.

If you’re looking for more ways to serve, check out the listing on the AmeriCorps website on the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

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