Navajo Nation Washington Office

NNWO Welcomes New Team Members!

Casandra Chee-Tom

NNWO welcomes Casandra R. Chee-Tom back as the Administrative Services Officer. Casandra is Naakai Dine'é (Mexican Clan) and born for Tł'ááshchí'í (Red Bottom Clan). Her maternal grandfather is Mą'ii deeshgiizhinii (Coyote Pass Clan) and her paternal grandfather is Bit'ahnii (Under His Cover Clan). Casandra grew up by the Chuska Mountains in the District 11 area of Tsaile, Arizona.  

Casandra spent winters at the tail end of the Canyon De Chelly near Del Muerto helping family manage their livestock by breaking icy ponds for water, throwing slivers of hay in the open fields, and spending summers at the family ranch in Wheatfields. She grew up running barefoot down the creek into the wooded hills. Today Casandra still retains that spirit of adventure. 

Casandra attended Dine College before transferring to Northern Arizona University where she earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science and Journalism with a minor in Native American Studies. She also holds a Master of Administration degree in Public Management with a Graduate Certificate in Public Management. In 2013, Casandra relocated from Flagstaff, AZ to Washington, DC so her husband, Walter Tom - a Marine and Army veteran, could work for NNWO. Cassandra subsequently went to work for Olympic legend Billy Mills' organization “Running Strong” for American Indian Youth, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National American Indian Housing Council and the Navajo Times.  

As a mother to five children and a Schnoodle, Cassandra has the capacity to operate under high pressure situations and in fast-paced environments. Cassandra's heart for the Navajo people led her back to NNWO. Her goal in life is to give back to the Navajo community. In the Administrative Services Officer position with NNWO, she feels that she is able to pay back the many Navajo Nation scholarship’s she received in her educational career. 

Erla R. Sagg

NNWO would like to also welcome Erla Sagg as the Government and Legislative Communications Officer. Erla represents the Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle Clan) people located in the Hardrock and Big Mountain region of the Navajo Nation. She is born for Bit’ahnii (Folded Arms Clan) and her maternal grandfathers are Naakai Dine’e (Wandering People Clan). Her paternal grandfathers are Ashihii (Salt clan). With family across the Navajo reservation, Erla also grew up in other parts of the reservation such as Rock Point and Sand Springs area. She dedicated much of her time at home, learning to ride horses, chasing cattle, and hauling water for the wildlife in the isolated areas of her homeland.

At a young age, Erla knew she would dedicate her life to advocating for environmental and tribal issues. After her freshman year at Navajo Pine High School, Erla attended Greyhills Academy High School in Tuba City, Arizona. In May of 2011, she graduated at the top of her class with a 3.98 GPA. Erla received a Presidential Scholarship from Utah State University, where she graduated with an Associates of Science and a Certificate of Completion for the License of Practical Nursing Program. After deciding to change her major from Environmental Chemistry, Erla was accepted to the Native American Studies Department at the University of New Mexico. She completed her Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Mexico, in Native American Studies with a focus on Leadership and Building Native Nations. Erla recently graduated from the Native American Studies Graduate Program with a focus in Indigenous Leadership, Self-Determination, and Sustainable Community Building.

In the early parts of 2018, Erla was one of thirteen participants in the Native American Political Leadership Program with George Washington University. She was also one of two Richard M. Milanovich Fellows for this program. During this time, Erla pursued a career with the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC). NAIHC is a not-for-profit organization which seeks to effectively and efficiently promote and support American Indians, Alaska Native and native Hawaiians in their self-determined goal to provide culturally relevant and quality affordable housing for native people. Along with eight other team members, Erla provided tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities with up-to-date information on grants, trainings, and federal policies such as the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA). NAIHC also provides advocacy efforts for increased allocation funding like Indian Housing Block Grant, Veterans Affairs, and Indian Community Development Block Grant funding.

Erla’s life goal is to attend Stanford University Law School. She also would like to pursue a career deeply focused with federal Indian policy and creating change tribal youth across Indian country.

In a bit of a reversal, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has pledged to put HR 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, up for a House vote by September 27th. The bill, which passed the Senate with the support of 19 Republicans and all 50 Democrats, was largely expected to pass the House with full Democratic support, but the change in the process has angered many of the more the liberal members of the Democratic Party. Among them, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has said she is reconsidering her support for the infrastructure bill as a result.

As late as Monday, Speaker Pelosi had promised the 95 House members of the Progressive Caucus that she would not allow a vote on the infrastructure package to go through until the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package was passed, which would guarantee President Biden’s legislative agenda and House progressive priorities. But when the House took a break from their recess early this week to approve a budget resolution to start the reconciliation process, nine moderate Democrats broke ranks, threatening to sink the reconciliation deal if there wasn’t a vote on the infrastructure bill first. With only an eight vote margin in the House, four defecting Democrats would kill any bill without Republican support, so a promise to vote on infrastructure was made. 

Without the leverage provided by the infrastructure bill, which is popular with both Democrats and some Republicans, the progressives worry that they won’t be able to keep the more moderate Democrats on board for the much more expensive reconciliation bill. But this faster timeline has not deterred Democratic leadership from pushing for progressive priorities. Both the House and the Senate are pushing to have legislative language in place for the reconciliation bill by mid-September so negotiations can move forward before the infrastructure vote on September 27th.

In the Government and Legislative Affairs Associate position, you will monitor and analyze congressional legislation, disseminate information on emerging topics of concern, and develop strategies and decisions concerning national policies and budgets affecting the Navajo Nation. Use the link below to view the job description for this position.

For additional information, please contact the Navajo Nation Washington Office at info@nnwo.org or by phone at (202) 682-7390.

For more information on the information provided in this newsletter, please contact NNWO at info@nnwo.org or (202) 682-7390.