Kenneth Maryboy
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Maryboy is an American
politician
for San Juan County
, Utah
, and the current Navajo Nation
Council Delegate for the Utah Navajo Section. Kenneth is also one of three San Juan County Commissioners
who oversee the needs of the county's residents and the Utah Navajo Element. Maryboy is the third Democrat
in a row to have been elected to the Commissioner District 3 position since its inception in 1984 that divided the county into three districts.
Kenneth Maryboy is the brother of Mark Maryboy
who served the Navajo Nation Council Delegates for 16 years and also served as the San Juan County
Commissioner for four terms. Kenneth also shares the same Navajo Nation council representation as Davis Filfred
, in the Utah Section of the reservation.
He also works alongside Rebecca M. Benally and the San Juan School Board for the Utah Navajo student curriculum, and Bruce Adams for the San Juan County affairs.
Maryboy was once again reelected during the 2010 National Midterm/Navajo Nation Elections in the positions of San Juan County Commissioner District Three and as a Council Delegate in the newly reduced 24 member Navajo Nation Tribal Council respectively.
. They were barely making ends meet on his meager wages as a welder. Although times were rather harsh, Kenneth managed to improve his skills at Welding, as time progressed he learned to Electrician's trade and from there advanced to other markets which were in demand of his skills
Later in life Maryboy, known as a "Medicine Man" among people living on land encompassing the Four-Corners Region of the United States, ministers to the physical, mental and spiritual needs of his people. Maryboy bridges the gap between the old ways of the Navajo, and the current life in America.
He also was routinely desired for a natural another talent, which was an Announcer. During Rodeo seasons he would be asked to announce for many different events and venues.
, a Navajo Language AM radio station, broadcasting from Window Rock, Arizona
, began commentaries for the NBA team, the Phoenix Suns
.
Kenneth Maryboy, a rodeo announcer, along with the KTNN Sports Director, L.A. Williams did the play-by-play for their first Suns game. This was a first amongst Navajo Broadcasting stations to be affiliated with a Major League Basketball team.
"I would like to see that the understanding and the caring will continue on—that people will understand togetherness and what caring means to other people I still envision a lot more things that I might be able to do, not only in the Navajo Nation but maybe in a broader area as well where there is need."
A non-profit organization, Navajo Santa was created to bring food, blankets, warm clothing, toys, and other necessities to Navajos in need on the reservation in southeastern Utah. Entirely volunteer supported, Navajo Santa provides an exchange of culture and support between Navajos and non-Navajos.http://www.rd.com/stories/everyday-miracles/real-people-real-miracles-2007/article.html
Kenneth is now 49 and commissioner for San Juan County. His solo Christmas Eve visits have grown into an annual Navajo feast with gifts of clothing, tools and toys for over 700 people. Kids who can't make it to the event because they're sick or lack transportation get a personal visit from Kenneth or one of his elves.
"My grandfather taught me that you learn to be a man and a warrior by sharing and by keeping promises," he says.
, President Jimmy Carter
and Rosalynn Carter, and this year to Paul Newman. Other winners include former Senator Bob Dole
and Reverend Billy Graham
.
Government as a Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Mexican Water, Aneth and Red Mesa Chapters. These areas expand the Arizona
n and Utahn borders with a constituency of nearly 10,000 people.
Upon election, Kenneth positioned himself in the Navajo Economic Development committee where he serves as the Vice Chair for the Navajo Nation Nation Council.
Councilman Maryboy defeated Councilman Filfred for a newly redistricted "Shiprock Agency" section on the Navajo Reservation.
Total Votes by Chapter - 1,114
039 - Aneth Chapter 251
028 - Mexican Water Chapter 173
099 - Red Mesa Chapter 280
031 - TeecNosPos Chapter 230
030 - Sweet Water Chapter 180
Davis Filfred
Total Votes by Chapter - 1,053
039 - Aneth Chapter 347
028 - Mexican Water Chapter 149
099 - Red Mesa Chapter 261
031 - TeecNosPos Chapter 116
030 - Sweet Water Chapter 180
(Write-in) "Francis Redhouse"
Total Votes by Chapter - 593
039 - Aneth Chapter 151
028 - Mexican Water Chapter 33
099 - Red Mesa Chapter 84
031 - TeecNosPos Chapter 222
030 - Sweet Water Chapter 103
2010 Investigation into Navajo Nation Lawmakers Discretionary Funds
In October 2010, Navajo tribal officials, were charged in an investigation of slush funds just weeks before the November election. Not Guilty was what was pleaded for the Councilmen charged for fraud, conspiracy and theft.
Washington D.C.-based Special prosecutor Alan Balaran reported results on the investigation in which he filed criminal complaints against current Vice President/President-Elect, Ben Shelly, and at least 77 members of the 88-delegate Council as part of a sweeping investigation into the use of discretionary funds that Davis Filfred and Maryboy were named in as well.
. The San Juan County Commissioner seat is a three person council which oversee's the needs and issues for San Juan County's residents.
Commissioner Maryboy won a bid to the Commissionership nomination after an extensive primary battle between himself and Andrew Tso of Montezuma Creek, Utah
during the 2010 San Juan County Primaries.
County Commission Dist #3
----
Kenneth Maryboy DEM
Bluff
85
Montezuma Creek
97
Aneth
69
Mexican Hat
47
Red Mesa
43
Early Voting
1
Canvass
6
TOTAL
348
Andrew Tso DEM
Bluff
21
Montezuma Creek
45
Aneth
77
Mexican Hat
3
Red Mesa
23
Early Voting
4
Canvass
4
TOTAL
177
Following the October 16, 2007 Navajo Nation Council vote, granting delegates to maintain service as Councilmen & County Representatives, Maryboy to was allowed to maintain his positions as both the San Juan County Commissioner and Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Aneth, Red Mesa, and Mexican Water Chapters http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_7199132
"More than 55 percent of registered voters in San Juan County are Native Americans, and they need to be represented, which is something that maybe Anglo commissioners had not had that perspective before." - Bruce Adams (San Juan Commissioner Dist. 1)
Historically, Utah
Navajos were ignored not only by the county and state governments but also by the Navajo Nation
.
Located in the Four-Corners regions of the United States, the narrow Utah strip that is home to 8,000 of the Navajo Nation's 300,000 citizens. San Juan County officials long believed Utah Navajos were primarily the responsibility of the tribe. The Council, on the other hand, held that their Utah kin could fend for themselves after a 1933 federal mandate awarded them 37.5 percent of royalties from the rich oil fields near Aneth on Utah's portion of the reservation.
But between 1933 and 1990, the Utah Navajo Oil Trust Fund was plundered of $150 million, according to a Utah legislative auditor's report. The Navajos' lawsuit against the state is still pending. The State of Utah is the only state in the Nation administering a trust fund for the benefit of American Indians whose lands are within state boundaries. The Utah Navajos have sought to have a more active role in the distribution of the royalties and this would present that opportunity. Legislative leadership has committed to provide a way to make the transition process as seamless as possible for the beneficiaries.http://www.utah.gov/governor/news/2007/news_11_13_07.html
Trust Fund to Sunset
Currently since, Utah's Navajo Trust Fund statute is set to sunset in 2008. Utah Governor Jon Huntsman
and Legislative Leadership in 2007 have joined together in asking Congress to create a new disbursement system for the royalties. The Utah Legislative leadership are now actively working with the Utah Navajo Element in regards to controlling of these royalties. http://www.utah.gov/governor/news/2007/news_11_13_07.html
Utah Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich saying Our congressional delegation must create a vehicle to distribute these monies in a way that all of the Chapter Houses have input.
Kenneth Maryboy and Davis Filfred have been active in the Utah Navajo Trust fund as well as helping the transition between Utah's Primary role in control the Utah Navajo Trust to the Utah Navajos themselves.
• Navajo Division of Public Safety Locations: 30 in Arizona, 13 in New Mexico
• Emergency Medical Services: 9 in Arizona, 4 in New Mexico
• Fire and Rescue Services: 6 in Arizona
• Criminal Investigation Section: 5 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Corrections: 4 in Arizona, 3 in New Mexico
• Victim Assistance: 2 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Police Districts: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Office of Chief Prosecutors: 3 in Arizona, 4 in New Mexico
No Navajo Nation Health, Education and Welfare offices are in Utah:
• Division of Health: 22 in Arizona, 11 in New Mexico
• Navajo Area Agency on Aging: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Behavioral Health Services: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Communicable Disease Program: 5 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Food Distribution Program: 5 in Arizona, 3 in New Mexico
• WIC Program: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Division of Dine Education: 17 in Arizona, 8 in New Mexico
• Office of Dine Youth: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico,
• Dept. of Head Start: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Office of Special Education/Rehabilitation: 5 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Office of Scholarship/Financial Assistance: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Division of Social Services: 12 in Arizona, 9 in New Mexico
• Regional Offices: 5 in Arizona, 3 in New Mexico
• Sub Offices: 7 in Arizona, 6 in New Mexico
However such causes are not without competition, the Navajo Nation itself has been working counter to the Utah Navajo people in taking over the Aneth Oil Revenues. It presents a significant problem with a line of issues Kenneth is up against.
On June 16, 2008, Kenneth Maryboy, Mark Maryboy, Davis Filfred, and the honorable Phil Lyman of Blanding, Utah
will travel to Washington, D.C.
to present a working model of how an easy transition from the State of Utah handling Utah Navajo royalty money, to a functioning Utah Navajo organization before Congress.
Also, December 8, 2009, The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee conducted two hearings that Wednesday morning. The back-to-back hearings which took place in Room 628 Dirksen Senate Office Building, in Washington, D.C.
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s1690/text, which would transfer trustee authority and resources for the Utah Navajo Trust Fund from the state of Utah to the Utah Dineh Corporation Inc
. The second hearing is an oversight hearing to examine the chronic backlog of Indian land transaction decisions at the Interior Department. The backlog effectively blocks many tribes from using their lands, often for years, until those decisions are made. http://indian.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=057fcd7f-9ab5-49e5-9d26-10f24404da74&Month=12&Year=2009
Locally, the biggest issue is an emotional tussle over a trust fund that holds royalties from oil and gas leases in and around Aneth. That fund's assets doubled to more than $52 million this year when Utah agreed to settle a lawsuit over alleged abuses during the decades that the state oversaw it.
Utah gave up its oversight role two years ago, and no projects to benefit the Utah Navajos — many of whom have no electricity or running water — can be initiated until Congress picks a new trustee. The Navajo Nation, which receives 62.5 percent of the royalties, wants control of the whole fund.
"Hell no," says Kenneth Maryboy, one of the council candidates and a San Juan County commissioner. "Keep the money in Utah."
Oil fund at center of Utah Navajo Nation Council election
Elected leaders from the Utah’s five tribes met with former Utah State Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr.
, Gov. Gary R. Herbert, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
and a number of program directors to emphasize the importance of maintaining adequate funding for programs which provide direct services to tribal citizens.
Thestate of Utah announced major budgetary problems for the upcoming fiscal year and has proposed possible cuts of 15 percent for state agencies. At the caucus, tribal leaders urged Utah state leaders to recognize the limitation in state services currently available to Utah tribes and asked for specific programs to be maintained, despite the economic challenges faced by the state.
Kenneth Maryboy went on to state, “With proposed budgetary cuts, it is important as tribal leaders that we are clear about what state programs we believe are most important to retain. It is also pertinent we are clear about what our goals are in terms of strengthening state and tribal relations.”
As with most Western Democrats
, Kenneth enjoys a sustaintial amount of time utilizing his time with taking advantage of the immensely rural southwestern environment with such activities like hunting and fishing. The southern Utah area is filled with a variety of outdoor activities for most people who reside in the area and Kenneth maintains that tradition as most Utans do.
Many southern Utahns enjoy the offers that Lake Powell
has to provide. Kenneth and his family enjoy the many opportunities that the lake does provide that many other Utahns and Southwestern Americans take advantage of as well.
Documentaries, topic pages and databases
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
for San Juan County
San Juan County, Utah
As of the current census of 2010, there were 14,746 people and 4,505 households. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 50.4% Native American, 45.8% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% African American and 2.3% reporting two or more races...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, and the current Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
Council Delegate for the Utah Navajo Section. Kenneth is also one of three San Juan County Commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
who oversee the needs of the county's residents and the Utah Navajo Element. Maryboy is the third Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in a row to have been elected to the Commissioner District 3 position since its inception in 1984 that divided the county into three districts.
Kenneth Maryboy is the brother of Mark Maryboy
Mark Maryboy
Mark Maryboy was an American politician for San Juan County, Utah, and a former Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Utah Navajo Section of the Navajo Tribe. He is the brother of Kenneth Maryboy who currently serves in the positions he once stood...
who served the Navajo Nation Council Delegates for 16 years and also served as the San Juan County
San Juan County, Utah
As of the current census of 2010, there were 14,746 people and 4,505 households. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 50.4% Native American, 45.8% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% African American and 2.3% reporting two or more races...
Commissioner for four terms. Kenneth also shares the same Navajo Nation council representation as Davis Filfred
Davis Filfred
Davis Filfred is an American politician for the Navajo Nation Council Delegate in the Utah Navajo Section.Davis Filfred succeeded the position of retiring Navajo Councilman, Mark Maryboy in the Navajo Nation election process. Davis Filfred serves the same Navajo Nation districts along with Kenneth...
, in the Utah Section of the reservation.
He also works alongside Rebecca M. Benally and the San Juan School Board for the Utah Navajo student curriculum, and Bruce Adams for the San Juan County affairs.
Maryboy was once again reelected during the 2010 National Midterm/Navajo Nation Elections in the positions of San Juan County Commissioner District Three and as a Council Delegate in the newly reduced 24 member Navajo Nation Tribal Council respectively.
Early life
At age 18, he was living with his mother and younger brother on the reservation near Bluff, UtahBluff, Utah
Bluff is a census-designated place in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was 320 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bluff is located at , in the scenic and very sparsely populated southeastern Utah canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau.According to the United States Census Bureau, the...
. They were barely making ends meet on his meager wages as a welder. Although times were rather harsh, Kenneth managed to improve his skills at Welding, as time progressed he learned to Electrician's trade and from there advanced to other markets which were in demand of his skills
Later in life Maryboy, known as a "Medicine Man" among people living on land encompassing the Four-Corners Region of the United States, ministers to the physical, mental and spiritual needs of his people. Maryboy bridges the gap between the old ways of the Navajo, and the current life in America.
He also was routinely desired for a natural another talent, which was an Announcer. During Rodeo seasons he would be asked to announce for many different events and venues.
KTNN radio announcer
In April 1993, KTNN 660 AMKTNN
KTNN is a Navajo language AM radio station broadcasting from Window Rock, Arizona, the seat of the government of the Navajo Nation. It broadcasts Navajo tribal music and audio from Navajo ceremonial dances and Native American music, as well as country music and bluegrass in English...
, a Navajo Language AM radio station, broadcasting from Window Rock, Arizona
Window Rock, Arizona
Window Rock is the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation, the largest territory of a sovereign Native American nation in North America. Window Rock contains the Navajo Nation Council, the Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park, as well as the Navajo Nation World War II Memorial...
, began commentaries for the NBA team, the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
.
Kenneth Maryboy, a rodeo announcer, along with the KTNN Sports Director, L.A. Williams did the play-by-play for their first Suns game. This was a first amongst Navajo Broadcasting stations to be affiliated with a Major League Basketball team.
Navajo Santa
Invoking his own happy childhood memories of the celebration of Christmas at St. Christopher's Mission, Maryboy created a program, the Navajo Santa, to help serve his people with the spirit of Christmas all year long. He adapted the concept of Santa Claus to meet the needs of the Native Americans who are among the most impoverished people in the U.S. The program provides gifts of food, clothing, blankets, and toys, medical care, and other services. He provides hope for everyone served by his joyful program. http://www.rd.com/stories/everyday-miracles/real-people-real-miracles-2007/article.html"I would like to see that the understanding and the caring will continue on—that people will understand togetherness and what caring means to other people I still envision a lot more things that I might be able to do, not only in the Navajo Nation but maybe in a broader area as well where there is need."
A non-profit organization, Navajo Santa was created to bring food, blankets, warm clothing, toys, and other necessities to Navajos in need on the reservation in southeastern Utah. Entirely volunteer supported, Navajo Santa provides an exchange of culture and support between Navajos and non-Navajos.http://www.rd.com/stories/everyday-miracles/real-people-real-miracles-2007/article.html
Kenneth is now 49 and commissioner for San Juan County. His solo Christmas Eve visits have grown into an annual Navajo feast with gifts of clothing, tools and toys for over 700 people. Kids who can't make it to the event because they're sick or lack transportation get a personal visit from Kenneth or one of his elves.
"My grandfather taught me that you learn to be a man and a warrior by sharing and by keeping promises," he says.
Caring Institute Award
On November 18, 2002, Kenneth went to Washington, D.C., to receive the Caring Institute Award, an honor previously given to Mother TeresaMother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
and Rosalynn Carter, and this year to Paul Newman. Other winners include former Senator Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
and Reverend Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
.
Navajo Nation Council Delegate
In 2000, Maryboy was elected into the legislative body of Navajo NationNavajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
Government as a Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Mexican Water, Aneth and Red Mesa Chapters. These areas expand the Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
n and Utahn borders with a constituency of nearly 10,000 people.
Upon election, Kenneth positioned himself in the Navajo Economic Development committee where he serves as the Vice Chair for the Navajo Nation Nation Council.
Navajo Nation Council Reduction
On Dec. 15, 2009, Tribal members voted to reduce the Navajo Tribal Council from 88 to 24 members, and the Navajo Nation Supreme Court ordered immediate implementation of the redistricting in a May 28, 2010 decision. With this Navajo Nation-wide action, it resulting in pitting Councilman Maryboy against fellow Councilman, Davis Filfred during the November 2, 2010 General Elections.Councilman Maryboy defeated Councilman Filfred for a newly redistricted "Shiprock Agency" section on the Navajo Reservation.
2010 Navajo Election Results
Kenneth Maryboy WINNERTotal Votes by Chapter - 1,114
039 - Aneth Chapter 251
028 - Mexican Water Chapter 173
099 - Red Mesa Chapter 280
031 - TeecNosPos Chapter 230
030 - Sweet Water Chapter 180
Davis Filfred
Total Votes by Chapter - 1,053
039 - Aneth Chapter 347
028 - Mexican Water Chapter 149
099 - Red Mesa Chapter 261
031 - TeecNosPos Chapter 116
030 - Sweet Water Chapter 180
(Write-in) "Francis Redhouse"
Total Votes by Chapter - 593
039 - Aneth Chapter 151
028 - Mexican Water Chapter 33
099 - Red Mesa Chapter 84
031 - TeecNosPos Chapter 222
030 - Sweet Water Chapter 103
2010 Investigation into Navajo Nation Lawmakers Discretionary Funds
In October 2010, Navajo tribal officials, were charged in an investigation of slush funds just weeks before the November election. Not Guilty was what was pleaded for the Councilmen charged for fraud, conspiracy and theft.
Washington D.C.-based Special prosecutor Alan Balaran reported results on the investigation in which he filed criminal complaints against current Vice President/President-Elect, Ben Shelly, and at least 77 members of the 88-delegate Council as part of a sweeping investigation into the use of discretionary funds that Davis Filfred and Maryboy were named in as well.
San Juan County Commissioner
In November 2006, Kenneth Maryboy was elected as the San Juan County Commissionership for District 3. The commissionership delegates handle county issues in Monticello, UtahMonticello, Utah
Monticello is a city located in San Juan County, Utah, and is the county seat. It is the second most populous city in San Juan County, with a population of 1,958 at the 2000 census. The Monticello area was settled in July 1887 by pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. The San Juan County Commissioner seat is a three person council which oversee's the needs and issues for San Juan County's residents.
Commissioner Maryboy won a bid to the Commissionership nomination after an extensive primary battle between himself and Andrew Tso of Montezuma Creek, Utah
Montezuma Creek, Utah
Montezuma Creek is a census-designated place in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was 507 at the 2000 census, a large increase over the 1990 figure of 345.-Education:...
during the 2010 San Juan County Primaries.
2010 Primary Election Results
San Juan County, UtahCounty Commission Dist #3
----
Kenneth Maryboy DEM
Bluff
85
Montezuma Creek
97
Aneth
69
Mexican Hat
47
Red Mesa
43
Early Voting
1
Canvass
6
TOTAL
348
Andrew Tso DEM
Bluff
21
Montezuma Creek
45
Aneth
77
Mexican Hat
3
Red Mesa
23
Early Voting
4
Canvass
4
TOTAL
177
San Juan County 2010 General Election
After successfully defeating Andrew Tso, Maryboy went on to be reelected to his particular county office,unopposed, in the 2010 San Juan County General election.Conflicting Dual-Elected Positions Issues
After being elected as the San Juan County Commissioner and as the Navajo Nation Council Delegate, questions arose as to the Legitimacy and the Ethical position as an elected official of both seats. Members elected to maintain service to two governments bodies was a hot button issue; Kenneth Maryboy fell exactly in this position which was the subject of concern.Following the October 16, 2007 Navajo Nation Council vote, granting delegates to maintain service as Councilmen & County Representatives, Maryboy to was allowed to maintain his positions as both the San Juan County Commissioner and Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Aneth, Red Mesa, and Mexican Water Chapters http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_7199132
The Navajo Voice of San Juan
Kenneth Maryboy has to balance his role as a Navajo leader with duties as a San Juan County commissioner, taking office in January. His brother, Mark Maryboy, made history when he was elected in 1986 as the first American Indian county commissioner, also in San Juan, in Utah's history. The county has had one Navajo county commissioner ever since."More than 55 percent of registered voters in San Juan County are Native Americans, and they need to be represented, which is something that maybe Anglo commissioners had not had that perspective before." - Bruce Adams (San Juan Commissioner Dist. 1)
Utah Navajo issues
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
Navajos were ignored not only by the county and state governments but also by the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
.
Located in the Four-Corners regions of the United States, the narrow Utah strip that is home to 8,000 of the Navajo Nation's 300,000 citizens. San Juan County officials long believed Utah Navajos were primarily the responsibility of the tribe. The Council, on the other hand, held that their Utah kin could fend for themselves after a 1933 federal mandate awarded them 37.5 percent of royalties from the rich oil fields near Aneth on Utah's portion of the reservation.
Utah Navajo Trust Fund
Trust Fund to Sunset
Currently since, Utah's Navajo Trust Fund statute is set to sunset in 2008. Utah Governor Jon Huntsman
Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah. He also served in the administrations of four United States presidents and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant for...
and Legislative Leadership in 2007 have joined together in asking Congress to create a new disbursement system for the royalties. The Utah Legislative leadership are now actively working with the Utah Navajo Element in regards to controlling of these royalties. http://www.utah.gov/governor/news/2007/news_11_13_07.html
Utah Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich saying Our congressional delegation must create a vehicle to distribute these monies in a way that all of the Chapter Houses have input.
Kenneth Maryboy and Davis Filfred have been active in the Utah Navajo Trust fund as well as helping the transition between Utah's Primary role in control the Utah Navajo Trust to the Utah Navajos themselves.
Lack of Navajo Nation Infrastructure on Utah Navajoland
According to Kenneth's he feels his position and mission for his constituents are to help bring basic services to the people in his district. In fact, the Navajo Nation services which are not on the Utah side of the reservation include:• Navajo Division of Public Safety Locations: 30 in Arizona, 13 in New Mexico
• Emergency Medical Services: 9 in Arizona, 4 in New Mexico
• Fire and Rescue Services: 6 in Arizona
• Criminal Investigation Section: 5 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Corrections: 4 in Arizona, 3 in New Mexico
• Victim Assistance: 2 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Police Districts: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Office of Chief Prosecutors: 3 in Arizona, 4 in New Mexico
No Navajo Nation Health, Education and Welfare offices are in Utah:
• Division of Health: 22 in Arizona, 11 in New Mexico
• Navajo Area Agency on Aging: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Behavioral Health Services: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Communicable Disease Program: 5 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Food Distribution Program: 5 in Arizona, 3 in New Mexico
• WIC Program: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Division of Dine Education: 17 in Arizona, 8 in New Mexico
• Office of Dine Youth: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico,
• Dept. of Head Start: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Office of Special Education/Rehabilitation: 5 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Office of Scholarship/Financial Assistance: 4 in Arizona, 2 in New Mexico
• Division of Social Services: 12 in Arizona, 9 in New Mexico
• Regional Offices: 5 in Arizona, 3 in New Mexico
• Sub Offices: 7 in Arizona, 6 in New Mexico
Utah Navajo Oil Revenues
Recently Counsel Delegates Kenneth Maryboy, Davis Filfred, and Former Counsel Delegate Mark Maryboy have been actively working to ensure that the Aneth Oil Royalties stay with the Utah Navajo people.However such causes are not without competition, the Navajo Nation itself has been working counter to the Utah Navajo people in taking over the Aneth Oil Revenues. It presents a significant problem with a line of issues Kenneth is up against.
On June 16, 2008, Kenneth Maryboy, Mark Maryboy, Davis Filfred, and the honorable Phil Lyman of Blanding, Utah
Blanding, Utah
Blanding is a city in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,162 at the 2000 census, making it the most populated city in San Juan County. It was settled in the late 19th century by Mormon settlers, predominantly from the famed Hole-In-The-Rock expedition...
will travel to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to present a working model of how an easy transition from the State of Utah handling Utah Navajo royalty money, to a functioning Utah Navajo organization before Congress.
Also, December 8, 2009, The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee conducted two hearings that Wednesday morning. The back-to-back hearings which took place in Room 628 Dirksen Senate Office Building, in Washington, D.C.
Senate Bill 1690
The first hearing was on Senate Bill 1690Senate Bill 1690
The bill to amend the Act of March 1, 1933, to transfer certain authority and resources to the Utah Dineh Corporation., and for other purposes is a bill sponsored by Rep...
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s1690/text, which would transfer trustee authority and resources for the Utah Navajo Trust Fund from the state of Utah to the Utah Dineh Corporation Inc
Utah Dineh Corporation Inc
The Utah Dineh Corporation is a Nonprofit organization which was established in order to maintain the Utah Navajo Oil Reserve revenues in the Aneth Oil Field section of Utah...
. The second hearing is an oversight hearing to examine the chronic backlog of Indian land transaction decisions at the Interior Department. The backlog effectively blocks many tribes from using their lands, often for years, until those decisions are made. http://indian.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=057fcd7f-9ab5-49e5-9d26-10f24404da74&Month=12&Year=2009
Locally, the biggest issue is an emotional tussle over a trust fund that holds royalties from oil and gas leases in and around Aneth. That fund's assets doubled to more than $52 million this year when Utah agreed to settle a lawsuit over alleged abuses during the decades that the state oversaw it.
Utah gave up its oversight role two years ago, and no projects to benefit the Utah Navajos — many of whom have no electricity or running water — can be initiated until Congress picks a new trustee. The Navajo Nation, which receives 62.5 percent of the royalties, wants control of the whole fund.
"Hell no," says Kenneth Maryboy, one of the council candidates and a San Juan County commissioner. "Keep the money in Utah."
Oil fund at center of Utah Navajo Nation Council election
Navajo Relationship with the State of Utah
On Jan. 27, 2009, A Navajo delegation attended Indian Caucus Day. Utah Navajo Delegates Maryboy and Davis Filfred attended the Indian Caucus Day at the Utah State Capitol to advocate on behalf of Navajo constituents living in the state of Utah.Elected leaders from the Utah’s five tribes met with former Utah State Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr.
Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah. He also served in the administrations of four United States presidents and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant for...
, Gov. Gary R. Herbert, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
Mark Shurtleff
Mark Shurtleff is the current attorney general of the state of Utah, United States, a position he has held since January 2001...
and a number of program directors to emphasize the importance of maintaining adequate funding for programs which provide direct services to tribal citizens.
Thestate of Utah announced major budgetary problems for the upcoming fiscal year and has proposed possible cuts of 15 percent for state agencies. At the caucus, tribal leaders urged Utah state leaders to recognize the limitation in state services currently available to Utah tribes and asked for specific programs to be maintained, despite the economic challenges faced by the state.
Kenneth Maryboy went on to state, “With proposed budgetary cuts, it is important as tribal leaders that we are clear about what state programs we believe are most important to retain. It is also pertinent we are clear about what our goals are in terms of strengthening state and tribal relations.”
Life away from politics
Currently, although politics does take up much of Kenneth's time, he has found hobbies and activities to help balance out the fast pace public service life. With his family collectively joining him, Kenneth spends time with ATVs and hunting as a side passion. The Maryboy family is quite closely involved with many outdoor racing venues such as mudbogging and drag racing. In fact the Maryboy family runs a racing club called Whiterock Racing.As with most Western Democrats
New Democrats
New Democrats, in the politics of the United States, are an ideologically centrist faction within the Democratic Party that emerged after the victory of Republican George H. W. Bush in the 1988 presidential election. They are identified with centrist social/cultural/pluralist positions and...
, Kenneth enjoys a sustaintial amount of time utilizing his time with taking advantage of the immensely rural southwestern environment with such activities like hunting and fishing. The southern Utah area is filled with a variety of outdoor activities for most people who reside in the area and Kenneth maintains that tradition as most Utans do.
Many southern Utahns enjoy the offers that Lake Powell
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a huge reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona . It is the second largest man-made reservoir in the United States behind Lake Mead, storing of water when full...
has to provide. Kenneth and his family enjoy the many opportunities that the lake does provide that many other Utahns and Southwestern Americans take advantage of as well.
See also
- Senate Bill 1690Senate Bill 1690The bill to amend the Act of March 1, 1933, to transfer certain authority and resources to the Utah Dineh Corporation., and for other purposes is a bill sponsored by Rep...
- Utah Dineh CorporationUtah Dineh Corporation IncThe Utah Dineh Corporation is a Nonprofit organization which was established in order to maintain the Utah Navajo Oil Reserve revenues in the Aneth Oil Field section of Utah...
- Literacy is Empowering ProjectLiteracy is Empowering ProjectThe Literacy is Empowering Program is a non-profit project which promotes literacy and pre-reading skills for Native children to increase standard academic language.-Purpose:...
- Navajo NationNavajo NationThe Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
- KTNN RadioKTNNKTNN is a Navajo language AM radio station broadcasting from Window Rock, Arizona, the seat of the government of the Navajo Nation. It broadcasts Navajo tribal music and audio from Navajo ceremonial dances and Native American music, as well as country music and bluegrass in English...
- Uranium mining in the United StatesUranium mining in the United StatesUranium mining in the United States is the extraction of uranium-bearing ore from the earth. While uranium is used primarily for nuclear power, uranium mining had its roots in the production of uranium-bearing ore in 1898 with the mining of carnotite-bearing sandstones of the Colorado Plateau in...
- Supreme Court of the Navajo NationSupreme Court of the Navajo NationThe Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation is the highest judicial Native American authority of the Navajo Nation, the largest American Indian nation in the United States...
- Navajo languageNavajo languageNavajo or Navaho is an Athabaskan language spoken in the southwestern United States. It is geographically and linguistically one of the Southern Athabaskan languages .Navajo has more speakers than any other Native American language north of the...
- Navajo musicNavajo musicNavajo music is music made by Navajos, mostly hailing from the Four Corners region of the Southwestern United States and the territory of the Navajo Nation...
- Navajo peopleNavajo peopleThe Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
- Navajo RugNavajo rugNavajo rugs and blankets are textiles produced by Navajo people of the Four Corners area of the United States. Navajo textiles are highly regarded and have been sought after as trade items for over 150 years. Commercial production of handwoven blankets and rugs has been an important element of the...
- Southern Athabaskan languagesSouthern Athabaskan languagesSouthern Athabaskan is a subfamily of Athabaskan languages spoken primarily in the North American Southwest with two outliers in Oklahoma and Texas...
- DinetahDinetahDinétah is the traditional homeland of the Navajo tribe of Native Americans. In the Navajo language, the word means "among the people" or "among the Navajo"...
External links
Official sitesDocumentaries, topic pages and databases
- Utah to Allow Sunset of Navajo Trust Fund
- Nativebiz: Indian Owned
- "The Christmas Warrior"
- "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Kenneth Maryboy"
- "Indians finding a voice in San Juan"
- Utah Democratic Party
- Salt Lake Tribune Public Lands director's departure pleases environmentalists, some Navajos
- Aneth Oil Field
- "Navajos say Utah cheated their tribe"
- KTNN 660 AM
- Kennedy meets with tribal leaders to promote Kerry
- "COUNCIL DELEGATES MEET WITH SENATOR TED KENNEDY"