This video presents a detailed explanation of advanced DNA forensic technology used in law enforcement, specifically focusing on how SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) testing and forensic genetic genealogy enable investigators to identify suspects and unidentified remains by analyzing hundreds of thousands to a million DNA markers, compared to traditional STR testing which only examines 20-24 markers. The technology allows detection of distant family relationships (up to seventh cousins) and can be applied to both cold cases and current investigations, with applications including solving crimes, identifying victims, and returning remains to families. The presentation also discusses the practical considerations of implementing such technology, including costs, database access, and the challenges of applying it to specific populations like Native American communities.
05/18/2026 LOC Regular MeetingHinzugefügt:
Okay, Lorine, the stream is all set up and is going now.
I can see the person Good morning, Lorraine. It is now 10 o'clock a.m. I can't see who is currently online. Uh can you tell me uh who we have in the Law and Order Committee building and then who we have online at this time?
Good morning. Can you hear me?
>> Good morning, Madam Chair. This is uh Delegate Titus Naz calling.
>> Okay, good. Good.
>> Hello, can you hear me?
>> Yes, I can hear you.
>> Can you hear me?
>> Yes, I can hear you. Did you hear me when I said >> Yeah.
>> Okay, >> I heard you. So, uh, right now it's just only Mr. Naz is on the call and then Mr. Mitchell is here.
>> How's that going?
>> Good.
>> How the campaign going talk about it.
>> Three for now.
>> Okay. We do have three members of the law and order committee who are present.
I believe that that does to the quorum.
I'll let you know.
>> She wasn't happy.
>> She wasn't going to thank me until really.
>> Yeah, >> Madam Chair.
>> Yes.
>> I have a question. So, the the the meeting afterwards, is that going to be executive session?
>> Yes.
>> Right. Thank.
>> All right. Delegate Mitchell, just so you know, we can hear your conversation loud and clear on this end. I don't know if you mean for that to happen, but just know that we can hear your conversation.
Lorraine, there are three members present for the law and order committee.
That does constitute a quorum. So, I'm going to go ahead and call this meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. Um, who is going to be assisting us today now that Lori is no longer with us?
>> Good morning, Madam Chair and members of the law order. We have Tummaine Yaza here that will be assisting.
>> Thank you. Good morning, Tmaine. We'll go ahead and turn it over to you so that you can do a roll call attendance at this time.
>> Uh, good morning, chair. Can you hear me?
>> Uh, good morning, chair.
>> Yes, we can hear you.
>> Okay.
>> Uh, good morning, Madam Chair. This is roll call vote for um LC comm regular meeting 518.
uh 2026. Um honorable Eugene Chair, chair Charles Moon, are you present?
>> I am present.
>> Honorable chair is present. Honorable Titus Jane Nez, are you present?
>> Uh I am present.
>> Honorable Titus Jane Nez is present.
Honorable Nathan Not, are you present?
Honorable Nathan Not didn't answer roll call. Honorable Herman M. Daniels Jr.
are you present?
Honorable Herman and Daniels, Jr., are you present?
>> Honorable Arvin Mitchell, >> I'm here in person.
>> Honorable Arvin Mitchell is present in person. Uh, Madam Chair, you have uh three members present, including yourself.
>> Thank you for that, Tremaine. So, we do have three members present again, which constitutes a quorum. We just now did roll call. We are now at invocation.
Delegate Titus Nez, can you lead us in invocation this morning?
foreignch.
Thank you for that delegate Naz for providing us invoc. ation this morning.
Uh we we appreciate you saying prayers for all of our Navajo people, especially during this time. There's it's been uh very difficult, I think, financially for a lot of our Navajo people. So, we appreciate that prayer. We're going to go ahead and now move forward on the agenda. Uh we do have uh item number two, recognizing guests and visiting officials. And just for the record, we have Delegate Herman Daniels who has just joined us online. So, uh, Tmaine, if you can assist us, um, in calling Delegate Daniels's name for roll call so that we know that he's on the line.
Tmaine, her name Daniels, Junior, are your pres.
Honorable Herman and Daniels Jr., are you present?
>> Good morning. I'm here.
>> Honorable Herman Daniels Jr. is present via online.
>> Thank you for that, Tmaine. So, that makes four members of the law and order committee who are present and who are online. We're at item number two, recognizing guests and visiting officials. I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to start with those who are uh at the lawn order committee building. Um we'll go ahead and uh if you can go ahead and introduce yourself for the record. If you are watching or if you have a legislation or you have a report to give this morning, if you want to go ahead and step closer u to the mic so that you can go ahead and introduce yourself so that we know that you are present here. um at the committee meeting. So, Delegate Mitchell, can you assist us um there at the law and order committee building by asking those who are present to come up and to introduce themselves?
>> We have three individual here that will introduce themselves.
Look at Jarvis Williams manager. Introduction.
Introduction. Okay.
It's wireless, huh?
Yes. Good morning, Lorenzo. Curley Township.
Um yeah, thank you.
Police Department.
We'll go ahead and go to stop.
>> Good morning everybody.
Law order.
Thank you and good morning.
Uh good morning members of the law and order committee and a visiting guest. My name is Tmaine Yazi. I'm the legislative assistant with the office of legislative services. Um I'm currently filling in uh until a new individual was hired and was able to come on with the law and order committee.
Uh good morning. My name is Sean King.
I'm a legislative staff assistant with the office of the speaker. It's good to be here and I'm assigned to the law and order committee. Thank you.
>> Uh good morning Urban Mitchell.
I represent white girls and chapters. Thank you.
>> Delegate Mitchell for assisting us.
Thank you. uh should Mr. Seaton Thank you Mr. Curley and thank you Chief Silvermith for being in attendance at this time and again thank you delegate Mitchell for assisting us there at the law and order committee building. We'll go ahead and um we'll ask for those delegates uh who are present on the uh on online at this time. So we'll start with um with delegate shiage delegate Herman Daniels if you want to go ahead and announce yourself and then also your introduction as well.
>> Good morning madam chairman Daniels Jun region. Thank you.
>> Thank you for that. Delegate Titus Nes, if you can go ahead and do your introduction.
for the Thank you.
>> Thank you for that, Delegate Naz. Do we have Vice Chair Nathan Not on the line?
Not yet.
>> Okay, thank you. Uh, thank you for that, Lorraine. Do we have any other delegates online who wish to announce themselves for the record at this time?
Okay, not hearing anything. Good morning, uh, law and order committee members. Good morning those who are in attendance. Uh, yacht a bin. Uh, this is delegate Charles Newton, chairwoman for law and order committee. Uh, today is May 18th, 2026.
This is the law and order committee of the uh, 25th Navajo Nation Council. This is a regular meeting. Uh, we did call the meeting to order this morning. We did roll call, so we're going down the agenda at this time. I want to say thank you to everyone in attendance.
Uh so it's good uh that we do have our committee members who are present and we are proceeding forward with this regular meeting of the law and order committee.
So since there's nobody else who wishes to announce themselves for the record, I'm going to go ahead and proceed forward to item three, review and adopt the agenda. Lorraine, can you go ahead and read the agenda and to the record, please?
Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the law and order committee. Those that are on the call and those are here in the building. Agenda of the law and order committee on 25th nomination council regular meeting May 18 2026 10 a.m. Presiding honorable Eugene Charles n chairperson Arnold Nathan not vice chairperson location law and order community office room rock Arizona one call meeting to order roll call and invocation. Number two recognize guests and visiting officials. Number three review and adopt agenda. Number four review and adopt the journals. There are three journals from April 13, 2026, April 27, 2026, May 4th, 2026.
Receiving five receiving reports a D report from Michael Vogen, director law enforcement solutions regarding author and what work do they do? And what you can see is report from Jarvis Williams, town manager, Ki Township, Kanta, Arizona on status of fire department and police and taking step to secure local police officers in Kanta Arizona. Six, old business done. Seven, new business. A legislation number 008-27 26 sponsored by Arnold Carl Slater.
eight close the meeting announcement and adjournment and madam chair thank you >> thank you for that Lorraine so committee members the agenda has been read into the record by Lorraine can I get a motion and a second for the agenda >> I'll go ahead and establish that motion delegate Mitchell >> thank you delegate Mitchell >> chair I second that motion >> second thank you uh deleg Delegate Nez.
The motion has been made by Delegate Arban Mitchell, second by Delegate Titus Nes. Committee members, are there any questions, any comments, or any amendments that need to be made to the agenda at this time?
Second call.
Last and final call for amendments that need to be made to the agenda.
>> Madam Chair, >> Madam Chair, this is Daniels. All right, Delegate Daniels, the floor is yours.
Um, >> yes. Um, thank you, Madam Chair, colleagues, staff. Um, this is besides the the agenda. Um, in regards to the public hearing that we're going to do, yeah, um, on title 17 amendments. Um I know that I requested for two public hearings in western agency. One at twin arrows and another one but the one at twin arrows again I want to change that to Cameron chapter. So I just want to make that request madam chair. Thank you >> um Lorraine.
Can you uh I believe that one would be June 29th um to the request has been to schedule that at Cameron chapter. So right now we do have for western agency we have um is Montazuma Creek considered to be in western agency shiage or is that northern agency?
>> That's a northern agency.
>> Okay. So we have right now May 26 we have UNHS at Montazuma Creek. We have June 8th Many Farms Chapter House. We have June 15th St. Michael's Chapter House. June 22nd Navajo Technical University in Crown Point. June 29th that one would be changed to Cameron Chapter House. Uh Shia, I think because there's enough notice at this time to be given to the committee, we can go ahead and we can uh make that change. So, Lorraine, for June 29th, it's no longer going to be at Twin Arrows. It'll be held at Cameron uh chapter house. So, if we can go ahead and make that change. Uh committee members, again, you know, these are the uh we're having LOC meeting and public hearing at the same time. Uh we know now how to um fix the agenda. So, we'll go ahead and we'll start working on that um as we prepare for our next meeting, May 26th. Uh, and that is at the end of the month. It's going to be after Labor Day. Um, so it's going to be on that Tuesday, uh, May 26.
That's going to be held at UNHS Montazuma Creek, Utah. Uh, so committee members, are there any other changes um at this point that need to be made to the agenda?
Not hearing anything. We're going to go ahead and we are going to proceed to do a roll call on our agenda. If uh Tmaine, if you can assist us with roll call vote, please.
>> Good morning, Madam Chair. This is roll call vote to review and adopt the proposed agenda. Honorable Jane, how do you vote?
>> Uh green.
>> Honorable Jane votes green. Honorable me, how do you vote?
Honorable Nathan Not, how do you vote?
>> Honorable Herman N. Daniels Jr., how do you vote?
>> How you vote in favor?
>> Honorable Herman N. Daniels, Jr. votes in favor. Honorable Arub Mitch.
>> Honorable Art Mitchell, vote green.
>> And then honorable Nathan No. Vote via text.
>> I think so.
>> Honorable Nathan not to vote green in via text.
>> Madam chair, you have four in favor and zero opposed.
>> Thank you for that, Tmaine. So, we do have four members in favor, four members who are present for the law and order committee meeting. uh who vote in the affirmative for uh passing our agenda as is. And just for the record, Termaine, can you call upon Vice Chair Nathan Not so you can hear his voice and that he is present on this call?
>> Honorable Nathan Not, are you present?
>> Um can you hear me now?
>> Hello.
>> Okay. I don't know what was wrong with my phone. I tried to unmute. I just got everything situated.
>> Thank you.
woman vice chair um is present.
>> Thank you for that tum and good morning vice chair. Thank you for being on the call with us this morning. So committee members um FYI we did on June 29th uh we changed that LLC meeting was originally supposed to be at Twin Arrows. It is going to now be at Cameron um chapter house.
Okay, with that um we're now going to move down to the next item on the agenda, which is review and adopt the journals. We do have three journals. One dated April 13, 2027. One dated April 27th, 2020, I'm sorry, April 13, 2026.
April 27th, 2026. May 4th, 2026.
Uh, these journals were sent to us, I believe. Um, Lori, uh, committee members, as you know, uh, Lori is no longer with the Law and Order Committee.
Um, Lorraine, is she no longer with Office of Legislative Services?
>> Yes, madam chair.
>> Okay.
>> Lori has left employment with Office of Legislative Services, which is why we get the assistance of the wonderful Tmaine today. So, thank you, Tmaine, for assisting us. Normally on these um on the journals, Lori does let us know when these uh journals were sent to us via email. Can you um Lorraine, can you tell us what day these journals were sent to us?
>> I'll have um Mr. Yazy do that.
>> All right, Mr. Yazy.
Uh, madam chair, members of the law and order committee, uh, Lori did send out the journals for April 13, 2026 on Wednesday, um, April 29th, 2026 at 11:48 a.m. She sent out April 27th, 2026 meeting at and May 4th, 2026 journals on May 12th, 2026 at 1:51 p.m.
>> Thank you for that, Tine. So, committee members, all three journals were emailed to us prior to Lori leaving. Uh, the April 13th was emailed to us on April 29th at 11:48 a.m. And the April 27th and May 4th journal was emailed to us at the same time on May 12th at 1:51 p.m.
Committee members, are there any questions or any amendments that need to be made to any of the journals at this time?
Uh madam chair hearing no amended changes uh to our journals. I motion to accept all three um uh journals >> right on delegate. Naz, you are on top of it this morning. So there is a motion at this time to accept all three journals uh with one one motion, one second, one vote. Uh this motion was made by delegate Titus Nez. Can I get a second?
>> I'll second motion.
>> Second made by Vice Chair Nathan Nota.
Again, committee members, are there any questions or any amendments that need to be made to the journals at this time?
Not hearing anything. We'll go ahead and proceed to a roll call vote. Tummaine, can you assist us with roll call vote, please? to accept all three journals dated April 13, 2026, April 27th, 2026, and May 4th, 2026.
>> Madam Chair, members of the law order committee, this is roll call vote to approve all three journals. Um, honorable Titus Jes, how do you vote?
>> Green. Thank you.
>> Honorable Titus Jes. Honorable Nathan Not, how do you vote?
>> I'll vote green.
>> Honorable Nathan Not votes green.
Honorable Herman M. Daniels, Jr., How do you vote?
>> I vote green.
>> Honorable Herman and Daniels Jr. votes in favor. Honorable Arban Mitchell, how do you vote?
>> I vote green.
>> Honorable Arban Mitchell votes green.
Madam Chair, you have four in favor, zero opposed. And why not voting yourself?
Thank you for that, Tumine. So we do have four in favor, zero opposed, chair not voting. Uh we hereby accept the journals. I understand that Vice Chair Carl Slater is there at the Lone Order Committee building. He does have a legislation uh legislation number 0088-26.
Um, committee members, at this time before I call the reports, I am open to hearing a motion to suspend the floor rules uh so that we can hear uh delegate Slater's legislation and allow him to uh proceed with his day. We all know as delegates that we have, uh, you know, we have busy schedules. So before we go into the reports, perhaps we can hear his legislation first, but I'll leave it up to the delegates to make that motion.
Madam >> Chair, I have a motion. Okay.
>> Not all at once, guys. Thank you. So, we do have a motion to suspend the floor rules at this time to bring legislation number 7A before reports. This is legislation number 0088-26.
this legislation.
Sorry, I should have had my my committee rules out prior to uh to the meeting, but this legislation is governed under um it's governed under rule 8E uh which says once the agenda is adopted and in this case it was adopted and it says It shall be amended by majority of the committee members casting a vote. So there is at this time a motion uh to suspend the floor rules and to bring legislation number 0088-26 forward. I'm going to go ahead and um accept that motion. Uh committee members, can I get a second?
>> A second, Madam Chair.
And for the motioning, um, if I if I was if I heard correctly, I know there was a few people who who motioned. I believe that was Titus Nez. Was that correct?
>> Uh, Madam Chair, I believe it was um, Delegate Mitchell that uh, motioned before me.
>> My apologies. Okay. Delegate Urban Mitchell makes the motion and the second is by Vice Chair Nathan Not. Is that correct?
Yes.
>> Okay. So, with that, committee members, there's been a motion um to suspend the four floor rules to allow legislation number 0088-26 to be heard at this time. Um are there any questions or any comments? Any amendments that need to be made to this suspension of the floor rules?
Not hearing anything. We'll go ahead and go to a a vote at this time to suspend the floor rules.
>> Madam chair, member of the law order committee, this is um roll call vote to suspend floor rules. Honorable Pis Jes, how do you vote?
>> Green.
>> Honorable Paris JZ votes green.
Honorable Nathan Noa.
>> I vote green.
>> Honorable Nathan No votes green.
Honorable Kerman Daniels Jr., how do you vote?
>> I vote green.
Honorable Herman N. Daniels Jr. votes green. Honorable Arrin Mitchell, how do you vote? Green.
>> Honorable Arban Mitchell votes green.
Madam chair, you have four in favor, zero opposed, and one not voting.
>> Thank you for that. So, four in favor, zero opposed, chair not voting. Uh the uh so we'll go ahead and call at this time. Uh legislation number 0088-26.
We do have the sponsor who was present.
That is vice chair Carl Slater. Uh Lorraine, if you can go ahead and read that legislation into the record, please.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the law committee. Uh tracking number 008826 an act relating to law and order budget finance and EF committees and the nomination council amending two NC subsections 285 1010 111 and 12 NC section 820k to expedite acceptance of donations on behalf of the n of the Navajo nation.
This will move forward to budget finance nav and nonation council and has gone through the five-day comment process and there are no comments or u recommendations attached. Madam chair, thank you.
>> Thank you for that.
>> One last thing um per um nomination council rules of order rule 9 legislation has been written to the record by electronic voice recording.
Madam Chair, thank you.
>> Thank you for that, Lorraine. So with that, committee members, the legislation has been read into the record. And again, this is for legislation number 0088-26.
Committee members, the law and order committee does not have final approval on this legislation. This legislation goes forward to budget and finance, Nabiatka, and to Navajo Nation Council.
Here at this committee, we handle legislations one of two ways. We can if there are any questions, we allow the presenter to the the the sponsor uh provide a presentation under rule 12 of the standing committee rules of order.
Um and we can proceed to ask questions at that time and we can make amendments.
However, if this committee does not have any questions, uh we can proceed forward with an immediate vote on the legislation. How would the committee like to proceed? I guess I should ask, are there any questions from any delegates at this time for legislation number 0088-26?
>> Second call.
>> Madam Chair, I have no questions.
>> Thank you, Vice Chair Not.
>> Last and final call.
Okay. Can I get a motion for legislation number 0088-26?
>> Motion.
>> Motion made by Vice Chair Nathan Not.
Can I get a second?
>> Second. Counc Delegate Nes.
>> Thank you, Delegate NZ. Seconds. We'll go ahead and proceed forward to a vote at this time. Tmaine, can you assist us with a roll call vote for legislation number 0088-26?
Madam Chair, members of the law order committee, this is roll call vote for legislation 0086.
Honorable Fed Jes, how do you vote?
>> Green. Thank you.
>> Honorable Jes votes green. Honorable Ma, how do you vote?
>> I approve.
>> Honorable votes green. Honorable Herman M. Daniels Jr., how do you vote?
>> I vote green.
>> Honorable Herman M. Daniels Jr. votes green. Honorable Arban Mitchell, how do you vote?
>> I'll vote three.
>> Honorable Arban Mitchell, vote screen.
Madam Chair, you have four in favor, zero opposed, and one not voting.
>> Thank you for that. So with that, committee members, we have a vote of four in favor, zero opposed, chair not voting for legislation number 0088-26.
Thank you, Vice Chair Slater, for being in attendance to um present your legislation. Uh, Vice Chair, do you want uh maybe a minute to uh to say anything about your legislation?
>> I'll try to be shorter than a minute.
Chair, I appreciate the opportunity. U but just for those on the line maybe listening, uh this is just going to formalize a process that we use during uh the CO 19 emergency in order to expedite the delivery of donations to the nation. So that can be anything from medical supplies and that's really what the progenitor was for this in that we've been working on um nooxalone um donations to the nation for distribution to uh veterans uh what do you call it CDS chapter veterans organizations and other entities um and as well as other places through the department of health and those uh donations for, you know, a high dollar amount and would require legislation every time we wanted to bring them forward. So, um, it's my hope that through expediting this process, we'll be able to get more resources distributed to our people in a timely fashion while ensuring there's accountability and recording for um, all that that takes place and is donated to the nation. So, I appreciate the affirmative support from the committee and thank you very much, chair, for moving this along in a timely fashion.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Vice Chair Slater. Thank you for uh sharing that information with us.
Uh so we look forward to it coming to Nabi where hopefully there are no questions during that time. But thank you for being in attendance today.
So with that committee members, we now move to the next item on the agenda which is receiving reports. We do have reports. Uh we have right now a report from Michael Vogan, director for law enforcement solutions regarding Oram and what work uh they do for the Navajo Nation. Do we have anybody on the call right now from uh Oram?
>> Uh yes, Madam Chair. This is Michael Vogen. Can you hear me? Okay.
>> Yes, we can hear hear you perfectly.
Lorraine, can they hear hear Mr. Vogen um on there at the Law and Order Committee building.
>> Yes, Madam Chair.
>> Perfect. Well, go ahead and Well, Mr. Vogen, thank you for being in attendance at this time. We appreciate you uh being here. We're going to So, the way that it works um is I'm going to tell the rules at this time. I'm going to call for a motion in a second. Then we'll go ahead and we will proceed uh to give you some time to present. So the rules at law and order committee is that this Navajo Nation council has accepted what's called a standing committee rules of order and in these rules uh we do have our Navajo Nation law and we have the rules. Um so our law does state that you do have um 20 minutes to present your information to this uh to this committee. We are one of five committees that are established under council. Um, so Law and Order Committee does oversee public safety and justice and we oversee any of the laws um that are currently uh laws right now that are amended. Um, so we we um we appreciate you being here.
We work very very closely with the Department of Interior, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. We work very closely with the US Department of Justice. We work very closely with us um with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, anything related to public safety and justice at the federal state county level uh as well as within the Navajo Nation. Uh we became aware of Oram um when we met with the Department of Interior at that time. I believe that your contract was um being considered in terms of extending the work that you are doing for the Department of Interior. Um we did Navajo Nation did support and we asked that that contract be extended. We also passed a resolution at the Coalition of Large Tribes where that's made up of 20 plus large land-based tribes. Um so we are in support of your work. We are um I'm aware so I'm just going to say I am aware of the work that you are doing. I did watch a 2020 um presentation on ABC News on Oram. Um and we are uh I I know that of you know I I know of the few cases that you have worked or you have brought closure and justice um for families who have been seeking. So, I'm going to go ahead and um and say that again, you have 20 minutes to present your information. Um if you can if you um get done prior if you get done prior to 20 minutes, if you can just let us know that your presentation has been completed, uh we then will turn the floor over for questions. If you go beyond 20 minutes, you are welcome to ask for additional time. during that time. Um, if you do ask for additional time, I'll ask the committee members if there are any objections. If there are no objections, we'll give you uh five minutes, but if you need up to 10 minutes, we'll go ahead and allow for that, but nothing more than uh 10 minutes. During this time, I'm going to ask everyone to make sure that their devices are turned off so that the presentation is not um it's not interrupted. And then, Mr. Dr. Vogen, if you have a copy of your presentation that you'd wish to share online, uh you are welcome to send that to Lorraine or if you want um if you can't share it online, Lorraine can send us a copy of that presentation so we can follow along with you. Um Mr. Vogen, do you have any questions regarding the procedure at this time?
>> Uh no, I think I'm good. I will go ahead and send a PowerPoint to Lorraine right now um that I can reference uh during the presentation if that's okay.
>> Yeah, that that will work. Um so if you want to go ahead and send that to her, shouldn't take very long. Lorraine, if you can send that out to the committee members, uh we would appreciate that. Uh committee members, I'm going to go ahead and at this time call for a motion and a second to hear the report provided to us here by Oram today.
>> Motion by delegate Mitchell.
>> Motion made by delegate Arban Mitchell.
Can I get a second?
>> Madam Chair, second delegates.
>> Second by delegate Titus Nez. Um Mr. Vogle Voggan. Again, you'll have 20 minutes to present your information. I'm sure you're sending over that presentation to Lorraine. Lorraine, do you have a copy of that presentation?
>> Not yet.
>> Can Can I confirm, Lorraine, is your email uh L. Spencer?
>> Yes.
>> Okay, great. I'm sending that right now.
And if you want to let me know when you get it, um this is this is kind of what I'll be walking through.
Lorine, do you have a copy?
>> Not yet.
>> It's probably making its way through email. Um Lorine, if you if you just want to interrupt me when you get it, um I can uh Madam Chair, is it okay if I just give a quick intro while we're waiting on that? Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead.
Give your intro. Lorraine, if you can go ahead and uh start to 20 minutes at this time. And then what you can do, Mr. Vogen, is if you want to just go ahead and go straight into your presentation.
And once the presentation has been emailed to us, we can um catch up to uh to where you're at on the presentation.
So, we'll go ahead and we'll turn the floor over to you. You have 20 minutes to present your information. Uh Mr. Vogen, uh the floor is yours.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you everybody. uh in attendance. Um I I'll try to make this as concise as possible.
It's um it's an interesting topic and and thank you for the introduction, Madam Chair. Um for those that are are not familiar with um we are an advanced DNA testing laboratory. Uh the the lab is physically located in the Woodlands, Texas, so just north of Houston. Um we built the lab in late 2018 and became operational in early 2019. And and we were actually the first and still the only lab in North America, private lab that was exclusively built to generate human ID from forensic evidence. That forensic evidence can be suspect DNA from a crime scene or it can be unidentified human remains. Um we've done a lot of work through Namus, which is the uh our nation's kind of online catalog of missing and unidentified people. Um, as Madame Chair has mentioned, uh, we do a lot of work, uh, through Department of Interior, uh, specifically with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, uh, and and even more specifically with their missing and murdered unit. Um we are a part of uh operation spirit return which is a a really great program uh that was put together by BIA to re you know basically help solve Indian country missing and unidentified person's cases by utilizing advanced DNA testing and and I'm going to touch on the DNA testing that we do because it's quite different from traditional DNA testing. Uh historically when a crime uh uh takes place uh or unidentified remains are found um the first DNA test that is is attempted is what's called an STR test and that stands for short tandem repeat. Um it looks at about 20 to 24 markers of human DNA. Um, and if they are successful in generating an STR profile from again either suspect or unidentified human remains, depending on on who you're trying to identify, um, if you're successful in generating an STR profile through a crime lab, so this would be, you know, a a municipality crime lab, a state crime lab, um, you know, a government crime lab. Basically, they would take that STR profile and try to put it into Kotus, which is the uh database that the FBI developed uh back in the '9s. I think it was kind of mid90s when it came online. And it's where they started housing DNA of violent offenders. Uh the purpose of COTUS is to match uh you know, violent acts by perpetrators across the country.
Um, if someone commits a violent crime at the time that they're arrested or convicted, depending on the state it happens in, uh, a DNA sample is taken from them and they go into COTUS and their name is associated with that. If they get out of jail or maybe, you know, the court, uh, doesn't find them guilty for whatever reason, but they commit a crime in the future, there is that reference sample within COTUS to to compare to. So, it's a good way of making sure that people aren't uh committing violent crimes. I'm sorry.
>> Well, we got it now.
>> Okay, great.
>> And I haven't really started going into it, but once I do, I'll I'll let everyone know. Um, but essentially that STR profile goes into Kotus and and its hope is to basically identify if someone commits a crime again. And I mentioned that it looks at 20 to 24 markers of DNA when you do that STR profile test. That is very good for confirming identity. So it can tell someone if the person themselves is is the actual DNA donor or a firstdegree relative. So a parent, child, or sibling. But outside of that firstdegree relationship, those 20 to 24 markers of DNA within that profile can't detect any more distant of a relationship. So Kotus is very good at confirming identity, but it can't help you generate any leads to who that DNA donor may be. So along comes off a in 2018 and and we develop what's called forensic grade genome sequencing where we are now sequencing the entire human genome uh from the the DNA found at a crime scene. And instead of looking at 20 to 24 markers of DNA, we look at hundreds of thousands of markers of DNA, sometimes upwards to a million. And why would we do that? Uh the reason is because we are now trying to figure out where that DNA comes from. And in order to do that, you need to be able to detect not just those firstdegree relatives that a cotus test can do, right? A parent, child, or sibling, but like a sixth or seventh cousin. You know, it it's interesting. We're all related. It's just to what degree from a DNA standpoint are we related. And so now we can develop these ultra sensitive high-erforming what are called snip profiles. Uh so you have STR which is the traditional test short tandem repeat and then you have SNIP SNP it stands for single nucleotide polymorphism and it's not too important to understand what that means other than it's just collecting infinitely more data and now with this profile we have all sorts of tools we can use that for. One of the most popular and what Madame Chair probably uh uh you know alluded to in the in the deline episodes that we've been involved in is the application of forensic genetic genealogy. Um and I'm sure many of you are aware of genealogy.
You know, it's been going on for for decades. Uh many people use it to figure out, you know, who are their relatives, where do they come from? Um you know, maybe locate long- lost cousins. Um, a lot of times it was used for adopes, uh, people that were try that were adopted and they wanted to figure out who their biological family was. Um, it's the same sort of technique, but we're now using it on forensic samples. So, we can now generate these SNIP profiles from suspect DNA at a homicide or at a sex assault. Um, and we could upload that profile and a a skilled genealogologist can then reverse engineer their way back uh through family lines using public records, building family trees and and hopefully uh sort out and figure out the direct family from which the DNA originates and come up with new investigative leads for investigators.
And what we're very excited about at Aram is is the work that we're doing with the BIA um on tribal land throughout the country. Um we are helping not only uh with this advanced DNA testing, but we've built a seamless workflow with lab partners. So we can help with everything from initial STR testing, try to figure out if you can get that KODS profile and get it uploaded into Kotus and see if maybe there's a match there. And if >> I'm sorry and if is there a question?
>> Okay, I'll continue there.
>> Yes, continue. I don't think there was a question.
>> Okay, no problem. Um, if there is no match, then we can we can move into this more advanced testing of snip profile development and forensic genetic genealogy. And so that that's a very, you know, um, a loose overview of of who we are and what we do, but that's all we do at Aram. We we don't do any medical testing. Um, no research and development. Our lab was exclusively built to help law enforcement uh, sort out these cases that have been sitting uh, for a very long time without any new information. Um, the majority of the cases that came to us very early on, we were kind of the last the last hope. um they had tried all sorts of testing. Um they had used kind of inadequate testing platforms in hopes that it would return some sort of valuable information and unfortunately it didn't. But because we've now purpose-built this laboratory to expect very low quantities of DNA, you know, high levels of degradation and contamination, oftent time mixtures of suspect DNA and victim DNA. we've been able to fine-tune the process and help deliver uh leads that have led to, you know, I think we have over 650 publicly announced case resolutions um that you can look at online to this day. Um hundreds, if not a thousand more that are going through court proceedings and and not on the internet >> just yet. Um, so it's a very valuable tool and and I was interested in in presenting to you all today to let you know that this is available and and that it's it's a good tool to use um if there's any case that happens. Uh, you know, kudos to the BIA and the missing and murder unit. We've been getting cases sent to us in real time. You know, cases that happened a day or two ago, for example. We are now reviewing with them. We're strategizing on what's the best path forward. How can we get answers quickly and justice for a victim's family? Um, how can we get this person that is a homicide victim that's gone unidentified for decades? How can we get them their name back and return them to family? And so that's all we do.
And and I'll start jumping into the the presentation a little bit knowing that I'm I'm somewhat limited on time. Um, but I will say, you know, Madam Chair, feel free I know I'm on an email, but feel free to share my contact information with anyone that may be of interest. um my cell phone uh my email address is available and I'm free to help answer any questions uh at any time. Um but our mission is simple. Uh our mission is to empower the justice system to deliver better answers for victims and their families through the innovation, development, and deployment of advanced technology solutions. Uh we've proven that the technology works over the last six years and we're now beginning to scale it. And that means that not just the high-profile cases are are getting the attention they deserve.
It means literally every case, you know, every homicide victim or sex assault victim can have this technology uh readily available to be to be uh applied to their case, which is very exciting.
Um you know, what we like to call it is identity inference. That's kind of the ecosystem that we developed at Aram. And there's a lot of things that go into it, but but the the key takeaway is that we have the ability to apply these text techniques to solve current and cold cases. And and I love that it's being applied to current cases. Now, I'm I'm sure many of you may be familiar with the case out of Idaho uh in 2022 of the four college students uh that were tragically murdered, you know, uh at their at their residence there on campus in Idaho. um the suspect that was arrested and is now charged, Brian Cobberger. We worked that case in real time with the Idaho State Police. And so it's just a really good example of modern technology being applied to a current case and it ended up delivering answers for those victims in a matter of weeks, not decades or years. And so it's very exciting that we have this available. Um, you know, our goals are to reduce the cost and time to turn unknown DNA into a confirmed identity and to increase confidence in that conclusion. Um, so much so that you know we we have reached a full accreditation at Aram uh for massive parallel sequencing of DNA. We even have an accredited kinship uh uh tool that basically can can take a snip profile and compare it to another snip profile giving likelihood ratios of the relationship that exists and is signed off on and accredited and and that's used a lot of times in these cases where perhaps an STR profile can't be achieved because the DNA is in such poor condition. We can still develop one of these snip profiles and use it to confirm identity. And and that's just something that's happened over the last couple years, which is in incredibly exciting because a lot of these cases, you can't get a good STR profile. You maybe can get a partial profile, but it's not enough to get into COTUS. Well, we now have new tools that can be applied here to give you the answers that these families and victims need.
Um, you know, our outcomes are the metric. You know, there's no other metric than resolving a case. Um, you know, just trying testing is not a good metric. You you got to have a good outcome and you got to be returning valuable information to investigators.
Even if that's biogeographical ancestry, maybe it's unidentified remains. Maybe all they have is a femur, you know, that that was found and they they think it's 60 years old. Even telling them the biological sex that the DNA is telling us of that human is incredibly powerful for an investigation and eliminates half of the population that they may be trying to look at. And so the DNA gives you clues as you sequence it and you get the information back and we relay that to investigators in real time.
You know the the foundational infrastructure that we have in place is is we have to have reliability, we have to have defensibility and we have to be able to repeat the process to all cases.
You know, this this becomes something that is and there's the Idaho case there to the right. Those are the four victims uh that were murdered uh in Idaho. um that we helped ID the suspect with Idaho State Police. But but when you have reliability, defensibility, and the ability to repeat the process, then we have expanded use, which is what I was alluding to a little bit ago. It's no longer, you know, this is no longer a technique just for high-profile cases or, you know, cases that are in in the media spotlight. Uh this can be applied to all cases and can truly help deliver answers very quickly and very accurately. Um, this is a a page that you're you're welcome to go look on our site. You can go to authorum.com, click on our recent solves, and you'll be able to kind of go through all these thumbnails of of individuals that we've helped either identify that were uh were tragically either unidentified human remains or they're they're victims of a very violent crime that we were able to identify their perpetrator. And so there's a lot of really interesting stories here um and and many stories that took place on tribal land um and with tribal members. And so we're very proud of the work that we're doing in conjunction with that. Um I I won't go too far into identity inference infrastructure. This is just kind of the ecosystem I mentioned we're building. Uh there's all sorts of things that go into it. You know, I talked about the advanced DNA testing, which is a huge part of it, but we've also developed software uh that enables investigators to more quickly, efficiently, and effectively work through a case file. Uh the software will automatically take in input from a case file. It can be handwritten notes. It can be uh typed pieces of paper. It can be audio uh audio files, video files, body cam footage, you name it. And the software will automatically build a timeline of events for investigators. So that would usually take them several months. It now happens in a matter of seconds. They get an automatic timeline. The software will call out places of interest and persons of interest that are mentioned throughout the case file. You can quickly build timelines of individuals uh of places. A and the software because we're a testing company, it'll even look through the case file and try to identify items of interest that may be good to look at for DNA testing, both for STR testing and advanced DNA testing through what we do. Um, and so it's a great way to quickly surface uh items within a case file that detectives may want to, you know, research and figure out what testing was done, what can be done. And our software will give you know basically likelihood um of tractability you know this this is a good item this is a good candidate for testing this is not a good candidate for testing and give the reasons why. So we're trying to build a platform to you know regardless of DNA testing to allow investigators to quickly and effectively get leads um on a case. You know we we don't want bad people out there uh having more time to commit more bad uh violent acts. uh we we need to be surfacing information to these investigators and let them do their job very quickly. And so that's what we're building at author. You know, uh again, identity is not a product or service.
It's an outcome. That's that's the only metric that we look at. Um the other thing about us being that we're an accredited lab, we we will we will support our our law enforcement partners from crime scene to courtroom. Uh we're the only group that has testified in capital murder trials where our technology has been admitted into the cases. Um and those those cases have gone to trial and folks uh you know suspects have been found guilty based uh in part uh with the work that we were able to do to assist law enforcement uh with DNA testing um and confirmation testing. Um there's uh I'm looking at slide nine. There's a case out of Fort Worth, Texas, Carla Walker. She was a young 17-year-old girl uh that was brutally raped and murdered um after a Valentine's Day dance. Um the sad thing about this case is her boyfriend, Rodney, was the prime suspect. Um a lot of people didn't believe his story, but but what really happened is they were in the car doing what high school kids do at a dance, making out, and uh all of a sudden the door flew open. Rodney was hit in the head with a blunt object. It ended up being the the butt end of a pis pistol. Uh he was knocked out briefly.
He when he came too, he saw Carla being dragged away in the distance. Um never saw her again. And he lived in a cloud of suspicion for over 40 years until we were able to get our hands on the DNA.
It was a very small amount of DNA, uh suspect DNA that was found on Carla's bra strap. um we were able to develop a full profile of that DNA um that led back to uh to the suspect. Um he was alive at the time. He stood trial uh was found guilty um and passed away in prison uh just I think about a year ago.
Um but but again it goes back to say that you know from crime scene to courtroom we will be able to have your back and testify to the defensibility and reliability of the science um that can hold people accountable for doing very bad things.
And and just to touch on, you know, some of the things people think about in these cases, is there enough DNA? We don't need a lot of DNA these days. Um, you know, it's it's certainly not like uh, you know, the crime scene uh, drama TV series you may see. Um, but but 120 picoggrams, uh, we use that amount and and POGs may not mean a lot to you. Um, if I touch my sport coat, you know, with my thumb, I probably leave 100 POGs if I just touch it once with my thumb. So that's about the amount of DNA that we need to build to build a full suspect profile and identify someone. And we did that with the Stephanie Isacson case out of Las Vegas, another young girl that was assaulted and murdered. It was the lowest amount of DNA input to build one of these SNIP profiles that led to the successful ID of a suspect in a case.
And when we found out who did it, um he he they had a COD profile uh of the guy, but they didn't know who it belonged to.
So it was just a you know a number sitting in Cotus. When we were able to identify who it was uh that hit to another crime scene in Cotus and it turns out he was responsible for the same type of violent crime on another young woman in the Las Vegas community 8 years prior to Stephanie. Um he had passed away so unfortunately he didn't have to face justice. Um but they now know uh the family Stephanie's parents who are still alive now know you know who was responsible and hopefully that gives a little closure. Um you know one of the things that I spoke about is it doesn't have to be cold cases. This can be real cases like the Idaho case h happening in real time. There was another case out of Maryland Rachel Marin that was uh she was a mother of five assaulted raped and murdered on her morning jog that she did every day. Um, we were able to work with uh the local law enforcement group there and the FBI to run this case in real time and sort out who the offender was. And when we found him, he actually uh had come into the country illegally from El Salvador where he had committed another murder and he was on the run and came into the United States uh committed a home invasion and assault in Los Angeles. Um so they knew they had his DNA from there. He was sitting in Kotaas unknown.
And then when he committed this crime against Rachel in Maryland all the way across the country, we were able to identify him and they linked him back to that home invasion in LA. And all this was done in a matter of weeks. And it turns out he was a young criminal, you know, uh 23 years old. Uh part of his gang initiation was committing these violent crimes. And um there's a good chance he was going to do more of these uh heinous acts, but you know uh with good technology and good investigation, they got him off the streets and and he is now uh arrested and uh going through the court proceedings for those crimes.
Um you know, the the DNA inputs we can work from have come a very long way. Um we can work on human remains from bone, blood, tissue, hair, rootless hair. Um suspect >> Yes. I'm so sorry. This is like so interesting, but you're out of time.
>> Do you need additional time?
>> Uh, no. I think I'm good. I I may just uh as a quick recap or or just a quick closure. Um, I'm happy to continue the conversation with with anyone. Um, you know, and and my hope is that you guys uh walk away with this knowing that there is an additional resource um out there for crimes. um you know, either if you're trying to ID someone that did something horrible to a victim or if you have unidentified human remains that are found on tribal land, we we have resources to help. Um and these are proven uh reliable, defensible uh technologies that we've developed and and we'd be honored to assist and happy to discuss any case um you know, on the front end to ensure we can assist so we don't waste valuable time uh money or or DNA evidence. and and I'll end with that.
>> Wow. Thank you um so much, Mr. Vogan. I I wish Criminal Investigations was on the call so that they could hear, you know, what what you guys are doing and and specifically how you can assist Navajo Nation, but we appreciate the presentation. Committee members, I know this is um you know, really kind of uh dark in terms of what what um what has been presented here. Uh but certainly valuable information. Uh the presentation um is up on the screen.
They'll also be uh sent to us. Uh a motion was made by delegate Urban Mitchell, a second by Delegate Titus Nez. Committee members, are there any questions for Mr. Vogen at this time?
>> A comment. Madam chairs, >> thank you.
Um, I was waiting for the the PowerPoint presentation. I haven't got it yet, but I'm always for scientific identification.
you know, I'm I'm always for that uh scientific identification whether whatever whatever um missing missing information um I'm always for it. So, thank you for the report.
Yeah, you're very welcome and I appreciate everyone's time and um to to Madame Chair's point. I know it's a it's not the best topic of conversation um although a very important one and um you know we just want to help uh you know reduce uncertainty in these investigations and and that's our main goal is is to give a clearer picture to investigators that can ultimately get justice for victims in a timely manner and and for their families in the community. So thank thank you for your time.
>> Um Mr. Voggan.
>> Yes. Um so I want to say thank you so much for presenting um to us. So committee members just be mindful that right now the department of interior currently has a contract with um with uh author and uh the purpose of that is um as was stated by Mr. Vogan um they work together to I think there's a program that's called operation spirit return that department of interior um has committed to assisting tribes in Indian country and u Mr. Vogen talked about, you know, how if there's uh remains that are found um that they can help to identify them, but they also work on the DNA part right now where if there is a crime committed, if the um you know, if the uh information is sent to um to Aram, they can actually try to locate uh the person who did it and it's by I think he said one degree um so that would be and then this is where my question is coming from Mr. Vogen. So when you say you know the STR right now um that you know it can um identify family association up to one degree.
Would that be like mom and dad, brothers and sisters and then your children? Is that question?
>> No no it's it's a good question. Um so so STR uh testing you know it it actually requires a reference right. So, like it's really good at confirming if I could go commit a heinous crime and I leave my DNA there um and it goes into Cotus, but they don't know who I am yet, right? I'm still out there living my life, but I did something horrible. They have my DNA in Cotus. If my father or my brother or my son or daughter or sister or mom go out and commit a violent crime and their DNA goes into COTUS, it will match to me as a close, you know, first-degree relative. It would tell them, you know, it's my sibling or my parent or my child, but they still wouldn't know who it is until they identify one or the other. Um, it would just be a relationship that is noted in COTUS. And so the power of what we do with snip testing and forensic genetic genealogy specifically when applied is that we don't need a ref. We don't need to know who anyone is because there's going to be matches in these database that consent for law enforcement searching. So when we develop a profile of unknown DNA, we're going to upload that into consumer databases that allow for law enforcement searching and the people within those databases will have had to basically consent um to have their DNA visible for matching to the profile that we've developed. And now all of a sudden, you know, we're able to build a family tree of relatives and and look at public records and obituaries and marriage certificates and things like that to build out this family tree and kind of reverse engineer our way into the identity. So, uh I think what your question is getting at is STR is incredibly good for confirming identity once you have a reference to compare to.
But if you don't and it's completely unknown, then our technology paired with forensic genetic genealogy can go out and f hopefully find the person or at least the direct family that that DNA originates from. And when you give that information to an investigator, they can go out and interview. They can use their resources to be better figure out, you know, who in this family may have been in the area where a crime was committed.
And they're able to get answers many times. Um, and then what happens is using the information we gave them, then they may go get a known sample from someone and then they can compare it back to that crime scene. So in my example, if I'm the the guilty party, I'm in COD, they don't know who I am. If they do genealogy on my sample and they they reverse engineer their way to my direct family line and they they find my brother and they go, "Oh, Michael's brother, John, good citizen, lives in Colorado, never committed a crime. Let's ask him for a swab of his DNA." And if he if he accepts that and gives them a swab, they can compare John's DNA to that Cotus profile and it'll show sibling relationship. Now all of a sudden they just got to figure out how many brothers does John have, right? And if I'm the only brother, then it looks like they got their guy. Does that answer your question?
>> Holy moly. Yes, it does. Um, so I am just really interested in the way that you guys work because like I said, I I learned about you guys from watching 2020 on ABC. I know that you guys um did close out a couple of cold cases during that time. And long and behold, uh, a few like less than a week later, I'm sitting um in front of um the the Alam um owner, I forgot his name. Yeah.
>> David. Yes. And it was it was like just really, you know, awesome to see him to to hear him talk about, you know, what he's been doing and to also get, you know, information on, you know, what what cases they've been working on. So, on behalf of Indian country, I want to say thank you so much for the work that you guys are doing. I'm on your website right now looking at um like all of the identity outcomes for all time.
Even in the last seven days, you guys have um identified I guess in three cases right now or I I believe you guys might be working on them. Toronto Police Services is one where there was skeletal remains that were discovered. Um that is is one that I just now was looking at, but I also know that you guys also have Dobb County um where there was another one and this is just in the last seven days. the fact that you guys can connect up to one degree of people who are um you know who are related and the the other question I was going to ask you is uh you stated in your presentation that right now you know g genealogy has kind of skyrocketed we've seen that like you know the last maybe five years we have um you know we have shows on um you know genealogy I think um one of the ones that I'm thinking of is that uh like like where are your roots or something like that, >> right?
>> Yeah. And so you have people who are curious right now, you know, they want to try to um create their family tree uh within Navajo, you know, I don't I think it's like really difficult because right now I think many of our Navajo people, we can only go back probably two generations, maybe three. um because you know we weren't really like we weren't considered uh citizens until 1924 which meant that you know in the census you know we were not counted uh in some states you know as late as the 1940s I believe uh New Mexico was 1948 um so we weren't counted in the census during that time um and so h like has that been difficult for your team in terms of identif identifying um individuals uh with this one degree. Um and then those who are going to uh like the genealogology the genealogy websites um who are voluntarily um submitting their DNAs to try to find like to try to establish their family tree. So have you um like I guess it the first question being is it more difficult for you guys to find individuals tracing them back in Indian country because of the fact that we you know haven't really been accounted for since 1924. And then my second question is um for those individuals who are going on to like ancestry.com, do you guys access that information to help solve some of your cold cases or is it only those DNA that's collected through Kotus?
>> Yeah, so u you're exactly right. So Kotus is is strictly for STR uh testing and only applicable for law enforcement professionals. So, you know, uh a consumer, for example, can't can't put a profile into COTUS. Um you mentioned the the consumer databases. There are three databases that allow for this type of searching. Um they are Jed Match, specifically Jed Match Pro is the law enforcement version that allows for it.
There's Family Tree DNA that allows for searching and and we actually handle all the forensic uploads that go into Family Tree DNA. Um, and we're building some really cool matching tools uh within that database uh to help further these investigations. And then we have our own called DNA Solves. Um, and and what's unique about DNA solves is it's not like another consumer database where if you if you upload there, you get a bunch of matches and and you get some information about, you know, where you may be from.
Ours is strictly, you know, you get nothing back. But but a lot of people that are missing loved ones will will upload their DNA. They'll download their DNA from Ancestry or 23 andMe or whoever and they'll upload that data file into DNA solves knowing that it's only going to be used in these law enforcement searches. So, um if they're missing a loved one, you know, their hope is that their DNA is somewhere. So, if their loved one is discovered, there's a quick match and and and hopefully that can be, you know, a case that's sorted out very quickly. So, so to answer your question on the databases, there's three databases that allow for this type of for searching and and uh DNA solves is it's all we do. So, there's really no guesswork there. On on Jed Match and Family Tree, people have to opt in. So, if they upload their their DNA there, um there's a a physical button, you know, with a terms of service that they have to select to say, "Yes, I I want to make my DNA visible to law enforcement searching." and and then they're they're visible from that point on um just to those forensic profiles. Um to answer your question on uh you know tracing back identity specific to to Indian country um it can be more challenging for group you know populations that are not as well populated um in these databases as some other folks or some other uh you know groups of of individuals. However, you know, we we've solved many cases um involving, you know, people uh in tribal country um with with various tribal descent. Um all it takes is one decent match. You know, it can be a six cousin. Um and that can be some, you know, oftenimes enough of a clue for a skilled genealogologist to start working with. Um and it may take some time. It may take uh several rounds of interviews that that we would suggest to agencies to go collect family information. um you know try to build out the family tree of specific people that do match even very distantly to the DNA profile that we developed. Um it may take several rounds of what we call reference testing. Um this would these would be people that aren't matches to our profile but we believe may be based on the family trees we've built. And so we would ask investigators to go out and interview some people see if they're willing to give DNA. Um, the other cool thing with within our our end on DNA solves is we have the ability to to build siloed uh DNA databases that that can be specifically used uh for communities or groups of people. Um, and we've done this in with with uh it kind of came out of a a project we did with the Air Force. Um they wanted to do a project to to there's a lot of uh uh you know remains from battles um across the world where there's there's you know unknown uh remains of of folks that that died in these wars and and they want to try to give them their name back and and hopefully return them to family. But they didn't want to put these profiles into consumer databases. They wanted to protect uh and do something very specific. So we developed a database uh for them. We call it snip suite and and that's where we house all the snips the snip profiles from these uh unidentified individuals from these battle battle scenes. Um and we can do reference testing within there and it's private and and you know no one can access it and so much so that the air force actually has complete control over it.
we just we just developed a siloed database for them to operate within and and so that's something that could perhaps be built as well um for specific populations and for specific uses. So the possibilities are really endless.
You know, it's it's still a very new uh technology and frontier, you know, globally speaking. Um to your point, the genealogy has really caught gotten, you know, caught on fire the last eight years uh as it comes to forensic samples. But I think we're at a very exciting time because we can do some really unique projects that can benefit folks um with specific use cases. Um and and so to answer your question, you know, it it doesn't really matter the ethnicity or or the population that we're trying to research. Um all it takes is one decent match. And you never know if that match is there until you actually do the analysis. And so it's always encouraging or I always encourage folks once you develop that snip profile, you digitize your evidence. You know, I'm going to age myself a little bit, but just like I used to burn a music CD to an MP3 on my computer. Um I no longer have to worry about that CD getting scratched, misplacing it. Um you know, I I now have an electronic file of that music that I can play on my computer and it's pristine and clear and I never have to worry about it. It's the same thing with crime scene evidence.
Once we develop that snip profile, we have a beautiful pristine DNA profile from who you're looking to identify. And whether it's today's technology that uses that profile to figure out the case or it's tomorrow's or next year's technology that comes along, you now have a way to plug that profile into that technology and see if it gets you answers. So, it's kind of a new frontier of DNA testing and it's very exciting.
Thank you for that, Mr. Vogen. I've got two more questions uh very quickly. Uh the first question, sorry I'm like trying to take notes while you're talking about this because I mean this is just really um it's fascinating but it's also very helpful in Indian country especially since we do have um we do have individuals who who you know um want to take advantage of this type of um you know technology that's currently available. So my first question is um if you know how can a family reach out well can a family reach out to you directly if they have a case they want you to review or does the case have to be referred from the department of interior that's my first question my second question is if the Navajo Nation wanted to develop a contract with Oram to identify individuals buried at boarding schools how would that work? Yeah. So the first question about the families reaching out um absolutely you know we we can't work a case um submitted by a family because of course the the evidence within the case is going to be belong to the law enforcement arm um that that is investigating the case. But what what we tell folks if if a family has a case they're interested if our technology can help they're more than welcome to reach out to us. um they usually will just go to our website and there's an email I think solve sauum.com um that that goes to a group of us and and we'll get back to them and basically what we tell families is look you know there's we we can't tell you if we can help or not but what we're more than willing to do is reach out to law enforcement and say hey you know we were contacted by the family um you know at this point all our talks with the law enforcement would be confidential um but we but we would be interested to see if there's DNA available that we could help assess um that may be able to help advance the case and then it's totally up to the law enforcement arm if they would like to move forward. So, we're always more than happy to reach out on a case to see if we can help. Um, regarding your uh comment about Navajo Nation um setting up a contract uh for boarding schools, um that's that's absolutely something that could be looked at. Um we we've done similar work in in Canada um and uh actually overseas as well with similar type projects with with mass graves and things like that.
Um and we've done some really cool work.
And so I would be very interested in setting up a program um to help with that specific need. Um whomever on your end that that is is looking into that.
Um please share my information with them. I' I'd be happy to set up a call and talk specifically about about what you know about about the overarching issue uh that they're looking at and come up with a a strategy to address it.
Um we've seen this technology that we've developed really impact cases that that that have these types of needs where there's a lot of unidentified people that need to be identified. Um, and the technolog is there now and and we can develop a way to do it. And in a case like that or a project like that, you know, we could take advantage of our snip suite uh databasing uh uh capabilities that we've developed and and basically get, you know, if there's families out there that feel that they have a loved one that are from those boarding school graves. we could develop a whole uh you know uh uh database of of known individuals who feel like their loved ones may be there or relatives may be there and we can quickly start doing the analysis and comparing them and and probably very quickly make headway. So that that would be a project that I know um David on my end our CEO and I would be very interested in pursuing and trying to put a program together that can that can very quickly and and effectively benefit um an outcome there.
I I'd be interested to hear how you guys would do that only because if you can only like one degree there there would be a huge gap between our children who are currently buried in boarding schools who you know as as early as the late 1800s >> who were buried in boarding schools you know that is several generations of DNA that would have gone missing.
>> So, um I I just would be curious how um how that would work. And I think that once um something was developed, I'm you know, I'm pretty sure that other tribes would actually kind of come on board with that because I know that there is a move right now, a movement happening right now where tribes are um asking for, you know, for individuals who are buried in boarding school to be returned back to the tribes. I know most recently Oklala did that about a year ago. Um and I think there's another tribe right now that is working on that. Navajo, I am working on a legislation right now and I have been for several years. We do have one individual um who is buried at the Carile boarding school, a Navajo man um who was uh in boarding school for five months, but he he died. There's no indication as to how he died or what happened. Um but he is buried there.
He's been moved um twice and so they are um planning to move him again. So my hope is that we can pass a legislation at council to have him um you know to have him move back to the Navajo Nation because right now they've been like I said moved twice already before and in our culture it's not um you know it's like you don't do that. And my concern is that they're going to continue to keep moving him um as long as he his his um remains are in turned there at the Carile boarding school cemetery.
So I will definitely be in contact about that. But I do appreciate the presentation. I'm going to ask my committee members one more time.
Committee members, do you have any question for Mr. Vogen at this time?
Mr. Vogen, I will also be reaching out because I think that the MMDR subcommittee would be very interested in hearing your presentation. Um the MMDR um subcommittee is um a subcommittee that's um we call it missing murdered detect relatives. Um and we we do meet on a weekly basis. Uh but we have meetings. I believe it is um I believe it's one time a month we do have um meetings. So, I think they would be very very interested in hearing this presentation. So, just know that I will be in contact and connecting you to Delegate Amber Cra um who was the chairwoman of that subcommittee uh asking her if she can get you on to uh the agenda. And I believe that Lorraine um I believe that Lorraine does assist with that as well. So Lorraine maybe we can um schedule something to get him onto the the agenda so that he can do a presentation. So thank you Mr. Vogen. I believe there are no qu no other questions from uh colleagues at this time. So we'll go ahead and we will proceed. Uh actually let me wait.
Delegate vice chair Nathan Nota are you online now?
Have you uh vice chair Nathan Not has been trying to unmute uh but he's having difficulties and I hate to conclude this report if he's got any questions. So Vice Chair Nathan Nota can you hear us and can you respond?
>> You hear me?
>> Yes, we can hear you.
>> Uh great. I don't know what's wrong with my phone today, but um Madam Chair, um I do have Um and and and uh Mr. Vogen, this would uh involve the cost factor. If we did a contract, I know it varies, I guess, depending on the contract itself, but what would be like a typical cost that you might be working with with other tribes?
>> Yeah, it's um it varies based on, you know, what's needed for each individual case. Um, if STR testing is all that's needed on an item, you know, you're probably looking at a couple thousand dollars, um, if you're looking at doing a full-fledged uh, analysis from unidentified remains where we have to extract DNA from the bones, uh, you know, build build a useful profile, get it uploaded to the databases, third party databases, they also impose a fee for upload. And then for genealogy efforts, um you can be looking at maybe 15,000. Um we do have a contract with uh the Department of Interior um with the BIA. And so, you know, I would basically just use that contract as as the pricing mechanism uh for tribal cases in a lot of uh instances. Um, and as Madame Chair uh mentioned, that contract uh is still open and so we have the ability to utilize that contract for funding cases with the approval uh of the MMU unit um which they've been more than happy uh to to run as many of these cases as as they can. Um you know, I'm very uh kudos to them for for accepting the technology and running with it um and applying it to cases. But but I will tell you sir that that we always will quote out on the front end. We have a very nice portal system where any case can be submitted for review. We want to make sure number one that we can help with the case based on what's available. And if we can, we'll quote it out based on the work needed. So uh agencies that we work with and tribes that we work with will always have a formal quote on the front end that they can get approved prior to moving forward with analysis.
>> Uh thank you. Um I just want to comment that um I was in DC with uh chair Charles Don when we first uh heard the uh first presentation that was given and I was impressed then and I'm still impressed and I think this is a service that the Navajo Nation does need to have. Um, so I guess uh as a committee we'll be looking into um u the contracting aspect of this and how we can go about heavily getting involved uh with this system. Thank you very much.
>> You're that's it.
>> You're very welcome. And and Madam Chair, I know uh I'm going to get off and let you guys can uh continue, but I did want to point out on the, you know, resident school, we do have the ability to detect, you know, great grandchildren, um great great grandchildren. So, I I just wanted to call that out. We we've worked many cases where the the DNA we're working from is from the early 1900s and there's several generational gaps, but that's the power of these snip profiles. um they can detect very far out whereas the STR profile can only detect that first degree relationship. We can detect out to like seventh cousin um very distantly um with a lot of certainty. So I did want to just call that out that there are there are ways to make those uh associations even if you're missing several generations.
>> Thank you so much Mr. Vogen for your presentation and sharing this information with us. Uh so colleagues again this is last call. Are there any other questions at this time for Mr. Vogen?
>> Madame chair I have no further questions.
>> Thank you vice chair. Thank you for that committee members. Last call.
Not hearing anything. Uh we have a motion that was made by delegate Urban Mitchell. Second by delegate Titus Nez.
Um, Tmaine, if you can assist us with roll call vote to accept the report that was made here by Mr. Vogen on the works of Oram.
>> Madam Chair, members of the law committee, this is roll call vote to accept u receiving reports item A. Um, honorable Titus J. Nez, how do you vote?
>> Green. Thank.
>> Honorable Titus J. Nez votes green.
Honorable Nathan Not, how do you vote?
Honorable Nathan Noa, how do you vote?
Honorable >> I vote green.
>> Honorable Nathan Not votes green.
Honorable Herman M. Daniels Jr., how do you vote?
>> I vote green.
>> Honorable Herman M. Daniels Jr. votes green. Honorable Arvin Mitchell, how do you vote?
>> I vote agree.
>> Honorable Arvin Mitchell does agree.
Madam Chair, you have four in favor, zero opposed and one not voting.
>> Thank you for that, Tremaine. Four in favor zero opposed, chair not voting. We appreciate again, Mr. Vogen. We appreciate your time uh in presenting to this committee. We look forward to having many more discussions on how you can assist the Navajo Nation.
>> You bet. Thank you for having me and have a wonderful day.
>> Thank you. And just FYI, Mr. Oram, I did uh text Delegate Cra to let her know. Um so she'll probably be reaching out. I'll be sharing your contact information with her.
>> Okay. Wonderful. I'll look forward to it. Thanks again.
>> Thank you. So with that, committee members, uh we are now moving down to the next item on the agenda. We do have a report uh from Jarvis Williams, town manager from Kanta Township, Cayanta, Arizona on the status of the fire department and police and uh st taking steps to secure local police officers in Cayanta. That was a request uh to present this report. We do have uh Mr. Ed Seaton, uh Mr. Lorenzo Curley and then also uh Chief Silvermith who are currently at the law and order committee building. Uh do we have Mr. Jarvis Williams who is in attendance?
Delegate Mitchell.
>> Good morning. He is in attendance.
>> He is.
>> I guess.
>> Okay. Great. Thank you Mr. Williams for being in attendance. I think you presented to this committee before. You have 20 minutes to provide your information. If you need additional time, please let us know. Uh we can grant up to 10 minutes um additional time. If you want to ask for five minutes, that's okay, too. As long as there's no objections from the committee members. Um if you complete your presentation prior to the 20 minutes being completed, just please let us know and we'll go ahead and um we'll then turn the floor over to committee members for questions. Before I call for a motion and a second, do you have any questions regarding the procedure at this time?
>> I do not.
>> Okay. Committee members, uh, Mr. Jarvis Williams is in attendance. On behalf of Cayenta, do we can I get a motion and a second at this time?
>> Delegate Mitchell, I'll establish that motion.
>> Delegate Mitchell is going to go ahead and make a motion. Can I get a second?
>> Madam chair, second that motion.
>> Second made by delegate Titus Nez. Mr. Williams, I'm going to go ahead and turn the floor over to you for 20 minutes.
Uh, the floor is yours.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair, and members of the lawn committee. Oh, >> good.
>> Yes, we're good.
>> Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair, and members of the law and order meeting. I appreciate the time. I know you all have busy schedules um to make time to hear my my presentation. So, I'll I'll go ahead and move through these um slides.
If you don't have it, I did send it to Line, I believe.
>> Okay. If not, um I'll I'll go ahead and and um move through the the presentation.
Uh the first slide when you look at it, it has a statement at the bottom coming from title two. Uh which I I I take to be very true. Uh the camp township commission has shall have the authority, duty and responsibility to perform all functions necessary for local self-government.
um when I speak to a lot of folks about you know what the Kim Township is um that's one of the the the statement that I go back to because there's a lot in there uh to unpack and really um it took just assuming that responsibility to to make things move and and that's that's what we've done in the last couple of years um since the commission has taken me on as their town manager and has given me um a wide area to to perform. So, but one as it relates to law and order committee, you turn to the third page.
The establishment of the Kansas Township was mainly for economic development reasons. And how that relates to law and order is that public safety is a primary component of economic development.
And we realized that um in the last couple of years as we tried to uh create several initiatives to stimulate the e economy in in Kona and when you look at some of those things uh public safety is a big part of it. Uh the fourth slide is just some demographics to give you an idea, but I'm going to I'm going to be flashing back here um just to give you all an idea and not take up too much of of the committee's time.
Um when we look at the key and the township and its boundaries, you look at all of those things that are contained within it. That would be your revenue. Uh the different levels of jurisdiction, enforcement, capacity, and management all are major components of local government.
Okay.
>> You don't have the presentation. Okay. I guess I I do apologize for not sending that out. Um and as it relates to the Kansas Fire Department, um about a year ago, we realized that um we needed a to create a better relationship with the Naval Nation Fire Department. And the Kanza Fire Department, uh which is fully funded by the Kansas Township, carries about a $1.6 million budget within the Kansas Township. uh about 1 million in salary and benefits uh to care for 12 Arizona certified firefighters. Um a lot of our our biggest arguments there um was the repair maintenance. Uh those units, those fire units um are expensive to maintain and they're really meant to run on paved roads and so when we take them off roads that's when you know a lot of the the components start to act up. So having to get those repaired is is pretty costly. Um but we recently moved to a 48 96 hour shift um that provides more reliable and guaranteed coverage for the community. Now how that impacts the Navon Nation fire is that the Navon Nation fire has a different type of um management system that they use within the Kansas Township. providing reliable response is one of the main components of of local government. Um being able to um tell the residents that we are there and we are there to respond in a timely manner should there be a need for any type of first responding service.
Uh we also provide CPR AED uh courses for the public. We create um we also do firefighting or fire teaching courses where we hand out fire extinguishers to uh attendees.
All of those things um allowed us to move our ISO score from a 10 to a six.
and in in in our capacity being able to move from from that to where we're at now is uh pretty substantial. Um, we do have one of the only fire ladder trucks uh on the Navajo Nation, but we do that because we have a couple of buildings that are multi-storied and uh the ladder truck is necessary in the case of a an incident.
But having that capacity to have that type of equipment is important as it relates to economic development because we're out there not just to care for the community but also care for our residents and our business community and economic development. Um finding ways to um be more responsive um to the general public and our businesses is is key.
Included in that is is a five-year um strategic plan that was put together um with the staff and the commission together. And part of that it includes transformation for better infrastructure to strengthen economic opportunities and to build trust within the community.
Uh in the next 5 years, we hope to establish a foundation of modern local governance that will far exceed uh any type of governance on the Navajo Nation as it relates to local government. Our public services uh right now are dependable. Could they be better? They can be. The community right now we believe does have a certain level of trust with the government. Um but we think it could be more. And that's where we're coming today.
um in that as part of economic development, having a key uh having public safety as a key partner uh in that process is is one of the main goals that we have here. Um, of course, within our public safety plans, we want to build a new fire department, but we can't do that until we get an an agreement in place. And um the agreement now I believe lies with um DOJ. We did uh uh send our responses back to DOJ and now we're just waiting for their response and uh ready to move uh the agreement forward. We feel like um having that agreement in place will uh provide responsibilities for the Navajo Nation fire and the Kenta Township.
Right now, the Kansas Township Fire Department does respond to incidences outside of our boundaries and we do that at an extended cost um to our local taxpayers.
Uh and that's what the agreement is there to outline. Um how will the Navajo Nation fire um assist the K Township in its effort to protect the residents of of the Navajo Nation?
included in that uh is also including our community outreach. Uh we're modernizing our cyber security measures.
Um and we take every opportunity um to improve and the other aspect of of of the public safety conversation is uh the improved relationship with our police department.
in in our presentation. Um there there are statistics attached. Uh we did request some statistics running from January 2020 to April 2026.
And there's just a list of um calls um that I can list here. Simple assault, family offenses, aggravated assault, drunkenness, homicide, liquor law violations, drug narcotic uh offenses, and and they are attached. So committee members when I get back to the office I can send it to you and you'll be able to see for it yourselves. But from it you know I can I can come back and say that the results uh if you look at 2025 only one DUIs recorded. Uh there were zero liquor law violations and there were zero drug narcotic violations. We did have 11 violations for drunkenness.
Um, and what that means is, you know, it's it's a it's a different message. Um, because it brings back the concerns that we have with law enforcement in that, uh, maybe they're not on the same page as as our commission or the the the township as an organization when it comes to protecting the community.
Um, one of the biggest complaints that we have from our residents is uh the removal of bootleggers.
We know they're in the community and but uh we don't have um any cases or any of them being shut down. They're all still there. Um and we feel like um law enforcement is a a large component of of seeing those uh individuals moved out of the community and on when you and the statistics um back it up because we only have um we have zero liquor law violations. Um and that's that's I think that's an issue.
Um, one of the issues that we have, um, in speaking with the local prosecutor is that, um, the drug testing provisions, uh, they have to send it down to Phoenix, uh, which becomes a problem because there's a time constraint there and, uh, is really a non-incentive for law enforcement to, to take individuals in for for drug testing or or any any any, um, type of, crimes being prosecuted for drug violations. And if prosecutor actually asked us if we could build a drug testing facility on in Kenta so that we could um so he could move those cases a lot faster.
So things like that I think outsourcing the technology is is a good thing for for the Navajo Nation would be a good thing for the Ki Township to do as well because it would help us to move some of these individuals that are problems within the community.
So when you get the presentation you can take a look at the statistics but the other problem that we have is there's a a online perception that Ki is dangerous and I if you go to punch in Kanta crime rate on Google right now it will it will give you um the the perception that Kanta has a high crime rate if it was to be given a letter grade, it would be given a letter grade of a D minus that um the crime levels in the Kenza area are 36 to 42% above the national average.
Um and it says talks about visitor safety.
While some visitors report feeling safe in the area, others note the importance of securing vehicles and personal belongings. That is that is true. We do have a lot of um u folks breaking into vehicles uh visitors uh at our hotels and um you know we don't see the the we know some of these items are returned which means that the law enforcement went over there and took them from the the individuals.
Were they prosecuted? Um if you look at the statistics um it would tell you that no they're not being processed that way because there are almost no um burglary or breaking and entering very little amount but we know it's happening. And so things like that that if we had uh better communication, uh stronger partnership with law enforcement, uh perhaps through an agreement, we might see those numbers increase and a deterrence initiative could be created.
Um, so that's that's part of that idea of of creating an agreement between NAVO Navajo Nation um police because we realize now safe communities does equal more revenue and it's surprising. Uh, I'm looking forward to hearing the campaigns from all the the president um candidates and seeing what their perspectives are regarding public safety and its impact on economic development because having a safer community, we can tell you um does equal more revenue. The community does want to feel safe. The business community needs a safe environment to succeed.
Um, one of the commissioners uh have always told us, hey, you know what, you need to create an environment for businesses to succeed. And public safety is a large part of that. Um, I always give the example that if you have a business person that has $20 million burning a hole in his pocket and wants to build somewhere, is he going to build in a community where there's a ton of graffiti and a lot of trash, or is he going to pick a community that is cleaner, no graffiti, has better public safety?
I think he would choose the latter.
Um, and that's Ki and we, you know, the numbers show it.
In Kenta, we picked up the trash. We removed the graffiti. We brought in mobile uh surveillance camera units. We updated our cyber security. We invested more dollars in fire department and infrastructure. We marketed the town.
The result was an increased interest in Ki. And one of the last pages you see um our revenue collections um steadily increase from um FY 2023. And you see it steadily increase and the the the slide I have um attached to this presentation um is about 5 months into the fiscal year. So we were we are uh headed in the direction to uh increase our FY2025 numbers which will get us close to pre-COVID revenue numbers which is a good thing because um the whole effort has been trying to recover from the closure of Kenta mine and the impacts of CO 19.
On the last one of the last slides uh we have um the idea of local law enforcement. Why why would we have more of a say in it? There direct community benefits. Our our community would get to know the officers as well as the officers getting to know our community.
Um there would be improved uh public trust. Um there would be responsive leadership on both sides. Um we would be able to the officers would have enhanced intelligence on the community on what's going on.
uh they're thereby allowing for resource optimization of of how they allocate them and how they would communicate with community leadership.
On the career side, we feel like there would be uh increased stability. The officers would not be um moved around.
They would be able to stay in Kent, raise their families and be a part of the community they protect. And um so those are some of the the things that we're looking at uh as an organization and feel like the increased partnership whether it's through an agreement or through uh the township acquiring its own police department um would see uh the direct relationship between public safety and increased economic development. So I wanted to share that with the law and order committee. Um, and you know, part of part of what we do um at the Kenda Township is to try to uh keep the community members and the council uh informed of kind of what we're doing at the Kenza Township as uh we may not get a lot of attention. So, we tried to come up here and and do our part to to keep the community members informed. So, uh, with that, Madam Chair and members of the law and order committee, I I do want to conclude my presentation, but I do have here with me our our secretary of the commission, former chairman, um, Mr. Ed Seaton. Uh, I'm not sure if he wanted to chime in for a few minutes if that's okay, Madam Chair.
>> Yes, you can use the remaining time.
>> 1391.
>> 139. Wait a minute.
Um order No less conso subsidiary.
Every so often.
No, call.
You have to tell Leonard this Candice Township is still alive.
The the town manager chapter president Elbert Bailey early 1980s starting they Peterson chairman legislation.
Thank you, Madam Chair, for the extra time. Uh, and members of the law committee, that concludes our presentation.
>> Thank you for that, Mr. Williams. So with that, committee members, we just received a presentation from the Kanta Township. We have a motion that was established by delegate Urban Mitchell, a second by Delegate Titus Nes.
Committee members, are there any questions to the report at this time, >> Madam Chair?
>> Yes, yours.
>> I have uh probably some couple questions and some comments.
I know. Let me I have a I have a hard copy slide here.
So, I'll refer some questions to that slide. Going to your uh your revenues going to your revenues. a it uh you have from 2021 FY 2021 to FY 2026 uh to FY 2025 is probably uh your high earning revenue of 8.8 8 million.
>> Mhm.
A a question for FY26, you did state that you're you're in your your sixth month or seventh month fiscal year a a 5.1.
So question um is which I think you said you you'll exceed the FY25 revenues. Okay. So that that'll be question one. So question number two a let me just go back to FY25 uh 8.8 revenues your revenue so out of that 8.8 revenue um your your fire department um expense is 1.6 million 1.6 6 million. So question is the 1.6 is that part of the 8 8.8 uh revenue that that that you earn. So your total revenue is 8.8. So one of your expenses um the fire department 1.6. So that that'll be question number two. The other one is um comment. Um we did a meeting over at Monmouth Valley um travel center, visitor center a couple months ago and we sat when we had some presentation from from local folks that live within Cayenta. And I think one of the items that they um that they mentioned was that you know the bootleg the bootleg in and Cayenta then also that there's people that live that that sits in these areas that also selling drugs and all that. I think uh those were the main items that they mentioned is that u the bootlegging and also those those individual that sits at certain places to sell drugs. I think those were uh what I heard uh during that time. So what um LOC what we're doing right now is that we're amending title 17 title 17 and we're having our public hearings uh within the application. So you know if you if you have time I think we have one in Montazuma Creek next Wednesday next Wednesday.
>> Tuesday next Tuesday. So hang out there.
we can um you can provide comments and how you can put more teeth into title 17 out. Uh the other one a question.
I think I heard that you're having um an agreement going through a process where you want to take over the fire activities the fire department from that whole nation. I think that's what I've heard. So, you know, I I I like to um probably relearn a lot more because there's for Apache County, we have um a fire department that's being run by Apache County over in not Sanders and also I believe Gado and we're getting into some of these financial difficulties because a lot of these um counties they use tax to to to operate.
Um and of course we the net people we don't we don't pay tax. So you know we get a little little back in return in terms of um fire.
So I'd like to know more about it. I know that um fire and rescue and then also um other services within division of public safety. Um they're they're working on agreements how navigation can assist in some of these areas where um Z patch county then also probably can head to township too.
I don't know. So that's why I said I'd like more information on on the agreements. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Those are my few questions and also some comments.
>> Thank you for that, Delegate Mitchell.
I'm going to go and turn the floor over at this time to Mr. Williams to answer those questions. Mr. Williams.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair.
And again, um, Doug Mitchell, thank you so much for the, uh, the questions.
And the revenues, um, yes, we are we still are on a track um, this year to exceed our revenues for 2025.
And um, of uh, 2025's revenue was 8.8 million. Uh, we are on track to expand that this year. And yes, the the fire department's budget is 1.6 6 million which is out of that 8.8 million which is one of the concerns that uh the commission has. Uh they recognize that public safety is expensive.
Um so finding ways to cost share partner um any anything like that um is beneficial to uh to the organization to the community overall. Um we want to provide uh the best coverage we can uh using uh the budget in the best possible way. So optimizing our resources um to develop partnerships to help keep those costs um as minimal as we can u but still providing the best um protection for the community and uh the fire department we do have in Kia uh the building that they're in does belong to the NAVO Nation um but we are receiving any maintenance dollars for it. So the organization has taken the initiative to uh take do those repairs on our own. Uh we just simply notify Naval Nation Maintenance that we're going to do these repairs.
Um again like I mentioned before we have 12 certified um firefighters and um they do a really good job. our response time is is is very low within the community and um you know every time you drive by the fire department you can always see um there's someone there and it makes people feel safe right there knowing that um we have firefighters available at all times and um yeah title 17 we've been keeping track of all of the amendments and uh we look forward to seeing the um the amendment move all the way through to council and get approved Any any other comments? We we'll make our way over to Mona Creek to offer any comments.
I hope I answered all your >> bootlegging.
>> Oh, the bootlegging.
>> Yes. Um that that is an issue. Uh we feel like if we have a good relationship with the police department, there might be a larger focus to remove that kind of activity um outside the boundaries. And uh because it's been there for a long time, a lot of committee members have just kind of accepted it. And so changing it um doesn't really um change things. But, you know, um we we've had we've experienced um a lot of incidents um where we think twice about that relationship that we have with just letting bootleggers go.
Um and we want to change that. We want to change it for the better. And we feel like if we have a good relationship with um uh law enforcement that we can partner and uh do the best we can to protect community from from that kind of activity. Uh we know um liquor in itself is is legalized on a nation just needs the approval of the chapter but uh there is yet to be a business that uh wants to take on that challenge. In the meantime, um you know, we we would like to to do our best to protect the community and um you know, remove those types of activities. Uh I did mention to the commission that um we could uh remove the homesite leases from those individuals if they were to be uh convicted of bootlegging.
um it is against homesite lease rules already, but that enforcement on that portion is one, um we'd like to take on and u make it part of a key to law enforcement. And if we're able to do that, then I think that sends a different message out to to folks that want to participate in that kind of activity.
Madam Chair, >> thank you for that. Mr. Williams, Delegate Mitchell, does that answer all of your questions?
>> Yes.
>> Thank you for that, Delegate Mitchell.
Committee members, are there any other questions or comments at this time for Mr. Williams?
>> Madam Chair, this is Delegate Daniels.
>> Delegate Daniels. floor is yours.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair, colleagues, law order committee members staff, Mr. Williams, thank you for the report.
Thank you for the update.
Uh, Mr. Thank you.
I'm looking at the the slides township the budget economic development public safety 2026 to 2030.
Some of some of the plans, build new fire department, increase community outreach, modernize cyber security to Chicago in regards to revenues township township.
It became a township.
to the state.
Township managers members revenues that is going into Kent Township. A lot of those revenues are coming from the surrounding communities like for for example Shanto Navajo Mountain.
I see a lot of them at bashes when I when I go there.
when it comes to Wednesdays.
So, a lot of the revenues I know valley. Um when was it that the other night um I seen some fire trucks going down that way though I know we get help from Ki Township if there's like an accident or if there's a some type of incident in Valley area township the firef fire department that's how they assist but other other communities Force, but I I support I support the township and don't get me wrong, but I I support the township.
Um, in regards to um the the public safety township police district that they served Other communities are going like the Neo Mountain, Shanto, Inscription House towards um Rough Rock area all the way down to Mexican water.
Sometimes district for Kent Township to have their own public safety at these police districts across the nation.
Right now it's an election election season.
Next year Jan come come January there's going to be new delegates new nation president vice president.
So there's going to be new leaders, new leadership.
Um just like for for me I I support K Township. I don't know the new the incoming delegate because I'm not running sh I'm not running again this next term but the incoming delegate I don't know if he or she would support township.
Thank you.
>> Not your put your phone on mute. We can hear your conversation.
>> Okay. Sorry.
>> Uh Shi delegate Daniels, that wasn't like a like a like anything to try to get you to close up your time. So did you were you still talking vice chair no make sure your your phone is on mute delegate >> Daniel >> yes yeah thank you that that that's I just want to say that maybe just a comments and just questions here and there thank you >> thank you Shia so I think right now what I can say in terms of the commitment uh here from law and order committee uh we do support Kayenta Township. I think there's there's a lot more questions uh that have to be a answered. And unfortunately, I will say, Mr. Williams, that um you're going to have to start this all back up again next year um in January. Uh I know that we have been trying to move forward with um the requests for assisting Cayanta Township uh with the with the first responders.
But at this time um you know it's really unfortunate that uh we start to build on this you know moving things forward and then we come back to election. So, as delegate Shia delegate Daniel stated, you know, right now we, you know, every delegate and, you know, the president is up for reelection. Um, and that happens every four years. So, when we start to build this momentum, we wind up, you know, having to kind of pause and, um, you know, we're and then I guess a new council comes into play. Um, so I I don't know at this point how much the committee can do to try to assist in terms of of funding um through Navajo Nation Council. I think there's still a lot of questions as to how the commission currently receives revenue.
So, um you would have to, you know, the the township would have to give the budget forms um to council during during budget year. So, you would have to tell us how much money you guys are currently receiving for your revenue and then how much money goes out to all of your programs that you guys are using funds for. So, that information will have to be shared with the Navajo Nation. Uh and then I know that we had discussions with Monument Valley um fire department as well which Navajo Nation is trying to purchase from San Juan County. We started moving forward um to to make that happen because we currently own Navajo Nation owns that hotel that's right next door to the Monument Valley Fire Department. Um, so I think that um in terms of um getting assistance, I I hate to be the one to tell you this, but I think the Monument Valley Fire Department is going to be priority um to purchase that fire department because it's right next door to the new property that has been purchased by the Navajo Nation. Uh and then you know assisting um Kante because you guys are like 30 you know 30 like what 30 miles in distance um with each other. Um so I'm not sure exactly like with this report what you're requesting from the law and order committee. Um but just know that budget is coming up right um here we're going to be having our budget uh sessions and then we can move forward.
Um, so I guess my my question to you directly is Mr. Williams, um, what are you requesting from the law and order committee? And I asked that so that we can start preparing. Mr. Williams, >> thank you, Madam Chair.
What we're asking from the committee here is to open the door for discussion on an agreement regarding law enforcement.
So that um you know we understand that you know it's election year and that you know this is conversation um will most likely continue into next year. But I think getting the the discussion started with the Navajo Nation in regards to um the needs of law enforcement and how we think it should uh change for the benefit of the folks over in Kienza. Um, I think we can start that conversation and begin to uh inform the committee of just kind of where Kenta Township is at, where it's going, and what we're looking for, and how much we think public safety plays a part in economic development in Kensa.
We um so that's that's pretty much it's it's not a big ask. Um but we certainly would like to uh begin that conversation. Uh the long order committee uh has a lot of um insight and information in regards to some of the the wants of uh the Kent to township in regards to um law enforcement and we would certainly like to have a conversation with the community about that.
>> Thank you for that, Mr. Williams. Um, so when you're talking about an agreement with law enforcement, I know we have Is Chief Silvermith still in the room?
>> No, he left.
>> Oh, darn. Okay. Um, so yes, we can help to facilitate those meetings um to to discuss >> Oh, Lorraine, did you were you gonna say something else?
>> Yeah, he's on the call.
>> Oh, uh, Chief Silvermith, can you hear me? Can you unmute him, Lorraine?
Chief Silvermith, can you hear me?
>> Chief Silvermith, can you hear me?
Hello, Chie Silvermith.
So, um, Mr. Williams, we can certainly, the law order committee can certainly, um, assist you in, uh, you know, in like with the fire department and with the police department. I I I think there's just still a lot of questions um regarding revenue because right now we have Perco Valley Valley that has been asking for help, you know, but they receive state revenue. Uh we also have um I want to say Gennado Fire Department that's also been asking for assistance.
Um but they also receive county and state funding. Um, and then you know, we have KANTA that's a part of the Navajo Nation that's been requesting um I guess assistance in acquiring buildings that we've been trying to assist. I'm This is uh I guess maybe if I'm wrong, I I apologize, but this is the first time I'm hearing about the um like the police uh I guess agreement. Mr. uh Chief Silvermith, are you did you unmute yourself?
>> Yes, ma'am. I did. Uh, >> I'm ahead. Uh, Chief Silvermith, were you able to hear uh the request coming from Cana Township in terms of um what they're what they're asking for the law and order committee? Do you have any feedback to that?
>> Um, I have been uh listening and following along. Um it would probably require um discussions involving the Navajo Department of Justice uh due to the fact that we are a contracted program um that provides law enforcement services within the the entire Navajo Nation um regardless u of the uh township status, but that would be probably better stated by the Navajo Department of Justice. So, um it it has been uh talked about, but it never really came to light from previous uh law enforcement administrators. But I think uh I would be uh in the same situation with you all. uh considering uh we have elections coming up and we also have budget processes coming up and um the fact that uh Navajo Nation law enforcement will have to still occupy the uh facility there uh because it is a Navajo Nation owned um facility. So uh Navan Nation Police Department would still be um conducting business out of the uh Cayenta facility because we still have to address like Shan said we still have to address Navajo Mountain and other uh communities surrounding uh the Kenta township. So it would require a really indepth further discussion as far as uh uh any changes in um township uh city limits or or town limits. Uh so it is uh a big endeavor that they're bringing upon themselves. Thank you.
>> Thank you for that. Chief Silver Smith.
Uh Mr. Williams, do you have any um like any reply that you'd like to give at this time?
>> Thank you, Madam Chair.
There we go. Thank you. I I appreciate um the time from the committee and the comments from uh Mr. Silvermith. And yeah, we we would um certainly look forward to the discussions uh to DOJ regarding the contracted services uh that PD has with the Navon Nation and uh really begin that indepth discussion that he mentioned. Um, you know, uh, it's just, uh, we wanted to get these things, uh, moving in the right direction and, um, you know, the fire department, I believe, will have a a positive outcome.
Uh, right now, we don't receive any funding from Naval County. They want us to create a um, which changes um, how the the Kent Township uh, operates its services. Um and so you know those discussions we can have um you know uh so we we'd certainly like to to have have have dates set out for those meetings and so we can begin that discussion but certainly uh the leadership at the Kenza Township uh has really fully taken on the responsibility of caring for the health and welfare of the community and if if if that does mean you know we move in the direction of contracting our own law enforcement.
Uh we'd certainly like to have those discussions with the Navajo Nation uh to see how that would look like.
>> Uh thank you for that, Mr. Williams. So I will tell you right now uh that is not possible. Uh we have federal laws that we have to um that we have to abide by.
That would mean that the Kay Township would have to meet with the Department of Interior to request to contract out law enforcement. Um, and that would be a tough ask. Uh, I know that there are other tribes right now that are requesting that. Um, and it's been years, um, maybe even a decade or longer that a lot of these tribes, um, that's not happening. Uh because the the police department right now is under a 638 contract with the Department of Interior and they do receive funds directly from the Department of Interior. Um if you did contract out law enforcement, I know that we've had this discussion with Department of Interior. Uh they would not fund you. Um, and you would be developing your own law enforcement that you would be paying for 100% along with insurance, along with um the benefits. Uh, all of that would be would have to be covered under Canta. And I know that right now um I don't know if you guys can handle that. if you guys can create your own law enforcement. Uh and then that would also probably lead to the detention center being fully funded 100% by Cayanta Township. Um so funds would be pulled back. Uh, and I I I know this because uh we uh there was another tribe, I believe it was um out of that was also looking to to do this and Department of Interior came out to say, "Well, yeah, you guys can fund your own law enforcement, but uh like there would be absolutely no federal funds coming in because we wouldn't approve it." And the only way that federal funds would be given is if Department of Interior approved it. And they said that they were not because of the limited amount right now. I believe Department of Interior submitted their unmet needs and right now just for operational um is at 2.1 I think it's 2.9 million right now. I know 2.9 billion right now is their unmet needs just for operations to operate and to assist 166 tribal nations plus the 33 BIA law enforcement offices that they have. Um, I'm not sure if that's what you're talking about or if you're talking about using Cayanta Township to supplement um law enforcement, like one law enforcement position to stay within Cayanta, but we can certainly um sit down to get more um like specifics from you uh in this capacity in terms of um assisting Cayenta.
Are there any other questions or comments at this time? Committee members, uh, delegate NZ, go ahead. The floor is yours. Okay. Uh, Madam Chair, thank you very much. Otto, Mr. Williams, uh, for that presentation you provided for us today with law and order committee to uh, Chief Silvermith as well. Um, I I I kind of uh, this is sort of a comment. Um I' I've been doing heavy research on this as a chapter coordinator prior to becoming as a delegate. Uh we've been really looking at the Kante Township model um in terms of providing uh public ser public safety uh community development to our our community of Pinedale in New Mexico. And uh I know we were looking at the Rama Navajo chapter how they have their own police. Uh they they do 638 contract with the Department of Interior. Uh I do like the idea that Mr. William is talking about with K Township to provide their own police. I I have been um talking to my leadership in uh Pinedale similar with that situation only because um of uh the um I guess you could say that uh our law enforcement availability within the Pinedale, Church Rock, Mar Lake area is um pretty much um sparse.
So we were looking at the idea as well uh and but it's it's still just a discussion for us in Pinedale. But um as as I have stated before um to chapter leadership um also our state uh delegation and county delegation letting them know that I you know I think it's time that we pretty much build our own police force as well. Um I do know it is far far-fetched at the federal level. Um but we're talking about election now and with the political dynamics in Washington. um you know there's a favorability that uh we'll be able to advocate heavily for additional uh funds um next fiscal year for our our tribal government. But uh I I I do think we we could support um the Kanta Township on this um you know as as KA started they started a pilot project for a township back in the 80s. So this would be another pilot project uh that they could start for law enforcement. Um and that you know it would be similar like to the city of Gallup how they sometimes provide services outside their city limit within you know a certain distance. But I do like the idea. I I I do I do heavily support uh Kanta Township on this and I I do hope that this dis discussion continues on you know whether we could you know get that contract to Cayanta in the in the future to see where where it would lead. But uh I do like the discussion here. I do like um I do like hearing the you know the pros and cons of of this whole discussion. So uh I just want to thank Mr. William for that report and for bringing this to the law order committee and you know letting win the rock know that you know there is someone out there on the Navajo Nation that is wanting to provide more services to their community. So in addition madam chair to my colleagues on the law and order committee and then our staff as well.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for that, Delegate Nez. And and please, if if the both of you, since this is what your chapters want, um because we have we have met with OM, White House, OM, we have met with um attorneys, uh tribal attorneys. We have met with um attorneys like uh through NARF Native American Rights Fund. We have met with um people through the tribal interior budget council. We have met with tribal leaders even at the Coalition of Large Tribes. Uh what you guys are talking about right now. if if either of you can you know sit down and and explain to us what your plan is then please share that with us because legally and um you know it's it's doable but it comes back to the funding. So if your chapters want to create their own law enforcement, just know that um you guys would be responsible.
And right now uh Navajo Nation does get a couple of million a year, that's not enough. So, if your chapters can can um handle $2 million a year without coming back to the Navajo Nation and without getting fed federal funds, uh then I think, you know, I mean, I support it.
Uh but your chapters cannot use chapter funds because within the laws that's not allowed. Um, unless you I mean I think right now um your chapters get how much for your PEP workers and then how much do they get for personnel?
I I I I I guess I'm just trying to figure out how you guys would do this because be mindful that right now the federal government is saying that they can't take on any more um like any more funding to distribute to to the tribal nations and whatever funding you get gets divided into 166 tribes because you cannot go to Washington DC and ask for Navajo Nation to get an increase in funding. You can go to the federal government and you can request that public safety get an increase in funding and they may they haven't honored it in the last decade but they may be able to do that which would then be divided into 166 tribes. So unless you guys have a way to um you know to approach Congress with this um you know please share that with me because I have been racking my brains for eight years now um along with other tribal leaders along with attorneys who have you know who have accompanied us to ask Congress to increase the funding right now for public safety. And uh that's why we were here for police week uh is we've been making that request. We've come up with ideas on ways to do that. Right now, our request is for um direct spending uh for contract support services uh which will push Congress to fund our contract support services so that there's money left over in the Department of Interior for public safety to address some of the concerns.
Um so, yeah, it sounds like a great idea. But if you guys can logistically draw it out for for us, I think that that would be very helpful. Um, so I will I will say, you know, I I'm open I am open to can getting their own law enforcement for delegate Titus Nez's chapters to get their own law enforcement, but draw out logistically how you guys are are going to address this issue because even Congress wants to know without giving more funding.
They want to know how we can fix this.
So, um I'm open to hearing that and I'm sure Chief Silver Smith is also open to hearing that because we do need more funding. Uh that does need to come down and we have been advocating now on this issue for years. Uh, Delegate Mitchell, I don't know if you can chime in on this, um, how we can address this. Uh, but, um, I think with federal funds, it's very limited. And, um, you know, we've been requesting an increase, but it hasn't happened. Um, so please, you know, if you, if you guys both want to, you know, schedule a meeting so you guys can can draw it out for us, I would really appreciate that.
Are there any other questions or comments at this time?
>> Madam Chair, >> yes, Delegate Mitchell, the floor is yours.
>> Thank you. I'm sitting here thinking too how an entity will get direct funding from 638 from DC.
Um, yep.
for for Rama. I know that they get they get it through Albuquerque Albuquerque office, not directly to them.
And then for for us naval, you know, we get it through naval nation.
So to me, the easier way to do it is that just you need to stay under the umbrella of navalation.
then use an use some agreements to sort a contract with navigation on how you can uh provide services additional services within Cayenta district. So that that might be a better way. So, like like like we stated, we probably still need to look into um how we can how we can do this because for Perco Valley um the fire rescue and then also the ambulance services, they're working on an agreement.
They're working on an agreement. see how we can provide services where Brit Valley can't provide services or at Canada.
So I think I think that might be a better way then the other one the other one a a question here you know you you read uh you read and then also you hear public comments from Cayanta you know Cayanta chapter members there always a disagreement with the township and all that so if anything that's going be agreed with Navajo. I guess you need to first hurdle the chapter over there, making sure that there there chapter is is an agreement with what's been happening at the township because you always hear and you always read, oh, we we we we don't agree with the township or vice versa and all that. Um I don't know if um how well you work with um the Kinta chapter because there's still there's still one at the 110 chapter.
There's still one at the 110 chapter.
They're still within the navalation of a so those are uh comment then also a question on can chapter back to you.
Uh, thank you for that, Delegate Mitchell. So, um, yes, that is, uh, certainly, Jarvis, a a hurdle that, um, that you guys have to, I guess, get over. Um, like a hurdle that you guys have to jump over or a hurdle that you guys are going to have to address. Um because uh we do uh we do hear um you know we hear report from township and then we also get information from the chapter.
So the chapter is um basically saying don't give township any money they don't need any money or they don't need like it should be coming through the chapter.
So, it's really hard because um you guys are coming before us now asking for these things, but we still have to go to the chapter because they're still under the Navajo Nation. Um and police department kind of gets caught up in, you know, trying to address these issues as well because you have a township and then you have a chapter. So, it's always a question of who's speaking on behalf of the Navajo Nation and and I, you know, it's it's it's something that has to be addressed internally. So I think during the 24th NAVO Nation Council that question was brought up. Should the township be eliminated and we only work with the chapter or should the chapter be eliminated and we only work with the township? That is a decision that the Kanta community is going to have to decide.
But right now there's two competing governing systems in place that we here at council we have to try to balance it out. So, just know that that is a hurdle um that has to be overcome. I see that somebody has their hands up from the law and order committee. Uh Lorraine, who has her hands up from LLC?
>> Nobody.
>> Okay. Uh committee members, are there any other questions or comments at this time?
>> Madam Chair, I just have a vice >> chair not the floor is yours.
Um, can you hear me?
>> Um, >> yes, we can hear you.
>> Um, just a quick question. Um, I was confused with the presentation whether you wanted an agreement or were requesting some funds. I think you mentioned and indicated that uh the police department right now works on with 1.6 million. If you're requesting additional funds uh and a ballpark uh figure, what what would that amount be?
Uh ballpark figure.
Madam chair, that's my question.
>> Thank you for that, Vice Chair. Uh Mr. Williams.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair.
I I'll I'll go back to um Delegate Mitchell's question about the relationship with the chapter and uh just clear up any confusion you might have uh regarding both um within the Kansas community. You know, the Kansas Township is responsible for 3,66 acres while the Kent chapter is responsible for 511,000.
Um there is a leadership u there the cancer chapter that um works well with the township.
Um and you know that's all it really needs an understanding between the two. Uh we look at it more as a city county relationship between the two. Um issues in the past are issues in the past. uh when we're looking forward um we're looking at um working together partnership and when we win they win.
So um we like it that way. We um I think we've seen some benefits there. And as it relates to uh delegate not or vice chair no in regards to the ballpark figure of the police department um we don't have a ballpark figure. Um you know we simply want to start the discussion. That's not just you know we didn't come in here to say we're going to answer it today. Uh no. Um but it really is to just let the committee know that the K Township is interested in having that discussion.
Um, how does it look? Uh, as I mentioned earlier, we don't know what it looks like. If we, uh, if it seems more to the advantage to supplement rather than create our own police department, um, we can try that route, you know, and if it doesn't work, the whole idea um, with either one of those paths is to create a safer community.
And the statistics that we shared um demonstrate that there's not a uh good communication between the current leadership within the Kenta Police Department and the Ki Township.
And that's something that we feel like can be rectified with an agreement.
and how that agreement spells out. You know, that's something worth having as a discussion and moving forward. So, um we do appreciate the committee's time and u the insight into into um all the questions that you have about the kins township and and that's part of the reason for coming up here is to answer those questions and to give you more insight uh about the kin to township and how it operates.
um so that you know you can hear from the hor's mouth so to speak. Um we certainly invite you to come over take a look at our operation and how we do things and um you know just give you a better sense of what we see on a daily basis and how we view things. Um thank you Madam Chair.
>> Thank you for that. Committee members, are there I'm sorry, uh, Vice Chair Not, does that answer your question?
Okay, committee members, are there any other questions or comments at this time for Jarvis Williams and his presentation?
Okay, not hearing anything. Uh, we have a motion that was established by Delegate Arban Mitchell, second by Delegate Titus Naz. Committee members, this is the last time I'm going to ask.
Are there any other questions or comments at this time from Mr. Williams?
Not hearing anything. Tmaine, if you can assist us with roll call vote to accept the report that has been provided to us here today by Mr. Jarvis Williams. Uh the report was on the status of the fire department and the police taking steps to secure local police officers in Cayanta.
Germaine.
>> Uh madam chair, members of law order committee, this is roll call vote to accept report B. Um honorable Titus JZ, how do you vote?
>> Green. Thank you.
>> Honorable Titus J. Nez votes green.
Honorable Nathan Not, how do you vote?
I green.
>> Honorable Nathan No votes green.
Honorable Herman M. Daniels Jr., how do you vote?
>> I vote green.
>> Honorable Herman M. Daniels Jr. votes green. Honorable Arvin Mitchell, how do you vote?
>> I vote green.
>> Honorable Arvin Mitchell votes green.
Madam Chair, you have four in favor, zero opposed, and one not voting.
>> Thank you for that. We have four in favor, zero opposed. Chair not voting.
Uh thank you Mr. Williams for uh the report. Mr. Williams, um what I'm going to do is I'm going to ask you to email us. Um so I have it in writing. If you can email us um the request that you have uh from law and order committee, whether it's a request for budget, whether it's a request to um do a sitdown meeting and then tell us who you need to do the sitdown meeting with.
that way uh we're all on the same page and putting it in writing is a little bit easier so that we uh we can honor the request that's coming from Kent Township. So um do you mind putting together that um kind of like an ask of law and order committee for us?
>> Yes, ma'am. I can take care of that for you.
>> I would appreciate that. And that also helps us to keep on track with the stuff that we need to do to help and to assist with Tayanta Township. So committee members, we just now got a report and Mr. Williams, you're excused. So thank you again for providing this report to the law and order committee. Committee members, we are now at full business.
There is none. We're at the close of the meeting. Um in terms of announcements, committee members, are there any announcements that need to be made at this time?
Not hearing anything. Just a reminder, May 26, next week, uh, we do have, is it next week? May Yes, May 26 is on Tuesday. Remember, May 25th, Monday, is Memorial Day. May 26 is when we're gonna have our lawn order committee meeting and it's going to be at the Utah Navajo Health System in Monizuma Creek, Utah.
Lorraine, please work with UNHS um work with I think it's Anith chapter that we're that we're going to be um I guess that the purpose of us having this committee meeting is to to work with Anith Chapter. Can you also make sure that delegate Curtis Yianito is aware of this meeting? And we're going to do a law and order committee meeting. At that same time, we're also going to have a public hearing on title 17.
So, um, Lorraine, we'll go ahead and we'll work on the agenda. We still have to follow what's written in the laws for our agenda, but we can suspend the floor rules to arrange um the way that we schedule our public hearing. So, um, Lorraine, just go ahead and send me that agenda and send it actually to all the committee members what scheduled for May 26. That way, we're aware of it. And then on the day of law and order committee, we can suspend the floor rules maybe to have the public hearing first before anything else. So, um, also June 8th, we have a public hearing/loc meeting at Many Farms Chapter House.
We'll be working with Speaker Curley on that one since she is the delegate for many farms. June 15th, we have St. Michael's Chapter House. Uh we'll be working with Chair Jesus on uh this issue. June 22nd, we have Navajo Technical University uh with Crownpoint.
Uh we do have that meeting scheduled.
June 29th is going to be at Cameron Chapter House. Um, and then I'm going to add three more locations um before we get to July, which is when I'm hoping that we will um have the legislation ready to ready for summer council.
Uh I'm going to add on there um Chin Lee because Chini is one of the largest chapters. I'm going to add on there Tuba City because Tuba City is one of the larger chapters and then we're going to add Shiprock because these three are one chapters and they are the largest chapters. So even though we have close to Chinley, we have many farms, even though we have uh Cameron that's close to Tuba City and we have Annith that's somewhat close to Shiprock, uh we do need to bring it to these three large communities.
Um so just be mindful of that. If Shiprock chapter is not open towards the end of um like coming close to our summer session, we'll probably move it to another northern agency chapter, maybe somewhere in Delegate Rick Naz's area um so that we can update them on this title 17. So we'll be working on that and that will probably be on the next committee meeting um agenda.
Lorraine, go ahead and include that as a discussion topic on what dates we'll be selecting to present before Chinley, Tuba City, and Shiprock.
Uh those are the announcements that we have right now. Um I am in Washington DC committee members. Uh we finished up police week last week. uh talking with Speaker Curley and looking at our finances, it didn't make sense to fly home on Friday only to fly back on Sunday. Um and it was actually $1,700 if I was going to fly fly back into win uh into uh Washington on Sunday. U so I actually just um stayed at family members house. Um, I didn't charge anything to the nation in terms of hotels. Um, so I've been out here since and I'm still here. We we were supposed to have a coalition of large tribes meeting this afternoon. Uh, but that got cancelled and that was the reason why I was coming back in today. Tomorrow we have the Department of Interior Tribal Interior Budget Council meeting and it's only set for two days, the 19th and the 20th. Um, so I am out here. Uh I'll be here on behalf of the Navajo Nation.
Speaker is not coming out here to Washington DC. Uh but right now public safety and justice is um is uh number one in terms of receiving funding. So hopefully we can push that through. Um and so that is the announcement that I have at this time. Committee members again are there any announcements that you wish to share with the committee?
>> Uh madam chair.
>> Yes. Go ahead, delegate Nes.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, w with uh in light of additional uh public hearings, I would respectfully request we can do one additional hearing in Alamo uh chapter. Um I don't know if that's possible or have enough time to host one there as well. Um I think that would be a we could be able to get uh some of our the net people that live you know the toaj Alamo area uh to this public hearing as well for title 17. Uh it's just a recommendation but if it's not possible then it's understandable as well. Thank you madam chair.
>> Yes delegate n we can take that into consideration. Lorraine will probably have to talk about some available dates but we can certainly get that get that scheduled or we can try to get that scheduled before. Right now, uh, summer session is scheduled for July, uh, 20th. Um, so any amendments that need to be made to the Title 17 legislation, we probably have to get it in at the like the last week of June, but that doesn't mean that we can still have public hearings and we can amend the legislation when it gets to LOC. So, um, we'll go ahead and we'll we'll we'll look at our calendar and then we'll decide how do how how we want to address that. Thank you for that. Uh, delegate uh Nez, are there any other questions or comments or any announcements at this time, committee members?
>> Madam Chair, >> yes, >> Lorraine. So, um, also that you have the budget hearing.
>> Yes. Um, Lorraine, what days do we have our budget hearing scheduled for?
>> Okay, for the oversight committees is June starting June 15 through June 26th.
>> June 15th.
>> June 15 through 26.
>> So, we got two weeks of oversight hearing.
>> Yes.
Okay, we'll have to schedule that out.
Lorraine, um, committee members, I recommend that you guys start clearing your calendar so that we can do the committee here. Well, I mean, the good thing is I think we could do this online as well. So, if need be, um, you know, we have a little bit of flexibility.
Uh but we do have to start um we have to figure out Lorraine um how we're going to schedule. Usually with LOC we can get it we can get our um budget hearings done in one week.
Um actually we can get it done Yeah.
Usually it takes us about four days to get it done. So um just be mindful of that. Committee members, uh, I'm going to ask right now, committee members, in terms of your budget days, since we start on the 15th through the 26th, are there any days that you are not available?
I'm not asking about whether you can be there in person. I'm asking are there days that you are not available.
Okay, I don't hear anything. So, Lorraine, we'll go ahead and we'll start scheduling those meetings. Committee members, I am not available on June 15th, the 16th, and the 17th. Uh I was asked to present uh on public safety and justice and how tribes can move forward to request more funding at the National Congress of American Indians midsummer conference. Um so at this point I am planning to attend because we we kind of came up with a plan. Um but we need NCA tribal um I guess tribal leaders to be aware of some of the things that we're pushing for. Uh we also are going to be presenting at the National Congress of American Indians on the prediction market.
Um, I don't know if you guys are aware about the prediction market, but uh, the couple of tribal nations in New Mexico have sued um, Colchi and um, on the prediction market and then the state of Arizona has been sued on prediction market. Just long story short, prediction market is a fancy way of saying that these people are gambling, but these people are not wanting to admit that they're gambling.
Then the tribes have um they can basically boot out those people because tribal gaming we have um we have kind of like a first you know we have first first voice of of any type of gaming it has to come to tribes first.
So these people are claiming that it's not gambling and that it they're they're ter they're calling it prediction markets and um so now tribal nations are starting to um say hey this is actually gambling and these prediction market companies are receiving between I think around 13 billion 12 billion a day in prediction marketing. So, um, NCAI is, um, has requested, you know, that I talk to them, you know, like there there's going to be a few of us that are going to be presenting on prediction markets. Um, and so I was kind of honored that that they reached out to ask if I could sit on a panel. So that the 15th, 16th, and 17th, I will be at the NCI midyear convention. Um, so those days I will not be available. And then on the 18th we have an Arizona tribal leaders meeting. Um so I'm available the 19th, the 23rd, the 24th, and the 26th.
So email me if there are days that you are not available. And also be mindful we can also schedule this meeting through teleconference. That's why I'm saying if you are not available then let me know.
Okay, with that, since there's no other questions, no other comments, I'm not getting any text message, and I don't see any hands up, I'm going to go ahead and call for a roll call vote to adjourn at 10:06 p.m. But committee members, also be mindful, I text you guys. As soon as we adjourn, 30 minutes after, we're going to call a leadership meeting, and that's a leadership meeting with Dana. So, at 10:06 p.m., I'm calling for adjournment. I need a motion and a second to adjurnn.
>> Madam chair, motion to adjurnn.
>> Motion to adjurnn made by delegate Titus Nes.
Can I get a second?
>> Second.
>> Second made by Vice Chair Nathan Not.
Um, Tmaine, if you can assist us with roll call vote to adjourn at 1, I guess it's 10:07 p.m.
>> Madam Chair, members of the committee, this is a vote for adjournment. Um, honorable PZ Jes, how do you vote?
>> I vote green. Thank you.
>> Honorable Jes votes green. Honorable Nathan Not, how do you vote?
>> Green.
>> Nathan not votes green. Honorable Herman N. Daniels Jr., how do you vote?
>> I vote green.
>> Honorable Herman N. Daniels Jr. votes green. Honorable Arvin Mitchell, how do you vote?
>> Vote green.
>> Honorable Arvin Mitchell votes green.
Madam chair, you have four in favor, zero opposed, and one not voting.
>> Thank you. Four in favor, zero opposed, chair not voting. We are hereby adjourned at 10:07 p.m. Committee members, I'm going to be sending you guys the information for the log on so that we can have this executive session leadership meeting with Dana Bob in exactly 30 minutes. Thank you everyone.
You can log off now and I'll be sending you guys the information for the leadership meeting in 30 minutes.
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