Russell Begaye: “What our people need, first and foremost, is compensation now.”

For these reasons, we strongly advocate that the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act be reauthorized at the proposed $13 million levels for each fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

Navajo culture and language preservation is a top priority for the Navajo Nation because Dine Bizaad (Navajo language) retains our heritage legacy and individuality as Native people.

We respectfully, yet strongly, urge you to reject these proposals and maintain full funding for the Community Health Representative and Health Education programs in the fiscal year 2019 budget.

The bill stifles the tribal voice in monument management, and the bill eliminates protection for our cultural patrimony.