Din é Policy Institute

1. Diné Policy Institute Tsaile, Navajo Nation August 24, 2006

2. Mission and Purpose Through Sa’ah Naghai Bik’eh Hozhoon, Diné Policy Institute will provide quality research and well-reasoned policy recommendations that leads to better government for the Navajo Nation and a high quality of life, today and tomorrow. “Bee cháná’ alíí dooleel”

3. What makes DPI unique: • Policy recommendations based on Navajo epistemology (or ways of knowing). • A problem-solving approach using authentic Diné thinking for policy-making (i.e., all creation has life)

4. Common Non-Navajo Approach to Policy Making

5. Current Practice of Policy-Making at the Chapter Level Reactive process

6. Chapter level • “We rely on what the Navajo Nation gives us to make a decision.” • “We do not look at the long term impact…if it looks good we do it.” • “There is no analysis of the issue.” • “Issue is made by the people, without any real information about the impact of the issue at hand.” • “Our policies consist of the Five Management system. What we need to know in order to make good policy

7. Benefits of Policy-Analysis(Bee ei dahozin) • Informed factual-based decisions • Long-term and short-term impact understood • Balanced perspective (information coming from different sources) • Doesn’t rely on political whims • Fair and “Objective”

8. Need to improve on the current processand Need for DPI • Policy should be made with due consideration of cultural values and tradition. (If included, it appears to be for “token” purposes) • A specific value set is used to make policy, usually this value set does not comport with Diné values. We need to change that practice. • The current policy has different objectives and goals imbedded in the policy that are often times contradictory to Navajo goals and objectives. Consistency is a must to make uniform policy

9. Unique Elements of the processas recognized by DPI • K’e or the social connection: relations with all creation is the foundational principle guiding the process. • Transparency • Participatory • General consensus among all stakeholders • Reciprocity • Accountability • Rational • Equity • Public Trust

10. Diné Policy Process Based on the principles of Sa’ah Naghai Bik’eh Hozhoon (SNBH). Defined as to walk in a balanced life, with longevity and happiness. To do so one must use the principles of SNBH: SNBH

11. How the Process works: • Nitsahakees  Define a problem • Use standards of behavior, personality, opinion, and attitude to define problem • Nahatah  Select Criteria for evaluating problem. In the planning stage, need to determine what will evaluate the policy. • Use standards of behavior, personality, opinion, and attitude as criteria • Iina  Evaluate the policy. • Use standards of behavior, personality, opinion, and attitude to evaluate policy • Siihasin  Reap the benefits of policy. • Use standards of behavior, personality, opinion, and attitude to assess benefits

12. What are we doing? “…provide quality research and well-reasoned policy recommendations that leads to better government…” • Developing a survey instrument to gauge the opinions of the Navajo Nation on the most pressing issues. • Developing a certificate program for Chapter Officials and NN employees. • In the process of recruiting graduate students to conduct research. • Formalizing agreements with other Institutes of Higher Learning for research partnerships.

13. The Navajo Nation money is being well spent!

14. THE END.