Secretary Thompson Visits Navajo Country

By George Joe
Special to Tribal Connections

NAZLINI, Ariz. - A maroon Ford Blazer with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson as passenger almost slipped off a muddy road as he was leading a caravan that drove through Canyon De Chelly on his July visit to the Navajo Nation.

Then one of his staff members, following in another vehicle, almost hit a horse crossing one of the reservation's public roads -- just twenty-two percent of the public roads on Navajo are paved.

Thompson said at a press conference later that the encounter made him realize the conditions on the Navajo reservation.

HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson visits with
Navajo elders (Photo courtesy of George Joe)

"I realized there are tremendous needs here," he said after sharing the story with members of the media.

During his two-day visit to the Navajo Nation in July, after two previously aborted attempts - one this past April - Thompson came here to find out "first hand" the health conditions on a reservation that makes up almost 17 percent of the entire Indian Health Service.

Upon his arrival on July 19 in the tribal capital, he entered the Navajo Nation Council chambers -- with Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr. flanked at his side -- to address the council.

"The Navajo Nation has a tremendous history and I want to make sure the future is even better, even brighter than it was ever intended, ever expected," Thompson told the council.

He also brought good news. "This year, for the first time, I am proud to say that the department set aside $1.689 million in the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program for tribes and tribal consortia," Thompson announced. Navajo will be getting a $740,000 grant for three years from the program.