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Navajo Laws,
Diné Bi Beenahaz'áanii, Atsé Siléí |
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On the conception of our modem Navajo life way and the comprehension on European or United States federal concept of government we have adapted to for nearly eighty years, the following outline was developed. |
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Navajo Nation Government Title I Amendments
General Provisions |
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Diné Bi Beenahaz'áanii The Diné Bi Beenahaz'áanii is the Diné sovereignty that embodies Diyin Bits'áádé Beehaz'áanii (Traditional Law), Diyin Dine'é Bits'áádéé Beehaz'áanii (Customary Law), Nahasdzáán dóó Yadiłhił Bits'áádéé Beehaz'áanii (Natural Law), and Diyin Nohookáá Dine'é Bi Beehaz'áanii (Common Laws). Figure 4 outlines this structure. These laws are the safe keepers of the Diné that uphold the unique life and culture, relationship with world beyond the sacred mountains, and balance the relationship with the natural world. These laws are also the foundation of the Diné Bi Nahat'á (administers, implements, and exercises of fundamental method of plans in form of guiding principles), where the Diné Bi Nahat'á is the foundation of the Diné Bi Naat'áá (government). Hence, the Diné Bi Beenahaz'áanii shall reserve the following rights and freedom. For the Navajo people to preserve, protect, and ensure through the said law, by virtue of respect, honor, belief, and trust, the recognition and the practice of the establishment of the Navajo Nation self-government; and To recognize the present location in Window Rock, Arizona as the sacred ground for the Capitol of the Navajo Nation within the four sacred mountains of Sisnaajini, Tsoodzil, Dook'o'ooliid, and Dibé Nitsaa; and To ensure that the Diné Bi Nahat'á is based on the Diné fundamental values, universal principles of life way, sovereignty (naats'íílid), citizenship, and the Treaty of 1868 between the Diné and the United States of America; and To preserve and enhance the fundamental Diné sovereign practices of governance passed on to us from our ancestors which consist of Hózhóóji Nahat'á (Executive Branch), Naat'ááji Nahat'á (Legislative Branch), Hashkééji Nahat'á (Judicial Branch), and the reestablishment of Naayéé'ji Nahat'á (National Security Branch); and To maintain the moral practices of Diné Bi Nahat'á that by virtue of the fundamental Diné values and life way to recognize the Diné Bi Beenahaz'áanii as the foundation of all existing laws enacted and/or revised by the existing Navajo Nation government; and To ensure, protect, maintain, and provide the future development, establishment, and growth of healthy Navajo Nation regardless of different thinking, planning, life ways, languages, beliefs, and laws appear with in the nation; and That Diné Bi Beenahaz'áanii shall be recognized by the Navajo people, with respect and honor, to preserve, ensure, and enhance the Navajo Nation moral practice of the universal governmental relationships with other governmental entities, the federal agencies, and other countries; and That Navajo Nation government and laws mayor shall be recognized and honored by all nations toward the moral practices of the establishment, preservation, and enhancement of the universal governmental relationships. |
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Diné Traditional Law The Diné Traditional Law shall ensure, preserve, and reserve the right and freedom for the Navajo people to choose the Navajo leaders of their choice from the local to the Navajo national levels through the standard Navajo Nation election law. The Diné Traditional Law shall preserve the assurance and enhancement of the fiduciary roles and responsibilities of the Executive Branch of the Navajo Nation. It shall represent the Navajo Nation and uphold the moral practice in the implementation of the Navajo Nation laws enacted through legislation in the best interest of the Navajo people. The Diné Traditional Law shall preserve the assurance and enhancement of the fiduciary roles and responsibilities of the Legislative Branch of the Navajo Nation. It shall legislate and amend laws to address the immediate and the future needs and in the best interest of the Navajo people. Further exhibit the moral practice basing on the representation with responsibility, accountability, integrity, and justice. The Diné Traditional Law shall preserve the assurance and enhancement of the fiduciary roles and responsibilities of the Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation. The Diné Traditional Law shall continue to uphold the moral standard of integrity and loyalty in the moral practice of peace making, obedience, discipline, and punishment. With honor and respect the Judicial Branch shall farther uphold the moral practice, interpret laws, and render judgments. Those Navajo Nation court decisions based on or in accordance of Diné laws shall be reviewed and ratified by the Navajo Nation Council in best interest of the Navajo people. The Diné Traditional Law shall preserve the assurance and enhancement of the fiduciary roles and responsibilities of the Security Branch of the Navajo Nation. It shall maintain and enforce the moral standard of broad security systems and operation for the Navajo Nation at all time. It shall provide services and guidance in the event of severe national crisis or military-type disasters. It also shall work closely with the National Guard, veteran, volunteers, and medical health units and service centers. It shall further provide guidance to establishments of security shelters and centers within the nation. The Diné Traditional Law shall be respected and honored as perseverance and assurance for the Navajo people and the medicine people and philosophers, in good faith, freedom, and harmony, continue to uphold the moral practice of our ancestral spiritual belief foundation. The Diné Traditional Law shall preserve and ensure the acknowledgement, in respect and honor, of the Diné elders and medicine people and philosophers for their participation and contributions of the universal traditional values and principles of the Diné life way toward the growth of the Navajo Nation. The Diné Traditional Law shall be respected and honored to preserve and ensure the Navajo Nation Four Branch Government, from time to time, by requesting the Dine medicine people and philosophers to provide the cleansing, protection prayers, and blessing ceremonies securing a healthy leadership and government operation. The Diné Traditional Law shall honor and respect by recognizing the moral practices the spiritual belief concept of the Navajo Native American Church and the denominational churches of the Navajo Christianity of inputs and contributions to maintain healthy leadership and government operation. The Diné Traditional Law shall, by virtue of respect, honor, belief, and trust to promote, enhance, and ensure the western medical practices by the doctors and nurses in well facilitated medical service centers in every Navajo agencies for the physical and mental well-being for every Navajo individual. |
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Diné Customary Law The Diné Customary Law is the Dine sovereignty that embodies and provides the unlimited fundamental education. The Diné Customary Law shall preserve, ensure, and enhance the moral practice on the educational developments on the basis of traditional Dine fundamental values and principle of life toward physical and mental well-being to be in balance of all creation and to continue walk in harmony. The Diné Customary Law shall preserve and ensure the Navajo people the acknowledgment of k'é, language, and the practices of respect, honor, trust, and belief as the foundation of the traditional well-being on the basis of the fundamental values and the universal principles of the Dine life way. The Diné Customary Law shall preserve, ensure, and enhance the traditional Diné education on the holistic philosophical infrastructure of the fundamental values and the universal principles of the Diné life way and the relationship with the elements of the creation. The Diné Customary Law shall preserve, assure, and enhance the traditional education and moral practice of Navajo family unity on the basis of the purpose and upholding of the loyalty and integrity of the customary marriages. Every Navajo child shall inherit the healthy physical and mental well-being, free from all known abuses, and to be in positive balance approaching their future environment. The Diné Customary Law shall preserve, ensure, and enhance the traditional education for the Navajo youth to develop the moral practice to respect and honor the Navajo elders. The said law shall maintain the improvements and developments of the Navajo senior care and services centers. Every Navajo elder shall enjoy life in old age with peace at mind, good health, and good environment free from all known abuses. The Diné Customary Law shall preserve and ensure the traditional education that shall enhance our Navajo children's comprehension on the modem and western education to absorb wisdom, self-knowledge, and knowledge to mastermind navigating the growth of the Navajo Nation in the future. The Diné Customary Law shall promote and ensure the establishment of the modem medical health and medical science education toward healthy physical and mental well-being for every Navajo individual in the future. |
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Diné Natural Law, Nahasdzáán dóó Yádiłhił Bits'áádéé Beehaz'áanii The Diné Natural Law shall preserve and ensure the recognition, with deep respect and honor, of the four sacred mountains for Sisnaajiní, Tsoodził, Dook'o'oołiid, and Dibé Nitsaa are the foundation of the Navajo Nation. The Diné Natural Law shall reserve our rights and assurance to have the United States government preserve and reserve the Navajo people the rights to the air, water, land, natural resources, and natural wildlife inhabitants within the Navajo Nation. The Diné Natural Law shall preserve and ensure the recognition, with the moral practice in respect, honor, and belief, of all sacred sites, minerals, water, vegetation, animal kingdom, and other natural resources within and beyond the four sacred mountains as the foundation of our spiritual ceremonies and the Diné life way. The Diné Natural Law shall be respected and honored as the guiding principle in preservation and assurance for the Navajo people in good faith and harmony to continue to uphold and enhance the moral practices of land cares and uses. Beyond the land uses and developments, we shall keep the natural beauty of our land following our ancestor's teachings coextensive with the knowledge of modern methods. The Diné Natural Law shall preserve, assure, enhance, and recognize, on the basis of our values and life way, the Navajo Nation establishment of the environmental protection policies on land, water, air, wildlife and future appropriate policy plans and developments. These policies shall be the guiding principles for the future domestic animal ranges, roads, farming, housing, schools, hospitals, businesses, economics, and the countless other land use developments. The Diné Natural Law shall promote enhancing and ensuring the preservation of the renewal and non-renewal natural resource development and protection policies to be honored and respected. Within these policies the Navajo Nation shall set guidelines for the development plans of our own future domestic usage of the renewal and non-renewal natural resources. |
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Diné Common Law, Diyin Nohookáá Dine'é Bi Beehaz'áanii The Diné Common Law shall be honored and respected to ensure the Navajo people, in good faith and harmony, to preserve and enhance the moral practice of our verbal fundamental values and the universal principles of Diné life way in compliance with written laws of the Navajo Nation. The Diné Common Law shall be recognized with belief, respect, honor, and trust as the motivational and promotional guidance for the Navajo people and leaders to accept and cope with the forces of the complexities of the changing world and sophisticated modem life systems. The Diné Common Law shall preserve and ensure to harness and utilize the revealed of unlimited interwoven Diné knowledge, with our absorbed knowledge from other races. This knowledge shall be our tool to exercise and exhibit the energy as selfassurance and self-reliance for major accomplishments in life standard to enjoy the beauty of happiness and harmony. The Diné Common Law shall be the guiding force of assurance in the Navajo Nation advancement of business and economy toward the competitive system domestically and with the outside world. Our advancement shall be based on our Navajo human and natural resources with and through the developments and establishments of the business and economical infrastructures. The Diné Common Law shall ensure and enhance the Navajo Nation domestic economic development and operation policies to uphold our business and economic relationship with the boarder towns, counties, states, including the other countries. The Diné Common Law shall ensure and enhance the healthy social and life standards for every individual Navajo family through exercising and experiencing the enjoyment of the employment opportunities through the improvement of the business and economic standards on the Navajo Nation. |
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Navajo Nation Government Title II Amendments |
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Navajo Nation Council With Diné sovereignty based on the Traditional Law so shall be written, hereby set forth the reestablishment of the Navajo Nation four branch government system consisting of the legislative, executive, judicial, and security branches; and Within this government the fiduciary roles and responsibilities of the Navajo Nation elected leaders shall be set forth in the Navajo Nation Codes on the bases of Diné Traditional, Customary, Natural, and Common laws for the wellbeing of the people; and Where the Navajo Nation elected leaders shall consist of the Navajo Nation President, Vice President, and Navajo Nation Council members; and Where all the Navajo Nation elected leaders shall be installed by the Diné traditional songs and prayers of leadership and by the oath of office to initiate official duties; and Where the Navajo Nation leaders shall be the caretaker of the said incorporated laws of the Navajo Nation; and Where the Navajo Nation Code, Title II shall be comprehended and applied with assurance of the universal Diné values and guiding principles of life and culture be inclusive in all legislation as the foundational functions of the Navajo Nation government; and Where the Navajo Nation Council shall be recognized as the legislative body (lawmakers) to review, amend, and legislate laws of the Navajo Nation in the best interest of the Navajo people; and Where each member of the Navajo Nation Council prior to legislating shall inform and consult with their representative population; and When the Navajo Nation Council copes or addresses the Navajo common laws toward legislation shall consult with Atsé Siléí Nitsíhákeesji Nahat'á, Diné Traditional Philosophy Institution, for thorough researches and recommendations; and When the nature of a matter concernedly affects the entire Navajo people, it shall be submitted to the Navajo people for their review and decision by referendum election by majority votes and recommended to the Navajo Nation Council for their review and ratification; and Where the Navajo Nation government shall acknowledge and honor this procedural decision as the voice of the Navajo people; and When time if a significant matter seems necessary shall be considered and factually addressed without prejudice by the Navajo people through their perspective local government system to meet their need and recommend the decision to the Navajo Nation Council for legislative proceedings and approval; and |
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Spirituality in the Government Diné Traditional Law: the Cleansing, Protection, and Blessing Ceremonies The Diné Traditional Law shall reserve the right for our Navajo Nation Council and Departments within the Legislative Branch, when necessary, to request for the Diné traditional appropriate ceremonies by:
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Navajo Nation Government Title VII Amendments
Applying Diné
Original Laws |
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The Navajo Traditional Law shall preserve, assure, and enhance through Title VII of the Navajo Nation Code, the moral practices by the Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation and the Office of the Chief Justice, the fiduciary roles and responsibilities. The Navajo Nation Court System shall be based on the Diné Bi Beenahaz'áanii Traditional, Customary, Natural, and Common Laws, and the existing Navajo Nation Codes to uphold the moral standard of integrity and loyalty in the moral practices of peace making, obedience, discipline, and punishment. Sisnaajiní is placed to the east and exist to evolve the realization and integrity of laws. The coming of new dawn and spring are in consistence of new beginning of time, beginning of life, and beginning of growth. The songs and prayers is the key of proceeding and seeking. Nitsíhákaas, thinking is the foundation of planning. Hence, the comprehension brings the people together to reveal knowledge and self-knowledge to assist those who are in need. Tsoodził is placed to the south and exist to evolve the realization and integrity of educational laws to help succeeding in Nahat'á' planning. Planning is the foundation of life. These are the original laws t~ be applied for comprehension and acknowledgement. Hence, people come together applying this basic information to discuss problems and seek solutions to assist those who are in need. Dook'o'oosłiid is placed to the west to evolve the realization and integrity of fundamental guiding principles of daily iiná, life activities. Life is the foundation of wisdom. Succeeding the harmony way of life is based on holistic well being of self-image and self-knowledge, and firm implementations of the fundamental mature and stable thinking and planning. These are the original laws applicable to retain and share versatile knowledge. Hence, people agree/disagree and commit to solutions and comprehend on the progresses. Dibé Nitsaa is placed to the north to evolve the realization and integrity of foundational laws based on siihasin, wisdom. Wisdom is the foundation of continuous footprints of life. Diné rely on this natural library of extensive knowledge and wisdom of life and creation, which is based on the four cardinal directions that continuously keep the life cycle in place. The continuous cycle of the natural timetable of four seasons controls the circle of life. The circle of life cannot do without the connections and nature of all sacred elements of Mother Earth and Father Universe. Diné elders, philosophers, medicine-people, leaders, and elder warriors through k'é and its teachings layout these holistic universal guiding values and principles toward peace making, obedience, discipline, and punishments. Different thinking, planning, life ways, languages, beliefs, and laws appear among us every day. Hence, these coextensive laws may be applied from simple peace making to complex case decisions and enforcement to insure the human well being and domestic orders. K'é is a word, yet a symbolic tool, k'é biłnaazt'i'go, or the fundamental guiding force, nature, and principle of integrity and loyalty to all laws and Diné love, kindness, and life ways. K'é is a law providing security, continuance, and balance of unity and harmony for Diné life well being; therefore it is applicable even before major decision of crime or civil cases. The Navajo Nation court system shall comprehend on the Diné laws and acknowledge the federal and the state court system that Diné Bi Beenahaz'áanii do not and shall not acknowledge the capital punishment "death penalty" if committed by member of the Navajo "indigenous." The Navajo Nation court system to comprehend on the Diné laws where or when decision may be based on nature of such human behavior or commitment of major crime, from simple to severe punishment, sá aghá, may be sentenced accordingly, and/or apply rehabilitation by moral practices of the Diné teachings and traditional spiritual belief and healing ceremonies. The five-fingered-being, Bíla'ashdla'ii Dine'é, is created with the basic sacred living elements of Mother Earth and Father Universe and is of the ancestral image, of the Holy People, and the Holy Spirit. Through songs and prayers, human is instilled with the living soul and blessed and harmonized with sacred white and yellow corn and pollen. Human is cleansed and protected with basic sacred variegated vegetation and basic sacred variegated stones from within and all around and proceeds to journey on the footprints of life in the image of Sa'ah Naagháí Bik'eh Hózhóón. Hence, human as a child still in its mother's womb to the time of meeting the old age shall not be abused, harmed, nor eliminated. Figure 5 symbolizes the sacred elements of Mother Earth and Father Universe. The court interpretations and decisions may also be based on Diné traditional moral practices of livelihood system, and/or fundamental values concept as connection with all sacred elements of Mother Earth through the traditional spiritual belief and healing ceremonies. Diné is part of the land and the nature. The sacred living elements, land and environment/nature, are not to be claimed, but to occupy as dwelling, shelter and for nourishment with harmony in process of life cycle. Land is to be occupied with the moral practice of respect, freedom, safety, and passionate k'é without prejudice. Among the Diné, shall be no disputes, abuses, and harms over land domestically. Based on the acknowledgement of history and unity of Diné as a whole, the Navajo Nation is originally defined as the ancestrally rooted of life so connected to such land base is to be protected which moderately control and eliminate development of land disputes. Under any condition or ground, one" does not enter a home or dwelling, hooghan, of another person or family without permission and approval, and does not impair one's home or properties nor steal. Traditionally, the common items of values, Naalyéhé and naadeełee, are generally consider with respect as nahoodleełii, replaceable, hence not to be disputed. These items of certain values are not to be taken without permissions. If items are of lost and found, make known and/or return to proper owner. If such items are stolen, and recovered with proper proceeding, items are" to be returned to proper owner. If stolen items are not recovered or destroyed, the proven accused may repay owner with equal value based on agreement. In resolving such case of dispute over the exceptional items of sentimental values is customarily considered with traditional practices with loyalty and integrity where elders or any well-respected family members or a close relative may have acknowledgement of such values. Such items are not to be damaged, destroyed, or stolen. In resolving such court case issues on symbolic or sacred items customarily considered traditional practices with loyalty and integrity where Medicine-people, leaders, elders, and/or a designee of well-respected family member or relative may have acknowledgement of such items. Such items are not to be sold, damaged, destroyed, or stolen. Do not think and plan for livestock and expect them to do and follow these things on their own. Consider them with the understandings and base these comprehensions to resolve disputes over livestock. With songs and prayers, they, like all other existences of life, are created and embodied with variegate sacred living elements of creation. Livestock is acknowledged as one of the foundations of life. They are the gifts from the supernatural holy being Sun God through the Twin Warriors in the White World. They are in paired with the Holy Rain People to preserve the connection between the Mother Earth and the Father Universe stabilizing inter-foundations of the four seasons. The caretakers or ownership of livestock are customarily considered by traditional practices with loyalty and integrity where leaders, one or more designee/s of elder/s and/or member/s of close relatives may have acknowledgement of such. The traditional nature of guardianship, Áłchini (children) are to be nurtured with admiration in sentiment of compassion. Every child is unique, irreplaceable, and is the child of the Holy Spirit. Children are instilled with living soul and embody all the sacred living elements of the creation. They cannot be denied acknowledgement and comprehension of their identities, life values, wisdom, dignity, and their rightful places among their people. They have the rightful share of well beings on the Mother Earth to be the center and in balance of all creation. Children are to be properly discipline with admiration and compassion when appropriate without abuses and harm. They are to be protected from dangers, molestation, and abandonment. All ages of youth shall be provided with appropriate and comprehensive traditional education in parenting, guardianship, and foundation of family unity. All Navajo judges shall have traditional teaching skills in the area of Diné values and way of life. All Navajo Nation court cases interpretations and decisions based on Diné original laws not legislated nor reviewed nor ratified shall be within said appropriate time addressed through proper proceeding for legislative review and ratification by Navajo Nation Council. The Navajo Nation Court judgments based on Diné original laws when necessary shall be intensified by appropriate Diné holistic traditional teachings. |