Diné Policy Institute
Tsaile, Navajo Nation
August 24, 2006
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”
What makes DPI unique:
1. Policy recommendations based on
Navajo epistemology (or ways of
knowing).
2. A problem-solving approach using
authentic Diné thinking for policy-making
(i.e., all creation has life)
Common Non-Navajo Approach to
Policy Making
Current Practice of Policy-Making at
the Chapter Level
Reactive
process
Issue voted on
at Chapter Meeting
Issue goes to
Planning Meeting
Planning Officials
decide
if issue should go
to Chapter Meeting
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
Benefits of Policy-Analysis
(Bee ei dahozin)
1. Informed factual-based decisions
2. Long-term and short-term impact
understood
3. Balanced perspective (information
coming from different sources)
4. Doesn’t rely on political whims
5. Fair and “Objective”
Need to improve on the current
process
and Need for DPI
1. Policy should be made with due consideration of
2.
3.
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
Unique Elements of the process
as recognized by DPI
1. K’e or the social connection: relations with all creation
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
is the foundational principle guiding the process.
Transparency
Participatory
General consensus among all stakeholders
Reciprocity
Accountability
Rational
Equity
Public Trust
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:
Siihasin
Nitshakees
SNBH
Iina
Nahatah
How the Process works:
1.
Nitsahakees  Define a problem
•
2.
•
3.
4.
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
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.
The Navajo Nation money is
being well spent!
THE END.