Navajo Nation attorneys, [constructed title]

Abstract

The content of this material refers to dissatisfaction with Navajo Tribal attorney's. Raymond Nakai analyzes the state of Navajo attorney's with regard to their fees and their objectives. Nakai explains the background of the Navajo Tribal Council and how the lack of education finds the council needing someone to trust to inform about legal status and cases. The person that became their legal trust was Norman Littell. He began working for the Navajo Tribe, contracted for $25,000 a year, for five years. After four years he increased his fee. Nakai, listening to the concerns of the Navajo people and the Navajo Tribal Council, felt that Littell was not working in the best interests of the Navajo Nation. Littell would suggest partnerships with private companies without extensive insight, at the same time, planting seeds of distrust for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Nakai became adamant that legal counsel is needed only after Navajo Tribal Council decisions. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Raymond Nakai, a Navajo Indian, was born in 1918 in Lukachukai, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation. Raymond Nakai is noted as being the first modern Navajo political leader serving as Chairman of the Navajo Nation from 1963-1971. As chairman, the issues most important during his tenure were self determination in Navajo Education, reservation unemployment, developing Navajo economy, further development of the tribal government and improving relations with the federal government and surrounding states. Nakai had much unprecedented success as Navajo Tribal Chairman: In 1967 the Navajo Nation Bill of Rights was created, in 1968 Navajo Community College opened being the first tribally controlled community college, the Tribal Scholarship Trust was developed, relations with off reservation natural resource companies began, he was supportive of religious freedom of the Native American Church on the Navajo Reservation. Raymond Nakai led an active personal and political life and was an innovative leader for the Navajo People. The Raymond Nakai Collection contains material documenting his activities as Chairman of the Navajo Nation from 1963 - 1971.