July 11, 2014
In exclusive interview Navajo Nation prez candidate discusses past, lost arm

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SHIPROCK–In an exclusive interview with Tlo'chi'iin News, Navajo Nation presidential front runner Duane “the Chiliman” Yazzie discusses his mysterious past, including how he lost his right arm. 

TG: Thanks for joining us. We know you are running as the government reform candidate. But you yourself spent many years in government including as a Council Delegate for Shiprock in the 80s and 90s. How do you credibly talk about government reform when you have been involved in the tribal government for so long? 

DCY: That’s a predictable question. I scoff at how predictable of a question that is. Nevertheless, I will answer it to placate your inferior journalistic skills. First, I was a ‘49er, which means I was the 'OG’ ’(original gangster) govt. reformer.’ I was there when you was just square, you dig? 

TG: I take it you mean that you were on the Navajo Nation Council in 1989 when the Council removed MacDonald from office, removed his attorney general when he wasn’t acting fast enough to investigate MacDonald, and even changed the structure of the Navajo Nation government. All of these actions are lauded today. But in fact the Title 2 reforms were done by a simple majority of council delegates and didn’t go back to the people for approval. MacDonald was popularly elected yet the Council felt empowered  to remove him. 

But you famously denounced former Speaker Naize for moving forward on a legislation to create the Navajo Transitional Energy Corporation without going back “to the people.” How do you square the inconsistencies with how you yourself acted as a delegate with how your critique the current Council? 

DCY: In 1989 it was very hard to remove MacDonald from office without resorting to a power grab. We felt we were justified with the circumstances at the time. The Council today is different. Today we have Title 2. 

TG: in 2009 the Navajo Nation Council did exactly what it did 20 years before and placed Joe Shirley Jr. on administrative leave when it was discovered that he and his staff had circumvented Navajo Nation law in order to guarantee favorable treatment for On Sat and BCDS companies.

You yourself received $30k in “consulting fees” to help a weapons manufacturer set up shop in your community while you were chapter president. Some might see this as a clear conflict of interest. 

In this instance Chief Justice Herb Yazzie reversed the Council’s action that placed Shirley on administrative leave because it violated “the right of people to chose their leaders.” Yet you and Yazzie removed MacDonald under similar circumstances in 1989, do you agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling?  

DCY: I do. 

TG: Why? 

DCY: Because the Navajo Nation Council is out of control and needs to be reformed. We need to go back to traditional ways and traditional roles of leaders. 

TG: Is this not just a useful way of avoiding difficult questions? 

DCY: Yes. 

TG: Continuing on, tell us something about your personal history. How did you get involved in politics? 

DCY: I was a sea captain back in the 70s. I hunted sharks–actually one shark in particular. A shark I called, “Moby Dick.” You see, when I was on the U.S.S Indianapolis…

TG: You were on the Indianapolis? 

DCY: Come to think of it I wasn’t, but if I were, I would’ve seen us torpedoed by a Japanese sub in the South Pacific. I would’ve heard the cries of my crewman in the water as sharks slowly picked us off, one-by-one, in a manner in which I was unable to help. 

TG: To be clear, you weren’t on the Indianapolis? 

DCY: This right. But if I was, I would’ve then survived the incident and dedicated my life to capturing and killing the Shark Moby Dick who eluded me for so many years, only to do battle with him in an epic battle that would’ve left me with a destroyed ship, in financial ruin, and missing my right arm. This is what could’ve happened and this is the story I’m using to explain my missing arm. 

TG: Are you saying the Shark named Moby Dick ate your arm? 

DCY: Yes, here’s a picture that was taken by a photographer who happened to be on board at the time. 

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TG: This looks like a movie still from 'Jaws.’

DCY: It does doesn’t it?

TG: Thanks for taking the time. 

DCY: Thank you….Oh and from there that’s how I got involved in politics. I was done with shark hunting. 

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