Kenneth Maryboy

Infobox President
name = flagicon|USAKenneth Maryboy


order =
jr/sr = Navajo Nation Council Delegate
state = Aneth/Red Mesa/Mexican Water
term_start = January 22, 2001
term_end = January 10, 2011
predecessor = David L. John
successor = Incumbent
president = Navajo Nation Joe Shirley Jr.
order2 =
jr/sr2 = Commissioner District 03
state2 = San Juan County
term_start2 = January 2, 2007
term_end2 = January 1, 2011
predecessor2 = Manuel Morgan
successor2 = Incumbent
birth_date = birth date and age|1961|5|13
nationality = American Indian
party = Democratic
spouse = Cherly J. Maryboy
occupation = Radio (Sports, Basketball)
residence = White Rock, Utah
religion = Native American Church

flagicon|USA

Kenneth Maryboy (born May 13, 1961) is an American politician for San Juan County, Utah, and the current Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Utah Navajo Section. Kenneth is also one of three San Juan County Commissioners who oversee the needs of the county's residents and the Utah Navajo Element. Maryboy is the third Democrat in a row to have been elected to the Commissioner District 3 position since its inception in 1984 that divided the county into three districts.

Kenneth Maryboy is the brother of Mark Maryboy who served the Navajo Nation Council Delegates for 16 years and also served as the San Juan County Commissioner for four terms. Kenneth also shares the same Navajo Nation council representation as Davis Filfred, in the Utah Section of the reservation.

Kenneth Maryboy Chaired the Utah Democratic Association, who oversaw the Democrats of San Juan County, Utah. Kenneth also is a sitting member of the Utah Navajo Commission. He also works alongside Rebecca M. Benally and the San Juan School Board for the Utah Navajo student curriculum, and Bruce Adams for the San Juan County affairs.

Youth

At age 18, he was living with his mother and younger brother on the reservation near Bluff, Utah. They were barely making ends meet on his meager wages as a welder. Although time were rather harsh, Kenneth managed to improve his skills at Welding, as time progressed he learned to Electrician's trade and from there advanced to other markets which were in demand of his skills

Later in life Maryboy, known as a "Medicine Man" among people living on land encompassing the Four-Corners Region of the United States, ministers to the physical, mental and spiritual needs of his people. Maryboy bridges the gap between the old ways of the Navajo, and the current life in America.

He also was routinely desired for a natural another talent, which was an Announcer. During Rodeo seasons he would be asked to announce for many different events and venues.

KTNN radio announcer

In April 1993, KTNN 660 AM, a Navajo Language AM radio station, broadcasting from Window Rock, Arizona, began commentaries for the NBA team, the Phoenix Suns.

Kenneth Maryboy, a rodeo announcer, along with the KTNN Sports Director, L.A. Williams did the play-by-play for their first Suns game. This was a first amongst Navajo Broadcasting stations to be affliated with a Major League Basketball team.

Navajo Santa

Invoking his own happy childhood memories of the celebration of Christmas at St. Christopher's Mission, Maryboy created a program, the Navajo Santa, to help serve his people with the spirit of Christmas all year long. He adapted the concept of Santa Claus to meet the needs of the Native Americans who are among the most impoverished people in the U.S. The program provides gifts of food, clothing, blankets, and toys, medical care, and other services. He provides hope for everyone served by his joyful program. [http://www.rd.com/stories/everyday-miracles/real-people-real-miracles-2007/article.html]

_{"I would like to see that the understanding and the caring will continue on—that people will understand togetherness and what caring means to other people I still envision a lot more things that I might be able to do, not only in the Navajo Nation but maybe in a broader area as well where there is need."}

A non-profit organization, Navajo Santa was created to bring food, blankets, warm clothing, toys, and other necessities to Navajos in need on the reservation in southeastern Utah. Entirely volunteer supported, Navajo Santa provides an exchange of culture and support between Navajos and non-Navajos. [http://www.rd.com/stories/everyday-miracles/real-people-real-miracles-2007/article.html]

Kenneth is now 46 and commissioner for San Juan County. His solo Christmas Eve visits have grown into an annual Navajo feast with gifts of clothing, tools and toys for over 700 people. Kids who can't make it to the event because they're sick or lack transportation get a personal visit from Kenneth or one of his elves.

"My grandfather taught me that you learn to be a man and a warrior by sharing and by keeping promises," he says.

Caring Institute Award

On November 18 2002, Kenneth went to Washington, D.C., to receive the Caring Institute Award, an honor previously given to Mother Teresa, President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter, and this year to Paul Newman. Other winners include former Senator Bob Dole and Reverend Billy Graham.

Navajo Nation Council Delegate

In 2000, Maryboy was elected into the legislative body of Navajo Nation Government as a Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Mexican Water, Aneth and Red Mesa Chapters. These areas expand the Arizonan and Utahn borders with a constituency of nearly 10,000 people.

Upon election, Kenneth positioned himself in the Navajo Economic Development committee where he serves as the Vice Chair for the Navajo Nation Tribal Council.

2006 Navajo Election Results

Aneth Chapter
Russell Gould 215
Davis Filfred 611
Kenneth Maryboy 398
Herman Farley 172

Mexican Water Chapter
Russell Gould 119
Davis Filfred 124
Kenneth Maryboy 254
Herman Farley 134

Red Mesa Chapter
Russell Gould 275
Davis Filfred 195
Kenneth Maryboy 353
Herman Farley 232

Conflicting Dual-Elected Positions Issues

After being elected as the San Juan County Commissioner and as the Navajo Nation Council Delegate, questions arose as to the Legitimacy and the Ethical position as an elected official of both seats. Members elected to maintain service to two governments bodies was a hot button issue; Kenneth Maryboy fell exactly in this position which was subject of this debate.

However following the October 16, 2007 Navajo Nation Tribal Council vote, which allowed delegates to maintain service to two governments, Kenneth Maryboy was able to maintain his position as both the San Juan County Commissioner and as the Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Aneth, Red Mesa, and Mexican Water Chapters [http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_7199132]

Utah Navajo issues

Historically, Utah Navajos were ignored not only by the county and state governments but also by the Navajo Nation.

Located in the Four-Corners regions of the United States, the narrow Utah strip that is home to 8,000 of the Navajo Nation's 300,000 citizens. San Juan County officials long believed Utah Navajos were primarily the responsibility of the tribe. The Tribal Council, on the other hand, held that their Utah kin could fend for themselves after a 1933 federal mandate awarded them 37.5 percent of royalties from the rich oil fields near Aneth on Utah's portion of the reservation.

Utah Navajo Trust Fund

But between 1933 and 1990, the Utah Navajo Oil Trust Fund was plundered of $150 million, according to a Utah legislative auditor's report. The Navajos' lawsuit against the state is still pending.The State of Utah is the only state in the Nation administering a trust fund for the benefit of American Indians whose lands are within state boundaries. The Utah Navajos have sought to have a more active role in the distribution of the royalties and this would present that opportunity. Legislative leadership has committed to provide a way to make the transition process as seamless as possible for the beneficiaries. [http://www.utah.gov/governor/news/2007/news_11_13_07.html]

Trust Fund to Sunset

Currently since, Utah's Navajo Trust Fund statute is set to sunset in 2008. Utah Governor Jon Huntsman and Legislative Leadership in 2007 have joined together in asking Congress to create a new disbursement system for the royalties. The Utah Legislative leadership are now actively working with the Utah Navajo Element in regards to controlling of these royalties. [http://www.utah.gov/governor/news/2007/news_11_13_07.html]

Utah Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich saying "Our congressional delegation must create a vehicle to distribute these monies in a way that all of the Chapter Houses have input."

Kenneth Maryboy and Davis Filfred have been active in the Utah Navajo Trust fund as well as helping the transition between Utah's Primary role in control the Utah Navajo Trust to the Utah Navajos themselves.

San Juan County Commissioner

In November 2006, Kenneth Maryboy was elected as the San Juan County Commissionership for District 3. The commissionership delegates handle county issues in Monticello, Utah. The San Juan County Commissioner seat is a three person council which oversee's the needs and issues for San Juan County's residents.

Commissioner Maryboy was elected by an enormous percentage winning every Precinct but the Aneth district. Most notably in most of the voting districts, Kenneth maintained a clear 53 percent lead over his main opponent Manuel Morgan, who was trailing at 46 percent.

2006 election results

San Juan County
(Democratic) Commission Dist. 3
319 KENNETH MARYBOY
278 Manuel Morgan Precincts: 5
Reporting: 5

(Republican) Commission Dist. 2
581 LYNN H. STEVENS
330 James S. Shumway Precincts: 3
Reporting: 2

Commissionership Issues

The Navajo Voice of San Juan

Kenneth Maryboy has to balance his role as a Navajo leader with duties as a San Juan County commissioner, taking office in January. His brother, Mark Maryboy, made history when he was elected in 1986 as the first American Indian county commissioner, also in San Juan, in Utah's history. The county has had one Navajo county commissioner ever since.

"More than 55 percent of registered voters in San Juan County are Native Americans, and they need to be represented, which is something that maybe Anglo commissioners had not had that perspective before." - Bruce Adams (San Juan Commissioner Dist. 1)

Lynn Stevens Incident

In April 2007, Maryboy alongside other Navajo Indian residents of Southern Utah clashed with the then San Juan County Chair Commissioner Lynn Stevens over state and county issues regarding public land use.

Stevens allowed recreational vehicles to drive in a canyon south of Blanding, Utah called Arch Canyon, known to hold sacred Native American artifacts. Arch Canyon has been a popular venue over the years for the annual Jeep Jamboree. But in 2004 federal officials refused a permit pending environmental studies. Jeep drivers went on an unofficial convoy led by Former San Juan County Commission Chairman Lynn Stevens.

Maryboy alongside many of his constituents voice their concerns. Stevens soon afterwards resigned as the director of the Utah Governor's Public Lands Policy Coordination Office.

Utah Navajo Oil Revenues

Recently Counsel Delegates Kenneth Maryboy, Davis Filfred, and Former Counsel Delegate Mark Maryboy have been actively working to ensure that the Aneth Oil Royalties stay with the Utah Navajo people.

However such causes are not without competition, the Navajo Nation itself has been working counter to the Utah Navajo people in taking over the Aneth Oil Revenues. It presents a significant problem with a line of issues Kenneth is up against.

On June 16, 2008, Kenneth Maryboy, Mark Maryboy, Davis Filfred, and the honorable Phil Lyman of Blanding, Utah will travel to Washington, D.C. to present a working model of how an easy transition from the State of Utah handling Utah Navajo royalty money, to a functioning Utah Navajo organization before Congress.

Life away from politics

Currently, although politics does take up much of Kenneth's time, he has found hobbies and activities to help balance out the fast pace public service life. With his family collectively joining him, Kenneth spends time with ATVs and hunting as a side passion. The Maryboy family is quite closely involved with many outdoor racing venues such as mudbogging and drag racing. In fact the Maryboy family runs a racing club called Whiterock Racing.

As with most Western Democrats, Kenneth enjoys a sustaintial amount of time utilizing his time with taking advantage of the immensely rural southwestern environment with such activities like hunting and fishing. The southern Utah area is filled with a variety of outdoor activities for most people who reside in the area and Kenneth maintains that tradition as most Utans do.

Many southern Utahns enjoy the offers that Lake Powell has to provide. Kenneth and his family enjoy the many opportunities that the lake does provide that many other Utahns and "Southwestern" Americans take advantage of as well.

ee also

* Literacy is Empowering Project
* Navajo Nation
* KTNN Radio
* Uranium mining in the United States
* Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation
* Navajo language
* Navajo music
* Navajo people
* Navajo Rug
* Southern Athabaskan languages
* Dinetah

External links

;Official sites
* [http://www.myspace.com/kennethmaryboy Kenneth Maryboy (Official)]
** [http://www.sanjuancounty.org/county_commission.htm San Juan County Website]
** [http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=150356834 Zoominfo Web Profile - Kenneth Maryboy]
** [http://www.navajosanta.org/board_support.html Navajo Santa] Navajo Santa Website

;Documentaries, topic pages and databases
* [http://www.utah.gov/governor/news/2007/news_11_13_07.html Utah to Allow Sunset of Navajo Trust Fund]
* [http://www.nativebiz.com/community/News,file=categories,catid=47.html Nativebiz: Indian Owned]
* [http://www.rd.com/content/real-people-real-miracles-2007/ "The Christmas Warrior"]
* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=128827 "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Kenneth Maryboy"]
* [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,695194767,00.html "Indians finding a voice in San Juan"]
* [http://utdemocrats.org/ Utah Democratic Party]
* [http://origin.sltrib.com/news/ci_6018025 Salt Lake Tribune] Public Lands director's departure pleases environmentalists, some Navajos
* [http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/utah_today/anethoilfield.html Aneth Oil Field]
* [http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=4197 "Navajos say Utah cheated their tribe"]
* [http://www.ktnnonline.com/ KTNN 660 AM]
* [http://www.indianz.com/News/archives/003545.asp Kennedy meets with tribal leaders to promote Kerry]
* [http://www.navajosanta.org/pdf/maryboy_kennedy.pdf "COUNCIL DELEGATES MEET WITH SENATOR TED KENNEDY"]