Reader comments: Utah ordered to account for Navajo funds

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Former member | 8:57 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Most of the money was spent to promote business's and jobs on the Utah portion of the Navajo Res, Glove factory,Clothes factory,House boats on Lake Powell!
Most failed on the Res the only good investment was buying a commerical building in Salt Lake Valley we did question some investment by the State of Utah in stock market?
Reason | 10:35 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Ok, so Utah gets told to be the trustee by the U.S. Congress. Then some Navajo officials steal from it. Then Utah gets told to go back decades and account for every penny? Isn't this like me getting my identity stolen and then the IRS telling me that I have to go through an audit because my identity was stolen? If the Navajos stole from the Navajos it seems that this would be one of those "sovereign nation" issues. Why don't we audit them? Let them work it out.
Navajo | 11:52 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
The State of Utah was Trustee? How do you know a Navajo stole from Trustee fund? No sovereign nation issue here The State of Utah was in charge of the Navajo Oil trust fund for Utah Navajo's. Ernst & Young did the auditing for State of Utah, That should answer your question's?
Comments continue below
Reason | 4:29 p.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Well, if you read the article it states that Navajo leaders were found guilty of embezzeling trust funds. So if this is true then it is a Navajo VS Navajo issue. Sorry Navajo, I guess it just may be time for the tribe to step up and take some responsibility.
Beyond Reason | 7:06 p.m. Sept. 7, 2008
what are you talking about!? 'Reason'? Really? U sound pretty lame to me! it doesn't matter if the 10 year old down the street took some money and ran; THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE!!! that's how these things work! the tribe doesn't control all the money ultimately, the most that could have been taken by any Navajo leader at any given time could not possibly account for more than maybe 2% of a fund covering over 50 years! so, sorry, 'Reason' the state DOES have some answering to do... get over it.
John | 9:40 p.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Reason,

The Navajo are on reservations because of the state. If there were members of the Navajo who "took" money it doesn't excuse the other decades of the missing money. I think its great that there is an audit, most businesses are audited and that would be the only way to set things strait. If its found that the state "lost" Navajo moneys then the issues changes completely.
Forrest | 9:21 a.m. Sept. 8, 2008
Reason,
You need to know that some white folks were involved in the management and possible mismangement along with some Native people. The focus should be to find out who misused the money and prosecute them.
angry navajo | 11:14 a.m. Sept. 9, 2008
I don't see why everyone is trying to get away with this. "YOUR NOT GOING TO GET AWAY" Prepare yourselves for the big house. Sounds like the state of utah is still trying to get away with stealing from the navajos and navajo's that are involved. I'm so glad that something is being done about it. SEE YA

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