January 2021 Newsletter        

Meet AIPI's New Staff 

We are excited to introduce two new staff members Emily McDonnell (Navajo Nation) and E.J. John (Navajo Nation). Together, they bring a  wealth of knowledge and experience to the American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI). 

Emily is the Policy & Communications Coordinator, and she is also an alumna of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at ASU. E.J., originally from New Mexico, joins our team as a Policy & Research Analyst. Before arriving at AIPI, he earned his J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Emily and E.J. both share a commitment to community and are grateful for the opportunity to serve Indian Country on a local and national scale.

Be sure to check out their staff biographies on the AIPI website to learn more about their accomplishments and experiences!

Yá’át’ééh, my name is E.J. John. I am Navajo and a member of the Salt water clan, born for the Black Streaked Wood People Clan. Learning my clans and where I come from is one of my earliest lessons in policy. It guided me on how to interact with those around me and set all the expectations and responsibilities I would need to live a healthy life. At its core, policy development is the way we develop the rules on how we navigate life. As I grow older, I learn a little more about living life through lectures, songs, stories, and observing. When I was in college and studying government, I realized that I had been learning and experiencing policy development throughout my life.
 
I learned the basics of policy development working with local leaders in my home community of Chichiltah, NM on the Navajo Nation. My mother always worked as a public servant in the Navajo Nation Government, and my time spent with her taught me what it meant to work for your people, and I still work to meet the bar she set for me way back then. She taught me the significance of setting up shared understanding points, like showing me the importance of having meeting agendas to guide a discussion. I want to continue to build on these points of common understanding and continue to build on the incredible accomplishments of our ancestors and colleagues that went before us.
 
I believe that the AIPI can continue to offer its assistance with policy analysis while making meaningful contributions to new policy development. This past year has presented us all with the greatest challenges we have ever faced in our lifetime. Now, more than ever, there is a need to develop new approaches to the policies that impact Indian Country. I hope to continue the great work of the AIPI in a manner that continues to be practical and useful for everyone facing the great policy challenges of Indian Country. The AIPI is in the perfect position to lend its expertise and resources to these efforts and I hope that we at the AIPI can make meaningful contributions alongside all the other great individuals, organizations, and Indigenous Nations working toward our common goals. Ahéheeʼ.

Ever since I was a child, I loved stories. As the daughter of a librarian, the power of storytelling was impressed upon me from a young age. Whether listening to our oral traditions passed down from elders or reading, a favorite book with my dad, I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of storytelling as a means of communication. Stories are unique in the sense that they can transcend cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic boundaries as a means to bring people together by imparting wisdom and knowledge  As I grew, so did my interest in advocacy. 

If you ask anyone in my home community on the reservation to describe me, one of the first words they would use is outspoken. I was always ready to give my opinion or offer my insight in a class. As an adult, I learned to fine-tune these skills in a way that has allowed me to use my “powers” for good by advocating for issues I care about. Since then, I’ve climbed higher up the educational ladder, always keeping my community and people in mind as I worked to obtain my master’s degree. This newfound platform came with a broad audience eager to learn about Native America through my speech and writing. 

When I graduated with my MPA (Master of Public Administration) degree, I began searching for a position to serve my community and shed light on Native American history and issues. I immediately jumped at the opportunity to work at AIPI because I want to be at the forefront of the exciting changes taking place in Indian Country. As the Policy & Communications Coordinator, I have the privilege of being a storyteller through my analysis of public policy and current issues across Native America. This is not a job that I take lightly. I am humbled and grateful for the privilege I have been given to be the voice that brings knowledge and insight to the community. 

Something I’ve been reflecting on over the course of the pandemic is how far I’ve come as a Diné (Navajo) woman. I can’t help but think of my ancestors who survived trials and tribulations so their descendants could carry on our traditions. My work is for them, and all Indigenous people who I carry in all that I do.

Afammi Himitta' Ayokpa (Happy New Year) We all hope this will be a better year than 2020. Yet, we cannot overlook the good work that took place in 2020, despite the dire circumstances. At AIPI, it was a very productive year and our staff rose to the occasion and produced high-quality work that served tribes. Watch for our forthcoming Annual Report to learn more about our work in 2020. 

As we welcome two new staff members and hire two additional staff members, our work pace will continue at its fast pace. Late in 2020; the new stimulus act passed into law contained substantive provisions for Native Nations. We’ll be publishing more about this soon. There is also a new administration and a new congress both with a new vision. We see strong representation of Indigenous peoples in both the administration and congress. This will make the first 90 days a busy 90 days for Indian Country and us at AIPI.

Additionally, we are launching several new programs.  In the first quarter, we’ll launch our new podcast called The Next Era with support from the Media Democracy Fund. With generous support from our friends at APS, we’re launching an Indigenous Leadership Academy. Finally, we’ll initiate a new set of research objectives as we bring on our new research professional generously funded by the Ford Foundation.  We’ll be filling you in on all our initiatives in the months to come.

As always #BeTheSolution