44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

ACKNOWLEDGING THE NAME CHANGE OF THE NAVAJO NATION CHAPTER FORMERLY CALLED CANONCITO AND NOW TO BE KNOWN AS THE TO'HAJIILEE CHAPTER OF THE NAVAJO NATION.

WHEREAS, the Navajo chapter formerly called Canoncito is located about forty minutes west of Albuquerque and north of interstate 40; and

WHEREAS, the name "Canoncito", a Spanish word meaning "little canyon", was bestowed on the residents of that Navajo chapter by President Harry S. Truman and the United States congress when congress recognized the "Canoncito Band of Navajo Indians"; and

WHEREAS, the people living in the area known as Canoncito have traditionally called the place where they live To'Hajiilee, or "the place where the water is drawn up"; and

WHEREAS, the students in a law class at the To'Hajiilee community high school researched the name of their community and petitioned the Canoncito chapter and then the Navajo Nation council to concur in the change of the name of the community to its traditional name; and

WHEREAS, the Canoncito chapter and the Navajo Nation council have concurred and endorsed the change of name; and

WHEREAS, the support of the house of representatives of New Mexico is requested in acknowledging the name change of the Canoncito Navajo chapter to the To'Hajiilee Navajo chapter;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it acknowledge the change of name of the Canoncito Navajo chapter to the To'Hajiilee Navajo chapter and acknowledge the effort of the students at To'Hajiilee community high school in working to restore the true Navajo name to their chapter; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state change highway and road signs, maps and any other public documents printed by the state to reflect the Navajo chapter of To'Hajiilee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States department of the interior be requested to acknowledge the change of name of the To'Hajiilee chapter of the Navajo Nation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chapter president of the To'Hajiilee chapter of the Navajo Nation, the secretary of the interior, the secretary of highway and transportation and the speaker of the Navajo Nation council.