Navajo Leader Praises Huntsman

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Governor Jon Huntsman is earning high praise from leaders of the Navajo Nation for his treatment of Utah's tribes. Navajo President Joe Shirley says Huntsman is the first Governor of Utah to truly reach out to his people:

"It takes a special person to do that," says Shirley. "A person with heart and love for our people. A person with with diplomacy."

President Shirley offered that praise at the Second Annual Native American Summit in Southern Utah. Huntsman created the conference as part of his tribal outreach efforts and plans to visit each tribal council in the state. Shirley says Huntsman is the only Utah Governor ever to address the Navajo Nation council, which he did during a visit last year. Huntsman is also pushing state agencies to resolve issues that have long burdened Utah's tribes:

"I for one, am a little bit tired of hearing about issues that are 25 years old and unresolved," says Huntsman. "Why is it we can't fashion a system that does a little bit better for our people than carrying these issues perpetually into the future."

Education and economic development were the main topics of this year's Native American Summit. Many of Utah's tribal communities struggle to obtain state services and provide quality education for their people.

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