Diné kéyah illegal dumping & littering: THE SOLUTION

The Diné Kéyah illegal dumping and littering plan will help address the issue of illegal dumping
and littering that happens on the sacred lands of the Navajo Nation. This plan will raise
awareness and decrease the incidents of illegal dumping that happens in and around the
communities of the Navajo Nation. The lands, water, and life on Diné land is sacred and
continues to hold many stories and songs that will live on forever. A solution that is successful
will meet one or all of the following objectives:

• Decrease the number of incidences of illegal dumping and littering in and around the
Navajo Nation
• Create a safe environmental space for precious livestock such as horses, cows, sheep, etc.
• Raise the awareness of places where members of the Navajo community can dispose of
their household waste

To accomplish these objectives, we would need to execute a 3-step plan that involves producing
and distributing educational brochures to schools and chapter houses on awareness of illegal
dumping, places to dump trash, and the negative consequences it has on the environement. As a
result, community members that complete a survey on the information from the broachure will
receive an incentive. Secondly, we would have to rent and design billboards on and around the
Navajo Nation on what illegal dumping does to the environments and places where community
members can dump waste at. Third, we would have to increase fines and require community
service trash pick-up for individuals or groups who violate the Navajo Nation Solid waste act by
illegally dumping or littering on the lands of Diné.

These three projects will be a step into leading things in the right direction for the environmental
health and safety of the Navajo Nation. While it may not entirely solve the issue, at least more
people will become aware of illegal dumping, places they can legally dump their waste, and lead
to a more sustainable environment for Mother Earth.

Act T’ááłá’í (one): Higher violation fines and requirment of a maximum or 5 hours of
community trash pickup service

The Navajo Nation Council is the legislative branch of the Navajo Nation that passes and write
bill/laws for the Navajo Nation community. The Navajo Nation Environemental Protection
Agency (NNEPA) was established by the Navajo Nation Council to to protect the health of
humans, protect welfare, and the environment of the Diné nation. With the help from the Navajo
Nation Council and the Navajo Nation environmental protection agency, we will be able to

• First, we will write a proposal to increase fines, penalties, and community service hours
of violators caught illegally dumping trash on the Navajo Nation.
• Second, we will propose our bill to the Navajo Nation Council and/or NNEPA to increase
illegal dumping fines by $200 and require violators to complete a maximum of 5 hours of
community service of picking up trash in their local Navajo community.
Act Naakí (two): Production and distribution of education brochures on illegal dumping and
littering

Educating the members of the Navajo Nation on what illegal dumping is, how to avoid it, and
how it hurts our planet is key to decreasing this nationwide issue. When people know, word will
spread, and action will be taken.

• First, we will research brochure companies that will be able to provide us with many
trifold, thick, and matte brochure for our educational brochures that will be distributed to
the community. We will hire a graphic designer or a freelance designer to come up with a
design, font, and color for our brochure.
• Second, we will get a population count of individuals in each 110-chapter house
community such as Twin lakes Chapter, Sheep Springs Chapter, Newcomb Chapter,
Chinle Chapter, etc.
• Third, we will decide on a brochure company that will give us a brochure that is trifold,
thick, matte, and will be able to produce our design on the brochure. Once that is
complete, we will order a quantity that matches the number of people for each
community.
• Fourth, once we receive the complete brochures, We will organize them by groups based
on their community so that we can ship these brochures to schools and chapter houses
within the communty.

Act Táá’ (three): Incentives for completing surveys on educational brochures

• First, we will get a population count on how many people are in each 110-chapter house
communities to determine how many trail mix, oranges, and water bottles we need to
deliver.
• Second, we will order as many oranges, trail mix, and water bottles as there are many
people in the community
• Third, we will hire three workers for each chapter house to organize the oranges, trail
mix, and water bottles into the small brown bags to give to individuals who complete a
survey that is about the educaitonal brochure

Act dįį’ (four):

• First, we will get an inventory of billboards that are in and around the Navajo Nation.
These billboards can range from small size, to medium size, and to large size. Just as long
as we find a billboard that can display our message.
• Second, we will see if those billboards are available to rent and get a quoting price on
them to rent.
• Third, we will hire a graphic designer and/or freelance artist to design a billboard that
displays what illegal dumping is, how it affects our Navajo Nation environement, and
places where individuals can dump their trash. Most importantly, we would request that
our designers create a billboard image that connects to the culture and traditions of the
Navajo people through including horses, sheep, Mother Earth, the sun, etc. We would
 want our billboard design to be a story for others to interpret, and use that message to feel
empathy for Mother Earth.
• Fourth, we would adapt our design to the billboard size so that the image is viewable to
our audience.
• Fifth: We would rent out the available billboards and display our message for many to
see!

As soon as our project is complete, we will have policies put in place that has stricter and higher
fines for anyone caught illegal dumping. They would also have to complete 5 maximum hours of
community trash pick up service in their local Navajo community. This could discourage many
people to not illegally dump their belongings anywhere. The money received from fines could be
used to help fund our schools, meal program, etc. We will have educational brochures being
given to children, adults, and the elderlies to increase their awareness of illegal dumping and
littering. We will have billboards that will remind our Diné people to not hurt our sacred Mother
Earth. This will lead a healthier environment for everything. From our cattle to our sacred lands,
these initiatives will move things into the right direction for future generations to come.