Editorial: Navajo Nation slow to reopen Boys & Girls

Tuesday, March 20, 2007  

" We can't seem to get too excited about the proposed April reopening of the Shiprock Boys and Girls Club. Why? Well, there was a time when we were enthusiastic. We were happy for the children of the Navajo Nation in July 2005 when three of the 14 clubs reopened with "Shiprock not too far behind."

We also got our hopes up in September 2005 when the lead of a story read, "The doors of the Shiprock Boys and Girls Club, locked since Dec. 4, 2004, will open in a couple of months, according to Shiprock Chapter officials and the director of the Navajo Nation Department of Youth."

We became cautiously optimistic in January 2007 when Navajo Nation officials announced the club would reopen in February.

Now comes news that by the middle of April the club will reopen. But with the club still closed, we see a troubling pattern.

Frankly, we've heard so many proposed dates pushed back by the Navajo Nation and key organizers that we're beginning to doubt if the club will actually open its doors anytime soon."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Shiprock Boys, Girls Club: Waiting game continues (The Farmington Daily Times 3/20)

Relevant Links:
Boys and Girls Clubs in Indian Country - http://www.naclubs.org

Related Stories:
Seminole Tribe to host Boys & Girls Club summit (02/08)
Navajo Nation slowly reopening Boys & Girls Clubs (1/19)
Yakama Nation works on Boys and Girls Club (1/17)
Pechanga Band donates $1.5M to Boys and Girls Clubs (11/18)
Navajo community reopens Boys and Girls Club (10/31)
Editorial: Boys & Girls Club needs to reopen (09/14)
Navajo Boys and Girls Club in Shiprock might reopen (9/13)
A new Boys & Girls Club opens on the Navajo Nation (04/08)
Library affected by closure of Boys & Girls Club (03/22)
Boys & Girls Clubs on Navajo Nation remain closed (3/21)
Navajo president vetoes funds for Boys & Girls Club (03/11)
Funds approved for Navajo Boys & Girls Clubs (2/28)
Audit: Boys & Girls Club money used for leather jackets (02/18)
Report: Navajo Boys & Girls Club charter revoked (02/09)
Navajo Nation Boys and Girls Clubs close doors again (12/09)
Navajo Boys and Girls Clubs finally reopen (11/04)
Deal struck over Navajo Boys and Girls Clubs (11/2)
Dispute threatens Navajo Boys and Girls Clubs (08/27)
Navajo Boys and Girls protest president's plan (06/28)
Navajo Boys and Girls Clubs seek to release funds (05/05)
Navajo Boys and Girls Clubs may be forced to close (4/30)
Audit of Navajo Nation Boys and Girls funds ordered (04/20)
Navajo Boys and Girls club told to offer worker benefits (03/24)
Navajo Nation gets another Boys and Girls club (06/25)
Boys and Girls Club honcho at Navajo resigns (02/12)
Dispute closes Navajo youth facility (11/18)
Editorial: Don't hurt Navajo boys and girls (11/15)
Boys and Girls club tied up in dispute (11/1)
Navajo Boys and Girls Clubs get money (08/16)
Native Boys and Girls club site launched (04/30)