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1103404
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Navaho Nation
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1103404
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document
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Navaho Nation
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Bradley H. Patterson Files (Ford Administration)
Bradley Patterson's Native American Programs Files
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Navajo Indians
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1103404
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1976-09-01
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9
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1976
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1976-04-01
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4
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 4, folder "Navaho Nation" of the Bradley H.
Patterson Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 4 of the Bradley H. Patterson Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE
THE NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA 86515
PETER MacDONALD
CHAIRMAN
April 2, 1976
Theodore Marrs, M. D.
Special Assistant to the President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Dr. Marrs:
Condemned in 1972, the USPHS Indian Hospital in Winslow,
Arizona is still in use. It was built 43 years ago as a
tuberculosis sanitorium. Today that building is old, out-
dated, and unsafe. During an earthquake in 1972 the build-
ing sustained severe structural damage causing its condem-
nation. A structural engineering evaluation completed in
June, 1973, by A. V. Schwan Inc. consulting engineering firm
under contract to the Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare stated that "any significant seismic activity in the
area would most probably cause a complete failure of the
structure with resulting loss of life to patients and staff
alike."
During Fiscal Year 1975, $475,000 planning monies were ap-
propriated by the United States Congress as an emergency
measure. For this money we thank you. The Indian Health
Service realizing the emergent nature of this replacement
facility has moved with all possible haste to design a new
facility. I am informed that the planning is now consider-
ably ahead of schedule and should money be available, con-
struction could begin as early as June 1976.
Replacement of the hospital facility at Winslow is not an
ordinary project. Certainly I realize that many hospitals
within the Indian Health Service are in need of replacement.
The situation at Winslow however, goes much farther. Earth-
quakes do occur. There was a minor one in 1972 and another
in 1976. The structure is now so badly damaged that even a
slight tremor could cause a holocaust in lives lost.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Theodore Marrs, M. D.
Page Two
April 2, 1976
The cost of building the much needed new facility is estimated
today at $12.5 million. As time goes by and inflation con-
tinues, that cost rises. That cost, however, cannot be
compared to the loss--most certainly of lives--should another
earthquake occur. As planning is virtually complete, I would
urge you, Dr. Marrs, to do everything within your power to
assist us in obtaining our needed emergency facility.
Sincerely yours,
Peter MacDonald
Chairman
Navajo Tribal Council
GERALD FORD
THE NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA 86515
PETER MacDONALD
CHAIRMAN
JUN 10 1976
Dear Mr. Livingston:
Our Navajo People have taken great pains to assure
themselves adequate service programs capable of meeting their
basic needs without jeopardizing their century old customs,
beliefs and traditions.
To make certain our heritage and culture do not be-
come victims of "forced--assimilation", our local grassroot
population has exhibited their public imfluence by expressing
deep concern over implementation of Food Stamps and termina-
tion of Commodity distribution.
Unfortunately, four our needy illiterate population much
has to be explained and taught about the new Food Stamp Program
benefits. A thoroughly beneficial commodity program took some
five (5) years to adequately shape and develop before it was
capable of being understood and of being accepted.
Our concerns are to accomodate our peoples' concerns
without jeopardizing major benefits available under the Food
Stamp Program, but to retain a portion or the Commodities
Program until such time as more realistic guidelines are devel-
oped for our population who are unable to contain with so strange
a program. With this venture, we will be in needfor some
assistance; therefore, I am requesting your immediate assistance
in this endeavor.
Sincerely,
Peter MacDonald
FORD is LIBRARY 938670
Chairman
Navajo Tribal Council
Mr. Bob Livingston
Assistant to Secretary
U.S. Department of Interior
Office of the Secretary
Pacific S.W. Region
Box 36098
450 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, California 94102
BERALD
F
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
NAVAJO & HOPI INDIAN RELOCATION COMMISSION
2708 N. FOURTH ST. P.O. BOX 1170 FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA 86001
September 2, 1976
Mr. Bradley F. Patterson, Jr.
Special Liaison for Indian Affairs
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Patterson:
Thank you very much for your letter of August 27, 1976. It is very
reassuring to hear from you.
The Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting in Washington
September 9th and 10th in order to meet with the Office of Management
and Budget regarding budget requests for 1978. The Department of the
Interior has provided Conference Room 7000-A for the use of the
Commission during their stay in Washington.
There will also be a briefing of the Utah, New Mexico and Arizona
congressional delegations on Friday, September 10, 1976 from 2-3:30
p.m. in the Speaker's Dining Room, H-122, Capitol. You are, of course,
most welcome to attend this briefing, or any of the other scheduled
meetings during these two days. A copy of the meeting schedule is
attached for your convenience.
At the present time we do not have any specific requests to make of
you. In the event that any extraordinary problems do arise, we would
take the liberty of calling you. Also, if there is any reason that
you would want to get ahold of us, we may be contacted through Dennis
Ickes, Special Assistant to the Undersecretary, Department of the
Interior, Room 6116, telephone number 343-3853, during these two days.
Sincerely,
Hawley Atkinson
Chairman
HA:bn
Attachment (1)
50110
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
NAVAJO & HOPI INDIAN RELOCATION COMMISSION
2708 N. FOURTH ST. FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA 86001
MEETING SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER COMMISSION MEETING
September 9-10, 1976
Washington, D. C.
Thursday, September 9, 1976
9 a.m.
Appointment with Howard Borgstrom
Office of Management & Budget
New Executive Office Building
Room 8208
Washington, D. C.
1 p.m.
Appointment with Dennis Ickes
Department of the Interior
Room 7000-A
18th & "C" Streets
Washington, D. C.
2:30 p.m.
Appointment with Byron Neilson
Department of the Interior
Room 7000-A
Washington, D. C.
3:30
Appointment with Frank Wiles
Department of the Interior
Room 7000-A
Washington, D. C.
Friday, September 10, 1976
10:30 a.m. -
Appointment with Morris Thompson,
John Kyl, Theodore Krenzke
Department of the Interior
Room 7000-A
Washington, D. C.
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Briefing of the New Mexico, Utah
and Arizona Congressional Delegations
Speaker's Dining Room, H-122, Capitol
Washington, D. C.
ENALD FORD