WINDOW ROCK, AZ — Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugene Tso from Chinle, AZ, has been awarded the 2022 Honorable Advocate of the Year by the Navajo Nation Advisory Council on Disability (NNACOD) for his dedication and advocacy for Navajo people with disabilities.
“I am honored to be receiving such an important award from the Advisory Council,” said Tso. “My work to uplift our disabled people across the Navajo Nation will not end here. I am appreciative of my colleagues of the 24th Navajo Nation Council and President Jonathan Nez for supporting my resolution to renovate certain government facilities on the Nation.”
The NNACOD hosted an awareness walk to honor the lives of Navajo relatives living with disabilities. Speaker Seth Damon, Tso and Eugenia Charles-Newton were keynote speakers during the event with Tso and Charles-Newton participating in the awareness walk.
Hoskie Benally, Jr., President of the NNACOD, presented the award and a Pendleton Blanket to Tso during the 2022 Fall Council Session outside the Navajo Nation Council Chamber in Window Rock, AZ. Benally was also recently appointed by U.S. President Joe Biden to the National Council on Disability.
“I thank Mr. Hoskie Benally for all of the work he has done over the course of many years to ensure our disabled people and their families are treated fairly across the Navajo Nation and United States,” said Tso. “Now that we have government support, we will be able to correctly implement the much-needed infrastructure for our disabled people.”
The NNACOD serves as an advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families to ensure they have equal access to employment, education, housing, public safety, communication, recreation, medical treatment, and socialization opportunities.