Native American Issues

Navajo Nation Delegate Herman Daniels Jr. of Monument Valley speaks at the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement event on May 27, while Senator Mitt Romney shakes hands with Council Delegate Rickie Nez. Delegate Daniels represents four chapters on the council including the Navajo Utahns of Oljato and Navajo Mountain. Photo Courtesy office of Navajo Nation President

Navajo Utah leadership plan for what comes next following Water Rights Settlement

Now that the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement has been finalized, Navajo Nation officials will work on how to spend the $218 million for infrastructure as well as allocate the annual allotment of 81,500 acre-feet. With around half of Utah Navajo residents living without running water, the top...

Seated from left to right Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, and Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez sign the agreement while numerous tribal, federal and state leaders stand behind. Photo courtesy Nic Naylor, Utah Governors office

Signing finalizes massive Navajo Utah water rights settlement

by David Boyle News Director The execution of the Utah Navajo Water Rights Settlement was completed with a signing of state, federal and tribal leaders in Monument Valley on May 27. The agreement concluded 18 years of negotiations between the parties and affirms water rights of Utah Navajos, as...

Navajo Utah Commission acts on proposals for roads, law enforcement

Members of the Navajo Utah Commission passed resolutions related to roads and law enforcement, received reports on transit routes, food banks, and other topics at their latest meeting. At the April 12 meeting of the Navajo Utah Commission representatives from the Utah chapters as well as members of...

Navajo Utah Commission receive updates from state lobbyist, UDOT and others

Members of the Navajo Utah Commission received an update from their hired state legislative lobbyist, a report from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and discussed chapter manager pay at their latest meeting. Members of the Navajo Utah Commission include tribally elected Chapter...

USU releases first “Land Acknowledgment” scripts

Utah State University has finalized its first land acknowledgment statements, recognizing that USU’s facilities across the state reside on the lands of Indigenous peoples. Community leaders and the faculty who worked on the statements say they are a great first step in furthering USU’s goals of...

Navajo Utah Commission sets priorities

by David Boyle News Director Members of the Navajo Utah Commission (NUC) spent much of their meetings in January discussing priorities for the 2022 Utah State Legislative session. At their January 11 meeting, members of the Navajo Utah Commission – made up of elected Chapter Presidents and Navajo...

Navajo Utah Commission discusses federal funds, water settlements, and firewood issues

An update on the Navajo Utah Water Settlement Act, discussion of more than $50 million for Utah Chapter projects, and a university study on firewood were all part of the most recent Navajo Utah Commission meeting. The elected Chapter officials and Navajo Nation Council representatives who make up...

Utah Rotary Club gives new center to Halchita

“Every once in a while, maybe once in a lifetime, you have an experience that changes your life,” wrote Paul Summers, Utah Rotarian of the year. “The Halchita Community Center Project could be one of those. We had a crew of about 75 people from about every walk of life converge on this little,...

Utah Task Force investigates Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls

A state task force to explore how the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls epidemic is impacting Utah is seeking input from Indigenous communities in San Juan County. Activism amongst Indigenous groups in the United States and Canada has brought attention to the higher-than-average rate...

Navajo Strong donates to USU Center in Monument Valley

Bud Frazier, founder of Navajo Strong, presented a $5,000 donation to the Utah State University Monument Valley Center to Associate Vice President Kristian Olsen. Olsen was instrumental in setting up a warehouse that helped Navajo Strong distribute essential COVID-19 supplies to clinics, hospitals...