Navajo Mountain

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...

Firewood distributed to help Native families

The Warming Hogans program is now distributing free wood to elderly and Native people in need throughout San Juan County. The program, which is a part of Utah Navajo Health System (UNHS), had its first distribution day on October 6. Hundreds of Navajos from San Juan County gathered loads of...

One COVID-19 Vaccine trial is including a few hundred members of the Navajo Nation in its final trial of the drug

COVID-19 vaccine trial to include hundreds of members of the Navajo Nation

The final phase of study for a coronavirus vaccine will include volunteers from the Navajo Nation. Since coronavirus first arrived in the United States in the late winter of 2020, a race among pharmaceutical companies to find a vaccine for the virus has been underway. Now three companies and their...

San Juan County river region schools adjust to online learning

Students in Bluff, Montezuma Creek, Monument Valley, and Navajo Mountain are back to learning despite the challenges of not physically being in their school buildings. The decision for the river region of the San Juan School District (SJSD) not to physically return to school was made based on...

Schools throughout San Juan County, included pictured Monticello Elementary, will delay their start by two days

San Juan School Board finalizes plans for start of year

San Juan County School Board finalized plans ahead of the start of the academic school year later this month. Key items passed include 100 percent remote learning for students in the south part of the county for the start of the year. The district moved the first day of school for students from...

Image of a pick-up truck with decals reading San Juan County sheriff department. Truck sits in front of the public safety building in Monticello, Utah

County Commission signs resolution supporting local law enforcement

San Juan County Commission signed a resolution stating their support of county law enforcement at the August 4 meeting held remotely. The resolution publicly salutes the Sheriff’s department and was passed unanimously. Commission Chair Kenneth Maryboy shared his thoughts on the resolution. “I think...

Bill could help provide water to Navajo Nation

On June 4, the U.S. Senate approved a bill to settle longstanding water rights questions for the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation. Supporters hope the bill, if passed into law, would help extend drinking water to many of the isolated corners of San Juan County. It would transfer of up to 81,500...

Reservation lands receive delivery of sheep

Hundreds of live sheep were delivered to needy families on the Navajo Reservation on Memorial Day as part of the “Farmers Feeding Utah” project. The distribution was for families in the Montezuma Creek, Aneth, Red Mesa, and Tódahadekanii areas. An additional distribution of live sheep will take...

Graduation for Class of 2020 to take place virtually this week

In one of the most unexpected conclusions to a school year ever, area students are set to receive diplomas this week from the five San Juan School District high schools. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in at-home education during the entire fourth quarter of the school year. While the hundreds...

Navajo Mountain graduation

Four Navajo Mountain High School seniors have earned their high school diploma. In virtual events this week, they will be honored for their efforts and wished the best of luck for a bright future. The valedictorian for the graduating class is Kyler Navaho and the salutatorian is Elias Greymountain...