Letters | Fractured leadership
Fractured leadership
Editor,
At a time when the Navajo Nation is urgently in need of an effective president to unite its people, Buu Nygren is intent on driving them apart.
That leadership isn’t coming from the Nygren Administration.
His blatant disregard for Navajo law and Navajo Fundamental Law is causing hardship and unsettling the nation. Right before our eyes, he is fueling political hostility and division, reversing progress and undermining government reforms that showed promise. So far, he faces serious allegations of misusing tribal funds, neglecting his duties, misconduct, ethical violations, conflict with the Navajo Nation Council, destroying the working relationship between the Executive and Legislative branches, and poor performance due to political disputes and personal issues.
He has dragged the Judicial Branch into the conflict. I am sorry for former Attorney General Ethel Branch. He nearly ruined her career. Fortunately, she is a strong woman and has bounced back.
Instead of working to unify, heal, and strengthen, this president is sowing division, laying kindling, and sprinkling gasoline. It is only a matter of time before a blaze might ensue. As long as he remains unwilling to reach out and bring people together, it will undoubtedly worsen.
Attempting to force Vice President Montoya’s resignation was one spark; the second was driving a wedge between him and the Council, which has sparked many protests over his actions and has put the Navajo Nation at a disadvantage. Currently, there is an attempt to dismiss the controller, who refused to authorize the transfer of funds from the search and rescue account to the president’s travel budget.
Another issue is his failure to understand why it is essential to rally the support of the Navajo Nation behind Jonathan Nez’s campaign. It would have been historic to see a qualified Navajo leader win a seat in the United States Congress if Buu Nygren had been able to see the bigger picture and not let his immaturity and poor judgment influence his decisions. He could have united all the tribes in the 2nd District to support Nez. However, I suppose that’s too much to expect from a president who prioritizes himself over the Navajo people, failing to see the broader perspective and the potential benefits it could have brought to the Navajo Nation.
Is there ever a more vivid example of why Navajo leaders and the Navajo people continue to fight to defend their laws and rights? Especially during the government shutdown, it seems he is entirely unaware of measures such as structural reforms, including advanced appropriations for nation-building and designating essential personnel, which are crucial for safeguarding core services from the shutdown. That is where this battle should be focused, not with the Council and the Navajo people.
The Navajo people’s right, and more specifically for Navajo Nation employees, to challenge a decision when they know it is against Navajo law or not in the best interest of the Navajo people, including the Executive Branch, is a core Navajo value that has made the Navajo people resilient. No president can dismiss them.
But what’s to be done about the Navajo Nation’s government foundation, which Nygren is sledgehammering? That’s a far worse exploitation of the crisis than any looting. That causes lasting harm, weakens the core of the Navajo government, and makes all Navajos more vulnerable.
The Navajo Nation Council and the Navajo people alike must condemn Nygren’s attacks on Navajo law and Navajo fundamental law. They must affirm laws that restrict presidents from unilaterally removing elected officials and appointed employees for personal reasons, as Nygren has attempted to do.
Unbelievable as it may sound, the following line of defense could be whoever is the newly appointed attorney general and legal officials, sworn to support and defend Navajo law. We must have faith that the Navajo Nation Council will hold them in check and demand that they uphold their oath.
Besides condemnation, the Navajo Nation Council should pass a resolution that limits the president’s power to ignore Navajo laws and prevents further misuse of Navajo Nation resources.
Such action would condemn the unacceptable actions President Nygren continues to take by misusing the Nation’s resources and spending to salvage his presidency through campaigning. It would also demonstrate that the Navajo Nation will not tolerate rogue presidents who lack understanding and respect for the Office of the President and its responsibilities.
Nygren’s failed leadership during successive crises and his disregard for the Navajo core values and laws demand that the Navajo Nation Council step up and provide the leadership the Navajo people desperately need, and without a doubt, place him on leave or force him to resign.
Julie Allison
Greasewood Springs, Ariz.
Blindfolded ballot
Editor,
How can we vote on what we don’t understand? The people deserve clarity, not smoke and mirrors.
At every community meeting, we talk about transparency, understanding and the importance of participation. Yet, when major proposals like the Navajo Governance Development Commission (NGDC) referendum are brought before us, we are left in the dark, handed documents that even our knowledgeable readers struggle to make sense of.
NGDC hosts presentations at large community centers across the Navajo Nation, buildings that seat 100 or more people, but fewer than 10 often show up to these presentations. Why? Because people are tired of being handed documents full of colonial language, written in ways that do not reflect our understanding as Diné. When the information is not accessible, the people cannot engage. When the language is not clear, it becomes a system designed to exclude the very voices it claims to represent.
During the NGDC presentations, many community members, including myself, tried to read through the proposed 107-page and later the 48-page versions of the reform documents. But the truth is, the average Diné person cannot easily read or understand these papers. The language is overly technical, legalistic and disconnected from the communities it is supposed to serve.
If those of us who work in governance have difficulty understanding it, how are our grassroots people supposed to? How can elders, youth, or families vote “yes” or “no” on something that has never been explained in plain Navajo or English terms that relate to our way of life? A referendum should empower the people, not confuse them.
We were given presentations that seemed more like “smoke and mirrors” short summaries of a much larger 107-page proposal that Mr. Harrison Tsosie and the NGDC team condensed to 48 pages. But even those 48 pages are still filled with the same confusing terms and colonial legal structure. It raises the question: are we voting on what we truly understand, or are we being asked to trust the government blindly?
This so-called reform claims to be rooted in Diné Fundamental Law, yet the document reads like colonial law merely translated with Navajo words. It does not reflect our traditional decision-making through k’é or community consensus. Instead, it centralizes power, creating additional layers such as a proposed “fourth branch” meant to oversee the existing three branches.
But will this “fourth branch” truly serve the people? Or will it only add more bureaucracy and distance between the government and the people it is meant to serve? The presentation focused on internal monitoring, not on making services easier, faster, or better quality for our elders, single parents, or veterans waiting on housing, water, or disability services.
Another concern is authorship. Who is truly behind the language and structure of these documents? Is it the NGDC commissioners, Mr. Harrison Tsosie, or outside consultants and “ghost writers”? The voice in the documents does not sound like our people, it sounds like colonial policy repackaged under a Diné title.
If the NGDC’s goal is true government reform, it must begin with transparency and by writing in a language that the people can understand. The people must be able to see themselves in the law. It cannot be a system written for us without being written with us.
The rush to push this referendum forward is deeply concerning. A referendum that impacts all 110 chapters of the Navajo Nation should not be rushed with short notice or unclear documents. People need time to read, discuss, and understand what they are voting for. We need translations, visual explanations, and plain-language versions that every family can talk about at the kitchen table.
Our ancestors taught us that self-governance comes from understanding, consensus, and hózhǫ, not confusion and mistrust. If this proposal truly represents Diné governance, then it should reflect Diné values of communication, transparency, and respect for the people’s understanding.
Before any referendum is placed on the ballot, the Navajo Nation government and NGDC owe the people a clear, honest explanation, not a condensed “smoke and mirrors” presentation. We must demand transparency, simplicity and true Diné-centered dialogue.
Until then, how can the Diné Nation vote on something we do not understand and disconnected from the people?
Joey Tsosie
Tsé Dáá K’áán, N.M.
Tradition wins
Editor,
As your state representative, I am proud to share that this year, I along with my Arizona House Democratic colleagues fought for – and won – funding to ensure AHCCCS covers traditional Indian healing services across Arizona.
For generations, our people have known the power of traditional healing – of ceremony, prayer, and communal practices – to restore health and harmony. Too often, these practices have been dismissed or overlooked by state systems. But this year, we changed that.
Thanks to the funding we secured, Native patients will have greater access to traditional healers and medicine people as part of their overall care. This means our community will benefit from better support and holistic healing that honors who we are as Diné.
This victory is not just about health care, it’s about respect. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who spoke up for our traditions and helped make this possible, and I am proud to have voted in favor of delivering this win for our people.
Mae Peshlakai
Arizona state representative, District 6
Cameron, Ariz.
Restoring North Rim
Editor,
This summer, the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. More than 100 structures were destroyed, including the iconic Grand Canyon Lodge, a historic site where generations of visitors enjoyed the breathtaking views of one of America’s greatest natural wonders. Today, the North Rim remains partially closed and faces an uncertain path to recovery.
While the South Rim remains open, the fire caused tourism to plummet across the region, resulting in severe revenue losses for gateway communities and park operations. The impact has been drastic for staff, small businesses and families across the Grand Canyon State.
Now that the fire is contained, federal, state and local officials are beginning the long process of rebuilding. However, bureaucratic red tape, contracting delays and burdensome regulations threaten to stall progress.
After meeting with local leaders, park staff and Arizonans on the ground, I formally introduced the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025, which would expedite recovery by streamlining the federal contracting process.
Specifically, my bill would grant the National Park Service emergency contracting authority to bypass standard delays and fast-track the renewal. This legislation would cover all fire-related recovery efforts, including forest management, maintenance, rebuilding, and infrastructure improvements.
It also requires the NPS to submit a comprehensive report to Congress every 180 days to maximize transparency and accountability. Given the significant backlog in the federal contracting process, this bill is essential to avoid a prolonged and costly rebuild.
Although the Dragon Bravo Fire dealt a setback for Northern Arizona, we have an opportunity to rebuild stronger and better than before. The Grand Canyon is an American treasure, and we can’t allow senseless regulations to stand in the way of rebuilding the North Rim.
I encourage all my colleagues to get behind this measure that paves the way for an efficient recovery and honors the legacy of this cherished landmark.
Rep. Eli Crane (AZ-02)
Member of the Congressional Western Caucus
Represents Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District
Cortaro, Ariz.
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