Reporter’s Notebook | ‘30,000-foot view’ of the president’s office

They cried as they told me about what it’s like to work for the Nygren Administration. I sat reverently as they talked about their extreme emotional stress, which caused one woman’s hair to fall out.

I felt nauseous and absolutely disgusted as I took note of the administration’s nepotism, forms of coercive control, and tactics such as manipulation, humiliation, abuse, and gaslighting. Writing the stories, Part I through V, was no better because I visualized the Diné men and women – from our delegates to the president – we elected to tribal office and their hands raised in lying oaths, making false promises to the people.

I thought of the low-income older people, the Former Bennett Freeze Area families, Diné allotment holders around Chaco Canyon, the chapters that don’t see our “leaders,” those who need a house, those who died awaiting tribal government help, those facing barriers that prevent or limit access to needed health care services, those who go to bed hungry, and many others.

We are a Navajo Nation in pain and furious at injustice. Some of us understand the rawness of the trauma our people experience, such as the daily indignities and extreme violence.

I know some of our people are suffering: the loss of a loved one to intolerable circumstances and economic hardships, among others.

I wrote these stories for our people, those affected by abuses of power ranging from violations of longstanding norms – including human rights – to potentially criminal behavior.

The president ran from the opportunity to show accountability. He provided no information to refute my reporting. “We report P-card purchases as required,” Nygren wrote as a seeming justification while, on the same day, said in his social media address, “There are some things in there that shouldn’t be in there.”
That’s the “30,000-foot view.”

The Nygren series began in late August when I started getting calls about the president flouting all kinds of norms. It was hard to keep track amid the deluge of Facebook and X posts of mainly Nygren – not Vice President Richelle Montoya – posing with popular politicians and his presidential travels outside the Navajo Nation that are a hallmark of the presidency.

I didn’t see any photos of Nygren spending the day with Narrow Canyon and Navajo Canyon families, picking trash/cleaning up in Pigeon Springs, building a new chapter house for Coalmine Canyon, building houses in the nine FBFA chapters, spending time helping families in, or swimming in Tolani Lake.

And some of the abuses of power weren’t clear until I sat down with a few former Nygren staffers.

After publishing Part I, Nygren went on the defense and issued a statement – written by his communications team and legal advisors. The president’s statement suggested my sources were “disgruntled” former staffers. They are not “disgruntled.” They are people who voted for you. They are people who believed in you and backed you on your journey to our Nation’s top office. They laid the foundation for you.

President Nygren, you even suggested radio listeners buy the Navajo Times and “laugh at” the article I wrote. Help me understand why sexual harassment, violence against women, employee mistreatment, and allegedly misusing the tribe’s money that are happening in your office are amusing. Indian County has disproportionately high rates of violence. We’ve people vulnerable to traffickers and those who prey on women and girls. You’ve asked listeners to “laugh at” a crisis of missing and murdered individuals.

A “sorry” to our Diné wouldn’t be enough. And would they accept it?

One of Nygren’s male staff members said to me this year, “Women don’t belong in leadership,” and another said to me, “I’m going to declare war on the Navajo Times.” Those comments represent the president and validate his administration and its staff members, one of whom preaches the “ABCs of journalism: accuracy, balance, completeness, fairness and impartiality.”

One of those staffers also made demands while lecturing me and issuing repeated summons with edicts to appear before the chief of staff to “see his office” and “see the papers on his desk.”

Nothing is more crucial to a news organization than its reputation for accuracy. I’ve been a writer longer than I’ve been an editor. I believe in giving people a platform to share their intimate concerns, knowledge, and stories of being ignored or dismissed. They’d otherwise use social media to voice their opinions and priority issues. A writer I used to look up to once told me, “If it’s not in the Navajo Times, it didn’t happen.”

The Navajo Times isn’t trying to win a pageviews arms race. It’s only trying to provide Diné journalism so strong that people are willing to pay for it. The Navajo Times provides journalism that stands apart.

But a lot of bus exhaust comes with journalism. That means haters come with the territory and are louder – especially on social media – than lovers. Journalism is a tough business, and one needs a thick skin. It’s an acquired skill.

Some people told me, “I can’t believe you’re so brave.” Well, the stories had to be told. And I was ready for the most hateful, vile things said about me and the Navajo Times. I was willing to get my name ripped by the president, his staff, and their supporters. That’s fine because it means they’re reading my stories. And they are because why would one of Nygren’s male staffers encourage their team members to intervene with Navajo Times operations and its board? Why would he secretly remark to shut down the Times?

But I received nothing but support and positive feedback via text messages, phone calls, emails, and in-person contacts. Even two of Nygren’s staffers encouraged me to keep unearthing stories that needed to be told about their boss’s administration. Thank you to the two women who called me at the Navajo Times office one evening and prayed for me on the phone as I completed the series.

Of all the wonderful comments – from editors to state leaders and former lawmakers – I received, my favorite was, “This is like waiting for ‘Yellowstone.’” That made my day.

I received the highest compliments from Netflix and The Centre for Investigative Journalism representatives. They exclaimed: “Damn! Congratulations!” and “We can’t wait for your next story!”

I took a break one evening to explain Diné journalism to one representative. We talked about the moment of impact and how stories shape our world.

Because their comments were so inspiring, I first told my friend Nick, who made sure I was caffeinated with Starbucks lattes as I wrote each story and read ledes to him. I’d often ask, “How does this sound?” He gave honest answers and advice.

I sacrificed about two months of editing as I worked on the stories. Thank you to my colleagues, the Navajo Times team, for making sure I had breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to eat and endless coffee and espresso. Thank you, my team and the Navajo Times board members, for watching my six.

In the meantime, there’s still much more to be told, including the Buu Nygren lapel pins and challenge coins – and how much was spent to purchase them – that don’t feature Montoya; monthly rentals; clothing expenditures; the president’s short-time Wagoneer rental; his home and office renovations; why Nygren doesn’t mention Montoya; and his upcoming boasts about 234 homes ready to be built for military veterans.

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