‘Hazhóó’ó yee’: Nygren: media are ‘against me’

TSÉBIGHÁHOODZÁNÍ – President Buu Nygren believes the stories about his administration published in the Navajo Times are meant to discredit and attack him.

“The Navajo Times is printing false stories in the paper,” Nygren said in his weekly radio address Dinék’ehjígo on May 30. “I’m not happy about that. Hazhóó’ó yee’.

“Their (the Navajo Times) negative stories far outweigh the positive stories (about the Nygren Administration),” he said. “They’re against me. They’ve been printing false/negative stories about me for several months. Maybe it’s been eight months. They’re consistently attacking me.”

Nygren went on to say bad publicity is not right.

“A story is worth reading when it’s of truth,” he said. “I became the president to work. I just want to help our people and stand up for them. I respect those who voted for me. I don’t talk nonsense. That’s why I don’t say anything.

“I didn’t run for president for bad publicity,” he continued. “I was directed to get an education, return home to the Navajo Nation with knowledge to help people. That’s what I think about when I’m working.

“Perhaps that’s what some people don’t like. They’re saying negative things about me.”

Nygren added that bad publicity doesn’t benefit his administration.

“It’s not good,” he said. “But the decision is up to you.”

‘Get angry!’

The Nygren Administration has dominated Navajo Times headlines since November 2023. Nygren last Thursday took to social media and radio, telling his backers he’s tired of all the backlash and the negative talk about him and his administration.

“The media is interfering with my administration! Get angry about this!” Nygren told his supporters. “Say this isn’t right and say this is all nonsense.”

Nygren believes his administration is running like a fine-tuned machine.

“We work every day,” he said Dinék’ehjígo. “If you’re hiding something, business doesn’t run smoothly.

“Our people are dealing with a lot of issues. Many don’t have a home. They’ve road issues,” Nygren said. “Some are dealing with serious health problems. We have so many issues to take care of. The media, social media, people who publish false things––people who are in the way. It’s embarrassing. I’m not happy. Why is it like this?

“Maybe this is what politics means,” he said. “People are telling lies about me and writing untrue things about me. Perhaps if you’re running an unblemished administration, people will talk badly about you. I’m probably running one that people are saying bad things and it’s irritating them.”

Respecting Diné ‘asdzą́ą́

Buu Nygren believes he’s also being criticized for not respecting Vice President Richelle and women.

“That’s not right,” he said. “I offered her (Montoya) the vice president position.”

Nygren said he assigned Montoya to take charge of several issues, including pet services, care, and resources; the Diné Action Plan, which incorporates the Diné traditional values and principles to address public safety, substance abuse, suicide, and Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives; and the táá’ naaznilí because she’s a former chapter official.

“I asked her for effective and successful management,” Nygren said. “Being told I don’t respect her isn’t right.

“Perhaps in past administrations, the vice president didn’t have big tasks like that,” he said. “I respect women. I am being perceived as a man who doesn’t respect women. And I don’t like it. I call her my nálí. That’s k’é.”

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