COPPERMINE, Ariz. – Beneath the red rocks and mesas of the Echo Cliffs community, a long-awaited dream is rising.
On July 29, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren visited the site of the future Echo Cliffs Health Center, where he was welcomed and guided by Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Joette Walters and Chief Operating Officer Julius Young II. The facility represents more than infrastructure – it reflects the determination of elders, families, and leaders who envisioned accessible healthcare for generations to come.
“This was something the community asked for, for many, many years,” said Walters. “It’s finally come to fruition. The groundbreaking started back in February 2024, and now the building is taking shape.”
The project stems from a resolution brought forward by local elders decades ago, many of whom are no longer alive. Director of the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Sarah Slim reflected on their lasting legacy.
“They never stopped advocating for this center, and today we see the result of their hope,” said Director Slim.
TCRHCC’s broader plan includes replacing its aging 1975 hospital with a modern facility designed to serve 59,000 residents across Navajo, Hopi, and Southern Paiute lands. The $136 million campus, funded by Indian Health Services, will include expanded emergency, specialty, and public health services, with completion anticipated in Fall 2026.
“We are not just building a hospital,” said President Nygren. “We are honoring the vision of our elders and creating a space where our people can heal with dignity, close to home and on our sacred land.”