This week, during my visit to Crownpoint Chapter in the Eastern Navajo Agency, I was joined by Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya. Our visit focused on the community’s ongoing projects and future development plans.
Crownpoint, an agency town, has a daytime population of around 3,300 residents and about 2,300 at night. It also serves as a regional service hub for at least 31 other chapters, offering a diverse landscape of trust lands, allotments, private, state, and federal lands.
During our discussions on August 21, the main topics included the proposed $16 million Crownpoint Hotel, the urgent need for a convenience store and laundromat, the Eastern Agency Office Complex, and animal shelter services.
Various division directors—representatives from the Division of Natural Resources, Navajo EPA, Division of Community Development, Department of Transportation, Department of Health, ARRP Office, Division of Family and Children Services, and Navajo Nation Veterans Administration—were present to support these initiatives and facilitate ongoing efforts.
Crownpoint Chapter President Rita Capitan emphasized the community’s urgency: “We really need to get things done. We are an agency community,” she said. “From here, we serve small chapters from all over. We also have NTU students and many students from Arizona here.”
The chapter highlighted that Navajo DOJ remains a significant obstacle to their economic development plans, especially for the Crownpoint Hotel and convenience store. Despite these challenges, my team is committed to turning these action items into tangible solutions.
As I’ve shared with other communities, our meetings are not just about discussion—they are about making things happen. We are dedicated to advancing projects that benefit Crownpoint and its residents, moving them from plans to reality.
— Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren
