ROUGH ROCK, Ariz. – When Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren sat in the Rough Rock Chapter meeting with chapter leaders, he began with a simple, powerful reminder that government funds need to be spent for chapters.
“The last thing we want is to let money sit unused,” President Nygren said. “These dollars are meant to help you, now, not later. If there are issues getting payments processed, or if chapters are having problems getting projects moving, we have the right people here today to help fix it.”
President Nygren visited Rough Rock to listen, respond, and act.
Community members spoke honestly about their challenges. They asked for help finishing stalled projects, fixing foundations on seven homes, and completing bathroom additions that were already started. They explained that some residents have waited decades for water lines that may still be years away and requested funding for standalone septic systems so they can at least have safe sanitation while hauling their own water.
Others spoke about how the $500 in housing discretionary funds no longer stretches far enough with today’s high material costs and urged that funding levels be updated. They also raised concerns about roads that remain ungraded because there are no certified operators, leaving seniors stranded and unable to attend chapter meetings.
President Nygren did not shy away from these concerns. He spoke about securing more dollars for septic tank cleaning and standalone systems, prioritizing roofing repairs and weatherization so families stay safe and dry, ensuring that bathroom additions already underway are completed or shifting funds if weatherization will help more families, and pushing for $5–10 million for road improvements and emergency response so people aren’t stranded after storms.
“If we can’t give you an answer today, we will have one within the week,” President Nygren said.
President Nygren left Rough Rock Chapter with a clear commitment: to fight for more funding, close out the ARPA projects, and bring Navajo Nation Council decisions back to the people.
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