Yá’át’ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é,
As we welcome the New Year across Diné Bikéyah, I extend my warmest wishes to you and your families for a healthy, peaceful, and hopeful year ahead.
As Diné people, we understand that time moves with the land, the seasons, and the moon. Traditionally, our Navajo New Year, Ghąąji’, begins in October with the new moon, marking a period of reflection, renewal, and preparation. While we honor and carry that teaching with us, today we also join the rest of the United States in recognizing January 1 as the beginning of a new year.
A new year invites us to look forward. Let us not remain anchored in the past, but move ahead together as a Nation with purpose and determination. This is a time to have honest conversations, to seek solutions, and to work hard for the future we want for our children and grandchildren.
May this year be guided by unity, respect, and responsibility. Let us strengthen our communities, support one another, and continue building a Navajo Nation that is resilient, thoughtful, and prepared for what lies ahead.
On behalf of myself and First Lady Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren, I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.
May the year ahead bring balance, clarity, and progress for us all.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren
