WASHINGTON, D.C. – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Speaker of the 25th Navajo Nation Council Crystalyne Curley met with Senator Ben Ray Luján on March 11 to discuss the Navajo Nation’s priorities, including water settlements across the Colorado River Basin and ongoing conversations surrounding protection of the Chaco landscape.
During the meeting, President Nygren acknowledged Senator Luján’s continued leadership in supporting Navajo water rights, including his behind-the-scenes efforts to ensure tribal priorities remain part of ongoing federal discussions. Navajo leaders thanked the Senator and his staff for helping keep the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement among congressional priorities while also continuing support for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.
The discussion highlighted the importance of securing a durable path forward that delivers reliable water infrastructure to Navajo communities while upholding federal treaty and trust obligations tied to tribal water rights.
“We’re looking forward to moving this forward and remain hopeful that we can find a path that delivers water to our communities,” said President Nygren. “Expanding our water supply is critical to the future of our Nation, and I’m optimistic about where this effort is heading.”
The meeting also included discussion about community perspectives on land protections near Chaco Canyon. Speaker Curley emphasized the importance of engaging Navajo families and allottee communities whose ties to the land span generations, noting the need for respectful consultation and ensuring that local voices help guide decisions affecting culturally significant areas.
President Nygren thanked Senator Luján for his continued engagement with Navajo Nation leadership on both water and cultural protection issues, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between tribal governments, Congress, and surrounding states to move these priorities forward.
