Aug 20, 2026 | News
I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our Diné relatives in the Crystal community. My heart and prayers are with the family, loved ones and everyone affected. On behalf of the Navajo Nation, I extend my deepest condolences during this incredibly difficult time.
This incident is especially troubling for us as Diné people. In our traditional teachings, the bear is regarded as a powerful and sacred being of the mountains. Our elders have taught us to respect these beings, keep our distance and approach encounters with wildlife carefully and with reverence.
The circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation. The bear involved has been recovered for further testing, and I ask our people not to make assumptions until our law enforcement, wildlife officials and investigators have completed their work.
I thank the Navajo Police Department, Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife, Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, first responders and cooperating agencies for their immediate response.
As we pray for the individual who passed, their family and the Crystal community, I ask everyone to remain vigilant outdoors. Be Bear Aware. Stay alert, keep children and pets close, never approach or feed a bear, and secure food and garbage. If you encounter a bear, do not run. Remain calm and slowly create distance.
Let us continue to follow the teachings passed down by our elders: respect the land, respect wildlife and understand that we share this homeland with many living beings.
May we pray for the restoration of balance and protection across our Nation. Look after one another and continue to walk with respect for all living beings.
— President Buu Nygren
Aug 20, 2026 | News
Navajo Nation President Nygren has approved a professional services contract to support the development of an interactive Navajo language learning application designed for students in kindergarten through third grade. The initiative represents a major investment in preserving and strengthening the Diné language by providing modern educational tools for children, educators, and families.
The $647,000 project will be led by Native Innovations Inc., a 100% Navajo-owned Priority One business, through a partnership with the Navajo Nation Department of Diné Education, the Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship and Financial Assistance, and the Navajo Nation Teacher Education Consortium. Funded through a New Mexico legislative appropriation administered by the New Mexico Public Education Department, the application will align with official Diné Language Standards and provide engaging, age-appropriate instruction for young learners.
The cross-platform application will be available on iOS, Android, and tablet devices and will feature bilingual English and Navajo content, interactive lessons, audio-visual flashcards, storytelling, quizzes, pronunciation by fluent Diné speakers, and offline access to support students in rural communities. A panel of Navajo language educators and cultural experts will guide development to ensure the curriculum remains culturally accurate and educationally effective.
“This investment is about protecting our language by putting it into the hands of the next generation,” said President Buu Nygren. “By combining Diné knowledge with modern technology and supporting Navajo-owned businesses, we are creating new opportunities for our children to learn, speak, and carry our language forward with pride.”
The contract underwent review by the Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Controller, Department of Justice, and other Navajo Nation oversight offices to ensure compliance with procurement and financial requirements. Upon completion, all work products developed under the contract will remain the property of the Navajo Nation, ensuring this educational resource continues to benefit Diné students and communities for years to come.
Aug 20, 2026 | News
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – President Dr. Buu Nygren approved the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) FY 2026 Amendment #1 Reference Funding Agreement on August 17, 2026, totaling $167,362,645.82 and securing a major federal investment in transportation infrastructure across the Navajo Nation.
The funding, requested by the Navajo Division of Transportation, will support roadway improvements, bridge projects, transportation planning, and other infrastructure initiatives that enhance safety, strengthen connectivity, and improve access to essential services for Navajo communities. The agreement was approved through an expedited process to meet the federal August Redistribution deadline, ensuring the Nation maintained access to these critical funds without delay.
The agreement includes $89.9 million in FY 2026 funding, more than $70.1 million in FY 2025 funding, and $7.3 million for bridge improvements, providing long-term investments that will benefit residents, businesses, and emergency services throughout the Navajo Nation.
“This funding represents a major investment in the future of the Navajo Nation,” said President Dr. Buu Nygren. “By working closely with our federal partners, we are strengthening our roads, improving transportation access, and creating opportunities that will benefit our communities for generations to come.”
Aug 19, 2026 | News
The Navajo Nation is expanding support for public health services and addressing critical nursing workforce needs through a new services contract between the Navajo Nation and ColoVAX, LLC.
The agreement will help ensure the Navajo Department of Health’s Public Health Nursing Program has qualified nursing personnel available to continue providing essential health services throughout Navajo communities. Public health nurses play an important role in bringing care and health resources closer to the people, particularly in rural communities where access to services can be challenging.
“This contract is the driving catalyst to get the Public Health Nursing Program off the ground with the much-needed support that should have been there,” said Sherylene M. Yazzie, Executive Director of the Navajo Department of Health. “The PHN Program has come a long way, and the structuring of this program will make a profound impact on our communities for years to come. In the Navajo Department of Health’s efforts of ‘Navajo Healing Navajo,’ we will continue working to streamline programs and work toward greater efficiency.”
The contract comes as the Department of Health continues its efforts to recruit and retain nursing professionals following the retirement of the program’s previous nurse last year. Through contracted nursing staff provided by ColoVAX, the program will gain additional personnel capacity while the Nation continues its recruitment efforts.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed the agreement on August 17, 2026, authorizing a 36-month contract to provide Public Health Nursing staff for the Navajo Department of Health’s Navajo Public Health Nursing Program.
Over the next three years, the partnership is intended to provide greater staffing stability, support the continued development of the PHN Program and expand its ability to serve Navajo families and communities.
Aug 19, 2026 | News
Across the Navajo Nation, veterans are receiving new homes, creating a new outlook on life not only for the veterans who served, but for their families and entire communities.
“Our veterans are part of the foundation of our communities,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren. “They are our parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, mentors and leaders. Giving a veteran a safe home means keeping our families strong and keeping our people connected to their communities.”
A home means stability. It means veterans can remain close to their children, grandchildren, relatives, ceremonies and communities. It allows families to stay together and strengthens the connection between generations. When a veteran receives a home, the impact reaches far beyond one individual.
The Nygren Administration has made supporting Navajo veterans a priority. Strengthening home improvement assistance, support surviving spouses and Gold Star families, and connect veterans with benefits and services they have earned.
For veterans who have waited years for adequate housing, receiving the keys to a new home can provide security, independence and peace of mind. For their families, it creates a permanent gathering place where children and grandchildren can come home and where stories, language and traditions can continue to be shared.
President Nygren has also prioritized helping Navajo veterans access federal benefits, improving services through the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration and expanding opportunities to address existing homes that need repairs.
“When we invest in our veterans, we invest in our communities,” President Nygren said. “Every home we build strengthens a family. Every family we strengthen makes the Navajo Nation stronger. Our veterans stood up for us, and we will continue standing up for them.”
Aug 18, 2026 | News
There is something powerful about coming together through movement.
President Nygren was honored to join the Wings Good Medicine Community Run/Walk in Santa Fe, New Mexico, hosted by Wings of America, an organization that continues to create welcoming spaces where Indigenous youth, families, and communities can connect, support one another, and celebrate wellness together.
Through running, mentorship, and Native-led programs, Wings creates opportunities for people to move with purpose, strengthen community, and honor the traditions that have always connected our people. Their work reminds us that wellness is about more than physical health, it is about belonging, culture, encouragement, and lifting one another up.
Ahéhee’ to Wings of America, its leadership, staff, facilitators, volunteers, and every participant for bringing people together and investing in the next generation of Indigenous leaders.
