WINDOW ROCK — President Buu Nygren, along with other tribal leaders, participated in the 2023 Annual Tribal Leaders Summit in Mescalero, New Mexico.
The summit served as a platform for the Navajo Nation President to interact with tribal leaders and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham. The leaders came together to discuss the challenges, as well as opportunities, tribes face in the Land of Enchantment.
In a panel discussion focusing on public safety, President Nygren underscored the critical need for robust and reliable cross-commission collaborations. He laid bare the challenges faced by the Navajo Nation, especially in terms of jurisdictional issues and the scarcity of resources available to tribal law enforcement officers.
“Public safety in our communities is a complex issue that extends beyond mere jurisdiction,” said President Nygren. “It’s about ensuring our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to protect and serve our people effectively, and it’s about addressing the underlying systemic issues that lead to crime.”
President Nygren urged the state of New Mexico to invest not only in public safety programs but also in social safety net programs that proactively prevent individuals from resorting to crime. He emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to crime prevention, one that seeks to address the root causes of crime and provide opportunities for growth and prosperity.
“The Navajo Nation has faced its fair share of hardships, but we remain resilient,” President Nygren added. “This summit, this government-to-government interaction, is a crucial step towards collaboration and mutual respect, which I believe is the cornerstone of addressing and overcoming the challenges we face.”
The President’s participation in the summit exemplifies his commitment to forging stronger relationships with other tribal nations and state governments. By fostering open dialogues and mutual understanding, President Nygren hopes to facilitate better resource allocation, shared jurisdictional agreements, and increased support for social safety programs that will benefit the Navajo Nation and its people.
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Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, second right, poses with New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham, center, and Speaker of the 25th Council Crystalyne Curley, second left, on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, in Mescalero, N.M.
