WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Saint Michaels Chapter officials were swift and thorough in planning a transformation of their chapter house to the smallest detail, ensuring they maximized funding to bring the community hopes to life.
“I want to applaud the Saint Michaels Chapter for demonstrating how a chapter can be the model for something of this magnitude,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren. “The officials and staff were the driving forces from the beginning, exhausting numerous hours planning to provide this much-needed project to the community.”
The renovation project cost is $7,716,270 and will come from dual resources, the Síhasin account and ARPA.
The chapter house has 2,665 enrolled voters as of April 3, all relying on the Chapter house and its’ employees for services like financial assistance, housing, burial requests, and countless other matters.
The chapter house was built in October of 1959 and, since, has not been renovated, leaving staff and community members to perform significant labor and costly repairs the best they could.
Chapter officials had been advocating for renovations over several administrations and previous councils, with no movement until the chapter initiated the legislation, landing it on the President’s desk for approval.
“The Navajo Nation is made up of 110 chapter houses, which are the local governing body serving in the most remote communities,” said President Nygren. “Saint Michael’s officials have taken that role to lead, advocate, and serve the community. These women have accomplished this with much heart, strength, and compassion. I am glad I could be a part of this signing today to encourage these accomplishments like these at the chapter level.”
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