WINDOW ROCK – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, 24th Navajo Nation Speaker Seth Damon, and Chief Justice JoAnn Jayne signed a proclamation Aug. 12 recognizing Aug. 12 to 16 as “Navajo Nation Code Talkers Week.”

The Navajo Nation Code Talkers Week acknowledges and commemorates the invaluable contributions of the Navajo Code Talkers in collaboration with the annual “Navajo Code Talker Day” on Aug. 14, to honor the brave Navajo men who protected our people, freedom, and land.

“Today is a remarkable day for the Navajo Nation as we recognize and honor our great, selfless, and brave Navajo warriors and their families and communities," said President Nez. "Many of our Code...

Photos by Knifewing Segura and Ryan Hudgeons/RAH Photography

Gallup is about to be drenched in color and dance. It is almost time for the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.

The event, which strives to be the oldest and most culturally aware and respected event in the United States according to their website, runs from Aug. 2 - 11.

Dudley Byerley, president of the Ceremonial Board, said the event continues to grow every year, and that remains the goal as new leadership steps in.

“We try to get everything we got money for,” Byerley said in a phone call July 30. “The Ceremonial makes money, but it costs it all to grow it.”

WHAT’S ON THE SLATE

This year’s...

The McKinley County Board of Commissioners gave the floor to a community member for a presentation during the July 30 regular meeting.

Percy Anderson spoke to the Board of Commissioners about establishing the McKinley County Blue Ribbon Uranium Task Force, which will gather data on the impacts of uranium mining in McKinley County communities through issues with health, groundwater, watersheds, and the impact on the local economy.

“The task force will conduct public hearings where citizens of the community will have an opportunity to provide their personal stories,” Anderson said.

The stories of local citizens as well as the data gathered by the force will be used to create a...

Major grant for Rural Residency Development

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services has been selected by the Health Resources and Services Administration to receive a three-year, $750,000 grant to establish its Rural Residency Development Program.

The program will focus on providing the highest quality care for its rural community with a curricular focus on Native American patients and will be led by RMCHCS’ Program Director For Family Medicine Residency and its Chief Medical Officer Valory Wangler, M. D.

The new rural residency programs will also enable participants to achieve accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. RMCHCS was...