WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act S. 256 passed the House Dec. 9 after passing the Senate in June. This bill, which honors Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo traditional storyteller and Tewa language advocate who died in 2006, is now headed for the president’s desk.

The bill received the support of the New Mexico delegation in its effort to safeguard and revitalize Native American languages. The bill amends existing law to reauthorize two federal Native American language programs at the Administration for Native Americans until 2024, expand eligibility for those programs to smaller-sized Tribal language programs, and allow both programs...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - The Navajo Nation Department of Information Technology has successfully migrated to a Next Generation Perimeter Defense Appliance to tackle the emerging risks in the current cyber security landscape within Navajo Nation websites.

The firewall systems will protect Navajo Nation data assets, monitor network traffic, block threats such as exploits, malware, and spyware. It will also filter network traffic based on business needs and control bandwidth capacity utilization.

“This year, the Department of Information Technology has prioritized to take precautionary actions against cybercriminals, viruses, and phishing. Our IT staff and administrators continue to...

CHURCHROCK, N.M. –Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez welcome New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to the Navajo communities of Churchrock, Pinedale, Smith Lake, and Crownpoint Dec. 16 to discuss priorities and concerns of the Navajo Nation. She was also greeted by Speaker Seth Damon of the 24th Navajo Nation Council, Chief Justice JoAnn B. Jayne, and Navajo Nation Council delegates.

The discussions related to economic development, infrastructure, health, water development, local governance, education, public safety, and telecommunications.

At the first site visit at the Rhino nitrile glove manufacturing facility in Churchrock, the governor heard about the importance of...

Looking for missing woman

A 21-year-old Gamerco woman has been missing since Nov. 25.

According to police reports, Tamara Big Medicine was reported missing Dec. 11 by her mother Susan Willie, who said her daughter was last seen at her residence around 9 pm on Nov. 25.

Willie said Big Medicine just left her home and never told anyone where she was going. She said she didn’t recall what she was wearing, but she has a rose tattoo with a music symbol on her right hand and three scars on her stomach due to gallstone surgery.

She added that her daughter has used meth in the past and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. She added that Big Medicine might have short...