WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. —  Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley visited the homesite of Navajo veteran John Draper, 61, on Dec. 10. Draper will finally receive a new home after waiting 15 years on the housing waitlist.

“It was a heartfelt and joyful visit with our Navajo veteran who has been waiting for over a decade to receive assistance through the Veterans Housing Program,” Curley said. “The veterans in my region go above and beyond to work together, pass resolutions, and secure resources to help one another. It’s amazing to see how well they work together.”

Draper, a U.S. Army veteran, shared with Curley that he is currently homeless and living in the living area...

FARMINGTON, N.M. — The Eastern Navajo Land Commission deliberated reports related to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the proposed Navajo Code Talker Museum on Dec. 5.

The NHPA discussion focused on a programmatic agreement between the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other agencies to address land use and cultural resource protection under Section 106 of NHPA.

Eric Simpson, BLM’s lead archaeologist, explained that the programmatic agreement aims to streamline approval processes for oil and gas projects on Navajo allotted lands, balancing development with cultural preservation.

ENLC Chair Delegate Danny Simpson described the...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Health, Education, and Human Services Committee convened on Dec. 4 to address critical delays impacting Navajo elder care, particularly concerning Chinle’s Navajoland Nursing Home. Discussions centered on administrative congestion, procurement challenges, and the future of elder care contracts set to expire on Dec. 31.

Delegate George Tolth expressed frustration over the extended timelines required to admit Navajo elders to Chinle’s nursing home, citing systemic inefficiencies.

“It’s ridiculous," he said. "A patient evaluated in a New Mexico border town can be placed in hours, but on Navajo Nation, the process drags on for months. We must audit and...

At The University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine, a beneficial program is ensuring the future of dental hygiene while caring for the community. The student-run dental clinic at Novitski Hall offers affordable preventative dental care while providing students with invaluable hands-on experience.

“As future dental hygienists, our priority is the patients. We really want to help them,” Sofia Valverde, a senior in the undergraduate Dental Hygiene Program, said. “It's about helping the patient and making sure that they're taking care of themselves in the best way that they can and that we can help them.”

The clinic, supervised by licensed faculty, offers cleanings, deep...