TSE BONITO, New Mexico — The Navajo Nation Council Resources and Development Committee passed Legislation 0029-24, historically approving the Navajo Nation Burial and Cemetery Regulations on Feb. 14.

The passage of Legislation 0029-24 signifies a profound step forward in the governance of burial procedures for the Navajo people, giving regulations for actions surrounding burials and cemeteries.

“This is a sensitive topic that is both personal and critical to our people. In formalizing these regulations, the Committee had to acknowledge the importance of applying and incorporating traditional principles,” RDC Chairwoman Brenda Jesus (Oaksprings, St. Michaels) said. “We also had...

Gallup officials have joined the state Human Services Department’s 988 Crisis Lifeline program for mental wellness. The program provides mental health resources which are easily accessible through calling or texting the number 988.

There are three ways to connect to the support services, either by calling or texting 988 or chatting with a crisis center by visiting https://988lifeline.org/chat/. The 988 Crisis Line also has a Veterans Crisis Line and Spanish subnetwork. Gallup Police Department Chief Erin Toadlena-Pablo believes this is a great tool to add to the array of strategies her department uses to address mental health crises.

“We believe this is a great tool for community...

Each month, the Sun recognizes a local teacher for his or her determination to help students go above and beyond. Anyone can nominate a teacher by emailing the Sun at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and providing the teacher’s name, where they teach, and why they should be selected as that month’s winner.

This month’s award went to Makena Wenning, a kindergarten teacher at Jefferson Elementary. This is Wenning’s first year teaching, although she is no stranger to the Gallup area or teaching.

ROAD TO TEACHING

She grew up in Gallup, with her mom teaching preschool at Jefferson and her dad teaching at Hozho Academy. Despite growing up surrounded by teachers – her grandparents and...

TimelyCare app available for free to improve student well-being

A new partnership between The University of New Mexico and TimelyCare,  a virtual health and well-being provider used by many higher education facillites, is giving students at the Gallup branch campus access to free and equitable mental health support, medical care and basic needs assistance.

The partnership with TimelyCare is an extension of campus health and counseling center resources offered by UNM Student Health and Counseling, with a goal of improving student well-being, engagement and retention.

“Mental health has a direct impact on the well-being and safety of students, which ultimately impacts their...