WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Leading to the start of the 2024 Summer Session, 25th Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty led an anti-drunk driving advocacy walk with parents Darlene and Dave Peshlakai who lost their two daughters in a tragic drunk driving accident.

The Peshlakais annually host the Angels vs. Drunk Driving Awareness Walk, an event dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. The Peshlakais’ daughters, Deshauna and Del Lynn, were killed in a fatal drunk-driving accident in March 2010, as they were returning home from a basketball game in Santa Fe.

“Thank you to all the families who participated, this was an awareness walk for to stop...

Council claims president was tardy

Staff Reports

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren chose to present his State of the Navajo Nation address on Facebook Live on July 15 after the Navajo Nation Council spent 45 minutes debating his being 46 seconds late and then moved on to the Navajo Nation Chief Justice’s report.

“You need to be here, President. Don’t laugh at us about it,” Council Delegate Vince James, a frequent critic of the President’s, told him. “Be here on time. So now we are all over the place.”

Nygren’s speech focused on unity, harmony and working together. He cited the successes the executive and legislative branches recently achieved...

Public safety, competency bill a primary focus

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham stuck to an assertion she made April 17 — to call for a special legislative session to mull over public safety shortcomings and possibly pass bills that cover a range of issues from the competency of courtroom defendants to updates to the Racketeering act.

The special session kicked off July 18, with no clear ending in sight as of press time.

A sticking point for Lujan Grisham was the failure of Senate Bill 16 to make it to her desk during the 2024 regular session.

SB 16 went to the Senate Committees Committee, where they made some revisions. It was then sent to the Senate Health and Public Affairs...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation Shopping Centers Inc. Chief Operating Officer DuWaine Boone, 62, is the latest addition to the management team, beginning his employment with the tribal corporation on July 8.

Born in Monument Valley, Arizona, Boone said he was primarily raised in Utah and Idaho. His parents are from Tuba City, Arizona.

“I’ve been working the last two years for the Fort Bidwell Gidutikad Band of Paiutes as their tribal administrator,” he said. “Two years is a long time to be away from Navajo Country.”

Boone earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with an emphasis in finance from Brigham Young University. He also earned a master’s degree in...