{"id":13930,"date":"2026-01-16T20:09:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T03:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/navajo-nation-president-delivers-peoples-state-of-the-nation\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:42:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:42:36","slug":"navajo-nation-president-delivers-peoples-state-of-the-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/navajo-nation-president-delivers-peoples-state-of-the-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"Navajo Nation President delivers People\u2019s State of the Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Navajo
Navajo Nation President, Buu Nygren, delivers the People\u2019s State of the Nation on Tuesday, Jan. 13 inside the Shiprock High School Chieftan Pit. (Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record)<\/span>Alx Lee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren delivered the third annual People\u2019s State of the Nation on Tuesday at Shiprock High School\u2019s Chieftain Pit, providing updates on administration projects and signing an executive order to implement the 2026 Navajo Hardship Assistance Program.<\/p>\n

The event included cultural presentations highlighting student involvement in Navajo teachings.<\/p>\n

Steve Carlson, superintendent of Central Consolidated Schools, greeted the crowd and shared his experience with Nygren as a president who has visited several CCSD schools.<\/p>\n

Several school royalties attended, including representatives from Teec Nos Pos Community School, Blue Mountain, Shiprock High School, Navajo Preparatory High School and Many Farms Community School.<\/p>\n

The numbers<\/div>\n

Before Nygren took the stage, executive branches from the Department of Justice to the Veterans Administration reported summaries of their work.<\/p>\n

The Division of Natural Resources reported 2,231 homesite leases approved, 794 windmills repaired and $44 million placed in the agriculture fund.<\/p>\n

Tom Platero, executive director of the Division of Transportation, said the division hired 62 new employees and filled 2,200 potholes. A goal of the division is to provide 25% of maintenance to communities.<\/p>\n

Bobbie Ann Baldwin, executive director of the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration, said veteran affairs received more than $720,000 in back pay for veterans. The veterans trust fund this year will have more than $12 million.<\/p>\n

Nygren\u2019s speech focused on environmental projects, jobs for Navajo citizens and infrastructure improvements.<\/p>\n

He began by mentioning the Four Corners Generating Station and efforts to keep it open.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithin the coming weeks, I look forward to making that big announcement that we\u2019re going to make sure that that continues to operate as well,\u201d he said. \u201cI also want to mention that we\u2019ve got a lot of plans for a lot of clean energy development. We\u2019ve got different ways of providing and promoting clean energy as we continue to move forward as well too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through the Navajo Forest Carbon Project, Nygren said the Navajo Nation will earn millions in revenue as commercial forests meet California Air Resources Board standards, allowing participation in the cap-and-trade program.<\/p>\n

On Dec. 30, 2025, the project issued its first carbon credit, according to the Office of the President.<\/p>\n

\"School
School royalties from throughout the Navajo Nation and San Juan County stand together in line before their introduction during the People\u2019s State of Nation on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Chieftan Pit. (Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record)<\/span>Alx Lee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The Navajo Preparatory High School Warrior Club sing during a cultural presentation at the People\u2019s State of the Nation on Tuesday, Jan. 13 inside the Chieftan Pit. (Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record)<\/span>Alx Lee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Students
Students of Eva B. Stokely Elementary School dance during a cultural presentation on Jan. 13 at the People\u2019s State of the Nation inside the Chieftan Pit. (Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record)<\/span>Alx Lee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Nygren also highlighted the Shiprock Pinnacle Hotel, a $22 million project set to open in July.<\/p>\n

The administration is working to increase the minimum wage from $10.61 to $14.70 in 2026, Nygren said.<\/p>\n

For fiscal year 2025, Nygren reported $162 million collected in tax revenue, about $34 million more than when he took office.<\/p>\n

Families were included in the address, with Nygren noting that 551 families were connected to water and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority delivered electricity to 492 homes in 2025.<\/p>\n

The Phoenix Urban Residential Treatment Center, which provides substance use treatment using Din\u00e9 culture and practices, opened in 2025. Plans include expanding services to inpatient detox, psychiatric care and intensive outpatient programs.<\/p>\n

Nygren concluded by announcing a third round of hardship checks for 2026. These checks, funded by ARPA, will be distributed to families needing assistance through the Office of the Controller. Nygren signed an executive order Tuesday setting deadlines to ensure the program rolls out efficiently and on time.<\/p>\n

Education in 2025<\/div>\n

While Nygren did not include many education reports or goals in his speech, the Office of the President released an address outlining several projects.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Nygren said he is working with the Resource and Development Committee to increase scholarship awards to $5,000 per semester.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe scholarship amounts have been the same since I went to college 20 years ago,\u201d he said. \u201cWe got to increase it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The address also included partnerships with Arizona State University, a financial literacy program and access to basic necessities.<\/p>\n

According to the administration, the Navajo School Clothing and Supplies Program provided $2,158,200 to 4,871 applicants in 2025, assisting 10,791 families.<\/p>\n

Students pursuing a master\u2019s in business administration at ASU can apply for the Yideeskaadi Nits\u00e1h\u00e1kees Scholarship, a partnership with Navajo Nation Oil and Gas Co., which provides $5,000 toward education.<\/p>\n

A memorandum of understanding was renewed in 2026 with the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine to prioritize Navajo veterinarians. A similar agreement will be renewed with the James E. Rogers College of Law to provide scholarships, mentorship and professional development for students serving the Navajo Nation.<\/p>\n

Financial skills programming will expand in 2026, bringing hands-on learning to every high school and chapter house. These programs are provided by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and Financial Mobility Community of Practice.<\/p>\n

Treymayne Yazzie, a Navajo Preparatory High School senior, said he plans to continue his education after graduation and will look into Navajo Nation resources.<\/p>\n

Yazzie was part of the Navajo Preparatory Warrior Club that attended Tuesday\u2019s address.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel that the Navajo Nation is supporting me in the best possible way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Yazzie considers Farmington his home but also has family ties to Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. Since childhood, Yazzie has been connected to Navajo Nation government through family members.<\/p>\n

\u201cI kind of got a view of what the Navajo Nation government is and how they\u2019re working for the people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Now at Navajo Prep, Yazzie said he carries the values and teachings of the school and Navajo leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve really come to embody that and work to not only help my peers but those around me,\u201d he said. \u201cI actually know one of the council members, Amber Crotty, and she\u2019s really taught me how to be a leader and how to present myself in tough situations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yazzie said he wants to return to the Navajo Nation after earning his nursing degree from Portland University.<\/p>\n

He said he appreciated hearing updates from the Department of Health about Navajo practitioners healing Navajo patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really caught my attention,\u201d he said. \u201cWe all have to come together as a community and work together to build the Navajo Nation up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Navajo
Navajo Nation President, Buu Nygren, speaks at the People\u2019s State of the Nation on Jan. 13 inside the Chieftan Pit. (Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record)<\/span>Alx Lee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Navajo
Navajo Nation President, Buu Nygren, sits center after signing an executive order during the People\u2019s State of the Nation on Jan. 13 implementing the 2026 Navajo Hardship Assistance Program. (Alx Lee\/Tri-City Record)<\/span>Alx Lee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

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