Diné People’s Press Conference on Navajo Government Concerns

 

Diné People’s Press Conference on Navajo Government Concerns 

Duane 'Chili' Yazzie, Dine', Shiprock, N.M., Navajo Nation

By Chili Yazzie, Censored News, Jan. 21, 2026

Contact: chili_yazzie@hotmail.com

A group of grassroots organizations convened in Dec 2025 to discuss concerns related to the Navajo Nation, these concerns have been formulated into position statements to be presented to the Navajo Nation leadership including the Navajo Nation Council and the Office of the President and Vice President. These positions will be presented at the Press Conference to be held in front of the Navajo Nation Council Chambers on January 27, 2026, at 9 am. 

• The proposal to reform the Navajo government drafted by the Office of Navajo Government Development has been analyzed and is found to be replete with foundational issues, we are recommending that the proposal not be presented to the Navajo people as a referendum initiative as proposed by the ONGD

• The proposal by the Trump administration to expedite natural resources extraction with little or no environmental review is a critical concern

• The depletion of the waters of Navajo lands and the continued lost of water rights must be consciously and deliberately addressed by our Navajo Nation leadership

• The uninhibited incursion by the federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement agency on Indian lands and arrest and abuse of Native American citizens is greatly concerning  

Diné Grassroots Coalition is a coalition comprised of Diné community members concerned about the state of the Navajo Nation.