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- By Native News Online Staff
Members of the 25th Navajo Nation Council met Thursday with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to advocate for the Nation’s legislative priorities, including education, housing, infrastructure and Capital Outlay funding.
Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley attended the meeting alongside Council Delegates Dr. Andy Nez, Nathan Notah, George H. Tolth and Lester Yazzie. New Mexico Sen. Shannon D. Pinto also participated.
Curley presented Lujan Grisham with the Navajo Nation’s priorities for the State of New Mexico, which were unanimously approved by the Naabik'íyáti’ Committee on Jan. 22, 2026.
“Education is our top priority,” Curley said. “The Nation seeks meaningful government-to-government coordination with the New Mexico Public Education Department on matters impacting students, families, educators, and schools.”
Nez emphasized that any proposed state education funding should account for Navajo student population and proportionality to accurately assess needs and resources.
“We’ll continue to push for funding formulas that account for our student enrollments and proximity to services,” Nez said.
Lujan Grisham said statewide literacy scores for Native American students have improved.
“The more we do for our Native American students, the better we are as a state,” she said.
Yazzie advocated for funding to improve school bus exit safety at a school in the Rock Springs Chapter and discussed housing construction partnerships with military resources previously implemented in his region.
Council delegates also raised concerns about the possible reversion of Navajo Capital Outlay funds and said increased communication and collaboration with the state could strengthen the project vetting process.
“We ask the state to consider establishing a regional district planning office in the Northwest region, based on a council of governments structure, to assist chapters in navigating the Capital Outlay process,” Curley said.
Lujan Grisham said she agreed the concept was a good idea.
The governor also informed delegates that she signed the Immigrant Safety Act into law Thursday and said the state is taking steps to protect immigrant communities by declining to cooperate with federal mass detention and deportation efforts.
“The profiling of sovereign nations is terrible,” she said, adding that the state is working to assist unjustly profiled individuals by providing legal services.
The meeting concluded with discussion of the Navajo Nation Code Talker Museum.
Lujan Grisham said she is committed to completing construction of the museum before the end of her term and noted that funding has been reauthorized and is awaiting designation of a fiscal agent.
“We want to show our appreciation for the patriotism of the Navajo families of Code Talkers,” she said.
Curley thanked the governor for meeting with the council delegation and highlighted the historical role of Navajo leaders in shaping state legislation.
“Many of these bills originated from Navajo thought,” Curley said. “Our ancestors came to Santa Fe and created legislation to benefit their home communities throughout New Mexico.”
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