- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley announced on Wednesday that the 25th Navajo Nation Council will hold a second public hearing to gather input from community members and stakeholders regarding federal initiatives aimed at revitalizing the coal industry in the United States.
On April 8, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order entitled “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241,” which seeks to reverse previous federal policies to boost the coal industry and strengthen national energy security, according to the White House.
“The public hearings are part of a broader effort to ensure that energy policy decisions reflect the voices of our Navajo people and stakeholders. We have many individuals and groups who support and oppose the production of coal and it’s important that we provide a forum to hear from our people,” Speaker Curley said.
The Council hosted the first public hearing in Forest Lake, Ariz., where 54 individuals offered oral comments and nearly 170 written comments were received.
The second public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the Nenahnezad Chapter House. The 25th Navajo Nation Council will provide an open forum for community members to share their perspectives on the federal Executive Order regarding coal revitalization efforts. All public comments will be recorded and reviewed as part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to assess the impact of federal coal policies on the Navajo Nation.
“Our goal is to hear the voices of the people to help our leaders guide policy decisions by incorporating the insights and recommendations of our communities and stakeholders. The Office of the Speaker will produce a report based on the public hearing to be shared with our communities, and leaders at the local, state, and federal levels,” stated Speaker Curley.
Written comments will also be accepted at the public hearing, and via email at [email protected]
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
$38 Million in Cobell Settlement Funds Are Still Available
California Gov. Newsom Announces $15 Million in Grants to Support Tribal Economic Development and Job Creation
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
