Members of the 25th Navajo Nation Council on Friday welcomed a team from Arizona State University’s Decision Theater to explore ways to strengthen data gathering, analysis and strategic decision-making for communities across the Navajo Nation.
Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley, joined by Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty and Shaandiin Parrish, attended the presentation alongside leadership from Diné College, Navajo Technical University, the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and other guests.
Decision Theater is an advanced visualization and collaboration environment that combines data analytics, high-performance computing and interactive modeling to help leaders, policymakers and researchers address complex, real-world challenges.
According to Arizona State University officials, the platform translates large data sets into visual, simulation-based scenarios, enabling more informed and effective decision-making in areas such as population growth, public health, education and environmental policy.
Speaker Curley said the Navajo Nation is open to exploring new ways to equip leaders and communities with innovative tools to better understand challenges and identify data-driven solutions.
“This is a new way of moving forward, and I’m very grateful to ASU for being here and sharing the technology and expertise they can bring to the Navajo Nation,” Curley said. “The Navajo Nation makes up a third of Arizona, and strengthening this connection gives us a real opportunity to close the data gap and better serve our communities.”
Curley visited the Arizona State University campus in February to learn more about Decision Theater and invited the team to present to the Council and Executive Branch leaders.
Michael Henderson, chair of the Diné Action Plan, said early discussions among the plan’s four task forces underscored the need for stronger data collection to support effective prevention and outreach efforts.
Working with Dr. Ferlin Clark of the Department of Diné Education, Curley supported efforts to bring multiple entities together. Presentations and discussions focused on advancing data modeling and visualization tools to support long-term planning, improve service delivery and enhance community goals.
Crotty emphasized that any data initiatives must respect tribal sovereignty, community input and the protection of sensitive information. She also made a formal request to Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren to support the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force by helping complete a centralized database in partnership with Navajo Technical University.
“Data is critical to making sure we are taking meaningful action on the issues impacting our communities across the Navajo Nation,” Crotty said. “I’ve asked President Nygren to commit his office to dedicating $1 million to complete and finalize the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives database, which will be hosted at Navajo Technical University. This effort is about ensuring we have accurate information to support our families, strengthen accountability, and guide real solutions.”
Nygren confirmed his office will assist in completing the database, commit $1 million to the effort and direct the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety to work with Navajo Technical University to finalize the data.
The Navajo Nation Council said it looks forward to continued discussions with Arizona State University to identify opportunities for collaboration aimed at empowering communities, supporting leadership and improving quality of life for Navajo citizens.