Questions of homes, accountability spur tension
Staff Reports
The 2025 Summer Session of the 25th Navajo Nation Council got off to a busy start, but perhaps not in the way that either party was expecting or hoping.
A tense exchange between Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and the Council unfolded on July 21 during the opening day of the session, eventually resulting in the president leaving the Council Chambers without any further discussion.
“Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren abruptly exited the Council Chamber during the State of the Navajo Nation Address, in an attempt to evade critical questions related to ZenniHome,” the Council stated in a public post.
ZENNIHOME TALKS
ZenniHome announced July 14 that the company would end housing operations on the Navajo Nation, days after notice that an application will be filed with the Judicial Branch to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate potential unethical or illegal conduct related to a contract with Indigenous Design Studio + Architects and a subcontract with ZenniHome.
The Budget and Finance Committee approved legislation calling for formal investigatory hearings and issued a directive to the Office of the Auditor General to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit into the matter.
During the opening day of the Summer Session, Council members stated that concerns and questions continue to mount from Navajo constituents and communities regarding the Nygren Administration’s involvement with ZenniHome.
“The Council has a duty to ensure that any agreements involving outside entities, especially those affecting the livelihood of our people, are held to the highest standards of transparency,” Speaker Crystalyne Curley said. “The President walking out on the Council and the Navajo people is very disappointing and disrespectful. It only adds to the questions being raised.”
Council delegates pressed for clarity and transparency on the scope of ZenniHome’s contract including the procurement processes, potential conflicts of interest, sole sourcing, and questionable changes in work orders that reduced the amount of homes that were to be built and delivered.
The Council approved a directive calling on Executive Branch offices to provide a copy of the master contract, directing the Department of Justice to research whether or not ZenniHome and IDSA breached their contract, and directing the Office of the President and Vice President and the Division of Community Development to provide a report on efforts to support the families that will not receive homes.
THE PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE
Nygren posted his response to the walk-out on Facebook July 22. He stated that despite apromising start to the session with prayer, songs, and the early talks, the session was derailed by the council trying to take control of the conversation and steer it against him.
“Even after those prayers, song, talks of ‘k’e’, and seven hours of productive conversation, the conversation was once again derailed by the same delegates, using their same disgraceful tactics,” he said. “I cannot continue to allow certain delegates to abuse and demoralize our Navajo Nation professionals who are working on the frontlines to serve our People. I had to take a stand in some way. I had to take a stand against the bullying, mistreatment, hostility and toxicity that all employees face at the hands of certain elected leaders.”
As Nygren stated, he believes the Council “has lost its way.” The growing tension was stoked by Council members allegedly refusing to hear the accounts of two of Nygren’s staff, both of whom were women. Thus, he felt that he had to exit the chambers to take a stand against this treatment.
“Delegates will censor speakers and presenters but are allowed to spread gossip and misinformation to our people and using the Council Rules of Orders to control the narrative and situation; this is not leadership,” Nygren said.
TO ANOTHER DAY
The July 21 walkout marks the second time Nygren has abruptly left the Council Chamber in the middle of the State of the Navajo Nation Address, according to the Council’s post. It continued to say that he has also failed to appear to present the State of the Navajo Nation Address on four separate occasions.
The Council voted 16-0 to table the State of the Navajo Nation Address, providing another opportunity for Nygren to return during the week-long Summer Council Session to complete his report. No updates were listed as of press time.
