Staff Reports
veterans and their families July 20. Photo Credit: Courtesy of the 25th Navajo Nation
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — During the opening day of the 2026 Summer Session July 20. Speaker Crystalyne Curley and Council Delegates Curtis Yanito and Amber Kanazbah Crotty greeted and received concerns from representatives of the American Indian Movement and families from across the Navajo Nation to discuss critical issues affecting Navajo communities, including veterans housing, missing and murdered Indigenous persons, environmental protection, uranium transportation, and water rights.
“Meeting with veterans, families of missing loved ones, and grassroots advocates reminds us that these issues are deeply personal, not just matters of policy,” Curley said. “We heard concerns about housing, public safety, environmental protection, access to essential services, and the support systems our communities need.”
Family members and community advocates shared concerns regarding limited access to water and electricity, insufficient support for families of missing loved ones, and challenges veterans continue to face in accessing services through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Every missing and murdered Indigenous person leaves a family searching for answers,
a community in mourning, and a shared responsibility to pursue justice,” Crotty, Chairwoman of the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force, said. “Families deserve transparency, accountability, and coordinated action from tribal, state, and federal governments. We must strengthen partnerships across jurisdictions while ensuring families receive the resources and support they need. Finding answers is essential to delivering justice and helping families begin to heal.”
AIM representatives also raised concerns regarding the development of data centers,
protecting access to clean water, uranium mining and transportation, immigration
enforcement involving Native peoples, and the need for greater intertribal cooperation to
address criminal organizations operating throughout Indian Country. They emphasized that
unity among tribal nations remains critical to protecting tribal sovereignty and the well-being
of Indigenous communities.
Council leaders thanked AIM representatives and family advocates for continuing to bring these concerns before the Navajo Nation government and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to pursuing legislative solutions that strengthen protections for Navajo communities.
The discussion also highlighted ongoing efforts by the Law and Order Committee to strengthen public safety through its public hearings on proposed amendments to Title 14, the Navajo Nation Motor Vehicle Code, and Title 17, the Navajo Nation Criminal Code.
During a recent public hearing, committee members met with Carmelita Apodaca, grandmother of Karson Apodaca, whose life was tragically taken by a drunk driver during the Kayenta Christmas Parade. At the family’s request, the committee incorporated three proposed resolutions submitted by the Apodaca family into the legislative record for consideration as part of the public comment process.
The LOC encourages the public to continue submitting comments on the proposed amendments to Titles 14 and 17 to help strengthen Navajo law and improve public safety for future generations. The next public hearing will be held at the Diné Youth Complex in Shiprock, N.M.
