News & Public Meetings

Tune in to KTNN for Public Education Radio Forums on Navajo Water Rights Settlement in Arizona!

Join us for three informative sessions:

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Get ready to dive deep into discussions about Navajo water rights in Arizona and the Navajo Nation’s involvement in comprehensive water rights settlement with the United States, the State of Arizona, and other parties.

Connect to KTNN AM 660 & FM 101.5 on your radio or listen online at Navajo Water Rights and ktnnonline.com. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more and ask questions!

For submitting questions, call or text (928) 288-0567 or use the Facebook virtual chat option.

Replays available on the Navajo Water Rights Facebook:
February 15th, 2024 https://fb.watch/qsIYNScBsN/
February 21st, 2024 https://fb.watch/qsI-9JGtTS/

In the Navajo towns of To’hajiilee and Crownpoint, NM, on the Friday of January 12, 2024, the Navajo Nation Water Rights Team gathered for pivotal Public Education Meetings. 

1. Initiating the Dialogue: Each meeting kicked off with a warm welcome and prayer, setting the stage for a deep dive into the intricate web of Navajo water rights. Crystal Tulley Cordova, Principal Hydrologist in the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources – Water Management Branch, took the floor to address some pressing questions. The conversation began: Why aren’t homes without water simply being counted using satellite imagery? The audience was eager to understand the intricacies, and Crystal explained that while satellite imagery was utilized for estimates, achieving 100% accuracy remained a challenge. Read more

SAVE-THE-DATE for nine upcoming public education meetings (Ft. Defiance, Ganado, Chinle, Pinon, Kayenta, Tuba City, Dilkon, Leupp, & Rough Rock) across western Navajo Nation! Hosted by the Navajo Nation Water Rights Commission and Navajo DOJ's Water Rights Unit, water rights experts will provide background and updates on the Navajo Nation’s involvement in a proposed comprehensive water rights settlement with the United States, the State of Arizona, the Hopi Tribe and other parties. Communities along the Colorado River are encouraged to attend and take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions and share any comments or concerns. 

All community members, leaders, elders, youth, and relatives living in the Rio San Jose and Rio Puerco Basins of Eastern Navajo Nation are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming in-person public education meetings to hear from Navajo water rights experts about pending water settlements involving the two basins. Navajo chapter communities within the basins include, Baca/Prewitt, Casamero Lake, Crownpoint, Littlewater, Mariano Lake, Ramah, Smith Lake, Thoreau, and Tóhajiilee. Come learn more about the Rio San Jose and Rio Puerco Basin water settlements and bring your relatives too! Share the info and flyers with your communities.

In a groundbreaking initiative to foster transparency and community engagement, the Navajo Nation Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to launch an informative Facebook Live series on Water Rights. Running every Friday at noon throughout the upcoming month, this series aims to unravel the intricacies of Navajo water rights, shedding light on the legal, cultural, and environmental dimensions that shape this critical aspect of our community. This event will be hosted on Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren's Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/PresidentNygren)

Throughout the series, expect in-depth discussions on various topics, including the historical context of water rights within the Navajo Nation, ongoing legal battles, and the proactive measures being taken to secure a reliable water future. Community members are encouraged to participate actively, asking questions and sharing insights to enrich the conversation.