Arlyssa Becenti

2 weeks ago | azcentral.com | Arlyssa Becenti

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community unveiled a new memorial to honor those lost in the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Navajo President Jonathan Nez said he knows people were angered by some of his decisions, such as weekend lockdowns and mask mandates, but he believes he acted correctly. Former White Mountain Apache Chairwoman Gwendena Lee-Gatewood said some of her decisions were unpopular, but "we had to make decisions" to save people.

3 weeks ago | azcentral.com | Arlyssa Becenti

Energy Fuels Inc., which operates the Pinyon Plain Mine near the Grand Canyon, began shipping uranium ore to a mill in Utah earlier this year. Navajo and Ute tribal members who live along the truck route and near the mill in Utah gathered for a forum, saying tribal officials should be more open about the shipments. Navajo leaders say the agreement struck with Energy Fuels will help the tribe monitor shipments and lead to financial and technical help cleaning up abandoned uranium sites.

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Arlyssa Becenti

BLUFF, Utah — Malcolm Lehi, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council, couldn't believe it when he heard the news that the Navajo Nation had struck a deal with a mine operator to resume uranium transportation to White Mesa Mill near the tribe’s lands. “I was terrified,” Lehi told The Arizona Republic, recalling his reaction when he first heard Navajo President Buu Nygren had struck an agreement with Energy Fuels. “I said ‘I can’t believe it,’” said Lehi.

1 month ago | azcentral.com | Arlyssa Becenti

The Defense Department scrubbed histories of Navajo Code Talkers from some of its websites but said the information would be returned. The Defense Department told Navajo leaders the Code Talker items were removed as part of an automated review of materials that could violate Trump DEI policies. Other Native stories are still missing, including mentions of Ira Hayes, one of the Marines photographed raising the flag at Iwo Jima, and Hopi soldier Lori Piestewa.

1 month ago | azcentral.com | Arlyssa Becenti

The Defense Department and the Army removed references to the Navajo Code Talkers, citing President Donald Trump's new policies on diversity, equity and inclusion. The daughter of one Code Talker called the military's decision "unbelievable" and a frustrating attempt to erase history. The Navajo Code Talkers were an elite group of Marines who helped devise a code, using the Navajo language, that proved to be unbreakable by U.S. enemies during World War II.