Navajo Nation President Considering Reopening At 50%

Above, Window Rock, from which the capital city of the Navajo Nation gets its name. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Navajo Nation Tribal Council is contemplating reopening its tribal parks at 50% capacity after its resolution to fully reopen them was vetoed by President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer. A special session was requested by Nez to reopen Navajo Nation roads and allow tribal parks to reopen at 50%.

According to the Navajo-Hopi Observer:

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer are requesting the 24th Navajo Nation Council hold a special session to consider rescinding its order that in March 2020, closed all Navajo Nation roads to visitors and tourists.

The order would also allow Navajo Nation parks to reopen at 50-percent capacity.

The request for the special session was issued in a letter addressed to Navajo Nation Speaker Seth Damon June 18, in which Nez and Lizer outlined their reasons for vetoing Resolution CJN-33-21, which was approved by the council June 3 requesting Navajo Tribal Parks to reopen at 100-percent capacity.

“The health and safety of our Navajo people has been the number one priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” Nez said. “Based on the data and recommendations of our public health experts, we feel that opening parks to everyone at 50-percent capacity is feasible. That will allow us to monitor the impacts of reopening parks at limited capacity and consider gradually increasing that capacity level from there.”

Nez said one concern is possible COVID-19 variants on the reservation.

The Navajo Nation extends into the states of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. New Mexico is to fully reopen on July 1. Monument Valley Tribal Park is currently closed to visitors and would be included in the plan for a 50% reopening.

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