On September 27, 2024, a significant milestone unfolded three miles south of Page, Arizona, where leaders and community members gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of the highly anticipated Horseshoe Bend Development Project. The public ceremony, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Arizona time, marked the start of a transformative project that promises to elevate the region’s economic profile, create thousands of jobs,…
Mission site leases are vital to the Navajo Nation, enabling faith-based organizations to provide essential services to their communities. Under Public Law 106-568 and the Navajo Nation General Leasing Regulations of 2013, religious entities can lease land for mission sites without requiring approval from the Secretary of the Interior. These leases are reviewed and approved by the General Land Development…
The process of obtaining or renewing a business site lease is a critical step for businesses operating on Navajo Nation lands. For the Speedway Gas Station and Convenience Store in Kayenta, Arizona, securing this lease ensures the continuation of essential services and economic contributions to the local community. ETD Inc. played a pivotal role in this process by preparing an…
Implications of 8(a) for Native American-Owned Businesses In a recent legal development, a U.S. District Court issued a ruling that could have significant implications for Native American-owned businesses participating in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) program. This ruling involves the use of the rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage in the program, and its potential impact on both current participants and those…
The Development at Horseshoe Bend Includes A Luxurious 5-Star Resort, Cultural Center, 120,000 Square Foot Retail Center, And More! On Thursday, business owners, investors, and marketeers convened at the Twin Arrows Casino outside of Flagstaff, Arizona for the 6th Annual Navajo Nation Economic Summit. Being the 3rd and final day of the conference, events are winding down as the morning sessions…
El Niño conditions are present and are expected to gradually strengthen into the Northern Hemisphere winter 2023-24. Ready or not, here comes an El Niño system! The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued an El Nino advisory on Thursday, announcing the arrival of the climatic condition. So, what does that mean? Well, it is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and is…
Understanding the Homesite Leases Approval Process on Navajo Nation Navigating the approval process for homesite leases on Navajo Nation can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to ensuring compliance with environmental and biological regulations. Whether you’re planning to build a home or secure a lease for personal land use, following the established procedures is crucial to avoid setbacks. One key…
ZenniHome celebrates one year in new location “This facility (NGS) took out enough scrap steel to build 6,500 Zenni homes. And we’re buying steel that was recycled from this facility.” Bob Worsley, entrepreneur and co-founder of ZenniHome, is celebrating a milestone. Last year on December 15th, the company announced its partnership with the Navajo Nation and finalized an emergency operating…
Biden to protect 450,000 acres of land around Nevada’s Spirit Mountain Some 450,000 acres of land around Searchlight that is culturally significant to Native American tribes is being designated as a national monument by the federal government, signaling a win for tribes and Nevada advocates who for years have sought for protections to the area. President Joe Biden said Wednesday…
A Brief History of Native American Heritage Month What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose. One of the very first proponents of an…
FBI, DOJ, and Navajo Nation team up to solve missing persons cases After the FBI published a public list of 183 Native Americans who went missing across New Mexico and the Navajo Nation, the ongoing crisis has gained national attention. The list includes 115 men, and 68 women, who have been missing for more than 500 days on average. Among many other…
Building a Navajo Boat Dock, another step in a long history of pushing for river access “First in time, First in right” has been the go-to foundation of water law in the American Southwest. If this is true, then why until recently have the native tribes along the Colorado River not had a say in water use? As many are saying, Lake…
