Native News
Navajo Nation Strengthens Strategy to Address “Modern-Day Monsters”
On March 19–20, members of the 25th Navajo Nation Council joined Diné Action Plan (DAP) Task Force leaders and community advocates for the 2026 Spring Diné Action Plan gathering, a two-day convening focused on assessing five years of progress and shaping the initiative’s next five-year strategic plan.
The DAP is a comprehensive, culturally grounded framework developed by the Navajo Nation Council to address four modern-day monsters affecting Navajo communities: substance abuse and addiction, suicide, violence, and missing and murdered Diné relatives (MMDR).
Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley addressed task force members and leadership, underscoring the importance of embedding Navajo cultural teachings into policy and decision-making.
“This work reflects who we are as Diné people. I commend the Diné Action Plan Task Force and leaders for their commitment over the past five years to grounding this work in our Navajo culture, our language, and our traditional teachings,” said Speaker Curley. “You are taking on the four modern-day monsters and choosing to meet them with strength rooted in our identity and values. This work is necessary for the safety, healing, and future of our people, especially our children.”
Established in 2021, the DAP serves as a long-term, community-driven strategy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Navajo families and youth. The initiative brings together four specialized task forces under a shared advisory structure to coordinate data, policy development, resources, and outreach across the Navajo Nation.
Together, the task forces advance solutions rooted in Navajo culture, language, and traditional values.
Speaker Curley also noted that successful implementation of the DAP depends on broader understanding among partner organizations of Navajo cultural values. She called on leaders to ensure these teachings remain accessible to younger generations and emphasized the need for consistent leadership engagement.
Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, chair of the MMDR Task Force, highlighted the need for stronger youth-focused strategies, prevention-first approaches, improved response protocols for missing children, expanded mental health services, and increased education on online safety risks.
She also pointed to the need for license plate readers across the Navajo Nation and ongoing efforts to formalize Silver Alert and AMBER Alert protocols for missing elders and children.
Council Delegate Germaine Simonson reinforced the importance of youth safety and empowerment, emphasizing that the well-being of Navajo children must remain central to all DAP efforts.
Navajo Nation Youth Advisory Council At-Large member Louvannina Tsosie also contributed to discussions on improving engagement with younger generations.
As the DAP enters its next phase, task forces will focus on strengthening prevention efforts, improving cross-sector coordination, expanding culturally grounded rehabilitation, and ensuring services reach the communities that need them most. The updated plan is expected to be completed by September 2026 and presented during the 2026 Fall Council Session.