Diné Action Plan Summer Quarterly Meeting Highlights Efforts to Address Navajo Nation Challenges
June 20, 2025
CROWNPOINT, N.M. Today, the Diné Action Plan (DAP) Advisory Group convened at Navajo Technical University to discuss advancements in addressing public safety, essential social program needs, and systemic social challenges plaguing the Navajo Nation.
The Summer Quarterly Meeting featured a pivotal presentation by Raquel Chee, a Public Health Studies student at Diné College, on her capstone project, “Health Literacy in Action: Understanding Digital Gaps in Navajo Nation Support Services.”
Raquel Chee’s presentation offered an academic and grassroots perspective that aligns with DAP’s goals, focusing on the digital barriers that limit access to health services and the traditional Navajo concept of Naayéé (harmful forces).
“During the pandemic, I realized how critical it is to improve health literacy and address digital gaps impacting our communities,” said Chee. “My project explored how these challenges intersect with Naayéé, which represents the struggles within our communities, like sickness and poverty. With collaboration, we can work toward slaying these modern monsters.”
The event also highlighted the DAP’s commitment to facilitating culturally rooted solutions. “It’s inspiring to see the efforts put into applying the Diné way of life in addressing these systemic challenges,” said Dr. Jami Bartgis, DAP Evaluator of One Fire Associates. “We’ve come a long way since 2022, but this is just the beginning. Achieving meaningful change requires the participation of everyone in the Navajo Nation.”
Michael Henderson, Chair of DAP and Director of the Navajo Division of Public Safety, reinforced the initiative’s purpose. “The Diné Action Plan is not just a program; it is a people’s initiative,” he said. “It is our responsibility, across all three branches of government, to uphold our shared vision of a safer, healthier, and united Navajo Nation. Together, we can overcome these systemic challenges.”
Adding to the broader perspective, Sonlatsa Jim, DAP Coordinator and Deputy Director of the Division of Children & Family Services, emphasized the DAP’s holistic vision. “The Diné Action Plan serves as a critical roadmap for addressing public safety, social program needs, and the social challenges within our communities,” she said. “It unites the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches under a shared mission, rooted in Navajo values and traditions, to create sustainable and meaningful change.”
The DAP Summer Quarterly Meeting also reviewed progress on several key initiatives, including enhanced coordination of public safety efforts, improved health literacy outreach, and the development of strategies to increase the visibility of DAP within Navajo communities. A call to action for increased youth participation and data-sharing initiatives demonstrated the collective commitment to actionable solutions.
The Diné Action Plan remains a vital framework for addressing the challenges that have long impacted the Navajo Nation. With the combined efforts of leadership, local agencies, and community members, the initiative seeks to unite diverse sectors under a shared mission of cultural, community, and systemic revitalization.
