- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Nez is poised to make history as the first Native American congressman for the state of Arizona. With a distinguished tenure as the former president of the Navajo Nation, he has a proven track record of leadership and advocacy for issues critical to tribal communities.
Residing in Flagstaff with his family, he embodies the values of Arizona’s diverse communities. Nez intimately understands the unique challenges facing rural communities. Leveraging his established relationships in Washington, he pledges to navigate bureaucratic hurdles and channel vital resources back to his constituents.
With deep roots in Arizona’s cultural tapestry, Nez’s commitment to public service began early, marked by roles such as Vice President of the Shonto Chapter and later serving on the Navajo Nation Council and County Board of Supervisors. During his tenure as Vice President and President of the Navajo Nation, he steered his people through the COVID-19 crisis, spearheading improvements in healthcare, public safety, and infrastructure.
⭕️REMINDER: Register to vote and cast your ballot on November 8th ⭕️
Tune into Native Bidaské LIVE this Friday, May 10th at Noon ET on Native News Online's Facebook, X (Twitter), or YouTube channel.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Calfornia Gov. Newsom Announces $15 Million in Grants to Support Tribal Economic Development and Job Creation
Protests Greet Western Governors in Santa Fe
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
