Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren greenlighted a sacred site bill Sunday that designates an area within the Grand Canyon a sacred site.
The area near “The Confluence,” is the point where the Colorado River and Little Colorado River meet, abuts Grand Canyon National Park, on the Western Navajo Nation near Bodaway/Gap Chapter. Locals call the area Tóahidíídlih, “Where the rivers meet,” in the Navajo language. The Navajo Nation Council had agreed, in a 18 yes and none opposed vote, to designate the area a sacred site in a special session in August.
President Buu Nygren agreed with the council’s decision.
“I am pleased to sign this Resolution recognizing Tooh Ahidiilini as a Sacred Site into law,” Nygren wrote to the Navajo Nation Council delegate. “Tooh
Ahidiilini is the place where the Little Colorado joins the Colorado River. This place is sacred to us,
the Dine, and is both at the center of our Beauty Way Ceremony and where proper respect is shown
and offerings are made. Past proposals called for commercial development of this site, with the
potential to bring thousands of people to this place with human-made infrastructure. Some places are
not meant for Five-Fingered People to commercially develop. This is one”
The more than 180 pages of the bill, which Nygren called a resolution, will become available soon.
Delores Wilson-Aguirre, a long-time tireless leader for Save the Confluence families and its advocate, is ecstatic.
“I am deeply elated and emotional to see this day finally come,” Aguirre said Sunday. “What started with a small group of families who believed in protecting something sacred has now become something much bigger than us. It took years of perseverance, prayers and standing our ground, but we did it.”
Aguirre added, For me, this is more than a legislation. It means I can continue to take my corn pollen above the confluence and offer my prayers the way my ancestors did, from that sacred place, without having to explain or defend why I am there or why I pray.”
Here’s a copy of the letter written by President Nygren:
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