Navajo Hopi Land Commission reviews housing progress, ONHIR transition and land issues
Chair Otto Tso said the Commission will continue pressing federal partners, including the Bureau of Land Management, as the Navajo Nation approaches the March 2026 land deselection deadline.
WINDOW ROCK, Arizona – The Navajo Hopi Land Commission spent much of its Dec. 4 meeting reviewing progress on housing, utility connections and the ongoing transition of responsibilities from the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation (ONHIR), while also looking ahead to long-term land management decisions.
Chair Otto Tso said the Commission will continue pressing federal partners, including the Bureau of Land Management, as the Navajo Nation approaches the March 2026 land deselection deadline.
“We need to schedule a preliminary meeting with BLM about properties that are already recognized. We want to get a preliminary discussion moving so that we can prep for a main meeting with the Bureau of Land Management,” Tso said.
Focus on housing and unmet needs
Speaker Crystalyne Curley urged commissioners to document remaining unmet housing needs and to prepare for leadership changes in the next Council term and Executive Administration. She encouraged the Navajo Hopi Land Commission to track families who qualify for assistance but did not receive homes under the current funding.
Curley also called for a transition report so that future leaders can continue building on current work rather than restarting efforts.
Navajo Hopi Land Commission Office Executive Director Sarah Slim reported on the ARPA-funded modular home project, noting that cooperation among chapters, contractors and the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) remains essential as installations move forward in former relocation areas.
“As far as our project is concerned, we’re 90% complete. So, everything is going as anticipated,” Slim said.
Commissioners raised concerns about barriers faced by elderly residents, delays in utility access and terrain challenges at some home sites. Several commissioners called for stronger interagency coordination to ensure residents can safely and fully use their new homes.
Accessibility and utilities
Curley asked the Commission to keep a solutions-oriented focus as families move in. She noted that while many residents are enthusiastic about receiving housing, some elderly beneficiaries are having difficulty with steep or narrow steps that limit safe access to their front doors.
Slim said her office will follow up immediately on those concerns. She noted that contingency funds are available to modify entrances and address urgent accessibility needs.
She added that her office will convene direct talks with NTUA leadership, working alongside commissioners to clarify criteria for electrical connection assistance and to make sure recipients have support navigating utility applications.
Vice Chair Casey Allen Johnson said procedural barriers need to be reduced and communication improved among departments handling utility assessments and service eligibility. Johnson said coordination among stakeholders should help recipients rather than hinder them and called for clearer processes and more timely updates.
ONHIR records and Relocation Trust Fund
The Commission also reviewed the status of ONHIR transition issues, including home-site lease records. Council Delegate Arbin Mitchell said retrieving those records is essential to maintaining services.
“We met over a month ago on what to do with the home site lease issue and it was determined that we need to retrieve all the records back from ONHIR,” Mitchell said.
Commissioners also discussed financial oversight and the future of the Relocation Trust Fund. The fund has grown over time, but Slim said updated policies and improved outreach are needed for scholarships, home repair funding and administrative support.
She told commissioners that revised policy guidance may be necessary to streamline application cycles and better align assistance programs with community needs.
Padres Mesa Ranch and grazing payments
Commissioner Vince R. James raised questions about Padres Mesa Ranch, asking why grazing permittees are not being properly paid for cattle sales.
Slim said her office is working with the Office of Management and Budget and the Controller’s Office to address outdated contracting structures, speed up outstanding payments and stabilize ranch operations while federal transition processes continue.
The Commission reiterated that continued dialogue across Navajo Nation divisions, with federal agencies and with impacted communities will be central to the next phase of work.
The Navajo Hopi Land Commission voted 4–0 to accept Slim’s report and proceed with coordinated follow-up meetings.
Photo: Navajo Hopi Land Commission meeting, 8 December 2025. Source: 25th Navajo Nation Council.
