DINÉ ACTION PLAN GROUP REVIEWS PROGRESS
The Diné Action Plan (DAP) is a road map that was approved by the Navajo Nation leadership in 2021 to address the Navajo Nation’s biggest challenges, known as nayéé’ or modern day monsters. The DAP utilizes the Diné planning model consisting of Nitsáhákees (thinking), Nahat’áa (planning), Iiná (life), and Siihasin (reflection and/or evaluation) in working toward defeating the nayéé’ of Diné society. The monsters in the Plan are identified as suicide, substance abuse, violence, and missing and murdered Diné relatives.
It has now been nearly five years since the Plan was approved and the DAP Advisory Group and Task Forces are in the phase of Siihasin, reflecting on and evaluating the progress.
The DAP Advisory Group, task force members, and partners met on December 18-19, 2025, at San Juan College, Farmington, N.M. The location was significant because it represents the north, which is the direction of siihasin or reflection, in the planning model.
The group had the chance to review the entire plan during the most recent meeting. The document starts with the story of the Slaying of the Monsters. The story is about how the warrior Twins utilized tools of the bow and arrow provided by the Sun to defeat the monsters who were killing Diné people. The story states, “The teachings of the Holy People are embedded in our culture and traditions, and the teachings provides us with the tools we need to defeat our modern monsters.” These teachings include mentorship and nurturing to cultivate wisdom and harmony.
The theme of utilizing Diné teachings, culture and traditions is prevalent in the work that the task forces do. A major teaching in the story in the DAP is, “Victories against the monsters that threaten our people are never solitary achievements. No one of us can accomplish true good work without the help and support of others.”
In this spirit, the partners work together to accomplish the DAP’s goals and objectives. The DAP lists 19 programs and organizations that are central to achieving the goals, including representatives from each branch of the Navajo Nation government.
Following the review, each of the task forces provided a summary of their work, including accomplishments, challenges and solutions.
Seven representatives from the 19 organizations listed for the DAP Advisory Group, including Office of the Speaker, Naa’bik’iyati’ Committee, Office of the President and Vice President (OPVP), Office of Navajo Government Development, Division of Public Safety, and Navajo Department of Health – Division of Behavioral and Mental Health Services, attended the meeting and had the opportunity to provide updates on their participation.
“Teamwork is working among us. We’re all joining hands together when it comes to our relatives,” said Yolanda Azua of the OPVP. “It seems like this Diné Action Plan is coming together where we’re all working together and relying on one another.”
Partners who attended, such as Indian Health Services, U.S. Department of Justice Federal Prosecutor’s Office, and New Mexico Department of Health, also provided updates on their coordination efforts and shared what services they offer.
For the NDCFS, employees are encouraged to participate in the DAP and its task forces. NDCFS hosts a webpage on its website to hold the information for the DAP and keeps the public informed through its social media. The Preserving Navajo Families Initiative (PNFI) is another project under the NDCFS that involves faith-based organizations in the healing process. The PNFI seeks to partner with traditional healers, Native American Church, and religious organizations to empower and connect families to spiritual healing. Moreover, the NDCFS hosts webpages for the Operation Rainbow Bridge and Operation Diné School Safety, which both further the goals and objectives of the DAP.
The information regarding review of accomplishments, challenges, solutions and recommendations will be compiled into a five-year report that will be shared with Navajo Nation leadership.
NDCFS has taken the lead in implementing the DAP for the Navajo Nation since it was approved. The Chair of the DAP is Michael Henderson, Division of Public Safety Director, and the Co-Chair is Sonlatsa Jim, Deputy Director of the NDCFS.
NDCFS Executive Director Thomas Cody stressed the importance of committing to continue the work of the DAP in light of the recent tragedy in Kayenta. “The Plan is a movement. It lays out the roadmap to address the nayéé’ or monsters that plague our people across the Navajo Nation. As we mourn the passing of a young child, this should create the urgency to form DAP Teams at the local level to aggressively work toward eliminating the nayéé’. Too many of our people have been taken from us because of these nayéé’.”
The next DAP Quarterly Meeting is scheduled for March 19-20, 2025, at a location to be announced.
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