By Heather Austin, Principal – Phoenix
Native American Heritage Month in November created a great opportunity for local and national media to spotlight the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise’s (Navajo Gaming) many programs that improve the quality of life of the Dine’ (Navajo) people.
As of 2024, the Diné, is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States, with 399,494 enrolled members covering 16 million acres. Each of Navajo Gaming’s four properties and Travel Center are a vital part of the community and provide high-quality jobs, stability and hope for 1,200 families on the reservation and across New Mexico and Northern Arizona – even more important in light of the unemployment rate on the Navajo Nation which is approximately 48% – compared to the US rate of an estimated 4.2%. Additionally, 90% of Navajo Gaming employees are Native American, with Navajos at all levels of the enterprise from front-line to senior management.
USA Today focused on the cultural and professional importance Navajo Gaming places on the sustainability of its buildings, appropriate stewardship of its land and effective use of energy throughout its properties. Wherever Navajo Gaming develops there are no preexisting utilities, roads or running water, so it focuses on bringing in sustainable utilities that are built to the highest standard, dependable and resilient – from clean water, to reliable power and natural gas. The article shared that one of Navajo Gaming’s biggest successes was a $23 million investment into clean water through a partnership with NTUA to create a 100% biological waste-water treatment plant. The result is water that is rated some of the cleanest in Northern Arizona with the EPA approval to discharge the effluence into Padre Canyon, part of the Little Colorado River watershed. When Navajo Gaming built this more than 10 years ago, it was one of the first systems of this scale in the nation, and the first at a gaming property.
Later, in a mouthwatering cooking segment KTVK TV 3 focused on the unique Navajo Beef Program which features multiple Navajo ranching families raising high quality beef, Labatt Food Service distributing it and NNGE purchasing it to serve in its resort, casinos and restaurants. Since its launch the program has grown to produce millions in revenue for local Navajo ranchers, allowing them to improve their lives and increase the quality of life in their communities. Through the program Navajo ranchers uphold traditional practices to produce premium, Choice grade or better quality beef that is always tender and full of flavor.
TV 3 reporter Jaime Cerreta loved the Navajo Lamb Stew, Tomahawk Navajo Beef Steak, Navajo Lamb Sandwich and Navajo Fry Bread with roasted Green Chiles and Blue Corn Meal Mash the Navajo Gaming chefs prepared.
To learn more about Navajo Gaming properties or its $1,991,991,802 economic impact since inception, visit https://www.navajogaming.com/
