“Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of the Navajo people by growing a successful gaming economy. The Nation’s vision took years to build, but the Nation has been successful,” explained Quincy Natay, chair of the Navajo Gaming Board.<\/p>\n
“If it allows its gaming industry to fail, a permanent closure will cause a long-term setback for Navajo economic development, even if it eventually reopens,” Natay added. “The Nation has faced and overcome world wars, the Long Walk, the burning of crops and killing of herds, the theft of our land and forced relocation, the 1918 flu, Tuberculosis, and the theft of children by boarding schools. COVID-19 has had devastating costs and without Navajo leadership, it, no doubt, would have been worse. However, we are a resilient and adaptable Nation. We rise to the occasion, sacrifice, and find a balance.”<\/p>\n
In New Mexico, where the Navajo Nation is most invested, residents remain advised to stay home except for “the most essential activities and services.”<\/p>\n
Numerous businesses this week jointly filed a lawsuit against New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) on grounds that she’s overreacted to COVID-19, and that the coronavirus is no worse than the seasonal flu.<\/p>\n
Matt Bieber, spokesperson for the New Mexico Health Department, says the lawsuit overlooks the facts.<\/p>\n
\nThe medical profession is clear: this is the worst global pandemic in a century,” Bieber stated. “The lawsuit appears to be out of step with these realities.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Since the pandemic began in early 2020, New Mexico has reported more than 143,000 COVID-19 cases, and 2,479 deaths.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Navajo Nation announced just hours before the ringing in of the new year that more than 1,100 workers at its four tribal casinos were being placed on furlough. Navajo Gaming, the casino enterprise of the Navajo Nation, announced the layoffs last night. The company owns and operates four casinos — Fire Rock, Flowing Water, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":160035,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Navajo Nation Casinos Furlough 1,100 Workers, Warn of Closures<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n