Descendants of Navajo Code Talkers Challenge New Mexico's Relocated Museum Plan

New Mexico set aside $20 million to create a museum honoring Navajo Code Talkers, originally intended for land near Tse Bonito donated by Chevron. State officials and Navajo Preparatory School now propose a smaller facility on the school’s Farmington campus, a location outside the Navajo Nation. Descendants including Zonnie Gorman, daughter of Code Talker Carl N. Gorman, and Laura Tohe, daughter of Benson Tohe, criticize the move as an overreach and note they were not consulted.

During an Indian Affairs Committee hearing, senators probed the project's budgeting, contractor approvals, and future ownership. The school’s head, Shawna Becenti, said the building will host a Diné bizaad institute, a student leadership program, and a public exhibit, with the state acting as fiscal agent until transfer. Critics like Senator Patricia Roybal Caballero question whether the museum should ultimately belong to the Navajo Nation.