For decades, the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation (ONHIR) handled relocation cases, housing and land issues, and certain responsibilities under the 1974 Settlement Act. In 2025, ONHIR closed, and its duties began shifting to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Many families still have questions about what this means.

1. What Happened to ONHIR?

• ONHIR officially closed its doors by retiring all staff in September of 2025.
• All records, case files, and assets were archived by the federal government.
• The federal government assigned the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to take over the remaining responsibilities through an MOU that was entered into between ONHIR and the US Dept of the Interior.

Important: Even though ONHIR closed, federal obligations did not disappear.

2. What Responsibilities Still Exist?

The federal government still has duties connected to:

• Relocation cases that were never fully resolved.
• Housing repairs or unfinished commitments for eligible families.
• Land management issues tied to the former Bennett Freeze, NPL, HPL, and New Lands.
• Grazing and permitting questions affected by relocation boundaries.
• Historical records needed for families, chapters, and the Nation.

These responsibilities now fall under BIA, but the transition has been slow.

3. Why Is the Transition Slow?

• ONHIR closed right before a major federal shutdown.
• Many ONHIR staff retired, leaving gaps in knowledge.
• BIA did not receive complete information or guidance.
• Federal agencies are still sorting out who handles what.

This is why the Navajo Nation continues to push for clarity.

4. What Is the Navajo Nation Doing?

The Navajo Hopi Land Commission Office (NHLCO) is through the Nations Transition Team:

• Meeting with federal officials to clarify responsibilities.
• Requesting access to ONHIR records.
• Tracking unresolved relocation cases.
• Supporting chapters and families with information.
• Preparing reports and recommendations for leadership.

NHLCO is working to ensure no family is left behind during this transition.

5. What Chapters Can Do

Chapters play an important role by helping:

• Identify families with unresolved relocation issues.
• Share updates from NHLCO with community members.
• Encourage families to keep documents and records safe.
• Report concerns or questions to NHLCO.

Chapters are the bridge between families and the Nation.

6. Key Message for Community Members

Even though ONHIR closed, the federal government still has responsibilities. The Navajo Nation is actively working to protect families, clarify duties, and ensure that relocation-related promises are honored.

If families have questions, they can contact NHLCO for guidance.

Respectfully,

NHLCO