Navajo Economy

The economic base of the Navajo Tribe is centered around four distinctive industries: tourism, minerals, agriculture and livestock, and manufacturing.  One of the great challenges of each administration is to help the economic base expand to include additional sources of revenue and for the people of Navajoland.

Tourism

Tribal leaders recognize the tremendous drawing potential of natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, and the Colorado River basin, and mountain areas.  Over 5,000 acres and 34 different lakes provide sportsmen with great beauty and challenge on the Reservation.

Seasonal recreation has gained in popularity with sports such as mountain climbing, skiing, and camping bringing many visitors traveling through the Reservation each year.  With other western recreational areas becoming more crowded each year, Navajos realize the great opportunity for their own people to gain additional income through tourist trade.

Minerals

At present, gas, oil, uranium, and coal constitute the most important mineral resources on the reservation.  Oil and gas mining were developed in the northern part of the reservation as early as 1907. 

As of 1988, over 600,000 acres of land were under lease for the development of oil and gas reserves of the tribe.

A recent discovery of additional uranium sources has created a major controversy among the federal and tribal governments.  Also at issue is the increasingly valuable water rights stemming from the Colorado River which travels directly across the Navajo reservation.

Although these scarce resources provide generous annual income for the tribe, the battle for final control has only begun and the tribal government is preparing for a long fight.

Agriculture and Livestock

A long-time staple of the Navajo economy has been the livestock and agriculture trades.  Many Navajos use these income sources as secondary incomes as well.  Many more families are employed fulltime in the herding and production of sheep which is still the main meat eaten on the large reservation.

Although many young people are now seeking further education and skilled jobs, the agrarian lifestyle of their grandparents will always be a vital part of their economy and culture.

Manufacturing

The Navajo Reservation has attracted several industries to the areas on or near the reservation borders, thereby securing  additional employment for the people.