Happy Indigenous Month of November or Níłch'its'ósí
YÁ'ÁT'ÉÉH
“Hózhóogo naasháa doo
Shitsijí’ hózhóogo naasháa doo
Shikéédéé hózhóogo naasháa doo
Shideigi hózhóogo naasháa doo
T’áá altso shinaagóó hózhóogo naasháa doo
Hózhó náhásdlíí’
Hózhó náhásdlíí’
Hózhó náhásdlíí’
Hózhó náhásdlíí’”
NIHINAHAT'Á
Our Mission
C 4Ever Green Strives to lead our communities to beautify Mother Earth by restoring our beliefs in the rematriation of autochthonous lands. It is our strong belief that through education and understanding the long held Diné Bi Beehazaanii (traditional values and philosophies) of the Diné people that we can make a difference in protection, preservation, and conservation.
What we’re doing..
C 4Ever Green Staff and a Board Member with host Ecoflight, obtaining an aerial view of the landscape within the Red Mesa Chapter District. You can see the solar farm near the Red Mesa Chapter in Red Mesa, Utah.
Photo credit: Meridith Benally, C 4Ever Green Co-Director.
More photos to enjoy from our flight..
Blue Mountain near Monticello, Ut in the foreground. Aerial view of the Navajo White Mesa community, Utah.
Photo credit: Meridith Benally, C 4Ever Green Co-Director.
Ecoflight pilot Gary Kraft and co-pilot Norman Lameman, Executive Director for C 4Ever Green.
Photo credit: Meridith Benally, C 4Ever Green Co-Director.
Ecoflight guests included Board Member Mary R. Benally, and Meridith Benally, Co-Director for C 4Ever Green. Navajo Times writer Mr. Donovan Quintero joined the flight, too.
Photo credit: Meridith Benally, C 4Ever Green Co-Director.
Addressing the Critical Lack of Waste Facilities on the Utah Navajo Reservation
On November 3, 2025, C 4Ever Green, in partnership with Ecoflight and Navajo Times, brought attention to a pressing environmental and public health issue facing the Utah Navajo Reservation: the lack of accessible waste management facilities. See Navajo Times Article for November 6, 2025.
The Reality on the Ground
A majority of residents on the Utah Navajo Reservation currently rely on open dumping and trash burning to manage their daily waste. These practices, while a practical response to limited options, pose serious threats to the environment, air quality, and community members' health. Open burning releases harmful pollutants, contaminating the air and soil, while open dumping leads to unsightly debris and potential water contamination.
The nearest landfill capable of handling reservation waste is located south of the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, along Highway 191 heading north. However, this facility does not offer daily trash pickup services to Utah Navajo residents, making regular, safe waste disposal difficult.
Why This Matters
Improper waste disposal on the reservation disrupts the delicate balance of natural resources, threatens endangered indigenous plants, and degrades sacred lands. As indigenous stewards, the community’s health and environment are deeply interconnected with traditional ways of life and cultural heritage.
Our vision extends beyond waste removal: we seek to empower the community with knowledge and tools to protect the land, revive traditional ecological knowledge, and support a transition towards sustainable range and land management practices, including solar power.
C 4Ever Green’s Mission to Educate and Advocate
At C 4Ever Green, our Indigenous-led nonprofit is committed to educating the community about the risks associated with open dumping and trash burning. We are amplifying awareness about sustainable waste practices that protect our land, air, and water.
We advocate for:
Development of proper waste management programs on the Utah Navajo Reservation.
Access to recycling and hazardous waste disposal options.
Community-led initiatives to promote clean, safe environments.
Incorporating traditional ecological knowledge in waste solutions.
Moving Forward Together
Addressing these challenges requires collective action. We invite tribal leaders, county officials, and community members to collaborate in creating a sustainable waste infrastructure that honors our traditions and protects our future.
Together, we can reinstitute respect for our sacred environment—bringing clean air, healthy soil, and renewed life to the Utah Navajo Reservation and surrounding lands. C 4Ever Green will continue to support these efforts with education, advocacy, and indigenous leadership at the forefront. For more information or to ask how you can be involved, please connect with us at info@c4evergreen.org.
Protecting our land is protecting our legacy.
IINÁ HOł ÍLĮĮGO - PROTECTION. Protecting Mother Earth means Protecting Our People
ÁDIIHOJII'NÍÍŁ - PRESERVATION. Preservation entails safeguarding our gifts bestowed by Mother Earth, which includes protecting our language, culture, and traditions.
HOŁ HOJOOBA - CONSERVATION. Conservation entails increasing public awareness and providing education on improved practices that benefit individuals, the environment, and our four-legged counterparts.