October 8, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COPPERMINE, Ariz. — About 160 invited guests, including community leaders, Navajo Nation officials and Indian Health Service representatives from Washington, D.C., gathered Oct. 2 for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Echo Cliffs Health Center.
Built by Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC), the $170 million outpatient facility will serve approximately 6,000 people in the region. The opening follows more than two decades of community advocacy and planning to bring additional health services closer to home.
“We are very excited to make this site open for the local community,” said Joette Walters, TCRHCC chief executive officer. “I hope our elders and community members see this facility as a testament to their vision and determination. It stands as a legacy for future generations and a reminder that when a community works together with a shared purpose, meaningful and lasting change can be achieved.”
The ceremony began at 10 a.m., with Alfred Yazzie of Winslow Indian Health Care Center serving as master of ceremonies. The Western Navajo Veterans provided the color guard, and Chris Paul Benally, TCRHCC board member representing Coppermine Chapter, delivered the invocation.
Dolly Lane, president of the TCRHCC Board of Directors and representative for Bodaway/Gap, gave the welcome address. The program included leadership remarks from Walters; Lola Smith, former Coppermine Chapter president; and Navajo Nation Council Delegate Otto Tso, representing Tuba City and a member of the Resource Development Committee.
Clayton Fulton, Indian Health Service chief of staff within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was listed to deliver IHS leadership remarks. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren also addressed the gathering.
“Our people should not have to travel hours just to receive the health care they need. This facility means our families can receive quality care closer to home, closer to their children and closer to their communities. This is the kind of investment that strengthens our Nation for generations to come,” Nygren said.
The program concluded with closing remarks by Christopher Curley, TCRHCC board member representing Tonalea, and a benediction by board member Lyonel Tso. The ribbon cutting took place at the health center’s east entrance.
Other guests included Navajo Nation Council Delegate Germaine Simonson; Navajo Area IHS Director Dawayne Begay and staff; Jacob Moore, special advisor to the Arizona State University president; Winslow Indian Health Care Center CEO Virgil Davis; representatives of U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly’s office; Kristen Bitsuie of the National Indian Health Board; and artist Redwing Nez, whose work is displayed in the facility.
Patient services were scheduled to begin Monday, Oct. 5, with additional services phased in throughout October as providers become available, said Julius Young II, TCRHCC chief operations officer. Individual clinic schedules will determine when dental, eye care and other services begin.
The 123,565-square-foot facility includes primary care, a dental clinic with 13 chairs, eye care, laboratory and radiology services, a drive-up pharmacy, physical therapy and a wellness center. Plans also include mental health care, women’s health, pediatrics and visiting specialty clinics.
The center will serve Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute families. Communities identified in the opening program include Bodaway/Gap, Cameron, Coalmine Canyon, Coppermine, Kaibeto, LeChee, Tonalea and To’Nanees’Dizi chapters, along with San Juan Southern Paiute communities and the Moenkopi villages.
For some families, obtaining care previously required round trips of up to two hours. A part-time clinic in a mobile unit has served Bodaway/Gap and surrounding communities since 2018, while residents traveled approximately 35 miles to Tuba City for additional services.
Young said bringing several services together will help families coordinate appointments and reduce separate trips for medical, dental, laboratory and imaging services.
Lane said efforts to develop the health center began in 2001, when board members and former chief executives worked to secure federal and tribal support for a facility in an area affected by the Bennett Freeze.
“This project holds special significance because it is the first major building constructed following the lifting of the Bennett Freeze. For decades, development in this region was restricted,” Walters said.
Construction began Feb. 16, 2024, with primary funding provided by the Indian Health Service. Developing the campus required new water, sewer, electrical and fiber connections, an electrical substation upgrade and roadway improvements at the entrance.
Young said water initially had to be hauled to the construction site while permanent service was developed. TCRHCC worked with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and other partners to complete the infrastructure.
The facility features 110 works by local Native artists, including Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute artists. Other features include a walking trail, café, meditation room and a memorial area honoring the communities and people served by TCRHCC.
At the time of the opening, approximately 80 employees had been hired. Recruitment continues, with capacity for a total workforce of 239, Young said.
A separate $87 million staff housing project, also funded by the Indian Health Service, is under construction nearby. Its 92 units include 60 apartments and 32 single-family homes. Housing will open in phases, with completion expected by the end of 2026, to support recruitment and retention of health professionals.
“Echo Cliffs Health Care Facility honors the voices of those who advocated for better healthcare opportunities, some of whom may not be here to see the finished project, but whose commitment made it possible,” Walters said.
About Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation
Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation is a tribally operated health care system serving communities on the western Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute reservations. Established in 1954 and transitioned to tribal management in 2002, TCRHCC provides care through its main campus, satellite clinics and mobile health services.
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