Ojo Encino, New Mexico

A small community located in northwestern New Mexico, on the eastern border of the Navajo Reservation. The Navajo Nation government system consists of five agencies (Chinle, Crownpoint, Fort Defiance, Shiprock, and Tuba City) with several local chapters within each agency. Each chapter has an administrative meeting place known as the chapter house, where the community gathers to discuss a variety of issues concerning life on the reservation. The Ojo Encino chapter was established in 1957 after some of the surrounding lands, which were occupied by Spanish families since the time of the Spanish conquest, were returned to the Navajo people. The Spanish name Ojo Encino means "Oak Springs," while the original Navajo name Tse'chizhi' Bito' means "Water Among Rough Rock."