Models won't load

I keep going around in circles on this. Here's all my updated code:

controllers/welcome.php

PHP Code:

<?php if ( ! defined('BASEPATH')) exit('No direct script access allowed');

class Welcome extends CI_Controller {
    public function __construct() {
        parent::__construct();
        
        $this->load->model('nav_m');
    }
    
    public function index()
    {
        $this->load->view('header');
        $this->load->view('welcome_message');
        $this->load->view('footer');
    }
    private function create_menu() {
        $data['query'] = $this->nav_m->get_active_albums();
        print_r($data);
   }
}

/* End of file welcome.php */
/* Location: ./application/controllers/welcome.php */ 


models/nav_m_model.php

PHP Code:

<?php if ( ! defined('BASEPATH')) exit('No direct script access allowed');

class Nav_m_model extends CI_Model {
    public function __construct() {
            parent::__construct();
    }
    
    public function get_active_albums() {
        $query = $this->db->get_where('albums', array('is_active' = 1));
        
        return $query->result();
    }
} 


Let me try and explain this clearly. In the constructer, I will get a blank screen if I do this:

Code:

$this->load->model('nav_m_model');

In the constructer, I will get the CI error message if I do this:

Code:

$this->load->model('nav_m');

What am I missing?