President of the Navajo Nation
Diné Binantʼaʼí  (Navajo)
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation
Flag of the Navajo Nation
Incumbent
Buu Nygren
since January 10, 2023
ResidenceWindow Rock, Arizona
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Constituting instrumentNavajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868
Inaugural holderPeterson Zah
FormationJanuary 15, 1991
Salary$55,000.00 USD per year
WebsiteOffice of the President of the Navajo Nation

The President of the Navajo Nation is the Executive Branch of the Navajo Nation. The office was created in 1991 following restructuring of the national government. The President and Vice President are elected every four years. The Navajo Nation President shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.[1]

As outlined in the Navajo Nation Code §1001-1006, until 2016, office holders had to be fluent in the Navajo language among other declared qualifications.[2] Presently, fluency is to be determined by the Navajo voters when they cast ballots.[3]

Presidential line of succession

The Navajo Nation Code defines who may become or act as president upon the absence of a sitting president or a president-elect. Should the president, under circumstances outlined in the Navajo Nation Code at §1005(d)-1006, be unable to serve out his full term, then the vice president shall act in his place for the remainder of the term, or until the president is able to resume his duties. §1006 of the Code instructs, that in the event a vacancy should "occur in the Office of President and Vice President, the Speaker shall serve as President of the Navajo Nation until a special election is held." The speaker does not relinquish his speaker duties whilst acting as interim president.

Officeholders

No. Image Name Term Party Election Vice President
1 Peterson Zah
(1937–2023)
[4][5]		 January 15, 1991
–
January 10, 1995		   Democratic 1990 Marshall Plummer
2 no border Albert Hale
(1950–2021)
[5][6]		 January 10, 1995
–
February 19, 1998[lower-alpha 1]		   Democratic 1994   Thomas Atcitty
3 no border Thomas Atcitty
(1933–2020)
[6][7]		 February 19, 1998
–
July 23, 1998[lower-alpha 2]		   Democratic – Milton Bluehouse Sr.
4 no border Milton Bluehouse Sr.
(1936–2019)
[7][8]		 July 24, 1998
–
January 12, 1999		   Unknown – vacant through
August 1998
Frank Chee Willeto
5 no border Kelsey Begaye
(1951–2021)
[8]		 January 12, 1999
–
January 14, 2003		   Democratic 1998 Taylor McKenzie
6 Joe Shirley Jr.
(born 1947)
[9]		 January 14, 2003
–
January 11, 2011		   Democratic 2002 Frank Dayish
2006   Ben Shelly
7 Ben Shelly
(1947–2023)		 January 11, 2011
–
May 12, 2015		   Democratic 2010 Rex Lee Jim
8 Russell Begaye
(born TBA)		 May 12, 2015
–
January 15, 2019		   Democratic 2015   Jonathan Nez
9 Jonathan Nez
(born 1975)		 January 15, 2019
–
January 10, 2023		   Democratic 2018   Myron Lizer
10 Buu Nygren
(born 1986)		 January 10, 2023
–
present		   Democratic 2022 Richelle Montoya

Notes

  1. ↑ Resigned from office.
  2. ↑ Removed by the Navajo Nation Council.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Navajo Nation Election Administration - Qualification for President and Vice-President" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration.
  2. ↑ Fonseca, Felicia (September 11, 2014). "Language factors into race for Navajo president". Houston Chronicle.
  3. ↑ Navajo Election Administration. "Qualifications for Navajo Nation President and Vice-President" (PDF). Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  4. ↑ "Democracy Era Begins For Largest U.S. Tribe". The New York Times. 1991-01-17. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  5. 1 2 "President-elect Albert Hale Plans Changes For Navajos". Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. 1995-01-09. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  6. 1 2 Becenti, Deenise (1998-02-20). "With Law on Heels, Navajo Boss Quits; Hale Steps Down As Navajo Boss". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  7. 1 2 "Navajo name new present - again; Bluehouse appointed". Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. 1998-07-26. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  8. 1 2 Rushlo, Michelle (1999-12-12). "Navajo inauguration is all-day event". Eugene Register-Guard (page 3A). Associated Press. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  9. ↑ "Navajo inauguration is all-day event". Indianz.com. 2003-01-08. Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
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