The Navajo Nation Council is the Legislative Branch of the Navajo Nation government. The council meets four times per year, with additional special sessions, at the Navajo Nation Council Chamber, which is in Window Rock, Arizona. The council is composed of 24 district delegates, or councilors, chosen by direct election, who represent 110 municipal chapters within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Delegates must be members of the Navajo Nation and be at least twenty-five years of age. Delegate offices are at the Navajo Nation governmental campus in Window Rock. The council selects a speaker, chosen from among all delegates, to preside over the day-to-day functions of the council for a two-year term.

Power and jurisdiction

As codified in Section 101 of the Navajo Nation Code: (2 N.N.C. § 101(A)) The Legislative Branch shall consist of the Navajo Nation Council and any entity established under the Navajo Nation Council. (2 N.N.C § 101(B)) The Legislative Branch shall not be amended unless approved by majority of all registered Navajo voters through a referendum.

Navajo legislative overview

(2 N.N.C. § 102 (B-G)) The Navajo Nation Council reserves all powers not delegated and supervises those that are delegated; has the power to discipline and regulate the conduct of its members; has the authority to promulgate rules, regulations, and procedures for the conduct of its meetings and of its committees; confirms the appointments of all division directors upon recommendation from the appropriate oversight committee; and shall establish standing committees and delegate such authority to such committees as it deems necessary and proper.

Line of succession

§1006 of the Navajo Code instructs that should vacancy 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 Code further states that the Speaker shall then act concurrently as Speaker and President, and that the speakership shall not be considered vacated.

Current 25th Navajo Nation Council Delegate Info

On January 10, 2023, the delegates of the 25th Navajo Nation Council took the oath of office. 25th Navajo Nation Council committees and subcommittees as listed at the Council website.

Standing committees

Subcommittees

History

Naachʼid

The (Navajo) created the ceremonial gatherings called which met every 2 to 4 years, or on an emergency basis as needed. The traditional Navajo government was organized around the principles of , the nurturing and protecting aspects of governance. Each Navajo clan chose two representatives to attend these assemblies, with the purpose of protecting and nurturing the. An individual selected to participate in that council was called. The, translated as war chief, protected the people from any harm as they moved away from the principles of. The, or peace chief, nurtured each individual, assisting the people to live in accordance with the principles of (peace and friendship) and to maintain relationships with all creation.

1922 to the 15th council

The Navajo Business Council was created in 1922 by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in order to certify mineral leases on the Navajo reservation. At its first meeting, the Council acquiesced to U.S. pressure to grant oil companies use of the land. In return, the Navajo Nation was promised more land that could be used for subsistence farming and sheep grazing. This first council was headed by Henry Chee Dodge and consisted of one delegate elected from each of the five agencies, along with one alternate delegate. After refusing to adopt Commissioner of Indian Affairs John Collier's Indian Reorganization Act in 1934, the Navajo Tribal Council reformed in 1937. The Navajo voters would ultimately reject three attempts at establishing a constitutional government over disagreement of lasting legal language. Until 1984, the Navajo Tribal Council and Navajo Nation had been supported by funding from the wealth of natural resources on the reservation. In 1984, however, the council established the Permanent Trust Fund, into which 12% of all revenue each year would be deposited. Funds would first become available in 2004.

16th council (1987–1990)

The name Navajo Nation Council (sometimes called the Navajo Nation Tribal Council) came into use around the middle of 1989. The name change occurred with the Title II Amendments of 1989 which established the three-branch government system used at Window Rock today. This created a clear delineation of executive and legislative powers, vested leadership of the executive branch in the President and Vice President, and created the offices of Speaker of the Council and Speaker Pro Tem.

17th council (1991–1994)

The 17th council was seated in 1991.

18th council (1995–1998)

The 18th council was seated in January 1995.

19th council (1999–2002)

The 19th council was seated in January 1999. In 2001, the council approved a service agreement with OnSat, a Utah-based Internet provider. OnSat was to receive $1.9million in the first year of contract to provide the 110 chapters with satellite bandwidth.

20th council (2003–2006)

The 20th council was seated in January 2003. Lawrence T. Morgan was elected Speaker of the Council.

Mid-term

In 2005, Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan was elected for his second term as Speaker of the Council.

21st council (2007–2010)

The 21st council was seated in January 2007. Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan was elected for a third term after winning a run-off election against Delegate Harold Wauneka of Fort Defiance.

2008

President announces election to reduce council to 24

On April 29, Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. proposed reducing the Navajo Council from 88 members to 24 members. The election would change the dynamics of the council in 2011.

Mid-term

In January 2009, Speaker Morgan was reelected speaker, to a fourth term. The election made him the first speaker to serve eight years in that capacity in the Council's modern history. President Shirley addressed the Council in the annual State of the Navajo Nation address on January 24, 2009. Shirley spoke of his conviction of the need to develop a new governing document for the Navajo Nation. Shirley had campaigned to return government to the Diné by government reform.

2010

At the meeting of the council on January 13, 2010, Council Delegate Jonathan Nez announced changes to Title 22 of the Navajo Nation Code that would take place in the wake of the majority of the tribe's membership voting to reduce the size of the council to 24 members. In a decision on May 28, 2010, the Navajo Nation Supreme Court ordered immediate implementation of a redistricting plan.

22nd council (2011–2014)

24 Votes

On January 11, 2011, the new, smaller 24-member council was seated, and the restructuring of the legislative branch began. On January 24, 2011, Delegate Johnny Naize (Blue Gap-Tachee/Cottonwood-Tselani/Low Mountain/Many Farms/Nazlini) was selected as speaker. In May 2011, President Ben Shelly signed council resolution CAP-10-11, sent to him by the council, amending Title II of the Navajo Code. Among the changes in the law was the reorganization of existing standing committees to match the 24 vote membership.

Mid-term

In January 2013, the council reelected Speaker Naize to a second term.

23rd council (2015–2018)

The newly elected 23rd Navajo Nation Council was inaugurated on January 13, 2015, in Window Rock, Arizona. Following the inauguration, delegates convened in special session to select a speaker pro tem to serve in that capacity until a speaker was selected by the council to serve a two-year term. Council delegate Kee Allen Begay, Jr. (Low Mountain, Many Farms, Nazlini, Tachee/Blue Gap, Tselani/Cottonwood) was elected speaker pro tem by a coin toss after he and former Speaker Pro Tem LoRenzo Bates each received 12 votes. Begay served as speaker pro tem until the start of the winter session on January 26, 2015, after which former Speaker Pro Tem LoRenzo Bates won the speakership, after a runoff election with Alton Joe Shepherd (Jeddito, Cornfields, Ganado, Kinlichee, Steamboat) where each received 12 votes, after which Shepard withdrew his candidacy, "for the council to unite and work together".

24th council (2019–2023)

On January 15, 2019, the 24th Navajo Nation Council took their oath of office at noon during the 2019 Navajo Nation Inauguration at the Bee Holdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, Ariz. Following the inaugural event, the 24-member council convened for a special session to consider Legislation No. 0001-19 to select a speaker pro tem. Through a simple majority vote by Council members, Council Delegate Seth Damon (Bááháálí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Tsé Lichíí’, Rock Springs, Tsayatoh) was selected as speaker pro tem. On January 28, 2019, opening day of the 2019 Winter Council Session Speaker Pro Tem Seth Damon was voted in as Speaker of the 24th Navajo Nation Council. In July 2019, Delegate Nelson BeGaye resigned for health reasons. Following a special election, Carl Roessel Slater was elected to the seat. Legislation No. 0219-22 was introduced to select a new Speaker of the 24th Navajo Nation Council until the new 25th council due to former Speaker Damon resigning from the position. On November 16, 2022 Honorable Otto Tso (Tuba City) was sworn in as Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council until January 10, 2023.

25th council (since 2023)

On January 10, 2023, the 25th Navajo Nation Council will take their oath of office during the 2023 Navajo Nation Inauguration at the Bee Holdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona. Following the inaugural event, the 24-member council will join for a special session to select a speaker pro-tem. The 25th Navajo Nation Council will have the first youngest member at age 28, Shaandiin Parrish, who is also a former Miss Navajo (2019-2021). This council will have a 66% (16/24) of freshmen whom have never been elected under previous councils. 33% (8/24) will retain their seats in council. Then a historic moment will occur, when the council will have a 37.5% (9/24) representation of females, which has not been that high in previous councils. The 25th Navajo Nation Council from the start has been full of historic moments, now electing the first Woman as the Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, Honorable Crystalyne Curley. Speaker Curley assumed office January 23, 2023 during the Winter Session in 2023.

Speakers of the Navajo Nation Council

Notable delegates