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.
DelegateChapter(s)Titus Jay NezChurchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Smith Lake, ThoreauArbin Mitchell Klagetoh, Wide Ruins, Houck, Lupton, Nahata DziilHelena Nez BegayCoppermine, K'aii'to, LeChee, Tonalea/Red Lake, Bodaway/GapNorman M. BegayAlamo, Ramah, TohajiileeEugenia Charles-NewtonShiprockShawna Ann ClawChinleAmber Kanazbah CrottyCove, Toadlena/Two Grey Hills, Red Valley Tse'alnaozt'i'i', Sheepsprings, Beclabito, Gadiiahi/To'KoiCrystalyne CurleyTachee/Blue Gap, Many Farms, Nazlini, Tselani/Cottonwood, Low MountainLester Charles YazzieBaahaali, Chi Chil Tah, Manuelito, Red Rock, Rock Springs, TsayatohHerman M. DanielsTsah Bii Kin, Navajo Mountain, Shonto, OljatoVince JamesJeddito, Cornfields, Ganado, Kinlichee, SteamboatBrenda JesusOaksprings, St. MichaelsCasey Allen JohnsonCameron, Coalmine Canyon, Birdsprings, Leupp, Tolani LakeAndy NezCrystal, Fort Defiance, Red Lake, SawmillRickie NezT'iistoh Sikaad, Nenahnezad, Upper Fruitland, Tse' Daa' Kaan, Newcomb, San JuanNathan NotahCoyote Canyon, Mexican Springs, Naschitti, Tohatchi, Bahastl'a'a'Shaandiin ParrishChilchinbeto, Dennehotso, KayentaGermaine SimonsonHard Rock, Forest Lake, Pinon, Black Mesa, WhippoorwillDanny SimpsonBecenti, Lake Valley, Nahodishgish, Standing Rock, Whiterock, Huerfano, Nageezi, CrownpointCarl R. SlaterLukachukai, Round Rock, Tsaile/Wheatfields, Tse Ch'izhi/Rough Rock, Rock PointGeorge TolthLittlewater, Pueblo Pintado, Torreon, Whitehorse Lake, Baca/Brewitt, Casamero Lake, Ojo Encino, CounselorOtto TsoTo' Nanees DiziCurtis YanitoMexican Water, To'likan, Teesnospos, Aneth, Red MesaCherilyn YazzieDilcon, Indian Wells, Teesto, Whitecone, Greasewood Springs
25th Navajo Nation Council committees and subcommittees as listed at the Council website.
Standing committees Navajo Nation Council Naabik’íyáti’ Committee Budget and Finance Committee Health, Education and Human Services Committee Law and Order Committee Resources and Development Committee
Subcommittees Diné Bizaad Subcommittee Gaming Subcommittee Navajo–Hopi Land Commission Navajo Indian Irrigation Project Subcommittee Navajo Sexual Assault Prevention Subcommittee Quadrilateral Agreement Task Force State Task Force Subcommittee Title II Reform Subcommittee
History
Naachʼid Pre-conquest Diné (Navajo) society was highly decentralized, with the basic political unit being settlements of ten to forty families led by two Naataanii (headmen/headwomen), one of whom was responsible for peacetime matters and the other of whom was responsible for wartime matters. Politically binding communities together was the Naachʼid, a political-ceremonial gathering of twelve Peace Naataanii and twelve War Naataanii which usually met every 2 to 4 years. Naach'id would be chaired by a Peace Naataanii in peacetime and by a War Naataanii in wartime, with the chair being selected through an informal consensus of the assembled Naataanii. The Naach'id itself would consist of religious ceremonies and open meetings. Some sources suggest that peacetime Naach'id were primarily ceremonial affairs, with the political functions only coming to the forefront in the face of external threats. In such perilous times, Naach'id could be assembled outside of their regular schedule. In peacetime as in wartime, decisions reached at the Naach'id were purely advisory.Wilkins, The Navajo Political Experience, 70-71.
1922 to the 15th council
A three-man Navajo Business Council was created in 1922 by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in order to grant mineral leases on the Navajo reservation, which had previously required the approval of three-quarters of the adult male population. Following legal pushback, this was replaced in 1923 by the Navajo Tribal Council, which would be composed of twelve delegates and twelve alternates. The Council would meet once a year for approximately two days, and had to be called by the Indian Commissioner and supervised by a federal representative.Wilkins, The Navajo Political Experience, 83. At its first meeting, the Council signed away its authority to approve oil and gas leases to the Indian Commissioner. In return, the Navajo Nation was promised more land that could be used for subsistence farming and sheep grazing. Until it reclaimed its leasing power in 1933, the Council was essentially only an advisory body.Wilkins, The Navajo Political Experience, 84.
After refusing to adopt Commissioner of Indian Affairs John Collier's Indian Reorganization Act in 1934 and suffering a crisis of legitimacy because of their approval of massively unpopular Livestock Reductions, the Navajo Tribal Council began constitutional reform in 1937. The Secretary of the Interior vetoed the proposed constitution, advising the seventy constitutional delegates to instead elect themselves as the new Navajo Tribal Council. This advice was followed, and the Secretary issued them the "Rules for the Tribal Council," a set of by-laws that still constitutes the foundation of the modern Navajo Nation Council.Wilkins, The Navajo Political Experience, 86-87. Coinciding with the passage of the Navajo-Hopi Long Range Rehabilitation Act and its associated revenue flows, the Council began in the 1950s to expand its power, established an executive and legislative branch of government, and incorporated the preexisting Chapter system into its fold.Wilkins, The Navajo Political Experience, 88-89.
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.David E. Wilkins, "The Navajo Political Experience", 2003, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Pages 92–95.
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. BCDS Manufacturing Inc. From 2003 to 2007, the council had heavily invested in a biochemical firm to expand operations in Shiprock chapter. The firm's chief executive officer was later found to be embezzling tribal assets for personal use. These findings were never used to file criminal or civil complaints against BCDS, their executives, or share holders. The council aimed to partner with BCDS, an industrial investment successfully advocated for by the Shiprock chapter board, to build an economic industrial base there. From 2003 to 2004, the Navajo government invested an estimated $300,000 in the company and retained a 51% ownership stake. BCDS had originally proposed to switch operational function and expand its facility in Shiprock chapter. The loan guarantee ultimately would cost the Navajo Nation approximately $2million. The loan came from a tribal fund used as collateral for small businesses. Permanent trust fund Fund matures.
Mid-term In 2005, Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan was elected for his second term as Speaker of the Council. BCDS Manufacturing Inc. In 2005, the council allowed BCDS to receive a loan of over $2million from the Navajo Dam escrow account. None of the monies were used for their originally intended purpose. It was reported later that over $1million was spent on the lavish lifestyle of the chief executive officer and on luxury homes at Aztec and Farmington. OnSat Later in 2005, a tribal audit found discrepancies regarding a service contract with internet provider OnSat Technologies, to provide the chapters with Wireless broadband.
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. BCDS Manufacturing Inc. In June 2007, Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Lorenzo Bates revealed that the council did not exercise prudent enough due diligence before investing in BCDS. In a special session held on July 17, 2008, the Council declared involvement with BCDS a total loss. OnSat A 2007 tribal audit found that OnSat had overbilled for service and that the tribe had not complied with procurement policy regarding the competitive bidding process to select OnSat. OnSat found its federal E-rate program agreements in jeopardy. The program reimbursed between 85% and 90% of the costs associated to provide internet services to the tribe's 110 municipal chapter houses.
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. OnSat OnSat service was disrupted in 2008 over nonpayment disagreements. BCDS