Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council

Last updated
Speaker of the
Navajo Nation Council
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation
Navajo flag.svg
Crystalyne Curley 2023 (cropped).jpg
since January 23, 2023
Style Madam Speaker (informal)
Honorable Speaker (formal)
StatusPresiding Member of the Navajo Nation Council
Residence Window Rock, AZ
Seat Navajo Nation Council Chamber
AppointerThe Navajo Nation Council
Term length Two years
Constituting instrumentNavajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868
Inaugural holder Chee Dodge
Salary~$55,000.00 USD per year
Website https://www.navajonationcouncil.org/speaker-otto-tso-biography/

The office of the Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council was created in 1991 following restructuring of the Navajo Nation government. [1] The Speaker is the head of the legislative branch and presides over sessions of the council. [2] The Speaker of the council serve a term of two years during the administration of the incumbent President. The Office of the speaker is located in Window Rock, AZ at the Council Chambers.

Contents

Officeholders

List of speakers of the Navajo Nation Council
#ImageNameChapterTermPartyElected President
1  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Nelson Gorman Jr.
(born TBA)
Chinle 1995

1997
Unknown1995  Albert Hale
1995–1998
2  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Kelsey Begaye
(1951–2021)
Kaibito 1997

1999
Democratic 1997
  Thomas Atcitty
1998
  Milton Bluehouse Sr.
1998–1999
3  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Edward T. Begay
(1935–2022)
Church Rock January 1, 1999

January 1, 2003
Unknown1999  Kelsey Begaye
1999–2003
2001
4  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Lawrence T. Morgan
(born TBA)
Pinedale January 1, 2003

January 1, 2011
Unknown2003  Joe Shirley Jr.
2003–2011
2005
2007
2009
5  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Johnny Naize
(born TBA)
Tselani/CottonwoodJanuary 2011

September 2014 [lower-alpha 1]
Unknown2011  Ben Shelly
2011–2015
2013
6  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Lorenzo Bates
(born TBA)
BurnhamSeptember 2014

January 15, 2015
Unknown
7  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Kee Allen Begay Jr.
(born TBA)
TBAJanuary 15, 2015

January 26, 2015
Unknown
8  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Lorenzo Bates
(born TBA)
BurnhamJanuary 26, 2015

January 28, 2019
Unknown2015
2017  Russell Begaye
2015–2019
9  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Seth Damon
(born TBA)
TBAJanuary 28, 2019

November 4, 2022
Unknown2019  Jonathan Nez
2019–2023
2021
10  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Otto Tso
(born TBA)
Tuba City November 16, 2022

January 10, 2023
Unknown
11 
Crystalyne Curley 2023 (cropped).jpg
Crystalyne Curley
(born TBA)
TBAJanuary 23, 2023

present
Unknown2023  Buu Nygren
2023–present

Notes

  1. Resigned from office.

See also

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References

  1. Wilkins, David E. (2013-10-25). The Navajo Political Experience. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 125–128. ISBN   978-1-4422-2669-2.
  2. Austin, Raymond Darrel (2009). Navajo Courts and Navajo Common Law: A Tradition of Tribal Self-governance. U of Minnesota Press. p. 17. ISBN   978-0-8166-6535-8.