Vice President of the Navajo Nation

Last updated
Vice-President of the
Navajo Nation
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation
Navajo flag.svg
Flag of the Navajo Nation
Incumbent
Richelle Montoya
since January 10, 2023
Residence Window Rock, AZ
Term length Four years, renewable once
Constituting instrumentNavajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868
Inaugural holder Marshall Plummer
FormationJanuary 15, 1991
Salary$45,000.00 USD per year
Website Vice President

The office of vice president of the Navajo Nation was created in 1991 following restructuring of the Navajo Nation government. The president and vice president are elected every four years. The Navajo Nation Vice-president shall serve no more than two terms. [1]

Contents

In 2010, Ben Shelly became the first vice president to be elected president of the Navajo Nation. [2]

In 2022, Richelle Montoya was the first woman to be elected into the Executive Branch of the Navajo Nation. [3]

Officeholders

List of vice presidents of Navajo Nation
No.ImageNameTermPartyElection President
1  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Marshall Plummer
(1948–2010)
[4]
January 15, 1991

January 10, 1995
Unknown 1990   Peterson Zah
2  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Thomas Atcitty
(1933–2020)
[5]
January 10, 1995

February 19, 1998
Democratic 1994   Albert Hale
3  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Milton Bluehouse Sr.
(1936–2019)
[6]
February 19, 1998

July 24, 1998
Unknown  Thomas Atcitty
Position vacant (July 24–August 1998)  Milton Bluehouse Sr.
4  Defense.gov photo essay 100219-M-1318S-092.jpg Frank Chee Willeto
(1925–2012)
[7]
August 1998

January 12, 1999
Unknown
5  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Taylor McKenzie
(1931–2007)
[8]
January 12, 1999

January 14, 2003
Unknown 1998   Kelsey Begaye
6  Frank Dayish.jpg Frank Dayish
(born 1958)
January 14, 2003

January 9, 2007
Unknown 2002   Joe Shirley Jr.
7  Ben Shelly.jpg Ben Shelly
(1947–2023)
January 9, 2007

January 11, 2011
Democratic 2006
8  20150302-FNS-RBN-5311.jpg Rex Lee Jim
(born 1962)
January 11, 2011

May 12, 2015
Unknown 2010   Ben Shelly
9  Jonathan Nez (cropped).jpg Jonathan Nez
(born 1975)
May 12, 2015

January 15, 2019
Democratic 2014–15   Russell Begaye
10  Myron Lizer at Keep America Great rally (cropped).jpg Myron Lizer
(born TBA)
January 15, 2019

January 10, 2023
Republican 2018   Jonathan Nez
11  Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg Richelle Montoya
(born TBA)
January 10, 2023

present
Unknown 2022   Buu Nygren

See also

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Richelle Montoya is an American politician who is the 11th vice president of the Navajo Nation. She is the first woman elected to the executive office of Navajo Nation.

References

  1. "Qualifications for President & Vice-President" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration.
  2. Calvin, Carolyn (2010-12-31). "Many firsts in primary, general elections". Navajo Times . Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  3. "Navajo Nation elects Buu Nygren President". New Mexico News Port. 9 November 2022.
  4. "Democracy Era Begins For Largest U.S. Tribe". New York Times . 1991-01-17. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  5. 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.
  6. "Navajo name new president - again". Kingman Daily Miner . Associated Press. 1998-07-26. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  7. Brunt, Charles D. (2012-06-25). "Former Navajo Code Talker Willeto Dies". Albuquerque Journal . Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  8. Rushlo, Michelle (1999-12-12). "Navajo inauguration is all-day event". Eugene Register-Guard (page 3A). Associated Press . Retrieved 2012-07-09.