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Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council

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Speaker of the
Navajo Nation Council
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation
since January 23, 2023
StyleMadam Speaker (informal)
Honorable Speaker (formal)
StatusPresiding Member of the Navajo Nation Council
ResidenceWindow Rock, AZ
SeatNavajo Nation Council Chamber
AppointerThe Navajo Nation Council
Term lengthTwo years
Constituting instrumentNavajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868
Inaugural holderChee Dodge
Salary~$55,000.00 USD per year
Websitehttps://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.

Officeholders

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List of speakers of the Navajo Nation Council
# Image Name Chapter Term Party Elected President
1   Nelson Gorman Jr.
(born TBA)
Chinle 1995

1997
Unknown 1995   Albert Hale
1995–1998
2   Kelsey Begaye
(1951–2021)
Kaibito 1997

1999
Democratic 1997
  Thomas Atcitty
1998
  Milton Bluehouse Sr.
1998–1999
3   Edward T. Begay
(1935–2022)
Church Rock January 1, 1999

January 1, 2003
Unknown 1999   Kelsey Begaye
1999–2003
2001
4   Lawrence T. Morgan
(born TBA)
Pinedale January 1, 2003

January 1, 2011
Unknown 2003   Joe Shirley Jr.
2003–2011
2005
2007
2009
5   Johnny Naize
(born TBA)
Tselani/Cottonwood January 2011

September 2014[a]
Unknown 2011   Ben Shelly
2011–2015
2013
6   Lorenzo Bates
(born TBA)
Burnham September 2014

January 15, 2015
Unknown
7   Kee Allen Begay Jr.
(born TBA)
TBA January 15, 2015

January 26, 2015
Unknown
8   Lorenzo Bates
(born TBA)
Burnham January 26, 2015

January 28, 2019
Unknown 2015
2017   Russell Begaye
2015–2019
9   Seth Damon
(born TBA)
TBA January 28, 2019

November 4, 2022
Unknown 2019   Jonathan Nez
2019–2023
2021
10   Otto Tso
(born TBA)
Tuba City November 16, 2022

January 10, 2023
Unknown
11  
Crystalyne Curley
(born TBA)
TBA January 23, 2023

present
Unknown 2023   Buu Nygren
2023–present

Notes

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  1. ^ Resigned from office.

See also

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References

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  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.