Navajo National President Buu Nygren addresses the crowd at his inauguration on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Nygren was sworn in as president and the youngest person to hold that office. His vice president, Richelle Montoya, was the first woman to do so.
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Navajo National President Buu Nygren addresses the crowd at his inauguration on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Nygren was sworn in as president and the youngest person to hold that office. His vice president, Richelle Montoya, was the first woman to do so.
Felicia Fonseca/AP
FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. – On Tuesday, Buu Nygren was sworn in as the next president of the vast Navajo Nation, a job that will test the viability of his promises to provide water, electricity and broadband to tens of thousands of residents. his people. without it.
Nygren defeated incumbent President Jonathan Nez in the tribal general election by about 3,500 votes. Nygren joined his wife Jasmine, daughter Evelyn and grandmother Marilyn Slim as he took the oath of office in a ceremony highlighting the challenges he grew up with and subsequently his academic and business successes. made him the youngest person to hold the position. tribal president.
Nygren stood among Navajo rugs and hand-woven blankets as he addressed the crowd in Navajo and English, saying his administration’s mission was simple: provide basic services to the Navajos. so that they can do more than survive.
“I won’t hesitate. I will do whatever it takes to make sure that our people have the opportunity, that our people have the opportunity to make something for themselves.” he say. “That’s all they wanted.”
He added that, growing up, someone believed in him and he wanted the Navajos to know that he believed in them too.
Nygren, 36, has never previously held a political office, although he was the vice presidential candidate of former President Joe Shirley Jr. in 2018. Incumbent Vice President Richelle Montoya is the first woman to hold that office.
Navajo National Vice President Richelle Montoya addressed the crowd gathered for the tribal inauguration.
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Navajo National Vice President Richelle Montoya addressed the crowd gathered for the tribal inauguration.
Felicia Fonseca/AP
Montoya, who was elected leader of a small Navajo community, took a moment to pay her respects to the women on the Navajo National Council and in matrilineal society, holding her hand at the door. heart. She encourages tribe members to speak the Navajo language and always think of the seven generations ahead.
“For the next four years, I’ll give my all for you guys,” she told the crowd.
The inauguration took place in an indoor arena in Fort Defiance, just north of the tribal capital Window Rock, and was attended by an all-women black security team. Thousands attended the ceremony, many wearing turquoise and silver jewelry, moccasins, velvet or ribbon dresses or business attire.
Young girls sing the national anthem and recite the oath of allegiance in Navajo. Montoya’s relative, Chishi Haazba Montoya, skimmed Navajo history in the poem, weaving elements of tradition, lashed out at Western greed and declared that Navajo sovereignty would be restored and any Any monster will be defeated.
Nez and his vice president, Myron Lizer, sat in the front row along with Shirley, former Navajo President Ben Shelly and former Navajo President Peter MacDonald.
Ms. Ganado Primary Princess Jewels E. Jones recites the oath of allegiance in the Navajo during the tribe’s inauguration.
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Ms. Ganado Primary Princess Jewels E. Jones recites the oath of allegiance in Navajo during the tribal inauguration.
Felicia Fonseca/AP
The ceremony was followed by a public luncheon at the fairgrounds at Window Rock, a gospel celebration, a song and dance, a comedy show, a flag salute and the opening ball.
The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American reservation in the United States at 27,000 square miles (69,000 km2). It stretches into parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. The population of about 400,000 is second only to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
Nygren brought the energy to a presidential race that resonated with voters, campaigning alongside his wife, former Arizona Representative Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren. He has a knack for ups and downs and creates his signature look with his traditional bun, wearing a black wide-brimmed hat, blue trousers, and a lighter blue long-sleeve shirt.
Nygren is of Vietnamese blood, but has never known his father’s face. He grew up in the reservation of Utah in a house without electricity or running water, he said. He has a background in construction management and has said that he expects tribal citizens to hold him accountable as president – a point he emphasized in his speech. show on Tuesday.
Cheryl R. Benally said Nygren’s words about being disciplined reminded her of what she heard from her own mother growing up around Chaco Canyon in New Mexico: waking up early, greeting the sunrise and praying. . Benally’s daughter, Mya Benally, 18, said Nygren’s words about making water and education more accessible attracted her as a college student wanting to return to the reserve.
“He’s helping me think ‘I can do so much more,'” she said.
The Dine Saanii Silaoitsooi Black Guard, made up of all women, prepares to take to the stage.
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Julian Begay, a 36-year-old school board member and farm board president at Many Farms, said he found Nygren had faith and confidence that his promises to the Navajo people would be fulfilled.
“He’s going down to the people level, but I’m curious to see what he’s going to do with the economy,” Begay said. “We can’t keep shopping in border towns forever.”
Nygren pledged to work closely with the 24 members of the Navajo National Council, who were also sworn in on Tuesday along with other elected officials. About a third of the council will be women – a record number. The council is often seen as having more power than the president and is the route through which major agenda items must pass.
Some of the female delegates’ priorities include infrastructure, addressing social evils and generational trauma, strengthening law enforcement, managing the budget, and ensuring a continued focus on the epidemic. indigenous people are missing and killed. A handful of people stood at the intersection holding signs on Tuesday calling for action on some of the same topics.
“I know that most of us women will have a natural expression of loving our people, putting our people first, understanding that there is a greater responsibility to protect our home, which means the Nation. Navajo,” said Shaandiin Parrish, a former woman. elected to the council.
Returning delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty said she looks forward to having tough conversations where tribal legislators can confront issues, learn from shared experiences and consider challenges resulted in families becoming victims and services not being provided to the Navajo.
Thousands of people attended the inauguration, held at the Bee Holdzil Combat Scout Event Center in Fort Defiance, Ariz.
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“There is one thing that should not be expected of female leaders,” she said.
Kanazbah Crotty says: “While nurturing is part of our teaching, we cannot shoulder the emotional baggage of others. “What I’m saying is that we shouldn’t expect that as women leaders, we’re here to fix all the problems.”
Nez and his predecessor council laid the groundwork for infrastructure projects using money the tribe received from federal coronavirus relief aid. But Nygren has said those decisions may need to be revisited. Nez worries any changes will jeopardize the tribe’s failure to meet its spending deadline.
In one of his last acts, Nez vetoed legislation Monday to expand oil and gas exploration and development, including helium, in the reserve. He said the affected communities had not reached a consensus, and health and profit sharing concerns remained unresolved.
