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]
| Vice-President of the Navajo Nation | |
|---|---|
 Great Seal of the Navajo Nation | |
 Flag of the Navajo Nation | |
since January 10, 2023 | |
| Residence | Window Rock, AZ |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Navajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868 |
| Inaugural holder | Marshall Plummer |
| Formation | January 15, 1991 |
| Salary | $45,000.00 USD per year |
| Website | Vice President |
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
edit| No. | Image | Name | Term | Party | Election | President | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Marshall Plummer (1948–2010) [4] |
January 15, 1991 – January 10, 1995 |
Unknown | 1990 | Peterson Zah | ||
| 2 |
|
Thomas Atcitty (1933–2020) [5] |
January 10, 1995 – February 19, 1998 |
Democratic | 1994 | Albert Hale | ||
| 3 |
|
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 | 
|
Frank Chee Willeto (1925–2012) [7] |
August 1998 – January 12, 1999 |
Unknown | ||||
| 5 |
|
Taylor McKenzie (1931–2007) [8] |
January 12, 1999 – January 14, 2003 |
Unknown | 1998 | Kelsey Begaye | ||
| 6 | 
|
Frank Dayish (born 1958) |
January 14, 2003 – January 9, 2007 |
Unknown | 2002 | Joe Shirley Jr. | ||
| 7 | 
|
Ben Shelly (1947–2023) |
January 9, 2007 – January 11, 2011 |
Democratic | 2006 | |||
| 8 | 
|
Rex Lee Jim (born 1962) |
January 11, 2011 – May 12, 2015 |
Unknown | 2010 | Ben Shelly | ||
| 9 | .jpg)
|
Jonathan Nez (born 1975) |
May 12, 2015 – January 15, 2019 |
Democratic | 2014–15 | Russell Begaye | ||
| 10 | .jpg)
|
Myron Lizer (born TBA) |
January 15, 2019 – January 10, 2023 |
Republican | 2018 | Jonathan Nez | ||
| 11 |
|
Richelle Montoya (born TBA) |
January 10, 2023 – present |
Unknown | 2022 | Buu Nygren | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Qualifications for President & Vice-President" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration.
- ^ "Navajo Nation elects Buu Nygren President". New Mexico News Port. 9 November 2022.
- ^ "Democracy Era Begins For Largest U.S. Tribe". New York Times. 1991-01-17. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Navajo name new president - again". Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. 1998-07-26. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
- ^ Brunt, Charles D. (2012-06-25). "Former Navajo Code Talker Willeto Dies". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
- ^ Rushlo, Michelle (1999-12-12). "Navajo inauguration is all-day event". Eugene Register-Guard (page 3A). Associated Press. Retrieved 2012-07-09.