fbpx
Donate Get Newsletter
Donate Get Newsletter
 

PHOTOS: Navajo Nation Inauguration

Details

FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Hundreds of Navajo citizens, elected officials, and non-Native dignitaries gathered on Tuesday to witness history as the youngest person ever to lead the Navajo Nation, Buu Nygren, took the oath of office.  There was other history made during the day's events, as well. 

Others firsts included the swearing in of Richelle Montoya, the vice woman to become the Navajo Nation vice president.

Navajo Nation Supreme Court Chief Justice JoAnn Jayne administers the oath of office to Vice President Richelle Montoya. (Photo: Levi Rickert)

In her address to the audience, Montoya acknowledged the historic significance that she is the first woman ever to become vice president of the Navajo Nation, but also noted, "Before anything else, I am a mother, a daughter and a granddaughter."

Another first was the historic swearing in of nine females to the 25th Navajo Nation Council. 

For the first time in the Navajo Nation's history a record nine women will serve on the Navajo Nation Council. (Photo: Levi Rickert)

After the inauguration ceremony, which lasted four hours, festivities continued at the Navajo Naiton fairgrounds in Window Rock, Ariz.

At about 2:35 p.m. an Air Force plane from Kirklan Airforce Base in Albuquerque, N.M. flew over the crowd to celebrate the new leaders of the Navajo Nation. 

The crowd loved the US Air Force fly by. (Photo: Levi Rickert) 

 

Photo Gallery Credit: Native News Online Editor & Publisher Levi Rickert 

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/photos-navajo-nation-inauguration#sigProIdefdb0bef3e

More Stories Like This

7-Year-Old Boy Dies from Dog Attack on Fort Hall Reservation
Navajo Nation Elects Its First Female Speaker
WATCH: Indigenous Chef Crystal Wahpepah on Native Bidaske
Indigenous Food Chef Crystal Wahpepah on This Week's Native Bidaské
WATCH: New Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren on Native Bidaské

Do you appreciate a Native perspective on the news? 

For the past decade-plus, we’ve covered the important Indigenous stories that are often overlooked by other media. From the protests at Standing Rock and the toppling of colonizer statues during the racial equity protests, to the ongoing epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW), the attacks on tribal sovereignty at the Supreme Court and the past-due reckoning related to assimilation, cultural genocide and Indian Boarding Schools, we have been there to provide a Native perspective and elevate Native voices.

Our news is free for everyone to read, but it is not free to produce. That’s why we’re asking you to make a donation this month to help support our efforts. Any contribution — big or small — helps us remain a force for change in Indian Country and continue telling the stories that are so often ignored, erased or overlooked.  Please consider a recurring monthly donation of $5 or $10 to help fund us throughout the year. Whatever you can do, it helps fund our Indigenous-led newsroom and our ability to cover Native news. 

Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous journalism. Thank you. 

About The Author
Levi Rickert
Author: Levi RickertEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at [email protected]