- Details
- By Levi Rickert
Less than a day after Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley introduced legislation seeking the removal of both Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya, Montoya issued a sharply worded statement distancing herself from Nygren and asserting she was excluded from key decision-making.
Curley filed the resolution Friday, alleging malfeasance, misfeasance and breaches of fiduciary duty by both leaders. The legislation comes amid a growing political rift within the tribe’s executive branch.
In her statement, Montoya acknowledged “the deep impact this administration’s actions and decisions have had on our people,” but said she was not involved in the conduct at issue.
“What I have not had the opportunity to do as the second top elected official of our great Nation, was sit at the table with our president, as equals, as (naat’áanii), and make decisions, plans and strategize together,” Montoya said. “My service was tested, ridiculed and dismissed. I was intentionally sidelined, kept in the dark, and unjustly stripped of my core duties, resources and budget.”
She added that Nygren’s treatment occurred publicly, but she continued “to show up and do the work as the Diné people’s (vice president).”
“Let me be clear, I had no involvement in the decisions or actions associated with Buu Nygren,” she said. “I am responsible and accountable for my own actions.”
Montoya said the experience taught her about the limits of the vice president’s authority under Navajo Nation law and how those powers have been interpreted and applied.
“The (vice president) carries minimal authority, however, I believe that our leaders before us had good intentions for the (vice president) role,” she said.
Despite the turmoil, Montoya said her focus remains unchanged.
“Moving forward, my focus remains where it has always been — on the wellbeing, safety, and protection of the Diné people,” she said. “The challenges we face as a Nation are too great for self-serving leadership. My commitment is secure and absolute: I always stand with and serve our Diné people.”
Nygren has not yet publicly responded to the removal legislation. The Council has not announced when it will take up Curley’s resolution.
More Stories Like This
50 Years of Self-Determination: How a Landmark Act Empowered Tribal Sovereignty and Transformed Federal-Tribal RelationsNavajo Council Speaker Introduces Legislation to Remove Navajo Nation President, Vice President Amid Ethics Complaint
Mark Macarro Re-elected President of the National Congress of American Indians
NCAI Convention Brings 2,500 Attendees to Seattle
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
