- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
The term Diné, meaning the People in the Navajo language, is viewed by many as a more culturally accurate reflection of the Nation’s heritage and identity.
On Wednesday, the 25th Navajo Nation Council’s Law and Order Committee advanced legislation that seeks a referendum allowing Diné voters to decide whether to change the official name of the Navajo Nation to the Diné Nation.
If the 25th Navajo Nation Council approves the legislation, the referendum will be presented to Navajo voters, allowing them to decide on the name change in the upcoming general election on November 5, 2024.
Law and Order Committee's Chair Eugenia Charles-Newton highlighted the potential impacts that an official name change could have on the Nation’s sovereignty, citing historical precedents such as the 1986 name change of the Papago Indians to the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Council Delegate Herman M. Daniels, Jr., who sponsored the legislation, said that recognizing the traditional name could similarly strengthen the sovereignty and tribal identity of the Navajo Nation.
Vice Chair Cherilyn Yazzie called for a comprehensive cost analysis to fully understand the potential financial impacts of the name change before proceeding further. Committee members supported the request to include financial and administrative costs associated with updating official documents, signage, digital platforms, and other materials, into the legislation.
The outcome of the referendum will have significant implications for the community, government entities, and the cultural identity of the Navajo people.
The Law and Order Committee voted two in favor and one opposed to advancing Legislation 0201-24 to the Naabik’iyati’ Committee for further deliberation. If approved by the Naabik’iyati’ Committee, the legislation will then move forward to the full Navajo Nation Council for a final decision.
More Stories Like This
50 Years of Self-Determination: How a Landmark Act Empowered Tribal Sovereignty and Transformed Federal-Tribal RelationsChemehuevi Cemetery of Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians Added to National Register of Historic Places
Las Vegas Man Indicted for Selling Fraudulent Goods Falsely Claimed as Native American-Made
Muscogee Nation Marks Fifth Anniversary of McGirt Ruling with Sovereignty Day Celebration
Navajo Nation Appoints Associate Justice Eleanor Shirley as Interim Chief Justice
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
