Vice President of the Navajo Nation

Position in the Navajo Nation government

Vice-President of the
Navajo Nation

Great Seal of the Navajo Nation

Flag of the Navajo Nation

Incumbent
Richelle Montoya
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

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]

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]

List of vice presidents of Navajo Nation  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–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  |  | Jonathan Nez
(born 1975) | May 12, 2015

January 15, 2019  |  | Democratic | 2015 |  | Russell Begaye
10  |  | 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[edit]

* President of the Navajo Nation
* Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council
* Navajo Nation Council
* 2006 Navajo Nation presidential election
* 2010 Navajo Nation presidential election
* 2015 Navajo Nation presidential election
* 2018 Navajo Nation presidential election
* 2022 Navajo Nation presidential election

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Qualifications for President & Vice-President" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration.
2. ^ Calvin, Carolyn (2010-12-31). "Many firsts in primary, general elections". Navajo Times. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
3. ^ "Navajo Nation elects Buu Nygren President". New Mexico News Port. 9 November 2022.
4. ^ "Democracy Era Begins For Largest U.S. Tribe". New York Times. 1991-01-17. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
5. ^ 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.
6. ^ "Navajo name new president - again". Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. 1998-07-26. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
7. ^ Brunt, Charles D. (2012-06-25). "Former Navajo Code Talker Willeto Dies". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
8. ^ Rushlo, Michelle (1999-12-12). "Navajo inauguration is all-day event". Eugene Register-Guard (page 3A). Associated Press. Retrieved 2012-07-09.

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Navajo Nation

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Culture|

* People
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Media|

* Ádahooníłígíí
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History|

* The Emergence
* Dinétah
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Education|

| District public|

* Cedar USD (AZ)
* White Cone HS, now closed
* Central Consolidated (NM)
* Newcomb HS
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* Chinle USD (AZ)
* Chinle HS
* Gallup-McKinley County (NM)
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* Ganado HS
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* Page USD (AZ)
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* Red Mesa HS
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* Tuba City USD (AZ)
* Tuba City HS
* Winslow USD

|

BIE/Tribal|

* Greyhills Acad HS (AZ)
* Hunters Point Boarding (AZ)
* Kaibeto Boarding (AZ)
* Leupp Schools (AZ)
* Many Farms Community (AZ, former Chinle Boarding)
* Many Farms HS (AZ)
* Rough Point Community (AZ)
* Rough Rock Community (AZ)
* Shonto Prep (AZ)
* Tuba City Boarding (AZ)
* Navajo Prep (off-reservation, NM)

Private|

* St. Michael Indian School

Tertiary|

* Diné College
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