Present Day Navajo Government
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Unlike some tribes, the people of the Navajo Nation don't receive a check from the United States Government, simply for being Indian. Perhaps the reason for this is because they haven't been driven off their ancestral homeland by the U.S. Government as so many other tribes have been. I believe this act alone has richly blessed the Navajo people. The Navajo people are very independent and need help from no one to be self sustaining. Contemporary government on the Navajo Reservation is very similar to government off the reservation. Each town or village has what is called a "Chapter." This is the local government. Members that sit on the Chapter have been elected by their local community. The Chapter takes care of business much like any small town would. Two representatives from each Chapter sit on the Navajo Council, which is the top level of government among the Navajo. The Navajo Nation is also part of the states of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Our people have representation within these states, depending on which state they reside in. The Navajo people also have representatives on the federal level in the House and Senate. We vote for our representatives for state and federal office like any other citizen of the United States. |
These pages a public service of Walton Feed, Montpelier, Idaho.
Copyright 1997 by Al Durtschi. All rights reserved.
Updated: 7 Apr 97