Navajo Nation prepares for 2025 chapter inauguration ceremonies
WINDOW ROCK
The Navajo Nation is preparing for its 2025 chapter inauguration ceremonies, a significant series of events marking the start of new leadership terms across the Nation’s five agencies.
The Navajo Election Administration has announced that the week-long ceremonies will take place from Jan. 6 to Jan. 10, 2025, and will serve to formally swear in newly elected and appointed officials in various roles, including chapter officials, grazing committee members, school board members, land board members, Kayenta Township commissioners, farm board members, AFOG, or Alternative Forms of Government, officials, and members of the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors.
Among the swearing-in of chapter officials, AFOG officials will be sworn in as well.
The Navajo Nation Council has taken significant steps in modernizing local governance by adopting Legislation TCDCAP-36-01, formally known as the Resolution of the Transportation and Community Development Committee of the Navajo Nation Council.
The resolution’s passage officially approved the “Alternative Forms of Chapter Governance Models Policies and Procedures,” which provides chapters with innovative governance frameworks under the Local Governance Act, or LGA. The initiative is designed to enhance chapter operational efficiency while ensuring compliance with Navajo Nation laws.
The framework of AFOG offers governance-certified chapters the opportunity to adopt governance structures tailored to their unique needs. It defines key terms such as “alternative forms of chapter governance,” referring to innovative models that improve organizational effectiveness, and outlines the role of the “Alternative Governance Ordinance Development Committee.” This locally appointed group is responsible for drafting governance ordinances while adhering to the legislative framework of the LGA.
Following a special election held on Dec. 10, the Navajo Nation is gearing up for the inauguration of newly elected officials across its various agencies and chapters.
According to Veronica Curley, the interim executive director of the Navajo Election Administration, the inauguration events are scheduled to take place, beginning on Monday.
“We’re looking at starting the inauguration events on January sixth,” Curley stated. “We have several locations confirmed so far across the different Navajo Nation agencies.”
The inauguration week begins on Jan. 6 at the Navajo Technical University Wellness Center in Crownpoint, New Mexico, representing the Eastern Navajo Agency. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the ceremony at 9 a.m. The Fort Defiance Agency will hold its inauguration the next day, Jan. 7, at the Ganado Hornets Pavilion in Burnside, Arizona. Registration for this event will take place from 8-9 a.m., with the ceremony beginning at 9 a.m.
On Jan. 8, the Chinle Agency will host its ceremony at Rough Rock Community School in Rough Rock, Arizona. Registration will be available from 9-10 a.m., with the event commencing at 10 a.m. The Western Navajo Agency will follow on Jan. 9, holding its inauguration at Monument Valley High School’s Nash Gym in Kayenta, with registration from 9-10 a.m. and the ceremony starting promptly at 10 a.m. The week concludes on Jan. 10 with the Northern Navajo Agency’s event at Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington. Registration for this final ceremony is also scheduled from 9-10 a.m., with the program beginning at 10 a.m.
The upcoming inaugurations follow a special election held on Dec. 10 to fill various chapter-level and agency-wide positions in the Navajo Nation.
Curley said the election administration was preparing for another special election sometime at the end of March, pending the outcome of 21 new grievances filed with the Office of Hearings and Appeals.
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