Nygren: ‘No, just sit there’: Navajo president denies sexual harassment allegations

By Krista Allen and Boderra Joe
Navajo Times

TSÉBIGHÁHOODZÁNÍ – When Vice President Richelle Montoya on April 16 revealed on Facebook that she was sexually harassed during a meeting, she didn’t name the perpetrator.

With John L. Tsosie’s help and encouragement to write a statement detailing what happened in that meeting, Montoya described how she felt. Tsosie is President Buu Nygren’s former Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Task Force liaison.

In her statement, distributed in a “media packet” during a press conference at the president’s office on May 28, Montoya allegedly wrote in her statement that Nygren made her feel uncomfortable in his office during a conversation.

“I felt powerless to leave his office,” Montoya wrote. “He prevented me (verbally) from leaving his office four times. I felt objectified. This happened with just him and I in his office.

“President Nygren sat across from me at his round table in his office. He sat back in a casual manner and just stared at me,” she continued. “I was uncomfortable enough to try and not have eye contact with him. His tone of voice was not business or friendly. It was strange.”

Montoya’s livestream that Tuesday, April 16, revealed she had separated from the Navajo Nation’s first second gentleman when Nygren allegedly sexually harassed her.

“On August 17, 2023, I was called into a meeting with President Nygren by his assistant, Alray Nelson,” Montoya wrote. “I was asked by President Nygren if I was OK after my announcement went out about my separation. I answered that I was OK.”

Shortly after the conversation about Montoya’s separation, Montoya allegedly asked if she could return to her office. Nygren said, “No, just sit there.” So, she did. After conversing to a greater extent about other issues, she informed Nygren she needed to get back to her office. Nygren’s response was, “No, just sit there.”

“I then asked if there was anything else to discuss, he said no,” Montoya wrote. “I then brought up my lack of having a unit. I asked again if that was all and that I needed to get on call in my office. The response was again, ‘No, just sit there.’”

She continued, “I then brought up an issue in our education area. DGSA and DBOSBA wanted a letter of support to ask BIE to request funding to help schools on Navajo …. After that discussion I said that is it from me and if he had anything else for me.”

Nygren allegedly answered, “No, just sit there.” Montoya didn’t want to “just sit there” anymore so she stood up and made her way to the door. Nygren followed and gave her a hug.

Nygren on Aug. 16, 2023, allegedly told Montoya that she’s a single “nálí” and that people would be coming up to her now.

“If you start dating or someone becomes serious, I have to be the first one to know,” Nygren told her.

Read the full story in the May 30, edition of the Navajo Times.

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