Speaker calls for investigation after Montoya’s sexual harassment claim
Special to the Times | Reginald Chee
Council members give recognition to Vice President Richelle Montoya after a report during President Buu Nygren’s State of the Nation Address on Monday inside the Council Chamber in Window Rock.
DÁ’DEESTŁ’IN HÓTSAA – The legislative counsel office received a request to draft legislation to initiate an independent investigation into President Buu Nygren’s women staffers’ sexual harassment and mistreatment allegations.
The president’s office has been facing an uproar since the Navajo Times detailed allegations of misconduct against several women and misuse of funds last year. Vice President Richelle Montoya, on Tuesday night – after Tuesday’s Spring Council Session – criticized the Nygren Administration on Facebook Live, revealing she was sexually harassed during a meeting last August.
Speaker Crystalyne Curley said Montoya had presented her concerns during Nygren’s State of the Nation Address.
“As I became aware of these allegations, I invited all members of the Council to come together on Wednesday, (April 17), to discuss the issues,” Curley wrote in a statement on April 18. “Based on the discussion, there was a general consensus that the allegations warrant an independent investigation.”
Curley said the nature of these allegations at the president’s office compels the Council members to “act swiftly to gather the facts and to seek accountability.”
“We must proceed assertively and cautiously to ensure a fair investigation,” Curley wrote. “I strongly condemn harassment and abuse in any form, whether it’s sexual, physical, verbal, mental, or emotional.”
She said that naat’áanii are responsible for listening respectfully to the voices of those victimized and “promptly” addressing harassment, especially in the workplace.
“The 25th Navajo Nation Council will continue to monitor this situation and is prepared to take further action as necessary,” Curley added. “To our Navajo people, I thank you for bringing forth your concerns and demands for action.”
Nygren’s media team issued a statement for the president today, calling on the Department of Justice to guide the Legislative and the Executive branches.
“As president of the Navajo Nation, I support and welcome an independent, fair, and transparent investigation,” Nygren stated, “and one that the Navajo people can have full confidence in.
“Given that a request has just been made for legislation, as well as similar concerns of the same nature that have arose within the Legislative Branch, this is an appropriate time to call on the Navajo Nation Department of Justice to provide immediate guidance to the Legislative and Executive branches of government to ensure that a fair and independent investigation process is initiated.”
Nygren added, “This is a unique and unprecedented situation brought forth by my vice president, who publicly made social media statements on her personal platform that has led to Speaker Curley’s statement.
“As the law does not directly speak to this unique situation, I trust that the Navajo Nation Department of Justice will rely on concepts of Navajo Fundamental Law, which are grounded in concepts of (k’é) and (naabik’íyáti).”
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