Title 26 hearing exposes rift over chapter power, Diné governance
By Donovan Quintero
Special to the Times
ST. MICHAELS – A public hearing on proposed changes to Title 26 of the Navajo Nation Code drew sharp debate Tuesday at the St. Michaels Chapter, exposing long-standing tensions over local governance, federal land control and whether meaningful reform is possible under the current legal framework.
Former lawmakers, government officials and community members filled the chapter house as the Resources and Development Committee took public comment for more than six hours. While speakers largely agreed the current system is failing Navajo communities, they diverged on whether changes to Title 26 would strengthen chapter authority or further centralize power.
Former 24th Navajo Nation Council Delegate Daniel Tso challenged the premise that the proposal represents true reform, warning it could weaken local governance.
“For me, it’s not really government reform,” Tso said. “It is basically choosing Plan A or B, with what Department of Justice attorney Roderick Begay prepared, and all it is an effort to regionalize the chapters and taking a lot of authorities, centralizing it.”
Tso said the 1998 Local Government Act was intended to decentralize authority and empower chapters, not add layers of oversight. While he said chapter responsibilities could be clarified, he cautioned against reopening the statute itself.
To read the full article, please see the Jan. 15, 2026, edition of the Navajo Times.
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