‘Dawn of a new day’

Posted by Bill Donovan | May 14, 2015 | Politics |

Presidential inauguration historic in several ways

Newly sworn in Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye looks out to the crowd on Tuesday in Fort Defiance, Ariz. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)

FORT DEFIANCE

It was a historic day on the Navajo Reservation.

For the first time in the history of the Navajo Nation, a Navajo leader from New Mexico replaced another one from New Mexico.
But the inauguration of President Russell Begaye and Vice President Jonathan Nez had a number of other firsts.

It was the first time in more than 70 years that an inauguration was held in some place other than the Window Rock fairgrounds. Since it was held at the Bee Holdzil Events Center in Fort Defiance, it also marked the first time that it was held indoors.

But more importantly, Tuesday’s event was the first time that every Navajo, no matter where they lived in the world, had an opportunity to watch the event since it was streamed live over the Internet.

Something else that is unusual in Navajo politics is the relationship between Begaye and the outgoing president, Ben Shelly, who attended the event and shared with the 4,000 or so people who were in attendance his fond feelings for the new president and vice-president.

He said that he met with Begaye a few days before the inauguration and the two talked about projects that the Shelly administration had ongoing and the two reached an agreement with Begaye pledging to continue projects started in the Shelly administration.

The two then signed the pledge in front of the inauguration audience and Shelly stayed until Begaye was sworn in and then left the sports facility.