Legislation filed to remove Navajo fluency requirement for many official positions

A Navajo Nation Council Delegate has introduced legislation that will try and remove language fluency requirements in the Navajo Nation Election Code for the nation’s president, vice president, council delegates, land board members, farm board members and district grazing committee members.

The legislation will be eligible for committee action on Oct. 19. The public will be able to submit comments during a five-day comment period.

The legislation comes on the heels of a spat between potential Navajo Nation presidential candidates, who have attacked candidate Chris Deschene for not being able to “fluently” speak Navajo.

However, the Navajo Elections Board of Supervisors ruled 7-1 Monday that Deschene will be allowed on the ballot despite the challenges.

To view the legislation in whole, click here.