Chairman of the Navajo Nation

Chairmen of the Navajo Nation
Naabeehó Bináhásdzo  (Navajo)
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation
ResidenceWindow Rock, AZ
Term lengthFour years, no term limits
Constituting instrumentNavajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868
Inaugural holderChee Dodge
Formation1923
Final holderLeonard Haskie
Abolished1991

The Chairman of the Navajo Nation was the head of the government at the formation of the Tribal Council and the government entity to interact with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The office was replaced by the President of the Navajo Nation in 1991 during restructuring of the Tribal Government into a three-branch national government.

Officeholders

No. Image Name Term Party Election Vice Chairman
1 Chee Dodge
(c. 1860–1947) 		1923
–
1928 		Unknown TBA Vacant
2 Deshna Chischillige
(TBA–TBA) 		1928
–
1932 		Unknown 1928 Maxwell Yazzie
3   Thomas Dodge
(1899–1987) 		1932
–
March 30, 1936[a] 		Unknown 1932 Marcus Kanuho
4 Henry Taliman Sr.
(TBA–TBA) 		1937
–
1938 		Unknown TBA Roy Kinsel
5 Jacob C. Morgan
(TBA–TBA) 		1938
–
1942 		Unknown 1938 Howard Gorman
6 Chee Dodge
(c. 1860–1947) 		1942
–
1946 		Unknown 1942 Sam Ahkeah
7   Sam Ahkeah
(1896–1967) 		1946
–
1954 		Unknown 1946 Chee Dodge (died before taking office)
Zealy Tso (1946–1950)
1950 John Claw (1951–1952)
Adolph Maloney (1952–1954)
8   Paul Jones
(1895–1971) 		1955
–
1963 		Unknown 1954   Scott Preston
1958
9   Raymond Nakai
(1918–2005) 		1963
–
1970 		Unknown 1962   Nelson Damon
1966
10   Peter MacDonald
(born 1928) 		1971
–
1982 		Republican 1970   Wilson Skeet (1971–1979)
1974
1978   Frank E. Paul (1979–1982)
11   Peterson Zah
(1937–2023) 		1983
–
1987 		Democratic 1982 Edward T. Begay
12   Peter MacDonald
(born 1928) 		1987
–
1989 		Republican 1986 Johnny R. Thompson
– Leonard Haskie
(1944–2015)
Interim 		1989
–
1991 		Unknown – Irvin Billy
Office abolished, replaced by President of the Navajo Nation.

Notes

  1. ^ Resigned from office.

See also

References

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