Tribal members rallied last year in support of a Navajo Nation presidential candidate who was later disqualified due to his lack of fluency in the Navajo language. Photo from Facebook
Presidential and vice presidential candidates of the Navajo Nation will no longer have to demonstrate fluency in the Navajo language to run for office. According to the unofficial results, 52.5 percent of voters approved a referendum on Tuesday to ease the fluency standard for the tribe's top politicians. Over 24,000 people participated in the election, a turnout that did not match the one from the presidential one in April. But the outcome confirmed that tribal members are willing to determine, on their own, whether presidential and vice presidential hopefuls can speak their language. Last year, a popular candidate was disqualified because he acknowledge that he wasn't as fluent as he wanted to be. Prior tribal law stated that candidates "must fluently speak and understand Navajo." With approval of the referendum the provision now states that candidates "Must be able to speak and understand the Navajo and English language; and this ability shall be determined by the Navajo voter when he/she casts a ballot." Get the Story:
Navajo Nation loosens language requirements for top leaders (AP 7/21)
Voters on the Navajo Nation approve referendum (The Farmington Daily Times 7/22)
Navajo Voters Approve Change to Language Fluency Requirement for Top Leaders (Reuters 7/22)
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